The final showdown is taking place in Somalia between the Islamic Courts Union, backed by al Qaeda, and the Transitional Federal Government, backed by Ethiopia Islamic Courts controlled cities and towns marked in red. Click map to view. For months, the al Qaeda backed Islamic Courts Union has been preparing the battlefield for the final […]
Afghanistan Again: Somalia Falling to Al Qaeda
Fighting continued around Baidoa in Idale, Dinsor and Daynunay Friday. Local reports indicate an Ethiopian convoy is on its way to Baidoa, which appears to be nearing its final stand.
ICU and al Qaeda forces under the command of Abu Talha al-Sudani launch attack on Baidoa on 3 sides – Burhakabo, Idaale and Dinsor. Both claim victory but heavy fighting continues. The ICU claims to be in control of Idaale now. Independent reports that 70 ICU and jihadists killed.
Somalia: Islamists suffered heavy casualties, says Puntland president
Fighting has been reported in the town of Idaale. The ICU is prepared to take Bardhere, and has deployed more troops on the Ethiopian border. Dozens of TFG troops have defected to the ICU. Kenya has sent a delegation to Somaliland, possibly to recognize the region as a state. Displaced families have demonstrated against the […]
Guns silent as Somali Islamists’ deadline passes
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Somali govt lines up peacekeepers, Islamist deadline looms
The ICU appears to be backing down on an ultimatum for Ethiopian to withdraw from Somalia. Yemen is attempting to broker a peace agreement between the ICU and Ethiopian. A TFG minister claims no government militias defected to the Islamists. The ICU has arrested two more reporters in Mogadishu.
The chairman of the ICU and the TFG parliament speaker met in Yemen. A Puntland Islamic Courts is urging Somalis to fight the Ethiopians. A bomb was detonated behind a Mogadishu hotel owned by a “leading Islamic Courts ally and financer,” and may have targeted an ICU official.
Civilians flee the area of Baidoa as both the TFG and UIC prepare for combat. The ICU-issued deadline for Ethopians to leave the country by Tuesday draws closer. Pakistan issued a denial that it supports the UIC.
Thousands of ICU fighters have surrounded Baidoa, the only remaining town under the control of Somalia TFG. Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi claims that as many as 3,000 foreign fighters are fighting alongside the ICU with more arriving every day.
ICU claims Ethiopian troops shelled a central Somalia town
Somali peace force ‘not invaders’
Fighting broke out 19 miles southwest of Baidoa. The ICU held a demonstration in Mogadishu to protest the U.N. proposal for African Union troop deployments to Somalia. Uganda is ready to send a battalion once its Parliament approves the engagement.
The United Nations endorsed an African peacekeeping force in Somalia. The ICU opposes the move, saying it would, “contribute to further instability.” Eritrea denies having troops in Somalia. The ICU has announced that residents of a southern Somalia town who do not pray five times a day will be beheaded.
Ethiopia in “technical” state of war with Somalia’s SICC as the UN-backed transitional government rules out negotiations with the SICC and bans cars entering Baidoa from Mogadishu after last week’s suicide attack. All-out war could begin within two weeks as the rainy season ends.
An Ethiopian minister met with the Islamic Courts, but the ICU denies it. The speaker of the TFG parliament says Ehtiopian must withdraw its “15,000” troops.” The ICU claims to have reached an agreement with IGAD not to deploy African troops. The ICU has given Somalis 7 days to turn in their weapons.
Signalling the centrality of the armed conflict in Somalia for al Qaeda and its support for the Supreme Islamic Courts Council (SICC), a video distribution unit best known for its Iraq products has released onto the Internet an hour long package called "Apostate Hell in Somalia." It was released on November 30, shortly after news […]
Aweys on Shabelle Radio: “We will launch a jihad war against any foreign forces deployed in Somalia regardless of which country they are from.” The TFG approves of a UNSC draft resolution calling for peacekeepers. “Foreign intervention will only destabilize Somalia,” warned the Eritrian government.
US urges end to Somalia arms ban
Somalia’s government welcomes draft U.N. resolution on regional military force
Thursday’s death toll in the suicide attack on Baidoa hits 8 and the UIC distanced itself from the operation. TFG claims that 350 militia defected earlier this week, marking the first time that militamen have left the UIC.
Somalia: Suicide car bomb kills seven people near Govt. base
Islamists blow up Ethiopian truck in Somalia-residents
Baidoa hit by suicide attack as pressure builds for international action against the UIC. Ethiopian parliament authorizes military action. UIC forces appear to be closing in on Baidoa, detonating remote-controlled bomb on Ethiopian lorry 18 km outside of the seat of the TFG. UN moves closer to adopting a draft resolution that will both tighten […]
al Qaeda operating in Somalia: US official
The Islamic Courts will invite “foreign fighters” if the UN arms embargo is lifted (note: al Qaeda is already there.) The Ethiopians and the ICU exchanged mortar fire in Puntland. Ethiopian forces have moved south towards Galkayo. A raido reporter was held for three days by the ICU and beaten.