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Technicals - frontline fighting

A difficult and bloody civil war in Somalia led to the overthrow of the dictator Siad Barre in 1991.

 

 

 

Children as young as 8 take part in the fierce and bitter fighting the fighting that continues as the powerful clans now battle each other for supremacy.

 

00.22

Technical patrolling greenline

 

Mogadishu, a once beautiful city - split by a frontline dividing disputed clan territories.

 

 

Armies of the warring factional leaders patrol here, along what is more locally known as the greenline - a corridor of former homes and schools with grisly reminders of past skirmishes.

 

00.45

Refugee camps

Forced out of their homes by devastation and starvation, many Somali people have fled to makeshift refugee camps.

 

 

 

The harsh reality is that with no cease fire in sight, aid agencies are unlikely to intervene and conditions are likely to worsen.

 

01.05

Kids on tanks

On almost every street burnt out tanks now provide million dollar playgrounds.

 

 

 

A poignant reminder of the failed US led UN mission - Operation Restore Hope.

 

 

Destroyed tanks

Among those American forces was a young marine - Hussein Aidid.

 

 

 

In what is a unique twist he has now returned to Mogadishu as the successor to his late father - General Farrah Aidid, a staunch foe of the Americans.

 

01.33

Aidid's forces - runway

The late General was the self elected president and leader of one the more powerful factions. He died from injuries he received from fighting two weeks ago.

 

 

 

The new president of the Republic of Somalia has announced the continuation of his fathers policy of "Pacification".

 

 

 

Disarming, is part of this policy and these soldiers are keen to do their job well.

 

02.00

Dahir Farah Abdile (Fighter)

We are doing a good job. We are doing a good job. We are disarming the bandits. It is a big job.

 

 

 

Killing those who disagree is also part of the policy.

 

 

Dahir Farah Abdile

We have the authority if we are ordered - we shoot. If we don't we won't. We have the permission to kill.

 

02.32

Shots

Back at the frontline battle weary fighters hardly flinch as shots ring out.

 

 

 

Others are more tense.

 

 

 

Hopes of a cease-fire have been dashed by Hussein Aidid's adherence to his late father's policies.

 

 

 

Ali Madhi, the north Mogadishu leader saw pacification as a barrier to Somali reconciliation.

 

02.55

Ali Madhi Mohammed - Faction Leader

We were negotiating with him for 5 years and he never accepted what is the desire of the people he never accepted. He is a man who wants only to have power, through the barrel of the gun.

 

 

 

In agreement is faction leader Osman Atto, travelling here in protected convoy.

 

 

 

He parted from the late General Aidid's clan and left his post as finance minister last year.

 

03.25

Osman Hassan Ali Atto - Faction Leader

The reason we do have this split is Aidid wants to take control of Somalia by force, and that is creating another dictator.

 

 

 

The government response to such condemnation by one of its own - was to avoid it.

 

 

Foreign Minister - Jamah Mohammed Galib

 

Atto and Aidid this is a family affair. I don't think it concerns the government.

 

Goats

A sense of normality pervades this market but the goat sellers are finding the trade sluggish.

 

 

 

Khat Seller

The only real economic activity is that of the khat trade.

 

 

 

Khat an amphetamine like drug perishes quickly in the heat. So each morning it is flown in from Kenya.

 

 

Soldier

We like khat - it gets rid of fatigue and staves off nightmares. It also makes the work easier - it doesn't do you much good though.

 

04.43

Gun Cleaner

Khat may release the tedium of war and create trigger happy fighters but these young men are deadly serious in their struggle.

 

 

Abdullah Dahir

I believe I will die when Allah my god decides. But if my people need me to defend them, I have no right to be afraid of dying.

 

 

 

Hussein Aidid inherits a loyal army that his late father, General Aidid, forged from warring militias, freelancers and the former national army.

 

 

 

They are paid to carry a gun and put aside clan differences.

 

 

 

We understand the badness of the clans and now we are united as a national force.

 

 

 

These rival faction fighters have no uniforms, they paint their technicals gaudy colours and posses a certain bravado, but no one doubts their commitment.

 

 

 

These technicals are cannibalized aid vehicles with a machine gun or anti aircraft gun mounted in the rear.

 

 

 

As survivors of numerous battles, many young fighters believe the secret of  their success lies in their willingness to die.

 

06.04

Boy

It doesn't matter if I die, because when I'm dying I am defending myself and my leader, so if I die no problem.

 

 

 

Bermuda, a small enclave in the heart of Mogadishu has turned to Islam in its search for a peaceful solution.

 

 

Technicals

Former wild militiamen are now running their technicals under the banner of Islam, for the newly established Islamic court. As protectors they bring order to the people.

 

 

Young Girl

It is amazing. Before they were robbers, breaking into Muslim homes, now they're normal people who believe in the Koran.

 

06.45

Football

Elman, a peace campaigner sought a different solution to the peace problem.

 

 

Elman Ali Ahmed

We will make revolution with sports, no one can stop the sports.

 

 

 

Elman took young fighters under his wing by teaching them football, reformed them.

 

 

Elman Ali Ahmed

Last 5 years we see only clan leaders, the warlords the gunmen, today we are celebrating we have no gun.

 

 

 

In Mogadishu's highly volatile and unstable conflict there is no place for such celebrations.

 

 

 

Elman was killed shortly after this film was made.

 

 

 

Osman Atto and Ali Madhi see reconciliation and negotiation as the only way forward to a peaceful end to the conflict.

 

07.41

Ali Madhi Mohammed

Most of the clans of most of Somali people are on one side, for reconciliation conference and for having a centre of authority.

 

 

Osman Hassan Ali Atto

Our intention is to reach ultimately the goal of the Somali nation peacefully. But I'm sure what we are doing now is create a Somali nation. And to create a Somali nation we need a multi clan, militias, to get together. And symbolises the start of the Somali nation.

 

 

 

Osman Ato's advice last year to the late General Aidid could be just as applicable to the young Hussein Aidid today.

 

 

Osman Hassan Ali Atto

Renounce the so called government. Renounce all the violence and join the peace process.

 

08.44

 

ENDS

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