April 19, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Al Shabaab militants behead Somali district commissioner
19 Apr – Source: Africa Review – 189 words
The beheaded body of a regional Somali administrator was Wednesday recovered in a gruesome attack blamed on militant group al Shabaab. According to government sources, an unknown number of armed men Tuesday night entered the house of Yahie Hussein Isaq, the district commissioner of Eel Adde, a region some 400 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu. The al Qaeda allied militants reportedly abducted the administrator with this headless body found on the outskirts of the town.
Transitional Federal Government spokesman for Gedo region Col Aden Ahmed Hersi said that the militants appeared to have caught the DC off-guard after he had earlier instructed his bodyguards to leave. “He had told them that he would be fine,” Col Hersi told the media. “Unfortunately, we found the DC’s headless body lying in an isolated area with the head placed on his back.”
Key Headlines
- Somali government makes strides in counter-terrorism strategy (TFG/Jowhar Online)
- Turkey mediating talks with al Shabaab to bring peace (Muslim Village News)
- National Security Committee meets in Mogadishu (Bar-kulan Radio Mogadishu)
- Al Shabaab militants behead Somali district commissioner ( Africa Review)
- Somali Islamist strike at departing Ethiopians 3 killed (Shabelle/Bar-kulan)
- Landmine unearthed in key Mogadishu junction (Radio Risaala)
- Elders say new Somali constitution risks creating clan warfare (Shabelle)
- Sierra Leone takes al Shabaab threats serious (Daily Monitor)
- Somalis promised $500 reward for information on al Shabaab (Radio Mogadishu)
- Puntland state adopts constitution (Garowe Online)
- Yemeni army kills seven Islamists in south (Reuters)
PRESS RELEASE
Somali government makes strides in counter-terrorism strategy
19 Apr – Source: TFG/Jowhar Online – 224 words
Somali government continues with its operations to crack down terror sanctuaries across the country as counter-terrorism efforts focuses on ring-leaders and terror financiers. The government has improved its strategies to counter al Qaeda terror groups and its al Shabaab affiliate which has suffered major blows in recent battles in several key regions in south-central Somalia.
Senior government officials have indicated that the leadership of the group is in total disarray after killing in the battles a number of high profile al Shabaab leaders. Recently, security forces disrupted terror plots and arrested al Qaeda operatives in the capital, Mogadishu. The Governor of Banadir – who is also the Mayor of Mogadishu – Mr. Mohamud Ahmed Nur, known as “Tarzan”, unveiled a counter-terrorism plan that will hunt al Shabaab and bounties placed on their heads.
Speaking to residents of Mogadishu, Tarzan explained the economic incentives involved in defeating and expelling the terrorists from the country, placing a bounty of $500 U.S. dollars on every captured or killed terrorist. “Now, consider that every al Shabaab is just like a commodity that will earn you cash” said Mayor Tarzan who urged the public to hunt down terrorists from their communities and neighbors.
In Bakol region, officials confirmed more than 15 al Shabaab members surrendered to the authority in Hudur district after defecting from the terrorist group al Shabaab. Military officials have announced new major offense to dislodge al Qaeda affiliates from Lower Shabelle region as government troops are also pushing the terrorist militia from Juba, a strategic region in the south.
SOMALI MEDIA
National Security Committee meets in Mogadishu
19 Apr – Source: Bar-kulan, Radio Mogadishu – 178 words
Somalia’s National Security Committee on Wednesday night held a meeting in Mogadishu a head of the highly waited constitutional meeting which is set to kick off in few weeks time. The meeting which was chaired by President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed focused on security matters in the run up to this very important meeting where Somalia is expected to adopt a new constitution that will wind up the current transitional period.
Speaking to the State owned radio, Interior and Security minister Abdisamed Maalim Mohamoud said bolstering security situation of the city before, during and after the forthcoming constitutional meeting was among issues discussed during the meeting.
The meeting recommended that an extra police force be deployed into the area where the meeting is expected to be held in order to maintain security. It was also agreed that a general security plan be adopted to make sure that the forthcoming meeting is not interrupted. The Wednesday night meeting comes hours after President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed paid a visit to the venue of the forthcoming constitutional meeting to oversee the preparation process.
Somali Islamist strike at departing Ethiopians, 3 killed
19 Apr – Source: Shabelle/Bar-kulan – 151 words
Heavily armed militants from the al Shabaab insurgents have on Thursday ambushed an Ethiopian convoy alongside Ahlu Sunna fighters, a government-allied Sunni Islamist group control central Somalia, reports said. Locals said At least three Ethiopian soldiers were confirmed to have been killed in landmine blast that ripped through an army convoy travelling on a road between Wabho and Daac, two small villages in Somalia’s Galgudud region of central Somalia.
A Senior Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (ASWJ) Official, confirmed the attack by al Shabaab, but denied any casualties on their soldiers and the Ethiopians. He added that The Ethiopian forces and his fighters fought back with heavy artillery fire.
Landmine unearthed in key Mogadishu junction
18 Apr – Source: Radio Risaala – 111 words
Reports reaching our news desk now say that a landmine buried in a key junction connecting Mogadishu’s biggest Bakara market and the Fire station was discovered by security officials. Businesses and movements have come to standstill as TFG and AMISOM troops and anti-mine units flooded the area keeping on hold all vehicles plying that route. Eyewitnesses report that armored vehicles are surrounding where the landmine was buried and all traffic has being halted.
Sources further say that AMISOM land mine experts were busy trying to unearth and dismantle the deadly device. Landmines are commonly found in civilian populated areas in Mogadishu and they kill and maim hundreds of civilians every year.
Elders say new Somali constitution risks creating clan warfare
18 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 132 words
Traditional elders and scholars in Banadir region held a meeting in Mogadishu in which they cautioned against risks that the new Somali constitution might result in fresh conflicts between Somali clans. Suldaan Adan Osman alias Suldan Kabbo-Labi who spoke to Shabelle after the meeting said the new constitution is not in the interest of the Somali people. The elder said the new constitution is being drafted outside the country by individuals with no regard for Somali tradition. He said the new constitutions aims to start new conflict between Somali clans.
There has been increasing opposition to the draft constitution in recent times as traditional elders, academics and politicians including some members of the Transitional Federal Somali parliament, terming the new constitution as a conspiracy against the Somali people.
Somalis promised $500 reward for information on al Shabaab
18 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 139 words
Mogadishu Mayor Muhammad Ahmad Nur Tarsan has promised residents of the Somali capital Mogadishu cash rewards for information that would lead to the arrest of members of the insurgent group, al Shabaab. “Al-Shabaab are just like prey, we need to hunt them down and arrest them anywhere. I promise the public material reward for any information on hidden explosives,” said Mr Tarsan.
“Likewise, if anyone gives information regarding a house in Mogadishu in which members of al Shabaab are residing, a reward will be given – 100 dollars for ordinary members and 500 dollars for the group’s top officials”, added the mayor. Al Shabaab fighters have been dislodged from the capital but have waged sporadic raids including a recent suicide bombing at the Somali national theatre in which an MP and two senior sport officials were killed.
Puntland state adopts constitution
18 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 177 words
The Puntland Constitutional Convention came to a close on Wednesday with a finalized Puntland constitution, Garowe reports. Throughout the 4 day convention being held in the newly constructed parliament, Puntland constitution’s 138 articles were painstakingly discussed by the 480 representatives from all regions in Puntland. In an outstanding majority 472 representatives voted to adopt the Puntland constitution.
Mohamed Hassan Bare Chairman of the Puntland Electoral Commission (PEC) who spoke after the representatives voted to adopt the constitution said, “I speaking behalf of the PEC have witnessed 472 representatives, the majority vote adopts the Puntland constitution and I hereby sign this document.”
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Minister of Finance and Commerce Abdiwahab Ugaas who arrived on Tuesday to participate in the convention gave a brief statement, “I am very excited to participate in two vital meeting in Garowe. The first being the Garowe principles and today’s monumental occasion where Puntland state’s constitution has been adopted,” said Minister Abdiwahab. Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole also spoke at the closing saying that Puntland has moved forward in the right direction.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab militants behead Somali district commissioner
19 Apr – Source: Africa Review – 189 words
The beheaded body of a regional Somali administrator was Wednesday recovered in a gruesome attack blamed on militant group al Shabaab. According to government sources, an unknown number of armed men Tuesday night entered the house of Yahie Hussein Isaq, the district commissioner of Eel Adde, a region some 400 kilometres southwest of Mogadishu. The al Qaeda allied militants reportedly abducted the administrator with this headless body found on the outskirts of the town.
Transitional Federal Government spokesman for Gedo region Col Aden Ahmed Hersi said that the militants appeared to have caught the DC off-guard after he had earlier instructed his bodyguards to leave.
“He had told them that he would be fine,” Col Hersi told the media. “Unfortunately, we found the DC’s headless body lying in an isolated area with the head placed on his back.”
Sierra Leone takes al Shabaab threats serious
18 Apr – Source: Daily Monitor – 316 words
A senior Sierra Leone military officer has told Africa Review that the country is taking recent threats by the Somali militant group, al Shabaab, seriously. The officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity since he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the government, said they were treating the matter as a national concern.
He added that although they were aware of the intention of the militant terrorist group to use an international media outlet to scare off their opponents, the Sierra Leone military was determined to go ahead with its deployment after June this year.
On Sunday, an al Shabaab commander reportedly warned Sierra Leone not to send troops to Somalia, threatening retaliation. This followed a visit by some senior military officials from the West African country to the Gedo region in the south of Somalia to investigate potential locations for the deployment alongside Kenyan troops.
Sierra Leone is set to deploy 850 troops as part of the UN-funded African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM). Pressure has been mounted on the al-Shabaab, who are now mainly confined to the south of the war-torn country, facing joint operations by AMISOM and Somali Federal Transitional Government troops.
Al Azhar initiative for Somali reconciliation ongoing
18 Apr – Source: Egypt State Information Service – 103 words
Grand Imam of al Azhar Ahmed el Tayyeb renewed on Tuesday 17/4/2012 his initiative related to restoring peace and stability in Somalia. During his meeting with visiting President of Mogadishu University Ali Sheikh Ahmed Abu Baker on Tuesday, al Azhar Imam asked the Somali nation to stop bloodshed and unite.
El Tayyeb said that al Azhar looks forward to the restoration of security and stability in this African country and to a bright future for its people. For his part, Abu Baker hailed the role of al Azhar towards the Somali issue, especially the initiative launched by el Tayyeb and the relief convoy sent by al Azhar to the Somali people.
Somali’s Puntland state approves constitution
18 Apr – Source: Africa Review – 166 words
Somali’s breakaway state of Puntland is on the verge of adopting a new constitution. A constituent assembly made of 480 delegates from various districts of the semi-autonomous state in northeastern Somalia, approved the new constitution Wednesday. Reports from the venue at Garowe, 1,000km northeast of Mogadishu, indicated that 472 delegates endorsed the draft constitution.
The new document will replace a provisional charter that the clans in the region agreed to in August 1998. The delegates spent some four days debating the draft constitution. Puntland President Abdurahman Mohamed Farole and a delegation from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) led by Deputy Prime Minister Abdiwahab Ugas Hussein, graced the closing ceremony.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Turkey mediating talks with al Shabaab to bring peace
19 Apr – Source: Muslim Village News – 254 words
Turkey is mediating between Somalia’s government and the militant al Shabaab group to help bring an end to the years-long conflict in the Horn of Africa nation. “Through the years, Turkey, the only Muslim member in NATO, and Somalia have maintained a pleasant relationship,” Abdihakim Aynte, an independent Somali researcher, said.
He said Ankara has notable advantages in mediating between the Somali rivals to end the bloody conflict. Turkey has spearheaded efforts to provide aid to millions of Somalis ravaged by the years-long conflict in their country.
Last year, Ankara contributed $201 million to the humanitarian relief efforts to help Somalis affected by a severe drought in the Horn of Africa. Many Somalis consider Turkey as their only “true Muslim friend”, citing a visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyib Erdogan during last year’s drought and the resulting famine.
Besides sharing the same Islamic values, Turkey is also viewed as a country that lacks local proxies or other incentives to meddle in the internal politics of Somalia. Aynte opines that Turkey could succeed in mediating between the government and al Shabaab militants to help resolve the conflict.
Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davtutoglu has recently outlined Turkey’s interest in meditating between conflicting factions in Somalia. “Despite our advantage and special relation with Somalis of all stripes, Turkey would play a role in mediating conflicting parties in Somalia.”
Yemeni army kills seven Islamists in south
19 Apr – Source: Reuters – 174 words
At least seven Islamist militants were killed near the southern Yemeni city of Lawdar on Thursday in clashes between government forces and an al Qaeda-linked group, a local official told Reuters.
The impoverished country slipped into a state of chaos after the outbreak of protests a little over a year ago that culminated in the ousting of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh under a deal brokered by Yemen’s rich Gulf neighbors. A defense ministry news service said in a text message that four of the militants, members of Ansar al Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), were Somalis.
Girls in Somalia train for the Olympics
18 Apr – Source: SOS – 448 words
At the Summit on Somalia held during February in London, the UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron urged the international community to increase its efforts and commitments towards Somalia. Speaking after the London Conference, the Prime Minister of Somalia, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, hailed the event as an important support to Somalis. He expressed his hope that Somalia was beginning to ‘turn the corner’ and ‘build foundations for a prosperous future’.
Though the country continues to face huge obstacles to stability, hopeful signs of normality are emerging in the capital Mogadishu. The news agency IRIN reports on the work of the Somali Athletics Federation in preparing the country’s athletes for this year’s Olympics. In particular, the IRIN article highlights the selection process for the ladies 400 metres, where Somalia will choose one female runner from a field of ten competitors.
Najma, the youngest of the ten hopefuls training for the event, is only 10 years old. Najma knows she is very lucky to be training among the female athletes. The ten-year old told IRIN “society doesn’t understand about sport for girls”. For Najma, the chance to train and race around the 400m track in the war-damaged Konis Stadium brings great joy, especially as the stadium was closed for a long time during the fighting.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Sierra Leone is to deploy a battalion of troops to Somalia in June. The militant group al Shabaab have warned them not to step foot on the soil of their country threatening dire consequences. So should or shouldn’t Sierra Leone send troops to the war-torn country? Following are two articles arguing for and against the deployment. Further down you will read an argument by Tanu Jalloh in favour of the troop deployment. But first Isaac Massaquoi argues on why sending our troops there is ill-advised.”
The Debate: Should Sierra Leone send peacekeepers to Somalia
18 Apr – Source: Politico Sierra Leon – 2570 Words
No Salone Sojas for Somalia, please!
Not too long ago, I bumped into a very good friend of mine who is a Captain in the RSLAF close to military headquarters on Wilkinson Road, on my way to Hamilton in the Freetown Peninsular. I pulled over for the normal brief chat and I was very interested in finding out how he was getting on especially after he was seriously wounded in the war to liberate Freetown from Eldred Collins and his “operation no living thing” gang in 1999. On this day, he looked reasonably well eventhough he walked with a slight limp and I was surprised he was still in the army despite his injuries and all this talk about war wounded soldiers being declared “chronically ill and mentally imbalanced” and discharged from the army.
After some catching up on those fun moments of the past, my friend told me something that shocked me a bit. He said he was looking forward to being part of the Sierra Leone contingent to be deployed to Somalia. “Is this guy really serious”? I asked myself. “Does he truly want to go to Somalia of all places?” He noticed from the expression on my face that I was surprised he was looking to go into another war.
“Somalis are known for their pluck, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. They are also devoted to clan affiliations as well as the informal rules and juridical-political structures that govern the order, including membership in mag-paying (or blood payment) groups, the application of xeer (customary laws), the authority of shir (open councils that serve as the locus for dispute mediation and political debate) and the preeminence of Suldaan (clan elders).”
Building Somalia to Last
18 Apr – Source: Fletcher Forum – 804 Words
After more than two decades of turmoil there is finally hope in Somalia. The armed group al Shabaab is in retreat and Somalis are emerging from cover to create “Somalia 2.0.” In order to capitalize on this window of opportunity and provide lasting solutions to the country’s problems, the international community and Somalia’s transitional leaders must avoid the impulse to throw together a centralized government before the population is ready. Instead, they should focus on devolving power to local actors and fostering a state-building process from the bottom up.
Somalia is often described as the paradigmatic example of state failure. Since the fall of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991 the numbers are striking. Persistent conflict has displaced more than 1.5 million people and resulted in an additional 800,000 refugees. Life expectancy is among the lowest in the world. Famine and drought wreak havoc throughout the countryside. Over the past two decades, the toll on Somalis has been staggering: between 450,000 and 1.5 million have died.
The economy is in tatters, with an average GDP of only $600 per capita. Proliferation and nonexistent law enforcement have precipitated the rise of dangerous armed groups, such as al Shabaab and Hizbul-Islam. In the absence of a functioning economy, pirates torment the coastline, operating unfettered and terrorizing both the population and international waters in search of sustenance. It is T.S. Eliot’s Waste Land meets Mad Max’s Thunderdome.
“Pushing for regional or district administrations is a valid argument, yet dividing Somalia into building blocks similar to those of Somaliland and Puntland would negate the prevailing issue of sovereignty, which has dogged most interventions. Negotiating sovereignty also remains the major sticking point for many ordinary Somalis, but is generally overlooked as a serious obstacle by the international community, possibly with good reason considering the progress in finding a peaceful solution so far.”
Local governance in Somalia – New emperor in old clothes?
18 Apr – Source: TerraNullius Blog – 909 Words
Somalia has endured a rash of misguided international interventions to resolve its malaise, and apart from initial optimism of the Arta process in 2000 with its extensive civil society participation, these have consistently failed to deliver on their intentions. After all these years, is it finally time for the international community to move away from a centralised state solution towards a hybrid system of governance?
It’s a moot point, although in its latest policy briefing, Crisis Group is heavily advocating in favour of this solution. The latter is not the first to push for this. Back in 1999, in his article, ‘New Hope for Somalia? Building Block Approach’, Matt Bryden promoted autonomy for enclaves or regions which were traditonally recognised as being relatively clan homogenous. In his long research association with the country, Ken Menkhaus has gone further and addressed the idea of organic regional or district administrations assuming a greater role as a viable form of governance in Somalia.
Top tweets
@NasSerene Nothing less than beautiful she is but they bring ugliness to her door, she wants nothing but peace but they always bring her war. #Somalia.
@SomaliThinker Germany could fly bombing missions into #Somalia. Life is getting rough for Somali pirates. http://bit.ly/HRyTBn.
@Natabaalo The #AMISOM
@tresthomasiii Reports that #Mogadishu mayor Tarzan secured bail of bro in law Cali Yare implicated in theater bombing: http://puntlandi.com/
@PaulOB_Concern Just back from a short trip to #Mogadishu where the security situtation seems to be improving but tens of thousands face severe food security.
@harunfarah 478 representatives voted to adopt the #Puntland constitution.
@Rooble2009 #Somaliland: Radio Hargeisa To Go National http://bit.ly/I448mx.
Image of the day
Hundreds of representatives raise their hands to vote for the adoption of the Puntland constitution in Garowe on Wednesday. Photo: Garowe Online.