Somali Islamists seize port as insurgency gains

[Alamuti Lotus]

Source: AP

NAIROBI, Kenya – An increasingly powerful Islamic insurgency is advancing toward Somalia's seaside capital, capturing town after town and seizing territory from the weak U.N.-backed government often without firing a shot.

But analysts say the hardline militants cannot achieve their ultimate goal of laying siege to Mogadishu, the capital, while powerful Ethiopian troops remain stationed in the once-beautiful city on the shore of the Indian Ocean.

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On Wednesday, al-Shabab added the town of Merka, 56 miles (90 kilometers) from the capital, to its list of conquests after poorly paid government fighters simply ran away.

The group now controls most of the country's south, with the crucial exceptions of Mogadishu and Baidoa, where the parliament sits.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081112/ap_on_re_af/af_somalia

[BunkerHill24]

1. Somalia is at a dire crossroads

I would hope the international community would come to the aid of Somalis. Somalis are very resilient, self-sustained and forward looking people, and would likely resist extremism if they could get some help.

[Alamuti Lotus]

2. unfortunately, the "international community" did step in..

...when Ethiopia invaded and occupied the place late '06 to support the phony gov't that Abdullahi Yusef Ahmed pretends to lead. Most Somalis (not counting the regions that have already broken off and formed their own pseudo-states) are not happy about that, nor about the support that the "international community" lends the occupation and Ahmed's failing warlord regime.

[BunkerHill24]

3. Somalis are divided on what the international community are doing

however, my understanding is that there is little, or no desire among majority of somalis supporting Islamists who advocate 13 yr old female stoning deaths. I would hope you are not here advocating that sort of government for Somalis.

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. it is not quite so simple

I have reserved judgement on the matter quoted, as these things tend to highly sensationalize themselves with each new re-telling (reminds of high school gossip). Many of the facts of these stories turn out to have been severely mangled once the dust settles, but by this time most highly rightous observers have moved on to some new outrage to vent about. For example, I have seen conflicting comments stating that Shabaab members before and afterwards fired on many of those throwing stones. Details are clouded by emotion at the moment.

I do, however, support the force that is currently defeating the drug dealers, thieves, pirates, warlords, and foreign occupyers that plague the land. There are some other stories worth mentioning, specifically all of these within the last few days. In Kismayo (main southwest city), they have creating the first peace since late '06 by disarming all the private militias in the city. Upon taking Ad-Dahr city in the central area (alternately spelled ElDehr, El-Dher, AlDahar, etc) local drug dealers and their private militias were shut down. In taking Lower Shabelle-region villages, they drove out the pro-govt gangs controlling checkpoints used to extort and harass local residents. Kenya may be currently invading a lower-southwest village after a Christian Nun was kidnapped; in response the local Shabaab commander threatened to resist the Kenyan invasion, as his people are hunting down the bandit gang themselves and will soon be rescuing the hostage.
These are things I support, yes, though I am sure there is also much that I would not (if true, the above for example but the situation is hardly typified by such a thing).

One unfortunate aspect of the '06 invasion was the splintering of the ICU and the ascendence of the "radical" faction that is currently frightening foreign diplomats and their media agents, but I suspect these differences will be mending as the TNG continues to crumble. If there is no support among the people, how are these cities all over the south and central regions falling like dominoes? Somalis are angry about the occupation and the mainly foreign gov't that tries to rule through the clan-based warlord gangs. That the Islamic youth movement cuts across the traditional clan boundaries is an advantage to them.

[Alamuti Lotus]

5. More news

Somalia: Rebels continue to advance, Elasha and Adado fall

After the peaceful takeover of the port town of Merca, Addado, about 600km north of Mogadishu and Elasha, outside the capital, which has been flooded by refugees in the recent months, have also fallen to control of the insurgents. Ali Mohalin, deputy director of the Medina hospital in Mogadishu confirmed the news to MISNA, adding that "the advance of insurgents is proceeding without the spilling of blood, also coinciding with the retreat of government and Ethiopian troops". According to Mohalin, "people are tired of the vexations to which, in small villages in particular, to which they are subjected by governors and government emissaries, who are, on top of everything, unable to maintain order and ensure security", for this reason, there is no resistance to the insurgents when they enter cities. Some witnesses also present in Elasha said that they did not hear gunfire, though they did see several trucks arriving during the night with armed men aboard; the latter ordered the residents to stay indoors until morning. "It is well known in Somalia, that the cities under the control of insurgents are the most secure and those having a functioning administration" said Mohalin. Meanwhile, in Merca, the main port in Somalia, the insurgents have banned weapons from the city streets and announced they would re-establish stability and security.

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Note: in Merka, however, the warlord (formerly aligned with ICU, now working for the TNG/Ethiopians) refuses to disarm.

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Somalia: Indha Ade Rejects Al Shabaab's Disarmament Order

A notorious warlord allied to Somalia's Islamic Courts Union (ICU) has rejected an order from the al Shabaab faction to "disarm peacefully," inside sources tell Garowe Online.

Yusuf "Indha Ade" Mohamed Siad, for years the warlord-ruler of Lower Shabelle region, fled the provincial capital Marka hours before al Shabaab fighters poured into the port town yesterday. READ: Islamist al Shabaab militia seize Marka port

Insiders said al Shabaab spokesman Muktar Robow "Abu Mansur" personally spoke with Indha Ade on the telephone before the al Shabaab forces advanced on Marka and requested Indha Ade to surrender his weapons.

"The weapons I have belong to a clan" was Indha Ade's response, according to Garowe Online sources.

Indha Ade belongs to the Habar Gedir sub-clan that traditionally inhabits the central regions of Mudug and Galgaduud.

For years, Indha Ade used Habar Gedir clan militia to subjugate Lower Shabelle's unarmed native clans and imposed rules that unfairly placed his clansmen in positions of power.

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Alshabab fighters remove roadblocks in central Somalia

Posted: 11/12/2008 10:25:00 AM
Shabelle: MOGADISHU

Alshabab fighters on Tuesday dismantled roadblocks across the central Somali town of Abudwaq in their latest show of strength.

Witnesses said the fighters from Al Shabaab group removed militia checkpoints from Mareergur area in Abudwaq town, allowing travellers to pass through without paying.

Spokesman of Alshabab has stated that they’ve sent warnings to those militias to lying the removed checkpoints once again.

[Kire]

6. Old pirates, yes, they rob I,

Old pirates, yes, they rob I,
Sold I to the merchant ships.
Minutes after they took I,
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong,
By the hand of the All Mighty.
We forward in this generation,
Triumphantly.

Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom ?
'Cause all I ever had,
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery,
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it,
We've got to fullfil the book.

So won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom?
'Cause all I ever had,
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs,
Redemption songs.
-
/Guitar break/
-
Old pirates, yes, they rob I,
Sold I to the merchant ships.
Minutes after they took I,
From the bottomless pit.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?