June 12, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

World Cup fever grips Mogadishu as kick-off draws near

12 Jun- Source: Peopledaily/ Xinhua- 465 words

Residents in the Somali capital Mogadishu are frantically doing last minute shopping to prepare to view the 2014 football World Cup to kick off in Brazil on Thursday.

Hundreds of shoppers flock to the main Bakara market to buy TV sets, satellite dishes and receivers to view the 2014 World Cup for the first time since the ouster of the radical Islamist group of al Shabaab in late 2011.

The al Qaeda-linked militant group controlled much of Mogadishu and other parts of south-central Somalia before they were driven out by Somali government forces backed by troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Key Headlines

Somali PM Abdiweli Sheikh meets his Ethiopian counterpart in Addis Ababa (Radio Goobjoog/Radio Dalsan/Dhanaan Online)
“Alternative livelihoods needed to tackle child poverty” Somali FM (Hiiraan Online)
Mogadishu Mayor delegation return to Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)
MP Suggests AMISOM to be Deployed in Lower Shabelle (Radio Dalsan)
More people testing for Hepatitis B after awareness campaign (Radio Ergo)
Tanzania to train 1000 Somali soldiers amid concerns over terrorism backlash (Sabahi Online)
World Cup fever grips Mogadishu as kick-off draws near (People daily/Xinhua)
UNSOM unveils mural in Mogadishu (UNSOM)
Several dead central Somalia fighting: elders (Daily Times/AFP)
At least 7 injured in grenade attack in Kenya’s border town (Global Post/Xinhua)
No easy way forward for al Shabaab defectors (IRIN News)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali PM Abdiweli Sheikh meets his Ethiopian counterpart in Addis Ababa

12 Jun- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Dalsan/Dhanaan Online- 192 words

The prime minister of Somalia Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed who is in the capital of Ethiopia Addis Ababa, met with his counterpart Hailemariam Dessalegn.

The main points focused in these meeting includes, the strengthening of the inter-relationships between Somalia and Ethiopia and to cooperate on improving peace and security in the region.

Mr Abdiweli discussed with the Ethiopian premier on the ways Ethiopia could expand its efforts to assist the federal government of Somalia restore peace and order and thanked the Ethiopian government on its contribution and the noble role its playing in the African peacekeeping mission ( AMISOM).

On his side, Hailemariam Dessalegn Ethiopian prime minister said, Ethiopia and Somalia have common agendas, our main aim is to see stable Somalia under the rule of law. my government will equip the armed forces to support Somalia in achieving its goals.

Premier Abdiweli attended the 26th Extraordinary Session of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the Situation in South Sudan, which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on June 9-10, 2014.

“Alternative livelihoods needed to tackle child poverty” Somali FM

12 Jun – Source: Hiiraan Online – 191 words

The Somali Foreign Minister who is currently in London for the Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict Summit attended a meeting on Wednesday of African Foreign Ministers of post conflict and in conflict States on the issue of addressing Child Soldiers.

Dr.Abdirahman Beileh, alongside his counterparts from Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone was hosted at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office in central London by Mark Simmons MP the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The meeting was aimed at the exchange of views and national experiences of the long term issue of child soldiers in their countries. All the Ministers agreed that child soldiers were an appalling reality that needed an urgent response in tackling from them and their development partners across the world.

Dr.Beileh in his statement expressed gratitude to the organisers of the meeting including Mark Simmons MP, the British government and the British embassy in Somalia. He expressly thanked them for their support in returning Somalia to the international agenda by being one of the leading nations supporting Somalia in its efforts and journey to stability and development.

Malta establishes diplomatic relations with Somalia

12 Jun- Source: Wehel Media – 60 words

The Foreign Ministry has announced that Malta has established diplomatic relations with Somalia, after the documents were signed by foreign minister George Vella and Somali ambassador Ali Said Faqi, on the fringes of an EU-Arab League conference in Athens. The government said the diplomatic relations will make it easier for Malta to request the help of Somali experts in identifying the veracity of asylum seekers who claim to be Somali.

Mogadishu Mayor, delegation return to Mogadishu

12 Jun – Source: Radio Shabelle – 101 words

A delegation led by Governor of Benadir & Mayor of Mogadishu returned to Mogadishu, after being on an official visit to Turkey.

Hassan Mohamed Hussein (Mungab), the Governor, was welcomed at Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle International Airport by the 17 district commissioners of Benadir region and other officials from the regional administration.

Mr. Mungab and his delegation then visited the Benadir regional administration headquarters in the Heliwa district where he addressed the media on the outcome of his trip to Turkey. The Mayor of Mogadishu met with his Istanbul counterpart Mr. Kadir Tobas on the 6th June for discussions on twinning both cities.

MP Suggests AMISOM to be Deployed in Lower Shabelle

12 Jun- Source: Radio Dalsan- 101 words

As calls to end the fighting in Lower Shabelle between the rival clans increase, parliamentarian Abshirow suggests that AMISOM troops should be deployed in the troubled areas of that region. The lawmaker now recommends that AMISOM troops especially those with military experience to be deployed in the areas where the clashes have taken place. He also suggested that a committee should be sent to start reconciling the rival clans in the Lower Shabelle Region. This call from the MP comes at a time when fighting between two rival clans is still going on in parts of Shabelle Region.

More people testing for Hepatitis B after awareness campaign

12 Jun- Source: Radio Ergo- 155 words

The numbers of people who are coming for Hepatitis B testing and vaccination have increased in Somaliland in recent months, according to doctors and medical staff in Hargeisa. The director of Hargeisa’s Paediatric Dentistry Centre, Abdirashid Ahmed, said the increase was dramatically felt in the last three months.

“We used to vaccinate about 30 patients a month, but we have been vaccinating more than 45 people in the past three months,” Ahmed told Radio Ergo’s reporter in Hargeisa.

The doctor said the increasing number of people coming for Hepatitis B vaccination is linked to people’s increasing awareness of the disease. Most of those coming now for the test have seen family members or friends affected and suffering from the disease.

Some people will not know they are infected with the virus, while others may suffer flu-like symptoms. In chronic cases that are left untreated, however, it can lead to liver disease and other serious complications.

Somaliland: Kaah Islamic Microfinance Services (KIMS) launched

11 Jun – Source: Somaliland Informer – 134 words

Kaah, a leader in modern remittance firms has on Wednesday unveiled an unprecedented brand new project in Hargeisa.

The microfinance is project aimed at providing loans to civilians in a bid to create self employment and the plan in place is that they will pay back the loan.

Ceremony organized by Kaah to officially announce that it has launched the project has invited the Vice President Hon Abdirahman Abdilahi Saylici, cabinet ministers in Silanyo regime, chamber of commerce were in attendance.

Kaah General Manager Hon Hassan Awad who has made the opening remarks at the venue has firmly stated that the project is quite important for the underprivileged members of the community. He said that the country to reach development it is a must to have economic which are related to each other.

AMISOM honours outgoing Ugandan Police Officers

11 Jun- Source: AMISOM-353 Words

Members of the Uganda Individual Police Officers (IPO’s) serving with Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) were awarded medals of service in recognition of the work they have done in improving security and bringing stability to the horn of African Nation of Somalia.

The ceremony was presided over by AU Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) Lydia Wanyoto Mutende and was attended by the Deputy Force Commander of Operations, Major General Godffrey Muheesi, Police Commissioner Anand Pillay among other senior officers from AMISOM.

In her opening remarks the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Lydia Wanyoto Mutende expressed her gratitude to the officers outstanding performance in assisting the Somalia Police Force to improve on the security of the nation as well as rule of law and justice.

“I want to first thank you for keeping your country’s flag very high especially on matters of performance and discipline. We have a call for pan Africanism and I want to thank you for improving the lives of the people of Somalia through your exceptional work as highlighted by your commanders.”

Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) partner with AMISOM on Information sharing and civil affairs

11 Jun- Source: AMISOM-322 Words

Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) and AMISOM held a conference from the 1st – to 8th June in a bid to broaden effort to achieve a stable and secure East Africa to root out violent extremist organizations such as al Shabaab in Somalia. The partnership pools together the physical prowess of battlefield as well as understanding the information environment.

In a theme entitled “Enabling Security through Communication and the Profession of Arms”, AMISOM and CJTF-HOA seeks to broaden the strategic communication, information operations, public affairs and other military communication disciplines.

CJTF-HOA organized a training session for AMISOM participants drawn from the Public information office and other counterparts from the mission to share a platform for synchronization of efforts, learning from one another about information environment and forging new collaborations.
The plenary session of the conference allowed participants to share perspective based on their operational experiences whereas the breakout sessions tackled exploration of unique solutions and opportunities for collaboration as well as working and communicating together across sectors, across regions and across organizations.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Tanzania to train 1,000 Somali soldiers amid concerns over terrorism backlash

11 Jun- Source: Sabahi Online-752 Words

Tanzania has agreed to train Somali soldiers as part of its efforts to support peace and security in Somalia, but some Tanzanian officials have expressed concern that further involvement in Somali affairs could invite terrorist attacks from al Shabaab. The agreement to train 1,000 Somali soldiers first came about in 2012, when Tanzania accepted a request by former Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, which was then revived by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud this year.

“We prepared the training camps and as I am speaking everything is ready. We are waiting for them to select 1,000 soldiers to come here for the training,” said Salva Rweyemamu, director of communication for the Tanzanian president. “We want to train them to be professional soldiers so that they maintain their country’s security to allow citizens to engage in development matters.”

Tanzania’s Minister of Defence and National Service Hussein Mwinyi said the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) has been leading training and peacekeeping operations in East Africa and beyond in a bid to build stronger regional co-operation.

Somalia’s administrators deployed to newly liberated towns

11 Jun – Source: Walta Info – 160 words

Government of Somalia has deployed caretaker administrators in the newly liberated areas, as part of the efforts at their stabilization. In a press release AMISOM Public Information Services sent to WIC, the teams being deployed comprise of police officers, judicial officers, public affairs officers, national intelligence officers as well as prisons officials.

These have been deployed to towns recently liberated from the al Shabaab. A recent joint operation by the Somali National Army and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) saw 10 towns liberated from the al Shabaab.

The latest deployment of the officials has been effected in the towns of Bulla Burde and Jalalaqsi. These will be charged with organizing elections for the District Commissioners and their deputies, who will then be charged with running the respective towns.

The Bulla Burde Caretaker Mr. Ahmed Abdi said the team was well received by the residents and is optimistic that they will work together to restore order in the town.

Somalis condemn al Shabaab’s public execution of ‘spies’

11 Jun- Source: Sabahi Online-747 Words

The Somali people living in areas controlled by al Shabaab say the militant group’s executions of so-called “spies” for the Somali government and its allies are not supported by evidence and are contrary to Islamic law.

The group has executed at least seven people accused of spying since March, according to a traditional elder in Barawe who was present at the execution of three alleged spies on June 2nd. The elder, who requested his name be withheld from the media over fear of al Shabaab retaliation, told Sabahi that the killings were not in line with proper Islamic law.

The youths killed were named as Salah Fuad Osman, 24, Mohamed Omar Dirie, 22, and Mohamed Adan Ibrahim, 26, according to Somalimemo, a pro-al Shabaab website.

According to the charges read before their execution, Osman was recruiting informers for the Somali government, Dirie was accused of working for American intelligence services and Ibrahim was accused of spying on behalf of the Kenyan government.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

World Cup fever grips Mogadishu as kick-off draws near

12 Jun- Source: Peopledaily/ Xinhua- 465 words

Residents in the Somali capital Mogadishu are frantically doing last minute shopping to prepare to view the 2014 football World Cup to kick off in Brazil on Thursday.

UNSOM unveils mural in Mogadishu

12 Jun- Source: UNSOM-359 Words

The United Nations Assistance in Somalia (UNSOM) has today unveiled a mural showcasing the hard journey the country is making towards its recovery. The mural, in the heart of the capital Mogadishu at the monument of the Unknown Soldier, has been painted as part of the activities to mark the first year anniversary of UNSOM and also as celebration of art in Somalia.

The mission marked its first anniversary on June 3rd 2014, celebrating a year of continued support to Somalia. Adan Farah Affey, the Somali artist that painted the mural says he is happy to have had the opportunity to use his talent to tell a story of hope for his country.

“This beautiful work I have done here expresses the situation of what has happened in the past two decades in Somalia. The country collapsed but rose again after we had the interim government. We have set foot on the right path to good governance, and that is why I have drawn a picture of a man who had collapsed, tries to rise and stands up. That is the vision for Somalia. And I feel very happy that I have got the chance to express my feelings through this painting,” he says.

Aleem Siddique, the UNSOM Spokesperson reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to support Somalia as it makes progress, recovering from over two decades of war. “The United Nations is here in Somalia to support the peace building and state building efforts of the Somali people. We are working hand in hand with the Somali people to make the progress that they want to see for their families, for their Communities and their Country.”

For the residents of Mogadishu, the mural not only celebrates Somali art but is also a symbol of hope for a brighter future for Somalia. “The first picture is expressing the situation before and the second one is showing the recovery that has taken place in the city; the problems in the interim period have been overcome. Thanks to God, I am one of those who work to earn bread in this city”, says Ali Saleh Ali, a resident of Mogadishu.

Several dead central Somalia fighting: elders

12 Jun- Source: Daily Times/AFP-189 Words

At least 12 people died in heavy fighting between rival militia in central Somalia, elders said Wednesday, the latest surge of violence amid warnings of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Fighting in the Galgadud region broke out Tuesday, despite local governor Hussein Ali Weheliye calling on “both sides to show restraint to stop the senseless killing going”.

Clashes broke out between rival clans in villages in Galgadud’s Balanbal district, some 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu and close to the border with Ethiopia, apparently in revenge for earlier killings.

“The number of the dead has reached 12 people from the two clans, more are injured,” local senior elder Elmi Adan told AFP, adding that neither side were ready to negotiate.

At least 7 injured in grenade attack in Kenya’s border town

12 Jun – Source: Global Post/Xinhua – 126 words

At least seven people have been injured in a grenade attack in the northern Kenyan town of Garissa on Wednesday evening. Garissa County Police Commander Charles Kinyua confirmed the incident, saying those injured were rushed to the local hospital for treatment.

“There was a powerful explosion, where seven civilians who were chatting outside their house in Ngamia Road area in Garissa town were injured after unknown people hurled a hand grenade at them at around19:30,” Kinyua told Xinhua.

He said some victims reported that a lone assailant was hidden in the prevailing darkness and threw the grenade. “We suspect the attacker was aiming to kill the survivors who luckily escaped with minor injuries, after the explosive device missed them by a whisker,” added Kinyua.

No easy way forward for al Shabaab defectors

12 Jun- Source: IRIN News- 1061 words

Anwar Ahmed*, 50, an al Shabaab defector, was drawn to Somalia’s Salafist armed group both by the promise of a wage and a belief in the Islamic ways of “rights and justice for all”.

Stationed in the Bakool provincial capital of Hudur, Ahmed worked mainly as a sentry, while also corralling residents to answer the call to prayer, collecting road taxes – up to US$300 for freight trucks and between $10 and $20 for cars – and assisting in the collection of zakat, the 2.5 percent tax on annual earnings paid in either cash or kind.

Ahmed’s own pay was modest: $20 or $30 every few months during his three year stint with the armed group, never enough to provide for his four children and wife. “ On a personal level, there was nothing to gain,” Ahmed recalls. “I thought al Shabaab were real about Islam’s call for justice for all. But it was based on a big lie. The commanders got it all.”

MICRO LOANS: ARC helps women, youth in Somalia start businesses

12 Jun – Source: FOX 9 News – 137 words

In a country where the unemployment rate is 65 percent, where do you start looking for a job? Somalis in the Twin Cities say that’s what their families and countrymen face in Africa — but a local organization is helping out.

The American Refugee Committee is using its organizational expertise to help women and youth in Somalia start, even grow, a business. It’s a country where jobs are few but ambition is high, but most have to create their own work. To ease that transition, Minneapolis-based ARC is offering a new micro-loan program.

Access to money is something many Americans take for granted. If an American citizen wanted to start a business or expand one, the next step often involves going to a bank and taking out a loan — but in Somalia, there are no banks.

Somalia could slide backwards if world loses interest: U.N.

11 Jun- Source: Reuters-488 Words

Hard-won security gains in Somalia could be undermined unless the rest of the world steps up support to improve Somalis’ lives, the United Nations’ special representative for the country said on Wednesday.
In the struggle against al Shabaab militants in Somalia, the Somali army and African Union forces have seized control of 10 or 11 towns from the Islamists in the last few months, Nicholas Kay told Reuters in an interview during a visit to Brussels for talks with European Union officials.

“But unless we can consolidate those gains, unless the people in those areas feel the benefit of being in a government-controlled area, they get better services, better governance and also their basic needs for food and medicines are met, unless we can do that, then there is a risk that this will not be a success,” he said.

Kay, a British diplomat, voiced concern that Somalia was losing out on attention and resources to other crisis-hit countries such as South Sudan, Central African Republic, Mali and Ukraine.

Malta signs first ever agreement with Somalia

11 Jun- Source: Independent-Malta/Xinhua/Times of Malta-207 Words

Foreign Affairs Minister Dr George Vella today signed a Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Malta and the Federal Republic of Somalia. On the fringes of the European Union, League of Arab States meeting in Athens, Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella signed this communique with Somali Ambassador HE Ali Said Faqi.

This is the first ever agreement between Malta and Somalia, and marks the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Attempts to establish relations between the two countries had been going on for quite some time. Malta’s interest in establishing diplomatic relations stemmed from the fact that the majority of irregular migrants arriving in Malta and asking for asylum come from Somalia.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The time is ripe to consider growing evidence of an entrenched al Shabaab presence within South Africa. And the evidence is plentiful. It is not only on foreign shores that al Shabaab’s linkages to South Africa have been made explicit. But how credible is the al Shabaab threat to South Africa and, more importantly, are we at risk of an imminent attack?”

Al Shabaab: How much of a threat to South Africa?

12 Jun- Source: Daily Maverick-1254 Words

Less than a week after the US government issued a travel warning for Ethiopia, the East African country’s National Intelligence service claimed to have arrested 25 suspected terrorists during a security operation conducted in its south-west. Government spokesman Shimeles Kemal stated that those detained had been trained by the al Shabaab militant group in Somalia and were planning a series of attacks in the city of Jimma, located some 300km south west of the capital, Addis Ababa, where the arrests were made. Kemal further stated that “a number of weapons” were also seized during the security sweep.

The incident was by no means unprecedented. Ethiopia has been viewed, and continues to be viewed, as a high-value target by al Shabaab due to the former’s ongoing involvement in counter-insurgency operations aimed at uprooting the militant group from Somalia. The al Shabaab threat is also by no means trivial. The extremist group has demonstrated that it possesses both the intent and operational capacity to execute retaliatory strikes against its enemies outside of Somalia’s borders as witnessed by its terrorist attacks with Uganda, Kenya and, most recently, Djibouti. Aware of the ever-present threat, the Ethiopian government continues to prioritise national security and regularly conducts multi-pronged counter-terrorism operations aimed at curtailing the militant group.

“Although Turkey went to Somalia to provide humanitarian aid in 2011, Mogadishu has been offering more political power. If accurate steps are taken, a stronger Turkey in a stronger Somalia may be visible”

Turkey seeks lasting presence in Somalia via investments

12 Jun- Source: Daily Sabah-1516 Words

The 16th century was the first time Turks entered Somali territory when local governors asked Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent to rescue Mogadishu from the Portuguese navy, which was looting the city. Although the Ottomans lost to the Portuguese navy, they left behind mosques and a castle. After three centuries, the Ottomans were in Somalia again to help the local people who were resisting a British invasion and suffering from a humanitarian crisis. The Ottomans established an embassy, dug water wells and trained people to create an army.

Although the Somalis claimed victory over British troops, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire ended the resistance. Many years later, Turks again went to Somalia. This time it was to provide humanitarian aid when the Somali government made an international call for help to deal with drought and famine. Turkey, which had become one of the most rapidly growing economies in the world, replied to this call in a positive way. After the two peoples remembered each other, Turkey decided to take a permanent position in the country, which has vast resources and located very strategically. As the other parts of Africa were in the hands of others, including Europeans and China, Somalia was the country that welcomed Turks only.

Top tweets

@UNSomalia PHOTOS: A mural painted in #Mogadishu at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier courtesy of #UNSOM.http://bit.ly/1l3k4y9 #Somalia

@Somalia111 Full day in #Brussels. #EU key partner for#Somalia. Discussed how to help speed up political, security & humanitarian progress @UNLOPS

@UNLazzarini At Digaale community: #UN & partners helped 800 #IDP families find new home. They now own land & IDP journey is over pic.twitter.com/wpWTpLWLBt

@amisomsomalia Ambassador Fred Ngoga Gateretse@NgogaFred speaks about AMISOM’s counter terrorism strategy http://bit.ly/1l0yYoL

@Abdikarim_Abdi3 Minister of Posts & Telecommunications speaking on behalf of #Somalia at WSIS Conference in#Geneva. pic.twitter.com/BKtMl5TVSL

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Image of the day

Image of the day #AMISOM Ugandan Police officers awarded certificates and medals upon conclusion of their tour of duty in #Somalia. Photo: @amisomsomalia