Ethiopian troops secure Somali capital for government

Somalia’s prime minister entered the capital yesterday, — one day after the Islamic Courts Movement’s fighters retreated ahead of his Ethiopian-backed troops — and was welcomed by thousands of the battle-scarred city’s cheering residents.

While the visit was meant to symbolise the government’s victory, continued fighting is likely due to clan divisions, hatred of Ethiopia and the presence of religious fundamentalism.

Ali Mohamed Gedi drove into the southern part of the city in a heavily armed convoy of 22 vehicles, then toured Mogadishu’s seaport amid tight security.

Trucks fitted with loudspeakers roamed the city, blaring patriotic music.

Mogadishu, for the last six months, has been controlled by a group affiliated to local business interests, whose stated aim was the creation of an Islamic republic in the predominantly Sunni Muslim failed state.

“The government will lead this nation to a bright future,” Gedi told reporters after arriving in central Mogadishu, “Today is the beginning of a new life, new stabilisation and a new future for Somalia.”

The government’s first task is disarmament and demobilisation of the thousands of militiamen in the country, he said.

Even before the rise of the Islamists, Gedi’s government was kept out of Mogadishu by clan violence.

There have been reports, meanwhile, that certain Mogadishu-based warlords — banished from the city after the Islamic Courts’ takeover — had moved back into the city.

As Gedi arrived, several thousand demonstrators in one neighbourhood took to the streets to protest the presence of Ethiopian troops in the capital.

Ethiopian troops earlier fired into the air from tanks, under attack from young men armed with stones.