Calm seems to prevail in Mogadishu as residents welcome the victory of militant Islamists while the ruthless and much disliked warlords stand back defeated, writes Gamal Nkrumah It has become a familiar routine. A Somali city or region falls into the hands of a particular group of warlords, usually tyrannical paterfamilias who wreak revenge on the losers. But this time the capturing of Mogadishu by militant Islamists sent shock waves across East Africa and the Horn of Africa region. The triumph of the Islamists was widely celebrated inside Somalia itself. After three weeks of internecine and fratricidal fighting, the militant Islamist forces took control of the entire city. The fighting, which claimed more than 350 lives and left more than 1,500 people injured, came to an abrupt end on Sunday. The preposterous gang of warlords pitted against the Islamists were bereft of military competence, political acumen, discipline, diplomatic guile and above all the willingness to collaborate with each other. Moreover, the collaboration of the warlords with Washington poisoned their cause in the eyes of many Somalis. The militant Islamists obviously have a keen eye for the nuances and political mood of Mogadishu residents. They are widely seen by the populace as endowed with lofty ideals and therefore meet little opposition. The people of Mogadishu saw them as a reprieve from the lawless world of the warlords around them. Indeed, by their very nature -- as leaders of the Islamic Sharia courts -- they instilled the rule of law (God's law as they and their supporters see it) in a hitherto chaotic and unruly city. And mercy was indeed the handmaiden of justice: there was no ruthless vengefulness. "This is a new era for Mogadishu," proudly declared Sheikh Sherif Ahmed, chairman of the militant Islamist coalition officially called the Islamic Courts Union. He proved to be an especially magnanimous victor. "The Islamic Courts Union are not interested in a continuation of hostilities and will fully implement peace and security after the change has been made by the victory of the people with the support of Allah," Sheikh Sherif Ahmed told reporters in Mogadishu on Sunday. How significant, however, is popular support for the militant Islamists? Many observers believe it has changed the course of the civil war that ravaged the city. "I am not in the least bit surprised by the victory of the Islamic Courts Union," Somali Ambassador to Egypt Abdullah Hassan Mahmoud told Al-Ahram Weekly. "They represent law and order for the war-weary population of Mogadishu. They promise a brighter future." The performance of the militant Islamists in Mogadishu was full of vitality and risk. Their admirable energy, savvy bravado, bravura experimentalism with good governance militant Islamist-style, and commitment to country and cause left no observer of Somali affairs in doubt of their popularity in Mogadishu. The response of the secular but bloodthirsty warlords was matchingly shameful, or rather shameless. They appealed to the United States for support. "Somalia must not be another Afghanistan or a transit point for terrorist attacks in neighbouring countries," explained warlord and Trade Minister Moussa Sudi Yallahow. That might sound like music in the ears of the Americans, but as far as the people of Mogadishu are concerned, the US-backed Anti- Terror Alliance is of dubious merit. The routed warlords worked closely with the US Anti- Terror Task Force based in neighbouring Djibouti. "I call on the US government and the international community to support our alliance's bid to hand over the foreign terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda terror network who are being sheltered in Mogadishu," he added. Now that the city has fallen into the hands of the militant Islamists, there is a very slim chance that Yellahow will actually do so. As trade minister in the transitional government based in Baidoa, 250 kilometres northwest of Mogadishu, Moussa Sudi Yallahow was publicly reprimanded by Somali President Abdullah Youssef and Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi. The latter sacked Yellahow, Security Minister Mohamed Qanyare Afrah, another of Mogadishu's notorious Anti- Terror Alliance warlords, as well as Religious Affairs Minister Mahmoud Finnish, and Militia Rehabilitation Minister Issa Botan Alin from cabinet because they refused to quit fighting in Mogadishu and return to Baidoa to deal with affairs of the state. The dejected ministers were discredited because of their close association with the US and brandished as American stooges. The Anti- Terror Alliance warlords and the Islamists signed a cease-fire agreement last month. Sheikh Sherif Ahmed signed on behalf of the Islamists and Nur Daqle signed for the Anti- Terror Alliance. But the Anti-Terror warlords reneged on their peace pledge ostensibly in a bid to capture Hassan Dahir Aweis, whom they say is hiding in Mogadishu and fomenting trouble in the entire Horn of Africa region. Neighbouring countries are nervous about the presence of Aweis, who is known to have close affiliations with Al-Qaeda. Indeed, officials from several neighbouring East African countries privately believe that the fall of Mogadishu to the militant Islamists augurs ill for the entire region. Kenya and Ethiopia are especially vulnerable to the rising influence of the Islamist militants in Somalia. Officially, however, these countries have not responded angrily to the turn of events. Washington's reaction to the latest developments has been somewhat muted. "We certainly have active efforts working with the international community and working across a spectrum of Somalis to make sure Somalia isn't a safe haven for terrorists," said US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack. William Bellamy, the US ambassador to neighbouring Kenya, concurred, acknowledging that the Bush administration was indeed working closely with certain friendly elements in Somalia. He also pointed out that the US provided $84 million a year in food aid to Somalia and that it would continue to provide humanitarian and relief assistance to Somalia. At any rate, Washington must revise its anti- terrorism policy, particularly in the wake of developments in Somalia. It is high time for a rethink. The militant Islamists of Mogadishu might have secured legitimacy in the eyes of posterity and may indeed succeed in using their victory with moderation. In sharp contrast, American foreign policy will continue to be subjected to ever-increasing criticism at home and abroad. But that's not quite the point. America has avoided direct involvement in Somali affairs since the 1991 Mogadishu beach battle in which 18 Marines lost their lives -- a battle which was immortalised in the book and film Black Hawk Down. What really matters, however, is that peace prevails in one of Africa's most strategically located and economically promising countries.
