January 31, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somalia’s kiss of life
31 Jan- Source: Citizen TV Kenya-06:02 mins
For 22 years, the sounds dominating Kismayo were gunfire, warplanes and the wailing of the dying and the mourning. The Somali city was a theater of deadly battles for the control of its lucrative port trade since the ouster of President Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. But the Kenya Defence Forces expedition to Somalia has routed the al Shabaab militia from Kismayo and breathed life to the once dying city. Judy Kosgei reports on this transformation in our first part of “Somalia’s kiss of life” series.
Key Headlines
- President welcomes IGAD agreement on South Sudan (OP)
- AMISOM conducts workshop on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of its officers (AMISOM)
- ASWJ calls on al Shabaab to lay down arms (Radio Bar-kulan)
- AMISOM halts Baidoa regional conference (Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia needs more weapons – President (Africa Report)
- Somaliland World Bank officials met in Hargeisa (Radio Bar-kulan/Somaliland Informer)
- Somalia’s Kiss Of Life (Citizen TV Kenya)
- The agreed articles of the Gal-Mudug and Himan and Heeb meetings in Galkayo (Radio RBC)
- CMA CGM reinforces Middle East to Somalia link (Transport Journal)
- Kenya on high alert following terrorist threats (Daily Nation)
PRESS STATEMENT
President welcomes IGAD agreement on South Sudan
31 Jan- Source: Office of the President- 129 words
His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today welcomed the IGAD agreement on South Sudan. Speaking at the 24th IGAD Heads of State Summit, held during the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa, the President said:
“As the leading regional organization, IGAD has played a critical role in negotiations concerning South Sudan. Somalia has worked hard with our partners to bring the two sides together and ensure the cessation of hostilities holds. The protection of civilians and of human rights is paramount. We have also agreed that those displaced by the fighting must be given free movement across borders.”
At the conclusion of the summit, IGAD issued a communiqué, which outlines the terms of reference for the cessation of hostilities.
AMISOM conducts workshop on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse of its officers
30 Jan- Source: AMISOM- 138 words
The Gender Unit of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) held a one day sensitization workshop on AMISOM Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy for officers drawn from the military and civilian component based at the AMISOM base camp in Mogadishu.
Those sensitisation workshop are part of the ongoing efforts on preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and disseminating the AMISOM zero-tolerance policy.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif said that the workshop sought to enlighten the officers on the legal frameworks regarding Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.
AMISOM has clear mandate, laws and guidelines to be followed. The mission takes its obligations to the Somali people seriously and all AMISOM personnel receive pre-deployment training on Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.
SOMALI MEDIA
ASWJ calls on al Shabaab to lay down arms
31 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 105 words
Moderate Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa group in central Somalia has called on al Shabaab militant group to lay down their weapons and opt for more peaceful approach.
ASWJ Executive Committee Chairman, Sheikh Abdirizak Ali Mire who spoke to Bar-kulan urged al Shabaab militants to seek amnesty and start negotiations with the Somali authorities. Mire said that the militant group has been weakened and lost ground to the government forces and its allies in recent times.
Meanwhile, he warned that foreign fighters in the al Shabaab ranks will not be part of any negotiations in the future.
AMISOM halts Baidoa regional conference
31 Jan- Source: Radio Garowe/RBC/Hiiraan Online/Jowhar Online- 228 words
AMISOM forces Thursday halted a convention aimed at forming an autonomous state for six regions in southern Somalia in Bay regional capital of Baidoa. Local reports say African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)’s forces closed the hall where the regional conference was underway, pouring hundreds of protesters into the streets in response to the decision.
The angry crowds were chanting anti Mogadishu-based federal government slogans, with participants at the rally setting tyres on fire. Federal Government of Somalia’s reportedly asked Ethiopian-AMISOM forces to prevent the conference organizers who include politicians, traditional elders and federal parliamentarians from entering the conference hall.
On the other hand, a meeting contrary to the halted convention and led by former parliament speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan has faced similar restrictions at Bakiin Hotel in Baidoa, sources said. Adan seeks to push Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle communities into an autonomous federal state that excludes Jubaland regions from the map.
Jubaland and Somalia Federal Government agreed on 23 points that granted substantial autonomy and recognition to Jubaland administration under the auspices of IGAD in Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on 28th of August 2013.
Somaliland, World Bank officials met in Hargeisa
30 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Somaliland Informer/Somaliland Press- 95 words
Somaliland and World Bank officials have on Wednesday met in Hargeisa to discuss economic growth and combating poverty in the breakaway region of Somaliland. Somaliland Minister of National Planning, Saad Ali Shire said that the objective of the meeting was to promote economic growth and job creation in Somaliland in an attempt to reduce poverty.
The minister added that he was hopeful the meeting between the government of Somaliland and the World Bank officials will produce positive outcome in Somaliland’s quest for economic growth and poverty reduction.
The agreed articles of the Gal-Mudug and Himan and Heeb meetings in Galkayo
31 Jan- Source: Radio RBC- 185 words
A two-day conference was held in Galkacyo between Gal-mudug and Hibin and Heeb administrations and ended up with an agreement of union. The main agendas of these two days meetings were to establish one powerful state out of the two administrations.
Xibin and Xeeb President Abdullahi Ali Mohamed Barleh, Gal-Mudug deputy president Abdisamid Nuur Guled were attending these conferences. Other people who participated in these discussions include politicians, traditional elders from these regions.
The articles of the agreement.
1. To commence the establishment of a state for Somalia’s central regions in the soonest time possible.
2. To start reconciliation efforts between the people of Himin and Heeb and Gal-Mudug using different kinds of civil society and the media as well
3. To formulate secure environments in these regions and create peace relations with the neighbouring administrations and governments to not enable the criminals take shelter in the bordering administrations.
4. To ask for their share of international support given to the Federal government especially on security and social service developments.
5. To work on integrating the two societies, e.g. Business, sports and women associations integrations.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s kiss of life
31 Jan- Source: Citizen TV Kenya-06:02 mins
For 22 years, the sounds dominating Kismayo were gunfire, warplanes and the wailing of the dying and the mourning. The Somali city was a theater of deadly battles for the control of its lucrative port trade since the ouster of President Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991. But the Kenya Defence Forces expedition to Somalia has routed the al Shabaab militia from Kismayo and breathed life to the once dying city. Judy Kosgei reports on this transformation in our first part of “Somalia’s kiss of life” series.
US intelligence chief warns of new attacks on Kenya
31 Jan- Source: Africa Review- 286 words
Somalia’s al Shabaab militants may be planning new attacks on Kenya, the director of US national intelligence warned on Wednesday. Security has increased and counter-terrorism efforts have been strengthened in Kenya and other East African countries in the aftermath of the September massacre at the Westgate shopping mall, intelligence chief James Clapper said in his global threat assessment for 2014.
“Nonetheless,” he told the members of the US Senate’s intelligence committee, “East African governments will have difficulty protecting the wide range of potential targets.”
Al Shabaab could also launch attacks on Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Uganda because of those countries’ troop contributions to the African Union force in Somalia, Mr Clapper added.
Kenya on high alert following terrorist threats
31 Jan- Source: Daily Nation- 431 words
Security agents are on high alert after intelligence reports indicated that al Shabaab militants were planning attacks in Kenya and other African countries with their soldiers to Somalia.
Information from Kenyan intelligence agencies and the 2014 US Global Threat Assessment report indicate that government buildings and other installations could be Also targeted are Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Uganda because of those countries’ troop contributions to the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
The AMISOM military component has 5,432 troops from Burundi, 1,000 from Djibouti, 3,664 from Kenya, 850 from Sierra Leone and 6,223 from Uganda. Ethiopia last week officially deployed 4,395 to join the force.
New street signs and house numbers to improve security, convenience in Mogadishu
30 Jan- Source: Sabahi Online- 280 words
The Benadir regional administration, with support from Somali business owners, is embarking on an ambitious plan to label every street and house in Mogadishu with a name and number within one year, spokesman for the administration Mohamed Yusuf told Sabahi.
The aim of the plan is to bring back the city’s beauty, ensure easy postal delivery at residences and enhance security in the capital as Somalis from the diaspora start returning to their homes, Yusuf said.
“We saw the need to have house addresses in Mogadishu because we thought the capital city had a right to become like other cities around the world,” he said. “There are also many people returning after twenty or more years to the capital, so it has become necessary to install street names and to ensure every house has an address number so they do not get lost when they are driving in personal vehicles.”
Yusuf said this would also help the government’s plan to improve security because security personnel will be able to easily locate houses they are looking for when an incident occurs.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
EU Naval Force transfers pirate suspects to the Seychelles
31 Jan- Source: Defenceweb -537 words
The European Union Naval Force warship FS Siroco on Wednesday transferred five suspected Somali pirates to the Seychelles, where they will be prosecuted for acts of Piracy in the Indian Ocean.
On Saturday 18 January, the French vessel FS Siroco, in cooperation with a Japanese maritime patrol aircraft and a helicopter from the vessel JS Samidare in support of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF/CTF 151) anti-piracy task group, freed the crew of an Indian Dhow that was believed to have been used by the five suspected pirates as a mother-ship in the attack on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden a day earlier. Private security on board repelled the attack, which was the first recorded incidence of Somali piracy in 2014.
The EU Naval Force said its personnel were able to gather a significant amount of evidence to prosecute the pirates. On that basis, the Republic of the Seychelles has accepted the transfer of the suspected pirates with the intention to prosecute them.
CMA CGM reinforces Middle East to Somalia link
31 Jan- Source: Transport Journal- 44 words
The French shipping line CMA CGM has enhanced its service rotation from the Middle East to Somalia with the launch of a new direct service called Noura Express.The service will connect at Khor Fakkan (UAE) with the carrier’s long haul services from and to the world to reach Mogadishu (Somalia). The “CMA CGM Kailas” with a capacity of 1,854 teu is the first vessel to be employed in this service, which features a 21-day frequency.
The full rotation of the Noura Express is: Jebel Ali (day 1) – Khor Fakkan (day 2) – Salalah (day 3) – Mogadishu (day 6) – Jebel Ali.
CMG CGM is convinced that the Somali economy will recover. The new service is to be the first milestone of the French shipping line’s growth plan in this region and that there will be more developments in coming months.
Somalia needs more weapons – President
30 Jan- Source: Africa Report-309 Words
The Somalian army needs more time and better equipment to battle al Shabaab insurgents, the war-torn nation’s president has said. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud asked the United Nations Security Council to extend its March deadline for limited acquisition of arms. Mohamud argued that his government had met demands for monitoring any weapons brought into Somalia.
“I think we have all the right now to request the U.N. Security Council extend that (suspension) and ultimately lift the embargo,” Mohamud said in Addis Ababa during a trip for an African Union summit.
Mohamud’s rebuilding project in the capital city of Mogadishu which has seen a rise in infrastructure, since his election was rewarded by the UN in March 2013. The Security Council partially suspended an embargo, letting Mogadishu import light arms for its army for one year until March 2014.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Somalia cannot keep depending on its present agriculture realities. Innovation and future planning in the agriculture sector should be devised. The greatest weapon of 21st century will not be weaponry, but food and basic resources.”
Somalia: Agricultural Power Lies in the Fertile Soils of the Land
30 Jan- Source: Somali Current-1126 Words
While farming is hard to differentiate from agriculture and they are almost the same thing in many instances, farming is a part of agriculture because agriculture consists of farming and animal husbandry. Farming is all about plantation while husbandry is more about raising livestock. In this regard, Somalia is rich in livestock and this is not the subject.
The subject is to focus on farming in Somalia and why we will need to get rid of or at least minimize farm import, if enough farming is harnessed in Somalia. Or maybe, why we don’t bother about it if Somalis sit idle and they don’t innovate in the field of farming and agriculture. But, as a matter of fact, Somalia is a country very good at farming if utilized.
Before I get to the main subject, which is farming, have you ever asked yourself what are the stuff Somalia really imports? The stuff Somalia imports include but not limited to: food, fuel, construction materials, manufactured goods and khat. Have you noticed the magic word in the import list? food.
“An international anti-ivory campaign could work in concert with military efforts in the Horn of Africa to counter al Shabaab, but military efforts alone without targeting aal Shabab’s revenue stream could prove futile. Targeting ivory is a win for the international community, for the millions of people who are exposed to al Shabaab’s terror, and for the remaining elephants in Africa.”
Severing al Shabaab’s Lifeline
30 Jan- Source: World Policy Blog-808 Words
Over the past eight years, al Shabaab has driven the United Nations peacekeeping forces, non-governmental humanitarian organizations, and NATO allies from its territories, and has withstood American Special Forces raids and Ethiopian and Kenyan military campaigns.
Despite international efforts, al Shabaab has become the de facto authority in Somalia and a regional hegemon in the Horn of Africa. An international counter-ivory campaign, however, could weaken al Shabaab’s power and reign of violence.
Al Shabaab challenges western-backed governments in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Somalia, launching offensive campaigns and defending its sovereignty with a military based in southern Somalia. Simultaneously, it conducts attacks with insurgency networks that can strike throughout the disputed Somalia territories, the Horn of Africa, and even America’s airports.
Top tweets
@NgogaFred A similar process of disarmament will be carried out in Somalia working with the FGS and the communities soon.
@UNSomalia #UN thematic briefing on #Somalia – The New Deal and the GBV strategy: Picking up speed in the fight against#GBV http://bit.ly/1cPM9PO
@FawziNomad Somali chair: an architectural design project I did months ago. Using a native objects to make a building.#Somalia pic.twitter.com/Fyrg6J7wuj
@amisomsomalia #AMISOM troops prepare a water truck to distribute fresh, drinking water in the village of Modmoday#Somalia pic.twitter.com/D2CrJV8U1x
@UNOCHA 1 in 5 children in #Somalia dies before age 5 mostly from preventable diseases @UNICEF reporthttp://uni.cf/1gtpH77 pic.twitter.com/5hoQmEHDPN
Image of the day
Five men apprehended by EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta flagship, FS Siroco are transferred to the Seychelles police with the aim to prosecute them for acts of piracy. Photo: @EUNAVFOR