Al-Shabab bans mobile phone money transfers in Somalia Mobile phones are easily available in Somalia Somali Islamist group al-Shabab has ordered mobile phone companies to stop their popular money transfer services, saying they are "unIslamic". Mobile phone banking was introduced in the northern Somaliland region in 2009 and has now spread across the country. Al-Shabab and its allies control much of southern Somalia and one mobile phone company official said he had "no option but to obey" the order. Continue reading the main story Despite years of conflict, Somalia's telecommunications sector is thriving. Mobile phones are a common sight in the capital, Mogadishu, and three companies currently offer mobile phone banking. But the al-Qaeda linked group has given them three months to stop. Harder to trace? Al-Shabab says mobile phone banking could expose Somalia to interference by Western countries, through the international partners of the Somali telecommunications firms. Some observers believe the ban may be intended to block a rival to the traditional money transfer systems, known as hawala, which al-Shabab can influence, or tax, more easily. Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote This is the sole lifeline of the whole economy - the service was so useful to both poor and rich people” Mogadishu resident Al-Shabab lose Somali border town BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross says the Islamist insurgent group, which has been labelled a terrorist organisation by the United States and several other countries, may also fear that its members and backers can be traced more easily when mobiles are used for money transfers. The hundreds of thousands of Somalis living abroad use hawala and mobile phone banking to send money back to relatives still in the country. This is one of the country's main sources of income, estimated to be worth some $1bn (£660m) a year. Somali journalist Mohamed Sheikh Nor told the BBC that people like mobile phone money transfers as it means they do not have to carry around large amounts of cash. Instead, mobile phone credits can be used to pay for goods and services. One Mogadishu resident told the BBC he was very disappointed by the ban. "This is the sole lifeline of the whole economy - the service was so useful to both poor and rich people," he said. Somalia has not had a stable government since 1991. The UN-backed authority only controls parts of Mogadishu and a few other areas, although it has been gaining ground from al-Shabab in recent weeks. It has strongly condemned the ban and urged businesses to help it against al-Shabab. Are you in Somalia? Or a Somali in the diaspora? Is this ban going to affect you? Send us your experiences using the postform below. Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or 0044 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name as you provide it and location unless you state otherwise. But your contact details will never be published.

Thanks for the correction!

Somalia: Puntland Interior Minister Injured In Attack October 15, 2010 1425 GMT The Interior Minister for Somalia's Puntland province, Abdihakin Ahmad Guled, was wounded during an attack in which his car was struck by a remote-controlled bomb in Boosaaso, Shabeelle reported Oct. 15. According to Puntland officials, the minister sustained slight injuries; a civilian was also wounded in the attack.

Is this guy a CIA puppet?

Ney-Sayers against Puntland and Somalia should be reading between the lines very carefully on this one. There is a balance here, and it is all in relation to a Soup De Jour of Intl Politics, funding, strength, Counter-Terrorism and direction of HOA Events in support of Local Regional Governances. Also take into account the new AU Special Envoy, a guy known that gets things done and you have a fine Bouillabaisse of combined strength against the INFECTION of Somalia known as Al Skebab. Capt Mike might at some time re-think his weak position of laying down on a Shebab carpet for his Whahabi cornhole to be reemed or gartered later as a Female Traitor to the People of Somalia. Or perhaps he likes that? You wanna be my ***** at a later time Captain...? I gotcha number. You are the most simplistic annoying problem that is successful to a Somalia reconstruction today. Your Weakness shows through your thin skin, which is very transparent. You only add problems to possible solutions. You bring nothing to the table other than more Killing and Death.

It would seem important to remember that some of these pirate gangs are aligned with Hizbul Islam now and if this operation does ever green light, Puntland forces could be met with severe resistance in some areas. This is a very good reason the US and allies would back Puntland, among others. Are we seeing Bravdo in a very clever Psych Op campaign designed to watch piarte/terrorist relational movement, or is some of that US State Dept money finally starting to trickle into Puntland/PIS coffers?

Capt Mik, I`ll call you a Dreamer and a *****. You have no grasp on reality, nor truth, leave the Good People of Somalia alone. Take your lies, your falsehoods and your violence somewhere else. Your Dream is False, your tongue split and once we meet, will give you No Quarter.

Mr Somalia, Please dont be confused between Piracy, Protecting Ones Shores and Theft. Therein lies a huge difference you very well know the answer to. I do not Scold people, but I do try to make them understand the underlying disagreements and being pro-active in solutions. Therein lies a very legal debate of who is right, and who is wrong. I tend to side with the Somali Coast Guard... seize wrongful poaching ships, release their crew, and hold the ships Ransom. That is Legal, sound and does not normally injure crews.

Sorry JB....not trying to Hijack your thread ! );

You need some new material Mr Somalia , no offense Amigo! That appears to be a little old. It is a well known fact that this international war flotilla is having the reverse effect of protecting these Spanish poachers. And now talk of a British sponsored Mercenary Navy....thats just great. I hope some Intl Lawyers tear them a new Asshole. I propose an Amnesty program to all pirates and give them paying jobs as the new Somalia Coast Guard. Easy thing for the Intel Comm to do if they would just get off their proverbial Asses and do it !

His name is Jay Bahadur, six figure deal to have the book on the shelf this year. Nice guy, did some serious time in Puntland and visiting pirates....his book tells the pirate side and story. I think it will be very fair and balanced from the conversations I have had with him.

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While many wage their own little propaganda wars on SOL, what Duke says is correct. AMISOM has slowly been taking back Mog, recent estimates by all accounts (UN, non partisan NGOs etc)put the number at just short of 50%.

very well said

Yes we want to know his opinion on the new U.S. State Dept policy shift to support Somaliland and Puntland, and does mean the end of the TFG?

Originally posted by General Duke: Recent report by the Voice of America titled "Clan Rivalry Complicates Terrorism Fight in Puntland" bizarrely argues that any US assistance or cooperation with Puntland will somehow result in creating an intra-sub-clan war and instability in Puntland. Arguments in the article are based on analysis conducted in Nairobi Kenya and little field verification or reporting. Indeed the report sounded much like pro-Islamist propaganda spread by web-sites associated with Al-shabaab, Hizbel Islam and half-dozen other sub-groups affiliated in Southern Somalia. Unfortunately these propaganda-like arguments positions VOA amidst Somalia's propaganda war. Similarly it unintentional and unfairly creates an appearance that the neutral American journalist is party to Somalia's propaganda war and sadly on the Islamist side. Hence our belief that an accurate physical assessment should be done as does US State. I wouldn't give these VOA or other articles like this much weight, as you can be sure that US DoS does not. You can be sure that DoS will not want to get tangled up in any clan controversy. I like the map...should that read "to" or "from"?

Its to bad Yemen doesnt really have any money either, but hopeful in the fact both these govts recognize that if they can organize a fishing industry/anti-poaching plan, that would be a giant step towards some micro economic recovery and provide much needed jobs.

Originally posted by Taleexi: Hope you don't base on your argument merely the findings on this excursion. that would be ludicrous, to long of a history there to base upon any one or combination of recent events on one trip. I would hope nobody to be that arrogant. Pics, yes we will take a bunch. Im especially interested in the area just east of Saylac where the road curves way out from the coast...must be very mountainous along there?

wow, Sana reminds me of Al Taif Saudi Arabia

Day 6. Depart Saylac/Zeila early morning for Berbera. Long Trek 300km/180 miles dirt track. Possible overnight (time, darkness constraints, in Bullaxaar (camp out). Nearby waterholes - Bulhar (0.6km) Dabakadol (10.3km) Badoleh (13.2km) Tukaleh (22.9km) Jana Gahin (29.7km) Kabad (41.7km) Bullaxaar approx 90 miles from Berbera. Contigency Camp (ie vehicle breakdown, overheat, vehicle stuck) light camp equipment good idea. Nearby populations at Geeri, Guban, Gerisa.

Zack...funny man, LoL. Others, I am American by birth, my wife is Isaac / Djiboutian National & friend and acquaintance of General Duke and some leading Somali PHDs . I am assisting in setting up a tour company for handover to Somalis once it is established in Somaliland (Puntland next), but it is not for tourism. Researchers, NGOs, Diplos, Politicians etc will participate in the tours for research, discovery. Read into this as you may regarding certain new policy shifts. We currently have other slated projects in Somalia, one of our main goals is to start interviewing folks from all walks of life from (to start) major cities, then moving down the scale. We do not want to speak with politicians, but people from every day walks of life to get ground truth. We say from the Police Chief on down. Cad-astral surveys, GIS/GPS Geo-Human & property mapping to help settle boundary/clan disputes etc etc. I will be seeking interviewers and interview-ees as soon as we are setup. I will certainly post here in hopes of finding quality help. Believe it or not, we even want to conduct interviews with Shabab, Hizbul Islam /ARS whomever to get a full complete picture of feelings on the ground. Individual Interviews to last at least one hour, participants paid for their time.

Saylac/Zeila to Berbera on the road that goes through Bullaxaar? I note that road is 300 kms/ 180 miles to Berbera. Is it possible to make it in a 3/4 of a day? How many hours driving straight through from Saylac to Berbera? Anyone traveled this route? All info would be helpful and appreciated!!

Seems like a lot of associated and assumed legal risks involved with this. Whatever flag of whatever country they are allowed to fly under via Letter of Marque assumes all the risk and will be held responsible if things go sideways. Maybe they are barking up the wrong tree trying to get this via the UK Govt. Getting the LOM from the TFG, Puntland and Somaliland govts/regions would make more sense from a legal and monetary standpoint to me.

Looks like a copied version of the CIA World Factbook Somalia Clan Map. Seems like Ive seen a UN one like that too. Love to hear your opinion or implications anyway.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/10/201010211135858793.html US Diplomatic Security Service stops them, they do security risk analysis for traveling Diplos. Sometimes they determine its easier to bring the horse to the water verses the other way around. Garowe and Hargeisa may not be a problem, Villa Somalia might be.