Kamanda wa Polisi Kanda Maalum ya Dar es
Salaam,Afande Suleiman Kova
--------Tahadhari kutoka kwa afande
Kova
Tafadhali wajulishe wote wanaohusika kwamba kuna kundi kubwa la majambazi wenye silaha kali, ambao wameingia Jijini Dar es salaam hivi karibuni. Wahalifu hao ni pamoja na Wakenya ambao wana tabia ya kupora fedha katika taasisi kubwa kama,mabenk,kampuni za mafuta na sehemu zenye biashara kubwa n.k .
Aidha watu hawa wana mbinu ya kula njama na watumishi wasiokuwa waaminifu.Ni muhimu mkafuatilia mienendo mbalimbali katika benk zenu na sehemu zilizotajwa hapo juu pamoja na kuimarisha usalama julisheni kwa message kupitia namba hii
0783034224 .au kwa simu ya mdomo
0754-034224 .0787034224 .
zote ni namba za Kamanda wa Polisi Kanda
Maalum ya
Polisi Dar es salaam.Namba zingine za simu ni
0754- 2762170776880000
namba hizi ni za mkuu wa Upelelezi Kanda maalum.Lengo la maelezo si vitisho kwenu bali ni tahadhari muhimu ,
inayofaa kuzingatiwa,
S. H. Kova - SACP
KAMANDA WA KANDA MAALUMDAR ES SALAAM
The deepening of the global financial crisis and economic slowdown has given rise to new challenges for Tanzania. Despite the government’s efforts to ensure that the so-far reliable stream of donor aid is sustained, we anticipate real GDP growth slowing to 7.6% in 2009 as tourism, export volumes and FDI all fall on the back of a weaker global economy
Photos: Ayoub mzee
A Week in the Horn
17th July 2009
§ Eritrea at loggerheads with the Security Council
§ On Somalia
§ Ato Seyoum’s visit to the Middle East
§ The Austrian Foreign Minister’s visit to Ethiopia
§ NAM Summit at Sharm El Sheik
Eritrea at loggerheads with the Security Council
Eritrea is on a head-on collision course with the United Nations Security Council. Unlike in the past, the international community’s patience towards Eritrea ’s belligerent moves has been all but depleted. The lead-up to the Presidential Statement by the Security Council is illustrative of the growing consensus that Eritrea must be penalized. The tone for this debate was set by B. Lynn Pascoe, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs who exposed the brutality of Al Shabab and underscored the importance of heeding the call made by the African Union Summit to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) as the legitimate authority in Somalia . Somalia ’s representative also took the opportunity to expose Eritrea ’s key support to extremists and foreign fighters to escalate their attacks against the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia ever more relentlessly. He reminded the Security Council that the African Union Summit had called for the imposing of a no-fly zone and a blockade of seaports to prevent the entry of foreign fighters into Somalia and sanctions against all foreign actors supporting the insurgents within and outside the region, especially Eritrea .
The UK also expressed agreement on the need to heed the request of the African Union for the Security Council to be ready to take action against any individual, entities or Governments shown to be arming or supporting those carrying out such attacks. The United States on its part said that it was particularly concerned about the support that Eritrea was giving Al Shabab. The representative of the Russian Federation on his part remarked that the recent attack by Islamists and other armed groups is another alarming wake-up call, not only for Somalia , but for the region in general and urged the international community to provide support to Somalia . China called on the United Nations to play a more active role and scale up support to the Transitional Government and AMISOM. France expressed concern about the reports that insurgents were being supported by foreign fighters and supplied from Eritrea and that it is prepared to consider sanctions against those undermining the Djibouti process.
It is striking to note that other representatives on the Council did not just leave this critical issue to be dealt only by influential states only. There was a really animated discussion in which literally all members of the Council participated. The representative of Libya, for example, was critical of the international community for its failure to use the golden opportunity to resolve the problem when the new TFG was formed, underscoring that hesitation had encouraged the opposition. He urged the members that the time has come for the Council to take necessary measures to prevent access by the Somali opposition forces to weapons, funds and foreign fighters. Mexico ’s leadership role was exceedingly admirable for its decisiveness. Its representative stressed the need for the Council to discuss the African Union request for the imposition of no-fly zone and a blockade of Somalia seaports to halt the entry of mercenaries and for sanctions against Eritrea for its support for the insurgents. Turkey was another member that spoke unequivocally on the matter. Its representative duly underlined that extremist armed groups and foreign elements are targeting both the Transitional Government and AMISOM with a view to undermining the reconciliation process and bringing about the collapse of the Government. Turkey thus emphasised that these forces should not be allowed to succeed in their destructive designs.
Costa Rica and Austria on their part expressed agreement that the international community must support the Transitional Government and strengthen its capacities, while expressing serious concern about the fighting in and around Mogadishu , especially the influx of foreign fighters and others attempting to overthrow the Government. Japan and Croatia were among the other members to express their strong condemnation of the attacks against the Transitional Government and called for urgent action to be taken to strengthen Somali security institutions, as well as AMISOM. While expressing alarm at outside interference, particularly Eritrea ’s support for insurgents, Croatia also pointed out that the Council already had at its disposal the necessary tools to deal with spoilers of the peace process. Similarly, Burkina Faso, Vietnam and Uganda reiterated their concern about the growing presence of foreign elements in Mogadishu and urged the Security Council to take action against individuals and States opposing the Djibouti Accord, while also calling on the international community at large to extend immediate and vigorous international support to the Transitional Government’s endeavours to repel the onslaught by the extremist forces intent on destroying the Djibouti peace process and spoiling the efforts to bring peace and stability in Somalia through political reconciliation. Uganda further hailed the Djibouti peace process as the best opportunity to achieve lasting peace in Somalia and called on the Council to respond to a call made by the African Union Summit to take urgent measures.
All the speakers also applauded the efforts of Burundi and Uganda in contributing to AMISOM. All speakers underlined the dire humanitarian situation and extreme situation for the civilian population, in particular women and children. What these speeches appear to show is how the Security Council is firmly united in its position regarding what is needed to bring peace to Somalia . The Presidential Statement read at the conclusion of the debate duly expressed this deep concern and promised that it will consider expeditiously what action to take against any party undermining the Djibouti peace process. This seems to demonstrate what direction the Security Council might be headed for in dealing with spoilers like Eritrea.
Eritrea has not disappointed these critics, either. In what has become its diplomatic stock-in-trade, it has come out lashing at the Security Council, even questioning its legitimacy. Apart from the usual invectives, Eritrea had the temerity to speak of international law and charged the Security Council with an attempt to supplant the United Nations Charter. Not only did it claim that the Council had no mandate to support or to recognize the legitimate Government in Somalia , but it also bluntly said that it does not recognize this Government. Apparently, Eritrea’s version of international law has nothing to do with the time-honoured principles that govern normal state-to-state relations. The recent rejection and an outright onslaught against the Security Council should make for a perfect setting for the punitive measures the Security Council is considering to impose on the likes of Eritrea . It also shows that Eritrea is fighting a losing battle since the international community has rejected its acts of destabilization and support to international terrorist elements. There is now a glimmer of hope that this region might very soon start to see the beginning of the end of the international community's appeasement policy towards Eritrea which had allowed Asmara literally to get away with murder. No one should have the illusion that the current regime in Asmara would abandon its strategy of destabilization of the Horn of Africa and drop its attempt to topple the legitimate government of Somalia . It is hoped the Security Council would not allow itself to be mislead by the current Eritrean attempt to be humble and decent, a tactic designed to stop the mounting pressure without changing its policy in earnest.
On Somalia
This week on 14th July two French anti-terrorism experts were kidnapped in Mogadishu from Sahafi Hotel. There are conflicting stories coming from Mogadishu as to who kidnapped the two French nationals. What is certain is that they were kidnapped by a group of gunmen numbering 10-15 who were said to have been attired in Somali government police uniforms. The hotel from which they were snatched is between the presidential palace and the Sea/Air ports in a specific place called Kilometer 4 which is under the control of government militia. AMISOM has also a base and presence in Kilometer 4 close to Hotel Sahafi.
The place where the two French nationals are said to be kept is in or around Peace Hotel, just on the outskirts of the Bakara market which is under Al-Shabab control. This has given rise to the assumption that some groups not really part of Al-Shabab but probably its allies did the kidnapping for ransom or other purposes while pretending to be within the government.
There are also indications that the kidnappers could be members of Hizbul Islam looking for money in exchange. There are rumours of tensions between Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam over the fate of the French nationals. According to information from Mogadishu , Al-Shabab is demanding that the French nationals be handed over to it. That, of course, would be the worst case scenario since Al Shabab’s track record in this regard is far from reassuring. It would be foolhardy to assume that only a ransom could be of that much interest to Al-Shabab, connected as it is to Al-Qaeda.
If, on the other hand, the French nationals are in the hands of Hizbul Islam, one would wonder what role the Eritrean government could have since, after all, there is a strong cooperation between president Issayas Aferworki and Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys on what they call jihad in Somalia. It is to be recalled that Aweys told Reuters on 22nd May 2009 that Eritrea fully supports the fight against the Government in what he called a holy war.
Meanwhile, Al-Shabab announced this week on 14th July that it did form an Islamic administration in Welweyen and its environs in line with its extremist interpretation of Islam. The area which is 90-100 kms from Mogadishu is indeed strategic as it links Lower and Middle Shaballe as well as Bay region. However, one thing continues to be clear, and, in fact far clearer by the day - Al-Shabab has no popular base and can count on no wide support within Somalia. The barbaric chopping off of the limbs of Somali youngsters is not going to make them popular in the country. But they still can count on outside support. This is what the people of Somalia want to see stopped.
Ato Seyoum’s visit to the Middle East
A high level Government Delegation led by Ato Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, made an official visit to the State of Palestine and the State of Israel from 11th to 13th July. On the first leg of the visit, Ato Seyoum met with senior officials of the Palestinian National Authority including president Mahamoud Abbas, Prime Minister Dr. Salaam Fayed, and with his counterpart, Dr. Riyad Almaliki. Minister Seyoum Mesfin held discussions with the senior officials on bilateral and regional issues of common concern. During his visit, Ato Seyoum Mesfin signed a cooperation agreement on political and economic matters as well as in the areas of trade, culture, youth and sports, and parliamentary consultations. He also laid a wreath of flowers on the grave of the late Yasser Arafat. The visit was concluded to the satisfaction of both parties.
On the second leg of his official visit to the State of Israel Ato Seyoum Mesfin met with His Excellency Mr. Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel, and Mr. Avigdor Lieberman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his meeting with his Israeli counterpart, he held discussions on issues of bilateral concern particularly on trade and investment and on how to promote the partnership between the private sectors of the two countries. He also met with Mr. Silvan Shalom, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development for Negev region. Before concluding his visit, Ato Seyoum had the opportunity to lay a wreath of flowers on the Holocaust Memorial Center. The meetings with both sides were both successful and conducted in a cordial atmosphere.
The Austrian Foreign Minister’s visit to Ethiopia
The Austrian Foreign Minister, H.E. Dr. Michael Spindelegger, was in Addis Ababa from 14th to 16th July. He had the opportunity to meet Ethiopian as well as African Union officials. His presence in Addis was for both bilateral and multilateral reasons.
His counterpart, Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin, was not in Addis, having left earlier for visits to Israel and the Palestine Authority to be followed by a trip to Sharm El Shiek to take part in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting of Foreign Ministers. On the bilateral side, in the absence of his counterpart, the Austrian Foreign Minister had a meeting with Ato Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, and had a working breakfast with Dr. Tekeda Alemu, State Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister also visited projects supported by Austria in the Amhara Regional State .
During the meeting with the Ethiopian Finance Minister, the two Ministers exchanged views on the impact of the current global economic crisis, particularly on developing countries like Ethiopia . They also discussed the existing partnership between their two countries and they were satisfied that it is moving in the right direction.
During the working breakfast with Dr. Tekeda Alemu, the discussion focused on political and regional matters of common interest. As his country is a non permanent member of the UNSC, the Austrian minister was particularly keen on listening to Ethiopia 's views on regional issues in the Horn of Africa. Accordingly, the State Minister gave him a detailed briefing on the current situation in the region. He briefed him also on current political developments in Ethiopia, particularly about the national effort in building democratic institutions including the prospect for the 2010 elections.
While this was what transpired during the visit, a fictitious news report appeared on various websites quoting from a certain Austrian Times, with a headline " Austria rejects Ethiopia 's calls for more assistance." This strange story was brought to the attention of the visiting Minister during the working breakfast. The Austrian Minister was genuinely surprised for it was clear to both sides that there was no request and no rejection on the issue of development assistance. In this regard, any serious observer would note that development partnership requests do not just pop up at a ministerial meeting as reported in this bogus story. Development partnership is indeed a serious business which requires detailed negotiations at various levels before it is tabled for Ministers for political decision making.
NAM Summit at Sharm El Sheik
The 15th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was held in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt from 11th to 16th July. The Ethiopian delegation to the Summit was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ato Seyoum Mesfin, who also led the Ethiopian delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the movement, which was held before the summit. In a speech distributed to the participants of the Summit, Minister Mesfin expressed his gratitude to the government of the United Arab Republic and his hope that NAM will thrive under the leadership of Egypt, which will chair the Movement for the coming three years.
While pointing out the vital role that NAM has continued to play in promoting global peace, security and stability as well as in realizing its members’ common goals for development and growth, he also took the opportunity to express his deep appreciation to the people and Government of Cuba for raising high the banner of the Movement of the Non-Aligned countries and for enhancing its credibility throughout their leadership of the Movement during the last three years. He also emphasized that a lot more needs to be done, and that the coming years and decades are going to be critical in this regard.
Reflecting on the relevance of the themes of the Summit , Ato Seyoum underscored that the ongoing global economic crisis, apart from the major negative impact it has already had on members’ economies, is bound to continue for some time to come. He also reminded the participants that it would be difficult to say whether the future has great opportunities in store for the prospect of economic development of the developing world.
Speaking of the impact the crisis had on the economies of African countries, Ato Seyoum mentioned the accelerating rise in food prices and the sky-rocketing oil prices as the major hindrance to economic growth and a major burden to the well-being of the peoples of Africa in 2008. He raised the issue of the global economic downturn of 2009 that followed the financial crisis to show how much African economies are indeed fragile. As he put it, Africa is vulnerable, and devastatingly so, to both too high commodity price rises and to the opposite phenomenon, too low commodity prices. While indicating how these economic events have made too obviously manifest the weaknesses and the deficiencies of the neo-liberal paradigm, and the fact that this orthodoxy does not offer a solution to our economic future, he expressed his conviction about the need for a new consensus; not dogma but one that lays the basis for the transformation of countries’ economies. He blamed the vulnerability of Africans on the fact that the continent’s economies have not yet begun to rely on value addition, thus becoming fatally dependent on commodities which cannot offer the bases for sustained economic growth and development, and economic transformation.
While acknowledging the difficulty of reaching a new consensus as a guide for economic development and co-operation, he however pointed out that agreement can be reached on the objectives and goals for international co-operation that allow policy space for each country to devise its own economic means of achieving those goals. He mentioned the MDGs by way of example.
He pointed out the absence, so far, of the necessary policy space in international economic co-operation that would enable developing countries to pursue effectively, and with real international support, economic policies that are independently formulated. He further argued that conditionalities that have so far permeated international economic cooperation have to give way to new approaches consistent with the exigencies of the day. He called upon the Non-Aligned countries to raise their collective voice in this regard and work for the attainment of conditions in international co-operation which are friendly for the transformation of developing countries’ economies without which, he added, the future will indeed be bleak.
This, Ato Seyoum said, should be done along with a collective effort on the issues of climate change and global warming for which the developed and the developing worlds have common, but differentiated responsibilities. While pointing out how little developing countries have in the way of responsibility for the growing danger and for the increase in global warming, he nonetheless emphasized the common responsibility that all countries—developed or developing alike—have for managing this increase. Ato Seyoum also expressed hope that the Movement must play a pro-active role in this and take part in the upcoming Copenhagen meeting on climate change, actively. He further expressed his pleasure with Africa’s decision to participate in that occasion through one delegation which is authorized to articulate the common African position on this vital matter.
Remarking that the Movement has always been associated with advocacy for peace and for friendship and solidarity among peoples and nations, he reminded members of the Movement of their solemn obligation to the scrupulous observance of principles of international law governing inter-state relations. He rightly stated that it would be an illusion to hope for sustainable peace in an environment of economic malaise, hopelessness as well as in the midst of injustice, and underlined the crucial task of finding just solutions to all conflict situations as well as all situations where injustice prevails. Foreign Minister Seyoum went on to emphasize how critical it is that states and governments abide by rules and principles governing civilized behaviour among nations and be ready, in good faith, to take a firm position, as a matter of principle, when states, including some among us, not only fail to comply with, but also violate in a flagrant manner, these rules and principles.
He described the Movement as one based not on the exercise of power, but one that is based on the power of moral persuasion and the credibility it has as a Movement that stands for what is in the interest of humanity in general. He further pointed out that no other entity in the world is comparable to NAM in global reach as a custodian of multilateralism and principles of international law governing friendly relations among nations. Our Movement, Ato Seyoum said, has its plate full in this regard in the following years, and concluded his speech by expressing his confidence in Egypt being at the helm for the next three years.
17th July 2009
§ Eritrea at loggerheads with the Security Council
§ On Somalia
§ Ato Seyoum’s visit to the Middle East
§ The Austrian Foreign Minister’s visit to Ethiopia
§ NAM Summit at Sharm El Sheik
Eritrea at loggerheads with the Security Council
Eritrea is on a head-on collision course with the United Nations Security Council. Unlike in the past, the international community’s patience towards Eritrea ’s belligerent moves has been all but depleted. The lead-up to the Presidential Statement by the Security Council is illustrative of the growing consensus that Eritrea must be penalized. The tone for this debate was set by B. Lynn Pascoe, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs who exposed the brutality of Al Shabab and underscored the importance of heeding the call made by the African Union Summit to support the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) as the legitimate authority in Somalia . Somalia ’s representative also took the opportunity to expose Eritrea ’s key support to extremists and foreign fighters to escalate their attacks against the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia ever more relentlessly. He reminded the Security Council that the African Union Summit had called for the imposing of a no-fly zone and a blockade of seaports to prevent the entry of foreign fighters into Somalia and sanctions against all foreign actors supporting the insurgents within and outside the region, especially Eritrea .
The UK also expressed agreement on the need to heed the request of the African Union for the Security Council to be ready to take action against any individual, entities or Governments shown to be arming or supporting those carrying out such attacks. The United States on its part said that it was particularly concerned about the support that Eritrea was giving Al Shabab. The representative of the Russian Federation on his part remarked that the recent attack by Islamists and other armed groups is another alarming wake-up call, not only for Somalia , but for the region in general and urged the international community to provide support to Somalia . China called on the United Nations to play a more active role and scale up support to the Transitional Government and AMISOM. France expressed concern about the reports that insurgents were being supported by foreign fighters and supplied from Eritrea and that it is prepared to consider sanctions against those undermining the Djibouti process.
It is striking to note that other representatives on the Council did not just leave this critical issue to be dealt only by influential states only. There was a really animated discussion in which literally all members of the Council participated. The representative of Libya, for example, was critical of the international community for its failure to use the golden opportunity to resolve the problem when the new TFG was formed, underscoring that hesitation had encouraged the opposition. He urged the members that the time has come for the Council to take necessary measures to prevent access by the Somali opposition forces to weapons, funds and foreign fighters. Mexico ’s leadership role was exceedingly admirable for its decisiveness. Its representative stressed the need for the Council to discuss the African Union request for the imposition of no-fly zone and a blockade of Somalia seaports to halt the entry of mercenaries and for sanctions against Eritrea for its support for the insurgents. Turkey was another member that spoke unequivocally on the matter. Its representative duly underlined that extremist armed groups and foreign elements are targeting both the Transitional Government and AMISOM with a view to undermining the reconciliation process and bringing about the collapse of the Government. Turkey thus emphasised that these forces should not be allowed to succeed in their destructive designs.
Costa Rica and Austria on their part expressed agreement that the international community must support the Transitional Government and strengthen its capacities, while expressing serious concern about the fighting in and around Mogadishu , especially the influx of foreign fighters and others attempting to overthrow the Government. Japan and Croatia were among the other members to express their strong condemnation of the attacks against the Transitional Government and called for urgent action to be taken to strengthen Somali security institutions, as well as AMISOM. While expressing alarm at outside interference, particularly Eritrea ’s support for insurgents, Croatia also pointed out that the Council already had at its disposal the necessary tools to deal with spoilers of the peace process. Similarly, Burkina Faso, Vietnam and Uganda reiterated their concern about the growing presence of foreign elements in Mogadishu and urged the Security Council to take action against individuals and States opposing the Djibouti Accord, while also calling on the international community at large to extend immediate and vigorous international support to the Transitional Government’s endeavours to repel the onslaught by the extremist forces intent on destroying the Djibouti peace process and spoiling the efforts to bring peace and stability in Somalia through political reconciliation. Uganda further hailed the Djibouti peace process as the best opportunity to achieve lasting peace in Somalia and called on the Council to respond to a call made by the African Union Summit to take urgent measures.
All the speakers also applauded the efforts of Burundi and Uganda in contributing to AMISOM. All speakers underlined the dire humanitarian situation and extreme situation for the civilian population, in particular women and children. What these speeches appear to show is how the Security Council is firmly united in its position regarding what is needed to bring peace to Somalia . The Presidential Statement read at the conclusion of the debate duly expressed this deep concern and promised that it will consider expeditiously what action to take against any party undermining the Djibouti peace process. This seems to demonstrate what direction the Security Council might be headed for in dealing with spoilers like Eritrea.
Eritrea has not disappointed these critics, either. In what has become its diplomatic stock-in-trade, it has come out lashing at the Security Council, even questioning its legitimacy. Apart from the usual invectives, Eritrea had the temerity to speak of international law and charged the Security Council with an attempt to supplant the United Nations Charter. Not only did it claim that the Council had no mandate to support or to recognize the legitimate Government in Somalia , but it also bluntly said that it does not recognize this Government. Apparently, Eritrea’s version of international law has nothing to do with the time-honoured principles that govern normal state-to-state relations. The recent rejection and an outright onslaught against the Security Council should make for a perfect setting for the punitive measures the Security Council is considering to impose on the likes of Eritrea . It also shows that Eritrea is fighting a losing battle since the international community has rejected its acts of destabilization and support to international terrorist elements. There is now a glimmer of hope that this region might very soon start to see the beginning of the end of the international community's appeasement policy towards Eritrea which had allowed Asmara literally to get away with murder. No one should have the illusion that the current regime in Asmara would abandon its strategy of destabilization of the Horn of Africa and drop its attempt to topple the legitimate government of Somalia . It is hoped the Security Council would not allow itself to be mislead by the current Eritrean attempt to be humble and decent, a tactic designed to stop the mounting pressure without changing its policy in earnest.
On Somalia
This week on 14th July two French anti-terrorism experts were kidnapped in Mogadishu from Sahafi Hotel. There are conflicting stories coming from Mogadishu as to who kidnapped the two French nationals. What is certain is that they were kidnapped by a group of gunmen numbering 10-15 who were said to have been attired in Somali government police uniforms. The hotel from which they were snatched is between the presidential palace and the Sea/Air ports in a specific place called Kilometer 4 which is under the control of government militia. AMISOM has also a base and presence in Kilometer 4 close to Hotel Sahafi.
The place where the two French nationals are said to be kept is in or around Peace Hotel, just on the outskirts of the Bakara market which is under Al-Shabab control. This has given rise to the assumption that some groups not really part of Al-Shabab but probably its allies did the kidnapping for ransom or other purposes while pretending to be within the government.
There are also indications that the kidnappers could be members of Hizbul Islam looking for money in exchange. There are rumours of tensions between Al-Shabab and Hizbul Islam over the fate of the French nationals. According to information from Mogadishu , Al-Shabab is demanding that the French nationals be handed over to it. That, of course, would be the worst case scenario since Al Shabab’s track record in this regard is far from reassuring. It would be foolhardy to assume that only a ransom could be of that much interest to Al-Shabab, connected as it is to Al-Qaeda.
If, on the other hand, the French nationals are in the hands of Hizbul Islam, one would wonder what role the Eritrean government could have since, after all, there is a strong cooperation between president Issayas Aferworki and Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys on what they call jihad in Somalia. It is to be recalled that Aweys told Reuters on 22nd May 2009 that Eritrea fully supports the fight against the Government in what he called a holy war.
Meanwhile, Al-Shabab announced this week on 14th July that it did form an Islamic administration in Welweyen and its environs in line with its extremist interpretation of Islam. The area which is 90-100 kms from Mogadishu is indeed strategic as it links Lower and Middle Shaballe as well as Bay region. However, one thing continues to be clear, and, in fact far clearer by the day - Al-Shabab has no popular base and can count on no wide support within Somalia. The barbaric chopping off of the limbs of Somali youngsters is not going to make them popular in the country. But they still can count on outside support. This is what the people of Somalia want to see stopped.
Ato Seyoum’s visit to the Middle East
A high level Government Delegation led by Ato Seyoum Mesfin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, made an official visit to the State of Palestine and the State of Israel from 11th to 13th July. On the first leg of the visit, Ato Seyoum met with senior officials of the Palestinian National Authority including president Mahamoud Abbas, Prime Minister Dr. Salaam Fayed, and with his counterpart, Dr. Riyad Almaliki. Minister Seyoum Mesfin held discussions with the senior officials on bilateral and regional issues of common concern. During his visit, Ato Seyoum Mesfin signed a cooperation agreement on political and economic matters as well as in the areas of trade, culture, youth and sports, and parliamentary consultations. He also laid a wreath of flowers on the grave of the late Yasser Arafat. The visit was concluded to the satisfaction of both parties.
On the second leg of his official visit to the State of Israel Ato Seyoum Mesfin met with His Excellency Mr. Shimon Peres, President of the State of Israel, and Mr. Avigdor Lieberman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. During his meeting with his Israeli counterpart, he held discussions on issues of bilateral concern particularly on trade and investment and on how to promote the partnership between the private sectors of the two countries. He also met with Mr. Silvan Shalom, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development for Negev region. Before concluding his visit, Ato Seyoum had the opportunity to lay a wreath of flowers on the Holocaust Memorial Center. The meetings with both sides were both successful and conducted in a cordial atmosphere.
The Austrian Foreign Minister’s visit to Ethiopia
The Austrian Foreign Minister, H.E. Dr. Michael Spindelegger, was in Addis Ababa from 14th to 16th July. He had the opportunity to meet Ethiopian as well as African Union officials. His presence in Addis was for both bilateral and multilateral reasons.
His counterpart, Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin, was not in Addis, having left earlier for visits to Israel and the Palestine Authority to be followed by a trip to Sharm El Shiek to take part in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) meeting of Foreign Ministers. On the bilateral side, in the absence of his counterpart, the Austrian Foreign Minister had a meeting with Ato Sufian Ahmed, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, and had a working breakfast with Dr. Tekeda Alemu, State Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister also visited projects supported by Austria in the Amhara Regional State .
During the meeting with the Ethiopian Finance Minister, the two Ministers exchanged views on the impact of the current global economic crisis, particularly on developing countries like Ethiopia . They also discussed the existing partnership between their two countries and they were satisfied that it is moving in the right direction.
During the working breakfast with Dr. Tekeda Alemu, the discussion focused on political and regional matters of common interest. As his country is a non permanent member of the UNSC, the Austrian minister was particularly keen on listening to Ethiopia 's views on regional issues in the Horn of Africa. Accordingly, the State Minister gave him a detailed briefing on the current situation in the region. He briefed him also on current political developments in Ethiopia, particularly about the national effort in building democratic institutions including the prospect for the 2010 elections.
While this was what transpired during the visit, a fictitious news report appeared on various websites quoting from a certain Austrian Times, with a headline " Austria rejects Ethiopia 's calls for more assistance." This strange story was brought to the attention of the visiting Minister during the working breakfast. The Austrian Minister was genuinely surprised for it was clear to both sides that there was no request and no rejection on the issue of development assistance. In this regard, any serious observer would note that development partnership requests do not just pop up at a ministerial meeting as reported in this bogus story. Development partnership is indeed a serious business which requires detailed negotiations at various levels before it is tabled for Ministers for political decision making.
NAM Summit at Sharm El Sheik
The 15th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was held in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt from 11th to 16th July. The Ethiopian delegation to the Summit was represented by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ato Seyoum Mesfin, who also led the Ethiopian delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the movement, which was held before the summit. In a speech distributed to the participants of the Summit, Minister Mesfin expressed his gratitude to the government of the United Arab Republic and his hope that NAM will thrive under the leadership of Egypt, which will chair the Movement for the coming three years.
While pointing out the vital role that NAM has continued to play in promoting global peace, security and stability as well as in realizing its members’ common goals for development and growth, he also took the opportunity to express his deep appreciation to the people and Government of Cuba for raising high the banner of the Movement of the Non-Aligned countries and for enhancing its credibility throughout their leadership of the Movement during the last three years. He also emphasized that a lot more needs to be done, and that the coming years and decades are going to be critical in this regard.
Reflecting on the relevance of the themes of the Summit , Ato Seyoum underscored that the ongoing global economic crisis, apart from the major negative impact it has already had on members’ economies, is bound to continue for some time to come. He also reminded the participants that it would be difficult to say whether the future has great opportunities in store for the prospect of economic development of the developing world.
Speaking of the impact the crisis had on the economies of African countries, Ato Seyoum mentioned the accelerating rise in food prices and the sky-rocketing oil prices as the major hindrance to economic growth and a major burden to the well-being of the peoples of Africa in 2008. He raised the issue of the global economic downturn of 2009 that followed the financial crisis to show how much African economies are indeed fragile. As he put it, Africa is vulnerable, and devastatingly so, to both too high commodity price rises and to the opposite phenomenon, too low commodity prices. While indicating how these economic events have made too obviously manifest the weaknesses and the deficiencies of the neo-liberal paradigm, and the fact that this orthodoxy does not offer a solution to our economic future, he expressed his conviction about the need for a new consensus; not dogma but one that lays the basis for the transformation of countries’ economies. He blamed the vulnerability of Africans on the fact that the continent’s economies have not yet begun to rely on value addition, thus becoming fatally dependent on commodities which cannot offer the bases for sustained economic growth and development, and economic transformation.
While acknowledging the difficulty of reaching a new consensus as a guide for economic development and co-operation, he however pointed out that agreement can be reached on the objectives and goals for international co-operation that allow policy space for each country to devise its own economic means of achieving those goals. He mentioned the MDGs by way of example.
He pointed out the absence, so far, of the necessary policy space in international economic co-operation that would enable developing countries to pursue effectively, and with real international support, economic policies that are independently formulated. He further argued that conditionalities that have so far permeated international economic cooperation have to give way to new approaches consistent with the exigencies of the day. He called upon the Non-Aligned countries to raise their collective voice in this regard and work for the attainment of conditions in international co-operation which are friendly for the transformation of developing countries’ economies without which, he added, the future will indeed be bleak.
This, Ato Seyoum said, should be done along with a collective effort on the issues of climate change and global warming for which the developed and the developing worlds have common, but differentiated responsibilities. While pointing out how little developing countries have in the way of responsibility for the growing danger and for the increase in global warming, he nonetheless emphasized the common responsibility that all countries—developed or developing alike—have for managing this increase. Ato Seyoum also expressed hope that the Movement must play a pro-active role in this and take part in the upcoming Copenhagen meeting on climate change, actively. He further expressed his pleasure with Africa’s decision to participate in that occasion through one delegation which is authorized to articulate the common African position on this vital matter.
Remarking that the Movement has always been associated with advocacy for peace and for friendship and solidarity among peoples and nations, he reminded members of the Movement of their solemn obligation to the scrupulous observance of principles of international law governing inter-state relations. He rightly stated that it would be an illusion to hope for sustainable peace in an environment of economic malaise, hopelessness as well as in the midst of injustice, and underlined the crucial task of finding just solutions to all conflict situations as well as all situations where injustice prevails. Foreign Minister Seyoum went on to emphasize how critical it is that states and governments abide by rules and principles governing civilized behaviour among nations and be ready, in good faith, to take a firm position, as a matter of principle, when states, including some among us, not only fail to comply with, but also violate in a flagrant manner, these rules and principles.
He described the Movement as one based not on the exercise of power, but one that is based on the power of moral persuasion and the credibility it has as a Movement that stands for what is in the interest of humanity in general. He further pointed out that no other entity in the world is comparable to NAM in global reach as a custodian of multilateralism and principles of international law governing friendly relations among nations. Our Movement, Ato Seyoum said, has its plate full in this regard in the following years, and concluded his speech by expressing his confidence in Egypt being at the helm for the next three years.
