Islamist militia driven out of Mogadishu, vow to keep fighting
{{date|December 29, 2006}}

[[Image:Somalia&land map.png|right|200px]]

After being driven out of [[w:Mogadishu|Mogadishu]] by [[Ethiopia]]n troops, the [[w:Council of Islamic Courts|Council of Islamic Courts]] continues to struggle for power over [[Portal:Somalia|Somalia]]. Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the executive leader of the group, told the media that the Council of Islamic Courts has no intention of fleeing the country. "We will not run away from our enemies," he said. "We will never depart from Somalia. We will stay in our homeland."

On the same day, Ali Mohamed Gedi, Somalia's Prime Minister entered Mogadishu in an armoured 22-car convoy, for the first time in more than six months. "We were fighting for our political survival but with the will and the support of the people we are the winners," Gedi told the press. "We are here to start our work." Gedi greeted the crowds as he drove through the city, but some citizens did not have a warm welcome for him. In the north end of the city, protesters filled the streets and threw rocks at Ethiopian army vehicles.

Certain analysts fear a "[[Afghanistan|Afghan]] scenario", with a central government encircled by a nebula of independent armed Islamic groups. This situation could also attract foreign fighters from other parts of the Muslim world to join the Council of Islamic Courts in the conflict.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/12/29/somalia-islamists.html|title=Islamic leader vows to keep fighting for control of Somalia|author=Associated Press|pub=CBC News|date=Dec 29, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-12-30T014700Z_01_L28741526_RTRUKOC_0_US-SOMALIA-CONFLICT.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C2-TopNews-newsOne-2|title=Somali PM enters Mogadishu, crowds line route|author=C. Bryson Hull|pub=Reuters|date=Dec 29, 2006}}

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[[Category:Somalia]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Mogadishu]]

[[de:Krieg in Somalia: Islamisten ziehen sich aus Mogadischu zurück]]
[[fr:Somalie : les islamistes abandonnent Mogadiscio face à l'offensive de l'Éthiopie et du gouvernement intérimaire]]
200px

After being driven out of Mogadishu by Ethiopian troops, the Council of Islamic Courts continues to struggle for power over Somalia. Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the executive leader of the group, told the media that the Council of Islamic Courts has no intention of fleeing the country. "We will not run away from our enemies," he said. "We will never depart from Somalia. We will stay in our homeland."

On the same day, Ali Mohamed Gedi, Somalia's Prime Minister entered Mogadishu in an armoured 22-car convoy, for the first time in more than six months. "We were fighting for our political survival but with the will and the support of the people we are the winners," Gedi told the press. "We are here to start our work." Gedi greeted the crowds as he drove through the city, but some citizens did not have a warm welcome for him. In the north end of the city, protesters filled the streets and threw rocks at Ethiopian army vehicles.

Certain analysts fear a "Afghan scenario", with a central government encircled by a nebula of independent armed Islamic groups. This situation could also attract foreign fighters from other parts of the Muslim world to join the Council of Islamic Courts in the conflict.

de:Krieg in Somalia: Islamisten ziehen sich aus Mogadischu zurück
fr:Somalie : les islamistes abandonnent Mogadiscio face à l'offensive de l'Éthiopie et du gouvernement intérimaire
Somalia Africa Politics and conflicts Mogadishu