US President-elect Barack Obama has pledged to confront the economic crisis "head-on" immediately after taking office in January.
In his first official appearance since his election win, he said a stimulus package to boost the economy was long overdue and would be his top priority.
He pledged to create jobs and help middle class families.
"It's not going to be quick and it's not going to be easy to dig ourselves out of the hole we are in," he said.
"But America is a strong and resilient country and I know that we will succeed if we put aside partisanship and politics to work together."
The news conference at a Chicago hotel was his first since he convincingly beat Republican John McCain in Tuesday's election to become America's first black president.
Mr Obama was joined by Vice President-elect Joe Biden and some of his 17-strong team of economic advisers with whom he had earlier held talks.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
9 Dec: Deadline for states to resolve issues such as recounts or challenges
15 Dec: Electoral college electors meet in each state to formally cast their votes
6 Jan: Joint session of Congress to count electoral college votes
Before 20 Jan: Barack Obama and Joe Biden must resign from the Senate
20 Jan: Inauguration day
Transition timetable
Profile: Rahm Emanuel
Obama's top economic contenders
Obama shapes team
He promised to initiate a rescue plan to provide tax relief for those struggling to pay their bills. He said an economic stimulus package needed to be passed before or immediately after his inauguration.
The 47-year-old Democrat also said he would extend unemployment benefits and help local governments so they did not have to lay off staff.
It was a high priority, he said, to work on policies to help the stricken US car industry adjust to the economic crisis.
Mr Obama was careful not to step on the toes of the outgoing administration of President George W Bush, saying America only has one president at a time.
He made no new personnel announcements but noted calls for him to pick a treasury secretary quickly.
He stressed it was important to make the right appointment, saying: "I want to move with all deliberate haste but I want to emphasise deliberate as well as haste."
Mr Obama made reference to US labour department figures on Friday which revealed the economy had shed 240,000 jobs in October, bringing job losses so far this year to 1.2 million. The US was facing greatest economic crisis in memory, he said.
Mr Obama warned against a "knee-jerk" approach to Iran
Mr Obama was asked about a letter of congratulations on his election victory from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
It is the first time Iran has offered such wishes to an American president-elect since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Mr Obama said he would review Mr Ahmadinejad's letter and "respond appropriately".
"Iran's development of a nuclear weapon, I believe is unacceptable," the president-elect added. "Iran's support of terrorist organisations, I think is something that has to cease."
But he also said the US approach to Iran could not be done in a "knee-jerk" fashion.
'A mutt like me'
There was laughter when Mr Obama said his election night promise to find his daughters a dog for the family's move to the White House was "a major issue".
HAVE YOUR SAY I think he did not answer the important questions with a straight answer
Belinda, California, USA
Send us your commentsHe did not mention any specific breed, but said the family's preference was to adopt a dog from a shelter, "a mutt - like me", he added. Mr Obama said the pet would have to be hypoallergenic as his eldest, Malia, had an allergy.
He also added that his wife Michelle was looking at schools in Washington DC for their two children for when the family moved to the capital from Chicago next year.
There was further amusement when he asked one journalist, who had her arm in a sling, what had happened and she explained that she had injured herself while running to his election victory speech.
Earlier Mr Obama and Mr Biden met economic advisers including Clinton-era Treasury Secretary Larry Summers and his predecessor, Robert Rubin, as well as Paul Volcker, who was chairman of the Federal Reserve under presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
Google chief executive Eric Schmidt and billionaire investor Warren Buffet joined the talks.
As a treasury secretary, he is said to be considering Mr Summers, Mr Volcker, and Timothy Geithner, president of the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Mr Obama, who takes office on 20 January, was joined at Friday's news conference by his new chief-of-staff, Rahm Emanuel, who was once an adviser to President Bill Clinton.
Obama campaign strategist David Axelrod is expected to become senior White House adviser - a post previously held by Karl Rove under President George W Bush.
Another aide, Robert Gibbs, is expected to become White House press secretary.
Mr Obama is due to discuss the economy with President Bush at the White House on Monday. He will not, however, attend the G20 economic summit to be held in Washington next weekend, senior officials have said.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Monday, 6 October 2008
somalia: Ethiopia-Kenya's nightmare scenario; disintergration along ethnic lines
4 Oct 2008
by Adam Zayla, adamzayla@hotmail.com
As I was doing my usual google session in search of news on Somalia, I came across a very amusing article entitled " Why Kenya and Ethiopia ought to annex and divide Somalia" written by Donald B. Kipkorir who advocates as the title suggest the annexation of Somalia by Kenya and Ethiopia. The article is a poor patch work of misinformation and delusional grandeur. I personally feel it's important to bring Mr Kipkorir safely back to earth with a healthy dose of reality. The objective of this reply is to demonstrate how on multiple levels this deluded so-called solution to the Somali problem proposed by mr Kipkorir has no chance of ever materializing and why Kenya and Ethiopia despite having had the chance to do so never attempted to annex Somalia since the collapse of the Somali government and the disintergration of the Somali army. Prior to the collapse of the former and the disintergration of the latter, both Somali institutions for decades were Ethiopia's and Kenya's worst nightmares. Fearing Somali military power both countries even the decided to sign a joint defense-pact in the 1970s. One therefore wonders why Kenya and Ethiopia after the death of both of these Somali institutions didn't simply walk into Somalia and implemented Mr Kipkorir's brilliant plan. The reason is very simple; they didn't because of the shaky foundations both countries themselves are build on. Kenya and Ethiopia despite having governments and a unlimited flow of western aid continue to walk on thin ice when it comes to their disgruntled ethnic groups and any policy that's not decided or supported by Washington has a zero percent chance of succeeding
Ethiopia-Kenya's nightmare scenario; disintergration along ethnic lines
A civil war similar to what happened in Somalia in the early 90's in either Kenya or Ethiopia will be the end of both countries. Somalia had it's civil war - and is currently experiencing turmoil courtesy of the United States - but it's still not the end of Somalia. Even if all the many peacefull Somali regions in Somalia today became their own independent states, somewhere down the line when stability arrives to other sections of the country (which happened during the ICU period) it wouldn't take long before the union of the now independent and internationally recognised break away countries of old Somalia were re-intergrated in a New Somalia especially when all the previous minor indifferences and mistakes of the past were settled. But for Kenya and Ethiopia a civil war resulting in all these different countries (currently held prison due to colonial interference) breaking free will mean they will never EVER return to their previous status i.e part of either Kenya or Ethiopia. Eritrea is a good example of this; Ethiopia brutally annexed Eritrea in the 1960s and had decades to provide the Eritrean people with positive signs of development but because of the arrogance and superiority complex of the Ethiopian regime the Eritreans saw their situation and standard of living going backwards and so they decided to fight for their well deserved right for self determination. Today's Eritrea regardless what one might say of it's government is a progressing country with a young and optimistic population that is doing much better without Ethiopia and because of this will never EVER even entertain the thought of uniting with Ethiopia. Somalia on the other hand; if it's peacefull regions such as Puntland, Somaliland and other states were to become their own countries (as i noted before) the prospect of a new Union is far higher here than a new union for a disintergrated and collapsed Kenya or Ethiopia. Many of the ministers of these Somali States were part of the Pan-Somalist regimes of Somalia and therefore still have a soft spot for the Greater Somalia concept and same goes for their populations.
Let's start with Ethiopia a country full of ethnic armies with secessionist aspirations and large parts of the country have basically become war zones. In their quest to defeat the military state of Ethiopia these liberation armies represent legitimate oppressed countries such as Oromia, Sidamo, the Afar and Ogaden regions that are currently locked up in the backwards prison called Ethiopia. These countries in a new Ethiopian civil war would follow the same path as Eritrea and would be gone forever once the prison doors are opened - either voluntarily or through force. Kenya has it's own inter-ethnic problems which made headlines world wide. Innocent people burned in churches, thousands of people killed and hacked to death, 200 thousand people displaced. One wonders how such unstable countries could ever solve Somalia's problems when there own problems are just as severe if not worse. Somalia has nothing to lose, all that could go wrong, went wrong and still Somalia has not and will not after a decade of Anarchy suffer the same destiny as a future Anarchy Kenya or an Anarchy Ethiopia would suffer - which could happen anytime of the year. Their many disgruntled and marginalised ethnic groups currently waging war is evidence of how fast the scenario of widespread Anarchy in both Kenya and Ethiopia could materialize into reality once the wealthy wells of the West have dried up.
Potential reality or simply a Pipedream?
This ridiculous article that was written by mr Donald Kipkorir - who is trying very hard to emulate his western masters by attempting to walk in shoes to big for him - gives the impression that both Ethiopia and Kenya have the necessary resources to occupy Somalia. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both are extremely poor countries. Even with western support occuppying Somalia is a pipe dream. Half of Ethiopia's current invading army that was nurtured and funded by the United States is burried in Somali soil and with all it's US military hardware it still cannot controll a few neighbourhoods in Mogadishu let alone Somalia. The Islamist army on the other hand is currently reigning supreme in Southern Somalia and is becoming stronger as each day passes by. How could the small and poorly equipped Kenyan army ever succeed where the heavily western backed Ethiopian army failed? Then you have Puntland and Somaliland who have their own military forces equipped with excellent Soviet military hardware such as Tanks and anti-aircraft from the now disintergrated military of Somalia, with a combined army size of 40-50 thousand men. How could Kenya that can't even cope with the Ethiopian military raids in Moyale, the Shiftas in the Northeastern region ever secure Somalia? How could Kenya that could not protect it's citizens from brutal hacking sprees during the election crisis and today still cannot protect hard working Kenyan merchants from the Munguki Mafia that is roaming free - ever secure a country like Somalia? This proposed annexation of Somalia could backfire terribly and see both Kenya and Ethiopia completely disintergrate and parts of it's territory swallowed up by Somalia. Another interesting question regarding Kenya is; what would the reaction be of high ranking Somali officers in the Kenyan army? Would Kenya's minister of defense who himself is a Somali tolerate such a suicide mission? Kenya was saved many times over the last decades from a horrible civil war due to the actions of a 'loyal' Somali officer case in point being; Major General Mahmoud saving Kenyan President moi from a coup d'tat in the 1980s. This loyality would disappear instantly if Mr Kipkorir's plan was actually realised and this loss of Somali loyalty could have severe consequences to Kenya's future as a country.
What do Kenya or Ethiopia have to offer to Somalia economically?
Now that the military aspect of the proposed annexation has been refuted and utterly destroyed, let's just put that aside and just play along with mr Kipkorir's pipe dream and imagine that both Kenya and Ethiopia have successfully annexed Somalia. Are Ethiopia and Kenya capable of feeding the population of Somalia and have they found a solution for their own immense food shortages? Facts on the ground look grim and both Ethiopia and Kenya are not self sufficient countries but rely heavily on foreign aid and subsidies from wealthy western countries to feed their populations and in Kenya's case most of the meat and agricultural products consumed there comes from Somalia. Somali livestock projection to Kenya saw an increase of 600 percent after the collapse of Kenya's domestic livestock market( so who's feeding who?). In the critically acclaimed economic paper entitled Somalia After State Collapse it is highlighted how Somalia's nomadic population fared much better than Kenya's nomadic population during periods of drought. Kenya's herders saw more then half of their livestock perish in drought. Again how could any sane person even dare to suggest Kenya which cannot support it's own nomadic and urban citizens - to annex it's neighbour Somalia that actually manages to take care of it's own population? Shouldn't Mr Kipkorir be more concerned with the fact that Kenya with all it's patron Western donors and with no serious war raging is still failing to provide for the nomadic Masai population, the Turkana population, the Somali population, the Borana population and the Kalenjin population within it's borders?
Do both countries have anything to offer to the citizens of Somalia and is the standard of living in Kenya and Ethiopia higher than that of Somalia? facts on the ground again say a firm NO!; Somalia has a higher GDP per capita than Ethiopia. In the aforementioned paper, Somalia After State Collapse, Somalia is compared to 42 African countries where the economists eventually come to the conclusion that Somalia has made greater progress than most African countries with governments in the last decade and it's standard of living generally improved Somalia is the only country in East Africa to have increased it's life expectancy (only 3 countries in Africa managed to do this). Off all the countries in the Horn of Africa Somalia has the most universities in the top 100 of Africa. Somalia has the lowest HIV rate in Sub Saharan Africa which stands in stark contrast to Kenya and Ethiopia who are both suffering from AIDS epedemics. Somalia is far ahead of Kenya and Ethiopia when it comes to Telecommunications. Ethiopia a nation of 80 million people only has 100 thousand internet subscribers compared to the 10 million strong Somalia that has 500 thousand internet subscribers.[18] In Somalia it only takes three days to get a landline installed compared to Kenya where this process can take years.
But what about the refugees fleeing Somalia and it's impact on Kenya? well they have no other choice due to the wars instigated by western powers securing their own personal interests by arming warlords. These refugees return as soon as stability arrives in the regions they hail from as we have seen with the return of Somalis to stable regions such as Somaliland and Puntland and the Islamist take over in 2006 which saw a large influx of both expats and Somalis internally displaced during the 1990s returning to the capital. The current Islamist advance that's crippling the Ethiopian army and as a result directly frustrating the United States Africa Command plans on Somalia means it will take some time before stability resembling the brief period of ICU rule in 2006 returns and therefore people will continue to flee and southern Somalia will remain a hotspot. But Kenya has nothing to complain about; these same refugees are fueling the Kenyan economy. Somalis from Somalia have turned the previous slum called Eastleigh into a wealthy commercial center in Nairobi that according to experts is becoming Kenya's biggest entrepot for commerce and trade.
Conclusion
Kenya and Ethiopia have neither the military capability nor the economic self sufficiency to occupy or annex Somalia hence the whole concept being a pipedream. Kenya and Ethiopia face inter-ethnic strife that when fueled by a third party could turn into a ugly full blown civil war that could see both countries go the way of Yugoslavia or the more recent example being; the Soviet Union. With most of East Africa today being dependent on Somali merchants it's not hard to put two and two together and process who this third party might be. Kenya and Ethiopia in many sectors perform poorly compared to Somalia and policies that could see progress in these sectors and uplift the living standards of the average citizens of Kenya and Ethiopia are legitimate subjects Mr Kipkorir should write about.
The following popular saying is a very fitting end to this article: "Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house." originalpublish by ayyaantuun
by Adam Zayla, adamzayla@hotmail.com
As I was doing my usual google session in search of news on Somalia, I came across a very amusing article entitled " Why Kenya and Ethiopia ought to annex and divide Somalia" written by Donald B. Kipkorir who advocates as the title suggest the annexation of Somalia by Kenya and Ethiopia. The article is a poor patch work of misinformation and delusional grandeur. I personally feel it's important to bring Mr Kipkorir safely back to earth with a healthy dose of reality. The objective of this reply is to demonstrate how on multiple levels this deluded so-called solution to the Somali problem proposed by mr Kipkorir has no chance of ever materializing and why Kenya and Ethiopia despite having had the chance to do so never attempted to annex Somalia since the collapse of the Somali government and the disintergration of the Somali army. Prior to the collapse of the former and the disintergration of the latter, both Somali institutions for decades were Ethiopia's and Kenya's worst nightmares. Fearing Somali military power both countries even the decided to sign a joint defense-pact in the 1970s. One therefore wonders why Kenya and Ethiopia after the death of both of these Somali institutions didn't simply walk into Somalia and implemented Mr Kipkorir's brilliant plan. The reason is very simple; they didn't because of the shaky foundations both countries themselves are build on. Kenya and Ethiopia despite having governments and a unlimited flow of western aid continue to walk on thin ice when it comes to their disgruntled ethnic groups and any policy that's not decided or supported by Washington has a zero percent chance of succeeding
Ethiopia-Kenya's nightmare scenario; disintergration along ethnic lines
A civil war similar to what happened in Somalia in the early 90's in either Kenya or Ethiopia will be the end of both countries. Somalia had it's civil war - and is currently experiencing turmoil courtesy of the United States - but it's still not the end of Somalia. Even if all the many peacefull Somali regions in Somalia today became their own independent states, somewhere down the line when stability arrives to other sections of the country (which happened during the ICU period) it wouldn't take long before the union of the now independent and internationally recognised break away countries of old Somalia were re-intergrated in a New Somalia especially when all the previous minor indifferences and mistakes of the past were settled. But for Kenya and Ethiopia a civil war resulting in all these different countries (currently held prison due to colonial interference) breaking free will mean they will never EVER return to their previous status i.e part of either Kenya or Ethiopia. Eritrea is a good example of this; Ethiopia brutally annexed Eritrea in the 1960s and had decades to provide the Eritrean people with positive signs of development but because of the arrogance and superiority complex of the Ethiopian regime the Eritreans saw their situation and standard of living going backwards and so they decided to fight for their well deserved right for self determination. Today's Eritrea regardless what one might say of it's government is a progressing country with a young and optimistic population that is doing much better without Ethiopia and because of this will never EVER even entertain the thought of uniting with Ethiopia. Somalia on the other hand; if it's peacefull regions such as Puntland, Somaliland and other states were to become their own countries (as i noted before) the prospect of a new Union is far higher here than a new union for a disintergrated and collapsed Kenya or Ethiopia. Many of the ministers of these Somali States were part of the Pan-Somalist regimes of Somalia and therefore still have a soft spot for the Greater Somalia concept and same goes for their populations.
Let's start with Ethiopia a country full of ethnic armies with secessionist aspirations and large parts of the country have basically become war zones. In their quest to defeat the military state of Ethiopia these liberation armies represent legitimate oppressed countries such as Oromia, Sidamo, the Afar and Ogaden regions that are currently locked up in the backwards prison called Ethiopia. These countries in a new Ethiopian civil war would follow the same path as Eritrea and would be gone forever once the prison doors are opened - either voluntarily or through force. Kenya has it's own inter-ethnic problems which made headlines world wide. Innocent people burned in churches, thousands of people killed and hacked to death, 200 thousand people displaced. One wonders how such unstable countries could ever solve Somalia's problems when there own problems are just as severe if not worse. Somalia has nothing to lose, all that could go wrong, went wrong and still Somalia has not and will not after a decade of Anarchy suffer the same destiny as a future Anarchy Kenya or an Anarchy Ethiopia would suffer - which could happen anytime of the year. Their many disgruntled and marginalised ethnic groups currently waging war is evidence of how fast the scenario of widespread Anarchy in both Kenya and Ethiopia could materialize into reality once the wealthy wells of the West have dried up.
Potential reality or simply a Pipedream?
This ridiculous article that was written by mr Donald Kipkorir - who is trying very hard to emulate his western masters by attempting to walk in shoes to big for him - gives the impression that both Ethiopia and Kenya have the necessary resources to occupy Somalia. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both are extremely poor countries. Even with western support occuppying Somalia is a pipe dream. Half of Ethiopia's current invading army that was nurtured and funded by the United States is burried in Somali soil and with all it's US military hardware it still cannot controll a few neighbourhoods in Mogadishu let alone Somalia. The Islamist army on the other hand is currently reigning supreme in Southern Somalia and is becoming stronger as each day passes by. How could the small and poorly equipped Kenyan army ever succeed where the heavily western backed Ethiopian army failed? Then you have Puntland and Somaliland who have their own military forces equipped with excellent Soviet military hardware such as Tanks and anti-aircraft from the now disintergrated military of Somalia, with a combined army size of 40-50 thousand men. How could Kenya that can't even cope with the Ethiopian military raids in Moyale, the Shiftas in the Northeastern region ever secure Somalia? How could Kenya that could not protect it's citizens from brutal hacking sprees during the election crisis and today still cannot protect hard working Kenyan merchants from the Munguki Mafia that is roaming free - ever secure a country like Somalia? This proposed annexation of Somalia could backfire terribly and see both Kenya and Ethiopia completely disintergrate and parts of it's territory swallowed up by Somalia. Another interesting question regarding Kenya is; what would the reaction be of high ranking Somali officers in the Kenyan army? Would Kenya's minister of defense who himself is a Somali tolerate such a suicide mission? Kenya was saved many times over the last decades from a horrible civil war due to the actions of a 'loyal' Somali officer case in point being; Major General Mahmoud saving Kenyan President moi from a coup d'tat in the 1980s. This loyality would disappear instantly if Mr Kipkorir's plan was actually realised and this loss of Somali loyalty could have severe consequences to Kenya's future as a country.
What do Kenya or Ethiopia have to offer to Somalia economically?
Now that the military aspect of the proposed annexation has been refuted and utterly destroyed, let's just put that aside and just play along with mr Kipkorir's pipe dream and imagine that both Kenya and Ethiopia have successfully annexed Somalia. Are Ethiopia and Kenya capable of feeding the population of Somalia and have they found a solution for their own immense food shortages? Facts on the ground look grim and both Ethiopia and Kenya are not self sufficient countries but rely heavily on foreign aid and subsidies from wealthy western countries to feed their populations and in Kenya's case most of the meat and agricultural products consumed there comes from Somalia. Somali livestock projection to Kenya saw an increase of 600 percent after the collapse of Kenya's domestic livestock market( so who's feeding who?). In the critically acclaimed economic paper entitled Somalia After State Collapse it is highlighted how Somalia's nomadic population fared much better than Kenya's nomadic population during periods of drought. Kenya's herders saw more then half of their livestock perish in drought. Again how could any sane person even dare to suggest Kenya which cannot support it's own nomadic and urban citizens - to annex it's neighbour Somalia that actually manages to take care of it's own population? Shouldn't Mr Kipkorir be more concerned with the fact that Kenya with all it's patron Western donors and with no serious war raging is still failing to provide for the nomadic Masai population, the Turkana population, the Somali population, the Borana population and the Kalenjin population within it's borders?
Do both countries have anything to offer to the citizens of Somalia and is the standard of living in Kenya and Ethiopia higher than that of Somalia? facts on the ground again say a firm NO!; Somalia has a higher GDP per capita than Ethiopia. In the aforementioned paper, Somalia After State Collapse, Somalia is compared to 42 African countries where the economists eventually come to the conclusion that Somalia has made greater progress than most African countries with governments in the last decade and it's standard of living generally improved Somalia is the only country in East Africa to have increased it's life expectancy (only 3 countries in Africa managed to do this). Off all the countries in the Horn of Africa Somalia has the most universities in the top 100 of Africa. Somalia has the lowest HIV rate in Sub Saharan Africa which stands in stark contrast to Kenya and Ethiopia who are both suffering from AIDS epedemics. Somalia is far ahead of Kenya and Ethiopia when it comes to Telecommunications. Ethiopia a nation of 80 million people only has 100 thousand internet subscribers compared to the 10 million strong Somalia that has 500 thousand internet subscribers.[18] In Somalia it only takes three days to get a landline installed compared to Kenya where this process can take years.
But what about the refugees fleeing Somalia and it's impact on Kenya? well they have no other choice due to the wars instigated by western powers securing their own personal interests by arming warlords. These refugees return as soon as stability arrives in the regions they hail from as we have seen with the return of Somalis to stable regions such as Somaliland and Puntland and the Islamist take over in 2006 which saw a large influx of both expats and Somalis internally displaced during the 1990s returning to the capital. The current Islamist advance that's crippling the Ethiopian army and as a result directly frustrating the United States Africa Command plans on Somalia means it will take some time before stability resembling the brief period of ICU rule in 2006 returns and therefore people will continue to flee and southern Somalia will remain a hotspot. But Kenya has nothing to complain about; these same refugees are fueling the Kenyan economy. Somalis from Somalia have turned the previous slum called Eastleigh into a wealthy commercial center in Nairobi that according to experts is becoming Kenya's biggest entrepot for commerce and trade.
Conclusion
Kenya and Ethiopia have neither the military capability nor the economic self sufficiency to occupy or annex Somalia hence the whole concept being a pipedream. Kenya and Ethiopia face inter-ethnic strife that when fueled by a third party could turn into a ugly full blown civil war that could see both countries go the way of Yugoslavia or the more recent example being; the Soviet Union. With most of East Africa today being dependent on Somali merchants it's not hard to put two and two together and process who this third party might be. Kenya and Ethiopia in many sectors perform poorly compared to Somalia and policies that could see progress in these sectors and uplift the living standards of the average citizens of Kenya and Ethiopia are legitimate subjects Mr Kipkorir should write about.
The following popular saying is a very fitting end to this article: "Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house." originalpublish by ayyaantuun
Monday, 8 September 2008
somalia- Ethiopia reportedly admits groups aiding Somali govt
The Ethiopian government has said it has killed a foreign leader supporting Somali opposition groups in Somalia.
Ethiopian TV, ETV, said Ethiopian troops in Somalia killed a senior foreign national who supports Somali opposition groups.
The Ethiopian government said the foreigner, who supports the Somali opposition, is from Nigeria, and is called Sa'ad Muhammad. The Nigerian was killed in Berdaale, Bay Region.
The Ethiopian government said the operation was carried out to restore security in Somalia, adding that groups opposed to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia are still powerful.
An ETV reporter in Somalia said Ethiopian troops will crush all groups opposed to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG]. source mareeg
Ethiopian TV, ETV, said Ethiopian troops in Somalia killed a senior foreign national who supports Somali opposition groups.
The Ethiopian government said the foreigner, who supports the Somali opposition, is from Nigeria, and is called Sa'ad Muhammad. The Nigerian was killed in Berdaale, Bay Region.
The Ethiopian government said the operation was carried out to restore security in Somalia, adding that groups opposed to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia are still powerful.
An ETV reporter in Somalia said Ethiopian troops will crush all groups opposed to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG]. source mareeg
Sunday, 7 September 2008
somalia- Iran threatens to Puntland if its ship is extradited to US
Mr. Hassan al-Nouri and Minister of Minerals and Petroleum of the Government of Puntland in Somalia to the regional American Navy in Djibouti asked them to surrender one of the hijacked Iranian ships to the pirates, which it accuses carrying military equipment and weapons variety, the regional official said in a telephone conversation with «Mareeg online» that about one hundred combatants Somalis in the region «Il» marine vessel, after the international waters in the Indian Ocean immediately after his arrival to the region to the Truth.
The immediate improvement is that belongs to the tribe pirates in this region a number of clan elders to solve the problem before it becomes excessive and disaster, and said «will return to his country« Il »because Preparations are in full swing to receive the ship's crew and its cargo».
He added that «all arrangements ready to receive the ship at sea or on the beach area and await approval by the leaders of the pirates».
According to press sources and security in Puntland that the Iranian Ministry of Defense threatened to use mine water, thumping big bombs on the territory of north-east Somalia if the authorities provided the north-east Somalia information from one of its vessels to U.S. forces, and warned of the consequences of approaching the vessel to enter the political and security differences existing between them and Washington.
The Tehran government called in a letter addressed to the President of Puntland, General Adde Musa Hersi to release the vessels and crew Iranian abducted from the Gulf of Aden, currently detained in the «Il» which is considered one of the biggest bases of Somali militias who organized attacks against foreign ships, formerly the region center For local fishermen.
On the other hand expressed the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Somalia, Ahmedou Ould Abdallah was disturbed due to a rise of acts of piracy on the coast of Somalia and its impact on stability in the region.
It is noteworthy that the pirates are currently detained more than 10 vessels with local authorities indicate that trade faces many obstacles, especially in the north of the country.
, The pirates threatened to kill French citizens unless the release of six fellow prisoners in Paris after a wild chase freely and carried out in the French town of Alcolmandos «Graad» last April, after the short notice of payment of ransom and the release yacht «Le Pen» The French hostages, and regained French half of ransom amounting to two million dollars in the process of rebuttal.
He threatened Al-Hussein - one of the pirates to kill the two hostages «if their demands are not respected source Mareeg
Saturday, 6 September 2008
Troops dissolved after Islamists seizure
Mareeg.com: WALAWEYN
The administration of Walaweyn district of lower Shabelle region has suspended the troops of the town after alshabab fighters have seized the town from the regional forces on Friday officials said.
The officials of the administration have also discharged the prisoners in the running detention centers as well they brought to end still the extortion money they used to take from the vehicles.
The residents of the region have expressed thankfulness on the release of the inmates.
The town is now under Alshabab control although it’s yet unknown whether they will maintain their presence in the town.
The Somali government could not be reached for comment.
Fighting in the Horn of Africa country killed some 6,500 civilians last year in Mogadishu alone and more than 1 million Somalis have fled their homes as a result of the insurgency, most of which has been centred in the capital.
mareeg Media Network
mareeg.com Media Network - Source of Somalia
The administration of Walaweyn district of lower Shabelle region has suspended the troops of the town after alshabab fighters have seized the town from the regional forces on Friday officials said.
The officials of the administration have also discharged the prisoners in the running detention centers as well they brought to end still the extortion money they used to take from the vehicles.
The residents of the region have expressed thankfulness on the release of the inmates.
The town is now under Alshabab control although it’s yet unknown whether they will maintain their presence in the town.
The Somali government could not be reached for comment.
Fighting in the Horn of Africa country killed some 6,500 civilians last year in Mogadishu alone and more than 1 million Somalis have fled their homes as a result of the insurgency, most of which has been centred in the capital.
mareeg Media Network
mareeg.com Media Network - Source of Somalia
Thursday, 4 September 2008
Somali children prevented from scholarship by soldiers
A three-day protest against insecurity and attacks targeting educational institutions in Mogadishu has shut down most schools and left thousands of children out of class, locals said.
"Almost 90 per cent of primary and secondary schools in Mogadishu are participating in the strike," said Abdulkadir Umar Roble, spokesman for the Education Fraternity, an umbrella organization of education networks in the city, which organized the protest.
Deliberate attacks and targeting of schools were the main reasons for the strike, Roble told Mareeg on 3 September. "In this year alone, six schools have been attacked, resulting in injuries to six students and two teachers," he said.
Many schools in the city are totally destroyed and many students are no longer going to school. "We are losing a lot of children from classes because parents no longer feel their children will be safe," he added.
A local civil society activist told Mareeg online the education system in the capital was "almost broke".
"For some strange reason they seem to relish targeting schools," he said, adding that this trend had forced many educators to close their schools and send the children home. "In the last two years, at least two dozen schools have either been destroyed or closed due to the insecurity."
Roble accused government forces of attacking two schools last week, Imam Shaafi and SYL. "Five students and two teachers were injured in the attacks," he said.
"These attacks are badly undermining an already weak education sector," said the civil society activist. "Many in the education sector have worked hard over the last 18 years to restore education, but that is being undermined by the volatile situation."
Abdi Haji Gobdon, the government spokesman, told Mareeg the government did not condone "entering or attacking" educational institutions.
"The government is very concerned about these incidents and will do everything in its power to deal very harshly with the perpetrators," he said.
After the collapse of Somalia's central government in 1991, schools and universities were destroyed as the city was torn apart by militia. But private schools have been gradually re-established over the past few years.
"In the past 18 years we have not experienced these kinds of attacks on schools," said Roble.
Organisers of the school strike said they wanted to show the public and the government that "these targeted attacks must stop". They appealed to the government to deal with the attackers and called on the opposition to cease mounting attacks on government positions near schools.
Roble urged the international community to support his group "and provide both moral and material support at this critical time".
To contact the reporter on this story: A warsame in Moadishu via Mareeg at Chief editor A warsame, for more visit http://www.mareeg.com
"Almost 90 per cent of primary and secondary schools in Mogadishu are participating in the strike," said Abdulkadir Umar Roble, spokesman for the Education Fraternity, an umbrella organization of education networks in the city, which organized the protest.
Deliberate attacks and targeting of schools were the main reasons for the strike, Roble told Mareeg on 3 September. "In this year alone, six schools have been attacked, resulting in injuries to six students and two teachers," he said.
Many schools in the city are totally destroyed and many students are no longer going to school. "We are losing a lot of children from classes because parents no longer feel their children will be safe," he added.
A local civil society activist told Mareeg online the education system in the capital was "almost broke".
"For some strange reason they seem to relish targeting schools," he said, adding that this trend had forced many educators to close their schools and send the children home. "In the last two years, at least two dozen schools have either been destroyed or closed due to the insecurity."
Roble accused government forces of attacking two schools last week, Imam Shaafi and SYL. "Five students and two teachers were injured in the attacks," he said.
"These attacks are badly undermining an already weak education sector," said the civil society activist. "Many in the education sector have worked hard over the last 18 years to restore education, but that is being undermined by the volatile situation."
Abdi Haji Gobdon, the government spokesman, told Mareeg the government did not condone "entering or attacking" educational institutions.
"The government is very concerned about these incidents and will do everything in its power to deal very harshly with the perpetrators," he said.
After the collapse of Somalia's central government in 1991, schools and universities were destroyed as the city was torn apart by militia. But private schools have been gradually re-established over the past few years.
"In the past 18 years we have not experienced these kinds of attacks on schools," said Roble.
Organisers of the school strike said they wanted to show the public and the government that "these targeted attacks must stop". They appealed to the government to deal with the attackers and called on the opposition to cease mounting attacks on government positions near schools.
Roble urged the international community to support his group "and provide both moral and material support at this critical time".
To contact the reporter on this story: A warsame in Moadishu via Mareeg at Chief editor A warsame, for more visit http://www.mareeg.com
Security fears close Yemen Embassy in Mogadishu
The Yemen Embassy in the Somali capital has been closed temporarily due to a security threat, an embassy spokeswoman said Thursday.
The embassy was shut down suddenly at 11.40 Pm. Wednesday after several mortars landed on the embassy's building during deadly fighting between Somali Government troops and islamist fighters.
All the staff were told to leave the embassy, the spokesman who declined to reveal his name told Mareeg.
''There is a security threat to the embassy, so we will be closed until further notice while we reassess our security posture,'' He said in a telephone interview.
Several eyewitnesses told Mareeg English service that quite a few of mortars aimed at the presidential fortress has been hit in the Yemeni embassy on Wednesday when the islamists fought with Somali troops.
The embassy some rather more staff. Only some security guards are still working inside the embassy.
It is not certain when the embassy, located in along the presidential palace where mortars fired by the islamists is beleaguered, will reopen after the spokesman said.
Somali Government, when contacted, said they were not aware of any security threat that would force the embassy to shut down.
Yemeni embassy is one of small numbers of embassies those don't perform their consulate work as intended the for security reasons.
To contact the reporter on this story: Abdi Guled in Moadishu via Mareeg at Abdi Guled
The embassy was shut down suddenly at 11.40 Pm. Wednesday after several mortars landed on the embassy's building during deadly fighting between Somali Government troops and islamist fighters.
All the staff were told to leave the embassy, the spokesman who declined to reveal his name told Mareeg.
''There is a security threat to the embassy, so we will be closed until further notice while we reassess our security posture,'' He said in a telephone interview.
Several eyewitnesses told Mareeg English service that quite a few of mortars aimed at the presidential fortress has been hit in the Yemeni embassy on Wednesday when the islamists fought with Somali troops.
The embassy some rather more staff. Only some security guards are still working inside the embassy.
It is not certain when the embassy, located in along the presidential palace where mortars fired by the islamists is beleaguered, will reopen after the spokesman said.
Somali Government, when contacted, said they were not aware of any security threat that would force the embassy to shut down.
Yemeni embassy is one of small numbers of embassies those don't perform their consulate work as intended the for security reasons.
To contact the reporter on this story: Abdi Guled in Moadishu via Mareeg at Abdi Guled
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
Somali TFG says it will recapture Kismayo, the strategic southern port town
The Somali government on Tuesday says it will recapture Kismayo, the strategic southern port town, from the Al-Shabaab Islamist fighters who seized it last month.
"We will return Kismayo in government hands and we will form anall-inclusive administration for it soon," Abdiresak Ashkir Abdi, Minister for Reconciliation, told reporters in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Fighters of the Al-Shabaab group last month seized control of the strategic city of Kismayu after three days of fierce fighting with local clan militia that had been controlling the town for nearly a year.
Nearly 70 were killed in the fighting that also left more than 150 others wounded.
Kismayu, 500 km south of Mogadishu, is the provincial capital of Lower Jubba region in the south of Somalia and is the third largest city in the country. It has an airport and a port that serves the southern part of the country and as far as northeastern part of neighboring Kenya.
Speaking at news conference in Mogadishu, the minister said that the capture of Kismayu is against the reconciliation efforts by the Somali transitional government and a break of the ceasefire agreement with a faction of the Somali opposition.
"We will seek the help of even other countries to get them (Al-Shabaab) out of the city as soon as possible and we strongly condemn their occupation of Kismayu," Abdi said.
The Al-Shabaab Islamist movement has been opposed to the agreement signed between the transitional government and a faction of the opposition coalition, the Alliance for the Reliberation of Somalia (ARS) in Djibouti in June.
The group is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization and its leaders are wanted by the United States for links with terrorism.
Source: Xinhua, Sept 02, 2008
somalia - Alqaida member calls for Jihadists to come in Somalia
In an Internet broadcast, Salah Ali Salah, aka Al Nabhani, one of the wanted terrorists on the US list of terror suspects, has called on all the mujahidin from all over the world to take part in the fighting in Somalia.
Salah also spoke on the current situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, in the audiovisual broadcast which lasted for some 28 minutes.
"Hi Muslims, Somalia is the frontline we can oust the enemy of Allah so we have to come here to defeat the enemy of Islam" Saleh said in the less minutes lasted disk on the internet.
Alqaida members have been viewing in the latest months Somalia as "forefront of islamists fighters.
In June, al Qaeda released a video seeking to undermine a UN-brokered peace deal that had recently been reached between the Somali transitional government and some opposition factions. Moderates rejected the call to violence, but more radical and militant groups, such as the notorious Shabab, stepped up their attacks, including toward UN personnel. They had not affirmed the connection with al Qaeda, however -- until now at least. On the heels of another peace deal -- the timing likely is not coincidental -- Shabab is proclaiming its allegiance to bin Laden.
"We are negotiating how we can unite into one," said Muktar Robow, a top military commander of Shabab, which the U.S. State Department designated a terrorist organization this year. "We will take our orders from Sheik Osama bin Laden because we are his students."
A senior U.S. official tempered Shabab's enthusiastic affirmation, which could be as much a tactic of provocative rhetoric as it is an indication of a stronger relationship between the two terrorist organizations.
U.S. Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger acknowledged growing links between Shabab and Al Qaeda, but said ties remained in the early stages.
"There are indications of a fairly close Shabab-Al Qaeda connection, though it's not clear to what extent they've been operationalized," he said. "Is Shabab taking orders from Al Qaeda? I would say no. They are still running their own show."
Even Shabab "running their own show," of course, still poses a threat to Somalia's fragile hopes for stability. To contact the reporter on this story: Liiban Osman in Moadishu via Mareeg at Liban Osman Puntland Somalia
Salah also spoke on the current situation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, in the audiovisual broadcast which lasted for some 28 minutes.
"Hi Muslims, Somalia is the frontline we can oust the enemy of Allah so we have to come here to defeat the enemy of Islam" Saleh said in the less minutes lasted disk on the internet.
Alqaida members have been viewing in the latest months Somalia as "forefront of islamists fighters.
In June, al Qaeda released a video seeking to undermine a UN-brokered peace deal that had recently been reached between the Somali transitional government and some opposition factions. Moderates rejected the call to violence, but more radical and militant groups, such as the notorious Shabab, stepped up their attacks, including toward UN personnel. They had not affirmed the connection with al Qaeda, however -- until now at least. On the heels of another peace deal -- the timing likely is not coincidental -- Shabab is proclaiming its allegiance to bin Laden.
"We are negotiating how we can unite into one," said Muktar Robow, a top military commander of Shabab, which the U.S. State Department designated a terrorist organization this year. "We will take our orders from Sheik Osama bin Laden because we are his students."
A senior U.S. official tempered Shabab's enthusiastic affirmation, which could be as much a tactic of provocative rhetoric as it is an indication of a stronger relationship between the two terrorist organizations.
U.S. Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger acknowledged growing links between Shabab and Al Qaeda, but said ties remained in the early stages.
"There are indications of a fairly close Shabab-Al Qaeda connection, though it's not clear to what extent they've been operationalized," he said. "Is Shabab taking orders from Al Qaeda? I would say no. They are still running their own show."
Even Shabab "running their own show," of course, still poses a threat to Somalia's fragile hopes for stability. To contact the reporter on this story: Liiban Osman in Moadishu via Mareeg at Liban Osman Puntland Somalia
South African Gov repositions Somali refugees
South African Government has completed the relocation of some 250 families of Somali refugees from Fishhoak village in Southern Cape Town to Bluewater camp in the northwest to reduce the xenophobia fear and the bad life in that camps.
The relocation, which ended over the weekend, was carried out by the interior ministry It included the movement of 250 refugees by road.
"We gave priority to vulnerable people in need of protection - including children and families headed by women," says official in the interior ministry.
The fishhoak, which has seen a massive influx of refugees, mainly from Somalia, has experienced uncleaness and life threaten by SoutH Africans- doubled its original capacity after news refugees have started arriving in it.
"The ongoing repatriation of 250 Somali refugees from Fishhoak to Bluewater this year means that Bluewater is now less crowded and able to take in some of the refugees from Fishhoak officials at South African interior ministry said.
One of the relocated Somali refugees Abdullahi Sheikh Farah told Mareeg online that the new camp is healthier and lesscrowded than Bluewater camp.
The new relocation comes as the country's is at ice-cold time that can threaten the refugees' lives those at unoccupied locations.
On last month of May 2008 additional Somalis have lost lives and property in xenophobia attack against the foreigners in South Africa To contact the reporter on this story: A warsame in Moadishu via Mareeg at info@mareeg.com
The relocation, which ended over the weekend, was carried out by the interior ministry It included the movement of 250 refugees by road.
"We gave priority to vulnerable people in need of protection - including children and families headed by women," says official in the interior ministry.
The fishhoak, which has seen a massive influx of refugees, mainly from Somalia, has experienced uncleaness and life threaten by SoutH Africans- doubled its original capacity after news refugees have started arriving in it.
"The ongoing repatriation of 250 Somali refugees from Fishhoak to Bluewater this year means that Bluewater is now less crowded and able to take in some of the refugees from Fishhoak officials at South African interior ministry said.
One of the relocated Somali refugees Abdullahi Sheikh Farah told Mareeg online that the new camp is healthier and lesscrowded than Bluewater camp.
The new relocation comes as the country's is at ice-cold time that can threaten the refugees' lives those at unoccupied locations.
On last month of May 2008 additional Somalis have lost lives and property in xenophobia attack against the foreigners in South Africa To contact the reporter on this story: A warsame in Moadishu via Mareeg at info@mareeg.com
Monday, 25 August 2008
Somali leaders' feud causing "serious complications" - Ethiopia
The peace process in Somalia continues to face serious complications from developments which are causing friends of Somalia serious unhappiness, almost to the point of losing hope.
The latest difficulties relate to misunderstandings within the TFG [Transitional Federal Government], particularly between the president and the prime minister.
Regrettably, this is taking place at a time when, from all indications, there were reasons for optimism. First of all, the Djibouti [peace] process has continued to move forward. Following the Djibouti Agreement of 9 June [2008], a meeting took place last weekend in Djibouti and the Joint Security and High-Level Committees called for under the agreement held their first sessions.
Genuine reconciliation
Real possibilities for genuine reconciliation between the two sides associated with the Djibouti process from the beginning have been apparent. What was achieved in Djibouti last weekend was a confirmation of this positive trend within the peace process. The meeting between the representatives of the TFG and the ARS [opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia] concluded with the formal signing of the agreement reached on 9 June, and with the issue of a communique which laid out the terms of reference for the High Level and Joint Security Committees.
Both sides expressed optimism over the meeting which largely dealt with practical details, including the delivery of humanitarian assistance for which both sides agreed to do everything possible to ensure there should be no interference.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday [19 August], the UN Security Council authorized a further six months extension for the activities of AMISOM [African Mission in Somalia] in Somalia. In a unanimous resolution, the Security Council also asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to work with the AU to strengthen UN logistical, political and technical support to help bring AMISOM up to UN standards. It also stated a willingness to consider at an appropriate time "a peacekeeping operation to take over from AMISOM, subject to progress in the political process and improvement in the security situation on the ground".
Upsurge of unnecessary problems
Paradoxically, therefore, what has been happening over the last week or so has been significant progress in the peace process on the one hand, in Djibouti, while on the other, there has been an upsurge of unnecessary problems between the president and prime minister. Inevitably, the rift between the two top officials of the TFG has had an impact on the general situation in Somalia.
Unfortunate repercussions
Indeed, as Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum told the Financial Times this week it is the biggest obstacle to peace. Minister Seyoum said it was "an inter-government crisis that is preventing them from focusing on the tasks they need to get done. There has been a lack of vigour, and if I may say so, a lack of commitment". Minister Seyoum added that for the president and prime minister to create a durable peace, they needed to implement the plans to create regional administrations that would give a greater stake in government and potentially help to reconcile the warring clans. In fact, there is no doubt that the rift between the president and the prime minister, together with the anger displayed by the Asmara-based opposition group over the progress of the Djibouti Agreement and the peace process, has had unfortunate repercussions on the general situation on the ground. Underlining this have been three serious confrontations this week between Al-Shabab and TFG forces.
Little progress in resolving dispute
The presence of the president, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament for talks in Addis Ababa for all of a week indicates there has yet been little progress in resolving the dispute. While it still may not be possible to say when their discussions will end, there is no doubt they are at a critical point. The bottom line is that the peace process in Somalia can have no future unless the president, the prime minister and the speaker can work together.
President, premier trying to remove each other
While the people of Somalia, for sure, are losing, the only people who benefit from their disagreements are Al-Shabab or the Asmara-based opposition. Indeed, progress within the time remaining for completion of the peace process and of the charter is only possible if the president and the prime minister stop trying to remove each other. Neither can do so. They have a symbiotic relationship. However, one has to ask if the top officials cannot work together, how can they effectively undertake negotiations with an opposition with whom they have far greater philosophical and ideological differences than with each other.
The latest difficulties relate to misunderstandings within the TFG [Transitional Federal Government], particularly between the president and the prime minister.
Regrettably, this is taking place at a time when, from all indications, there were reasons for optimism. First of all, the Djibouti [peace] process has continued to move forward. Following the Djibouti Agreement of 9 June [2008], a meeting took place last weekend in Djibouti and the Joint Security and High-Level Committees called for under the agreement held their first sessions.
Genuine reconciliation
Real possibilities for genuine reconciliation between the two sides associated with the Djibouti process from the beginning have been apparent. What was achieved in Djibouti last weekend was a confirmation of this positive trend within the peace process. The meeting between the representatives of the TFG and the ARS [opposition Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia] concluded with the formal signing of the agreement reached on 9 June, and with the issue of a communique which laid out the terms of reference for the High Level and Joint Security Committees.
Both sides expressed optimism over the meeting which largely dealt with practical details, including the delivery of humanitarian assistance for which both sides agreed to do everything possible to ensure there should be no interference.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday [19 August], the UN Security Council authorized a further six months extension for the activities of AMISOM [African Mission in Somalia] in Somalia. In a unanimous resolution, the Security Council also asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to work with the AU to strengthen UN logistical, political and technical support to help bring AMISOM up to UN standards. It also stated a willingness to consider at an appropriate time "a peacekeeping operation to take over from AMISOM, subject to progress in the political process and improvement in the security situation on the ground".
Upsurge of unnecessary problems
Paradoxically, therefore, what has been happening over the last week or so has been significant progress in the peace process on the one hand, in Djibouti, while on the other, there has been an upsurge of unnecessary problems between the president and prime minister. Inevitably, the rift between the two top officials of the TFG has had an impact on the general situation in Somalia.
Unfortunate repercussions
Indeed, as Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum told the Financial Times this week it is the biggest obstacle to peace. Minister Seyoum said it was "an inter-government crisis that is preventing them from focusing on the tasks they need to get done. There has been a lack of vigour, and if I may say so, a lack of commitment". Minister Seyoum added that for the president and prime minister to create a durable peace, they needed to implement the plans to create regional administrations that would give a greater stake in government and potentially help to reconcile the warring clans. In fact, there is no doubt that the rift between the president and the prime minister, together with the anger displayed by the Asmara-based opposition group over the progress of the Djibouti Agreement and the peace process, has had unfortunate repercussions on the general situation on the ground. Underlining this have been three serious confrontations this week between Al-Shabab and TFG forces.
Little progress in resolving dispute
The presence of the president, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament for talks in Addis Ababa for all of a week indicates there has yet been little progress in resolving the dispute. While it still may not be possible to say when their discussions will end, there is no doubt they are at a critical point. The bottom line is that the peace process in Somalia can have no future unless the president, the prime minister and the speaker can work together.
President, premier trying to remove each other
While the people of Somalia, for sure, are losing, the only people who benefit from their disagreements are Al-Shabab or the Asmara-based opposition. Indeed, progress within the time remaining for completion of the peace process and of the charter is only possible if the president and the prime minister stop trying to remove each other. Neither can do so. They have a symbiotic relationship. However, one has to ask if the top officials cannot work together, how can they effectively undertake negotiations with an opposition with whom they have far greater philosophical and ideological differences than with each other.
Sunday, 24 August 2008
English Orientalist Richard Burton and English Colonialism denounced by Patriotic
As I promised, following the publication of R. Burton´s itinerary to Harar, I intendto answer many questions that I have received from readers, and publish severalcomments. I believe that 19th and 20th century colonial literature is one of themany instruments that can help Somalis find out that there are much more elements tounite than to separate them.In a society organized in tribes, and with historical pride running high for everytribe´s members, there has to be an Islamic Empire to forge a real unity around afaith and a culture, a civilization and a science, a philosophy and an art that haveby now gone. It would be great for the Somalis to focus and analyze why there wereno fratricide antagonisms at the times of the Awdal Empire. The exploration of thesubject and the conclusions drawn would be able to forge a new unity – again. Thetruth is that when one focuses on the positive aspect of things, one always wins;and whenever the accent is placed on the negative elements, disaster comes.This is the real way out of today´s Somali quagmire; differences must be put aside.Past discords must be forgotten; variance of opinion and approach must be thought ofas an advantage; and minimal consensus must be sought after as a first step forobliteration of the bad memories. by Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin MegalommatisIn this procedure, great focus must be made on the great 4-millennia long SomaliHistory, which is incomparably more glorious, more magnificent and more dominantthan the poor and mean past of the barbaric enemies of Somalia.Under various names, Punt, the Other Berberia, Azania and Somalia, the Horn ofAfrica land was always free of vandals and barbaric ruffians who however have beentargeting Somalia´s glory, wealth and civilization for hundreds of years. The reasonSomalia´s enemies acted like this is simple: they always knew how much lower, lewderand paltrier they had been. That is why the racist and barbaric Abyssinians tried –with the support of the criminal colonial English – to usurp or minimize pages ofSomali History, ages of high Somali culture and centuries of sophisticated Somalicivilization. The due Somali patriotic reaction to the Abyssinian pestilence shouldnot be limited to the political and the military levels only; it must encompasssectors like Education, Culture and African History and Humanities. The Somalicommitment to defending the Somali History will bring all the Somalis closer. Then,the various previous excesses of intra-Somali dialogue,the rancor, the grievance and the complaint will simply gradually be forgotten.Starting a series of articles dedicated to comments on R. Burton´s itinerary,misunderstandings, misconceptions, and racist attitude, I want to publish apertinent comment sent to me by an erudite and patriotic Somali, Mr. Mohamed A.Awale. I publish his comment integrally, and find his remarks pertinent andperspicacious. In addition, I think it is very interesting that his greatgrandfather may have met Richard Burton in Zaila!Richard Burton´s Inconsistencies and Anti-Somali PrejudicesBy Mohamed A. AwaleKudos for Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin MegalommatisCongratulation doctor for your always insightful and interesting comments! Sorryabout my last criticism. May be it was unfair and too harsh. After all, I read yourwell intentioned rebuttal about it and I enjoyed every bit. There is no hard feelingon my part whatsoever.Further, I read with great interest your latest and timely analysis on RichardBurton´s (the notorious bigot and British colonial spy) scandalous material aboutSomali and their territory. I read some parts of the book few years ago and couldn´tbelieve how insulting and bigotry it was. Worse yet, as you aptly pointed out, hiswork was a bible for every colonial midget who interested to exploit and subjugateSomalis back then. Overall, 70 % of what he said about Somalis culture, linguistic,socio-economic and religious practice was fabricated and exaggerated in order to setthe tone for colonial supremacist plots. Obviously he was spy, coward and thief tothe land as he confesses himself and thus no one of his right mind should expect himsome objective and scholarly quality material. Unfortunately, Burton has alreadydone some indelible damage in terms of exploitation, enmity and unnecessary divisionamong Somalis.On the whole, I found (explicitly or implicitly) the following blunders,contradictions and ignorance comments in his scribblingHe resented Somalis race due to their fierce independent and egalitarian nature plusIslamic heritage.He resented them because no one (except spies like Sharmarke and inner-circle)treated like imperial master as he couldn´t dare to tell anyone else his trueidentity. He felt belittled and humiliated beyond comprehension.He expected to get free service or slave labour or even raid on their shoulders ascolonialist used to do in many parts of Africa, Asia and Americas, i.e. Abans orguides and helpers, but Somalis couldn´t care less and that is why Burtonunderstandably cursed and disparaged them.His notes were all about exploitation and sowing enmity among clan lineages and thiswasn´t coincidence at all since his Victorian masters expected nothing less from himto implement a devious colonial scheme of "divide and rule" in east Africa.Part of the scheme was already in place and it was made in Aden. The British wasalready supplanted one particular non-local, Somali sub-sub-sub-clan of Isaaq fromBuroa (e.g. Haber Yonis) where the Bogus sultan Sharmarke, End Time, Ibn Hamal,Guled et. al was all small-time agents of the same close-knit family. This group wasuseful idiots, as Stalin used to say ( most trusted and promoted, etc. by colonials)till independence of the North Somalia in1960He mostly cursed and badmouthed local clans, namely Gadabursi, Isaas and others thatkept him stranded in Zaila and held sway his travel. The decoy and fake Sharmarkelegitimacy was not extended beyond the walls of Zaila. He has to beg, cheat andbribe all the way through other true leaders of the land of Ugases and Garads.He contradicts most of his writing: He called Somalis as a hypocrites andtreacherous while at same time he talked about their shallowness and brainless. Hetalked about war-like people that could be good soldiers and next time he ridiculedas incompetent race. At one point he complained about greedy and picky people whilenext line he talked about the free food and hospitality they gave. In another pointhe talked about their ugly African features and then how some parts of their bodyanatomies were exceptional. He talks about wild sexual behaviour or some weirdpolygamist who had 10 wives (white lie) but we now Somali are very conservative tothis date and so forth.His enmity toward the Gadabursi group usually stems from two things (1) these grouphad long history of civilization and/or they were prominent group in Zaila andBulahar coast and allies of the Turks administration before its influence wasweakened and he was suspicious about their loyalty for the imperial Britain (2)Burton had definitely some information fed by their rivals -- mainly Isaqsinformants & co of the British colonial loyalist. His bias against them is not onlylimited to bad-mouthing but he also said something about their territories byassigning to other tribes. For instance, most of his en route to and from Harare(from Koraale to Marar) Burton spent in their territory. He may encountered fewcaravans, but there is no other Somali group inhabits between Gadabursi/Giri borderto this date. H. Awal is far to the east side and Issa is to the west side.His ignoramus came to the open when he talked the cause of malaria and its source.He said that Somalis superstitiously attributes its source to the mosquitoes thatlives in the wet habitat. Somalis were right about this but Europeans didn´t haveany idea at that time. He also ridiculed at first how locals used butter and greasystuff as cream against the sun burn and insect bites, he applied himself later andhe felt the benefit. Isn´t that cream stuff common thing Europeans in North Americathese days? How much this man prejudiced, pathologically liar and oxymoronic wasbeyond one´s imagination.All in all, Burton was ultimate bigot, arrogant, oxymoron, ignorant and ruthlessColonialist foot soldier. Nothing less would describe his work, prejudices andattitude toward Somalis and other Africans.Note: my grandfather from Gadabursi, Awale, was born and grew up in Zaila at the endof the 19th century and his father (Farah) was probably among the folks who met Mr.Burton at mosque and streets.Thank you!Mohamed A. AwaleMoe-awale@hotmail.com
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