Somalia’s Islamists celebrate death of Ethiopia’s Meles

Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents on Tuesday celebrated the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who twice sent troops to attack the Islamist fighters.

“The death of Meles was uplifting news for Somalis, we wish Allah will punish him for what he did to our people,” Shebab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage told the insurgent-run Radio Andalus.

The extremist’s station dedicated a special programme Tuesday to the death of Meles, where supporters sent in messages welcoming the news.

Meles first invaded Somalia in 2006 to topple an Islamist regime, pulling out in 2009 in the face of bitter attacks by Shebab fighters.

He sent Ethiopian troops back into Somalia last year, where they continue to attack the Shebab.

Meles’s death was announced by government officials on Tuesday, a day after Somalia swore in its new parliament in an historic ceremony, the latest effort to end two decades of conflict.

It brought the curtain down on Somalia’s transitional government after eight years of political infighting and rampant corruption.

AFP