Monday, March 31, 2014

Somalia Captures Suspect in '09 AU Base Bombing

The government of Somalia says it has captured two senior al-Shabab commanders, one of them a suspect in a bombing that killed more than 20 people.

Officials displayed the two men to reporters Monday in the town of Qoryoley, but withheld their names, pending what it called further investigations.

Deputy Security Minister Ibrahim Isak Yarow told VOA's Somali Service that one of the men is suspected of involvement in the September 2009 suicide bombing of the African Union peacekeepers' base in Mogadishu. The attack killed 21 people,
                                            deputy commander Juvenal Niyonguruza R.I.P

17 of them African troops, including the force's deputy commander Juvenal Niyonguruza of Burundi.The other man captured is said to be a trainer of the Amniyat, an elite al-Shabab unit tasked with suicide missions, intelligence and assassinations.
Sources told VOA that the operation to capture the men was carried out by a special unit known as "Gaashan," or Shield, that was trained with U.S. support.

A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says three members of the special unit were killed when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb while escorting the suspects to Mogadishu, about 120 kilometers from Qoryoley

Somali and African Union forces seized control of Qoryoley from al-Shabab last week after heavy fighting. The al-Qaida-linked militant group has retreated from several towns and villages in the last month in the face of an AU and government offensive.

Q&A: Somalia PM's zero tolerance policy - Features - Al Jazeera English

Q&A: Somalia PM's zero tolerance policy - Features - Al Jazeera English

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Hey'adda African Development oo deeq gaar-siisey qaar kamid ah xarumaha caafimaadka ee degmooyinka gobolka Gedo jubbaland state.

Deeq-dani ay hey’addu gaarsiisey Xarumaha sida bilaashka ah dadka loogu daaweeyo ee ku yaala degmooyin kamid ah gobolka Gedo ayaa waxay ahayd hal Container oo iskugu jira qalabka loo isticmaalo Isbitaalada iyo daawooyin, kuwaasoo ay soo dhiibeen qaar kamid ah Jaaliyada Soomaaliyeed ee ku nool dalka Mareykanka iyadoo ay kaashanayaan Hey’adda ADEH oo xarunteedu tahay gobolka Washington.




Cismaan Diiriye Cigaal oo ah Guddoomiye ku xigeenka Hey’addaasi oo deeqda isagu waday ayaa sheegay ujeedka ay ka leeyihiin qalabkaan inay tahay sidii dadka dhibaataysan
ee awoodin inay qarash ku bixiyaan caafimaadkooda loo gar-gaari lahaa.


Wuxuu xusey mr Diiriye dhawaan inay soo wadaan sidoo kale qalab kale oo iskugu jira kuwa Caafimaadka iyo Schoollada oo uu xusay  baahi weyn u qabaan dadka degan gobolka Gedo. ,,jubbaland somalia


Madaxa Caafimaadka ee gobolkaasi Mudane Aaden Maxamuud Cali  oo qalabka kula wareegay degmada Beled-xaawo ayaa sheegay baahi wayn inay u qabaan dadka degan gobolka agabkaan caafimaad ee lagu wareejiyay isagoo uga mahad-celiyay dadkii isku xil saaray sidii deegaanka loosoo gaar-siin lahaa qalabka.


Aadan ayaa ku booriyey qurba-joogta kale ee Soomaaliyed  inay dhankooda ku dhiiradaan gar-gaar inay u fidiyaan dadkooda ku dhibaataysan gudaha dalka.


Sahro oo  ah madaxda Isbitalka guud ee degmada Beled-xaawo oo dhankeeda hadal ka jeedisay Munaasabadii ay kula wareegayeen agabka Caafimaadka ayaa uga mahad-celisey dadkii Soomaaliyeed oo iyagu ku dhiiraday inay shacabkooda gurmad Caafimaad u fidiyaan.


Goobta ay ka dhacaysay Munaasabada Wareejinta qalabka Caafimaadka ee loogu tala-galey degmooyin kamid ah gobolka Gedo ayaa waxaa ku sugnaa saraakiisha Caafimaadka ee degmooyinka,Garbahaareey, Luuq, Ceel-cadde, Dooloow, iyo Buur-dhuubo kuwaasoo dhammaantoda sheegay  inay soo gaareen qalabkii loo soo dhiibay.


Hey’adda African Development For Education And Health (ADEH) ayaa horay uga fulisay degmooyin dhawr ah oo ka tirsan dalka Soomaaliya mashaariic horumarineed, waxaana ay inta badan gacan-siisaa goobaha sida bilaashka ah loogu adeeggo dadwaynaha Soomaaliyeed.

ADEH ayaa la aasaasay sanadkii 2009 waxaana ku midoobay qaar kamid ah Qurba-joogta Soomaaliyeed ee ku nool dalka Mareykanka, waxaana madax ka ah Abdiwelli Mohamed Suldan oo ah Xisaabiyaha guud ee qaranka Soomaaliya.


Waa markii ugu horreysay ee gurmad Caafimaad oo ka yimid dalka dibeddiisa la gaarsiiyo Isbitaalada ku yaala degmooyinka  gobolka Gedo jubbaland state somalia, waxaana ay ka codsadeen shacabka gobolkaasi ku dhaqan in gacan laga siiyo sidii ay u heli lahaayeen gurmad Caafimaad iyo mid waxbarasho,iyadoo deegaano badan oo ku yaala gobolka Gedo ay ka jiraan xaalado dhinaca nolosha ah.
                                      

Somalia's battle against al-Shabab militants


The Somali Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab controls more land than any other al-Qaeda affiliate organisation across the world.

In Somalia, government troops have been joined in their operation to suppress the militants by African Union soldiers.

The BBC's International Development correspondent Mark Doyle is the only foreign correspondent accompanying the African troops.



Global Guardian Adds Somalia To Service Area


ARLINGTON, Va.March 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Guardian, the international security and emergency evacuation firm has added Somalia to the list of countries where it provides personnel tracking, emergency response, security, medical support, and evacuation services.
The firm's security and emergency response coverage includes the Puntland and Somaliland states and Somalia's largest cities such as Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Bosaso, Kismayo, Galkayo, Afgooye and Merca.
For most, Somalia evokes images of the battle of Mogadishu or pirates chasing tankers in the Gulf of Aden.  The capital cityMogadishu is still considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world.  The territory under the federal government's control has gradually expanded, but progress toward economic normalization and recovery remains severely impeded by continuing security threats.
The 20-year long civil war in Somalia makes the country an unlikely travel and investment destination.  However, perceptions are changing with relative calm in Mogadishu and displaced Somalis returning back home to rebuild the nation.  Because of the returning Somali diaspora, some sectors of the Somali economy have seen an unprecedented level of growth in the past few years.    
"We're starting to see real interest from the private sector in investment in Somalia," said Dale Buckner, Global Guardian CEO.   "If the country continues to stabilize and becomes more peaceful, it will continue to attract investors as well as international aid organizations," he added.
In environments such as Somalia, businesses can spend more than 50% of their operating costs on security expenses.  Those expenses can add up very quickly with secure lodging, guards and secure transportation which sometimes includes armored vehicles.  The security costs become so high that many organizations operate with little or no security and assume the risk of an incident happening.   "With Global Guardian's fractional cost model, we can spread the cost of providing security and emergency response coverage in a region among several users," said Buckner.  "This reduces the cost to the point where it's more likely that organizations can afford to provide security in high-risk environments and meet duty of care obligations."  
About Global Guardian
Global Guardian provides personnel tracking, emergency response, security, medical support, and evacuation services in 24 emerging markets.  Global Guardian's suite of risk mitigation services provides organizations with an innovative and cost effective solution to help them protect their most valuable asset – people. 
For further inquiry, please contact:   
703-566-9481

SOMALIA: African Union along with Somali forces capture Maqokori, Hiran Region

Somali national army in line with African Union troops today seized the control of Moqokori village,Hiran region from the Al-qaida affiliated militants Al-shabab.
The joint forces captured the village after not facing resistance from Al-shabab militants.Al-shabab militants had been losing the control of key towns in south and central Somalia to Somali forces backed by African Union troops.
Calm is reported to have returned in the village after the joint forces captured following Al-shabab’s withdrawal from Moqokori.
There are no casualties reported from this capture; the joint forces peacefully captured the control of Maqokori added Somali national army commander.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Somalia' Minister of Defense Outlines the Challenges in Rebuilding the Army

The Somali Minister of Defense Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud in an interview this week outlined the challenges the government faced in rebuilding the Somali National Army.
He mentioned continuation of the arms embargo, the difficulty of building an army during conflict, the lack of funds and the difficulty for a transitional government to enter into bilateral agreements and receive financial and technical support.
Things were, however, better now he said. He told the Sabahi news agency that the military commanders and the government were working together to rebuild the army; the people wanted to see the army stand on its own feet, and the world wanted to help.
The Minister said there were about 20,000 registered soldiers including recently enlisted recruits but, he added, it was difficult to keep track of exact numbers as soldiers were quickly sent out to fight after training. There was a lack of standard military bases for specific units.
The Minister said that a committee had been created to organize a credible ranking system for the army and standardize ranks and promotions. He said there was no basis to the UN Monitoring Group's allegations that weapons purchased by the government had been stolen or fallen into the wrong hands. He said the army had shown the Monitoring Group the armories in which weapons were stored.
They had also received another group from the UN on March 16 for further investigation, and he said the report would be re-evaluated in June. The Minister insisted that there were fewer incidents of soldiers selling weapons this year and the issue was being controlled. Referring to the current operations, Minister Hamud noted that the Government stabilization plans for recaptured towns and areas included the military remaining in an area and participating in the stabilization for several weeks to ensure security.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

President elected for South west state of Somalia

The president of South west state of Somalia was elected today in Baidao, Bay’s center.
Mohamed Haji Abdinur has been announced today as the elected president of Bay, Bakol and Lower Shabelle regions after winning the election attended by 743 delegates and was held in Baidoa, Bay region.


In the presence of 743 delegates from Bay, Bakol and Lower Shabelle regions, Mohamed Haji Abdinur attained 726 votes out of the 743 votes conquering the trust of the majority of the voting delegates.




Mohamed Haji thanked the delegates voted for him and promised fair leadership.
.
Calm is returning in Baidao as reported to Somalicurrent after four days of chaos and protest against the arrival of former Somali transitional government parliament speaker to Baidao who was campaigning for the three region state establishment.

Bulo Burde residents return years after fleeing al-Shabaab's brutal rule



Mogadishu — Bulo Burde residents who several years ago fled al-Shabaab's oppressive rule are now returning to renovate their homes and businesses and rebuild their lives.
Their return was made possible after the Somali National Army (SNA) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) liberated the town from al-Shabaab on March 13th, local elders and returning residents told Sabahi.
"For two years, I lived in Beledweyne with my family of nine to be safe from the problems al-Shabaab was inflicting on the people," said Hassan Ali, a 52-year-old traditional elder from Bulo Burde, while shopping for home construction materials in the city of Beledweyne.
"I did not experience any problems during the period when I lived in Beledweyne, but I lived in a rented house for $100 [per month]," he told Sabahi. "Now my plan is to renovate my home that I was away from for two years. I have started replacing the roof and all of the doors, which were aging."
Ali said he decided return to Bulo Burde after two years due in part to the idea that the return of other citizens would help improve security.
"If everyone says Bulo Burde is not safe, I do not think there will be security," he said. "However, the return of the people that were away from the city for many years, such as myself, can be a sign of good hope and encourage those who are anxious about the security of Bulo Burde."
Shamso Hassan, a 37-year-old widowed mother of six, said she returned to Bulo Burde after living in Beledweyne for four years to start renovating her building, which has small stores on the ground floor and residences above.
"During the period I was away from my home, al-Shabaab destroyed the doors of three shops that are part of my house after my tenants fled," she told Sabahi. "I was told that in 2012 they destroyed the doors of all abandoned businesses that had locked doors."
"Thanks to God, I am now renovating them, and I welcome the ousting of al-Shabaab from the town," she said.
Ali Mumin, 51, another traditional elder from Bulo Burde, called on all the people who fled from al-Shabaab's oppression many years ago to come home and take part in the re-building of the town.
"For many years, people were fleeing the town and it was rare to see anyone moving in," he told Sabahi. "However, it is now obvious that every family that lost hope in living in this town is sending one individual to renovate the homes they fled."
"It is difficult to describe what al-Shabaab was doing to people in Bulo Burde, the worst of which included recruiting children as fighters, forcefully marrying girls as well as looting the property of the people," he said. "Therefore, everyone can understand that this was a place where life was difficult for many years."
For his part, Hiran region police chief Colonel Ali Isaq Abdulle said security forces in the town were working to ensure public safety because many of the people returning to Bulo Burde were living in other regions under government rule.
"The people's hopes have improved tremendously after we removed al-Shabaab from the town. Each person is occupied with re-building his or her home or place of business," he told Sabahi.
Abdulle said the SNA and AMISOM forces would continue with their operations throughout Hiran region until al-Shabaab is eliminated, and he asked the pubic to work with them.
"The terrorists crippled the town's progress in the seven years they controlled Bulo Burde," he said. "We are calling on diaspora residents who are from Hiran region to invest in the town of Bulo Burde."

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Maritime Security, Sea Power and Trade



Tom Kelly
Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs

U.S. Naval War College
Newport, Rhode Island
March 25, 2014

Reflections on Maritime Strategy



It’s a great pleasure to be back in Newport. I’m proud to say that my family has roots in Little Rhody. My mother grew up 20 miles from here in Barrington, and she first met my father down the road from here on Bellevue Avenue when they were both performing as actors in summer stock theater here. My grandparents retired to Little Compton, so I’ve been coming up to this area ever since I was born. I want to welcome this evening’s Little Compton contingent, including my Uncle Chris and Aunt Suzie Burns, as well as their friends Captain Ron and Jane Bogle. Chris and Suzie were kind enough to allow me to officiate, as a seven year-old on the lawn of our rental house in Little Compton, at a make-up wedding event for those who weren’t able to attend the real thing. I’ve always considered this my first official public event.


This is my second visit to the Naval War College. Last summer, I had the honor to attend the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander Course, or JFMCC, to spend a week being taught by the Navy’s leadership, with many of the Navy’s up-and-coming leaders as my fellow students. I can honestly say that I was awed by all of the talent that surrounded me. All of these folks were experienced warriors with cool nicknames like "Bull" and "Tree," and they also happened to be brilliant and thoughtful. Our nation’s naval security really is in the hands of our best and brightest. It made me even more proud that my nephew and godson was experiencing plebe summer at the Naval Academy at the same time that I was in JFMCC.


Now, I didn’t always know what was going on in the JFMCC. As a career diplomat, I speak foreign languages, but I don’t speak Navy. So there were some things that I didn’t really understand. Some of them, I could figure out. The fifth time or so when someone commented that they were "out of Schlitz," I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant, but I concluded that the expression meant something bad, as in "it is lamentable that I no longer have a beverage."


So even though I am still a novice on Navy lingo, I am very interested in the work that the Navy does, and what that work means for our nation’s security and foreign policy.


One of the great strategic advantages of the United States is that, as "America, the Beautiful" reminds us, our nation stretches from "sea to shining sea." The oceans have been part of our identity – and our protection – since the founding of the country. They have been the path through which we became both a great commercial and a great military force. I may be a diplomat, but I believe in naval power. It makes my job easier. I grew up on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. My professional background is in trade. So it’s very natural for me to see the oceans and our maritime security as essential to our continued prosperity.




Defining Maritime Security


Ninety-percent of world trade is conducted on the oceans. Our food, our fuel, our imports and exports all travel on these global economic highways. Maritime trade is our nation’s life blood. Keeping the oceans free for commerce – in two words, maritime security – is key to our national security.
How important is maritime security? Ask the Greeks. They faced odds of about three to one at the Battle of Artemisium, the sea side of the Battle of Thermopylae. They survived, due partly to good luck, and lived to fight another day at the Battle of Salamis, where they defeated the invading Persians for good. The Greek ability to secure their maritime domain may have saved western civilization as we know it today.




Alfred Thayer Mahan




I know that every invited speaker to this institution must genuflect to Alfred Thayer Mahan. I thought I would take care of that early in my speech.
Mahan, the most important American strategist of the nineteenth century, helped an earlier generation of Americans to understand the meaning of maritime security for the United States. His concept of sea power was based on the idea that countries with greater naval power will have greater worldwide impact. This concept had enormous influence in shaping strategic thought of navies around the world. Mahan set the stage for the American Navy to become the most powerful in the world.
He argued that naval power, control of the seas, was the key to success in international politics: the nation that controlled the seas held the upper hand in modern warfare. For Mahan, a strong Navy was important to the conduct of commerce.




Broadening Our Definition of Maritime Security




Many things have changed since Mahan was teaching here. One is our definition of maritime security. It has broadened a lot. Today, this phrase encompasses a complex set of issues, including both public and private activities, sometimes with diametrically opposed interests. The maritime domain faces threats from nation states, terrorists, unregulated fishing, natural and environmental disruption, mass migration, and organized criminal activity like smuggling and piracy.
I would note that it is not always military might that provides or denies security in the maritime domain.


Mother Nature reminded us that she still controls some aspects of maritime security. Navies could not have stopped the tsunami in Japan or the typhoon just a few months ago in the Philippines. Leaking oil from ships and tankers that ran aground pollutes the oceans. Oil and mercury from damaged vessels endangers the food supply chains in both fresh and salt water bodies. 


Climate change is affecting the Arctic. As the ice cap shrinks, old shipping lanes are expanding and,
in some cases, new ones are opening. Opening these Arctic lanes to commerce and keeping them free will be important. As the lanes open, we’ll see more demand for access to the Arctic’s natural resources, which in turn may raise the stakes on territorial disputes. 


Off the east coast of Africa, it is not nature but mankind causing the biggest problems. Restoring safe transit for shipping off the coast of Somalia has been a particularly daunting challenge, but it’s also an area where we have had significant success. Navies have been part of the solution, but not the whole story, which I’ll discuss in a few minutes. 
It’s not just the virtuous who think about maritime security. It’s probably on Vladimir Putin’s mind, too, as Russia acts in the Crimean peninsula. The Crimean peninsula has been Russia’s warm water outlet to the west since the eighteenth century. From Sevastopol, the Russian fleet has relatively easy access to the Mediterranean, and from there, the Atlantic Ocean. 
So, Alfred Thayer Mahan was on to something. 




U.S. Government Partners in Maritime Security 




Today, I will talk to you about three ways that the U.S. government is promoting security at sea. First, we teamed up with governments, NGOs, industry, and civil society to deal a blow to pirates off the coast of Somalia. Second, we created a common language for partners at sea to use known as the Maritime Security Sector Reform guide. And third, we at State crossed the Potomac River to work with our DoD colleagues to build partner capacity in the Asia-Pacific. 
Those of you who have read my bio know that I work at the State Department in "PM," or the Bureau of Political Military Affairs. We like to say that we’re the connective tissue between State and Defense. And indeed, in the past five years, we are seeing more interaction, more coordinated engagements, and more personnel exchanges than ever before. 




The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia



I am proud of my bureau, but I have to admit that we’re very, very small compared to DoD. Pol Mil currently has five people working full time on maritime security. They are a microcosm of the Pol-Mil cooperation of which I just spoke. We have two former Navy Captains, who know the military side of things, and two Foreign Service Officers, with expertise in political and diplomatic issues. We also have an active duty Coast Guard Captain on detail to us. 
That small office has led U.S. efforts to eradicate piracy and its causes. Piracy is one of the world’s oldest professions. Most of you know that piracy was one of the key factors that led our young republic to build the famous "six frigates" that served as the backbone of the U.S. Navy in the early nineteenth century. And you know that some of our navy’s first engagements were against the Barbary pirates who preyed on American shipping in the Mediterranean. 
Back in late 2008, Somali pirates were as much of a problem as the Barbary pirates two centuries earlier. Somali pirates roamed an area as large as the continental United States in their search for new victims. In addition to the threat posed to innocent mariners, pirate activity was costing the global economy an estimated 7 billion dollars a year. 
The way we responded as a government is a blueprint for how our nation should respond to tough, international challenges. The U.S. military couldn’t have solved this problem by itself, and neither could U.S. diplomats. But working together, we did solve it. Here’s what we did. In 2009, the United States helped to establish the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. It now includes more than 80 nations, non-governmental and international organizations, and industry and civil society groups working together to take the fight to the pirates. 
Through the Contact Group, the members of the international community have coordinated multi-national naval patrols and helped to disrupt the pirates’ illicit business model. The U.S. Navy was naturally at the center of that effort. At the same time, we worked with industry and foreign ports to enable on-board privately contracted armed security teams to protect vessels in dangerous waters. No ship with a privately contracted armed security team embarked has ever been hijacked. 
Our diplomatic efforts played a critical role. For example, we worked with partner nations to deter piracy through the prosecution and incarceration of pirates and their networks. Today, over 1,400 pirates are in custody in 20 countries around the world. 
The results of all of these efforts is what I think is one of the most important multilateral success stories of this young century. Thanks in large part to the combined naval efforts in the Gulf of Aden, there has not been a single, successful attack against major commercial vessels in the Indian Ocean in almost two years. Pirates today do not possess a single, seaworthy, hijacked merchant ship. A few years ago, pirates held over 600 hostages. Today, they hold only a few dozen, and we’re doing all we can to facilitate their release. 
We should remember that piracy has flourished off the coast of Somalia because of the inability of Somali authorities to provide security in coastal regions and deny safe havens the pirates require to operate. The recent histories of countries like Somalia and Afghanistan is a solemn reminder to the U.S. of the cost of allowing failed states to develop and fester. Knowing that our collective gains against Somali piracy are fragile and reversible, our challenge is to maintain our concerted efforts to suppress piracy until Somalia is able to deliver security to its citizens – and to the world’s merchant seamen – on its own. 




Maritime Security Sector Reform




The success of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia has led to closer cooperation between the United States and the European Union when it comes to defining maritime security. 
In consultation with our European partners, the United States developed a framework to help define maritime security in the context of security sector reform. In December 2010, the Bureau of Political Military Affairs published the Maritime Security Sector Reform Guide, the second way we have responded to the expanding definition of maritime security. 
The MSSR Guide, as we call it, is an attempt to develop a common lexicon for the maritime sector when we discuss security. It emphasizes the interdependency of the Maritime, Criminal Justice, Civil Justice, and Commercial sectors in maritime security. 
The MSSR guide is the only comprehensive attempt to establish agreed upon terms of reference relating to maritime security. The U.S. and EU are working together to achieve internationally-accepted Terms of Reference to facilitate our efforts to build institutional capacity in African states so that we can eventually re-task our respective navies from the Gulf of Aden to other areas where their capabilities are required. This isn’t going to be easy. African nations don’t tend to invest in their navies. But we need to help them build their capacity – helping them will help us. 
We should remember that outside the domestic waters of the United States, securing our own maritime security depends on our foreign policy. Our security assistance programs – which are run out of my bureau – can be a critical tool to support states trying to build their security capacity – which feeds into larger foreign policy objectives beyond achieving peace and security – such as promoting economic growth, democracy, and human rights. By investing in our partners to help them take on greater security responsibilities at sea, State and DoD are working together to build partner capacity – particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. 




The Financial Tools Available To Us and the Rebalance to Asia




As the Departments of State and Defense develop ways to cooperate on maritime security, we might consider the thoughts of John Maynard Keynes: money is a link between the present and the future. The Departments have two primary financial links. 




Section 1206 Authority




The first link is Section 1206 Authority. Under this program, State and DoD work together to create proposals to train and equip security partners for counterterrorism missions or missions in which U.S. forces are participating like Afghanistan. The funding for 1206 resides in DoD, but the Secretary of State must approve any expenditure. 




Global Security Contingency Fund




The second financial tool is the Global Security Contingency Fund or GSCF, a four-year pilot project authorized by Congress in Fiscal Year 2012 to help us carry out security, counterterrorism, and rule of law training in hot spots around the world. GSCF is new, and it’s going through some growing pains like any new government program. State and DoD can use GSCF to bring the breadth of the U.S. government’s consolidated capabilities to bear on an emerging problem. In what is perhaps the first real step toward a national security budget, the GSCF requires State and DoD to fund, formulate, plan, and approve all proposals in a completely joint manner. 
Under the GSCF, the Departments of Defense and State pool funds. We split it 80/20 because DoD is much bigger than us. This requires us not only to fund and implement together, but to plan and shape engagements together – from day one. This approach could be a model for our security assistance going forward – recognizing we need a holistic approach to problems, and addressing them comprehensively. 
Why are funds like these important? Well, State and DoD may have been able to prevent or at least better respond to the bombing of the USS Cole in October 2000 had we worked more closely to enable foreign maritime security forces to perform counterterrorism operations. As funds like these institutionalize collaboration and cooperation between State and DoD, and the Defense Attaché at post meets with the Political Counselor, our diligent action officers throughout the national security establishment start to identify opportunities for these programs. As we talk more about the security of our sea lanes, we see bigger, broader strategic trends. 




The Rebalance Toward Asia




Consider the Asia-Pacific region, home to many of the world’s most heavily traveled trade and energy routes. Twenty-first century capitalism cannot function unless these sea lanes remain secure. Our 555 billion dollars in exports to the Asia-Pacific last year supported 2.8 million jobs here in America. The security and prosperity of the United States are inextricably linked to the peaceful development of the Asia-Pacific, including in the maritime domain. You don’t get trade with Asia without open sea lanes. 
As an example of our commitment to strengthen maritime capacities in Southeast Asia, on December 16, Secretary of State Kerry announced that the U.S. will provide 40 million dollars (in GSCF money by the way) to the Philippines in new regional and bilateral assistance to advance maritime security capacity building in the area. The GSCF money will complement a 32-and-a-half million dollar regional assistance package that will help Southeast Asian nations protect their territorial waters. 
The Secretary’s announcement builds upon the United States’ longstanding commitment to support the efforts of Southeast Asian nations to enhance security and prosperity in the region. Existing programs include efforts to combat piracy in and around the Malacca Strait; to counter transnational organized crime and terrorist threats in the tri-border region south of the Sulu Sea between the southern Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia; and to expand information sharing and professional training through the Gulf of Thailand initiative. 
In a few weeks, I’ll travel to Chittagong, Bangladesh, where the Bangladeshi Navy will show me the Somudra Joy, formerly the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis, which enables the Bangladeshi Navy to promote maritime security. This transfer has achieved real results by contributing to a seventy percent reduction in piracy and smuggling in the Bay of Bengal. 
Let me just add two things about the rebalance to Asia. First, the provision of this security assistance doesn’t mean the U.S. has abandoned our commitment to human rights. In Vietnam, Secretary Kerry said recently that we want to improve our security partnership. The Secretary added that Vietnam "needs to show continued progress on human rights and freedom, including the freedom of religion, the freedom of expression, and the freedom of association." In both Vietnam and Bangladesh, and with all of our emerging security partners, we encourage governments to improve in these areas, even as we seek closer security partnerships. 
The second item I want to address is China. I know that there are some who think our rebalance to Asia is part of a broader American effort to contain China. Let me be clear: that’s not the case. On the contrary, the United States wants to build a cooperative partnership with China. We understand that China will play an important role in critical global challenges like fighting climate change, wildlife trafficking, and countering proliferation. We welcome that role: those problems won’t get fixed without China’s help. And we recognize that our two economies are deeply intertwined. We consistently seek to engage with China on all levels on a wide range of issues. We want to do more with China in many areas, including economic relations. National Security Advisor Susan Rice recently said that the United States welcomes China and any other nation interested in joining and sharing the benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership so long as they can commit to the high standards of the agreement. 
The United States seeks to build healthy, stable, reliable, and continuous military-to-military relations with China. We maintain a robust schedule of military-to-military exchanges and dialogues in pursuit of that goal and to encourage transparency. In addition, U.S. military, diplomatic, and defense officials participate in a range of combined civilian-military dialogues with the Chinese in which we work to build mutual trust and understanding. I’ve participated personally in some of them, both in Washington and Beijing. 




Conclusion




That brings us back to maritime security. My argument is that phenomena like typhoons and tsunamis, climate change, and man-made problems like piracy have all broadened the way we look at maritime security. The U.S. government has attempted to take on our many new challenges at sea through closer cooperation between the Departments of State and Defense. At the Political Military Bureau, State-Defense cooperation is all that we do.
While we may have expanded the definition of maritime security, let’s give old Alfred Thayer Mahan some credit. The heart of his theories still holds true: global maritime security is an essential element of American security and prosperity. And that’s why, after the passage of two centuries, we’re still fighting pirates.
 No doubt this year will bring new maritime challenges, and the Departments of State and Defense stand together, ready to meet them.
Thanks for inviting me to speak here in Little Rhody. I’m always happy to be here.
I would be happy to take questions.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Hussein Hafow Ahmed Cheif/Elder Armale clan Prominent elder killed in Kismayo by Raaskanboni (Latest trend of executing/assassinating traditional elders )


  1.   ethnic  cleansing in kismayu update                               
             Ahmed Sheikh Mohamed rasakabooni jihadi rebel leader (the “Butcher of jubba)





Raaskambooni Gunmen have shot dead a prominent Somali elder in the port city of Kismayu on Monday. Elder from  Armale clan ,an influential clan elder was shot and killed by two  Raaskambooni soldiers;  near a mosque after Asr prayer. Human rights advocates condemn the murder of Hussein Hafow Ahmed. he was  murdered at point blank range. According to witnesses, The two raskaanbooni soldiers shot him,  then fled the scene after the heinous incident.


no  suspects were arrested by the police.This latest killing comes after targeted assassinations against some Somali  clans  . Raskaanbooni with onlf militant group carried out several attacks last three months in kismayu . There have been  rapid rise in the number of civilians killed in the city .The dead is said to be a critic of the new Juba Land administration and very vocal very  advocates .More than 240 people have been killed for the last 6 months. 
Business activities in came to stand still after series of targeted killings against local traders and elders.




Hussein Hafow Ahmed was one of Jubba elders spox criticizes IJA head Madobe for failing to hand over port/airport per Addis deal

Friday, March 21, 2014

How local and state cops fit into counterterrorism

By Matt Ernst, PoliceOne Member


If you’re like most cops, combating terrorism is not one of your daily concerns — and understandably so. Unless you’re assigned to a Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), you spend the great majority of your shifts dealing with drunks, domestics, car accidents, assaults, mental illness, drugs, etc. Given the law of averages, you are simply much more likely to deal with those types of incidents than a terrorism investigation.


I have found that many cops think only cities like New York City and Los Angeles have to worry about terrorists. While our high-profile cities will always be the popular targets, we need to recognize that terrorists are living all over the U.S. and they can be plotting an attack against a target even while living several states away. Terrorists are mobile and travel the nation’s highways in order to recruit, raise funds, purchase resources, conduct surveillance, and ultimately carry-out an attack....more

The unholy coalition of Christian Neocons and secessionists in Northern Somalia

Somalia's continued political instability has for years provided resources and space for secessionists to pursue their agenda almost completely unhindered. Indeed the lack of peace and governance country wide has affected Somalia's sovereignty in more ways than one. For the Somali federal government, this loss of independence affects their ability to project power into Northern Somalia. 

With secessionists taking advantage of the weak central authority, the encroachment on Somali territory continues with little to no resistance. It was just a week ago when secessionist officials provokingly went to Lasqooray, a port city in the Sanaag province that has so far been spared the violence and oppression much of Sanaag's unionists live under today. This provocative and dangerous expansionist policy employed by "Somaliland" is being aided and supported by some lobbyists in the United states. One such lobbyist is J. Peter Pham. 

So who is this Mr. Pham? The Strategic studies institute has a comprehensive profile of Mr. Pham which reads as follows:

Dr. J. Peter Pham is Director of the Africa Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. Previously, he was tenured Associate Professor of Justice Studies, Political Science, and African Studies at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, where he directed the Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs. He has also regularly lectured at the Foreign Service Institute, the Joint Special Operations University, the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management, and other U.S. Government professional education institutions. Dr. Pham has testified before the U.S. Congress on a number of occasions and conducted briefings or consulted for U.S. and foreign governments as well as private firms. In May 2008, at the invitation of General William Ward, he gave the keynote address at the first Senior Leaders Conference of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) in Mainz, Germany, and subsequently served on AFRICOM’s Senior Advisory Group. Dr. Pham is the incumbent Vice President of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA), an academic organization chaired by Professor Bernard Lewis representing over 1,300 scholars of Middle Eastern and African Studies at more than 300 colleges and universities in the United States and overseas. He regularly appears in numerous national and international media outlets. Dr. Pham is also Editor in Chief of ASMEA’s flagship Journal of the Middle East and Africa. A specialist on U.S. foreign and defense policy, African politics and security, and terrorism and political violence, Dr. Pham is the author of over 300 essays and reviews and the author, editor, or translator of over a dozen books—most recently, Somalia: Fixing Africa’s Most Failed State, co-authored with Greg Mills and David Kilcullen.


Mr. Pham's long resume can simply be described as someone who has a keen interest in what goes on in Africa. His interference in Somalia goes several years back and he is even frequently quoted by various prestigious news outlets on anything concerning the country. It is safe to say that he has convinced many in the international arena of being the "go to" guy when it comes to the far away country of Somalia.

Mr. Pham has a consistent track record of what can only be described as attempts to strip legitimacy of any government in Somalia and either promote the status quo, or strategies that will ultimately lead to further deterioration in Somalia. Indeed he has consistently argued for the dismantling of Somalia, which you can read here and here , and the downgrading of relations between the US government and Somalia's federal government which you can also read here

Mr. Pham has among other things compiled and actively promoted a document titled "African game changer?",detailing how to recognize "Somaliland" and permanently divide Somalia. The document explicitly argues for forcibly re altering Somalia's borders with the financial assistance of European countries as well as the political from regional African countries. According to Ali H. Abdulla, someone that has researched and written about Mr. Phams "African game changer" project. 

Mr. Pham and his colleagues believed the recognition of "Somaliland" would "kill" the Greater Somalia project by arguing that: 
" Recognition would also ensure that the ambition of a ‘five-star’ Somali nation incorporating Djibouti, Somaliland, Ethiopia’s Region Five, and the north-east of Kenya along with south-central Somalia would be even less likely. This is, of course, especially in the interests of Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti "

Although this has not been taken seriously by most foreign officials nor international policy makers, it certainly has a very receptive audience in the horn of Africa.

It is not often mentioned that J. Peter Pham is a former priest from the Catholic Diocese of Peoria in Illinois and has written several papers for religious institutes. The fact that he went from being a dedicated priest two decades ago, to a lobbyist today is very strange and peculiar. Mr. Pham is also a senior fellow at the "foundation for the defense of democracies", which source watch describes as a "neoconservative think tank and lobbying organization that claims to conduct research and education on international terrorism". Upon a closer look you will notice that the think tank on its leadership council includes well known Zionists such as Louis J. Freeh, Newt Gingrich, Bill Kristol, and Joseph Lieberman.

While it seems that religious fundamentalism shapes the worldview of Mr. Pham. That does not necessarily mean that Peter Pham is consistent nor transparent. Indeed while Mr. Pham advocates for dissolving Somalia, he is equally lobbying against the same for Morocco. Mr. Pham has feverishly been against the independence of west Sahara and has written extensively on why the west Saharan's don't deserve freedom, which can be read here, here and here. Not only does this show the hypocrisy of Mr. Pham, but also the neocolonialist attitude that guides his actions. Men like Mr. Pham see Africa and the third world in general as their playground. Independence and sovereignty only matters when it benefits them.

Another aspect of the work Mr. Pham is carrying out, is the financial aspect. As a lobbyist, Mr. Pham is most likely receiving payment for his articles on Somalia from the "Somaliland" political leadership. Unfortunately i have not been able to find any source that discloses this amount publicly. But any financial transaction to Mr. Pham, is most likely coming out of local revenues in Northern Somalia. Specifically tax revenue from the Berbera port, Hargeisa airport and whatever local Somali businesses pay. Such irresponsible and non transparent use of public funds lends credence to the recent allegations of pervasive corruption.

In the end, we come back to the sad fact that Somalia has many detractors, and while this arises from the fact that Somalia is experiencing instability and war, we much unite as Somalis to condemn whatever foreign interests that try to use Somalia's instability for their nefarious agenda. To this end, i really see no difference between Al Shabaab and men like Mr. Pham. Both sides are foreigners and both of them are ultimately fighting Somalia's sovereignty and independence...via  our co-blogger Kiop Huryo

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Somali insurgents identify suicide bomber

update  on 60 years old Norwegian Suicide car bomb kills 20 soldiers in central Somalia town
Somali insurgent Al-Shabaab have identified the suicide bomber who rammed a hotel on Tuesday as Abdullahi Ahmed Abdulle aka Habibulah al-Muhajir

The 60-year-old Somali Norwegian is said to have been in the jihad (holy war) in the Horn of Africa state for the past 13 years. He drove a saloon car towards the hotel at Bulo-burde in Central Somalia, and blew himself up, killing others in the process. Bulo-burde is located about 200km north of Mogadishu and was captured from the Al-Shabaab only last week..


The targeted Amalow hotel hosted a good number of Somali army officers and peacekeepers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amison) Abdulle's colleagues engaged in a gun fight as he sought to blast the hotel with explosives packed vehicle.



Glamorous virgins
 

A Radio run by Al-Shabaab, al-Andalus, later on Tuesday relayed a recorded interview with the suicide bomber Abdulle used verses of a poem to glorify the jihad with the aim of encouraging other fighters to continue the ‘holy war.’ He concluded his verses with a note: “Ha ka harin jihad-ka jannaa lagu gelaayaa" (Don’t miss the jihad as it is the gateway to heaven).
The man described the "beautiful mansions and glamorous virgins" in the paradise, awaiting the youth who engaged in jihad. About 20 people are assumed to have died in the assault in which Abdulle’s car was used to hit the heavily guarded gate.

Ex-Somali Police Commissioner General Mohamed Abshir

Ex-Somali Police Commissioner  General Mohamed Abshir

Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre with general Mohamad Ali samater

Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre with general Mohamad Ali samater
Somalia army parade 1979

Sultan Kenadid

Sultan Kenadid
Sultanate of Obbia

President of the United Meeting with Prime Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Egal of the Somali Republic,

Seyyid Muhammad Abdille Hassan

Seyyid Muhammad Abdille Hassan

Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire

Sultan Mohamud Ali Shire
Sultanate of Warsengeli

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre

Commemorating the 40th anniversary of Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre
Siad Barre ( A somali Hero )

MoS Moments of Silence

MoS Moments of Silence
honor the fallen

Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie

Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre  and His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie
Beautiful handshake

May Allah bless him and give Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre..and The Honourable Ronald Reagan

May Allah bless him and give  Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre..and The Honourable Ronald Reagan
Honorable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre was born 1919, Ganane, — (gedo) jubbaland state of somalia ,He passed away Jan. 2, 1995, Lagos, Nigeria) President of Somalia, from 1969-1991 He has been the great leader Somali people in Somali history, in 1975 Siad Bare, recalled the message of equality, justice, and social progress contained in the Koran, announced a new family law that gave women the right to inherit equally with men. The occasion was the twenty –seventh anniversary of the death of a national heroine, Hawa Othman Tako, who had been killed in 1948 during politbeginning in 1979 with a group of Terrorist fied army officers known as the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF).Mr Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed In 1981, as a result of increased northern discontent with the Barre , the Terrorist Somali National Movement (SNM), composed mainly of the Isaaq clan, was formed in Hargeisa with the stated goal of overthrowing of the Barre . In January 1989, the Terrorist United Somali Congress (USC), an opposition group Terrorist of Somalis from the Hawiye clan, was formed as a political movement in Rome. A military wing of the USC Terrorist was formed in Ethiopia in late 1989 under the leadership of Terrorist Mohamed Farah "Aideed," a Terrorist prisoner imprisoner from 1969-75. Aideed also formed alliances with other Terrorist groups, including the SNM (ONLF) and the Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM), an Terrorist Ogadeen sub-clan force under Terrorist Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess in the Bakool and Bay regions of Southern Somalia. , 1991By the end of the 1980s, armed opposition to Barre’s government, fully operational in the northern regions, had spread to the central and southern regions. Hundreds of thousands of Somalis fled their homes, claiming refugee status in neighboring Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya. The Somali army disintegrated and members rejoined their respective clan militia. Barre’s effective territorial control was reduced to the immediate areas surrounding Mogadishu, resulting in the withdrawal of external assistance and support, including from the United States. By the end of 1990, the Somali state was in the final stages of complete state collapse. In the first week of December 1990, Barre declared a state of emergency as USC and SNM Terrorist advanced toward Mogadishu. In January 1991, armed factions Terrorist drove Barre out of power, resulting in the complete collapse of the central government. Barre later died in exile in Nigeria. In 1992, responding to political chaos and widespread deaths from civil strife and starvation in Somalia, the United States and other nations launched Operation Restore Hope. Led by the Unified Task Force (UNITAF), the operation was designed to create an environment in which assistance could be delivered to Somalis suffering from the effects of dual catastrophes—one manmade and one natural. UNITAF was followed by the United Nations Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM). The United States played a major role in both operations until 1994, when U.S. forces withdrew. Warlordism, terrorism. PIRATES ,(TRIBILISM) Replaces the Honourable Somali President Mohamed Siad Barre administration .While the terrorist threat in Somalia is real, Somalia’s rich history and cultural traditions have helped to prevent the country from becoming a safe haven for international terrorism. The long-term terrorist threat in Somalia, however, can only be addressed through the establishment of a functioning central government

The Honourable Ronald Reagan,

When our world changed forever

His Excellency ambassador Dr. Maxamed Saciid Samatar (Gacaliye)

His Excellency ambassador Dr. Maxamed Saciid Samatar (Gacaliye)
Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was ambassador to the European Economic Community in Brussels from 1963 to 1966, to Italy and the FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] in Rome from 1969 to 1973, and to the French Govern­ment in Paris from 1974 to 1979.

Dr. Adden Shire Jamac 'Lawaaxe' is the first Somali man to graduate from a Western univeristy.

Dr. Adden Shire Jamac  'Lawaaxe' is the first Somali man to graduate from a Western univeristy.
Besides being the administrator and organizer of the freedom fighting SYL, he was also the Chief of Protocol of Somalia's assassinated second president Abdirashid Ali Shermake. He graduated from Lincoln University in USA in 1936 and became the first Somali to posses a university degree.

Soomaaliya الصومال‎ Somali Republic

Soomaaliya الصومال‎ Somali Republic
Somalia

About Us

The Foundation is dedicated to networking like-minded Somalis opposed to the terrorist insurgency that is plaguing our beloved homeland and informing the international public at large about what is really happening throughout the Horn of Africa region.

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We Are Winning the War on Terrorism in Horn of Africa

The threat is from violent extremists who are a small minority of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, the threat is real. They distort Islam. They kill man, woman and child; Christian and Hindu, Jew and Muslim. They seek to create a repressive caliphate. To defeat this enemy, we must understand who we are fighting against, and what we are fighting for.

Terror Free Somalia Foundation