News
Obama investing in Somalia govt survival
Amisom troops ride from their base to Mogadishu. Al Shabaab forces targeted by the recent US attack hit back mid this month, killing 21 Amisom in a suicide bombing carried out with stolen United Nations vehicles. Photo/FILE
Posted Monday, September 28 2009 at 00:00
The Obama administration also intends to increase the clandestine US presence in Somalia. In a story filed from Mogadishu, Times reporter Jeffrey Gettleman indicated that the CIA plans to open a base in former officers quarters near the Amison-guarded airport in the Somali capital.
Somali sources told Mr Gettleman that three CIA agents visited the presidential palace in Mogadishu last month to discuss training of Sheik Sharif’s intelligence services.
Obama administration officials are emboldened to deepen the US commitment to the TFG due to the virtual absence of domestic or international opposition to such a strategy.
No influential US politician spoke out against the recent military strike in Somalia, nor did the attack spark any diplomatic protests, according to Johnnie Carson, the State Department’s top Africa official.
Al Shabaab has very few defenders in North America and Europe, given its apparent ties to jihadis intent on striking civilian targets in the West. And Al Shabaab may also be losing support in Somalia.
Mr Gettelman reported that two recent Al Shabaab defectors say that financial backers outside Somalia are contributing less money to the group as Sheik Sharif’s government wins greater favour among Somalis.
In addition, Mr Gettleman wrote, “Aid workers said Al Shabaab were taxing food in their territory, a very unpopular move when food prices are already high because of drought.”
Somalis may be wearying of Al Shabaab’s vision and composition, as well.
Thousands of foreigners have come to Somalia to fight in Al Shabaab’s ranks, according to sources cited by Mr Gettleman — as compared with the few hundred that US officials have said are operating in Somalia.
“Our commanders were trying to tell us that there’s no Somali national flag and no national borders,’’ one Al Shabaab defector, identified only as Mohamed, is quoted as saying in the Times story.
“They told us the jihad will never end. Once we finish in Somalia, we go to Kenya and then elsewhere.’’
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