Violence Intensifies in Mogadishu
Two More Attacks on Government Targets
A series of recent explosions in Mogadishu are signs that Somalia's turmoil is far from over. Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian forces continue to battle in the streets.
The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) accuses Islamic militants of launching recent attacks in Mogadishu, including the assassination attempts of two politicians. Late on June 26, a roadside bomb detonated, hitting Trade Minister Abdullahi Ahmed Afrah's convoy. A Reuters witness said "the minister escaped death narrowly." Less than a day later, another member of Somalia's parliament was sent to the hospital with head injuries after a landmine exploded near his car.
An additional roadside bomb exploded, also on June 26, killing five women and one man. The women were all cleaning the streets of Mogadishu when a bomb exploded from under a pile of rubbish in a marketplace. Police arrived quickly and arrested nine men, according to an Associated Press reporter who was at the scene.
The attacks are the latest in a series of brutal incidents that have forced officials to postpone a national reconciliation assembly. At the moment, a conference is scheduled for July 15 but if violence continues to escalate, the event may have to be delayed even further. Opposition factions based within the Islamists and Somali clans have said they refuse to join talks until Ethiopian forces withdraw from Somalia.
The last week in June has seen a resurgence in bloodshed and attacks on government targets. Earlier this month, on June 3, a suicide blast in which seven people were killed occurred just outside the resident of Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi.
Islamists, clan militiamen and Ethiopian troops have been battling each other for six months in Mogadishu. According to Reuters, the fighting in Somalia has killed more bystanders than combatants. The Associated Press reports that over one thousand civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced during this time. A small Ugandan contingent of 1,600 African Union (AU) soldiers have attempted to act as peacekeepers but their presence has been ineffective. Hopes remain that the AU force will eventually increase to 8,000.
One year ago in June, residents of Mogadishu were provided some respite from the lawlessness that has enveloped the nation since the overthrow of dictator, Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) muscled their way into the anarchic city and asserted their authority over warlords and clans fighting for control. Although the UIC spread their influence over much of southern Somalia, their rule was severe and many feared the emergence of a Taliban-like state. In December of last year, Ethiopian forces backing the TFG, easily defeated the Islamists and have been in Mogadishu ever since.
