Fighting in Somalia

Fighting between Al-Shabaab, rival Hizbul Islam and pro-govt militia Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca surged in central Somalia early month, with at least 138 killed and 63,000 newly displaced in 2 weeks of clashes for strategic control over Dusamareb, Baladwayne, and Dhobley. At least 20 killed, including civilians, in heavy militants attacks on govt and AMISOM bases in Mogadishu 29-31 Jan. Al-Shabaab early month claimed it was exchanging fighters with Yemeni rebels, 29 Jan announced it had united with smaller Kamboni rebel group and joined international al-Qaeda jihad. Govt 2 Jan announced discovery of 2 Yemen arms shipments destined for militia. UN’s WFP 5 Jan withdrew staff and suspended aid in South indefinitely due to insecurity and al-Shabaab demands for payment; cuts to affect some 1m people. Insecurity continued in semi-autonomous Puntland; 2 MPs shot dead over month. Large UK cargo ship seized 2 Jan in one of several bold piracy attacks.

(c) The Crisis Group, 2010

Resources

1. Cambridge University, Centre of African Studies

2. Chatham House

3. Conciliation Resources

4. Kings College, London, War Studies Department

5. London School of Economics, Africa Initiative

6. Oxford University, African Studies Centre

7. Royal Africa Society

8. Royal United Services Institute

9. School of Oriental and African Studies, London University

10. The British-Yemeni Society

11. The International Centre for the Study of Radicalism and Political Violence

12. The Society for Arabian Studies

13. Transparency Research UK

14. Idarat Maritime

Blogs and Other Sources

• IRIN

• Rob Macaire, UK High Commissioner to Kenya

• Armies of Liberation (on Yemen)

• UNODC in Eastern Africa

 

Somaliland Appeals for Aid

HARGEISA, 16 February 2010 (IRIN) - Officials in Somalia's self-declared independent republic of Somaliland have appealed to the international community to provide humanitarian aid for hundreds of thousands of people, especially children, in the wake of prolonged drought.

"The affected population is estimated at about 40 percent of Somaliland's 3.5 million, which is equivalent to 1.4 million people," Ali Ibrahim, Minister for Planning and National Aid Co-ordination, told IRIN.

Following the failure of the Gu and Deyr rainy seasons in 2009, he said help was needed in water-trucking, construction and rehabilitation of boreholes, rehabilitation and desilting of dams, and the supply of medication for affected human and livestock populations to avert an outbreak of epidemics.

(c) IRIN 2010