August 2, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

AMISOM spokesman talks of security progress

02 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan/Hiiraan Online/SNTV – 164 words

AMISOM Military Spokesman Colonel Ali Aden Hamoud said that the federal government forces with the backing of AMISOM have done a lot on security improvement in the past months. The spokesman highlighted that the forces foiled several terrorist attacks before the militant groups could execute them but again mentioned that there were more challenges to face.

“We are planning soon to launch a door to door search operation in Mogadishu,” the spokesman said while speaking to the journalists in Mogadishu. Col. Homoud also noted that the African Union led mission in Somalia in gradually taking over the bases vacated by the Ethiopian forces in the southern regions of Somalia where AMISOM recently deployed additional police forces in Baidoa town.

Asked about the recent allegations of the illegal charcoal trade against the Kenyan forces in Kismayo, the spokesman voiced that AMISOM was not convinced with the way the report from the UN Monitoring Group was done but he said investigation on the allegations were opened.

Key Headlines

AMISOM Holds Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Awareness Training Forum outreach to Sectors on Stabilization activities (AMISOM)
AMISOM spokesman talks of security progress (Radio Dalsan/Hiiraan Online/SNTV)
Former Somali Prime Minister to vie in Puntland presidential contest (Somalia Today/RBC)
Turkey to help rebuild Somali police says Somali ambassador (World Bulletin)
Agonising 18 months in the hands of Shabaab captors (Capital News)
Somalia Central Bank governor refutes claims of stopping printing of Somaliland Shillings in UK(Somaliland Informer)
US Congressman condemns attack against Turkish Embassy in Somalia (AA News)
No payment made by Kenyan government to release hostages held by al Shabaab (Bernama/KBC)
Kenya wants Somali refugees to go home but UN urges caution (VOA)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM Holds Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Awareness Training Forum, outreach to Sectors on Stabilization activities

02 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 374 words

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) held a one day sensitization forum on prevention and response on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse for officers drawn from the military component based at the Force Headquarters in Mogadishu and Sector 4 in Beledweyne on 31 July and 1 August 2013 respectively.

The event was facilitated by the Gender and Political Units and sought to educate the officers on the legal outlines regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse in the peace keeping operations. During the forum, the participant’s identified key issues, challenges and strengths allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of gender issues and equality while learning from each other on the best ways of implementing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif said that the forum was a good opportunity for the officers to understand issues surrounding Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and how they relate to AMISOM obligation.

“AMISOM takes its obligations to the Somali people extremely seriously,” he said. “Issues of prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse as well as Somali culture are a crucially important part of the training all our personnel receive prior to deployment in Somalia and this is reinforced during their deployment,” he added, noting that the mission had established effective awareness programmes and internal investigation procedures to deal with any allegations.

AMISOM Gender Unit has the mandate to reflect the Mission’s strong commitment on the advancement of Gender related issues as articulated in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This commitment was recognized by the Somalia Protection Cluster, a consortium of local and international NGOs including UN agencies, which in a report issued last October acknowledged

that very few civilian protection issues, including sexual abuse and exploitation directly implicate AMISOM. Meanwhile, AMISOM stabilization working group has resumed early recovery/peace dividends stabilization outreach activities in Baidoa and Beledweyne of sectors 3 and 4 respectively. AMISOM personnel including Political and Gender officers held meetings, on 29 July and 1 August 2013respectively, with the Governors of the regions Abdi Aden Hosoow of Bay and Mohamed Ibrahim Ali of Hiiraan, civil society including women organizations and AMISOM CIMIC officers on potential quick impact projects.

SOMALI MEDIA

AMISOM spokesman talks of security progress

02 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan/Hiiraan Online/SNTV – 164 words

Former Somali Prime Minister to vie in Puntland presidential contest

02 Jul – Source: Somalia Today/ RBC – 141 words

Former Somali Prime Minister Abdiwali Mohamed Gas is expected to arrive Galkaayo town, in Central Somalia to participate in the electoral campaigns in Puntland.

Reports from Puntland confirmed that Mr Gas met some Puntland opposition leaders including former Puntland President Adde Muse, in Emirates to discuss contest against current president Abdirahman Farole. According to informed sources, most of the opposition groups have agreed that Gas can be a compromise leader to defeat Farole.

The former Somali PM is expected to meet clan elders in Galkayo and some politicians before moving to Qardho town to strengthen the relationship between him and the opposition leaders in Qardho and search for new supporters in the political process.

Major roads in Mogadishu closed for security reasons

01 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 98 words

Security operations have been launched after a series of explosions caused by remote controlled bombs rocked Mogadishu which targeted solar street lights in Makka al Mukarama road.

Security officials have beefed up security and closed some major roads in the city which has affected public transport and other business activities in the city. Movement of people and public vehicles minimized in key business areas in Mogadishu as civilians trek to their workplaces. Government soldiers have been questioning and interacting with members of the public at some barriers along the Makka al Mukarama road.

Somalia Central Bank governor refutes claims of stopping printing of Somaliland Shillings in UK

01 Aug – Source: Somaliland Informer – 134 words

Somalia’s Central Bank Governor Abdisalan Omar Hadliye has vehemently refuted news reports disseminated by Somali media outlets for the past couple of days saying that he appealed to UK government to halt the printing of Somaliland currency.

The news has also been spread through the most popular social networking sites. The Somali central bank governor has spoken about the issue while in Mogadishu and said that the report was false. The governor reiterated in his statement that Somaliland reserves the right to print their currency.

He added that the news report was totally based on rumors and speculation and that he did not hear it talking be it the Finance Ministry. He denied that the report and said it was hundred percent false and added that Somaliland is entitled to print their Shillings.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Agonising 18 months in the hands of Shabaab captors

02 Aug – Source: Capital FM – 1061 Words

It is said that African men never show their tears because it’s seen as a sign of weakness. But when recently freed Mule Yesse stepped out of the car at the family home in Nairobi’s Buruburu estate, his dad Edward Mule Yesse broke down and wailed.

The sight was in itself a paradox; both heartbreaking and ecstatic as the family celebrated the miraculous and safe return of their 32 year-old son captured by the al Shabaab last January. Mule and Fredrick Wainaina incredibly survived an unforgiving shower of bullets; unleashed by about 100 Al Shabaab militiamen killing six of their colleagues in the process.

“We were under a hail of bullets for like five hours and we were going to die but do you know that by the time those guys came to pick us up, not one bullet had touched us?” asked Mule as if he was still trying to come to terms with that reality. “That fire fight was so intense that the walls would shake every time they were struck by the bullets and our ear pockets clogged to a point we couldn’t hear anything.”

Life under al Shabaab was hell, DO says in tearful family reunion

01 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 803 Words

For a year and a half, Mr Yesse Mule and Mr Fredrick Wainaina spent most of their time bound in chains with their eyes blindfolded. “Our days were basically dark days. Black days. Days without colour. You wake up and you can’t see any colour. Everything was in shadows,” Mr Mule recalled in an interview with the NationThursday.

As he recounted his tale, his wife Monah and his mother Emma, were by his side, listening intently. All the time the two were in captivity, they were at the mercy of al Shabaab militants who seized them in Wajir district where they were working as government officers. Mr Mule was a district officer while Mr Wainaina was an official with the department of registration of persons.

During their captivity, they did not know where they were except on the day they were taken to be paraded in Mogadishu. That was when they were captured on a video that was later posted on the Internet. In the video, the captives had been tied to pick-ups which were driven around Mogadishu. Residents were forced to line up the streets and watch.

Somali journalists ambivalent about draft media law

01 Aug – Source: Sabahi Online – 806 Words

Somali journalists are expressing a range of opinions on a proposed media law that some say will allow the government to control the press and limit the free flow information. Somalia’s federal parliament soon will debate the draft media law, which the cabinet of Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon approved July 11th.

Free press advocates, including the international watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have criticised the draft law, saying it restricts freedom of information, encourages self-censorship and would empower courts to demand Somali journalists reveal their sources. RSF and the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) have called on the government to implement several changes to the bill.

The NUSOJ wants the government to remove two controversial articles from the draft law: one that would place the National Media Council under the Ministry of Information, thereby eliminating its independence; and one that would suspend foreign media representatives from operating in the country if they are accused of violating the media law and their cases are pending.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Turkey to help rebuild Somali police, says Somali ambassador

02 Aug – Source: World Bulletin – 772 Words

The Somali ambassador to Ankara has stated that Turkey will step up its efforts in training police and intelligence forces in Somalia after the recent bombing attack on the Turkish mission in Mogadishu by al Shabaab, adding that Turkish support was valuable.

“If we had strong institutions as in Turkey, we would be able to prevent such attacks from happening. When we rebuild our institutions, our country will be secure. Turkey and Somalia have inked deals on training police and intelligence forces. Now, we are waiting for our police forces to be trained in Turkey,” Mohamed Sheikh Abdirahman told Today’s Zaman in an exclusive interview.

The agreement between Turkey and Somalia to establish cooperation mechanisms in the field of training forces was signed in May 2010 and approved by Turkish Parliament last November.

Abdirahman maintained that after the attack, the two countries further enhanced their ties over the cooperation of forces. “This cooperation is very important for Somalia. After 20 years of instability, such a proposal from a big country like Turkey is appreciated by the Somali people,” said the envoy, adding that training the intelligence forces is also of great importance.

US Congressman condemns attack against Turkish Embassy in Somalia

01 Aug – Source: AA News – 116 words

Washington, U.S. Representative for Illinois’s 16th congressional district and member of the Republican Party Adam Kinzinger has strongly condemned Saturday’s suicide attack against Turkish Embassy in Somali capital Mogadishu.

Speaking highly of Turkey’s contributions to the process of Somalia’s reconstruction, Kinzinger extended his consolation and sympathy to Turkish people and government for the recent attack.

One Turkish security guard was killed and several others were injured on Saturday while two suicide bombers were killed as another suicide bomber blew himself up in front of staff building of Turkey’s Embassy in Mogadishu.

No payment made by Kenyan government to release hostages held by al Shabaab

02 Aug – Source: Bernama/KBC – 325 Words

The Kenyan government did not pay ransom in exchange of the release of two of its officers held captive by al Shabaab in Somalia, Interior Cabinet Secretary Jospeh Ole Lenku has said.

Lenku said the release of Yesse Mule District Officer, Wajir County’s Border Division, and District Registrar of Persons, Fredrick Wainaina Irungu, was as a result of negotiations spearheaded by community elders in Wajir County and their counterparts in Somalia.

The Cabinet Secretary said the government is working closely with the elders of both sides to secure the release of other Kenyans held by the militia. Lenku said the government can neither negotiate with terrorists nor pay ransom in exchange of freeing captives.

There have been claims that either the government or the families of the two abductees negotiated and paid for a ransom before their release on Sunday evening. Yesse’s father, Edward Mule, has since denied the claims but agreed that he has constantly been in touch with the abductors pleading for his son’s release.

Kenya wants Somali refugees to go home, but UN urges caution

01 Aug – Source: VOA – 409 Words

The Kenyan government is in talks with Somalia over the repatriation of Somali refugees living in the world’s largest refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya. But insecurity at the camp has put pressure on Kenya to relocate its residents, while instability in Somalia remains a concern for those thinking of returning home. The camp in northern Kenya shelters more a quarter of a million refugees, and most have been there for more than two decades.

The Kenyan government is growing increasingly concerned about accommodating such a large refugee population and about security issues. Since last December, Kenya has been working to relocate Somali refugees back to Somalia. But Somali refugee youth leader Abdifatah Ibrahim wants the government to reconsider its stand because of insecurity in the region.

“The repatriation process should be halted ’till negotiations are done and peace prevails in Juba valley so apparently we cannot allow ourselves to give consent to going back to southern Somalia,” says Ibrahim.

Kenya gov’t to pay $460k to rendition victims

01 Aug – Source: Big Story – 612 Words

A Kenyan court has awarded compensation to 11 victims of the largest illegal deportation of terrorism suspects in Africa to countries with appalling human rights records, a lawyer said Thursday.

The illegal deportations to countries that do not uphold human rights were meant to facilitate long periods for interrogations of the suspects — beyond the prescribed periods — by various security agencies including the FBI and CIA, said Mbugua Mureithi, who represented the 11 victims.

Some of the suspects deported to those countries had complained of torture, he said. Judge Mumbi Ngugi ordered the Kenya government to pay nearly a total of $460,000 as restitution and ruled that their 2007 deportations from Kenya to Somalia and finally Ethiopia were unlawful and unconstitutional, Mureithi said.

The court announced the judgment Wednesday but the written report was to be released Thursday, he said. The victims, eight Kenyans, two Tanzanians and a Rwandan, were part of a group of more than 100 who were detained in Ethiopia. Some were caught at different times sneaking into Kenya from Somalia, where they were escaping a U.S.-supported Ethiopian army offensive against an Islamic extremist group that controlled much of Somalia. Others were arrested in Kenya.

New Report: 700 civilians died of starvation due to Kismayo phone suspensions

01 Aug – Source: News XS – 171 words

A new UN report about the humanitarian situation in Kismayo gives an alarming description of how the suspension of telephone services in Kismayo by Kenyan forces and their Ras Kamboni allies led to the deaths of more than 700 civilians, mostly Internally Displaced People (IDPs).

The report states that Kismayo residents use mobile-based money transfer technology to receive and save money from all sources including relatives abroad and humanitarian organizations. The United Nations alone reported to assisting 18,800 IDPs including 14,900 women and 3,700 elderly men.

That project alone distributed $150 to each beneficiary to help them expand their livelihood options. With no physical cash transfers, the project was expected to reduce the risk of money being stolen.

Unfortunately, the Kenyan forces and their clan-based militia turned the project into a death sentence for hundreds of IDPs when they suspended telephone services for extended periods. One incident referred to by the report occurred during the discredited Jubbaland convention when telephone service was out for more than a month.

Rotterdam company signs contract with Somalia

01 Aug – Source: Dutch News – 96 Words

Rotterdam-based Atlantic Marine and Offshore has signed a major order with the Somalian government to set up a coast guard operation. Somalia is setting up a coast guard force to combat piracy and to strengthen its control over its territorial waters and natural resources, a presidential spokesman said.

According to the deal, AMO will build, maintain and operate the coast guard fleet which will include long-range patrol vessels equipped with high-speed intervention vessels. The company will also provide training. No details were given as to the potential size of the force or of the cost involved.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The al Shabaab terrorist attack on Turkey’s embassy in Mogadishu has provoked further conspiracy theories.”

Why did al Qaeda-linked group hit Turkish Embassy in Somalia?

01 Aug – Source: Al Monitor/Turkey Pulse – 962 Words

On July 27, the Turkish Embassy in the Somali capital Mogadishu was hit by a suicide car bomb attack. One Turkish security officer was killed and three others were seriously wounded. Soon, al Shabaab — an al Qaeda-affiliated militant group — claimed the bombing on its Twitter account. They said that Turkey was targeted for “supporting the apostate regime [in Somalia] and seeking to suppress the Sharia order.”

Arguably, it is not too difficult to understand why al Shabaab is hostile to Turkey. The organization — whose name means “youngsters” in Arabic — is fighting against the central government in Somalia, which enjoys the support and friendship of Ankara.

Since 2011, when Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan became the first non-African leader to visit Somalia in nearly 20 years, Turkey has poured $400 million of aid to this Muslim nation traumatized by famine and civil war. The growing Turkish presence in Somalia is welcomed by most Somalis and their government, but not by al Shabaab which condemns other Muslims as “apostates” simply for not accepting their harsh and militant creed.

So, it might well be concluded that Turkey’s goodwill in Somalia has been hit by a group of religious zealots. But, well, not all Turks think like that. Some writers in the Turkish media, especially in newspapers that support the government, argue these days that al Shabaab must be seen only as a “subcontractor,” and “its bosses behind the scenes” must be taken into account. And these “bosses” are, of course, Western powers.

“The Mogadishu Turkish embassy attack, thus, was at least the third important al Qaeda attack on Turkish targets since 2003. Still, Turkish government members have not been able to officially accuse al Qaeda for either the ReyhanlÄ± carnage or the Mogadishu attack. However, the Mogadishu attack was claimed by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab gang.”

How to read the Somali attack?

02 Aug- Source: Hürriyet Daily News -597 Words

In the aftermath of the al Qaeda attack on the Turkish mission in Mogadishu that killed one Turkish policeman, Turkey’s absolute ruler had a telephone conversation with Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon. The two must have discussed many things, but the press office of the Turkish premier disclosed only that Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan stressed his determination to continue Turkey’s activities in Somalia and to stand with the people of the African country.

It was as if the attack was a “routine one;” just a traffic accident around the corner. However, the attack was carried out by the most notorious Islamist terrorist gang, al Qaeda. Worse, this was not the first attack of the Islamist gang on Turkey. The first attack by the gang on Turkey was on Nov. 15 and 20, 2003.

In attacks – on a synagogue, a British bank and the British consulate –more than 50 people were heinously murdered, including the British consul-general. The mastermind of that attack, a Turkish member of the gang, fled to Iraq and was reported to have been killed in a blast there. The obvious message of that 2003 attack was to show Ankara how strong the gang was in Turkey.

“Wouldn’t be nice if all Jails/Prisons/Detention centres could all share information among each other, so if someone who commits a crime in one area just can’t go running to another new place and blend in with the local population and hide? How about setting up some kind of repository criminal clearing house, that all arrest records would be available to all law enforcement agencies?”

The Criminal Justice System in Somalia: Crime and Punishment

01 Aug- Source: SomaliaOnline Forum-713 Words

In the last few months I have been very interested in how the Justice system works in Somalia. All of this started from reading stories on Somali websites about people who were accused of killings, al Shabaab folks being arrested, random assassinations, pirates getting busted, arguments/disputes ending in shootings/gun battles and whole other stuff.

I know this could easily turn into politics/Siyaasad debate (it just takes one interjecting Qabiil and derailing it), but this is not the aim of this. What I am looking for or at least hope to talk about is how crimes/criminals are dealt with in Somalia. From how they are first determined they are suspects, to the police/Askar arresting them, with the accused moving through the courts/Maxkamado and finally being found guilty and carrying out the punishment/Xukun, if it’s Death (dhimasho ama toogasho, or being given jail time)

I am sure there are people here on SomaliaOnline that have way more knowledge about this than me. And i hope Somali lawyers who live and work abroad, those that worked there before or are currently working there, the others who live there and have first-hand experience (Alpha Blondy) and of course Juxa, our esteemed paralegal assistance expert from UK. Can share their opinion about what they think would be the BEST way forward when dealing with criminals. This would cover Somaliland, Somalia and Puntland and how each deals with those things.

Somalia’s Mobile Courts

01 Aug- Source: UNDP Youtube-3:43mins

For the residents of the Xaaji Kheyr village in Puntland, Somalia, it’s a two-hour drive to the nearest court. And due to the cost and time involved, most residents do not have a chance to seek justice.

But in 2009, the Puntland Supreme Court, with the support of United Nations Development Programme, set up four mobile courts in order to bring justice to the rural areas in this large country in the Horn of Africa. And since mobile courts were launched in 2009, the annual caseload has doubled from 200 to 407 in 2011.

The courts consist of a judge, prosecutor, chief registrar and paralegal lawyer and adjudicate primarily civil and family cases, but also criminal cases.

Top tweets

@OCHASom Have you seen the #Somalia June #HumanitarianDashboard? here it is! http://bit.ly/18UXjqR.

‏@t_mcconnell Chained and blindfolded for 19-months: Kenyan recounts life as a Shabaab hostage in #Somalia http://bit.ly/143bNjO via @dailynation.

@amisomsomalia PHOTO OF THE DAY:Nov 16 2011 #AMISOMpolice mentor & train their #TFG counterparts on securityhttp://on.fb.me/QqTSeN pic.twitter.com/XJrtsL66Zd.

@SAVEalerts Somalia leads world in per capita #FGM – 98% of Somali women have undergone this gruesome practice!!http://t.co/9UMjHZn7zb .

@simonalloyd Tom Hanks to launch London Film Festival with real-life thriller about Somali pirates http://t.co/MPnQLd1EnX .

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Image of the day

Image of the day Hundreds in Mogadishu demonstrate to condemn al Shabaab attacks on Turkish posts. Photo: @AbdulPressTV.