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March 22, 2006
Somalia: Islamic Militias Cause Death And Chaos In Mogadishu
Reports coming in from various sources reveal that the planned offensive which was promised last week by the Union of Islamic Courts is now underway, and deaths have been reported. According to South African Reuters, as many as nine people have been killed and at least 29 have been wounded in fighting which has been taking place in northern Mogadishu, capital of Somalia.
The Union of Islamic Courts vowed to take control of Mogadishu by force. Currently the city is broken up into small territories controlled by warlords and their representatives. The militias controlled by the Islamic Courts, which have been acting to take power for some time, and frequently involve themselves in smashing up bars, pool halls, and even film-editing facilities, have been arming their followers for a proposed coup.
The current fighting is being mounted between two factions. The faction supported by the Islamic courts is led by a businessmen named Abukar Omar Caddaan, states Shabelle News. The faction fighting against the Islamic militamen is led by Bashir Rage (pictured, above left), who is a member of the Counter-Terror Alliance.
The Counter-Terror Alliance, headed by Abdi Nore Siad, was formed in February this year to battle the lawlessness on the streets of Mogadishu. Soon after it was started, a four day battle took place beginning on February 18 between its members and an Islamic militia led by Shiekh Sharif Sheikh Hassan of the Union of Islamic Courts. In that conflict, at least 22 people were killed and more than 120 were wounded.
The current fighting is concentrated around the area of Galgalato. Heavy arms are being used by both sides. Rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft guns, machine guns, assault rifles and hand grenades are being used in the battle between the two factions. Many people have been forced to evacuate their homes to avoid the conflict.
The Counter-Terror Alliance has claimed the fundamentalist Islamic Courts have been behind the murders of moderate Muslim intellectuals and scholars, and former military officials. They have described the Islamic militias as "terrorists".
According to South Africa's Independent, a three month old child has been injured in the current fighting. The Islamic militiamen travelled to northern Mogadishu on buses, wearing civilian clothing and carrying concealed weapons. They came to one of the checkpoints at the residential neighbourhood, and jumped from the buses, seized three trucks with mounted machine guns, and the fighting then began, with both sides bringing in reinforcements.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 22, 2006 9:40 AM
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