SheikhHassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki (Somali: Hassan Abdullah Hirsii al-Turki, Arabic: حسن عبد الله حرسي التركي الجامعة; c. 1944 – 27 May 2015) was a Somali Islamist who was a senior leader within al-Itihaad al-Islamiya (AIAI) and the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).
He later founded the Ras Kamboni Brigades which later merged into Hizbul Islam. In 2010 Turki joined Al-Shabaab. He died of illness during May 2015.
Biography
Al-Turki was born in the Ogaden.[2] He hailed from the Reer Abdille subdivision of the OgadenDarod clan. Al-Turki was a veteran of 1964 Ethiopian–Somali War[3] and the 1977-78 Ogaden War over control of the Somali-inhabited Ogaden region, and subsequently left the region to continue his revolutionary efforts in Somalia.[4]
Following his death, Al Shabaab released a statement claiming that Al-Turki was behind the killing of Salvatore Colombo, an Italian Catholic priest in Mogadishu in July 1989.[5]
On 3 June 2004, al-Turki was designated, under US Presidential Executive Order 13224, for terrorist financing.[6] He later became a military leader of ICU, and was in charge of the Dhobley situated near the North Eastern Province.[7] He also led ICU forces in the taking of Jubaland.
On 23 September 2006, al-Turki forces approached Jilib, en route to Kismayo. In a result, Juba Valley Alliance forces withdrew without a fight.[8] After the city fell, on 24 September, he promised peace to the city after Islamic militiamen broke up an anti-Islamist demonstration with gunfire, killing three teenagers.[9] (Also see: Juba Valley Alliance § War in Somalia). Al-Turki addressed the people of Kismayo, saying that the region would be under Sharia law. "This city is seized by Islamic forces including all tribes of Somali men and foreigners, welcome to the new peace brought to this city and I promise you will live in security and prosperity", he reportedly said.[9] He was later targeted in a US airstrike on 3 March 2008. The two Tomahawk cruise missiles hit two homes in Dhobley that were allegedly visited by al-Turki, who was believed to have ties to al-Qaeda.[10]
