Somalia on the brink

A while back, we mentioned that the Islamic militia that has taken control of Mogadishu was starting to worry about its media image. Now, it looks like that they are hoping to go beyond mere PR management and take on some much broader political duties: namely, they want to take full control of Somalia. This ...

A while back, we mentioned that the Islamic militia that has taken control of Mogadishu was starting to worry about its media image. Now, it looks like that they are hoping to go beyond mere PR management and take on some much broader political duties: namely, they want to take full control of Somalia.

A while back, we mentioned that the Islamic militia that has taken control of Mogadishu was starting to worry about its media image. Now, it looks like that they are hoping to go beyond mere PR management and take on some much broader political duties: namely, they want to take full control of Somalia.

This story has been overlooked somewhat by the crisis in Lebanon, but if you’ve been following recent events in Somalia, you’ll know that the Supreme Islamic Courts Coucil has defeated most of the country’s rival warlords and is now advancing on the powerless, UN-backed government there. There are reports that troops from Ethiopia, Somalia’s hated neighbor, have crossed the border to defend the fragile transitional government. The Islamic militia is preparing for war; they’ve been rallying their troops and have just recieved a planeload of munitions from mysterious sources. Twenty cabinet ministers in the UN-backed government have resigned as Somalia teeters on the brink of a major conflict that could draw in Ethiopia and Eritrea. 

In this week’s Seven Questions, FP spoke with Craig Timberg, who reports from Africa for the Washington Post, about why the Islamic militia has suddenly taken power, how everyday life has changed in Mogadishu, and what it all could mean for the war on terror. 

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