Indian Ocean breaking news – 3.6 million US Dollars ransom intercepted in Mogadishu

PAYMENT OF RANSOM TO OCEAN TERRORISTS INTERCEPTED

Information was received yesterday via the Nairobi based ECOTERRA INTERNATIONAL organization, that authorities in Mogadishu reportedly intercepted two aircraft, crews and passengers, carrying what can only be described as ransom money worth millions of US Dollars, as the two flights appeared to have run short of fuel, or lost directions and landed at the main airport in the Somali capital, which is controlled by the African Union peace keeping troops and under government control.

Cutting the ocean terrorists off their blood money will be a huge blow to them, but also to Al Shabab and other Islamic based militant groups, which are regularly reported to have received their fair share and then some more, fueling arms trafficking and financing terror attacks like the one against Uganda last year during the World Cup final.

A related interview with the Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs, the Honourable Joel Morgan, often referred to as the ‘Anti Piracy Minister’ will be published here very soon and his answers in regard of the Seychelles hard line position vis a vis ocean terrorism – he fully endorsed this phrase coined by this correspondent a from the early stages of this menace emerging – reaffirm what few still dare to say openly: ‘the naval coalition must revise their rules of engagement, contain the terrorists within the Somali national waters and decisively respond just as soon as they cross the line, going out to hunt for maritime traffic. At the same time robust action needs to be taken too to deny the ocean terrorists safe havens on land, disrupt and disable their financial network across the globe, just as it has been happening in regard of raising money for Al Qaida – as ultimately there is little difference between the two in the barbaric acts both groups perpetrate.

The confiscation of at least 3.6 million US Dollars was further sweetened when the crews of the plane, faced with long detention in notorious Somali prisons, started to spill the beans by pointing to Nairobi based backers and financial beneficiaries of the ransom deals, which will finally permit some arrests to take place and prosecutions being initiated against masterminds and financiers of ocean terrorism.

Just like Al Qaida sympathizers and financial backers are facing the full brunt of the laws now in place, those supporting, aiding and abetting piracy terror on the open seas too must be held accountable by the same standards.

The economic damage done by the menace to Indian Ocean countries and along the Eastern African seaboard, but in fact the entire world economy, is now estimated to be near 20 billion US Dollars, a big enough incentive to once and for all do the right thing: Strengthen the mandate of the AU force to move from a dubious peace keeping mission to an active role of cleansing Somalia of insurgents and Islamic terrorists on land, eliminating the ocean terrorists bases on land and upon completion of the task allow the international community to assist the Somali leadership to rebuild their country and provide an enabling environment to allow Somalis to create prosperity for themselves by honest means.

Meanwhile on the open seas, with all the available monitoring and surveillance systems the naval coalition commands, the message must be clear too – cross from your territorial waters into the open ocean, look like a pirate, act like a pirate and be sure of a swift and harsh reaction, which the war on terror, including the terror of the open seas, requires as a measure of self defense.

Watch this space.

Uganda news update – Pilgrims enroute to Namugongo Martyrs Shrine

MARTYR’S DAY PILGRIMAGES UNDERWAY

From right across Uganda and other countries in East Africa are Catholic faithful making their long way to the Namugongo Shrine, where the annual ‘Martyrs Day’ is celebrated, a public holiday in Uganda since the church declared the victims of a savage ritual burning decreed by Kabaka Mwanga, the then King of Buganda on Christians, when they denounced their allegiance to him over and above their allegiance to God. Many of the faithful are in fact walking for days already, intending to reach the shrine in time for the June 03^rd commemoration and celebrations in Namugongo, located just outside the capital Kampala.

Martyrs Day brings thousands of pilgrims to Uganda year after year, and in recent years many come from far away including regular groups of Catholics from Nigeria who seek the blessings of these Saints, through whom they pray to the Lord. However, pilgrims from Asia and Europe too have started to recognize the importance of this event and began to flock to ‘the Pearl of Africa’ to pray and seek the intervention of Uganda’s saints on their behalf.

June 03^rd is annually observed in Uganda and has for long had a galvanizing effect on all Christians across the board in the country, since both Catholics and Anglicans alike were burned alive or else stabbed to death with spears for refusing to accept the dominance of their worldly ruler over the rule of God.

Pope Paul VI, who visited Uganda and prayed at the then newly erected memorial site, canonized the martyrs in a then much publicized ceremony on October 18^th of 1964 and in honour of the saints the government of Uganda then created the annual ‘Martyrs Day’.

Uganda news update – Tragedy strikes travellers as flash flood hits their vehicle

TWO DOZEN UGANDANS DROWN IN SOUTH SUDAN RIVER FLASH FLOOD

A group of Ugandan traders, returning home after completing their business in Southern Sudan, were reportedly swept away by a sudden flash flood, as they spent the night, probably unknowingly, in a dry river bed where their vehicle had gotten stuck.

The horror news reached Uganda overnight but seems to have happened already earlier in the week. The river Rumula at this crossing has no bridge and busses, lorries and 4×4’s cross when the river is dry, something the vehicle carrying the Ugandans attempted but got stuck in the soft sand.

Not wanting to abandon the vehicle, and seeking the safety of it instead of sleeping on the ground – the area is also still  frequented by game and predators – the group was probably surprised in their sleep when by the onrushing water after suspected heavy rainfall in the Congo, from where this particular river originates. Condolences are extended to the families and friends of all those who so tragically perished in this incident.

Seychelles aviation news update – Delivery of second Twin Otter DHC – 600 deferred

AIR SEYCHELLES DEFERS NEXT TWIN OTTER DHC-600 DELIVERY

Information was received from sources close to and at the national airline of the Seychelles, that a second brand new Twin Otter DHC-600 earmarked for purchase will not, for the time being, be delivered while the restructuring of ‘HM’ is ongoing. The first aircraft, the long round the world ferry flight to the Seychelles covered here on a day to day basis a few months ago, is in service on the domestic routes of Air Seychelles to Praslin and other islands, and for charters, and it is understood that existing turboprop aircraft will remain on the fleet for some more time to come to have sufficient aircraft capacity available to operate  the network of scheduled domestic flights, in particular when the main international airlines arrive and depart from Mahe’s airport, besides the regular charters the airline undertakes for tourist groups.