Somalia rally for al-Qaeda and al Shabaab merger
Al Shabaab's military spokesman Sheik Abdul Asis Abu Muscab. File photo.
Image by: FEISAL OMAR / REUTERS
Image by: FEISAL OMAR / REUTERS
Thousands of Somalis are gathering at a militant-organised demonstration in support of the merger of the Somali militant group al Shabaab with al-Qaeda.
Al Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage told those gathered at Monday's rally that al Shabaab is happy with its unification with al-Qaeda, a merger announced last week by al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri.
Several hundred people gathered at the rally, including veiled women and armed, masked men.
Rage also said that an upcoming international conference in London on Somalia is being organised to "colonise" Somalia.
Somalia has not had a fully functioning government in more than 20 years, but African militaries from Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Kenya are pressuring al Shabaab from three sides.
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