It is two decades since Somalia descended into anarchy that has seen the Horn of Africa country in a protracted war. While the violence has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions, the biggest price many believe is the impact the civil war has had on Somalia's youth. - Any child in the world will want to follow the footsteps of the most influential in society. For Abdirahman Shariff Mohamed, a Somali songwriter, growing up in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, meant that all his dreams were focused on becoming part of the gun-totting militia who were considered powerful in his surroundings. Abdirahman, 25, was four years old when the government of Mohamed Siad Barre was top…

In a desperate attempt to mitigate the effects of a severe drought, aid organizations in the East Africa's largest economy, Kenya, are doing all what they can to ensure, that live and livelihoods are not lost as the country face a severe drought. On the front line of the efforts to mitigate the effects of the severe drought is the Kenya Red Cross Society. - The Society has recently launched a livestock destocking and water trucking program in the arid districts of Marsabit and Moyale. A delegation led by the Kenya Red Cross Head of Disaster Management, Abdikadir Othowai, visited a number of drought-stricken villages. The news that the society will undertake a destocking program be…

As severe drought bite across the Northern Kenya region, an appeal by humanitarian organizations and MPs from the region to declare the drought a national disaster have fallen on deaf ears. Even as Kenyans sleep hungry, schools are closed and families disrupted, the government remains defiant. - In the pastoral village of Gari in Mandera County, hit by a severe drought, hungry thirsty residents are hoping the clear skies would open up to give them a lifeline - water. “There is no food to eat; our earthly wealth (livestock) will be wiped out of the surface of the earth if things go on the way they are. We pray to the Almighty for things to change because for Him all is possib…

As a severe drought bites across the Northern Kenya region; livestock traders say, the severe effects of the drought are almost forcing them out of business. A visit to the main livestock market in the border town of Mandera, paints the image of troubled middlemen, caught between a rock and hard place. - “One side are the sellers (livestock herders) and on the other buyers (livestock traders). The sellers want their livestock sold for a higher price and the traders want to capitalize on the drought to buy herds, it is hectic,” a distraught middleman, Noor Muhumed, told AfricaNews. Ordinarily, trading in the market is very fast process where a middleman cut the deal between th…

In Northern Kenya, the effects of a severe drought have not only led to the acute shortage of food and water, but also the drought has seen the closure of schools. Thousands of school children have now dropped out of school and have joined their parent in search of food and water. - A lush wind blows over the roof tops of makeshift dormitories of the Burgabo Primary School; a perimeter fence made of barbed wire surrounds the compound giving the compound, the resemblance of an animal orphanage. Inside the compound children are seen playing perhaps to cut a long day in the dry North short, the faces of the emaciated children paints that of a disaster in the making. As a severe drough…

The UN Security Council has recommended an additional 4000 African Union troops to bolster the African Union Mission in Somalia which is backing the weak Transitional Federal Government that is fighting radical groups. - The Security Council on Thursday called for a 50 per cent increase to 12,000 troops in the United Nations-backed African Union (AU) peacekeeping force in the war torn horn of Africa country. In a unanimous resolution authorizing deployment of the AU mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until 30 September 2011, the 15-member body called on Member States and international organizations to contribute funds and equipment “generously and promptly” to enable the force to fu…

- The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni has gone in to record to become the first foreign head of state to visit the volatile Somalia Mogadishu nearly two decades since Somalia plunged in to civil war. A statements from Somalia Presidential palace Villa Somalia indicated that the Ugandan President paid a working visit to Mogadishu and met with the President of Somalia’s transitional Federal government, Sheikh Sharriff Ahmed and other key government officials including the speaker of the Somali parlairment Shariff Hassan , Prime Minister Mohamed Abdulahi . President Sharif thanked H.E. President Museveni for the historic visit which was the first by a head of state in close to…

Minority Rights Group International said in a new report that minorities in war torn Somalia are subjected to summary executions, reported beheadings and rape. - The report, Nor redress: Somalia forgotten minorities documents the suffering of minorities in Somalia which is said to be worse than that of other groups owing to lack of protection. According to the report, majority clans are segregating discriminating and abusing Somali minorities. The majority clans are excluding the minorities including, Bantu and Gaboye from any political, social and economic arrangements, denying them access to justice, notes the report. In a press briefing in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi the executive …

- A rights campaign group has decried the treatment of minorities in war torn Somalia. Minority Rights Group International says in a new report that minorities in war torn Somalia are subjected to summary executions, reported beheadings and rape. The report, Nor redress:Somalia forgotten minoritiesb documents the suffering of minorities in Somalia which is said to be worse than that of other groups owing to lack of protection. According to the report, majority clans are segregating discriminating and abusing Somali minorities. The majority clans are excluding the minorities including ,Bantu and Gaboye from any political, social and economic arrangements ,denying them access to justice ,…

- A Muslim human rights watchdog in Kenya has defended the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights against call made by the country’s suspended Highier Education Minister, William Ruto who claims the commission bribed, and coached witness to implicate him in 2007 post election violence. In a new twist of events, the Muslim Human Rights watchdog yesterday claimed the two of the witnesses William Kipkembi Ron and Ken Wekesa are angry that they were dropped as witnesses since their evidences was found not to be relevant by the ICC investigations. “ since their evidence was found useless by the ICC , the duo crossed over to the side where they hoped someone will find them…

In what seem to be an apparent battle to salvage the shading light of a falling star; Somalia newly appointed Prime Minister Mohamed Farmajo has unveiled a lean cabinet of only 18 ministers compared to the previous bloated cabinet of 39 ministers. - Farmajo unveiled his cabinet on Friday nearly a month after he was appointed to head the Somalia’s western backed transitional Federal government which is fighting al-Shabab, an al-Qaeda-inspired group seeking to take power. "The Somali people and the international community were waiting for a competent and credible Somali cabinet, and I am happy to appoint this lean but capable cabinet," he said in a press statement. Shari…

The United Nations is committed to nurture the development of State institutions and restore stability in war torn Somalia, UN Chief Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council on Thursday. He said the UN will move closer to the people of Somalia. - The United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) and the world body’s Country Team will focus on strengthening the capacities of Somali ministries, in addition to meeting with committees dealing with security arrangements and reconciliation, Ki-moon said. “In each of these areas, the United Nations will continue its ‘light footprint’ approach in order to be closer to the Somali people and authorities,” he added.…

A UN diplomat has called for international partners to aid in the advancement of peace, stability and reconciliation in war torn Somalia. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga noted it will take a level of support like it is been done for other nations for Somalia to survive. - “We have all seen how the international community has rallied behind the Governments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Somalia is no exception; it requires similar massive interventions,” he said. Addressing a meeting in Madrid of the International Contact Group for Somalia, Mahiga stressed that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the international communi…

Three top officials from three African nations have called for the continent to have a permanent representative in the UN Security Council, saying it was a mockery that the region that comprises so much of the body's work does not have a permanent place. - South Africa’s Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane told the General Assembly’s annual general debate that a transformation of the United Nations will not be complete until there is a “fundamental reform” of the Council, which currently has 15 members. The Council must be “truly representative of the membership and effectively responsive to international crises as mandated by the Charter of the UN,…

- The African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)whose forces have been accused of deliberate shelling of civilians in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday announced the launch of two new humanitarian aid initiatives which it say is aimed at easing the humanitarian situation in Somalia. In a press briefing in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission for Somalia, Wafula Wamunyinyi said the first program will begin on Saturday. It will involve the provision of medical supplies and clothing to an estimated 1300 Somalis taking refuge around AMISOM camps in Mogadishu. With the help of donors, the peacekeeping mission has gathered…

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on war-torn Somalia's transitional authorities to end internal squabbles that are hampering key tasks. He urged the international community to provide the military and financial aid needed to counter extremist forces. - “It is important that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) develop credible government structures to deliver services to its people,” Ki-moon said in a report to the Security Council. “In order to support the Transitional Federal Government in addressing some of its most daunting challenges, notably extending its authority and combating the threat of extremism, I appeal to the international communi…

An escalating political dispute between the Somali President, Sheikh Sharrif Ahmed and his Prime Minister, Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke is threatening to kill the spirit of Somalia's weak transitional federal government. PM, Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke and the Speaker of the Somali parliament, Sharrif Hassan had high level discussions with western diplomats and officials from the UN in Nairobi. - Sources said the two leaders were in Nairobi to mobilize support to convince Sharrif to accept the decision to ratify a new constitution that is the main bone of contention in the latest difference between the two. The Somali Prime Minister hosted Somali MPs in dinner at the Hilton hotel in Nair…

The UN Security Council has debated several option put forward by UN Chief, Ban Ki-moon to bolster the process of prosecuting suspected pirates and curbing piracy along the Somali coastal lines. - Ki-moon commended the efforts undertaken so far to combat piracy on the coast of Somalia. He stressed that more can be done to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. “Over the past three years, the international community has made concerted efforts to combat the problem, including by establishing a Contact Group and deploying significant naval assets to the region,” he said. “Nonetheless, we can do more,” he added. “In particular, we need to implement…

- More than 2 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in war torn Somalia, according to a UN report published yesterday. The report by the Nairobi –based Food Security and Analysis unit of UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), however says statistics collected in the past six month’s show that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has reduced by 25 percent. But the report warns though Somalia received above average rains boosting food production and livestock farming, the gains can easily be reversed with the outlook for next rainy season poor. “The current situation indicates an improvement but with 27 perce…

A Kenyan diplomat has been appointed to head the new UN office to the African Union which was established earlier this year to strengthen ties between the two organizations. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed experienced Kenyan diplomat Zachary Mburi Muita as the first head of the United Nation office to the African Union. - Prior to his appointment, the diplomat served as Kenya’s permanent representative to the UN in New York since 2006, he also served in diplomatic, military and managerial roles for the country since 1982. He will now be in charge of building stronger UN ties with the AU and sub regional organizations, according to information released by UN spokesperson.…

- The self declared republic of Somaliland is willing to send troops to war torn Somalia if the Africa Union recognizes it as sovereign country, honoury counsel of the breakaway Somali region to Kenya Mohamed Abdi said. Mohamed said the recognition of Somaliland will enable the world to deal with actions of the Islamist extremism that has taken roots in southern Somalia. Speaking to AfricaNews on the sidelines of a celebration to mark the recent successful elections in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi the counsel said Somaliland is willing to be part of the African mission in Somalia but will only do so if it recognized as a sovereign nation. “As a Muslim country we are willing t…

- A storm is brewing in Kenya after the Speaker of the parliament, Kenneth Marende instructed Finance Minister, Uhuru Kenyatta to table two bills that will legalize the increment of MPs perks or face the house to explain why he should not do so. The show down is between parliament and the executive after MPs adopted a proposal to increase their perks earlier this month making some of the world best paid politicians. MPs have accused Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta pf using the issue to kick start his campaign for the presidency in 2010 saying the minister has been making statement to draw public support for his bid. The move by the MPs to have their salaries increased has drawn…

Three presidential guards at the Somalia presidential palace joined radical Islamist group Al-Shabab, a senior official in government confirmed. Head of the guards Abdullahi Ali said they were permitted to visit their families but later decided to join the Islamist militia. - Al-Shabab has over the last three days engaged government forces in fierce battle as they advance to strategic points at the presidential palace. They paraded the three converted guards who claim they joined the insurgents to fight African Mission troops in Somalia. There is growing fear across the horn of Africa as the news broke to the public. Security analysts warned that danger looms if trusted guards harbor…

- Kenyan workers union opposed to a 500 percent increment of charges by the National Hospital Insurance Fund. The Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) in Kenya stated on Wednesday that it is opposed to the proposed new charges by the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). COTU Secretary General, Francis Atwoli said the union was opposed to the charges in principal. He clarified that contrary to a perception created over it stand on the proposed new charges by the National Hospital Insurance Fund, the workers union is in principal opposed to the new charges. Atwoli accused the management of NHIF for failing to inform the workers about the proposed changes while in fact…

- Somalia Ambassador to Kenya : Police are profiling Somali national as criminals. By ABDILATIF MAALIM. The Somali embassy in Nairobi says it has secured the release of 32 Somali nationals who were among the 102 arrested following a police swoop in Eastleigh last week. Somali Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur said his office will push for the release of those who are still behind bars. Ali Nur said the arrest of the Somali nationals was done in bad faith to criminalize innocent people who were living peacefully in the estate. He confirmed the release of the 32 individuals which he said was secured after a along struggle by the embassy. He said the embassy has consulted offici…

- Somali President Sheikh Shariff Ahmed has condemned the twin blast that claimed the lives of at least 75 people in the Ugandan capital Kampala. Speaking to reporters in the Somali capital Mogadishu the President said it was unfortunate that the radical group Al-Shababis making life difficult for Somalis who have been displaced and are now living in foreign countries. He said the actions by Al-Shabab are likely to bring problems by Somalia who are being hosted by countries like Uganda. The president also condemned the militant group AL-Shabab for targeting African Mission peace keeping force in Somalia. “Any attack against the peace keepers is an obstacle to lasting peace in Soma…

- Kenya will strengthen it ties on bio-diesel production technology and agricultural sector with Brazil. Speaking along side visiting Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, President Kibaki said Kenya was keen on making use of the advances made by Brazil in the area of bio-diesel technology. President Kibaki said closer cooperation with Brazil will put Kenya in a position of seeking efficient ways of managing the energy sector. Kibaki said Brazil can contribute to the transfer of technology mainly in the agriculture sector. He said the fact Brazil is leading nation in the production of bio-diesel make them an ideal partner. Brazil is the leading world ethanol exporter. “Brazil i…

An emergency meeting of leaders from the Inter-Government Authority on Regional Development (IGAD) bringing together six East African countries has recommended that an additional 20,000 peacekeeping force should be sent to Somalia. The regional bloc recommended that the UN and the AU should send extra troops to Somalia to salvage the chance of peace. - The regional leaders also agreed to send 2000 troops to complete the 8000 troops the African Union promised to send to Somalia in 2008. Leaders from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Djibuti and Somalia said the situation in that country is very dangerous and delicate and that could see the weak western backed transitional federal government…

The electoral commission in Kenya has sound an alarm it has no money to mount the August 4 referendum where Kenyans are to vote whether to take on a newly written Constitution. The electoral body told members of the parliamentary select committee on constitutional review that the two billion shillings ($25m) allocated to the commission is not enough to fully finance the expenditure of the country's referendum on the draft constitution. - The Chairman of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), Ahmed Issack said the commission requested shs4.6 billion and got only 2.6 billion in the treasury budget. Part of the 2.6 billion is now being spent on to respond to unexpected n…

Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki has called for a crisis cabinet meeting to discuss the latest move by MPs to increase their salary. An endorsement of a proposal by Members of Parliament to double their allowances and increase their salaries has led to a public outcry. - Civil society organization and the media have criticized the approval. A special cabinet meeting is set for Tuesday this week to address a growing fear that angry parliamentarians might be planning to paralyze government business after Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta declined to table necessary bills that would have made the MPs proposed perks legal. MPs are yet to approve the 2010/11 budget but passed the recommendati…

- Kenya Interim Independent Electoral Commission has announced that it will undertake a process to register all prisoners as voters for the forthcoming August 4th referendum Making the announcement in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, IIEC Chairman, Ahmed Issack said the electoral body will register prisoners as voters for the referendum on the proposed constitution as from July 2nd. He allayed fears that the referendum process will be postponed as result of the court ruling which gave Kenya’s prisoners a right to vote for the first time in the country history. Chairman Ahmed Isaack Hassan allayed fears that the August 4 vote could be delayed over logistical concerns regarding…

- Kenya Broadcasting Coorporation Chief suspended over corruption The Managing Director of state run KenyaBroadcasting coorporation has been suspended over corruption that made the government lost a opportunity to recover shs75million its spent to buy broadcasting rights in the ongoing FIFA World cup. David waweru and the Company's scereatary were suspended on Wednessday to pave way for investigations. Editor-in-Chief Waithaka Waihenya has taken over as acting MD. Kenya's Information and Communication PS Bitange Ndemo , said KBC had been given Sh75 million to buy the World Cup rights and was expected to recover the money through advertising. oard Chairman Charl…

- By ABDILATIF MAALIM. A global human right body has accused the Kenya police along the Somali border of abusing Somali asylum seekers and refugees. In a report titled ‘Welcome to Kenya’ Police Abuse of Somali Refugees’ Human Right Watch called on the Kenyan government to immediately rein it abusive police force. The right body interviewed over 100 refugees in the report which indicate that Kenya police of widespread extortion of asylum seekers trying to reach the three camps near the Kenyan town of Dadaab. The report accuses the police along the border of use of violence arbitrary arrest ,unlawful detention in inhuman and degrading conditions , threats of…

At least five people are said to have been killed on Sunday after a grenade attack hit a packed park in Nairobi where politicians and religious leaders opposed to Kenya's draft constitution were holding a rally. Five more are said to be in critical condition. The blast also injured more than 70 who are undertaking treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital. - According to local media, the attack happened after the main rally was over. It said that the blast occurred as a pastor was offering prayer after 6 pm local time. Reports say many of the injuries were as a result of a stampede. It is the first time a rally to drum to support for or against the draft constitution was targeted. …

Four ministers in Somalia's weak transitional federal government have resigned. Among those who resigned include Somalia Defence Minister, Yussuf Mohamed Siyad who was a key ally of President Sheikh Shariff. He cited lack of progress in the government as his Key reason for his resignation. - Yussuf said the government had failed in its duty to restore order in the country and therefore he had no otherwise but to resign. His resignation is seen as a major blow to the governments fight against Islamist Militants in the capital, Mogadishu. "Everyone has to evaluate himself before others judge his failure, and that is what I did before resigning," Siad told Reuters news agency…

Kenya's Muslim populations will support the draft constitution and will vote yes in the forthcoming referendum. The Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims, Aden Wachu said no chapter of the draft constitution violates the teaching of Islam and so their support for the draft constitution is justifiable. - According to Aden Wachu the decision to support the draft constitution has been reached after widespread consultations among the Muslim community and urged the clergy to reconsider their position on their stand against the proposed constitution. The decision took long to be made after some Muslim MPs openly expressed their opposition to the proposed constitution. …

The Ugandan government has vowed not to withdraw its peacekeeping troops from Somalia until it is assured that the government of Somalia is able to take full control of the capital Mogadishu. Uganda said it will only withdraw its peacekeepers until the government defeats Islamist militias Hizbul Islam and Al Shabaab. - An army general of the Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF) Brigadier Charles Angina said UPDF forces will stay as long as there is a civilian war in Somalia. He said Ugandan forces will stay in Somalia until there is lasting peace in the Horn of Africa nation. The General was speaking in a fundraiser for Ugandan army personnel in Somalia in Kampala where $20 millio…

Ministers allied to Kenya's Premier Raila Odinga announced that they will boycott cabinet meetings until the latest dispute over who between the President and the Premier has the right to fire or suspend is sorted out. Both parties of the grand coalition were holding discussions in secret hotels since Monday. - On Tuesday a spokesman for the Orange Democratic Movement said the party will not withdraw from the coalition but will wait for the return of Chief Mediator Kofi Annan. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga clashed after the President nullified a decision by the Prime Minster to suspend two Cabinet Ministers who were mentioned in corruption scandals that have led t…

The Somali embassy in Kenya has confirmed the arrest of 12 Somali Members of Parliament who are among about 400 people arrested in a police swoop in Eastleigh estate in the capital Nairobi on Sunday. Also arrested include two army generals and several directors of government agencies in Somalia. - He said the Somali embassy was shocked to see innocent people who are diplomats arrested in a search that was to bring terrorist to book. “As a government we are puzzled by the arrest in Eastleigh that did not respect top diplomats and officials without any evidence to link them to terrorism,” said Mohamed Ali. According to the counsel, Somali government officials were attending…

An annular solar eclipse would be experienced in some parts of Africa and Asia on Friday, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Several Kenyan towns would embrace the natural phenomenon which last occurred in October 2005 between four and eight minutes at 8.30am local time. - Parts of Kenya will be engulfed in partial darkness as a result of the eclipse and they include Busia, Mumias, Kakamega, Mogotio, Kiganjo and Embu. Other towns on the eclipse path include Nairobi, Meru, Nyeri, Eldoret, Kericho, Kisii, Garissa and Lamu. Other parts of Africa to witness the event would be Chad, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Somalia, …