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Excited about the booming pirate economy? Now you can get a tiny cut of Somalian pirate booty by investing in their stock market - that’s right, these pirates are now offering stock in their plundering operations.

According to Foreign Policy’s Passport blog:

The pirates have set up an exchange in Haradheere, the main port used by the bucaneers, where shares are traded in a whopping 72 pirate outfits. The profits have so far bought countless SUVs, other luxury goodies, and even a slice of revenue for the local government programs. Says the pirate interviewed : “The shares are open to all and everybody can take part, whether personally at sea or on land by providing cash, weapons or useful materials … we’ve made piracy a community activity.”

Well no wonder piracy won’t go away. Given the options (poverty, militancy, theft), who wouldn’t become a pirate? Besides, one wouldn’t want to disappoint the shareholders.

At what point does a pirate economy just become a regular old economy?

30 November 2009 – The Security Council today renewed for another 12 months the authorization for States and regional organizations fighting piracy off the Somali coast to enter the strife-torn country’s territorial waters and “undertake all necessary measures that are appropriate in Somalia” provided they have the transitional government’s consent.
In a resolution adopted unanimously under Chapter VII of the UN Charter authorizing the use of force, the 15-member body also noted with concern that escalating ransom payments and the lack of enforcement of the arms embargo imposed by the Council in 1992 are fuelling the growth of piracy.

It called on all States to fully cooperate with the monitoring group on the embargo and reiterated its appeal to countries and regional organizations with the capacity to do so to deploy naval vessels, arms and military aircraft in the fight again a scourge that has over the years frequently disrupted the delivery of UN humanitarian aid as well as routine shipping. This year the pirates have been operating ever further out to sea, sometimes hundreds of miles away from the coast.

Noting the “crisis situation in Somalia,” which has been without a functioning central government and plagued by factional conflict since 1991, “and the limited capacity of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG)” to interdict or prosecute pirates, the Council renewed earlier calls to those States fighting piracy off the Somali coast to help plug the vacuum.

They should do so by concluding arrangements whereby countries willing to take custody of pirates, particularly those in the region, would station law enforcement officials on the patrol ships to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of persons detained as a result of the international operations, provided the TFG consents.

The Council called on Member States at the request of the TFG “to strengthen capacity in Somalia, including regional authorities, to bring to justice those who are using Somali territory to plan, facilitate, or undertake criminal acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.”

Earlier this month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that piracy would not be defeated by military means alone. “We will find a solution only by addressing the broader political and security situation,” he said in a message to the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO), stressing the need to support the “fragile” TFG.

He noted that since the start of the international naval escort system two years ago, not a single ship heading to Somalia with UN World Food Programme (WFP) aid has been attacked. “WFP has been able to scale up its operations, providing much-needed food assistance to nearly 3 million people,” he pointed out.

Associated Press

Crews on oil tankers aren’t allowed to smoke above deck, much less carry guns, for fear of igniting the ship’s payload. That’s one of the main reasons Somali pirates met little resistance when they hijacked a U.S.-bound supertanker carrying $20 million in crude.

The Greek-flagged tanker — traveling from Saudi Arabia to New Orleans — had no escort when it was hijacked Sunday because naval warships are stretched too thin. The problem has been further exacerbated because pirates have expanded their operations to hundreds of miles out at sea.

The hijacking, one year after seizure of a Saudi supertanker led to heightened international efforts to fight piracy off the Horn of Africa, has highlighted the difficulty of keeping ships safe in the region — particularly oil tankers.

The Maran Centaurus was about 800 miles off the coast of Somalia when it was hijacked with 28 crew, said Cmdr. John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU Naval Force. On Monday, it was headed toward Somalia’s lawless coast, a location where pirates most likely will hold the vessel as they attempt to negotiate a multimillion-dollar ransom.

Read entire story at Associated Press

Abdi (left) an unaccompanied minor at Kharaz camp

The rising number of minors fleeing the Horn of Africa is becoming a challenge for the UN and aid organizations, as the number of new arrivals in Yemen reached record highs this year.

Some of their parents died either while fleeing to Yemen or upon arrival; others were orphaned in their home countries and migrated in the hope of finding better opportunities in Yemen, but the vast majority hope to be smuggled to Saudi Arabia or other wealthy Gulf states to find work opportunities, according to UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) officials.

“In Somalia, I have many brothers, and my mother and father died,” Abdi Ahmed Taher, 16, told IRIN, “I came to Yemen to study and find a peaceful place where there is stability.” He came to Kharaz camp near Yemen’s southern city, Aden, six months ago after he fled Somalia for Djibouti in order to be smuggled across the Bab El Mandab Strait to Yemen.

Now Taher lives in a tent on the outskirts of Kharaz camp with two boys who also fled to Yemen alone. While standard operating procedures calls for unaccompanied minors to be placed with foster families, finding parents willing to take on boys over the age of 15 is difficult because in Somali culture they are considered men, aid workers say.

Explaining the risks

After an unaccompanied minor is discovered at a reception centre along Yemen’s coast and brought to Kharaz camp, community mobilizers from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) explain the risks involved in being smuggled to Saudi Arabia, such as sexual abuse, imprisonment and possible deportation.

Parents pressure their children to be smuggled into Saudi Arabia to make money to send back home to Somalia, says Salma Imtiaz, UNHCR community services officer in Aden.

“The parents are sending their children willingly,” she said. “Most are not even going to school. They are more into finding jobs.”

Only about 5 percent of unaccompanied minors are convinced not to be trafficked, according to UNHCR workers at Kharaz.

“At first I wanted to be smuggled to Saudi Arabia,” said Zeband, 18, who now lives with two other teenage girls in Kharaz. “I heard in Somalia that you can find good work in Saudi Arabia as a housemaid and make a good salary.”

After Zeband learned from aid organizations about the sexual abuse that many young Somali women suffer in Saudi Arabia, she decided to stay in Kharaz.

When minors are too young to live on their own, aid organizations find a foster family with whom they can live based on certain criteria such as whether the family has a good reputation amongst the community at Kharaz and whether the children come from the same clan in Somalia as the foster family, said Abdi Sayid Ibrahaim from ADRA.

Fatima, already a mother of seven, became a foster mother for three Somali orphans. Her home is well equipped by Kharaz standards, with its own bathroom and a satellite dish.

“It is very difficult to take care of children who are not your own,” she told IRIN, “But as we are Muslims, we need to take care of them. If I see someone who is very poor, I must feed them.”

Disclaimer:This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States.
Photo: Copyright IRIN

Ciidamada Ururka Xarkatu Shabaabul Mujaahidiin oo wato Gaadiidka gaashaaman ayaa maanta barqadii abaare 11-kii subaxnimo la wareegay Gacan ku haynta Tuulada Buuloxaaji oo qiyaastii 90km koonfur galbeed kaga beegan Magaalada Kismaayo ee Xarunta Gobolka J/hoose.

La wareegidda ee Xarakada alshabaab ay la wareegeen Tuulada buulo xaaji ayaa timid kadib markii dagaal culus uu shalay ku dhexmaray urur diimeedyada Xizbul Islaam iyo Xararakatu Shabaabul Mujaahidiin Deeganka Cabdalla biroole oo aan sidaa uga fogeyn tuuladaasi Buuloxaaji oo ayadu maanta gacanta u gashay Ururka Xarakatu Shabaabul Mujaahidiin ee inta badan gacanta ku haya gobollada ku yaal koonfurta Wadanka Soomaaliya.

Waxaana maalmihii lasoo dhaafay oo dhan ururka Xarakatu shabaabul mujaahidiin ay wadeen la wareegitaan ay la wareegayaan amaba ay gacanta ku dhigayaan deegaano iyo weliba degmooyin ku yaalla galbeedka Magaalada kismaayo ayadoona maalmihii lasoo dhaafay ay gacanta ku dhigeen degmada Afmadow, Deegaanka Qooqaani, Cabdalla biroole, Taabto iyo weliba tuulada ay hada la wareegeen ee Buuloxaaji.

Sidoo kale wararka HOL ay ka heleyso deegaanka Dhoobley ee ku yaal xadka kala qeybiya Wadamada Kenya iyo Soomaaliya ayaa sheegaya in ay halkaasi isaga baxeen ciidamadii uu watay Axmed Max’ed Islaam (Axmed Madoobe) oo ayagu la sheegay in ay u ruqaansadeen Dhankaa iyo xadka Wadanka Kenya kadib markii ay kaabiga u soo fuuleen deegaanka dhoobley Ciidamadii Ururka Xarakatu Shabaabul Mujaahidiin oo ayagu la filayo goor dhow in ay galaan deegaankaasi Dhoobley.

Ciidamada Ilaaliya xeebaha Maamulka Puntland ayaa waxaa ay ku guuleysteen in ay xoog ku soo furtaan doon kooxaha burcad badeeda Soomaalida ay ka qafaasheen meel u dhow xeebta degmada Eyl .

Taliyaha ciidamada Booliska Puntland Gaashaanle sare Afeey Cali Xaashi oo Saxaafadda kula hadlay Magaalada Boosaaso ee xarunta gobolka Bari ayaa waxaa uu sheegay in ciidamada Puntland meel u dhow degmada Xaafuud ee gobolka Karkaar waxaa ay xoog kaga soo furteen doontii laga lahaa Yemen iyo ilaa 6-ka mid ah kooxaha burcad badeeda Soomaalida.

Kooxaha burcad badeeda Soomaalida ee ay qabteen ciidamada Ilaalada badaha ee Puntland ayaa waxaa lagu xiray saldhiga Magaalada Boosaaso oo ay horay ugu buuxeen tiro ka mid ah burcad badeeda oo ay soo qabteen Ciidamada Midowga Yurub,waxaana shaqaalaha dalka Yemen ee ay ku guuleysten soo furashadooda ciidamada Badda ee maamulka Puntland la soo gaarsiiyay Xeebta Magaalada Boosaaso.

Ugu dambeyntii Taliyaha ciidamada Boliiska ee dowlad goboleedka Puntland ayaa sheegay in xariir dhinaca la dagaalanka burcad badeeda uu kala dhaxeeyo dowlada Wadanka Yemen isagoo sheegay in shaqaale u dhashay wadankaasi ay kaga soo furteengacanta burcad badeeda.

Wasaaradda waxbarashada dowladda KMG ee Soomaaliya ayaa waxaa ay sheegtay in ay dib u fureyso xarumihii waxbarashada eek u xirmay dagaalada Muqdisho.

Wasiirka wax barashada dowladda KMG Soomaaliya Maxmed C/laahi Waayeel oo maanta ka hadlayay munaasabad lagu xusayay 21-ka November oo ku began maalinta macalinka aduunka ayaa waxa uu ka dhawaajiyay in ay dib u dayactirayaan iskuuladii ku burburay dagaaladii ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho isagoona sidoo kale sheegay in ay iskuulo isugu jira hoose,dhexe iyo sare ay ka hirgalin doonaan gobolada dalka Soomaaliya.

Wasiirka ayaa waxa uu kale uu sheegay in kuwa hadda ka furan magaalada Muqdisho ay dib u hormarin doonaan.

Hadalka Wasiirka waxbarashada dowladda KMG Soomaaliya Maxmed C/laahi Waayeel ayaa imaanaya xilli 3-dii sano ee ugu danbaysay ay qaar kamid ah Iskuuladii ku yaalay magaalada Muqdisho ay ku xirmeen dagaaladii ka dhacayay dalka Soomaaliya gaar ahaan magaalada caasimada ah ee Muqdisho iyadoona ardaydii dhigan jirtay Iskuuladaasi ay u barakaceen duleedyada magaalada Muqdisho,gobolada dalka iyo dalka dibadiisa.

Si kastaba ha ahaatee maalmo ka hor ayay ahayd kadib markii Wasiirka hidaha iyo tacliinta sare ee dowladda KMG Soomaaliya Pro Ibraahim Xasan Cadow uu sheegay in ay qorshaynayaan sidii ay u midayn lahaayeen Jaamacadaha ku yaala magaalada Muqdisho.

Qaramada Midoobay ayaa waxa ay sheegtay in ay wado qorshayaal ay cunaqabatayn ku saarayso wadanka Eritrea.

Dib u lumaasiyiin ku sugan magaalada New York ee xarunta Jamciyada Qurumaha ka dhaxaysa ee dalka Maraykanka ayaa waxa ay sheegeen in xilligan ay abaabulayaan qaabkii loogu kici lahaa cuno qabatayn lagu rogo dowladda ku taala geeska Africa ee Eritrea iyadoo lagu eedaynayo in dowladda wadanka Eritrea ay xisiloonidii u diiday dalka Soomaaliya sida ay dib u lumaasiyiintaasi hadalka u dhigeen islamarkaana ay dhibaato ku hayso dalka ay deriska yihiin ee Jabuuti.

Waxaa go’aankaasi lagu sheegay kadib kulan ay Golaha amaanka ee Jamciyada qurumaha ka dhaxaysa ku yeesheen magaalada New York ee dalka Maraykanka.

Waxaana ilo wareedo ku sugan magaalada New York ay sheegayaan in warbixintii ugu danbaysay ee ku aadan mashruucan cunaqabataynta loogu rogayo dowladda wadanka Eritrea ay soo gudbisay dowladda wadanka Uganda oo ciidamo ku dhawaad 3-kun oo Meleteri gaaraya ay uga sugan yihiin magaalada Muqdisho ee Caasimada dalka Soomaaliya sida warbixintaasi ay soo xigatay wakaalada wararka ee Faransa Press.

Waxaa qubarada iyo dib u lumaasiyiinta ku sugan magaalad New York ee dalka Maraykanka ay sheegeen in warbixinadaasi loo gudbiyay wadamada joogtada ka ah golaha amaanka ee Jamciyada Qurumaha ka dhaxaysa ee gaaraya 15-ka dal kuwaasi oo leh cod xaqiijin kara in dowlada Eritrea lagu rogo cunuqabatayn hadii ay isku raacaan dalalkaasi.

Mashruucan ayaa waxa uu tusayaa Golaha amaanka ee Jamciyada Qurumaha ka dhaxaysa in hub badan la galiyay dalka Soomaaliya ayna arintaasi ka danbayso dowladda Eritrea sida ay hadalka u dhigeen islamarkaana hadafka dowladaasi uu yahay in ay xasilooni u diido gobolka geeska Africa sida ay dib u lumaasiyiinta warbixintooda ku qoreeen.

Dowladda Eritrea ayaa waxa ay marar badan iska diiday in ay wax lug ah ku leedahay dhibaatada ka jirta wadanka Soomaaliya iyadoo diiday sidoo kale in marar badan ay hub u dhoofisay dalka Soomaaliya iyo in ay taageerto dhinacyada isku haya Soomaaliya midkood iyadoo sheegtay in dowladda haatan ku sugan magaalada Muqdisho ay tahay mid ay soo dhoodhoobeen dalal dano gaar ah ka leh dalka Soomaaliya islamarkaana aanay nabad iyo xasilooni dib ugu soo celin Karin wadanka Soomaaliya.

Duyuuradahani ayaa xalay fiidkii waxaa ay jawi hoose ku dul heehaabayeen magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobolka Jubadda hoose,waxaana guuxoodu ay ahaayeen kuwa si saa’id ah looga maqlayay xaafadaha kala gadisan ee magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobolka Jubadda hoose.

Macada tirada ay le egyihiin diyaaradahaasi,hase ahaatee fiidnimadii xalay ayaa mar qura waxaa guuxooda laga maqlay magaalada Kismaayo iyadoona ay saamayn ku yeesheen dadka ku dhaqan magaalada Kismaayo kuwaasi oo ay la soo daristay cabsi aad u xoogan.

Ma jiro wax war ah oo ka soo baxay Walaayada Islaamiga ah ee gobolada Jubooyinka oo ku aadan diyaaradahaasi Jawiga hoose xalay ku dul heehaabayay gudaha magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobolka Jubadda hoose iyadoo aysan sidoo kale jirin wax howlgal ah oo ay sameeyeen Ciidamada Walaayada Islaamiga ah ee gobolada Jubooyinka gaar ahaan Ciidamada Cirka oo iyagu hadda ka hor diyaarad nuuca aan duuliyaha lahayn ku soo riday magaalada Kismaayo ee xarunta gobolka Jubadda hoose.

Madaxweynaha dowladda KMG Soomaliya Sheekh Sharif Sheekh Axmed ayaa waxa uu wax laga xumaado ku tilmaamay mad madowga soo kala dhaxgalay dowladiisa iyo dhinacyada Culumaa’udiinka Ahlu Suuna Waljamaaca iyo Puntland.

Madaxweynaha dowladda KMG Soomaaliya Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed oo maanta Shir jaraa’iid ku qabtay aqalka madaxtooyada ee Villa Soomaaliya ayaa waxa uu shirkiisa jaraa’iid kaga hadlay arimo dhowr ah oo ay kamid tahay warar maalmahan la isla dhaxmarayay oo ku aadan qilaafka soo kala dhaxgalay madaxweynaha dowladda KMG Soomaaliya Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed iyo Culumaa’udiinka Ahlu Sunna Waljamaaca.

Waxa uu sheegay Madaxweynuhu in Culumaa’udiinka Ahlu Sunna Waljamaaca ay yihiin Culumaa’udiin Somaaliyeed hase ahaatee wixii hubaysan ee dowladiisa ka soo horjeeda ay magac yeelanayaan isaguna uu u arkay in uu ugu yeero Erayga Jabhad.

Sidoo kale waxa uu soo hadal qaaday xaalada maamul goboleedka Puntland isagoona sheegay in dhawaan halkaasi ay tageen wafdi uu hogaaminayo ra’iisul Wasaraha Soomaaliya Cumar C/rashiid Cali Sharma’arke ayna arimo dhowr ah isku soo afgarteen,hase yeeshee kulankii dhawaan dhaxmaray madaxweynaha maamul goboleedka Puntland C/raxmaan Faroole iyo Madaxweyne Sheekh Shariif ayaa waxa uu sheegay in arimihii halkaasi la iskula soo qaaday qaybo kamid ah ay aqbali waayeen.

Madaxweynaha dowladda KMG Soomaaliya Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed ayaa mar uu soo hadal qaaday xaalada amaan ee dalka Soomaliya ayaa waxa uu sheegay in dowladdu ay wado qorshayaal dhamaystirin oo ay kula wareegayso guud ahaan dalka Soomaaliya balse ay waxyar uun ay ka hareen mudadii howlgaladaasi.

Hadalka madaxweynaha dowladda KMG Soomaaliya ayaa ku soo aadaya xilli isbuucan uu qilaaf soo kala dhaxgalay maamul goboleedka Puntland iyo dowladda KMG Soomaaliya iyadoo sidookale Culumaa’udiinka Ahlu Sunna Waljamaaca ay si aad ah uga caroodeen hadal dhawaan ka soo yeeray madaxweynaha dowladda KMG Soomaaliya Sheekh Shariif Sheekh Axmed.