- The Media Line - https://themedialine.org -

Killing Returns to Streets of Somalia

Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, experienced yet another day of violence as local residents took to the streets to show their discontent with the presence of Ethiopian troops in the country.
 
The Ethiopian troops have been in Somalia since December 2006 when they helped the transitional government disperse the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The ICU is a rival administration to the transitional government whose mandate is based on fundamental adherence to Islam.
 
Despite superior equipment and training the Ethiopians have not been able to get complete control of the war-torn city. The ICU has launched a low intensity guerilla war from the western parts of the country.
 
In addition to the Ethiopian troops some 1,600 Ugandan troops are also stationed in Somalia, the first of a planned African Union force of about 8,000 which is to take part in an effort to establish an effective government, something that Somalia has not experienced since the start of the civil war in 1991.