Situation in Somalia: March 5th, 2009

[Tajir]

I feel obliged to keep you guys updated, since most of you have forgotten about the tumultuous situation in that country besides the rampant piracy - which is a simple cover-up for the brutal warfare that US/EU/UN-backed Ethiopian invasion and local clan militias have directly caused the massacre of 16,000 civilians in just two years of fighting.

Long story short, I'm here to provide last-minute updates on what could be the world's biggest breaking issue besides Afghanistan & Iraq (two failed invasions).

Here is a map to demonstrate the current situation:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Things that are happening on the ground:

-Somalia is still fractured as a state.

-Northwestern (Somaliland) and Northeastern (Puntland) regions are still autonomous with Northeastern Region playing a more involved role, as usual - both regions being Ethiopian satellites.

-Ahl-Sunna-Wal-Jamma is formed - an Ethiopian-backed militia masqueraded as a religious "Sufi" militia to combat hardline Islamists.

-Galmudug State, a clan-based Ethiopian-backed state, just like Somaliland & Puntland states, are formed against Islamist/Somali-empowerment movements.

-New Transitional Government has been formed - still with as many warlords but with slightly more Islamist taint.

-Islamists have formed into 3 camps:

-> Al Shabaab, the popular militant anti-Nationalist, anti-Ethnocentric, old-school Islamist wing, active since 1992.

-> Hizbul Islaami, an Islamist alliance made up of four regional/clan Islamist militias including Jabhatul Ismaliya, Islamic Courts Union-Eritrea division, Mu'askar Ras Kambooni (BIGGEST wing) & Mu'askar 'Anoole.

-> Islamic Courts Union-Djibouti division


Al-Shabaab has mostly aligned itself with Hizbul Islaami in terms of political motives against the secularized formerly-Islamist government leaders. For the most part, the Islamist militias in Somalia have been made to be more "fanatical" than they are - considering that Al-Shabaab (Somalia's foremost Islamist organization) was ruled by the nation's most hardened and religiously radicalized fighter (MARTYR Aden Hashi Eyrow - my avatar) - but since his death, Al-Shabaab have become slightly more diplomatic considering the spread of power throughout the organization.

Still, Al-Shabaab and the Southern branch of Hizbul Islaami (Mu'askar Raskambooni & Mu'askar 'Anoole) remain closer to Al-Shabaab and remain the main source of foot soldiers and remain the most hardened brand of Islamists among the Hizbul Islaami group, so rest assured that they will carry on the fight to control all of Somalia, as well as the greater horn, most assuredly Somali territories in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti.

In early Al Jazeera reports, they said they'd control every region between Mogadishu to Alaska, and some took it sarcastically, but I don't think these guys will give up the dream until proven otherwise.

[Aziel]

Why is Somalia so important to you, Tajir?

[Tajir]

Why is Somalia so important to you, Tajir?

1. I as born there

2. The world's major powers, spanning from North America to Brussels have involved themselves in the issue

3. 16,000 civilians died there in the past 2 years due to a UN-backed invasion

4. Piracy is a major "issue" despite causing more havoc in West Africa than in Somalia


Are you satisfied, Aziel?

[Aziel]

1. I as born there

2. The world's major powers, spanning from North America to Brussels have involved themselves in the issue

3. 16,000 civilians died there in the past 2 years due to a UN-backed invasion

4. Piracy is a major "issue" despite causing more havoc in West Africa than in Somalia


Are you satisfied, Aziel?

Yes. But as Ferrets said, you are too one sided. I doubt anyone in this forum besides you know that much about the conflict and interested in it so much and has a different opinion to you.

Why did Ethiopia invade Somalia? I think that there were groups operating against Ethiopia whose their centeres were located in Somalia, and that is the reason it invaded to Somalia, no?

[Tajir]

Yes. But as Ferrets said, you are too one sided. I doubt anyone in this forum besides you know that much about the conflict and interested in it so much and has a different opinion to you.

Why did Ethiopia invade Somalia? I think that there were groups operating against Ethiopia whose their centeres were located in Somalia, and that is the reason it invaded to Somalia, no?

Ferrets is NOT Somali, and has never lived in Somalia - you have no reason to even consider his opinion over mine.

But since you do agree that I'm the final authority on Somali and regional African issues - Ethiopia has invaded Somalia MANY times since the beginning of Somali ethnic identity. But we'll skip everything from 1,000 B.C. to the 1800s.

-Ethiopia annexed Western Somalia in the mid-late 1800s.

-Somali nationalist/religious movements challenged Ethiopia's annexation throughout the late 18th century.

-Under Socialist/Chinese help, Somalia defeated Ethiopia militarily in 1977, only to be beaten by a joint Soviet/Cuban/American/South Yemeni force that same year, which led to Somalia's fall.

-In 1982, with the help of the falling Somali Republic's first clan militia, Ethiopia temporarily annexed the Somali Republic's Western borders, which to this day are marked "unofficial."

-In 1992, Ethiopia illegally intervened in a battle between Somali Islamists and local clans in Northern Somalia - while the Ethiopians neglected the civil war they fueled in Southern Somalia (Remember Mohamed Farrah Aidid).

-In 1996, when Mohamed Farrah Aidid's son was starving villagers in Baidoa town, Islamists to the South were gaining control and support until Ethiopia invaded, once again returning Somalia to anarchy.

-In 2006, Ethiopia crushed an Islamist wave that had secured and brought progressive governance to all of Somalia. From January 2007 to December 2008, Ethiopia alongside Somalia's transitional government (former warlords) killed 16,000 Somali civilians and caused the worst humanitarian disaster under support of the US, EU, and UN.

[removeduser_487563287433]

progressive governance

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/af...216476354.html

So we have nothing to talk about. End of this conversation.

Yeah I'd give up if I were you, too.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Not that it's unimportant but you're hardly unbiased on the issue.

[Tajir]

Not that it's unimportant but you're hardly unbiased on the issue.

Ferrets54,

I'm only giving facts.

The only opinions I've shown have been those of the Somali population. I've definitely got more facts to prove the views of the average Somali on the ground. If you'd like, I can post those views via video & articles.

How can I be biased when I'm personally a liberal in favor of this religious extremist governing force?

[removeduser_487563287433]

The only opinions I've shown have been those of the Somali population.

Given their eagerness to kill one another the opinions of the Somali population appear to be rather opposed.

How can I be biased when I'm personally a liberal in favor of this religious extremist governing force?

Um, what?

[Tajir]

Given their eagerness to kill one another the opinions of the Somali population appear to be rather opposed.

So we have nothing to talk about. End of this conversation.

This is gruesome. if this was happening somewhere in Europe, we would have alot of "Liberators" there already.

The EU is part of a larger UN masquerade that's supporting this genocide. Europeans, as well as other outsider should just step aside and let Somalis find a solution. If only every nation of people would fend for itself we'd have simpler problems and lasting solutions.

[Erik]

The EU is part of a larger UN masquerade that's supporting this genocide.

I take it that by "EU" you really meant "Europe"?

And I also take it that by "Europe" you really mean Britain, and a handful other European countries that want to suck up to USA?

[boerekovic]

This is gruesome. if this was happening somewhere in Europe, we would have alot of "Liberators" there already.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Do you live there now, or any time recently? Did you see the execution? Do you have any evidence to contradict the evidence of Amnesty International and other human rights groups that she was thirteen? Does it make it any better that your "progressive government" is executing women for being raped? It would be barbaric to execute anybody for adultury, even.

Disgusting. Barbaric.

[Tajir]

Do you live there now, or any time recently? Did you see the execution? Do you have any evidence to contradict the evidence of Amnesty International and other human rights groups that she was thirteen? Does it make it any better that your "progressive government" is executing women for being raped? It would be barbaric to execute anybody for adultury, even.

Disgusting. Barbaric.

I've visited recently and seen life there. I have family there who know the girl in question - that's more than you'll ever know.

Vilifying me will get you no where. Your cheap tactics are disgusting if anything

And can you really question an organization's worth based on one accusation - after all, the majority of nearly 200,000 residents of the city in question FAVOR this regime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7A5Ujp67lg

[removeduser_487563287433]

I've visited recently and seen life there. I have family there who know the girl in question - that's more than you'll ever know.

My mate's dad's nephew's friend's dog bit the guy who's like super best friends forever with the girl in question.

Seriously, get out of it. You're defending the murder of child rape victim. Has that sunk in? You are defending the murder of a child rape victim. And you call it progressive government. With friends like you Somalia has no need for Ethiopian enemies.

[Tajir]

Ferrets, your sarcasm is useful in some areas, this is not one of them. Right now you're about as annoying as a Texas right-winger.

You're being a troll, now bug off.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Pointing out that the people you are advocating in this thread are child murderers is trolling how?

[Tajir]

Bye, stop whoring for reputation points. Bye.

[removeduser_487563287433]

Bye, stop whoring for reputation points. Bye.

No, seriously, how is Africa's answer to the Taleban possibly a "progressive government?" Sure, they may have brough stability to the areas they control by killing everybody who opposes them and wielding brutal oppression on the population in the name of Allah - so did the Taleban. Neither were progressive governments, both will only bring further misery and ruin to their people.

Both were enabled by sympathises abroad. Like you. All this "waaah, me big Somalian, you know nothing" bollocks sickens me. You're a yank who happens to have been born somewhere else. Wake up and for the love of don't spout this crap about these people who would make Vlad the Impaler blush.

[Tajir]

bye.