January 17, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Galmudug And ASWJ To Sign Their Merger Agreement In Dhusamareb Today
17 January – Source: Hiiraan Online – 166 Words
The Galmudug administration and Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (ASWJ) are today expected to sign a historic agreement in Dhusamareb, an event to be presided over by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmaajo’, some of the regional state leaders and representatives from the international community. President Farmaajo, who is on the final leg of his ‘peace and reconciliation’ tour, arrived in Dhusamareb on Tuesday evening to witness the official merger of Galmudug and ASWJ. Some of the regional state leaders are also in Dhusamarreeb including Hirshabelle’s president Mohamed Abdi Waare, while others are supposed to be arriving there today.
However, Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe, in a statement, said that he canceled his trip to Dhusamareb due to important tasks he will be undertaking in Kismayo and expected visits to some of the towns in Jubbaland. Galmudug and ASWJ officials held several talks in Dhusamarreb ahead of the key event. Meanwhile, President Farmaajo yesterday held talks with Galmudug and ASWJ officials, encouraging both sides to respect and implement the deal.
Key Headlines
- Galmudug And ASWJ To Sign Their Merger Agreement In Dhusamareb Today (Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia And Somaliland In War Of Words Over 252 Code (Radio Dalsan)
- Puntland Accuses Somaliland Of Supporting Al-Shabaab (Hiiraan Online)
- Kazakhstan To Provide Humanitarian Aid To Somalia (The Kazak Telegraph Agency)
- More Airstrikes Less Aid Not Enough To Secure Somalia (The Hill)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia And Somaliland In War Of Words Over 252 Code
17 January – Source: Radio Dalsan – 158 Words
Somalia has issued a stern warning to the breakaway region of Somaliland over its intention to register a separate country telephone code. In a post shared on his official Facebook account, Somalia’s Minister for Telecommunication Mr. Abdi Anshur warned Somaliland to drop its planned registration of a separate country code. Mr. Anshur was reacting to Somaliland’s newly appointed Telecommunication and Technology minister, who announced his intention to push for the registration of a separate country code. “If the Cabinet approves, I want to ensure Somaliland gets a country code and leave the 252 code which belongs to Somalia.
I also want to register a zip code for Somaliland” Dr. Abdiweli Sheikh Abdullahi. Somaliland and Somalia currently use the same country code even after the former’s self declared independence in 1991, after the fall of the Siad Barre regime. The international community rejected Hargeisa’s efforts to be recognized as an independent country.
Puntland Accuses Somaliland Of Supporting Al-Shabaab
17 January – Source: Hiiraan Online – 130 Words
With recent Somaliland forces taking over the control of Tukaraq area in Sool region, the two administrations continue to accuse each other over the rising tension in Tukaraq. The Minister of Information of Puntland Mr. Abdi Ali Qarjab have accused Somaliland of supporting Al-Shabaab militant group. Mr. Qarjab stated that Puntland is running out of patience and will start defending its territories from invaders.
He further said: “Somaliland supports Al-Shabaab and Daaesh groups, and that is not something pleasant.” On his side, Mr. Suleiman Ali Koore, the Minister of Water of Somaliland also stated that Somaliland is ready to defend anyone that is a threat to its sovereignty but reiterated the importance of peace. United Nations representative to Somalia, Mr. Michael Keating, who recently spoke of the crisis in Tukaraq stressed the need for dialogue.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kazakhstan To Provide Humanitarian Aid To Somalia
17 January – Source: The Kazak Telegraph Agency – 286 Words
Kazakhstan will allocate $215 000 of humanitarian aid to Somalia, reports the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan. “On January 15, 2018 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – Permanent Representative to the African Union H.E. Mr. Yerlik Ali and African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security H.E. Mr. Smail Chergui signed the agreement on humanitarian assistance provision to Somalia,” reads the message. Within the context of the agreement, Kazakhstan allocated 215 thousand US dollars to the Commission of the African Union for providing humanitarian assistance to Somalia.
The objectives of the agreement relate to allocating finances for the implementation of two clean water projects in the Southwest of the country – in regions controlled by the African Union AMISOM peacekeepers. The Kazakh side will pay an inspection visit to Somalia during the second half of 2018 – in order to verify implementation of the mentioned projects. The decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Somalia through the relevant African Union structures is based on the social and economic situation in the country which is extremely difficult due to the civil war and the destructive activity of the Al-Shabaab terrorist group.
The agreement was signed within the framework of policy on providing voluntary contributions by Kazakhstan to international organizations. In addition, the decision to provide humanitarian assistance to Somalia corresponds with the Kazakhstani priorities as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, which were formulated in the Address of the President of Kazakhstan N.A. Nazarbayev, and submitted on January 10, 2017 by the Minister of Foreign Affairs K.Abdrakhmanov at the debate The UN Security Council (to promote the peaceful and stable development of Africa).
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“Al Shabab also adroitly exploits widespread clan discrimination, aligning itself with weaker clans and providing them with protection and resource access. Its domestically-oriented recruitment propaganda emphasizes very specific local grievances and cases of power abuse and resource theft, not ideology.”
More Airstrikes, Less Aid Not Enough To Secure Somalia
17 January – Source: The Hill – 834 Words
The end-of-2017 U.S. decision to suspend military aid to the Somali national army until the federal government can demonstrate better accountability and performance of its forces is appropriate. However, as I saw during my December research in Somalia, even combined with the significant increase in U.S. air strikes against the jihadi group Al Shabab, the U.S. policy is inadequate. To mitigate terrorism threats and foster stability in the country, the United States must do what the Trump administration explicitly disavows: Focus on internal governance and state-building and insist on far broader accountability of Somalia’s federal and state governments and powerbrokers toward their citizens. Otherwise, the brutal Shabab or its mutation will remain entrenched.
In 2016, Somalia received about $250 million from the international community for its security sector, following years of similar contributions. Yet, its army is not able to engage even in joint patrolling with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces, let alone hold territories nominally cleared of al Shabab. The Somali National Army (SNA) rosters have some 29,000 individuals on its payroll, of which some 12,000 may actually be soldiers with some capacity to fight. The rest are ghost soldiers, widows and the elderly. Despite the massive international aid, the military’s training remains inadequate, and equipment is siphoned off to clans and al Shabab.
Because of theft and corruption, soldiers’ salaries are not paid regularly, though Somalia’s current president Mohamad Abdullaji “Farmajo” Mohamad managed to cut the salary arrears from six months to two. As with many aspects of Somalia’s social and political life, the soldiers’ primary loyalties are not to the state, but to fractious clans. Somali national security forces do not take the fight to al Shabab; but neither, any longer, does the supposedly 22,000-strong AMISOM. For some two years, it has remained in static positions, often locked-in garrisons.
It too struggles with effectively holding territory, with various clan and warlord militias and semi-official police forces most frequently performing that function. Often they extort local populations, engage in retaliation against rival and minority clans or steal land and other economic resources. Still, when AMISOM withdraws from territories, as happened in 2017 and with further “conditions-based” withdrawals slated by 2020, security tends to deteriorate significantly and al Shabab fills the void. Its return exacerbates insecurity as the group punishes collaborators with AMISOM and the government.
Although much weaker than in 2012, al Shabab still controls significant territory and regularly conducts attacks in much of the country, including in Mogadishu. The intensified U.S. air strikes on al Shabab’s massing forces and vehicles significantly complicate its operations. But they mostly disperse the militants, including to Mogadishu, with the same security vacuum left behind. Reliance on flipped and washed-out Shabab commanders, such as Ahmed Madobe in Kismayo and recently Mukhtar Robow and their militias, may bring immediate tactical gains. But if the politics and governance this unleashes remains predatory, discriminatory and capricious, the gains are ephemeral.
TOP TWEETS
Radio Dalsan @DalsanFM: Somaliland Threatens Retaliation To Puntland Troops Deployment In Sool –http://radiodalsan.com/en/
@DalsanFM: #BREAKING: A ceremony to mark the merger of Ahlu Sunnah Wa jamaa & Galmudug administration that was scheduled to take place in Dhusamareb today has been postpone. @M_Farmaajo, 5 regional Presidents & the Governor of Banaadir @ThabitMhd were expected to witness the event.
@DalsanFM: 2 #Alshabaab fighters involved in Sunday raids on SNA bases are captured in Gofgudud, Bay region. 5 captives in the hands of the militant group freed by government forces. 2 motorbikes used by the militants recovered- South West Official says.#Somalia
@Goobjoognews: Dire humanitarian situation is reported from#Habiibo sub location under #Ba’adweyn location in@Puntland_State related to the post effect of the devastating drought that hit #Somalia in the last 2 years.
@Goobjoognews: #Somali National Commission for Refugees and IDPs@HQQSoomaaliyeed says @UNSomalia budget implementation in the country is not showing the expected tangible results.
@Tahir_Moha: @engyarisow delivering a speech at the launch event of National Disaster Management Policy. @Wayakii@Badrabela
@DalsanFM: #Somaliland President Muse Bihi @musebiihiholds talks with#Ethiopia Prime Minister HaileMariam Desalegn in Addis Ababa on his day one of an official visit of the country.
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: Somali security forces nab militants in two special operations in Lower Shabelle and Bay regions, today, security sources. First operation took place in Furuqley village near Afgoye – 1 militant captured; 2nd operation was in Gofgudud Shabelow – 3 militants captured.
@thesailorsgirl: Nadifa Mohamed Retweeted Eng. Yarow Sharif *Disturbing image* Murder and abuse of Somali minorities in Kismayo. Nur Mohamed Ali shot and killed. Protesters beaten. Reports that Bantu Somalis have been banned from using smartphones. @BBCSomali @BBCAfrica @guardian
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmaajo) with other regional states Presidents and other officials, in Dhusa Mareeb, Galgaduud region.
Photo: @DalsanFM