February 17, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
UK seeks backing for Somalia action
17 Feb- Source: The Independent- 448 words
Britain is pushing for a United Nations resolution that would help pull Somalia back from the grip of pirates and terrorists.UN Security Council experts are discussing a strategy that would see the African Union force in Somalia extended from 12,000 to about 17,700 troops.
A spokesman for the UK mission to the UN said it wanted to “take advantage of what we see as a window of opportunity” to render al-Shabab militants “ineffective as a military force”.
A draft resolution is expected to be circulated today, with a view to the resolution being adopted on Wednesday, a day before Britain stages a major conference aimed at breaking up the “business model” used by pirates in Somalia.
Senior representatives from more than 40 governments and international organisations will attend the London Somali Conference, starting on February 23 and hosted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which aims to develop a new approach to tackle the threat of piracy.
Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the UK’s ambassador to the UN, has said the purpose of the conference is to take advantage of the opportunity created by the military pressure on al-Shabab by a combination of the AU force, known as Amisom, and Kenyan forces.
Key Headlines
- Somali President travels to Garowe Puntland (Radio Mogadishu)
- Al Shabaab attacks Kenya-TFG forces near border town (Source: Shabelle)
- Luuq residents demonstrate in support of efforts to defeat al Shabaab (Source: Radio moagadishu)
- Kismayo residents forced to march for al Shabaab ( Source: Somalia Report)
- Al Shabaab cries foul over people fleeing its stronghold (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Kenyan government urged to resume registration of Somali refugees ( Source: CoastweekXinhua )
- UK seeks backing for Somalia action (Source: The Independent)
- Monetary remittances to Somalia remain an issue(Source: Twin Cities / AP)
PRESS STATEMENT
Garowe II conference on constitutional affairs continues for second day, brings forth preliminary outcomes
16 Feb- Source: Office of the Prime Minister (OPM)- 376 words
The Garowe II constitutional conference is ongoing for the second day where the delegates have divided themselves into groups discussing the issues of federalism and the most suitable type Somalia could embrace good governance and implementation of Garowe principles.
The groups comprised of the TFG represented by the ministers, legislatures, intellects, regional administrations, committee of constitutional experts, and committee of the draft constitution, civil society groups and officials from the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS).
The groups discussed in depth the past situations of the country and what will follow after the end of the transitional period of the government and how to create a viable, legitimate, accountable and meaningful government. The discussions heavily approached the type of federal government that is reasonable and befitting for Somalia which will appear in the final communiqué of the conference.
The Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, speaker of the parliament Sharif Hassan, Galmudug president Mohamed Ahmed Alin and Ambassador Mahiga have this evening toured the different groups of the attendees and delegates and were impressed with the progress and how discussions were successfully going. They congratulated the different parties gathered in the meeting for their efforts and commitment.
The premier of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali urged the delegates to bring forth tangible outcomes from today’s meeting and to keep Somalis abreast of the important outcomes that will shape the future of Somalia.
“I am here to tell you that the Somalis in London won’t get a glimpse of sleep and you are required to work extra time because we are being waited to produce outcomes that will be part of the upcoming London agendas on 23rd this month” the premier said to the conference delegates. He added that the world holds the notion that Somalia cannot reconcile but said that such claims are baseless and Somalia has stepped forward producing outcomes in Garowe Principles which will be perfected in the Garowe II meeting.
Meanwhile, a delegate of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a arrived in Garowe comprising of Prof. Hirsi Hilowle, Sheikh Mohamed Yussuf Hefow, Khalif Abdikadir Maalim Nur and Mohamed Yussuf Ow Libaah who were part of the politicians involved in the Garowe meeting and held talks with the conference delegates including the Prime Minister Abdiweli.
Council of Ministers meeting , Mogadisho
16 Feb- Source:Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) -463 words
In an ordinary meeting held by the Somali cabinet ministers which was chaired by the acting premier Hussein Arab Isse, the cabinet discussed issues to do with security, a report by former Prime Minister of Norway, appointment of prison force commander, sports policy, London meeting and lifting of weapons sanction on the country.
The former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Bondevik briefed the cabinet on his vast experience in the post where he was leading three parties with diverging views. He said confidence should be built within the government and emphasised its importance. He mentioned five issues which are healthy for politics of the any government. These, he said, are: consultations, discussions, solidarity, agreement and compromise.
He added that these five issues will bring cohesion among the public. Hussein Arab thanked Mr Bondevik and promised they will make use of his experience.
Statements from the ministry of security stated that significant progress has been achieved by forces of the government and AMISOM in Ex-control and that the operation was successful. The cabinet agreed to help the public in resettlement.
Minister for justice and Islamic affairs tabled a candidate for the post of prison force commander. After lengthy discussions, they agreed to name Abdi Mohamed Ismail as the head of the prison force.
Minister for transport and ports has also briefed the council of minister on the importance of the preservation of the Somali shores. They agreed to form a committee of ministers from ministry of justice, internal affairs, finance, general affairs, housing and defence to investigate the matter for further decision making.
The cabinet praised the public for their compliance by vacating the government properties and buildings.
Minister for employment, Youth and Sports also presented the policies and deliberations of the sport sector and asked for approval from the ministers. The cabinet lastly agreed to implement the policies of sports.
Minister for information, post and telecommunication presented national telecommunication regulation. The law emphasises on creation of a national structure for telecommunication services. Copies of the regulation were circulated among the ministers and they agreed to read it and discuss it in the cabinet’s meeting next week.
The acting premier and assistant minister for finance have also briefed the cabinet on the London meeting and asked the ministers to have a common stand about it. They agreed to rebuild the security agencies, set up administrations and authority in regions, strengthen finance institutions and help the government in rebuilding the country. Hussein Arab asked the ministers to explicitly make it clear that the weapons sanction of the country be lifted. The cabinet agreed to send request to the United Nations Security Council to lift the ban on weapons. This, they said, will help build the Somali National Army and eventually eradicate Al-shabab from the country.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali President travels to Garowe, Puntland
17 Feb- Source: Radio Mogadishu, Shabelle- 48 words
Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has travelled to Garowe town, capital of Puntland semi autonomous state to take part in the UN sponsored consultative session that entered its last day.
President Sheikh Sharif is accompanied by high-ranking officials from his government. The participants are from TFG, TFIs, regional authorities, Ahlu Sunnah wal Jamaa, and representatives of the UN,AU,and international community.
Al Shabaab attacks Kenya-TFG forces near border town
17 Feb- Source: Shabelle- 182 words
The islamist militants of al Shabaab linked with al Qaeda have attacked overnight military positions controlled by Somali government soldiers and Kenyan army in Qoqani village near Afmadow town of Lower Jubba region of Somalia, reports say.
Witnesses say heavy fighting broke out after the militants launched an attack against Kenyan and TFG bases in Qoqani village, a small town captured from al Shabaab fighters in the past few weeks by the coalition forces. Details about the exact casualties on both warring sides are still unclear .
Somali government military officials in the region whom Shabelle Media contacted said that their forces managed to push back al Shabaab fighters from the area, adding that Kenya and TFG forces seized during the battle weapons from the militants including a sniper rifle, three AK47s and communication equipment.
Al Shabaab has not made any comment about the claim so far. Kenya sent troops into Somalia almost five months ago to pursue the militants, whom it blames for a string of attacks and kidnappings against aid workers and citizens in its soil.
Al Shabaab cries foul over people fleeing its stronghold
17 Feb- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 259 words
Al Shabaab has admitted that locals in Elasha Biyaha, a rebel stronghold on the outskirt of Mogadishu, have fled to the capital fearing clashes after African Union troops advanced towards the militia positions in the south of the war-wracked capital Mogadishu.
Al Shabaab leader, Fuad Shangole was quoted as saying that nearly three-quarter of the local population in the area have deserted their home to safer positions in Mogadishu.Speaking at a mosque in Elasha Biyaha area, Shangole lambasted on those who fled to Mogadishu, saying that they became apostates because of leaving al Shabaab controlled areas.
Shangole criticised civilians for fleeing to areas controlled by what he called enemies, adding that it was like denouncing Islam to seek refuge in areas controlled by their opponents.He lamented that his group faces what he called a “test” and threatened to continue with their war against the government and other forces backing the government. He said the war has just started and is far from ending.
His sentiment comes as locals are fleeing from the rebel-held area for the third day consecutive to avoid heavy fighting in the Afgoye corridor, just south of the capital.
Luuq residents demonstrate in support of efforts to defeat al Shabaab
16 Feb- Source: Radio moagadishu, Somalia Report- 57 words
Hundreds of Somali people have come out in Luuq district of Gedo region to support the operations against al Shabaab in Somalia. The people were carrying placards against the Islamist terrorist group. TFG’s chairman in Gedo region, Mohamed Abdi Kalil, spoke to Radio Mogadishu and vowed that TFG troops will continue to eradicate the militias in the region.
VOA Somali program available in Canada
16 feb- Source: Radio VOA Somali Service- 253 words
Canada’s large Somali diaspora community can now listen to the latest VOA Somali broadcasts on their phones. The new “call-to-listen” service is part of a growing partnership between Voice of America and AudioNow, a mobile distribution provider.
The VOA Somali Service, which is celebrating its 5th anniversary this week, is available in Canada on any phone, 24 hours a day, by simply dialing the number posted on the VOA website.
The Director of VOA’s Africa Division, Gwen Dillard, says a similar service introduced in Great Britain last year has been extremely successful. “The Somali diaspora community is an important audience for us,” Dillard says, “they have strong ties to Somalia, and are interested in what is happening in their troubled homeland. Our goal is to provide them with accurate and up-to-date news and information.”
As the service celebrated its 5th year of broadcasting to Somalia on Sunday, a statement from VOA Director David Ensor noted VOA Somali has become one of the country’s most respected news sources. “A recent survey shows that 73% of people in the regions that were polled, listen each week to the news and information the service offers, a sign of the trust that the Somali audience has placed in us. We look forward to many more years of serving our audience in Somalia,” Ensor said.
Last year, VOA and AudioNow also inaugurated new “call-to-listen” services in Guinea and Liberia. AudioNow’s proprietary, patent-pending technology allows any fixed or mobile phone to access live audio programming across all mobile platforms.
Kismayo residents forced to march for al Shabaab
16 Feb- Source: Somalia Report- 211 words
Al Shabaab militants last night demanded Kismayo residents to come out in the streets to show their support for the merger between the hardline Islamic group and al Qaeda by using loudspeakers mounted on vehicles, for a forced march throughout Kismayo this morning.
At around 5:00pm local time (17:00GMT) on Thursday night, al Shabaab militants were seen in the street calling on people to come out in large numbers to show support for what they called ‘brothers’. They also went to homes and businesses of the locals, demanding their participation and threatened those who refused to abide.
“We ask our Muslim brothers and sisters in this city to show how much they love God by coming out in large numbers to show our solidarity and support for the Muslim unity. We want you to walk around the city and join our walk by gathering in the Berta Xoriyada (Independence farm/square) at 8:00 am local time,” the voice said from loudspeakers.
By this morning, it was clear people got the message as large numbers of people came out to ‘support’ the march, fearing that they would be punished if they refused.
The forced march, however, was cut short when Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) airplanes flew over the city and forced people back to their houses.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan government urged to resume registration of Somali refugees
17 Feb- Source: Coastweek,Xinhua-325 words
An international aid agency on Thursday urged the Kenyan government to resume the registration of Somali refugees fleeing drought and conflict in their troubled nation.
“Without registration, refugee families can’t get full access to the assistance they need,” said Melanie Teff, senior advocate of Refugees International, who recently visited Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp—the largest in the world.
“Many are weakened by months of malnutrition, while others have been abused by criminal activities. Without proper shelters, some have been forced to live on the outskirts of the camps, where they face increasing sexual abuse,” Teff said in a statement.
The East African nation suspended registration of refugees last October as part of a security effort to restrict members of al Shabaab, who are suspected to be responsible for a spate of deadly attacks in Dadaab camps.The attacks, using explosive devices, have killed several Kenyan police officers.
Refugees International said in a statement that Kenya’s decision to suspend registration has made the volatile security situation in the camps even worse.
Troops kill four al Shabaab militants, says military
16 Feb- Source: Daily Nation- 200 words
Kenyan soldiers have killed four al Shabaab fighters as the operation against the militants enters the fifth month, military reports say.
A statement issued by the Kenya Defence Forces said the four were killed as they attempted to attack Kenyan and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldiers at Hawina in the central sector.
Military spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir added that a Kenyan soldier was killed in the Wednesday night operation.
“The TFG fighters and Kenya Defence Forces yesterday killed four al Shabaab militants at Hawina,” said the statement signed Major Chirchir.
“The militants attacked the joint forces who were on a pacification mission in the area,” the statement added.
He said the Kenyan soldiers and their allies recovered weapons from the militants including a sniper rifle, three AK47s and communication equipment.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UK seeks backing for Somalia action
17 Feb- Source: The Independent- 448 words
Britain is pushing for a United Nations resolution that would help pull Somalia back from the grip of pirates and terrorists.UN Security Council experts are discussing a strategy that would see the African Union force in Somalia extended from 12,000 to about 17,700 troops.
A spokesman for the UK mission to the UN said it wanted to “take advantage of what we see as a window of opportunity” to render al-Shabab militants “ineffective as a military force”.
A draft resolution is expected to be circulated today, with a view to the resolution being adopted on Wednesday, a day before Britain stages a major conference aimed at breaking up the “business model” used by pirates in Somalia.
Senior representatives from more than 40 governments and international organisations will attend the London Somali Conference, starting on February 23 and hosted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which aims to develop a new approach to tackle the threat of piracy.
Sir Mark Lyall Grant, the UK’s ambassador to the UN, has said the purpose of the conference is to take advantage of the opportunity created by the military pressure on al-Shabab by a combination of the AU force, known as Amisom, and Kenyan forces.
Monetary remittances to Somalia remain an issue
16 Feb – Source: Twin Cities (Minnesota) / AP – 558 words
Rep. Keith Ellison said Thursday that officials in Washington are still looking at ways to ensure that Somalis in the U.S. can safely send money to their famine-stricken homeland – including a possible license for banks operating on humanitarian grounds.
In a conference call with reporters, the Minnesota congressman said Somalia is still experiencing the effects of famine and is in dire need of the millions of dollars in remittances it receives from the U.S.
Ellison said he and Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken met with David Cohen, U.S. Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, to discuss solutions that would keep the dollars flowing. He said they discussed the possibility of a memorandum of understanding between the treasury and banks – which wouldn’t make banks immune from prosecution if they violate anti-terror laws but could give them more comfort if they are acting in good faith.
“We are doing what we can to try to get this situation solved,” Ellison said. “We do know that lives are on the line. If money is turned off from remittances, it will turn on an opportunity for al-Shabab.”
The U.S. government considers al Shabaab, which is at the center of violence in Somalia, a terrorist group with ties to al-Qaida.
Militants may be free to control Somalia’s south
16 Feb- Source: Telegraph -616 words
The proposal forms part of an international plan to rebuild the war-torn east African state which is due to be discussed by world leaders in London next week. A leaked draft of the summit’s proposed communique, released yesterday, states that the country’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) must be dissolved as soon as August to help “turn the tide” of chaos.
It would be replaced with a constituent assembly that draws up a constitution and oversees a caretaker government in the run-up to democratic elections, according to the document. However, a working paper for next’s week Lancaster House conference makes explicit the threat of excluding the al Shabaab-run southern third of Somalia from this new government.
“Around one third of the country remains in al Shabaab hands”, the document, published by the Somalialand Sun said. “But the Somalis, after many peace conferences, have made the decision to develop a constitution and government structures in areas free from al Shabaab rather than attempting a comprehensive peace agreement.”
Officials hope the conference will bolster efforts to lure Islamic groups that had been close to al Shabaab into constitutional politics and reject the group, which last week announced it had “merged” with al Qaeda. It could see pledges to increase aid to those areas that choose to reject the terror group.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
Elements in the army, led by senior Kenyan Somali officers and politicians, including Minister of State for Defense Yusuf Haji, had long desired to intervene. They were eager to test Kenya’s well-equipped but little-used army in war conditions, to advance the interests of their own Ogadeni sub-clans in Jubaland, to gain personally from the stabilization of trade in cattle and other commodities, to capture the port of Kismayu, and to establish a Kenya-dominated buffer zone south of the River Juba, driving al Shabaab into hostile terrain north of the river. In recent years, Ogadeni interests in Jubaland have been marginalized as al Shabab has established control. The Kenyans are well placed to establish an understanding with the Ogadenis, as the clan straddles the border, but they must be careful to take into account the Darod, the other major clan in Jubaland.
Kenya’s Intervention in Somalia
16 Feb- Source: Center for Strategic and International Studies- 1911 Words
On October 16, 2011, two battalions of the Kenyan army, numbering 2,400 troops, crossed the border into southern Somalia. While the ostensible catalyst for the intervention was a spate of high-profile cross-border kidnappings and murders by freelance Somali criminals, a longer-term set of ambitions and objectives underlay the operation, which, according to some analysts, was contemplated by elements of the Kenyan military as early as 2009. Whether the operation can ultimately succeed in furthering Kenya’s short- and longer-term objectives is uncertain. The deployment (as with most interventions in Somalia) may have unanticipated costs, complications, and consequences both within Kenya and the broader region that undermine short-term gains and weaken domestic and regional support.
“The industry continued to hold its collective breath, waiting for more attacks and hijackings as the monsoon abated. However, October proved to be the pirates’ most active month that quarter, as November would reinforce. EU NAVFOR initially listed 12 pirate attacks for the month, later downsizing this to just 11 attacks, of which only one resulted in a successful hijacking.”
The Pirate Surge That Never Was
16 Feb- Source: Marine Link- 1415 Words
In September 2011, as the monsoon began to blow itself out, there were grave warnings from a number of sources and analysts that the shipping industry could expect to see a significant surge in pirate activity as conditions in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean became more favorable. Captain Keith Blount, chief of staff with EU NAVFOR, told the press1, “I think we are going to see a surge in piracy because we always have done at this time when the southwest monsoon abates and the seas become flatter.”
But as conditions cleared, the anticipated increase in pirate activity failed to materialize, to the surprise of many in the industry. This was all the more remarkable given the business model of Somali pirates, which demands that they hijack high value targets which can be ransomed for huge sums which are then used to pay off the investors who supply the equipment used by the pirates, their food and that of their hostages and so on. Without a reasonable turnover of hijacked vessels, pirates begin to run up big bills in their home ports and those cut into their profit margins. Pirates towards the end of 2011 were very much on the back foot, and successful hijackings were suddenly few and far between.
Palaver: Somalia
17 Feb- Source: The Standard- 349 words
Nice to hear the International Crisis Group advising Kenya to end its intervention in Somalia and instead focus on an exit strategy to avoid sparking local resistance and retaliation. Reasonable stuff considering the military that Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni thought was largely ceremonial has gone where regional power Ethiopia failed and succeeded where US Marines hightailed it. Let President Kibaki end Operation Linda Nchi now while we are still ahead, but keep a strong presence of soldiers near the common border for “hot pursuit” whenever some misguided al Shabaab insurgents feel like crossing over to take potshots at Kenyans.
And staying with Somalia, what a sight it must have been yesterday when President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, addressed thousands of flag-waving Mogadishu residents who were chanting slogans against al Qaeda. We welcome his vow to clear his country of al Qaeda, if only the international community were to lift the arms embargo imposed on Somalia. Although, wouldn’t the cash to buy arms be better utilised rebuilding the country? Hard choices confront his administration and after a 20-year-long wait by a battle wearied people.
Top tweets
@MinisterHashi, It’s great to see Somalis meet on Somali soil before they go on to #LDNSomalia. Can u quickly sum what you hope to discuss?
@OECD_INCAF Next week: Spotlight on #Somalia and the London Conference. What does the DAC have to say? bit.ly/zMcfim #LDNsomalia
@Phillip W.d. Martin My report on PRI’s #The World: Somalia’s Plight Overlooked Among Global Troubles | PRI’s The World theworld.org/2012/02/us-
@Aid Resources UN should avoid to Lift Arms Embargo on Somalia dlvr.it/1Cf3ly
@Yusuf Ali Adan #Puntland highway Authority begins massive #Garowe To #Galkacyo
@ActForSomalia United we stand divided we fall ,and for the sake of our nation now is the time to stand and stay together. #somalia #LDNsomalia
Image of the day
Residents flocking back to capital Mogadishu after many parts of the city was liberated by AMISOM and Somali troops.