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Africa Horn
Somalia: President Is Shielding Pirate Leader, U.N. Report Says
2012-07-19
(Sh.M.Network)-President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed has shielded a top pirate leader from arrest by issuing him a diplomatic passport, according to a United Nations
...When talk is your weapon it's hard to make yourself heard over the sound of artillery...
 inquiry, which criticizes the "climate of impunity" enjoyed by pirate kingpins in Somalia and abroad.

The United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia said in a report to the Security Council that senior pirate leaders were benefiting from high-level protection from Somali authorities and were not being sufficiently sought by international authorities.

The group said a diplomatic passport had been provided "with the authorization of" Mr. Ahmed to Mohamed Abdi Hassan, a pirate leader also known as Afweyne, who presented it to authorities in Malaysia on a trip there in April.

The report said Mr. Ahmed said the passport was "one of several inducements" for Afweyne aimed at dismantling his pirate network.

Mr. Ahmed, in a letter to the chairman of the Security Council Sanctions Committee, called the report "one-sided" and described its contents as "unsubstantiated allegations."
Link


Africa Horn
Somalia marks 52nd year of independence
2012-06-27
(Sh. M. Network)- Somali president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and the president of the self-declared Somaliland Ahmed M. Silanyo, congratulated the people of Somalia in the country and abroad the anniversary of the Independence of the Somali Republic.

On the occasion of the 52nd, the daySomalia's northern regions attained internal self-rule from the colonist of United Kingdomin in 1960,Somalia president also wished the people of Somalia a blessed and happy Independence Day on 26th June in 1960.

"I want to express my excellent wishes to Somalia and its citizens both in the country and out of the country on the occasion of 26th June, the 52nd anniversary of the Independence," said Somali president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.
Link


Africa Horn
Somali-Somaliland talks wraps up with agreeing to an 8-point plan
2012-06-23
(Sh.M.Network)- Technical committees from Somaliland and Somalia who met on Thursday in Chevening House inKent, on the outskirts ofLondon,UK capital, have agreed to an 8-point plan including future talks.

The talks which went for two intense days at Chevening House, both parties concluded with positive outcome, mainly to establish a framework for future substantive talks between Somali and Somaliland presidents Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed and .

Both sides have sent a team of five members who ratified to an 8-point plan during their first face-to-face dialogue in 21 years with observers from the hosting and co-hosting European Union,Norwayand the British government.

Here's a summary of Chevening Declaration:
  • Agreed that the talks would take place between two sides -- the TFG (or its replacement) and Somaliland, in accordance with paragraph 6 of the London Conference Communiqué and paragraph 10 of the Istanbul II Conference Communiqué;

  • Noted the need to adopt a common approach to avoid anything that would undermine the continuation of the talks as defined above;

  • Committed to the continuation of the talks and called on the two presidents to meet to review progress as soon as possible;

  • Called on the international community to continue to facilitate the talks, including providing the two sides with external experts on legal, economic and security matters;

  • Agreed to share experience on working more effectively with the international community on the use of development and humanitarian assistance for the people of both sides and called for the international community to increase that assistance;

  • Agreed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism, extremism and serious crimes;

  • Agreed to cooperate in the fight against piracy at sea and on land, maritime crime, illegal fishing and toxic dumping; and

  • Reiterated their support for ending the Transition in Somalia.
    • Link


    Africa Horn
    Somali president meets with Traditional Elders in Mogadishu
    2012-06-08
    (Sh. M. Network)-Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, The president ofSomalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), has on Thursday held a meeting with the Traditional Elders of Somalia in Mogadishu.

    During the meeting Somali president called upon the Elders to convene in a little while the newly established committee to manage conflicts in Somali Traditional tasked to select the constituency assembly that will also expected to approve the draft constitution and appoint a new parliament of Somalia before next august.
    Link


    Africa Horn
    Mortars hit Somalia's presidential palace
    2012-05-05
    (Sh.M.Network)- Nearly 10 mortars slammed at Somalia's presidential palace on Friday night as kabooms and gunfire rocked Mogadishu in the latest outbreak of violence in chaotic Somalia, witnesses said.

    "I can confirm two mortars have hit near VillaSomalia," a source told Shabelle Media of the building where President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed stays. "We do not have word yet if there were casualties or not."

    More than a dozen kabooms boomed across Mogadishu and gunfire rattled out to break a lull in the violence of several days in the coastal capital of the Horn of Africa nation.

    "I have heard more than a dozen kabooms ... now there is no gunfire," said a resident

    Also in the news, unknown gunnies have overnight attacked on government bases in Mogadishu, triggering face-to-face gun-battle that lasted two hours.

    At least four government soldiers were killed last night in Mogadishu. Al shabab group has so said it was behind the killing.
    Link


    Africa Horn
    Two headless bodies found in rebel-held Afgoye town, south Somalia
    2012-05-02
    (Sh. M. Network)-- Two headless bodies of young boys have been found on Tuesday in a rebel-held area, south of Somalia's capital,Mogadishu, local residents said.

    Witnesses who spoke Shabelle Media on condition of anonymity because of fears for his safety said the two beheaded bodies are still lying at Bar Ismail checkpoint in the heart of Afgoye, 30 Km south of Mogadishu.

    Relatives and friends say they were denied access to remove the bodies from the area by Al shabab fighters. Bullets could be seen on the body of one of the two beheaded boys that is thought to the bullets he was killed, according to Eyewitnesses.

    No group has grabbed credit for the killings, but Al-Shabaab
    ... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
     has beheaded individuals in the past that it accused of spying for theU.S.- and U.N.-backed Somali government led by president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.

    Islamic beturbanned goons who now control few areas of south and central Somalia face increasing military pressure from Somali government and AU forces as well as fighters from Ahlu Sunna waljama'a (ASWJ), a moderate Sufi Moslem group that signed a power-sharing peace deal with the government.
    Link


    Africa Horn
    Minster defiant to be sacked from his office by Somali president
    2012-04-23
    (Sh.M.Network)- Mohamed Muhidin Sheikh Mursal, the minister of Labor, Youth and sports for Somali government has refused a removal announcement from office which made by Somali president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.

    In a declaration released from the office of Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Saturday confirmed the dismissal of Mr. Mohamed Muhidin Sheikh Mursal from the ministry of Labor, Youth and sports.

    Mr. Mursal denied incompetence of his job,saying his removal was illegal and in accordance with the constitution of Somali government.

    The statement noted various reasons for the sacking of Mr. Mohamed Mursal from the ministry, the key reason being incompetence in the job as the announcement indicated. Mahamoud Jirde Hussein was appointed as the new minister for Labor, Youth and Sports.
    Link


    Africa Horn
    President Sharif outlines a Ministerial committee to hold talks with Somaliland
    2012-04-16
    (Sh. M. Network) -- Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, The president of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) ofSomalia, has on Saturday formed a mistrial committee to hold talks with Somaliland administration.

    The committee which consists of 7 TFG ministers is chaired by the Minster of interior and national security affairs Abdisamad Mo'allin Mohamud. They will hold discussions with the Somaliland government as proposed in February's meeting inLondon.

    The Minster of home for Somali government told reports in the airport that this committee will facilitate the possibilities of a unified Somalia with hopes of coming back to Somalia with tangible progress. Somali president has flown to the neighboring Ethiopia to attend AU head of state summit in Addis Ababa.

    On the other hand, The Somaliland also has named a committee of 5 ministers to hold discussions with the newly assigned TFG committee.
    Link


    Africa Horn
    MPs warn of possible clan fighting in Beledweyne town, central Somalia
    2012-04-15
    [Shabelle] Several MPs in Somali parliament have had a meeting on Saturday in Mogadishu to voice their concern about the escalating violence in Beledweyne town, the capital of Hiiran region inn central war-torn horn of African country.

    Dahir Sheik Amin Jesow, a politician who hails from Hiiran region told Shabelle Media that the aim of their meeting was to talk about a power sharing deal between people living in the region after forming recently a regional administration that approved by Somali president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.

    On the other hand, the MP accused the ministry of home and national security of corrupting the appointment of posts of Hiran administration, saying the ministry has named a police official who is not in the list.
    Link


    Africa Horn
    Somali president seen on front lines in fight against militants
    2012-03-28
    (Sh.M.Network)-- Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, the president of the Transitonal Federal Government of Somalia on Tuesday visited Adado town frontline battles, as heavy confrontations between Al-shabab and Ahlu Sunna fighters are continuing in central regions.

    The president's visit was to observe the developments Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a fighters aided by Ethiopian troops made in face of the Al shabaab fighters, who control few parts in southern and centralSomalia.

    Speaking at Adado town, the president of Somalia said that pro-Somali government forces of Ahlu Sunna have penetrated into new Al shabaab military bases in centralsomalia.

    He urged Ahlu Sunna fighters to strengthen and keep on battling until peace returns to the entire country.

    President Sheik Sharif has previously toured wearing Clad with military uniformMogadishufrontiles, appraising the operations of Somali army backed 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...
     peacekeepers.
    Link


    Africa Horn
    Kenyan airstrikes leave 22 dead in south Somalia
    2012-03-05
    [Iran Press TV] Kenyan fighter jets have bombed an area southwest of the Somali capital of Mogadishu, killing at least twenty-two people, Press TV reports.

    Kenyan fighter jets struck the outskirts of the Irdia village near the town of Garbaharey, the capital of Gedo region and situated 528 kilometers (328 miles) southwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

    Mohamed Hussein, a front man for the Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a group, confirmed the Arclight airstrikes, and claimed that they targeted and destroyed an al-Shabaab
    ... Harakat ash-Shabaab al-Mujahidin aka the Mujahideen Youth Movement. It was originally the youth movement of the Islamic Courts, now pretty much all of what's left of it. They are aligned with al-Qaeda but operate more like the Afghan or Pakistani Taliban...
     training base.

    Kenya has beefed up security along its border with Somalia since it dispatched soldiers into the conflict-plagued country last October to pursue al-Shabaab Death Eaters, which it accuses of being behind the kidnapping of several foreigners on its territory. Al-Shabaab has denied involvement.

    Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed has said his transitional government is opposed to Kenya's military incursion into the Somali territory.
    Link


    Africa Horn
    US, Kenya airstrikes kill 16 in Somalia
    2011-11-24
    [Iran Press TV] At least 16 people have been killed and dozens of others were maimed after Kenyan fighter jets and US liquidation drones carried out several Arclight airstrikes on al-Shabaab
    ... Somalia's version of the Taliban, functioning as an arm of al-Qaeda...
     positions and bases in southern Somalia, Press TV reported.

    A Somali military official, speaking on condition of anonymity
    ... for fear of being murdered...
    , said that Kenyan air force jets and US terror drones struck an al-Shabaab training camps in Somalia's southwestern district of Badade on Wednesday. He added that 16 people were killed and dozens of others were maimed in the aerial strikes.

    Hundreds of families have been fleeing towns in southern Somalia in the wake of Kenyan military's aerial strikes on al-Shabaab beturbanned goons' strongholds.

    Residents in Kismayo, a strategically-important port city located some 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of the Somali capital Mogadishu, as well as in Buale, Jilib, and Afmadow towns have been leaving their homes over the past weeks for fear of their lives, according to Xinhua news agency.

    Last month, Kenya dispatched soldiers over its border into Somalia to pursue Shabaab beturbanned goons, which it accuses of being behind the kidnapping of several foreigners on its territory. Al-Shabaab has denied involvement.

    Somali President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed has said his UN-backed transitional government was opposed to the military incursion, which is reportedly being contributed to by the US and La Belle France.
    Link



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