Kismayu updates: a popular uprising + other notes

[General Duke]

Somalia: A popular uprising in Kismayo

24 Aug 24, 2008 - 3:01:05 PM

 

SUNDAY EDITORIAL | Frankly, in Somalia, there is no politics without clans.

 

Make no mistake: the swift, righteous takeover of Kismayo port in southern Somalia by Islamist fighters is no ‘al Qaeda’ plot. Undoubtedly, many people will feed the Americans and the Ethiopians with misinformation linking Kismayo’s liberators to international terror groups and cavemen like Osama bin Laden. This has been the mantra since 2006, when the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) first liberated the Somali capital Mogadishu from American-financed, Ethiopian-armed warlords renowned for 16 years of brutality. The strategy of backing despised warlords backfired and provided the catalyst for the popular rise of the ICU, whose fighters soon seized most of south-central Somalia and were welcomed by the cheering thousands.

 

In Kismayo, local clans lived under the oppressive rule of armed clans from the central regions since 1999. Hundreds of local families were displaced from their Kismayo homes and forced to live in refugee camps in Kenya, while the invading clans from central Somalia (edited) illegally and immorally lived off the land, the port and the airport. Frankly, in Somalia, there is no politics without clans. While the .........are part of the .clan-family, the that dominates the central regions and Mogadishu. But their alliance was based on common political and economic interests. This point can be easily explained.

 

In September 2006, Col. Barre Hirale, a ........ warlord, refused to join the Habar Gedir-led ICU agenda aimed at destroying Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), led by President Abdullahi Yusuf .........ally in Kismayo, Mr. Yusuf Mire Serar, switched alliances to the ICU, magically transforming from a bloody warlord to a dedicated, religious man overnight[/n]. Hirale and his .....militias, who thrived in Kismayo with ......... backing, fled the port town and rushed to President Yusuf’s home base in Baidoa. Not surprising, when the ..........failed to tow the .......agenda, they were easily dismantled from power in Kismayo and forced to live under Yusuf’s shadow.

 

In January 2007, Ethiopian-backed Somali government troops invaded Kismayo and the ICU scattered – splintering into radicals and moderates, clans and sub-clans. As a bloody insurgency erupted in Mogadishu, Ethiopian forces withdrew from Kismayo in March that year, leaving the town under the control of .......dominated government troops. A month later, the government troops – which an easily be substituted for ‘clan militias’ – divided along clans; namely, soldiers versus .......soldiers. The .........troops captured Kismayo, forcing soldiers and TFG-appointed regional administrators belonging to other ...229to flee to safety. Consequently, flagrant violations of human rights were well-documented by local organizations who reported acts of indiscriminate killings, rape and robbery of property belonging to non-******* civilians.

 

In Kismayo, an alliance of local clans fought for their God-given right to live free in the land of their fathers' fathers. They bravely liberated Kismayo so their children can walk and play in peace, and their women's honor and dignity is respected. That local clans sought Islamist support is no surprise; the TFG, preoccupied by the insurgency, neglected Kismayo and allowed brutal militias to suppress the local population. Simply, what happened in Kismayo is a popular uprising, not against the UN-recognized TFG, but against illegal militias who arrogantly refused to recognize the very TFG the world has spent so much resources defending.

 

The days of warlord-rule are over! The international community, namely the U.S. Government, should not be misled by 'al Qaeda' allegations and drawn into another quagmire, which would spread the insurgency like a wildfire across Somalia's deep south. Today, Islamist fighters control most of south-central Somalia; recently, it took Ethiopian troops eight days to travel the 250km-road linking Mogadishu to Baidoa, because they were repeatedly ambushed.

 

If the TFG, or its Ethiopian military backers, attempt to retake Kismayo by force, the insurgency will gain many supporters in regions like Puntland, the TFG's main domestic backer and President Yusuf's stronghold.

 

A wise policy would avoid such a predictable catastrophy.

 

Garowe Online Editorial, editorial@garoweonline.com

[NGONGE]

^^ I am assuming you're just reporting the news here and that you're not FULLY in agreement with the views in the article above. Right?

[General Duke]

^^^You got it adeer I am like 90% in agreement.

[NGONGE]

^^ Do you think it will last? And what's the TFG's view on the whole thing? Will they let these locals run their own show or will they demand (albeit subtely) that they oversee the whole thing?

[General Duke]

^^^I belive so far the locals have decided to play it safe, they are consulting the local clans with a view to create a new unified admin, many big players, businessmen from Nairobi & other parts of East Africa are on route to help.

 

The TFG has so far kept out of it, as it did before its a clan issue and this has nothing to do with Al Shabaab and other groups who are at "war" with the government.

 

So far so good, but it depends on the new leaders and how much power they want.

[Gabbal]

The greatest story in the world!

 

Duke's clansmen chase Barre Hiiraale from Kismaayo!

 

Is it not Duke? This is what you have bombarded the forum with is it not?

[General Duke]

^^^Adeer we are the same clan, no need to get down. Hiiraale was an ***** who lost an opportunity. His militia have been defeated but his clan are like anyother and have a right to live in safety and dignity.

 

However after 9 years of nonsnece we need to all work to make Kismayu a wonderfull city for all Somalis.

[sunaari]

I agree with you. Kismayo can handle all somalis put together. One clan is not gonna bring peace and properity to the city, but united clans who happened to live that beatiful city. Barre's people have every rights to live in Kismayo, so does any other groups in the Lower Juba. However, fighting and in fighting between clans will only increase civilian killing and city destruction. May God bring peace to Kismay and entire Somali country.

[Nephissa]

How long will it be before the puppets in Mogdishu just come out and give this group the terrorist label?

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

if they turn out to be dowladiid, not long but it doesn't look like they will go the route of the former islamist.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

ya duke, do you know if the admin they are trying to build will be a "islamic" one imposing sharia? and what s is to happen with the rest of the Jubbas?

[General Duke]

I dont know as of yet, I think they are looking at their options.

[Nephissa]

Originally posted by Naxar Nugaaleed:

if they turn out to be dowladiid, not long

Dude, you'd better hope like hell that all those in the Jubba valley don't get together and decide that your ilk is a plague on the @ss of humanity.. oo sharia law left, right and centre la idinku rule gareen..

 

Originally posted by Naxar Nugaaleed:

ya duke, do you know if the admin they are trying to build will be a "islamic" one imposing sharia?

, cabsi.com

[General Duke]

^^^No one here is against Shariah Law, and the project in Kismayu has nothing to do with the clowns led by inadaCADE and Xasan Dahir.

[General Duke]

Axmedu Walde Cabdallah oo ka hadley sababaha keena dagaalada Kismaayo

 

 

Wakiilka gaarka ah ee Qaramada Midoobay ee arimaha Soomaaliya Axmadu Walde Cabdalah ayaa wuxuu si buuxda uga hadley xaaladaha dagaal ee isdaba jooga ah ee ay caanka ku noqotey magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta Gobolka Jubada Hoose.

 

Axmedu Walde Cabadallah wuxuu sheegay in sababaha ugu waa weyn ee keenaya dagaalada ka socda magaalada Kismaayo ay yihin sababo dhanka dhaqaalaha oo ku aadan awooda iyo gacan ku haynta magaalada Kismaayo oo uu sheegay inay leedahay muhiimad dhaqaale oo aad u balaaran oo loogu jiro hanashadeeda.

 

Mr.Cabdalaha wuxuu tilmaamay in magaalada Kismaayo ay leedahay istaraatijayad dhaqaale oo muhiim ah sida Garoonka diyaaradaha iyo dekada iyadoo qolo kastaa ay leedahay dano dhaqaale iyo awoodeed oo ku aadan gacan ku haynta magaalada Kismaayo.

 

Wakiilka gaarka ah ee Qaramada Midoobay ee arimaha Soomaaliya Axmadu Walde Cabdalah wuxuu markii ugu horeydsay ka shanqariyey in dagaalada ka dhacay inta badan magaalada Kismaayo ay yihiin kuwa dhanka dhaqaalaha iyadoo buu yiri ay sida ay wax u jiraan ee ay wax ka qoraan saxaafada ama web site-yadu wuxuuna sheegay in sababaha dagaalka magaalada Kismaayo ay tahay dhibaato ama arimo dhaqaale iyo mid bulsho oo u dhaxaysa beel ka mid ah beelaha Soomaalida dhexdeeda sida hadalka uu u dhigay Axmadu Walde Cabdalla.

 

“Dad badan ayaa soo hadal qaaday arinta dagaalka magaalada Kismaayo gaar ahaan kuwa inta badan aqrista sida ay web site-yadu, Kismaayo waa dagaal dhaqaale oo jiilal ah, dagaalka Kismaayo wuxuu ahaa mid ku aadan gacan ku haynta magaalada Kismaayo, qof kasta oo jooga Kenya ama Jabuuti wuu ogyahay in dagaalka Kismaayo uu yahay mid ku salaysan xaaladaha ku gacan ku haynta dekada, iyo garoonka, dhibaatada dagaal ee ka jirta magaalada Kismaayo waa mid dhaqaale iyo bulsho oo u dhaxaysa hal beel oo ah beesha..........taasi oo ku aadan maamulka iyo gacan ku haynta magaalada Kismaayo” ayuu ku yiri hadalkiisa sida hadalka uu u dhigay Wakiilka gaarka ah ee Qaramada Midoobay ee arimaha Soomaaliya Axmadu Walde Cabdallah.

 

 

 

Najma C/casiis Cali

SBC International News Desk