April 18, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Clashes force hundreds of Somalis to flee from Afmadow town
18 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 169 words
In the last few hours, hundreds of Somalis have fled their homes fearing deadly clashes after Somali and Kenyan troops made military advances against Al Shabaab militant positions near the rebel-held Afmadow town in the south of the war-wracked country.
Families with their young children headed by foot into the city of Dhoblay at the border between Somalia and Kenya from the outskirts of Afmadow town, as the coalition forces moved into positions they seized from the al Qaeda-linked rebels this months after heavy fighting.
“These fleeing people are reportedly heading att an area in the centre of Dhoblay town with no proper shelters to protect them from the cold and the daily scorching sun” said a resident of Dhoblay. Many Afmadow residents had fled to the border towns near Kenya, which hosts tens of thousands of displaced people, in the wake of intense battles between the AU troops and the rebels in recent years.
Key Headlines
- Clashes force hundreds of Somalis to flee from Afmadow town (Shabelle)
- Ethiopia announces it will soon pull-out troops from Somalia (Radio Risaala Kulmiye)
- Kibaki asks EAC to support peace efforts in Somalia (Coast Week Xinhua)
- Biggest public consultation on constitutional process at ending of Somalia Transition (Raxanreeb/Hiiraan Online)
- Clashes between TGF forces and al Shabaab in Bay region (Radio Kulmiye)
- Al Shabaab leader escapes from Garisaa northeastern Kenya (Star/Nairobi)
- Extended Somali pirate plan creates waves (Local)
SOMALI MEDIA
Clashes force hundreds of Somalis to flee from Afmadow town
18 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 169 words
In the last few hours, hundreds of Somalis have fled their homes fearing deadly clashes after Somali and Kenyan troops made military advances against Al Shabaab militant positions near the rebel-held Afmadow town in the south of the war-wracked country.
Families with their young children headed by foot into the city of Dhoblay at the border between Somalia and Kenya from the outskirts of Afmadow town, as the coalition forces moved into positions they seized from the al Qaeda-linked rebels this months after heavy fighting.
“These fleeing people are reportedly heading att an area in the centre of Dhoblay town with no proper shelters to protect them from the cold and the daily scorching sun” said a resident of Dhoblay. Many Afmadow residents had fled to the border towns near Kenya, which hosts tens of thousands of displaced people, in the wake of intense battles between the AU troops and the rebels in recent years.
Ethiopia announces it will soon pull-out troops from Somalia
18 Apr – Source: Radio Risaala, Kulmiye – 195 words
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi announced that Ethiopian forces inside Somalia will soon return back to their country. He said the areas under Ethiopian forces control will be handed over to forces from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Djibouti, and Rwanda. Rwanda currently has no troops in Somalia but all the four other countries form the African Union mission in Somalia.
Ethiopian forces entered Somalia at the start of this year and the Ethiopian premier said their mission was so far successfully accomplished. The prime minister said they won the war against al Shabaab but he did not give an exact date for the troops withdrawal. “The reason we sent our troops to Somalia is to help the TFG of Somalia to fight the insurgents and we succeeded in that,” Zenawi told his country’s parliament.
He said the Ethiopian troops met with little resistance from al Shabaab, and he also said their troops were targeted several times with landmines. Zenawi also told the parliament that they did not fight with Eritrea. It was last month when Ethiopian troops struck several positions they believed they were attacked from inside Eritrea.
Clashes between TGF forces and al Shabaab in Bay region
18 Apr – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 139 words
Al Shabaab insurgent fighters and the Somali government troops clashed in outskirt of Baidoa city for the control of the that town. The fighters of al Qaeda affiliated group said they have made strategically gains during the fighting in Bay. Speaking to the press, the spokesman for the military operations of the al Shabaab fighters, Abdiasis Abu Musab said fighters are surrounding the city and are too close to the frontward of the town. “We have pushed the infidels and we are still going forward to Baidoa, we hope our fighters will push further into the town and seize it,” he said.
Biggest public consultation on constitutional process at ending of Somalia Transition
18 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb/Hiiraan Online – 428 words
The meeting was organized at behest of the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and Reconciliation was supported by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) which supports the constitutional making process in Somalia. The meeting was first of its kind as it brought together the opinion makers from various political strides in Somalia including, the Former Prime Minister of the TNG Ali Khalif Galaydh, former cabinet Ministers, Former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ismail Buubaa, Prof Ghandi, Abrikarim Jama, Dahir Ghelle and Sheikh Abyan.
Although the mood of the participants is of cordial, it was to be expected that constructive criticisms were made in order to make the process much more legitimate. Minister of Constitutional Affairs highlighted the importance of this event and pointed out that the government stands ready to make its case and listen to Somalis so that the process becomes legitimate. “Today’s event shows that we are committed to process and we are not shying away the sharp tongues of the men and women who have gathered here to debate and discuss matter of national importance,” said Minister Hosh.
The Minister then presented the issues relating to the ending the transition and urged the participants to be frank so that their wise recommendations will indeed be taken into account. Shirwa Jama, IDLO Somalia Country Representative who welcomed the participants to the meeting thanked the participants for taking time to participate what could elucidate some of the murkiness that the process.
The Chicago conference on rebuilding Somalia
18 Apr – Source: Hiiraan Online – 689 words
On Saturday, April 14, 2012, a daylong conference on Somalia facilitated by the Somalia Strategy Forum (SSF) with the support of World Engagement Institute (WEInstitute) and National Strategy Forum (NSF), was held at the Union League Club of Chicago, USA. Other international Organizations that played key roles in the conference were International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and Sustainable Capacity International Institute (SCII). A large number of participants, particularly from the Somali Diaspora living in Chicago and surrounding area attended the conference.
The conference ‘overall objective was to shift the international community’s approach in dealing with Somalia’s problem from the top down state building approach to outreach, bottom-up grass root approach. Accordingly, the immediate aim was to establish a comprehensive strategic planning process for Somalia’s long term social and economic development. The principal sponsors of the Conference were Ms. Pamela Scholl, the Dr. Scholl Foundation, Mr. Nabil Y. Barakat, Wamar International Group LLC, Dr. Muhammad Munir Chaudry, Islamic Food and Nutrition of America.
NUSOJ backs appeal to release journalist in Puntland
17 Apr – Source: Markacadeey – 326 words
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) backs the appeal to relesae Awke Abdullahi, Director of Radio Voice of Peace in Bosaso who is imprison for 46 days in the commercial port town of Bosaso.
Puntland administration detained Awke Abdullahi after the radio station he was the director, aired voice of al an al Shabaab spokesman during clashes between Puntland administration and the militants – affiliated to al Shabaab, fighting against the Puntland administration at the Galgala Mountains near Bosaso of Bari region.
The wife of the journalist, Ms. Istahil Abdi Garad and his children, who were visited at her residence in the commercial port town of Bosaso by journalists of Bari region led by NUSOJ Puntland Coordinator, Omar Said Mohamed last week appealed to the Puntland government to release her husband. “My husband is detained for more than 6 weeks and was not brought before a court” Mrs. Istahil Abdi Garad said, “Therefore, I appeal to the government to release my husband, as soon as possible.”
Somaliland’s former officials accused of corruption appear before court
17 Apr – Source: Somaliland Press – 183 words
The Chief magistrate of Marodi Jeeh regional court for the first time heard the mentioning of the case against five suspects facing a corruption case after been arraigned in a Hargeisa court. The five suspects accused of corruption are the former Governor of Marodi Jeeh region Ahmed Omar Haji Abdillahi , the former director general in the ministry of resettlement Ahmed Cilmi Barre, advisor to Vice president of JSL Osman Said Jama, a local businessman and a broker based at the berbera ports.
The accused made their first appearance in court after they were arrested a month ago, the state prosecutor read the charges levelled against them. “The five accused who are standing before this court are accused of being involved in misappropriation of a food aid consignment donated by the Sultanate of Oman to feed the less fortunate but they siphoned off the aid for their personal gains’ said the state counsel.
Farhiya Abdi becomes first Somali to be drafted into WNBA
18 Apr – Source: Hiiraan Online – 170 words
The LA Sparks made history Tuesday afternoon by drafting Farhiya Abdi from Sweden. The 6’2 forward was selected with the first pick of the second round (13th overall) and is the first Somali to be drafted in the WNBA. The 20 year old currently plays professional basketball for Czech Republic’s Frisco Brno where she is a rising star. Earlier this season she had 29 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to go with it.
Farhiya’s parents Saido and Ali came to Sweden from Somalia in 1980 where they raised seven children, Farhiya being the youngest. She writes in her blog that she first shot a basketball when she was 11 but wasn’t seriously playing until she was 14.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kibaki asks EAC to support peace efforts in Somalia
18 Apr – Source: Coast Week, Xinhua – 405 words
President Mwai Kibaki has called on the East African Community (EAC) member states to support peace efforts in Somalia as well as look for ways of averting war between Sudan and South Sudan.
In his address to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Kibaki, who is the chairman of the East Africa Community Summit, pointed out Monday that regional peace was a pre-requisite for regional integration.
“As the EAC, we have a responsibility to the people of Somalia. We must also find a way to diplomatically address the unfolding events between South Sudan and Sudan borders. These two nations must not return to war so soon after peaceful separation,” says Kibaki.
The head of state also commended the efforts made by Kenyan, Ugandan and Burundian troops who are currently fighting the al Shabaab in a bid to bring peace in Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somali (AMISOM).
Al Shabaab leader escapes from Garissa, northeastern Kenya
18 Apr – Source: Star (Nairobi) – 105 words
A senior al Shabaab commander has mysteriously escaped from police and prisons custody in Garissa. Nordeen Mburugu is a senior commander in charge of training fro al Shabaab and is subjected to have been behind the June 2010 Uhuru Park grenade attack in which six people died and scores were injured. He escaped from Garissa law court cells on Monday while awaiting for a hearing of his case. The cells are manned by the police. Prison guards transported Mburugu from Garissa prison were he was remanded to the courts for hearing. They discovered that he was missing when his name was called out of mention.
Somali pirates ‘should be crucified’
18 Apr – Source: National (UAE) – 267 words
Ten Somalis accused of hijacking a UAE ship should receive the death penalty, the public prosecutor said yesterday. The Federal Court heard the men were guilty of crimes “repulsive to the human self” and deserved the maximum penalty available.
The prosecutor recited a verse from the Quran: “The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land.”
He added: “Islam has set Al Haraba [the penalties mentioned in the verse] as part of Sharia penalties out of concern for society.” The prosecution has presented the case as a ta’azeeri, or secular, crime. This means the maximum penalty would be a death sentence.
Suspected pirates disrupt hearing of case in Mombasa
16 Apr – Source: Star (Nairobi) – 33 3 words
The hearing of a piracy case in which 24 Somali suspects have been charged was adjourned after the suspects threatened to storm out of the court in protest. The 24, through their lawyer Jared Magolo, were opposed to a ruling made by Mombasa Chief Magistrate Stephen Riech that the hearing continues after dismissing an application by Magolo that the hearing be stopped.
Magolo argued that the proceeding via video conferencing both in Kenyan and Tehran, Iran was illegal as the premises used in Tehran was the Danish embassy instead of the Kenyan embassy in Iran as had earlier been ordered by senior resident magistrate Timothy Gesora. “The trial integrity of this proceeding is in question because it has been hijacked by the Danes and it can be observed that it is still being conducted in the Danish embassy,” he argued. He wanted the hearing to be stopped unless a change in premises from the Danish to the Kenyan embassy in Iran was effected.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Extended Somali pirate plan creates waves
18 Apr – Source: the Local – 202 words
The European Union anti-pirate mission “Atalanta” which has for the last three years been patrolling around the Horn of Africa, currently involves up to ten ships at any one time – in an ocean area nearly the size of Europe.
Expanding the mandate to include airborne missions up to two kilometres inland to target “logistic facilities of the pirates” as the text describes it, has infuriated German opposition parties.
Green Party defence expert Omid Nouripour said it was “a bad, senseless adventure,” while his counterpart from the Social Democrats, Rainer Arnold said his party would either vote against or abstain in a parliamentary poll. If enough of Angela Merkel’s conservative and liberal governing party members rebel, they could sink Germany’s participation in the expanded mandate.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Considering the multiple-fold challenges we face in this time of hope and optimism for a better future, the fact of the matter is, how can we install legitimate and accountable institutions in Somalia in the current situation? It is in this light that I write this piece to start the debates and discussions on the best strategies forward; dealing with the current challenges and ensuring that the new political dispensation will be one that is acceptable to all Somalis. The time is too short and there are lots of tasks to complete before August 2012.”
Somalia at Cross Roads: Is this time any different?
18 Apr – Source: Suna Times – 2178 Words
For over twenty one years, my great people of the Somali Republic have suffered harshly inside and outside Somalia. So much blood has been shed. Millions were forced to refugee camps. The lives, dreams, and hopes of young boys and girls were wrecked. Tribal Militias, gangs, thugs, and warlords took over the country. Somalia became a save heaven for piracy and extremism. One attempt after another of reconciling the differences of these criminals off course bore no fruit. With the formation of the unpopular (then) Transitional Federal Government (TFG) backed by the International Community in 2004, many thought things would perhaps be different. However, although the attempts continued, the mistrust of the TFG leadership, despair of the Somali people, and the lack of serious mechanisms to dig Somalia out of the hole left the country inert.
“Most Kenyans remember that when the war effort in Somalia was launched, the Kenyan public was duly informed that it was our reply to the insecurity that the terrorists had caused upon our country. That taking the war to al Shabaab’s backyard was the right thing to do, complete with indications that our soldiers had their eyes on the Somalia port of Kismayu — the nerve centre of the militants’ operations. Six months later, and more Sh12 billion down the line, enthusiasm for this war has diminished, and the military is no longer feeling compelled to brief the citizens of the situation.”
Can Kenya show value for Sh12bn Somalia incursion?
17 Apr – Source: Business Daily – 374 Words
They often come in late, but the numbers are out. Kenya’s six-month incursion into Somalia in pursuit of al Shabaab terrorists have cost the taxpayer more than Sh12 billion — at least going by the latest Supplementary Budget estimates.
This is the money that the Treasury is seeking to top up whatever has already been spent on the mission that began last October in response to a series of Somalia militants’ abductions of foreigners deep inside the Kenyan territory. The one thing that release of such massive figures effectively does is to remind the tax paying citizens of the huge cost of waging a war.
At Sh12 billion, Kenya’s expenditure on the war could employ on permanent and pensionable terms an additional 10,000 teachers for the grossly understaffed schools. It could build and equip five hospitals the size of recently finished Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi’s Umoja estate or get Nairobi a state-of the art technology research centre.
“Mr Sharif didn’t attend both events, the recent one at Theater and the previous one at the Shamo Hotel, because he knew that, the security wasn’t tight. It’s obvious that, Mr Sharif controls the authorities, and security services.”
Who was behind the Somalia Theatre bombing and Shamo Hotel?
17 Apr – Source: All Gedo – 399 Words
Without a doubt al Qaeda is responsible for the recent massacre at National Theater and the previous ones including the one at Shamo Hotel. I cannot penetrate the blank stares of those who would murder the innocents with heartless. The crucial question here is who provided them access to the theater?
On April 8, 2012 Mr Sharif, the Somali President talked to VOA about the incident. He didn’t offer condolences to anyone. Instead he criticized the Ministry of Information, blaming them for the horrific incident. Mr Sharif said: The Ministry didn’t inform the authorities about the event. During the question period, Mr Sharif mentioned that, although he was invited to this event, he didn’t bother to attend. He knew the security was weak.
“Somalia can learn that foreign intervention does not serve their interest, with Lebanon being a great example to learn from. Lebanon faced intervention after intervention, proxy wars were launched and a nation and its people have been devastated. Somalia need not look abroad for assistance for assistance brings more suffering and bloodshed.”
What can Somalia learn from Lebanon?
17 Apr – Source: The Real Issues Blog – 448 Words
Somalia and Lebanon no doubt share the same features. Both are Muslim countries, both were former colonial nations, and both faced civil war. Well Somalia still goes through it today. The curse of civil war has been lifted from Lebanon, for now. Today Lebanon is a nation trying to heal its wounds it suffered in the devastating 16 year civil war.
Lebanon has established a political system, security and openness. There is room for debate on how open and secure Lebanon is, but I believe it is better than the dark times it faced during the civil war. Today I search Somalia on Google news to discover nothing but awful news. “A suicide bomber kills soldiers in Somalia”, “Ethiopian Troops to leave Somalia” and so on.
Somalia has been plagued by violence for some 21 years. Yet what I’ve noticed between Lebanon and Somalia’s conflict is the underlying factor that foreign intervention has on the situation. Let me be clear I am not putting humanitarian intervention on this list, food assistance in the wake of the great famine.
“The Somali Diaspora, supported by the international community has organized this forum to initiate the process of developing a long-term – Somali focused/Somali-led – strategic planning mechanism for building a prosperous and peaceful future in Somalia.”
SCIInstitute Supports the Somalia Strategy Forum
17 Apr – Source: Sci institute – 250 Words
The Sustainable Capacity International Institute, along the World Engagement Institute, the National Strategy Forum and the Somalia Strategy Forum have organized the Chicago Conference on Somalia: A Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Somalia’s Long-Term Social and Economic Development
Somalia is at a crossroads. Decades of war, famine and neglect have left it bereft of focused development and visionary leadership. Meanwhile, the International Community has too often approached Somalia with a state-centric, top-down, and often overly kinetic approach to peace and institution building. What has been missing is concerted outreach to, and utilization of, grass-roots – Somali-led – civil society organizations to help foster the long-term social and economic security of Somalia.
Top tweets
@iSpeak4Somalia All we need is a resolve, a plan and the courage to press on to a peaceful #Somalia. We can. #atm.
@viewfromthecave Three great stories of #Somali women taking on equity through sport, activism and politics via @irinnews http://ow.ly/
@somaliweynblog American involvement in quagmire that is #Somalia and their collusion to use proxies for their interests http://bit.ly/wEHXB0
@Dr_Hadsanfarax We don’t need a handout please just recall all #US #DRONES from #Somalia
@echwalu The @AU and @UN are holding a photographic exhibition”Brothers in Arms” portraying works of #AMISOM in #Somalia at #
@Burki2012 Save the #Somali Refugees from poverty and nature. They were hit by heavy rain, no shelter. Camp lacks basic necessities.
Image of the day
Organizers of a daylong Somalia Conference held at the Union League Club of Chicago, USA. From left: Yusuf Malin, Executive Director of Somalia Strategy Forum (SSF), Mr. Richard Friedman, President and Chair of National Strategy Forum (NSF) and Major General (Ret) Charles E. Tucker, Executive Director of World Engagement Institute (WEInstitute). Photo: Hiiraan Online.