The Somali Police Force Turns 69

For the first time in two decades, The Somali Police Force (SPF) celebrated, on Dec. 20, 2012, the 69th anniversary of its founding at General Kahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu.

The Police, in groups of specialized units as marked varying dress colors and with their commanders leading, marched on the grounds of the academy to impress a city that has known no law and order for over twenty years.

If anything, this signals an improving return to normality and a promising strength for the premier law enforcement agency that was disbanded in 1991 at the onset of the country’s civil war.

While still under reconstruction, The SPF have shown a growing capacity to maintain security of various neighborhoods in the capital city including taking part in special operations, crime prevention, managing traffic, investigating crimes and protecting government institutions and VIPs.

Sharif Sheikhuna Maye is the current chief of the police.

What's Next for Somalia After the Transition?

Watch some of the current members of the Somali Federal parliament explain the goings-on in Somalia's post-transitional governance. Main points: 1. NGOs monopoly of power and malpractices: the danger of attracting and managing NGOs 2.Non-functional public institutions and their fight for power 3. Incompetent public leaders 4. Wide spread clanism 5. Mindless corruption and theft of public covers 6. Lack of civic consciousness 7.Low quality human capital 8. non-existent quality standards whether academic, institutional and individual 9. Rich natural resources in the midst of wide spread poverty 10.Locals versus diaspora competition for jobs and power

Will Sandy Hook Gun Violence Change U.S Gun Culture?

If you have been following the news this weekend, the tragic death of 26 people in Newtown has dominated the news cycle.

Adam Lanza, a 20-year old gunman took away the lives of 20 kindergarten children and six staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Connecticut on Friday, Dec. 14, throwing the hearts of the nation into a sudden grief.

This massacre comes in the wake of July 2012 Aurora shootings that killed 12 people, the August 2012 Wisconsin Sikh temple murder of six people and the 2011 Tucson Arizona terror in which congresswoman Gabby Gifford was shot in the head and six others killed.

But the saddening truth however is none of the earlier mass killings has resulted in any action to control civilian gun use. Worse even, you wonder when the collective conscience of the American public will rise up to say enough is enough in order to save more lives in the recent future.

It remains to be seen whether Friday’s gun violence will act as a catalyst to enact stricter gun laws and thus change the gun culture in the United States.

Somalia Moves Forward

The Somali Federal Parliament has, in a very bold move, passed a legislation to form house committees on Saturday, December 15, 2012 to expedite the nation-building task ahead.

When filled, the new committees shall offer the Somali people much needed services and the government a functional legitimacy.

Approved, with an overwhelming vote, are the following committees:

1.      Broadcasting, awareness, culture and telecommunication

2.      Budgeting, planning and government accountability

3.      Constitutional review and implementation

4.      Defense

5.      Education, labor and sports

6.      Finance, trade and industry

7.      Foreign affairs and international cooperation

8.      Humanitarian, women’s and human rights

9.      Internal affairs, regional governments and national security

10.  Justice, corrections, endowment, and religious affairs

11.  Natural resources

12.  Parliamentary conduct and ethics

13.  Roads, ports , airports and energy

14.  Rural and livestock development

15.  Truth, reconciliation and property restoration

  This is the first major legislative undertaking since the new parliament assumed power in august of this year.

When will Somalia’s faction leaders account for their crimes?

Ali Said Hassan’s documentary, Inside the Somali Civil War, depicts graphic scenes of some of Somalia’s unfortunate military confrontations in 1991. The documentary published on Keyd Media’s YouTube channel on November 1, 2012 shows atrocities committed by militia leaders and the ignorance of their fighters, some of who were duped to believe that they were fighting a holy war.

What’s more disturbing, however, is that the architects of these bloody conflicts, many still alive, never had to account for their war crimes, crimes against humanity and for their role in instigating and sustaining the war.

Embedded below is a copy of Hassan’s film:

How Somalia Won the 2012 Olympic Games

If you have been following the current affairs of the world, the 2012 London Olympic Games are the latest ‘big-story’ across the globe.  Of the 204 countries involved in these games, Somalia deserves my mention.

Two athletes, Zamzam Mohamed Farah and Mohamed Hassan Mohamed, represented the Somali republic at the games. Mohamed competed for 1,500 meters but didn’t qualify for the 5000 meters race while Zamzam competed for the 400 m. both didn’t go past the prequalification stage though Mohamed Hassan beat some nations in his track. Then how did they win, you wonder.

Background knowledge of the two athletes and what they are up against may help broaden your understanding of their chances to have a shot at glory.

Most Olympians come from countries that are more politically stable than Somalia. They enjoy a regular professional training schedule lasting over four years; most have access to state-of-the-art wellness facilities, highly nutritious foods and better healthcare infrastructure, all of which are either nonexistent or limited supply in Somalia.

In addition, Somali athletes dodge bullets in order to train. When your life is threatened everything else becomes almost nonessential.

For those who, while seated on sofas sipping juicy fruit cocktails, bash Somali athletes on the internet I tell you ignorance is bliss.

Nonetheless, it should be clear that Somali athletes have braved a lot of hardships including great insecurity to participate in the Olympics with pride.

Most countries have a huge number of athletes to choose from and those who get selected are the cream of their fellow countrymen. In lawless Somalia, volunteers are a welcome bet.

If anything, those who would want to see a better Somali Olympic team this is your chance to build that team for 2016. You can do so by making your donations available to the potential gold medalists.

It shouldn’t be lost to the public that Mo Farah who won the men’s 10,000 meter race for Britain is also from Somalia. Also, Abdi bile became the fastest 1500 m champion in 1987 Olympics and remained a formidable Olympian until 1996. This is where training infrastructure makes all the difference.

All in all, Somalia’s participation at this difficulty time in our history must be lauded as a win and the athletes cheered up wholeheartedly.

Kids and Television

Check out a professional medical advice on how early exposure to television affects kids:

This and other related videos such as newborn checks, developmental screening, feeding and safe sleeping are made for Somali parents with limited  English proficiency thanks to Centracare health system and the St Cloud Somali community.