Africom is a joke. Even if the USA could put five Africom bases each in Ghana, Nigeria, Angola & South Africa, it would all be for nothing, because Africom lacks both real or fabricate-able justification.
Until further notice, Africom is one Youtube video away from being recalled.

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Jun 30 2009 2:31 utc | 4

How many French people will be involved in this task?
who said anything about french people? that’s not the way things are done today, we proxy.

Posted by: annie | Jun 30 2009 4:39 utc | 6

@5,
annie, you are absolutely right, but they better double the staff fast.
just the other day, Russia’s Gazprom signed a major deal to develop gas pipelines in Nigeria, possibly including a massive Trans-Sahara pipeline into Europe.
Gazprom has also committed to building gas power-plants & refineries. And its exactly the kind of added-value projects the Western oil majors never consider in Africa unless theres a huge profit margin. Never mind that most of the gas is in the Niger Delta. Actually, its less of a risk for the Russians than it appears to be because the Russians have done a lot of prospecting and verified what everyone has suspected for about 50 years — that theres several huge gas deposits outside the Niger-Delta.
only downside is the projects name — Nigaz. Hello ????

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Jun 30 2009 6:19 utc | 8

First time I read it framed this way in a major media source:

Al Shabaab and allied fighters control much of southern and central Somalia and have boxed the government and 4,300 African Union peackeepers into a few blocks of Mogadishu.

Reuters

Posted by: Sam | Jul 1 2009 22:05 utc | 10

sam @10 – there’s still a problem w/ that framing. it implies that this wasn’t the case before. some of the msm is trying to shape the impression that the TFG2 used to control more territory in mogadishu. but they’ve never had control of more than the presidential palace, the main airport & the seaport.
the previous TFG operated out of the town of baidoa b/c they couldn’t get a foothold in mogadishu, even after riding in on ethiopian tanks. baidoa quickly fell to the islamists after yusuf’s admin was pulled. so when sharif’s TFG2 decided they could no longer really pretend to be the transitional federal govt of somalia while still operating out of djibouti, and baidoa was no longer an option, they moved into their current bunker in the capital, riding on AMISOM carriers. True, they did have clan ties which gave them some credibility in a few neighborhoods, but no real control, and most of that has since vaporised anyway.

Posted by: b real | Jul 2 2009 17:11 utc | 12

xcroc@11,
agreeing with you that the name will continue to raise questions. And the name will be changed eventually as nobody is going to want to be the advocate for keeping the name.

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Jul 2 2009 21:52 utc | 14

from an interview @ allafrica.com, here’s asst sec of state for africa affairs johnnie carson trying to shape perception of the problem in the niger delta & omitting the actual context
Obama Administration Tackling Wide Range of African Issues – Johnnie Carson

What about U.S. relations with Nigeria, and specifically about continuing unrest in the Delta region, which is the source for a significant share of imported U.S. oil?
Nigeria is, for a variety of reasons, the most important country in sub-Saharan Africa, bar none. It is one of our most important suppliers of petroleum. It has the second largest Muslim population after Egypt and is possibly the seventh largest Muslim country in the world. It is a country that has U.S. $40-50 billion of U.S. investment. It is a dynamic and vibrant country whose citizens have demonstrated over and over again that they’re the most entrepreneurial and talented people on the continent.
Its size and its economy make it a place of high interest to the United States, and for that reason, we are always concerned about what happens there. Problems in the Delta are of enormous concern. In the last several weeks, there has been a military offensive designed to break the back of those most responsible for criminal activities – for stealing large amounts of petroleum and for the kidnappings.

of course, he’s not refering to the oil companies or govt officials stealing from the people that actually live in the delta

Stability and peace must be brought to the Delta so the people there can enjoy better lives.

stability means that conditions are favorable for exerting control over the area. bringing peace, in this case, means pacification of the armed insurgency, which, again, means that conditions are favorable for exerting control over the area. those who live there do not get to share in that control. they are only wards of the state & its corporate partners.

It is also important that, as security forces carry out their work in the area, they do not undertake human rights violations, that they’re careful and discriminating in the way that they use force, that they not undermine work they do going after criminal elements by killing innocent civilians. This is an issue that we should all be concerned about, because Nigeria and Nigerians deserve the opportunity to have better lives that would allow them to use their enormous potential in good ways.

“good ways” as in ‘our ways’

Posted by: b real | Jul 3 2009 5:48 utc | 16

the USA is making a huge mistake by following the Nigerian govts. lead in characterizing the Niger-Delta militants as criminals. This is no different than if the USA govt had followed the British lead in characterizing the IRA as criminal elements. Public opinion in Nigeria is mixed but on balance overwhelmingly recognizes that the Niger-Delta problem requires a political solution rather than military, law-enforcement or otherwise. The few loud voices calling for a military solution are all associated with the establishment in one way or the other. This is such a consistent fact that it can be safely accepted as synonym. Also, they seem to have actually achieved more success abroad than at home.
Heres some familiar background: The Nigerian government pays a number of powerful lobbyists in DC to push the “ND militants are gangsters & criminals” line. On the other hand, the ND militants have no lobbyists. However, their goals are very consistent with those of activists & progressives committed to more comprehensive solutions for Nigeria’s broad national issues.
The USA having now succumbed to the Nigerian govt’s line has put itself on the side a particularly uninspiring & incompetent govt that would like a quick-fix military solution but is certainly not capable of getting it done. Another note is that unrest in the ND has existed for 50 years and has consistently deepened over time. The ND militants have no love for the USA govt and the position taken by Johnnie Carson indicates the ND militants have made an accurate historical assessment of what to expect from the USA & EU.
We should be thankful that Jendayi Frazier is gone. But Obama & Clinton need to pay more attention. And it would be a huge mistake if either were to ever characterize the ND conflict as a criminal matter.
The USA might want to be very careful about how it approaches Nigeria. This is a country that has come close to freeing itself of the neo-colonialist mantle several times. And the primary reason it has failed each time is because its progressive & activist elements (by their own current assessment) understand that they over-estimated the good-faith of the reactionary forces (always enabled & backed by the West) and under-estimated their capacity for further debauchery at those moments when they could have put them away.

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Jul 3 2009 13:23 utc | 18

Mogadishu violence, exodus continue for third day

MOGADISHU, Somalia July 3 (Garowe Online) – Fighting between pro-government forces and Islamist insurgents continued for a third consecutive day in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killing at least two dozen people and wounding scores, Radio Garowe reports.
The violence was concentrated in several districts in north Mogadishu, including Yaaqshiid, Kaaraan and Shibis.
African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM) were involved in the fighting on Thursday, with witnesses saying AMISOM artillery fire targeted Al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam rebel hideouts in different parts of Mogadishu.
According to medical sources, at least 25 people have been killed in this new round of violence and upwards of 70 others wounded. Most of the dead and wounded victims are civilians, the sources added.
…
Families in districts such as Bondheere, Shibis and Kaaraan who have survived much of Mogadishu’s wars have been fleeing their homes in huge numbers, witnesses and local sources said.
These districts have been relatively quiet in recent years, including during the time of the two-year Ethiopian army intervention in Mogadishu that ended in Jan. 2009.
Locals said it is the “largest number” of families fleeing war in these districts in nearly two decades.

African leaders discuss new mandate for Somali force

SIRTE, Libya (Reuters) – African leaders will consider a resolution Friday to give African Union peacekeepers in Somalia a mandate to do more than just defend themselves from attacks by hardline rebels.
At the moment, the 4,300 troops from Uganda and Burundi in the AMISOM are largely confined to their bases and protect key sites such as the presidential palace, airport and seaport.
“It is suggested that the rules of engagement will have to be revisited so there that will be more flexibility for AMISOM to react to developments on the ground,” African Union Peace and Security Commissioner Ramtane Lamamra told reporters.
He said African heads of state would consider the draft resolution Friday afternoon.
The Somali government has been pushing for AMISOM to have a mandate which allows them to help government forces on the ground in their fight against insurgents with [exaggerated] links to al Qaeda.
…
Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed met the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, on Friday at the summit in Libya.
“Carson again confirmed to President Sharif that full U.S. support is ready — training security forces, logistical and financial assistance — to stop these extremists taking over Somalia and having a base to destabilize the world,” an official with the Somali president told Reuters.

blah blah blah. yeah right, even if AQ were a real problem in somalia, what fool would believe they could ‘destablize the world’ from there?

Posted by: b real | Jul 4 2009 6:30 utc | 20

commentary from a somali journalist
U.S. weapons to Somalia: The Disastrous Move

After all its endeavours failed to stabilize Somalia, the United States has upgraded its role of involvement to arming one side of the conflict to defeat the “radical” Alshabaab Almujahideen, an Islamist group that has taken over most of Southern Somalia soon after Ethiopian troops withdrew from the country in January and is linked to Alqaeda by Washington.
For many Somalis who have been anticipating change of policy from the new administration of Barrack Obama, this blueprint of exporting weapons to chaotic Somalia was a startling move, as it would negatively impact on the security and stability of, not only Somalia but the whole conflict-prone Horn of Africa.
From the cold war, through the collapse of the central government in 1991 to the Islamist era, Somalia has been awash with different types of arms and weapons dumped on by Cold War rivalries and feuding neighbours contending to manipulate Somali politics. The object lesson we have learnt from past arms-shipments made to Somalia was that weapons have no exclusiveness, benefiting the unintended and the favourites equally. This means weapons are commonly shared commodity in Somalia, or simply are like rented cars for all parties in Somalia, including Islamist fighters and local bandits likewise. That is apparently the fact that worries some analysts and conflict-watchers who have emerged to lament the move.
…
When the international community pressed the inclusion of Islamist moderates to the feeble Transitional Federal Government (TFG), their prime objective was to isolate the radical wing of the Islamists. On contrary, the proposal rejuvenated the insurgency where various groups unified their operations to abort their imminent threat-moderate Islamist-led government.
…
Why such imagination (that modern Islamist can defeat radicals) has not materialized is that the international community underestimates the dynamics of the endless insurgency. Disregard to clan affiliations and animosity towards tribalism is what props up Alshabaab and plays an important role in its recruitment.
Somalis are tired of endless conflict, bloodshed, injustice, clan-based marginalisation and global negligence invoking desperation for Sharia law which they believe could only address their suffering. (This does not necessarily mean that Somalis support Alshabaab’s strict form of Islam, but trust their loyalty).
Therefore, the revitalization of tribe issue by Sheikh Sharif with the support of international and regional powers (arming his tribal militias, reinstalling the warlords) would only undermine the legitimacy of his feeble government.
…
The reason behind the government’s failure is not due to scarcity of arms and weaponry, the incompetence of the TFG could be blamed on several factors ranging from poor leadership, corruption, nepotism to lack of finance which triggers mass defection of its troops. Therefore, US weapons wouldn’t empower the TFG or tackle the insurgency until these underlying problems are solved.
The arms flow could only further worsen the situation, and would increase the number of civilian casualties depending on the nature of weapons. Uranium and white-phosphorus containing weapons could endanger the life of civilians who survived the brunt of deadly insurgency and civil war.
More over, weapons could fall into the hands of Islamist insurgents or other armed mobs which could increase the scale of the conflict and may have long term serious impact on the regional stability.
Therefore, western powers should avoid seeking their interests at the expense of innocent civilians by prioritizing counter-terrorism over human rights as it would give the culprits a cause to continue the war, because the current radicalisation in Somalia itself is the by-product of protracted international failures and counter productive policies.

Seven more civilians killed in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU(Mareeg)—At least seven civilians have been killed and five others have been wounded in fighting and shelling between government soldiers and Islamist rebels in the capital Mogadishu, witnesses said on Saturday.
Residents said two civilians have been killed in Hawlwadag district in Mogadishu after government soldiers attacked bases of Islamist rebels near presidential palace on Saturday afternoon.
“Five civilians died in a market in Hamarweyne district in Mogadishu after a mortar landed in the area,” said Hassan Moalin, a resident in Hamarweyne.

Another journalist killed in Mogadishu fighting

MOGADISHU, Somalia July 4 (Garowe Online) – At least five people including a journalist were killed Saturday in the Somali capital Mogadishu on the fourth consecutive day of fighting, Radio Garowe reports.
Journalist Mohamed Yusuf “Ninile” worked for Noble Qur’an Radio, known locally by its Somali acronym IQK [Idaacada Quraanka Kariimka].
A reporter who worked with Mr. Ninile said the late radio journalist was “shot from the distance” by unidentified gunmen in Yaaqshiid district, where pro-government forces and insurgents fought today.
Two civilians were killed in the crossfire alongside the journalist, witnesses said. He became the sixth journalist to be killed in Somalia since the beginning of 2009.
Separately, two more civilians died in fighting in Mogadishu’s Howlwadaag district and five others were wounded. …
At least 30 people have been killed in f our days of fighting in Mogadishu. But some unconfirmed reports said the death toll could be as high as 90 deaths.

U.S. pledges increased military support to Somalia

The United States said on Saturday it would increase its military assistance to Somalia to help the transitional government restore sanity and the rule of law in the war-ravaged Horn of Africa nation.
Addressing a news conference in Nairobi, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Affairs Johnnie Carson also said the Obama administration has recently provided 10 million dollars as parts of Washington’s contribution to the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Carson said that the funds would compliment the efforts of the pan-African military force to support a strong government in Somalia.
…
“The U.S. is glad that the Africa Union and IGAD (the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development) did take up the issue of Somalia at the Summit in Libya and have taken a strong stance on the issue under their wings for close and careful consideration,” said Carson.
“The U.S. will continue to look for ways of providing support to the TFG (Transitional Federal Government)… This will include military support in terms of arms and material resources but not manpower.”
…
He said he went to the just concluded AU Summit particularly to meet IGAD leaders and Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed whom he assured of Washington’s continued support for the Djibouti-led peace process.
“This is the view that is held by the IGAD states with an exception of Eritrea and the U.S. would continue to work as effectively as well with states within the region to help Sheikh Sharif … to support the AMISOM that is on the ground in Somalia,” he said.
…
Carson also called for urgent deployment of additional troops to Somalia to help prop up security to the war-torn country and urged the international community to lend a hand in securing peace in the country.
He however, said Washington is glad that Burundi has promised to send a third battalion as soon as possible to Somalia to help shore up the government.
“Most of the equipment and supplies are already in Mogadishu. The government of Burundi has also indicated that it’s prepared to provide some military support in terms of manpower to aid AMISOM,” he said.
The U.S. envoy said the Djibouti Process must be supported to bring peace to the region.
He also confirmed the United States is providing military aid to Somalia’s government to help it repel an onslaught by Islamist rebels. He noted the move followed an urgent call for help from the fledgling government, which has been fighting Islamist militias.

oh bullshit – see the DoS briefing & backgrounder linked in the last africa thread where the state dept openly admits this has been ongoing since may (and which has covertly been going on for much longer than that)

Posted by: b real | Jul 5 2009 5:19 utc | 22

So far, Obama’s Somalia policy looks no different from Dubya’s
and amazingly, the USA/EU govts continue to under-estimate their adversaries all over the globe.

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Jul 5 2009 8:59 utc | 24

Shabab Movement Forces Advance Towards Presidential Palace

Somali sources confirmed that Islamic rebel militias have continued their advance towards the presidential palace, known as Villa Somalia, in anticipation of what has been described as “the decisive battle”. The sources confirmed to Al-Sharq al-Awsat that the Shabab militias, supported by forces from the Islamic Party, have consolidated their control of the regions of Yaqshid and Kaaran, north of the capital Mogadishu, and have deployed in positions close to the Palace, which is now besieged on three sides.
…
In an official statement to Al-Sharq al-Awsat, the Shabab movement said that its forces have captured the residence of each of the House Speaker Aden Madobe, former Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Ghedi, Bashir Raage -a warlord whom the statement described as “the prominent agent of Zionism in Somalia,” and two members of Parliament, Salad Ali Jeele and Musa Sudi (transliterated as seen).
The statement pointed out that the Shabab militias have gained lots of money, military equipment, other equipment and a number of horses, and have bombed government forces with artillery at Afisioni in the Waberi district, near the airport.
The Shabab Movement stressed that its militias are besieging the palace from three directions and that it is digging in a stone`s throw away from the port of Mogadishu. The African peacekeeping forces deployed in the area accused the Shabab militias of indiscriminate bombardment of residential areas.
However, the Arab League envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Ibrahim al-Shuwaymi told Al-Sharq al-Awsat that Somali government forces have not yet lost control of the areas which the militias claim to have actually occupied. He stressed that attacks and counter attacks of both parties have not been decisive, pointing out the difficulty of getting exact numbers of people killed or wounded in the latest clashes.
…
Meanwhile, Somali government sources have reiterated unofficial information about secret plans to transfer the interim government to a place outside Mogadishu, if the Islamic rebels continued their advance toward the Presidential Palace. The sources, which asked to remain anonymous, said: “We have a secret plan to transfer the president, the prime minister and members of parliament outside (Mogadishu) if the situation deteriorated further; but this does not mean that we are expecting Mogadishu to fall to the rebels.”

Somalia`s Al-Shabab gives ultimatum for government troops to surrender

(Presenter) The Emir of Mujahidin Movement of Al-Shabab, Shaykh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr, while speaking in an audio message distributed to the media, asked what he termed as government soldiers to surrender in days.
He said the leaders of the government will be taken to Islamic court of they happen to be captured by the Mujahidin.
(Abu Zubayr) The second option that is open for the apostate government is to tactically surrender to the Mujahidin while pretending to be acknowledging their mistakes. Their aim is however, to divide themselves to a group that fights alongside AMISOM (AU troops) and another group that will be pretending to fight along Mujahidin so as to shoot them from behind.
We say on this issue that, all the soldiers fighting alongside the enemy should repent, surrender their weapons to the Mujahidin and mind their business. We will no allow them to posses arms. They have an ultimatum of five days to move from the side of the enemy. On the other hand, the top leaders of the apostate government will be taken to a Islamic court and will be charged for the crimes committed against the Somali people and against Allah, like the atrocities they committed against the people and the issue of bringing or campaigning for foreign troops. Allah says those who believed in God then turned to be apostates, became believers once again before turning to be apostates again and died while being apostates will not be forgiven by God.
(Presenter) The Emir of Mujahidin Movement of Al-Shabab also said any sanctions imposed on them by the international community will not be effective since they do not receive any thing from them. He said they wanted to establish the best ever Islamic state in Somalia. Shaykh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr distributed this audio message to Mogadishu press yesterday where he blasted the Somali government.

Somalia President Intensely Lobbying East African States for Support

MOGADISHU (HOL) – Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed arrived yesterday in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. According to some reports, the President is intensely lobbying East African nations for support for his government which recently has been dealt with a series of high profile and strategic set backs at the hands of Muslim extremists trying overthrow his government.
Upon his arrival in Addis Ababa, the President held talks with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Mr. Johnnie Carson. The two men discussed the current situation in Somalia and how the US could help the Somalia fragile TFG.
The President also met with representatives of the five countries that hold permanent seats in the UN Security Council as well as AU representatives in Addis Ababa.
The President is expected to hold a meeting this morning with Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Seyoum Mousfin and later in the afternoon with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Mr. Melez Zenawi. Although the items on the agenda of the two leaders’ meeting have not been made public, analysts expect their discussion to concentrate on the current security situation in Somalia.
The President, who has arrived in Ethiopia after a visit to Djibouti, is expected to visits Kenya and Uganda before he returns to Somalia.

Posted by: b real | Jul 7 2009 19:01 utc | 26

jony_b_cool – here’s obama buttering up africans on the ‘good governance’ rhetoric in an outreach interview @ all-africa
U.S. Wants to Spotlight ‘Successful Models’ And Be An ‘Effective Partner’ – Obama

We asked visitors to our site, allAfrica.com, what they might be interested in with respect to your policy. And as you might imagine, the responses are everywhere: conflict resolution, development issues, trade issues, et cetera. But they and we have one immediate question: How is it that you happened to pick Ghana as the first place to visit in sub-Saharan Africa?
Well, part of the reason is because Ghana has now undergone a couple of successful elections in which power was transferred peacefully, even a very close election. I think that the new president, President Mills, has shown himself committed to the rule of law, to the kinds of democratic commitments that ensure stability in a country. And I think that there is a direct correlation between governance and prosperity. Countries that are governed well, that are stable, where the leadership recognizes that they are accountable to the people and that institutions are stronger than any one person have a track record of producing results for the people. And we want to highlight that.
And I assume that you’d like to see a lot more ‘Ghanas’ in Africa. And part of your policy would be, I assume, to encourage that.
Absolutely.

for the other, more realistic part of the reason, here’s a press release from Gold Star Resources Corp – a company i know nothing of other than that there was a similar press release of thiers that i linked to recently in the previous africa thread
Obama’s Ghana Trip Linked To New U.S. Oil Strategy on African Continent, says Gold Star Resources CEO

VANCOUVER, July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — “U.S. President Barack Obama’s trip to Ghana on July 10th-11th is a subtle White House oil strategy to secure another source of energy on the continent of Africa,” says Patrick Morris, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Star Resources Corp. Gold Star Resources is a Vancouver-based company seeking high-impact ‘onshore’ oil and gas opportunities in Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana in West Africa.
…
According to Morris, “The U.S. Department of Energy has already confirmed that the United States will be importing over 770 million barrels of African oil annually by the year 2020. The U.S. National Intelligence Council is projecting that 25 percent of U.S. oil imports will come from West Africa by 2015 compared to 15% today. My own professional experience tells me that the political stability of Ghana’s government, a credible democratic political party system, and a positive investment environment all favor closer ties to Ghanaians by the Obama White House.”
Morris also pointed out that he’s confident that President Obama “will work with the Ghana Government and people to help them realize their own potential through job creation in the energy resource sector. I believe that Africa has seen but a glimpse of its potential in oil and gas discoveries in West Africa. The new U.S. President has obviously taken notice of this fact.”
“Obama’s Ghana trip is a smart game plan to strengthen U.S. ties with its West African allies and create new alliances that would ultimately secure U.S. energy interests on the African continent,” concluded Morris.

back to the interview, obama give his position on why economies haven’t prospered in africa – get this

I would say that the international community has not always been as strategic as it should have been, but ultimately I’m a big believer that Africans are responsible for Africa.
I think part of what’s hampered advancement in Africa is that for many years we’ve made excuses about corruption or poor governance; that this was somehow the consequence of neo-colonialism, or the West has been oppressive, or racism. I’m not a believer in excuses.
I’d say I’m probably as knowledgeable about African history as anybody who’s occupied my office. And I can give you chapter and verse on why the colonial maps that were drawn helped to spur on conflict, and the terms of trade that were uneven emerging out of colonialism.
And yet the fact is we’re in 2009. The West and the United States has not been responsible for what’s happened to Zimbabwe’s economy over the last 15 or 20 years. It hasn’t been responsible for some of the disastrous policies that we’ve seen elsewhere in Africa. I think that it’s very important for African leadership to take responsibility and be held accountable.
And I think the people of Africa understand that. The problem is that they just haven’t always had the opportunities to organize and voice their opinions in ways that create better results.

sure thing – just like obama’s construct that racism is thing of the past in the u.s. (assuming everyone wants to assimilate into the dominator culture, right), the fact that africans haven’t successfully adopted the western model can’t be blamed on the west b/c colonialism itself is ancient history

Posted by: b real | Jul 10 2009 5:12 utc | 28

yet another rumour of aweys negotiating w/ the TFG2. i’ll believe it only when aweys publicly acknowledges it.
Egypt ‘to mediate’ between Sharif and Aweys

MOGADISHU, Somalia July 9 (Garowe Online) – The chairman of Somali Islamist rebel faction Hizbul Islam has accepted peace talks with the country’s U.N.-backed interim government, Radio Garowe reports Thursday.
Hizbul Islam chief Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has reportedly accepted peace talks after discussions with Egyptian government officials, who have been leading efforts to mediate between Sheikh Aweys and President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed.
…
A member of Hizbul Islam, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Radio Garowe that Sheikh Aweys “has accepted any agreement to end the war in Mogadishu.” But the source did not elaborate whether or not Sheikh Aweys’ hardliner position against the presence of African Union peacekeepers has changed.
An Egyptian government official was quoted as saying that Sheikh Aweys has agreed to make peace with “his former friend,” President Sheikh Sharif.
Arab League official Samir Husni told reporters in Cairo that Arab states would fund peace talks among Somali Islamist leaders to end the years-long bloody insurgency in south-central Somalia, especially in Mogadishu.

here’s more from al-sharq al-awsat
Rebel Source Deny Knowledge of Egypt`s Initiative To Solve Crisis

On his part, Somali Foreign Minister Muhammad Abdallah Umar– who recently met the Egyptian foreign minister`s assistant in Cairo –denied there is a clearly-defined and clear Egyptian initiative, said this meeting did not deal with any details of such a thing, and noted that the discussions were general and about how to solve the current Somali crisis and find a solution for the growing phenomenon of sea piracy off Somali coasts. The Somali minister did not only make this denial but also asserted to “Al-Sharqal-Awsat” by telephone from New York, which he is visiting to take part in a UN Security Council meeting today to discuss current developments in Somalia, that achievement of peace and reconciliation does not require holding conferences or foreign mediations to bring the Somali parties abroad to the negotiating table. He asked: “Why do we need a foreign initiative when all those concerned with the crisis are now inside the Somali capital Mogadishu!” He added: “Shaykh Hasan Tahir Uways, leader of the Islamic Party, or the leaders of the Youth movement who represent the hard-line Islamic groups seeking to overthrow the transitional authority led by Shaykh Sharif, needs only to make a local telephone call to inform us of their desire for dialogue.” He then noted that “the cost of this call is not more than 10 American cents. They do not even need to dial the international 00 number before completing the call. The matter is quite simple. They would have done this if they were serious about negotiations and solving the crisis. We are ready to respond immediately.”
But the Somali foreign minister has apparently to wait along time before this contact is made as the Islamic rebels do not seem interested in the proposal. An official in the (opposition) Islamic Party told “Al-Sharq al-Awsat”: “We are not interested in what this or any other official is proposing.” Regarding the Egyptian initiative, the official — who asked to remain unidentified – said in a telephone call from somewhere inside Mogadishu: “We heard about this from the media but we do not have any ideas on it. No one has contacted us about it.”

and speaking of making shit up, abu mansour al amriki again in another SITE release
Purported American Member Of Somali Terror Group Blasts Obama

WASHINGTON, July 08, 2009 (AFP)–A purported American member of a Somali terror group blasted U.S. President Barack Obama’s speech last month to the Muslim world, a monitoring group said Wednesday.
The man was identified as “Abu Mansour the American” and said in a 27-minute video released to jihadist forums that peace could only be reached if Washington disengages from Muslim nations like Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, according to the U.S.-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist cells.
“How dare you send greetings to the Muslim world while thousands of Muslims are being detained in your facilities,” said Abu Mansour, speaking in English.
“And how dare you send greetings to the Muslims while you are bombing our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan?”
Abu Mansour appeared in March in a propaganda video by the militant Somali Islamist group Shebab. The video was aimed at foreign recruits, and featured English rapping and songs.

b/c everyone knows how much islamic fundamentalists appreciate western music & culture

Wednesday’s video contains only a still image of Abu Mansour, who appeared to be in his late 20s or 30s. During his speech it also shows still images of three other men identified as Americans – “Abu Hurriya the American,” “Burhan the American” and “Dahir the American.

and speaking of americans in somalia
REMARKS BY AMBASSADOR SUSAN E. RICE, U.S. PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, DURING A SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATE ON SOMALIA

The United States remains committed to several goals in Somalia: first, supporting Somalia`s Transitional Federal Government in its battle against al-Shabaab and other violent extremists; second, bolstering the African Union Mission in Somalia; third, helping the TFG establish itself as a legitimate and stable government that can control its territory and provide basic services to its citizens; fourth, partnering with the international community to ease the suffering of the Somali people; and fifth, battling the scourge of piracy off the Somali coast.
…
Without our support, Somalia risks becoming a lasting safe haven and training ground for those plotting terrorist attacks around the world.
…
My government has also provided more than $135 million in training, equipment, and logistical support to AMISOM since the mission`s creation. But more still must be done.
…
It is no secret that al-Shabaab has been bolstered by al-Qaeda operatives and by the hundreds of foreign fighters that have been pouring into Somalia. [proof? if it’s no secret, then there must be publicly-available proof. where is it?] We must all do a better job of stemming the flow of extremists, arms, and financial support into Somalia. [start w/ yourselves]
…
..all of us can see that paying ransom perpetuates acts of piracy. The United States does not offer concessions to hostage-takers, whether they are driven by political or financial motives. And we encourage other states to take a similar position. We would, in particular, be interested in forming a group of so called, “no concession” states to work together to slow the rise of piracy off the Somali coast. Mr. President, the United States looks forward to continuing to work with the UN and all member states to finally forge a stable, secure, and more prosperous Somalia. [after the islamist factions have been eliminated by each other & the islamic revolution is neutralized, of course]

Posted by: b real | Jul 10 2009 6:02 utc | 30

b real@28
also, the interviewer never brought up Africom. And Obama did’nt either.
its too early to judge but one strong positive is that he pressed “economic models” & partnership pretty good and he never ventured into Bush’s military assistance agenda.
An Africa relationship based on economic partnership (like China’s Africa initiative) minus the harder edges of USA imperialism might be where he’s headed.
By far the USA’s best option is to follow China’s “partnership” economic path in Africa otherwise it will be the loser. In ten years, there will be a more affordable (but increasingly decent quality) Chinese/India/Brazil/South-Africa substitute for almost everything the West has to offer.

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Jul 10 2009 12:22 utc | 32

Henry Okah walks
today news that Okah has agreed to “unconditional-amnesty” and is to be released by FG of Nigeria.
nothing surprising here given the nature of Nigeria’s oligarchic neo-colonial ruling powers. The USA State Dept must feel like its been taken for a ride by the Nigerian govt & its DC lobbyists. Its only been a couple of days since State’s top Africa official Johnnie Carson labeled the Niger-Delta militants as criminals and now Okah the top MEND leader is to be freed unconditionally with barely a slap on the wrist.
again, theres no real mystery here, just follow the benjamins. MEND pipeline sabotage now costs the Nigerian govt well over a million barrels a day — thats 70M USA dollars a day. The operative factor is that the ND militants responded to the recent “surge” by the FGN to smoke them out once & for all, with a major rash of pipeline & flow-station attacks that set oil production to record lows.
maybe some lessons learned for Obama, Hilary & Johnnie.

Posted by: jony_b_cool | Jul 11 2009 0:41 utc | 34

I couldn’t post for a week or so, some technical glitch, now all of a sudden I can. If MoA is here, I’ll be back tomorrow.

Posted by: xcroc | Jul 11 2009 4:37 utc | 36