The crisis in Somalia continues as anti-government fighters have captured key towns and villages.

Fighting has killed around 70 people in Mogadishu in the last few days alone. And members of the al-Shabab group took the town of Jowhar on Sunday. 
 
Jowhar is about 90km from Mogadishu and was chosen as the temporary location for Somalia's transitional government in 2005.

Witnesses said the al-Shabab fighters attacked the town from two fronts, killing several civilians.
 
Jowhar is seen as one of the last strongholds of the Somali government. It now controls little more than the centre of the country's capital with the support of African Union troops.

Just who exactly are the players this time around and what do they want as their country spirals into seemingly endless discord and division?
 
Inside Story, with presenter Imran Garda, discusses.

This episode of Inside Story aired on Monday, May 18, 2009.