Somalia monitoring group issues report on situation in country

Pursuant to a UN Security Council resolution, the Monitoring Group on Somalia issued its long awaited 110 page report on March 10, 2010. This is the first report issued by the Monitoring Group since December 2008. As usual, the report is controversial and has been strongly criticized by both the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the government of Eritrea. The report was highly critical of both entities. An analysis of this depth on a country that is so difficult to visit will inevitably contain some errors. Nevertheless, it is the most detailed and balanced account available that deals with so many controversial issues in Somalia. You can read the March 25 rejoinder from the TFG here. The report discusses attacks on the TFG and AMISOM, Eritrean support to armed opposition groups, diaspora support networks and armed groups and immigration fraud. It contains a section on maritime militias and piracy, threats to peace and security in Somaliland and Puntland, violations of the arms embargo and challenges to the delivery of humanitarian assistance. It is a must read for persons interested in Somalia.