April 22, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali MP killed in Mogadishu, 2nd in 24 hours, says state media

22 Apr – Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily – 70 words

Unknown gunmen shot dead a Somali lawmaker on Tuesday in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, who was the second Somali member of parliament (MP) killed in 24 hours, state media reported.

Lawmaker Abdelaziz Isaq Mursal was shot dead by unknown gunmen near his home in Mogadishu, according to the report. Mursal’s death followed the killing of Isaq Mohamed Riino, member of the Somali federal parliament, in a bomb explosion on Monday.

Key Headlines

Burundian president arrives in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/ Radio Goobjoog/Radio Shabelle)
Cabinet discusses plans for regional administrations (Office of the Prime Minister)
Armed men kill another MP in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle/Radio Goobjoog/Bar-kulan)
Prime Minister: “The use of terror will not derail us from the progress made in securing Somalia” (Office of the Prime Minister)
President Uhuru Kenyatta mourns Somali MP killed in bomb attack (Standard Media/Daily Nation)
Unknown gunmen kill three men in Baidoa (Radio Goobjoog/RBC)
Parliamentarians criticize the ongoing national security conference in (RBC)
Kenya: Police name Mombasa radical sheikh (Star News)
Puntland soldier kills another soldier in Gara’ad Mudug region (Bar-kulan)
Barclays Temporarily Backs Down On Somali Money Transfers (Corp Watch)
Al Shabaab increased tax on local Business (Horseed Media)
Somali Journalist killed in Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan)

PRESS STATEMENT

Cabinet discusses plans for regional administrations

22 Apr – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 172 words

Cabinet, chaired by His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, today discussed the importance of establishing local regional administrations across Somalia. Ministers discussed the process and plans for establishing regional administrations and how this must be achieved in accordance with the Somali Constitution.

Addressing Cabinet, H.E Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed stressed that priority must be given to setting up local administrations in the newly liberated areas of Somalia: “The Government of Somalia is committed to the formation of local administrations throughout Somalia, in line with the Somali Constitution.

“Local administrations are a vital element in the social, economic and political structure of society and is an important step in the rebuilding of our great nation. Local administrations are there to be close to the people, giving communities access, accountability and ensuring the priorities of local people are met.

“It is very important that we prioritise the establishment of local administrations in the newly liberated areas to ensure there is no security vacuum and to coordinate the rebuilding of these areas.”

Prime Minister: “The use of terror will not derail us from the progress made in securing Somalia”

22 Apr – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 193 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed sends his deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of Member of Parliament Abdiaziiz Isaak Mursal, Secretary of Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee. The horrific and deplorable killings of two members of parliament have shocked the nation.

Sending his condolences Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, said: “MP Abdiaziiz Isaak Mursal was a dedicated Committee Secretary honourably serving Parliament and the people of Somalia. I send my condolences to Abdiaziz Isaak Mursal’s family and friends and I pray they have the strength to move forward whilst we seek justice. The hunt for the perpetrators will continue until those responsible face justice.

“These acts of terror only serve to inflict indiscriminate violence, distress and grief on innocent people. Taking a human life is abhorrent and these terrorists have destroyed an innocent family and stricken them with grief.

“The use of terror will not derail us from the progress made in securing Somalia, it only serves to unite and strengthen our resolve to defeat all forms of terrorism and violence.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Armed men kill another MP in Mogadishu

22 Apr – Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Goobjoog/Bar-kulan – 69 words

Unknown gun men killed another Member of Parliament Abdiaziz Issack Mursal in Dharkenley district of Banadir region earlier today. Witness confirmed to the media that men armed with pistols attacked and shot the MP severally before escaping.

Security immediately the scene but no caught for the murder. This comes a time when yesterday a lawmaker killed in a car bomb attack and one severly wounded in Hamar Weyne district.

Unknown gunmen kill three men in Baidoa

22 Apr – Source: Radio Goobjoog/RBC – 116 words

Three men were killed in Baidoa last night after they were kidnapped from their houses, the bodies of men was seen in one of the streets of town hours after their abduction.

One of the murdered men was a senior security officer of the federal government of Somalia based in Bay region. No group has claimed the responsibility of the murder

On the other hand al Shabaab fighters have taken over the control of Daynunay military base 18 kilometers East of Baidoa town after government forces withdrew from their claiming that they had no enough weapons. This incident occurs a time when recently eight elders heading to Mogadishu were brutally killed in Bur-Hakaba town in Bay region.

Al Shabaab increased tax on local Business

22 Apr – Source: Horseed Media – 139 words

On Tuesday, the militant group al Shabaab has increased the tax on local business and the residents in the south-central regions of Somalia. The group has already enforced the new tax in Galgaduud region, Central of Somalia, residents say.

“…The local bus and lorry drivers have to pay $150 US dollars a month, while the other drivers from other regions will pay $600 US dollars…” says one of the local residents who asked not to be named for security reasons. He added “… the local livestock traders are also forced to pay the tax…”

Deaths from unidentified disease in Bay

22 Apr – Source: Radio Ergo – 163 words

Health officials and residents have reported that at least 30 people have died from an unidentified disease in Bay region’s Bardale district. The disease has also infected dozens other patients, among them children in the past two months.

WHO’s medical officer in the district, Ibrahim Aden,said the area had no medical centre and the patients had no access to a doctor. Those who can afford it must travel to the region’s capital Baidoa, about 57km away from Bardale, for medical care. Aden said the symptoms shown by patients included an enlarged stomach and high fever. He added that the disease was first seen in the district six years ago, but it hadlater disappeared.

Though health officers are yet to identify the cause and treatment of the disease, the WHO officer in Bardale said it could be linked to the consumption of sorghum grain that had been kept in storage with poor sanitation storage and drinking unclean water.

Burundian president arrives in Mogadishu

22 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/ Radio Goobjoog/Radio Shabelle – 235 words

The president of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza arrived in Mogadishu today. He was welcomed by the President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamed at Adan Adde international airport. During his time in Somalia, President Nkurunziza will also meet with the AMISOM Force Commander, Burundian Lt. General Silas Ntigurirwa, as well as visiting the troops of the Burundian contingent in the field.

President Hassan said: “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome the President of Burundi to Mogadishu. Burundian troops have been in Somalia since December 2007 and I cannot underplay the contribution they have made to the security and stability of Somalia. We are deeply grateful to Burundi for the sacrifices their soldiers have made to help their Somali brothers.”

The President continued: “In the time that Burundian troops have been in Somalia as part of the AMISOM mission, much has changed. Mogadishu was wrested from the control of terrorist elements and the city is flourishing again. The same in Kismayo.

The same in Baidoa. The same in towns and villages across Somalia. AMISOM and Somali National Army troops are wresting areas from the control of the enemies of Somalia every day and those areas are feeling the benefits. This was only possible with the assistance of our Burundian and other African friends.” The President concluded: “We look forward to long term cooperation with Burundi as Somalia moves forward towards the 2016 elections and thank the Burundian people for their help.”

Parliamentarians criticize the ongoing national security conference in

22 Apr – Source: RBC – 168 words

Members of Somalia’s Federal Parliament Sub-Committee on Defense and Security have criticized the effectiveness of the ongoing national level security conference ongoing in Mogadishu, RBC Radio reports.

The national level conference officially opened by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has taken its third todayon Tuesday, while the attendants focused on tackling the very insecurity and other challenges in the nationwide.

MP Hussein Arab Isse said the conference will not be effective if the outcomes from the three-day conference were not turned into action. “I call the ministry of security and the agencies responsible for the country’s security to come up with effective and an action plan to secure the country.” MP Isse who was once the country’s defense minister added.

He said meetings in hotels would change the reality on the ground if those tasked for security were not ready to deal issues with real and effective mechanism.Two Parliamentarians were killed in Mogadishu within two days making this month the deadliest for Somali Lawmakers in the capital.

Al Shabaab demands money from Galhareri residents

22 Apr – Source: Bar-kulan – 130 words

Al Shabaab militant group has reportedly ordered business owners and livestock herders in Galhareri village in Galgadud region to pay huge amounts of money terming it “new taxes”.

A witness who spoke to Bar-kulan on the condition of anonymity said that the militant group ordered small business owners to pay 150 Dollars while medium-sized business owners are demanded to pay 600 Dollars each month.

Reports added that the order also calls livestock herders to give unspecified number of their livestock to the group on monthly basis. The group said that anyone who does not comply with the new orders will have their businesses shut down. This is the first time Al Shabaab militant group imposed such huge taxes on the business owners and livestock herders in Galhareri in Galgadud region.

Somali Journalist killed in Mogadishu

22 Apr – Source: Radio Dalsan – 125 words

One of the staff of Radio Dalsan has been killed in Mogadishu by unknown army group at the first avenue of Bakara market . Witnesses told Dalsan Radio that the gunmen escaped after killing Mohamed Hassan Omar, omar was one of the staff recently working the Department of Marketing of Dalsan Radio. He was also peace activist a very polite man and also he was member of the National youth Association of Somalia.

His colleagues of Radio Dalsan and the Director General of Radio Dalsan, Mr. Hassan Ali Gesey and all member of the staff of Radio dalsan are sending the heartfelt condolences to the parents , relatives, friends to Mr. Omar.

Meanwhile, The National Union of Somali Journalists condemns the brutal and heinous murder of their colleague, Mohamed Omar and called for the Somali government carry out prompt investigation into the case and bring the criminals to justice.

Puntland soldier kills another soldier in Gara’ad, Mudug region

22 Apr – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 97 words

One soldier has been killed while another was injured in Gara’ad district in Mudug region after a fellow soldier reportedly opened fire on the two victims.

Mohamed Abdullahi, Puntland’s spokesperson told the press that the incident occurred after the soldiers from the Presidential Guard who are accompanying President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas in his tour to the region had had fierce squabbles which led to the shootout.

Abdullahi added that the soldier who opened the fire has been detained while the injured who had reportedly sustained severe injuries is being treated in a hospital in northern Galkayo.

Somalia: MP Galayr visits Taleh days after Somaliland forces retreated from the town

21 Apr – Source: Radio RBC – 117 words

Former Somali Prime Minister and now a Member of Somalia’s Federal Parliament Ali Khalif Galayr has visited the town of Taleh where Somaliland forces captured last week and retreated a day after.

Hundreds of local people in Taleh and officials from the Khatumo State administration welcomed MP Galayr and his delegation from Mogadishu. Taleh town will host the second largest conference for the Khatumo State, an administration that seeks to be a federal state of Somalia and opposing Somaliland’s secessionist struggle.

MP Galayr who is a renowned politician is described as the founding father of Khatumo State administration. Recently there have been reports of possible talks between MP Galayr and Somaliland authorities to resolve the conflict in Sool and Sanag regions.

Last month the President of Khatumo State declared the conference will be held in Taleh after visiting Mogadishu, the country’s capital to hold meetings with the Federal Government officials. Members of the Federal Parliament hailing from Sool and Sanag regions including MP Galayr are supposed to attend and back the conference in Taleh.

Somali militants occupy key military base southwest of the country

21 Apr – Source: Hiiraan Online – 113 words

Heavily armed fighters belonging to the Al-Qaeda-proxy Al-Shabab militants in Somalia have on Mondayseized a key military base outside the city of Baidoa southwest of the country. The militants occupied the 60-th military compound in the Daynuunay village about 20 kilometers from Baidoa along the road that leads to the capital Mogadishu.

Residents said that Al Shabab seized the base after the Somali military withdrew from the area and moved toward the town of Buur Hakaba. Al Shabab said they seized the compound peacefully.

According to some locals who were reached for comment by the media, the militants were advancing to the city of Baidoa which houses to controversial southwestern semiautonomous state.

Turkey to Host another Round of Negotiations

21 Apr – Source: Somaliland Informer – 186 words

Mogadishu based Turkish Ambassador Dr. Kani Torun has hinted that his country is involved in organizing another conference between Somaliland & its nemesis Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) on 28th of April 2014. Dr Torun made the disclosure during an interview with VOA by reaffirming his nation’s unyielding commitment & support in settling the difference between the two nations.

The Turkish Ambassador revealed that talks between these nations should not be expected to bore fruits immediately as consultations are gradual process were agendas deliberated in the previous conferences are seen to be implemented through mutual consent & understanding on the parties so as to yield permanent solutions to the current impasse.

Dr. Kani informed the VOA channel that the previous Ankara led mediation process resolved to transfer the management of airspace control from the office at Nairobi and bestow the responsibility of administering the air to both Mogadishu and Hargeisa administrations in additional to the Federal Government of Somalia’s acceptance of criminal liability of acts constituting genocide and crimes against humanity with regard to the atrocities committed by the dictatorial regime of Said Barre against the population of Somaliland.

REGIONAL MEDIA

President Uhuru Kenyatta mourns Somali MP killed in bomb attack

22 Apr – Source: Standard Media/Daily Nation – 240 words

President Uhuru Kenyatta has mourned Isak Mohamed, a Member of the Somali Parliament, killed in a bomb attack in Mogadishu Monday.

The President said the death of Mohamed was not only a big blow to his family and the Federal Government but also the people of Somalia who he served with commitment and dedication as a Member of Parliament. “His contribution to rebuilding Somalia will always be remembered and honoured by those he has left behind,” President Kenyatta said.

The President strongly condemned the bomb attack that resulted in the death of the Somali legislator, saying that Kenya stands with the people of Somalia in the fight against terror. “Such cowardly attacks strengthen our resolve to do everything within our powers to win the war on terror,” President Kenyatta said.

Kenya: Police name Mombasa radical sheikh

22 Apr – Source: Star-Kenya – 167 words

Police yesterday named Sheikh Iman Ali as one of three clerics engaging in recruitment and radicalisation of Muslim youths in Majengo area of Mombasa.

Mombasa county commander Robert Kitur said Sheikh Ali who hails from Kikambala area has in the past conducted prayers at the Masjid Shuhadaa former known as Masjid Musa and and Masjid Mujahedeen formerly known as Masjid Sakina in Majengo area.

The three clerics are described as “fiery” and command huge followers from majority of radical youths in Mombasa county. Kitur said detectives have obtained their Jihad sermons preaching violence and recorded in a CD delivered at various mosques.

The development comes after an alleged al Shabaab video showed uniformed and equipped fighters from Kenya warning of impending terror attack in the country. The video produced by Al-Kataib Foundation labeled Mujahideen Movement Three, promoted the September 2013 raid on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi and warns of additional attacks in Kenya.

Rwanda hosts Eastern Africa Standby Force Meetings

21 Apr – Source: Rwanda News Agency – 235 words

Peace and Security leaders in the Eastern Africa Region will convene in Kigali from 22nd to 25th this month, for the 10th Extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers of Defence and Security and the 9th Extraordinary meeting of the Eastern Africa Chiefs of Defence and Security.

The meetings are organised under the theme: “Eastern Africa Standby Force(EASF) towards Full Operational Capability”.

According to a press release from the Ministry of defense, these three-day meetings aim at addressing pertinent issues and critical tasks necessary to fast track and operationalise the Force by December 2014.

Somali parliament pushes for stricter monitoring of government spending

21 Apr – Source: Sabahi Online – 379 words

After a closed session on Sunday (April 20th) attended by the speaker of the Somali parliament, his two deputies, the 15 parliamentary committee chairs and ministry officials, lawmakers said they were still unsatisfied with Ministry of Finance’s budgetary accounting.

The details about last year’s expenditures remain “unclear” and other requested changes to this year’s budget were not included, Defence Committee Chairman Hussein Arab Isse told Sabahi after the meeting.

Lawmakers gave the ministry another week to provide the necessary information, he said. This is the latest step by Somali lawmakers to hold the Ministry of Finance accountable for preparing and providing comprehensive and transparent financial reports related to budgetary spending.

QRC spent over QR10m in three years in Somalia

18 Apr – Source: the Peninsula Qatar – 405 words

Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has spent more than QR10m in past three years in pursuing its relief and developmental endeavors in Somalia to save victims of drought and improve their quality of life in face of critical economic and security conditions.

More than QR10m worth of aid has been delivered by QRC on the ground, helping save the lives of more than 298,000 people in the poverty and disorder-struck nation, by virtue of its considerable experience as a humanitarian aid provider in Niger, Darfur, and other African disaster and conflict areas.

As thousands became at risk of starvation due to the 2011 severe drought, with alarmingly deteriorating humanitarian conditions and a wave of mass internal migration in search of food, QRC was among the first international organisations to respond, by launching several urgent relief programmes to provide basic needs, particularly food, healthcare, and sheltering, with more focus on the most affected southern provinces.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali MP killed in Mogadishu, 2nd in 24 hours, says state media

22 Apr – Source: Xinhua/Shanghai Daily – 70 words

Unknown gunmen shot dead a Somali lawmaker on Tuesday in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, who was the second Somali member of parliament (MP) killed in 24 hours, state media reported.

Barclays Temporarily Backs Down On Somali Money Transfers

21 Apr – Source: Corp Watch – 395 words

Dahabshiil, a Somali money transfer company, has won a temporary reprieve from Barclays, the last major bank to allow remittances to Somalia. The agreement comes just as a new report estimates that African expatriates lose $1.8 billion a year in transfer fees to companies like Moneygram and Western Union.

Expatriate workers globally send some $436 billion across borders to their families in other countries. Many of the transfers are relatively small amounts – of the order of $200 – which can incur relatively high fees. Cheap services like Xoom.com allow those with access to the internet to send larger sums to countries like India for fees of about two percent; major banks charge closer to five percent for account holders; but the most expensive are walk up services like Moneygram and Western that accept cash in local shops.

“Lost in Intermediation: How Excessive Charges Undermine the Benefits of Remittances for Africa” – a new report published by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), a UK think tank – estimates that Africans are charged an average of 12 percent to use such money transfer services, twice as much as people from other countries.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The transferring of funds outside Britain to help the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, buy weapons, or to support al Shabaab in Somalia, does not pose a major threat. This could be controlled if financial and security monitoring improves. What’s more dangerous is when the money is collected under the pretext of helping orphans and the poor, but is instead spent on funding extremist organizations in Britain, France and other countries where Muslims live as an isolated minority. Establishing extremist education and funding intellectual extremists is not punishable by law in the West, unlike in Arab countries..”

Opinion: Camouflaging Extremism

22 Apr – Source: Aawsat – 431 words

It is ironic that British authorities supervising nonprofit organizations in the country have only just noticed the threats posed by these so-called charities which are used to espouse terrorism and engage in organized fraud. The chairman of the UK’s Charity Commission said that the authorities intended to check the activity of Islamist organizations after they discovered that some of them fund violent Islamist groups in Syria, Somalia and other countries.

There are four lines of work which in recent years have been misused, and whose reputations have been diminished: religious preaching, human rights work, education, and charities. Ever since the 1990s, extremist and terrorist groups have infiltrated these areas in the West due to the public support they enjoy. So in the name of aiding orphans, widows and the poor, these extremist groups launched other operations using this pretext.

Charity work itself is an indispensable part of Islam, with a tax levied on able Muslims distributed to those who are deprived—the poor, orphans and the needy. Extremist groups exploited alms-giving and charity to gain prominence: They have managed to collect hundreds of millions throughout the years. Money and religious evangelism together make a most dangerous mixture, one which enabled an organization like Al-Qaeda to spread and engage in acts of terror. Al-Qaeda used this mixture of finance and faith to purchase explosives and recruit potential suicide bombers.

“For any State to function and flourish there needs to be strong institutions, security, law and order, taxation as well as enterprise and commerce. This may come in the future but it is for the State to facilitate it all. The road ahead is long and the expectations are high.”

Time for the state to appear after AMISOM military successes

22 Apr – Source: Hiiraan Online – 507 words

A few weeks ago as the AMISOM troops announced to the world that they had recaptured many former al Shabaab controlled cities and regions in Somalia such as Bulo Bude and Qoryooley their mood was evidently self-congratulatory. Somali Ministers heaped praise on them and triumphant and moving images of AMISOM patrols in these newly recaptured areas were projected to the world. The Somali people, while quietly relieved, were more sceptical and could only manage a nervous smile at best.

It is not that the Somali people at home, in the Diaspora and those physically liberated are ungrateful nor is it that they do not see the enormity of this military success after 5 years of al Shabaab ownership of Qoryooley, a city only 120 kilometres from Mogadishu, the nation’s capital. The symbolism is obvious but what the Somali people and residents of these newly liberated areas have little confidence in is AMISOM and the Somali government’s ability to hold on to these spaces and to develop it with partners in a way that would create sustainable peace and win the hearts and minds of locals. What they probably have never considered is that the Somali State and its representatives will follow AMISOM and start putting in place systems and processes to deliver the basic public services a state owes its nationals even if it is providing free drinking water.

The Somali people living under al Shabaab rule most probably did not enjoy it but very few interviewed were willing to condemn them openly in the media. With a history of easily losing gained ground and poor development aid co-ordination, AMISOM, aid agencies and the infant Somali state do not inspire the kind of lasting overall confidence for residents and the wider Somali population to dare to banish al Shabaab from their minds even in times of victory and their physical absence.

Top tweets

‏@Omaar_nor The 2nd #Somalia MP shot dead by suspected#Alshabab militants in #Mogadishu in the less 48 hours.

@BeilehMofa Welcome to HE Pierre NKurunziza President of#Burundi a great support to #Somalia Peacepic.twitter.com/FDwzVPazc0.

@amisomsomalia #AMISOM soldiers help locals in Baidoa till the land & plant crops #Somalia http://bit.ly/1tredon pic.twitter.com/ZJtRa8hKMV.

@Abdi_AlSheikh Somalia: Al Shabab increased tax on local Business – Horseed Media http://dlvr.it/5STxNb #Somalia.

‏@BeilehMofa Met with Kingdom of #Saudi Arabia, Ambassador Ghorm Said Malhan to discuss the progress & development of#Somalia pic.twitter.com/OMtrUQvCdQ.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today welcomed the Burundian President, Pierre Nkurunziza, to Somalia. Photo: @engyarisow.