Somali Civil War | GlobalPost

Ex-Islamist Somali warlord elected 'president' of key region

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 18:00

Former Islamist warlord Ahmed Madobe has been elected "president" of Somalia's volatile southern Jubaland region following weeks of tense negotiations between rival factions, officials said Wednesday. The vote in the southern port city of Kismayo was opposed by the central government in the capital Mogadishu, which is keen to stamp its authority on the lawless and war-ravaged nation, not to see further regional splits. Madobe is also a key ally of Kenya, and his appointment risks opening a rift between Nairobi and Mogadishu.

Ex-Islamist Somali warlord elected 'president' of key region

Agence France-PresseMay 15, 2013 14:26

Former Islamist warlord Ahmed Madobe has been elected "president" of Somalia's volatile southern Jubaland region following weeks of tense negotiations between rival factions, officials said Wednesday. "Ahmed Madobe was elected by an overwhelming majority to be the president of Jubaland," said Abdi Nasser Serar, spokesman for the 500-strong conference of clan elders and local leaders who voted for a leader, a move opposed by the central government in the capital Mogadishu. amu-pjm/gd

Britain pledges anti-piracy aid at key Somalia summit

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 11:36

By Mohammed Abbas LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will help boost radio communications on the Somali coast as part of efforts to combat rampant piracy along global shipping routes near the East African country, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday. Britain will also spend millions of dollars on bolstering Somalia's security forces, Cameron said at the opening of a major London conference on Somalia aimed at bolstering stability after two decades of lawlessness and civil war.

Bomb hits convoy carrying Qataris in Somalia, eight dead

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 10:57

By Abdi Sheikh and Feisal Omar MOGADISHU (Reuters) - A suicide bomber hit a convoy of cars carrying Qatari officials through the center of Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Sunday, killing eight Somalis, officials said. The visiting delegation of Qataris, who were travelling in the Somali interior minister's bullet-proof vehicle, were "safe", a security officer told Reuters, without going into further detail. The minister was not in the car at the time.

U.N. urges support for new Somali leaders before donor meet

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 10:48

By Mohammed Abbas LONDON (Reuters) - The United Nations has given strong backing to the new leadership of Somalia ahead of a donor conference in London on Tuesday that will seek pledges to rebuild the East African country torn apart by two decades of civil war. Deputy U.N. Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said the United Nations wanted to shift more of its efforts into development projects and away from humanitarian aid as Somalia begins to recover from years of lawlessness, violence and famine.

Somalia's security forces hamstrung by corruption, infiltrators

Thomson ReutersMay 7, 2013 10:48

By Richard Lough and Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somalia's security forces need rebuilding to cement gains made by foreign troops against Islamist militants, but how to pay and arm recruits, tackle corruption and prevent rebels infiltrating their ranks remain hurdles for the cash-strapped government.

Somalia's two decades of chaos

Agence France-PresseMay 7, 2013 06:15

An international conference is being held in London on Tuesday aimed at boosting political stability in Somalia and preventing the troubled Horn of Africa nation from slipping back into abject lawlessness. Following is a timeline of developments over the past two decades in the civil-war ravaged country: 1991: President Mohamed Siad Barre, in power since 1969, is deposed by rebels and flees the country. Civil war breaks out later that year.

Factfile on Somalia

Agence France-PresseMay 7, 2013 05:45

Somalia is an impoverished country in the Horn of Africa which has been ravaged by a civil war since the fall of the regime of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Following are key facts about the country: - GEOGRAPHY: Somalia is 637,657 square kilometres (246,200 square miles) in area, including the autonomous northern states of Puntland and Somaliland. Situated on the "horn" of Africa, it forms the continent's easternmost tip jutting out into the Indian Ocean, has Africa's longest coastline and borders Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.

'Several' killed in attack on Qatari officials in Somalia

Agence France-PresseMay 5, 2013 11:30

Around 11 people were killed in Somalia's capital Sunday when a suicide attacker from the Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents rammed a car laden with explosives into a convoy carrying officials from Qatar, police said. "Several people have been killed, the blast was big ... the number of those killed is around 11," police official Mohamed Adan said. Four government officials visiting from Qatar were travelling in armoured vehicles belonging to the interior ministry when the convoy was attacked, but were unharmed.

'Several' killed in suicide bombing in Somali capital

Agence France-PresseMay 5, 2013 05:16

Around 11 people were killed Sunday when a suicide attacker rammed a car laden with explosives into a government convoy at a busy junction in the Somali capital, police said. "Several people have been killed, the blast was big, we are gathering details but the number of those killed is around 11," police official Mohamed Adan said. The blast is the latest in a string of bloody attacks in the seaside capital, where Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents have vowed to topple the government and have set off several bombs and launched guerrilla-style strikes.