Human Rights Group sent letter to David Camaroon Advising the issue of Somalia ahead of London Meeting

To: Rt Hon David Cameron,
      Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Re: Human Rights at the Somalia Conference 2013
 

Excellencies,

On behalf of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP), I am writing to commend the inclusion of rebuilding the justice system among the focus areas of the upcoming Somalia Conference and to emphasise the importance of including human rights considerations throughout this process.

Respect for human rights is sential for the rebuilding of a stable state and the rule of law in Somalia.

EHAHRDP therefore welcomes recent public commitments on the part of the Government of Somalia othe promotion and protection of human rights in the country. In the new spirit of partnership between Somalia and the international community that the 7thMay Conference is expected to embody, we urge representatives of the international community, in particular the United Kingdom, to provide not only financial support but also technical expertise to enable the Somali Government to translate these commitments into practical improvements in the country in conformity with fundamental principles of rights. This should include support to the parliamentary committee on human rights, humanitarian affairs and gender to enable it to carry out its mandate effectively, as well as establishment of an independent national human rights commission, as provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Human rights defenders can make an important contribution to embedding a human rights culture in the country, but, as the UNDP Somalia Resident Representative stated recently, “to be a human rightdefender in Somalia is to live in constant threat of losing one’s life.” With eighteen media workers assassinated in 2012 and four journalists killed already since the beginning of this year, the dangers are indeed grave. Among those killed in an attack on a court in Mogadishu on 14thApril 2013 were two lawywho had successfully defended a woman prose

The protection of human rights defenders and the fostering of an enabling environment where they can eventually carry out their work without fear of attack should therefore be a priority for the upcoming conference. The announcement of the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the killings of media workers in the country was a positive step and the investigating team must be given all necessary support to conduct timely, thorough, impartial and genuinely independent inquiries. Ending impunity for such attacks is an essential element in improving the protection of journalists in Somalia.

In closing, EHAHRDP would like to urge the Government and its ternational partners to ensure that all their efforts to promote human rights in Somalia, including in prosecutions and penalties to hold perpetrators to account, are fully in line with internationally recognised human rights standards.

Yours sincerely,
Hassan Shire Sheikh

Wararkii ugu dambeeyay qaraxa maanta ka dhacay Magaalada Muqdisho “Daawo Sawirada”

Warar dheeraaad ah ayaa waxay ka soo baxayaan qaraxii miino ee maanta ka dhacay Isgoyska KM4 ee Magaalada Caasimada ah ee Muqdisho.

Telefishinka Al Jazeera ayaa wuxuu tabiyay in gaari laga soo buuxiyay walxaha qarxa la soo dhigay Shaneemo ku taala Isgoyska KM4, waxaana lagu doonaayay in lagu qaarajiyo Wasiirka Arrimaha Gudaha ahna Amniga Qaranka C/Kariin Xuseen Guuleed iyo wefdi Ajnabi ah oo la socday.

Iyadoo Wasiirka iyo wefdigiisa ay marayaan Isgoyska KM4 ayaa waxaa lagula eegtay qaraxaan, oo si weyn u gil gilay Isgoyska KM4 iyo inta badan Magaalada Muqdisho.

Balse qaraxaan ayaan wax yeelo ka soo gaarin Wasiirka iyo xubnihii kale ee ku wehlinaayay socodkaan, hase ahaatee taasi bedelkeeda ayaa waxay wax yeelo ka soo gaartay dad masaakiin ah.

Ciidamada Dowladda oo soo gaaray goobta uu qaraxu ka dhacay ayaa waxay ku guuleysteen inay xiraan, sidoo kalana ay goobtaasi soo gaaraan gawaarida dab damiska loo yaqaano, kuwaa oo ku guuleystay inay dambiyaan dab ka kacaayay gaarigii qaraxa laga soo buuxiyay.

Majirto wax war ah oo ilaa iyo iminka ka soo baxay dhinaca Dowladda Soomaaliya, oo ku aadan qaraxa culus ee maanta ka dhacay Magaalada Muqdisho.

 

Somaliland: Ethio-Somaliland Bilateral Relations Enhanced

President Silanyo and Ethiopia PM Desalegn Concurred on the enhancement of existing Security and Commercial relations during a meeting in Addis Ababa.

President Silanyo and Ethiopia PM Desalegn

ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopian and Somaliland has agreed on strengthening existing bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.

At a meeting in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia between President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo and the prime minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn the two heads concurred on the enhancement of Security and commercial ties.

This was informed by President Silanyo during a post meeting press conference in which he not only thanked the Ethiopian leader and government for continued friendship and support that is continuously availed the people of Somaliland.

"Somaliland and Ethiopia share cordial relations of which we are determined to not only sustain but enhance as well" Said president Silanyo.

During the two hours closed door meeting the two leaders are reported to have discussed security and commercial ties agreed to ensure that on-going technical level committee's discussions between the two countries are supported to the hilt.

Last week the two countries technical committees meeting at ambassador hotel reached far reaching arrangements pertaining to various aspects of the two nations cooperation in various sectors,

During the Addis Ababa meeting president Silanyo was accompanied by the minister of the presidency Mr Hirsi Haji Ali while the Ethiopian PM had the director general in the ministry of foreign affairs in attendance.

President Silanyo who arrived in Ethiopia from a very successful diplomatic visit to Turkey, Britain and the USA is expected in the country on Sunday the 5th of May

Wararkii ugu dambeeyay qaraxa maanta ka dhacay Magaalada Muqdisho “Daawo Sawirada”

Warar dheeraaad ah ayaa waxay ka soo baxayaan qaraxii miino ee maanta ka dhacay Isgoyska KM4 ee Magaalada Caasimada ah ee Muqdisho.

Telefishinka Al Jazeera ayaa wuxuu tabiyay in gaari laga soo buuxiyay walxaha qarxa la soo dhigay Shaneemo ku taala Isgoyska KM4, waxaana lagu doonaayay in lagu qaarajiyo Wasiirka Arrimaha Gudaha ahna Amniga Qaranka C/Kariin Xuseen Guuleed iyo wefdi Ajnabi ah oo la socday.

Iyadoo Wasiirka iyo wefdigiisa ay marayaan Isgoyska KM4 ayaa waxaa lagula eegtay qaraxaan, oo si weyn u gil gilay Isgoyska KM4 iyo inta badan Magaalada Muqdisho.

Balse qaraxaan ayaan wax yeelo ka soo gaarin Wasiirka iyo xubnihii kale ee ku wehlinaayay socodkaan, hase ahaatee taasi bedelkeeda ayaa waxay wax yeelo ka soo gaartay dad masaakiin ah.

Ciidamada Dowladda oo soo gaaray goobta uu qaraxu ka dhacay ayaa waxay ku guuleysteen inay xiraan, sidoo kalana ay goobtaasi soo gaaraan gawaarida dab damiska loo yaqaano, kuwaa oo ku guuleystay inay dambiyaan dab ka kacaayay gaarigii qaraxa laga soo buuxiyay.

Majirto wax war ah oo ilaa iyo iminka ka soo baxay dhinaca Dowladda Soomaaliya, oo ku aadan qaraxa culus ee maanta ka dhacay Magaalada Muqdisho.

Somalia: Security Forces Hamstrung By Corruption, Infiltrators

Mogadishu — Somalia's security forces need rebuilding to cement gains made by foreign troops against Islamist militants, but how to pay and arm recruits, tackle corruption and prevent rebels infiltrating their ranks remain hurdles for the cash-strapped government.

Proving the dire state of the Somali forces, when Islamist gunmen attacked a court in Mogadishu in April, police said they couldn't tell who was friend or foe, while members of the force say a $100-a-month salary is not enough to inspire loyalty.

"Shoe shiners have a better life," said a junior police officer, who only gave his name as Hussein. "They are not targets and they get a better income."

Emerging from two decades of anarchy, security gains in the past two years have been made largely thanks to African peacekeepers spearheading the fight against al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels.

Western powers, long worried Somalia is a launch pad for militant Islam in east Africa and beyond, fear the nation could slide back into chaos if local forces cannot cement gains.

How to overhaul its security forces will top the agenda at a May 7 conference in London, where Britain and Somalia will seek more international support at a time al Shabaab are weakened and piracy off the Horn of Africa is at an all-time low.

A threat by Ethiopian troops to withdraw from Somalia has raised questions over how the stretched African Union peacekeeping force, known as AMISOM, would be able to plug the gap and highlighted the need for Somalia to build its own capacities.

"Somali armed forces need building up, their police need expanding," Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague told Reuters when he re-opened Britain's embassy in Mogadishu.

"There are many huge challenges and dangers that remain and the world mustn't think that we have solved all the problems or that its help isn't needed," he said. Washington and Brussels already help pay African troops and Somalia's forces.

Hague said Britain's permanent diplomatic presence signalled London's confidence, although the makeshift embassy's four metal cabins lie behind two blast walls within the fortified airport.

Elected in September, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said security was "priority number one, two and three".

PEACEKEEPERS

It is clear why. Mohamud's government depends on the 18,000 or so African troops to survive, and the poorly armed, poorly paid and ill-disciplined military is in no position to take over.

When Ethiopia grumbled AMISOM was not doing enough to take over places its troops had secured and withdrew in a huff from Hudur, near Ethiopia's border, al Shabaab retook the dusty town.

That signalled how swiftly al Shabaab, now largely confined to rural areas, could regroup if any vacuum is left. Diplomats do not expect Ethiopia to leave the African troops stranded.

"It is not in Addis Ababa or anyone's interest to see al Shabaab move back in. Ethiopia clearly understands that," a senior Western diplomat said. "But now we have to tie up what AMISOM is doing and what the Somali National Army is doing."

More a collection of rival militias than a cohesive fighting force, the army lacks sophisticated command structures and has been dogged by soldiers selling off their guns and uniforms.

Frequently that gear ends up in Mogadishu's markets, or in the hands of al Shabaab. More worrying, security officials say, is the number of militants infiltrating the armed forces.

In the April attack on the capital's law courts, the attackers were disguised in official military fatigues.

During the chaotic gun battle, a Reuters photographer saw one group of soldiers point their guns at another group, also in uniform. "Hey stop, who are you? Go back!" They too raised their rifles and replied "We are security forces, and who are you?"

"EAT YOUR BULLETS"

Mistrust is not limited to those in Somalia's forces. Somalia's allies are also wary. The United Nations has partially lifted an arms embargo, allowing in light weapons to help Somali forces, but has maintained a ban on heavy arms.

"They have to visibly demonstrate they can control what they buy and receive before we go further," said a Western official.

President Mohamud and foreign powers say security sector reform must extend beyond the military to the police force which officially numbers around 6,000, nearly all of whom are in Mogadishu - reflecting the government's limited reach.

Plans to add 4,000 more would still leave the national force less than a third the size of New York city's police department.

A government-approved strategic plan for the police force acknowledged some officers have never received any training while others learned their trade as militia loyal to warlords.

One diplomat said foreign assistance to the police force amounted to "life support". More generosity may be required to make it a more professional security operation.

"If only we could get $500 a month, al Shabaab would be extinct," said a second officer who identified himself as Omar. "We would stand in the alleyways day and night and pick them off like ripe bananas."

Rageh Omaar supports fundraising event for the Somaliland National Library halkan ka daawo kana soo qayb gal

Friends and Citizens of Somaliland please join us for the London project briefing and fundraising event for the Somaliland National Library.

Date: Sunday 5th of May 2013

 Venue: Harrow Civic Centre,

 Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY

 Time: 5pm-8pm

 £20 at entrance

Main Speakers on the night include

 Sheikh Mohamud Sheikh Dalmar

 Sheikh Said Mohamed

 Ahmed Dahir

There will be an opportunity for you all to contribute to this open forum to share ideas, views and help to steer the project to a success

For more info, please get in touch with us

 Telephone 07930056826, 07533323874, 07859004966

 Email: hargeisa.library@gmail.com

 Web: www.hargeisalibrary.com

 Twitter:@hargeisaLibrary