Ahmed Hassan Addow nicknamed Da’i, a district in the capital Mogadishu has called on Sunday afternoon for the African Union peacekeeping forces to withdraw from country.
Wadajir district commissioner of Somali Transitional Federal Government, Ahmed Hassan Addow accused Amisom forces in Mogadishu of losing their role in Somalia.
“Ugandan and Burundian countries should withdraw their troops from Mogadishu if they are not doing what they are assigned”. Ahmed said.
Ahmed condemned T.F.G forces and the African Union peacekeeping forces of not reaching development from the war against Shabab, the Islamist militias.
Both Somali government and Amisom usually bombard the city killing civilians and destroying the Mogadishu buildings, Ahmed added.
Wadajir district commissioner dissatisfied with the role of aid agencies saying that they also failed bring help to peaceful areas in the capital like the district he runs as he said the statement.
This is a strong word from powerful district commissioner of Benadir regional administration against the African union peacekeeping forces backing T.F.G in Mogadishu.
Major of the African forces’ stations are in Wadajir district where Ahmed controls and he was believed to be close ally with Amisom early but the reason is not yer clear.
Garowe Online: 'Mogadishu conflict is business for African peacekeepers': TFG official
A district commissioner in Somalia's war-ravaged capital Mogadishu has demanded the withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) after accusing the peacekeepers of transforming the conflict into a "business," Radio Garowe reports.-- -- --
Mr. Ahmed Da'i, the district commissioner of Mogadishu's Wadajir district, told reporters Monday that Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia officials and AMISOM peacekeepers "want the conflict to continue."
"It is not a war to bombard civilian centers with missiles each day. War is where one group defeats another, but AMISOM troops who help the TFG have made this [conflict] a business," Wadajir DC Mr. Da'i said during a Monday press conference.
Wadajir is a district located in Mogadishu's southwestern part and is home to TFG troops who have pushed back Al Shabaab during a number of insurgent offensives to seize the district.
There are no AMISOM peacekeepers based in Wadajir district, but AMISOM troops are based in districts surrounding Wadajir.
"The countries contributing troops to AMISOM must withdraw their troops if they are not helping win the war, and they must remember that if this conflict in Somalia continues, then the war will come to their doors," said Mr. Da'i.
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During his press conference in Mogadishu, Mr. Da'i accused TFG officials of wanting the conflict to continue for their "personal financial benefit."
"I urge the Mogadishu public to defeat Al Shabaab, but our leaders [TFG] are busy collecting international donations and benefiting financially from the conflict," Mr. Da'i said.
He went on to accuse international aid groups of "failing to deliver humanitarian assistance" in parts of Mogadishu.
"The aid groups are part of the problems in Somalia. They [aid groups] claim that Al Shabaab prevents them from helping the people, but they [aid groups] do not bring assistance to peaceful parts of Mogadishu," he concluded.
Mr. Da'i has been the Wadajir district commissioner in recent years and has led the resistance against Al Shabaab's expansion into the district.
TFG leaders have not responded to his comments, but it is the first time that a member of the TFG has publicly condemned AMISOM peacekeepers and the TFG leadership for benefiting financially from the Mogadishu conflict.
Shabelle Media: AU forces shoot and wound civilians in Mogadishu
At least 4 civilian people have been wounded in Mogadishu after African Union peacekeepers fired civilian bus, witnesses said on Tuesday.
Local residents told Shabelle Media Network that the civilian bus was traveling the main road between KM4 junction and Mogadishu international airport when it came under fire from AMISOM forces based in building there.
Before the shooting, a crowd of people had rushed to help a young boy hit accidentally by a running vehicle and that caused AMISOM forces to suspect the crowd of the people and open fire.
AMISOM claims
An AMISOM junior commander and a soldier have been placed under arrest at the Mogadishu Airport base, pending the outcome of the urgent investigation.
It is understood that an angry crowd gathered near the Immigration base and the soldier attempted to disperse them after seeking the advice of his commander.
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“Our soldiers are here to protect the people of Mogadishu and if it is found that these soldiers have acted without due care and attention, they can expect the ful force of the law upon them."
Like this?
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Garowe Online: 10 killed in central Somalia battles between Shabaab and Ahlu Sunna
At least 10 people mostly fighters were killed in central Somalia during Tuesday battles between Al Shabaab insurgents and the pro-government Ahlu Sunna militia, Radio Garowe reports.-- -- --
Local reports said the fighting took place in three villages south of Guri El, a small trading town in Galgadud region of central Somalia.
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Galgadud has been the epicenter of violence between Al Shabaab’s northbound violent expansion and Ethiopian-backed Ahlu Sunna Wal Jam’ea militias, which control the region’s key towns including the provincial capital, Dhusamareb.
“Our forces attacked Al Shabaab controlled areas after they [Al Shabaab] made military movements,” said Sheikh Abdirizak Ashari, spokesman for the pro-government Ahlu Sunna militia.
He told Mogadishu radio stations via a telephone interview that no fighters from Ahlu Sunna were killed, but claimed to have killed “many Al Shabaab fighters” during the battles.
Al Shabaab’s leader in Galgadud region, Sheikh Isse Kabo-kutukade, told reporters that Al Shabaab fighters “defended towns” against Ahlu Sunna attacks and claimed that Al Shabaab “now controls areas formerly controlled by Ahlu Sunna.”
There were no independent reports to corroborate the two versions from the rival factions, but medical sources in Guri El and Dhusamareb towns controlled by Ahlu Sunna militia told Garowe Online confirmed that “wounded fighters” were rushed in for treatment but did not provide any specific casualty figures.
Prof. Michael Weinstein's latest analysis: Puntland’s Break with the T.F.G. and the International Crisis Group’s Draft Report
The [I.C.G. draft] report is concentrated on the failure of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (T.F.G.) to unify the country, and particularly on the ineffectiveness of T.F.G. president Sh. Sharif Sh. Ahmad, and has the aim of advocating the abandonment of the T.F.G. by stakeholders and their adoption of a decentralizing strategy. As is often the case, a major think tank has expressed the policy shift of (Western great-power) actors – in this case, an extension of Washington’s “dual-track” policy toward Somalia, which, closed sources report, is being followed by the Europeans. The I.C.G. report backs up the policy shift by discrediting the T.F.G. and Sh. Sharif, opening the way to stakeholders dealing directly with regional and local political organizations. Yet the authors of the report are aware that unmanaged decentralization that hyper-Balkanizes Somali territories would create dangerous instability for stakeholders. Therefore the I.C.G. wants somehow to hold on to “Somalia.”-- -- --
The present analysis is not concerned with the I.C.G.’s discrediting of Sh. Sharif, which provides rhetorical ammunition for players who wish to use it. The analysis is concerned with the I.C.G.’s proposal for managing decentralization, to the extent of showing its utopian character and, therefore, revealing it as a thought of desperation. The analysis is concentrated on the I.C.G.’s diagnosis of “Somalia’s” political situation of fragmentation, which it defines accurately.
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Puntland's new position is not a "shot across the bow," a provocation, a warning; it is a challenge. It poses the fundamental practical question: What political formula(e) will the territories of "Somalia" have? Of course, the Islamists - al-Shabaab - have an answer. The donors/powers (and the I.C.G.) do not.
Indeed, the best that the I.C.G.'s draft report can do is a brief final statement suggesting "a much more decentralized system, where most of the power, and resources are devolved to local administrations (preferably multi-clan) while the federal government only performs minimal functions and acts more to coordinate the activities of the different local administrations."
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At present, it appears that Puntland's break with the T.F.G. is strategic rather than tactical. The unmanaged process of devolution has reached a further and deeper phase, and external powers seem to lack the will and, perhaps, the ability to resist it.
From an opinion piece published at al Jazeera: In search of a Somali constitution
The debate over constitution-making in Somalia has moved to centre-stage and the international community is in the driver's seat.-- -- --
But, its approach is simplistic, unfeasible and dangerous. The proposed draft constitution will not only fail to combat Somalia's conflicts, but will, rather, contribute to the Balkanisation of the country.
The international community's approach has been based on the groundless assumption that Somalia does not already have a constitution.
But Somalia does have a legitimate, balanced, democratic and Somali-owned constitution, which was drafted in 1960 and ratified through a referendum in 1961. Moreover, this constitution is not identified with any of the country's groups.
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Security issues make it unfeasible to ratify the draft constitution at this time. Knowing this fact very well, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, the former special envoy of the secretary-general of the United Nations, proposed an alternative way of ratifying the draft constitution. Comparing the constitution to the European Union charter, which was ratified by the legislatures of 27 countries, he recommended that Somalia's 550-member parliament sign off on it.
But this suggestion has its shortcomings.
Firstly, according to the Transitional Federal Charter of the Somali Republic (TFC), which through its 'immutable principles' calls for the ratification of the constitution through a referendum, this would be illegal.
Secondly, unlike in EU states, Somalia's parliamentarians are not elected and they cannot be a substitute for the will of the Somali people.
Finally, the international community is contradicting itself. It argues that the government cannot amend or change the content of the draft constitution. Yet, it wants the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to ratify the draft constitution - a contradiction in terms.
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The draft constitution is dangerous as it prescribes unsustainable structures that could lead to the dismemberment of the country.
Some major issues are predetermined without opening them to public debate. For instance, a federation has been prescribed even though it is not appropriate in the Somali context.
Only 12 per cent, or 24 countries, of world states are federal states. Only three of these countries are African: Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa. Most of the 24 countries are large, geographically complicated and have diverse populations.
Somalia lacks the characteristics of federal states - it is small and its people are largely homogeneous. It is also poor and cannot afford to pay for one level of government, let alone multiple levels of government. The necessary human resources to serve three levels of government are lacking and there are no agreed upon regions that can federate.
Most importantly of all, the primary goal is to stabilise Somalia, but prescribing a federal system for Somalia will compromise stability by creating unnecessary competition and thus adding fuel to the fire.
If the current thinking of the international community is taken to its logical conclusion, many clan-based regions will be created, thus re-enforcing tribalism and sub-clan politics and undermining state-building efforts. Many communities, particularly unarmed clans and minority groups will experience discrimination if a federal system is adopted.
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For the international community, besides the difficulty of justifying the millions of dollars spent on the draft constitution, the 1960 constitution offers all of the characteristics it favours: It is a democratic, legitimate and Somali-owned document.
There is no need to go through with a referendum at this time. Many Somalis, particularly political stakeholders, are familiar with the constitution since it has been used for nine years.
Therefore, there is no reason for the international community to triangulate or impose unworkable arrangements on the Somali people.
This is a win-win solution and the international community must support it.
Update on the propaganda war front
Xinhua: Somali gov't launches new weekly newspaper for peace, tolerance
The Somali government has launched a new weekly newspaper as part of its drive to counter Islamist propaganda and spread its massage of "peace and tolerance" to the people, an official said Monday.
The newspaper, called Dalka, a Somali word meaning "the country", had its first issue published and distributed this week.
"We are launching this newspaper to because we want to reach out our people with a massage of peace and tolerance," Mohamed Ibrahim Fanah of the Somali Ministry of Information told Xinhua.
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He added that the Somali government, with its meager resources plans to open a TV station "in the near future," saying all the necessary equipment was made ready and that staff were undergoing training for the job.
As one of the commentators at the link remarked
A Government with Newspaper, Radio, Website and who will have soon TV station. But above all doesn't have functioning Government institutions, Hospitals, Military, Police...-- -- --
Reuters: Somali govt must respect August end of mandate: UN
The United Nations acknowledged on Wednesday that Somalia would miss an August deadline to adopt a new constitution and hold the first elections in the Horn of Africa nation for decades.
Under the terms of a 2009 deal, the mandate of Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) expires on August 20, by which time it should have enacted a new basic law and held a general election.
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There have been calls from some parts of the government for its term to be extended. Augustine Mahiga, the U.N.'s special representative for Somalia, said this was not an option and talks were needed on what shape the next government takes.
"The constitutional process should have been our ideal path but ... we don't want a half-baked document to define the destiny of Somalis," he told a news conference in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
"We are all agreed this (interim administration) has to end."
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He said U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon would convene a special meeting on the sidelines of this weekend's African Union summit in Addis Ababa to discuss Somalia.
The United Nations would then convene a summit in Nairobi, inviting TFG leaders, officials from the semi-autonomous Puntland region and breakaway enclave of Somaliland, and the international community to thrash out a way forward.
The next administration would have to be more inclusive, Mahiga said, urging President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, himself a former Islamist rebel, to open government's doors to moderates within the two main rebel factions.
"The political outreach and reconciliation must proceed. There are nationalists who are there (within al Shabaab) ... but this is up to government who they talk to," said Mahiga.
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Mahiga said the 4,000 additional African Union peacekeepers approved by the U.N. Security Council last month would not deploy until March or April at the earliest, bringing the AMISOM force to 12,000 troops.
Critics say without elections, the next administration will just be Somalia's 16th transitional government since 1991.
From the UNPOS press release, UN Special Representative for Somalia: Transition must end
What should follow the end of the transition, Dr. Mahiga emphasized, should begin with internal consultations among the Somalis themselves in an all inclusive process that encompasses all stakeholders in order to build consensus on the way forward.-- -- --
Dr. Mahiga said that the consensus-building process has already started within the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI), with ongoing consultations between the TFIs led by the President, the Speaker and the Prime Minister. Following a progress report to the Security Council earlier this month, Dr. Mahiga has begun consulting with other stakeholders in the region and the wider international community.
“It is critical that the consensus-building process ensures that the gains made so far are sustained and entrenched beyond the end of the transition,” Dr. Mahiga said.
SMC: Fu'ad Shongole calls out to support the Somali government
Fu'ad Shongole, one of the leaders of Al Shabab militant group has called out for Al Shabab to support the Somali Transitional Federal Government. He said that the government would be able to lead the country according to Islamic law together with Al Shabab.
Shongole said these things during a speech in a mosque at Bakara market to raise support for Al Shabab.
"I call on the Shabab militia to stop killing innocent people. We should especially stop killing people that we have condemned of spying for the government" said Fu'ad Shongole.
Sources close to the Al Shabab leader have told the Somaliweyn website that Shongole is having a conflict with Al Shabab leader Ahmed Godane and that this is why he is changing his policy on cooperation with the government.
The Shabab militant group is often troubled by internal conflicts and at times this has caused fighting between the Islamist rebels themselves.
Shongole's speech did surprise many people because of the contrast between them and his previous extremist ideas.
Somalia Online: Fuad Shangole showed change of creed
Sheikh Fuad delivered in Mogadishu, yesterday, a speech which took the people by Surprise. The Sheikh warned the people not to use the word "murtad" ["apostate"] easily and it shouldn't be applied to any one who works and goes to the government side. By labelling some one as "murtad" you are saying the he should be killed at sight and such Fatwa carries a lot of danger.-- -- --
He stipulated that there are a lot of mistakes which needs to be ratified and for the first time he questioned for how long Al Shabab remain in its current role as" Jabhad" or guerrilla force.Roumors say that he lost his ecxutive position due to his criticism of the Amir of Al Shabab and that he represents the nationalist members among al Shabab which is thought to have lost the power struggle in recent weeks. He used to be extream and his speeches in 2007 which are on record were encouraging people to kill any body who goes to the governement side even if he is simple driver - This is a complete change of creed.
Shabelle Media: Armed militia ambush Al shabaab fighters in central Somalia
Heavily armed militia fighters have launched an ambush attack on a checkpoint stationed by Al shabaab fighters in Hiran region in central Somalia, an official said on Thursday.-- -- --
After the ambush, bitter clash erupted between Al shabaab fighters and the assailants in the checkpoint in the village of Matoore about 50 KM west Beletweyne town, the regional capital of Hiran.
Reports from the village suggest that the militia is under newly coalesced administration in Hiran that is called Shabelle Valley.
The deputy chairman of Shabelle Valley administration Ahmed Osman better know (ahmed Inji) has contacted with Shabelle Media network shortly after the hit and run attack and said that they killed 5 Al shabaab fighters during the confrontation.
So far, Al shabaab has not released any comments about either the ambush attack or the casualties of the clash.
Shabelle Media: One killed, two wounded as Somali government soldier opens fire
At least one woman has been slain and two others wounded after Somali government soldier and civilian squabble and catch Soldier’s AK 47 rifle at once and that caused the gun to fire.-- -- --
Witnesses told Shabelle Media Network that the soldier suspected a young boy and when they catch the rifle at one time gunshots were heard.
The incident took place in the neighborhood of Via Liberia in Mogadishu’s Waaberi district.
APA: Somali president to hold discussions with his Ugandan counterpart
The president of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is scheduled to hold discussions with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni in Kampala on Thursday, a presidential statement issued here Thursday revealed.
Upon arrival in Kampala on Wednesday the Somali President held meetings with the Ugandan Defense Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga and the commander of the Ugandan infantry Lieutenant General Wamala Katukmba and gave them details on the ground and the successful operations that the African Union peacekeepers are conducting in Somalia.
The statement said that the Somali president will hold discussions with his Ugandan counterpart before flying to Addis Ababa for the AU summit later on the day.
“The two leaders will discuss how to develop the already bilateral relations between the brother nations of Somalia and Uganda” the statement from the presidential palace of which APA obtained a copy said.
SMC: President Shariff of Somalia met with his Ugandan counterpart Museveni
“My visit to Uganda is chiefly based on how to create a strong bilateral relationship with the government of Uganda, Uganda is among the African countries which have devotedly stood in helping the Somali people, the government of Uganda has sent its troops to sacrifice their lives for the seek of the feeble Somali people, followed by Burundi, and this clearly indicates how Uganda is really a real sister to Somalia” said Sheikh Sharif.-- -- --
Shabelle Media: Somalia government suspends Saracen contracts
The transitional federal government Somalia on Thursday suspended the contract with Saracen International, a security firm based in Britain.
After closed door cabinet meeting held in the Somali capital Mogadishu and chaired by Somali prime minister, Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed better known as Farmajo, all ministers overwhelmingly agreed to terminate and suspend TFG’s contract with Saracen International.
Sources confirmed that the UK based security firm had also been banned from operating inside Somalia completely.
AP adds
Deputy Security Minister Ibrahim Mohamed Yarow told The Associated Press that the Cabinet, meeting behind closed doors, ended the agreement with Saracen International in a decision he said is "irrevocable."-- -- --
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Yarow said his government, which controls only part of Mogadishu in a country that has seen mostly anarchy for two decades, wanted assistance, but only from companies with distinguished records.
"The Cabinet has today overwhelmingly voted against Saracen International," Yarrow said.
FSNAU: Post Deyr 2010/11 Analysis Presentation (pdf)
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Mareeg Online: Al-shabaab leader warns his group killing people with suspicion
Sheikh Fu’ad Mohamed Shongole, one the top leaders of Al-shabab militias fighting with Somali Transitional Federal Government and Amisom warned his group not to kill and get suicide acts with suspicion, reports said.
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“Killing and Suicide acts against people is incorrect and will lead you punishment from Allah, but it’s not something that you will be closer to Allah,” Sheikh Fu’ad Shongole said speaking to his supporters in Mogadishu.
“Don’t kill Muslim with suspect to the relation of Somali transitional government and the African union peacekeeping forces”, Added Shongole.
Mareeg Online: Islamist leader, Abuu-Zubeyr calls his group not to inspire people hatred
Sheikh Muktar A/rahman Abuu-Zubeyr, the top leader of Islamist militias of Al-shabab has called for his regional administrators not to harm civilians and inspire hatred against them.-- -- --
Sheikh Moktar Abuu-Zuber sent recorded tape to F.M stations speaking to the voice of Islamist insurgents this morning in the capital Mogadishu telling to the regional representatives in the south and central Somalia not lead people to take hatred for Islam and also not harm the civilians.
“You should deal people with in accordance with Sharia, but not let them flee from your administration”. Abuu-Zubeyr said his tape.
Shabab leader urged his group officials to gain support from people where they run by, but warned them to lose their support.
Shabelle Media: Ethiopian military meet with Ahlu Sunna in Balanbal
Many of Ethiopian military forces on Saturday crossed into Somalia, reaching in the district of Banbal in Galgudud region central Somalia.
Reports from Banbal suggested that the Ethiopians held meetings with the officials of Somalia’s moderate Ahlu Sunna Waljama’s ASWJ.
The discussions between Ethiopian military and Ahlu Sunna officials remain unclear.
Local inhabitants told Shabelle Media Network that they had seen a lot of armored vehicles and military lories that flooded in the district of Balanbal at once where Ahlu Sunna Walajama’ runs tightly.
Shabelle Media: Ethiopian Military officials hand over weapons to moderate Ahlu Sunna
Military officials from Ethiopia on Sunday handed over a lot of weapons to Somalia’s moderate Ahlu Sunna Waljama’ ASWJ in Balanbal district in Galgudud region in central Somalia, reports said.-- -- --
This step by the Ethiopian military forces to offer different weapons to Ahlu Sunna Waljama’ ASWJ comes one day after a lot of Ethiopian military flanked by armored vehicles arrived at the district of Balanbal where Ahlu Sunna tightly controls.
Reports emanating from the district suggest that the Ethiopians returned back from the Ahlu Sunna dominated areas after offering the weapons.
Range Resources Ltd: Range Updates on Second Puntland Exploration Well
Range announced the following with respect to the extension of the production sharing agreements (PSA) for the Dharoor Valley Exploration Area and the Nugaal Valley Exploration Area, as announced January 18, 2011.-- -- --
Range has agreed with its joint venture partner and operator Africa Oil Corp. that the second exploration well due for spudding on of before 27 September 2011, will be included as part of Africa Oil's exploration commitments under the Joint Venture Agreement between Range and Africa Oil Corp. Under this agreement, Africa Oil Corp. is obliged to spend US $22.5m in both Dharoor and Nugaal before Range reverts to a contributing basis.
Africa Oil Corp. has satisfied their commitments with respect to Dharoor, however to date, still has circa US $15m expenditure commitments on Nugaal, with expenditure to date on Nugaal being circa US $7.5m. With the second well being able to satisfy the joint ventures obligations under the Nugaal PSA, Range will be carried for the first US $15m spent on the well.
Range has also secured a three year Equity Line Facility of up to £20 million with Dutchess Capital. The ELF has been arranged by First Columbus, Dutchess' joint venture partner in the UK.
The ELF offers the Company ongoing access to capital as it enables the Company to obtain funding from Dutchess at any time during the next three years by way of subscription for new ordinary shares in the Company.
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This facility, coupled with existing funds, the Red Emperor farm-in in Georgia as announced 10 January 2011, the Africa Oil carry on the second well referred to above, option exercise monies and revenue from Texan operations, leaves the company very well placed to funds its comprehensive drilling and development program during 2011.
AP: Somali region defies fed gov't over Saracen deal
A semiautonomous regional government in Somalia on Friday defied the central government's decision to end relations with a private security company linked to the founder of Blackwater Worldwide, underscoring the weakness of the authorities in Mogadishu.
Somalia's Minister of Information Abdulkareem Jama insisted on Friday that the decision to end the relationship with Saracen International applies to regional governments.
"The decision is binding on all Somali territories. That will apply to all parts of Somalia," said Jama.
But Abdirizak Ahmed, the head of the counter-piracy program in the semiautonomous northern region of Puntland, said it does not necessarily recognize the authority of the federal government to make that decision. Saracen International has already begun training forces in Puntland, whose administration has been distancing itself from the Mogadishu-based government, saying it hasn't delivered security and services.
"I don't think the decision they have made will change anything in Puntland," Ahmed said. "I don't think it will have an impact on the relationship Puntland has with Saracen ... it's not a (national government) issue."
Other Puntland officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
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Lafras Luitingh, the chief operating officer of Saracen International, sent a statement which seemed to recognize that the Saracen deals, at least with Somalia's federal government, are over.
"We are proud of the work we performed for the Somali government who invited us to provide important counter-piracy and humanitarian assistance. We are ready to serve again if called upon to do so," it said. Luitingh did not return calls Friday seeking comment.
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The AP reported last week that several companies linked to Saracen International had given authorities false addresses or registration information. Saracen has declined to identify those funding their multimillion dollar project but Luitingh said last week that the donors are in the process of notifying the U.N.
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Jama said the Somali government does not even have a copy of a signed contract with Saracen. Luitingh has said the contract was signed on March 1 by the then-deputy prime minister and minister of finance and witnessed by the Somali ambassador to Kenya.
Shabelle Media: Somali PM tells about companies operating inside the nation
Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed better known as Farmajo, the prime minister of Somalia’s transitional federal government on Sunday went before the parliament to elaborate the foreign firms operating inside war torn Somalia.-- -- --
Attending Somalia’s parliament assembly in Mogadishu, Mohammed said that there are 10 foreign companies that are actively working in the horn of Africa nation.
Those firms include the banned Saracen International, SKA Air and Logistics, ALFA, UMBOS, SHAAHID, DEEQA, NSA and others, the prime minister of Somalia was quoted as saying.
For his part, Abdwali Mohammed Ali, Somalia’s minister of planning and international cooperation spoke at parliament meeting and said that Somalia’s current has not had any agreement with Saracen, adding that the former government led by Omar Abdirasheed denied he had any contracts with Saracen, a security company based in Britain.
He said that Somalia’s president hadn’t sing [sic] any contract with the firm.
WDN posts the draft pdf of the already-controversial upcoming ICG report on Somalia
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Xinhua: Ban Ki-moon urges greater support for government, AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday urged greater support for the Transitional Federal Government and the UN-backed African Union Mission in Somalia, known as AMISOM.
Ban made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 16th African Union (AU) summit which kicked off here in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
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"We must use the next few months to build on recent successes and ensure that the transition in August lays a foundation for stability and progress," the UN chief said.
Concomitant with those "successes" was pointed out in an ICRC press release this week
More than 6,000 patients were admitted to Keysaney and Medina hospitals last year, compared with 5,000 in 2009 and around 2,800 the previous year. Both Keysaney Hospital, run by the Somali Red Crescent Society, and the community-based Medina Hospital are supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
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Around 2,300 women and children were admitted to Keysaney and Medina hospitals last year with war injuries – nearly 40 per cent of all such casualties.
The ICRC strives for political neutrality so it is not unexpected that it does not attempt to make any connection about the 2010 increase in casualties w/ the "successes" in strengthening (in size, training, arming & financing) AMISOM as it focused on efforts to create space for the TFG to operate within in Mogadishu and, most importantly, took aim at Bakara market where, as Lifeline Africa Ambulance Service's Ali Muse made clear
that pro-government forces from the African Union and Somali troops are to blame for the majority of the civilian deaths — about 80 percent.
"All of those victims are civilians killed either by stray bullets or hit by mortars or by artillery shells," said Muse, who is the head of the Lifeline Africa Ambulance Service. "About 80 percent of them died at Bakara market, which is the main target of the African Union peacekeepers."
and
[Muse told IRIN] most shelling of Bakara Market comes from areas under the control of AMISOM troops. "I have no doubt in my mind as to who is responsible for the attacks on Bakara," he said.
However, for reporters to also omit this context when reporting on the ICRC information borders on criminal.
From last August: UN to Return to Somalia After 17 Years
U.N. Special Representative Augustine Mahiga says a small triangle of the capital, created and protected by the African Union peacekeeping contingent known as AMISOM, will be extended to allow international groups to move gradually into the city.
As documented in threads here over the past months, various representatives of AMISOM have openly bragged about its urban warfare operations taking the fight to its enemies, capturing more territories, and intention to take Bakara market. It is quite obvious that, even if not acknowledged in official channels, their mandate had been either expanded or deemed unimportant and worth ignoring in order for them to go on the offensive and expand their bases. This coincides w/ the UN push to extend AMISOM control in Mogadishu. And it has been responsible for the surge in civilian casualities. Serious journalism would have connected these things.
Instead, readers by and large get stenography and one-sided propaganda
Reuters: African Union wants attack mandate for Somalia force
The African Union's (AU) peacekeeping force in Somalia is ready to attack militants bent on toppling the government should it receive authorisation from the United Nations, the head of the body said on Saturday.
A senior AU source said African leaders would discuss on Sunday whether to lodge a formal request with the United Nations to change the mandate to an attacking one from peacekeeping.
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"We are ready to attack if we have permission from the United Nations' Security Council," Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union Commission, told a news conference in Ethiopia.
VOA: Number of War-Wounded in Mogadishu Escalates
ICRC spokeswoman Nicole Engelbrecht says the number of war wounded in 2010 reached new heights.
“There have been several peaks, but this is a new number and a higher number than in previous years and it looks like it shows a tendency because there is no end in sight to the fighting in Mogadishu," she said. "And the influx to the hospitals of patients with severe wounds does not seem to stop.”
Englebrecht says people arrive at the hospitals even in the middle of the night. And this, she says, could be an indication that the fighting in the city is becoming more frequent and more intense.
She calls this a very worrisome situation. She says the Red Cross is particularly concerned about the large number of civilians injured by weapons. Nearly 40 percent of them are women and children.
WSJ: Somalia Improving, Says Uganda
The security situation in war-torn Somalia is improving thanks to the efforts of Ugandan and Burundian troops under the African Union peace-keeping mission in Somalia, or AMISOM, the Ugandan presidency said Saturday, citing Somalia's president, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
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"[The] visiting Somali president briefed his host on developments in his country, saying that the situation was getting better...He also saluted President [Yoweri] Museveni for his exceptional role in the restoration of peace in Somalia," she said.
Since last year, Uganda has had at least 4,500 peacekeeping troops in Somalia. Last week, Uganda deployed an extra 1,800 troops to bolster AMISOM.
One blatant PR exercise in The EastAfrican this weekend does provide some of the context though human costs don't figure into the calculation to propagate official propaganda:
Why 2010 was a watershed year for peace in Somalia, though risks remain
When the year began, ... The 4,000 Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers, only half their then mandated strength of 8,000, controlled less than a third of the capital, Mogadishu, and were struggling to keep the insurgents at bay.
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Undaunted, the AU continued to deploy more troops. In January, Amisom controlled only the seaport, the airport, the state house, Villa Somalia and the famous K-4 junction in Mogadishu.
As its capacity improved, and more troops arrived, Amisom extended its deployment in the capital. By April, when their number had surpassed 6,000, it had established 12 bases and was pushing back the insurgents.
By October, the force had stretched its control to the Juba Hotel, Bondere, Shakara, the parliament building, the Coca- Cola factory, Dabka junction, Fishbay, and Singale.
Today, with Amisom support, the government can exercise its authority in over 60 per cent of the city area and 80 per cent of its population.
