Gubanmedia

13/01/2024

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Israel is defending itself in the United Nations’ highest court Thursday against allegations that it is committing genocide with its military campaign in Gaza.

South Africa asked the International Court of Justice to order Israel to immediately stop the war, alleging it has violated the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, which was drawn up in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust.

The convention defines genocide as acts such as killings “committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”

The case will likely drag on for years.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Israel is defending itself in the United Nations’ highest court Thursday against allegations that it is committing genocide with its military campaign in Gaza. South Africa asked the International Court of Justice to order Israel to immediately stop the war, alleging it ...

12/01/2024

Taiwan is holding a presidential election on Saturday that neighboring China has warned could mean the difference between peace and war on the island, which Beijing claims as its territory even though Taiwan has governed itself for nearly three-quarters of a century.

The election is believed to be a close race between the candidate of the incumbent party that Beijing has described as independence-minded and the candidate of the main opposition party, which is seen as standing for warmer ties with the mainland.

Voters also will be choosing members of Taiwan’s legislature following a campaign season that has focused largely on bread-and-butter domestic issue s like inflation in housing costs and the island republic’s sluggish economy.

Vice President Lai Ching-te, who also is known as William Lai, is running as the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP. The Harvard-educated physician and politician of 25 years drew China’s ire years ago for calling himself a “pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence,” though he doesn’t rule out talks with China.

The other main candidate is Hou Yu-ih of the main opposition Koumintang, or KMT. His party is the heir of the government that retreated to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war against its rival Chinese Communist Party on the mainland.

Taiwan is holding a presidential election on Saturday that neighboring China has warned could mean the difference between peace and war on the island, which Beijing claims as its territory even though Taiwan has governed itself for nearly three-quarters of a century. The election is believed to be a...

12/01/2024

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy on Friday warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours after the U.S. and Britain launched multiple airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels.

The warning in a notice to shippers came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed fierce retaliation for the U.S.-led strikes, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israel’s war in Gaza.

U.S. military and White House officials said they expected the Houthis to try to strike back. And President Joe Biden warned on Friday that the group could face further strikes.

The warning in a notice to shippers came as Yemen’s Houthis vowed fierce retaliation for the U.S.-led strikes against Houthi rebels.

10/01/2024

It has been nearly 13 years since the world recognized a new country as South Sudan won widespread recognition after a decades long fight. The year 2024 might be young, but it could very well see the international community welcome a new country: Somaliland. The United States should be at the front of the queue with its recognition.

Somaliland’s story should be better known but both Somalia’s failure and the State Department’s lack of imagination have buried appreciation for the Horn of Africa’s best success stories. Black Hawk Down shaped most Americans’ perception of Somalia. The film memorialized the murder of 18 American servicemen during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. It was the deadliest battle for Americans since the Vietnam War and led President Bill Clinton to withdraw American forces providing humanitarian assistance to Somalia. Al Qaeda leader Usama Bin Laden subsequently declared that the rush “out of Somalia in shame and disgrace” showed US vulnerability.

It has been nearly 13 years since the world recognized a new country as South Sudan won widespread recognition after a decades long fight. The year 2024 might be young, but it could very well see the international community welcome a new country: Somaliland. The United States should be at the front....

06/01/2024

The US and its allies have weighed striking Yemen’s Houthi militants after telling them to either halt their attacks on ships in the Red Sea or face unspecified action.

Washington and a dozen nations this week warned the Iran-backed Houthis would “bear the responsibility of the consequences” if they persisted with their attacks in the crucial maritime trade artery. Several military and naval experts interviewed by Bloomberg have interpreted this as a threat of imminent strikes against the group, though such a move runs the risk of making matters worse, so more limited action is also a possibility.

Challenges include the potential for further regional instability, with tensions already high due to Israel’s war against Hamas — another group backed by Iran. US President Joe Biden must also consider the effect of conflict during an election year.

The US may also rely on diplomacy with Biden’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, traveling to the Middle East next week to join Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his tour

The US and its allies have weighed striking Yemen’s Houthi militants after telling them to either halt their attacks on ships in the Red Sea or face unspecified action. Washington and a dozen nations this week warned the Iran-backed Houthis would “bear the responsibility of the consequences” i...

23/12/2023

VATRY, France— About 300 Indian citizens heading to Central America were sequestered in a French airport for a third day Saturday after a dramatic police operation prompted by a tip that those aboard might be victims of human trafficking, authorities said.

Those aboard included children and families. The youngest passenger is a toddler of 21 months, and among the children are several unaccompanied minors, according to the local civil protection agency.

Two of the passengers have been detained as part of a special investigation into suspected human trafficking by an organized criminal group, according the Paris prosecutor’s office. Prosecutors wouldn’t comment on what kind of trafficking was alleged, or whether the ultimate destination was the U.S., which has seen a surge in Indians crossing the Mexico-U.S. border this year.

Authorities in France say about 300 Indian citizens heading to Central America are sequestered in a French airport for a third day because of an investigation into suspected human trafficking.

21/12/2023

JERUSALEM— The Israeli military campaign in Gaza, experts say, now sits among the deadliest and most destructive in history.

In just over two months, the offensive has wreaked more destruction than the razing of Syria’s Aleppo between 2012 and 2016, Ukraine’s Mariupol or, proportionally, the Allied bombing of Germany in World War II. It has killed more civilians than the U.S.-led coalition did in its three-year campaign against the Islamic State group.

The Israeli military has said little about what kinds of bombs and artillery it is using in Gaza. But from blast fragments found on-site and analyses of strike footage, experts are confident that the vast majority of bombs dropped on the besieged enclave are U.S.-made. They say the weapons include 2,000-pound (900-kilogram) “bunker-busters” that have killed hundreds in densely populated areas

After 11 weeks of war in Gaza, the Israeli military campaign against Hamas now sits among the deadliest and most destructive in history, experts say.

21/12/2023

NAIROBI, Kenya— Ethiopia and Egypt said the latest round of talks over a huge, highly contentious hydroelectric dam Ethiopia has built on the Nile’s main tributary again ended with no deal.

The countries blamed each other after three days of discussions in Addis Ababa concluded on Tuesday.

Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said the talks were unsuccessful due to Ethiopia’s “persistent refusal” to accept any compromise. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry accused Egypt of putting up “roadblocks” in the discussions that prevented any consensus.

NAIROBI, Kenya— Ethiopia and Egypt said the latest round of talks over a huge, highly contentious hydroelectric dam Ethiopia has built on the Nile’s main tributary again ended with no deal. The countries blamed each other after three days of discussions in Addis Ababa concluded on Tuesday. Egypt...

20/12/2023

DENVER — A divided Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday declared former President Donald Trump ineligible for the White House under the U.S. Constitution’s insurrection clause and removed him from the state’s presidential primary ballot, setting up a likely showdown in the nation’s highest court to decide whether the front-runner for the GOP nomination can remain in the race.
The decision from a court whose justices were all appointed by Democratic governors marks the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate.
“A majority of the court holds that Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment,” the court wrote in its 4-3 decision.
Colorado’s highest court overturned a ruling from a district court judge who found that Trump incited an insurrection for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, but said he could not be barred from the ballot because it was unclear that the provision was intended to cover the presidency.

The Colorado Supreme Court is removing former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot under the Constitution's insurrection clause.

17/12/2023

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A boy, his face coated in fresh blood, screams as rescuers try to pull him out of the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. A bruised, elderly Israeli hostage is taken away by Hamas in a golf cart as a man clutching a machine gun sits behind her, smiling. A 10-year-old girl cries next to the body of her brother as he is buried near Kyiv, Ukraine.

From the Israel-Hamas war to Russia’s grinding battles against Ukraine, 2023 has shown the dangers of armed conflicts breaking out into region-wide combat.

16/12/2023

JOHANNESBURG — Former President Jacob Zuma on Saturday denounced the governing African National Congress party and announced that he would vote for a newly-formed political formation in South Africa’s general election next year.

Zuma, who was president of the ANC from 2007 to 2017, said that he’s backing the newly-formed Umkhonto we Sizwe party that is named after the ANC’s now-defunct military wing, which was disbanded after the liberation struggle.

Zuma, 81, called on other South Africans to vote for the new formation, saying it would be “a betrayal to vote for the ANC” of President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The country’s general election scheduled for 2024 is expected to be highly contested, because the ruling ANC, which has governed the country since Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first democratically-elected leader in 1994, faces a myriad of challenges.

Recent polls have suggested that the ANC could for the first time garner less than 50% of the national vote in next year’s election and may need to form a coalition government to remain in power

JOHANNESBURG — Former President Jacob Zuma on Saturday denounced the governing African National Congress party and announced that he would vote for a newly-formed political formation in South Africa’s general election next year. Zuma, who was president of the ANC from 2007 to 2017, said that he....

12/12/2023

ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish government is facing mounting pressure to seek the return of the Somali president’s son, who allegedly fled Turkey after causing a fatal traffic crash in Istanbul.

Yunus Emre Gocer, a 38-year-old motorcycle courier, died of injuries in a hospital on Dec. 6, six days after he was hit by a car driven by Mohammed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on a busy highway in Istanbul.

Turkish authorities ordered Mohamud arrested and barred him from traveling abroad following the motorcyclist’s death, but reports said the Somali president’s son had already left Turkey by the time the warrant was issued.

On Sunday, dozens of people, including motorcycle courier groups, staged a demonstration in Istanbul demanding that Mohamud face trial for Gocer’s death.

Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a prominent opposition politician, tweeted a security camera video of the crash, claiming that the “suspect left Turkey with his hands free,” and accusing the government of “being too weak to defend the rights of its own citizens.”

ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish government is facing mounting pressure to seek the return of the Somali president’s son, who allegedly fled Turkey after causing a fatal traffic crash in Istanbul. Yunus Emre Gocer, a 38-year-old motorcycle courier, died of injuries in a hospital on Dec. 6, six days ...

08/12/2023

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia appeared to be on the brink of a debt default on Friday after talks with key holders of the African country’s $1 billion international bond ended without agreement.

The combined cost of the COVID pandemic and the recently-ended civil war in its northern Tigray region has left Ethiopia, long seen as one of Africa’s most promising economies, struggling to pay its debts.

Ethiopia’s finance ministry said that “acute external liquidity pressures” meant it had told bondholders that it would not be in a position to pay a $33 million bond interest payment due on Dec. 11, an event which would trigger a default.

“Unfortunately, in the short time available between commencement of discussions and the upcoming interest payment date, an agreement… could not be reached,” the finance ministry added in a statement

Addis Ababa- Ethiopia appeared to be on the brink of a debt default on Friday after talks with key holders of the African country's $1 billion international bond ended without agreement. The combined cost of the COVID pandemic and the recently-ended civil war in its northern Tigray region has left E...

08/12/2023

LONDON , UK— Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was under pressure Friday to explain why Britain has paid Rwanda 240 million pounds ($300 million) as part of a blocked asylum plan, without a single person being sent to the East African country.

The total is almost twice the 140 million pounds that Britain previously said it had handed to the Rwandan government under a deal struck in April 2022. Under the agreement, migrants who reach Britain across the English Channel would be sent to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed and, if successful, they would stay.

The plan was challenged in U.K. courts, and no flights to Rwanda have taken off. Last month, Britain’s Supreme Court ruled the policy was illegal because Rwanda isn’t a safe country for refugees.

The Home Office said it had paid a further 100 million pounds to Rwanda in the 2023-24 financial year and expects to hand over 50 million pounds more in the coming 12 months.

Junior Immigration Minister Tom Pursglove defended the cost, saying the money would ensure “all of the right infrastructure to support the partnership is in place.

LONDON , UK— Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was under pressure Friday to explain why Britain has paid Rwanda 240 million pounds ($300 million) as part of a blocked asylum plan, without a single person being sent to the East African country. The total is almost twice the 140 million pounds that Britain...

03/12/2023

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen on Sunday and a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during the hourslong assault, the U.S. military said. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran.

The attacks marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war, as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict.

In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the attacks “represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world.” It said the three commercial ships and their crews are connected to 14 countries.

According to Central Command, the USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, detected a ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer. The missile hit near the ship. Shortly afterward, the Carney shot down a drone headed its way, although it’s not clear if the destroyer was the target. The drone was also launched from Yemen.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen on Sunday and a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during the hourslong assault, the U.S. military said. Responsibility for the attack was claim...

03/12/2023

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Commercial ships came under attack Sunday by drones and missiles in the Red Sea and a U.S. warship there opened fire in self-defense as part of an hour-long assault claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officials said.

The attack potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict.

“We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available,” the Defense Department told The Associated Press.

The Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer that’s already shot down multiple rockets the Houthis have fired toward Israel so far in the war. It wasn’t damaged in the attack and no injuries were reported on board, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss early details of a military operation.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Commercial ships came under attack Sunday by drones and missiles in the Red Sea and a U.S. warship there opened fire in self-defense as part of an hour-long assault claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officials said. The attack potentially marked a major escalation in...

02/12/2023

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed Saturday the U.N. Security Council vote to lift an arms embargo imposed on the Horn of Africa nation more than 30 years ago.

The 15-member council unanimously voted Friday night in favor of the British-drafted resolution to lift the weapons ban. However, France was the only member to abstain when voting on another resolution to reimpose an arms embargo on al Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab militants, saying the resolution lacked references to the territorial disputes between Djibouti and Eritrea.

In a statement sent to the Associated Press, Information Minister Daud Aweis said the embargo lift will help modernize the country’s armed forces. “Somalia has been grappling with significant security challenges, including the presence of extremist groups such as al-Shabab. The Somali government needs access to modern arms and equipment to effectively combat these threats and maintain security within its borders,” the statement read.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed Saturday the U.N. Security Council vote to lift an arms embargo imposed on the Horn of Africa nation more than 30 years ago. The 15-member council unanimously voted Friday night in favor of the British-drafted resolutio...

27/09/2023

It’s clear that Eil-Afwein communities have been under siege for over seven years because of Buur-Madow’s sub-clansmen who are killing innocent people with impunity.We are sick and tired of Buur-Madow’s tactics to undermine the peace in Sanaag, while he was getting state sponsorship or protection from the previous Silanyo administration.

The previous Silanyo administration was complicit on the violence because it failed to take action against the assault of Buur-Madow’s sub-clan. But many people were expecting from the new Bihi administration to be more pro-active to finding a lasting solution on the communal violence in Eil-Afwein. However, that did not happen. Instead, more attacks, more killings are still unfolding.

Buur-Madow is a man who has a shady background: He had never held a real job in his entire adult life. In the early 90’s, he used to make money from extortion and kidnapping businessmen and held them hostage until ransom was paid in Sanaag region.

After the clan identity based multi-party political system was introduced in Somaliland, he became a king maker. He made money using his sub-clansmen as a vote bank for the Presidential elections. For instance, in 2002 election, he delivered their votes to Riyaale, and he won the election. But in 2010 and 2017 elections, he supported the Kulmiye party.

The ongoing communal violence in Eil-Afwein is a tragedy.The communal violence in Eil-Afwein has been going on and off for the last seven years. Dozens of people from both communities are dead and wounded. The violence has created a climate of mistrust between the two sub-clans, and it has also hamp...

23/09/2023

Disastrous history event is repeating in Somaliland

A great advice from the Diplomat, thinker , Minister Awil Duale if the Somaliland people would listen to his wisdom on how the Somaliland Republic lost its sovereignty because of the parochial, petty mindedness of some of the SL leaders in the 1960.

A small minority but a vocal , ignorant mob using clan identity hijacked the aspirations of the people and united with Somalia without any conditions in 1960. They were self centered, greedy, who did not take an interest in anything that does not involve their respective clansmen.

Because of their hatred of Egal and HA, the sovereignty and independence of Somaliland ceased after 4 days. These wicked people they rather be a colony of the Republic of Somalia than Egal becoming the Prime of a free , democratic Republic of Somaliland.

They were ignorant about a sovereign nation and constitution. They were ignorant of how the world works, ignorant of the inner workings between governments.

But the Prime Minister did not fight back. In summer of 1960, Egal dithered to take a decisive action on restoring the newly liberated Republic of Somaliland.

Because of Egal’s dithering, the Republic of Somaliland became a region of Somalia, and the people lost their sovereignty and freedom just like that. We know the ultimate price people paid after they easily gave up their own freedom.

Now, we have fake leaders and those who hate Somaliland and scream the most and use religion and clan identity to gain political power are ones that are dictating the political course of our country.

I am afraid if Somaliland people and their leaders did not put aside their differences and unite, and work toward for the common purpose, we might lose our freedoms again as it happened in 1960.However, this time we might not even get the speakership position as the Burao/ Las-Anood faction did in 1960.

Anyone who cares about the rule of law, public safety and the security of Somaliland must concern the lawlessness, chaos and confusion that prevailed in the country after the Bihi administration took office in 2017. We must speak out and push back the “ Sowers and exploiters “ of division and those who are trying Somaliland to collapse within and doing the bidding of our enemies!

Political correctness must stop. Wadani party is not a political party. It turns into anti-Somaliland anarchists, aiding and abetting our enemies.

What also worries me most is how a man who hates our law enforcement, our military, our Republic, our flag and providing aid to the criminals could run for office of Somaliland presidency! This is madness.

Finally, if we fail to put a stop to the mischief of Wadani party and their surrogates NOW, the remnants of Siad Barre, or al-Shabaab/ Ictisaam syndicates will take over Somaliland – — right out of our hands very soon, patriots. A risky scenario that we could lose our hard fought freedom.

Ali-Guban

27/08/2023

Lewis Center, Ohio—This past week, we witnessed the worst battle loss the Somaliland army ever suffered in our history. We saw disturbing photos of the mistreatment of the commander Feisal Bootaan, and the desecration of the bodies of our soldiers in the hands of armed thugs in Las Anood. We are demanding the leaders of the clan militias to treat Gen. Bootaan and other prisoners with respect and not use him as propaganda for their failing misadventure.

Somalilanders are asking what went wrong?

For almost a year, the Somaliland National Defense Forces (SLNDF) gallantly defended their posts and territory in Las-Anood, despite our politicians tying up their hands. Our political leaders made serious tactical mistakes in the initial phase of the Las-Anood battle, for allowing clan militias into a peaceful town. We should have listened to the advice of the military commanders who refused to let armed militias into Las-Anood proper. For instance, this past January, Gen. Bootaan denied one of the Dhulbahante Clan elders from entering Las-Anood at Tukaraq checkpoint because armed men were escorting them. The Interior Minister Kaahin overruled his order not to upset the radical clan elders who were advocating violence.

Lewis Center, Ohio---This past week, we witnessed the worst battle loss the Somaliland army ever suffered in our history. We saw disturbing photos of the mistreatment of the commander Feisal Bootaan, and the desecration of the bodies of our soldiers in the hands of armed thugs in Las Anood. We are d...

21/08/2023

20/08/2023

The Wadani party leader Hersi Hassan was arrested for allegedly using a fraudulently obtained British passport to enter Britain on July, 2023.

When British National Crime Agency (NCA) authorities questioned Hersi his identity, under oath, he adamantly said that he obtained the passport legally, and he was born in Aden, Yemen. Even though the British authorities knew that he was lying under oath, which is a felony crime.

The British authorities knew that he was the former chief of staff of President Silanyo and was a member of President Silanyo delegation who met British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, during the Somalia London conference in 2012.

Moreover, the NCA knew that he used multiple different passports, including Djibouti and Somaliland passports with different names and date of birth, to enter Britain multiple times! Hersi also has a digital online footprint where anyone can check his identity.

Hersi’s ‘Blatant lies’ finally caught up to him. If he had told the truth to the NCA how he obtained the passport, his lawyers would have had a better chance of saving him from going to jail.

The Wadani party leader Hersi Hassan was arrested for allegedly using a fraudulently obtained British passport to enter Britain on July, 2023. When British National Crime Agency (NCA) authorities questioned Hersi his identity, under oath, he adamantly said that he obtained the passport legally, and....

13/08/2023

Lewis Center, Ohio—-Last year, the Wadani party leaders including presidential nominee Cirro attended a reception that took place at a local hotel in the Dumbuluq ward of Hargeysa.

The Keynote speaker of the reception was the ‘despicable’ Oof-wareen — the ringleader of the armed thugs hiding in the Gacan Libaax mountains. At that gathering, in a fiery speech, he called for inciting communal violence. He called for his Garxajis kinsmen to take up arms and start shooting members of the Bihi administration belonging to Garxajis if the election is not held on time. The party leaders, including Cirro, and the whole room applauded his vile, hateful rhetoric.

Just four weeks ago we saw the result of that fiery speech. Armed thugs, belonging to the security detail of Cirro took positions at Gacan Libaax National Park. On August 11, they ambushed JSL police officers, killed 15 policemen and wounded dozens——the deadliest police attack in our history.

Lewis Center, Ohio----Last year, the Wadani party leaders including presidential nominee Cirro attended a reception that took place at a local hotel in the Dumbuluq ward of Hargeysa. The Keynote speaker of the reception was the ‘despicable’ Oof-wareen -- the ringleader of the armed thugs hiding ...