Jacpher Posted January 3, 2008 Somalia: Kismayo Port Closed for Third Day By Clan Militias Port operations have been halted for the third straight day Tuesday in the southern Somali city of Kismayo after disgruntled clan militias took control, sources said. The militias are loyal to Abdirisak "Tano" Farah, formerly chairman of the political wing of the [blank], the clan group whose troops and allied militias wrestled control of Kismayo last April from the regional administration appointed by the transitional federal government. [blank] clan elders met in Kismayo last week and voted Tano out, replacing him with Ismail Qalinle. But Tano's loyal gunmen took to the streets and setup roadblocks in different parts of town, and especially along the road that leads to the port, independent sources in Kismayo told Garowe Online. The confidential sources said Mr. Tano recently met with a group of people in Kismayo, including figures waging war against the transitional government in Mogadishu. The figures include former officials in the now-defunct Jubba Valley Alliance, a militia coalition that ruled Kismayo between 1999 and 2006, until they were ousted by the Islamic Courts movement after the JVA split into two wings. The [blank] clan elders' move to oust Mr. Tano was secretly backed by Ethiopian military commanders in Mogadishu, the sources added. The Ethiopian government has long refused the transitional government from taking military action on Kismayo following armed clashes last April that resulted with the expulsion for the government-appointed administration. Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf admitted last month that Kismayo is not under the control of his government, but indicated that he seeks a political solution to the clan-based dispute. Kismayo residents fear the current standoff might lead to armed conflict in a city still recovering from last April's battles. Source Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
