Ethiopian Security Said It Captured Two Terrorist Cells in the Country

 

The Ethiopian National Intelligence and Security Service and Federal Police Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce said yesterday that it has captured two terrorist cells in Ethiopia belonging to a terrorist sect called Kaworja.

The Taskforce said the terrorist cells it has captured were comprised of a group of 25 individuals who were organized in two groups and were linked to two global terrorist cells: Al-Shabab and Al-Qaeda. According to a statement from the Taskforce, the two groups have taken training in neighboring Somalia.

The announcement came less than a week after the US government issued an alert warning claiming it has credible information about potential terrorist-linked activities in Ethiopia, and soon after the Taskforce said it has apprehended a man who was preparing to carryout terror attack in Addis Abeba.

The Taskforce further said that the first group receives instructions from an unnamed terrorist organization operating from South Africa. The group also received training from Al-Shabab in Somalia and shuttles between Kenya and South Africa and was planning to start operating from Jimma town, some 300km west of Ethiopia. The second group was receiving support and instructions from similar Kaworja jihadist cells in Yemen, the UK and Sudan. The Taskforce said that it has discovered some 30 members of this group have taken training from Al-Shabab in Somalia. It said the Kaworja group follows similar teachings as that of Boko Haram, a group of Islamist fighters accused of series deadly attacks in Nigeria.

U.N. Monitors Concerned Over Somaliland's Plans for Oil Security Force

Breakaway Somalia State Plans Privately Funded Force to Guard Oil Companies' Operations

How Somalia’s al-Shabab militants hone their image

By JUSTIN SCHECK

LONDON—A United Nations group expressed concern this week about plans by a breakaway Somalia state to create a privately funded security force to guard oil companies' operations, according to an internal U.N. document reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Companies including Norway's DNO International AS DNO.OS +5.87% A and Genel Energy GENL.LN +0.69% PLC—a small British company headed by Tony Hayward , BPBP.LN +0.37% PLC's ex-chief executive and the current chairman of mining giantGlencore GLNCY +1.01% PLC—have signed deals with the government of the state of Somaliland to explore for oil. Somalia's Mogadishu-based central government says the deals are invalid on the grounds that regional governments like Somaliland's have no authority to sign such agreements.

In a May 27 letter to a U.N. Security Council committee on Somalia, the U.N.'s Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group said Somaliland's government has exhibited "poor transparency" in reporting the money that it has received from oil companies and "weak regulation" in its process for forming an armed force to guard oil companies' exploration operations.

"That is hogwash to say there is no transparency," Somaliland Resources Minister Hussein Abdi Dualeh said Friday in an interview. He said the government has published the signing fees it collected over the past year or so, including $750,000 from DNO and $1.8 million from a Yemeni firm. The security force, he said, would be headed by the state's interior ministry. The interior minister didn't return messages Friday.

A DNO spokesman didn't return messages Friday. A spokesman for Genel said the company supports the creation of an oil-protection force in Somaliland.

The breakaway state has been trying for several years to develop a local oil industry. Somaliland has long been more stable and peaceful than the rest of the country, and its officials have chafed at being controlled by the nation's Mogadishu-based government, which has focused on tamping down terrorist groups in recent months.

Several small, risk-happy oil companies have looked to Somaliland as a promising frontier, striking deals to explore areas that big oil companies had exploration leases on dating back to the 1980s. While some of those companies have objected to the overlapping leases, the small firms moved ahead with their projects. But in September, Genel suspended its operations due to a security threat.

Since then, Somaliland's government has hired at least two private companies to prepare reports on how the country could develop an oil-protection force, including one paid for by Genel, the UN letter says.

The most recent report, which Somaliland officials say they are following, suggests Somaliland create a force that is "government-owned but commercially operated," and staffed by 580 members of the Somaliland police force and army, the U.N. group's letter says. The Journal hasn't reviewed that report, but Somaliland officials have confirmed its content.

The force would have startup funding from an outside group—possibly a commercial investor or humanitarian fund—and have its operations paid for by oil companies operating in the country, the letter said.

The monitoring group said that without protections, that plan could make Somaliland's government "vulnerable to undue influence" from private companies or lenders backing the oil-protection force.

To avoid violating a U.N. arms embargo, the letter said, Somaliland would have to get support for its plan by a U.N. member state to request an exemption from the embargo. It is unclear whether the U.N. Security Council would grant such an exemption.

The Somalia monitoring group's coordinator, Jarat Chopra, declined to comment Friday, as did a representative of the U.N.'s Somalia committee. Mr. Dualeh, the Somaliland resources minister, said his government hasn't begun the process of seeking an exemption from the arms embargo.

Write to Justin Scheck at justin.scheck@wsj.com

How Somalia’s al-Shabab militants hone their image

 By Nel Hodge/BBC Monitoring 
A recent al-Shabab directive that all its members change their mobile phone numbers shows how tech-savvy the al-Qaeda-linked Somali Islamist group remains and how their communications strategy is key to their survival.

Concerned that their messages may be intercepted, the leadership has also banned members from using smart phones.

The group has long run what is regarded as a slick media machine.

Even without smart phones, it has been known for its sophisticated handling of social media, a reputation at odds with its regular bans on communication technology for Somali citizens.

In particular, it has made extensive use of Twitter in order to get its message across.

"When it comes to recruiting presenters, al-Shabab is known for its attention to detail” 

It has also devoted considerable resources to producing a series of promotional videos.

Diaspora appeal

Al-Shabab's material aims to spread the group's ideology of establishing an Islamic state in Somalia, in line with al-Qaeda's stated ambition of setting up a global Islamic caliphate.

It wants to achieve this both by military conquest and also the conversion of souls - for which communication technology is a key tool.

Al-Shabab's well-produced video documentaries deliver the jihadi narrative in an appealing form to Somali audiences in the diaspora.

The US militant known as al-Amriki, who died last year, used to front al-Shabab videos

This al-Kataib foundation promotional image was posted on an al-Shabab chat forum

They are aimed at young people of Somali origin such as Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow, a suspect in last year's Westgate mall attack in Kenya. His family is said to have moved to Norway as refugees in 1999.

The group's documentaries are produced by its media arm, the al-Kataib foundation.

Many of them show al-Shabab engaging in charity work and other activities that depict the group as a legitimate authority.

However, they can also be quite gruesome - showing the corpses of those they have killed, including alleged spies who are often beheaded.

And they contain threats to their perceived enemies - in Somalia, neighbouring countries such as Kenya which are helping Somalia's government and the West.

The videos portray al-Shabab's fight as part of a wider global conflict in which Islam is under threat.

English and US accents

Al-Shabab also has its own radio station, Radio Andalus.

The group has acquired half a dozen relay stations, mainly by seizing private radio stations such as HornAfrik, Holy Koran Radio and the Global Broadcasting Corporation radio and their equipment - including some from the BBC.

Al-Shabab's Radio Andalus has a Facebook page

An image from an al-Shabab video posted on YouTube

The website Kismaayo News reported that by 2013, the group had 50 journalists working for Andalus radio.

When it comes to recruiting presenters, al-Shabab is known for its attention to detail.

It generally takes care to use presenters with British or American accents to deliver its English language audio statements.

With statements in Arabic, standard Arabic is used, and the presenters clearly have a high level of education in the language and in Islamic texts.

Swahili-language presenters use classical Kiswahili as spoken in Tanzania and coastal Kenya.

The majority of al-Shabab's audio output, though, is in Somali and is presented articulately and fluently.

Twitter frustrations

A number of pro-al-Shabab websites have emerged, which host material produced by the group and act as vehicles for furthering its military aims.

The content is intended to frustrate efforts by the Somali government and its allies - mainly the African Union forces fighting in Somalia - to eliminate the group.

Al-Shabab has often used Twitter to challenge the veracity of claims made by the African Union forces.

Its Twitter accounts are now closed, but Kenya's military spokesman Maj-Gen Chirchir has continued to attack the group's media policy.

All of al-Shabab's Twitter feeds have been shut down

On 20 May he tweeted: "Al Shabaab Courtesy calls! The more videos you release to scare Kenyans the more WE make visitations. Consider peace, the better option."

When the group's official spokesman, Sheikh Ali Dheere, appears on video, he is surrounded by fighters.

He reportedly answers to the group's overall leader and oversees a bevy of apparently enthusiastic journalists.

Al-Shabab has honed its media strategy as aggressively as it has enforced its bans on the Somali population.

As the group loses control of parts of the country, it has issued a series of bans on technology:

• Internet: In January 2014, the group declared a ban on using the internet through mobile handsets and fibre optic cables. It said the Muslim population "could be spied on and monitored and information on them transmitted through the internet on their phones". The group also declared that mobile internet devices had "adverse effects on the moral behaviour of the Muslim population in Somalia".
• Smart phones: In 2013 smart phones were banned by the group. Media reports said al-Shabab operatives went round intimidating anyone possessing a smart phone. Their campaign began shortly after a raid on a house in Barawe by US commandos last October. They were targeting al-Shabab commander Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulkadir, alias Ikrima. He had lived in Norway but returned after failing to get political asylum there.
• TV: In November 2013 the group's members in Barawe announced via loudspeakers that watching television was banned. They declared that it was against Islamic principles and ordered residents to hand their television sets and satellite dishes to al-Shabab officials.

Source: BBC Monitoring

Somaliland: Resident Ethiopian Communities Commemorate the 23rd Ginbot-20 victory Anniversary in Hargeisa

By: Amleset Abraar

HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) - Ethiopian community members residing in different parts of Somaliland, on Wednesday (May 28th) 2014, celebrated the 23rd anniversary of Ginbot-20 victory which marks the overthrow of the dictatorial and repressive Dergue military regime in Ethiopia. Jointly organized by the Ethiopian Consulate General office in Somaliland and the Ethiopian Community Association in Hargeisa, the 23rd anniversary was celebrated colorfully in the attendance of over four hundred members of Ethiopian communities residing in Hargeisa, Borama and other parts of Somaliland.

Participating in the event also included representatives from the Somaliland government: the Speaker of Parliament, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Aviation, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International cooperation as well as other high level officials. The celebration detailed the overwhelming progresses so far made in Ethiopia following the demise of the brutal Dergue regime and the formation of a Federal Democratic system of governance.

In his opening statement, the head of the Ethiopian mission in Somaliland Brigadier General Berhe Tesfay noted the inspiring progresses made so far in Ethiopia in terms of building democratic system of governance based on equality of all nations, nationalities and peoples as well as on ensuring rapid and sustainable economic and social development. He said the fall of the military dictatorship in 1991, and the coming to power of a new Federal Government and the subsequent new Constitution has provided the foundation for a new democratic era in Ethiopia which ensures full respect to human and democratic rights including the equality of nations, nationalities and peoples, based on mutual understanding and respect.

Consular General of Ethiopia Brigadier General Berhe Tesfaye addressing the Ginbot 20 in Hargeisa

The General who expressed gratitude to those who have sacrificed themselves for the creation of the current improved Ethiopia also noted that their sacrifices has resulted in the creation of policies and strategies that continue to lift the country and its people out of poverty. Also to remain in the hearts and minds of the Ethiopian people is the gallant late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi who was the main architect of Ethiopia's path towards democracy and development. His long-lasting and unique legacies have enabled the people of Ethiopia to stand in unison to defend the shared benefits of development and democracy.

General Berhe also pointed out that the Government's right mixes of policies and strategies being coupled with continuous structural improvements being taken to encourage stronger implementation capacity in all economic, political and social areas has enabled the people of Ethiopia to start enjoying the taste of democracy and development. Following the Ginbot-20 victory, he said, the Ethiopian Government being aware of the indispensability of having a skilled and knowledgeable workforce and pro-poor directions has devoted its effort on building productive citizens.

Particpants

These being compounded with the government's resolve in fighting any forms of rent-seeking, have enhanced the country's overall productive capacity in all areas for the past two decades and also laid the foundation for future rapid and sustained growth. Such an approach was among the factors which helped Ethiopia to register a double digit growth for the last ten years in row which he said has now make Ethiopia to be the 7th biggest economy in Africa and the 69th globally.

He further mentioned some major improvements being made in the areas of agriculture, industry, infrastructure, services including education and health as well as on building major public projects. On agriculture, the Government having the proper understanding of giving priority to enhancing the small holder farmers' production and productivity and them to medium and large scale farming respectively has devoted significant share of its annual budget to agricultural sector transformation. It has put in place continuous agricultural extension and transformation packages that have resulted in an over tripled compounded growth of annual agricultural production, from what it was around 50 million quintals some years ago to over 300 million to date and to nearly half a billion in the few of years to come.

Somaliland security chiefs at the Ginbot 20 commemorations in Hargeisa

This increased production, he said, has enabled the Government to build 400,000 metric tonnes of emergency food reserve with further plans of increasing the reserve to 3 million cubic tonnes at the end of 2015. This will make Ethiopia to be food sufficient whereby it will respond to any drought driven emergency food requirements by itself and without demanding support from donors. The improving agricultural production is also paving a conducive atmosphere to the Government's direction of transforming Ethiopia from agriculture-led economy to an industrial-led one and the progress so far is very rewarding. This could be evidenced by the lessening of the share of agriculture to the total GDP from 53% some 20 years ago to about 40% now. And this attests that the industrial sector is expanding rapidly and is contributing a significant share to the economy. This does mean that the productivity and volume of agriculture sector is also increasing in an amazing annual pace while its share to the economy is giving way to the industry. Currently, general Berhe said, micro and small enterprises as well as medium and large scale industries are tremendously expanding in every corners of Ethiopia, ushering another round of renaissance to come.

The Consul General who noted the construction of over 36 thousand new schools and over 30 new universities across the country in the last ten years also said that the Government has so far made the national primary and secondary school access coverage to reach over 95%, and about 22 million school-age Ethiopians have access to education currently. The Universities' admission capacity has grown to about 50,000 per year and all the universities are hosting a total of half a million students at a time now. This marks a skyrocketing leap as compared to the less than 3000 capacity of all universities twenty years back. The 50,000 ones joining university every year constitutes 20% of the total students and the rest 80% (over 200,000) are being made to attend vocational trainings every year.

 Ethiopian Developmet is fast paced

On health, the General said, the government has so far achieved its target of making health facilities available to rural areas in every 5 kilometers radius. It has built about 20,000 new health centers and over 200 hospitals in short period of time with over 38,000 trained health professionals being assigned to serve the sector. The construction of additional 3,200 health centers and 825 rural hospitals is also in full swing and would be completed within few years. This enabled the country's total health coverage to reach over 90% now.

He also explained the Government's commitment to maximize the road and railway interconnectivity within the country and across the region with Djibouti, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia. He said the country's road coverage has grown fourfold to about 90,000 kilometers now compared to what was to be less than 20,000 kilometers 20 years ago. The Government is has plans to increase the road coverage to130, 000 kilometers in the next few years with an outlay of USD 9 billion. The General also referred to implementation of the Government's plan to finalize over 5,000 kilometers of railways in the next few years in eight selected corridors. These include the Addis Ababa-Djibouti, the Addis Ababa-Kenya, the Addis Ababa-Sudan, the Addis Ababa-South Sudan, the Addis Ababa-Bedele, the Addis Ababa-Woldiya and Mekelle and the Tadjoura railway projects.

On huge public sector projects, General Berhe noted the Government's desire to see such huge projects being undertaken by the Ethiopian private sector. But it has taken the initiative to build such big projects by itself until a strong private sector capable of undertaking multi-billion dollar projects could come to the scene. The government is therefore undertaking many mega projects including the USD 5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam with the capacity to generate 6,000 MW of electric power. This coupled with the Gilgel-Gibe dams and wind power turbines will help to ensure the Governments target of increasing Ethiopia's power generating capacity to 10,000 MW in the next few years.

The Government is also building 10 new sugar factories which will start production at the end of 2015. This being coupled with the renovated existing three sugar factories will make Ethiopia to ensure sugar self-sufficiency and will eventually enable the country to be among the top-ten sugar exporting countries in the world. Similarly, the government is also building five fertilizer factories with a total outlay of USD 3 billion. These factories would be completed by the end of 2017 with a total capacity of producing over 1.5 million tones of fertilizer per annum. This will not only help to save the hundreds of millions of dollars annual expenditure for fertilizer imports but also reinforces efforts aimed to transform the agriculture sector. What's more encouraging is the government's successful approach of making the mega project's metal and engineering works to be undertaken by Ethiopia's Metal and engineering Corporation (METEC). This not only helped to save expenditure but also to create knowledge and skill assets at home.

Ethiopian Coffee and foods was in plenty supplly at the Ginbot 20 in hargeisa

In his concluding remarks, General Berhe calls for the renewal of commitment to enhance the country's development and pave the way for a conducive approach to an eventual transition into an industrial-dominated economy and middle income status within a decade. It underlined the renewal of commitment to encourage the creation of as many businesses and strong private-public-partnerships as possible through appropriate intervention and facilitation of healthy and competitive interactions. He called on all the Ethiopian communities in Somaliland and elsewhere for renewed determination to fight rent-seeking and other illegal activities that might try to counter the country's efforts at ensuring rapid and sustainable economic growth and building a nation of good governance and democracy.

Representatives of the Ethiopian community associations in Hargeisa and Borama on their part made their own remarks. Deputy Chairperson of the Ethiopian Community Association in Hargeisa, Ato Abebe Hailemariam, expressed the association's satisfaction over the overwhelming progresses being made in Ethiopia in terms of development and democratization. He also expressed the members' determination to do everything possible to support the Government's effort of ensuring Ethiopia's renaissance. Chairperson of the Ethiopian Community Association in Borama, Ato Ahmed Nuh, on his part noted the improvements being made in Ethiopia in ensuring democratic governance and equality of all nations, nationalities and peoples.

Somaliland interior minister Ali Waranade addressing the Ethiopian Ginbot 20 in Hargeisa

He also appreciated the significant emphasis being given to Ethiopian communities residing abroad including in Somaliland which he said is enabling them for enhanced participation in their country's development and political affairs. Head of Investment Bureau of the Ethiopian Sumale Region, Ato Abdinasir Mahamed, who on his part noted that the region was ignored in previous eras, also detailed the tens of thousands of kilometers of road being constructed in the region following Ginbot-20 victory. He also noted that health facilities are being accessible to peoples in every corners of the region. He further appreciated the growing relations between the peoples of Ethiopia and Somaliland based on understanding and mutual respect. He also expressed his office's determination to do everything possible to encourage the participation of the Ethiopian Somali communities residing in Somaliland on investment opportunities being created in the Ethiopian Somali Region.

The Speaker of somaliland parliament Abdirahman Irro addressing the Ethiopian Ginbot 20 commemorations in Hargeisa

The Speaker of Somaliland's Parliament H.E. Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillah on his part appreciated the Ethiopian Government's progresses in improving the lives of its citizens. He particularly valued the inspiring progresses being made in the agriculture, education and health sectors. Somaliland's Minister of Interior, H.E. Mr. Ali Mohamed Waran Ade on his part expressed satisfaction over the improving overall relations that exist between Ethiopia and Somaliland since EPRDF came to power. He said the new system of democratic governance in Ethiopia and Somaliland helped to end the spirit of animosity between the peoples of the region which was more or less rampant in previous eras.

Somaliland and Ethiopian officials pose for a group photo after commemorations of the Ethiopian Ginbot 20 anniversaryu celebrations in Hargeisa