Potential pathways to Somalia's economic recovery

Somalia's first permanent government in 22 years faces significant obstacles in getting the nation's economy back on track.

• Hundreds of camels wait at the port of Mogadishu on March 8th for export to Saudi Arabia. The Somali government collects about $84 million annually in tax revenue from the port and other resources. [Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP]
  

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However, in comparison to the corruption rife in previous administrations, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's government has so far garnered positive reviews inside and outside the country, and expectations are high that his administration is in a position to jumpstart the economy.
If the government pursues innovative solutions in the telecommunications, agriculture and fishing industries, and reduces risks associated with tapping the country's natural resources, Somalia's economy could see a well-needed lift that would also be a boost for peace and development.
At present, the central government in Mogadishu collects approximately $84 million per year in state revenues sources, such as taxes on seaports and airports. It therefore must rely on direct support from foreign governments as well as local and international non-governmental organisations, and on the approximately $1.6 billion each year in remittances, according to the United Nations. Although the International Monetary Fund recognised the Somali government in April, large-scale loans are not possible until its $352 million in debt is re-financed or cleared.

Athari za vita vya Iraq kwa watoto

 1 Mei, 2013 - Saa 09:34 GMT

Watoto wengi wamethirika na vita nchini Iraq

Miaka kumi tangu George W Bush kutangaza kukamilika kwa vita nchini Iraq, shirika la misaada lijulikanalo kama War Child limeelezea hali nchini humo kuwa mojawapo ya mizozo iliyopuuzwa duniani.

Linasema kwamba takribani watoto 700 na vijana walio na umri chini ya miaka 25 wamefariki katika ghasia nchini humo katika muda wa miezi mitano iliyopita pekee.

Taarifa zinazohusiana

• afya

Na watoto walio na umri wa miaka 14 wamesajiliwa na kutumiwa kama walipuaji wa kujitoa muhanga.
Shirika la War Child linasema Iraq ni mojawapo ya maeneo mabaya zaidi katika eneo zima la mashariki ya kati kuwepo mtoto.Na sio ghasia tu zinazowaua, na kuwadhalilisha watoto.
Ni athari za moja kwa moja kwa watoto hao.
Licha ya kwamba Iraq sasa ni nchi ya kipato cha kiwango cha wastani ikiwa na utajiri mkubwa wa mafuta, mtoto mmoja kati ya wanne wanaathirika na utapia mlo kutokana na lishe duni.
War Child inasema watoto Iraq wako nyuma katika masomo huku idadi ndogo ya wenye umri wa kati ya miaka 12 na 17 wakiwa katika shule za upili.
Ujumbe wa shirika hilo ni kwamba operesheni nchini humo haikukamilika kama alivyosema rais Bush.War Child linasema msada wa kila mwaka umepungua kutoka dola bilioni 20 mnamo mwaka 2005 hadi bilioni moja na nusu mwaka 2011.
Huku ghasia zikizidi shirika hilo limetoa wito kwa wafadhili kutoa usaidizi wa muda mrefu kwa Iraq unaolenga mahitaji ya watoto.
Lakini kuna shutuma inayofichika pia kuhusu umuhimu wa mambo ndani ya Iraq kwenyewe.
Pendekezo moja katika ripoti ya shirika hilo ni kuwa wafadhili wa kiamataifa wanapaswa kushinikiza mashirika ya kijamii nchini humo ili serikali iweze kuwajibishwa kuhusu utoaji wake wa huduma.

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Washington looks set to send Syrian rebels aid with 'direct military purpose'

US President Barack Obama is reportedly considering supplying weapons for Syrian forces fighting to oust President Bashar Assad and his government. It comes days after Obama said his administration had evidence of chemical weapons use in Syria.
Senior White House officials leaked word of the plan to the Washington Post just days after Obama decried what he saw as the Assad regime’s “willingness to escalate its horrific use of violence” on the Syrian people but claimed that Washington was exhausting all available options before deciding whether to aid the insurgency.
The Obama administration has increased its attempts to sway Russian President Vladimir Putin from his position of non-intervention in Syria. US Secretary of State John F. Kerry is planning a trip to Moscow in the coming days to discuss the situation with Putin before a scheduled meeting between the two presidents in June.
During a news conference Tuesday Obama told reporters he needed to “make sure I’ve got the facts…If we end up rushing to judgment without hard, effective evidence, we can find ourselves in a position where we can’t mobilize the international community to support” increased pressure on the Assad government.
Obama’s comments, combined with snippets from his subordinates, could be interpreted as a not-so-subtle reference to the disastrous US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
“We’re clearly on an upward trajectory,” a senior Obama official told the Washington Post. “We’ve moved over to assistance that has a direct military purpose.”

AFP Photo / Miguel Medina

It was not revealed what type of military action the US is considering, but the results of a New York Times/CBS News poll reveal that 62 per cent of the American public thinks the US has no responsibility to get involved in the Syrian conflict.
Still, the unnamed senior official reportedly said that Obama has “not closed the door to other military actions” and that the US decision-makers are “reviewing all options.”
The White House has steadily moved toward militarizing the rebels in recent months, first saying it would provide food and medical supplies then announcing body armor and night-vision goggles would be sent.
On Tuesday Obama told reporters the US knows chemical weapons were used in Syria, although it’s unclear in what capacity and by whom. He said the only solution is Assad’s resignation.
“I think it’s important to understand that for several years now what we’ve been seeing is a slowly unfolding disaster for the Syrian people,” Obama said. “And this is not a situation which we’ve been simply bystanders to what’s been happening. My policy from the beginning has been that President Assad had lost credibility, that he attacked his own people, has killed his own people, unleashed a military against innocent civilians and that the only way to bring stability and peace for Syria is going to be for Assad to step down.”

Afrika Kusini yakosoa Uingereza

 1 Mei, 2013

Waziri wa maendeleo ya kimataifa Justine Greening alitoa tangazo hilo kwenye mkutano mjini London

Serikali ya Afrika Kusini imekosoa Uingereza kwa tangazo lake kuwa itasitisha msaada wa moja kwa moja kwa nchi hiyo ifikapo mwaka 2015.

Mawaziri nchini Uingereza, wamesema kuwa uhusiano wao na Afrika Kusini unapaswa kuzingatia zaidi biashara wala sio maendeleo.

Habari zinazohusiana

• Uingereza kusitisha msaada kwa Afrika.K

Taarifa zinazohusiana

• Afrika Kusini

Lakini Afrika Kusini imesema kuwa haikushauriwa vyema kuhusu hatua hiyo na kuwa itakuwa na athari kubwa kwa taifa hilo.
Mpango wa msaada kwa nchi hiyo huwa ni pauni milioni kumi na tisa kila mwaka na unalenga zaidi kupunguza vifo vya akina mama wajawazito wanapojifungua pamoja na kuimarisha biashara.
Mnamo mwaka 2003, Afrika Kusini ilipokea pauni milioni arobaini kama msaada kwa nchi hiyo.

'Ushirikiano wa pamoja'

Waziri wa maendeleo ya kimataifa, Justine Greening, alitoa tangazo hilo katika mkutano wa mawaziri wa Afrika pamoja na wafanya biashara wakuu mjini London siku ya Jumanne.
"Afrika Kusini, imepiga hatua kubwa katika kipindi cha miongo miwili iliyopita, kiasi kuwa sasa in uchumi mkubwa katika kanda ya Afrika Kusini pamoja na mshirika mkubwa wa kiuchumi waUingereza,'' alisema Bi Greening
"tunafurahia kazi ambayo Uingereza imeifanya kwa ushirikiano na Afrika Kusini , kusaidia katika kipindi cha mpito kutoka kwa serikali ya ubaguzi wa rangi hadi sasa nchi hiyo iko kwenye mfumo wa demokrasia,'' aliongeza kusema Bi Greening
Alisema wamekubaliana kuwa Afrika Kusini sasa iko katika nafasi nzuri kuweza kufadhili miradi yake.

'Usaliti'

Lakini Afrika Kusini inasisitiza kuwa hapakuwa na mashauriano ya kina kuhusu hatua hiyo.
Taarifa kutoka katika wizara ya mashauriano ya kigeni ilisema kuwa huu ni uamuzi mkubwa sana ambao una athari kubwa,na unatosha kugeuza mkondo wa uhusiano kati ya nchi hizo mbili.
Taarifa hiyo ilisema kuwa Uingereza ingeifahamisha Afrika Kusini kuhusu hatua hiyo kupitia kwa njia rasmi za kidiplomasia.
Na kwa kujibu malalamiko hayo, Uingereza ilisema kuwa ilikuwa tayari imewasiliana na maafisa wa Afrika Kusini kwa muuda mrefu na kufanya mikutano mingi kuhusu hatua hiyo.

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Majengo ya serikali yazingirwa Libya

 1 Mei, 2013 

Inasemekana watu hao hawakuwa wanatumia nguvu

Ofisi za wizara ya sheria mjini Tripoli, Libya,zimezingirwa na watu waliojihami wakitaka kufurushwa kwa maafisa wa serikali waliokuwa wanafanya kazi wakati wa utawala wa Gadaffi.

Wanaume walio ndani ya malori wakiwa wamejihami kwa zana nzito wanawataka wafanyakazi kuondoka nje pamoja na waziri wa sheria.

Habari zinazohusiana

• Wabunge wa NFA wasusia vikao vya bunge
• Bunge limeagiza mipaka kufungwa-Libya

Taarifa zinazohusiana

• Libya

Waziri huyo aliingia ndani ya gari lake na kuondoka katika eneo hilo.
Jengo lenye makao ya wizara ya mambo ya nje, pia lilikuwa limezingirwa na watu hao tangu siku ya Jumapili.
Watu hao wanataka sheria ambayo itawaharamisha maafisa waliofanya kazi chini ya serikali ya Muammar Gaddafi kutoshikilia nyadhifaa kuu serikalini.
Hata hivyo, maafisa nchini Libya hawajaweza kukubaliana na matakwa hayo.

'hawatumii nguvu'

"watu hawa walifika hapa saa za asubuhi ndani na magari yao na kuzingira jengo hilo. Kulikuwa na magari 15. Waliwataka wafanyakazi wote kuondoka pamoja na waziri wa sheria. Waziri aliingia ndani ya gari lake na kuondoka,'' alisema mmoja wa wafanyakazi waliokuwa ndani ya jengo hilo.
"Hawakutumia nguvu.Hawakufyatua risasi wala kutumia nguvu,'' alisema mfanyakazi huyo.
Mwandishi wa BBC Rana Jawad, taswira au picha ya kikosi cha wapiganaji kuzingira jengo la serikali ilikuwa zamani ikihusishwa sana na wabunge.
Mwezi Machi, waandamanaji waliwazuia wanachama wa GNC kuondoka kutoka jengo hilo kwa masaa manne,wakisisitiza kuweka sheria itakayowazuia maafisa wa zamani waliohudumu chini ya utawala wa Gaddafi kuondolewa katika siasa za nchi.
Tangu kifo cha Gaddafi kutokea, mji mkuu Tripoli pamoja na miji mingine imekuwa ikikumbwa na ghasia.
Serikali imekuwa ikijaribu kusambaratisha makundi ya wapiganaji yaliyoanza kujipa umaarufu baada ya kuong'olewa mamlakani kwa Gaddafi.
Wiki jana , bomu lililokuwa limetegwa ndani ya gari, lililipuka nje ya ubalozi wa Ufaransa mjini Tripoli na kuwajeruhi walinzi pamoja na kusababisha uharibifu mkubwa.

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Wanajeshi wadaiwa kuhusika na maafa Baga

 1 Mei, 2013 - Saa 13:52 GMT

Nyumba zilizoharibiwa Baga

Picha za satelite zimeonyesha kuwa nyumba 2,275 ziliharibiwa wakati wa operesheni ya kijeshi ya kuwasaka wapiganaji wa Kiislamu mjini Baga Kaskazini mwa Nigeria mwezi uliopita.

Haya ni kwa mujibu wa shirika moja la kutetea haki za kibinadam la Human Rights Watch.
Shirika hilo limedai kuwa wanajeshi hao walifanya uharibifu mkubwa badala la kulinda raia na mali yao baada ya wapiganaji wa Boko Haram kushambulia kituo kimoja cha kijeshi.
Jeshi la Nigeria halijasema lolote kuhusu madai hayo.
Kuna ripoti za kutatanisha kuhusu idadi ya watu waliouawa huku shirika hilo likidai kuwa watu 37, waliuawa, lakini mashirika mengine yamesema zaidi ya watu mia moja themanini waliuawa.
Wapiganaji wa Kiislamu wa Boko Haram, limeendelea mashambulio makali katika eneo hilo, wakitaka kubuniswa kwa jimbo lenye utawala unaozingatia sheria za Kiislamu tangu mwaka wa 2010.

Wapiganaji wa Boko Haram

Gari la jeshi lililoshambuliwa na wapiganaji wa Boko Haram nchini Nigeria

Waandishi wa Habari wanasema wanajeshi wa serikali wameshutumiwa kwa kutumia nguvu kupita kiasi wakati wa harakati zao za kuwasaka wapiganaji hao wa waasi.
Rais Goodluck Jonathan wa Nigeria, ameitaja mzozo huo katika eneo la Baga kuwa jambo la kusitisha na ambalo halikubaliki kamwe.
Shirika hilo la Human Rights Watch limetoa wito kwa utawala wa Nigeria kuchunguza na kuwafungulia mashtaka wanajeshi ambao wanatuhumiwa kuhusika na ghasia hizo za Baga.
Shirika hilo limenadi kuwa uchunguzi wa picha za satelite zimethibitisha kuwa habari zilizotolewa na jeshi kuwa nyumba thelathini ziliharibiwa wakati wa mapigano hayo ya Baga kati ya April kumi na saba na Kumi na nane mwaka huu ni ya uongo.
Wakaazi wa mji wa Baga waliliambia shirika hilo kuwa wanajeshi hao walifanya operesheni kali ya nyumba hadi nyumba baada ya wapiaganaji wa Boko Haram kumuua mwanajeshi ambayo ambaye alikuwa akishika doria katika kituo kimoja cha ukaguzi.

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