UK Accused of Training and Supporting Deadly Somaliland RRU

[Talktalk]

^^
UK Accused of Training and Supporting Deadly Somaliland Counter-Terrorism Unit

By Ben Bryant

The UK is providing training and support to a Somaliland counterterrorism unit accused of unlawful killings and political intimidation, according to members of Somaliland's parliament.

The Rapid Reaction Unit (RRU), a Somaliland paramilitary counter-terror squad established in 2012, was deployed by President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud's administration on November 15 to prevent opposition members of parliament (MPs) from entering parliament in order to influence a vote, members of Somaliland's parliament told VICE News.

A report by Somaliland's Human Rights Center, published Tuesday, also blamed the RRU for the deaths of at least two demonstrators after soldiers allegedly fired at a group of them indiscriminately. MPs confirmed that the RRU had been accused of killing protestors at demonstrations.

Citing "security reasons," the UK Foreign Office will not confirm or deny to VICE News whether it provides assistance to the RRU. However, the British government has previously released details of support, including security equipment, vehicles, a UK-built headquarters, and a pretrial detention facility — all "gifted" as part of its counter-terrorism program.

Abdirahman Mohamed Jama, a Waddani party MP, accused the president of using the paramilitary unit as a personal task force, and said that British forces are regularly witnessed training the RRU at a camp in Hargeisa.

"I have seen with my own eyes that they were training them how to shoot," he said. "I saw them learning how to shoot bullets a month ago at a camp in Hargeisa.

"It's not a secret," he added. "Everybody in Somaliland knows that the British are funding the RRU."

An annual report by the Somaliland Human Rights Center released on Tuesday said that the number of soldiers in the RRU has doubled from 50 to 100 in the last two years.

The RRU uses "unnecessary force" against civilians and "sometimes beat suspects," the report claims.

On December 28, 2013, police and RRU forces opened fire on civilians protesting water shortages in Hargeisa, resulting in the deaths of two demonstrators, the report said.

Underground chemists in the UK are trying to bring Quaaludes back. Read more here.

On November 15, Jama says that he and 28 opposition MPs were denied entry to parliament in an apparent attempt to influence a vote on a new speaker of the house. RRU and other state security forces numbering around 400 had occupied the building.

Jama described the November 15 incident as "the final demolition of the Somaliland democracy process."

Warning shots were fired, five members of parliament were arrested, and two were "badly beaten" by police, Jama says. All were released without charge several hours later.

"They were trying to prevent people from voting," he said.

The pre-arranged vote did not go ahead after MPs inside the House left in protest, and a quorum was not present.

The speaker of the House of Representatives told VICE News that the security forces attempted to disarm his bodyguards and refuse him entry as he approached parliament.

"Maybe a kilometer away from the House there was a checkpoint with a large number of security forces including the RRU," Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi said. "In order to avoid a clash I decided to continue to my house. They are powerful now. Everybody is afraid."

"We were very lucky we weren't hurt," Jama told VICE News. "The ruling party was very angry of the support we had in parts of Somalia."

Protests followed the military occupation of parliament, which, according to Jama, led to the deaths of at least three people.

"Whenever there is a protest in Somaliland, they don't use water cannons, they don't use rubber bullets. They use live bullets to disperse a crowd. Bullets kill people," Jama said. "They fired indiscriminately into the crowds."

Jama, who is also a British citizen and former teacher at a number of schools in the London borough of Harrow, said he was "ashamed" of the use of taxpayer money to fund the "oppressive" force.

"I urge the UK government to review its funding and support to the RRU," he said.


https://news.vice.com/article/uk-accuse ... orism-unit

[skywalker25]

Another reason not to vote for Wadani, a shortsighted dangerous party that seems to care about getting power and not what's good for Somaliland.

Bal why would you make such a negative comment against our paramilitary force. They should have just kept their mouth shut and when they gain power rove the relevant people. But the xolo want the funding to stop and the RRU dismantled.

[ZubeirAwal]

We can all thank Silaanyo for using this military strong-arm tactic in the middle of Hargeisa to ensure that his way is the only way forward, really immature and detrimental to the development of Somaliland's political and diplomatic progress, if this proliferates, dark days lay ahead of our nation.

[HooBariiska]

Another reason not to vote for Wadani, a shortsighted dangerous party that seems to care about getting power and not what's good for Somaliland.

Bal why would you make such a negative comment against our paramilitary force. They should have just kept their mouth shut and when they gain power rove the relevant people. But the xolo want the funding to stop and the RRU dismantled.

u seem very paranoid by wadani, you constantly say they have no chance and are useless laakin afka kaama qaadaysid

regarding the useless rru, they should instead try hunting the enemies of somaliland rather than politicians and journalists

[caadani90]

Background to MP Cabdiraxman Awxoog:

Arrived, as a refugee, in the UK via Germany in 1991, during the war of liberation while men of his age were laying their lives down for Somaliland he fled with the women and kids. As an MP these are some of Awxoogs biggest acheivements:

2009: First, and thankfully last, MP to produce a gun in parliament in an attempt to intimidate the opposition.
--- Imagine a Kulmiye MP doing that today, now imagine what Cabdiraxman Awxoog's reaction would be if that were to happen!!

2011: Having been refused entrance into the VIP area of Egal International to welcome ex-president Riyale, Awxoog without shame stood in front of the media threatening the government with a return to Somaliland's deadly and senseless civil wars (tribal wars) of the 90's.

2013 During the vote in parliament to pass the Burco-Erigavo road funding proposal which required MP's to donate $100 p/m from their tax payer provided wages to the project (which was passed unanimously) he protested and disrupted the meeting shouting "why should we be expected to give to the "bari"" (his own words). This is a guy who has hopes an aspirations of public office and a key figure of party that wants to run the country.

2014 Snitching like a bitch to the whole world in order to disrupt Somaliland's steady progress.. what makes it worse is that it is based on complete lies. If you have read his article you will see that he claims that the RRU where responsible for the death of the girl (AUN) in Burco (Demonstration instigated by him and his party by the way) and closing of the parliament, both of which did not involve RRU in any way.


The guy is a phocking disgrace and is willing to sell the country for his own personal gain!

[theyuusuf143]

Why the government allowed VICE media to meet xildhibaan xoog , the mother phuks VICE are very very uncensored media with millions of viewers and we know xoog is outspoken liar. Its frustrating that parasite MPs like him are Killing the Good reputation of Somaliland not locally but internationally. I hope isaxaq wont vote tha bastard next eletion. Since he was elected in 2005 He contributed nothing but chaos , he even used pistol in the parliament and fighted other MP more than 2 times inside the building. he is a parasite who gets salary increase every budget year. Instead of developing his prodectiviy (because we pay him) he increases his Stupidness.


Uk government did supported the RRU but the Unit is currently 100% state funded. Dealing with voilent protesters is their job as their name states ( Rapid reaction Unit ) the ceeb head xoog does not know there is the CTU (counter terrorism unit) who directly deals with terrorists, those are 100% State funded too but since we have no active terrorists they were rarely deployed. RRU became notorious because of their Active role in every day crisiss.

Some People think the unit is trained for terrrorists Only. Thats completely wrong the unit is indeed designed to deal with internal surprising unexpected Situations. PHUK THE UK WE ARE DE FACTO AND DOES NOT GIVE A SHIT OF ANY OTHER COUNTRY. Infact the entire world give us less than 14 million through Somaliland devlopment fund (FDA) out of our 251.5 million budget. They give us nothing big. I wonder why every faqash like xoog thinks that somaliland is weak western funded country that can be controled by his Adopted country.

[HooBariiska]

^^ wtf u talking about ? r u saying the rru are using xoog? isnt that what everyone is saying?

[caadani90]

2009:

Kadib markii uu ku dhawaaqey sharciyaqaanku ayaa waxaa gacanta isula tegey Xildhibaan Cabdiraxmaan Aw-xoog iyo Xil.Bashiir Tukaale, waxaana Xildhibaan Cabdiraxmaan baastoolad ula baxay Tukaale waxaana la sheegay in rasaastii u dhici weydey.

http://horseedmedia.net/2009/09/08/xubn ... ay-maanta/

Awxoog is the true definition of coward, when Somaliland needed men to pick-up their guns he was seeking refuge and benefits in the West, Having returned to reap the benefits of the victory of the Mujahideen,he returned with his gun.

[Prlnce]

The British are funding RRU so what. Its a mutually beneficial relationship it is working out for Somaliland and British you don't hear about terrorist attacks every two weeks. You don't hear about restaurant blowing up or suicide bomber at a University graduation. So you have to ask yourself how much freedom am i willing to give up in order to obtain security and peace. You can't have it both ways. You can't ask for stability in a volatile region and decry the means. Lets ask the opposition who are denouncing the RRU and Silaanyo to pledge they would not accept a dime from foreigners for anti terrorism programs and that they would dismantle RRU the min they are in power.

[waraabe251]

WADANI is more qabiilest then qudhmiye. I urge to elect ucad which is educated, diverse and forward thinking
No more Reer Bari trash.

[SayyidUmar]

Exclusive: Kenyan counterterrorism police admit to extrajudicial killings
Kenyan officers suggest program in which terrorism suspects were killed without trial on basis of Western intelligence

December 8, 2014 8:22AM ET
by Al Jazeera Staff Kenyan police have assassinated nearly 500 terrorism suspects as part of an extrajudicial killing program supported by intelligence provided by Israel and the United Kingdom, an Al Jazeera investigation has revealed.

Officers from four units of Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) said that police assassinated terrorist suspects on government orders.

The police killings, according to an ATPU officer, were ordered by Kenya’s National Security Council and run into the hundreds every year. “Day in, day out, you hear of eliminating suspects," the officer said.

“Since I was employed, I’ve killed over 50. Definitely, I do become proud because I’ve eliminated some problems,” said another officer.

The ATPU officers contend that Kenya’s weak judicial system forced them to resort to assassinations, as police have failed to produce strong enough evidence to prosecute terrorism suspects.

“If the law cannot work, there’s another option … eliminate him,” an officer explained.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and National Security Council members — including the deputy president, defense secretary and policy chief — denied the allegations.

In April, Abubaker Shariff Ahmed, an armed fighter known as Makaburi, was gunned down outside a Mombasa court after being charged under Kenya’s terrorism laws. Human rights groups allege police killed him.

ATPU officers confirmed the allegations. “Makaburi was killed by the police,” said one officer. “That execution was planned in Nairobi by very top, high-ranking police officers and government officials.”

Confidential police reports obtained by Al Jazeera allegedly show Makaburi had extensive links to Somali armed group Al-Shabab and planned and financed bombings in Kenya.

According to the ATPU officers, the intelligence that drives Nairobi’s “elimination program,” is supplied by Western intelligence agencies.

“Once they give us the information, they know what they have told us. It is ABCD — ‘Mr. Jack’ is involved in such and such a kind of activity. Tomorrow he’s no longer there. We have worked. Definitely the report that you gave us has been worked on,” the officer said.

A Kenyan National Police spokesman refused to comment on the allegations.

According to the officers, Israel and the U.K. provide training, equipment and intelligence to Kenyan officers on how to “eliminate” suspects targeted by Kenyan security forces.

Israel and the U.K. denied involvement. The U.K. Foreign Office added that it had “raised concerns” with Kenya over the “serious allegations.”

Mark Ellis, head of the International Bar Association, a leading organization of legal practitioners, said the alleged complicity of these countries could violate international law.

“It’s clear, based on these interviews, that there's at least prima facie evidence to suggest that these third-party countries are involved, and therefore they all have responsibility to investigate,” Ellis said. “We should stop providing any type of assistance or training to police units in Kenya until there is a clear change … in how the Kenyan authorities deal with suspects.”

[caadani90]

WADANI is more qabiilest then qudhmiye. I urge to elect ucad which is educated, diverse and forward thinking
No more Reer Bari trash.

I guarantee you that no party in Somaliland has more illiterate, uneducates, Qabiilist baffoons than UCID. Cali Gurey, Rooda Yassin etc.

Further more the only thing worse than an uneducated qabiliist is an educated qabiilist and in that you have Mr "Diwaanka Qosoolka".

SO Fuck off with your "we're so much better than reer bari" shit.
In the Bari if we got a problem we do something about it, it seems like Hargeisa is today the calaacal capital of the world

[SayyidUmar]

the RRU is the equivalent of the secret Kenyan Paramilitary agency GSU. Here is the video below of how much power this agency has in kenya.

[waraabe251]

WADANI is more qabiilest then qudhmiye. I urge to elect ucad which is educated, diverse and forward thinking
No more Reer Bari trash.

I guarantee you that no party in Somaliland has more illiterate, uneducates, Qabiilist baffoons than UCID. Cali Gurey, Rooda Yassin etc.

Further more the only thing worse than an uneducated qabiliist is an educated qabiilist and in that you have Mr "Diwaanka Qosoolka".

SO Fuck off with your "we're so much better than reer bari" shit.
In the Bari if we got a problem we do something about it, it seems like Hargeisa is today the calaacal capital of the world

What is hate about Bari is that they are arrogant whilst poor and educated. No one calaacals more then Habar Yonis. Always crying about something

[SayyidUmar]

We can all thank Silaanyo for using this military strong-arm tactic in the middle of Hargeisa to ensure that his way is the only way forward, really immature and detrimental to the development of Somaliland's political and diplomatic progress, if this proliferates, dark days lay ahead of our nation.

most of the supporters of the RRU are the habar jeclo or habar xabusho members on Snet who are the same clan as the President Silaanyo, they care nothing about the state of the nation. All they care about is to keep in power their corrupt clan leader Silaanyo.

the purpose of RRU is to protect somaliland against foreign terrorist, not to terrorists local population whither it is local shopkeepers, journalist, and opposition party members. So far RRU have arrested 31 Somaliland journalist, who are still in jail without any charges being bought and the RRU closed down four media companies within somaliland, and have killed two xaqsoor opposition members in hargeisa local election in 2012, another two people in gabiley in 2014, one innocent shopkeeper in burco, and shoot livestock traders in lughaya port awdal. Thats documented deaths there are many missing still.

Sad state of affairs in Somaliland really.