Human Rights; HRW Chides Gov't for Media Abuses

Human Rights Watch have condemned Somalia government for harassment of reporters, shutting down media outlet and not investigating the killings of eight journalist in the past year. The government must condemn and investigate these attack and stop their own attacks as well. The latest death is Bashir Nur Gedi form Radio Shabelle, who was shot dead on Friday night. Some of his colleagues say that the killing was politically motivated. Several station have been shutdown and those who work their are arrested. One of Somalia only success story, which is the increase in media has been attacked over the past 10 months with attacks and killings. The Somali government has yet to condemn the killing let alone investigate it at all. With classes between Islamists and Somli government and Ethiopian ally, Somalia has become incredibly dangerous for journalists. Few foreign reporter run the gauntlet in Somalia, which leave the local ones facing the risks. The government states that they are trying to protect journalists as well as civilians, but it up against a strong foe with link to al Qaeda.

Piracy Continues to Threaten Humanitarian Aid - UN Agency

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has declared that pirates are attempting to attack thier boats off the coast of Somalia. Things are already in upheaval after the detention of one of the WFP's officials last week. On Sunday the WFP go a distress call from one of their contractors. Pirates attacked him with two speed boats about 60 miles off shore near the port of Brava in Southern Mogadishu. The boat lucky had already unloaded it's cargo of 7,000 tons of food. The vessel and crew were unscathed, but the agency fears about further piracy attempts and ask the international community to help keep the waters safe. 80% percent of WFP's food moves by sea and goes to 1.2 million people. French naval vessels are going to be put in charge of escorts next month. Also discussion are continuing about the release of Idris Osman who was captured at the UN compound in Mogadishu since Wednesday. WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran condemned the detention of her friend and asked the government to beef up security for humanitarian workers.

Radio Garowe Closed, Three of its Journalists Arrested

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) today declared that the closing of Radio Garowe in Puntland and the arrests of three journalist that worked their was not lawful. Heavy armed security forces of Puntland Regional State stormed the Radio station and ordered the manager to shutdown the station. They arrested three journalist who were: Abdi FArah Jama Mire, Director of the Radio; Isse AbdullahMohammed, Editor of the Radio; and Mohammed Dahir Yusuf, a Producer. The motive for the shutdown of the station is unkown. Puntland journalist believe that it was due the reporting of a National Security Agency of Somalia agent criticizing how the agency ran things. NUSOJ formal denounces the act of the closing and demand the Puntland authorities to release the journalist and allow the Radio station to continue with its broadcasts.

Somali forces detain head of UN aid programme

Armed forces form Somalia attacked a UN compound in Mogadishu and detained the head of the World Food Program. People say a force of 60 men took place in the attack. This was response to weeks of growing tension between the UN and Somalia transitional federal government. The WFP said it had not been given word about the detention by the national security service and is suspending food operation to 75,000 people in Somalia. Eight civilian and a police man died during some of the heaviest fighting in weeks. Although the WFP is the largest aid agency, who deliver food to 2 million people, have been accused of feeding Islamics terrorist hiding in aid camps. Camps are composed of hundreds of thousands of people who fled Mogadishu after the fall of the Islamic Courts Union at the end of last year. Giving aid is hard to due to constant hijacks, border seals, and aid workers have to risk their lives dealing with warlords. The African Union and government soldiers have tried to assert control. Overall 400,000 people have fled to aid camps.

Burundi Troops Ready for Deployment in Somalia

Two Burundian battalions will be deployed into Somalia as accordance to the African union. After six weeks of training and supervision by U.S. army officials the troops were deployed on October 4th. This training has made a closer bond between the Burundian and the U.S. which was not good since the war in Burundi in 1993 when the Democratic President was assassinated. These troops were also trained by the French. The U.S. has promised telecommunication materials and France has promised transport support, since the deployment of the troops was delayed due to lack of these materials. This will be the fist large scale mission involving soldiers form Burundi.

Uganda Sends Diplomats to Help Mediate Somalia Peace

Uganda has sent diplomats to Somalia to help with the current affairs and bring about peace. They are trying to help the tensions between Somalia's government and its opponents. This diplomatic effort is trying to anticipate the removal of Uganda's 1,500 troops from Somalia due to lack of support by other countries. The Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni sent over three delegates. Delegates have talked to the president of Somalia Ethiopian-backed interim government, but has yet to met Islamists and other factions of anti-government groups. Negations are going positively, but they are taking time. Ethiopian and Domalia troops have been fighting and have killed thousand of civilians and displaced many more. Two months ago, Islamists and other groups boycotted the government reconciliation conference in Mogadishu saying talk would ot be possible while Ethiopian troops were still in Somalia. Uganda had to try to establish peace before withdrawing its troops. He sent the troops in as an original effort with the African Union, which was 8,000 strong, but increased violence has stopped other countries form sending troops. Uganda has asked the U.S. for assistance in talking Ethiopia and Somalia's transitional government to accept the Islamists to join the Somalia government.

Breaking into even smaller bits

Somalia is slowly declining once again. The North of Somalia has been stable while the South has been been burned and broken. Now while the effort of rebuilding the South, the Norht is slowing crumbling. Fighting occurred between Somalialand, independent country near the north, and Puntland, a semi-autonomous territory near the northeast. The dispute is over a region called Sool. Somalailand has killed and captured Puntland soldiers. Puntland has now claimed they have regained control, but the problems do not end there. Sool is split up sub-clans that either supports Puntland or Somalialand and those who want autonomy. Somalialand was a former British colony, that declared independence in 1991. Puntland identity is less strong, but sees itself as a building block for a future federal Somalia. Puntland is now losing grip because within Puntland, Sanaag, drawing its history form the sultanate, has declared independence in July. Abdullahi Yusuf, strongman, left Puntland to become president of Somalia. He left with troops, vehicles, weapons, and ammo. His departure also gave others courage to those who were thinking of autonomy and secession. Puntland has also made many oil and gas rights deals, and refuses to uphold them. Yusuf was making these deals behind Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed Gedi, back and refuses to acknowledge them. Mogadishu, the capitol, is getting worse as well. Kids are not goig to school, the market is stagnant, and battles with Ethiopia, Islamists and the government.

Somalia explosions kill 4 people; government starts security crackdown

On Thursday October 4, 2007 the Somalia government announced a massive campaign to stop further violence after two explosions killed four people in the capitol. The plan is to divide the capitol in four sections and station soldiers at every junction. People are being arrested after small battles between the soldiers and hostiles. Capitol has been full of strife since the help of the Ethiopians crushing the Islamic militia that was in control. Violence is occurring everywhere, even marketplaces. Many people are injured from the blasts and accidental fire form the police. Bakara Market is one of the most turbulent ones, with a recent fire that destroyed 200 shops. The government wants this operation to take out the insurgents once and for all and prevent them form growing.