February 28, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somalia, Turkey sign military pact

28 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online/SNTV/RBC – 190

High-ranking military officials from Somalia and Turkey have on Thursday reached a military pact that will allow Turkey to train the Somali Armed Forces (SAF) as well as construct sophisticated military camps.

Somali Army Chief of Staff, General Dahir Aden Elmi, has signed the agreement on behalf of the federal government of Somalia. The SAF Commander, General Abdirisaq Khalif Elmi, and other top army officials witnessed the signing of the agreement.

“According to the agreement, Turkey will build fully-equipped military bases for Somalia. This is part of a huge program that will help the Somali military,” Army Chief of Staff, General Dahir Aden Elmi, told the media in Mogadishu on Thursday.

General Dahir Aden Elmi said that military experts from both Somalia and Turkey will train Somali soldiers inside the country, adding that the era of sending army members aboard for training has nearly ended.

“This agreement will make big chances in the Somali army in terms of their quality, power and experience—we are very grateful to Turkey, the United States of America, and the European Union for their continued support,” Somali Army noted in his press conferenceon Thursday.

Key Headlines

Somalia Turkey sign military pact (Hiiraan Online/SNTV/RBC)
Puntland to commence collection of tax in Sanaag region (RBC)
Danish ambassador to Kenya visits Somaliland (Somaliland Informer/Horn Cable TV)
Baidoa farmers storing crops due to poor market prices (Radio Ergo)
Somaliland Finance Minister officially joins Kulmiye’s executive council (Somaliland Informer/SLNTV)
Mogadishu mayor replaced amid security concerns (Al Shahid)
Somalia’s Sacked Soldiers Threaten Mogadishu’s Security (IPS News)
UN Security Council slams deadly car bombing in Somali capital (Global Time/Xinhua)

PRESS RELEASE

Security Council Press Statement on Terrorist Attack in Somalia

27 Feb- Source: UN-320 Words

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Raimonda MurmokaitÄ— ( Lithuania):

The members of the Security Council are appalled by today’s terrorist attack in Somalia for which al Shabaab has claimed responsibility. The members of the Security Council condemned the attack in the strongest terms. The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to those injured. The members of the Security Council further extended their condolences to the people and Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern at this and other recent terrorist attacks perpetrated by al Shabaab in Somalia. The members of the Security Council expressed their solidarity with the people and Government of Somalia at this difficult time.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, wherever and whenever and by whomsoever committed.

The members of the Security Council reiterated their determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with its responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.

The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with the Somali authorities in this regard.

The members of the Security Council reminded States that they must ensure that measures taken to combat terrorism comply with all their obligations under international law, in particular international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law.

The members of the Security Council underscored their determination to continue to support all international efforts aimed at ending the threat posed by al Shabaab.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia, Turkey sign military pact

28 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online/SNTV/RBC – 190

Puntland to commence tax collection in Sanaag region

28 Feb – Source: RBC – 83 words

Puntland government had announced that it will restart the collection of tax in the sanaag region of Puntland. The governor of Sanaag, Mohamud Ismail Ciyoon confirmed to RBC Friday that Puntalnd’s ministry of finance will soon the exercise in sanaag region.

Ciyoon stated that they have opened again the respective offices to facilitate tax collection in Sanaag and will soon start the process. Former Puntland’s minister of Finance had two year back suspended the tax collection exercise in Sanaag.

Danish ambassador to Kenya visits Somaliland

28 Feb – Source: Somaliland Informer/Horn Cable TV – 143 words

Minister of Livestock Hon. Abdi Aw Dahir has welcomed to Somaliland a delegation from Denmark consisting of 20 members on Thursday. The delegation is headed by Danish ambassador to Kenya and will assist the country on livestock projects.

Dr. Abdi Aw Dahir, Somaliland Minister of Livestock welcomed the delegation at Egal airport in Hargeisa upon arrival. The minister briefed the media that the purpose of the delegation is to implement development projects on country’s livestock as the backbone of the economy.

The Danish delegation is expected to support the ministry of livestock to have healthy livestock that Somaliland can export to the Arab countries.

The Danish ambassador to Kenya who is leading the delegation stated that they are happy to come to Somaliland and is excited about the progress that the country achieved on the areas of politics, economy and socials affairs.

Baidoa farmers storing crops due to poor market prices

28 Feb – Source: Radio Ergo – 322 words

Farmers in the southern region of Bay have begun to store this season’s crop due to the poor prices they are getting in the local market. A 73-year old farmer, Ali Aden Ahmed, is one of the dozens of farmers who have just finished digging large pits across their land to make storage for their harvests, until there is a better time to sell.

“We are not taking our crop to the market due to the low price. So we are going to keep it all in the storage and wait until the day the prices go up,” he told Radio Ergo’s local reporter. Ahmed normally grows maize, beans, sesame and other vegetables, but this is the first in a long time that he has reaped a good amount of produce due to the previous successive years of poor rains.

He said he could have grown enough to feed many local residents in Baidoa, but he did not plant all of his 200 hectares because he did not have enough money to do so. However, the storage of the crops might give stronger food security to the region and help locals to survive in case of unexpected drought if there is rain failure in April, Radio Ergo’s reporter said.

Another farmer, Malayka Abdi, said the 2011-2012 drought and famine that forced thousands of farmers to flee the region was linked to the lack of food in storage. “We weren’t ready for the drought because no farmer had the idea of storing some crops. We sold everything we had in the market and then people died of hunger when it ran out,” Abdi said.

She added that if the rain fails to come in April, the food in the storage facilities will help residents to survive until the next rainy season. “We can also use the food in the store as seeds to plant when the expected rain pours in April,” Ahmed said.

Somaliland Finance Minister officially joins Kulmiye’s executive council

28 Feb – Somaliland Informer/SLNTV – 88 words

Somaliland Minister of Finance Hon. Abdiasis Mohamed Samale has been officially included in to the executive council of the ruling Kulmiye party following a press release issued by the Chairman Hon. Muse Biihi Abdi .

The press release stated that the inclusion of country’s finance minister to the party executive council will be into effect from the 26th of Feb. The decision was made by the mediation committee and that in a letter from the party chairman agreed that Mr. Samale to be officially approved into the executive council.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Mogadishu mayor replaced amid security concerns

28 Feb – Source: Al Shahid – 112 words

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali President, on Thursday appointed General Hassan Mohamed Hussein Mungab as the new mayor of Mogadishu and governor of Benadir region during instability in the capital.

Mungab replaces Mohamed Mohamud Ahmed Nur who served in the position since December 2010, No reason was given for the change. Mungab was previously Head of the Somali Military Court.
His appointment comes in in the wake of a recent wave of al Shabaab attacks in Mogadishu.

General Hassan Mohamed Hussein is thought to begin his work recently after Mohamud Ahmed Nur left the office. Analysts say it is difficult to the newly named mayor to work smoothly for his less experience to administration.

Somali troops deployed in Huriwa district to contain al Shabaab threat

27 Feb – Source: Sabahi Online – 301 words

Following weeks of tenuous security in parts of Mogadishu, residents of Huriwa district welcomed the deployment of Somali troops to help mitigate the potential resurgence of al Shabaab elements in their midst.

On two consecutive nights in early February, al Shabaab fired “improvised devices” in the vicinity of the Somali presidential residence and in six other districts of Mogadishu, including Hamarweyne, Hamar Jajab, Waberi and Warta Nabada.

Residents were further rattled by reports from Huriwa district last week, after District Commissioner Omar Abdulle Jaafan warned that al Shabaab had launched an offensive in the area and was in position to easily take over control.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s Sacked Soldiers Threaten Mogadishu’s Security

28 Feb – Source: IPS News – 235 words

Residents of Mogadishu have raised concerns about their safety after the Somali army recently fired hundreds of disgruntled soldiers, many of whom are believed to still be in possession of their arms.
Somali military officials said early in February that 700 army soldiers were “relieved of their duties” following the restructuring of the army to make it a more professional force.

Somali National Army (SNA) chief General Dahir Khalif Elmi said that the sacked military personnel were unfit for service as they include elderly and disabled soldiers but added that they would be taken care of by the government. However, shortly after their sacking, hundreds of armed soldiers took to the streets in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, to protest against the decision.

“Releasing an army of 700 soldiers complete with their weapons into the city is not only dangerous to people’s security but outright irresponsible,” Ahmed Ahmed, a Somali lawmaker, told IPS.

Ahmed said that the soldiers could be potential recruits for the radical Islamist group, Al-Shabaab. The sacking of the soldiers comes just as the government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) announced that plans were under way to launch a military campaign against the extremist group al Shabaab.

Barre Farah, a retired Somali army officer, said that the decision to “retire” the army personnel was necessary to “modernise and professionalise” the Somali army but expressed doubt about the timing of the move.

UN Security Council slams deadly car bombing in Somali capital

28 Feb – Source: Global Times/Xinhua – 176 words

The UN Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned a deadly car bomb attack in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, reiterating its determination to “combat all forms of terrorism.”

“The members of the Security Council are appalled by today’s terrorist attack in Somalia for which al Shabaab has claimed responsibility,” said a statement issued to the press here by the 15-nation UN body. “The members of the Security Council condemned the attack in the strongest terms.”

Earlier on Thursday, a suicide car bomb went off at a tea shop in Mogadishu, leaving at least 11 people dead, reports said, adding that the tea shop was frequented by Somali intelligence officers.

The al Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab, which claimed the responsibility for the attack, has increased the frequency of attacks in the Somali capital.

“The members of the Security Council extended their condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to those injured,” the statement said. “The members of the Security Council further extended their condolences to the people and government of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”

Somalia’s al Shabaab rebels ban 3G in latest blow to freedoms

27 Feb – Source: AFP – 02:41mins

Somalia’s al Shabaab rebels have banned watching movies, smoking and football matches, and now they have banned 3G coverage in certain areas of the country in an attempt to limit Western influences.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“As refugees and immigrants to a new society, Somalis face immense cultural, racial and linguistic barriers. Fortunately, many have overcome blatant social stigmatization by being resilient, entrepreneurial, collaborative and adaptive to their new environments. Incredibly, some have succeeded in business, government and in the private sector with a handful proudly serving their communities as elected public officials. By far, Somali’s in North America have generally enriched their communities and are productive law-abiding citizens.”

Invisible Trends, Visible Communities: A Debate worth Having

28 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online – 2128 Words

A recent news article on the Toronto Star regarding demonstrations by Somali community members in Toronto against the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) on policy affecting children of Somali descent left me with a mixed feeling. At one level, I was elated to see Somali immigrants exercising their newly found democratic rights as Canadian citizens; and on the other hand, I felt bewilderment at the core issues discussed, as it rings true, and may soon affect other Somali
communities in the West.

In fact, Canada may already be a trend-setter in so many ways, due to the sheer size of the Somali population, its experience and longevity there. And in that sense, one might say to the Somali Diaspora community–whatever happens in Toronto may soon be coming to a theater near you!

The purpose of this article is not to prosecute the merits of the issues debated in Toronto, but to critically highlight the fact that Somalis—whether one likes or not, are a natural unit of analysis as is race or gender, country or region and it is generally valid and relevant to investigate their state of affairs as a group. How do Canadian students compare to Americans on the Pisa international test is a question that many educators, parents and policy-makers often ask? And how do both compare to their peers in Finland or in Shanghai-China? Pisa (program for international student assessment) is a test participated by over seventy countries to evaluate knowledge and skills of 15 year olds.

“Though the bulk of the book is about an American family of three siblings, there is enough about Somalis that would permit me to claim prideful ownership of it. For example, a simple differentiation of “Somalis” and Somalians,” immediately tells one that the writer has invested time to learn about Somalis.”

“The Burgess Boys,” A book that depicts Somalis with dignity

27 Feb- Source: Wardheernews-1079 Words

Last summer, boy that sounds like ages ago, I was alerted to “The Burgess Boys”, a book written by Elizabeth Strout who is a Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author. The book received rave reviews and was on the New York Times bestseller’s list. The story, based on an actual incident that took place in Lewiston, Maine, is about a cultural/religious conflict that erupts in a small town when a lonely, isolated teenage boy throws a pig’s head into a local mosque.

In the story, the boy is charged with committing a hate crime and his mother along with two maternal uncles try to save him from prosecution. Yes, the story is about families and how traumatic incidents can fracture as well as unite people. It is also about the power of forgiveness. But the heart of the story lies in the narrative about racial and religious prejudices, and building a bridge to empower the alienated.

I should remind the reader that in 2002 the eyes of world were focused on the city of Lewiston, Maine, as a wave of Somalis moved into town. The mayor of that city made it clear that these newly arrived residents were not welcome. Perhaps it is the mayoral seat that afflicts one with this type of disorder, for it occurred once again in 2012 when yet another mayor said almost the same thing: ‘When you come here, you accept our culture and leave your culture at the door,’ among other things.

“Media in Somaliland and Somali should take their provision seriously if they want to survive and be part of democratic institutions.”

Media Vs Government; How to regulate a free media in Somalia and Somaliland

26 Feb – Source: Somalilandpress – 2029 Words

Somaliland media has grown exponentially for the last two decades from a handful of newspapers into a fully fledged free media and into a dozens of daily papers, including national TV and other private TV channels. However, although media growth is partially due to fledgling democracy in Somaliland, nevertheless, media in Somaliland lacks professionalism and directions, and even viability to survive in a non productive sector.

Media in Somaliland are going through difficult phases, partly due to lack of proper qualified journalist with experience and the knowhow to run a very important sector in a democratic society. The other things which let down their profession are lack of financial backbone, in order to run a quality paper, or a decent TV channel of that matter.

It seems to me that Media in Somalia and Somaliland are abused and misused by the same people who’re crying wolf of censorship and threat of their lives. No doubt Somalia and Somaliland media is evolving, but it seems not only they endangering their lives, but also they become an agent for hire and creators of mischief. Firstly, they don’t self censor themselves and secondly there are no other statutory or entity in Somali/Somaliland which monitors their profession.

Top tweets

@Somalia111 More death & destruction in #Mogadishu. I condemn today’s atrocity, mourn with victims’ families & stand firm with #Somalis on path to peace

@UNSomalia #UN Security Council press statement on Thursday’s terrorist attack on #Somalia: http://bit.ly/1hXt9Yw

@stability_fund New Mayor of #Mogadishu announced!http://bit.ly/1pBlf8b pic.twitter.com/SVZXdjo9PJ

@amisomsomalia #Somali Formed Police urge the public to be vigilant in a song titled ‘Defend Your Security’ http://bit.ly/1cZkKPI

@AliMohamoud Noticed #Somalia isn’t mentioned here. That country’s HR & Press Freedom = appalling. Huge space for improvement! @USAforSOMALIA @StateDept

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Image of the day

Image of the day Scene of the car explosion that left at least 9 dead and more than a dozen injured. #Mogadishu #Somalia. Photo: @Hamza_Africa