June 1st is Somalia’s 51st independence anniversary. I wish I was in Mogadishu to witness the funfair as Somalis celebrate their independence. I hope to at least feel at home by attending the celebrations at the Somali embassy in Nairobi later this evening.
I have lived in at least 10 cities in East Africa but I have never seen a city as Mogadishu. Its simplicity, cheap constant supply of sweet fruits, fresh milk and meat and above all its cool evening breeze makes it stand out among the many cities I have ever lived or visited making me long for its peace and my return to a place close to my heart.
Every time I land at the picturesque seaside international airport, I simply long for the old good days when I used to stroll in the sandy beaches of Mogadishu. I remember the beach football we used to play and the great barbeques we enjoyed when the city was peaceful.
Frankly speaking, sometimes I feel Mogadishu is much safer than Nairobi where I live with my family. Of course many people can never believe me but just sample the below and maybe I can convince you.
Unlike major cities across the globe where crimes are so high, in Mogadishu, you will certainly never fear of being mugged or violently robbed as is the case in Nairobi, although I have never experienced such horrendous encounters with the “wagondi”, a Nairobi slung for thugs.
You can also confidently walk with a million dollars in Mogadishu without fear of violently robbed in daylight. This stems out of cultural and Islamic practices meaning robbery cases are very few if none at all.
Life in general is also much cheaper in Mogadishu compared to many capital cities in the world. A whole beach house villa goes for $500 a month in rent! Where can you get such a cheap pleasure surely? Food prices are also very low thanks again to Islamic practices that outlaw hoarding or expecting a 100 percent profit. This helps keep prices of everything affordable to almost everyone.
I can never certainly summarize what Mogadishu has to offer unless you personally experience it.
If you have any reservations wait until I officially launch my tour company Soomal tours that will offer an unbeatable opportunity of touring Somalia and Mogadishu in particular with a promise of a full refund of your costs if you do not fall in love with Mogadishu.
Until then, ciao, and may Mogadishu and Somalia finally get lasting peace.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
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Abode of hope for Somali women.
Mogadishu, March 27 – Thousands of Somali women some as young as 16 years old have found an abode of hope at a makeshift medical facility jointly run by the African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu and a grassroots women coalition called COGWO offering counseling and free surgical treatment to correct fistula, an abnormal condition that leaves its victims stigmatized and traumatized within their closely-knitted Somali culture.
Fistula is an abnormal condition between the birth canal and the rectum or bladder resulting in uncontrollable passage of urine and/or feces. There are two primary causes of fistula in women in developing countries namely childbirth, causing obstetric fistula and sexual violence, causing traumatic fistula.
Fatuma Aden Maalim who hails from the agricultural-rich central city of Baidoa is one of the minors who has immensely benefited from this programme. She can now afford a smile and has even been employed as a cleaner at the same facility where she does not have to worry about going through the horrendous experience she has been through at the tender age of only 14 when she was married off to a 60 year old man as a second wife.
“I no longer worry about the odor and stigmatization I have gone through for a whole year with fistula which came as a result of the long painful labour and torrid time I unsuccessfully went through trying to deliver my first child at home. I have no words to express my joy after the surgery. I have healed and can now live a normal life. I even have a job as a cleaner here thanks to COGWO and a house too, life is good so far, this place has been an abode of hope for so many women with fistula,” She said with a smile.
Just like many of the other Somali women fistula patients at the fully packed tented hospital, Fatuma was abandoned by her husband whom she did not wish to name. But after word reached him she was well and even prettier from the good care she received at the hospital, she claims he now wants her back.
“He had the audacity to call me and ask if we could reunite again. I told him off and I now fear going home because my parents might force me to go back to him. I have gone through a lot of pain and he never supported me and has never come to see me in hospital,” She added, taking a break from her daily cleaning chores at the hospital together with other young women who have grown through the same traumatic experiences.
According to medical experts fistula is a condition that is preventable. In the case of Somalia it is highly recommended that early expecting mothers must be encouraged to deliver in hospital where fistula can be prevented.
Captain Dr. Niyonzima Pierre Claver is the head of the fistula programme at the peacekeepers hospital in Mogadishu. He says in Somalia, fistula is mostly caused by the long labour pains under-aged girls go through during childbirth and calls upon the Somali women to seek medical help in order to avoid living in dejection and pain.
“As a father and husband I would wish to tell Somali men who have made it a habit to abandon their wives whenever they get fistula to stop being inhuman. In fact just like any other ill person these women badly need you most when they are in that condition. The issue of early childhood marriage would hard to totally eradicate it in a culturally sensitive community like the Somalis but if all expectant mothers can deliver in hospitals fistula would be greatly reduced,” the Burundian doctor said.
Many of the Somali women patients whom were themselves married off between the ages of 13 to 16 consequently suffering from fistula for many years do not see the culture of early childhood marriages declining in Somalia.
Nunay Maaday, 53, who has also been constantly leaking urine for the past 19 years due to fistula says her daughters would be married off before they turn 18 simply because she has no powers to stop their father from doing so.
Unlike other younger women at the clinic, Maaday was never abandoned by her husband. She says she suffered from the fistula after her second birth in 1990 when Somalia was still stable. She was partially treated at Banadir hospital in Mogadishu, the biggest ante-natal hospital in Somalia and was asked to return after few months.
But then the government collapsed before her next appointment was due forcing her to live with the constant urine leakage for 19 years.
“The 19 years of smelling urine all the time and not being able to keep yourself clean was so traumatic. The last thing you need as a woman is to be unclean because cleanliness is in our genes. I can never thank AMISOM and COGWO for the free treatment which I could never have afforded,” Maaday said, looking at ease and happy.
Fistula is an abnormal condition between the birth canal and the rectum or bladder resulting in uncontrollable passage of urine and/or feces. There are two primary causes of fistula in women in developing countries namely childbirth, causing obstetric fistula and sexual violence, causing traumatic fistula.
Fatuma Aden Maalim who hails from the agricultural-rich central city of Baidoa is one of the minors who has immensely benefited from this programme. She can now afford a smile and has even been employed as a cleaner at the same facility where she does not have to worry about going through the horrendous experience she has been through at the tender age of only 14 when she was married off to a 60 year old man as a second wife.
“I no longer worry about the odor and stigmatization I have gone through for a whole year with fistula which came as a result of the long painful labour and torrid time I unsuccessfully went through trying to deliver my first child at home. I have no words to express my joy after the surgery. I have healed and can now live a normal life. I even have a job as a cleaner here thanks to COGWO and a house too, life is good so far, this place has been an abode of hope for so many women with fistula,” She said with a smile.
Just like many of the other Somali women fistula patients at the fully packed tented hospital, Fatuma was abandoned by her husband whom she did not wish to name. But after word reached him she was well and even prettier from the good care she received at the hospital, she claims he now wants her back.
“He had the audacity to call me and ask if we could reunite again. I told him off and I now fear going home because my parents might force me to go back to him. I have gone through a lot of pain and he never supported me and has never come to see me in hospital,” She added, taking a break from her daily cleaning chores at the hospital together with other young women who have grown through the same traumatic experiences.
According to medical experts fistula is a condition that is preventable. In the case of Somalia it is highly recommended that early expecting mothers must be encouraged to deliver in hospital where fistula can be prevented.
Captain Dr. Niyonzima Pierre Claver is the head of the fistula programme at the peacekeepers hospital in Mogadishu. He says in Somalia, fistula is mostly caused by the long labour pains under-aged girls go through during childbirth and calls upon the Somali women to seek medical help in order to avoid living in dejection and pain.
“As a father and husband I would wish to tell Somali men who have made it a habit to abandon their wives whenever they get fistula to stop being inhuman. In fact just like any other ill person these women badly need you most when they are in that condition. The issue of early childhood marriage would hard to totally eradicate it in a culturally sensitive community like the Somalis but if all expectant mothers can deliver in hospitals fistula would be greatly reduced,” the Burundian doctor said.
Many of the Somali women patients whom were themselves married off between the ages of 13 to 16 consequently suffering from fistula for many years do not see the culture of early childhood marriages declining in Somalia.
Nunay Maaday, 53, who has also been constantly leaking urine for the past 19 years due to fistula says her daughters would be married off before they turn 18 simply because she has no powers to stop their father from doing so.
Unlike other younger women at the clinic, Maaday was never abandoned by her husband. She says she suffered from the fistula after her second birth in 1990 when Somalia was still stable. She was partially treated at Banadir hospital in Mogadishu, the biggest ante-natal hospital in Somalia and was asked to return after few months.
But then the government collapsed before her next appointment was due forcing her to live with the constant urine leakage for 19 years.
“The 19 years of smelling urine all the time and not being able to keep yourself clean was so traumatic. The last thing you need as a woman is to be unclean because cleanliness is in our genes. I can never thank AMISOM and COGWO for the free treatment which I could never have afforded,” Maaday said, looking at ease and happy.
Friday, March 25, 2011
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Hand grenade attack on Al-Shabaab
Mogadishu, March 25 - An unknown assailant hurled a hand grenade at Al-Shabaab fighters at a checkpoint in the Elesha Biyaha IDP camp outside the Somali capital late on Thursday killing at least 3 fighters and wounding 5 others in the first known grenade attack against the notorious militants in the Horn of African country.
Al-Shabaab militants immediately cordoned off the area and started arresting people on sight. Elesha Biyaha is the biggest IDP camp with tens of thousands of displaced families many of who fled from the capital Mogadishu. The area was initially controlled by the now dysfunctional Hizbul islam fighters who amalgamated into Al-Shabaab earlier this year.
Sources claim the grenade might have been thrown by jittery former militias of Hizbul Islam who are not happy with Al-Shabaab taking all the taxes they collect from trucks at the checkpoint.
"This is the first time for Al-Shabaab to have been attacked in Elesha Biyaha. People hate them here mainly because of their barbarism. If there is anywhere in Somalia where civilians will probably take arms against Al-Shabaab its here. I saw three dead Al-Shabaab fighters carried from the scene of the blast while 5 others were seriously wounded. I was peeping from my window as soon as I heard the blast," said an IDP who lives close to the checkpoint and who only gave his name as Abdi for fear of reprisal.
The militant group which has ties to Al-Qaeda is engaged in a bloody war with Somalia government forces supported by African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi. In the recent weeks and months Al-Shabaab has lost strategic locations in Mogadishu including Gaashandiga, the former Defence headquarters of Somalia which was the groups command base in Mogadishu and a major logistical hub.
Al-Shabaab militants immediately cordoned off the area and started arresting people on sight. Elesha Biyaha is the biggest IDP camp with tens of thousands of displaced families many of who fled from the capital Mogadishu. The area was initially controlled by the now dysfunctional Hizbul islam fighters who amalgamated into Al-Shabaab earlier this year.
Sources claim the grenade might have been thrown by jittery former militias of Hizbul Islam who are not happy with Al-Shabaab taking all the taxes they collect from trucks at the checkpoint.
"This is the first time for Al-Shabaab to have been attacked in Elesha Biyaha. People hate them here mainly because of their barbarism. If there is anywhere in Somalia where civilians will probably take arms against Al-Shabaab its here. I saw three dead Al-Shabaab fighters carried from the scene of the blast while 5 others were seriously wounded. I was peeping from my window as soon as I heard the blast," said an IDP who lives close to the checkpoint and who only gave his name as Abdi for fear of reprisal.
The militant group which has ties to Al-Qaeda is engaged in a bloody war with Somalia government forces supported by African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi. In the recent weeks and months Al-Shabaab has lost strategic locations in Mogadishu including Gaashandiga, the former Defence headquarters of Somalia which was the groups command base in Mogadishu and a major logistical hub.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
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The big catch for peace in Somalia.
By Guled Mohamed
Mogadishu, February 23 – AMISOM peacekeepers from Burundi and Somali government forces have jointly captured three strategic locations in northwestern Mogadishu in a major operation that has startled Al-Shabaab in the latest of many losses for the anti-peace elements in the going battles for the control of the troubled capital city of Somalia.
The joint operation swiftly carried out early on Wednesday morning resulted in the capture of the imposing former Defence headquarters building locally known as Gashaandiga, a former milk factory and the former Senior Officer club also known as Shirkole Officiale. The imposing former Defence headquarters building served as the main Al-Shabaab operational and logistical hub where they planned their inhuman attacks.
“Government troops supported by AU Peacekeepers have this morning captured tactical headquarters of the extremist insurgents. Troops from AMISOM’s Burundi contingent helped Somali National Forces take the former Ministry of Defence (Gaashaandhigga), which the extremists have been using as a logistical and operational base. They also captured the former Milk Factory and the Military Officers Club (Shirkole Officiale) in a major advance in the northwestern part of the city,” said a statement from the Somalia Ministry of Information.
The three strategic positions are located in Hodan district along the main road used by Al-Shabaab from their main Daynile base further in the northwest of the capital Mogadishu. The Defence headquarters is located on a hill top directly overlooking the city of Mogadishu and which made it easy for the extremist to hull mortars towards the densely populated areas of the sea side city controlled by the government with help from African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi.
Shirkole Officiale is directly adjacent to the expansive Bakara market which is another hideout for the extremist known to use the population as a human shield in their bloody quest to unnecessarily shed more blood in an unholy war that is opposed by majority of the people in Mogadishu where more civilians than combatants die in the almost daily deadly gun duels.
“Today’s operation is meant to create more security and space for the peace-loving population of Mogadishu. The 3 captured locations are very strategic spots and a major loss for the extremists. The joint operation encountered minimal resistances by the extremists just like recent successes AMISOM and the government has had in Wardhigley district where we exposed huge tunnels dug by the opposition forces and where they lost many fighters including 6 foreign militants,” AMISOM Spokesman Major Ba-Hoku Barigye said.
Speaking from the captured positions Colonel Floribert Biyereke, the Burundi Contingent Public Information Officer said the extremists were still firing from a distance towards the Somali-Burundian forces in a futile attempt to unsettle the victorious joint forces.
“As you can hear there is still fighting going on as the insurgents are firing towards our newest locations we have jointly captured with Somali forces and which are Gashandiga, milk factory and Shirkole officiale. We are now strengthening our defenses and we will not be deterred by their desperate attempts to unsettle us. Our expansion is always for the good of the afflicted Somali population because whichever locations AMISOM occupies we normally open a hospital and also shares our little food and water with the suffering population. The operation was a success and we wish to thank our Somali brothers for their continued support,” Colonel Biyereke said as sounds of bullets and heavy explosion reverberated in the background.
The latest military success by the government and peacekeepers from Burundi has been welcomed by the war-weary residents of Mogadishu many of who have been forced by the ongoing battles to flee their homes in their tens of thousands and to live in squalid camps across the bullet-pocked city.
“This is a big catch for peace in Mogadishu and Somalia. I am so happy to hear that government forces and AMISOM peacekeepers have taken over Gashaandiga, Shirkole officiale and the former milk factory. This is really good news for us because it means these areas will be peaceful and my clients can now access my shop. Peace is what we always yearn for and I wish to urge our troops and our friends from AMISOM to kick out these bloodletting Al-Shabab extremists who have no intention to bring peace but only chaos and death to our people,” shopkeeper Salah Ali said whose shop is located in Hodan district close to the captured locations.
Mogadishu, February 23 – AMISOM peacekeepers from Burundi and Somali government forces have jointly captured three strategic locations in northwestern Mogadishu in a major operation that has startled Al-Shabaab in the latest of many losses for the anti-peace elements in the going battles for the control of the troubled capital city of Somalia.
The joint operation swiftly carried out early on Wednesday morning resulted in the capture of the imposing former Defence headquarters building locally known as Gashaandiga, a former milk factory and the former Senior Officer club also known as Shirkole Officiale. The imposing former Defence headquarters building served as the main Al-Shabaab operational and logistical hub where they planned their inhuman attacks.
“Government troops supported by AU Peacekeepers have this morning captured tactical headquarters of the extremist insurgents. Troops from AMISOM’s Burundi contingent helped Somali National Forces take the former Ministry of Defence (Gaashaandhigga), which the extremists have been using as a logistical and operational base. They also captured the former Milk Factory and the Military Officers Club (Shirkole Officiale) in a major advance in the northwestern part of the city,” said a statement from the Somalia Ministry of Information.
The three strategic positions are located in Hodan district along the main road used by Al-Shabaab from their main Daynile base further in the northwest of the capital Mogadishu. The Defence headquarters is located on a hill top directly overlooking the city of Mogadishu and which made it easy for the extremist to hull mortars towards the densely populated areas of the sea side city controlled by the government with help from African Union peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi.
Shirkole Officiale is directly adjacent to the expansive Bakara market which is another hideout for the extremist known to use the population as a human shield in their bloody quest to unnecessarily shed more blood in an unholy war that is opposed by majority of the people in Mogadishu where more civilians than combatants die in the almost daily deadly gun duels.
“Today’s operation is meant to create more security and space for the peace-loving population of Mogadishu. The 3 captured locations are very strategic spots and a major loss for the extremists. The joint operation encountered minimal resistances by the extremists just like recent successes AMISOM and the government has had in Wardhigley district where we exposed huge tunnels dug by the opposition forces and where they lost many fighters including 6 foreign militants,” AMISOM Spokesman Major Ba-Hoku Barigye said.
Speaking from the captured positions Colonel Floribert Biyereke, the Burundi Contingent Public Information Officer said the extremists were still firing from a distance towards the Somali-Burundian forces in a futile attempt to unsettle the victorious joint forces.
“As you can hear there is still fighting going on as the insurgents are firing towards our newest locations we have jointly captured with Somali forces and which are Gashandiga, milk factory and Shirkole officiale. We are now strengthening our defenses and we will not be deterred by their desperate attempts to unsettle us. Our expansion is always for the good of the afflicted Somali population because whichever locations AMISOM occupies we normally open a hospital and also shares our little food and water with the suffering population. The operation was a success and we wish to thank our Somali brothers for their continued support,” Colonel Biyereke said as sounds of bullets and heavy explosion reverberated in the background.
The latest military success by the government and peacekeepers from Burundi has been welcomed by the war-weary residents of Mogadishu many of who have been forced by the ongoing battles to flee their homes in their tens of thousands and to live in squalid camps across the bullet-pocked city.
“This is a big catch for peace in Mogadishu and Somalia. I am so happy to hear that government forces and AMISOM peacekeepers have taken over Gashaandiga, Shirkole officiale and the former milk factory. This is really good news for us because it means these areas will be peaceful and my clients can now access my shop. Peace is what we always yearn for and I wish to urge our troops and our friends from AMISOM to kick out these bloodletting Al-Shabab extremists who have no intention to bring peace but only chaos and death to our people,” shopkeeper Salah Ali said whose shop is located in Hodan district close to the captured locations.
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Nostalgic memories of Burundian officers trained in Somalia
By Guled Mohamed
Bujumbura, February 14 - In April 1974, a military plane landed in Mogadishu's main airport flying in 15 junior Burundian officers arriving for a two year pilot and aero technician’s course offered by the once powerful Somali air force.
Speaking for the first time in thirty five years since their memorable training in the sea side city, the now retired Burundian officers showed remorse in the current turmoil in Somalia and in particular the capital Mogadishu where they were trained as pilots by Somali air force personnel.
The 15 officers were transformed into 12 pilots and 3 aero mechanics after a two year long training that ended in June 1976 at a time when Somalia was a mighty African military superpower in the height of General Mohamed Siyad Bare’s scientific socialist Somalia.
Retired Colonel Emmanuel Bankimbaga and Charles Ntakije are among the 10 surviving officers from the original 15 Burundian officers trained by the now dysfunctional Somali air force. The two were trained as pilots together with 10 others making them the first biggest number of pilots to be trained for Burundi by any nation. Before their training the small country had only 3 pilots trained in France and Egypt.
The 15 officers distinctively served their country Burundi in various capacities to the ranks of colonels and held senior public positions as technocrats and chief of staffs. There is even a former Interior Minister amongst them.
The Burundian officers we were trained at a military installation called Afsiyoni near Mogadishu airport from April 1974 to June 1976. The airport they landed at 35 years ago is now secured by the African Union peacekeepers that includes close to 4000 Burundian peacekeepers who are in Somalia as part of AMISOM which is helping the once great nation attain peace following two decades of war that has left the country in ruins.
"The training was excellent and it was conducted by Somali officers who worked with us with a lot of professionalism until we became pilots. I wish to congratulate the Somali government on this 51st commemoration day of its air force and wish that what they lost during the war and conflict they are going to recover and build another stronger and better air force," retired Colonel Emmanuel Bankimbaga said in Bujumbura recently a day before the 51st Somali Air Force day was commemorated on 15 February.
Asked what he remembers of Mogadishu, Emmanuel painted a very lively city whose residents were very hospitable. He says they used to go for evening coffee at the Café National restaurant in downtown Mogadishu before hitting the various nightspots Mogadishu offered many of which were located along the beautiful shore of the Indian Ocean.
"The most memorable things I still remember about Mogadishu were the coffee shops, discothèques and restaurants. I had so many friends and the people were really nice. What really caught me was how nationalistic the Somalis were. They were no clan differences and everyone was a Somali," he said with a smile.
COFFEE WITH SIYAD BARE
His compatriot retired Colonel Charles Ntakije who once served as Burundi's Interior minister still remembers when in 1975 he read a speech in Somali language that he wrote on behalf of the Burundi team to mark Somali air force day.
He says Mogadishu was a paradise and that they spent many lovely evenings with civilian and military friends. His best friend was a Somali artist called Matan who owned a studio and who used to claim to be Jesus whenever he was drunk.
"On Friday’s, our Somali friends used to call us and say in Somali: Caawa waa Jimce, Jazeera club ma aadeynaa? Meaning, it’s Friday night, are we going to Jazeera club? Mogadishu was the place to be then. We spoke Somali and I could even write. In fact I wrote my speech in Somali which I presented in February 1975 to mark Somali Air Force day. Life was really good then in Mogadishu," Ntakije said with a grin.
The officers said they met President Siad Barre on numerous occasions at his residence in Afisiyoni air force headquarters where they were being trained. During there time in Somalia they managed to visit Kismayu, Baidoa and Galkaayo which they oftenly flew into as part of their training to fly military planes.
"We used to play basketball with the Somali air force team. President Siad Barre used to come and watch the games. He would freely mingle with the players and we spoke to him about our country as well as the training. He told me once if you have any problem please came straight to me. Of course we had no complaints because we were treated really well," Emmanuel added.
Emmanuel got an opportunity to welcome Barre and his entourage in Bujumbura when the former Somali leader visited Burundi for a French-African cooperation meeting in the early 80's. Emmanuel was nominated President's Barre head of security.
"When President Siyad Barre came to Bujumbura in 1984 I was nominated to head his security detail and his guide. He stayed at this same Souse de Nile hotel you are now staying which was then called The Meridian hotel. After the meetings I used to sit and drink coffee with him. He did not see me an as his bodyguard but as friend. It was good for me to host him back in my country," Emmanuel said.
After there first year in Somalia the government flew home the Burundian contingent on a military plane for the 1974 Christmas break and again brought them back to Mogadishu for their last year of training. Colonel Ntakije says he has but good memories of Somalia and was really saddened to see the country collapse in 1991.
"We are now retired and each one of us is pursuing his own private businesses. If Somalia needs our experience we will be very happy to offer any technical assistance. We are able for example to help restructure the army because that is what we can easily do for Somalia because without security the country cannot properly function. It is so sad to hear the city has been destroyed. I believe the Somalis will one day rise and restore their dignity, “ Ntakije said.
Just to prove to you the duo spend some good time in Somalia they can easily recite the famous socialist oriented song meant to praise President Siyad Barre. As a Somali born in Kenya I had no clue of the song until I heard it from the Burundians.
“Guul wadow Siyaad aabihi garashada geygayagow hantiwadagu waa habka barwaaqada noo horseeday…meaning Victorious Siyad our knowledgeable father our land socialism is the system that brought us prosperity,” The former Burundian Officers separately recited the song to the end for the first time in 35 years much to my own amazement at their sharp memory.
After his interview, Charles shouted to me before driving away “Soomaaliya hanoolato,” to mean Somalia, live longer which is a very common slogan Somalis say whenever get patriotic!
Bujumbura, February 14 - In April 1974, a military plane landed in Mogadishu's main airport flying in 15 junior Burundian officers arriving for a two year pilot and aero technician’s course offered by the once powerful Somali air force.
Speaking for the first time in thirty five years since their memorable training in the sea side city, the now retired Burundian officers showed remorse in the current turmoil in Somalia and in particular the capital Mogadishu where they were trained as pilots by Somali air force personnel.
The 15 officers were transformed into 12 pilots and 3 aero mechanics after a two year long training that ended in June 1976 at a time when Somalia was a mighty African military superpower in the height of General Mohamed Siyad Bare’s scientific socialist Somalia.
Retired Colonel Emmanuel Bankimbaga and Charles Ntakije are among the 10 surviving officers from the original 15 Burundian officers trained by the now dysfunctional Somali air force. The two were trained as pilots together with 10 others making them the first biggest number of pilots to be trained for Burundi by any nation. Before their training the small country had only 3 pilots trained in France and Egypt.
The 15 officers distinctively served their country Burundi in various capacities to the ranks of colonels and held senior public positions as technocrats and chief of staffs. There is even a former Interior Minister amongst them.
The Burundian officers we were trained at a military installation called Afsiyoni near Mogadishu airport from April 1974 to June 1976. The airport they landed at 35 years ago is now secured by the African Union peacekeepers that includes close to 4000 Burundian peacekeepers who are in Somalia as part of AMISOM which is helping the once great nation attain peace following two decades of war that has left the country in ruins.
"The training was excellent and it was conducted by Somali officers who worked with us with a lot of professionalism until we became pilots. I wish to congratulate the Somali government on this 51st commemoration day of its air force and wish that what they lost during the war and conflict they are going to recover and build another stronger and better air force," retired Colonel Emmanuel Bankimbaga said in Bujumbura recently a day before the 51st Somali Air Force day was commemorated on 15 February.
Asked what he remembers of Mogadishu, Emmanuel painted a very lively city whose residents were very hospitable. He says they used to go for evening coffee at the Café National restaurant in downtown Mogadishu before hitting the various nightspots Mogadishu offered many of which were located along the beautiful shore of the Indian Ocean.
"The most memorable things I still remember about Mogadishu were the coffee shops, discothèques and restaurants. I had so many friends and the people were really nice. What really caught me was how nationalistic the Somalis were. They were no clan differences and everyone was a Somali," he said with a smile.
COFFEE WITH SIYAD BARE
His compatriot retired Colonel Charles Ntakije who once served as Burundi's Interior minister still remembers when in 1975 he read a speech in Somali language that he wrote on behalf of the Burundi team to mark Somali air force day.
He says Mogadishu was a paradise and that they spent many lovely evenings with civilian and military friends. His best friend was a Somali artist called Matan who owned a studio and who used to claim to be Jesus whenever he was drunk.
"On Friday’s, our Somali friends used to call us and say in Somali: Caawa waa Jimce, Jazeera club ma aadeynaa? Meaning, it’s Friday night, are we going to Jazeera club? Mogadishu was the place to be then. We spoke Somali and I could even write. In fact I wrote my speech in Somali which I presented in February 1975 to mark Somali Air Force day. Life was really good then in Mogadishu," Ntakije said with a grin.
The officers said they met President Siad Barre on numerous occasions at his residence in Afisiyoni air force headquarters where they were being trained. During there time in Somalia they managed to visit Kismayu, Baidoa and Galkaayo which they oftenly flew into as part of their training to fly military planes.
"We used to play basketball with the Somali air force team. President Siad Barre used to come and watch the games. He would freely mingle with the players and we spoke to him about our country as well as the training. He told me once if you have any problem please came straight to me. Of course we had no complaints because we were treated really well," Emmanuel added.
Emmanuel got an opportunity to welcome Barre and his entourage in Bujumbura when the former Somali leader visited Burundi for a French-African cooperation meeting in the early 80's. Emmanuel was nominated President's Barre head of security.
"When President Siyad Barre came to Bujumbura in 1984 I was nominated to head his security detail and his guide. He stayed at this same Souse de Nile hotel you are now staying which was then called The Meridian hotel. After the meetings I used to sit and drink coffee with him. He did not see me an as his bodyguard but as friend. It was good for me to host him back in my country," Emmanuel said.
After there first year in Somalia the government flew home the Burundian contingent on a military plane for the 1974 Christmas break and again brought them back to Mogadishu for their last year of training. Colonel Ntakije says he has but good memories of Somalia and was really saddened to see the country collapse in 1991.
"We are now retired and each one of us is pursuing his own private businesses. If Somalia needs our experience we will be very happy to offer any technical assistance. We are able for example to help restructure the army because that is what we can easily do for Somalia because without security the country cannot properly function. It is so sad to hear the city has been destroyed. I believe the Somalis will one day rise and restore their dignity, “ Ntakije said.
Just to prove to you the duo spend some good time in Somalia they can easily recite the famous socialist oriented song meant to praise President Siyad Barre. As a Somali born in Kenya I had no clue of the song until I heard it from the Burundians.
“Guul wadow Siyaad aabihi garashada geygayagow hantiwadagu waa habka barwaaqada noo horseeday…meaning Victorious Siyad our knowledgeable father our land socialism is the system that brought us prosperity,” The former Burundian Officers separately recited the song to the end for the first time in 35 years much to my own amazement at their sharp memory.
After his interview, Charles shouted to me before driving away “Soomaaliya hanoolato,” to mean Somalia, live longer which is a very common slogan Somalis say whenever get patriotic!
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Fighting and dining with the enemy.
By Guled Mohamed
February 22 – Mohamed Ibrahim rose from an ordinary Al-Shabab fighter to a field commander within 2 years which saw him spend days and nights in the jungles and abandoned buildings across Somalia fighting, living and dining alongside wanted foreign terrorists including two of the current Al-Qaeda chiefs in Somalia.
Mohamed who goes around by his nickname Suley meaning missing a thumb in Somali because he burnt one of his thumbs learning to plant remote controlled roadside bombs in Mogadishu says he has been living and fighting along the likes of Abu Mansuur Al-Amriki better known as Omar Hammami from the US town of Daphne in Alabama who is the Deputy Al-Qaeda commander in Somalia and Fadhil Mohamed Abdallah, the top man for the global jihadists in Somalia who hails from Comoros.
During his four years stint as an Al-Shabab fighter which he recently decamped after being shot from close range by a foreign Arab fighter in one of the many frontlines in Somalia for questioning a gruesome murder of his elder civilian brother in Kismayu whose throat was slit by an Al-Shabab hit squad on suspicion of spying for his clansmen fighting to oust the extremists from the southern Somali port city of Kismayu.
In the recent past, he says the going has been tough for the revered group with imminent fallout within its top leadership over their cruelty towards civilian populations. The group has made a name out of chopping off limbs of suspect thugs and assassinations of innocent people who refuse to join them as well as other more callous acts like slitting throats of suspected spies.
Receiving a paltry $60 per month as salary with 10 days of leave every month, Ibrahim gave a chilling account of his association with a group he now believes have nothing to do with Islam.
“I was a field commander in charge of 90 young men in Bondere frontline. My men included Somalis, young Kenyan non-Somalis and Eritrean. Al-Amriki, the American Al-Qaeda 2nd in Command in Somalia is always in the frontline visiting Al-Shabaab fighters. I have fought and dined and spend days and nights with him together with so many other foreign fighters. The top commander Fadhil from Comoros never visits the frontlines. He lives in the livestock market in Mogadishu and I have also seen him so many times,” Ibrahim said.
He survived death by a whisker from the close range bullet intended to permanently silence him for voicing a concern over his brother’s death. That is when he realized he was along fighting and dining with the enemy.
“The bullet pierced through my left bicep travelling just under the skin across my back before popping out from the right shoulder. When they slit my brother’s throat and nearly killed me in cold blood I realized I was in the wrong place and planned my escape. All this time I was dining and fighting with an enemy I never knew. Since my escape I have helped 20 fighters decamp from Al-Shabaab and I hope to help many more because the heaven they promise people is a lie. There is no jihad in Somalia, it is a fallacy” Mohamed said pointing at the healed bullet wound on his back.
He secretly hatched an escape plan together with four of his colleagues. On December 16 their plot succeeded when they finally defected to the government after the President and the Prime Minister gave a 100 day amnesty to Al-Shabaab fighters who would switch sides.
“I planned my escape for 4 months. It was very difficult because I knew as soon as Al-Shabaab finds out I was a dead man. It was 4 months of fear. I am lucky my status as a field commander helped me to easily escape. The atrocities I have witnessed in my 4 years with Al-Shabaab are so gruesome giving me all the reason to leave,” he added.
And to make things even easier for his final escape, he saw first hand how wounded accomplices were dealt with by foreign fighters who call the shots within Al-Shabaab.
“Al-Shabaab has become so ruthless that it even kills its soldiers who are seriously wounded in the many battles in Mogadishu. They shoot them because they have no enough hospitals or money to treat them. What pains me most is seeing very young boys brainwashed to fight and then abandoned or killed when they are seriously hurt. Joining Al-Shabaab is easy but getting out is impossible. I thank God I left and will never ever take part in any of their un-Islamic activities again,” He said looking relaxed.
February 22 – Mohamed Ibrahim rose from an ordinary Al-Shabab fighter to a field commander within 2 years which saw him spend days and nights in the jungles and abandoned buildings across Somalia fighting, living and dining alongside wanted foreign terrorists including two of the current Al-Qaeda chiefs in Somalia.
Mohamed who goes around by his nickname Suley meaning missing a thumb in Somali because he burnt one of his thumbs learning to plant remote controlled roadside bombs in Mogadishu says he has been living and fighting along the likes of Abu Mansuur Al-Amriki better known as Omar Hammami from the US town of Daphne in Alabama who is the Deputy Al-Qaeda commander in Somalia and Fadhil Mohamed Abdallah, the top man for the global jihadists in Somalia who hails from Comoros.
During his four years stint as an Al-Shabab fighter which he recently decamped after being shot from close range by a foreign Arab fighter in one of the many frontlines in Somalia for questioning a gruesome murder of his elder civilian brother in Kismayu whose throat was slit by an Al-Shabab hit squad on suspicion of spying for his clansmen fighting to oust the extremists from the southern Somali port city of Kismayu.
In the recent past, he says the going has been tough for the revered group with imminent fallout within its top leadership over their cruelty towards civilian populations. The group has made a name out of chopping off limbs of suspect thugs and assassinations of innocent people who refuse to join them as well as other more callous acts like slitting throats of suspected spies.
Receiving a paltry $60 per month as salary with 10 days of leave every month, Ibrahim gave a chilling account of his association with a group he now believes have nothing to do with Islam.
“I was a field commander in charge of 90 young men in Bondere frontline. My men included Somalis, young Kenyan non-Somalis and Eritrean. Al-Amriki, the American Al-Qaeda 2nd in Command in Somalia is always in the frontline visiting Al-Shabaab fighters. I have fought and dined and spend days and nights with him together with so many other foreign fighters. The top commander Fadhil from Comoros never visits the frontlines. He lives in the livestock market in Mogadishu and I have also seen him so many times,” Ibrahim said.
He survived death by a whisker from the close range bullet intended to permanently silence him for voicing a concern over his brother’s death. That is when he realized he was along fighting and dining with the enemy.
“The bullet pierced through my left bicep travelling just under the skin across my back before popping out from the right shoulder. When they slit my brother’s throat and nearly killed me in cold blood I realized I was in the wrong place and planned my escape. All this time I was dining and fighting with an enemy I never knew. Since my escape I have helped 20 fighters decamp from Al-Shabaab and I hope to help many more because the heaven they promise people is a lie. There is no jihad in Somalia, it is a fallacy” Mohamed said pointing at the healed bullet wound on his back.
He secretly hatched an escape plan together with four of his colleagues. On December 16 their plot succeeded when they finally defected to the government after the President and the Prime Minister gave a 100 day amnesty to Al-Shabaab fighters who would switch sides.
“I planned my escape for 4 months. It was very difficult because I knew as soon as Al-Shabaab finds out I was a dead man. It was 4 months of fear. I am lucky my status as a field commander helped me to easily escape. The atrocities I have witnessed in my 4 years with Al-Shabaab are so gruesome giving me all the reason to leave,” he added.
And to make things even easier for his final escape, he saw first hand how wounded accomplices were dealt with by foreign fighters who call the shots within Al-Shabaab.
“Al-Shabaab has become so ruthless that it even kills its soldiers who are seriously wounded in the many battles in Mogadishu. They shoot them because they have no enough hospitals or money to treat them. What pains me most is seeing very young boys brainwashed to fight and then abandoned or killed when they are seriously hurt. Joining Al-Shabaab is easy but getting out is impossible. I thank God I left and will never ever take part in any of their un-Islamic activities again,” He said looking relaxed.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
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Pay day in Mogadishu frontlines.
By Guled Mohamed
Mogadishu, January 21 – It is always sweet to receive your dues after a hard work and that is the feeling among Somalia’s military officers who recently received their stipends for their-much needed efforts to protect the government and civilian populations against an onslaught by the ruthless Al-Shabab insurgents.
At least 8000 soldiers received $100 each in a peaceful exercise that lasted for 10 days from 29th December to 7th January 2011 and which was overseen by AMISOM and coordinated by IGAD under the watchful eye of Colonel Dido Rasso from Kenya and his team who were reporting to the AMISOM Force Commander Major General Nathan Mugisha who in turn played the crucial role of linking the team with the donors and Somali government.
In a bid to end months of anxiety and prevent any double payments all the soldiers were paid from their positions in the many frontlines in Mogadishu in order to help the government ascertain the exact number of its forces so that it can better address the many challenges facing the embattled force.
AMISOM Force Commander Major General Nathan Mugisha hailed the team for a job well done and called upon the donors urging them to continue assisting the Somali government to ensure soldiers get their stipends and in future their pay on monthly basis just like any other stable country in the world.
“The Somali soldiers are playing a crucial role in safeguarding their country and people. It is therefore only fair for them to get their dues in regular basis in order to give them an impetus to continue protecting their nation. The payment team and the Somali government both worked tremendously hard to make sure each soldier gets his deserved share. AMISOM will always continue to support the Somali people and the government as required by its mandate,”
Colonel Rasso said that the payment was conducted in the government-controlled districts of Bondere, Shangani, Wadajir, Hodan, HamarJajab, Dharkenlay and Waberi. Three teams went round all the military bases to pay-off the government forces.
Each soldier was required to append his or her signature on the payment rooster to confirm receipt of the stipend. Those who received their dues included wounded soldiers hurt in the line of duty. Many others died protecting their nation from callous insurgents with ties to Al-Qaeda.
Some of the hot spot positions where the team visited included Juba hotel, Uruba hotel, Shangaalaha, Hosh and Tarbuunka where the team had to sometimes dodge bullets and pay in the midst of heavy battles.
“The exercise was a success and it has given us an insight into the TFG military which will go a long way to better streamline the force and harmonize their pay system. This was the main reason why we had to oversee the exercise. I believe the government will see the fruits of the exercise soon. I wish to thank AMISOM Force Commander, the military leadership and the Minister of Defence for their cooperation and vision which made it easy for us to pay the deserving soldiers their little dues in the many frontline positions,” Colonel Rasso said.
The paid soldiers were simply elated and hope their dues would be regular. They also promised to diligently work for their country and warned the opposition forces to prepare for the worst now that their morale is high. The pay also enforced discipline as some soldiers who used to abscond their duty are now reportedly clutching on their rifles already defending their country hoping they will now get their dues regularly.
“I am so happy because I can now at least pay my debts. We have waited for this day for so long. The government must ensure we get our arrears and our future salary is paid in time so that we can also feed our families. We will continue to fight for our country and protect our people because that is what is expected of us as the military,” TFG Liaison Officer Lieutenant Issa Mohamed said.
Mogadishu, January 21 – It is always sweet to receive your dues after a hard work and that is the feeling among Somalia’s military officers who recently received their stipends for their-much needed efforts to protect the government and civilian populations against an onslaught by the ruthless Al-Shabab insurgents.
At least 8000 soldiers received $100 each in a peaceful exercise that lasted for 10 days from 29th December to 7th January 2011 and which was overseen by AMISOM and coordinated by IGAD under the watchful eye of Colonel Dido Rasso from Kenya and his team who were reporting to the AMISOM Force Commander Major General Nathan Mugisha who in turn played the crucial role of linking the team with the donors and Somali government.
In a bid to end months of anxiety and prevent any double payments all the soldiers were paid from their positions in the many frontlines in Mogadishu in order to help the government ascertain the exact number of its forces so that it can better address the many challenges facing the embattled force.
AMISOM Force Commander Major General Nathan Mugisha hailed the team for a job well done and called upon the donors urging them to continue assisting the Somali government to ensure soldiers get their stipends and in future their pay on monthly basis just like any other stable country in the world.
“The Somali soldiers are playing a crucial role in safeguarding their country and people. It is therefore only fair for them to get their dues in regular basis in order to give them an impetus to continue protecting their nation. The payment team and the Somali government both worked tremendously hard to make sure each soldier gets his deserved share. AMISOM will always continue to support the Somali people and the government as required by its mandate,”
Colonel Rasso said that the payment was conducted in the government-controlled districts of Bondere, Shangani, Wadajir, Hodan, HamarJajab, Dharkenlay and Waberi. Three teams went round all the military bases to pay-off the government forces.
Each soldier was required to append his or her signature on the payment rooster to confirm receipt of the stipend. Those who received their dues included wounded soldiers hurt in the line of duty. Many others died protecting their nation from callous insurgents with ties to Al-Qaeda.
Some of the hot spot positions where the team visited included Juba hotel, Uruba hotel, Shangaalaha, Hosh and Tarbuunka where the team had to sometimes dodge bullets and pay in the midst of heavy battles.
“The exercise was a success and it has given us an insight into the TFG military which will go a long way to better streamline the force and harmonize their pay system. This was the main reason why we had to oversee the exercise. I believe the government will see the fruits of the exercise soon. I wish to thank AMISOM Force Commander, the military leadership and the Minister of Defence for their cooperation and vision which made it easy for us to pay the deserving soldiers their little dues in the many frontline positions,” Colonel Rasso said.
The paid soldiers were simply elated and hope their dues would be regular. They also promised to diligently work for their country and warned the opposition forces to prepare for the worst now that their morale is high. The pay also enforced discipline as some soldiers who used to abscond their duty are now reportedly clutching on their rifles already defending their country hoping they will now get their dues regularly.
“I am so happy because I can now at least pay my debts. We have waited for this day for so long. The government must ensure we get our arrears and our future salary is paid in time so that we can also feed our families. We will continue to fight for our country and protect our people because that is what is expected of us as the military,” TFG Liaison Officer Lieutenant Issa Mohamed said.
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