Around the Horn in Africa

11 Bombs timed to go off exactly at curfew rock Mogadishu. Five districts hit, no reported casualties or injuries. There's inter-clan warfare in Kismayo. Al Qaeda has formed a new group in Somalia named Shabbab. They're long on fanaticism, short on skills according to this report.

A Somali MP escapes assasination attempt. First assassination attempt on a Somali parliamentarian since the Ethiopian-backed Somali government routed out the Union of Islamic Courts.

Secret SAS mission to Somalia uncovers Brit terror cell members. Fortunately they were already dead. Turns out to be kind of a CSI:Mogadishu mission to take DNA samples on 5o terrorists killed in raids on Al Qaeda training camps. The US was also involved. More detail at the link.

The border between Kenya and Somalia closed again for security purposes. The escape of the Islamists into Kenya has long been a concern. So has their (in)effective border security - something the US can relate to.

You know I had to go for a looksee after seeing this. Sudan: Strange Bedfellows in Khartoum. I'll say it's strange.

Washington continues to face a contradiction in dealing with Sudan. The US administration is genuinely concerned about the Darfur tragedy, but it also needs Khartoum's support in the long war against al-Qaeda. Hence the high-level CIA presence at a somewhat surreal intelligence summit earlier this month in the Sudanese capital...

Top western spooks mingled fraternally with their opposite numbers in Sudan's National Security and Intelligence Service (NISS). Its chief, Salah Al-Din Abdulla Mohamed, was in good spirits, back-slapping his western counterparts and even dancing on stage, while a band entertained the visitors at the imposing new intelligence headquarters in Khartoum.

Speaking of music, a Musical Exchange took place between the troops and some native Djiboutians at Camp Lemonier and it sounds like a good time was had by all. Trying to imagine them all standing around singing John Lennon's "Imagine" but that's what they did!