27 Sept 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- President Sharif calls on government forces to bolster security in Mogadishu
- Security forces conduct major operation in Mogadishu
- Somali parliament approves finance and central bank-related rules
- Government gives warm send off to Iran aid team
- President Sharif bans illegal road blocks in Mogadishu
- Somali PM: we fight with al Shabaab corruption
- TFG and Ahlu Sunna pass out 800 newly trained soldiers
- AMISOM apologizes for death of Malaysian journalist in Somalia
- Turkey’s water official in Somalia to find solution
SOMALI MEDIA
President Sharif calls on government forces to bolster security in Mogadishu
27 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan, Mogadishu, Risala, and Mareeg Online – 126 words
Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has urged government troops to double their efforts in restoring law and order in Mogadishu. The president made the remarks on Monday at Hotel Lafweyn, where he hosted officers from the government forces and the African Union peacekeepers, AMISOM, for lunch.
He said the forces have the sole responsibility of securing the city and wipe the militia out of the entire country. The president promised that his government would boost the morals of its forces as they battle al Shabaab militia group in the country.
President Sharif’s remarks come a day after he toured several parts of the war-torn country. The president visited former government and public institutions in the capital following the withdrawal of the militia group from the city.
Security forces conduct major operation in Mogadishu
27 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 134 words
The Somali security forces have embarked on a massive security operation in the roads of Mogadishu and in particular Ex-control Afgoi. The security organs assured residents of full security in the strategic road that links Mogadishu and the rest of the country, following a successful search operation conducted on vehicles that access that route. The Somali government forces also embarked on search operations along the roads that link the central area of Mogadishu and Maka Al-Mukarama, in accordance with the Ministry of Interior and National Security’s decree that the security in the capital must be upheld. Elsewhere, Mogadishu resident have strongly welcomed the move by the government forces in conducting the search operations, saying that it will change the security situation in the capital.
Yemen rebels round up Somali refugees in the capital Sana’a
27 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 205 words
Yemen’s opposition groups in the capital, Sanaa, have rounded up over forty Somali refugees for allegedly fighting besides the supporters of embattled Yemeni president Ali Abdallah Saleh. The bodies of two dead Somalis were also found dumped in parts of the city. Locals say the two were killed in a relatively calm area of Sana’a.
It is not yet clear whether their death has any link with the accusation against the Somali people in the country who were accused of being snipers and mercenaries hired by Mr. Saleh. Both Yemeni government and rebels have been accusing the Somalis for taking sides in the country’s political deadlock.
Mohamed Ali Ibrahim, an elderly Somali refugee in Sanaa rubbished the claims saying Somalis who sought refuge in Yemen could not take part in the current unrest. He told Bar-kulan that Somalis will gain nothing from the unrest except another displacement. Yemen’s Human Rights organisation, Hood, has also rubbished the allegations against the Somali refugees and called for their immediate release. Yemen is home to about 200,000 refugees, almost all of them Somali. Mr. Saleh has been clinging to power after being seriously wounded in an attack on his compound in June. After three months recuperating in Saudi Arabia, he returned to Yemen on 23 September.
Somali parliament approves finance and central bank-related rules
26 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye – 151 words
The transitional federal parliament of Somalia on Monday unanimously approved the rules related to the nation’s finance and central bank. Before the approval of those rules, some 292 MPs who attended today’s assembly discussed the best ways the funds and government money could be controlled transparently. Abdiweli Sheikh Ibrahim Mudey, the Deputy Parliament Speaker presided over today’s session. Addressing the parliament meeting, Mohamoud Abdullahi Wehliye Waqaa, a Somali MP, said that there is more financial support from the international community coming, urging the money to be saved at the central bank.
Government gives warm send off to Iran aid team
26 Sept – Source: Somali National News Agency – 232 words
The Somali government has given a warm send off to an Iranian Red Crescent team who were operating in Mogadishu. The Iranian Red Crescent manages more than seven camps in the capital as well as a medical facility near the Digfer military hospital in the Hodan district of the capital.
Addressing journalists at the sending off ceremony of the IRCT the Somali Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E Abdirahim Abukar thanked the Iranian Red Crescent, the government and the people of Somalia who came to Somalia to assist the suffering of brothers and sisters of Somalia at such a critical time.
The Deputy Minister told the departing delegation that Somalia still wants the support of the Iran Red Crescent organization and was very grateful for the aid Iran has shipped to Somalia. The Deputy FA Minister finally awarded a certificate of appreciation to all the members of the team regarding their social activities given for Somalia.
http://sonnanews.net/en/read.
Swiss Financial Bank Investment set to open branch in Somaliland
26 Sept – Source: Somaliland Press – 294 words
Swiss Financial Bank the owners of Banque De Depot Et De Credit Djibouti (BDCD) today announced their intention of opening a Somaliland co-shared bank in the country. Their current branch in Djibouti offers a range of products and services from agriculture credit to Islamic Savings banking accounts.
Speaking to the media at a meeting held in Hargeisa, Pierre Marazzato the Managing Director and Sales manager of SF Swiss Financial Bank said “we intend on opening a branch of our bank in Somaliland whereby Somaliland citizens will own 60% and 40% owned by SF Swiss Financial Bank”.
Mr. Marazzato went on to say that Somaliland citizens should get the higher percent because there are the owners of the country and should benefit from this partnership. Pierre Marazzato concluded by saying “once legislators pass the new banking law, we will be the first to open a branch in Somaliland”.
President Sharif bans illegal road blocks in Mogadishu
27 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Risala, SONNA, Jowhar Online – 133 words
President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia H.E Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has said that the government does not allow the presence of unnecessary road blocks in Mogadishu, at the same time warning those manning the road blocks to remove them. The President said this while addressing top Somali generals and army commanders as well as AMISOM, emphasizing on the importance of cooperation among the forces in order to improve the security. ‘‘The government force main task is to maintain the overall country’s peace and stability, therefore the forces need to start from bottom by removing all the unnecessary road blocks in Mogadishu” said President Sharif. ‘‘The forces need to protect the people of Somalia as well as their properties and that should remain their number one objective” added President Sharif.
TFG and Ahlu Sunna pass out 800 newly trained soldiers
26 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 123 words
A total of 800 TFG and Ahlu Sunna soldiers were on Monday passed out at a Military training camp in Dolo district of Gedo region, Southwest Somalia. A colorful pass out ceremony conducted in Dolo was attended by Ahlu Sunna, TFG and Ethiopian officials Sheikh Mohamed Abdirahman Amusane, an official with Ahlu Sunna told Bar-kulan that the soldiers have undergone three months of military training. He urged the trainees to be responsible and uphold the country’s rule of law as they battle the militia group. Amusane said they will soon take another intake of TFG and ASWJ soldiers for similar training in the same camp. He added the newly trained soldiers will restore in Somalia the long awaited peace and drive away the rebel group out of the country.
Somali PM: we fight with al Shabaab, corruption
27 Sept – Source: BBC Somali Service – 133 words
Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, premier of the Somali transitional federal government has on Tuesday declared that his government would remove al Shabaab from the country and handle corruption inside his government, reports said. Somali premier, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, who was giving a speech on the BBC-Somali service, said that his government was committed to clear al Shabaab from the country. Mr. Ali said that his government would handle what he called corruption in his government by the international community and added they won to mediate to solver differences between Puntland and Galmudug state and work with TFG. When asked his whim about the self-declared government of Somaliland, Somali premier, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali stated that his government was ready to talk to that administration saying it was like Puntland and Galmudug states.
REGIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM apologizes for death of Malaysian journalist in Somalia
26 Sept – Source: APA, Pana Press – 230 words
The African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) has apologized to the Malaysian people and government for the accidental death of one Malaysian journalist and injury of another in Somalia early this month, according to a press release by the mission in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.
The statement followed the accidental killing of a Malaysian Journalist, Mura Faisal Bin Mohamed, and the injuring of another, Aji Seragar Bin Mazlan alias Aji Akram Solema, on 2 September, 2011, in Mogadishu, for which the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (SRCC) and Head of Mission, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra, has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident in line with appropriate African Union procedures.
The release said the Board of Inquiry (BOI) established that four soldiers were involved in the shooting at the Hajji Doole Junction on Airport Road and “recommended that the four soldiers, from the Burundi contingent, be brought to trial according to their country’s military and judicial processes”. The statement also said in line with the BOI recommendations, the four soldiers had been suspended from duty to allow for further proceedings. “This is a regrettable incident. AMISOM offers sincere apologies to the families of the deceased and the injured. We condole with the people and government of Malaysia and note with appreciation the Malaysian government’s contributions to the relief efforts currently underway in Somalia.” the statement said.
Al Shabaab fighters flee Central Somalia
26 Sept – Source: Africa Review – 197 words
Somali’s radical Islamist al Shabaab fighters are reportedly fleeing from the country’s central region. Reports from Eel-garas settlement in Hiiraan and Wabho village in Galgadud, respectively 250km and 270km north of Mogadishu, indicated on Sunday that the number of al Shabaab militants operating in the areas was fast declining.
Residents, who were not willing to be identified for fear of revenge, stated that some al Shabaab combatants have been disappearing from the settlements without notifying their colleagues. “The deserters are known to be heading towards their home districts, villages or pastoral lands,” said a resident in Wabho village. He added that at least 150 al Shabaab loyalists had left Eel-garas area alone. Others left Wabho village, which is only about 20km away.
Residents in the affected areas further testified that militia leaders had detailed some of the loyalists to be particularly watchful over possible deserters. “Control over militants by their fellow loyalists may prompt intra-Islamist fighting,” remarked one resident. Meanwhile, the National Security Agency paraded on Monday in Mogadishu two youths said to have deserted al Shabaab. On the occasion, the Director of the Agency, Mr. Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, took two AK47’s from the alleged deserters and gave each $300 in return.
Russia navy continue with Somali anti-piracy mission
27 Sept – Source: Coast week, Xinhua – 141 words
A Russian naval task force will arrive on Wednesday in the Gulf of Aden to continue the ongoing anti-piracy mission off the Somali coast, said the Defense Ministry on Monday. The task force from the Pacific Fleet, which includes the Udaloy class Admiral Panteleyev missile destroyer, the Butoma supply tanker and the Fotiy Krylov salvage tugboat, was currently sailing in the Indian Ocean, according to the ministry.
The previous Russian task force led by the Udaloy class Severomorsk destroyer from the Northern Fleet concluded its anti- piracy mission in mid-September.
It stayed in the area from June and has successfully escorted 11 convoys consisting of 38 commercial vessels from various countries along the shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The Russian Navy has maintained a presence off the Somali coast since Oct. 2008, with warships operating on a rotating basis.
http://www.coastweek.com/3438_
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Turkey’s Water official in Somalia to find solution
26 Sept – Source: world bulletin – 147 words
Turkey is aiming at finding a solution to Somali’s long-standing water problem. In an interview with the A.A, Kemal Karakus, chairman of Turkey’s State Water Works (DSI) Department of Geotechnical Services and Underground Waters, said that they came to Somali capital under a project of the Turkish Cooperation & Development Agency of Turkey (TIKA).
“Earlier, DSI dug water wells in Sudan, Niger and Burkina Faso. Now, we are going to solve Somalia’s water problem,” he said. “A Turkish technical delegation will carry out water exploration with geophysical devices. We are planning to dig water well near the tent-city erected by Turkish relief agency, the Red Crescent. We will begin drilling as soon as our equipment arrives,” he said.
Karakus added, “Average life expectancy is around 45 in Somalia because of severe shortage of food and water. If we can dig water wells, life expectancy can increase.”
http://www.worldbulletin.net/?
34,000 pounds of lifesaving nourishment flown to Somalia
26 Sept – Source: Relief web – 525 words
Nutrient-rich supplement will help feed 13,000 severely malnourished refugees for one month A humanitarian air shipment of 34,000 pounds of a high-calorie Xango nutritional supplement – especially beneficial for children, and expectant or nursing mothers – departed on September 20 to provide lifesaving help to severely malnourished refugees in Mogadishu. The shipment is one of three scheduled deliveries that will help feed a total of 13,000 starving children and adults in the Horn of Africa for one month.
The specially formulated food for supplemental nutrition is just one facet of AmeriCares large scale famine response in the region, where hundreds of thousands of refugees have fled their homes in search of food. Despite an outpouring of international support, more than 13 million people in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia remain in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Malnutrition rates have reached 58%, and it is estimated that as many as 3,000 people may die every day. As the numbers of displaced and malnourished continue to rise, lives hang in the balance.
The need is great. Help AmeriCares reduce human suffering and save lives in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.