01 Nov 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- SNSA display 50 al Shabaab defectors
- African Union forces in control of Mogadishu: says UN official
- ‘Big Countries’ are sought to help fight in Somalia
- Int’l community should lure young Somalis with development activities away
- Cholera kills 142 children in Somalia
- Kenyan youth being recruited by al Shabaab
- Commonwealth chiefs calls for stable Somalia
- Somalia Ethiopia discuss border crossing security
- Al Shabaab evicts people around Baidoa Airstrip
- Somalia humanitarian crisis forum held in Netherlands
SOMALI MEDIA
SNSA display al Shabaab defectors
01 Nov- Source: Radio Mogadishu – 139 words
Somalia’s National Security Agency (SNSA) on Monday displayed more than 50 extremists fighters, mainly youths who surrendered to Somali government forces in Mogadishu.
Ibrahim Omar Aden, the spokesman of the Somali security agency confirmed the young men surrendered to the government within the last three days and that they will be taken to a rehabilitation center run by the Somali government where the youths will also have an opportunity to undertake quality training to better their lives.
The Somali Transitional Federal Government of Somalia has increased time previously given to al Shabaab extremist’s fighters to defect.This is the largest number of al Shabaab fighters to surrender to the Somali government within a week.
Somalia, Ethiopia discuss border crossing security
01 Nov – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye – 100 words
Officials of Somali government and Ethiopia are holding a meeting dissecting the border crossing security in Gedo region of southern Somalia. Mohamoud Sayid Adam, Somali parliamentarian, said the meeting is held in Dolow town of Gedo on Monday.
The lawmaker noted that Somali parliamentarians and officials from Ethiopia attended the security meeting. The meeting will be going on for three days. Different parts of the society were invited to take part in the border crossing security and the overall security of Gedo region, according to Sayid Adam. He said the political affairs of Somalia will not be mooted in the meeting.
Abducted US, Dane taken to al Shabaab area in central Somalia
01 Nov – Source; Shabelle – 123 words
The administration of the self-styled Galmudug state today proclaimed that the abducted American and Danish aid workers were led by their kidnappers to an al Shabaab-controlled area in Mudug region of central Somalia.
Speaking to Shabelle Media Network, Galmudug’s Minister of Interior and Internal Security Ashir Dini said that the two aid workers with Danish Demining Group DDG, who were recently kidnapped from southern Galka’yo, are still in the hands of their captors.
He added that the kidnappers clashed themselves in parts of Mudug region and the armed confrontation left several people dead. Two people are holding the American and Danish, according to the minister who noted that the captors will be put on trial.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Al Shabaab evict people around Baidoa Airstrip
01 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 192 words
Al Shabaab in Baidoa has reportedly ordered locals living around the Baidoa airstrip to immediately move from the area. Speaking to a pro-militant radio station, area rebel leader Adan Abuu Safia ordered all families living areas around the airstrip to vacate their homes for few days without giving any reasons.
The order comes a day after an alleged Eritrean plane carrying weapons and other military supplies for al Shabaab in Somalia landed at Baidoa airstrip.
Some of the evictees who spoke to Bar-kulan said they have other places to move to. Rebel fighters on Sunday sealed off the area around the airstrip and heavily armed rebel fighters were also seen patrolling major roads leading to the airstrip.
It is not clearly known where the plane came from, but reliable sources say it was an Eritrean plane carrying shipment of military supplies for al Shabaab. The alleged shipment comes a time the militia is locked in fighting with Kenyan troops who crossed the border two weeks ago in pursuit of rebel fighters accused of abducting foreigners from Kenya.
President thanks Iran’s assistance to Somalia
31 Oct – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SNTV, SONNA – 131 words
Somalia’s President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed thanked the Iranian nation for dispatching a large number of humanitarian aid cargos to the famine-hit nation and lauded Iranians’ long and fruitful activities in his country.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed pointed to Iran’s Social and Religious Activities in Somalia since a millennium ago, and stressed Iranians’ key role in the country’s prosperity and development.
Referring to the devastating famine in his country, President Sharif said, “now that the Somali people are stricken with a great famine, Iranians have been among the first Islamic states which have once again helped their Muslim brothers.” He voiced his appreciation for the Iranian leadership and nation for their help and assistance to the Somali people who are struggling with hunger and drought in the country.
Cholera kills 142 children in Somalia
31 Oct – Source: Bariga Afrika – 166 words
Medical sources say at least 83 children have died this morning in the town of Afgoi, 30 kilometres southeast of Mogadishu. This is while more than 1,300 women and children have been hospitalized in the same region.
Meanwhile, medical officials in Mogadishu also say that cholera has claimed the lives of at least 59 children, while another 977 are currently hospitalized in Hoosh District’s Kaah Medical Center. The developments come as the country’s drought victims are still facing the looting of humanitarian aid in different districts across Mogadishu.
Cholera is confirmed in Banadir, Bay, Mudug and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia, and the number of acute diarrhoea cases has increased dramatically in the last few months.
http://www.barigaafrika.com/
Al Shabaab devised a post-defeat escape plan based on ethnicity of their leaders
31 Oct – Source: Somlia report, Radio Mogadishu – 70 words
The top al Shabaab leaders have reportedly designed an escape plan for when the TFG and African forces close in regions controlled by the Islamist forces. They agreed that dark-skinned leaders would cross the border and blend into African populations and the light-skinned leaders would cross the Red sea and move to Yemen in order to join the Al Qaeda movement there, but ethnic Somali leaders have nowhere to run and hide.
Puntland discloses AMISOM will be deployed to central Somalia
01 Nov – Source: Shabelle, Mareeg Online – 104 words
The semi-autonomous state of Puntland on Tuesday disclosed that African Union peacekeepers will be deployed to Galk’ayo, a town in central Somalia. The president of Puntland state, Abdurrahman Sheikh Mohamoud Farole said the security of northern Galka’yo is deteriorating day after day.
Farole said the insecurity activities in the town are intolerable, adding that the clans who live north of Galka’yo have nothing to do with it. He accused al Shabaab fighters, who are struggling to dethrone the Somali government, of committing killings and bomb attacks there.
Therefore, the president of Puntland said that AMISOM forces will be deployed to Galka’yo to assure the security.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Somalia humanitarian crisis forum held in Netherlands
01 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 154 words
A forum aimed at discussing humanitarian crisis in hunger-stricken Somalia has been held in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The forum organised by a humanitarian aid agency, Safi Relief for Agro Pastoral Organization (SARAPO) was attended by officials from a Turkish Humanitarian relief aid, IHH as well as other stakeholders.
Head of SARAPO Mohamed Hassan Idiris told Bar-kulan that the aim of the forum was to inform foreign aid agencies operating in Somalia of the magnitude of the crisis and ways in which humanitarian aid can be delivered to the needy people in Somalia.
Participants of the forum were shown documentaries depicting the plight of hundreds of thousands of people camping in refugee camps in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. An official with the Turkish agency who recently toured refugee camps in Mogadishu said the level of the humanitarian crisis in the area is currently going down, adding that his government played a major role in supporting the hunger-hit Somali people.
REGIONAL MEDIA
African Union forces in control of Mogadishu: says UN official
31 Oct – Source: Coastweek, Xinhua – 433 words
A top UN envoy for Somalia said on Monday the African Union troops have taken control of Mogadishu after expelling Somali militia group Al Shabaab last August.
UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia Augustine Mahiga said African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) soldiers took charge of the beleaguered Somali city after the Islamist militia changed tactics to unconventional warfare.
“Two months after Al Shabaab withdrew from Mogadishu and turned into a guerrilla outfit, our control of the city sprang from 45 per cent to total command, with only a small corner remaining that we will soon overrun,” Mahiga told a news conference in Nairobi.
The Special Representative said the UN fully backs Kenya incursion inside southern Somalia in pursuit of the terror group, though he ruled out a convergence of forces despite the fact that the two armies are fighting a common enemy owing to the different mandates under which they are operating.
“AMISOM troops’area of operation is Mogadishu in line with the mandate of the UN Security Council Chapter 7 in partnership with the African Union, whereas the Kenyan soldiers are in a joint effort with the Transitional Federal Government troops,” he said. “There is no co-relation between what the respective troops are undertaking, though their operations will contribute to expansion of territory from Al Shabaab hands.”
He said since the terror group changed tactics from conventional to unconventional warfare, over 100 innocent civilians have been killed and a higher number wounded from suicide attacks, with the number of bombs defused being highest during this period.
“In whatever operation and by whatever parties during conflict, civilians must be spared and their protection must remain primordial,” he emphasized. The UN envoy’s remarks came after two suicide bombers detonated explosives outside the AU peacekeeping base in Mogadishu on Saturday.
http://www.coastweek.com/3443_
Al Shabaab could use children for suicide attacks, warn police
31 Oct – Source: Africa Review – 242 words
Somali police have warned that embattled Muslim fundamentalist group al Shabaab may be planning to use children and the mentally sick to deploy explosive devices or carry out suicide missions.
Deputy police commander Gen Abdikarim Dahir Sa’id told a top-level government security meeting that the Islamists may already be inculcating children that spilling their blood would advance “the cause of Islam”. The meeting was attended by Interior ministry officials, police force chiefs, the National Security Agency, Mogadishu local authority representatives and the commissioners of the capital city’s 16 districts.
“As part of our drive to improve the security of Somalia, especially Mogadishu, we are going to take preventative measures against al Shabaab’s plan to utilise kids and the mentally sick for violent deeds,” said Gen Sa’id.
“We are terrified that the fanatics are already manipulating school children for deadly operations,” he added.
al Shabaab (Arabic for the youth) leaders reportedly encourage underage children to spill their blood for religious causes in acts of martyrdom.
Kenyan youth being recruited by al Shabaab
31 Oct – Source: NTV – 5:45 min
The arrest and jailing of Elgiva Bwire last week, if nothing else gave credence to the long whispered claim that Kenyans of various ethnic extractions are fighting for al Shabaab. The government had to admit this as the military operation in Somalia commenced. But just five months ago this is a claim the government firmly rebutted, even after it was revealed by the media. He is a re-run of our investigative series, ‘The Enemy Within.’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Ethiopia, Somaliland accede to work closely to ensure peace, stability
31 Oct – Source: Ethiopian News Agency – 154 words
Ethiopia and Somaliland vowed to work closely towards ensuring peace and stability in the region. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Somaliland President Ahmed Mohammed held discussion on various issues including peace and stability, bilateral and regional concerns here on Monday.
The two leaders have also discussed as to how jointly work to prevent the piracy along the Indian Ocean. After the discussion Somaliland President Ahmed told journalists that his administration has put in custody dozens of suspected terrorists engaged in piracy and investigation is underway.
He said the two sides are working to further enhance their relation in which he said “ in a good shape” . PM Meles on his part lauded the efforts of the Somaliland administration for its commitment to fight against piracy. The premier said Ethiopia is resolute to work with Somaliland to ensure peace and stability in border areas, according to an official from the ministry of foreign affairs.
http://www.ena.gov.et/
Commonwealth chiefs calls for stable Somalia
31 Oct – Source: Nairobi Star – 86 words
Commonwealth Heads of State and Government yesterday urged the international community to mobilise cash to strengthen the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to end piracy off the East African coastline. The leaders emphasised that the menace of piracy in the Indian Ocean cannot be effectively tackled in the absence of political stability and security in Somalia. In a statement released during the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government in Perth, Western Australia, the leaders encouraged appropriate funding to AMISOM and global support in enhancing maritime security.
http://www.the-star.co.ke/
Tanzania, Uganda MPs pledge support for Kenya
31 Oct – Source: KBC – 716 words
The Kenya military incursion into Somalia in pursuit of al Shabaab insurgents is receiving regional backing. Members of Parliament from Uganda and Tanzania, who are attending the 5th Eastern African Association of Public Accounts Committees Annual General Meeting in Nairobi, have pledged their support as Kenya fights the al Shabaab terror gang.
The members of parliament serving on the respective public accounts committees in their various countries including South Sudan have called for undivided support for Kenya’s efforts in fighting al Shabaab.
They said Kenya’s efforts could pay dividends in riding and pacifying the region of terrorist outfits. Ugandan MP Kasiano Wadri said Kenya’s move was brave and urged for support for Kenya’s efforts in the fight against terrorism.
“The Ugandan and Burundian forces have been hold up in Mogadishu for quite sometime now and the recent invocation of the Articale 51 of the UN charter by Kenya and the subsequent move to pacify the region is commendable,’ said Wadri who is also the Chairman of the PAC in Uganda.
Tanzanian MP for Bariadi East and John Momose Cheyo and Chairman of the EAAPAC called on parents to shield their children from being conscripted into unlawful outfits like al Shabaab. He said it was worrying to see that Kenya’s tourism was nose-diving on the account of the insurgents who have been kidnapping tourists from the coastal reigon.
http://www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?
Int”l community should lure young Somalis with development activities away
31 Oct – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 422 words
A UN official on Monday said efforts to stem piracy off the Horn of Africa are appreciated, but they are not enough, urging the international community to lure young Somalis away from piracy with alternative beneficial lucrative activities that would help develop the economy of their country.
“More and more pirates are being arrested and prosecuted. Information sharing and coordination have also improved,” Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the Security Council as it discussed piracy off the coast of Somalia.
However, he added, and “despite these unprecedented efforts, attempts to stem pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa remain insufficient. Somali pirates have expanded their operations well into the Indian Ocean. The pirates’ technical capacities have increased, and they have become more violent. Another cause of concern is reports of link between pirates and al Shabaab.” According to the International Maritime Organisation, 316 people and 15 vessels are being held hostage as of early October.
Zerihoun urged Member States and international actors to redouble their efforts and solve the piracy problem in the context of the overall solution to Somalia.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
‘Big countries’ are sought to help fight in Somalia
01 Nov – Source: New York times – 700 words
Kenya and Somalia on Monday called for other nations to help in their fight against Islamist insurgents, as an aid organization said that five civilians were killed and more than 50 wounded when a military aircraft hunting the militants struck a displaced-persons camp in southern Somalia.
Most of the victims and wounded were women and children, the organization said. In a meeting in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, delegations from Somalia and Kenya, which has sent hundreds of soldiers backed by tanks and gunships into Somalia in a premeditated assault to vanquish the al Shabaab Islamist militant group, called for a naval blockade on the al Shabaab-controlled seaport of Kismaayo.
A Somali government spokesman said Somalia was calling on “big countries and big organizations” to help with the blockade, a major moneymaker and densely populated stronghold for the al Shabaab inside Somalia. While the official did not name any countries specifically, he did say that Somalia was interested in help from NATO, whose United Nations-backed intervention in Libya officially ended on Monday.
A spokesman from the Kenyan government said the two countries had “already requested the other countries and partners” with consistent interest in Somalia to help further. Those countries, he said, included “European countries, and the United States.”
The American government has said it is playing no direct or indirect role in Kenya’s operations in Somalia. Memories of the American operation in Somalia in 1993, portrayed in the 2001 movie “Black Hawk Down,” have kept an overt presence of American troops away from Somalia. However, the United States has carried out drone attacks inside Somalia and relies on private contractors to help advance its interests as well.
Currently, Uganda and Burundi provide troops to an African Union peacekeeping mission here, which has supported Somalia’s weak, American-backed government in taking control of much of Mogadishu. More African nations are believed to soon follow.
A communiqu� from the Eastern African Standby Force, a coalition of East African militaries, indicates that more than 100 officers and medical personnel, including military trainers, medical technicians and equipment, along with logistical support, will be sent to the African Union peacekeeping force. The peacekeepers have suffered heavy casualties recently in gun battles and suicide attacks from al Shabaab.
The African Union controls Mogadishu, while the Kenyan military, operating independently and alongside government forces and a mix of ragtag militias, is trying to clear al Shabaab out of southern Somalia. The Kenyan Army is well equipped and well trained, but it has virtually no experience fighting a conventional foreign war. Furthermore, rains have been bogging down the troops on the ground.
So airstrikes have spiked. On Oct. 18, the Kenyan military said it had killed 73 al Shabaab members in southern Somalia. Several days later, the military said it had struck the coastal border city of Raas Kaambooni.
Current efforts to stem piracy off Somali coast must be strengthened – UN official
31 Oct – Source: UN – 472 words
It is vital that Member States strengthen efforts to tackle piracy off the Somali coast, a senior United Nations official stressed today, adding that current initiatives, while laudable, are insufficient.
Tay�-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told a meeting of the Security Council that the international community has responded with an “unprecedented” effort to counter piracy, including through a naval presence off the coast of Somalia which has resulted in the reduction of incidents of piracy at sea.
In addition, more and more pirates are being arrested and prosecuted, and information sharing and coordination have improved, he said, as he presented the annual report of the Secretary-General on piracy off the Somali coast.
“Despite these unprecedented efforts, attempts to stem pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa remain insufficient,” Mr. Zerihoun stated, adding that Somali pirates have expanded their operations well into the Indian Ocean. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), 316 people and 15 vessels were being held hostage as of early October 2011.
Mr. Zerihoun noted that the pirates’ technical capacities have increased and they have become more violent. Many young Somalis continue to be willing to take the risk of becoming criminals at sea.