March 7, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Al shabaab raid “aid agencies-funded” schools outside Mogadishu
07 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 177 words
Reports from Elasha Biyaha, a rebel stronghold on the outskirt of Mogadishu, say rebel fighters raided several primary schools in the area, taking away equipments.Al Shabaab militants stormed five primary schools in the area and collected learning materials, tarpaulins and documents, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to Bar-kulan on condition of anonymity.
Reports say two international aid agencies, UNICEF and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), have been supporting these schools in efforts to have hundreds of Somali children from needy families to get access to basic education.The alleged UNICEF and NRC funded schools used to provide free education to disadvantaged children from internally displaced families. The motive behind the raid on these schools is yet to be known.
Locals expressed outrage over the militants’ raid on these learning institutions, saying the raid will have negative impacts on their children’s future since most of them cannot afford to take their children to other privately-owned schools.
The group has been tough on schools in areas under its control, with sometimes doctoring school curriculum in effort to fit its ideology.
Key Headlines
- Somali defense minister calls on aid agencies to reach Gedo region (Radio Mogadishu SONNA)
- AMISOM marks fifth year of deployment (AMISOM)
- Al shabaab raid “aid agencies-funded” schools outside Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Mogadishu’s mayor announced reconstruction projects for Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu Somalia Report)
- Somalia seeks East African Community membership (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Reserve force join fight against al Shabaab (Daily Monitor)
- Puntland warns of holding presidential election campaigns ahead of deadline (Radio Shabelle Radio Gaalkacyo RBC)
- ‘Somalia Shilling down price of goods unchanged’: Puntland minister (Garowe Online)
- Reserve force join fight against al Shabaab (Daily Monitor)
- Kibaki ‘pushed into backing al Shabaab war’ (Daily Nation)
- Somali suspects in hijacking of Iranian ship face piracy trial in Seychelles (New York Times)
- Circus skills used to support girls in Somalian refugee camps (womensviewsonnews)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM marks fifth year of deployment
06 Mar- Source: AMISOM HQ- 396 words
Today marks five years since the first Ugandan troops in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), mandated to help stabilize Somalia, were deployed to Mogadishu. Since its deployment, AMISOM now composed of troops from Burundi, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda, working together with the Somali National Army and allied forces, as well as with Ethiopia, has recorded tremendous achievements on the ground.
“Five years ago, the first batch of African Union troops deployed in what was then one of the world’s most dangerous war zones. Back then, there was considerable skepticism about the ability of our troops . Now, no one can be in any doubt that the dedication and sacrifice of AMISOM has brought tremendous success for Somalia and for Somalis, as they strive to promote lasting peace in their country. A city, once deserted, is now back on its feet. Businesses are thriving, Somalis now have the opportunity to lead an ordinary way of life in the capital, roads and houses are being repaired and rebuilt, public markets are once again packed with merchants and buyers”, said the Chairperson of the Commission.
The Chairperson of the Commission thanks the Troop Contributing Countries, the IGAD countries and leaders and other African countries, as well as the United Nations and its Security Council, the European Union and its member States, the US and all the other partners who have supported AMISOM during the past five years. He also pays a special tribute to those soldiers who have fallen and to those who sustained in juries.
“Their sacrifices will never be forgotten. We continue to honor their memories and commiserate with their loved ones left behind ”, he said.
Following the approval by the AU Peace and Security Council, on 5 January 201 2, of the new strategic concept for AMISOM future operations and the adoption by the UN Security Council of resolution 2036 (2012 ), on 22 February 2012, the Commission is working towards the deployment of the newly AMISOM authorized level of 17,731 in the Mission’s different operational sectors across Somalia.
The AU, building on the progress made on the ground and the current international momentum, in particular following the successful London Conference of 23 February 2012, will spare no effort s in helping the Somali people open a new chapter in their troubled history and full fill their aspirations for peace, security and reconciliation.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali defense minister calls on aid agencies to reach Gedo region
07 Mar- Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA- 198 words
Officials of Somali Transitional Federal Government who reached Garbaharey city of Gedo region yesterday have called on aid agencies to bring emergency help to the people there as al Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab was removed from the area, official said.
Acting Prime Minister who is also minister of defense affairs, Hussein Arab Isse called on humanitarian aid agencies to help people in Gedo region, southwest Somalia. Mr. Isse told reporters that he was very pleased with what he had seen there, but felt pity about the condition of people living in Gedo region.
“Our people in Gedo region must get their primary needs provided, we promise that we will assist them and we are calling on humanitarian agencies to act swiftly,” Somali defense minister said.
On the other hand, a businesswoman in Garbaharey city of Gedo region told state media that she was very happy with the visit of high level officials of Somali Transitional Government. She said she thought that their government forgot Gedo inhabitants before , but today she felt that the government was there to stand for their support.
Al shabaab raid “aid agencies-funded” schools outside Mogadishu
07 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 177 words
Reports from Elasha Biyaha, a rebel stronghold on the outskirt of Mogadishu, say rebel fighters raided several primary schools in the area, taking away equipments. Al Shabaab militants stormed five primary schools in the area and collected learning materials, tarpaulins and documents, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to Bar-kulan on condition of anonymity.
Reports say two international aid agencies, UNICEF and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), have been supporting these schools in efforts to have hundreds of Somali children from needy families to get access to basic education. The alleged UNICEF and NRC funded schools used to provide free education to disadvantaged children from internally displaced families. The motive behind the raid on these schools is yet to be known.
Locals expressed outrage over the militants’ raid on these learning institutions, saying the raid will have negative impacts on their children’s future since most of them cannot afford to take their children to other privately-owned schools.
The group has been tough on schools in areas under its control, with sometimes doctoring school curriculum in effort to fit its ideology.
Mogadishu’s mayor announced reconstruction projects for Mogadishu
06 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Somalia Report – 48 words
Mogadishu’s mayor, Mohamed Ahmed Nur Tarsan, stated that the administration of Banadir region will soon start projects to develop the Somali capital. The mayor said that they are planning to rebuild the roads of the capital and he is urging the donor countries to support their development projects.
Somalia seeks East African Community membership
07 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 221 words
Somalia has formally placed an official request to join the East African Community (EAC), comprising of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
The request was made on Tuesday after Somalia handed a letter seeking to be admitted to the regional bloc to the Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, who is the current chairman of the EAC.
Somalia’s president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s special envoy, Ambassador Abdi Hakim Ali Yasin delivered the letter to Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula.
Receiving the letter, Wetangula assured the people of Somalia that the request would be considered by the necessary EAC organs and forwarded to the EAC Summit during its next meeting.
The request follows major developments in Somalia that have seen the country begin the journey to stability and peace after several years of civil strife.
Somalia has been ravaged by a relentless conflict since 1991, and a lack of effective central authority has allowed pirate gangs, extremist militia and other armed groups to control mini-fiefdoms.
The international community last month launched a new attempt to restore stability in the anarchic country at a meeting with Somali leaders in London.
The East African Community comprises Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda which entered a common market in 2010.
The EAC is currently working to form a monetary union by 2012 and, ultimately, a political federation.
Puntland worried about al Shabaab-al Qaeda threat
07 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 119 words
The authorities of Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland in northern Somalia have Wednesday expressed concern about the alarming increase of al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants threats in the region. Ahmed Omar Hirsi, the spokesman of Puntland state told Shabelle Media that his administration has made significant security improvements in the past, but threats from al Shabaab and al Qaeda was alarmingly worrying.
Mr.Hirsi noted that the security forces have been put on high alert in every position in Puntland state to avert possible attacks and explosions by al Shabaab and al Qaeda.
Bullet-ridden body found in El-Bur town
07 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan, SONNA- 111 words
Shock has gripped locals in parts of El-bur town after a bullet-ridden body of a man was found dumped on the outskirt of the town. The grim discovery was made at an area west of the town. Locals identified the body as 26 year old Abdi Osman, a local youth in the area.
The body was found bearing bullet wounds, and robes tied to his legs, according to eyewitnesses. The motive and those behind his killing is not yet known. But residents blamed the al Shabaab militant group for the killing.
Dumping of dead bodies on the streets is not uncommon in rebel held areas of the chaotic Horn of African country.
Defense Minister promises to continue battle against al Shabaab
07 Mar- Source: Radio Shabelle- 143 words
The defense minster of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) Hussein Arab Isse has on Wednesday disclosed that his government will get rid off the militants of al Shabaab from the country.
In an interview with Shabelle radio, the minster said that TFG has changed its war strategy, promising to continue battle against al |Shabaab and al Qaeda in a bid to route them out from entire country and restore peace and stability after more than 20 years of conflict.
“TFG’s main objective is to eradicate al Shabaab and al Qaeda from south and central Somalia in order to build peace in those regions,”Somali defense minster told Shabelle radio.
The coalition forces fighting against al Shabaab, including TFG, Ethiopian, Kenyan, and AMISOM troops have been effective in the combat, forcing al Shabaab to withdraw from many its strongholds in Somalia.
Puntland warns of holding presidential election campaigns ahead of deadline
07 Mar- Source: Radio Shabelle, RBC, Radio Gaalkacyo- 133 words
Some of the officials of the semi-autonomous state of Puntland state of Somalia have warned about holding of the presidential elections campaign before the deadline.
In a press conference held in Bosaso town by Abdisamad Mohamed Galan, the governor of Barri for Puntland administration told reporters that there are individuals and politicians who want begin their election campaign prior to the scheduled date.
“People of Puntland are aware that the election will be held on January as campaigns of the candidates are only allowed to start in November so we cannot tolerate disorder and campaigns before sheduled date.” The governor said.
The move followed a press release from Gen Abdullahi Said Samatar, former Puntland security Minster and a candidate for the coming election who announced his campaign process.
‘Somalia Shilling down, price of goods unchanged’: Puntland minister
06 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 364 words
The Shilling Somali, the Somali currency has dipped in recent months in the region of Puntland without showing sign of bouncing back, Garowe reports.
The Puntland Minister of Commerce Hasan Farah Jama who spoke to Radio Garowe said that the Puntland government is holding meetings with currency exchange operators and business owners in Puntland to discuss the issue of the dip in the Somali Shilling and the price of commodities that has remained stagnant.
Many residents of Puntland have complained about the current situation of the Somali Shilling and the lack of change in prices for goods. Just a few months back 1 US dollar was exchanged for 30,000 Somali Shilling but now is exchanging at 24,000 with prices for goods remaining unchanged.
Minister Jama addressed the concern many believe, that the Puntland government is responsible for the plunge in the Somali Shilling. “The Puntland government has always made it a mandate to fight inflation but the reduced Somali Shilling is partly due to a large amount of currency exchange operators who hold the majority of the Somali Shilling, who have decided to try to control the influx of the Shilling in order to make profits from the decreased Shilling,” said Minister Jama.
ASWJ to expand fight against al Shabaab in several regions
O6 Mar – Source:Radio Kulmiye, Somalia report – 67 words
Ahlu sunna Waljama’ (ASWJ) militias called on the Somali people to support their war against al Shabaab militants in several regions of Somalia. Speaking to the press, the spokesman of ASWJ, said that they will be going forward with the plan to attack several regions and areas controlled by al Shabaab in the country. The Sufi militia groups are now engaged in campaigns against al Shabaab fighters in different parts of Somalia.
Puntland government condemns killing of journalist
06 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 140 words
The Puntland government has condemned the killing of the journalist, slain in Galkayo Ali Ahmed Abdi and has sent condolences to his family, Garowe reports. Puntland spokesman Ahmed Omar Hersi who held a press conference on Tuesday called the killing of Mr. Abdi a despicable act of cowardice which will not go unpunished.
The journalist was gunned down by an armed gang who shot Mr. Abdi with pistols and ran off escaping authorities on Sunday night. Mr. Hersi on behalf of the Puntland government asked the citizens of Galkayo to assist in the investigation and take their part in assisting the government in securing the city of Galkayo.
Mr. Hersi added that Puntland authorities will continue to work tirelessly to secure the city of Galkayo which apart from the slaying of Mr. Abdi has seen a decrease in assassinations in recent weeks.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Reserve force join fight against al Shabaab
07 Mar – Source: Daily Monitor – 269 words
At least 1,700 UPDF reserve forces have been recalled from different parts of the country for refresher training at Singo Military Training School in preparation for deployment in Somalia.
The reservists will be deployed to reinforce the two Ugandan battle groups as they prepare to launch an offensive against al Shabaab outside Mogadishu, the Somalia capital city, military sources said.
The Ugandan contingent commander in Somalia, Brig. Paul Lokech, was also quoted by the UPDF Magazine, Tarehe Sita, in an interview recently that part of the reserve force would soon land in Mogadishu.
“Fighting this type of warfare needs more boots on ground. Part of our reservists are going to come here to augment our strength as we roll out to the country side,” he said. The expected deployment is in fulfillment of the UN resolution passed last month to increase the African Union forces in Somalia from 12,000 to 17,731. However, some of the reservists are complaining that they were unfairly left out during the vetting process.
“We were called to assemble in different divisions before we were transported to Kakiri. After passing the tests, we were taken to Singo for training but after two months, some of us were told to go back home under unclear circumstances,” Cpl. Hanington Mugwanya, said yesterday.
Cpl. Mugwanya said at least 500 reservists were given Shs10,000 and told to go home after two months training in Singo.
Oman sends aid to Somalia
07 Mar – Source: Times of Oman, ONA – 89 words
The Omani Relief Team continued for the second consecutive week distributing relief material to the displaced people in Somalia.The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oman Charitable Organisation (OCO) said that the volume of the relief in this batch was 1000 tonnes, which includes medicines, foodstuff and shelter supplies.
The team has completed distribution of aid in Hargeisa and has started distributing supplies in Burao.
The source affirmed that the upcoming batch of Omani aid will be allocated for Southern parts of Somalia including Gedo, Juba regions and Kismayo.
Kibaki ‘pushed into backing al Shabaab war’
06 Mar – Source: Daily Nation – 195 words
Two Cabinet ministers and three security chiefs pushed President Mwai Kibaki into endorsing the decision to send Kenyan troops to war in Somalia, an international watchdog claims.
The International Crisis Group claims in its latest report that President Kibaki was reluctant to give the greenlight and was only prevailed upon by Internal Security minister George Saitoti, his Defence counterpart Yusuf Haji, Chief of Kenya Defence Forces, Gen Julius Karangi, Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and National Security Intelligence Service chief Michael Gichangi.
The military spokesman, Maj Emmanuel Chirchir, however, on Tuesday dismissed the report, saying the operation against al Shabaab was taken by the Cabinet. The report warns against capturing the port city of Kismayu with a view to choking al Shabaab’s cash supply.
The United Nations Monitoring Group estimates that between Sh2.9 billion ($35 million) and Sh4.1 billion ($50 million) per year is generated from revenue from the port of Kismayu, of which at least Sh1.2 billion ($15 million) is trade in charcoal and sugar.
“All indications are that urban combat would be costly. The likely massive loss of civilian life would damage the goal of countering terrorism to weaken al Shabaab.”
‘Somalia has best chance to usher in lasting peace’
06 Mar – Source: Afriquejet, PANA – 359 words
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Mr. Augustine Mahiga, has said Somalia currently has the best opportunity to end its two decades-long conflict and bring lasting peace and stability to the country. He said, however, that doing so will require a greater efforts by all parties and sustained support from international partners.
PANA reports that the country’s Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) are in the process of implementing a road map devised in September last year that spells out priority measures to be carried out before the current transitional governing arrangements end on 20 August.
Before then, Somalia needs a new constitution, a smaller and more representative Parliament and elections for the positions of President, Speaker and Deputies.
‘Ending the transition on time will require more efforts and support from all international actors in the coming months,’ Mr. Mahiga told the UN Security Council at a meeting on Monday in New York. ‘We must ensure that all of us are pulling together in this regard.’
Kenya on US blacklist over terrorism laws
06 Mar- Source: Daily Nation- 446 words
The US has put Kenya on a blacklist of countries that do not support the fight against terrorism. And it has given Kenya a three-month ultimatum to enact laws that criminalise financing of terrorist activities.
However, Washington did not indicate what measures it will take if Kenya fails to fully implement the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act and pass other legislation that criminalises terrorism and its financing within three months.
Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo on Tuesday said that the Financial Action Task Force, a US team, had disclosed that Kenya had fallen short of some measures to ensure that the legislation was up to date.
The absence of the laws risks the lives of Kenya Defence Forces soldiers in Somali as it leaves a window for terrorists to raise money at a time when KDF is trying to weaken the militants by curtailing their sources of income.
This is also considered as the driving force behind several travel advisories usually issued against the country. Tourists will also be hesitant to visit the country until the relevant laws are passed.
“This undermines our ability to attract investors who maybe afraid of using our banks,” Mr Kilonzo said.
The minister said that Kenya had been advised to come up with proper legislation on terrorism to cover five critical areas. The first are laws to adequately criminalise terrorism financing.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali suspects in hijacking of Iranian ship face piracy trial in Seychelles
06 Mar – Source: New York Times – 404 words
Fifteen Somali men accused of being pirates, who were captured aboard a hijacked Iranian fishing vessel by the United States Navy in January, were transferred on Tuesday to the Seychelles for trial.
The move from Djibouti to the Seychelles, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, was a welcome development for the United States in a high-profile case that had no clear legal resolution.
It also signaled the end of an intensive interagency effort to find a jurisdiction willing to receive the suspects, who had been held aboard a series of American warships for almost two months.
From its outset, the case, for all its high-seas drama, underscored the difficulties in developing effective and comprehensive programs to fight piracy. Capturing pirates, once international navies applied themselves to the task, has proved easier than bringing them to justice.
None of the nations most directly involved in the case — Somalia, home of the suspects; Iran, home of 13 hostages seized in the case; or the United States, which detained the Somalis — had either the capacity or desire to take on the costs and difficulties of prosecuting the suspects.
Circus skills used to support girls in Somalian refugee camps
06 Mar- Source: womensviewsonnews- 481 words
Girls living in refugee camps in Somalia are learning to resolve problems they face in everyday life by using circus skills. Geediga Nabada (Peace Caravan), a touring circus project designed to defuse conflict in Hargeisa, Somaliland, has set up a girls’ development project under the leadership of UK theatre director Bill Brookman.
The project encourages the girls to develop coping strategies for problems arising from the everyday physical and emotional traumas that come with living in internally displaced persons camps.
Alongside Havoyoco, a horn of Africa community youth participation group, it works to engage the girls in useful and practical theatre skills including art, drama, and poetry to alleviate them of their social circumstances.
Speaking to WVoN, project director Bill Brookman said they received a small anonymous donation to fund the work as young girls are far harder to reach in this type of capacity than boys.
“Young girls are hard to engage with as their parents see their role within the home. Even getting them to the centre to rehearse regularly can be difficult and their traditional clothes and head dresses are not suited to activities such as dance and drama,” he said.
Return to Mogadishu
07 Mar – Source: The Daily Telegraph/ BBC – 65 words
A Turkish carrier has become the first long-distance commercial airline to fly passenger planes into Mogadishu, Somalia’s war-torn capital, for 20 years. The Turkish Airlines flight was welcomed by Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the Somali president. Civil war has left Somalia with no functioning government since 1991, but the Islamist militants al-Shabaab have been driven out of most of Mogadishu by African Union and Somali troops.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“In order to bring an end to Somali piracy, NATO and its partners will have to work more closely with the AU and its member states to build up indigenous maritime security capacity both within Somalia’s autonomous states and the wider region. While relations between the AU and NATO have been strained and mutually suspicious at times, counter-piracy capacity building offers a unique opportunity to build a more trusting and cooperative relationship between the two organizations. Aside from mitigating the financial and human costs of piracy, the recommendations outlined above should also serve to increase regional integration, deter and disrupt other types of maritime crime, and bring a plethora of economic benefits to the region.”
Towards an Enduring Counter-Piracy Partnership: Prospects for NATO-AU Cooperation
06 Mar- Source: Atlantic Council of Canada-1520 Words
One would be hard pressed to find an article analyzing Somali piracy—be it journalistic, academic, or militarily focused—that does not make the claim that this maritime problem can only be solved on land. In the four years that the international community has attempted to address this crisis, however, a coherent and coordinated onshore strategy has yet to emerge. The development of indigenous counter-piracy capacity in the affected states of the East African seaboard has, despite rhetoric to the contrary, received scant attention from donor states. Authorities in the epicentres of Somali piracy—the autonomous states of Puntland and Galmudug—have largely been left to fend for themselves. Mistakenly, the international response to Somali piracy remains blinded by a military-centric focus on naval shows of force.
“So Somalia has oil. Oil that the West is salivating at the thought of exploiting. The Canadian corporation Africa Oil Corporation is at the forefront of the development of the fields. I would like to think this could be the best news possible for Somalia, here is tangible riches. If the speculation is true, that there might be as much as 4 billion barrels of oil, this is amazing.”
More Trouble for Somalia
06 Mar-Paul G Blog- 679 Words
It seems Somalia can’t catch a break. After years of devastating famine, civil war, division of the nation into various factions and the fact it is viewed as one of the poorest and most violent nations on the planet. If one wishes to define a failed state then Somalia must be first on the list.
Even the present government barely controls a couple of blocks in the capital, things are working and working well in Somalia. The economy is considered quite good. The ‘real’ growth rate of the economy in 2009 was 2.7%, which isn’t bad when one factors in all that is happening in the country. It seems not having a central government has been a boon to the economy. It does make one wonder. I suppose it could be said that Somalia is more an experiment in libertarian economics rather then a crippled nation-state.
“So what can we take from that? Something author Louis L’Amour often noted in his books: how thin the line between civilization and barbarism is. We’re always just a few steps away from it all falling apart. The natural state of man is chaos and fighting, not civilization. We only maintain that culture and the safety, prosperity, and cohesion of civilization through effort and will, and a general agreement of all involved.”
A LESSON FROM SOMALIA
06 Mar- Source: World Around Net Blog- 880 Words
The image most people have of Somalia now is of gun trucks and warlords, something straight out of Blackhawk Down. The stark poverty, misery, and almost total breakdown of civilization was actually worse than portrayed in that film. Although you could still buy and sell goods, you had to travel with a bodyguard or die, and tribes simply killed each other in the streets.
But it wasn’t always that way, and its slightly better these days. If you go back to the 70’s and even 80’s you can see a typical market downtown, television antennas on the rooftops, kids playing in the streets of Mogadishu. The country looks like a typical North African land, with Moorish architecture mixed with colonial influences. Palm trees sway by whitewashed buildings and cars.
In just a few years the nation went from that to a scene out of a Road Warrior movie, down to the costuming. To this day, Somalia is still torn apart, struggling with violence, and one of the most corrupt nations on earth. What the hell happened? How did everything go so horribly wrong? And more importantly, what can we learn from that?
Turkish Airline in Mogadishu
06 Mar- Source: May Hajj Blog-
For 21 years Somalia has had no official commercial service…In Solidarity with the people and nation of Somalia Turkey has taking the brave decision to allow their national carrier to officially service Somalia beginning today. The official on board the plane was the vice-president of the Republic of Turkey…This gesture will never be forgotten by the Somali nation.
Top tweets
@gcmcDrought #drought #Somalia: African Union Stresses its determination to help bring lasting peace to Soma…bit.ly/zaXqD5 #crisismanagement
@geekinthejungle if you call yourself an activist for any cause, you NEED to see this. vimeo.com/invisible/kony…#StopKony2012 #Somalia #Palestine #EndWar #Peace
@IAmTheStarchild Uganda is constantly used as a US military proxy in countries like #Congo and #Somalia.
@iEthiopia #Somalia seeks to join EAC bit.ly/wDFehh
@AbukarArman somaliareport.com/index.php/
@BBCAndrewH UN envoy lashes out at bickering “spoilers” in#Somalia parliament holding latest peace process “hostage.”ipotindonesia.com/ipot_new/
@eminozmen #Somalia, Mogadishu 2012pic.twitter.com/c2zlM16R
@Tika_Turkey The Guardian: “Turkey has been quicker than other countries to make its presence felt in reconstruction efforts in #Somalia.”
Image of the day
Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bosdag at the landmark launch of Turkish Airlines twice weekly flight service at Mogadishu Airport.