June 5, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Sierra Leone Military Chief projects image of the force in Somalia

05 Jun- Source: Sierra Express Media-558 Words

A high powered delegation from the Ministry of Defense and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces led by the Chief of Defense Staff Major-General Samuel Omar Williams were in Nairobi Kenya via on a Ten Day official visit to the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) to strengthen the bilateral relation between the two countries. The Delegation comprised of the Assistant Chief of Defense Staff in charge of Operations and Plans Brigadier General Mamadi Keita, the Director of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO) the Deputy Secretary Procurement in the Ministry of Defense.

Speaking on a telephone line from Eldoret in Nairobi-Kenya the Assistant Chief of Defense Staff Plans and Operation Brigadier General Mamadi Keita said the Team led by the Chief of Defense Staff, Major General Samuel Omar Williams was able to visit the National Defense College and the Defense Staff College in Kenya through their Laison Officer Colonel Peter Lavahun.

General Mamadi Keita further informed that they were led on a tour to some of the Military facilities including the Kenyan ordinance factories were weapons were manufactured. On His the Military Chief of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Major General Samuel Omar Williams maintained that their visit to Kenya avails them the opportunity.

Key Headlines

UAE donates 11 armored vehicles to the federal government (Radio Risaala)
Government soldier shot dead in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)
Al Shabaab abducts four prominent traditional elders in Bu’ale (Radio Bar-kulan)
Ministerial conference of China and Arab co-operation opens in Beijing (Radio Mogadishu)
4 killed in clashes between Khat vendors and al Shabaab fighters (Radio Bar-kulan)
Beledweyne general hospital on the verge of closure due to shortage of medicine (Radio Goobjoog)
Kenya: I was promised Sh1m to plant bombs in churches claims porter (Daily Nation)
Somalia: President Gaas tours Puntland Marine Force Base (Garowe Online)
NATO extends Somali counter-piracy mission to 2016 (Reuters)
IJA leader relief agencies discuss the plight of IDPs (Radio Bar-kulan)
Kenya: Military to help police secure roads (Daily Nation)
Somalia releases dozens of Yemeni fishermen (SABA)
Amnesty says 359 deported to Somalia (Daily Nation)
Sierra Leone Military Chief projects image of the force in Somalia (Sierra Express Media)
UN aid chief calls for $60 million emergency funding through summer months (UN News Centre)
Travel ban fuels radicalism in Kenya’s second city (Ft News)
Over 1000 refugees complete studies in Kenya (Global Post)

PRESS STATEMENT

Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Somalia, 4 June 2014

04 Jun- Source: UNSOM- 1180 words

Mr. President,

Thank you very much for the opportunity to brief the Council on the humanitarian situation in Somalia.

Since the establishment of the Federal Government of Somalia in 2012, optimism over the expected progress in state and peace building and political and security improvements have not translated into an improvement of the humanitarian situation.

And Security Council resolution 2024 in support of the joint AMISOM and Somali National Army military offensive which resulted in military gains has not led to a substantial improvement in the daily lives of the people of Somalia.

Development indicators in Somalia remain among the worst in the world. One in seven children die before their first birthday; one in eighteen women die in childbirth; and only one in three people have access to safe drinking water. Global acute malnutrition levels among internally displaced persons are above global emergency levels of 15 per cent.

Approximately 857,000 people in Somalia require urgent and life-saving assistance. An additional 2 million people are on the margin of food insecurity and require continued livelihoods support. Decades of conflict have displaced over one million people inside Somalia. They are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and susceptible to human rights violations, such as rape.

An additional one million Somalis continue to seek refuge and protection in neighbouring countries.

Mr. President,
On Monday, FAO issued another alert that a below average harvest is expected in July and August, partly due to two poor rainy seasons.

The situation is further compounded by the ongoing military offensive, and the new Al Shabaab tactic of blocking major supply routes and encirclement of newly recovered areas.

Al Shabaab’s tactic of ‘encirclement’ has prevented commercial activity and humanitarian assistance to newly recovered areas. Access to basic commodities is limited and food prices have increased. For instance, the average price of basic items in Waajid, Xudur and Maaxas in Bay, Bakool and Hiraan regions, have more than doubled. More than 70,000 people have been temporarily displaced as a result of the conflict, significantly disrupting the planting season.

We have carried out assessments in four of the newly recovered towns, as well as in Afgooye and Baidoa. Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge as a result of the offensive in these two locations. The assessments confirm that people have limited access to food, water, primary health care and nutrition supplies. Insecurity has prevented us from assessing the remaining towns.

Mr. President,
Humanitarian partners are steadfast in their commitment to assist the people of Somalia.

Funding received so far this year helped us reach over 1 million people with food and livelihoods assistance, and 97,000 children were treated for malnutrition. Water and sanitation interventions supported 400,000 people and 500,000 people benefited from basic health services. A massive and well-coordinated vaccination campaign targeting 4 million people in 2013 managed to contain the polio outbreak of that year.

Unfortunately, one case was confirmed today in Puntland.

Mr. President,
Humanitarian workers in Somalia continue to face tremendous challenges in carrying out their work.

Large parts of southern and central Somalia, mainly rural areas and outskirts of the main towns, remain under the control or influence of al Shabaab. Al Shabaab’s ability to disrupt and infiltrate areas under the control of the Somali Federal Government continues to hamper aid delivery, and in some instances has forced agencies to resort to costly air operations. Al Shabaab have carried out bold and targeted attacks on Government officials, international organizations and humanitarian workers. This is of grave concern, and we are working to enhance measures to mitigate threats against aid workers.

Unpredictable bureaucratic impediments imposed by local and regional administrations, including arbitrary taxation, payment of registration fees, and the need for aid agencies to seek approval for recruitment of staff, renting of premises and choice of national partners often inhibit the ability of agencies to access people in need.

Despite the commitment of the international community to avert another humanitarian disaster in Somalia, financial support is especially low this year. Only 19 per cent of the US$933 million humanitarian appeal is funded.

Some donors have announced a decrease of their contribution in 2014 and we expect this will continue into 2015. Remittances, another lifeline for millions of Somalis, are at risk as banks continue to threaten to close Somali Money Transfer Organisations as they are seen as a high risk for illegal activities.

This limited funding has forced the humanitarian community to cut back on all but the most basic of interventions. There is great risk that the gains made in the past years will be reversed. For instance, if funding is not secured immediately, UNICEF may suspend primary healthcare activities that provide medical services to more than 3 million people. UNICEF has also warned that 50,000 children under the age of five could die from severe malnutrition if funding is not received. Water and sanitation supplies to some IDP settlements in Mogadishu have ceased because of lack of funding, and we are receiving reports of increased Acute Watery Diarrhea in these areas.

Mr. President,
Somalia remains one of the most complex environments in which to deliver assistance. However, to the extent possible, humanitarian partners are managing rather than avoiding risk, in order to be able to continue to deliver critical, life-saving programmes.

Assistance continues to be delivered through local partners in many parts of Somalia where agencies are not able to operate directly. In limited instances, there have been cases of diversion. However, thanks to the UN’s Risk Management Unit, and other monitoring systems, we are now better able to detect risks, evaluate the capacity of our local partners and track programs, with stronger reporting and auditing tools.

Mr. President,
Urgent action must be taken to prevent the country from slipping back into a major humanitarian crisis.

Early warnings must trigger early action so that Somalia moves towards and not away from food security; that it remains polio-free; and that the resilience of the people is reinforced.

We are asking for an immediate injection of $60 million for the next three months to address urgent food, nutrition and healthcare needs.

I also ask Security Council Members:
•        To continue hosting Somali asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants and ensure their protection and safety.
•        To ensure that refugee returns are voluntary and conducted in a safe and dignified manner.
•        To help us secure additional funding.
•        To work with banks and Somali Money Transfer Operators to put in place a transitional mechanism until a proper financial system is established.
•        To support ongoing humanitarian initiatives that contribute to predictable, safe and sustained access to affected people.

We need to work together to manage and share the risks involved in continued humanitarian operations.

Failure to address humanitarian needs today will not only undermine the peace and state building gains of the last two years but will also lead to further crises. We do not want to see a repeat of 2011 when parts of Somalia faced a famine.

Somalia must remain a priority for us all.

Thank you.

SOMALI MEDIA

UAE donates 11 armored vehicles to the federal government

05 Jun- Source: Radio Risaala/Radio Goobjoog/Dhacdo Online- 149 words

The government of United Arab Emirates has donated 11 armored vehicles to the federal government of Somalia. The handovering ceremony was held in UAE’s embassy in Mogadishu.

Speaking at the ceremony, the ambassador of UAE to Somalia Mohamed Ahmed Al-Osmani said that these donations will strengthen the existing relations between the two nations. He added that the government is planning to deliver humanitarian assistance to Somalia during the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan.

Taking over the gift from the government of UAE, the director of the presidential palace Taabit showed appreciation to UAE’s tireless solidarity and support to the federal government and its people.

This donation comes a time when the planned attacks against government officials has been high the last few months.

Mid November last year UAE has given similar donation to federal government comprising of 10 military vehicles,2 firefighters, 2 ambulances,4 bullet-proof and over 4000 military dress.

Government soldier shot dead in Mogadishu

05 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle- 106 words

According to witnesses, unknown gunmen have on Wednesday night gunned down a Somali government soldier in Mogadishu’s Howlwadag district.

The witness told Radio Shabelle that the soldiers was killed by young men armed with pistols in Suuqa Bakaaraha “ Bakara market” as he was on his way to police station near the market. The perpetrators immediately escaped from the crime after the murder.

Hundreds of Somali forces arrive at the spot and launched massive operation but no arrests have made so far. No one claimed responsibility for the killing. With local authority did not comment on the attack.

Al Shabaab abducts four prominent traditional elders in Bu’ale

05 Jun – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 115 words

Somalia’s al Shabaab militant group has on Wednesday abducted four prominent Somali traditional elders from Bu’ale, the provincial capital of Middle Jubba region.

The abduction of the four elders came after they reportedly rejected an order from al Shabaab militant group demanding the elders to raise money for the group from their respective communities in Middle Jubba region.

Three of the four elders are reportedly being held in a prison in Bu’ale town while the whereabouts of the fourth elder remains unknown.

Some of Elder Mohamed Hussein Keynan’s family members who spoke to Bar-kulan expressed concerns over his fate since they do not know his exact whereabouts and asked for his immediate and unconditional release.

Ministerial conference of China and Arab co-operation opens in Beijing

05 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu/ Radio Goobjoog/SNTV- 179 words

The sixth ministerial conference of China-Arab mutual aid forum will officially open in Beijing today s Chinese foreign Minister and Arab league head confirmed to media.

“The ministerial meeting, which coincides with the 10th anniversary of the CACF’s founding, will be a landmark in bilateral relations and produce important results,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Secretary-general of the League of Arab States Nabil Elaraby said.

“China and Arab nations have worked together, kept close communications and made preparations productive,” Wang and Elaraby were quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Somalia is represented by the minister for foreign affairs Abdirahman Duale Beilah leading delegates who reached Beijing yesterday.

Mr. Beilah met with Chinese counterpart, they talked about issues concerning bilateral relations between the two nations and investment of Chinese companies in Somalia so as to facilitate the reconstruction of the country.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on his side said that China will continue to Support Arab countries especially Somalia to discover their own path of development to safeguard regional peace and stability.

4 killed in clashes between Khat vendors and al Shabaab fighters

05 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 116 words

At least four people have been killed in the outskirts of Bula-burte town in Hiran region after al Shabaab fighters clashed with Khat vendors in the area on Wednesday.

The two sides reportedly clashed after al Shabaab fighters tried to stop a vehicle carrying armed Khat vendors in Jehdin locality, 32 KM east of Bula-burte town.

Reports add that the Khat vendors were travelling from Guri-el in Galgagud region and were heading to Bula-burte town in Hiran region.

One of the locals in the area told Bar-kulan that three al Shabaab fighters were among those killed in the clashes. However, al Shabaab claimed to have killed 5 people and seized 3 guns from the other side.

Beledweyne general hospital on the verge of closure due to shortage of medicine

05 Jun- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 146 words

The administration of Beledweyne general hospital in Hiran region stated that the hospital is facing severe shortage of medicine and all other medical facilities that might lead to the shutdown of the hospital’s activities.

The director of the hospital Dr. Ahmed Khalif speaking to Radio Goobjoog described the situation of the hospital as very critical. He added that most important sections of the hospital like maternity ward, operation room, in-patient department are not functioning now since MSF withdrew from the country last year.

The director reiterated that all the workers were working voluntary as the hospital cannot afford to pay their salaries. The general hospital serves many people in central Somalia, its closure will be a big blow to the residents of these areas.

He urged the federal government of Somalia, business people and international aid agencies to take immediate action to support the hospital.

Somalia: President Gaas tours Puntland Marine Force Base

05 Jun – Source: Garowe Online – 126 words

The President of Somalia’s Puntland Government Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has toured Puntland Maritime Police Force(PMPF) base in the outskirts of Bossaso Port City on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

President Gaas along with other government officials as well as former Deputy Prime Minister of Transitional Federal Government of Somalia Abdiwahab Ugas Khalif listened to counter-piracy unit commanders, with divisions from PMPF saluting him on arrival at Qaw base.

He discussed offshore operations against piracy and illegal fishing with Puntland Marine Force chiefs. The visit to Qaw base marks the first since being elected to the post in January 2014 following tightly contested regional elections.

On 5th of April, Puntland leader revoked the Director’s position from Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) Director Mohamed Abdirahman Farole.

IJA leader, relief agencies discuss the plight of IDPs

05 Jun – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 164 words

Interim Jubba Administration leader, Ahmed Mohamed Islan Madobe has on Wednesday met the representatives of local and international relief agencies in Kismayu and discussed ways to assist internally displaced families.

The discussion took place in Kismayu, the headquarters of the interim administration and various local and international agencies including ICRC were in attendance. One of the main points discussed in the meeting was how to address the plight of internally displaced families affected by recent torrential rains in the area.

Interim Jubba Administration leader, Ahmed Mohamed Islan Madobe said that heavy rains in the last few days have affected hundreds of families in over 55 camps in Jubba regions.

He called on the relief agencies to work with his administration in assisting the affected families adding that his administration has set aside large hectares of land for the displaced families. Meanwhile, the representatives of the relief agencies on their side pledged to promptly tackle the plight of the internally displaced families in Jubba regions.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: Military to help police secure roads

05 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 350 words

Plans are under way for the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to help the police to secure major roads leading to Nairobi and Mombasa as the government tightens security in the wake of terrorist threats. Deployment of the KDF was authorised in a Kenya Gazette notice by Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo dated May 22. Roads where the military will be present include the Nairobi-Thika and Nairobi-Mombasa highways.

Although the notice allowing the military to operate in domestic security operations cited the security situation in Mandera County — where 30 people have been killed in inter-clan violence — the list includes roads way outside the clash-torn areas.

Other roads earmarked for KDF patrols include the entire northern highway from Nairobi to Moyale via Isiolo, the Mombasa-Malindi road and the Thika-Garissa road. These are some of the highways probably used by al Shabaab terrorists to enter Kenya from Somalia.

Somalia releases dozens of Yemeni fishermen

04 Jun- Source: Yemen News Agency SABA- 118 words

Somalia on Wednesday freed 63 Yemeni fishermen detained for two days in the Puntland State of Somalia, Yemen’s Chargé d’affaires in Mogadishu said. Puntland authorities justified the detention of the Yemeni fishermen by entering the territorial waters of Somalia, Fuad al-Zurqa said.

He added that the Yemeni embassy has contacted with the concerned authorities in the Puntland State to release them and their boats in accordance with the agreement signed between the Yemeni and Somali Fisheries Ministry that allows both countries’ fishermen to go fishing in the territorial waters of the two countries.

Amnesty says 359 deported to Somalia

04 Jun- Source: Daily Nation-278 Words

At least two people have died and hundreds deported since the beginning of a security crackdown in April, says Amnesty International. The Operation Usalama Watch followed an attack in Mombasa on March 23 and explosions in Eastleigh on March 31, which claimed at least 10 people and injured scores others.

The campaign mainly targeted suspected terrorists and illegal immigrants. Security officers combed estates in Nairobi and rounded up suspected terrorists and illegal foreigners.

Those arrested were locked up at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, for screening and those found without valid documents were deported.

Kenya: I was promised Sh1m to plant bombs in churches, claims porter

04 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 451 words

A porter has sensationally claimed that he was recruited into the al Shabaab terror group and radicalised at a Mombasa mosque. He was then instructed to carry out terrorist attacks. Mr Benjamin Masero, 37, Wednesdaytold the Daily Nation that he and five other porters at a Nairobi bus station were enticed with job offers in Mombasa by a man believed to be the terror group’s agent in the city.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Sierra Leone Military Chief projects image of the force in Somalia

05 Jun- Source: Sierra Express Media-558 Words

UN aid chief calls for $60 million emergency funding through summer months

04 Jun- Source: UN News Centre- 562 words

The United Nations humanitarian chief today called for $60 million for the next three months to prevent Somalia “from slipping back into a major humanitarian crisis” as it did during the 2011 famine.

Briefing the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos stressed that “early warnings must trigger early action so that Somalia moves towards and not away from food security; that it remains polio-free; and that the resilience of the people is reinforced.”

Approximately 857,000 Somalis require urgent and life-saving assistance. An additional 2 million people are on the margin of food insecurity and require continued livelihoods support, Ms. Amos said, citing figures from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

NATO extends Somali counter-piracy mission to 2016

04 Jun- Source: Reuters-159 Words

NATO has decided to extend its Indian Ocean counter-piracy mission by two years to the end of 2016, judging that piracy remains a threat despite a sharp fall in attacks, the alliance said on Wednesday. The decision was taken by NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels.

NATO ships have patrolled the waters off the Horn of Africa since 2009, as part of a broader international effort to crack down on Somali-based pirates who had caused havoc with world shipping.

NATO’s “Ocean Shield” operation as well as European Union and other counter-piracy missions have significantly reduced attacks. In 2011, pirates captured 24 ships and NATO recorded 129 pirate attacks off Somalia. Not a single ship has been captured off Somalia since May 2012, NATO said in a statement.

Travel ban fuels radicalism in Kenya’s second city

04 Jun – Source: Ft News – 122 words

No sooner had Joho Hassan, governor of Mombasa, sat down at a seaside restaurant after flying back from a meeting about security with Kenya’s president last month than a blast rang out.“They’re ruining their own country,” Mr Hassan said as he raced to the scene of what turned out to be a grenade attack that injured two.

Mr Hassan was referring to homegrown Islamist militants thought to be members or sympathisers of neighbouring Somalia’s al Shabaab – al Qaeda-linked jihadis who have vowed to retaliate for Kenya’s 2011 invasion.

Kenya’s tourism-dependent seaside city, which is home to a significant Muslim minority, was last month designated a no-go zone for tourists by the UK and other western governments, prompting tourist evacuations and job cuts.

Over 1,000 refugees complete studies in Kenya

04 Jun – Source: Global Post – 138 words

About 1,086 refugees living in Kenya’s Dadaab complex have completed studies under income- generating projects and livelihood initiatives. The Youth Education Pack (YEP) conducted by the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is specially designed for out-of-school youth who may return to formal schooling, those who have dropped out of school many years ago and those who cannot access formal education.

“I was extremely happy to interact with two young ladies handling mechanical work at the vehicle engineering section. This is a very rare sight among our Somali communities,” Abdiqafar Salat, Dadaab deputy district education officer said on Tuesday.

Salat said the two young ladies told him that they wish to continue with their vocation and plan to open a garage soon. “I believe they will become successful in their trade because ladies are generally more trusted,” he added.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The US decision to appoint an ambassador in the war-ravaged nation will strengthen the hands of the government in Mogadishu.”

Progress in Somalia

05 Jun- Source: The Peninsula Qatar-448 Words

Barack Obama’s decision to appoint the US’s first ambassador to Somalia since the Black Hawk Down incident more than 20 years ago shows that better times are ahead for the war-torn nation. Somalia has been fighting two battles all these years. First and most serious, the internal battle with terrorists, with the government in Mogadishu spending all its energies on defeating al Shabaab which could never be defeated in a true sense, and second, the international isolation, with several governments shunning this Horn of Africa nation, being too unsafe and unstable to do business with.

The restart of relations with the United States provides an opportunity to Somalia to focus on gaining more international acceptance and getting their help in the fight against terrorism and in rebuilding its shattered economy.

Wendy Sherman, the American under-secretary of state for political affairs, said Somalia had become ‘a synonym for chaos’ but there were hopeful signs of improvement in security and the economy. That’s a correct assessment of the situation on the ground. The US decision will further boost the confidence of Somali government and deal a blow to extremists. “As a reflection both of our deepening relationship with the country and of our faith that better times are ahead, the president will propose the first US ambassador to Somalia in more than two decades,” she told the US Institute of Peace thinktank in Washington.

“To effectively counter al Shabaab, there needs to be better coordination and use of the resources currently available.”

Time for better coordination against al Shabaab

04 Jun- Source: Council on Foreign Relations Blog-654 Words

Last month, in the wake of the kidnapping of the schoolgirls from Chibok in Nigeria by the Islamist organization Boko Haram, President Francois Hollande of France convened a security summit in Paris. Heads of state from Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger attended. The main result was the creation of a “central intelligence platform,” which will serve as a place for West African nations to coordinate their responses to Boko Haram. The United States and its partners in the Horn of Africa should endeavor to copy a form of this strategy to counter al Shabaab in the Horn.

Despite some insinuations to the contrary, al Shabaab remains a serious threat to stability in the Horn, and it has started to undertake a more international campaign, employing shocking attacks. These attacks began with the 2010 bombings in Uganda, continued with attempted bombings in Ethiopia, peaked with the audacious Westgate Mall attack in Kenya, and recently included a well-planned attack on the Somali Parliament building. Sensationalist attacks are likely to continue and will extend beyond Somalia, as they did to Djibouti last week. As previous al Shabaab strongholds in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region are continually lost to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces’ advance, the group will likely become even more desperate.

Top tweets

@amisomsomalia #tbt A group of men and their sons read from the Quran during the holy month of Ramadan on July 11, 2013 #Somalia pic.twitter.com/0H2llfLYcT

@issafrica Publication | Peace & Security Council Report 59: Dissecting Somalia’s constitutional & security problemshttp://www.issafrica.org/publications/peace-and-security-council-report/peace-and-security-council-report-no-59 …

@UNLazzarini Missed @ValerieAmos’s statement to #UNSCyesterday? Read it here http://bit.ly/1mV7CgQ or watch video on@UNwebcast http://bit.ly/SvXQsh

@FCONeilWigan One week to go until the London Sexual Violence Summit. #Somalia is engaging heavily. #TimeToAct pic.twitter.com/dYY4KpaeKM

@UNSomalia Join us Sunday 8 June from 5 to 6 pm #Somaliatime on twitter! @Somalia111 will answer your questions.#AskUNSOM pic.twitter.com/PTNyWW8QGa

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Image of the day

Image of the day #Puntland President @AbdiweliGaas listens to Puntland Marine Force coordinator-Gaas pays first visit to PMPF base. Photo: @puntsom