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Somalia: Imminent Kismayo clashes
Sun. October 08, 2006 06:47 am. -
Sheik Hassan Dahir Aweys Supreme Islamic Courts Ruler |
(SomaliNet) Deposed ruler of Kismayo city and a good junk in southern Somalia has regrouped and re-armed his militia, and is now poised to reclaim his lost throne from the Islamic Courts. It is confirmed that Mr. Bare Hirale’s men are on the move.
It is Deja Vu all over again. This city absorbed much more than its share of Somalia's civil war as it changed hands several times in the past.
The courts have long accused Ethiopia and the federal government of helping Mr. Hirale militarily while he planned this imminent counter attack. Kismayo residents who cannot flee the city are expecting to witness the onslaught and the Islamic Courts’ defense in the coming days or weeks.
A Baardheere resident who said he didn’t see any Ethiopians in the town confirmed Mr. Hirale’s militia movement.
Colonel Barre A. Hirale |
One of the top leaders of the Islamic Courts indicated of a great danger from Ethiopia and the federal government toward Kismayo and all southern Somalia in a press conference yesterday. Sheik Abdirahman Mohamud Janaqow said the southern part of Somalia is in great danger as the enemies of God are approaching with large troops. This press conference was very serious and different from all other public addresses and media interviews by the courts’ top men.
Jihad bravado and war drums that were always visible in such communiqué were missing from yesterday’s speech. Mr. Janaqow said the federal government and Ethiopia are also re-arming some of the ousted Mogadishu warlords in Baidao.
Ethiopian troops and Al-Qaida fighters
Sheik Sharif Ahmed Islamic Courts Military Wing |
Baidao based federal government accuses the Islamic Courts of employing a large number of Jihadists from Muslim world while the courts deny it vehemently and blame Ethiopia for Somalia’s turmoil. Many Somalia media outlets and the Islamic Courts report regular and frequent Ethiopian incursions into Somalia. Neither side has proved its case with credible images or video footage so far despite Internet and camera phone abundance in every Somalia small town. Ethiopian tanks and Al-Qaida fighters are still to be seen by the ordinary people.
Foreign elements may or may not be in the county. However, Somalia is one of Africa’s front runners when it comes to Internet and telecommunications and foreigners cannot easily blend in such a homogenous population without being exposed and profiled on the net.
News Category: Somalia
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