The Month of Revolt?

Tunisian protesters                                                                                                     Photo by AP   

Today marks the day when Somali President Siad Barre's administration was ousted from power. The Barre administration was haunted by various clan-based rebel groups. In the northern part of the country, members of the Isaaq clan felt politically marginalized by Barre's government. The Isaaq clan consequently developed a rebel group named the Somali National Movement (SNM), who were morally and financially supported by Ethiopia. Also in the north, there developed a rebel group called the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), which was led by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and consisted of several former army officers opposed to Barre's regime. To combat this and other such groups, the government made many raids against the north. However, by the late 1980s, rival factional groups began to make substantial territorial gains, especially in the northern Somaliland region. These groups received weapons from Ethiopia in the hopes of overthrowing Barre's government, which eventually led to the Somali Civil War.

By 1991, factions led by warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid and his rebel group, the United Somali Congress (USC), invaded Mogadishu. Aidid fought against government forces, and Barre was finally overthrown on the evening of 26 January 1991. He was succeeded in office by Ali Mahdi Muhammad, a businessman of the Abgaal, a sub clan of the Hawiye, until November 1991. Though internationally recognized, Ali Mahdi's government never managed to exert political or military control over the majority of the country. Ali Mahdi and Aidid's personal clan-based militias eventually wound up fighting over control of the country in the wake of Barre's ouster.

With this in mind Tunisia too chased away its president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted from power 11th January 2011. This came after the Wikileaks released cables that the country was a police state. Wikileaks critisized Ben Ali for being out of touch with the people. In reference to this, the  "WikiLeaks Revolution." as the media calls it sent Mr Ben Ali parking.

Khaled Mohamed Saeed holding up Hosni Mubarak

                         

Egypt on the other hand, is experiencing riots against the 30 year rule of president Hosni Mubarak. January 25th, known as the "Day of Anger" marked increased protests. Opposition groups set the date for major mass protests. Armored police vehicles are manning streets in Cairo to ensure the protesters remain under control. In particular, the Tahrir Square has been cordoned off.

Crowds at Cairo's Tahrir Square January 25th 2011

Although January 25th was the only day marked for the protests, activists have called for the protesters to stay on the streets till the government of Hosni Mubarak falls. Opposition group "Sixth of April Youth movement" called on its Facebook page for protests to continue on Wednesday "and after tomorrow, until Mubarak's departure."