SOMALIA UP-FRONT

The following pages of "Somalia Up-Front" are provided for readers  to appreciate (over time) the effort and energy being put forth by the new Government of Somalia and the international aid programs to move Somalia into a new world experience. It is also hoped that while this is being achieved, HAFZA shall become accepted as part of the State of Puntland, Federal Republic of Somalia once all the necessary laws are in place.

ISLAMIC SOMALIA, WHEN?

In an effort to turn Somalia the first African country run by Islamic fundamentalists, Somali Islamist extremists in Mogadishu have vowed to impose strict Sharia law across Somalia. The al-Qaeda aligned Somali Talibans who control much of southern Somalia have banned cinema halls showing the World Cup, western and Indian movies, wedding parties and what they call “satanic music of the West”. Last week, the Islamist militiamen shot dead two football fans watching the World Cup in Mogadishu. Implementing hard-line fundamentalist policies, the Islamists introduced corporalpunishment and public flogging of youths accused of “indecent behaviors”.

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SOMALIA SECURITY

Africans are showing their impatience for a better life and are becoming better represented by a new generation of pragmatic African leaders. This fragile "African Renaissance" presents an exceptional opportunity for this long-marginalized region to more fully participate in the world economy.

The United States has strong economic, political, cultural and security interests, as well as a critical catalytic role to play, in consolidating and deepening these positive trends.

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Report of the Secretary-General on the

situation in Somalia (In Brief)

Date: 18 Feb 2005

Source: United Nations Security Council

I. Introduction

I. The present report is submitted pursuant to the statement of the President of the Security Council of 31 October 2001 (S/PRST/2001/30), in which the Council requested me to submit reports on a quarterly basis on the situation in Somalia. The report focuses on developments regarding the national reconciliation process in Somalia since my previous report, of 8 October 2004 (S/2004/804). It also provides an update on the security situation as well as the humanitarian and development activities of United Nations programmes and agencies in Somalia

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Dilemma Facing Somali President 

Posted to the Web Feb 22, 2005

Nairobi:-As the deadline nears for re-location to Somalia, President-elect Abdullahi Yusuf remains in Nairobi and it is becoming increasingly clear that the new government is far form moving into and assuming authority in Mogadishu.

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US PRESS STATEMENT

March 3, 2005

Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Washington, DC

Somalia: Restoration of Governance

The United States values the leadership of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and the African Union in establishing the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia. The United States strongly supports the establishment of a functioning central government in Somalia capable of bringing the Somali people out of this long period of civil conflict and addressing the international community’s concerns regarding terrorism

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WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF SOUTHWEST REGIONS?

A fairly large number of individuals all members of the people of southwest re- gions occupaying the vast area within the territory which lies between the two rivers (Jubba and Shabelli) proclaimed, under the impact of the federalism, a Political Manifesto advocating the creating of a state for their regions similar to those already existing in the middle region and in the northeast region as well.

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INTELLIGENCE BRIEF SOMALIA

19 October 2005

Intelligence Brief: Somalia

Drafted By: Dr. Michael A. Weinstein

 The stateless territory of Somalia at the eastern edge of the Horn of Africa drifted toward greater division during the week of October 3, when its breakaway northern region of Somaliland held multi-party parliamentary elections, completing the process of formalizing and institutionalizing an independent mini-state.

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The Birth and Rise of Al-Ittihad Al-Islami in the Somali Inhabited Regions in the Horn of Africa

by A. Duale Sii’arag 

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Fourteen peace conferences were held for Somali factions since 1993 to foster clan reconciliation and restore central government in that beleaguered country. None has been successful. The wounds of the bitter clan conflict that ravaged Somalia in the past decade are yet to heal. The last peace conference held in Kenya was concluded in October 2004, producing a new Transitional Federal Government (TFG) after two years long negotiations.

The TFG has split into two rival factions soon after its birth and remains largely a titular government with no jurisdictional powers. It is neither in exile nor in control of state territory. Hence, genuine reconciliation and sustainable peace among the rival Somali factions and the restoration of functioning broad-based central government seems elusive as ever.

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REVIVING SOMALIA’S RUINED EDUCATION SYSTEM 
Posted to the Web Dec 28, 2005

By Dr. Mahamud M. Yahye

I. Introduction

In a recent report released by the United Nations Development Programme, it was revealed that Somalia currently has the lowest enrollment of pupils at the primary education level in the entire world.

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ISLAMIC CONTROL SOUGHT ?

Islamists And Warlords Fight for Mogadishu

April 18, 2006

By Abdulkadir Khalif