April 2, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

AMISOM troops complete advance linking Mogadishu and Baidoa

02 Apr – Source: AMISOM – 247 words

Somali government forces with the support of African Union Troops have successfully completed the last leg of their 241 kms advance from Mogadishu to Baidoa.The AMISOM troops began their advance from Buur-HakAba and completed the final 60 kms stretch linking the two cities of Baidoa and Mogadishu.

This significant move not only allows for free movement of the population, but also opens up this key supply route and allows for the provision of humanitarian aid.

Additionally AMISOM troops in support of the Somali government will now operate within a single block from Mogadishu westwards to Baidoa, south to Marka and north to Jowhar. This not only increases the territory under Somali Government control but will also improve the mobility of AMISOM and Somali government forces thereby improving the security within. The Federal Government of Somalia will also be able to peacefully conduct their stabilization work in the recovered areas.

While commending his troops, AMISOM Force Commander Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti reiterated the African Union’s commitment to supporting the Federal Government of Somalia in its efforts to provide security to the Somali population. “AMISOM will continue working with the Somali National Security Forces to improve their security forces,enhance the rule of law and protect civilians.” General Gutti said.

The Force Commander also assured the citizens of AMISOM’s determination in fulfilling its mandate by improving security throughout Somalia.“This linkage between the capital and the regions of Bay and Bakool, will allow us to serve you better as AMISOM strives to provide security to more areas of Somalia so that local people can live their lives and pursue their livelihoods in freedom.” he said.

Key Headlines

Government appointed interim administration and reached new agreement with Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama in Garbaharey Gedo Region (Prime Minister’s Media Office)
Parliament committee to probe dead bodies found in Mogadishu (Raxanreeb)
Turkish government to mediate Somalia and Somaliland (Raxanreeb/Somaliland Press/Horn Cable TV)
UK plans Somali trade and investment meeting on Somalia (Walter Information Center)
Al Shabaab detains elders in Middle Shabelle (Dhacdo Online/Midnimo Online/Universal TV)
Finnish ministers visit Mogadishu (Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/Universal TV/SNTV)
Alleged militants arrested in Beledweyne (Bar-kulan)
CPJ launches Somali Security Guide (CPJ)

PRESS STATEMENT

AMISOM troops complete advance linking Mogadishu and Baidoa

02 Apr – Source: AMISOM – 247 words

This significant move not only allows for free movement of the population, but also opens up this key supply route and allows for the provision of humanitarian aid. Additionally AMISOM troops in support of the Somali government will now operate within a single block from Mogadishu westwards to Baidoa, south to Marka and north to Jowhar. This not only increases the

territory under Somali Government control but will also improve the mobility of AMISOM and Somali government forces thereby improving the security within. The Federal Government of Somalia will also be able to peacefully conduct their stabilization work in the recovered areas.

Government appointed interim administration and reached new agreement with Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama in Garbaharey, Gedo Region

02 Apr – Source: Prime Minister’s Media Office – 287 words

Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon concluded the second face of his “Listening Tour” after spending two days in Garbaharey, Gedo region. “The government wants to listen, respond to your needs and work on to increase national unity as we build a functioning federal state from the ruins of war,” Prime Minister said after listening Garbaharey district traditional leaders’ council.

Regional security and stabilization was a priority concern for the local communities, and the Prime Minister with Defence Minister and Interior Minister directly addressed their concern. After consulting with community leaders the government appointed Mohamed Abdi Kaliil as the new interim governor of Gedo region, with a six months mandate. At the district level the Interior Minister A/karim Hussein Gulled appointed five members of Garbaharey district administration.

“The new administration is responsible to improve the security situation and work with the Federal Government on delivering the much needed social services. Good leadership and stable security situation will lead the way to a better future and sustainable developed in this region,” Prime Minister said.

A new historic agreement between the federal government and Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama of south west regions was reached in Garbaharey. The two sides agreed to fully nationalize Ahlu-Sunna forces to join the Somali National Army and the government to facilitate the process. Today the Prime Minister declared the takeover of all Ahlu Sunna armed forces in south west regions.

“I am glad to announce that you are officially accepted as part of the Somali National Army, you will have equal rights and responsibilities. Your mission is to secure our national borders and defeat enemies of peace, those threatening our national security and progress,” Prime Minister said at a military base in Garbaharey.

SOMALI MEDIA

Parliament committee to probe dead bodies found in Mogadishu

02 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 217 words

Somalia federal parliament has on Monday formed new committee to probe five dead bodies found in Mogadishu streets three weeks ago, RBC Radio reports.

MP Abdihakim Igge Guled, the Head of the Parliament Committee said that they have started gathering information about the killing of five teenagers who were allegedly imprisoned by the national security and later their dead bodies found at Industrial Road at Dayniile neighborhood in Mogadishu in the mid of March.

The bodies found were shot at the head and all had the impact of severe punishment on their bodies, local report shows. “Our committee will continue a fact finding mission to probe this case and we are confident to present a full and detailed examination to the parliament.” MP Guled said.

Al Shabaab detains elders in Middle Shabelle

02 Apr – Source: Dhacdo Online/Midnimo Online/Universal TV – 94 words

Al Shabaab militants detained five elders in Mahday town in Middle Shabelle province, north of the capital Mogadishu. Some residents in Mahaday told local media that al Shabaab militants arrested clan elders at their headquarters in town Mahday.

It was not known precisely reasons for the arrest of these elders, but some residents recall that arrest comes after refusing to collect militias and funds for the al Shabaab of the region’s population. And some residents of the Mahday town began intensive endeavors to persuade Shabaab militants to release of clan elders in their custody.

Turkish government to mediate Somalia and Somaliland

02 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb/Somaliland Press/Horn Cable TV – 167 words

Turkish government has invited officials from both the Somali federal government and the breakaway region of Somaliland to hold first talks in Turkey in the mid of this month, Somaliland foreign minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omar said on Monday.

In a press conference in Hargeysa, minister Omar confirmed that Somaliland administration hs received the invitation letter from the Turkish prime minister to come to Turkey for talks with the Somali federal government. “Both sides of Somaliland and Somalia have received the invitation and we confirm that we have officially approved.” the minister said.

Somaliland, an autonomous region in the north of Somalia has been lobbying to be separate state from Somalia since 1992, a year after the overthrow of former central government in Somalia, However, Somaliland’s self-proclaimed independence remains unrecognised by any country or international organization.

Alleged militants arrested in Beledweyne

02 Apr – Source: Bar-kulan – 113 words

Somali forces in central town of Beledweyne on Monday night arrested two suspected al Shabaab militant fighters who were said to be out to destabilise the region.

The suspects were arrested in a nighttime raid at Koshin neighbourhood after security officers received tip-off from the local residents, according to the area police boss Ali Abdi Mahad-Alle. He said locals informed them of al Shabaab fighters hiding in their area, adding the suspects confessed being members of the outlawed group.

“Police are questioning the al Shabaab suspects and soon will be arraigned in court,” he said. The incident comes weeks after 25 suspected militants were arrested in the area while travelling in a vehicle from Galkayo town.

Finnish ministers visit Mogadishu

01 Apr – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/Universal TV/SNTV – 113 words

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Monday received two Finnish ministers in Mogadishu, the first visit ever to Somalia by members of the Finnish government.

The Ministers, Foreign Affairs Minister Erkki Tuomioja and International Development minister Heidi Hautala visited Mogadishu on Monday and held talks with government officials including President Mahamud to discuss the situation in Somalia and development needs.

The purpose of the visit by the two ministers is to get first-hand information to support Finland’s input and development cooperation to the region. Finland supports Somalia through humanitarian aid, support to non-government organisations, and a number of bilateral projects. In addition, Finland has decided to support the country’s reconstruction work at community level.

Bossaso armed robbers nabbed by Puntland police in Garowe

01 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 104 words

Two of the Kaah Express money wiring company armed robbers who killed two victims have been apprehended in Garowe by Puntland police on Sunday, Garowe Online reports.

Two out of the four men, who killed a security guard and a clerk at the Kaah Express money wiring company’s office office in Bossaso, before escaping with a sum estimated at $20,000, were apprehended after intelligence authorities caught word of their arrival in Garowe.

On March 27, 2013, a four-man gang armed with pistols carried out a brazen and deadly armed robbery of Kaah Express company’s office in Bossaso, killing 2 people and injuring 3.

REGIONAL MEDIA

UK plans Somali trade and investment meeting on Somalia

02 Apr – Source: Walta Information Centre – 231 words

The United Kingdom’s Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds, has announced plans for a trade and investment conference for Somalia during the security meeting which is to be held in London in May.

Simmonds told a meeting of Somalis on Thursday that many diaspora organizations were already going back to invest in Somalia and the UK wanted to encourage that, and also “to demonstrate to non-Somali UK businesses the opportunities that exist across South Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland.”

Simmonds said he was inspired by the dedication, commitment and passion he saw among the Somali diaspora which had “a vital role to play in the reconstruction of Somalia as it begins to emerge from 20 years of conflict.”

Meanwhile, President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo of Somaliland has reiterated that Somaliland will not attend the May 7th London conference. He was speaking to the annual meeting of his ruling party, Kulmiye in Hargeisa.

Arab League voices support for Somalia

01 Apr – Source: Sabahi Online – 820 words

Following Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s appeals for help from the international community to rebuild his country, the Arab League ended its 24th Summit last week in part by calling on its members to give Somalia such support.

The League of Arab States, as it is formally known, lauded Somalia’s political progress and the restoration of the state and its components.

“We welcome success achieved by the Republic of Somalia and progress made in the political process, including the election of president and speaker of parliament, the parliamentary confidence won by the prime minister, and the restoration of constituents of state,” the Arab League said in its final statement Tuesday (March 26th), read by Deputy Secretary General of the Arab League Ahmed bin Hilli.

Security situation in Nairobi after a bomb scare in Kariobangi Nairobi

01 Apr- KTN TV/Citizen TV – 3:34 min

As police in Nairobi launched a manhunt for suspected terrorists who planted an explosive device in Kariobangi area, security agents in Nakuru rushed to detonate a home-made bomb left in a farm. The explosive was discovered from San Marco farm in Nakuru’s Rongai area by farmers.

MRC, al Shabaab working together, says Coast PC

30 Mar – Source: Star – 383 words

Coast PC Samuel Kilele has linked the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council and the al Shabaab militia saying they are working in cahoots at in the region.

Yesterday, Kilele issued a seven-day ultimatum to the two groups and any other criminal gang in the region to surrender or face the full force of the law.

“After that the consequences will be drastic. The national government has a cardinal role to protect property and lives,” he said in his office yesterday in a press conference.

“If they don’t surrender, then we will go to the forests and the caves to flush them out. We know where they are and we know what they are planning,” said Kilele.

Egypt Receives Invitation From Britain to Attend Conference On Somalia – Diplomat

30 Mar – Source: Horn Portal/ Egypt State Information Service/All Africa – 125 words

Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Ambassador Mona Omar said on Thursday that Britain extended an invitation to Egypt to take part in an international conference in May 7 on Somalia.

Omar told MENA that the conference, which will be hosted by London, will discuss issues of peace and security in Somalia along with efforts of reconstruction and means of supporting the Somali government.

Egypt is keen on taking part in this conference given the historic relations that bind Mogadishu and Cairo, she said, adding that Egypt considers Somalia as a main partner in the African continent.

Earlier this month, Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr paid a historic visit to Somalia on March 10, during which he reopened the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

CPJ launches Somali Security Guide

02 Apr – Source: CPJ – 602 words

Last week, two gunmen waited near the home of a young Somali journalist, Rahmo Abdulkadir, who had recently returned to the capital from the Galgadud district in central Somalia where she worked as a reporter for Radio Abudwaq (Worshipper). According to local journalists, 25-year-old Rahmo had just left an Internet café in Mogadishu around 9:30 p.m. on March 24 with a friend when she was shot and killed. Her companion was not harmed.

This narrative is tragically repetitive. Unknown assailants continue to target Somali journalists–courageous, often young, reporters trying to make a name for themselves–with total impunity. Many veteran reporters and editors have fled into exile from conflict-ridden Somalia, leaving behind young, sometimes inexperienced reporters on a vitally important but extremely risky beat.

Last year was the deadliest year on record for a country with a long history of press killings: Twelve journalists were killed in the line duty. The success of government and allied forces in ousting Al-Shabaab militants from Mogadishu and a key port town, Kismayo, has not curbed the number of attacks against the press nor increased the likelihood of arrest and prosecution for the perpetrators.

Somali’s case a template for U.S. as it seeks to prosecute terrorism suspects in federal court

31 Mar- Source: Washington Post – 481 words

Aboard the USS Boxer, somewhere in the Indian Ocean, Ahmed Abdulkadir Warsame was sitting across from a team of interrogators, talking and talking. In secure meeting rooms in Washington, senior officials in the Obama administration were wringing their hands over what to do with him.

Some in the administration desperately wanted to prosecute Warsame — a key facilitator between al Qaeda franchises — in federal court. To do that, though, they needed a “clean team” of FBI agents to come in and read the Somali his rights, perhaps jeopardizing his willingness to keep talking.

The quandary was particularly acute because Warsame had intelligence on Anwar al Awlaki, a U.S. citizen and a senior leader in al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The scenario has changed with Turkish involvement in Somalia, in a way that prompts me to ask what it is that the Turks have done differently, to win over the hearts of the people of Somalia.”

Understanding Somalia

01 Apr – Source: Open Democracy – 888 Words

The battle of Mogadishu in 1993 between the United States forces and the Somali militiamen loyal to the self-proclaimed president Mohamed Farrah Aidid, led to the killing of eighteen Americans and the downing of a US helicopter, the Black Hawk, with RPG’s (rocket-propelled grenades) by Aidid men. This was the bloodiest battle involving US troops since the Vietnam War and remained so until the Second Battle of Fallujah in 2004.

Somalis did not believe that the Americans came to Somalia to secure a safe environment or for humanitarian operations: but they believed that they were using the humanitarian crisis as a cover for exploiting the natural resources of the country and to serve their political purposes in the region by having power where the former Soviet Union had once been influential.

The failure of the UNOSOM II mission certainly had a significant impact in US foreign policy; we saw what a lesson it was, as well as the profoundly negative impact of this failure on the worsening conditions in Somalia. Any triumph attached to defeating one of the most powerful countries in the world, conversely only gave the war lords a stronger reason to continue fighting, believing that they were impregnable. This in turn led the country into a series of civil wars, the invasion of Ethiopia, piracy, terrorist activities and ultimately its notoriety as a fallen state.

“…there should be a legal framework to ensure that the judiciary system, once put in place, runs smoothly and according to plan; checks and balances should be clear and on the table for every Somali citizen to see.”

Somalia: Judicial Conference Should be real, not Ceremonial

02 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb Online – 239 Words

Judicial reform conference in Somalia as announced by the president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is a good step forward as alleged rape of Somali women and journalist mistreatment overshadowed media reports on Somalia in the recent months.

However, if the conference does not yield any fruits as to judicial reform which is real and authentic, then the whole conference could be a good waste of time and resources and such conference and any so called judicial reform would be called ceremonial because it will not have an effective change in the judiciary landscape of Somalia.

As everything else was destroyed in Somalia by the more than the two-decade civil war, the judiciary and every legal infrastructure Somalia has to build entails to be built from scratch and because of that, it takes a great deal of time, energy and resources to realize it..

“Invigorating as this Dur-Dur Band reissue is, it also serves as a reminder that such oppression and violence is never trapped in the past, but near the surface of the present as well.”

Rediscovering Somalia’s Pre-War Pop

29 Mar – Source: MTV HIVE – 680 Words

Back in late 2011, publicist, music enthusiast and scholar Brian Shimkovitz decided to take his side-gig blogging for his Awesome Tapes from Africa site to the next level, starting a record reissue label championing the pantheon of unheralded music to be had on that continent. Only three releases in (with copious other gems to be found on the blog itself), the label has already explored folk music from Mali and drum-machine propelled pop from Ghana, and this week sees the release of Somali funk group, Dur-Dur Band. To help celebrate, Shimkovitz put together an exclusive mix of Somali pop from the early ’90s for MTV Hive:

When I asked Shimkovitz about the music on this mix, he wrote: “Dur-Dur Band is really easy to find and quite well known. They are very much the tip of the iceberg of tons of interesting music from Somalia, both past and present. I wanted to include a lot of my favorite Somali artists on the mix and had to stuff that was in somewhat better shape in terms of sound quality.

Most of the music from Somalia I have is pretty lo-fi and a lot of it is MP3s I’ve downloaded since it’s hard to find in the places I’ve lived. The older music has more of a focus on guitars and horn sections and live drums while more current Somali music is heavy in the synth department.” And unlike his previous African musical discoveries, the Dur-Dur Band wasn’t discovered via cassette, but via researching Somali pop music on YouTube.

Focus on Somalia – Night Patrol

01 Apr – Source: AMISOM – 58 Words

On night patrol with the Somali Police Force (SPF) and AMISOM Formed Police Units (FPU) conducting patrols and snap vehicle checkpoints in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Security has steadily and significantly improved in Somalia’s main city over the last year as stability has gradually returned following the withdrawal of the al Qaeda-allied extremist group al Shabaab 18 months ago.

Top tweets

@amisomsomalia #AMISOM strives to provide security to #Somalia so that locals can pursue their livelihoods in freedom #GenGutti http://on.fb.me/UKHK96.

@FCOHumanRights Video: Minister for Africa @MarkJSimmonds on progress in #Somalia and objectives of the Somalia Conference on 7 May http://ow.ly/jEDDQ.

@melissachemam #Somalia – #CPJ launches #Somali Security Guide – http://cpj.org/x/53ec #journalism – please share / RT.

@issa_Jnr “The #Somali Community’s Experiences with #Autism : An Exploratory Study” by Jessica Kuenzli http://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/50/#.UVqateWi9tA.twitter … #Somalia.

@OPride Mohamed Osman Jawari, Speaker of #Somalia‘s Parliament, “I think technology is really made for the #Somali people”: http://youtu.be/xe13UGxHVK0.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Somali president opens the National Dialogue on Justice Reform in Mogadishu, Somalia. Photo: @tresthomas_HOA.