July 29, 2007: Islamic radicals, and the clans they
dominate, refuse to join peace talks in Somalia. With a refuge in Eritrea, and
financial support and weapons supplies from Iran, the radicals are going to
attempt a terror campaign to take over all of Somalia. Meanwhile, the UN is
still trying to work out deals with warlords, to allow food convoys to get
through clan and warlord territories at prices (for bribes) the UN can afford.
July 28, 2007: There is political unrest in
Somaliland, one of the two independent statelets formed out of northern
Somalia. Dissident politicians are being arrested.
July 27, 2007: Ethiopian and Transitional
Government troops are driving families, suspected of supporting Islamic
terrorists, out of the city. All fighting in Somalia is linked to clan
affiliation, or loyalty to a warlord. So the hostile clans, or extended
families in clans, are identified and get visits from military search parties
and interrogators. As a result, over 10,000 civilians have fled Mogadishu this
month. There is still terrorist violence in the city, but not much, and the
pressure put on the pro-Islamic radical population is believed responsible. The
support for the Islamic radicals is not entirely religious. The clans native to
Mogadishu see the Ethiopians and Transitional Government troops as outsiders
come to take over. That's largely true, mainly because the Mogadishu clan feuds
with each other have kept the city in chaos for two decades.
July 26, 2007: The UN has accused Eritrea of
violating, on a large scale, the arms embargo on Somalia. Eritrea has provided
sanctuary for Somali Islamic terrorist groups, especially the Islamic Courts,
and is sending tons of weapons to Islamic radical groups in Somalia. Many, if
not most, of the weapons are coming from Iran. Eritrea denies everything.
Eritrea is very outspoken about its desire to see Ethiopian troops leave
Somalia.
July 25, 2007: Demonstrations have broken out in
Puntland, one of the two independent statelets formed out of northern Somalia.
The Puntland government has mismanaged the currency, causing high inflation.
July 23, 2007:
The UN is trying to raise $48 million from donor nations so that 300,000
recent refugees in Mogadishu can be looked after. The UN is having a hard time getting
contributions, as donors see Somalia as a lost cause.
July 22, 2007:
Somali pirates are demanding a ransom of $1.5 million for a Danish ship,
and its crew of five, that was seized in June. Three other ships are held as
well. Merchant shipping is staying more than the recommended 400 kilometers
from the coast, and several foreign navies have warships patrolling the coast.
