IGAD Calls for Additional Sanctions on Eritrea: Mining Sector and Diaspora

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

IGAD Calls for Additional Sanctions on Eritrea: Mining Sector and Diaspora

Thursday, 30 June 2011 04:54 IGAD .Below is the communiqué as issued by IGAD

 

COMMUNIQUE OF THE 39th EXTRA-ORDINARY SESSION OF THE IGAD COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ON THE SECURITY AND POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOMALIA, SUDAN AND ERITREA’S ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION

 

28TH JUNE 2011

 

The 39th Extra-ordinary Meeting of the IGAD Council of Ministers convened on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 28th June 2011 to discuss the developments in Somalia, the Sudan and the activities of Eritrea in the region and to chart the way forward, ahead for an Extra-Ordinary IGAD Summit scheduled for 4 July 2011. The Council was chaired by H.E. Haile Mariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the current Chairperson of the IGAD Council of Ministers. In attendance were H.E. Mohamed A. Omaar the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia; H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. Salah Wanassy, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan, H.E. Richard Onyonka, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya H.E. Amb. James Mugume, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, and H.E. Mahboub M. Maalim, Executive Secretary of IGAD.

 

The meeting was also attended and briefed by H.E. Deng Alor, the Minister for Regional cooperation of The Government of Southern Sudan, H.E.Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra the Special Representative of the African Union Commission for Somalia; Hon. Kipruto arap Kirwa, IGAD Facilitator for Somalia Peace and National Reconciliation, H.E. Lissane Yohannes, IGAD Special Envoy to the Assessment and Evaluation Commission; H.E. Amb Augustine Mahiga, the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN to Somalia.

 

After deliberating at length on the prevailing political and security situation in Somalia, the Sudan and Eritrea's activities in the region the Council:

 

On the State of Eritrea

 

Strongly condemns the activities of the State of Eritrea that has taken an active part in destabilizing the region by supporting extremist and other subversive elements;

Calls on the UN Security Council to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the regime in Asmara desists from its destabilization activities in the Horn of Africa;

Calls on the AU and the UN Security Council to fully implement the existing sanctions and impose additional Sanctions selectively on the Eritrean Regime specially on those economic and mining sectors that the regime draws on including the Eritrean Diaspora as well as ensuring compliance with previous decisions of the UN;

Decides to remain seized of the matters.

[PasserBy]

 

President Isaias Afwerki's Eritrean state has been accused of sponsoring Al Shabaab, a Somali militant group associated with the Al Qaeda terror network. Kibaki’s sentiments underline concern about the threat posed to Kenya’s security by Al Shabaab.

 

By FRED MUKINDA fmukinda@ke.nationmedia.com AND PPS

 

Posted Monday, July 4 2011 at 22:30

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President Kibaki has asked the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development to act on the security threat posed by Eritrea in the region.

 

RELATED STORIES

 

Kibaki calls for unity in Sudan

Speaking at an Igad meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Monday, the President said the group’s Executive Council had drawn attention to the growing destabilisation activities in the region associated with Eritrea.

 

The Executive Council has censured Eritrea for engaging in subversive activities against its neighbours.

 

“This is a matter of serious concern and it is my hope that this Summit will focus some attention on it in view of the need for collective security and sustainable peace,” President Kibaki said.

 

He added: “It is in the interest of all our countries that these issues are adequately dealt with at this summit.”

 

Eritrea has been accused of sponsoring Al Shabaab, a Somali militant group associated with the Al Qaeda terror network.

 

Mr Kibaki’s sentiments underline concern about the threat posed to Kenya’s security by Al Shabaab.

 

The concerns are shared by powers such as the US that are helping Kenyan security forces upgrade their capacity.

 

International terrorism

 

As part of the upgrade, Kenya is to train a new force to protect its borders and guard against international terrorism with US government aid.

 

 

 

The US Government is to provide $14.1 million (Sh1.26 billion), allocated to Kenya in its budget proposals for next year, mainly for boosting border operations.

 

The documents on the State department’s website show the defence upgrade would shield Kenya in case of an “exploding Sudan and imploding Somalia”.

 

The money is in addition to the Defence ministry allocation in this year’s Budget.

 

It involves sending local troops to the US for specialised training and installing computerised systems at the borders to help immigration officials to identify terrorists attempting to enter or leave Kenya, the State Department documents show.

 

“Land border security initiative in Kenya, in partnership with the US Border Patrol, to train and equip a new rural Kenyan Border Patrol Agency to secure vulnerable remote border regions from illegal crossings,” part of the report reads.

 

South Sudan, in particular, is seen as a fragile nation as it acquires its independence, while Somalia is considered the seat of the Al Qaeda terror network in the region.

 

The report cites Kenya’s well-developed air travel that makes it “a major operational theatre or transit haven for terrorist groups or individuals” comparing it with such notorious ones as Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Thailand.

 

Sh198 million ($2.2 million) is to finance Kenya’s defence forces’ operations with additional $1 million (Sh90 million) being used to train local troops.

 

Another $8.9 million (Sh801 million) is to be shared out between “anti-terrorism, non-proliferation and demining programs,” according to the proposals.

 

Once installed at the border, the new monitors would use biometric data to identify suspects with high

Biometrics consists of methods for uniquely recognising people based on various factors such as palm print, DNA, face or iris recognition.

 

RELATED STORIES

 

Kibaki calls for unity in Sudan

Another part of the allocation — $2 million (Sh180 million) — is to strengthen Kenya’s capacity to fight drugs and narcotics trafficking and abuse.

 

Already, plans are under way through the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to establish a permanent office in Kenya.

 

DEA’s presence in the country is intended to limit drugs-driven corruption, which in the view of the US, is prevalent in Kenya’s “law enforcement, Judiciary and political institutions.”

 

It comes at a time when US President Barack Obama has named two Kenyans, Kilome MP John Harun Mwau and Ms Naima Mohamed Nyakiniywa, as drug lords.

 

Under US Kingpin Act, being named as a key player in trafficking narcotics, means that the named person is prohibited from doing business or moving money through the US.

 

DEA activities in Kenya were under the office in Pretoria, South Africa previously. The initiative to fight trade in narcotics received no funding in the previous year.

 

DEA agents are expected to help authorities fight the international drugs trade and bring traffickers to justice, regardless of their political clout.

 

Other countries to benefit next year include Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and South Africa.

 

US secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who made the budget proposals, also seeks to have Kenya’s regional anti-terrorism training centre expanded.

 

Training local prosecutors and developing joint law enforcement and prosecutorial task forces is also planned.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Eritrea the only real independent country in the african continent sanctions will not stop the progress of Eritrea.

[PasserBy]

Xaaji Borat

Eritrea the only real independent country in the african continent sanctions will not stop the progress of Eritrea

What in the world are you talking about it? Clearly you must have been chewing fresh and potent khat today. Otherwise you would have known that Eritrea is the personal property of this man.

 

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Eritrea having good relations with Qater and emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani that does not mean he owns Eritrea , Eritrea is owned by the People of Eritrea.

[PasserBy]

Isaias will snub and insult every leader he wants but he wouldn't even contemplate offending the Emir of Qatar for a fleeting moment because he knows the consequences. The Emir owns Isaias and his mafia government to do his bidding in the region. Anyway, keep defending the indefensible, Xaaji Borat, because you are making a good case against recognizing Somaliland. We already have one terror incubating nation in the Horn of Africa. The last thing the region needs is another Al Shabab sympathizing country.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

Eritrea is a free country and can have bilateral relations with every country they like why should he insult the emir of Qatar? Eritrea will not allow Agames stealing their land.

[PasserBy]

why should he insult the emir of Qatar

Because he has the habit of doing it. But the Eritrean tyrant draws the line in the sand when it comes to the Emir of Qatar because the emir is his last life line. He knows it very well. Anyway, go easy on the khat, Borat.

 

By the way, I have a nice "AGAME" song for you to enjoy.

 

 

[NASSIR]

The hidebound views and the inconclusive evidence of IGAD's charges vs. ERITREA is telling pretty much if one seriously considers the border issue . First, the world needs to enforce the final resolution of the arbitration committee endorsed by the United Nations with regards to the border conflict btw Ethiopia and ERITREA.

 

Ethiopia is the one impediment to the peace in the Horn of Africa region simply because of its shaky political foundation and its financing of proxies in Somalia. I believe Ethiopia created the conditions under which extremists could thrive in Somalia, and it will continue to nurture these conditions as a scapegoat for its serious internal human rights violations. Address the source, not the symptoms of the conflict in the region.

[Nabad_dadaye]

alshabab hadeysan taageero ka helin wadama kale miyay intaan soo gaari lahaayeen mar horaa daaqada laga saari lahaa .

wadamada IGAD markuu xanuunka gaaray ayey leeyihin Eritrea cunaqabateen hala saaro , mahadey ogaanayaan in hubka ugu badan ee soomaliya gala uu kayimaado eritrea iyo xabashida , in laga qabto wadanka waaye kuwaasi .