12 Oct 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- Somali government calls rebel fighters to surrender to them
- Heavy blast in outskirt of capital Mogadishu
- More al Shabaab militias head to the Somali capital
- Somalia suicide bomber aimed for maximum damage
- FAO IGAD sign MoU to promote food security in Horn of Africa
- Red Cross to feed one million in war against Somalia hunger
- IOC heeds UN call for Somalia Assistance
PRESS STATEMENT
Meeting of the Somali Cabinet Ministers on 11th October 2011
12 Oct- Source: TFG (Office of the Prime Minister) – 424 words
The cabinet ministers of the transitional federal government of Somalia held a meeting in Mogadishu presided over by the Somali Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali where they discussed key issues among which is the PM’s foreign visit, the October 4 attack, the National Security and Stabilization Plan (NSSP) and issue of Somali Territorial Waters.
The cabinet ministers started the meeting with Prime Minister’s report, in which he elaborated the outcome of his visit to United Nations, USA, Denmark and Ethiopia. The PM expressed his satisfaction with the countries he visited and termed the visit as fruitful. He added that the international community is pleased with the development gained so far in terms of security and humanitarian activities, the relations of the TFG and the regional administrations and the reconciliation efforts and good governance. Among the agendas he discussed with the world leaders was how to find a lasting solution to Somalia’s problem and bring development projects that will restore public service. He also urged the cabinet minister to implement the roadmap agreed upon on 6th November.
The assistant minister of internal affairs and national security read a report of the National Security and Stabilization Plan. After a lengthy discussion, the cabinet minister agreed to review the report and make amendments in view of the ideas and opinions discussed. It was also noted that the contribution of the former Somali military officers and those who attended the Consultative meeting on the adoption of Roadmap in ending the Transition in Somalia is vital. The NSSP report will again be subject to discussion by the Cabinet minister after it is finally reviewed before taking it to the parliament for approval.
The minister for Fisheries, Environment and Marine Resources submitted a report about the Somali Territorial Waters. The ministers agreed to withdraw the documents delineating the Exclusive Economic Zone of Somalia in NSSP and in the Roadmap.
The minister for Justice and Religious affairs has brought to the notice of the Cabinet Ministers that his ministry is making efforts to reach out to the relatives of those who died in the October 4 Tragedy in bid to prepare a report. The minister confirmed that 36 of the injured people were flown to Turkey for treatment. He thanked the Somali people for their warm reception of the Turkey government. The ministers proposed the 8 ministries damaged by the blast to resume their work effectively and mmediately with a committee selected to oversee their progress in three days. The cabinet ministers said they won’t accept al Shabaab’s deterrence in delivering services to the people.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali government calls rebel fighters to surrender to them
12 Oct- Source: Mareeg Online- 140 words
The TFG has on Tuesday called for al Shabaab fighters to surrender to its national army, saying the ‘play was at its end’, reports said.
The TFG’s minister for Defense Affairs, Abdikadir Mo’allim Noor who visited front lines in Hilliwa district from which al Shabaab militias were removed a day before, praised the role of the national army and the African union peacekeeping forces for liberating the area.
The minister called for al Shabaab fighters to lay down their arms and come to the national forces.
Abdisamad Mo’allim Mohamed, minister for National Security and Home Affairs, who was among of TFG officials visiting the front lines called residents to return to their homes.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Heavy blast in outskirt of capital Mogadishu
12 Oct- Source: Radio Kulmiye, Radio Mogadishu- 192 words
A heavy bomb blast is said to have targetted al Shabaab militants based on the outskirts of Mogadishu last night.
According to the residents of Elasha-Biyaha, the insurgents began searches inside the villages in order to find of those who were behind the attack. It is no yet confirmed if there were any casualties or deaths in the attack.
“It was mid-night when heavy blasts were heard”, said Omar Moalim one of the residents in Elasha, who added “businesses are not allowed to open today and there are soldiers flooding in the district”.
More al Shabaab militias head to the Somali capital
12 Oct- Source: Radio Kulmiye, Risaala, Mareeg -92 words
Armed vehicles from southern regions such as Kismayo and Bay reached Elasha-biyaha last night and were heading to the Somali capital Mogadishu. Reports said that they were military help for al Shabaab.
Al Shabaab lost key points in Hilliwa district two days ago following battle between them and TFG forces backed by African union peacekeeping forces in the capital Mogadishu.
Somali parliament speaker returns to Mogadishu
11 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu, Risaala, Kulmiye and Somalireport – 75 words
The Speaker of the Somali parliament, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden, returned to Somalia after he visited the US, Denmark and Kenya. The speaker told the local media at Mogadishu’s airport that he sends his condolences to the Somali people who suffered the devastating affects of al Shabaab`s suicide bomb attack last week. He also welcomed the operations carried out by Somali National Forces and AMISOM to eradicate al Shabaab and their allies from the country.
British marines free hijacked Italian ship off coast of Somalia
12 Oct- Source: Radio RBC- 146 words
The Marines, armed with pistols and SA-80 automatic rifles and operating from a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship, the RFA Fort Victoria, sped towards the hijacked ship in inflatable boats as a British helicopter buzzed overhead.
They boarded the 56,000-ton bulk carrier Montecristo and disarmed the pirates without encountering any opposition.
“It was a compliant boarding — the 11 pirates surrendered without firing a shot,” said a Ministry of Defence spokesman. “They were arrested and detained on board the ship.” The ship’s 23 crew – seven Italians, six Ukrainians and 10 Indians — were released unharmed.
Four of the Italians were privately-contracted security guards but in line with international practice they were unarmed and had been powerless to fend off the pirates.
The crew had taken refugee inside a secure, armoured area of the bridge when the ship was hijacked, from where they were able to send out distress signals.
New health facility opened in Galkayo, Mudug region
12 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 183 words
A new hospital has been opened in central Somalia city of Galkayo, Mudug region to provide essential medical services to the local population in the region.
The hospital, named as Galkayo Specialist Hospital is funded by the diaspora people who are natives of the city.
Dr. Abdirizack Ahmed Dalmar, one of the medical staffs set to work in the new hospital said the facility will serve locals with health problems in the city and its environs.
He said the hospital will help reduce the number of people traveling to other cities in the country in search of medical services.
He stated that the facility is fully equipped with medical supplies and professional staffs to serve the local community.
The doctor added that modern eye surgery equipment for minors with eye problems will soon be delivered to the hospital.
Galmudug regional vice president Abdisamed Noor Guled who attended the opening ceremony of the much needed facility praised the diaspora people for their support.
Local elders also praised the donors for supporting health facilities in the area, particularly the area natives who funded the facility.
Rainfalls started in Mogadishu and other drought-stricken regions
12 Oct- Source: Radio Kulmiye, Risaala, jowhar Online- 72 words
Heavy rainfalls started in Somali’s drought-stricken areas including the capital Mogadishu. At least two people are being confirmed to have died after their homes had collapsed because of the rainfalls. Rains are also reported in some of the regions hardest hit by the drought in across the country.
Thousands of people affected by the drought in Somalia are now overwhelmed by the rains in the south of the country.
Somali government cautions its citizens from making dangerous trips to Europe via Libya
12 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 169 words
The Somali consulate in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, has warned illegal Somali immigrants trying to cross to Italy from Libya of the risks involved with their illegal crossing.
In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, the Somali consul in Tripoli, Liban Muhyadin Ahmed Kalmoy said hundreds of Somali immigrants are already stranded in parts of Libya where there have been deadly fighting.
He said they were caught up in the fighting between rebel fighters and pro-Gaddafi fighters in the country as they were trying to cross to Italy from Libya.
He stated that few Somali immigrants managed to cross to Italy via Libya.
He advised those intending to make the dangerous trip to refrain from it as they will be risking their lives, adding that currently no refugees are allowed to cross from the area. Hundreds of illegal Somali immigrants are said to be trapped in Libya while trying to enter Europe in search of better life.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia suicide bomber aimed for maximum damage
11 Oct- Source: Nairobi Star- 889 words
Bishar Abdullahi Nur, the man who exploded himself in Mogadishu last Tuesday killing 72 people and who wounded over a hundred others in a suicide attack at a government compound housing several ministries, says he aimed for maximum damage. He believed his target housed government top secrets and top commanders, the 28-year-old suicide bomber said in an audio message recorded hours before he carried out the attack.
Among those he killed were students and their parents checking out results of a Turkish scholarship and many innocent civilians going about their business in Mogadishu’s busiest road close to the famous K4 junction. Al Shabaab immediately claimed responsibility for the attack claiming that they killed government security personnel and warned civilians from going to government offices because many more suicide bombers are on the way.
“If we inflict maximum damage to the enemy, then we thank Allah. That is what we wanted and hoped for, if ministers die, we kill commanders and infidels or destroy documents and letters because we are told there are so many secrets there of the apostate government. We hope this will be the beginning and the mujahideens will gain victory from our act,” Bishar said, responding to a question posed by another possible al Shabaab reporter who did not give his name.
Asked to describe his feelings just hours before going to explode himself, Bishar calmly says he is happy and is ready to meet his God but still asks Somalis to pray for him. The planning and execution of the attack as well as the audio message carries all the hallmarks of al Qaeda and reaffirms the link between al Shabaab militants in Somalia and their global masters, al Qaeda, whom they always wish to please.
The audio was posted in an al Shabaab website where the militants post their propaganda messages.
http://www.the-star.co.ke/
Somali militants pose fresh threats to tourism industry
12 Oct- Source: Coastweek, Xinhua- 708 words
Somalia, bordering Kenya to the south west, Ethiopia to the west and Djibouti to the north, is like a neighbour in a residential estate whose members have waged war against each other for several years.
The family members fight for control of their father’s household and his vast resources. Efforts by neighbours to intervene in the disputes that turn bloody, leaving some of the family members dead, have been fruitless.
But as expected, the war intensifies to uncontrollable levels and members of the troublesome family start attacking their neighbours, which they least expect.
This is the predicament of Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti as the war in Somalia rages on. Kenya is the latest casualty of the Somali war after militants raided the country’s tourism bedrock, Coast Province, and abducted two tourists and killed another in less than three weeks. In the first incident last month, al Shabaab-linked gunmen raided a bungalow in Kiwayu, on the Kenyan Coast and attacked a British couple.
They killed the husband and sped away with the wife.
The second incident, which happened early this month, involved 66- year-old Marie Dedieu, a French tourist who was seized from a resort and taken to Somalia.
The abductions and subsequent security scare now threaten the East African nation’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry.
The industry faces fresh setbacks, this time coming from its neighbours, having started to experience resurgence after the 2007 post-election violence.
Over the past two years, Kenya’s tourism industry, which accounts for ten percent of the country’s GDP, has been recording phenomenal growth.
http://www.coastweek.com/3440_
Pastor kidnapped and drugged in Sultan Hamud
11 Oct- Source: Nairobi Star- 438 words
A pastor in Masimba area, near Sultan Hamud, narrowly escaped death after he was kidnapped by three armed men in what police suspect may have been a case of human trafficking. The victim, who looked traumatized, was transferred to three different locations after being intoxicated, during his five days ordeal in the hands of the kidnappers.
The suspected kidnappers of Somali origin denied the pastor food before he was dumped in a bush in Malindi while unconscious. He claimed that the three men, who at some point claimed they were members of al Shabaab and wanted to bring him over to Somalia, communicated in their own language and even threw one of the phones, before shooting it, making it shatter into pieces.
The incident, which saw the victim lose all his vital documents and money, occurred last Tuesday when the victim hiked a private saloon car from Masimba, where he works, to go and visit his father in Emali. The pastor who preferred not to be named said the attackers posed as drivers who help in clearing new vehicles from Mombasa port and take them to the border. “It is not unusual to hike a lift on the route, and then pay for the service, it has been a tradition on the route and that day, it was no exception for me,” the pastor said.
http://www.the-star.co.ke/
FAO, IGAD sign MoU to promote food security in Horn of Africa
11 Oct- Source: Ethiopian News Agency- 206 words
In an effort to promote food security in the Horn of Africa, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining their plans to work together.
In its statement sent to ENA on Tuesday FAO said the two parties signed the MoU to work together to increase investment in Agriculture and Rural Development in IGAD member countries.
FAO’s Sub-regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, Dr. Castro Camarada and IGAD’s Executive Secretary, Eng. Mahboub Maalim signed the MoU.
The statement said the signing of the MoU is a giant leap forward on addressing the issue of food insecurity in the Horn of Africa.
The MoU documents the broad framework in which FAO and IGAD will cooperate and collaborate in order to implement more specific joint projects and programs in areas of crop and animal agriculture including fisheries.
The cooperation also includes forestry to promote wealth, employment creation, food and nutrition as well as food security in the IGAD region.
Coordination, mobilization of resources, joint formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programs or projects, field assessment missions, publications and sharing information, among others, are the areas identified for collaboration for action, according to the statement.
http://www.ena.gov.et/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
The tears of Somalia
10 Oct- Source: Foreign Policy, by Turkish PM Erdogan – 748 words
Somalia is suffering from the most severe drought and famine in the last 60 years, which has already resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and endangers the lives of 750,000 more Somalis. This crisis tests the notion of civilization and our modern values. It reveals, once again, that it is a basic human obligation to pursue international cooperation and solidarity to provide solace for those suffering from natural and man-made disasters.
It is not realistic to consider Somalia’s plight as caused solely by a severe natural disaster. We cannot ignore the fact that, in addition to the drought, the international community’s decision to leave Somalia to its own fate is also an underlying factor causing this drama. Twenty years of political and social instability, lawlessness, and chaos have added enormously to the problems in Somalia. The horrifying truck bombing of the Transitional Federal Government’s ministerial complex on Oct. 4 is just the latest evidence of this. The international community must not respond to this act of terrorism by retreating from Somalia, but by redoubling its efforts to bring aid to its people.
Nobody with common sense and conscience can remain indifferent to such a drama, wherever on Earth it may be and whichever people have to bear it. Our urgent intervention as responsible members of the international community can contribute to the alleviation of the Somali people’s distress. However, the establishment of lasting peace and stability will only be possible through long-term, far-reaching, and coordinated efforts.
Turkey mobilized last month to help end this suffering. We consider this solidarity a humanitarian obligation toward the people of Somalia, with whom we have deep historical relations. Many of our institutions, NGOs, and people of all ages have made an extraordinary effort to alleviate the suffering of women and children in Somalia. We are proud of the sensitivity and cooperation displayed by the Turkish people during the holy month of Ramadan. In the last month alone, approximately $280 million worth of donations for Somalia were collected in Turkey. The Turkish people’s generosity has served as an example to other donor countries as well as the international community, offering hope for the resolution of the crisis in Somalia.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/
IOC heeds UN call for Somalia Assistance
12 Oct- Source: PRWEB- 202 words
Responding to an appeal by the United Nations for aid to alleviate the famine in Somalia, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently made financial donations of USD 100,000 to both the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The IOC chose the two arms of the UN specifically because they are on the front line of the relief effort in Somalia, where an estimated 9.6 million people are in desperate need of food assistance. The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) also responded to the call for help by offering Somalia USD 100,000 through the same organisations.
According to the UN, tens of thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes in search of food, walking for weeks in the process and resulting in many deaths. It is estimated that between 40 and 50 per cent of the Somali refugees in Kenya and Ethiopia are malnourished.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/
Red Cross to feed one million in war against Somalia hunger
12 Oct- Source: Brecorder- 658 words
The Red Cross is undertaking a massive food distribution project across Somalia, in an effort to tackle the worsening hunger crisis in the war-torn nation. “We want to feed one million people by the end of the year,” says Yves Van Loo, an aid expert with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Somalia.
“We will start with the most remote areas and work our way back to (the capital) Mogadishu,” Van Loo told DPA. Having worked in Somalia for more than 30 years, the ICRC found itself in a unique situation to offer help to thousands of hungry people. It is one of the few organisations operating across the entire country – a claim not even the government can make.
Somalia was already in a disastrous situation in the beginning of 2011, with two million people in need of humanitarian aid, largely owing to 20 years of civil war. With the ongoing drought and famine, that number has since doubled, the United Nations says, an estimated 750,000 people are particularly vulnerable and facing a life or death situation.
The situation in Somalia is not expected to get better soon, but rather “famine is likely to spread,” according to the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). At least 450,000 children in the country are malnourished, says OCHA. There are continued outbreaks of measles, cholera, pneumonia and malaria – all diseases that prey on the weakened population. The problem is worsened by the crumbling medical services.
Like all else in a country that has been at war with itself for more than a generation, hospitals are falling apart and many of the best minds, including doctors, have migrated abroad. “There are too few medical staff in the country,” says the ICRC’s Van Loo. “The staff is really working around the clock. Few of them have normal social or family lives.”
The Islamist militia al Shabaab has banned many charities in the southern areas it controls, alleging that they have political or religious agendas, resulting in scarce supplies of urgently needed food and medical aid. The ICRC, for its first distribution on the road to feeding 1 million people, brought supplies to the Gedo region in the deep south.
Somali pirates captured with help of British navy
11 Oct – Source: The Guardian – 363 words
British special forces have helped to storm a ship seized in the Indian Ocean, free the 23-man crew and capture 11 suspected Somali pirates, the Italian foreign ministry said.
In a statement welcoming the operation, it said forces from two vessels – one belonging to the US navy and the other to the Royal Navy — had taken part in the raid. Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that the rescue attempt had been agreed between Britain’s defence minister, Liam Fox, and his Italian counterpart Ignazio La Russa.
According to the owners, the 56,000-ton bulk carrier Montecristo was hijacked 620 miles off Somalia by five pirates in a small boat. It was carrying a 23-man crew of seven Italians, six Ukrainians and 10 Indians.
The crew subsequently communicated to Nato’s anti-piracy forces that they were well, both with a message written on a sheet, and by means of note in a bottle that was picked up by one of the patrol vessels.
The Italian foreign ministry said that, when the Montecristo was boarded on Monday, the crew had locked themselves into an armoured shelter and retained control of the ship’s movements, directing it towards the so-called International Traffic Recognised Corridor, which is patrolled by anti-piracy forces. The rescue operation was carried out under the overall direction of an Italian admiral, Gualtiero Mattesi, the commander of the task force of NATO’s Operation Ocean Shield.
Ansa reported that the two defence ministers had discussed the risks posed by a raid to the crew, and decided it was limited by their isolation from the pirates. The British ship was in the best position to assist: it was closest to the Montecristo, equipped with a helicopter and had a special forces unit aboard. The nearest Italian naval vessel was a day’s sailing away.
An anti-piracy specialist, Antonio De Felice, a senior partner of Dual Risk Management, a company based in the northern Italian city of Brescia, had earlier remarked on the fact that, instead of heading for the pirate base of Puntland, the Italian vessel appeared to heading slowly towards Oman.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/