The project is apparently funded by an unknown donor country and employs the services of Pierre Prosper, the ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues under the previous US administration and Michael Shanklin, who was the CIA’s deputy chief of station in the Somali capital 20 years ago.

The East African reported a link between Saracen and General Akandwanaho, nick named Salim Saleh, who is not only President Museveni’s brother but also a senior government advisor. This detail is of particular interest since Uganda heads AMISOM [African Union Mission in Somalia]. The African Union was also reportedly unaware of Saracen’s activities which could have serious security implications.
 
This is a promotional video available on YouTube showcasing some of Saracen’s products:
 
 

 
In a further development, a plane was seized at Hargeisa airport by the Somaliland authorities after apparently landing without authorisation. It was reportedly carrying military supplies en route to Puntland.  Somaliland’s Interior Minister, Mohamed Gabose, told reporters the cargo plane was in violation of the international arms embargo on Somalia which was imposed in 1992 by the UNSC [United Nations Security Council].

Initially all eight crew members, six Russians and two South Africans were being investigated. The South African nationals were reportedly going to be charged with falsely posing as journalists. In a surprising twist, authorities in Somaliland have released the South African nationals. Deputy Attorney General of Somaliland Adan Hero-dhiiq held a press conference in Hargeisa in which he said there was no evidence against the two South Africans. He added the two were journalists working for an American television station. However, the Deputy Attorney General  said the six Russian nationals will face prosecution.

Somalia though associated with conflict and humanitarian catastrophes over the last two decades has in fact vast resources of yet unexploited natural energy reserves including uranium. This makes the strategic Horn of Africa of economic as well as geopolitical value to competing interests, nations and corporations. Meanwhile plight of the 1.5 million internally displaced Somali refugees continues in the backdrop to the lucrative and secretive worlds of private security and conflicts.

Bulgarian freelance journalist Elena Yoncheva has reported from many conflict zones for Bulgarian TV channels. She talks about her time in Somalia in The Standart newspaper today,

Have you ever been under attack while on the move in Somalia?

I was twice on the verge of being kidnapped. Once we were followed by a jeep with five gunmen, who wanted to abduct us. Each time we take a different route when we go to or from a place, even when that place happens to be our hotel, which as a matter of fact is very well guarded. The locals see us as walking money sacks. One of my assistants here told me once he was driving at least ‘a million dollars’ in his car and he was referring to me! I am the only white woman in Puntland. In the beginning I thought Somalia wouldn’t be so scary, resting on my previous experience as a journalist, but I must admit I’ve never expected to see anything like it. link

Given the utter chaos within Somalia, outright danger for journalists and the fact that freelancers Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan remain hostages some 9 months after they were kidnapped outside Mogadishu, I was somewhat surprised to learn about Kenji Goto. He’s a journalist working for the "Independent Press" It appears he hooked up with a driver in Las Anod and travelled the 120km stretch of road to Garowe, arriving in the Puntland captial on Monday evening,

"I took a flight from Tokyo on Apr. 30 and spent a layover in Djibouti. I arrived in Berbera on Sunday," Kenji explained.

From Berbera, he hired a vehicle that transported him to Las Anod. Both towns are under the control of authorities in Somaliland, a peaceful region in northwestern Somalia that seeks complete independence from the rest of the country.

"Do you understand that this land [Puntland] has laws and security forces?" Planning Minister Dhala asked.

Kenji’s answer was as surprising as his trip: "Yes, Mr. Minister. But I wanted to go to the pirates place."  Apparently, Somaliland authorities had misinformed him that Puntland is the "pirates place…"

"…I want the people of Japan to know the truth about this [piracy]," Kenji told me. "The world is sending warships…but I believe the world should send medicines and food to Somalia." link

Goto is staying in the Hotel Maka al-Mukarrama where he now has some protection from Puntland Special Protection Unit. I doubt the two American journalists with The New York Times journalists who are staying in the same hotel were allowed to travel in quite the same way as Goto.

Ayanle Jama Feyte, an online journalist working for the Lassqorey website who was arrested on March 26, has reportedly been jailed for two years by a court in Bossaso in the Puntland region of Somalia. He is charged with defamation under the “criminal code defamation to state administrative bodies” after he allegedly published a series of articles critical of the regional president and other senior local government officials,

“We are deeply stunned by these unfounded allegations against Jama Ayanle.  Puntland police has history of threatening and arresting journalists because of their independent reporting” said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General. “If they cannot produce tangible proof to substantiate these allegations, the police must release the journalist without more illegal detention to continue his work freely.” link

Feyte’s arrest and the general situation for Somali journalists working in the Puntland region was the subject of discussion this week in Chicago.

Photo taken from Human Rights House Foundation.