In advance of the tenth anniversary of the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold, Chairman of the Senate African Affairs Subcommittee, reiterated his call on the Bush administration for a comprehensive policy to address the terrorist safe haven in Somalia. In a speech from the Senate floor this morning, Feingold warned that failed states “breed insecurity and conditions favorable to terrorism.” Somalia, which has been labeled the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis by U.N. officials, is currently home to 2.6 million people in need of aid. That number could grow to 3.5 million – one-half of Somalia’s population – by the end of the year.
Mogadishu residents are celebrating the sacking of the Somali capital’s controversial but powerful mayor Mohamed Dheere. Dheere was reportedly fired after he allegedly embezzled funds amid heightened insecurity in the capital. Some political observers believe Dheere’s sacking exposes a possible rift at the top of the Somalia’s embattled interim administration. Dheere, who is a former warlord, has been the city’s mayor since early last year and is perceived to be a close ally of President Abdullahi Yusuf. More on Sacking of Mogadishu Mayor Draws Mixed Reaction
