# Ras Kamboni brigades and the Raskamboni movement > The Ras Kamboni brigades and the Raskamboni movement: Hassan al-Turki's group, the 2009 split, Ahmed Madobe, the Kenya alliance, Kismayo in 2012, and Jubaland. Source page: https://calankii.com/en/institutions/raskamboni-movement/ Last checked: 2026-11-12 Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com) ## In short Two different armed bodies have carried the Ras Kamboni name. The first, the Ras Kamboni brigades, was an Islamist force led by [Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki](/en/people/hassan-abdullah-hersi-al-turki/). The second, the Raskamboni movement, grew from part of it under Ahmed Madobe, turned against [al-Shabaab](/en/history/al-shabaab/), allied with Kenya and became the base of [Jubaland](/en/states/jubaland/) State. Wikipedia records that the Raskamboni movement drew its support mainly from the Ogaden clan of the [Juba](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/) valley ([Wikipedia, Ras Kamboni Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_Kamboni_Movement)). ## The Ras Kamboni brigades Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki was a leader of [al-Itihaad al-Islamiya](/en/institutions/al-itihaad-al-islamiya/); the US designated him in June 2004 ([Wikipedia, Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Itihaad_al-Islamiya), citing the US State Department). His force, based at Ras Kamboni in the far south, was one of four groups that formed [Hizbul Islam](/en/institutions/hizbul-islam/) in January 2009 ([Wikipedia, Hizbul Islam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hizbul_Islam)). Wikipedia lists the [Somali Patriotic Movement](/en/institutions/somali-patriotic-movement/) among its predecessors in the area ([Wikipedia, Somali Patriotic Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Patriotic_Movement)). ## The split of 2009–2010 From 1 October 2009 Hizbul Islam and al-Shabaab fought for Kismayo. Al-Shabaab won and expelled the Ras Kamboni fighters, and in November 2009 the faction led by Ahmed Madobe withdrew from Lower Juba. In February 2010 al-Turki's branch announced it was merging with al-Shabaab ([Wikipedia, Ras Kamboni Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_Kamboni_Movement); [Long War Journal, February 2010](http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/02/shabaab_absorbs_sout.php)). Stanford's Mapping Militants project records the same division: one faction merged into al-Shabaab in 2010, the rest allied with Kenya ([Mapping Militant Organizations, al-Shabaab](https://mappingmilitants.org/profiles/al-shabaab)). ## The Raskamboni movement under Ahmed Madobe Wikipedia dates the Raskamboni movement from 7 October 2009, with Ahmed Madobe as chairman and Maalim Mohamud as deputy, and estimates it at under 1,000 fighters in 2010. After Hizbul Islam was absorbed into al-Shabaab in December 2010, it allied with [Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a](/en/institutions/ahlu-sunna-waljamaa/) and the [Transitional Federal Government](/en/history/transitional-governments-2000-2012/) ([Wikipedia, Ras Kamboni Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_Kamboni_Movement)). See [Ahmed Madobe](/en/people/ahmed-madobe/). ## With Kenya: Dhobley and Kismayo - **3 April 2011.** With government forces and the Kenyan air force, it took Dhobley near the Kenyan border from al-Shabaab (same source, citing [Hiiraan Online](/en/economy/somali-media-companies/)). - **October 2011.** Kenya sent its army into southern Somalia ([Council on Foreign Relations, *Al-Shabaab* backgrounder](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/al-shabaab)). - **28 September 2012.** Kenyan troops landed on the beach at Kismayo ([The Guardian, 28 September 2012](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/28/kenyan-soldiers-capture-kismayo-somalia)). With the Somali army, AU troops and Raskamboni fighters, they took the city, al-Shabaab's main port and source of revenue ([CFR](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/al-shabaab)). ## Jubaland and Kismayo after 2012 Ahmed Madobe became interim leader of the Jubaland administration in 2012 and was chosen president in 2013 ([Nation, 7 September 2025](https://beta.nation.co.ke/kenya/weekly-review/why-was-somalia-s-jubaland-formed-and-who-is-its-leader-madobe--5183878)). In February 2014, after security chief Isse Kamboni was shot dead on 19 February, Raskamboni forces carried out a search operation in Kismayo; more than 150 civilians were detained and seven civilian deaths were reported (same source, citing Keydmedia). In late November and December 2024, after Madobe's re-election, Jubaland and federal forces clashed at Ras Kamboni; some federal troops were captured and others crossed into Kenya ([Daisy Muibu and Yayedior Mbengue, *CTC Sentinel*, May 2025](https://ctc.westpoint.edu/somalia-at-a-crossroads-resurgent-insurgents-fragmented-politics-and-the-uncertain-future-of-aussom/)). ## Read the primary sources yourself - *The Guardian*, "Kenyan troops launch beach assault on Somali city of Kismayo" (2012): [article](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/28/kenyan-soldiers-capture-kismayo-somalia). - Matthew J. Thomas, "Exposing and exploiting weaknesses in the merger of al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab", *Small Wars and Insurgencies* 24:3 (2013): [article](https://doi.org/10.1080/09592318.2013.802611). --- I want to help with this: email hello@calankii.com. Fix this page: email hello@calankii.com with the page link and your source.