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| Africa North |
| Somali instability worries Maghreb neighbours |
| 2009-11-06 |
| [Maghrebia] Security experts in the Maghreb are alarmed by a recent upswing in violence in Somalia. With a rise in radicalism threatening the rights of women and religious minorities in that country, Maghreb civil society groups are taking steps to stop extremist ideologies from surging in their direction. Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi described the threat of Somali instability as "critical" at the African Union summit in August. Speaking at the opening ceremonies, he underlined "the necessity of resolving conflicts that exist among African brotherly nations, as they threaten global peace and security". A video released by radical militia group Al-Shabab on Eid al-Fitr showed a pledge of allegiance to Osama bin Laden. Al-Shabab has cracked down on women in Somali cities in recent weeks, including the Monday (November 1st) closure of three women's organisations in the town of Balad Hawa on the Kenyan border. According to Reuters, the affected institutions are the Halgan Businesswomen's Organisation, the Sed Huro Human Rights Organisation, and Farhan Women for Peace. |
| Posted by:Fred |