Opinion - News Analysis   

Battle for hearts in Somalia

Simon Tisdall

The U.S.' focus on Al-Qaeda elements in Somalia could create a new battleground.

SOMALIA COULD become the next "war on terror" battleground as the U.S. zeroes in on Al-Qaeda and Islamist groups reportedly trying to exploit a power vacuum in this African country. Looking on helplessly are two million Somalis facing drought and famine, and aid agencies hampered by warlords, kidnappings and piracy.

Officials say they have "clear evidence" that Al-Qaeda is trying to re-establish a presence in Somalia, the Ogaden region of eastern Ethiopia, and possibly Sudan, in alliance with local Islamists. Mark Kimmitt of the U.S. central command says Al-Qaeda sees Somalia as a potential safe haven. Western and U.N. officials point to suspected Al-Qaeda links to Islamist groups in Mogadishu seeking to impose the Sharia law and Islamic rule, and to Al-Qaeda-affiliated training camps in the south-east.

U.S. regional efforts are directed from Camp Lemonier in Djibouti, a former French Foreign Legion base that is home to 1,500 troops of the "Combined Joint Task Force — Horn of Africa." Its commander, Marine Major-General Timothy Ghormley, told the American Forces Press Service that its work was aimed at winning "hearts and minds" via aid projects but terrorism pre-emption was also vital. "We go into the ungoverned spaces. We go where there is a threat ... if we weren't there they [al-Qaida] would be."

But while Somalia needs help, critics say the new focus on Al-Qaeda is a distraction from more pressing problems.

- Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

On a good wicket
More adventurism in Taiwan
Jammu and Kashmir: politics of death
Can cheaper cars move faster?
Pakistan awaits George Bush
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS
Shakespeare — it is his books not his looks
Battle for hearts in Somalia
A hard bargain
Widespread protests

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu