More fighting feared in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU – Mogadishu residents stocked up on food, fortified their houses and blocked roads yesterday, fearing another flare-up of factional fighting that has killed scores of people in the Somali capital in recent weeks.

Heavy fighting between militia linked to Islamic courts and a new “anti-terror” alliance, backed by powerful warlords, killed between 70 and 90 people last month. Another two died on Saturday after gunmen attacked an Islamic court.With Islamist militia holding on to key installations they took in recent fighting, residents now fear a bigger and more lethal round of fighting in the latest bout of unrest in the anarchic Horn of Africa nation.Somalia has been without a functioning central government since warlords ousted former strongman Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, ushering in 15 years of anarchy.”There is a lot of fear among the public for a possible war between the Islamists and warlords,” father-of-six Mahamud Mohamed said.Undeterred by increasing costs of fuel and food, Mohamed, who lives in the Hamar Jajab district, is preparing himself for what he called a “definite war”.”I have stocked up on food and fuel because once the battle starts there is no going out.”Dahir Warsame, a militia chief who heads a force of 134 men in the Hamarweyne area, said residents had fortified their houses to keep the fighting out of their vicinity.”Some people in Hamarweyne have put metallic grills on their windows as a precautionary measure,” he said.”We have blocked several roads in our neighbourhood to prevent the fighting factions from using them.”Many in Somalia suspect the US has backed the warlord coalition as part of its war against terrorism.That has given Islamist groups, notably the Islamic courts that brought order to some parts of Mogadishu by imposing sharia law, another rallying cry against warlords vying for control of the capital.Islamist militia sources said they expect a new battle at any time, having seized a port and airstrip two weeks ago.Traders in the city’s Cirtogte market, said there had been a surge in demand for AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles.Trigger-happy militiamen there test machineguns for customers by shooting them in the air, a practice that gave the market its name meaning “sky shooters” in Somali.Gun prices have doubled.Fuel dealer Yurub Hassan said petrol prices had also jumped with many fearing a shortage when fighting resumes.”A litre of petrol has now doubled to cost nearly two dollars,” she said.”We might soon not have any fuel …as both groups are buying large quantities.”The recent Mogadishu fighting has demonstrated how little control Somalia’s fledgling interim administration has over the nation of 10 million.Formed in the relative safety of neighbouring Kenya in 2004, it moved to Somalia last year but has remained in the provinces, unable to set up in Mogadishu due to insecurity.- Nampa-ReutersAnother two died on Saturday after gunmen attacked an Islamic court.With Islamist militia holding on to key installations they took in recent fighting, residents now fear a bigger and more lethal round of fighting in the latest bout of unrest in the anarchic Horn of Africa nation.Somalia has been without a functioning central government since warlords ousted former strongman Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, ushering in 15 years of anarchy.”There is a lot of fear among the public for a possible war between the Islamists and warlords,” father-of-six Mahamud Mohamed said.Undeterred by increasing costs of fuel and food, Mohamed, who lives in the Hamar Jajab district, is preparing himself for what he called a “definite war”.”I have stocked up on food and fuel because once the battle starts there is no going out.”Dahir Warsame, a militia chief who heads a force of 134 men in the Hamarweyne area, said residents had fortified their houses to keep the fighting out of their vicinity.”Some people in Hamarweyne have put metallic grills on their windows as a precautionary measure,” he said.”We have blocked several roads in our neighbourhood to prevent the fighting factions from using them.”Many in Somalia suspect the US has backed the warlord coalition as part of its war against terrorism.That has given Islamist groups, notably the Islamic courts that brought order to some parts of Mogadishu by imposing sharia law, another rallying cry against warlords vying for control of the capital.Islamist militia sources said they expect a new battle at any time, having seized a port and airstrip two weeks ago.Traders in the city’s Cirtogte market, said there had been a surge in demand for AK-47 rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles.Trigger-happy militiamen there test machineguns for customers by shooting them in the air, a practice that gave the market its name meaning “sky shooters” in Somali.Gun prices have doubled.Fuel dealer Yurub Hassan said petrol prices had also jumped with many fearing a shortage when fighting resumes.”A litre of petrol has now doubled to cost nearly two dollars,” she said.”We might soon not have any fuel …as both groups are buying large quantities.”The recent Mogadishu fighting has demonstrated how little control Somalia’s fledgling interim administration has over the nation of 10 million.Formed in the relative safety of neighbouring Kenya in 2004, it moved to Somalia last year but has remained in the provinces, unable to set up in Mogadishu due to insecurity.- Nampa-Reuters