Remove the UN arms embargo or we cannot defeat al-Qaeda, says Somalia - Telegraph

Remove the UN arms embargo or we cannot defeat al-Qaeda, says Somalia

The United Nations should lift its arms embargo on Somalia and Britain should mobilise funds for a new national army that can defeat al-Qaeda, the country's defence minister said today.

Abdulhakim Haji Faqi  Photo: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

By David Blair

8:25PM BST 06 May 2013

On the eve of a conference in London designed to build support for Somalia's official government, Abdulhakim Haji Faqi told The Daily Telegraph that an arms embargo first imposed in 1992 should now be abandoned.

"To live peacefully within ourselves, we need our military to be equipped properly – and that is why we need completely to lift the arms embargo," he said.

In March, the UN eased the embargo, allowing the supply of small arms to the official government, but maintained the ban on heavy weapons.

Mr Faqi said this had made no difference so far in the fight against insurgents.

"Although the [small] arms embargo has been lifted close to two months ago, still we were not able to bring even one extra bullet or one extra AK [rifle] because of lack of funding."

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Mr Faqi's task is to weld clan militias into a single national army. Last year, al-Shabaab, the radical Islamist movement that is allied to al-Qaeda, was finally expelled from the capital, Mogadishu, and much of southern Somalia, including Kismayo, a vital port.

But this was largely achieved by 18,000 African Union troops, drawn mainly from Uganda, Kenya and Burundi.

Mr Faqi's goal is to build a new army capable of securing Somalia without foreign personnel.

"We should build our professional national army within three years, but it will really depend on the support we receive from our international partners, including the UK, the US and European Union," he said.

At present, Mr Faqi said the army has fewer than 4,000 trained soldiers. One training centre in Mogadishu is producing another 1,000 every four months. The goal is to open two more training camps and deploy 28,000 troops by 2016.

But Mr Faqi said this depended on funding from Britain, America and the EU. "Al-Shabaab has been defeated, but they are still dangerous," he said.

"They lost fighters, they lost territory, they lost their finances, but still they are a danger.

"In this fight, we need to be together with international partners, such as the UK and US."

Mr Faqi added: "Margaret Thatcher said 'this is no time to go wobbly'. We have to stick together – we have to fight against al-Shabaab."

UK troops in Somalia 'aiding Africa Union force' - BBC News -

UK troops in Somalia 'aiding Africa Union force'

The African Union forces in Somalia have been boosted to nearly 18,000 this year

Continue reading the main story

Somalia - Failed State

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The UK has established a small military presence in Somalia, the British Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

A team of 10 military advisers is based at the headquarters of the African Union force in the capital, Mogadishu.

They do not have a combat role; their job is to help the AU with planning, communications and medical support.

But a BBC correspondent says some of the advisers have been seen in Afgoye, a strategic town west of the capital recently taken from Islamist militants.

The al-Shabab group, which joined al-Qaeda earlier this year, still controls many rural areas in southern and central Somalia but is under pressure on several fronts.

The country has been without a functioning central authority since 1991 and has been wracked by fighting ever since - a situation that has allowed piracy and lawlessness to flourish.

Key moment

"We have sent a small team of advisers to assist the AU peacekeeping mission. They do not have a combat role," an MoD spokesman said in a statement.

BBC world affairs correspondent Peter Biles says the confirmation of a British military presence in Somalia comes at a key moment in the efforts towards a political transition.

The UN-backed interim government is supposed to hand over to a new administration by 20 August when a new president and parliament will be elected.

Our correspondent says it is hoped that this will end the corruption and misappropriation of funds that have tarnished the reputation of the current Somali authorities.

Ethiopian troops, pro-government militias and the African Union force - which has US and European funding and was boosted earlier this year to nearly 18,000 - have helped the transitional government recently expand its control outside Mogadishu.

In the last few months, the militants have lost several key positions, including Afgoye, Baidoa in central Somalia and the southern town of Afmadow

Blast in refugee camp wounds 6 in northeast Kenya - chicagotribune.com

NAIROBI (Reuters) - An explosive device hit a police vehicle inside a refugee camp near the border with Somalia on Wednesday, wounding all six people aboard in the latest attack in the region, officials said.

The vehicle, carrying three police officers and three civilians, was escorting aid workers travelling in a separate car to distribute food in the Dadaab refugee camp, police officials said.

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The aid workers were unhurt.

At least 32 people have been killed in attacks on the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the port city of Mombasa and the northern town of Garissa since October, when Kenya sent troops into neighboring Somalia to crush al Shabaab insurgents.

The militants, linked to al Qaeda, were blamed for a surge in violence and kidnappings in Kenya.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the blast on Wednesday.

"The injured police officers were escorting officials of Care International to distribute food within the camp when their car hit a device", Philip Tuimur, the regional police chief, told Reuters from Garissa by phone.

Last month, Kenya witnessed its worst attack when masked assailants launched simultaneous gun and grenade raids on two churches in Garissa, killing at least 17 people and wounding 60.

(Reporting by Humphrey Malalo and Abdisalan Ahmed; Editing by George Obulutsa and Alessandra Rizzo)

Somali militants execute 3 for treason - thenews.com.pk

MOGADISHU: Somalia's al Shabaab militants said on Sunday they had executed three of their own members for treason, two of them for guiding U.S. missiles to kill fellow militants.

It was the first time al Shabaab, under pressure from African Union, Kenyan and Ethiopian troops as well as U.S. drone strikes, had admitted to killing its own fighters for betrayals.

Al Shabaab, which is affiliated with al Qaeda, said last January that a missile launched from a drone had killed Bilal el Berjawi, a Lebanese al Shabaab fighter with a British passport.

Another missile killed four foreign militants south of the Somali capital Mogadishu in February, according to an intelligence officer.

"We have executed two CIA spies who were behind the killing of our great brothers," Sheikh Mohamed Abu Abdallah, al Shabaab's governor for the Lower Shabelle region, told Reuters on Sunday. "We also executed a third fighter who was proved to be a spy for the UK."

"Isak Omar Hassan and Yasin Osman Ahmed had fixed a device on Bilal el Berjawi's car and then he was killed by a plane in Elasha six months ago," Abu Abdallah said.

"The investigation is still continuing. If we find others, they will follow suit. We shall deal with them the way we dealt with the three executed today."

The Somali government says hundreds of foreign fighters have joined the insurgency from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Gulf region as well as the United States and Britain. Some have senior positions within al Shabaab.

Al Shabaab were driven out of Mogadishu late last year and are struggling to hold on to territory elsewhere in the face of attacks by Kenyan, Ethiopian and African Union forces trying to prevent militancy spreading out from Somalia.

The United States has also authorized covert operations in the Horn of Africa nation in the past.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the Pentagon is seeking to send hand-launched drones to Kenya as part of a $40 million-plus military aid package to help four African countries fighting al Qaeda and al Shabaab militants. (Reuters)

SOMALIA: Puntland forces clash with Somaliland troops in Sool region

On Saturday forces loyal to the Puntland government recaptured a strategic border village of Tukaraq near Laas Caanood, the regional capital of the disputed region of Sool.

Earlier the Puntland forces that were stationed near the village of Tukaraq withdrew from the area, after some soldier of Puntland joined the militia of Khatumo administration, which is a local administration that is seeking their own state as part of the Somali Federation.

Khatumo administration was created by the elders of Dhulbahante Clan, the dominant clan in the disputed regions of Sool & Cayn. Khatuumo militia have previously clashed with Somaliland troops in the town of Buhoodle and Laas Caanood.

Puntland and Somaliland both don’t recognize the Khatumo administration, however the President of the Federal Transitional government based in Mogadishu, Sheikh sharif Ahmed, called the Khatumo administration as part of their federal regional governments.

This week few soldiers from Puntland side joined the Khatumo troops in the area of Tukaraq, this led to Somaliland forces attacking the village, Khatumo militia then abandoned the village.

Puntland government spokesman said they retook the village back from the Somaliland after skirmeshs near the village. So far both sides say there were no casualties on their side.

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Al Shabab Attacks Somali, Ethiopians Forces in Yurkud,Gedo Region

Yurkud — A witness says Al shabab fighters have launched an attack on Somali and Ethiopian troops in Yurkut village which locates near the border between Bay and Gedo regions of southwestern Somalia.

The fighting broke out when Al shabab fighters armed with heavy and small weapons ambushed a convoy of vehicles carrying Somali and Ethiopian forces in Yurkud village, sparking face-to-face confrontation.

Residents in the two nearest villages say they heard explosions and gun fire which they believe to be an indication of heavy fighting erupted in Yurkud on Thursday afternoon.

"The fighting is now over and (the Al Shabab) have been heavily repelled during the attack and many of their fighters were killed by the coalition forces," said Isac Gees-dheer, ASWJ official who gave an interview to Shabelle Media.

Shabelle Media cannot independently confirm the casualties of the warring sides, but ASWJ claims victory.

Somali government and Al shabab are yet to comment on the battle. Yurkut is a key position on the supply line for Ethiopian forces in Bay and Gedo region of southwestern Somalia.

Al shabab which merged Al Qaeda early this year continues to carry out attacks on Ethiopian, AMISOM and Somali troops despite the group was pushed out from several towns they controlled in south and central Somalia.

Somalia Premier Attacked and chaos as he is delivering speech - YouTube

Somalia Premier Attacked and chaos as he is delivering speech - YouTube: ""

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