Somali insurgent group Hizbul Islam seized the pirate haven of Haradhere on Sunday without a fight and pledged to take control of more towns in the region, the rebel group said. Here are some key facts about the group:

The group was founded on Feb. 4, 2009. Hizbul Islam is an umbrella organisation of four groups led by cleric Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, who has been an influential figure among Islamists.

The four groups` leaders had previously participated in the Union of Islamic Courts administration of Somalia in 2006. The Islamists ruled the capital Mogadishu and much of Somalia in 2006, until they were defeated in Dec. 2006 by Ethiopian troops and Somali government forces. The Islamists have since regained control of much of the territory from which they were expelled.

The News:
http://www.biyokulul … t.php?articleid=2744

Ogaden National Liberation Front [ONLF] forces have intensified attacks against Ethiopian troops. At least 289 Ethiopian soldiers have been killed in the last 10 days, among them many officers. The fighting took place as follows:

On 11 April 2010, a unit of Ogaden National Liberation Front fighters clashed with Ethiopian soldiers in Jerar province. Five Ethiopian soldiers were killed and six others were wounded in the battle. On the same date, Ethiopian troops stationed in Gosololey, Jerar province, suffered massive losses in a nocturnal attack. Also in Gosololey, two Ethiopian soldiers were killed in a skirmish with an ONLF scouting party.

The News:
http://www.ogaden.co … iopian-soldiers.html

The Islamist fighters of Hizbul Islam organization have taken over the control of Harardere town in central Somalia, just as the pirates left the town, witnesses and officials told Shabelle radio on Sunday.

Reports from the town say that more forces accompanied with many armed vehicles of the Islamist organization of Hizbul Islam had entered the town from different directions and formally took over its control.

Residents told Shabelle radio that Hizbul Islam forces seized the town peacefully as the Somali pirates vacated from it with out violence.

The News:
http://www.shabelle. … ews.asp?NewsID=13065

A defeated candidate and former Lt. General and Deputy Chief of General Staff for Moral Orientation in the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), has launched a deadly assault on the army’s military barrack of Doleib Hills area near the Upper Nile state’s capital, Malakal.

Southern Sudan officials on Friday confirmed that General George Athor, who recently contested as independent candidate for governorship of the region’s largest state of Jonglei, was behind the attack.

The News:
http://www.sudantrib … pip.php?article34933

Somaliland may launch a new military offensive into the disputed regions near the Somali-border where clan insurgent leaders have been building up armed militia in the past three months.

In a move to secure it’s borders ahead of the general President elections, Somaliland has placed it’s army in the Sool region on full preparation to carry out operations along the Somaliland-Somali border. Somaliland and Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland have in the past disputed over the Sool and Sanag regions, each laying claim over it.

The News:
http://somalilandpre … d-of-elections-13444

Somalia’s al-Shabaab group, which has vowed to topple the UN-backed government, has seized three towns in the central Galguduud region from the pro-government Ahlu Sunna movement, witnesses said.

Al-Shabaab took control of the towns of El Der, Masagaway and Galad towns on Friday reportedly without any resistance from the rival group.

The three towns lie on the road linking Mogadishu, the capital, and eastern Somalia, which is considered to be al-Shabaab’s power base.

The News:
http://english.aljaz … 042452922967484.html

At least 50 people have died in clashes between South Sudan’s army and Darfuri Arab tribes along the country’s north-south divide, reports say.

It is the most serious violence reported since Sudan held elections held between 11-15 April.

They were the first multi-party polls in 24 years but were marred by irregularities and alleged fraud, and results have been delayed by days.

The News:
http://news.bbc.co.u … i/africa/8642711.stm