Somali Islamists cut fuel supply to government base

[Paragon]

By Guled Mohamed

 

MOGADISHU, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Somali Islamists are stopping fuel shipments reaching the government's base in Baidoa, dealers and officials said on Wednesday, potentially cutting off key supplies should a tense standoff between both sides boil over.

 

Tensions are fast rising in the Horn of Africa nation between the Islamists and the Western-backed government as the religious movement extends its authority across southern Somalia, effectively flanking the administration on three sides.

 

Under Islamist control, Mogadishu is the main hub from where fuel, brought in by businessmen from the Gulf States, is then transported to other southern towns such as Baidoa.

 

One fuel dealer said his truck was stopped overnight in Buur Hakaba, a strategic town which the Islamists retook on Monday after government troops had chased away their allies over the weekend. The town is only 30 km (18 miles) from the interim government's provincial base in Baidoa and on the route used to transport fuel to there from Mogadishu.

 

"This is an economic embargo by the Islamists aimed at crippling the interim government," Abdi Ahmed told Reuters by telephone from Buur Hakaba, where his truck was still being held. "This will have a major impact on Baidoa because most of our oil comes from Mogadishu."

 

Ahmed said the Islamists were only stopping trucks carrying fuel and had let through those carrying food and passengers.

 

"This is bad for business. Fuel prices will start to go up now, transport will also increase. It's a really a big blow," the Baidoa-based dealer said.

 

An Islamist source in Buur Hakaba confirmed the move.

 

"All trucks carrying fuel to Baidoa from Mogadishu have been detained," the source, who declined to be named, said. "Other trucks are allowed to proceed with their journey."

 

Many fear skirmishes between the government -- the 14th attempt at effective central rule since the 1991 ouster of a dictator -- and the Islamists, who seized Mogadishu from U.S.-backed warlords in June, could turn to a full-scale region-wide war.

 

Pro-Islamist fighters in Buur Hakaba and rival Ethiopian troops supporting the government dug defensive positions this week around their outposts.

 

Witnesses say regional power -- and the Islamists' enemy -- Ethiopia is propping up the government by sending troops but Addis Ababa denies sending anything but military advisers.

 

Somali Deputy Defence Minister Salad Ali Jelle said those worst affected by the Islamists' move were civilians as the government had a large enough fuel supply.

 

"This embargo will only affect ordinary people since we have enough supply of fuel," he said from Baidoa. "We had planned in advance and knew they would resort to such acts."

 

In another development, militia loyal to the government arrested three journalists who were travelling to Baidoa from Buur Hakaba. The National Union of Somali Journalists said they had been reporting on the skirmishes.

 

Local sources said their cameras and tape recorders were confiscated. An official confirmed the arrests.

 

"The journalists who were arrested yesterday were seen moving in and out of Baidoa and Buur Hakaba. So that is why they were arrested," senior government intelligence officer Mohamed Ali said. "There was a lot of troop movement in the area."

 

(Additional reporting by Hassan Yare and Sahal Abdulle in Mogadishu)

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Madevial army tactics of go'doomin . Soon the TFG would rely on donkey as technicals when the oil runs out. Any supply from Ethiopia would also be curtailed. Now let us see how long the TFG can last!

[General Duke]

^^^This is by far the funniest article. Did the TFG troops relly on Mogadishu for wepon and fuel supply?

 

How is the fuel from Ethiopia curtailed since Ethiopian troops can come and go as they please?

 

Look the courts wont attack Baidoa as Xasan Dahir said, but the TFG will attack sooner than you think.

[Paragon]

^^ You may live to see the consequences. Enough said.

[Che -Guevara]

This is not good for anybody. Bloody war mounted by Ethopians, their stooges, and the Courts in the midst of the poor, defenseless Somali population. The courts leadership should think twice before they rush into war.

[Paragon]

^^ Indeed Che, the courts must think. They are actually thinking. That is why there are introducing new ways of getting rid of the stooge group in Baidoa. Food and other supplies would go in except oil.

[Xoogsade]

But baydhabo businesses can suffer as well. I wonder how effective this will be in punishing the TFG alone.

[Jabhad]

^^^^^loool. Some people are under the mercy of Dirty Weyans. Alloow hana ceebeeyn.

[General Duke]

^^^The road between Mogadishu and baidoa has been cut for a week or so. The buseiness men will suffer but the TFG troops supply will not be affected in any way, they do not get theor food, fuel or supply from Mogadishu.

 

But I do love the propoganda, the courts lies know no bounds, 18 km from Baidoa they say, cut the fuel lines they claim and it goes on.

 

Che, this is a decleration of war.

[Paragon]

Originally posted by Xoogsade:

But baydhabo businesses can suffer as well. I wonder how effective this will be in punishing the TFG alone.

Xoogsade, sxb, I understand the concern. Without oil, not only the businesses but also the locals would suffer too. However, there are two kind of ways of dealing with the TFG: a direct battle in Baidoa costing lives of locals; or an indirect battle that allows the flow of all the necessary supplies, which also allows the coming and going of locals peacefully without restriction.

[General Duke]

^^^Again can anyone prove that the TFG supplies are linked to Mogadishu?

[Paragon]

^^ Where exactly do they come from? Or even more precisely from where can they possibly come from? Landlocked Ethiopia? Or Mogadishu, Kismayo or Kenya? You tell us where.

[General Duke]

^^^So now Ethiopia gets and has no fuel to offer because its land locked?

 

The Ethiopia of 70 million has no fuel supplies, right? Thus it gets its supplies from Mogadishu.

There are many options my dear friend. One is the state of Ethiopia proper. If that does not make you happy then.

 

What about through Puntland, Bossaso via Ethiopia, ever thought of that.

 

This whole story smacks of desperation, the TFG troops are not the roadblock gangsters of Mogadishu mate.

[Che -Guevara]

Duke..Saaxib, the courts have declared war long time. They have no intention of reconciling with the TFG or any other entity for that matter. I hope they succceed in their attempt to subjugate all Somalia. It is something your adeer when he elected and had the support of all people.

 

Paragon...Local support is necessary in defeating the TFG, I don't know how locals in Bay would feel about such embargo.

[Paragon]

What about through Puntland via Ethiopia, ever thought of that.

That can be easily dealt with.

 

Che- I know the locals' support is vital in winning the war and subjecting them to this punishment is unfortunate. There is no way around it. I wish there are other better ways of handling the issue. I hope for the safety of the locals and the liberation of Baidoa from the warlord.

[General Duke]

^^^Che, aside from the ever simplistic view point of fuel embargo's and sanctions.

You talk of subjugation but all I see is a trap.

Why do you think the TFG went to Bur-Hakabo?

Why are they not making any move, out of fear?

If the courts had defeated the TFG in Bur-Hakabo, everything would be different, but this is not the case. Thousands of fighters are lined up quite near Burhakabo.

 

The courts need to bring their 100 technicals closer to Bur-Hakabo, forget the locals Cayrow, IndaCade and Macalin Xashi are the ones needed closer to Baidoa.