From: wolda002@umn.edu
Date: Wed Jun 30 2010 - 00:14:54 EDT
June 27,2009
The Problems plaguing Somalia show no sign of abating in the near future.
It seems that every other day there has been a Bomb Explosion in Mogadishu
killing dozens of people or requests made by the Transitional Government
for Assistance have been falling on Deaf Ears.
Is there any hope for the Horn of Africa?
For Almost 20 years Somalia has been in a State of Anarchy. Two Previous
Attempts by the United Nations to restore a functioning Government have
failed and currently a third attempt is not promising.
Piracy has been a Major Concern amongst the International Community as the
Gulf of Aden is a Chokepoint amongst the Shipping Lanes of the World.
Islamic Militants who have been linked to both Al-Qaida and Eritrea have
been battling Government Forces in and around the Capital Mogadishu. And in
recent day days in a High Profile Incident 4 thieves suffered Cross
Amputation for their Crimes.
As a result of the latest fighting 250 people have reportedly been killed
and 170,000 have been displaced. The US Government has seen fit to send 10
tons of Arms to support the Somali Government.
The Crisis in Somalia seems to be getting worse
In the near future a Conference will be held in Washington, DC regarding
the Future of Somalia.
What is interesting is for the First Time Somaliland will be asked to
attend. However they will not attend due to the fact that they have been
invited as a Province of Somalia not as an Independent State which they
claim to be.
In another Interesting Fact Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti were not invited
to take part in the Washington Conference.
For Several Years now the Somaliland Region has been attempting to have the
Independent Community state that they are a Country. In 1998 the Somali
Government tried to prevent the region from seceding by Force but was
unsuccessful.
After a Meeting with US Officals at the Embassy in Nairobi the Somaliland
leadership decided not to attend because their concerns would not be on the
Agenda. That is a Legitimate Concern.
The Leaders in Hargeysa don't want to be lumped into a Solution that may
end up being a detriment to Somaliland. After all the Region will be
announcing which companies were able to purchase Gas and Oil Exploration
contracts this fall. The region does not have a problem with Piracy either.
In the Long Run the US may be making an Error by not increasing contacts
with Hargeysa. On this note the Obama Administration deserves some praise.
Unlike Previous Administrations they have been talking to Somaliland.
Confused Eagle will continue to monitor this situation.
----[This List to be used for Eritrea Related News Only]----