Originally posted by NGONGE:what exactly would be the problem with having a fragmented Somalia that is in peace with itself? What (in your eyes) is so important about keeping the Republic of Somalia intact? What guarantee do you have that a fragmented Somalia will be at peace with itself? Consider some of what Xiin has suggested. Also, have you thought about the economic viability of these tribal enclaves. How will they sustain themselves? Each tribal enclave will constitute no more than 3 million at the most. This tells me that different enclaves will start attacking one another for resources. And so, the next round of conflicts will begin. Further to my argument, as we've seen with SL and PL, smaller, less powerful 'states' are more prone to interference, manipulation and outright exploitation from regional states (Ethiopia?). Look at how Ethiopia utilizes ports in the said areas. Keeping the Somali Republic intact is more than just a nostalgic idea. Its the only solution for any Somali who wishes to live in dignity. Bare in mind, if it weren't for the interference of foreign players, no Somali would tolerate the actions of either SL or PL in attempting to create tribal enclaves. Like it or not, there will always remain a group of Somalis (now in the majority) who will do anything to keep Somalia a unified state. As much as our enemies despise it, breakaway regions such as SL and PL will never be accepted by most Somalis. Indeed, future insurgencies will be fighting not only to liberate Somalia proper but also might be fighting to bring such enclaves back into the fold of the Somali republic. Why else has the idea of Greater Somalia remained in the conscience of most Somalis for so long? The idea of rejecting tribal enclaves is one based on practicality, maintaining future peace and prosperity and above all, on ensuring that the dignity of Somalis as a group of people and as a nation is not trampled upon by outside forces.

How is he different from the dozens of SOL members who've taken sides on this conflict? Some talked of 'liberating' LA while others called for its forceful retake. Did any of these SOL members consider the civilian casualties that would arise from the opposing sides taking further action to either 'liberate' or 'recapture' LA respectively? You could all do with a somber address in the dire, long-term consequences of these land grabs. Only months ago, diplomats from certain countries were hinting at a then controversial proposal of solving the Somali conflict by dividing the country into 'tribal enclaves'. The idea went - that each sizeable clan would be alloted with whichever region it claims to own. Each region would then have its own President, parliament, military and police force etc. This would mean goodbye to Somali sovereignty or even of its mere existence. A sizeable number of 'independent' states would take its place. This idea was being tossed around for sometime but only in private, until recently. The reason those diplomats had the guts to even suggest this 'controversial' (more than controversial if you ask me) idea, is because they've seen the Somalis themselves were in fact implementing it. The formation of Makhir state and the recent conflict over which clan has more residents in LA, is a case in point. So go ahead people, continue being stuck in your little tribal enclaves while your country disintegrates. If we continue to support one clan against another while paying no attention to the long term consequences this would have for the survival of the Somali state, our very existence as a people will be in grave danger. This is a path that our enemies would very much like for us to continue on. Soon, we'll lose the title of being from Somalia or even of being Somalis. Rather, we'll be referred to by our respective, independent, tribal enclaves. So, yes - the words of this Minister are truly despicable but how is he different from the many SOL members who've been anticipating this conflict for weeks with an almost deafening chorus. And who were quick to take sides without due regard for the Somali civilians caught in the middle. One would have thought that two foreign armies were clashing, not two sides from the same country.

U.S. Rear Admiral James Hart, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), U.S. Central Command, recently explained to Le Monde: "In 2002, we thought that al-Qaeda might move from Afghanistan to Africa and we wanted to have a military force here. We also wanted our soldiers to train Africans in order for them to get professional armies, capable of fighting off the terrorist threat. But this threat did not materialize as we thought it would." Third, Djibouti is a safe location, due to the long-standing presence of French troops, whose mission is to protect Djibouti . Some of these so-called analysts do write alot of garbage sometimes. Protect Djibouti from what? Lets see. From Ethiopia? From the unofficial 54th state of Africa? Or perhaps, from itself! Djibouti does not need to be saved by the French or the Americans but it does need to be saved from them!

MMA - The fact that a lone Italian journalist like Ilaria Alpi could uncover the sort of things she is alleged to have uncovered, tells us alot about the magnitude of the corruption which took place. Mind you, it was not restricted to the dumping of nuclear waste. I agree with you all that the Somali facilitators of these acts must be held to account before looking abroad. In my view, holding corrupt Somalis accountable goes hand in hand with pursuing international companies and the Mafia. This would be done by first convicting the Somali players (shouldn't be too hard to accomplish) and then engaging in plea bargaining with them on the condition that they provide evidence and testify against foreign players. This is a crucial issue. We need to pursue this issue, not least so that we can gather evidence on the size, nature and location of the waste. Lets not be complacent. Its understandable that most of us have no time to concentrate on other issues while our country remains under occupation. The current occupation, however, will not last; whereas the nuclear waste on our shores will. [ October 16, 2007, 09:49 AM: Message edited by: BiLaaL ]

^^Even if this particular case happens to be an allegation, there have been other proven cases in the past. I don't have the report handy but there was a UN report which concluded that nuclear waste was illegally dumbed on Somali waters. The waste which came ashore in the aftermath of the 2004 Asian tsunami proved the UN finding. As for any future Somali government going after companies / mafia; there is precedent in international law and its within the powers of the state to pursue it, if it wishes to do so. I'm not saying it will be easy. You're head tells you wrong saxib. I'm not necessarily referring to the alliance in Asmara. Even if i was referring to them; they don't happen to be my 'adeeros'. Its sad that supporting the alliance in Asamara is often interpreted to mean that they must be from your clan. I'm for anyone who opposes the occupation and works for the good of Somalia. Their background has always been and will always remain irrelevant in my eyes.

Tragic! Why aren't people responding to meaningful threads such as this one; instead of adding to vulgaris tribal threads. Ours is like the man who sees nothing but the windows of a building, while paying no attention to the building itself. Let us concentrate on the bigger issues which really matter. The 'Ndrangheta mafia along with the corrupt CEO of the named company(and many yet to be named) will be pursued and held accountable for their actions, once we get a legitimate, viable Somali government. Here's the above Guardian report in full: From cocaine to plutonium: mafia clan accused of trafficking nuclear waste Tom Kington in Rome Tuesday October 9, 2007 The Guardian Authorities in Italy are investigating a mafia clan accused of trafficking nuclear waste and trying to make plutonium. The 'Ndrangheta mafia, which gained notoriety in August for its blood feud killings of six men in Germany, is alleged to have made illegal shipments of radioactive waste to Somalia , as well as seeking the "clandestine production" of other nuclear material. Two of the Calabrian clan's members are being investigated, along with eight former employees of the state energy research agency Enea. The eight are suspected of paying the mobsters to take waste off their hands in the 1980s and 1990s. At the time they were based at the agency's centre at Rotondella, a town in Basilicata province in the toe of Italy, which today treats "special" and "hazardous" waste. At other centres, Enea studies nuclear fusion and fission technologies. The 'Ndrangheta has been accused by investigators of building on its origins as a kidnapping gang to become Europe's top cocaine importer, thanks to ties to Colombian cartels. But the nuclear accusation, if true, would take it into another league. An Enea official who declined to be named denied the accusation, saying: "Enea has always worked within the rules and under strict national and international supervision." A magistrate, Francesco Basentini, in the city of Potenza began the investigation following others by magistrates and the leaking to the press of the police confession of an 'Ndrangheta turncoat, detailing his role in the alleged waste-dumping. An Enea manager is said to have paid the clan to get rid of 600 drums of toxic and radioactive waste from Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, and the US, the turncoat claimed, with Somalia as the destination lined up by the traffickers . But with only room for 500 drums on a ship waiting at the northern port of Livorno, 100 drums were secretly buried somewhere in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. Clan members avoided burying the waste in neighbouring Calabria, said the turncoat, because of their "love for their home region", and because they already had too many kidnap victims hidden in grottoes there. Investigators have yet to locate the radioactive drums allegedly buried in Basilicata - although, in a parallel investigation, police are searching for drums of non-radioactive toxic waste they believe were dumped by the 'Ndrangheta near the Unesco town of Matera in Basilicata, famous for its ancient houses dug into the rock, the Ansa news agency reported yesterday. Shipments to Somalia, where the waste was buried after buying off local politicians, continued into the 1990s , while the mob also became adept at blowing up shiploads of waste, including radioactive hospital waste, and sending them to the sea bed off the Calabrian coast, the turncoat told investigators. Although he made no mention of attempted plutonium production, Il Giornale newspaper wrote that the mobsters may have planned to sell it to foreign governments. "The 'Ndrangheta has no morals and, if there is money in an activity, it will have no problem getting involved, even nuclear waste," said Nicola Gratteri, the anti-mafia magistrate investigating the shooting in Germany in August of six Italians - the most recent episode of a blood feud between clans in the Calabrian village of San Luca, which cast the spotlight on the 'Ndrangheta's global trafficking and drug-dealing business worth up £25bn, a year. According to the turncoat, the plan to enter the radioactive waste business also started in San Luca, hatched by its then boss, Giuseppe Nirta. Mr Gratteri warned that Europe's police forces were "unequipped" to take on the mafia, whether the 'Ndrangheta, Naples' Camorra, or Sicily's Cosa Nostra. "The mafias were the first to take advantage of Europe's disappearing frontiers, but when I go to Germany I see they have not introduced the crime of mafia association and do not allow wire taps in public places. I'm tired of round tables and conventions; what we need is more courage." Italian police are holding 33 San Luca locals suspected of being in the blood feud, with court hearings approaching, said Mr Gratteri. "We get more cooperation from Colombia in our enquiries than some European countries," he said. "The 'Ndrangheta is not just a Calabrian product that every so often makes an appearance somewhere. The problem needs to be of interest to Europe," he urged. Special report Italy

Two breakaway SOMALI regions fight over yet another SOMALI region with the Xabashi hyenas ready to assume control as soon as its 'liberated' by their SOMALI agents. Is it just me or is the Somali riddle a never-ending one? How many more regions have our enemies devised for us? Seems like our worst nightmares are just starting to dawn. Dadyahow hurdada ka kaca oo maskaxdiina isticmaala. There is no 'liberation' to speak of. No Somali is free until the Xabasha are expelled from ALL regions of Somalia.

"I have never begged but I am close to it now. My children are going hungry more and more and I cannot explain to them why we cannot feed them." Ilaahow u gar gaar.

Lets not get hang up on the nomination of certain individuals. The cause is bigger than indha'ade. As to why others weren't picked in his place? Well, only the alliance could answer that. Besides, Indha'ade is a Somali national and is said to be leading the resistance inside Somalia. As for allegations of prior misconduct on the part of Indha'ade, it can easily be argued that most of the alliance members aren't immune from the same charges. For those who fear backlash on the part of the U.S. and co; i have this for you - get real. Liberation is not a picnic. One doesn't end an occupation by appeasing foreigners; in this case, those who have interests of their own to serve. We need to employ every available resource in order to successfully liberate our country. If Indha'ade is leading the resistance on the ground, then his nomination is a pragmatic one. Lets not forget - this role requires the gathering info on available arms, conjuring up strategies which are flexible and dynamic, reporting on outcomes of strategies thus far employed, morale of fighters etc. All of these can best be collated by someone on the ground. For now, Indha'ade happens to be that someone. I'm sure the alliance chose Indha'ade for that reason and that reason alone.

Oops...the link seems to have been moved. The lectures are still on the website though. Please go here and locate the Sheik's name.

Sheekhaan ilaahay baa hikmad siiyay. Muxaadaradiisa waa cajiib. Listen to his narrative on the events of the past year. In this two part lecture, the Sheikh takes you on a historical tour of our region, what has been and still could be if only we open our eyes and ears to the truth. I've never come across anyone as eloquent as Sheikh Ibraahim Dheere. Spare some time to listen to these two lectures (especially the second one). Qeybta 1aad Qeybta 2aad

Eriteria is simply investing in its future. It knows that the Somali people are principled and will one day repay the enormous debt we owe Eriteria. Mahadsanid President Afwerki. We shall one day fight to guarantee your freedom just as you stand with us to fight for ours today.

^^The reason they huddle together under the banner of their clans is because there isn’t an alternative at the moment. It is part of human nature to abide by the status quo. They are in effect toeing the official line. This is no different to the practice of factional politics in the West. The examples you mention (Somaliland, Puntland, Makhir) all fall under this banner of going along with things as they are. The apparent adherence to tribal injunctions has more to do with lack of alternatives rather than some deep-seated belief in the tribal system. This fact was proved in the brief period that the ICU were in power. Under the ICU, people felt that they no longer needed to huddle under their tribal banner for protection or economic gain. This is why there were great upheavals in Somaliland and Puntland during the reign of the ICU. This upheaval was in essence peoples’ attempt to free themselves from the shackles of tribalism, as soon as an alternative arose. My approach is not confined to the realm of ‘hopes and dreams’ nor do I shy away from dealing with the facts. As I’ve mentioned, tribalism will go out of fashion as soon as an alternative emerges. This is a fact. A fact confirmed by the brief reign of the ICU. The re-emergence of that alternative (not necessarily in the form of the ICU), is closer than it has ever been.

Guddoomiyaha Jabhadda Xoreynta Soomaali galbeed Sheekh Ibraahim Maxamed Xuseyn. Learn about the history and goals of this group. The Sheikh attended the liberation congress in Asmara and was interviewed there recently. He narrates first hands accounts of the brutality of the Tigre regime against our brothers and sisters in Soomaali galbeed.

^I agree. I don't deny that things will remain murky in the immediate future. My optimism is a long term one. The necessary building blocks are fast coming into place. I have absolute confidence that my people will see tribalism for what it is and see it they will. As you correctly point out, the new alliance is still in its infancy. Leaving aside its weaknesses for a moment, isn't it encouraging that this alliance managed to elect new leadership based solely on merit. This hasn't happened in recent history. Leadership positions were previously handed out along tribal guidelines.

^^^Highly engaging discussion guys. Your gaps are closing. Keep it up.

Originally posted by NGONGE: Had you read the piece you would have noticed how lightly he dismissed all the obstacles in their way and decided that qabiil is no more! Ngonge – I’m not being dismissive. I appreciate the enormous challenges that lie ahead. The obstacles you allude to are real but by no means unsurmountable. The mother of all these obstacles is tribalism, hence my preoccupation with it. In fact, he had the temerity to assert that the Somali people are tired of qabiil and will not accept a politician seeking support on that policy ! I don’t claim to have polls which categorically prove the decline of tribal politics or tribalism in general. I’ve arrived at the assertion that the Somali people have had enough of tribal politics by way of logical deduction. There is an undeniable and clear trend pointing to a sharp decline in people’s perception of tribal politicians. The Somali people have long pondered on the merits of tribalism. What good has tribalism brought the Somali people, except for one of the longest running and brutal of civil wars and foreign occupation? These are hardly things to feel sentimental about. If I’m not mistaken, your contention appears to suggest that because tribalism has thus far played such a dominant role in Somali politics; the thought of waiving it away is naïve. In reply to this, I say that I’m not suggesting that Somali politics will shed its tribal edge overnight. I am, however, proposing that tribalism is not the overarching giant that it is made out to be. It lacks the necessary ideological foundations. This is its achilles heel. Tribal politics has caused so much suffering to so many Somalis that it will take something extraordinary for it to survive much longer. If you doubt the decline of tribalism in our society, then perhaps you should question ordinary Somalis. Ask them what tribalism / tribal politics means to the following individuals and whether they’d be happy to see the back of it: - Ask the thousands of young men, who’ve been deprived of the light of the sun and of their liberty; spending their days and nights in the dungeons of Mogadishu and Addis Abbaba. - Ask the children whose only memory of childhood is that of the civil war - Ask the orphaned girl spending her youth travelling from one refugee camp to another - Ask the widow languishing with her feeble children on the outskirts of Mogadishu - Ask the tenants competing to rent out, not a large Victorian house or sleek, modern apartments but the shade of a tree! - Ask the widows’ of Mogadishu whose daily takings are forcefully taken by tribal militias; returning home empty handed despite having so many mouths to feed. - Ask the countless (mostly young) rape victims, both of the civil war and of the current occupation. Ask any of the above characters whether they're tired of qabiil or not. I dare predict their answers. They shall all answer that tribal politics and tribalism in general has ruined their lives and is the source of all their misery. It is these Somalis, the backbone of the true Somalia, who will decide the fate of tribalism. They will forever curse both the immoral degenerates who propagate it as well as its vulgar-laden practitioners. Ngonge - The point I’m trying to make is that tribal politics is not some abstract model to theorise over. It has direct consequences for the lifes' of real people. When examined from this angle, questions of ethics come into play. The time has come for us to stop defending or overestimating the colossal fraud that is tribalism and deal with it. I brought up the approach taken by the delegates in Asmara because I believe them to be taking real and concrete steps towards addressing the issue of tribalism in politics.

^I agree. We'll have to wait for the final outcome. Still, one has to acknowledge that the early signs are very positive.

The Somali Congress for Liberation and Reconstitution is currently in its third day. Let us examine some of the more important themes coming out of Asmara. It is no secret that all sections of Somali society, including supporters of the TFG, are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the Asmara Congress. Apart from conjuring up a military strategy aimed at dispelling Ethiopian troops out of Somalia; the agenda of the Congress include plans to establish a formal organisation with a formal structure complete with a set of principles and policy positions. Adopting a military strategy is at the top of the conference agenda. In military terms, the occupiers have taken bold steps aimed at solidifying their positions. From that perspective, outcomes from this conference and indeed the event itself shall provide the resistance with a political dose of life. The TFG (administration of traitors) cannot keep hiding behind Ethiopian generals for ever. The resistance as well as the occupiers understand well that the stakes have never been higher. While most concentrate on potential outcomes, the real significance of the Congress appears to lie not in the eventual outcomes but in its aims and in the diversity of the participants. I say this because the Asmara conference is the only one where delegates are representing their country instead of their tribe. Delegates in Asmara have been at pains to highlight this crucial point. In fact, all the delegates have attacked tribal politics and vowed their enmity to it. It is due to this sentiment that this congress heralds a new era for Somali politics. Tectonic plates have been drawn between the tribal and the non-tribal politician. This is a significant shift. SOL critics may argue that the unity emanating from Asmara is a classic case of unity in adversity – i.e. directly attributable to the Ethiopian occupation, which in effect forces the delegates to unite, rather than genuine unity on the part of the delegates. This may be so, but given the myriad and hypocritical world of Somali tribalism – the unity being displayed in Asmara is unique in the recent history of Somali politics. Let us delve a little deeper into this shift away from tribal politics. Is this shift a natural consequence of being under occupation or is there a more fundamental reason underlying it? If there is a more fundamental reason underpinning this change – what might that be? Before addressing these questions, let us not forget that most of the delegates in Asmara, with the exception of the UIC, were at one time or other themselves tribal politicians. In the words of Hussein Aidid, most delegates are not 'angels'. When one considers this point, the drastic realignment and shift in emphasis underway in Asmara becomes even more remarkable. Whatever their backgrounds, these men all share one admirable characteristic – that of refusing to sleep while their country suffers under Ethiopian occupation. They are men who have prioritised their nation above that of their tribe. Critics may wish to raise further questions. Have these men really united for the sake of their country? Apart from the common theme of rejecting foreign occupation, what exactly is behind the unparalleled unity emerging from Asmara? A short discourse on tribal politics and its role in the chaos of the last seventeen years may help shed light on some of the preceding questions. Tribal politicians (mostly former warlords) – are popularly described as those who’ve made careers out of deceiving their otherwise well-meaning clans. They have had catastrophic impact on the lives of millions of Somalis. For over a decade, tribal politicians, from a host of tribes, have been selling an idea that is bankrupt and totally at odds with Somali culture. The idea in question is, of course, that of organising governance around tribes and sub-tribes instead of governance on state level. A sad and often neglected part of tribal politics is that, in most cases, tribal politicians act independently of their tribes. No tribe would have allowed the chaos of the last seventeen years. They simply acted independently of and without due regard for the wishes of their tribes. Their tribes offered them sober words of advice but they would not pay heed. Over time, the methodology of tribal politics, as most Somalis will attest to, has proven itself a fallible methodology. Most recently, its practitioners have taken the brazen step of directly conspiring with our country’s arch enemy; hence the occupation. Considering the foregoing, the answers to our previous questions become somewhat clearer. The unity emanating from the delegates in Asmara as well as the apparent shift from tribal to non-partisan, national politics – is all a reaction to the wishes of a delusional and dissatisfied Somali public. In short, the Somali people have had enough of tribal politics. From now on, any aspiring leader whose platform includes even a hint of tribalism will be shunned by the Somali public. The delegates in Asmara, like all good politicians, have sensed this and are simply reacting to it. Here lies the gist of the matter. If the organisational structure and policy positions put forth by the delegates in Asmara is anything to go by; the end of tyrannical tribal politicians and with it tribal politics is nigh. The most significant outcome of the talks underway in Asmara, in my view, will not be a coherent and solid military strategy, as important as that is, but rather the introduction of a new brand of politics. One which is free of tribalism. This new brand of politics, coupled with a population largely convinced of the shortcomings of tribal politics – shall combine to deprive any future tribal politician of the opportunity to mislead and thereby undermine our unity. It is regrettable that it took foreign occupation to awaken us but one thing is certain – Somalia’s addiction to tribal politics is sure to wane thanks largely to the audacity and commitment shown by the delegates in Asmara.

^Good call.

UN to examine needs, violence in Ethiopia's ****** ADDIS ABABA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The United Nations plans to send a fact-finding mission to Ethiopia's ****** region where separatist rebels who killed 74 people in an April attack say they are facing the toughest government crackdown in years. The mission, due to start on Aug. 30, will assess allegations by the rebels and rights groups of human rights abuses as well as the food, water and health needs of ******'s ethnic Somalis. The remote region bordering Somalia has come under growing scrutiny since the government launched a campaign two months ago to flush out ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF) rebels after they carried out one of their bloodiest attacks on a Chinese-run oil exploration field in April. Rights groups accuse soldiers of shooting civilians, burning homes and seizing livestock in its hunt for the ONLF, which wants more autonomy for the area believed to be rich in oil and gas. "The information coming from the Somali region since the beginning of the Ethiopian government campaign against the ONLF has been secondhand, and it has been worrying," Paul Hebert, head of the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Ethiopia, told Reuters on Wednesday. "This is a humanitarian assessment but we will be looking at protection issues, particularly involving women and children." The 14-person team has received the government's go-ahead to meet whomever they wish. But, asked if it would meet ONLF representatives, Hebert said: "We will not be seeking out armed groups." The ONLF says a trade blockade is choking food supplies and causing starvation in the region inhabited mostly by nomadic herders estimated to number between four to 10 million. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi calls the ONLF terrorists and says they are funded by neighbour and arch-foe Eritrea. He has repeatedly asserted his right to ensure security throughout the vast Horn of Africa country of 81 million. The ONLF welcomed the mission saying it was a first step to addressing the "manmade humanitarian catastrophe" in ******. "We call on the United Nations not to limit the scope of this mission to a humanitarian assessment but to include a preliminary investigation of war crimes being committed against our people by the current ... regime," it said in a statement. Local authorities expelled the International Committee of the Red Cross this month, accusing the aid agency, one of the few operating there, of consorting with rebels. The U.N. mission will include staff from the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and the agencies dealing with child welfare, food and health.

Guddi xaqiiqo raadin ah oo ka socda Q.M oo gaaray gobolka ismaamulka Somalida Ethiopia Mogadishu 01, Sept. 07 ( Sh.M.Network) Guddi xaqiiqo raadin ah oo ka socda Q.M ayaa gaaray gobolka Soomaalida ay degto ee ku yaalla bariga dalka Ethiopia, halkaasoo dowlada Ethiopia ay kula dagaalamayso ururka ONLF, iyadoo ay jiraan xadgudubyo dhinaca xaquuqda aadanaha ah. Aggaasimaha barnaamijka horumarinta ee Q.M ee UNDP Sam Barnes ayaa sheegay in guddiga uu baaritaan ku sameyn doono dhibaatada laga sheegayo gobolkaasi, iyagoo halkaasi joogi doonaan mudo todobaad ah. Barnes oo ku sugan Addis Ababa ayaa u sheegay wakaalada wararka ee AFP in guddiga uu eegi doono dhibaatoyinka xaga bani’aadnimada ee asal ahaan ka jira gobolka Soomaalida ee Ethiopia. Gobolka oo xaduud la leh dalka ay deganaanshiyo la’aanta ay ka jirto ee Soomaaliya ayaa waxaa saarnaa talaabo si weyn loogula soconayo dhaqdhaqaaqiisa ilaa bishii June ee sanadkan markaasoo ciidamada Ethiopia ay qaadeen olole ka dhan ah jabhada xoreynta ******. Kooxaha u dooda xaquuqda aadanaha ayaa ku eedeeyey ciidamada Ethiopia inay burburiyeen tuulooyin ayna barakiciyeen kumaan kun oo rayid ah wixii ka dambeeyey bishii April markaasoo weerar lagu qaaday goob shidaal laga qodayey, halkaasoo lagu dilay 77 oo ay ku jiraan shaqaale Chinese ah. ONLF, oo sheegatay mas’uuliyada weerarkaasi, ayaa hadda sheegaysa in dowlada Ethiopia ay ugu hanjabtay rayidka inay la kulmaan cawaaqib xumo haddii ay u waramaan guddiga Q.M. Bayaan ay soo saartay ONLF ayey ku sheegtay in dadka tuulo jooga ah iyo xoolo-dhaqatada ah loo sheegay in la dhibaateenayo haddii ay u xog waramaan oo ay gudiga xaqiiqo raadinta u sheegaan dembiyada dagaalka ee dhacay. Kooxda ayaa sheegatay in ciidamada Ethiopia ay baabi’iyen tuulada Marameydh oo u dhaxeysa magaalooyinka Garbo iyo Dhenaan ee gobolka ******, laakiin ma aysan sheegin khasaaraha meelahaasi ka dhacay. ONLF waxa ay sidoo kale bayaankeeda ku sheegtay in ay ugu baaqayso Q.M inay baaritaan ku sameyso guud ahaan gobolka ayna damaanad qaado badbaadada dadka rayidka ee loo diidan yahay inay xog waramaan. Kooxda mucaaradka ayaa ku eedeysay xukuumada Addis Ababa in ay xayireen ganacsiga gobolka iyo inay ka dambeyso tacadiyada ka jira gobolka Soomaalida. ONLF, oo la aasaasay 1984-kii ayaa u dagaalamaysa in gobolka Soomaalida auu madaxbanaani ka helo Ethiopia inteeda kale.

VOA - By Alisha Ryu, Nairobi31 August 2007 A United Nations fact-finding mission is in Ethiopia's restive ****** region to assess the food, water and health needs of civilians caught amid a military campaign against local separatist rebels. Human rights groups accuse the government of committing serious human rights violations against the civilians. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu recently spoke to several eyewitnesses from the ****** region whose accounts of abuse conflict with Ethiopian government assurances that civilians are not being targeted in its crackdown on the rebels. The eyewitnesses from the ****** region say they are ordinary people with no ties to the ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF), the ethnic Somali separatist group the government in Addis Ababa has been fighting since the mid-1980s. The eyewitnesses are living in exile now, after barely escaping what they say is a brutal government crackdown. They say Ethiopian troops are punishing entire villages and towns in an effort to wipe out the ONLF insurgency once and for all. The ******is agreed to speak on the condition that VOA does not reveal their full names. They say they fear government agents from Addis Ababa may find them and kill them, or members of their family still in the ******, for revealing what they have seen and experienced. College student Ahmed, 27, recalls the day, nearly three months ago, when several dozen Ethiopian troops arrived near his village, 250 kilometers northwest of the town of Dhagahbur. Ahmed acknowledges that ONLF fighters, believed to number several thousand, sometimes hide in villages, after conducting hit-and-run attacks on the Ethiopian military. Ahmed says that day in June, he saw soldiers setting fire to everything until his village and other villages nearby were reduced to ashes. He says the soldiers then gave everyone an ultimatum: leave the area within five days. Anyone who stayed would be killed. Ahmed obeyed the order and fled into the bush, but he says many others refused to leave. Ahmed says the soldiers punished the defiant villagers, killing the men, beating and raping the women, and slaughtering their livestock. He says he later helped collect the bodies for burial. In another interview, Nur, 23, says he worries constantly about his mother and several other family members he has not seen since mid-June. He says that was when Ethiopian soldiers accused them of being ONLF supporters and took them away to a military barrack to be interrogated. Around the same time, Nur says he too, was arrested on similar charges and interrogated with about a half a dozen other men. Nur says during the interrogation, they watched as Ethiopian soldiers killed four of the men by strangling them with sharp metal wires. Nur says the soldiers used so much force the wires cut open their throats. The soldiers warned Nur that the same fate awaited anyone who supported and aided the ONLF. VOA has not been able to independently verify these accounts. But human rights groups say similar reports of murder, rape, torture, and other serious violations against civilians in the ****** have risen sharply since Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi launched the military campaign nearly three months ago. In April, suspected ONLF rebels attacked a Chinese-run oil field in the ****** and killed 74 people, including dozens of Ethiopian guards. That incident is widely believed to have triggered the crackdown against the ONLF, which has also included food and trade blockades in the remote southern region. Human rights groups say the blockades are causing hunger and widespread civilian suffering. The Ethiopian government defends the blockades as a way to stop weapons from reaching the rebels. Addis Ababa calls the ONLF a terror group and says it is being armed and funded by Ethiopia's archrival in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea. The director of the London-based Center for Development Research and Advocacy, Farah Abdulsamed Farah, says his group has investigated human rights abuse allegations in the ****** many times before. But he says what is happening there now is far beyond mere allegations. He accuses Prime Minister Meles' ethnically Tigrayan-dominated regime of attempting to wipe out the entire Somali population in the ******. "This campaign has been conducted in a wrong way to punish the people," he said. "There is no assistance or logistics ****** [people] can provide to the ONLF. The reason behind targeting the civilians is race, 'You are an ******, the ONLF is ******. I have to kill you.' It has the same scale of crisis, which we consider genocide." The senior advisor to Prime Minister Meles, Bereket Simon, says nothing can be farther from the truth. "This is a far-fetched story circulated by the human rights organizations," he said. "There is no genocide. There is no attack on civilians, any crime whatsoever. We have singled out the terrorists and we are not attacking civilians. The civilians are on our side, so simply this is an outrageous accusation." The weeklong U.N. fact-finding mission that began on Thursday is primarily focused on assessing the food, water and health needs of civilians in the ******. But the mission is also under enormous pressure to begin investigating war crimes and genocide allegations against the Ethiopian government and its military. Source: VOA, Aug 31, 2007

Ethiopia blocking MSF in Somali Galbeed By Martin Plaut - BBC Africa editor International aid agency Medecins Sans Frontiers has accused Ethiopia of denying it access to the country's eastern ****** region. The barren region has recently been the scene of a fierce conflict between government troops and rebel forces. The exclusion follows an order to the Red Cross to stop operations in ******. The rebels accuse the government of imposing a blockade and creating what they described as a man-made famine. Ethiopia denies imposing no-go zones. UN mission ******, stretching eastwards from the Ethiopian highlands deep into Somalia, is known as Region Five by the Ethiopian government. Click here to see a map of the area A conflict has been raging in the area since April, when fighters of the ****** National Liberation Front (ONLF) attacked a Chinese-run exploration team, killing 74 people. The ONLF, which draws its support from Somali clans, accuses the authorities of imposing a blockade on five districts, choking off commercial trade. Aid agencies say roads have been closed. Prices are reported to have risen sharply. An unpublished report by one aid organisation shows that local people produce only a quarter of the food they need, trading their livestock to pay for the rest. Locals say that the Ethiopians are now escorting some government authorised traders into the area, but there are fears that villagers accused of supporting the rebels may not get access to the food. Some contraband trade is getting through, on the backs of donkeys, but not in very large quantities. The UN is now deeply concerned, and has published a map showing the areas of fighting. It includes areas described as being under a commercial food embargo and one area in which villagers are being forcibly relocated, though the government denies imposing any no-go zones. A UN team - which is now in the region - should throw more light on what is taking place, if they can have unrestricted access to areas of conflict.

NN - The statement that there is no conflict between clans was made by major clan elders inside Somalia. Those are their own words not mine. I'd be more inclined to expound on this point, if i knew that you'd refrain from resorting to empty one liners. For now, i'll repeat some of what i've written in an earlier thread. Pay attention to the differences between the two forms of tribalism described therein. Tribalism is hardly the titanic its made out to be. The majority of Somalis have recognised the flaws inherent in tribalism and are ready to divorce it from their collective consciousness. The horrors of the last seventeen years have given rise to a population with a deep desire for change – all they require is for sincere, non-partisan, and pragmatic group of individuals armed with an alternative to tribalism. The rapid rise and success of the ICU had more to do with this sentiment than anything else. Tribalism is now largely confined to aiding immediate relatives (kin relationships), as it was initially intended. I think we should distinguish between the two forms of tribalism – the first is extreme, in that it often leads to direct confrontation between clans; and the milder, more familiar second form – this one is essentially political in nature. I would argue that the latter best defines the sort of tribalism present in Somalia today. This form of tribalism (political) is common place right around the globe. It is perfectly normal. It revolves around valid questions such as structure of government, form of constitution and its indivisibility, division of resources etc. As rightly highlighted by the ICU, the Free Parliament and the majority of clans; the current conflict revolves around political questions not tribal ones. This is precisely the reason why the current reconciliation conference has failed. I refuse to accept the notion that Somalia is in the grip of a tribal conflict. The only groups advocating that idea are foreign powers and their agents in the TFG, both of whose interests lie in dividing Somalis. In a nutshell, this self-perpetuating myth has been planted by foreigners. The decline of tribalism has been gradual for the last seventeen years and has arrived. It has been erased from the consciousness of most Somalis - all that is left is for the right political conditions to materialise.