SOMALIA: Parliament responds to the arbitrary arrests of Somali people in Kenya

Somali parliament speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari had responded to the ongoing mass arrests of Somali people in Nairobi and the other main towns of the country by the Kenyan security authorities. Prof Jawari talking to BBC in Italy said that, the parliament of Somalia wrote a paper to the Parliament of Kenya urging them to halt the harassment and abuses against Somali community in the county. “Kenya has the right to fight insecurity within its borders but we are not happy the disrespectful way that Somali people in Kenya are treated” Said the speaker of the national assembly of Somalia. Jawari thanked Kenyan members of parliament of Somali origin for the way they are fighting for Somali people in the country. Kenyan security authorities early this month initiated swoop operations in the Somali-inhibited Eastlgih state where thousands of Somali ethnics of Somalia and Kenyan nationals were arrested. Also 82 Somali ethnics arrested in the ongoing terror crack down in Eastleigh were deported from Nairobi back to Mogadishu while more refugees are expected to be deported in the coming days. The Government of Kenyan confirmed to deport 412 more people to their designated refugee camps after they were screened to have left there. The refugees include 406 Somalis, two Ethiopians, one Congolese, two Ugandans and one Sudanese. Of the 225 to be deported 214 are Somalis, six Ethiopians, two Ugandans, and one from Cameroon, Tanzania and South Sudan. Somali business community and leaders accused Kenyan government of targeting Somali people in the country and demanded quick suspension of these operation termed “Usalama Watch” meaning Peace Watch.

South Korea ferry: Desperate search for survivors continues

 

 

Emergency services are continuing to search for nearly 300 people missing after a ferry carrying more than 470 people sank off South Korea.

Officials say 179 people have been rescued. Most of the passengers were students from the same high school.

Bad weather and strong currents have hampered military divers' efforts to enter the ship, where it is thought many were trapped.

At least nine people are confirmed to have died, with dozens more injured.

The vessel was travelling from Incheon port, in the north-west, to the southern resort island of Jeju.

It is not yet clear what caused the ship to list at a severe angle and flip over, leaving only a small part of its hull visible above water.

The captain was being questioned, Yonhap news agency reported. "I am really sorry and deeply ashamed. I don't know what to say," Lee Joon-seok was shown saying on television.

Yonhap said the nine dead include four 17-year-old students and a 25-year-old teacher as well as a 22-year-old female crew member. Identities of the other three were not immediately known.

The latest figures say 475 people were on board, with 287 still unaccounted for. Figures issued by the government have changed several times, prompting criticism.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye on Thursday visited the scene of the disaster, as rescue work continued.

Strong currents                                                               

Efforts are concentrated on the ship, which sank in about 30m (100ft) of water.

"We carried out underwater searches five times from midnight until early in the morning, but strong currents and the murky water pose tremendous obstacles," said Kang Byung-kyu, minister for security and public administration.

One senior emergency official was quoted as saying it was unlikely the remaining passengers would be found alive.

The US Navy has sent an amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, to assist with the search.

Captain Joey Tynch told the BBC conditions were difficult.

"We found ourselves in challenging weather conditions today - very low cloud ceilings and reduced visibility and rain, and we're working a search area around the site in close co-ordination with the South Korean on-scene commander," he said.

Two cranes are being sent to raise the vessel, with both expected to arrive on Friday.

'Screaming and scrambling'

The ferry sent a distress call at around 09:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Wednesday, about 20km (12 miles) off the island of Byungpoong. It sank within two hours, reports said.

At least 325 of the passengers on board the ship were students from Danwon high school in Ansan, near the capital, Seoul.

The students, aged 16 and 17, were heading on a field trip to Jeju island with about 15 teachers.

Somalia: Puntland to deport 53 Ethiopian Illegal Immigrants

 















Garoowe (Bile Blog)

A court in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has on Wednesday ruled the deportation of more than 50 illegal Ethiopian immigrants who were en route to Yemen.

Nugal Court judge, Mohamed Nur told Journalists that the court reached the decision for their safety and will be returned to their homes soon in order to reunite with their families.

The 53 immigrants were arrested by Puntland security forces as they boarded trucks heading to Puntland coastal town of Bosaso, where they were expected to be smuggled by boats to cross the Gulf of Aden and reach Yemen.

Most of them continue their journey until Saudi Arabia, in search for good job opportunities.

Every year, Tens of thousands of African migrants risk their lives to try and enter Yemen on unseaworthy boats in search for a better life.

Puntland’s new administration had earlier vowed to combat human trafficking.

SOMALIA: Federal Gov’t informs Puntland and Somaliland not to engage in war

 Mogadishu (Bile Blog) Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today called Puntland and Somaliland not to engage into war in Sool region as tensions between the two regions became high on Tuesday.

On  Tuesday Somaliland forces seized the strategic town of Taleh in Sool region.  Puntland condemned the capture of Taleh and called Somaliland to cease its provocative move towards Sool, a region disputed by both sides.

In a statement released today, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the Federal Government will be ready to assist both sides in resolving the conflict over the ownership of the northern region of Sool.

“The President today calls both Puntland and Somaliland through peaceful, reconciliation an tolerance resolve their differences.” the statement said.

“Somali people suffered enough and they need to see all of us working together to a lasting peace in the country.” President Mohamud said.

The U.S and the UN also called both sides to refrain from armed conflicy in Sool region and to allow to resolve the differences through the table of negotiations.

Meanwhile, Somaliland troops were reportedly vacated Taleh town today, despite tentions were on the rise in the region.

SOMALIA: U.S calls Somaliland and Puntland to refrain from armed conflict in Sool region

 Nairobi (Bile Blog) The U.S Special Representative for Somalia called today both Somaliland and Puntland for Calm and refrain from armed conflict in Sool region following Somaliland’s invasion to Taleh town.

According to a press statement from the U.S Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya today, Washington views with deep concern the mounting tensions between Somaliland and Puntland in the northern region of Sool.

On Tuesday Puntland sent a warning to its neighboring region of Somaliland after Somaliland military seized the strategic town of Taleh in the northern region of Sool.  Both Hargeysa and Garowe regard Taleh as part of their territories.

Somaliland is a breakaway region that declared its secession from Somalia in 1991 but not yet international and nationally recognized.  Puntland is a federal state of Somalia.

“We call upon all parties to refrain from violence and to seek resolution through peaceful dialogue.” The statement from the U.S Embassy said.

“The United States continues to stand with the Somali people and will work closely with political and security leaders to promote security, peace, and stability.  Building political cooperation among Somali regions remains essential for promotion of democracy, good governance, economic growth, and security in Somalia.” It added.

Meanwhile Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also called both sides to use peaceful dialogue to resolve their differences.