On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered “global intelligence” company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal’s Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor’s web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
ETH/ETHIOPIA/AFRICA
Released on 2012-10-19 08:00 GMT
Email-ID | 799298 |
---|---|
Date | 2010-06-08 15:42:49 |
From | [email protected] |
To | [email protected] |
ETH/ETHIOPIA/AFRICA
Table of Contents for Ethiopia
———————————————————————-
1) Addis Ababa English Press 08-18 May 10
The following lists selected reports carried in Ethiopian newspapers 8-18
May. To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615
, (202)
338-6735
; or fax (703) 613-5735
.
2) Addis Ababa Amharic Press 19-26 May 10
3) Somalia Daily Media Highlights 7 Jun 10
4) Addis Ababa US Embassy Political Section Press Summary 07 June 2010
This daily press review is compiled by the Political Section of the US
Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Inclusion of media reports in this
summary in no way constitutes an endorsement by the US Government. US
Embassy Political Section Addis Ababa cannot vouch for the veracity or
accuracy of reports contained in this summary
5) Ethiopian police reportedly summon editor for ‘defaming’ priest
———————————————————————-
1) Back to Top
Addis Ababa English Press 08-18 May 10
The following lists selected reports carried in Ethiopian newspapers 8-18
May. To request additional processing, call OSC at (800) 205-8615
, (202)
338-6735
; or fax (703) 613-5735
. – Ethiopia — OSC Summary
Monday June 7, 2010 17:21:01 GMT
– Egypt’s response to the signing of an agreement on the equitable sharing
of Nile waters by Ethiopia and other upper Nile riparian states Awramba
Government Imposes Temporary Restriction on Diplomats —
Ethiopian Awramba newspaper on 14 May, page 1, reported a temporary
restriction imposed by the government on diplomats living in the capital
city, Addis Ababa, preventing them from leaving the city without
permission from the Ministry Foreign Affairs. The government cited
“security in relation to the 23 May Ethiopian nation al elections” as the
reason for this restriction, but diplomats and opposition parties reacted
sharply, saying the announcement “restricts our freedom” and “it is
purposely designed to restrict movement of election observers during the
elections.” (Addis Ababa Awramba, privately-owned Amharic weekly
newspaper) Stakeholders Adopt News Election Procedure —
Ethiopian Awramba newspaper on 14 May, page 1, reported the ratification
of newly amended election reporting ethics by the National Election Board
of Ethiopia. The board adopted the procedure, holding a series of meetings
with stakeholders after repeated criticism of various media groups and
stakeholders in the past years. (Addis Ababa Awramba, privately-owned
Amharic weekly newspaper) Journalists on Trial Demand Salaries Until State
Proves Case —
Ethiopian Ethio-Channel on Wednesday 12 May reported that two Ethiopian
Television and Radio Agency journalists are facing charges of sel ling
sensitive information belonging to their employer to an international
media house. The report said the defendants Haileyesus Worku and
Abdulsemed Muhamed had petitioned the court to order the national news
agency to pay their salaries until investigations are completed. (Addis
Ababa Ethio-Channel, privately-owned bi-weekly Amharic newspaper) Addis
Admass Parties Claim Dominance in Polls —
Ethiopian Addis Admass newspaper on 14 May, page 3, carried a report on
claims by representatives of various parties on both sides of the
political divide. Party representatives talked of their “dominance” and
expectations to win by various opposition parties and the ruling Ethiopian
People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). EPRDF representative Ato
Hailemariam Desalegn said: “We will definitely win in Addis. We have
conducted surveys on the interests of the people. We will not expect a
healthy contest in West Shoa, in Gondar and Dese regions.” The United
Ethiopian Democratic Forum (EUFDP) representative said: “We will win as a
strong opposition party. The result will only be uncertain in Addis, even
if the contest will be tough. We will only expect challenges only in
Oromiya and Tigray regions.” (Addis Ababa Addis Admass, private-owned
Amharic weekly newspaper) Agreement Signed Between Nile Basin Countries,
Ethiopia —
Ethiopian Addis Admass newspaper on 14 May reported that four upper Nile
riparian states on 3 May signed the agreement on the sharing of the Nile
waters. Despite rejection of the agreement by Sudan and Egypt, which were
also involved in negotiating the agreement for about a decade, Ethiopia,
Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania signed the agreement. Other countries like
Burundi and DRC are expected to sign as well. (Addis Ababa Addis Admass,
private-owned Amharic weekly newspaper) Addis Lesan Ethiopian Government
To Recognize Only AU, EU as Observers —
Ethiopian Addis Lesan news paper on 14 May, page 1, reported the
government’s announcement through a Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement
clarifying that only the European Union and the African Union had been
allowed to observe the elections thereby locking out international
organizations and the diplomatic missions from participating in the
process. (Addis Ababa Addis Lesan, privately-owned weekly Amharic
newspaper) Opposition Parties Intensify Campaigns —
Ethiopian Addis Lesan newspaper on 14 May, page 1, reported that
opposition parties had intensified their campaigns ahead of the 23 May
national elections. “We have an appropriate plan for the country,” a
Liberal Democratic Party official was quoted as saying. “If we win the
election, we will resolve the various problems,” the Coalition for Unity
and Democracy Party representative said.” (Addis Ababa Addis Lesan,
privately-owned weekly Amharic newspape) Ethiopia-Turkey Bilateral Trade
Increases —
Ethio pian Addis Lesan newspaper on 14 May, page 1, carried a report on
bilateral trade between Ethiopia and Turkey, which has “increased
enormously in diversity and size as well as in leaps and bounds.” The
report said the volume of trade was currently 300-500 billion US dollars
compared 100 million dollars in 2005 and 10 million in 2003 and 2004.
(Addis Ababa Addis Lesan, privately-owned weekly Amharic newspaper)
Business Community Discusses Sub-Standard Chinese Imports —
Ethiopian Addis Lesan newspaper on 14 May, page 1, carried a report on a
meeting of the Ethiopian business community and other stakeholders in
Addis Ababa to evaluate imported products from China. The report said that
various issues were raised at the meeting aimed at identifying sub
standard imports and how to improve the quality of imports from China as
well as challenges faced within the framework of the trade agreement
signed by the two countries in 2006. (Addis Ababa Addis Lesan, priv
ately-owned weekly Amharic newspaper) Ethiopiam Airlines To Install
‘High-Tech’ Equipment —
Ethiopian Addis Lesan newspaper on 14 May, page 1, reported that the
Ethiopian Airlines had signed an agreement with Inter Global Technology
Company for the installation of high-tech equipment. The report said this
development would help the airline ensure 24-hour information,
communication and marketing services as well as electronic ticketing.
(Addis Ababa Addis Lesan, privately-owned weekly Amharic newspaper) Degu
Eritrean Rebels Unite In Order To Join Efforts —
Ethiopian Degu newspaper reported on 14 May, page 5, that Eritrean rebel
forces had reached an agreement to unite in their fight against the
Eritrean Government, which the report said “is considered dictatorial in
the eastern African region.” The report said the harsh political
environment in Eritrea was forcing civilians to flee and join the rebel
forces. (Addis Ababa Degu, privately-owned week ly Amharic newspaper)
UNHCR Appeals for Refugee Aid —
Ethiopian Degu newspaper on 14 May, page 5, reported that the Ethiopian
Government and the UNCHR had appealed for 13 million US dollars to help
meet the needs of refugees currently in Ethiopia. The joint report said
the funds were urgently needed due to the recent surge in the influx of
refugees from Eritrea and Somalia. (Addis Ababa Degu, privately-owned
weekly Amharic newspaper) Egypt’s Mubarak Plans Visit to Italy Over
Ethiopian Hydroelectric Power Project —
The Sendek newspaper on 18 May, page 1, reported Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak was planning a visit to Italy to hold diplomatic talks with the
Italian Government. The report said the Egyptian president’s plans to
visit Italy was “a diplomatic move” following the plan by the EU and
Italian Government to support Ethiopia in constructing five major
hydroelectric power generation plants along River Nile. Ethiopia, along
with three other upper riparian states, recently signed an agreement on
the equitable sharing of the Nile waters. (Addis Ababa Sendek,
privately-owned weekly Amharic newspaper) Reporter Egypt Plans To ‘Exert
Diplomatic Pressure’ Over Nile Agreement —
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on 18 May, page 1, reported that the Egyptian
Government was planning to exert “diplomatic pressure” over the recently
signed agreement between four upper Nile basin countries on the equitable
sharing of the Nile waters. Egyptian officials met in Cairo to denounce
the agreement and plan a diplomatic offensive following decisions by the
EU and the Italian Government to support Ethiopia’s planned hydro-electric
power projects along the Nile.(Addis Ababa Reporter, privately-owned
weekly Amharic newspaper,p.1) Cairo Meeting Over Nile Accord Ends in
Disagreement —
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on 18 May, page 6, carried a report on a
ministerial meeting held in Cairo, Egypt, to find a solution t o the
disagreement over the agreement recently signed in Entebbe, Uganda,
between four upper Nile riparian states. Egyptian and Sudanese ministers
together with their counterparts from the four states that supported the
agreement met to minimize and resolve contentious issues on the use of the
Nile waters but the meeting ended in disagreement since Egypt and Sudan
held on to their claim to rights granted to them by previous agreements,
preventing upper riparian states from exploiting the Nile water resources.
(Addis Ababa Reporter, privately-owned weekly Amharic newspaper) Ruling
Party Reportedly ‘Forcing’ Citizens’ To Vote EPRDF —
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on 8 May reported that ruling Ethiopian
People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) was breeching the
electoral code of conduct that most political parties in Ethiopia had
agreed to bind them. The report said the government was forcing citizens
to sign and swear that they would cast their votes for EPRD F on 23 May.
Opposition leader Lidetu Ayalew told Reporter newspaper that the EPRDF “is
warning citizens of grave consequences if they did not vote for only the
ruling party and that anyone who fails to do so will be identified after
the election through their finger prints and through the computer system.
The EPRDF will know who did and who did not and therefore take serious
measures against those who fail to keep their promise.” (Addis Ababa
Reporter, privately-owned weekly Amharic newspaper) Hand Grenade Attack on
Campaign Rally Leaves Two Dead, 14 Others Wounded —
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on 8 May reported a hand grenade attack on a
crowd attending an election campaign rally in Oromia Region’s Bale zone at
a place called Adaba, killing two people and wounding 14 others. The
report added Bale Zone administrator, Mr Abdulaziz Mohamed, who was at the
rally, escaped unharmed and that two suspects were being held in police
custody following the atta ck. (Addis Ababa Reporter, privately-owned
weekly Amharic newspaper) Mesenakeya Eritrean President Esayas Afewerki
Pledges Supports for Egypt —
Ethiopian Mesenakeya newspaper on 17 May, page 13, reported that Eritrean
President Isayas Afewerki had expressed support to Egypt over the recent
disagreement between Egypt and other upper Nile riparian countries. The
report said that during a ceremony to sign various bilateral trade
agreements between Eritrea and Egypt, President Afewerki said the
disagreement between the Nile basin countries would bring chaos and cause
war in the region. (Addis Ababa Mesenazeria, privately-owned weekly
Amharic newspaper) Paper Compares Views of Members of Ruling, Opposition
Parties —
Ethiopian Mesenakeya newspaper on 8 May, page 5, compared views of members
of the ruling party, Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF), and opposition Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP) on the EPRDF’s
development record during the past 19 years. The EPRDF representative, Mr
Bereket Simon, praised the government for “the high level of development
Ethiopians have enjoyed during the past 19 years” but Mr Lidetu Ayalew,
EDP chairman said: “Ethiopians are living under a government that has made
life very difficult and imposed on its citizens stringent restrictions
that prevent them from enjoying technology in the 21 century and pulling
them back as the rest of the world advances”. Lidetu compared Ethiopia
with the stateless Somalia and refuting claims that “22 million Ethiopians
are using modern technology” arguing that “the number of Ethiopians using
today is less than 0.4 percent”. (Addis Ababa Mesenazeria, privately-owned
weekly Amharic newspaper) Addis Press EU Observers Deployed to Regions —
Ethiopian Addis Press newspaper on 17 May, page 10, reported that 60
members of EU Election Observation Delegation had been deployed to various
regions in the countr y. On the meeting held yesterday the head of the EU
observer mission, Thjis Berman, explained the role the group would play in
observing the whole process and mentioned the delegation would release its
preliminary report on 24 May and the final report after 2 months. (Addis
Ababa Addis Press, privately-owned weekly Amharic newspaper) Opposition
Party Accuses National Electoral Board of Publishing Inappropriate Symbols
on Ballot Paper —
Ethiopian Addis Press newspaper reported on 17 May that opposition
Ethiopian Democratic Party had accused the National Election Board of
Ethiopia of publishing inappropriate information regarding it on the
ballot paper. (Addis Ababa Addis Press, privately-owned weekly Amharic
newspaper, p.10) Article Views the Balance of Power Between Ruling
Coalition Parties —
Ethiopian Fitihi newspaper on 8 May, page 5, carried an article on the
ruling coalition parties, the Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic
Front (EPRDF) and the Ti gray Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF). The
article said that “the TPLF is among the four parties that united to form
the EPRDF in 1989 but according to the terms of the union it is the TPLF
that wields power and not the EPRDF. The article said that “since its
formation 35 years ago, it is now that the TPLF is beginning to let its
intentions be known after carefully and successfully concealing its secret
political ambition”. The article said that the party is increasingly
displaying “its unwillingness to compromise with any other political
party, clearly indicating its desire to lead rather than to be led.”
(Addis Ababa Fitihi, privately-owned Amharic weekly newspaper)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.
2) Back to Top
Addis Ababa Amharic Press 19-26 May 10 – OSC Summary
Monday June 7, 2010 10:44:43 GMT
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on May 26 reported that the Egyptian
Government has transferred the controversial Nile issue from the
Ministries of Irrigation and Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of National
Security following its unsuccessful diplomatic efforts against the
agreement on equitable sharing of the Nile waters recently by four upper
Nile riparian states, the Nile Basin Initiative Cooperative Framework
Agreement. Egypt and Sudan refused to sign the agreement reached between
upper Nile basin countries after over a decade of negotiations that also
involved the two countries. (Addis Ababa Reporter, privately owned bi
weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 1) EU Observers Say There Were ‘Several
Security and Political Problems’ During Ethiopian P oll
Ethiopia Reporter newspaper on May 26 reported that the EU election
observer delegation issued a statement on the fourth Ethiopia national
election. The paper quoted the head of the EU delegation, Thjis Berman,
addressing journalists during the presentation the delegation’s
preliminary report on the elections, saying: “Though the election ended
peacefully, there were several security and political problems.” (Addis
Ababa Reporter, privately owned bi weekly Amharic newspaper, p.1) The
Ethiopian National Elections Cost an Estimated 189 Million Birr
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on 23 May reported that the Ethiopian
election board had spent 189 million Ethiopian birr in the fourth national
election. The report said that this amount was higher than cost of the
previous elections. It quoted the board as saying that 31.9 people had
been registered to vote, 63 political parties and 31 independent
candidates were registered to participate in the elect ion. (Addis Ababa
Reporter, privately owned bi weekly Amharic newspaper, p.1) ‘Egypt Cannot
Stop Ethiopia from Constructing Dam on the Nile’ – Prime Minister
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on 23 May reported Ethiopian Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi’s comment on the Nile River issue following Egypt’s warning
to Ethiopia after the latter signed, together with four other upper Nile
Riparian states, the Nile Basin Initiative Cooperative Framework
Agreement, which Egypt and Sudan refused to sign. The report quoted the
Ethiopian prime minister as saying his country was able to develop various
dams on the river after Egypt dismissed the agreement recently reached at
the Nile Basin Initiative Council of Ministers meeting held in Sharm
al-Shaykh, Egypt. (Addis Ababa Reporter, privately owned bi weekly Amharic
newspaper, p.1) Some 728 Media Houses Register To Cover Ethiopian
Elections
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on 23 May reported that 728 international and
local media hou ses have been registered and accredited to report the
fourth Ethiopian national elections. The report quoted the National
Electoral Board as saying that 464 of the registered local media houses
were government-owned while 102 were privately-owned. (Addis Ababa
Reporter, privately owned bi weekly Amharic newspaper, p.3) Ethiopian
Electoral Board Warns Parties
Ethiopian Reporter newspaper on 23 May reported that the Ethiopian
electoral board had warned all political parties participating in the
fourth Ethiopian general election not to announce results without the
board’s approval. (Addis Ababa Reporter, privately owned bi weekly Amharic
newspaper, p.16) Election Results Lead to Controversy in Tigray Region
Ethiopian Addis Admas newspaper on 25 May reported that election results
in the Tigray Region have become controversial. The report said
controversy arose after the expected
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United–Ethiopian–Democratic–Forces United
E thiopian Democratic Forum and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian–Democratic–Unity–Party Ethiopian
Democratic Unity Party candidate lost the election to the ruling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian–People%27s–Revolutionary–Democratic–Front
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. (Addis Ababa Addis
Admass, privately owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p.1) EU Highlights
‘Problems’ in Ethiopian Elections
Ethiopian Sendek newspaper on 26 May reported that EU election observation
mission on 25 May highlighted problems in the fourth Ethiopian national
election process. This announcement followed the deployment of 170 members
to observe the process in 815 electoral stations. Some of the problems the
EU report highlighted included, detention of opposition party candidates,
the use of public facilities and media by the ruling party. (Addis Ababa
Sendek, privately owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p.1) ‘I Bow Down and
Accept Your Support ‘ – Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s Victory Speech
Ethiopian Sendek newspaper on 26 May carried a report on Prime Minister
Meles Zenawi’s first appreciation speech to the public at Addis Ababa’s
Meskel Square following his reelection. The report quoted Meles as saying:
“I bow down and accept your support. The result will not make proud but
will prepare us to take on more responsibility.” This was the prime
minister’s first speech following the National Election Board’s
announcement of the ruling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian–People%27s–Revolutionary–Democratic–Front
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front ‘s victory in the fourth
Ethiopian national elections. (Addis Ababa Sendek, privately owned weekly
Amharic newspaper, p. 6) Meles Advices Opposition Parties to Take Stock of
Campaigns
Ethiopian Ethio-Channel on 26 May reported Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi’s speech to the public at Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square f ollowing
his ruling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian–People%27s–Revolutionary–Democratic–Front
Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front ‘s victory in the fourth
Ethiopian national elections. He was quoted as saying “if the opposition
parties are ready to settle down and finds out what the people didn’t like
in their campaigns, there will be a good result for them, because the
public is a fair judge.” (Addis Ababa Ethio-Channel, privately owned
weekly Amharic newspaper, P. 3) ‘The Hooligan International Human Right
Watch’
Ethiopian Ethio-Channel’s editorial on 26 May termed the international
organization Human Rights Watch an international hooligan association
following its negative report about the whole Ethiopian national election.
The editorial observed that the organization had released a negative
report indicating that “the whole election process was flowed without
having observed the process”. (Addis Ababa Ethio-Ch annel, privately owned
weekly Amharic newspaper, P. 2)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United–Ethiopian–Democratic–Forces Opposi
tion Coalition ‘Facing Serious Political Crisis’ After Losing Elections
Ethiopian Ethio-Channel on May 26 reported that the United Ethiopian
Democratic Forum was facing a political crisis after the party’s
unexpected loss in the fourth Ethiopian national elections. The report
said the party had been tipped by many to win the national elections.
(Addis Ababa Ethio-Channel, privately owned bi-weekly Amharic newspaper,
P. 4) ‘Egypt is Trying To Stop What is Unstoppable’ – Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi
Ethiopian Ethio-Channel on 22 May reported that Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak had called Kenyan, DRC and Burundi presidents for talks on the
Nile. The report quoted Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles saying that “Egypt
is trying to stop the unstoppable. Egypt will not stop Ethiopia’s plans to
build 70 dams and hydroelectric power plants along the Nile in the next 10
years. (Addis Ababa Ethio-channel, privately owned bi-weekly Amharic
newspaper, p.3) American Embassy Apologizes to Government Over Information
Ethiopian Ethio-Channel on 22 May reported that the America Embassy in
Ethiopia had apologized to the Ethiopian Government for releasing
unsubstantiated information to various international media. The report
said the US Embassy had indicated that “there are fears of insecurity
after the fourth national elections”. (Addis Ababa Ethio-Channel,
privately owned bi-weekly Amharic newspaper, p.4) ‘Human Right Watch Can’t
Form Government in Ethiopia’ – Government Spokesman
Ethiopian Ethio-Channel on 26 may carried a report on the Ethiopian
Government Communication Office statement denouncing accusations made by
Human Right Watch concerning the fourth Ethiopian national elections. The
government’s reaction followed the report the organization released
entitled “Government pressure discredited the whole election process”
detailing reasons which it did not consider the election free and fair.
(Addis Ababa Ethio-Channel, privately owned bi-weekly Amharic newspaper,
P. 10) Eritrean Opposition Groups Agree To Unite
Ethiopian Sened newspaper on 22 May reported that eight rebel forces in
Eritrea that have been fighting the government independently, on 4 May
signed an agreement to unite against “the dictatorial Eritrean ruling
party. The groups said in a joint statement that the Eritrean people would
“not be manipulated by government propaganda on sanctions imposed by the
international community” and would “continue fighting to overthrow the
system”. (Addis Ababa Sened, privately owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p.
4) Nile Basin ‘Disagreement Takes New Dimension’
Ethiopian Sened newspaper on 22 May reported that the disagreement between
Nile basin countries had taken a new dimension after the lower basin
member states, Egypt and Sudan, rejected the agreement. The agreement was
signed in Entebbe, Uganda on 14 May between Ethiopia, Uganda Rwanda, and
Tanzania. Other countries, like Burundi and DRC, were also expected to
sign the agreement.(Addis Ababa Sened, privately owned weekly Amharic
newspaper, p. 4) ‘Egypt Can’t Stop Ethiopia from Constructing Dam on the
Nile’ – Prime Minister Meles
Ethiopian Degu newspaper on 22 May carried an interview with Prime
Minister Meles Zenawi in which he commented on Egypt’s current diplomatic
moves to mobilize support for its position on the agreement on the
equitable use of Niles waters recently signed by four upper Nile riparian
states. The prime minister is quoted as saying that “the Egyptian position
does not go with the times.” (Addis Ababa Degu, privately owned weekly
Amharic newspaper, p. 1) Two Government Media Journalists Arraigned in
Court
Ethiopian Degu newspaper on 22 May reported that two state journ alists
have been arrai gned in court on charges of selling the employer’s video
films to an international media. The report said that should the
journalists be found guilty they would be sentenced to 10 years in jail.
(Addis Ababa Degu, privately owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 5)
Djibouti Expresses Concern Over Somalia
Ethiopian Degu newspaper on 22 May reported that Djibouti had expressed
concern over the current political situation in Somalia. The report quoted
Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh saying that “the current escalation
in the fighting in Somalia poses a threat to eastern Africa as a region
and to the Transitional Federal Government”. President Guelleh said this
at a UN meeting in New York, USA, held to discuss peacekeeping and ways of
resolving conflicts in Africa. (Addis Ababa Degu, privately owned weekly
Amharic newspaper, p. 5) Egyptian Economist Criticizes Eritrean Support
Ethiopian Degu newspaper on 22 May reported tha t an Egyptian economist
had criticized Eritrea’s diplomatic support for Egypt’s rejection of an
agreement on the equitable use of the Nile waters signed by four upper
Nile riparian states. The report quoted the economist terming the support
“baseless” and added that “Egypt and Ethiopia have maintained good
relations” and expressed optimism that the two countries would “resolve
the problem through peaceful dialogue.”(Addis Ababa Degu, privately owned
weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 5) Ethiopian Paper Carries Reuters’ Analysis
of National Elections
Ethiopian Awramba newspaper on 22 May carried a Reuters News Agency
analysis of the fourth Ethiopian national elections. The analysis entitled
“How will the election be concluded?” gave four possible scenarios of the
outcome. (Addis Ababa Awramba Times, privately owned weekly Amharic
newspaper, p. 8) Ethiopian Paper Highlights International Media Reporting
of the National Elections
< br>Ethiopian Awramba newspaper on 22 May carried a report on how various
international media had reported on the fourth Ethiopian national
elections. The report mentioned The Economist, Reuters, Washington Times,
The London Mail and The Guardian as well as Al-Jazeera as some of the
international media that had reported on the elections. (Addis Ababa
Awramba Times, privately owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p.3) VOA
Broadcasts Panel Discussion on Ethiopian National Elections
Ethiopian Awramba newspaper on 22 May carried a report on panel
discussions on the Ethiopian national elections broadcast by VOA, which
had invited many party leaders from both the ruling and opposition
parties. The report said panelists highlighted achievements in this year’s
election as compared to previous elections, including the agreement
between parties to have parliament amend laws on elections, media and
political parties and on the establishment of an electoral board. (Addis
Ababa Awram ba Times, privately owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 10)
Eritreans Celebrate Independence Day
Ethiopian Mesenazeria newspaper on 25 May carried a report on Eritrea’s
independence anniversary. The report said that though the country was
marking its 19 th year since independence achieved after 30 years of
struggle, history showed that the county had spent the years quarrelling
with neighboring countries and offering military support to rebel groups
fighting its neighbors and mistreating its citizens. (Addis Ababa
Mesenazeria, privately owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 5) Electoral
Board Releases Election Figures
Ethiopian Goggle newspaper on 21 May reported that the National Electoral
Board had released election figures ahead of the fourth national
elections. The report said the figures released two days to the elections
indicated that 31,926,000 people had registered to vote. The reported
added th at 2,205 prospective contestants were seeking election to the
House of Peoples’ Representatives while 4,734 candidates were vying for
seats in the regional councils. (Addis Ababa Goggle, privately owned
weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 1) ‘Egyptian Position is not in Tandem With
the Times’ – Prime Minister Meles Zenawi
Negdras newspaper on 21 May reported that Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s
comments in reaction to Egypt’s rage on the recently signed agreement
between for Nile basin countries. The prime minister said: “Egyptian
position is not in tandem with the times we are in and it can’t stop
Ethiopia’s projects on Nile.” (Addis Ababa Negdras, privately owned weekly
Amharic newspaper, p. 1) Ruling Coalition Spent 39 Million Birr on
Election Campaigns
Negdras newspaper on May 21 reported that the ruling Ethiopian People’s
Revolutionary Democratic Front’s announcement that it had spent 39 million
Ethiopian birr on campaigns ahead of the fourth Ethiopian national
elections. The report said the total amount of money spent by the party
could be up to 500 million Ethiopian birr. (Addis Ababa Goggle, privately
owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 1) EU Short Term Observers Dispatched
to Regions, Ethiopia
Addis Lessan newspaper on 26 May reported that the EU election observation
mission had dispatched 60 temporary election observers to various regions
in the country. The newspaper said that at a meeting on 25 May, the head
of the EU delegation Thjis Berman explained how the observers would
participate in the whole process and added that the first Result would be
announced on 24 May and the overall result after 2 months. (Addis Ababa
Addis Lessan, privately owned bi-weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 1) Egypt’s
‘Determined To Win Local and International Support’ on the Nile
Fiteh newspaper on 21 May carried a report on the recent political crisis
between upper and lower Nile basin countries over the recently signed
agreement in Entebbe, Uganda. The report said “Egyptian s are determined
to win local and international diplomatic support knowing Nile is their
backbone”. It recalled a comment by former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
who said: “Our life depends 100 percent on the Nile. So it’s our source of
existence and whoever comes to destroy our source life, we will resist by
war.” (Addis Ababa Fiteh, privately owned weekly Amharic newspaper, p. 5)
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
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Somalia Daily Media Highlights 7 Jun 10 – Somalia — OSC Summary
Monday June 7, 2010 04:58:55 GMT
AFP20100605950037 Mogadishu OSC Translation on Sub-S aharan Africa in
Somali 04 Jun 10
Text of report by Somali Jowhar website on 4 June
Somali government forces and those of African Union’s Mission in Somalia
(Amisom) troops have spent the night in the battle ground in northeastern
part of Mogadishu where yesterday’s fierce fighting broke out having made
progress in the conflict.
Reports indicate that government forces, and particularly the ones trained
in Uganda are currently at the Mirinayada building and Liido beach which
are parts of Abdiazziz District. The situation this morning is very calm
and there is no fighting in these areas. Senior Somali government
officials have not spoken on yesterday’s fighting except for armed forces
officers leading soldiers in the battle ground who said that they have
made major progress.
The spokesman for Al-Shabab, Ali Dheere has said they have attained
victory in yesterday’s fighting and dismissed reports that some of the
areas that they previously controlled have now been captured. Yesterday’s
fighting in Mogadishu has so far been the most fierce as both sides
continued fighting well into the night. More than 30 civilians were killed
in the fighting whereas over a hundreds were wounded.
Somalia: Renewed Fighting North of Mogadishu Leaves 21 People Dead, 31
Wounded
AFP20100605527005 Boosaaso Radio Horseed in Somali 1130 GMT 03 Jun 10
Fighting that started early this morning and is still continuing has
caused the death of more than 21 people and left 31 others wounded. Our
reporter Muhammad Kaafi Shaykh Abuukar has sent this report from
Mogadishu.
(Begin Abuukar recording) The fighting between the Transitional Federal
Government troops and armed groups opposed to it broke out again in the
northern parts of Mogadishu. The fighting, in which the warring sides used
heavy and light weapons, caused heavy casualties among civilians. The
fighting started following shelling of residential neighborhoods in the
capital by both sides.
Ali Muuse, who is one of the directors of the Mogadishu Ambulance
Services, told us that they had evacuated more than 57 wounded people,
mostly civilians. Ali said that some of the injured were in critical
condition while others were slightly wounded. He said the wounded people,
who were from different parts of Mogadishu, were taken to different
hospitals in the city. Lastly, the clashes in the capital caused most
casualties among the civilians. (End recording)
(Description of Source: Boosaaso Radio Horseed in Somali – independent)
Islamist group reportedly seizes new areas in Mogadishu, set fire to AU
vehicles
GMP20100604950012 Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television in Arabic
1811 GMT 03 Jun 10
Doha Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel Television in Arabic at 1811 gmt on 3
June carries the following announcer-read report:
“Medical sources have said that 16 people were killed and around 50 others
wounde d following a bombing that targeted northern parts of the Somali
capital, Mogadishu. This bombing came following clashes between the
African Union (AU) forces and the Mujahidin Youth Movement (MYM) north of
Mogadishu, who were able to set fire to an African forces’ vehicle.”
This is followed by an “exclusive” two-minute video report by Umar Mahmud,
Al-Jazeera’s correspondent in Mogadishu, who starts by speaking about “new
clashes taking place on battlefronts north of Mogadishu, this time between
the MYM and the African Union forces, which support the Somali
government.”
He adds: “In the areas that were controlled by the MYM gunmen in their
recent advance, a military armoured vehicle and a bulldozer were seen on
fire – both owned by the African Union forces. It seems that the clashes
were very fierce to the extent that the African Union forces could not
withdraw their vehicles and remained silent and did not comment on what
happened .”
He goes on to say: “To some analysts, today’s clashes give rise to a
debate on the ability of the African Union forces to maintain peace – the
reason why the forces came to Somalia.”
Speaking about “the suffering of the civilians,” Mahmud talks about the
“nightmares caused by the artillery shells that follow them wherever they
go in the capital.”
Mahmud concludes by saying: “Mogadishu continues to be the focal point of
a turbulent struggle and a tug of war between two parties, in which each
party seeks to advance towards the other, in order to control new
positions.”
(Description of Source: Doha Al-Jazirah Satellite Channel Television in
Arabic — Independent Television station financed by the Qatari
Government)
Somali Insurgents Parade Alleged AU Troops’ Bodies After Mogadishu Battle
AFP20100604517004 Paris AFP (World Service) in English 1311 GMT 04 Jun 10
Mogadishu, June 4, 201 0 (AFP) – Somali insurgents displayed the bodies of
what they said were African Union troops Friday following a day of fierce
clashes with government troops for control of Mogadishu.
BOTh the Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab and the embattled Western-backed
government claimed victory in fighting that left at least 21 civilians and
an unknown number of combatants dead.
The capital was more calm after the government offensive launched Thursday
to recapture strategic neighbourhoods of Mogadishu that was turned into a
battlefield and virtually emptied of its population.
Independent access to the contested areas was made difficult by the
military standoff but residents reached by phone said Shebab fighters
paraded bodies of soldiers, including from an attack on an armou red
vehicle belonging to the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
“I saw the dead body of a soldier but I could not identify him. There was
also another one which they said was the c harred body of from the
destroyed troop carrier,” witness Faisal Omar told AFP.
The main spokesman for the Shebab, whose leaders claim allegiance to Osama
bin Laden, said the government offensive had been repelled.
“The enemy tried to advance into the areas we control but following the
lesson they were taught by our mujahideen (holy warriors), they will never
try again,” said Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage, the main spokesman.
“Today, we can all see the casualties we inflicted on them. We destroyed
an armoured vehicle, killing all on board. We also seized a bulldozer
belonging to AMISOM,” Rage told reporters.
African Union troops back government forces in the fight against the
insurgents.
African Union military officials in Mogadishu could not be reached for
comment but several witnesses confirmed the incidents and the Shebab
posted pictures on a website affiliated to their movement.
“I was trapped inside my h ouse yesterday during the fighting and I saw an
armoured vehicle with an AU marking burning outside. There was also a
bulldozer trapped in a ditch,” said local resident Mohamed Hassan.
The bulldozer was believed to be used by AMISOM troops to fill trenches
dug by the Shebab to protect their positions.
A government security official denied their offensive had been thwarted.
“Our forces are holding several neighbourhoods in northern Mogadishu where
they fought the rebels. The situation is calm today,” Ali Nur said.
On May 21-22, as President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was in Turkey mustering new
support for his embattled transitional federal government (TFG), the
Shebab and its Hezb al-Islam allies launched a devastating attack on
Mogadishu.
They seized large swathes of the northern Shibis and Bondhere
neighbourhoods, moving them within barely more than a stone’s throw of the
shrivelling perimetre housing the presidency and other key institutions.
It also gave them a strategic vantage point over Mogadishu port and the
ability to disrupt supplies to the government and AMISOM.
The AU mission said at the time that the insurgents had crossed “a red
line” and that the rebel advance warranted tough reprisals.
(Description of Source: Paris AFP (World Service) in English — world news
service of the independent French news agency Agence France Presse)
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Mujahidin Take Control of Dhuusamareeb Airport ,
Siinaay
AFP20100603353001 Somali Memo in Somali 02 Jun 10
(Unattributed report; “Brigades of Al-Shabaab Mujahidin Take Control of
Dhuusamareeb Airport and Siinaay; the Fighting Continues”)
Intense fighting resumed at noon today in Dhuusamareeb, where Al-Shabaab
and Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a (ASWJ) were competing for control.
Reports just received confirmed that the fighting is in the neighborhood
of Siinaay. Al-Shabaab forces took control of the airport and Galcado
after a fight with Ahlu Sunnah Waljama’a polytheists.
An eyewitness in the city of Dhuusamareeb confirmed to Somali Memo that
heavy fighting is taking place in parts of the neighborhood of Siinaay.
Al-Shabaab forces are coming to the city in large numbers and set up a
base at the airport.
An eyewitness explained said: “The fighting is currently going on in
Siinaay neighborhood. Al-Shabaab took control of the airport and is also
fighting ASWJ elements in Siinaay. The residents fled the city.”
The fighting shifted to the center of the city of Dhuusamareeb and Somali
Memo is paying money to get verified information from there.
(Description of Source: Somali Memo in Somali; news website that updates
daily and reports news with a clear bias towards Somali terrorist group
Al-Shabaab; URL:
http://www.somalimemo.net www.somalimemo.net.)
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Radio Claim Heavy Losses on Governm ent Troops
AFP20100605527007 Kismaayo Radio Andalus in Somali 1600 GMT 03 Jun 10
As the crusader and riddah troops (Somali for apostate, reference made to
the African Union peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu and Somali government
troops) continued to suffer heavy casualties in today’s fighting, their
burnt military vehicles were displayed to the various local media groups
operating in the country. Abdulahi Shaykh has sent us details of that
report from Mogadishu.
(Begin Shaykh recording) Casualty figures among the civilian population
are rising following the heavy shelling in the capital, Mogadishu which
started this morning and continued till midday. God is great, God is
great, Al-Shabaab Mujahidin fighters, who have been engaged in fierce
battle with the crusader and riddah troops for the better part of today,
in parts of the city, shouted. Radio Andalus, which was covering the
events, was taken by the Mujahidin to their positions at Lido Beach, wher
e they displayed armored vehicles which, they captured today from the
crusader and riddah troops. The Mujahidin also displayed bodies of the
infidel troops killed in the fighting. Muslim residents in the city and
the Muslims all over the Muslim world were delighted when they saw what
happened to the infidel troops. Residents streamed into Lido Beach area to
see for themselves the blown up vehicles, which belonged to the infidel
troops. At least 21 riddah fighters were killed in today’s clashes and
many more sustained serious injuries. The infidel troops also lost seven
of their vehicles which were set ablaze by the Mujahidin. However, many
civilians were killed and scores of others wounded following heavy
shelling in parts of the city by Amisom (African Mission in Somalia)
troops. So far, the casualty figures among the civilians are not yet
clear. (End recording)
(Description of Source: Kismaayo Radio Andalus in Somali — Al-Shabaab
owned radio station)
Al-Shabab forms Islamic administration for southern Somali town
AFP20100606950052 Gaalkacyo Radio Gaalkacyo in Somali 1015 GMT 06 Jun 10
Text of report by Somali independent Radio Gaalkacyo on 6 June
(Presenter) Al-Shabab forms administration in Southern Somali town.
(Reporter) The Islamic governorate of Al-Shabab Islamic Movement in Jubba
regions have today formed an Islamic administration at Saakow District of
Middle Jubba Region, southern Somalia. The group has also reshuffled the
former administration of Bu’ale District (The provincial town of Middle
Jubba Region)
The Al-Shabab governor of Lower Jubba Region Shaykh Abukar Ali and other
high-ranking officials of Al-Shabab Islamic Movement have gathered at the
nomination ceremony. The group appointed Shaykh Muhammad Dhaqane Odowa as
the district commissioner of Saakow while they also nominated Shaykh Ali
Bari Ali Yusuf as the army commander. Several other positions including
the head of finance of the town were also been named during the ceremony.
Shaykh Abukari Ali, who is the governor of Al-Shabab in Lower Jubba
region, appealed to residents in the town to collaborate with the new
administration. He further announced that the new administration will
impose Shari’ah law in the region and fulfil their obligations according
to Islamic teachings. He said Al-Shabab had succeeded in forming district
administrations in Jubba regions, adding they will continue until they
form an Islamic state. The governor meanwhile, urged residents of southern
Somalia to join what he described as a holy war. The move comes at a time
when fierce fighting between government forces and Islamist groups has
continued in the country in the last few days.
(Description of Source: Gaalkacyo Radio Gaalkacyo in Somali)
Al-Shabaab Radio Reprts Insurgents Claim Victory in Latest Clashes in Mo
gadishu
AFP20100605527006 Kismaayo Radio Andalus in Somali 1600 GMT 03 J un 10
There is relative calm in the parts of Mogadishu, where today’s clashes
occurred. Reports indicate that the infidel troops and those of the riddah
group (apostate group, reference made to the Transitional Federal
Government of Somalia) sustained heavy casualties in the clashes. Hasan
Haji, who is at the scene of the battle, has been following today’s
clashes and is on the line now from there. Hasan, what is the latest?
(Haji) The enemy attacked us this morning and we successfully repulsed
them. They are now back to their previous positions.
(Announcer Faysal) Well, tell us about the positions of the two sides as
of now and if there are militias and armored vehicles captured from the
riddah group as well as the casualty figures on their side.
(Haji) Faysal, as a matter of fact, the Mujahidin were already prepared
and were in their positions at the time of the attack. In the past, the
Mujahidin used to withdraw tactically from their posi tions whenever the
enemy tanks came closer but that was not the case today. You could see the
Mujahidin confronting the enemy tanks and inflicting heavy casualties on
them. You saw one of the infidel troops’ tanks blown in the fighting. The
Mujahidin also captured a Taw(pick up loaded with weapons) which was
partially burnt but parts of it still intact with the three people on
board dead, including the driver and the one firing rockets from it. The
Mujahidin captured another vehicle, a tractor this time, which was not
damaged and left by the enemy troops when it fell into a trap set by the
Mujahidin for such vehicles and the enemy troops could not rescue it. That
tractor is now in the hands of the Mujahidin commanders and they would
decide what to do about it. Those who lost their beloved ones like mothers
who lost their sons, their brothers ,their husbands or their relatives,
this defeat of the enemy would console them and let them forget about
their loses. Seeing th e enemy armored vehicles in the hands of the
Mujahidin, the corpses of their fighters scattered all over the place
would give them solace. The Mujahidin are more steadfast and more
encouraged now. The infidels thought that they (Mujahidin) could not face
their tanks but today they saw with their own eyes that the Mujahidin can
confront these tanks. Meanwhile, we are getting reports indicating that
the the riddah leaders at the presidential place are now cursing each
other and blaming each other for the defeat.
(Description of Source: Kismaayo Radio Andalus in Somali — Al-Shabaab
owned radio station)
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Official Vows To Fight Until Elimination of Sufi Group
AFP20100606301003 Raxanreeb.com in Somali 06 Jun 10
Shaykh Yusuf Ise Kabo-Kutukade, the Al-Shabaab governor of Gal Gaduud
Region, has revealed their (Al-Shabaab) military plan for parts of the
region. The governor said the fighting would go on as long as Ahlu Sunnah
wal Jama ‘a forces were present in parts of the country. He said
Al-Shabaab’s plan was to continue the fight until it eliminated the group.
Kabo-Kutukade added that currently Al-Shabaab controlled most Galgaduud
towns, where it set up Islamic administrations for them. He says that
Al-Shabaab intends to extend its control over the rest of the region soon.
On aid agencies, Shaykh Kabo-Kutukade said people do not require their
assistance.
The remarks came as Al-Shabaab and Ahlu Sunnah forces clashed in Galgaduud
recently, causing heavy casualties.
(Description of Source: US based independent news website;
http://www.raxanreeb.com/ http://www.raxanreeb.com/ )
Somalia: Moderate Islamic Group Claims To Kill Over 90 Al-Shabaab
Militants
AFP20100604301001 Toronto Hiiraan Online in Somali 04 Jun 10
Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a spokesman Shaykh Abdullahi Shaykh Abu Yusuf has
briefed the media on the latest clashes in Galgadu ud Region Between
Al-Shaba ab Mujahidin Movement.
The spokesman said they killed more than 90 Al-Shabaab Mujahidin Movement
fighters, among them foreigners, and wounded up to 170 others during the
clashes, which occurred near Dhuusa Mareeb town. He described the fighting
as the heaviest ever witnessed in Galgaduud Region. He added that they
also captured vehicles laden with military equipment and light arms left
behind by fleeing Al-Shabaab Mujahidin Movement forces. He did not give
details of casualties sustained by their (Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a) side in
the latest clashes.
Al-Shabaab Mujahidin Movement, through its representative in Galgaduud
Region, Shaykh Yusuf Ise Kabo-Kutukade, claimed victory in the latest
fighting.
There has been no independent confirmation of the real situation in areas
where the clashes occurred.
Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a and Al-Shabaab Mujahidin Movement forces are
fiercely fighting over control of the Somali central region of Galgaduud.
Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a has control of most of the region.
(Description of Source: Toronto Hiiraan Online in Somali — Independent
Internet site;
http://www.hiiraan.com/ http://www.hiiraan.com/ )
AU peacekeepers ‘confess’ three soldiers killed in Somali fighting
SAP20100606950064 Mogadishu Radio Simba in Somali 1000 GMT 06 Jun 10
Text of report by privately-owned Somali Radio Simba on 6 June
AU peacekeepers have confessed two of their soldiers were killed, and more
others wounded in the latest fighting between them and insurgent groups in
Mogadishu.
“Two of our forces were killed, several others wounded in the recent
fighting against insurgent groups in Mogadishu,” AU peacekeepers spokesman
has said.
He also added that five other soldiers were wounded in the fighting
between them (AU peacekeeper), insurgent groups in Mogadishu, the
spokesman also confirmed that two of their battlewagons were destroyed in
the fighting agai nst insurgent groups in Mogadishu.
However, there are 6,000 AU peacekeepers in Somalia to assist Somalia’s
transitional government.
(Description of Source: Mogadishu Radio Simba in Somali)
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Claims Killing AHSWJ Commander in Xeraale, Galguduud
Region
AFP20100603353002 Somali Memo in Somali 03 Jun 10
(Unattributed report: “The Highest Ranking Commander of Xeerale Was Killed
Outside Dhuusamareeb; Tanker Truck Was Burned”)
Ahlu Sunnah Waljama’a (AHSWJ) militias have suffered heavy losses in the
fighting in Galguduud during the last two days.
Latest reports received from Galguduud say that the situation is
comparatively calm this morning after continued fighting for the last two
days that caused damage to the AHSWJ.
At midnight last night a commander of the polytheist AHSWJ was killed by
Al-Shabaab mujahidin in the suburbs of Dhuusamareeb and caused death and
destruction to the group.
A we ll-known AHSWJ member named Isman Talado was found dead this morning
in the village of Xeraale in Galguduud region. Isman Talado was the
commander of AHSWJ in Xeraale; he used to act as a holy man and collected
money from the women and the ignorant people.
Al-Shabaab mujahidin launched a sudden attack on the polytheist AHSWJ
forces while they were gathering at a base, and Isman Talada was
slaughtered immediately. He was known for his use of witchcraft and
superstition.
Al-Shabaab spokesman Shaykh Ali Dhere confirmed the report, adding that a
tanker truck being used by the polytheists was burned in the fighting.
AHSWJ forces have been weakened in the fighting, so Al-Shabaab brigades
just need to move forward to the city.
It seems that Al-Shabaab commanders are using a tactical retreat by
retreating from the places they attack and then move forward to the
cities.
The war plan that Al-Shabaab is using in Dhuusamareeb looks exactly like
the ope rations they used in the fighting in Galacad and Massagawaa, where
they finally captured Ceeldheer after the militias were weakened.
Temporary administrators placed by Al-Shabaab mujahidin outside
Dhuusamareeb are receiving representatives from some communities in the
city, who are requesting Al-Shabaab to let them stay out of the fighting.
Yesterday, Habar Eji community of Ceyr tribe announced that they have
withdrawn from the fighting in Galgaduud since their militias suffered
heavy losses.
(Description of Source: Somali Memo in Somali; news website that updates
daily and reports news with a clear bias towards Somali terrorist group
Al-Shabaab; URL:
http://www.somalimemo.net www.somalimemo.net.)
Nine killed as clan fighting rages in southern Somalia
SAP20100604950071 Mogadishu Radio Simba in Somali 1000 GMT 04 Jun 10
Text of report by privately-owned Somali Radio Simba on 4 June
(Presenter) There is an upsurge of civi lian casualties in fighting
between two rival clans in Wanle Weyne District, southern Somalia.
Reports reaching us from Wanle Weyne District confirm that nine people
have been killed and more than 10 others have been wounded in the
fighting,
Elders and Al-Shabab Islamic Movement administration have reportedly
launched efforts to mediate between the two clans in Wanle Weyne District,
southern Somalia.
The fighting between the two clans in Wanle Weyne District is said to have
caused widespread displacement in area.
(Description of Source: Mogadishu Radio Simba in Somali)
Gunmen shoot dead two people at coffee shop in central Somalia
AFP20100606950054 Gaalkacyo Radio Gaalkacyo in Somali 1015 GMT 05 Jun 10
Text of report by Somali independent Radio Gaalkacyo on 5 June
At least two people were killed and three others were wounded after
unknown gunmen opened gunfire at a tea shop in Gaalkacyo town, central
Somalia. The police commander of Mudug region Muse Abdirahman Hasasi has
confirmed to Radio Gaalkacyo that the police are pursuing the perpetrators
who carried out the mission. The commander further said they had so far
arrested several people who are suspected to be responsible for insecurity
in Gaalkacyo town adding that they were being investigated.
On other hand, Mudug regional governor Ahmad Ali Salad, has said that all
southerners in Puntland-controlled areas must return to their origin
homeland. The governor accused those people for bringing violence and
instability in the region. The move comes at a time Puntland and the
Galmudug regional administrations have vowed to improve peace in central
Somalia.
(Description of Source: Gaalkacyo Radio Gaalkacyo in Somali)
Somali Islamists say AU troops planning to carry out air raids in capital
AFP20100605950046 Mogadishu OSC Translation on Sub-Saharan Africa in
Somali 04 Jun 10
Text of report by Somali Jowhar w ebsite on 4 June
The Hisb al-Islam commander in Banaadir Region Mogadishu and its
environs), Ma’alin Hashi, has said there are plans to carry out air raids
in areas that are under their control as Amisom (African Union’s Mission
in Somalia) troops have been defeated in the face to face fighting in
Mogadishu.
Ma’alin Hashi said they have attained victory in yesterday’s fighting in
Mogadishu which he said the Mujahidins, meaning foreigners fighting
alongside them, took a major part.
“There are plans by the enemy to carry out air raids in the city having
failed on foot confrontation,” said Ma’alin Hashi who added that he will
continue with the fighting.
Ma’alin Hashi threatened to bring down any plane that comes into the
Mogadishu’s airspace, adding that the planes meant to carry out this raid
in the capital will be flying from Seychelles, among other places.
The statement by Ma’alin Hashi comes at a time when fierce fighting broke
o ut in Mogadishu yesterday in which Amisom troops took part. An armoured
vehicle belonging to Amisom troops in Somalia has since been burnt in the
fighting.
Islamist Radio Blames Shelling of Mogadishu Market on African Peacekeepers
AFP20100604527005 Baydhabo Radio Andalus in Somali 1000 GMT 03 Jun 10
Bakaara Market was today affected following mortar rounds fired by AMISOM
(African Mission in Somalia) in parts of Mogadishu, some of which landed
in the market. Nadif Abdulqadir has sent us this report from Mogadishu:
(Begin Abdulqadir recording) The Bakaara Market, which is a center of
trade for the Muslim population in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, was
affected today following heavy shelling by the infidel AMISOM troops in
parts of the capital city such as the Hawlwadaag neighborhood and Bakaara
Market as well as other locations in east of the capital. The shelling,
which was heard in the market area earlier today, paralyzed activities and
transp ort in the city, particularly public vehicles used for transporting
goods to and from the market. The market was deserted today with most of
the traders closing their shops following AMISOM’s heavy shelling of the
city. Many people were seen sheltering under concrete structures, trying
to avoid getting hit in the AMISOM shelling. In the last few hours
ambulances were seen arriving at the market to transport the wounded, many
of whom were traders at the market. Although the exact figures of the
casualties in today’s shelling remains unknown, reports from the area
indicate that a number of business premises were destroyed by mortars
fired by AMISOM. Bakaara market is the target of indiscriminate AMISOM
shelling when they (AMISOM troops) come under fire from the Mujahidin
forces. However, business people at the market expressed concern over the
virtual daily shelling of the market by AMISOM. (End recording)
Somali moderates urge government to ensure security in rec ently captured
areas
AFP20100605950048 Mogadishu OSC Translation on Sub-Saharan Africa in
Somali 04 Jun 10
Text of report by Somali Jowhar website on 4 June
The moderate Islamic group Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a supreme council has
called upon the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) to ensure
security in public places adding that they will step up their operations
to restore security in the country.
Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a has issued a statement in which they said Somali
civilians have been exhausted from the prolonged fighting in the country
and called upon government forces to ensure security in the areas that
they have captured from opposition groups.
The religious scholars called upon senior armed forces officials to inform
the soldiers about their duty toward the public and the country in
general. They also said the rights of the armed forces needed to be
safeguarded so that they too do not transgress against the civilian popula
tion.
The Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a statement discussed yesterday’s fighting in
Mogadishu in which government forces launched the attacks and welcomed the
progress they made in the fighting.They also called upon the government to
ensure security in areas that are under its control and confront the
groups that are contributing to insecurity there. The Ahlu Sunnah wal
Jama’a statement concluded by praying for the civilians and asked them to
repent for any wrong doing they may have committed.
Somalia: Mogadishu Residents Burn Bodies of AMISOM Troops, Soldiers in
Capital
AFP20100606507002 Baydhabo Radio Andalus in Somali 1000 GMT 04 Jun 10
Mogadishu residents today burnt in public some of the infidel troops of
Amisom and the apostate militias (REFERENCE made to the African Union
forces and Somali Government troops) Our reporter Abdulahi Shaykh sent
details of this report from Mogadishu.
(Begin recording) (Shaykh) The dead bodies of the infidel tr oops and
those of the apostate group were seen today in parts of Mogadishu such as
Baar Ubah Junction. The burnt bodies were those of the soldiers killed in
yesterday’s fighting in the city. The bodies of these soldiers were
already charred following the destruction of a troop carrier which was set
ablaze by members of the public during the operation. Members of the
public, however, gathered the remains of the soldiers and set them ablaze
at an open place in the capital. Another soldier of the apostate group,
who was killed in Sayidka area of Hodan District, was also burnt by the
residents. Jubilant residents in the city came out in large numbers to see
for themselves the corpses of the infidels. A resident who took part in
the burning of the infidels said:
(Unidentified resident) God willing, the Mujahidin will gain victory. God
willing, Allah will hasten the defeat of the infidels. We are telling
those collaborating with the enemy to return to Allah and repe nt for
their bad deeds. Allah’s victory and help are near.
(Shaykh) Meanwhile, members of the public called for the support of the
Mujahidin while expressing their joy at the defeat of the infidels in the
clashes which occurred in parts of the capital, Mogadishu yesterday. The
bodies of the infidel troops were scattered in the streets of Mogadishu.
(End recording).
(Description of Source: Baydhabo Radio Andalus in Somali — Al-Shabaab
owned radio station)
Mortars on Somali presidential palace halted as government captures new
areas
AFP20100605950035 AllPuntland.com in Somali 05 Jun 10
Text of report by Somali pro-Puntland government website on 5 June
The situation in Mogadishu this morning is a bit calm although the sound
of heavy gunfire being exchanged by warring groups in the capital can be
heard at times. Warring groups in the capital seemed to have had a proper
fight yesterday and have refrained from launching major attacks o n each
other this morning.
The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) has said they have
captured a few places among them the Liido Beach near the Somali
presidency which is where opposition groups have been firing mortars from.
The Somali presidency for the first time in many months this morning had a
break from the different types of arms that were fired into its compound
as firearms shot from the Liido Beach used to directly land there. TFG
forces have also failed to capture many of the places they had planned to
capture.
The Al-Shabab Movement last night showed pictures of armoured vehicles
belonging to Amisom (African Union’s Mission in Somalia) troops which they
set a blaze during the bitter fighting in Mogadishu. Opposition groups
also burnt a number of bullet proof vehicle using bazookas showing the
extent of their might.
Meanwhile, residents of northern Mogadishu have fled from their homes and
the neighbourhoods were left empty. Yesterday’s fighting in these areas
has affected residents who have not been displaced from their homes in
recent years.
(Description of Source: AllPuntland.com in Somali — Pro-Puntland
government website; URL:
http://www.allpuntland.com http://www.allpuntland.com )
Somali Clan Elders Call for Jihad Against Kenya, Ethiopia
AFP20100604527004 Kismaayo Radio Andalus in Somali 1600 GMT 02 Jun 10
Clan elders in the Islamic administration of Gedo Region have called on
residents in the region to confront and participate in the Jihad against
the military maneuvers of two Christian states of Ethiopia and Kenya. Our
reporter Abdiqani Muhammad Bayow has that report.
(Begin Bayow recording) In a statement issued recently, clan elders in
Gedo Region called on various Somali clans in southern regions,
particularly Gedo Region, to brace themselves for Jihad against Ethiopia
and Kenya. The elders called for Jihad against these two countries beca
use they were training and backing apostate militias (loyal to the
Transitional Federal Government of Somalia) with a view to destabilizing
peaceful regions in the country. The elders also urged the wider Somali
society to wage war on these countries. Shaykh Aden Muhammad Abdalla,
spokesman for the clan elders, called on the clans to prepare for war with
these countries. Shaykh Abdalla, while commenting on the issue said.
(Shaykh Abdalla’s comments indistinct) The elders added that these
countries were conspiring to undermine peace efforts in the country at a
time when many people in the country, particularly those living in the
southern regions, had chosen to follow and practice Islamic Sharia. Shaykh
Aden called for the spread of the Jihad and urged the Mujahidin forces to
fight these countries. Shaykh Aden added that these countries never wanted
us to apply the laws of Allah but they instead wanted us to follow man
made constitutions. (Shaykh Aden’s comments indistin ct) Finally the
elders welcomed the Islamic administrations controlling many parts of the
country. (End recording)
(Description of Source: Kismaayo Radio Andalus in Somali — Al-Shabaab
owned radio station)
Somali website slams government, AU troops for allegedly denying losses in
fight
AFP20100605950051 AllPuntland.com in Somali 05 Jun 10
Text of report by Somali pro-Puntland government website on 5 June
African Union’s Mission in Somalia (Amisom) troops have denied that some
of their armoured vehicles were burnt down in the recent fighting in
Mogadishu. Since then, the Movement for the Al-Shabab Mujahidin and the
international media have shown pictures of the burnt Amisom vehicles.
Al-Shabab forces took some of the journalists to the areas where the
fighting took place and showed them vehicles belonging to Amisom troops
which they set ablaze. Videos of the burning armoured vehicles were also
publicized by Al-Shabab, portraying Tra nsitional Federal Government of
Somalia (TFG) and Amisom officials in bad light over their persistent
denials that none of Amisom vehicles were burnt in the fighting, and
claims that they have attained victory.
Al-Shabab forces have said they will continue fighting against TFG forces
and those of Amisom troops until shari’ah law is fully implemented in the
country. The released pictures show Al-Shabab forces setting a blaze up to
four vehicles, three of which are armoured vehicles with guns mounted on
them while the fourth one is the kind used to unblock roads know as
CAGO-CAGAF (as published). The pictures also show Al-Shabab fighters
celebrating the vehicles they have set a blaze.
African Union troops in Somalia, who guard important TFG facilities in
Mogadishu, have been taking part in the recent bitter fighting in
Mogadishu. This is the second time that vehicles belonging to Amisom
troops have been set on fire.
(Description of Source: AllPuntland.com in Somali — Pro-Puntland
government website; URL:
http://www.allpuntland.com http://www.allpuntland.com )
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Radio Re ports ‘Fierce Fighting’ Near Marereergur
AFP20100604527003 Kismaayo Radio Andalus in Somali 1600 GMT 02 Jun 10
There has been fierce fighting in Marereergur Village, 20 kilometers from
Dhuusomareeb town. Our reporter Isma’il Salad has been following this
fighting and sent us this report.
(Begin rSalad recording) There was fierce fighting between Al-Shabaab
Mujahidin fighters, particularly Galgaduud units, and the idol worshippers
(REFERENCE made to Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a, a moderate Islamist group
fighting the Al-Shabaab) in Mareergur area. The fighting, which went on
for several hours, dealt a heavy blow to the Mushrikin group (polytheist
group). The Al-Shabaab administrator in Galgaduud Region Shaykh Yusuf Isse
alias Kabakutukade told Radio Andalus that they killed approximately 14
fighters from the M ushrikin side including their commander. The latest
reports coming tonight from Mareergur area indicate that bodies of the
dead Mushrikin fighters are scattered in the area. The Mujahidin have
advanced on toward Dhuusamareeb town, taking their frontline on the road
between Mareergur and Dhuusamareeb town. Shaykh Yusuf Isse while
commenting on the fighting said:
(Shaykh Isse) There has been fighting in this area since yesterday
following an attack launched by the Quburiyin (grave worshippers) on the
residents in the town (passage indistinct) The reports from the scene of
yesterday’s battle indicate that the Mushrikin fighters have fled to
Dhuusamareeb town and the village of Mareergur is now in the hands of the
Mujahidin with the corpses of the Musrikin scattered in the area.
Meanwhile the Mujahidin clashed again today at sunset with the Mushrikin
militias in a place called Geed Timir, 5-8 kilometers from Dhuusamareeb,
taking over control of the area. The situati on in the area is calm now
though the sound of heavy weapons exchanged by the sides is being heard in
the town. Reports coming from Dhuusamareeb indicate the Mushrikin militias
are gripped with great fear as the Mujahidin advance on toward the town.
(End recording)
(Description of Source: Kismaayo Radio Andalus in Somali — Al-Shabaab
owned radio station)
Somalia: Government Forces Reportedly Evict Islamist Fighters From Beled
Weyne
AFP20100604507001 Boosaaso Radio Horseed in Somali 1130 GMT 31 May 10
(Corrected version: Adding country name to headline; Interview with Radio
Horseed reporter Abdikarim Mahmud Siyad from Beled Weyne town by
unidentified Radio Horseed announcer — live)
(Radio Horseed reporter Abdikarim Mahmud Siyad) The situation is now calm
following heavy fighting in the early hours of the morning around the air
strip in Beled Weyne town between Hisb al-Islam and recently trained
Transitional Federal Government forces. Th e town is under control of
government forces and Hisb al-Islam have fled to Bulla Berde.
(Unidentified Radio Horseed announcer) Are there any casualties in the
wake of the fighting?
(Siyad) From what we know, two passers-by have been killed in the fighting
and a woman has also been wounded.
(Announcer) So how did the government forces capture the town since, as
you have told us, the fighting took place on the outskirts of the town.
Was there fighting in the town.
(Siyad) The government has been preparing for the fighting the past few
days. They were based in the outskirts of Beled Weyne town. In the early
morning they reached Elgal town, 10 kilometres from Beled Weyne town and
in the morning they attacked Hisb al-Islam who were in the town. That is
how they came into the town. Later they captured the air strip in Beled
Weyne town after hours of fighting and Hisb al-Islam fighters fled the
town.
(Announcer) Tell us the situation and the reaction of the locals over the
entry of new forces in the town?
(Siyad) The Transitional Federal Government have not yet set base in the
town for the time being. They are still stationed where the fighting took
place.
(Ann ouncer) If the government forces did not come to the town as you are
saying, what about the Hisb al-Islam fighters? Have they fled the town?
(Siyad) A large number of them fled the town and took control of a place
outside Beled Weyne… (words distinct). Only a few Hisb al-Islam fighters
have been seen in the town in the past few days especially at the police
headquarters in Beled Weyne town.
(Description of Source: Boosaaso Radio Horseed in Somali – independent)
Somalia: Hisb al-Islam officer reportedly defects to Al-Shabab
SAP20100604950070 Mogadishu Radio Simba in Somali 1000 GMT 04 Jun 10
Text of report by privately-owned Somali Radio Simba on 4 June
Reports reaching us from Beled Weyne town in Hiiraan Region, central
Somalia, confirm that one of Hisb al-Islam insurgent group’s officers has
defected to Al- Shabab Islamists in the region.
Abu Sa’id, one of Hisb al-Islam insurgent group’s officers confirmed to
media that he had joined Al-Shabab Islamic Movement administration. He did
not give further details about his defection to Al-Shabab Islamists in
Hiiraan Region, central Somalia.
This comes after Hisb al-Islam insurgent group had retaken Beled Weyne
town following fighting with government soldiers in area.
(Description of Source: Mogadishu Radio Simba in Somali)
Tension high between Somali Islamists over defection of Hisb al-Islam
official
AFP20100605950038 Mogadishu OSC Translation on Sub-Saharan Africa in
Somali 04 Jun 10
Text of report by Somali Jowhar website on 4 June
Reports reaching us from the town of Jalalaqsi, Hiiraan Region (central
Somalia) says that there is tension between Hisb al-Islam and Al-Shaba b
over the control of the town.
Tension between the two groups came after a senior Hisb al-Islam official
joined Al-Shabab and handed over arms and a number of battle wagons that
were in his possession. Hisb al-Islam has been enraged by the move in
which their senior officer in the town defected to Al-Shabab. The group
has since deployed additional fighters further escalating the tension
between the two sides. Negotiations between the two sides of Al-Shabab and
Hisb al-Islam are now under way.
Reports also indicate that Al-Shabab is currently in control of the major
parts of the town such as the police station and others. Tension between
these two sides in Jalalaqsi is also to do with clan issues as some of
Hisb al-Islam officials are said to be divided over the matter.
Jalalaqsi was the only town in Hiiraan Region where Hisb al-Islam fully
controlled. These forces are now said to have returned to Beled Weyne part
of which is now controlled by Al-Shabab.
Somalia: Withdrawal from central town was ‘strategy’ – government army
spokesman
AFP20100605950036 Dayniile online in Somali 05 Jun 10
Text of report by Swedish-based Somali Dayniile website on 5 June
Senior commanders of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG)
have spoken on their reason for the withdrawal from Beled Weyne (Hiiraan
Region in central Somalia) which they captured a few days ago and whether
they are any planning to carry out retaliation attacks in the town.
The spokesman for Somali government forces in Hiiraan Region, Muhammad Nur
Cagajof, told the media that there were two reasons behind their
withdrawal from the town, one of which was to remove an illegal road block
mounted by opposition groups blocking aid that was being delivered to
displaced people in the region and to also inflict a major loss upon
opposition groups that were their. The spokesman said they have managed to
attain both goals and have since w ithdrawn from the town.
The spokesman for Somali government forces said their withdrawal from
Beled Weyne was for strategic reasons having succeeded in their goals for
going into the town initially. He said government forces have now gone
back to their bases in Hiiraan Region where they will be awaiting for more
orders from senior government officials as to whether to go back to Beled
Weyne or not.
The spokesman for Somali armed forces also said they have inflicted heavy
losses upon Hisb al-Islam forces whom they fought in the area, adding that
they killed many of their fighters and captured others. He also refrained
from commenting on the losses they sustained in their fighting with Hisb
al-Islam.
(Description of Source: Dayniile online in Somali — Swedish based, news
oriented website that appears sympathetic to Somali Islamist insurgents;
URL:
http://www.daynille.com http://www.daynille.com )
Somalia: Mogadishu Hotel Housing Lawmakers Co mes Under Grenade Attack
AFP20100606301004 Toronto Hiiraan Online in Somali 06 Jun 10
Madina Hotel, which houses Somali members of parliament and is located in
Mogadishu’s Xamar Jajab District, was attacked with hand grenades last
evening. No one wa s hurt in the attack.
Security guards at the hotel and the attackers exchanged fire. Again,
nobody was hurt in the shootout. There is no word yet from the Somali
government regarding the attack on the hotel housing lawmakers. No one has
claimed responsibility for the attack.
Last month, the government director (of women and family affairs) was
killed at the hotel. Xamar Jajab is one of the districts controlled by the
government. The government has in the past conducted search operations in
the district after several people, including the district administrator,
were killed there.
The attack coincided with the election of first deputy parliament speaker.
Second deputy speaker is expected to be pi cked today.
(Description of Source: Toronto Hiiraan Online in Somali — Independent
Internet site;
http://www.hiiraan.com/ http://www.hiiraan.com/ )
Somalia: Rift is reported between Al-Shabab , elders in Bu’aale District
AFP20100606950020 Nairobi Radio Bar-Kulan in Somali 1600 GMT 06 Jun 10
Text of report by UN-backed, Nairobi-based, Somali-language Radio
Bar-Kulan on 6 June
(Presenter) Sources have confirmed that a meeting between elders and
Al-Shabab Islamic Movement administration officials in Bu’aale District,
Middle Jubba Region, ended in chaos. Elders in the district organized the
meeting to discuss best ways to assist starving people in the southern
Somalia region.
During the meeting, elders in Bu’aale District asked Al-Shabab insurgent
officials to allow international and local aid organizations to operate in
the region in order to assist people affected by recent floods and the
war-displaced people who were starving . The reports add that the elders
particularly appealed to Al-Shabab insurgents to lift the ban on WFP so it
could operate in Jubba regions, southern Somalia.
On the other hand, Al-Shabab Islamic Movement administration officials
refused to allow aid organization to operate in Bu’aale District. They
said that WFP was an intelligence agency that worked for the United
Nations, as they put it.
One of the elders who was in the meeting, confirmed to Bar-Kulan Radio
that the meeting had ended in disarray.
Four aid organizations which Al-Shabab Islamists had tried to kick out of
Middle Jubba Region reportedly now operate in region as elders and
residents opposed the move by Islamists to oust them.
(Description of Source: Nairobi Radio Bar-Kulan in Somali)
Somalia: Families Flee Clashes Between Farming, Pastoralist Clans
AFP20100605527004 Boosaaso Radio Horseed in Somali 1130 GMT 03 Jun 10
Families living in villages in Wallaweyne Dis trict, Lower Shabeelle
Region have started fleeing their homes following clashes between farmers
and pastoralists in the area, killing some of the fighters and wounding
others. Our reporter, Muhammad Huseyn Amada, has sent this report from
Afgoye District.
(Begin Amada recording) Heavy fighting in Umar Dagaal village, which is
located 75 km east of Wallaweyne District, between two clans has affected
area residents. Reports coming from the area confirmed that both the
farmers and pastoralists started fleeing from there as a result of
fighting. The reports also indicated that Omar Dagaal villagers were
fleeing toward Wallaweyne District and many other areas in the region.
Tension is very high in those areas after the Al-Shabaab administration
imprisoned several clan elders from both tribes. The reports added that
the Al-Shabaab administration is determined to end the fighting between
the two clans that have been living together in Omar Dagaal village. It is
very h ard to predict what will happen next although both sides are
regrouping and no one has so far come forward to solve this dispute since
elders on both sides have been accused of escalating the problem, although
the Al-Shabaab administration said they would stop the conflict. However,
it is not the first time that clas hes have broken out between the two
clans in the area. It was confirmed that six people died while the number
of the wounded remains unknown. (End recording)
(Description of Source: Boosaaso Radio Horseed in Somali – independent)
Somali religious scholars say Islamists threat on TV station
‘unreasonable’
AFP20100606950037 Universal TV in Somali 1700 GMT 06 Jun 10
Text of report by London-based Somali-language Universal TV on 6 June
Prominent Somali religious scholars in Nairobi have said Islamists threats
on Universal TV for showing caricatures of the prophet Muhammad in its
news bulletin on the 29 May is both Un-Islamic and unreasonable. Somali
Islamists threatened to the station over the cartoon despite having
officially apologised for it.
“No one has the right to bother a Muslim who has made a mistake and
acknowledged they are in the wrong. Shedding of their blood cannot be
legitimised. Seizing of their property is inexcusable. To continue
shutting down the station’s offices even after they have all these efforts
to correct the situation is both Un-Islamic and unreasonable,”
“The fact that they have drawn an Arab man with a sword imposing himself
on other religion does not make that character our prophet Muhammad, peace
be upon him.
They can choose to draw a character they intend to use for their insults,
however, the character they have drawn and are insulting is not the
prophet,” said Shaykh (Muhammad) Umal.
“It is right to defend the prophet, but the prophet should be defeated in
a just manner. If a Muslim makes a mistake such as the on e made in
showing that picture on television and repents for it after realising his
mistake, then there is nothing more that can be done,”
“It is not right to take the issue to an extreme. The manager of the
station in his BBC interview expressed regret over the issue and took
responsibility for showing these cartoon which he said was a grave error
on their part. They have apologised for it. The station has also released
a statement to that effect and posted in their website. That should have
been satisfactory for all Muslims who love their religion,”
(Description of Source: Universal TV in Somali)
Somalia: UNHCR Expresses Concern Over Ongoing Violence in Mogadishu
AFP20100605599022 New York UN News Centre in English 04 Jun 10
(Unattributed report: “Ongoing Violence in Somali Capital Alarms UN Aid
Agencies”)
Fighting continues to wrack the Somali capital with another 17,000
residents displaced in just the pas t two months, United Nations
humanitarian agencies reported today, voicing concern that children are
particularly suffering from the ongoing violence.
A quarter of the nearly 1400 casualties recorded by three of the main
hospitals in Mogadishu between late March and late last month were
children under the age of five, UN World Health Organization (WHO)
spokesperson Paul Garwood told journalists in Geneva.
Many of the other casualties are women, and at least 31 people have died
from their injuries, Mr. Garwood said.
“The fact that children account for so many of the weapon-related injuries
remains a key concern,” he added.
Somalia has not had a functioning national government in two decades and
the current Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is involved in fighting
with Islamist rebels and related insurgent groups. Mogadishu, the capital,
remains one of the areas hardest hit by the violence.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reports that an estimated
17,100 residents have been displaced since the start of April. About 6,900
have fled the city entirely while the other 10,200 have moved to
relatively calmer neighbourhoods.
The continued fighting has led to outbreaks of cholera and acute watery
diarrhoea, and Mr. Garwood said WHO was working with partner organizations
to try to control the outbreaks through the use of medicines. The agency
is also training local surgeons in trauma care.
Last month Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told an international conference
on Somalia, held in the Turkish city of Istanbul, that the international
community must act quickly to end the crisis in the Horn of Africa nation
or the violence may expand to the country’s neighbours and beyond.
(Description of Source: New York UN News Centre in English — UN online
news service; URL:
http://www.un.org/news/ http://www.un.org/news/ )
Somali-Canadian Terror Suspect Detained in US Exp ected Trouble With FBI,
CSIS
LAP20100604483003 Toronto The National Post Online in English 03 Jun 10
(Article by Graeme Hamilton and Stewart Bell: “CSIS Was Tracking me:
Somali on no-fly List”)
The Somali man whose flight was diverted to Montreal this week because he
is on the U.S. no-fly list said on Thursday the FBI questioned him about
possible links to a Canadian member of an al-Qaeda-linked militant group
and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has been tracking his
movements.
In an exclusive interview inside the Plattsburgh, N.Y., jail where he is
being held, Abdirahman Ali Gaal said he realized he was in trouble two
weeks ago when FBI agents at an airport in Mauritania informed him he was
banned from flying back to the United States, where he was a legal
resident. They asked him about a number of suspected extremists, including
a Canadian allegedly involved in the al-Qaeda-linked Somali group
Al-Shabab. Questioned by the FB I at the U.S. embassy in the Mauritanian
capital of Nouakchott, he denied any connection to the suspects but was
told the only way he could return to the United States was by land or sea.
He booked a flight to Mexico City, via Paris, and it was that Aeromexico
plane that was blocked from entering U.S. airspace when U.S. authorities
became aware of Mr. Gaal’s presence on board.
Mr. Gaal, 33, was arrested at Montreal’s Trudeau Airport on Sunday. On
Tuesday, Canadian officials drove him to the U.S. border and handed him
over to the Department of Homeland Security.
Neither the Canadian nor the U.S. government has explained why he
triggered such drastic measures, but in the interview Mr. Gaal provided
some clues.
He said CSIS officers had questioned his wife in Calgary about his
whereabouts and activities several times over the past three months, while
he was in Seattle and in Mauritania. He said he called CSIS to let them
know he had nothing to hide. When he tried to board a plane last month in
Mauritania, where he had been studying Arabic, FBI agents asked him about
a several men, including Somali-Canadian Mohamed Elmi Ibrahim.
Mr. Ibrahim, nicknamed Canlish, is a 22-year-old University of Toronto
student who left Canada last year and was reportedly killed in Somalia. A
eulogy posted last month on a website linked to Al-Shabab claimed he died
while fighting in a “fierce battle.”
He is one of six young Somali-Canadians who left Toronto last year,
setting off an investigation into whether they had travelled to Somalia to
fight with Al-Shabab. Mr. Gaal said he did not know the men and had only
attended the Toronto mosque where they sometimes prayed, the Abu Huraira
Center, once.
A seventh Toronto man is being investigated for allegedly training with
Al-Shabab. He has since returned to Canada and has declined, through his
father, to speak to a Post reporter. Former Toronto resident, Omar
Hammami, is now a senior commander of Al-Shabab.
Canada outlawed Al-Shabab as a terrorist organization in March because of
its campaign of suicide bombings and concerns it was attempting to
radicalize and recruit Canadian youths. Somali-Canadian parents are said
to be so concerned they are hiding their children’s passports.
Mr. Gaal said he talks frequently about the war in his homeland in
Internet chat groups but has no connection to Al-Shabab. “I ‘m not a
member of any group. I’m not an extremist,” he said. “I never used
violence…. That’s against Islam.”
He acknowledged that he had submitted a bogus refugee claim in Canada in
2008, claiming to be fleeing strife in Somalia when in fact he was a legal
resident of the United States. The deception was motivated by his desire
to stay with his Canadian wife and four children, he said. He said he had
a change of heart, told his lawyer the truth and asked him to withdraw the
claim. He said he returne d to Seattle last August, relocating his wife
and children in Calgary on the way.
In the interview, he was desperate for details about the government’s case
against him. The Department of Homeland Security has said he is now
inadmissible to the United States and has begun proceedings to have him
removed to Somalia. A major strike against him is his Canadian refugee
claim, which is co nsidered an act of fraud.
“The problem I had with Canadian immigration, it happened by mistake,” he
said. “I called my lawyer and told him to stop. Human beings make
mistakes.”
He said he had no trouble boarding a flight from New York’s JFK airport on
March 5, and flew without incident to Mauritania, via Morocco. He said the
purpose of his trip was to study Arabic grammar, so he could improve his
reading of the Koran. He had planned to return on May 20 but was met at
the airport by “two gentlemen from the FBI. They said they had bad news.”
He then planned to return to the United States by flying to Mexico City
and on to the border city of Tijuana, but mid-flight the Aeromexico pilot
announced they were diverting to Montreal to refuel. “I was relaxed
because I was not a criminal, and I didn’t do anything wrong,” Mr. Gaal
said. But then the stop took much longer than a simple refuelling, and he
was arrested.
Mr. Gaal was born in Mogadishu in 1976 and lived for 10 years in Seattle.
In addition to his Canadian family, he has two children in Seattle from a
previous marriage.
Al-Shabab, which means The Youth, has been fighting to impose Taliban-like
rule in Somalia. Several hundred Al-Shabab fighters are foreigners who
have converged in the war-battered East African country to participate in
what they view as a jihad.
Among them are more than 20 Americans and a handful of Canadians. RCMP
Commissioner William Elliott said last October that he was concerned they
might return to Canada “imbued with both extremist ideology and the skills
necessary to translate it into direct action.”
CSIS called Somalia a “magnet for international terrorists” in its latest
annual report to Parliament. Those who travel to Somalia to fight “may be
drawn into global jihad circles, where they are subsequently recruited to
carry out attacks against perceived enemies of Islam.”
(Description of Source: Toronto The National Post Online in English —
Website of pro-conservative national daily; URL:
http://www.nationalpost.com/ http://www.nationalpost.com/ )
Kenyan police on ‘high alert’ over possible incursion by Somalia’s
Al-Shabab
AFP20100604950025 Nairobi Daily Nation in English 04 Jun 10
Text of report by Kenyan newspaper Daily Nation on 4 June;newspaper
subheading
Scores of residents of a Somali town near the Kenyan border are fleeing
their homes due to fears of a clash between fighters loyal to two militia
groups.
Beled Xaawo town, just two km from the Kenyan border, is controlled by the
anti-government group, Al-Shabab.
However, residents say the pro-government Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a militia
has been moving fighters into the area from nearby Dollow town. Some
fleeing residents are crossing into Kenya, while others are heading for
refugee camps in Ethiopia.
Although Northeastern provincial commissioner James ole Serian confirmed
that the Somalis were abandoning their homes, he denied that they were
crossing into Ken ya. Mr Serian said the displacement was on Somali soil.
The groups are fighting for control of the strategic town located in
Somalia’s Gedo (region).
The tension in the area followed reports that the forces loyal to Ahlu
Sunna Wal Jama’a and some from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government
are attempting to dislodge Al-Shabab.”We are fleeing the town now as we
fear a heavy battle is likely”, said Farah Dodi, a resident of Beled
Xaawo, on phone.
At least 500 Somali government fighters recently underwent training in
neighbouring Ethiopia and there are reports that they could join the
battle in Beled Xaawo.
Rising tension
The rising tension has made local residents in Mandera town (Kenya) to
brace for a possible spillover of the fighting, while police are on high
alert to prevent any infiltration.
Al-Shabab has regularly accused Kenya of interfering in the affairs of
Somalia and threatened to attack it. The militia has carried out its
threats on a number of occasions and last week attacked Dadajabula area in
Wajir District wounding five people.
(Description of Source: Nairobi Daily Nation in English — independent
newspaper with respected news coverage; Kenya’s largest circulation
newspaper; published by the Nation Media Group)
Ethiopian premier appeals for global support for Somalia
AFP20100605950043 Addis Ababa ENA Online in English 05 Jun 10
Text of report in English by state-owned Ethiopian news agency ENA website
Addis Ababa, June 5, 2010 – Prime Minister Meles Zenawi here on Friday (4
June) held talks with Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Jonas Gahr and a
US delegation on bilateral relations of the countries and issues related
to the African continent.
Meles, on the occasion, said the relation between Ethiopia and Norway is
laid on firm foundation. The premier said the Transitional Federal
Government of Somalia has been showing change in security and related
affairs. However, the premier said the Somali government needs support
from the international community.
He said recent election held in Sudan helps to bring about sustainability
in that country. It is also promising to the activities related to
referendum in South Sudan.
Meles said Ethiopia and Norway are working together on issues related to
climate change, according to a senior government official, who att ended
the discussion.
Gahr, on his part, told journalists after the discussion that Norway and
Ethiopia have longstanding friendship. The minister said his country will
strengthen efforts to further enhance existing relations between the two
countries. He said he discussed with the premier on economic, political
and other international affairs.
The minister on the occasion congratulated Meles for the victory of his
party during the fourth national elections.
The minister said he also held discussion with officials of the African
Union. Gahr said he held similar visit to Uganda and Sudan.
In a related news, the premier held talks with a US delegation led by
Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma. Meles said on the occasion that the
peace agreement of Sudan is significant to the region. He said affairs of
Sudan should be left to Sudanese themselves.
Senator Inhofe, on his part, lauded efforts of the country infrastructure
sector development. He con gratulated the premier for the success of his
party in the fourth national elections. The Senator also said his country
will provide the necessary support to Ethiopia.
(Description of Source: Addis Ababa ENA Online in English — Website of
the state-controlled Ethiopian News Agency; URL:
http://www.ena.gov.et http://www.ena.gov.et )
Sudanese Report Says Somali Group Rejects Ethiopia’s Meles’ Peace Deal
Plan
AFP20100605599026 Paris Sudan Tribune Online in English 03 Jun 10
(Unattributed report: “Ethiopia Gov’t Remarks on Peace Deal Plan
Misleading-Rebel Group”)
The rebel Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), an ethnic Somali
separatist group in eastern Ethiopia has dismissed Ethiopia prime
minister’s recent remarks which says that the two sides will soon reach
into a political settlement.
In a statement it emailed to Sudan Tribune, The rebel group today said
that Ethiopian Prime Minister, Melez Zenawi, in his most recent press
conference has said that his government will “soon sign an agreement,”
with ONLF.
However, the rebel said that the group didn’t engage in any kind of peace
talks with the Ethiopian government and the claim made by the Ethiopian
premier is fabricated.
“The statement has no basis in reality and is intended to mislead the
international community in general and foreign oil firms in particular,”
the statement read.
“The ONLF has maintained a principled position that any negotiations with
Addis Ababa can only take place under the auspices of the international
community in a neutral venue with a third neutral party mediator.”
The rebels further accused the Ethiopian government of consistently
refusing neutral third party mediation under the auspices of the
international community.
“Melez Zenawi government clearly seeks to create the impression that he is
on the verge of reaching a political settlemen t to the Ogaden conflict in
a bid to convince oil companies that Ogaden is no longer a war zone and
divert attention from Ethiopia’s recent so-called election.”
ONLF rebels repeatedly accuse Ethiopian government forces of continued
acts of collective punishment an
4) Back to Top
Addis Ababa US Embassy Political Section Press Summary 07 June 2010
This daily press review is compiled by the Political Section of the US
Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Inclusion of media reports in this
summary in no way constitutes an endorsement by the US Government. US
Embassy Political Section Addis Ababa cannot vouch for the veracity or
accuracy of reports contained in this summary – US Embassy Political
Section
Monday June 7, 2010 15:18:40 GMT
Aiga Forum – Senator Inhofe lauded efforts of t he country infrastructure
sector development and congratulated premier Meles
Ethio-Channel – America was plotting to establish a puppet government in
Ethiopia
Ethio-Channel – U.S government hidden agenda exposed
Freedom House – Ethiopia repressive but others are much Worst – Freedom
House
Fortune – EPRDF aims for Chinese model legitimacy not democracy
Capital – End of an Era
APA – Ethiopia proposes over $5 billion budget for 2010/2011 fiscal year
ERTA – Ministry presents 5-year report to HPR
ENA – House of Federation to Hold Its 2nd Regular Session Monday
ENA – EPRDF Enables Ethiopians to Enjoy Development and Peace
Achievements: Minister
MoFA – A week in the Horn – Election Results: Civility Triumphs over
Rejectionism
ERTA – PM Meles confers with Norwegian FM
HydroWorld.com – Ethiopia dam blot on China’s record Ethiopia dam blot on
China’s aid record; Project threatens devastating environmen tal
consequences, global green group says
Ogaden online – Civilians continue to pay the highest price for the
conflict in Ogaden
Ogaden online – A New Initiative to Reinforce the Ogaden Blockade
Sudan Tribune – Eritrean opposition forces create new military front
CNN – N.J. men planned to ‘wage violent jihad,’ feds say
Stratfor.com – Al Shabaab as a Transnational Threat
————————————————————- –
Aiga Forum – Pro government website (June 6) Premier Meles held talks with
a U.S. delegation led by Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma. Senator Inhofe
lauded efforts of the country
http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com–content&task=view&id=21863&Itemid=52
infrastructure sector development and congratulated the premier for the
success of his party in the 4th national elections.
Senator Inhofe told PM Meles the US will provide the necessary support to
Ethiopia. Prime Minister Meles thank the
http://www.waltainfo.com/index.php?option=com–content&task=view&id=21863&Itemid=52
Senator
Senator Inhofe and PM Mmeles also discussed on regional issues including
Sudan.
PM Meles told the Senator the peace agreement of Sudan is significant to
the region.PM Meles also said affairs of Sudan should be left to Sudanese
themselves.
Ethio-Channel – ‘Private’ Amharic weekly sympathetic to the government
(June 6) reported that U.S was plotting to establish a puppet government
in Ethiopia criticizing the government of narrowing political space and
saying there were irregularities in the national election. The newspaper
that quotes close sources says U.S attempted to establish puppet
government using opposition parties. The report says U.S has encourages
oppositions to call for election rerun. The sources say members of the
oppositions know the election was conducted in a free, fair and democratic
m anner however, due to pressures from US the opposition calls for
re-election.
America has interest to establish puppet government in every country that
implements its policies and strategies the sources said. This trend is
strongly criticized throughout the world. According to the newspaper, U.S
interferes in the internal affairs of countries that adopt different
policies and strategies. Reports revealed that three days ahead of the
polling day U.S called opposition political parties to boycott the
national election.
The sources added that U.S made some efforts to convince oppositions to
takeover power through street violence.
Ethio-Channel – ‘Private’ Amharic weekly sympathetic to the government
(June 6) reported that three days before the polling day U.S State
department official instructed Forum to boycott the national election.
According to the report, after the telephone conversation with the State
Department official, the Forum leadership held a meeting whether or not to
adopt the instruction given by the State Department. At the meeting one of
the Forum executive members Seeye Abraha said he accepted requests of the
State department. However, Professor Beyene Petros strongly objected the
State Department request to withdraw from the election. Professor Beyene
was supported by the majority of the Forum leaders who participated at the
meeting. Professor Beyene decided to contest in the election since he was
confident to win in the election.
The newspaper says the people didn’t vote for Professor Beyene because he
couldn’t work for the public though he had seat at the parliament in the
previous three elections. The report says Professor Beyene was not ready
to accept the people’s decision therefore he gave statements to the media
even before announcement of final election results.
The newspaper criticizes Professor Beyene’s for calling for election rerun
and points out to Beyene that the people of Ethiopia can appoint and elect
their leaders but Forum leaders have confidence on foreign forces rather
than the public.
The recent statement released by the State Department and Human Rights
Watch has hidden agenda. The statement which defames EPRDF administration
is part of the attempt made to establish a puppet government in Ethiopia.
Freedom House (June 6) Freedom House released
http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=70&release=1192 Worst of
the Worst 2010 : The World’s Most Repressive Societies, its annual report
identifying the world’s most flagrant human rights abusers, at a side
panel during the 14th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Friday.
This year’s report identifies 17 countries and 3 territories whose
citizens live in extremely oppressive environments, with minimal basic
rights and persistent human rights violations.
In its report Freedom House says, “Ethiopia is not an electoral democracy,
Academic freedo m is restricted and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has
accused universities of being friendly to the opposition, and their
activities are closely monitored. Growing intolerance of dissent has
dampened private discussion in the country, as even ordinary citizens face
harassment or arrest for speaking out against the government. Freedoms of
assembly and association are limited. Trade union rights are tightly
restricted. Detainees frequently report being abused or tortured. The
government has tended to favor Tigrayan ethnic interests in economic and
political matters. Politics within the EPRDF have been dominated by the
Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front. Discrimination against other groups,
especially the Oromo, has been widespread.”
Despite all these human rights violations documented in the country report
for Ethiopia, Freedom House still thinks Ethiopia is not so bad compared
to the really nasty ones and gives Ethiopia a “Partly free” grade and
spares it from being included in the Worst of the Worst list.
So who are the so called the Worst of the Worst? They include 17 countries
and 3 territories.
The 17 countries are Burma, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, North
Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Chad, China,
Cuba, Guinea, Laos, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.
And the 3 territories are Tibet, South Ossetia and Western Sahara.
All these countries are deemed to be “Not Free” and Ethiopia is considered
“Partly Free”.
Fortune (June 6) The ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic
Front (EPRDF) has now completely discredited its already soft democratic
credentials with the farcical elections of 2010. Although it predictably
reacted with theatrical fury to this suggestion, there is no doubt that at
least the smart guys in the party realize this truth. Democracy has proven
to be the strongest basis for government legitimacy in most of the world.
In the absence of democracy, what do government base their legitimacy on?
The ruling party has its roots in Marxism-Leninism (ML), which bases its
legitimacy on leading the class struggle rather than ‘bourgeois’
democracy. This remains a major credo of the ruling party and probably
sufficient in itself for the Revolutionary Democrat ideologues to
legitimize their rule.
In the real world, however, Marxism Leninism has of course lost its charm.
A Western flirtation with it in the 1960s ended for all but the
ideologically blinkered with the crushing of the ‘Prague spring” by the
Soviet Union and the revelations of the excesses of the ‘Cultural
Revolution” in China.
Only Third World revolutionaries such as the Tigray Peoples Liberation
Front (TPLF) and a small cohort of marginalized western leftists continued
to rationalize away these historical lessons. The ongoing marginalization
of Marxism-Leninism in China since the Derg reforms in 1979 , as well as
the collapse of Soviet Marxism in 1989-91, left the few true believers
even more isolated. These major ideological shifts had some impact on
Ethiopia’s Revolutionary Democrats, who came to power in 1991 with plenty
of bows to free markets and democracy.
They did maintain a firm core of semi hidden thought, recently
characterized as Melesism. But it has become increasingly lonely fighting
the battle against international imperialism when everyone seems to be
jumping on the global economy bandwagon. Legitimacy based on
Marxist-Leninist thoughts is just not what it used to be. As China has
moved into officially becoming a ‘classless’ society and formally and
informally abandoned the ideology of Marxism-Leninism, its leaders have
crafted a new basis for legitimacy. This is based on the two pillars of
prosperity and nationalism. Clearly, the Revolutionary Democrats of
Ethiopia have taken a page out of this book, Democracy was okay so long as
people did not vote against them. The rude awakening of the 2005 election
hugely undermined the commitment of the Revolutionary Democrats to even a
semblance of democracy. Subsequent to the elections, the ruling party put
its emphasis on economic growth and the provision of social services. It
based its own legitimacy increasingly on the ability of the ‘developmental
state’ to deliver roads, schools, and only somewhat exaggerated rates of
gross domestic product (GDP) growth.
As with China, basing legitimacy on economic growth and prosperity puts a
lot of pressure on the Revolutionary Democrats.
Can they continue to deliver without the rude interruptions of boom and
bust based on the inferior standards of banking and telecommunications
compared to the weakest of their African competitors? When will the demand
for bricks and mortar finally be saturated, followed by an economy shaking
bust in the construction industry?
This must be sources of sleepless nights for th e EPRDFites.
China has hedged its legitimacy bets by also building up nationalism. Its
leaders have molded a combination of pride in China’s history (a complete
reversal of the anti-traditional cultural revolution of the 1960s) with a
resurgence of anti-foreigner sentiment. The Chinese government is
mobilizing the pride of the people into a crusade to reassert China’s
traditional position of dominance in the world. The ‘bad guys’ are the
Japanese, with constant reminders of the atrocities committed during the
Second World War, and the United States led West, which perpetrated the
‘100 years of humiliation’ on China before the communists came to power.
The Revolutionary Democrats have shown a strengthening tendency in the
same direction. After coming to power the establishing ‘ethnic
federalism,” they abjured nationalism as a phony construct of the previous
regime’s design to oppress minorities. The war with Eritrea from 1998
brought back patriotic mess ages and songs not heard since the overthrow
of Derg. The gradual re-emergence of nationalism has now reached new
heights with the post-election Meskel Square speech by Meles Zenawi.
Here, is a new level of appeal to Ethiopian nationalism and an attack on
foreign devils, in this case epitomized by the ‘evil’ Human Rights Watch
(HRW). Many seem to have also missed the subtle use of the ‘Ethiopian
people’ instead of the ‘Ethiopian peoples’ in the speech, marking a
potentially major change in the Revolutionary Democrats’ discourse on
nationalism.
Justifying an unjustifiable election becomes much easier when uniting the
Ethiopian people against evil foreigners. Xenophobia has a long and rich
history in Ethiopia to call on.
With the collapse of the myth of democracy in Ethiopia, combined with the
rather pitiful state of Marxism-Leninism, prosperity and nationalism are
the way to go for legitimacy of the ruling party. Will it work?
Some African tyra nts have certainly lasted for a very long time on much
more fragile justifications. Mugabe in Zimbabwe has basically survived on
force alone, combined with justifying oppression of a massive black
opposition movement with anti-white and anti-western propaganda. At least
Zimbabwe has served a useful role in Southern Africa, showing its
neighboring states how bad things can get if one abandons democracy and
any semblance of sound economic policy.
Like Mugabe, Meles has ‘liberation cred’, both having led their insurgency
groups to power over unpopular tyrannies. Meles has abjured the cult
approach up until now, to his credit, although there is now ‘cult creep’
as posters, watches, and other Meles paraphernalia has begun so surface.
He is treated as godlike by many of the party rank and file, which will be
a strong test of his apparent determination to step down from office at
the end of his term.
Party loyalists can take heart that as long as Meles remains cha irman of
the ruling party, he will still have the reins in his hands and any new
prime minister will surely play Medvedev to his Putin.’
Reliance on force and intimidation has certainly been the approach of the
ruling party in Ethiopia as well. Having beaten the opposition and their
erstwhile supporters into the ground after 2005, the bombastic claims of
the ruling party that it won an overwhelming victory in 2010 due to its
economic success rings entirely hollow. The scale of its ‘victory’ in
winning all but two seats demonstrates the contradiction. It has won a
victory of force, fully convincing Ethiopians that the cost of opposition
is pain and exclusion, even death.
Why vote against a ruling party that will refuse to relinquish power
anyway.
The opposition parties have not done themselves any favors, but their
failings have been a sideshow to the main drama of the ruling party’s
intent on using the carrot and stick to marshal the population into line.
But the brute use of force is just not satisfying enough as a base of
power. The ruling party needs the fig leaf of righteousness and legitimacy
to help its leaders sleep at night. The Ethiopian people have been beaten
into line, at least for the moment, but that pesky Western community has
had the bad form of not accepting Revolutionary Democracy as a wonderful
addition to the world landscape. Although they have a hard time admitting
it, there is no doubt that the Revolutionary Democratic leaders would
prefer to be embraced as the darlings of the international community. IN
the absence of this, they will have to settle for the existing compromise
of the West continuing to pour in aid money while not bestowing their
unqualified blessing on the Revolutionary Democrats.
What is perhaps more surprising is the willingness of western countries to
be reviled publically by the Revolutionary Democrats and still shore them
up. This apparent contradiction nee ds some further explanation.
Whatever the thinking of the Revolutionary Democrats, who seem to place
Ethiopia close to the centre of the universe, the view of the rest of the
world is that, however hurtful it is, Ethiopia is a rather marginal
player. There is a distinct interest in not having another big famine of
the world’s TV screens, and Ethiopia is indeed a bit player in the ‘war on
terror,’ These would be minor factors if the west was heavily concerned
about human rights and democracy in Africa, and strong action could be
expected against Ethiopia’s phony election.
It will not happen. The West has learned how important they are to improve
even the most pariah states in Africa – lessons learnt from Zimbabwe,
Sudan, and to some extent Somali and Eritrea.
Why add Ethiopia to a list of ailed experiments in promoting democracy?
This is also where Ethiopia’s marginal importance helps. Who cares enough
(apart from Diaspora Ethiopians and a few Ethiopi a watching Westerners)
to actually take the Revolutionary Democrats on?
It is a lot of work with little prospective reward. The west can retreat
into the pseudo racist position that Ethiopia is another African country
not ready for democracy. This, of course, is entirely untrue, as the
yearning for democracy and change shown by the Ethiopian people in the
2005 election demonstrated.
The West and Ethiopia’s Revolutionary Democrats will continue to be
entwined in the mutual hypocrisy of criticism (public on the part of the
Revolutionary Democrats and private on the part of Western diplomats) and
mutual support (privately on the part of the Revolutionary Democrats and
publicly on the part of Western diplomats).
The Revolutionary Democrats will continue to turn to China as an
uncritical ally and model for legitimacy without democracy. The West will
continue to regard the role of China in Africa with ambivalence, on the
one hand fearing a rival and on the other exhaustedly wanting to pass the
torch of helping Africa to a new comer. The Chinese honeymoon will no
doubt last for a while, though, and the huge influx of loans and people
(but very little aid) will continue.
But the incipient signs of backlash are already visible in the reaction of
Africans to Chinese traders taking their jobs and to harsh and frequently
unfair Chinese employers. Hopefully, the Chinese model will inspire Africa
to be self-sufficient in development, but the Chinese seem much more
interests in World Bank contracts and resources than in exporting their
economic system. Unless the Chinese change drastically, their
rapaciousness for natural resources and deep anti-African racism could
ultimately make European colonization look like a school picnic.
What is the further for Ethiopia?
The crushing of the democratic experiment will no doubt encourage other
forms of opposition, but there will be no serious armed threat to the
Revolutio nary Democrats in the near future, if ever. The prime Minister’s
promise of handling over power to a new generation of leaders is
promising. It is high time that the Revolutionary Democrats break with the
last of their ideological commitments to Marxism-Leninism.
Ethiopia needs a strong and unmitigated statement of commitment to the
free market and openness to change as China made in 1979 and India made in
1982. The timid, gradualist, and frequently contradictory approach of the
Revolutionary Democrats to private sector development and global economy
should be replaced by bold moves to expand the wealth creation role of the
private sector. This would not only strengthen the basis for economic
development, it would supply badly needed legitimacy for the Revolutionary
Democrats.
Internationally, Ethiopia can ride on the coattails of Chinese style
legitimacy. But the success of the Chinese model in the long run remains
uncertain as a basis for the legitimacy of modern state.
Can prosperity and nationalism substitute for peoples’ yearning for
participation through democracy? Can they rely on prosperity or will the
fragilities and contradictions of a domineering state ultimately cause
economic havoc?
Other countries that have relied, for their legitimacy; on a combination
of economic efficiency and aggressive nationalism have not had a long
shelf life. Nationalism tends to get carried away, and it may be as
dangerous for China in prompting international adventures as it is for
Ethiopia with its ethnic sensitivities.
At this point, it may be safe to say ‘as goes china, so goes Ethiopia.” If
the Chinese model fails, the current Ethiopia model will not be far
behind.
Capital – Private English weekly (June 6) After the crushing defeat in
last month’s election, a number of heavyweights from the opposition camp
are retiring from politics.
The main casualty is Hailu Shawel, the leader of AEUP that enjoyed
unprecedented success in the 2005 poll before post election turmoil wiped
out most of its gains.
Along with Hailu, the veteran leader of OFDM Bulcha Demeksa is also
stepping down with bitter memories of “vindictiveness” in parliament.
Others are sticking around, like Medrek leading figure Merera Gudina and
Lidetu Ayalew and his Ethiopian Democratic Party. However, with a combined
total of one representative in the 547 seat parliament, the previously
outspoken opposition figures and their parties face an uphill struggle to
make an impact, despite the P.M’s conciliatory words.
Ethiopia’s opposition fear further diminished influence in the nations
politics. In the wake of the ruling EPRDF win that left the opposition
with only a single politician in one of the 547 federal parliament seats,
elites have had enough with politics. Hailu shawel steps down
The veteran opposition figure, Hailu Shawel has led the former CUD that in
2005 won the capital in a landslide and claimed an overall win.
Hailu who was a parliamentary candidate in the latest election
representing AEUP lost to EPRDF candidate. Hailu said he will accept the
result of the constituency he lost, despite the irregularities that
occurred. But the overall election he said was flawed and should be
repeated.
This week Hailu said he is done with politics and done with election.
“I am tired. I will be better off serving as an advisor.” Hailu commented
to Capital. Hailu, who was once perceived as a hardliner, stunned everyone
by reaching a landmark negotiation deal with EPRDF on the code of Conduct,
even upsetting Medrek members.
AEUP did not manage to win a single seat despite being the veteran group
among the opposition camp with relatively stronger regional outreach and
membership base. MP Bulcha Demeksa bids goodbye
“I never thought the Ethiopian political system would be this wild, this
un fair when I started politics five years ago. This is uncivilized
system” Bulcha commented to Capital whn asked why he is giving up. “I
hoped to share my dreams of Ethiopian prosperity. That was impossible. We
were discouraged.” “I am turning 80, given my age and the nature of
politics we have here, I decided that this is the time to give it all up.”
Parliament without opposition
“Whether we have 1 MP or 101 MPs, the parliament has always been a single
party parliament, but now, EPRDF has cleaned out the opposition.” Merera
told Capital.
APA (June 5) The Ethiopian Council of Ministers on Friday endorsed the
$5.3 billion proposed budget for the 2010/2011 fiscal year, which is a
record high in Ethiopia’s history.
The proposed budget was prepared and presented to the Council of Ministers
by the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for
endorsement, after which it will be presented before parliament f or final
approval.
The proposed budget gives priority to development, education and
sanitation activities to be carried out in the next 12 months, beginning
July 2010.
Ethiopia’s House of Representative is expected to meet soon to debate and
endorse the proposed bill.
ERTA (June 3) Ethiopia’s macro-economic performance during the past five
years has alleviated poverty in the country, the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development (MoFED) said.
It said the nation’s next five-year-plan would give priority to scaling up
industrial development. The Ministry on Thursday presented its five-year
performance report to the House of People’s Representatives (HPR).
Minister Sufian Ahmed said the Ministry, during the stated period, has
managed to improve its structures and working procedures as well as those
of sectoral offices, enabling the ministry to deliver proper and effective
economic leadership. Thus, the minister said, the national growth ove r
the past 5 years was high and successful. The agricultural sector has
showed an 8.5 per cent growth, higher than the initial 6.2 per cent
prediction.
The industrial sector has showed a 9.9 per cent growth, lower than the 12
per cent growth initially predicted. Sufian indicated that the power
shortage locally and the international financial crisis were major factors
for the low performance of the industrial sector. The service sector has
showed a 14.6 per cent annual growth, which is the highest of all sectors.
According to the minister, the agriculture sector contributed 43 per cent
of the total economic performance, while industry generated 13 per cent
and service sector 45 per cent. Investment registered a 31.5 per cent rise
during the stated period. He said even though there is a balance-of-trade
deficit, the nation has seen a 21 per cent increase in export trade and a
26 per cent rise in import trade.
According to the Minister, government revenue d uring the stated period
was 147 billion Birr while its expenditure rose to 170 Billion. He said
the nation has managed to narrow the gap between import and export and
lead a settled economy. The Minister also touched up on the major economic
hurdles the nation faced during the last five years. Inflation and foreign
currency crunch were the major challenges of the country.
He said Ethiopia has fully controlled inflationary cycles and took
financial and policy measures to contain shortage of foreign currency.
Members of the parliament noted that the Ministry should give utmost
priority to the industrial sector in addition to its commitment to
ensuring the continuation of the economic growth.
ENA – State media (June 6) The House of Federation announces that it will
hold its 2nd regular meeting here on Monday.
In its statement sent to ENA on Sunday, the House said meeting will
deliberate on its five-year performance report and other issues
It will als o endorse the minutes of the first regular meeting, and the
respective recommendations of the two standing committees referred to the
council.
The meeting will also dwell on findings of the survey study conducted on
budget utilization of the regional states over the last 13 years as per
the budget subsidy formula of the federal government, it said.
According to the statement, the House is expected to endorse the new Logo
of the House Council, which represents more than 75 nations,
nationalities, and peoples that formed the federal government of the
country.
Federation Council has 121 members, out of whom 22 are women. Article 67
of the National Constitution stipulates that the council shall hold
meetings at least twice a year, the statement noted.
ENA – State media (June 6) EPRDF has enabled the people in the country to
enjoy the achievements of peace, democracy and good governance by
embarking up on revolutionary democracy, Transport and Communic ation
Minister has said.
Addressing employees of the Ministry who gathered to mark May 28, marking
the downfall of the dictatorial Derg Regime, here on Sunday, the Minister,
Diriba Kuma said the party has enabled the country to pursue of the path
of peace, democracy and development since the last 19 years.
He said what makes this year’s May 28 different was that the day was
celebrated after the successful completion of the 4th national elections.
The Minister said the public at large had managed to topple the military
junta ending years of suppression.
He said now the people are able to defeat their enemy, poverty.
MoFA – A week in the Horn (June 4) Another chapter in Ethiopia’s
renaissance has opened with the successful conclusion of the elections two
weeks ago. With provisional results from virtually all districts now
declared by the NEBE, the voters have spoken very loud and clear as to
which party they want to see in power for the comin g five years. Most
importantly, the peaceful and calm manner in which the election was
conducted was a testament to the growing institutionalization of the
democratic process in the country. This should be a source of pride and
joy for all stakeholders well aware of the significance of the electoral
process in further cementing democratic governance and in ensuring rapid
economic development. The conduct of the elections received a good deal of
praise from both international and domestic observers. Most agreed the
elections were free and fair and reflected the true will of Ethiopians.
Even the most critical of the observer mission reports made numerous
laudatory remarks about key aspects of the electoral process and the
manner in which the election was conducted. Not only was the level of
participation impressive, the various institutions that were tasked with
the running of the election, notably, the National Electoral Board of
Ethiopia, were found to be competent and well- organized. To the extent
that there were any irregularities, there was little or nothing to affect
the validity and integrity of the entire process.
The election’s successful and peaceful conclusion clearly demonstrated
that Ethiopians have indeed taken their political governance into their
own hands. Mass rallies in various areas after the election demonstrated
that the peoples of Ethiopia were insistent that their votes, their
ownership of the process, should be fully respected. Their commitment to
the strengthening of democracy has been clearly displayed in the vehement
rejection of any pre- or post-election undemocratic tendencies and the
kind of violent behavior manifested in 2005. In this regard, there were a
number of incidents in which supporters of opposition parties which have
sometimes been predisposed to violent tactics, assisted security forces in
foiling bomb plots, even putting their own lives at risk despite also
voting against the incumbent. Far from subscribing to violence, thousands
of opposition supporters were willing to cooperate with security officials
in ensuring peaceful elections.
The behavior of most key stakeholders, the political parties themselves,
was another indicator of the level of maturity that the democratization
process has reached. Even many parties, whose respect for the rules of the
game was previously no more than lukewarm, displayed commendable behavior.
Indeed, the great majority of opposition political parties demonstrated a
real cooperative spirit both during and after the campaign. Their
commitment and willingness to refer complaints to the joint party councils
established under the code of conduct agreed upon by the parties
represented a marked departure from previous acrimonious recriminations.
This has been a significant contribution to the overall conduct of the
election and will further enhance the democratic process.
In this connection, the recent declaration by more than 14 political
parties conceding defeat and their message of felicitations to the winning
party was a further indication of respect for the voters. They have shown
the magnanimity to be expected of any party genuinely committed to the
ideals of the democratic process, focusing more on the process than on the
outcome. And democracy is about process, not about outcome. People vote a
party into or out of office on the basis of which party they believe may
be better prepared to further and protect their interests. These parties
acknowledged that people had indeed voted for the EPRDF on the basis of
its achievements in ensuring growth and development. Others attributed its
victory to divisions among opposition parties and their lack of any
well-articulated agenda that might win the hearts and the minds of the
electorate. They agreed that whatever irregularities that might have
occurred did not detract from EPRDF’s victory. They made it clear they
were willing to live with the resul ts. While conceding defeat this time
round, they also vowed to make further efforts to work to win the
necessary support to unseat the incumbent next time, while promising to
cooperate with the next government as and when this might be needed.This
is a most encouraging aspect of the process, but there still are some
elements clinging to the idea of rejection, trying to make a last ditch
effort to muddy the waters. Ignoring the fact that the ultimate verdict
belongs to the peoples of Ethiopia, they are making unnecessary attempts
to cast aspersions on the credibility of the elections. Failing to come to
terms with the results from the voters, some are making calls for a re-run
of elections without even bothering to adduce a modicum of evidence of the
irregularities they claim to have in abundance. Professor Beyene Petros
has claimed that because of unspecified but ‘large-scale’ rigging his
party refused to accept the NEBE’s results. Under the election regulations
all such iss ues should be taken to the NEBE or to the courts. Professor
Beyene, however, says that while his party was considering taking its case
to the NEBE and/or the courts, he did not believe these bodies were
capable of delivering impartial judgments because, he claimed, they
‘belonged’ to the ruling party. This is the usual rejectionist argument
for which there is no evidence. More bizarre, perhaps, was his
characterization of the NEBE as being even more partial to the ruling
party than it had been five or ten years ago. His evidence for this was
that in previous elections senior officials of the Board had visited his
electoral district but this time they had not done so, and he had lost. He
appears to assume the fairness of the electoral board depends upon his own
success. It might be noted that the European Union Electoral Observer
Mission and the African Union Observer Mission as well as other
stakeholders clearly expressed their belief in the competence and
professionalism of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia in its
handling of its responsibility. This provided further emphasis of the
encouraging progress in the strengthening and entrenchment of democratic
values and institutions in the country.
As we have noted above, Prime Minister Meles has already earlier expressed
the government’s readiness to bring on board any opposition parties
abiding by the rules of the game and the Constitution, irrespective of
whether or not they won seats in Parliament. The government will involve
the loyal opposition into all matters of national concern, and the EPRDF
will be willing to work with the opposition on the basis of the joint
party councils already in place. This is a gesture born of respect for the
millions of Ethiopians who voted for the opposition, and it should be
embraced with a genuinely co-operative spirit by all political parties. It
is an important milestone in Ethiopia’s history, underlining the emergence
of a genuine democratic e xercise in which both winners and non-winners
recognize the need to resolve differences in the interest of the peoples
of Ethiopia. All parties must now realize that the results of the election
clearly demonstrated that the voters have absolutely no use for
rejectionism in whatever shape or form. One demonstration of wisdom in
politics is displaying the courage to reject failed policies and
activities, and acceptance of the need to produce something new. There is
now a very real opportunity for opposition parties to do just that.
ERTA – State media (June 5) Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held talks on
Friday with Norwegian Foreign Minister, Mr. Jonas Gahr St re. The two
officials assessed possibilities of strengthening bilateral relations.
They also considered ways of working together towards the prevalence of
peace in the Sudan.
Meles assured Mr. St re of Ethiopia’s commitment to contributing its share
for the successful implementation of the Sudanese Comprehensi ve Peace
Agreement. Mr. St re on the occasion congratulated Meles over his EPRDF’s
landslide victory in the recent national elections.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, same day, conferred with a US
delegation led by Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma. Meles briefed Mr.
Inhofe of his government’s priorities over the coming years. Mr. Inhofe
cheered Meles over his party’s reelection in the recent general elections.
HydroWorld.com (June 6) The tale of two dams in Africa – one under
construction, the other completed – captures two starkly differing sides
to China’s image as a major player in the development of hydropower around
the world.
The Gibe 3 Dam in Ethiopia, now under construction by Italian hydropower
developer Salini Costruttori, is the target of international lobbyists
opposed to what they say is the devastating environmental consequences it
will have.
Funding to cover the full US$1.75 billion construction of the project has
not yet be en secured, and against a background of opposition from local
and international lobbyists, both the World Bank and the African
Development Bank have withheld funding until an environmental impact
report is received.
Meanwhile, Salini Costruttori is proceeding with the project, with the
support of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and mainland
power equipment supplier Dongfang Electric Corporation, who are now also
the targets of the groups opposing the project.
In contrast to the international ire being raised over Gibe 3, the Merowe
Dam in Sudan shows China appears to have learned the lesson of taking
environmental issues into account.
News that ICBC, one of China’s Big Four state banks, will help finance the
1,870 MW Gibe 3 in Ethiopia, which will be the largest hydropower project
in Sub-Saharan Africa when completed by 2014, dismayed Peter Bosshard,
policy director of International Rivers, an international environmental
NGO. “If ICBC funds the Gibe 3 Dam, this will be a serious setback for the
efforts to make China’s overseas dam building more sustainable,” Bosshard
said.
“The Gibe 3 Dam is one of the most destructive infrastructure projects in
recent years, and the World Bank and other international financial
institutions have not approved funding for it,” he said.
The dam, which is part of a larger project on the Omo River, threatens the
livelihood of 500,000 indigenous people, says International Rivers,
because it could end the river’s natural flood cycle and thus destroy
harvests and grazing land.
“China has made impressive progress in reforming its banking sector
through its green credit policy. Funding an environmental disaster like
the Gibe 3 Dam would make a mockery of the environmental efforts in
China’s banking sector,” said Johan Frijns, coordinator of BankTrack, a
network of civil society organisations that tracks banks.
In May, China and Ethiopia signed an agreement on the Gibe 3 dam, which
covered the supply of equipment by Dongfang, a state-owned enterprise that
is one of China’s largest suppliers of generating equipment.
While the total cost of the Gibe 3 Dam is US$1.75 billion, the contract
involved in the May agreement was US$495 million, with 85 per cent to be
financed by a loan from ICBC, according to Ethiopian media.
“Dongfang will supply the most important equipment for the Gibe 3 Dam.
Together with the Ethiopian government and the financiers, they will share
responsibility for the project’s social and environmental impact,”
Bosshard said.
South China Morning Post was unable to reach Dongfang for comment, but
ICBC responded in an e-mail: “ICBC has long been attaching great
importance to environmental protection, and will not finance projects that
fail to reach environmental standards. We will keep a close watch on the
progress and the environmental evaluation of t he project.” ICBC, listed
in Hong Kong and Shanghai, adopted the Equator Principles in 2008, which
was a significant step forward in developing corporate social
responsibility in China’s banking sector, said Cristelle Maurin, a PhD
candidate in international law at the University of Paris. “There are
still gaps in Chinese banks’ adherence to international standards. Only
one Chinese bank, ICBC, has signed up for the Equator Principles,” she
said.
The Equator Principles is an international standard that ensures projects
are financed in a socially responsible and environmentally sound manner.
Outside China, there are 251 dam projects in 57 countries with Chinese
financing and/or construction, Bosshard said. “China has become by far the
most important actor in global dam building.”
Globally, dam construction has generated problems. The World Commission on
Dams has found that up to 80 million people around the world have been
displac ed by the construction of reservoirs, many of them impoverished in
the process.
However, John Briscoe, a professor of environmental engineering at Harvard
University, sees China playing a positive role in global dam development.
The World Bank’s lending to hydropower projects fell 90 per cent during
the 1990s, Briscoe wrote in an article on May 24 on the website of China
Dialogue, an organisation which hosts discussions on environment. In
recent years, the World Bank financed only two major dams in the
developing world, but China now finances over 200 such projects in Africa
and Asia, he said.
“This is a great service to the developing world. It would be even greater
if China were to export not only its superb construction capabilities but
also its world-leading capability in the sensitive area of resettlement,”
Briscoe said.
In contrast to the controversy surrounding Gibe 3, the Merowe dam,
Africa’s largest completed dam, left a positiv e impression of China’s
track record on hydropower after an initially poor start, according to
some observers.
Since it was completed in 2008, the Merowe Dam has doubled the power
generating capacity of Sudan. China Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank), a
leading Chinese state-owned lender to overseas Chinese projects, was the
main foreign financier of the US$1.2 billion project with US$519 million
of financing.
A joint venture of two Chinese state-owned firms, Sinohydro and China
International Water and Electric Corporation, built the dam’s concrete
body. Sinohydro, China’s biggest dam builder, is preparing to list in
Shanghai this year.
“I had the chance to visit the Merowe Project in 2005. It was a very bad
project. It displaced more than 50,000 people from the fertile Nile valley
into desolate desert locations,” Bosshard said.
But Exim Bank had agreed to fund the project in 2003, after the Sudanese
government failed to attract funding from European, Canadian and Malaysian
financiers.
“Since 2003, China Exim Bank and Sinohydro have improved their
environmental performance. China Exim Bank adopted an environmental policy
in 2004 and a more detailed environmental guideline in 2007,” Bosshard
said.
“I am confident that today, China Exim Bank would not fund a project like
the Merowe Dam again.”
As part of its efforts, China has attempted to reach out to the
grassroots.
“In 2008, I met the Chinese envoy to Sudan, Liu Guijin, in London,” said
Ali Askouri, president of the leadership office of Hamdab Dam’s Affected
People, a London-based NGO. Hamdab is the other name for the Merowe Dam.
“I raised my concerns over the Merowe Dam with him, and he promised to
look into the matter and work to improve the Chinese companies’
performance in regard to the affected communities in Sudan.
“My biggest concern was that the Sudanese government wanted to uproot our
community out of its traditional land. This did not happen, which
represented an extremely positive step that helped to ease the tension
considerably,” Askouri said.
“I have seen the Chinese seriously looking into improving their
performance with local communities. Before, the Chinese never discussed
environmental impact.
“The Chinese are now talking about getting with international bodies to
improve the quality of their work to meet international environmental
standards, and the affected communities,” Askouri said.
“Exim Bank requires environmental monitoring and management before, during
and after the project implementation. Only projects obtaining approval
from recipient countries’ environmental administration will be funded,”
said Maurin, who studies the international ventures of Chinese firms.
In 2007, Exim Bank signed a memorandum of understanding with the World
Bank to exchange information on pro ject evaluation procedures which may
have a positive impact on Exim Bank’s social standards and transparency,
Maurin said.
In 2008, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission
(Sasac) issued guidelines on corporate social responsibility for
state-owned enterprises.
Since Sinohydro is preparing for its listing on the Shanghai Stock
Exchange, the company has been working to comply with the Shanghai
bourse’s corporate social responsibility requirements, Maurin said.
To that end, Sinohydro is preparing an environmental policy in
collaboration with international NGOs like International Rivers, Bosshard
said.
Although the corporate social responsibility of Chinese companies in
hydropower projects is improving, “we will not let our guards down”,
Bosshard wrote on the International Rivers website.
“There are serious problems in many ongoing projects. Sinohydro has
expressed an interest in extremely problematic pr ojects such as the Gibe
4 Dam in Ethiopia.”
Any dam on the Omo River, including Gibe 4, will hinder the river’s
natural flood cycle, Bosshard explained. “We are concerned that Gibe 4
would have similar impact on the ecosystems and populations as Gibe 3.”
Exim Bank and Sinohydro did not reply to questions from the South China
Morning Post.
Ogaden online – ONLF official website (June 6) Reports reaching the Ogaden
Online service desk confirm an increasing trend of new extra judicial
killings, severe forms of torture and lootings of civilian property by the
Ethiopian (Woyane) militias throughout Ogaden.
In the latest incident of torture and arrest, the (Ethiopian) Woyane
militias are reported to have arrested and severely tortured many Ogaden
civilians between May 15th -June 1st, 2010 in various cities in Ogaden. So
far the names below, not the complete list, were received from our
reporters on the ground and individuals who requested anonymity, as they
are not authorized to divulge such information to the public.
14/5/10 Dhuxun, Nogob
Maxamud Faarax C/lahi: Killed
Dhimbil Macalim Carab: Killed
Ciid Cabdulahi Macalim Mahad: Killed
Shukriya C/lahi Kaahin: Arrested
16/5/10 Gurdumi, Jarar
Rabiic Good Cabdi: Was killed
24/5/10 Sagag, Nogob,
Cibado Cabdullahi Cagdi: Arrested
Faadumo Cabdi Raage: Arrested
Nimco Cabdi Nur: Arrested
Suleekho Sarhaye: Arrested
25/5/10 Wardheer
Shukri Cabdi Mire: Arrested
25/5/10 Dhagaxbuur
Gurey Dheeg: Arrested
Cbadullahi Faysal Muxumed: Arrested
Qalbi Maxamed Cabdi Badar: Arrested
Raaxo Mahad Cabdi: Arrested
Sabaad Axmed Faarax: Arrested
Xamdi Cabdullahi Cigaal: Arrested
Nuurto Maxamed Nur: Arrested
Ayaan Maxamed Nur: Arrested
Cabdi Axmed cusman: Arrested
Ayaan Cumar Maxamed: Arrested
25/5/10 QabriDa hare
Anfac Axmed Sulub: Arrested
Ridwaan C/rashiid Nur: Arrested
Khadar Asad Jidaal: Arrested
Faarax Siraad Muxumed: Arrested
Axmed Cabdi Digaale: Arrested
Cayni Sayid Cabdi: Arrested
26/5/10 Qabriahare,
Fadumo Lambar Adan: Arrested
Tamaan Mawliid: Arrested
Ruqiya Yusuf Khadiib: Arrested
Ardo Muxumed Amare: Arrested
Khadiija Sheikh Axmed Nur: Arrested
28/5/10 Birqod, Jarar
Faadir Cali Siyaad: Arrested
29/5/10 Dhagaxbuur
Cabdi Kamas Sheikh Ismaciil: Arrested
29/5/10 Jaleelo
Axmed Carab Xabawar: Arrested
Fardowsa Maxamed Cumar: Arrested
C/fatah Sheikh Maxamed: Arrested
Adan Axmed Nur: Arrested
1/6/10 Maraacaato
Cabdi Raaxo Muxumed Cabdi: Arrested
Riish Weli Rashiid: Arrested
Ogaden online – ONLF official website (June 4) Reports reaching the Ogaden
Online Service Desk from many parts of Ogaden confirm the Woyane regime’s
latest efforts to reinforce the Ogaden.
blockade. As a result of this new initiative intended to harm the Ogaden
civilians, it is reported that the price of food tripled or even
quadrupled in some places.It is reported that in places such as Qabri
Dahar a sack of sugar is now being sold in excess of 1500 Ethiopian Birrs
which is about $112 United States Dollar. In a nation where people had
very little to begin with, not many could afford such a price for an
essential food item such as sugar.Ogaden Online reporters throughout the
region indicate that this new reinforcement effort to tighten the Ogaden
blockade comes at a very sensitive time for the regime. It follows the
recent defeat of the Woyane regime’s militias in a major gas installation
called Hilala.
Sudan Tribune (June 7) Eight Eritrean political organizations have formed
a joint military front that will enable them to launch a massive and well
coordinated military attacks as a strategy to depose president Issayas
Afeworki’s government.
The new joint military front will replace the unsuccessful and independent
attacks, says a joint statement of the groups received today by Sudan
Tribune.
Kornelious Osman Agar is chairman of DMLEK, Democratic Movement for the
Liberation of Eritrean (KUNAMA), one among the eight organizations
militarily jointed. He says the formation of the front is a major step
forward to the whole struggle and a big blow to Asmara, where it’s only
legal party the people’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) doesn’t
recognize the existence of other political forces.
“This is a good will and successful achievement to the ongoing struggle
and creation of the joint front by those organizations with military wings
grants the political leadership a road map on to how to topple the
Eritrean regime,” Kornelious Osman Agar told Sudan Tribune.
“Now Eritrean political organizations have gone beyond managi ng their
political differences and we are witnessing a conversion to a united
military joint force.”
“This Converged political military force belongs to eight different
political groups; the nature of the military wing by itself demonstrates a
big blow to Issayas government who undermines our existence and united
struggle,” He stressed.
Currently, There are some 50, 000 Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia who fled
home in protest to oppression. One-third of these refugees are government
soldiers, According to Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs
(ARRA).
The opposition leader said that the attacks against Eritrean government
will involve these refuges residing in Ethiopia.
“We have invited Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia to join us in the struggle
to overthrow regime. We are ready to accommodate them but that will fully
be based on their consent;” Kornelious said further hinting time being
approaching for the launch of the massive strikes.
“We all political organizations assume very efficient and effective unity
and when we are ready to scarifies together with same principle and for
same line then we will start to jointly strike, but I believe time to
strike is now.”
Following the 1998-2000 border war which claimed some 70,000 people, Addis
Ababa and Asmara have routinely trade accusation of encouraging
instability by supporting each other’s rebels.
Addis Ababa describes Ogaden and Oromo rebels as anti peace agents
supports by Eritrea, While Asmara presents the Afar and other members of
the opposition Eritrean Democratic Alliance (EDA),coalition of 13 Eritrean
political groups, as trouble makers employed by Addis Ababa in its proxy
war against Eritrea.
CNN (June 6) Two New Jersey men arrested at a New York airport planned to
travel to Somalia to “wage violent jihad,” and also had expressed a
willingness to commit violent acts in the United S tates, according to
prosecutors and a federal criminal complaint.
Mohamed Mahmoud Alessa, 20, of North Bergen, New Jersey, and Carlos
Eduardo Almonte, 24, of Elmwood Park, New Jersey, were taken into custody
Saturday at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The two intended to
take separate flights to Egypt on their way to Somalia “to join designated
foreign terrorist organization al-Shabaab and wage violent jihad,” federal
prosecutors said in a statement.
The two are charged with conspiring to kill, maim and kidnap people
outside the United States, according to court documents.
Read the criminal complaint against Alessa and Almonte (PDF):
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/06/alessa–mohamed–complaint.pdf
http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/06/alessa–mohamed–complaint.pdf
The FBI received a tip regarding the men’s activities in October 2006,
according to the U.S. Attorney’s office in New Jersey.
The tip, from someone who knew the men, said, “Every time they access the
Internet all they look for is all those terrorist videos. … They keep
saying that Americans are their enemies, that everybody other than Islamic
followers are their enemies … and they all must be killed.”
As part of the investigation, an undercover officer with the New York
Police Department’s intelligence unit “recorded numerous meetings and
conversation” with the two men, prosecutors said.
During those meetings, they discussed a plan under which they would save
thousands of dollars and physically condition themselves through paintball
and other training, then acquire military gear and apparel for use
overseas, and buy plane tickets to Egypt with the intent to travel to
Somalia.
“The defendants also discussed their obligation to wage violent jihad and
at times expressed a willingness to commit acts of violence in the United
States,” prosecutors said.
< br>On April 25, for instance, Almonte said “that there would soon only
be American troops in Somalia, which was good because it would not be as
gratifying to kill only Africans,” according to prosecutors.
And in November 2009, Alessa said in part, “We’ll start doing killing
here, if I can’t do it over there,” according to the criminal complaint.
In an apparent reference to Maj. Nidal Hasan, charged with the deaths of
13 people in a shooting spree at Fort Hood, Texas, Alessa said, “He’s not
better than me. I’ll do twice what he did.”
In January, the two lifted weights together, and Alessa stated in part
“that stronger muscles means bigger muscles which means killing more
non-Muslims,” according to the complaint.
In December, authorities interviewed a member of Almonte’s family, who
told them that when Almonte was interviewed previously outside his home,
Alessa was hiding inside the home and in possession of a large knife, and
told Almonte’s family members he would kill the agents if they came
inside.
The two traveled to Jordan together in 2007, the complaint said.
The two men also watched and played for the undercover officer “numerous
video and audio recordings” promoting jihad, including lectures by
fugitive American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and videos showing attacks
by al-Shabaab.
In the presence of the undercover officer, Alessa discussed with his
father buying a plane ticket to Egypt, ostensibly for him to attend school
there, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities met Alessa and
Almonte at the airport with arrest warrants Saturday.
The two are scheduled to appear Monday before a U.S. magistrate judge,
prosecutors said. If convicted, each faces a maximum sentence of life in
prison.
“I was surprised” at Alessa’s arrest, his landlord, Hemant Shah, told
reporters. “It was just yesterday when I talked to him. I said, ‘Hi, I
heard you’re going away.’ He said, ‘Yes, I’m going out.’ I said, ‘For how
long?’ He said, ‘Probably about six months.'”
Earlier, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Newark, New
Jersey, Rebekah Carmichael, said the arrests did not relate to “any known
immediate threat to the public or active plot against the United States.”
The FBI and NYPD said the arrests were part of an ongoing operation, and
the FBI said the airport was not at risk.
Asked about the operation, New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly
said, “As in gun trafficking and narcotics investigations, the NYPD cannot
acknowledge publicly individual undercover police officers who have
infiltrated suspects. Nonetheless, we are indebted to them.
“Even when individuals plan to support terrorist activity abroad, we
remain concerned that once they reach their foreign destinations they may
be redirected against targets back home, as we’ve seen in the past,” Kelly
said. “We are also concerned that should they remain undetected and fail
in their foreign aspirations that they might strike domestically, as was
discussed as a possibility in this case.”
FBI agents also raided two homes in New Jersey, the Newark Star-Ledger
newspaper reported, and the arrests were part of an investigation known as
Operation Arabian Knight.
They come a month after Faisal Shahzad, a 30-year-old Pakistani-American,
was taken into custody in connection with a botched vehicle bomb attempt
in New York’s Times Square on May 1. Shahzad, who faces five counts, could
be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.
Senior counterterrorism officials said Shahzad also pondered attacks on
Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Terminal and the World Financial Center
in New York, and Connecticut helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky, going so
far as to case some of the targets.
Three men were picked up in connection with Shahzad during a sweep in the
Northeast. They are accused of having been involved in an informal
money-transfer network that provided cash to Shahzad.
Pakistan has rounded up another 11 people for questioning, though no one
has been charged.
Stratfor.com (June 2) Summary: Two figures from the Somali jihadist group
al Shabaab — Omar Hammami, an American-born commander in the group, and
Mohammad Ali, a suspected member of the group thought to be trying to
cross the U.S.-Mexican border — have drawn attention to the group lately,
giving voice to ambitions of transnational militant attacks. Al Shabaab is
not likely to go global itself, but it could well inspire “lone wolf” and
grassroots jihadists to strike the West. Analysis:
Omar Hammami, an American-born commander of the Somali jihadist group al
Shabaab, was featured in a propaganda video released May 11 calling for
jihadists to spread the battle around the world and specifically to “bring
America to her knees.” Then on May 27, the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security issued a terrorism threat alerting local authorities to be on the
lookout for Mohammad Ali, a suspected al Shabaab member allegedly
attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexican border. Finally, on May 30 an
Aeromexico flight from Paris to Mexico City was forced to land in Montreal
because a man on board, Abdirahman Ali Gaall, was on the U.S. no-fly list.
Few other details are available at this time, but it appears so far that
Gaall had connections to al Shabaab. This confluence of events has
attracted STRATFOR’s attention to the Somali jihadist group. While al
Shabaab remains focused on Somalia, it could pose more of a transnational
threat, inspiring “lone wolf” and grassroots jihadists to hit back at the
West.
In 2008, as foreign jihadists began their flight from Iraq, STRATFOR wrote
that
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/somalia–implications–al–qaeda–al–shabaab–relationship?f
n=2516393091 al Shabaab “had an opportunity to transform Somalia into a
central jihadist theater. Growing its ranks with foreign fighters and
enjoying the increasing support of al Qaeda sympathizers, the Somali
militants could reach the tipping point in their insurgency against the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Mogadishu.”
Two years later, al Shabaab is putting up a consistent fight against
Western-backed forces in central and southern Somalia, making significant
gains in southern Somalia and even controlling large portions of
Mogadishu, but it has been unable to completely defeat the TFG. The TFG,
along with African Union (AU) peacekeeping forces and an array of allied
militias, is managing to hold onto the most strategic parts of Mogadishu,
namely the seaport. The United States is providing the TFG with arms,
training and assistance in an effort to keep al Shabaab at bay.
The United States has pursued a strategy of fighting other regional al
Qaeda nodes that pose a threat to the United States, such as in Yemen and
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20090624–algeria–taking–pulse–aqim?fn=3316393083
Algeria, by supporting the local government forces with intelligence,
training and supplies (with the occasional overt use of U.S. special
operations forces or
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/somalia–united–states–targets–militant–leaders?fn=4116393034
air power to hit specific high-value targets). U.S. forces target senior
al Shabaab commanders with ties to al Qaeda, while lower-ranking al
Shabaab fighters are left for local forces. These local forces are relied
on as much as possible to avoid large mobilizations of U.S. troops.
This strategy has largely worked in areas like
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20100513–indonesia–dismantling–another–militant–cell?fn=8216393011
Indonesia and Algeria, where the governments (for the most part) control
the territory and can command a competent security force to combat the
militants. However, in Somalia, the TFG is struggling just to survive and
cannot fight a serious counterterrorism campaign because it does not
control large swathes of Somali territory. The TFG lacks a sufficiently
sized and capable military force of its own, plus it is wracked by
political infighting that limits its ability to go on the offensive
against al Shabaab. Ethiopia withdrew its troops from
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20090113–somalia–strategy–behind–ethiopian–pullback?fn=7516393040
Somalia in early 2009. The United States still relies on Ethiopia’s
support for the Somali Islamist militia and TFG ally
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20100315–somalia–tfg–makes–deal?fn=8416393021
Ahlu Sunnah Waljamaah, and Ethiopian military operations meant to keep
jihadists from spreading into Ethiopia. However, the TFG’s incoherence
limits the United States’ ability to pursue its usual strategy of relying
on the l ocal government’s counterterrorism operations to contain a
militant group.
This helps al Shabaab. As long as the United States is willing to maintain
the current level of deterrence, al Shabaab will maintain its capability
of long-term survival. If Washington does not view al Shabaab as a direct
and imminent threat to U.S. security, the U.S. response to al Shabaab will
be limited. Striking at the United States (or anywhere outside Somalia)
would raise al Shabaab’s profile dramatically, risking increased U.S.
involvement. Therefore, STRATFOR does not expect the group’s core leaders
to adopt a transnational strategy anytime soon.
However, there exists in Somalia a tradition of violent and anti-Western
jihadist ideology. Indeed, those responsible for the August 1998 bombings
of the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,
while not connected to al Shabaab, did
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/somalia–al–qaeda–and–al–shabaab?fn=261
6393028 have connections to Somalia. Furthermore, as expected, foreign
jihadists have moved to Somalia from other theaters such as Iraq, the
Caucasus and Pakistan as well as Western countries like the United States
and Canada, bringing with them a broader jihadist mindset. These
foreigners can basically be divided into two groups: trained and
experienced militants looking for a fight, and inexperienced ideologues
yearning to get into one. STRATFOR sources say that al Shabaab has a few
hundred foreign fighters — among them many inexperienced ideologues —
but only a couple of dozen more experienced foreign commanders. (Al
Shabaab has an estimated overall force of around 4,000 fighters — both
foreign and local — deployed in groups in southern and central Somalia
and in Mogadishu.)
Hammami — who fights under the nom de guerre Abu Mansour al-Amriki —
exemplifies the foreign born commander with aspirations beyond Somalia. In
his video, he exhorted jihadists worldwide to spread the fight “from Spain
to China” and to “bring America to her knees,” saying the “first stop” is
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. These foreign, more jihadist-inspired
fighters are crowding out the more nationalist-oriented and Islamist
fighters like the
splinteredhttp://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20100513–brief–splinter–group–forms–somalias–hizbul–islam?fn=7816393015
Hizbul Islam, whose focus was primarily on winning Somalia. Al Shabaab
also exhibited an interest in foreign targets when it
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20091027–uganda–addressing–al–shabaab–threat?fn=9116393035
issued threats against Uganda and Burundi in October 2009. Neighboring
Kenya constantly receives threats, and al Shabaab has been named as a
potential
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20100516–security–and–africas–first–world–cup?fn=3716393085
threat to the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.
The
http://www.stratfor
.com/weekly/20100106–jihadism–2010–threat–continues?fn=5716393045
devolution of al Qaeda has meant that the core group of jihadists who
conducted the 9/11 attack does not have the same militant c
5) Back to Top
Ethiopian police reportedly summon editor for ‘defaming’ priest – OSC
Translation on Sub-Saharan Africa
Monday June 7, 2010 09:02:48 GMT
priest
The police in Ethiopia have summoned a manager and editor-in-chief of a
private newspaper for “defaming” an administrator of a church in the
capital, Addis Ababa, the private Google newspaper reported on 4
June.According to the paper, the manager and editor-in-chief of Negadras
newspaper, Ayalew Asres, was summoned to the Central Crime Investigations
(CCI) in Addis Ababa on 31 May and interrogated for six hours before bei
ng released on a surety.Ayalew is charged with reporting that there was
conflict in the church and the church staff had written a letter to the
Addis Ababa diocese that the administrator, Melake-Genet Aba (honorific)
Hailemariam Mengesha, was not doing what was expected of him.Negadras is a
weekly newspaper published every Friday and reports on social, economic
and political issues and entertainment.
Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the
source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright
holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of
Commerce.