December 30, 2005: The UN is trying to talk Western nations into providing warships to escort ships carrying food aid to Somalia. The Somali pirates have shut down much shipping and fishing activity off the coast. Even offering to pay protection money does not work, because the different pirate groups do not completely control the coastal zones they claim.

December 28, 2005: Islamic militants are continuing to threaten Christian aid workers, even killing some they believed were trying to convert Moslems.

December 25, 2005: Warlords in Mogadishu have established their own government, in effect creating yet another breakaway state (after Puntland and Somaliland). The warlords of Mogadishu have long been arguing with the new government over power, and loot, sharing.