allies and forced to withdraw from the Lower Juba region and most of Southern Somalia. In February 2010, Hassan "Turki"'s branch declared a merge with Al-Shabaab. A clash in Hiran, in early 2010, was won by Al Shabaab, which then took control of the area. In April 2010 a BBC correspondent compared Hizbul Islam to the Taliban of Afghanistan for banning radio stations from playing music. Late in the year, Hizbul Islam were expelled from Bay region, after Al Shabaab seized control of Burhakaba. Soon after Hizbul Islam was forced to surrender the town of Luuq to Al Shabaab. From mid-December al-Shabaab fighters started taking over Hizbul Islam positions. On 20 December, Hizbul Islam surrendered to Al Shabaab. The BBC reported that rumours of a merger had not been confirmed by the leaders of the two groups, in particular Hizbul Islam leader Sheikh Aweys. Hizbul Islam was disbanded on 20 December 2010. 2012 Regrouping In late September 2012, after Al-Shabab had suffered a number of military setbacks as well as criticism as the presumed hand behind the shooting of parliamentarian Mustafa Haji Maalim, Hizbul Islam announced that it was going to pull its former members out of Al Shabaab and regroup. The move was due to long-standing ideological differences, such as the group's opposition to the use of foreign jihadis, according to its spokesperson, and was described as "a significant setback for Al-Shabab". The spokesperson said it still wanted the African Union mission to leave Somalia but welcomed the new president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and parliament as a "positive development". Hizbul Islam has renounced violence in 2013. In June 2014 former foreign affairs secretary for Hizbul Islam has announced that Hizbul Islam would continue its activity in Somali politics as a political party and changed its name to Istiqlal. Leadership Sheikh Mohamed Ibrahim Hayle - Leader of Jabhatul Islamiya (JABISO). Mukhtar Abu Ali Aisha - The Leader of Mu'askar Anole Other leaders: Mohamed Moalim - Official spokesperson. Former leaders Sheikh Omar Iman Abubakar - Chairman of Hizbul Islam until 26 May 2009 when he stepped down, handing over his position to Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. Sheikh Yusuf Mohammed Siad Inda'ade - A powerful warlord leading figure in the Asmara-based branch of the ARS until 17 May 2009, when he defected to the government. Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki - Leader of the Ras Kamboni Brigade which defected to Al-Shabaab. Sheikh