MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Comoros-registered cargo ship marks the fourth ship hijacked and the fifth attacked by Somali pirates this week alone. This is just a series of attacks this year by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The Al Marjan was heading from Somalia to Kenya on Wednesday when gunmen attacked the vessel. It took several days for officials confirm the hijacking.

Two other ships were also attacked and held by pirates off Somalia’s coast on Saturday. On Sunday, pirates in two speed boats attempted to seize a UN World Food Programme (WFP) ship 60 miles from Mogadishu. The ship had just unloaded food at the nearby port. According to Peter Smerdon, a spokesman for the U.N, this makes the third attack on a WFP ship. Although, eighty percent of UN aid reach Somalia by sea, the agency has had to revert to air transport, which is more expensive.

The overthrow of the Islamic government in December by government and Ethiopian troops, has left the country insecure and unstable. The transitional government has been struggling to regain control of the country however incessant attacks by insurgents has made that feat impossible. The coast has been left virtually un-policed.

For more information please see:

Yahoo (AFP)- WFP  Renews Plea for Naval Vessels After Pirates Strike in Somalia – 22 October 2007

Reuters: Africa – Missing Ship Feared Seized by Pirates off Somalia – 22 October 2007

Yahoo (AP) – Somali Pirates Seize Ship off Africa – 22 October 2007

Impunity Watch – Piracy and Kidnapping Deepens Food Crisis -18 October 2007

By Myriam Clerge
Impunity Watch Reporter, Eastern and Southern Africa

MOGADISHU, Somalia – On Friday, Bashir Nor Gedi, the manager of the independent radio station, Radio Shabelle, was killed in front of his home. According to witnesses, four unknown men shot him three times in the head and chest. Bashir was returning home after being holed up in the radio station for nearly a week because of threats.

Somali reporters routinely face harassment and threats of death or imprisonment from both the government and insurgents. Bashir’s death marks the eighth journalist killed this year in Somalia. Many journalists, some of whom are Bashir’s colleagues, have left the country as the situation rapidly gets more dangerous.

Radio Shabelle had previously criticized the transitional government and the Islamist insurgents. Also this same month, government troops fired shots at the station and detained 18 employees for questioning. The station recently returned on the air in October 3rd after being forced to shut down for fifteen days.

Radio Shabelle was one of three independent broadcasters; HornAfrik and IQK Koranic radio were shut down in January and June. On the same day Bashir was killed, government troops stormed the building of Radio Garowe in Puntland, northeastern Somalia. Three of its journalist were also arrested, Director Abdi Farah Jama Mire; Editor Isse Abdullahi Mohammed; and Producer Mohammed Dahir Yusuf. The three men were later released.

For more information, please see:

AllAfrica.com- Somalia: Radio Garowe Closed, Three of its Journalist Arrested – 20 October 2007

Committee to Protect Journalist- Somalia: Radio Shabelle Manager Assassinated – 19 October 2007

Reuters: Africa- Somali Journalist gunned Down in Mogadishu – 19 October 2007

BBC- Critical Somali Radio Boss Killed – 21 October 2007

By Elizabeth Costner
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Africa

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – The Somalia government is currently holding the head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Mr. Idris Osman. Somalia’s government says Osman is being investigated for selling emergency food aid on Mogadishu markets and giving the profits to Islamic terrorist outfits.  Senior Presidential Advisor Adirizak Adam Hassan told VOA news that the allegations against Osman are: “[s]elling food in the market that was destined for the Somali destitute population and siphoning that money to his terror connections so that they can keep on fighting in Somalia.”

According to the WFP, dozens of uniformed and armed members of Somalia’s National Security Service (NSS) stormed the Organization’s compound on Wednesday, seized Osman, and took him to a cell at NSS headquarters, where he remains captive.  The WFP states they have yet to receive an official explanation for why Mr. Osman is being detained.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the incursion and detention of Mr. Osman and called for his “immediate and unconditional release,” noting that the Somali government’s actions are in violation of international agreements.

On Monday, WFP had resumed food distributions following a three-month suspension due to insecurity.  Following Mr. Osman’s arrest, WFP distributions are again suspended, leaving Somalis struggling with rising food prices and growing hunger.  According to WFP, more than 15 percent of all Somali children suffer acute malnutrition.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia told reporters that humanitarian workers in Somalia are impeded in their efforts to deliver aid and operate in a “climate of suspicion.” The upswing in violence among the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and other parties has resulted in suspicion from all sides towards the humanitarian community.

For more information, please see:

International Herald Tribune – Somalia confirms detention of UN food-aid agency staffer – 19 October 2007

AP – Somalia Detains UN Food Agency Staffer – 19 October 2007

AFP – WFP, Somalia government in standoff over detained UN Staffer – 19 October 2007

AllAfrica.com – Somalia – Aid Delivery Impeded by ‘Suspicion’ From Government, Other Parties – 19 October 2007

VOA News – Somalia Alleges Detained UN Aid Worker Has Terror Ties – 19 October 2007

By Meryl A. White
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

NDJAMENA, Chad– Along the border of Eastern Chad and Sudan, there has been heavy fighting since a state of emergency was declared in the region. During the month of October, more than 300 people have been killed in the region.

Houmadji Moussa Doumgor, spokesman for Chad’s government, has stated that the government and military will use the state of emergency to “survey all comings and goings to prevent continued attacks.”

Annette Rehrl, a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, believes that the recent flare up of events were predictable. She stated, “I think the violence has been interrupted only by celebrating Ramadan for the past month. So we were expecting it, it is not completely news to us, because we are still in a very volatile and very dangerous political situation here.

Rebel leader Mahamat Nour agreed to sign a peace agreement with the government of Chad. Nevertheless, Nour was recently quoted saying that the agreement will represent only “partial peace” and rebel fighting will continue.

On October 10, Steve Godbold, a 48-year-old American aid worker was kidnapped by militants in Tibesti, located in the northern part of Chad. This kidnapping was directed as a warning to foreigners to stay out of the militant region. Negotiations are currently under way with the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad (MDJT) rebels to secure the release of Godbold.

In early November, 3,000 European peacekeepers are expected to assist in Chad and the neighboring Central African Republic. They will help to provide protection to more than 300,000 Sudanese refugees who have crossed the border into Chad.

For more information, please see:

Reuters- Chad says US missionary kidnapped by rebels – 18 October 2007

BBC- Chad rebels battle army in east – 19 October 2007

VOA- State of Emergency Takes Effect in North, Eastern Chad – 17 October 2007