U N I T E D   N A T I O N S
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network for Central and Eastern Africa

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HORN OF AFRICA
IRIN-HOA Weekly Round-up 66
01 - 07 December 2001


CONTENTS:

SOMALIA: Somalia on the verge of economic collapse
SOMALIA: Deepening political impasse in Puntland
SUDAN: Khartoum against UN draft on human rights
SUDAN: Interview with Francis Deng
ETHIOPIA/ERITREA: Final border ruling due in February
ERITREA: Assab reopens to large vessels
ETHIOPIA: Treasures to be returned
DJIBOUTI: German troops to set up camp

SOMALIA: Somalia on the verge of economic collapse

Somalia is on the verge of an economic collapse unparalleled in modern
history, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia said on
Monday. Addressing a press conference in New York, Mr. Randolph Kent said
that although there were "obvious and doable" solutions to the deepening
crisis in the country, "we now find Somalia on the precipice of potential
and total economic collapse." Kent said that even though there was a
growing appreciation within the international community concerning the
real dangers of ongoing instability and so-called "failed state syndrome"
as evidenced by Afghanistan's recent experience, Somalia now stands on the
threshold of ruin.

Kent said that over the course of the last few years he had seen a pattern
of stability emerging in Somalia with peace spreading slowly through the
country. There had also been significant development of the local economy
which in some cases has thrived in the particular economic climate of
Somalia. But following the ban imposed by Gulf States last year on the
export of Somali livestock and the more recent closure by the American
authorities of the Somali owned Al-Barakaat banking and telecommunications
systems following charges of aiding and abetting terrorism, the always
fragile economy now lies in tatters.

Speaking from Mogadishu a leading Somali economist told IRIN on Tuesday
that the economic situation was worsening by the day. "There are lots of
problems here - people are really suffering. The problem should not be
underestimated," he told IRIN. Prices of staple goods were rising
exponentially he said, with a one kilogramme bag of rice, which three
months ago could be bought for 2,500 Somali shillings, now costing 8,000
shillings. "All food prices have risen by a minimum of 50 percent," the
economist said.

The closure of Al-Barakaat had, he said, not only had a devastating impact
on the money transfer pipeline on which so many Somali's depend, but the
closure of its telecommunications wing was severely hampering business'
ability to operate as other smaller telecom companies are unable to
shoulder the burden of increased traffic. Moreover, Al-Barakaat which used
to employ more than a thousand people now employs a skeleton staff of less
than one hundred.

But, most of all said the economist, people are angry. "They do not
understand why America is saying these things about Somalia. They think
they are being treated unfairly and believe that they are the victims of a
grave misconception - that Somalia is rife with terrorists and Islamic
fundamentalism. For years the world forgot about Somalia but now they are
paying attention again it is entirely in a negative light. People are not
happy."

Meanwhile, there was some respite for the Somali economy when the Republic
of Yemen rescinded its ban on the import of Somali livestock. But although
the lifting of the ban by Yemen is important, the continued closure of the
much more important Saudi Arabian market will continue to create economic
hardships for Somalia. "It is unlikely that the Yemeni decision will push
the Saudi's to open their market," said A. H. Shirwa, the Somalia
representative of the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems (FEWs).

SOMALIA: Deepening political impasse in Puntland

Traditional elders of the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland,
northeastern Somalia, have so far been unable to resolve the political
impasse in Garowe, the regional capital, local sources told IRIN on
Wednesday. On 21 November, forces loyal to former Puntland leader Colonel
Abdullahi Yusuf attacked and captured the town from forces of
recently-elected Puntland President Jama Ali Jama. At least 12 people were
killed in the ensuing fighting with many more injured, sources told IRIN
at the time.

The fighting also displaced many people who fled the town in fear of
renewed fighting. Most of the displaced have now returned after appeals by
elders to do so, Farah Yusuf Nur, a local journalist told IRIN on Tuesday.
"People have been trickling back into Garowe over the last four days,"
Farah Yusuf Nur of Midnimo radio said. Elders who have been engaged in
resolving the dispute last night sent a 20 member committee to Colonel
Abdullahi Yusuf to ask him to leave the town, but without much success, a
local source in Garowe told IRIN. The source said the elders were in a
difficult position. "They do not want to be seen supporting or condoning
Abdullahi Yusuf's action, but at the same time they want to avoid
bloodshed," he said.

Other sources in Garowe predicted that Abdullahi Yusuf would be forced out
"without a shot being fired". According to these sources, almost 60
percent of his militia had left for lack of food and supplies, while a
force 300 militia loyal to Jama Ali Jama "took control of Laadheere Bridge
checkpoint", 8 km south of Garowe on the way toward Galkayo, cutting off
the colonel's supply route. Another indication of the colonel's weakening
position, the sources said, was the fact that his forces had also lost
another very important checkpoint on the north side of Garowe, toward the
port city of Bosaso.

Puntland declared itself autonomous in 1998, following a conference of
local elders. Abdullahi Yusuf was elected as the region's first president
for a three-year term. Confusion over Puntland's leadership broke out at
the end of June this year, with Abdullahi Yusuf and the former chief
justice, Yusuf Haji Nur, both claiming to be president. The controversy
started after Abdullahi Yusuf, whose term was to have ended on 30 June,
claimed that his mandate had been extended by parliament. Puntland's
traditional elders meeting in Garowe in July rejected Abdullahi Yusuf's
extension, and named Yusuf Haji Nur as "acting president" until the
election of a new administration was held. The elders subsequently
convened a general congress for this purpose and elected Jama Ali on 14
November, in the hope that this would end the leadership wrangles, local
sources said.

In the end the elders were bound to uphold the process which led to the
election of Jama Ali Jama, the sources said. "The elders must therefore
find ways of removing Abdullahi Yusuf without any more bloodshed and very
soon. One way or another this impasse has to be resolved. It would
surprise me if Abdullahi Yusuf remained in Garowe for another week," said
one.

SUDAN: Khartoum against UN draft on human rights

The Sudanese government has expressed its opposition to a draft resolution
on human rights adopted by the UN General Assembly's Third Committee last
week, saying the text was biased in favour of the rebel Sudan People's
Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). The government envoy said the SPLM/A,
which she described as a terrorist movement, had carried out bombings,
killed humanitarian workers and taken innocent civilians as human shields
in its attempt to prolong Sudan's 18-year civil war.

The United States abstained in the vote, saying the resolution did not go
far enough to improve human rights in Sudan. Referring, in particular, to
slavery, the US said that although the resolution called for actions to
end the abduction of women and children, it did not reflect the true,
tragic position of human rights in the country.

The Khartoum government has repeatedly stated that there is no slavery
practised in Sudan, while admitting that there is a problem of some tribal
militias abducting civilians. "If a proof of slavery is produced, the
government will act to stop such a practice, and if there is no evidence,
the US should close this case," AFP news agency quoted Sudanese President
Umar Hasan al-Bashir as saying late last month.

According to the draft resolution on human rights in Sudan adopted by the
Third Committee last week, the General Assembly would express deep concern
at continuing serious violations of human rights by both government and
rebel forces. The draft text highlighted the occurrence of extrajudicial
and arbitrary executions, the use of civilian premises for military
purposes and the forced displacement of populations living around the
oilfields.

The Sudanese delegate claimed that parts of the text regarding the
extraction of oil resources compromised the sovereignty of Sudan.
Suggestions that development of the oil industry had led to forced
displacement were false, and the Sudanese government had every right to
utilise the natural resources of its country, she said.

SUDAN: Interview with Francis Deng

Francis Deng is the Representative of the UN Secretary-General on
Displaced Persons. In an interview with IRIN after a recent visit to
Sudan, Deng said that the government had agreed to hold a workshop which
he hoped would result in a clear strategy on internal displacement. In
discussions with the Sudanese authorities he said that the international
image of Sudan would be enhanced if it was seen to care about the plight
of its own people and called on the Government to solicit international
cooperation to help it deal with the displacement problem.

For full interview see:
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=17196

ETHIOPIA/ERITREA: Final border ruling due in February

The Eritrean Foreign Minister has said that the Eritrea-Ethiopia border
commission will give its final verdict on the demarcation of the disputed
border line in February 2002, the Eritrean News Agency reported on
Saturday. Ali Sayyid Abdallah told the news agency before he departed for
Japan to attend the Afro-Japan cooperation conference in Tokyo, that the
verdict would grant no right of appeal and would therefore be binding.

The border commission, which is made up of five representatives (two
nominated by either side and one neutral member) is due to hold a meeting
in the Hague, Netherlands, in the second week of December which Abdallah
is due to attend. The body is charged with achieving a resolution of the
demarcation of the contested border which led Ethiopia and Eritrea to
fight a two-year war.

Speaking to IRIN last month, the United Nations Secretary General's
Special Representative to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and
Eritrea (UNMEE), Legwaila Joseph Legwaila, said that "it was very wise of
both sides to agree beforehand that the findings of the border commission
would be final and binding." He expressed confidence that both sides would
accordingly abide by its findings.

ERITREA: Assab reopens to large vessels

For the first time in nearly four years a large grain vessel has docked at
the Eritrean port of Assab, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)
announced on Saturday. The arrival of the MV Pontocratis, which was
chartered by WFP to carry 15,000 tonnes of relief food donated by the
United States government, marks the first significant shipment to be
handled by the port since war broke out between Eritrea and Ethiopia in
May 1998.

Until the war broke out Assab had served as a major port of entry with as
much as 90 percent of its cargo destined for Ethiopia. With the outbreak
of war the port became effectively redundant overnight with the smaller
port of Massawa servicing all imports to Eritrea. During a recent visit to
Massawa IRIN noticed a significant number of ships in port with local dock
workers reporting that colleagues in Assab were idle and the local economy
in tatters. With the arrival of the MV Pontocratis however it is hoped
that this will begin to change.

"Our new ability to use it [Assab] will greatly benefit relief
operations," said Patrick Buckley, WFP's Country Director in Eritrea. "The
use of Assab will also create employment opportunities ... for local
people in and around Assab, which had become almost dormant." The 15,000
tonnes of food brought in is designed to feed 800,000 Eritreans who are
victims of drought or who after being displaced by the war had not been
able to return home in time to cultivate crops this year.

ETHIOPIA: Treasures to be returned

Ethiopia welcomed on Wednesday the imminent return of treasure plundered
in the 19th century by British soldiers. An ancient tablet bearing a
picture of the Ark of the Covenant is to be handed back early next year
after it was found in a cupboard of a Scottish church. It is part of an
impressive haul including a solid gold crown, 550 bibles and manuscripts
looted in 1868 after the battle of Magdala between British and Ethiopian
forces.

The Ethiopian-based Association for the Return of the Magdala Treasures
said the move now paved the way for Britain to hand back all the artefacts
seized by troops under the command of General Robert Napier. Professor
Endrias Eshete, chairman of the association, said: "These treasures are
some of the most important items in Ethiopian history. It would be the
equivalent of Ethiopia refusing to hand over the British crown jewels."

The association was set up four years ago to pressurise the British
Government into handing back the treasure - much of which is housed in
London's Victoria and Albert Museum. Prof Endrias added: "Hopefully this
generous act of handing back the tablet will flush out further items held
by private collectors. And it can only serve to apply more pressure for
the return of all the items. This is a genuine breakthrough and wonderful
for the country."

"The British Government will now have to come up with compelling reasons
why they should keep the items," he said. He estimated the treasure could
be worth more than US $1 billion - and form part of the first national
archive of Ethiopia. The intricately carved wooden tablet - known as a
tabot - was found by the Reverend John McLuckie from the Episcopal Church
of St John the Evangelist in Edinburgh who stumbled upon it while looking
for a communion set early this year. Traditionally wrapped in cloths, they
form the centrepiece of the country's Orthodox religion.

The tabot itself was bought by an officer from Edinburgh who set it on a
plinth and presented it to his home church. It was part of booty seized
after the battle between Gen Napier and Emperor Tewodros. The British
forces routed the Ethiopians with 700 of the emperor's warriors being cut
down by British rifle fire to avenge the imprisonment of two British
envoys. The booty was collected and later auctioned off for £5,000.
Britain returned part of the treasure when King George V presented Empress
Zawditu with a crown when Ethiopian Regent Haile Selassie visited London
in 1924.

DJIBOUTI: German troops to set up camp

A German military delegation arrived in Djibouti on Sunday for talks with
top Djibouti officials, a senior government official told IRIN on Tuesday.
He said the 17 member military delegation was in the country to "set up a
base camp for German naval forces participating in the fight against
global terrorism". The Germans are part of a group of nine nations
patrolling the Indian Ocean from Oman to Somalia, looking for suspected
terrorists.

The official said the Germans had been assigned the Djibouti coastline "so
they want to use our facilities to supply their ships, and for rest and
relaxation purposes for their forces". He added that Djibouti had made it
clear it "will cooperate with anyone in the fight against terrorism". He
said he expected the Germans to start operating out of Djibouti by January
2002. The government-owned radio station reported that the Germans were in
the country to establish a military training camp for elite troops, Agence
France-Presse (AFP) reported on Monday.


IRIN-CEA
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Fax: +254 2 622129
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Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2001


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