Warning: Undefined array key "rbname" in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 14
Hello !

Africa Horn

Somalia president reshuffles military amid operations against Al-Shabaab

2023-09-21

[Garowe] President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has for the second time this year reshuffled top officers within the Somali National Army [SNA], in what comes amid an ongoing crackdown against al-Shabaab ...... the Islamic version of the old Somali warlord... bandidos snuffies across the country, in the exercise of powers conferred on him as the Commander-in-Chief of the national army. On Monday, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conducted a mini-reshuffle which saw Brigadier General Madey Nurey Sheikh appointed Deputy Army Commander. The reshuffle comes weeks after a deadly al-Shabaab in Cawsweyne village, Galmudug ...a semiautonomous region in central Somalia, bordering Puntland on the north. Galmudug is not trying to obtain international recognition as a separate nation, but rather considers itself autonomous within the larger Somali federalism, for what that's worth... state which left many soldiers dead. The mini-reshuffle also saw Dayah Abdi Abdulle promoted to Colonel and he will be the new commander of Land Forces, replacing Brigadier General Ahmed Adan Ali who was only appointed to the post in June. The changes come as a shock given the military is actively engaged in the battlefields. "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Brigadier Madey Nurey Sheikh, the newly appointed Deputy Commander of the Somali National Army and Lieutenant Colonel Dayah Abdi Abdulle, the new Commander of Land Forces. We hope they bring new experiences to the offensive against Khawarij," the Ministry of Defence announced. In June, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the decree appointing Brigadier General Ibrahim Sheikh Muhiyadin as the new army chief; and Brigadier General Ahmed Adan Ali as the new Land Forces commander. Muhiyadin is the former commander of the Presidential Guards and had studied army logistics at a Modena military college, in Italia. Ali was one of the officers trained in Æthiopia during President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed’s time. Most recently he was the deputy commander of the 12th April Sector of the army. Muhiyadin replaced Brig. Gen. Odawaa Yusuf Rageh, while Ali replaced Brig. Gen. Mohammed Tahlil Bihi. The troops are currently involved in active operations in central Somalia within HirShabelle and Galmadug states and in due course, most of them will be deployed to Jubaland and Southwest states for similar operations. They are working closely with US Africa Command and the African Union ...a union consisting of 53 African states, most run by dictators of one flavor or another. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established in 2002, the AU is the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was even less successful... Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS] troops.

Link

Africa Horn

Museveni pushed for 'big stick' treatment of Eritrea on Somalia

2010-12-10

[Daily Nation (Kenya)] Uganda pushed for tougher UN sanctions against Eritrea and its leader, President Isaias Afewerki, for supplying weapons to Somalia in 2007. In the leaked US diplomatic cables, Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni also criticised former Transitional Federal Government President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed for non-inclusivity and slow pace of building a national army. Eritrea's actions combined with the behaviour of President Yusuf were seen as contributing to the insecurity in war-torn Somalia. In the leaked cable dated September 2007, President Museveni was quoted in a dispatch from the US embassy in Kampala pushing for tough action against Eritrea and pressure on TFG leader Yusuf to be more inclusive and announce a timeline for the transition to democracy. "Museveni said President Isaias was preoccupied with trying to unseat (Ethiopian Prime Minister) Meles (Zenawi). "That was all Isaias talked about, yet Museveni observed that Meles did not appear to be in any less control of Ethiopia despite Isaias, actions," Ambassador Steven Browning wrote. The cable arose out of a meeting between the president and former US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer on September 5 in Kampala. Somalia has been at war with itself since dictator Siad Barre was overthrown in early 1990s. Uganda takes keen interest in Somalia and currently, together with Burundi, it contributes troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) as peacekeepers. Restore security President Museveni believed that Eritrea's actions in Somalia undermined regional and international efforts to restore security. President Museveni thus proposed to Ms Frazer that President Afewerki "needed to be talked to by the members of the UN Security Council who carry a big stick."

Link

Africa Horn

UN envoy welcomes expansion of Somali Parliament

2009-01-27

(Xinhua) -- UN Special Representative for Somalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah on Monday welcomed the overwhelming vote by Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament in favour of expanding the legislative body by an additional 275 Members. "I am extremely encouraged by this vote and I would like to thank Somalia's leaders, the Parliamentarians and all those who have helped work towards such a positive step," Ould-Abdallah saidin a statement issued in Nairobi. The Parliamentary vote, which took place in Djibouti on Monday, resulted in 211 MPs voting in favour of expansion with six against and three abstentions. The Somali Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia agreed last October on the outline of enlarging Somalia's Transitional Federal Parliament and forming a Government of National Unity. Up to 200 new members of Parliament, selected by the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) are expected to be sworn in Djibouti while the expanded Parliament will subsequently elect a new president. The other 75 seats are being kept for members of civil society and opposition who are not members of the ARS. "This is a very good result and will demonstrate to the Somali people that their leaders are committed to moving forward together to restore peace and stability," said Ould-Abdallah. The international community hopes a more inclusive Somali government will be able to reach out to armed groups who are still fighting the interim government and targeting African Union peacekeepers in the capital Mogadishu. "It means Somalia will have a new President who will be able to attend the African Union Summit of Heads of State in Addis Ababa on Feb. 1, demonstrating the progress that was made here in a short space of time." "The international community has also made a key contribution with support for the Parliamentary meetings and, as always, Djibouti has provided most welcome hospitality and backing," said the UN special representative. ARS leader Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed announced on Sunday he would contest the presidential election. Sharif and Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein are seen as the two main presidential contenders. More than a dozen candidates are expected to vie to succeed former President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed who stepped down last month after falling out with the prime minister over a UN-backed peace deal. The lawmakers are also mulling whether to extend by some 10 days over Wednesday's deadline for choosing a new president, to allow contenders time to campaign. But Ould-Abdallah had earlier urged the parliament to respect its Jan. 28 deadline for selecting Yusuf's successor. Under the constitutional charter, a new Somali president, who in turn will appoint a new prime minister, should be chosen by parliament within 30 days of the resignation of the last one.

Link

Africa Horn

Somalia's insurgents retake central towns

2008-12-30

Radical fighters on Monday regained control of two towns in central Somalia after two days of clashes with a rival group that left at least 20 dead, witnesses said. The Al Shabab fighters battled the Ahle Sunna Wal-jama'ah - a moderate religious group - for control of Guriel and Dhusamareb. "The Shabab fighters completely control Guriel town after pushing out the Ahle Sunna Wal-jama'ah and other fighters," Guriel resident Abdullahi Mahamud Yusuf said. At least five people were killed and eight wounded in Guriel on Monday in new fighting between the two sides. The Shabab also recaptured Dhusamareb, some 400 kilometres northeast of Mogadishu. The unrest came as President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed resigned after four years in office marred by bitter power struggles that plunged the country into further turmoil. On Sunday, Ahle Sunna Wal-jama'ah called for a jihad against the Shabab, blaming them for increased bloodshed in the country. A Shabab official blamed Ethiopian troops of supporting some religious groups against them. "Ethiopia is arming some groups with religious names who are attacking the Shabab fighters. They won't succeed in their goal which is aimed to stop the jihad against the enemy of Allah," Sheikh Husein Sheik Ali Fido said.

Link

Africa Horn

Somali MPs absent parliament

2008-12-20

Nearly half of Somali lawmakers reportedly refused to turn up in the parliament after alleged death threats targeting the president's allies. The no-show was triggered by a Thursday break-in into the parliament's building by unidentified soldiers and gunmen, Aljazeera TV reported on its website. The forced entry had been made to gag opposition to the parliament spokesman Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Modobe)'s verdict on divisive issues, the source added. The country's President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed sparked considerable opposition after he 'unconstitutionally' replaced Premier Nur Hassan Hussein with his own appointee Mohamud Mohamed Guled. There is currently a gaping gulf between the parliamentarians who have rallied around the president's choice and those advocating the reinstatement of Nur Hassan Hussain; the most outstanding among them being the spokesman and a former leader of armed opposition Mohamed Nur. On Thursday night the house of Hussein-allied MP Khadija Mohammed Diriye, who was recently appointed as a cabinet minister was raided by gunmen reported to be government soldiers, the Press TV correspondent in Somalia reported. The recent developments have turned the southern town of Baidoa the seat of the parliament into a flashpoint. The dismissed premier has staunchly called for the ouster of President Yusuf. 140 lawmakers joined his camp leaving out only 40 others to bring the decision into effect. Hassan Hussein is currently in Djibouti on reconciliation efforts to meet with Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed the leader of the more cociliatory faction of the Somali opposition the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS). The political standoff has been exacerbated by steadfast resistance on the part of opposition camps including the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) and its militiamen Al-Shabaab.

Link

Africa Horn

Tanker 'will be freed without ransom'

2008-12-01

SOMALI President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed says a Saudi oil tanker seized by Somali pirates will be freed soon without a ransom. "It is not true that the hijackers have demanded a ransom of millions of dollars to release it," he said told the Saudi newspaper Okaz. "We are confident that efforts made by tribal leaders and government officials will result soon in releasing the ship without any ransom." The vessel remains anchored off the coast of Somalia. Pirates who seized the Sirius Star on November 15 had given the owners of the giant oil carrier up to Sunday to pay a ransom of $25 million. The capture of the super tanker, carrying two million barrels of oil, sent shockwaves through the shipping world and prompted some companies to re-route via the Cape of Good Hope. Hundreds of sailors captured in numerous piracy attacks are currently being held hostage on the Somali coast, with the largest number coming from Asian countries like the Philippines.

Link

Africa Horn

Islamists control nearly all of Somalia --President

2008-11-18

(SomaliNet) Islamist fighters now control almost all of Somalia, Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed says. The Somali leader was speaking in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, where both he and the Somali parliament now reside. Mr. Yusuf says the Islamists have now reached the suburbs of both the Somali capital Mogadishu and the normal seat of the country's parliament, Baidoa. Mogadishu and Baidoa are the only Somali cities still in government hands. Mr. Yusuf's announcement comes a day after the news that the talks intended to lead to a new Somali government had failed. The parties involved cannot agree about the members of a new cabinet.

Link

Africa Horn

Somali government near collapse

2008-11-16

Speaking to the MPs at the Kenyan capital, Somalian President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed says that government is on the verge of being demolished by insurgency. On Saturday, Abdullahi Yusuf urged Somali MPs in Nairobi to return to the country immediately to build a new government. The president confessed that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) controls small parts of Mogadishu and Baidoa and the two areas are under persistent attacks from the insurgents. Yusuf refused to agree to a cabinet list submitted by Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein earlier and accused the premier of dissolving the cabinet and appointing ministers that don't care about the country. "You know Elasha Biyaha (outside Mogadishu) that close to Mogadishu was captured, Yusuf further added. Analysts say that the two leaders are competing to dominate the parliament.

Link

Africa Horn

EU launches anti-piracy mission off Somalia

2008-11-11

The European Union formally launched on Monday an anti-piracy security operation off the coast of Somalia - its first ever naval mission - the EU's French presidency said. Yeah, yeah. They keep "launching" these missions, but nothing ever seems to take off. Put them under the command of the Puntland Coast Guard or the French Navy and maybe something would actually get done. Dubbed Operation Atalanta, the mission was endorsed by the bloc's defence ministers at talks in Brussels. EU ships will also help protect UN and other vulnerable vessels seeking to transport aid into strife-torn Somalia. "I hope that it will be in place by December," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said, as the bloc's defence and foreign ministers held talks in Brussels. The so-called EUNAVOR operation will be made up of at least seven ships, including three frigates and a supply vessel. It will also be backed by surveillance aircraft. The mission will be run from a headquarters at Northwood, north of London, with contributions from France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain, with Portugal, Sweden and non-EU nation Norway also likely to take part. "Our participation in the Somalia project is an important one," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told reporters. "This is obviously a very challenging project but one that European leaders are approaching with real humility as well as determination," he said. The EU initiative was taken after Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed urged Somalis and the international community to combat rising piracy off the lawless nation's waters. Last month, a maritime watchdog said Somali pirates were now responsible for nearly a third of all reported attacks on ships, often using violence and taking hostages. On Friday, heavily-armed Somali pirates seized a Danish-managed cargo ship with 13 crew. NATO warships recently arrived in the region in a bid to secure the maritime delivery of food aid to the civilian population of Somalia, where a deadly civil conflict continues to rage. India and Russia have also sent ships to the area on anti-piracy duties. The International Maritime Bureau said 63 of the 199 piracy incidents recorded worldwide in the first nine months of this year occurred in the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. The Somalian figure is almost double that of the same period last year. Somalia's well-organised pirates prey on a key maritime route leading to the Suez Canal through which some 30 percent of the world's oil is transported. The pirates operate high-powered speedboats and are heavily armed, sometimes holding ships for weeks until they are released for large ransoms paid by governments or owners. France, which has a major military base in neighbouring Djibouti, is so far the only country to have used its firepower against the pirates, in April and September operations following hostage-takings. Under the mission's rules of engagement, EU nations that capture any pirates will not be allowed to hand them over to a state where suspects could face the death penalty, torture or degrading treatment.

Link

Africa Horn

EU launches anti-piracy mission off Somalia

2008-11-10

BRUSSELS (AFP) -- The European Union launched Monday a security operation off the coast of Somalia -- its first-ever naval mission -- to combat growing acts of piracy and help protect aid ships. Dubbed Operation Atalanta, the mission, endorsed by the bloc's defence ministers at talks in Brussels, will be led by Britain, with its headquarters in Northwood, near London. "Britain is a great military power, it's a nice symbol that this operation be commanded by a British officer and from a British headquarters," French Defence Minister Herve Morin said, after chairing the meeting. "It is a great symbol of the evolution in European defence, and I would say, of its coming of age," he told reporters. The so-called EUNAVOR operation will be made up of at least seven ships, three of them frigates and one a supply vessel. It will also be backed by surveillance aircraft. It will include contributions from eight to 10 countries including France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain, with Portugal, Sweden and non-EU nation Norway also likely to take part. Seven ships, ten countries. I never was much good at math ... "Our participation in the Somalia project is an important one," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told reporters. "This is obviously a very challenging project but one that European leaders are approaching with real humility as well as determination," he said. The EU initiative was taken after Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed urged Somalis and the international community to combat rising piracy off the lawless nation's waters. Last month, a maritime watchdog said Somali pirates were now responsible for nearly a third of all reported attacks on ships, often using violence and taking hostages. Meanwhile, the Danish operator of a cargo ship seized off the Somali coast by pirates last week with 13 crew members on board said it had received demands from the hijackers Monday."We have been contacted by the pirates who spelt out their demands. I do not want to say anything else at the current time for the security of the crew," the head of Clipper Projects, Per Gullestrup, told AFP. He added that the crew members, who include 11 Russians, a Georgian and an Estonian, are doing well and have been allowed to contact their families by telephone. Despite its country's involvement in the latest pirate attack, Denmark is prevented from contributing to the mission because of a joint defence agreement signed in 1992. NATO warships recently arrived in the region in a bid to secure the maritime delivery of food aid to the civilian population of Somalia, where a deadly civil conflict continues to rage. India and Russia have also sent ships to the area on anti-piracy duties. The International Maritime Bureau said 63 of the 199 piracy incidents recorded worldwide in the first nine months of this year occurred in the waters off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. The Somali figure is almost double that of the same period last year. France, which has a major military base in neighbouring Djibouti, is so far the only country to have used its firepower against the pirates, in April and September operations following hostage-takings. Under the mission's rules of engagement, EU nations that capture any pirates will not be allowed to hand them over to a state where suspects could face the death penalty, torture or degrading treatment. So...are they going to Disneyworld?

Link

Africa Horn

Somalia: President Yusuf okays Russian ships in pirate fight

2008-10-02

(SomaliNet) Somalia's ambassador to Moscow said Wednesday that Somalia welcomes Russian help in fighting piracy off its coast and is "not satisfied" with warships from other countries. Ambassador Mohammed Mahmud Handule said at a press conference in Moscow that Somlai President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed "gave permission for Russian ships to enter the sea (off Somalia) and fight the pirates in the sea and on the coast." Handule spoke as a Russian warship headed to the African country's coast amid a standoff between the US Navy and Somali pirates over a hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship carrying tanks and other arms. The Somali ambassador criticised the activities of foreign warships off Somalia, although he did not name any countries. "Many warships can be found near our shores, but we are not satisfied with the results of their activities," said Handule. We're not either, but likely for different reasons ... "More than 10 countries are patrolling (Somalia waters) but we have asked Russia and she agreed to our request," he said, referring to an international effort to contain piracy. Handule also offered warm words for Moscow, a former Cold War ally of Somalia. The enovy praised Russia's conduct in its war with Georgia in August and said Somalia would follow Moscow in recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the rebel Georgian regions at the heart of the war. There you go: Iran, Syria, Venezuela and now Somalia recognize the breakaway regions: who else do you need?

Link

Africa Horn

Ethiopian troops postpone leaving Somalia

2008-09-22

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zanawi says that his country's troops will continue to stay in Somalia until their objectives are met. "The idea of withdrawing troops out of Somalia while its transitional President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed counts on our support is totally unacceptable. Yusuf Ahmad is a friend of ours and we will not leave him alone," the Ethiopian premier told local journalists in Addis Ababa on Sunday. Zanawi's remarks came as he had earlier vowed to pull Ethiopian's forces out of conflict-stricken Somalia at the very earliest.

Link

Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$T in /data/rantburg.com/www/pgrecentorg.php on line 132
-12 More