This piece was reprinted by OpEd News with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.
An earlier article explained that on the Horn of Africa, Somalia is strategically adjacent to the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and vital commercial waterways. In the north, it also abuts Sudan, a country rich in oil and gas reserves, coveted by America, China, India and other nations.
In December 2006, Washington-backed Ethiopian forces unseated the governing Union of Islamic Courts (UIC), installing a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in its place. Thousands were killed. Over a million became refugees. Ever since, conflict continued, Al- Shabaab wanting it freed from foreign invaders, much like the Taliban struggle in Afghanistan.
In January 2009, Ethiopian forces withdrew, following an agreement between the TFG and Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) - a UIC coalition with other opposition forces. Fighting, however, continued, America backing the TRG/African Union Blue Helmets to keep Islamists from regaining power.
UIC members aren't terrorists connected to Al Qaeda. They're freedom fighters, struggling to liberate their country after years of US-instigated conflict, divisions and instability. Their ranks include moderate and radical Islamists as well as politicians and militants, united for a common cause.
Mogadishu traders initially established a UIC coalition with opposition elements to end clan divisions and bring order to the city's instability. Years of civil war left no stable government in most parts of the country. Al- Shabaab and other opposition forces continue the struggle against the US-installed government, Ethiopian backers, and African Union force. They also call themselves the Mjuahideen Youth Movement (MYM).
According to the US National Counterterrorism Center:
"Since the end of 2006, (Al-Shabaab) led a violent insurgency, using guerrilla warfare and terror tactics against the continued Ethiopian presence in Somalia, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, and (NGOs)."
As a result, on February 29, 2008, the US State Department designated it a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (as amended) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Section 1(b) of George Bush's September 23, 2001 Executive Order 13224 (as amended). It authorized ways to disrupt financial support for FTOs by blocking assets of individuals or groups alleged to commit, or pose risks to commit, terrorist acts.
Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
3
3
2
