Ethiopian troops will Leave after Uganda and Burundian troops leave

Not only are the Ethiopian troops leaving Somalia in the near future, but they'll also take the Ugandans and Brundis with them.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi reportedly told his parliament that the AU troops of Burundi and Uganda requested of him to help them vacate as the fear for their safety when the Ethiopians leave.  Meles said that is the primary reason delaying his widely anticipated departure from the neighboring country.

The news of their intent to leave is shocking to even the resistance in Somalia.  Further more, no time table of their departure is available making it difficult for Somalis to believe in it as more than just a simple trickery by Meles Zenawi.

The AU force currently in Mogadishu were always expected to be in Somalia by the EU, UN, and their primary financier the U.S.  

According to Meles Zenawi, the Ugandan and Burundian forces already made it clear to him that they are no longer interested in staying in Somalia and that they requested support in ensuring safe passage for them.

At this time, we are looking into every aspect of our withdrawal, the main issue now is to ensure that Ugandan and Burundian peacekeepers pull out safe and sound  Meles Zenawi

Despite his claims, neither country has given any public indication that it wants to withdraw its troops from the beleaguered Amisom force.

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The question is, how long is Zenawi planning on staying back in Somalia.  The answer, he said the Ethiopians would leave as soon as the AU troops leave.

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Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Returns to Mogadishu after two year ban

One of Somalia's main Muslim leaders has returned to Mogadishu, the Somali capital, two years after being driven from power.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed's Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) was ousted by the Ethiopian-backed interim government fully backed by the U.S. air force.  It was back late in 2006 when the Ethiopian neighbor of Somalia invaded the country with their war-planes supported by U.S. satellites. 

The Sheikh's arrival follows a deal, between the Ethiopian backed weak TFG government and the and his part of United Islamic Courts (UIC) which he now leads, which should see Ethiopia withdraw its forces later this month.

Despite the calm shown so far by the Al-shabab rival group who control major parts of Somalia now, it is not clear how they would react to his arrival as they have not signed on to the peace deal.  Further, Al-shabab's UIC ally and the leader of the Asmara wing the Islamic Courts accused Sheikh Sharif of betrayal for taking the enemy's side on the Somalia conflict.

Sheikh Sharif's arrival takes place at a time when the capital city is the base of constant battles between the weak Somali government and their Ethiopian enforcers and Islamic and nationalist forces.

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Al-shabab continue to capture Somali towns

On Dec 9, 2008, the islamic fighters of Al-shabab took control of Baledhawo, a town in the Gedo region, without any resistance from the Somali transitional Government representative security forces who failed secure the town.

After capturing the town, Al-shabab army officials, as usual, told town's residents to stay calm and continue to do their business.  Furthermore, the residents were warned about forbidden activities such as selling or using drugs, illegal check points, or opening any cinemas.

Baledhawo were recently overtaken by members of the Col. Barre Hiiraale, a TFG enforcer, who were themselves chased out by Al-shabab from Kismayo.

In the Gedo region, the Al-shabab mujahidiin fighters captured Garbaharey, Bardhere and now Baledhawo and they now turn their forces towards Luuq and Doolow.

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Somali Pirates Attacked on Ship!

The MV Faina is currently anchored off the pirate stronghold of Harardhere

Reports surfaced that the Somali pirates on board the hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship thwarted a failed revolt by the crew.  AFP news agency said an unnamed pirated told them of the incident quoting him saying "they tried to harm" two of the captors.

The Ukrainian cargo ship is carrying 33 tanks and other weaponry and was seized about two months ago.

"Some crew members on the Ukrainian ship are misbehaving," the pirate said.

No official word from the Ukrainian foreign ministry as their spokesman said they had not received any information of the incident.

"They tried to harm two of our gunmen late Monday. This is unacceptable, they risk serious punitive measures. Somalis know how to live and how to die at the same time, but the Ukrainians' attempt to take violent action is misguided", said the pirates.

The pirates were resting chewing jaat when they were taken by surprise when some members of the crew suddenly attacked them taking out their frustration on the captors.

"Maybe some of the crew are frustrated and we are feeling the same but our boys never opted for violence, this was a provocation," he told AFP by telephone.

Another report of the incident, by Russian Ren TV, quoted one of the pirates as saying that the crew responsible would be "seriously punished".

The EU is to place armed guards on vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden

Gunmen seized the Kenya-bound MV Faina, carrying 33 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition, on 24 September.

The ship, which is currently anchored off the pirate stronghold of Harardhere, has a mostly Ukrainian crew of 21.

Pirates had initially demanded a ransom of $20m (£13.5m).

In November, a Kenyan maritime official confirmed that a deal had been struck between the ship's owner and the pirates, and that the two sides were discussing the ship's release.

Details of the agreement have not been revealed.

Source:AFP
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Too Precious, too Expensive! on Auction

LONDON: The Wittelsbach Diamond, a 17th century 35.56 carat jewel valued at $13.1 million, is to be auctioned at Christie's in London on December 10.

 

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Re: Somali Pirates Free Indian crew members on Stolt Valor who return home

PILGRIMAGE PANORAMA: Milling crowds of devotees at Makkah's Grand Mosque on Friday during the annual Haj pilgrimage. The Grand Mosque houses the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site. It stands in the heart of the mosque and contains the holy Black Stone which is believed to be the only piece remaining from an altar built by Abraham.

PHOTO By: AFP

British taxpayer funds Somali police force for regime accused of war crimes(Rob Crilly in Nairobi )

Millions of pounds of British taxpayers' money is being used to support a government in Somalia accused of human rights abuses and war crimes. The money is supposed to be used to strengthen security and democracy, but The Times has learnt that it is financing a police force filled with militiamen and led by one of the country's most notorious warlord, Abdi Hasan Awale Qaybdib. At various times he has fought US forces or been given American money to fight Islamic extremists. Now he is being funded to keep the peace.

Donors privately admit that they cannot control where their money is going but say that there is no alternative. "An element of a leap of faith is required," one Western diplomat said. "Otherwise we have to walk away." Somalia's interim Government took control of Mogadishu in December 2006 when Ethiopian troops defeated the forces of the Islamic Courts Union, which had held most of southern and central Somalia for six months. Since then the fragile regime has fought Islamist insurgents and clan gunmen, and an estimated one million people have fled Mogadishu.

The Government survives on foreign donations, channelled through the UN Development Programme. The British Department for International Development (DfID) is the second-largest donor – behind the European Commission – to UN programmes supporting the Transitional Federal Government, having committed £11 million to date.

More than £10 million, including £2.5 million of British money, is being used to refurbish government buildings, cover running costs and provide technical assistance. Members of the Somali parliament, many of whom earned their seats through military muscle, receive a monthly stipend of £600. But the biggest chunk of donor cash – some £15 million, including £3.2 million from the DfID – is being spent on rule-of-law programmes. This is meant for the police as salaries and to buy radios and vehicles.

The police are controlled by Brigadier-General Qaybdib, whose militias once fought US and UN forces in Mogadishu. In 1993 his capture by US special forces launched the events that led up to the so-called First Battle of Mogadishu and was portrayed in the film Black Hawk Down. Since then, however, he has been seen as an ally in the War on Terror and admits receiving thousands of dollars from the US to fight Islamic insurgents in Mogadishu during 2006. He is now police commissioner and one of several warlords who hold positions within the transitional Government or its security arms.

UN monitors say that police officers, far from keeping solely to peace duties, have fought alongside Ethiopian troops and have been accused of looting, firing indiscriminately into crowds, and torture. A report published last week by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia cited numerous allegations that the police had recruited clan militias so that they could collect salaries provided by international donors.
The money for police wages, thought to run into hundreds of thousands of pounds, was given in a lump sum to Brigadier-General Qaybdib and his deputies last year after he insisted that a UN proposal to pay officers directly undermined his authority. No money has been paid this year.

The report also gives details of three occasions when police took part in military engagements, and claims that officers are collecting fees and "taxes" at roadblocks. In some cases, the report says, they have sold weapons at Mogadishu's main arms market. Other UN reports detail allegations of torture, indiscriminate shooting of civilians and harassment of journalists. In an interview with The Times, Brigadier-General Qaybdib denied that his officers had been involved. "I am not a warlord, although I have had my own militia. I did fight UN forces but that was only because my clan was being treated unfairly."

A spokeswoman for the DfID said officials were concerned by reports of mismanagement. But she added it was up to Somalis to decide who should lead their police and that British money was only given to agencies with robust accounting mechanisms. "We can only work within the existing conditions in Somalia, far from ideal as these may be."

  

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