AUTHOR: Redaspie DATE: Saturday, July 22, 2006 ----- BODY:

What with all the world's attention, quite rightly, focused on the carnage now unfolding in Lebanon, it it easy to forget that elsewhere in the world, other things are happening. One such issue is Somalia, where over a decade of civil war involving various warlords recently came to an end when the Islamic Courts Union seized power. This alliance of Islamic local bodies, which appears to be quite a decentralised body, has been accused of being a Taleban clone preparing to turn Somalia into a new Afghanistan. However, although their politics may not be particularly progressive, they do seem to have solid popular support in the country, and they at least have the potential to bring stability to the country after years of carnage and war. They also have established popular welfare services which are clearly going to be very welcome to ordinary Somalis.

I won't go into the ins-and-outs of the political situation there. I'm just not equipped to do so. However, it is clear that the US are not happy about this new situation, and have issued statements talking about 'concern' that Somalia could become an al-Qaeda 'safe haven'. The US actually supported an alliance of warlords in order to try and prevent the IUC from taking power, so clearly view them as a potential threat. As there are apparently major oil reserves in Somalia (the existence of which the US has been denying) this is not surprising. The old dictatorship of Mohammed Barre gave concessions to US companies to drill these reserves, but was subsequently overthrown, sparking the conflict. The US clearly will not want an unfriendly government controlling access to the reserves.

So now unsurprisingly Somalia's neighbour, Ethiopia, has invaded Somalia, news that will undoubtedly gladden Washington's hearts. Ethiopia strongly supports the ineffectual UN-backed transitional government, and is adamantly opposed to having an Islamic state on its borders. To what extent Washington is actively backing Ethiopia here is unknown, but it is obvious what Washington is hoping the outcome will be. Unfortunately, this conflict is not going to get the coverage the Middle East gets - the very fact that it is in Africa will ensure that. However, if anyone wants to hold an 'Ethiopia Out of Somalia' rally then I say "go for it".

For articles on the conflict go here and here.

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