An Islamic militia said Monday it has seized Somalia's capital after weeks of some of the bloodiest fighting in 15 years of anarchy in this Horn of Africa nation.
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Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, chairman of the Islamic Courts Union, said his forces have fought off a secular alliance of warlords who have been trying to retain their grip on Somalia. The militia appeared in control of the capital, which was calm Monday.
"We want to restore peace and stability to Mogadishu. We are ready to meet and talk to anybody and any group for the interest of the people," Ahmed said on a radio broadcast.
Attempts to reach the alliance were not immediately successful; most leaders appeared to have fled the city by Monday afternoon.
The Islamic militias have made steady gains in recent days, seizing the alliance base of Balad on Sunday and enlisting former alliance commanders. Their growing power is raising fears that the nation could fall under the sway of al-Qaida, like Afghanistan did under the Taliban.
Expect sectarian purges to continue, along with the implementation of a hardline Islamist regime. Once again, we're witnessing the failure of the international community to deal with failed states, which will provide incubators for jihadis who will take their fight to the West from safe havens in the lawless regions of the world.
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