SOMALIA REPORT - Key Persons
Abdalla Ibrahim Mohamed, the deputy commissioner, made the announcement, "After examining and verifying the information of the political parties, we realized that only 6 parties had fulfilled the conditions that were given by the government. The qualifying parties are Wadani, Dalsan, Rays, Umada, Nasiye and Xaqdhowr. The other nine parties which are Nuur, Damal, Horyaal, NDB, Badbaado, Gurmad, Udhis, Jamhuuriga and SSCD have not fulfilled the requirements. This is our final decision and parties are able to appeal," Mr Ibrahim Mohamed told Somalia Report.
Job Titles:
- Named to Be the New Chairman
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- Head of Military Operations for ASWJ
Abdulkadir Musse Abdulle is a former pirate who recently graduated from the Garowe Polytechnic college in Puntland as part of an effort to train rehabilitated pirates. Abdi learned welding and plans to start a garage business where he wants to hire competent technicians and mechanics to earn ‘legitimate' money. Somalia Report interviewed Abdikadir about his life as a pirate.
Sool Provincial Chairman Abdullahi Jama Islagad, who also spoke to the local media, said that the stability of the region of Sool is being terrorized by anti Somaliland elements who are active in the area, but could not name any.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Leader of Wadani Party Talked
"We are very happy with the outcome. We welcome the decision and selection by the commission for political parties. This is a victory for the people of Somaliland. The commission has done the right job at the right time. We request them to schedule elections," said Mr. Abdullahi.
Abdurahman Mohamed Abdullahi, the chairman of parliament and leader of Wadani party talked to Somalia Report about the results.
"When I am away from the country, I feel that I am in exile, missing the most awful events and abuses targeting the innocent people," he explained. "All I want is to update my people's situation to the entire world and record the violations against the people."
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- Fatally Shot Near Home, 3rd Journalist Killed in 2012
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- Accused of Supporting Speaker over President, Accomplishing Little
Recently, Somalia Report interviewed Ahmed Ibrahim, a former al-Shabaab fighter who is in the process of re-starting his life at Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya.
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- Hargeisa - Based Political Analyst Disagrees
"If I look at the matter of political parties and their approval, it seems it was not conducted fairly. Let me give you examples. Most of the selected parties were chaired by politicians who are holding different positions in the current government. Secondly, the commission stated that they will accept any complaints and so far they haven't talked to any one of the aggrieved parties. The third point is that this commission is required to produce a letter articulating how and why these nine organizations failed; the commission has done nothing about that. On the other hand, the government put pressure on the protestors and political leaders. All these points show us that there is something messy. Perhaps the government, commission and key politicians of the elected parties agreed at some points to drop the nine parties," he explained.
Political tension in Somaliland is rising every day and especially in key cities like Hargeysa, Erigavo, Burao and Berbera. The government and its security forces are controlling the matter, while the disqualified but influential political parties are angry with the government whom they accuse of not listening to them and pressuring them.
While there have been no casualties from the demonstrations that took place after the announcement by the commission, the situation remains unpredictable as the disqualified party leaders and followers nurse their anger. They may fail to heed the call for calm by local elders.
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- President 's Convoy Returning from Lower Shabelle
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- Minister for Women from Jowhar
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- With Former Minister 's Efforts
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- Associate of Deceased Al Qaeda
- Associate of Salah Nahban, Arrested, Sent to Kenya
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) troops captured a 35-year foreign al-Shabaab fighter at the Somali-Kenyan border town on Friday night. According to Somalia Report sources, the suspect named "Ali Bakaar" was captured in Hosingow a few miles from the Kenyan border. Hosingow had been an al-Shabaab training camp, but is now controlled by the Kenyans and TFG.
Ali Bakaar is believed to be a longtime associate of deceased al Qaeda member Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, who was killed by U.S. Special Operations forces in September of 2009. The man was arrested while aboard a bus heading to Kenya from Kismayo as it stopped at a checkpoint in Hosingow. He was among twenty passengers who described Ali Bakaar as a Tanzanian due to his language. Prior to boarding the bus, he had been dropped off at the Kismayo bus station by a group of youths in a car.
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- Sool Provincial Police Commissioner
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- Governor Calls for Return of Int'L Aid Agencies
Beled Hawa - Pro Somali transitional federal government militias and several hundred Al Shabaab fighters claimed victory over day long fighting in the mountainous village of Busar about 40 kms east of Elwak district, and skirmishes the town of Beled Hawa in the southern Somalia region of Gedo.
Colonel Barre was accompanied by Colonel Aden Mohamed Wacey (Adan Koronto) and number of his special staff. While the Ethiopians said he was free to leave at anytime, sources close to him told Somalia Report that some of his former militia men planned the escape, hiding him in a car fleeing Dolow. The Ethiopians, however, were fully aware of his departure, the source stressed.
"We do not know the motive behind this barbaric attack, it seems that the intention was to damage TFG and AMISOM but it prematurely detonated. We can thank God for that. We are investigating the incident," said Colonel Khalif.
Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, a Harvard-educated technocrat, was appointed as Somalia's prime minister following the June 2011 Kampala Accord that was endorsed by Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and the speaker of the transitional federal parliament, Shariff Hassan Sheikh Aden. In turn, the new prime minister was responsible for appointing a new cabinet despite fierce political infighting between the speaker and the president.
Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali appointed 18 members to his cabinet, most of whom were drawn from the Somali community in the Diaspora and are...
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- Al - Qaeda 's Global Leader
Fatumo Shire is a married mother who has nine children, six girls and three boys. Unlike Nasro, she suspects it may be unhealthy to bear many children.
"I have nine children most of whom are girls. I am very happy to have so many children of my own despite the problems I face while providing for them. They need education, discipline and basic needs catered for. It is not healthy for me to conceive so soon between pregnancies since the required spacing period is one year at most. This prevents me from pursuing other interests since I am expectant each year. I am not sure if this will create problems for my health in future."
Fauzia Yusuf Haji, the chairwoman of NDB, the first and the only woman to have formed a political party in Somaliland, was jailed and beaten with dozens of her supporters by Somaliland government.
Journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein 'Jeeky', the director of Universal TV for their Mogadishu office, said, "I want to keep my role in media and it had never occurred to me to give it up. You know we want to bring the world to our people experiencing these frightful events first hand."
Wearing a bulletproof vest, Ibrahim was shown on television as he was ventured out in Mogadishu war zones to video reporting. "I did it for the audience and people liked to see it," he said.
Ibrahim told Somalia Report that he decided to leave Mogadishu for the neighboring capital of Nairobi, Kenya. "It was almost four months ago," he said. "I want to remind you that some colleagues including myself are denied access to militia-controlled portions of the city, but are allowed to cover the government-controlled areas."
In June 2009, Ibrahim was arrested and tortured by al-Shabaab insurgents. He was later released and immediately sought refuge into neighboring countries.
"It's a very, very hard moment for all journalists. Despite the risks, we have a duty to report the truth," said Ibrahim proudly.
Julian Bauer continues to do interviews with the media, sometimes using aliases, and has represented his organization in the media as:
Khalif Isse Mudan, Punltand's security minister, said that they have captured suspects. "We arrested seven persons over the incident and five of them are al-Shabaab intelligence. Our security are still investigating the matter. One of the deceased was among our security officers, while other was a civilian," said Mudan.
Job Titles:
- Reporter for Shabelle Media and Voice of Hiraan, Killed
Major Paddy Ankunda, spokesman for the AU peacekeeping force (known as AMISOM), told Somalia Report that pro-government forces had taken control of a few streets inside the market area, and that operations would continue to expand territorial control.
Author Mark Bowden's best selling book (not to be confused with the UN's current representative Mark Bowden) and Ridley Scott's blockbuster depicted American soldiers suddenly outnumbered and fighting heroically against generic mobs of Somalis. Their depiction of dark evil Somali warlords and under-supported troops are memorable but selective in their focus on just a few hours of Somalia's turbulent history.
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- Minister Abdirahman Hosh on Garowe II Goals and Nation Building
Mohamed Abdi Gabose the chairman of Umada expressed his happiness at his party's victory and being one of the six qualifying parties.
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- Government Officer at Hosingow
Mohamed Ali Dhuubow, a government officer at Hosingow, said, " We spent last night searching for the abducted civilians. At midnight we found them. The kidnappers ran away and cruelly shot one of hostages who later died."
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- Deputy Minister of Justice and Religious
Mohamud Said Hussein, Deputy Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs, attended the ceremony and handed out the certificates to the graduates. He talked about the importance of youth in society, "Youth play an important role in society, because they are the next leaders of the country. In regard with the value of youth, the Puntland government started a rehabilitation program for pirates, gangs and youth criminals."
The minister also talked about the difference between educated and uneducated youth, calling on all youth to learn. Speaking to the reformed pirates, he warned them not to go back to piracy and encouraged them to have self confidence. "Be confident about yourselves and what you have learned. Don't dream to get what you have not worked for, which can risk your lives," he concluded.
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- General Manager of Mogadishu Port Authority, Sai
Mohamed Ahmed, General Manager of Mogadishu Port Authority, said that recent fighting in Mogadishu has caused drastic cutbacks in revenue because trucks hauling goods could not get to market.
"The price of the basic food commodities, construction materials, and fuel doubled," Mohamed Abdi, a tradesman, told Somalia Report. He added that, "trucks loaded with goods are stranded inside the port hurting the public whose lives depends on the supplies."
Ms. Asili Barre Dirie, head of VSF Puntland and a vet said that livestock diseases have increased recently due to reduced food intake as they remain weak and vulnerable. The goal of the livestock vaccine project to protect all Puntland livestock animals.
She said that the VSF Project was previously restricted to regions on the border with Ethiopia where the NGO used to treat livestock animals, mainly camels and goats from measles.
"We are proud that we are working with Puntland administration to develop livestock well-being, she said, and promised that the NGO will do many other activities to promote livestock health.
MV Leopard was found drifting at sea
Two days later the disabled ship was found and boarded by the Turkish Navy ship "Gaziantep". Later the MV Leopard was towed to safe waters. There was no mention of a missing crew member in any official communications or press releases from NATO, EU NAVFOR or the ship's owner.
The best source for what happened to the missing crew member comes directly from Chilean-born and Danish citizen, Eddie Lopez, the 47-year-old captain of the MV Leopard. The July 14th video gives his version of the attack that led to the potential death of the crew member. Keeping in mind that the crew was under duress and direction during this video to show emotion and plead for help.
He described two skiffs overtaking the MV Leopard and coming along each side. The 10 knot MV Leopard could not outrun the skiffs so Lopez began to make evasive maneuvers. The pirates then began shooting up at the windows in the wheel house three stories above the bucking ocean sending bullets ricocheting through the steel structure and nearly hitting the captain in the head and splattering his face with flying glass.
When the captain noticed "one of his crew was down", he then ordered the remaining survivors to the engine room to lock themselves in what is called the "citadel". The security team aboard for the Gulf of Aden, hardened entry areas, evasive movements and use of a citadel to buy precious time is part of "Best Management Practices" A properly hardened safe room can buy time but not if a crew member is still left outside. It is not known exactly what happened but the pirates were able to breach the citadel.
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- Investor in Dhanaane Village
Osman Guux, a pirate investor in Dhanaane Village which is near the district Hobyo, told Somalia Report that the pirates are now holding five crew members on another ship which is now anchored off the Ceel Daan area, but refused to name that ship.
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- Member Shot During Hijack, According to Pirates
A stuffed leopard mascot, Two Danish members (with orange on shirts) of the MV Leopard posed with kidnapped crew from the MT Polar crew photographed in Wasil on April 2011
The MV Leopard was carrying weapons when it was attacked by Somali pirates around 5pm local time on January 12, 2011. The ship had just dropped off its security crew hired for the passage through the Gulf of Aden and was off the coast of Oman. As they headed towards Mumbai, the captain saw rapidly approaching ships on their radar.
Back in late 2010 the location of the ship at 15-11N, 058-19E was supposedly outside the normal "danger zone." They did not notice that a pirate group had been reported the day before at 15-10.48N 058-19.12E
Although the ship had been "hardened" to prevent pirates from boarding using rickety ladders, photos of the vessel indicate that a pilot's step had been dropped and a small section of the barbed wire had been cleared away from the stern.
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- Analyst With International Crisis Group
Rashid Abdi, an analyst with International Crisis Group and an expert on Somalia, says this latest incident may lead to the creation of two factions each fighting for legitimacy ahead of August deadline.
Said Tahlill, Director of HornAfrik, the successor of Ali Sharmaarke was shot and killed in Mogadishu on 4 February 2009 by armed gunmen.
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- Named New Chairman in Juba, Shabaab Release Statement
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- Al Shabaab Spokesman, Has Called for the Groups' Fighters to Redouble in Order to Fight What He Called the "Invading African Christians and Their Apostate Government."
Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage, Al Shabaab spokesman, has called for the groups' fighters to redouble in order to fight what he called the "invading African Christians and their apostate government."
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- Siid Warsame Elected New Leader of ASWJ
Sheikh Mohamed Hussein Al-Qadi, a spokesman for ASWJ in southern Somalia, told Somalia Report that the fighting took place 15 km from El-Adde and their troops killed dozens of al-Shabaab fighters. "They launched a cruel ambush, but our troops with the help of Kenyan forces, repelled the extremists and forced them to run," he said.
Locals reported airstrikes carried out by the Kenyan planes, and the ASWJ spokesman confirmed al-Shabaab's bases in the region had been struck. Al-Shabaab's casualties are unknown, but ASWJ and TFG sources claimed more than 20 were killed.
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- Chairman of the High Court of Somaliland
Yusuf Ismail Ali, the Chairman of the High court of Somaliland, said that he has not received any complaints from political parties.