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LIBERIA: Company Eyeing Freeport May Sign Big Contract

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MONROVIA (Somalilandpress) — Bollore Africa Logistics, one of the companies that expressed interest in the bid for the Freeport of Monrovia may sign an agreement to manage the port of Berbera and oversee $ 700 million of upgrades to the facility in Somalia’s breakaway northern Somaliland region According to information, the Foreign Minister of that country, Abdillahi Duale said discussions are already in an advanced stage. Duale said last week in an interview in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa that they have already made a basic agreement.” Representatives of Bollore, an investment company controlled by French billionaire Vincent Bollore, have met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Somaliland President Dahir Riyale to discuss the agreement which will probably be signed next year, he said. Berbera port handles food aid and other cargo bound for landlocked Ethiopia.
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According to the information, port revenue provides approximately 75 percent of the Somaliland government’s $ 50 million in annual revenue. Somaliland, a former British protectorate that merged with Italy’s Somali colony in 1960 to form Somalia, has remained largely free of violence during the 18-year civil was in central and southern Somalia. Recently, it was reported by this paper that Bollore Group, a leading investor and port operator on the African continent has expressed its interest “to invest, operate and maintain” the Freeport of Monrovia for certain number of years. The group is involved in all areas of port operations, infrastructures, including construction of roads and railways relating to port concession they had secured over the years. It now has new branches in Namibia, Djibouti, Mauritania, Maputo and Ethiopia.

Besides, it is the most extensive integrated logistics network in Africa and has its presence over 50 years in most African countries. It is also involved in services from vessel operations up to inland distribution and is now involved in ongoing densification and extension of its network. The group has its presence in 41 countries, with more than 200 agencies and 16,650 permanent staff. Financially, sources said it has 1.600 euros annual income and more than 200 million euros investment; five million square mile of warehouse space. Further inquiry by this paper discovered that the company’s main activities are terminal operator, stevedoring, shipping agencies, freight forwarding, and trucking. Others are inland container (for landlocked countries), barging, dredging, railways, airfreight, warehousing commodities, logistics project as well as oil, gas, mining logistics operations.

One of its major achievements in port concession over the years has been 150 million Euros investment in ports such as in Abidjan, Tema, Tincan, Doula and Libreville and that target reached increased in productivity, traffic and revenue for port authorities. Besides it has provided concession with “state of the art” operations system and standards.

Source: The Inquirer Online (Liberia), 30 December 2009

[Picture/ Monrovia – MercyWatch]

SOMALIA: Hawa Siyaad, "They killed my hope"

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MOGADISHU, 28 December 2009 (Somalilandpress) — Twenty-three people were killed in Mogadishu on 3 December 2009 when a blast ripped through a graduation ceremony. Among the dead was a 24-year-old final year medical student whose mother, Hawa Siyaad, spoke to IRIN about that fateful day.

“My son asked me not to be late so I was one of the first to arrive. I closed my business [selling fuel] to be there. I was happy because I knew that my boy, Mohamed, would be going through the same ceremony next year. As the ceremony was in progress a huge explosion ripped through the hotel.
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“All of a sudden, everything was in darkness. For what seemed like a long time I could not see or hear anything. I was dazed but everyone around me was scrambling to get away. I followed the crowd and then realized that my son was at the front. I started looking for him. There were dead and injured people everywhere. I finally found my son underneath an injured person. At first I thought he was also injured but quickly realized that he was dead.

“I tried to pick him up but could not. I just sat there next to him until someone helped me carry his body. You cannot imagine the pain of holding your oldest child, dead. That day they broke my heart and took away my hope and dreams.

“I worked so hard to put him through university. Every day, no matter how difficult – even with bullets flying around – I sat and sold fuel to make sure he got an education. He was our future and our hope. That day they killed my hope and the future of our family… He and his friends did not deserve to die like that before they had even begun their lives.

“I know of no religion – not mine or anyone else’s – that condones what they [the perpetrators] did. I will never forget or forgive what they have done to us.”

Source: IRIN, December 28, 2009

SOMALILAND: Pakistan's Adviser on Consular Affairs sends his condolences

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Hargeisa, 28 December 2009 (Somalilandpress) — Pakistan’s Adviser on Consular Affairs between Foreign  Affairs and  Diplomatic Missions, Mr Shafiq Ahmed Qureshi has sent a letter of condolences to the family, friends, and to the people and government of Somaliland on the death of Somaliland’s State Foreign Minister, Mr Saed Mohamed Nur, who past away on Thursday night in the capital.

Mr Saed died of natural causes at his home in Hargeisa on Thursday.

On Monday, Mr Shafiq expressed profound condolences in a letter that was issued from his office. Mr Shafiqi wrote: “I am very much shocked and sad to hear the demise news of death of the Honorable State Foreign Minister. May Allah bless him with and put him in the heaven (Paradise), Ameen. I was very much attached personally with the Somaliland officials. I wish if I could come and attended his funeral ceremony.”

Mr Shafiq, accompanied by the Deputy Secretary General of Pakistan People’s Party (ruling party), Sheikh Mansoor Ahmed, visited Somaliland in November this year on a six day fact-finding mission to the young republic.

“Please convey my heart felt condolences to his immediate family, the President, The Foreign Minister , The Governor General of the Bank, The Vice President. I remember and cannot forget his hospitality, cooperation and affection during my visit to Somaliland from November 2nd to November 8th, 2009,” he added.

This comes at a time when Mr Shifiq will be marking a key holy-day.  Every year Shia Muslims in the month of Muharram (the first month of Islamic calendar) around the world mourn the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad.

“Here in Pakistan today is 10th of Muharram and I will arrange in his honor special Qurani Khawani Isale suwab for departed soul. May God give the strength to his family and the Government of the Somaliland to overcome the unbearable loss (Ameen).”

In this week, along with the death of Mr Saed, Somaliland officials dealt with other two close deaths. On Sunday night, the chairman of UDUB party, Mr Osman Abdullahi Egal’s brother Hassan Abdullahi past away in Denmark, while Somaliland’s representative to France, Mr Mohamoud Salah Nur died in a hospital in Paris.

The president has issued separate statements offering his condolences on the deaths of the officials to their families, relatives and to the people of Somaliland.[ad#Google Adsense (200×90)]

With a population of 3.5 million people, according to government estimates, Somaliland is relatively stable democracy even though it has not been internationally recognised.

Sources: Somalilandpress

Book Review: Black Mamba Boy

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HARGEISA, 28 December 2009 (Somalilandpress) — Aden,1935; a city vibrant, alive, and full of hidden dangers. And home to Jama, a ten year-old boy. But then his mother dies unexpectedly and he finds himself alone in the world.

Jama is forced home to his native Somalia, the land of his nomadic ancestors. War is on the horizon and the fascist Italian forces who control parts of east Africa are preparing for battle. Yet Jama cannot rest until he discovers whether his father, who has been absent from his life since he was a baby, is alive somewhere.

And so begins an epic journey which will take Jama north through Djibouti, war-torn Eritrea and Sudan, to Egypt. And from there, aboard a ship transporting Jewish refugees just released from German concentration camp, across the seas to Britain and freedom.

This story of one boy′s long walk to freedom is also the story of how the Second World War affected Africa and its people; a story of displacement and family.

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The powerful narrative of `Black Mamba Boy’ is based on tales told to author Nadifa Mohamed by her father, with events taking place mainly in north-east Africa in the period 1935-47. At the start, in what was then Aden, Jama is a 10 year-old Somali boy, and in enthralling and engrossing fashion `Black Mamba Boy’ plots both his physical journey searching for his own father, together with his mental journey striving for something better than his own childhood. Jama makes his way to Britain through Eritrea, Sudan etc. where today these are little known apart from a steady drip of disjointed and incomplete media reports on wars and other atrocities underlining the seemingly impotence of the United Nations or anyone else to resolve problems. `Black Mamba Boy’ confirms this has been the case for decades with insights to the Italian campaign in Abyssinia, the Second World War and the build up to a Jewish state in Palestine.

As well as recording a unique view of history Nadifa Mohamed captures the essence of family ties and lifestyles in parallel with personal portrayals of Jama’s innocence, fears and desires. It is illuminating to compare the compassionate support he receives from his Somali kinsmen with the indifferent and ruthless ways of Europeans. Nadifa Mohamed’s writing is emotional and evocative and as well as lyrical landscape descriptions or relationship revelations she does not flinch from the harrowing reality of a cruelly chaotic part of the world.

My only criticisms of the book are about what is not included as it finishes frustratingly with Jama returning optimistically to his country but without indicating future detail. Also it avoids explanations on the wrongful execution of Mahmood Mattan in 1952 as introduced with the preamble. Even so `Black Mamba Boy’ is a deeply moving intimate account, and Nadifa Mohamed has faithfully fulfilled her father’s wish to have people know what he endured and survived. This is a 5-star book deserving similar acclaim and success to `The Kite Runner’.

Trouble on Somalia's Third Front: Galkayo

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GALKAYO (Somalilandpress) — Somalia can achieve peace. Much of the country already has the ingredients for it, but simply lacks a cohesive government with a unified strategy for security and development.

To make matters worse, many internationals who have the power to improve the situation in Somalia alongside local leaders tend to misdiagnose the ills and then prescribe the wrong treatments. This dilemma has become painfully clear again with this week’s renewed violence in the central city of Galkayo, which has forced hundreds of displaced families to flee for their second or third time.

Galkayo is Somalia’s third front, an issue associated with, but distinct from, the Islamic radical insurgency and the Somaliland-Puntland border dispute…

To clarify for those who relish detail, Somalia is in three parts: Somaliland (northwest, trying to be independent), Puntland (northeast), and southern Somalia (hit by insurgency). Galkayo is a city on the dividing line between Puntland and southern Somalia.
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The Darod clans on the north side of town tend to feel bound to the Puntland state government to the north while the Hawiye clans on the south side of town feel connected to the Hawiye government in the self-made “Galmudug” state in southern Somalia.

During the past years’ fighing in Somalia’s deep south, thousands of people flooded north crossing through this divided town. Those who were Darod clan tended to look for aid agency help or family members to stay with on Galkayo’s north side. But other groups like the Rahanweyne also flooded there. Now, locals in north Galkayo apparently have heard rumors that families staying there in refuge, Darod or Rahanweyne or other groups, who have drawn low-wage jobs and aid away from the residents, may have had affiliation with the Islamic radical insurgents of the south.

Arguments over the rumors overwhelmed the capacity of local security. Shots were fired. Then many local residents began kicking out many of the families from displacement shelters. Most fled south to the Bay and Bakool regions where they will likely be an unwanted minority, as well. And another crisis is born.

The most painful foul against the peace process in Somalia is the UN and aid community’s continued habit of working exclusively with the state authorities, often neglecting the currently more powerful traditional leadership and Islamic leader networks because they are so complex.

The UN has done a fantastic job with aid agencies in planning improvements for security, health, and more. But with very little funding available in the Somali government and from donors for a full security force and citizen protection group for displaced families in camps, most families have to rely on their traditional leaders for protection. The best and brightest of the traditional leaders have fled far and wide, leaving the less capable to rule over their blood line.

What this means is that if a displaced “Rahanweyne” family’s boy gets punched by a “Darod” kid from town, then the displaced family, who does not trust the local “Darod” police, will seek help from their local elders. If the credentialed elders have fled abroad, then basically the oldest man in the group will likely be the decision-maker. He may then ask a group of Rahanweyne men to grab their rifles and go into town to talk to the accused Darod boy’s family to demand justice.

The Darod family may call the police to address the dispute, but the police are so thin they take hours or days to get to the scene. A fight breaks out. And there are not enough police available to break it up. This is what most of the conflict in Somalia is about.

As some leaders and aid agencies are figuring out, these feuds can rarely be resolved by the police. Elders from related clans need to come to talk to the elders who originally sanctioned the posses which started the fight. Then those impartial elders will total the damage to each side and have the one who caused the most damage compensate the other side for their losses.

Here’s a story from Abduba Mollu Ido, a Kenyan writer and development consultant and a trusted colleague of mine, about the blood fued issue in the African Horn. For updates on Galkayo, the peace process, and humanitarian aid, follow the Somalia page at ReliefWeb.

[Photo: Galkayo’s airport IDP settlement, Daniel J Gerstle]

Source: ReliefWeb

SOMALIA: Local reporters call on Puntland to release VOA reporter

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GAROWE (Somalilandpress) — On Sunday 21st of December, Mohamed Yasin Ishaq, a correspondent for American-based VOA Somali Service was snatched from his home midnight while asleep with his family in the town of Galkayo by Puntland forces.

Mr Ishaq was taken into custody by US-government funded Puntland Intelligence Service (PIS), that was established in 2001, which has since became the most powerful group in the semi-autonomous region with its own armed forces and controls half the state’s annual revenue.

Local journalists are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Ishaq and to end the use of sedition, defamation and incitement laws to repress voices of dissent.
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In many parts of Somalia, press freedom continues to be hindered by the unmerited arrest and harassment of journalists. Journalists who cover government affairs, conflicts, or sensitive issues are routinely summoned to court and put behind bars illegally.

According to VOA, Mr Ishaq was injured in mid-November after being shot through the shoulder by a police officer who shot at him at least three times.

After reporting on the assassinations of senior Puntland officials, Ishaq was detained by Puntland officers in August.

Last week, the director of Radio Galkayo, Hassan Mohamed Jama came under fire from Puntland forces, narrowly escaping two bullets. The perpetrators were not arrested.

Meanwhile, Mr Ishaq is spending the seventh day behind bars without charges against him. According to reports, he has been transferred to the port city of Bosaso where he is locked up in PIS prison. Puntland authorities refuse him access to international organisations, his family and friends.

International organisations such as Paris-based Reporters Without Borders and the U.S. government have all issued separate statements calling for Ishaq’s immediate release and expressing concern over Puntland’s press freedom.

This is not the first time Puntland silenced independent reporters – freedom of press continues to have uphill battle in most parts of East Africa including Somalia, Somaliland, Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Somalilandpress

Saudia to extend warm invitation to Somaliland president

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JEDDAH (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland’s president Dahir Rayale Kahin on Saturday received an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia from Saudi officials, sources said.

Mr Rayale is expected to make his first trip to the oil-rich kingdom later this week after receiving an invitation from Saudi leaders according to sources in Jeddah. “The invitation to Somaliland’s leader was extended after  Saudi officials held talks with Somaliland’s ministers currently in the Kingdom and Saudi tycoon Suleiman Al Jabri – a major investor in Somaliland” the source said.

Al Jabri completed a livestock quarantine facility in the Somaliland red sea port of Berbera at a cost of $5-million after he gained exclusive rights to export Somaliland livestock to the Saudi kingdom estimated to be worth around $250 million annually. Somaliland aviation minister, minister of Presidential residence, and the minister of Religion affairs are currently in Saudi Arabia.

In October this year, Saudi Arabia, once a large trading partner with Somaliland, lifted an embargo on Somaliland livestock that crippled the economy of this unrecognised republic for the past 10 years.

The ban on Somaliland livestock was believed to be politically motivated even though Saudi officials insisted it was to control unwarranted fears concerning a Rift Valley Fever, which had occurred shortly after massive rains in Kenya in 1998.

Insiders have always seen Saudi Arabia along with Egypt, as a major stumbling block to Somaliland’s international recognition and statehood.

Arab world is the largest importer of food and due to international food price fluctuations many Arab states have shifted their policies towards east African countries in recent times.

“The import will bring down cattle prices in the domestic market on the one hand and end the hardship faced by importers, particularly during the Haj season,” Suleiman Al-Jabri told Arabnews.

It is not clear how long president Rayale will stay in the Saudi Kingdom but diplomatic tie with regional and international player like Saudi Arabia will be a step forward for Somaliland’s international quest for recognition.

No immediate comment was available from the government. We could not reach the Presidential spokesman for comment.


[Picture/ Suleiman Al Jabri in Berbera – Somalilandnation 2009]

Somalilandpress

Somaliland to contract French firm in running of major port

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HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — Somaliland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Abdillahi Mohamed Dualeh has stated that his administration was going to hand over the Berbera port to a French company in an effort to modernise the deep-water facility in the red sea to meet modern demands in the region.

Representatives from France’s ”Bolloré Africa Logistics” have been holding talks with senior Somaliland leaders, including the president in the last days.

Speaking to reporters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa on Friday, Mr Duale said talks between Bolloré and Somaliland officials were in “advanced stages”.

“The organization has promised to invest in the port and manage it. We expect the talks between the organization and Somaliland officials to be successfully concluded,” Dualeh said.
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Sources in the government told Somalilandpress that the talks have successfully ended after more days of talks. “After days of discussions, the contract talks ended and the French firm will take over the Berbera port” the source, who wished not to be named. Bolloré held separate talks with Ethiopian officials as well including prime minister, Meles Zenawi.

The Berbera port was the second largest in the former Somali Republic after Mogadishu, but is now days it’s Somaliland’s prime source of currency owner, contributing 75 per cent of Somaliland’s $50 million annual revenue. Bolloré Africa Logistics is expected to take over the Berbera port with an investment worth $700 million.

This is the first major investment Somaliland has attracted since declaring independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991. Bolloré, which deals in maritime freight and African trade is controlled by Vincent Bolloré and is worth an estimated $1.7 billion.

The deal is expected to boost trades between Somaliland and Ethiopia’s 80 million population, whose expected to top 100 million people by 2020. The port currently handles food aid and other cargo bound for landlocked Ethiopia.

Berbera, at the mouth of the red sea, is strategically located on the oil route  and is ideal location for connecting Africa’s growing markets to the Middle East, Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal. Berbera port has 12-metre deep-water facility that was completed in 1969 by Russian engineers at a cost of $5.6 million.

In 1984, a US-based construction company, MWK International, was given 27 months contract worth $35 million that expanded and refurbish the port and airfield, which was already the longest runway in Africa. An American firm also refurbished the five 25000 barrel fuel tanks and pipelines. The fuel storage tanks are currently managed by a French company, Total.

[googleMap name=”Berbera, Somaliland” description=”Berbera has the longest runway in Africa built by Russia and USA for space shuttle emergencies.” width=”400″ height=”400″ mousewheel=”false” zoompancontrol=”false” typecontrol=”false” directions_to=”false”]Berbera[/googleMap]

By Abdinasir Mohamed
Somalilandpress
Hargeisa-Somaliland

SOMALIA: Hundreds flee fresh inter-clan clashes in Puntland

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GALKAYO (Somalilandpress) — Hundreds of families in Somalia’s state of Puntland have fled inter-clan fighting in the town of Galkayo in Mudug region, witnesses said.

The fighting, the second as many months broke out early Wednesday morning when heavily armed militants from Puntland attacked opposing Galmudug positions in the south of the town after a police man from Puntland was shot dead.
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Residents told local reporters, that Puntland forces opened fire while on a man-hunt, however they shot dead a by-stander from the Galmudug side, the Galmudug locals avenged his death. Inter-clan battles and revenge killings is common in many parts of Somalia.

Witnesses said the fighting intensified on Thursday and involved machine guns, mortars and rocket propelled grenades. While a tank positioned at the national airport from the Puntland controled side fired shells at southern end, killing at least seven civilians.

Galmudug on it’s side used heavy mortars and artillery fire many landing on residential homes killing at least 21 people most of them civilians.

An eye witness said, at least 13 people were killed from Galmudug side while on the Puntland side as many as 31 lost their lives, including 10 soldiers. Galmudug forces have also taken control of Puntland bank and it’s central police station. According to sources, nearly 115 people were wounded in this renewed clashes.

The two sides backed by warring clans are said to be re-arming and preparing for fresh fights.

Efforts to reconcile the two were made but no official a ceasefire has been agreed on yet. It is expected elders from both sides to hold talks later today [Friday 25 December] to find a durable solution to the inter-clan unrests.

The fighting comes days after hundreds of internally displaced people (IDPs) fled from the town, furthermore hundreds more have fled the town.

Somalilandpress

Kenyan Deputy Speaker addresses Somaliland parliament

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HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) — Kenya’s Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Farah Maalim insisted his country was ready to firmly support Somaliland’s democraticisation process and stability in a historic gathering of Somaliland’s two champers on Friday morning.

Mr Maalim, who arrived in Hargeisa on Tuesday with a delegation of seven, praised the country for the progress and stability it has achieved without international support.

He spoke highly of Somaliland’s own competence to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and urged them to stay on one track for clean and peaceful elections. He also discreetly warned them that some Western powers and policies that claim to be ‘experts’ could interfere with their democracy values and could sabotage the elections unless they remain vigilant about the risks of foreign hands and influence.

“As you are aware what happened in Kenya from end of 2007 until 2008, the international mediators consisting of Western officials would come to us and praise us, they would say we were right, then they go to the opposing camp and tell them the same – they were working on our downfall, our two leaders released and agreed to resolve differences,” Mr Maalim told Somaliland parliament. Refering to Kenya’s election dispute which rapidly deteriorated into a cycle of ethnic battles and revenge killings that left more than 1000 dead.
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On the recognition subject, Mr Maalim said he was not in a position to express an opinion on such issue but his government had the right channels to address it. He added Mogadishu was practically powerless to change the course of events and has no justification to refuse Somaliland independence.

Finally, he said that he would deliver a goodwill message and the facts on the ground in Somaliland to his government back in Nairobi.

Mr Maalim is the first high-ranking Kenyan official to address the Somaliland assembly.

Somalilandpress

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