April 17, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Ugandan troops to guard UN in Somalia

16 Apr- Source: Anatolia News Agency – 294 words

Over 400 troops from the Ugandan People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) are ready for deployment in troubled Somalia to provide protection for U.N. personnel. “Our basic task in Somalia will be to secure and protect U.N. personnel and their installations in Somalia,” Lt. Col. Wycliffe Kaita, commanding officer of the U.N. Guard Unit, said at a special ceremony held at the Singo Military Barracks on Wednesday. The U.N.-UPDF Guard Unit is mandated with helping U.N. personnel carry out their mission of assisting Somalis rebuild and develop their war-torn country.

Key Headlines

Somali Prime Minister meets with traditional elders and women’s groups of Jubba (Office of the Prime Minister)
Cars with tinted glasses banned in Mogadishu (Bar-kulan)
Somali Prime Minister due to reach Galkayo (Radio Goobjoog)
Kenya Sends 412 People to Refugee Camps in Security Operation (Bloomberg)
Federal Gov’t urge Puntland Somaliland not to engage in war (RBC)
Somalis detained in squalor at Kasarani (Star News)
Over twenty Somali national army graduates from squad commander training in Mogadishu (Radio Goobjoog)
Somaliland Troops withdraw from Taleh town (Somaliland Informer)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali Prime Minister meets with traditional elders and women’s groups of Jubba

16 Apr- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 386 words

The Prime Minister of Somalia His Excellency Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and a delegation he is leading have been in Kismayo, the capital of the Interim Jubba Administration, on an official visit since Saturday, April 11th 2014. In keeping with his promise to meet with various sectors of the community, the Prime Minister met with traditional elders and women’s groups from Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions in Kismayo as part of his efforts to accelerate the on-going reconciliation process in the Jubba regions.

In his meeting with the traditional elders, H.E. the Prime Minister praised their historic role in promoting peace and harmony within the different communities, and called on them to assume an even bigger role in reviving peaceful co-existence among the people of the Jubba regions.

“The people of the Jubbas are brothers and sisters who have historically lived together in mutual respect and harmony while sharing everything they had. Today, there is a need to restore the brotherhood, collaboration and cooperation you were famous for. My government is ready to support the reconciliation effort from the grassroots level in the villages to the regional and federal state levels of Jubba,” said Prime Minister Ahmed while addressing the assembly of traditional elders.

The Prime Minister also met with the members of various women’s groups from the three regions of Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo. He asked for their support in peace-building while emphasizing his government’s commitment to advancing peace in the country by establishing working institutions and credible security and governance structures.

“The Somali women are an important part of our history in the key role they played in the country’s struggle for independence. We now need you to take a leadership role in reconciling the people and resolving the conflicts in Jubba,” H.E. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed told the women’s groups.

On their part, the traditional elders and women’s groups promised to support the government in its efforts to unify the people of Jubba and committed to work together to ensure prosperity and harmony in the Jubba regions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ahmed and his delegation have been engaged in continuous meetings with the leaders of the Interim Jubba Administration. An official announcement is expected through the media to announce the results of these consultations once they are concluded.

SOMALI MEDIA

Cars with tinted glasses banned in Mogadishu

16 Apr- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 74 words

The Somali police have banned the use of cars with tinted glasses in the capital Mogadishu. Somali police commissioner General Abdihakim Dahir Said has said that vehicles with tinted glasses are threat to the security of the capital Mogadishu. He said vehicles with no registration numbers and road worthy documents will not also be allowed in the city roads. Cars with painted glasses have been used for attacks in the city several times before.

Somali Prime Minister due to reach Galkayo

16 Apr- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 90 words

The prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Ahmed is expected to reach Galkayo, the headquarters of Mudug region. The prime Minister has concluded his fourth day visit to Kismayo where he met top leaders of interim administration of Juba in Southern Somalia. Preparation to welcome the prime Minister of Somalia is going on in Galkayo. To the context, the security of Galkayo was tightened. The president of Puntland regional Abdiweli Mohamed Gaas who was preparing to make official visit outside Puntland postponed his journey to receive the Prime Minister in puntland.

Federal Gov’t urge Puntland, Somaliland not to engage in war

16 Apr- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Universal TV- 139 words

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Wednesday called on Puntland and Somaliland not to engage into war in Sool region as tensions between the two regions remain high since Tuesday. On TuesdaySomaliland forces seized the strategic town of Taleh in Sool region. Puntland condemned the capture of Taleh and called on Somaliland to cease its provocative move towards Sool, a region disputed by both sides. In a statement, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the Federal Government will be ready to assist both sides in resolving the conflict over the ownership of the northern region of Sool. “The President calls on both Puntland and Somaliland through peaceful, reconciliation and tolerance to resolve their differences,” the statement said. “Somali people suffered enough and they need to see all of us working together to a lasting peace in the country,” President Mohamud said.

Over twenty Somali national army graduates from squad commander training in Mogadishu

16 Apr- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 194 words

Over Twenty Somali National Army officers on Wednesday graduated from Platoon Commander training course run by AMISOM at the Jazira Training camp in Mogadishu. The three- months itinerary conducted by instructors from AMISOM begun on 3rd of February this year, the apprentice received training on tactics, fields craft, counter insurgency, professional way of handling arms, public health, improvised explosive devices (IED) awareness and international humanitarian law. The deputy chief of the staff major general Masele Maseret praised the trainees for their role and promised that AMISOM will continue develop the competence of Somali National army through continous training so as to take over the security of the country.

Somaliland Troops withdraw from Taleh town

16 Apr- Source: Somaliland Informer- 134 words

Reports trickling from Sool region indicates that National Defense Forces have left the town of Taleh a day after taking control of the town on Tuesday. This was conveyed to Somaliland Informer by people who witnessed the withdrawal of the troops from the heart of the town and their eventual camping on the environs of the center. It is reported that Somaliland’s troops have left for Huddun another center within Sool region where they initially come from. It is not yet verified the reasons for abrupt withdrawal of the National forces a day after taking control of the town, but unconfirmed reports suggests that the move was considered after communal elders residing in the town and the army resolved to evacuate the center so as to minimize civilian casualties in case possible skirmishes with Puntland.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalis detained in squalor at Kasarani

16 Apr- Source: Star-Kenya- 458 words

The 300 Somalis held at Kasarani police station are living in squalid conditions of poor sanitation and overcrowding. The police station has a maximum capacity of 150 people. The 300 Somalis were screened at Kasarani stadium and found to be illegal immigrants. They will now be either taken to Dadaab refugee camp or deported to Somalia. Around 4,000 detainees have passed through Kasarani stadium since the huge cordon and search operation started in Eastleigh two weeks ago. Several hundred suspects are still being held at Kasarani stadium where they are being screened by Anti Terrorism Police, Immigration, National Intelligence Service and regular police. In the evening they are taken to Kasarani and other police stations which then become even more overcrowded. Yesterday the Star visited Kasarani police station yesterday and found toilets and bathrooms stretched to the limit. There was a strong smell of urine and human waste.

How key suspected terrorism financier Abdullahi Aden escaped police dragnet in Mombasa

16 Apr- Source: Standard Media- 223 words

Police have confessed that a key suspected terrorism financier slipped through a security cordon on April 8 when they raided his rented house in Tudor Estate, Mombasa. Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) seized an ATM card and other bank documents when they stormed his apartment. The officers believe the suspect’s bank account could provide vital clues on terrorism activities in Kenya. On Friday last week, CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro announced in Mombasa that police are investigating 20 bank accounts over terrorism financing but it was not clear if the suspect’s two accounts are among them. The Standard has learnt that Abdullahi Mohamed Aden who apparently lives alone, is still at large and holds a Kenyan Identity Card but there’s no confirmation of his age.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Ugandan troops to guard U.N. in Somalia

16 Apr- Source: Anatolia News Agency – 294 words

Kenya Sends 412 People to Refugee Camps in Security Operation

16 Apr- Source: bloomberg- 227 words

Kenya is sending 412 people, mostly Somalis, to refugee camps in a security operation that human-rights groups have urged the government to halt because of reports of ethnic discrimination and sexual harassment. Those found to have left camps will be returned,” the Kenya National Police Service said in a statement handed to reporters today in Nairobi, the capital. “All registered refugees must be within the gazetted refugee camps, which are Kakuma and Dadaab” in northern Kenya, it said. The action follows the screening of 1,136 suspects from more than 3,000 who were arrested since Operation Usalama, which means “security” in Swahili, began on April 4. A fifth of those detained in the security sweep targeting “criminals, suspected terrorists and illegal aliens” are women, the police said.

Britain pledges more aid for wartorn Somalia

16 Apr- Source: RFI- 296 words

UK minister for Africa Mark Simmonds visited Somalia’s capital on Tuesday stating that Britain is committed to supporting Somalia with millions of pounds. Simmonds met Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, cabinet ministers, members of the armed forces, police and justice system and discussed the recent progress in Somalia, including the newly recovered towns in south and central Somalia that were controlled by al Shabaab. At a news conference in Mogadishu’s presidential palace shortly after his meeting senior Somali government officials, he said that his government would provide millions of pounds to help strengthen Somalia’s armed forces.

Kenya Police Intensify Security Crackdown

16 Apr- Source: VOA- 284 words

Kenyan police say they have screened more than 1,000 people and are deporting 225 others in ongoing security sweeps targeting illegal immigrants. Rights groups and ethnic Somalis in Kenya have complained of police harassment, bribe-taking and ethnic targeting during the crackdown. In a statement Wednesday, Kenyan police said the security sweep known as “Operation Usalama Watch,” which began earlier this month, “has progressed well and has been intensified.” Police officers have been going door-to-door across the country arresting and screening suspected illegal immigrants.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Why have some parts of the Somali coastline become havens for maritime piracy while other areas want nothing to do with it? For Anja Shortland, the evidence is clear – a lack of infrastructure and economic development can make piracy more profitable than ‘legitimate’ forms of trade.”

Explaining the Economic Geography of Somali Piracy

16 Apr- Source: ISN-1225 Words

High seas piracy and kidnap and theft from ships in territorial waters have occurred with varying intensity all over the world. Piracy responds to economic opportunity in the form of slow-moving, unguarded, high-value ships, crew and cargo. It often occurs at choke-points and crowded anchorages in poor countries with weak governance, particularly at times of economic stress. Piracy has been tackled successfully where littoral states (or the international community) have prioritized counter-piracy at sea or cut off pirates’ access to land-based infrastructure, which is necessary to turn pirate loot into cash. Nevertheless, many areas which fit the stylized facts about piracy do not in fact produce pirates – even when no state resources are mobilized to prevent it. This begs the question: what factors determine whether pirates are an accepted part of the local economy? Piracy is most profitable where pirates can take a ship to port, unload cargo for sale and acquire new papers for selling the ship. Hijack-for-ransom requires long-term protection arrangements as well as food, water and fuel while the ransom is negotiated. Kidnapping of sailors requires safe houses for the hostages. Criminologists have established that criminal markets experience a clear separation of labor. The criminal underworld is governed by specialized providers of private security. These can be mafias, prison gangs, corrupt officials or informal and traditional governance providers in failed states.