Somalians get ready for war
2006-04-03 11:36
Mogadishu - Mogadishu residents stocked
up on food, fortified their houses and blocked roads on Monday,
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".
Run out of fuel
"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.
Many in Somalia suspect the United States 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.
Most of the Mogadishu warlords are lawmakers or ministers,
while the Islamist factions have their allies in government.