Al-Qaeda-linked extremist groups getting a foothold in Somalia: ICG

NAIROBI (AFP) - A new group of Al-Qaeda-linked extremists has got a foothold in Somalia, a Horn of Africa nation that has been wracked by anarchy since 1991, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said.

The New Jihad that is run from the bullet-charred capital Mogadishu and consists of a militia leader trained in Afghanistan, is blamed for the kidnapping of foreign aid workers and threatens to push the country deeper into anarchy, the ICG said in a new report released here.

"The threat of jihadi terrorism in and from Somalia is real," the report said. "Since 2003, Somalia has witnessed the rise of a new, ruthless independent jihadi network with links to Al-Qaeda," the report said."

"Ultimately, the threat of jihadi terrorism from Somalia can only be addressed through the restoration of stable, legitimate and functional government," the report added, describing that group as a "a new, ruthless and independent network with links to Al-Qaeda."

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in the 90's?

"Whew! This is hard work!"

I don't think americans would be as "understanding" as they were and still are of the arab community, can you imagine if the hijackers were of african descent they would be absolutely brutal to us regardless of our background.

Americans have not been understanding at all to the Arab community. The aggression against any "African" community would probably be very bad if something like that happened.

After 9-11, communities and people who were not even Arab or Muslim were attacked, and so the target on anything having even the remotest thing to do with "Africa" would be targeted (Imagine: "The Negro Mother" becoming banned literature).