Defense.gov News Release: Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby on Today's Airstrike in Somalia

Defense.gov News Release: Statement by Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby on Today's Airstrike in Somalia

Press Releases | Embassy of the United States

Press Releases | Embassy of the United States

Press Releases | Embassy of the United States

Press Releases | Embassy of the United States

Confirmation of New Somali Prime Minister

Confirmation of New Somali Prime Minister

Poet Nation- Somali Cipher, POET NATION: Listen to the #Somali voices. Indeed we are a poet nation!

Revolving Politics: How President Hassan fell into a political trap

By Abdisalam Garjeex
Wednesday, December 10, 2014

H.E PM Abdiweli vs  President Hassan

Mahamed Sheakh Osman Jawari President Hassan Sheakh Mahamud,, Prime Minister H.E Abdiwali Sheakh Ahmad

For the last 10 years, the Somali Government has become accustomed to political infighting between the President and Prime Minister. One of the main reasons of the PM resignation is the quarrel over executive responsibility as well as issues regarding the constitution and Federal state formation. Every newly constructed Government ends up either in failure or in life support.The UN and AMISON, and the rest of the international community are more of hindrance than help as they largely function as a shadow Government, rendering Somalis incapable of having a full-fledged Government of their own. The reality remains that Somalia isn't a sovereign nation, but an entity crippled with insecurity, radicalism and terror.  Any autonomy is completely stifled by the international community at large. Al-shabaab and violent groups within the Government and population wreak havoc and mayhem through assassinations and bombings. There is no sustainable economy other than illegal use of humanitarian aid. Only fragmented society remains.

The PM is well prepared, intelligent and educated - his nomination came soon after his predecessor "Saacid" was forced to resign; he appears to be smarter and have different style than all his predecessors. Hassan and his team of advisers, including his right hand man, Minister Farah were not smart in choosing Abdiweli as the next PM. At the beginning, when my fellow friends in Virginia asked me about the new PM and what he would be like, I told them that Abdiweli is not the type of person they are looking for; he is not just a follower, he would stand his grounds and would challenge the establishment. In early eighties, Abdiweli just fresh off college was instrumental in creating the then Livestock Marketing Company; he single handily attracted both investment and experts from the international organizations and universities - that experience benefited him today in his confrontation with the President - the international community sided with him. During the cabinet selection, it took him over a month to resist the President's preferred list of special Ministers. He knew that law provides him the executive powers and though the President nominated him, he was aware of his powers which he derived from the Government structure and the law of the land.

Brilliant Strategist

The PM planned to accept the list of Ministers, mainly hand-picked by the President and his aids, so that the Parliament can at last approve his Government. He knew that his executive powers will be curtailed and the President wants to run the show. With that in mind, he started implementing his agenda:-

· He developed a strong relationship with the international community, particularly the UN and the Europeans.

· He removed some of the President’s cronies and nominated important posts of his government.

· He started working and assisting the newly formed Federal states and preparing towards vision 2016.

· He resolved the festering issues of Jubaland; also mediated conflicts between opposing clans in Jubaland state administration.

· He signed a historic agreement with Puntland in economic and political development.

Those steps and many other incidents made hostilities between the office of the President and PM and on the other hand, the same actions created a big support among Parliamentarians and the public at large. It was then that Abdiweli implemented one of his biggest plans. For quite some time, I have been told from reliable sources that PM will give a pink slip to the some of the Ministers in his cabinet that have close ties with the President. With his member Parliament group, they have agreed that once he reshuffles the Ministers, his group will disrupt the proceeding of the Parliament if a motion is tabled. According to PM's press conference on the third day of the third failed attempt of his motion, which I called 'a victory speech’; he elaborated how the constitution allows him to reshuffle his cabinet as he has done it in a limited scope. He expected that the President will counter react and his actions will further lead him in a political damage. The tactical maneuvering took place as planned. At one point, I was told that in the likelihood of the parliament illegally deposing the PM, the PM will refuse to resign and this will result a constitutional crisis – it will be unprecedented since Somalia doesn't have a constitutional court. During power transfer by former PM 'Saacid', Abdiweli received from his longtime friend an insight and advice in his dealing with Hassan – Shirdon stressed the need to be aggressive and do theGovernment responsibility according to the constitutional rulesand authority and when confrontation starts which normally takes a year (every November), he will be well ahead in the game. The President was caught off-guard when the PM reshuffled his cabinet and it was tragic to see vote buying and in some cases bulling the Parliamentarians. For Saacid, he didn't deserve the way he was forced to resign. I know him, we grow up together; we went quranic, elementary and intermediate school together. He is gentle and cool.

Parliament Speaker’s missed opportunity

It was so unique and spectacular to a group of Parliamentarians opposing the motion to use the American style filibustering, they called "democracy in action" or we may best call it(qobiyoqash ma leh). President Hassan and his actions are a complete political failure; in contrast,Abdiweli's prestige, leadership and survival abilities deserve praise even when he is voted out ofoffice; he is the winner in this saga. Hassan's days in office are beleaguered; he will be a lame duck (maqaarsaar)for the remaining time in his term of office even if he nominates a new PM. His malfeasance and lack of integrity was exposed; he is now seen as unpatriotic with no vision for the country, aiming to benefit his personal interest.  As I prepare my opinion in this article, I have just concluded a tour of 5 great European cities (Budapest, Vienna, Prague, Berlin and Istanbul) - all these cities, Parliament buildings were my favorite sightseeing, which reminds me the current political crises and the unruliness of our Parliamentarians. Speaker Jawari showed a weak leadership; he was unable to handle the Parliament procedures during the crises. He shouldn't have accepted a motion tabled for the sole reason of the President’s anger towards the PM after he moved Minister Farah, a close ally to a less important portfolio. A motion against the PM can only be brought to table when the Government fails its responsibilities.

Farewell to Abdiweli

With 2016 on the horizon, The new vision of building Federal states and completing the provisional constitution which will lead to free and fair elections have been just a dream, but there was a good chance of implementing some of these goals if not all had the PM stayed in office – now we are left with Hassan whom we don’t expect to perform anything good for the country, except choosing a new PM and voting out of office within a year. Thanks and best wishes to Abdiweli for telling us that the Emperor has no cloths.

---

Abdisalam Garjeex  is Political Analysis and regular contributor to terror free Somalia

terrorfreesomalia@gmail.com

Ashburn – Virginia (USA)

Ra’isul Wasaare C/weli Oo Ka Hadlay Kala Aragti Duwanaanshaha Dowladda.

Samia the Shining Star for Somalia's Dark Years

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is Dead! (update: Not Alive Yet Not Dead... Yet)

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is Dead! (update: Not Alive Yet Not Dead... Yet)

Leaked Text Messages Offer Glimpse Into Somalia’s Political Dysfunctions (Text messages between Somali Muslim Brotherhood ):EXCLUSIVE:

A screenshot allegedly shows text message exchanges between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir obtained by terrorfreesomalia.

Text messages between Somali Muslim Brotherhood :EXCLUSIVE: LEAKED CONVERSATION BETWEEN SOMALI PRESIDENT AND FARAH SHEIKH ABDULQADIR update

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom’s message to the Somali government was clear: feel independent, solve your internal problems and be wary of foreign interference.

That message — relayed to the government in December 2013 when Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was looking for someone to appoint for a prime minister after lawmakers ousted Abdi Farah Shirdon — provides a glimpse at how current Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed came to power.

Before Abdiweli was nominated, President Hassan had submitted three finalists for the premiership to UN special envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay.

But Kay, also called “The Teacher” in a slew of text messages independently obtained by terrorfreesomalia. from a reliable source, had someone else in mind. He had lobbied for Nuradin Dirie, his current senior special adviser, for the premiership, according to the messages.

The messages allegedly linked to President Hassan and his close advisers were on Tuesday leaked to press. It was first reported  by the news site Somali Agenda.

The correspondents, exchanged between January 2013 and January 2014, showcase an administration mired in internal wrangling, inconsistency and power mongering.

The bulk of the messages consist of conversations between President Hassan and his close henchman, Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir. Until recently, Farah was the minister of justice and constitutional affairs, but under a cabinet reshuffle thattriggered a dispute between President Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli, he was moved to the veterinary minister.

On Tuesday, the Somali parliament’s session turned into chaos after lawmakers supporting Abdiweli started shouting and banging on empty jugs soon after debate on no-confidence motion against the prime minister began.

The no-confidence motion was submitted by supporters of President Hassan, who rejected the prime minister’s move to shift Farah from the justice and constitutional affairs portfolio to the veterinary one.

The leaked messages were written in colloquial Somali, interspersed with broken English sentences. One of the text messages used an emoji at the end of the text.

The messages confirmed the hunch of many analysts, who have always emphasized the role that Farah plays in President Hassan’s administration. Over the last two and a half years, Farah was rumored to have been Hassan’s right-hand man, and an indispensable wingman to the Commander-in-Chief.

“Mr. President, I consider myself to be among the people who love to see Somalia develop, and who as well have a lot of respect for you. … I hope that Allah makes the burden of the job easy for you,” Mr. Farah allegedly writes in one of the messages.

The text messages also touched on the resignation of Yussur Abrar, the former governor of the Somali Central Bank, who resigned after just seven weeks in the job. Abrar, who sent her resignation letter from Dubai, accused Hassan’s government of corruption and mismanagement of finances. In the messages, Farah wrote to the president by saying: “We have established communication channel with Yussur and with phone conversation slated for tomorrow. Meanwhile we have advised her not to address press and important that the same approach is adopted by [Somali federal government].”

True to the matter, the Financial Times had reported then that donors who supported Abrar believed “that she sent her resignation letter, dated October 30, from Dubai, before traveling to an unknown destination.”

The text messages also displayed a government structure that is not based on job merit or management hierarchy, but rather one that is based on political mileage and presidential propinquity.

This can be seen in how Farah forwards messages from certain sources to the president. The president then replies by asking: “Who sent that message?”, clearly showing the lack of proper and direct communication channels.

Suggestions even come in galore for the president. In one message, Farah dishes out advice to lower the flag “to show Solidarity” that Somalia is sad about the death of Nelson Mandela. “African countries,” he continues, “the USA, UK and other countries have done so.”

Together, the correspondents show how the current prime minister was chosen after the U.S. gave the stamp of approval to Abdiweli’s nomination. One of the messages reads: Out of the three finalists for the premiership, the U.S. said “only one candidate meets the criteria particularly engagement with the [international community].”

In December 2013, a text message from someone the president was allegedly consulting with says: “If you need my humble view then would share but I don’t see any figure with more potentials within the Maehan candidates then Abdiweli.”

Fast forward to a year later, and Abdiweli may be replaced with a new prime minister if the president’s supporters succeed to oust him.

And after some weeks, President Hassan may submit another three finalists for the premiership to Kay and the U.S.

Text messages between Somali Muslim Brotherhood :EXCLUSIVE: LEAKED CONVERSATION BETWEEN SOMALI PRESIDENT AND FARAH SHEIKH ABDULQADIR

EDITOR’S NOTE: SOMALI AGENDA has received and verified the authenticity of series of SMS messages between Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his powerful Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir. The text messages exchanged between January 2013 and January 2014 offer a fascinating and revealing insights into the working of the Hassan Sheikh Mohamud administration and the incredible power men like Farah Sheikh Abdulqaidr wield in influencing public policy in Somalia. SOMALI AGENDA has obtained multiple collections of the SMS messages; however, due to security and safety of people involved has chosen not to publish the entire collection of the messages at this time. SOMALI AGENDA might revisit the remaining unpublished documents at a later date with the aim of enlightening and informing the Somali public how their government operates, and the way policies are formulated. Furthermore, these texts also provide insight into the roots of the current fundamental basis of political infighting between the Prime minister and the President and why the country is currently in a political gridlock. A significant portion of the SMS messages occur during the political conflict between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his former Prime Minister Farah Abdi Shirdon. Then and now, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir has been at the center of both political confrontations making the disclosures of these SMS messages significant in understanding the roots of Somalia’s political dysfunctions.

Born in a small market border town between Kenya and Ethiopia approximately 1963, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir hails from a religious family and from a very young age received his religious education. Following the collapse of the military regime of Mohamed Siyad Barre, Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir became the president of the Somali chapter of Africa Muslim Agency which was an influential charity organization supported by leading business community and governments of the Gulf countries especially Kuwait and Qatar. Farah’s involvement with the Africa Muslim Agency provided him with the crucial opportunity to cultivate ties among the powerful groups in the Arab world. These ties proved vital in 2012 when Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir engineered the political campaign of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and successfully propelled a relatively unknown man into Villa Somalia easily beating established political heavyweights such as the then incumbent President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

To say President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is indebted to Farah is an understatement. Since the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Farah Abdulqadir has personally overseen and approved nearly every critical piece of policy forwarded by the government raising allegations that Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir was the de facto president of Somalia. These allegations gained momentum during the firing of former Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in December 2013 when disagreements between the then State Minister for the Presidency Farah Abdulqadir and the Prime Minister ultimately led to the sacking of the prime minister by the parliament in a motion of no confidence engineered by Farah Abdulqadir.

The texts obtained by SOMALI AGENDA are evidence to the magnitude of power Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir holds over President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Much of the correspondence between the two shows a remarkable power structure and who is in essence in charge of the decisions. What becomes evident is that there seems to be a tendency from the President’s side to constantly update, verify, and ask for permission from Farah. It is then Farah who will give the go ahead, or disapprove of some of issues which require decision. In principle, it becomes clear that the President is unable to move or decide on issues without approval from Farah. Some might argue that this is not entirely surprising given the role Farah has played in the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, or is there any other factor that contributes to the docility of the President of the Federal Government of Somalia?

Regardless, the strange power relation between the President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Farah Abdulqadir is currently costing him a second Prime Minister and is putting the country in a political deadlock. This might explain why a minor cabinet reshuffle has become a major political crisis at a time Somalia is facing humanitarian disaster and with constant threats from Al Shahab. For President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the choice is simple: he either stays in power with Farah on his side, or the entire cabinet can fall. This is very unfortunate for the progress made in Somalia as well as denting the optimism the Somali people harbored for this administration, who are gradually coming to understand the dynamics behind the continuation of political unrest in the Somali Government: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will not continue without his strongest ally Farah Sheikh Abdulqadir.More

Somalia:” I am concerned about allegations of some MPs being asked to exchange votes for cash in the context of a potential ‘No Confidence’ motion” UN envoy.

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has expressed deep concern over the political tensions between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, which puts at risk the country’s efforts to achieve critical political targets set out in Vision 2016.

“The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia remains committed to fulfilling its mandate to assist Somalia to achieve federalism, a new constitution and elections by September 2016, as set out in the Provisional Federal Constitution and Vision 2016,” SRSG Kay said. “I call on all parties to seek a mutually satisfactory compromise that will allow Somalia’s political and security progress to continue without interruption.”

“I recognise the dedication and hard work of Members of Parliament, but I am concerned about allegations of some MPs being asked to exchange votes for cash in the context of a potential ‘No Confidence’ motion, which is a disservice to Somalia’s progress towards accountability and transparency,” he added. Somalia and Somalis deserve better.”

Mr. Kay repeated recent calls by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for political unity and continuity at the highest level of the Federal Government of Somalia, and noted that any action by any party that creates political turmoil would be reported to the UN Security Council, who will be notified that such action risks spoiling the prospect of implementing Vision 2016.

“I continue to offer the use of my good offices to seek a compromise; we are working very closely with the African Union Mission in Somalia, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the European Union, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, the United States and many others in search of a solution,” he added.

Somali police commissioner Likely died of Poisoning : Reports

                             Pres Hassan Somalia's branch of Somali Brotherhood;(dum-jadiid)Suspect

Waagacusub.net - The Somali Police Commissioner Brigadier General Mohammed Sheikh Hassan Ismail, who was rushed to Umah Hospital, right after minutes of drinking a cup of tea with his dinner at the Banadir Beach Restaurant, is likely died of poisoning, Waagacusub Media Reported on Thursday.

Families and relatives of the Commissioner insisted on that his death "was not an accidental or natural in any way , but a force must be behind his assassination" , hinting that members of the President's group of Damu Jadiid  had a controversial issue with the  fallen Police Commissioner. 

Somali Army with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took over the Umah Hospital in Abdi-Aziz neighborhood at Mogadishu at 5PM , arresting a Somali Kenyan doctor, Dr. Ibrahim Kolija and a hospital assistant, Abdulkader, who was referred the case of the fallen Police Commissioner. Somali CID has also taken a copy of the documented medical record from the hospital. 

At five afternoon, the CID blocked all the roads that are surrounded by the Hospital stopping every vehicle, patient and blocking roads in checkpoints .

About 8:30 PM, the CID  headed to  Banadir restaurant at Lido Beach Mogadishu to arrest  several people in connection with the murder, including vice chairman of  Abdi Aziz district,  and the restaurant  owner ,Gurey, who hails from the President Hassan sheikh's sub-sub-clan of   Mohammed Ade, Waisle of Abgaal Isman.

" We are shocked by the sudden death of the Commissioner Gen. Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Ismail, " said the Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. 

"On behalf of the government and the people of Somalia I send a heartfelt condolence to the family, friends and the entire people of Somalia for the death of the commissioner, he added. 

On Friday the PM nominated a committee consisting of five ministers  led by the deputy premier Ridwan Hassan Mohamed including The Health Minister Ali Mohamed Mohamud, The information Minister Mustaf Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow, The Home Security Minister Khalif Ahmed Ereg and the Agriculture Minister Abdi Ahmed Baffo. 

Sources close to Turkey and AMISOM doctors at  Digfeer hospital confirmed that a deadly poison was found in the body of the fallen commissioner but the news is yet to be told the media. 

The death of the commissioner is coming at a critical time when the president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh and his PM Abdiweli are in a dispute related to a reshuffle of the cabinet minsiters, which the PM made last week and the President called illegal. 

Over the last couple of years dozens of assassinations against very important politicians has been conducted by Damu Jadiid and Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security services  (NISS) in Somalia . 

To contact writers on this report : Ahmed Abdi at Halgan85@yahoo.com and Dahir Abdulle Alasow at dahiralasow@yahoo.com

Somalia Chief Police suddenly dies in unknown circumstances- Mogadishu became a mystery since Somali President Hassan came to Power From MPs to Police Commissioner assassination become a norm.

Somali PM has appointed 5 ministers to investigate the death of police chief. Pres Hassan Somalia's branch of Somali Brotherhood;(dum-jadiid)Suspect

Mogadishu – Somalia’s Chief of Police suddenly died today as he was rushed to Ummah private hospital in Mogadishu’s Abdulaziz district after falling ill shortly before, according to officials and witnesses.

General Mohammed Sheikh Hassan, whose position as Chief of Police was short lived after being appointed a few months ago, died in unknown circumstances after complaining of severe pain today. “He was seen by a doctor who prescribed him some medicine, thereafter he received an injection after which he passed away instantly” a witness told terror free somalia

Somali Prime Minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, in a statement offered his condolences on the death of General Hassan, who was deemed close to him and further added that he had assigned five ministers, including the Security Minister, Information Minister and the Health Minister, to investigate the circumstances surrounding his sudden death.

The death of Police Chief, General Hassan, comes a midst a growing political rift between the Somali President and Prime Minister and a challenging state of security compelled by the militant Al-Shabaab movement, who in this year alone attacked the presidential palace twice.

REAKING: Doctors treating deceased Somali Somali police commissioner setained, comm killed most through poisoning.

Muqdisho became a mystery since prez Hassan came to Power From MPs to Police Commissioner assassination become a norm

On 10/29/14 Somali police commissioner seized a container shipment of illegal weapons & military uniforms in Mogadishu...Belong to Culusow and cabdi Qaybdiid.

Doctors treating Somali police commissioner General Mohamed Hassan Sheikh who was announced dead this evening in Mogadishu Ummah hospital have been detained.


An exclusive source has told terror free somalia  that the Doctors are suspected for being behind the death of Police commissioner who was admitted to the hospital few days ago after undisclosed illness.
The source added the suspected medical personnel were taken away by Somali national security and intelligence agency officers while the medical facility was closed down.


General Mohamed Hassan took office on July this year after massive reshuffle in the Somali security agency by PM Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed following Al Shabaab militant group deadly assault on Somali Presidential palace.


General Mohamed Hassan Very Critic to Somali Muslim Brotherhood (dum jadiid Somali police commissioner Mohammed killed.most likely assassinated through poisoning. R.I.P

United Nations News Centre - Somalia at ‘critical’ juncture, UN chief says in historic visit to Mogadishu

United Nations News Centre - Somalia at ‘critical’ juncture, UN chief says in historic visit to Mogadishu

Barnaamijka shalay iyo maanta ee 21 oktober SOMSAT TV

Puntland iyo Federaalka oo 12-qodob ku heshiiyay Daawo: 13.October 2014

Somalia: Prime Minister H.E. Xaafudullaah Ugas Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed is officially visiting Puntland State of Somalia ,,Ra’iisul wasaaraha Soomaaliya oo maanta booqday Maamulka goboleedka Punt...

Somalia: Prime Minister H.E. Xaafudullaah Ugas Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed is officially visiting Puntland State of Somalia ,,Ra’iisul wasaaraha Soomaaliya oo maanta booqday Maamulka goboleedka Punt...