July 11, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
AMISOM moves to capture al Shabaab training camp
11 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 270 words
Somali troops with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have this morning launched an operation to capture Lanta†Buur village, the site of a major al Shabaab training camp. Lanta†Buur, 40km west of Mogadishu, housed political prisoners during the Siad Barre regime but has since been converted into a major terrorist training camp by the al Qaeda†affiliated al Shabaab. The move to take the camp comes at a critical time for the capital as it prepares to host a National Constituent Assembly which will adopt a provisional constitution and end 12 years of transitional government.
AMISOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, said the operation would enhance security in the capital by denying the terrorists a base from which to launch attacks. “AMISOM is committed to supporting the peace process in Somalia and this operation will not only bring relief to the population in that particular area, but will also help create a safer environment in the capital,” he said. “Our aim is to ensure that the people of Somalia can continue to pursue national reconciliation free of the fear of terrorist attack,” he added.
Since the UN Security Council boosted AMISOM troop numbers to over 17,000, the force has been expanding outside Mogadishu and has helped the Somali government secure major strategic towns across the country including Afgooye, on the Shabelle river; Afmadow, the second largest city in the southern region of Lower Jubba; and most recently Bal’ad to the north of the capital. Additionally, AMISOM troops are present in Baidoa, the capital of the Bay region, and Beledweyne in the northern region of Hiiraan.
Key Headlines
- Somali president appoints chairman of country’s Development Bank (Jowhar Online)
- PM calls for civil society groups’ participation in implementing the roadmap (Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye)
- Somalia Gov’t claims victory in war against al Shabaab (Shabelle)
- AMISOM moves to capture al Shabaab training camp (AMISOM)
- Aid Slow to Reach Somali Region Free of al Shabaab (VOA)
- Somali politician calls for amendment of draft constitution clause on capital city (Shabelle)
- Mozambique to help Kenya fight pirates (Africa Review)
- TFG blames al Shabaab of looting aid group compound in Gedo region (Radio Kulmiye)
- 10 Garissa victims buried in Mwingi (Capital News)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM moves to capture al Shabaab training camp
11 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 270 words
Somali troops with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have this morning launched an operation to capture Lanta†Buur village, the site of a major al Shabaab training camp.
Lanta†Buur, 40km west of Mogadishu, housed political prisoners during the Siad Barre regime but has since been converted into a major terrorist training camp by the al Qaeda†affiliated al Shabaab. The move to take the camp comes at a critical time for the capital as it prepares to host a National Constituent Assembly which will adopt a provisional constitution and end 12 years of transitional government.
AMISOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, said the operation would enhance security in the capital by denying the terrorists a base from which to launch attacks. “AMISOM is committed to supporting the peace process in Somalia and this operation will not only bring relief to the population in that particular area, but will also help create a safer environment in the capital,” he said. “Our aim is to ensure that the people of Somalia can continue to pursue national reconciliation free of the fear of terrorist attack,” he added.
Since the UN Security Council boosted AMISOM troop numbers to over 17,000, the force has been expanding outside Mogadishu and has helped the Somali government secure major strategic towns across the country including Afgooye, on the Shabelle river; Afmadow, the second largest city in the southern region of Lower Jubba; and most recently Bal’ad to the north of the capital. Additionally, AMISOM troops are present in Baidoa, the capital of the Bay region, and Beledweyne in the northern region of Hiiraan.
SOMALI MEDIA
PM calls for civil society groups’ participation in implementing the roadmap
11 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye – 144 words
Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has urged civil society groups in the country to play a role in the implementation of the country’s political process dubbed the “Roadmap” in order to wind up the current transitional period. The PM made the appeal in a meeting with civil society groups in Mogadishu on Tuesday evening. Ali stated his government’s commitment in finalizing all unfinished activities to realize their goal.
Ali assured the civil society groups that the national constituent assembly will be representing the full spectrum of Somali society including women, youths and the diaspora communities.
Somali Prime Minister has urged the Somali community to accept and support the draft constitution which he specified as a legitimate document, the premier said. The PM noted the significance of non-governmental actors’ role in contributing ideas, recommendations and refinement of loopholes that may arise during the process.
Somali president appoints chairman of country’s Development Bank
10 Jul – Source: Jowhar Online – 82 words
Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad has officially appointed Abdullahi Ahmad Afrah for the post of the chairman of Somalia’s Development Bank. A decree from the Office of the President confirmed Prof Abdullahi Ahmad Afrah as bank’s chairman following his nomination for the post by the prime minister. The appointment comes days after the president toured a factory that prints the new Somali shilling.
Somalia Gov’t claims victory in war against al Shabaab
11 Jul – Source: Shabelle – 157 words
Somali officials are claiming victory in a heavy combat against al Shabaab militants linked to al Qaeda near Baidoa, situated 256 kilometers (159 mi) northwest of the capital Mogadishu. Aden Doodshe, the Police Commissioner of Bay region for Somali government, told Shabelle Media by phone that TFG forces have killed many al Shabaab combatants while several others were captured during a fighting that took place on Tuesday on the outskirts of Baidoa town, the third largest city in Somalia.
“Our troops carried out coordinated military operations at rebel-held villages near Baidoa on Tuesday. The aim is to wipe out al Shabaab from the entire region of Bay. The fighting left fighters of the al Qaeda linked extremist group in disarray after losing ground and military equipment,” he added. He stressed that the operation would continue until al Shabaab was wiped out or weakened to launch any significant attack in the government controlled territories in South Somalia.
Al Shabaab raids military convoy in Jubba region
11 Jul – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 85 words
Somali’s al Shabaab fighters say they have ambushed a military convoy of Kenyan and government troops traveling along Jubba region. The group’s military operations spokesman Sheikh Abdi-Aziz Abu Mus’ab confirmed the ambush on pro-al Shabaab Al-Andlus radio stationed in Kismayu.Abu Mus`ab said, “our Mujaahidiin had attacked the convoy and killed government and Kenyan troops in the battle.”
Somali politician calls for amendment of draft constitution clause on capital city
10 Jul – Source: Shabelle – 274 words
Somali Alliance for Peace has said the leader of the Puntland Administration is seemingly having difficulties differentiating between Puntland Constitution and that of Somalia. The Chairman of the Somali Alliance for Peace, Abdullahi Shaykh Hasan who is also a presidential candidate spoke to Shabelle media a short while after Puntland Leader, Abdirahman Farole, said his administration has been tasked with duty of taking charge of the new draft constitution for the country and said Farole was having difficulties differentiating between Puntland constitution and Somali constitution.
“He has no authority to have hand in drafting the Somali constitution. Region wise, he is the leader of one of the only two Somali regions. Somalia is not Puntland, Puntland is part of Somalia,”, said the Chairman of the Somali Alliance for Peace, Abdullahi Sheikh Hasan. While speaking on public outcry over sections of the draft constitution, Abdullahi also said any incorrect sections of the constitution needs to be amended.
“I am among those with grievances but we should always strive for corrections. I personally have a suggestion; that issues regarding the capital city in the draft constitution be amended. A capital city can be changed but it can only be done so through public consensus,” said Abdullahi Sheikh Hasan. The Chairman of the Somali Alliance for Peace said the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG] needs to urgently issue a response to recent statement by the leader of the Puntland Administration whom he accused of abusing his powers.
TFG blames al Shabaab of looting aid group compound in Gedo region
11 Jul – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 141 words
Speaking to radio Kulmiye radio, lawmaker Mahmud Sayid Aden condemned the looting of a compound that belongs to a local aid groups in Gedo region. The lawmaker termed the act as awful, urging the aid agencies and local humanitarian workers to avoid areas controlled by al Shabaab fighters. “We are sadden by the action taken by these gang,” he said. The agency is yet to comment but al Shabaab has previously committed such acts against aid agencies and local humanitarian groups operating in regions they control.
Armed men with military uniforms ransack aid trucks in Afgoye
10 Jul – Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 108 words
Armed men with military uniforms are said to have ransacked aid trucks traveling in Afgoye, about 30 kilometers south of Mogadishu. Witnesses said two trucks loaded with aid food meant for internally displaced people were hijacked and subsequently ransacked by the armed men dressed in government military uniforms in Lower Shabelle region.
Officials from government military told the media that the incident took place in Afgoye town. They said they were hunting down the armed men and added that they will soon capture them. It is the first time, armed men with military uniforms to loot aid trucks since Afgoye was liberated from al Shabaab in May.
New Schools and Businesses open in Galkayo
10 Jul – Source: Garowe Online – 158 words
Mayor of Galkayo was the special guest to launch several new projects and enterprises in Galkayo on Sunday, Garowe reports. Mayor Saeed Abdi Farah got the ball rolling for seven new projects in the capital city of Mudug region on Sunday.
The Mayor officially opened a school in the city; he was also the special guest to launch several businesses in the Israa’ and Garsoor neighborhoods. Mayor Farah addressed the people who gathered to watch the opening of the school in Galkayo telling the heads of the projects to keep the needs of Galkayo citizens their top priority.
“The people of Galkayo and their development and the development of this beautiful city should be the top priority of the schools and businesses that opened today in Galkayo, everything else should be secondary,” said Mayor Farah. A construction business was also opened on Tuesday, both Mayor Farah and Governor of Mudug Region, Mohamed Yusuf Jama (Tigey) attended the ceremony.
Al Shabaab detains five over alleged espionage mission
10 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 164 words
Al Shabaab militants in Jowhar town have reportedly arrested five people for allegedly spying for the Somali government. Two of the suspects were picked from Besha Biya Ade area, some 40 kilometres from Mahaday town while another two were picked from Jowhar town and the remaining one from Qalimow area.
The militants tortured some of the accused before locking them up in Jowhar town, according relatives of the accused individuals. The militant group has been making indiscriminate arrests in the area for the last few days trying to suppress dissidents.
The arrest come just three days after the militant group also detained over ten local farmers in the area for allegedly failing to pay taxes. The farmers were reportedly picked from Shinaha Qeybta Barrow area after they allegedly failed to pay 400,000 Somali shillings amounting to around twenty dollars for every hector of land. The group has earlier compelled local farmers to pay a huge amount of money in effort to meet its growing needs.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Mozambique to help Kenya fight pirates
11 Jul – Source: Africa Review – 144 words
Mozambique has expressed willingness to help Kenya combat piracy in the Indian Ocean. Defence minister Filipe Nyusi said in Maputo Tuesday that extending the collaboration to Kenya would generate greater effectiveness in the fight against the menace in the Mozambique Channel. Mr Nyusi was addressing military attaches in the Mozambican capital.
“Currently, we share the activities to fight piracy with South Africa and Tanzania, but we need to extend it to Kenya, to block the enemy at long range, before becoming internal threat,” said Mr Nyusi. He said fighting piracy in the Indian Ocean could fail if the regional countries acted in isolation.
10 Garissa victims buried in Mwingi
10 Jul – Source: Capital News – 489 words
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has urged Kenyans to support community policing in the fight against terrorism among other criminal activities. Speaking at Musila Gardens in Mwingi town at a mass funeral service for ten members of the African Inland Church (AIC) who died during the Garissa grenade attacks, the VP insisted that security personnel alone cannot eliminate acts of lawless without support from members of the public.
“Security matters should not be left to security agents alone. This is a collective responsibility that each one of us must take part in exposing criminals amongst us,’’ said the VP. Musyoka hailed the move by Christians and Muslims to work together in the fight against terrorism, noting that it was not time to engage in blame game over the matter.
Defense Assistant Minister David Musila, said it is discouraging that none of the criminals has been brought to book and called on the police to show their seriousness in the fight against the menace. “We lost so many people and the police commissioner should take stiffer action so that people are assured of their security, we are fighting the al Shabaab and we just seem to have relaxed,” he said.
Literacy campaign reaches thousands in central Somalia
10 Jul – Source: Sabahi Online – 98 words
More than 4,000 people in central Somalia have benefited from a two-month literacy campaign to teach school-age children and the elderly to read and write, UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported Monday (July 9th). The campaign, sponsored by local non-governmental organisation Iftin, targeted 10 villages in Mudug and Galgadud regions.
Iftin education director Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan said the group focused on people who had not been afforded the opportunity for formal education because of conditions in Somalia. Following the outbreak of civil war in the 1990s and the collapse of the central government in Somalia, many educational institutions shut down.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AU, Somali Forces Target al Shabaab Training Camp
11 Jul – Source: VOA – 113 Words
African Union and Somali forces have launched a military operation against what they say is a major training camp for al Shabaab militants outside Somalia’s capital. The African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) said in a statement Wednesday the operation aims to capture Lanta-Buur village, 40 kilometers west of Mogadishu.
Officials hope capturing the village will help secure the capital, which is preparing to host a constituent assembly that aims to end 12 years of transitional rule in Somalia.
The al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab once controlled much of Somalia and nearly all of Mogadishu. But it has lost most of its territory during an 19-month offensive involving African Union forces, the Somali government, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Somalia: Responding to Diarrhea in Kismayo
10 Jul – Source: Doctors Without Borders – 402 words
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is responding to increased cases of acute watery diarrhea among children and adults in the city of Kismayo in southern Somalia. More patients are being admitted every day. Acute watery diarrhea is highly infectious and can be deadly if not treated in time. Kismayo’s dense population means that a widespread outbreak could easily occur if urgent prevention measures are not taken.
A rapid test among a sample of ten patients indicated that six tested positive for cholera. Of the 65 patients treated so far, 40 suffered severe dehydration and needed immediate hospitalization. The majority of the cases were children under the age of eight.
Aid Slow to Reach Somali Region Free of al Shabaab
10 Jul – Source: VOA – 524 words
In this Somali seaside village, the former headquarters of insurgent group al-Shabab is being converted into a hospital. Last October, the Kenyan military and a regional militia cleared the village of the militants. But, despite the stability, humanitarian aid has been slow to arrive.
Three-year-old Hodan arrived with her grandparents the afternoon the hospital operating room opened. They traveled from Bur Gabo, a town 60 kilometers north of Ras Kamboni.
Small towns such as Ras Kamboni in the Lower Juba region of Somalia have had almost no access to clean water, education or health care for over two decades.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“There are certain dangerous faults within the Somali political crust that cannot be ignored. Of course, some are more dangerous than others. Meanwhile, al Shabaab is likely to remain in the periphery and wait for the right opportunity.”
Post-transitional Political Fault lines
11 Jul – Source: Foreign Policy Blog -1301 Words
Internally—where it matters the most—the overall status of a government is judged by how the average citizen perceives it. From that perspective, and due to a number of factors, in Somalia not much has changed in the past three decades since the military government went astray.
Still the average Somali sees his/her government as the archetype of power abuse, the magnet of demagoguery, the personification of partisanship, the agents of disunity, the epitome of incompetence, the exploiters of resources, the executioners of injustice, the promoters of corruption, the purveyors of propaganda, the distorters and manipulators nationalism, of duty, of citizenship, and mutual interest!
Therefore, aside from reinforcing the ongoing security improvement and the reconciliation process, the post-transitional government must craft a viable strategy to change the said perception by reforming the function of the government and transforming the Somali society- politically, socially, and economically.
“As transparency improves, the government will also be able to build the confidence of the international community and show that the days of the Fartaag report are now behind and that state institutions like the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance are ready for further support. The sort of support that many of us, including the UK, want to provide. It’s a win-win.”
Transparency Matters
10 Jul – Source: FCO/UK in Somalia Blog -513 Words
Several weeks ago, I attended a briefing in Nairobi about a recent review of the now-infamous ‘Fartaag Report’ – a 2011 report that alleged corruption and misappropriation within the TFG on a significant scale during 2009-2010.
The review provided – as far as possible – an investigation into the veracity of the charges within the Fartaag Report. Its findings made for sobering reading: millions are allegedly being lost from the Somali public purse. To put it another way, if Somalia wasn’t losing this money, it could afford to help pay for its security, reconstruction and the salaries of its own employees. If the TFG were able to tackle the alleged corruption, it could help finance the core business of government. And that, after 20 years of conflict, would be a pretty significant start.
So, it’s against this back-drop that the UK, together with an number of other international partners, is trying to reinforce Somalia’s financial management capability by helping to establish a new facility called the ‘Joint Financial Management Board’.
“A few years ago, a Kampala resident would not move residence from one suburb to another without informing the LCs, especially those in charge of the new home area. In some cases, one even had to secure an area ID. This arrangement has since been abandoned, partly because there have not been elections for several years.”
Editorial: LCs hold key in fighting terror
10 Jul – Source: Observer (Uganda) Blog – 348 Words
It is exactly two years today since terrorists struck Kyadondo Rugby grounds and Ethiopian Village restaurant, both entertainment places in Kampala, killing almost 80 innocent people. The Somalia-based militant group, al Shabaab, claimed responsibility for the attack, blaming it on the presence of Ugandan soldiers on Somali soil. The soldiers are part of the African Union peace enforcement effort (AMISOM) that also has Burundi, Djibouti and Kenya.
Ever since that attack, the threat of more terrorism has hovered over Uganda, spreading fear. Metal detectors and police deployments have become the order of the day.
Top tweets
@AdrianaStuijt #Somalia not as dangerous as #SouthAfrica:’ Somali refugees flee xenophobia #BishopLavis :http://yfrog.com/escxeqqj #ANC.
@anderson_mark_ As many as 200,000 Somalis have been treated at Turkish field hospitals and clinics #Turkey #Somalia.
@Aynte @UKinSomalia on the ‘infamous Fartaag Report’ which alleges wholesale graft by #Somalia govt & new JFMBhttp://bit.ly/LNZHQB.
@UKinSomalia Update on human rights countries of concern – including #Somalia: http://tinyurl.com/c2n7oef.
@smgbristol The terms #Somali and #crime are becoming interchangeable in the media. Does #SomaliCulture tolerate violence then? No! http://bit.ly/NmkLj6.
@tresthomas_HOA In case you missed this video report:#Sufism re-emerges in #Somalia as al-#Shabaab‘s control wanes http://bbc.in/NK8HKc.
@BillaoJournal #AMISOM announce new operation to capture major #Shabaab training camp at Lanta-Buro, 40km west of#Mogadishu http://bit.ly/MgL8Et #Somalia.
Image of the day
UN Special Envoy to Somalia Augustine Mahiga (third from right) meets with Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali (second from right) at the Traditional Elders conference in Mogadishu. Photo: UNPOS Flickr.