Terror in Africa: Somalia, Chad/Sudan and Liberia

Many of us have heard the horror stories of Sharia law, and now it is being enforced in Somalia. The penalty for not showing up to pray is death. It appears as though this seems to be the method of punishment for any perceived 'crime.' This is today's Somalia.

One such area is the Galgadud region in central Somalia. News reports say at least two people were killed late Tuesday when Islamic gunmen opened fire on scores of young demonstrators protesting a ban on viewing the World Cup. [continue reading]

In the meantime, Kofi went to Liberia this week. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. He did not listen to anyone, he has no hope, and he couldn't do anything if he wanted to. He got his photo op, though.

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) -- Hundreds of protesters demanding a war-crimes tribunal for Liberia carried fake coffins through the capital's streets Tuesday during a visit by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the west African nation. [continue reading]

As it is right now, they do not have a tribunal set up. They have gone back 35 years to gather all the people and crimes committed. Charles Taylor is waiting cozily in the Hague for his trial. He will probably die before they even bring charges.

We also have the Chad/Sudan conflict. This one is a little more greyish. Who is fighting who? What is the truth? It is hard to tell. I don't even want to offer a guess.

N'DJAMENA, Chad (Reuters) -- Chadian rebels attacked an eastern town near the border with Sudan on Monday, but the government said its soldiers had put down the assault, killing several insurgents and taking a number of prisoners.

In turn, the rebels said they had entered the town of Ade and claimed victory for their fighters, saying they were chasing off fleeing remnants of the government force. It was not immediately possible to verify either version of events. [continue reading]

Also, I found this new site which appears very good. It covers Somalia, and there is a little more you should know. (Actually, there is a lot more know you should know, but I only have time for a little.)

During the last two weeks, the agenda of the fragmented Islamic Courts Union - now in control of Greater Mogadishu - is becoming better documented. Even so-called moderate Court leaders such as the union's chairman Sheikh Sherif Sheikh Ahmed have exposed extremist views. In an 'Awdalnews' interview distributed by afrol News, Sheikh Ahmed failed to condemn suicide bombers and the 11 September attack on the US, while condemning press freedom and ridiculing women's working capabilities.

Sheikh Ahmed in the interview also refused to go on distance to the Islamic Court Union leaders that have been put in connection with international terrorism and are presented as Islamist extremists in the Western press. In particular the commander of the Islamist militia, Adan Hashi Ayro, has been outed as a former fighter in Afghanistan and is accused of standing behind the assassination of five foreign aid workers and one foreign journalist and the desecration of the Italian cemetery in Mogadishu. [continue reading]

One more thing. The 'people' that took over Somalia are hoping to meet in Khartoum on the 14th of July. Does this mean that Sudan has been extremists all along? Why would we be dealing them then? Is al Qaeda spreading through Africa? Are they going to do it by genocide? Are we going to stand by, or are we going to tell the UN and all it's members to go to hell? These are some of the questions I would like the answers to. Have we forgotten Darfur? Anyone? Hello? Hmm...

In case those links do not work in the future, you may read the stories here:
Protesters greet U.N.'s Annan in Liberia.
Rebels, government troops battle in Chad.
International Delegation Meets Somali Islamists in Mogadishu.
Expanding Islamists put Somalia on world agenda, afrol News.

Category: Chad, Liberia, Somalia, Sudan and Terrorism.