New Islamic court set up in Mogadishu

A new Islamic court established in north Mogadishu was launched on 16 September, Ali Awale, a Mogadishu businessman, told IRIN. It was set up by the Wa'aysle sub-clan of the main Abgal, near the Tawfiq road junction of north Mogadishu. He said the court would not compete with the newly established judiciary of the Transitional National Government (TNG), but complement it. "The court will adjudicate minor issues arising within the sub-clan, and will turn over to the police and courts any major criminals," he said. Inasmuch as the new police force had not been effective in all areas of Mogadishu, the court would help the police "penetrate areas they have been unable to reach so far". Other sources in Mogadishu, however, told IRIN that the court's establishment was an "attempt by a sub-clan to get something out of the interim government", following the TNG's nationalisation of all clan-based Islamic courts in June when it announced that these would henceforth operate under the justice ministry. According to the sources, the TNG then commissioned most of the Islamic court judges to serve under the ministry, while their militia were absorbed by the security forces, thereby affording them "gainful employment". The establishment of the new court appeared to be "an attempt by some people to get a share of the employment pie", said the sources.