Somalia: Youths, Preacher Seek Egypt-Style Revolt
15 February, 2011 | By Abdulkadir Khalif
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mogadishu — Tens of Somali youths and a preacher are seeking an
Egypt style solution to force an end to 20 years of chaos and lack of
a stable government.
They protested the seemingly endless war between the pro-
government forces and the jihadists (holy warriors) of al Shabaab,
the fanatical militant group vehemently challenging the Transitional
Federal Government.
The daring youths gathered at Km 4 area, an important control point
manned by the peacekeepers serving the AU Mission in Somalia,
Amisom.
One of the organisers, Mr Jama Said Qorshel, told journalists they
were committed to daily protests till their objectives are achieved.
"We are not going to abandon until we achieve our anti-war goals,"
said Qorshel.
Although the protest ended peacefully, the youth did not hide the
facts that they had been motivated by the uprising in Tunisia and
Egypt that ended the rules of the former leaders Zine al-Abidine Ben
Ali and Hosni Mubarak.
Arrests
The protesters blamed the warring sides of employing youths in
armed battles.
The TFG's Security Police, better known as PS, apprehended seven
organisers after the protests announced on Saturday. However, the
move did not deter others from marching.
Elsewhere, a spiritual leader of Somalia's Islamist Shabaab rebels
called Monday for popular Egypt- and Tunisia-style revolts to
topple the country's Western-backed transitional government.
Sheikh Jama Abdusalam said such uprisings would rid the war-
wracked country of a government that he accused of serving
Western interests.
"I am urging the people to carry out Egyptian- and Tunisian-style
uprisings in Somalia," Abdusalam told Alfurqaan Radio, a Shabaab
mouthpiece.
"It is good to take up such revolution against all governments that
serve the interest of Western countries," he said. "We have to follow
Muslims who are fighting for their dignity and religion in Tunisia and
Egypt."
Authority
The Shabaab control 80 per cent of southern and central Somalia
and their bloody onslaught against President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's
government has confined the administration to a few blocks in the
capital Mogadishu.
Somalia's transitional government was formed in neighbouring
Kenya in 2004 but has been unable to exert its authority across the
country and survives under the protection of a contingent of African
Union forces.
Another Shabaab imam, Sheikh Abdulfatah Aweys Abu Hamsa,
called for more attacks on African Union soldiers.
"There is a need for a wider jihad against the crusaders who came to
support the transitional government," Alfurqaan Radio quoted him as
saying.
"We need to follow those who are crushing dictators. We need to
remove the so-called leader imposed on us by outsiders," he said.
Somalia has lacked an effective central government since the
eruption of a civil war after the ouster of president Mohamed Siad
Barre 20 years ago.
The current government's mandate is to expire in August.
(Additional reporting by AFP.)
Courtesy
15 February, 2011 | By Abdulkadir Khalif
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mogadishu — Tens of Somali youths and a preacher are seeking an
Egypt style solution to force an end to 20 years of chaos and lack of
a stable government.
- Waving Somali flags, the
youths staged a
demonstration at a key road
between Banadir and Km 4
junctions in South
Mogadishu on Sunday.
They protested the seemingly endless war between the pro-
government forces and the jihadists (holy warriors) of al Shabaab,
the fanatical militant group vehemently challenging the Transitional
Federal Government.
The daring youths gathered at Km 4 area, an important control point
manned by the peacekeepers serving the AU Mission in Somalia,
Amisom.
One of the organisers, Mr Jama Said Qorshel, told journalists they
were committed to daily protests till their objectives are achieved.
"We are not going to abandon until we achieve our anti-war goals,"
said Qorshel.
Although the protest ended peacefully, the youth did not hide the
facts that they had been motivated by the uprising in Tunisia and
Egypt that ended the rules of the former leaders Zine al-Abidine Ben
Ali and Hosni Mubarak.
Arrests
The protesters blamed the warring sides of employing youths in
armed battles.
The TFG's Security Police, better known as PS, apprehended seven
organisers after the protests announced on Saturday. However, the
move did not deter others from marching.
Elsewhere, a spiritual leader of Somalia's Islamist Shabaab rebels
called Monday for popular Egypt- and Tunisia-style revolts to
topple the country's Western-backed transitional government.
Sheikh Jama Abdusalam said such uprisings would rid the war-
wracked country of a government that he accused of serving
Western interests.
"I am urging the people to carry out Egyptian- and Tunisian-style
uprisings in Somalia," Abdusalam told Alfurqaan Radio, a Shabaab
mouthpiece.
"It is good to take up such revolution against all governments that
serve the interest of Western countries," he said. "We have to follow
Muslims who are fighting for their dignity and religion in Tunisia and
Egypt."
Authority
The Shabaab control 80 per cent of southern and central Somalia
and their bloody onslaught against President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's
government has confined the administration to a few blocks in the
capital Mogadishu.
Somalia's transitional government was formed in neighbouring
Kenya in 2004 but has been unable to exert its authority across the
country and survives under the protection of a contingent of African
Union forces.
Another Shabaab imam, Sheikh Abdulfatah Aweys Abu Hamsa,
called for more attacks on African Union soldiers.
"There is a need for a wider jihad against the crusaders who came to
support the transitional government," Alfurqaan Radio quoted him as
saying.
"We need to follow those who are crushing dictators. We need to
remove the so-called leader imposed on us by outsiders," he said.
Somalia has lacked an effective central government since the
eruption of a civil war after the ouster of president Mohamed Siad
Barre 20 years ago.
The current government's mandate is to expire in August.
(Additional reporting by AFP.)
Courtesy
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