October 5, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali, AMISOM police carry out night-time operations in Mogadishu
05 Oct – Source: Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Radio Kulmiye – 124 words
Mogadishu, Somali capital has seen on Thursday night a heavy presence of army patrolling the streets. Soldiers from Somali and African Union police force were lined up in every junction in the capital, searching cars and people in a bid to curb the insecurity activities by armed groups.
Ahmed Hassan Malin, Benadir police chief, told Shabelle radio that the aim of the operation is to secure the capital and curb nigh-time killings and attacks against Somali people. Mogadishu hosted last month September 10, 2012, a milestone election that Somali MPs elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president of the horn of Africa nation, a sign of improving security.
Key Headlines
- Somali AMISOM police carry out night-time operations in Mogadishu (Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Radio Kulmiye)
- Somali government sends appeal to international humanitarian agencies (Radio Risaala/Radio Mogadishu)
- We will keep Kenya secure – President Kibaki (Capital News)
- Police nab 15 in Mogadishu security swoop (Radio Bar-kulan)
- AU troops struggle to secure Somali city (Al Jazeera)
- Somali Kenyan forces kill 5 in Kismayo (Shabelle/RBC)
- AMISOM troops clear al Shabaab buildings (Daily Nation)
- Private Army Formed to Fight Somali Pirates Leaves Troubled Legacy (New York Times)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali, AMISOM police carry out night-time operations in Mogadishu
05 Oct – Source: Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Radio Kulmiye – 124 words
Mogadishu, Somali capital has seen on Thursday night a heavy presence of army patrolling the streets. Soldiers from Somali and African Union police force were lined up in every junction in the capital, searching cars and people in a bid to curb the insecurity activities by armed groups.
Ahmed Hassan Malin, Benadir police chief, told Shabelle radio that the aim of the operation is to secure the capital and curb nigh-time killings and attacks against Somali people. Mogadishu hosted last month September 10, 2012, a milestone election that Somali MPs elected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president of the horn of Africa nation, a sign of improving security.
Somali government sends appeal to international humanitarian agencies
05 Oct – Source: Radio Risaala/Radio Mogadishu – 172 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdwali Mohamed Ali Gas called on the international humanitarian agencies to extend aid to the people who were rendered homeless by raging floods in Baladweyn, the headquarter if Hiraan province.
While speaking to press in Mogadishu, the prime minister expressed his sadness on the damage caused by the flooding of the river, saying that the people who lost their properties in the flooding of the river are in dire need of aid.
He said that many families were left destitute by the floods and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, further pointing out that his government is creating a commission that will carry out a survey of the situation and formulate a report. The prime minister’s statement comes at a time when the cry of the people of Baldweyne is getting louder after Shebelle river flooded the area, killing at least 10 people and leaving many families homeless and destitute.
Police nab 15 in Mogadishu security swoop
05 Oct – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 130 words
Police in Mogadishu have arrested 15 suspects believed to be involved in criminal activities following a swoop in parts of the city. Parading the suspects, mainly youth, before a battery of journalists, Police spokesman Gen. Abdullahi Hassan Barise said some of the suspects were arrested while in possession of illegal firearms. He alleged that some of them were involved in a robbery incident in the city where armed gangs robbed Dahabshil Company.
Barise urged the general public to cooperate with the police and volunteer information that can help them boost the prevailing security in the city. He however assured the public that police will do all means possible to safeguard the lives and properties of all citizens and promised to continue such operations aimed at boosting security situation in Mogadishu.
Somali, Kenyan forces kill 5 in Kismayo
04 Oct – Source: Shabelle/RBC – 140 words
Somalia’s National Army (SNA) together with Kenyan forces which are part of African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have killed on Thursday at least five people in the southern port city of Kismayo, reports said.
Eyewitnesses said the allied forces launched Thursday a door-to-door security operations in the city, searching for al Shabaab remnants hiding in some sectors of the city.
“We saw Somali and Kenyan soldiers shooting five young men suspected to be or have links with al Shabaab who were carrying pistols,” a residents who asked to hide his identity for fear of reprisal told Shabelle Media by phone.
Abudwak airport now ready for use, say officials
05 Oct – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 144 words
Abudwak airport finally gets the face it needed after a year-long renovation process to restore its original face and accommodate large airlines has been officially concluded. The airport has been undergoing massive renovations since early this year, with Diaspora communities from the region footing the expenses used in this renovation. Mukhtar Moalim, an official with Abudwak airport authority told Bar-kulan the facility is now ready for use.
He said only the immigration section of the airport is still under constriction as all other sections have already been completed. Moalim says by 11 October, the first flight will take off from the airport, adding that expectation are high that from there things will be smooth. The Airstrip was first set in place by the former Somalia central government but has been badly damaged by the 20 year old conflict that ravaged the country since 1991.
Somaliland President Signs Islamic Banking Bill into Law
04 Oct – Source: Somaliland Press – 50 words
Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud ( Silanyo) has assented the Islamic Banking bill into law on according to press statement issued by the Presidential spokesperson Mr. ahmed Saleban Dhuxul . The long awaited banking law bill had earlier passed the national assembly were lawmakers vote in favor of the bill.
Somali soldiers accused of rape arrested in Mogadishu
05 Oct – Source: Shabelle – 83 words
Somali National Army (SNA) have made manhunt and arrested three government soldiers accused of raping two teenage girls in Mogadishu in the past, officials said on Saturday. Speaking with Shabelle Media, Omar Abdulle Jafan, the district commissioner of Huriwa said the alleged soldiers were captured during an operation carried out in Suqa-holaha neighbourhood and remained in custody for questioning. “This is start to the forthcoming measures against those in the army who commit such acts against civilians in the district,” he said.
REGIONAL MEDIA
AU troops struggle to secure Somali city
05 Oct – Source: Al Jazeera – 01: 48 min
Somalian security forces, backed by African Union troops, are gradually extending their control over Kismayo after forcing al Shabaab rebels out of many parts of the city. Kismayo was the last key stronghold of al Shabaab, which had taxed goods coming into the port city to fund its operations.
Al Shabaab announced its withdrawal from Kismayo shortly after the mainly Kenyan assault last week. But AU forces have continued to face numerous hurdles, including improvised explosive devices left behind by al Shabaab, as they try to secure control over the city.
We will keep Kenya secure – President Kibaki
04 Oct – Source: Capital News – 394 words
President Mwai Kibaki has once again assured Kenyans of security in the wake of several terror attacks in the country. Kibaki said he is confident that there will be complete peace in Somalia following the capture of the Port of Kismayuofrom the hands of al Shabaab militia by the Kenyan Defence Forces operating under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
He said Kenya and other countries neighbouring Somalia will also enjoy peace after dealing with all terrorists. “I wish to re-state that the prosperity of our country is hedged on the stability of our neighbouring countries. We will therefore continue taking steps that guarantee our security.
I once again salute members of the Kenya Defence Forces and other AMISOM forces for their continued success in stabilising the nation of Somalia,” said Kibaki. He has, however, called on Kenyans to remain vigilant and collaborate with the police to deal with terrorists.
AMISOM troops clear al Shabaab buildings
04 Oct – Source: Daily Nation – 241 words
African Union troops who captured the port city of Kismayo from al Shabaab militants last Friday, have started clearing buildings initially used by the terrorists as their bases, the Kenya Defence Forces said on Thursday.
The statement said AMISOM forces in Sector II who include the KDF and the Somali National Army are firmly in control of Kismayo.“Several businesses in Kismayo have reopened and the residents’ daily routine is slowly returning to normal. The domination of the port city by AMISOM troops is in progress,” KDF said on its official public affairs Twitter account.
It added that AMISOM forces had embarked on confidence building programmes among locals residents, providing a secure environment for the residents to establish their own leadership structure.
Kenya mulls over Somali exit strategy
04 Oct – Source: KTN – 2:16 min
Kenya troops have for the first time set foot on the famed al Shabaab stronghold of. KDF and Somalia National Army Forces entered the port city and set up crucial roadblocks to secure its central business district. The troops now under the AMISOM banner are patrolling various streets of that strategic city.
Police warn of al Shabaab female suicide bombers
04 Oct – Source: Standard Digital Media – 142 words
Police have warned that al Shabaab militants have trained and deployed their female suicide bombers to be used in attacking strategic places in the country. Police headquarters on Tuesday issued guidelines that should be used by landlords, hoteliers, public service vehicles and the public at large to ensure the terrorists are tamed.
Spokesman Eric Kiraithe said intelligence report indicate a number of suicide bombers who include females are on the loose and ready to strike and urged for extra vigilance from the public especially while in crowded places.
“Our intelligence show the criminals are out to cause chaos using any means by attacking the innocent and our security officials. We urge for co-operation from the public to be able to stop them,” he said. Kiraithe added following the collapse of Kismayo port, the militants are bitter and ready to revenge using all means.
Kenyan PM blasts the West over its fear of Somalia
04 Oct – Source: Star – 271 words
Prime Minister Raila Odinga yesterday took a swipe at the international community saying it was reluctant to provide personnel to fight al Shabaab in Somalia and left the burden to Kenya and several other East African countries.
Raila told Parliament that the experience of 1990s made powerful nations refrain from sending troops to Somalia to liberate it from the al Shabaab group.
He said the work of fighting the al Shabaab was left to Kenya and several other East Africa countries which have been fighting under the African Union Mission in Somalia banner.
Raila cited Uganda, Burundi, and Djibouti saying they sacrificed to liberate Somalia and also made Kenya’s work easier. “After the experience of the 1990, the international community has been very reluctant to offer personnel to assist in Somalia,” he said.
Kenya races to strengthen formal trade ties with Somalia
04 Oct – Source: Business Daily Africa – 433 words
Kenya is stepping up plans to open a new trade corridor to post-war Somalia, braving the dark clouds hanging over the stability of the neighbouring state from remnants of al Shabaab militia. Buoyed by the prospects of a gradual return to normalcy after the recent capture of Kismayo, Kenyan investors are readying themselves for opportunities that abound in the reconstruction of Somalia.
Two decades of war have severely hit key segments of Somalia’s economy, lowering the country’s ability to produce goods and services for domestic consumption.
Kenyan investors see recent successes of the military operation as significant events that will radically change the investment climate, enabling them to go into mass production for export to post-war Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Private Army Formed to Fight Somali Pirates Leaves Troubled Legacy
04 Oct – Source: New York Times – 1527 words
It seemed like a simple idea: In the chaos that is Somalia, create a sophisticated, highly trained fighting force that could finally defeat the pirates terrorizing the shipping lanes off the Somali coast.
But the creation of the Puntland Maritime Police Force was anything but simple. It involved dozens of South African mercenaries and the shadowy security firm that employed them, millions of dollars in secret payments by the United Arab Emirates, a former clandestine officer with the Central Intelligence Agency, and Erik Prince, the billionaire former head of Blackwater Worldwide who was residing at the time in the emirates.
And its fate makes the story of the pirate hunters for hire a case study in the inherent dangers in the outsourced wars in Somalia, where the United States and other countries have relied on proxy forces and armed private contractors to battle pirates and, increasingly, Islamic militants.
Businesses open in Kismayo amid relative calm
04 Oct – Source: Xinhua – 488 words
Businesses which had closed in southern Somalia city of Kismayo have reopened as relative calm returned to once al Shabaab stronghold, Kenya’s military official said on Thursday.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Somalia National Army (SNA) said no major incidents have taken place after the troops took full control of the strategic city from the rebels who have been fighting the internationally-backed government.
“Domination of the port city town by AMISOM troops is in progress. Several businesses have opened and the locals’ daily routine is slowly returning,” KDF spokesman Colonel Cyrus Oguna said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Protection mechanisms should be tailored to individual circumstances of those at risk. This is important since female journalists face additional risks, such as sexual assault. As a sign of commitment to addressing attacks on journalists, African governments should go beyond UN resolutions. They need to protect journalists by including a specific category of “crimes against freedom of expression” in their criminal laws.”
Put in place laws to ensure the security of journalists
04 Oct – Source: Business Daily – 375 Words
On September 27, the body of Abdirahman Mohamed Ali, a 26-year-old journalist who worked for the Somali sports news website, cayaarahamaanta.com, was found beheaded at Barwaaqo restaurant in Mogadishu. He became the 14th journalist to be killed in Somalia this year.
On September 2, Channel Ten TV journalist Daudi Mwangosi died when police used tear gas to disperse Chama cha Democrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) supporters in Nyololo village, Mufindi South, in Tanzania.
Top tweets
@UNPOSomalia #Somalia has made ‘quantum leap’ in its progress but security threats remain, #UN Envoy Mahiga says:http://bit.ly/QKodGS @UN @UN_DPA.
@jeremyscahill Erik Prince, Saracen, Sterling, Mercs, Oh My! “Private Army Leaves Troubled Legacy in #Somalia“ http://nyti.ms/RF0gAF.
@UNHCRSomalia “There is definitely unimaginable change in #Somalia… to an increasing peaceful situation,” Mahiga, UN Envoy http://bit.ly/T80TVF.
@ReutersAfrica: Reuters Pictures slideshow: #Somalia from above http://www.reuters.com/news/
@ngigeh Somalia map by @TheEconomist on areas occupied by Govt allies in #Somalia. #KDF #AMISOM #Ethiopia #Kenya http://pic.twitter.com/
Image of the day
UN Envoy for Somalia Amb. Augustine Mahiga addressing journalists at UN’s Gigiri Complex in Nairobi, on 04 Oct. Photo: UNPOS.