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October 8, 2009: The Transitional Government wants
foreign help to defeat the Islamic radical militias. The government
believes it is not strong enough to defeat al Shabaab, and other Islamic
radical groups, all alone. The radicals are more fanatic, and have
suicide bombers and assassins who are not afraid to get killed while
attacking government leaders. The clan coalition that comprises the
government, feels that its armed followers cannot (or will not) fight it
out with the al Shabaab gunmen, or their al Qaeda allies (most of them
foreigners). The 5,000 AU peacekeepers will go after al Shabaab, but
only in Mogadishu. The government would like more money (for economic
reconstruction, and bribing clans and warlords to not assist, or be
tolerant towards, al Shabaab) and trainers (to make pro-government
fighters more effective, even if they will still not fight al Shabaab.)
Potential foreign donors are reluctant to give the Transitional
Government cash, because in the past, this has resulted in government
officials stealing most of the money. The Transitional Government says
that will not happen this time, but few donor government believe this.
Even aid in the form of goods (food, medical supplies or weapons) tends
to get stolen and sold for cash, which the Transitional Government
leaders pocket.
Meanwhile, French soldiers are training 500 Somali soldiers in Djibouti.
This will provide the Transitional Government with a battalion of
infantry, trained to fight, and better led. Russia agreed to help out
with this training effort, when the French announced that they were
spread thin with this training effort.
October 7, 2009: Hizbul Islam and al Shabaab have agreed to a truce and
are working out their differences. The Transitional Government has also
tried to make a deal with Hizbul Islam, but so far has not been
successful.
October 6, 2009: Islamic radical group Hizbul Islam, after about a week
of fighting rival terrorists al Shabaab, has asked for a ceasefire, and
discussions on how the two Islamic radical groups can co-exist, and
support each other against the Transitional Government and foreigners
(like the AU peacekeepers and American commandos.) In the north, five
pirates in a speedboat began attacking a French navy support ship
(believing it was a merchant ship), which turned on the pirates, chased
them down, and arrested them. In Uganda, the Somali Defense Minister
(Sheikh Yusuf Mohamed Siyad), was released from custody, after being
held for a day. The Minister is, like most members of the Somali
Transitional Government, also a warlord, who has switched sides many
times. When Sheikh Yusuf Mohamed Siad showed up, unannounced, in Uganda
to visit some family members, military security officials saw him as
suspicious (another Somali gang leader?) and decided to double check.
They eventually confirmed Siad's identity and current job, and let him
go.
October 5, 2009: Pirates in the north have released a Turkish ship taken
last July. A ransom of $1.5 million was paid. A rival pirate group then
attacked the now wealthy pirates, and attempted to steal the $1.5
million. This resulted in casualties, but the money did not change
hands.
October 4, 2009: Hizbul Islam and al Shabaab gunmen continued fighting
each other for control of villages outside the port of Kismayo. Off the
coast, a Spanish warship caught up with the hijacked Spanish fishing
ship "Alakrana", and arrested two pirates who were headed for shore in a
speedboat. A Spanish judge charged the two pirates with terrorism and
kidnapping.
October 3, 2009: Fighting in September left over 200 dead and caused
nearly 20,000 to flee their homes (over half of the refugees were from
Mogadishu). On a positive note, Islamic terrorists in the south released
three foreign air workers they had kidnapped in northern Kenya last
July. It's unknown if a ransom was paid.
October 2, 2009: After several days of fighting, and several hundred
casualties, Islamic radical group Hizbul Islam pulled out of the
disputed port of Kismayo, leaving al Shabaab in control. In the north,
rival factions in Somaliland have forged an agreement, to end a weeks
long standoff that had paralyzed the government.
Some 600 kilometers off the east coast, pirates seized a Spanish tuna
fishing ship, the "Alakrana”, and took the crew of 36 prisoner. The ship
was among 20 Spanish fishing vessels in the area. The pirates claimed
the ship was illegally taking fish that belonged to Somalia.
Source: Strategy Page - Oct 8, 2009
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