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Somalia Suicide Bomber
Was 'US Citizen': Rebels |
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This photo provided Monday Oct. 31, 2011, by
the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows
Abdisalan Hussein Ali, an American-Somali
who was 19 at the time he disappeared from
Minnesota in November 2008. Details emerged
Monday about Abdisalan who al-Shabaab said
carried out a suicide attack against an
African Union base in the Somali capital,
Mogadishu, on Saturday. (FBI/AP)
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Mogadishu, Somalia, October 30, 2011 — An American
citizen of Somali origin was one of the two suicide
bombers behind a twin attack on a pro-government
military base in Mogadishu, the Islamist Shabaab
movement said on Sunday.
Several pro-Shabaab radio stations broadcast what
they said were the last words of Abdusalam al-Muhajir
who said that he "wanted to die as a martyr" after
spending the last two years fighting alongside the
rebels.
"I am an American citizen who grew up in the United
States after my parents took me there at the age of
two," he said in the message which was broadcast a
day after the attack on an African Union base in the
capital.
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Photo: Abdi Hassan/IRIN
Activists say unless the juvenile justice
law is implemented, children in conflict
with the law will continue to face arbitrary
justice (file photo) |
Hargeysa, Somaliland, October 29, 2011 – Child
rights activists have expressed concern over the
stagnation of a juvenile justice law in Somaliland,
where officials say an average of 200 children are
detained every month by police.
According to Khadar Nour, a child protection
activist in the capital, Hargeysa, children are
regularly detained for minor offences and "end up
being detained with adults because there are no
rehabilitation centers for children or prisons for
children".
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Ormiston, CL, October 29, 2011 – Ormiston's Kris
McBride is embarking on a 1800km walk across Egypt
in January to raise awareness and funding for a
maternity hospital in Hargeysa.
Kris said growing up with five sisters provided
impetus for the trip, which finishes at the Edna
Adan Maternity Hospital in Hargeysa.
Kris leaves Cairo on January 2, 2012, heading south
to Aswan (900km intending to walk 30km daily),
taking the ferry to Wadi Halfa, walking to Atbara in
central Sudan, then heading to the Red Sea. He said
he intends to catch a boat down the sea to Djibouti
before walking the final 500km.
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Jilib, Somalia, October 30, 2011 – At least 12
people were killed today when two Kenyan jets bombed
the southern Somali town of Jilib, residents and
officials said, as the east African nation's fights
to rid Somalia of Islamist al-Shabaab rebels.
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The Shabaab control large swathes of
territory in south and central Somalia (AFP/File,
Abdurashid Abdulle) |
Minneapolis, MN, October 30, 2011 - A man who blew
himself up in an attack that killed at least 10
people in Somalia on Saturday may have been a U.S.
citizen from Minneapolis who returned to Somalia
three years ago, several Minnesotans with Somali
ties said Sunday.
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Mogadishu, Somalia, October 29, 2011 — The Al
Shabaab movement on Saturday warned civilian people
to avoid government and AU military bases where they
vowed more suicide attacks will be targeted.
Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage, the spokesman of Al
Shabaab group told reporters that they targeted two
suicide attacks and direct combat operation at Hero
Jarmal near to Warshadaha Street of Mogadishu.
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Dai Kurokawa/European Pressphoto Agency
Police officers patrolled Nairobi on Monday
after grenade attacks. The city is now in
war mode. |
Nairobi, Kenya, October 29, 2011 — The Kenyan
government revealed on Wednesday that its extensive
military foray into Somalia this
month to battle Islamist militants was not simply a
response to a wave of recent kidnappings, as
previously claimed, but was actually planned far in
advance, part of a covert strategy to penetrate
Somalia and keep the violence in one of Africa’s
most anarchic countries from spilling into one of
Africa’s most stable.
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The remotely-piloted aircraft can be
equipped with missiles and satellite
guided bombs |
Washington, October 29, 2011 – The US military has
begun flying drone aircraft from a base in Ethiopia,
as part of its fight against Islamist militants in
neighboring Somalia.
US officials have confirmed to the BBC that the
base, in the southern city of Arba Minch, is now
operational.
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Bujumbura, Burundi, October 29, 2011 – Egide
Hatungimana was one of 51 Burundian soldiers killed
in a firefight with al-Qaida-linked militants in
Somalia last week, his brother says. But the body
has not been delivered to his family, which only
found out about the death in a call from a fellow
soldier.
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Somaliland On China Radio International: 2011-10-10
Phantom States |
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Interview
On Chinese-Somaliland Agreement |
Click
here to
listen to
Radio France
Internationale's
interview
with Jamal
Gabobe about
the
agreement
between
Somaliland
and Chinese
investors.
The
Interview
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Somaliland Keen To
Collaborate With Ethiopia On Regional Issues:
President Mahmoud |
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Somaliland president, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud
(Sillanyo) (left) met Ethiopian PM Meles
Zenawi in Addis Ababa on Monday |
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia,
October 31,
2011 (SL
Times) –
Somaliland
would work
closely with
Ethiopia in
the efforts
to ensure
peace and
security in
the Horn of
Africa
region,
President
Ahmed
Mohammed
Mahmoud
said.
Read full text...
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Somaliland President Leaves For The UK |
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, October 29, 2011 (SL Times) –
The President of Somaliland, Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud
(Sillanyo), left the country this week on his way to
the United Kingdom.
He was scheduled to makes stops in Djibouti and
Ethiopia where he is scheduled to meet with the
Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union,
Jean Ping.
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Somaliland President Meets Italian Deputy Foreign
Minister |
Hargeysa,
Somaliland, October 29, 2011 (SL Times) – Somaliland
President Ahmed Silanyo met in his office with a
delegation led by the Italian Deputy Foreign
Minister, Senator Alfredon Mantica.
A press release signed by the Somaliland
government’s spokesman, Abdillahi Muhammad Dahir (Cukuse),
said the purpose of the visit was so that the
Italian government would get a clearer idea of the
situation in Somaliland.
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Somaliland President Pardons Prisoners Of War |
Hargeysa, Somaliland, October 29, 2011 (SL
Times) – Somaliland President Ahmed Sillanyo
pardoned seven prisoners of war who were caught
fighting in Gambadha. A ceremony for releasing
the seven prisoners of war from the custody of
Somaliland government was held at Kaah hotel.
Read full text...
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Director Of Education
In Sool Says Exam Was Stolen |
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Hargeysa,
Somaliland, October 29, 2011 (SL Times) – The
director of education in Sool region, Kayse Awil
Ladane, held a press conference in Imperial Hotel in
which he revealed that indeed the exam for the 4th
form was stolen from Hudun’s Sool region, but that
neither the ministry of education nor the National
Office of Examinations had anything to do with it.
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, October 29, 2011 (SL Times) –
The director of the president’s office for
humanitarian assistance, Amina Mohamud Diriye, held
a press conference at Imperial Hotel in which she
talked about the office’s policy and activities.
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, October 29, 2011 (SL Times) –
The Djiboutian community in Somaliland held a dinner
in honor of those people who helped in the aftermath
of the flood that took the lives of several
Djiboutian nationals.
Two individuals in particular, the Minister of
Higher education, Zamzam Abdi Adan, and the Minister
for the Presidency, Hersi Ali Haji Hasan, were given
certificates acknowledging the big role they played
in helping the victims of the flood.
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Borama, Somaliland, October 29, 2011 (SL Times) –
Talowadaag, an organization that works on educating
the people about HIV/AIDS disease has started a four
day program in Borama, to educate the public about
HIV/AIDS prevention and how to assist people who are
suffering from the disease.
Twenty young people between the ages of 18 -23 are
participating in the program.
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Hargeysa, Somaliland, October 29, 2011 (SL Times) –
The Somaliland Journalists Association, SOLJA,
strongly condemns the abuses against the freedom of
expression and violations of human rights in
Somaliland, as police forces have beaten at least a
dozen reporters from the various institutions of
Somaliland media.
SOLJA condemns activities by which the police have
brutally beaten and arrested Mustafa Sheikh Omer,
the Editor in Chief of Saxafi Newspapers, following
his interviewing of members of poor inhabitants at
Goljanno Village, and the in human violations
against Mohamed Abdi Kahin (Boosh), from both Ramaas
and Royal TV.
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ICC's Key Question
Will Be Whether Saif Al-Islam Gave Direct Order To
Fire On Protesters |
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Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo comments
on arrest warrants at the Hague on 28
June. Photograph: Jerry Lampen/REUTERS |
Three judges will examine evidence linking Saif
al-Islam to the bombing and shooting of civilian
protesters in February
The Hague, October 29, 2011 – Proving that Saif
al-Islam Gaddafi gave direct orders for regime
forces to open fire on peaceful protesters would be
the "key question" for prosecutors at the international
criminal court (ICC).
Read full text...
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Arab Spring Optimism
Gives Way To Fear Of Islamic Rise |
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By James Rosen
Cairo, Egypt, October 29, 2011 – From the first
stirrings of change in the Middle East nine months
ago, optimism at the prospect of 100 million young
people rising up to seize their democratic freedoms
has been tempered by fear in Western capitals that
radical Islamists might also rise up and try to
hijack the so-called Arab Spring.
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Ercis, Turkey, October 29, 2011 – A 13-year-old boy,
trapped for five days inside fallen debris, used a
rock in a desperate attempt to dig a hole and free
himself from a building that collapsed in a massive
earthquake that struck eastern Turkey, his uncle
said Friday.
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Members of the Somaliland community in
London celebrate the 20th anniversary of its
declaration of independence from Somalia
during a demonstration on May 18, 2011.
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Between pirates, terrorists, kidnappings, a failed
state and now a Kenyan invasion, it’s hard to keep
track of what’s going on in Somalia, and why it’s
going on. To help you distinguish your sea rats from
your Al Shabaab, here’s an introduction to the wild
world of Somali politics.
By SIMON ALLISON
The news coming out of Somalia can be confusing.
Just this past week, there’s been the ongoing Kenyan
invasion, ostensibly sparked by a few kidnappings on
Kenyan soil.
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By Michael
Scott Moore in
Berlin
A Somali politician living in Berlin has a simple
plan for his country: He wants German construction
aid to build a small harbor complex in Somalia's
Galmudug region that he says could help stimulate
the local economy and lift people out of poverty.
With civil war, Islamist gunmen and pirates,
however, that is easier said than done.
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Somalia, which has had no central government ruling
its territory since 1991, is facing an increasing
Balkanisation as several regions break away to form
their own self-ruled enclaves.
By Mike
Pflanz, Nairobi
To the northwest, Somaliland was the first to
declare its independence from what was the sovereign
state of Somalia, within months of the collapse of
the last national administration 20 years ago
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As Kenya's troops continue their incursion into
southern Somalia in pursuit of Islamist militants,
the BBC's Will Ross considers the motives behind the
deployment.
"I hope in three or four months, al-Shabaab will
have been removed from our region.
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By Onyango Oloo
Kenya's military invasion of Somalia ostensibly to
pursue the Al Shabaab terrorists is unconstitutional
and unnecessary, argues Onyango Oloo.
Read full text...
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A
Joke Called The TFG |
The Kenyan
incursion into Somalia has provided one more bit of evidence
why the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia
cannot be taken seriously. To get a glimpse of the depth of
the dysfunction of the TFG let us look at how it handled the
Kenyan incursion. We will start with the lower level
officials such as the TFG government’s spokesman Eng.
Yarisow who kept insisting that Kenyan troops had not
crossed Somali territory when it was widely known that
Kenyan army had indeed crossed the Somali border. Once that
lie could not be sustained, then they started claiming that
Kenyan troops entered Somalia with the permission of the TFG
and that it is a joint operation of Kenyan troops and the
Somali army. In order to convey the impression that the
Kenyan government and the TFG were marching hand-in-hand, an
agreement was signed between the TFG and the Kenyan foreign
and defense ministers in Mogadishu.
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Clash Between
Tradition And Pluralism Rages In Awdal |
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By Adan H Iman
A fierce clash- so far peaceful - has been brewing
in Awdal, Somaliland, for the past few months
between those who ambitiously support crowning one
Ugas for all the residents of Awdal and those who
are passionately opposed to it. The moment word went
out that Abdirashid Dodi, who was then living in
Canada, was reported to be heading back home to seek
the Ugashood, serious divisions appeared in an
already fractured society.
Unlike people in the advanced democracies where
political affiliation of an individual is determined
by ideals or class status, in Somaliland’s incipient
democracy, political loyalty is determined solely by
paternal lineage. Somaliland people, whether they
live in the country or live overseas, support
financially or vote for candidates whom they share
with the same paternal lineage. There has been
congruency between voting pattern and paternal ties.
Therefore, the role of traditional leaders has
expanded to the realm of politics. A sultan today is
not only a traditional leader but also a political
leader of his followers.
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Somaliland: Youth
Nowhere To Turn! |
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“We need to be leaders of today, but not leaders of
tomorrow”
Written by: Farhan Abdi Suleiman
(Oday)
Looking back in yesterday, I can still remember the
feelings of excitement as parliament approved the
amendment of Art.33.4 (Law No. 20). The years of
being restricted from participating Local Council
Elections were over. The struggle for youth
participation movement was indeed remarkable and
merit of admiration. It continues to be celebrated
throughout Somaliland.
Today, it is wonderful to see that the campaign
successes and moves on faster than ever before.
SONYO the torch of hope you lit in this year glows
brightness, vastness and intensity. Youth in
Somaliland will have a big reason to smile. They
will certainly have a reason to celebrate because
thousands of young Somalilanders who often suffer
political barriers will have the chance to
participate the upcoming Local Council Elections.
Dear Advocacy and Lobbying Committee (GFDSHDH), it
makes me proud to congratulate your restless efforts
toward that noble cause. It is a black day to shame
for those who directly refused to contribute that
noble cause. The active engagement of young people
in decision – making processes at all stages and in
all areas of life is not easy. It is a must that our
long journey to participation is a half done.
Read full text....
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Constructing A
Reliable Central Bank In Somaliland
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By Hassan Abdi Elmi
As the nation looks forward to the upcoming
elections, I write this article to remind the
Parties of their responsibility to the country.
Conducting a coherent election, in a transparent
manner, will no doubt strengthen our case for
recognition and nation building but I say “what is
recognition if our institutions are not robust and
transparent”? The answer to that question is that we
will be like any other failed African nation, and
that is not good enough. Somaliland must reform its
institutions firstly; so that we can utilize every
financial opportunity effectively and secondly so
that corruption can be defeated at all levels. In
this article I wish to highlight the necessary
steps, which can be taken by the present or future
government to build the Somaliland Central Bank.
Read full text.....
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Time Has Come For
India To Recognize Somaliland |
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By Dr. Adityanjee
India made history when she liberated and recognized
the Republic of Bangladesh despite fierce
international opposition from some of the cold-war
superpowers. India took that strategic step because
that was the right thing to do and suited India’s
long-term geopolitical interests as well as
international humanitarian concerns. Though the
doctrine of international intervention for
safeguarding the responsibility to protect had not
been codified by the UNGA or the UNSC at that time;
India did act according to the spirit of the
responsibility to protect (R2P).
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An Open Letter To
Professor Suleiban And Amoud Alumni Association |
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Dear professors Suleiman, please accept my best
regards and congratulations towards the fantastic
job that you and your team always pursue in the
University. After that, I would like mention how
I’m so amazed; to see the current beautiful, modern,
and well equipped technologically campus, the other
day of my revisit. This is an image which is really
opposite to the pass one. Having received this
wonderful picture, it came in to my mind and
conceived as well to discuss a couple of issues with
you, concerning about the hard working recognition
of yours first, empowering the Alumni, and outlining
how to sustain the ongoing development activities in
the campus.
Read full text.....
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Hargeysa Group Hospital & NGOs/INGOs in Somaliland |
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By ibtisam
For two weeks now, I along
with 15-20 Diaspora Somalis, NGO workers and
University Teachers have been volunteering our only
day off at Hargeysa Group Hospital, mainly to clean
and bring up the standard of the hospital. Currently
under a new management, the aim is to make big
improvements- very fast.
Last Friday we removed all
the rubbish in one area of the hospital and removed
umpteen numbers of needles, syringes, leg bags,
catheters, nephrostomy tubes and broken solution
bottles from the garden and window seals for four
hours in the blistering sun.
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