February 25, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

PM declares tough security measures following extraordinary cabinet meeting

25 Feb – Source: Radio RBC – 240 words

Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed chaired Sunday night an extraordinary meeting of his cabinet, Mayor of Mogadishu, district commissioners of Banadir region and security agencies on improving security measures in Mogadishu.

The meeting discussed how to raise safety awareness in local communities in Mogadishu and strengthening relations between the government and local communities in each district of Mogadishu. With local communities, the government and security agencies working together these measures will help protect local people and diminish terrorist activity within the capital.

All ministers of the government will work closely with district officials in the 17 districts of Mogadishu in order to improve the security of the capital. Each district will have individual ministers who will be responsible for promoting peace and supporting the local community in that district to improve security.

“Those who attacked our presidential place are the enemies of our country, we will not allow them to hide and attack us anymore. This government together with the people of Somalia and the international community will work hand in hand in the fight against these terrorists, ensuring safety and security on our streets and moving to develop our country.” Said Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed.

The government of Somalia announced a ministerial committee to investigate the attack of Villa Somalia on Friday with focus on why it happen, who took part and why it was not prevented. The investigation will report in five days.

Key Headlines

AMISOM Police donates dry food items to blind community in Mogadishu (AMISOM)
Somali Aviation Minister: “ Security meetings in the airport will continue until security is affirmed” (Radio Mogadishu/SNTV)
IGAD to assist government in defeating al Shabaab (Radio Shabelle)
PM declares tough security measures following extraordinary cabinet meeting ( Radio RBC)
Dozens arrested in Kismayo’s crackdowns (Radio Shabelle)
Armed men kill polio vaccine worker in Mogadishu (Radio Goobjoog)
U.S. State Department reports steep decline in Somali piracy operations (World Tribune)
Former Somali Deputy PM denies allegations (Hiiraan Online)
Al Shabaab indicted for abduction of 19 religious leaders ( Radio Bar-Kulan)
Deputy district commissioner convicted by Military Court in Beledweyne (Mareeg Online)
Ethiopian FM meets Puntland President in Addis(Ethiopia- Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Illegal checkpoints in Mogadishu’s outskirts (Radio Shabelle)
Rise in land grabbing exacerbates conflict over pasture in Galgadud (Radio Ergo)
Bumpy ride from Bardere to Elwaq (Radio Ergo)
Somalia fails to send team for repatriation of refugees (Star News)
MP is given accolade for Somalia efforts (Oxford Mail)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM Police donates dry food items to blind community in Mogadishu

24 Feb – Source: AMISOM – 196 words

Police Officers from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Uganda who constitute the Police Component of AMISOM have donated dry food items, collected from their personal contributions, to 70 families of blind persons living in the Siliga Amerikanka Camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mogadishu, Somalia as part of a gesture to support those living with disability. The donation was facilitated by AMISOM’s Humanitarian Liaison Unit and the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) unit of the AMISOM Military Component.

The decision to lend a helping hand to these persons living with disability came about through their interaction with the local community as these officers patrol the city in order to improve security.

Receiving the items on behalf of the visually impaired was Mr. Abikar Hussein Bachir, the Executive Director of Somali Union of and for the Blind and Mr. Moalim Bachir Jimale, the leader of the camp of the blind people, who thanked AMISOM for their gifts.

The focus of the AMISOM Police Component is to enhance the capacity of the Somali Police Force through training, mentoring and operational support in order to contribute to peace and security as well as the Rule of Law in Somalia.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali Aviation Minister: “ Security meetings in the airport will continue until security is affirmed”

25 Feb – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Radio Dalsan – 152 words

The security forces at Aden Adde international in Mogadishu are on high alert to prevent possible attacks as the airport is getting busy day after day.

Somali government transport and aviation minister Said Qorsheel while giving exclusive interview to Goobjoog said that the security of the airport will be tightened to combat the terrorist acts that are increasing and the meetings about security issues between the concerned parties will continue until security is affirmed.

The security meeting held in the airport Monday was attended by the Minister for Aviation Said Qorsheel, AMISOM, FAVORI and representatives of flight agencies and focused on the security of the airport.

This is coming a time when suicide car bomb aimed at UN convoy occurred at the front gate of the airport killing more than five people. Al Shabaab claimed the responsibility of the attack. Al Shabaab vowed to attack government institutions and International agencies in the country especially the capital Mogadishu.

IGAD to assist government in defeating al Shabaab

25 Feb – Source: Radio Shabelle – 138 words

Somali government officials as well as representatives from IGAD have come to an agreement where they will cooperate with each other to wipe al Shabaab from the country. The spokesperson of the Somali government, Ridwan Haaji Abdiweli who gave an exclusive interview to Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu stated that the government and IGAD will continue to collaborate to bring back the stability in the country and defeat al Shabaab.

The spokesperson added that the Prime Minister conveyed the importance of the overpowering al Shabaab and urged the citizens to work with the new committee members consisting of cabinet Ministers to oversee the peace.

The remarks by Ridwaan Haaji Abdiweli comes after members of al Shabaab attacked the presidential palace Villa Somalia in Mogadishu last week.

PM declares tough security measures following extraordinary cabinet meeting

25 Feb – Source: Radio RBC – 240 words

Armed men kill polio vaccine worker in Mogadishu

25 Feb – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 104 words

A polio vaccine worker was on Tuesday killed in Mogadishu. The incident occurred in Laba Dagah village of wardhigley district. The worker, a woman was shot dead while on duty by three men armed with pistols who fled from the area as witness confirmed to Goobjoog FM.

Security forces immediately reached the scene and started search operations, no one was arrested in the operations.

Over years vaccination drive workers and other polio staff faced the risk of murder and kidnapping. On 2010 district polio officer Osman Hussein Ibrahim was killed by a stray bullet while on his way to supervise polio national immunization days and child health.

Dozens arrested in Kismayo’s crackdowns

25 Feb – Source: Radio Shabelle – 88 words

Mohamed Jowhar Macalin, The Minister of Justice of Jubba’s Interim Administration who spoke to Radio Shabelle said that the administration’s forces were successful in launching crackdowns in Kismayo’s neighbourhoods, capturing men suspected to be associated with al Shabaab.

The Minister added that the groups that cause complications and acts of terrorism within the territories of the Jubba’s Interim Administration will be prosecuted as well as the government troops will continue to strengthen the safety of Kismayo.

Former Somali Deputy PM denies allegations

25 Feb Source: Hiiraan Online – 189 words

Somalia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs. Fawzia Y. H. Adam has strongly denied allegations made by former Somali central bank governor Yusur Abrar who accused Mrs. Adam of putting pressure on her to open an account in Dubai to use it for stealing money, according to a report recently published by Reuters.

Mrs. Adam, Somalia’s first ever female to hold a top government post, said in a press statement of which HOL obtained a copy, that the graft allegations published by Reuters on her were libelous.

“I would like to state here the facts about allegations by Reuters regarding the above mentioned graft which have recently been circulating in the international and local media were baseless and I condemn it in the strongest terms possible,” Mrs. Fawzia Y. H. Adam said in her press statement.

“Under the above heading, Reuters reported that ‘The sources said that according to Ms. Abrar (ex-Governor of Somali Central Bank), the former Foreign Minister (myself) had pressed her to open a bank account in Dubai against her wishes. Abrar resigned without opening it,” she noted in the press statement.

Al Shabaab indicted for abduction of 19 religious leaders

25 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Goobjoog – 154 words

Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama’a (ASWJ) organization at the central Somalia have accused al Shabaab for abducting 19 religious leaders who declined to attend a seminar organized by the radical Islamist group .

Abdi Hassan Mohamed alias Biyo Kuute who heads Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a at Eel Buur district disclosed that the religious leaders were kidnapped at Eel Buur district, Galgudud region which is still under the control of al Shabaab

Biyo-Kuute who talked to Barkulan confirmed that the abducted religious leaders comprises of religious leaders who used to read the Koran for community members and teachers teaching Quranic classes (Madarasas).

He condemned the abduction of the religious leaders adding that al Shabaab must at no any conditions give back their freedom. So far, there are no remarks from al Shabaab in response to the accusations made to them by their warring opponents of Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jamaaca.

Somaliland : German national found dead at Berbera beach hotel

25 Feb – Source: Somaliland Informer – 82 words

A German national working for an NGO called GIS was found dead Monday evening at his room at Mansour Beach Hotel in Berbera , according to Horn Cable TV.

The man , whose name has not been officially disclosed , came to Somaliland on 11 Feb 2014 to work with GIS in Berbera. Preliminary Police reports indicate that the “cause of the death is natural”. No gunshots or any physical injuries were found on his body and the police said that the investigations will continue.

Deputy district commissioner convicted by Military Court in Beledweyne

25 Feb – Source: Mareeg Online – 90 words

The provincial capital city of Hiiraan, the Military Court convicted members of the Somali government’s’ forces in Beledweyne and the deputy-commissioner of the district, Abdullahi Mohamed Omar .The court handed him 15 years in jail.

Omar was accused of denying hospital treatment to a young boy who was shot by his personal security guards in Baladweyne, last year 2013. Abdi Huurow, who was the soldier who shot the student was convicted of murder, the deputy commissioner of Baladweyne was convicted and deprived of his position.

Illegal checkpoints in Mogadishu’s outskirts

25 Feb – Source: Radio Shabelle – 185 words

Drivers of the public transportation vehicles operating from Mogadishu to Afgooye in Lower Shabelle have lamented about illegal checkpoints on the main roads which money is being collected from the drivers.

The long road connecting Mogadishu to Afgooye which is used by public transportation vehicles has reportedly numerous checkpoints accumulating funds from people on board the vehicles and is said to cause the drivers significant difficulties.

One of the drivers who spoke with Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu reported that in the past, checkpoints were erected on roads at night and in the evenings, but now it has become daily occurrences where armed collect up to Shs400,000 ($20) which the drivers cannot afford to pay. He also urged the Somali government to take action in removing the checkpoints immediately as it causes complications.

The road that leads to Afgooye district used by the people leaving Mogadishu, has recently been cleared of checkpoints by the Officials of the Somali government even though they have been unsuccessful in removing the current checkpoints that still lay on the road.

Rise in land grabbing exacerbates conflict over pasture in Galgadud

25 Feb – Source: Radio Ergo – 292 words

The pastoralist communities in Himan and Heb administration in central Somalia are complaining over the increasing urbanization of rural areas which is destroying the pasture for livestock. “The urbanization is leading to environmental problems by depleting the pastureland that is available for the livestock,” Abdullahi Mohamed Shidane, a pastoralist, told Radio Ergo’s local reporter.

The pastoralists have already suffered from massive deforestation caused by charcoal burning which has cleared grazing lands over the past two decades. Galgadud and Mudug regions are populated largely by pastoralists, who keep livestock dependent on the pasture and water available.

“Every forest we take our livestock to get pasture, there are people claiming they own it. That was never the case. Our livestock used to be able to go to any forest and eat from it before,” said Shidane, from Qoryo-adde village, near Adado district in Galgadud.

New villages and towns have been developed across Somalia without planning or restriction over the past two decades of anarchy. Migration of people to urban areas from rural parts in search of a better life has increased. This has led to overcrowding and congestion in towns and the further destruction of larger areas of forest and pasture land to accommodate them, said Radio Ergo reporter Mohamud Dirshe in Adado.

The urbanization has also led to land grabbing and conflict between the communities over the ownership of land, according to Sheikh Mohamed Guled, the secretary of Himan and Heb administration’s magistrates court. “Cases relating to conflict over the ownership of land are increasingly being referred to the court,” Guled said.

Expired goods burnt at laas’aanood

25 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 136 words

The ministry of trade for the administration of Somaliland has burnt expired goods in an open public place; the products were collected from stores and shops in the town of Laascanood at Sool region. The burnt goods comprised of drugs, drinks, cosmetics and milk.

The office secretary in the ministry of trade at Laas’aanood district Mr Fuaad Mohmaed Omar told that it’s the second time to burn expired goods within this month. Fuad said that the consumption of expired goods can result health problems to the community

The commander in the department of police, Abdurahman Noor Olhaye threatened to take a stern action against business people who are caught selling expired goods. Previously, there have been several occasions where expired goods were burnt in different parts of Sool region.

Bumpy ride from Bardere to Elwaq

25 Feb – Source: Radio Ergo – 256 words

The 220 kilometer stretch of road between Bardere and Elwaq is one of most important roads connecting Gedo to other regions of the country and even to neighboring Kenya. However, anyone who has travelled this road for the first time must have been frustrated by the poor state of the road and infrastructure and might have secretly sworn not to travel it again!

But there is no alternative road for the local residents, and they have to endure the frustration of the rough road whenever they are travelling between Bardere and Elwaq.Before the collapse of the central government in 1991, this road was one of the best built roads in the country.

Passengers travelling between the two districts could have taken breakfast in Bardera and reached Elwaq in time for lunch – because it was only an eight hour drive. But it can now take travellers more than three days, depending on the type of vehicle. This is because of the land mines and damage caused by rain and floods. The road has been severely damaged and has never been repaired since the start of the civil war.

The poor road infrastructure has forced drivers and vehicle owners to keep on increasing the price passengers must pay, according to Ali Aden, who drives a vehicle operating between the two districts. Passengers currently have to pay about $20 for the three-day trip. But one thing good about this road is that there are roadblocks in which vehicles and passengers are extorted from money. People feel safe.

Somaliland president Silanyo Speculated Cabinet Reshuffle

24 Feb – Source: Somaliland Sun – 132 words

There are rumors that the President is going to yet again reshuffle his cabinet in the last lap of his 4 year term. Sources say that this will be the sixth time that the President will change his administration top posts.

The reshuffle always comes after thorough scrutiny of the members of cabinet and if any evidence is linked with low capacity building in the field related work, corruption, nepotism, trivial and malice associated issues then there’s no sparing but you receive the red ink.

The members of the public although acknowledge the development the administration is doing are still thirsty for changes and do prefer that the few bickering cabinet officials be removed to help make more room for further developments that the head of state is doing for his people.

700 IDPs provided with shelter at Hargeisa

24 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 108 words

700 IDPs who among escaped to Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland have been provided with shelter. UNHCR and other non- governmental organizations have together facilitated the construction of permanent houses erected at the southern outskirts of Mohamed Mooge’s village at Hargeisa town.

Furthermore, there are 129 families supposedly promised to get shelter in the coming 6 months, as they will be provided with permanent residence

The deputy president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail who addressed in the opening ceremony of the new houses for the Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) hailed the assistance extended to the IDPs who fled to Somaliland.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia fails to send team for repatriation of refugees

25 Feb – Source: Star- Kenya – 269 words

The repatriation of more than half a million Somali refugees from the Dadaab camp could not start after the Somalia government failed to appoint its members to the Tripartite Commission that was mandated to oversee the process.

Sources said the Kenyan government feels “frustrated” by the failure by the Somali government to second members to the commission.

According to the Tripartite Agreement signed on November 10 last year, Kenyan and the Somali governments and the UNHCR “shall designate not more than four representatives to the membership of the Commission”. “Two representatives from the governments shall be at ministerial level,” the document reads.

Early this month, Interior Secretary Joseph ole Lenku expressed concerns over the process. He called on the Somalia government to fast-track the appointment of members to the commission to facilitate the repatriation.

Al-Shabaab fails to sway Somalis against Ethiopian troops

24 Feb – Source: Sabahi Online – 645 words

Rather than take up arms and join al-Shabaab’s fight against Ethiopian troops serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), residents of several towns in central Somalia are instead fleeing their homes in the dead of night.

Al-Shabaab began increasing its efforts to recruit civilians living in areas it controls on February 10th, after Ethiopian troops announced they were closing in.

Using loudspeakers mounted on vehicles, al-Shabaab told residents of Bulo Burde, El Bur, Galhareri and other towns under its control that it was obligatory for them to join the “war” against Ethiopian troops “invading” Somalia.

They said the Ethiopian troops wanted to spread Christianity in Somalia and that it was the duty for every Somali to fight them. Almost immediately, residents began fleeing their homes to escape forced conscription into al-Shabaab’s militia.

Foreign Minister, Dr. Tedros meets the new President of the Puntland Administration

24 Feb – Source: Ethiopia- Ministry of Foreign Affairs – 213 words

Ethiopian Foreign Affair Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom received and held discussions with the new President of the Puntland Administration of Somalia on Sunday (February 23). Puntland Administration President, Dr. Abdiweli Mohammed Ali Gaas, said he was glad to be back in Addis Ababa for what was his first foreign trip since assuming office in mid January.

He said that Puntland Administration’s recent election will usher in a new chapter in the relationship between Ethiopia and the Puntland Administration. He also said the administration “would like to open a new page with our Somali brothers”.

President Ali Gaas explained his administration’s objectives and said that maintaining security and fighting terrorism; economic development; strengthening Somalia’s federal system, strengthening institutions and building the civil service and security services were his administration’s priorities. Dr. Tedros praised the peaceful transition of power following the recent presidential election in Puntland and said it was an excellent example for the region as a whole.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

U.S. State Department reports steep decline in Somali piracy operations

25 Feb – Source: World Tribune – 191 words

The United States and European Union have reported a drop in piracy operations both in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea in 2013. Officials said pirates, who still hold 49 hostages, failed to hijack any vessel off

the coast of Somalia since May 2012.

“This is the lowest rate of attempted hijackings in over six years, and certainly since the peak of the crisis in 2011,” State Department counter-piracy coordinator Donna Hopkins said. “No ships are currently held hostage by Somali pirates, although there remain at least 49 hostages whom the international community are working to free.”

In a briefing on Feb. 20, officials attributed the decline in piracy to both Western-led naval operations as well as improved security by merchant ships. They said 1,430 suspected pirates were being prosecuted in 21 countries.

“The remarkable drop in piracy is due primarily to two things,” Ms. Hopkins said, “first, proactive counter-piracy operations by the many national navies and missions that are preventing and disrupting pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the eastern Indian Ocean, and better self-protection by commercial ships, including the use of embarked armed security teams.”

MP is given accolade for Somalian efforts

25 Feb – Source: Oxford Mail – 80 words

Banbury MP Sir Tony Baldry has been made an honorary citizen of Somalia. Sir Tony is the co-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Somalia and Somaliland and during his visit to Mogadishu he was made an honorary citizen in recognition of the work he has done in Somalia and the Horn of Africa. In 2012 the Federal Government of Somalia was formed, the first permanent central government in the country since the start of the civil war in 1991.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Al-Shabaab has been ousted from much of southern and central Somalia but the group still controls parts of the country where it imposes strict Islamic Sharia law, and recruits and trains fighters. Alay expects the group to start imposing stricter curfews and a blanket ban on the use of smartphones in areas under its control. Already al Shabaab has forced the biggest telecoms company here to switch off its mobile internet service. Alay also expects more youths to be indoctrinated into the group’s extremist ideology and forcibly recruited to join.”

Somalis Caught in Crossfire as al Shabaab ‘Plays to Survive’

24 Feb – Source: IPS News – 750 Words

As the Somali government plans to launch a new military campaign to wipe out the Islamic extremist group, al Shabaab, from its strongholds in this Horn of Africa nation, experts say that its Somalia’s innocent who live in areas controlled by the group who will suffer the most.

On Friday, Feb. 21, the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab launched an unprecedented and brazen attack on the presidential palace in the capital Mogadishu in which 12 people, including nine militants from the extremist group, died.

Shortly after, the government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) announced that plans were under way to launch a military campaign against the extremist fighters.

Senior Somali government military commander Ise Guled told IPS in Mogadishu on Monday, Feb. 24 that preparations for “the final onslaught” against the radical fighters’ strongholds in south and central Somalia were “in their final stages”.

Somali Government Security Threatened by al Shabaab Attack

24 Feb – Source: Atmospheric Unlimited Blog – 374 Words

In our last Somalia post we covered the al Shabaab attack against the United Nations compound in June 2013 that killed 15 people, including UN personnel. The attack triggered deep concerns among the international community regarding both AMISOM’s and the Somali security forces’ ability to provide the security required for international organizations to safely operate in Mogadishu and beyond.

Unfortunately, those concerns have not been satisfied. Friday’s attack on the presidential palace, known as Villa Somalia, once again highlighted the security shortfalls in the Somali capital. Al Shabaab was able to launch a well-coordinated assault that succeeded in breaching the compound’s perimeter.

Although President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was unharmed in the attack, Gen. Nur Shirbow, a former deputy intelligence chief, and Mohamud Hersi Abdulle, secretary for the office of the prime minister, were both killed. The attack represents a significant blow to the legitimacy of the Somali Government, whose security apparatus appears to be unable to protect even the president.

Top tweets

@amisomsomalia #SRCC Amb. Annadif attends a High Level Partners Forum held at #AMISOM VIP Conference Centre#Mogadishu pic.twitter.com/3mkTyo5FIm.

@UNSomalia Remarks by #UN Envoy to #Somalia Nick Kay (@Somalia111) at today’s High Level Partnership Forum in Mogadishu: http://bit.ly/MTXCZl.

‏@UNLazzarini Morning meeting on #Somalia issues – returns, IDPs, fragile humanitarian sit. – with the Nairobi-based media.pic.twitter.com/QUVsuTld7l.

@Guuleyste Huge improvements! Chief of #Somalia‘s Army Gen. Elmi: “Each month SNA used to get $100 salary, $30 for food. Now $200 salary, $60 for food”.

@SomaliaNewsroom #Somalia prez spox says they sent “concrete evidence to address the discrepancies” in UNMG report on arms diversion https://www.facebook.com/engyarisow/pos.

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Image of the day

Image of the day An AMISOM police officer holds a young Somali boy at an IDP camp, Siliga Amerikanka, on 24th February 2014 after a foodstuff donation. The donation comprised of 10 bags of rice, 3 bags of maize, 3 bags of cow peas, 3 bags of sugar, salt and 20 gallons of oil. @amisomsomalia.