Organised Crime, Civil War's legacy

[Sky]

Because of the fall of the government, many doors have opened for the criminal minded in Somalia. Printing of counterfeit money, toxic waste dumping, human trafficking, arms trade, drugs trade, modern piracy. There are also minor criminal activities like charcoal trade, wildlife trade and import of outdated foodstuffs and medicines.

 

A lot of this started out small, some of them existed before 1991. But what many people don't realise is that foreign elements fuel and facilitate these criminal activities. Forget about the countries that indirectly benefit from it like, Yemen from the arms trade and the Emirates from the charcoal trade. The number one boogie man is Djibouti, its president and his cronies.

 

Djibouti has an extensive relationship with the Italian mafia and recently also with the Russians. These mobs have businesses in Djibouti, from shipping and construction to drugs, gambling and prostitution. Their Djiboutian friends, one among them the president Ismaaciil Cumar Geele, have even gone as far as protecting these illicit enterprises. Here is where Somalia comes into play, the Mafia under Cumar Geele's patronage opened more doors in East Africa.

 

One of the many clan-cousins from Dirir Dhabo Cumar Geele surrounds himself with is the well-known Cabdiraxmaan Boore. Just a nobody in the beginning of the 90s turned into a powerful business tycoon. His Holding company is very successful, but he earned his wealth by his monopoly of the tobacco trade by bringing Benson & Hedges, Royals, Players cigarettes to the East African markets. The most popular brands in Somalia and Ethiopia. Both Somaliland and Puntland once banned his business activities and Somaliland even went as far as burning his tobacco products in Berbera port. But in Somaliland his business is booming again because of Daahir Riyaale Kaahin, a close friend of Djibouti.

 

Via Boore and his Djibouti connection, not only did the Mafia spread its tentacles to Somalia, the country once partly and briefly occupied by the land of Ferrari and pasta and therefore not totally unfamiliar with the Mafia, but criminal minded Somalis themselves were strengthened with new facilities and partners. The Italian Mafia controls all the toxic waste facilities in Italy and has been dumping toxic waste in Afar coastal areas and Western Somaliland coast initially.

 

At the fall of Somalia, the Mafia with collaboration with local warlords and businessmen became active in dumping toxic waste in Somali coasts from Puntland to the stretch between Hobyo and Marka. Many Puntlander businessmen whom engaged into these contracts signed away areas outside Puntland, which made them seek refuge temporarily in, where else, Djibouti's Sheraton Hotel which at the time was owned by Cuma Geele and Boore.

 

As Muqdisho had been the centre of Somalia's criminal activities for obvious reasons in the past, Puntland and Boosaaso in particular took over that title. Its interesting to note how Italian business interests in Muqdisho like the Pasta industry were relocated to Boosaaso in the 90s. Ironically Puntland and its Boosaaso are one of the most tranquil and fastest developing areas in Somalia, but where criminal activities are flourishing to this day. Arms destined for the Bakaaraha Market and therefore all the factions of Southern and Central Somalia are mostly imported from Yemen through Puntland. Drugs, charcoal and wildlife [in 2005 a container loaded with Lion skins were discovered in Boosaaso] have an outlet in Puntland.

 

Modern piracy in Somalia which quickly made Somalia's waters top the list of most dangerous areas in the world, originated and seasoned in Puntland. The latest payment was for a pirate group in Eyl, Nugaal that managed to receive $650 000 after holding a Greek ship hostage. Just like piracy, human trafficking has found a safe haven in Puntland. Hundreds of innocent Somalis are dumped in the Red Sea by ruthless thugs whom continue do so because they are protected by their kin in Puntland and given a blind eye by the incompetent Puntland administration.

 

That this organised crime will probably get worse is almost a fact. Organised crime doesn't end with the end of lawlessness and anarchy as the Puntland case demonstrates as well as the TFG who by its president Cabdullaahi Yuusuf Axmed make use of this criminal network by printing counterfeit money as he used to as Puntland president to oil his political machines through his clan nephews. One of them, Siciid Cabdi Firin, is handling the shipment of a large load of counterfeit money for the TFG destined to the Puntland central bank in Boosaaso and Interim capital Baydhabo that will damage the Shilling for the upteenth time from Burco to Kismaayo. One of the TFG ministers, Xasan Abshir Faarax a notorious opportunist, is reported to use his Marine resources ministry to make money out of issuing fishing permits that encompasses all of Somalia's coasts.

 

And with the money laundering network in Djibouti, Somali criminals can make use of, this disturbing legacy of the disintegration of Somalia will be sealed.

[Xudeedi]

Thanks for the opinion.

[Sky]

Dear Mr Oodweyne,

 

Cabdiqaasim Salaad Booy plays a gigantic role in this Somali underworld. Booy and his clan-cousin Deylaaf were very close with this Boore character. A relationship that has cooled off dramatically after a set of blunders concerning the printing and transporting of counterfeit money during the TNG-Carta period. Boore was also promised expected building contracts in Muqdisho during the Carta period. They have never materialized and Boore's interests in Muqdisho have diminished, so too the importance of Booy and his clique in Somali politics. Even though their revenues in South Muqdisho, Shabeellaha Hoose and Kismaayo are increasing, they have lost their most important asset, the leadership of a recognized Somali government to their archenemy, Cabdullaahi Yuusuf Yeey.

 

Time should tell wether Yeey's TFG is going down the same road as Booy's TNG and uses its privileges for a short-term goal to enrich and empower the lucky clan of the day or to genuinely try to pacify Southern Somalia. I know Oodweyne, at the end its a sad situation for us Somalis and the future generations that are stuck with the past's wrongs. Think about the man-made environmental disasters and extreme polarization and mistrust between the Somali clans that the Somali children of tomorrow will have to face.

 

I refuse to believe in the saying that a people deserves its leader wether good or bad. The man who coined this must have been mentally challenged. Every nation deserves the best leadership possible or fight to get it.