Anybody should expect the downfall of an arrow shot towards the sky

Over the past few weeks many commentaries and analysis have been written about the prospects of a new state in the Horn of Africa, the post-referendum Sudan and the secession of Southern Sudan.

An analysis on IRIN website weighs the secession with the title: Securing A Peaceful Divorce In Sudan, Daily Nation writes ‘Bashir has no choice but to lose South” and Uganda’s New vision says : “African Union must keep an eye on Sudan's referendum”

But of all the commentaries I read, I like the far-away piece from the Middle East, Al-arabiya’s Mostapha El Mouloudi who albeit briefly, covered his research analysis with a great title: ‘Sudanese need to maintain bonds’

Mostapha argues that it should be noted that the self-determination referendum in Sudan is important to settle outstanding internal issues, but it can also have regional and international repercussions.

It is a matter of days though, before we will see how things will turn in Sudan, one thing for sure is, Sudan has already witnessed the worst of wars it could. It is a country that lost over two million of its citizens in decades-long instability.

And a referendum like any other election in Africa can result a fresh civil war as issues in Sudan are so delicate and can result an endless conflict.

Much to may dismay, the international community, most critically Sudan’s neighbors like Kenya and Uganda are meddling in the affairs of the country more than it is necessary.
Sudan’s referendum will never be free and fair, if the level of interfering of these two countries is anything to go by.

Kenya takes advantage of its hosting of the Sudanese peace process. Kenya’s politician are seemingly playing a pivotal role to force the South to secede from the North, rather than waiting for a fair secession. It is possibly arguable that Kenya is arming the South to govern itself by all means, by hook or by crook. The recent controversial shipment of tanks is a clear indication.

Museveni’s Kampala has not been without blames, with reports indicating that his forces trooped towards the Sudanese border. Whatever interest Uganda is pursuing, it is expressly understandable that it is interfering with the prospect of a peaceful referendum.

In the real politics, there seems to be serious religious dichotomy, Neighbouring Christian countries are seemingly supporting the South more than the North. Although the South has realized more suffering over the years, it is not a reason enough for the international community to deviate all its attention to the South.

A smooth secession is the ultimate goal for both the North and the South, But the seemingly absence of that will greatly result bloody incursion.

The arrow will obviously hit back the ground and the resulting devastation will spare neither Kenya nor Uganda.

Drawing Muslim Image on Kenyan Airwaves

Over the past few years, Kenyan media have often demonized the Muslim community, especially following the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the 9/11 attacks.

Read about what Muslim community in Kenya is doing to liberate the spoilt airwaves.

Somalia wiki-cables: FORMER TFG PRIME MINISTER WORRIED ABOUT RIVAL

Fearful Sharmake.


As the Sobbing Somali brings you the usual daily discourse concerning leaked US cables, today I take you through this classified cable, during a brief Nairobi airport meeting former TFG Prime Minister Sharmarke worried about the influence of rival organization Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama'a and the failure of talks in Mogadishu and Addis Ababa to result in an agreement to cooperate.

Click and read this link containing the wiki-cables about Sharmake’s fear

The stereotype Kenyan Media that coaches its sources to victimise Muslims

I don’t know the kind of agenda they are up to, I really know some of them, but these cheap Kenyan reporters have started coaching media sources in a way that is seemingly making their coverage alienates and demonises a vulnerable Muslim minority.

The recent Eastleigh attack is one case in hand; you are my witness that television footage proved their biased story with video images of some people saying the grenade was thrown from along the street by men wearing Islamic attire.

Throughout the following days, they repeatedly carried the story with reports that Al-Shabaab sympathisers -supposedly meant to finger-point the Somalis- were behind the attack.

But everybody knows what the police investigations revealed. The grenade was said to have been planted inside the vehicle.

Such are the kinds of uninvestigated reports that these poor reporters and their unprofessional editors always tell their viewers every passing day, it is not a wonder that they are misinforming Kenyans therefore destroying the mutual co-existence of communities.

To assume and believe that this relentlessly down beating coverage of a marginalised minority has no effect on community relations or on integration is naive, if not deceitful.

Exposing Muslims as different and dangerous community can have serious repercussions, and local media draws attention to a growing number of Muslims who now live in daily fear; some because their Islamic identity has been associated with violence and are repeatedly harassed because of nurturing their culture, while others have been denied their basic rights and have suffered devastatingly in the hands of the security agents.

The media beats the drum for the Isolation of the Kenyan Muslims, in many ways; the press has been given free rein to effectively demonise the Islamic faith and its followers in the country, leading to victimization of local innocent Muslims.

I grow tired of having to also endure watching a barrage of lazy stereotypes, inflammatory headlines, withering generalisations and often erroneous and baseless stories.

'Pirate or Al-Shabaab' is the black mark beside my name....

Now I've got another black mark beside my name, these days they call me ‘the pirate’ or the Al-Shabaab whenever I meet with my friends.

I was hurt many times by supposedly best friends; I don’t know why my Kenyan colleagues enjoy insulting me. They don’t know that they make me hate the world.

I distance myself from those types of friends these days, not because I’m afraid but because they will make me guilty of crimes that I have not committed. I still give my friends the polite smile that they deserve and which emanates from my worried face. I must forgive and keep smiling.

Even my local barber shop attendant calls me pirate or Al-Shabaab these days. Not mentioning the streets when every staring human being looks me through their gloomy eyes, as if I have a long nose or as If I am walking on my head down.

A woman we boarded the same Matatu in Mombasa, insulted me the worst of all. I had just taken ablution to pray at a town Mosque, but as I entered the vehicle, this woman cautioned her friend to be wary of this Al-shabaab passenger. I gave her the usual polite smile, when I had the opportunity to curse her for ever for insulting me at a time when I am going to pray.

I know why they call by these names; it is simply because I am Somali and to them every Somali is a pirate or an Al-shaabab. It is like in the West where every Muslim is a terrorist.

I am a Kenyan, born and brought up in Kenya, but it seemingly sounds that I am not a Kenyan like them, perhaps that is why my friends call me ‘pirates or Al-shabaab.

It was better the days when I made the name ‘Waryaa’ but now naming me ‘pirate or Al-Shabaab’ sounds like a completely different brand.

In Kenya today, I am completely a label of the pirates and the Al-Shabaab in Somalia. I've always been that way ever since these names started cropping up a few years ago.

When a ship is hijacked by Somali pirates, that day the number of times I respond is so enormous, numerous times, they call me by those names oblivious of how many times my heart misses a beat. These names make me feel guilty of been a Somali, even when my community means a lot to me.

I ask you, do I look like an Al-shabaab or a pirate. Kenyans why do you call me, it pisses me off. I feel like insulting you really bad but all I do is hold it in. I am cool with everyone except the people which call me that. What can I do about the people who call me that?

Okay, I know I should just ignore and all that, but seriously I have had enough of that and that’s. You don’t say anything and they take advantage of your silence....

Even when the black sheep is innocent, no one will ever accept.

The Eastleigh grenade attack will obviously have a repercussion, a great one indeed, Somalis have to bear the brunt of the attack.

Somalis in Eastleigh have in the past suffered from constant police harassment and abuse. Every refugee living in this Nairobi neighbourhood has a story about being hassled by the police and threatened with arrest and detention.

Possibly by now the finger is pointing towards the Somalis community in Eastliegh. As has been the case, the community in Eastleigh should brace for a major police crackdown whether or not they are innocent.

Of course the Sobbing Somali is very much concerned over the death and injuries of the innocent police officers. I condemn any such barbaric act in the strongest terms.

and for now the black sheep cannot turn its tail.

The Monkey business of protecting Somalia waters

Somali pirates now hold 22 vessels and 521 hostages. The latest victim is a Malaysian-flagged container ship plus its 23 crew.

All these abductions go on despite the presence of a heavy EU Naval force in the Indian Ocean. The Naval force often say they work their fingers to the bone and despite their bold intervention, anti-piracy efforts remain doldrums.

The billion dollar question is what are these guys up to in the international waters, what are the ten warships lead by the French flagship doing in the dangerous waters? Are they on an adventure sailing.

Discussing the Monkey business inside the French flagship De Grasse/ Photo :Abduallhi Jamaa









Why is the world allowing the continued waste of the hard-earned money that is going down the drain with little value for the antipiracy campaign?

The force is simply fiddling while Somalia burns every passing moment. I think there is some Monkey business going on.