Author Archives
East Africa Analyst | PhD Candidate, Conflict Analysis & Resolution | George Mason University | Following Somalia and East African Issues
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Jubaland and the Future of Federalism in Somalia
Though the Somali government has been looking to lead the country’s rebirth, the maturation of events in Kismayo has jeopardized Mogadishu’s ability to take a leading role. The Jubaland conference supported by Kenya and IGAD finally bore fruit with the… Read More ›
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Assessing Rumors of Omar Hammami’s Death…Again
Yet again, media sources–sparked by a UN-funded Bar Kulan report–are speculating that fighters loyal to al-Shabaab’s top leader Ahmed Abdi Godane (aka Abu Zubeyr) killed embattled American jihadi Omar Hammami (aka Abu Mansur al-Amriki). For a background of the conflict… Read More ›
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Toward an Economic Recovery in Somalia
Below is an excerpt of a report published by a Somalia Newsroom blogger on Sabahi Online. You can read the full analysis here. Somalia’s first permanent government in 22 years faces significant obstacles in getting the nation’s economy back on… Read More ›
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Al-Shabaab Attacks Bring New Forces, Laws to Mogadishu
Since al-Shabaab’s Supreme Court attack on 14 April 2013, the Somali government has been moving forward with efforts to improve security in the capital. Large contingents of Somali soldiers have been training in Uganda, Djibouti, and Somalia by multiple partners—including the United States,… Read More ›
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Journalist, Lawyers Among Dead in al-Shabaab Attack in Mogadishu
As many as 34 people were killed and almost 60 injured in a set of coordinated attacks by al-Shabaab in Mogadishu involving suicide bombers, gunmen, and two separate car bomb attacks. A car bomb was detonated at the entrance of the Supreme… Read More ›
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Explaining Ethiopia’s Curious Strategy in Somalia
In mid-March 2013, Ethiopian troops deployed in the strategic town of Xudur in Bakool region withdrew its forces with little warning to residents or allied forces. Somali National Army (SNA) troops, who left alongside the Ethiopians, could not hold the… Read More ›
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Amid Government Militia Infighting, Somalia Awaits Arms Imports
A delegation has been sent by the Somali Ministry of Interior to address the continued infighting between government-allied militias in the port town of Marka—located 110 km south of the capital Mogadishu. Since 22 March 2013, shootouts have occurred several… Read More ›
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War Igniting between al-Shabaab and al-I’tisam
Tension appears to be growing between al-Shabaab and rival Salafi group al-I’tisam–both offshoots of Somalia’s defunct Salafi-Jihadi group al-Itihad al-Islami (AIAI). On 7 March 2013, a grenade was thrown at the al-Rawda mosque in Bosaso during an al-I’tisam lecture ironically entitled “Infringements on Islam… Read More ›
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Lifting The Arms Embargo in Somalia: A Brief Outlook
Lifting the arms embargo is seen by some observers as a means to address the force capacity of Somali security forces and to reassert Somalia’s sovereignty. However, the internal and strategic factors limiting the effectiveness of Somali security forces and… Read More ›
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Villa Somalia Bombing Shows Danger of “Defectors”
On 29 January 2013, an al-Shabaab “defector” made it through a series of checkpoints in the heavily guarded Villa Somalia government compound and detonated himself near Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon’s home. The attack killed the bomber, two other people,… Read More ›
