Somalia: Pro-Government Militias Executing Civilians
Listen (Nairobi, March 29, 2012) – Pro-government militias in Somalia have committed summary executions and torture in the towns of Beletweyne and Baidoa since occupying them with Ethiopian forces earlier in 2012, Human Rights Watch said today. The authorities should take immediate steps to stop the abuses and hold those responsible to account, Human Rights [...]
Somalia: After the London Conference
Listen Download the report as PDF file The London Conference has no precedent in the amount of time and effort that the British government put into the subject of Somalia. The UK, remember, did not even provide troops for Operation Restore Hope (1992-5), offering only logistical support to UNOSOM II. Apart from the predictable flurry [...]
AU high Rep Rawlings Calls For Concerted Effort For Peace In Somalia
Listen Ghana (Alshahid)-Ghana’s former President and African Union (AU) High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings says peace in Somalia can only come about only if the people of Somalia and all stakeholders would reconsider their approach and strategy to the peace process. To this end, Mr Rawlings is calling for “a more [...]
Kenya, Ethiopia may attack Somalia alshabaab rebels
Listen Isiolo, Kenya (Alshahid) – Kenyan and Ethiopian troops could attack Somali rebel group al Shabaab inside the Horn of Africa nation following the rebels’ latest threat to strike at Kenya, security sources said on Monday. The al Shabaab group, which claims ties to al Qaeda and has been waging a four-year insurgency against Somalia [...]
Five hostages starved to death on ship hijacked by Somali pirates
Listen Mogadishu (Alshahid) -The successful apprehension of Somali pirates off Lakshadweep by Indian Navy and Coast Guard on Sunday has brought along a tragic story of hostages. At least five crew members of the three Thai trawlers hijacked by pirates have been reported to have died of hunger and sickness after the owner of the [...]
Somalia New PM opposes clan power-sharing deal
Listen Mogadishu (Alshahid) -Somalia’s newly appointed interim Prime Minister, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmajo,” has opposed the 4.5 clan power sharing system instead favouring a 5-clan system, Radio Garowe reports. Mr. Farmajo who spoke with a representative of women from Banadir region where Mogadishu is located claimed his work is to bring peace and security in [...]
Somalia’s Puntland leader urges new PM to advance federalism
Listen Garowe (Alshahid) -The president of Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland has welcomed the appointment of Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi “Farmajo,” as Prime Minister, while expressing Puntland’s expectation that the new PM will advance federalism in Somalia, Radio Garowe reports. Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, Puntland’s elected president, told the BBC Somali Service during a Saturday interview [...]
Islamophobia grips US as Muslims and other faiths’ relations decline
Listen Washington (Alshahid) -Tension and acrimony marked the ninth anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the US. Relations between Muslims and people of other faiths appear to have slipped to a new low with the controversies over Quran-burning and the proposed Islamic centre near ‘ground zero’ in New York City. Plans to build a [...]
Ethiopia rebels ONLF warns foreign oil firms against investing in country
Listen Addis Ababa (Alshahid)— An Ethiopian rebel group, the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) on Monday warned foreign oil and gas firms to stay out of the country and rejected government claims that the disputed Ogaden region was now safe for exploration companies. The ONLF, which is fighting for the mainly ethnic-Somali Ogaden’s independence, was [...]