Somali warlords, armed robbers and bandits are again visible in Mogadishu’s streets after six months of relative stability during the period when the city was under the control of the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC).
No one knows yet whether the weak Somali government will be able to restore peace and stability to Mogadishu. However, if you asked people in Mogadishu about the situation now, many would say that they were satisfied when the UIC controlled the city as there were fewer robberies and less insecurity.
This week there were anti-Ethiopian demonstrations in Mogadishu, while in southwestern Somalia, United States and Ethiopian air strikes on suspected al-Qaeda strongholds lasted much of the week. According to a local resident, Liinbaan Moahamad, US airstrikes have left 70 people dead and 120 wounded. Moahamed also said the air strikes had claimed the lives of a thousand camels, cows and goats.
The Mail & Guardian asked Somalis in Mogadishu how they feel about recent events.
Elias Abdi: “I really see an AU force as being very important to our security, but we want the Ethiopians to leave our country as we want the government to work very soon here in Mogadishu.”
Sahra Adan: “We will welcome an AU force to restore the peace, so that we can maintain an ordinary life. We don’t want warlords again back to their well-known jobs — setting up road blocks, abductions and so on. Anyhow, most Somali people want to see an AU force very soon in the country in order to bridge the gap, support them and restore law and order in this country.”
Mohamad Ahmad (27), a telephone operator: “Really we want the government to work on the security as the UIC did so that everything can be back to normal.”
Saiid Obsiiye (40), dentist: “I want the government to sit with the moderate UIC members so that there are no assaults, no deterioration of the security situation.”
Awes Ali (30), carpenter: “I think that peace can come only through the proverb: if you want peace, be ready for a war.”
Jama’ Hussein (29), taxi driver: “We Somalis, we want a democratic government, so that when the AU forces come we want elections, which in my view can lead to long-lasting peace in the Horn of Africa.”
Cqadir Hassan (35), engineer: “Somali needs reconstruction, of everything including peace, security and infrastructure. All this can happen with peace. I say AU forces must come very soon, we are here to welcome them.”
Omar Isaq (65), a retired police officer: “I say let the AU force come, and let the Ethiopians leave us alone so that peace can be maintained by the trained Somali army and police.”