September 26, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Kibaki seeks world support for Somalia

26 Sept – Source: Standard Media Digital – 175 words

President Kibaki has called on United Nations agencies and international organisations working in Somalia to relocate to the liberated areas and provide humanitarian assistance to Somalis living there. The President also appealed to UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon to mobilize all relevant agencies to embark on relocating the refugees living in Kenya to the liberated areas noting that the situation created by over 65,000 refugees in Dadaab Camp in Kenya was untenable.

Speaking during a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon at UN headquarters in New York, President Kibaki said Kenya was fully committed to the restoration of peace and security in Somalia. “We are gratified at recent positive developments in Somalia arising from the implementation of the political roadmap. Kenya also welcomes the convening of a Mini-Summit on Somalia.

We believe the Summit will help in charting future support for the Somali Government in a coherent and well-coordinated manner,” said the President. Kibaki said the military offensive by AMISOM has been successful in liberating large areas of southern Somalia from al Shabaab.

Key Headlines

Somalia’s high court suspends proceedings (Shabelle)
Somali-Americans joining al Shabaab on the increase: report (Radio Bar-kulan)
Kibaki seeks world support for Somalia (Standard Digital Media)
Ambassador : Kenya must investigate Somali civilian death (Radio Kulmiye)
Somali pirate attacks decline; hopes sparked for end of scourge (AP/Herald & News/Fox News)
Al Shabaab should stop harming civilians says military chief (Bar-kulan)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia’s high court suspends proceedings

26 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 101 words

A high court in Somalia has announced on Wednesday that it has suspended all the proceedings over the selection of the parliamentarians. Aidid Ilka Hanaf, Supreme Court judge told Shabelle Media Network that the court made the decision since the process of MP selection was completed by the Somali traditional elders.

“The high court will only accept the lawsuits against the disputed MPs in the new parliament that were not singled out and selected by their clans,” he added. The remarks came after some Somali clans voiced their concern against what they termed “corruption in MPs selection.”

Somali-Americans joining al Shabaab on the increase: report

26 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 183 words

The number of Somalis born or brought up in the United States who are joining the al Shabaab group has been on the increase for the last few months, reports say. Abdirizak Ali Bihi, director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center has told Bar-kulan the number of Somali-American youth joining the outlawed group has tremendously increased with reports of number of them traveling to Somali in 2010 to fight alongside the al Shabaab group.

Bihi says over 40 American citizens of Somali descent have joined ranks with militant group since 2009, with the last one being 21 year old Omar Farah. According to Bihi, Farah left Minneapolis several weeks ago and called his aunt after his departure to say he was in the Somali town of Merca with al Shabaab militant group.

Farah joined the University of Minnesota to study electrical engineering and has been in the campus for only a year before disappearing. Since 2008, several Somalis from Minneapolis have reportedly travelled to Somalia to join the al Shabaab group, which has ties to al Qaeda and is considered a terror group by the U.S.

‘Prime Minister Farmajo hoax’ rattles Mogadishu

25 Sept – Source: Garowe Online/Shabelle/Jowhar Online/Somaliweyn – 158 words

Residents in Mogadishu were rattled on Tuesday by the sudden and continuous burst of ‘celebratory gunfire’ around the city, with local radios reporting that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had named Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo as Prime Minister, Garowe Online reports.

The gunfire erupted around 3pm local time in Mogadishu, with soldiers and assorted militias firing in the air in celebration as local radio stations announced Mr. Farmajo as Prime Minister. Within minutes, word quickly spread throughout Mogadishu – and around Somalia and the Diaspora – that Mr. Farmajo was not appointed.

Mr. Farmajo himself spoke on a Mogadishu radio station announcing that he had “not received an appointment letter”, although he admitted that he was “very interested” in such a letter appointing him as Prime Minister. President Hassan’s office issued a brief statement to local media that the President is “still in consultations” regarding the appointment for a new Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Iraq delivers aid to Somalia

26 Sept – Radio Bar-kulan – 162 words

A ship carrying 13,500 metric tonnes of humanitarian aid from Iraqi government has earlier this week docked at the Port of Mogadishu as part of the Iraqi effort to support needy people in Somalia. The captain of the Ship, Mr. Khasim was quoted as saying that the aid which was donated by the government and the people of Iraq is meant to support thousands of needy families in Somalia who have been hit by the recent human tragedy in the country.

Mr. Khasim officially handed over the consignment to the Somali Minister for Agriculture and Livestock management Hussein Mohamud Sheikh to deliver to the intended people.

The captain said the government and the people of Iraq are committed in supporting the government and the people of Somalia as they continue emerging from the ashes of the more than two-decades old conflict. The Iraqi aid comes a time people in Somalia are recovering from the recently ended drought and famine in the country.

Ambassador : Kenya must investigate Somali civilian death

25 Sept – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 124 words

Somali ambassador to Kenya Mohammed Ali Nur has urged Kenyan government to investigate the incident in which a Kenyan soldiers killed six Somali civilians in southren parts of Somalia. The incident occurred shortly after five other civilians were killed during a gun fight between the al Shabaab and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers in the region, the military headquarters in Nairobi said.

Military spokesman Cyrus Oguna said the Kenyan soldier shot the six civilians when people were seen approaching a defensive position. “Several people approached a KDF defensive position where a KDF soldier allegedly opened fire killing six people,” Oguna said.

Al Shabaab should stop harming civilians, says military chief

25 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 100 words

Somalia’s National Army Commander Gen. Abdikarin Yussuf Dego-badan has criticized al Shabaab militant group for resorting to harm civilians after failing in the front line battle with the Somali forces. Speaking at the opening ceremony of rehabilitation training for defected militants, Dego-badan said the militant group should face them instead of harassing innocent civilians.

He promised that his forces will liberate the entire country adding that they will continue pursuing militants whenever they are in Somalia. The commander accused the al Shabaab group for embarking on heinous acts of killing innocent civilians after failing to militarily face the armed forces.

Somaliland offers ‘general amnesty’ to members of al Shabaab terror group

25 Sept – Source: Garowe Online – 161 words

A cabinet minister in Somalia’s separatist region of Somaliland has offered a general amnesty to members of al Shabaab terrorist group that hail from Somaliland regions in northwestern Somalia, raising concerns in the wider region that individuals who committed terrorist attacks will be granted a general amnesty, Garowe Online reports.

Somaliland Interior Minister Mohamed Nur Arale Duur, who spoke with Somaliland-based Horn Cable TV satellite station this week, said the Somaliland government is granting a “general amnesty” to all al Shabaab members from Somaliland.

“We appeal to the youth who adopted the extremist ideology and who were involved in those wars [in south-central Somalia], if they are willing to give up that ideology and to live a good and calm life, we can extend them a general amnesty, because all humans make mistakes,” said Minister Duur, adding: “If they [al Shabaab members] who come from these regions [Somaliland] are willing to re-start their lives, we are open to welcoming them back.”

Puntland will not tolerate divisive politics, says assistant minister

25 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 106 word

Puntland has issued a strong warning to individuals it says are involved in divisive politics in achieving their personal interests. Assistant Minister for Internal Security Abdijamal Osman Mohamoud said there are people trying to destabilize the region for what he called selfish political gains by inciting locals in certain parts of the region.

Mohamoud pointed blame fingers at individuals he did not named for preaching divisive politics in Puntland, saying the local administration will not tolerate any attempt to derail the prevailing security in the region. The minister disputed claims that his administration has closed down an office used by local traditional elders in Bosaso town.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kibaki seeks world support for Somalia

26 Sept – Source: Standard Media Digital – 175 words

More aid offers as foreign diplomats flock to Somalia

26 Sept – Source: Africa Review – 331 words

International high-profile visitors have in recent days visited the new Somalia President to offer him their support and on Monday it was the turn of British military chief General Sir Peter Wall and the British ambassador to the country, Matt Bough.

At their meeting in Villa Somalia, the country’s State House, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud asked for British help in bringing Somalia’s weak army and state institutions up to standard. “We need to change the culture and gear of the armed forces,” said President Mohamoud, elected two weeks ago by parliament in a landslide vote.

“We are bound to organise a force with standard quality,” he added, in reference to the security challenges facing Somalia as AU troops squeeze the Islamist terror group al Shabaab. The Somali leader underlined the urgent need to have direct support offered to Somali state institutions if the country was to have an efficient government.

Dubai-based charity aids Somali refugees

26 Sept – Source: National – 94 words

The International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai and the London charity Al Muntada Al Islami, have sent 300 tents, six tonnes of children’s food, 1,500 rain covers and 2,000 protective nets for displaced families in Somalia. The items were sent by sea from Ajman on Monday and are due to arrive by the end of this week.

“There are already warning signs that the situation could quickly deteriorate again and people in southern Somalia are likely to experience emergency levels of food insecurity later this year,” said Shaima Al Zarooni, chief executive of IHC.

France condemns murder of prominent Somali journalist

26 Sept – Source: KUNA News – 110 words

France on Tuesday strongly condemned the murder of prominent Somali journalist, Yussuf Absuge, four days ago in that country. France also firmly condemned the assassination the following day of newly-elected Parliamentary Deputy, Mustafa Hajji Mohammed.

The murdered journalist was head of the Manta independent radio and he is the ninth press man to be murdered in Somalia so far this year. Along with Syria, Somalia is now the most dangerous country in the world for journalists.

“France denounces the persistent attempts at destabilising the national reconciliation process in Somalia by terrorist groups and recalls its attachment to the respect of fundamental freedoms,” the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan fighter jets bomb Somali city

26 Sept – Source: Al Jazeera/AFP – 127 words

Kenyan fighter jets have bombarded an airport in southern Somalia, where they are fighting al Qaeda linked al Shabaab fighters, officials have said. The strikes took place in the port city of Kismayo on Tuesday.

“Our forces have reached Kismayo with jets and they have destroyed the armoury and a warehouse used by al Shabaab at the airport,” Cyrus Oguna, a Kenyan army spokesperson, said. He could not provide figures on the number of casualties incurred.

Ali Mohamud Rage, an al Shabaab spokesperson, played down the impact of the bombing raid and said that it had not resulted in any deaths. “No one was killed and there was no property damage,” he told the AFP news agency. “The Kenyan airforce was maybe trying to boost the morale of its demoralised soldiers.”

Somali pirate attacks decline; hopes sparked for end of scourge

26 Sept – Source: AP/Herald & News/Fox News – 209 words

The empty whiskey bottles and overturned, sand-filled skiffs that litter this once-bustling shoreline are signs that the heyday of Somali piracy may be over. Most of the prostitutes are gone, the luxury cars repossessed. Pirates talk more about catching lobsters than seizing cargo ships.

Armed guards aboard cargo ships and an international naval armada complete with aircraft that carry out onshore raids have put a huge dent in Somali piracy and might even spell the end of the scourge. One piracy expert said it’s too early to declare victory. But the numbers are startling: In 2010, pirates seized 47 vessels. This year they’ve taken only five.

“There’s nothing to do here these days. The hopes for a revitalized market are not high,” said a pirate in the former pirate haven of Hobyo who gave his name as Hassan Abdi, a high school graduate who taught English in private school before turning to piracy in 2009.

Faduma Ali, a prostitute in the inland town of Galkayo that became a pirate haven, longs for the days when her pirate customers had money. As she smoked a hookah in a hot, airless room last week, she sneered as she answered a phone call from a former customer seeking her services on credit.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Though Beijing, Nairobi and Mogadishu’s livestreams were organized by the partners, Rwanda, Uzbekistan and Bangladesh’s were not. Yet all three countries’ events streamed; Bangladesh’s into five provinces, and Bhutan broadcast its summit on national TV.”

How Social Good Summit Sparked the Largest Conversation on Earth

25 Sept – Source: Deon Design Blog – 385 Words

A suicide bombing exploded outside of one of the only Internet cafes in Somalia’s capital last Thursday. Three days later, the cafe’s owner spoke on one of the Social Good Summit Mogadishu’s Global Conversation panels.

When the event’s organizer asked him if he still wanted to speak, the cafe owner replied, “This is even more important now.” The really exciting part of this year’s Social Good Summit didn’t take place on the 92nd Street Y’s upper Manhattan stage — it occurred at more than 200 meetups across the world.

Top tweets

‏@UKMissionGeneva #Sudan & #Somalia up for discussion today at #HRC21; also debate on countries requiring assistance to improve their #humanrights record.

@t_mcconnell This is handy: breakdown of reported US covert actions in #Somalia since 2001 complied by @TBIJ: http://bit.ly/yIK2hV.

@UN_Spokesperson #UNSG now meeting #Somalia Prime Minister. #UNGA http://pic.twitter.com/2bKrCmE1.

@EUatUN #EU gives new support to African Union Mission in Somalia #AMISOM ahead of #UNGA high-level mtg http://bit.ly/PkFDXJ @APiebalgsEU @eu_eeas.

@MARSECAfrique The many challenges of being a #Somali #fisherman working in #pirate infested seas http://bit.ly/SjT9OI Aweome story from @Hamza_Africa.

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Image of the day

Image of the day UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) meets with Prime Minister Abdiweli Ali of Somalia in New York. Photo: UN.