Somalia thread for the week ending April 24

UN SecGen Ban Ki-moon: Holistic Anti-piracy Efforts Must Be Woven into Overall Solution for Somalia, Secretary-General Tells Conference on Regional Responses to Global Threats

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message [delivered] to the Conference on “Global Threat, Regional Responses: Forging a Common Approach to Maritime Piracy”, in Dubai today, 18 April:

...

The United Nations system has long supported Somalia in its peace and stability efforts and we are determined to continue. In recent years, piracy has emerged as a new dimension of this challenge. Piracy is not a waterborne disease. It is a symptom of conditions on the ground, including the overall security and political situation in Somalia. Therefore, our response must be holistic and comprehensive, encompassing simultaneous action on three fronts: deterrence; security and the rule of law; and development. We must work with the Somalia authorities, and we must weave our counter-piracy efforts into an overall solution for Somalia.

AP: Somali minister: More piracy help needed

The foreign minister of Somalia urged world powers Monday to do more to fight the root causes of piracy on land rather than trying to tackle the problem on the high seas.

Mohammed Abdullahi Omar told a counter-piracy conference in Dubai that pirates are winning despite the efforts by foreign nations to try to contain them as they shift their operations further from his country's shores. He said the lack of an effective Somali government — and military and police forces to back it up — is at the core of the piracy scourge.

...

Somalia's government is ready to act through a "comprehensive strategy" on piracy, Omar said, but it needs international help.

"The immediate goal must be to re-establish the national authority of the Somali state and its security capability to enforce the rule of law," he told foreign dignitaries gathered from more than 50 countries. "We have the will and we have the men and women. You have the resources."

WSJ:

Speaking in Dubai at an antipiracy conference, Mohammed Abdulahi Omar Asharq, foreign minister in Somalia's transitional government, criticized world powers for failing to deal robustly with Somalia's instability even as they mounted interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and the Ivory Coast to address international threats.

"We wait to be convinced that the international community has the will to tackle piracy," Mr. Asharq said.

...

He said it was "morally indefensible" that the world had only responded to the threat of piracy with containment while taking more robust action in other countries that posed a threat to stability.

US DOS: U.S. Combats Growing Global Problem of Maritime Piracy

[State Department's assistant secretary for political-military affairs, Andrew] Shapiro outlined several approaches the United States has identified to combat piracy in the near term.

"These center on four key areas: pursuing additional mechanisms to prosecute and incarcerate pirates; aggressively targeting those who organize, lead and profit from piracy operations; exploring expanded military options that will not place undue risks or burdens on our armed forces; and intensifying efforts to encourage the shipping industry to employ best-management practices," he said.

Shapiro emphasized the importance of implementing these anti-piracy measures immediately, as he said the problem is rapidly growing worse.

-- -- --

Shabelle Media: Officials, Businessmen discuss reopening Mogadishu biggest market

officials from Somali transitional federal government and Mogadishu businessmen on Monday held key meeting in the capital discussing ways to reopen Bakaara, Mogadishu largest and busiest market.

After the meeting, Abdikarim Yusuf Adam better known as Dhaga-badan, the commander of Somali army said that Somali government and AMISOM allowed the reopening of some of roads leading to main Mogadishu market, Bakaara.

...

For his part, Abdullahi Ugas Adam, from Mogadishu businessmen, said the government of Somalia has fully allowed reviving the movements of Bakaara market by opening the roads linking to the market.

IRIN: Mahamud Abdi Omar, "I am not only surviving but thriving"

Mahamud Abdi Omar, 25, is a small businessman in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, which for years has been a battlefield between government troops and insurgents.

Like any other businessman in a war zone, Omar tries to make a living despite the violence. However, for hearing-impaired Omar, surviving in the war-torn city is not only tricky but dangerous.

Omar owns a small shop selling electronics, such as radios and watches, in the middle of Bakara market, the largest open-air market in the country and probably the most dangerous. Omar spoke to IRIN on 19 April about his experience:

...

"I live in a city at war, so I have had to learn to read the signs when something is going to happen. It is easy when they use heavy weapons. I can feel the vibrations on the ground. My problem is when I am busy and not looking and they use small arms.

"Last week, for example, I was walking along the street when gunfire erupted and I only became aware of it when I saw a man fall in front of me bleeding; then I ran like everybody else.

"It seems we are always running from one shelter to another. Getting caught up in fighting is something every Mogadishu resident is familiar with but most are not deaf and so are immediately aware of what's going on. For me, and people like me, we have to be vigilant at all times."

...

"The shop is doing well - when I can open it [constant fighting often closes the market]. Businesswise I am doing better than when my father was alive. People are used to my being deaf and I give them good service so they like me."

-- -- --

The National: Firms bid for contracts to fight pirates

Eager to capitalise on the rising threat of Somali piracy, private security firms are lining up to win contracts to train maritime forces in Somalia.

And while the international community backs the idea of building up Somali forces fight piracy, it is raising eyebrows about the prospect of unregulated training and arming programmes that could later backfire.

Still, over 100 security firms have made pitches for contracts, said Saeed Mohamed Rage, the government minister overseeing counter-piracy for the Somali region of Puntland, where most pirates come from.

Some 20 firms had made offers in two days at an anti-piracy conference that ended here [Tuesday], he said. “Mostly they are European companies, Germans, Americans - a lot.”

Conference participants - including senior UN and government officials and industry executives from 50 countries - acknowledged the need for such a force.

In a statement, they endorsed “the provision of coordinated training as well as material and financial resources to improve land-based security capacity.”

...

The many firms eyeing the counter-piracy market needed to be open about their activities, said Col RJ Steed, a senior military adviser with the UN Political Office for Somalia.

“Private security companies must comply with the sanctions monitoring regime and they can only be used in a clear, transparent and open way so that their activities do not destabilise the region,” he said.

“We need to be very careful.”

...

The only firm known to have secured a contract in Somalia so far is Saracen International, which, according to media reports, has ties to Blackwater founder Erik Prince and received backing from the UAE.

Mr Rage, the Puntland minister, said that since last June the firm has fulfiled a multi-million dollar contract to train 350 forces in counter-piracy. He said his government had not paid the contract, but declined to say who had.

The Puntland authorities plan to invite the UN to inspect the forces and seek permission to arm them, Mr Rage said. For now the men are waiting without pay.

...

“Our diplomats worked with all the usual folks to say, this is really going to create a problem, this is really not something that you want to do,” said Donna Hopkins, counter-piracy coordinator for the US State Department.

Security firms should wait until Somalia passes a law regulating such forces, and ensure that their forces will be sustainable, she said.

“Buying a bunch of boats and sticking guns in the hands of sailors that are half-trained is a backwards way to do it,” she said.

“First you develop the laws, then you build up the structures, then you develop the revenue streams, then you buy the equipment, then you train the people.”

Halliday Finch, a Nairobi-based firm that is seeking funds to build a 1,500-strong maritime police force on behalf of the government in Mogadishu, said it follows such steps.

The company has already trained 500 non-maritime police, said CEO Sam Mattock, and has kept the UN and other organisations abreast of its activities.

“We’ve said, let’s do this properly, let’s make it transparent,” he said. “No secrets.”

The firm has drafted a law for the government to submit to parliament that would regulate maritime police.

To ensure the force is sustainable, the firm aims to spend $52 million in the first year and train up an officer corps within two years. With a Kuwaiti partner, Mr Mattock said, he plans to solicit the funds from the Kuwaiti government.

-- -- --

Shabelle Media: Elders express concern over helicopters hovering over Hobyo

Local elders and intellectuals of Somalia on Saturday expressed a deep concern about helicopters, which come from foreign warships in the Indian Ocean, hovering over the coastal town of Hobyo.

One of Hobyo elders told Shabelle Media Network that early Saturday morning they have seen a number of helicopters flying over the town of Hobyo about 500 kilometers (300 miles) northeast of the capital Mogadishu.

Local residents in the town face a dreadful condition and this comes after three days after foreign warships raided a boat in coast of the town.

At least three fishermen were killed and three others including an Iranian citizen was injured in the raid conducted [by] an unknown helicopter.

-- -- --

Latest analysis from Prof. Weinstein: The U.N. Fails to Take Control of the "Transition”

The chapter of Somalia’s political history that has been dominated by the attempt of the United States, working through the United Nations, to manage the “transition” of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (T.F.G.) to a permanent set of governing institutions has ended with the collapse of the U.S.-U.N. initiative.

...

Denying Mahiga any public support for the Nairobi conference, of which it wanted to wash its hands, the “donor”-power coalition of the U.S. and Western European states left Mahiga alone to dangle on the limb on to which they had pushed him.

Somalia thread for the week ending April 17

TFG:

The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia is disappointed with current political engagement of UN Political Office in Somalia (UNPOS).

...

1. The Transitional Federal Charter (TFC). The Charter clearly stipulates that the TFG, the executive organ is responsible for the policy and the implementation of both reconciliation and foreign affairs.


2. The Djibouti Peace Process equally reconfirms the TFIs are pillars of Somali unity, which are to be re-enforced by the International Community (IC) at all stages and at all times throughout the peace process.

Clearly, the current consultation meeting in Nairobi taking place 12 and 13 April 2011, was initiated and organized by UNPOS in direct opposition to the views and proposals of the TFG, which were repeatedly submitted to UNPOS and IC.


The TFG and other Somali stakeholders had no input in the preparation of the concept, content or the agenda of the Nairobi meeting. Given that, this is meant to be both consultative and a reconciliation meeting for Somalis, we believe it contravenes both the spirit, the Charter and Djibouti peace agreement.

...

The delegation currently participating in the Nairobi meeting led by the Speaker of the parliament has no mandate or authority from the Council of Ministers or the parliament. On the contrary, both have demonstrated publicly and privately to the Speaker their clear rejection to participate. This has included presentation of a motion signed by over 100 members of the parliament (MPs) that was presented to the Speaker, which he decided to ignore.

Given the above, this participation is contrary not only to the policy of state but could potentially damage the interest of the nation as it could lead to potential fragmentation of national institutions. We therefore, condemn this act and call upon the delegation to withdraw from its on-going participation. We also call upon the Somali people and their representatives in parliament to reject and condemn this act in equal measure.

UNPOS:

We have just concluded a very successful consultative meeting.

Several of the most important stakeholders from Somalia attended the meeting. The Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament and some of his colleagues were here. Presidents Farole and Alin led impressive teams from Puntland and Galmudug. Ahlu Sunna Wa’al Jamaa fielded a very strong delegation, who came from various parts of the country. And approximately two dozen stakeholders from the international community observed the proceedings, including regional organizations such as the African Union, European Union, IGAD (Chair), League of Arab States and Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

The atmosphere was excellent – throughout the plenary discussions, behind closed doors and in the margins of the meeting.

...

In particular, there was agreement among Somali stakeholders on the following points:

• the need to end the Transition according to the provisions of the Transitional Federal Charter, which calls for elections of the President of the TFG and the Speaker of the TFP and his deputies before the end of the Transition, i.e. August 2011;

• on the extension of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs), it was proposed that the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) could be extended for a period of two years; this was not seen as an end in itself, but as a requirement to complete certain critical tasks, including preparations for eventual national elections;

...

• to reform the current TFP and to intensify the process of outreach and reconciliation with the “states”, regional authorities, civil society and the diaspora and to make propositions to reform the next Parliament;

• to accelerate progress towards a new federal Constitution; it was acknowledged that this is a shared responsibility between the TFIs, the states, regional authorities and other stakeholders including the international community;

TFG:

The Council of Ministers reviewed the outcome of the “High Level” Consultation meting on Somalia that was concluded late [Wednesday], 13 April 2011 in Nairobi, Kenya. This meeting has not produced a tangible result that meets our expectation in serving the interest of our nation.

After the Council of Ministers discussed the way forward, the transitional period and how to best find peace, consultation and full reconciliation and at the same time debated on the issue, the Council of Ministers decided the following:

1. The Transitional Federal Government is ready for consultation, accountability and full reconciliation between all segments of the society, such as Regional Administrations, Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jamia, civil society groups, religious and traditional leaders and opposition groups.

2. The political committee at ministerial level to recommend the best way to hold Somali – Somali dialogue inside Somalia. The committee to submit its proposals to the Council of Ministers as soon as possible.

3. To hold high level consultative and reconciliation meeting inside Somalia between 11 to 16 June 2011. This meeting will be chaired and organised by the Transitional Federal Government with the support and consultation of the UN and the International Community.

4. The contents and the agenda must be discussed among all stakeholders so that all participants have an input and make consensus decision.

Somalia thread for the week ending April 10

Shabelle Media: Premier: If UN is serious, its agencies to relocate to the Somali capital

In a press conference held in the capital, Mohammed Abdullahi Mohammed said that the all Un agencies should come to Mogadishu within 90 days.

...

Mohammed called for Augustine Mahiga, the UN envoy to move to Mogadishu and set up his office in the capital of Somalia.

He said that the security in the capital is reliable and dependable as different embassies are right now operating in the capital, adding that if the UN is serous, its agencies should operate in Mogadishu.

AHN: UN envoy: It is not easy for us to move to Mogadishu

Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, the United Nations special representative to Somalia, on Tuesday said that it is not easy for U.N. agencies involved in Somalia to relocate to Mogadishu.

Mahiga said that for security reasons and because of bad facilities, U.N. personnel can’t move to the capital of Somalia.

“The prime minister’s announcement is very ambitious and doesn’t recognize the fact that United Nations’ significant presence in Somalia,” Mahiga told the BBC Somali service.

Flashback to August 9, 2010: UN deliberating possible ‘light presence’ in Somali capital

With the African Union’s peacekeeping mission in Somalia nearing its full capacity, the United Nation is now “seriously considering” the second of its three-part strategy in which the world body would have a light presence in the capital, Mogadishu, and other parts of the war-ravaged country, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

...

Before Augustine Mahiga, who recently took up the post of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, departed for Nairobi, Mr. Ban said the two men held discussions on the second phase, in which some UN personnel would be relocated to Mogadishu and other areas in Somalia.

The UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), headed by Mr. Mahiga, has been based in Nairobi due to security concerns.

“At this time, [Mr. Mahiga] will take all necessary measures [for] staffing and to ensure safety,” the Secretary-General told reporters in New York, adding that his envoy will have to coordinate closely with the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS).

Mr. Mahiga’s predecessor, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, told the Security Council last year that “our temporary presence in Nairobi has lasted far too long. We can only work effectively for peace with the Somalis and address pressing humanitarian needs if we are close to the victims of famine, violence and different abuses.”

They'd be like sitting ducks in the middle of a hot war that has already and still requires a considerable amount of violence and civilian casualties to achieve their goal of creating space for the TFG to look more official and accepted.

From an opinion piece published at al Jazeera English: Somalia: Manifestation of stealth trusteeship

The US and UN rejected the unilateral extension, with James Steinberg, the US deputy secretary of state, arguing that it would strengthen al-Shabab and Augustine Mahiga, the UN special representative for Somalia, joining in the chorus of criticism. The disagreement within the international community over Somalia was exposed, with Ethiopia and IGAD lining up on one side and the US and UN on the other.

...

But the Obama administration has condemned neither IGAD nor Ethiopia for triggering and defending the Somali parliament's decision at international forums. Logic dictates that if Washington is so serious about this it should direct its concerns to the source of the latest political entanglement – Ethiopia. And, as bizarre as this may seem, Meles Zenawi, the Ethiopian prime minister, could deliver a reversal of the decision much more promptly than the Somali parliament.

Meanwhile, the UK is positioning itself to lead Somalia's post-transition period after August 2011 – a role it sought to kick start during a conference it hosted in February. Unsurprisingly, besides some general recommendations, nothing substantive came out of the gathering.

Although Mahiga participated in the UK conference, he failed to influence its outcome and therefore called for another conference to be held in Nairobi in March. Both the Djibouti government and the TFG rejected this, arguing that it would not advance peace in Somalia. Obviously, this will further exacerbate perceptions that Mahiga, like his predecessors, is micro-managing Somali affairs as though he is the governor of the country.

Perhaps a reconciliation conference for Somalia's external patrons is in order.

...

To put it bluntly, the Somali people deserve better than to have external parties micromanaging their internal affairs.

Prof. Michael Weinstein does a commendable job of putting chronological order and context to the power struggles for controlling Somalia's political directions in the past weeks in his latest analysis, published at Garowe Online: Transition Games

He concludes w/ the assessment that

What comes next is anyone’s guess and all depends on Washington’s next move. Will Washington finally give up on trying to (re-)direct the “transition” and join the rest of the players rather than attempting to change the game? Will Washington make yet another stab at fighting above its weight – trying to manage the “transition” when it either cannot (that is the likely case) or will not (a result of the “cannot”) do so?

All that Washington/Mahiga has been doing is stopping any possible “transition,” likely or not, dead in its tracks. Another month will be lost as August looms. Indeed, perhaps it has reached the point that it is too late for any structural changes to occur in August – all the time has been wasted on divisions among all the actors. If that is the case, then Washington will have to fold its tent and join the party. The struggle for control over the “transition” would shift to trench warfare, with the “donor”-powers digging in through the High Level Committee. That would be business as usual, but now under hyper-factionalized and hyper-mobilized political conditions that were precipiated by the “donor”/powers’ determination to (try to) end the “transition” rather than acknowledge the conditions and simply extend the T.F.I.s without all the fuss.

It is possible that the “transition” fight has put political processes in motion that will go on with their own dynamics, particularly regionalism and localism - the formation of a patchwork of “authorities” contending among themselves (including H.S.M.) in southern and central Somalia. The longer that the T.F.I.s remain in a state of suspended “transition,” devolutionary movements will gain momentum and independent (Somaliland) or autonomous (Puntland) regional states will gain power. Ethiopia will gain by exploiting division.

Is the actual transition – not the “transition” games – already taking place?

Shabelle Media: Rallies against UN organized meeting on Somalia rock Mogadishu

Hundreds of Mogadishu people on Thursday have taken to streets condemning the United Nations sponsored meeting on Somalia that will be held in neighboring Kenya on 12 and 13 April.

The demonstrations were highly organized and attended by Somali religious figures, young people, women and more children as they were chanting slogans supporting the transitional federal government’s decision of abstaining from taking part the UN meeting.

The demonstrators were raising placards and banners written with: “We will never accept the outcome of Nairobi meeting”, “We don’t want the conspiracy plotted Mahiga”.

Not so sure whether there were actually "hundreds".

AHN: Cleric calls for Ban Ki-moon to fire UN envoy to Somalia

Speaking at a huge peaceful rally in Mogadishu to denounce the United Nations sponsored meeting for Somalia factions, Sheikh Ahmed Abdi Dhi’isow, the chairman of the Somali religious assembly said the Somali people don’t recognize and are against what he called a blatant conspiracy by Augustine Mahiga, the U.N. Special Representative to Somalia, to dismantle and destroy Somalia.

Dhi’sow said that he met with Mahiga and told him that every meeting should be held inside Somalia rather than abroad. However, he indicated that Mahiga appears to be rejecting his commitments to pull together all Somalis in a conference.

“We have imparted to U.N. special representative to Somalia a letter with nine main points, including U.N. to give moral and material support to the TFG [transitional federal government]; U.N. should work restoring the relations Somali government with neighboring countries and those in the world; U.N. to help Somali young people to get jobs and more,” the cleric said.

“Mahiga disregarded all of our requests and suggestions and he continued organizing the meeting in an attempt to divide Somalis, so we are calling on the U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon to dismiss Augustine Mahiga from United Nations Political Office for Somalia,” he added.

Shabelle Media:

Sheikh Ahmed Dhi’isow, the chairman of Somali religious assembly said that he will never recognize the results of UN meeting on Somalia that will be held in Nairobi during this month.

He told hundreds of demonstrators in Mogadishu today that Mahiga is doing something against the interest of Somali people and their sovereignty.

He said that every meeting should take place inside Somalia, particularly seaside Mogadishu city.

From a UNPOS press release:

Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General Augustine P. Mahiga today said that the High Level Consultative meeting will take place as scheduled on the 12 and 13 April in Nairobi.

“We have received positive responses to the conference from Somali parties and officials who are willing to participate in strengthening dialogue between the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and its partners.”

Ambassador Mahiga said he believes that some small groups that have reacted in protest to the conference do not fully understand the true aim of the meeting, resulting in confusion surrounding the initiative.

“I believe some people have been misinformed about the objective of this meeting. The UN has a role as a facilitator. Recent events within the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) have demonstrated that there has been a disruption in dialogue between the TFG and its partners. It is my responsibility as facilitator, in accordance with the Djibouti Peace Agreement, to assist the TFIs in reconciling their differences so that the peace process can move forward.

This meeting will pull into sharp focus the needs and tasks that must be addressed to end the transition productively for the Somali people. The outcome should be an agreed upon straight forward set of principles on how to move forward with the peace process and end the current transition,” Ambassador Mahiga said.

He said that this meeting will also pave the way forward for another, follow-up meeting in Mogadishu as proposed by the TFG.

AP:

"We can take back our city," said Mohamed, a Somali-American who previously taught at a community college in New York state. "If we get a year's extension, we can push al-Shabab out of Mogadishu."

AFP:

The Ugandan effort is a painstaking sequence of short operations in which they reconquer the area block by block, securing every new patch with thousands of sandbags and hastily established military positions.

To slow AMISOM down and work around them, the Shebab had created an ingenious network of trenches and tunnels, which in some areas run over several hundred metres.

"They never move back without fighting. And when they lose ground, they immediately remobilise to retake it," said another Ugandan commander, Lieutenant-Colonel John Mugarura.

AMISOM now controls around half of Mogadishu and is gradually tightening its grip around Bakara market, the heart of the capital economic activity and a crucial source of funds for the Shebab.

The part played by Somali pro-government troops in the reconquest of Mogadishu remains very limited but AMISOM does however link up with some units on a case-by-case basis.

The African Union force was supported by men loyal to warlord Yusuf Mohamed Indahade in the Hodan district, by the Sufi militia Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa along Maka al-Mukarama and by soldiers of colonel Osman Abdullahi "Agey" in Hosh.

"We are taking ground, we have advanced in several areas of Mogadishu... We'll continue, while trying to reorganise the TFG forces," AMISOM top commander General Nathan Mugisha said.

Again, nobody writing a report that detailed even bothers to ask how waging urban warfare assaults (in heavily populated areas, no less) falls w/i AMISOM's mandate as it is still published.

Another excerpt from that al Jazeera piece:

In 2006, the Islamic Courts Union pacified Mogadishu with a militia of less than 1,000 people. Now, in theory at least, the AMISOM has close to 10,000 troops in Mogadishu, while the TFG claims to have more than 15,000. But even with these forces at their disposal they have failed to pacify Mogadishu, let alone the rest of the country.

-- -- --

UNHCR: Latest fighting forces more Somalis into displacement

UNHCR is monitoring a deteriorating situation in south and central Somalia where sporadic fighting has continued to be reported in the towns of Doolow, Bulo Hawo, Luuq, Elwaaq, Dhoobley, Diif and Taabdo. We are again urging all armed groups and forces in Somalia to avoid targeting civilian areas and to ensure that civilians are not being placed in harm's way.

UNHCR estimates that clashes between the forces of the Transitional Federal Government and Al-Shabaab militia have displaced about 33,000 Somalis over the past six weeks. More than half of these are people who have been displaced in Mogadishu.

...

Some of the most recently displaced are people who have fled shelling in Dhoobley, a town just across the border from Liboi in northern Kenya. Dhoobley acts as a final stop-off point for people fleeing Somalia for the Dadaab refugee complex in neighbouring Kenya. According to local sources, the town and its surrounding areas remain tense. Pro-government forces have been consolidating their control of the town, which they took earlier this week.

In Bulo Hawo, a Somali town across the border from Mandera in north-west Kenya, people are in desperate need of shelter. Our staff report that 150 permanent shelters and some 400 to 500 temporary structures were destroyed during recent shelling. The market area has also been destroyed and many people are sleeping outside.

-- -- --

The Obama Administration is committed to recognizing Africa’s strategic importance and drawing more attention to its enormous promise and potential. This is especially important in the economic arena, where there is growing awareness of Africa’s potential as a high-growth market and investment destination.

Johnnie Carson, April 5, Woodrow Wilson Center

-- -- --

Notice from the President on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Somalia

NOTICE
- - - - - - -
CONTINUATION OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY WITH RESPECT TO SOMALIA

On April 12, 2010, by Executive Order 13536, I declared a national emergency pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-1706) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by 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, which have repeatedly been the subject of United Nations Security Council resolutions, and violations of the Somalia arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council.

Because the situation with respect to Somalia continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, the national emergency declared on April 12, 2010, and the measures adopted on that date to deal with that emergency, must continue in effect beyond April 12, 2011. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13536.

-- -- --

From AFRICOM's 2011 posture statement presented for the U.S. Senate Armed Forces Committee April 5th budget request hearing (w/ some slight reordering):

International Military Education and Training (IMET) is a long-standing and well-regarded program funded by the Department of State. IMET provides military course education and training for foreign military and select civilian personnel.

...

A notable IMET participant from Uganda is Major General Nathan Mugisha—the commander of the African Union‘s peacekeeping mission Somalia; a U.S. Army War College graduate.

...

U.S. Africa Command is a judicious steward of the resources provided to us by the American people to accomplish our theater objectives. With the fiscal challenges we face at home and the competing global demands on our military forces, we are dedicated to helping build partner nation capability at the lowest cost possible. In many instances, we achieve positive effects that enhance the capability of our partners and support U.S. interests with a modest investment in resources.

...

Somalia remains a failed state: divided, weak, and fragile. Despite the intentions of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to establish the sinews of a functioning state, Somalia is unable to provide essential services or control of its territory on its own. It does not have a civil service, central bank, judicial system, police force, or functioning cross-clan military. Inter-clan rivalries and the Islamic extremist groups al-Shabaab and Hizbul al-Islam continue to challenge Somali‘s ability to form a functioning and stable government, and al-Shabaab controls much of southern Somalia. The survival of the TFG in Mogadishu depends, in large measure, on the presence of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the more than 8,000 troops supplied by willing African partners.

Linked to Somalia‘s instability is al-Qaida‘s dramatic increase in influence in east Africa over the last year. In early 2010, al-Shabaab announced their alignment with al-Qaida. This alliance provides al-Qaida a safe haven to plan global terror operations, train foreign fighters, and conduct global terror operations. The July 2010 attacks in Kampala, Uganda, demonstrate a willingness and capability to expand the conflict beyond Somalia. This situation poses a direct threat to the security of the United States.

When was that section of the 2011 posture statement written? Hizbul Islam officially disbanded on December 20, 2010 when they folded into H.S.M. So why wasn't the posture statement corrected before being presented to the U.S. Senate?

Also from that posture stmt, days before IOG "wins" reelection:

As U.S. Africa Command‘s sole Forward Operating Site on the continent, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, serves as a critical operational and sustainment facility (a hub for lift, logistics, intelligence, and Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4)) in support of DOD activities in the region. It is critical for activities and operations across AOR boundaries in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Peninsula.

Camp Lemonnier‘s proximity to Djibouti‘s air and seaport make it ideal for supporting U.S. Africa Command operations throughout the region. Of equal importance is the Camp‘s ability to support DOD‘s global transportation infrastructure network as a key node. Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, is essential to U.S. security interests in East Africa and the Gulf of Aden. The FY12 military construction request contains a number of important projects that will allow us to continue to enhance the capabilities of this facility. We appreciate your attention to these requests.

Somalia thread for the week ending April 3

Shabelle Media: UN representative for Somalia meets with TFG officials in Mogadishu

After meeting with Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the speaker of the parliament and the prime minister, Mahiga held a joint news conference in Mogadishu with Somali premier, saying that he invited Somalia’s top TFG officials to attend a meeting on Somalia that will be held in Nairobi, Kenya.

“I came to Mogadishu to bring invitation to the president, the prime minister and the speaker to the forth-coming consultative meeting which will be held in Nairobi later this month” Mahiga said in joint press conference with Somali premier in the seaside Mogadishu.

During the meeting, Somali president and parliament speaker will get an opportunity to discuss with autonomous Somali regions to resolve little disagreements between them, said the UN representative to Somalia.

Mahiga said that it is needed the transitional period, which is due to expire in August, to end its time as promised.

Garowe Online:

Sources told Garowe Online, Mahiga handed Somali government top leaders invitation letter to attend the meeting and appealed to President Sharif and Prime Minister Farmajo to revise the government extended for one more year, he stated the international community will never accept the government extended term.

Somali President and Prime Minister opposed Mahiga’s suggestion and said they extended the government’s term one year to complete their incomplete activities in the year.

AFP:

Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed insists that he needs one more year to rid the country of an Al Qaeda affiliated Islamic insurgency and establish a stable government in war-torn Somalia.

...

He said he needs about a year to finish the job and that is why his government, due to step down in August, announced on Monday that it will continue in power for another 12 months.

"We were only appointed recently... We still need some more time to defeat the Shebab. That is our priority," said Mohamed, who was appointed in November 2010.

"The solution was to prolong the government's mandate until August 2012... for here on the ground we are still at war," against the Shebab, said Mohamed, whose offices at Villa Somalia are just a few hundred metres (yards) from the frontline.

By then he expects to have finished "restoring security to Mogadishu and probably kicking the Shebab out of the rest of the south of the country."

Then authorities will be in a position to draw up a draft constitution and a new law on political parties, he said, adding "we will establish good governance and put in place a transparent system and we will revamp public services and foster national reconciliation."

...

"If we leave now before we finish our task, I am convinced the Shebab will be the ones who benefit," he said.

"Things move forward only slowly. I can't achieve miracles. I need more time."

Somaliland Press: Djibouti and Somaliland reject Somalia peace conferences

The Djibouti government has for the first time publicly rejected an upcoming Somali conference sponsored by the UN to be held in the Kenyan capital, an official said on Wednesday.

Mr. Hamoud Abdi Sultan, Djibouti Muslim Affairs Minister, told VOA Somali services that his government was strongly opposed to the proposed international peace conference in Nairobi because it was undermining the 2009 Djibouti conference that has formed the current TFG.

He said a new conference will only complicate things even further and will reignite the conflict in Somalia. He believes the conference will not move the current efforts forward but instead will backpaddle the whole process.

The conference proposed by Ambassador Augustine P. Mahiga, the Secretary General of the United Nation’s envoy to Somalia, calls for an international peace conference in April that would involve direct negotiations between Somalia’s many warring factions.

During his state visit to Hargeisa last week, Mr. Mahida invited Somaliland to take a center role in the conference but it unilaterally rejected the offer saying it has nothing to do with Somalia’s unrests.

Shabelle Media: Somalia’s cabinet spur to attend UN organized meeting for Somalia

The cabinet ministers of Somali transitional federal government of Somalia on Thursday spurned to attend UN organized consultative meeting that will be held in Nairobi, the capital city of neighboring Kenya.

After unusual meeting chaired by Somali prime minister, Mohammed Abdullahi Mohamed better known as Farmajo, all ministers agreed to boycott and not attend the UN meeting for Somalia.

-- -- --

On Wednesday

Hiiraan Online: Al-Shabab Launches Major Road Repair Between Mogadishu and IDP Camps

The Alshabab administration in conjuction with the Banadir Transport Association have begun repairng an important road connecting Garasbaaley and Iveco near Mogadishu Stadium.

The road is said to be designed for use by commuters to and from the Bakara market and other parts of Mogadishu under the control of Alshabab after the main road connecting most parts of the capital known as Jidka Warshadaha ( Industrial Road) was closed by recent fierce fightings between the Alshabab and government soldiers supported by AMISOM.

Construction work to resurface the road has begun after the closure of jidka Warashadaha ( Indutrial Road) which was the only one leading to the Bakara Market. We hope this road will ease the difficulties being experienced by commuters travelling to and from the market'',said Aded Osman Shuriye speaking on behalf of the Banadir Transport Association.

People who go to work in Bakara Market daily now use a narrow way that meanders through Hodan and Holwadag districts in which at least two people are killed by stray bullets which the opposing armies exchange according to people HOL spoke to who use the road on daily basis.

Vehicles transporitng merchendise from Mogadishu port have been unable to access the Bakara Market since last month when heavy clashes erupted between government troops and forces of the Alshabab in Jidka wadanaha ( Central Road) which is the only high way that connects the different parts of the Somali capital under the control of Alshabab on the one hand and the Somali government and their AMISOM allies on the other.

The Alshabab governor of Banadir Region, Sheikh Mohamud Hassan Omar, thanked the Banadir Transport Association at the opening ceremoney for intitiating this project. He said that he hoped the road would alleviate the suffering of the people who use it daily to and from Bakara Market and beyond.

Also, business people who use the road daily have welcomed the repair of the road and said it would go a long way in solving the numerous difficulties they encounter while travelling on it.

The very next day

Shabelle Media: AMISOM to reopen Mogadishu’s largest market

African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Thursday said it will reopen Mogadishu roads linking to Bakaara market, Mogadishu’s largest and busiest market.

Speaking to journalist in Mogadishu, Maj. Barigye Bahoku, the spokesman of AMISOM forces in Somalia said that Nathan Mugisha, AMISOM’s force commander and Somalia’s interior minister and home security met today.

He added that the officials discussed ways could help reopen streets linking to Bakaara market.

Mr. Bahoku rebuffed that African Union peacekeepers are involved the closure of some of Mogadishu important streets.

He pointed out that instead they repaired streets damaged and torn down by what he called al Shabaab militants.

And, Friday

HOL: Government Announce Re-opening of Roads to Bakara Market

The Somali Government and AMISOM have announced that they will work together to reopen roads to the Bakara Market which has been closed for more than one month, after fierce clashes erupted in Mogadishu's Industrial Road, the only road connecting Bakara Market with the rest of the city.

In a joint press release, Somali minister of internal affairs and homeland Secuitry, Abdishakur Sheikh Hassan Farah, the governor of Mogadishu, Mohamud Ahmed Nur(Tarsan) and AMISOM commander, Nathan Mugisha, told the Somali media that they all agreed to reopen roads to the Bakara Market.

AMISOM spokesman,Barigiye Bahugo, told reporters that AMISOM and the TFG did not close the roads to Bakara Market, but the Alshabab were behind the blocking of the Bakara roads as they dug deep trenches in the middle of the roads.

'' The leaders of the Somali government and AMISOM have decided to help the Somali business community in Mogadishu by immediately reopening all roads under our control to the Bakara Market so that people and vehicles can travel to and from the market'', said AMISOM spakesman, Major Barigiye Bahugo.

Major Bahugo said that people now access the Bakara Market using Aden Ade Road near the Parliament Building, adding that thousands of people travel on this road each day.

However, the AMISOM spokesman acknowledged that heavy transport vehicles can not reach the Bakara Market, and called on the Ashabab to reopen the roads under their control they had closed to traffic.

-- -- --

Thursday

The East African Standard: High alert as police battle Al Shabaab

Somalia’s dreaded Al Shabaab militia crossed into Kenya and attacked a police station.

The attackers launched a rocket-propelled grenade on the Liboi Police Station at the Liboi border in, North Eastern, but no injury was reported.

...

Residents who called The Standard Wednesday said there was tension at the border following the attack, with more security personnel being moved to the area. Area police chief Leo Nyongesa declined to comment on the attack but said security had been beefed up. The incident came days after a GSU officer was shot and injured in a clash with the militia group.

Contingents of General Service Unit officers had, a week earlier, crossed to Somalia and killed at least a dozen of Al Shabaab militants in another clash at the border.

This was after the militants allegedly fired at the Kenyan side and hit and damaged a water tank at a GSU camp at the main border.

And in retaliation, the rag tag launched an attack on the personnel. Security chiefs in the province were in meetings yesterday in Garissa to chart out the way forward.

There has been fighting pitting forces loyal to the Transitional Federal Government and the militia over control of Dobley town. Kenyan troops were have been mobilised to the Liboi border to control an influx of refugees as the fighting raged.

Several hundred kilometers to the north...

HRW: Kenya: Stop Deporting Somalis Fleeing Conflict

Kenya should immediately stop deporting back to Somalia civilians fleeing the conflict there, Human Rights Watch said today. Kenya should allow humanitarian agencies to assist Somalis displaced by fighting and should not close makeshift camps without providing alternative sites and offering displaced people the opportunity to seek asylum.

On March 17, 2011, Kenyan authorities forced the Kenya Red Cross to stop providing services at a temporary refugee camp in Mandera, in northeast Kenya, which was housing 13,000 people, many of them Somalis who had recently fled fighting across the border in Bula Hawo. District authorities, who had given the Red Cross permission to establish the camp, abruptly changed course, ordering the Red Cross to stop providing services and close the camp. That evening, according to several organizations working in Mandera, government officials accompanied by armed Kenyan security forces intimidated camp residents, telling them to leave the camp and return to Somalia by noon the next day.

Friday

Shabelle Media: Heavy fighting rocks Dhobley near Kenya border

Heavy battle and volleys of artillery barrages between Somali government forces allied with Raskmaboni forces and Al shabaab jolted the border town of Dhobley in western Lower Jubba region.

Reports say that the fighting kicked off after Somali forces attacked an Al shabaab controlled district of Dhobley as local residents, mostly fled already, started displacing from their houses.

Some of the houses in the town are reported burnt by the barrages Somali forces were using during the fighting.

and

At least 10 people were killed and dozens more injured after Somali government forces on Friday attacked the border with the aim to take control from Al shabaab.

HOL:

Troops loyal to the Somali government and Raaskomboni forces led by Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam ( Sheikh Ahmed Madobe) have heavily shelled Dhobley town in Lower Jubba Region of Somalia since last night according to reports reaching Hiiraan Online Friday morning.

The heavy shelling is said to have destroyed residential buildings although no human casualties have been reported thus far. The affected areas of the town were also the scene of fierce fighting between Alshabab and the allied Government and Raaskamboni forces last week in which Alshabab remained in control of the town.

Witnesses told HOL that the heavy shelling into Dhobley town was coming from Kenyan Somali border, with residents of the town fleeing back to villages around Dhobley town from where they had come back a week earlier.

Reports speak of heavy military movement, with Alshabab fighters said to have encircled Dhobley town where as Somali government and Raasbamboni forces are in an area known as Haar-Haar between Kenya and Somalia in no man's land.

Alshabab officials accuse the Kenyan army of participating in the Dhobley town shelling, but there has been no response from the Kenyan government denying or confirming this.

HOL: Calm Returns to Dhobley Town After Heavy Clashes

Calm has returned to Dhobley town in the Lower Jubba Region of Somalia following heavy clashes pitting Somali government forces supported by their Raaskamboni allies led by Sheikh Ahmed Madobe against the Alshabab group which stills control the town and got the upper hand in yesterday's fierce fighting.

Some of the few remaining residents of the town whom Hiiraan online contacted have confirmed that the town was calm and quiet and in full control of Alshabab although fighting may break out any time.

The exact figure of casualties among the combatants of the warring sides is not Known as they are not talking to the media. However, independent sources on the ground report both sides in the conflict suffered heavy number of loss of life and that there was a wide spread destruction of property,death and injury among the civilian population.

The heavy fighting and shelling in Dhobley town come at a time when people who have been displaced from the town by earlier battles started to return to their homes following weeks of a lull in the conflict in this Somali border town.

-- -- --

The East African Standard: Somalia plans to create new state to keep off Al Shabaab

A meeting in Nairobi this week discussed the formation of a semi-autonomous Jubaland that will comprise northern regions of Lower and Middle Juba and Gedo on the Kenya-Somalia border.

If the plan goes through, Jubaland would become the third semi-autonomous breakaway region after Somaliland and Puntland.

A group of former Somalia MPs told the Nairobi meeting that if created, Jubaland would act as a buffer zone and frustrate incursions by Al Shabaab into the region, prevent entry of refugees, and smuggling of arms into Kenya.

Kenya has backed the proposal with the hope it would help crush the Al Shabaab insurgents operating along the Kenya-Somalia-Ethiopia border.

...

A former senior police officer, who spoke to The Standard On Saturday, on condition of anonymity because he is still bound by State secrets rules, warned the Kenyan Government to tread carefully on its relationship with the new Jubaland.

"It will not be easy. It may help stop the Al Shabaab in the long run but the Government must be ready for a fight because the militia will definitely resist the creation of the new state," said the former officer.

He added: "I hope our top security advisors weighed the pros ad cons of openly supporting such an initiative. I hope the Government is prepared to deal with the repercussions."

But delegates at the meeting downplayed the fears that the creation of Jubaland would create more security problems in the already troubled region.

Muhammed Gandhi, a former defence minister in Somalia who is co-ordinating the plan said it would bring stability in the region occupied by Al Shabaab.

"We are ready to liberate the three regions from Al Shabaab," he said.

A seven day congress attended by Somali’s Transitional Federal Government members of parliament, representatives from African Union, IGAD representatives and elders from the region are supposed to come up with a roadmap of how to defeat the terror group.

On Wednesday, delegates adopted a regional constitution with 81 Articles to help govern the new state. They also elected Professor Gandhi as the new president of Jubaland.

The new ‘country’ is fashioned on the model of the autonomous Puntland and Somaliland in the north.

-- -- --

Shabelle Media: Ahlu Sunna fighters defected to Shabelle Valley administration

Fighters loyal to Somalia’s moderate Ahlu Suna Waljama on Saturday defected to the administration of Shabelle Valley that operate parts of Hiran region in central Somalia, an official said.

Mohammed Nur Agajof, the minister of information for Shabelle Valley administration said in an interview with Shabelle Media Network, that more Ahlu Sunna fighters surrendered to them.

He said that 120 fighters [defecting] from the Sufi [group] are the ones who recently completed traning courses in Ethiopia.

-- -- --

On the morning of the fourth day after being detained, the TFG released the two Shabelle Media Network staffers

Shabelle director, editor freed after days in govt detention

After three days in Somali government controlled detention, Abdirashid Omar Qase, the director of Shabelle and news editor, Abdi Mohammed Isma’al freed on Wednesday.

Shabelle journalists captured over the weekend after Somali government charged Shabelle of broadcasting inaccuracy news-story that may aid what they called terrorists.

Shabelle news editor explained what has happened saying that when they arrived at nations security headquarters to answer a call for the information ministry.

He said that the ministry of information accused Shabelle of airing anti-president story.

NSA has ordered to apologize for the story Shabelle has broadcast about the president failing to visit Mogadishu battle zones, according news editor.

From a CPJ alert on Monday

Security agents with Somalia's Interim Transitional Government arrested the director and news editor of Radio Shabelle on Sunday after the independent station aired a report saying the president was unable to visit areas recently captured by government and AU forces due to security concerns, according to news reports and CPJ interviews. The Ministry of Information deemed the March 22 report "factually incorrect and aiding the terrorists."

News Editor Abdi Mohammed Ismail and Director Abdirashid Omar Qase were arrested upon their arrival at security agency headquarters in Mogadishu and were denied access to food, legal representation, and family, Ali Dahir, Shabelle's head of development, told CPJ.

Other local radio stations and the U.S. government-funded broadcaster Voice of America aired similar reports that said President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's travels had been restricted by insecurity, local journalists said. Shabelle stood by its reporting.

Abdimalik Yusuf, chairman of Shabelle Media, told CPJ the Interior Ministry ordered the media house today to publicly apologize for the report and to sign a letter stating that they would refrain from negative reporting about the government. Yusuf told CPJ he refused.

Here was the March 22nd article the TFG objected to when it countered their PR strategy

President Fails to Visit War Zones in North Mogadishu

Somalia's embattled president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Tuesday was unable to pay a fleeting visit to the battle-zones as heavy battle between Somali government forces and Al shabaab was going on in parts of Mogadishu, particularly Bondhere and Hodan districts.

At least 10 people were killed and more than 20 others injured during the fierce fighting that rocked Mogadishu, the capital of horn of African nation, according to local sources.

Witnesses confirmed most of the victims were civilians as all were reported taken to Mogadishu medical facilities.

Sheikh Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the president of the transitional government of Somalia dressed in the military uniform and flanked by more military convoy of the African Union troops AMISOM had tried to reach at the military bases that the government troops seized from Al-shabab on Tuesday morning, but sources confirmed the leader has failed to visit the Mogadishu frontlines.

Some of officials consulted the president, who dressed in military uniform, that it is unsafe to conduct the visit due to bitter gun battle continued there.

In press conference near the presidential palace, President Ahmed said that the government forces had the upper hand made victories over the fighting.

-- -- --

UNPOS press release: High Level Consultative Meeting to take place on 12 and 13 April

Following a meeting held today with a core group of regional and international partners and stakeholders, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General Ambassador Augustine P. Mahiga, said that the planned High Level Consultative meeting will take place in Nairobi on 12 and 13 April. He called on all Somali authorities to participate.

“It is my obligation under the Djibouti agreement to facilitate dialogue among the Somali institutions and authorities. I urge all Somali leaders to demonstrate their commitment to advancing the peace process by taking part in this meeting”, said Ambassador Mahiga.

AFP: Somalia throws out two UN rights officials

Somalia's transitional government on Saturday banned from the country two officials working with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the foreign ministry said.

The pair were named as Scott Campbell, UNHCHR's head of Africa field operations, and Sandra Beidas, who heads the human rights arm of the UN Political Office for Somalia.

"The ministry... has the honour to convey the decision of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to declare Mr Scott Cambell and Miss Sandra Beidas ...persona non grata," the statement said.

"Our country needs to have the ability to protect human rights but the barriers we are facing... include the High Commissioner for Human Rights who failed to assist us to improve rights agencies and law enforcement institutions in the country," Sahra Mohamed Ali Samatar, minister in the prime minister's office, told reporters.

"We therefore support stopping these United Nations officials from entering the country and they will not be allowed to operate in Somalia," she said.

-- -- --

From an AFP article Saturday:

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) force commander said Friday he sees no way of managing Somalia’s political transition other than by extending the mandate of the transitional government (TFG).

“I don’t see any other alternative than that,” Ugandan Gen. Nathan Mugisha said, referring to a one year extension of the TFG’s mandate. “There is no other option, unfortunately.”

“We cannot interrupt the efforts toward pacification. Stabilization has started … we need partners on the other side, AMISOM can not do this job alone without the TFG,” he said in an interview at the force’s base.

...

“The TFG is doing a good job, but they’re facing a lot of challenges, political, security, financial. They have done their best,” Mugisha said. ... “Once you disrupt the TFG, then you disempower AMISOM and you’re playing the game of Al-Shabaab.”

-- -- --

Press TV: Clashes kill 38 people in Mogadishu

At least 38 people have been killed during heavy clashes between Somali government troops backed by African Union forces and al-Shabab fighters in Mogadishu.

Nearly 17 Somali soldiers died on Saturday after fighting broke out in Mogadishu's northern districts of Bondhere and Yaqshid.

More than 21 al-Shabab fighters were also killed during the bloody fighting, the Press TV correspondent in Mogadishu reported.

-- -- --

Garowe Online: Lawmakers Plan Motion Against UN Envoy

At least 100 Somali lawmakers signed motion against United Nation’s special envoy to Somalia Augustan Mahiga on Saturday, Radio Garowe reports.

Member of Somali transitional parliament held meeting in Somalia’s war-torn capital Mogadishu on Saturday and alleged Mahiga is destroying the transitional federal government of Somalia.

The lawmakers signed motion against Augustan Mahiga and said they will discuss in the first parliament meeting.

“Mahiga is preparing meeting which is obstacle to the government and we are against that meeting, he is planning to destroy the government,” the lawmakers told the press after their meeting.

They appealed to Somali government members to boycott that meeting and Augustan Mahiga to leave interfering Somali government issues.

BBC Monitoring: Somali prime minister rejects UN-sponsored conference

Somali prime minister has rejected a UN-sponsored conference that is scheduled to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, government owned Radio Mogadishu reported on 3 April 2011.

In a special interview with the radio, Muhammad Abdullahi Farmajo said Somalia was "a sovereign state".

"It was said that the government should be in transitional period for seven years and nothing was done in those seven years. None of the issues that were supposed to be done during the transitional period were done. The Somali people should now speak out. They should talk about their interests. It is not right that somebody speaks for us," the radio quoted Farmajo as saying.

"We know that the Somali people are brave and very patient people who will not accept in any way to be colonized. They will not accept to be dependent [on others]. We as a government, we are encouraging them. The government will not accept that. We will not go to any country that will invite us. This country is a sovereign state that is independent for its aspirations and future," the prime minister added.

-- -- --

Shabelle Media: Somali govt confiscates Dhobley after days of fighting

After days of fighting, Somali government forces have fully taken control the town of Dhobley in Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia.

Reports emanating from the region Lower Jubba say a number of Somali military forces entered inside the two of Dhobley where al Shabaab has been controlling in the few years.

At least 8 people mainly the combatants were so far confirmed dead and more 15 others injured in that fighting.

Tanks and helicopters are reported to have been seen over the town during the battles between Somali government forces and Al shabaab.

HOL:

Government officials whose names can not be revealed because they are not authorized to speak to the media confirmed the fall of Dhobley town, which had been heavily shelled throughout last night. This was verified by witnesses HOL spoke to who said the town was now in the hands of Somali government forces and their Raaskamboni allies who attacked it from different directions.

Initial reports indicate ten combatants belonging to the warring sides have lost their lives although the exact number of casualties may not immediately be known due to the ferocity of the fighting.

Both sides have used light and heavy weapons, with the Alshabab gunmen who lost control of the town said to be not far from the town on which they want to launch a counterattack.

Witnesses said the bloody fighting in Dhobley Sunday morning had destroyed many houses which had burned in the inferno caused by the heavy shelling preceding the assault on the town.

Mareeg Online:

At least 15 people were killed and 30 others wounded in today’s face to face fighting between these groups and 14 of those injuries were taken into Kenyan hospital from T.F.G side as reports said, though there is no good information found from Shabab side.

-- -- --

AP: Somalia creates new state, Azania

Somali politicians on Sunday announced the creation of a new state in the battle-scarred nation, a move condemned by Somalia's fragile government, which said it could further fracture the already chaotic Horn of Africa country.

The creation of Azania was celebrated Sunday in a colorful ceremony in Kenya's capital. Its creation brings the total number of new states to more than 10.

Kenya supports the new administration as it creates a buffer zone near its border with Somalia.

Azania President Mohamed Abdi Gandhi said his first duty is to retake his territory from al-Qaida-linked militant group al-Shabab.

"Our aim of establishing this administration is to first liberate these regions," he said. "We are not breaking away from Somalia."

...

Somalia's interim charter allows for new states.