Somalia’s resolve

To move cash the few score miles between Mogadishu, Somalia's lawless official capital, and Jowhar, the seat of its transitional government, a local money-vendor has to pay $6,000. For that he gets an armoured lorry, 30 gunmen and three “technicals” — jeeps with heavy machineguns. What he doesn't get is insurance or any recourse to a state authority if his gunmen are killed, for state authority does not exist. But the money vendor still moves the cash, if the amount is big enough, and still makes a profit.

The Economist echoes what we already knew. They further add that trade, not aid, may be the key to progress – though they don’t seem to be too optimistic about the fragile country’s future.