December 21, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali President arrives in Nairobi
21 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/NTV/RBC- 90 words
Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in Kenyan capital, Nairobi for an official visit. President Hassan will meet with Kenyan counterpart Mwai Kibaki.
The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations, security issues and the war against al Qaeda linked al Shabaab militants, Somalia ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur told Bar-kulan. Also they will discuss about IGAD’s role in stabilizing Somalia.
President Hassan insists that IGAD efforts be led by Somali government.
This is the first official visit of President Hassan to Kenya since elected in September.
Key Headlines
- Somali President arrives in Nairobi (Radio Bar-kulan/NTV)
- Museveni hailed for pacifying Somalia (New Vision)
- Politicians call on Puntland president to step down (Radio Mustaqbal)
- 6 dead as fighting breaks in Kismayo over illegal roadblock (Garowe Online)
- Women child among dead after boat sinks off Somalia (CNN)
- ‘E-cash’ gathers interest in Somalia (Aljazeera)
- East Timor finance minister visits Mogadishu (Shabelle/Universal TV)
- Eastleigh insecurity: Govt. forms ten man probe team (Source: NTV)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM’s “Pictures Of The Year” for 2012
20 Dec- Source: AMISOM- 02:48 min
With AMISOM’s support, the Somali National Security Forces have pushed the al Shabaab militant group out of most major urban centres in southern Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu and the port cities of Marka and Kismayo, as well as many other towns and centres.
These developments have created the best chance Somalia has had in a generation to achieve a lasting peace and to establish legitimate and representative institutions.
The efforts and achievements of AMISOM and the Somali National Security Forces (SNSF) were extensively covered by The AU/UN-Information Support Team’s Newsroom in 2012. The shown here were selected from thousands of pictures generated this year as AMISOM and the SNSF carried out their peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali President arrives in Nairobi
21 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/NTV/RBC- 90 words
Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in Kenyan capital, Nairobi for an official visit. President Hassan will meet with Kenyan counterpart Mwai Kibaki.
The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral relations, security issues and the war against al Qaeda linked al Shabaab militants, Somalia ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur told Bar-kulan. Also they will discuss about IGAD’s role in stabilizing Somalia.
President Hassan insists that IGAD efforts be led by Somali government.
This is the first official visit of President Hassan to Kenya since elected in September.
East Timor finance minister visits Mogadishu
21 Dec- Source: Shabelle/Universal TV- 199 words
A delegation from East Timor led by its finance minister Mrs Emlia Pires, who is the current head of G7 plus nations, visiting Mogadishu yesterday.
Mrs Pires met with her Somali counterpart Mr. Mohamud Hassan Suliman at Mogadishu´s Aden Ade international airport where the two ministers held talks.
G7 plus is an umbrella for nations recovering from economic and war affects and it unites 18 nations.
Mrs Emlia Pires, who spoke to the media at the airport alongside the Somali finance minister, said that she was glad to have come to Mogadishu.
6 dead as fighting breaks in Kismayo over illegal roadblock
20 Dec- Source: Garowe Online/Dhanaan Online- 229 words
Armed local government forces in Kismayo clashed after a group of soldiers setup a roadblock in newly liberated port city, at least 6 soldiers were killed, Garowe Online reports.
According to inside sources in Kismayo, 6 soldiers were killed when a group of rogue armed forces setup an illegal roadblock in Kismayo. As the armed forces approached the roadblock in the V-Afmadow neighborhood, the rogue soldiers began firing at the forces.
At least two soldiers from the armed forces were killed and 4 rogue soldiers were killed in the skirmish on Thursday afternoon.
Spokesman for the Ras Kamboni forces – who were integrated into the Somali Federal Government forces – Abdinasir Seraar confirmed that the armed forces clashed with rogue soldiers.
He added that the situation was resolved and that the roadblock was removed and that the authorities were investigating the incident.
Politicians call on Puntland president to step down
20 Dec -Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 176 words
Politicians in northeastern Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland have called on the region’s president, Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamed Farole, to step down after it emerged that he was planning to extend his term for a year, privately-owned Radio Mustaqbal reports.
The politicians said the region’s residents were “not in a good position to accept the president’s decision” to unilaterally extend his term in office
A former MP in Somalia’s now-dissolved transitional federal parliament, Muhammad Ahmad Labale, said it is the residents of the region who “will reach the decision to either extend the president’s term or not”.
Farole was elected as president of Puntland on 8 January 2009. Reports that he wanted to extend his term for a year angered many people in major towns in Puntland where security forces clashed with protesters opposed to such a plan.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Meets With Foreign Delegations in Mogadishu, Promotes Soldiers
20 Dec- Garowe Online/Jowhar Online-215 Words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud met with a delegation from East Timor and Norway at Villa Somalia on Thursday, Garowe Online reports.
President Hassan met with East Timor’s Minister of Finance Emilia Pires and Norway Minister of International Development Heikki Holmas on Thursday.
Minister Pires met with Somalia’s Minister of Finance, Planning and International Cooperation, Mohamud Hassan Suleyman to discuss how the two countries ministries could work together.
Minister Suleyman said in a press statement that he and Minister Pires discussed further cooperation between the two countries.
President Hassan met with Norwegian Minister Holmas at Villa Somalia in Mogadishu on Thursday. After the meeting President Hassan gave a press statement discussing how international aid over the past years has not turned out expected results.
The Somali Federal Government president has met with a list of foreign delegations over the past week.
Meanwhile, on Thursday night, President Hassan alongside Minister of Defense Abdihakim Mohamud Haji Fiqi, promoted 9 soldiers from the Somali armed forces at an event at Villa Somalia.
During his speech at the event, President Hassan told the soldiers that they had to “return security in the country, so Somalis who fled could return to their homeland.”
There were colorful events in both Mogadishu and Bossaso celebrating the 69th anniversary of the Somali Police Force.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Museveni hailed for pacifying Somalia
21 Dec- Source: New Vision- 337 words
The deputy head of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Wafula Wamunyinyi, has lauded Uganda President Yoweri Museveni for deploying troops in the war-torn country restoring semblance of peace.
“I thank President Museveni for deploying troops since 2007 and the sacrifice the soldiers have made has registered significant achievements,” Wamunyinyi said.
Wamunyinyi was speaking at the opening of the needs assessment workshop for female Somali Members of Parliament at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala on Thursday.
He said most parts of Somalia have been pacified by the troops deployed there.
Uganda and Burundi were the first countries under African Union to send troops to lawless Somalia before Djibouti, Sierra Leon and Kenya joined.
Eastleigh insecurity: Govt. forms ten man probe team
21 Dec- Source:NTV- 54 words
The government has formed a team to probe the causes of frequent explosive attacks in Eastleigh. The decision was arrived at a meeting between government officials and the business community leaders in Eastleigh chaired by Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Raila also condemned the ethnic profiling of Somali community following the attacks in the area.
‘E-cash’ gathers interest in Somalia
20 Dec- Source: Aljazeera English-02.21 mins
Somalia may be a poor nation, but many people there have access to mobile phones. The country also has a well-established system of transferring money.
Now, one aid agency is looking to combine both factors so that funds can be delivered quickly and safely to those who need help the most.
Al Jazeera’s Peter Greste reports from the capital, Mogadishu.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya blames terror attacks on Somali militants
20 Dec – Source: Xinhua – 432 words
The Kenyan government on Thursday blamed a spate of bomb and grenade attacks in Nairobi in Eastleigh residential estate on al Shabaab militants from Somalia.
Nairobi Provincial Commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu told a news conference in Nairobi that so far the police are holding 23 suspects in connection with Wednesday night’s attack and will be arraigned in court after investigations are completed.
“We have the capacity, will and ability to secure the city and eliminate criminal elements,” Ndirangu vowed, adding that during the festive season the police will be on standby to provide security to party-goers.
Eastleigh has been the scene of frequent terror attacks but the police have warned residents and travelers to be extra vigilant and volunteer any information that may assist in the investigations.
Kenya has blamed Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants for a spate of attacks in Kenya in recent years especially in Nairobi, Mombasa and northern regions.
However, the insurgents have not publicly claimed responsibility for the recent spate of bomb and grenade attacks which have left more than 20 people dead and dozens of others injured in the past three months.
The East African nation has experienced a string of attacks on churches and public places in the recent past, blaming them on al Qaeda allied militants from Somalia who have vowed to attack Kenya because Kenyan military forces entered Somalia last year to fight against the group.
But Ndirangu warned those planning to cause violence in Nairobi on notice saying that a massive crackdown to mop up grenades, illegal guns and arrest al Shabaab sympathizers is underway.
Ndirangu assured Nairobi residents of security, saying in addition to the swoop in Eastleigh and its environs police patrols have been intensified in Nairobi to ensure residents celebrate the festive season in peace.
The regional government administrator asked the public to co-operate with the police in ensuring their safety.
“It is not the sole responsibility of the government to provide security, Kenyans have a role to play to safeguard peace and security,” Ndirangu said in Nairobi.
He called on those planning to organize parties during the festive season to inform the authorities for security arrangements to be put in place.
Giving voice to Somali aid recipients in Galkayo
20 Dec- Source: Relief Web- 540 words
Danish Refugee Council is piloting innovative systems for humanitarian aid in Somalia. Using SMS and social media, aid workers and beneficiaries engage in dialogue to promote transparency and accountability. By DRC SMS Feedback team, Galkayo Field Trip Report November 2012
Galkayo is a large city divided into two parts. Part of it is in Puntland, and part of it is in South Central Somalia. There is an informal border governed by Somali clans. Hostility and rivalry is causing armed conflict and violence which has largely hindered people from crossing the border. The area is marked by poverty and communities are vulnerable because they have limited access to schools, medical aid, and other basic services.
There is general insecurity due to the many armed militias and criminals fighting for territory in the border region.
Women, child among dead after boat sinks off Somalia
21 Dec- Source: CNN- 181 words
At least 55 people have drowned or are missing after a boat capsized off the Somali coast on Tuesday evening, the United Nations Refugee Agency said Thursday in a statement.
Ethiopians and Somalis were on the boat. Twenty-three of the 55 victims have been recovered, the agency said. The dead include more than a dozen women and a boy believed to be about 4.
The incident marks the largest loss of life in the Gulf of Aden since February 2011, when 57 Somali refugees and migrants from the Horn of Africa drowned while attempting to reach Yemen.
Five survivors told refugee agency representatives that the boat was overcrowded and started having trouble soon after leaving the port of Bosasso in northern Somalia on Tuesday. It’s capsized 15 minutes into its journey.
At least 100,000 people have crossed the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden this year, despite warnings from U.N. and aid agencies about the risks of those kind of trips.
Before Tuesday’s incident, 95 people had drowned or gone missing this year in the waters between Somalia and Yemen.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“It is too early to say what this means, if anything, for the future of the al Shabaab insurgency in Somalia. The organization has taken a severe, some might say crippling, blow over the past year and the past few months in particular. It would be an understatement to say this is the least of their worries. It will be interesting to see how they articulate their message to a Western audience without their most well known English-language spokesperson. In a way, both al Shabaab and Hammami lose, they’ve managed to turn their jihad into a soap opera.”
A Somali Soap Opera: Al Shabaab’s Split with Omar Hammami
20 Dec- Source: The Risky Shift-1820 Words
Last month, ICSR released the report ‘Lights, Camera, Jihad: Al Shabaab’s Western Media Strategy’ part of which outlined the ideological development and perspective of Shabaab’s most well known English language spokesperson, Omar Hammami AKA Abu Mansur al Amriki. On Monday a press release was distributed through the al Shabaab Twitter account which said:
Harakat al Shabaab al Mujahideen hereby declares that Abu Mansur al Amriki does not, in any way, shape or form, represent the views of the Muhajireen in Somalia.
and additionally that Hammami’s statements and actions stem from a…narcissistic pursuit of fame and are far removed from the reality on the ground.
This release has garnered significant attention within the online Islamist community, particularly on the popular Islamist forum “Islamic Awakening’ (IA). Below we will outline some of the responses to this announcement from supporters and discuss why this development is significant for researchers and practitioners seeking to understand the influence of both Hammami and al Shabaab in the West.
Troubling trend in Somalia
20 Dec- Source: The Star-104 Words
Investigative reporter Michelle Sheppard’s excellent reporting into Somalia’s al Shabaab’s activities, revealing that many Canadians have joined the fight, is most troubling. I have to wonder if this is not yet another case of these foreign fighters simply wanting Canadian citizenship for its convenience, when needed.
Certainly it raises the problems, again, of allowing Canadians to hold dual citizenship, thus mixed country loyalties. I have to wonder how well these Canadian al Shabaab members will reintegrate into Canadian society after being engaged in a war in their homeland.
More scrutiny during the immigration process is required to weed out such individuals in the future.
“The role of international media during the preparation of the municipal election was too limited. During the Election Day the number of international media presented in Somaliland is very confined and I remember only one team from BBC preparing documentary film. I watched most of international TVs as Aljazeera , BBC, CNN etc to see any coverage about the election but it did not existed therefore, let me call Somaliland election is local move but not international acknowledge…”
Somaliland election: A local Move which lacks Acknowledgment
20 Dec- Source: Somalilandpress-1158 Words
Somaliland declared itself Independent from rest of Somalia on 18 may 1991after one decade of blood armed struggle led by Somali national movement (SNM) since then Somaliland declared itself freedom but has not attained the recognition from the international community but it has familiarized homemade democracy and traditional reconciliation process with no or very limited international support. Somaliland celebrated its 20th anniversary on May 2010 and created well-functioning state built as modern states that consists legislative body, executive organ and judicial branch.
The state building and formation of strong government institution has been initiated in 2001 where constitutional referendum took place most of regions and districts. The citizens voted this constitution as a result of more than 97%. Starting from the constitutional referendum Somaliland begins to transform from clan based government to constitutional government which provided citizens opportunity to elect state leaders.
To implement supremacy of constitution Somaliland started multiparty system early 2002 where new political associations has been created to contest the first local council election happened in Dec, 2002 where six political associations contested which were UDUB, KULMIYE, UCID, HORMOOD, SAHAN and ASSAD. This election is also qualified three national political parties which succeeded by UDUB, KULMIYE and UCID.
When Somaliland held local municipal election in 2002 it started serious elections as presidential election happened in 2003, parliamentary election took place on Sept, 2005 and second presidential election held on 2010.
Top tweets
@Abdi_AlSheikh Some of 300,000 Somali Migrant returned back to Somalia this year only, With their money and entrepreneurial spirit to rebuild #Somalia .
@JWoodwardGreene #Somalia biggest #EAfrica #livestock#exporter. Photo Somalia #goats http://flic.kr/p/dCdYfX
@global_nomads Photo of the Week! Vocational school in#Somalia directly benefiting from @StudentsRebuild:@onemillionbones challenge. http://ow.ly/i/1gSNE
@EUTMSomalia EUTM #Somalia is a #EU military mission to contribute strengthening the Somali Government through the building of a credible security sector
@Oxfam The Weavers Tale: How #Somalia‘s first ever e-cash program helps support the family business http://oxf.am/3Mk #M4D #ICT4D
Image of the day
People crowding next to dead bodies of migrants wrapped in shroud in port city of Bosasso, northern Somali state of Puntland. Photo: Reuters