Somalia is perhaps best known for the distinctly graphic First Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, which was the basis for the novel and movie Black Hawk Down. By the next year the US had fully disengaged, leaving the country in the chaos that ensued with the ouster of Dictator Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. After years of civil war fueled by rival clans and a number of declarations of newly-independent states (e.g. Somaliland and Puntland), the UN installed a Transitional National Government, but it has failed to assert any real control.
Recently the Islamic Courts Union (UIC) has managed to more or less unite the country, for better or for worse. The Islamic group has taken control over much of Somalia, including the capital, Mogadishu, bringing a desperately needed sense of order. Let there be no mistake, however: I personally do not support any group that aspires to create a state dictated by Sharia law. A second Taliban playground is not a welcome solution, no matter how much unity it creates in a torn country.
In steps Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is a predominantly Christian nation and a supporter of Somalia's interim government. As such, it is far from being a dear friend of the UIC. With a declaration of "holy war" by the UIC in hand, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced Sunday night that his country had dropped two bombs on Somalia's main airport, while Somali troops, backed by Ethiopian soldiers, captured a key border town (Belet Weyne). According to early reports, there were some celebrations among Somali citizens as government soldiers moved through the town and headed south in pursuit of fleeing Islamic militiamen.
Fighting is expected to continue to escalate, with reports of fierce battles in the main government town of Baidoa and other areas. Fear further exists that Somalia will become a proxy battlefield between Ethiopia (supporting the transitional government) and Eritrea (supporting the Islamists). With regular citings of foreign Islamic fighters and the US desire to stop the UIC, Somalia also looks set to become a key battleground in the War on Terror.
Recently the Islamic Courts Union (UIC) has managed to more or less unite the country, for better or for worse. The Islamic group has taken control over much of Somalia, including the capital, Mogadishu, bringing a desperately needed sense of order. Let there be no mistake, however: I personally do not support any group that aspires to create a state dictated by Sharia law. A second Taliban playground is not a welcome solution, no matter how much unity it creates in a torn country.
In steps Ethiopia.
Ethiopia is a predominantly Christian nation and a supporter of Somalia's interim government. As such, it is far from being a dear friend of the UIC. With a declaration of "holy war" by the UIC in hand, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced Sunday night that his country had dropped two bombs on Somalia's main airport, while Somali troops, backed by Ethiopian soldiers, captured a key border town (Belet Weyne). According to early reports, there were some celebrations among Somali citizens as government soldiers moved through the town and headed south in pursuit of fleeing Islamic militiamen.
Fighting is expected to continue to escalate, with reports of fierce battles in the main government town of Baidoa and other areas. Fear further exists that Somalia will become a proxy battlefield between Ethiopia (supporting the transitional government) and Eritrea (supporting the Islamists). With regular citings of foreign Islamic fighters and the US desire to stop the UIC, Somalia also looks set to become a key battleground in the War on Terror.
3 comments:
Thank you for this interesting to the point summary of the situation in Somalia. In fact, as you stated, the country, due to absence of control became the political playground for its neighbours, and on a larger scale, perhaps Islam and the West.
The question is what should be done? Should foreign troops be sent into the country to prevent it from becoming a political playground? And if one sends troops, how to assure that it will not end up in the same situation as Iraq?
Thank you for reading our page and posing a very interesting question.
Based on the apparent success of the Ethiopian troops, I currently have my hopes pinned on them. The Islamists are retreating and seem to be losing control at a striking pace (based on the little information available on the ground).
However, fear does exist that the Islamists will/are regrouping and will manage to attract a substantially larger sum of foreign Jihadi recruits. Increasingly popular tactics such as suicide bombings can by no means be ruled out.
My hope is that the Ethiopians can weaken the UIC to the extent that the interim Somali government is at worst on an equal power footing. It should then be the task of the African Union (with the backing of the UN) to bring all sides (including the many clans and militias) to the negotiating table. In the meantime the situation should be analyzed in order to determine whether it will be necessary to send in foreign (namely African) troops. Preferably this will not be necessary, but it should certainly not be ruled out.
Relying solely on the United Nations is not something I am inclined to do these days, especially when the UN envoy asked the Security Council to call for an immediate cease-fire. A cease-fire? You mean the one which existed before Ethiopia intervened? Now that seems like a perfectly brilliant solution doesn't it...!
In other words, before talking about sending troops and comparing it to Iraq, I would like to see the result of the Ethiopian offensive. I will certainly comment on the situation at a later point, once the results of the offensive become clear.
why are u not adding my comment? is it not worthy??
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