Disturbing News: Missing Twin Cities Somalis, terror ties probed

Fikirka Xorta ah -- "Missing Twin Cities Somalis, terror ties probed", was the headline for the Start Tribune"s (Minnesota's largest daily newspaper) Wednesday, November 26 . This is one of the most disturbing news I heard so far from my old home town since I left almost two years ago to pursue my dreams of managing a major news organization in other cities in North America and Europe.

When I opened my inbox from the paper’s RSS feed, I stared the headline for few minutes before I dared to read the article. I couldn't believe for what I was reading. Young Somalis from the Twin Cities area abandoning their future to commit suicide in Somalia/Somaliland !

I was heartbroken twice. For once; the city of Hargeisa (Capital City of Somaliland) that was attacked by suicide bombers on October 29, 2008 is my ancestor's homeland. It is the place where my mother, my siblings, and most of my relatives live. It is my home city which I'm so connected that a big poster of the modern Hargeisa’s view hanged on the wall of my old office in Minneapolis. Any one who walked in my office could have seen the poster. I was always eager to tell people about the city if asked. My favorite line was, "Ooh that is my home town city of Hargeisa, Somaliland". Usually more questions followed of where Hargeisa is, what is it like to live there etc. And anyone could see how proud I was to share what I know about that far corner of the world surrounded by a region devastated by war and famine.

The attack of that day killed 22 people and injured dozens more. My cousin Zahra who is the UN's Political Officer in Hargeisa, was about to leave when her coworker stopped her near the main gate entrance of their Hargeisa UNDP Head Quarters for small chat and to say hello. As soon as she has turned to move away from him, a speeding SUV vehicle drove in flying and chased by armed police at the gate running behind the car trying to stop. Within minutes the car exploded next to the main building . The ground has shaken and half of the building collapsed. My cousin’s friend that she was just talking to dead on the spot. Because she was sort of away from the explosion, she escaped uninjured but nonetheless shocked and dismayed.

For the next few days, Hargeisa's communication system, mainly phone lines were jammed as Somaliland Diaspora Communities tried to reach home to find out details of what had happened and to check up on their relatives. There were memorial services in most countries where Somalilanders live and people rallied to send relief for the victims and hospitals.

The government's reaction to secure the institutions, foreign diplomats and all other main economic infrastructures was swift. Several people alleged to have something to do with the attacks were arrested. Investigations are still going on but life you know it in Somaliland has changed forever. There are more visible security personnel, more check ups and more delays in traveling around the nation.

So, as the wounds of that horrible attack still fresh, it is heartbreaking to me that people from a state (Minnesota) that I love so much may have something to do with it. Minnesota is the home state of the largest Somali ethnic community in USA. Minnesota is a place where, despite the coldest weather in the US except Alaska, I and other Somali expatriates made home. Minnesota is a place where the most tolerant human beings live. It is a state where residents value diverse cultures, educational advancement and human ingenuity. My home state Minnesota, is the best place on earth in my opinion.

Star Tribune's report ".. there is a high-level investigation of whether six to seven young Somali men and teenagers left the Twin Cities and returned to their homeland to participate in terrorist activities." clearly shows the Vulnerability of young persons to fall victims to the demise of ideologue/murderous, extremists minds hiding among general population.

The details of the news is yet to be seen, but it doesn't take one to understand that those young men killed in the suicide bomb or those in the “pipeline” willing to kill themselves have been brainwashed. The challenge, however, is for us to reclaim our youth. We need to find a way to prevent this to happen again. A better picture to understand how young bright men could go halfway around the globe to commit this horrible act would eventually come out of the investigation. But if my assumptions are correct, lack of choices may have contributed to their decision. That is if and if the news is right.

Obama's To-Do List: Somalia: "Perhaps U.N.-sanctioned special political status for Somaliland"

Fikirka Xorta ah - The goal in Somalia would be negotiated state-building. Perhaps U.N.-sanctioned special political status for Somaliland that could qualify it for international aid and protection, in recognition of its largely self-generated order and viability, should be on the table to create incentives for the more unruly militias in southern Somalia to reach political compromises.

Even if a diplomatic foray by the Obama administration does not yield immediate success, striking a salutary keynote of multilateral diplomacy would help alleviate African worries about AFRICOM and the militarization of U.S. Africa policy. And returning to Somalia--the notorious site of U.S. military failure around fifteen years ago, which drove its sustained disengagement from Africa and emboldened Al Qaeda--would decisively signal a renewed commitment to the continent.

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‘Money plizz,’ says Somali Cap’n Jack Sparrow

Fikirka Xorta ah - On Friday afternoon pirates in control of the African Sanderling, a large cargo ship anchored off Somalia, were lazing in the sun waiting for their ransom money when the telephone on the bridge rang.

Muhammad, the man who answered, was rather polite for a pirate from a heavily armed gang that had seized the ship last month. “Plizz, excuse me,” he said, sounding more Cap’n Jack Sparrow than bloodthirsty Blackbeard. “Who are you?”

After The Sunday Times explained that it was calling to find out what was happening to the hijacked vessel, Muhammad was as helpful as his mangled English allowed.

“The ship, the crew and the captain is okay. No problem. Only problem, money.”

Have you demanded a ransom? “Yeah.”

How much? “First, $8m. Then they [the ship owners] make bargain, then reduce, then more bargain, $2m. Then they reduce it $1.2m. Last we said we need $2m.”

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Somali Pirates: The problem is deeper than you think

Fikirka Xorta ah - Latest capture of the giant Saudi oil tanker Serius Star by Somalia based pirates created new urgency to deal with the pirates problem once and for all.

The news has become media sensation where even an American right winger and conservative talk show radio host, Rush Limbaugh commented on the problem by blaming as expected radical Islam and liberal US/European politicians to have made this crises out of hand.

Even other US stand up comedians cashed in the news by imitating Somali pirates activity. Making sounds and English accents that is funny to many people but could be construed offensive and degrading to the Somali culture.

Furthermore, Here's what shell-shocked financiers are laughing at on Wall Street Friday morning in a phony Bloomberg story:

Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- The Somali pirates, renegade Somalis known for hijacking ships for ransom in the Gulf of Aden, are negotiating a purchase of Citigroup.

Jokes aside, the pirates' increased activity have serious consequences where major powers are considering options to solve the problem. Some have considered force while others prefer to approach more peaceful end to the crises.

NATO, US, EU and even Russia sent warships to the pirate invested Eastern coast of Somalia that is stretched between Gulf of Eden and Indian ocean in an area approximately 1.1 square miles long. Yet, pirates managed to allude the warships because of the size of the area and capture an average of one ship a day.

Once they take the ship, the situation is considered hostage and most ship owners start negotiations with the group. After few weeks of back and forth negotiations, ship owners agree to pay lamb sum money to free their ship, crew and the cargo.

Paying pirates encourages other like minded thugs to get involved with the pirating business. It has also reported that when paid a large amount of money, pirates go for shopping to buy new speed boats, GPS systems and other gears that increase their ability to reach far and wide to look for bigger and larger victims.

There seem to be no end to this crises. In fact, most observers see increased activity that pirates are becoming more bolder, more aggressive and demanding more money.

So what would be violence free steps to solve the pirates issue? It would be impossible to escort every ship in that busy and important corridor by navy powers in the area. It would be difficult to sink every pirate boat or fishing boat. Pirates are armed, know the area well and could make damage of their own by attacking ships with dangerous cargo. This could be environmentally disaster scenario if for example they blow up a giant oil tanker. So what then?

Scott Morgan, the Editor of Confused Eagle suggests that Somalia needs to be divided into three major regional governments. He argues that in the absence of a central government, Somalia will not be able to crackdown pirates effectively.

"Having Three Regional Governments (Somaliland, Puntland and the Islamist South) with Strong Central Powers and Appropriate International Backing and/or Aid May be Something that has to be considered." He wrote. Mr. Morgan things that solving political stalemate in Somalia would create the ground work for larger framework to deal with the longterm problems in Somalia including pirates issue. He says, "This could be the impetus for some form of Intervention."

Mr. Morgan may be right or may be wrong in his approach, but one thing is certain; World powers must think outside the box and deal with this pirates crises to be as part of a bigger Somali problem puzzle that need to be tackled sooner then later.

Somaliland: World reacted to the Hargeisa's terror attack on Oct. 29, 2008

Fikirka Xorta ah - Three coordinated suicide attacks were carried out by what officials believed to be the Al Shabaab Ismalist militants fighting in Somalia on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 in Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland.

It is reported that 22 people have died and dozens of others were wounded when three SUV vehicles filled with explosives driven forcefully in to the gates of UNDP Head Quarters, Ethiopian Diplomatic Compound and the Presidential Palace.

The attack has shaken the peaceful and stable Hargeisa and the rest of the Somaliland. The government had automatically deployed thousands of security personnel and President Rayale urged citizens to cooperate with the government to catch the perpetrators and asked everyone to be vigilant.

Massive man hunt were carried out and several individuals were arrested within hours of the attack. The Minister of Interior Mr. Iro confirmed the arrest of at least 5 people and refused to elaborate because of an "on going investigation".

After this horrible attack, the world and the country reacted in many different ways.

Governments around the world have condemned while expressing their concern about the regional impact and sent condolences to the people of Somaliland.

Many news articles about the incident were reported around the globe and here are some of the reactions:

Simon Roughneen of ISN (International Relations and Security and Network) described the reason of the attack to be to destabilize this peaceful corner in a troubled regions.

He wrote; Recent terror attacks ..... could be designed to destabilize..., dragging it into Somalia's brutal quagmire.

Somaliland veteran journalist living in middle east wrote an article on Media Line, an online media based in New York, USA, "Bombs Won't Subdue Resolve of Africa’s Cinderella", he wrote. Mr. Goth argued that Somaliland has survived from worst and will indeed do the same and recover from this ordeal.

Mr. Goth wrote, "Eighteen long years and Somaliland has been the beacon of hope in a turbulent region. Eighteen years during which Somaliland has written a success story of peace, stability, democratization and building of government institutions. Eighteen years of looking into the abyss but skirting all terrorist threats with its wisdom and community cohesion. Eighteen years of sending a May Day call after May Day call to the international community for help and support that went mainly unheeded to the detriment of regional stability and global security."

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=23188

We couldn't agree more. Somaliland citizens are expected to safeguard their hard earned safety and security by working with law enforcement officers.

Like wise Somaliland Diaspora communities condemn the attack by sending various written statements to the media. Here is one published in Awdalnews.com:

Somaliland organizations in diaspora condemn the terrorist attacks in Somaliland

"We, the Somaliland Organizations in the Diaspora, are dismayed by the terrorist attacks in Somaliland, and we would like to express our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the people of Somaliland in general. We join with all those who clearly condemn this utterly deplorable act of aggression and terror committed against the people of Somaliland. It is heartbreaking that people of Somaliland again become a victim of terrorists. We all know Somaliland have long been trying to heal itself from the indiscriminate killings of its people by Siad Barre regime. These actions are not associated with Islam or the decency of human being. Nothing can justify the indiscriminate killings of an innocent human being."

http://www.awdalnews.com/wmview.php?ArtID=10750

Well, It took me for a while to react to this news, but I'm worried for what Dr.Mohamad Fadal of Institute of Social Research and Development based in Hargeisa calls it, "..the bad omen is that it is not over..."

Dr. Fadal says that it is hard for common people to understand why they are attacked. And he predicts that this incident could be the beginning of a serious attacks that the group responsible for this one will carry out to flex their muscle and show what they could do.

This is scary; Hargeisa daily newspapers are reporting that some high ranking government and non governmental agencies officials have already gotten phone calls from what the national police suspects to be terrorist cells plotting to mastermind more attacks withing Somaliland borders.

However vigilant the people and government try to be, it is hard to pin point or identify all terror cells in Somaliland. Thus, more attacks are expected or at least feared!

Let us hope that Somaliland Intelligence Services are better equipped to prevent more attacks and have the resources to safe the people from future mayhem!!!

USA: Obama Wins Election; McCain Loses as Bush Legacy Is Rejected

Fikirka Xorta ah - Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.

Mr. Obama’s election amounted to a national catharsis — a repudiation of a historically unpopular Republican president and his economic and foreign policies, and an embrace of Mr. Obama’s call for a change in the direction and the tone of the country. But it was just as much a strikingly symbolic moment in the evolution of the nation’s fraught racial history, a breakthrough that would have seemed unthinkable just two years ago.

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