VOA标准英语2009年-Somali Clan Disputes Giving Boost to al-Sh

By Alisha Ryu
Nairobi
19 October 2009

Several hundred insurgent¹ fighters in Somalia have reportedly defected to the government in the past week, following fierce fighting that began early this month between militant² Islamist factions³ in the southern city of Kismayo. The split in the Islamist alliance could bring further turmoil⁴ and uncertainty⁵ to Somalia.    

On October 1, two Somali Islamist groups, which had been close allies in the effort to topple the U.N.-backed Somali transitional government in Mogadishu, turned their guns on each other in the port city of Kismayo. Days of heavy fighting killed an unknown number of fighters and civilians⁶.

Back to clan⁷ warfare⁸

 
For more than a year, Kismayo, like several other key cities in southern and central Somalia, had been largely administered by a coalition⁹ of Islamist groups called Hizbul Islam and the al-Qaida-linked militant group, al-Shabab. But late last month, al-Shabab shattered that alliance by declaring a new administration in Kismayo that excluded Hizbul Islam members. 

U.S.-based Somalia analyst¹⁰ Michael Weinstein says, on the surface, the dispute between Hizbul Islam and al-Shabab appears to be a straight-forward rivalry¹¹ between the two Islamist groups, fighting for power in one of the most prized cities in Somalia. Taxes collected at the Kismayo port are a crucial source of revenue for both sides.

But Weinstein says he believes long-running clan rivalries¹², not religious rivalry, was the root cause of the conflict between the two Islamist groups.

"What I think is going on is a volatile¹³ realignment toward clan-based Islamist warlordism. I do not think it is between religious movements," he said.

Warlordism in historical perspective

Somali history shows that controlling Kismayo has been the goal of various clans¹⁴ that have historical claims to the city and its surrounding regions.  But for much of the past decade, that power was in the hands of Barre Hirale, a factional leader of the Marehan, a sub-clan of one of the largest clans in Somalia, the Darod. 

In 2006, Hirale and most of his Marehan militia¹⁵ were chased out of Kismayo by the Islamic Courts Union. With the support of neighboring Ethiopia, Hirale re-took Kismayo from the Islamists in 2007, only to be chased out again in August 2008 by Hizbul Islam and al-Shabab.

The two Hizbul Islam factions that captured Kismayo in 2008 - Ras Kamboni and Anole -- were Islamists fighting to turn Somalia into an Islamic state. But equally, they were members of Darod sub-clans that have long held a grudge¹⁶ against the locally dominant¹⁷ Marehan group.

 
Hawiye clan soldiers fight with Ethiopian troops in Mogadishu (2007 file photo)
Weinstein says Ras Kamboni and Anole saw an opportunity for their respective sub-clans to reclaim¹⁸ power through Hizbul Islam. But the rise of Ras Kamboni and Anole threatened Marehan clansmen and sub-clan members of Darod's biggest rival, the Hawiye, in Kismayo. They aligned¹⁹ themselves with al-Shabab, hoping their support of the extremist group would elevate their clans to positions of power as well.  

Since the fall of Somalia's last functioning government in 1991, the country has been plagued by clan-driven civil wars. Somalia's Islamist movement originally emerged as a way of bringing order to the country through community-based Islamic courts. 

 
Islamic Union Courts militiamen take part in training exercises on the outskirts²⁰ of Mogadishu, 11 Dec 2008 
In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union defeated a coalition of C.I.A.-funded factional leaders, seized Mogadishu and restored stability in much of the country. But it was ousted²¹ from power six months later by neighboring Ethiopia amid reports that radicals²³ inside the courts were gaining power. The Islamists launched an insurgency²⁴ and have been fighting for control of Somalia ever since. 

Somali political analyst Ali Roble agrees that clan interests are again playing a pivotal role in creating conflicts. But he argues current conflicts are being fueled by the leadership of al-Shabab -- men Roble says are so thoroughly²⁵ committed to advancing the global agenda of radical²² Islamic groups, they no longer see themselves as Somalis.

Al-Shabab's 'divide and rule' tactics

Al-Shabab, whose top leaders are believed to have trained by al-Qaida in Afghanistan, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and Australia.

 
Al-Shebab fighter guards a crowd in Mogadishu during a court session run by the Islmaist group, 22 Jun 2009
"Al-Shabab always takes advantage of estrangements between clans. For example, if clan A and clan B are not on good terms with each other, al-Shabab will go and sit with whichever they think they can convince," Roble said. "[They] tell them that, 'You will be the clan dominating this area. You will be the ruling clan here, so you support us.' Another trick they are using is to terrorize and threaten different clans, saying [things] like, 'We will cleanse²⁶ your clan. You will be destroyed and your clan will be history. If you don't like it, don't come against us," he said.

Mohamed Ali Osman is a member of parliament and the chairman of a group seeking semi-autonomy for Kismayo and the surrounding regions. He says al-Shabab enjoyed popular support when it was perceived as a group fighting for Somali sovereignty against Ethiopia and the West. But support for the militants²⁷ eroded²⁸ after al-Shabab imposed strict interpretations²⁹ of Islamic law. Punishments have included amputating the limbs of thieves, stoning and flogging of women, and public beheadings.  

Osman says having lost its popular mandate³⁰, al-Shabab now maintains authority through deception³¹ and tactics long used by conquering armies. 

"They are using 'divide and rule' for the clans. They are giving out positions and money and weapons, saying 'You stay in Kismayo, we will give you a share of the administration." This is a lie. They are lying to the local people," he said.

 
Hizbul Islam militiamen stand guard at the group's HQ in south Mogadishu, 24 Apr 2009
Signaling a possible shift in alliance, nearly 300 Hizbul Islam fighters surrendered to the Somali government last week. Isolating³² al-Shabab from less fanatical Islamist groups has been a goal for the besieged³³ government and its Western backers.

But few Somalis believe the realignment will weaken al-Shabab's resolve. They say as long as there are clan differences, al-Shabab will likely find a way to exploit them to further their extremist agenda.

 

1 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

2 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

3 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

4 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

5 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 clan   

n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派

参考例句：

• She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
• The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。

8 warfare   

n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突

参考例句：

• He addressed the audience on the subject of atomic warfare.他向听众演讲有关原子战争的问题。
• Their struggle consists mainly in peasant guerrilla warfare.他们的斗争主要是农民游击战。

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

10 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

11 rivalry   

n.竞争，竞赛，对抗

参考例句：

• The quarrel originated in rivalry between the two families.这次争吵是两家不和引起的。
• He had a lot of rivalry with his brothers and sisters.他和兄弟姐妹间经常较劲。

12 rivalries   

n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new government was torn by rivalries. 新政府由于各派对立而四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
• Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. 竞争会带来痛苦、仇恨，或者引起争斗。 来自互联网

13 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

14 clans   

宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派

参考例句：

• There are many clans in European countries. 欧洲国家有很多党派。
• The women were the great power among the clans [gentes], as everywhere else. 妇女在克兰〈氏族〉里，乃至一般在任何地方，都有很大的势力。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源

15 militia   

n.民兵，民兵组织

参考例句：

• First came the PLA men,then the people's militia.人民解放军走在前面，其次是民兵。
• There's a building guarded by the local militia at the corner of the street.街道拐角处有一幢由当地民兵团守卫的大楼。

16 grudge   

n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做

参考例句：

• I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
• I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。

17 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

18 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

19 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

20 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

21 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

22 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

23 radicals   

n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals. 一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent. 现在人们担忧激进分子会变得更加不妥协。 来自辞典例句

24 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

25 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

26 cleanse   

vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗

参考例句：

• Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。
• Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

27 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

28 eroded   

adj. 被侵蚀的，有蚀痕的 动词erode的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea. 峭壁表面逐渐被海水侵蚀。
• The stream eroded a channel in the solid rock. 小溪在硬石中侵蚀成一条水道。

29 interpretations   

n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解

参考例句：

• This passage is open to a variety of interpretations. 这篇文章可以有各种不同的解释。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The involved and abstruse passage makes several interpretations possible. 这段艰涩的文字可以作出好几种解释。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

30 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

31 deception   

n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计

参考例句：

• He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
• He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。

32 isolating   

adj.孤立的，绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析

参考例句：

• Colour filters are not very effective in isolating narrow spectral bands. 一些滤色片不能很有效地分离狭窄的光谱带。 来自辞典例句
• This became known as the streak method for isolating bacteria. 这个方法以后就称为分离细菌的划线法。 来自辞典例句

33 besieged   

包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Paris was besieged for four months and forced to surrender. 巴黎被围困了四个月后被迫投降。
• The community besieged the newspaper with letters about its recent editorial. 公众纷纷来信对报社新近发表的社论提出诘问，弄得报社应接不暇。