Amisom Losing Out,Somalia: Messy and Dangerous

The insecurity in Somalia is fast turning into a global issue as Al Qaeda support transforms the once disorganised Al Shabaab insurgents into a "super terrorist group," the African Union Mission in Somalia has warned."The situation is getting out of hand. It is going to affect everybody in this region, not only Somalia. But it looks like neighbouring countries are waiting for Al Shabaab attacks before they treat the situation as very serious," said Wafula Wamunyinyi, Deputy African Union Representative to Somalia He said Al Qaeda is increasingly turning to Somalia as Nato troops intensify pressure on its bases in Afghanistan.Already, Al Shabaab has issued threats to bomb Kampala and Bujumbura, the only two countries with a peacekeeping force in Mogadishu.Sources close to Amisom said that, with Al Qaeda logistical support at their disposal, the attacks could happen at the least expected time.Unlike previous and current militia factions in Somalia, Al Shabaab is not based on clans.A radical faction that emerged from the remnants of the Union of Islamic Courts routed by the Ethiopian forces that invaded Somalia in 2006, the group has with Al Qaeda's help acquired the financial muscle to recruit globally.Amisom peacekeepers in the country say many Somali Americans, Somali Canadians, American nationals, Pakistani nationals, Afghan, Ugandan and Kenyan youths have been recruited into Al Shabaab and are receiving training from Al Qaeda commanders in suicide bombing, remote control roadside bombings and bomb manufacturing.US and Canadian intelligence, investigating a spate of recent disappearances of their Somali nationals, are concerned that these individuals, who hold genuine passports, will return home to spread terror after having received training from Al Shabaab.Reports show that already Sixth American nationals have been killed fighting alongside Al Shabaab.

Somalia: Messy and Dangerous

Very nice summary of all the mess that is Somalia from StrategyPage here:

The UN has been unable to muster much direct support (as in peacekeepers, trainers or even a lot of cash) for the Transitional Government. Memories of the hostile experience UN peacekeepers had in the early 1990s are still quite vivid. And the current problems AU peacekeepers are having in Mogadishu simply reinforces those 1990s memories. All the UN has been able to do is deplore the continuing violence. There has been lots of deploring.

Efforts to halt the flow of Iranian weapons from Eritrea to Islamic radicals in Somalia, have failed. Threats of UN sanctions apparently do not bother Eritrea (which is currently run by a paranoid dictator), which blames everything on the United States. Iran denies any involvement, and also blames everything on the United States. The U.S. is supplying most of the food aid for Somalia.