Moqokori, Somalia - As the clock ticked past 11am and birds nestling on the short dry shrub trees chirped away, a large group of young men in camouflage uniforms and black face-wraps appeared from nowhere and marched towards an open clearing in the bush, their feet kicking up dust in the soft, sun-baked brown soil beneath.
Totalling more than 150 men and only their eyes visible, they made no eye contact or small talk among themselves as they lined up.
The men are part of al-Shabab's Special Forces gathered in this rebel base in southern Somalia to undergo final training before they dispatch to nearby towns in preparation for taking them over from African Union (AU) and Somali government troops.
The training base is about 10km outside the strategic town of Moqokori in the Hiiraan region, a town the al-Qaeda-linked group retook after Ethiopian troops withdrew last month.
It is a pattern that has been repeated many times recently across south and central Somalia.
Ethiopia has more than 4,300 soldiers in Somalia as part of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) - a UN security council-mandated mission to combat the armed group.
The East African country also has thousands of other troops that are not part of AMISOM in Somalia.
Recently, the Ethiopians have been abandoning their bases in towns in southern Somalia; 10 towns in the last four months, four of them in the past four weeks, without notice or explanation.
"Jihad," shouts the group's commander under the watchful eyes of two of al-Shabab's most senior and well-known figures.
"Strength, honour," the fighters shout back, drawing admiring looks from their leaders.
This group of fighters - which includes medics, mechanics, explosives experts and suicide bombers - have been handpicked from al-Shabab's many battalions as the group seeks to retake territories it lost to Somalia's internationally recognised government and AMISOM.
Morale among the fighters appears sky-high as news reaches the training base of Ethiopia withdrawing from towns and al-Shabab taking them over without firing a single bullet or losing a fighter.
"The reason they [Ethiopia] invaded our country, the reason they came to Moqokori, was to harm the Muslim population," Sheikh Ali Mohamud Raage, the group's spokesman, a tall, bulky figure with red eyes and a greying beard, told the gathered fighters who were now sitting on the hot sand.
"They came here to mistreat and degrade our people and to stop them from worshipping Allah. But God chose you to defend His religion and the honour of the Muslim people," Raage said, as shouts of "God is great" from the fighters filled the midday air.,,more
Somalia’s Coalition for Change condemns National Leadership Forum extension of term: PRESS STATEMENT-The Coalition for Change is a platform for political parties, forums, presidential candidates and politicians who have collectively consented to coordinate their activities in order to bring about a positive political transformation in Somalia leading up to the 2016 legislative and p...
The U.S. military conducted two strikes in southern Somalia early this week that killed four al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militants involved in attacks on Somali government troops, a U.S. military spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
The U.S. military previously has used drones to target al-Shabab's senior leaders. In June, the Pentagon said it carried out a strike in late May against Abdullahi Haji Da'ud, one of al-Shabab's senior military planners, and served as a principal coordinator of attacks in Somalia, Kenya and Uganda.
The latest strikes took place Monday in Torotorow in southern Somalia's Lower Shabelle region.
"During a Somali-led counterterrorism operation, a large group of armed al-Shabab fighters attacked the force, threatening the safety and security of the forces in the area," said Captain Jennifer Dyrcz, a U.S. Africa Command spokeswoman. "In response, the U.S. conducted two self-defense strikes ... killing four al-Shabab militants."
Al-Shabab was pushed out of Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011 but has remained a potent antagonist in Somalia, launching frequent attacks aimed at overthrowing the Western-backed government. For instance, the Islamist militant group claimed responsibility for an August 30 car bombing outside Mogadishu’s presidential palace that killed at least 22 people.
General Mohamed Ali Samatar, Somalia’s first and only vice president bowed out Friday at the age of 81 in Virginia, US after a checkered career spanning a half a century which culminated into ascension to number two position in the land and senior most military man-Lieutenant General, a fete no other military officer has attained in Somalia’s history.
Born in 1935 in the coastal city of Kismayo, young Samatar joined the colonial police in 1950 shortly before he left for Italy to joinCasano di Roma Infantry Academywhere he learnt military craft between 1954 and 1956.
He returned to Somalia a time the build up to independence was almost at its peak and worked under the tutelage of a man who would until the end of his life in the public service be his boss- General Siad Barre. But Samatar was not to stay long at his post in Marka town when he was sent to Frunzi Academy in the then Soviet Socialist Republic, USSR, an elite institution reserved for the most qualified officers of the Warsaw Pact armies and their allies.
Military coup
In post-colonial Somalia, General Samatar joined Siad Barre’s government in 1971 which was then three years old after a military coup in 1969. Thanks to the close working relationship he had nurtured with Siad Barre during the colonial period, General Samatar would serve continuously as Defence Minister and Vice President from 1971 to 1981 surviving 11 cabinet reshuffles in between.
But tables turned against him in April 27, 1981, when Siad Barre launched a major shakeup of government officials dismissing four of his closest henchmen including Samatar. But the army man was to resume his position a year later. Samatar would serve as the country’s second senior most man until February 5, 1987 when a new portfolio was added to his office- he became the country’s fourth Prime Minister.
Many consider Samatar’s long survival especially in a military regime to his relationship with Siad Barre in the 1950s while others attribute it to his unequivocal loyalty to General Barre. However others read Siad Barre’s motive to maintain Samatar through the storms a tact to keep off the major clans from a possible threat. Samatar was from one of the smaller clans (Isse-Adde sub-clan).
Ogaden war
General Samatar led the Somali army during the Ogaden war (July 1977 to March 19780) against the Ethiopians over the disputed Ogaden region which to date lies within the Ethiopian territory.
In 2002, a group of Somalis in the US filed a civil law suit against Samatar over claims they had suffered physical abuse in violation of international law at the hands of soldiers or other government officials under his command.
Despite a request for termination of the case by former Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in 2013 to the US government, the US Supreme court upheld a federal court ruling which slapped Samatar with a $21 million in punitive and compensatory damages.
Samatar died in August 19, 2016 leaving behind children among them current Gender and Human Rights Development Minister Sahro Samatar and a host of grandchildren.
As Somalia prepares to hold indirect (S)elections yet again this year, the uncertainty of the process has fed into the general sense of despair and has the potential to push the country back into chaos if care is not taken to involve all relevant political and social actors, in order to give the process the legitimacy it deserves.
This election brief is based on interviews with individuals involved in the process and with deep knowledge of the behind-the-scenes discussions.
National leaders have repeatedly affirmed that the elections will be held on time – including in official communiques. With the term of the Somali Parliament ending in three weeks, and the president’s in six weeks, Terror Free Somalia is concerned that there is little to show in terms of progress in ensuring that a timely transfer of power will take place.
Emerging electoral fraud trends Somalia. Muslim Brotherhood
Somalia's Prominent Cartoonist Amin Arts exposed the truth of Ex- Somali ..... President H.E. Hassan Sheikh appoint his Somali electoral commission?
Terror Free Somalia has been closely watching the electoral process with concern, noting a dangerous familiar path of corruption being taken by those in positions of power and seeking to keep their positions.
Political parties have voiced concern to terror free Somalia that the National Leaders Forum, without any constitutional basis, has usurped power and continues to act as a de facto junta that rules by decree. While this may be seen as a convenient method to expedite the process, political parties are concerned that it will be a destabilizing factor beyond the elections and continue to undermine the constitution.
Some clans are claiming that the government has replaced some of the 135 elders representing the clans with political appointees that do not represent them. Marqaati has documented at least two clans whose real elders have been replaced by other individuals.
Furthermore, there is no level playing field in terms of political space: political parties have been virtually denied the freedom to hold any kind of assemblies under flimsy security excuses, political meetings disrupted, political messaging stifled, and democracy campaigners – including marqaati – have been intimidated, harassed, or imprisoned.
The civil society has been particularly sidelined in the process, and any calls for reform or accountability in general, especially electoral accountability, is seen as a threat by the ruling party. This has led to a sense of fear to speak out in this election period among local CSOs, terror free Somalia hereby takes the lead in speaking out.
Old model or delayed elections
Members of the NLF will be briefed by the (S)electoral commission on a viable timetable; while the commission privately maintains that there will be timely elections on the agreed model (51 individuals selecting each MP), political parties are complaining that there is talks of reverting to the old model in order to save time, or extend the timetable in order to implement the new model.
Extending the election date will cause a backlash from among the political parties who have already started declaring that the president will have no authority after the 10th of September. This option has the most potential to cause constitutional crisis and hurt Somalia’s fledgling state legitimacy.
The second option of reverting to the old, simpler model, has the most risks for corruption; there are fears that as in in 2012, when there was widespread buying of parliamentary seats, this could be the case again this year.
Reverting to the old, clearly more corrupt model will surely mean that the past four years have been fully squandered. There hasn’t been any improvement in the electoral model. Giving the 135 elders the power to appoint the MPs will be a return to outright buying of parliamentary seats as had happened in 2012 and hurt the legitimacy of the process.
Within the darkness there is a sliver of hope: twenty-three Somali political parties have signed the Integrity Pact for free and fair elections in Somalia. This is encouraging and shows a willingness by political parties to experiment with honest means to seek political power; however, we are disappointed and concerned by the outright refusal to sign the Pact by some of the political parties, chief among them the ruling party.
Necessary steps
Representatives of the Somali public – the elders, political parties, and civil society – should be given a role in shaping both the electoral model and the timetable for holding the elections. An inclusive process will guarantee that there is legitimacy for the process itself.
The international community – the US, UK, UN, EU, and AU – should hold the members of the NLF to account on holding free and fair elections. The elections will not be considered fair if non-NLF members are denied the opportunity to organize themselves , which is a basic constitutional right. NLF members who try to use their authority to derail the process in their favor should be sanctioned in order to protect the integrity of the process.
There should be a clear timetable with a sense of urgency and based on input from the aforementioned representatives of the Somali public, in order to ensure that the process in not open-ended and meets the set deadlines.
Terror Free Somalia foundation
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Terror free Somalia tolerance platform is engaging with diversity of opinion, political ideology and self-expression. Tolerance is a necessary ingredient for creativity and civility.Tolerance fuels tenacity and audacity.
Somali Police have seized a shipment of food aid at Aden Abdulle Airport in Mogadishu today. The food aid which was destined for drought affected areas appeared to have been expired, further investigation concluded that large parts of the shipment which was delivered by WFP was in fact contaminated and no longer edible.
"The shipment is now under police custody at the airport while they wait for WFP staff to arrive" a senior airport official told terror free somalia. "The shipment was so bad that it is unfit for livestock consumption let alone human consumption" he added
The foodstuff included maize and sorghum among others were displaced by the airport guards at the cargo section of the airport today. Police also detained one of the WFP staff members who is currently being investigated by security forces.
Addressing the media at the police post in the airport, the commander in chief of the police unit responsible for the revenue income tax, Abdullahi Hassan Barise said his officers managed to recover the expired food which was in transit to Garbahaarey town in Somalia's Gedo region.
This revelation of expired food will damage the reputation of WFP, which is the largest distributor of food aid to Somalia.
The WFP has not yet publicly commented on the seizure of the expired aid.
African Union Mission in Somalia ( AMISOM ) has said five of its soldiers serving in Somalia will be deported back to their countries to face charges.
The soldiers most from Uganda were detained on Sunday by Somali Police Force while selling military supplies in Mogadishu Hodan district.
Ten other Somali nationals also arrested in the act will be brought before court soon according to Somali chief justice.
AMISOM spokesman Joe Kibet has also confirmed to terror free somalia that there are ongoing investigations on the nationalities of other peacekeepers who were involved in the act of selling military supplies and once finalised they will be too sent back home to face court martial.
Ugandan army spokesman Paddy Ankunda has said the soldiers will appear before military court back home to answer the charges.
AMISOM cord of conduct indicates that peacekeeping troops that violate the conduct will be charged in their own country of origin.
Forever grateful to the Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice
U.S. military personnel killed in the fighting were Chief Warrant Offic er Donovan L. Briley, Staff Sgt. Daniel D. Bus ch, Cpl. James M. Cavaco, Staff Sgt. William D. Cleveland, Sgt. Thomas J. Field, Sgt. 1st Class Earl Fillmore, Chief War rant Officer Raymond Frank, Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon, Sgt. James Z. "Casey" Joyce, Pvt. Richard W. "Alphabet" Kowaleski, Pvt. James Martin, Master Sgt. Timothy "Griz" Martin, Sgt. Dominick M. Pilla, Sgt. Lorenzo M. Ruiz, Sgt. 1st Class Randall D. Shughart, Cpl. James E. "Jamie" Smit h, and Chief Warrant Officer Clifton "Elvis" Wolcott. Sgt. Cornell Houston was mortally wounded and died Oct. 6 after being evacuated to Germany.Sgt. 1st Class Matthew L. Rierson, who took part in the battle, was killed two days later by a mortar.
Somalia . a mission to capture lieutenants of habar -gidir Hawiye Terrorist warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, a team of U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force came under heavy assault from local militia. Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters went down in the fighting, and U.S. foces inflicted heavy casualties on Hawiye (habar-gidir)usc Jihadist fighters while suffering significant losses of their own.Al-Qaeda appear to have taken any direct role in the fighting, but several senior al-Qaeda fighters traveled to Somalia from Sudan to train militiamen there in techniques they employed against the Soviets during the Afghan war.In particular, they trained the militiamen in the use of unguided rocket-propelled grenades, or RPGs, as an anti-helicopter weapon.The tactic came as a surprise to American forces in Somalia, and RPGs were credited with downing the two Black Hawks.The U.S. government did not learn of al-Qaeda's role in the attack until 1996, presumably from Jamal Ahmed al-Fadl.
Somali federal government troops SNA in Adan Yabal are on high alert over reports of planned Al shabaab attacks on the southern town.
Adan Yabal district commissioner Mohamud Sheikh Hassan has urged residents to remain vigilant and to report anything suspicious to the police for immediate action.
Hassan said Somali security forces in the area have made significant progress in counter Al shabaab measures which has seen foiling of several attacks in the past.
Somali National troops have been deployed in the outskirts of Adan Yabal town in middle Shabelle region, in an attempt to thwart impending Al shabaab attacks.
The US Tuesday renewed its travel warning to its citizens travelling to Somalia noting the Horn of African country was still unstable and dangerous.
The State Department said terrorist operatives and armed groups in Somalia continue to attack Somali authorities, the troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and other non-military targets.
The warning further noted there existed particular threat to foreigners in places where large crowds gather and Westerners frequent, including airports, government buildings, and shopping areas. Inter-clan and inter-factional fighting can flare up with little or no warning.
Citing the Dallo airline attack in February in which an attacker detonated an explosive device mid air, the State Department said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) containing information on the U.S. prohibition against U.S. civil aviation operations in airspace over Somalia due to security risks toward civil aviation.
The warning replaces a similar one issued October 1, 2015.
Very clear statement from the group "Think Election 2016" #Somalia
Rule Of Law Out in Somalia: A Grand Finale for a Rogue Somali Muslim Brotherhood President assisted by Rogue Representatives of the International Community
During the last 4 years, there has been steady descent on the efficacy of “Rule of Law” in Somalia despite a general commitment made by the Somali people in August 2012 under a new Provisional Constitution anchored on international standards of Rule of Law, and this document is the cornerstone and basic foundation under which all other social spheres of law, justice and human rights were to follow from. More importantly, the international community led by the European Union, USA, Sweden, Norway (the donors) and the UN, AU and IGAD placed enormous amounts of money and resources to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars towards the establishment of fundamental principles of Rule of Law in Somalia in the last 16 years, and rightly so, since the root cause of the protracted Somali civil conflict is correctly identified as the absence of Rule of Law.
Today, the 22nd of May 2016 should mark as a sad day in Somali history and also
a reminder of the political bankruptcy of the office of the Somali Muslim Brotherhood President H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the hypocrisy of the international community fronted by UNSOM. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has today illegally signed a Presidential Decree legalizing a flawed electoral law that was tabled in parliament on April 30th, 2016 by the government and that was actively under debate in parliament as of Saturday, May 21, 2016.
Unconstitutional
Under the Provisional Constitution adopted on August 1, 2012, there are no
provisions authorizing an executive order to rule on electoral processes. As a matter of fact, that authority is preserved for parliament and contingent institutions it lawfully creates such as the National Independent Elections Commission (NIEC), a body that now exists.
Article 47 of the Provisional Constitution states as follows:
“The regulations concerning political parties, their registration, elections at the Federal level and the National Independent Electoral Commission shall be defined in special laws enacted by the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia” Article 111G (2) of the Provisional Constitution further provides the National Independent Elections Commission (NIEC) with the clear mandate to conduct both presidential elections and also elections of members of the federal parliament. In other words, the Constitution does not contain any provisions authorizing the executive to interfere with electoral processes.
More fundamentally, the Muslim Brotherhood Presidential Decree of the President contravenes the very important principle of separation of powers enshrined in the constitution which compartmentalizes the powers of the three branches of government; the Legislator, the Judiciary and Executive as reflected in Article 3 (4) of the
Constitution. It also has the stench odor of conflict of interest as the current President HSM is also a presidential candidate in the 2016 elections whose electoral model he shamelessly now makes an unconstitutional decision over.
Among the reasons proffered by the Muslim Brotherhood President for his illegal action is that
parliament dragged it’s feet for a couple of days in endorsing (not deliberating) the electoral model offered by the National Leadership Forum ( seven male members) and dated April 12, 2016. Even though Parliament knew that the model was flawed, it was genuinely trying to come up with an acceptable model that would cause no harm and on Saturday, the 21st of May 2016, there was a consensus to forge a middle ground. That middle ground was centered on ensuring a credible model on the Upper House and Gender Parity in the next parliament. With the complicity of Speaker Jawari and the international community, the proceedings before parliament were delayed for a few more days to allow for time to hatch this illegal plan. So it is not fair to blame parliament for this debacle.
Defense of Rule of Law and Not Parliament
It should be noted that the tenure of Parliament must end on August 20, 2016 and that no one, including yours truly will defend an extension of Parliament. Although there are plenty of Parliamentarians worthy of the appellation “ Honorable”, there are equal if not more of them who are less than honorable as Parliament has become associated with corruption and rightly so. Therefore, the debate before us is not about the preservation of the current Parliament but about Rule of Law. The foundational principle of Rule of Law must be defended here, considering that the suspension of the 1961 Somali Constitution by the Military Junta in 1970 is the root cause of the Somali civil war.
Article 4 (1) of our present Constitution states clearly that:
“..The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia is the supreme law of the country. It binds the government and guides policy initiatives and decisions in all sections of government”.
It so happens that the very “Authority” that was trusted to safeguard and protect the Constitution is now engaged in thrashing it. The President of Somalia is under Article 87(1) (c) of the Constitution, the “Guardian and promoter of the founding principles of the Constitution”. Article 87 (2) of the Constitution emphatically states that the President “ shall carry out his duties in accordance with the Constitution and the other laws of the Federal Republic of Somalia”.
Against this background, the actions of the president with respect to the Muslim Brotherhood Presidential Decree is illegal and suspect and must be opposed on moral and constitutional grounds, but he has accomplices in the form and shape of an amorphous group called the International Group (Nairobi/Mogadishu based) who are not in anyway accountable to the Somali people.
The International Community
The International community led by UNSOM has today exposed itself glaringly as corrupt with no moral fiber in its comportment, in so far as notions and principles of Rule of Law, justice and human rights are concerned. It is an open secret that the international community representatives to Somalia hatched this illegal and unconstitutional scheme, and that President HSM dutifully played his role as a minstrel in a show.
The Somali public suspected for over a decade that the So called International community was not committed to Rule of Law, was out of touch with the reality on the ground and that Somalia was used both as a social experiment and also a launching pad for the careers of mediocre and inept diplomats from the North. The International community has been engaged in a “ ticking-the-box” exercise in Somalia couched as policy-making marks for the better part of the last 16 years with a cavalier attitude of “ Damn the Consequences”. This latest scheme is the most ugly and dramatic consequence of this attitude and the Somali public would pay for this for years to come.
Where was the international community for the last 4 years when the Muslim Brotherhood President enjoyed a clear mandate to affect an electoral model as directed to him under the Constitution? Why this frantic 11th hour spectacle of pyrotechnics of illusions to project a zeal for democratic elections when its members have been silent on the need for political reform during the last four years? Because, these people have been writing “feel-good” communiqués for the past three and half years on “ political reform, constitutional development, enhanced security and democratizations”, all of which did not reflect the concrete reality on the ground. And now when the chickens came home to roost, the most imaginative thing they could think of out of this political and security mess is:
To pressure a certified corrupt president to go the extra mile and engage in the most corrupt of political manners, the stomping on the very foundation of Rule of Law, The Constitution.
The Islamic State (IS) claimed its first terrorist attack on Monday using an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to destroy an African Union (AU) military vehicle on the outskirts of Mogadishu. It was not clear how many people and/or soldiers were injured or killed during the attack.
Monday’s attack in the Tardish section of Mogadishu was the first attack launched by a terrorist group other than the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab terrorist organization. Somalia fit the profile for IS expansion as the country has been plagued by the country’s an ongoing war with al-Shabaab since 2009. IS see’s an opportunity to potentially remove its al-Qaeda affiliated rival and seize control of the region.
IS and al-Qaeda both share desire to establish an Islamic caliphate under Sharia law, since IS split from Al Qaeda in order to position IS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi as Caliph the two groups now find themselves competing for recruits, operational space, and resources...more
Friday, April 22, 2016 – The calculated scheme of the leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) elected in 2012 to disregard the fulfilment of the constitutionally mandated arrangements for a transparent, free, and fair national election in 2016 has paid off as they become empowered by the International Community (IC) to device fraudulent, undemocratic electoral process that suits their rapacious ambitions for staying in power (reelection). The formation of unaccountable federal member states (FMS) and the creation of the Somali National Leadership Forum (NLF) composed of 8 leaders – 4 leaders of the FGS (the president, Speaker, Prime Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister), and 4 presidents of FMS (Puntland, Galmudug, Jubbaland, and Southwest) in violation of the provisional constitution have facilitated the gaming of democratic political election supposed to allow the Somali citizens to toss out rulers who governed badly.
On the basis of Garowe Agreement on 2016 electoral model and process, signed between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Government of Puntland State on April 3, and on the recommendations of a High Level Consultation meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on April 6-7, members of the NLF held a meeting in Mogadishu for the adoption of comprehensive electoral implementation plan. The Communiqué of the meeting restated the main points made in Garowe Agreement and Nairobi consultation. However, the flaws of the electoral implementation plan are described below.
NLF
The NLF has no constitutional legitimacy to legislate or regulate political elections in Somalia; but the Garowe Agreement says that, “The International Community recognizes the central role of the National Leadership Forum in ensuring that the national interest is protected and promoted, and the role of parliament in underpinning the rule of law and protecting the Constitution.” The interpretation of the quoted statement is not clear, but it could be construed as saying that the decisions of the NLF are not subject to parliamentary review or they could not be protested by the public. Most significantly, the implementation of Garowe Agreement is guaranteed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), specifically Ethiopia. Thus, Garowe Agreement is subject to international relation and law. I hope Somali experts on international law will express legal opinion on the agreements between the federal government and regional states guaranteed by foreign governments or organizations.
The NLF members who are either incumbents seeking reelection or sponsoring their allies took control of the political oversight of 2016 election and misappropriated the powers (1) to appoint all members of federal and regional electoral committees, (2) to restrict public participation in the election, and (3) to validate the legitimacy of elected candidates. The federal and regional electoral committees will work under the direction and supervision of NLF. This is not a democratic political election.
The Flaws of 2016 Electoral Implementation Plan
Selection of the Electorate: The implementation plan indicates that 135 traditional leaders registered in 2012 will select 50 electorate for each parliamentary seat in consultation with sub clan traditional leaders. In anticipation of this decision, the federal government has instigated leadership disputes within some clans in order to replace the traditional leaders seen as not reliable allies of the government against the interests of their clans. Therefore, the federal government should not be allowed to handle any dispute over traditional leaders. Clan constituencies have the primary responsibility for standing behind their genuine traditional leaders.
Political Exclusion: Benadir region is excluded from the NLF and the Upper House of the federal parliament representing federal member states. Similarly, the political participation of the population living in Benadir is up in the air. No explanation has been provided for this outrageous political exclusion.
Scandals and Meltdown of Hiran and Middle Shabelle State Formation Process. No representative of Hiran and Middle Shabelle regions is member of NLF. As a result of the federal government’s game plan to install its loyalists in power in Hiran and Middle Shabelle State, the process of state formation is mired by scandals and abuses that led to paralysis and acrimonious political confrontation. The international community is fully aware of the scandals and reasons behind the meltdown but decided to close eyes and push for the declaration and celebration of federal member state at any cost.
Creation of Upper House of the federal Parliament: The Federal Parliament has suspended in 2012 all articles of the provisional constitution related to the Upper House of the Federal Parliament. The NLF restored the Upper House without parliamentary action. The responsibilities and powers of the Upper House vis-à-vis the house of the people are yet to be outlined.
The distribution of the 54 seats of the Upper House to the federal member states is seen as baseless and conflict-ridden. What is more difficult is how to maintain clan balance in the Upper House seats.
The NLF authorizes the executive branch of the FMS (the presidents) to submit the Upper House candidates to the state parliament for voting. However, the winners must get the signature of FMS Presidents for joining the Upper House. This could entail hurdles and conflicts.
The selection of candidates for Upper House by the FMS executives is wrong and candidates must be allowed to present their candidacy to an electoral committee independent from executive and local parliament but subject to the monitoring of credible mechanisms supported by international team. The parliament must offer equal opportunity to all candidates for presentation of their qualifications for eligibility followed by secret ballot.
Limitation of public participation in the political process: The Somali civil society has recommended an electorate composed of 100 to 200 voters for each seat of the federal parliament. The maximum total number of electorate would be 55,000 out of 13 million people. In contrast, the NLF wanted to restrict public political participation below 50 in order to control the electorate through patronage, corruption, exclusion, and all other reprehensible tactics. This is an obstacle to the expansion of public participation in the political process. The international community should ally with the civil society proposal and not with NLF. The number of electorate for each seat should not be less than 100 voters. This is one of the critical measures against widespread corruption.
Number of contestants for each seat. NLF did not explicitly said the number of contestants for each seat but confirmed that it will decide later. It would be appropriate that the number of contestants is open and candidates will be eliminated through voting process or inter-constituency negotiations.
The suggestion that each candidate must pay US$ 5,000 represents and impediment for many potential local competitors. This amount should not be more than US$ 1,000.
Federal State Election committees: The NLF gave itself the power to nominate the members of 2016 election committees. The past experience shows that committees appointed by the federal or state governments are filled with loyalists. It is necessary that civil society members, media personalities, social organizations, businesses communities, political activists, university leaders, Youth advocates, and religious groups are delegated to organize and manage the process of selecting members of electoral committees.
Dispute Resolution Committees: NLF wants to appoint dispute conflict resolution committees. This is another measure to manipulate the process in favor of NLF members. Independent and opposition forces must participate in the nomination process of members of the election dispute resolution committees.
Venue of election: NLF limits the venues in six cities. Each constituency must be able to express its preference for the location where it should elect its representative(s) in cooperation with an independent election committees. The safety and security of the venues is a primary condition. The federal government cannot limit venues and public participation for self-serving excuses. Constituencies must be given opportunities to decide the preferable venues through democratic process.
Quota for Women: To avoid gender conflicts within the Somali society, it is critical that the quota for women is separate and contested among women candidates. Alternatively, women should participate equally in the contest to the seats allocated to their constituencies. The 30 % allocation of federal parliament to women should not be used to wage social division within the Somali society.
Vetting Process: The experience from 2012 confirms that the vetting process of government appointed committees at national and state levels is used for exclusion and obstruction. The absence of electoral law applied by a court increases the likelihood of abuse of the vetting process. Accountability and transparency for the vetting process are necessary.
Omitted Issues: The electoral implementation plan omitted the discussion of the issue of access and use of public resources and media by incumbents for reelection purpose. Another important issue is the prevention of government abuse of power, restriction of freedom of expression and assembly for deceptive reasons, expected to pervade the 2016 election. Guidelines on the role of security and intelligence forces, attorney general, and judiciary in the 2016 election should be part of the electoral implementation plan.
Public Discontent and Reaction
The backing of the IC to fraudulent, undemocratic electoral implementation plan has surprised many Somalis and observers of the international engagement in Somalia. The IC position conflicts with the UN guidelines on democracy and political election. Somalis expressed their frustration, dismay and criticisms over the electoral plan through Voice of America (VOA), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), local media and websites. The lack of government response and accountability to the public discontent erodes public commitment to the political and security stability in Somalia.
Remark
It is noteworthy that the Garowe Agreement reveals the strong suspicion of regional state leaders against the leaders of the federal government for rigging the 2016 electoral process through corruption and unfair practices. Therefore, the Agreement commits the international community to monitor the implementation of the 2016 electoral model and process to ensure fairness and transparency. Disappointedly, this commitment has not been applied to the development of the electoral implementation plan.
Somalia cries for free and fair electoral process which offers equal opportunities among participants in the political process and competition. Reconsideration of the endorsed electoral implementation plan is imperative for conducting free and fair election. Incumbent leaders should not be condoned or allowed to manipulate the electoral process to their advantage. The IC should not back incumbent controlled election.
Somalia MuslimBrotherhood RESEDENT
We are planning negotiations with #AlQaida#Ashabaab with USA and International Support
Somalia MuslimBrotherhood RESEDENT visiting DC sponsored by his lobbyist USIP Maryland law firm Shulman Rogers No elections again in 2016 just Selections
Ex-Somali Police Commissioner General Mohamed Abshir
Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre with general Mohamad Ali samater
Somalia army parade 1979
Sultan Kenadid
Sultanate of Obbia
President of the United Meeting with Prime Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Egal of the Somali Republic,
Seyyid Muhammad Abdille Hassan
Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire
Sultanate of Warsengeli
Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre
Siad Barre ( A somali Hero )
MoS Moments of Silence
honor the fallen
Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie
Beautiful handshake
May Allah bless him and give Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre..and The Honourable Ronald Reagan
Honorable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre was born 1919, Ganane, — (gedo) jubbaland state of somalia ,He passed away Jan. 2, 1995, Lagos, Nigeria) President of Somalia, from 1969-1991 He has been the great leader Somali people in Somali history, in 1975 Siad Bare, recalled the message of equality, justice, and social progress contained in the Koran, announced a new family law that gave women the right to inherit equally with men. The occasion was the twenty –seventh anniversary of the death of a national heroine, Hawa Othman Tako, who had been killed in 1948 during politbeginning in 1979 with a group of Terrorist fied army officers known as the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF).Mr Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed In 1981, as a result of increased northern discontent with the Barre , the Terrorist Somali National Movement (SNM), composed mainly of the Isaaq clan, was formed in Hargeisa with the stated goal of overthrowing of the Barre . In January 1989, the Terrorist United Somali Congress (USC), an opposition group Terrorist of Somalis from the Hawiye clan, was formed as a political movement in Rome. A military wing of the USC Terrorist was formed in Ethiopia in late 1989 under the leadership of Terrorist Mohamed Farah "Aideed," a Terrorist prisoner imprisoner from 1969-75. Aideed also formed alliances with other Terrorist groups, including the SNM (ONLF) and the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM), an Terrorist Ogadeen sub-clan force under Terrorist Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess in the Bakool and Bay regions of Southern Somalia. , 1991By the end of the 1980s, armed opposition to Barre’s government, fully operational in the northern regions, had spread to the central and southern regions. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis fled their homes, claiming refugee status in neighboring Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya. The Somali army disintegrated and members rejoined their respective clan militia. Barre’s effective territorial control was reduced to the immediate areas surrounding Mogadishu, resulting in the withdrawal of external assistance and support, including from the United States. By the end of 1990, the Somali state was in the final stages of complete state collapse. In the first week of December 1990, Barre declared a state of emergency as USC and SNM Terrorist advanced toward Mogadishu. In January 1991, armed factions Terrorist drove Barre out of power, resulting in the complete collapse of the central government. Barre later died in exile in Nigeria. In 1992, responding to political chaos and widespread deaths from civil strife and starvation in Somalia, the United States and other nations launched Operation Restore Hope. Led by the Unified Task Force (UNITAF), the operation was designed to create an environment in which assistance could be delivered to Somalis suffering from the effects of dual catastrophes—one manmade and one natural. UNITAF was followed by the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). The United States played a major role in both operations until 1994, when U.S. forces withdrew. Warlordism, terrorism. PIRATES ,(TRIBILISM) Replaces the Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre administration .While the terrorist threat in Somalia is real, Somalia’s rich history and cultural traditions have helped to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorism. The long-term terrorist threat in Somalia, however, can only be addressed through the establishment of a functioning central government
His Excellency ambassador Dr. Maxamed Saciid Samatar (Gacaliye)
Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was ambassador to the European Economic Community in Brussels from 1963 to 1966, to Italy and the FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] in Rome from 1969 to 1973, and to the French Government in Paris from 1974 to 1979.
Dr. Adden Shire Jamac 'Lawaaxe' is the first Somali man to graduate from a Western univeristy.
Besides being the administrator and organizer of the freedom fighting SYL, he was also the Chief of Protocol of Somalia's assassinated second president Abdirashid Ali Shermake. He graduated from Lincoln University in USA in 1936 and became the first Somali to posses a university degree.
The Foundation is dedicated to networking like-minded Somalis opposed to the terrorist insurgency that is plaguing our beloved homeland and informing the international public at large about what is really happening throughout the Horn of Africa region.
We Are Winning the War on Terrorism in Horn of Africa
The threat is from violent extremists who are a small minority of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, the threat is real. They distort Islam. They kill man, woman and child; Christian and Hindu, Jew and Muslim. They seek to create a repressive caliphate. To defeat this enemy, we must understand who we are fighting against, and what we are fighting for.
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