MOGADISHU, Somalia Feb 20 (Garowe Online) - Reliable security sources in the Somali capital Mogadishu confidentially informed Garowe Online on Tuesday that the government is increasingly worried about some of the capital’s ex-warlords who have been rearming themselves in recent days.
One government security official singled out three notorious ex-warlords, one of whom is a member of parliament.
MP Mohamed Qanyare, Mohamed “Dhere†Omar Habeb and Abdi “Waal†Nur were confirmed to have bought the most weapons in Mogadishu in the past 3 days.
“The explosions [in Mogadishu] have many sources and occur for various reasons,†one official told Garowe Online on the condition of anonymity.
The sources further stated that some of those responsible for daily attacks targeting Somali and Ethiopian soldiers in the capital are “people you least expect.â€
Officially, the government blames Islamist remnants for the attacks but the sources implied other groups were involved in the anti-government violence.
Mogadishu’s warlords, who ruled the capital with impunity since 1991, were militarily expelled the Islamic Courts movement in June 2006. They returned to their strongholds in the capital after Ethiopian troops defeated the Islamists in a two-week war over the New Year.
The sources also said several government plans were botched after they were prematurely leaked to the media. The sources did not disclose what those failed plans were.
The United Nations reported last week that the “reemergence of warlords†posed a threat to humanitarian relief work.
More than 15 people were reported killed in attacks overnight Monday and into Tuesday morning, with civilians caught in the crossfire between insurgent mortars and Ethiopian artillery.
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