Somalia
Current Operations
EUTM
EU Military Mission to Contribute to the Training of Somali Security Forces (EU)
Since: 05/10
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AMISOM
African Union Mission in Somalia (Other)
Since: 01/07
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UNPOS
United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UN-Peacebuilding)
Since: 04/95
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Annan Appoints Arms-Embargo Monitors (30.01.2004)
(Quelle: Irinnews) UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appointed a four-man panel of experts to monitor violations of the arms embargo against Somalia over the coming six months. … The Security Council imposed the embargo on Somalia in 1992 at the onset of the civil war. A four-member panel of experts to investigate violations of the embargo was then appointed by Annan in September 2002.
Somalia's Warlords Make Peace (30.01.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) Somalia's main warlords and politicians have signed an agreement to establish a new national parliament that in turn will elect a president. The deal paves the way for the setting up of the first recognised national government in Somalia for 13 years. Since the fall of President Siad Barre, Somalia has had no central authority and been wracked by civil war with rival factions battling each other. The talks in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, are the 14th attempt to secure a deal.
Somali Leader 'Ready to Step down' (30.01.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) Somalia's interim leader has said he is ready to move aside, following a peace deal signed by rival warlords. … Mr Salat said he would make way for whoever was chosen. 'I will hand over the power of the presidency,' he said. He also told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that it would take not more than 45 days to choose a new parliament, which would 'immediately' elect the president.
Deutscher entführt (30.01.2004)
(Quelle: taz) Ein deutscher Mitarbeiter der Vereinten Nationen (UNO) ist am Donnerstag in Somalia entführt worden. Das Auswärtige Amt in Berlin bestätigte entsprechende Angaben einer somalischen Miliz.
UN Official Urges Immediate Release of Kidnapped Staff Member (30.01.2004)
(Quelle: UN News) The top United Nations official in Somalia today strongly condemned the abduction of a UN staff member in the Horn of African country, calling for his immediate and unconditional release. ... Yesterday the UN began communicating with the region's de facto authorities in a bid to secure Mr. Helmrich's release.
Fighting 'Threatens Somali Talks' (20.01.2004)
(Quelle: BBC) Tension between regional Somali leaders may scuttle the peace talks in Kenya, mediators have warned as fighting continues in central Somalia. Some 13 people were killed and several others injured after inter-clan fighting over land and water in Hiirran region at the weekend.
Annan Urges Parties to Show Restraint as Peace Talks Enter Critical Phase (20.01.2004)
(Quelle: UN News) With the Somalia peace process entering a critical phase, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan voiced concern today over rising tension between the administrations of “Puntland” and “Somaliland” over claims to the Sool region.
Peace Talks Get New Lease of Life (12.01.2004)
(Quelle: Irinnews) The stalled Somali peace talks, which were being held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, have been given a new lease of life after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni saved them from collapse. … 'The intervention of Museveni was the ice-breaker,' Asha Haji Ilmi, a civil society leader, told IRIN on Monday. The leaders were meeting without mediators 'with a new sense of purpose', she said.
Somaliland Tells Puntland to Pull Out of Disputed Region (07.01.2004)
(Quelle: Irinnews) The authorities in the self-declared republic of Somaliland have warned neighbouring Puntland to withdraw its forces from the disputed region of Sool, a senior Somaliland official told IRIN on Wednesday.
Museveni to Hold Consultations Ahead of Leaders' Retreat (06.01.2004)
(Quelle: Irinnews) Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, current chairman of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), is expected to hold consultations with Somali leaders ahead of a proposed retreat to promote the peace process, an IGAD official said.
Security Council Calls for Panel on Arms Embargo (16.12.2003)
(Quelle: UN-News) In a resolution that was adopted unanimously, the 15-member Council called for the monitoring group to investigate breaches of the embargo - especially transfers of ammunition, single use weapons and small arms - by land, air and sea. The group would be comprised of up to four experts with a six-month mandate.
UNPOS Mandate Extended (18.11.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) The UN Security Council has agreed to extend the mandate of the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) up to 2005. … UNPOS, along with international observers, has been assisting the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development's technical (now facilitation) committee in promoting the Somali peace process.
Arms Embargo Failing (07.11.2003)
(Quelle: UN-News) Major violations of the arms embargo against Somalia have taken place over a six-month period, but the weapons now arrive continuously in many small quantities, while large quantities arrive less often, a monitoring panel has told the United Nations Security Council. …The shipments in small fishing vessels or aircraft holds originate in or are routed through Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
UN Report Names Somalia as Al Quaida Base (04.11.2003)
(Quelle: The Independent) Somalia served as a training base, weapons supermarket and hideout for the Al Qa'ida cell that carried out last November's twin attacks near Mombasa, according to UN investigators. … The investigation shows how breaches of a 1992 arms embargo have made Somalia a terrorist haven. The four-man panel says it has information about new weapons consignments believed to be 'solely for the purpose of carrying out further terrorist attacks in neighbouring states'.
Head of Transitional Government Criticises Mediators (27.10.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) The president of the Transitional National Government (TNG), Dr Abdiqassim Salat Hassan, on Friday accused Kenya and Ethiopia of derailing the Somali peace process. … He added that both Ethiopia and Kenya were trying to divide the country, 'for fear that a strong, united Somalia might resurrect territorial claims against them'.
UN to Stop Sending Aid Workers to Somaliland (21.10.2003)
(Quelle: UN-News) The murders of two workers for the non-governmental organization SOS Children's Villages … follows by two weeks the murder of an Italian hospital director in the same area. … As a result of these incidents, no additional workers will be allowed to travel to the region until the situation has stabilized, Mr. (Jan) Egeland (UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator) said.
Somaliland President in Djibouti (15.10.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) Relations between Djibouti and the self-declared republic of Somaliland, northwestern Somalia, are set to improve following a three-day visit to Djibouti by the Somaliland president, Dahir Riyale Kahin. … Relations between the two sides soured following Djibouti's hosting of the Somali peace talks, which led to the establishment of the Transitional National Government (TNG), and Djibouti's continued support for it.
Peace Talks “On Course”, Says Mediator (14.10.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) James Kiboi, a member of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) technical committee which is steering the talks, admitted that 'some personalities are not at the talks', but that the proceedings were continuing. … Among those absent from the talks are the president of Somalia's Transitional National Government Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, prominent Mogadishu-based faction leaders Muse Sudi Yalahow and Usman Hasan Ato, the leader of the Kismayo-based Juba Valley Alliance Col Barre Adan Hirale, and Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army.
RRA Factions Reconciled (02.10.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) There has been a realignment of positions within the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) which governs the southern Somali town of Baidoa after its chairman Hasan Muhammad Nur 'Shatigadud' reconciled with one of his rivals Shaykh Adan Madobe. … On the peace talks, Shatigadud said that even if an agreement were reached it would not mean much on the ground unless the international community sent an intervention force to keep peace in the country.
UN Sanctions Committee to Visit Somalia (30.09.2003)
(Quelle: UN-News) Members of the United Nations Security Council committee overseeing sanctions against Somalia will visit the area next month in a bid to boost enforcement of the arms embargo. … The group is expected to check on the capacity of the States in the region to implement the arms embargo and monitor their land, air and sea boundaries and to encourage them to give the sanctions the force of law in each of their countries.
Djibouti Withdraws from Peace Talks (29.09.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) Djibouti has pulled out of the Somali peace talks saying the technical committee, which is meant to steer the conference, is no longer neutral. … Ismail Goulal Boudine, Djibouti's ambassador to the Somali peace talks which have been underway in Kenya since October 2002, told IRIN on Monday it was 'very clear' that the peace process had 'deviated from its original objectives'.
Breakthrough or Breakdown? (16.09.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) Delegates at Somali peace talks taking place in Kenya adopted an interim constitution on Monday in what has been termed 'a major breakthrough'. … However, the agreement was rejected by the president of the Transitional National Government (TNG), Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, who, along with a number of faction leaders, had earlier walked out of the talks but returned to Nairobi on 14 September to resume their participation in the discussions.
Faction Leaders Return to Peace Talks (15.09.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) The president of the Transitional National Government (TNG), Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, and the leader of the Juba Valley Alliance, Col Bare Hiirale, returned to Nairobi on Sunday night. Representatives of faction leader Muse Sudi Yalahow and Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) have also arrived in the Kenyan capital.
Leaders Discuss Peace Process (10.09.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) The president of Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG), Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, and four prominent faction leaders met on Tuesday in Mogadishu. … The meeting brought together Abdiqassim, the leader of the Juba Valley Alliance, Col Bare Hiirale, Mogadishu-based faction leaders Muse Sudi Yalahow and Usman Hasan Ato, and Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA). It was the first meeting between Abdiqassim and Yalahow, who has been one of the most implacable opponents of the TNG.
Arms Embargo not Effective, Says UN Security Council (21.08.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) The UN Security Council has expressed concern over the 'persistent flow of weapons and ammunitions' to Somalia. … A four-member panel of experts, investigating violations of the arms embargo on Somalia, was appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in September 2002 and advises the Council's sanctions committee.
Interim Government Names Conditions for Return to Peace Talks (20.08.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) One of the TNG's conditions is that future parliamentarians must be selected by traditional elders in consultation with political leaders 'to give legitimacy to the process', the TNG official said. Other conditions are that Somalis must be given 'overall control of the talks, with the international community playing a facilitating role only'.
Kenya Asks Interim Government back to the Negotiating Table (18.08.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) Kenyan envoy Muhammad Abdi Affey, who last week travelled to Mogadishu, said he had asked Abdiqassim Salad Hassan, the president of Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG) to return to peace talks in Nairobi. … Last month, Abdiqassim walked out of the peace talks in Kenya, saying they were leading towards the 'dismemberment' of Somalia.
Somalia ohne Regierung (14.08.2003)
(Quelle: taz) Das Bürgerkriegsland Somalia ist seit gestern wieder ohne Regierung. Das dreijährige Mandat für die Übergangsregierung lief aus, ohne dass sich die bisherigen Amtsträger auf eine Lösung hätten einigen können. Der bisherige Präsident Abdulkassim Salat Hassan kündigte an, dass die Übergangsregierung weiter im Amt bleibe. Am Wochenende hatte er Premierminister Hassan Abshhir Farah entlassen. Dieser bezeichnete eine Verlängerung des Mandats als illegal. In der Hauptstadt Mogadischu wächst die Furcht vor einem neuen Ausbruch der Gewalt. Derzeit arbeiten in der kenianischen Hauptstadt Nairobi mehrere hundert Delegierte aus Somalia an einem Verfassungsentwurf.
TNG Hangs in the Balance as Mandate Ends (12.08.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnews) Uncertainty hung over Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG) on Tuesday after prime minister Hassan Abshir Farah announced that the TNG's mandate would finish on Wednesday at the end of its three-year term.
Interim Government Says It Will Continue in Power (11.08.2003)
(Quelle: Irinnew) Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG), whose three-year mandate ends in two days' time, has said it will stay in place until free and fair elections are held to usher in new institutions.