TFG the most brutal force in Mogadishu

[Juje]

TFG the most brutal force in Mogadishu

By ABDULKADIR KHALIF

Special Correspondent

 

The sight of Ethiopian soldiers in combat gear, sheltering behind barricades in front of the former Pasta Factory in North Mogadishu, has become so common that many people would hardly believe their eyes if these men leave the city.

 

Most of those guarding the compound, where hundreds of servicemen from Ethiopia are encamped, are sharpshooters armed with automatic guns fitted with telescopic sight while the senior officers stand by with walkie-talkies for communication.

 

Ethiopian troops are stationed in about half a dozen sites in the Somali capital and one has to think twice before going close. The only adventurers who engage these heavily armed soldiers in confrontations are the insurgents, locally known as Muqawama, who tend to attack them mainly in nocturnal operations. Repeated skirmishes have not caused these heavily armed battalions to budge. Instead, they have caused civilians in the vicinity to leave their homes in order to escape the shells and bullets.

 

In some areas of the city, the men in uniform from Addis Ababa have managed to cultivate a cordial relationship with local communities. One may wonder at the laughter some Ethiopian soldiers share with Somali girls selling tea at street corners. They even trade with the roughest street urchins while keeping pocket radios glued to their ears to relax to Somali music from local stations.

 

“Whether in the United States, Saudi Arabia or Somalia, Ethiopians are known to be in touch with their homeland,” said Prof Raghe Shire, an expert in Ethiopian history. “Now that Ethiopians are welcoming their third Millennium, according to their 13-month calendar, these soldiers in Mogadishu must be nostalgically looking forward to the day they go back home.”

 

Many of the city’s dwellers say the Ethiopians are better disciplined than the forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

 

“On a number of occasions, Somalis have addressed their grievances to the Ethiopians against harassment, including mistreatment of civilians by the government’s own soldiers,” said Hawa Ali, a mother of five in Mogadishu.

 

Apart from self-defence, the Ethiopians spend a lot of time responding to distress signals from the TFG forces. They generally provide a helping hand whenever the government army or police are overwhelmed by rebel groups, especially when a roadside landmine is detonated or a suicide bomber hits a target.

 

Like their Ethiopian counterparts, the TFG forces tend to shoot first and ask questions later; but their approach to security is entirely different.

 

They tend to retaliate against the people living in the area where the attack has taken place.

 

Many people associate the TFG forces with deliberate brutality. Furious soldiers are said to venture into private premises, mainly business outlets and residential areas, taking anything valuable.

 

Strangely enough, when it comes to the security apparatus engaging in searches for weapons or suspects or setting up roadblocks, the public prefers the Ethiopians to the Somalis.

 

“So rough are the TFG forces that they have earned epithets like Maryacalas (beggars) or dhar-cagaar (green soldiers),” commented Idris Ali Farah, a taxi driver in the city.

 

The army with the least controversial image is the Ugandan contingent in Mogadishu. Serving the African Mission in Somalia (Amisom), the Ugandans, numbering 1,600 soldiers, are the guardians of such vital installations as Aden Adde International Airport, the city’s main harbour and Villa Somalia, the State House in the capital. The Ugandans have transcended their peacekeeping mandate by taking on humanitarian duties.

 

At the height of the exodus of civilians fleeing from the heavy confrontations in March and April this year, the Amisom peacekeepers joined other good samaritans delivering aid to those needy people hiding in the bush on the outskirts of the city.

 

“The Ugandans made sure their tanks delivered water to those in need,” admitted Mohamed Yare, a civil society activist. “We certainly need more AU and UN peacekeepers to complement the efforts of the Ugandans.”

 

The peacekeepers have for the past four months been offering free medical services.

 

“My abdominal ulcer has been treated with effective diagnosis and medication, thanks to Amisom,” Mama Asha Nur, a well known city resident affectionately known as Mama Ashow, pointed out.

 

Somalia’s security and humanitarian situation remains as fragile as the political landscape. The national reconciliation conference that culminated in Mogadishu on August 30 touched on some of the most contentious issues in Somali society.

 

Religious extremism and women’s empowerment were among the agenda items dealt with by over 1,500 delegates.

 

“Contrary to what the Jihadists in Somalia want the public to believe, the clan elders signed a document that invalidated holy war in the country,” said Jumale Abdi, a conference participant. “For instance, the text called a fellow Muslim killing another in the name of Islam Murtid (someone who ignores the commandment: Thou shallt not kill.

 

“It renders the justification that Islamists give suicide bombing or planting landmines null and void,” added Abdi.

 

“Women must be empowered to reach the upper echelons of power and decision-making,” remarked a lady participant in the conference. “The days of keeping women in the kitchen are fast disappearing as we push for our rights.”

 

It is the first time that a widely attended conference inside Somalia tackled such previously untouchable subjects.

 

The biggest challenge to TFG’s plans has recently been a group of politicians and clergymen who made their base in Asmara, Eritrea. To counter the reconciliation conference in Mogadishu, the group and its supporters, mainly drawn from the Somali Diaspora, initiated a congress from September 6 to 14 with the theme “Liberation and reconstruction of Somalia.”

 

The meeting and the host country, however, were undermined by the United States when Jendayi Frazer, the US Assistant Secretary of State, said that Washington was considering putting Eritrea on its terrorist list.

 

“We have tried our best to act with restraint with Eritrea,” Frazer said, according to media reports.

 

“The fact that Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a top Somali Islamist, was in Eritrea for the anti-TFG congress further infuriated the US,” commented a political scientist in Mogadishu. “This is because Aweys is on the US and UN lists of individuals with links to al-Qaeda.”

 

While the TFG is putting forward its plans to stabilise the country and to bring about political reconciliation by using the recommendations of the elders who endorsed the July/August conference’s outcome, the anti-TFG group in Asmara has formed a liberation movement.

 

In the short run, however, the people in Somalia and in Mogadishu in particular welcome the kind of security and service provided by Ugandans and are looking forward to Burundians, Ghanians, Nigerians and others joining the mission.

 

Replacing the controversial Ethiopian troops with mandated peacekeepers will be a bonus,” said Mohammed Yare.

 

Source: The East African, Sept 17, 2007

[Hunguri]

Juje sxboow ma Opinion baa kani mise waa Breaking news . Odaygii Juuje ahaa xaalkiisu wuxuu marayaa (Nin daad qaaday Xunbo cuskay). Anigu bari horaan kuu sheegayoo kugu idhi ninkaa Duke iskaga hadh. Ninkani waa Software loooooool markaa yaanu hurdada kaa dhamayn lol

[Tahliil]

The sight of Ethiopian soldiers in combat gear, sheltering behind barricades in front of the former Pasta Factory in North Mogadishu, has become so common that many people would hardly believe their eyes if these men leave the city.

 

Most of those guarding the compound, where hundreds of servicemen from Ethiopia are encamped, are sharpshooters armed with automatic guns fitted with telescopic sight while the senior officers stand by with walkie-talkies for communication

What a disheartening sight!!!

[Gabbal]

Originally posted by Juje:

 

“Whether in the United States, Saudi Arabia or Somalia, Ethiopians are known to be in touch with their homeland,” said Prof Raghe Shire, an expert in Ethiopian history. “Now that Ethiopians are welcoming their third Millennium, according to their 13-month calendar, these soldiers in Mogadishu must be nostalgically looking forward to the day they go back home.”

 

Many of the city’s dwellers say the Ethiopians are better disciplined than the forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

Classic!

 

Foreigner is good, men from rival clan are bad.

 

This correspondont reminds me of Ahmed Diiriye and the Mogadishu Clan Elder's first major public relations gaffe: We have no problems with the Ethiopians, but we dislike the north Mogadishu and Puntland TFG troops.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

and the warlords, criminals and the islamist who used to cut the limb of with kitchen knifes and threw grenades at cinimas were heaven sent.

[Juje]

Hunguri sxb I admire your PR drive, but change client. Your current one is a complete non-starter.

Horn my old pal, what is it then? Was it the "minority" thing that turned you into what Blair was to Bush? Sxb get a grip of your self and hold your own steering.

[Gabbal]

^Adigaaba xasuusto and that says a lot! Contrary to the underhand blackmail, I am holding my steering as is my character. Bal adigu wax soo tabi.