Rebuilding without a state, 1991 to 2012
The Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), 2007–2009
The Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) was an opposition coalition founded at a congress in Asmara, Eritrea, in September 2007, first named the Alliance for the Liberation and Reconstitution of Somalia. It joined leaders of the Islamic Courts, members of parliament led by former Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, diaspora figures and elders, with Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed as chairman. Its aim was to end Ethiopia's military presence. In 2008 the Djibouti wing made peace with the Transitional Federal Government, and in January 2009 an enlarged parliament elected Sharif President. The Asmara wing under Hassan Dahir Aweys rejected the deal and helped form Hizbul Islam.
In short
From 6 to 13 September 2007, opponents of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and of Ethiopia's troop presence held a "Congress for the Liberation and Reconstitution of Somalia" in Asmara, Eritrea. It ended "with the formation of the Alliance for the Liberation and Reconstitution of Somalia, the election of its leadership and the adoption of an action plan" (UN Security Council, S/2007/658, para. 8). The group became known as the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS).
Its chairman, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, was elected President of Somalia on 30 January 2009 (S/2009/132, para. 10). For the war around it, see the war in Somalia, 2006–2009.
Founding, September 2007
From the UN Secretary-General's report of November 2007 (S/2007/658, paras. 7–9):
- Who took part. "Representatives of the Union of Islamic Courts, the 'Free Parliamentarians' led by the former Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, the Somali Diaspora, as well as members of civil society and clan elders." See the Islamic Courts Union, 2006.
- Leaders. Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was named chairman of the executive, and Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden head of a 191-member Central Committee.
- Aims. Its "overriding aim was to liberate Somalia from Ethiopian occupation and launch a political reconstitution process". It said it would talk to the TFG "only after the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces".
- A rival meeting. The UN called the Asmara meeting a "parallel congress" to the government's National Reconciliation Congress. "The Asmara-based opposition groups and some Hawiye clan elders rejected" the Jeddah agreement of September 2007 on carrying out that congress's outcome.
The Djibouti process, 2008
From the UN Secretary-General's reports:
- Nairobi, 28 March to 5 April 2008. An ARS delegation led by Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden met the UN Special Representative, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, and signed a memorandum of understanding on 4 April (S/2008/466, para. 4).
- Djibouti, 12–15 May. The first round of TFG–ARS talks ended with a joint declaration on humanitarian access (same source, para. 6).
- Eritrea. Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, "while acknowledging the support of the Eritrean Government for ARS, accused it of attempting to divide the group" (same source, para. 7).
- 9 June 2008. The TFG and ARS initialled the Djibouti agreement. It provided for a 90-day cessation of hostilities, a request for an international stabilisation force "excluding neighbouring States", Ethiopia's withdrawal once enough UN forces were in place, and for "ARS to dissociate itself from any armed groups or individuals that do not adhere to the terms of the agreement" (same source, para. 9).
- 19 August 2008. A "technical signing" in Djibouti started implementation. A Joint Security Committee included ARS field commanders under their commander-in-chief, Omar Hershi (S/2008/709, paras. 6–7).
Two wings
An ARS faction based in Asmara, led by Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, rejected the Djibouti agreement (Congressional Research Service, RL33911). In January 2009 the Asmara wing joined three other groups to form Hizbul Islam, which fought the new government (Wikipedia, "Hizbul Islam").
Into government, January 2009
From the UN Secretary-General's report of March 2009 (S/2009/132, paras. 6–10):
- 29 December 2008. President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed resigned, saying he did not want to be an "obstacle to peace".
- 26 January 2009. The Transitional Federal Parliament voted to grow by 275 seats, "with 200 seats allocated to ARS and the remaining 75 reserved for members of civil society, businesspeople, women, the diaspora and other opposition groups". The next day it extended its own mandate by two years, to August 2011.
- 30 January 2009. Meeting in Djibouti, the enlarged Parliament elected the ARS chairman, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, as interim President after two rounds of voting. He was sworn in on 31 January.
See the transitional governments, 2000–2012.
Who suffered?
- Civilians in Mogadishu and the south during the fighting between ARS-aligned insurgents, al-Shabaab, the TFG and Ethiopian forces in 2007–2008. Human Rights Watch documented abuses by all of them (HRW, So Much to Fear, 2008).
Sources differ
- The name. The UN's 2007 report calls it the Alliance for the Liberation and Reconstitution of Somalia. From 2008 UN reports use Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia.
- Peace or resistance. The Djibouti wing signed the 2008 agreement. The Asmara wing rejected it and said Ethiopian troops had to leave first.
Read the primary sources yourself
Sources
- UN Security Council, S/2007/658, para. 8 · documents.un.org
- S/2009/132, para. 10 · documents.un.org
- S/2008/466, para. 4 · documents.un.org
- S/2008/709, paras. 6–7 · documents.un.org
- Congressional Research Service, RL33911 · everycrsreport.com
- Wikipedia, "Hizbul Islam" · en.wikipedia.org
- HRW, So Much to Fear, 2008 · hrw.org
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Where it happened
Same era
- Australia18,401 people of Somali ancestry and 8,101 born in Somalia lived in Australia at the 2021 Census, more than half in Victoria. History, work, issues.
- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- The Somali Civil WarThe Somali Civil War from the 1980s to now: the rebel fronts, the fall of Siad Barre, the split of Mogadishu, famine, the UN years, the Islamic Courts and al-Shabaab.
- The Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC), 2001–2004The SRRC, the Ethiopian-hosted alliance against Somalia's Arta government: its founding in 2001, its refusal to recognise the TNG, its fighting, and its part in the Kenya talks.
- The Burao conference and Somaliland's declaration, May 1991The Burao conference of 1991 and the declaration of the Republic of Somaliland: who attended, what was decided, the first government, and the first year after.
- The Transitional Federal Parliament, 2004–2012Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament from 2004 to 2012: how members were chosen by clan, the first sessions in Nairobi and Baidoa, the 2009 expansion, the Kampala Accord and the handover.
- UNOSOM I, 1992–1993: the first UN operation in SomaliaUNOSOM I, April 1992 to March 1993: the Mogadishu ceasefire, the observers and the Pakistani battalion, the famine, the looting of aid, and the turn to UNITAF.
- The UN and US intervention, 1992–1995: UNOSOM and UNITAFUNOSOM I and II and the US-led UNITAF, 1992–1995: the famine, the missions, the 5 June and 3 October 1993 battles, the civilian toll, and the withdrawal.