Watch part two

It is a country wracked by lawlessness, humanitarian strife and a constant struggle for power.
 
But Somalia is beginning a new era. One, unfortunately, clouded in as much uncertainty as the two decades before.
 
After two years of military intervention, Ethiopian troops have now left the region leaving Somalia to deal with internal fighting between Islamist groups without any clear leadership.
 
Around 3000 Ethiopian troops were brought to Somalia to combat a growing Islamist movement back in 2006.
 
The offensive sparked an Islamist-led rebellion. Since then at least 16,000 civilians have been killed in the fighting. And even the Ethiopian withdrawal brought with it violence.
    
What have the Ethiopian trops left behind? Who will fill the power vacuum? Are Somalia's leaders truly committed to peace and security?

And can the African Union as an already weak force have any impact on security in war-torn Somalia?

Inside Story presenter Kamahl Santamaria is joined by Sally Healy, an associate fellow at the royal institute of international affairs, by Mohamud Gure, chair of the Somali concern group - an organisation seeking social and political change in Somalia, and also by Ahmed Samatar, a professor at Macalester college and an expert on Somalia.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Monday, January 26, 2009 at 1730GMT and 2230GMT and is repeated at 0430GMT and 0830GMT on Tuesday.