-
Content Count
10,388 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
24
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Calendar
Everything posted by Saalax
-
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/24/obama-s-not-so-secret-terror-war.html
-
Obama’s Not-So-Secret Terror War Daily Beast Tuesday, July 24, 2012 The U.S. is breaking a 20-year arms embargo on Somalia by training the country’s intelligence agency and deploying special forces without notifying the United Nations, according to a new report. The United States is breaking a 20-year arms embargo on Somalia by providing unauthorized intelligence training to regional governments and special-forces missions, according to a forthcoming United Nations report that discloses new details of the U.S. war against al Qaeda in the war-torn African nation. The report, issued by the U.N.’s Somalia Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG) and reviewed by The Daily Beast, details three covert U.S. programs to aid local Somali security services in their fight against Al-Shabab, the Somalia affiliate of al Qaeda. It says Central Intelligence Agency officers are helping the government of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region not recognized by the U.N., and U.S. special forces are fighting alongside Puntland soldiers. It also says the U.S. hasn’t notified the U.N. of these activities, as is required by the terms of the embargo. The U.S. helped establish the embargo in 1992 when Somalia erupted in a civil war. The report says 12 countries, including the U.S., aren’t complying with the arms embargo, having failed to inform the U.N. of cargo flights to supply various parties in the Somalia conflict. The country is one of the world’s most violent, lacking a functioning central government and overrun by warring militias, Islamist insurgents, and pirates who threaten large parts of the coast. “We are trying to establish a norm of compliance with the sanctions regime on Somalia,” said Matthew Bryden, the head of the SEMG. “We can’t do that if members of the U.N. Security Council themselves are not compliant.” Spokespeople for the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council, the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and the Pentagon all declined to comment on allegations made in the forthcoming SEMG report. Hillary Renner, a spokeswoman for the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, declined to comment on “military operations or intelligence matters,” but said that since 2007, the U.S. has given $106 million to support the Somali National Army. “This support is intended solely for the purpose of helping develop security-sector institutions consistent with the U.N.-supported political process in Somalia and in compliance with the arms embargo on Somalia. The Department of State has continued to submit notifications for its support to the SNA,” said Renner. The report illustrates how President Barack Obama’s often-secret war against al Qaeda can sometimes conflict with his administration’s commitment to work cooperatively with the U.N. As recently as 2010, the administration said it wasn’t directly involved in Somali military operations. “The United States does not plan, does not direct, and does not coordinate the military operations of Somalia’s [Transitional Federal Government],” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson in March 2010. “Further, we are not providing nor paying for military advisers.” Yet press reports in recent years have alleged that the CIA has trained Somali intelligence officers and that U.S. military personnel and drones were helping the Somali Army in an offensive against Al-Shabab, the local arm of al Qaeda. An article in The Nation last year detailed CIA assistance to Somalia’s national-security agency and the existence of an intelligence headquarters and detention center known as the “pink house.” Only recently did Obama publicly acknowledge direct assistance. In a June 15 letter to Congress, the president said, “n a limited number of cases, the U.S. military has taken direct action in Somalia against members of al-Qa'ida, including those who are also members of al-Shabaab.” He didn’t provide specifics, saying only that the moves were intended to “counter the terrorist threat.” The new SEMG report offers fresh details about U.S. training and aid to the Somali National Security Agency. The agency operates something called the “alpha group,” according to one U.N. official involved in the report, that is “used as proxy for U.S. intelligence operations” in areas controlled by the country’s Transitional Federal Government. When the U.S. government was asked about an “alpha group” by the SEMG it responded in a May 7 letter that it “does not acknowledge any form of direct support to the Somali National Security Agency,” according to the report. The SEMG usually compiles its report on the arms embargo every year. Past reports, including from 2007 and 2008, said the U.S. had notified the U.N. of its activities. “A number of foreign Governments are reportedly involved in training the National Security Agency,” the 2008 SEMG report said. “But only the Government of the United States has notified the Security Council that it is doing so.” That appears to have changed. The 2012 SEMG report lists among the unauthorized U.S. activities direct support for the intelligence service and security forces of the government of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia that is not recognized by the U.N. Mohammed Abdirahman Farole, the media adviser to and son of Puntland’s president, said in an interview that the CIA provides non-lethal assistance to the Puntland Intelligence Agency. “They do not bring us weapons,” he said. “The CIA gives us intelligence training and equipment. This is part of the global fight against the terrorists.” Farole added that his father’s government would “welcome the United Nations to come to Puntland and collect all the weapons.” But, he said, until that happens, the Puntland forces would need to be armed to fight terrorists and pirates. The report alleges the CIA has indeed been training its Puntland equivalent for ten years, including in Qaw, a small town on the outskirts of the Puntland port of Bosaso. The report alleges that Puntland trainees use the same shooting range as security contractors training a Puntland maritime police unit. Also in the report are allegations that an unnamed U.S. intelligence agency is operating a fleet of four Russian-made Mi-17a helicopters to transport special forces from Camp Lemonier, a U.S. base in Djibouti, to locations in northeastern Somalia to fight alongside Puntland forces. This was first reported in the Somalia Report, a website that tracks intelligence and military developments in the country, which said the forces were deployed to fight pirates. The report says the U.N. has confirmation of this from a “reliable military source.” The report also says there were 64 reports of activities of foreign jet fighters, helicopters, and drones in Somalia between June 2011 and April 2012. The report doesn’t say whether any of these were U.S. drones. The report says the African Union Mission in Somalia has complained about unidentified drones flying in Somali airspace. “Some of these reports concern attacks mistakenly targeting an [internal Displaced Persons] camp and a humanitarian feeding center, targeted killings by drones of Al-Shabab commanders, and Special Forces covert operations in Somalia.” Bryden, the report’s author, said his group began investigating these alleged U.S. programs in 2010 after discovering two private American operators of cargo planes, Prescott Support Co. and RAM Air Services, were registering flights into Somalia with the U.N. International Civil Aviation Organization. “We didn’t know the full extent of it,” said Bryden. “All we had was confirmation that the flights took place.” Spokesmen from Prescott Support Co. and RAM Air Services declined to respond to requests for comment. “My answer to those running this program is if you want this to be a covert program, don’t notify the civil-aviation authorities of your flights,” Bryden said. “Our job is to investigate flights just like this. And the flights are what led us to ask questions and dig deeper about undeclared U.S. programs in Somalia.”
-
Somalia is united from Puntland to South Somalia but it is still a failed state of 20 years.
-
Sheekh Maxamed Cali Geedi Oo Safar Somaliland Dani Ugu Jirto Ku Yimi Magaaladda Qahira Ee Dalka Masar. (Hadhwanaagnews) Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Qahira-(HWN)-Sheekh Maxamed Cali Geedi oo ahaan jiray Guddoomiyihii Urrur siyaasadeedkii Badbaado Qahira-(HWN)-Sheekh Maxamed Cali Geedi oo ahaan jiray Guddoomiyihii Urrur siyaasadeedkii Badbaado ee ku hadhay doorashadii hordhaca ahayd ee Urrur Siyaasadeedyadda ayaa soo gaadhay Magaaladda Qahira ee Xarunta dalkan Masar. Sheekh Maxamed Cali Geedi,oo kamida Culumadda Waaweyn ee Somaliland . Sheekha oo shabakadda Hadhwanaagnews.com wax,kawaydiisay safarkiisa ayaa sheegay inuu Masar uyimi Arrimo dhawra oo ay ugu horeeyaan. 1:in jaamacadda caanka ah ee Azhar al-shariif aqoonsato shahaadooyinka Ardayda kasoo baxda Iskuuladda hoosyimaadda daladda uu madaxda kayahay ee lagu magacaabo Hayatul Qarnul Ifriiqi al-islaami ,oo ay hoosyimaadaan in kabadan 22-iskuul oo iskugu jira Hoose dhexe iyo sare ayna dhigtaan Arday gaadhaysa 22000-kun baro Qalabka casrigaa ee lagaga shaqeeyo Cusbitaaladda kuwaas oo ay Jamhuuridda Somaliland baahi weyn uqabto taasna aynaga aqbaleen Urrurka dhakhaatiirta Masar. Sikastaba haahaatee Sheekh Maxamed Cali Geedi,ayaa waxa lagu tilmaamaa nin wadaniya oo haayadda uu madaxda kayahay ay Guddaha Somaliland wax,badan ka qabatay sida iyadoo dhistay Masaajido Ceelal Biyoodyo iyo oo Arday. 2:Iyo in Urrurka dhakhaatiirta Masar Utabaraan Aradayda barata caafimaadka ee kabaxa jaamacadda Masar,siloo iyadoo Xilligii abaaruhu dhaceen Gar-gaar lagaadhay dadkii ku wax,yeeloobay Abaaraha Cabdi Yaasiin Ahmed Hadhwanaagnews Qahira/Masar Email:Cabdiyasiin@hotmail.com Submitted By: Hassan Kuriya
-
burahadeer;852741 wrote: this best policy for somalis to be apart since they can't live together.Nothing more disasters than going with something that not only didn't work but end with the destruction seen today for last 20 + yrs.You can have peace when mind your own business. True.
-
Tarsan: Ninka Doonaya in Muqdisho Laga Bedelo Caasimada Soomaaliya Waa Nin Riyoonaya Muqdisho (RBC) Gudoomiyaha gobolka Banaadir ahna duqa Muqdisho Maxamuud Axmed Nuur Tarsan ayaa sheegay in marnaba aaney suurtagal noqon doonin in meel aan Muqdisho ahayn laga dhigo caasimada dalka cida taasi dooneysana ay ku jirto riyo maalmeed. Gudoomiye Tarsan oo ka hadlay kulan lagu soo afmeeray barnaamij loogu magacdaray ‘Tiiraanyo bixinta Muqdisho’ laguna soo dhoweynayo ergooyinka imaanaya caasimada ayaa sheegay inuu aad ula yaabay dad Soomaaliyeed, oo haddana masuuliyad sheeganaya inay u ololeynayaan in caasimada Muqdisho la xaqiro meeqaamkeeda. “Dad baa ku fakaraya in caasimad ay noqinin Muqdisho, waxaan leenahay ninka Ddonaya in Muqdisho laga bedelo caasimada Soomaaliya waa nin riyoonaya.” ayuu yiri duqa magaalada Muqdisho. Wuxuu sheegay inay ka doodeen sababta dastuurka qabyada loogu xusi waayey caasimada hase yeeshee arintaasi ay ka war sugayaan, isagoo carabka ku adkeeyay in aan la heli doonion meel u dhiganta Muqdisho. “Waa laga hadli karaa caasimada, oo anaku ma lihin lagama hadli karo waa wax laga doodi karo, laakiin xitaa haddii laga hadlo ma jirtaa magaalo u dhiganta oo leh waxa ay Muqdishow leedahay,” ayuu yiri gudoomiyaha. Muqdishow waa loo baahan yahay “Muqdishow iyadaa loo baahan yahay, marka loo eego adeega ay leedahay iyo muhimada dhulka ay ku taallo” ayuu sii raaciyey duqa magaalada Muqdisho. “Waa magaalo aan cidna kaa xigin gobolkaa rabto ka imaw, waa loo siman yahay.” ayuu yiri Tarsan oo sheegay inaysan jirin magaalo kale oo maanta dadka Soomaaliyeed u siman yihiin, isagoo sheegay in magaalooyinka qaar dad Soomaaliyeed laga soo tarxiilay. “Magaalooyin qaar ee Soomaaliya ku yaalla ayaa waxaa dhacday in dad Soomaali ah… waa SOOMAALI in laga soo tarxiilay sidii Sacuudigii” ayuu sheegay gudoomiyaha gobolka Banaadir. Mar uu ka hadlay ergooyinka ka imaanaya meelo kala duwan ee ka qeybgalaya shirka dastuurka ayuu sheegay, gudoomiyuhu in dadka reer Muqdisho iyo maamulkaba ay ballanqaadayaan amaankooda iyo dejintooda ayna la kulmi doonaan soo dhoweyn weyn. Maxamuud Axmed Nuur Tarsan wuxuu kaloo sheegay in amniga magaalada uu marayo meeshii ugu fiicneyn qof kasta oo Soomaaliyeedna uu isku halleyn karo caasimada Soomaaliya. “Annaga dadka ayaa marqaati noo ah wixii aan qabanay iyo sidii aan magaaladan ugu inmaanay markii aan xilka qabanay” ayuu sii raacyey Tarsan oo ka waramay shaqada maamulkiisa. Magaalada Muqdisho ayaa u diyaargaroobeysa shirka ansixinta dastuurka oo lagu wado in maalinta berito ee Arbacada ee ka furmo dugsigii tababarka booliska ee Gen Kaahiye [Ex Iskool Boolisiya] oo ku yaalla degmada Xamar Jajab iyadoo amaankana si weyn loo adkeeyay. RBC Radio Xafiiska Wararka Muqdisho
-
http://www.durdurnews.com/Detail.php?id=3159
-
Hargeisa(DNS)-Iyadoo haatan wadahadalo u socdaan Xukuumada Somaliland iyo dowlada Somalia oo ay ka wada hadlayaan arimo badan ayaa Xukuumada Somaliland waxay sheegay in aanan laga yaabin in ay la midoobaan Somalia inteeda kale. Arintaan ayaa waxaa ka dhawaajiyay Wasiir ku xigeenka Wasaaradda Waxbarashada Somaliland Cali Xaamud Jibriil oo la hadlay warbaahinta la hadalayey madax banaana Wuxuu sheegay in marnaba aysan la midoobeen dowladda Soomaaliya islamarkaana Jamhuuriyada Soomaaliland ay tahay dowladd madaxbanaan . Sidoo kale Wuxuu sheegay Cali Xaamud Jibriil in gooni isku taiga jamhuuriyada Somaliland ay tahay mid lama taabtaan ah, taahan aysan Somalilandna diyaar u ahayn in ay arintaasi gor-gortan ay ka gasho. Wasiir ku xigeenka Wasaaradda Waxbarashada ayaa wuxuu carabka ku dhuftay in dowlada Soomaaliya iyo Xukuumada Somaliland ay kawada hadlayaan oo kaliya sidii nabad loogu wada noolaan lahaa iyo sidii looga shaqayn lahaa hormarka Gobolka geeska Africa. July 24, 2012 DurdurNews
-
http://www.raxanreeb.com/2012/07/mahiga-daacadnimo-hadaan-u-hadlo-odayaasha-dhaqanka-way-ku-fashilmeen-shaqadii-loo-diray/
-
Mahiga: Daacadnimo Hadaan u Hadlo Odayaasha Dhaqanka Way Ku Fashilmeen Shaqadii Loo Diray Muqdisho (RBC) Wakiilka Qaramada Midoobay u qaabilsan Soomaaliya Augustine Mahiga oo maanta hadal u jeediyey odayaasha dhaqanka ee ku shirsan magaalada Muqdisho ayaa ku dhaliilay odayaasha inay ku fashilmeen hawshii loo diray iyagoo mudo kabadan labo bilood fadhiyey magaalada Muqdisho. “Odayaasha waxaan u dirsanay inay soo qoraan liiska 135 oday iyo liiska ergooyinka ka qeybgalaya shirka dastuuriga laakiin haddii aan si DAACADNIMO ah idiinla hadlo odauyaashu way ku fashilmeen shaqadooda” ayuu yiri Mahiga oo hadal u jeedinayay odayaasha dhaqanka. Mahiga wuxuu sheegay in hadda lagajoogo labo bilood iyo bar markii odayaasha la isugu keenay magaalada Muqdisho isla markaana waajibkii saarnaa aysan gudanin, sida uu sheegay. Augustine Mahiga ayaa kulankan maanta uu ka khudbeeyay ka shaaciyey in tirada baarlamaanka cusub ee Soomaaliya la kordhiyey lana gaarsiiyay 275 xildhibaan kadib markii uu codsi ka yimid odayaasha dhaqanka. “Waxaad iga codsateen in tirada baarlamaanka cusub oo ajhayud 225 laga dhigo 275, waxaana idiin xaqiijinayaa in codsigaasi la aqbalay” ayuu yiri Auguistine Mahiga. Raysul wasaare Gaas oo digay Dhankiisa raysul wasaaraha xukuumadda KMG Soomaaliya Dr. C/weli Maxamed Cali Gaas oo isaguna kulanka hadal ka jeediyey ayaa ka digay in haddii odayaasha iuyo ergada ay ku guuleysan waayaan meelmarinta dastuurka qabyada ah in dalku uu geli doono jahwareer dastuuri ah, ayna adkaan doonto in la sameeyo dawlad rasmi ah mudada kalaguurka kadib. Raysul wasaaruhu wuxuu odayaasha markale ka dalbaday inay soo dedejiyaan tirada ka dhiman liiska ergooyinka ka qeybgali lahaa shirka shirka ansixinta dastuurka oo iilaa hadda qabyo ah, isla markaana beelaha qaarkood aysan keensan wax ergo ah. Waxaa maanta markii saddexaad baaqday shirkii ansixinta dastuurka oo lagu waday inuu Muqdisho ka furmo taasoo xukuumaddana ay ku sifeysay sababo xagga farsamada ah. RBC Radio Xafiiska Wararka Muqdisho
-
Anigu Xamar Maan Tagin,Mana Tagayo,Umana Socdo Wax Ii Yaalaana Ma jirto.Wasiir Ku Xigeenka Caafimaadka Nimco Xuseen Qawdhan Hargeysa(WNN):-Wasiir ku xigeenka wasaarada caafimaadka Somaliland marwo Nimco Xuseen Qawdhan ayaa waxaan jirin ku tilmaantay inay ka degtay caasimada wadanka Somaliya ee Muqdisho. Wasiir ku xigeenka oo maanta warbaahinta kula hadlaysay xafiiskeeda magaalada Hargeysa waaxa kale oo ay sheegtay inaanay suura gal ahayn inay tagto magaalada Muqdisho,waxaanay tilmaantay inay sharciga la tiigsan doonta cidii faafisay warkaasi. Ugu horay wasiir ku xigeenka caafimaadka marwo Nimco Xuseen Qawdhan oo ka hadlaysa warkan laga faafiyey ee sheegaya inay ka degtay magaalada Muqdisho ayaa waxay tidhi warka sheegaya in aniga oo ah wasiir ku xigeenka caafimaadka Somaliland aan ka degay magaalada Muqdisho, runtii warkaasi waa mid aan sal iyo raad toona lahayn, waana wax laga khajilo in wararka noocaas ah laga faafiyo masuuliyiinta qaranka,markii aan warkaa arkay kamaan nixin laakiin aad ayaan uga khijalay waxa umada loo galinayo warbaahinta. Wasiir ku xigeenka caafimaadka Somaliland marwo Nimco Xuseen Qawdhan oo hadalkeeda sii wadata ayaa waxay sheegtay inaanay marna ka dagi doonin magaalada muqdisho Anigu Xamar maan tagin mana tagayo umana socdo wax ii yaalaana ma jirto, waayo aniga somaliland ayaan ku noolahay oo aan deganahay umadayda ayaann u shaqeeyaa oo aan karaamo ku leeyahay, Somaliland iyo Somaliya-na hore ayey u kala socdeen wax layskugu noqonayaana ma jirto Sidoo kale wasiir ku xigeenka caafimaadku waxay sheegtay inay sharciga la tiigsan doonto cidii ka faafisay warkan waxaanay tidhi runtii anigu kaga hadhi maayo cidii warkan qortay laakiin waxaan ka rabaa halka ay ka keeneen oo cadayn leh, xeer ilaalintana waan u gudbinayaa kama hadhayo ilaa aan helo halkii uu warkaasi ka soo baxay Sidoo kale wasiir ku xigeenka caafimaadku waxay fariin u dirtay shacabka somaliland waxaanay sheegtay inaanay waxba iskugu hadhin Somaliland iyo Somaliya shacabka Somaliland gudo iyo dibad-ba meel kasta oo ay joogaan waxaan u sheegayaa Somaliland wax Somaliya u yaala oo ay ka raadinaysaa ma jirto qofkii dan shakhsiya u leh ee tagayaa isaga ayey u taalaa laakiin xukuumad ahaan aniga oo afkii xukuumada ku hadlaya wax siyaasada xamar ka socota iyo loolanka ka socda noo yaalaa ma jirto waayo umada ayaanu xil u haynaa, mansab umadu leedahay ayaanu ku fadhinaa,qaran nabadana waanu haysanaa. Somaliland iyo somaliya hadh cad ayey kala socdeen markaa maanta wax aan aniga iyo qayrkayba ugu hanqal taagnaa waxaan u malaynayaa inaanay jirin Wasiir ku xigeenka caafimadka somaliland marwo Nimco Xuseen Qawdhan waxay warbaahinta kula dardaarantay inay ka fogaadaan wararka aan jirin isla markaana ay umada u gudbiyaan warar xaqiiqadda ku salaysan. Idil maxamed saleban Warkanews Hargeisa office
-
AUN. He was the vice chairman of the SNM In 1984, later he created the USC.
-
http://oodweynenews.com/news/188652-sawir-taariikhi-ah-muj-cali-maxamed-cosoble-cali-wardhiigley.html
-
Sawirkan taariikhigii waa Muj Cali Maxamed Cosoble (Cali Wardhiigley), Cali, wuxuu ahaan jiray wasiir ka tirsan dawladdii rayidka ahayd ee Somalia ,Markii Militerigu waddanka qabsadayna wuxuu ka mid noqday Mucaaridkii Siyad barre ka soo horjeestay, 1984 wuxuu ku biiray jabhadii SNM waxaana loo doortay gudoomiye ku xigeenkii SNM, markii danbana wuxuu noqday amaba ahaa aas-aasihii jabhadii USC.
-
Carafat the poll wasn't created by me neither my friends it was a public facebook poll. LANDER;852468 wrote: ^ You were probably among the 40 that voted maxa naga khuseeya I voted no.
-
Facebook poll involving different kinds of Somalis. 1,246 voted No. 852 voted Yes. 636 voted Ilaa waligood yana midoobin. 40 voted maxa naga khuseeya.
-
http://somalilandpress.com/dahabshiil-dismisses-anonymous-claims-update-32479
-
Dahabshiil dismisses ‘Anonymous’ claims – UPDATE Somalilandpress Dahabshiil, the largest remittance company in East Africa has dismissed hackers’ claims that Dahabshiil is linked to terrorists organizations like Al Shabab in Southern Somalia. The company, which has large clients in Somaliland, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, Eritrea and Djibouti said that it has launched an investigation into the breach. A group claiming to part of the Anonymous Hackactivist group compromised critical databases in Dahabshiil’s network posting private and sensitive information online. The group stated that they were targeting Dahabshiil due to it’s links with terrorism, an allegation Dahabshiil sharply dismissed. Dahabshiil has promised to collaborate with relevant authorities in the probe. Somaliland Press recieved this official statement from Dahabshiil headquater in Hargeisa. Following our initial investigation into the cyber-attack, we now believe that earlier reports attributing the action to a particular protest group were inaccurate and exaggerated. Our investigation is still ongoing and we are therefore not yet in a position to verify the identity of those individuals behind the incident. Naturally we will keep all customers fully updated. Safeguarding our customers is of paramount importance to Dahabshiil and we will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that we identify those responsible. Dahabshiil adheres to all industry standards in keeping confidential the details of its customers’ instructions and their unique transaction references. Furthermore, the company places the highest importance on its compliance procedures and has policies in place which are approved by the relevant authorities, including the FSA in the UK. If customers have any questions, or require any further information, they should contact us on enquiries@dahabshiil.com. See earlier statement here. July 21, 2012
-
DAHABSHIIL STATEMENT “We wholeheartedly condemn the illegal actions of the activist group, Anonymous, and its claims of breaching the privacy of hardworking, responsible individuals. “The claims from Anonymous that connections exist between our business and known terrorist organisations are quite simply wrong. Dahabshiil categorically denies these suggestions. We have never been the subject of any investigation in relation to alleged terrorist funding and we have no involvement whatsoever with money laundering or the funding of terrorist organisations. “Consequently, we call on Anonymous to withdraw its untrue allegations immediately. “Dahabshiil places the highest importance on its compliance procedures and has extensive anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing policies in place which are approved by the relevant regulators, including the FSA in the UK. All staff receive extensive and continuous training in this regard. “We have started a thorough investigation of Anonymous’ attack and will keep all customers fully updated. Safeguarding our customers’ funds is of paramount importance to Dahabshiil. We will continue to work closely with the relevant authorities as we proceed.” – ENDS – July 20, 2012
-
Italian aid to Somalia in the 1980s amounted to a quarter billion US dollars. The money was spent on such projects as a road in northern Somalia, the renovation of a pharmaceutical plant, and the construction of a fertilizer plant that never produced a sack of fertilizers. According to an article in the Washington Post, “ The Italian Connection: How Rome Helped Ruin Somalia,” (01/24/1993), a former Somali minister testified in Italy that at least 10 percent of the Italian aid to Somalia was pocketed by members of Siad Barre’s family and their cronies. Many of the Somali state-owned companies made “no economic sense,” argued Bridges, but “did make business sense—family business sense.” Bridges also mentioned how the Somali government inflated the number of refugees in the country in order to secure more foreign aid. For example, Abdi Mohamed Tarrah, Commissioner of the Somali National Refugee Commission, had the tendency to play with refugee numbers. “If there were no refugees,” Bridges stated, “there would be no commission—and no Commissioner.” One issue that angered Bridges was how Siad Barre courted Libya during a period of high tensions between Washington and Tripoli. Reagan had bombed Libya and Qaddafi’s compound in Tripoli, and the Libyans, were, of course, itching to retaliate against the Americans by any means necessary. Siad Barre, meanwhile, started courting Libya in part to dissuade Qaddafi from aiding Somali rebels based in Ethiopia. Bridges warned Barre about re-establishing diplomatic ties with Libya. However, Barre, the wily politician, saw an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: court Libya’s financial assistance and undermine his rivals. One day, Bridges read a news item from the Somali News Agency about Somalia and Libya resuming diplomatic relations “in consideration of the emphatic necessity to prepare for and face the problems posed by imperialism and its likes.” Bridges was livid! He asked to see Abdirahman Jama Barre, the foreign minister, who reassured him that the statement referred to the Ethiopian imperialism. However, when Bridges met Siad Barre, the Somali president said the word “imperialism” was in reference to the Soviet Union. One thing became clear to Bridges: Qaddafi had bribed Somali officials to resume diplomatic relations. Bridges said that he had heard credible reports that Jama Barre pocketed $1 million from the Libyans. In November 1985, the World Bank organized a conference in Paris to provide urgent aid to Somalia which was experiencing a budget gap of $100 million. Many countries pledged to help except Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Bridges could not understand why fellow Muslim and Arab countries would not lend assistance to Somalia. He was later told by an Arab ambassador that Siad Barre had diverted $20 million to “private pockets,” that was intended for Somalia to purchase oil. In one instance, oil from Saudi tanker was even sold to the Apartheid regime of South Africa, a country under economic boycott, rather than delivered to Somalia.
-
Coofle;851966 wrote: Although the tradition have faded nowdays Keyword faded.