Somali and Turkish special forces doing their thing.

Somalia soccer seeks Diaspora support Fun is back Middle East Online By James M. Dorsey Somalia, racked by civil war and famine, is seeking soccer players and fan support from the country’s large Diaspora to rebuild shattered infrastructure in advance of 2014 World Cup qualifiers. The recruitment and fundraising campaign follows military setbacks in which the country’s Al Shabab, jihadist insurgents associated with Al Qaeda have lost their control of a majority of the capital Mogadishu to forces of the Transition Federal Government backed by African Union peacekeepers. The campaign takes on special significance because Al Shabab has banned the game as un-Islamic in the chunks of Somalia that it controls. Somalia’s Under-20 soccer team suffered a serious setback in February when a militant Islamist suicide bomber killed one of its star internationals and wounded two other players. Mogadishu’s stadium -- once one of East Africa’s most impressive filled with 70,000 passionate fans during games – was turned into an Islamist training and recruitment center while the jihadists controlled much of the city, reducing the transitional government’s writ to a few blocks around the presidential palace. Included in that writ was the country’s police academy where the national soccer team trained and played matches in mismatched attire on a forlorn patch of earth that is covered with mud, rocks and rusty cans in puddles, and has no goal posts. The Somali Football Federation’s campaign constitutes a major advance in its battle with the jihadists for the hearts and minds of the country’s youth. A federation campaign supported by world soccer body FIFA and local businessmen successfully sought to lure child soldiers with the prospect of a soccer career away from the Islamist militia. The campaign under the slogan ‘Put down the gun, pick up the ball’ challenged the jihadists’ ban on soccer that they enforced with militants in their trademark green jumpsuits and chequered scarves driving through towns in the south of the country in Toyota pickup trucks mounted with megaphones. Families were threatened with punishment if their children fail to enlist as fighters. Boys were plucked from makeshift soccer fields. Childless families were ordered to pay al-Shabab $50 a month, the equivalent of Somalia's monthly per capita income. Local soccer club owners were detained and tortured on charges of misguiding youth. As part of its bid to rebuild infrastructure and prepare for the World Cup qualifiers, the federation has appointed technical and administrative representatives in Europe and North America to promote and garner support for the Somali national team, the federation’s secretary Abdi Qani Said said in a statement. "About ninety-five per cent of these representatives are former coaches and former national team players whose job is expected to yield positive results for Somalia's future international football appearances," Mr. Abdi Qani said. Somalia is scheduled to play Ethiopia in November in the preliminary rounds of the 2014 World Cup. It will also compete in the annual Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Senior Challenge Cup in Tanzania and the All Arab Games in Doha in December. Mr. Abdi Qani said the newly appointed representatives would help the federation recruit young Diaspora players who would train primarily in their exile home countries. ------------------------------------------- James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and the author of the blog, The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer.

Erdogan: We make a good team

Somali-Americans Help Drought Victims August 17, 2011 // VOANews // Africa Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States and, as drought and famine take a devastating toll on their homeland, Somali immigrants are taking action to help victims back home. As she watches televised images of starving Somali mothers and children, Fatima Abdi, 19, remembers her mother’s stories about the country’s 1992 famine. “When I was being born, my Mom had to go through all of that. One year after the war happened, my family was fleeing when my Mom was pregnant.” Abdi’s family settled in Minnesota, where she’s now a college student. When her friend suggested a fundraiser to help the famine victims, they started brainstorming and recruiting other young people in the community. “I called people, contacted people on Facebook, e-mails, talked to all of my friends, neighbors and let them know what was going on, give them ideas,” says Zahra Farah, Abdi’s friend. “There are so many ideas out there; a picnic, a carwash, knocking on doors, doing a walk. We put these ideas on the table, thinking what we can do for our people who are dying over there.” The best idea, Abdi says, was a bake sale. “We baked traditional cookies. We sold drinks, doughnuts, cupcakes.” And they made more money than they expected. “Our goal was $600 and we went over it. We raised $627.” Abdi and Farah donated the money to the American Refugee Committee (ARC), an international humanitarian organization based in Minneapolis. “A lot of young people are very adamant on doing as many things as quick as possible,” says Shukri Abdinur, a program assistant with ARC. “Our whole community is actually coming together. We had the masjids that are involved in fundraising. The younger kids, the students are also involved in fundraising. We have carwashes. They are very motivated in doing it.” And, she says, there’s been a gratifying response from outside the Somali-American community. “Our non-Somali neighbors also definitely contributed in bringing their cars to carwashes. People call in everyday to also donate money and gifts and different types of funding.” So far, the Minnesotans have raised more than $300,000, according to Said Sheik-Abdi, ARC’s program manager for Somalia. He says the organization began working with the Somali community in Minnesota and all over the United States two years ago. It just launched a relief campaign in cooperation with Somali-Americans to develop fund-raising efforts and provide a secure way to send humanitarian aid back home. “We did food distribution. We did distribute non-food items,” says Sheik-Abdi. “And it’s not all about food. It’s about shelter, clear water, it’s about the health, it’s about providing security for those people who come to Mogadishu.” Sheik-Abdi says the situation in Somalia today is worse than it was during the 1992 famine because the country has not had a functioning government for the last 20 years. Very few humanitarian organizations have been able to work inside Somalia. In addition, many of the areas hardest-hit by drought and famine are controlled by al-Shabab, a militant group the U.S. government considers a terrorist organization. That’s challenging, admits Sheik-Abdi, but he says ARC is doing everything possible to make sure the famine relief doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. “We’re working inside Somalia where the African Union troops are. So we’re not working in the area of al-Shabab. We have our staff on the ground who are directly providing the service to the people who really need assistance. We have Somali-Americans who know their community, who have skills and have connections, helping us to make sure that the food reaches to the right people.” That’s ARC’s immediate relief plan. Sheik-Abdi says there is also a long-term strategy for Somalia. “In the month of October, the Somali people, those in the south-central area, expect to have rain. If these people who are internally displaced wanted to go back and do some farming, then we’ll help them do that,” he says. “We’re working with local agricultural partners to make sure that this doesn’t happen ever again, and if it happens, how to quickly respond. Because in the south-central area, there are two rivers, there’s enough water there. So how can we reserve water and use it when there is drought or there is no rain.” The goals of the American Refugee Committee in Somalia are the same as in the other countries where it works. But Said Skeik-Abdi says the vital involvement of Somali-Americans gives this effort a special meaning.

"Do not lose your hope. Because our hearts are together with you," Erdogan told the people of Somalia.

Erdogan to set up Somali embassy, pledges projects Sat, 20 August 2011 MOGADISHU — Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, keen to strengthen Ankara’s ties with the African continent, said yesterday he would set up an embassy in Somalia and promised major infrastructure projects in Mogadishu. The visit by Erdogan, the first leader from outside Africa to visit for nearly two decades, was aimed at drawing attention to the famine sweeping across the Horn of Africa nation, which is leaving at least 3.7 million Somalis at risk of starvation. A four-year insurgency between Al Qaeda-inspired fighters and the Western-backed government has turned the capital into a bleak mass of bullet-ridden houses, pothole-filled roads, mountains of rubble and overcrowded, makeshift camps filled with tens of thousands of Somalis. “This place is in flames, and it’s possible to put out the fire,” Erdogan told a news conference at the end of his one-day trip, during which he stopped by several refugee camps, a Turkish-run clinic and a damaged hospital. “This tragedy here is a test of humanity, human values, modernity and modern values. We’re here to tell the world this test should be passed successfully to prove that Western values are more than empty rhetoric,” said Erdogan, who was accompanied by his family and five cabinet ministers. Erdogan’s visit also reflects Turkey’s efforts to boost its profile in Africa as it has done in the Middle East in recent years and to promote itself as a model democracy. Turkey is behind other emerging countries such as China, Brazil and India in the race for new markets in Africa, but under Erdogan’s AK Party government, Turkey has boosted trade with the continent and opened several new embassies there particularly in Africa. “We are going to build an embassy here soon. Our ambassador is going to start working at a location provided by Somalia, and later we will be given a large plot of land to build our own embassy,” Erdogan said to wide applause during a news conference with the Somali president. Somalia has only five functioning embassies operating in the country: Djibouti, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Ethiopia. The capital, which has been at the heart of a four-year insurgency between extremists and the Western-backed government, was packed with security forces, including Turkey’s own special forces who flew in with Erdogan. Turkish flags fluttered in the coastal breeze and posters adorned the walls of mortar-blasted buildings and Somalis lined up to greet the motorcade as it rushed through the city, waving flags and applauding “Turkey! Turkey!” “Prime Minister Erdogan’s visit tells us the Turkish people are closer to us than any other nation on earth,” said resident Abdirashid Ali Omar. “The Turkish people are here to share with us in our time of need. It is momentous.” Erdogan, who enjoys huge popularity in other countries as a strong and charismatic leader, has appealed for aid for Somalia throughout Ramadhan, a time when donation to charity is emphasised. Erdogan also pledged to build a major road linking Mogadishu airport to the city, dig wells, send garbage trucks and build schools and houses to spare Somalis from living in camps. He has sprinkled his speeches with references to piety which will play well with his traditional voter-base of conservative Turks. Erdogan has criticised wealthy Western nations for not doing more to alleviate the food crisis. At an Istanbul meeting on Wednesday of the Organisation of the Islamic Co-operation (OIC) countries pledged $350 million in aid to fight the famine. Erdogan said he expected more from them. — Reuters

While calling on the world's nations to reach out to Somalia, he also asserted that Turkey would act as if it is the only nation helping the famine-stricken country. Turkey will soon open an embassy in Mogadishu and take several measures to help Somalia improve its infrastructure, which include digging wells to improve water supply, building field hospitals, a highway between the Mogadishu airport and the city centre, as well as facilities for waste management to clean up Mogadishu's rubbish-strewn streets, Erdogan said. He said Housing Development Administration of Turkey (TOKI) will also build houses and schools in the famine-hit country. Read full article at http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Newsfeed/Article/135070641/201108191237/Turkish-premier-urges-international-community-to-help-Somalia.aspx

Adigaa mudan walaalkiis.

Nina, I like u too, your posts always put a smile on my face. Adigaa mudan abaaydiis. Jimco wanaagsan!

Thank you.

"Istanbul" becomes most popular name for newborn girls in Somalia Kazakhstan, Astana, Aug.19 / Trend, A. Maratov / Parents are frequently naming their newborn girls "Istanbul" in sign of gratitude for Turkey’s active support to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. "Now,"Istanbul" is the most popular name in this African country," the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a special meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) recently held in Istanbul. The OIC members decided in Istanbul to provide $350 million in humanitarian assistance to Somalia, one of the poorest Muslim countries in Africa. Turkey made the biggest contribution. The country plans to collect about $200 million by the end of the Muslim month of Ramadan. A special meeting of the OIC was held in Istanbul under Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazykhanov’s chairmanship, who is also head of the Organization’s Foreign Ministers Council. A common relief fund of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries will be established with Kazakhstan’s initiative to help the Somalian people on the edge of a food crisis. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is a successor of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, established in 1969. It is the second largest international organization after the United Nations and the only regional association designed to represent the universal interests of the Islamic world in the international arena. OIC members include 57 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America, with a population of about 1.6 billion people. The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has been renamed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) during the 38th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

Turkish aid ship departs for Somalia Donations made under a campaign launched by Turkish Red Crescent for drought and famine-hit Africa exceeded 46 million Turkish Lira. A Turkish aid ship departed from Istanbul for Somalia on Friday. The ship, coordinated by Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster & Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD), carries the assistance of Turkish Religious Affairs Department and Turkish Red Crescent. The ship, "Burak A", carries foodstuffs, health equipment, tents, blankets as well as eight fully equipped ambulances, six generators, four land vehicles, a personnel minibus and a forklift. Meanwhile, donations made under a campaign launched by Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) for drought and famine-hit Africa exceeded 46 million Turkish Lira. Donations have come through SMS, internet, bank accounts and Red Crescent's Call Center. The aid campaign began in an attempt to help famine stricken Africa.

Erdoğan set for historical visit to drought-hit Somalia ANKARA- Hürriyet Daily News Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, accompanied by a large delegation, will visit refugee camps in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on Friday in a move to draw world attention to the famine-hit African country. Alongside Erdoğan’s wife and daughter, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and three other Cabinet members and their families will join the prime minister’s entourage as well as various NGOs and journalists. Chairwoman of Turkish Industry and Business Association, or TÜSİAD, Ümit Boyner, board chairwoman of Doğan Holding, Arzuhan Doğan Yalçındağ, and businessmen from the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges, or TOBB, the Turkish International Development Agency, or TİKA, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or İHH, and the Turkish Red Crescent are included in the traveling delegation as well. Legendary Turkish superstar Ajda Pekkan also announced on Thursday that she was invited to join the prime minister’s one-day visit. Erdoğan and his accompanying committee are scheduled to visit refugee camps, hand over aid brought from Turkey and attend the opening of the Turkish Embassy, which was closed in 1996. The prime minister plans to return to Turkey late Friday night. The Turkish Red Crescent announced on Thursday that donations sent to their campaign to aid Somalia had reached 42 million liras. Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, in Turkey to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, meeting, told Anatolia that he labeled Erdoğan’s visit to Somalia as a “historic gesture.” Meanwhile, opposition Republican People’s Party, or CHP, chief Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is also set to visit refugees in Dadaab, in northern Kenya. The CHP chief will hand out aid donated by his party and packaged by the Red Crescent during his planned three-hour visit to a Kenya camp on Aug. 30th. Turkey has collected almost half of the $350 million donation promised by the Muslim world for famine relief in drought-hit Somalia, according to Ekmeleddin İhsanoglu, head of the Islamic Cooperation, or OIC. The OIC head, however, said the amount pledged by the Muslim world fell short of the $500 million that the group was aiming for.

Never ever indeed.

Turkish PM visits Somali camps August 19, 2011 Erdogan told a Somali woman who lost her child that a field hospital would be established in the region soon. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan visited Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Friday to draw international attention to the famine sweeping across the Horn of Africa nation, threatening to kill hundreds of thousands of children Erdogan, accompanied by his family and five cabinet ministers, has in the past days appealed for more food aid for the drought-hit nation and lashed out at wealthy Western nations for not doing more. Somalia's President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed welcomed Erdogan at the airport with a warm embrace, before Turkey's premier, dressed in a sharp, crisp suit and his wife in haute-couture Islamic dress drove through the city's rubbish-strewn streets. At one dusty, windswept refugee settlement, Erdogan crouched inside the tent of Bashir and Fatima, a young couple mourning the loss of two of their four children who died after trekking 90 km (55 miles) to Mogadishu. Erdogan's wife Emine handed out chocolates and sweets. The Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries pledged on Wednesday $350 million in aid to fight the famine which has left 3.7 million Somalis at risk of dying of hunger. Erdogan has said he hoped the OIC's efforts would jolt the consciences of those ignoring the unravelling humanitarian emergency. A pious Muslim, he has called the disaster a "litmus test" for all humanity. http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=77717

Just incase any miserable terrorist gets a funny idea.

Nonsense! niyada Kheyr u sheeg. Al Shabaab tabar ay wax ku tuuran ma qabaan. InshaAllah wax walba wey hagaagaayaan. Dhibaata aan ku jirno waan ka baxeynaa, caruurteena wey caafimaadaayaan, mustaqbal wanaagsana wey heli doonaan. IA. Jimco wanaagsan.