Hizbul Islam
On 20 December 2010, Hizbul Islam officially surrendered to al-Shabaab and the two organisations merged. As a result, al-Shabaab fighters started taking over Hizbul Islam positions, while Hizbul Islam fighters were allowed to enter al-Shabaab-controlled territories as well. On 23 December, the two sides formally declared unity in Mogadishu with a ceremony held in the Nasrudin mosque, which was attended by al-Shabaab's official spokesman Sheik Ali Mohamud Raghe and Sheik Abdifatah Mo'allin Mohamed, Hizbul Islam's head of information.