Bodies of General Aidid's Men are scattered.
Gal Libaax
INTRO: REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVERAL SOMALI FACTIONS HAVE BEGUN A
FOUR-DAY MEETING IN NAIROBI. THE CONFERENCE IS FOCUSING ON THE
NEED FOR PEACE AND RECONSTRUCTION AND SPECIFICALLY ON THE MOST
PRACTICAL WAY TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT IN THE HORN OF AFRICA
COUNTRY. V-O-A'S JOSIAH OBAT QUESTIONED ONE OF THE MAIN
ORGANIZERS OF THE MEETING. MOHAMED HASSAN AWALE SPOKE ABOUT THE
AIMS AND THE PURPOSE OF THE GATHERING.
TEXT:
/// BEGINS WITH AWALE'S FIRST RESPONSE ///
AWALE: THE PURPOSE IS TO FIND WAYS OF BRINGING PEACE
INTO SOMALIA AND ESTABLISHING A GOVERNMENT FOR SOMALIA.
THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONFERENCE WHICH STARTED
THIS MORNING, MONDAY, APRIL 15TH AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL
THURSDAY, APRIL 18TH AT WHICH TIME WE WILL PRESENT THE
OUTCOME OF THE CONSULTATIONS.
OBAT: WELL MR AWALE SEVERAL MEETINGS HAVE TAKEN PLACE
WITH THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF RE-ESTABLISHING PEACE IN
SOMALIA BUT SO FAR NOT MUCH HAS COME OUT OF THESE
CONFERENCES. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS ONE?
AWALE: WE ACKNOWLEDGED IN OUR OPENING STATEMENT THIS
MORNING THAT MANY CONFERENCES OF THIS KIND HAVE BEEN
ORGANIZED IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT IF YOU KNOW YOU
LOOK ALWAYS FOR WAYS OF IMPROVING YOURSELF, IMPROVING
THE WAYS YOU FAIL, I AM SURE THE SOMALI PEOPLE ARE MORE
THAN READY NOW, MORE THAN EVER, READY TO COME TO GRIPS
WITH REALITY IN THEIR COUNTRY WHICH IS NOT VERY GOOD,
CHAOS, THERE HAS BEEN NO GOVERNMENT IN SOMALIA SINCE
JANUARY OF 1991 AND NOW PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF
THAT AND WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL WE WILL SUCCEED THIS TIME.
OBAT: MR AWALE A MAJOR PROTAGONIST IN THE STRUGGLE FOR
POWER IN SOMALIA IS THE S-N-A AND GENERAL AIDEED, WHO IS
NOT HERE. HOW DO YOU HOPE TO TACKLE THE AIDEED
QUESTION?
AWALE: WELL, AS YOU SEE, THE AIDEED QUESTION IS ON THE
AGENDA. WE KNOW THAT AIDEED REJECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS IN SOMALIA AND HE IS WAGING
WAR AT THE MOMENT IN SOMALIA -- IN BAIDOA, HODDUR,
MOGADISHU, MERCA -- AND WE ARE CALLING FOR HIM TO GIVE
UP THE FIGHT BECAUSE IT WILL NOT SERVE ANY PURPOSE,
THERE IS NO POINT IN HAVING SOMALI PEOPLE KILLED
SENSELESSLY. BUT WE THINK AIDEED QUESTION WILL BE
QUESTIONED ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. EITHER HE WILL
PARTICIPATE IN THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS OR HE WILL BE
OUT OF THE PICTURE, SOONER OR LATER.
OBAT: EVEN IF HE IS OUT OF THE PICTURE, WILL THE
SECURITY SITUATION IMPROVE BECAUSE IN RECENT DAYS THERE
HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS HAVING
OFFICES LOOTED, THE OTHER THE E-U HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
OFFICER WAS IN KISMAYU AND ALMOST STOPPED FROM VISITING,
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CONFERENCE WILL ACHIEVE WITHOUT
THESE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE PICTURE?
AWALE: IT IS PRECISELY BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS YOU
MENTIONED THAT WE ARE HERE. IT IS LACK OF GOVERNMENT
THAT THOSE THINGS HAPPEN. THE KISMAYU INCIDENT,
MOGADISHU FIGHTING. THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT. THERE IS
A VACUUM, SO THE PEOPLE HAVE ARMS AND PEOPLE AT WILL CAN
DO THINGS THAT NORMALLY ARE NOT POSSIBLE IN A COUNTRY
UNDER A GOVERNMENT. WE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A
GOVERNMENT PRECISELY BECAUSE WE WANT TO STOP THIS
SENSELESS VIOLENCE IN SOMALIA AND WE THINK THAT BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THESE INCIDENTS, THE OCCURRENCE OF
VIOLENCE, PEOPLE WILL NOW COME TOGETHER AND FORM A
GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES.
INTRO: REPRESENTATIVES FROM FIVE SOMALI FACTIONS HAVE ENDED
FOUR-DAYS OF TALKS IN NAIROBI AIMED AT WORKING OUT WAYS OF
RESTORING A GOVERNMENT TO WAR-TORN SOMALIA. V-O-A'S JOSIAH OBAT
TALKED TO MOHAMED HASSAN AWALE, ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE
CONFERENCE, AND ASKED WHAT THE TALKS HAD ACHIEVED.
TEXT:
/// STARTS WITH AWALE'S FIRST ANSWER ///
THIS CONSULTATION CONFERENCE BY THE SOMALI POLITICAL
ORGANIZATIONS AND MOVEMENTS ACHIEVED WHAT IT SET OUT TO DO WHICH
IS TO AGREE ON A POLITICAL PLATFORM ON WHICH ALL SOMALIS CAN
BUILD THEIR FUTURE AND LEAD NORMAL LIFE THERE AFTER. THERE IS A
QUESTION OF HOW TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT FOR SOMALIA AND MOSTLY
IN THE PAST WE EMPHASIZED ON INDIVIDUAL AMBITIONS AS TO WHO WILL
LEAD SOMALI, WHO WILL HOLD SUCH POSITIONS. BUT NOW WE STARTED ON
WORKING ON A PLATFORM THAT SAYS WELL WE NEED A GOVERNMENT BUT A
GOVERNMENT CAN NOT BE ESTABLISHED NOW IN SOMALIA SO WHAT WE DO IS
WE WILL START WITH AN AUTHORITY THAT WILL PREPARE THE COUNTRY FOR
NORMAL CONDITIONS FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR OR ONE AND A HALF
YEARS AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A TRANSITIONAL GOVERNMENT THAT IS THE
SECOND STAGE WHICH WILL PREPARE A CONSTITUTION FOR THE COUNTRY
WHICH IS THE FIRST STAGE, A CONSTITUTIONAL PHASE.SO THIS IS WHAT
WE AGREED AND WE WILL CALL UPON OTHER SOMALIS TO ALSO SUPPORT
THIS PROGRAM AND ALSO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM WHICH WE THINK
IS THE IDEAL PROGRAM FOR SOMALIA AT THIS MOMENT.ALSO ANOTHER
FEATURE OF THE PROGRAM IS THAT WE EMPHASIZED ON COLLECTIVE
LEADERSHIP RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL PERSONS TRYING TO SEEK FOR
POSITIONS SUCH AS PRESIDENT .WE SAID A COLLECTION OF PRESIDENTS
WHOSE CHAIRMAN SHIP WILL BE ON ROTATIONAL BASIS WILL BE THE
ANSWER FOR SOMALIA RATHER THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO OUT DO
THE OTHER.
OBAT: MR AWALE, THIS MEETING HAS TAKEN PLACE AGAINST A
BACKGROUND OF QUITE SOME INSECURITY IN MOGADISHU. THERE IS
FIGHTING BETWEEN VARIOUS FACTIONS. ISN'T THAT QUITE A
DISCOURAGING SIGN? AND HAVING COME UP WITH THESE RESOLUTIONS YOU
HAVE MADE IN NAIROBI, HOW EASY DO YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO BE FOR
YOU TO IMPLEMENT THEM IN THE STREETS OF MOGADISHU OR IN SOMALIA
AS A WHOLE?
AWALE: IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT FIGHTING IS GOING ON IN
MOGADISHU. THE FIGHTING IS BEING WAGED BY GENERAL AIDEED AND
BECAUSE OF THE FIGHTING ITSELF WE THINK IT WILL EXPEDITE OUR
STEPS, OUR PROCESS BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO STOP THE FIGHTING
AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE FIGHTING IS TO AGREE ON A POLITICAL
PLATFORM AND TO ESTABLISH A GOVERNMENT THAT CAN PROTECT THE
PEOPLE SO YES IT IS A VERY SAD SITUATION BUT I THINK IT WILL NOT
DELAY US IT WILL ENCOURAGE US TO GO A HEAD WITH THE PROGRAM.
OBAT: HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT IS IT GOING TO BE FOR YOU TO
IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM ON THE GROUND IN SOMALIA?
AWALE: THE PROBLEM TO SOMALIA AND TO THIS PROGRAM IS GENERAL
AIDEED.AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE STATEMENT WE CALL UPON HIM TO JOIN
THE PROCESS AND TO BE PART OF THIS PEACE PROGRM. IF HE REJECTS
THE REST OF SOMALIS CAN GET TOGETHER AND FACE HIM AND HE WOULD BE
OUT OF THE PICTURE IF HE DOES NOT JOIN IN TIME .SO I DO NOT THINK
THAT IT WILL DISRUPT YES SOME BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS AIDEED
WILL EITHER HAVE TO JOIN THE PROCESS OR HE HAS TO REALLY BE OUT
OF THE PICTURE.
TITLE= SOMALIA/FIGHTING
INTRO: HEAVY FIGHTING HAS BROKEN OUT ONCE AGAIN IN THE SOMALI
CAPITAL, MOGADISHU. INITIAL REPORTS SAY MORE THAN 19 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN KILLED AND SOME 50 OTHERS WOUNDED. FROM OUR EAST AFRICA
BUREAU IN NAIROBI, V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS.
TEXT: THE FIGHTING ERUPTED OVERNIGHT BETWEEN FORCES LOYAL TO
GENERAL MOHAMED FARAH AIDEED AND MILITIA SUPPORTING RIVAL FACTION
LEADER OSMAN HASSAN ALI ATTO, A FORMER AIDEED ALLY.
SOMALI REPORTERS IN CONTACT WITH NAIROBI SAY THE BATTLE HAS
INCLUDED EXCHANGES OF ARTILLERY, MORTAR AND MACHINE GUN FIRE.
THEY CALL IT THE WORST VIOLENCE IN THE SOMALI CAPITAL SINCE
EARLY THIS MONTH.
AIDES TO GENERAL AIDEED HAVE HAD NO COMMENT. BUT OFFICIALS
ALLIED WITH OSMAN ATTO BLAME AIDEED FORCES FOR STARTING THE
BATTLE, WHICH SOMALI REPORTERS SAY APPEARS TO BE A STRUGGLE FOR
CONTROL OF A KEY ROAD LINKING MOGADISHU WITH SOUTHERN SOMALIA.
U-N PEACEKEEPING FORCES PULLED OUT OF SOMALIA A YEAR AGO AFTER
FAILING TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE COUNTRY'S RIVAL
CLANS AND FACTIONS. SINCE THEN, GENERAL AIDEED HAS DECLARED
HIMSELF PRESIDENT BUT HAS WON NO RECOGNITION EITHER
INTERNATIONALLY OR FROM HIS DOMESTIC RIVALS. SOME OBSERVERS SAY
GENERAL AIDEED MAY NOW BE TRYING TO ENFORCE HIS AUTHORITY WITH
MILITARY ACTIONS LIKE THE LATEST FIGHTING IN MOGADISHU.
At Least 21 Killed In South Mogadishu Battles
MOGADISHU, Somalia (Reuter) - Fighters loyal to faction
leader Mohamed Farah Aideed and his former ally Osman Ali Hassan
Atto battled in the Somali capital Mogadishu for the second time
in two weeks Friday, killing at least 21 people.
Witnesses and medical staff said at least 21 people were
killed and 43 wounded in the fighting that broke out at after
midnight Thursday and raged on into Friday afternoon.
Battles between the two rival leaders concentrated on three
parts of the former university compound, Aideed's headquarers
and near Digfer hospital in the south of the Somali capital.
At least 100 families fled to safer areas of the capital to
escape being hit in the crossfire between militiamen blasting
away with 120 mm mortars, anti-aircraft batteries, anti-tank
cannon, heavy machineguns and ``technical'' battlewagons.
Osman Atto's radio station accused Aideed of personally
commanding a militia attack overnight. Aideed's radio remained
off the air since Thursday.
Residents said they feared it was the start of a military
showdown between the two rivals, whose forces killed more than
100 people and wounded 400 in two days of battles two weeks ago.
Some 400 refugee families fled camps in southern Mogadishu
Thursday where Aideed's forces reinforced frontlines. Nine
refugees were killed and 15 were wounded in a mortar attack on
Wednesday.
Aideed's supporters declared him president of Somalia last
June and he formed a government which has been recognized only
by Libya and has been condemned by Atto and north Mogadishu
leaders.
Both sides have spurned efforts at mediation by elders of
the Habr Gedir sub-clan, which both Aideed and Atto belong to.
International aid agencies evacuated all foreign staff from
southern Mogadishu to the north this month but had said they
were ready to fly in medical supplies if new battles broke out.
Aideed and his former financier Atto split in March last
year shortly before U.N. peacekeepers left at the end of a two
-year mission that failed to force the warlords to make peace.
The university compound at the center of Friday's battles
was the former headquarters compound for U.N. troops in Somalia
and is only a few blocks from Atto's heavily-guarded residence.
Atto has been out of Somalia since last month for medical
treatment.
Aideed, whose forces defeated U.N. troops in 1993, said this
month he was confident of victory in southern Mogadishu and
accused the European Union of funding Atto for a fight.
Aideed returned to his Mogadishu based from southwestern
Somalia after the first bout of battles in April for the first
time since his forces captured Baidoa town in September last
year.
Residents said it appeared improbable because of clan
differences that a north Mogadishu alliance opposed to Aideed
and led by Ali Mahdi Mohamed would intervene on the side of
Osman Atto.
-
19 Reported Killed In Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia Rival militias battled with mortars and automatic
weapons in the streets of Mogadishu on Friday, killing at least 19 people
and wounding 47.
The fighting erupted early in the morning between fighters of Gen.
Mohammed Farrah Aidid and those of Osman Hassan Ali, who is also known as
Atto.
It was difficult to assess the precise number of casualties in the
fighting. A local journalist reported that at least 19 fighters were
killed, and hospitals reported treating 47 wounded.
Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdid, Atto's spokesman, blamed Aidid's militiamen
for starting the fighting. There was no comment from those loyal to Aidid.
Qeybdid gave no casualty figures for Atto's militia but said ``bodies
of General Aidid's men are scattered... with no one to collect them.''
The heaviest fighting with mortars, machine guns and pickup truck-
mounted automatic weapons was concentrated at a junction of the highway
leading to southern Somalia.
The fighting came a day after five factions allied with Atto held a
meeting in neighboring Kenya and called for Somalia to be ruled by
collective leadership.
Since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohammed Siad Barre, Somalia has
disintegrated into fiefdoms defended by warring factions.
Atto is Aidid's former financier and advisor. A year ago, Atto ousted
Aidid as chairman of the Somalia National Alliance. Aidid responded by
naming himself president. He has since spurned negotiations with other
factions, saying they first must accept him as president.
Atto is currently in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, undergoing treatment for
leg wounds he suffered in a 1994 grenade explosion.
Abdi ali
Xaad sheegeeydaa, xaadse mahaan la immaaheeyda, xaadse unuka noo
ceebeeheeydaa. Halkii Daarood ahaay minaas nabadiisa qabo, unuka jabkeena
xaas noogu raxeesahaa?
Abdi Ali Yalaxaoow Just an Harti Abgaal elder.
Gal Libaax
Arooy Abdi Ali Yalaxooboow Harti abgaal xabad kama ogide, ma ogtahay in
Ceydiid kala qebiyey Harti Daarood.
Mohamed Haji Adan. belongs to the strongest Harti faction in town of
Kismayo, the Harti/Majeerteen/Issa Mohamud, which made it save for him to
go there on aydeed's behalf and distribute the usual favours and promises.
Aydeed's opponent in the town, especially the Somali Salvation
Democratic Front leaders such as Mohamed Abshir Musse ans General Hassan
Abshir
also belongs to the Harti/Issa Mohamud. but to a rival subgroup the Musse
Isse. Mohamed hagi
aden promptly married a young women from the rival group,deploying
Aydeed's funds to make a show and charm the elders spending over US$100,
000 a month, while morgan watching the situation , The Strongest forcec
are the marehan militias under Col. Omar Jama ' Af Gabdheed'
Who like the powerful Dolbahante militias, have to time for mohamed
Haji's manoeuvrings.
Aydeed des desperately needs to make it success of his kismayo sheme and
don't trust ogaden
including Col. Amed Omar Jess, who has mixed feeling about aydiid and
whose position is shaky.
Money is power and just 15 people have the right to draw aydeed's
'centeral bank' One majeerteen
Finance Minister abdi abdullahi sa'id Three habar gidir/saleebaan ( Two
warlord close relative of aydiid plus vice minister of finance) and no
fewer than eleven sa'ad. The Vice -Minister of defence( Habar gidir/ Eir)
cannot draw money but his subordinate, the Commander of the armed forces
(habar gidir/Sa'ad) can. also Ahmed Omar Jess cannot withdraw.
Atto's peace deal with morgan in May 1994 stabilised affairs in lower
jubba, and in particular increased the trade between Kismayo and
Mogadisho. A big rice-growing project (known as Project Mugambo in
Pressident Siad Barre's time) has been resucitated by atto, who now
needs
to safeguard his investment.
Galkayo is now the center for trade between mogadisho and boosaaso.
between the south and north of what was somalia, Adullahi Yusuf Ahmed now
is sick and always his forces whan conflict occur, meanwhile Omar mahamud
is looking his successor because of the tension Ali Saleebaan and Osman
Mahamud who calls them selfs as the kings of the region. wealthiest clans
in the city of bosaaso is Dishiishe and Ali Saleebaan.
After we solve our problems then we deal president Mohamed Ibrahim Egal
to join somalia or else.
Somali 123
Man you are very funny and you made me laugh like there is no tomorrow.
But listen, please reread the news articles emanating from Mogadishu and
tell me if Aideed is in a position of dividing gli uomini d'onore (i.e.
Majeerteens). Buddy, just incase you don't get it, it's reer Ayanle versus
reer Hiloowle and that means Haber Gidir whacking each other's skinny
asses, which is completely fine with me. Did you hear about Osman Atto's
son???
And what is this business of a "Dhulbahante militia" you are talking
about?????? Please don't lie, it's shameful for a grown up man to tell
lies. There is no such a thing as a powerful Marehan in Waamo. They are
guests. Period.
Let me tell you something very funny about Mohammed Haji Aden.
The reason he rebelled is because he doesn't like Morgan's coziness with
the enemy Marehans and that is the only reason he rebelled. Morgan and
Marehans aren't crazy enough to harm him because he is an honorable
Mohamud Salebaan clansman. As such, harming him will bring the wrath of
God, because retaliation will be prompt, swift and massive. Get it?????
BTW, Abdullahi Yusuf is just fine. He succefully underwent liver
transplant and he will be home soon. You are right about Galkayo, it's a
center of commerce and trade.
Let me tell you a very funny joke, which is infact true. Mohamed Haji
Aden's wife returned from Nairobi a few weeks ago. The woman was furious
because every body was telling her of her husband's alliance with Aideed.
As soon as she entered her home in kismayo, where her husband was asleep,
she grabbed a "baakoor" which is a walking stick and suddenly started
hitting her husband as she kept screaming at him. The old man broke an
arm.
You didn't know that, did you???
BTW, there are no banks to draw money from in Mogadishu, where Aideed
lives. Ahmed Omar Jess is nowadays an independently wealthy man, after he
perfected the time-honored Ogadeen "tuuksi". Infact, according to an Ali
Saleebaan guy who works and lives in Gabon, Jess was there a few weeks ago
begging president Omar Bongo. He got some money from Bongo, I don't know
how much, though.
Well, that's about all for now.
Nabad iyo Bud Lite.
************
faisal ahmed hassan
Somali 1...@aol.com:
The article that Somali gentlement was referring to originated from African
confidential. He is not making up-the Majeerteen clans are divided. It is
true! Then, You Majeerteens stand up alone and stay away from Harti.
Because, You are looking for help from other powerful clans. Why don't
you call your name if you are Majeerteen and do something the Hawiye
clans whom you exchange wives and live the same regions. Your Majeerteen.
then, call your name that is Majeerteen, not Harti.
GORSEI
The latest news in Somali area;
Hargeisa .The Norway redcross have signed 3 millions dollars aid with the
life line of Somaliland and and Italian Ngo , Carcas , announced to go to
somaliland and rebuild the hospital of Hargeias .
In addition , at least 70 people died and 86 are hospitalised in Las
Cannod because of cholera, six person were also affected in Borama . The
Somaliland government has sent some medical doctors to the regions .
Yemen .According to the BBC , 78 Somali found died in the sea , the
Somali Ambassy spokesman , Mr Mahamed Hashi said that these innocent
people were thrown in the sea by some cruel pirates .They came from the
eastern part of Somalia , Bossaso.