10 Jun 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report

Key Headlines:

  • Three killed as soldiers fire at supporters of Somali premier
  • Protests resume for second day in Mogadishu
  • Somali communities in South Africa Egypt oppose the PM’s resignation
  • Ban welcomes “Kampala accord” signed by Somali political figures
  • Al Shabaab detain doctor in Baidoa

Titres Principaux:

  • Trois tués dans des tirs des forces gouvernementales contre des supporters du premier ministre Somalien
  • Les manifestations continuent à Mogadiscio
  • Les communautés Somaliennes en Afrique du Sud et en Egypte s’opposent à la démission du premier minister
  • Ban approuve l”accord de Kampala’ signé par des chefs Somaliens
  • Al Shabaab kidnappent un medecin à Baidoa

SOMALI MEDIA

Three killed as soldier’s fire at supporters of Somali premier

10 Jun – Source: Radio Shabelle – 148 words

Three people have been killed and four others wounded after Somali government forces opened fire at protesters backing the Premier in Mogadishu. Two people were killed in Dherkenley District where the government forces fired at protesters opposed to the planned resignation of Prime Minister Muhammad Abdullahi Farmajo. The third person was killed after demonstrators tried to storm a hotel where a group of Somali legislators were staying.

There have been series of protests in the Somali capital after the Minister of Information, Abdikarim Hasan Jama’a, announced that the prime minister had accepted to step down under the Kampala Accord reportedly signed by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad and the Speaker of parliament, Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan. Under the deal, the mandate of the current government was extended for another year. The agreement also called for the disbanding of Farmajo’s government.

Somali community in South Africa opposes PM resignation

10 Jun – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 165 words

Somali communities in South Africa have voiced their opposition to the coerced resignation of the Somali premier Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed. The chairman of the Somali community of Eastern Cape told Bar-kulan that they are deeply disturbed by the impending resignation of the premier. He said such decision will cloud the happiness of the Somali people.

Noor Ahmed Hassan, a Somali elder living in South Africa said the resignation of Farmajo is meant to dismantle the development of Somalia and create further disturbances in the country, adding that the government should oppose Farmajo’s stepping down.

Somali community in Egypt against PM resignation

10 Jun – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 187 words

The Somali community in Egypt is strongly opposing the decision of the prime minister of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to resign, adding that they will never be content with his departure from the government.

Abdirahman Yabarow Sharey, one of the Somalis living in Egypt says they are discontent with the forced resignation of the prime minister within 30 days. Mr Abdirahman said the move is a horrendous blow to the Somali people. Asma Dalxa Abass, a Somali attending university in Egypt also expresses her disappointment in the stepping down of the premier. Asma said she is sharing her semtiment with the demonstrators in Mogadishu, urging them to continue their protest.

The community sais the office of the prime minister has accomplished many task within a limited period of six months. They term the government of Farmajo as the first government to have done tangible progress since the fall of the central government of Somalia. The Somali community in Egypt sent a message to the government leaders to respect the need and the emotions of the Somali public regarding the resignation of the prime minister.

AMISOM talk about suicide attacks on Mogadishu seaport

10 Jun – Source: Shabelle – 385 words

A statement issued on Thursday night by African Union mission [AMISOM] in Mogadishu said that several insurgents carrying pistols, two of whom were wearing suicide vests, infiltrated the area and directed an attack against the business community trading through the port. They failed to get very far into the port and after an exchange of fire with AMISOM soldiers, two bombers were put out of action, according to the statement.

“This is a callous attack on the civilian population designed to frighten them and disrupt the flow of trade. Al Shabaab knows their time in Bakara is coming to an end and they are trying to bring trade to its knees as they go” AMISOM Spokesman, Major Paddy Ankunda said.

The attack came as thousands of Mogadishu residents were demonstrating in the streets to defy the prime minister’s proposed resignation which came out on Thursday from Ugandan capital where the transitional government leaders were meeting. “AMISOM will not be intimidated and will continue to provide the best security we can. The people of Mogadishu can be reassured that we will keep the port open and businesses trading wherever possible“added the statement.

http://www.shabelle.net/article.php?id=7422

Mogadishu seaport official: We foiled suicide attacks

10 Jun – Source: Shabelle – 101 words

The Authorities of Mogadishu’s International Seaport on Friday talked about suicide attacks that rocked the port on Thursday afternoon. Ahmed Ali Kahiya, the Deputy Manager of Mogadishu Harbour, said they had managed to thwart deadly suicide attacks at the seaport.

Thursday attacks were the first such explosions to take place in the seaport of the capital Mogadishu since 1991. Mr. Kahiye said in an interview with Shabelle Media Network that armed men jumped over the outer walls of seaport and stealthily entered in it. He said two men had blown themselves up inside very close to the seaport’s perimeter.

http://www.shabelle.net/article.php?id=7416

Al Shabaab detain doctor in Baidoa

10 Jun – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 125 words

The militias of al Shabaab in Baidoa, Bay region of Somalia have detained a doctor responsible for a care centre for the mentally retarded. The doctor, Dr. Adan Abdirahman, was manager of the Baidoa general hospital but was currently heading the centre for the care of mentally disabled persons. No one can tell why he was arrested.

Some people say the doctor was arrested on allegations that he gave an interview with Royal TV without the consent of al Shabaab. The elders of Baidoa criticized the arrest of the doctor. They asked the senior leaders to immediately release the doctor without pre-conditions.

Protests resume for second day in Mogadishu

10 Jun – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 73 words

For a second day, hundreds of demonstrators have taken to the streets in Mogadishu to protest against the agreement by Somalia’s president and the parliamentary speaker to call for the resignation of the country’s Prime Minster in 30 days. Demonstrators blocked many of the city’s streets, with business coming to a standstill in the K4 area.

Ethiopia reportedly mediates dispute between Somaliland, Puntland

10 Jun – Source: Radio Shabelle – 146 words

The Ethiopian government is mediating between Somaliland and Puntland’s regional administrations on the dispute over Sool and Sanaag regions. A meeting attended by delegates of Somaliland and Puntland opened in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, yesterday afternoon. Reports say the implementation of the resolutions of the latest UN conference held in Nairobi is a key agenda of the talks.

The delegations from the two sides are led by their respective presidents. Sources close to Puntland leader, Abdirahman Muhammad Farole, say the two sides have reached preliminary agreements on some of the issues. Ethiopian diplomats say the talks will be fruitful, adding that the Ethiopian government is serious in ending the rift between the two administrations. The Ethiopian has of late been involved in efforts to reconcile the Puntland and Somaliland administrations. The Addis Ababa government has in the past invited the two administrations separately over the matter.

Somaliland: Somali pirates receive 8 year-prison sentence

10 Jun – Source: Somaliland Press – 126 words

Saahil Regional Court in Berbera today sentenced six Somali pirates caught off the shores of Somaliland on 24th of March to prison terms ranging from five years to eight years. Chief magistrate of Saahil region Mr. Osman Ibrahim Diriye who sentenced these Somali pirates to prison held a press conference after the sentencing the pirates.

Mr. Diriye said “on March 24th Somaliland coast guards caught these individuals in the coastal village of Mayd after they attempted to question them, after which pirates fled. “ Chief magistrate Diriye acknowledges the tangible evidence against the pirates which consisted of fuel, communication equipment, food supplies for long journeys and ammunition.

http://somalilandpress.com/somalialnd-somali-pirates-receive-8-years-prison-terms-22672

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somali militants look to black out string of defeats

10 Jun – Source: Africa Review – 208 words

Smarting from a series of losses on the battlefield, Somali militant group al Shaabab is now looking to confiscate television sets in a bid to prevent those setbacks being shown. Residents in Jowhar town, the capital of Middle Shabelle region some 90 kilometres north of Mogadishu, said that they had been paid visits by youth from the fundamentalist militia group carrying light arms.

According to the residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, the young men knocked on their doors and asked for the owners of the houses. Their next move was to record if the household possessed a television, especially one fitted with satellite dishes and recorders which are very popular in Somalia. The militants then placed a mark on the entrance if a TV set was found in the premises before leaving. “We suspect that the militants are going to confiscate our TVs and systems,” a worried resident told this reporter.

The town’s dwellers speculate that the local arm of the armed Islamist group seeking to topple the country’s transitional government was unhappy with people watching broadcasts of sustained al Shabaab defeats. The militants have been pushed back especially in Mogadishu and in the southern regions next to the border between Somalia and Kenya.

http://www.africareview.com/News/Somali+militants+look+to+black+out+string+of+defeats/- /979180/1178126/-/m7hcdfz/-/

Ban welcomes “Kampala accord” signed by Somali political figures

10 Jun – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 195 words

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon late Thursday welcomed the “Kampala Accord” signed earlier in the day between Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of the Transitional Federal Government and Speaker Shariff Hassan Sheikh Aden of the Transitional Federal Parliament. The UN chief branded the accord as a positive step which will enable the Transitional Federal Institutions to work constructively in the interest of the Somali people, his press office said in a statement.

Ban commended the efforts of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Uganda and those of his Special Representative, Augustine P. Mahiga, in facilitating the signing of this Agreement.

He urged the Somali parties to swiftly implement this Accord within the framework of the Djibouti Agreement and in line with the Transitional Federal Charter, and called on them to act resolutely to complete the outstanding transitional tasks, including the promotion of national reconciliation, constitution-making and the associated public consultation, and the rebuilding of the security sector. He vowed that the United Nations will continue to support efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to Somalia and urged the international community to provide timely support to the Somali Transitional Institutions and to the African Union Mission in Somalia.

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2172947&Language=e n

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

FBI: Minnesota man was suicide bomber in Somalia

10 Jun – Source: CNN – 259 words

One of two suicide bombers responsible for killing two African Union soldiers in Somalia was from Minnesota, the FBI announced Thursday. Fingerprints showed that Farah Mohamed Beledi, 27, from Minneapolis-St. Paul, was one of the attackers, the FBI’s Minneapolis field office said in a statement. In recent years, approximately 20 young men have traveled from the Minneapolis area to Somalia to train with al-Shabaab, and a number of them have gone on to fight with the terrorist organization, U.S. officials said.

Beledi was one of 14 people indicted in July 2010 on charges of aiding al-Shabaab. Beledi was charged with, among other things, conspiring wth and providing material support to al-Shabaab, and conspiring to kill, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad, the FBI said.

He was believed to have left Minnesota in October 2009 for Somalia, the FBI said. According to the African Union, several “extremist insurgents” disguised themselves as Somali government forces in order to attack an African Union checkpoint May 30. Al-Shabaab, a Somali militant group allied with al Qaeda, posted a statement on its website identifying the suicide bomber as Abdullahi Ahmed, a Somali-American from Minneapolis.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/06/09/somalia.suicide.bomber/

American charged over aid to Somali militants

10 Jun – Source: Reuters – 335 words

A 26-year-old American was arrested in Ohio on Thursday on charges that he tried to help Somali al-Shabaab rebels, the latest American accused of trying to aid the militant group, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Ahmed Mahamud, who previously lived in Minnesota, was charged with four counts including conspiracy to provide material support and providing material support to al-Shabaab, which the U.S. government has designated a terrorist group, according to the unsealed indictment.

He is accused of trying to provide money and people to help the militant group in its fight against the Ethiopian military. The four-page indictment did not offer more details about his activities. Mahamud is expected to be sent to Minnesota to face the indictment, the Justice Department said. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted. Already 18 people have been charged in Minnesota during a three-year U.S. investigation into efforts to recruit Americans to train or fight with al-Shabaab in Somalia. Eight have been arrested, five of whom have pleaded guilty.

At least two of the groups charged in U.S. courts are believed to have been killed in Somalia. American officials have expressed concerns that the country could also provide a safe haven for al Qaeda militants.

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE75903Y20110610

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