21 Dec 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- Second phase of UN-Sponsored consultative meeting opens in Garowe (Source: Shabelle Hiiraan Online Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali lawmakers say national conference “illegal” (Source: Radio Shabelle)
- Somalia: Speaker of Parliament arrives in Puntland (Source: Garowe Online)
- Somali MP vows to oppose Speaker’s chairing of parliament sessions (Source: Shabelle Radio Mogadishu)
- Sports Ministry to construct new stadiums in Mogadishu (Source: Radio Mogadishu)
- Making Somalia worse (Source: Los Angeles Times)
- TFG soldiers complain about unpaid salaries ( Source: Radio Shabelle)
- UNESCO condemns killing of Somali television reporter (Source: UN News Centre)
- Can the U.S. Government close social media accounts? (Source: Salon)
- Marginalization of the Somali Intellectual Class (Source: Journal of Foreign Relations)
SOMALI MEDIA
Second phase of UN-Sponsored consultative meeting opens in Garowe
21 Dec – Source: Shabelle, Hiiraan Online, and Radio Mogadishu – 127 words
The second phase of the Somali Constitutional conference has officially opened in Garowe, the capital city of Puntland state, with many high-ranking officials from TFG, UN, AU and local administrations of Galmudug and Ahlu Sunna in attendance.
President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, Puntland President Abdirrahman Mohamed Farole and many other senior officials from the international community are currently present at the conference hall of the Somali Constitutional conference.
The meeting begins as political infighting is going on among MPs of the TFP regarding the removal of the Speaker of Parliament from office. Both the President and Speaker of Parliament for the TFG have arrived and are ready for the conference in Puntland.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Somali lawmakers say national conference “illegal”
20 Dec – Source: Radio Shabelle – 207 words
the parliamentary committee on constitution has described the upcoming reconciliation conference to be held tomorrow in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, as illegal. At a meeting attended by members of the committee today, MPs said the reconciliation conference in Garowe has been hijacked [presumably by some Somali government officials].
MP Ismail Ahmad Nur delivered a statement about the meeting held by members of the committee. He said the reconciliation conference was illegal and that illegitimate organizations are participating to the conference. He urged the Somali public and donor countries not to waste their time in the conference since, according to him; it will not have any relevant impact.
The parliamentarians said the conference was illegal since the parliamentary constitutional committee has not been invited, despite one of the key agendas of the conference being deliberation on the constitution. The lawmakers urged donor countries not to fund the conference, saying the meeting is meant to harm the Somali public. The reconciliation conference to be held in Garowe comes at a time when the Somali parliament is heavily divided. This affected the commencement of the meeting, which had to be postponed several times.
Speaker of Parliament arrives in Puntland
20 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 183 words
The Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament Sharif Hassan Sharif Adan arrived in Garowe this afternoon to take part in the Somalia Constitutional conference. Sharif Hassan and his delegation were met at Garowe Airport by Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and his Vice President Gen. Abdisamad Ali Shire, among many other high-ranking officials.
The Speaker was taken by motorcade through the main street in Garowe where he was cheered on while making his way to the Presidential palace. President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and many high-ranking officials came to Garowe to take part in the Somalia Constitutional conference.
Despite political infighting among MPs of the TFP and the possibility of delaying the Somalia Constitutional conference, both the President and Speaker of Parliament for the TFG have arrived and are ready for the conference to begin.
The high-level Conference on the Constitution will take place in Garowe, Puntland State, from 21 to 23 December 2011. This conference follows the Consultative Meeting on Ending the Transition, which took place in Mogadishu from 4 to 6 September 2011.
More than 10 killed in alleged Kenyan airstrike in southern Somalia
21 Dec – Source: Radio Shabelle – 166 words
More than 10 people have been killed and 30 others injured after alleged Kenyan planes attacked Hoosingow town in Lower Jubba Region, southern Somalia. An elder in the area who spoke to Shabelle radio said “most of the people killed in the attack are women and children. The numbers of those killed are 11 and I have personally seen the bodies of seven children”, adds the source.
However, reports received by Shabelle radio from other sources say that “the al Shabaab chairman of Hoosingow District, Sa’id Abdullahi, was injured in the attack”. An al Shabaab fighter is also said to have been killed. Hoosingow is 160 kms from Kismayo, the strategic commercial port city in southern Somalia.
Row erupts between al Shabaab leaders in Bay and Bakol regions
21 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 135 words
Reports from Bay and Bakol regions (southern Somalia) indicate that a strong rift has emerged between two senior leaders of al Shabaab rebels in the regions. Reliable sources say that the rift emerged when regions’ rebel leader Mahad Omar Abdikarim asked top militant leaders to dismiss his deputy Ma’alim Abdullahi Gab.
The rift between the two militia leaders raised tension among al Shabaab militias, which are said to have been split into two groups, with each group supporting its family man. Earlier in August, the rebel leaders also locked horns when Abdikarim announced that he was dismissing Mr. Gab who then refuted the decision, arguing that Abdikarim did not have the authority to fire him. He later fled to his home town, Hudur in Bakol region. Their rivalry is said to have roots with clan-based politics in the two rebel-held regions.
Heavy fighting erupts in Mogadishu, killing three
21 Dec – Source: Shabelle – 149 words
At least three civilian people are reported to have been killed and many others injured as heavy fighting broke out in Mogadishu between al Shabaab rebel fighters and TFG troops backed by AU troops.
The fighting erupted in northern Mogadishu’s’ Daynile district around midnight and lasted until the early hours of the morning, witnesses said. The worst fighting took place around Tida village, after heavily armed al Shabaab fighters attacked bases of Somali government forces and AMISOM with machine guns and rocket launchers.
Residents said the crackle of gunfire and the thud of mortars could be heard across Mogadishu overnight. The wounded civilians in the overnight battle were rushed to the local hospitals in Mogadishu.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Somali MP vows to oppose Speaker’s chairing of parliament sessions
20 Dec – Source: Shabelle, Radio Mogadishu – 247 words
A Somali MP has vowed not to let Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan chair a parliament session and urged him to accept the decision that has been made. Mowlid Macane Mahmud, a Member of the Federal Somali Parliament, said it would be quite surprising if Sharif Hassan, who has been dismissed by the some of the MPs, once again chaired parliament sessions.
Mowlid said Sharif Hassan has been legally dismissed by the MPs after he failed to perform his duties, adding that there is now an interim Speaker in his place. He said Sharif Hassan often goes to unannounced foreign trips without the parliament’s knowledge, adding that he will no longer chair parliament sessions and should at this point concede defeat and accept the decision to remove him from the office.
Somaliland: EU approves $27.5 million fund for drinking water
20 Dec – Source: Somaliland Press – 532 words
The European Union (EU) is to provide $27.5 million to fund water infrastructure projects to build, rehabilitate, upgrade and extend the water supply systems in four major towns in Somaliland including Hargeisa.
Mr. Hussein Abdi Dualeh, Minister of Mining, Energy & Water Resources spoke to local media at a press conference held in Hargeisa on Monday. He revealed that this project – which his Ministry championed over a year ago and sought funding for from the European Commission – has finally received final funding approval.
The funding award constitutes the single largest funding by the EU to improve Somaliland’s urban and rural water supply systems. The Minister indicated that four towns, namely Hargeisa, Burao, Erigavo and Wajale, will benefit from this major EU initiative.
http://somalilandpress.com/
Sports Ministry to construct new stadiums in Mogadishu
20 Dec – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 87 words
The Ministry of Sports on Tuesday said that it will renovate and build extra playing grounds for all types of sports in Mogadishu to boost games in Somalia.
The sports ministry has fully assured that it will accomplish this mission as soon as possible and the youth should brace themselves for more sporting activities to enhance the nation’s level in games. Minister of Sports, Mohamed Muhyadin told the media that his ministry has received extra support from other countries in partnership with the TFG.
Puntland arrests director of Radio Galkayo
21 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-kulan, RBC – 82 words
Puntland administration in Somalia’s central city of Galkayo has reportedly arrested the director of radio Galkayo, Abdullahi Hirsi Ade. Reports say Ade was arrested on Tuesday following a recommendation from the area’s security committee. The committee accused the radio station of allegedly airing a sensitive story that could jeopardize security in the region. The station, which was shut down by the authorities, was to resume its broadcast but still remains off air. Efforts are underway to secure the release of the station’s director.
TFG soldiers complain about unpaid salaries
21 Dec – Source: Radio Shabelle – 87 words
Some armed forces of the TFG who are in the front-line fighting in Daynile district of Mogadishu said that they have not been paid for the last six months and that they cannot tolerate it any longer. The soldiers claimed that they do not have money to support their families and that they are the ones to receive the bullets of al Shabaab. One of them said, “because of these challenges, we are urging the President and the Minister of Defence to urgently respond to our call.”
Somaliland Foreign minister departs to Kenya
21 Dec – Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 82 words
A Somaliland delegation led by Foreign Minister Dr. Mohamed Abdullahi Omar on Tuesday departed to Kenya and Egypt for a working visit. The delegation included the Minister of Somaliland’s Presidential Palace Hirsi Hajji Ali.
The visit came after the Somaliland government received an official letter of invitation from the government of Egypt. During his visit to Egypt, the minister will discuss the bilateral ties between Egypt and Somaliland. The tour will be the first of its kind for Somaliland.
Al Shabaab releases 18 from its jail in Burhakaba
21 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 177 words
Al Shabaab rebel fighters in Bur-hakaba town set free 18 people who were in custody for almost a week, reports say. These reports clain the 18 were part of 30 businessmen arrested earlier last week for allegedly failing to pay a certain amount of money they were ordered to pay to the militia group. They were released after paying $55 each. Locals who sought anonymity for security reasons say 12 others still remain in the rebels’ custody as a result of failing to pay the money.
Al Shabaab earlier last week rounded up businessmen who reportedly failed to meet its demands of paying a total of 18,000 US dollars. The rebel group compelled local traders in the area to pay $18,000 within 15 days to fund its fight against TFG and Ethiopian troops.
Area rebel leader Mohamed Hassan who addressed the public at an open field has reportedly threatened to punish anybody who fails to meet their demand. Earlier in mid-July, al Shabaab leaders in Bardera district of Gedo region compelled small scale traders in the area to pay Shs 200, 000 every month.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Keep al Shabaab Twitter account open – Kenyan Military spokesman
21 Dec – Source: the Star – 90 words
The Kenyan military spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir has criticised the US government’s intention to disable al Shabaab’s Twitter account.
The US officials revealed that they may have the legal authority to demand that twitter close al Shabaab`s account @HSMPress , which had more than 4,600 followers as of Monday night , according to the New York Times.
“The US is considering closing HSMPress account. al Shabaab needs to be engaged positively and Twitter is the only avenue” The militia group has been using the account to release information about their activities in Somalia.
Somalia health infrastructure in intensive care
20 Dec – Source: NTV – 3:28 min
Decades of war in Somalia have made it impossible to develop the country’s infrastructure. All along, it’s the Somali people who have had to bear the brunt of the war that maimed and killed several people in a country that has limited medical facilities. Available medical facilities are now struggling to cater for hundreds of war casualties
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Aid agencies suspend activity in Dadaab refugee camp
21 Dec – Source: Coast week, Xinhua – 694 words
The UN International Organization for Migration (IMO) said on Tuesday it, together with other humanitarian agencies, have temporarily suspended their services in Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp in Kenya, on reason of security.
In a statement issued in Nairobi, the IOM said the move follows a security incident involving an explosive device on Monday which killed a police officer and seriously injured two others in the camp.
“Following a security incident involving an explosive device on Dec.19, IOM and other humanitarian agencies have temporarily suspended their services in the Dadaab refugee camps,” the statement said.
The Monday’s landmine explosion took place at around 12:00 noon (0900 GMT) after their car ran over an explosive that was planted on the road in Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp.
The suspension of activities came as another explosion believed to be a grenade occurred near a training centre in Ifo camp early on Tuesday.
No injuries were reported but regional police commander Leo Nyongesa said they were investigating the incident. Nyongesa also confirmed on Tuesday that two people were also shot and seriously wounded in Garissa town on Monday night in what is suspected to be al Shabaab sympathizers in the area.
http://www.coastweek.com/3450_
Denmark Government supports Kenyan operation in Somalia
20 Dec – Source: The Star – 279 words
The Kenya Defence Force has received support from the Danish government on the ongoing Linda Nchi Operation.
The Danish Defence minister Nick Haekkerup said that his country has donated a repair facility worth US$10 million for torpedo boats to the Kenya government. Haekkerup said that the facility will enable Kenyan vessels to stay longer in the sea as they fight al Shabaab and piracy.
He also said, the machine will maintain vessel engines. “It is good that Kenya can stand and support her boarders and citizens. My government is happy that Kenya is fighting piracy and crime and this is the biggest reason why we have committed ourselves in donating this equipment,” he said.
Speaking to the media during the Danish Navy’s handing over of the facility at the Kenya Navy headquarters in Mombasa, the minister said that his government will also support Kenya financially.
He also said that his country will in the future encourage Kenya and Denmark Navies to train together. Kenya’s Defence assistant minister Joseph ole Nkaissery said that now with the help of Denmark, they are better placed to fight piracy and crime in the sea.
Nkaissery said that the war in Somali is going on well and that Kenyan soldiers have managed to take over major al Shabaab points. “Our defence forces are doing a remarkable job in the war against al Shabaab and now that we have received this facility, piracy will be arrested completely,” he said.
Nkaissery told Kenyans that the government has beefed up the boarders and they should be assured of security. He, however, told Kenyans to be on the lookout and to immediately report any suspicious activities and individuals.
Somalia famine aid hits the mark
21 Dec – The National – 401 words
fewer people are dying of starvation in Somalia because of the injection of international aid over the past few months.
In November, the number of people affected by famine was 250,000 – two thirds less than the 750,000 reported in August, says the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
“There has been a massive outpouring of assistance and generosity from the GCC countries, Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation, Turkey and the UAE,” said Bruno Geddo, a Somalia representative from UNHCR who was in Dubai yesterday. “As a result of this massive injection of assistance, the situation has improved.”
The UAE rose more than Dh162 million in cash through telethons in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah this year. The country also sent an aid ship carrying more than 400 tonnes of food, clothes and medicines in August. A number of local agencies also contributed separately.
“The UAE and its people have a history of contributing to the humanitarian community,” said Shaima Al Zarooni, the chief executive of International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai. Ms Al Zarooni’s organisation helped to send more than 15 shipments of aid, worth more than Dh4m.
http://www.thenational.ae/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UNESCO condemns killing of Somali television reporter
20 Dec – Source: UN News Centre – 131 words
The Head of the United Nations agency charged with defending press freedom today condemned the murder of a Somali television journalist in Mogadishu.
Abdisalam Sheikh Hasan was shot in the head as he left his office at Horn Cable TV in the Somali capital. He was transported to the hospital where he later died.
“Securing safer working conditions must be made into a priority in Somalia’s effort to establish democracy and rule of law,” said Irina Bokova, the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
“I therefore call on the transitional government to investigate this crime against a journalist and against society as a whole,” Ms. Bokova added.
According to the National Union of Somali Journalists, Sheikh Hasan is the third Somali journalist killed in Mogadishu this year.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/
Kismayo IDPs face hunger, drug shortages
20 Dec – Source: IRIN News – 610 words
The plight of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Somalia’s southern port city of Kismayo, controlled by Al-Shabaab insurgents, has deteriorated, with thousands facing a food crisis after supply routes were blocked, and drug shortages as patient numbers increase, locals said.
“We are extremely concerned about what is happening in Kismayo; al Shabaab has blocked any attempt to bring supplies by road while the bombing of the airport and the near-closure of the port has contributed to the severe shortage of food in the city,” Abdullahi Shirwa, head of Somalia’s National Disaster Management Agency, told IRIN on 20 December.
The insurgents took control of the city in 2009, forcing many aid agencies to withdraw, thus cutting assistance to IDPs and other vulnerable people.
Kismayo residents told IRIN on 20 December the IDPs were not the only ones facing a food crisis. “We are now seeing long-time residents who are no better off than the IDPs,” Mooge Muraadsade, a resident, said. “Many of us depended on work and trade and both are dwindling here.”
http://www.irinnews.org/
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
Can the U.S. Government close social media accounts?
20 Dec – Source: Salon – 540 words
The Obama administration and The New York Times are teaming up to expose and combat the grave threat posed by a Twitter account, purportedly operated by the Somali group Shabaab, and in doing so, are highlighting the simultaneous absurdity and perniciousness of the War on Terror.
This latest tale of Dark Terrorist Evil began on December 14 when the NYT‘s Jeffrey Gentlemen directed intrepid journalistic light on the Twitter account maintained under the name “HSMPress,” which claims to be the press office of al Shabaab al Mujahedeen, the Shabaab’s full name. Gentlemen’s article included this passage early on in its account:
But terrorism experts say that Twitter terrorism is part of an emerging trend and that several other al Qaeda franchises — a few years ago al Shabaab pledged allegiance to al Qaeda — are increasingly using social media like Face book, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter.
That has to be the single most amusing phrase ever to appear unironically in the Paper of Record: Twitter terrorism. And, of course, the authority cited for this menacing trend is that ubiquitous sham community calling itself “terrorism experts,” which exists to provide the imprimatur of scholarly Seriousness on every last bit of inane fear-mongering hysteria. That cottage industry (like the government’s demands for greater power and Endless War) remains vibrant only if Terrorism does (that is, Terrorism by Muslims: a propagandistic redundancy).
Thus, with Osama bin Laden dead, a full decade elapsed since the last successful Terrorist attack on U.S. soil, and the original Al Qaeda group rendered inoperable, these experts are now warning the nation about lurking sleeper tweets. In that original article, Gentlemen detailed the taunting Twitter messages directed by this account at the
Kenyan Army, which has responded in kind. The exchanges sound exactly like every other petty, schoolyard Internet spat that has ceaselessly sprouted up in every cyber crevice for the last two decades. After quoting a Terrorism expert from Rand on the menace of social media Terrorism, Gentleman provided just a small taste of the frightening threat posed by this innovative vehicle for jihadism:
For the Shabaab, this often translates into pithy postings, like “Europe was in darkness when Islam made advances in physics, Maths, astronomy, architecture, etc. before passing on the torch,” and sarcastic jabs at the Kenyan Army. Kenya’s military spokesman, Maj. Emmanuel Chirchir, is also a loquacious writer of posts, and the result is nothing short of a full-on Twitter war.
After Major Chirchir wrote that al Shabaab might be transporting weapons on donkeys and that “any large concentration and movement of loaded donkeys will be considered as al Shabaab activity,” al Shabaab responded: “Like bombing donkeys, you mean! Your eccentric battle strategy has got animal rights groups quite concerned, Major.”
Major Chirchir fired back, “Life has better to offer than stoning [sic] innocent girl,” a reference to the Shabaab’s penchant for harsh Islamic punishments like stoning. al Shabaab have teased Major Chirchir for his spelling mistakes and have tossed around some SAT-quality words.
“Stop prevaricating & say what you really think, Major!” the Shabaab wrote. “Sure your comments will invite derision but try to muster (or feign) courage at least.” Other messages disseminated by the dastardly masterminds behind this Twitter account include things like this:
http://www.salon.com/2011/12/
Making Somalia worse
20 Dec – Source: Los Angeles Times – 715 words
It’s hard to imagine what could make the situation in Somalia, a desperately poor failed state that hasn’t had a functioning government since 1991 and is in the midst of a deadly drought, even worse. But a Minnesota bank may have found something.
Minneapolis-based Franklin Bank is widely believed to be the last bank in the state, and probably the nation, that still facilitates wire transfers of money to Somalia. That may end Dec. 30, when it plans to stop. Somali immigrants in the United States, who have settled in large numbers in Minnesota’s Twin Cities, annually send an estimated $100 million back to their homeland.
In a country where the average income is less than $2 a day, that’s enough to help thousands of families ward off starvation. It would be easy to blame bank officials for making such a heartless decision, but the fault lies more properly with Washington and its strict rules aimed at preventing money from flowing to terrorists.
In October, two Minnesota women were convicted of wiring more than $8,600 to al Shabaab, a militant Islamic group in Somalia affiliated with al Qaeda, and this month a Somali refugee in San Diego confessed to a similar crime.
Although no bank has ever been prosecuted for sending money to Somali terrorists, officials with Sunrise Community Banks in St. Paul, Franklin’s holding company, decided it was just too risky to continue facilitating remittances to Somalia. Many larger banks had already come to that conclusion, having exited the business after the federal government starting cracking down on terrorist financing in the wake of 9/11.
Cutting off funding sources for jihadists at war with the United States is obviously an important priority, but there must be a way of doing it that doesn’t end all remittances to and from innocent people. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., sent a letter to the State and Treasury departments after Sunrise’s announcement pointing out that if remittances from Somali expatriate living in the United States cease, it could actually benefit the Shabaab, which could claim that “America was preventing needed funds from getting to suffering Somalis.”
Because Somalia has no real banking system, money is distributed through informal transfer businesses called hawalas, but these operators must work with formal banks to wire the money overseas. Hawalas in Minnesota are preparing to shut down unless the federal government steps in before the end of the month.
One possible solution: The State Department could grant Franklin Bank a waiver from prosecution in the event that one of its customers, without the bank’s knowledge, sends money to a terrorist group. That seems both fair and effective.
http://www.deseretnews.com/
Marginalization of the Somali Intellectual Class
19 Dec – Source: Journal of Foreign Relations – 927 words
In every society there is a small group of people who possess adequate authority to influence positive (or negative) change.
This group—often referred to as The Elite—could come from any sector of a society from military, economic, political, social, spiritual, to the intellectual.
In one way or another, every one of these circles of authority has participated in the failure of the Somali state. However, none has rejected that notion more than the Intellectual Class, whether religious, secular, or in-between.
Of course, contrary to the common misconception, not all intelligent persons, high achievers, or academically credentialed people who become experts in one field or another are intellectuals.
Unlike the segment often referred to as experts and technocrats whose function is often focused on the micro level of structure and governance, intellectuals, by and large, focus on the macro. They produce ideas that influence powers that be and shape history by moving societies towards one direction or another.
With few exceptions, the civil war has divided the Somali Intellectual Class into four categories: First, the Diffident Lot who could not muster the confidence and the will to consolidate their mind power against the might of the gun.
Second, the Aloof Lot, who, due to self-interest, intellectual narcissism, or a subservient aim to please foreign interest groups derail peace processes by their actions or lack thereof. Third, the Co-opted Lot who unabashedly carry the banners of their clans’ chauvinistic agendas. Fourth, the Reformist Lot who try to influence from within and without the system.
http://www.jofr.org/2011/12/
Somaliland, Djibouti and the TFG should have dialogue on Trade and Foreign Affairs issues
Somalia Online Forum Thread
[*]Djibouti is a small tiny country, Somaliland is un-recognized and Somalia’s TFG is weak.
[*]Neither of these countries has a large and strong presence nor influence on the foreign stage, foreign countries nor International organisations (UN, AU, AL, WTO, etc). Most of the time the delegates of these countries to meetings are glad that they can go somewhere and someone can refund their tickets and hotel,
[*]To illustrate the matter Djibouti for example has no significant presence in most European countries, Somaliland is present with unrecognized representatives in most EU countries and TFG is present but has no policy direction/agenda or political backing whatsoever.
[*]Another illustration most UN agencies or donors are not present or have no programmes in Djibouti(while there is Hugh poverty and needs), Somaliland has little influence on donors and UN agencies programmes, the TFG has also little influence on their work and most of it is not even implemented and is spend in Kenya.
[*]Somali livestock is exported by Arab traders directly through Djibouti, Somaliland and Somalia for about 40 dollars per sheep (back in 2007 it even reached 28 dollars!!!), it is sold on the Saudi market for more than 120 dollars a sheep and sometimes during Hajj prices reach 200 dollars while the livestock herders receive the same amount. They are being sold out by Arab traders against each other to the bottom. While in a normal market situation it is the seller who determines his selling price, not the buyer.
[*]The same also goes for frankincense myrrh and other export products. Owners of trees sell it for less than 10 dollars to middleman; the market price is between 150 to 400 dollar per litter!