Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Militant Islamists shoot dead Muslim woman for refusing to wear a veil in Somalia

A Muslim woman has been shot dead by militant Islamists for refusing to wear a veil, her relatives have claimed. 
The woman was killed outside her hut near the southern Somali town of Hosingow by gunmen belonging to the al-Shabab group, they said. 
The militants allegedly ordered her to put on a veil but then killed her after returning to the hut and finding she was still not wearing one...More

Somalia: Somali Women 'Untapped Resource' in Fight Against Al-Shabaab, Member of Somalia's Bomb Disposal Unit removes explosives from car intercepted today

Mogadishu — For years women in Mogadishu have been on the side-lines in the fight against al-Shabaab, but more recently they have begun to play a more active role by providing critical information about suspicious activity and people to security agencies, officials told terror free somalia.
Women are an untapped resource and could play a more decisive role in defeating al-Shabaab, but have been so far underused in security efforts, said Jawahir Barqab, the director of the Benadir Women's Association, a Mogadishu-based non-governmental organisation that works to advance women's issues such as equal representation in politics and job opportunities.
Barqab said her organisation has been trying to change that situation since last December by facilitating the collaboration of security agencies with civilian women, and training women on how to monitor and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods.
"[So far] we have trained about 500 women who are reporting if they witness suspicious activity that could jeopardise [public] safety. We have also established a women's group in each of the 17 districts of Benadir region to manage security and cleaning efforts in the districts," Barqab told Sabahi.
The women, selected with the help of district commissioners, underwent a three-week training on the basics of what to look for when monitoring for suspicious activity, and how to use mobile text messages to report information, she said.
Barqab said the programme has been a success so far with trainees aiding security forces with actionable information that helped foil attacks and apprehend suspects. However, she said, more women are needed to join the fight against al-Shabaab to ensure security.
As responsible members of their communities, women should report anyone who appears willing to endanger the public, even if that person is her own brother or son, she said, adding that mothers should pay particular attention to their teenage sons to make sure they are not falling prey to al-Shabaab.
"A mother should befriend her son and observe his activities and every step he takes especially when he is going to school or going out of town," Barqab said. "She has to guard him against being brainwashed, which would lead him to inflict harm on the public."
Al-Shabaab militants value their distorted ideology more than anything and will not show mercy to their own relatives, she said. "If you hide them today, they will just kill you tomorrow. Therefore, it is better if you hand them over to the police so that you can save yourself, save your family and save the public in general," she warned women.
Warta Nabada District Commissioner Hussein Nur Issa said district security officials are now actively using the women trained by the programme and that their reports have saved lives.


"I greatly welcome these [training] efforts, and we have really taken advantage of them. The women have given us information on people who were engaged in destabilising actions such as planning explosions or preparing to assassinate a person, and we captured those people," Issa told Sabahi. "We have arrested individuals who came from regions far away and who were sent by al-Shabaab to create chaos in the city during Ramadan. This came about as a result of the women's efforts as they provided a lot of intelligence."
He called on the general public to develop a working relationship with the security agencies, especially with the police so that their security can be ensured and they can live in peace. Progress in the security situation in Benadir region and the rest of Somalia cannot be achieved without collaboration from the public, he added.

Government should provide incentives to women

Colonel Sharif Hassan Robow, who served in the National Security Service, Somalia's intelligence agency during the Mohamed Siad Barre regime, said al-Shabaab's actions can be prevented and Somalia can attain lasting stability if the government invests in types of efforts spearheaded by civilian women.
"The efforts of the women are great, but the government has to encourage those people and pay them so that they can forward accurate information," Robow told the terror free somalia.
"If the people who share information about al-Shabaab receive a monetary incentive and receive proper training on collecting intelligence, it will result in al-Shabaab's defeat," he said. "However, if there is no incentive, no one will volunteer information."
For her part, Fadumo Osman, a 22-year-old from Mogadishu's Hodan district, said she welcomes the news that women are working with security agencies on safeguarding security. However, she said, more women would consider joining if the government would take responsibility for their safety and promise the prosecution of any al-Shabaab member arrested as a result of their reports.
"If that promise is given, I would take part in these efforts myself," she told terror free somalia i. "My only worry is [if] al-Shabaab members who the women report [to police] are released back to the streets. [This] could result in many women being killed [by al-Shabaab in retaliation] and losing their lives that way."
"We are always ready to work for the security of our country so that Somalia can once again stand on its own feet. That can only come about if al-Shabaab and all the people who support them are eliminated from the country," she added.
Member of Somalia's Bomb Disposal Unit removes explosives from car intercepted today

Sunday, July 27, 2014

In Loving Memory Of Sado Ali Warsame

                                            Sado Ali portrait painted by Ahmed Magare upon hearing the news of her death.

Born in Buuhoodle in northwestern Somalia, Sado Ali Warsame was discovered in 1973 by Said Salah Ahmed, the esteemed Somali playwright, poet, and professor.
Ahmed was visiting Sado’s family at the time and heard her casually singing in what would later became a nationally recognized voice. In an interview dated Oct. 2010, Sado said, “Said Salah was the man who discovered the talent in me when he heard me playfully sing in my house as a young teenage girl”. Shortly after being discovered, she joined Qalinle and Shankaroon, two of the most noted Somali actors and singers, who were then working on a play for Lafoole University graduates.
Unfortunately, the play didn’t make to the stage as it was banned by the Siad Barre regime. You could say Sado started her career as a singer, actress and activist at that moment.  Later that year, Qalinle invited her to be part of a play he was leading. Entitled “Hadrawi and Garriye”, the play was written by Said Ahmed.  Of the play, Sado said she was “lucky” to be part of such a daring production in which she sang the first song of her professional career, thus cementing her popularity as a singer. Popularity she would later use to help her fellow countrymen when she took part in a project intended to help the victims of the infamous 1975 famine. History repeated itself 40 years later when Sado reprised her role in that same play during the 2011 humanitarian crisis in Somalia. 
Sado has always been a voice for the voiceless. Her drive to stand up against oppression was not only aimed at the Barre regime, she also stood up in defense of her hometown against the Somaliland offensive. More recently, she spoke about the Lower Shabelle crises after clan motivated clashes broke out. Sado Ali Warsame was not only an artist and a singer. Her importance to the Somali speaking masses went beyond her beautiful voice.  For over 40 years, Sado was a cultural icon and symbol of  freedom, fighting for oppressed people in Somalia  regardless of class or clan affiliation.
However, her willingness to speak out for causes she cared about has gotten her into trouble with authorities on many occasions including being jailed. During Barre’s regime, Sado was deemed a dangerous  Anti-revolution. This was after she had sung her now famous song “Land Cruiser” in which she indirectly criticized corruption of the ruling party. Along with her Waberi band colleagues, Sado travelled the world, representing her country in as far-flung places as Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, China, Kuwait and many other countries.
Following the outbreak of the Somali civil war in 1991, Sado fled to the United States  but her love for Somalia had never diminished.  She regularly took part in events around the world to help in the reconciliation of Somalis.  
In what must have been the highlight of her long and illustrious career, in 2011 Sado was presented with a lifetime achievement award to acknowledge her role in the development of Somali music, her defense of human rights and promotion of unity and peace among Somalis.  
In 2012 after 20 year absence from her beloved country and in what would prove to be a fateful decision, Sado returned to Mogadishu where she was elected as a legislator in the country’s federal parliament. She was shot dead on July 23rd, 2014, less than 2 years after her decision to take part of the rebuilding of Somalia. She was killed along with another civil servant in a drive-by shooting in Mogadishu.
By Mohamed Haji

Hopes for stability dashed by the murder of Sado Ali in Mogadishu |

This week is shaping up to be one of the darkest weeks of my life. On the morning of July 23rd, at around seven o’clock in the morning , I learned that the artist and member of parliament, Sado Ali Warsame, was assassinated.
Sado was my good friend, cousin and soul sister. But this tragedy touches me so deeply, not because of what she meant to me, but because of what she meant for Somalia. For Somalia, Sado was a symbol of hope and empowerment. Her untimely demise serves as a tragic reminder that Somalia has a long way to go.

Somalis were optimistic about our nation’s future, about our progress, but now a shadow of doubt and hopelessness has been cast. Sado’s assassination means slower progress on the issue of women in politics. For a long time, even before the failure of Mohammed Siad .
Barre’s , Sado was advocating for justice and equality. She was demonstrating. She was singing forbidden love ballads. She was leading a revolution. And as revolutionaries often do, she put herself in harm’s way.
Sado loved Somalia, even though Somalia at times seemed like a distant lover that did not love her quite as much. If her death was an overdose, the way many American pop stars die, religious extremism, sexism and clanism would be the lethal cause of death found in her cup. Somalia’s pop stars don’t die via overdose or crazed fans, though. They die of one of Somalia’s natural causes of death: war, famine, assassination and terrorism.
Sado Ali Warsame was fearless. When it came to preserving and protecting the rights of others, she never backed down. She was known to be the voice of the voiceless, and as long as I and many of her other supporters are alive, her voice will remain intact forever. Through embedded Youtube videos, through lyrics sites, through the voice messages in my iPhone Sado lives on.
Al-Shabaab killed Sado out of cowardice, not out of sheer boredom or radical politics. It wasn’t a random act of hatred and violence. This was a calculated attempt at killing women’s efforts to participate in the political process. They acted out of cowardice because they are afraid of a Somalia with women and other minorities leading the fight for change because the fight for change will put them out of business.
Sado left a legacy of love. She may be gone but her words are still with us. The tangible changes she made in the world are still felt. Sado gave so much love to Somalia and it is impossible to silence genuine love and passion. I may have lost a friend and a soul sister today but Somalia lost much more. Somalia lost its soul.
Shukri Hassan (Gamgam) terror free ssomalia blogger.
Email:gogolmadoon@gmail.com

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Legendary Somali singer Saado Ali Warsame gunned down in Mogadishu Somalia Today.PM Sends His Heartfelt Condolences. UN Special Representative for Somalia condemns assassination of female parliamentarian

Mogadishu, Somalia


I am deeply saddened by the news of Hon. Sada Ali's assassinated. We call upon Somali Government to launch a prompt investigation.Alla Ya Raxm


Ina Lillahi wa inaa ilayhi Rajiun.. sada ali warsame member of PM was killed muqdisho after attacked car near almaka almukara ia;lah


Saado Ali Warsame a famous Somali singer, songwriter who also was a member of the parliament was killed today in Mogadishu. She was shot alongside her driver by a group of gunmen who pulled next to her car. Her killing comes at a time where the capital is under intense security crackdown.


Al-Shabaab, the extremist militant group has claimed responsibility for this ruthless killing of a prominent Somali figure. She is the fourth member of the parliament to be killed in Somalia. Mohamed Ali, a Somali lawmaker who knew Warsame, described her as “courageous and patriotic,” saying she was the victim of terrorists who “want to cripple the country.” Al-Shabaab has intensified their insurgency in this holy month of Ramadan. Saado Ali is a second MP to be killed this month.

UN Special Representative for Somalia condemns assassination of female parliamentarian

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed sends his deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of MP and veteran Somali artist Saado Ali Warsame and Parliament Secretary Abdullahi Hussein Yabarow who were gunned down in Mogadishu by heinous murderers today.
The Prime Minister said: 
“On behalf of the Somali Federal Government, I am sending heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Hon. Saado Ali Warsame. In addition to representing the strength of Somali women in parliament, she was also an important part of Somali history and culture. Hon. Saado Ali Warsame not only worked tirelessly in the political arena of Somalia, she was also imbedded in Somali culture as a gifted artist; her work as a committed patriot will never be forgotten.

“Our heartfelt condolences also go to the family and friends of Parliament Secretary Abdullahi HusseinYabarow.In these senseless murders of two unarmed people, Somalia has lost two committed individuals who worked tirelessly to rebuild their country.
“This cowardly attack will not derail the progress made across Somalia and within Mogadishu. Investigations are already underway to bring the perpetuators to justice. The Federal Government is committed to continue working tirelessly to improve security and justice in our beloved country. We take the safety of all our citizens very seriously and will not rest until we have brought the killers of Saado Ali Warsame and Abdullahi HusseinYabarow to justice.”
ENDS
Communications Department 
Office of the Prime Minister 
Mogadishu, Somalia 
E-mail: media@opm.gov.so 
Twitter: @SomaliPM


Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Somali PM: Donors must deliver on promises

                                                           Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, prime minister of Somalia

Mogadishu, Somalia - A country whose very name is almost enough of an introduction, Somalia's reputation of unfathomable violence and desperate poverty is known around the world. In decades of civil war, it has been described as a "failed state" - a lawless home to gangs of pirates and murderers who terrorise those too impoverished to flee to foreign lands.
But there is more, so much more, to this land and these people than tales of fear and terror. While no one in this country below the age of 30 has any memory of functioning state institutions - police, schools or garbage disposal - this is a nation that has never given up on the dream of peace and stability.
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed is an economist from southern Somalia. When civil war broke out here in 1991, he sought refuge in Canada, where he became a widely respected analyst for the Bank of Canada, OPEC, and assorted UN agencies.
He had no political experience when, in December 2013, it was announced he would be taking the reins of the east African nation as its new prime minister. He spoke with Al Jazeera's James Brownsell about his priorities for the country, development, infrastructure - and donors who don't make good on their promises.
Al Jazeera: You've been in this role since December. You're getting a feel for it, you're settling in - what do you wish to accomplish during your term in office?
Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed: Well, we want to accomplish our "Vision 2016", which consists of three milestones. The first milestone is to have the federal states formed; Somalia's constitution is that of a federal country. The second is to have the constitution reviewed - and that people vote to accept the revised constitution. And the third is to prepare the country for elections.
But as we are doing this, the security conditions must allow this to happen - so we have to reform the security sector. We have to defeat al-Shabab and kick them out of the country, and we have to allow our citizens to feel safe to undertake their normal lives. These are the things we want to accomplish.
AJ: By 2016?
Ahmed: By 2016. This is very ambitious, but we are working very hard.
AJYou're an economist, and economists tend to deal with mathematical problems and quite abstract issues - but now you have real-world problems, as opposed to theoretical maths, to deal with. How does your background as an economist help you in your current position?
If nothing else, politics is about engagement.
- Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, Somali prime minister
Ahmed: Well, I am an economist, but I am a development economist, and I have been involved in community work and development. And that allows me to really understand something about how to engage with the people in the community.
If nothing else, politics is about engagement. It allows you to align your objectives with those of the community, and this is what I am doing. So I don't see a big difference between when an economist is involved in the development of a community and the job of a politician.
AJ: Villa Somalia [the headquarters of the Somali government] has an international reputation for political turmoil and for people not staying in their office for very long. It does seem to be a case of Somalis wanting quick results, even though the change that's required here is massive. How long do you think you'll get? How long do you think you'll last?
Ahmed: For now I plan to stay until 2016, and I hope I will stay until then.
AJ: People want results quickly. Do you think you will be able to deliver tangible results quickly?
Ahmed: We are already delivering some tangible results. In the security sector, we have been able to liberate some major towns - nine major towns have been recovered so far - and we want to continue this process and liberate all the remaining by the end of the year, 2014.
But we are also building institutions. We have confirmed the onward plan for the government's institutions, which we are implementing and have started work on. We are also doing some mega-political conciliation efforts, and we have been able to achieve major conciliation results among sectors of the community, and we are working very hard to settle questions of the state through the regions. So this is an effort to ensure political inclusivity and the smoothing of relations between certain brethren. And we are achieving good results in this effort.
AJ: Moving on, part of the efforts in reconstruction and security is giving young people alternatives to a life in piracy or al-Shabab. What do you see as the best opportunities for developing those alternative routes?
Ahmed: These alternatives are real. We have a minister dedicated to promoting alternatives and job alternatives for young people. Sports is also another opportunity - a way to spend time wisely, rather than taking the guns and using them. I was in Geneva and we talked about this problem.
AJ: With the ILO [International Labour Organisation]?
Ahmed: Yes, with the ILO - this gives us the opportunity to create jobs for young people, and we are trying to have bilateral arrangements to get some jobs created. We are also using our own resources to create jobs. We have been able to put farmers back to work by helping them clear the land and build irrigation canals. These are the projects we are working on. We are in the process of creating as many jobs as we can.
AJ: How do you seek to develop the infrastructure of the country? You mentioned irrigation channels, but in terms of telecommunications, road building - how do you see that developing over the next few years?
Ahmed: It is very important, but communications is purely a private sector. We have some of the cheapest telecommunications rates in the world, so this is something that is relatively advanced. We plan next to develop flood control infrastructure, building new canals towards the farming lands.
We also have plans to have donors help us. Turkey has been with us with significant improvements to roads in Mogadishu, but we want to extend this beyond the capital to connect the roads to major towns. This is an ongoing process, but we want to see some more results soon.
AJ: Do you find [your efforts are] hampered by donors at conferences pledging billions, but then not seeing the actual money?
Ahmed: This is an issue, and we have had a history of donors making pledges, and the delivery not being impressive - not even satisfactory.

But we also have played our part in the problem, in the past, by not having transparent financial mechanisms. So in the last few months, we have made significant progress in improving our financial governance of development.
We had the council of ministers endorse new directors of the central bank. We have also taken steps to have an auditor general to oversee our national transactions, and an economy based on competition, so we will have some level of competence and integrity to our financial institutions - which we hope will help allow us to attract funds from donors.
So, if we are doing our part, we hope that the donors will also do their part... We are hoping that they will deliver, but we are still waiting.
AJ: You mentioned earlier the federal nation. How do you see the future of federalism developing? Somaliland wants to be treated as its own independent nation, just to give the example of one region. How do you see the future of federalism in Somalia?
Ahmed: Federalism is inherent in Somali culture. Somalis have always been independent-minded and through centuries have wanted to manage their own affairs. Now Juba and Puntland are getting greater autonomy and we hope other regions will follow soon. My government supports this, and we hope that full federalism will happen - it should happen, as part of the 2016 plan.
AJ: Going back to the donors - what's your message to the international community?
Ahmed: My message is this: Deliver on your promises. Number two, trust the government and empower the government to manage donor resources in cooperation with you.
What we have is this: Money for Somalia is spent in Somalia, but we don't know how it happens - it happens through NGOs and ways that are hidden, or at least that are invisible to us.
So we want donors to work closely with us and empower the government, and be accountable to the development process of this country. We are accountable to the people, and we want to be partners with the donors.
We want to be able to set priorities and the way in which we implement the projects, so that those priorities are based on the real needs - so we are spending the resources as effectively as possible. Aid effectiveness is something we want to see happen, from priorities to implementation to monitoring. This is what we want the donors to consider.
Follow James Brownsell on Twitter: @JamesBrownsell

BREAKING: Somali govt presented this suspect as facilitator of the Al Shabaab's Presidential palace attack.EU condems attack on Somali presidential palac


 

attackers's main target was to kill PM Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed according to the Govt radio. Somali


EU condems attack on Somali presidential palac


European Union Special Envoy to Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso condemned Tuesday night’s terrorist attack on Somalia’s presidential compound in Mogadishu.
In a press release, the special envoy expressed sympathy with the victims and their families.
“I am appalled by this hideous attack which took place in the month of peace, the Holy Ramadan. I pay respect to those who lost their lives in protecting the Federal leadership and call for a thorough investigation of this attack.”  He said.
Cervone d’Urso hailed the courage of the Somali security forces and their African Union allies for their quick response to the attack.
He said the European Union will continue its unstinting support to the people of Somalia in their efforts to recover from years of conflict and suffering, adding such cowardly acts will not be tolerated and those responsible should be brought to justice

Kay: Somali security forces need the support of the people


United Nations Special Envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Kay has strongly condemned Tuesday night’s attack on the presidential compound in Mogadishu after he met Somalia’s top leaders in the Somali capital.
He said the political progress in Somalia is only possible through the unity of the country’s political institutions as he reiterated United Nations unwavering support to the people and the government of Somalia in their efforts to achieve peace and stability.
The special envoy further hailed the prompt action taken by the Somali security forces and their African Union allies to foil the terrorist attack against the heavily fortified presidential compound in Mogadishu.
“I commend the prompt action taken by the Somali and African Union security forces, who successfully dealt with the attack. They need the active support and cooperation of the people of Mogadishu,” he said.
“I commend the Government’s swift action to learn lessons from the recent attacks and to take steps to improve the delivery of security services.
“We continue to work actively with the Federal Government, AMISOM and international partners to build strong national security institutions to secure the country,” he added.
Kay extends his deepest sympathies to those affected, and to their friends and families.

US condemns terrorist attack on Somali presidential compound


The government of the United States has strongly condemned Tuesday night’s terrorist attack on Somalia’s presidential compound in Mogadishu.
The US government sent its condolences to the victims of Tuesday night’s attacks, “We offer our condolences to the victims and their families,” said US State Department Spokesperson, Jen Psaki in a press statement.
The statement further read, “Incidents such as this further demonstrate that insecurity in Mogadishu persists, including very real threats from Al Shabaab.
This is why we continue to support the efforts of the Somali National Security Forces and the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) to expand security and stability in Somalia. These forces stopped today’s attackers and prevented further harm.” The report said.
The government of the United States said it stands as a firm partner to the people and the government of Somalia as they continue to forge their path towards peace and stability

Somali PM sacks security chiefs following presidential place attack


Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed today sacked Somali Police Force Commissioner Abdihakim Dahir Saaid and National Security Agency chief, Gaas Bashir Mohamed Jama following Tuesday night’s attack on Somalia’s presidential compound in Mogadishu.
Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu, Somalia’s Information Minister, Mustaf Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow said the prime minister named Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Ismail as the new Police Force Commissioner and Mohamed Abdullahi Hamud as Acting National Security Agency chief.
Dhuholow further stated that the Somali premier ordered Banadir regional police chief as well as the region’s head of security to directly report to the Banadir Governor, General Hassan Mohamed Hussein Mungab.
He added the prime minister urged the new security chiefs to carry out their duties efficiently and professionally saying the government will closely monitor the progress in the country particularly in the capital, Mogadishu.

Somali Prime Minister appoints new National Security Minister

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed on Wednesday named former Banadir regional security agency chief, Khalif Ahmed Ereg as the new National Security Minister to replace Abdikarim Hussein Guled who resigned from his post following Al Shabaab’s deadly attack on Somali Parliament in May.
Somali Information Minister, Mustaf Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow who held a press conference in Mogadishu said that Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed urged the new minister to serve the nation and perform his duties in a professional way.
Dhuholow said the federal government will closely keep an eye on the country’s security progress.
Following the resignation of former National Security Minister, Abdikarim Hussein Guled in May this year, Somalia’s Defense Minister Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud was named as acting National Security Minister.
The appointment of Khalif Ahmed Ereg as National Security Minister comes hours after Al Shabaab militant group attacked Somali Presidential Palace in Mogadishu.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Somali PM sacks security chiefs following presidential place attack

A step to good direction: Somali PM fired security chiefs. Both the police and intel chiefs were president Hassan's cronies
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed today sacked Somali Police Force Commissioner Abdihakim Dahir Saaid and National Security Agency chief, Gaas Bashir Mohamed Jama following Tuesday night’s attack on Somalia’s presidential compound in Mogadishu.
Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu, Somalia’s Information Minister, Mustaf Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow said the prime minister named Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Ismail as the new Police Force Commissioner and Mohamed Abdullahi Hamud as Acting National Security Agency chief.
Dhuholow further stated that the Somali premier ordered Banadir regional police chief as well as the region’s head of security to directly report to the Banadir Governor, General Hassan Mohamed Hussein Mungab.
He added the prime minister urged the new security chiefs to carry out their duties efficiently and professionally saying the government will closely monitor the progress in the country particularly in the capital, Mogadishu.


security breach: update
Villa Somalia Attack by Al-Shabaab was facilitated by an employee of a telecom company contracted by the Govt of Somalia.


The man was a driver and a son to an Imam serving at the presidential palace.6 Al-Shabaab terrorists were killed by AMISOM commandos who preempted the attack.The attackers used the telecom van to bypass security checkpoints claiming they were a ministers entourage.



all of them are donkey wing aka abgaal sup-clan .from hawiye clan .


End brie

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

54th Somalia Independence Day

Today is a day of celebration, a day for Somalia to look towards the future
2014-07-01— The Prime Minister of Somalia H.E Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed wishes the great people of Somalia, both in the country and those abroad, a happy 54th Somalia Independence Day.
H.E. Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said:
“Today is a remarkable day for Somalia, which officially received its independence in the year 1960. I would like to wish all Somalis a happy Independence Day. The Federal Government of Somalia will continue the work of rebuilding this nation that fought hard to achieve independence and we will stay steadfast on our vision of a prosperous and stable Somalia. We honour the men and women who gave us this opportunity to forge our own destiny and to ensure our nation lives up to its best potential.
“This day reminds Somali people across the globe of the immeasurable bravery of the men and women who continue to fight for peace and justice. Somalia faces a daunting set of challenges that can be achieved with strength and unity. This day inspires Somalis all over the globe to gather as one against those who seek violence while commemorating all that was achieved by our forefathers 54 years ago.
“Today is a day of celebration, a day for Somalia to look towards the future. It is a day we renew our solemn duty to Somalia and the Somali people to live up to our promises. Somalia is a blessed land with extraordinary people who have suffered too long; I reaffirm my commitment to uphold the principles of peace and justice and to serve the great people of Somalia to the best of my ability.
“To the extraordinary men, women and children in Somalia and across the globe, celebrate today and commit to a great future for Somalia. Celebrate while working towards a day when Somali children will live a life free of poverty and accomplish all their dreams. Celebrate this day for the Somali women who are the strength and backbone of this nation. The Federal Government of Somalia looks forward to rebuilding this great land, forging unbreakable bonds with our Somali brothers and sisters and reaffirming our commitments to the great Horn of Africa.”
Sagal Ahmed 
Press Officer 
Prime Minister’s Media Office 
Mogadishu, Somalia 
Tel: +252 615327526