Same ole Somalia.

That country has more militant fighters than citizens. The tensions are incredible once again between the president and prime minister. They each have their own dedicated militias and a civil war is only a breath away if one or the other leader decides he has had enough.

December 29, 2021

Amid political turmoil in Somalia, (click here for additional information) France 24 is joined by Matthew Bryden, Head of Sahan Research Think Tank. Mr. Bryden takes us to the origins of the current crisis, which began back in April, when President Mohamed tried to extend his term by two years. Violent clashes ensued, but a political agreement was eventually reached, explains Mr. Bryden. Prime Minister Roble took charge of "organizing the parliamentary elections," but he says the PM was undercut by the president and his loyalists. Mr. Bryden describes "widespread, and very credible, allegations of rigging," and now the PM is demanding the "isolated" president "step aside, ideally leave the country, and give the PM a free hand to finish the elections properly.

The instability always feeds the terrorists in Somalia and this time it is no different. So, to say there are only two power structures in Somalia is a false understanding. The terrorists absolutely are a power within the country ready to take advantage of any destablizing issues.

December 30, 2021

Mogadishu -Fighters from Somalia's al-Shabab militant group (click here) attacked a town north of the capital, Mogadishu, on Thursday, killing at least seven people as they battled government security forces, a resident and police said."We were in a mosque praying when a heavy exchange of gunfire took place at the bridge. Al-Shabab thus captured the town, overrunning the soldiers at the bridge," Hassan Nur, a shopkeeper in Balad, an agricultural town that links Somalia's Middle Shabelle region to Lower Shabelle, told Reuters by telephone."There were few police forces in the town. (The police) were missing. When the firing started people ran into their houses. I counted five dead soldiers and two civilian women," he said....

The attack happened amid a political dispute between Somalia’s president and prime minister which its international partners worry has distracted the government from the fight against the insurgents.

Police and residents in Balad, 30 km (18 miles) north of Mogadishu, said fighters from the al-Qaida-linked group attacked and overran government forces guarding a bridge at a town entrance early in the morning....

A few weeks ago a band of rebels attacked the northwest (Tigray area) area of Somali. They looted towns and broke into banks. They left and the areas' military forces called it a victory. I don't believe the military did anything except secure the area after the fact.

I think the conflict which Somalia's government reported on was near Tigray and was part of the ever continuing conflict in Ethiopia (click here). If that is the case then Somalia is receiving problems due to that conflict there.

That cache of supplies and money was destined to reinfuse who I believe are the Somalia pirates. The region effected speaks to the fact the UN currently has boats in the waters surrounding Somalia for at least the next three months. It is uncertain whether the UN plans a presence in the waters there beyond those three months. The pirates when they can't raid ships need food and munitions from somewhere. It could easily be that the raids on the Somalie towns were the pirates currently out of work.

These are vicious attacks. What the raiders did not steal they destroyed so no one else could be strengthened by those items they could not carry.

From the sounds of things and the latest aggressions in the region I think the UN knows it is in for more instability which will reopen wounds and begin the civil war all over again. 

This is the stuff that is published in recent months and it has not added to the favorable outcome for the people. 

By Ahmed Yusuf
Editor-in-Chief, EthipoianCitizen.com

Updated on December 29, 2021 (click here) to include author’s name as it was omitted by mistake

An article that is said to have been written by General Tsadkan was published yesterday on the Elephant, a Nairobi based online platform critical of Ethiopia’s war against the TPLF terrorists.

The article titled “Pertinent Issues on the War in Tigray” was written mainly to the Western world in order to gain the much needed help TPLF requires after its embarrassing defeat in Amhara and Afar.

The General, in an attempt to desperately appease his Western allies, has not shied away from painting the article with many lies that if not exposed will surely mislead many who are unaware....

This type of reporting leads to all kinds of power playing among the people. Depending what side of the conflict one is on means the reporting aids the effort or adds greater aggression in opposition. These news reports do sway public opinion in the region. There are educated folks that believe the African Union Forces are a waste of time and money and would rather see monies be spent on the people and not a chronic war. They also believe nonsense, suchas, the violence is encouraged by the Taliban when in fact it is al Shabab (click here).

To say the circumstances in this region is turbulent is an understatement. Everything from wars to fishing is a propaganda item and it keeps citizens upset and confused to where the truth is and why the conflicts never end.

Somehow it seems cell phone towers are the greatest contribution to the wars.