Somalia: Militants Glad to Be on U.S. List

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Islamic militants in Somalia welcomed being added to the United States’ list of terrorist organizations, saying they wished only that the designation had come sooner. The State Department announced Tuesday that it added to its list the military wing of the Council of Islamic Courts, called Al Shabab, or the Youth, because it is affiliated with Al Qaeda, according to American officials. “We are happy that the U.S. put us on its list of terrorists, a name given to pure Muslims who are strong and clear in their religious position,” Sheik Muqtar Robow, Al Shabab’s spokesman, said. “We would have been happy to be the first, but now we are unhappy that we are the last,” he said.

Mogadishu, the Somali capital, has been engulfed in violence involving movement fighters, who controlled much of southern Somalia for six months before being driven out in December 2006 by the country’s Western-backed government and its Ethiopian allies. On Wednesday, heavy fighting in Mogadishu killed at least eight people, including three Ethiopian soldiers, witnesses said.

*******************************************************************************

Very interesting twist! What would they (Radical Shabab Leaders) hope to gain by escalating confrontation with the most powerful nation on earth, US. I'm sure I maybe targeted by acknowledging the American "Military Might and Power", but the reality is that they are better off denouncing violence and start negotiating with the Somali Government while its still weak and willing to share power.

Otherwise, well, they will drag this nation to more tragic, violence and hardship. Somalis are tired of wars and suffering and in need of peace and stability, stop making it hard to achieve.

Send your comments to Free Thinking Blog!

St Tropez in the Horn? Djibouti's ambition to create Dubai model in the Horn of Africa

Well, in Dubai. He wants Djibouti to follow the example of the booming gulf emirate or perhaps even of Malaysia, a Muslim model where many children of Djibouti's elite head for university.

Businessmen say the port's improvements make it hard to imagine that Eritrea's Massawa, Somaliland's Berbera or Somalia's Bossaso will catch up soon.

In sum, Djibouti is surviving cannily in a tough neighbourhood.

Would Somaliland leadership have the same vision as Guelleh? Yet to be seen.

President Rayale of Somaliland announced this week for what he called his "invitation to use Berbera" by Americans. What is that mean? He refused to elaborate but some people are skeptical about his actions.

Would the President explain what would Somaliland get in return? Is US helping Somaliland's efforts to get recognition? What about investment and helping build Somaliland's infrastructure?

Click this link to read more about the Economist report on Djibouti's ambition: http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10881652

Somaliland Press Bill: Xeerka Saxaafadda Somaliland

Fikirka Xorta ah - Dawladda Somaliland ayaa waxay muddo sannad ahba wadday sharci cusub o ay ugu tala gashay in lagu maamulo saxaafadda dalka. Waxa sharcigani yahay mid si aad ah looga dooday. Werwerna ku abuuray shacbiga iyo suxufuyiintaba.

Waxa sharcigan laga soo dheegay iyadoo aan waxba laga beddelin mid laga leeyahay dalka Yemen oo keliya la soo tarjumay. Halkan ka akhri ka Yemen oo dhan http://www.al-bab.com/yemen/gov/off4.htm

Xeerkan Saxaafaddu wuxuu awood dheeraad ah siinayaa maamulka talada haya. Ha ahaado ka maanta jira ama ka berri iman doona. Qodobo badan ayaa waxay dhigayaan in xafiiska Wasiirka Warfaafintu yahay ka keliya ee sharciyan kara suxufiga. Wuxuu dhigayaa inuu wasiirku keliya bixinayo waraaqaha aqoonsiga.

Waxa la yaab leh in qodob kastaa soo koobayo xorriyadda Saxaafadda iyo Suxufi uu u leeyahay qoridda, daabicadda, iyo faafinta warka. Waxa runtii ka dhex muuqda inuu yahay mid awoodda dawladda ballaadhinaya oo xakamaynaya madax bannaanida saxaafadda. (Booqo http://www.somalilandlaw.com/ )

Haddaba maxaa la gudboon dadka ay khusayso ee ay ka midka yihiin Golaha Wakiilada oo sharciga inay ansixiyaan awood u leh? Ururada u dooda xuquuqda aadanaha oo ay ka mid tahay ilaalinta xorriyadda afkaarta? Ururada ay suxufiyiintu ku bahoobeen waa inay si adag uga dhiidhiyaan si aanu sharcigaasi u suurto gelin.

Waxa jira urur dhallin yaro aqoon yahan qurbo joog ah oo la yidhaa Article 32 oo si tabaruc ah u doonaya inay u caawiyaan suxufiyiinta Somaliland (booqo boggooda http://www.somalilandfreedom.org/). Article 32 ama Qodobka 32 ee Dastuurka Somaliland ayaa muwaadin kasta xaq u siinaya inuu afkaartiisa iyadoo aan la xakamayn siduu doono ugu gudbin karo bulshada inteeda kale.

Qodobkaasi waa kuwa ugu muhiimsan ee bulsho casri ahi maanta ku dhaqanto. Waxana uu yahay aasaaska ummad xor ah oo wada tashan karta, is dhaliili karta, talo wadaagi karta, dabadeedna go'aan dan u ah dalkooda wada qaadan karta.

Haddii la waayo xorriyadda afkaarta, isu imaanshaha, iyo samaynta ururro gaar ah, waxa lumaya xorriyaddii, jiritaankii iyo dadnimadii ay ummadi lahayd. Sidaa daraaddeed looma dulqaadan karo in dawladda hadda maanta joogta iyo midda soo socotaaba ay samayso xeerar xakamaynaya saxaafadda.

Ogsoonow saxaafaddu waa tiir dhexaadka dimoqraadiyadda. Waa miisaanka umadda, waana muraayadda ummadi iska dhex aragto oo iftiimisa dhaliilaha jira, abuurta waddaninimada oo muujisa dal jacaylka iyo ku faanista heerka ay umadi gaadho.

Haddii la waayo saxaafad madax bannaan, waxa lumaya ogaanshaha xaaladda dalku ku suganyahay. Waxa dhacaysa in ay dawlad, shakhsi ama cid gaar ahi ku takri fasho hantida umadda, cabudhiso ciddii ka fikir duwan ama mucaaradda siyaasadeeda. Waxanay keenaysaa inuu dalku u xidhnaado dad gaar ah oo uu noqdo keligi talisnimo aanay cidina ka daba hadli karin.

Haddii aynu maanta oggolaano in la xakameeyo xoriyadda afkaarta iyo saxaafadda waxa ku xigaya in falal xun ay ku kacaan hayadaha awoodda dalka gacanta ku hayaa. In umadda meel mugdi ah lala galo oo dhaqaalaha dalka la lunsado, awooddana lagu takri falo.

Waxa bulshada ku habsanaya dib u dhac dhinaca caqliga ah oo aanay fikrado ay ku kala faidaystaan, iskuna tusan waxa sax ah iyo waxa khaldan ay yaraadaan. Waxa lumaya dadka aqoonta leh oo isu taga oo soo jeediya rayi kala duwan oo dan u ah dalka (Civil Society Forum).

Haddaba waa in yar iyo weynba dawladda la fahamsiiyaa inay cawaaqib xumo keenayso in la cabudhiyo saxaafadda iyo afkaarta dadka.

Waan garan karnaa in ay habboon tahay in xeerar iyo nidaamyo lagu maamulo saxaafaddu ay jiraan. Waxana taa dabooli kara oo aanu in badan soo jeedinay inay dawladdu samayso Guddi (Commission) ka madax bannaan hayadda fulinta oo ka kooban aqoon yahan siyaasad miisaaman leh mucaarid, muxaafid, dhexdhexaad iyo hayadaha aan dawliga ahayn.

Commission kani wuxuu noqonayaa mid barlamaanka geeya xeerka saxaafadda ka dib markay cilmi baadhis ku sameeyaan ee ay dersaan nidaamka ugu wacan ee Somaliland Saxaafaddeeda lagu maamuli karo.

Ka dib golaha wakiiladu waxay dejin karaan sharci madaxweynaha iyo waaxda fulintuna ay saxeexaan. Guddidan cusub waxa awood loo siin karaa inay liisanno siiyaan ciddii doonaysa inay idaacad furato, joornaal soo saarto, ama daabacdo wixii warfaafin ku saabsan. Iyagoo ka qaadi karta ciddii ku xadgudubta sumcadda ama ethics ka la isla meel dhigo.

Waxanu dawladda ku baraarujin lahayn inaanay maanta oo keliya fikirkooda ku koobin ee ay eegaan sida uu xeerkan saxaafaddu mustaqbalka dalka u taabanayo.

Somali Islamist leader rejects talks with gov't

MOGADISHU, March 16 (Reuters) - A senior Somali Islamist leader rejected on Sunday an offer of talks by the interim government to end insurgent attacks, including beheadings, that have sparked one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Somali Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein said last Wednesday his government was ready to negotiate with opposition groups to end a 15-month insurgency against government troops and their Ethiopian military allies.

Calling for international mediation led by the United Nations' special envoy to Somalia, Hussein said the government was willing to hold talks in any location to end fighting that local aid groups said had killed 6,500 people last year.

Islamist leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys dismissed the offer, saying his sharia courts movement and its fighters did not recognise the government of the war-ruined country.

"This is not a government. We believe they are people who brought the enemy forces to our country. They are criminals," Aweys, a hardline Muslim cleric, told Reuters in an interview.
"Our fight is against Ethiopia and as long as they are there Somalis cannot have dialogue," he said by phone from Eritrea, where he is living in exile after fleeing Somalia last year.
Aweys, who the United States says is linked to al Qaeda, said the Islamists were "freedom fighters".

"The country is under Ethiopian colonisation and must be liberated from the enemy," said the former army colonel who was decorated for bravery in a war against rival Ethiopia in 1977.
Many Somalis living in the shell-shattered capital fear the Islamists' refusal to accept talks unless historic foe Ethiopia withdraws its troops signals more attacks which are already forcing some 20,000 civilians to flee Mogadishu every month.

Islamist insurgents were accused of spreading terror by cutting the heads off three Somali soldiers last week.

The head of the U.N. refugee agency told Reuters last Thursday that Somalia's problem was "intractable" with no sign of improvement. Guillermo Bettocchi said Somalia was a "negelected crisis" which surpassed Sudan's Darfur region.

Sheikh Aweys led Somalia's Islamic Courts Council, which ruled Mogadishu and much of southern Somalia in the second half of 2006, before it was ousted by allied Somali-Ethiopian forces.

Aweys recognised Prime Minister Hussein as "humble and a peace lover".
"But we are very sorry that he has placed himself in this position," he added.
The Horn of Africa country has had no effective government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991 and then turned on each other, plunging the country into chaos.
The remnants of Aweys' movement is now blamed for an Iraq-style insurgency punctuated with roadside bombings, assassinations and grenade attacks.

(Editing by Katie Nguyen)
(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/ )

Waftiga xisbiga UCID oo guulo la taaban karo ka soo hooyay dalka Canada loona qabtay xaflad sagootin ah

Fikirka Xorta ah - Waxa beryahanba booqasho dibadda ku marayay wafti balaadhan oo isugu jira xildhibaanno Golaha Wakiilada ee Somaliland ka tirsan oo ka soo jeeda xisbiga mucaaradka ee UCID iyo guddida Fulinta ee UCID.

Waftigan oo ay hore ula socdeen Guddomiyaha Xisbiga Faysl C. Warabe iyo Afhayeenka am Guddomiyaha Golaha Wakiilada Somaliland Cabdiraxman Cirro oo iyagu hadda dalkii ku laabtay hawl shaqo aawadeed ayaa waxay soo mareen dalal badan oo ka tirsan Yurub, USA iyo Canada.

Qaybta hadhay oo haatan ku sugan dalka Canada ayaa waxay toddobaadkan la kulmeen madax sare oo ka tirsan dawladda iyo barlamaanka Canada. Iyagoo soo hooyay guulo wax ku ool ah oo ay ku jiraan ballan qaadyo la taaban karo ama la daba geli karo.

Waftiga haatan ku sugan Canada oo ay xubno ka yihiin Xildhibaan Naasir X. Cali, Guddoomiyaha Xisbiga ee Waqooyiga Amerika Keyse C. Geeddi, Mudane Maxamed Ibrahim Adan (Qabo) oo k atirsan guddida fulinta, Mudane Ibrahimrashid M. Axmed, iyo Mudane Axmed Xuseen (Fag-Fagaash) ayaa lugtii safarka ee u dambeeyey maanta kula kulmaya bulshada reer Somaliland ee deggan caasimadda Canada ee Ottawa.

Waxa habeenkii Axaddii ay ka soo noqdeen magaalada Toronto oo ay loogu sameeyey xaflad ballaadhan oo lagu sagootiyay. Xafladdan oo uu soo qaban qaabiyay Guddoomiye Xigeenka UCID ee Toronto Mudane Nasir Maxamud ayaa waxa ka hadlay dad dhawr ah oo odayaasha reer Toronto iyo xubnaha waftigaba isugu jira.

Waxa hadal mahadnaq iyo guubaabin ah ku furay Guddomiye Nasir Maxamud oo waftiga uga mahadnaqay imaantinka Canada oo noqotay mid ay guul dhab ah dalka iyo dadkaba u soo hooyeen. Wuxuuna sheegay inay reer Toronto caado u tahay inay cid kasta oo Somaliland ka soo jeedda oo wafti ugu timaadda xisbigay doonaaba ha ahaadeene ay gacmo diirran ku soo dhaweeyaan.

Waxa sifoo kale ka hadlay Xoghaya Arrimah Dibadda ee Xisbiga UCID Pilot Axmed X. Fagfagaash oo isagu hogaaminayay waftiga safarka Canada ku maraya. Axmed waxa uu si aad iyo aad ah uga mahadnaqay sida hagar la'aanta ah ee ay dadweynaha reer Canada ugu soo dhaweeyeen. Waxa uu sheegay inay ku reebtay raad kalgacal oo uu in badan u haynayo dadka Canada deggan ee reer Somaliland.

Xoghaye Axmed Fagfagaash oo ku hadlaya magaca waftiga ayaa waxa uu abaal marin guddoonsiiyay dadkii sida hagar la'aanta ah waftiga ugu hawlgalay. Waxana uu sheegay inaanay laantood u suurto gasheen hawsha ay u yimaaddeen.

Dadkii abaal gudka la siiyay ayaa waxa ka mid ahaa Amina Cabdi Jaamac, Cawil Xaashi Maxamud. Waxa sdoo kale abaal marin ay waftigu siiyeen saxaafadda Somaliland ee sida hagar la'aanta ah uga warrantay kolba siday hawsha waftigu u socoto oo ay ka mid tahay shabakadda wararka ee Hadhwanaagnews, Tifatiraha Hadhwanaag Axmednasir Jibril Farax.

Waxa kaloo oo goobta xafladda ka hadlay Xildhibaan Nasir X. Cali, Mudane Maxamed Ibrahim oo waftiga la socda iyo Farax Abokor Khayre iyo Shiine Wacays oo ka tirsan odayaasha magaalada Toronto oo waftiga talooyin ay la guryo noqdaan iyo hadalo xikmad leh soo jeediyay.

Xafladdan oo aad u qurux badnayd waxa sidaanu hore u soo sheegnay soo agaasimay Guddomiye Xigeenka UCID Toronto Mudane Nasir Maxamud oo intii ay waftigu Canada ku sugnaayeen si aan la soo koobi karin masuuliyaddooda dejinta, nasashadooda, gaadiidkooda, qarabasalaankooda iyo dukaansigoodaba u gutay. Isagoo wakhti iyo malba si niyad sami ah ugu hagar baxay.

Waftigan oo la filayo inuu toddobaadka soo socda ku noqdo dalkii iyagoo Yurub sii maraya ayaa waxay warbixinta hoos ku qorani dhigaysaa cidday kula kulmeen Canada iyo sawiradii oo la socda.

Riix halkan si aad u akhrido warbixinta:http://radiohadhwanaag.com/index.php?news=427

Sawirada halkan ka daawo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58551580@N00/sets/72157604109287716/show/

Saleban Dahir Cabdillahi ayaa Caawa Toronto si rasmi ah ugaga dhawaaqay inuu u taagan yahay jagada musharaxa Mayorka Hargeysa

Xafladdan ballaadhan waxa ka hadlay dad kala duwan. Waxana ka soo qaybgalay dad badan oo taageero u muujiyay Musharax Saleban.

Toronto (Hadhwanaag) – Xaflad si culus loo soo agaasimay oo lagu taageerayo Saleban Dahir Cadilahi oo lagu qabtay magaalada Toronto ee dalka Canada habeenkii Sabtidii ee bishan March ay ahayd 14 ayaa wuxuu Saleban kaga dhawaaqay in uu u taaganyahay, “Musharaxa Golaha Degaanka iyo Musharaxa Mayorka Magaalada Hargeysa’.

Xafladdan oo ay ka soo qayb galeen dad badan oo reer Toronto ah ayaa waxa ka hadlay dad kala duwan oo gubaabo iyo dhiirri gelin u soo jeediyay Musharax Saleban Dahir Cabdillahi (Dogox) oo isagu muujiyay inuu ka mid noqon doono dhallinta qurbaha ka noqonaysa ee aqoontooda iyo xirfaddooda dalkii hooyo wax ugu qaban doonta.

Sheeh Shaakir oo ka mid ah culimada diinta ee dalka Canada ayaa quraan iyo duco ku furay. Wuxuuna Saleban ka codsaday inuu noqdo mid ka duwan siyaasiyiinta kale ee iyagu musuqmaasuqa ku shaqeeya. “Salebanow waxan kaa codsanayaa inaanad laaluush qaadan. Inaad xoolaha danta guud ka fogaato, Dadkaagana waxtar iyo fa’ido u yeelato”, ayuu intaa ku daray.

Meesha xafladdan lagu qabtay oo aad loo qurxiyay ayaa waxay ahayd mid ay dadka ka muuqdeen jawi farxadeed. Iyagoo isla sawirayay una bishaaraynayay Musharaxa Golaha Degaanka iyo Duqa Caasimadda Somaliland Mudane Saleban D. Cabdillahi.

Waxa taariikhdii Saleban si kooban uga hadlay Khadar Guun oo ka mid ah dadka deggan Toronto oo aqoon badanna u leh Saleban. Khadar Guun waxa uu ka warramay heerarkii dhalin yaro ee ay soo wada mareen iyo sida ay jiilkoodu manta noqdeen kuwa la wareegaya maamulka dalka. “Saaxiibkay Saleban ayaa maanta siyaasadda dalka iyo hoggaankiisa u diyaar ah. Waxa kaloo jira rag ka horreeyey iyo qaar naga dambayn doona. Maanta waa Alle Mahaddii haddii ay jiilka aanu isku dada nahay noqdeen kuwo u diyaara inay dalkooda siyaasaddiisa hoggaamiyaan oo dadkooda wax u qabtaa.” Ayuu yidhi.

Khadar oo ammaan u soo jeediyey Saleban ayaa waxa uu ku tilmaamay inuu ku jiro ragga sida fiican ugu guulaystay nolosha qurbaha ee qoys, aqoon, shaqo iyo ganacsiba isku waday si miisaamanna u noqday kuwo ka gun gaadha nolosha adag ee qurbaha.

Xasan Ducaale oo ka mid ahaa dadkii isku dubba riday xafladda caawa ayaa isagu hadal kooban ku sheegay in ay reer Toronto diyaar u yihiin inay Saleban ku taageeraan musharaxnimadiisa.

Xafladdan oo uu xidhiidhinayay Gabyaaga Caanka ah ee reer Toronto Cali Jaamac ayaa waxa dhinaca muusiga daadihinayay ninka dhallinta yar ee Cabdillahi Boqol oo heeso macaan oo qoob ka ciyaar dhalintu ku raaxaysato soo bandhigay.

Khudbad dheer oo dhinacyo badan taabanaysa ayuu Saleban Daahir Cabdillahi (Dogox) habeenkii Sabtida soo bandhigay. Waxa uu taabtay meelaha looga baahanyahay in si degdeg ah wax looga qabto oo uu sidii wax looga qaban lahaana soo jeediyay.

Saleban waxa uu sheegay in magaalada Hargeysa noqotay mid aad u weynaatay oo maamul adag u baahan. Waxay doonaysaa qorshe lagu hore mariyo oo isu dheelli tiran ayuu qeexay. Waxana uu yidhi, “Meelaha wax qabadka u baahan waxa ka mid ah in la helo biyo wada gaadha dadka deggan Hargeysa’. Isagoo ku tuuntuunsaday inay biyuhu yihiin aasaaska nolosha qof kastaana xaq u leeyahay in uu biyo uu ku noolaado uu helo.

Khudbadda Saleban uu ku soo bandhigay inuu musharrax yahay, meelaha wax qabadka u baahan, talooyinka iyo qorshayaasha uu wato ee uu ku saxayo. Oo ay ka mid yihiin casiryaynta cashuur ururinta, dayactirka waddooyinka, caafimaadka guud, waxbarashada iyo shaqaalaha dawladda ayaa waxanu ku eegi doonnaa qormada dambe.

Ugu dabmayn waxa dadkii ka qoslisay iyadoo afka English ku hadlaysa Saleban inantiisa ugu yar oo lix jir ah oo la yidhaa Siman. Waxayna tidhi marka afka Somaliga loo tarjumo, “Waxan ku faraxsanahay inuu aabahaydadkiisa wax u qabanayo. Waxaad ku mahadsan tihiin inaad taageeraysaan oo aad caawa halkan isugu timaaddeen. Waxanan Aabahay weydiisanayaa inuu [Hargeysa u] dhiso dab demis iyo inuu sameeyo telefonka la waco ee [emergency ama marka dhibaato dhacdo la diro] 911”. Siman waxay dadkii meesha joogay ka qoslisay dhiirri gelin badanna ku beertay iyadoo sacabka mar keliya la isku daray.

Haddaba xafladdan oo ahayd mid aad loo habeeyey ayaa waxa intii dambe noqotay mid dadku ay iyagoo raxan raxan ah sawirro la galaan Musharrax Saleban. Halka ay qaar kale qoob ka cayaar iyo kaftan iskula joogeen. Waxana uu ahaa habeen caweys farxad iyo raynrayn ku dhammaada.

Hadhwanaag

Toronto, Canada

Sir iyo Caad: Blog dhinaca sirdoonka loogu talagalay

Waxanu bog cusub u furnay bulshada danaysa Sirdoonka ama taariikhda Sirgoobka. Booqo Bloggan loogu talagalay in la isku dhaafsado wixii culuun war raadis ama war dahsoon daah furkiisa loo sameeyey.

Maxaad kala socotaa NSS tii Somaliya xilligii Siyaad Barre sirdoonka caanka ku ahayd? Yaa tababaray? Yaa ka tirsanaa? Ya ka hadhay? Madaxda Somaliland inteebaa Sirdoonka ku xeel dheer? Waa maxay Khatarta iyo faa'idada Sirta iyo doonisteedu?

Ha moogaan Bogga Sir iyo Caad oo aanu khubaro akhbaarta sirta ku xeel dheer aanu ku waraysanayno. Baro inta hayadood ee sirta ku shaqo leh ee adduunka ka jira?

Dhacdooyinkii NSS, MOSSAD, CIA, KGB, FSP, MI5, MI6 iyo kuwo kale oo badan halkan ka akhri. La soco isbeddelka technology ee ay ku tallaabsadeen iyo weliba qalabka casriga ah ee ay dhegaysiga, qaadista sawirada, duubista codka iyo dilka qarsoon u isticmaalaan.

Booqo http://www.sirgoob.blogspot.com/

Arrrr! Warships vs. Somali Pirates

Pirate attacks off the Somali coast are becoming so bad that French and Danish warships -- including a 6,200-ton frigate -- have been called into help. Aviation Week's blog, ARES reports:

According to the Netherlands defense ministry, Somali pirates typically try to capture ships to demand ransom money. There is a local coast guard, particularly in the Somali regions of Somaliland and Puntland, but this a "very limited" in size and capability, the ministry says.


The 3,025-km. long coastline of Somalia (classified as the most dangerous territory in the world because of its lawlessness, widespread civil war and total anarchy, especially in and around the capital Mogadishu) hosts at least four distinct groups of pirates, says the ministry.

These are organized according to tribal and clan backgrounds and are led by war lords, corrupt business men and even local authorities, says the ministry. Pirate groups are well organized and led from headquarters ashore.

To be able to operate far out at sea they increasingly employ mother ships from which they launch small interceptor craft to attack merchant or fishing vessels.

Typical pirate equipment includes communications (radios, satellite phone), radar, assault rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades.

Typical pirate equipment? What the heck: do they order it from a catalog? BBC this week also has a two-part series (available here and here) comparing pirates of yore to today's high-sea criminals. Pirating ain't what it used to be, though: these days they're attacking ships packed with food aid, rather than gold and treasure.

Somalia war creates 20,000 refugees a month:

By Guled Mohamed

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Nearly 20,000 civilians are fleeing violence in Somalia's capital Mogadishu every month with little hope of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa nation, a senior United Nations' official said on Thursday.

"The problem with Somalia is intractable ... The situation seems to be deteriorating. We don't see any improvement," Guillermo Bettocchi, head of the U.N. refugee agency for Somalia, told Reuters.

"Nowadays, an average of 20,000 people are leaving the city every month."
Up to one million of Somalia's total population of nine million are living as refugees after 17 years of conflict which took a new turn since early 2007 with an Islamist-led insurgency against the Ethiopian-backed government.

Most of the recent refugees are from the capital Mogadishu, where Iraq-style attacks are a near-daily occurrence. Many parts of the capital are destroyed and deserted.

Somalia now has the world's largest group of internally displaced people, Bettocchi said, on a small corridor between Mogadishu and Afgoye town to the west where 200,000 are camped in "very difficult conditions."

Reliant on handouts, many live in makeshift shacks made from sticks, boxes and tattered clothes. "I have never seen anything like Somalia in terms of the suffering of people," said Bettocchi, a 54-year-old Peruvian, with experience in various global hot-spots from Iraq to Sudan.

"NEGLECTED CRISIS"

Aid workers say Somalia's humanitarian crisis is one of the world's worst but is not receiving the attention it deserves. In Africa, it has been overshadowed by the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.

"The situation in Somalia is not the forgotten crisis but the neglected crisis," Bettocchi said.
"In terms of effect on the people, it surpasses Darfur ... The consequences of the violence in Somalia are much worse."

Trying to escape violence and economic hardship at home, some 10,000 immigrants -- from Somalia and elsewhere in the Horn of Africa -- have fled from Somalia to Yemen this year. They go via the shark-infested Gulf of Aden on rickety boats owned by ruthless smugglers who often throw refugees overboard.

"In 2008 ... we have reports of 200 people who have drowned and died and we have reports of over 250 people who are missing. We don't know what happened to them," Bettocchi said.
He cited the example of an Ethiopian woman who gave birth unconscious on a boat only for the smugglers to throw her baby overboard before she came round. "That kind of abuse is unacceptable," he added.

The U.N. official said smugglers were shifting their bases from Bosasso, a port in the relatively peaceful region of Puntland in north Somalia to Djibouti, which is nearer to Yemen, due to lower costs.

(For full Reuters Africa coverage and to have your say on the top issues, visit: http://africa.reuters.com/)