Somaliland : Arday dhigta Abaarso Tech oo Deeq Waxbarasho ka helay Jaamacadda Caalamiga ah Ee MIT

Jonathan Starr, Abaarso Tech Principle and Mubarik Mohamoud

Mubaarig Maxamuud oo ka mid ah ardayda sannad koodii afaraad dhamaysaynaysa kana qalin jabinaysa dugisga Abaarso Tech ayaa ka helay warqad ogalaansho jaamaacada Massachusetts Institute of Technology taas oo ku magac dheer MIT.

Warar ka soo baxay wadanka Maraykanka ayaa dhawaan u aqoonsaday jamacadan MIT kalinta koobaad xaga engineerka kalinta labaadna ugasha xaga businesska.

Mubaarik waxa uu ka mid noqday 5 arday ee ilaa hada laga soo aqbalay jamacado Maraykanka ah ardaydanoo ah fasalka koobaad ee Abaarso Tech ka qalinjabiya. Tani waxa raacsan 6 arday 00 hada ku sugan wadanka Maraykanka iyo ardayga South Africa ku was oo kamid ah fasalkan ugu horeeya eeka qalinjabinaya Abaarso Tech. Hadii Alle eedmo Waxa rajo ah in ardayda sanadkan qalinjabinysa qaar badan oo kamidi hesho deeqyo kale oo waxbarasho inta aanu sanadku dhamaan.

Jonathan Starr, maamulaha dugsiga Abaarso Tech, ayaa yidhi sida tan “Mar kasta anagu waan ku faraxnaa maraka ardaydayadu hesho deeqo waxbarasho dugisiyo iyo jamacado heersare, lakiin maxaa laga odhan karaa fursadan qaliga ah ee uu Mubarik ka helay jamacada ugu saraysa xaga engineerinka ee caalamka? Marka la dhaafo inuu ku koray wadankan ka soo kobcaya dagaal sokeeye, ardaygan da’da yari waxa uu ka soo jeeda qoys danyar ah maantana waxa uu gaadhay heer layaab leh. Ardaygani waxa uu wadada u furayaa macalimiinta iyo ardayda timaadda Abaarso Tech sannadada soo socda.”

Harry Lee, gacanyaraha maamulka dugsiga Abaarso ayaa ku daray, “ Mubarik ogalaanshi hiisu waxa uu cadaynayaa ardayda dugisga Abaarso ee si hufan oo xad dhaaf ah u dadaalaysa si ay u helaan fursado qaaliya.”

Mubaarig Maxamuud ayaa yidhi, “ Waa riyo dhabowday in MIT isoo aqbasho iyadoo jamacadni aqbasho ardayda calaamka ugu saraysa. In la isoo aqbalo laina bar bar dhigo ardayda waadamada Marykanaka, China iyo Thialand ayaa iga dhigtay in aan ku hanwaynaado dugisgayag Abaarso Tech, Wadankayga iyo naftayda. Jamacadii aan galaba hada mustaqbalkaygu aad ayuu u horumarsanyahay mana sugi karo bilaabitaanka noloshada jaamacadeed.”

Mubaarig waxa uu wali sugayaa in uu ka maqlo jaamacado Maraykan ah oo aad u heer sareeya, ka dibna waxa uu dooran doona jaamacada uu rajeeyo Insha Allah.

Why elections matter in Somaliland

As news and analysis emerges from the second UK-Somalia conference in London, the absence of the government of Somaliland is noticeable. Somalia and Somaliland are bound by many longstanding ties, but over the past two decades their political trajectories have diverged. As institutions in Somalia have crumbled under the weight of protracted sectarian violence, Somalilanders have made considerable headway in building a functioning democratic system of government. While political developments in Somaliland should not be romanticised, they are worth examining and reflecting upon.

Elections in Somaliland have been an integral ingredient in establishing an inclusive system of representation. They are not mere formalities, conferring a thin veneer of legitimacy on a permanent incumbent; nor are they conducted solely as a sop to foreign donors insisting on greater democracy; nor is the prime motivation to further the pursuit of international recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state.

For most Somalilanders, elections an essential component of internal peace and security. They present clans, sub-clans and individual voters with important choices and provide a forum for free expression of views. Elections involve complex reshaping of relationships between regions and groups.

The November 2012 local elections were of particular significance. Only the three political associations which attracted the most votes would win, or retain, legal status as political parties until the next local elections – which may not occur for another decade. The previous local elections, in 2002, had established UDUB, Kulmiye and UCID as political parties. Ten years on, it was by no means certain that two of these three would exist beyond the November polls.

By July 2012, many of UCID’s supporters and MPs had transferred their allegiance to the new political organisation Wadani, led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi “Irro”. UDUB, the party of two previous presidents, was widely thought to be dissolving. New alliances were being forged, old ones were being redefined – and competition was intensifying daily.

It was against this backdrop that Africa Research Institute interviewed ten prominent Somalilanders, including the three Speakers of the House of Representatives, two government ministers, MPs, civil society activists and representatives of women’s organisations. The product of these conversations is published in After Borama: Consensus, representation and parliament in Somaliland. The accounts focus on how political stability has been maintained in Somaliland – and present assessments of representation, the role of political institutions and national development priorities in the country.

After Borama was launched at Africa Research Institute in London on 1^st May. The event coincided with the 20^th anniversary of the conclusion of Shirki Boorraama – the Conference of Elders of the Communities of Somaliland in the city of Borama, in western Somaliland. As described by Mark Bradbury in Becoming Somaliland, this was “not only a defining political event in Somaliland, but also an example of an indigenous popular peace-making process that has few parallels in contemporary Africa”.

Somaliland’s 2012 local elections were fiercely contested. Seven political entities competed for the right to contest parliamentary seats and the presidency in future elections. Despite the intensity, some violence, and a good deal of rancour in the immediate aftermath, the results were accepted. Kulmiye and UCID retained their legal status as political parties and were joined by newcomer Wadani.

As ever, lessons have been learnt. In an address to both Houses of Parliament in January 2013, President Silanyo acknowledged the need for a new voter register before the next parliamentary polls – to counter electoral malfeasance and the possibility of more serious outbreaks of violence. This will be no easy task. A previous effort proved extremely divisive and had to be abandoned.

Good electoral management and fairness are vital – but so too is inclusiveness. Women remain substantially excluded from formal politics in Somaliland despite their pivotal roles in society, the economy and in negotiating peace. For most pastoralists, central government is a distant – even irrelevant – entity.

The announcement by President Silanyo of a US$1.3m stimulus plan for Sool, East Sanaag and Buhoodle regions will be welcome, but much more needs to be done by government both within and beyond the main towns and cities. Economic and social development must be prioritised throughout the country.

Thorny and controversial issues confronting Somalilanders were raised at the launch of After Borama, as they are addressed in the publication. These include clan politics and the concentration of power, the management of elections, the consequences of the lack of a voter register, the campaign to secure a role for women in formal politics, the future role of the Guurti – the upper house of parliament, and the conduct of international donors.

With occasional lapses, Somaliland has been successful at maintaining peace for more than two decades. The country created a credible constitution, held a nationwide referendum on independence, has conducted a succession of largely free elections and has effected peaceful transfers of power. These experiences may not provide a blueprint– Somaliland has ploughed its own distinctive furrow through success and setback. But they do contain valuable insights for those interested in promoting long-term peace and stability in Somalia, and the wider region.

The publication After Borama and podcast of the event can be downloaded here.

Photos of the launch can be accessed here.

Edward Paice, Director

Al-Shabaab fighters loyal to Godane reportedly kill al-Amriki

American-born jihadist Omar Hammami, also known as Abu Mansour al-Amriki, was reportedly killed by al-Shabaab soldiers loyal to top al-Shabaab commander Ahmed Abdi Godane Tuesday afternoon (May 7th) near the village of Rama Addey in southern Somalia, UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported.

Photo Al Amriki's last update on Twitter was on May 3rd, nearly a week after he posted a number of pictures and updates alleging that al-Shabaab fighters loyal to Godane had tried to assassinate him

According to the unconfirmed report, senior al-Shabaab leader Fuad Mohamed Qalaf, known as Fuad Shangole, made the announcement Tuesday evening in a sermon he delivered after evening prayers at a mosque in Hiran region's Bulo Burde. He said al-Amriki was ambushed and a fire-fight ensued that left several al-Shabaab militants dead.

In his sermon, Shangole called the men who gunned down al-Amriki as having acted contrary to the principles of Islam, a point previously stated by a number other top al-Shabaab leaders -- including co-founder Ibrahim al-Afghani, leader of foreign fighters al-Zubayr al-Muhajir and Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali (or Abu Mansur) -- in a fatwa April 30th that forbade the killing of al-Amriki.

Al-Amriki was placed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) list of most wanted terrorists last November and in March the United States announced a $5 million bounty on his head.

Al-Amriki was believed to be in hiding in Somalia and he regularly communicated with his followers and international terrorism analysts via Twitter in recent months. His last update on Twitter was on May 3rd, nearly a week after he posted a number of pictures and updates alleging that al-Shabaab fighters loyal to Godane had tried to assassinate him.

In the week since the failed assassination attempt, al-Amriki appears to have been in a precarious situation, posting updates that gave little doubt of the danger he believed he faced.

"May not find another chance to tweet but just remember what we said and what we stood for. God kept me alive to deliver the mssg 2 the umah," he wrote on April 29th.

For more than a year, al-Amriki has posted videos, documents and updates on Twitter and YouTube detailing how al-Shabaab's leadership -- specifically Godane, who is also known as Abu Zubayr -- has been the reason for the organisation's downfall, and how Godane's leadership is contrary to the true principles of jihad.

Even in his last tweets, al-Amriki continued his attacks against Godane. "Abu zubayr has gone mad. he's starting a civil war," al-Amriki wrote April 26th.

Al-Amriki's death could not be independently verified, and this is not the first time such news has circulated. In April 2012, Somali media reports said al-Shabaab executed al-Amriki, which was later found to be erroneous.

Somaliland’s role in peace and security

H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, President of Somaliland

From President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo.
Sir, Increased international attention and support for Somalia is both welcome and necessary. We hope that the Somalia conference makes a tangible difference, channelling more and smarter funds towards the development and security of our region.

Despite progress in Somalia to rebuild the shattered country, peace and a lasting political settlement remain some way off as Katrina Manson reports (“Leader appeals for new Marshall Plan for Somalia”, May 7). The damage and instability caused by the lack of governance for two decades will take time to repair.
This is in contrast to Somaliland, the autonomous state to the north of Somalia, which over the same period has held five separate elections, put in place functioning state institutions and been fully involved in international efforts to combat terrorism and piracy in the wider region. Yet these acknowledged successes and the meeting of criteria for statehood under international law have still not seen Somaliland recognised as an independent state.

We are pleased to see a government in Mogadishu starting to deliver for the people of Somalia. But Somaliland must not be forgotten. Lasting peace, security and prosperity in our region requires a resolution to the political independence of Somaliland.

H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, President of Somaliland, Hargeisa, Somaliland

PHC declares drone strikes illegal, orders govt to compensate victims

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday declared the CIA-led drone strikes on Pakistani territory illegal and ordered the government to compensate the victims of drone attacks.

The PHC chief justice Dost Mohammad said drone attacks must equal to a war crimes.

He added that the attacks were violating human rights and were against the United Nations’ charter.

In its detailed judgment, the court directed the government to take measures to stop drone strikes which it said were violating Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Chief Justice announcing his decision over a petition submitted by Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) lawyer S M Zafar and ordered the Interior Ministry to file a resolution with the United Nation's Human Rights Commission adding that in case the resolution was vetoed by the United States then ties with the US be severed.

Bangladesh Islamist gets death for war crimes, raising fears of protests

A student activist puts black scarves on the eyes of Shoparjito Shadhinota, a sculpture that represented all sections of people in Bangladesh's liberation War in 1971, demanding capital punishment for Bangladesh's Jamaat-e-Islami senior leader Abdul Quader Mollah, after a war crimes tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment, in the campus of University of Dhaka February 6, 2013. Credit: Reuters/Andrew Biraj

By Ruma Paul

DHAKA (Reuters) - A Bangladesh war crimes tribunal convicted and sentenced an Islamist party leader to death on Thursday, raising fears of a repeat of clashes between police and protesters after similar sentences were handed down earlier this year.

Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, 61, assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was found guilty of genocide and torture of unarmed civilians during the 1971 war for independence from Pakistan, lawyers and tribunal officials said.

War veterans were among hundreds who cheered the verdict, the fourth reached by the tribunal with more to come, on the street outside the court.

Bangladesh, reeling from a garment factory collapse that killed more than 900 people, has been rocked by protests and counter-protests related to the complex legacy of the independence war in recent months.

The protests are one of the main challenges facing the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who opened an inquiry into abuses committed during the war in 2010.

Leading defense lawyer Abdur Razzaq rejected the verdict and sentence and said Kamaruzzaman would appeal.

Bangladesh became part of Pakistan at the end of British colonial rule of India in 1947. But the country, then known as East Pakistan, won independence with India's help in December 1971 following the nine-month war against then West Pakistan.

The recent unrest began in January when the tribunal sentenced to death in absentia a leader of Jamaat. Thousands took to the streets in February demanding the execution of another Jamaat leader after he was jailed for life on similar charges.

More than 100 people have been killed in clashes this year, most of them Islamist party activists and members of the security forces.

"We are happy with the verdict as it fulfills the demands of the countrymen, especially the young generation," said Imran Sarker, who gave up his medical practice to lead the movement demanding the death penalty for all war criminals.

Jamaat and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) both accuse the prime minister of using the tribunal to persecute them. The government denies the charge.

The tribunal has been criticized by rights groups for failing to adhere to international standards. Human Rights Watch said lawyers, witnesses and investigators reported they had been threatened.

(Additional reporting by Serajul Quadir; Editing by Matthew Green and Nick Macfie)