Hizbul Islam ("Islamic Party"), also known as Hizbul Islaami, Hisbi Islam, or Hezb-ul Islam was a Somali Islamists insurgent group. It was formed after four Islamist groups merged to fight the new Somali government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. The four groups were: Hassan Aweys' ARS-A, Jabhatul Islamiya ("Islamic Front"), Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki's Mu'askar Ras Kamboni (Ras Kamboni Brigade) and Muaskar Anole, the Harti clan's militia. These groups previously took part in the Islamist Insurgency against Ethiopia and the TFG. On December 20, 2010 they merged with Al-Shabaab, retaining the name 'Al-Shabaab'. Ali Yassin Mohamed was also among the group's founders.On 7 February 2009, they announced they would continue fighting the new government led by president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and the AU forces in Mogadishu. Omar Iman, who was the group's charman at the time, said "The so-called government led by Sharif Sheik Ahmed is not different from the one of Abdulahi Yusuf" and that they would continue the holy war (Jihad). - Source: Wikipedia
