Mortar attacks undermine Amisom’s exit

The Somalia capital of Mogadishu has come under fresh mortar attacks, which led to the deaths of at least four internally displaced persons (IDPs), including two children, raising fears that the Al Shabaab militia was recovering some ground.The attacks have come as something of a surprise since the UN-backed African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) had managed to pacify much of the capital of the beleaguered country.Indeed, by the end of last week, Amisom was pulling all the stops to pacify the country ahead of Kenya’s elections which are expected to be held early next year. Ethiopia, which has provided the bulk of intelligence and ground support for the international force is said to be pulling out in the wake of the renewed hostility with its bitter arch-rival Eritrea.The mortars landed in a small IDP settlement in the Wardhigley district on Monday morning, marking the first attack of its kind since August when anti-government forces withdrew from the majority of districts in the capital. “The target of the attack is believed to have been a hostel housing pro-government forces in the nearby Villa Somalia compound, the presidential palace, but the mortars did not reach their target and instead landed among the IDPs,” spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Adrian Edwards, said in a statement sent to media houses including The New Times.Currently, there is no international legal obligation for parties to the conflict in Somalia to make amends to civilians that have been affected by military operations.Recently UNHCR released a report detailing what Somalis are seeking in response to violence and focusing on assistance for civilians harmed in warfare. The report, entitled Civilian Harm in Somalia: Creating an Appropriate Response, recommends the establishment of a mechanism to track, analyse, investigate and respond to all incidents of civilian harm, including the loss of property, limb or life. Amisom, according to its Ugandan command, is seeking to expand its role without the presence of Kenyan and Ethiopian forces who have given it a major impetus. The vacuum to be left by the Kenyan Defence Forces, which is planning a July exit, and the Ethiopian forces that could leave as early as next month has put the operation under pressure, with the forces from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti and Senegal having to share the burden.Rwanda, which maintains peacekeeping contingents in various parts of the world, including in Darfur, Sudan, has previously trained hundreds of Somalia government forces.The renewed violence might also put on hold Somalia’s bid to join the East African Community (EAC). The list of countries seeking to join the EAC comprises Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia and DR Congo. The Transitional Federal Government of Sheikh Sharif Ahmed wrote last month to President Mwai Kibaki seeking membership of the EAC. Kibaki is the chairman of the bloc. The request will be considered by the party organs and forwarded to the Summit during its next session, says Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula.