As Kenyans inaugurated in their fourth president, and the country kept the peace in spite of some people predicted it will be another Somalia, divided along tribal lines, a repeat of what happened in 2007 and a looming civil war, but they voted peacefully in a manner that the international community summarized it as “historic elections”, Dr wali Matunga said, “it was free and fair elections” and the Chief of IEBC Hassan termed it “duly elected president”. It only came after hard work, patience and institutional transformation.

Let me elaborate. The Kenyan elections started a year back. With forming alliances or breaking alliances was the norm of the time, and tribal alliances was regarded as the backbone of winning a clear and first round deal. But lately, there were only two formidable horses which were the front runners. The jubilee alliance headed by the president elected Uhuru Kenyatta and the Cord’s Raila which many people including the political analysts, the pollsters and the ordinary man predicted a win for Raila. But as lack could have been he was defeated badly by the digital team. Many people attributed to that as poor strategy, over self-reliance, wrangles and power hungry inner circles.

Come to the actual day. Like any other elections in the world or Africa, people were encouraged to go out and vote for the party of their choice-that’s democracy-. The Kenyan independent elections and boundaries commission made public campaigns and awareness to inform the people of their rights to vote and to exercise their rights peacefully.

Prior to the voting day and as part of the campaign the politicians and their close associates travel the length and the breadth of the Constituencies and crisscrossing the country at large. They give endless promises that if they secure the seat and given power they will do this and that to the people. One such interesting promise is “Uhuru Na laptop”.

They erect large billboards and put their faces on t- shirts. They put their posters everywhere in the market, in the houses, in the matatus and online advertising. They air their voices in the Radios and TVs.

Mothers and children shout campaign slogans amongst them include; “Callow Juu’’, “Shill Juu”, or “Afey Juu”.

We just look, bite our fingers and dream of peaceful Somalia.

Then the Election Day comes. The electorate leaves their homes early in the morning, some spent the cold nights at the pooling centers, or under the scorching sun, they are given voting papers, mark as they wish and their thumb  dyed, with that they must have elected their true leaders, and with small incentives, happily, they disappear in to the air.

Then amidst suspension, confusion and tension, the electoral commission clears the air, the big announcement is made. There’s a winner and a loser. People celebrate, others mourn, millions spent and the end is a tragedy. The loser cries foul play, irregularities and fraud here and there, then the Supreme Court intervened and in less than five minutes it made a verdict. The case is settled. And the hope and dream of runoff is shattered. The only option was to take a rest in a foreign country to defeat the humiliation of democracy.

And that is what it is all about. This is the semi democracy of Kenya, but back home (Somalia) you will only need a pick up mounted with a machine gun loaded with underage boys with automatic rifles and the “tyranny of numbers” from your tribe for back up. But what happen in September last year (2012) can bring us closer to democracy, in this regard, I therefore salute and applaud the former president Sh. Shariff- he was a hero, a charismatic leader and selflessly put the interest of the nation at first. Satisfied. He conceded defeat and retired like a true African leader.

I saw our president (HE. Hassan) during the Kenyatta’s inauguration day deep in thought, maybe he will take us through this journey of democracy.

I shall also congratulate Kenyans for inaugurating their fourth president his Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, and also congratulate the former immediate president Mwai Kibaki for his service to the nation. I appeal to the new president to help in the peace processes in Somalia so that we go home and tell the tales in our home country.

Bedel Abdi
bedeljama@gmail.com

The world powers are in talks with the Iranian government over the nuclear program which the country claims it’s for medical purposes.

According to the Iranian chief negotiator Saeed Jalili the international community should accept Iran’s right to enrich uranium.

The international powers asked Iran to take down the Fordo underground enrichment facility which in return they will ease the tough economic sanctions.

The trial against Uhuru which was scheduled to commence on 11^th July at The Hague received another blow when three among the prosecution witnesses refused to testify against Uhuru Kenyatta.

The three witnesses were among a group of 12  whom Bensouda relied on in order to have the case against Uhuru at the Hague confirmed  by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber II in January last year.

Last month, the ICC prosecutor dropped charges against the former head of civil services and secretary to the Kenyan cabinet Francis Muthaura after a similar blow, when Witness number 4 was cited of incredibility after withdrawing his testimony, the withdrawal of witness number 4 prompted Uhuru to insist that his case should be dropped too since Muthauri and him were co-accused.

Kenyan president elect Uhuru Kenyatta who is expected to be sworn in as the 4^th president of the republic of Kenya next Tuesday becomes the first president in office to have a trial in the international criminal court ICC.

“On behalf of the citizens of the republic of Somalia, from deep within our hearts we are congratulating the president elect of the republic of Kenya “. President Hassan said.

President Hassan added, “I believe the new government will lead Kenyans into years of development”.

The ties of diplomacy between Kenya and Somalia in the Kibaki regime was known to be good and president Hassan expects the relationship between the two sides to even get stronger with the new government,” we expect the ties between the two government to go a step further now that the new government of Kenya is expected to be sworn in”.

Congratulatory messages from different countries were coming in since yesterday when the supreme court of Kenya upheld the win of Uhuru Kenyatta in the results which were announced 9^th this month which was contested by Raila Odinga who filed a petition in the Supreme Court.

Warqaad.com/Muqdisho  Office
Email:-Warqaad@hotmail.co.uk

France was the first country to send troops to Mali in January and since then the troops were able to capture and take control of the Northern region of the country.

The UN troops became the second peace keeping troops to be sent into Mali.

The Mali conflict

Since the beginning of this year, several groups have been fighting against the Malian government for the control of the northern part of the country.

A month before the general election, a coup d’état let by the fighting groups ousted the president of Mali Amadou Toumani Touré.

The government asked for foreign military to help re-capture northern Mali, the French government took responsibility and sent their troops into Mali in a bid to help the government of Mali and also African Union forces were deployed after the French troops.

At last the Malian military were able to take control of the territories which were under the control of the Islamist with the help of the international community.

According to the North Korean state news agency KCNA, leader Kim Jong-un has singed the order in a meeting with top generals.

“It is time to get even with the US” the Korean leader was quoted saying.

The KCNA report also says the signed order gives KPA the mandate to be ready to fire any time.

“If the US will not stop provoking us then the Korean Peoples Army (KPA)  should mercilessly strike the US mainland, their stronghold, their military bases in the operational theaters in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea,” Korean leader kim Jong-un was quoted saying.

Warqaad.com/Nairobi Office
Email:-Warqaad@hotmail.co.uk

Official from Somali embassy in Qatar Muktar Ali said.” We expect President Hassan to give a speech in the meeting and talk about the current situation in Somalia and areas where the country needs help from the Arab league countries”.

Among the key things that the president will talk about in his speech will be peace and security in he country and the humanitarian situation.

The meeting of the Arab league countries which started today is expected to end tomorrow

The campaign against rape and gender violation was spearheaded by celebrated nationalist and noble peace prize winner Lady Asho Haji.She is known for her massive campaigns in support of the unfortunate and other members of the public who faced divergent problems.

Media agencies have paid constant visits to the IDPs and have been monitoring there changes. they have noted that the campaign was going according to plans and was proving to be a success.

Iisho Amiin Likar who is one of the IDPs in the city told the media that she has not hard for a while cases relating to this ugly acts.She welcomed the campaign headed by lady Asha which has been noted nationally and internationally.

Since last week, news started circulating about the evacuation of the Ethiopian troops out of Somalia with the African Mission force ( AMISOM ) promising that, they will take control of the regions where the Ethiopians decide to leave.

The Al-shabaab factor

As for the regions they have already evacuated such as Hudur Town which is in Bakool region,  Al-shabaab took over the control of the town.

Tension has risen in areas where the Ethiopians are still occupying, with fear that, they might leave anytime giving the Al-shabaab group the chance to take control of all the region.

They appealed to the government of Jacob Zuma, to do something about the hardship they have to go through everyday in the hands of gangsters.

In recent years,  security in South Africa has been deteriorating especially for the foreign citizens many of whom are brutally murdered with no justice served.