Sunday 26-Jan, 2025 {HMC} U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has denounced President Donald Trump’s executive order halting all refugee movement and suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), describing it as an inhumane and immoral decision that undermines America’s values.

Omar, representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which includes the largest Somali diaspora in the United States, warned that the order would have devastating global consequences, leaving countless individuals in desperate situations. “At a time when global strife, economic uncertainty, and the climate crisis are fueling unprecedented levels of forced migration, it is beyond shameful the president has turned our back on those suffering from global catastrophe,” she said in a statement issued Wednesday. “This inhumane decision will have dangerous ripple effects around the world. Untold numbers of people around the world are hoping, praying, and counting on the United States to live up to the promise of being a country that welcomes them to a land of peace and opportunity.”

The congresswoman, herself a former refugee, spoke about the deeply personal nature of the issue. “My family and I were given a golden ticket to immigrate to the United States. Now untold numbers of people huddled in refugee camps around the world will not be afforded the same fate,” she stated. Omar also pointed out that many of her constituents have family members who have been waiting years to be resettled in the United States.

Minnesota is home to the largest Somali diaspora in the United States, with estimates ranging from 58,800 individuals of Somali descent to approximately 80,000, according to data from the Minnesota State Demographic Center and Minnesota Compass in 2018. However, community leaders have suggested the figure is much higher, with some estimating it’s closer to 150,000. Concentrated in neighbourhoods like Minneapolis’s Cedar-Riverside, often called “Little Mogadishu,” the Somali diaspora has built thriving businesses, cultural centers, and community organizations. However, Omar warned that Trump’s refugee ban threatens to deepen family separations and disrupt the cultural fabric of these closely-knit communities.

Trump’s order, signed just days after his inauguration, has drawn widespread criticism from progressive lawmakers and humanitarian organizations. Omar argued that the decision represents a stark departure from the principles of justice and compassion that the United States has long championed. “This order not only flies in the face of basic morality but also goes directly against our values,” she said.

The congresswoman called on the Trump administration to reconsider its stance. “This disastrous decision will have life-altering consequences that are beyond comprehension. For the sake of millions of children yearning for a better tomorrow, I hope the Administration changes course.”

Omar’s remarks echo the concerns of refugee advocates, who have warned that the suspension of USRAP will leave vulnerable populations, including women and children, at greater risk.

Trump’s recent executive orders have already prompted a flurry of legal challenges. Attorneys general from 22 states have filed lawsuits to block Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship, a policy enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also announced plans to challenge the birthright citizenship directive in court, emphasizing that “birthright citizenship is a cornerstone of our democracy.”

The move also signals a dramatic shift in U.S. immigration policy under Trump, with early indications of a broader crackdown on immigration expected in the coming weeks. Rights groups warn that Trump’s executive order could effectively reinstate the controversial Muslim travel ban, further exacerbating concerns over religious discrimination.

Omar’s rebuke also extended to prominent Democratic leaders, including President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama, for attending Trump’s inauguration earlier this week. During an appearance on CNN’s “The Source” with Kaitlan Collins, she argued that their participation contradicted their earlier statements about Trump being a “threat to democracy.”

“To have a mass number of leaders who spent years condemning his policies now attend his swearing-in sends the wrong message,” Omar said.

The congresswoman has remained a vocal critic of Trump since he targeted her during his 2020 campaign, questioning her American loyalty and linking her to Somalia’s struggles. “She’s telling us how to run our country. How did you do where you came from?” Trump remarked at a rally.

Omar’s condemnation of the executive order adds another chapter to her ongoing public clashes with Trump. She has consistently fired back, framing Trump’s comments as racist and doubling down on her advocacy for immigrant and refugee rights.

SOURCE HIIRAAN ONLINE

Saturday 25, Jun 2025 {HMC}  At least 12 peacekeepers, including two from the UN peacekeeping force MONUSCO, have been killed in fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), authorities said.

Congolese troops and peacekeepers have been battling in recent days to stop an advance by M23 rebels on the city of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

The three-year M23 rebellion in Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich east has intensified in January with rebels seizing control of more territory, prompting the UN to warn of the risk of a broader regional war.

As of Friday, nine South African soldiers had been killed in the clashes with M23 rebels, the South African armed forces said in a statement on Saturday.

Two South Africans deployed with the UN peacekeeping mission and seven others in the Southern African regional bloc’s force in DRC were killed over two days of fierce fighting, it said.

“The members put up a brave fight to prevent the rebels from proceeding to Goma as was their intention,” it said, adding that the M23 had been pushed back.

An UN official, speaking to The Associated Press news agency, confirmed the death of two UN soldiers.

The peacekeepers were killed on Friday, the UN official told the agency on condition of anonymity.

Malawi’s military spokesman confirmed that three of its peacekeepers deployed with the SADC mission had been killed in fighting with M23 rebels.

“We confirm the loss of three of our courageous soldiers who were part of the SADC Mission in the DRC,” spokesperson Emmanuel Mlelemba said, referring to the South African Development Community’s SAMIDRC mission.

“These soldiers fell in the line of duty during an encounter with the M23 rebel group operating in eastern DRC. As the situation remains volatile, further details will be shared later,” he added.

M23, or the March 23 Movement, is an armed group composed of ethnic Tutsis who broke away from the Congolese army more than 10 years ago. Since its resurgence in 2022, M23 has continued to gain ground in eastern DRC.

The DRC and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of supporting M23 with troops and weapons – something Rwanda denies.

UN to relocate nonessential staff
M23 has made significant territorial gains in recent weeks, encircling the eastern city of Goma, which is home to about two million people and a regional hub for security and humanitarian efforts.

The UN said that it would temporarily relocate nonessential staff from Goma, such as administrative staff.

“Essential personnel remain on the ground, sustaining critical operations such as food distribution, medical assistance, shelter, and protection for vulnerable communities,” the UN statement read.

M23 is one of about 100 armed groups that have been vying for a foothold in mineral-rich eastern DRC, along the border with Rwanda, in a decades-long conflict that has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.

Since 1998, approximately six million people have been killed while roughly seven million have been displaced internally.

More than 237,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in eastern Congo since the beginning of this year, the United Nations refugee agency said in a report on Monday.

On Thursday, M23 took control of the town of Sake, which is only 27km (16 miles) west of Goma and one of the last main routes into the provincial capital still under government control, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Source: News Agencies

Saturday 25, Jun 2025 {HMC}  Rebels from the Rwanda-backed M23 have killed a military governor as they advanced through eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the army confirmed on Friday.

Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, North Kivu’s Governor, was shot by M23 fighters when visiting the frontline on Thursday.

He was airlifted to the capital Kinshasa for possible treatment abroad, but “succumbed to his injuries”, said army spokesperson Gen Sylvain Ekenge.

Fighting between the M23 and DR Congo’s army has intensified since the start of the year, with the rebels seizing control of more territory than ever.

More than 400,000 people have fled their homes since the start of this year as the M23 advances on the city of Goma, the UN reports.

As they moved towards Goma, the M23 captured the towns of Masisi and Minova.

More than 200 civilians have been killed in areas captured by the M23, local leaders said on Thursday.

Hospitals in Goma are treating hundreds of injured patients.

And according to the United Nations, two children died after bombs fell on a camp for displaced people.

Human Rights Watch has warned of escalating risks to civilians as the Congolese army battles the M23 rebels. The humanitarian group accuses both sides of committing grave abuses against civilians.

The UN has warned that the ongoing conflict is worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region.

As a result of this unrest, Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi cut short his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, flying back on Thursday to hold urgent security meetings with top officials.

President Tshisekedi gave instructions to the army to “track down the enemy attacking us, push them far from Goma, and pursue them across all the national territory,” said Gen Ekenge.

The fall of Goma – a city of over a million that lies close to the border with Rwanda – would be a major coup for the rebels. They briefly took over the city during a rebellion in 2012, but withdrew after a deal was brokered.

Numerous roads leading towards the city have now been blocked, sparking concerns that food supplies in the city might run out.

“The town of Goma is held in a vice, the town is suffocated, there are no more entrances, there are no more exits… this population is suffering enormously” local union leader Bahala Shamavu Innocent told the BBC.

Espoir Ngalukiye, a member of the opposition party Ensemble pour la Republique, is also worried about access to food.

“In Goma we are not safe for real,” Mr Ngalukiye said. “No-one who lives in Goma can tell you that he doesn’t have fear.”

Over the last few days, the United States, United Kingdom and France have all advised their nationals to leave Goma as soon as possible.

Gen Cirimwami was named North Kivu’s governor in 2023, tasked with ending decades of conflict in the region. At the time, there was some criticism of appointing a military governor.

Prior to this, as a military commander, Gen Cirimwami went against President Tshisekedi’s wishes and collaborated with armed group FDLR in the fight against the M23, according to the United Nations.

Some FDLR leaders have been linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the group has also been accused of human rights violations in DR Congo.

Rwanda has repeatedly accused Congolese authorities of working with the FDLR, and has twice invaded its much larger neighbour, saying it was going after those who committed the genocide.

On Thursday the M23 rebels captured the nearby town of Sake, according to the United Nations, the United Kingdom and various other sources.

But the Congolese army said it had repelled the attack on Sake, which lies just 20 km (12 miles) from Goma.

Residents of Sake and the wider area – many of whom were already displaced by the conflict – have fled their homes.

People are escaping carrying mattresses and other such essentials on their backs, while dozens pile into overcrowded wooden boats.

Thousands of panicked families have fled towards Goma, where hospitals have been overwhelmed with injured civilians.

The M23 has taking control of vast swathes of mineral-rich eastern DR Congo since 2021. As a consequence, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced.

Last year, it was also feared the rebels would seize Goma. There was a lull in fighting in late July, but heavy fighting resumed in October, and worsened towards the end of the year.

The DR Congo and the UN say the M23 is backed by Rwanda. The Rwandan authorities neither confirm nor deny this.

UN experts say Rwanda has between 3,000 and 4,000 troops operating alongside the M23 in eastern DR Congo.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the current conflict risks escalating into a broader regional war.

Mr Guterres called on “all actors to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and to put an end to all forms of support to armed groups,” a statement said.

SOURCE BBC