February 10, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Al Shabaab has at last shown its true colors
10 Feb – Source: TFG – 167 words
The two terrorist organizations of al Shabaab and al Qaeda announced yesterday that they have joined forces and are united as a single organization now. In a statement the Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, H.E. Abdulkadir Hussein Mohamed (Jaahweyn) of the TFG said today,
“This is no news to us. We knew all along that they were one and the same. And that al Shabaab leaders were fully paid up agents and representatives of al Qaeda, a foreign terrorist organisation engaged in the most un-Islamic activities of murdering innocent Muslim Somali civilians.”
“We say to Mr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri that your ‘glad tidings’ are even better glad tidings for us. The Somali government is actually very pleased that the time for al Shabaab to masquerade as an indigenous Somali-Islamic organization is gone forever,” the minister added.
“The whole international community knows now what we knew for a long time and should join our fight against al Qaeda in Somalia unreservedly.” the minister concluded.
Key Headlines
- Al Shabaab has at last shown its true colors (TFG)
- President Sharif urges Somalis to fight al Shabaab (Radio Bar-kulan)
- New era for Somalia as hundreds taught job and other activities ( Jowhar Online)
- Somalia’s al Shabaab “officially joins” al Qaeda (Radio Shabelle Bar-kulan Radio Mogadishu)
- Somaliland President Sacks Military Chief (Somalia Report Somaliweyn)
- Hague seeks local input for Somali solution (The Independent iol.co.za)
PRESS RELEASE
Al Shabaab has at last shown its true colors
10 Feb – Source: TFG – 167 words
The two terrorist organizations of al Shabaab and al Qaeda announced yesterday that they have joined forces and are united as a single organization now. In a statement the Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, H.E. Abdulkadir Hussein Mohamed (Jaahweyn) of the TFG said today,
“This is no news to us. We knew all along that they were one and the same. And that al Shabaab leaders were fully paid up agents and representatives of al Qaeda, a foreign terrorist organisation engaged in the most un-Islamic activities of murdering innocent Muslim Somali civilians.”
“We say to Mr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri that your ‘glad tidings’ are even better glad tidings for us. The Somali government is actually very pleased that the time for al Shabaab to masquerade as an indigenous Somali-Islamic organization is gone forever,” the minister added.
“The whole international community knows now what we knew for a long time and should join our fight against al Qaeda in Somalia unreservedly.” the minister concluded.
SOMALI MEDIA
President Sharif urges Somalis to fight al Shabaab
10 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 109 words
Somalia’s President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has called on the general public to fight al Shabaab rebel group in order to wipe them out of the country. He said the group aims completely butchering innocent people in the country, thus time is ripe for a common position against the group.
The president was speaking at a ceremony where his government took possession of state-owned properties in Wardigley district. President Sharif condemned the recent suicide bombing in Mogadishu where several people were killed. He said the attack was part of rebel strategies to finish up the Somali population. His sentiment comes as the group announces merging it self with al Qaeda network.
Somalia’s al Shabaab “officially joins” al Qaeda
10 Feb – Source: Radio Shabelle, Bar-kulan, Radio Mogadishu – 110 words
The al Shabaab Movement has officially joined al Qaeda network, top officials said.
The al Qaeda leader, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, and al Shabaab leader, Sheikh Muqtar Abdirahman Abu-Zubayr, spoke to pro-Islamist media.
Abu-Zubayr, speaking in Arabic, said al Shabaab will continue fighting in Somalia and that it is ready to fight alongside al Qaeda, and added that he is happy about the unity between the two groups.
Ayman Al-Zawahiri, on his part, said the union between al Qaeda and al Shabaab is important, urging the latter to step up its suicide bombings in Mogadishu. A number of countries have long affiliated al Shabaab with al Qaeda, but this is the first time that the radical al Shabaab Islamists declared allegiance to al Qaeda.
New era for Somalia as hundreds taught job and other activities
10 Feb – Source: Jowhar Online – 125 words
The biggest graduation ceremony to be witnessed in the war-torn Somalia in more than two decades has been held for over 500 students who were taught Sport and other important skills by the Somali Youth League SYL.
Somali President, Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, Mayor of the capital, Mohamud Noor Tarzan, other keys government officials, Parents and students themselves addressed Wednesday’s ceremony which intended to mark the conclusion of six month-long different courses during which the youths were taught sport and other job skills including nursing, Secretariat, computer, tailoring mechanism and journalism.
SYL II Chairwoman Ainabo Ahmed the apprenticeship graduation ceremony that this was part of her youth group’s strategy to fight against youth jobless and protect them from being monopolized by warmongers and terrorists in the country.
Somaliland President Sacks Military Chief
09 Feb – Source: Somalia Report, Somaliweyn – 169 words
Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Silaanyo) reshuffled his security officials by sacking the chief commander of military forces, Mohamed Abdulaahi Hassan Jidhif, and replacing him with Isma’il Mohamed Hassan Shaqale, according to an official statement.
Sources close to President Silanyo told Somalia Report that reshuffling came after Jidhif and President Silanyo disagreed on security affairs during a meeting on Wednesday night in Hargeisa.
An official in Hargiesa who requested anonymity said the rift came about after Somaliland`s milltry troops failed to enter Buuhoodle and seize , which is now in the control of the newly established Khautmo state militia. Local residents who spoke to Somalia Report also confirmed the decision.
“We heard this decision this evening and people are talking about this tonight. Some of the people welcome the change while others oppose it, but everyone knows it is related to Buhodle fighting,” said Abdulrisak Mohamed, a resident of Hargeisa. Somaliland troops attack Khatumo militia fighters in late January and the militia fought back by attacking Somaliland forces late yesterday.
Somalia: President Farole opens constitution ceremony
09 Feb – Source: Garowe Online – 302 words
Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole opened the launching ceremony to the completion of the Puntland state constitution, Garowe reports.Many attended the launching ceremony held at PDRC in Garowe including Speaker of House, ministers, MPs, mayors, governors, Italian Ambassador Designate Andrea Mazzella, Valentina Auricchio Head of Section Governance and Security for the EU and many others.
After thanking the various guest who attended the launching ceremony and PDRC for hosting the event, President Farole stated that his goal for Puntland when he took office in 2009 was the establishment of a constitution for Puntland state, stressing that democratization empowers the people of Puntland, and is manifested in the people’s vote.
“We are gathered here today in order to launch the constitution in order to restore power back into the hands of the people and to realize the dream of Puntland that Somalia has separate constitutions – with a federal constitution and state constitutions.” said President Farole.
TFG succeeds in releasing five Somali fishermen from Seychelles
09 Feb – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Somalia Report – 80 words
The Somali fishing ministry has succeeded in securing the release of five Somali fishermen who were in prison in the Seychelles for 11 months after negotiating with the Seychelles government. The Somali Minister of Fisheries, Abdirahman Sheikh Ibrahim, told the media the men landed in Mogadishu on Thursday and they were reunited with their families. The Somali minister also stated that they are also involved in securing the release of more than 60 Somalis who remain imprisoned in the Seychelles.
REGIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM to implement $4.5M projects in Mogadishu
10 Feb – Source: Star Africa/African Press Organization (APO)/AMISOM – 266 words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has announced that it will be spending over $4.5 million on a series of projects meant to improve security and the lives of ordinary Somalis in Mogadishu.
According to Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission DSRCC) for Somalia, Honourable Wafula Wamunyinyi, over $1 million from international donors will be spent on the construction of a school in Wadajir district; supply of generators for the Banadir Hospital; equipment and supplies for police stations; installation of water treatment facilities to provide clean drinking water to nearly 1.3 million people in 4 of the capital’s districts; and the rehabilitation of the Parliament and the Ministry of Labour buildings.
This is in addition to the $3.5 million AMISOM is already spending to upgrade facilities or the Somali National Army at their military base in Al-Jazeera.“These projects demonstrate AMISOM’s continuing commitment to help the people of Somalia as they strive to find a lasting solution to decades of conflict in the country,” said Deputy AU Special Representative, Honourable Wafula Wamunyinyi.
At a press conference this morning, he also sent his condolences to the victims of yesterday’s terrorist attack which killed at least eleven people and left scores injured. He noted that AMISOM was working hard to help Somali security agencies improve security
Somalia Back Story: Central Sector
09 Feb – Source: Citizen TV (Video) – 5:19 min
The Somalia backstory: Kenyan Citizen TV journalists caught in Somalia crossfire.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Hague seeks local input for Somali solution
09 Feb – Source: The Independent, iol.co.za – 127 words
British Foreign Secretary William Hague will meet members of the Somali diaspora in Cape Town next week to seek input into an international conference his government is hosting in London later this month on how to solve the chronic Somalia problem.
It is understood that Hague will meet his SA counterpart, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, visit British aid projects in and around Cape Town and deliver a lecture on Britain’s Africa policy. He will then travel to Botswana.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has recently taken an interest in the Somali crisis, inspired by attacks on British nationals by Somalis.Cameron will host the conference, including about 40 countries and international organisations, in Somalia on February 23 “to pull together international effort” to try to resolve the Somali crisis.
Somali group joins Qaeda,aim to revive anti-West threat
09 Feb – Source: Reuters – 235 words
Al Qaeda announced on Thursday Somali militant group al Shabaab was joining its ranks in an apparent bid to boost morale and sharpen a threat to Western targets diminished by months of setbacks including the loss of founder Osama bin Laden. One analyst said the connection could signal that the insurgents, known as resourceful, determined and increasingly Web-savvy, had al Qaeda’s approval for attacks against the West.
In a video posted on Islamist forums on Thursday, al Qaeda leadewr Ayman al-Zawahri said:
“Today, I have glad tidings for the Muslim ummah (nation) that will please the believers and disturb the disbelievers, which is the joining of the Shabaab al-Mujahideen Movement in Somalia to Qaedat al-Jihad to support the jihadi unity against the Zionist-Crusader campaign and their assistants amongst the treacherous agent rulers.”
“I appeal to our people in Somalia not to follow those who teach ill, and the weak leaders who brought the crusader rabble to the land of pure Islam.”The clip included an audio recording by al Shabaab’s leader Sheikh Abu Zubeyr, in which he pledged allegiance to Zawahiri, who took over the reins of al Qaeda last year following the killing of bin Laden in a U.S. attack in Pakistan. Al Shabaab, which controls large areas of Somalia, voiced support for Zawahri soon after he took over al Qaeda and has had openly declared links to the network for more than two years.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Two weeks from now, world leaders from some 50 countries and organisations will meet in London with the single aim of ensuring we can support Somalia and the Somali people better and more effectively. This high-level summit, unprecedented in recent years, will seek to galvanise a more effective joint approach that strengthens the crucial work of the Somali leadership and the UN, AU and IGAD.”
Somalia: Two Weeks to Remember. Two Weeks to go
10 Feb – Source: UK in Somalia Blog – 624 Words
It’s been quite a fortnight. At the end of January, I accompanied the UK Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, to the AU Summit in Addis Ababa and then to Somalia. In Dollow – the first time a British Minister has visited southern Somalia in recent years, Mr Mitchell saw for himself the huge difference that UKaid is making to the lives of thousands of Somali people in the south. Arriving in Garowe on Monday on the first-ever visit by a British Cabinet Minister to Puntland, the Minister received a warm welcome and was able to see for himself what’s possible with greater stability and security – in health care, rule of law, jobs and security. And in what was truly a ground-breaking visit, he was able to personally destroy over 45kg of unexploded ordnance – a further sign of the progress being made in helping to make Puntland safer, with the UK’s support.
36 hours in Nairobi and then it was back to Mogadishu on Thursday, this time accompanying the British Foreign Secretary, William Hague – the first visit by a British Foreign Secretary since Douglas Hurd in 1992. And it was of real significance for me personally, as I was able to present my credentials from Her Majesty the Queen as the first British Ambassador to Somalia since 1991, in front of both the Foreign Secretary, and the President of the TFG, Sheikh Sharif, as well as the assembled press corps.
UN is an honest broker in Somalia peace process
09 Feb – Source: The Citizen – 163 Words
I would like to correct a number of facts regarding an opinion piece by Rasna Warah on the United Nations in Somalia. In line with the announcement by the UN secretary-general, I moved to Mogadishu last week with key staff from my UN Political Office for Somalia.
This move has been widely welcomed by ordinary Somalis inside the country and in the diaspora, the Somali government (including Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali) and the international community. The move allows UNPOS to increase its daily engagement with the Somali political process and allows the UN to have a greater understanding of the views and wishes of the Somali people.
This is particularly important as, within the next few months, the Somalis will agree on a new constitution that will be a cornerstone for returning the country to peace and stability. This, along with the reform of Parliament and other key tasks, is the basis of the roadmap that my office is helping the government to implement.
Of course we are not the first to arrive in Mogadishu — there are currently around 950 UN staff in Somalia with six UN agencies having a permanent presence in Mogadishu.
I believe that this is a moment of great opportunity for Somalia. UNPOS will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Somali people. We will do everything we can to help but ultimately peace in Somalia will be achieved by the Somalis themselves.
Ambassador Augustine P. Mahiga, Mogadishu.
Somalia Diaspora Discussion At Chatham House
Chatham House’s Africa programme hosted Somalia Diaspora Discussion on 09 February in London. below is the link to the discussion.
Top tweets
@RahmaM93 Its no coincidence that Britian wants to ‘help’ Somalia when regions like Puntland are beginning to produce oil #LDNSOMALIA
@SamiraQali Al Shabaab merge with Al Qaeda. Dear evil, whatever form you take, terrorism or imperialism, keep your hands off Somalia #LDNSomalia.
@PeterBiles #Somalia – Prof Abdi Samatar tells #NetworkAfrica that Al Shabab is a spent force. Joining Al Qaeda is a death cry. @BBCAfrica
@Nicky_FirstNews @
@DBrooks84 Al Shabaab merger with #AQ likely to complicate discussions at #LDNSomalia Conference aje.
@clickclackclare
Image of the day
Women holding a portrait placard depicting Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed take part in a rally organized to commemorate the handing over of government buildings vacated by squatters.