April 8, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Kenya: High alert as police boss orders tough action on terrorists
08 Apr – Source: Standard – 259 words
Security has been scaled up at key installations across the country and top State officials assigned more bodyguards as part of efforts to avert terror attacks, The Standard has established.Â
On Monday, top security chiefs met in Nairobi to assess preparedness to counter terror threats and authorities declared a shoot-to-kill order for armed criminals. Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo declared that armed criminals deserve no mercy and assured his officers of the government’s backing when they kill those plotting attacks on Kenyans. Prominent public figures who may be targeted by terrorists have had their security scaled up.
Sources also told The Standard that senior Government officials have been instructed to limit their movements especially at night, a fact bolstered by the instructions President Uhuru Kenyatta was caught on camera relaying to his deputy William Ruto and Inspector General of police David Kimaiyo by a television cameraman.
Key Headlines
- Senior officials voice outrage at killing of two UN consultants in Somalia (UN News Center)
- Puntland President condemns the murder of UN officials (Radio Goobjoog/Radio Garowe/Horseed Media)
- Somali Interior Minister points Eastleigh as hub for al Shabaab influx (RBC/NTV)
- Somalia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs receives Egyptian Ambassador in Mogadishu (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somaliland to attend ministerial level meeting in UAE (Somaliland Informer)
- Kenya: High alert as police boss orders tough action on terrorists (Standard Media)
- US strongly condemns attack on UN employees in Somalia (Kuwait News Agency)
- Kenya: Islamic school refutes bomb materials report (Star/Kenya)
- British FM condemns murder of UN staff in Somalia (Global Times/Xinhua)
- Somaliland authorities shut down Haatuf Newspaper (Radio Goobjoog)
SOMALI MEDIA
Puntland President condemns the murder of UN officials
08 Apr – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Garowe/Horseedmedia – 141 words
The president of Puntland regional state condemned the brutal killing of two UN officials, a Briton and French in Galkayo airport. Mr. Gaas said the murder the officials were killed by one of the airport specials guards, who was immediately arrested by the security forces. He added that the motive behind the killing is not clear but investigations are under way.
He sent condolence to the governments of Britain and France, the families, relatives and friends of those who lost their loved ones in the hands of ill-minded perpetrators.
President Gaas stated that killing and murder is a tradition in Puntland and vowed that Puntland security forces will take stern action to maintain the security of the region. “ The government of Puntland regional state will battle with conduct bad act in the region to ensure peace, harmony and stability,” Gaas said.
Somali interior minister points Eastleigh as hub for al Shabaab influx
08 Apr – Source: RBC/NTV – 160 words
Somali interior minister tells Kenyan government that al Shabaab fighters are living in Eastleigh amid mass arrests on Somali community in Eastleigh as the security authorities associate Somalis with terror attacks.
Kenyan interior minister Joseph Olen Lenku stated that he met with his counterpart From Somalia Mr. Godah Bare yesterday where they have talked about the mass arrests of Kenyan government security authorities in Eastleigh Village, estate that Somali community predominantly reside.
Somali interior minister Abdullahi Godah Bare revealed to his Kenyan interior secretary cabinet counterpart Joseph Ole Lenku that probably al Shabaab members have taken refuge in Somali dominant village of Eastleigh.
Ole Lenku speaking in an interview with Nation Television Network (NTV) Kenya said Somali interior minister Abdullahi Godah Bare confirmed influx of al Shabaab militants defeated in south and central Somalia by African Union troops fronted by Somali national army have taken cover in Somali dominated Eastleigh state and may have now being plotting terror attacks.
Somaliland to attend ministerial level meeting in UAE
08 Apr – Source: Somaliland Informer – 219 words
Somaliland Minister of Commerce and Foreign Investment Hon. Mohamed Abdilahi Omar and who is accompanied by the Director General of the ministry of Foreign Affairs Hon. Mohamed Hassan left for the UAEon Monday in order to attend a meeting held on annual basis and Somaliland government was invited to attend it.
Commerce Minister Mr. Mohamed Abdilahi Omar has stated that the delegation of Somaliland will attend a large gathering which will be hosted by the UAE and where commerce ministers from Arab world and those from Africa will be in attendance.
The minister has assured that they will speak with the attending delegations about Somaliland economy and that nation has great opportunities for investment. He further promised that they will see and meet with the experts that are expected to attend the gathering and discuss investment opportunities in Somaliland.
He added that this is an annual gathering where Somaliland Ministry of Commerce receives an invitation to attend. He pointed out that this is ministerial level meeting and he stated that it is great honor and privilege on behalf of Somaliland to attend the meeting.
He reiterated that he will all he can to discuss with world delegation from both Arab and Africa to speak with them about the case of Somaliland be it political, economical and development assistance.
Somaliland authorities shut down Haatuf Newspaper
08 Apr – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 77 words
The administration of Somaliland closed the headquarters of Haatuf Newspaper in Hargeisa after Marodi Jeh regional court issued order of its closure.
Many police officers entered the Newspapers headquarters and ordered all the journalist to vacate and occupied the center of the newspaper.
The newspaper was accused of offending some serving ministers of Somaliland government including Minister for water resources, Energy and Ministers for Minerals. Before weeks the authorizes have shutdown Hubaal Newspaper which still remain closed.
Somalia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs receives Egyptian Ambassador in Mogadishu
07 Apr – Source: Radio Dalsan – 131 words
The State Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Somalia Federal Government Buri Mohamed Hamza has receivedon Sunday the Ambassador of Egypt in Mogadishu.
Ambassador Mohamed Mohamoud Auf has been in Mogadishu this week for official visit aimed to restore the Egyptian diplomatic mission in Somalia after two decades of lawlessness in Somalia.
A statement released by the Foreign Affairs Minister, the State Minister discussed the bilateral and brotherly ties between Somalia and Egypt. Minister Buri thanked the Ambassador for his visit to Mogadishu while the Ambassador on his side reiterated the importance of the relations between the two countries.
Somalia officially asked Egyptian government to help Somalia’s stabilization efforts as the government now retakes more regions and districts from the al Qaeda linked militant group of al Shabaab in Somalia.
New ID cards distinguish fishermen from pirates
07 Apr – Source: Radio Ergo – 215 words
Fishermen in Puntland have been issued with official identify cards that will make it easier to distinguish legitimate fishermen from pirates across Somali waters. Puntland’s Ministry for Fisheries and Marine Resources has issued the ID cards to at least 2,000 registered fishermen in the eastern coastal areas over the past month. Muse Abdalla Isse, a fisherman in Bossaso, said the new cards helped the fishermen to go to sea without fear of being mistaken for pirates.
“We used to suffer a lot because we have been mistaken often for pirates. We have been mistakenly shot at or arrested by the forces [European Union Naval forces in Somali waters],” Isse told Radio Ergo’s local reporter. Isse said he was stopped and held by an EU naval patrol just days ago and was able to show his ID card so he was released. “We can now go anywhere in the sea without being afraid of the Navy forces,” said Isse.
Another fisherman, Abdi Ismail, who said he had been detained by the EU naval forces several times, declared he now had a real identity. “I hope it will give us freedom to fish in our waters, and not to be mistaken for pirates ever again!” Ismail told Radio Ergo. About half of the 4,000 registered fishermen have received the ID cards. Puntland’s Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Abdinor Elmi Mohamud, said the remaining 2,000 fishermen in the coastal towns would get their cards by the end of April.
Somaliland: VP Sayli Officiates Tri Party Conference to Reform Management of Local Authorities in JPLG Venture
07 Apr – Source: Somaliland Sun – 151 words
The Vice President Hon. Abdirahman Abdillahi Zeyli’i graced a 3 day seminar aimed at impacting improved managerial & enhanced administrative skills to Local Governments under a pilot project targeting specific municipalities and some ministries in a program dubbed Joint Program on Local Government (JPLG).
The seminar is intended to evaluate attained priorities, failure in achieving the goals, reasons for non achievement in additional to exploring the prospects & setbacks experienced so far in the targeted councils under the combined scheme bringing municipalities on one hand, implementing Ministries on the other, as well as donor partners funding the program in JPGL.
The V-P was flanked by cabinet colleagues’ in-charge of Water, Health & Deputy Ministers for Interior, National Planning & Public Works together with Mayors, Executive Secretaries & technical staff of local authorities from the targeted councils under the project during the start of the 3 days conference that kicked on Monday at Ambassador Hotel in Hargeisa.
Somaliland Human Rights Center Strongly Condemns the Closure of Haatuf newspaper
08 Apr – Source: Somaliland Informer – 169 words
Today, 7th April 2014 about 16:00 local time, Somaliland Police with court warrant shut down the headquarters of the independent Haatuf newspaper and sister English paper, Somaliland Times. Human Rights Center strongly condemns the closure which is in violation of the freedom of the press guaranteed by the constitution of Somaliland. There is no court case informed to Haatuf to defend itself.
On 13th December 2013, in the same manner the Police closed Hubaal newspaper which is so far on suspension without any suit initiated against it. The suspension of the papers critical to the government is serious human rights problem that concerns Human Rights Center. The independent press is the backbone of democracy.
As stated in article 32 of the constitution, all the acts that suppress the media are prohibited. Article 28 of the constitution obliges the parties to have equal opportunity before the judiciary. The judiciary shall be independent from the executive branch. The Center is very concerned the judicial acts that are silencing the press.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya: High alert as police boss orders tough action on terrorists
08 Apr – Source: Standard – 259 words
Security has been scaled up at key installations across the country and top State officials assigned more bodyguards as part of efforts to avert terror attacks, The Standard has established.Â
On Monday, top security chiefs met in Nairobi to assess preparedness to counter terror threats and authorities declared a shoot-to-kill order for armed criminals. Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo declared that armed criminals deserve no mercy and assured his officers of the government’s backing when they kill those plotting attacks on Kenyans. Prominent public figures who may be targeted by terrorists have had their security scaled up.
Sources also told The Standard that senior Government officials have been instructed to limit their movements especially at night, a fact bolstered by the instructions President Uhuru Kenyatta was caught on camera relaying to his deputy William Ruto and Inspector General of police David Kimaiyo by a television cameraman.
US strongly condemns attack on UN employees in Somalia
08 Apr – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 122 words
The US strongly condemned here Monday the killing of two employees of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Puntland, Somalia.
State Department Spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said in a statement that the US “urges the relevant authorities to fully investigate this crime and to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.
“We reiterate our appreciation to all United Nations staff in Somalia for their continued dedication under difficult circumstances,” she affirmed.
She stressed that the US and UN “remain determined to support the people and the Federal Government of Somalia in their efforts to strengthen peace, security, and the rule of law.
Kenya: Islamic school refutes bomb materials report
08 Apr – Source: Star-Kenya – 289 words
The Samad Islamic Institute in Eastleigh has refuted allegation of terror links. Police said they found making bomb materials at the institute during a crackdown on terror activities.
Teachers at the institute on Eastleigh’s Seventh Street termed the links a “total fabrication”. Speaking to the Star yesterday, the teachers said what the police thought were chemicals to manufacture Improvised Explosive Devices was honey and black seeds oil. In the Somali community, honey and black seeds oil are believed to have high medicinal value.
Sheikh Ibrahim Adan, a teacher, said police raided the school at 2am on Sun- day. He is being sought by police. Adan said they carried a three-litre jar of honey and a tin of black seeds oil. “The box was marked ‘highly flammable’ because of the substance that it originally contained. Perhaps that is why police though it was material to manufacture the IEDs,” he said. Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue on Sunday said Adan is a refugee registered at Dadaab camp. Kibue said however, he resides in a rented house where the materials were found.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Senior officials voice outrage at killing of two UN consultants in Somalia
08 Apr – Source: UN News Center – 179 words
Senior United Nations officials today voiced outrage at the killing of two consultants working for the world body’s arm dealing with drugs and crime who were shot by unknown gunmen in Somalia’s Puntland region. Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), strongly condemned the killing of his colleagues in the “cruel and senseless” attack at Galkayo Airport.
“I hope the relevant authorities in Somalia will undertake every effort to ensure that their killers are swiftly apprehended and brought to justice,” he said in a statement. “I would also like to offer my most profound condolences to the family, loved ones, friends and colleagues of these two individuals, who were so committed and dedicated to UNODC’s work.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned the “cold-blooded killing” in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
“The Secretary-General urges the relevant authorities to fully investigate this outrageous crime and to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay,” said the statement. “He expresses his appreciation to all United Nations staff in Somalia for their continued dedication under difficult circumstances.”
British FM condemns murder of UN staff in Somalia
08 Apr – Source; Global Times/Xinhua – 153 words
British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday condemned the murders of two UN officials, including a British, at an airport in Somalia on Monday. The two foreign aid workers with the United Nations in the central Somalia town of Galkayo were shot dead Monday at the local airport by gunman wearing the local police uniform, police and witnesses said.
“It is with deep regret that I can confirm the murder of a British national and a colleague today at Galkayo Airport in the Puntland region of Somalia,” Hague said.
“I condemn these brutal murders in the strongest terms and offer my deep condolences to both families,” he added. Hague noted both victims were working for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to “help deliver a better future for Somalia.” “I urge the Somali authorities to urgently investigate these murders, so as to bring the perpetrators to justice,” the foreign secretary said.
Hollande condemns ‘cowardly attack’ on UN workers
08 Apr – Source: ITV – 116 words
President Francois Hollande has condemned an attack on a French and British UN worker in Somalia. The two men, who were working for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, were shot dead at Galkayo Airport in north central Somalia.
In a statement, Mr Hollande said: “The French President condemns the cowardly murder of a Frenchman and a Briton on a UN mission in Somalia. They were acting for peace on behalf of the international community.
“France pays tribute to the work and courage of UN members all over the world. It stands alongside the Somali authorities in the fight against terrorism.
“François Hollande extends his condolences to our compatriot’s family and the British authorities.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Over a generation and a half, we have used tribe as a tool to divide the society into classes: the dominants, the middle, and the rest. The proponents of this argument (asking one’s tribe) say that they ask one’s tribe because they want to get to know the person.”
Somalia: Tribe
08 Apr – Source: Somali current -1 009 Words
As I write this piece, Kenyan government is interning Somali-Kenyans and Somali refugees from Somalia and confiscating their properties without due-process in Nairobi, Kenya. As I write, there are thousands of Somalis preparing themselves to do the treacherous migration to Europe and North America. There are millions of others living in Somalia in constant fear and lack basic human needs that other societies have for granted. And these are the consequences of our collective failure of privileging Tribe over a nation, which starts from the moment you ask a Somali person his or her Qabil (tribe).
I have on Facebook (FB) over 1000 names on my list, and more than half of those are genuine Somalis who read my posts on there. I asked this group of Somalis–including intellectuals, government officials, scholars, Sheikhs, activists, journalists, and other members of the society–to take an oath with me pledging that they will never ask any Somali his or her tribe directly, ever. I let the post to circle around for a week, so that many people can see it before I sat down to write this piece. Unfortunately, only 16 people have taken the oath with me. Worse, none of the influential people on my list in the government took the oath.
So I tried another way. To hear the opinions of my friends on FB on tribe, I designed a survey to ask them if it was OK to ask one’s tribe. Seventy percent (70%) of those who responded said yes—it’s OK to ask one’s tribe. Hearing seventy percent of the survey takers to say that it’s OK to ask one’s tribe is really alarming, and here is why.
“Due to the terrorist activities and the civil unrest, all the major businesses, hotels and every public place has a necessary security force to protect it from any kind of invasion. Telecommunication is also one of the leading industries in the country with holding the Hormuud Telecom center in the capital city of Mogadishu. Despite the social conditions and unrest in the country, it houses some of the best educational institutes of the region.”
Mogadishu: The Financial Center Of Somalia
07 Apr – Source: Lovers Block Blog – 506 words
Now the talk turns to Mogadishu, a city that has reminded me of many beautiful memories of my childhood. No, I haven’t been to that city ever. It is just that when I was younger there was a project of history in which we had to learn the names of capital cities and I always slurred when saying the name of Mogadishu and every one used to laugh me it sounded so hilarious.
Any way the talk is about the city and not my personal experiences and so to say this city is the capital city of Somalia, a country of Africa. And even without checking the information I can tell you it is the largest city of Somalia as follows tradition. Yes, look I was right. You can check your encyclopedia if you don’t believe me. This city has been a very important port for many centuries that have passed. The city had been taken over by rebel forces in the early 1900’s and this caused the time President of the country to escape away to the country of Kenya.
There are a lot of religious fanatical groups present in the city too; one of the most powerful groups is the militants group by the name of “al Shabaab”. The group attacked on a massive scale in the year 2010 but the government troops were able to take control of the situation and ward off the militants to their bases and arrest some as well. Mogadishu is basically a financial center of Somalia as serving as the commercial center of the country. Cotton ginning industry has a very large scale over here.
“Hundreds arrested following bombing last week that left six people dead.”
Kenyans question mass arrests of Eastleigh Somalis
07 Apr – Source: Al Jazeera Stream – 228 words
Kenyans on Twitter are debating a police crackdown that has resulted in hundreds arrested in Nairobi’s Eastleigh suburb. The mass arrests of Somalis in Eastleigh, an area sometimes called “Little Mogadishu”, follow a deadly bombing last week that killed six people.
According to Kenyan media reports, 657 people were taken into custody immediately after the bombing. Over the weekend, hundreds more were arrested, and 900 are reportedly in police custody in Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium. The UNHCR has expressed concern over the arrests, and requested access to the stadium.
Top tweets
@UN Somalia humanitarian crisis remains 1 of largest in the world – see new @OCHASom Dashboard http://bit.ly/1lpbLtT pic.twitter.com/2jEEOSKKvI.
@africareview #Somalia & the #UN condemn the killing of 2 UN employees shot dead Monday as they disembarked from a plane in Galkayo, Central Somalia (1/2)
@Somalia111 Deep appreciation for messages of support after yesterday’s savage killing of UN colleagues in #Somalia. Re-doubling our work is our homage.
@Ashkirsom #Somalia interior minister Godah Bare revealed to his Kenyan counterpart that alShabab members have taken refuge in Eastleigh, Nairobi.
@BeilehMofa Meeting with #Somalia community representatives in #Rwanda http://radiyomuqdisho.so/
Image of the day
Somali president Hassan Sheikh and minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation Abdirahman Beileh meeting with #Somalia community representatives in #Rwanda. Photo: @BeilehMofa