March 14, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Japan announces $40 Million aid for Somalia

14 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online – 202 words

The Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe has pledged $40 Million aid for Somalia, saying it was part of his country’s efforts to help the reconstruction of the war-weary country. Mr. Abe made the announcement on Thursday evening at the end of a meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud who has been on an official working trip to Japan for the past two days.

The meeting between both heads of states focused on the strengthening of the bilateral ties between the two nations and the role that Japanese government can play in the rebuilding of Somalia, as President Hassan briefed Mr. Shinzo Abe on the latest developments in the country.

“Japan will provide Somalia with $40 Million in aid which is intended to help finance more development projects in Somalia” the Japanese Prime Minister told a joint press conference with Somali President.
He said that the financial aid will be spent on specific sectors namely healthy services, police, job creation for the Somali youths, women and humanitarian projects for the vulnerable Somali people.

President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud for his part thanked Japanese government for the high profile reception it extended to his delegation and its commitment to continue supporting the Somali people.

Key Headlines

Japan announces $40 Million aid for Somalia (Hiiraan Online)
Al Shabaab loses key town in Hiiraan region (Bar-Kulan)
Night time curfew imposed in Beledweyne town (RBC)
Somaliland Civil Aviation Minister Dares Evicting Illegal Occupiers of Land Adjacent to Airport (Somaliland Sun)
United States welcomes fight against al Shabaab (Radio Goobjoog)
Somaliland VP appoints organizing committee tasked with state funeral for deceased singer (Somaliland Informer)
Somali National Army capture the sixth town from al Shabaab: AMISOM (Walta Info)
Somali-Kenyans strive to change their community’s terrorism-marred image (Sabahi Online)
Somali and African troops capture town from Islamists (AFP)
Somali woman helps future generations (eNCA)
UN voices concern over relief access amid military assault in Somalia (Xinhua/China.org)

SOMALI MEDIA

Japan announces $40 Million aid for Somalia

14 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online – 202 words

President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud for his part thanked Japanese government for the high profile reception it extended to his delegation and its commitment to continue supporting the Somali people.

Al Shabaab loses key town in Hiiraan region

14 Mar – Source: Bar-kulan – 143 words

Somali government forces backed by AU troops have on Thursday evening seized a key town in central Somalia from the Islamist militant group al Shabaab.

Somali National Army backed by AMISOM troops captured the al Shabaab stronghold, Bula-burde town in Hiiraan region, bringing to six the number of towns liberated from the al Qaeda linked insurgent group in the past two weeks.

The African Union Special Representative for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif welcomed the seizure of Bulo-burte and said the capture of the town was a major victory for the Somali and AMISOM forces and a boost for the peace restoration process in Somalia.

The joint operations between the Somali National Army and AMISOM which began this month have so far liberated the top 5 cities in the Bay, Bakool and Gedo regions, namely Hudur, Rabdhure,Ted, Weeldheyn and Burdhubo.

Night time curfew imposed in Beledweyne town

14 Mar – Source: RBC – 130 words

Hiiraan administration imposes nighttime curfew on Beledweyne town after withdrawing rapid regulations intended to strengthen the local security. Deputy Governor of Hiiraan on the region politics Mohamed Ibrahim Sanbuur said that they have imposed a nighttime curfew on Beledweyne town, starting from the evening at7am up to morning.

Sanbur stated that this curfew is intended to strengthen the security of Beledweyne people at night hours since the al Shabaab militants are known to carry out attacks at the dark hours of the night deteriorating the recovering security of the town.

He also warned the local residents on night time movements outside their residential localities and if anyone found, he will pay the price. The Beledweyne administration says they will publicize when this imposed nighttime curfew will be halted in the town.

Somaliland Civil Aviation Minister Dares Evicting Illegal Occupiers of Land Adjacent to Airport

13 Mar – Source: Somaliland Sun – 182 words

The Minister for Civil Aviation Hon. Mohamed Hashi Abdi has of lately cautioning the landless people living on the land adjacent to the south of Egal international airport with his unending threats culminating to deployment of troops to man the public land in a move to prepare displacing them from their dwellings.

The Aviation Minister has on several occasions threatened demolishing their structures if they do not move out of the land in a move meant to tightening the airport’s security. Elder Ahmed Abdi Said, one of the occupants of the said land vowed to move out calling for President Silanyo to intervene the minister who is fond of persistent threats of burning their structures by pouring petrol and then striking a match stick in their full view.

Mr. Hashi is said to have visited the land in the company of soldiers with complete riot regalia on Wednesdaycamping there over night & were still present at the time of going to press in the afternoon of Thursday. Similar grievances were aired by another occupant Abdikadir Aggaweyne who countered the minister’s move warning.

United States welcomes fight against al Shabaab

13 Mar – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 114 words

The United States of America has welcomed the joint African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali National Army efforts to defeat al Shabaab and bring greater peace to the country. The AMISOM forces and Somali military fighting jointly with al Shabaab have taken over many towns from al Shabaab in Southern Somalia.

State Department Spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in a statement “these efforts will help spread security and stability to all the Somali people, and accelerate the return of government institutions and services”.

The US is continuously working on fulfilling the humanitarian needs of Somalia, she stated, adding that her country supports the AMISOM and Somali National Security Services by providing equipment, logistics, and training aid.

Somaliland VP appoints organizing committee tasked with state funeral for deceased singer

13 Mar – Source: Somaliland Informer – 72 words

Somaliland vice president Hon. Abdirahman Abdilahi Ismail appointed an organizing committee tasked with holding state funeral for the later Mohamed Suleiman Tubec who passed away a hospital in Germany and expectations are that he will be laid to rest in Berbera according to his relatives.

The VP issued a presidential decree that he named the members that will work on the taking place of smooth national funeral for the demise of Tubec.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somali National Army capture the sixth town from al Shabaab: AMISOM

14 Mar – Source: Walta Info – 140 words

The Somali National Army (SNA) backed by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops this evening captured an al Shabaab stronghold, Buula Burde town in Hiraan region, bringing to six the number of towns liberated from al Qaeda –linked terrorists in the past two weeks, a top African Union official has said.

In a press release AMISOM sent to WIC, the African Union Special Representative for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, said the capture of Buula Burde town was a major victory for the SNA and AMISOM forces and a boost for the peace restoration process in Somalia.

The joint operations between the Somali National Army and AMISOM which began this month have so far liberated the top 5 cities in the Bay and Bakool regions in Sector 3, namely Hudur, Rabdhure,Ted, Weel dheyn and Burdhubow.

Uganda: Court Martial grants Brig. Ondoga bail

14 Mar- Source: New Vision-256 Words

After spending over four months in the dungeons of Makindye Military Barracks, Brigadier Michael Ondoga has been granted bail by the General Court Martial. Ondoga’s lawyer, Frank Kanduho spiritedly told court that his client suffers from complex illness that needed urgent specialized treatment, which the state facilities at Makindye barracks could not give.

Captain Fredrick Kangwamu, the state/UPDF lawyer first argued that granting Ondoga bail would jeopardize the trial given his former role as the first commander of UGABAG10 (AMISOM).

Kangwamu also said that the healthy facilities at Makindye barracks and the physicians there can ably handle Ondoga’s health complexities. However, Court Martial Chairman Brig. Moses Diba Ssentongo ruled that Ondoga be granted bail so that he could access superior and specialized treatment.

Somali-Kenyans strive to change their community’s terrorism-marred image

13 Mar- Source: Sabahi Online-1351 Words

Almost six months after the Westgate shopping mall terrorist attack, members of Kenya’s Somali community say they are still seen as “guilty by association” with al-Shabaab, and consequently face widespread discrimination in daily life. In an effort to counter the terrorism-marred image of their community, ethnic Somali lawmakers, religious leaders, teachers, and parents are spreading messages of non-violence and the dangers of extremism, as well as of the importance of informing police about suspicious activities.

Suleiman Hassan Abdi, a 23-year-old law student at the University of Nairobi, said the Somali community has been disproportionately on the receiving end of negative stereotypes, even though other communities are engaged in terror activities as well.

“The entire community is shouldering the blame for few individual offenders. But we are not sitting down and folding our arms,” Abdi, a Somali-Kenyan from Wajir County, told Sabahi. “Somali community activities [to fight extremism] may not be visible to other communities, but we are doing everything possible to reclaim our central role in deterring the few individuals with ill intentions.”

Al Shabaab loots power stations in El Bur, cuts off electricity and water

13 Mar- Source: Sabahi Online-180 Words

Al-Shabaab has looted two power stations that provided electricity to El Bur district in Galgadud region, and another one that was used to pump water to local residents, Ahla Sunna Wal Jamaa Executive Committee Deputy Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Abdullahi told Sabahi.

Militants reportedly made off with entire generators and other critical equipment in their raid on Sunday (March 9th).

“El Bur district in Galgadud region is in a very difficult situation,” he said. “When the al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab enemy who are based there heard about the [military] offensive coming their way, they decided to create hardship for the people.”

“The latest hardship is now in three parts,” he said. “The first part is they cut off electricity from the city. The second one is they have taken the generator that was providing water to the town, and the third part is they are forcing people to flee the city for the countryside during the hot season.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali and African troops capture town from Islamists

14 Mar- Source: AFP-417 Words

Somali government forces backed by African Union troops captured a sixth settlement in the latest advance in their renewed offensive against Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab fighters, a spokesman said Friday. Shebab gunmen are reported to have fled ahead of the assault on Thursday on the small town of Buula Burde, in the southern Hiran region bordering Ethiopia, Ali Houmed said, spokesman of the African Union’s AMISOM force.

“There was some fighting at the entrance to the town as the Shebab tried to ambushes and attack our forces, but they did not last long,” Houmed told AFP. “Their forces disappeared as we advanced to secure the town,” he added. Hardline Shebab insurgents once controlled most of southern and central Somalia but withdrew from fixed positions in Mogadishu two years ago.

Somali woman helps future generations

14 Mar- Source: eNCA-02:26mins

Last weekend, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. The theme this year was ‘Inspiring Change’. And one woman is doing just that in Somalia. Haalimo Maaclin runs a children’s centre in Mogadishu, where orphans and homeless children are cared for. eNCA profiled inspiring Somali woman.

Japan, Somalia to continue antipiracy cooperation

14 Mar- Source: Kyodo/Mainichi-153 Words

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Thursday with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to continue bilateral cooperation in fighting piracy in waters off the Horn of Africa country.

During their summit in Tokyo, Abe also announced $40 million in aid to Somalia for purposes such as providing food, improving public security and creating jobs. Japan will help the conflict-ravaged country develop human resources, the prime minister added.

“We specifically discussed measures to further enhance relations between the two countries,” Abe said at a joint press conference as Mohamud expressed appreciation for Japan’s assistance for human resources development.

UN voices concern over relief access amid military assault in Somalia

14 Mar- Source: Xinhua/China.org-670 Words

The UN humanitarian agency on Thursday expressed concern over the access to humanitarian supplies in parts of southern and central Somalia amid ongoing military offensive by the Africa Union peacekeepers and Somali armed forces. In a statement, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said access to relief supplies remains a major challenge due to the volatile security situation.

“Humanitarian partners are working to determine urgent needs, mapping supplies in the various hubs and how to best respond,” OCHA said in a statement. “The operation is expected to directly affect scores of districts and regions in southern and central Somalia,” it said as the military offensive to kick out the Al-Shabaab militants intensified this month.

According to OCHA, it hoped that if the military operation leads to the establishment of proper administrative structures in the newly controlled areas, it may provide an opportunity for humanitarian organizations to have a safe and predictable access to people in need.

Former Somali refugees raise funds in Canada to build pre-school in Dadaab

14 Mar – Source: UNHCR – 176 words

Six years ago, Muuxi Adam met two friends in a coffee shop in the Canadian city of Winnipeg to talk about ways they could help other Somalis stuck in refugee camps in Africa.

The three, all Somali but from different clans, started by setting up a non-governmental organization, Humankind International, to spread awareness about Somali refugees in neighbouring countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia, and to raise money for education projects for refugees.

In February, their initiative took concrete form with the opening of a pre-school in the Dagahaley camp, part of the world’s largest refugee camp complex at Dadaab in north-east Kenya. “More than 400 children lined up to enrol in the school, but we could only take 140 for now,” Muuxi told UNHCR at the recent opening ceremony.

He added that half were from the camp and half from the host community. The school has three teachers, two from the refugee community and one local Kenyan. CARE International, UNHCR’s partner for primary education in Dagahaley, has connected the school to a regular water supply.

Teenage girl held captive by al Shabaab starts a new life

13 Mar- Source: UNICEF-364 Words

Bilan was kidnapped by Al-Shabaab in Elasha-Biyaha on the outskirts of Mogadishu when she was just 14 years old. When her father tried to plead for his daughter’s release he was told the entire family would be killed if they made any more fuss about her being taken away.

“I remember that day thinking, the men would just take me for several hours and maybe rape me but then let me go,” said Bilan. “My family couldn’t just let me be taken so I told them I would go instead of you all being killed. I did not expect to be taken to Barawe and be forced off to marry a boy not much older than me.”

Without any contact with her family, and no means of escape from the Al-Shabaab controlled area where she was held captive, she was forced to cook, clean and wash clothes for the fighters as well as being sexually abused. Bilan became pregnant several months later and was told she was contributing to Al Shabaab’s cause.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The U.S. commitment is limited, but its strategic objectives are achieved. The challenge going forward will be to try to apply the lessons learned from Operation Serval elsewhere in Africa and against more diffuse targets than a coordinated—but ultimately heterogeneous and disparate—rebel offensive.”

The Future Role of US Counterterrism Operations in Africa

14 Mar- Source: ISN ETH Zurich-1870 Words

In his State of the Union on January 28, 2014, President Barack Obama’s speech focused on domestic issues, but singled out Africa, specifically mentioning Somalia and Mali, in reference to the evolution of the al Qaeda threat, the emergence of al Qaeda affiliates and the need for the United States to continue to work with partners to disrupt and disable these networks.

Just one year before this speech, the capital of Mali was threatened by an al Qaeda-dominated militia that had, in effect, hijacked a local rebellion of the northern region. Mali immediately became a high priority concern for the Obama administration, and although much more needs to be accomplished in the region, the multilateral response to Mali provides many lessons for how the United States may engage with al Qaeda threats in various regions across the globe—depending on the nature of the threat and the willingness of other partners to participate.

The multilateral campaign’s success notwithstanding, numerous violent non-state actors persist in Africa, in the Sahara, and to its north and south. They include jihadists and ethnic or regionalist militias.

“It’s up to us, the youth, to repair the damages now. And don’t take it literal if your parents were not involved in the war. The older generation was. It is our responsibility to fix what they broke. Come back so that we can finally hold our heads up again and be proud to say WE ARE SOMALI.”

Somalia: Come Home

13 Mar- Source: Somaliland Informer-432 Words

A whole generation that was raised to know nothing but war. Another generation that was raised not knowing who they are. The same people with the same misfortune. One group is in a battle without reason. The other group is in a battle with themselves. In both situations, we are both losers. Who will lead us out of this ignorance? The Italians say give Somalia to the UN. Let them colonize Somalia. Let the UN run Somalia. (Somaliland is still included in Somalia so don’t think they want good for you and bad for your brothers, we are all included). Is this what we want for ourselves? Were the Europeans right when they said Somalis can’t govern themselves? Look in the mirror and ask yourself, I mean really ask yourself, who am I? If you don’t know who you are, then come back home and find out. If you answered with “I’m Somali”, then join the movement.

Somalilanders, Reer Kililka Shanaad, Puntlanders, Southsiders, this goes out to you all. If you live in Africa right now, or you live abroad, OUR TIME IS NOW. Come back to your people. ALL OF YOU. This is where you’re needed. Come back to your country and become someone here. If all of us came back and put our heads together and worked towards one positive goal, Walaahi the Somali people would become the KINGS that we once were.

“For the millions of vulnerable Africans who are suffering from unrelenting violence, however, the longer the status quo in peacemaking goes unchallenged, the more destruction, displacement, and death they will see in the years to come.”

The New Face of African Conflict

12 Mar- Source: Foreign Affairs-1158 Words

As a new wave of violent conflicts has ravaged Africa, borders and conventional peace processes have done little to contain them. A cold war between Ethiopia and Eritrea has spilled over into Somalia, where Eritrea has supported the jihadist group al Shabaab in its fight against the Ethiopian-backed government in Mogadishu.

Meanwhile, the group has helped fuel the illegal ivory trade and launched terrorist attacks in neighboring Kenya, one of which killed 67 people in a Nairobi mall last fall. Sudan and South Sudan have supported insurgencies in each other’s backyards, and Sudanese Janjaweed militias have fought in eastern Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR). The Lord’s Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel group led by Joseph Kony, has sought refuge and wreaked havoc in the Democratic Republic of Congo, CAR, and South Sudan. And civil war in Congo has been the deadliest of them all, long subject to cross-border destabilization from Rwanda and Uganda.

These conflicts are not new, but they have never been more linked than they are today. In most cases, criminal networks or neighboring governments have empowered armed groups to seek control of some of the world’s weakest states. Yet traditional peacemaking efforts have consistently failed to grapple with that reality. Outside mediators — whether from the United States, the United Nations, or the African Union — have focused almost exclusively on the most powerful military actors.

Top tweets

@Doylebytes UN in odd position in #Somalia. Politicos support#AMISOM military offensive, humanitarians sound alarm about fallout from it.

@UNLazzarini Children & mothers in #Somalia receive #healthpackages for Child Health Days. @unicefsomalia @WHOsom http://bit.ly/1f0hcy0

@Aynte #UN Security Council lifts sanctions on #Somalia‘s most successful businessman Ahmed-Nur Ali Jimalehttp://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2014/sc11313.doc.htm …

‏@unicefsomalia Teenage girl held captive by armed group in Somalia starts a new life with help from UNICEF…http://fb.me/6rAUJ6bBF

@amisomsomalia Women sell tea in Buur-Hakba town which the SNA supported by #AMISOM forces captured on 27 February 2013 #Somalia pic.twitter.com/sqwJRGqreG

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Image of the day President of #Somalia Hassan Sh #Mohamud meets Emperor of Japan Akihito at the Imperial Palace in #Tokyo, Thursday. Photo: @harunmaruf