London (V.O.N):-The Foreign Minister, Ali Karti announced Sudan donation of one million Euros for boosting implementation of development projects in Somalia.

This came in his address at the International Conference on Somalia.

He said that the Somali government is in need of support from the international community to realize peace int its territories, calling for addressing to the real causes of the Somali problem.

Karti said that Sudan remained extending support to Somalia and provided more than 10,000 free of charge academic scholarships to Somali students as well as providing training opportunities of training for the Somali police and Armed Forces and assistance in the field of health and other fields.

Source:.Sudanvisiondaily.com

Asha Haji Elmi is the wife of Abdi Farah Shirdon, current Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia and in August 2012 she herself Somali Federal Member of Parliament, one of the few MPs of the transition period (2004-2009) to be re-elected. “We have sensitized the religious authorities, civil society involved. First there was silence, women raped

 Source: SHUKRI SAID from la republica newspaper

Somalia, civil war, violence against women, women, Asha Haji Elmi, Abdi Farah Shirdon, Association Migrating, Migrating Association.

Shabbelle Media Network (ROME) – Asha Haji Elmi was born in Somalia in 1962 where she graduated from the Somali National University in Mogadishu. She e also holds a Master’s degree in business administration from the International University of the United States. And ‘the wife of Abdi Farah Shirdon, current Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia in August 2012 and is herself Somali Federal Member of Parliament, one of the few MPs of the transition period (2004-2009) to be re-elected. She’was the founder of the Association for the salvation of Women and Children (SSWC) in 1992, at the height of the civil war, and in 2000 promoted the Sixth Clan Association, movement for the promotion of Somali women in the political life of the country. It has also committed to the banning of female genital mutilation, a practice widespread in Somalia. She is currently working in Somalia against sexual violence against women and held a discussion on the topic during the London conference on Somalia in which, for Italy, was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emma Bonino.

What was the most difficult to make the civil rights activist in Somalia at the time of the warlords?

It was not easy for anyone to live under the warlords in Mogadishu. The city was divided between the clan and it was hard to even move. From one area to another, even more difficult was the struggle for the affirmation of civil rights in those conditions, but we never gave up pursuing what we believed and we still believe.

How many women are raped in Somalia?

It ‘an unknown number, they lack reliable statistics, but it’s still an impressive number.

Who are the men who rape women in Somalia? They are men in uniform?

The violence has deep roots in the civil war which lasted twenty-two. With the collapse of the institutions has fallen in two decades without rules or rights.

What are the means to combat violence against women as a weapon of war?

We have launched a campaign without precedent. We started from the most prominent figures in society, from the mosques. We have involved civil society to 360 degrees. Before there was total silence

it was a taboo. The raped women were hiding. Instead we have involved first of all men, the religious, the notables to make them aware of the seriousness of the problem and we have made it clear to the girls who have no guilt and no shame. Do not be ashamed to report because the shame falls on their rapists. Currently we are pushing even more. We have promoted the creation of songs against violence against women and there is even a ringtone for mobile phones that plays one of these music.

What do they need women raped?

They need care, social work, and psychological support. Those who remain single and unmarried mothers must also have an economic subsidy.

What do you ask the international community and what you got from the London Conference on Somalia?

First of all, we turned to the Somalis. Somalis are facing their own problems first, and also that of violence against women. So far we have obtained the help of the local community that has given us the funds to finance the campaign to raise awareness that we are pursuing. The response was amazing and people have shown great interest and appreciation for giving us the problem with the consent and support economic strength to continue. Ask the international community to strengthen the institutions, security, justice and the construction of a state that gives the ability to protect the most vulnerable. Without these conditions will not be possible to state with effective human rights and the people who commit these crimes go unpunished.

Is she wants to make an appeal to Italian institutions?

Italy was close to Somalia during the civil war. The friendship between the two peoples is indelible and I’m sure that will grow much more, now that Somalia has found that unity of purpose and try to get out of the abyss into which it had fallen. Extremely encouraging for the solution of the problems of whose commitment to human rights is known around the world. Though I have already made to the Italian authority appeal to continue to support Somalia in its efforts for peace and reconstruction. But it is you that I appeal especially to the struggle for women’s rights which will increasingly take a central position in the international debate. Without respect for women and their body every other battle for human rights will be fading out.

What is your wish for the future?

That as soon as may be held in Mogadishu, an international pacification of Somalia at the Italian Foreign Ministry there is now Emma Bonino, whose history  and reconstruction. But it is you that I appeal especially to the struggle for women’s rights will increasingly take a central position in the international debate. Without respect for women and their body every other battle for human rights fades.

Boston: (V.O.N):-A number of people have been injured after two large explosions struck near the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday.

Television footage showed scenes of confusion, with streets littered with debris and blood, and paramedics carrying stretchers.

Bloody spectators were being carried to the medical tent that had been set up to care for fatigued runners. Police wove through competitors as they ran back toward the course.

Boston is a major metropolis located in the northeastern U.S. The marathon is a significant event the city hosts every year.

Source: V.O.A

Tom Rhodes/CPJ East Africa Consultant

Online Journalist Houssein Ahmed Farah spent more than three months in jail in Djibouti before an appeals court finally released him in November–after his defense requested bail three times, Houssein said. His crime? Officially nothing.

“It appears to have been an arbitrary arrest because there is still no evidence on file,” Houssein told me.

He said he was accused of distributing identity cards for the opposition, but he has not been charged with a crime.

Continue Reading 

Link: http://www.cpj.org/blog/2012/12/in-djibouti-journalist-defiant-despite-revolving-p.php

Nairobi: (V.O.N):-Besides terrorism threats, the federal government of Somalia faces other threats emanating from three different but self-reinforcing sources. These threats would derail the achievement of peace, stability and self governance in Somalia.

The first threat is what the former national security advisor of President Jimmy Carter Administration, Dr.  Zbigniew Brzezinski called “the geopolitically most endangered states.” He argues that  the security and sovereignty of weaker states located geographically next to major regional powers is at risk if the US power declines because the international stability depends on the international status quo reinforced by America’s global preeminence. Somalia typifies the most endangered state of all. The source is the geopolitical strategy of Somalia’s neighbors for managing the liberated areas from Al Shabab, which creates ghetto satellites in Somalia and eradicate citizenship identity.

Ethiopia plays dual roles, the overall coordination role of IGAD strategy and the lead role for the satellites of Somaliland, Puntland, Khatumo, Galmudug, Himan and Heeb, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama, and Bay and Bakol (South West). The governance of Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle and Benadir regions are left for Uganda and Burundi. Kenya and Ethiopia share the lead role for Jubbaland (Azanialand) area. Djibouti shares the lead role with Ethiopia in Dohada Shabelle (Hiiran) area. Clan militias are trained for each area by Ethiopia or the lead country or by foreign security company. The federal government forces and the AMISOM forces are trained and funded by US and European Union without transparency and sustainability considerations.

A consortium led by the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) manages the Federal Government with the help of AMISOM forces (Uganda and Burundi). Another consortium led by IGAD (Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti) manages the Federal Member States (FMS) – myriads of clan based satellites (states), with the help of Ethiopian and Kenyan forces operating under their governments’ direction. In addition, Ethiopia and Kenya have concluded on November 20, 2012 a special security cooperation towards Somalia. The federal government has no effective role in the security, financial and political planning and decisions on Somalia made in Addis Ababa, Nairobi and New York. These parallel regional and international interventions are to exacerbate the fragmentation of Somalia.

The second threat is the sabotage of the international support for rebuilding Somalia. The source is the scholars who are promoting the “hybrid-government or mediated state model” of governance for Somalia. This model frees donors from the moral and political responsibility as it provides the legal avoidance of supporting the state building agenda which requires the combination of nationally owned plan with massive foreign assistance. Those scholars prescribe placebo to Somalia diagnosed with terminal cancer symptoms. Thus, Somalia is subjected to a discriminatory approach compared to the successful approaches (treatment) applied to many failed states in other parts of the world.

The third threat is a continuous political paralyzes.  The source is the divisive federalism of the Provisional Constitution (PC) embedded in the Somali politics. The foreign driven federalism under the slogan to overcome clan injustices and conflicts is feeding clan divisions and political conflicts. Although the federal parliament started amending or suspending same of the PC provisions like 7 (3) (international boundary dispute), 67 (dissolution of parliament), 89 (election of president), and 135 (mandates and timelines for priority institutions and independent commissions), the federalism of the PC inspires chaos, citizenship betrayal and disunity.

The Somali people remember the flourishing of officially entombed tribalism which finally dismantled without trace the Somali State. They have seen the horror of civil war, the Green Line in Mogadishu and the one now existing in Galka’io city, the secession of Somaliland, the Khatumo and Himan and Heb states’ drive to stand separate from Puntland and Galmudug States respectively.

The clan-caused injustices that have plagued Somalia cannot be overcome through clan federalism. If there is one truth recognized by the international community at the end of the constitution making process in Somalia is the admission that the proposed federalism is an issue that has not been settled among Somalis. Thus, the invocation of federalism for establishing the administration of Kismaio city and district is premature and without credible ground. What is more dangerous is the empowerment of clan militia for local democratic administration given the Somali political experience.

The PC assigns the responsibilities related to establishing local administrations, foreign affairs, national security and defense, immigration and citizenship, and monetary and fiscal policies to the federal government. Indeed, local authorities are constitutionally prohibited from having any working relationship with foreign actors outside the federal government institutions. On the other hand, in exercising its responsibilities to lead, represent and defend the national unity and public interests, the federal government must respect the democratic process and norms which are antithetical to the concentration of power in the capital Mogadishu or in the hands of the central authority.

However, the federal government faces the reality that the Somali local authorities, rebel movement leaders and forces are influenced by their foreign patrons like IGAD and not by the spirit and content of the PC and sense of patriotism. I’m glad I offered my views about the right path for the constitution making process in Somalia for the purpose of securing genuine national reconciliation, public support, loyalty and common understanding about the political framework for rebuilding the national institutions. At the end, the United Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) published officially the PC[1]  and the guide book to the PC[2].

The wrangling over the roadmap for establishing administrations at the city, district, regional, state and federal levels in Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions mostly still under Al Shabab control proves my criticisms against the constitution making process. Under clan prejudice clouds or exclusion (adversary) rule, the President and the Prime Minister are now under relentless attack by the principal contributors of Wardheernews Website after the president claimed legitimate leadership role in the internal and external affairs of Somalia, including Jubbaland administration and reiterated the charcoal ban imposed by the UN Security Council. The president has been summarily and degradingly rebuffed by the Ras Kamboni spokesman.

With regard to the charcoal, the expected action of the federal government was to send a delegation to Kismaio, take stock of the charcoal inventory, its value,  the identity of the exporters and importers, the tax surcharge, modalities of payments and money transfer and discussion with the local population on the present and future expectations so that it can  develop policy options. Armed with that information, the federal government was supposed to engage the UN Security Council for a satisfactory resolution of the matter within the legal framework in place. Unfortunately, the federal government has been deprived of that opportunity after the federal delegation has been turned back from Kismaio airport by the Kenyan forces. The public opinion on the incident has been summarized by Amin Amir’s cartoon (see fig 1).

The PC recognizes the eighteen (18) regions and their districts which existed on January 1991. It directs the federal government to make sure that the requirements of the constitutional provisions are complied with by all before the formation of federal member states is undertaken. Thus, establishing the administrations of the 18 regions and their districts has priority over the discussion about FMS. Appointments of temporary respected leaders are more favorable for giving time and space to all interested parties for fair participation and peaceful transition to permanent solution that guarantees peace, rule of law, democratic practice and economic development.

The end of the transition period and the ratification of the PC have been built on the understanding that the majority of Somalis has embraced and internalized the deliberations of the national reconciliation conferences and shared transitional governments during the last 12 years for better future of all Somalis. Consequently, as tribute to the end of transition, the federal government must be able to appoint a task force teams working in each region along side the local authorities and to assume the control of ports and airports of all Somalia.  These measures would enhance the hope for the revival of shared national government under amended PC.

Clan institutionalized federalism is a national failure. Many independent researchers have extensively and conclusively illustrated the failure of the ethnic based federalism adopted by Ethiopia in 1995. More importantly, Somalia and Ethiopia are neighbors with long term cooperation interests but with different socio-economic, historical and cultural backgrounds. It is a waste of time, opportunity and energy for the Somali people to undertake such a failed experiment considering the incompatibility between clan and citizenship perspectives and obligations enshrined in the PC. Common identity above clan identity must be the focus of the “national government” at all levels. Ultimately, change of the endemic opportunistic culture of the present Somali generation for immediate personal gains is key to a brighter future for Somalia.

Mr. Mohamud M.Uluso

E-mail:mohamuduluso@gmail.com

Nairobi,Source: (AFP) - The United Nations on Monday called for stronger prosecutions of pirates and more action by shipping companies to deter bandits at sea.

At a UN Security Council debate on maritime piracy, UN deputy secretary general Jan Eliasson said that while attacks had been reduced off the coast of Somalia this year, numbers could take off again unless countries take action.

According to International Maritime Organization (IMO) figures, there were 291 attacks against ships in the first 10 months of the year and 293 crew are still hostage. East Africa, West Africa and Asia-Pacific are the worst hit zones.

Eliasson said there had to be tougher legal action against pirates.

“We need to strengthen the capacity of states to prosecute individuals suspected of piracy and to imprison convicted pirates,” he said. “That effort must include deterring and suppressing the financing of piracy and the laundering of ransom money.”

Eliasson also called on shipping firms to do more to protect themselves.

“Twenty per cent of vessels transiting high-risk waters do not implement security measures, and those vessels account for the overwhelming number of successfully pirated ships,” he told the Security Council.

Piracy off Somalia has been curtailed because of fleets of international warships patrolling in shipping lanes and because so many tankers and freighters now have devoted security guards, according to experts.

The maritime industry estimates it is now paying at least $6.6 billion a year in extra security costs.

A Security Council statement released at the meeting called on all states “to criminalize piracy under their domestic law and to favorably consider the prosecution of suspected, and imprisonment of convicted pira

Garisa,Source (Nation.co.ke):-Three Kenyan soldiers in plainclothes were shot dead by assailants in Garissa on Monday while changing a flat tyre at a car garage.

Nairobi, Source: (capitalfm):-Seven people were killed and more than 30 others wounded when an explosive went off aboard a minibus in Nairobi on Sunday, police said.

Nairobi police chief Moses Nyakwama said the bomb blast occurred inside a matatu in Eastleigh, although it was not immediately clear if the attacker was on board.

Nyakwama said: “We had an explosion in the matatu and what we have immediately suffered are the deaths of five people. Over 18 others are admitted mainly at the Kenyatta national Hospital and there could be more as a result of flying objects.”

The Kenya Red Cross later put the death toll at seven and 30 wounded.

The minibus was on Eastleigh’s Second Avenue and was headed to Kariobangi when the blast occurred.

The police chief said that there was probability that the improvised explosive device was planted in the vehicle and was detonated from a safe distance.

“It could have been brought in earlier and detonated from afar or set with timings to blow up,” said the PPO adding that no suspect had been arrested as claimed by some witnesses.

A witness John Mdari, who says he stood meters away from the scene of the explosion, claimed that the explosive was thrown into the number 28 matatu by four suspects, who fled in a waiting saloon car.

He said that one of the four who failed to board the car on time was arrested by the public and was being held at the Pangani Police station after being rescued.

“A young man was seen alighting from the matatu before the explosion happened. He was caught by the public but I managed to rescue him from the mob and handed him to the police,” he said.

The matatu driver Benson Kibe who survived the explosion could not recollect what happened apart from hearing a loud blast that tore his vehicle apart. He says he only braked thinking he had caused an accident.

Kibe told reporters at the scene that he had picked up 25 passengers from an area popularly known as garage in Eastleigh and was headed to Kariobangi.

“I cannot remember what happened; I cannot tell if those behind the attack were in this vehicle or outside. What I heard was the force that lifted the vehicle then I stopped to look if I had caused an accident but I had not,” he recollected.

Nairobi: (V.O.N):-Today, the EU Ambassador to Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso, welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon “Saaid” of his new Federal Government line-up.

The EU Ambassador to Somalia stated: “This is a further step in the consolidation of the new Federal Institutions. The EU looks forward to the forthcoming submission of the Government work programme to the Parliament for its vote of confidence.”

The Ambassador reiterated the EU unequivocal commitment to the Federal Institutions. END

Magali Uytterhaeghe
Press and Information Officer
Delegation of the European Union in Kenya
Somalia Unit
P.O. Box 45119
00100 Nairobi
Tel:             +254.20.271.28.30
Fax: +254.20.271.09.97
Cell:             +254.717.10.44.14
Email: Magali.UYTTERHAEGHE@ext.eeas.europa.eu
Website: http://www.eu-somalia-unit.eu