December 17, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
President Hassan calls for an immediate end to the inter-clan warfare
17 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/Radio Risaala/Radio Kulmiye- 157 words
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has on Tuesday called an immediate end to the renewed skirmishes and inter-clan clashes in Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle and Hiran regions respectively.
Senior Presidential Advisor, Eng. Abdirahman Omar Yarisow stated in a press release that the president said that there are some elements trying to incite inter-clan wars in order to disrupt the peace and development process in the country.
The president vowed that the perpetrators behind the recent clashes will be brought to justice and urges all sides to settle their differences through nonviolent channels.
He added that his government is committed to working with all stakeholders to bring the warfare to an end and to prevent further escalation of the fighting
He finally appealed to elders and other sectors of the society to work with the federal government’s plans of peace building and development process in the country.
The president was speaking at press conference held in the capital, Mogadishu.
Key Headlines
- President Hassan calls for an immediate end to the inter-clan warfare (Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu)
- Senior court officials seriously wounded in hand grenade attack in Bosasso (Radio Dalsan/Dhanaan Online)
- Somali Defense Minister: We will liberate Somalia from al Shabaab by 2014 (Radio Shabelle)
- Somali community in Kenya supplies aid to flood survivors (Radio Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online/Universaltv)
- SRSG remarks at AMISOM Force Commander Handover Ceremony (UNSOM)
- Puntland traditional leaders announce Election Monitoring Committee ( Radio Garowe)
- Somalia appeal seeks US$928 million for 3.2 million Somalis in need (Radio Dalsan/RBC)
- Government official killed in Lower Shabelle (Harar 24 Online)
- Police: Pangani matatu explosion triggered remotely by mobile phone (KTN)
- Somalia strongly supports Ethiopia’s desire to join AMISOM: Ambassador (Walta Information Centre)
- Al-Shabaab say they are back on Twitter (Al jazeera)
- Westgate attack to cost insurers over Sh10bn in claims (Daily Nation)
- Police raid and shut down paper in Somaliland (CPJ)
- Study Links Autism and Somalis in Minneapolis (New York Times)
PRESS STATEMENT
SRSG remarks at AMISOM Force Commander Handover Ceremony
16 Dec- Source: UNSOM- 987 words
Your Excellency Minister of Defence of Somalia
Your Excellency, Minister of National Defense of Burundi,
Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia,
Chief of Defence Forces of Somalia,
Ambassadors,
Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an enormous pleasure to be here and witness the handover ceremony of AMISOM force command.
I would like to touch upon four areas in my address: first, the African Union – United Nations partnership, second the AMISOM forces contribution, third some of General Gutti’s past achievements and lastly a welcome to the new Force Commander, General Silas Ntigurirwa.
Since my arrival in June 2013, I have been delivering a clear message to all UN staff in the country: it is one of my highest priorities to deepen and strengthen on the ground the partnership between the UN and AU. Ambassador Annadif and I agree that our teams should work hand in hand on a full range of tasks. But even before we arrived in theatre, General Gutti was driven by the same principle. I would like to commend him on his Force Commander partnership initiative that brings on a weekly basis together the AMISOM force HQ, UN family and partners to share information and brief each other on key tasks.
We have achieved much ever since and we will continue to build trust and collaboration among our colleagues both in Headquarters and in the sectors. The challenges in Somalia are so extensive that we shall only succeed if we share rather than divide the labour. Somalis need and deserve our collective effort.
I am deeply conscious of the immense contribution being made by the men and women in AMISOM to building peace in Somalia. We are all here because of the sacrifices made by brave AMISOM brothers and sisters and their Somali counterparts. Somalia has the once in a generation opportunity to rise from its ashes thanks to the commitment and dedication of the African Union troops. These efforts are not in vain. Every single one of you that finishes his or her rotation and is returning home can be proud of what AMISOM has achieved in Somalia. Certainly, in the UN we are very appreciative of the AMISOM forces continuous support to our staff security be it in the airport base or in our operations and missions outside our safety perimeter. To draw a recent example, my mission in Beledweyne two days ago would not have been possible without the help and support from AMISOM and the Djiboutian contingent.
SOMALI MEDIA
President Hassan calls for an immediate end to the inter-clan warfare
17 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/Radio Risaala/Radio Kulmiye- 157 words
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has on Tuesday called an immediate end to the renewed skirmishes and inter-clan clashes in Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle and Hiran regions respectively.
Senior Presidential Advisor, Eng. Abdirahman Omar Yarisow stated in a press release that the president said that there are some elements trying to incite inter-clan wars in order to disrupt the peace and development process in the country.
The president vowed that the perpetrators behind the recent clashes will be brought to justice and urges all sides to settle their differences through nonviolent channels.
He added that his government is committed to working with all stakeholders to bring the warfare to an end and to prevent further escalation of the fighting
He finally appealed to elders and other sectors of the society to work with the federal government’s plans of peace building and development process in the country.
The president was speaking at press conference held in the capital, Mogadishu.
Somali Defense Minister: We will liberate Somalia from al Shabaab
17 Dec- Source: Radio Shabelle- 159 words
Somalia’s Defense minister Abdihakim Haji fiqi has announced that the Somali Government will eradicate al Shabaab militants from the entire country by 2014. The Minister’s remarks came during a handover ceremony by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in which they were holding a change of command, December 16th 2013, in Mogadishu Somalia.
Mr. Fiqi added that the Somali federal Government troops aided by the African Union mission (AMISOM) are well prepared to face the militants after receiving a full training and a well laid plan to tackle their opponents.
“The Somali federal Government and the AMISOM troops will carry out heavy operations in the coming Months after receiving full training and a well laid plan to liberate the remaining parts of our country which are under the control of al Shabaab” said Mr. Fiqi During a well attended handover ceremony attended by both the representatives of the federal Government, AMISOM troops and other diplomats from neighboring countries.
Senior court officials seriously wounded in hand grenade attack in Bosasso
17 Dec- Source: Radio Dalsan/Dhanaan Online- 80 words
Two senior regional court officials were wounded on Monday night after their hotel was attacked by unidentified people with hand grenades. Bari regional court deputy chairman Mohamud and the regional court attorney Bashir Ismail known as “Bashir Hobaley” were both seriously injured after a hand grenade was thrown into a restaurant inside Hotel Roble, where they have been residing. The attack came hours after another grenade explosion was heard in Laanta Hawada village on the west of the port town.
Somali community in Kenya supplies aid to flood survivors
17 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online/Universaltv-121 words
Somali business community and religious scholars in Kenyan capital Nairobi have supplied cash aid to the internally displaced families in Jowhar, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region.
The cash aid of 35 thousand dollars was handed over to a committee formed to manage the aid aimed at flood and inter-clan warfare survivors in Shabelle region.
Ragto Abdulle, who handed over the aid, stated that 18 cartons of medicine were also supplied to the survivors on top the cash aid. She added that the business community and the scholars in Kenya are planning to supply further assistance to the survivors.
Meanwhile, the committee thanked the Somali community in Kenya for their timely assistance and urged other Somali well-wishers to follow suit.
Government official killed in Lower Shabelle
17 Dec- Source: Harar 24 Online- 133 words
An ambush yesterday believed to have been planned and executed by Al-Shabaab near the town of Balow, resulted in the killing of the Balow’s mayor and his armed escorts travelling with him.
Mohamed Nur Eni more commonly known as “Mad Nur” was killed while travelling from the town of Bariri to Balow, both which lie at the Shabelle river in the Lower Shabelle region.
There has been no official word from Al-Shabaab regarding the ambush that occurred yesterday, however according to locals Al-Shabaab were behind the attack, whom after killing the mayor and his armed escorts confiscated the weapons and hastily left the scene.
The attack comes just a day after a raid carried out by Al-Shabaab on a military base in the Yaqshid district of Mogadishu .
Puntland traditional leaders announce Election Monitoring Committee
16 Dec- Source: Radio Garowe- 173 words
27 prominent traditional elders have gathered in Puntland capital of Garowe for a meeting to discuss the ongoing electoral processes on Monday.
Suldan Saed Mohamed Garase has been chosen to chair the meeting which is expected to continue until the completion of Puntland parliamentary and presidential elections, with clan elders from Puntland’s nine regions announcing ‘Election Monitoring committee’.
The committee whose members were selected in accordance to their constituencies and clans consists of 9 traditional leaders and are tasked with observing and checking the election process in an effort to ensure credible and fair presidential elections by January 8th, 2014.
Election Monitoring Committee’s Secretary Suldan Bashir Musse Konte briefed the media members on the outcome of their meeting: “From now on, clan elders will continue to hold regular sessions in Garowe, also we are welcoming and even encouraging the forthcoming meeting between the president and presidential contenders”.
As presidential candidates are wrapping up their campaigns with public appearances, conflict resolution committee commenced vetting the new members of parliament for their respective parliamentary seats.
Somalia appeal seeks US$928 million for 3.2 million Somalis in need
16 Dec – Source: Radio Dalsan/RBC – 557 words
The Global Humanitarian Response for 2014,launched today by Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos, seeks $13 billion to support millions of people in crisis zones worldwide, including Somalia.
In Somalia, there are some 3.18 million people affected by the protracted crisis, with $927.5 million needed in assistance in 2014.
A three-year appeal for Somalia was developed for the 2013-2015 period to respond to humanitarian needs, build resilience and dovetail with the recently developed New Deal development framework. One year after the Somalia appeal was launched in Mogadishu, humanitarian agencies have revised the plan to reflect the changes in need and operational context.
There has been some improvement in the humanitarian situation. Somalia is nowhere near the famine conditions that devastated the country in 2011. For the first time in five years, the number of people in need of life-saving assistance reduced from just over 1 million to 870,000 reflecting modest gains in food security in Somalia in 2013.
More needs to be done to continue and consolidate gains. Much of the progress remains fragile and can be thwarted by shocks related to climate, conflict and economy. Early warnings already indicate that flooding, late onset of rains and a devastating tropical storm in 2013 may lead to poor harvests in 2014. With nearly 3.2 million people in need of assistance, the humanitarian crisis in Somalia remains one of the largest in the world. More than 1.1 million people are estimated to be internally displaced and 1 million Somalis live outside the country as refugees. Some 2.3 million people live on the verge of food insecurity and need support to prevent them from falling back into emergency.
“Aid organizations in Somalia responded rapidly to humanitarian emergencies in2013, vaccinating millions in response to polio, responding to people devastated by floods and the tropical storm and advocating for protection of survivors of abuse. But we can and must do more to build resilience,” said Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Philippe Lazzarini. “With more resources we can do better in 2014 to break the cycle of crisis and response and lay the groundwork for long lasting solutions in Somalia.”
The Somalia CAP had received just 48 per cent of the requested funding for 2013at year end. Consequently, fewer people were reached and the implementation of longer-term programmes to shore up resilience was limited.
The second year of the three-year CAP has been revised to reflect these needs, the capacity to implement, and the priority of building the resilience of the Somali people. Other priorities include the needs of the returning refugees and very vulnerable displaced people in country. There is also a strengthened focus on protection issues, as the UN and its partners are building up the capacity to address and prevent violations such as gender-based violence, forced recruitment and abuse of children.
About 300 organizations are participating in the second year of the three-year appeal, of which over 80 per cent are national partners. This year’s appeal is about 30 per cent less than the $1.3 billion requested in 2013, reflecting the reduction in overall needs and the increased focus on working where aid agencies are able to implement.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Police: Pangani matatu explosion triggered remotely by mobile phone
17 Dec- Source: KTN- 02:48 min
Police are looking for a Kenyan man believed to be a new muslim convert over Saturdays pangani matatu explosion. The man is said to have alighted from the matatu moments before it exploded. Police are also investigating one active terrorist cell in Majengo here in Nairobi believed to be recruiting new converts. NTV’s Dennis Okari has an update on the investigations.
Somalia strongly supports Ethiopia’s desire to join AMISOM: Ambassador
17 Dec- Source: Walta Information Centre- 468 words
Ambassador of Somalia to Ethiopia, Permanent Representative to AU and IGAD, Ahmed Abdisalam Aden, said his country strongly supports Ethiopia’s desire to join the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
In an exclusive interview with WIC today, he said Ethiopia’s decision to join AMISOM is welcomed greatly by the people and government of Somali as the Ethiopian forces will strengthen the capacity of the regional peacekeeping mission.
“Ethiopian forces are familiar with the culture, people and situation of Somalia than any other countries so we expect them to play more effective role in building the ongoing peace process in Somalia,” he said.
The union of Ethiopian forces with AMISON will help achieve the peace process meant to bring long-lasting peace for the people of Somalia within a few months.
Al-Shabaab say they are back on Twitter
16 Dec- Source: Al jazeera- 333 words
Somalia’s al-Qaeda-linked rebel group, al-Shabab, has returned to the social media networking site Twitter more than two months after their last account was suspended, an official for the group told Al Jazeera.
On Monday, a message was posted on the social media site under the handle of @HSM_INFO carrying the standard signature of the group. An al-Shabab official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Al Jazeera that the account was genuine.
“The aim is to vigorously challenge defamatory reports in the media by presenting an accurate portrayal of the current state of Jihad in Somalia and countering Western, state-sponsored propaganda machines that are paid to demonise the Mujahideen,” the al-Shabab official told Al Jazeera.
Westgate attack to cost insurers over Sh10bn in claims
16 Dec- Source: Daily Nation- 665 words
Insurance claims arising from the Westgate Mall terror attack in Nairobi are expected to surpass Sh10 billion, an amount equivalent to a third of the total industry payout for last year, the insurance sector regulator has estimated.
In a report released last week, the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) says the Westgate Mall had an insurance cover of Sh6.7 billion to cover for property damage and business interruption.
Claims from individual business tenants who lost stock and shoppers’ personal property including motor vehicles is, however, expected to increase the total payout.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Police raid and shut down paper in Somaliland
17 Dec- Source: CPJ- 425 words
Police in the semi-autonomous republic of Somaliland on December 13 raided the Hargeisa offices of the critical independent daily Hubaal, arrested two staff members, and ordered the publication to be shut down, according to news reports. This is the third time the paper has been targeted this year.
Police told Hubaal staff to turn off their cellphones, and ordered them to leave the offices, according to news reports. Mustafa Mohamed, a reporter, and Osman Ahmed, an IT specialist, were arrested, but were released today with no explanation.
Mohamed Ahmed Jama, managing director of the paper and the owner of Hubaal Media Network, which publishes the paper, has gone into hiding, a representative of the Somaliland Journalists Association told CPJ. The offices were closed today. It is unclear if the paper will resume publishing.
Study Links Autism and Somalis in Minneapolis
16 Dec- Source: New York Times- 678 words
A long-awaited study has confirmed the fears of Somali residents in Minneapolis that their children suffer from higher rates of a disabling form of autism compared with other children there.
The study — by the University of Minnesota, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the research and advocacy group Autism Speaks — found high rates of autism in two populations: About one Somali child in 32 and one white child in 36 in Minneapolis were on the autism spectrum.
The national average is one child in 88, according to Coleen A. Boyle, who directs the C.D.C.’s Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities.
But the Somali children were less likely than the whites to be “high-functioning” and more likely to have I.Q.s below 70. (The average I.Q. score is 100.)
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Hubaal Newspaper today, who tomorrow? A newspaper here, a website maintainer tomorrow and perhaps a television owner the next day? . Somaliland Administration must comprehend the dire consequences of this and similar actions”
Editorial : Somaliland government attempts to silence private media
17 Dec- Source: horn news paper- 314 words
The Private Media of Somaliland is unlike any other. It works around the clock, investigating, searching and in many cases, exposing government corruption on all levels. With over 12 Newspaper publications,
dozens of websites, a handful of television stations and other major media outlets strongly opposing the ongoing blatant corruption occurring throughout Somaliland’s Government; it’s expected that the Silanyo Administration would attempt to silence this strong sector.
Hubaal Newspaper, one of the leading newspapers in Somaliland and acknowledged for exposing the government for their vast display of corruption and monetary mismanagement suffered yet another blow yesterday. Four vehicles full of heavily armed officers arrested Hubaal employees and confiscated all items from their offices.
The International Community has yet and again expressed strong condemnation towards the Silanyo Administrations consistent arrests of journalists. SOLJA, the journalists association, recently published a press statement mentioning ‘journalism as a threat and in constant threat from the Government’. Associated Press and Al-Jazeera News have also made references to this current Governments role in imposing stricter rules and regulations on the private media.
“Somalis for centuries were tolerant and pragmatic society that created social systems to suit the political and geographical environment that existed then. Even the tribal system changed according to need. If blood lineage can be altered why a mind-set cannot be changed too?. Choose the middle ground. We have already been placed there geographically; let’s work on becoming that personally.”
A Globalised Somali, a Tolerant Somali
16 Dec- Source: Dalsan- 888 words
For the past 7 years or so that I have been involved in youth activism I have tried to comprehend how we could best resurrect our Somali nation. I’ve sat down and debated with those who call themselves or hold the views of liberals, religious, sectionists, nationalists, Marxists and more. I have attempted to understand the break-down of our nation – politically, socially, economically and culturally.
With no central government, Somalia became a fertile ground for various ideologies to compete and take root. In reality, this should’ve made us a very diverse society. Practically, however it has meant a bitter feud over power and domination.
The Liberalist will insist the only way to go forward is to create a liberal Somali society – what they tend to refer to there is to “de-Arabise Somalia” socially and culturally. S/he wants to see a Somalia where a woman does not have to dress similar to women in Gulf countries and Iran. They will show you pictures from our parent’s generation depicting how our mothers and fathers wore their Afros and jazz-influenced fashion proudly. I love looking at these pictures and I can understand why they would praise the Somali social values then. But that is the point – it was THEN! Why should a girl have to look EXACTLY like her mother did 20 years ago?.
Top tweets
@AlinoorMB In early stages, #AMISOM was viewed as invading force, but gradually perception has changed#AMISOMConferenceKigali
@wahadija Day 2 at the #AMISOMConferenceKigali
@AlinoorMBIs #AMISOM of today that of yesterday? are people still stuck in the old image? #discussion#
@engyarisow#Somalia President held press conference today and said “Clan conflicts should be stopped immediately. The…http://fb.me/3upM9Pvfo
@JamalMOsman Here is the video of our #Somalia exclusive story: Inside an #al-Shabaab training camp –@Channel4News http://t.co/
@amisomsomalia: #AMISOM soldiers provide security for IDPs displaced by fighting between clans in a town near Jowhar#Somalia http://on.fb.me/QqTSeN
@KingYusufYusuf#Somalia President: A nation without justice, and respect for human rights will not exist as a nation!
@AlinoorMB Did decades of conflict turned #Somalia into conservative society? can it go back to moderation?#AMISOMConferenceKigali
Image of the day
Force Commander Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti from the Ugandan People’s Defence Force (UPDF) handed over the chain of command of the 17,731 African Union troops fighting the Al Qaeda linked extremist group al Shabaab, to Lieutenant General Silas Ntigurirwa of the Burundi National Defense Force (BNDF). Photo: AMISOM