Somalia’s two main insurgent groups said they intend to join forces to oppose the country’s Western-backed government and a rejected a report by a domestic radio station that talks on the proposed merger were in jeopardy.
Al-Shabaab, which the U.S. accuses of having links with al-Qaeda, and Hisbul Islam, said they began talks last month aimed at amalgamating their operations. Spokesmen for both groups denied a report yesterday by Radio Shabelle, a Mogadishu-based broadcaster, that the negotiations had failed.
