President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Monday left for Uganda for talks on possible government offensive against Islamist militants in Somalia, government sources confirmed to APA.
A presidential aide who demanded anonymity told APA by telephone that President Sheikh Sharif’s delegation which includes Somali military and police commanders will have talks with top Ugandan and Burundian security officials on possible offensive against the Al Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia.
“Uganda and Burundi are the sole African countries which contributed troops to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia and that is why the president, key ministers and his top army commanders are going there for consultations,” the presidential aide said during a telephone interview with APA Monday.
The president will participate in the closing ceremony of a month-long training for hundreds of Somali soldiers. The presidential aide said that the president will also address the opening ceremony of another EU training session for Somali government soldiers in Uganda.
Government sources say that during his stay in Uganda and Burundi, the president will hold talks with foreign diplomats there to brief them on the latest developments in Somalia especially on security, policy and the on-going reconciliation process in the country.
Earlier on Monday, the commander of the Somali army, General Mohamed Guelleh Kahiye, who was addressing at a ceremony to mark on the 50th anniversary of the Somali armed forces said that preparations have been finalized and government forces will soon launch an offensive on the militant-controlled regions in the country.
Garowe Online: 31 killed, 100 wounded in Mogadishu violence
At least 31 people mostly civilians were killed in the Somali capital Mogadishu during heavy armed clashes and bombings on Tuesday, Radio Garowe reports.
The violence started Monday afternoon when Al Shabaab Islamist insurgents used mortars to target Aden Adde International Airport, a heavily fortified compound and guarded by African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM).
At the time, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), was flying out of the airport en route to Kampala, Uganda.
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On Tuesday, witnesses and other sources said many of Mogadishu’s districts under the control of insurgents were shelled including Hodan, Howlwadaag, Yaaqshiid, Huriwa and Daynile.
AMISOM spokesman Maj. Behoku Barigye confirmed to reporters that at least two Somali airport employees were killed by insurgent mortars that hit airport grounds yesterday.
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Separately, a series of explosions rocked the front of the Police Academy, killing at least [?] people.
Witnesses said four of the dead were Somali police officers.
Al Shabaab insurgents claimed responsibility for staging the remotely detonated explosions. AMISOM spokesman Maj. Behoku denied that any AMISOM soldier was killed or wounded in the explosion, adding: "Our soldiers were not there."
Shabelle Media: Al-Shabab targets Somali government forces, AU troops with explosions
A series of explosion attacks which resulted in the loss of life and injury of both civilians and Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG] forces were carried out in Mogadishu's Hamar Jajab district.
The series of explosion in which TFG forces and civilians were killed and wounded broke out in Hamar Jajab district, Banaadir Region. The explosions which were up to two were carried out using a remote controlled device and targeted TFG and AMISOM [African Union's Mission in Somalia] troops as they were walking along the Police School in Hamar Jajab district, Banaadir.
So far, four people have been confirmed dead in the attack two of whom are TFG forces whereas the other two were civilians at the scene. Five civilians have also been wounded in the explosions attack. Shabelle contacted an area resident who said they first heard an explosion and when people went to rescue those wounded in the explosion, the second explosion came which resulted in most of the casualty.
After the explosion attack, AMISOM troops and those of the TFG surrounded the area and fired shots in many directions. Traffic and movement of people along the main road was stopped for a while although it later resumed slowly.
Commander of the Movement for the Al-Shabab Mujahidin have contacted Shabelle and said they were responsible for the explosion attacks which were carried out using land mines. Al-Shabab commanders said they have killed up to seven AMISOM soldiers in the explosion attack among them the commander of the soldiers and five TFG forces.
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These explosions follow earlier attacks in the district which were targeting TFG forces and officials of Hamar Jajab in which the district commissioner, Ahmad Shaykh Mahmud Qoorleex, was killed.
Shabelle Media: AMSIOM denies casualties
The officials of the African Union troops AMISOM have denied that any of their troops killed in yesterday’s blasts targeted to their forces and government soldiers in Mogadishu, spokesman told Shabelle radio on Tuesday.
Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen had claimed the responsibility of the blasts saying they killed 17 that 7 of them were AU troops including their commander and 6 government soldiers as they were from the port of Mogadishu and heading to Polizio School, a strategic military centre for the transitional government in the capital.
Major Brigye Bahuko, the spokesman of the African Union troops AMISOM has disproved the statement of Harakat Al-shabab Mujahideen pointing out that there were no any casualties reached on their side.
“To kill a Ugandan soldier here is like hundreds of soldiers killed in Kampala. So there were no any blasts targeted to our military vehicles or troops. I do not know what you mean and what you need. I told you that there were no any of our troops murdered,” said Brigye Bahuko.
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The United States' President risks serious ridicule while attempting to scare Congress & the public with Tuesday's Executive Order concerning Somalia
I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, find that the deterioration of the security situation and the persistence of violence in Somalia, and acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia ... constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and I hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat.
Essentially, it's a desperate effort to impose the US vision for what a Somali government has to look like by declaring criminal all support for any opposition to the foreign-created transitional government.
One can already imagine how selectively parts of the order will be interpreted and enforced, such as the order to seize and freeze "all property and interests in property" of either individuals or 'partnerships, associations, trusts, joint ventures, corporations, groups, subgroups, or other organizations' "determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State"
(A) to have engaged in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security, or stability of Somalia, including but not limited to:
(1) acts that threaten the Djibouti Agreement of August 18, 2008, or the political process; or
(2) acts that threaten the Transitional Federal Institutions, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), or other international peacekeeping operations related to
Somalia;
(B) to have obstructed the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, or access to, or distribution of, humanitarian assistance in Somalia;
(C) to have directly or indirectly supplied, sold, or transferred to Somalia, or to have been the recipient in the territory of Somalia of, arms or any related materiel, or any technical advice, training, or assistance, including financing and financial assistance, related to military activities;
(D) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, the activities
described in subsections (a)(ii)(A), (a)(ii)(B), or (a)(ii)(C) of this section or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order;
or
(E) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.
Two caveats to that entire section are
The prohibitions ... of this section include but are not limited to:
(i) the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; and
(ii) the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
and
The prohibitions ... of this section apply except to the extent provided by statutes, or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the effective date of this order.
In the accompanying Message to Congress concerning Somalia, Obama informs them that
Pursuant to the IEEPA and the NEA, I have determined that the deterioration of the security situation and the persistence of violence in Somalia, and acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. The order declares a national emergency to deal with this threat.
The order is not targeted at the entire country of Somalia, but rather is intended to target those who threaten peace and stability in Somalia, who inhibit the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Somalia or the distribution of such assistance in Somalia, or who supply arms or related materiel in violation of the arms embargo. The order blocks the property and interests in property in the United States, or in the possession or control of United States persons, of the persons listed in the Annex to the order, as well as of any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State:
to have engaged in acts that directly or indirectly threaten the peace, security, or stability of Somalia, including but not limited to (1) acts that threaten the Djibouti Agreement of August 18, 2008, or the political process, or (2) acts that threaten the Transitional Federal Institutions, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), or other international peacekeeping operations related to Somalia;
to have obstructed the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, or access to, or distribution of, humanitarian assistance in Somalia; or
to have directly or indirectly supplied, sold, or transferred to Somalia, or to have been the recipient in the territory of Somalia of, arms or any related materiel, or any technical advice, training, or assistance, including financing and financial assistance, related to military activities.
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The order also authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to designate for blocking any person determined to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, the activities described above or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to the order.
As the latest UN Monitoring Group on Somalia highlights, and has been cited here more than once in the past weeks, many of those parties in violation of the arms embargo work with or for the United States government. And the mandate of that monitoring group is set up such that it does not take into account the activities of private companies, like those used by DOS, wrt the embargo.
The list of individuals named in the executive order is available in this page at the US Treasury's OFAC website. While it's unlikely that Aweys or Turki would have any assets in the US, the underlying purpose would appear to be cutting off any flow of money to Somalia not sanctioned by the US. Expect to hear many of the old arguments from the early 2000's regarding Muslim financing of terrorism trotted out again.
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Humorous headline
New Vision: Over 600 Somali soldiers passed out
A total of 627 Somali and 120 UPDF soldiers were on Tuesday passed out at Bihanga training school in Ibanda district.
The Somali government forces were trained in basic military skills, while their UPDF counterparts got trained in medical and driving skills.
The training of Somali forces in Uganda is supported by the European Union.
Somali president Sheikh Ahmed Shalif (sic) on Tuesday presided over the passout. He was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Aronda Nyakairima, the minister of defence, Dr. Crispus Kiyonga and the Somali army chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Gelle Ahmed.
Shalif and President Yoweri Museveni, last year passed out 500 Somali soldiers, also trained in Bihanga.
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The army spokesperson, Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye, said Uganda, as a member of the African Union, is mandated to ensure peace for the people of Somalia.
He added that the training of the soldiers was requested by the African Union and European Union.
Daily Monitor: Somali President Passes Out Soldiers Trained in Uganda
Somali soldiers who have been undergoing military training in Bihanga Barracks, Ibanda District, were on Tuesday passed out by their President.
The President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, Sheik Sherif Ahamed, thanked the government of Uganda for giving instructions and training the soldiers.
He said he was grateful for the continued support Uganda was giving Somalia in an effort to gain peace and stability.
Army and Defence spokesperson Felix Kulaigye said at a press conference in Mbarara District that the 627 soldiers were passed out after nine months of training.
They will become part of Somalia national army and join the struggle of fighting insecurity in the lawless country. President Sherif was accompanied by Uganda's Defence Minister Crispus Kiyonga and Commander of Defence Forces Gen. Aronda Nyakairima.
This is the second time Mr Sherif is passing out soldiers trained with the assistance of Uganda. Last year, he passed out 500 soldiers who were also trained from Bihanga Barracks.
From the March 2010 report by the UN Monitor Group on Somalia:
209. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces trained a battalion-sized unit in Uganda early in 2009, which was redeployed to Mogadishu in May 2009. The Government of Uganda has informed the Monitoring Group that this training took place within the context of the AMISOM mission.113 However, since the training was conducted by Ugandan army units that are not part of AMISOM, the Monitoring Group considers the training to have been conducted on a bilateral basis and therefore to require authorization from the Security Council.
also
217. The European Union is currently planning to provide training to Somali forces in Uganda. The planning phase should end by the end of February so that the mission can be launched in May 2010. The stated objective is to contribute to the strengthening of the Somali security forces through the provision of initial military training up to platoon level. A programme to identify potential non-commissioned officers and junior officers would also be put in place. Overall, at least 1,000 Somali combatants would be concerned.
218. Paragraph 11 (b) of resolution 1772 (2007) makes reference only to States and not to international, regional and subregional organizations. It is therefore not possible under current circumstances for the European Union to obtain an exemption from the Committee for its activities.
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Garowe Online: 3 killed as Somali forces clash in Mogadishu
At least 3 people, two of them soldiers have been killed and over 5 others injured in gunfire exchange between two Somali government troops in the restive capital Mogadishu, witnesses and officials said.
The fighting erupted in the capital’s Medina district, where one side was reportedly barring soldiers from robbing civilians.
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A Somali commander confirmed the fighting between the forces but accused one group of being phony and robbers.
"The fighting was to prevent arm robbery against the civilians and we have succeeded,” he said, adding that the incident was reprehensible to the integrity of the force.
The fighting comes a day after the parliament committees charged on the top military leadership over frequent clashes within the government forces, terming it shameful.
“We will investigate several incidents that caused inter-fighting within the Somali government forces and we will present the finding about the people behind the clashes,” said the committees.
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Garowe Online: Dispute widens between President, Parliament Speaker
Somalia's President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and parliament speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe jetted back into war-torn Somalia from Nairobi Kenya with no headways made to solve dispute between them, Radio Garowe reports.
While in Nairobi, Somalia Ahmed on Friday night held talks with representative from the region and international community in an effort to solve the misunderstanding between him and the speaker, which now seems to further weaken his embattled fragile administration.
However, division between the two Somali leaders is said to have widen even after failing to pressure the international community in solving their crisis.
According to reliable sources, the root cause of dispute is said to be evolving around a decision by some pro-Sheikh Madobe to table a motion of impeachment against Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke.
On the other side, president Sharif and PM Sharmarke want to oust Sheikh Madobe and replace him with former speaker, Sharif Hassan, who is a finance Minister and also deputy PM
After the failed talks, the two sides tried to take separate flights to Mogadishu but their efforts were thwarted by Kenyan government, which ordered all of them to board one plane.
A reliable source, who took the flight to Mogadishu with the squabbling leaders, said the officials onboard the plane included 70 lawmakers, speaker Sheikh Adan, president Sharif and his right hand man Sharif Hassan. The source added that the officials did not speak to each other in the flight.
Some pro-Sharif lawmakers have been voicing their opposition to the speaker, calling for his resignation. However, Speaker Madobe termed the call as ‘unnecessary step at the moment’. The speaker’s backers maintain that Madobe has the constitutional mandate.
The stage is now set for Sunday’s opening of the parliament sittings in Mogadishu, where both sides is to garner support for their positions.
Shabelle Media: Casualties of yesterday’s blast and shelling rises to 20
Casualties of yesterday’s shelling and explosion has risen to the deaths of about 20 and more than 35 injuries most of them civilians, witnesses told Shabelle radio on Sunday.
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Reports also say that the casualties of yesterday’s shelling which started as the Islamist fighters shelled to the international airport of Aden Adde had risen and most wounded civilians rushed to hospitals in the capital.
More than 10 were killed and 35 wounded as the shelling continued. 4 people in the same family killed, 5 wounded as shellfire hit in a house at KPP neighborhood in Hodan district in Mogadishu and most of the casualties of deaths came as the African Union troops AMSIOM targeted heavy shelling to the civilians populated areas as reaction of the shellfire targeted to the airport.
Shabelle Media: MPs dispute over postponement of parliament’s session in Mogadishu
The transitional parliamentarians of Somalia have disputed over the postponement of the lawmaker’s session which was planned to be held the new centre of legislators in Mogadishu today.
The first session of the parliament that was supposed to be held at Golaha Sha’biga, newly repaired building for the transitional legislators for the first time was delayed on Sunday and planned to be held for the following Thursday.
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