United States Africa Command

Public Affairs Office

7 April 2010

USAFRICOM -related news stories

From and About Africa

Somalia Group vows to fight al Shabaab

Mogadishu - A moderate Islamist group, Ahlu
Sunna wal-Jamea, has vowed to challenge the al
Shabaab, the radical Islamist group opposing the
Transitional Federal Government.Sheikh Abukar
Ahmed Ali of the moderate group said his fellow
council members of Ahlu Sunna have moved to
Mogadishu to fight against the radical Islamists. He
said militants loyal to the group are now ready to
start operations in the Somali capital and other
regions in Somalia. Ahlu Sunna wal-Jamea signed an accord with the Transitional Federal
Government on March 15, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The two parties agreed to combine their
military might to defeat radical Islamists, chiefly al Shabaab. Meanwhile, al Shabaab fighters
earlier today (tuesday) captured Mataban town, 390 km north of Mogadishu from Ahlu Sunna.

AQN Al-Qaeda’s leadership moves to Somalia

The Arabia Peninsula’s al-Qaeda organization’s leadership has temporarily moved to Somalia
after the Yemeni security authorities have tightened the noose around them, said informed
Yemeni sources. Around 15-20 al-Qaeda elements succeeded in leaving Yemeni territories
during the beginning of last March through Mukala coasts, close al-Qaeda organization sources
told Saudi-based Okath newspaper. The infiltration of these elements, including the al-Qaeda
leadership, is orchestrated by unidentified foreign outsourcing. The same sources said that the
leadership has issued orders from their temporary headquarters in Somalia to their sleeping
Yemeni cells to freeze all activities, suspend intercommunications and meetings until next June,
in the hope that the present security campaigns will calm down.

AQN US authorizes killing of radical US-born of Yemeni parents cleric believed acting in
terror plots
The Obama administration has authorized the killing of a radical Muslim cleric, Anwar al-
Awlaki, an American citizen believed to be hiding in Yemen and thought to have shifted from
encouraging attacks on the U.S. to participating in them, according to published reports. It is
extremely rare, if not unprecedented, for an American to be approved for targeted killing,
officials told the newspaper. A former senior legal official in the administration of George W.
Bush said he did not know of any American who was approved for targeted killing under the
former president. Al-Awlaki, 38, recently was added to the CIA target list after a special
government review of his activities, prompted by his status as a U.S. citizen, U.S. officials told
the Los Angeles Times. He is to be captured or killed, the newspaper
Piracy Warship attacks Yemeni boat
Sana’a - Yemeni fishing boat with a crew of 11 sailors and marines were attacked by soldiers of
a military warship about 90 nautical miles in the international waters at Ras Fartak, the
prominent cape between Qishn and Ghaidha, Coast Guard police at Aden Golf said. Security
Information Center said the Coast Guard received communication made by the Assembly of the
fishermen in Hadramout province, stating that a fishing boat called al-Barakat was attacked with
its crew of 11 by a warship hoisting an Indian flag. “The helicopter took off from the ship and
flied over the boat, followed by two boats from the warship loaded with soldiers who beat the
Yemeni fishermen severely and threw them into the sea,” said the assembly of the fishermen.

Piracy One Killed As US-Oman Navies Rescue Indian Dhow Seized By Somali Pirates
An Indian dhow seized by Somali pirates last month was freed in a joint operation by U.S. and
Oman naval forces which, however, resulted in the death of an Indian sailor, media reports from
the Indian city of Ahmedabad said on Tuesday. The reports quoted Kasam Ali Bholim, President
of the Kutch Vahanvati Association (KVA), as saying that the vessel 'Faiz-E-Osmani,' hijacked
on March 28, was rescued and seven of its crew were released unharmed while the eighth one
died as he jumped into the sea fearful of getting hurt in the operation.

Piracy Iran rescues its oil tanker from pirate attack in Gulf of Aden
Tehran - Iran's Navy has rescued an Iranian oil tanker attacked by Somali pirates in the waters of
Gulf of Aden, the local satellite Press TV reported Tuesday. The Iran-Faraz oil tanker was
sailing from the southern Iranian port city of Bushehr to Izmir in Turkey when it came under
attack by four pirate boats, the report said without referring to the time of attack. Iran-Faraz
continued its journey towards Izmir after the pirates boats fled facing Iran's Navy, said Press TV.

Piracy Russia seeks stronger UN scheme to curb Somali piracy

UN– Russia on Tuesday pressed for a stronger UN mechanism to ensure effective legal action is
taken against pirates caught off Somalia.

Niger Ex-MP on hunger strike

Niamey - Niger's former communications minister and government spokesperson,
Moctar Kassoum, has launched a hunger strike to protest being placed under house
arrest by the military junta, his lawyer said on Tuesday. "Moctar Kassoum on
Sunday started a hunger strike to protest against house arrest, which he considers
illegal," Souley Oumarou told AFP.

Uganda U.S. bill to aid Uganda's military sparks row

Kampala - A proposed United States (U.S.) legislation authorizing military action against the
rebel Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda has come under fierce debate as critics say the bill will
serve to prop up Uganda's government which is under fire for criminalizing homosexuality. The
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on November 17, last year, passed the Lord's
Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act, bi-partisan legislation
authored by Sen. Russ Feingold and co-sponsored by some 25 other senators. It requires
President Barack Obama to develop a new strategy to confront the LRA and sets aside $10
million for humanitarian assistance in areas outside Uganda where the LRA is operating.
Uganda UPDF denies new fighters purchase deal but jets overhauls instead (Tuesday)
Kampala - the army yesterday denied they had bought six new fighter jets from
Rosoboronexport, valued at about Shs654 billion. The defense and military spokesperson, Lt.
Col Felix Kulayigye, told Daily Monitor that the UPDF had instead sent its old fighter jets to
Rosoboronexport for overhaul.

Uganda Army now says it will buy fighter jets (Wednesday)

Kampala - The army now says it will buy six fighter jets from a Russian arms exporter if the
government gets the money. Daily Monitor yesterday reported that the government had denied
reports in a leading Russian business daily, Vedomotsi, that it had signed a contract with
Moscow to buy the Su-30-MK2s fighter jets at Shs654 billion. “Do we need them? Yes. And if
we get the money, we shall definitely procure them because if you examine the potential threats
and geopolitics, yes we need them,” said Lt. Col. Kulayigye. “We need to guard against external
aggression and security threats like Nile waters which can be a source of conflict in the region.”
He, however, denied that the deal had already been inked.

DRC Congo police arrest 2 soldiers in reporter's death

Kinshasa - A policeman says two Congolese soldiers have been arrested for killing a radio
journalist in volatile eastern Congo. Beni police chief Eric Zongoneka says police arrested the
two after national radio journalist Patient Chebeya Bakome was killed Monday night. Bakome's
brother says the soldiers shot Bakome in front of his wife and took his phone and money.

DRC SA pilot killed and clashes death toll climbs to 29

Kinshasa – The Democratic Republic of Congo’s information minister says a South African UN
pilot was killed in clashes between the Congolese military and a militia earlier this week, along
with two other UN workers. Information Minister Kisimba Ngoy said the death toll on Tuesday
was 29 people, including three UN workers. Also killed in Sunday's attack in the town of
Mbandaka were a Ghanaian peacekeeper and a civilian worker.

Nigeria new Sectarian clashes in Nigeria's Jos kill three

Jos - Three Nigerians were killed in clashes between Christian and Muslim gangs in the central
city of Jos, where hundreds have died in similar violence this year, a military spokesman said on
Tuesday. A rally by the Christian Association of Nigeria briefly turned violent on Monday when
members of the group fought with a Muslim mob. Police said the situation was now under
control and no further violence was reported on Tuesday.

Nigeria Moves to impeach Yar’Adua receives court’s blessings

Lagos - A Federal High Court has cleared the Borno State gubernatorial aspirant of the
Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Alhaji Bukar Al-Amin, and Barrister Max Ozoaka to
commence moves of impeaching ailing President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua through the newly
constituted executive council of the federation. Justice Anwuli Chikere specifically granted leave
for the applicants to apply for an order of mandamus for the removal of President Yar’ Adua
from office on the grounds that he is presently incapable of discharging the functions of his
office.

Nigeria US Partners Nigeria on Electoral Reforms 2011, Credible Polls

One of the focal points of the Bi-national Commission Agreement signed between Nigeria and
United States of America yesterday is the on-going electoral reforms and the forthcoming
general elections. These include: Good Governance, Transparency, and Integrity; Energy and
Investment; Food Security and Agriculture; and Niger Delta and Regional Security Cooperation.
But the Good Governance, Transparency, and Integrity working group will be launched first
because of the preparations and reforms necessary to ensure that 2011 elections are free, fair, and
transparent.

Nigeria Acting president's new Cabinet sworn in

Nigeria's acting president has sworn in the oil-rich nation's new Cabinet, which includes a
woman overseeing the country's petroleum ministry. Acting President Goodluck Jonathan swore
in the 38 members Tuesday. He put Diezani Allison-Madueke at the head of the petroleum
ministry, a key post for a country that is the No. 3 supplier of crude oil to the U.S. She is a
former employee of Royal Dutch Shell PLC, the major force in Nigeria's oil exploration.

Nigeria Stealth killings follow religious deaths

Plateau State Police Commissioner Ikechukwu Aduba said Tuesday that more than 30 people
have been killed after recent violence left more than 500 people dead. Aduba says the killings
come one or two at a time and are of Muslims or Christians who strayed into neighborhoods
dominated by the other religion.

Sudan NCP slams SPLM over northern Sudan elections boycott

Khartoum - Sudan's ruling National Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday criticized a decision by
its main partner in the government, Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), to boycott the
country's general elections in the northern states. The NCP "regrets this decision by the SPLM,
and urges the movement to immediately reconsider it," senior NCP official Ibrahim Ghandour
told Xinhua on Tuesday, terming the move as " unjustified."
Earlier on Tuesday, the SPLM said it will pull out of the elections in the north, except in the
states of South Kurdufan and Blue Nile, two strongholds of the movement in the north, over "
ballot rigging" measures by the ruling party.

Sudan French activists urge EU to withdraw election observers

Khartoum - Darfur advocacy activists in France appealed on the
European Union (EU) and French government to not support the
electoral process in Sudan and to withdraw electoral observers sent
recently there.

Sudan Carter Center threatens to withdraw from Sudan unless Bashir apologizes publicly
Khartoum - The US based Carter Center has reportedly requested an apology for Sudanese
president’s remarks threatening to expel them or else they will reconsider their monitoring
mission. The Sudanese president has twice threatened this year to mutilate and expel any foreign
observers if they call for postponing elections.

Tunisia to recruit women for some military roles

Tunis - Tunisia has allowed women to work in the military.Parliament has endorsed legislation
that would enable women to occupy a range of posts in the military. Officials said the posts
would not include combat duties.
Egypt - Police detain dozens of anti-Mubarak protesters
Cairo - Egyptian riot police clashed with demonstrators opposed to the government of President
Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, with as many as 90 demonstrators arrested in the government backlash
condemned by rights group Amnesty International.

Kenya Army ‘likely to reject ICC prosecutor Ocampo’

International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is likely to face an uphill task
when he starts investigating the activities of soldiers and policemen involved in disarmament of
Sabaot militia in Mt Elgon two years ago.The prosecutor convinced the pre-trial three-judge
chamber that crimes the army and police are accused of during Operation Okoa Maisha be heard
by the special court.

100 U.S. nukes based in Istanbul with double-key security system

Ankara - A former Turkish ambassador said the United States has deployed dozens of tactical
nuclear weapons in Istanbul. Taner Baytok, who also had been a consultant to the Turkish
Defense Ministry, said the weapons were under the protection of a double-key system to prevent
unauthorized firing. "One of the keys is in the United States and the other in the host country, in
this case Turkey," Baytok said on April 5. "During war time these weapons are fired with this
double-key system." Turkey was said to harbor up to 100 U.S. nuclear weapons as part of
NATO. But the warheads were long believed to have been based at the Turkish air base at
Incirlik rather than Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey.