A Somali journalist in the camp complained 4 years of no development and frustration.

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) would like to make public and focus the current livelihoods on Somali exiled journalists in greater horn of Africa and in the world.

I did not gaining any thing for this long period, just frustration said reporter Omar Abukar Ahmed known as “Gaardi” who was also worked for radio Galgacyo based in Mudug region of Puntland. He continued and said UNHCR has assisted me only a ration card which I don’t even benefit as I am single (because I am given a food that is not enough for single person but may be good as family) and kept me here in Kakuma refugee camp where I lost even my previous knowledge and thinking.

I am 25, male, dreaming to learn more in my field and work hard to contribute to the world for peace and living together in harmony, but how the phenomenon is showing I will lose more years here in the camp as I am not different from a growing monkey and should I don’t get assistance for my future there will be a time that I will not be able to learn anything or contribute any thing and finally die.

SOJRA hopes UNHCR will change its position of media people losing their future in the camps and thinking develops modalities supporting young talented in the camp.

SOJRA Information Desk

A Somali journalist family house in Galkacyo town were raided.

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) concerns over the armed group who were in search of the Somali journalist, Mr Mohamed Ali Said known as (ASPARO) frequently raided his family’s house in Galkacyo.

His father has finally asked the armed group about their intention (search) over his son, but they replied that it is not his business and continued asking whereabouts of the journalist who in fact was not in the town.

This has increased panic to the family of the journalist who were aware about the Islamist hostility over their son. This is the second attempt by Islamist to assassinate the journalist.

In June, 2008, an armed group attacked the journalist and his wife’s house in Mogadishu causing injury to the wife. The journalist then flees to Kenya, Nairobi.

There has been continuous attack against the Somali journalist in their offices and houses and only last year 9 Somali journalist were killed and thirty others were injured, tortured and arrested by Islamists and government officials.

Two nights ago a well known Somali journalist were kidnapped from his house in Mogadishu and then shot dead just 10 Meters away from his house.

Mohamed Ali Said was working radio Galkacyo from 1993 – 2009 as news producer/reporter.

He was among a group of Somali young people who were advocating the release of the British couple kidnapped in Somali by the pirates. Hence, the journalist believes that pirates are behind the recent raids against him and his family.

Online news.

SOJRA Information Desk

(AFP) – 2 days ago

NAIROBI — Fourteen Somali journalists exiled in Kenya said Thursday they are receiving repeated death threats from the hardline Somali Islamist group, the Shebab.

The journalists spent Wednesday night camped outside the headquarters of the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) in Nairobi to publicise their plight.

The threats take the form of phone calls, emails and text messages, some of the journalists said.

Daud Abdi Daud told how a Shebab official threatened him on the phone with the words: "we're holding the blade that will kill you. We haven't sharpened it yet because we're waiting for you".

Ubah Abdi Nur, another Somali journalist, said she does not feel safe in Nairobi.

"I received calls from a Shebab official. I can't give his name. I'm still not in safety. I've been accused of mixing with people in Nairobi who condemn what the Shebab are doing in Somalia," she said.

Ibrahim Mohamed Hussein, the former head of Somalia's television channel Universal said he had received death threats.

"A call coming from Somalia said I wasn't far away from the Shebab and added 'You will be severely punished'," he said.

The hardliners, which have vowed to overthrow the internationally-supported transitional government, control vast swathes of Somalia, where nine journalists were killed in 2009 alone.

"We left Somalia for fear of being killed and it's unfortunate to see this harassment continuing now that we have found refuge in a neighbouring country," said another journalist, asking not to be named.

Another said her family had been receiving "worrying" messages and that since they started she moves around to sleep in different places.

On Tuesday, a journalist working for Radio Mogadishu, Sheikh Nur Abkey, was shot dead and his mutilated body dumped in a street in the Somali capital.

Somalia has not had a functioning government for nearly 20 years

Source AFP

Prominent Somali Journalist Shot dead in Mogadishu tonight

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) would like to announce the death of the first Somali journalist in this year 2010.

A journalist Sheikh Nur Abkey, who worked for radio Mogadishu, was shot dead in Wardhigley district tonight at around 8:00 PM and no one knows who behind his killing until now and SOJRA will make fellow up the situation over the oncoming hours and will do official statement tomorrow.

This killing of Sheikh Nur Abkey is underlining that this year will be same like the last three years.

“Desperate Pleading for help”

Somali Journalists Faced Climate of fear with neglecting.

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) concerns the desperate pleading for help from the prominent and well respected Somali journalist who is currently in exile in Athens, the capital of Greece.

A journalist Mohamud Mohamed Hallane, who is well known in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia and in lower Shabelle region contacted SOJRA on Thursday April 29^th, 2010 and requested for help while he faced an unkind condition during his dash for freedom. He worked for V.O.A radio (Voice of America), at the section on Somali service and Hornafric radio as well as recently he was the managing director of radio Hornafric in Merca the capital of lower Shabelle region.

"After two weeks in the water we started to be weak and we couldn’t call for help and for instance,   I was over collapsed as result with the help of Greek Ship and by the time they reached us they was immediately referred to the government so as to get medicine and food although few people of us are dehydrated and almost starving” Said Mohamud Mohamed Hallane.

He also said, I fled in my country and came here in Athens, Greece because I was not safe in Somalia, more journalists I knew died, some others wounded while another forced to flee because of their profession of journalism so that is why I fled in my work and my family and in fact I have no other option.

Obviously, Somalia journalists managed to escape while fearing for their lives after having received death threats from militias and extremist organizations using armed youngsters. Add some others managed to leave only after being injured in targeted attacks by the Islamist militias in the endless violence and insecurity in Somalia.

 http://www.sojra.org/Desperate_pleading_for_help.html 

“I’m now in a hospital in Athens, Greece and I don’t know how I will manage my self because of lacking finance so I need for help” Hallane added

However, the Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) is kindly requesting all exiled Somali journalists in Europe, U.S.A, Canada and Australia to make sure the safety of their colleague domestically and carry out the first emergency support.

Finally, SOJRA calls for the international media supporters to take immediate action and help this helpless journalist who is in a climate of trouble with melancholy.

Notice: If you need to contact and help the journalist SOJRA will do appreciate for your generous support and share with you his mobile number and email so don’t hesitate to let us know through this email: advocacy*sojra.org .

Your collaborations and assistances are as always much appreciated.

Many thanks and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

How will Africa Move to Green Revolution and Feed Scientists Tactics?

Africa faced many challenges which are unresolved currently such as the climate change, poverty, droughts and the lack of peace in few countries. In addition to that Africa is still suffering the reflections on the above mentioned dilemma and needs desperately to make rid off but her weak activities attracted the well-wishers attention globally.

Indeed, the above stated predicaments were also caused death displacement and reduce the food production in Africa widely. The population growth in Africa is also an additional obstacle against the continental development and her hope to green revolution.

In general, Africa hopes to move in green revolution although there is a few countries which are not able to take part the ongoing efforts and negotiations. Indeed there is a widespread activity from African society and their leaders as well as the developed countries in order to make sure the green revolution in Africa.

Besides, there is a media strengthening towards the green revolution in Africa although there is a little bit of misunderstanding among all the above mentioned groups.

But wait, there’s’ more. the Media21Geneva which is a network of the global media along with journalists and based in Geneva, Switzerland organized a workshop for the food security and climate issues in Africa on 12^th to 16^th April, 2010 with field trip April 5-11 in Kenya and participated by 38 journalists from whole Africa and few journalists from outside Africa and supported by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Bio-vision a Swiss-based foundation for the promotion of sustainable development and African Insect Science for Food and Health (ICIPE, Nairobi).

The field trip was really tremendous field trip and absolutely fantastic. At least, 28 journalists were profited that field trip and they was also acknowledged the forgotten and neglected activities on the ground and from the African community, local NGOs and international NGOs in the continent.

These journalists were visited three districts in Kenya and few projects of Bio-vision and ICIPE as well as the fishers at the greater lake in Africa namely “Lake-Victoria”. They were interviewed the people they met and the society of the above named districts was absolutely courageous, well organized and well-open-minded.

During, their tour of duty, Dr. Zeyaur Khan who is ICIPE scientist was accompanied and explained the current and past problems against the farms and farming process in Africa generally. The most enlightening system which is new in Africa was “push-pull technology” and this system is useful to the farming and where there is a poor agricultural concert.

The push–pull technology is a strategy for controlling agricultural pests by using repellent "push" plants and trap "pull" plants. For example, cereal crops like maize or sorghum are often infested by stem borers. Grasses planted around the perimeter of the crop attract and trap the pests, whereas other plants, like Desmodium,  planted between the rows of maize repel the pests and control the parasitic plant striga.

If Africa farmers adopt the using this Push-pull Technology system and their governments start to boost this system it’s really grantee that Africa will make sure her hope on green revolution. Africa needs to develop her farmers and feed the experience of her scientists in order to resolve all the impacts from the above stated problems.

Simultaneously, Africa is waiting for her society and leaders to wake up so as to move green revolution and increase her food production as well as develop her agricultural system.

SOJRA deplored over Alshabab’s action against press freedom and freedom of expression in southern Somalia.

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) would like to publicize her emotion for the journalist expulsion by the Islamic radical militia of Alshabab in Kismayo town of lower Jubba region in Southern Somalia.

A journalist Mohamed Salad Abdulle, who worked for radio Somaliweyn based in Mogadishu and a long with another two radios stations as reporter from Kismayo town.

An amorphous court by Alshabab was sentenced to his expulsion while they were acused him reporting illegal stories inside the region. Mr. Salad was in jail a few days and today the radical Islamist group of Alshabab was sentenced him to expel.

The Somalia based south and Central Journalists Association (SOCJA) is to day expressing deep concern over journalist expulsion by Alshabaab group in Kismayo the Southern Somalia.

“Abdule' expulsion come in time of senior Alashabaab official has been killed in the town and also media violations go on the raise and frequently sophisticated” SOCJA said.

Finally, SOJRA calls for the international community to condemn this barbarian action from the only Somalia press Freedom Predators group.

Journalists under horror and constant arrests as well as reside in hands of press freedom predators

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) steadfastly condemned the arrest of the vulnerable journalists in southern regions of Somalia over the last two days.

On March 16^th 2010 the radical Islamic organization militia of Alshabab arrested a three Somali journalist at different times in Kismayo town, the capital of lower Jubba region and in Baladhawo district of Gedo region according to Jubbaland Media Association (JUMA) which a partner organization of SOJRA in the region.

A journalist Mohamed Salad Abdulle who works for Markabley radio in Gedo region, SBC radio in Bossaso-Puntland and Somaliweyn radio based in Mogadishu as a reporter in Kismayo was arrested by Alshabab security commander in Kismayo Mr. Abu-hureyra. Al-Shabaab militia in Baladhawo town of Gedo region was also obtained custody of Mohamed Abdikarim, who is a correspondent of two radios Hornafrik based in Mogadishu and Markabley radio based in Bardhere town.

During the day, Alshabab militia was arrested again a journalist Ahmed Omar Salihi, who is the director of Markabley radio based in Bardhere district of Gedo region and he was under custody overnight although released later on 17^th March, 2010.

A journalist Ali Yusuf Adan, who was arrested by Al-Shabaab on 21 February, was released a few days later in lower Shabelle region.

However, while these arrests exist Alshabab militia vowed that they will take a specific action against radio Markabley and accused airing reports against their vision.

Anyhow, SOJRA calls for Alshabab to stop the hunting against the Somali journalists who live in the area that they are now controlling and release as soon the journalists who are currently in their prisons by any means without condition and torture.

The largest Market in Horn of Africa is under fire

The National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ) is very sorry and like to announce that the largest market in East and Horn of Africa region is under a huge fire over the last five hours.

On Tuesday night at around evening the fire was started and some reports say that the fire came as a mortar shell hit on a petroleum section of the market which caused to spread further and devastated several other sections of the market including the drugstores section.

The market is located the city centre  in Mogadishu, Somalia and called Bakara Market so many people rushed to the burning areas where the fire is currently continuing and there is more attempts to put out the fire, but was not yet achieved to halt it as it is motionless going on.  

Most of the people are alarming for help to stop the blazing although its night and most of the city is dark as well as there is a fear from bandits.

NASSEJ Information Desk

By: Rahmo Isack

Mogadishu, Somalia

For further information contact:

National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ)

Tahliil Warsame Building, KM4 Area, Hodan District,
Mogadishu, Somalia, Tel: +2521-5531-800 / +2521-284357

Email: newsletter*nassej.org

Website: www.nassej.org   

NASSEJ Monthly Report for Somalia Environmental Crisis

31 January, 2010

NASSEJ/Ref: M-S-0010

“Desperate Cries for Peace and Environmental Health”

Somalia has not had a powerful government for all most two decades and the civil war caused a lot of civil insecurity and problems mostly women and children were the deliberately targeted groups and they were faced many different challenges during Somalia civil war since 1991 up to 2006.

Since the civil war erupted the country Somali people divided into tribes and each tribe is straggling to lead the policy of the country particularly the majority clans are the first one while the minority clans remain marginalized and forgotten victims.

The strife in Somalia has also sent hundreds of thousands of Somalis into exile in neighbouring countries and left hundreds of thousands dead. Violence and insecurity in south and central Somalia have considerably reduced the humanitarian space and compelled UN agencies and NGOs to relocate or evacuate international humanitarian aid workers to safer places.

Difinitely, Kidnappings of international and national aid workers, followed by ransom demands, are major obstacles to humanitarian operations in Somalia.

Piracy in the Somali sea waters has increased dramatically as a consequence of the lack of functioning institutions and the state of lawlessness in the country. As a result, humanitarian aid vessels have been delayed or diverted, while insurance costs have skyrocketed, making it difficult to hire cargo ships to deliver aid to Somalia. Delays in the delivery of humanitarian aid have contributed to worsening the nutritional status of the Somali population already affected by conflict and natural disaster.

All these horrified reasons made Somalia to be as a failed state and remains one of the most insecure places in the world, with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ) takes a close look for the basic needs of Somalis in order to tell the world publicly.

The basic needs of Somalis are peace and environmental health momentally according to the last media assesments in across the country particularly south and central Somali regions.More then 10 thousand Somalis were participated the public media discussions through phone calls and most of them seemingly a people carrying for peace only and culturally Somalis believe that they will move on and survive if they will get a sustanable peace and easily reconstract the nation as community mobilization initiative.

While the above mentioned situation is exist Somalis are now “self-abnegation” people because of lack of functioning government for almost two decades in the country.

As the detailed political history of Somalia indicates, it is a country that has been decimated by decades of continued conflict. Some argue that the clan-system in Somalia means that political instability is woven into the fabric of its society, despite it being one of the most ethnically homogenous states in Africa. Somali society is highly patriarchal and vertical in its traditional vestiges of power, which has added fuel to certain of its conflicts.

The security situation in Somalia deteriorated dramatically over the past five (5) years. And the civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists and civil society groups have been targeted in various parts of the country.

There are hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees in neighboring countries, especially in Ethiopia and Kenya, which contributes to border insecurity. Ethiopia is particularly concerned about the rise of Islamist organizations in Somalia, while northern Kenya is destabilized by bandits operating from Somalia, and apparently some Somali militias have established bases there. The constant ebb and flow of refugees throughout the conflict history have further contributed to an unstable security environment.

International Treaties/Protocols/Alliances

Somalia is a member of:

United Nations

African Union

African Development Bank

League of Arab States

Non-aligned Movement

ACP-EU relationship

Many people wonder why a country such as ours cannot manage to feed its own population therefore the land is fertile and we have reliable rainfalls mostly. So what is the problem?

“when the president Obama talked of the green revolution in the developing countries during his address at G8 conference I expected a rally or a press release in support of the idea but none featured so the idea was not welcomed even by the ministry of agriculture and I am left to wonder why we do not prosper more from all this arable land” said Mr. Daud Abdi Daud, NASSEJ Secretary General.

Somalia Leaders must act on the wishes of the citizens and the National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ) call for a massive support on Somalia civilians particularly those in need for emergency humanitarian aid.

Somalia factions must practice good governance, peace and security. This is what the people are asking for.

Unknown diseases affected the displaced Somali people from one person to another where particularly for those who are in south and central regions of Somalia so that there is no single person not affected, while the doctors did not know what the disease is exactly , they said it is skin disease.

Finally the National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ) calls on Somali people to burry the hatchet and start a new era of peace. To spend their money for buying self-sustaining facilities rater than weapons. To turn their destruction to creation, their suggestion to co-operation.

#END#