Somalia: "War Crimes Devastate Population", Human Rights Watch

Fikirka Xorta ah - All parties in the escalating conflict in Somalia have regularly committed war crimes and other serious abuses during the past year that have contributed to the country's humanitarian catastrophe, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Human Rights Watch urged the United States, the European Union, and other major international actors to rethink their flawed approaches to the crisis and support efforts to ensure accountability.

The 104-page report, "So Much to Fear: War Crimes and the Devastation of Somalia," describes how the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the Ethiopian forces that intervened in Somalia to support it and insurgent forces have committed widespread and serious violations of the laws of war. Frequent violations include indiscriminate attacks, killings, rape, use of civilians as human shields, and looting. Since early 2007, the escalating conflict has claimed thousands of civilian lives, displaced more than a million people, and driven out most of the population of Mogadishu, the capital. Increasing attacks on aid workers in the past year have severely limited relief operations and contributed to an emerging humanitarian crisis.

Click here for: summary and recommendations
Click here to download the report
Click here for: Summary and recommendations in Somali

Dhalinyaro Somalida Minnesota oo laga cabsi qabo inay dagaal u dhoofeen

Fikirka Xorta ah - Wararka ku saabsan in dhalinyaro Somali ah oo ku nool dalka Maraykanku ay ka tagaan gobolka ay u badan yihiin ee Minnesota oo ay dagaalka ka holcaya dalkooda ka qayb qaataan oo qaarkood is qarxiyaan ayaa soo badanaya.

Waxaba ay ciidanka dembi baadhista ee federaalka ee FBI loo yaqaan caddeeyeen in ku jiraan baadhista arrintaas.

Waxay soo celiyeen maydkii intii ka soo hadhay nin is qarxiyay oo lagu sheegay Shirwac Axmed. Waxa la leyahay wuxuu ka mid ahaa kooxdii bishii Oktober 29-keeda ee sannadkan saddexda meelood ka qarxiyay Somaliland. Waxana halkaas ku dhintay ama ku dhaawacmay dad aad u badan.

Haddaba waxa toddobaadkan la aasay ninkaas dhallinta yar oo ka mid ah tiro dhallinyaro la layahay oo waalidkood iyo qaraabadoodu ay maalintii Sabtida ee bishan December 6 ku kulmeen xarun Bryant Cole la yidhaa oo jaaliyaddu ku shirto. Magacyada meesha laga qakhriyay ayaa waxa ka mid ahaa saddex dhalinyaro ah oo laba jaamacadda hadda galeen mid kalena uu dugsiga sare ku jiray. Iyadoo si dadban loo eedeeyey koox aan la magacaabin oo madaxa ka xadday dhallintaas.

Waxa halkaa ka hadlay dad badan oo cadhaysan oo runtii u badan garab ka mid ah ggarabyada siyaasadda Somalida isku haya. Waxana ay si cadho ku jirto u sheegeen in ay dawladda Maraykanka iyo hayadaha nabadgelyada ka codsadeen in carruurtoodii loo soo celiyo.

Tirada dadka maqan ayaa lagu muransan yahay. Waxa dadka qaar ay qabaan in dhallinyaro ku dhaw 40 ay dhoofeen qaarkoodna soo noqon doonaan dhowaan. Waxase hadda runta u dhaw lambar intaas ka yar oo aan toban gaadhayn.

Waxa la soo xiganayaa warar sheegaya in dhallinta maqani ay badankoodu ka wada tirsan yihiin masaajidka Abuubkar Al Sidiiq oo ay ku socoto baadhis. Waxana la sheegay in Iimaamkii Masjidka iyo dad la socday loo diiday inay xajka u dhoofaan oo lagu daray liiska dadka aan duuli karin.

Haddaba arrintan oo murgisay nolosha dadka Somalida ah ee ku dhaqan gobolkaas Minnesota iyo guud ahaan dalka ayaa waxay sii kicisay xiisadda tartanka loollanka siyaasadda ee qabiilka ku salaysan ee Somaliya oo si toos ah u taabatay nolosha dadkan ka fog safka hore ee dagaalka sokeeye.

Is aamin la'aanta sii fogaanaysa ayaa waxay Somalida ku abuurtay colaad raagta oo aan tanaasulaad lahayn. Taasoo taabatay dad deggan meelo aad uga fog goobaha dagaalada.

Xaalka Somalida ayaa aad looga hadlaa beryahan oo jaraa'idka iyo television nada caalamiga ahina ay qaadaa dhigaan. Arrinta colaadda Somaliya ka taaqan oo muddo badan socotay kolbana weji yeelanaysa ka sokow, waxa mashaqada Somalida iftiinka ku shiday budhcad badeeda oo si badheedh ah u afduubta maraakiib waaweyn. Waxayna indhaha adduunka u soo jeediyeen markay qabaseen markab weyn oo saliid u siday dalka Maraykanka iyo mid sida hub culus oo taangiyo ku jiraan.

Waxa toddoaadkan oo keliya maqaallo ka qoray New York Times oo ka mid ah wargeysayada ugu magaca, akhriska iyo awoodda badan adduunka. Isagoo xaaladda Somaliya ku tilmaamay mid ka sii daraysa.

Waxa sidoo kale ka hadlay wargeysa toddobaadlaha ah ee loo yaqaan NEWS WEEK MAGAZINE oo isagu soo jeediyay maqaalkiisa ah, "Libaax Badeedka Biyaha" oo qoray, "Sida kama dabaysta ah ee budhcad badeedda biyaha Somaliya looga tiritiri lahaa."

Siyaasadda Somalida ee murugsan ee aargoosi aano qabiil iyo dhakhso u dhereg iyo maxaad boobtaa ku xididaysan ayaa adduunku maanta aad uga soo taagan yahay. Waxana la sheegay in maamulka cusub ee Madaxyenaha la doortay ee Barak Obama ay Somaliya ku jirto liiska wax qabad ee siyaasaddiisa srrimha dibadda ee ku wajahan Afrika.

Waxana taas ka markhaati ah ballan qaadka uu sheegay in maamulkiisu la shaqayn doono Qaramada Midoobay si loo xalliyo arrimo badan oo gurrucan oo ay Somaliya ku jirto. Taasoo Safiikiisa cusub ee dalka USA u fadhiyi doona UN-ta Marwo Susan Rice ay tahay mid aaminsan in xalka Somaliya ku jiro wax qabad buuxa oo u dhexeeya xubnaha Qaramada Midoobay.

Haddaba xiisadaha kala duwan ee Geeska Afrika ee ay shidayaan danaha is jiidhaya ayaa waxa la arki doonaa in isbeddel weyni ka soo baxo marka u shirka siyaasiyiinta Somaliya ee dalka Djibouti ku gorgortamaya dhammaado. Iyo goorta uu maamulka cusub ee Obama qaado tallaabooyin wax ku ool ah oo ku saabsan siyaasadda Geeska. Waxa kaloo arrinta wax ka beddlei kara dalalka Midawga Yurub oo arrinta budhcad badeedda waxqabadkeeda u xusul duuban.

Halkan ka daawo aaskii Shirac Axmed ee Minnesota, USA


Maxay kula tahay? Fikirkaaga si cilmiyaysan u cabbir.

Strategic Interests: -- Somalia: "The Times They Are A-Changin"

Fikirka Xorta ah - What is heartening is that a wide number of analysts, practitioners, and advocates have come around to a similar assessment of the realities on the ground in the Horn of Africa. Writing two weeks ago in The New Republic, Dr. Jonathan Stevenson, a professor of strategic studies at the U.S. Naval War College and author of the authoritative case study of America's 1990s intervention in Somalia, suggested that:

"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."

Likewise Bronwyn Bruton of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) suggested the United States should examine several nontraditional strategies, including the previously explored ‘bottom-up' and/or ‘building block' approaches."

Even the nongovernmental aid organization Refugees International has chimed in with a policy bulletin. While the concerns of the NGO were primarily focused on what it termed "the world's worst humanitarian disaster," it also criticized the international community for its "schizophrenic approach to Somaliland" by "treating it as an independent state when it's politically or operationally useful…but otherwise maintaining the rhetoric of a unified Somalia."


To read the full article, please click here.
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J. Peter Pham is Director of the Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Disturbing News Continues: "'Missing' Somali man is brought home"

Fikirka Xorta ah -- The first evidence that Somalis in Minnesota may have taken part of the suicide bombing in Somaliland were released by the FBI today when they returned the remains of what believed to be Ahmed Shirwa of Minneapolis to his family. Shirwa was one of a six young men disappeared from Minnesota over the past year.

The US government is not saying much as the investigation continues, but Somalis in Minnesota is divided as fear of government crackdown on some suspected worship mosques were reported.

Somalis political support depends on their tribal allegiances. That is why some of the weak Somali Government supporters quickly blame the members of the opposition for recruiting and sending jihadist elements to Somalia/Somaliland to fight Ethiopian forces in Somalia.

The Somali Government supporters motive of blaming the oppistion maybe questionable and US Government agencies need to consider the clan factor and the deep mistrust among Somalis in Minnesota. But the fact that some Somalis are leaving the US to fight is damaging to the community's efforts to assimilate. The rest of Minnesotans may regard Somalis suspiciously or prejudge all of them as terrorist sympathizers. If that happens, whether tribe A is opposing tribe B would be irrelevant and all Somalis would be the victims of their own creation.

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Watch ABC News' report on Somalia: A Safe Haven for Terrorists?

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.

Click here to read the full article

‘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.”

Click here to read the full article

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!!!