CRD - Centre for research and dialogue - Focused on peace in Somalia

Bob Hawke...you're really a legend! No bloody doubt whatsoever, about that!

This gem appeared recently in 'The Age' ...best newspaper in the world.

A lesson for all leaders, especially in Africa and the Arab world!

Calling spade a spade, at last. Yes,Some African leaders are corrupted and some do steal billions of dollars from their people- BUT where do they deposit all that money????

The four leaders shown below at last have said publicly what many of us knew privately, all the time. Good on you.

In a recent note to the Secretary of State who was visiting the continent recently, these four African leaders sent a profound message, which said  among other interesting statements ' ...To start, developed partner countries must curb corruption abroad. Efforts by African governments to strengthen democracy and governance are weakened if money stolen from the continent can find safe havens in secret accounts in the West.'.

Partnership, Not Patronage!.. Anyone listening...I hope so.

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ...Somalia: Amnesty International calls for accountability and safeguards on arms transfers to Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government

11 August 2009 - Press release from Amnesty International. 

somalia-_amnesty_international_calls_for_Safeguards_on_arms_transfers_to_somalias_transiti.pdf 

[Adobe Acrobat PDF - 57.29 KB]

Forgot to download your free Adobe reader (from www.adobe.com)...no problem, here it is, see below,  in MS Word.

somalia-amnesty_international_calls_on_arms_transfers_to_somalias_transitional_fed government.doc [Word Document - 41 KB]

In Somali Language?...well now you are taking Amnesty international to task. Come to think of it, 

this is a pertinent question. Many Somalis will not be able to read this document including many in the TFG. 

Uhmmmm. 

Conference with Former Senior Somali Military and Police Officers

1-5 August 2009, Washington DC, USA

The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) convened a conference of former senior military and police officers of the Somali National security forces in Washington DC from 1^st to 5^th August 2009.

The conference was co-chaired by the Minister of Defence, Professor Ghandi and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah. The African Union was also represented.

Drawing extensively on their experience, the former senior military and police officers assessed the strengths and limitations of the former Somali National security forces. They outlined the key factors behind the collapse of the country’s security institutions and proposed security stabilisation mechanisms and options.

The former senior military and police officers also explored options for restructuring the Somali security forces in accordance with stipulations in the Agreement on Cessation of Armed Confrontation signed within the framework of the Djibouti peace process.

The conference recommended policy and practical measures geared towards:

(1) Establishing appropriate security architecture and a National Somali force.

(2) Addressing the challenges of extremism and piracy.

(3) Modalities for disarmament, demobilisation and rehabilitation.

The participants thanked the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia for reaching out to all Somalis who can contribute to the Government’s efforts to restore peace and security in Somalia. The participants expressed their readiness and willingness to serve the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, if requested.

The participants called on the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to consider measures aiming at engaging and involving the former senior military, police, as well as non-commissioned officers in the country’s security sector development and encouraged the United Nations and the entire international community to support the Government’s efforts in this endeavour.

The former senior military and police officers expressed gratitude to the United Nations and SRSG Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, for forging a common front towards stabilising Somalia and harnessing the financial and political support of the international community. The participants commended the relentless efforts of the African Union and the League of Arab States (LAS) in supporting the restoration of peace and security in Somalia.

The conference agreed to reconvene within six months to take stock of its deliberations and recommendations.

Somalia so tragic, some opt to joke! Play the game...

might be the least dangerous option on the table now.

CutThroat Capitalism the game. No, Capitalism-CutThroat. Period. We thought piracy was a crime! Obviously not.  Apparently it is an advanced form of capitalism. So the guys up North East Somalia, might be ahead of the times.  Well, I better dust off my old copy of 'Das Capital'. At last the truth has now been revealed. Some of the CRD staff do read Wired... so I hope the good folks of Wired would not mind us posting this piece.

http://www.wired.com/special_multimedia/2009/cutthroatCapitalismTheGame