Somalia Posted October 19, 2012 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20003253 A large consignment of arms destined for suspected Islamist militants in north-eastern Somalia has been seized, a regional governor has told the BBC. Abdisamad Gallan said a boat said to have come from Yemen delivered sealed sacks full of land mines and artillery. Correspondents say this is one of the biggest seizures of al-Shabab weapons. The discovery was made after a tip-off from residents in Qandala, a coastal town in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, Mr Gallan said. The al-Shabab group says it wants to strengthen its presence in Puntland. The al-Qaeda-aligned group once dominated all of central and southern Somalia, but has now lost all the major towns it once controlled, although it still occupies many rural areas. Somalia descended into a patchwork of territories controlled by rival warlords and clans after the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991. Puntland became autonomous in 1998 and has remained mainly free of the Islamists' influence, but is known for its pirate bases. Mr Gallan, the governor of Puntland's Bari province, said it was believed that the boat had travelled from Yemen. The crew escaped on their boat before they could be questioned, but Qandala residents said they were foreigners, he told the BBC's Somali service. Earlier this week, an al-Shabab website, Amiirnuur, said the militants were expanding their activities into Puntland and intended to show its residents the true path of Islam. The group follows the Saudi-inspired Wahhabi version of Islam, while most Somalis are Sufis. The website said Sheikh Abdur Kadir Mumim, an al-Shabab leader in Puntland, wanted to oust the region's President Abdirahman Farole, who he accused of being against Islam as he had invited Nato officers into the region "to fight terrorists". Earlier this year, a UN report noted that al-Shabab was expanding operations further north, with an armed group in the region joining the Islamists. The African Union (AU) troops fighting alongside Somali government army have been leading the fight against al-Shabab in southern Somalia. The group was driven from the capital, Mogadishu, more than a year ago - and although the Islamists still launch occasional suicide attacks - correspondents say the city is experiencing a renaissance, with businesses opening and buildings being reconstructed. There has also been progress on the political front with the election by MPs of a new president last month. BBC News Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GaraadMon Posted October 20, 2012 I reserve a special kind of hatred for anyone willing to use land mines. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ilka-dahable Posted October 20, 2012 hubkaan waxaa loogu talagalay in lagu laayo shacab somaliyeed well done puntland Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Somalia Posted October 20, 2012 Somalia: Puntland Seizes Boatload of Explosives from Yemen [Press Release] 20 Oct 20, 2012 - 2:05:40 PM Somalia: Puntland Seizes Boatload of Explosives from Yemen PRESS RELEASE 20 October 2012 General view of explosives and ammunitions On Oct. 17, 2012, a fiberglass dhow of the type renowned to originate in Yemen came to the shores of Qandala district, in Bari region of Puntland State of Somalia. Local witnesses informed Puntland authorities that a dhow with 4 to 5 foreign males on board came ashore briefly and unloaded a huge consignment of ammunitions and explosives materials along a natural bay in Qandala district, known locally as ‘Butiyalo’. Qandala is located at an enclave along the northern Somali coast adjacent Yemen that is extremely difficult to access by land. Puntland Government dispatched regional officials and security forces who arrived by sea in Qandala. Puntland security forces, including the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), led by Bari Governor and PMPF Commander seized 37 sacks apparently intended to be collected by Al Shabaab elements. The sacks contained diversified and sophisticated explosives materials and ammunitions, including: · 1 Canon 73mm · 500 Detonators · 5 Rolls of Detonating Cord (1250m) · 220 Rockets of RPG-7 · 304 Boosters for Rocket · 137kg of explosives materials · 210 Hand Grenade Detonators · 2 Sacks of Ammonium Nitrate Subsequent investigation into this seizure has revealed that the shipment was destined for Al Shabaab terror group in Somalia and the wider region, including those in the mountain hideouts of Golis Range, stretching along the northern coast of Somalia, mainly from west of Bossaso to Erigavo. This consignment was shipped by Al Qaeda groups based in Yemen to Somalia, underlining the growing terror network in the wider region. Puntland Government is proud of local communities and the government’s security forces for inflicting this big blow to Al Shabaab terrorism operations in Somalia and the wider region. The terrorists were frustrated as demonstrated by their continuous and cowardly death threat messages sent to commanders of Puntland security forces who participated in the Qandala operation. --- END --- http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Press_Releases_32/Somalia_Puntland_Seizes_Boatload_of_Explosives_from_Yemen_Press_Release.shtml Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GaraadMon Posted October 20, 2012 2 Sacks of Ammonium Nitrate Yay! Free fertilizer! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
