Return to
NomadNetSomalia's capital Mogadishu was quiet Saturday, one day after powerful warlord Mohamed Farah Aidid was buried, leaving residents to wonder if his death would improve the chances for peace after five years of civil strife.
The streets were unusually calm, as both of Aidid's main enemies in Mogadishu - Ali Mahdi Mohamed and Osman Ali Atto - suspended hostilities and waited to see who would step in to fill the power vacuum left by Aidid's death. Aidid's radio station Friday declared 30 days of mourning and said a four-man committee would decide what to do next. But it was too soon to say whether Aidid's supporters in the Habre-Gedir sub-clan would continue his aggressive policy for total control of Somalia, or relent to mounting pressure from a coalition of other clans to participate in a national reconciliation conference.
The United States has said it believes the death of Aidid may improve chances for peace in Somalia, and the United Nations has offered to help with dialogue aimed at Somali reconciliation.
Most analysts agreed that Aidid's ruthless ambition to be Somalia's president was the main obstacle to peace, and that he was largely responsible for fueling the country's five-year civil war in which at least 350,000 Somalis died through fighting and famine.
Since the collapse of Somalia's government in 1991, Aidid had marshalled his militiamen and made alliances with other clan fighters in a bid to become president of the country.
While his coalition, the Somali National Alliance (SNA) at one time controlled 11 of the country's 18 regions, Aidid's influence waned over the past year and he became increasingly isolated, feuding with former allies like Ato.
Ali Mahdi, based in north Mogadishu, is now the most powerful faction leader and heads an alliance of clan-based militias which had been ranged against Aidid. Ali Mahdi said he was "not happy, not sad" about Aidid's death, but did say his hopes for peace were at their highest.
Analysts say Ali Mahdi and Ato may try extend Islamic Sharia law from the areas of Mogadishu they control into Aidid's former stronghold. While Sharia provides for harsh punishment -amputations for theft, and stoning for adultery - it has largely been effective in curbing lawlessness in areas where it was introduced.