October 25, 2007:
The king of Saudi Arabia has
invited the heads of various Somali clans and factions to come to Saudi Arabia
and discuss a peace deal. The implication is that the Saudis might provide
cash, and other goods, in return for some peace in Somalia.
October 24, 2007: Fighting between clan based
Islamic radical militias and government security forces (including Ethiopian
troops and Ugandan peacekeepers) continues. The terrorists are using more mines
and roadside bombs, but these are killing more civilians than troops.
Meanwhile, the security forces search pro-terrorist neighborhoods, arresting
suspects and seizing weapons and munitions. Civilian supporters of the violence
continue to flee the city, partly because of government attacks on their
neighborhoods, and partly because the terrorists frequently use civilians
as human shields.
October 23, 2007: The government released,
from detention, the head of the UN food aid program. The UN said it would
not resume food distribution in Somalia until their man was released. The UN
provides food for 76,000 in the capital and about 1.5 million throughout
Somalia.
October 20, 2007: A small cargo ship, which had
just delivered 7,000 tons to the port of Brava (just south of Mogadishu) was
attacked by pirates in two speed boats. The cargo ship got away. France has
offered to provide a warship to escort food aid cargo ships in and out of Somali
waters next month.
October 19, 2007: Police in Puntland surrounded a
house in the capital and fought a gun battle with Islamic militants from the
Islamic Courts. Two militants were killed and six arrested. It is believed the
eight heavily armed men were planning a terror attack in response to the
upcoming trial of twelve other Islamic militants. Puntland police have
intercepted bomb making materials and munitions being smuggled to Islamic
terrorists in Mogadishu.
Meanwhile, in Mogadishu, the Transitional
Government accused the head of the UN food program of selling food on the open
market and giving the money to Islamic terrorists. The UN food program had been
halted in Mogadishu between last June and October 15th because of violence
against UN personnel. Suspicion and paranoia are popular activities in Somalia.