Somalia: From Clan Fighting to Ideological Battleground

[Gabbal]

Somalia: From Clan Fighting to Ideological Battleground

 

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks

 

May 11, 2006

Posted to the web May 11, 2006

 

Nairobi

 

Though the latest fighting in the Somali capital Mogadishu started on 7 May, the violence goes back to as far as 18 February, when Mogadishu-based faction leaders and their business associates formed an alliance to fight Islamic courts.

 

Many people in Mogadishu that IRIN spoke with said they believe the new conflict is different from the past. Previous violence has based on rivalries between Somalia's various clans, Abdullahi Shirwa, a member of Civil Society in Action, an umbrella organisation made up of over 12 groups in Mogadishu, told IRIN. "This time it is not between clans but between two groups with different ideologies."

 

The two heavily armed militias are the Union of Islamic courts and the Alliance for Peace and the Fight Against International Terrorism, which calls itself "the alliance". Members of the alliance include warlords and government ministers.

 

Shirwa said the perception among Somalis is that "foreign powers are supporting the faction leaders to reduce the perceived power and influence of the Islamic courts." This, he said, is backfiring, "and if anything the courts are more popular today than in February."

 

The courts have earned some popular praise for bringing a semblance of order in areas under their control, something the faction leaders have been unable or unwilling to do.

 

According to Mogadishu residents, the past three months of violence in the Somali capital has been the worst they have seen for over 10 years. More than 201 people have died and 1070 wounded according to hospital sources. The majority of these victims are civilian, with militiamen accounting for less than half of the total deaths and a third of the injured.

 

"Some of the injuries we are seeing are even worse than what we saw in 1992," said a doctor working in a Mogadishu hospital who also worked there at height of Somalia's civil war. "We are seeing children of six months and less with parts of their bodies missing." He said he so far knew of 35 children and 44 women who have been killed in the current fighting.

 

Speaking to IRIN from the Medina Hospital, Muhubo Salad said she was keeping vigil over her five-year-old daughter who was injured in the crossfire. She said that it was too dangerous to leave the hospital.

 

"We need help but instead [the faction leaders] have been feeding us bullets for the last 16 years," she said of Mogadishu's faction leaders. "It is our children they are killing. Their children are in safe countries."

 

The Islamic courts, say some residents, have recently gained support. "At least the courts don't loot or steal from us and they have been able to arrest some criminals," Muhubo said.

 

Many observers say they believe that faction leaders feel threatened by the emerging power of the courts, and some also maintain that outside forces are influencing the faction leaders.

 

Elders and civil-society groups trying to intervene in the conflict have so far been unsuccessful. Mediation efforts have been complicated by the fact that clan elders are not sure "how to deal with this new type of war", said Shaykhdon Ilmi a doctor at Medina Hospital.

 

"The clan elders do not have road map to resolve it," he said. "It was a lot easier when it was between clans."

 

Many people think that for now the areas in the city under the control of warlords is shrinking. "If I were to put a percentage on the area under the influence and control of the courts I would say 60 percent. The rest is controlled by faction leaders and business people," said one observer.

 

The alliance also includes relatively well-known faction leaders, such as Muhammad Qanyare Afrah, Muse Sudi Yalahow, Omar Finnish, Bashir Raghe and Abdirashid Shire Ilqeyte.

 

The United States administration says it is concerned that Mogadishu's Islamic Courts could help harbour Islamic militants. Rightly or wrongly, many people in Mogadishu believe that the warlords are receiving support from the outside.

 

Speaking in Washington last week, a US state department spokesman, Sean McCormack, said, "Our other operating principle is to work with responsible individuals, and certainly members of the transitional [somali] government, in fighting terror. It's a real concern of ours, terror taking root in the Horn of Africa. We don't want to see another safe haven for terrorists created."

 

AllAfrica

[codetalker]

This senseless round of violence in Xamar would be based on "ideology" if war/druglord Indhocade wasn't directly involved on the side of the Courts. Indhocade is as bloody and evil as other warlords Qanyare, Yalaxow and the rest of the goon squad. Indhocade's involvement is not religious, for he is well-documented by the U.N. for owning vast drug farms in L/Shabelle region. Simply, war/druglord Indhocade is supporting his clansmen, who are a majority in the Courts.

 

Let's not kid ourselves.

[Castro]

Originally posted by HornAfrique:

"We need help but instead [the faction leaders] have been feeding us bullets for the last 16 years," she said of Mogadishu's faction leaders. "It is our children they are killing.

Their children are in safe countries.

"

Can someone get a list of the warlords participating in this current Muqdisho conflict (whether pro or against the courts)? And also a list of where the families of these cowards live in the diaspora would be great.

[Faarax-Brawn]

Originally posted by Castro:

quote:Originally posted by HornAfrique:

"We need help but instead [the faction leaders] have been feeding us bullets for the last 16 years," she said of Mogadishu's faction leaders. "It is our children they are killing.

Their children are in safe countries."

Can someone get a list of the warlords participating in this current Muqdisho conflict (whether pro or against the courts)? And also a list of where the families of these cowards live in the diaspora would be great.

I know three(sadax!) of them. But what the heck you gonna do?

 

The kids didnt do jack,dude

[Castro]

^ Personally, I won't do a thing and violence against them would be reprehensible. But most violence is reprehensible and certainly what is occuring in Muqdisho (with the help of an anonymously posted address) may give someone an idea or two. You know, a die hard nationalist (or even someone interested in the greater good) could find it inescapable that he or she might take matters into their hands. Is this not the only language warlords understand? Threaten, kidnap, injure, maim, rob, extort or kill. Karma is a b!tch awoowe and we reap what we sow, here and in the hereafter.

[Faarax-Brawn]

Originally posted by Castro:

^ Personally, I won't do a thing and violence against them would be reprehensible. But most violence is reprehensible and certainly what is occuring in Muqdisho (with the help of an anonymously posted address) may give someone an idea or two. You know, a die hard nationalist (or even someone interested in the greater good) could find it inescapable that he or she might take matters into their hands. Is this not the only language warlords understand? Threaten, kidnap, injure, maim, rob, extort or kill. Karma is a b!tch awoowe and we reap what we sow, here and in the hereafter.

True true.But this should be a last resort no?

 

I dont think serious peaceful methods have been exausted.For a start i think it will be better and easier frankly to "Take em out" as in kill the warlords ala israel style.

 

That nationalist should do this thing: "KILL ALL THE WARLODS". That to me would be the greatest nationalistic action ever to be taken by any somali.

 

Qaranimo act would be the person who bamba dhex dhigo in the middle of one of those "Peace & reconcialiation meetings".

[Xoogsade]

Castro, Qanyare's daughter is a nurse of sort and a good muslimad as I heard. She could be depressed already by the blood-sucking of her father and his murderous campaign. It is a slow death to be related to vile men like him so that is enough torture for any sensible person to bear. I wouldn't shine a light on them just because aabbahoodaa bakhtiga cuna.

 

The best project is forming death squads to eliminate every warlord.

[Miskiin-Macruuf-Aqiyaar]

Originally posted by Castro:

quote:Originally posted by HornAfrique:

"We need help but instead [the faction leaders] have been feeding us bullets for the last 16 years," she said of Mogadishu's faction leaders. "It is our children they are killing.

Their children are in safe countries."

Can someone get a list of the warlords participating in this current Muqdisho conflict (whether pro or against the courts)? And also a list of where the families of these cowards live in the diaspora would be great.

I don't know waxaa ku sameen lahayd, laakiin just last Sunday in Koronto, a young man by the name of Qanyare Cabdiweli Max'ed Qanyare married in a hall across from the masaajidka Soomaalida.

 

Obviously, a grandson of that notorious warlord.

 

One time or another, this city had plenty of warlords' families, living freely. You name them, from Max'ed Faarax Caydiid the Senior, Cali Mahdi Max'ed, Cabdullaahi Yuusuf Axmed, and now this Qanyare. Cabdi Qeybdiid's brother also lives here.

 

Laakiin waxee kasbadeen aabayashooda ama awoowyaashooda in jiilkooda lagu dambi daro ma u maleynaayi. Magac can't make a person guilty by association.