Thread: Employment Opportunities

March 12 is now my 2nd mth away from Mogadishu and it stills gives me much reason to sit and recall. The attached AMISOM magazine makes a summary of their operation in Somalia since March 07.

It is interesting to read all they have written and for me to intimately understand what had to be done and put in place to support them. They recount their arrival 6 March 07 into an insecure environment that was Mogadishu on-board a Belarussian IL76. Much credit to them...but...there is nil recognition made to the fact that their US Dept of State Contractor, had already been on the ground for the previous 2 weeks...before any AMISOM troops had landed.

Yes, there is always a lot more, in any story, that is never told.

There is now a lot more political effort coming to Somalia...not that we'd know of it here in Australia. There is movement afoot to expand into other regions in the south and west, to displace Al Shabaab. Hopefully, it will not be rushed but, will take the time and effort required to reach a stable, bottom-up solution for regional Somalia.

Originally Posted by BBC

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The likes of Rio & BHP have become very interested in Africa. Africa has the potential to have an effect on their Australian investments...hence their interest. Can't let stuff like this get out of their control.

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I have heard the opposite. the big two are selling most/all of their African interests???

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I have heard the opposite. the big two are selling most/all of their African interests???

BHP and Xstrata are huge over here.

I sell IT equipment to BHP / BECSA / Samanacor Manganese and I haven't heard a word of any sales.

Please post a link for this info?

Originally Posted by jakeslouw

BHP and Xstrata are huge over here.

I sell IT equipment to BHP / BECSA / Samanacor Manganese and I haven't heard a word of any sales.

Please post a link for this info?

I have the info from someone who works for one of the above companies in a senior role.

A quick google reveals RT and BHP are selling coal and aluminium assets in Africa, but nothing more that I can find.

Pardon me for reflecting and commenting on Mogadishu and Somalia.......

Nov 11 I had to participate in a recon to assess the suitability/viability of faciliating offices for the UN Political Office Somalia (UNPOS) within Villa Somalia, a TFG compound adjoining the TFG Presidential Compound. They were pushing to have a presence there, beside the TFG.

I'd been to Villa Somalia multiple on multiple occasions since 09 and I was very aware of the lack of access security into the compound. AMISOM played politically and would not take command of the compound's security and left Somalis manning the approaches and gates. I was not in favour of their intent and I still have a copy of my report.

From earlier in 09 we had been trying to operate Explosive Detection dogs EDDs at their gates.....NO....it was deemed to be culturally insensitive.

Anyway, the inevitable happened yesterday:

SomaliaReport: Suicide Blast at Villa Somalia click on the photo...the close up is quite graphic.

I am sure this will put paid to any intention of the UN to establish a presence in the Villa Somalia...until they can win the battle over security procedures and standards.



Another article of interest was the front page story in some newspapers this Tue 13 Mar 12 re some gentlemen that work within an organisation that is called the 'S....A.....S'.

Mention was made of them visiting Zimbabwe and Nigeria. No mention of the night on the wallop with two of them I had in Mogadishu in Mar 11.

I don't want to be negative, but maybe the best recipe for Somalia is to put up a big fence around the country and chuck several thousand AK-47s over the fence and then leave it all to brew for 20 years or so.....

Originally Posted by jakeslouw

I don't want to be negative, but maybe the best recipe for Somalia is to put up a big fence around the country and chuck several thousand AK-47s over the fence and then leave it all to brew for 20 years or so.....

Isn't that what has been happening, all be it with out the steel fences?

Feed anything and it will grow. Cut off the supplies then it wither's and dies.
By sending more guns, peace will never happen , we must send messages of peace instead.
I have met the nicest people that are from this part of the world, they are not monsters! The ones that have chosen to stay there need help to stay in their homeland and live their lives peacefully.

The movie makers will never be short of a script while there is trouble, like what is happening at the present in Somalia, is still occurring. Is the rest of the world just going to sit back and watch what is going to happen next, like some sort of perverse theatre?
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Departing tomorrow night to Nairobi, Kenya....Yep, back there again.

First week of the new job involves me attending the East Africa Oil, Gas, & Energy Conference. An interesting start with the opportunity to take a wider view of the continental interests.

3rd Eastern African Oil, Gas & Energy Week Organised By Global Pacific & Partners