Given my recent near fame on discussing Somalia, it is appropriate for me to bring this event to your attention:

Somalia: Is a regional war inevitable?

Said Samatar, Professor of African History,Rutgers University

In the last days of December, Ethiopian fighter jets bombed Somalia's Mogadishu airport - a move said to be in defense of Somalia's Federal Transitional Government based in Baidoa. Thousands were reported dead as the Ethiopians routed the Union of Islamic Courts,

in a move that had full U.S. support. Martial law has been declared and Ethiopia has announced its intention to remain in the country for at least several weeks.

Experts on the region fear that Somalia conflagration could set off a fierce proxy war, fueled by the rival interests of 10 other countries, including Eritrea, Kenya, and Djibouti.

Salim Lone, former spokesman for the UN mission in Iraq in 2003, recently warned: "If this war continues, it will affect the whole region and also do serious harm to US interests and threaten Kenya, the only island of stability in this corner of Africa."

Please join us for an informative discussion and Q&A with Prof. Samatar. Milton Allimadi, publisher of The Black Star newspaper, will introduce Prof. Samatar.

This Africa Roundtable is a joint project of Global Information Network and ALWAN FOR THE ARTS, a NYC cultural center serving the Arab community and educating the broader public by showcasing a wide range of cultural events; thereby enriching the cross-cultural and artistic encounter. www.alwanforthearts.org

SPEAKER'S BIO:

Said Sheikh Samatar is a professor of African history at Rutgers University with a specialty in Somalia. He is also executive director of the independent journal “Horn of Africa” and author of numerous books including “Somalia: a Nation in Turmoil.”

Venue: Global Information Network

146 West 29th St. between 6th and 7th Avenues

7th Floor

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Date: Wednesday - January 10, 2007

Refreshments will be served

For more information and to RSVP, please call 212-244-3123