Two AMISOM Soldiers killed in suicide attack.AMISOM Foils Extremist Suicide Attack.AU soldiers killed in Somalia suicide attack

AMISOM Foils Extremist Suicide Attack

AMISOM forces have today foiled a suicide attack by extremist insurgents. At approximately 1645 hrs, several extremists disguised as Somali government soldiers attacked the AMISOM position at Shakala guarded by both AU and Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa forces, on the busy Makka Mukarama road.
The extremists drove up in a white saloon car and engaged AMISOM troops there in a firefight. However, they were unable to gain entry into the position. Three of them were killed, including one would-be suicide attacker who ran away towards Hamar Weyne district.During the attack, AMISOM lost 2 soldiers and one was injured. 3 others, and one AWSJ fighter, were injured when the body of one of the suicide attackers exploded.AMISOM Chief of Staff, Col. Innocent Oula, paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the AMISOM troops. “But for their brave and speedy action, many more lives, including those of innocent civilians, would have been lost,” he said.
AU soldiers killed in Somalia suicide attack
MOGADISHU — Two soldiers with the African Union force in Somalia were killed Monday in a suicide attack by Al-Qaeda loyalists that also claimed the lives of at least three attackers, AU and Somali forces said.

Shebab extremists, who pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda last year, claimed responsibility for the attack and claimed their forces killed eight AU troops without revealing their own casualties.

Extremist insurgents disguised as Somali soldiers attacked Shakala military base south of the capital Mogadishu and exchanged fire with AU troops guarding the compound, the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said in a statement.

Four assailants believed to be Shebab Islamist militiamen were behind the attack, the head of Somali security forces Mohamed Abdulahi told AFP.

"Two of the suicide bombers were killed before entering the base, but one was able to activate his bomb," he said.

The AU statement said the attackers drove up in a white saloon car but failed to enter the base. "Three of them were killed, including one would-be suicide attacker who ran away towards Hamar Weyne district," it said.

Two AU troops were killed and five other soldiers were wounded when the body of one of the suicide attackers exploded, it added.

Shebab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage said: "The mujahedeen and in particular the unit tasked with the suicide attacks launched a well-organised assault this afternoon."

"They successfully killed eight soldiers at the entrance (of the base) and they forcefully entered", he said, adding at least 20 soldiers were injured.

Shebab leaders and foreign Al-Qaeda fighters in Somalia two weeks ago declared vengeance "in the near future" for the death of Osama bin Laden by US special forces in Pakistan earlier this month.

Somali police at the time said it was aware of a series of planned suicide attacks.

Shebab extremists control southern swathes of Somalia and part of its capital.

However, they have retreated after pro-government forces in February launched a 9,000-strong offensive backed up by AMISOM forces that include soldiers from Uganda and Burundi.

Unionist SSC With Puntland Army Clash and Tribal Secessionists Somaliland Gambara near Tukaraq district in Sool region, some 28 kilometers away from the provincial capital of Las'anod Clash in Sool Region

Unionist  scc with  Puntland  Army and  Tribal Secessionists Somaliland forces have today clashed in Gambara near Tukaraq district in Sool region, some 28 kilometers away from the provincial capital of Las'anod, after Somaliland forces moved towards Unionist scc and Puntland's base in Tukaraq.

There are varied reports on killed and wounded soldiers, but both sides and witnesses said there were no civilian casualities. Local residents told terror free somalia that 2 Puntland soldiers and 3 Somaliland soldiers were killed. However,  Tribal Secessionists Somaliland official, Yasin Abdi Mire, denied Puntland soldiers were killed, but that 3 Puntland soliders were wounded in the fighting. Sources close to the military of Somaliland said at least of four of Somaliland’s forces were injured.

Witnesses told Somalia Report that  Tribal Secessionists Somaliland forces with tanks and armored vehicles were seen moving towards the direction of Gambara earlier in the morning and fierce clashes followed around 12:00 PM local time (0900 GMT)

Sources from Garowe, Puntland’s capital, told Somalia Report that  Tribal Secessionists Somaliland forces clashed with the Sool, Sanaag & Cool (SSC) militia, a group is opposed to the government in Hargeisa, in the outskirts of Gambara. The fighting forced the SSC militia to retreat back to the Puntland base in Tukaraq village thus prompting Puntland forces into an unexpected battle with Somaliland.

“Puntland forces were caught in the middle after SSC and Somaliland fought somewhere near Puntland military base,” the source said.
Puntland’s former Aviation and Ports Minister Ahmed Ali Osman Karash, who now leads an armed militia to fight against Somaliland’s presence in the region, exclusively talked to Somalia Report while in Tukaraq.

He said that Somaliland military forces attacked his forces and the SSC militia a few kilometers away from Tukaraq.

“They attacked our forces as well as of those SSC in the outskirts of Tukaruq, and we resisted the offensive of Somaliland," he said.

Meanwhile, Colonel Ali Sabaray, the deputy leader of SSC told the local media that his militia captured a tank from Somaliland forces and a number of other military equipment, but could not confirm the number of casualties.

"We have managed to push the enemy back to their territory. We have captured a number of their military equipment,” said the colonel.
Puntland’s Information Minister Ahmed Ali Askar held press conference in the capital of Garowe and said that three of Puntland’s defense forces were injured in the fighting but no one was killed as far as Puntland’s side is concerned.

“Three of our forces were injured and are now being treated in Garowe. That’s the only casualty so far,” he explained.

He blamed the break-away administration of Tribal Secessionists Somaliland for provoking Puntland by attacking its territory.

Breaking News:Failed Suicide Attack Attack on ASWJ/AMISOM Joint Base Kills Six, Wounds Six. Insurgents, Soldiers, Militia and Civilians Killed or Wounded in Suicide Attack

AMISOM map

Shaqala Checkpoint in Mogadishu

Central Mogadishu's Monday afternoon rocked to the sounds of gunfire and explosions as members of al-Shabaab drove up to the Debka base near Shaqala and opened fire in a suicide attack. Today's attack is described by AMISOM as a failed suicide attack in their official release:
 AMISOM forces have today foiled a suicide attack by extremist insurgents. At approximately 1645 hrs, several extremists disguised as Somali government soldiers attacked the AMISOM position at Shakala guarded by both AU and Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa forces, on the busy Makka Mukarama road.

The extremists drove up in a white saloon car and engaged AMISOM troops there in a firefight. However, they were unable to gain entry into the position. Three of them were killed, including one would-be suicide attacker who ran away towards Hamar Weyne district.

During the attack, AMISOM lost 2 soldiers and one was injured. 3 others, and one AWSJ fighter, were injured when the body of one of the suicide attackers exploded.

AMISOM Chief of Staff, Col. Innocent Oula, paid tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the AMISOM troops. “But for their brave and speedy action, many more lives, including those of innocent civilians, would have been lost,” he said.

Shaqala means "employer" and is a living quarters for the AU but Somalia Report has learned that the attack was actually against the Dabka base where ASWJ militia live in one building and AMISOM forces live in another building. The suicide attack by al-Shabaab was directly on the ASWJ forces.

Al-Shabaab confirmed to local radio   that they were behind the attacks today. Entrance to AMISOM at Shaqala

What might be embarrassing for AMISOM is that this checkpoint is inside the publicized zone of control shown to reporters just five days ago along a major road. Somalia Report interviewed an ASWJ soldier who said that after the men spilled out of a white mini van, three of the men began firing at the guards until they ran out of ammunition. The joint government forces responded by killing three of the fighters. Two bodies of the militia fighters exploded killing several women and children who were accessing that road. AMISOM forces continued to fire mortars and heavy weapons fooling some people into thinking there were multiple attacks around the city.
Ali Suffi, an ASWJ senior official told Somalia Report on phone from Al-Baraka intersection, "The infidels are now in a desperate attempt after losing badly in the latest successful offensives that we launched on them in the past few weeks now."
Out of the 11 that launched the attack, six were killed on the spot and the others tried to flee to the Liberian Village where the TFG forces pounced on them. The eyewitness did not see any dead AMISOM soldiers. The ASWJ soldier confirmed that but he adds that six of their men were wounded in the attack.
Speaking exclusively to Somalia Report, Khalif Abdikadir, a State Minister in the Office of the President and a senior official of the ASWJ moderate Islamist faction, condemned the attacks and termed it as barbaric.

"It is a clear sign that the al-Shabaab have began their usual tactic; killing people after planting suicide bombers in civilian populated areas. They were unsuccessful this time and they will never be successful again," Minister Khalif said.

Although the ASWJ took the brunt of the attack it appeared that the goal of the suicide attack was aimed at the Ugandan peacekeepers stationed in Maka Al-Mukarama.

The State Minister also criticized the TFG officials for the lack of security measures that has seen al-Shabaab reach all the way to sleeping quarters of the government forces.

"We will improve the area security and there will be no repeat of such an incident and I assure the people of Mogadishu that the areas under AMISOM and TFG are safe from the extremists," he said.

Al-Shabaab Claims 30 Dead

Meanwhile, in an attempt to capitalize on the failed attack, math-and-reality-challenged al-Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mahmoud Rage insisted that nearly 30 AU and ASWJ soldiers were killed as a result of the suicide.
"As our brothers who come back with safety told us that they killed 30 soldiers from Uganda and Somalia because the operation was very well prepared, thank to Allah and our Mujahidin brothers. Al-Shabaab sends message to Uganda and Burundi that you destroyed Mogadishu so we will destroy your towns."

Neither side commented on the civilian casualties.
IED Attacks

According to interviews conducted by Somalia Report by UXO experts, IED attacks, both manned and unmanned are a serious and deliberately underreported problem in Mogadishu.
Although the level of sophistication is described as "getting there" in comparison to Iraq and Afghanistan where IEDs are the main insurgent weapon, Mogadishu's ability to deal with these deadly booby traps is limited by manpower and training. AMISOM soldiers and visitors are still transported in lumbering anti-mine vehicles which are designed for the older military type of buried bottom blast mine, not the artillery shell, side blast type commonly in use by insurgents.
VBIEDs (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices) suicide bombers have been used against targets in Somaliland, Puntland and Mogadishu since 2008. The IED first appeared in 2007 in Mogadishu as an export of al Qaeda members fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 

Ambassador Abdikarim Omar: Letter to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:The Ambassador is concerned about the illegal arrest of Col. Barre Adan Shire by the Ethiopian authority.

To: Mrs. Hillary Clinton

The Secretary of State of the United States

2201 C Street

Washington, DC 20520

May 19, 2011

Your Excellency,

It gives me a great pleasure and particular honor to forward to you here with my sincere greetings and salutations and at the same time commend to you the wonderful and effective job that you are doing as Secretary of State. Having said that, I am writing this letter to you as the former Somali Ambassador to the United States to inform you a grave and disturbing matter concerning the illegal detention of Colonel Barre Adan Shire (Barre Hiiraale) on May 5, 2011 by Ethiopian authority. Col. Barre Hiiraale was the former minister of defense and currently a member of the Somali transitional parliament.

Madam Secretary, it is not the first time, that Ethiopian government has illegally imprisoned parliamentarians, government officials, and ordinary Somalis by snatching them inside Somalia. The Ethiopian actions is a direct contravention of international law and naked violation of the Somali sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Madam Secretary, It is worth to note that Col. Barre Hiiraale was engaged a fierce battle against extremist organization Al-shabaab the Al-Qaeda affiliated outfit that is in virtual control of southern Somalia and particularly Gedo region. When Col. Barre Hiiraale succeeded to eject Al-shabaab from three major towns in Gedo region, all over sudden the Ethiopian authority arrested him without any legal justification inside Somali territory. It is clear that the Ethiopian government is siding with the extremists Al-shabaab against Col. Barre Hiiraale the only individual in the transitional federal institutions who is willing to fight against Al-Shabaab and their extremist ideology.

Madam Secretary, the majority of Somalis in the United States and throughout the world are extremely dismayed by the unlawful imprisonment of Col. Barre Hiiraale. Therefore, I most diligently request the assistance of your esteemed office to intercede on behalf of Col. Barre Adan Shire (Barre Hiiraale) to be released the earliest possible time by the Ethiopian authorities.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Amb. Abdikarim Ali Omar

The former Somali Ambassador to the United States.
Related posts:
Gov't Soldiers Leave Dhamasle for Lack of of salary, military equipment ,low morale and outraged of kidnapped Somali Army Commander . Ethiopian forces helping Al-shabab militants .Al-Shabaab Forces Weapons Traders to Supply Their Jihad
 Ethiopian Army Demand Ransom For The Release of kidnapped Somali Army Commander MP : Bare Aden Shire The Former Somali Defence Minister
and Ethiopia Arrests May Delay Gedo Offensive .Colleagues of Arrested Men Refusing to Fight

TFG Retreat from Gedo, Force Complain of Lack of Morale

Contingents of the Transitional Federal Governments (TFG) of Somalia and some of its allied forces have over the weekend reluctantly retreated from their frontline bases in Gedo region where they have been battling with fighters of the insurgency group Al-Shabaab.

The TFG troops who have been in action in the region for the past few weeks said, their fall back followed lack of morale occasioned by the absence of a regular monthly salary.

"We have been battling in numerous battles in several settlements of Gedo region. There is lack of morale and regular salaries. That is the main reason why some of the force has retreated from the frontline” said Sahal Maalim, a military official in Gedo.

Al-Shabaab fighters have reported taken offer the town of Dhamasle a small settlement in the neighborhood of Elwak district, without any military confrontation shortly after TFG forces left the area.

Military sources said the retreating contingents have routinely asked the executive in Mogadishu to settle their complains regarding especially the lack of salaries. “This is a serious issue that can result the defeat of the TFG and allied forces” the official added

The latest fallback of allied TFG forces in Gedo follows yet another retreatment a few days ago when some of the Somali army left their military bases in Buusar, a remote hamlet some 40km East of Elwak district. The town is now ruled by Al-Shabaab fighters.

In late February and early March Somali forces trained in Ethiopia and Kenya launched an offensive capturing several towns in Gedo after a successful military onslaught to wipe out insurgency groups which have been ruling much of South and Central Somalia.

March 5, 2011, on the Kenyan and Ethiopian border, a pro-TFG militia drove al Shabaab out of the town of Beled Hawo, killing or wounding nearly 40 of the Islamist fighters in the process.

The TfG has several thousand pro-government clan militiamen in the drought devastated Gedo frontier, but fighters have only received some basic military training, they are not nearly as effective as the professional soldiers serving in the AU peacekeeping force.

Recently the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) said support should be given to the TFG forces in terms of equipment, training and payment of salary in order to have a cohesive security force. But the forces are still in their nascent stage without proper military structures and conditions.

Official: 5 suicide attacks at AU bases in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Five simultaneous suicide attacks targeted African Union bases in the Somali capital of Mogadishu Monday night, officials said.
A Nairobi-based diplomat said he could not yet give casualty figures, but said only some of the attacks had been stopped in time. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
African Union soldier Capt. Prosper Hakizimana said one suicide bomber was dressed in a Somali government military uniform when he attempted to enter a base. The man was shot at by AU forces and immediately blew up, Hakizimana said, adding that casualties for that attack were unknown.
Al-Qaida-linked Islamists are battling the weak U.N.-backed government for control of the capital of Mogadishu. Around 9,000 AU troops are stationed in the city to prevent the government from being overrun by militants.
The insurgency has frequently launched suicide attacks against both government and AU soldiers. A suicide attack in 2009 on the main AU base in Mogadishu killed 21 people.
The African Union, the Somali government and pro-government militias launched an offensive against militants earlier this year, making notable gains in territory. The government once controlled only a couple square miles (kilometers) near Mogadishu's seaside airport. AU officials say they now control half the city.
Last week, the AU peacekeeping force said it was trying to choke off a key funding stream for the Somali insurgency by pushing Islamist fighters out of the capital's main market. The Bakara market has been the site of hundreds of battles in recent years.

Gov't Soldiers Leave Dhamasle for Lack of of salary, military equipment ,low morale and outraged of kidnapped Somali Army Commander . Ethiopian forces helping Al-shabab militants .Al-Shabaab Forces Weapons Traders to Supply Their Jihad

update on Ethiopian Army Demand Ransom For The Release of kidnapped Somali Army Commander MP : Bare Aden Shire The Former Somali Defence Minister
and Ethiopia Arrests May Delay Gedo Offensive .Colleagues of Arrested Men Refusing to Fight
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ahlu Sunna wal Jamma (ASWJ) troops in Gedo region started to move out of some settlements under their control over salary disputes and as al-Shabaab militants in the region escalated attacks against them.

Reports indicate that lack of salary, military equipment and soldiers caused government troops in Dhamasle settlement near El-Wak district on Sunday night to leave.
 
"I woke up early morning and there were no soldiers, war vehicles or military officials. I can't tell you the reason but I heard their salary and wages were not paid,"  and The issue Ethiopian government “arrested” Bare Aden Shire, aka Bare Hirale, who is an MP for the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and a commander of clan militia in the areaa local resident told terror free somalia on the condition of anonymity.
Sahal Mo'alim Adan, a government officer in El-Wak district, confirmed that the troops and their vehicles left the settlement overnight for salary reasons and disputes between government officers in the region."We tried to solve all problems, our troops left Dhamasle settlement near Kenya boarder Sunday night. They reached El-Wak and there are meetings between officials to try and resolve the issue," the officer said.Militants from al-shabaab seized the settlement Monday morning and ordered people to fight, according to local resident Mahmoud Adan Dhamasle.This is the second time in a month that troops deserted an area for lack of pay. In early May, troops left Busar town in Gedo region. At that time, government officials in Gedo region appealed to the defense minster to pay the troops.Meanwhile al-Shabaab seized Busaar settlement where based government troops late months. Shabaab meets with Baidoa weapon traders Reports from Baidoa indicate that militant officials in Bay region have met with weapon traders there to demand their help in fighting against TFG troops in southwest Somalia."They asked us to pay money for weapons, grenades and others things to escalate the Jihad. We have no choice, but to follow the order," a Baidoa weapon trader told terror free somalia.
 More than 60 traders were present at the meeting and some regional officials, according to traders.

War-saxaaf​adeed Shirka Golaha Wasiirada May 29.2011

                                                                     Warsaxaafadeed
Muqdisho, Axad, 29 May 2011 – Shir ay maanta golahawasiirada yeesheen oo uu shir-guddoominayey Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Somalia MudaneMohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo) ayaa looga hadlay arrimo fara badan oo ayka mid ahaayeen Shirkii Golaha Ammaanka ee QM ay la yeesheen Madaxda Qaranka,xil ka qaadis lagu sameeyey Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Qaranka, iyo magacaabisXeer Illaaliye Guud oo cusub.
Ra’iisul Wasaaraha Somaliyaayaa warbixin kooban siiyey golaha ee la xiriirtay shirkii Golaha Ammaanka eeQM ee ka dhacay Nairobi 25-kii May 2010. Warbixintaas ka dib Golaha Wasiiraduwaxey u mahadceliyeen Golaha Ammaanka ee QM iyo sida ay mudnaanta u siiyeenarrimaha Somalia. Golaha Wasiiradu waxey soo dhoweeyeen go’aanadii ka soo baxayshirkaas oo ay ka mid ahaayeen in magaalada Muqdisho lagu qabto shir wadatashioo ay Somalida ku soo afjaraan khilaafkooda, isla markaana ay ku go’aansadaansidii looga gudbi lahaa xilliga kala guurka. Golaha Wasiiradu waxey hoosta kaxariiqeen in loo baahanyahay in dhammaan hay’adaha dastuuriga ah ay la wadayimaadaan sidii khilaafaadka jira loo soo wada afjari lahaa oo mowqif mideysanloo wada qaadan lahaa, iyadoo la eegayo danta guud ee shacabka soomaaliyeed.
Wasiirka Garsoorka,Arrimaha Diinta iyo Awqaafta Mudane Abdullahi Ebyan Nur ayaa golaha u soogudbiyey warbixin la xiriirta arrimaha Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Qaranka iyohay’adaha Garsoorka oo uu sheegay in loo baahan yahay in dib-u-habeyn lagusameeyo. Warbixinta wasiirka ka dib Golahu dood dheer ay yeesheen waxey iskuraaceen arrimahan hoos ku qoran:
1. In Xilkii laga qaadayXeer Ilaaaliyahii Guud ee Qaranka Abdullahi Dahir Barre.
2. In Mudane AbdulkadirMohamed Musse loo magacaabay xilka Xeer Ilaaliyaha Guud ee Qaranka.

- DHAMAAD -


--
Garad Salad Hersi
Press Officer office of the Prime Minister
Mobile: +252-615536608
             +252-6-2536608
Mogadishu, Somalia

Captain Of Hijacked Ship Killed By U.S. Gunfire. Three Pirates, Taiwanese Captain Killed, Ship Sunk In Clash With U.S. Warship

Jih Chun Tsai 68

The hijacked long liner Jih Chun Tsai 68, operating as a mothership by Somali pirates ran into the USS Stephen Groves in the Indian Ocean today and was sunk.
The Taiwanese skipper and three pirates were also killed in an exchange of gunfire. Wu Lai Yu, the captain of the ill fate ship had endured over a year of captivity after being hijacked in March of 2010. What made the violent incident even more depressing was the recent deal struck by pirates and the captains family in Taiwan.
Late in March of last year pirates attacked two Taiwanese fishing vessels southeast of Cape Guardafui off north east Somalia. The Jui Man Fa's crew which consisted of two Taiwanese and 12 Indonesians managed to escape capture but the Jin Chun Tsai 68 with three Taiwanese and 11 Indonesian crew feel prey to the pirates. One Indonesian crew member of the Jui Man Fa was hit in the thigh by a pirate bullet.
Although it could be argued that the Taiwanese were poaching, monetary gain is the real reason. Five other Taiwanese fishing ships have been captured and ransomed by pirates.
The Jih Chun Tsai 68 or 日春財68號 is captained by a Taiwanese and part of a fleet of Taiwanese fishing ships known to poach tuna using long lines in the region.

A ransom was paid for the release of the ship and crew but allegedly intercepted resulting in the lengthy incarceration of the crew. The 27 meter long vessel is registered in Kaohsiung and was owned by the captain.
The other two Chinese sailors on board were rescued.

What happened to the crew?

The story of the Jih Chun Tsai 68, the second longest hijacked ship in captivity, is convoluted. On or about 19th March 2011 10 Indonesian sailors from the Taiwanese Fishing vessel Jih Chun Tsai 68 were exchanged with a USNS Hamilton in a deal to return the body of a Somali pirate from VLCC Irene SL who had been seriously wounded earlier, was then handed to the naval ship for emergency surgery. But the Somali pirate died on the operation table.

The 10 Indonesian crew members of the FV Jih Chun Tsai 68 were taken to US Naval Ship HAMILTON and then they were flown back home. This left behind four crew members...one Indonesian, two Chinese and the Taiwanese master of the vessel abord and held captive.
On or about 24th April 2011 NATO reported that USS Stephen W Groves intercepted the hijacked Kuwaiti tanker Zirku, the Italian bulker Rosalia D’Amato nd the Taiwanese fishing vessel Jin Chun Tsai 688, as well as two unmanned skiffs, about 100 nautical miles off the Somali coast.

“The NATO warship ordered the pirates to cut loose the mother ship Jih Chun Tsai 68 and skiffs,” it said in a statement. “As the pirates did not comply, warning shots were fired, and when they too were ignored, the unmanned skiffs were destroyed.”

As the frigate then moved closer, pirates fired at the naval vessel. The warship then returned fire before moving away “to deescalate the situation and not endanger the innocent hostages on board the pirated ships”.

On or about 12th May 2011 the master of the hijacked Taiwanese fishing vessel Jih Chun Tsai 68 and three pirates were killed and two crew members wounded in a gunfight with the US Naval Ship Stephen W Groves.

A boarding team from the US frigate found the bodies of the master of the fishing vessel Capt. Wu Lai- Yu on the vessel, as well as two wounded seafarers, while the surviving pirates were returned to Somalia.

Chinese diplomatic officials and the Somali translator aboard the ill-fated fishing vessel say that ransom money was paid mid last year via Djibouti but the ship was not released. The pirates had demanded $8 million dollars in ransom but paid a lesser amount to a middleman based in Djibouti. In April another agreement to pay ransom had been reached by the captain's wife. Shocked at the sudden death of her husband after being so close to release, Wu's wife sent a statement on Sunday via Tsai Pao-hsing, secretary-general of the Liouciou Fishery Association, that Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs should help seek compensation from the U.S. T

The ship is registered in Pingtung and Taiwan does not have official diplomatic ties with the United States. 'The Liouciou Fishery Association (929 Liouciou Township, Pingtung County 231, Fuk Cunzhongshanlu, Taiwan, Telephone (08) 861-2512 Fax: (08) 861-3312) represents about 4000 fishermen int the south of the country

Ships currently operating as pirate mother ships are FV Jelbut 33, MV Orno and MV Eagle.

Somali gov't forces, AU peacekeepers push deeper into rebel territory (TF.SF Exclusive Pictures)

MOGADISHU, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Somali government forces backed by African Union (AU) peacekeeping troops on Friday seized new areas in the insurgent controlled part of the capital Mogadishu following heavy battles with Islamist gunmen, officials said.
The Somali government troops retook large swathes of territory south and west of the main Bakara market in Mogadishu including a key road as they push into rebel-controlled areas, Abdelhakim Dhegabadan, commander of the Somali armed forces told reporters at the frontline.

Several insurgent fighters have surrendered to advancing government soldiers who are now on the southwestern side of the main Bakara market, a key stronghold and a source of revenue of Al Shabaab militant group.
Somali government officials have extended amnesty previously offered to Islamist rebel fighters who gave themselves up to government troops and AU forces. Government commanders said that the offensive will continue "until all of Somali territory under rebel control was freed."
Somali government forces backed by AU peacekeepers have lately been making steady progress against rebel forces in the capital Mogadishu and in parts of the southern provinces where a number of key towns and villages were recaptured from radical group of Al Shabaab.

A number of people including combatants from both warring sides as well as civilians were reported to have been either killed or injured in the latest confrontations in the Somali capital which is part of a major government offensive aimed at driving rebel forces from areas under their control in Mogadishu and southern and central provinces.
Families have fled from Islamist controlled part of the capital particularly in and around the Bakara market where government troops and AU peacekeepers have been advancing of late as part of the military offensive against Al Qaeda affiliated Islamist insurgent group.

Somali government launched the current offensive in February vowing to drive the Al Qaeda affiliated rebel forces were driven all areas under their control in south and center of the country including the capital Mogadishu.

TFG Ministers Slam Associated Press Reporting.Finance and Information Ministers Deny AP Allegations of Misuse of Gov't Funds

update on Aid pirates: Somalia fails to account for millions in assistance
Somalia's Finance Minister Hussein Abdi Halane and Minister of Information Abdukarim Jama Halane said the Associated Press reporting of a leaked document that accuses the TFG of mishandling at least $300 million USD is 'irresponsible.'
The funds, according to the yet to be published report, covered the disposition internal revenues and contributions from Arab states. The foreign minister claimed during a Friday press conference in Mogadishu that the report information was unverified and amounted to mere speculation and rumor.
He stated that the current government is more transparent and accountable with regard to the intake and management of government funds and how to spend them. The two ministers further stated that, since they took over their respective offices, there has not been a single arrest for financial corruption.
“The same income that was taken in by the government several years ago and stolen or otherwise misappropriated by former ministers is now (due to the lack of corruption) sufficient to ensure prompt and regular payment of government staff whether they are military or civil servants,” Abdikarim Jama said.
The US-based Associated Press news service reported that Abdirasak Fartaag, head of the Public Finance Management Unit, denied published reports that the government has misused more than $300 million USD, including internal revenues, derived specifically from the port, airport, khat trade, the regional telecommunications industry, and Arab states between 2007 and 2010.

“When you are talking finance you need facts, statics, and documented evidences, which is currently lacking and thus mere speculation. It is regrettable that the Associated Press reported that, of the $300 million missing monies, $70 million USD from foreign assistance is missing.”
Speaking about Fartaag’s Public Finance Management Unit, which is responsible for the government’s overall financial management, Finance Minister Halane said, “There is no watchdog of finance management in the government. The Ministry of Finance is in charge, but we also have oversight from a parliamentary committee, as well as an accountant general. If you are looking for financial records then go to the accountant general or to the Ministry of Finance, as there is no one else who can produce any accurate and untarnished financial information.”

The information minister said that Abdirasak Fartaag used to work in the prime minister’s office, but was dismissed in January 2011. Further, he noted, “This gentleman is neither responsible for finance nor an employee of the current government.”

Both the finance and information ministers clearly stated that the claim in the Associated Press story was influenced by opposition political agendas and people who want to damage the reputation of the government.

“The difficulty that we see is that somebody published these numbers as fact. A lot of people pick it up of this and everybody is wondering where the $70 million is, where the $300 million is. We want to know who took the $70 million and who took the $300 million if indeed these facts are proven to be true,” Jama said.

“We do strongly believe that that is not the case, that these large amounts of money were never received by our government, and this story has damaged the reputation of the government. We take exception to this and find it a case of extremely irresponsible reporting,” he added.

Although the Associated Press reported that Fartaag’s claim was based on interview with politicians who witnessed the payment or received money in Mogadishu, the Somali finance minister said that the author of the report "spoke to none of the people who manage the government’s finances, whether it is the minister of finance or the accountant general."
Finance Minister Halane also denied that he told the Associated Press that he had seen the prime minster personally receive $5 million USD in cash on two separate occasions.
Despite the surprise of the TFG at allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the press conference they offered no direct rebuttals or proof to refute the charges contained in the report. In 2010 Somalia was rated #178, dead last, on Transparency International's scale of perceived corruption.
Editor's Note: Although the TFG attacked the Associated Press for running the story, the information was not gathered by Katharine Houreld of the AP but from a report generated by the Somalia Public Finance Unit. Houreld has broken a number of stories on Somalia and this most recent scoop has been widely syndicated.

Somali president, Sheikh Sharif Sh. Ahmed visited frontlines today in Hodan district in the capital. Somali president: It is time to free Shabab, Al-qaeda from Somalia (EXCLUSIVE PICTURES)

Mogadishu -Somali president, Sheikh Sharif Sh. Ahmed who has visited frontlines today in Hodan district in the capital, Mogadishu today, told that it was the time to remove Al-Shabab and Al-qaeda from whole Somalia, reports said.

President of Somali transitional federal government, Sheikh Sharif Sh. Ahmed has visited today front lines, in particular African village in Hodan district where Somali national forces, together with Amisom captured from Shabab yesterday, reports said.

Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sh. Hassan, It’s time to free Shabab and Al-qaeda from the country”.

He told that the fighting would continue until they would remove terrorist group of Al-shabab and urged government soldiers to keep discipline and not harm civilians living where they free from Shabab.

President Sharif congratulated Somali national forces on the continues victories over the war they are gaining day after day and sent condolence message to relatives of dead soldiers among government forces and begged the injured for quick recovery.

President Sharif’s visit to the warring zones today was accompanied by some ministers including minister of defense, A/hakin Haji Fiqi

This is not the first visit that Somali president, Sheikh Sharif pays to the warring zones.

Attorney General's Minn. visit marred by protests

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder visited Minneapolis Friday to praise the city for its program to reduce youth violence, but was interrupted several times by outbursts from protesters who claim the government has been unfairly targeting anti-war activists in a federal investigation.

Holder was in Minnesota to headline a conference on youth violence prevention, and to meet with young adults from the area's Somali community — who have felt under fire in recent years as authorities investigate the travels of men who returned to Somalia to possibly fight with a terror group.

He also held a larger closed-door town hall meeting with area Muslims to talk about their concerns about law enforcement and "Islamophobia."

But the dozens of anti-war activists who attended the morning conference on youth anti-violence stole some of the spotlight. They said Holder was responsible for the September FBI raids and subpoenas of local activists, and that he has the sole power to stop the grand jury investigation into allegations they provided material support to terrorists.

Tracy Molm, a former University of Minnesota student whose home was raided, was the first protester to interrupt Holder's speech. She spoke with him afterward.

"The only phrase he used over and over again was, 'We're going to have to agree to disagree,'" she said. "I have a movement of people around the country and outside who agree with me, so it's on you to stop this."

The activists cite a September Inspector General's report that they say criticizes the FBI under Holder's administration for improperly targeting advocacy groups such as Greenpeace and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The lengthy report said the basis for opening some investigations of those affiliated with groups was "factually weak." In some cases, the report said the FBI classified cases of nonviolent civil disobedience as "Acts of Terrorism."

Molm said Holder told her he has a different interpretation of the report.

She and other protesters were escorted from the forum, but could be heard chanting and drumming outside, as Holder praised the city of Minneapolis for its program to reduce youth violence. Holder pledged the Department of Justice would support the program, and said he plans to bring it to a national scale.

He said reducing youth violence is a "moral calling" and one of the most important tasks in shaping the nation's future. Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak said the program has led to a reduction in the numbers of youths involved in violent crime, including youth victims.

After the conference, Holder met with young adults in the Somali community, and held a larger town hall with members of the wider Muslim community.

U.S. Attorney for Minnesota B. Todd Jones, who was with Holder all day, said the attorney general met with the young Somali adults because that age group has been affected by the men who traveled to Somalia to possibly join al-Shabab, as well as a more recent federal investigation into human trafficking of young girls for sex.

"I don't think it's lost on anybody that we have some attention to pay to these issues involving Somali youth," Jones said. He said Holder met with those ages 18-29 for about 40 minutes.

"They're concerned about issues of profiling, harassment, perceptions of harassment. They are concerned about Islamophobia, being targeted, and the demonization of their religion, to a certain degree," he said.

Jones said the group had suggestions for law enforcement and prosecutors. He declined to be specific.

"The AG did a lot of listening," Jones said. "He very much appreciated the opportunity to hear from folks in an unfiltered way."

Jones said the prosecutions have ramifications in the community when it comes to perceptions and stereotyping, and the overarching theme was that many felt they were being "demonized" for their religion. Jones said he and Holder made it clear the Department of Justice doesn't prosecute communities, and works to protect communities from hate crimes.

Abdirizak Bihi, director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center, attended the town hall meeting and said he was impressed.

He said Holder seems to genuinely care about civil rights issues Somalis face. Holder talked to the group about the different ways they can fight discrimination and how important it is for police to help them do that, Bihi said. Holder also distributed material on legal advocacy resources.

"I was very glad that he was well-immersed on the issue," Bihi said, adding that Holder made it clear that part of his job was to protect Americans from domestic and foreign terrorists.

The group was shown a promotional video on Somalis living in Minnesota, but Bihi said it was "too perfect," and didn't portray a realistic view of the issues.

"It kind of showed a great picture that was beautiful," he said. "But the issues confronting our youth, making them vulnerable to gang violence or radicalization, were not presented."

Saeed Fahia, executive director of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, said he was impressed to see so many powerful African Americans together — referring to Holder, Jones and U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison.

Fahia said he thought the meeting was productive, but that his most important question for Holder was never answered.

"Why did he feel he needed to meet with Somalis as opposed to other groups?" he asked. "Why  Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Attorney-General-s-Minn-visit-marred-by-protests-1398885.php#ixzz1NbGUX9Ed

PuntlandNews :Africa Oil Reports Operational, Financial Ops for 1Q11

update on Africa Oil war has impacted communities in Galgala, Balanbal and places in the Ogaden

(PuntlandNews  TF.SF)Africa Oil announced its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2011.
Highlights and accomplishments during the first quarter of 2011 included:

• The Company completed the acquisition of Centric Energy Corp. ("Centric"), a publicly traded oil and gas company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Total consideration paid was valued at $60.2 million and included the issuance of 30,155,524 AOC common shares. Centric's primary asset is Block 10BA in Kenya which is strategically located within the highly prospective East African Tertiary Rift System between AOC's Block 10BB and its South Omo Block. Centric and Tullow Oil plc ("Tullow") are joint venture partners on the Block 10BA. In addition, Centric also has a carried 25% interest in Block 7 and Block 11, both located in the Republic of Mali and operated by Heritage Oil Corporation.
• Africa Oil entered into amending agreements with the Government of Puntland in the quarter, represented by the Puntland Petroleum and Mineral Agency, in respect of the production sharing agreements ("PSAs") for the Dharoor Valley Exploration Area and the Nugaal Valley Exploration Area. Under the PSAs, as amended, the First Exploration Agreement has been extended for a further 12 months, from January 17, 2011 to January 17, 2012. Under the amended PSAs, AOC is obligated to spud a minimum of one exploratory well in the Dharoor Valley Exploration Area by July 27, 2011. A second exploratory well is required to be spudded in the Nugaal Valley Exploration Area or, at the option of AOC, in the Dharoor Valley Exploration Area, by September 27, 2011. In conjunction with this amendment, the Company completed its farmout agreement with Red Emperor Resources NL ("Red Emperor"). Under the terms of the farmout agreement and an election made by Red Emperor to increase their interests, Red Emperor will earn a 20% interest in both the Dharoor and Nugaal Valley Blocks and is committed to paying a disproportionate share of costs related to the one well drilling commitment included in the first exploration period of both the Dharoor and Nugaal Valley Production Sharing Agreements.
• The Company signed a definitive agreement with Lion Energy Corp. ("Lion"), a publicly traded oil and gas company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Lion. Pursuant to the agreement with Lion, AOC will acquire, by way of a plan of arrangement, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Lion in consideration for 0.20 common shares of AOC for each common share of Lion. It is anticipated that 17,233,636 AOC shares will be issued as consideration to acquire Lion. Lion is a joint venture partner of AOC in Kenya and Puntland (Somalia), and currently holds the following working interests; 33.3% in Block 9 (Kenya), 10% in Block 10BB (Kenya), and 15% in each of Dharoor Valley and Nugaal Valley (Puntland). In addition to the above properties, Lion estimated that it had cash, accounts receivable and investments in marketable securities with an approximate aggregate value of CAD$30 million at the date of signing the definitive agreement. A meeting of Lion shareholders, to approve the transaction, is scheduled to be held on June 8, 2011 and, assuming shareholder approval, the transaction is expected to close shortly thereafter.
• Subsequent to the end of the first quarter, Africa Oil entered into a letter of intent for the creation of a new Puntland focused oil exploration company. The new company will be created as a result of the transfer of AOC's interest in its oil and gas properties in Puntland (Somalia) to Denovo Capital Corp. ("Denovo") (the "Transaction"). Denovo is a capital pool company and intends for the Transaction to constitute the "Qualifying Transaction" of Denovo, as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. Under the terms of the letter of intent:
  • Africa Oil and Denovo will negotiate and enter into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Africa Oil will transfer to Denovo all of the issued and outstanding shares of its subsidiary holding companies (the "Puntland Subsidiaries") which hold participating interests in the Dharoor Valley and Nugaal Valley Production Sharing Agreements in Puntland (Somalia) (the "Puntland PSAs"). Africa Oil will receive, in consideration of the transfer, 27,777,778 common shares of Denovo. As a result of the Transaction, the Puntland Subsidiaries will become wholly owned subsidiaries of Denovo.
  • Africa Oil currently holds a 45% participating interest in the Puntland PSAs. Upon completion of the transaction for the acquisition of Lion Energy Corp, AOC's participating interest in the Puntland PSAs will be increased, directly or indirectly, to 60%. It is anticipated that the entire 60% participating interest will be transferred to Denovo.
  • The definitive agreement will provide for conditions precedent that are standard for a transaction of this nature, including receipt, by both AOC and Denovo, as required, of all regulatory, partner and third party approvals including TSX Venture Exchange approval. Denovo will also seek Denovo shareholder approval for a proposed 0.65 (new) for 1.00 (old) consolidation of its common shares and a change of name of the company, both of which are conditions precedent to completion of the transaction. It will be a condition precedent of the transaction that Africa Oil will have completed its proposed acquisition of Lion Energy Corp. and that Denovo will have completed a private placement of CAD$35 million comprised of 38,888,889 subscription receipts of Denovo sold at a post-consolidation price of CAD$0.90 per subscription receipt. Each subscription receipt will be exercised, upon completion of the transaction, into a unit of Denovo, comprised of one common share and one share purchase warrant (a "Denovo Warrant"). Each Denovo Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire an additional Denovo share for $1.50 for two years, subject to accelerated exercise provisions if the Denovo shares trade at greater than $2.00 for 10 consecutive trading days. It is anticipated that the definitive agreement will be entered into during the second quarter of 2011.
  • Africa Oil will acquire 11,111,111 subscription receipts in the private placement financing, for proceeds of CAD$10 million. At the conclusion of the Transaction and the private placement financing described above, AOC is anticipated hold approximately 55% (non-diluted) of the issued and outstanding common shares of Denovo. Upon completion of the Transaction it is expected that Denovo will meet the listing requirements of the Exchange for a Tier II Oil and Gas Issuer.
• Africa Oil ended the quarter in a strong financial position with cash of $77.8 million and working capital of $57.2 million as compared to cash of $76.1 million and working capital of $70.6 million at December 31, 2010. The Company's liquidity and capital resource position improved since year end primarily as the result of payments received upon the completion of farmout transactions. Working capital improved $24.4 million subsequent to the end of the quarter as the current portion of the warrant and convertible debenture obligations were settled in shares.
• Africa Oil currently has more than sufficient funds to meet its portion of the $163 million expenditure obligations ($43 million net) as per the active work programs approved by the Company's Board of Directors for 2011. During the first quarter, the Company spent $5.0 million of the 2011 Board of Directors approved $43 million in capital expenditures.
• As of the end of the first quarter, the Company has completed all previously announced farmout transactions with Tullow. Tullow has acquired a 50% interest in, and operatorship of, five of AOC's east African exploration blocks, comprised of four exploration blocks in Kenya and one exploration block in Ethiopia.
• The Company completed the amendment to their farmout agreement with Lion. The amendment reduced Lion's interest in Block 10BB to 10% (originally 20%) and eliminated its interest in Block 10A (originally 25%).
• The Company, together with its joint venture partner Lion, entered into the First Additional Exploration Phase under the Block 9 PSC in Kenya. As a result of the withdrawal of its two other joint venture partners, AOC will now hold a 66.7% working interest in the PSC and has been approved by the government as Operator of Block 9. Lion will hold the remaining 33.3%. The First Additional Exploration Phase commenced on December 31, 2010 and will expire on December 31, 2013 with a one well work commitment (minimum depth 1,500 meters).
• The Company continued to actively explore in East Africa:
  • In Block 10BB, the Company, together with its partners, is currently in the process of undertaking Full Tensor Gravity ("FTG") surveys and finalizing the prospect and lead inventory on Block 10BB. Drilling is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2011.
  • In Block 10A, the Company, together with its partners, has completed recording approximately 800km (gross) of 2D seismic. Seismic data acquired is currently being processed. The Company expects to drill a well on this block in the fourth quarter of 2011.
  • In Puntland, the Company has recently signed a letter of intent with a drilling contractor and plans to spud the first well in the Dharoor Block during the third quarter of 2011. A second well in the Dharoor Block is planned to commence following completion of the first exploration well.
  • In Block 9, the Company, together with its partners, has recently commenced 750km (gross) 2D seismic survey focused on the oil prone Kaisut sub-basin. The seismic crew has recently commenced recording and is anticipated to be completed during the third quarter of 2011.
  • The Company completed its seismic acquisition program in the Company's Ogaden area of Ethiopia, acquiring 500 km 2D seismic. The new data has been integrated with existing seismic to generate a series of new prospect maps. The Company continues to focus efforts on the large El Kuran prospect.

Keith Hill, President and CEO, commented, "Africa Oil continued to add highly prospective exploration acreage to its portfolio during the first quarter of 2011. Exploration activities continued throughout the quarter with FTG, 2D seismic and drilling preparations continuing on multiple blocks. The Company is very well financed, has a well diversified exploration portfolio and reputable joint venture partners. We are looking forward to the commencement of continuous drilling in 2011."Rigzone

The $3.6 million was for Mv Yuan Xiang and Mv Suez according to Mr Andrew Mwangura Mr. Andrew Mwangura self-appointed Founder and Coordinator of the East African Seafarers (pirate middleman)

update on Ransom Drop Gone Wrong:Foreign Team Sent to Drop $3.6 Million on Two Planes Arrested in Mogadishu
Nairobi — The Sh3.6 million intercepted at Mogadishu airport, Somalia, on Tuesday was ransom for the release of two ships and their 56 crew members.
The $3.6 million was for Mv Yuan Xiang and Mv Suez according to Mr Andrew Mwangura, the maritime editor of Somali Report, a publication that specialises in Somalia news.
"Information we have shows that $1.5 million was to be delivered onto the Mv Suez and the balance was to be dropped onto Mv Yuan Xiang," he said.
Initially the gunmen were demanding $2.1 million ransom for the release of Mv Suez and her crew, Mr Mwangura said.
The Mv Suez was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 2, last year, en route to Eritrea from Pakistan.
Her crew members were six Indians, four Pakistanis, four Sri Lankans and 13 Egyptians.
The Panama-flagged general cargo vessel is managed by Egyptian-based Red Sea Navigation Company and is owned by Matso Shipping Company of Egypt.
The Panama-flagged Mv Yuan Xiang was taken by pirates alongside her 29 Chinese crew on 13 November 13, last year, 650 nautical miles East of Salalah, Oman. The vessel is owned and managed by Nigbo Hongyuan Ship Management Ltd.
On Thursday, it was not possible to get a comment from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority on the ownership of the planes held in Somalia.
Somali authorities have, however, confirmed that the planes belong to an aviation company based at Wilson Airport, Nairobi. Efforts to get a comment from the firm were unsuccessful as they directors were said to be out of office.
The planes were carrying $3.6 million when they were intercepted at Mogadishu airport on Tuesday.
Somalia Interior and Security minister Abdishakur Hassan Farah said six people, including the pilots, were detained.
The minister said three of those arrested carried UK passports, another an American passport while two have Kenyan identifications.
State minister for Finance in the Transitional Federal Government Mohamed Hassan Aden said the cash was "suspiciously brought to the airport" by foreign nationals claiming to be engaged in humanitarian activities.
An official at Mogadishu airport said one of the planes had flown in from Nairobi, while they were yet to determine the origin of the second.
Other sources said the second plane flew in from the Seychelles where it had collected the ransom money before heading to Mogadishu to pay pirates and take the balance to piracy masterminds based in Kenya.
On Thursday Somali authorities said investigations into the case were going on.
Serious threat
On July 18, last year, the Daily Nation revealed how piracy and the big money being made out of it is seeping into Kenya's economic fabric, presenting a serious threat to the economy as well as law and order.
Investigations showed how Kenyan law firms, security, aviation and shipping companies were doing business with pirates in the Indian Ocean.More than $80 million (Sh 6.5 billion) is paid to Somali pirates as ransom annually.

US offers USD 14.5 mln in humanitarian aid for Somali

WASHINGTON, May 27 (KUNA) -- US approves USD 14.5 million in humanitarian aid and food donations for drought-stricken Somalia, the State department confirmed Friday.
The State department confirmed USD 14.5 million contribution to the World Food Program to benefit Somalia in need of food assistance, as the impoverished, war-torn nation battles with the worst drought in recent memory.
The US is also staging approximately 19,000 metric tons of food aid in its prepositioning sites worldwide, in order to brace for additional emergency food assistance in the weeks and months to come, according to State department spokesman Mark Toner, in a press briefing.
Recently, the United States Agency for International Development Assistance Administration (USAID) officials and government officials returned from a visit to Hargeisa, Somalia to assess the situation there.
The announcement came as the United Nations relief agency announced a 60 percent cut in the daily food aid to one million Somali refugees do to a funding shortfall. Other relief agencies are scrambling to find enough assistance to feed the scores of Somalis in need. (end) hy.bs KUNA 272207 May 11NNNN

Aid pirates: Somalia fails to account for millions in assistance

As the nation's leaders seek ways to reduce the budget deficit and slow growth in the national debt, they should look at the U.S. role in Somalia.
The African nation has not had a government since 1991, and America's efforts to help the Somalis address their problems began a year later. Piracy off its shores has been added in recent years to other maladies such as hunger, lack of health care and education, and almost non-stop fighting.
Somalia has cost the United States billions in military and humanitarian aid. Among other U.S. enterprises there is a military base in Djibouti, formerly French Somaliland, just up the coast from Somalia, the only such facility of the U.S. Africa Command. From there, the United States supported an Ethiopian invasion of Somalia in 2006 which ended in failure.
The country is ruled, in principle, by a provisional government. It was constructed by the international community in 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya; was dropped into Mogadishu, the Somali capital; and has had constant changes of leadership as Somalis seek control of it and its resources. It is kept in place by an 8,000-man African Union peacekeeping force. The United States and others have trained Somali government forces, but without the foreign troops, the few blocks of Mogadishu controlled by the government would be overrun by opposing militias.
The latest outrage was revealed in a new report by a public finance unit in the provisional government. It states that, of $75 million provided the government over the past year or so by Arab states, only $2.8 million can be accounted for. About $300 million is also missing from revenues the government collected from the seaport, airport, drug trade and telecommunications. Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is a prime candidate for having pocketed some of the loot, but who really knows?
The fools in the affair are the international donors, including the United States, which keep sending aid with no assurance that it's being put to good use. Why do they keeping doing this?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Millions in cash payments missing in Somalia. AP Interview: Somalia`s parliament speaker says vote to elect president will be held soon

Somalia’s leaders must agree on way forward for peace process – Security Council

26 May 2011 – The Security Council has stressed that a planned consultative meeting of Somalia’s leadership next month should result in agreement on a schedule for elections in the Horn of Africa country, where the interim federal institutions remain divided over governance issues beyond August when the transitional period expires.

“The international community expects that at that their meeting there should be agreement on the timing of elections, roadmap and benchmarks for the way forward in the political process in Somalia,” said Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant of the United Kingdom at a news conference yesterday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where members of the Security Council focused on the situation in Somalia.
The consultative meeting is slated to take place in Mogadishu, the Somalia capital, between 11 and 16 June.
Nairobi was the last stop on a trip to Africa that took the Council members to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for discussions with Africa Union officials, and to Sudan, where they visited the capital, Khartoum, as well as Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan.
Political divisions between Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and interim Parliament have undermined the momentum of the country’s peace process, Augustine Mahiga, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, told the UN News Centre in an interview earlier this month.
The Parliament voted in February to extend its term for three years after the end of the transitional period, a move rejected by the TFG, which has instead proposed extending the interim period for one year, saying it wanted to try to enhance political stability and security.
Mr. Lyall Grant said the Council, which met with Somalia’s president, prime minister and speaker of parliament in Nairobi, had demanded that they “should stop the infighting and unilateral extensions of their respective mandates.”
Secondly, they should focus on key transitional tasks to which they previously had been committed – outreach, reconciliation, the draft constitution, governance and financial accountability, he stated.
“And thirdly they should engage immediately and constructively with SRSG Mahiga who has the full support of the UN Secretary-General and the whole of the Security Council in the consultative process he is facilitating,” Mr. Lyall Grant added.
Members of the Council also expressed their full support for the work of the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and paid tribute to Ugandan and Burundian troops for their efforts to improve security for Somalis in Mogadishu.
They also stressed the need to strengthen the Somali security forces, and called for a comprehensive and collaborative campaign against maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia. Women must also participate in the peace process, they added.

Uganda warns of al Shabaab attacks in coming days

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda police warned soccer fans on Friday that Somalia's al Shabaab insurgents could attack them while they watch Saturday's Champions League final.
Abbas Byakagaba, the director of the police anti terrorism unit, told a news conference that the al Qaeda-affiliated insurgents could also strike on June 3, the Matyrs' Day public holiday and that they had boosted security in the country.
Al Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency against Somalia's Western-backed government, claimed responsibility for the bombings in Kampala while fans watched last year's World Cup final on television, killing 79.
The Somali insurgents have in the past issued warnings of possible strikes the east African country to try to force it to withdraw its peacekeeping troops deployed in Somalia, as part of an African Union mission (AMISOM).
"We have several events coming up: we have European Champions League finals, there's the Martyrs Day and the information we have is that al Shabaab is targeting these events," Byakagaba said, referring to the match at London's Wembley stadium between Manchester United and Barcelona.
Byakagaba said they had intelligence indicating that an unspecified number of al Shaabaab operatives had entered the country and were planning to launch attacks on crowded areas and big events, adding: "We have heightened our vigilance."
Earlier this week Uganda's opposition dismissed as scaremongering a police warning that al Shabaab was planning to assassinate their leaders and said it was a ploy to scare them off protests against food and fuel riots.
Al Shabaab has criticised Ugandans for re-electing President Yoweri Museveni, who they blame for invading their country.
AMISOM -- which also comprises soldiers from Burundi -- says its forces now control more than 60 percent of Mogadishu. Horn of Africa experts say they are all that prevent the insurgents from toppling an administration plagued by rifts and corruption.