International Elections Observer is set to release its final report on the 2012 Somaliland local council elections.

The report dubbed -SWERVES ON THE ROAD captures events of pre-election campaigns, polling and counting day, and give highlights of ways in which future elections can be improved shall be released on Sunday 14th July from 9:30am-11:30am at the Mansoor Hotel in Hargeisa where a panel consist of three persons will be discussing the report, followed by questions and answers session.

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International election observation mission to Somaliland’s local council elections, assembled by Progressio, University College London and Somaliland Focus (UK), launches final report highlighting the “swerves on the road” as Somaliland continues to drive its developing democracy forward

The International election observation mission to Somaliland's local council elections, assembled by Progressio, University College London and Somaliland Focus (UK), launches final report highlighting the "swerves on the road" as Somaliland continues to drive its developing democracy forward.

During the first launch of the "Swerves on the Road" in London earlier this year the 50-strong team from 20 countries which was invited by Somaliland's National Electoral Commission (NEC) to observe voting on and before polling day, November 28th 2012 noted that once again, Somalilanders displayed their dedication to the unique democratic spirit they have crafted from their challenging history.

At the launch held at a function dubbed Contextualising Somaliland Elections: Clan, Ethnicity and Parties held on 11th June at the University College London the IEO report launch was preceded by a panel discussion and election photo exhibition by Kate Stanworth.

According to the report which also terms the elections as having been free and fair "there was real progress in inclusion of youth and women: the election of 10 female candidates represents a huge step forward. Yet concerns expressed immediately following polling day - especially over observers' reports of widespread attempts at multiple and underage voting - remain real"

While the IEO terms the elections as having been successfully conducted a few misgivings are indicated with sufficient evidence to state that successful attempts at multiple voting occurred at very significant levels. Thus, although the report declares the election process reasonably free and credible, it must fall short of describing it as fair.

Yet, despite the reservations and some genuine grievances, there were many gains from Somaliland's 2012 elections: with three political parties selected, Somaliland now has a clear road ahead into the next stage of its electoral cycle. The mission urges all stakeholders to continue to work to resolve difficulties using the methods of negotiation and reconciliation that have worked so well in the past in Somaliland.

While the IEO report is anxiously awaited the team of local observers led by Saferworld and the Somaliland Non State Actors Forum-SONSAF that had over 600 local observers in place during the 2012 local council elections released its initial report titled Somalilanders Speak in Nairobi on the 27th June 2013.

"Despite its status as an unrecognized country Somaliland has achieved immeasurable milestones through a relatively complex but home-grown set of political arrangements, providing concessions to and incorporating different interest groups" notes the Somalilanders Speak report.


At the Somalilanders Speak report launch at the British Institute in Eastern Africa; Nairobi Kenya where the future prospects for democracy and the lessons learned from the last electoral process was the focus of discussion the various stakeholders in attendance concurred that:


"Since it declared independence in 1991, Somaliland has worked to develop a system of multi-party democracy. The result is a relatively complex but home-grown set of political arrangements, providing concessions to and incorporating different interest groups"

“Swerves On The Road” will be launched at University College London, Room G03, 26 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AP at 5:30pm on June 11^th 2013. A panel discussion featuring Dr Gabrielle Lynch (University of Warwick), Richard Dowden (Royal African Society), Ayan Mahamoud (Kayd Somali Arts and Culture) and Dr Michael Walls (University College London) will be followed by a reception and a photographic exhibition by Kate Stanworth, the mission’s photographer. Further launch events in Somaliland in June and in August as part of the Hargeisa Book Fair will follow.

Notes to Editors

1. For further information or to arrange an interview with a member of the coordination team, please contact Conrad Heine on +44 7870 642 852 / media@somalilandfocus.org.uk, or in London Lucy Jenkinson on 020 7326 2011 / lucyj@progressio.org.uk. Photographs are also available.
2. Somaliland declared unilateral independence fromSomaliain 1991 following the collapse ofSomalia’s government. It remains internationally unrecognised.
3. A team of 50 observers from 20 countries was assembled by Progressio, the Development Planning Unit at University College London and Somaliland Focus (UK) to observe Somaliland’s local elections on November 28^th 2012. The mission follows on from observations of Somaliland’s inaugural local elections in 2002, followed by the parliamentary elections in 2005, judged by observers as “basically free and fair”, and the presidential election in 2010http://www.progressio.org.uk/sites/default/files/Somaliland-elections-2010-report.pdf , which saw an orderly transfer of power and was judged “a peaceful expression of popular will”.
4. The 2012 mission covered almost 20% of more than 1,700 polling stations in 15 of the 21 districts acrossSomalilandin which voting took place.
5. The mission was invited by Somaliland’s National Electoral Commission (NEC), and funded byBritain’s Department for International Development (DFID). We presented a post-poll interim report to the NEC and donors following polling day in early December 2012.
6. A pre-election assessment of the conditions for the local elections took place in 2012 and can be viewed here: http://www.progressio.org.uk/sites/progressio.org.uk/files/Preparing-for-local-elections-Sld-2012.pdf
7. For more information about Progressio, please see www.progressio.org.uk and about Somaliland Focus, see www.somalilandfocus.org.uk.

Somalia: Barclays' Decision to Close Cash Transfer Business Accounts Meets With Criticism

United Kingdom-based Barclays Bank's decision to close about 100 accounts of money transfer businesses over fears they have inadequate prevention measures against money laundering has been met with widespread criticism.

"Barclays money transfer shutdown must be reviewed -- it damages Somalia for no good reason -- lifeline for our people," tweeted Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon on Thursday July 11th.

Barclays has granted several businesses a one-month reprieve, including Dahabshil, the largest provider of cash transfer services in Somalia, the BBC reported Wednesday (July 10th).

Dahabshil said it is urgently trying to meet Barclays's standards to keep the account open, as Barclays is the last major UK bank providing services to these transfer businesses.

The announcement has raised concerns about the transfer of remittances from Britain to Somalia, which supports about 40% of the population in the absence of banking services in the country.

"Closing these accounts will lead to a humanitarian crisis in Somalia," said Dominic Thorncroft of the UK Money Transmitters Associations.

Chief Executive Officer of Dahabshil Abdirashid Duale also warned that closure of the transfer businesses could force operations toward "unregulated and illegal providers".

Baaq Taageero Oo Ay Dalbanayaan Beelweynta Sacad Muuse Ee Dagan Jubooyinka

Annagoo ah dhammaan cuqaasha, aqoonyahannada, culumada, dhalinyarada,haweenka iyo ganacsatada u dhalatay Beesha Sacad Muuse gaar ahaan Cabdalla Sacad oo muddo qarniyaala ku nolayn dhulkaan Jubbooyinkakuna siganay in nala xudumo siibo, nasiib wanaagse ay ka ab ka ab noo hayeen awoowayaasheen nasabadaan ku abtirsanno ee Subeer awal ayaa maalinka maanta ah waxaan isla garanay inaan u qaylo dhaansano tolkayo oo aan maqalnay inay shirweyne qabsanayso tolweynaha Sacad Muuse ee Somaliland.

Walaalayaal waxaan si xushmad leh idinka codsanaynaa inaad ajendayaasha shirka lagu daro Sacad Muusaha Jubbooyinka waayo sidaad la socotaan waxaa Jubbooyinka ka socda Ethnic cleansing oo dad ka soo qamaamay Puntland, Kilinka5aad iyo Gaarisa ayaa raba inay na moora doogaan oo dhulkaan hantiyaan. Beeshayadu waa beel balaaran oo seddexda gobal ee Jubada Hoose,Jubada dhexe iyo Gedoba degta una badan xoolo dhaqato oo xitaa Ugaaskayaga markii la caleemo saarayay duleedka Kismaayo bartamihii 80aadkii, waagaas tolweynahii u badnaa Isaaq ee ka soo qaybgalay weerahoodii waxaa ka mid ahaa Yurkud iyo Luuq baan idinku maqli jirnee ileyn geeliinu waxuu daaqaa Kismaayo iyo carro Waamo.

Walaalayaal waxaan dhib iyo dheef wadaag nahay tolkayo kale ee Dir gaar ahaa Biyomaal, Gaadsan, Sure, Mandaluug iyo Madexweyne Dir, waxaan qarniyaal daris wanaag wiil iyo abti xidid iyo xigaalo ahayn Mareexaan iyo Digil & Mirifle waana ku qanacsanayn. Nolasha caynkaas ahayd maanta ma ahayno waxaa dhulkii yimmid yay aan dad iyo duunyo kala reebayn, hal tulid kama hayno geelii daaqayay carro waamo iyo duleedka Kismaayo waxaa bililiqaystay nimankaas soo galootiga ah ee la magac baxay Kablalax Tri-angle.

Waxay Soomaalidu ku maahmaahdaa ' tol aad hiil waydiisatay tol ma ahan afadaada aad oon waydiisatayna afo ma ahan', Tolow maanta hiil baan idiinka baahanay oo xitaa afkuba waa hiile noogu hiisha oo nimankaas gaalada Kikuuyu noo soo wadatay ee dhul boobka ah nagala qaybgala iska

dhicintooda. Tol waynaha Isaaq seddex nin baa wax af noogu hiiliyay haynaa nin waa Faysal Cali Waraabe oo mar walba runta ka sheega oo yiraahda anaa uga sokeeya Jubbooyinka nimanka sheeganayay oo baabuurta uga banjartay markii la eryoonay, ninna waa nin mar noogu yimid

Muqdisho oo la yiraahdo Boqor Raabi waxaa nagu maqaalaa Hargaysaa lagu xiray tolbeelay! ninka seddexaad waa nin ka tirsan xukuumadda Xasan Sheikh mana doonayno inaan xusno magaciisa arrimo xasaasiya awgeed, sidaas darteed annagoo taagan tabtii aad soo marteen ee ahayd inaad marti ka noqataan Hargaysa, Burci iyo Berbera qolyana hawaystaan inay sheegtaan ayaan maanta marlabaad codsanaynaa in ilgaara nagula eego war xitaa wax naga yureeya Faroolaha ciidamada ka soo guraya Puntland waa u baahanahay.

Ugu dambeyntii waxaa fajac iyo amakaag nagu noqotay Cuqaal u dhalatay Awdal oo taageertay boobka Axmed Madoobe, si kastaba waa u dhirindhirinay waxaan ka badan waynay inay nimaankaas iska gadayaan Ina Cabdi Iley waayo dadka ay ka hiilinayaan waa dadkoodii kuwa ay u hiilinayaanna waa kuwii waligood iyo waaqood dhacayay. Waxaana leenahay Axmed iyo Faroole waa iskaga filanahay ee waa inta aan meel saarayno Kikuuyaha Kenya. Cuqaasha rer Awdalow ku digashadiinu waa halkii waagii

1990 bilihii dambe markii la xasuuqayay rer Somaliland Maslax Maxamed Siyaad Barre riwaayd iyo heeso loogu dhigayay Boorame,maantana Indeginouskii Waamo Sida Biyomaal, Shiikhaal,Warday, Gaal Jecel, Digil & Mirifle iyo Cawramaleh ayaa qoranayaa taariikhdaas mugdiga ah ee aad dhigteen, annagoo hubno beeshaas sharafta mudan inayna idin la qabin oo horintiinaas saxaafadda ka muuqata keli idinku tahay.

Dadka ku hadlaya magaca Cabdalle Sacad jubbooyinka

1. Caaqil Muuse Xasan Ildalab

2. Eng. Mohamed Cilmi Dhicis

3. Gacan Cabdi Jeerin

4. Faadumo Muunin Ali

5. Saacid laadeer faarax

5. Madina Xasan Koalan

6. Saciid Cali Xabiib

7. Caaqil daauud shiikh Qaasim

8. Dr. Khaled Aden Macalin

9. Layla xasan

10. Cabdi khadar Maxamuud dhaaye

EMAIL: abucubayda367@hotmail.com

Hawala and the Diminishing Humanitarian Space

by Abdurahman Sharif, Operations Manager of the Muslim Charities Forum

The repercussions of Barclays closing 250 accounts held by money remitters have the possibility of being extremely detrimental to millions of Somalis who rely on these funds to live. The move, which came into effect earlier this week, essentially cuts off a lifeline that is estimated to be worth as much as US$1.2 billion every year - more than the entire humanitarian support the country receives. For a country that doesn't have a banking system, this is the only way millions are able to receive cash for basic necessities. The closure has even led to the Somali Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon, to speak out against the move.

Banks are key instruments for the financial transfer of accumulated remittance deposits. They also act as "proxy regulators" used by governments to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. However, they often have a meagre understanding on how money remitters operate. As a result, and because of the risk averse nature of banks, they would prefer not to do business with remittance companies.

Banks in the UK have come under ever increasing scrutiny from regulators in relation to international financial transfers. In August 2010, Barclays was ordered to pay $298m(£190m) and Standard Chartered, in December 2012, was asked to pay more than $300 million in fines to the US authorities for violating international sanctions by handling hundreds of millions of dollars in clandestine transactions with banks in Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan and Burma.

It is fair to say that banks have had their nerves frayed at the edges by having to pay hefty fines. This has shifted the focus on organisations that deal with transferring money, often to countries which have financial systems that are less than stable - most notably Hawala and humanitarian organisations. A Hawala is a money transfer system which has its origins in the Arab world and is largely based on trust and are common in area such as Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

In October of last year, UK based charity Islamic Relief had their account closed by UBS as well as incoming donations blocked into the account - ultimately affecting the work taking place on the ground. Similarly, many other relief organisations have had an increasing problem with banking including opening an account, delays and blocks in transferring funds and receiving donations from abroad - all of which has impacted on the assistance provided of these charities.

There are several regulated Hawala in the UK and USA. Dahabshiil, the largest money remitter to Somalia, is registered and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in the UK. This means that it will have to respond to the FSA for any wrongdoing in the same way banks have had to respond to the same entity in the aftermath of the credit crunch.

This begs the question, if banks are coming under increased scrutiny and charities as well as Hawala are bearing the brunt of the over cautiousness by banks, surely there is another way. Hawala are a very popular partner chosen by humanitarian agencies to distribute cash in Somalia. It enables a safe and quick disbursement of money to beneficiaries in a project area. This opportunity is increasingly exploited by aid agencies operating in complex situations like Somalia where the weak local administration and the security risk undermine humanitarian response.

In a sector where a successful timely response to a crisis is heavily linked to the readily accessible funds, a discussion needs to take place to ensure that charities and registered money transfer services can serve their beneficiaries without obstacles in the way that could lead to the loss of life.

Regulators need to do more to address this problem by working with money transfer services and charities, to have a greater understanding of how these organisations work and how stringent regulation can negatively impact their work.

Follow Abdurahman Sharif on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AbdurahmanShar

Please, Barclays – reconsider cutting off a lifeline to the world's poorest families

Money transfer agents are vital for people trying to help those struggling in countries such as Somalia and Bangladesh

By Rushanara Ali, 
For 30 years, one of my constituents has been sending money to his family in Bangladesh and their neighbours. He also supports his widowed niece and her three children by paying their school fees and health costs.

They live in a remote part of the country, so he uses the local Bengali-speaking money transfer agent, based in Brick Lane in London, which has a network of agents and is able to reach towns and villages throughout the country, and at affordable rates. Other local agencies help those who originate from Somalia, Nigeria, Pakistan or India. I've heard countless stories of the invaluable help agencies have given when they've needed to send money to loved ones quickly on important occasions such as burials, weddings and for emergency hospital treatment. The support they provide really is a lifeline.



Barclays Bank has, however, recently decided to terminate its banking facilities for these agencies. This will badly hit an estimated 70% of such companies, which will have a devastating impact on thousands of families.

"There is simply no other legal way of sending money to remote areas in Somalia," community activist Ayan Mahamoud told me. "We're not just talking about families helping each other, we're also talking about humanitarian aid organisations like Oxfam who use these services."

Somalia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and the Dahabshill money transfer firm in my constituency is one of the only ways to send money there. Without banking facilities, Dahabshill would not be able to continue trading.

Two remittance agencies, Moneygram and Western Union, will remain unaffected by the Barclays move. But though they are the major players, their charges are often higher than the other operators, and they simply do not have the reach of some of the other agencies.

The remittance economy has had a hugely positive impact worldwide. The effect of floods in Pakistan in 2010 would have been far more harshly felt without cash donations from family members in developed countries.

Barclays is taking its action over concerns that money transfer agencies might not have the proper checks in place to spot criminal activity. The bank's decision followed the imposition by US authorities of a $1.9bn fine on HSBC last year for poor money laundering controls. HSBC said last autumn it would get out of the money service sector entirely. Of course, it is right for Barclays to review of its procedures and take action against any criminal activities. But taking such draconian action means that potentially millions of innocent people across the globe will have their financial lifelines switched off.

Remittance flows reached $3.2bn from the UK in 2011, and $530bn worldwide in 2012 – greater than all the world's development aid budget put together. Remittances cannot of course replace other forms of investment or aid, but it's clear that they complement long-term international development.

Consequently, 45 Labour MPs and I have written to Barclays asking them to reconsider. Many of them have, like me, been approached by distraught constituents. We are calling on Barclays to provide some time and breathing room while the government and the regulatory agencies work out what action can be taken to save these businesses.

Other parliamentarians are concerned too. The all-party parliamentary group on Somalia and Somaliland has recently raised its own concerns to Barclays and the government regarding this decision, saying the service "provides an essential lifeline of support … especially in the absence of a formal public banking system in the country".

Last week David Gauke MP, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, said the government is "working to seek to manage the impact this will have on businesses and communities in the UK," but I fear this will be too little and too late.

I cannot think of a more vital, more effective lifeline for the developing world than remittance flows, and we need to oppose the closure of these firms. The wellbeing of so many people is at stake, not to mention the loss of trade pioneered by ethnic minority communities with links to their country of origin.

The alternative is sleep-walking into yet another avoidable disaster, and could have a devastating effect on developing countries and on efforts to alleviate poverty among some of the most disadvantaged people in the world.

Source: guardian.co.uk

Justice Department faces evidence hurdles in proving Zimmerman bias after verdict

The Justice Department was running into immediate hurdles Monday in its investigation of possible civil rights violations by George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin -- namely, that after examining the case for more than a year, the evidence has not changed. 

Though the department announced after Zimmerman's acquittal that it would consider a possible federal case, previously filed FBI documents show agents have not turned up any accounts that Zimmerman, before the February 2012 shooting, exhibited racial bias. 

Sanford police detective Chris Serino also told FBI agents last year that he considered Zimmerman as having "a little hero complex, but not as a racist." 

Florida defense attorney Brian Tannebaum told FoxNews.com that the "number one challenge" for DOJ is the evidence, or lack thereof. 

"There's been an acquittal. The evidence has not changed. It's not like the feds are going to go in and find more evidence," he said. 

Tannebaum said he understands the Justice Department was responding to intense public sentiment, but "I don't foresee it becoming a federal case."

The question of racial bias is key because if the Justice Department were to pursue a federal case against Zimmerman, federal hate-crimes law is one of the few tools the department would have. 

The statute itself bars "willfully" causing injury to someone else "because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person." 

The department has used federal civil rights law before to pursue defendants who had been acquitted at the state level. But in what is perhaps the most famous such case -- the Rodney King beating -- the circumstances were different. 

First, there was a highly publicized video of the King beating. No such video of the Martin shooting is known to exist. 

Second, the two officers ultimately convicted on federal charges in that case were charged with using or permitting unreasonable force under "color of law" -- this applies only to law enforcement. 

The separate federal hate-crimes law applies to both law enforcement and civilians. But it's not clear how the Justice Department could prove racial bias. 

Serino, the Sanford detective, told FBI agents last year that after examining the case, it appeared Zimmerman was suspicious of Martin because of his "attire, the total circumstances of the encounter and the previous burglary suspects in the community." 

Serino told the FBI that there had been several burglaries in the area, and that gang members in the community "typically dressed in black and wore hoodies." 

"When Zimmerman saw Martin in a hoody, Zimmerman took it upon himself to view Martin as acting suspicious," Serino said, while describing Zimmerman as "overzealous." The FBI document wasposted on the Smoking Gun website. 

McClatchy also has reported on another set of documents that show FBI agents interviewed a dozens of people in the course of probing possible racial bias but nobody would say Zimmerman showed such bias before the shooting. 

Still, the Justice Department agreed to requests from NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous and several lawmakers to keep investigating the defendant. 

"The Department of Justice's Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division, the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to evaluate the evidence generated during the federal investigation, as well as the evidence and testimony from the state trial," the Justice Department said in a statement Sunday.  "Experienced federal prosecutors will [now] determine whether the evidence reveals a prosecutable violation of any of the limited federal criminal civil rights statutes within our jurisdiction, and whether federal prosecution is appropriate in accordance with the Department's policy governing successive federal prosecution following a state trial." 

The department may find itself in a vulnerable spot, not only because of prior interviews which found no evidence of bias. 

Last week, a conservative watchdog accused an obscure agency within the DOJ of helping support the "pressure campaign" against Zimmerman in the wake of the shooting last year. Judicial Watch claimed documents and public accounts showed "extraordinary intervention" by the department in the campaign that eventually led to Zimmerman's prosecution. 

The department, however, claims that it dispatched agency representatives to reduce tensions in the community - not to take sides. 

The department is under heavy pressure from some groups to pursue the case further. 

Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., and other House Democrats called a press conference on Monday to urge the Justice Department to "conduct an immediate and thorough investigation." 

The NAACP started the drive to pressure the DOJ to continue its probe by posting a petition Sunday morning on the website MoveOn.org. 

"The most fundamental of civil rights -- the right to life -- was violated the night George Zimmerman stalked and then took the life of Trayvon Martin," the group wrote.   

Attorney General Eric Holder plans to speak at the NAACP convention on Tuesday. 

FoxNews.com's Judson Berger contributed to this report.

Source: FoxNews.com

Journalist: Snowden has enough information to cause US government worst damage in history

July 14, 2013: Journalist Glenn Greenwald speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Greenwald, The Guardian journalist who first reported Edward Snowden's disclosures of U.S. surveillance programs says the former National Security Agency analyst has 'very specific blueprints of how the NSA do what they do.' (AP/Silvia Izquierdo)

National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden possesses enough information to cause more damage to the United States government than "anyone else has ever had in the history" of the country, according to the journalist who first reported the former contractor's leaked documents.

Glenn Greenwald, a columnist for The Guardian newspaper who first reported on the intelligence leaks, told Argentinian newspaper La Nacion that the U.S. government should exercise extreme care with Snowden because he has the potential to do further damage to the country.
"But that's not his goal," Greenwald told the newspaper. "His objective is to expose software that people around the world use without knowing what they are exposing themselves to, without consciously agreeing to surrender their rights to privacy. He has a huge number of documents that would be very harmful to the U.S. government if they were made public."

Greenwald also told The Associated Press that disclosure of the information in the documents would "allow somebody who read them to know exactly how the NSA does what it does, which would in turn allow them to evade that surveillance or replicate it."

Greenwald said "literally thousands" of documents taken by Snowden constitute "basically the instruction manual" for how the NSA is built.

"In order to take documents with him that proved that what he was saying was true he had to take ones that included very sensitive, detailed blueprints of how the NSA does what they do," said Greenwald, adding that the interview took place about four hours after his last interaction with Snowden.

Greenwald believes the disclosure of the information in the documents would not prove harmful to Americans or their national security, but said Snowden has insisted they not be made public.

"I think it would be harmful to the U.S. government, as they perceive their own interests, if the details of those programs were revealed," said Greenwald, who has previously said the documents have been encrypted to help ensure their safekeeping.

On Friday, Snowden, 30, emerged after weeks of hiding in a Moscow airport and said he was willing to meet President Vladimir Putin's condition that he stop leaking U.S. secrets if it means Russia would grant him asylum until he can move on to somewhere in Latin America.
Snowden is believed to be stuck in the transit area of Moscow's main international airport, where he arrived from Hong Kong on June 23.
Although he has had asylum offers from Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia, the logistics of reaching whichever country is complicated since his U.S. passport has been revoked.

Despite his predicament, Snowden remains "calm and tranquil," Greenwald said.

"I haven't sensed an iota of remorse or regret or anxiety over the situation that he's in," said Greenwald. "He's of course tense and focused on his security and his short-term well-being to the best extent that he can, but he's very resigned to the fact that things might go terribly wrong and he's at peace with that."

Greenwald said he worried that interest in Snowden's personal saga had detracted from the impact of his revelations, adding that Snowden deliberately rebuffed nearly all requests for interviews to avoid media scrutiny. He also said he's  "concerned" about Snowden's personal safety.

Greenwald said the U.S. has shown it's "willing to take even the most extreme steps if they think doing so is necessary to neutralize a national security threat."

Asked about a so-called dead man's pact, which Greenwald has said would allow several people to access Snowden's trove of documents were anything to happen to him, Greenwald replied that "media descriptions of it have been overly simplistic.

"It's not just a matter of, if he dies, things get released, it's more nuanced than that," he said. "It's really just a way to protect himself against extremely rogue behavior on the part of the United States, by which I mean violent actions toward him, designed to end his life, and it's just a way to ensure that nobody feels incentivized to do that." 

Greenwald has also co-authored a series of articles in Rio de Janeiro's O Globo newspaper focusing on NSA actions in Latin America. He said he expected to continue publishing further stories based on other Snowden documents over the next four months. Upcoming stories would likely include details on "other domestic spying programs that have yet to be revealed," but which are similar in scope to those he has been reporting on. Greenwald did not provide further details on the nature of those programs.

It remains unclear whether Russia will take Snowden up on his latest request for asylum, which could further test U.S.-Russia relations.
 
Following Friday's meeting between Snowden and human rights activists, U.S. officials criticized Russia for allowing a "propaganda platform" for the NSA leader.

White House spokesman Jay Carney - who said the former NSA contractor is not a human rights activist or a dissident - said Russia should instead send Snowden back to the U.S. to face the felony charges that are pending against him.

"He is accused of leaking classified information, has been charged with three felony counts and should be returned to the United States," Carney said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.




Source: FoxNews.com

Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum Scheduled to be Held in Washington D.C.

Ethiopian Business News - Latest Business Alerts 
 
Written by Meraf Leykun 

The 8th round of the Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum and the 2013 Pioneer Diaspora Awards Luncheon, is scheduled to be held in Washington DC, on July 27, 2013.

This years event will focus on investment opportunities in agri-business, agro-processing and financing and value chain development opportunities in select sub-sectors for Diaspora Investors, according to the organizers.

The Forum will also feature an agri-business concept competition. The organizers will award the winning team of the competition with a round trip ticket to Ethiopia and technical support from the Forum and its sponsors as well a chance to participate in a USAID-funded matching grant program to support investments in selected agricultural value chains.

“The Forum and Awards events will highlight the work of the Ethiopian Diaspora entrepreneurs and various business and investment opportunities available for Diaspora businessmen,” said Yohannes Assefa, Managing Director of The Ethiopian American and Founder and Executive Director of the Forum.

The Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum is an annual event organized by The Ethiopian American, a Virginia based Ethiopian Diaspora business and investment group with offices in New York. The Ethiopian American was established in 2004 by a group of young Diaspora professionals to create a positive and non-political platform devoted to the issue of business and investment in the Ethiopian Diaspora community.

Source: NewBusinessEthiopia.com

USAID Launches Camel Milk Value Chain Development Project

Written by Meraf Leykun

The U.S. government has launched the Camel Milk Value Chain Development Project in Somali Regional State, Ethiopia, according to a statement the Embassy sent to Ethiopian News Agency on Thursday, the new project will support up to 50,000 small-holder livestock keepers. The project is launched as part of the U.S. President's Feed the Future Initiative in Ethiopia through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The project will improve the entire value chain of camel milk production, from the camels to the arrival at the markets, according to the statement. To increase camel productivity, the project will focus on breed development, improved animal feed and fodder, and animal health service delivery. The project will give special focus to building the capacity of community animal health workers to diagnose and treat camel diseases.

USAID Ethiopia Mission Director Dennis Weller also said Ethiopia has a good chance of becoming a leader in promoting camel production as a key to pastoralist livelihood security and development, according to the statement.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Workers protesting work force cuts at US base in Africa

by John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes

Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, chief of naval operations, and then-commanding officer of Camp Lemonnier Capt. Kevin Bertelsen walk with Billeting Supervisor Carlos Garces on a tour of the camp living quarters last year. The base has been the site of regular protests recently by workers angry over layoffs.  U.S NAVY

STUTTGART, Germany —  Hundreds of workers angry over mass layoff plans are on strike and staging daily protests outside Camp Lemonnier, the strategically placed U.S. military base in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, officials said Wednesday.

In June, the military entered into a $35 million contract with base support services provider KBR, which took over responsibility for operations from a previous contractor. KBR planned to cut its base operation support staff from 1,000 to 600 workers, who conduct a range of activities such as janitorial, laundry and food service work, according to a U.S. Navy spokesman, who said the previous contract cost $80 million per year. That plan prompted the remaining 600 workers to strike.

While some 97 local national and third country staffers operating under a separate contract continue to work at Lemonnier, the other Djiboutian workers have walked off their jobs altogether to protest KBR’s planes to reduce its base support staff  by 400 employees, according to Lt. Cmdr. Rob Johnson, a Navy spokesman.

“It’s my understanding that some third-country nationals have been coming in to fill some of those jobs,” Johnson said.

Still, the result has been longer lines at the dining facility, longer waits for laundry service and slower trash pickup, Johnson said. “They say it’s been an inconvenience more than anything else,” he said.

Camp Lemonnier supports roughly 4,000 U.S. and allied military and civilian personnel along with about 1,100 local and third country nationals, according to the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Web site.

Negotiations aimed at resolving the dispute are continuing, Johnson said.

“I can’t speak for KBR’s reasoning,” he said. “We don’t tell them how many people to employ or how to employ them.”

“The protests have been by local nationals who have been requesting they (KBR) not reduce the force,” Johnson said. “They’ve been peaceful protests. They’ve been holding up banners. They express different ideas. They say they support the U.S. military, but they want their jobs.”

On average, about 100 workers take part in the protests each day outside the base, he said.

KBR said it is working on resolving the dispute.

“KBR is in contact with the U.S. Navy regarding this situation.  KBR is working closely with the Djibouti Minister for Labour and Minister for Foreign Affairs and is confident a resolution will be found in the near future,” company spokesman John A. Elolf said in a written statement.

Camp Lemonnier, the U.S. military’s only official and permanent base in Africa, serves as the headquarters of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, which is focused on countering violent extremists in Somalia and around the Horn of Africa.

vandiver.john@stripes.com