Saudi ship owner paid ransom money to Somali pirates to crew released The Saudi owner of an Algerian cargo ship whose crew was held by Somali pirates for 10 months admitted paying $2.6 million to free them in November 2011, an Algerian paper reported on Tuesday. The ‘MV Blida’, carrying 17 Algerians, six Ukrainians, two...
The Operation Commander of the EU Naval Force, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, has issued a renewed warning that Somali pirates are still determined to get out to sea and, if presented with an easy target, will attack. “I am very concerned that seafarers and nations will lower their guard and support for counter piracy operations in...
By Philippa McDonald A new social media campaign has been launched to counter messages of extremism within the Australian Somali community. Religious leaders and youth workers have teamed up with the Community Relations Commission to send a positive message to young people who are struggling with a sense of belonging. Malik Osman, 24, who came...
By Randy Furst Prosecutors sought longest prison sentences for Kamal Said Hassan and Mahamud Said Omar for their roles in the “pipeline” that sent young men to fight in Somalia. Kamal Said Hassan will serve 10 years in prison for his role in the “Minnesota pipeline” that carried young men to Somali to fight in...
By Ian Birrell The International Criminal Court was designed for those monsters accused of the world’s worst crimes, but democracy has some unexpected consequences When the new president of Kenya visited London last week for the summit on Somalia, he held a private meeting with our prime minister. This was unsurprising: the two countries have...
Although the formation of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government is an encouraging first step towards nationwide peace, it should not be assumed that Somalilanders will want to quickly unify. BY EDWARD PAICE In his 2009 book, Somaliland: An African struggle for nationhood and international recognition Iqbal Jhazbhay’s asserts that “Somalia no longer exists”. This claim remains valid to a...
Nine defendants who worked to aid homeland deny they are terrorists, claiming they were unaware of Al-Shabab’s atrocities. By Randy Furst randy.furst@startribune.com The fate of nine Somali Americans from Minnesota who cast their lot with the Somali insurgency in a chaotic civil war will be decided this week in three days of hearings before U.S....
Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud enjoyed a luxury trip to London – all at the British taxpayer’s expense. The president stayed at The Dorchester hotel with his entourage of five minsters and 14 assistants while he attended a conference at Lancaster House to receive aid for his war-torn country. According to The Sun, President Mohamud,...
By Rohit Kachroo and Keir Simmons, NBC News Somalia has long been defined by terrorism, famine, and piracy. But as the United States this week pledged another $40 million towards its recovery, Somalia’s leaders said the country had finally turned a corner in the fight against the al Qaeda-linked militant group, al-Shabab. “A bright future...
By Donald Kaberuka It has been two decades of mayhem, chaos and bloodletting in Somalia. A child born at the onset of the Somali crisis is now 21. Somalia has still a long way to go: the Al Shabaab are defeated, but they are not yet fully eliminated, and they still have the capacity to kill and to maim. ...