Somalia violence

More than 80 people, most of them innocent civilians, were killed in just two days in April in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. They lost their lives during clashes between Somali Islamist rebels, known as the Holy Warriors Youth, and the Somali army, backed by Ethiopian forces. This battle in Mogadishu is part of the ongoing violence in the country, which began 17 years ago. While leaders and coalitions have come and gone, those who suffer, the Somali people, remain. In the beginning of 2006 the country's interim government was forcefully overthrown by the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts. The supreme council tried to enforce Islamic law on the country, until it was ousted a year later by the Somali military, largely aided by the Ethiopian troops still present in country. Since the beginning of 2008, tens of thousands of civilians have fled the country to neighboring Kenya and Djibouti, and across the sea to Yemen. The lack of a stable regime in almost two decades, combined with droughts and floods, have left their mark on the population. In May, neighboring Djibouti hosts peace talks between the Somali interim government and leaders of the opposition. However, the Holy Warriors Youth says it won't attend -- leaving yet another huge question mark over the chances for peace for Somali civilians.

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YouTube | April 28, 2008

Tags:. .overthrown. .mogadishu. .djibouti. .yemen. .ethiopian