The government of United Kingdom has today announced the launching of a new Somali Language website ahead of the upcoming Somalia conference which is expected to begin on the 7th of May 2013 in London, UK.
The aim of launching the a Somali Language website is to inform and educate citizens of both Somalia and Somaliland including important issues such as setting out the priorities and aims of the Somalia Conference on 7 May 2013.
The Governments of the UK and Somalia will co-host an international conference on Somalia on 7 May in the UK. The conference aims to provide international support for the Government of Somalia as they rebuild their country after two decades of conflict.
The website will also provide a podium in which Somali’s from the broad spectrum of society will have the opportunity to get involved and help shape the debate.
UK government expects to engage with Somali authorities, civil society and diaspora at all levels ahead of the upcoming Somalia conference.
You can follow the debate on the Conference and engage with both the Somali and UK Governments through the following channels.
Commentary: Continued backing of weak government in Somalia is a mystery.
LEWIS CENTER, Ohio — Recently the Obama administration recognized the United Nations-backed nominal Somali government.
The so-called government was the by-product of a UN-sponsored peace process that has been going on for more than 10 years. It involved billions in foreign aid, and some 17,000 African soldiers, who are the proxy of the United States military in Somalia. Yet Somalia is not better off than when the US intervened in the early ’90s.
Somalia’s agony continues. Today, 3 million people are desperately in need of food, 1.6 million have been displaced from their homes. In Mogadishu alone, 300,000 people survive on humanitarian relief. In addition, many people are suffering from chronic violence, the government’s inability to curb the unpaid and undisciplined soldiers who terrorize, loot and rape the population more than they protect.
Recent promising signs are present, such as Al Shabab, Al Qaeda affiliate militant group, retreating from urban centers in south central Somalia. Mogadishu, the capital, is also less dangerous than it was a year ago.
Survival of the-US backed weak government still depends on African troops, despite significant training and equipping of the Somali army by the US. Its leader Sheikh Mahamud, like his predecessor, Sheik Sharif, has absolutely no power and little following.
In contrast, out of the gaze of international media, the Somaliland entity, the former BritishSomaliland in the north, has shown all of the attributes of nationhood since 1991. These include a functioning government, constitution, defined borders and a flag. It even had two presidential elections, in 2003 and 2010, with a peaceful transfer of power.
Tragically, the US has not recognized Somaliland independence, because the UN and the African Union (AU) bias toward preserving artificial and inherently unstable states like Somalia and Congo.
The decision of the Obama administration to recognize a fictional government is more likely to complicate US efforts to stabilize Somalia. This position only rewards Somalia’s rapacious politicians and their militias at the expense of the 3.5 million Somaliland people that have largely managed their own affairs — not only to avoid to avoid chaos, terrorism and piracy, but to build a functioning democratic state.
Somalia’s tragedy will continue unless the new secretary of state, John Kerry, or the US Congress addresses this futile new policy of dictating political outcomes in this war-torn country.
Kerry also could contribute by defining the US long-term political objective in Somalia.
Outsiders have always made things worse by supporting the wrong groups for their own strategic interests. During the Cold War, America put nearly $1 billion in arms and economic aid into Somalia to prop up a cruel dictator, Siad Barre, who held power for 21 years through brutal military domination. The US-backed Ethiopian invasion six years ago created the environment in which Al Shabab is still wreaking havoc on south central Somalia.
Today, a weak government that cannot protect itself wants to monopolize Somalia. Sheikh Mahamud wishes to strengthen his Al Shabab-infiltrated military made up of rival local clan militias, and he is seeking more money and arms from the US and Turkey.
The more the US contributes to reconstituting a Somali government dominated by one faction of Somalia’s previous civil war, however, the greater the chance of dictatorship and bad governance returning to Somalia. It would be a grave mistake for the US to lift the arms embargo from Somalia.
Somalia needs a genuine political reconciliation, not more arms. The conflict and its politics in the country are always local. There is no military solution for this conflict.
Yet the Obama administration continues its deadly drone attacks against suspected militants in Somalia, which have caused collateral damages of civilians or even deaths.
Moreover, the options for US in Somalia are very limited; everything hinges on how Mogadishu’s politicians, warlords and war profiteers cooperate with Sheik Mahamud’s government. However, many Somalis are skeptical about the chance of a functioning regime emerging in Somalia with Mogadishu as its capital.
Rather than reinforcing a central government with no legitimacy, the US should support the only sources of strength in the area, democratic Somaliland and Puntland, an autonomous region. These entities have functioning political institutions that are organic, having organized by the local people.
More investment and trade instead of aid would offer the Somalis more opportunities to rebuild their shattered economy. America could also help Somaliland to create a free-trade zone with eastern Ethiopia at Berbera port — on the Gulf of Aden. These efforts, with the US forcefully supporting freedom and democracy in the region, would help to diminish or defeat radicalism.
However immensely difficult the mission of fixing Somalia might be, the US must engage and help the Somalis lift up from the agony. Only by following their aspirations and desires and not dictating the political outcomes would end Somalia’s tragedy. Moreover, diplomatic recognition of Somaliland is long overdue.
Ali Mohamed is co-founder of the Horn of Africa Freedom Foundation, a grassroots organization, located in Lewis Center, Ohio, that advocates for the advancement of freedom and democratic values for the indigenous people of the Horn of Africa.
USN Call’s for simultaneous rallies in the Djibouti capital and in the main towns of the region
* Call for Thursday, February 28, 2013 show at noon in front of U.S. embassies in Ottawa and France
Hi National Union for Canada (USN)
Bureau of the Movement for Democratic Renewal in North America (MRD)
Djiboutian Diaspora Association in Canada (ADDC)
Anxious to see the country slide down a slippery slope by the fault of President Ismail Omar Guelleh which makes the country’s situation more explosive, the National Union for the Hi in Canada (USN), the Office of the Movement for Renewal Democratic North America (MRD) and the Djiboutian Diaspora Association in Canada (ADDC) launched a call for protests Thursday, February 28, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Ottawa hours before the U.S. Embassies and France.
Through their diplomatic representations in Canada, we urge the Administration of President Obama and President François Holland to intervene and put pressure on Ismail Omar Guelle to accept the verdict of the polls in recent parliamentary elections Friday, February 22 2013 that gave the majority of seats in the National Assembly opposition Djibouti, stop now resorting to police repression against civilians and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily arrested and detained by the police and the gendarmerie .
Democrats and friends Djibouti Nationals in Canada are expected to say no to many the harsh dictatorship.
Event Date: Thursday, February 28, 2013 in Ottawa (Canada)
12h-12h30 Embassy of the United States 490 Sussex Drive (Ottawa)
12:30 Departure to the Embassy of France (15 min walk max)
12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in front of the Embassy of France 42 Sussex Dr. (Ottawa)
* For reasons of efficiency related to the current context, Ali DEBERKALE, which is widely supported by his friend Dimitri Verdonck, which is introduced in Belgium and to the EU, has been appointed representative of the USN in Belgium to the EU.
Heavy fighting between the Somalia government forces and Al shabaab militants took place today in the district of Owidiinle in Bay and bakol region of southern Somalia.
Reports indicated that there were at least four dead combatants and unknown numbers of wounded which resulted from the skirmishes.
Unnamed government source point out that elements belonging to Al shabaab launched an ambush on their positions earlier this morning in which they managed to kill three Al Shabaab members.
Al Shabaab sources have also claimed that they have inflicted heavy losses on government forces.
In another new development, the administrator of Isha district in Baidoa region Mr. Aden Hussien Aden (Fargeeto) was killed and two of his son seriously injured when unknown assailants attacked by tossing a hand grenade into the house he was staying with his family.
There is resurgence in the pattern of new attacks in government held areas which were previously captured from Al Shabaab militants.
Four million pastoralists to benefit in the first five years
NAIROBI, Kenya, February 27, 2013/ — The African Development Bank (http://www.afdb.org) today signed a US $57.66-million loan agreement for the multinational Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program (DRSLP) in the Horn of Africa (HoA) with the Government of Kenya, bringing to US $3.04 billion the Bank’s commitment in the country’s various sectors.
The program will be carried out in phases, with the first phase beginning in 2013 in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. It will focus on about four million beneficiaries in the first five years.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, AfDB Regional Director for the East Africa Resource Centre (EARC) Gabriel Negatu explained that the entire program would cover eight countries in the Horn of Africa over the next 15 years, including Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, in addition to the three countries in the current phase.
“It is necessary to have all the countries in the program because if one country has better water, pasture and livestock services, the pastoralist will move there and this could lead to overgrazing, transmission of trans-boundary animal diseases and conflicts. The next phase is expected to start as soon as funds are available for the remaining countries. This could be as early as end of 2013,” Negatu said.
In Kenya, the project will cover the counties of Baringo, Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, Turkana and West Pokot. It seeks to provide assistance to enhance drought resilience and improve sustainable livelihoods of the communities in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya. In this regard, the project will contribute to the development of water supply and development and rehabilitation of irrigation schemes; improvement of livestock infrastructure and their management; and strengthening of both human and institutional capacity to improve operational capabilities in the project area.
Phase one will look at improving management of natural resources, livestock market infrastructure and agro-pastoralists’ livelihoods. It will also include the enhancement of animal health system and regional cooperation for the management of trans-boundary natural resources.
The Horn of Africa (HoA) region is often affected by severe recurrent droughts and chronic food insecurity. In 2011, the region faced the worst drought in decades that decimated crops and livestock, and left over 12 million people, mainly the pastoralist communities, in total distress across the affected region.
Based on this analysis, during the African Union Summit in August 2011, the Bank reiterated its long-term commitment to provide support for a lasting solution to drought and to build resilience and improve sustainable livelihoods of the pastoral communities in the HoA region.
Somalia’s Al Qaeda-linked Shebab on Wednesday issued a stark warning to Kenyan voters ahead of next week’s general elections, threatening them with a “long, gruesome war”.
The Islamist group argued Kenya was safer when it ruled bordering southern Somalia but stopped short of saying who Kenyan voters should choose in the March 4 polls.
Kenyan troops, who have since become part of the 17,000-strong African Union force fighting the Shebab, invaded southern Somalia in October 2011 to attack the insurgents’ bases after a string of killings and kidnappings inside Kenya.
“If you put a government in place, then be willing to endure the consequences of your actions, for you will bear the full brunt of its follies,” the Shebab said in a statement.
Kenya holds presidential, parliamentary, gubernatorial, senatorial and local elections on March 4. None of the leading candidates have hinted they would pull troops out of Somalia.
“The changing political climate in your country may now hold the key to a better future, a future that involves less bloodshed,” they continued, warning they would “do whatever it takes to defend our lands from invasion.”
Since Kenya’s invasion attackers have set off bombs and hurled grenades in the capital Nairobi, while gunmen have killed both security officials and civilians along Kenya’s restive border with Somalia.
The attacks are regularly blamed on Shebab insurgents or their sympathisers, although the extremists do not specifically claim the killings.
“Remember, we are mujahedeen who celebrate the martyrdom of our loved ones; you are a public that laments the loss of your loved ones,” the Shebab added.
“We are men who have nothing to lose and everything to gain by fighting against you.”
The Shebab have lost a swathe of territory including several key towns in recent months as they retreat ahead of AU forces, Somali troops and Ethiopian soldiers.
Failure to Lead Parliament
the Parliament is supposed to be an advocate and an agent of the people to check on the government against abuse of power as outlined on section 6 of Article 53 of Somaliland Constitution which reads, “The House of Representatives shall have the power to summon the Government or its organs or agencies in order to question them about the fulfillment of their responsibilities”.
The reasons why President Siilaanyo’s abuse of Presidential powers is not checked by Parliament starts with the fact that the Chairman of The House of Representatives (Parliament), Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro), consistently lines up with the president and blocks any attempts to check on the Government (President) or its organs or agencies.
Failure to investigate local elections
Take the case of the recent municipal elections where the outcome was rigged. After bloody demonstrations Cirro promised to assign a committee to investigate how the elections were handled. Unfortunately, this promise was shelved even after it was approved by 12 parliamentarians out of 14 that were present on December 22nd, 2012.
Mr. Cirro chose, deliberately, to ignore the will of the people and Parliament and reneged on his promise to conduct a thorough investigation of the elections and why, needlessly, innocent young men demonstrating against the election outcome were massacred.
I have challenged and asked friends of mine who support Wadani Party to give a good reason why they should support Mr. Cirro. Their answer was that Mr. Cirro is a gentleman and he gets along with everybody and that we do not need a confrontational leader. This is the basis and essence of their support. But that is exactly where the heart of the problem lies. Trying to get along with everybody and preferring to be silent and not upholding the constitution.
Preferring silence over making vociferous statements against corruption and rigged local elections is a perfect example of the characteristics of week leadership. The Chairman of the Parliament, failed miserably in the eyes of the people, to investigate the root cause and failure to hold fair and transparent local elections. He also failed to investigate why the security services shot live bullets at peaceful demonstrators.
Failure to ‘censor’ Ministry of Aviation
Another example of his dereliction of parliamentary duties is not conducting a thorough review of how the Ministry of Aviation, Mr. Hashi, allowed a private entity (NASHA) to levy a $10 fee on all departing passengers at our airports. That money was collected by above privately owned entity for more than a year without the approval of parliament. It is a violation of our constitution for any ministry or government agency to collect or levy income without the approbation and express approval of parliament. The Chairman failed to ‘censor’ the Minister of Aviation for this violation – A testament to Chairman Cirro’s poor judgment.
The people want to know why Mr. Abdirahman Cirro failed to enquire where and how that money which was illegally levied on departing passengers was spent. He also failed to enquire how that money can be retrieved and returned to the treasury.
Kingpin of transactional politics
There is no doubt that this failure to scrutinize government and its agencies made him impotent because ‘transactional politics’ is at the heart of all this corruption assigning himself to be the chief protector of the status quo. It can not be described as anything else but greased wheels at work to render parliament submissive to President Siilaanyo’s whims. He failed to use his parliamentary devises to check on the President and he resigned himself to be a rudderless leader helping the sinking and demise of Somaliland into the bottom of a dark ocean.
Time for a revolution
In conclusion Somaliland as I said before Parliament is supposed to be an advocate and an agent of the people to check on the government against abuse of power. The people of Somaliland must wake up, organize themselves and start a revolution to end the corruption and demand changes to governance. We must demand just governance and an end to the transactional politics between the Chairman of The House of Representatives and the President.
Saeed M. Timir
s_timir@yahoo.com
A Somalia court will give its ruling on Sunday on an appeal by a journalist against his jailing for one year for interviewing an alleged rape victim.
The judge at the court of appeals in Mogadishu on Wednesday said he needed more time to consider the case and pronounce his verdict.
Journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim and the 27-year-old woman were sentenced to one year in prison on charges including insulting a government body, making false accusations and seeking to profit from said allegations.
Rights activists, including US-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW), have alleged that the ruling was politically motivated, and urged the appeals court to acquit the two defendants.
Three other defendants were acquitted during the February 5 trial by a Benadir regional court.
At the trial, the judges did not permit the defence to present witnesses or evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case. Prior to being charged, the woman was interrogated for two days by the police without a lawyer present, HRW said.
Ibrahim, who has been under detention since January 10, began serving his sentence at Mogadishu Central Prison immediately after the trial. The woman is to begin her sentence after nursing her baby.
‘Sexual abuse’
The journalist’s arrest followed increasing media attention on reported sexual abuse by Somalia security forces. Earlier in January, Universal TV – a local television station – and Al Jazeera’s website separately published stories about allegations of rape in the city’s crowded camps for displaced people.
Ibrahim had not been involved with either story, does not work for either organisation, and had not published anything of his own investigation before he was detained.
“The outcome of this case is crucial for both the reporting of sexual violence and press freedom in Somalia,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “This case is a travesty, but it could still end with justice prevailing.”
The initial ruling by the local court raised concerns over sexual violence and press freedom in the country, which is ranked lower than Iran and China for press freedom in this year’s World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.
“The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.” Che Guevara
“Nothing is more precious than independence and liberty”. Ho Chi Minh
As I am writing this piece things are getting out of control in Djibouti. As the people of Djibouti were demonstrating against the rigging of the recent elections in which the opposition won. The dictator as dictators usually do unleashed his instruments of terror and torture on the peacefully demonstrating people. This is the beginning of the end of the peoples’ revolution ( Intifada). We are in solidarity with the people of Djibouti in their difficult times. We are saying keep the peaceful rallies or demonstrations you will eventually win. The struggle for democracy and freedom will survive. In Djibouti the two opposition leaders Dr.
Abdulrahman barkhad and Shiekh Abdulrahman Bashir were severely beaten, and in jail. The real struggle for the liberation of Djibouti has begun. Thousands of people were beaten by police and put in jail. Hell went lose in Djibouti on the 25th of February, 2011. Let us pray and support the freedom loving people of Djibouti.
The current on going global democratic process has started in Tunisia in mid-December 2010 and has already led to the overthrow of four long time dictators. The revolution ousted Mubarak, Zhine Al-Abidin Bin Ali, Qadaffi, Ali Saleh. There is ongoing bloody revolution in Syria, and dictator over there Bashar Al-Assad is still clinging to power
President Hassan Sheik Mahmoud has today received the credentials of five ambassadors’ all from the European Union countries at the Villa Somalia.
President Hassan told the new ambassador’s ,I am happy to see Somalia still has friends in the world and we are ready to work with all those from countries who have been supporting as during the past ,I hope you shall continue to work with us.
“I urge other countries to follow suit as this proves that Somalia is becoming a normal country,stated President Hassan.
The five new Ambassadors were introduced to the new Somali President by his foreign and international Relations minister and also the Deputy Prime Minister Madam Fozia Haji Aden and the Minister of State in charge of International Relations Dr. Mohamed Nur Gaal.
The Ambassadors names are as follows:
1. H.E Margit Hellwig-Bötte will be the Germany Ambassador to Somalia
2. H.E. Etienne De Poncins, Will be the new French Ambassador to Somalia
3. H.E Javier Herrera García-Canturri ,will be the new Spanish Ambassador to Somalia
4.H.E Bart Ouvry ,Will be the new Belgium Ambassador to Somalia
5. H.E Sofie Emmesberger will be the new finnish Ambassador to Somalia
