SOMTEL the leading Telecommunication company in the Horn of Africa Unveils Amazing Service

SOMTEL ROAMING NEW AMAZING SERVICES

"Apart from regular news of donation to one sports activity or another Somtel shall remain in the peoples heart for having facilitated live transmissions of the 2011 annual regional sports tournament held in Burao" Sultan Aden Farah

Somtel one of the country's leading telecommunications company has adapted a new company logo which it unveiled at a colourful ceremony held in the capital Hargeisa.

The unveiling of the company's new motto of "share your world" is imposed on black background with two yellow dots was witnessed by a multitude of invited guests among them the ministers of planning Dr Sa'ad Ali Shire , Commerce Hon Abdirizaq Khalif , Sports Ali Saeed Raygal and communications Ali Elmi Gelle respectively. Other notables included Senior Dahabshil company officials, traditional/religious and political leaders.

SOMTEL NEW LOGO

According to the Somtel public relations officer Mr.Kadar Abdirahman Abdilahi the new logo and logo shall be the communication company's identity both locally and international.

Briefing guests at the logo and motto unveiling ceremony the SOMTEL CEO Mr. Awil Salah Abdi pledge to strengthened services to clients as well as add new and innovative technologies to current services offered by the communications company.

The new look for Somtel is per the desire of Dahabshil Company which is the parent company to separate the communication portfolio from others in the wider Dahabshil Group.

This was revealed by the Dahabshil group's public relations and communications officer Prof Hasan Mohamed Jama "Hasan Hiis" who informed that the unveiling ceremony simplifies the operational indolence of Somtel from its parent company.

Said he, "Following the sustainability achieved by SOMTEL since inception, the unveiling of its new logo and motto signifies its operational separation from its parent, the Dahabshil Group of companies"

According to prominent traditional leader Sultan Dakir Hasan Aw Khalif the advent of Somtel in the country has facilitated Somtel is the 1 sports sponsor in Somaliland Somtel is the 1 sports sponsor in Somaliland client's access to various technologies of note being the use of your mobile set to browse the internet.

While thanking the contribution of SOMTEL towards various communities development projects, Sultan Aden Farah a Hargeisa based leader traditional leader said most of note is the continued support of youth development activities by the company as pertains to sporting activities.

Said he, "Apart from regular news of donation to one sports activity or another Somtel shall remain in the peoples heart for having facilitated live transmissions of the 2011 annual regional sports tournament held in Burao"

It is worth mentioning that SOMTEL is the main sponsor of this year's annual regional sports tournament slated for Hargeisa where the company in partnership with Somaliland National TV shall transmit live events from day one to the finals.

Wishing the now independent Somtel company success the planning minister Dr. Sa'ad Ali Shire hoped that it has fully adapted the renowned corporate responsibility of Dahabshil and shall continue providing the same now and in the future.

Adding his share of praises the minister of posts and telecommunications Hon Ali Elmi Gelle said that the performance of SOMTEL are a clear indication that it is a by-product of Dahabshil "a company whose trust and perfect service to clients is reckoned with worldwide"

About Somtel Sunday, 14 October 2012 07:05 administrator

SOMTEL HEADQUARTER

Somtel is one of the leading companies in telecommunication in Somaliland. The company provides telephone service, Internet and mobile service. That is efficient and provides fast and stable service.

MissionSomtel GSM network operations recently commissioned in major urban and rural areas of Somaliland; to meet these needs by applying the correct technologies at an reasonably price with clear purpose of developing state of art technologies. All over Somaliland and beyond.

Somtel is a Telecommunication Company currently operating in Somaliland. Somtel is registered in British Virgin Islands and having office branches in Sharjah, U.A.E., Djibouti and Somalia. The Head office is situated in Somaliland Hargeisa. Somtel was established in March 2010 and since its inception Customer base has enabled us gain significant market share in the industry

General information

Attaching presentations was never this easy. From quick email access to downloading heavy attachments, Somtel 3G helps you work better and faster. Do E-Dahab transactions, VoIP services, video conferencing and lots more on your phone. For your laptop get the EDGE Somtel Plug and Play USB modem and kiss slow speeds goodbye.

For more information visit http://www.somtelnetwork.net

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stresses that Turkey will continue to support Somalia.

Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey met with Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo, President of Somaliland on March 13, 2013.

Projects conducted by the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency's (TİKA) and various Turkish non-governmental organizations in Somaliland were addressed at the meeting held with the participation of five Somaliland Ministers including Foreign Minister.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said that Turkey’s assistance to all parts of Somalia including Somaliland would continue increasingly and Somaliland was of special importance for Turkey due to the historical ties dated back to Ottoman era. Emphasizing Turkey's commitment to the integrity of Somalia, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu expressed that Turkey would continue to support for the reconciliation, stability, prosperity and development of Somali people.

United States Institute of Peace: Grants & Fellowships - Call for Proposals : Horn of Africa Priority Grant Competition

Call for Proposals: Horn of Africa Priority Grant Competition

BACKGROUND

The United States Institute of Peace announces the launch of its Horn of Africa Priority Grant Competition. The region faces numerous pressing challenges, including ongoing conflict within states and tensions among neighbors. A diverse set of actors–including governments, regional organizations, international bodies, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and religious and community leaders are undertaking conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts in the region

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

The Horn of Africa Priority Grant Competition seeks to support the peacebuilding projects of non-profit organizations, think tanks, and universities. Priority will be given to local organizations, but international organizations with a strong history of work in the region may also apply.

Each year, the grant competition will support projects on a specific set of countries. For 2013, the Institute is seeking proposals for peacebuilding and conflict resolution projects in Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

In future years, the Institute may elect to solicit proposals on a different set of countries within the Horn of Africa.

Topics of interest include:

·        Inter-communal or inter-state conflict resolution and cooperation

·        Governance, rule of law, and transitional justice

·        The role of youth in conflict prevention and conflict resolution

·        Economic drivers of conflict and/or the economic impact of conflict

·        Media and science in peacebuilding and conflict resolution

·        Post-conflict reconciliation and reintegration

·        Early warning and conflict prevention

·        Religion and peacebuilding

·        Social and psychological impacts of war and conflict

·        Gender and peacebuilding

USIP supports both research projects and practitioner projects.

The above list is not exhaustive, and we do welcome other creative ideas. Grants may support either stand -alone projects or projects that form a part of wider conflict management initiatives. Do note, however, that the Institute does not provide funds to support the establishment of a new organization. Organizations may only seek funds for a discrete project, and the applying organization must already be properly registered with the relevant authorities. Please read the entire “Eligibility” section for detailed information on whether you are eligible to apply.

How to Apply

This Call for Proposals involves a mandatory two-step application process. The first step in the process is to submit a three-page concept note. Concept notes longer than three pages will not be reviewed. There is no form or specific format for the concept note, but applicants should be sure to describe:

1)     The problem that the proposed project seeks to address;

2)     The goals of the project and the activities that will be implemented;

3)     The qualifications of the organization and the project team;

4)     How the project will be monitored and evaluated; and

5)     The estimated cost of the project. (Do not provide a full budget.)

Please pay close attention to the “Proposal Guidance” and “Eligibility” sections when developing your concept note. Concept notes must be submitted by Tuesday, April 2^nd at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time to the email address hornofafricagrants@usip.org. At the top of the concept note and within the body of the email, please provide the name of the implementing organization, the name of the contact person, and the email address and telephone number of the contact person.

After a review of the concept notes, a select number of applicants will be contacted and asked to submit a full proposal.

Timeline:

Deadline for submission of concept notes:

·        April 2, 2013 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

·        Request for full proposals: No later than April 8, 2013

·        Full proposals due: April 26, 2013

·        Funding decision: June 30, 2013

·        Projects begin: August 2013

This timeline is subject to change.

Proposal Guidance

Stronger project proposals:

• Will have a clearly articulated link to USIP’s conflict resolution and peacebuilding mandate.
• Will demonstrate an awareness of related work being carried out, and be able to explain how the proposed project offers a unique contribution.
• Will have well-developed project logic, with the objectives aligning with the problem to be addressed, and the activities relating clearly to the objectives.
• Will have organizational capacity and personnel based in the countries where the grant funds are being applied.
• Will demonstrate an awareness of possible risks and security challenges, as well as strategies to mitigate them.
• Will have a thoughtful monitoring and evaluation plan that will provide evidence on whether the project achieved its objectives.

Eligibility

All U.S. and foreign non-profit organizations and universities are eligible to apply for funding, although preference will be given to local Somali, South Sudanese, and Sudanese organizations. At a bare minimum, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have personnel and organizational capacity in the area where the project would be implemented. Support cannot be provided to government agencies or to individuals working for government agencies.

Current USIP grantees are not eligible to apply. Individuals working as USIP contractors may or may not be eligible to apply depending on the nature of the contract.

The proposed project must be focused on Somalia, South Sudan, and/or Sudan.

The Institute of Peace does not provide funds for the creation of a new organization, for the construction or maintenance of an office, for direct social services, or for microenterprise projects.

Funding

Subject to available funding, current plans for this solicitation are as follows:

• Total funding: $400,000
• Number of projects funded: 4-6
• Grant range: $60,000-$100,000

Final decisions regarding funding will be made by the United States Institute of Peace Board of Directors.

If you have any questions, please email Elizabeth Murray at emurray@usip.org. Please note that concept notes should only be submitted to the address hornofafricagrants@usip.org.

About the United States Institute of Peace

The United States Institute of Peace is an independent, nonpartisan institution established and funded by Congress to increase the nation's capacity to manage international conflict without violence. To learn more, please visit www.usip.org. 

 

US Army Africa command Post Soldiers Train with South African Forces

TOGGLE CAPTION

US Army Africa command Post Soldiers Train with South African Forces

VICENZA, Italy , Mar 08, 2013 —

Lt. Col Light Jongilanga Tsalupondo, administrative commander for the 43rd Brigade of the South African National Defense Force, discusses training events with Staff Sgt. Robert Hamrick of U.S. Army Africa Contingency Command Post during a contingency command post exercise in preparation for Shared Accord 13.

Soldiers of U.S. Army Africa Contingency Command Post hosted a familiarization visit, Feb. 26-28, with six South African National Defense Force soldiers in preparation for Shared Accord 13, a joint peace keeping and humanitarian exercise scheduled for July.

This visit, which was part of a contingency command post, or CCP, command post exercise, was the first time U.S. Army Africa, known as USARAF, incorporated a partner nation in an exercise prior to going to Africa, which the participants saw as a beneficial factor.

Col. Vuka Sean Mahlasela, 44th Parachute Regiment commander, South African National Defense Force, or SANDF, said the exercise helped both forces learn to cooperate with each other and improved the relationship between U.S. and South Africa.

"Joint and multinational operations have become the norm of the day. The national defense forces play a very significant role to be able to operate with regional, international and multinational forces to test tactics and share skills and knowledge as well as to learn from each other as multinational forces," Mahlasela said.

Some of the training in which SANDF participated included basic command and control of a multinational exercise; intricacies of joint task force operations; requirements of different logistical infrastructures; and proposed ways on how to run meetings, which the U.S. military calls "Seven-Minute Drills."

Soldiers of U.S. Army Africa Contingency Command Post go over a battle task for a scenario with a South African National Defense Force soldier during a contingency command post exercise in preparation for Shared Accord 13, a joint peace keeping and humanitarian exercise.

Lt. Col. Kevin Saatkamp, CCP executive officer, said key tasks for the CPX were to familiarize SANDF with combined joint task force headquarters capabilities and battle rhythms; rehearse combined command post structure incorporating both U.S and SANDF; and rehearse command and control procedures in a non-secure network environment.

Saatkamp, a Center Moriches, N.Y. native, said some of the training SANDF participated in was based on the scenario written by SANDF exercise directors for Shared Accord 13, or SA 13. With SANDF facilitating the environment for the command post exercise, or CPX, it gave everyone a chance to build better partnerships and capacities.

"Anytime you open a dialogue with someone from a different culture, and it's a positive one based on mutual experiences being in the military, you start to build trust. That trust leads to capacity and building capabilities collectively between two countries," Saatkamp said.

Lt. Col. Gus Claassens, scenario drafter and exercise concept designer for SA 13, SANDF, agreed mutual trust is crucial in these types of exercises, and explained why the CPX is important for U.S. and SANDF soldiers.

"It [the CPX] is important on two levels: first of all, to develop skills of our own Soldiers, compared with a first-world country, for our own purposes. Secondly, to enable international cooperation because the world is shrinking and the Army is busy getting more involved in Africa, so at one point in time we'll end up working shoulder-to-shoulder, so it is very important to create that commonality," Claassens said.

Maj. Ivan Palacios, CCP CPX planner, said the overall objective of the CPX is for USARAF and SANDF soldiers to establish a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities for the CJTF during SA 13. In the end, Palacios said both forces were able to take away valuable knowledge and experience from the CPX.

"[SANDF] will take back to their leadership how to better synchronize and collaborate with the U.S.," said Palacios, a Bronx, N.Y. native. "This is the success that was achieved during these last few days and will set us up for long-term success during Shared Accord in July."

Palacios said USARAF Soldiers learned many valuable lessons as well.

"Our Soldiers are taking away that the military decision making process is very important going into any operation, and they have learned to ask a lot of thought provoking questions prior to execution," Palacios said.

Mahlasela agreed the CPX was mutually beneficial for both parties.

"We learned from each other our different ways of completing the mission. We now know when challenges occur, we will learn how to mitigate those circumstances, and it will create platforms [for us to get to] know each other on an individual basis and [provide opportunities to] share the different skills [each of our forces] possess," Mahlasela said.

The golden Horn of Africa

Resource Clips

by Greg Klein
While continuing the Asmara feasibility study in Eritrea, Sunridge Gold TSXV:SGC announced on March 7 a new near-surface discovery at Kodadu, four kilometres east of Asmara’s Debarwa deposit. With assays complete on 21 reverse-circulation holes, the company now plans an initial resource estimate for the potential deposit.

True widths for the two zones were estimated at about 70%. Some highlights from the gossan zone include:

• 1.71 grams per tonne gold over 51 metres
• 1.77 g/t over 31 metres
• 1.66 g/t over 22 metres
• 1.06 g/t over 32 metres
• 1.08 g/t over 27 metres
• 1.05 g/t over 20 metres
• 1.18 g/t over 17 metres.

The top-most intercepts started at surface while the deepest stopped at a down-hole depth of 51 metres.

Some shear zone highlights include: 

• 1.15 g/t over 33 metres
• 2.3 g/t over 16 metres
• 0.99 g/t over 21 metres
• 0.64 g/t over 15 metres
• 0.81 g/t over 11 metres
• 1.19 g/t over 1 metre.

Again, the top-most interval began at surface. The deepest ended at 79 metres down hole.
The company now wants to “rapidly define a resource that could be mined as feed” to a processing facility near Asmara’s Emba Derho copper-zinc-gold-silver deposit, 25 kilometres away, which would also serve three nearby satellite deposits. Three of Asmara’s four deposits would be open pit operations. The fourth, Adi Nefas, would go underground.

Asmara’s feasibility study is slated for Q2 release and already the company is forecasting improvements to last May’s pre-feas. Using a 10% discount rate, that study projected a pre-tax net present value of $555 million and a 27% internal rate of return. With initial capital costs then estimated at $489 million, payback would have come in 3.5 years, while the life of mine would last 15.25 years.

Now Sunridge is considering a staged start-up to cut capex and get to the ore earlier.

Mining would begin with copper, gold and silver from Debarwa’s supergene (higher-grade) zone. Work would progress with heap leach gold production at the Emba Derho plant, processing ore from the Debarwa and Gupo deposits as well as Emba Derho.

The next stage would involve mining and processing the remaining copper supergene ore from Debarwa and Emba Derho. With full production in year three, Asmara would produce an estimated annual average of 70 million pounds (31,750 tonnes) copper, 140 million pounds (63,500 tonnes) zinc, 31,000 ounces gold and 997,000 ounces silver over the mine’s first eight years.

hat’s the forecast so far. Full details should come with the Q2 feasibility study. Last May the company released a full feasibility study for a possible standalone operation at Debarwa. Exploration and expansion drilling continues on a fifth deposit, Adi Rassi, which produced a maiden copper-gold resource estimate in December.

Asmara is subject to a 30% acquisition on fair market terms by the Eritrean National Mining Corp (ENAMCO). That comes in addition to a 10% non-assessable interest that would be carried two-thirds by Sunridge and one-third by the state-owned corporation. Once the 30% deal has been negotiated, ENAMCO will pay a third of all expenditures, including development and exploration.

Sunridge opened March 7 at $0.195, a penny above its previous close. The stock reached $0.21 before closing on $0.205. With 175.16 million shares outstanding, the company’s market cap came to $35.91 million.

About 150 kilometres west, a process is underway that might almost be described as reverse alchemy. There, Nevsun Resources TSX:NSU readies the transformation of its Bisha gold operation to copper output. The company expects to produce 80,000 to 90,000 gold ounces in 2013 before depleting its yellow metal reserves by mid-year. The second half of 2013 should see Bisha give up between 60 million and 80 million pounds copper, Nevsun stated. With full copper production in 2014, the company expects to see about 200 million pounds that year.

Nevsun has a $9-million, 18,400-metre drill program planned this year to explore the mine area and surrounding properties. An initial resource estimate for the Northwest Zone, 1.2 kilometres from Bisha, is slated for Q3 release. Bisha’s carbon-in-leach plant remains on site in hopes that gold exploration finds it useful again. ENAMCO holds a free-carried 10% interest in Bisha plus an additional 30% paid participating interest.

About 10 kilometres north of Bisha, Chalice Gold Mines TSX:CXN has early-stage drilling underway at its Mogoraib North copper-zinc project, a JV with ENAMCO holding 40%. The company hopes to find volcanic massive sulphide systems similar to those of Bisha.

Last September Chalice completed the sale of its Zara gold project in Eritrea to China SFECO Group and ENAMCO for a combined $114 million. Just prior to the transaction Chalice technical director Doug Jones told ResourceClips,

“The Chinese are already heavily invested in Eritrea. It’s not a surprise that they’re quite keen on acquiring additional assets there. And there’s quite a strong political link between Eritrea and China.” The sale allowed Chalice to make a December payout to shareholders totalling $25 million, leaving the company with $54 million cash on hand.

Resource Clips

Resource Clips provides investors in the Canadian junior mining sector with a quick source of key information – discoveries, watch lists, private placements, insider trades, news releases, quotes, level II information, charts and company history. We cover gold, silver, base and rare metals.

Resource Clips is owned by OnPage Media Corp. a privately held British Columbia company specializing in market communications for junior resource public companies.

 

56th Session of Commission on Narcotic Drugs closes with 18 resolutions passed on international drug control

DRUGS

CND reveals broad diversity of its work through resolutions on New Psychoactive Substances, alternative development, HIV, and the shared responsibility of nations to counter illicit drugs, among many others.

VIENNA, Horna 15 March 2013  – In a crowded auditorium at the end of the 56th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted the importance of the CND within the framework of international drug control. He said the sessions of the Commission were the building blocks for crafting an international response to illicit drugs.

“We have started our preparations for the high-level review of the implementation of the
 Political Declaration and Plan of Action at the CND next year,” said Mr. Fedotov.

Discussing the CND resolution concerning the preparations for this high-level review, Mr. Fedotov said, “The resolution is a milestone in our collective journey, which starts with the high-level review next year at the CND, and continues at the special session on drugs at the General Assembly in 2016.”

After congratulating civil society for its own contributions, Mr. Fedotov said UNODC had shown its own value at the 56th Session through its release of International Standards on Drug Use Prevention, which recognize that science-based prevention means working with families, schools and communities. He said these standards were an investment in the future of people. But, were much more than standards, they were another example of how UNODC places health, treatment and prevention, as well as human rights, at the forefront of its work.

“With each passing session, we add, we polish, and in so doing, we advance the ability of nations to confront illicit drugs, while also ensuring the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes. Our work is founded on shared responsibility for all the actions of the international community in this area,” he said. Mr. Fedotov also said the duty of the international community was not based on “…national size, or economic strength, or even geography, but on the certainty that only international cooperation can assist the millions of people around the world who need our help.”

The sessions of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs were attended by over 1,000 representatives of Member States, distinguished guests, and civil society organisations.

* *** *
For further information please contact:
David Dadge
Spokesperson: UNODC
Telephone: (+43 1) 26060-5629
Mobile: (+43-699) 1459-5629
Email: david.dadge[at]unvienna.org

Mohammed Haji Mohamoud Criticizes Somalia’s Prime Minister

Chairman of the Economic Committee of Somaliland Parliament, Muhammad Haji Mohamoud

Hargeysa, Somaliland – The Chairman of the Economic Committee of Somaliland Parliament, Muhammad Haji Mohamoud, strongly criticized the attempt by Somalia’s Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon, to help war criminal Gen. Muhammad Ali Samatar avoid being held accountable for the crimes he committed when he was the second highest member of Siyad Barre’s military dictatorship.

The British educated Mr Muhammad Haji Mohamoud emphasized that Somalilanders will pursue in courts whoever committed crimes against them, and that included Somalia’s prime minister himself, Abdi Farah Shirdon, who was known for using his connections to the former dictatorial regime to extort money and property from Somalilanders in Berbera.

Mohammed Haji Mohamoud added that the case against Gen. Muhammad Ali Samatar is solid and that the General himself admitted that he committed those crimes.

It is widely believed that the capital used by Somalia’s current Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon, to engage in business activities once the former dictatorship collapsed, was derived from the money he used to extort and the properties he used to confiscate from people when he was in Berbera.