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Heavy fighting in Mogadishu / Internal problems for the government

4. March 2010

“Somali government forces attacked insurgent-controlled areas in the capital, setting off a gun battle and mortar fire that killed at least 10 civilians and four militants, witnesses said Wednesday. Almost 40 people were wounded”, Associated Press wrote on March 3.

“The fighting started late Tuesday when government forces moved into an insurgent-held neighbourhood of Mogadishu and killed four al-Shabab fighters, said resident Sa’id Ahmed. Militant reinforcements arrived and a heavy gun battle and exchange of mortars lasted overnight, he said.

“It was some of the worst fighting I have ever witnessed in the city,” said resident Asha Ahmed Nur. Gunfire and explosions could be heard across Mogadishu, he said.

”Residents who sought shelter in their homes believed that the battle signalled a much-anticipated government offensive against Islamists, he said. Somali officials have signalled for months that government troops, backed by forces from the African Union, will attempt to wrest back control of insurgent-held areas from the militants.

”But there was no indication the fighting was the start of a larger offensive. Government forces are hampered by a lack of equipment, late pay checks, and some complain they do not even have enough food.

”Ali Muse of Mogadishu’s ambulance service said the bodies of 10 civilians had been collected. He said 39 wounded people were taken to different hospitals….

“Al-Shabab, which Washington says has links to al-Qaeda, controls much of Somalia and operates openly in the capital, confining the government and African Union peacekeepers to a few blocks of the city.”

Garowe Online wrote March 3:

“At least 17 people have been killed and over 45 others injured in heavy fighting that pitted Somali rebel fighters against government troops backed by African Union forces in the restive capital Mogadishu, witnesses and medics said on Wednesday.”

The Mogadishu-based news bureau, Shabelle Media Network wrote March 3:

“The death toll of yesterday’s clash rose to 12 and the injuries of 40 others who were all affected clashes and mortar shells that continued in parts of the Somal6i capital Mogadishu, witnesses told Shabelle radio on Wednesday.

“Heavy fighting and deadly mortar shelling between the transitional government troops backing by the African Union troops AMISOM and the Islamist fighters had continued in several pars in Mogadishu yesterday until overnight causing more casualties of deaths and wounds.

“Most of the areas that the violence continued were Hodan, Waberi Daynile, Wardigley and Hawlwadag, all the districts of Banadir region killing more than 10 wounding 40 others those most of them were rushed to Medina hospitals in the south of the capital according to health officials…..

“Sheik Ali Mohamed Hussein, the governor of Banadir region of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen has claimed victory over the fighting between the government soldiers backing by AMISOM and the Islamist forces of Hizbul Islam and Harakat Al-shabab Mujahdieen adding that they took over in the areas where the clashes continued for past hours.

“The officials said the fighting broke out as the troops of the transitional government attempted to make military movement in war zones of the capital.

“There was no information about the fighting from the officials of the transitional government and there is no comment from their sides so far.”

According to Ali Mohamed Hussein as well the forces from Al Shabab as Hizbul Islam took part in the fighting on the side of the insurgents. This seem to prove that the internal differences among these two groups are not so big that they hamper a minimum of cooperation between the groups when the areas they control are under attack from what the both consider to be their main enemies.

Internal problems in the governments side

Under the headline, Somalia MPs to table no-confidence vote against PM. Garowe Online wrote March 2:

“Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke will face a vote on a motion of no confidence that some 200 Somali lawmakers are planning to table against him in the parliament.

“The members of parliament accuse Omar’s government of not doing enough to change the worsening security situation in country, urging to him to face the parliament and get its confidence.

“If Sharmarke’s government gets vote of confidence from the parliament, then it can continue with its work. But if it fails, then the president is required to appoint a new premier who forms a new government,” said one of the MPs.

“The MP said that the current government is more preoccupied by foreign trips without a giving a thought about the current situation in the country.

“However, some other lawmakers have drumming up support for the current government, arguing that it has done wonderful job compared to the parliament, which they was lurked behind.

“They are said to be preparing also a motion against Speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe, whom they accuse of the bickering in the parliament.

“President Sheikh Sharif is said to be confused by the turn of the events.

“Meanwhile, Somalia’s Constitution and Federalism minister Madobe Nunow Mohamed announced that the current Transitional Government would be the last one to govern the Horn of African nation if the ongoing new constitution is finalized and passed.

“The formation of the political parties is the major issue in the constitution which my ministry is working on it right now,” he said.

“He adds, “The new constitution would be based on Islamic law, and the committee involved in making is independent.”

“He argued that the country would move from one group dominance to civilian oriented government.

“The minister of constitution and federalism appointed a committee, which consist of 30 members from the civil society and the government and it will gather ideas from population and orientation.

“However, Somalia’s Puntland state, which maintains to remain in a federal Somalia, says it would not take part in any constitutional reform for the country because it was not consulted in the matter and is a unilateral decision.

“Representatives of both governments on November failed to agree to harmonize an accord which its first phase was signed by Somali PM (who is in fact from Puntland – editor’s remark) Puntland President on August 23 in central Somali town of Galkayo.

“If passed, the new constitution will change the national charter of Somali TFG, which was formed six years ago in neighbouring Kenya. It would allow Somali citizens to elect their representatives directly rather than pin pointed by the clan.”

However a big problem remains to be solved before the parliament can take some positions for the one or the other suggestion. For several month it had tried to have sessions. But in vain.

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