Tuesday, April 18, 2006

The Camouflaged Threat Of Yemen To Allied Forces, Horn Of Africa Region, And Red Sea Ecosystem.

Yemen, the country of the barren mountainous and a generally desolate country, which is inhabited by a backward, tribal, and closed society and, where reigns a hostile dictatorial regime and megalomaniac leaders that has always been on the wrong side of regional and international issues, sees itself differently and as a power to be reckoned with in the Gulf of Aden region. Even though, During the Cold War, Yemen was a firm ally of the Soviet Union and the Communist Eastern Block and in the 1990s, it was a staunch supporter of Saddam Hussein during both the Gulf War I & II, still sees itself on the right path then, and now, and on a righteous cause.

Whatever the case, the shadowy activities of this Third World country has largely been unnoticed by the international community and has somewhat tactfully evaded or circumvented the radar and other apparatus of the existing World Order for so long and without any accountability. For sometime, Yemen had taken things for granted and enjoyed a free ride and had been quietly and gradually asserting itself on the regional stage in its quest to tip the balance of power in the Horn of Africa region. In addition, it seems that it has unilaterally promoted itself to a power club in the Middle East, which it does not belong to and wrongfully considers itself as being among the big boys in the block such as Israel, Egypt, and Iran and as an important regional player! That is why Yemen is presently wearing an oversized shoes that neither fits it nor belongs to it, and why it is shamelessly masquerading itself as a legitimate regional power to be reckoned with!

This illogic dreams, wishful thinking, and shadowy policies of this tiny and poor country in the region signifies that it is still intoxicated with the outdated dogma and empty rhetoric of the late Gemal Abdel Nasser’s Arab nationalism, Pan Arabism, Arab renaissance, and his tired revolutionary fervour. It is indeed these illusory ideas of a perceived ARAB POWER and GRANDEUR round the corner is what still motivates Yemen as well as many other Arab states such as Egypt, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Sudan, Palestine, etc. Even though the achievement of these wild dreams and mirage goals are as remote today, as ever; Yemen and its fellow Arab peoples and states never ceases to dream the dream on and on and probably to the eternity.
But deep down in their hearts and minds, Yemen and the Arabs in general are aware of their decadence, their colossal failure to achieve unity, and the precious time they have wasted on this superstitious-like dream as well as their current international standing though they will not admit this fact to themselves, let alone to the outsiders!

Nevertheless, the self-righteous Yemen continues to unabatedly step on the toes of other states and is presently threatening the interests of the countries in the Horn of Africa region, the interests of the West, and the security of the Allied Forces in the region. Furthermore, this strategically located Third World county that was and probably still is a rogue and pariah state, has for sometime been engaged in a reckless, adventurous, and dangerous political game in the region and been tampering with the balance of power particularly in the Horn of Africa region thereby breaching World Peace and Security and been irresponsibly tinkering on the existing World Order. Most importantly, Yemen seems to be indirectly threatening the War Against Terrorism and poses a camouflaged threat to the Anti-Terrorist Task Force based in Djibouti, the entire Horn of Africa region, and the Red Sea Ecosystem.

Worse still, Yemen, a country known for being a host to various brands of religious extremists and terrorists, where a US Naval ship had been bombed by Al-Qaida terrorists thereby killing scores of innocent sailors and wounding many others is again posing the possibility of a clandestine threat to the Allied Forces. In addition, there is a strong suspicion that some of the Yemeni Tribal Elders, politicians, and senior military officers may be affiliated with Al-Qaida and other international terrorists.

It is not a secret that some Al-Qaida and other international terrorists exists in Yemen and even though some of these terrorists have been captured and are currently serving various jail terms, there is the lingering belief that many others are still at large and residing in the country. It is believed that some of these terrorists are either hiding in the remote mountainous regions or living in the urban areas in a disguised form such as entering marriage of convenience arrangements with locals and masquerade as legitimate “Mullahs,” “Traders,” “fishermen,” etc.
Therefore, it is advisable that international community not to be foolhardy and gullible in regards to the mere cooperation of Yemen particularly in the War Against Terrorism. It is common knowledge that the collaboration of Yemen was achieved because of some circumstances it could not escape and the fear of some kind of retaliation that may carry dire consequences, if it fails to come on board with the rest of the international community. In addition, the cooperation of Yemen was induced by the incentives involved in joining the coalition in the War Against Terrorism and by its pressing need to shed off its long-standing rogue and pariah status. In other words, Yemen came on board solely because it had no other choice, other than, to be with the international community or with the terrorists! And in some quarters, it is widely suspected that Yemen is for now, lying low and pretending to be on the same side with the international community; while waiting for the right moment for its affiliates to stab the world at the back.

As a result, it is paramount that the international community not to trust this secretive and dangerously ambitious country, and that its activities and motives should be closely monitored, analyzed, and swiftly acted upon. It is therefore imperative not to heed this admonition or fail to screen closely the shadowy activities of this country or to ignore the possibility of the existence of a hidden threat or to dismiss the reality on the ground, and not to act promptly to contain and confine Yemen to its proper or rightful position in the regional standing and to eliminate the hidden threat it poses, once and for all.
For the purposes of clarity, the followings are elaborations of the camouflaged threat Yemen poses to the Allied Forces, Horn of Africa region, and Red Sea Ecosystem:
Threat To Allied Forces:

The odds are that the Yemeni “fishermen” poses a camouflaged threat to the security and mission of the Anti-Terrorist Task Force currently based in Djibouti, and that if proper action is not taken to ascertain the identities, licences, backgrounds, and nationalities of these hordes of unknown people most of whom are Arabs sooner rather than later before the situation develops into an unforeseen problem with a far reaching consequences. There is widely suspected that some of the Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen” who currently fish under the noses of the Allied Forces at the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean waters who constantly violate the sovereignty of the neighbouring states in the Horn of Africa region who unabatedly poach fish and other marine resources off the Eritrea, Djibouti, Somaliland, and anarchic Somalia coastal waters; could be Al-Qaida and other international terrorists in disguise of genuine fishermen!
In the War Against Terrorism, there are two forces currently at war with each other, that is, the international community versus the Al-Qaida and other international terrorists, conventional wisdom holds that each force is planning to eliminate the threats posed by the other. For these reasons, many believe that some of the Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen” could be lookouts or sentries of Al-Qaida terrorists, and that their main objective is to:

· Disguise themselves as “fishermen” so as to be able to infiltrate the local fishermen in the region.· Gather necessary intelligence in order to be one step ahead of the Coalition Forces in the War Against Terrorism, and to plan ahead their wicked activities.· Study the behaviour; monitor the movements, and the type of operations of the Anti-Terrorist Task Force in the region.· Openly violate the sovereignty of the weak neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa region in order to be at close range to the Anti-Terrorist Task Force operating in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean areas.· Raise funds for their unholy terrorist organizations by way of:

a) Poaching fish and other marine resources from the neighbouring countries.b) Traffic illegal arms and ammunitions to the various criminal Warlords and tribal militias in the anarchic Somalia particularly to the Al-Itihad in Mogadishu as well as the tribal entity of Majertenia (Puntland), Somalia.c) Traffic illegal arms and ammunitions, and to steward the covert operations of the local terrorist-like pirates currently operating off Somalia coastal waters.d) Traffic drugs and other contraband goods to the region particularly to the anarchic Somalia.e) Encourage and facilitate illegal human trafficking from the tribal entity of Majertenia for destinations in Yemen only, andf) Coordinate the covert activities of these extremists with some key officials in the Yemeni government who are suspected of being in cahoots with these ”fishermen” and who greatly support their human trafficking activities particularly from the tribal entity of Majertenia who many believed to be responsible for encouraging the desperate boat people or refugees from Somalia many of whom suspiciously capsize and causing many to die in the high seas or are thrown overboard. And for those who manage to arrive at the Yemeni shores they are welcomed warmly only to mistreat them later in a horrendous manner. Yemen enormously benefits from this refugee business as it continues to milk the international donor cows such as UNHCR, UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, NGO’s, etc. with the pretext of hosting hundred of thousands of Somalia refugees!Note: there are reports of a systemic wide ranging sufferings of these desperate and helpless refugees who are treated like trash and inhumanly and who undergo untold daily onslaught from the government soldiers, refugee camp officials, and local gangs. These miserable refugees undergo unimagined intimidations, beatings, torture, rapes, sex slaves, and even slavery. In fact, there are other reports that many enslaved young Somali children have been spotted in the remote mountainous tribal regions of Yemen!!
In fact, the shadowy policy of the Yemeni government and the way its “fishermen” conducts themselves in the region is suspicious, dangerous, and unacceptable. There is also the suspicion that some of these “fishermen” who are masquerading as legitimate local fishermen could also be plain-cloth Yemeni army and intelligence personnel. In addition, Yemen’s behaviour and actions denotes that it uses its “fishermen” to achieve its political ends such as to violate the sovereignty of the weaker neighbouring countries, to plant shadowy “fishermen” in their coastal waters, to create unwarranted conflict between the local fishermen in the region and its concealed “fishermen”, to concoct a territorial dispute over some of the small islands around the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, and to illegally poach fish and other marine resources of the coastal waters of other countries territorial waters.

It is therefore advisable that the behaviour and actions of Yemen and its “fishermen” not to be underestimated and simply dismissed as a greed driven activities. There are strong suspicions that other sinister motives are at play here. So there is the need to think twice, to understand the situation, to investigate the threat and to nip this camouflaged threat in the bud before it is too late. It is clear that Yemen’s behaviour and activities are endangering the security of the Allied Forces, and the security and natural resources of the neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa region therefore the international community must act now and bring this tiny country to account.

The Threat To Eritrea:

A decade ago, Yemen recklessly and unilaterally damaged the age-old cordial and neighbourly relations it had with the proud people and state of Eritrea, when it took a provocative and aggressive stance against this newly independent nation. At the period, Eritrea was undergoing a difficult situation, given its strained relations with the big brother Ethiopia, the West, and some key Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and others. Yemen then, took advantage of their predicament and immediately went for the kill by a) violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Eritrea b) flooding the Eritrean coast with plain cloth military personnel in disguise of local “fishermen” c) poaching fish and other marine resources d) begun a policy of harassment and intimidation in order to create a conflict between the local fishermen and its “fishermen”, which quickly soured the relations between the two countries, and e) resorted to a campaign of misinformation, poisonous propaganda, sabre rattling, and a constant threat of force.

The conflict between these two countries was further fuelled by a territorial dispute over some of the small islands off the Eritrean coast, and the belligerence on both sides that ensued eventually led to a full-scale military confrontation in 1995. In this war, Eritrea occupied the Greater Hanish Island as well as the adjacent islands, while Yemen occupied the Zubay Island. However, this undesired conflict and the territorial dispute over these tiny islands was referred to the Permanent Court Of Arbitration in Netherlands in 1995.

But the verdict the court delivered in 1996 was deemed by Eritrea as being biased or unfair since it awarded the disputed islands to Yemen, the provocative and aggressor country. For Eritrea, this was a bitter pill to swallow, but due to the many predicaments it faced, at the period, at the regional level and at the international level; it had no other choice therefore it was compelled to accept the verdict. Even though this conflict has been ended, it has left a bitter taste on the tongues of every nationalist Eritrean. And there is the likelihood that the dispute over these small islands may someday raise its ugly head again.

The Threat To Somaliland:

In a classic De ja vu all over again, Yemen unilaterally damaged the historical and warm neighbourly relations it had with the intrepid people of Somaliland when, during the period 1980-1991, it resorted to openly finance and arm the tyrannical and fascist military regime led by the deposed Dictator Gen. Siad Barre, who cowardly implemented a scotch earth policy and waged a genocidal war against the innocent civilians of Somaliland.

But the intrepid people of Somaliland fought back gallantly, quickly formed the Somali National Movement (SNM) and waged a long and bitter armed struggle against one of the mightiest military regimes in Africa, eventually defeated the entire regime, which were stationed in all the provinces and cities in a swift and heroic manner, and finally expelled the entire fascist regime from its country. The SNM then, immediately restored peace and order, reconciled its ethnic groups, granted a general amnesty to the minority ethnic groups and their tribal militias who supported the defeated regime, decided to opt out of the ill-advised and illegal union between Somaliland and Somalia, consolidated its hard won independence, and re-established its lost sovereignty on May 18, 1991 within its international colonial borders.

Nonetheless, to add an insult to the injury, Yemen and its sister Arab states remained at the old camp of the fascist regime that was greatly weakened and causing the eruption of a nation-wide civil war. The tyrannical and fascist military regime was eventually defeated and expelled from the country by other guerrilla forces in Somalia. Soon afterwards, the state of Somalia could not stand anymore the daily attacks on all sides therefore it succumbed to the savagery, injustices, and inhumanity it had previously inflicted on the innocent Somalis particularly women and children, and was finally rendered a failed and anarchic state to the present. However, Somalia is still controlled by elements of the same war criminals of the vanquished fascist military regime. In addition, the Arabs are to-date happily participating in the ongoing bloodshed in Somalia as they continue to support a bunch of savage “Beast-man” Warlords and their tribal militias who have divided what was left of the carcass of the failed and anarchic Somalia into various tribal fiefdoms.

This is evidence that Yemen and other Arab states have embarked on a dark, envious, and hostile path against Somaliland. They continue to ignore the reality on the ground and adamantly oppose the political recognition of the independent, peaceful, and democratic Somaliland. They also boldly support morally and politically the odious war criminals of Somalia and continue to supply them with arms and ammunitions thereby openly violating the UN Arms Embargo imposed on Somalia in 1992 with the pretext of preserving the “territorial integrity” and “unity” of Somalia, a failed and non-existent state at the expense of peaceful and democratic Somaliland!!

Yemen and other Arab States particularly Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are indeed, covertly and overtly trying to destabilize the cause and existence of Somaliland. In 2000, Saudi Arabia banned Somaliland livestock with the pretext of an outbreak of the so-called Rift Valley Fever (RVP), which was neither unheard of in Somaliland nor in the Horn of Africa region. This evidently concocted disease has neither killed anyone in Somaliland nor in Saudi Arabia or in East Africa, where it was said to have originated from or in the Middle East. The imposition of this harsh and illegal livestock ban that is in effect to-date is clearly politically motivated and represents a callous measure, which is intended to destabilize the livestock Export, the backbone of the economy of Somaliland as well as the sole livelihoods of the proud, independent, and hard working pastoralist societies in the Horn of Africa region. The rest of the Arab states happily followed suit to immediately ban the Somaliland livestock in order to further tighten their grip and economic strangulation against the innocent people of the Republic of Somaliland. But God is not an Arab, but the Almighty Allah – the Only One, and the people of Somaliland did not starve or die en masse or give up their legitimate cause of independence and self-determination. Despite the hardships caused by the Arab-wide illegal livestock ban, they continues to survive decently and are proudly striving ahead in a peaceful, progressive, and democratic manner in their quest to achieve their long overdue international political recognition.

On the other hand, Yemen’s continued hostilities and the fabrication of a conflict against Somaliland are reminiscent of its concocted conflict with Eritrea. For the last 15 years, Yemen had been violating the sovereignty of Somaliland unabatedly. Somaliland, just like the position Eritrea was in then, is faced by many predicaments. It was and is still preoccupied to maintain Peace and Security, the stability of the country, and rebuilding of a whole state from the scratch. In addition, it was not in a position to take an immediate action to safeguard its coastal waters and end the violations of its sovereignty by the Yemen and other Arab “fishermen” due to the state of the small and poorly equipped Somaliland Coast Guard. This allowed the opportunist Yemen to take advantage of Somaliland, and just like in Eritrea it begun a systematic campaign to flood the Somaliland coastal waters with its shadowy “fishermen.” Since then, Yemen had been illegally poaching fish and other marine resources off Somaliland coastal waters, while, at the same time; enforcing the illegal livestock ban against Somaliland!

But the tides changed in favour of Somaliland as it managed to purchase a few modern speedboats for its intrepid, but small and ill-equipped Somaliland Coast Guard who, in turn, put good use to its newest boats in its arsenal in the defence of its territorial waters. The Somaliland Coast Guard quickly mounted several successful operations to rid off its coastal waters of all foreign fish poachers particularly the notorious Yemeni “fishermen.” These operations were all successful and it restored the pride of the nation, and scores of the cunning Yemeni “fishermen” were rounded up, handled humanly, tried in a court of law at Berbera City, and they all pleaded guilty of violating the sovereignty of Somaliland and poaching fish and other marine resources off the Somaliland coastal waters. They were then, fined and immediately deported to their country of origin even though the government confiscated their equipment and fishing gear.

In retaliation, the Yemeni senior officials coupled with its biased and heavily censored government mouth-piece media immediately ganged-up on the innocent Somaliland, cried wolf loudly, and begun a systematic campaign to tarnish the international image and standing of the Republic of Somaliland. In its dark campaign, Yemen irresponsibly and recklessly accused Somaliland for what it has no history or culture of and alleged that: Some Yemeni fishermen have been “kidnapped” by “pirates operating off the Somaliland coastal waters.”

Notwithstanding, it is widely believed that this unfounded and malicious allegation was not merely uttered to insult the Somaliland Coast Guard by calling them “pirates”, but it is a conspiratorial and a well-calculated falsehood that has a sinister motive. And the motives behind this callous accusation are believed to be as follows:

To concoct a “piracy” problem and conflict between Somaliland and Yemen.· To tarnish the international standing of both Somaliland and its peaceful coast.· To undermine the viability of the Berbera Port, Somaliland, while indirectly propping up the rival Djibouti Port, which is managed by fellow Arabs.· To indirectly send a message to alarm and scare the international marine insurance companies of a perceived “danger” and “risks” posed by “pirates operating off Somaliland coast.”· To undermine the bilateral agreements between Somaliland and the land locked Ethiopia to use the Berbera Port.· To undermine the agreement between Somaliland and the World Food Program (WFP) to ship relief foods and logistics destined for Somalia through the Berbera Port.

Although Somaliland is yet a recognized country, its small and poorly equipped Somaliland Coast Guard are trying their level best to protect their sovereignty and marine resources and working hard to rid off its coastal waters from the suspicious Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen.” Of course, Somaliland government and its Coast Guard are not a match to the Yemeni government and its Navy and Air Force, but that doesn’t mean that Somaliland will accept to be bullied by any nation no matter how strong or well connected they may be.

Therefore, it is high time that the international community to be fair and to grant Somaliland its long over due recognition so that it may join the family of nations and a) continue to be a bastion of peace and democracy b) become more effective in safeguarding and nurturing its democratic, good governance and rule of law, multiparty system, justice, human rights, and the general political, social and economic aspects c) to vigilantly maintain Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa Region, and d) be part of the coalition in the War Against Terrorism, and e) become more effective in protecting its cause, independence, resources, interests, and sovereignty. In addition, it is essential that the international community particularly Ethiopia and the Anti-Terrorist Task Force base in Djibouti to immediately intervene and assist the Somaliland Coast Guard to obtain modern ships, naval equipments, training, and supply of arms so that they can effectively patrol and guard its coastal waters against the suspected Yemen and other Arab “fishermen” some of whom are suspected to be affiliates of Al-Qaida and other international terrorists.

The Threat To Ethiopia:

Even though both Yemen and Ethiopia are on the same side in regards to their unqualified support for the so-called Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG), a paper government; which is led by a minority tribal faction whose power base is solely in the minor tribal entity of Majertenia (Puntland), Somalia; Yemen’s unfounded and malicious allegation against Somaliland: That Yemeni fishermen have been kidnapped by “pirates operating off Somaliland coastal waters” will certainly have a profound impact on the economy of this huge and populous land-locked country.

In fact, this wild and audacious allegation is intended to kill two birds with one stone, that is Ethiopia and Somaliland. And if the reputation and image of the peaceful, progressive, and democratic Somaliland is allowed to be falsely and callously tarnished in this manner, there will be a ripple effect and a negative impact on the import-export business and the general economy of Ethiopia. Therefore, Ethiopia must wake up and smell the coffee and must consider this issue as one of its own, and not to merely see it as a problem between Somaliland and Yemen alone. If Ethiopia seats back and does nothing to caution Yemen, the consequences for its inaction will be devastating and far reaching since it is the one who is the landlocked country and not Somaliland. Ethiopia must understand that if the Arab Yemen succeeds to a) manufacture a non-existent sea piracy crisis between Somaliland and Yemen b) undermine the peaceful nature and viability of the Berbera Port, Somaliland, which may become the major sea outlet of Ethiopia c) undermine the friendly Ethiopia-Somaliland bilateral and economic relations, and d) tarnish the international standing of Somaliland and its peaceful coastal waters with the intentions to unnecessarily alarm and scare the international marine insurance companies of some “danger” or “risks” to their ships and businesses; it will allow its Arab adversaries particularly Egypt to attain the opportunity to greatly undermine the Import-Export business, the general economy, and the insubordination of its people and state.

As a result, it is imperative for Ethiopia to be in a wait and see state or to just seat back and do nothing, while others are muddling the internal affairs in the Horn of Africa region or to ignore the reality on the ground and drag its feet to recognize Somaliland in order that it may eliminate this foreign threat as well as its uncertain land-locked position and to be able to protect its interests effectively. In addition, Ethiopia must understand that it is the one who is the landlocked country here and not Somaliland, and the one who needs Somaliland the most. Therefore, it is in the interest of Ethiopia to take now a pragmatic approach and recognize Somaliland in order to further strengthen and promote the existing good neighbourly, friendly, and cooperative relations between the two countries. Whether Ethiopia will heed this message and take a pragmatic approach and to become the first country to recognize Somaliland remains to be seen.

The Threat To Djibouti:

The relations between Djibouti and Yemen seems to be good on the surface, but bad in the underneath for the following reasons:

· The presence of French and the US led Anti-Terrorist Task Force (“Infidel Forces”) based in Djibouti.· Djibouti supports or is an ally of the pro-Arab Warlords and their tribal militias who represent the majority clans in Somalia who previously formed the so-called Transitional National Government (TNG), a paper government, which was concocted in Djibouti in 2000, which could not rule the Mogadishu city, let alone the country and, which soon afterwards miserably failed and collapsed; while Yemen supports or is an ally of the pro-Ethiopia Warlords and their tribal militias who represent the minority clans in Somalia particularly the most hated clans of the vanquished and toppled tyrannical and fascist regime of Dictator Siad Bare who formed the so-called Transitional Federal Government (TFG), another paper government, which was concocted in Kenya 2004; which rules no territory in Somalia, which under the weight of its falsehoods is presently on the brink of collapse.· The Djibouti port is seen to be a competitor of the Aden port.· The Trafficking of contraband goods from Yemen to Djibouti.· Yemen’s illegal fishing activities at the Djibouti coastal waters.

Nevertheless, it is surprising that the French Navy and the US led Anti-Terrorist Task Force stationed in Djibouti are somewhat oblivion of the looming security risks in regards to the camouflaged Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen,” some of whom are strongly suspected to be affiliates of Al-Qaida and other international terrorists who currently poach fish and other marine resources off the tiny Djibouti coastal waters. Whether these highly capable and well-trained forces will rise to the occasion in eliminating this covert threat remains to be seen.

The Threat To Somalia:

During the Somalia-Ethiopia war in 1977-78, Yemen broke ranks with the rest of the Arab States and unilaterally sent troops, arms and ammunitions, and military advisors along with Cuba and the Soviet Union to back the Marxist regime of Ethiopia against Somalia with the full knowledge that this newfound allay was implementing a fascistic, an all-out scotch earth policy, a take-no-prisoner, and a genocide war against the innocent civilians of Tigrey and Eritrea with the pretext of fighting “insurgents” particularly the Tigrey peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF).

Today, Yemen again poses a covert and overt threat to the stability, peace and security, and the very survival of the innocent people of the failed and anarchic state of Somalia. Yemen’s conspiratorial, reckless, and cowardly policies and actions have greatly compounded the suffering of the already heavily brutalized and profusely bleeding civilians of Somalia.
Regardless, Yemen shares responsibility and culpability for being in cahoots with the many war criminal “Beat-Man” Warlords who for last 15 years to the present had been busy butchering people particularly women and children and been destroying the fabric of the society in the anarchic Somalia. It is not a secret that Yemen is an active party to the ongoing civil war, senseless bloodshed, crimes against humanity, and the perpetuation of anarchy in Somalia as it:
· Openly meddles in the internal affairs of Somalia.· Callously pits one tribal faction against the other and is partly responsible for much of the killings and mayhem in Somalia.· Constantly violates the UN Arms Embargo Against Somalia, which was put in place in 1992.· Have previously supported and illegally supplied arms and ammunitions to the Mogadishu based tribal faction and their militias who after a Sham and so-called Somalia Peace Conference held in Djibouti in 2000 emerged under the false banner, “Transitional National Government (TNG)”, which was led by criminal Warlord Abdulqasim Salaad Boy. This faction is known to be mainly a pro-Arab faction, an anti-Ethiopia, and enjoys full support of most Arab states particularly Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Gulf States, etc. However, this paper government, which was concocted in a foreign land and later parachuted to Somalia could not fly as a legitimate government therefore it quickly collapsed under the weight of its falsehoods.· Broke ranks with the rest of the Arab states, following the collapse of the TNG, and it presently supports and illegally supplies arms and ammunition to the Majertenia (Puntland) based tribal faction and their militias who similarly after another Sham and so-called Somalia Peace Conference held in Kenya in 2004 emerged under the false banner of “Transitional Federal Government” (TFG), which is led by criminal Warlord Col. Abdullahi Yusuf who is the most tribalistic, divisive, odious war criminal, and the most hated Warlord in the entire Somalia. In fact, this illegitimate paper government, which was also concocted in a foreign land has neither wheels to travel in the land nor wings to fly in the air and it is already the brink of collapsing under the weight of its falsehoods.· Constantly violates the sovereignty of Somalia particularly at its Northeast coastal waters c) illegally occupies the Socotra island of Somalia, which is located about 9 miles off the Northeast coast of this country. And it illegally uses this island as a military base. There are indications that Yemen will one day claim this island as its own, which will trigger an immediate conflict between Somalia and Yemen, a reminiscent of its occupation of the Eritrea islands and the conflict that ensued soon afterwards.· Has already flooded the Northeast coastal waters of Somalia with its usual suspicious “fishermen,” and· Poaches fish and other marine resources unabatedly.

As a result, it is not fair that the international community to just watch, seat back, and do nothing; while Yemen continues to wreck havoc, inflicts more injury and cause further political turmoil to an already collapsed state, and compounds the sufferings of the already heavily bleeding innocent people particularly women and children of the anarchic Somalia who are on a, day in day out, been inhumanly massacred by hoards of “Beast-Man” Warlords and their tribal militias. Therefore, it is incumbent to all peace loving nations to bring to account Yemen and its cohorts for their participation in the horrendous crimes against humanity that are being committed on a daily basis against the innocent people of Somalia.

The Threat To The Red Sea Ecosystem:

The Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen” use an outdated, unsustainable, and unacceptable fishing method. These infamous “fishermen” are widely known for their greed, unhealthy fishing appetite, over fishing, for their live and let die attitudes, for their destructive sweep-entire-sea-floor methods, and for their worldwide banned fishing gear and practices!

In fact, the Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen” are causing a deliberate and irreversible environmental catastrophe to the important Red Sea. These irresponsible “fishermen” are, even as we speak, greatly damaging the natural coral reefs, marine plants, breeding grounds, fish eggs, endangered species, disfiguring and causing permanent damage to the formation of the sea floor, and endangering the entire Red Sea ecosystem scot-free!

As a result, it is necessary that the international community to end the ongoing onslaught to the Red Sea Ecosystem and Endangered Species and to terminate the adventurism, excesses, and unsustainable fishing practices of the Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen” in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean areas. There is so much at stake here therefore a quick and decisive action must be taken before it is too late to save anything. Moreover, it is essential that all peace loving nations to censure and urge Yemen to end its interference and muddling the regional affairs and to immediately curtail its devil-may-care-attitudes and counter productive policies and activities in the Horn of Africa and Middle East regions. In addition, the international community must act to quickly contain and bring Yemen to account for its crimes in masquerading as a legitimate regional power and for breaching the World Peace and Security and the existing Word Order. It is also time draw the line on the sand and to firmly urge Yemen to end its disrespect and violations of the sovereignty and neighbouring coastal waters as well as to end poaching fish and other marine resources off the coastal waters of Eritrea, Djibouti, Somaliland, and Somalia. Furthermore, Yemen should be condemned for its infringement on the international maritime laws, disregard for the international fishing standards and regulations, creation of unwarranted hostilities between its “fishermen” and the local fishermen in the region, for endangering the security and livelihoods of the local fishermen in the region, for its attempts to tarnish the good image of Somaliland, for fabricating falsehoods against Somaliland by alleging that “Yemeni fishermen had been “kidnapped” by “pirates operating off the Somaliland coastal waters,“ for attempting to covertly influence the international maritime insurance companies of a non-existent “risks” and “dangers” off the peaceful Somaliland coastal waters, and for attempting to disrupt the smooth flow of trade and the general economies of the Horn of Africa region.

Most importantly, it is critical that the international community to investigate, uncover, and promptly act upon the camouflage threat Yemen poses to the Allied Forces, Horn of Africa region, and the Red Sea Ecosystem sooner rather than later. There is a strong suspicion and possibility that some of the Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen” may be affiliated with Al-Qaida and other international terrorists. This is a serious clandestine threat that can not be simply dismissed or entirely ignored as the security of the Allied Forces in the region particularly the US led Anti-Terrorist Task Force is possibly at great risk.

Therefore, the US led Anti-Terrorist Task Force in Djibouti to include in their mission the extra tasks to ascertain the identities, licences, backgrounds, and nationalities of these hordes of unknown Yemeni and other Arab “fishermen” who are poaching fish and other marine resources under their noses or at the coastal waters of Eritrea, Djibouti, Somaliland, and Somalia.

Farah Ali Jama,

Ottawa, Canada.

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