Anarchic Civilization

2011-04-03T22:52:00.000-07:00

2011-02-24T00:37:00.000-08:00

Something to check out:

http://www.libyafeb17.com

2011-02-10T05:57:00.000-08:00

2011-02-02T03:15:00.000-08:00

Taxes push Somali traders away from Mogadishu port

"Most Somali traders have stopped importing cars through Mogadishu port. We use Kismayu and Bosasso ports mainly," said Salad Elmi Ahmed, assistance manager of Hasco, one of Somalia's largest trading and shipping companies.

2010-12-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

Somalia Plan an Outline

Economically, in the last rainy season, Al-shabab reached another milestone. In the agriculturally fertile south Somalia, they have harvested a record amount of agricultural produce which indicates their ability to move towards self sustainability.

These record harvests are occurring just as world food prices are skyrocketing. This is huge news, at least relative to Somalia's tiny but fast-growing economy.

2010-12-21T11:56:00.000-08:00

What Comes Next in Yemen?

Even though there are areas in Yemen that lack formal state control, this does not mean that they are ungoverned—there are local mechanisms that maintain a level of order.

2010-12-19T12:08:00.000-08:00

Mogadishu has 10 universities.
Somalia: education against the odds

2010-11-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Thomas C. Mountain, a western journalist in Eritrea, tells it like it is in Somalia.
UN/AU Continues Somali Slaughter

2010-11-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

From Somalia's Chaos, Housing Market Is Born

2010-08-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

Relative Calm Boosts School Numbers in Beletweyne

A local journalist told IRIN the people were tired "and don't really care any more who controls (the town), as long as they don't have to flee again".

Also worth a look:
Frozen Warfare in Mogadishu

2010-07-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey Gettleman: Reporting From Mogadishu

2010-04-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

Dubai's dhows defy Somalia piracy threat

2010-01-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

Hormuud Telecom has over 1 million subscribers.

In addition, Hormuud Telecom has received numerous awards in recognition of its grass-roots work in developing the local community welfare including supporting educational institutions, sanitary improvement and water supply. Hormuud employs over 4000 people, comprised of full time and part time staff, dealers, etc., across its Telecommunication Engineering, Customer Services, Sales, and Marketing Departments.

2009-12-27T10:15:00.001-08:00

Somalia: How Business Survives in the Anarchic Capital

2009-12-20T05:55:00.000-08:00

Region wary as Somalia threatens to degenerate

2009-12-02T23:14:00.000-08:00

Somali sea gangs lure investors at pirate lair

2009-11-25T03:15:00.001-08:00

Somali rebels order WFP to halt relief food imports

2009-11-24T01:28:00.000-08:00

Somali Islamists re-open harbour north of capital

2009-11-04T23:14:00.000-08:00

Somalia Finally Gets GSM Operator to Provide One Code and One Rate Nationwide

“Somalia has been divided for much of its history, but it continues to be one of the most productive nations in Africa according to the United Nations,” said Abdirahman A. Hussein, General Manager of Somafone. “Somafone is supporting a bustling society and economy by providing the necessary bridge of communications between communities. We are very proud to be the first to offer one mobile code and one rate, matching the standard in the rest of the world.”

2009-10-31T01:29:00.000-07:00

First Ever Debit Card Service for Somalia

2009-10-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

US to make Blackwater-style entry into Somalia

2009-10-03T11:46:00.000-07:00

nytimes article

2009-06-15T07:28:00.000-07:00

Mobile phone banking for Somalia

2009-05-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

Sheiks reject Somalian sea bandits

2009-04-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

Somali Government Condemns Insurgent Moves to Annex Parts of Kenya

2009-04-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

Somali vigilantes capture pirates

2009-04-17T23:00:00.001-07:00

Some pix of Mogadishu

2009-04-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

Militias fighting Al-Shabaab have reportedly had a setback, but are "increasingly challenging Al Shabaab's rule in the southern and central regions of Somalia."

2009-03-31T23:10:00.000-07:00

Here's an article about factors working to break up the Russian state.

2009-03-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

I found an article on nazret.com that ends with this somewhat interesting factoid:

Bloomberg reports, Ethiopian Telecommunications’s monopoly enables it to charge $35 for a mobile-phone SIM card, which is required to obtain a phone number. In neighboring Somalia and Kenya, which have private mobile services, cards cost less than $5.

But the most interesting thing on the page was this comment:

yeah liberation on market and ethiopia doesn't go together, the government should accept overseas and diaspora ethiopians to come to the country and establish business there.

Follow the example of Somalis in the diaspora, they all came back to Somalia, and established great business there, specially in the telecommunication sector(there are more than 10 telecom companies in somalia), and in the area of aviation(Somali airline companies number more than 8 now), and those diaspora Somalis did well ine stablishing business in the hotel sectors and real estate.

Can Ethiopian nationals living in the diaspora follow the example of their brothers in Somalia, yes they can follow but ONLY if ETHIOPIA GOVERNMENT allows free market and trade and liberate the telecoms and other sectors to open for competetion.

I cannot use my 3G iphone in Ethiopia, but I can in Somalia, simply because 3G service doesn't exist in Ethiopia since telecome is fiercely controlloed by the government.

The governemnt should know, it is for the good, for the economy, for the people, and the government would benefit in terms of tax revenues generated by the competeting companies.

2009-02-11T04:50:00.000-08:00

"Al-Shabaab has been losing towns since the Ethiopian troops pulled out from Somalia."

This might be a coincidence, but it might instead be evidence that Al-Shabaab and the Ethiopian troops are working for the same foreign governments who don't want stable anarchy to prevail in Somalia. Either way, I'm rooting for the clan militias.

2009-01-26T03:44:00.000-08:00

Some cautious optimism

2009-01-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

The Somalia political map has been changing a lot lately. Most notably, Puntland appears to have fallen out with the TFG as the former is now colored as "unaligned or neutral."

2008-12-17T12:55:00.000-08:00

http://allafrica.com/stories/200812170976.html

2008-10-21T00:15:00.000-07:00

http://blackstarnews.com/?c=122&a=5013

2008-09-21T05:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.somaliweyn.org/pages/news/Sep_08/20Sep21.html

2008-09-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

Dr. Weinstein has posted a new piece and the map has been updated.

2008-08-28T03:15:00.000-07:00

Ethiopia hints at leaving Somalia

2008-07-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

The map has been updated.

2008-07-07T06:53:00.000-07:00

Foreign refugees havened in war-torn Somalia

2008-06-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

Somalia's Islamic Courts militia peacefully takes key town

2008-06-21T00:45:00.000-07:00

Ethiopian troops have been accused shelling in populated areas

2008-06-20T23:54:00.000-07:00

I've noticed from photos on news sites that Somalis in Somalia wear nice clothes, or at least nicer than one would expect from a country that we're supposed to believe is experiencing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. This led me to suspect that textiles are a thriving industry there. Now I've found an article that appears to support this theory. It mentions the smuggling of clothing from Somalia to Ethiopia in 1996, and I would guess that the state of the industry has more likely changed for the better than for the worse.

(Abadit Geredche) became involved in smuggling clothes from Somalia.

But she was caught by the army and fined 30,000 birr, about £1500...

We are left only to imagine what a freer trade in textiles would do for the economy.

2008-06-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

Somalia: Islamic Court opened near Mogadishu

2008-05-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

Balance of Power in Somalia Shifts Towards the Islamic Courts

Chinese goods popular even in war-torn Somalia_English_Xinhua

2008-05-25T00:16:00.000-07:00

Chinese goods popular even in war-torn Somalia_English_Xinhua

2008-05-22T23:38:00.000-07:00

Arms reach Somali warlords despite UN sanctions
Somalia: Islamist rebels in secret deal with Kismayo port militia
Row over governorship in central Somalia
Missouri Car Dealer Offers Free Gun With Car Purchase

2008-05-17T02:05:00.000-07:00

The political map of Somalia has been updated. Meanwhile, an Iranian source is saying that the US and France are deploying troops to Mogadishu.

Image:Somalia map states regions districts.png - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2008-05-13T23:19:00.000-07:00

Here's a map of the political situation in Somalia. It's probably already outdated, as the Islamists appear to be seizing control of more and more towns. The page has links to past versions of the map so you can see that the TFG has lost ground recently.

allAfrica.com: Somalia: Insecurity Grips Kismayo (Page 1 of 1)

2008-05-13T22:57:00.000-07:00

allAfrica.com: Somalia: Insecurity Grips Kismayo (Page 1 of 1)

Islamists arrive Somali town, starting operations | Shabelle Media Network

2008-05-07T22:40:00.000-07:00

Islamists arrive in Somali town, starting operations | Shabelle Media Network

2008-05-03T07:12:00.000-07:00

allAfrica.com: Somalia: PM Grilled in Parliament As 7 Officials Reject Regional Posts (Page 1 of 1)

The fact that the TFG is having difficulty filling regional posts is good news for the cause of freedom.

New Britney Spears Sex Tape Bares All! :: www.uruknet.info :: informazione dall'Iraq occupato :: news from occupied Iraq :: - it

2008-04-22T05:26:00.000-07:00

New Britney Spears Sex Tape Bares All! :: www.uruknet.info :: informazione dall'Iraq occupato :: news from occupied Iraq :: - it

2008-04-20T05:57:00.000-07:00

Somalia: Islamic clerics in Puntland propose private security force

Press TV - Somali towns under ICU control

2008-04-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

Press TV - Somali towns under ICU control

Insurgents Briefly Capture Key Town in Show of Defiance - washingtonpost.com

2008-03-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

Insurgents Briefly Capture Key Town in Show of Defiance - washingtonpost.com

Somalia's national army, which began last year with about 20,000 troops, has dwindled to about 2,000, many of whom spend much of their time looting the homes and businesses of ordinary Somalis.

Press TV - Somali soldiers recapture Jowhar town:

In another incident on Wednesday, hundreds of civilians celebrated in the street as Somali soldiers were forced to leave Bakara Market in Mogadishu after fierce battle with the Bakara Market guards.

Prior to the gunfire, Somali soldiers killed one civilian and injured four others as they opened fire on the people in the Market.

2008-03-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

Somali insurgents kill 26 Ethiopians

Eyewitnesses said the Ethiopians enraged by the assault opened fire on a Somali military vehicle and killed four government soldiers.

For those who don't know, there are 3 groups here: a) the insurgents, which are heterogeneous groups of Somalis, many of whom are more interested in protecting their own freedom than creating a new state, b) the Ethiopians, and c) the so-called (Somalia Transitional Federal) Government (the "government soldiers" mentioned above). The fact that Ethiopian soldiers are killing TFG soldiers--they are supposed to be on the same side--doesn't bode well for the power mongers.

See also: Land mines kill dozen Somali troops

2008-03-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

13 Somali soldiers killed in Mogadishu

Civilians are believed to be among the forces who fought against the soldiers after their businesses were demolished and looted.

This might explain the successes of the insurgency in recent weeks.

2008-02-19T10:05:00.000-08:00

Somalia: Government Forces Lose Key Positions in Heavy Battle

2008-02-11T15:06:00.000-08:00

Somalia: Businessmen blamed for the anti-government violence

2008-02-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

Pakistanis flee into Afghanistan

I thought this article was interesting because it suggests to me that parts of Afghanistan might be showing signs of budding anarchic civilization, while some or most of Pakistan might be in the midst of a painful transition to the same .

Thousands of Pakistanis have fled into Afghanistan with the security situation deteriorating in Pakistan's tribal regions over the past week...

...a UNHCR representative in Kabul...said many of the people had been given shelter in Afghanistan by villagers who live by the Pashtun Valley tribal code of hospitality, and tents were being handed out to help provide shelter as winter was intensifying along the border...
...With the rise of the Pakistani Taleban and militant Islamic groups along the Pakistan side of the border, the UN says it now appears that parts of Afghanistan are safer for families.

2008-02-01T08:08:00.000-08:00

Strategy page says:

While about ten percent of the Somali population are refugees, and dependent on foreign food aid to survive, about half the population is prospering. Agriculture and herding still brings in money, and many merchants operate by paying a local warlord to protect business activities. The big problem is that most Somalis are more interested in fighting to protect these narrow, local interests, than to establish a national government and rule of law.

2007-12-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Islamist linked group takes control of Somalia town

2007-11-30T11:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a thread on a popular Somali diaspora forum discussing the recent interview with Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed. What's interesting is the post by Armchair Politician about the diversity of the anti-TFG groups, contrary to what other sources have been telling us.

2007-11-27T09:43:00.000-08:00

INTERVIEW WITH CHAIRMAN OF SOMALIA'S COUNCIL OF ISLAMIC COURTS

'The So-Called Legal Government Is a Farce'

2007-11-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

Somalia: Range Resources team chased out of Puntland town

2007-11-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

By request from local clan elders, Mohamed Deere, the warlord-turned-nominal mayor of Mogadishu, Somalia, has called off disarmament operations in the nominal capital, and consequently the elders "are now involved in the security of the city." Meanwhile, local militias are having some military successes against the Ethiopian invaders, who are fighting with no reported help from soldiers of the nominal Somali Transitional Federal Government.

Another thing that caught my eye today was the picture and caption that accompanied this article. The caption says "People destroy Holwadag police station in Mogadishu, October 28, 2007." The article doesn't mention that particular incident, and I haven't found any corroboration of the statement anywhere. Naturally, I want to know if this was minor vandalism or if those people actually intend to demolish the police station and maybe put something else in its place! This blog post has more pictures.

Finally, I'm not sure what to make of this, but Relief Web reports on "several cases of insecurity...in the Shabelle regions" with mostly police on the receiving end.

In Merka (Lower Shabelle), 110km south of Mogadishu, on 27 October local militia attacked a police station killing four policemen, injuring seven militia as well as six civilians. On 26 October, a senior police officer from Afgooye was killed by unknown gunmen in a village near the town and on 28 October, more clan clashes were reported in El Muluq (Middle Shabelle) with two civilians reportedly killed.

It's interesting how many journalists are referring to the insurgents as "anti-government elements" and not "Islamic fighters" or "remnants of the deposed Union of Islamic Courts (UIC)." In fact, I haven't seen any mentions recently of the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, the group led by Sheik Ahmed of the UIC that met in Eritrea and was supposed to lead the effort to drive out the Ethiopians.

Questions arise, such as (1) 'to what extent, if any, are the police affiliated with the TFG?' and (2) are the opposing groups against government in general or simply against the current nominal government? Based on my limited information about the events of this past winter, I think that the police are tightly affiliated with the TFG. I also think, based on essays posted at pinr.com and other sources, that the opposing groups are very heterogeneous and therefore probably unwilling (because they are unable) to try to form a state apparatus of their own.

Or maybe they're just delusional and/or on the payroll of one or more foreign governments.

2007-10-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

The following paragraph from this article will give you an idea of how powerful Somalia's so-called Transitional Federal Government is.

(Prime Minister Gedi) acknowledged that "men in government uniform" have committed crimes against Mogadishu's civilian population. He said the public should "defend themselves" against such men who are intent on robbing and displacing civilians already traumatized by years of war.

2007-09-07T10:35:00.001-07:00

"...people were so happy to see the troops desert the area."

2007-08-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Here's an update on Somalia's famous phone system.

2007-07-23T00:12:00.000-07:00

Somalia: Islamist leader blames Somalia govt. for daily bombings

http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne3358.htm

I'm religiously neutral, but I wouldn't be surprised if the accusation is true.

2007-06-09T22:57:00.000-07:00

With anarchy comes responsibility. That seems to be the moral of two quotes in this article.

"There is a need to fight the pirates collectively," says a Somali businessman.

"We have tasked an armed force to fight piracy," says a Mogadishu port director.

Apparently, the real armed force and imagined collective action have (or would have) little or nothing to do with the so-called Transitional Federal Government. In fact, the article mentions that some members of the SCTFG may be involved in the piracy.

2007-05-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

Somali teens pursue education

2007-05-10T00:07:00.000-07:00

Silent Mogadishu arms market detects a surge in sales

Good news. I like the picture of prosperity, too.

2007-05-05T22:41:00.000-07:00

The guns are silent, but the resistance continues.

The Somali government is targeting businessmen in the capital, many of whom come from the powerful Hawiye clan that is close to the rebels. But they, too, are resisting—for largely commercial reasons.

“Businessmen never paid taxes.... They don’t want any government,” Mohamed said.

2007-05-02T09:50:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile, in the western hemisphere...

Vigilantes Impose Peace in Rio Slums

2007-04-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

Here's Chris Floyd dissecting Jeffrey Gettleman's latest article on Somalia.

2007-04-25T03:21:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting article, though the title was too stupid to copy and paste here.

2007-04-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

Somali media station bombing 'no coincidence'

2007-04-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

"The leaders of this government are crazy! I saw them shooting our own people." (YouTube video)

2007-04-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

Scores of Ethiopian troops flee Somalia to Yemen: report

2007-04-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

Somalia Seized with Stasis

2007-04-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

Somalia village offers hope

2007-04-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

The interesting thing about this article is that it puts a positive spin on anarcho-capitalism in Somalia for a mainstream audience of businesspeople.

2007-03-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Efforts to fund the TFG from sources within Somalia seem almost futile.

Somalia: Mogadishu traders to suspend import and export at the port

2007-03-22T00:34:00.000-07:00

Check out this story and incongruous picture.

2007-03-19T14:22:00.000-07:00

The new PINR report on Somalia makes a convincing case that the political fragmentation there will probably continue.

2007-03-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

Somali militias in waiting

2007-02-24T04:22:00.000-08:00

The TFG is clearly not in charge of Jowhar.

http://www.shabelle.net/news/ne2399.htm

2007-02-21T09:09:00.000-08:00

Somalia: Vigilantes Hired to Secure Neighborhoods in Mogadishu

The vigilante culture continues to thrive and develop. I remember seeing an article in recent weeks saying that at least one TFG official supported the hiring of private gunmen for security. Not that the opinions of officials mean much, but this particular opinion definitely doesn't mesh with the stated goal of disarming the population.

2007-02-20T13:14:00.000-08:00

"I rejoiced when the government troops came and drove out the Islamists," said 25-year-old student Mohamed Salad. "But now I am disappointed. Since the government took over power in Mogadishu the situation has only gotten worse. They can do nothing but fire mortars."

***

From the New York Times:

A common complaint is that the transitional government does not appear to want to be transitional. Donor nations agreed to pay the salaries of Somali officials with the understanding that these men and handful of women would shepherd the country to democratic elections in 2009. But there has been almost no progress towards setting up an election commission, let alone even taking a census.

2007-02-02T02:32:00.000-08:00

Somalia Enters a Devolutionary Cycle

2007-01-30T08:55:00.000-08:00

Somali PM warns of weapons surge in Baidoa

2007-01-18T13:29:00.000-08:00

"...the resistance is growing day by day"

2007-01-14T13:26:00.000-08:00

From the Daily Show

Jon Stewart: In recent days, the United States has shelled al Qaeda operatives in the East African nation of Somalia. … The operations targeted the alleged mastermind of the U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania nine years ago. So Osama Bin Laden, come 2010, you've got problems, mister. We're coming to get you.

2007-01-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

Here's a radio show with some pretty good information about the situation in Somalia.

2007-01-07T12:28:00.000-08:00

Says here the economy in Somalia grew 25% last year.

2007-01-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

It's hard to take seriously the supposed disarmament program announced by the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu, Somalia. I mean, wouldn't the first logical step of disarmament be to shut down the weapons markets that operate in the open?

Very few people complied with the order of the government and brought their weapons into the assigned locations. On the contrary, many people are now buying guns and ammunitions from the weapons market in the capital because they cannot trust the government.

Source

2006-12-30T10:23:00.000-08:00

Could this be evidence of confidence in the TFG?

In one day, moneychangers and street vendors said the Somali shilling shot up to 10,000 per dollar from 14,000 on Thursday.

2006-12-28T03:28:00.000-08:00

The UIC might be in the process of crumbling.

According to residents in Mogadishu, the leaders of several major clans — and some businesspeople who had been financing the Islamists — demanded that the Islamist leaders return the armed pickup trucks that had been lent to the movement.
Faced with the loss of support from their counterparts, other clan leaders saw the coalition begin to crumble and withdrew their trucks as well, leaving little of the organized force that once lent the Islamists their power.

Now we learn that the technicals had been "lent" to the UIC, not handed over permanently. The media left out this key piece of information when they reported the handover months ago.

It will be interesting to see what kind of new militias form in light of recent reports that Islamic militiamen have begun changing out of their UIC uniforms (they still have their rolodexes, right?). Another question is: are the clan leaders and businesspeople prepared to put their newly reacquired technicals to use against the Ethiopians and the TFG? Alternatively, will they sell them (if so, to whom?), put them into storage, or perhaps dismantle them? Or are they hoping to get some sort of compensation if and when they have to surrender them to the Ethiopians/TFG?