Fighting kills at least 14 in Somalia

Fighting between Somali police and Islamist gunmen killed eight people in Mogadishu on Monday, witnesses said, raising the stakes as a new president tries to bring stability to the failed Horn of Africa state.

Clashes between hardline Islamists from the al Shabaab group and a rival militia also killed six people in the central Bay region, but officials from all factions declined to comment.

Residents said the latest battles in the capital broke out on the road linking the strategic K4 junction with the hilltop presidential palace, Villa Somalia.

Filed under: Africa, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Foreign affairs, Genocide, International, International Criminal Court, Justice, Somalia, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, United Nations, War, War Crimes, World

Bin Laden urges jihad against new Somali government

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden praised the efforts of Somali jihadi groups battling the new government and called for the overthrow of the new president.

Bin Laden’s latest message, an audio recording with his image superimposed on a map of Somalia, is titled “Fight On, Champions of Somalia” and is exclusively devoted to the Somali jihad. The recording is the third al Qaeda message by senior leaders since Feb. 13 specifically addressing Somalia, indicating the importance of this theater to the terror group.

Filed under: Africa, Afghanistan, E.U, European Union, Foreign affairs, Guerrilla Group, Guerrilla war, International, Islam, Islamabad, Islamic law, Islamist, Islamists, Kabul, London, Muslim, Muslims, NATO, Pakistan, Sharia, Somalia, Taleban, Taliban, Terror, Terrorism, Terrorists, The Terror Journal, U.S.A, UK, United Kingdom, United States, War, World

Swedish citizen leader of Somali terror alliance

A Swedish citizen released by the government last year is currently a senior leader of a Somali Islamist terror alliance currently fighting against the newly formed government.

Swedish police arrested three Swedish citizens in February 2008 on charges of funneling money to Al Shabaab, the Somali terrorist group with close links to al Qaeda. One of the men was released shortly afterward, and the remaining two men were released in June 2008 because “the evidence was insufficient” to prove the men had made the transfer, SvD Online reported. The suspects were put on parole, banned from travel, and ordered not to hamper the investigation or destroy evidence. In September 2008 the investigation against the three men was dropped.

Filed under: Report, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, E.U, Egypt, European Union, Gaza, Hamas, Iraq, Islam, Islamic law, Islamist, Islamists, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Muslim, Muslims, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sharia, Somalia, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Terrorism, Terrorists, The Terror Journal, Tunisia, Turkey, U.A.E, U.S.A, UK, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, War, World, Yemen

Somali cabinet backs Sharia plan

The cabinet in Somalia has endorsed a proposal by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed to implement Islamic law in the country.

Experts say the move aims to drain support for radical Islamist guerrillas who now control much of southern and central Somalia.

The bill is expected to go before parliament in the next few days.

Filed under: Africa, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Foreign affairs, International, International Criminal Court, Islamist, Justice, Somalia, Suicide bomber, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, United Nations, War, War Crimes, World

In Mogadishu people demonstrate in support of Sharia Law

On thursday, thousands of people took to the streets in the Somali capital Mogadishu in support of introducing the Sharia law.

The demonstrators gathered in Mogadishu Stadium, where Sheikh Ahmed Dahir Aweys the brother of opposition leader Hassan Dahir Aweys told the crowds to support the implementation of sharia law in the country.

Filed under: Africa, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Foreign affairs, International, International Criminal Court, Islamist, Justice, Somalia, Suicide bomber, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, United Nations, War, War Crimes, World

Somali President agrees Sharia law

Somalia’s President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has agreed to a truce and the introduction of Sharia law to try to defuse clashes with tribal leaders.

The deal came after talks between the Somali government and its clan opponents, and mediation by regional religious leaders.

Filed under: Africa, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Foreign affairs, International, International Criminal Court, Islamist, Justice, Somalia, Suicide bomber, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, United Nations, War, War Crimes, World

Somalia’s Islamic Insurgency

Al-Shabaab (aka the Harakat Shabaab al-Mujahidin, al-Shabab, Shabaab, the Youth, Mujahidin al-Shabaab Movement, Mujahideen Youth Movement, Mujahidin Youth Movement), is an Islamic organization that controls much of southern Somalia, excluding the capital, Mogadishu. It has waged an insurgency against Somalia’s transitional government and its Ethiopian supporters since 2006.

Filed under: Think Tank, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Foreign affairs, International, International Criminal Court, Islamist, Justice, Somalia, Suicide bomber, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, United Nations, War, War Crimes, World

Islamist rebels seize Somali town

A Somali Islamist group with links to al-Qaeda has captured another town, the latest in a string of gains by the movement known as al-Shabab.

The rebels – who are opposed to UN-sponsored reconciliation efforts in Somalia – overpowered pro-government forces in Hudur early on Wednesday.

Four civilians in Mogadishu were killed bringing the death toll to about 50 and 120 injured from two days of fighting.

Filed under: Africa, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Foreign affairs, Genocide, International, Islamist, Rwanda, Somalia, Suicide bomber, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, War, War Crimes, World

Suicide bomb kill Somalia peacekeepers

The African Union responded angrily and defiantly to the killing of at least 11 Burundian soldiers in an apparent suicide bomb attack Sunday in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.

The 11 soldiers were on a peacekeeping mission for the African Union. The attack also seriously injured 15 people.

Filed under: Africa, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Foreign affairs, Genocide, International, Islamist, Rwanda, Somalia, Suicide bomber, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, War, War Crimes, World

Congo, Somalia conflicts make 350,000 refugees

Enduring conflicts in east and central Africa have produced some 350,000 new refugees since October, worsening an already dire humanitarian situation, aid agencies say.

The region already hosts the continent’s biggest number of refugees, but conflicts in Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia are forcing many more from their homes.

Filed under: Africa, African Union, Aid, Civil war, Congo, Foreign affairs, Genocide, International, International Criminal Court, Islamist, Refugee, Refugees, Rwanda, Somalia, Suicide bomber, Terror, Terrorism, The Terror Journal, U.N, Uganda, War, War Crimes, World