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SOMALIA: SOMALI FACTION HANDS OVER THOUSANDS OF LANDMINES October 25, 2005

International pro-landmine ban organization, Geneva Call received about 3500 landmines ranging from anti-personnel to anti-tank from Mogadishu based USC/SNA faction yesterday. Hussein Mohamed Farah Aidid transferred the landmines to Geneva Call representative Mohamed Noor, who on behalf of his organization thanked Hussien Aidid and his organization.

Aidid Junior who is now the deputy prime minister of the interim government talked to crowds of people at the ceremony and said he transferred the landmines on behalf of the interim government. He encouraged other factions to abide by the agreement they signed with Geneva Call and to hand over all dangerous landmines they have been stockpiling for so long.

In a long speech at the ceremony, Aidid Junior talked about how his faction under his father’s command changed Somalia’s political landscape and his faction’s total support for the new government.

American educated and former US Marine, Hussein Aidid moved to Somalia permanently after the death of his father, former army general Mohamed Farah Aided. Aidid senior was known for his armed conflicts with American and UN (UNISOM) humanitarian troops in the nineties. He was wounded in a firefight between two sides within his faction in Mogadishu and died on August 1, 1996.

According to Geneva Call website, these faction leaders signed to stop using landmines:

http://www.genevacall.org/

- Banadiri (Chairman Mohamed Osman Maye)

- Hiran Patriotic Alliance (HPA)/Somalia Reconciliation and Restoration Council (SRRC) (Chairman Hasan Abdulle Qalad)

- Jowhar Administration (Chairman Mohamed Omar Habeb "Dhere")

- Jubba Valley Alliance (JVA) (Chairman Col Barre Aden "Hiirale")

- Puntland State of Somalia (President Abdullahi Yusuf)

- Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA)/SRRC (faction of Chairman Col. Hassan Mohamed Nur "Shatigudud")

- Rahanweyn Resistance Army (RRA) (faction of Chairman Sheikh Adan Madobe)

- Somali African Muki Organisation (SAMO)/SRRC/Nakuru (Chairman Mowlid Ma'ane Mohamud)

- Somali National Front (SNF)/SRRC (Chairman Mohamed Sayid Aden)

- Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM)/SRRC (Chairman Gen. Aden Abdullahi Nur, "Gabyow")

- Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM)/BIREM (Chairman Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail)

- Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM)/SNA/SRRC (Chairman Abdulaziz Sheikh Yusuf)

- Transitional National Government (TNG)

- United Somali Congress (USC)/Somali National Alliance (SNA/SRRC) (Chairman Hussein Farah Aideed)

- USC/North Mogadishu/SRRC (Hilowle Imam Omar)

- USC/SNA/SRRC/Nakuru (Chairman Osman Hassan Ali "Ato")

- USC/Somali Salvation Army (SSA) (Chairman Omar Mohamoud Mohamed "Finish")

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