NAIROBI, Kenya — A major security operation targeting Ethiopian immigrants was conducted in Nairobi on Wednesday night where 30 Ethiopians were arrested.
Police said the operation is part of tight security measures put in place to curb crime rates in the country and guard against terrorism-related incidents.
“The operation was conducted in Pangani area where 30 Ethiopian aliens were arrested. They will appear in court today (Thursday),” Nairobi PPO Anthony Kibuchi said.
Those arrested did not posses requisite identification documents legalising their stay in the country while others were found with fake documents, according to police.
Mr Kibuchi told Capital News similar operations will be conducted in other city estates, mainly those inhabited by foreigners.
This includes Eastleigh, Hurlingham and parts of Kileleshwa.
Security in most parts of the country including border points was stepped up since Monday, a day after two bombs were detonated at two social places in Kampala, Uganda killing 74 people.
As many as 100 others were wounded in the attack which Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility.
Military Spokesman Bogita Ongeri on Monday told Capital News that security had been intensified at Kenya’s border, mainly in the Northern part of the country which borders Somalia.
“There shouldn’t be cause for alarm, our borders are secured, we have round the clock patrols there and this has been enhanced after the Kampala bombings,” Mr Ongeri said.
In Nairobi, police said they had established elaborate security measures to help counter terrorism activities and other related incidents.
This includes holding regular meetings with representatives and operators of businesses at congested areas and bus terminus which can be possible targets for terror groups.
A security meeting held in Nairobi on Wednesday evening resolved to have divisional police commanders meet with such representatives to agree on the modalities that can be used to keep their areas safe.
Places like the Muthurwa market, the Railway station and the populous Gikomba market are some of the most congested areas in the city where such meetings will be held beginning Monday, according to police.
Memher Zebene, the charlatan preacher who has been causing havoc at the MedhaneAlem Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Maryland, has finally succeeded this Sunday in taking over the church.
In the period leading up to Sunday’s vote, Zebene and friends have waged an aggressive “election campaign” like a politician. In their dirty campaign, one of the tactics they used was to intimidate and chase away several long time members of the church.
In the first place, the election it self is illegal since according to a long standing Ethiopian Orthodox Church rule, a new head of church cannot be chosen while incumbent head is alive. MedhaneAlem Church’s head is sick but still alive. To Zebene and his cult-like group of blind followers the church’s rule is meaningless.
Even after such a dirty campaign full of intimidation, where the church’s membership has dwindled down to less than 300, he has received only 190 votes. Many have decided not to participate in the illegal voting and 69 voted against him. With this many long time members of the church opposing him, Zebene cannot be a legitimate head of the church even if the voting is legal. If he has any semblance of integrity and care for the church’s well-being, he would not have dragged it through such ugly fight.
But as I stated in the past, Zebene is not a religious leader. He is a vainglorious cult leader and a thug who has no respect for Ethiopian Orthodox Church traditions and the Church’s elders and scholars.
His rude behavior toward elder church members, fellow preachers, as well as any one who questions him is appalling. A couple of years ago he even threatened to physically attack Addis Dimts Radio host Abebe Belew while he was on air.
In teaching the Bible, he some times makes up his own story. One time while preaching he said Ethiopia’s Queen Saba spoke with King Solomon in Amharic.
There are close to a hundred Ethiopian church in North America. All most all of them are providing needed spiritual service to their members with little or no controversy. These churches are being led by great, selfless Ethiopians who have no interest in profiting from the churches they are elected to lead. Unfortunately there are a couple of church such as MedhaneAlem of Maryland who are being hijacked by charlatans.
By Elias Kifle
I am encouraged by the positive feedback I am getting from many people who attended my debate with Ethiomedia’s editor Abraha Belai Saturday in Qale Ethiopia’s Paltalk room, which was attended by some 400 people Saturday. The following is one of the many comments I have received:
Dear Abraha and Elias:
As luck had it, I listened to your insightful debate over Qale Paltalk yesterday.
I salute you for taking the initiative to debate and the civility with which you conducted it. Thank you also for responding to the popular call for unity by declaring your plan to organize a conference for Ethiopian journalists to get together and advance your common cause.
You are right, media matters and I am sure you can make a difference!
Thank you again and have a great day!
“Zare Tibibir, Nege Wedidir”
Abate Kassa
Many others expressed similar views as Ato Abate that the discussion was a good beginning since both of us agreed to focus on issues and strategies that we agree on, which, by the way are many.
I am satisfied with Abraha’s position that Woyanne/TPLF as an organization cannot be reformed and thus must be removed.
One of the things Abraha proposed is for all Ethiopian media to come together and jointly organize public forums and town hall meetings where the opposition’s next move is discussed.
I was surprised by the number of people who attended the debate/discussion since a World Cup game was going on that the time.
My approach during the debate was a bit confrontational for some people’s taste while Abraha was polite and avoided confrontation. My view is that Ethiopians need to express their anger and be outspoken in order to overcome the paralyzing inertia that has plagued the anti-Woyanne, pro-democracy camp.
In the end, both Abraha and I agreed to work together for our common goal, i.e., the immediate removal of Woyanne from Ethiopia. As a first step, he put Ethiopian Review’s link back on his site.
KAMPALA, UGANDA — Three bombs exploded inside a restaurant in a Kampala neighborhood known as Ethiopian village Sunday night. The blasts killed more than 40 people, a Ugandan newspaper reported.
The New Vision, which attributed the death toll to witnesses, said scores more were wounded. Police had not confirmed the total number killed, the newspaper said.
There were unconfirmed reports of other explosions in Ntinda and Bwaise, as well.
The New Vision said most of the dead were killed by two bombs that exploded back-to-back shortly after 11 p.m. at the Kyadondo Rugby Club where the final game of the 2010 World Cup was being watched.
A sportswriter for the newspaper who was at the event said shoes and other clothing and broken chairs littered the area. Security soldiers and rescuers were evacuating and helping the wounded, New Vision said.
The other blast, which was the first to happen, was reported in the city’s Kabalagala neighborhood, home to many Ethiopians.
Police said they suspected al-Shabaab militants from Somalia could have been behind the attacks.
“We have been suspecting that these people could be planning something like this,” Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, the inspector general of police, told the newspaper by phone last night. — UPI
A man aids a woman hurt in the bombing at an Ethiopian restaurant in Kampala, Uganda. (Marc Hofer/AP July 12, 2010)
(LA TIMES) — In simultaneous bombings bearing the hallmarks of international terrorists, two explosions ripped through crowds watching the World Cup final in two places in Uganda’s capital late Sunday, killing 64 people, police said. One American was slain and several were wounded.
The deadliest attack occurred at a rugby club as people watched the game between Spain and the Netherlands on a large-screen TV outdoors. The second blast took place at an Ethiopian restaurant, where at least three Americans were wounded.
One American was killed in the blasts, said Joann Lockard, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Kampala.
The White House said it was ready to assist Ugandan authorities if requested.
“The president is deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from these deplorable and cowardly attacks, and sends his condolences to the people of Uganda and the loved ones of those who have been killed or injured,” White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
A senior U.S. administration official said, “We are in contact with our embassy in Kampala and in touch with the FBI regarding government of Uganda requests for assistance.”
Kampala’s police chief said he believed that Somalia’s most-feared militant group, Shabab, could be responsible. Shabab is known to have links with Al Qaeda, and it counts militant veterans from the Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan conflicts among its ranks.
A head and legs were found at the rugby club, suggesting a suicide bomber may have been to blame, an Associated Press reporter at the scene said.
At least three Americans — part of a church group from Pennsylvania — were wounded at the Ethiopian restaurant. One was Kris Sledge, 18, of Selinsgrove, Pa.
“I remember blacking out, hearing people screaming and running,” Sledge said from the hospital. His right leg was wrapped and he had burns on his face. “I love the place here but I’m wondering why this happened and who did this.… At this point, we’re just glad to be alive.”
The bombings left shocked survivors standing among corpses, blood, pieces of flesh and scattered chairs.
“We were watching soccer here and then when there were three minutes to the end of the match, an explosion came … and it was so loud,” Juma Seiko said at the Kampala Rugby Club, Reuters reported.
Heavily armed police cordoned off both blast sites and searched the areas with sniffer dogs while dazed survivors helped pull the wounded away from the wreckage.
Police Chief Kale Kaihura originally said that at least 30 people had been killed, but that the toll could rise.
Later, a senior police official at the scene said 64 people had died — 49 from the rugby club and 15 at the Ethiopian restaurant. The official told the Associated Press that he could not be identified.
Kaihura said he suspected Shabab. Its fighters, including two recruited from the Somali communities in the United States, have carried out multiple suicide bombings in Somalia.
If Kaihura’s suspicions prove true, it would be the first time the group has carried out attacks outside Somalia.
Simultaneous attacks are also one of Al Qaeda’s hallmarks.
In Mogadishu, Somalia, Sheik Yusuf Sheik Issa, a Shabab commander, told the Associated Press early Monday that he was happy with the attacks in Uganda. Issa refused to confirm or deny that Shabab was responsible.
“Uganda is one of our enemies,” he said. “Whatever makes them cry makes us happy. May God’s anger be upon those who are against us.”
During weekly Friday prayers in Somalia two days before the double bombing, another Shabab commander, Sheik Muktar Robow, called for militants to attack sites in Uganda and Burundi — two nations that contribute troops to the African Union peacekeeping force in Mogadishu.
In addition to its troops in Mogadishu, Uganda also hosts Somali soldiers trained in U.S.- and European-backed programs.
Kenya’s foreign minister, Moses Wetangula, told the Associated Press last week that enough veteran militants from the Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan conflicts have relocated to Somalia to spark worry in the international community.
International militants have flocked to Somalia because the country’s government controls only a few square miles of the capital, Mogadishu, leaving most of the rest of the country as lawless territory where insurgents can train and plan attacks unimpeded.
Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia in 2006 to oust an Islamist movement from Mogadishu. That sparked the Islamist insurgency that still rages.
