SomaliNet Forums

SHEIKH SHARIF AHMED PROFILED: A MAN OF THE PEOPLE

SEPTEMBER 2006



dored by his people as the ultimate peace provider, but resented by the West as the embodiment of Islamic extremists out to introduce the dreaded Sharia law, Shiekh Sharif does not present a picture of an extremist. He comes across as a reconciliator.

When The East African arrived at his Huriwaa district headquarters at the heart of Mogadishu for the 11 am appointment, just over a week ago, there was no detailed security checks, no barricades and the police presence usually associated with those in his position.

A simple inspection using a metal detector and I was ushered into the compound of a one-storey building that once belonged to one of the leading warlords in Mogadishu.

There were only a few armed guards at the gate, but the compound was teeming with ordinary people waiting to seek his assistance on many issues, ranging from the security situation to the provision of social services.

Mogadishu — Hundreds protested in Mogadishu's Huriwa district about a spate of robberies which protestors are claiming were committed by Somali forces, Garowe Online reports.

Protestors who spoke to local media said that the robberies are committed by Transitional Federal Government (TFG) troops who target stores, warehouses and vendors at night.

One protestor who spoke to local media said that the robberies are daily occurrence and have ceased to stop even after formal complaints to government.
"These robberies occur every night and shop owners return to their shops in the morning to find their store has been raided, we have talked to officials in Mogadishu but it hasn't stopped," said Mohamed Ma'alin.

Protestors were adamant that TFG forces were committing the robberies because they patrol the markets of Mogadishu at night.

"Who else could be robbing these vendors, these forces are the only people who travel at night and most are stationed near busy markets in Mogadishu," said Mr. Ma'alin.

A majority of the protestors had closed their shops on Saturday to highlight their problem to Mogadishu residents and officials. However, this is the second protest by Mogadishu shop owners in the past week and TFG Mogadishu officials have yet to comment on the problem.

Just 30 kms west of Mogadishu in Afgoye, there has been reports of abuse and robbery committed by TFG forces, so much so that TFG President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed visited the corridor three times since it was captured in June.

In the three visits to Afgoye, President Sharif met with community leaders, military and police officials to try to put an end to the violence and abuse.
In his last visit he warned top military officials in the town that he would hold them accountable for the actions of the military stationed in Afgoye.

Fraud allegations

The United Nations' Somalia monitoring group said in July that it had found that, out of every $10 received by the transitional federal government [TFG] between 2009-2010, $7 never made into the state's coffers.

The report also said that in 2011 almost a quarter of the government's total expenditure - more than $12 million - was absorbed by the offices of the country's three top leaders.

Ahmed, who took over as head of the transitional government in 2009, denied that funds had been misappropriated, saying they had been spent to lift Somalia, which has been devastated by decades of conflict and a series of droughts, out of its severe state of crisis.

"We regret this report. It is a fabricated report and a lie. Those people who compiled it are intent for Somalia to stay as it is," Ahmed told Reuters on Thursday in the plush garden of Villa Somalia, his official residence in Mogadishu.

"If money had been seized, Somalia would never have reached the stage it has today," Ahmed said, citing progress in security conditions.

Privately though, Somalia-focused diplomats in Nairobi say Ahmed has failed to deliver on security gains and basic public services.

Executive wrote:Grandpa you are EXPOSED, this topic was first posted in extremists pro-Al Qaida forum. Either you posted it there yourself or you read pro-terrorist forums


http://forums.islamicawakening.com/f18/ ... now-60793/

grandpakhalif wrote:Do you think I only frequent SNET? I participate in many forums in order to gain a better perspective.

grandpakhalif wrote:Address me with your real nick you bloody coward.