The former Somali Prime Minister Dr. Ali Khalif Galaydh the founder of the Khatumo militias, and now serving as an MP in the Somali government is said to be secretly engaged in talks with the government of Somaliland in Jig Jiga , capital of Somali region of Ethiopia.
Reliable sources leaked the information to Geeska Afrika about ongoing secret talks between Dr. Ali Khalif Galaydh flanked by Garaad Jama Garaad Ali and pro Somaliland elders were meeting secretly although details of the talks are still unknown.
Ali Khalif Galaydh and Garad Jama Garad Ali have in the past being advocating for violence in Somaliland
On the 28th of November, 2013, the two warlords Osman Karaash and Indhosheel were embroiled in violent skirmishes for the control of Taleeh and the ensuring violence resulted to the deaths of at least ten civilians and forcing 27, 000 people to flee the area.
Puntland Authorities then sided with Mr. Osman Karaash, forcing Indhosheel to flee to Buhoodle.
The people of Taleeh continue to languish in absolute poverty , as aid agencies remain reluctant to assist them due to “insecurity” in the area and also sidelined by Somaliland government despite claiming Taleh as part of its territory.
Kenyan government authorized its force to take any action necessary to bring those behind the latest terrorist attacks both in Mombasa and Eastleigh to face the law. As result of this, it was reported in the news media outlets that at least 4000 Somalis were arrested of whom 82 were deported back to Mogadishu, Somalia.
As far as media outlets are concerned, different versions held by both Kenyan and Somalis as to why Kenyan government are executing this crackdown against Somali people in the name of the fight against terrorism are reported. Kenyan government claimed that the reason for this crackdown is merely to fight against those who are behind the recent terror attacks in Kenya and those who are in the country illegally, suspected to be sympathizer of the terrorists.
However, Somali politician in Kenya and civilian in Eastleigh have a different version. Most of Somali MP who spoke in Eastleigh meeting said that Kenyan government’s action is solely designed to harass people of Somali origin and this is not the first time that Kenyan police harass innocent civilian in the name of fighting against terrorism, mentioning events in 1980s and urged Kenyan government to stop its action immediately.
Even though Somalis in Eastleigh agreed that this is not the first time they were being harassed while Kenyan police in pursuit of individual terrorist thought to be hiding in area of Eastleigh, they believe that this is more than a fight against terrorist. They stated if this is fight against terrorist then why the Kenyan police are asking bribe money from anyone apprehended before being released.
It was also reported an incident that took place where Somalis claimed that their houses were being searched multiple times within 12 hours, and each time Kenyan police ending their search as soon as they collected money. In another incident, it was even reported in Eastleigh where Kenyan police refused to leave after shown Kenyan birth certificate and other ids until he collected bride.
As far as the Somali in Eastleigh concerned, they believe that they virtually became human cashing machine, what is normally called ATM where individual who deposited money in the bank can go and retrieve portion of money needed for that day. Anyone who lived in Eastleigh know in order not to be bothered by Kenyan police it is easier for them to carry fifth dollars instead of any other legal documents issued by Kenyan authority since all Kenyan police is concerned is how much money he or she would take home at end of the operation that day. It is widely also known even among Kenyan that whoever is assigned to be police in charge of the area of Eastleigh to become millionaire within years.
The question here is that, despite all these different version of why Kenyans are targeting Somalis ethnic, even if it is solely to fight against terrorist, are Kenyan government in the right course? The answer to that question is no, considering Kenyan police action.
Human right watch said that Kenyan police are violating international law by arbitrarily arresting and deporting anyone viewed to be Somali without allowing an opportunity to apply asylum since Somalia especially in Mogadishu where the first 82 people were deported is not safe.
Opposition leaders in Kenya accused the current administration of dividing Kenyan by attacking only one ethnic group in this case Somalis when it is widely known terrorism is an international phenomenon and they warned this action may back fired.
Anyone who viewed current reporting of how Kenyan police rounding up anyone who resembles Somalis would know this is not a fight against terrorism. It has been seen in media where mothers with children as young as few months were howled inside a military truck to transport to football stadium where there is no water and any other necessities.
The other question is if this is a fight against terrorist then why anyone who is Somali origin no matter who including pregnant woman who reported to have baby in the stadium where she was kept indefinitely is a suspect? These are the questions among others being raised by Somali MP in Kenya.
However, Somalis everywhere not only expected leaders in Kenya to raise those questions and more, but they also expected the current leaders in Somalia to stand by with innocent Somalis being harassed and to speak against this unfair treatment. Instead, Somali leaders turned blind eyes over the whole incident.
Somali president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamed was reported to have been in Kenya when the crackdown started and instead of as Somalis expected from him to speak against this action; he was seen taking photo opportunity with Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta. As of today, he did not mention any word regarding mistreatment suffered by Somali people under Kenyan police in the name of fighting against terrorists, other than saying as reported that terrorism is a threat to both Kenya and Somalia.
The prime minister, Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed, who supposedly running the government affair seems to be occupied touring southern Somali, as he is the governor of the southern state, in midst of this disaster and humiliation suffered by Somali people in Kenya and up to now he did not utter any word regarding this issue. He probably thinks Somali ambassador; Mohamed Ali Nur known Ali America can handle that issue.
Mr. Nur is the man who is reported to have say in the recent press conference he held that Somali government supported Kenyan action, and added that Somali government will oppose if, he used the word if, Kenyan harass Somalis when everyone who is not blind can see pure harassment. This is the man, Somali people expected to represent them in Kenya, Mohamed Ali Nur, whose picture when he was standing in front of Somalis being harassed by Kenyan police was circulated in the media few days ago.
If these are the leaders Somali people expected to stand by in time of need, what is next? The only option is for Somali parliament if there is still anyone with blood to pressure government to take action against the mistreatment of Somali people. Somali people everywhere should support Somali leaders in Kenyan by not accept this kind of treatment to be suffered not only by Somali Kenyan, but all Somalis. And finally one day Somali people will hold current Somali leaders accountable for their inaction against mistreatment of all ethnic Somalis.
“The success or failure of a country is indexed to the performance of its education system”
Mr. Speaker,
Upon arrival in power, we sent, May 19, 1999, a letter to the Minister of National Education of the time as Secretary General of SYNESED in which we expressed in these terms: “Our education system through today one of the most difficult times and the most painful of his life because of a lack of trust between the company and the school. (…). Indeed, the mere Djibouti manifest much contempt vis-à-vis the product quality of our education system “And finally finally we expressed a hope.” We hope that with your arrival, the teaching profession will regain its dignity, prestige and above all trust between teachers and ministry return. “Unfortunately, 15 years after this letter, the state of Djibouti’s education system is in an abysmal abyss and trust between the educational community and the Ministry is more than ever broken.
Mr. Speaker,
The Education International which SYNESED (Union of Teachers colleges and high schools in Djibouti) is affiliated, campaigning for Quality Education in partnership with UNESCO since October 2013. Campaign slogan summarizes essential message “Quality education for a better world.” We are convinced that the construction of a better world and especially a better Djibouti password and go through quality education guarantee a sustainable future of peace and development.
Mr. Speaker,
It turns out that the three (3) pillars of quality education based on teacher (s) quality, quality tools and quality environments.Unfortunately, our country’s education policy is the opposite of the desired Quality Education in the world. Indeed, the Ministry of Education is striving for a few months with faith to dig the grave of the 1st pillar of a quality education. Moreover, at present more than 5 months after suspension of wages, more than sixty teachers are about to be struck in violation of all administrative procedures and all applicable laws.
Mr. Speaker,
Your function 1 magistrate of the country, guaranteeing text and Head of Government which enforces the status of official (Article14 of the Statute of Official: The President of the Republic, Head of Government enforces this status)you can and should stop this drift unprecedented. Many of these teachers are very old. Some of them are close to retirement. Most have always shown a keen awareness of a probity, a sense of duty and indomitable courage, an unfailing integrity, a selfless and impeccable professionalism in the prerogatives their missions.
Mr. Speaker,
It’s really unfortunate that those who were worthy of honors and awards from the Nation as provided for in the Statute of Officer (Article 57: Any action which has demonstrated selflessness, sense of duty, courage, initiative of an official must be a detailed report of his supervisor with special reference to proposals for awards) are treated as vulgar thugs without dignity.This programmed form of “murder” in danger of be the trigger of a state of irreversibility of a civic consciousness already bruised, battered and traumatized by the many injustices and arbitrary affecting lower.
Mr. Speaker,
This country in general and this particular department still full of men and women of moral integrity constraints, experiences and value who refuse to go beyond certain limits both indecent and harmful to the future of our education system.Aujourd Today, the country, school, teachers, education staff, parents, students, deserve better … and why we say that other choices, another school, another policy are … still possible and we firmly believe. Besides, it’s objectively and independently that we sent to you, thanking you in advance for the attention you would wear to this letter.
Please accept, Mr. President of the Republic, the expression of our highest consideration.
The Minister of Information in the semi-autonomous of Puntland Mr. Abdi weli Hersi Abdulle Indho-guran has termed today’s capture of Taleeh town by Somaliland forces as a provocation and transgression against Puntland.
The Minister speaking moments after emerging from an emergency cabinet meeting which was hurriedly convened today said, “We shall take quick preemptive measure in respond to Somaliland aggression on Taleeh district which is part of Puntland, we strongly urge Somaliland to withdraw their troop from Taleeh without any further delay in order to avert an escalation of the current situation into full military confrontations.
“Let them be warned (President Silanyo) that they shall bear responsibility for any consequence which may result from this invasion because it’s clear that they have being for some time now trying to instigate hostilities,”Mr. Abdi weli Hersi Abdulle Indho-guran said.
Somaliland government has for the first time announced that the country armed forces took over the town of Taleeh without any resistance from the Khatuumo militia today and are in full control of Taleeh district and its environs this according to the officials Somaliland army spokesperson.
The spokesman of Somaliland armed forces Colonel Osman Abdillahi Said in press briefing today held at the Ministry of Defense said, “As of today at midday Somaliland armed forces units entered the town of Taleeh without any resistance from the so called Khatuumo militia are now in full control of Taleeh town.
Col. Osman went on to say ,”The national army will establish bases in the district and are dug in for the long haul and our units are currently conducting security related operations to flush out any would be militia.
The Somaliland army has restored a sense of normality since taking full of the town of Taleeh and its environs this after residents of the town came out in sheer numbers to welcome the Somaliland army after militiamen aligned to Khatuumo milita led by the rogue Inda Sheel fled the town.
This is the first time in years since Somaliland extended its sphere of influence Taleeh which is situated 180 km south east of Las Anod the regional capital of sool region.
Somaliland has already beefed up security in the region and is determined to fend off any attempts to destabilize its borders and security forces in the region are expected to be on a high alert until further orders readiness so as to deal with any situation as it a rises.
The semi-autonomous region of Puntland has not yet issued any statement regarding the issue.
The recent development will heighten the existing tensions and may escalate to full blown conflict between Somaliland and Puntland.
Puntland has in the past actively been funding and supporting underground movements in an attempt to instigate armed conflicts in the eastern regions of Somaliland so as to undermine Somaliland Sovereignty.
On 2nd April, Ethiopians all over the world celebrated the third anniversary of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), launched in 2011 by the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.
The $4.7bn project, mostly funded by Ethiopians at home and abroad, is being built in Western Ethiopia near the Sudan border and is 33% complete.
Events were held both at the site of Dam construction and across the country, including an art exhibition at the National Museum, a musical drama at Addis Ababa University and sport competitions. Senior government officials attended the commemoration at the site of the Dam, held under the motto “We shall complete what we’ve started.”
The Ethiopian Electric Power Manager Engineer, Ms Azeb Asnake, said the construction was on schedule. A representative of Salini Construction Group, expressed his appreciation of the “inspiring spirit” everyone involved had demonstrated. The last three years had been a time of “rich achievement and progress was visible and significant,” he said.
Water, Irrigation and Energy Minister, Alemayehu Tegenu, said the Dam was one of several massive projects designed to move the country forward towards prosperity. He said Ethiopia is committed to continuing talks with Egypt to narrow their differences and will continue to ensure win-win benefits for all Nile Basin countries.
Keynote speaker, Deputy PM Demeke Mekonnen, said the GERD has brought an end to injustices in the use of the Nile Waters. The Dam is one of the cornerstones of Ethiopia’s Renaissance and Ethiopians should continue to demonstrate their commitment to its completion. The International Panel of Experts had made clear that the level of construction and the materials used fully meet international standards. Massive public support had made this “a golden and historic example.”
Here in London, diplomats and staff at the Embassy pledged a month’s salary to buy bonds amounting to £68,250 (around 2,120,000 Birr). They had previously raised £60,000 (1,920,000 Birr) in support of the Dam project, which upon completion will generate 6,000MW of power to help feed Ethiopia’s fast growing economy.
H.E. Berhanu Kebede, Ethiopian Ambassador to the UK, urged compatriots to intensify engagement in development endeavours to help realize growth and economic prosperity in Ethiopia.
In a recent article, Foreign Minister Dr Tedros Adhanom, said the Nile “is a symbol of cooperation and collaboration” and Ethiopia will uphold its principled stance to work for a win-win solution regarding the utilization of the Nile waters.
Three years after the cornerstone was laid, construction is proceeding well because of unprecedented popular support. Ethiopians have been inspired by the knowledge that the GERD has been carefully designed to avoid any damage to lower riparian countries, and will support regional growth, and have given it unprecedented political and practical backing.
Women in Hargeisa, which is regarded as the capital of the unrecognised state of Somaliland. Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/EPA
By voting in favour of independence for the breakaway territory, the British city has given its 8,000-strong Somaliland community some hope for the region’s future, writes Magnus Taylor
A council in the British city of Sheffield has voted in support of independence for the Horn of Africa’s famous non-state state, Somaliland.
Somaliland declared independence from the Somali Republic in 1991 following a long-running war with the Mogadishu-based national government. It has, however, never been recognised by the United Nations or Africa Union, despite an ongoing campaign by its politicians, diplomats and prominent citizens.
The vote came this month, following well-organised lobbying from the Somaliland community based in the city. Sheffield’s Somalilander population numbers in excess of 8,000, and as Adam Yusuf, Chair of the Somaliland Community group said: “As local elections come they [councillors] need our votes”.
The Somaliland community group is also extremely well-engaged with two local MPs, Paul Bloomfield and Clive Betts, who are both members of the Somaliland All Party Parliamentary Group and, according to Yusuf, are “well-informed” on issues related to the territory.
It was also clear from a conversation with the Labour Council leader, Mohammad Maroof, who tabled the motion, that following engagement with the Somaliland local community leaders, he was persuaded of the essential moral rightness of this act. The importance of this issue to Sheffield’s Somalilanders was illustrated by what Maroof tells me were “500 – 600 people celebrating outside the hall where the vote was held”. There is even an (unsubstantiated) story that a street in the Somaliland capital, Hargeisa, has been renamed ‘Sheffield Street’.
What is clear is that after over 20 years of international non-recognition, expectations following this vote are extremely high. Maroof tells me that he has had to repeatedly explain that the vote by Sheffield Council has no legal basis either locally or nationally. However, I think Somalilanders are probably well-aware that the significance of the Sheffield vote is only symbolic. Yusuf tells me that from Cardiff to Birmingham and Tower Hamlets, other UK Somaliland communities want to push through the same kind of motion. They are now contacting the Somalilander community leaders in Sheffield to ask how it can be done. The hope is that they can launch a kind of ‘revolution from below’ following years of frustration for Somaliland diplomats pursuing ‘official’ channels.
The Somaliland Foreign Minister, Mohamed Bihi Yonis, attended the Sheffield vote. He commended the move by the council, stating that: “As Foreign Minister I put our case to governments across the world, and I know how difficult it is to make the progress that the Councillor has made here.”
Yonis thinks that “in recent weeks this Somaliland community, with the support of Councillor Mohammad Maroof, Councillor Neale Gibson and MP Paul Blomfield, has made greater strides towards recognition for Somaliland than we have made through official channels in years.”
And perhaps that’s the real significance of the Sheffield vote. It has given the Somaliland community in the UK a small crumb of hope that they can advance their dream of independence a step further.
The Somali Civil Society Organizations, and the Somali people are deeply dismayed by the abject atrocities of unprecedented magnitude committed against our brothers and sisters in Kenya by the Kenyan Security in the name of anti-terrorism. This is in no doubt a profound violation against all the treaties of the Geneva Convention on Human Rights, as well as all other international agreements on the protection of individual freedoms and human rights. In addition, these violations are against the African Protocol and Charter on people’s rights with their freedom and movements adopted by the agreement of African people’s rights & protection.
Kenya on the other hand is unwittingly playing into the hands of Al-shabaab by violently and actively pursuing policies that assume all Somalis and Muslims are terrorists, which would have far reaching and costly repercussions against the Kenyan stability and welfare.
Moreover, nothing is more bewildering than the Kenyan deliberate denial of the Somali people’s vast contribution in the Kenyan economic development. The financial contributions of the Somalis in Kenya exceeds in the amounts of billions of US dollars each year. They have indeed thrived the Kenyan economy the past 2.5 in the past decades. If the Somali contribution in Kenya is taken out, and Kenya, which is currently the economic power of the region, would be inviting itself to an economic doldrums and unavoidable deep economic depression and downturn.
As such, we call upon the Kenyan Parliament and Civil Society organizations in Kenya to assume their responsibilities and take the lead in the protection of human and individual rights of the desperate Somali children, women, elderly and all refugees by monitoring and helping to make the security forces accountable to all the crimes they commit against those most vulnerable of the society.
We call for an independent international enquiry on these ongoing and serious violations the Kenyan security forces committed against tens of thousands of Somalis as a result of the indiscriminate crack down on Somalis and widespread looting that took place mainly in Easleigh town of Nairobi, the strong hold of the Somali business community.
Lastly, ss a sign of solidarity we the Somali Civil Society Organizations not only strongly condemn these audacious acts against our fellow Somalis trapped in this nightmare created by
the authorities of Kenya, but we will also continue to take all necessary actions and pursue all legal channels to get to the bottom of this issue until each Somali’s right is protected and their priorities are safeguarded and rightfully returned. Thank you.
Finally the Somali Civil Society would shortly will embark on a long overdue campaign to ban the Kenyan exported narcotic, Qat, for the welfare of our country and people, and as a sign of protest against the Kenyan authorities
Please contact…Ismail Jimale Human Rights Organization…………………………….for any enquiry, on Tel. ________________0615968831_____________________
H.E. Aster Mammo has been appointed Minister of the Civil Service and Good Governance Reform Cluster Coordinator with the rank of Deputy Prime Minister, making her the first woman to hold such a position in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Parliament approved her appointment on 8th April, after she was nominated by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Prior to her appointment, she held other posts including Speaker of the Oromia Regional State Council, Youths and Sport Minister and Government Chief Whip.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Language and Literature and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership.
Somaliland is totally different from Somalia, and that Somaliland has a lot of things that Somaliland doesn’t have:
1. Stability
2. Peace
3. Fair Free elections and the citizens vote not the government to select the parliament, president, city council.
4. Thriving Economy
5. Return of the diaspora who are not afraid to return home
6. The people there are law abiding citizens
7. Laws are respected
8. Citizens cooperate with the police and government officials
9. Population growth
10. Honest people
11. Expanding cities and towns
12. Constructions and rebuilding of buildings, roads, highways, bridges, schools, hospitals, police stations
13. Business is everywhere
14.Education improvement
15. No road blocks inside the city and no police harassment on citizens
16. Free to move around the city without fear
17. Free to move around the whole country without fear
Things I mentioned have more laws then the countries which are not recognized and that Somaliland not recognized is something we need to fight against, for Somaliland getting the recognition it deserves, we can’t only depend on the government for the recognition of Somaliland and the developments of Somaliland we need to take appropriate measures so that will have a seat in New York city at the UN council, so that universities, schools, will be recognized to go abroad to upgrade the studies, so that the Somaliland passport can be travelled all over the world with hesitiation and that the Somaliland driver’s license gets accepted every where in the world. So that more youth employement and opportunities in the country and business will be thriving and Hargeisa will be the next Dubai. We the landers in North America are not active when it comes to our country and to a certain someone who said that I live in Canada and this is not true and I am afraid that you are not living in reality and you have not been living in Canada for a long time like my self, and stop with the denial and work together for Somaliland and for this certain person having parties for may 18th doesn’t count and that’s only time that Somalilanders in the US and Canada get together and they never seem to talk about Somaliland getting recognition or the ongoing developments in Somaliland, and please if any who is offended by this please connect me and my email address is guledguled82@yahoo.ca .
Kenyan government authorized its force to take any action necessary to bring those behind the latest terrorist attacks both in Mombasa and Eastleigh to face the law. As result of this, it was reported in the news media outlets that at least 4000 Somalis were arrested of whom 82 were deported back to Mogadishu, Somalia.
By Goth Mohamed Goth
