March 18, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Seven killed in Mogadishu bombing
18 Mar – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye/Radio Risaala/Shabelle – 187 words
At least seven people are known to have been killed and dozen others injured when a car laden with explosives went off near a restaurant in Mogadishu, reports say. The car was reportedly packed near Ex-Fiyore restaurant, killing passengers travelling in a minibus and others in a nearby shop.
Details are scanty but unconfirmed reports say the attack may have been targeted on National Security and Intelligence boss Khalif Ereg. It is not yet clear who may have been responsible of the attack but suspicion is likely to fall on al Shabaab rebel group.
The incident comes a month after a car bomb detonated by remote control killed one person and wounded two others in Mogadishu. The earlier explosion took place in the parking area of a popular beachfront restaurant in the Lido area of Mogadishu frequented by Somali officials and city residents.
African Union forces pushed the al Qaeda-affiliated group out of Mogadishu in August 2011 but the rebels continue to carry out attacks in the capital. Although the group has been on the back foot, it has taken control of two towns in southwestern Somalia on Sunday.
Key Headlines
- Seven killed in Mogadishu bombing (Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye/Radio Risaala/Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab capture second town in southern Somalia (RBC/ Badweyn online/al Shahid/Radio Kulmiye /Bar-kulan)
- Security officers in Guri’el seize Mogadishu bound currency notes (Bar-kulan)
- Al Shabaab have changed war tactics says Gen. Gutti (Daily Monitor)
- Car bomb explodes near Somali presidential palace (Reuters/AP/AFP/Aljazeera/BBC)
- Al Shabaab are defeated says Somali President (Garowe Online/Somaliweyn)
- NUSOJ welcomes release of journalist Koronto (Raxanreeb/Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye)
- Ethiopian airlines to start Somalia flights (Radio Kulmiye)
SOMALI MEDIA
Seven killed in Mogadishu bombing
18 Mar – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye/Radio Risaala/Shabelle – 187 words
At least seven people are known to have been killed and dozen others injured when a car laden with explosives went off near a restaurant in Mogadishu, reports say. The car was reportedly packed near Ex-Fiyore restaurant, killing passengers travelling in a minibus and others in a nearby shop.
Details are scanty but unconfirmed reports say the attack may have been targeted on National Security and Intelligence boss Khalif Ereg. It is not yet clear who may have been responsible of the attack but suspicion is likely to fall on al Shabaab rebel group.
The incident comes a month after a car bomb detonated by remote control killed one person and wounded two others in Mogadishu. The earlier explosion took place in the parking area of a popular beachfront restaurant in the Lido area of Mogadishu frequented by Somali officials and city residents.
African Union forces pushed the al Qaeda-affiliated group out of Mogadishu in August 2011 but the rebels continue to carry out attacks in the capital. Although the group has been on the back foot, it has taken control of two towns in southwestern Somalia on Sunday.
Al Shabaab capture second town in southern Somalia
18 Mar – Source: RBC/ Badweyn online/al Shahid/Radio Kulmiye /Bar-kulan – 119 words
Al Shabaab militants have regained control of Awdinle town in Bay region, south western Somalia, after fierce battles between their fighters and the Somali forces.
The report says that fierce battles erupted in the town on Sunday evening between al Shabaab militants and government forces, killing at least ten people from both sides and wounding several others. The report added that al Shabaab gunmen have taken control of the town after the fighting that lasted for several hours.
According to informed sources, Somali troops who withdrew from town of Awdinle headed to Baidoa, capital of Bay province. The capture of the Awdinle town comes few hours after al Shabaab militants seized control of Hudur, the provincial capital of Bakool.
Security officers in Guri’el seize Mogadishu bound currency notes
18 Mar – Source: Bar-kulan – 168 words
Security forces in central Somali town of Guri’el Sunday night impounded 475 million shillings being ferried to parts of southern regions probably for more dollars. Confirming the incident, area deputy district commissioner Ali Bashe Diriye a group of local businessmen were trying to sneak the money out of the region to Mogadishu where the demand is high.
He said if such amounts are allowed to be moved from the region, it will cause inflation as Somali banknotes will be scarce in the region, hence devaluing the dollar against the shilling. He added that the owners of the money were briefly held in custody before they were released with orders banning them from ferrying money from the region in search of more dollars.
Somali businessmen have been crisscrossing the country in search of Somali Shilling after the shilling gained grounds against the major world currency, the dollar, forcing regional administrations like Puntland to ban movement of cash from their regions to Mogadishu where the shilling is of great demand.
NUSOJ welcomes release of journalist Koronto
18 Mar – Source: Raxanreeb/Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye – 196 words
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcomes the release of the Somali journalist, Abdiasis Abdinur Koronto as historic decision taken forward toward the Somali justice system coming to reality. Somali journalists, Union Leaders, Human Rights activists filled the courtroom on Sunday morning expecting positive outcome after the Somali journalist Abdiasis Abdinur Ibrahim spent 66 days in jail for interviewing a rape victim.
At around 12:30, the Somali Chief Justice, Aideed Abdullahi Ilka-anaf announced that the court session is open and the hearing started. Prof. Mohamed Afrah, the defending lawyer briefed his appeal to the supreme court judges and requested the court to quash the sentences against his client and give his freedom back.
The Somali Attorney General said “that having found further evidences about the rape case, which if had earlier, the regional court and the appeals would not have done such mistakes, having released the rape victim by the appeals court and that Abdulasis has the right to conduct interviews, I ask for the court to correct the mistakes earlier done by the both courts, to be able to correct our mistakes since the primary investigation of the case was misled.”
Ethiopian airlines to start Somalia flights
18 Mar – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 184 words
Somalia’s ambassador to Ethiopia Mr. Abdiasis Ahmed Adan says that Ethiopian Airlines will start flights to Somalia capital city, Mogadishu. The airline will officially begin its flights route soon, he added.
Ambassador Adan said the embassy will launch the Visa operations between the two countries. Mogadishu is currently receiving both local and international flights, especially those of the Turkish government.
On Sunday, Yemeni government officials visited Mogadishu with the intention to reach an agreement with their Somali counterparts to allow the arrival of Yemen Airlines in Somalia. The Yemeni Airlines will start flight operations between San’a and Mogadishu.
Al Shabaab are defeated, says Somali President
17 Mar Source: Garowe Online/Somaliweyn – 132 words
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed said after defeat, al Shabaab militia have resorted to guerrilla warfare targeting civilians. Addressing the press, the president said that it will not be long before completely rooting out al Shabaab from the country. “Al Shabaab group have resorted to acts of terror and harm civilians in the streets,” said President Hassan, adding that his government is ready to stem and stop any threats posed by al Shabaab.
The president noted that al Shabaab’s strength and economic power have been weakened after most of their economic hubs were taken over by the allied forces. The President thanked the African Union forces for their support to the Somali government forces and community whom they have defended their rights of liberty with “their own blood.”
Volleyball federation elects new leader
17 Mar – Source: Radio Mustaqbal/RBC/Radio Risaala – 213 words
Somali Volleyball Federation stakeholders have elected new president and executive committee members during the Somali volleyball federation 6th election congress held inMogadishu recently.
Long time-serving senior vice president Engineer Abdulkadir Omar Abokar has been elected to lead the Somali volleyball federation for the next four years, while former national volleyball team maker Mohamed Ibrahim Mumin will serve as the senior vice president and Mohamed Abubakar Hirei retains his position as Somali Volleyball Federation secretary General.
The Somali National Olympic committee has lauded for the free and fair election and urged every member of the elected volleyball office bearers to work as double in a bid to help the country’s volleyball revive from years of conflicts.
“Somali NOC is fully happy with the successful and democratic volleyball election—we are very hopeful that volleyball in Somalia will fully develop under the leadership of the recently elected office bearers whose quality and talent may lead volleyball in Somalia wake up once again” the Somali National Olympic committee said in a statement here in Mogadishu on Friday.
Somaliland: Boycotting Somalia Conference is a Political Disaster and Diplomatic Blunder” Wadani
17 Mar – Source: Somaliland Sun – 574 words
The Wadani political party has termed the announced intent to boycott the London conference on Somalia in May as a political disaster. This was stated by the spokesperson of the Wadani party Ibrahim Mahdi Bubaa at a press conference in Hargeisa where the intent by president Silanyo to boycott the Somalia conference in London as not only a political disaster but a gigantic political blunder by the country.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Mogadishu University sets up a library
18 Mar – Source: Daily Nation – 81 words
University officials, lectures students and guests gathered at the main campus of SIMAD University in the Somali capital of Mogadishu yesterday to launch a library that contains thousands of books and electronic learning systems.
Professor Abdurahman Mohamed Odawa , the Rector of the higher learning institution , stated that a massive need for educational improvement in the country necessitated the establishment of the library.
Nearly twenty independently owned higher education institutions in Mogadishu are competing for students by organizing modern facilities.
Al Shabaab have changed war tactics, says Gen. Gutti
17 Mar – Source: Daily Monitor – 353 words
The Somali insurgents have adopted new guerrilla war tactics in the new areas captured by African Union forces in southern and central Somalia. Amisom spokesperson Andrew Guti told journalists from Uganda on a visit to Mogadishu on Thursday that the al Shabaab fighters are resorting to symmetrical tactics to ambush African union forces. They are now using ambushes, sniper attacks, roadside bombs and assassinations that are more difficult to predict and counter.
“They have melted and dispersed into civilian population. They are now using symmetrical warfare. They are using Improved Explosive devises and ambushes,” he said. African Union forces from the Ugandan contingent are in the final phases of capturing Banadir region, lower shabelle and Middle Shabelle.
Garissa residents in search of Peace
17 Mar – Source: K24 TV – 1:49 min
A peace committee comprising of nine members drawn from different religions has been formed in Garissa in a move to address security concerns in the region.
The committee was formed after a four day consultative workshop was held in the town to discuss security matters organized by the National Muslim Civic Education Consortium.
Garissa has been in the headlines in the recent past due to series of attacks mainly targeting churches and security personnel believed to be perpetrated by the islamist group al Shabaab.
IIRO distributes food aid to 7070 displaced Somalis
16 Mar – Source: Emirates News Agency – 79 words
The International Islamic Relief Organisation (IIRO), affiliated to Muslim World League, has announced the distribution of food aid to a number of displaced people in the Basoso region in Somalia.
It also distributed the food aid the poor families, of whom 7070 displaced persons and 4970 Somali families benefited from. It is noteworthy that the (IIRO) has visited some entities in order to assess their activities and work needs so as to help them to overcome difficulties they face.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Car bomb explodes near Somali presidential palace
18 Mar- Source: Reuters/AP/AFP/Aljazeera/BBC – 87 words
A car bomb exploded in the center of the Somali capital near the presidential palace on Monday, a blast that appeared to target senior government officials, police and residents said. Mohamed Abdi, a police officer who was injured in the explosion, said there are many casualties. He did not immediately have an exact number.
“The suicide car bomber targeted a Senior National Security officer whose car was passing near the theatre,” Mohamud told Reuters. “Most of the people who died were on board a minibus – civilians. This public vehicle coincidentally came between the government car and the car bomb when it was hit. Littered in the scene are human hands and flesh.”
An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the car apparently carrying the bomb was destroyed and the bus was on fire. A journalist colleague wounded while sitting in a restaurant close to the blast said many people were injured inside the restaurant.
Security in Mogadishu has improved greatly since Islamist rebels allied to al Qaeda fled the city after a military offensive in August 2011, but bombings and assassinations in the coastal city – blamed on militants – still occur often.
Experts wonder if military remembers lessons from Somalia affair
16 Mar – Source: Ottawa Citizen – 958 words
The death of Shidane Arone at the hands of Canadian soldiers 20 years ago is often remembered as one of the darkest moments in Canadian military history.
But as the tragic, shocking story of Arone, a Somali teen who was tortured and killed after he was caught sneaking into a Canadian compound, fades further into the past, military historians fear Canada runs the risk of forgetting the lessons of a catalytic event in the history of the Canadian Forces.
Arone was just 16 years old when he was captured by Canadian troops outside the town of Belet Huen. What followed — his torture and death, the widely circulated images of soldiers smiling and posing alongside his bloodied body, and the attempted cover-up — proved a transformative event in the course of Canadian military history.
NATO trains navies to fight pirates
15 Mar – Source: CNN – :02:15 min
CNN’s Nima Elbagir reports from the deck of the ITS San Marco about NATO’s efforts to combat piracy off the African coast.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The life and liberty of human should not be taken lightly. Every human life is sacred even the life of the alleged murderer. Because these youth have allegedly committed a murder does not mean that they have no rights. Before taking the life of human being the judiciary must afford them the due process of the law. Further, we must apply the constitutional principles we have developed in every case. Basing judgment on ad hoc or judge made laws is not proper.”
Recent Condemnation Of Youth To Death And Article 35 Of The Somalia Federal Constitution
15 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online – 1241 Words
The purpose of this article is to discuss why it is important to follow the federal constitution in the prosecution of individuals accused of criminal wrongdoing to assure fair and equitable justice, and how the recent sentencing of youth in Puntland is unconstitutional. The objective of Article 35 § 3 of the federal constitution is ensure that the government uses the right procedure when prosecuting a person of criminal offense. If evidence obtained through coercive interrogation is used to criminally penalize someone, then having constitutional provision safeguarding the rights of a person from self-incrimination is of no value.
Article 35 § 3 of the federal constitution provides: “every person may not be compelled to self-incriminate and verdict may not be based on the evidence acquired by means of coercion”. This article parallels the fourth amendment of United States Constitution which provides that “ No State shall deprive life, liberty… without due process”., and the fifth Amendment of the United States Constitutions which prohibit self-incriminations.
These constitutional provision were adopted for to protect individuals liberty while restricting the government’s arbitrary infringement of such rights. The government left on its own and without checks, is likely to transgress against the people, and tyranny would be the order of the day. It is the courts which are tasked with interpretation of the constitution. Also, the executive is required to ensure that every action taken falls within the federal constitutional framework because they have been sworn to protect the constitution of the country.
“No progress can be ever made in an aura of bad politicking. Our country should have herself and her people on the move, and not vice versa. Definitely not by being on the run! This way we would, by effect, on the long run curb economic flights; major among them are labour and capital.”
Somaliland: People should focus on worthwhile issues
16 Mar – Source: Somaliland Press – 387 Words
Distractors should stop heaping undue blame on the government to achieve egotist aims in soothing their whims. At the same time, the opposition fraternity and, any other critiques for that matter, should toe constructive methods other that inept ones.
As concerns the expected future SL/Somalia talks, the government understands and knows quite well its cue and what is in store for it. It is even more resolved in its ways of course and cause under the coxwain-ship of the Head of State.
Now that the President has been quite categorical on the London/Somalia international meeting in May, we hope it rests all hullabaloos as to if SL will attend. We urge all Somalilanders to that would help alleviate the economic woes of the people.
Fascinating photos by a Russian photographer in Somalia
17 Mar- Source: Live journal Blog (Translated Russian text)
Travel to Somalia began with house arrest. My guide at some point, was afraid that I was a journalist, and decided to lock me into a hotel. “Today you are sitting in a room all day, and tomorrow we’ll go to the bureau and you will get permission to leave!” – I was pleased with him although I did not like sitting all day at the hotel. He does not want me to go through the city, as he was afraid .
Top tweets
@OCHASom #Somalia: Local sources report that 100s of people are fleeing #Xudur on donkey carts or on foot @UNHCRSom.
@tresthomas_HOA [PHOTOS] Judge Ilka Hanaf presides in Mogadishu’s Supreme Court with now freed journalist Abdiaziz Koronto http://bit.ly/Xk00Y1 #Somalia.
@KenRoth Now that #Somalia frees journalist who interviewed alleged security-force rape victim, will it prosecute the rapists? http://trib.al/O3WbUUZ.
@amisomsomalia QUOTE OF THE DAY: “#alShabaab are defeated.” Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed http://on.fb.me/UKHK96 @TheVillaSomalia #AMISOM.
@SomaliPM “Building sites now outnumber bomb sites” in #Mogadishu #Somalia – #Economist report on declining conflict in Africa http://bit.ly/118uW49.
Image of the day
Cheering colleagues welcome journalist Abdiasis Abdinuur Ibrahim after his release from jail on Sunday, March 17, 2013. Sabahi Online.