August 7, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

UPDF Sends 28 Senior Air Force Officers to Somalia

07 Aug – Source: Ug Pulse – 139 words

The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces has today flagged off a contingent of 28 senior officers to the Somali capital Mogadishu. Also dispatched are several AU aircrafts meant to strengthen the war-torn country’s air force ahead of this month’s elections.

The team was flagged off by the Chief of Defence Forces Gen, Aronda Nyakairima and the Commander of the Air Force Lt. Gen. Jim Owesigire.Gen. Nyakairima said the team will specifically be mandated to boost the air force and other sectors. He says this is a great opportunity for Uganda to further help the country as it prepares for the August 20th polls.

Aronda adds that it is also a great boost to the AMISOM Force which has been operating without an air force. He challenged the officers to maintain high levels of discipline while they execute their duties.

Key Headlines

TFG claims killing over 30 militants in Hudur (Bar-kulan)
AMISOM committed to supporting Somalia one year after liberation of Mogadishu (AMISOM)
Despite losses Somalia’s al Shabaab remain major threat (Releif Web/AFP)
Former Information Minister disowns roadmap signatories’ communiqué (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye)
UPDF Sends 28 Senior Air Force Officers to Somalia (Ug Pulse)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM committed to supporting Somalia one year after liberation of Mogadishu

07 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 339 words

As Somalia marks the first anniversary of the liberation of the capital, Mogadishu, from Al Qaeda affiliated terrorists, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra, has reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to supporting the country’s peace process.

He said; “As Somalia marks this important anniversary and prepares to end the Transition, the African Union Mission in Somalia will continue to work with the Somali authorities to create conditions conducive to the deepening of the national dialogue and reconciliation process. At this crucial election period, and as AMISOM forces continue to help secure more areas of the country, we urge Somali leaders to remain united and put the national interest first.”

Twelve months ago, the Somali National Army with the support of the AMISOM forces pushed the al Shabaab terror group from fixed positions within the city, ushering in the longest period of relative peace the capital has had since the collapse of central government in 1991. Following this, Mogadishu has experienced a construction boom as residents return to rebuild their homes and businesses. Markets have been reopened, schools and hospitals established, and roads repaired.

The Aden Adde International Airport has been refurbished and international carriers, such as Turkish Airlines, are operating regular flights into and out of the capital. Somali and AMISOM forces have secured the strategic town of Afgoye, the Northern town of Bal’ad and key other strategic positions. They have also secured Baidoa and large parts of Hiraan, Bay Bakool, Gedo, Middle and Lower Juba from the extremists.

Those military gains and the liberation of new areas have contributed to the effective participation of Somalis from all walks of life to the political process currently underway. The peace process has been invigorated and last week, a National Constituent Assembly adopted a provisional constitution which will pave the way to the next election of Parliamentarians, a decisive step for the Somalis who, through free election of their representatives, will now take their destiny in their own hands.

SOMALI MEDIA

TFG claims killing over 30 militants in Hudur

07 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 114 words

More than 30 people have been reportedly killed and dozen others injured in a deadly clash between the allied forces and al Shabaab militants in Hudur town on Monday afternoon. The fight broke out when heavily armed militants launched attacks on Somali and Ethiopian military base.

Area district commissioner Mohamed Mo’alim Ahmed claimed they killed over 30 militants during the fight that lasted for several hours. He did not disclose casualties suffered on their side.

Ahmed says they inflicted heavy casualties on the militant attackers. It is the second time militants attacking the allied forces since the beginning of this Ramadan but reports say Monday’s fight was the deadliest of all with the highest casualties.

Security meeting held in Mogadishu

07 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Caasimada Online – 116 words

Security Meeting attended by Somalia’s TFG officials was held in the presidential palace in Mogadishu. Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed held meeting with TFG and African Union force (AMISOM) Military officials in the presidential palace.

The officials who spoke in the meeting said that it is indispensable to keep the security as well as to complete the elimination of al Shabaab. Sharif Shekuna Maye, the commander of Somalia’s Police Forces stated that the efforts of keeping the security of the nation will continue until the abolition of al Shabaab. President who also spoke at the venue said the government has succeeded in the maintaining the security of Mogadishu.

Former Information Minister disowns roadmap signatories’ communiqué

07 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye – 186 words

Former Somalia’s Information, Post and Telecommunication Minister Abdikarim Hassan Jama has disowned a communique released by the signatories of the roadmap allegedly bearing his name, saying that he was impersonated.

Jama denied participating the meeting saying that he was chucked out of the meeting during the first day and accused Puntland president for taking advantage of his position in misrepresenting the Dhulbahante clan. He claimed that his clan’s share of the new parliament was hijacked by individuals, adding that he is not mandated to name Dhulbahante MPs or represent the Kharumo administration in the selection process.

According to the communiqué, participants agreed that Dhulbahante elders from Garowe to name five of the total eight Dhulbahante MPs and those who have stayed in Mogadishu to name the remaining three before submitting the agreed list of nominees to the Technical Selection Committee.

Two Dhulbahante participants, one of them a minister in Puntland and Mr. Jama who is one of the founders of the recently formed Khatumo State made the agreement, added the communique. But Mr. Jama denied having any role in the alleged agreement on the Dhulbahante issue.

In Somaliland, upcoming local council elections may be postponed

07 Aug – Source: Somaliland Press – 245 words

The Somaliland National Election commission announced that the long awaited local government elections may be postponed if the current impasse on cab 20 continues. This was revealed during a press conference held at the Electoral commission headquarters.

Speaking to the media, the chairman of the National Electoral commission Mr. Isse Yusuf H Mohamed (Hamari) ,said considering the notable potential obstacles which are categorized into the following two main headings (I) Legal Framework concerns, such as the Amendments of Law # 14 and 20, which affects the ballot paper design and polling station arrangement among other factors given the increased number of political contestants and candidates and second the unavailability of funds promised by donors the upcoming elections won’t be held in time.

One killed in Baidoa grenade attack

07 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 115 words

One person has been killed and two others injured when a hand grenade was hurled into a house in Baidoa’s Horsed neighbourhood on Monday night. Eyewitnesses told Bar-kulan that three gangs hurled a hand grenade into a residential house, killing a woman and injuring two of her colleagues.

The injured people were immediately rushed to a hospital in the area for treatments. The attackers fled the scene of the incident. Police arrived at the scene of the crime and conducted a search operation in the area, but no arrests have so far been made. The identity and the motive of the attackers are not yet known as no group has claimed responsibility of the attack.

Al Shabaab imposes economic embargo

06 Aug – Source: Somalia Report – 1148 words

As the hard-line Islamist group al Shabaab prepares to defend Kismayo, one of its last and most important strongholds, it has announced a new strategy that it hopes will deliver a crippling blow to the military efforts of its opponents – the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and AMISOM.

In a move likely to bring additional hardship to communities still suffering from the effects of drought and famine, al Shabaab has over the last week declared that it will block the transportation of goods and foodstuffs from the port of Kismayo to areas no longer under its control in the Gedo, Lower Juba and Bay regions of Somalia. The reason provided by al Shabaab is that this economic embargo will have a devastating effect on the logistics of the TFG and its African Union allies.

Somaliland to hold talks with SCC leader

07 Aug – Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 119 words

The [self-declared] Republic of Somaliland is to hold key talks with the leader of SSC [Sool, Sanag and Ceyn regions] rebel, Suleiman Ahmed Hagal-Tosiye. Mr. Hagal-Tosiye is said to have responded to peace call from the government. Ministers including that of Presidency, Finance, Interior, the governor of Togdher region and the chairman of UCID opposition party escorted the SSC leader as they reached the village of Yaylein Sarar region on Monday afternoon.

The rebel leader was accompanied by the Garad Mohamed Garad Suleiman and six intellectuals from Buhodle town. SSC fighters have been battling the government of Somaliland for the past few years, defying Somaliland to control Sool, Sanag and Ceyn regions.

Media Executives and Union Officials Focus on Safety of journalists and Applause the Adoption of the New Constitution

06 Aug – Source: Raxanreeb – 212 words

A meeting convened at the union office in Mogadishu on August 3, 2012 by the Media Executives – Television, Radios Print and Major Websites – was focused on the safety and the descent working conditions of the Somali Journalists following the murder of Abdi Jeylani Malaq Marshale on July 31, 2012 by unknown gunmen, meanwhile the conference welcomes the adoption of Somalia’s new constitution.

Somali journalists and media personnel work in a very hostile environment that so far this year, seven journalists and media workers were killed and several others escaped from assassination attempts. Abdurashid Abdulle Abikar, NUSOJ Treasurer and Press Freedom Coordinator urged the media chiefs to take part in safeguarding the lives of the innocent journalists through editorial policy and urged the media houses to sign a contract with the journalists when they hire, which they all agreed. The participants called for an urgent investigation into the continued murders.

“NUSOJ would like to thank your attendance to this important conference and your time and again we thank you for agreeing all what have been discussed here including employment contracts for the journalists,” Abdurashid Abikar told the conference participants, “The Government should carry out urgent and independent investigations into the murders of the journalists, we can not tolerate the ongoing impunity to continue.”

REGIONAL MEDIA

UPDF Sends 28 Senior Air Force Officers to Somalia

07 Aug – Source: Ug Pulse – 139 words

Terror ranked top of Clinton agenda

06 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 545 words

The war against terrorism and the general insecurity in the Horn of Africa was among the key issues in the special message US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered to Kenya from President Barrack Obama, the Nation was told on Monday.

President Kibaki said that Kenyan troops together with AMISOM forces were making good progress to stabilise Somalia to enable the over 700,000 refugees who have posed serious social and security risk to Kenya, to relocate back to the liberated parts of their country.

President Kibaki in a statement after meeting Mrs Clinton urged the US to play a lead role and mobilise the international community in the re-construction of a peaceful and secure Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Despite losses, Somalia’s al Shabaab remain major threat

07 Aug – Source: Releif Web/AFP – 902 words

Sitting in the ruins of what was once Somalia’s most exclusive hotel, skinny ex-child soldier Mohamed Abdi Khadar recounts the months he spent fighting with al Qaeda-allied al Shabaab insurgents.

Convinced by a friend to join up, 14-year-old Khadar was trained for several weeks to fire rocket launchers and other weapons before being sent to attack government and African Union forces he was told were enemies of Islam.

“In the day they used to teach us the Koran, then at night they took us back to Mogadishu to fight,” says Khadar, captured in July, his gaze flicking out over the Indian Ocean lapping below. “Before you start firing you get a little bit scared but when it starts you get ready to hit and then nothing – it is normal.”

The extremist al Shabaab once controlled much of southern Somalia, but in recent months have lost a series of key strongholds to a 17,000-strong African Union force (AMISOM), Ethiopian troops and the fledgling Somali army.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Somali leaders voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to adopt a new constitution that contains new individual rights and sets the country on a course for a more powerful and representative government”.

Moving Somalia toward Lasting Stability

06 Aug – Source: VOA – 307 words

An assembly of Somali delegates has drafted and overwhelmingly approved a Provisional Constitution for that nation, paving the way for a new government to be established there. The August 1st vote culminated years of work by the Somali people. The United States congratulates them and the National Constituent Assembly in laying the foundation for a new era of governance that is more responsive, representative and accountable.

Somalia has lacked a stable central government for more than 20 years. In 2004, an internationally-recognized transitional federal government was established, with a mandate to restore democratic rule. But it has struggled with division, environmental crises such as drought, an insurgency that has displaced tens of thousands of citizens, and inefficient transitional federal institutions.

“At home we would have food and friends for Iftar. Here we have nothing, and must depend on assistance from others,” Rahma said. “In Ceelasha we were lucky; with extra planning we could share food under a tent. Now we have neither a tent, nor food to share.”

Breaking the Fast; Iftar with Nothing

07 Aug – Source: Oxfam Blogs – 248 Words

In Somalia the end of July marked the start of Ramadan the holiest month for the country’s Muslims. During this month there will be fasting every day, as Somalis make the sacrifice to neither eat nor drink during the daylight hours.

However, as the country continues to endure a food crisis, this leaves many of its most vulnerable residents left wondering if they will have enough food for Iftar, which is the traditional breaking of the fast in the evening.

Top tweets

@ygaraad After 20 years with the #BBCWorldService I’ve today resigned as Head #bbcsomali, inorder to go back & play a role in rebuilding #Somalia.

@PBIAustralia A civil society group has formed in #Somalia to identify election candidates associated with #humanrights violations http://www.ifiso.net.

@BeenThereSawIt #Somalia government says they’ll set up police force in Beledweyne. Why didn’t they do that MONTHS AGO!! http://bit.ly/OM8R18.

@AbdifatahATM Its unimaginable the distraction that civil war brings #Somalia its clear that our country needs us #Youth.

@HOA_News Dominic Nahr’s photographs of #Mogadishu in transition |#Somalia http://ti.me/OEWROu.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Somali president speaks as he hosts an Iftar dinner for TFG officials, AMISOM and Somali military commanders in Villa Somalia, Mogadishu. Photo: Radio Mogadishu.