The Situation in Somalia

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that for years I have been telling people to watch what is going on in Somalia. Today as I was checking out the number of news sites that I read I saw that Somalia is making headlines again and not for good things!

'One million' homeless in Somalia

One million people are now living rough in Somalia, the UN refugee agency says.

The figure includes 60% of Mogadishu residents who have fled their homes - 200,000 in the past two weeks - leaving many districts empty, says UNHCR.

People have been forced out by renewed conflict between Islamist insurgents and Ethiopian-backed government forces.

Kenya's government has been strongly criticised for deporting 18 failed Somali asylum-seekers. "They are being sent to die," a rights worker said.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council says it will continue to plan for a peacekeeping mission to Somalia, despite the secretary-general's opposition.

Ban Ki-moon said earlier this month that it was too dangerous to send troops to the war-torn country.

He instead urged countries to help the existing African Union mission.

On Saturday, Islamist insurgents armed with machine guns and grenades attacked the AU base in Mogadishu. Only Uganda has sent troops to the AU force.

To read the rest of this BBC report follow this link: Homeless

Familiar Scenes of Violence Arise in Mogadishu

Last week, a painfully familiar scene unfolded in Mogadishu, Somalia. Somalis triumphantly dragged the body of a dead Ethiopian soldier in the street.

The scene recalled what has become known as the Blackhawk Down incident of 1993, when the bodies of dead U.S. troops met the same fate.

The circumstances of last week's scene are significantly different, but the outcome so far appears just as wretched. Somalia again has become almost too torn to save the living, or respect the dead.

To listen to a NPR report follow this link: Audio





The Situation in Somalia
Somalia hasn't had an internationally recognized government since 1991.


Read about the country's struggles and relations with the United States during this period.





Related NPR Stories
Nov. 12, 2007Thousands Flee Growing Violence in Mogadishu



Aug. 13, 2007Ethiopia Battles Suspected Islamic Extremists



July 23, 2007Somalia Security Too Shaky for Aid Workers



July 5, 2007Somalia's Farah: Humanizing a Broken Place



April 26, 2007Ethiopian Minister Assures U.S. on Somalia



April 10, 2007Diplomat Frazer Details Surprise Trip to Somalia



April 3, 2007Somalia Sees Lull in Fighting, But Chaos Reigns



Jan. 26, 2007African Union Sessions to Focus on Crisis in Somalia