SOMALIA: NEW WAR IN THE MAKING
Wagosha slam ongoing meeting of "Azania" in Kenya (WGM)
The executive committee of the Wagosha Movement of Somalia, has strongly criticized the ongoing meeting on Kenyan soil trying to solidify the ill-advised establishment of the so called "Azania State" in Somalia.
The Wagosha people call on the international community to take part in resolving the Somalia crisis and end the slavery of the Somali nationals of Bantu origin and the apartheid regime oppressing all Somali minorities in the Jubba regions and other parts of the country.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Wagosha Movement of Somalia
Media Liason: Awes Sh. Huseen Honeero
phone: +252-61-559-1242 or +252-69-946-9728
e-mail: wagoshamvt1@yahoo.com and swrur@hotmail.com
web: http://www.wagoshanews.com
BACKGROUND
Editorial: “Buffer zone” or suppression and massacre zone By Fatuma Lamungu Nur (*)
Its obvious that the independence of Somalia in 1960 created instability and chaos in Horn of Africa and whole East African region, because of the rough and arrogant policies adopted by the Somali leaders.
Having problems at home including clan worshipping, high rate of illiteracy, racial discrimination and backwardness, the first Somali government instead chose to pursue a dream known as “greater Somalia”, in which it had claimed territories in the neighbouring countries, Kenya and Somalia.
The dirty policies and the crazy dream plunged the country into brutal civil war and endless political turmoil.
Somali leadership in 1960
Soon after the independence clan-based power struggle erupted among the so-called Somali leaders on how to share country’s political posts. The dispute ended with some clans awarding themselves high portfolios without considering education background, experience or skills, but just because they belonged to certain clans. This formula gave an opportunity to several illiterate Somalis who served as Italian houseboys to became ministers or high ranking officials in the government.
Apartheid policy and discrimination
In line with the “greater Somalia” policy the government of Somalia had in 1960 adopted a secret policy of persecuting people of Bantu origins in Somalia. But the ultimate target was the Swahili speaking Bantus in Jubba regions, who were seen as a threat by the government, just because they speak the language of the “enemy” and have blood relationship with Kenya and other African countries. Somalis refer everyone with kinky hair and big nose as slave or “addoon” in Somali language. Almost every Somali still use this word “addoon” to refer Kenyans, Tanzanians, Burundians, Ugandans, Ethiopians and others.
The government has never allowed the international community to visit the areas inhabited by Wagosha people. A former Tanzania minister, Hasan Dyamwale was among the foreign officials who got into trouble by asking the condition of the Bantu people in southern Somalia. Dyamwale was in the Tanzanian delegation that visited Somalia in 1970ties to attend African youths games in Mogadishu and he received harsh response from Somali officials, when he asked a permission to visit the Swahili speakers’ areas in southern Somalia.
The government also ensured that the history of Goshaland is falsified with the intention of removing any sign of Swahili history in Somalia.
Resettlement of refugees
By nature Somalis are not law-abiding people, one of the major factor that caused the country to remain unstable and in chaos. Despite the Organization of African Unity treaty of recognizing the borders left by the colonial powers in the continent, Somalia ignored and refused to sign the deal. The government carried a mass campaign of calling Somalis in Kenya and Ethiopia to come to Somalia and resettle, since they are under what the Somali government called as slave powers, referring Ethiopia and Kenya.
Government funds were used to bring these people to Somalia and settle them in different Somali regions, such as Hargeysa, Hiiraan, Jubba regions and others, while the genuine Somali citizens were suffering. These refugees were also allowed to join Somali politics and served as ministers and military commanders as well. Notable figures in this group are:
Adan Abdulahi Nur (Gabyow) , who defected from Kenyan forces and joined Somali Armed Forces. He became Somalia’s defence minister in 1980ties and later formed clan rebellion against Mohamed Siad Barre.
Mohamed Omar Jes, from Ethiopia who served as minister in 1970ties till he died in 1987.
Col Ahmad Omar Jes, from Ethiopia, military commander who later on joined rebel groups that ousted Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991. Jes was among the most notorious warlords in southern Somalia, and is currently serving as a parliamentarian in Somalia’s TFG.
Mohamed Omar Osman, from Ethiopia who served as Somalia’s Navy Forces Commander. After the collapse of Somali state he went to Ethiopia to form Ogaden National Liberation Front, that is currently fighting against Addis Ababa administration and causing instability in the whole region.
Others include, General Adan Abdi Duale (former police chief) several ministers and parliamentarians in current Somali Transitional Government, and Mohamed Abdi Gandi, who claims to be the head of self proclaimed regional administration of Jubba regions in southern Somalia. He has never set a foot in Jubba regions, but intends to go there for the first time with the title of a president.
Massacre in Jubba Regions
While the international community and media highlighted the humanitarian disaster of Bay region, the worst disaster ever witnessed in the Horn of African region was ignored. That disaster hit Jubba regions in southern Somalia and it was against the Wagosha people.
Apart from the previous governments systematic discrimination, harassment and other types of mistreatment against Wagosha people (Bantu and Swahili speakers) in Jubba regions, the Darod clan warlords, who took control of Jubba regions announced along term plan of massacre against the Wagosha people. Brutal and blood-thirsty leaders, like General Mohamed Said Morgan, Adan Abdullahi Nur (Gabyow), Mohamed Abshir Muse, Bashir Bililiqo, Ahmad Omar Jes, Omar Haji Mohamed and several NGO officials who belong to Darod clan orchestrated and implemented the massacre of thousands of Bantu people in Jubba regions. Among the tactics used were to starve people to death, poisoning their crops, using weapons, forcing them to jump into Jubba river and many other brutal actions.
Some of genocide survivors in Jubba region say they saw Kenyan army members of Somali origin taking part in the mass killing and burning villages in Jamaame, Jilib and other areas in Jubba regions. According to the survivors, the Kenyan army were speaking Swahili and English languages, with their vehicles bearing Kenyan plate numbers.
During this massacre the Kenyan forces were under General Mohamud Mohamed, a Kenyan of Somali origin who belongs to Ogaden clan, a sub clan of Darod clan.
Wagosha people in Jubbaland
Since the end of 18th century, there has been a contest for resources and economic control in southern Somalia’s Jubba Regions. The race for resources in these Regions is between various groups with competing economic interests in the area and it is has been increasingly difficult for the original inhabitants to deter these groups from grabbing their land.
History books indicate that the earliest explorers found Wagosha people and Bajuni clans residing along the coastal and the riverine lines of Jubba Regions. As a pure Bantu land with their ancient kingdoms like Shungwaya and Nasib Bundo.
The Wagosha clans that are found in Jubba regions include: Giriama, Sambaa, Digo, Duruma, Wazigua, Rabai, Yao, Nyasa, Makua, Pokomo, Kambe, Chonyi, Jibana, Kauma, Ngindo Ribe and others and all were under the famous and major empire of Shungwaya in Jubbaland, with its headquarters in Kisima-Cha-Juu city, currently known as Kismaayo.
At the turn of 17th century members of these clans faced threat from Arab traders and nomad herders. This forced part of Wagosha people to migrate to Kaya or villages along the ridge behind the Southern Kenya coast.
The last King of Wagosha people was Mfalme Nasib Bundo who was arrested by the Italiand and died in jail in 1918.
Roughly translation of Gosha word is bush and that is why the people in this area are called Wagosha. The Wagosha people who settled in Kenyan coastal towns are known as Nyika, which also means, bush, but later on they chose the name Mijikenda.
The first nomad migrants of Jubba regions are believed to be nomadic communities from western Somalia regions in search of pasture and settled there around 1880 (research by Turton 1970, Dalleo and Little 1992) and settled in Afmadow.
Already earlier, in 1836 hundreds of Bantu families fled from persecution in other parts of Somalia, specially in Lower Shabeelle, Bay and Bakool regions and joined the Wagosha to become members of the large part of Wagosha people or Bantu clan in Jubba regions.
After Somalia attained independence 1960, clans from other parts of the country who were getting support from the government of the day flocked into these areas (look at Bestman’s research in 1994).
Regional administration
According to Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government, the country should adopt regional states or administration, with the consent of the people living in the concerned area. But given the official apartheid system in Somalia, Wagosha people are doubting how this will be implemented.
In Jubba regions there are thousands of Ogaden refugees from Ethiopia, who do not want to go back to their country, despite stability and calmness in their region.
As per the law these are refugees, who have no any rights to involve in the country’s political system, while they remain a security threat to the region, specially to Kenya and Ethiopia.
Current threats against Wagosha
Currently there are indications that as the various militias continue to infiltrate the districts in Jubba regions, while influx of refugees of Ogaden clan from Ethiopia continue, the political leaders of Somali nomad clans are attempting to legitimate the takeovers by claiming that rural Bantu peoples are not really Somalis. Thus the threat to the Wagosha is not only physical, it also touches on their identities as Somalis.
As clan play a big role in day to day Somali politics, the neighbouring country, Kenya with the advise of few Ogadeni senior officials in Kenyan government are backing an administration that will be formed in Jubbaland.
Kenya has the right to take any suitable measure to ensure its security, but it has to be vigilant with the hidden agenda of its Somali ethnic politicians.
According to reliable international and Somali sources, Kenyan defence minister,Mohamed Yusuf Haji, with other Ogadeni officials in Kenyan government are backing the move just because, Mohamed Abdi Gandi, who proclaimed to be the leader of Jubba regions belongs to their clan.
Mohamed Abdi Gandi is among the Ogadeni refugees from Ethiopia who are living in Somalia and involved in the country’s politics.
Hidden clan agenda
With the security concern of Kenyan government, some elements took the advantage and called for illegal meeting in Kenya to form so called regional administration for Jubba regions.
Almost 95% of the representatives at this meeting did not hail from Jubba regions. Due to harsh conditions of Somali refugees in Nairobi, it was easy to lure some of them to be taken to Limuru to attend the meeting as Jubbaland residents.
The impostors were locked in Limuru for few days before announcing election of an Ethiopian citizen Mohamed Abdi Gandi, as the leader of Jubbaland.
Why Kenyan government does not want to talk to the genuine representatives of these regions and listen to their views, instead of allowing such shoddy meetings that will not bear any fruit.
“Buffer Zone”
The idea of forming a regional administration in Jubbaland and buffer zone still looks good, but few questions are to be answered by Kenyan authorities.
Its not a secret that most of the high ranking officials in Al-Shabab in Jubba regions are from Garisa in North Eastern Province of Kenya. For example the lucrative Kismaayo seaport is under a well known Garisa born figure.
All these Al-Shabab members from North Eastern Province have their families and children in the region. Their children are being served with the Kenyan taxpayers money, while their fathers are “headache” to the national security. Why the Kenyan politicians of Somali origin do not want to address this issue, and are pushing for a state in Somalia ruled by their clan.
Isn’t this a clear evidence that Kenyan government is being pushed in more trouble by few clan politicians, a move that will create more violence in Jubba regions, insecurity in Kenya and the whole region.
(*) Drs Fatuma Lamungu Nur is a PhD holder in International Politics and lives in New York, USA.
Wagosha applauds UN report on Al-Shabab links with Kenyan elements (wagoshanews)
The Executive committee of Wagosha Movement has welcomed the UN monitoring group report on Somalia that revealed Kenyan Somalis link with Al-Shabab.
“It’s a open secret that Ogadeni clan in Garisa harbour terror suspects, including senior Al-Shabab officials who hail from the town” said a statement issued by Wagosha Movement on UN report.
The statement said that Wagosha officials have revealed all these eveils even before this report and now with the UN confirmation, the world has to act swiftly.
The UN report said Somalia’s Al-Shabab has its roots in the Majengo area of the capital Nairobi, a poor area just east of central business district near Eastleigh.
It said the chairman of MYC was Ahmad Iman Ali, who moved to Somalia in 2009, and that the organisation has developed a strong network of members and sympathisers in Kenyan towns such as Eldoret, Garissa and the port city of Mombasa.
The report said Ahmed Iman now has a fighting force of 200-500 fighters in Somalia, most of whom are Kenyans, including minors, from Majengo.
“Ahmed Iman’s success in recruiting fighters and mobilizing funds for the cause, appear to have earned him steady ascendancy within al Shabaab.
Wagosha Movement said that Muhammad Abdi Gandi who declared himself as a leader of so called Azania state in Jubbaland, Somalia has links Ogadeni Al-Shabab fighters and officials in Kismaayo.
“Gaandi has several times communicated with Al-Shabab officials from his clan in Kismaayo asking them for a collaboration for his bid to capture Jubbaland, and Ogadeni members of Al-Shabab have agreed, which means that Gaandi is cooperating with Al-Shabab” said Wagosha Movement statement.
The Wagosha Movement said it was unfortunate that Kenyan politicians of Ogaden clan continue to confuse President Kibaki that they were planning to create a buffer zone in southern Somalia, while they hide the truth about the growing of terrorists in their constituencies.
“We want the world and Kenyan government to act on these facts immediately, because there is a danger of terror attacks as well as possible military confrontation between Kenya and Ethiopia, just because of clan interests by Ogadeni individuals in Kenyan government” added the Wagosha statement.
Also Kenyan government was urged to investigate all members be government officials and others for the benefit of its national security and for the whole East African Region.
Despite these brutal killings, its worth to not that Kenyan forces were under the control of General Mohamud Mohamed, an Ogadeni retired military official. James Ole Serian who is the current Provincial Commissioner of Kenya’s North Eastern Province may know more about these operations.
Another turn of massacre
After twenty years, thanks God Wagosha people are still alive, despite the merciless genocide, but another plan to massacre them again is looming, as another Ogadeni is the Kenyan’s defence minister, with his son in charge of intelligence services of the country.
Mohamed Yusuf Haji the defence minister, and his son Nuraddin Yusuf Haji succeeded to feed the Kenyan government with false information based on their clan interest in Somalia. The minister and his son are using Kenyan tax payers money to back their relative Muhammad Abdi Gandi, who is from Ethiopia to form a regional administration in southern Somalia.
Do Ogadenis live in Somalia?
According to the fact, the majority of Ogaden clan live in Ethiopia and some of them migrated to Kenya as well. In Somalia its only one district called Afmadow in Lower Jubba Region, where Ogadenis are found, but during Siyad Barre’s dream of Greater Somalia he brought thousands of Ogadeni refugees from Ethiopia and settled them in Jubba regions.
After that the Ogadenis from Ethiopia, Kenya have been trying to take over the control of Jubba regions and make them a base to attack Ethiopia and create insecurity in the regions. The first attempt of Ogadenis to take over Jubba was in late 1980ties when General Adan Abdullahi Gabyow, a defector from Kenyan army with the help of other officials from Ethiopian Ogadenis. But their attempt was foiled by Siyad Barre’s forces.
The second attempt was in 1991 under the umbrella of Darod clans who announced a major plan of killing or forcing all Wagosha people from their land. Different tactics including forcing people to jump into Jubba River, poisoning of wells, weapons and starving to death were used to exterminate the Wagosha people.
The so-called Azania
As the majority people in Jubba regions, the Wagosha people have not been considered to take part in the formation of a new administration for their land. Instead an Ethiopian refugee Muhammad Gandi is being backed by Kenya and other foreign countries , so that he can complete the genocide mission of against Wagosha people. In one of the meetings he held in Nairobi, Gandi said that he will exterminate and wipe out the parasites that are opposing his administration, referring to Wagosha people, who firmly rejected to recognize his dream administration.
Threat to East Africa security
Somalis have long been dreaming to create what is known as “greater Somalia” and with the blind policy of Kenya, driven by clan mongers of Ogadeni Kenyan politicians, its clear that the dream is close to become true with the cost of all East African and Horn of Africa Region.
After the formation of Azania, the ONLF members who are currently serving as Azania forces, will launch attacks against Ethiopia and then Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and others. This strategy is currently being prepared in Kenyan territory without the knowledge of its security forces.
Last year the Kenyan national census showed that the number of Somalis in the country tripled dramatically. The number is now close to 3 million. This is an evidence that Ogadeni from Ethiopia are migrating to Kenya en mass and then granted Kenyan papers by Ogadeni officials. The Kenyan move of compromising its security for Ogaden clan will also cost the security of all East African countries.
Kenyan born Al-Shabab members
Most of the senior Al-Shabab members in Jubba regions are from Gaarisa, the provincial capital of Kenya’s North Eastern Province.
Dulyadeyn and many others are among them. Shaykh Hasan Turki a notorious Al-Shabab leader , who is from Ethiopia has got Kenyan papers. Its open secret that he visits his family in Gaarisa and other parts in Kenya without fear. The wives and children of Al-Shabab leaders live in Gaarisa and they have vital information about their husbands. But no one from Ogaden politicians have showed concern or informed the authority the risk looming to the country and to the whole of East African region.
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