
Author Archives
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Somalia: Selection of Delegates and Constitutional Ratification Delayed
As the mandate for Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) is set to expire on August 20, 2012, the international community is working urgently with elders and community leaders in the Technical Selection Committee (TSC) to select the delegates that will… Read More ›
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Download Copy of Somalia’s Draft Constitution
Attached is a copy of the signed draft constitution of Somalia (last dated: 12 June 2012): Somalia_Draft Constitution – 12 June 2012 – Somali Version The English version is here. For more information about the Somalia constitutional process, check with http://dastuur.org/… Read More ›
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AQEA Publishes 2nd Issue of Swahili-English Jihadi magazine “Gaidi Mtaani”
New Swahili/English magazine Gaidi Mtaani (Terrorist in the Street) was first posted in April 2012 in Jihadi forums used for material published by al-Qai’da in East Africa (AQEA)–a group with long ties to al-Shabaab. The publication reflects al-Shabaab and their affiliates’… Read More ›
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Kenya Defense Forces Officially Integrate into AMISOM to Save Money
According to a press released published yesterday: The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) today assumed formal command of the Kenyan forces in Southern Somalia at a colorful ceremony held at the Kenyan Department of Defense headquarters in Nairobi. A… Read More ›
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Al-Shabaab Rallying Clan Support in Somalia’s Hiiraan Region
Al-Shabaab continues to rally clan support in key areas of South Central Somalia that help the group maintain its resilience–even as forces from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the international community exert pressure on the group. Since January 2012,… Read More ›
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Al-Shabaab Deploys “Hit Squads” in Mogadishu
Al-Shabaab has deployed “hit squads” in all 16 districts of Mogadishu, Somalia, according to an article at Warqaad.com. Sheikh Mohamed Abdi Rahman, al-Shabaab’s regional administrator of Banadir region, stated on a pro-al-Shabaab radio station that the group’s special forces will… Read More ›
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Al-Shabaab Reportedly Forcing Kismayo Residents into its Ranks
Dhacdo.com is reporting (in Somali) that al-Shabaab is forcing each clan in Kismayo to contribute 150 youth to its forces. TFG lawmaker Ali Maxamed Geddi spoke out against al-Shabaab’s forced recruitment, pointing out that residents do not want to fight… Read More ›
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Bomb Blast Reported in Beledweyne, Hiiraan, Somalia (June 28, 2012)
Shabelle News is reporting (in Somali) that on June 28, 2012 a powerful blast from a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) was set off in Beledweyne, Hiiraan region of Somalia . The IED most likely was targeting Somali and Ethiopian… Read More ›
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Somali Government and AMISOM Troops Move Into Balcad in Middle Shabelle Region
Dayniile Online is reporting* that on June 26, 2012, troops from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and AMISOM have moved into the town of Balcad, about 30 km north of Mogadishu in the Middle Shabelle region. Sources cited in the… Read More ›
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Evidence against Defection of Aweys
The previous blog post lays out the initial reports that allege al-Shabaab’s spiritual leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys had defected to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Afgoye. New reports make this claim… Read More ›
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Has al-Shabaab’s Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys defected?
See part 2 for updated information about evidence that alleges these rumors are false. Unverified rumors on June 4, 2012 allege that al-Shabaab’s spiritual leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has defected from the terrorist group to the Transitional Federal Government… Read More ›
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Evidence Against Defection of Aweys
The previous blog post lays out the initial reports that allege al-Shabaab’s spiritual leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys had defected to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Afgoye. New reports make this claim more unlikely. Al-Shabaab’s media rep on Twitter… Read More ›
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UN Roadmap Paved in Foreign Currency
Several editorials have been published in recent weeks about the contentious process to ratify the draft version of the Somali constitution–the best of which may be found by Abdullahi Jamaa (Somalia Report) or Abdulwahid Sheikh Osman Qalinle (Pambazuka). Criticisms of… Read More ›