the death of a Malaysian cameraman who was shot dead when African Union peacekeepers allegedly fired on his convoy Noramfaizul Mohd Nor was traveling with a convoy of humanitarian workers when a contingent of Ugandan-nationals with AMISOM opened fire, killing Nor and wounding another journalist in Mogadishu. and the fighting between government forces and clan militia in government controlled Dharkinley district have raises some serious questions as to the effectiveness of the government and AMISOM peacekeeping force in Somalia whom both are in charge few years in the war-torn country.
The deployment of AU troops with a UN Security Council mandate raised hopes that the 20 years of war was coming to a term. It was reasonable to expect that Head OF AMISOM troops, The President Shikh Sharif would ensure that by now peace was reigning throughout the city. Somalis also hoped that AMISOM troops, who should have learned some good lessons in Uganda military trainings, would come to Mogadishu with a mandate not to shoot Civilians and to never allow any solder to take advantage of civilians.
Unfortunately, it seems like dà ©jà -vu. If the safe-haven of Mogadishu is calm and runs smoothly, Clan Militia and warring factions still control much of Bula Huubeey, Dharkinley and Wadjir of Mogadishu. If fighting between Shabab and Government forces has stopped, life has not changed in the city. According to the news report coming from Mogadishu says "The TFG forces were clearing out security checkpoints in the area, when the government forces clashed with soldiers loyal to the Wadajir district commissioner. The endeavor of removing checkpoints was to improve security but was hindered by clan militia loyal to Ahmed Da'i, district commissioner of Wadajir and his deputy. The city is slowly but surely sliding back into this dangerous era where every clan has a check point and becomes comfortable with a false sense of peace and security. Clan militia are still carrying their guns while their bosses are collecting UNDP monthly Allowances . The country is back to where it stood in the 1990s, with uncertain outcome.
The fighting against Shabab remnants was scheduled weeks ago is yet to get underway. There seems to be no concrete plan. The Mogadishu security and stabilization process is at a standstill. AMISOM troops have been in and around Hilawaay district for weeks, but rebels are still holding their guns in that district. Accusations of corruption, ineffectiveness and cronyism are piling up, justified or not. Slowly but surely, a case is being made against Mogadishu Mayor Mr., Tarsan just as in the 1990s when warring factions manipulated the peace process, dismissed transitional leaders and prolonged their control on several cities. The intervention of the AU had given hope that the African body would not fall for the same gimmicks that derailed the peace process under the command of AMISOM. However, it seems that Somalia is again headed on the same path of uncertainty, with a leader or Mayor with no real powers, Militia, and factions controlling everything and a peacekeeping force on a standby. Sooner or later, there is bound to be a clash of some sort. The clan militia would have their way. The fact that after the clash in Wadjir district, AMIOSM troops sat by and allowed Clan militia to fight in heavily populated south Mogadishu. The clan militias reached the conclusion that they could do anything and this is how, with green light from Mogadishu Mayor and AMISOM present, they launched their attack on government forces and nobody concerned them. AMISOM, and government officials missed a chance to set an example in Wadajir to capture and arrest the district commissioner and militia leaders. Mogadishu is again the only safe haven in the country and shouldn't be spoiled. This is Somalia's best chance to peace and that AMISOM must play its role and start enforcing peace. The clan militias have to submit to disarmament. And it is time that government cleans up the remnants of Alshabab and gets out of Mogadishu and let Somalia in the interior know there is a government. If the AU troops are shooting the Humanitarian workers and journalist in Mogadishu, they have no reason being there. And if the government cannot guarantee the safety of international aid workers and journalist in "their" areas, they have no business being in government and getting international aid.
