April 12, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Security beefed in Mogadishu as Somali army celebrates 53rd anniversary
12 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid/Radio Bar-kulan/SNTV – 112 words
The Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday morning witnessed tight security amid celebration Somali armed forces on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of its founding. Security forces were deployed last night in the streets and intersections of the capital, Mogadishu, to control security during the celebrations.
The celebrations and the events of the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of the Somali army began at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of Somalia in the early morning today. It is scheduled the participation of the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud and government officials on the military celebrations.
Key Headlines
- Prime Minister thanks Burundi Vice President for military support to Somalia (Prime Minister’s Media Office)
- Security beefed in Mogadishu as Somali army celebrates 53rd anniversary (Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid/Radio Bar-kulan/SNTV)
- Kismayo interim administration speaks about city’s security (Raxanreeb)
- AU troops stir Malaba (Star News)
- Somaliland & Somalia Talks Begin In Istanbul: First Session Selection Of 10 Member Group(Qaran News/Raxanreeb)
- Military capability of al Shabaab insurgents degraded in Somalia: UN envoy (UN News Center)
- Debate over Somalia’s unity continues with new round of talks in Ankara (Sabahi Online)
PRESS STATEMENT
Prime Minister thanks Burundi Vice President for military support to Somalia
12 Apr – Source: Prime Minister’s Media Office – 311 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in the final leg of his regional tour thanked Burundian Vice President Terence Sinunguruza for his country’s essential military support to Somalia.
The Prime Minister and the Vice President discussed greater regional cooperation to improve security in Somalia through the advancement of the African Union Mission in Somalia while transforming the Somali Army to fight al Shabaab. He stated that security is the top priority of his government’s agenda and the first pillar of the six main pillars the government has established to rebuild the Somali nation.
“We acknowledge your commitment and the sacrifice of our servicemen and women in Somalia. We are building our national army to release them from duty,” the Prime Minister said. “Somalia needs your support to speed up the fight against terrorism and free our people altogether from al Shabaab. We are on the verge of defeating them completely.”
The Vice President said he welcomed the Prime Minister’s visit and highlighted the importance of the consultation between the two leaders. He emphasized the long-standing relationship between the two countries and assured his government’s support and cooperation for Somalia.
“We are looking towards a peaceful Somalia in the near future and we are proud of our military serving in your country. We will remain until peace is reached in Somalia,” the Vice President said. “We are ready to install all diplomatic and regional cooperation and to support each other as Somalia is in East Africa.”
Somali Defence Minister Abdhihakin Mahamud Haji Faqi in this meeting expressed the need for a close military collaboration to free more territory fromaAl Shabaab. He specified that close collaboration between the two counties is necessary for the transformation of the Somali National Army. The Prime Minister and his delegation will conclude their regional visit to strengthen diplomatic relations in Burundi this weekend.
SOMALI MEDIA
Kismayo interim administration speaks about city’s security
12 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 132 words
Kismayo’s interim administration has spoken about the security situation of the city today. Mohamud Qalib, the head of Kismayo security forces told in a press conference in Kismayo that the security situation in the city is rapidly improving. Qalib stated that there’s no insecurity in the city and that Kismayo is in one of its best days ever.
“We had no security breach in this week nor there explosions in the city. The security forces have not committed any misconduct and anyone who creates insecurity will be dealt with firmly” Qalib said.
Continuing his speech Qalib remarked “If you cannot hear gunfire and explosion and you see no one caring arms in the city apart from those in the hands of security forces we can say that the city is 100% secure”.
Security beefed in Mogadishu as Somali army celebrates 53rd anniversary
12 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid/Radio Bar-kulan/SNTV – 112 words
The Somali capital Mogadishu on Friday morning witnessed tight security amid celebration Somali armed forces on the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of its founding. Security forces were deployed last night in the streets and intersections of the capital, Mogadishu, to control security during the celebrations.
The celebrations and the events of the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of the Somali army began at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of Somalia in the early morning today. It is scheduled the participation of the Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud and government officials on the military celebrations.
Somaliland & Somalia Talks Begin In Istanbul: First Session, Selection Of 10 Member Group
11 Apr – Source: Qaran News/Raxanreeb – 182 words
The talks hosted by Turkey between Somaliland and Somalia began in Istanbul. The first point of business was the selection of a ten member group to set the agenda for the duration of the talks. According to sources close to the talks, five members from each Somaliland and Somalia were selected to form this group.
The two groups are expected to meet tomorrow for several sessions in order to determine the agenda of the talks, when the Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud “Silanyo” and the head of the Provisional government Hassan Sheikh Mohamed are expected to meet on 13th of April, 2013.
All in all, it is seems quite clear from the composition of the individual groups, that whilst Somaliland’s five member panel includes its Foreign minister and Deputy Speaker, the panel from Somalia consists of the Home Affairs minister, and a few deputies. Make of that what you will, but whilst Somaliland is attending the meeting as a sovereign and independent state, the provisional government in Mogadishu appears to be under the illusion that it’s in talks with a “regional authority”.
Mudug governor visits schools in Bursaleh
11 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 126 words
Mudug Governor Mohamud Yusuf Jama (Tigey) visited the town of Bursaleh in Mudug and toured the towns schools and the construction of the town’s hospital, Garowe Online reports.
Governor Tigey visited the town of Bursaleh under Goldogob district touring Burar High school, Rajo elementary, Nuralyaqin and Elesha Biyaha middle and elementary schools. The governor’s visit coincides with upcoming exams for middle and high school students in Puntland.
After meeting with teachers and the directors of the various schools.Tigey gave a brief statement to teachers and students, advising students to work hard during their youth and appealed that teachers do their utmost to correct the future of their pupils. Governor Tigey then visited the hospital that is under construction in Bursaleh.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Debate over Somalia’s unity continues with new round of talks in Ankara
11 Apr – Source: Sabahi Online – 1142 words
As the Somaliland regional administration and the Somali federal government prepare for the anticipated Turkish-mediated talks in Ankara about their future relationship, opposing public statements from officials on both sides show they still are far apart on the issue of unity.
In February 2012, representatives from the Somaliland region and Somalia met for the first round of bilateral talks in 20 years during the Somalia conference in London, producing a resolution that called for clarifying “future relations”.
At a June 2012 meeting in Dubai, Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo and then-Transitional Federal Government (TFG) President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed agreed to continue bi-lateral talks, but the two sides have not met since.
AU troops stir Malaba
11 Apr – Source: Star News – 100 words
There was panic in Malaba town on Tuesday evening after 20 military trucks and two tankers heading for Somalia from Burundi arrived at the border town.
Residents were alarmed by the fleet of armoured vehicles as they entered the country from neighbouring Uganda. Intelligence sources, however, said the trucks and tankers belong to the Burundi government and will be used by their soldiers on the African Union Mission to Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Military capability of al Shabaab insurgents degraded in Somalia: UN envoy
11 Apr – Source: UN News Centre – 215 words
The military capability of the al Shabaab insurgents in Somalia has been tremendously degraded although they continue to carry out terrorist attacks.
That’s what the top United Nations envoy in the country, Augustine Mahiga, told reporters in the Tanzanian city of Dar Es Salaam on Thursday. Mr. Mahiga said the al Shabaab fighters have been pushed out of the major cities and have retreated into some parts of the countryside.
In East Africa, heavy rains test emergency preparedness
11 Apr – Source: IRIN News – 863 words
Unusually heavy rains have caused havoc across much of east Africa, displacing thousands of people and damaging important infrastructure. In Somalia, heavy rains were recorded in the first week of April. “Robust precipitation accumulations (>75mm) were again observed over central and southern Somalia,” states an Africa Hazards Outlook report for 11-17 April.
“Many local areas have already experienced more than three times their normal rainfall accumulation since the beginning of April, sustaining the risk for localized flash flooding and downstream river inundation over the Jubba and Shabelle River basins in eastern Ethiopia and southern Somalia.”
The Shabelle has already burst its banks in some places, according to a 10 April Shabelle River flood update by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
“SWALIM [Somalia Water and Land Information Management] field reports in the last two days indicate river breakages at Hurway (about 8m wide), Eji (about 6m wide) and Maadheere (about 14m wide) villages all in Middle Shabelle Region. This has led to inundation of large areas, causing destruction of cropped area[s] of unconfirmed acreage, and displacement of several families.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“For those private security companies looking to make a quick profit out of the embers of Somali piracy, it is probably time to consider a long overdue visit to the Gulf of Guinea, today’s new hotbed of marine crime, piracy – and international hubris.”
Private navies exaggerate the maritime piracy threat
12 Apr – Source: The National – 939 Words
If we are honest about the effect of Somali piracy on global shipping, then our analysis must be this: the threat has been exaggerated by a media frenzy. Somali piracy is alive and still represents a threat to old, slow, unprotected merchant and fishing vessels that do not adhere to the reasoned advice and guidance of embarked security teams or the plethora of anti-piracy guides.
But the rate of piracy is down, and political initiatives inside the Horn of Africa are now turning a legal tide against the organised criminals who sponsored the activities of pirates during Somali piracy’s heyday of 2010-2012. Indeed, ever tightening banking regulation has targeted money laundering from these gangs and important regional political influence will come to bear as time advances. All of this means there are fewer and fewer safe havens from which pirates can operate.
Given these trends, questions should be asked about plans by international investors to establish a private navy to escort merchant ships through the Gulf of Aden. As The National reported last month, a company called Typhon hopes to base its operations in the UAE. To be sure, the international maritime presence led by Nato and the EU is set to decline, given member nations’ finances and savage defence cuts. Certainly the market is ripe for this type of private initiative. But is it necessary?
“The harsh experience of Somalis driven to seek shelter in Mogadishu ‘s unsafe camps should be an urgent priority for the country’s new government and its foreign donors.”
Somalia’s displaced: the reform test
11 Apr – Source: Open Democracy – 840 Words
“They don’t care about us,” the Somali woman told us. “They don’t rescue us when the women are crying for help.” She was describing the people who controlled her camp for displaced people in the capital city, Mogadishu. In fact, the voices of Somalia’s displaced have been regularly ignored, and often actively silenced.
It is an important time to listen to them. On 7 May 2013, a conference is being held in London, co-hosted by the British government and its Somali counterpart, which offers a real chance to advance the interests of Somalia’s people. Its key issues are reform of the justice and security sectors, including the police, and tackling sexual violence. The success of this agenda will in part be measured by how these reforms improve the lot of the displaced.
Somalia’s long crisis entered a new stage in 2011-12 when, amid a fresh eruption of fighting and widespread famine, tens of thousands of Somalis fled towards the capital in search of a safe haven. Many squeezed into overcrowded camps scattered throughout the city, where the environment was hostile and abusive.
These displaced Somalis, already suffering as a result of their sudden flight, faced a host of new traumas: among them beatings, rape, diversion of food aid, restrictions on movement, and discrimination based on clan affiliation. The camp community leaders who tried to set up committees to raise such concerns were sometimes detained by officials as punishment. Many of these serious abuses are documented in a new Human Rights Watch report, Hostages of the Gatekeepers: Abuses against Internally Displaced in Mogadishu, Somalia (29 March 2013).
Top tweets
@RhymingNomad A quality film of #Muqdisho. Amazing documentary made in 1980. Look how beautiful the beach is.#Somalia http://www.youtube.com/watch?
@UNOCHA Why are internally displaced people in Mogadishu being relocated? Head of @OCHASom explains in this Q&A – http://buzz.mw/-EbF_y #Somalia.
@farhanjimale #G8 Communiqué suggests comprehensive political settlement in #Somalia including clarity on relations between central & regional authorities.
@omabha Debate over Somalia’s unity continues with new round of talks in Ankara – Sabahi Online http://dlvr.it/3CypPt #Somalia.
@WorldBankAfrica Both imports and exports of low-income countries are most affected by piracy:http://bit.ly/endingpiracy #piratesofsomalia #Somalia#Africa.
Image of the day
Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, right, shakes hand with Burundian Vice President Terence Sinunguruza in Bujumbura, Burundi on April 11, 2013. Photo: Raxanreeb/OPM.