U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki shake hands in Eritrea President Afewerki, who only a year ago tried to become a major ally in the US-led "war against terrorism", during the last few months has made a u-turn in Eritrean foreign relations. Branding the US as the "historic enemy" of Eritrea, allegedly behind its conflict with Ethiopia, Mr Afewerki reconciled with Sudanese authorities, established friendly ties with Iran and supported the Somali jihadists.

Meanwhile - as Ethiopia plans for the replacement of its troops in Somalia by African peacekeepers and the establishment of Somali's first central government in over 15 year - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is also in a position to enjoy his easy victory over Eritrea. "It is evident that the Eritrean Government is prepared to fight Ethiopia until the last drop of blood of the people of Somalia," Mr Zenawi told the Addis parliament in a different way of explaining the Somali war. "The Eritrean government elaborated this strategy in order to advance its objective through the blood of the Somalis," he told Ethiopian MPs. "It believed that the strengthening of the extremists in Somalia would put Ethiopia in an inextricable situation. But more importantly it did so because it does not have the capacity and willingness to wage direct military confrontation," Mr Zenawi claimed. The Ethiopian Prime Minister held that it was "clear that the Eritrean government would have waged war if Ethiopia was bogged down in a quagmire in Somalia." However, this "projected quagmire for Ethiopian defence forces did not take place. When the interventionist Eritrean forces had to flee from one end of Somalia to the other, the Eritrean government did not directly dare lift a finger," Mr Zenawi bragged.

source Humiliated Eritrea blames US for Somali war Eritrean President Issayas Afewerki: «A plan initiated by the Washington administration.» © Govt of Eritrea/afrol News afrol News, 2 January - Only ten days ago, the Eritrean government predicted that the Somali Islamists, which it supported with arms, troops and training, would win its proxy war against Ethiopian troops. Humiliated by the total defeat, Eritrea's President now puts the blame on Washington, again claiming the US is behind all evils on the African Horn. In interviews with local, state-controlled media, Eritrean President Issayas Afewerki claimed that the recently deposed Somali Islamist movement had not represented a "new Islamic philosophy but a choice the people made to establish a united Somalia." The Eritrean President noted that the Ethiopian and the US governments were "resorting to different ploys to drag back the Somalis to the previously existing instability," alleging such a state of affairs was "tantamount to terrorism". The war in Somalia had been "unleashed by those forces that stood against the emergence of a united Somalia," and "emanates from weakness, fear, panic and not might," President Afewerki said, referring to the official Eritrean view that the Ethiopian government is close to collapsing. He further claimed that the Ethiopian "invasion of Somalia is not spontaneous but a long time and well organised plan initiated by the Washington administration." Also Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu, in an interview with 'Reuters' today, said that "this war is between the Americans and the Somali people." He repeated the Eritrean rhetoric - aimed at mobilising war-tired and tyrannised citizens - of an Ethiopian government afraid of being overthrown, claiming only US support was upholding the Addis Ababa regime. President Afewerki, who only a year ago tried to become a major ally in the US-led "war against terrorism", during the last few months has made a u-turn in Eritrean foreign relations. Branding the US as the "historic enemy" of Eritrea, allegedly behind its conflict with Ethiopia, Mr Afewerki reconciled with Sudanese authorities, established friendly ties with Iran and supported the Somali jihadists. Several reports, including a UN investigation, have documented that Eritrea was the major supporter of the radical Islamists - allegedly with close al Qaeda ties - ruling most of Somalia during the last half year. Hundreds of Eritrean troops were supporting and training the Islamists and heavy arms were shipped to Mogadishu despite a UN arms embargo, in what analysts saw as an attempt to stage a proxy war against Ethiopia in Somalia. While the Eritrean government all along has denied its military support to the Somali Islamists - despite heavy proof - Asmara has been a staunch defender of the Somali radicals. Its omnipotent Ministry of Information - controlling all opinions and news published in Eritrea - has on several occasions declared that Ethiopia would be defeated in Somalia. Only on 23 December, the Ministry published an article titled "Somalia is in the final push to eject the invading Ethiopian Army". The article, which claims that Ethiopia scooped Somali peace negotiations in 2004 to have interim President Abdullahi Yusuf installed, indicated that the Somali Islamists' expected victory could even lead to a toppling of the hated Ethiopian government. As the Eritrean prediction of a Somali Islamist victory over Ethiopian troops proved anticipated, the Ministry of Information during the last few days has added a note to the article, saying it does "not necessarily reflect" the views of the Ministry - something otherwise unheard of in Eritrea, where the Ministry is in total control of any public statement and of the media. The Ministry for long has embarked on an almost comic rhetoric when describing neighbouring Ethiopia, always referred to as "the TPLF regime". A recent "editorial" diplomatically states: "One of the bold marks of the TPLF regime is its pretentious characteristics, trying to fool the whole world by promoting lies, hypocrisy and deceit. The regime ranks second to none in the whole globe in its ability to fabricate a series of lies whenever the preceding ones are exposed. Shame doesn't hinder it from producing fresh and unprecedented lies every second." Following this rhetoric, the humiliation for Asmara authorities has been total with the Islamists' defeat. The proxy war in Somali now definitively called off due to Ethiopia's victory. Equally, Eritrea was humiliated by the fact that Ethiopian forces killed large number of Eritrean troops during their Somalia operation. While Ethiopian officials have claimed that hundreds of Eritreans were killed on the battlefield, Asmara now accuses Ethiopia of faking Eritrean identity cards in a "futile ploy" to provide evidence. Again, it is Ethiopian "lies, hypocrisy and deceit" that are to blame for Eritrea's defeat. Meanwhile - as Ethiopia plans for the replacement of its troops in Somalia by African peacekeepers and the establishment of Somali's first central government in over 15 year - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is also in a position to enjoy his easy victory over Eritrea. "It is evident that the Eritrean Government is prepared to fight Ethiopia until the last drop of blood of the people of Somalia," Mr Zenawi told the Addis parliament in a different way of explaining the Somali war. "The Eritrean government elaborated this strategy in order to advance its objective through the blood of the Somalis," he told Ethiopian MPs. "It believed that the strengthening of the extremists in Somalia would put Ethiopia in an inextricable situation. But more importantly it did so because it does not have the capacity and willingness to wage direct military confrontation," Mr Zenawi claimed. The Ethiopian Prime Minister held that it was "clear that the Eritrean government would have waged war if Ethiopia was bogged down in a quagmire in Somalia." However, this "projected quagmire for Ethiopian defence forces did not take place. When the interventionist Eritrean forces had to flee from one end of Somalia to the other, the Eritrean government did not directly dare lift a finger," Mr Zenawi bragged. By staff writer © afrol News

Get paid? What for?

^^^Indeed and neither is Somaliland.

^^^The Ethiopian occupation card has run its course, now its Puntland out for revenge. Muqdisho: Dawladda Federaalka oo sheegtay inay is beddel ka samaynayso warbaahinta dalka . Talaado, January 16, 2007 Muqdisho(AllPuntland)- Afhayeenka dawladda Soomaaliya C/raxmaan Diinaari ayaa sheegay in dawladda federaalku ay doonayso inay bixiso Laysanno ama aqoonsiyo la siinayo saxaafadda, si looga hortago waxyaabaha keeni kara xasilooni darada . " Hadda dawlad ayaa dhalatay , waxay warbaahintu u baahan tahay inay hesho aqoonsi , si looga hortago wararka aan sal iyo raadka lahayn ee keeni kara dhibaatada". C/raxmaan Diinaari oo wax laga waydiiyay in xannibaadda idaacadahan loo gaystay inay daba socoto xaaladdii deg degga ahayd ee baarlamaanku dhawaan ansixiyay ayaa arintaasi gaashaanka ku dhuftay. Idaacadaha Shabelle iyo Horn Afrik ayaa gabi ahaanba hawada ka baxay, hase ahaatee Tvga Aljazeera iyo Idaacadda Quraanka kariimka ee IQK ayaan wali la gaarsiin wareegtadii idaacadahaasi lagu joojinayay. Maamulka Idaacadda Horn Afrik ayaa war shalay kasoo baxay ku sheegeen mid caddaalad daro ah in Idaacad muddo si xor ah u soo shaqaynaysay irdaha loo laabo markii dawlad la helay. Idaacadaha iminka irdaha loo laabay ayaa dawladdu ku tuhunsan tahay inay buun buuniso waxyaabaha aysan dantu ugu jirin shacabka Soomaaliyeed. CCC Farayaamo AllPuntland

^^^Thus in your warped brain, they targeted civilians in the bush using all their state of the art air power, fuel and weapons that cost a bit, to shoot at some camel herders, come on you are a grown man. Toe the line? Was the President of your clan fiefdom not congradulating the TFG and their allies as your SNM-Mujahid said, thus its not us who is hiding in a cloak but you..

^^^Its a good point mate, we will have to wait and see.

^^a very valid point, how many nations are there in Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, India and so on?

^^^They have all become so religious, Abu this and Al Burco that and Mujahid, oh they used to use that title before, all the SNM'S where "Mujahids" and even Faisal Warrabe is a hashamite noble. Taako, Somaliland has 30,000 troops heading towards LA, in 2002..

Rudy, your point is not valid, the TFG is the solution to Somalia. Northerner, saxib I condemn all actions of violence againts anyone most of all my people. However dont beat around the bush, was the aim to target civilians?

" Waxaa xaddidnaan doonta ciidamada aan u dirayno Soomaaliya maxaa yeelay.." madaxwaynaha Koonfur Afrika Tabo Mbeki. Talaado, January 16, 2007 Madaxwaynaha dalka Koonfur Afrika Tabo Mbeki ayaa shaaca ka qaaday in dawladda Koonfur Afrika ay rajaynayso inay ciidamo gayso dalka Soomaaliya. Mbeki wuxuu sheegay in dalka Koonfur Afrika uu dalal badan oo Afrika ah ciidamo u diray, isla markaana ay noqon doonto ciidamada uu Soomaaliya u diri doono mid xaddidan. Madaxwaynaha dalka Koonfur Afrika wuxuu sheegay inuu maalintii shalay ahayd la kulmay wasiirka arimaha dibadda Kenya , kaasoo ay soo wakiishen waddmada bariga afria , wuxuu sheegay in waddamadaasi in Koonfur Afrika ay ka caawiso ciidamo gaynta dalka Soomaaliya. Mbeki wuxuu sheegay in uu ka aqbalay codsiga kaga yimid madaxda bariga Afrika, hase ahaate wuxuu u sheegay in muddo todobaad ah la siiyo si uu xaaladda u darso. Madaxwaynuhu wuxuu sheegay in dalalka Burundi, Jamhuuriyadda Kongo iyo Suudaanba ay ciidamo ka joogaan, arintaasina ay tahay mid culayskeeda leh. Dawladd Koonfur Afrika oo kamid ah dawladaha Afrika ugu dhaqaalaha badan ayaa wadamada bariga Afrika ka sugayaan inay ciidamo iyo dhaqaaleba ku taageerto Soomaaliya. CCC Farayaamo AllPuntland

^^ So civilians only died at the hands of the "outsiders" even in this latest conflict? Your argument makes no sense, was the aim to target civilians?

^^^My response is that any death is tragic, however the facts of these incidents are murky, for example if the aim was to kill innocents then larger population centres would be more appropriate correct?

^^^The bombings in the border between Somalia and Kenya, was an incident we have very little information about, how many died, were they fighters or civilians? If one is to belive it was meant as a way to kill civilians, they could have easily bombed Mogadishu, Marka and Kismayu, when the courts where hiding out there, dont you agree that would have had a much larger death count of Somali's. Thus this new found love of Somali's of the south the same clan of the ONLF who where once being turned over to Adis by the Hragaysa leadership is some what suspect..Dont you think?

W/arimaha gudaha Puntland oo gaaray Laascaanood iyo kulan balaaran oo ay yeesheen waxgaradka iyo Maamulka Gobolka. Waxaa maanta kulan balaaran yeeshay Maamulka Gobolka Sool iyo Ganacsatada Gobolka iyadoo kulankaas ay ka soo qayb galen ganacsatada Gobolka iyo qaybaha kala duwan ee ururada bulshada kulankaan aya waxaa dib kaga soo biiray wafti balaaran oo uu hogaaminayay Wasiirka arimaha gudaha Maxamed cabdixaabsade iyo wafti balaaran oo uu hogaaminayo oo maanta gaaray Magaalada Laascaanood Waxaana ka soo qaybgalay shirkii maanta ka furmay hoolka dawlada hoose ee degmada laasacaanood dad isugu jira isimo, cuqaal , ganacsato, aqoonyahano iyo dhamaan qaybaha kale ee bulshada sida ururada dhalinyarada iyo kuwa hooyooyinka. Waxaa sidoo kale kulankan ka soo qayb galay wafti dawlada ka socday oo uu hogaaminayey wasiirka arimaha gudaha iyo amniga mudane axmed c/ xaabsade, waxaana sidoo kale goobjoog ka ahaa gidoomiyaha g/ sool mudane ibraahin jaamac daad, iyo duqa degmada laasacaanood ee mudane c/raxmaan jaamac aadan iyo marti sharaf kale. Waxaa shirka furay duqa degmada laasacaanood mudane cabdiraxmaan jaamac aadan, wuxuuna duqu si guud uga hadlay caqabadihii ay soo martay dawlada hoose iyo marxaladahay la kulantay, wuxuuna duqu taabtay in dawlada hoose ee degmada laasacaanood ay waxbadan ka qabatay arimaha bulshada ee degmada laasacaanood sida caafimaad , waxbarashada , amniga iyo hagaajinta jidadka magaalada. wuxuuna ugu danbayntii duqa degmada laasacaanood mudane cabdiraxmaan jaamac aadan uu ugu baaqay dhamaan ganacsatada iyo bulshada ku nool magaalada laasacaanood in ay bixiyaan cashuurta dawlada hoose islamarkaasna ay ka qaybqaataan horimarinta bulshada isla markaasna ay la shaqeeyaan dawlada hoose. Waxaa isna halkaas ka hadlay gidoomiyaha rugta ganacsiga ee g/ sool mudane faarax suugaal, wuxuuna tibaaxay hawsha wayn ee ay qabato dawlada hoose ee degmada laasacaanood iyo sida ay ugu heelantahay horumarinta degmada, wuxuuna intaas ku daray in ka ganacsato ahaan ay la shaqayn doonaan dawlada hoose iyo maamulkaba. Waxaa isna halkaa ka hadlay gidoomiyaha g/ sool mudane ibraahin jaamac daad oo sheegay muhiimada ay leedahay wada shaqaynta dawlada hoose iyo ganacsatada, wuxuuna gidoomiyuhu ugu baaqay dhamaan ganacstada magaalada laasacaanood in lashaqeeyaan dawlada hoose isla markaasna ay bixiyaan cashuurta dawlada hoose lana shaqeeyaan maamulka. Waxaa kale oo madaxdii halkaas ka hadashay kamid ahaa wasiirka arimaha gudaha iyo amniga mudane axmed cabdi xaabsade, wuxuuna wasiirku sheegay sida uu ugu faraxsanyahay waxabadka tayada leh ee dawlada hoose iyo shirka ay isugu yimaadeen ganacsatada iyo dawlada hoose, wuxuuna wasiirku uu dhiiri galin u soojeediyay dawlada hoose ee laasacaanood oo uu ku booriyey in ay uguntato oo u shaqayso oo u adeegto dadkeeda iyo dalkeeda, wuxuuna wasiirku ka codsaday dhamaan ganacsatada magaalada laasacaanood in ay cashuurta si wanaagsan u bixiyaan isla markaasna ay la shaqeeyaan maamulka, Wuxuuna wasiirku intaa ku daray in wafdigoodu uu u yimid magaalada laasacaanood hawlshaqo oo uu ku kormeerayo waxqabadka maamulka g/ sool iyo dhamaan degmooyinka g/ sool, wuxuuna wasiirku intaa ku daray in ay u yimaadeen oo kale halo ciidamo qoris ah oo aydawlada federaalka ku meelgaadhka ah ee soomaaliya ay ka codsaty in ay ciidamo u soodiraan maamul goboleedka puntland wuxuuna wasiirku sheegay in magaalada laasacaanood laga qaadayo cidan gaadhaya laba boqol oo askari <200> oo looqaadaya magaalada muqdisho. Ugudanbayntii waxaa isna halkaas ka hadlay garaad abshir saalax oo ku hadlayey afka isimada oo soo xidshay shirkii ka socday halkaas, wuxuuna garaadku ugu baaqay dadka ku dhaqan guud ahaan puntland in ay wax wada qabsadaan oo ilaaliyaan midnimadooda, ugu danbayntii wuxuu garaadku halkaas ka soo jeediyey kalmado duca ah wuxuuna soo xidhay shirkii ka socday xarunta dawlada hoose ee magaalada laasacaanood. Axmed Maxamed Yuusuf. hanad2_2@hotmail.com Allmudug.org Laascaanood

^^^The violence taking place now is notin compared to the projections, as for warlords well its a title that fits everyone even "SNM MUJAHIDS" and all the leaders of the state called Somaliland. Remmeber Tuur, Egal fought a bitter war in the early 90s one you guys underplay. The demo was good..

^^^Nicely put, the TFG has now the tools legislative or otherwise to bring security to the nation.

Somalia: A new management appointed for Banadir province (Mogadishu) Aweys Osman Yusuf Mogadishu 15, Jan.07 ( Sh.M.Network) -A new administration for Somalia’s Banadir region (Mogadishu) was appointed on Monday in a decree issued by Somali president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. The copy of the decree received by Shabelle appoints Mohomood Hassan Ali (Adde Gabow) as the mayor the capital Mogadishu, Ibrhaim Omar Sabriye (Shawiye) as the assistant chairman for the peace and politics of the province, Hassan Mohammed Nor as the assistant chair for the economy and finances and Abdulkadir Sufi Muridi as the chairman for public works and social issues. Abdirahman Dinari, the government spokesperson, has read the decree to journalists in the capital Mogadishu. The new managements, who after their appointments talked with the press, promised they would make difference in the capital Mogadishu. Adde Gabow, the mayor, stated he was happy with the formation of the new administration. “I urge people of Mogadishu to stage a huge rally supporting the new administration and I promise that the population of Banadir province will see the difference in days”, he said. President Abdulahi Yusuf, who also spoke at the appointment occasion that took place at the presidential palace, Villa Somalia, in Mogadishu said, “From now on there is no chairman for Bandir region. A mayor was officially nominated. The new managers should appoint district commissioners with the help of the minister of internal affairs to find people who deserve the positions”, he said. The nominations came days after the Somali transitional parliament has declared a three-month state of emergency on the country. Shabelle Media Network Somalia E-mail us: info@shabelle.net

^^^The south will not stay the same, nor will it be an excuse for the secessionists camps agenda. Look at the comments of this SNM comander/member of Kulmiye, is he upset with Ethiopia? Is he upset with Somali fighting each other, no. He is angered by the fact that the 'south' has a government. That Somalia is represented in the UN, AU and IGAD, and that the "Somaliland" state is not. Things are changing and some do not like it.

South African troops offer Also on Monday Thabo Mbeki, the South African president, said South Africa would consider sending troops to Somalia but military operations elsewhere may limit its ability to deploy soldiers. "Yesterday again I met the foreign minister of Kenya who had been sent by the East Africa region ... They are requesting we should assist with the deployment of troops in Somalia," Mbeki said in an interview on South African state television. "I did say to the minister we will look at the matter this week." Ethiopia, the main backer of Somalia's interim government, wants to withdraw its soldiers in the coming weeks. Diplomats and aid agencies fear that their sudden withdrawal would leave a security vacuum around weak Somali government.

South African troops offer Also on Monday Thabo Mbeki, the South African president, said South Africa would consider sending troops to Somalia but military operations elsewhere may limit its ability to deploy soldiers. "Yesterday again I met the foreign minister of Kenya who had been sent by the East Africa region ... They are requesting we should assist with the deployment of troops in Somalia," Mbeki said in an interview on South African state television. "I did say to the minister we will look at the matter this week." Ethiopia, the main backer of Somalia's interim government, wants to withdraw its soldiers in the coming weeks. Diplomats and aid agencies fear that their sudden withdrawal would leave a security vacuum around weak Somali government.

^^^They always try to blame others when they know the track record of these garbage stations which ahve been trying to ceate havoc in order to save their backers skin.

AU delegation in Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia, Jan. 14 -- An African Union delegation has arrived in Somalia's capital to discuss the deployment of international peacekeepers, and government troops expanded a house-to-house search for weapons in one of the world's most heavily armed cities, officials said Sunday. Mohamed Foum, the A.U.'s special representative for Somalia, said nine delegates arrived in Mogadishu on Saturday for meetings with leaders of the U.N.-supported transitional government in this chaotic Horn of Africa nation. If Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf is able to establish relative calm, foreign peacekeepers could deploy to protect his government until it can form a police force and army. Troops loyal to the interim government, backed by Ethiopia's military, last month routed an Islamic movement that had controlled much of southern Somalia since the summer. But lack of security remains a problem in a country that has not had a central government since 1991. The United States and the European Union have pledged financial help for an African peacekeeping force. But no African government has responded to the push to form an 8,000-member mission, although Uganda has said it is willing to send as many as 1,500 soldiers as part of a wider mission. Somali government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said the weapons search was taking place in several neighborhoods but did not disclose the number of weapons seized, saying it was a military secret. Olol News Desk Email Story Printable View