Somalia Civil War News Updates -- May 23, 2011

Peacekeepers from the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) park their tanks near the main Bakara market during fighting between Somalia government soldiers and Islamist insurgents in the capital Mogadishu, on May 23. Feisal Omar/Reuters

African Union Lays Siege To Al Shabab-Controlled Market In Somalia's Capital -- Christian Science Monitor

African Union troops aim to deny the militant Islamist group Al Shabab funds it receives from taxing shopkeepers and traders. An apparent surge of AU peacekeepers is challenging Al Shabab's tacit control of Somalia.

Even in Somalia, the best way to shut down a terrorist group is to go after the money.

This morning, an African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia is hemming in Somalia’s powerful Al Shabab militia – a group that has paid allegiance to Al Qaeda – inside Somalia’s largest marketplace, the Bakara Market in Mogadishu. Al Shabab taxes the shopkeepers and traders of Bakara Market, using those proceeds to fund their operations. Al Shabab also controls the busy port city of Kismayo and derives income by taxing exports and imports that come through that port.

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More News On Somalia's Civil War

Somalia's AU soldiers close in on key market -- AP
Somali and African Union Forces Advance in Mogadishu -- New York Times
Somali troops, peacekeepers advance on Bakara market -- Reuters
AU, Somali forces advance onto rebel stronghold -- AFP
Al Shabaab beaten back to Bakara -- Global Post
Somalia: Government forces kick out Al-Shabaab Militia -- Suna Times
Somalia: Govt - Most of Bakaara Market Fell Into the TFG Hands -- AllAfrica

Africans question UN go-slow on Somalia action -- Reuters
UN chews over Somali air and sea blockade -- Daily Nation

Kept in chains: Few facilities for the 1 in 3 Somalis who suffer mental illness -- Washington Post
Somalia’s al-Shabaab Militia Warns Djibouti Against Deployment of Troops -- Bloomberg
North Africa revolts could weaken Al Shabaab -- Global Post
Protection fees, stolen ammo extend Somalia's war -- AP
Security Council voices concern over high-level discord in Somalia -- UN News Centre
UN Security Council Urges Somalis to Resolve Political Crisis -- Voice of America