Kenya imposes sanctions on Abdullahi Yusuf; travel ban, etc.

[Gabbal]

Kenya to impose sanctions on Somali president

 

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya announced sanctions against the Somali president Tuesday, a strong public rebuke to a man who has been increasingly marginalized as his country struggles with a powerful insurgency and piracy off the coast.

 

Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula said Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf was an obstacle to peace. The sanctions, which also apply to Yusuf's family, include a travel ban and freezing any assets in Kenya.

 

"The region and international community should act in unison to collectively condemn all spoilers to the Somali peace process," Wetangula told journalists.

 

Wetangula said Kenya took the action in line with a November decision by an eastern Africa regional group to impose sanctions against Somali leaders identified as an obstacle to peace. Kenya is home to more than 215,000 Somali refugees and acts as the base of all U.N. and international NGO operations in Somalia. Many Somali leaders have family, property or businesses in Kenya.

 

Somalia's already weak government is in turmoil. Yusuf unilaterally fired Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein this week after months of public feuds over the best way to bring peace. But parliament soundly rejected Yusuf's decision and voted to keep the prime minister in his post.

 

On Tuesday, Yusuf ignored that and announced that he was appointing a former interior minister, Mohamed Mohamud Guled, as the new prime minister.

 

Wetangula said that Kenya only recognized Hussein as prime minister, saying Yusuf did not have the power to fire him. Kenya was the venue of the two-year-long peace talks that formed Yusuf's government in 2004.

 

It's not clear what will become of Somalia's U.N.-backed administration — particularly as it wields virtually no authority in the face of powerful Islamic insurgents who have taken over most of the country. But the long-running dispute between the president and prime minister will do nothing to stabilize the fractured administration.

 

The government has been sidelined by Islamic militants and is veering toward collapse. The insurgents held a news conference in the capital, Mogadishu, on Sunday — a brazen move that shows their increasing power — and vowed never to negotiate with the leadership.

 

Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, when warlords overthrew a dictatorship and then turned on one another. The country is now at a dangerous crossroads.

 

Ethiopia, which has been protecting the Somali government, recently announced it would withdraw its troops by the end of this month. That will leave the government vulnerable to Islamic insurgents, who began a brutal insurgency in 2007.

 

In the past, Islamists have brought a semblance of security to the country, but have done it by carrying out public executions and floggings. On Saturday, fighters loyal to the most powerful arm of the Islamist movement — al-Shabab — publicly executed two men accused of killing their parents.

 

Civilians have suffered most from the violence surrounding the insurgency, with thousands killed or maimed by mortar shells, machine-gun crossfire and grenades. The United Nations says there are 300,000 acutely malnourished children in Somalia, but attacks and kidnappings of aid workers have shut down many humanitarian projects.

 

The lawlessness allows piracy to flourish off the coast; bandits have taken in about $30 million in ransom this year.

 

The United States worries Somalia could be a terrorist breeding ground, and accuses al-Shabab — "The Youth" — of harboring the al-Qaida-linked terrorists who blew up the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

[Gabbal]

I have no doubt that this is not a unilateral action taken by Kenya.

 

Kenya was told to do this by the powers that be just as I hinted to Duke that they would.

[Emperor]

^Kenya cannot threaten the Somali President, Yey is untouchable and is not taking anything from Kenya, Ethiopia or anyone. He's the reason why the TFG is still alive and will not let others dictate their cause of actions.

[Gabbal]

Emporer riyaad ku jirtaaye be an observer adeer.

[Emperor]

We will be observing this one together sxb, hadaan aqaan odaga hadalkiisa soconaaya ama waa laga takhalusaayaa. Hadii laga takhalusana in my veiw there will be no TFG, waa mar aanay TFG jiraynin. The choice is for the international community and what powers be you talk about, to keep the TFG and listen to the old man or destroy it all together.

[Mintid Farayar]

So much for the nice villa and other properties in Nairobi. Ouch! Hopefully the sanctions-wave will not reach the Western bank accounts.

 

If that happens, you will see how fast Yey and the rest of Puntland leadership change their tune. You will hear them singing 'Aabow Nur Caddow' in order to get access to the stolen finances again.

 

Brilliantly outplayed by the PM and his Minister of Info. The plot thickens. Is this the first battle of many or the end of Yey?

[Gabbal]

For goodnessake Emporer there is no TFG. Over 80% of the territory is controlled by the Islamic opposition and the rest by foreign Ethiopian forces who are threatening to leave.

 

The existence of the TFG is attributed to the fact it serves a purpose which is to provide an opposite to the Islamic movement; something the West can hold on to legitimize anti-Islamic maneuvers with the excuse the Islamists want to "bring down the government".

 

Really you, Duke, and some other have got to stop being laughingstocks and move beyond your talking points. Realize the reality because sooner or later you will be forced to.

 

There is no independent Somali government and no functioning government at all. It is a farce that continued this far because it serves a purpose to the West.

 

I have said it before and I will say it again, this is not provincial power-play. Yusuf is attempting to to meddle with what the West has planned for Somalia and he will burned by the same people who legitimized him.

 

You think it is a coincidence Kenya imposes sanctions (a very escalated step) right after the E.U Yusuf's actions are obstacles to the process and might come under sanctions?

 

The E.U was setting the ground stage adeer and this is only the beginning.

[Emperor]

^What I was simply saying to you is whatever remained of the TFG, it is still alive and there because of Yey. Nur Ade can be easily replaced and things will move forward however with the end of Yey the TFG is over and done. Yey can always go and take his troops back to Garoowe and retire there peacefully. The powers that be you talk about cannot in either way, shape or form threaten him.

 

Mintid, you have obviously been misinformed, the current President of Somalia is one of very few Somali politician that have never kept any money in his pocket, neither bought nor built any villa anywhere on planet earth, not even in his native Puntland.

[Mintid Farayar]

Horn is absolutely correct! Kenya is a strategic first step given the concentration of A/Yusuf family financial assets in that neighboring country. It's also a warning to essential financial backers of A/Yusuf who also have critical financial assets in Kenya.

 

A lot of players will have to rethink their positions given this first international move. It's called 'A Shot Across the Bow' - a warning to completely desist from a certain behavior or get annihilated!

[Mintid Farayar]

My friend, I refer to the family assets. Both A/Yusuf's son and wife have been extremely busy financially, commercially, and economically since Daddy's rise to the seat.

 

That's why the Kenya sanctions refer to 'A/Yusuf and family members'. National intelligence services do their homework usually

 

More importantly, can you imagine the effect this will have on the financial backers of A/Yusuf in Kenya who certainly love their finances more than their beloved A/Yusuf. The coffers are going to dry up fast. Expect a quick changing of tune by the old man and his supporters.

[Emperor]

^Again, you are miles off the mark. You make it sound as If Oday Yey gets his financial support from Keyna. Adeer Abdulahi Yusuf gets all his money from Puntland more than he gets from all the world donors and supporters living in Kenya put together. Let's wait and see how Kenya freezes the port of Bosaaso.

[Suldaanka]

Col. Yey is going down in the most shameful way.

 

The old man needs someone to really tell him that his time is up. He needs to pack his bags and go back to Garoowe before he is taken to The Hague.

[Juje]

Originally posted by Emperor:

^Kenya cannot threaten the Somali President, Yey is untouchable and is not taking anything from Kenya, Ethiopia or anyone. He's the reason why the TFG is still alive and will not let others dictate their cause of actions.

Kenya and Ethiopia are our brothers and sisters and a neighbouring countries helping us build a nation free from looters inc. and pirate leaders (funny that was the motto used by you and others couple of years back). Therefore they have identified Yeey as being the leader of these groups and a major obstacle to attaining peace and stability therefore Kenya and others in IGAD can impose sanstions on him.

Emperor remember back in summer 2006 when you and co. so vehemently supported the call by Yeey and Gedi for Kenya to arrest the Warlords fleeing from the ICU in Mogadishu.

You never thought it could haunt you did you..

[Juje]

Originally posted by Suldaanka:

Col. Yey is going down in the most shameful way.

 

The old man needs someone to really tell him that his time is up. He needs to pack his bags and go back to Garoowe before he is taken to The Hague.

Hague is to far ...say Arusha.

[Naxar Nugaaleed]

when discussing serious issues, please stop with assumptions and speculation. You should wait and see if kenya comes out and says we will impose or have imposed rather run around kenya is gonna do this or that.