General Duke Posted March 6, 2012 Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, has been a playground for many different groups for the duration of the past generation. In the early 90s, after the ousting of the Mohamed Siad Barre, warlords and clan militias seized the city and held it captive until the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) ousted them in 2006. Following the short reign of ICU, the city was again engulfed by brutal war when large portions of the Mogadishu were taken hostage by the terrorist organization, Al-Shabaab (which previously served as the military wing of the ICU), as they waged war against the internationally recognized government of Somalia. With the exit of the Al-Shabaab militia from Mogadishu a few months ago, the city has begun to rebuild at a remarkable rate mainly due to members of the Somali diaspora returning to invest in the city and reconstruct properties, as well as development projects initiated by the Turkish government. Over the years, many have wondered if the Mogadishu of the past could ever be rebuilt; if Mogadishu could ever live up to its former name (“The Pearl of the Indian Ocean”) or if it would continue to be a ‘museum of war’ and forever remain ‘the most dangerous city in the world’. The people of Mogadishu have shown themselves to be a resilient bunch. Friday beach parties at Lido beach have attracted hundreds of residents and symbolized how far the city has come in terms of peace and governance. Neither warlords, nor marauding militias, nor constant killings could destroy their will to live and thrive and neither will terrorists, bombings, or beheadings. The city has begun to return to a sense of normalcy, one that it hasn’t experienced in nearly two decades, not even during the 6 months of relative peace under the ICU. There isn’t a sense of fear looming in the clouds like there was during the ICU era. The residents of Mogadishu are truly free and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and their allies (the African Union troops) should be commended on the work they have done to free Mogadishu of the Al-Shabaab cancer but their work is not yet done. Al-Shabaab still control many regions in Southern Somalia and have vowed to bring instability to the peaceful regions in Central and Northern Somalia. Hopefully, the recently-approved increase in AU troops and targeted air strikes against Al-Shabaab bases will help bring an end to this menace once and for all. Amal Alasow, Contributor DissidentNation.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
