Militants tied to al-Qaida aim to destabilize Somalia

A year ago, it seemed that the United States had delivered a crippling blow to terrorists in the African nation of Somalia when special forces killed Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, an al-Qaida operative.

Nabhan was wanted by the international community for the 2002 car bombing of a beach resort in Kenya and the failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli airliner. He was the leader of al-Shabab Mujahideen Movement, which is operating in lawless Somalia with the aim of toppling the government.

Al-Shabab retaliated by sending suicide bombers to the main base of the African Union peacekeepers in Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu. At least 16 people were killed. including four bombers, and dozens were injured.

Nonetheless, it appeared that the U.S, and its allies in the war on global terrorism had sent a strong message with the killing of the al-Qaida operative.

Last week, however, fighting flared in the capital city, resulting in a death toll of at least 80. Insurgents are attempting to force government troops back toward the presidential palace.

The al-Shabab group has declared a new “massive” war against African union troops. Hundreds of people have been chased from their homes, with women, children and the elderly most at risk.

The most brazen attack came Tuesday when militants stormed a hotel controlled by the weak central government. Four members of parliament were among the 32 people killed.

The Somali government has struggled for years to gain relevancy, but corruption and its minuscule footprint in the country — just a few city blocks near the seaside airport — have limited its effectiveness. It is propped up by 6,000 African Union troops from Uganda and Burundi. Without those soldiers the government would quickly collapse.

Somalia hasn’t had a functioning government since 1991, when warlords overthrew the president.

The Obama administration is well aware of the dangers inherent in the collapse of the government.

In Washington, State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the attack during Ramadan highlighted al-Shabab’s “complete disregard for human life, Somali culture and Islamic values.”

Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed was clear in his assessment of what’s going on in the country.

“The only intention of this group is to destroy the nation, massacre people and then finally hand the country to ruthless foreigners,” he said.

Support

Therein lies the problem for the U.S. as it seeks to destroy al-Qaida and other terrorist groups that are providing support, militarily and financially, to Islamic extremists in Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia and other parts of the world.

If the African nation is taken over by extremists, it will become a safe haven for terrorist organizations, the way Afghanistan under the Taliban was for al-Qaida. It was from there that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America’s homeland was planned.

Osama bin Laden, the head of al-Qaida and mastermind of 9/11, escaped from Afghanistan during the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 that resulted in the ouster of the Taliban. Bin Laden is said to be hiding in the remote mountain region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Somalia cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. This week’s fighting should be taken seriously.