10 Aug 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- AMISOM Force Commander says extremists still pose threat and appeals for more troops
- Change of guard at the AMISOM force in Somalia
- AMISOM expands al Shabaab abandoned areas in northern Mogadishu
- President Sharif arrives in Dares salam Tanzania
- Somali police handed over the control of the two main markets in Mogadishu
- Consolidate Mogadishu gains
- Somali refugees seeking safe haven in Southern Ethiopia
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM Force Commander says extremists still pose threat and appeals for more troops
09 Aug- Source: AMISOM- 531 words
Al Qaida-linked extremist insurgents still pose a threat to the Somali capital and to areas of the city where humanitarian efforts are underway to ease the famine-struck country, despite their declared withdrawal, AMISOM has said.
AMISOM Force commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha, said even though the retreat appeared to have been deliberate and coordinated, it had been forced by the pressure created by recent gains made by the Somali National Army with the support of his troops. “They did not abandon Mogadishu of their own free will,” he said.
“The extremists have however not withdrawn completely,” he added, noting that pockets of insurgents remained in the city and in the outskirts, particularly near the pasta factory and north east of the stadium.
“90-95 percent of Mogadishu has been liberated, creating areas for starving people to access food aid, but the city is not as calm as we would like it to be,” he said.
For years the extremists have used guerrilla-style attacks, including the use of IEDs and suicide bombings, as well as more conventional military tactics. The concern is that insurgents will seek to focus their efforts on an asymmetric campaign, threatening the government, the security of the civilian populace and humanitarian relief efforts.
Gen. Mugisha said that majority of people in areas under government control are accessing much needed food aid but expects a surge of IDPs to enter the city. He however noted that more needed to be done to alleviate the suffering throughout the country.
“We need to move quickly if we are to help expand government administration and help Somalis. History will judge us for the lives we protect not those we destroy ,” he said, appealing to all those who are responsible for the future of Somalia that AMISOM urgently requires additional troops as well as a maritime and air capability if it was to secure the city and the rest of the country before millions perished from the famine.
“We are working round the clock to help Somalis to pick up the pieces of their lives and we certainly need more than 12,000 troops mandated by the UN Security Council to create an enabling environment for the provision of aid,” he said.
Last year, the African Union appealed to the Security Council to raise the mandated strength of the AMISOM force to 20,000 troops, from the current deployed strength of 9,000, and provide it with an air and sea component.
Regarding security in Mogadishu, he said AMISOM was working with the Transitional Federal Government on a new security plan for the capital. Details of the plan are being worked up but he said that this would also require an immediate increase in the number of AMISOM troops.
“Our forces now have to cover a much larger area of the city and we risk being overstretched. I appeal to our international partners – on whom we rely – to expedite the deployment of the 3,000 extra troops already authorised by the Security Council as a matter of urgency, so we achieve the mandated force strength of 12,000,” he said.
“AMISOM will continue to support the Somali government as it works with all stakeholders on the ground to help ensure the most fundamental form of security; law and order on the streets,” he said. “We request the cooperation of AMISOM’s international supporters as we strive to do what we can to help protect lives.”
http://www.amisom-au.org/read-
Change of guard at the AMISOM force in Somalia
08 Aug- Source: AMISOM-276 words
On Friday, 5 August 2011, a handover ceremony between the outgoing Force Commander of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Major General Nathan Mugishia, and the incoming Force Commander, Major General Fred Mugishia, took place at the AMISOM Forward Headquarters, in Mogadishu. Before his assumption of duty, the new Force Commander was received by the AU Commission leadership in Addis Ababa.
The ceremony was attended by an AU Commission delegation led by Mr. El Ghassim Wane, Director, Peace and Security Department, the AMISOM leadership, senior military officers, men and women of the Mission, representatives of the TFG, and the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA).
Major General Nathan Mugishia had led the AU peacekeeping forces since 2009. Under his leadership, AMISOM, working closely with the Forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia, has registered significant achievements, including extending the TFG authority in Mogadishu.
During the handover ceremony, Major General Nathan Mugishia was awarded an AU peacekeeping medal, in recognition of his good service, commitment and gallantry. He was lauded for the significant progress made in containing the extremist group al-Shabaab during his tenure, which led to the capturing of key strategic positions throughout Mogadishu. This has resulted in relative stability.
The outgoing Force Commander was grateful to the rank and file of AMISOM personnel, both civilian and military, for their support during his tenure. His successor, Major General Fred Mugishia, vowed to continue and build on his accomplishments in order to achieve the objectives of the Mission and help bring about security and stability to Somalia and to the region at large.
SOMALI MEDIA
AMISOM expands al Shabaab abandoned areas in northern Mogadishu
09 Aug- Source: Radio Shabelle, Radio Kulmiye, Radio Risaala- 96 words
The AU peacekeepers on Tuesday established military bases in northern part of Mogadishu in an attempt to expand throughout al Shabaab abandoned areas, settling in the districts of Shibis, Abdul-Aziz, and other neighborhoods in its vicinities. No armed clashes were reported during the expansion move.
President Sharif arrives in Dares salam, Tanzania
09 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 140 words
Somalia’s president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and a high level delegation from Somalia on Tuesday arrived in Dar es salaam, Tanzania. According to the presidential press services, president Sharif is expected to meet Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete and other Tanzanian government officials during his stay to brief them on the recent military achievements by the government troops and AU Peacekeeping forces.
Kenyan President urges international community to settle Somali refugees inside Somalia
09 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 202 words
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki on Tuesday appealed to the international community to swiftly intervene in the current drought ravaging the Horn of Africa region, saying that Somali refugees need to be settled inside their country and be given the support they require. He categorically stated that the refugees’ entry to Kenya is not a long-term solution and that Kenya would offer support to the setting up of feeding camps inside Somalia.
Somali police handed over the control of the two main markets in Mogadishu
09 Aug- Source: Shabelle- 179 words
The TFG’s police forces have been handed over on Tuesday the overall control of two main Mogadishu markets, Bakaara and Suq Ba’ad. The deputy police chief of Somalia, Gen. Abdihakim Dahir Said, who spoke at a key meeting by top police officers in the capital, said ensuring the security is vital.
http://shabelle.net/article.
Former Somali police chief urges govt to focus on the security
09 Aug- Source: Radio Shabelle- 96 words
Abdi Hassan Awale Qaybdid, the former Somali police chief on Tuesday called for the TFG to pay an extraordinary effort to ensure the overall security and tranquility in seaside Mogadishu. Mr. Qaybdid, who also became a minister in the TFG, said that the government forces must not allow al Shabaab to fight inside the capital by regrouping themselves to launch more attacks.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Consolidate Mogadishu gains
09 Aug- Source: New Vision- 299 words
The forced retreat of al Shabaab from Mogadishu is a major victory for AMISOM, but it is not yet time to celebrate since analysts believe the al Qaeda-linked militant group might simply be changing tactics to guerilla warfare.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/
Aid ship to sail to Somalia in 10 days
09 Aug- Source: the National-552 words
In 10 days, the UAE will send a ship to Somalia carrying 400 tonnes of humanitarian assistance, less than two weeks after a delegation travelled to help stem the crisis in the Horn of Africa. The announcement comes a day after a UN plane carried 31 tonnes of aid from Dubai to Mogadishu. According to Dr Saleh Al Taee, the secretary general adviser at Red Crescent Authority: “we understand from our delegation that the needs are huge. A child is dying every seven minutes in the region.”
http://www.thenational.ae/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali refugees seeking safe haven in Southern Ethiopia
09 Aug- Source: VOA news- 421 words
In southeastern Ethiopia, Somalis fleeing drought and famine have gathered near the town of Dolo Ado, where there’s an overcrowded transit center. UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration are relocating refugees to nearby camps. “We’re moving some 15,000 refugees that have been in the transit center to a new camp that was opened on Friday,” said UNHCR spokesperson Milicent Mutuli.
http://www.voanews.com/
Somalia ‘needs more AU troops’ after al Shabaab pullout
09 Aug- Source: BBC- 615 words
The AU force commander in Somalia has appealed for thousands of extra troops to secure the capital, after militant Islamists left the city. Maj Gen Fred Mugisha said al Shabaab still threatened stability in Mogadishu and troops were needed to protect food aid. The government has said it is offering amnesty to the group’s fighters.