November 28, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Kenyan Police recover bag packed with hand grenades
28 Nov – Source: Standard – 280 words
Kenyan Police in Mandera have recovered two hand grenades abandoned by suspected Somali militia believed to have crossed from the border town of Bulla-Xawa. The Somali border town was on the weekend invaded and briefly taken over by members of the insurgent Somali Islamist group, al Shabaab after dislodging the TFG soldiers.
They, however, lost control when regrouped TFG forces confronted them. The three assailants who intelligence believes were planning to carry out an attack on unknown facilities escaped when members of the public confronted them.
Key Headlines
- Somali FM meets with Kenyan PM (Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Mogadishu/Somaliland Press/RBC/Hiiraan Online)
- Kenyan Police recover bag packed with hand grenades (Standard)
- Heavy fighting in southern Somalia kills 3 injures 7 (Shabelle)
- School census collects crucial data to help Somalia achieve quality education for all (UNICEF)
- Somali Forces embark on mission to get rid of checkpoints after president’s order (Radio Dalsan/Radio Mogadishu)
- Ten more arrested over KDF murder (Standard)
- Fighting erupts in Hudun district (Bar-kulan/Horseed Media/Radio Risaala)
- Al Qaeda’s East Africa network ‘regrouping and rearming in northern Somalia’ (Telegraph)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali FM meets with Kenyan PM
28 Nov – Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Mogadishu/Somaliland Press/RBC/Hiiraan Online – 103 words
The Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia as well as the Foreign Minister Fowziya Yusuf Haji on Tuesday met with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and her Kenyan counterpart Sam Ongeri.
The two sides discussed about various issues among them, strengthening the diplomatic relationship between the two countries and security, according to the Somali Foreign Minister who spoke to the media after the meeting. This is the first meeting of the Somali FM with Kenyan diplomats since she was appointed to the post.
Somali Forces embark on mission to get rid of checkpoints after president’s order
28 Nov – Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Mogadishu – 100 words
The Somali Security Service and Somali Police Forces have jointly taken measures to eradicate the illegal checkpoints manned by some soldiers in Mogadishu.
The Somali forces have succeeded in removing checkpoints is some of Mogadishu districts including Yaqshid, Heliwa. And Karan, the commander of security service of Banadir region Khalif Ahmed Ereg said.
On the other hand, the commander pointed out that the operation will continue to make sure that no checkpoint in Mogadishu, Mr. Ereg repeated.
Heavy fighting in southern Somalia kills 3, injures 7
28 Nov – Source: Shabelle – 138 words
At least three people were confirmed dead and seven others injured in a fierce gun battle that erupted between government forces and al Shabaab fighters in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region, reports said.
The skirmish broke Tuesday last night at around 7 pm local time after heavily armed al Shabaab fighters stormed bases manned by Somali forces outside Shalambod town, 110 Km south of Mogadishu.
“Three combatants from both warring sides were killed and 7 wounded during the attack that lasted for several hours at the entrance of Shalambod, where Somali forces have military positions,” a resident told Shabelle Media via phone.
Locals said the battle was the deadliest they have ever witnessed since Somali national army (SNA) and AMISOM took the control of the port city of Marka and its surrounding areas from al Shabaab militants last month.
Somali Media directors’ demand BBC reporter to face civilian court
28 Nov – Source: Radio Dalsan – 153 words
Mogadishu media directors are demanding the arrested BBC journalist to be brought before a civilian court rather than the military court. In a meeting held in Mogadishu, 18 media directors discussed issues facing the media fraternity especially the risks facing the journalists and the imprisonment of the BBC Somali Service Representative Ibrahim Mohamed Aden in Mogadishu.
Speaking at the meeting, Abdurahim Isse, the director of government-owned Radio Mogadishu, requested the military to allow Ibrahim Mohamed Aden face a civilian court.
It was a week ago when Ibrahim Mohamed was arrested by the military court demanding that he either present evidence verifying his article or be imprisoned, Ibrahim was summoned on November 21 and subsequently arrested.
Gunman kills three in Beledweyne town
28 Nov – Source: Bar-kulan/Shabelle/Radio Dalsan – 137 words
Reports from Beledweyne town, provincial capital of Hiiraan region, say a man armed with an AK-47 rifle last evening shot dead three civilians inside the town.
Hiiraan Regional Deputy Chairman on Security Affairs, Ahmed Abdalla Osman (Ahmed Inji) has told Bar-kulan that Somali government soldiers and African Union peacekeepers have started investigations into the killings after reaching the scene of the crime. The killings occurred at Hawo-Tako neighbourhood of Beledweyne town.
Inji said they are yet to establish the identity of the killers and the motive behind the killing of the civilians. There has been an increase in attacks targeting civilians in Beledweyne, the regional capital of Hiiraan. On Tuesday, Sheikh Muhumed Sheikh Hussein (Marya-Adde) who was inaugurated on Monday as the chairman of Hiiraan regional elders was killed in the same town.
Fighting erupts in Hudun district
28 Nov – Source: Bar-kulan/Horseed Media/Radio Risaala – 128 words
Reports from Sool region say a fierce fighting has erupted in Hudun district which is 83Km from Las Anod town, the regional capital. The fighting is going on in two fronts which are Adweyn, Southeast of the town and Gobley, 5 km east of the town, according to a freelance journalist in the area.
The fight is between soldiers from Somaliland administration and that of Khatumo administration who were recently involved in military confrontation in some parts of Hudun district. It is not yet known the fatalities caused by the fight between the two administrations.
Somaliland local government’s elections scheduled to kick off Wednesday in Hudun town have been delayed after local elders in the town strongly warned of such elections to be held in that district.
Somali Police carries out operations in Dharkenley
28 Nov – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 119 words
Somali police has carried out security operations in the dharkenley district of Somalia. The security operations was aimed to fight against insecurities in district
According to witness who spoke to Mustaqbal Radio, residents were ordered to stay in their homes and they were able to see the police units walking all over the streets in the district.
There are no comments from the district administration regarding the security operations they conducted and their target. Dharkenley is one the most insecure districts in Mogadishu with the highest number of murder and robbery.
I Recognize Aspiration of Self-Determination by People of Somaliland which came through Referendum – Mahiga
27 Nov – Source: Somaliland Press – 158 words
United Nation Special Envoy for Somalia Ambassador Augustine Mahiga arrived in the Somaliland on Tuesday for a two day visit aimed at mending worsening relations between UNOPs and Somaliland.
The visit to Somaliland by the UN special Envoy was prompted by a recent decision by the government of Somaliland to review the workings of UNOPs office in Hargeisa after the details of a recent letter with its contents deem to be demeaning to the personal integrity of the Somaliland’s Presidency, national stature and seriously hurting the aspirations of the country.
Amb. Mahiga is in the country to extend his apologies to the President and people of Somaliland concerning the demeaning letter issued by his office with his personal signature included which provoked anger of President Ahmed Silanyo who termed the letter as one filled with “slander, misdemeanor and did not augur well for, hence contradicting, to the regional security”.
One killed, two injured in violent protest in Lughaye
27 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online – 139 words
At least one person has been killed and two others injured when clashes erupted between Somaliland police and angry residents of Lughaye town, near the border with Djibouti.
Angry residents reportedly attacked a police station where the regional electoral commission has stored ballot boxes for the upcoming grass-root elections. They were allegedly angry over few polling stations compared to the large number of local population in the area. Police used live bullets to disperse the angry residents, killing one protester and injuring two others.
Area regional police boss Ahmed Abdirahman Ilkaase confirmed the incident, saying that police dispersed locals trying to loot ballot boxes in the station. He said normalcy has now returned to the area. Somaliland is due to hold grass-root elections and political temperature is said to be souring in the region ahead of the Wednesday elections.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan Police recover bag packed with hand grenades
28 Nov – Source: Standard – 280 words
Kenyan Police in Mandera have recovered two hand grenades abandoned by suspected Somali militia believed to have crossed from the border town of Bulla-Xawa.
The Somali border town was on the weekend invaded and briefly taken over by members of the insurgent Somali Islamist group, al Shabaab after dislodging the TFG soldiers.
They, however, lost control when regrouped TFG forces confronted them. The three assailants who intelligence believes were planning to carry out an attack on unknown facilities escaped when members of the public confronted them.
Somali DPM Meets with Ongeri over JCC
27 Nov – Source: Citizen News – 166 words
Somali Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fowziya Yusuf Aden, has held talks with the Kenyan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sam Ongeri over revival of the Joint Commission for Co-operation. The two have agreed to revive the Joint Commission for Co-operation on deepening the bilateral co-operation between Kenya and Somalia.
The two ministries have agreed to revive the joint commission for co-operation framework which will help Somalia foresee peace, stability and security. This comes almost a week after the Somali parliament voted in Abdi Farah Shirdon as the new Prime Minister. The PM went ahead to name a leaner cabinet including the first female foreign minister.
In a statement issued last week by President Kibaki, Somalia was assured of Kenya’s commitment to continue playing its role towards the realization of a peaceful, secure and prosperous Somalia. President Kibaki had requested for the commission, which had been set up in 2008, to be revived. The JCC will help in bilateral co-operation between the two countries.
Ten more arrested over KDF murder
28 Nov – Source: Standard – 437 words
Ten more suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing of three Kenya Defense Forces soldiers in Garissa in a police operation. The ten have also been linked to the killing of six other police officers who have been killed in Garissa Town in the past three months.
They were arrested in the on-going police hunt for terror suspects in the region. Police have been combing the town in search for suspects who have been linked to a series of attacks in Garissa and its environs.
Officials holding the suspects say some have confessed they are part of a larger network that had been sent from Somalia by the al Shabaab militants to “deal” with security agents over the military operations in their country.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
School census collects crucial data to help Somalia achieve quality education for all
28 Nov – Source: UNICEF – 207 words
The education system in Somalia has been decimated by over two decades of violence and conflict. Prior to the 2011 school census, the last time such data had been collected in Somalia was in 2006. Effective educational planning has been hampered by the lack of accurate and reliable data, including Educational Management Information System (EMIS) and enrolment data, while regular monitoring in insecure areas has been difficult and often fraught with risk.
The School Census is a milestone in the history of education in Somalia. For the first time, the Ministries of Education in Puntland and Somaliland, with the support of UNICEF, have collated data from primary schools and alternative education centres using ministry personnel.
In October 2011, the Education Ministries in Puntland and Somaliland conducted the 2011/2012 Primary School Census with technical and financial support from UNICEF and the European Union. EMIS software was donated by Australian aid program AusAID. Data collected from schools across seven regions in Puntland and 13 regions in Somaliland cover child enrolment, schools and teachers, disaggregated by gender and region, and, where possible, by grade.
Al Qaeda’s East Africa network ‘regrouping and rearming in northern Somalia’
27 Nov – Source: Telegraph – 205 words
Al Qaeda’s network in East Africa is regrouping and rearming in northern Somalia, suggesting that it could recover from a series of defeats in the south, according to the president of the region. If the extremists manage to regroup in this mountainous region, they could attack Ethiopia or Kenya, both of which have deployed troops in Somalia, he told The Daily Telegraph.
Al Shabaab, the Somali Islamist movement which has merged with al Qaeda, was expelled from the capital, Mogadishu, and much of the south earlier this year. Instead of this being a decisive setback, however, the evidence suggests that key figures have moved northwards to Puntland, a self-governing area covering 130,000 square miles of northern Somalia. Last week, two Islamist commanders and nine fighters were arrested in this region.
Abdirahman Farole, the president of Puntland, said that the successful offensive mounted by African Union forces against al Shabaab in and around Mogadishu had caused a “spillover” of extremists into his area. Among the 11 al Shabaab operatives who were arrested in Puntland is the alleged leader of its assassination squad. “They were found with new weapons, arms and ammunition, and, apart from two of them, they were not local, they came from all across Somalia,” said Mr. Farole.
Media-Savvy Militants Lure Foreigners for ‘Holy War’ in Somalia
27 Nov – Source: VOA – 590 words
The Islamist militant group al Shabaab in Somalia has lost much ground in recent months to African Union and government forces. But analysts warn that al Shabaab is fighting an increasingly sophisticated media war, and is actively recruiting foreign fighters to join its ranks.
With sophisticated graphics – and shot in high quality – this is a video produced by the media arm of al Shabaab called “Inspire the Believers.” The footage cuts to a man sitting on a beach. A scarf covers his face. He introduces himself as Abu Dujana and says he is from Britain; he has a distinctive London accent.
“I’d like to use my time to talk about the blessings of living in one of the lands of Jihad. First of all, before some of us came here, we were living in a society where the people were enslaved by their desires,” he said.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The dispute over Kismayo’s mountain of charcoal may endure for a while yet. But in the end, as it did through two decades of war, there seems little doubt that one way or another Somali business will triumph.”
Why Charcoal May Endanger Somalia’s Best Hope for Peace
27 Nov – Source:World Time – 933 Words
On a Monday afternoon in October, in a warehouse in the southern Somali port of Kismayo, I attended a meeting on the future of Somalia. On one side: 20 Somali traders sitting on grass mats and wearing sandals, sarong-like wraps, short-sleeved shirts and embroidered scarves.
On the other, in plastic chairs: officers from the Kenyan and Somali armies and the allied militia Ras Kamboni Brigades, who, fighting under the banner of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), ousted the al Qaeda-allied al Shabaab from southern Somalia’s biggest city a few weeks earlier. AMISOM’s offensive against al Shabaab, kicking them out of the capital Mogadishu in August last year and then capturing Kismayo, were a body blow to the Islamists and represent the best chance for peace in Somalia since the collapse of the last central government in 1991.
But in Kismayo, as I discovered, as the only Western journalist to enter the city, the joy of victory had quickly soured. At stake at the October meeting, I was told, was nothing less than peace in southern Somalia, and possibly the whole country. And the key? A giant pile of burnt, dead wood. Great progress has been made in Somalia over the past 15 months. Al Shabaab has suffered a series of military setbacks, a new Somali President has been chosen, a slimline government has been formed, famine has abated and Mogadishu is enjoying a newfound optimism after decades of destruction.
The turnaround seems dramatic and it is, given 21 years of war and famine. But the truth is that while those tragedies gave the world an impression of a failed state without hope, for many Somalis, the enduring reality of daily life during the fighting — and at the heart of many of Somalia’s conflicts — was always business. Camel trading, mango growing, mobile telecoms and, of course, arms dealing all thrived in the war years. And few businesses were as big or profitable, or as tough, as charcoal.
“Tribalism has been an illness and disease that has lived in the Somali culture for more than a century, but what people from Somalia and Somaliland do not understand is that this nauseating culture in which we embrace is only killing our people and making us hate one another.”
Tribalism: Somalia and Somaliland’s political disease
27 Nov – Somaliland Press -1056 Words
Looking back at Somalia in the 1960’s tribes was influential but no way near as influential as it is today. The big tribes, Hawiye and Darod, were always going for Presidency in Somalia simply because of their size and sheer dominance, not because what they can bring to Somalia and their political experience.
It was once rumoured that when the British left Somaliland in 1960, they had advised Somali leaders to give important and decisive roles to the Muse Carre sub clan, who originate from the Isaaq Tribe. This was completely ignored by the ‘big tribes’ and they began to isolate the Isaaq tribe. Amongst other isolated tribes was the Gadabursi (Samaroon) tribe who were barely recognised by the rest of Somalia. With all this tribalism happening in the 1960s and onwards, separation and violence in tribalism was inevitable.
The Isaaq Tribe who originate from North Western Somalia, now known as Somaliland, are the third biggest tribe in Somalia. They settle in large urban areas like Hargeisa, Burco and Berbera. They worked very closely with the British Colonists in the 1920-60’s to make a better and more peaceful Somaliland, which was eventually successful before joining alliance with the Somali Republic.
The areas which they settled in was never recognised and developed by the Somali Government. Instead it was seen as an area that should be completely ignored because the Isaaq people live there. It only took the Isaaq people a few years to regret joining alliance with the Somali Republic because they never knew they were going to be isolated like this.
The Hawiye tribe, who have most of its people in Southern Somalia, are the second biggest tribe in Somalia. They settle in large urban areas like Kismayo, Mogadishu and Barawa. They have been the most dominant tribe in Somalia in the last 60-70 years and hold the most prestigious roles in the government today. Five of the last eleven presidents of Somalia have been from the Hawiye tribe, which demonstrates their authority within Somalia.
Top tweets
@SomaliThinker #Somalia: Mosque are filled 5 times a day. You’ll be scoffed at for missing a Swalat or puffing on a smoke; yet murder is so common place.
@AbukarArman #Somalia: ‘…IC needs to be aware of the political impact its engagement could have for Somalia’s domestic politics.’
@Refugees Thousands of ppl have fled the port city of Kismayo in #Somalia, and many are choosing not to return..http://rfg.ee/fCquL #video.
@Guruchat @NATO ship provides medical aid to #Somaliavillagers http://buff.ly/URJrCF #Nato #OceanShield #piracyvia @NATOpress.
@EUTMSomalia cohesion phase: a new training day is ongoing at #BTC for the #Somali recruits of #EU Training Mission pic.twitter.com/SyXKfrgC.
Image of the day
Somali Foreign Minister Fowziya Yusuf Haji Aden shakes hands with her Kenyan counterpart, Prof. Sam Ongeri, after their press conference in Nairobi, on November 27, 2012. Photo: Hiiraan Online.