| Country: | Somalia |
| Details of Formation: | Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a was created in 1991 to protect Sufi Muslims from religious extremists. In 2008, it became an armed group to defend itself against Al-Shabab attacks. In 2010, the militia signed a power-sharing agreement with the transitional federal government and promised to support the regular forces in anti-Al-Shabab attacks. |
| Details of Termination: | The group began fighting against the government over a disagreement concerning the formation of a regional administration in Galgudud region in the beginning of 2015. Clashes broke out when Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a attacked the town of Guriel in an attempt to take control of the territory. Briefly, there appeared to be some continued cooperation with the federal government in the fight against al Shabaab. However, Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a pursued this goal independently from the government. |
| Purpose: | The militia was created in 1991 to protect Sufi Muslims in Somalia, but became an armed group in 2008 when it began to target Al-Shabab militants after their attack on Sufi shrines. When the Federal Government of Somalia took power, the government used the militia to attack Al-Shabab militants. |
| Organisation: | Until his death, Yusuf Heefow was the head of the militia. The militia has an executive committee. The PGM carried out joint operations with the regular armed forces and Kenyan troops. In December 2012, the interior ministry officially took control of the militia. In 2012 and 2013, the government tried to integrate the militia into the regular army, but did not succeed. |
| Weapons and Training: | The Somalian and Ethiopian government provided the militia with weapons. Ethiopian forces also provided training for the group. The PGM was in possession of, for instance, AK-47s, machine guns, and anti-tank weapons. |
| Size: | For the year 2011, 4,500 militia members were reported. |
| Reason for Membership: | The militiamen are Sufi Muslims who joined the group to fight Sufi Al-Shabab and Al-Ittihad-Al-Islamiya militants. In contrast to the regular armed forces, militiamen received no benefits from the government. |
| Treatment of Civilians: | There are reports that indiscriminate attacks targeted at civilians by militia members led to an escalation of violence. This behavior was supported by the regular armed forces and the government. (Amnesty 2015) |
| Other Information: | The name means "the people of the tradition of Prophet Muhammad". |
| References: |
Amnesty International. 2015. “Somalia National Human Rights Day an opportunity to enhance accountability“. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/08/somalia-national-human-rights-day-an-opportunity-to-enhance-accountability/ Wikipedia. “Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a”. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ahlu_Sunna_Waljama%27a&oldid=970418888 Stanford University. 2019. "Mapping Militant Organizations". https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama |