MOGADISHU, 3 February 2008 - The top US diplomat for Africa made a surprise visit to Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland on Sunday and held talks with the president, a spokesman for the unrecognised statelet said.
US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer arrived in the region's capital of Hargeisa at around 10:00 am (0700 GMT) and met President Dahir Rayale Kahin, said presidential spokesman Said Adan.
Hargeysa, January 28, 2008 – The spokesman of the presidential palace of the Republic of Somaliland, Si'id Adane Moge, today strongly responded to a statement made by the president elected in Mbagathi [the venue of the Somali peace process in Kenya in 2004], Abdillahi Yusuf, in which he provoked the Republic of Somaliland.
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This year for the first time, students from Somaliland, Nigeria and the US joined the programme
Pretoria, South Africa, January 28, 2008 - Constitutional court Justice Kate O'Regan has welcomed 32 new students from 21 countries to the University of Pretoria's LLM degree in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa.
Guests included Professor John Dugard, ad hoc judge in the International Court of Justice in The Hague and special rapporteur for the UN Human Rights Council on the occupied Palestinian Territory, former constitutional court judge Johann Kriegler and Zonke Majodina of the SA Human Rights Commission.
Kampala, Uganda, 30th January 2008 - ABOUT 10% of the candidates who sat for the Uganda Nurses and Midwives National Examinations last year failed. Of the 1,705 candidates, 186 did not meet the requirements to practice nursing or midwifery, according to examinations board.
Only 36 candidates or 2.6% passed with distinction, 835 passed with credits, while 648 had passes. The results were released at the Ministry of Education head quarters in Kampala yesterday.
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Washington, D.C. February 01, 2008 – Sections of people in the Southern African region have reportedly welcomed with open arms the election of Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete as the new chairman of the Africa Union (AU). Kikwete takes over from Ghana’s President John Kufuor.
Political observers believe Kikwete faces an uphill task to help solve the political crises on the continent in countries like Zimbabwe and Kenya. Sydney Masamvu is a political analyst with the International Crisis Group. From the South African capital, Pretoria, he tells reporter Peter Clottey that President Kikwete faces a Herculean task as chairman of the African Union.
An elder displaced woman is shown at Daymarudi Camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia, 10 Dec 2007 |
Nairobi , Kenya, 30 January 2008 - Fighting and hostility make Somali streets a dangerous place. As video from HornAfrik TV shows, journalism here can be deadly.
Ali Sharmarke was the director HornAfrik Media Inc. based in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. A roadside bomb destroyed his car on August 11, killing him instantly.
Kofi Annan, left, with Ban Ki-moon in Nairobi, 01 Feb 2008 |
Nairobi, February 2, 2008 – The parties of Kenya's feuding political leaders have agreed on a joint plan to end the post-election violence that has killed some 850 people.
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan says the sides have agreed on a four-point framework for the talks he is leading in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
Committee to Protect Journalists New York, November 15, 2007 —In light of recent public statements made by Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein of the Transitional Federal Republic of Somalia to protect press freedom, CPJ called on the prime minister to end the ongoing pattern of countrywide arbitrary arrests and threats by government and security officials against Somali journalists.
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Dubai, UAE, 29 January 2008 - The meeting organized by the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) in Dubai (UAE) brought together business people from Africa and the Middle East, personalities from Europe and the United States and members of the Somali business community. The meeting, entitled: “The Private Sector: a Tool for Peace in Somalia” was aimed at assessing the economic situation in Somalia and the opportunities that could allow the country to move from a war to a peace economy.
The meeting identified a wide range of economic sectors that could boost the Somali economy including livestock and livestock products, agriculture, money transfer, telecommunications, infrastructure, oil and gas, mining, transport and tourism.
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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 1, 2008 - Addis Ababa Bole International Airport is to become the first airport in Africa to fully operate bar coded boarding passes (BCBP) for all international and domestic flights, two years ahead of the IATA deadline of 2010, according to WEBWIRE.
Eyob Estifanos, General Manager of Ethiopian Airports Enterprise, said the change would simplify the check-in and boarding process for the 2.2 million passengers who use Addis Ababa Bole each year and who will also soon benefit from self-service kiosks from SITA.
Nairobi, Kenya, 31 January 2008 - Chairman of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konaré has asked African leaders attending the 10th heads of state and government summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa to do everything within their powers to stop Kenya from burning otherwise there would be nothing for the East African country.
AU chief said it was the continental body's duty to support the mediation process of the Eminent African Leaders led by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
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PARIS February 1, 2008 - The medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres pulled all its 87 foreign employees from Somalia after three colleagues were killed there earlier this week, the group said Friday.
MSF said in a statement it was "deeply shocked by the murder of its team" in an attack that it called "probably premeditated."
Some 800 Somali employees are still carrying out MSF activities in the country.
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Nairobi, Kenya, 30 January 2008 - People in drought-affected regions of central and southern Somalia need urgent help after losing most of their livestock, the deputy prime minister and minister of information, Ahmed Abdisalam, told IRIN on 30 January.
"The reports we are getting are that the drought-affected areas are in a grave situation, with shortages of water, inadequate pasture for remaining livestock and the consequent destitution of many families," Abdisalam said
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Puntland president, Ade Muse and his petroleum minister sign agreement with executives Range Directors, Mike Povey (R) and Peter Landau (L) in Dubia hotel, 2005. |
Hargeysa, Somaliland, February 2, 2008 (SL Times) – The Somaliland Ministry of Water & Minerals is negotiating with Puntland’s chief foreign investor in oil exploration ‘Range Resources Ltd’ in the hope of issuing the Australian based company a license for commercial exploration and production of oil and gas.
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Jendayi Frazer on arrival at Hargeysa airport, received by top Somaliland ministers |
Hargeysa, Somaliland, 3 February 2008 (SL Times) - U.S. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer flew in to Egal international Hargeysa airport with the US ambassador to Ethiopia, Donald Y. Yamamoto, for a one day brief visit. This is the highest US ranking diplomat to visit the republic since its declaration in 1991.
The US delegation was met at the airport by Somaliland’s Foreign minister Abdillahi M. Duale, the Interior minister Abdillahi Ismail Ali, the minister of Aviation Ali M Waranade and other Somaliland top officials.
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Injured Armen Harutyunyan in Hargeysa hospital before he was evacuated by air to Djibouti |
Hargeysa, Somaliland, February 2, 2008 (SL Times) – An Armenian man working for the demining group Halo Trust was wounded on Wednesday morning after he was shot by an ex-employee in Hargeysa.
Armen Harutyunyan was in his office when Abdi Mohamed Yusuf, a former Halo Trust deminer, shot him once in the left side of his chest.
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, February 2, 2008 (SL Times) – 15 MPs from Somaliland’s Lower House (Parliament) left Egal international Hargeysa airport yesterday for London on the invitation of the UK parliamentary All-Party group committee which campaigns for the recognition of Somaliland inside the UK parliament, and is headed by Michael Alun and Kathy McCarthy.
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Adam Mohamed Mireh (Waqaf) |
Hargeysa, Somaliland, February 2, 2008 (The Rep) - Acting Chairman of the opposition Justice and Welfare Party (UCID) Mr. Adam Mohamed Mireh (Waqaf) condemned the omission of SNM struggle from the curriculum and called for thorough investigation.
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Washington DC, January 24, 2008 – A draft Bill on expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States should recognize an independent Somaliland is prepared and presented to members of the US Congress.
Prepared by a group that calls itself “Friends of Somaliland People” the Draft Bill urges the government of the United States to formally recognize the independent status of Somaliland “within its colonial borders which are still in tact, being a very reasonable step toward bringing peace to the Horn of Africa and constituting the acceptance of established international law.”
"Exclusive Interview" program featuring an Interview with Abdullah Yusuf, head of the Somali interim government, conducted by Nasir al-Badri
Doha, Qatar, 27 January 2008 - Al-Jazeera TV carries a new episode of its "Exclusive Interview" program moderated by Nasir al-Badri. The guest on today's episode is Abdullah Yusuf, head of the interim Somali Government. The interview is conducted in English with superimposed translation into Arabic; translated from the Arabic.
Remains modest about achievements of his historic role in ILO office in Dar es Salaam
Somaliland minister of Planning Ali Abdi Ibrahim (photofile) |
Dr Ali Ibrahim, former director of International Labor Organization for Eastern Africa who retired from the top UN position last year is now the minister for Planning and Coordination in Somaliland.
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By Harvey Morris at the United Nations
January 29 2008
The United Nations might be forced to evacuate its peacekeepers next month from the tense border zone between Ethiopia and Eritrea, removing the most visible deterrent to renewed warfare between the east African neighbours.
The UN Security Council was due on Wednesday to renew the mandate of the 1,700 peacekeepers for a further six months, despite the news that Eritrean restrictions on fuel supplies to the UN force made its situation untenable beyond February.
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Commentary
By Dalmar Kaahin
For the relatives of Puntland prisoners held in Somaliland, what is more exciting news than the reports that their loved ones—over 60 men including the top Puntland commanders namely, Col. Deyr Cabdi and Col. Siciid Doob—who were captured in recent fighting in Sool region would soon be freed? Of course, releasing these prisoners without a doubt is yet another testimony of Somaliland’s determination to pacify the region. And while also many people enthusiastically welcome the release of the combatants, Puntland continues its war rhetoric against Somaliland rather than make peace with it.
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Somali soldiers storm central bank demanding their pay
Somali soldiers (photofile) |
Mogadishu, Somalia, 28 Jan 2008 - Somali soldiers loyal to the authorities of the semi-autonomous Puntland region have seized the central bank demanding their salaries.
The heavily-armed soldiers stormed the bank cutting off all roads leading to and from the building, claiming they had not been paid for several months.
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Addis Ababa - African Union leaders on Saturday discussed means of containing spiralling violence in Chad and Kenya on the last day of a summit which highlighted the body's challenges in solving its own conflicts.
Leaders gathered in Addis Ababa for the 53-state organisation's 10th summit held a special session to discuss the crises in Kenya, Chad and the Comoros ahead of the closing ceremony.
Thousands of children were born and treated at the SOS Hospital in the past years |
Mogadishu, Somalia, 1 February 2008 - Ahmed Ibrahim, the Somalia director for SOS Children's Villages, was born and brought up in Mogadishu and lived there until 2004. He is now based in Nairobi but makes frequent visits to Somalia and Somaliland. He was in Mogadishu at the end of December 2007 and in this interview told us what it was like.
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Analysis
By Matt Mainen
January 29, 2008
An article appearing in The Washington Post ("US Debating Shift of Support in Somali Conflict") mentions that the United States is considering granting diplomatic recognition to the autonomous region of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia. Although establishing diplomatic ties with breakaway states arguably sets a bad precedent, there are clearly special circumstances in which adherence to the international norm of respecting a regime’s full and complete territorial sovereignty over the land within its official borders must be bypassed. The case of Somaliland is a strong example.
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PRISTINA, Serbia Jan 30, 2008 - Kosovo will declare independence from Serbia with Western backing the weekend after the Feb. 3 Serbian presidential election if the nationalist candidate wins, political sources said on Wednesday.
"If (Tomislav) Nikolic wins, it's the 9th or 10th," a senior political source told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
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Toronto board votes 11-9 after meeting filled with passionate pleas and dire warnings |
Elated parent, Donna Harrow hugs fellow parent after Toronto public school trustees voted 11-9 to open an alternative Afrocentric school |
Toronto, Canada, Jan 30, 2008 - Angela Wilson, left, and Donna Harrow celebrate last night after Toronto public school trustees voted 11-9 to open an alternative Afrocentric school.
After a heated but civil debate, Canada's largest school board voted 11-9 last night to open an alternative Africentric school to help fight a 40 per cent dropout rate among Toronto's black teens.
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Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama, left, Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, sit together during a Democratic presidential debate in Los Angeles, 31 Jan 2008 |
Washington, 1 February 2008 - The remaining U.S. presidential candidates are preparing for a major showdown on Tuesday when more than 20 states hold primaries or caucuses to choose delegates to the Republican and Democratic nominating conventions later this year. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has more on what the political experts call Super Tuesday.
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“Mortars fired as new Somali PM arrives in Mogadishu.” Reuters, Jan.20, 2008.
“ Somalia: Mortars Fired at Mogadishu Airport and the Presidential Palace as AU Delegates Arrive.” Shabelle Media Network, Jan.23, 2008
“ Mortars Rock Mogadishu Airport as African Union Commissioner Visits.” Peter Heinlein, VOA, Jan.27, 2008
Most people who are somewhat familiar with the situation in Mogadishu would not be surprised by the above headlines, even though these horrible headlines refer to events that took place within the same week (Jan.20-Jan.27). On the contrary, it would only confirm what the readers already know about the situation in Mogadishu. But there is another corner of Somalia which used to be relatively stable compared to Mogadishu, but seems to be heading the same way as Mogadishu. That place is Puntland.
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In November 2005, the Centre for Human Rights began investigating the possibility of a third destination for the LLM field trip. The reasons for increasing the number of field trip destinations to include Somaliland include the following:
Somaliland is a state in the making; it would be ideal for students on the programme to have a first hand experience of this.
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By Adan Moomin
Birth of Siadism
Siadism, which I will define momentarily, is borrowed from the Majeerteen concept that Power and Authority of the Somali Republic shall always remain in the hands of the Majeerteen clan. This obscene arrogance developed into full blown chauvinistic dogma as aptly illustrated by the Majeerteenian cliché, “Intii madax madaw iyo majeerteen baa siman.” Which, paraphrased, means: “Majeerteens are so numerous their number is equal to that of all black Africans.
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By Mohammed Dahir, Birmingham
Somaliland people did a fantastic job in their efforts of maintaining peace and tranquility and holding democratic elections, which is being acknowledged regionally, and globally as bacon of stability in the troubled horn of Africa and Africa’s best-kept secret.
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By Abdullahi Dool
Like every other nation the Somali nation has its detractors and those who wish us ill. Forgetting that we have had a state since independence in 1960, our detractors label us Somalis, a collection of clans who are not a nation. What has happened to our nation could have happened elsewhere. But that is not the issue. The question is: Did we ourselves dispel or reinforce such stereotypical concept?
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The Presidential trip: “The Most successful event”
By Abdirahman Ahmed Ali
The visit of Somaliland President to London and Washington was successful and productive for three main reasons. First, the trip was the president’s maiden official visit to U.S. and dwelt upon many issues including immigration, security, and development of democracy in Somaliland.
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By Ahmed S. Mohamed
I want to comment on an article wrote by Mr. Mohamud Tani entitled “The Funny Kulmiye” that was published this week in Somaliland.org. I want to point out that Mr. Tani was selective in the views he quoted in his article. Mr. Tani quoted here the views of certain elements within Kulmiye who, do not represent the thinking of the main stream party members. By being doing so Mr. Tani chose to ignore, or at least did not research enough, the fact that Kulmiye secretary for foreign affairs, Dr. Ahmed H. Essa publicly supported and welcomed the visit of the president. He did so because he knows the visit was a very good step in advancing the cause of Somaliland.
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By Abdidrahman Momahad Dule
The trip of His excellence, the President, Mr. Riyaale caused storms of protests both sides of Atlantic ocean , why Somalis or punt Landers as they like to be called. demonstrated against the president of another country, Somaliland, when they heard the pentagon is extremely pushing State Department to recognize Somaliland, does the trip to London and Washington had any relationship to Somalia whatsoever?
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By Bashir Goth
Language fails me in trying to write a tribute to an eminent and enigmatic playwright like Hassan Sheikh Mumin. A man of unfathomable and versatile philosophy, a superbly creative and lucid style, a prophetic vision and cultural connoisseur who dived to the deepest depths of the language and adorned words with different hues and layers of meaning.
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Sada Mire, a postgraduate student at the University College of London Institute of Archaeology, will next week be returning to her native Somaliland for the first time in 16 years. Last time she was there, the region, a territory within Somalia, was in the midst of civil war. Now, she is heading back to conduct her PhD fieldwork, in which she plans to investigate cultural landscapes. She is the first British-based researcher to work in Somaliland for 28 years – and the only Somali archaeologist anywhere in the world – but she is aiming to achieve far more than archaeology during her time there.
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SUNDAY EDITORIAL | Garowe-Online
A cozy relationship between Puntland administration officials and the Australian company’s executives has given local officials unsurpassed political power.
3 Feb 3, 2008
It is with genuine interest that one reads a recent article by major Australian newspaper, The Age, which publicly disclosed an ongoing Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation into "alleged misconduct and dubious practices in the developing world" by Australian mining firms.
The driver of a minibus is shaken down by two men who were maning a road block where gangs of Luo tribe men are looking for members of the opposing Kikuyu tribe, 31 Jan 2008 |
Nairobi, February 01, 2008 – U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon touched down in Kenya on Friday for talks with Kenya's opposition leader in a bid to keep the country's post-election chaos from descending into a wider ethnic war. At least four more people were killed by police during ongoing protests. Nick Wadhams has the story from Nairobi.
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In Memory of Somali playwrite Hassan Sheikh Mumin (1937-2008)
Translated By B. W. ANDRZEJEWSKI
Somali oral literature is becoming among the best-known and most fully studied of all African oral literatures and the studies and translations of Somali prose and poetry by a series of scholars have brought both delight and enlightenment to many English-speaking readers.
Somaliland goats and sheeps grazing in countryside |
SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, Jan 27 - Gulf Arab investors are considering opportunities in war-torn Somalia in areas including energy and livestock, lured by high return possibilities.
Participants at a U.N.- sponsored conference on the role of the private sector in Somalia expressed hope on Monday that their investments could also help stability in the Africa country.
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The Pentagon, 25 January 2008 - The exercise, involving hundreds of U.S. troops and several African liaison officers, was designed to help Rear Admiral Philip Greene and his staff prepare for their new assignment.
"I see our role as to enable African solutions to African problems," he said.
By CAROLINE KENNEDY
OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.
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Prime Minister of Somalia Nur Hassan Hussein |
ADDIS ABABA, 2 Februay 2008 - African Union leaders condemned the latest unrest in Chad and Kenya Saturday at the close of a summit overshadowed by new crises on the continent and which saw little headway achieved on older ones.
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By Mohamed Amin
Addis Ababa has enormously miscalculated what its forces would face in Somalia particularly in Mogadishu when it launched its invasion to Somalia in the Christmas of 2006 because it overwhelmed by the quick success its forces overpowered fighters of what was on that time Islamic courts union but leaders in Addis Ababa didn't take into account the dangers and ambiguity ahead in a land where law and order was forgotten many years ago and where a country which has the best military and economic capability in the world got confused and relinquished in the earlier 90s.
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