The Islamist group al-Shabab, that controls large parts of central and southern Somalia, has recently suffered significant defeats at the hands of Amisom, the African Union force that has been fighting the al-Qaeda-allied militants. The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse is in Mogadishu and has been travelling with them. BBC News Monday, June 11, 2012 "Every day they attack, but without success," a Burundian soldier says as he takes us to see his new front line, on the outskirts of Mogadishu. "Shabab, finished!" shouts a new Somali recruit, as he heaves himself into his "technical" - a modified pickup truck with an anti-aircraft gun welded to the back, bullet belts slung around his neck. African Union forces have been hitting al-Shabab hard. Together with their allies in the Somali national army (mostly former militiamen like the young fighter in the "technical"), Ugandan and Burundian soldiers took the key town of Afgoye at the end of April. It is about 30 km (18.5 miles) from Mogadishu, and had been a crucial stronghold for the Islamist fighters, as well as a centre of their bomb-making activities. Almost simultaneously, Kenyan forces have been advancing on the al-Shabab stronghold of Kismayo in the south. And Ethiopian troops are squeezing the Islamists in the west, near the town of Baidoa. Col Kayanja Muhanga, the Ugandan officer in charge of the assault on Afgoye, says it has been a tough battle. He says he and his men have been aided by a steady trickle of defectors. "They have had a lot of losses," he says at his camp outside Afgoye. "And when the enemy is defeated, some of them report to you. They have been giving us very useful information." We meet a young man by the name of Abu Khalit. He is 24 years old and had deserted from al-Shabab only the previous week. He says he joined the Islamists four years ago. He would have risked certain death if he had been caught as a defector. "I realised al-Shabab were not bringing freedom to the people," he said. "I realised it wasn't about religion. These people just want to fight. The real enemy here is al-Qaeda." Al-Shabab's recent losses have had an effect on morale. "They have all fled this area. Their morale has died. Everyone is looking for somewhere to hide." Proxy war? Over the past 20 years, there have been numerous attempts to bring peace to Somalia by force. The United States failed, culminating in the now-infamous 1993 incident in the battle for Mogadishu dubbed "Black Hawk Down". Other UN-backed international missions also failed. But this time, Col Muhanga says, it is different. "This is Africans solving their own problems. Africans solving African problems. The Somalis identify more with us because we are neighbours, we are Africans. They identify more with us than the foreign forces that have been here before." Col Muhanga's assessment of the situation is accurate, up to a point. As their armoured convoys rumble through the streets of Mogadishu, reactions from local residents are by and large positive, with waves and cheers from the shops and stalls that have re-emerged in the capital since Amisom pushed out al-Shabab. But Amisom is almost exclusively financed not by African nations, but by the big Western powers, notably the US and the EU. Ugandan troops receive training from US forces inside Uganda. In Mogadishu itself, Amisom officers are "mentored" by a group of international private security contractors, mostly from Europe or the US, some of them veterans of decades of African conflicts. All of this leaves the Amisom mission vulnerable to being labelled a "proxy war". The AU mission is ultra-low-budget. For example, Amisom does not have a single helicopter, a fact that contributed to heavy losses among Burundian forces during last year's battle for Mogadishu. The operation costs a fraction of other UN-led peacekeeping missions, for example the UN mission in DR Congo, which is widely seen as ineffectual, not to mention the US-led missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shabab nostalgia So is Amisom a model for future conflict resolution in Africa and elsewhere? It could be, says Augustine Mahiga, the UN Special Representative to Somalia. "[Amisom] has not only delivered, but believe me, it is also cost-effective. It has to be revisited. There has to be re-thinking at the UN." But despite the military advances, the battle for "hearts and minds" is not yet won. At Mogadishu seaport, we watch two dozen men unloading bundles and boxes from cargo ships and piling them onto their trucks. All the drivers said they thought life was better under al-Shabab - less corrupt and more secure, so long as you stayed out of politics. "In al-Shabab areas, we don't see guns everywhere," said Mahmood Abdullahi. "If the government disarmed the militias and got rid of the checkpoints that steal money from us, then we would support the government." Yet it is politics that could make or break Somalia's current momentum towards stability. There is a hugely complicated political process under way that is supposed to culminate by 20 August this year. First, a group of clan elders must select a Constituent Assembly. That body must in turn must adopt a new constitution, and nominate members to a new parliament, which will then elect a new president. The process is fraught with potential pitfalls, not least a number of former warlords who have financial and political interests in maintaining instability. But Somalia is now closer to establishing some sort of meaningful central government that it has been for more than two decades. The African Union knows it needs more than just military victories. The gun has become a way of life. "Africans solving African problems" seems to be working for now. But in the end, Somalia's patchwork of private militias needs to be integrated into a unified national force - one that will defend the security of the population, not just the interests of the clan. Source: BBC

AUN

Nonsense on abtigis part no one fled cigaal was forced. To sign a peace deal after he could not win the war ma anago nool ba taarikda been laga sheegeya

Waryaaa abwaan i can see the video what did you post the habar habar wars in somaliland what does that have to do with edna

Black it helps in away not only when she is adressing the ic. But also the koonfurians what will they think when they hear her speak and talking about them and their country in such a way They would say naga taga please naga baxa and thats what edna wants.

Uchi oday gaal ah baa maalin pirate igu yidhi it took me 20 min to explain that we fight piracy akhirki waa isku xiiqnay wuxu iga dan waayeey stealing is not good.why do you do that meeshan waxba qaldan.

Kan che baba ugu daran marba wu ina weydinaya dee soo dhegeyso lool She said either give us ictraaf or there will be 50 000 godanes.

^^ Indeed lovely hotel i loved it

Carafaat;840873 wrote: Wiil Cusub, all Somalis generlize. Godane does it, Edna does it and even I do it. dont you do it Godane baad ku walatay beryahan ma is tidhi dhidhibso adeer.

^^ isn't Puntland Koonfur

Carafaat;840846 wrote: Edna Aden's cousin Godane : Everyone outside Al Shabaab is Gaal. Edna Aden: Everyone outside Somaliland is terrorist, pirate. Who should we listen to? Ace of Spaze: Edna is only guilty in that what all Somali's are guilty of, generalization and stigmatization. Even I do that in my local Somali coffeeshop but I wouldnt do that in front of outsiders(non-Somalis). But she is a great lady who has done more for Somalis then any of us. There were Somalis well Somalilanders and there were EU parliamentarians and Belgium Parliamentarians but there were no koonfurians present. Carafaat do you think it would've been nice if there were Koonfurians at the meeting so that they could raise their opinion to. Ama ha yidhahaan boooooo Down Somaliland:D

Hillary clinton iyo obama ciyaar mooda Alshabaab two can play that game:D

^^ Lol

Carafaat;840837 wrote: Hadalka macaa waxbuu dumiyaa. certainly in Somalia and reer Somaliland need to understand that. You are right the Qawdhans need to be careful what they say in hargeysa you can say intad micrfoon qaadatid reer hebel wa necbahay beritoole baanu ku duulayna. Laakin Hargeysa reer magaal maha dee wa dad hadal badan wax walba ku kaftama. Yaan kaftanka mar mar run la moodin laakin reer xamarku wa dad runti reer magaal ah

Abwaan;840835 wrote: lol...what a joke? Weren't you the one blaming what happened in the North on all Koofuriyaans? While ignoring what your leaders like Riyaale and Waraabe did? 1994 til 1996 You are confusing things now Somaliland habar habar wars Somaliland clashes between the political elites of the Somaliland republic Somaliland 1981 till 1991 Somalilands SNM rebels versus the Siad bare government of Somalia. If Edna adan was part of cali mahdi's faction fighting for power against general caydiid than we can say she was responsible for the wars. Edna adan was not part of Cigaal's government in 1994 She was not a member of the SNM she was not a member of SSDF nor was she a member of USC

Abwaan;840831 wrote: XX, wiilashaan iyo adigu ma isku habar-wacateen? Hal mar bay na soo wada galeene. Soo xaajigoodi ma ihey ma aragtay faisal cali waraabe oo hangoolkisa lulaya wa saso kale

Abwaan;840823 wrote: XX...Soomaalidu waxay tiraahdaa "Af qoyani hadal ma daayo" meesha ma hadal un baan ku haynaynaa? Dagaalkii Cigaal Waqooyiga ka ridaey horta taariikhda waa ka saari rabtaan miyaa? Siyaasaddii Koofurta jagasareerka ku riddey bay iyada, Cigaal iyo kuwo kale oo badan oo Waqooyi ka soo jeedaba hormuud ka ahaayeen. Taasna ma inkiri kartid. Adigu wax dhisid iskaba caaye, kuwa Joofur ina degto ka soo horjeeda ayaadu horraysaa, markii la miisaamo fikirkaaga SOL. Marka Koofur sidaas ku sii baabi'i mayso, Waqooyina sidoo kale, shalayba markii la burburiyey waxbaa ka haray haddana waa ka soo kabsatay. Lets say the late Cigaal was responsible for the short clashes in Somaliland what does that have to do with Edna adan since when is Edna adan Cigaal. Sorry i don't see the logic behind you're argument. Here is the problem with you in Somaliland they don't blame their problems on others i have never seen a Somalilander blaming the clashes in-between 1994 and1996 on Koonfurians?

AfricaOwn;840810 wrote: ^^blah blah blah Leave him he is a very reasonable guy

^^ Ace you didn't get it Abwaan is saying Edna contributed to the chaos in Somalia he is not talking about Somaliland.

Abwaan;840812 wrote: So you are telling me weligeed siyaasad kamay qayb qaadan, haddana caafimaad bay ka sheekeynqysaa? XX...I was anti warlords and Ethiopian dominated politics and still am. Labadiiba meesha waa ka bexeen oo dowlad wax badan dhaanta tii C/llaahi ayaa joogta, waxaana daliil kuu ah, degaannadii laga qaxay intii itoobiya iyo dowladdii AY joogeen maanta waa lagu soo noqday, aqoonsi buuxda ayay caalamka ka haysataa, dad ka wanaagsan kuwii horena siyaasadda waa horboodayaan iyadoo weliba la filayo in kuwo ka sii wanaagsan ay beddelaan Ma dhaw Insha Allaah. Siyaasada Somaliland bay ka qeyb qaadatay waxay ahayd wasiir taasi ma denbi ba anigaga kula hadlayo ba Somaliland wax ka so dhisay, Laakin adigu waxad leedahay waxbay so burburisay wa halkanu isku khilaafsanahay, iyado dagaal kama qeyb qadaan. Dawladu wa tii Cabdilahi yusuf uun Xabashida dalka joogu wa isla iyagi uun , waxa is badalay uun Alshabaab ba qaraxyadi is midaminta badiiyey. Dowladi cabdilahi Yusuf ba aqoonsi buuxda wa haysatey tana wa haysata beriga ciidan xabashi uun ba joogay hada ciidamo kale ba jooga oo dheraad ah. Dhinac hada laga eego Cabdilahi Yusuf dawladisa waxay arkeysey islamiyintan kalee eeh so badanaya laakin adigu beriga waad ka so horjeeday waxad odhan karta sheikhan hada meesha haysta ba dhama oo mala dee meelaha qaar u dhago nugul.

oba hiloowlow;840806 wrote: XX caadi weeye igu so dara wada hadaladda, ogoow laakin im goin to support my reer ayeeyo on the SSC regions, btw ceerigaabo is a shared city.. Wa hagaag wa arin fiican berigi hore 90iyadi ayaan rag badan la kaftami jiray go itaank inyar na ma ogalayn hada laakin dadku wa so dabceen wuxuun bay ogalyihin people are really reasonable beryahan danbe 90iyadi walugu kala kici jiray madasha markay siyasada arimahan oo kale noqoto was very controversial. Hada wala isku so dhawaday by the way Erigavo waligeed muran ma galin waligeed 1989 bay SNM tu gashay intanay hargeysaba galin wa meeshi ugu horeysey eeh laga taago calan Somaliland ah Erigavo sidi buna uga taganyahay. Cala kuli xaal walaalkay oba xalaadu wa so wanaagsanaysa wuxun baynu isla meel dhigi.

Abwaan bal waxad i sheegta halkay adna ku tageeri jirtay jabhadi jiri jiray ma ii sheegi karta anigu ma odhan reer Somaliland ma qaldaman laakin adigu waxad eed dusha uga saartay edna adan oo waligeed jabhad na tageerin dakhtar ka shaqeyn jiray marna marwo ahayd raisal wasaare marna hayada caafimadka ka shaqeyn jirtay. Abwaan adigu manad ahayn ninki hore u tageeri jiray kooxii islamiyinta eeh la dagaalaami jiray dawladi cabdilahi Yusuf maanta laakin wa kula fiicanyihin ciidamada shiisheeye eeh dalka dhex mushaaxaya, ta maxa la odhan kara?

Oba hiloowle wanu isla saahirayna wada hadalada Somaliland iyo Somalia halugu so daro , xalki wa dhowyahay oba wuxu ogalyahay inay intan oo magaalo go'aan Magaalada hargeysa Magaalada Burco Magaalada caynaba Magaalada berbera Magaalada ceerigaabo Magaalada gabiley Magaalada oodweyne Laascaanood laasqoray buhoodle iyo borame na wanu ka wada hadli doona adna shaqo badan babay qabatay maanta

Adigu jawaab waxad edna adan ku masibaday maxay xumeysey? ma qori bay sidatay 1991 ma qori bay sidatay 1981 , haweeney odaygi cigaal qabi jiray bay ahayd siday wax u xumeysey maxay baas eeh horseeday anigu cidna reer kuma difaacayo laakin dee cadaladaan ka shaqeya?

oba hiloowlow;840777 wrote: Che waa runtaa laakin dee dhiiga igu kacay waxaaso kale looma dulqaadan karo,, Xaaji Awdal iyo SSC iska ilooba, 3da hartay la baxa Wa iska caadi inta kale na walaga heshiin hadaad xita aminsantihid in la goosan karo waxa kale na walaga heshiin kara:D hadaad aminsantihid in hargeysa la goosan karo berbera la goosaan karo ceerigaabo la goosaan karo caynabo oog iyo gabiley iyo oodweyne la goosan karo burco wajaale sheikh la goosaan karo. Waxba kama qabtiid hada boorama laascaanood iyo buhoodle iyo laasoqoray iyo Badhan na la goosaan karo. Wala isku so dhawanayna maalin ba maalinta kale.