The bomber set off his explosives outside the gate of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) base before attackers ran inside and opened fire on security guards, a senior police official told Reuters.

Gunfire could still be heard more than 30 minutes after the initial explosion. It was not immediately clear whether any U.N. officials were caught up in the gun battle or whether anyone was killed or wounded.

U.N. agencies have only recently started building up their offices and international staff inside Somalia after a period of relative improvements in security.

African Union forces and government troops drove Islamist al Shabaab rebels out of the coastal capital almost two years ago, but the militants have kept up guerrilla-style attacks from rural bases.

(Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; Writing by Richard Lough; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Brian Wiley, left, assistant professor at the University of Illinois, and photographer Mohamud Mumin, right, chat during Community Day event at the Weisman Art Museum. (Photo by Ibrahim Hirsi)

By Ibrahim Hirsi, TC Daily Planet
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
“The Youth/Dhalinyarada” project, which consists of portraits and a short video narration of both the success and challenging stories of 13 Somali-American men, was among the featured exhibits at the June 16 Community Day at the University of Minnesota’s Weisman Art Museum.

“This project highlights the contributions these men are making in America,” said Mohamud Mumin, a photographer and the man behind the project. “The subjects of these photographs share the conflict they feel in just trying to be themselves. As much as they try to adapt, they often feel foreign at home, here in Minnesota.”

The men featured in “The Youth/Dhalinyarada” include community activists, young professionals, artists and athletes.

Mumin added: “The project explores their journey from Somalia to America, how they are engaged in their community and what it means to be young, Muslim, and Somali-American [living in Minnesota].”

To those at the event, it was a chance to meet some of the men and ask Mumin questions about the project.

Abdi Farah — well-known as “Abdi Phenomenal” — is one of the men in the project. He’s a Twin Cities spoken word artist, youth activist and an actor.

Abdi Phenomenal took to the microphone, reciting a spoken work entitled “More Than Heroes,” which is about the challenges and hopelessness the Somali youth are facing.

In a poem, Phenomenal sent a message about how some of the Somali youth are “confused” with their “dreams broken” and have “no choice but to sell their dreams for a token.”

He continued reciting the poem, encouraging the youth to take the right path: Hope. Peace. Freedom.

Kaamil Haider, a University of Minnesota graphic design graduate, is another Minneapolis man, whose story is documented in “The Youth/Dhalinyarada.”

“I’m lucky to be selected as part of this project,” Haider said. “There is so much negativity in the media about Somali men. But Mohamud wanted to change that image, and because of that, I really wanted to support this.”

Brian Wiley, assistant professor at the University of Illinois, who works with Mumin on the project, said he learned a lot about the community through the project.

“When I first started working with Mohamud, I had really no reference to anything on Somali,” Wiley said. “You kind of learn things through the news, but it’s been an entirely different experience working side-by-side with Mohamud.”

The “Youth/Dhalinyarada” will be showcased July 13 through February 9 next year at the Weisman Art Museum.

Housed in a striking stainless steel and brick building designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Weisman Art Museum offers an educational and friendly museum experience. The museum’s collection features early 20th century American artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Marsden Hartley, as well as a diverse selection of contemporary art. A teaching museum for the University of Minnesota and the community, the Weisman provides a fresh, engaging arts experience through an array of programs and a changing schedule of exhibitions.

333 East River Road

Minneapolis, MN

612-625-9494

http://www.weisman.umn.edu

The police constable was responding to reports that three men had been stabbed inside the mosque in the Ward End area of the city when he was attacked.

The four are being treated in hospital for their injuries. They are all said to be “stable”.

A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is currently in custody.

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called at 11pm on Saturday night to a mosque in Washwood Heath Road, Ward End, to reports of three men with stab wounds.

“Officers arrived at the incident and whilst the man was being detained, one police officer suffered a stab wound.

“The three people and the officer have been taken to hospital, all are currently described as stable.”

Officers are investigating whether the attack was a hate crime.

“We don’t know at the moment, it’s very early stages in the inquiry,” the spokeswoman said. “We can’t rule anything out at the moment.”

Mohammed Shafiq, the leader of national Muslim organisation the Ramadhan Foundation, expressed “deep concern” over the stabbings.

He said: “Our immediate thoughts are with the victims injured and their families.

“It is too early to speculate on the circumstances of the stabbings but we must be clear there should be no place for this sort of violence in our country. There will obviously be people who will try to take advantage of this tragedy but we must not allow them to succeed.”

A number of mosques have been targeted since the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby close to his barracks in Woolwich, south London, last month.

The killing also sparked a large increase in anti-Muslim incidents in the days that followed, according to the organisation Faith Matters, which works to reduce extremism.

In what were believed to be reprisal attacks, the Islamic Somali Community Centre in Muswell Hill, north London, was burnt to the ground while the Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre was also targeted by arsonists who threw petrol bombs.

Last week, Muslim groups called on authorities to take serious action against the wave of anti-Islamic attacks.

in London, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe responded by saying extra resources would be deployed to sites deemed to be “at greatest risk”.

Muuqaalka Warbixintan Halkan ka daawo

Police say the shooting was targeted at a home healthcare business in the building on the 2700 block of Cherokee Street.

Police say 59-year-old Ahmed Dirir appeared to have an argument with employees and opened fire killing 44-year-old Khadra Muse, 29-year-old Seaeed Abdulla, and 54-year-old Bernice Solomon-Redd.

There is surveillance video that shows Dirir in an apparent verbal dispute, and shortly thereafter, gunshots are shown penetrating a wall inside of the business. The argument appeared to be brief and police are not sure if it was from a prior incident that carried over today or was initiated today.

The surveillance video also shows that no one had entered or exited the business other than the 4 deceased, which led investigators to determine this incident to be a murder/suicide.

A semi-automatic handgun was recovered next to the suspect.

The gunman and the three victims were the only ones inside the office. They all were employees at AK Home Healthcare, LLC., which has been in the building for 2 years.

Police say Dirir is believed to be the owner of the business.

For many people in Africa, the idea of visiting the French capital is an unattainable dream but for Abdulqader Guled Said, his real-life experience of Paris has been a nightmare.

At the end of the four-month 2008 fishing season, he was heading from the coast of Somalia to his home in the town of Garowe, about 180km (110 miles) inland, but never arrived.

He was detained in a dramatic helicopter raid by French commandos near the town of Jariban on 12 April, along with five others.

The French authorities suspected them of being behind the hijacking of the French luxury yacht, Le Ponant, the previous week in the Gulf of Aden.

Its 30-member crew was released on the morning of 12 April after a ransom was paid, reportedly by the yacht’s owner.

Later that day, Mr Said accepted a lift home from his brother from the port city of Gara’ad.

The four-by-four vehicle was stopped en route on a desert road by four French army helicopters.

The passengers had their hands tied behind their backs, were blindfolded and airlifted out of Somalia.

Mr Said says he had no idea at the time that his brother, Daher Guled Said, had taken part in the hijacking.

Last June, Daher and three of the other Somalis who had been detained in 2008 were found guilty of piracy in a Paris court.

Mr Said and one of the other accused were acquitted.

But his acquittal has done nothing to undo the damage – and he says his life remains in tatters from the traumatic experience.

“It was awful. I was on my own in a very small cell,” Mr Said told the BBC about the confusing days after his abduction.

“Not understanding a word of what I was told. Not being able to communicate with the other detainees. The pain was deep. I suffered a lot,” he says.

‘Ashamed’

In fact, the trauma he suffered was so profound that he has been diagnosed with a severe case of Ganser syndrome, also known as prison psychosis.

It is a reaction to extreme stress and symptoms include confusion and making irrational statements, and he complains of hallucinations.

“It took me time to understand why all this had happened to me,” he said.

“But then, when I understood, I also knew I was innocent and I was just hoping that the French judges would acknowledge this and free me.”

This took four years.

Sadness remains etched upon his face – and more bitter times were to come.

He thought after being found innocent, his life would improve and he would be returning to his family.

But instead he was thrown out onto the streets of Paris with a prison “survival kit”, which included a Metro ticket and a Sim card.

He had no money in his pocket.

“I’m ashamed by the whole story,” his lawyer Augustin d’Ollone said.

Successful pirate attacks off Somalia have decreased in the last few years

“This is just outrageous to have transferred them in total irregularity to France and to have mistreated them in this way.”

The BBC has repeatedly asked for a statement from the French justice ministry about Mr Said’s treatment, but it has refused to comment on his case.

Four months later, a French court ruled that the government should pay Mr Said 90,000 euros ($119,000; £76,500) in compensation for the judicial mistake.

This is far lower than compensation received in other cases of miscarriages of justice

Last year a French farm worker wrongly accused of rape was awarded nearly 800,000 euros for his seven years behind bars by a court of appeal. His family were also compensated, his mother getting 50,000 euros and each of his three siblings 30,000 euros.

So Mr d’Ollone has decided to appeal for higher compensation for Mr Said – and separately has filed a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights about his illegal rendition and trial in France.

Since former French President Nicolas Sarkozy took the decision to abduct and put on trial those accused of hijacking the French yacht, there has been a sharp fall in the number of acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

This is partly because of the increased use of private security guards on ships and better co-ordination between patrolling international navies.

Fear of returning

For Jacques Myard, an MP in Mr Sarkozy’s UMP party – now in opposition – piracy would best be dealt with using methods of old.

“In other times pirates would have been hanged right on the boat. It was the custom over the past centuries because piracy is an international crime and it’s not acceptable by any civilized nation,” he said.

He does admit, however, that France has an obligation to the Somalis wrongly accused in this case.

“As for the ones who were mistakenly brought to France, they should be helped to go back home,” he says.

But even that prospect is of little comfort to Mr Said as he is scared of returning home, fearing the pirate community may accuse him of collaborating with the French against his brother and the other pirates.

Mr Said still does not have access to any of the money he was awarded. He was given food and shelter by a small non-government organisation and assistance from his lawyer when first released.

He has now applied for asylum, which means that since October he has been getting a monthly government grant of 280 euros – a sum on which it is hard to survive in France – so he eats just once a day.

Before being abducted he was able to support his wife and son and help out his mother from his income as a fisherman.

In his absence, they have been surviving with the help of family members.

His plan is to bring his wife and son to France should he be given asylum.

He says he deeply regrets the day he accepted the lift from his brother.

But for him the greatest anguish has been being deprived of watching his son – now aged nine – grow up.

By Catherine Zemmouri 
BBC Africa, Paris
Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Background

The initiators of extremism in Somalia include 1. Former colonel Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys (who served the ousted regime Siad Barre), Aweys was in charge of the military wing of (Al-Itahad Al-Islamia); 2. Sheikh Abdulqadir Nur Ga’amay the spiritual leader in the same organization and 3. Sheikh Hassan Turkey, the founder of the Ras-Kamboni militias in Ras-Kamboni, a place which served as a training ground for foreign fighters for over 20 years, but currently dominated Jubba Land self proclaimed administration led by Ahmed Madobe.

Under the leadership of Sheikh Aweys, Al-Itahad Al-Islamia had in 1990s (between 1992 – 1997) launched organized attacks within Somalia and the neighboring Ethiopia, including the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu which is commonly known as Blackhawk down, which claimed the lives of 18 US marines (well trained Rangers) and over a thousand of Somalis. This type of Jihadist ideology gave birth to a number of well-known Somali hardliners, such as Adan Hashi Ayrow, who was killed in 2008 by U S missile in Somalia’s central regions, Abu Mansoor Robow, Mahad Karatee, Abu Zubeyr known (Godane in local) and many more of Al-shabab leaders.

The accumulation of foreign Jihadists

Influx of foreign fighters from all the continents flooded into Somalia after the Union of the Islamic Council declared holy war against foreign Ethiopian troops and the Somali Government forces at the end of 2006. With the help of the foreign fighters, Al-Qaida-linked group, Al-Shabab managed to control more then 90 percent of South and Central of Somalia for the last three years. Unlike the Somali government, Al-shabab was financially stable, militarily strong and even politically united, but that has changed in the recent years.

In early 2012, Al-shabab has changed their military command structure from centralized to decentralized system which gives each and every regional commander autonomous authority. This decision was made due to unmanageable stretched distance of land which covers two thousand five hundred kilometers, or 1.580 miles long. In consequence, Al-shabab, recently lost most of the main cities to the Somali security forces with the support of African Union, who are constantly gaining more territories from Alshabab in every battle. On the other hand the grudge harbored by the local, community and tribal elders against Al-Shabab is getting more and more, especially in Galgudud, Hiiraan, and middle shabelle regions, which have been abused and excessively oppressed by Al-shabab for years.

Suffering from a low morale, the estimated sixteen or eighteen hundred militias under the command of the head of Al-Shabab’s social and religious affairs, Fuad shangole and those who are under the command of Yusuf Ali known (kaba kudukade) in central regions, are facing difficult situation because of the changing circumstances. Despite any pressure that they might get from the elites to uphold position, they have only two options, lose the grip of power to the angry local tribes or relinquish their position and join in other Al-shabab mobile unities in the country.

There are number of undeniable factors that will minimize Al-shabab and Al-Qaeda activities in Somalia.

First and foremost they need to win the support of the local people and tribes which is not available for them anymore. Secondly, the disagreements between the leaders of Al Shabab are getting worse and worse, and therefore factional split is imminent, politically and militarily which will end the existence of Al-Shabab and foreign fighters earlier than expected.

Thirdly, after the diminution of the Somali pirates and losing the port city of Kismayo to Kenyan troops and Kamboni militia, Al-shabab and Al-Qaeda are suffering great deal of financial instability.

Lastly, the confidence between Somalis and foreign fighters has fainted, after a number of foreign leaders were killed either openly or secretly, and even those are still alive feel unprotected and exposed to danger among the Somalis. Furthermore, Hassan Dahir Aweys, the father of Somalia’s Jihad, has lost position of power after his Hisbul Islam militia, melted into Al-shabab nearly two years ago. He recently criticized Al-shabab leader for killing certain individuals, in addition, Sheikh Abdulqadir Ga’amay, the spiritual leader of Al-Itahad Al-Islamia, was killed in assassination by unidentified gunman in self autonomous region of Puntland, Somalia in 2012. The founder of Ras-Kamboni militia, Sheikh Hasan Turkey is also removed from power three years ago. All this signifies the malfunction of Al-shabab and Al-Qaeda mission in Somalia.

However, because of many international stakeholders are using Somalia as financial instrument and benefits insecurity both directly and indirectly. The incompetence of the Somali government which is lagging behind the public expectations and failed to improve the security of Mogadishu let alone other parts of the country. The threat of terrorists and uncertainty of security will be around for quite some time.

Mr Abdisalam Guled

Security and Terrorist Expert

Email: guled008@gmail.com

Mobile: +44 (0)7985469472

In keeping with its mission to create jobs and expand economic opportunities for young people throughout the Arab world, Silatech will collaborate with Dahabshiil and ARC to explore initiatives to promote youth entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities as a means of alleviating poverty.

As a Somali-founded business, Dahabshiil remains a primary remittance service for the global Somali diaspora, with thousands of outlets in more than 150 countries. Dahabshiil’s portfolio includes Dahabshil Bank International and a leading telecommunication services provider, Somtel. As such, the initiative between Silatech, Dahabshiil and ARC is the first of its kind in the Somali territories and will leverage Dahabshiil Group’s suite of services as part of an exclusive joint venture.

According to a 2012 UN report, youth unemployment in the Somali territories is approximately 67 percent, one of the highest in the world. However, given the increasingly positive outlook for the Somali territories and the relative stability in many areas, development organizations and socially-conscious private sector companies are increasingly shifting their focus away from humanitarian assistance towards sustainable economic rehabilitation. As this transition continues, providing the right conditions for stimulating economic activities, particularly for the youth, is becoming critical.

Building on a Silatech-led online crowd-funding platform – which has mobilised more than $3.3m from over 80,000 individual lenders to fully finance the needs of more than 2,700 young Arab micro-entrepreneurs – Silatech, ARC and Dahabshiil will explore adapting the success of this model for the Somali environment. ARC has a strong presence within the international Somali diaspora, which the initiative would look to tap into as a potential resource to help fund Somali microenterprises through the platform.

Reflecting on the partnership, Silatech CEO Dr. Tarik M. Yousef commented: “Developing a strategy for intentionally targeting younger clients represents an enormous social and business opportunity for financial institutions operating in Somalia. Through this partnership we are delighted to help a leading Somali company like Dahabshiil further fulfill its mission of investing in the betterment of the Somali society.”

Dahabshiil CEO Abdirashid Duale, said: “We have witnessed at close quarters how remittance finance has helped foster development and fuel national economies across the continent. As the economic outlook of the Somali territories continues to improve, it is clear that the young generation will play a key role in the economic future of the region. Dahabshiil is committed to investing in sustainable projects across Africa. Commitment to community support and strong corporate social responsibility are core principles that are critical to the future success and sustainability of our business. In addition to the much-needed financial services that we offer, Dahabshiil will, through this partnership, be able to deliver skills building and guidance to young Somalis.”

Responding on behalf of ARC, CEO Daniel Wordsworth said: “In spite of overwhelming challenges, Somali youth have demonstrated resilience and the capacity to adapt and survive. We believe that this initiative will empower young entrepreneurs in Somalia with the services, skills and knowledge needed to help their businesses thrive, thus contributing to long-term recovery.”

With projects in 11 Arab countries, Silatech microenterprise partnerships have since 2009 financed more than 30,000 businesses and provided assistance to more than 190,000 young people. Silatech is the largest provider of youth-focused microenterprise services in the Middle East and North Africa.

Source: AME Info

PHOTO | PPS First Lady Margaret Kenyatta plants a tree at Sagana State Lodge, Nyeri, on June 5, 2013 as her Somali counterpart Qamar Ali Omar watches. President Kenyatta and his Somali counterpart Hassan Mohamud held talks at the venue.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Kenya and the Somali governments have set up a taskforce to work out the modalities of repatriating and settling thousands of Somali refugees.

The formula agreed upon will form the basis of a conference on refugees to be held in Nairobi in August and will be expected to announce the timetable for the return.

President Kenyatta, who hosted his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, called on the international community to assist the two nations create conditions that will ensure the safe return of the refugees to their country.

Apology for soldiers killed

At the same time Mr Mohamud apologised to Kenyans and other countries contributing troops to Amison for the deaths of their soldiers, saying they had paid the ultimate price to stabilise his country.

He particularly mentioned Kenya saying the country had shouldered the extra burden of thousands of refugees.

“Such efforts will form an important part in Somali history just like we are trying to reconstruct Somalia to enable it join the international community”, Mr Mohamud said.

During a meeting between the two leaders, President Kenyatta briefed his counterpart on the burden the country was shouldering in hosting thousands of refugees in camps saying it had impacted negatively on economic, social and security of the country as well as on the environment.

“Justice is universal,” Ahmed told The Associated Press after the hearing. Those “who try to torture a human being will be brought to justice anywhere he is. That is my message.”

Ahmed, a former human rights advocate in Somalia, alleged in a 2010 lawsuit that the beatings he endured at Magan’s direction make it painful for him to sit and injured his bladder to the point that he is incontinent. He is seeking more than $12 million in damages, though he’s unlikely to ever see the money. Magan is believed to be living in Kenya, where even if he had the funds, he would be out of reach of U.S. courts.

Ahmed says the torture occurred when Magan served as investigations chief of the National Security Service of Somalia, a force dubbed the “Black SS” or the “Gestapo of Somalia” because of techniques used to gain confessions from detainees.

Magan, who lived for several years in Columbus, didn’t present any evidence to dispute the allegations that he directed subordinates in carrying out human rights abuses under the regime of former dictator Siad Barre, federal judge George Smith ruled in November.

Magan declined to comment to the AP when the lawsuit was first filed by the San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability, which has brought a number of similar lawsuits against overseas government officials accused of torture.

Magan fought the allegations in court filings for a while but stopped responding to additional court motions last year.

His former Columbus attorney said Tuesday that Magan was caring for his sick mother in Kenya. Court documents list Magan as representing himself. An email requesting comment sent to the address listed for Magan on the court docket bounced back.

Initially, Magan argued that the lawsuit was filed in the wrong country and too long after the alleged abuse. He also said he was immune from prosecution as long as he was acting within his official capacity and on behalf of the government.

The fact that he stopped fighting the case doesn’t outweigh the due process he received, said Kathy Roberts, a Center for Justice and Accountability staff attorney.

“When you think about the hundreds and thousands of Somalis who were denied due process under his command and under his rule, then it seems incredibly fair in this case,” she said. “He just simply realized he was going to lose and preferred to lose in absentia.”

Ahmed, 67, now legal adviser to the president of Somalia, divides his time between London and Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.

Last year, a federal judge in Virginia ordered the former prime minister of Somalia, Mohamed Ali Samantar, to pay $21 million in compensatory and punitive damages to several members of the minority Isaaq clan, who said they suffered brutal repression — including torture and mass killings — under the Barre regime.

Even though Magan has no money, “these types of suits are important for the victims who are able to have their day in court, tell their story, and have an authority recognize their suffering,” Michael Scharf, a professor of international law at Case Western University in Cleveland, said in an email.

Andrew Welsh-Huggins can be reached at http://twitter.com/awhcolumbus.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013
by Andrew Welsh-Huggins

AFC Leopards’ coach Luc Eymael says he has been impressed by two of the trialists, who have been training with the club in the last one week.

Michael Kamau, a former English second league tier player, who featured for Brentford until December last year, has caught the attention of coach Eymael.

Another trialist who has impressed the Belgian is Somali national Sadik Mohammed, who has played for Somali league side Benadirr.

“Sadik is a very good player, even better than some whom we have here and I think I might sign him in June. He has proved that he can play well and probably I will monitor him in the next couple of weeks before the window opens to see whether he is the good player I have been seeing,” Eymael told Goal.com.

On the 20-year old Kamau, Eymael says he needs to give him more time since he has not played for quite some time.

“His concentration is a little bit low as well as his positioning but probably it is because it has been long since he played. He has potential, that is clear but I need to give him some more time before we can decide whether to have him or not.”

Eymael has said he would want to sign six players in the June transfer window, a left back, midfielder, two wingers and two strikers.