December 24, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somalia President in Kampala for state visit
24 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 79 words
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed is in Kampala, Uganda for a state visit. President Hassan will meet with his Ugandan counterpart Yuweri Musevi. He will also meet with the Somali community in Kampala. Later in the day, President Hassan is expected to return to Mogadishu.
This is his second visit to Kampala since he was elected as Somalia head of state in September this year. President Hassan was for the past two days on a state visit to Nairobi.
Key Headlines
- Somalia President in Kampala for state visit (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Somali President: explosions in Kenya can’t be blamed on Somalis alone (Dhacdo Online)
- Senior police official killed in Garowe (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Somalia’s Moderate Islamic group’s leaders voice support for government (Somali Weyn Online)
- Kenya tightens resolve on Somali refugees (Daily Nation)
- Kenya tightens resolve on Somali refugees (KBC)
- Kenya Somalia call on UN to extend AMISOM mandate ( Xinhua)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia President in Kampala for state visit
24 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 79 words
Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed is in Kampala, Uganda for a state visit. President Hassan will meet with his Ugandan counterpart Yuweri Musevi. He will also meet with the Somali community in Kampala. Later in the day, President Hassan is expected to return to Mogadishu.
This is his second visit to Kampala since he was elected as Somalia head of state in September this year. President Hassan was for the past two days on a state visit to Nairobi.
Somali President: explosions in Kenya can’t be blamed on Somalis alone
23 Dec – Source: Dhacdo Online – 172 words
The president of Somalia, Hasan Sheikh Mahmud on Sunday held a well-attended meeting with the Somali community in Nairobi. The president said that he had spoken with the Kenyan government on the need to protect the Somali people and their property in Nairobi who are victimized when explosions occur in Kenya.
“The explosions in Kenya cannot be blamed on the Somali community since al Qaeda is not confined to Somalis alone,” said the Somali president.
The president also advised the Somali community in Kenya to work with the police in order to defeat those causing insecurity in the country.
The president further disclosed that he had talked with the Kenyan authorities on how to repatriate Somali refugees to their homeland, noting that he was determined to see the closure of Dadaab,the largest refugee camp in the world.
Somali gov’t talks tough on organizations operating without its knowledge
23 Dec- Source: Radio Risaala- 107 words
The government of Somalia announced that it will not allow organizations to operate inside the country without its permission. The minister for public service made the announcement at a meeting she held with organizations operating in the country Minister Maryan Qassim said she is delighted that the country has moved from transition to central government.
The minister said there will be no policies formulated by the health agencies and other agencies, rather they will come under her ministry. These words from the minister are coming at a time when there are many agencies operating in Somalia currently.
Senior police official killed in Garowe
24 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 77 words
Unidentified gunman assassinated Colonel Abdullahi Hussein, a senior police official with Garowe police. The late Col. Abdullahi was on Monday night shot dead in Garowe as he was heading home, eyewitnesses said. Garowe police arrived at the crime scene, said to be pursuing the killer.
Assassinations are not common in Garowe.
Al-shabaab fighters have reportedly moved to Puntland in recent months. Their move comes as African Union-backed government forces gain ground in their stronghold of southern Somalia.
Government set to collect taxes in central Somali town
23 Dec – Radio Bar-kulan – 150 words
Government administration in Beledweyne town of Hiiraan Region has said it will start tax collection following an agreement between business people and the administration at a meeting in the town, Speaking to the media, the district commissioner Mo’alin Muhammad Qalafow, confirmed the move and stressed that both the administration and the businesspeople will reduce the amount to be collected as taxes, according to the radio.
“The commissioner said that the taxes will be collected from all business premises, public vehicles, lorries that carry commercial goods and livestock markets”, added the source. Some of the business people will also consider management of the taxes they pay, said the report.
The meeting was also by AU peacekeepers.
Somalia’s Moderate Islamic group’s leaders voice support for government
22 Dec – Source: Somaliweyn website – 280 words
Sheikh Abdiqadir Muhammad Shaykh Somow, the spokesman of the supreme council of Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a; Shaykh Ahmad “Shuqul” Sheikh Adan Dhere, the Banaadir Region Ahlu Sunnah chairman; and Sheikh Ahmad Ali Usman, the deputy chairman of the supreme council of Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a, held a joint news conference in Mogadishu during which they spoke on the position of the supreme council of Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a and its political in role in Somalia. They expressed their full support for the Somali government headed by President Hasan Shaykh Mahmud.
The leaders also highlighted the role Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a is playing bringing peace to Somalia and the efforts it is making to liberate areas still held by al Shabaab. The leaders categorically denied any rift with the federal Somali government, saying that they shared common objectives with the government, considering that they both were against anyone trying to destroy Somalia’s sovereignty. They said that [Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a chairman] Sheikh Mahmud Ma’alim Hasan’s recent remarks were his own and did not reflect the views of Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a, adding that no one person can claim to speak for Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a.
The leaders also said that Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a would never become a thorn in federal Somali government’s side, adding that they were ready to work with the government to bring about development and prosperity in the country. They called on the Somali people to work with the federal Somali government and help counter anyone attempting to hold back peace in Somalia.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya tightens resolve on Somali refugees
23 Dec- Source: Daily Nation- 515 words
Kenya has tightened its decision to control the mushrooming number of refugees in the country by calling for support to have many of them return to Somalia. On Friday, President Kibaki told reporters after hosting his Somalia counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that “there is no dignity in living in refugee camps” adding that he would like to see the thousands hosted at Dadaab go back home.
“Our two governments will work together to enable the hundreds of thousands of Somalia people who are living in refugee camps return to their homes,” he said at State House.
Somaliland’s stable image under threat
22 Dec- Source: East African- 482 words
Somaliland’s reputation as a stable and democratic entity has been shaken by violent disputes over the outcome of local elections held late last month.
Press reports from Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, say three people were killed last week as demonstrators charged that the local voting was not conducted fairly.
Somaliland’s representative in the US, Rashid Nur, said in an interview that the protests were organised by the leader of a political party that appeared to have fallen short of the local vote total needed to qualify for national recognition.
In accordance with Somaliland law, the three parties receiving the most votes in the local elections will be registered on a national level, Mr Nur explained. Four other parties that ran candidates in the November 28 elections will not gain national standing, he said.
Kenya, Somalia agree to deepen bilateral ties
21 Dec : Source: KBC Online (Nairobi) – 474 words
Kenya and Somalia have stressed the need to revitalize the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) signed between the two countries in September, 2005 as the key framework for their bilateral engagements.
In a joint communique issued after a bilateral meeting at State House Nairobi, President Mwai Kibaki and Somalia President Hasan Shaykh Mahmud mandated their respective foreign affairs ministers to immediately commence the preparatory work which will culminate in the launch of the JCC.
The two leaders maintained that the Joint Commission for Cooperation will go a long way in enhancing their cooperation in security, cross border issues, economic cooperation, trade, immigration, education as well as cultural exchanges.
They further acknowledged that Kenya and Somalia share a common destiny and hence the importance of enhancing and deepening bilateral ties between the two countries for the mutual benefit of their peoples.
In communique read by Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Prof Sam Ongeri, the two leaders also emphasized the need for regular bilateral consultations on various issues of mutual concern and interest.
On security in the two countries, the two head of states underscored the importance of cooperating in the fight against Al-Shabaab and other militant elements that are a threat to the national security of both countries.
In this regard, they agreed to establish a joint permanent border commission to deal with security and other cross-border issues along the common border.
Also the two presidents noted with appreciation the role of Amisom [African Union mission forces in Somalia] in liberating large parts of Somalia from Al-Shabab militants and called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to consider the extension of the mandate of Amisom when it expires early next year. They observed that Amisom could continue helping in the process of consolidation of peace and security in Somalia.
The heads of state, at the same time, commended the role of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the support it has received from the African Union and the UN Security Council.
In regard to the recent political developments in Somalia which culminated in the installation of a new parliament and government, the two leaders congratulated the people of Somalia for this historic milestone.
They underscored the need to coordinate and cooperate both at the bilateral, regional and international levels efforts geared towards consolidation of peace and security in Somalia as well as reconstruction of the country and building of new institutions of governance.
The heads of state further acknowledged the situation of Somali refugees living in crowded conditions at Dadaab and Kakuma camps in northern Kenya and pledged to work together and also with the international community to come up with modalities for their orderly return to Somalia to rebuild their lives and participate in the development of their motherland.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya, Somalia call on UN to extend AMISOM mandate
22 Dec :Source: Xinhua News – 600 words
Kenya and Somalia on Friday called on the UN Security Council to consider extending the Africa Union Peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM) in the Horn of Africa beyond March 2013.
President Mwai Kibaki and his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud also noted with appreciation the role of AMISOM in liberating large parts of Somalia from the al Qaeda linked group al Shabaab.
“The leaders called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to consider favorably the extension of the mandate of AMISOM when it expires on March 7, 2013, so that AMISOM can continue helping in the process of consolidation of peace and security in Somalia,” they said in a communique issued after a meeting in Nairobi.
Kenya has contributed troops to the anti-terror operations and the pacification efforts in central and lower Juba part of Somalia, also known as sector two.
Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti and Sierra Leone also contribute to 17,000-strong AMISOM.
Kenyan soldiers have been operating southern and central Somalia since crossing the border in October 2011.
Amnesty says Kenya sending refugees to camps unlawful
21 Dec :Source: Reuters World Service/AP/MSNBC – 272 words
Kenya’s order for all urban asylum seekers and refugees to report to two rural camps is in breach of international law, human rights group Amnesty International said on Friday.
Kenya houses over 630,000 refugees, with more than half a million of those from war-torn Somalia, which shares a porous border with east Africa’s biggest economy.
But a series of bombings, shootings and hand-grenade attacks blamed on Somali militants prompted Kenya on Tuesday to stop registering asylum seekers and refugees in urban areas.
“The government cannot simply scapegoat refugees and asylum-seekers en masse for security incidents,” said Kathryn Achilles, Amnesty International’s East Africa expert.
The government’s decision to place refugees and asylum seekers in camps is discriminatory and an unlawful restriction on freedom of movement, Amnesty said.
“This restriction on freedom of movement is likely to lead to other serious human rights abuses in already overcrowded, insecure refugee camps,” Achilles added.
Under the new directive, Somali refugees are required to be housed at Dadaab, which already hosts four times the population it was built for, while all other refugees must reside at Kakuma, a camp located near Kenya’s frontier with South Sudan.
A Kenyan government official said the directive would affect more than 100,000 refugees of various nationalities living in urban areas.
The U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, urged Kenya on Thursday to uphold the rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
“We caution against stigmatisation of refugees and asylum-seekers,” the agency said in a statement.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Insecurity impacts adversely on the economy. And as we get nearer the elections, it could spiral out of control and plunge the nation into anarchy. Kibaki needs to crack the whip on those he mandated to protect Kenyans.”
National insecurity undermines Kibaki farewell
23 Dec- Source: Standard Media (Kenya)-640 Words
Even as President Kibaki laid out his achievements at the farewell speech to Parliament this week, insecurity remained a major concern as the nation inches closer to the General Election.
More than 40 people were killed in Tana Delta again, explosions continue to rock Eastleigh, and snipers targeting security officers in Garissa continue unabated. As usual, his office warned the culprits of severe punishment, and assured residents of Government protection.
Most people have now little confidence in these statements. Invariably, no action is being taken against those responsible for security lapses; not even a reprimand. In fact, they are likely to be promoted. Even with deployment of thousands of soldiers as in the case of Tana Delta, there is no protection. Indeed, in all these three areas, more security officers have been deployed in recent months but the situation only got worse.
Many Kenyans are now pondering on those behind the explosions. While police continue to blame it all on Al Shabaab, some Kenyans are becoming sceptical and see the Al Shabaab theory as a red herring. First, these attacks in Nairobi started well before Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) entered Somalia, such as the Uhuru Park explosion. Those arrested at the time were not Somalis or Al Shabaab suspects.
Secondly, the attacks mainly target the poor, ordinary residents mainly in Eastlands, and similar locations in Mombasa and Garissa with large Muslim residents. Why would Al Shabaab, involved in insurgency in Somalia, turn their arsenal on the poor in Kenya busy with their daily survival, and who probably have no idea on what goes on in Somalia?
“For decades, writers from the Horn of Africa have been seen as passive witnesses, who, despite experiencing the horrors of conflict, remain silent and immune to the destruction around them. However, conflict and violence can become the fodder that feeds writers’ creativity.”
Writers from the Horn can no longer bear to be passive witnesses to conflict
23 Dec- Source: Daily Nation-697 Words
A character in Somali novelist Nuruddin Farah’s novel, Links, remarks that “in civil wars, both those violated and the violators suffer from a huge lack – the inability to remain in touch with their inner selves”.
In an essay on Farah’s writings, Fatima Fiona Moolla notes that this inability manifests itself pathologically as schizophrenia or madness – “psychological responses to a society self-destructing”.
The “collective insanity” of a country such as Somalia that has been destroyed by civil war, Moolla adds, needs to be understood as “the betrayal of one Somali by another”.
Another character in Links observes: “In civil war, death is an intimate . . .you’re killed by a person with whom you have shared intimacies, and who may benefit from your death.”
The guilt associated with this type of betrayal fragments individuals emotionally; they develop a “schizoid personality similar to the guilty conscience of a Lady Macbeth, at being a passive witness of the slide into anarchy”.
Top tweets
@Hamza_Africa Just another school day in #Mogadishu. Kids on the way home from school. #Somaliapic.twitter.com/nQzQ9TGc
@KevinCorriveau Northeast #Somalia looks like it will be getting the brunt of the heavy rain due to #cyclone04A by Thursday | http://www.usno.navy.mil/NOOC/
@ActForSomalia #Somalia can learn a lot from #Lebanon 4 changing the image of the country Beirut today is beautiful,cosmopolitan city pic.twitter.com/e5WLL1pJ
@amisomsomalia Grab a cup of coffee, Get comfortable b/c THIS–> http://bit.ly/12HO8TJ is a #GoodRead! #Somalia#AMISOM @SabahiOnline
@UNDP We must be present alongside the Somali people – UNDP Country Director David Clapp on his move to#Mogadishu: http://ow.ly/giC5T
@jeremyscahill Oh, you thought Obama ended renditions? British man ‘disappeared’ in E Africa appears in US courthttp://bit.ly/Tbyak3
Image of the day
Kenyan President Mwai Kibak, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at State House, Nairobi Kenya on December 21, 2012. Capital FM/PPS