Countries bordering Somalia are planning to coordinate a major assault against positions held by al-Shabaab militia in Somalia, using ethnic Somali military officers being trained in their respective boundaries.

Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti who share the border with Somalia are all training military personnel on behalf of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, which though boxed-in by militias, enjoys international recognition.

Under the United Nations laws, TFG can request another UN member to train military officers on its behalf.

The News:
http://somalilandpre … sault-on-al-shabaab/

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania recognizes the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state and has decided to establish diplomatic relations, informs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mauritania.

“After intensive communications between the Foreign Ministries of the Republic of Kosovo and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and meetings at the foreign ministers of both countries, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, on 12 January 2010, has taken the decision to recognize Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state,”confirms the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kosovo, through a press release.

The News:
http://www.newkosova … vo-independence.html

A radical Somali Islamist group fighting to overthrow the government in Somalia says it is exchanging fighters with rebels in Yemen.

An al-Shabaab spokesman told the BBC the group was sending forces to Yemen and receiving fighters in return because of its close links with the country.

Yemen has come under scrutiny after last month’s failed US airliner attack was linked to militants in the country.

The News:
http://news.bbc.co.u … i/africa/8463946.stm

A suicide bomber attacked a military vehicle in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in Pakistan, injuring two soldiers on Saturday. Military officials said earlier that two soldiers had been killed and four wounded on Saturday, but later said this information was incorrect and that only two soldiers were wounded.

The News:
http://www.dailytime … tory_17-1-2010_pg7_2

Eritrea is a nation state that is situated north of Ethiopia. It gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993. The Somali Regional State (aka Western Somali and Ogaden) is still part of Ethiopia and it is located in the south-east of the country; however, there is a political entity known as Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) that claims to be fighting for the liberation of that region from Ethiopia. On the basis of my enemy’s enemy is my friend, the leaders of Eritrea and ONLF are working together, in the shadows and in extreme secrecy, to take advantage of the current Horn of Africa political climate. Here is a birds-eye-view of what is going on in that part of the world.
I will begin with Eritrea. It has a population of 3.6 million people. It got full independence from Ethiopia on May, 24, 1993.

The News:
http://www.wardheern … Unholy_Alliance.html

The ulema (Muslim theologians) of Yemen have authorized the jihad in the case of foreign military intervention in Yemen. It’s affirmed by a press of the same religious during a meeting with the press. “Jihad is the duty of all muslims if part of any foreigner wanting to continue a military attack or invade our country”, is written in the document signed by 150 ulema who represent different regions of Yemen.

The News:
http://www.tgcom.med … articolo471116.shtml

Israeli troops rolled into east of Gaza city on Tuesday afternoon under a cover of heavy gunfire, witnesses said.

Four Israeli tanks backing two bulldozers moved 200 meters into the Al-Shijaiya neighborhood northeast of Gaza city, where they started to destroy agricultural areas.

Residents said the Israeli tanks opened heavy fire on civilians’ houses to provide cover to the bulldozers. No one was injured during the incursion.

The News:
http://www.arabnews. … 1096&d=13&m=1&y=2010