Christian mother killed, boy kidnapped in Somalia

Detail of clothing on body of Fartun Omar murdered
aunt of kidnapped boy. Morning Star News photo

Islamic extremists from the Al Shabaab rebel group are suspected of killing a Christian woman in one town last week and kidnaping a 13-year-old boy from another, sources said.

According to a story by Morning Star News, the militants, who have vowed to rid Somalia of its underground church, are suspected of killing Fatuma Isak Elmi, 35, on Sept. 1 at about 7:30 p.m. inside her home in Beledweyne, Hiran Province in south-central Somalia.

Her husband had received a threatening note that morning believed to be from the Islamic extremist group and was away at the time of the murder.

Neighbors were alerted to the killing when they heard Elmi's 4-year-old son crying.

"The neighbors heard a child crying for quite some time," a source told Morning Star News. "After one hour, a close neighbor visited the house and found the child outside still crying."

The neighbor, whose identity is withheld for security reasons, told the source that upon entering the house she found Elmi dead.

Elmi's husband, 36-year-old Mumin Omar Abdi, learned of her death when he arrived home at about 10 p.m. He said he had found a note early that morning that read, "We shall come f or you. You are friends with our enemies (Westerners, assumed to be Christians), and you are polluting our religion."

Abdi has fled the area with his son to an undisclosed location, the source said.

Kidnapping

In the southern Somali town of Qoryoley in the Lower Shebelle Region, two witnesses told Morning Star News they saw armed, masked men from Al Shabaab kidnap a 13-year-old boy on Sept. 3 as he approached his home on his way back from school.

Mustaf Hassan was kidnapped near Marka District at about 4 p.m., the sources said. He had been staying with a Muslim relative there since last year, when his parents fled the area after they were suspected of being Christians, another source told Morning Star News.

Another source told Morning Star News that the boy's parents, Hassan Mohammed and Farhio Omar, were in great pain and grief upon learning of the kidnapping.

"Our son might be killed, and we are also not safe," Mohammed said.

No ransom has been sought, and Christians suspected the rebels may have abducted Mustaf in an effort to find his parents or other Christians.

Mustaf is the nephew of Fartun Omar, shot to death by Al Shabaab on April 13 in Buulodbarde, 12 miles from Beledweyne.
Morning Star News reported that Omar was the widow of Ahmed Ali Jimale, a 42-year-old father of four, who was killed on Feb. 18 as he stood outside his house in Alanley village on the outskirts of Kismayo.

On Aug. 5 in Bulo Marer, Lower Shebelle Region, three masked men suspected of being Al Shabaab rebels abducted Shamsa Enow Hussein, a 28-year-old mother of two, outside her home after determining that she was a secret Christian, her husband said.

Al Shabaab, said to have ties with Al Qaeda, is battling the Somali government that replaced the Transitional Federal Government on Aug. 20, 2012.

On June 7 in Jamaame District in southern Somalia, insurgents from the group shot 28-year-old Hassan Hurshe to death after identifying him as a Christian, sou rces said. Al Shabaab members brought Hurshe to a public place in the town of Jilib and shot him in the head, they said.

On March 23, Al Shabaab militants in Bulo Marer jailed and tortured a Christian, 25-year-old Hassan Gulled, for converting from Islam, Morning Star News reported sources said.

On Dec. 8 2012 in Beledweyne, 206 miles north of Mogadishu, gunmen killed a Christian who had been receiving death threats for leaving Islam. Two unidentified, masked men shot Mursal Isse Siad, 55, outside his home, Muslim and Christian sources said.

Siad and his wife, who converted to Christianity in 2000, had moved to Beledweyne from Doolow eight months before. The area was under government control and there was no indication that the killers belonged to the Al Shabaab rebels.

However, Morning Star News reported, the Islamic extremist insurgents were present in Buulodbarde, and Christians believed a few Al Shabaab rebels could have been hiding in Beledweyne.

In the coastal city of Barawa on Nov. 16 201 2, Al Shabaab militants killed a Christian after accusing him of being a spy and leaving Islam, Christian and Muslim witnesses said. The extremists beheaded 25-year-old Farhan Haji Mose after monitoring his movements for six months, sources said.

Mose drew suspicion when he returned to Barawa, in the Lower Shebelle Region, in Dec. 2011 after spending time in Kenya, according to underground Christians in Somalia.

Kenya's population is nearly 83 percent Christian, according to Operation World, while Somalia's is close to 100 percent Muslim.

Source: christiantoday.com

Somaliland: Family Bread-Winning Young Orphan

As the debate of street children and child labour rages in the country the big question mark is does Somaliland have better Economic prospects than Ethiopia?

Master Abdiqani 11 yrs old Hargeisa news vendor

by Yusuf M Hassan

Regular newspaper buyers in Hargeisa are familiar with a young vendor who plies his trade in the city's main streets.

The vendor Abdiqani Feisal is an 11 years orphan who has been vending newspapers in the streets of Hargeisa for the last two years thus supplements what his Khat selling mother manages to put on the table daily.

"I earn between 15,000-20,000 Somaliland shillings everyday from my work as a newspaper seller" Master Abdiqani told Somalilandsun during an encounter at the Bar Hargeisa area where he is to be found around 12 pm daily putting his accounts in order.

According to the youthful newsvendor the about $3 he accrues daily comes from commissions paid by the publishers whose arrangement range between 500-1000 sh for each newspaper sold thus the income depends on marketing aggressiveness.

A 9-year old shines shoes outside a commercial area in Hargeisa

Master Abdiqani Feisal who was orphaned 5 years ago after his father suddenly died of causes he could not explain to us said that he helps his mother feed the family of five, three sisters, himself and mother, by selling newspaper in the morning and attending school in the afternoons.

Said he, "Am a class 4 pupil at Ahmed Gurei primary school in Ahmed Dagan estate of the capital city where we also reside in a one room rented house"

Despite being an orphan Master Abdiqani is no different to numerous other children of his age that are forced by circumstances to work thence help feed their families in a country where single mothers are increasingly taking the responsibility of breadwinners.

According to Sophia Abyssinia who is a single mother and sole family breadwinner "Not only widows and orphans are gradually taking over as family breadwinners but even those whose husbands and fathers are alive as well"

The 46 years old mother of six children and a widow herself attributes the anomaly of women and children taking over family responsibilities to the menflock addiction to the herbal stimulant Khat that has resulted in their loss of interest in traditionally male responsibilities of caring for their wives and children.

Said she, "I have known clients that spend $10 daily on Khat while their families go hungry"

While the capital Hargeisa and other major cities in Somaliland are host to a large and growing number of children working either as newsvendors, shoe-shiners, hawkers, and or beggars few of them are somalilanders by citizenship.

Following recent media reports that child labour is rampant in the country Somalilandsun consulted the ministry of labour and social services which is responsible for child welfare and officials said the government has done and is doing whatever necessary to alleviate difficulties encountered by children especially orphans.

According to the ministry most towns in the country have government and community managed orphanages where the needy are accorded full board and education at no cost while others are supported while in family residences.

On the issue of the reported exacerbating prevalence of child labourers in the country the social welfare ministry attributes this to citizens of a neigbouring country, read Ethiopia, who upon entering Somaliland illegally with adults engaging in menial labour and sending their children to the streets either to work as car-washers or shoe-shiners but mostly as beggars.

Shoeshining kids from Ethiopia

Does Somaliland have better Economic prospects than Ethiopia?

"I am 10 years and I help my parents feed the family from my daily begging collection in the streets of Hargeisa" Ms. Leila a 10 years old girl old of Ethiopian origin told Somalilandsun during an encounter at Jaylani Barbershop last March .

Adding that she never attended school either here or in Ethiopia thus a professional beggar the shy girl said "Every morning either of my parents brings me to town where I join up with other children for a day's job of begging and return home in the evening when either of my parents comes to collect me and my day's collection of cash and foodstuffs"

The Young Leila whose future seems to be destined for the dustbin is among an increasing number of youthful beggars from a particular tribe in Ethiopia who ply the streets of Hargeisa city and other major towns where they hustle people for donations especially those changing money or buying goods.

It is not only Young Leila's age-mates who engaged in the lucrative begging duties but boys of all ages as well not to mention the women who straddle babies and sit at vantage street points or outside mosques during prayer hours.

 Insiders say that most of the children carried by the begging women are hired ones as it is believed that young hungry children carried by their seemingly hungry and dirty mothers elicits the sympathy of Somalilanders. True or not we are not sure as most women queried claim the babies are actually theirs thus the continued prying on the naïve somalilanders.

As for the boys, once they learn the ropes of the towns they are reported to rebel from their duties as begging family bread winners, abscond from home and thus join the cadre of glue sniffing shoe-shinning street boys and ultimately juvenile criminals.

According to journalists Latifa Yusuf Masai of Somalilandsun most of the children have been dumped in the cities to work for their parents who are mainly from a neigbouring country

Said she, "In the recent past all major towns in the country have seen an influx of large quantities of street children who operate as shoe shiners, beggars and carwashes but have no permanent abode"

Meanwhile concerted efforts to alleviate the suffering of street children in the country are needed urgently.

This is according to the chairman of the Committee for promotion of good deeds and deterrence of misbehavior Sheikh Mohamed Haji Mahmud Hiire during a press briefing in his Hargeisa offices where he termed the livelihood of the ever increasing numbers of street children as deplorable.

The head of the committee which operates nationwide to promote good Islamic conduct said that the nation that is experiencing an upsurge of children living in the streets needs concerted efforts by all stakeholders thus come up with strategies to alleviate the malady

beggars of all ages in Hargeisa said to be from neighbouring Ethiopia

"The large number of girls living in the streets is a clear indication that things are getting out of hand" said Sheikh Hiire who urged the government and well-wishers to support the Miskin kalkal project operated by his organization thus broaden services availed the street children and orphans.

According to journalist Barkad Dahir of Sabahi online Last year, the Somaliland Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the international non-governmental organization Save the Children created income-generating programmes for 85 poor families as a way to prevent parents from sending their children to work. The ministry also collaborated with international non-governmental organization SOS Children's Villages to finance small-scale business opportunities for 45 more families.

In 2012, the ministry created a centre to rehabilitate homeless street children in the Mohamed Mooge district of Hargeisa, Khalif said, adding that the centre now houses 140 boys and girls.

The ministry this year plans to count the number of child workers in Somaliland, Khalif said, without elaborating on what new policies, if any, the regional administration plans to pursue in order to protect children from being exploited.

Illegals at the refugee registration centre in Hargeisa

While the republic of Somaliland is home to some 23,000 refugees from various countries and 84,400 from Somalia dubbed IDPs it is host to an estimated over 100,000 illegal's who apart from being unaware of the requirements for registration as an alien are behind the ever increasing and now almost out of control of street children and child labourers.

Meanwhile as the debate of street children and child labour rages in the country the big question mark is does Somaliland have better Economic prospects than Ethiopia?

Don't close Somali cash 'lifeline', charities tell Barclays

In the latest attempt to save Somalia's cash "lifeline", nine aid agencies call on Barclays Bank to scrap plans to sever money transfer accounts.

JAMAL OSMAN Reporter

It is is the only bank in the UK still providing this service. However, it plans to close all the accounts of Somali money transfer firms by the end of this month.

There is a perceived legal and reputational risk of providing banking services to the sector. The concern is that criminals and terrorists could use the existing system.

The banking rules are illogical, cold hearted and counter-productive.Mark Goldring, Oxfam

However, millions of Somalis depend on money sent to them by relatives living abroad. Somalis in Britain, for example. send over £100m a year to friends and families. The country has no formal banking system and money transfer operators provide the services people in the UK would expect from a bank.

'Cold-hearted'

The agencies, which include Oxfam, CARE and World Vision, said that Barclays needs to put on hold for a year its decision to close accounts.

This will give time for governments and banks to agree appropriate regulations to keep open a lifeline to ordinary families while addressing concerns relating to money laundering.

"The banking rules are illogical, cold hearted and counter-productive," said Mark Goldring, chief executive of Oxfam.

Cutting this lifeline would be a disaster for millions.Mo Farah

"It leaves families already struggling to make ends meet to go without. Closing money transfer companies' bank accounts is likely to drive the money transfer business underground making it even more difficult to regulate. It will also hit the Somali economy hard just when the country is trying to get back on its feet."

Last month, campaigners delivered a petition signed by more than 20,000 people to 10 Downing Street.

Mo Farah, originally from Somalia, threw his weight behind the movement. The double Olympic champion spoke personally about the crucial role remittances have played for his family and his foundation.

"Cutting this lifeline would be a disaster for millions," he said. "The small sums sent home by British Somalis each week enable family members to buy food, medicines and other life essentials.

"I have been sending money home for a number of years and the Mo Farah Foundation, along with some of the world's biggest international charities and organisations, including the United Nations, rely on these businesses to channel funds and pay local staff."

Stable Somalia

Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the world and slowly recovering from a famine that struck two years ago. Nearly half the population live on less than $1 a day and more than two million people have had to flee their homes due to fighting and food shortages.

The government's position flies in the face of the UK's policy on Somalia. Mark Goldring

Families depend on the money for basic costs such as food, schooling and healthcare. It is believed that 40 per cent of families in parts of the country receive some form of remittance and that the money is integral to their survival.

The agencies also called on the UK government to work with the banks and money transfer agencies to find a long-term comprehensive solution. Failing to do so undermines the government's commitment to help efforts to build a stable Somalia.

"The government's position flies in the face of the UK's policy on Somalia," said Mr Goldring. "Britain has shown a genuine commitment to help Somalia rebuild itself and move beyond its 'failed state' label, but is not doing enough to address this failed state of anti-terror banking rules.

"Somalia will find it hard to work its way out of poverty and instability while its people are needlessly denied the financial support from their loved ones abroad."

Source: channel4.com

 

Somalia: Somali Ministers Call On Barclays to Maintain Remittance System

A number of Somali ministers expressed concern over the effects of tightening regulations on the international banking system, saying they hinder the Somali diaspora from supporting their families through remittances, the Somali Prime Minister's office said Thursday (September 5th).

The ministers called on Barclays and other international banks to maintain the current remittance system.

"We are deeply concerned the situation of the money transfer business, which is the main source of income to millions of people and contributes a significant percentage to the regional economy," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fowsiyo Yusuf Haji Aadan said during a cabinet meeting.

"Stopping the diaspora support system will have a negative impact to the livelihood of the Somali community and other similar communities around the region," she said.

Barclays set September 30th as the deadline when new regulations take effect.

Source: sabahionline

Somalia

EAC to Scrutinise Somalia's Request to Join Regional Bloc 

Member states of the East African Community have agreed to set up a verification committee to analyse whether Somalia … see more »

Somalia: "We Killed CIA Representatives in the Attack in a Restaurant in Mogadishu" Says Shabaab.

 

Extremists spokes man Abu Muscabd said that the attack on Saturday killed CIA members in the Village restaurant in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The Spokesman was speaking on Shaba'bs Radio Andulus based in Baraawe district. He said the Jihadists conducted suicide attacks and specifically targeted CIA members at Village restaurant.

"The owner of the restaurant is an MI6 intelligence agent for the British", he came here to give up the source "said Abu Muscab . The spokesman said the explosions were pre-determined ones and have been conducted on enemy's areas, he added in his statement that the Islamists had reached their objective of the operation according to him. Last September, the same restaurant was attacked by Shabab which killed civilians, journalists and civil society members.

Source: Dalsan Radio

Genel Pulls Out Somaliland Staff

 

Anglo-Turkish oil company Genel Energy has started pulling its employees out of northern Somalia following a sudden spike in violence in the volatile Horn of Africa nation, the company said Monday. “In the face of a deteriorating security situation we are temporarily suspending our seismic operations,” said a Genel spokesman. Somaliland authorities weren’t immediately available for comment.

Genel’s decision to halt its early-stage oil exploration campaign in Somaliland, a breakaway northern region noted for its relative stability, comes in the wake of a twin bombing Saturday in Mogadishu
that killed 20 people.

A car bomb and a suicide attacker struck a restaurant in Somalia’s capital in the worst violence since an assault on a United Nations compound in June. The Somali militant group al-Shabaab, which has struck Mogadishu multiple times in recent months, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Helmed by former PLC Chief Executive Tony Hayward, London-listed Genel began prospecting for oil in Somaliland after acquiring a set of licenses in the area last year.

It doesn’t produce any crude oil in Somaliland, whose decision to grant exploration rights to companies like Genel has incurred the wrath of Somalia’s recently elected central government.

Mogadishu maintains that any licensing of oil exploration is the sole responsibility of the federal government. However, Somaliland — which built up a degree of autonomy during two decades of civil war — says that it has the right to attract investment in the areas that it controls.

*Source: WSJ*