Six foreigners killed in Somalia's Puntland

[Thankful]

Six foreigners killed in Somalia's Puntland 12 Aug 2009 05:47:10 GMT

Source: Reuters

* Six dead, two wounded in attack at mosque, witnesses say

 

* Victims, dressed as Islamist preachers, came from Pakistan

 

(Adds elder's comment, background)

 

MOGADISHU, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Six foreigners, said to be from Pakistan, were killed by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region, witnesses said.

 

Two other people were wounded in the attack at a mosque in Galkayo, residents said, adding that the foreigners came from Pakistan on Tuesday and were dressed as Islamist preachers.

 

"Masked gunmen opened fire in the mosque, killing six foreigners and injured two others," resident Sheikh Abdiqadir Ali told Reuters.

 

A local elder told Reuters that security forces were at the scene of the attack.

 

"Puntland forces have reached the mosque to carry away the dead bodies," the elder Mohamed Hussein told Reuters by phone from Galkayo. "These foreigners, mostly Pakistanis, were 25 in number and arrived from Pakistan yesterday."

 

Residents said the killings may have been motivated by suspicions that the foreigners had links to al Qaeda.

 

Lawless Somalia is viewed by the international community as a potential breeding ground for al Qaeda-linked groups and as a threat to regional stability.

 

Puntland's information minister was killed in the same area last week. (Reporting by Abdi Guled; Editing by Louise Ireland)

[Thankful]

MOGADISHU (Reuters) – Six foreigners, said to be from Pakistan, were killed by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region, witnesses said.

 

Two other people were wounded in the attack at a mosque in Galkayo, residents said, adding that the foreigners came from Pakistan on Tuesday and were dressed as Islamist preachers.

 

"Masked gunmen opened fire in the mosque, killing six foreigners and injured two others," resident Sheikh Abdiqadir Ali told Reuters.

 

A local elder told Reuters that security forces were at the scene of the attack.

 

"Puntland forces have reached the mosque to carry away the dead bodies," the elder Mohamed Hussein told Reuters by phone from Galkayo. "These foreigners, mostly Pakistanis, were 25 in number and arrived from Pakistan yesterday."

 

Residents said the killings may have been motivated by suspicions that the foreigners had links to al Qaeda.

 

Lawless Somalia is viewed by the international community as a potential breeding ground for al Qaeda-linked groups and as a threat to regional stability.

 

Puntland's information minister was killed in the same area last week.

 

(Reporting by Abdi Guled; Editing by Louise Ireland)

 

yahoo

[Thankful]

Very sad news! If there was suspicion about these men they should have been questioned by police, if they are guilty of anything, arrest them or deport them. But for this to happen, show's that the law and order is quickly deteriorating in Gaalkayo. Who knows who is responsible, but if people can walk around gunning down people and escaping? speechless. Things are very serious. Even the kidnappings and piracy never involved violence.

[Jacaylbaro]

That was the news when i got up early this morning .... another bloodshed in that city.

 

 

Wondering why Tabliiqi is targetted now ? ,,,,

[N.O.R.F]

Crazy!!!!

[rudy-Diiriye]

Yup! another and unidentified man shoots pple!!

yeah right....where the freaking hell is the police!! sleeping?? I guess they busy working for the pirates.

[Som@li]

why kill Tableqs? in Mosque, but again the nonsense killings is common

[AYOUB]

Terrible news. AUN them all.

[Jacaylbaro]

Ilaa 5 wadaad oo Tabliiq ahaa isalamarkaana isugu jira Ajaanib iyo Soomaali ayaa Kooxo hubaysan waxaa ay xalay ku dileen Waqooyiga Magaalada Gaalkacyo ee Xarunta gobolka Mudug.

 

 

 

Xalay ayaa mar qura Waxaa Waqooyiga magaalada Gaalkacyo laga maqalay Rasaas Fara Badan taasoo la sheegay in lagu toogtay ilaa 5-culumo oo ka tirsanaa culumada Tabliiqa iyadoo sidoo kalana au ku dhaaawacmeen ilaa 2-kale.

 

 

 

Falka dilka ah ayaa waxaa uu ka dhacay Meel Nawaaxiga Masaajidka Towfiiq oo ah masaajid weyn oo inta badan culumada Tabliiqa ah ay ku soo dagaan,iyadoo wararka qaarna ay sheegayaan in culumada la dilay ay ku jiraan kuwa Ajaanib oo tiradooda aan la cayimin.

 

 

 

Ilaa oyo hadda war faah faahsan lamaga hayoi cida sida rasmiga ah ugu dambaysay dilka loo geystay Culumadaasi Tabliiqa ah,waxaana mayedadka culumada lagu xareeyay Masaajidka Nawaaxigiisa lagu dilay.

 

 

 

Ma jirto ilaa iyo haatan cid ka hadashay dilkaasi loo geystay culumadaasi oo ka mid ah Maamulka Puntland oo iyagu gacanta ku haya halka uu falkaasi ka dhacay,waxaana loo aanaynaa falkaasi in uu ku lug leeyahay Falalka Amaan dari ee ku sii baahaya Waqooyiga Magaalada Gaalkacyo ee Xarunta gobolka Mudug.

[Abwaan]

It is really sad...Ilaah ha u naxariisto qoysaskoodiina samir iyo iimaan haka siiyo and I hope in gacanta lagu dhigo whoever fuliyey falkaas amaba ka dambeeyey!

[NGONGE]

Was I the only one who when he read the title of the thread thought the six people were gaalo?

 

 

The plot thickens.

[N.O.R.F]

Somalia: The Trouble with Puntland

 

Africa Briefing N°64

12 August 2009

 

OVERVIEW

 

The semi-autonomous north-eastern Somali region of Puntland, once touted as a success of the “building blocks” approach to reestablishing national stability and widely viewed as one of the most prosperous parts of Somalia, is experiencing a three-year rise in insecurity and political tension. At its roots are poor governance and a collapse of the intra-clan cohesion and pan-****** solidarity that led to its creation in 1998. Intra-****** friction has eroded the consensual style of politics that once underpinned a relative stability. The piracy problem is a dramatic symptom of deeper problems that, left untreated, could lead to Puntland’s disintegration or overthrow by an underground militant Islamist movement. A solution to the security threat requires the Puntland government to institute reforms that would make it more transparent and inclusive of all clans living within the region.

 

Puntland’s founding a decade ago was an ambitious experiment to create from the bottom up a polity that might ultimately offer a template for replication in the rest of the country, especially the war-scarred south. But Puntland is no longer a shining example, and its regime is in dire straits, with most of the blame resting squarely on the political leadership. In a major shift from the traditional unionist position officially adopted in 1998, an important segment of the *****ten elite is pushing for secession. If a wide variety of grievances are not urgently tackled in a comprehensive manner, the consequences could be severe for the whole of Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

 

The new president, Abdirahman Farole, and his government promise many reforms and say they will eradicate piracy in “a matter of months”. Since the beginning of April 2009, there has been a crackdown on the gangs; a few members have been put on trial and sentenced to long jail terms; and the security forces have raided suspected hideouts. These measures alone are likely not enough, however, to cope with an entrenched criminal enterprise. Criminal gangs in Puntland are involved not only in piracy, but also in other illicit activities, including arms trafficking, kidnapping and the smuggling of both people and contraband. There is evidence of state complicity, and doubts remain that the government has the political will to move against the powerful gangs, since that could spark fighting between sub-clans. Officials know this and are prioritising what they call a wa’yigelin (sensitisation campaign) rather than use of force.

 

Clan elders and clerics are talking to youth groups in coastal villages about the immorality and dangers of piracy, but the practice is widely tolerated and even described as a response to the “plunder” of Somalia’s marine resources and the reported dumping of toxic waste on its shores. Youth unemployment, poverty and worsening living conditions fuel the problem.

 

The government must take advantage of the piracy-driven international attention to mobilise funds and expertise to carry out comprehensive political, economic and institutional reforms that address the fundamental problems of poor governance, corruption, unemployment and the grinding poverty in coastal villages. The international community needs to refocus on the long-term measures without which there can be no sustainable end to that practice or true stability. Equipping and training a small coast guard is obviously a necessary investment, but so too are other steps, such as to improve the general welfare and help impoverished fishing communities. International partners should encourage and support the government of Puntland to do the following:

 

*

suspend implementation of the new constitution and redraft it in a more inclusive process involving consultation with civil society and key clan stakeholders, as well as expert help to meet international standards;

*

draw up and implement a credible security sector reform strategy with input from domestic stakeholders and foreign experts, key elements of which should include civilian oversight and professionalisation of the state security agencies, and recast the general amnesty for pirates who surrender so leaders and their financial backers do not have impunity to enjoy their profits;

*

implement comprehensive electoral reform, including an independent electoral commission whose members come from all clans, are endorsed by the elders and parliament and enjoy secure tenure and autonomy; an independent cross-clan committee of experts to redraw parliamentary boundaries; and a special court to handle election petitions and arbitrate disputes;

*

set up an independent anti-corruption authority competent to investigate and prosecute officials;

*

open serious talks with Somaliland, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and clan elders in the Sool and Sanaag regions, and if necessary seek external arbitration to determine the final status and ownership of the disputed territories; and

*

build consensus around these measures by convening a region-wide conference of clan elders, political leaders and civil society groups, modelled on the 1998 Garowe Conference that launched the Puntland experiment.

 

http://www.crisisgro up.org/home/index.cf m?id=6264

[AYOUB]

Originally posted by NGONGE:

Was I the only one who when he read the title of the thread thought the six people were gaalo?

Nope.

[B]

sad! Muslims on Muslims.

[Meiji]

Originally posted by Torres:

quote: Somalia: The Trouble with Puntland

 

Africa Briefing N°64

12 August 2009

 

OVERVIEW

 

The semi-autonomous north-eastern Somali region of Puntland, once touted as a success of the “building blocks” approach to reestablishing national stability and widely viewed as one of the most prosperous parts of Somalia, is experiencing a three-year rise in insecurity and political tension. At its roots are poor governance and a collapse of the intra-clan cohesion and pan-****** solidarity that led to its creation in 1998. Intra-****** friction has eroded the consensual style of politics that once underpinned a relative stability. The piracy problem is a dramatic symptom of deeper problems that, left untreated, could lead to Puntland’s disintegration or overthrow by an underground militant Islamist movement. A solution to the security threat requires the Puntland government to institute reforms that would make it more transparent and inclusive of all clans living within the region.

 

Puntland’s founding a decade ago was an ambitious experiment to create from the bottom up a polity that might ultimately offer a template for replication in the rest of the country, especially the war-scarred south. But Puntland is no longer a shining example, and its regime is in dire straits, with most of the blame resting squarely on the political leadership. In a major shift from the traditional unionist position officially adopted in 1998, an important segment of the *****ten elite is pushing for secession. If a wide variety of grievances are not urgently tackled in a comprehensive manner, the consequences could be severe for the whole of Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

 

The new president, Abdirahman Farole, and his government promise many reforms and say they will eradicate piracy in “a matter of months”. Since the beginning of April 2009, there has been a crackdown on the gangs; a few members have been put on trial and sentenced to long jail terms; and the security forces have raided suspected hideouts. These measures alone are likely not enough, however, to cope with an entrenched criminal enterprise. Criminal gangs in Puntland are involved not only in piracy, but also in other illicit activities, including arms trafficking, kidnapping and the smuggling of both people and contraband. There is evidence of state complicity, and doubts remain that the government has the political will to move against the powerful gangs, since that could spark fighting between sub-clans. Officials know this and are prioritising what they call a wa’yigelin (sensitisation campaign) rather than use of force.

 

Clan elders and clerics are talking to youth groups in coastal villages about the immorality and dangers of piracy, but the practice is widely tolerated and even described as a response to the “plunder” of Somalia’s marine resources and the reported dumping of toxic waste on its shores. Youth unemployment, poverty and worsening living conditions fuel the problem.

 

The government must take advantage of the piracy-driven international attention to mobilise funds and expertise to carry out comprehensive political, economic and institutional reforms that address the fundamental problems of poor governance, corruption, unemployment and the grinding poverty in coastal villages. The international community needs to refocus on the long-term measures without which there can be no sustainable end to that practice or true stability. Equipping and training a small coast guard is obviously a necessary investment, but so too are other steps, such as to improve the general welfare and help impoverished fishing communities. International partners should encourage and support the government of Puntland to do the following:

 

*

suspend implementation of the new constitution and redraft it in a more inclusive process involving consultation with civil society and key clan stakeholders, as well as expert help to meet international standards;

*

draw up and implement a credible security sector reform strategy with input from domestic stakeholders and foreign experts, key elements of which should include civilian oversight and professionalisation of the state security agencies, and recast the general amnesty for pirates who surrender so leaders and their financial backers do not have impunity to enjoy their profits;

*

implement comprehensive electoral reform, including an independent electoral commission whose members come from all clans, are endorsed by the elders and parliament and enjoy secure tenure and autonomy; an independent cross-clan committee of experts to redraw parliamentary boundaries; and a special court to handle election petitions and arbitrate disputes;

*

set up an independent anti-corruption authority competent to investigate and prosecute officials;

*

open serious talks with Somaliland, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and clan elders in the Sool and Sanaag regions, and if necessary seek external arbitration to determine the final status and ownership of the disputed territories; and

*

build consensus around these measures by convening a region-wide conference of clan elders, political leaders and civil society groups, modelled on the 1998 Garowe Conference that launched the Puntland experiment.

 

http://www.crisisgro up.org/home/index.cf m?id=6264

The time of the publication is interesting. It was released today, amids a wave of insecurity.