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March 27, 2006

Somalia: Islamic Militia Battle Ceasefire - 90 Dead

We reported on March 22 on the violence which was caused by Islamic militias, fighting under the control of a businessman, Abukar Omar Caddaan, who ambushed a checkpoint on Wednesday at Galgalato, northern Mogadishu. The fighting which ensued saw two factions recruiting more members and bringing more weaponry to the scene.

The Islamic militias were fighting against the Counter-Terror Alliance, a group founded in February to combat the violence which has been connected with the Islamist fundamentalists connected with the Union of Islamic Councils. On March 14 we described how Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, leader of the Union of Islamic Councils, had vowd that his supporters would take Mogadishu by force.

The Counter-Terror Alliance forces who were fighting last week were led by Bashir Rage. Yesterday, during a lull in the fighting, Associated Press via the Washington Post reported that Islamic militiamen buried their dead and brought in more forces, ready for a new offensive.

At least 93 people had been killed in the current spate of fighting, and at least 200 were injured. On Saturday (25 March), 300 of the Islamic militiamen mounted an operation against the port of El Maan in a pre-dawn raid, and also tried to gain control of an airstrip north of Mogadishu. They failed in both these efforts. El Maan is the only working port in Somalia.

Today, Reuters AlertNet, Reuters via MSNBC and SomaliNet report that a fragile ceasefire has been brokered between the two sides. Following urgings from Somali clan leaders, the Islamic militias have engaged in talks with businessmen and warlords.

It appears the port of El Maan was taken over, and the warlords who control it were driven from the region. The port is now, under the terms of the ceasefire, currently open. The UN-approved interim government is believed to be involved with brokering the peace, though this body has little actual power, and is based in Jowhar, outside the capital, because of the poor security in the nation.

Mohammed Said Barre, the dictator, was deposed in 1991, and since then, the capital has been governed by warlords who hold regions of Mogadishu under their exclusive control. Some of these are also involved with ship hi-jacking and piracy. In recent years, the powers of the Islamic militias have grown, and they are accused of killing moderate Muslims, intellectuals and businessmen. They conduct their own bandit raids upon places they deem "un-Islamic", such as bars and cinemas.

Our previous articles on Somalia can be found here.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 27, 2006 3:52 PM

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