Global Voices Online

Khadija discusses US military interest in Africa: “According to the US African Command website, Somalia -– invaded by US backed Ethiopian troops in Jan 2007, under the guise of hunting Al–Qaeda –- is in desperate need of assistance.”

White Africa writes about a map showing pirate activities in Somalia: “UNOSAT has released the following map of pirate activity off the coast of Somalia in 2007. Fascinating map.”

A U.S. airstrike this morning targeting a “known al-Qaeda terrorist” in Somalia destroys two houses, approximately the size of my bedroom, killing 3 women, 3 children and no terrorists, writes Egyptian blogger D B Shobrawy, who ends his post with: “And that's how you recruit a terrorist.”

Royale Somali blogs about Somali elders supporting Obama in Ohio: “I heard that a lot of Somali elders in Ohio who are also American citizens would be going to caucus for Obama , dressed like that notorious photo. Ohio has a large Somali community around 20 Thousand.”

Learn something about the Somali culture from Shafi: “Receiving a guest with such generosity is often praise worthy and the theme of many verses of poetry. In the Somali culture, where families are judged by their hospitality, Sooryo (receiving guests well) is very important and so is Sagootin (seeing them off well).”

David Axe is currently visiting Somalia and blogs about his experience: “The first time we went to the tiny movie house near the Mogadishu seaport, with a mind to doing some interviews, the manager fussed at us for not making an appointment. It was tense, but not alarming. We promised to call ahead next time.”

Banaadir posts a video showing the cost to human life in the Somali conflict and quotes Bob Marley's Redemption Song: “”How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? ooh!” Bob Marley

Steve discusses latest issues in Somalia: By request from local clan elders, Mohamed Deere, the warlord-turned-nominal mayor of Mogadishu, Somalia, has called off disarmament operations in the nominal capital, and consequently the elders “are now involved in the security of the city.”