April 14, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somalia: Nearly 15 killed in battle in Bakool region

14 Apr – Source: Radio RBC/Shabelle/Kulmiye/ Dalsan – 133 words

Heavy gun battle erupted in Somalia’s Southwest region of Bakool on Sunday killing nearly 15 militants, according to Somali government officials in the region.

The battle erupted after the joint forces of Somalia army and the African Union Forces backing them attacked bases of the al Qaeda linked militant group of al Shabab at the Bur Dhuhulle village in Bakool region on Sunday.

Bakool governor Mohamed Abdi Tool said the joint forces attacked the militants’ base to dismantle their power and to sweep from the area because the militants imposed restriction on local transportation banning movement of people and trade within the region.

Meanwhile al Shabab spokesman Abdiasis abu Mus’ab claimed the combatants of al Shabab repulsed the attack and killed “many Ethiopian soldiers” in the battle, according to a statement posted online.

Key Headlines

Somalia: Nearly 15 killed in battle in Bakool region (Radio RBC/Shabelle/Kulmiye/ Dalsan)
Armed men gun down senior security officer in Mogadishu (Radio Goobjoog/VOA Somali Service)
New Hamarweyne District Commissioner hailed (Radio Dalsan)
Hundreds of Somalis to appear before court in Nairobi to answer terrorism charges (Somali Current)
Two Somali girls die after committing suicide in Yemen (RBC)
Kenya inks security agreement with Turkey (Xinhua/Shanghai Daily)
Only Banks Operate in Eastleigh’s Ghost Town (Nairobi News)
At least twenty people dead after unknown disease broke out in Bardale district (VOA Somali Service)
Police in Somaliland Arrest Dozens of University Students (Somali Current)
Al Shabaab display weapons allegedly seized from Ethiopian forces in Somalia (Al Shahid)
Somali hostage: ‘I thought I was going to be beheaded. It continues to haunt me’ (Teleghraph)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia: Nearly 15 killed in battle in Bakool region

14 Apr – Source: Radio RBC/Shabelle/Kulmiye/ Dalsan – 133 words

Heavy gun battle erupted in Somalia’s Southwest region of Bakool on Sunday killing nearly 15 militants, according to Somali government officials in the region.

Armed men gun down senior security officer in Mogadishu

14 Apr – Source: Radio Goobjoog/VOA Somali Service – 113 words

Unknown gun men killed a senior security officer Ahmed Sheikh and seriously wounded another in Arjantin village of Kaaran district in Mogadishu on Sunday. Both the killed and wounded soldiers were among the special forces who guard Somalia’s presidential palace Villa Somalia.

Witness told Goobjoog FM that three men armed with pistols attacked the officers from behind, killed one of them and injured the other before immediately fleeing the scene.

The commissioner of Karan district Ahmed Hassan Yalahoow told VOA Somali service that his administration apprehended two men who are suspected of being behind the murder and their investigation is under way.Mr. Yalaxoow promised that the security forces will make regular operations in Karan district to beef the security of the town.

New Hamarweyne District Commissioner hailed

14 Apr – Source: Radio Dalsan – 177 words

For the first time since, the collapse of late Somalia’s central government in 1991,the old Hamarweyne district of Mogadishu has a new commissioner from the local community. Mr Abdikadir Mohamed Abdikadir was appointed as the new district commissioner in a decree from the Benadir governor this week replacing the former Commissioner Abdulahi Sahal Gardhub.

The nomination of the new young district officer for Hamarweyne was suddenly hailed by the local community which has the majority of Somali Benadir population, regarded as a left community during the civil war in the country.

Mr Abdikadir, a newly graduate student from Sudan will be taking his office in this week and will begin to serve the local community in the old Mogadishu district.

Ali Omar, chairman of a local youth advocate organization in the district told Radio Dalsan, that the nomination of Mr Abdikadir was seen as a positive change coming into Somalia’s justice and good governance, because Mr Abdikadir hails from a community which was victimized by clan politics in the country in the past two decades.

Hundreds of Somalis to appear before court in Nairobi to answer terrorism charges

14 Apr – Source: Somali Current – 186 words

More than 200 Somali ethnics are expected to stand before a court in Nairobi to answer terrorism charges. Hundreds of Somali ethnic among the thousands arrested in the ongoing ‘’Usalama Watch’’ (Security Watch) swoop operations in Nairobi’s Somali dominated Eastleigh state are suspected of terrorism activities and are appearing before court Monday to answer terrorism charges.

Kenya’s Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said these suspects include Kenyans of Somali origin and Somalis from Somalia where some of them are under the age of 18.

The commissioner assured that his government will continue the swoop operations in Eastleigh in a bid of securing the nation. Somali community and Somali leaders in the current Kenyan government accused the government of targeting Somali ethnic in the country and appealed a quick suspension of the ongoing mass arrests on Somalis. Kimaiyo said they have close cooperation with international refugees and rights organizations.

Kenyan Security authorities arrested thousands of Somalis many of them refugees while some are also Kenyan born Somalis with genuine Kenyan citizen identifications in subsequent to the two successive bomb explosion which left 6 people dead.

Two Somali girls die after committing suicide in Yemen

14 Apr – Source: RBC – 146 words

A United Arab Emirates based Newspaper named Gulf News has published that two girls of Somali origin have committed suicide in Yemen.

Sources from Yemen Police confirmed to the Gulf News paper that one of the two girls died after she put herself on fire while the other girl shot herself with a bullet for reasons that are not yet clearly established by local police authorities.These suicide killings were said to have happened four days ago in Al-Jawf province, Yemen.

The exact motive of this suicide committed by two Somali girls is yet unclear but as family member of the two girls informed the police that the two girls were suffering from their family problems.

Thousands of Somali refugees live in refugee camps in Yemen whereas this is not becoming the first kind of this incident committed by the Somali refugees in the refugee kinds.

At least twenty people dead after unknown disease broke out in Bardale district

14 April – Source: VOA Somali Service – 154 words

At least twenty people died and more than fifty others are suffering after unknown disease broke out in Bardale district of Bay region. The commissioner of Bardale district Mohamed Issack Hassan told VOA Somali service that the last two days over ten people mostly children and old people died in of Bardale district and the surrounding areas.

There are no hospitals, doctors in the area as Mr. Yalahoow confirmed hence people are forced to seek medical assistance in Baidoa and Mogadishu. The cause behind the spread of the unknown disease in Bardale is not clear, but some people belief that its due to the consumption of contaminated water.

Finally the commissioner sent appeal to the federal government of Somalia and aid agencies to send emergency relief to the residents of Bardale district. Last month a similar unknown disease that broke in areas under Mudug region claimed the lives of more than ten people.

Police in Somaliland Arrest Dozens of University Students

14 Apr – Source: Somali Current – 194 words

Somaliland administration police have arrested dozens of students of Hargeisa University, one of the biggest universities in Somaliland, who were demonstrating against the tuition fee increase made by the university administration. Police used live ammunition fired into the air to disperse hundreds of students matching in to the Ministry of education Headquarters. One student was reported to be seriously injured.

Students wrote their complaints with banners and told that they have already submitted their complaints to top management of the university, but were not given any consideration to their grievances.Minister of education and higher education MS. Zamsam Abdi Adan condemned students’ demonstration and told that Somaliland administration has previously resolved students’ complaints more than 3 times.

“We have already paid $ 55,000 from the students who were complaining from increased tuition fee. University of Hargeisa management claim that the University needs to be reformed and that increasing tuition fee become indispensable”

Chairman of Somaliland Rectification and Consultation Forum Mr. Hassan Gure has strongly denounced government of using excessive force and live ammunition for the students. This is not the first time that students from Hargeisa University have protested against their management board.

Somali National Army 54th anniversary ceremony held in Garowe

13 Apr – Source: RBC – 157 words

Somali National Army 54th anniversary ceremony was held today in Garowe, the capital of Semi autonomous state of Puntland. Somali National army was established in 12th april 1960 after Somalia’s independence from Italian colonials in a bid of securing the nation and keeping law enforcement in the county.

Puntland deputy president Abdirahman Abdullahi Omar Amey addressing a speech at the ceremony assured that his government will improve the quality and quantity of the Somali national army of Puntland.

General Deyr Abdi, Puntland armed forces deputy commissioner said that the army is the reason behind the security stability in the region. Puntland Horseed music band acted a drama in the ceremony which was touching the achievements of the national army.

Also highly organised Somali National army 54th anniversary ceremony was held in the Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu where President Mohamud addressed a speech touching various topics concerning the state of the National army and the nation at large.

Federal Govt, Ethiopian troops clash with al Shabaab in Bakool

13 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 116 words

At least 11 persons were reportedly killed in fierce fighting between Somali government forces backed by Ethiopian troops and al Shabaab militants in Bakool region of southwestern Somalia on Saturday, Garowe Online reports.

The deadly battle broke out after al Shabaab fighters attacked trucks carrying food rations meant for Ethiopian troops on the road connecting Waajid town to Yeed, independent sources confirmed.

Somali military commander who asked to remain anonymous said, the fighting lasted for five hours and the soldiers guarding the military food items received reinforcement from nearby battalions.

“Among the areas where the fighting affected is Buur Dhuhule, we killed dozens of militants and the remnants were forcibly disbanded by our forces,” he noted.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Only Banks Operate in Eastleigh’s Ghost Town

14 Apr – Source: Nairobi News – 170 words

The city’s most dangerous estate is now a ghost town. Thousands of residents have fled Eastleigh following the crackdown on terrorists and illegal immigrants. Ignited by attacks on two restaurants in which six people were killed, last week’s massive operation involved more than 5,000 police officers.

So far, 82 illegal immigrants have been deported to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia and an unknown number is still being held at Kasarani Stadium, which was this week gazetted by police Inspector General David Kimayo as a police station.

Only the banks are fully operational on Eastleigh’s First Avenue, which has more than 25 shopping malls. This street which should be bustling with activity is virtually empty. Most of the shops in the malls are operating below half their capacity, while some have been closed altogether as shoppers stay away.

Businesses in the area together rake in Sh8.6 billion (US$100 million) a month and they are estimating a loss of more than 70 percent in sales if the crackdown continues.

The Other Somalia: Fisheries

13 Apr – Source: Citizen TV Kenya – 03:48mins

Let’s now go beyond our borders and to the Horn of Africa where the Indian Ocean continues to change the lives of many economically. The semi autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia now enjoys a booming fisheries sector thanks to the rapid decline in the rate of piracy off its coast.

And in the neighboring self declared independent republic of Somaliland, fishermen are enjoying increased catches as peace and stability steer their motherland to better economic fortunes. Alex Chamwada has just returned from the region and filed the following special report.

Al Shabaab display weapons allegedly seized from Ethiopian forces in Somalia

13 Apr – Source: Al Shahid – 88 words

Hassan Ya’qub Ali, al Shabaab representative for Galgadud region in central Somalia has displayed to media weapons they confiscated from Ethiopian troops in the region after fierce fighting between the militants and AMISOM troops recently.

“We don’t have weapon except the one we confiscate from Ethiopian invaders in Somalia. They brought the weapon in the country so they kill the Muslims, but we take them and use against invaders”, Hassan Ya’qub Ali said.

In many occasions, al Shabaab officials claimed they confiscate military equipments from AMISOM and Somali military forces.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali hostage: ‘I thought I was going to be beheaded. It continues to haunt me’

13 Apr – Source: Telegraph – 274 words

Throughout her 463 days in captivity, Amanda Lindhout’s dreams were, almost without exception, about her freedom. “My dreams became so vivid,” she says now. “In these dreams, I would encounter childhood friends and old teachers, people I hadn’t thought about in years. The memory of the life you had lived becomes really important in an environment where you have no stimulation whatsoever. All you have are memories.”

Lindhout, a Canadian cocktail waitress turned rookie reporter, was kidnapped, along with the photographer Nigel Brennan, in Somalia in 2008. She spent 15 months in captivity, much of the time alone in a windowless room where she was half-starved, kept in chains and raped.

She has now written a remarkable book about her experience – not just about what happened, but also what drew her to such a dangerous country in the first place. It is compelling and chilling, beautifully written, and a testament to the human spirit both in terms of endurance, as well as the ability to find forgiveness in the most appalling of situations.

Kenya inks security agreement with Turkey

13 Apr – Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily – 325 Words

Kenya and Turkey have signed security agreement to enable the two countries’ security forces to establish closer working ties by sharing skills between the police forces to keep the East African nation safe. The deal, which was inked at the conclusion of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s visit to Turkey will support initiative geared at upgrading the ability of Kenyan police to respond to security challenges in the country.

“The arrangement is part of wider commitments on security and defense between the two governments that include closer cooperation on the stabilization and reconstruction of Somalia,” said a statement from President Kenya’s office on Sunday.

The deal comes as Kenya has been grappling with security challenges sparked by increased terror attacks which have left over 12 lives dead and over 50 others injured in a month alone. The authorities have particularly warned against the laxity in the screening of cars for explosives at all shopping malls and any business or social gatherings with at least 10 people at any given moment that these might be vulnerable to attacks.

The police have responded to a string of terror attacks by arresting thousands of ethnic Somalis and detaining them in an ongoing security operation dubbed Usalama Watch mainly in Eastleigh, a suburb of Nairobi often known as “Little Mogadishu” because of its predominantly Somali population. Usalama means security in Swahili.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Our literary tour of Somalia examines lives blighted by conflict, and finds reasons for optimism in the ‘world’s most failed state'”

The best books on Somalia: start your reading here

14 Apr – Source: The Guardian – 652 Words

Crossbones by Nuruddin Farah

Set in Somalia around the 2006 US-backed Ethiopian invasion, the final volume in Farah’s Past Imperfect trilogy can be read as a standalone novel. This absorbing story puts a human face to the tragedy of a failed state.

Three members of a Somali-American family return to find their homeland imploding under an Islamist regime in control of the capital, Mogadishu, as war nears and piracy proliferates off the coast of breakaway Puntland. Foreign correspondent Malik has come to write about political conflict and piracy; his father-in-law, Jeebleh, is re-establishing contact with old friends who he hopes will protect Malik and ease his path; and Malik’s elder brother, Ahl, is searching for a stepson thought to have joined the Islamist militia on advice from an imam in his Minnesota hometown.

Farah skilfully evokes the paranoia and desperation that stalks the fragmented country, where trust is in short supply and good people find themselves unable to steer it away from self-destruction. This is an impassioned insider’s portrayal of present-day Somalia, and of lives blighted by relentless violence and civil war.

“What are the root causes of maritime piracy and how should they be addressed? For James Kraska, the Janus-faced answer is simple – the absence of the rule of law and the failure of land-based governance provide the ideal conditions for organized crime at sea”

Is piracy eradicated?

14 Apr – Source: ISN – 1686 Words

Maritime piracy is the commission of criminal acts at sea; it has been a feature of the oceans for as long as seafarers have ventured from shore. Piracy encompasses all manner of unlawful depredations at sea, including theft, assault, hostage taking, and murder, and therefore is part of the human condition and cannot be completely eradicated. Piracy springs from a breakdown of civil authority and law enforcement on land, and a lack of good order at sea, so it is less prevalent where there is stable governance and the rule of law.

The collapse of official authority in Somalia after 1991, for example, set off a ruinous economic depression and a shift in power from organs of the state to clan-based warlords. Destitute coastal fishermen began to seek compensation in the form of fish or cash from foreign factory fishing vessels poaching the Somali Basin.

Seeing opportunities for even greater rewards through hijacking and hostage taking, by the mid-2000s, well-armed militia entered the foray. From 2005-2011, the incidence of maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia skyrocketed, forcing policymakers for the first time in generations to think about the origins of maritime piracy, the factors that affect its spatial distribution, and how to effectively counter it.

“We should seek to create linkages, partnerships and associations between the two nations. Somalia and its businessmen are ready to be welcomed into the comity of nations as productive members. We should engage countries as partners towards advancing the peaceful coexistence and growth of business in the two nations.”

Kenya and Somalia Should Forge Stronger Business Ties to Fight Terrorism

12 Apr rvention in 2011 helped stop Somalia from slipping from mere anarchy into the terrifying abyss of complete state failure. The Somali nation is very thankful for this intervention.

Mogadishu is currently experiencing the longest period of sustained peace that it had enjoyed about a decade ago. The country finally has a permanent government that has the backing of a majority of the population.

Those seeking to cause terror and inflict harm on others have retreated into the night as the authority of the legitimate government is felt across Somalia.

Somali businesses and businessmen are equal stakeholders in the success of the current government. Peace is important for businesses and Somalia is flourishing once again. Kenyans should therefore look towards building closer business opportunities with Somali businessmen.

In her book, Getting Somalia Wrong? Faith, War and Hope in a Shattered State, Mary Harper points out that the nation is home to some of the most entrepreneurial people in the world despite the challenges it has faced.

Top tweets

@Refugees 6,000 people rescued in Mediterranean mainly from #Syria #Eritrea #Somalia #Nigeria #Gambia #Mali &#Senegal http://rfg.ee/vG3wr.

@amisomsomalia President Hassan Sheikh welcomes the new UAE Ambassador to Somalia, another sign of #Somaliaprogress in Intl arena http://bit.ly/1gVBpRW.

@SomaliaNewsroom With #Somalia speaker Jawari & his delegation in #Italy, how much work will parliament get done this week? pic.twitter.com/kOojyyxhGm.

@AVafricanvoices To be #Somali, today in #Kenya http://fb.me/23nCv1DkB.

@Adesoafrica Take a few minutes & watch this documentary on potential the #fisherie sector holds for #Somalia http://bit.ly/1ihqoiz via @citizentvkenya.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation met with #Burundi Amb. to #Somalia today in #Mogadishu. Photo: @Abdikarim_Abdi3