SOMALI EXTREMIST MILITANTS WON’T ATTACK MOGADISHU SEAPORT AND AIRPORT. WHY?

By WDM STAFF WRITER

The fool would never ever wonder why extremist militants have not been attacking Mogadishu seaport and airport? Perhaps you should wonder too why camel/cattle owners don’t slaughter their lactating ones. It could be because you forgot that it is their airport and seaport too. That’s where they generate the bulk of their revenues.

Extrmists have entrenched themselves as a viable enemy of civilization. They have presented themselves as invisible and invincible entity. It is hard to see them in Somalia’s main urban centers. But, everyone feels, hears and touches their presence everywhere you go, almost on a daily basis. We feel them through their horrific acts of terror – explosions, complex attacks, assassinations, extortions, tax collection and racketeering, [in]justice courts, blockades and what not.

They have ubiquitous presence. Such a pervasive perception is based on reality. What else their presence be called, if they have already taxed tonight’s dinner and breakfast at Villa Somalia? Let’s stick with ubiquitous for now till we find a more appropriate word to describe it, as ubiquitous comes here handy.

Most of us, who have been on the receiving end of their relentless terror campaigns, know they are fools, spineless, heartless and horrendous. They attack everyone everywhere, including among themselves. They are indeed fools. All terrorists are.

But, for practical reasons, there are places that have been immune to their foolishness. Apparently, extrmists aren’t foolish enough to intentionally attack Mogadishu seaport and airport. This is for the same reasons that they won’t attack Bakaara market. Those are their assets and source of income that they co-own and manage with the Somali government.

What about the indirect/mortar attacks often reported to have been targeted at the airport’s compound? Extremist militants have not been targeting the airport – at least not the airport facilities directly: runways, parking lots, departure and arrival terminals. Before AMISOM’s departure, the Mogadishu sea and airport could suffer only collateral damages by the militants indirect attacks as they would neither have the capacity nor incentive to launch direct attacks on the sea/airport with AMISOM present.

Remember, it’s their airport too. Apart from the revenues they generate from the airport, militant leaders’ families, children as well as their agents, sympathizers and financiers all use the airport’s services for medical, educational and commercial purposes.

Don’t take them for fools – Not when it comes to their direct interests! For that reason, you should relax at those facilities as they won’t attack the seaport/airport, until their interests get threatened.