December 10, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Government says Gulf States will hold special conference for Somalia
10 Dec- Source: Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid- 115 words
Somali Foreign Ministry confirmed that the Gulf States pledged to hold a special conference on the reconstruction of Somalia. The Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Mohamed Noor Ga,al said in a statement to Radio Mogadishu , the leaders of the Gulf states will discuss the date of the special conference on reconstruction in Somalia during the GCC summit which opens on Tuesday in Kuwait. Ga`al has returned to the country on Monday after a tour of the Gulf states, where he delivered a message from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud to the leaders of the Gulf states.
Key Headlines
- Somali government says Gulf States will hold special conference for Somalia (Radio Mogadishu)
- Security forces recover over 200 explosives in Kismayo (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Somalia president pays tribute to Mandela (eNCA News)
- Humanitarian negotiations with al Shabaab in Somalia (Radio Dalsan)
- District Court in Hargeisa sentences local councilor to death (Somaliland Informer)
- Somaliland Foreign Minister Meets with Sheik Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nayhan Chairman and Founder of the Bin Zayed Group (Somaliland Press)
- Somali Parliament urged to pass Refugees and IDPs Bill (Radio Bar-Kulan)
- Police warn of terrorist plot to strike Ugandan capital (Sudan Tribute)
- Demonstrators call on Somali government to liberate Lower Shabelle from al Shabaab (Sabahi Online)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM committed to protection of human rights
10 Dec- Source: AMISOM-181 Words
As the world marks International Human Rights Day, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif reiterates AMISOM’s commitment to the protection of the rights of the Somali people.
“AMISOM is working closely with the Federal Government of Somalia to protect the most vulnerable members of society by providing a safe environment free of violence and intimidation; an essential precondition for the full enjoyment of human rights,” he said, adding that AMISOM will continue to work closely with Somali security forces to create a peaceful and safe environment within Somalia and confront those who would wish to deny freedom and liberty to the Somali people.
Ambassador Annadif added that AMISOM troops receive extensive pre-deployment training on the relevant aspects of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law, and the Mission mainstreams protection of human rights in all its activities. The UN General Assembly proclaimed December 10th as Human Rights Day in 1950. Building on the theme “20 YEARS: WORKING FOR YOUR RIGHTS” Human Rights Day will be celebrated across the globe.
Government Spokesperson statement on Mogadishu trial
10 Dec- Source: Office of the Prime Minister-151 Words
Responding to the Mogadishu court verdict on the trial of a woman and two journalists, Government Spokesperson, Ridwaan Haji, today said:
“We have an independent judiciary in Somalia and the government cannot and must not be involved in the administration of justice. Our new, independent judiciary, like many institutions in the new Somalia, is in its infancy. It will take time to develop and evolve into an institution that delivers justice effectively and inspires public confidence.
“I reiterate the government’s commitment to a free press and freedom of speech. It is essential that journalists are able to work freely and effectively but they must also take their role in society seriously and demonstrate social responsibility.
“The police and judiciary carried out a thorough investigation which resulted in yesterday’s sentences. Those sentenced have the right to appeal through the Somali judiciary system if they believe justice has not been carried out properly.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali government says Gulf States will hold special conference for Somalia
10 Dec- Source: Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid- 115 words
Somali Foreign Ministry confirmed that the Gulf States pledged to hold a special conference on the reconstruction of Somalia. The Minister of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Mohamed Noor Ga,al said in a statement to Radio Mogadishu , the leaders of the Gulf states will discuss the date of the special conference on reconstruction in Somalia during the GCC summit which opens on Tuesday in Kuwait. Ga`al has returned to the country on Monday after a tour of the Gulf states, where he delivered a message from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud to the leaders of the Gulf states.
Security forces recover over 200 explosives in Kismayo
10 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan-104 Words
Interim Jubba Administration security forces have on Monday morning conducted an operation to collect undetonated explosives from Via Afmadow neighborhood in Kismayo city. IJA Security and Internal Affairs Minister, Mohamed Warsame Farah Darwish said in a press conference in Kismayo that the security forces have recovered over 200 explosive devices in the operation.
He said that the explosives consisted of bombs, landmines and hand grenades adding that the measure is part of wider operations to improve the security of the city. Measures to uproot al Shabaab remnants have increased since the allied forces took control of the strategic port city of Kismayo in 2012.
Humanitarian negotiations with al Shabaab in Somalia
10 Dec – Source: Radio Dalsan – 427 words
Somalia is one of the most dangerous environments in the world for aid workers and humanitarian organisations. A formidable obstacle to reaching people in need of humanitarian assistance is the militant group al Shabaab. Al Shabaab’s sophisticated system for monitoring aid, the demands placed on aid agencies and the consequences of failed negotiations are revealed in this research.
Drawn from over 80 interviews with former al Shabaab officials, aid workers and civilians, this research details difficulties faced by aid agencies attempting to operate in al Shabaab controlled areas during the 2011 famine.
Al Shabaab’s Humanitarian Coordination Office forced aid agencies to complete registration forms and other documentation that laid out general conditions for access, with negotiations with the militant group also resulting in payments of registration fees (as much as $10,000). The consequences for breaking the rules were extreme: outright hostility, expulsions, attacks and harassment.
District Court in Hargeisa sentences local councilor to death
10 Dec- Source:Somaliland Informer- 137 words
Somaliland court in Hargeisa has sentenced Mr. Mustafe Osman Dahir, a local councilor in Hargeisa to death on Monday.
The local councilor was found guilty for murdering his friend. The councilor appeared before the court on Monday morning and concluded his case hearing at the court and announced the verdict of death penalty in accordance to the Islamic law.
The verdict passed by the court was long awaiting judgment and the sentence is expected to pave the way for his party to fill the vacant seat. Mr. Mustafe Osman Dahir was among the elected local councilors in Hargeisa in 2012 and he was arrested after killing his friend while highly intoxicated.
Somaliland Foreign Minister Meets with Sheik Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nayhan, Chairman and Founder of Bin Zayed Group
10 Dec- Source: Somaliland Press- 487 words
Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Hon Mohamed Bihi Yunis has met with Sheikh Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nayhan who is the Chairman and Founder of the Bin Zayed Group, a leading conglomerate established in 1988 with diverse business interests in the local and international markets.
The Bin Zayed Group’s key activities comprise Real-Estate and Contracting, Trading, Technology Development and Islamic Insurance (Takaful and Re-Takaful). Sheikh Khaled’s business achievements include his role as Chairman of SALAMA, the largest Takaful and Re-Takaful Company in
“We had a very impressive talk with Sheikh Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nayhan and he has expressed his interest to invest in Somaliland,” Mr. Yunis said. “This is my second visit to the UAE and we discussed on how we can foster more trade ties between our two countries.”
“We discussed with Sheik Khalid Bin Said Al Nayhan, energy, oil, infrastructure and water projects in Somaliland that were pledged and to be implemented,” Mr. Yunis said. “We have businessmen who operate financial exchanges, cargo services import and so many more based out of the UAE”, stated Hon Bihi.
Somali Parliament urged to pass Refugees and IDPs Bill
09 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 173 words
State Minister for Internal Affairs and National Security, Mahdi Mohamud Ali has called on the parliament to pass the proposed Refugees and IDPs Bill in order to tackle the issue of refugees in Somalia.
Ali stated that huge number of Somali refugees have fled to neighboring countries following the collapse of the former Somali government and the subsequent eruption of the civil war in 1991.
He pointed out that the repatriation of the Somali refugees would ease the burden of refugees on Kenya, Uganda and Yemen, where largest number of Somali refugees have been living in for more than two decades.
Ali added that there are many internally displaced families who need assistance as well while reading the bill in the parliament.
The parliament has on Sunday started to look into the details of the proposed bill.
Somalia has last month signed an agreement with Kenya and UNCHR over the repatriation of more than half a million Somali refugees from refugee camps in Kenya.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Police warn of terrorist plot to strike Ugandan capital
09 Dec- Source: Sudan Tribute-362 Words
The Ugandan police on Monday issued a warning to the public, saying it had received information from “credible sources” that terrorists were planning to strike the capital, Kampala.
“Police last evening (Sunday) received information from credible sources of a plan by a group of people to unleash terror attacks in the city [on] Monday, 9 December”, statement released by the spokesperson of the Ugandan police, Judith Nabakoba, said.
“The plan involves a group of thugs either on foot or boda-boda riders attacking and burning petrol stations and buildings in the city, especially business premises”, the statement adds.
At the time of filing this report, no such terror attack had been reported in the Ugandan capital. The police said it was hunting the unnamed suspected terrorists and that it had put in place measures to stop possible attacks on petrol stations across the city.
Demonstrators call on Somali government to liberate Lower Shabelle from al Shabaab
09 Dec – Source: Sabahi Online – 123 words
Residents of the K50 area in Lower Shabelle publicly demonstrated Sunday (December 8th) and called on the Somali federal government to liberate parts of the region still under al Shabaab control, Radio Dalsan reported. Demonstrators waved anti al Shabaab banners and called for the military campaign in the region to continue.
District commissioner Abdullahi Waafo thanked the demonstrators for coming out and expressing their views, in what he said was the first such gathering since Somali government forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) pushed al Shabaab out of several nearby districts last year.
Salalah-Somalia service launched
10 Dec- Source: Times of Oman-170 words
Simatech has launched a new service between Salalah, Berbera and Mogadishu. The first vessel, the 1150 TEUs MV Sima Pride, made the inaugural call in Salalah recently.
This fortnightly service will provide a reliable and safe connectivity for the growing Somali trade from Salalah. Salalah is already the main hub for Omani trade with Somalia and this new service will boost trade between the two countries, which is estimated to be about $116 million.
“We are happy to see Simatech commencing this service between Salalah and Berbera and Mogadishu, both of which are important trade centres for Somali trade. This service can allow bigger parcels of essential imports like vegetable oil, cement, foodstuff to be exported on a regular basis from exporters in Salalah,” said Abdi Hussain, a Somali trader.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
IGAD meets in Nairobi and launches regional Sustainable Tourism Master Plan
10 Dec- Source: Eturbo News- 389 words
After nearly three years of preparation, 2 regional workshops (Addis Ababa in June 2012 and Kampala in October 2012) and several national consultative workshops, private and public sector interaction on national and regional level and a peer review, was yesterday the IGAD – short for Intergovernmental Authority on Development – regional Sustainable Tourism Master Plan launched. The two-day meeting, held at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Convention Centre, was attended by tourism ministers and ministry representatives from across the IGAD member states, namely host country Kenya, Uganda, the Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea.
Formally launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta will the document, which covers the period 2013 – 2023, provide a blue print for the IGAD region how to use tourism for economic development and how to make tourism sustainable, upholding green principles and having local communities participate and benefit as a tool of poverty reduction.
Somalia president pays tribute to Mandela
09 Dec- Source: eNCA News-01:19mins
More tributes are coming in for Nelson Mandela from African countries. Somalia’s president Sheikh Hassan Mohamud spoke exclusively to our East Africa Bureau Chief Robyn Kriel.
Fierce fighting in central Somalia
09 Dec- Source: longwarjournal -443 words
The past week has seen fierce fighting all over Somalia, but particularly near the city of Beledweyne, as AMISOM and Somali troops face stiff al Shabaab resistance in multiple theaters. Since The Long War Journal’s report on fighting in and around Beledweyne on Nov. 25, attacks in the region have escalated again. AMISOM troops and Somali soldiers had made a sustained effort to wipe out the al Shabaab presence in the area, and seemed to inspire enough confidence that even Hiran pastoralists attempted to fight off Shabaab militants who were stealing their livestock.
But al Shabaab fighters have been no pushovers: on Dec. 4, Shabaab fighters again attacked an AMISOM base outside of Beledweyne, exchanging heavy artillery fire with AMISOM troops. Although there were casualties on both sides, al Shabaab was eventually forced to retreat. Over the weekend, one Djiboutian AMISOM soldier was killed and three were wounded in the area while trying to defuse undetonated RPGs, probably left over from the Dec. 4 attack. Djiboutian soldiers were killed in the al Shabaab suicide assault in Beledweyne in November that spurred the current AMISOM offensive into action.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“In cases like that of Somalia, a way forward is to push for micro-finance within different communities, supporting what people do best and would have a comparative advantage in producing. If piracy can fuel consumption, surely small businesses definitely can.”
Need a strong counter to the pirate economy
09 Dec- Source: Gulf News-809 Words
There is nothing new about piracy in terms of concept. Yet, everything is new in the ways that it is being done in this millennium. This will probably change if it persisted as a business to extend its reach into new methods, new techniques, and onto a much wider scale. What caught my attention a couple of weeks ago is the increased mentioning of piracy in articles published in different online journals.
All based their findings on a paper published by the World Bank. The purpose of the paper, as well as the consequent articles, is to simply emphasise on how piracy and everything that is associated with it in any way has grown into its own economy, and how there are way too many people that piracy affects — and would affect — in future.
Before listing the problem and a possible solution, a few facts should be listed here: The total amount of ransom paid between 2005 and 2012, for 179 hijacked ships, amounted to $400 million.
“Generally, the conflict arises from the deliberate unwillingness to adhere and respect to the letter and spirit of the constitution in the execution of the public services. The constitutional document which transforms and regulates the individual and societal behaviour has effect and meaning when the stakeholders/power holders respect it faithfully.”
Somalia: Constitution isn’t to blame for leaders falling out
09 Dec- Source: Hiiraan Online-1425 Words
The no confidence vote of the Federal Parliament of Somalia for incompetence in the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) of Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon “Saa’id” on December 3, 2013 has ended seven-month-long leaks and speculations about imminent dismissal or reshuffle and expansion of the cluttered Cabinet of ten Ministries.
The persistent leaks of Cabinet change and the repeated allegations of corruption and sectarian politics from relentless critics have contaminated the public optimism, fuelled perception of power abuses, forced the abandoning of the six pillars policy and the national stabilization plan, and prevented the direct international engagement with the internationally recognized national government.
In consideration of the monumental tasks assigned to the national government, the walking away of the international donors from direct engagement with the national government and shifting to direct relations with local entities – Somaliland, Puntland, Jubbaland, Bayland, and Mogadishuland- is a serious setback for state building, peace building, national unity, economic recovery, and national election in 2016.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia An AMISOM nurse caring for a young boy at the Out Patients Department in #Mogadishu, #Somaliapic.twitter.com/8jLmj2TVjH
@LailaInNairobi Colour Me Capable: In #Somalia, WFP Enables Women To Learn New Skillshttps://www.wfp.org/stories/
@nomsa_maseko Sulega Dahir from Somalia – #Mandela is the son of the soil. I’m here to mourn the loss of the father of the world pic.twitter.com/heA2989MP6
@SalahOsman0 Torrential rains caused havoc and turned roads to rivers. Shabelle River breaks banks in Middle Shabelle Somalia pic.twitter.com/3fiPfdpcRe
@Somalia111#Mogadishu a-buzz with speculation about who 2 be next PM. Important choice for #Somalia‘s Pres & Parliament.#UN work continues as we wait.
Image of the day
Abdimalik Yusuf (left), head of Shabelle radio and Mohamed Bashir, also a journalist, were sentenced Monday in Mogadishu for reporting on the alleged rape of a 19-year-old woman. Photo: AFP