By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Violence continued in Somalia for the third straight day today as the government combats insurgent forces throughout the country.  Fighting erupted in Mogadishu after the Islamic insurgent group al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda sponsored radical Islamic organization, successfully carried out a number of suicide bombing attacks against civilian populations and government forces in the country’s capital.  The Somali government, supported by African Union troops, has engaged in an intensive campaign to push al-Shabab out of its strongholds and to maintain control of the capital.

The fighting however, threatens to aggravate the dire humanitarian situation already facing Somalia.  Although 25 percent fewer Somalis require international assistance compared to only six months ago, millions of citizens remain vulnerable and the fighting in Mogadishu may cause the government to divert resources away from the citizenry in order to fight terrorism.  According to the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization in Somalia, over 35,000 children throughout the country remain malnourished and 90 percent of those children live within the conflict zone which has engulfed south-central Somalia.  The United States also reduced funding for the U.N. World Food Program in Somalia because of fears that money was going to fund al-Shabab.

A scarcity of resources is not the only concern for Somalis who reside within the conflict ridden territories of Somalia.  Civilians are also targets of al-Shabab suicide attacks.  On Tuesday, more than 30 people were killed when a suicide bomber detonated in a hotel.  Al-Shabab has also declared an “all-out war against AMISOM forces.” 

Al-Shabab however, is not the only blameworthy party in this conflict.  Somalis are also being killed in the government’s operations against the insurgent organization.  Amnesty International told reporters Wednesday that the government’s use of indiscriminate weapons, such as mortars, in densely populated areas has contributed to the civilian death toll.   Benedicte Goderiaux, an Amnesty International researcher in Somalia, criticized the government saying “[w]hen you have one party to the conflict which is committing abuses and violations of international law, that doesn’t justify the other side from also committing violations of international law.”  Ms. Goderiaux warns that the government must respect international law even while pursuing its counter attack strategy. 

Although the government reports progress in its fight against al-Shabab, civilians have borne the brunt of the fighting in Somalia.  Over 80 people have been killed and hundreds displaced in the last three days of fighting.

For more information, please see:

CBS News – Third Day of Fighting in Somalia’s Capital Kills 8 – 25 Aug. 2010

IC Publications Africa – Fresh Mogadishu Gunfight Kills Six Civilians – 25 Aug. 2010

Voice of America – Civilians Bearing Brunt of Somali Conflict – 25 Aug. 2010

Voice of America – Rain Eases Somalia’s Humanitarian Crisis – 23 Aug. 2010