SOMALIA'S FUTURE: REPORTING FROM MOGADISHU

AMISOM's progress against Al Shabaab in Somalia

 

Melissa Chemam for RFI English

 

The AMISOM launched its biggest operation against the Al Shabaab islamist militia in Mogadishu almost a year ago, in May 2011. Since August, the city is now considered freed from the enemy and the TFG, the Transitional Federal government, regained power and already started planning the reconstruction of the city, even though the rest of the country is still at war. For once in 20 years, Mogadishu is at peace and it starts coming back to life.
Melissa Chemam was in the Somali capital to report on AMISOM - the African Union mission’s progress in Somalia against Al Shabaab, late April.

The capture of Mogadishu stadium has become one of the symbols of the Amisom Victory… Col. Kayanja Muhanga, Deputy Contingent Commander of Ugandan forces of the African Union Mission, insists it was a strategic success.

Col. Kayanja Muhanga: “- As you can see here this was a training centre for Al Shabaab. They used to train their forces from this place. So when we reached here of course, we achieved”

- How many people did you find training here?

- They retreated, they run away as we advanced, but you can see there are bullets everywhere, the training was still happening here”.

It became the African Union most successful action.

Brigadier Paul Lokech is the Ugandan Contingent Commander. He explains the turn of the year was a key moment…

Brigadier Paul Lokech, Ugandan Contingent Commander: “The offensive started last year in May 28. By October we had about 75 to 80 percent of Mogadishu. This were crucial area of the Stadium, Bakara market… Bakara Market was the economic hub, the centre of gravity of Al Shabaab, where they were collecting revenue”. 

By December, AMISOM and the TFG forces, Somali Transitional government’s troops, were in control of the north side of the long war-torn capital. The troops have now ended Phase 2 of their operation, which is total urban control of the capital, says Brigadier Lokech.

Brigadier Paul Lokech, Ugandan Contingent Commander: “Now we are out of the urban terrain, we have consolidated our positions in the outskirts of Mogadishu. We kicked Al Shabaab out and are consolidating our position 20 km outside Mogadishu. That’s our position right now, we and the Burundians”.

According to Wafula Wamunyinyi, AMISOM Deputy Head of Mission, it is now time to work on the city’s reconstruction. Mogadishu needs some urban and maritime security as well as new infrastructure.

The task seems massive. Al Shabaad islamist militants are still trying to launch attacks in the city. They succeeded this week around a base called km 4. But commanders remain hopeful. 

The end of the military operation in Mogadishu now opens the way for a new political process. Current Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was appointed in June 2011. He now wants to end the period of transition.

Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali:“We are in a critical time. Somalia is moving from an era of lawlessness and chaos into an era of peace and stability. To reach there we have a framework called the roadmap. Somalia has been in a transition for the last 12 years, we came to the end of that road and hopefully in August 2012 we will have a new Parliament, a new Constitution and a new government. Hopefully not a transitional government but a more permanent government”.

Islamist Threats remain great around Mogadishu but for the first time since 1991, the whole country believes peace might be possible for Somalia.

Melissa Chemam, Mogadishu, for RFI.