The best books on Somalia: start your reading here

The best books on Somalia include The World's Most Dangerous Place; The Orchard of Lost Souls; and Crossbones. Each one explores the human cost of civil war

Crossbones by Nuruddin Farah

Nuruddin Farah

Set in Somalia around the 2006 US-backed Ethiopian invasion, the final volume in Farah's Past Imperfect trilogy can be read as a standalone novel. This absorbing story puts a human face to the tragedy of a failed state.

Three members of a Somali-American family return to find their homeland imploding under an Islamist regime in control of the capital, Mogadishu, as war nears and piracy proliferates off the coast of breakaway Puntland. 

Foreign correspondent Malik has come to write about political conflict and piracy; his father-in-law, Jeebleh, is re-establishing contact with old friends who he hopes will protect Malik and ease his path; and Malik's elder brother, Ahl, is searching for a stepson thought to have joined the Islamist militia on advice from an imam in his Minnesota hometown. 

Farah skilfully evokes the paranoia and desperation that stalks the fragmented country, where trust is in short supply and good people find themselves unable to steer it away from self-destruction.

This is an impassioned insider's portrayal of present-day Somalia, and of lives blighted by relentless violence and civil war.

Somalia's most famous novelist went into exile in the 1970s, during the rule of the dictator Siad Barre. He now lives in the US and South Africa, but has vowed "to keep my country alive by writing about it".

The Orchard of Lost Souls by Nadifa Mohamed

On the eve of the civil war in the late 1980s, two women and a girl in Hargeisa, north-western Somalia, find themselves caught up in the turbulence as their lives intersect. 

In this story of conflict and survival, events unfold through the eyes of Deqo, a nine-year-old orphan born and raised in a refugee camp, who ran away and is now cared for by prostitutes; Kawsar, an elderly, grieving widow bedridden after being beaten at a police station; and Filsan, a zealous young soldier from Mogadishu, here to help suppress the growing rebellion against the dictatorship. All three are wrestling with memories of lost loved ones.

In a chapter on each revealing their past, Mohamed sensitively builds her cast of strong, self-empowered female characters.

As the revolt grows and the army moves "not just to black out the city but to silence it", the civil war's first "orgy of violence [is] enacted". But amid the harrowing events taking place, the author inserts a ray of hope.

Mohamed succeeds in achieving her stated goal of "[elucidating] Somali history for a wider audience". The author, born in Hargeisa (now in Somaliland), came to Britain with her family aged five – a temporary move made permanent by the civil war.

The World's Most Dangerous Place by James Fergusson

James Fergusson

Under the attention-seeking title is a perceptive and engaging account of Somalia's descent into violence and lawlessness. The country has not had a properly functioning central government since the overthrow of the dictator Siad Barre in 1991. Meanwhile, it has seen seemingly endlessclan warfare, a brutal Islamist insurgency, foreign military interventions,famine, pervasive corruption, piracy and – unsurprisingly – the flight of about 2 million people abroad.

The civil war is known locally as "the destruction", and one source tells the author that wherever the four horsemen of the apocalypse ride out to in the world, they return nightly to stable in Somalia.

Fergusson travels within Somalia and beyond, also visiting the peaceful but unrecognised Republic of Somaliland; the breakaway region of Puntland, home to a lucrative piracy industry; and Somali diaspora in the US and UK.

He explores the backstory essential to understanding how the country gained its unenviable reputation as "the world's most failed state", and why peace and security in Somalia matter far beyond its borders.

Fergusson detects reasons for optimism, with the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Shabaab Islamists in retreat, piracy reduced, bustling markets, Somalis returning from abroad, and politics and law and order slowly re-emerging.

The author is a veteran British journalist and foreign correspondent.

Source: theguardian.com

What We (Don't) Know About Eritrea's Economy

Eritrea perfectly illustrates the amount of guesswork involved in economic analysis of Africa.

A couple of guys chatting in Asmara, Eritrea. Photograph by Charles Roffey.

At the start of this week, Nigeria's GDP figures nearly doubled after the government recalculated economic output. Statisticians rebased their numbers to include changes to the economy, and in a heartbeat Africa's most populous country had also become its richest, leapfrogging South Africa by a mile, and shooting up the global rankings to join the likes of Norway and Poland.

Although the ground under their feet was exactly the same, the country they were living in on paper had suddenly shifted for Nigeria's 170 million population. Or should that be 180 million? Or 140 million? Or even higher or lower? The actual size of Nigeria's population is also based on questionable estimates and evidence, and it too is heavily contested.

The fact that Nigeria's statistics are so deeply shrouded in doubt is striking especially given that it is, as we now know, the richest country on the continent. This begs the question: if our understanding of Nigeria rests on such shaky ground, what about poorer, less well-connected, and more closed off countries? For example, what about Eritrea?

No data

Trying to get any data about Eritrea can be a thankless task. Access to information is very limited and the authoritarian regime's relationship with any media apart from those run by its own information ministry is strained at best. The Horn of Africa nation is deeply isolated internationally and is considered to have one of the worst records in the world when it comes to civil liberties, political rights and domestic freedoms.

Unsurprisingly, international headlines about the Red Sea state are rare, and when there is coverage, it is usually about runaways fleeing the nation's grip, abductions of Eritrean refugees in the Sinai Peninsula, human rights violations, or tentative predictions about how long the regime can last.

With virtually no data to work with, it unsurprising that analysts also tend to shy away from the country. In continent-wide studies, Eritrea is often coloured in grey to demarcate 'no data', while even multilateral organisations such as the African Development Bank sometimes have to release reports that pretend Eritrea does not exist.

The 2012 African Economic Outlook Report, which is probably the most comprehensive analysis of the country for several years, provides a few valuable if limited insights. But even this most complete report on record misses out some hugely important features such as population size.

Given the difficulties in estimating Eritrea's population − existing figures range from about 3.5 million to almost double that at 6 million or more − it is perhaps wiser not to guess at all. However, the size of the population has enormous consequences for all per capita figures. The World Bank, for example, estimates Eritrea's income per head to be $504, basing its calculations on population figures of just over 6 million. If Eritrea's population were in fact closer to the 3.5 million mark, that income per head figure could be as much as $864.

The black market

However, especially when it comes to Eritrea, even reliable figures can only tell us so much. For instance, the country's black market for currency exchange significantly complicates things.
The Eritrean currency has been pegged at 15 Nakfa to $1 since 2005. Due to high inflation over many years, the currency has lost value, but the government keeps it fixed in an attempt to tackle external debt. This has contributed to the blossoming of a parallel and illegal internal market for currency exchange. Those caught exchanging currency on the black market can be imprisoned for up to 18 months, but the entire economy depends on such illegal exchanges.
In late 2012, the rates in this illicit market offered three times the amount of Nakfa per dollar compared to official rates. And in March 2013, this already massive gap widened as the Eritrean government overvalued the national currency even more, fixing 10 Nakfa to $1. One important implication of this when examining Eritrea's national economy is that using the official exchange rate is likely to hugely overestimate the real level of economic development. Using the rates found on the burgeoning black market would suggest the country is significantly poorer than if using the government's rates.

Going a step further into the real detail of Eritrea's economy, unofficial sources report that most households in the capital Asmara receive an average of $350 per month in undeclared remittances from relatives abroad. There are two particularly well-known mechanisms through which these clandestine transfers takes place: alongside shipments of contraband goods from Sudan, and when relatives from abroad visit.

These transfers are likely to be hugely significant for Eritrea's economy. After all, a wage in the formal sector will at best leave you with 1500-2500 Nakfa per month. According to official rates, that comes to $150-250, but in reality it is worth considerably less and is barely enough to survive. For most families in Asmara, therefore, remittances are crucial and often constitute the majority − sometimes as much as 90% − of their overall income. Counterintuitively perhaps, Eritrea's alarming brain drain ends up significantly stimulating its economy.

However, not all families in Eritrea are so lucky. A pattern of regional migration has occurred within the country in which those that have no relatives abroad are destined to a rural life as subsistence farmers cultivating mostly barren land, while those with close ties to family outside the country can maintain a life in the capital.

A shot in the dark

After Nigeria's GDP was rebased earlier this week, nothing concrete changed. Nigerians didn't suddenly have more cash in their wallets, the unemployed were still unemployed, and the many malaises in the national economy went nowhere. However, in the medium term, the updated figures could have a considerable impact, especially as foreign investors look at the country in a different, far more rosy light.

After all, statistics and economic analyses affect policies. Reliable figures can be crucial in helping actors − whether governments, individuals, corporations or multilateral organisations − make the right decisions, while unreliable ones can do the very opposite. When it comes to many countries, not least Eritrea, a great deal of caution needs to be taken before attempting any kind of shot in the dark.

Think Africa Press welcomes inquiries regarding the republication of its articles. If you would like to republish this or any other article for re-print, syndication or educational purposes, please contact: editor@thinkafricapress.com.

The Jewish Disease

If the Jewish condition is not genetic, what exactly is it that makes the Jews so obnoxious, 2000 years ago no different from today?

Written by Rebel of Oz

One of the puzzles of Jewish history is the consistency of the unflattering perception of the Jews. It is not like ‘anti-Semitism’ only came into existence in the Middle Ages as the result of Christian resentment for the killing of Jesus. In reality, ‘anti-Semitism’ has been around for as long as there have been Jews. The first documented case was their expulsion from Egypt.

I’m using the term Jews loosely here since I’m fully aware that there is not much of a genetic link between the ancient inhabitants of Judea and Samaria and today's Jews. Contrary to what the Zionists are trying to tell us, Jews are not a tribe or a people, they are more like a culture or tradition, and a supremacist state of mind.

Judaism used to be a temple religion centred around the ancient Jerusalem temple, not a tribal religion, as the Torah falsely claims. The inhabitants of Judea and Samaria adhered to numerous religions, such as Baal and Hercules, not just Judaism, and not all followers of Judaism were citizens of those two ‘Jewish’ provinces.

The way I define the term Jew is as someone who subscribes to the teachings of Judaism or has been raised in its cultural tradition. It’s no different from me calling myself a Catholic, not because I subscribe to any Catholic teachings, but because I was raised in its values and traditions.

What amazes me about the Jews is how they have been consistently attracting the same kind of criticism. The unflattering comments of a Tacitus or a Cicero aren’t all that different from those of a 19^th century ‘anti-Semite’ or a 20^th century National Socialist.

The reason why this is amazing is that modern and ancient Jews are not genetically the same people, so we are not talking about a common genetic flaw. The only link between ancient and modern Jews is cultural, apart from the imported ‘Cohens’ or temple guards, basically Jewry's racial elite.

If there is no genetic link between them, how can it be that the complaints against the Jews are so consistent? If their condition is not genetic, what exactly is it that makes the Jews so obnoxious, 2000 years ago no different from today?

I suspect it's got to do with their mindset, an attitude problem. In Australia we have this thing called 'tall poppy syndrome'. Everyone who thinks he's better than the rest of us gets merciless cut down to size. While in today's Jew-dominated world, the Australian tall poppy syndrome is frowned upon, considered a form of bullying, in practice it's still alive and kicking. You can ask any school teacher about this one.

The 'tall poppy syndrome' doesn't just exist in Australia. It's human nature and exists in most cultures, except maybe the Chinese, where being a teacher's pet and bragging is part and parcel of the competitive backstabbing culture. That's probably why the Jews get along so well with the Chinese. Not only do they make better slaves than the recalcitrant White people, they aren't really all that different from the obnoxious Jews.

I reckon it's the Jewish 'chosenness' that makes them so disgusting. You look at them and you can tell how they are full of themselves, but really they are just full of shit; excuse my French. They tell everyone - and pay people to repeat after them - how they are so much more intelligent than all the rest of us, but in reality they are just more skilled crooks. Nothing to be proud of.

What ancient writers like Tacitus and Cicero complained about was the Jewish dodginess and immorality. That's exactly the same as modern 'anti-Semites'. The only difference between then and now is that the Romans were in a position to give them the adequate treatment. It's just unfortunate - and a lesson for the future - that destroying their temple and making them work hard for a change - like making them build the Roman Colosseum- wasn't sufficient to destroy their evil ways.

Rcommended Reading:
Douglas Reed: Controversy of Zion (1956)
Eustace Mullins: The Curse of Canaan|
Israel Shahak: Jewish History, Jewish Religion (1994)




Source: therebel.org

Are Jews Human?

Written by Rebel of Oz

This might seem like an odd question to ask, but are you sure that Jews are actually humans? They certainly don’t act that way! To say the least, they don’t seem afflicted by what makes humans human, the ability to feel for the suffering of another living being, commonly refered to as ‘empathy’.

What is it that makes Jews have the highest percentage of psychopaths of any cultural or ethnic group, except for – maybe – the Chinese?

Is it the fact that 90% of them, the Yiddish speaking Ashkenazis, are actually the fruits of the rape-weddings between Attila’s horde and survivors of Germanic villages ransacked by those phallus fetishist Huns? What good can come from an ethnic group that started out like that?

Is it that these people have been selectively breeding for over a millennium to increase their incidence of psychopathy, a bit like the lovely Brits who have been breeding dogs and chicken for the purpose of transforming them into vicious and deadly killer machines?

Or are they actually part-Aliens, whose ancestors have come to Earth to take over the planet and have interbred with humans to trick us into believing that they are human beings just like us?

You could be excused to believe that David Icke was onto something, not necessarily about the shape-shifting, which I still find incredible, but about these people being Alien reptiles inside, at least to some part.

The Jews certainly behave as if they weren't human. They are trying to cull 95% of humanity, only keeping a couple of dozens 'Goyim' slaves as sex toys for each of them. What kind of human being would even consider doing something like that to his own species? They are looking at us like a domestic animal that they can breed, exploit and kill in whatever way they fancy.

And what about deliberately poisoning our air, food, water and soil to give us cancer, make us starve and infertile? Again, what kind of human being would do that to his own species?

The answer is obviously none!

Which makes me think that maybe it is not all that far-fetched that these Jews have some kind of profit sharing arrangement with hostile, genocidal Aliens. The ones that genetically designed them in the first place, as part of some evil earth conquest plan. They are certainly acting that way!

We heard so many things in recent years about Aliens. The 'ruling elite' is mentally preparing us for something big. By the looks of it Earth has been frequented and settled by Aliens for thousands of years. Some people say they are more than just one group, some sympathetic to humans and others very hostile ones.

If it is true that there are some blonde blue-eyed Nordic Aliens out there trying to save us from the combined Jewish/Reptilian and Chinese/Grays onslaught, they better start doing something pretty soon. It would appear that we are right in the middle of the endgame and that the final, decisive battle is about to begin.

As much as I wish those Nordic Aliens stories are correct and these blonde, blue-eyed 'angels' are planning to help us, I suggest we don't hold our breath waiting for them. The least we should do is to prove to ourselves - and to them if they exist - that we are worth saving, by mounting our own credible and effective defence. We owe this to ourselves, our children and ancestors, many of whom gave their lives so that we will live.

Source: therebel.org

Submit Concept Paper for Partnership in Power Africa Initiative

Deadline: 18 November 2015

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) invites Concept Papers from private sector for partnership in Power Africa Initiative under the Global Development Alliance (GDA) Annual Program. The concept papers should focus on advancing the success and achieving the goals of Power Africa Initiative. Priority will be given to alliance building in six priority countries (Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania) and select host government and regional institutions in Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA).

The Power Africa Initiative is an effort of the US government to support economic growth and development in Sub-Saharan Africa by increasing supply of and access to reliable, affordable and lower carbon emissions (when possible) power in the SSA.

The Power Africa Initiative is $2.0 to $7.5 million project. Each selected partner will be offered up to $100,000 to $3 million to conduct the project.

Priority Areas:

1. Financing Strategies for Power Production
2. Late Stage Power Sector Transaction Support Small Scale Power Projects and Rural Electrification/Mini-Grids Support
3. Power Sector Regulatory and Institutional Strengthening and Policy Reform
4. Power Sector Training, Mentoring, Networking and Internships
5. Power Sector Risk Mitigation Strategies
6. Development or Piloting of Innovative Energy Technologies

Eligibility criteria:

• Private sector and organizations working with the private sector are eligible to become partner in the Power Africa Initiative.
• US and non-US private businesses, business and trade associations, foundations, US and non-US Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), faith-based organizations, international organizations, US and non-US colleges and universities, civic groups, regional organizations, etc.
• All applicants must be legally recognized organizational entities under applicable law.
• An individual cannot apply as an applicant.

Applications must be submitted in English language via email by the deadline. Selected Concept Papers will be invited to submit full application.

For more information, please visit grants.gov and search for funding opportunity number RFA-623-14-000002.

‘Scots independence would harm navy’

UK Navy chief Admiral Sir George Zambellas

An independent Scotland would weaken the effectiveness of the Royal Navy, Britain’s Navy chief has warned.

Admiral Sir George Zambellas wrote in the Telegraph on Monday that a ‘yes’ vote in Scotland’s independence referendum would weaken both the UK’s Royal Navy and the Scottish naval forces, and hence will fundamentally change maritime security for the entire UK.

“Independence would damage the very heart of the capabilities that are made up of the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Fleet Air Arm,” he wrote.

He noted while Britain’s Navy will eventually recover, the “deeper impact” will be felt in Scotland which will lose the security contribution of “one of the finest navies in the world.”

Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond will give a speech in Scotland in which he will emphasize that the shared defense forces provide “security and peace of mind” for British people.
Britain’s Royal Navy has 16 ships and submarines and two Royal Marines Commando units based in Scotland.

Scotland’s National Party (SNP) promised to maintain all military bases in the country in case of a ‘yes’ vote and said they would have a share in some of the British defense equipment, a claim that has been rejected by coalition ministers.

Sir George’s remarks came days after recent surveys by Survation and Panelbase showed growing support for Scottish independence in the upcoming referendum.

The independence referendum, due to be held on September 18, could result in Scotland’s break-up from the UK after more than 300 years of political union.

Coast 100 aliens seized in Mombasa swoop

Hundreds of suspects await security screening at the Changamwe Police Station in Mombasa Sunday. [Photo: Maarufu Mohamed/Standard]

By Benard Sanga and Philip Mwakio Mombasa, Kenya:

More than 100 illegal immigrants from Somalia and other countries were arrested in parts of Mombasa on Saturday night as the anti-terror operation spread to the Coast.

Hundreds of officers from the Anti- terrorism Police Unit, General Service Unit and other police forces accompanied by immigration officers swept into Changamwe and Nyali estates in trucks and ordered doors opened.

They demanded identification papers and seized those without Kenyan papers but also took away those suspected to have forged Identity Cards.

Police claim most of those arrested had just arrived in Changamwe to hide after sneaking through the police operation in Nairobi’s Eastleigh Estate on Friday.

Intelligence sources told The Standard that besides aliens, the operation also targeted terror suspects, human traffickers and terror financiers based on intelligence supplied by some businessmen and the Somalia government.

Nominated MP Sunjeev Birdi said the Government should not relent in the anti-terror operation, adding that stopping the crackdown will “allow terrorists to regroup.” But police also disclosed that a second raid on the Mogadishu Estate in Nyali yielded nothing because targeted aliens had already escaped before the operation.

This came amid fears that Al Shabaab militants linked to slain radical islamist Sheikh Makaburi have chosen a firebrand cleric from Majid Musa to replace him within Al Hijra, Al Shabaab’s Kenyan affiliate which Makaburi led.

Source: standardmedia.co.ke

Mombasa tycoons to be probed over terror

CID director Ndengwa Muhoro. Photo/Anna Bohlin.

SOME prominent Mombasa businessmen are among individuals being investigated for alleged funding terror activities in the country.

The businessmen are said to be directly linked with international wiring of funds that support terror activities which include firearms supply and recruitments.

According to CID Director Ndengwa Muhoro, the government is also probing at least twenty foreign and local bank accounts suspected to be used by the suspects to support terrorism activities.

Muhoro said the accounts are being probed by Banking Fraud Investigation Unit based at CID headquarters in Nairobi.

He said the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), based within the Directorate of Criminal Investigation Unit, has received information of suspicious terror related activities.

“There are quite a number of cases that we are following up on. The moment we have credible information we will definitely take those involved to court,” said the CID boss.

He was speaking on in Mombasa on Friday after chairing a security meeting with the top security chiefs in the county.

Muhoro said those behind the accounts will be arrested and prosecuted once investigations are complete.

He said the unit has obtained crucial leads from the alleged transaction accounts.

“Terrorism financiers getting money from proceedings of crime will be dealt with,” warned Muhoro.

He said the detectives are building up evidence before seeking advice from the director of public prosecution to charge the suspects.

According to reliable sources within the CID department, the financiers are accused of funding the Somali based al-Shabaab group blamed for a number of attacks in the country.

Muhoro said the Proceeding of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act has been enacted and is operational to deal with financiers of illegal activities including terrorism and drug trafficking.

The CID boss said security agencies are also monitoring several mosques including Riyadh in Nairobi , Mombasa ‘s Masjid Mujahideen (former Sakina mosque) and Masjid Shuhadaa (former Masjid Musa).

In the last few months, Muslim youths have forcefully taken over the two Mombasa mosques believed to be a hotbed of militant Islamists. Police are currently analyzing violent sermons delivered at the two mosques.

Muhoro urged the mosque leaders to setup committees to run them responsibly.

“Let’s have these mosques in the hands of responsible people to ensure they conduct their duties. It’s that simple. Anything outside that will be dealt with harshly,” Muhoro said.

Meanwhile, a 65 years old man who escaped death narrowly twice two months ago from suspected al-shabaab sympathizers attack was on Saturday night shot before he died undergoing treatment at Msambweni Hospital.

According to Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah the deceased Swaleh Mwakuyumba was shot in his stomach twice by unknown number of gunmen at his Mbuani home in Ukunda before they escaped.

His wife Halima Mwatsudzo was also shot at her right leg according to Omijah before they were both rushed to Msambweni referral hospital for treatment.

“The man died later while undergoing treatment but his wife is in good condition,” said Omijah in his Diani office on Sunday.

He said that the gunmen raided the home of the deceased at around 12:30 am on Sunday and found him outside his house with his wife before opening fire before escaping.

He said that the motive of the assassination is not yet clear because the attackers did not steal anything from the victim.

Omijah said that they have launched investigations to establish who are behind the killing and unearth the truth behind the incident that has left locals in the area shocked.

“We don’t know exactly what can have lead to the killing up to now but we suspect it is because of a case before court that the deceased was a witness,” he added.

The case which is scheduled to be heard tomorrow (Tuesday) where the deceased was a witness involved suspected terror mastermind Seif Setu alias Budget who appeared in Kwale court recently in a different name as Omar Bakari.

Sources indicate that the deceased was killed by a gang which is believed to be close friends of al-shabaab suspect in police cell.

- 

Source: the-star.co.ke

SOME prominent Mombasa businessmen are among individuals being investigated for alleged funding terror activities in the country.
The businessmen are said to be directly linked with international wiring of funds that support terror activities which include firearms supply and recruitments.
According to CID Director Ndengwa Muhoro, the government is also probing at least twenty foreign and local bank accounts suspected to be used by the suspects to support terrorism activities.
Muhoro said the accounts are being probed by Banking Fraud Investigation Unit based at CID headquarters in Nairobi.
He said the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), based within the Directorate of Criminal Investigation Unit, has received information of suspicious terror related activities.
“There are quite a number of cases that we are following up on. The moment we have credible information we will definitely take those involved to court,” said the CID boss.
He was speaking on in Mombasa on Friday after chairing a security meeting with the top security chiefs in the county.
Muhoro said those behind the accounts will be arrested and prosecuted once investigations are complete.
He said the unit has obtained crucial leads from the alleged transaction accounts.
“Terrorism financiers getting money from proceedings of crime will be dealt with,” warned Muhoro.
He said the detectives are building up evidence before seeking advice from the director of public prosecution to charge the suspects.
According to reliable sources within the CID department, the financiers are accused of funding the Somali based al-Shabaab group blamed for a number of attacks in the country.
Muhoro said the Proceeding of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act has been enacted and is operational to deal with financiers of illegal activities including terrorism and drug trafficking.
The CID boss said security agencies are also monitoring several mosques including Riyadh in Nairobi , Mombasa ‘s Masjid Mujahideen (former Sakina mosque) and Masjid Shuhadaa (former Masjid Musa).
In the last few months, Muslim youths have forcefully taken over the two Mombasa mosques believed to be a hotbed of militant Islamists. Police are currently analyzing violent sermons delivered at the two mosques.
Muhoro urged the mosque leaders to setup committees to run them responsibly.
“Let’s have these mosques in the hands of responsible people to ensure they conduct their duties. It’s that simple. Anything outside that will be dealt with harshly,” Muhoro said.
Meanwhile, a 65 years old man who escaped death narrowly twice two months ago from suspected al-shabaab sympathizers attack was on Saturday night shot before he died undergoing treatment at Msambweni Hospital.
According to Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah the deceased Swaleh Mwakuyumba was shot in his stomach twice by unknown number of gunmen at his Mbuani home in Ukunda before they escaped.
His wife Halima Mwatsudzo was also shot at her right leg according to Omijah before they were both rushed to Msambweni referral hospital for treatment.
“The man died later while undergoing treatment but his wife is in good condition,” said Omijah in his Diani office on Sunday.
He said that the gunmen raided the home of the deceased at around 12:30 am on Sunday and found him outside his house with his wife before opening fire before escaping.
He said that the motive of the assassination is not yet clear because the attackers did not steal anything from the victim.
Omijah said that they have launched investigations to establish who are behind the killing and unearth the truth behind the incident that has left locals in the area shocked.
“We don’t know exactly what can have lead to the killing up to now but we suspect it is because of a case before court that the deceased was a witness,” he added.
The case which is scheduled to be heard tomorrow (Tuesday) where the deceased was a witness involved suspected terror mastermind Seif Setu alias Budget who appeared in Kwale court recently in a different name as Omar Bakari.
Sources indicate that the deceased was killed by a gang which is believed to be close friends of al-shabaab suspect in police cell.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-163028/mombasa-tycoons-be-probed-over-terror#sthash.yhVWAzaT.dpuf

SOME prominent Mombasa businessmen are among individuals being investigated for alleged funding terror activities in the country.
The businessmen are said to be directly linked with international wiring of funds that support terror activities which include firearms supply and recruitments.
According to CID Director Ndengwa Muhoro, the government is also probing at least twenty foreign and local bank accounts suspected to be used by the suspects to support terrorism activities.
Muhoro said the accounts are being probed by Banking Fraud Investigation Unit based at CID headquarters in Nairobi.
He said the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), based within the Directorate of Criminal Investigation Unit, has received information of suspicious terror related activities.
“There are quite a number of cases that we are following up on. The moment we have credible information we will definitely take those involved to court,” said the CID boss.
He was speaking on in Mombasa on Friday after chairing a security meeting with the top security chiefs in the county.
Muhoro said those behind the accounts will be arrested and prosecuted once investigations are complete.
He said the unit has obtained crucial leads from the alleged transaction accounts.
“Terrorism financiers getting money from proceedings of crime will be dealt with,” warned Muhoro.
He said the detectives are building up evidence before seeking advice from the director of public prosecution to charge the suspects.
According to reliable sources within the CID department, the financiers are accused of funding the Somali based al-Shabaab group blamed for a number of attacks in the country.
Muhoro said the Proceeding of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act has been enacted and is operational to deal with financiers of illegal activities including terrorism and drug trafficking.
The CID boss said security agencies are also monitoring several mosques including Riyadh in Nairobi , Mombasa ‘s Masjid Mujahideen (former Sakina mosque) and Masjid Shuhadaa (former Masjid Musa).
In the last few months, Muslim youths have forcefully taken over the two Mombasa mosques believed to be a hotbed of militant Islamists. Police are currently analyzing violent sermons delivered at the two mosques.
Muhoro urged the mosque leaders to setup committees to run them responsibly.
“Let’s have these mosques in the hands of responsible people to ensure they conduct their duties. It’s that simple. Anything outside that will be dealt with harshly,” Muhoro said.
Meanwhile, a 65 years old man who escaped death narrowly twice two months ago from suspected al-shabaab sympathizers attack was on Saturday night shot before he died undergoing treatment at Msambweni Hospital.
According to Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah the deceased Swaleh Mwakuyumba was shot in his stomach twice by unknown number of gunmen at his Mbuani home in Ukunda before they escaped.
His wife Halima Mwatsudzo was also shot at her right leg according to Omijah before they were both rushed to Msambweni referral hospital for treatment.
“The man died later while undergoing treatment but his wife is in good condition,” said Omijah in his Diani office on Sunday.
He said that the gunmen raided the home of the deceased at around 12:30 am on Sunday and found him outside his house with his wife before opening fire before escaping.
He said that the motive of the assassination is not yet clear because the attackers did not steal anything from the victim.
Omijah said that they have launched investigations to establish who are behind the killing and unearth the truth behind the incident that has left locals in the area shocked.
“We don’t know exactly what can have lead to the killing up to now but we suspect it is because of a case before court that the deceased was a witness,” he added.
The case which is scheduled to be heard tomorrow (Tuesday) where the deceased was a witness involved suspected terror mastermind Seif Setu alias Budget who appeared in Kwale court recently in a different name as Omar Bakari.
Sources indicate that the deceased was killed by a gang which is believed to be close friends of al-shabaab suspect in police cell.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-163028/mombasa-tycoons-be-probed-over-terror#sthash.yhVWAzaT.dpuf

SOME prominent Mombasa businessmen are among individuals being investigated for alleged funding terror activities in the country.
The businessmen are said to be directly linked with international wiring of funds that support terror activities which include firearms supply and recruitments.
According to CID Director Ndengwa Muhoro, the government is also probing at least twenty foreign and local bank accounts suspected to be used by the suspects to support terrorism activities.
Muhoro said the accounts are being probed by Banking Fraud Investigation Unit based at CID headquarters in Nairobi.
He said the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), based within the Directorate of Criminal Investigation Unit, has received information of suspicious terror related activities.
“There are quite a number of cases that we are following up on. The moment we have credible information we will definitely take those involved to court,” said the CID boss.
He was speaking on in Mombasa on Friday after chairing a security meeting with the top security chiefs in the county.
Muhoro said those behind the accounts will be arrested and prosecuted once investigations are complete.
He said the unit has obtained crucial leads from the alleged transaction accounts.
“Terrorism financiers getting money from proceedings of crime will be dealt with,” warned Muhoro.
He said the detectives are building up evidence before seeking advice from the director of public prosecution to charge the suspects.
According to reliable sources within the CID department, the financiers are accused of funding the Somali based al-Shabaab group blamed for a number of attacks in the country.
Muhoro said the Proceeding of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act has been enacted and is operational to deal with financiers of illegal activities including terrorism and drug trafficking.
The CID boss said security agencies are also monitoring several mosques including Riyadh in Nairobi , Mombasa ‘s Masjid Mujahideen (former Sakina mosque) and Masjid Shuhadaa (former Masjid Musa).
In the last few months, Muslim youths have forcefully taken over the two Mombasa mosques believed to be a hotbed of militant Islamists. Police are currently analyzing violent sermons delivered at the two mosques.
Muhoro urged the mosque leaders to setup committees to run them responsibly.
“Let’s have these mosques in the hands of responsible people to ensure they conduct their duties. It’s that simple. Anything outside that will be dealt with harshly,” Muhoro said.
Meanwhile, a 65 years old man who escaped death narrowly twice two months ago from suspected al-shabaab sympathizers attack was on Saturday night shot before he died undergoing treatment at Msambweni Hospital.
According to Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah the deceased Swaleh Mwakuyumba was shot in his stomach twice by unknown number of gunmen at his Mbuani home in Ukunda before they escaped.
His wife Halima Mwatsudzo was also shot at her right leg according to Omijah before they were both rushed to Msambweni referral hospital for treatment.
“The man died later while undergoing treatment but his wife is in good condition,” said Omijah in his Diani office on Sunday.
He said that the gunmen raided the home of the deceased at around 12:30 am on Sunday and found him outside his house with his wife before opening fire before escaping.
He said that the motive of the assassination is not yet clear because the attackers did not steal anything from the victim.
Omijah said that they have launched investigations to establish who are behind the killing and unearth the truth behind the incident that has left locals in the area shocked.
“We don’t know exactly what can have lead to the killing up to now but we suspect it is because of a case before court that the deceased was a witness,” he added.
The case which is scheduled to be heard tomorrow (Tuesday) where the deceased was a witness involved suspected terror mastermind Seif Setu alias Budget who appeared in Kwale court recently in a different name as Omar Bakari.
Sources indicate that the deceased was killed by a gang which is believed to be close friends of al-shabaab suspect in police cell.
- See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-163028/mombasa-tycoons-be-probed-over-terror#sthash.yhVWAzaT.dpuf

Scottish Independence and the UK State

by AhabsOtherLeg

Funnily enough, I do agree with some of what George Robertson said in that speech. Scottish independence will indeed embolden other independence movements across Europe - Catalonia (which looks set to vote Yes anyway, as they have before), and the Bretons in France, the Walloons and Flemish in Belgium, the Basques, etc.

While Robertson pisses himself at this prospect, seeing the financial and military interests of his good friends threatened, I welcome it.

Look at the European states who have strong independence movements within them...
It is all the old Imperial powers, isn't it? Britain, France, Spain, Belgium, Russia (with some NATO help in that case), and so on. Spain and Portugal already split up, so I'm excluding Portugal from the imperial powers list, though they do have a highly shitty colonial past.

There is also the immensely comedic potential here for Brussels to end up outside the EU, if Flanders and Wallonia split up, and the EU sticks to the rules on "new states" that they claim they'll use for Scotland. Imagine that.

On the Robertson/Dunblane stuff, one must tread carefully. He won a libel case against the Glasgow Herald not because of anything they'd actually printed in the paper, but because of an anonymous online comment that was left on an article by persons unknown. They had to pay so much in damages that they almost went under altogether. For all the laughability of his panic-stations rhetoric, he is a powerful and well-connected man (being made the non-military head of NATO is among the least of his various appointments over the years). It is bizarre to see him and George Galloway on the same side in the independence debate. They know each other well, and the loathing is mutual.

Apparently (to his credit) Robertson did criticize Thomas Hamilton's boy's clubs for being too "militaristic" in style (he withdrew his son from one of them for this reason).

That's a wee bit ironic, though, considering how much Robertson likes a militaristic style in every other aspect of his life.

NATO with its arguments recognized illegality of "referendum" in Karabakh

by Vugar Seyidov

A few days ago the North Atlantic bloc posted on its official website answers to the theses of Moscow concerning relations between Russia and NATO.

One question concerns the illegitimacy of the so-called "referendum" conducted in March this year in the Crimean autonomy of Ukraine. The document, in particular, reads:

"Russian officials claim that the so-called referendum held in the Crimea on 16 March was legitimate.

The referendum was illegal according to the Constitution of Ukraine, which states that "Nationwide referendum exceptionally settles issues of territorial change in Ukraine" (Article 73). Crimea as part of Ukraine has the status of an autonomous republic, but all the questions about its authorities should be resolved by the Parliament of Ukraine (Article 134) , and its constitution must be approved by the Parliament of Ukraine (Article 135).

In addition, the so-called referendum was held in a few weeks by the self-proclaimed leadership of the Crimea, assigned by the Russian servicemen in arms after the seizure of government buildings."

Thus, NATO with its arguments officially recognized the illegality of the so-called "referendum" held on 10 December 1991 in Nagorno-Karabakh of Azerbaijan. This event, designed to change the border of the Azerbaijan Republic, is contrary to Articles 78 and 79, yet the current Constitution of the USSR and lacked any legislative basis.

In particular, these articles of the USSR Constitution stated:

"Article 78. The territory of the Federal Republic cannot be altered without its consent. Boundaries between the union republics can be altered by mutual agreement of the republics, which is subject to approval by the USSR.

Article 79. The Federal Republic determines its territorial, regional, county, district division and solves other issues of administrative-territorial unit."

In addition, the desperate attempts of the Armenian leadership to refer to the Law of the USSR dated 3 April 1990 " On the procedure for issues related to the secession of Union Republics from the USSR" for holding an illegal referendum under some legislative framework are absolutely groundless, since the law repealed already on 5-6 September 1991 following the decision adopted at the Extraordinary Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR "On measures arising from the joint statement of the President of the USSR and the top leaders of the union republics and the decision of the extraordinary session of the USSR Supreme Soviet", establishing a new order of seceding from the USSR. Even without this decision the so-called referendum in Nagorno-Karabakh of Azerbaijan Republic was held in gross violation of several articles of the USSR Law which lost its relevance to the time from 3 April 1990.

Given that until the last minute of its existence the highest authority in the country was considered a decision of the union republics, not of the subordinate republic (and even less autonomous) governments, any change in the administrative boundaries within the country could be carried out only in accordance with the current Constitution of the USSR and with the approval of the union authorities.

And the last decision of the higher union authorities in the history of the USSR was the decision of the USSR State Council dated 27 November 1991 "On measures to stabilize the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the border areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia" , recognizing unconstitutional "all acts that change the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh autonomous region, as recorded in the Constitution of the USSR", ordering "to restore the constitutional order in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh", and the decision of the USSR Constitutional Supervision Committee dated 28 November 1991 "on the Acts of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and its Presidium and the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR (Republic of Azerbaijan) and the Armenian SSR (Republic of Armenia) on the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous region", recognizing the decree "On the Reunification of the Armenian SSR and Nagorno-Karabakh" from 1 December 1989 and the decision of the CEC of the Armenian SSR for the establishment of constituencies for elections to the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR in the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh as derogating from the provisions of the USSR Constitution and laws of the USSR and recognizing the decision of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan Republic dated 23 November 1991 on the Elimination of Nagorno-Karabakh as inappropriate to articles 86 and 87 of the Constitution of the USSR.

These two decisions of 27 and 28 November confirmed the status of Nagorno-Karabakh within the Azerbaijan SSR, cancelling by default the unauthorized proclamation of the so-called "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" instead of Nagorno-Karabakh and several other areas of the Azerbaijan SSR on 2 September 1991.

Thus, Nagorno-Karabakh region de jure left the USSR as part of the Azerbaijan Republic and under international principle uti possidetis juris, it was recognized by the international community, including the UN, only as part of Azerbaijan.

Illegal was not only the so-called "referendum" in Nagorno-Karabakh of Azerbaijan Republic held on 10 December 1991, but also in the case of holding unilaterally, a "referendum" that would follow it would be contrary to Article 3 of the current Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan (which de jure includes Nagorno-Karabakh) , which states that "the people of Azerbaijan by referendum can decide any matter affecting their rights and interests " and "change of state borders of Azerbaijan Republic" can be solved "only by referendum".

Taking into account that NATO refused to recognize the "referendum" in Crimea as legitimate precisely because it is contrary to the Constitution of Ukraine, this implies that for the same reason NATO considers the event conducted in 1991 in Nagorno-Karabakh of Azerbaijan in a similar way as illegal and having no legal consequences for its status.

Ethiopia slams International Rivers organisation for supporting Egypt

Ethiopia's National Panel of Experts linked to the Renaissance Dam project dismiss as biased to Egypt criticisms of the dam levelled by US-based environmental group

A general view shows construction activity on the Grand Renaissance dam in Guba Woreda, Benishangul Gumuz region March 16, 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

The National Panel of Experts linked to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has slammed the International Rivers Network (IRN) for criticising the Renaissance Dam project, accusing the body of being biased and supporting Egypt against the dam.

The panel accused, in a statement issued Thursday, the US-based environmental organisation "of subverting Ethiopia’s efforts to develop its water resources and lift its vast and growing population out of poverty." It accused the IRN of being paid by Egypt in order to lobby against the Renaissance Dam internationally. 

"Again, the IRN never loses opportunity to lobby for its Egyptian paymasters. Not only does the IRN talk about the 'oversize' of GERD, but also about the Egyptians’ negative emotions over GERD: anger and fear."

The IRN issued 31 March 2014 a statement about Renaissance Dam along with a leaked version of the report of the tripartite technical committee assigned to study the probable impact of the dam on Egypt and Sudan issued last year. 

"One international dam expert who has seen the report states that it shows that construction on the project is proceeding on an aggressively accelerated schedule with little room for adjusting key elements of dam design to reduce harm or prevent problems," the IRN said in its statement. 

The environmental NGO called on Ethiopia to halt construction of the dam until studies on the impact of the dam on the downstream countries are continued.

The IRN added that it would work on keeping international donors from investing in the GERD project while providing alternatives to Ethiopia for water and land reclamation. 

Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan formed a tripartite technical committee to study the probable effects of the Renaissance Dam. But the committee's discussions were thwarted in December when Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir announced his support for the dam during a meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

Talks between Ethiopia and Egypt broke down in recent months. Yet officials from both countries insist they will continue to hold talks in order to solve the dispute over the dam. Earlier this month, the foreign ministers of both Egypt and Ethiopia held talks in Brussels on the dam. 

Founded in 1985 as an international NGO, the International Rivers Network is an environmental anti-dam organisation that aims to protect rivers and local communities that depend on those rivers. The US based organisation is known internationally for its stances against dams in general.

source: english.ahram.org.eg