November 7, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somalia’s ‘one-legged’ al Shabaab still far from defeat

07 Nov- Source: Daily Nation/ AFP- 762 words

With reinforcements expected, Somali and African forces fighting al Shabaab extremists speak confidently of victory, but analysts warn of tough battles ahead and say that military campaigns alone will not bring peace.

The al Qaeda linked al Shabaab have fled a string of towns in the past two years ahead of the advancing African Union force in Somalia (AMISOM) — fighting alongside Somalia’s rag-tag army, various aligned militia forces and Ethiopian troops — and commanders brag that the Islamists are on the back foot.

“Al Shabaab is standing on one leg, and we are doing our best to hack off that leg and liberate the small areas they still control,” Somalia’s Minister of Defence Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi told AFP.

“Their military strength is weakened, they are now launching just desperate attacks.”

Key Headlines

Abudwak officials to take measures to improve security( Radio Bar-Kulan)
Hargeisa IDPs relocated to new housing(Radio Ergo)
President rallies nation and appeals for urgent humanitarian assistance after flooding of Shabelle River.(OP)
Inter-clan fighting leaves several dead in Middle Shabelle( Radio Bar-Kulan)
Somali Government assures International partners its commitment to ongoing reforms of Somali institutions(OPM)
Somali-American Makes History as Lawmaker(VOA)
Somalia’s ‘one-legged’ al Shabaab still far from defeat(Daily Nation)
Al Shabaab uses Islam to justify television ban in Barawe(Sabahi online)

PRESS STATEMENT

AU Special Representative welcomes the successful conclusion of the Jubba Regions Reconciliation Conference

07 Nov- Source: AMISOM- 224 words

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif has congratulated the Federal Government and the people of Somalia for the successful hosting of the Reconciliation Conference on the Jubba Regions.

Ambassador Annadif notes with satisfaction that by holding the conference, the people of Somalia have demonstrated once again their strong commitment to peace and reconciliation in their country.

The conference which took place in Mogadishu is part of the implementation of the Addis Ababa agreement of August 28th, 2013 and discussed key issues including peace-building and reconciliation, security and social affairs. The Addis Ababa agreement was a major step in the national reconciliation process and the consolidation of peace and stability in Somalia.

The AU Special representative was pleased to learn that delegates to the conference discussed key points that are essential to peace-building and reconciliation process for Juba regions including security, re-integration of armed groups and the fight against terrorists, economic progress and social development among others.

“I wish to re-affirm the readiness of the African Union and that of AMISOM in particular to supporting the implementation of the recommendations made during the conference.” He said.

Ambassador Annadif is encouraged by the environment during the conference which allowed delegates to genuinely discuss issues on how to reach lasting peace in the Jubba regions.

President rallies nation and appeals for urgent humanitarian assistance after flooding of Shabelle River

06 Nov- Source: Office of the President- 139 words

The president today traveled to Jowhar to assess the damage caused by the flooding of the Shabelle River and show solidarity to the people of the region affected by the disaster.

“I appeal to the Somali people here and in the diaspora to urgently support their brothers and sisters in Middle Shabelle,” the president said. “I pay tribute to the efforts of aid organizations and call on our partners in the international community to provide the maximum level of emergency assistance to communities afflicted by this disaster. At dark moments like this we must stand together and face the crisis as one nation.”

The president was accompanied by Members of Parliament the Ministers of Health and Defence, the governor of Middle Shebelle, officials from the Turkish Red Crescent, Qatar Charity, UAE, Somali Chamber of Commerce and other aid organizations.

Somali Government assures International partners its commitment to ongoing reforms of Somali institutions

06 Nov- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 174 words

Ridwaan Haji, Government spokesperson, said:

“The Federal Government of Somalia has an unshakeable commitment to good-governance. “We do not wish to comment on individual decisions, nor will we speculate about the resignation of the Central Bank Governor. It will be up to the new Governor, when appointed, to carry on the important job of reforming the Central Bank.

“We all agree that the Somalia’s New Deal Compact is the way forward for this country to promote trust, transparency and mutual accountability. The Somali Development and Reconstruction Facility (SDRF) is the centerpiece for this new partnership between Somalia and the International Community.

“In order to promote transparency and rebuild the trust in the CBS and other financial institutions, we are discussing with our international partners the most efficient way forward based on the spirit of the New Deal and it’s governance structure.

“The Somali Government has carried out reforms to ensure transparency. The reforms to our government institutions will be ongoing and we look forward to continuing to work with our partners on these reforms.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Inter-clan fighting leaves several dead in Middle Shabelle

07 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Garowe Online- 100 words

Several people have on Wednesday been killed while many others injured in a fierce fighting between two clan militias in Timire and Gedo-barkan villages in Middle Shabelle region.

Mohameud Tima’ade, a resident in Gedo-barkan village told Bar-kulan that the fighting have left many casualties. The administration in the area is yet to confirm the exact number of casualties during the inter-clan confrontation in which its likely spark is also unclear.

The fighting comes at a time when the president of the federal government of Somalia was touring the region to assess the gravity of the flooding situation in the area.

Kenya-Somaliland Relations Boosted

07 Nov- Source: Somalilandpress/Universal TV-148 Words

A high level delegation from the government of Kenya consisting of several parliamentarians arrived in the country yesterday on an official three day visit.

The Kenyan parliamentarians who are in the country for a three day official visit were received by their Somaliland counterparts after they arrived at Egal International Airport earlier today.

The Kenyan delegation is expected to meet with his Excellency President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) and top government officials to discuss ways to enhance both diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.

The visiting lawmakers will visit the various regions of the country and also expected to meet with people from those regions. Somaliland is committed to work with its neighbors in the horn region towards sustaining the stability and security of the Horn of Africa. It is one way of helping the people of both countries and those of the region at large.

Abudwak officials to take measures to improve security

07 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 131 words

Government officials in Abudwak district of Galgadud region will in the coming days conduct security exercise to improve the security situation in the region, according to officials.

Abudwak District Commissioner, Ahmed Jama Dhirif told Bar-kulan that recent reports of worsening security situation in the region has prompted the administration officials to take measures designed to deter further insecurity.

He said that his forces have the support of the local people adding that the operation will affect all neighborhoods in the town.

The commissioner stated that the operation will jointly be conducted by the district police officers and the armed forces of the federal government.

Dhirif says that he strongly believes the imminent security measures will improve the current security state of the town.

Hargeisa IDPs relocated to new housing

07 Nov- Source: Radio Ergo- 222 words

New shelters have been constructed by aid agencies to house hundreds of IDPs currently living in squalid camps on the outskirts of Hargeisa. The director of Somaliland’s Ministry for Resettlement, Mohamud Yonis Jibril, said that the government had provided the land on which 880 houses were built by international organizations. UN agencies OCHA, UNHCR, IOM, and Habitat, as well as the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), have been involved in implementing the resettlement programme.

The deputy head of OCHA’s office for Somalia, Eden Wosornu, said they started relocating families from the Mohamed Moge IDP camp to the new shelters on Wednesday6 November. The relocation would continue until the end of the year.

“We will be relocating 100 families each week and every family will occupy one single room,” Wosornu told Radio Ergo’s local reporter. The IDPs will also receive other services including clinics, education, water and other services that will improve their living conditions. Half of Somaliland’s estimated 84,000 IDPs live in Hargeisa, while another 25,000 live in Burao, the second largest city of Somaliland.

The chairman of Mohamed Moge camp, Ibrahim Ahmed Handule, said theIDPs had lost their livestock in cycles of drought and famine, while others had fled from their original home in southern Somalia due to conflict over the past two decades.

Somaliland: Ethiopian Mission in Hargeisa to temporarily reduce volume of on-land entries into Ethiopia

07 Nov- Source: Somaliland Sun-574 Words

The Ethiopian Consulate General office in Hargeisa has announced in a statement issued on Wednesday (06 Nov. 2013) that it will temporarily suspend providing visas and vehicle entry permits into the country for security reasons.

The suspension which would be effective on Monday November 11 would be maintained for nearly 30 days until the peaceful conclusion of the celebration of the Ethiopian Peoples, Nations and Nationalities Day in Jigjiga.

Head of the Consulate General office, Brigadier General Berhe Tesfay, said his office has reached on this decision following repeated consultations with its stakeholders. The decision was communicated several weeks ahead of its enforcement to the competent Somaliland authorities with a subsequent request to inform their widest possible public about the matter. He also noted that any kind cooperation from the Somaliland peoples and authorities for full compliance with the decision as well as in dealing with common threats especially at this specific time would be highly appreciated.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s ‘one-legged’ al Shabaab still far from defeat

07 Nov- Source: Daily Nation/ AFP- 762 words

“Their military strength is weakened, they are now launching just desperate attacks.”

Al Shabaab uses Islam to justify television ban in Barawe

06 Nov- Source: Sabahi Online- 699 words

Using loudspeakers mounted on vehicles, al Shabaab banned the people of Barawe from watching television, saying it harms their Islamic principles, and ordered them to turn in their televisions and satellite dishes to al Shabaab officials.

The militants announced the ban October 28th and gave residents five days to hand over their equipment to the Barawe municipal office, said Mursal Yarisow, a 54-year-old traditional elder in Barawe.

“I was really surprised when I heard about this ugly order that is forbidding us from watching TV while we are in our own homes,” he told Sabahi. “The only channels my family and I watch are the Somali channels, such as Universal TV, Horn Cable TV and Somali Channel TV, so that we can stay informed on global news.”

“I am not sure where al Shabaab has seen or watched these other channels that they say are harmful to the religion,” he said.

Arab Journalists ‘Voice’ Discontent Over Practices

07 Nov- Source: Arab Times- 297 words

Arab journalists have voiced extreme discontent with some “appalling practices” against journalists in several countries; primarily physical liquidation, torture and detention and suppression. In a final communique of the three-day gathering of the Federation of Arab Journalists, which wound up here on Wednesday, they openly denounced the lingering assassination and killing of journalists in Palestine, Somalia, Syria, Egypt, Libya and Iraq.

Therefore, protection ought to be provided for all media representatives at flashpoints in order to enable them to do their job properly, they requested. They also called on Arab governments to safeguard the freedom of expression and speech, allow pressmen to play their due effective role in addressing societal issues and create a free independent media atmosphere based on multiplicity and press freedom.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Elman wins Somali Super Cup

07 Nov- Source: African Soccer Weebly-403 Words

Somalia’s current champions Elman FC have won the country’s supper cup after defeating their Banadir Sports Club rivals by 5-4 in penalties in a hotly-contested match at the Banadir Stadium on Wednesday. The supper cup match which was the first to be exhibited at the facility after the Artificial Turf installation has attracted tens of thousands of spectators including top Somali government officials.

In the 23rd minute of the first half of the match Dadir Amin Ali scored a very beautiful goal for his Banadir sports club, with the first half ending in 1-0 in favour of Banadir Sports club. But in the 52nd minute of the second half Elman’s top striker Mohamed Nur Abdi scored the equalising goal for his team. Both teams were committed to wining Wednesday’s supper cup match and as a result, the 90-minte period that it takes to play a football game ended in 1-1 draw.

However, Elman FC seemed to be luckier than their rivals, when they won by 5-4 in penalties. “It cheers me to be the winners of this year’s supper cup, while we are still the country’s champions” Elman FC deputy captain Hassan Ali Roble told at a post match press conference. The Supper cup was sponsored by Hormuud Telcom, one of the country’s largest network providers.

Somali-American Makes History as Lawmaker

06 Nov- Source: VOA-143 Words

A newly elected councilman in the northern U.S. city of Minneapolis is poised to become one of the highest elected persons of Somali descent in the United States. Abdi Warsame won the race for city councilman in a landslide victory on Tuesday against incumbent candidate Robert Lilligren.

In an interview with VOA, Warsame said he has a feeling of “quiet satisfaction” about his victory. “I would describe it as a job well done and a feeling of content because we worked very hard for the last three years to be where we are today. To get a landslide victory against an incumbent, it is a remarkable achievement,” said Warsame.

Warsame was born in Somalia and raised in Britain. He settled in Minneapolis in 2008. He says that as a city councilman, he plans to focus on creating jobs and improving education and transportation.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Life is all about the choices we make. With all other good choices available to us, unfortunately, Somali way of life has become our choice. I believe Somali way of life has placed our sovereignty in the backseat and is the only obstacle holding the whole country back.”

What Has Become a Somali Way of Life!

06 Nov- Source: Wardheernews-1746 Words

In the eyes of the whole world, we have failed to organize one single Somali owned initiative independent from foreign nationals to sort out our differences. This has become our way of life for the last quarter of a century. Not only do our politicians, clan leaders, and intellectuals have trouble agreeing on anything, but they still have not managed to sit and talk to each other as a collective body.

During this period, international communities have assumed full authority on breaking deals with or without our consent. They’re also responsible for overseeing and safeguarding our sovereignty. However, due to constant infighting and unpatriotic attitude, not all their efforts have been materialized successfully as planned. We failed them, too, in many ways. We’re captivated in sleeping with old problems rather than committing to finding new solutions.

How could we possibly resolve our differences if we cannot possibly manage to talk, listen, and respect each other? When people talk, it brings them together and as a result, great things may in turn happen. Do we not know this wisdom? A quote by Henry Ford: “Coming together is the beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Somali people have made a choice. We have chosen NOT to talk to each other. Yes, that’s a Somali way of life!.

“Most often it goes into developing militias or political influence, the study found after conducting a series of interviews which included low- and mid-level pirates as well as law-enforcement and military officials and victims.”

Where pirates stash their booty

06 Nov- Source: CNBC-699 Words

Somali pirates have a problem Captain Hook never faced: how to invest millions worth of ransom payments. Like many a corporate raider, Somalia’s pirate financiers often look to create a vertically integrated, diversified business, according to the “Pirate Trails” study by the World Bank, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Interpol’s maritime piracy task force.

“Piracy is a lucrative business,” Stuart Yikona, a senior financial sector specialist with the World Bank, said in a blog posting. The World Bank estimates Somali pirates collected between $339 million and $413 million in ransom payments between April 2005 and December 2012. “The exact amount is very hard to pin down, given the reluctance of the shipping companies and pirates to reveal the cost and rewards of piracy.”

After expenses, including paying low-level foot-soldiers who carry out the attacks as well as other employees, such as cooks and mechanics, pirate financiers collect between 30 and 70 percent of the total ransom, he said. But where does the money go?

Top tweets

@OCHASom Our latest #Humanitarian Dashboard; below average rain forecast #Somalia may result in food insecurity@faoinsomalia http://bit.ly/1a7iIdI

@AJStream Who reaps the benefits from Somali piracy? Find out here: http://ow.ly/qyAjh #Somalia

@amisomsomalia August 4th-Female IDPs line up at a food distribution center in Afgoye #Somalia while a SNA soldier provides security pic.twitter.com/W972MEmAZf

@WFPSomalia #Somali women making tie & dye dresses at a vocational training centre supported by @WFP in #Somalia.pic.twitter.com/AygcgMDYkG

@P2PMaritime Recent #pirate attacks in the #Somali Basin – reverting back to ‘traditional hunting areas’? 3rd attack in 30 days pic.twitter.com/3PjkjA1Hrf

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Image of the day

Image of the day Elman FC and Banaadir Sports Club teams compete for Super Cup at the recently renovated Konis stadium in Mogadishu. Photo: Dayniile