Tension still high in Mombasa despite opening of mosques

Tension is still high in Mombasa even after reopening of three mosques closed to weed out radical youths.

Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) assistant treasurer Sheikh Hassan Suleiman yesterday said another round of talks was expected to discuss how the troubled mosques could resume normal programmes and start hosting Friday prayers and other gatherings.

He said reopening the mosques was the first phase of the talks, but there was a need for sustained dialogue to bring on board the youths.

"We reopened Masjid Musa as youth watched the proceedings from a distance. This means there is need for continued dialogue by Muslim leaders to iron out the conflicts in the mosques and ensure peaceful prayers," Sheikh Suleiman said.

Mombasa advocate Abubakar Yusuf said reopening the mosques was a good beginning and positive action but elected, religious and community leaders must talk to the youth to address the stand-off at the mosques for a permanent solution.

"The other immediate action should be to ensure security for the teams that have taken over running of the mosques. We must talk to the youths to resolve outstanding issues because they are part of the community. The elected and religious leaders should lead the dialogue process," Yusuf said.

Haki Africa executive director Hussein Khalid said the greatest challenge in offering a lasting solution to the mosque conflicts was to ensure everybody was on board the talks, especially the youths who have differences with imams.

"The mosques were to be handed over to imams and sheikhs but these leaders have been in conflict with the youths and this is why community elders, who are neutral, took over," Khalid explained.

CIPK south Coast chairman Sheikh Hamisi Banda said issues of youth radicalisation and terror should be blamed on the Government for failing to secure the Kenyan borders.

"The long-term solution lies in securing our borders otherwise some foreigners will come and propagate radical ideologies. It is a shame to close mosques in Kenya because of terror threats while many other troubled countries like Libya and Iraq have not gone this route," Banda said.

At the Masjid Musa, Mr Musa Khatib Khamis leads the team that will manage the mosque which has been the focus of police after radical Muslims youths were accused of controlling it.

Imams who attended the reopening ceremony said Mr Khamis volunteered to take over running of the mosque after a number of other community elders declined for fear of action from the radical youths. Mr Khamis is father to Kayuni Khatib, one of the four suspects who surrendered to the police two weeks ago. Kayuni has been charged with attempted killing of Mombasa CID chief Victor Thangalani.

Khamis vowed to restore order at the mosque associated with murdered radical preachers Sheikh Aboud Rogo and Abubakar Sharif Makaburi. Musa, Sakina and Swafaa mosques reopened after a week of being shut. Minaa was to be opened after a team of community elders were identified to help manage its prayer service.

More than a week ago, police stormed Musa, Sakina and Swafaa and recovered eight grenades, one gun, machetes, knives and several petrol bombs. A 17-year-old secondary school boy was killed during the confrontation.

During the reopening of the Masjid Musa, Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa issued a stern warning to the radical youths, saying the Government would go for individual culprits causing trouble.

"We are putting the mosques under 24-hour surveillance and you will be held responsible for any criminal activities as individual. If chaos occur in these mosques we will go for the real culprits," Marwa warned.