Hizbul Islam

Hizbul Islam
Flag of Hizbul Islam
Leaders	Omar Iman (7 February 7 – 26 May 2009) Hassan Dahir Aweys (26 May 2009 – 20 December 2010)
Dates of operation	January 2009–December 2010[1] September 2012–June 2014[2]
Group(s)	Mainly Habar Gedir and Hawiye[3]
Headquarters	Kismayo (January 2009–October 2009) Afgooye (October 2009–December 2010)
Active regions	Southern and Central Somalia
Ideology	Sunni Islamism Qutbism Islamic extremism Salafi Jihadism Wahabism
Opponents	AMISOM Al-Shabaab
Preceded by Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia; Jabhatul Islamiya; Mu'askar Ras Kamboni; Muaskar Anole (Jan. 2009); Al-Shabaab (Sept. 2012) Succeeded by Al-Shabaab (Dec. 2010)

Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam, was a Somali Islamist group formed after four Islamist groups merged to oppose the new Somali government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.^[4] The four groups were: Hassan Aweys' the ARS-A, Jabhatul Islamiya ("Islamic Front"), Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki's the Mu'askar Ras Kamboni (Ras Kamboni Brigade) and Muaskar Anole, the Marehan clan's Militia and Harti clan's militia.^[4] These groups previously took part in the fighting against the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia.^{[citation needed]}