12/02/25 12:55:27.82
Rather than put their faith in the feeble internationally recognised government, whose writ extends
barely beyond Mogadishu, in the vain belief that it can bludgeon the rest of the country into submission,
the leaders of the country’s various fiefs have pledged to develop a more or less federal system.
bludgeon 強制する
The plan’s timing is propitious, as the Shabab militia, which has for the past few years controlled the
biggest swathe of Somalia, mainly in the country’s south and centre, has recently lost ground and popularity.
Ethiopian and Kenyan forces, with logistical backing from the Americans, French and British, have squeezed
it in a pincer movement from the west and south.
propitious 幸先の良い
pincer movement 挟撃作戦
America operates a spy network there and recently launched a special-forces commando raid from its
base in nearby Djibouti to free an American citizen from Somali brigands.
brigand 山賊、強盗
The number of hijackings has declined dramatically, thanks to international maritime patrols and the
arming of guards on ships. But worryingly for shippers, ransom demands may have risen as the number of
captured ships falls. One recent demand was for a princely $11m.
princely 金額が相当の
Lack of co-operation between regional power-brokers has long been a problem. At the same time, an eventual
break-up of the country becomes more likely with cantonisation.
cantonisation 州、郡に分けること