06 Dec 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- Somali President is in neighboring Ethiopian capital for talks (Source: Radio Mogadishu Shabelle and VOA Somali Service)
- Somali PM meets Kuwait Business sector Representatives Kuwait Red Cross (Source: Office of the Prime Minister)
- Puntland president: We are committed to root out al Shabaab militants (Source: Shabelle Mareeg Online)
- UN adopts milder Eritrea Stance (Source: Daily Nation)
- UN council expands Eritrea sanctions over Somalia (Source: Reuters)
PRESS STATEMENT
Somali PM meets Kuwait Business sector Representatives, Kuwait Red Cross
06 Dec – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 184 words
The Somali Premier Abdiweli held meetings with Kuwait Business Representatives where they discussed several issues among which was the business venture of Kuwait businessmen in Somalia, make use of Somali resources and how both countries’ business community could work together to enhance their business relations.
The Kuwait Business Representatives prepared a luncheon for the Somali Premier and his delegates where they presented gifts of honour. The prime minister informed the Kuwait business community representative that his country possesses untapped natural resources which he said the Kuwait business community should use to help and encourage peace and nationhood of Somalia. The premier warned the consequences of importing charcoal from Somalia which he said is detrimental to the environment and asked them to help his government in bringing a stop to this practice.
The Somali prime minister also held a private meeting with the head of Kuwait Red Cross and thanked them for their timely help to Somali public. He also commended Kuwait government for coming to the aid of Somalis at the height of the droughts period.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president is in neighbouring Ethiopian capital for talks
06 Dec – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Shabelle and VOA Somali Service – 145 words
The president of the TFG, Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is for the second day in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa for crucial talks with the East African leaders of IGAD for talks concerning the Somali security issue.
The president held talks with the Ethiopian premier Meles Zenawi, his Djiboutian counterpart Isma’il Omar Gelle conidial the IGAD meeting and discussed their triple meeting about the current Somali affairs. Somali Information Minister, Abdi Qadir Jahwen who is accompanied by the president’s delegation in Addis Ababa made comments about their trip in neighbouring Ethiopia and the talks with African leaders on Somalia.
The minister noted that Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed’s meeting with Ethiopia and Djibouti leaders threw light on the relation between the three Horn of Africa nations, mainly the worsening security situation in the region.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Two security officers injured in a grenade attack in Galkayo, Mudug region
06 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 203 words
Reports from Somalia’s central city of Galkayo say unknown gangs on Monday night attacked Puntland regional administration headquarters with hand grenades, wounding two security officers.
The attack occurred at Puntland-administered north of the city. The reported attackers threw two hand grenades in to the area administration headquarters, wounding two security officers guarding the area, according to eyewitnesses.
The attackers reportedly fled the area immediately after the attack. Puntland security officers who arrived at the scene of the incident rounded up several youths sitting at tea kiosks around the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. There were no official comments from the area administration.
The incident comes days after two people were killed and three others wounded when two clan militias exchanged gunfire in northern part of the city. The incident is linked with long standing clan rivalry in the area.
The city has in the past few months seen waves of violent assassinations and organised crimes targeting government officials, prominent traditional elders as well as journalists. Recently, officers were injured in an explosion near a mosque in the area after unknown men hurled hand grenades at officers who were conducting security operations in the area.
Puntland president: We are committed to root out al Shabaab militants
06 Dec – Source: Shabelle, Mareeg Online – 201 words
The Puntland state President Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud Farole has announced on Tuesday that his administration would be on the frontline in the war on what he called the terrorists in the Horn of Africa.
While speaking to reporters in Garowe town, the capital city of Puntland administration, presidents Farole noted that his government with the help of the people of Puntland are committed to fight and flush al Shabaab out of Somalia.
Mr. Farole underlined the fact that Puntland’s war on al Shabaab is stronger than the fight of the TFG and AMISOM soldiers against the militants in southern regions of Somalia. He repeatedly urged to unite all parts in the war against the increasing threat of al Shabaab across the Horn of Africa war raved Somalia.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Al Shabaab compels Bur-hakaba traders to pay money
06 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 177 words
Al Shabaab rebel group in Bur-hakaba district of Bay region has reportedly compelled local traders in the area to pay $18,000 within 15 days. The money is aimed to meet the needs of the rebel group in order to allow them fight to TFG and Ethiopian troops, according to militia leaders.
Area rebel leader Mohamed Hassan who addressed the public at an open field has reportedly threatened to punish anybody who fails to meet their demand.
Ibrahim Hussein, one of the local traders in Bur-hakaba told Bar-kulan that even though it was hard for most of the people to pay such amount of money, others have already paid their share.
Earlier in mid July, al Shabaab leaders in Bardera district of Gedo region compelled small scale traders in the area to pay Shs 200, 000 every month. The cash-strapped militia group is known for such actions whenever faced by either military pressure or financial crisis. Local traders say they are worried of al Shabaab’s brutal rules compelling them to pay an amount they could not afford.
Al Shabaab jail farmers in Jowhar of middle Shabelle region
06 Dec – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 146 words
At twenty people mostly farmers and cattle keepers have been arrested in Borwo Weyen village under Jowhar district of middle Shabelle region by al Shabaab. Reports from Jowhar district indicate that extremists jailed the people regardless elderly and childhood by beating and abusing them.
The locals confirm to SONNA that the arrested people include ailing persons who cannot afford to be behind bars, but extremist not care that.
Mohamed Abdi Nor, a resident of Barow Weyne which is 15 km north of Jowhar said that the extremists asked the residents to bring cattle and food like maize and vegetables to facilitate the ongoing fights against the legitimate government of Somalia and AMISOM forces in Somalia.
Mogadishu’s security discussed by various stakeholders
05 Dec – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Somalia Report – 60 words
A meeting on the safety and security of Mogadishu was attended in different parts of the civil society on Monday, including Somali lawmakers, TFG officers and Somali elders. The various participants agreed to cooperate in order to prevent IED attacks carried out by the extremists of al Shabaab and to work with the security forces in reach peace and stability.
Somaliland: Security Sector Assessment (SSA) Seminar concludes
05 Dec – Source: Somaliland Press – 366 words
An international conference on Conducting a Comprehensive Security Sector Assessment (SSA) came to an end in Ambassador Hotel in Hargeisa with an address by UN special envoy to Somalia Mr. Augustine Mahiga. The closing ceremony was attended by Mr. Mahiga who claimed that Somaliland’s system of governance and security is adequate.
He praised the Somaliland government and made it no secret that it deserves to get recognition from the international community as it is functioning democratically. He added that there is an elected government currently in place in Somaliland and that there was a transfer of power through peaceful means. He went on by saying that civil society organizations, the government and country’s armed forces will discuss the security.
He acknowledged that Somaliland deserves to be assisted on the side of security, promote democracy and gain international recognition. The conference was attended by all security agencies, representatives of Somaliland government, council of parliament, civil society organizations, the regional body of IGAD and United Nations Organizations. The main subject of the conference was to measure Somaliland’s security strategy and how it will play a key role in the region.
http://somalilandpress.com/
Somaliland President holds urgent meeting with top security officers after murder
06 Dec – Source: Hadhwanaag Press – 118 words
After the killing of a father and his two sons on Monday, Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamoud Silanyo has held an urgent meeting with top police and military leaders to discuss the murder.
After the meeting, the president has ordered to urgently act and reach the area where the incident took place, according a statement from the presidency of Somaliland obtained by Hadhwanaag Press.
“Late Sunday night, a callous murder took place in an area locates between Gibiley and Baki. At least three innocent people have been killed” the statement said. The president of Somaliland ordered the security officials to capture the culprits as soon as possible. The president also sent condolences to the families and relatives of the deceased people.
Details emerge on two foreign hostages held in Somalia
06 Dec – Source: Shabelle – 139 words
Details are emerging about two foreign hostages held days ago by al Shabaab fighters in southern Somalia, reports said Tuesday.
Local residents said, these two foreigners working for MSF Spain were kidnapped by al Shabaab militants in Afgoye district in Lower Shabelle region, some 30-km away from Mogadishu.
The residents confirmed to Shabelle media that the detainees had been kidnapped from Kenya’s largest refugee camp of Dadaab few months ago by gunmen.
Al Shabaab has not yet made any comments about the seizure of these aid workers from the gunmen in Afgoye town but locals say that al Shabaab relocated these two foreign women working for MSF Spain to another unknown location in the town.
http://www.shabelle.net/
REGIONAL MEDIA
UN Adopts Milder Eritrea Stance
06 Dec – Source: Daily Nation – 648 words
Kenya is hopeful that it will achieve a diplomatic victory in its dispute with Eritrea over support for Al-Shabaab in Somalia. The UN Security Council was tentatively scheduled to vote on a Kenya-backed resolution imposing new sanctions on Eritrea on Monday night.
By the time we were going to press, Kenya’s Ambassador to the UN Macharia Kamau had said the he was pretty confident that none of the council’s five permanent members would veto the resolution introduced by Gambia on behalf of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
Kenya “has been involved in the background” at UN headquarters in New York “to make sure [the resolution] is palatable to as many Security Council members as possible,” Ambassador Kamau told the Nation.
A couple of the proposed sanctions have been weakened in recent weeks in order to gain majority backing in the Security Council.
The measure now contains milder language pertaining to Eritrea’s mining industry, saying that foreign companies should exercise greater “vigilance” in their dealings with that sector.
In addition, the draft resolution now “condemns” rather than prohibits use of a tax on Eritreans working abroad “for purposes such as procuring arms and related material for transfer to armed opposition groups.”
The resolution still refers specifically to Eritrea’s support for Al-Shabaab insurgency that Kenyan and African Union troops are battling in Somalia.
The threat of new punishments and diplomatic disgrace may lead Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to make what Ambassador Kamau calls “a last-ditch effort at swaying the council not to vote for the resolution.”
The head of state may come to New York in the next few days to personally make Eritrea’s case to the 15-nation Security Council.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/
Somalia’s PM hails Kuwait’s Amir, people for their support to victims of famine
05 Dec – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 185 words
Visiting Somali Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali expressed on Monday his utmost appreciation to His Highness the Amir for his keenness to help with aid efforts through air and sea to the Somali people suffering from drought.
Ali lauded in a speech, after meeting with Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) Chairman Barjas Al-Barjas, the humanitarian role exerted by Kuwait which brought back smile and joy to affected Somali people due to the drought famine, which was spread into various parts of the country.
“The Kuwaiti support to Somalia reflected on the strong bilateral relations between the two countries,” the premier said, adding “Kuwaiti exerted efforts, whether through the government or people, brought back hope during the (drought) crisis.” The Somali official also praised KRCS’s role and support to those who suffered from the famine, noting on their relentless and immediate aid to the Somali people.
For his part, Al-Barjas said that the swift response by KRCS was out of its keenness to help aid suffering people as soon as possible and its relentless work to aid those in need in all over the world.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/
Two policemen killed by roadside bomb in north-eastern Kenya
05 Dec – Source: KTN TV – 68 words
Two Kenyan police officers escorting UN convoy to refugee camp in North Eastern Province, Kenya have been killed by an explosive device. According to the report, the policemen were hit by a landmine which was planted on the road by unknown people. Kenyan policemen have been hit by a spate of recent landmine attacks which have been blamed on Somalia’s Al-Shabaab fighters.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN council expands Eritrea sanctions over Somalia
06 Dec – Source: Reuters – 280 words
The U.N. Security Council on Monday expanded sanctions against Eritrea for continuing to provide support to Islamist militants, including al Shabaab, in the virtually lawless Horn of Africa nation of Somalia.
The council resolution – which got 13 votes in favour, none against and two abstentions – was diluted from earlier drafts that sought to ban investment in Eritrea’s mining industry and outlaw imports of its minerals. Asmara denies aiding al Shabaab or any other militant groups in Somalia.
The original draft, circulated by Gabon in October, also sought to block payment of a tax Eritrea puts on remittances from its nationals abroad.
The final version, which expands sanctions imposed two years ago, simply requires countries to make their companies involved in mining in Eritrea exercise “vigilance” to ensure funds from the sector are not used to destabilize the region. The steps passed two years ago included an arms embargo.
Diplomats said Russia and China, both of which abstained from Monday’s vote, opposed sanctioning the mining sector and remittances and that some European countries and the United States also felt the original draft was too tough and could penalize the Eritrean people.
On remittances, the resolution calls on states to act to ensure Eritrea ceases “using extortion, threats of violence, fraud and other illicit means to collect taxes outside of Eritrea from its nationals.” It also “condemns” Eritrea for using a remittance tax to fund mischief in the Horn of Africa.
Eritrea is seen to be on the brink of a minerals boom that could revive its struggling economy, while remittances it gets from its large Diaspora in the West and Middle East are its biggest source of foreign exchange.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
Somalia: UN envoy strongly warns against undermining peace process
05 Dec – Source: UN News Centre – 343 words
The United Nations envoy for Somalia today strongly warned anyone trying to undermine an agreed framework outlining political actions required to restore peace and stability in the country that their actions will not be tolerated by the international community.
“The message is clear: the roadmap is the way forward and spoilers seeking to derail the process will not be tolerated,” said Augustine P. Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, in an letter addressed to all the people of Somalia.
The roadmap – adopted at a consultative meeting held in the country’s capital, Mogadishu, in September – spells out priority measures to be implemented before the current transitional governing arrangements end next August, in the areas of security, the drafting of a new constitution and reconciliation. It also seeks to lay the foundation for good governance, and calls for coordinated international efforts to ensure implementation.
“While the UN and the international community is offering whatever assistance it can, it is ultimately up to you the Somalis to determine whether or not the roadmap succeeds,” said Mr. Mahiga in his letter.
He said he believed that there is a “buy-in” into the roadmap for large numbers of the Somali population and their leadership, and cautioned against heeding those who believe that they will benefit more from maintaining the status quo in the Horn of Africa country.
“Political participation and engaged, constructive dissent is welcomed by UNPOS [UN Political Office for Somalia] and by the international community as a whole. But there is no place for those who work to unravel years of work advancing the cause of peace in Somalia.
“I believe we are all working towards the same ends – to make Somalia a safe, secure and prosperous country once more. The roadmap will not solve all of the problems, but it is a central part of the solution and I look to all of you to help make it work,” Mr. Mahiga added.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/