One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Although there have been a number of positive developments in Somalia in recent weeks, we must remember that the worst is far from over. For starters, al-Shabaab continues to control a significant portion of the southern and central regions of the country. As previously mentioned, al-Shabaab also recently announced that they have joined forces with al-Qaeda. While it appears as though we will be hearing some more good news next week, when the UN is expected to boost African Union troops in Somalia, the outlook remains bleak. The BBC reported today that heavy fighting in the Afgoye corridor has forced thousands of Somali IDPs to flee. Many will be returning to Mogadishu (from whence they had fled in 2007) to severely overcrowded camps, with no running water or electricity.
