MOGADISHU, Somalia — It is difficult to imagine that this is Mogadishu, the same Mogadishu of Black Hawk Down, clan against clan and 15 years of unrelenting anarchy.
But during the past three months, the Islamists in control have defied international expectations in many ways. Not only have they done the unthinkable, pacifying one of the most-dangerous cities in the world, they also seem to have moderated their message.
Instead of acting like the Taliban and ruthlessly imposing a harsh religious orthodoxy, as many feared, the Islamists seem to be trying to increase public support by delivering social services, pushing for democratic elections and softening their views, at least officially.
Yesterday, however, hundreds of heavily armed Muslim gunmen moved on a key southern port as the powerful Islamist movement prepared to expand its territory, witnesses said.
Backed by heavy artillery, several hundred Islamic fighters sped through towns south of Mogadishu to join forces surrounding Kismayo, they said.
Tension has been high there for days since Muslim forces began arriving, prompting complaints that their presence violates an interim peace accord signed last month.
Officials with the Supreme Islamic Council of Somalia in Mogadishu deny they want to take the town by force but have said they want control of the port to keep the planned eastern Africa peacekeeping force from landing there.
Recently in Mogadishu, Islamic leaders have been operating almost in campaign mode, organizing street cleanups, visiting hospitals, overseeing a building boomlet and recruiting elderly police officers to don faded uniforms they have not worn for years and return to work. Beyond that, they sent a letter last week to the U.N. Security Council pledging to support democratic rule.
“The world was so quick to label us,” said Ibrahim Hassan Addou, the foreign minister for the Islamic administration in Mogadishu. “All we are asking is to be judged on our deeds.”
Maybe this is just smooth talk or premature signs that could prove misleading. Hard-core Islamist elements still operate in Mogadishu, including militiamen who shoot people for watching Hollywood movies.
But the Islamist leaders say these are rogue elements who will be punished.
“Nobody knows where we’re headed,” said Ahmed Mohammed Ali, chairman of a Mogadishu human-rights organization. But, he added, the Islamists “pacified this place and brought the clans together.”
Information from Agence France-Presse was included in this story.
Source: New York Times, Sept 24, 2006
