Sunday, November 30, 2008

Somalis' holy trip ends at airport

Two men from a local mosque were kept off a flight Saturday, and their lawyer blames "unfair suspicions." An imam and a youth coordinator at a Minneapolis mosque were prohibited from boarding a flight Saturday morning to Saudi Arabia as part of a spiritual pilgrimage, an attorney for the mosque confirmed Sunday.The attorney said it's likely the men are on a federal "no fly" list because they and the mosque have been connected by rumor to a number of missing Somali men whose families fear have returned to their East African homeland to fight in that nation's civil unrest or to receive terrorist training.The FBI, which has been investigating alleged links between some in Minneapolis' large Somali refugee community and the strife in that nation, would not comment on the airport incident. The scope of any such links, if they exist, remains unclear more..http://www.startribune.com/local/35292979.html
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Somali president not happy with Djibouti peace talks

Somali president has condemned Djibouti peace talks according to an interview with Alajeera on Sunday. Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed described the power sharing deal that the Alliance for the IUC\al-shabaab \USC (ARS) and the transitional federal government signed in Djibouti as a clan deal. Abdullaahi Yusuf accused his Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein of working for the interest of one clan, but he did not specify of which clan he meant.
These remarks are casting doubt the already opposed peace deal. He also said he was very concerned about negotiate with terrorists.
Yusuf and Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein have disagreed the composition of a new government. pm is from Hawiye tribe, so does the most somalian terrorist leadership and warlord in somalia.The Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf who invited Ethiopian troops into Somalia to oust the Islamic Courts Union in 2006, appears increasingly Not happy about the way things are going. said, 2 weeks ago in a speech Nairobi kenya . he said "There was no government (in Somalia). The impoverished Horn of Africa nation has not had a functioning government since warlords overthrew Siad Bare.Somalia has been at war since 1991, The Horn of Africa nation has been plagued by chaos and clan-based civil war since when hawiye Warlordism, terrorism. PIRATESM ,(TRIBILISM) Replaces the Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre administration .While the terrorist threat in Somalia is real, Somalia’s rich history and cultural traditions have helped to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorism. The long-term terrorist threat in Somalia, however, can only be addressed through the establishment of a functioning central government Videos: Jihad Camp in Somalia; English-Speaking Recruits WWW.KATAAIB.NET IN VANCOUVER WA, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR BILL WARNER... Most of the Terrorist are from Hawiye tribe (al-shabaab) The leadership is mostly sub-clans of Hawiye (Habar Gidir clan) With The Exception Of OGADEN CLAN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB2mnoXLoec&feature=related (ONLF )own hassan turki(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasan_Hersi) and Abu Mansur a foot soldier from al-Qaeda.

Hawiye Factions
Political factions and organizations
United Somali Congress (USC) Formed in 1989, it played a key role in the ouster of the government of Siad Barre
Somali National Alliance (SNA) formed by Mohamed Farrah Aidid
Somali Salvation Army, the Ali Mahdi Muhammad branch of the United Somali Congress
Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a rival administration to the Transitional Federal Government.
Hizbul Shabaab, the Youth Movement wing of the ICU before ceding the organisation to Aden Hashi Farah "Eyrow".
Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism, (ARPCT) a Somali alliance created by various warlords and businesspeople
The Democratic Union Party (DUP), has supporters in the area of Negele Boran in the Borena Zone, with the majority of the Hawiye/Degodia clan heading the party

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Bigger not better for Somalia
conflict in Somalia have reached a power-sharing deal in Djibouti that doubles the size of Parliament, observers said. But analysts fear the deal is unworkable and it seems to have widened the split within the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Representatives of the TFG and a faction of the Eritrea-based Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), led by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, began their latest talks on November 22.

"It was not perfect, but it was a compromise deal to get a unity government," Mohamed Abdi Yusuf, a member of the ARS central committee and one of the negotiators, said this week. more.. http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-12-01-bigger-not-better-for-somalia

Somali PM Terror Sympathizer All hawiye Political Appointees New Mogadishu Administration vows to adopt Shariah law


Former Mogadishu mayor says "premier's tenure expired


Piracy threatening Egypt's canal revenue

CAIRO, EGYPT — The Suez Canal, a vital shortcut between East and West for nearly 140 years, is facing an enormous challenge, as the scourge of Somali piracy prompts major shipping companies to seek another route.
Egypt, which is heavily dependent on the fees it charges ships to go through the canal, has expressed concern over a possible drop in the country's income — though it says it's hopeful an international flotilla patrolling the pirate-infested waters will be able to ensure safe passage.
"For sure it will have a bad effect" if it continues, Gen. Ahmed Fadel, head of the Suez Canal Authority, told The Associated Press at his office overlooking the canal.
At least two shipping companies have announced their vessels will take the long route around the southern tip of Africa rather than go through the canal, which requires crossing through the Gulf of Aden, scene of most pirate attacks.
The 120-mile long canal gives a vital shortcut linking the U.S. and Europe with the Indian Ocean and its Asian ports.
The Suez Canal runs between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, where there have been no pirate attacks. But the only access from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean is through the Gulf of Aden, where Somali pirates have hijacked more than three dozen ships and attacked dozens more so far. more..http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/6137874.html


Since the hijack of the Sirius Star on November 17 the world's attention has focused on Somali piracy, and we are the first ...
The Pirates Of Somalia - Somalia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSP9a1VMQCk

Pirates 'to release Ukraine ship'

Somali pirates holding a ship full of military hardware have reached a deal with its Ukrainian owners to release it, reports say. Gunmen seized the Kenya-bound MV Faina, carrying 33 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition, on 24 September. A pirate spokesman said releasing the ship was "a matter of time", but gave no details of a ransom payment. Attacks by Somali pirates have escalated sharply in recent months, causing international concern. Last month they seized a Saudi oil tanker, the Sirius Star, carrying oil worth more than $100m (£65m). Negotiations are currently under way for the release of the vessel and its 25-man crew. more..http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7757259.stm

Somali Pirates Attack Cruise Ship

A luxury cruise ship carrying scores of British passengers has come under attack from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Skip related content

Two pirate boats opened fire on the six-star Nautica as she sailed between Somalia and Yemen on Sunday.

The cruise ship, which carries 690 passengers and 386 crew, was sailing past several groups of fishing boats when two small skiffs tried to intercept it.

Captain Jurica Brajcic began evasive manoeuvres when the pirates were about 1,000 yards away from the ship and managed to avert the attack more.

http://http//uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20081130/twl-somali-pirates-attack-cruise-ship-3fd0ae9.html
Somali pirates to free Yemen cargo ship

BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) - Somali pirates have agreed to release a Yemeni cargo ship, the MV Amani, without ransom, after negotiations between the hijackers, local elders and provincial officials, a minister said on Friday.
"No ransom was paid, but after negotiations, the pirates will get off the ship soon. The Yemeni ship will be released in the coming hours," Ali Abdi Aware, state minister of the northern province of Puntland, told Reuters.
The ship was seized on November 25 in the Gulf of Aden. No other details about the vessel, its crew and cargo were available. more..http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B01PU20081201?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews

Somali pirates agree deal for Ukrainian ship release

days, but the fate of a Saudi oil carrier was unclear hours from a 25-million-dollar ransom demand's expiry.
Sugule Ali, spokesman for the pirates who hijacked the MV Faina in September with its cargo of battle tanks and weapons, said it was "a matter of technicality and time" before the vessel was freed.
"I can't tell you what the ransom is, but what can I say is that agreement has finally been reached," Ali told AFP from the ship. more..http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/world/12/01/08/somali-pirates-agree-deal-ukrainian-ship-release

Before He Goes

What President Bush could accomplish in his final days in office.

by William Kristol

and explain that the task must be finished in both theaters. He can address issues like getting ROTC back on elite campuses (a position Obama also favors). And while he's at it, perhaps he could tell various admirals to stop moaning about how difficult it would be to deal with the pirates off the coast of Somalia (isn't keeping the shipping lanes open a core mission of the Navy?) and order the Navy to clobber them. If need be, the Marines would no doubt be glad to recapitulate their origins and join in by going ashore in Africa to destroy the pirates' safe havens.
Meanwhile, we seem to have al Qaeda mostly on the run (though not defeated). Here at home we haven't had a second attack, and in the West generally, it's over two years since a major attack. Bush can make the broader point that being on offense has been a successful strategy, and that the best form of public diplomacy is making it clear that joining the jihad is a losing proposition. more..http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/876qyutv.asp

Saturday, November 29, 2008

African Union Communique and Statement (on Somalia) of the 4th Meeting of somalia



AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA PANEL OF THE WISE
FOURTH MEETING
28-29 NOVEMBER 2008 Nairobi, Kenya POW/PR(IV)
STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN SOMALIA
1. At its 4th meeting held in Nairobi on 28 and 29 November 2008, the Panel of
the Wise of the African Union (AU) carried out a comprehensive review of the
situation in Somalia. The Panel was briefed on the situation in that country and
consulted with Somali stakeholders, namely the Prime Minister of the Transitional
Federal Government (TFG), Nur Hussein ‘Adde’, and the Chairman of the Central
Committe of the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS), Honourable Sharif
Hassan Sheik Aden. more...http://www.qarannews.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=3092
Somali leader seeks peacekeepers
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/11/20081129141214401410.html


US to push for UN force in Somalia

U.S. appears to be losing its secret war in Somalia

Security personnel from the semiautonomous Somali region of Puntland patrol the Gulf of Aden near Bosaso. "You can see why we still need America's help," says a coast-guard commander.

BERBERA, Somalia — To glimpse America's secret war in Africa, you must bang with a rock on the iron gate of the prison in this remote port in northern Somalia. A sleepy guard will yank open a rusty deadbolt. Then, you ask to speak to an inmate named Mohamed Ali Isse.
Isse, 36, is a convicted murderer and jihadist. He is known among his fellow prisoners, with grudging awe, as "The Man with the American Thing in His Leg." more.http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008448575_somalia29.html
End Somalia killings
Advising President George Bush Snr to give Somalia a wide berth, US ambassador to Kenya Smith Hempstone described Somalia as a “tar baby.” He was spot on. The Horn of Africa nation has not known peace for two decades. The overthrow of Siad Barre’s in 1991 ushered in a war of all against all after warlords refused to recognise interim President Ali Mahdi Muhammad’s authority. Even when there have been various transitional arrangements, a lethal mix of clanism, warlordship and religious fundamentalism has ensured that the country exists mainly by name. more..http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Editorial/-/440804/496212/-/qjo7sjz/-/index.html

British Muslims have become a mainstay of the global 'jihad'

More than 4,000 British Muslims have passed through terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to security agencies, providing a fertile recruitment pool for the Islamist international jihad.
Men from the UK's Kashmiri community have joined groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba, the prime suspects in the Mumbai attacks, which have been fighting against Indian forces in Kashmir. Others from a Pakistani background are in the ranks of the Taliban and other groups taking part in action against British and Nato forces in Afghanistan.
A former commander of the British force in Helmand, Brigadier Ed Butler, has revealed that his troops had come across British Muslims in southern Afghanistan. "There are British passport holders who live in the UK who are being found in places such as Kandahar," he said. "There is a link between Kandahar and urban conurbations in the UK. This is something the military understands, but theBritish public does not." more..http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/british-muslims-have-become-a-mainstay-of-the-global-jihad-1040232.html

Indian forces kill last gunmen in Mumbai

MUMBAI, India – A 60-hour terror rampage that killed at least 195 people across India's financial capital ended Saturday when commandos killed the last three gunmen inside a luxury hotel while it was engulfed in flames.
Authorities searched for any remaining captives hiding in their rooms and began to shift their focus to who was behind the attacks, which killed 18 foreigners including six Americans.
A previously unknown Muslim group with a name suggesting origins inside India claimed responsibility for the attack, but Indian officials said the sole surviving gunman was from Pakistan and pointed a finger of blame at their neighbor and rival. more..http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081129/ap_on_re_as/as_india_shooting
Mumbai Attacks 'Were a Ploy to Wreck Obama Plan to
Mumbai Terror Attack Aimed to Kill 5,000 http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,459284,00.html
20 questions every Indian wants an answer to http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=151094

Friday, November 28, 2008

Meles strongly urges international community not to ignore situations in Somalia

Addis Ababa, November 28, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the piracy South of Red Sea and along Gulf of Aden shows that the chaos in Somalia is becoming international threat from that of regional problem. Meles strongly urged the international community not to ignore the problem in Somalia.
The premier said preparations are nearing completion to withdraw Ethiopian army from Somalia as it cannot stay there indefinitely.
Responding to questions posed by journalists at a press conference in Sana'a, Yemen, Prime Minister Meles said Eritrean government and other anti-peace forces have been supporting terrorists in Somalia, exacerbating situations in that country and expanding piracy.
The Eritrean government in particular has been giving clear and direct assistance to extremists in Somalia, he said, adding, this has been even proved by the United Nations. In addition to disturbing regional peace, security and safety, the problem has become international danger as piracy can affect any country. The premier recalled that based on call from TFG of Somalia, Ethiopian army has been exerting efforts to ensure stability in that country. However, the army is making preparation to withdraw from Somalia as it cannot stay there indefinitely.
Prime Minister Meles accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin and other senior government officials was in Sana'a, Yemen for a two-day official visit. Arriving at Sana’a Airport the Ethiopian delegation was warmly welcomed by Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Salih and Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Mujawwar. The leaders of the two sisterly countries agreed to strengthen existing cooperation between the two countries. The delegation returned home later on Friday.

British and Irish anti-piracy experts rescued - after pirates attack


British and one Irish security guard have been plucked from the sea by a military helicopter after jumping from a chemical tanker seized by pirates off Somalia. Their decision to abandon the two dozen crew members still on board attracted some criticism, but their British employer insisted that the three former soldiers were heroes who had resisted a sustained attack by heavily-armed pirates with great courage and would have been killed if they had stayed any longer. “They were unarmed. They had no other option...As far as I’m concerned they deserve a medal,” said Nick Davis, a former British army pilot who runs Anti-Piracy Maritime Security Solutions (APMSS) out of Poole, Dorset. The attack happened early this morning as the Liberian-flagged tanker, the Biscaglia, was sailing through the Gulf of Aden from India to Rotterdam. more..http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article5253731.ece
Pirate plan goes global with intel sharing
Top Navy leaders are sharing highly classified intelligence and their new Maritime Domain Awareness system with close allies to more effectively combat a rising tide of piracy across the Horn of Africa, a senior Navy official said. The move comes as the U.S. and its allies grow concerned over the possibility of pirates forming ties with terrorist groups. Marshall Billingeslea, the deputy undersecretary of the Navy, led a delegation that included senior service intelligence and piracy experts to Brussels, Belgium, on Nov. 18 for meetings with top NATO military officials and ambassadors. Ongoing counterinsurgency operations include some 18 ships from NATO and European Union nations, as well as Russia and India. more..http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/navy_pirates_112808p/

KENYA-SOMALIA: Thousands flee amid fears of fighting along border


GARISSA, 27 November 2008 (IRIN) - Thousands of people are fleeing parts of the north-east region of Mandera and neighbouring Somali border areas after Kenya beefed up its security presence to counter possible threats from Somali armed groups.
"At least 1,500 families [9,000 people] have left Elwak [an area in Mandera] and its environs," Titus Mung’ou, Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) public relations officer, told IRIN.
This had left Elwak virtually a ghost town and affected humanitarian activities, Mung’ou said. "We have to follow the people who are moving." more..http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2008/11/mil-081127-irin02.htm

Thursday, November 27, 2008

PM Meles Zenawi due in Yemen to talk on Somali crisis



SANA'A, Nov. 27 (Saba)- Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is expected to arrive in Yemen on Thursday to hold talks with a number of Yemeni officials on the fields of mutual cooperation between the two countries. Diplomatic sources were quoted by the 26September weekly as saying that Zenawi is to discuss with President Ali Abdullah Saleh means of developing the common interests of both countries. "The talks will focus on issues related to the Sana'a Forum and the ongoing preparations for holding the upcoming summit in the Sudanese capital Khartoum next month", said the sources. "The Yemeni-Ethiopian talks will deal with the issues of the Horn of Africa, particularly developments in Somalia and the international and regional efforts to end the Somali crisis and restore its security and stability".

Somalia's Transitional Government Fears Withdrawal of Ethiopian Troops

Officials in Somalia's transitional federal government are expressing deep concern about the future of the government after its chief military backer and political ally, Ethiopia, announced its intention to withdraw its forces from Somalia by the end of the year. As VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu reports from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi, the government is battling for its survival as Islamist insurgents close in on the capital Mogadishu and the seat of parliament in Baidoa more..http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-28-voa40.cfm?rss=topstories

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PM Meles holds talks with US Africa Command Commander

Banks end cash-delivery option used by Somalis

Terror Free Somalia Foundation Thanks To Huntington Bank and National City Corp for cutting off funding for terrorist groups.. Cooperation Key To Stopping Money Laundering.. Financial institutions are the "front line" of defense against these types of criminal activity, that cooperation with law enforcement is needed to follow money involved in illegal activity.
After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the federal government made banks liable for monitoring their customers with legislation aimed at cutting off funding for terrorist groups. Due to increased vigilance, criminals must resort to other methods to move money, which includes the physical transportation of cash into countries where reporting requirements are weak,or 'There is no government'

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/11/27/somalifunds.ART_ART_11-27-08_B1_J2C26SC.html?sid=101

Somalia's interim President Abdullahi Yusuf landed in his native region of Puntland Wednesday after spending recent days in Libya, Sudan and Kenya.

President Yusuf was welcomed in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, by regional leader Gen. Adde Muse and various government officials and traditional elders. Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf/GOHe spoke briefly with reporters at the governor's house in Garowe, saying that his two-day rip to Puntland is related to "exchanging ideas" with local rulers.Somalia's leader called on pirates to who seized a Yemeni vessel yesterday to release the ship and its seven crewmen immediately, saying that such "unnecessary" pirate attacks threaten the region's economy.
The vessel was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, an area that has seen a spike in piracy since 2007. The pirates are demanding a US$2 million ransom payment, according to Reuters.President Yusuf's trip to Puntland comes on a day Prime Minister Nur Adde signed a power-sharing agreement with an opposition faction. READ: 'Unity Government' to elect new President, Speaker
Puntland, located in northeastern Somalia, is slated to elect a new leader in January 2009.








Thousand of Puntland state of somalia Delegates an Residence Welcome the President of TFG..

Somalia arrests 5 for kidnapping Western journalists

BOSASSO, Somalia (Reuters) - Somali security forces have arrested five men for the kidnapping this week of two European journalists who are being held in the hills east of Bosasso, the local governor said on Sunday.

Gunmen seized the British reporter and Spanish photographer on Wednesday in the latest attack on foreigners working in the lawless Horn of Africa nation. Bosasso is the main port in semi-autonomous Puntland region. more..

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4AT2FD20081130?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews




Shot producer 'doubted by bosses'




A BBC producer who was killed in Somalia felt she had to go to prove her commitment, her sister told an inquest. Kate Peyton, 39, of Beyton, Suffolk, was shot in Mogadishu in February 2005.


Inquest into Somalia shooting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DStnYhbqtDM

We recommend that the BBC to look.. inside itself
Yusuf Garad doesn't want The True Story To Be Told. hawiye Killed or kidnapping for ransom every -Independent Journal .. Beware the BBC Somali Service http://yusufgarad.blogspot.com/2007/02/beware-bbc-somali-service.html
BBC Somali Service is concerned, which has shown more than tacit support for the so-called “Alliance of the Islamic Courts”or al-shabaab . The BBC, Somali Services, is headed by one Yusuf Garad who uses the Institution as a tool for his Cayr sub(habargidir) \usc (caydiid)\alshabaab\ hawiye-lineage and who, by all indications, currently and rightly sees the new uprising as practically an opportunity for the Cayr (hawiye) domination of Somali politics—an effort which had once failed under Abdiqasim’s presidency of the former Transitional Federal Government.
terrorists using western media.. BBC interviews the FBI most-wanted man in SOMALIA terrorist Hasan Turki
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Somalia Journalists Kidnapping: Inside Job
BBC journalist Kate Peyton agreed to fatal Somalia posting because she feared for her job, says coroner
Update on the Amanda Lindhout kidnap in Somalia
Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan are safe and still being held in Somalia according to Reporters Without Borders. The two journalists were kidnapped in August along with their Somali fixers. A ransom deadline, for an alleged $2.5 million, passed a month ago.
“What we can confirm is they are fine, in the same place and in the hands of the same group.” [said Leonard Vincent, Africa desk chief of Paris-based Reporters without Borders] link
We continue to update the situation on the kidnap in this post as and when we receive any news.date on the Amanda Lindhout kidnap in Somalia

Grenades kill five in Somalia's seat of parliament




BAIDOA, Somalia, Nov 27 (Reuters) - At least five people were killed and 17 injured on Thursday when assailants tossed grenades into a busy market in the town where Somalia's parliament sits, witnesses said. Islamist fighters have waged a nearly two-year campaign against Somalia's interim administration after government forces backed by Ethiopian troops ousted them from the capital. Islamists now hold most of south Somalia while the weak, Western-backed government controls just Mogadishu and Baidoa, the seat of parliament.
"At least three civilians died and 17 others were wounded after unidentified men hurled two hand grenades at Baidoa market," Hussein Mohamed, a witness, told Reuters.
A doctor at a hospital in Baidoa said two of the injured people taken there had later died.
The violence has killed 10,000 civilians since early 2007, created more than a million internal refugees, and left more than three million Somalis in need of food aid. Authorities in the northern enclave of Somaliland state of somalia on Thursday blamed a hardline group of Islamists known as al Shabaab for simultaneous suicide attacks that killed at least 30 people at the end of October. more...http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LR197065.htm


Ethiopia to Withdraw Troops From Somalia by Year End


Ethiopia has announced its intention to withdraw its troops from neighboring Somalia by the end of this year. But as correspondent Peter Heinlein reports from Addis Ababa, Ethiopian officials have assured the African Union their forces will remain on alert at the border to support the remaining AU peacekeepers if necessary.

Ethiopian soldiers in Mogadishu, (file photo)

Ethiopia has sent a letter to the United Nations and the African Union saying it will withdraw its forces from positions inside Somalia by the end of December. African and western diplomats confirmed to VOA the letter was delivered several days ago.. more..http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-11-27-voa40.cfm

Somaliland state of somalia Blames Oct Suicide Attacks On Shebab Group
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20081127%5CACQDJON200811270745DOWJONESDJONLINE000566.htm&selected=9999&selecteddisplaysymbol=9999&mypage=newsheadlines&title=UPDATE:%20Somaliland%20Blames%20Oct%20Suicide%20Attacks%20On%20Shebab%20Group

Commentaries\Opinions and analysis

NOBODY IS WATCHING

America's hidden war in Somalia
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-shadow_war2nov24,0,4720127.story?page=2

War Is Boring: Good News, Bad News in Somali
Islamists' Return
http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/article.aspx?id=2971

For Somalis, going home has its risks



Ali Hussein, left, and Mahad Isse listened as Ilyas Maye talked about the missing young Somali men and teenagers who have left the Twin Cities. About 20 have seemingly disappeared.
Many would like to return to their homeland someday. Some even do. But if they go, they say it's only to gain fresh perspective -- not to fight.
By JAMES WALSH and PAM LOUWAGIE


Ilyas Maye, 24, is one of the young Minneapolis Somali men who has returned to his homeland. He went back last year, for three months.
"I went outside to see what the world had to offer me," said Maye, who owns a clothing store on Lake Street in Minneapolis. "And I would go back again."more..
http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/35167424.html

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Missing Twin Cities Somalis, terror ties probed
http://www.startribune.com/local/35108894.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUnOiP3UiacyKUnciatkEP7DhU
Young Somali men missing from Minneapolis

U.S. Woman Negotiating With Somali Pirates



An American businesswoman with connections to U.S. intelligence and the military has been talking with the Somali pirates who have commandeered the Saudi oil tanker Sirius Star, trying to get the ship released, ABC News has confirmed. more..http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=6343209&page=1



Somali youth turn to lucrative trade of fishing boats and ships

MOGADISHU, Wednesday
For centuries, Somali fishermen have been stepping into the waters of the Indian Ocean, pushing their canoes, holding kerosene lamps in the hope of sailing safely through nights’ darkness and coming back with a good catch. They often came ashore with a stock of pelagic fishes, species that swim close to the surface and are easily caught by hooks and lines. more..http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/495314/-/147lq0tz/-/index.html

Saudi supertanker Sirius Star located off coast of Somalia

Satellite pictures have emerged showing the supertanker, which is almost a third of a kilometre in length, floating about five miles offshore in the Gulf of Aden.
The pictures, which were commissioned by The Guardian newspaper, showed the Sirius Star located five miles off the coast at a latitude of 4.595N and a longitude of 48.085E. They were taken a week ago and it is believed the ship has since been moved north by the pirates.
The ship, whose hostaged crew includes two Britons, has been in limbo since it was seized on November 15. The pirates are demanding a ransom of almost £10million. more..http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/3530263/Saudi-supertanker-Sirius-Star-located-off-coast-of-Somalia.html
Pirates 'working with Islamists'http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7737375.stm


Somali pirates seize another ship

Crewmen helped by European navies evaded Somali pirates hijacking their ship after jumping overboard in the Gulf of Aden as the deadline ticked down for a Saudi tanker held to ransom.
The latest attack brought to 17 the number of ships currently held by Somali pirates despite their shrinking room for manoeuvre as foreign warships stepped up their patrols in a bid to contain a scourge threatening world trade.
Five pirates on fishing boats attacked the Biscaglia, a Liberia-flagged oil and chemical tanker, and boarded the vessel with a ladder, the commander of a nearby French frigate said more..http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/11/28/2433149.htm
'Mummy, can I phone the pirates?' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7754622.stm

Somali PM Terror Sympathizer All hawiye Political Appointees New Mogadishu Administration vows to adopt Shariah law




The new Banadir Regional Administration [whose headquarters is Mogadishu] has welcomed a recent statement by the Terror Sympathizers Hawiye Cultural and Unity Council in which they urged the new administration to rule the region according to Shariah Law. The first assistant governor of Banadir Region, Abdifatah Ibrahim Sabriye, welcomed the idea by Terror Sympathizers the Hawiye Cultural and Unity Council in which they called upon the new administration to rule the region on Shariah Law. The assistant governor said the Banadir Administration is based on the Islamic Shariah and will make sure that all it does is complaint with the Shariah Law. Sabriye also spoke on how they intend to tackle the worrying situation in Banadir Region and promised to do all they can to ensure that the internally displaced people who fled from their homes due to the fighting return. The statement by the assistant regional governor of the new Banadir Regional Administration, Abdifatah Ibrahim, comes at a time when Hawiye Cultural and Unity Council elder, Ahmad Diriye Ali, yesterday called upon the new administration to rule Banadir Region to adopt Shariah Law warning that if they do not, there fate will be similar to those of the previous Regional Administrations.


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hawiye terrorist sympathizer clan elders ask new administration to apply Shari'ah law in capital

Islamists faction says Djibouti agreement to worsen crisis in Somalia.


faction of the Union of Islamic Courts [UIC] led by Hawiye jehadist Omar Iman, has described the agreement signed by the Transitional Federal Government of Somali [ARS] and the Djibouti faction [ARS], as null and void. The spokesman of the UIC faction, Hawiye jehadist Ismail Haji Adow, described the agreement as move aimed at worsening the current situation in the country, adding that 275 opposition MPs to be included in the TFG was aimed to cause problem to the Somali people. The spokesman said if the ARS faction joins the TFG parliament, then the UIC faction will treat it just the like the government. On the other hand, the spokesman warned the Kenyan government against sending troops to Somalia, saying that Kenya was trying to provoke the Somali people in order to enter the country. He advised Kenya to learn from Ethiopia, Uganda, and Burundi whose troops they [UIC] had thought lessons. The statement of the UIC faction comes at a time an agreement was signed between the TFG and the ARS in Djibouti, in which the ARS will add 275 members of parliament to the Somali government.


Somali gov't, opposition sign power-sharing deal
MOGADISHU, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Transitional Somali government and a main opposition faction, the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS) have finalized a power-sharing deal during talks in Djibouti, reports reaching here said Wednesday.
The two sides have agreed to double the membership of the existing 275-member Somali national parliament, Abdurrahman Abdishakur Warsame, head of the opposition delegation told local reporters by phone from Djibouti. more..http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/26/content_10415829.htm



Police comb Puntland for kidnapped journalists


MOGADISHU (AFP) — Police in the northern Somali breakaway region of Puntland on Thursday combed the port city of Bosasso and its surrounding area for four kidnapped journalists, including a Spaniard and a Briton, an official said.
"I met with the commander of the police. He said he is expecting some new information soon. The police are still investigating their whereabouts," Abdulkebir Musa, Puntland's assistant minister for seaports, told AFP.
The four journalists were captured on Wednesday, apparently as they were leaving their hotel for the airport.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abduction, the latest in a string of kidnappings and attacks targeting foreign journalists and aid workers in Somalia, a country ravaged by conflict and starvation. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hU68wiGYGxnf_GeqIvbLab8db7Jw

2 foreign journalists kidnapped in NE Somalia http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/26/content_10417828.htm

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

The Pirates of Puntland

Somalia's pirates have a big problem on their hands -- in the form of their greatest prize, the Saudi-owned oil tanker the Sirius Star.

The Sirius Star has 2 million barrels of oil on board and is one of at least 15 "prize" ships now anchored off the Somali coast. According to the pirates, the ship's crew of 25 is well-fed and well-treated. They have joined another 300 captive sailors taken from other hijacked vessels.

And add $30 million to these impressive numbers. That's an unofficial figure for the ransoms paid over the last year by shipping companies to Somali pirates to free crews, cargoes and vessels

From a sea crook's perspective, a freighter fleet and $30 million in cash isn't a problem, it's success. The cash roll may seem small by Wall Street bailout stands, but $30 million goes a long way in Puntland.

Remember the Land of Punt? Egyptian Queen Hapshetsut sent an expedition to Punt in the 15th century B.C. This A.D. 21st century "Puntland" is north of Mogadishu on the "elbow" of the Horn of Africa. Puntland claimed independence from "Mogadishu control" in 1998 -- which makes Puntland a separatist "state-let" of a sort.

Puntland, however, like most of anarchy-plagued Somalia, has no real government except gangsters with guns, making the miserable place a near-perfect criminal haven. The Puntland port of Eyl brags about its "piracy industry."

That may seem a bit media deaf, bragging about piratical success, but Eyl's residents have a sympathetic cover story incorporating an environmentalist touch with a pitch reminiscent of Cold War-era "Third World solidarity" propaganda. Their local fishing catch has diminished, and they blame the big ships. Ships shouldn't pass through their waters for free. Thus pirates are just heavily armed toll-booth operators.

The pirates shrug at media attention. Media interest has spiked before, then Oprah and Geraldo lost interest. For example, in fall 2005, Somali pirates attacked the cruise ship Seabourn Spirit. They failed when the liner's crew fought back. The crew maneuvered the ship and used its huge wake as a weapon against the pirates' speedboats. The crew also employed a non-lethal "directional parabolic audio boom-box," a "sonic weapon" that emits an eardrum-shattering sound. The pirates retreated. The headlines came and went.

So why do the pirates now have a big problem? They have had, quite simply, too much success -- and have moved from nuisance to noxious. Hijacking an oil tanker is an economic assault on the industrial world that the general public understands. Don't discount the global economic downturn's sobering effect. Shippers estimate that rerouting tankers and freighters around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope (in order to avoid pirate waters) increases shipping costs 20 percent to 30 percent,

Pirates and terrorists thrive in anarchic territory. Though Somali pirates may not directly connect with al-Qaida-affiliated terror groups, indirect ties exist -- and certainly so do short-lived alliances of convenience. Intelligence agencies scrutinize criminal organizations for many reasons. Smugglers and rebels share clandestine lives. Terrorists worldwide (e.g., Colombia) run "mafia-style" extortion rackets. The Filipino Islamist terror group Abu Sayyaf is a pirate gang.

Trading powers are responding to the Somali pirates' violent bravado. Last week, an Indian Navy ship sank a Somali pirate vessel off East Africa. StrategyPage.com reported Russia is sending more ships and a commando group trained in hostage rescue. Though it risks the lives of hostages, a punitive strike on the Pirates of Puntland could be next month's news.

Modern piracy won't be stopped by naval action alone. In "Jolly Roger With an Uzi" (published in 2000), authors Jack Gottschalk and Brian Flanagan analyze the piracy problem as a complex challenge to the international political system. Ineffective governments are part of the predicament. Corrupt shipping agents even play a role, providing intel to criminals. Placing armed guards on ships isn't a new idea, but it creates legal tangles. However, Gottschalk and Flanagan note that "lethal force to prevent pirate attacks" against ships on the high seas "may well be necessary to bring piracy under effective control."

hawiye terrorist sympathizer clan elders ask new administration to apply Shari'ah law in capital

The Hawiye Cultural and Unity Council has asked the new Banadir Regional Administration to take advantage of this opportunity and rule the region according to the Islamic Shari'ah Law. The spokesman for the Hawiye Cultural and Unity Council, terrorist sympathizerAhmad Diriye Ali, in a press conference held in Mogadishu, urged the new administration to rule Banadir Region according to the Shari'ah law and take advantage of the opportunity they got in leading the region. The hawiye clan elder cautioned the new administration against making the same mistakes previous administrations made. The previous administrations are accused of contributing to the displacement of Mogadishu residents who are now suffering in the outskirts of the capital. The statement by the clan elder comes at a time when a new administration has been appointed for the Banaadir Region.
The impoverished Horn of Africa nation has not had a functioning government since warlords overthrew Siad Bare.Somalia has been at war since 1991, The Horn of Africa nation has been plagued by chaos and clan-based civil war since when hawiye Warlordism, terrorism. PIRATESM ,(TRIBILISM) Replaces the Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre administration .While the terrorist threat in Somalia is real, Somalia’s rich history and cultural traditions have helped to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorism. The long-term terrorist threat in Somalia, however, can only be addressed through the establishment of a functioning central government Videos: Jihad Camp in Somalia; English-Speaking Recruits WWW.KATAAIB.NET IN VANCOUVER WA, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR BILL WARNER... Most of the Terrorist are from Hawiye tribe (al-shabaab) The leadership is mostly sub-clans of Hawiye (Habar Gidir clan) With The Exception Of OGADEN CLAN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB2mnoXLoec&feature=related (ONLF )own hassan turki(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasan_Hersi) and Abu Mansur a foot soldier from al-Qaeda.

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Burundi to deploy 850 more peacekeepers to Somalia


Burundi is set to send an additional 850 troops to reinforce the African peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Radio France Internationale reported on 24 November.
"It is a sign of recognition for the service we received from other African countries. We are currently living in calm, thanks to the support we received from other countries. We want to render the same service to others in need; and for this reason, we will not resist going to the rescue of someone who wants us to be by their side. We know how costly peace is to achieve, and how good it is to be in a peaceful situation," Defence Minister Germain Niyoyankana said.
Nigeria to deploy peacekeepers in Somalia
The President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua, speaking to journalists in Abuja, said Nigeria is ready deploy its troops in Somalia as earlier promised. The Nigerian president was asked about the reason for the delay in deployment of troops to Somalia and he said, The troops are ready, we are just waiting to sort out their logistics. The Nigerian government has in the past promised that they will deploy peacekeepers in Somalia to assist in securing government offices and other places of importance to the Somali government. The spokesman for the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, Brig Emeka Onwuamaegbu, has in the past said Nigeria will deploy its troops in Somalia as part of the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia. We will send one battalion comprising of 850 soldiers among them senior officials, said the Nigerian official. The AU has in the past said they will deploy 8000 peace keepers in Somalia to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG] which is being fought by various armed opposition groups among them, Al-Shabab, which now appears to have taken control of most parts of the country. Nigeria is considered to be among the most powerful nations in Africa and has in the past deployed peacekeepers to various countries where there were ongoing conflicts

Monday, November 24, 2008

Islamist Terrorist Declares War against Kenyan troops


The al-shabaab and ONLF administration of the port town of Kismayo JUBBALAND has vowed that they would defend against the military movements of the Kenyan troops in close proximity to border towns.Terrorist ONLF OWN Abubakar Al-say . I who is the chairman of the town has noted that they were geared up to fight against the Kenyan troops on the border to pursue two Italian nuns kidnapped by armed Somali bandits near the common border.He says that they wouldnt be deterred by the heavily armed Kenyan troops at Har-har area situates 5km south of Kismayo town where the Islamist wrestles its control.The Terrorist remarks come following Kenya has threatened cross border raids against the kidnappers of two Italian nuns.Internal Security Minister George Saitoti told a news conference late Tuesday that the government will be relentless in protecting its borders from Somali militant attacks. "They stole three government vehicles, are you now telling me that we should sit down and let those people to come and violate our borders," Saitoti told journalists in Nairobi."We will deal with them effectively, we have given an ultimatum to them to return them and we are very firm on that one," he said after holding talks with visiting British Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth.Saitoti gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the Al-Shabaab AND ONLF militia that has engaged the transitional government in running battles. "Time is running out for the militia and they must free the nuns," said the minister.The ONLF WITH SHABAAB Terrorist crossed into Kenya from Somalia and attacked Elwak town in Mandera. They fled with the three vehicles, two of which were ferrying Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam papers.The two nuns were kidnapped from a dispensary in Elwak. The Italian nuns are Sisters Maria Teresa Olevero and Catarina Giraudo. Saitoti said security forces had been deployed to Mandera to rescue the nuns. "We will not sit and watch as foreigners violate our borders," said Saitoti. He said the border between Kenya and Somalia was closed, adding security forces had been deployed there.
"They violated the sovereignty of this country by crossing the border and abducting the two nuns and three drivers, we cannot allow this to happen." The minister said the government will maintain a massive security operation at the Kenyan-Somali border until the two nuns are traced alongside the three drivers. He also said the militiamen must return three government vehicles that they stole during the raid. Reacting to reports that families were fleeing their homes in Mandera following a security operation in the area, Saitoti defended the exercise, saying it will continue. "It should not be surprising to any person that we do have beefed up security around that border. And we have no apologies to make. The security is there to deter those who want to violate laws and cross to our border, they are not there to molest any Kenyans at all," he said. The minister further said the Kenyan-Somali border would remain closed until security is improved, noting that cattle rustling was a challenge that the government had to deal with. "This menace has almost become a norm among pastoralist communities, and this has to be brought to an end," he said. The minister said he has been holding meetings with security officials and leaders from the affected areas to seek ways to resolve the issue.
In addition, Saitoti said the military operation in Mandera called to contain clan fightings had been scaled down to allow for peace talks between the clans, political and religious leaders from the region. He said the operation was successful and had led to the recovery of weapons. The clan fights sparked by disputes over pasture and watering holes for livestock led to the death of over 20 people. Saitoti said security had also been beefed up in Nairobi's Central Business District, following a wave of robberies targeting at businesses. "The robberies have to come to an end. The criminals are being hunted down," said Saitoti
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The Missing: Somali Men Off Twin Cities Streets, Back in Somalia

Somali community fears young men leaving to fight holy war

Somali people are trained to handle guns at the Islamic militiamen run Arbiska training camp, Stories
MINNEAPOLIS -- Young Somali men are vanishing off the streets of the Twin Cities. More than 20 have left in the last few months, and the community fears they’ve gone back to Somalia to fight in a holy war.
Video: The Missing They’re known in the Somali community simply at The Missing. More than 20 young Somali men, between the ages of 17 and 22, who have left the Twin Cities in the last few months, without a single word to their families. The families and community leaders believe the men have gone back to fight in a bloody civil war, in which Al Quiada is a major player.
"They're concerned emotional and in shock,” Omar Jamal, of the Somali Justice Center said. “They're completely grief stricken. From multiple sources in the Somali community, FOX 9 has learned eight men are believed to have left on August 1, and another ten on November 4.
Flight itineraries discovered by their families show they left Minneapolis to take the winding trip back, through Dubai, Nairobi, Malindi, Kenya, where they’re believed to have snuck in by boat to Somalia.
MISSING SOMALI BOYS IN US TOWN MIGHT HAVE GONE TO FIGHT HOLY WAR http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC_6zRiYWDk
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"There's no mystery.. Terror Free Somalia Foundation .we speak up before in MINNEAPOLIS --
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Obama's To-Do List: Somalia
Somalia, a genuine failed state, ranks alongside Sudan as the world's most conspicuous candidate for American attention in the early days of Barack Obama's administration. Last week, capping a series of territorial gains across the country, Islamist insurgents seized the port of Merka, and appeared poised for an offensive against the capital city of Mogadishu 60 miles to the north. Aspiring jihadists, averse to the risks posed in Iraq and Pakistan, are increasingly flocking to Somalia, which is 97 percent Sunni Muslim. At the same time, Somali pirates have become a significant maritime menace, with press reports suggesting that they are driving up prices of goods worldwide. Almost two years ago, U.S.-supported Ethiopian troops ousted the de facto government run by the Al Qaeda-linked Islamic Courts Union (ICU) from Mogadishu, installed an internationally recognized secular transitional government formed in exile, and remained in-country to support it along with an anemic African Union (AU) contingent. But the Ethiopians can't afford to stay much longer, and their repressive tactics have lost Somali hearts and minds, allowing the Islamists to regain social as well as military traction. Earlier this month, in a brutally populist application of sharia law, a 13-year old girl was stoned to death in the southern Somali city of Kismayu for alleged adultery in a stadium packed with 1,000 spectators. The upstart al-Shabaab--meaning "youth"--faction of the ICU has become a political spoiler. On October 29, the group executed five coordinated suicide car-bomb attacks against transitional government and U.N. targets in different locations around the country, killing about 30 people and accelerating a trend of rising jihadist violence against local civic leaders and international aid workers perceived as pro-Western. Significantly, al-Shabaab targeted the northern city of Hargeisa, the seat of government of the relatively safe and successful quasi-state of Somaliland,somalia even as the transitional government was making progress in Nairobi towards an orderly Ethiopian withdrawal. The threat the ICU posed in late 2006 has thus re-materialized: that Islamists will Talibanize Somalia and nurture a regional base for jihadism that exports insecurity and instability.more..
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/21/opinion/main4624994.shtml

Bin Laden’s Driver to Be Sent to Yemen


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/washington/AP-Guantanamo-Bin-Ladens-Driver.html?_r=1&hp

In Cities, the Fight Against Terrorism Walks the Beat

Ahead of the Inauguration, Washington, D.C., Police Adopt a New Program to Detect Threats and Share Information with Agencies

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122757233321954813.html