Somalia Posted February 13, 2012 (Reuters) - Somalia's government called on Monday for the lifting of an arms embargo to help it resist an al Qaeda-backed Islamist insurgency. The appeal follows al Qaeda's declaration last week that the Somali militant group al Shabaab was joining its ranks, which raised concerns the Somali rebels' weakened campaign might be re-energised. Security experts say al Shabaab might be encouraged to carry out an al Qaeda-style attack, perhaps on Kenya which has sent troops to Somalia to fight the Islamist insurgency. Urging foreign powers to help, Mogadishu asked the international community to "lift the arms embargo on Somalia so that it could defend the country" and "increase and reinforce the Somali National Army". "We ... believe that their union (al Shabaab and al Qaeda) will increase the insecurity in Somalia, east Africa and the rest of the world and that Somalia risks becoming an al Qaeda base in east Africa," Somalia's information ministry said. The United Nations imposed the arms embargo in 1992, the year after clan warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and plunged the country into civil conflict. The embargo has been amended several times, including in 2006 to allow for an African peacekeeping force to prop up the government and in 2007, in part to allow for the peacekeepers to be supplied with weapons and military equipment. Asked about the Somali government request, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said during a visit to South Africa he thought lifting the embargo would be "difficult to do, and in some instances, may be very unwise to do". "What we are doing is trying to make sure that the African Union and U.N.-supported forces in Somalia are strengthened, and have the funding to do their job and to grow in number over the coming years," he told Reuters in Cape Town. The request from Mogadishu comes ahead of a conference in London next week to discuss measures to tackle instability in Somalia and piracy off its shores. AL SHABAAB ORGANISE RALLY "The Somali government wants to buy its own tanks and modern weapons to crush al Shabaab," government spokesman Abdirahman Osman told Reuters. Al Shabaab, which professed loyalty to al Qaeda several years ago, relinquished control of the coastal capital in August, under pressure from the African Union's AMISOM force. The rebels continue to hold swathes of central and southern Somalia but are being squeezed out of some areas by Kenyan and Ethiopian troops. Al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage led a rally in support of al Qaeda in the rebel-controlled town of Elasha, 15 km (10 miles) outside the capital, on Monday. "Let Somali participants not waste time at the London conference. They intend to colonise Somalia," he told hundreds of residents from the town. Some residents said they had been forced to take to the streets. One said the militants had driven through Elasha on Sunday in cars mounted with loud speakers ordering business owners to close their doors on Monday or face punishment. "We hate al Shabaab, how can we love al Qaeda?" said one mother-of-six, declining to be named in fear of reprisals. Somalia is a hotspot in the U.S.-led war on militant Islam and the al Qaeda-al Shabaab merger appeared a calculated bid to restore morale and reinforce each other's relevance after testing periods for both. "The (al Qaeda) announcement seems to suggest that the al Qaeda core is looking to cement its relationship with jihadi affiliates outside of South Asia and shows how East Africa is moving to the centre of global security concerns," said Robert Crowley of Janusian risk consultants. Britain has warned it is only a matter of time before Islamist militants trained in Somalia strike on British soil. (Additional reporting by Abdi Sheikh in Mogadishu, William Maclean in London and Wendell Roelf in Cape Town; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Pascal Fletcher) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ANWAR Posted February 13, 2012 "The Somali government wants to buy its own tanks and modern weapons to crush al Shabaab," government spokesman Abdirahman Osman told Reuters. I LIKE Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Somalia Posted February 13, 2012 Buy with what? These people are dreaming. This embargo should stay put for at least 5 more years. Corrupt incompetent boys can't even manage scholarships and medical supplies, what makes you think anyone will trust them with "modern weapons"? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted February 13, 2012 Good for Somaliland .... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xiinfaniin Posted February 13, 2012 Good for Alqaeda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Abwaan Posted February 13, 2012 Kuwaan ma quustaan miyaa? Arms Embargo lama qaadayo illaa August ka dib, markaas oo laga bixi doono dowladda-ku-meelgaarka ah insha Allaah! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xiinfaniin Posted February 13, 2012 ^Oodweyne calm down awoowe, there are a lot of truth in what you said but the good news (which you seem to fear) is that come Aguast 2012, Somalia's status have a good chance to change to the better. Remember Britian is not the only player in the Somali game. By all accounts the land of the Queen is doing catch up on the Somali question , reacting rather hastily to the fast developing situation on the ground. The unionist are happy for the prospect looks rather promising Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mario B Posted February 13, 2012 xiinfaniin;788808 wrote: Good for Alqaeda Headed by a Somalilander whose doing his part for the "best kept secret in Africa". This dual- approach by the "triangle clans" seem to be paying dividend, for now. :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xiinfaniin Posted February 13, 2012 ^^Is that why Jacaylbaro said keeping the embargo is good for Somaliland region? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mario B Posted February 13, 2012 xiinfaniin;788822 wrote: ^^Is that why Jacaylbaro said keeping the embargo is good for Somaliland region? ------------------- Somaliland is waging a total war [diplomaticaly, slander etc] on the south, even though those who suffer have nothing to do with crimes of Afweyne... It's like they have never heard that "no soul bears the burden of another" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mario B Posted February 14, 2012 Oodweyne;788843 wrote: Xiiny ,.. :D That the August dead-line is the thing that will move the ball forward for Somalia is not in dispute. However, what you are, as ever deluded to think of it, is this idea that says, that Somaliland days are numbered because of that. When, in fact the truth of the matter is Somalia after August 0f 2012 , will have much less of a leeway in arguing her legal case against Somaliland. Since the intention is to see to it, to make sure that "interim Authority" which will be hatched for that post-transitional period of Somalia will have nothing or almost nothing to do with Somaliland, as a "legal authority" . Hence, to us, the day of political and legal "clarification" is fast approaching with that August dead-line. And to you, the day, we going to be doomed is also fast approaching, with that same month, indeed. Hence, one of us, will be proving wrong here. Consequently, see to it, that you are going to be around for August, so that we shall see, if Somaliland day has been had, as you have prophesied. Or whether, Somalia, will be forced to accept that ruling Somaliland from Mogadishu is as gone as the wind of yesterday, indeed.. :D In other words, we shall see... Somaliland will not cede without the consent of the South. S Sudan had to agree with the North to part ways, even though Sudan was a state "sponsor of terrorism". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xiinfaniin Posted February 14, 2012 Oodweyne, The notion of separating Somalia is already doomed. I trust your education and experience to decipher between face saving formula in the form of speeches and launching development NGOs from the forced attendance by Somaliland political leaders cum almost surreal sweep of changes to allow Siilaanyo to go to the conference by the current political structure in place. Somaliland is not doomed as a region and indeed it may even fare better in terms of concessions it could secure from other Somali stakeholders. But make no mistake the London Conference will read the last rites of Somaliland's separatist nonsense , which i believe is a great development for us. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mario B Posted February 14, 2012 Somaliland will be burning politically by August, with sporadic period of killings in the regions of SSC , why will a sane International community create another Kashmir in the body politics of Somalia? as you know the SSC region is being fought three ways, the local unionist movement who want to be part of the Federal Gov, and the two expansionist authorities of Garowe and Hargeisa. This will be messy...... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted February 14, 2012 xiinfaniin;788822 wrote: ^^Is that why Jacaylbaro said keeping the embargo is good for Somaliland region? I said good for Somaliland to lift the embargo you deaf .... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted February 14, 2012 Mario B;788844 wrote: Somaliland will not cede without the consent of the South A good development indeed ... keep up the good work sxb. I don't mind the consent from the South if the goal is reached .... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
