27 December 2013

An explosion at a tea shop on the outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, has killed at least 8 people, as many as six of them government soldiers.

The Somali defense ministry says Friday’s blast was caused by an improvised explosive device.

Media reports say a senior military officer and several of his bodyguards were among those killed, though it is not clear if he was the target.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blasts, but al-Shabab militants periodically carry out bomb attacks in Mogadishu.

Al-Shabab once controlled most of the Somali capital, but the group was driven out of Mogadishu and other major Somali cities by an African Union-led peacekeeping force.

The al-Qaida-linked group is still considered a threat. In September, al-Shabab claimed responsibility for an assault on a shopping mall in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, that killed more than 60 people.

Source: VOA

26 December 2013

An independent United Nations expert today urged the Somali Government to finalize and carry out a human rights roadmap endorsed by the cabinet in August.

Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia Shamsul Bari said in a news release that the roadmap defines the Government’s responsibilities and sets goals to be achieved in a short period of time.

“Finalizing it would demonstrate a sincere commitment by Government to rebuild the foundation and structures of human rights in Somalia,” he stated.

Mr. Bari called on the country’s new Prime Minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, and the international community to seize the opportunity to build a new Somalia where “the rule of law and the respect of human rights for all Somalis would be the norm.”

The roadmap, an initiative proposed by Mr. Bari to the Somali authorities, is based on key human rights themes, each containing its own action plan to be implemented by ministries, and sets out a post-transition strategy running until 2015.

Stressing that the roadmap offers “a unique opportunity” for the advancement of human rights in Somalia, Mr. Bari advised the Government to consult with regional administrations and civil society organizations throughout the country to finalize it.

Independent experts, or special rapporteurs, are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work.

 UN News

By Abdullahi Kulane
December 24, 2013
Somalia turmoil has taken deep root. The current trend of fragile governing structure, corruption, lack of reliable justice system among many other challenges will reverse the progress made thus far by the government. These daunting challenges could take the future of the state into abyss. With honesty political will and skillful structuring system, the country could turn around.
As it’s noticeable on his resume, I am sure the newly appointed Prime minister has the length of experience and educational attainment. Given the weak institutions he inherits, a sort of Neo-patrimonialism in which there is no objective administrative structures and clear cut separation, these are few ideas which should curb much of the fraud, waste, and corruption and promote justice and reconciliation.
Competent Judicial system
The judicial system in Somalia is dysfunctional. The justice system needs complete overhaul. All levels of judicial system must be restored, the lower court, higher court, and court of appeal. The justice system is important player in the government’s checks and balance, for the security of the country, and the safety and well-being of the society. Without effective judicial system, higher level political corruption as well as lower level favoritism exists and will likely be the norm.
Clearly, as we learned from the past conflicts between the former presidents and prime ministers, which created public furor, and at times, dug out suspicions and revitalized divisions among government branches, similar incidents is likely ahead. These conflicts are merely causes of unclear constitutional interpretation and lack of distinct roles. Over the years, the ever-growing scandal has exposed unsavory and sometimes illegal and sleaze from the political coterie both from the prime minister’s sides and of the president.
The creation of Supreme Court in which five, seven, or nine experienced and competent judges are named by the executive branch and confirmed by the parliament will enhance integrity of our constitution, keep the government in the constitutional framework and protect the citizens from government’s power abuses. These justices will interpret the constitution. Therefore, I will recommend the creation of constitutional Supreme Court.
Reconciliation Commission
The government should set up reconciliation commission which will consist of judges and civil society leaders. These commissioners will have the ability to travel around the country with the aim of fostering dialogue, and learning the atrocities committed during the long civil war which engulfed the country and make recommendation to the president. The history of what happened, what went wrong is important to deter similar incidents in the future.
In addition, the commission must conduct active listening, make arbitration, document concessions, and oversee restitutions. Their mandate should be the crimes happened in the civil war era committed with the intent of furthering political cause by an individual or group. Different criminal intents should be for normal court proceedings. The commission will differentiate interests from issues. Interest –based problem solving will work better to reconcile the interests of various groups in the country to obtain a mutually-satisfactory solution. What seem to be intractable conflicts can turn out to be manageable clashes. The reconciliation is not difficult as most of the conflicts in Somalia are not value difference caused with the exception of Alshabab phenomenon. The efforts should be to carry out restorative justice, designed not to punish the wrong-doers, but rather to restore the victims and the relationship to the way they were before the offence.
Corruption
There are many forms of corruption practices in Somalia’s institutions. These corruption practices could cripple the government functions, revive inter-clan conflicts, and deepen the mistrust currently evident within the society. It also may drain out funding and will likely to turn off donors generosities. To eliminate corruption or to reduce it, I would suggest these ideas:
Reliable Financial Institution
Many of us went through hundreds of pages of report put together by UN Monitoring Group. The report detailed when corruption incidents happened, how it happened, who did it, and sometimes had clear facts on many of the allegations made in the report. So far, the government did not harness the financial integrity, but instead continued towards the status quo. According to Transparency International, Somalia is listed as the most corrupted government in the world. Few months ago, the governor of Somalia’s central bank, Astur, resigned. In the resignation letter, the former governor alleged the causes of the resignation to organized tycoons who threatened her. This notorious group pressured the governor to accept corruption. Furthermore, the governor assailed the president for not intervening when it mattered.
The international community, the donors, as well as the citizens of the state are closely watching the financial integrity and your approach to that sector. There is patronage, clientelism, privatization of state owned properties to political allied businesses. Very soon, the elite cartel will take deep root with an ugly form of even controlling State institution with financial means.
Currently, the only sources of income for the government is the seaport and airport, while the government is streamlining other means of resource mobilization and taxation, the money generated from these points should be collected and managed carefully. The donor funding should be directed to the key government programs. For instance, security, infrastructure, and government institutions should be priorities.
Wealth Declaration Policy
The cabinet ministers and the directors of government agents should declare their wealthy before taking oath of office. This simple gesture will be first step to restoring public confidence and keeping them in check
Accountability Mechanism
There must be accountability mechanism in place for all government branches. Government audit branch must be created and the parliament must grant them with enough powers to investigate and prosecute those who participate in waste, fraud, or corruption of public resources.
National Tax Agent
National Tax Agent should be created with powers to collect and enforce tax codes and laws. Perhaps, the parliament needs to develop tax code suggested by your office or the finance minster. The tax code should clearly state the taxes which federal government should collect. At this time, there are no tax codes adapted. Whatever government collects is unlawful and unless there is a fair tax code adapted by the parliament, it can be challenged in a court of law.
Monetary Reserve Board
The board will create monetary policies, print money, and will look into overall health of the economy and make policies that guide the banking systems. The parliament can only create such an agent with the president’s suggestion when you recommend to him.
Government Contract Policy
The government must have contract policy which is fair for all. All government branches should follow the guidelines of this policy. If necessary, special agent under the prime Minister or President’s office should be created. Fair, open, and transparent bidding process for all government contracts will prevent corruption. It will eliminate nepotism, and streamline good governing structure and trustable institutions.
In nutshell, Mr. Prime Minister, your new administration should take different approach, build up the justice system, encourage reconciliation, and strengthen the government institutions to limit corruption. These simple ideas could frame your policies. We are all closely watching the development in the country and will be delighted to see better Somalia in the near future.
*************
Abdullahi Kulane is a blogger based in St.Cloud, Minnesota.

Monday, 23 December 2013
Press Release: IFRC

Nairobi, 22 December 2013 – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal of 2.4 million Swiss Francs to assist 23,100 people affected by a tropical cyclone that hit Puntland State in Somalia on 10 November 2013.

Heavy rainfall and flash floods followed the tropical cyclone, and caused loss of human lives and the massive destruction of assets including livestock and fishing boats. Settlements and infrastructure including service centres, roads, schools, as well as communication and electrical installations were not spared from damage.

The most affected areas include Dangorayo, Bandar Beyla, Garowe and Eyl districts. Other areas affected include the coastal villages in Bari Region including Hafun, Iskushuban, Bargal, Quandala and Alula districts.

The Government estimated that nearly 300 people lost their lives in the cyclone. The Ministry of Livestock and Animal Husbandry estimates that 4,000 – 5,000 households have lost 60 to 70% of their livestock. Many water sources were flooded and became unserviceable or contaminated, leading to shortage of safe drinking water. The affected population, including children and the elderly, have become susceptible to diarrhoea, malaria, upper respiratory and skin infection due to exposure.

“Recurrent disasters and crisis have deepened the vulnerabilities of the Somali population, and stretched their coping mechanisms to the limit”, said Mr. Ahmed Adam Gizo, IFRC’s country representative in Somalia. “The cyclical disaster such as droughts, floods and epidemics, stresses the need for disaster preparedness and risk reduction programming to enhance the community resilience and strengthening the Somali Red Crescent Society’s disaster management capacity,”

The IFRC operation targets 3,300 households in Bari and Nugal regions and last for nine months. Focus will be on providing shelter for 964 households whose homes were completely destroyed, delivery of health services for all through mobile clinics, as well as livelihoods support for households that lost all their livestock. All affected households will be targeted with hygiene interventions to prevent waterborne diseases.

“According to our assessments 142,380 people in Nungal and Bari regions were affected by the cyclone with 8,525 households being worst hit. 1,485 households have lost all their livestock, impacting severely on their livelihoods. 40 people died and 95 sustained injuries in the two regions,” said Dr. Ahmed M. Hassan, President of the Somali Red Crescent Society.

Nomadic pastoralist communities in two affected regions will be targeted for increased access to safe water.

“Vulnerable groups including female headed households, child headed households, persons with disabilities and pregnant and lactating women will receive special attention in the relief operation,” added Dr. Hassan.

The Somali Red Crescent Society is coordinating its activities with the government and other humanitarian agencies.

ENDS

Dozens of families have been moved out of the ruined building

A project has been launched in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, to rebuild the country’s national library. Dozens of displaced families had been sheltering inside the building which has been badly damaged by decades of conflict. The project director, Zainab Hassan, told the BBC that thousands of students currently had no access to books.

Work on the new complex is expected to be finished in six months’ time at a cost of $1m (£600,000).

The money is coming from the Somali government as well as business people and civil society.

This is what the new building should look like

Already 20,000 books have been donated from the United States and around 60,000 are expected to come from Arab nations. Ms Hassan said she hopes the library will teach people to love reading. She admitted that a large proportion of Somalia’s culture and history is oral and has not been documented.

The building should restore Somalia’s history for future generations,” she said, adding that there was a need for knowledge among Somalis. Al-Shabab militants have been driven out of Somalia’s major towns, such as Mogadishu and the port of Kismayo, by a UN-mandated African Union force of some 18,000 soldiers.

Since then, many Somalis living in the diaspora have returned to help in the reconstruction of Mogadishu. However the militants have carried out intermittent attacks and suicide bombings on the capital in recent months and still control large parts of southern Somalia.

However the militants have carried out intermittent attacks and suicide bombings on the capital in recent months and still control large parts of southern Somalia

Source: BBC News

December 19, 2013:

Two American  business owners show how private investment is key in the global fight against poverty.

By Curtis S. Chin

FORTUNE — The names of the Somalis who work at the Aran Guest House in Mogadishu — one of the few in the city with security robust enough for overnight stays for international visitors — may well be little remembered by diplomats, aid workers, and the occasional businesspeople who pass through here.

And that’s unfortunate because their simple stories of employment as drivers, guards, cooks, waiters, and cleaning staff offer up a lesson for policymakers focused on how best to grow economies and address persistent poverty, whether in Africa or in Asia. Increasingly, the private sector, encompassing brave entrepreneurs as well as established, deep-pocketed corporations, can play a critical role in fighting poverty, and it can be done in a way that is quite frankly good for business — and far more sustainable than aid packages subject to donor fatigue and annual budget cuts.

That was certainly the story I heard when I had the chance to sit down with Alisha Ryu and David Snelson, the two American business pioneers behind the Mogadishu guesthouse and security firm, which employs nearly 40 Somali men and women, and by a conservative estimate, indirectly supports another 400 extended family members.

Ryu, a former combat journalist, and Snelson, a retired U.S. Army warrant officer, have been living and running their business in Mogadishu full-time since 2011. They were in the news recently for digging up and returning to the United States the remains of a helicopter shot down and made famous in the book and blockbuster Hollywood film Blackhawk Down. Both recount the American military raid to capture a Somali warlord in Mogadishu, which sparked a deadly battle that killed hundreds of Somalis and 19 Americans 20 years ago this October.

MORE: Nelson Mandela and the evolution of great leaders

Sadly, that battle was just one of many tragedies that has engulfed this restless, Horn of Africa nation. Since then, Somalia has been ravaged by clan warfare, and feared worldwide as a breeding ground for pirates and al-Shabaab militants. Al-Shabaab again captured global headlines with a terrorist attack on a landmark shopping mall in Kenya this September, killing more than 65 people.

Clearly, investing in Somalia is not for the fainthearted. The World Bank 2014 Doing Business report — the latest annual assessment of the ease of doing business in economies around the world — once again skips Somalia entirely. Lawlessness in many parts of the country and a general inability to gather reliable data are undoubtedly two factors why Somalia continues to be absent in the report.

But Ryu says she and Snelson took a calculated risk in opening a business in Somalia because they both had spent many years working in the country and knew the opportunities and the pitfalls well in advance.

“It was, and still is, our hope that by showing it is possible to do business in Somalia in a smart, knowledgeable way, others will follow our example,” Ryu says.

Both Ryu and Snelson note that whether in Asia, Africa, or the U.S., it will be small businesses and entrepreneurs — regardless of nationality — who will drive long-term change and job creation. “Business investments that can make money and simultaneously empower communities at the grassroots level are key to economic growth and the reduction of poverty-related violence in Somalia and everywhere else in the world,” Snelson says.

MORE: Bringing financial inclusion to the Horn of Africa

That is not to say that government cannot play a contributing and enabling role. In June, for example, the United States announced “Power Africa,” an initiative focused on increasing electricity access in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Companies such as General Electric (GE) and Symbion Power will reportedly complement the $7 billion initiative with an additional $9 billion in commitments.

Beyond electricity and other crucial infrastructure investments, however, much of Africa also needs a sustained commitment to battle corruption and cronyism.

For nearly four years, I served as the U.S. Ambassador to and board member of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) — an international financial institution focused on poverty reduction and infrastructure investments, much like its sister institution the African Development Bank — and there too, Ryu and Snelson’s message would have great relevance.

While development banks and aid agencies can provide incremental help, it is good governance and a strong rule of law that are critical to businesses and essential to drive long-term growth. Easier said, though, than done.

Time will tell if the efforts of people like Ryu and Snelson, and others, will be sustainable, particularly in the face of seemingly ever-worsening news out of Somalia.

One clear lesson from my time in both the corporate and diplomatic worlds is that the private sector must be a critical partner if we are to sustainably lift people out of poverty. Yet, too often, inept bureaucracy, poor or poorly enforced regulation, interventions by government and endemic corruption get in the way. These challenges of the “little bric” may well be a longer-term constraint to growth and one of the biggest impediments to building better lives for people everywhere, including in the most fragile and conflict-affected states in Africa and Asia.

Few may have the nerve, or the heart, to do what Ryu and Snelson are trying to do in Somalia — building a business that can turn a profit while promoting economic growth. But by creating jobs for three dozen Somalis who would otherwise be prey for pirates and religious extremists, perhaps they offer a bit of hope and an example that a small business can have an impact, regardless of how long or how fleeting, even in the most troubled places in this world.

Curtis S. Chin served as U.S. Ambassador to the Asian Development Bank under Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush (2007-2010). He is a managing director with advisory firm RiverPeak Group, LLC, and a board member of World Education Services and Community & Family Services International.

• Somali men carry the body of a Syrian doctor for transport to Madina hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013. A Somali official says suspected al-Qaida-linked militants have ambushed a convoy carrying doctors near Somali capital, killing six people, three of them foreigners. Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a senior Somali police commander, said Wednesday the convoy came under attack in a semi-forested area outside Mogadishu, while on their way to give medical assistance to patients at a hospital. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
Mogadishu: Fighters in Somalia shot dead three Syrian doctors and their three Somali colleagues on Wednesday as they travelled to a hospital outside the capital Mogadishu, an AFP reporter said.
Their bullet-riddled bodies were carried into Mogadishu’s Madina hospital after the attack on road leading from the capital to Afgoye, a town some 30km northwest of the capital.
Doctors at the hospital said the foreigners killed were Syrians. “We do not know the motive behind the attack. This has shocked us and made us very sad. It is very unfortunate to see our colleagues being murdered for unknown reasons,” said Abdul Rahman Mohammad Fiqi, the director of the hospital where the doctors worked.
“The Syrian doctors fled their homeland because of the civil war and came to us voluntarily to help and work with us as doctors,” said Fiqi.
One Syrian doctor was also wounded in the attack, which took place as the group travelled down the road towards Afgoye, a former stronghold of the Al Qaida-linked Al Shabab insurgents, before they were driven from the town in May 2012.
However, a senior Al Shabab official said they did not carry out the attack, although their fighters have often carried out shootings, bombings and suicide commando raids against government and international targets, including aid workers.
The region is awash with guns and multiple armed men and militia forces operate in the area, one of the most dangerous places in the world for aid workers.
Somalia has been riven by civil war since the collapse of the central government in 1991.
The Al Shabab have been driven out of Somalia’s major towns by a UN-mandated African Union force (Amisom).
However the Al Shabab still controls large swathes of southern Somalia as well as pockets of Puntland.
On Monday, a new chief of the AU force took over command, vowing he would lead the 17,700-strong force in a fresh offensive against the Al Shabab, with over 4,000 reinforcements expected.
With extra troops, “Amisom will be able to expand its area of responsibilities to liberate other locations, which are currently in the hands of Al Shabab,” said new commander Silas Ntigurirwa, a Burundian general.
Al Shabab claimed responsibility for an bloody attack in September on a shopping mall in Nairobi in retaliation for Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia.
Last week, 13 people were killed in four attacks in Kenya during week-long celebrations to mark the country’s 50th anniversary of independence.
Source: Gulf News

MOGADISHU, Somalia—The top United States State Department official for Africa is urging Somalia’s government to do more to protect its most vulnerable people, especially women, and to respect the rule of law.

Assistant Secretary of State Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who is visiting Somalia, said in a statement Saturday that Somalia’s long-term stability “requires more than just a security response to the threats posed by terrorists.”

The statement said the U.S. wants to see a Somali government that can protect its people.

Somalia’s government controls only small parts of the country and struggles to provide security and battle corruption, although there are signs of political progress following years of turmoil.

Somali lawmakers recently voted to oust the prime minister and his Cabinet, action seen by some as signaling the growth of Somalia’s institutions.

Source: AP

December 14, 2013

As al Shabaab is cleared from more parts of Somalia more information is getting out about how the Islamic terrorists operated when they controlled most of southern Somalia after 2009. As long suspected, al Shabaab financed its operations by “taxing” everyone, including the aid agencies that were trying to deal with a major famine. Al Shabaab kept raising the taxes and gradually the businesses and aid agencies left. This helped make the al Shabaab collapse in 2012 possible.
In northern Kenya, on the Ethiopian border, tribal fighting has caused several hundred casualties in the last week, with up to a hundred dead. All those involved are semi-nomadic herders who have feuded with each other for generations over access to grazing land and water. In the last two decades many have acquired cheap Cold War surplus weapons and the feuds have gotten bloodier. Efforts to disarm these tribes have not been very successful. The recent fighting pitted the traditional dominant tribe, the Borana, against the Rendille, Gabra and Burji. Kenya sent more troops to the area to separate the combatants and try to calm things down. The Borana have long been politically active and are currently backers of the ruling party in Kenya. Other tribes accuse the police and army of favoring the Borana, which does happen but often because the security forces trust the Borana more than the other tribes because of the political reliability of the Borana.
The latest international corruption rankings put Somalia, Afghanistan and North Korea at the bottom of the list, as the most corrupt countries on the planet. In Somalia the corruption is encouraged by the intense clan loyalties and the desire of high level officials to look out for their family and clan first and Somalia later, maybe. The inability of government officials to leave clan politics out of their decision making and halt the theft of government funds (nearly all if from foreign donors) has made unity and economic growth nearly impossible. The donor nations warn that without a crackdown on the corruption and the clan rivalries the foreign aid will be reduced and what does arrive will have a lot more conditions attached. These include bringing in foreigners to supervise the spending of the aid. If the foreign aid supervisors are unable to work because of threats and violence, the aid will stop. Most Somali leaders don’t believe the donor nations will completely withdraw and that the donors can be manipulated via media exploitation of Somalis suffering from famine and disease.
The donor nations are also angry about how the government is dealing with opposition or anti-corruption politicians. Murder is one of the tactics the governing parties are believed to be using to silence critics. The donor nations are also very upset at how the government has treated rape victims who went public. The victims were arrested and the government is trying to force the accusers to shut up. Somalis tend to view this sort of misbehavior as tradition and the way things have always been done.
There is growing sense of despair at the inability of Somalia to govern itself. Some Somalis (like al Shabaab) blame foreigners for interfering with Somalis internal affairs and manipulating Somalis into a state of chaos. But the majority of Somalis know that the problem is closer to home. Somalis have been battling each other, and their neighbors, for centuries. Disunity is nothing new. Corruption has long been the major flaw in Somali culture and the inability to cope with this has turned Somalia into one of the poorest and violent countries on the planet.
Then there’s always the clan (tribal) politics, and the inability of clan and warlord groups to compromise to form a united government. Not enough Somali leaders have accepted the fact that the old ways just are not working. Then again, many Somalis have a different concept of peace and prosperity. In times past, the losers in these tribal wars would all die, or be absorbed into the victorious tribe. But these days you have international relief efforts. So millions of Somalis are surviving on foreign aid. This refugee community produces more angry young men, ready to take up the gun and go get some tribal justice, or just get rich.
None of this is new, but the donor nations are getting tired to repetition. A decade ago Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia were advising various factions in the Somalia peace talks in Kenya about how to compromise and move forward. Back then Somali “traditions” had led to an inability to decide how the initial parliament would be formed. This would be the first government since 1991 and it seemed like an impossible dream. The problem was in determining who would get how many seats since, at that point, elections were not possible. Many of the warlords had an exaggerated view of their own power (political or military), and many withdrew from the final negotiations over allocating the parliamentary seats. Without the participation and agreement of all the major factions, the new national government would not work. It seemed impossible to make the Somalis compromise and cooperate. While the traditional clan leadership (a council of clan elders) was eager to establish a new government, mainly because the elders see their kinsmen dying from starvation and disease the powerful warlords (some of them led by Moslem clerics) the clan leadership did not have the firepower to force a settlement. The warlords caused death and fear as a matter of course, and only perk up when they see their power threatened. The warlords also knew that an effective national government could soon become powerful enough to defeat and kill or imprison the warlords. Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia each support, or dislike, some warlords more than others. Dealing with the warlords has always been the key to Somalia’s survival as a nation and ultimately the other nations in the region (especially Ethiopia and Kenya) had to send in troops to make it possible to establish a national government. While many of the warlords were persuaded to cooperate (or put out of business), they are still gangsters at heart and national unity is not a high priority for them.
December 12, 2013: In central Somalia (Beledweyne) fighting between rival clans left at least ten dead and nearly 20 wounded. In the central Somalia town of Baidoa a group of armed al Shabaab men attacked a government building without success.
December 11, 2013: The official investigation of the Westgate Mall attack in September was leaked. It admits that the four attackers may not have died but escaped during the chaotic effort to deal with the attack. The police did uncover a network of Somalis and non-Somalis in Kenya who aided the attackers and traced the movements of the four attackers in the months prior to the attack. The four crossed into Kenya in June and went to live in a Somali neighborhood in Nairobi. There they made their final preparations, including many visits to the mall to familiarize themselves with the place. The four days of shooting and explosions inside the mall were largely the result of incompetent leadership from the security forces. At least 67 people died in the mall and 27 remain unaccounted for. Officially, Kenya insists that the attackers were killed, but the police report admits that there is no definitive proof.
December 10, 2013: In northeastern Kenya police clashed with al Shabaab gunmen near the Somali border. Five policemen, three civilians and at least two Islamic terrorists were killed during the terrorist ambush. Two policemen are missing and presumed dead or captured.
December 7, 2013: : In central Somalia (the Bakool region) Ethiopian troops rolled into the town of El Barde to help the government garrison deal with local al Shabaab gunmen still operating in the countryside.
December 6, 2013: In Mogadishu al Shabaab fired several rockets at the sports stadium but there was little damage and no injuries. Elsewhere in the city an opposition Member of Parliament was killed by a bomb under his car. This took place just outside a heavily guarded government compound and opposition politicians accuse the government of being behind killings like this and efforts to shut down media outlets that do not agree with the government.
In south-central Somalia (Hiran) a peacekeeper from Djibouti was killed and another wounded as they attempted to disable a roadside bomb.
December 5, 2013: In the north (the port city of Bosaso in Puntland) a suicide car bomber attacked a military convoy, killing seven and wounding 37.
November 30, 2013: In Mogadishu a judge was killed. Such murders are believed to be the work of criminal gangs or Islamic terrorists, both of whom have an interest in convincing judges to be less enthusiastic in dealing with illegal activity.
November 28, 2013: In the north (Puntland) rebel clansmen attacked the convoy of the Puntland vice president. The attack failed and a soldier and either others (rebels and civilians) were killed. The Puntland government is trying to make peace in the area where the rebel clan operates and if that fails troops will be brought in.
November 27, 2013: In the central Somali town of Beledweyne police arrested over 500 people in the wake of an al Shabaab attack on the 19th. Peacekeepers sent into the area have moved out into surrounding areas taking control of four villages al Shabaab had been using as bases and keeping the pressure on the Islamic terrorists. The plan is to keep after the local Islamic terrorists until their supporters and the gunmen are all arrested or killed.

Source StrategyPage.com

EU Commissioner said , “EU doesn’t trust the corruption overburdened regime in Mogadishu”

Somalia, ex-Italian Somalia, is the most corrupt state in the world, according to the latest index compiled by the Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International. U.N. and EU are trying to paint a dark picture of the corruption in Somalia, which could put off the countries that bankroll the country’s budget.
The reports highlighted all forms of corruption including political, financial, educational, administration and even human right abuses against minority. The political system in Somalia is corrupted and based on tribe; recently the Chairman of Central Bank of Somalia Ms. Yusr Abrar resigned after the president of Somalia Mr. Hassan Sheikh pressured her to authorize illegal money; no press freedom; even the international community manages the aid funds by itself without Somalia government involvement.
The USA and Italy sponsor the salaries of the military and police, where each of the two governments send own representatives to Mogadishu to distribute the salaries directly to the soldiers , hand-to-hand, because both governments don’t trust Mogadishu regime.
Recently, the EU Spokesman expressed anger over the recent allegations by Somalia’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia Ms. Fouzia Adan accusing the EU for not funding Somalia government.
“The Statement of Ms. Fouzia Adan is untrue and we, the EU, spend millions of dollars in aiding Somalia. However, if Ms. Adan meant that EU doesn’t directly handover the funds to the central government of Somalia, than she is right because EU don’t trust the corruption overburdened regime in Mogadishu.” EU Spokesman concluded in response to the Ms. Adan’s allegations. — end
The government in Mogadishu is a decoration. It does not control outside Mogadishu. It does not provide basic services to its citizens and don’t protect them. The African Union forces (AMISOM) are fighting Al-Shabab terrorist not the nationalized militia of the Somalia government, who are named after Somalia National Military.
The official spokesman of AMISOM Mr. Abdi of Djibouti Forces criticized the undisciplined military of Somalia for not taking their role in the fight. “Somalia Military are undisciplined, corrupted and unable to manage or control the areas liberated from Al-Shabah.”. He went on saying
“ Somalia Military are selling the weapons donated to them by the international community to Al-Shabab terrorist groups.” He concluded his statement.
Al-Shabab is bribing the military and security officials of Somalia which resulted many serious security breaches including the suicide bomber near the Villa Somalia, who was newly recruited by the NSS of Somalia. Another example is the incident at Somalia Supreme Court where the security vacated their posts allowing Al-Shabab members to enter the court building.
The constitution of Somalia is based on an unfair distribution of power between Somalia tribes. It is called 4.5, where some tribes take loin’s share in the cabinet while others are left helpless because they are minority.
The dirty political money is on rise in Mogadishu, where each MP received $20,000 against voting out the former Prime Minister Mr. Saacid. The first hand reports unveiled widespread of corruption in the parliament and the president distributed the dirty money against Mr. Saacid. This is how Somalia politics work – either money or tribe.

As we know, there are no public schools in Somalia and even the Ministry of Education doesn’t have textbooks. There are privately owned schools in Mogadishu that provide poor and uncontrolled education. However, the Ministry of Education receives scholarships from outside world mainly Turkey government.
At the initial scholarship, the ministry granted the scholarships on tribal manner which forced the Turkish government to send its representatives to examine Somalian students.
After that Turkish government representatives are preparing the examination questions and distributing to the students on the examination site. They correct the examination in Turkey and results are announced online. This illustrates how untrusted is the government in Mogadishu.
Law enforcement and police is another black-spot in Somalia government, where the corruption is evident on both lower and higher level ranks.
Sports is another victim of Mogadishu corruption. In last Olympics, the Somalia Olympic Committee sent untrained and unskilled athletes. The Somalian footballers seek political or refuge asylum during tours to rich countries. Nephewsim plays important role in team selection process, where you can see the entire football team from one tribe or region.
Dirty money can do anything in Mogadishu, even can waive off the custom tax and even someone could be a Somalian citizens in five minutes as reported by Al-Jazeera channel whose reporter received Somalian passport against $100. This is how corruption humiliated the Mogadishu regime.
The Somalia justice system is politically motivates and corrupted. In Feb 2013, a rape victim Luul Ali and a journalist who interviewed her were both arrested and sentenced to one year in prison for making false accusation and “insulting a government body”, a case that captured world attention. – Somaliland Press.
Ali said she was the victim of gang rape in a highly publicized case allegedly involving armed men in the military uniform in Mogadishu. – Somaliland Press
There are no functioning departments in Mogadishu, no accountability and if there is unaudited authority ultimately there will be corruption.
Amateurishly, the international community is pouring billions of dollars despite all corruption reports and allegations, and neglecting the developing nations in the region like Somaliland.
Somaliland has established itself as irreplaceable partner in war-on-terror, security and economic development. Somaliland industries supply products to eastern Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. It builds roads, bridges and provides respectful social services including free health and education to its citizens. Somaliland regulated a mature democracy without outside support, and earned international appreciation. U
Somaliland has Anti-Corruption Commission and Audit Bureau. Somaliland high-ranking officials declare their assets before the oath. The elected parliament of Somaliland grills the government officials. Every year, Somaliland President briefs the parliament on the current situation of the country.
The international community behavior in the region illustrates that Somalia is an open project which profits many armies and agencies, and must be kept open!
By\ Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi
Email: az.almutairi@yahoo.com