Struggling government sparks concern in The West

Struggling Somali new government sparks concern in the west

   

Somali president Mohamed Farmajo and his prime minister, Hassan Ali Khaire,seem confronted by a whole range of complicated political and security dilemmas that they didn't initially expect to face. Formed in February, the government still needs to hammer out a clear-headed strategy to fight the Islamist fundamentalist movement AlShabaab as well as to build the foundations of a nation with limited resources and a central government that's still in the quest for legitimacy (ION 1450) And those challenges give rise to concern in the international community. 

The West fears

Mogadishu won't be able to handle all the issues in one go. In a meeting in early July with officials from Britain, Norway and the European Union in Hargeisa, Khaire admitted he found it highly complicated to fight against corruption and improve the country's tax receipts. He pointed the  finger at certain local businessmen who included 

Ahmed Mohamed Yusuf, boss of the Hormuud telecommunications 

Mohamed Yusuf Ahmed Alore, chief of  Salaam African Bank, and 

Abdirashid Duale, manager of Dahabshiil. 

He felt they were applying a brake to moves to beef up the government's capacity because doing so would make the tax system more efficient. In his outburst, the prime minister claimed the businessmen paid more tax to Al Shabaab than to Somalia's federal government.

He saw that as  tacit backing for Al Shabaab which, in working to destabilize the government,prevented it from establishing the rule of law. That, in turn, allowed the tycoons to duck out of paying their due to the state

"Ramadaan Kariim"رمضان مبارك Have a Happy Ramadan

The essence of Ramadan is to become humble

Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslim friends around the world. beautiful month of fasting, prayer, mercy, forgiveness,charity,guidance, tranquility,reflection & peace

Muslims around the world will begin fasting from Monday june 6, 2016 and for a whole month thereafter, however, for some it will begin only if the moon is sighted.

Since the beginning of Islam, there have been debates as to what constitutes moon sighting. Some interpret that there has to be a minion to declare that they have seen it themselves with their own eyes, where some others do not accept the holiday unless they have seen it themselves. In the United States, there is an organization that monitors moon sighting called the Hilal committee. At one time it was acceptable if the moon was sighted elsewhere, but now, each group has to have their own moon sighting.

Politics runs deeply in our communities, be it a temple, synagogue or a church, and mosques are no different. A few scientifically-inclined-Muslims have adopted NASA's calculation, believed to be precise. However, four different traditions are operative concurrently; i) Strictly Calendar, ii) NASA and iii) Sighting with bare eyes and iv) Sighting by others in the community.

The NASA-oriented and the calendar-group misses out the fun, joy and exhilaration of waiting and watching the needle thin moon on the horizon. The whole family gets out on the roof tops, or higher grounds, some even climb electric poles, and a few will drive out where they can see the sky without obstacles, kids would climb up on parent's shoulders, and a few run from place to place shouting in excitement, did you see? It is like the belief in Santa Claus, angels and other myths; each tradition fulfills one's emotional needs and every one becomes sentimental. After all, if celebration does not have the excitement, it is less of a celebration.

America's spirit of freedom touches every soul, no matter what religion or tradition they follow. American Muslims are no different, they prefer to have a pre-set date to start fasting and the celebration called "Eid" (pronounced as 'Eeed'). The idea is for them to take a day off from work or get an optional day off for their children from the schools. Always, the joy multiplies when the family and friends celebrate it together. They prefer not wait for the moon to show up to the bare eyes.

The conflict is the same every where on the earth. Each group subscribes to one of the four systems mentioned above. America is no different; you will find celebrations on one or three different days in any given city. The Sunnis, being the largest group has the greater division within, while the Shias, Ismailis, WD Mohammad, Bohra and Ahmadiyya follow the pre-determined dates. The consensus may be attributable to having central spiritual leadership in all groups except the Sunni. However like the American public wishes to see Republicans and Democrats drop the party lines and focus on what is good for America, the Muslims also wish they could celebrate the Eid on one single day. It ain't going to happen; it is human to disagree.

It is against the spirit of Ramadan to denigrate, diminish and devalue other practices. The essence of Ramadan is to become humble, simple and free from ill-will, anger, meanness and hate.

Let's fill our hearts with goodwill and honor Ramadan by saying "Eid Mubarak" or Happy Eid to every one who celebrates on a different day in the same town. The essence of Ramadan is joy and let's not prick any one's bubble; God has not signed a pact with any one behind others back, let's rejoice the differences of interpretations. If you want to celebrate every day, go to every celebration.

In the spirit of Ramadan, I pray that Ramadan gets into our hearts and minds and make us embrace all factions of Muslims without undermining their tradition and further pray that we treat every human on the earth with dignity, respect and care.

That is indeed the wisdom expressed in Qur'an, Al-Hujurat, Surah 49:13: "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of God, is the best in conduct. God Knows and is Aware of everything you do."

Ramadan Mubarak! 2017

 

President Farmaajo Briefly Meets Trump In Riyadh, Appeals Backing

Somali President H:E Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Sunday briefly met with the U.S President H:E Donald Trump in the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh following the conclusion of the US-Arab-Muslim conference, Presidential Communications officer confirms.

Somali Presidential Communications officer, Abdinur Mohamed said the two leaders talked on security collaboration between Somalia and the United States, where President Farmajo highlighted the need for strong U.S support/cooperation to defeat the Islamist militant group Al-Shabab that is battling the Federal government and the African Union forces (AMISOM).

We are in war on terror and we need international assistance as Somalia lone cannot defeat the terror groups

President Farmajo in media brief said the U.S administration promised 100% backing for the new Somali government to secure the Horn of African nation and rebuild the country’s national forces. The Riyadh meeting was the first face-to-face talk between Donald Trump and Farmajo and came one month after U.S president increased the number of U.S Special Forces operating in Somalia.

Mattis 'Heartened' After Attending Somalia Meeting in London

WASHINGTON, May 12, 2017 — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis came away from yesterday’s British-sponsored conference on Somalia in London with renewed hope for the peace process in the African nation.

Mattis told reporters flying with him back to Washington, that he had a private meeting with Somali President Mohamed Abdullah Mohamed, “and I came away from that heartened.”

The United States has a role to play in Somalia, and in helping that nation eradicate al-Shabaab, a vicious terror group, Mattis said. The United Nations, the African Union and the European Union joined with Arab, African and European nations to discuss the way forward.

International Support for Somalia

Mattis said Somalia has an economic and a governmental program to put it back on its feet, and that international support is crucial to the process.

“So, we were working on how the future looks and what nations could commit what to what and get the framework right,” Mattis said. “It includes on the security side both a continued maturation of their security forces in the defenses against al-Shabaab, but it also includes a reconciliation program designed to pull the fence-sitters and the middle-of-the-roaders away from al-Shabaab. It's very well put together.”

The holistic approach to the situation in Somalia is the one that has a chance of succeeding, Mattis said.

“There is certainly an attitude of renewed hope based on the election of what appears to be a very good leader in terms of understanding the need for military security, but as well economic efforts, and certainly reconciliation is going to have to mark this way forward, as well,” he said.

Confronting Terrorism

Mattis praised the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, saying the African Union Mission in Somalia troops have done a good job in a difficult position.

“For years, AMISOM and the Somali soldiers have fought against a pretty tough enemy that has sworn allegiance … to al-Qaida,” Mattis said. “It’s an enemy that's got to be fought and the people have to be defended.”

Mattis took advantage of the Somali meeting to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim. He said the meeting was an “honest, transparent and helpful” discussion between two NATO allies on NATO issues and other issues that directly impact Turkish security. The two leaders also discussed how to best work together to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Mattis said Turkey is committed to the counter-ISIS campaign, “just like the rest of NATO and the 68 nations that are aligned against ISIS, and that includes in particular the campaign against the enemy’s … self-proclaimed caliphate in Raqqa.”

(Follow Jim Garamone on Twitter: @GaramoneDoDNews)

One Navy SEAL Killed, 2 injured in during clashes between Al-Shabaab fighters & US Forces in Lower Shabelle region

WASHINGTON — An American Navy SEAL was killed on Thursday during a raid against the Islamic militant group known as the Shabab in Somalia, Pentagon officials said.

Defense Department officials said the service member was in Somalia as part of an advise-and-assist mission alongside members of the Somali National Army. He was killed in an operation near Barii, around 40 miles west of Mogadishu, according to a statement from the United States Africa Command.

Separately, a Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters regarding Special Operations forces, said that the service member killed was a Navy SEAL.

“We continue to support our Somali and regional partners to systematically dismantle this Qaeda affiliate, and help them to achieve stability and security throughout the region as part of the global counterterrorism effort,” Africa Command said in the statement.

The death of a Navy SEAL in Somalia comes as the American military’s campaign against the Shabab in Somalia has been expanding over the last several years. That Islamist group is complex, with some factions focused on controlling Somalia, while others want to participate in external terrorist operations in line with Al Qaeda’s global war.

In 2013, the group carried out the attack at the Westgate mall, in Nairobi, Kenya, that killed more than 60 people and wounded more than 175. Since then, it has adopted more sophisticated forms of terrorism, including nearly bringing down a Somali airliner in February with a bomb hidden in a laptop computer.

To counter the Shabab, the United States has increasingly used Special Operations forces, airstrikes, private contractors and African allies. Hundreds of American troops now rotate through makeshift bases in Somalia, the largest military presence since the United States pulled out of the country after the “Black Hawk Down” battle in 1993. They have served as trainers and advisers to African Union and

Somali government forces, and have sometimes participated directly in combat. Military officials said they believed this was the first American combat death in Somalia since the “Black Hawk Down” battle.

About 200 to 300 American Special Operations forces have been working with soldiers from Somalia and other African nations like Kenya and Uganda to carry out more than a half-dozen raids every month, according to senior American military officials. The Navy’s classified SEAL Team 6 has been heavily involved in many of these operations.

The Pentagon has acknowledged only a fraction of these missions. But even the publicly available information shows a marked increase in recent years. The Pentagon announced 13 ground raids and airstrikes in 2016, up from five in 2015, according to data compiled by New America, a Washington think tank. Those strikes killed about 25 civilians and 200 people suspected of being militants, the group found.

Source: NYTimes

5 Al-Shabaab suspects nabbed with explosives in Somalia

Somalia's security forces have arrested five Al-Shabaab suspects and seized a vehicle laden with explosives in the northern port town of Bosasso, officials said on Wednesday.

Police Commissioner of Bari region, Abdihakim Hussein Yusuf said the security forces received a tip off from members of the public and swung into action to thwart a terrorist attack in the town.

"We have captured five Al-Shabaab suspects and a vehicle loaded with explosives after receiving prior intelligence. Investigation is still continuing now," Yusuf said.

He said the suspects who were arrested on Tuesday night have been planning to carry terror attacks on unspecified locations in Puntland including public places.

Hussein said the security forces have enhanced operations to identify the group's targets, saying this was a significant operation against the terror cells in the region.

The latest arrest comes after Al-Shabaab and pro-Islamic States' militants killed nine Puntland soldiers in a roadside blast.

rahm warsame

US strikes kill more than 100 AlShabaab Islamic terrorists

US aircraft attacked southern Somalia, killing more than 100 Al-Shabaab militants, including 20 commanders, residents and officials have said according to nation.co.ke.

Witnesses said the planes targeted the militants’ hideouts in Wargaduud and El-Adde where many Kenyan soldiers were killed by the terrorists in January 2016.

Among senior Shabaab commanders killed in the dawn attack that also destroyed two Vehicles Bound Explosive Devices at Wargaduud were Abdirahman Fillow and Abdirahman Ben Dutie. Dutie was from Marehanrer Dalal section.

“In Wargaduud and El-Adde, US airstrikes killed 20 Al-Shabaab commanders, among them Abdirahman Fillow and about 85 militants,” said a security official who declined to be named.

SIEGE CONTINUES

“The strike happened at 2am and the siege continues.”

Residents in El-Adde reported hearing explosions just after midnight on Friday.

“There was heavy bombing on an Al-Shabaab base near El-Adde Town but we don’t know the number of casualties. We heard sounds of jets and then explosions,” a resident said.

The bombardment came after US military officials said soldiers had been deployed to Somalia to train and equip the national and African Union forces fighting the terrorists.

The team is carrying out a train-and-equip mission that is expected to last through the end of September, according to American officials.

SPECIAL OPERATIONS

The US soldiers will join the small number of special operations forces already in Somalia providing counterterrorism support to local forces.

America maintains a small unit of about 50 troops in the country, mainly to advise and assist Somalia and Amison soldiers. When called in, their helicopters, drones and manned aircraft are available for quick response.

President Donald Trump in March granted additional powers to US Africa Command to conduct counterterrorism strikes against the terrorists.

HIGH ALERT

The bombing came just hours after Kenyan security agencies were put on high alert following reports that nine Kenyans who had joined Al-Shabaab in Somalia could be headed back to the country to launch attacks.

The alert said the terrorists were returning home following sustained attacks by Kenya Defence Forces troops who are part of Amisom.

Police asked Kenyans to be on the alert and report any suspicious people. The attacks were to be carried out during the Easter weekend, according to the police report.

In the last one month, Kenyan troops say they have killed at least 90 Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia, “which has weakened the group’s capability to launch attacks”.

Can there be a country with a worthless currency? The country of counterfeit notes

Can there be a country with a worthless currency? The history of Somalia is marked by it. But behind this monetary disorganization is a region punished by a fierce famine and an infinite civil war.

To this day, Somalia is enduring the worst drought of the last two decades. So serious is the situation that they estimate a balance of mortality even greater than that of 6 years ago, where the famine killed approximately 260,000 people.

Cash bags with money and hunger

The African country could be an imaginary world in a dramatic novel, but it is the reality of a hostile world. "Somali pirates with machine guns," a friend tells me when I name the region. But it is also  the place of fake bills. 

In Mogadishu, its capital, the buildings are skeletons: they have the chariots dressed in concrete and with huge holes that reveal that there is nothing inside. The civil war devastated the place. Through these streets, however, there are men and women who walk with bags full of money.

The Central Bank has not issued a single ticket for 25 years. Mogadishu circulates false and worthless silver. The papers emanate scent and break easily, disintegrate between the fingers. There, one dollar is 22,000 Somali shillings. Citizens, overwhelmed by hunger and burned by drought, change innumerable amounts of worthless bills for some bread.

Perpetual agony

Until 1991, Somali best president strongman Siad Barré presided over the country. When it was overthrown, the Somali institutions ceased to function. The country became institutionally sterile. From the decade of the 90 until today, several regions declared themselves autonomous.

The clans, who fought the territory with fierce civil wars, also took power. The power of the state, as Marxist theory would call it, was nobody's. That state does not exist. To this day, they call it failed.

Somalia is also the place of "warlords" and groups of Western mercenaries. The platform for chaos is propitious. Within this reality also the ethnic differences coexist. The inhabitants of Mogadishu live the second of their life in a limbo. There is nothing inhumane in the Somali context, everything comes from the humanism of man.

The country of counterfeit notes is also that of malnutrition, death, war, poverty, pirates and drought. In Somalia the agony is perpetual because it can not stop its escalation of decay, but also because nobody wants. If the world has erred its way, this is one of its results

NEW Minister of Finance: Abdirahman Bayle was swearing in office today. 

Abdirahman y warsame (Rahm)

You can always follow me  @terrorfreesomal

From Yemen to Somalia: US strikes on Al-Qaeda

The US president sought Donald Trump 's management powers granted to the army, to carry out strikes in Somalia against al Shabaab rebels. 

Under the unprecedented powers, the US military will not be obliged to justify the legitimate self - defense, to launch air strikes.

Well, granted, more independence in the decision to launch strikes, the commander of US forces in Africa, General Thomas Aldozr.

Greater powers of the US Army, the largest US unmanned aircraft in Somalia and freedom.

American fighters, watching, and hunting, and bomb Yemen base. And American ground forces additional, up to the front lines against Daesh, in Syria and Iraq. The talk is about sending more.

US military seems motivated, to resolve the fight against terrorism, especially his head Daesh, great.

And it seems the US president, who has made the slogan "America first" a symbol of the isolation, dramatic surprise internal issues statements.

Words Trump also appeared during the election battle, at odds on achieving victory on terrorism, with a number of very limited ground forces, is not inconsistent with his faith the judge to limit Washington's obligations abroad and as it is supposed to reject the policy of nation-building.

Trump criticized in the door of his predecessor, Obama, who was ironically one of the most American presidents in an effort to distance the US forces, foreign policy conflicts.

It was considered that the main reason for the chaos that the region now, and Daesh infiltration into the region of the gap left by the United States in Iraq ... 

The man has won, and say between What a difference already.

All the movements of Washington Wednesday leaves no doubt that the military approach aimed at expanding the direct role in the front rows of its own, and expand its operations in more than one spot in the world, from the fight against terrorism gate legislator.

In any case, many of the sayings of Trump as soon as he entered the White House changed.

It may be his position of rejecting the sticky ground troops in the front lines in the region, one of them, not the most recent

Somalia recently elected President Mohamad Abdullahi Farmaajo welcome the new policy. According to the chief of Somali Army General Mohamed Adan message post on his Twitter account. @ChiefOfDefence.  

Somali president it was one of his campaign promise to eliminate Alshabaab terrorist.. he's a Somali American from upstate New York.. work for New York Department of Transportation Before he ran for president of Somalia, Farmaajo was always Affiliated with Republican of New York.. it seems President Donald Trump  is very fortunate to have willing partner in Somalia . There's absolutely no doubt alshabaab terrorist days are numbered.

There was absolutely no progress for the last 8 years on the fight against alshabaab in somalia.. under the leadership Somalia Muslim Brotherhood Dumjadiid Pary of former president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and democratic Obama administration

.

.You can always follow me on Twitter on update
@terrorfreesomal