April 18, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Suspected militant kills himself in Mogadishu blast – police
18 Apr – Source: Reuters – 312 words
A suspected al Shabaab militant was killed on Thursday trying to plant a bomb in a busy district of the Somali capital, a police official said, after the Islamist group threatened more attacks following two deadly assaults this week.
Western and Somali officials are concerned that al Shabaab, who were driven out of Mogadishu two years ago but still control swathes of mainly rural areas, may be regrouping and seeking to rebuild their strength in the capital.
At least 30 people were killed on Sunday by a car bomb, suicide bombers and gunmen at Mogadishu’s law courts and a car bomb explosion near the airport. After that attack, one of the worst since al Shabaab were ejected from Mogadishu, a spokesman for the group warned the government that more would follow.
Key Headlines
- One person killed in an explosion in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu)
- UN says Somalia’s humanitarian situation has improved (Radio Ergo)
- Prime Minister David Cameron meets Somaliland leader in 10 Downing Street (Somaliland Press/Mareeg Online/Bar-kulan)
- UAE’s Security authorities arrests “Al-Qaeda” affiliated terrorist cell (BBC)
- Somalia progresses in rebuilding armed forces but challenges remain (Sabahi Online)
- Kenya government promises police reforms ample security (Capital FM)
- As Islamic radicals retreat young Somalis elope (AP)
PRESS STATEMENT
President Hassan, “Let me say this: charcoal export is crime”
17 Apr – Source: Office of the President of Somalia – 172 words
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia today planted a mango tree in Villa Somalia in honour of National Tree Planting Day. The President was accompanied by the UN Resident Coordinator and Head of OCHA, Philippe Lazzarine; Minister of National Resources, H.E. Abdi Rizak Mohamed Omar; Minister of Social Services, H.E. Maryan Qasim.
In his short statement the President took the opportunity to emphasize his commitment to enforcing environmental laws in Somalia. He stressed that it is a crime to cut down trees, make and export charcoal.
President Hassan said: “There are laws in this country adopted in early 1970s by the Government of Somalia. Also there have been UN resolutions regarding the charcoal ban. Despite the current situation, we must enforce these laws.
“Let me say this, charcoal export is crime. Our land and agricultural heritage depends on our trees. We must all protect our environment and enforce both national and International laws. “Wherever possible, I urge citizens to plant trees in their gardens or on their land.”
SOMALI MEDIA
One person killed in an explosion in Mogadishu
18 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Kulmiye/al Shahid – 116 words
One person was killed in an explosion early Thursday morning in Hodan district, capital Mogadishu. Residents of the area said that they heard the sound of a big explosion in early morning near the Turkish embassy in Mogadishu.
The body of a person who is believed to have been attempting to plant an explosive device was found in the area, Somali police said. General Hassan Barise, police spokesman at the scene of Thursday’s blast, not far from university buildings and schools, said: “This was an al Shabaab man who wanted to kill civilians. Fortunately, it killed only him.” The spokesman said seven suspects had been arrested in the district.
UN says Somalia’s humanitarian situation has improved
18 Apr – Source: Radio Ergo – 342 words
The overall humanitarian picture in Somalia is better now than in 2011 and 2012, according to the UN.
Abdi Yusuf Noor, spokesperson for UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told Radio Ergo there were indications that life had improved for many Somalis in the country. “The aid agencies that were there are still there, running their aid programs as usual, access is gradually improving, and many regions which were not reachable with aid initially are accessible now,” he said.
“We will continue to pursue innovative ways to reach those in need as we did during the famine, while changing our overall approach from sending in response to each new crisis into investing in ways of mitigating crisis.” Asked about the situation of internal refugees, Abdi Yusuf Noor said: “The IDP flights are over, there are no fresh cases of displacements, so the only IDPs are those already in camps, waiting to be relocated back to their original homes.
“There are approximately 360,000 in camps in Mogadishu – that is a huge number, and we are sure they endure a great deal of difficulties, yearning for a better quality of life. Although they get some support now, the needs cannot be satisfied, and it cannot be assumed that their camp life is better than their life before displacement.”
He said UN OCHA, along with other agencies, will assist the federal government in relocating the IDPs in Mogadishu to a new site outside the city. The planned deadline for the relocation is 20 August 2013. This will not be permanent, however, as there were further plans eventually to resettle the displaced back in their original homes. Asked about complaints by IDPs that they do not receive much of the aid sent to them, Abdi Yusuf Noor replied: “We are aware of the complaints and the problems. The aid is of various categories: medical aid, nutritional aid, sanitation aid, and many other kinds of aid. We cannot confirm all the aid, but certainly aid agencies do give priority to ensuring its safe delivery.”
Prime Minister David Cameron meets Somaliland leader in 10 Downing Street
18 Apr – Source: Somaliland Press/Mareeg Online/Bar-kulan – 132 words
Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) met with the British Prime Minister Mr. David Cameron at his official residence at 10 Downing Street yesterday evening in London,UK.
Although this is the first direct meeting to take place between the leaders of UK and Somaliland, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen the existing cordial relations between the two countries, developments funding and stepping up security cooperation in order to work with global security.
Prime Minister David Cameron during the meeting reiterated the need for Somaliland to take part in the upcoming May 7 London conference saying: “The continuation of the Somaliland-Somalia dialogue is not only of high priority to the UK government but also crucial for Somaliland which stands to immensely benefit from the outcomes of the London conference”.
More Somali girls in school, fewer being circumcised
18 Apr – Source: Radio Ergo – 364 words
A UN survey conducted in Puntland and Somaliland shows there have been significant increases in the number of girls enrolled in schools in both regions. There has also been a dramatic decrease in the number of girls undergoing circumcision, or FGM, in both regions. The survey, published on 16 April, was conducted jointly by UNICEF, UNDP, WFP, WHO, FAO and UNFPA.
UNICEF chief of communications for Somalia, Susannah Price, said the survey asked people in towns and villages, rich and poor, about the kind of life they lead, the fundamental rights given and denied, their health and well-being, education, access to safe water, and security. Results indicated a boost in the numbers of girls in school in Puntland and Somaliland; better access to quality water; a decline in the practice of FGM; a decline in child labour; and progress on the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
The survey also showed that one in every three families in Somalia has a woman as the main income earner, and 70% of these female breadwinners have no education at all.
“In the regions we surveyed, we were trying to find out whether there were children who worked instead of being in school. We discovered that a quarter of children living in Puntland and Somaliland are involved in labour, working 80 hours a week. However, this is an improvement compared to a previous survey conducted in 2006,” Susannah Price said.
REGIONAL MEDIA
UAE’s Security authorities arrests “Al-Qaeda” affiliated terrorist cell
18 Apr – Source: Emirates News Agency WAM/BBC – 124 words
Security authorities in the United Arab Emirates have arrested a terrorist cell affiliated to Al-Qaeda which includes seven people of Arab nationalities. An official source said that the cell was planning to carry out acts within the UAE affecting the security of the state and the safety of its citizens and residents.
It was also planning to recruit people and to promote the work of Al Qaeda, in addition to providing the organisation with funds and logistical support to facilitate the extension of their activities to some countries in the region.
The source said that the State Security Prosecution will start investigation of the accused. Once these procedures are completed, they will be brought to trial.
Somalia progresses in rebuilding armed forces, but challenges remain
17 Apr- Source: Sabahi Online- 814 words
At his inauguration last September, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said rebuilding Somalia’s armed forces would be one of his administration’s six pillars for restoring national stability and unity. As the Somali government undertakes that challenge, it is taking a comprehensive strategy to recruit, train and equip members of the armed forces. In February, the government launched operations to remove squatters and rehabilitate old military training centres.
In March, security forces dispersed around Mogadishu were relocated and consolidated into designated training facilities, Somalia’s Defence Minister Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi told reporters on March 6th.
Securing illegal weapons has been a major concern. “We are collecting the illegal weapons possessed by civilians in the city, and we will strictly secure and monitor warehouses used to store them so that [illegal] weapons do not fall in the hands of civilians or criminals again,” Fiqi said.
Kenya government promises police reforms, ample security
16 Apr- Source: Capital FM- 438 words
President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to protect the country against threats to its peace as his government seeks to deliver on its promises. The President has warned that both internal and external threats to national security will be dealt with resolutely, in a manner alike to how the Kenya Defence Forces dealt with al Shabaab in Somalia.
“Our Government is committed to ensuring our citizens live; work and worship in peace. We have demonstrated to our citizens and to the world that we will deal decisively with any external threat to our citizens. Yet threats to internal security still remain. We will deal with those internal threats with the same single-minded resolve; the same commitment to protecting our citizens,” Kenyatta said.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Suspected militant kills himself in Mogadishu blast – police
18 Apr – Source: Reuters – 312 words
A suspected al Shabaab militant was killed on Thursday trying to plant a bomb in a busy district of the Somali capital, a police official said, after the Islamist group threatened more attacks following two deadly assaults this week.
Western and Somali officials are concerned that al Shabaab, who were driven out of Mogadishu two years ago but still control swathes of mainly rural areas, may be regrouping and seeking to rebuild their strength in the capital.
At least 30 people were killed on Sunday by a car bomb, suicide bombers and gunmen at Mogadishu’s law courts and a car bomb explosion near the airport.
After that attack, one of the worst since al Shabaab were ejected from Mogadishu, a spokesman for the group warned the government that more would follow.
As Islamic radicals retreat, young Somalis elope
17 Apr – Source: AP – 869 words
Outside a dilapidated two-story building, Abdi Ali says goodbye to his veiled girlfriend Anisa and they take two separate streets to avoid attention. Soon they’re aboard a minibus heading outside Mogadishu, pretending they don’t know each other.
After more than two hours of travel, they arrive at Wanlaweyn, a run-down town 90 kilometers (56 miles) north of Mogadishu, and are led inside a shanty by a man running a string of Arab worry beads through his fingers. Another man and woman walk out; they have just been married. Abdi Ali, who is 25, and his 23-year-old girlfriend will be next.
Since the Islamic extremist rebels of al Shabaab have been pushed out of almost all of Somalia’s cities and towns, life has begun to return to normal. Under its strict interpretation of Islamic Shariah law, al Shabaab had declared eloping illegal, punishable by whipping or even death by stoning. Now that the extremists’ harsh rule has been replaced by a more tolerant form of Islam, elopement once again is popular among young Somali couples, many of whom have dramatic stories of defying their families to follow their hearts and marry.
Turkey sees hope for unification of Somalia and Somaliland
17 Apr – Source: AP – 115 words
Turkey’s Prime Minister says he sees hope for the unification of the breakaway Somaliland region with Somalia. Recep Tayyip Erdogan was speaking on Tuesday, days after Turkey hosted a first round of talks between the Somalia and Somaliland presidents to encourage dialogue between the two.
Somalia wants Somaliland to be part a united country. But the territory, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been a haven of relative peace amid the chaos in the country’s south, is seeking international recognition.
The two leaders agreed to continue talks after meeting in the Turkish capital on Sunday. Erdogan says they would meet again in Istanbul “within 90 days” for a second round of talks.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“To tackle drought and desertification, Somalia has to utilize its water resources”.
Somalia: It is time to utilize Groundwater
Apr – Source: Hiiraan Online – 767 words
Water is the most abundant compound (H2O) on the surface of earth. Without it life would cease to exist. It is distributed across the earth in the ocean (97.13%), the polar ice caps (2.24%), the groundwater (0.61%), and surface water (0.02%) (Eisenberg an kauzman, 1969, Franks 2000).
The information above tells us that ground water is abundant 30 times than surface water, nevertheless many people have the perception that surface water occupy greater volume than groundwater, and remain to believe that rivers and lakes are the only sources of water to depend for their livelihood. This is what is happening now and will continue to happen as far as the poor countries do not have enough technology and money to access ground water. Indeed there is lack of interest to invest on the utilization of the groundwater; it is not that there is scarcity of water in this planet.
For decades Somalia is affected by frequent droughts; without adequate preparation it is impossible to prevent the impact of droughts on rural population. In my experience in the rural area most men go for search of water during the dry season walking for at least 20 km away from his home daily, loading over 100 liters on the two sides of his camel. Unfortunately this is not even a potable water therefore, people develop all sorts of diseases including deadly cholera.
Somalia possesses a huge groundwater resources and it is estimated to be 12,300 Km; it ranges from 5,210 to 34,500 Km³, ranking Somalia as the 14th largest country in Africa. This massive presence of ground water can transform the entire landscape into a green piece of earth if it is managed properly. Somali communities can be relieved of despair and poverty and enjoy prosperity by utilizing the immense resources the country has. Somalia today is quite different than it was 50 years ago – now it has a potential human resources and capital investment than any other time in contemporary history, and there is a great chance of reclaiming its dignity and nationhood.
“What’s sad is how someone being so heroic in the face of such adversity could be gunned down in that particular day in April 1996. Elman Ali Ahmed is a unknown Somali hero ,one success and good role model”.
In memory of the Somali Hero Elman Ali Ahmed
17 Apr – Source: Somalia Online – 414 words
Elman Ali Ahmed is an unknown Somali hero. Elman Ali Ahmed was a young Somali Diaspora who went to Italy in the mid 1980’s to Study and finished his Electronic Engineering Masters in Germany. In 1988, Elman Ali Ahmed went back to Somalia to help his country’s economic growth and opened the first franchise Electronic shops, ” Elman Electronics ” in and around Mogadishu and before he moved to the other parts of Somalia, the civil war broke out and Somali government collapsed.
The hero Elman began helping the unfortunate young street kids better known as “Ciyaal koolo dhuuq” who lost every thing including their parents. During the war, he gave them food shelter, shoe shining equipment and opened up schools to teach them electronics then employ them in his own company.
Elman also was the only company to supply electronics in Mogadishu; during the war, he also managed the well-known Club Elman FC which helps youth for sports activities.
Top tweets
@rogermid UN Human Rights head say #Somalia needs to continue to strengthen the justice system http://ow.ly/kaVNO.
@RadioErgo More Somali girls in school, fewer being circumcised #Somalia.
@UNDP At least 35 killed in attack in #Somalia, including 2 of #Somalia‘s greatest human rights defenders:http://ow.ly/k9Ec3 v @UNDPSomalia.
@BBCAfrica A report into the economic cost of piracy off the coast of #Somalia says pirate activity has declined because of increased security on ships.
@AlertNet Suspected militant kills himself in #Mogadishu blast – police http://ow.ly/kbbWY #somalia.
Image of the day
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Force Commander Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti, shakes the hand of a soldier of the Somali National Army (SNA) during a graduation ceremony for platoon commanders and non-commissioned officers of the SNA at the AMISOM Jazira training facility in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Photo: AU-UN IST/AMISOM.