# Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a (ASWJ), 1991–2021 > Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a: Sufi origins, the 2008 turn to arms against al-Shabaab, Ethiopian support, its battles in Galgaduud, deals with the TFG and Galmudug, and 2021. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/ahlu-sunna-waljamaa/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## In short Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a ("people of the Sunna and the community") is the name used by Somali followers of the Sufi orders, the [Qadiriyya](/en/society/islam-in-somalia/), Ahmadiyya and Salihiyya, whose role in Somali religious life is described by the [Library of Congress](https://countrystudies.us/somalia/47.htm). The armed group of that name arose in 2008 in response to attacks on Sufi shrines and scholars by [al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/). This page records its armed history from the sources. ## Origins, 1991 Stanford's Mapping Militant Organizations project dates the group to 1 January 1991, formed to protect Sufi Muslims ([Mapping Militant Organizations, Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama)). Wikipedia records that it arose in opposition to Salafi groups such as [al-Itihaad al-Islamiya](/en/institutions/al-itihaad-al-islamiya/), and that during the 1990s it worked with the Somali National Alliance of [General Aidid](/en/people/mohamed-farrah-aidid/) ([Wikipedia, Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahlu_Sunna_Waljama%27a)). ## Taking up arms, 2008–2009 In 2008 al-Shabaab destroyed Sufi tombs and attacked clerics. ASWJ fighters, drawn from clan militias, first attacked in December 2008, in an unsuccessful attempt to take Guri'el in which 15 were killed ([Mapping Militants](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama); [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahlu_Sunna_Waljama%27a)). In March 2009, after more clerics were killed, it declared jihad against al-Shabaab (Wikipedia). Mapping Militants records that in February 2009 it took Guri'el, [Cabudwaaq](/en/regions/caabudwaaq/), Dhusamareb, Masagaway and Cadaado. In 2008–2009 it held much of [Galgaduud](/en/regions/galgaduud/) and southern [Mudug](/en/regions/mudug/) and parts of [Gedo](/en/regions/gedo/), [Hiiraan](/en/regions/hiiraan/), Middle [Shabelle](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/) and [Bakool](/en/regions/bakool/). A 2008 UN report estimated it at about 5,000 fighters ([Mapping Militants](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama); [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahlu_Sunna_Waljama%27a)). ## Ethiopian support Mapping Militants records that Ethiopia trained and armed ASWJ from December 2008, training about 1,000 fighters in four-month rotations, and that Ethiopian troops joined an ASWJ attack on al-Shabaab positions on 11 March 2011 ([Mapping Militants](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama)). ## Main battles - **16 March 2009, Dhusamareb area.** Fighting with al-Shabaab; Mapping Militants records 146 killed, 231 wounded and many thousands displaced. - **5 June 2009, Wabxo.** 123 killed. - **24 April 2011, Dhusamareb.** ASWJ retook the town. - **28 April and 3 May 2011, Gedo.** Fighting at Luuq and the capture of Garbahaarey. ([Mapping Militants](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama); [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahlu_Sunna_Waljama%27a)) ## Deals with the government On 15 March 2010 ASWJ and the [Transitional Federal Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) signed a power-sharing agreement: the group would back the fight against al-Shabaab and receive ministries, diplomatic posts and senior security positions. [Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) Mohamed Sheikh Hassan signed for ASWJ. The group later said the promised posts were not delivered ([Mapping Militants](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama)). In February 2015 ASWJ fighters and the national army clashed at Guri'el, leaving at least 16 dead; a five-point agreement followed on 5 March 2015 (Wikipedia, citing Al Jazeera and [Goobjoog](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/)). ## Galmudug, 2017–2021 In December 2017 ASWJ and Galmudug State signed a power-sharing agreement. ASWJ recognised Galmudug's authority, its forces joined the state's forces, and its leader Sheikh Mohamed Shakir Ali Hassan became chief minister ([Mapping Militants](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama)). The merger took effect in January 2018 (Wikipedia). ASWJ had held Dhusamareb, now Galmudug's capital, until December 2017 (Mapping Militants). See [Galmudug](/en/states/galmudug/). After a new Galmudug administration took office, the arrangement broke down. In September 2021 fighting near Dhusamareb killed at least 10 people, and on 1 October 2021 ASWJ took Guri'el ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahlu_Sunna_Waljama%27a), citing [BBC Somali](/en/society/media-in-somalia/)). ## Leaders named in the sources Sheikh Mohamed Yusuf Hefow (founder), Sheikh Mohamed Sheikh Hassan, Sheikh Mohamed Shakir Ali Hassan, Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Hassan and spiritual leader Sheikh Mahmud Sheikh Hasan Farah ([Mapping Militants](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama); [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahlu_Sunna_Waljama%27a)). ## Read the primary sources yourself - Mapping Militant Organizations, Stanford University, "Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a" (updated 2019): [profile](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/ahlu-sunna-wal-jama). - Vanda Felbab-Brown, study of hybrid conflict and militias in Somalia (United Nations University, 2020): [PDF](https://i.unu.edu/media/cpr.unu.edu/post/3895/HybridConflictSomaliaWeb.pdf). --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. 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