Author Archives
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Kenyan Minister and Media Stir Confusion on Refugee Return
Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku recently made misleading and factually incorrect statements about the repatriation of Somali refugees. The Kenyan media’s subsequent misreporting of Lenku’s statements caused further confusion—resulting in UNHCR having to correct growing rumors that refugee camps… Read More ›
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Somalia’s New Rape-Journalist Row Adds to Government Pressure
Only 8 months after conclusion of the last infamous rape-journalist case, Somalia police reportedly arrested on defamation charges Radio Shabelle journalist Mohamed Bashir Hashi and a 19-year-old woman he interviewed (above) who says she was raped by journalists from the the… Read More ›
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Alleged Resignation Letter of Somalia’s Ex-Central Bank Chief Released
The alleged resignation letter of Somalia’s former Central Bank governor Yussur Abrar was published recently on the site Saadaal News. Thought its authenticity has not been confirmed, passages of the text match excerpts previously cited in the initial Financial Times report. Abrar’s abrupt resignation… Read More ›
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Ethiopia’s Financial and Strategic Interests Factor into Potential AMISOM Integration
Ethiopian government spokesperson Getachew Reda hinted that the country’s troops could join AMISOM in Somalia. This comes as the United Nations Security Council is soon expected to vote on a troop increase of 4,000 for the multi-national force currently capped at 17,761… Read More ›
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After Drone Attack, Al-Shabaab “Save Face” While Media Get It Wrong And Right
On 28 October 2013, a reported U.S. drone strike near the al-Shabaab stronghold of Jilib in Middle Juba struck a car carrying two of the group’s militants identified as top suicide explosives expert Ibrahim Ali Abdi (aka Anta Anta & Adeer Ali) and Warsame… Read More ›
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Sudan’s Jihadi Exports to Somalia
While most reports have focused on the potential role and corresponding backlash against ethnic Somalis in regard to the Westgate siege, there continues to be a steady current of activity of Sudanese militants among al-Shabaab, al-Qai’da (AQ), and other armed… Read More ›
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Post-Westgate Kenya: Between Scapegoating and Solidarity
One of al-Shabaab’s main objectives during and after Westgate was to divide Muslims and non-Muslims and tempt Kenyans into divisiveness. One week after the crisis, Kenyans look to defy falling into this trap. After al-Shabaab’s 4-day siege of the Westgate… Read More ›
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Somalia Government Hires Lobbying Firm Podesta Group — Details
According to newly released documents, the Somalia government reportedly has signed a 30-day agreement with Washington, D.C.-based lobbying firm Podesta Group (PG) worth $120,000, representing only .89% of PG’s total lobbying income stated so far for 2013. Podesta Group describes itself on its Facebook page as… Read More ›
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Analysis: The Westgate Attack and Kenya’s Approach to al-Shabaab
With casualty numbers rising, at least 62 people are dead, many missing, and hundreds injured in a brazen al-Shabaab attack at the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. According to unconfirmed reports, between 10 to 15 attackers were involved in… Read More ›
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Al-Shabaab Bombs Symbolic Restaurant, Builds Symbolic Canal
On 7 September 2013, al-Shabaab militants set off a car bomb near Ahmed Jama‘s Village Restaurant in Mogadishu, drawing onlookers to the scene before another suicide bomber detonated a suicide vest among the crowd. More than 20 people have died… Read More ›
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Jubaland Reborn: A Look at Jubba and Somalia Post-Addis Agreement
The Somalia Federal Government (SFG) led by State Minister for the Presidency Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir and the Jubba delegation headed by Ras Kamboni leader Ahmed Madobe recently concluded a deal that on paper was one step intended to resolve the… Read More ›
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Mogadishu is Heaven. Mogadishu is Hell.
With each report coming out of Mogadishu, optimists and pessimists prop up their narrative. Mogadishu is heaven. Mogadishu is hell. Descriptions in the media are full of quizzical paradoxes. In a recent piece entitled, “Flying into hostile territory: Somalia experiences boom in… Read More ›
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After Infighting, al-Shabaab Focuses on Image Repair in Somalia
In June 2013, Barawe residents witnessed intense fighting between rival al-Shabaab factions loyal to top leader Ahmed Abdi Godane on one side and forces loyal to Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, Omar Hammami, (the late) Ibrahim al-Afghani, and other leaders on another…. Read More ›
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