June 16, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

UPDF sends 16th contingent of troops to Somalia

16 Jun- Source: NTV Uganda- 1:58 min

The UPDF has dispatched the 16th contingent of Ugandan soldiers to Somalia to conduct peace support operations in Somalia. General Katumba Wamala urged the battle group composed 1440 soldiers to maintain high standards of discipline in Somalia.

Key Headlines

Wardhigley court judge shot dead in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle/Radio Mustaqbal)
Somalia Governments Announces Tougher Punishment for Rapist (Hiiraan Online)
Security forces conduct operations in Afgoye for the second day (Radio Goobjoog)
Police officers gunned down in Mogadishu’s Hodan district (Radio Shabelle/Radio Risaala)
UAE wants to augment diplomatic and business bilateral relations with Puntland (Radio RBC)
Mortar fire kills 5 in southern Somalia Island (VOA Somali Service)
Drivers in Lower Shabelle complain of roadblocks in the region (Radio Shabelle)
Elders in Hiran region call on warring clans to stop hostilities (Radio Goobjoog)
Kenya: 47 people killed in Mpeketoni town attack (Standard Media)
Khaatumo state claims victory over clashes between its forces and Somaliland (Radio Goobjoog)
Puntland VP: International Community has failed to address Sool and Sanaag crisis (Radio Bar-kulan)
Businessmen threaten to boycott use of Mogadishu’s seaport (Kismaayo News/Harar24 Online)
Somali NOC concludes combined sporting development courses in Kismayo (Somaliweyn)
It is a must for Somaliland to secure her border: says defense Minister (Somaliland Informer)
Police in Hargeisa send Haatuf Newspaper chairman behind bars again (Radio RBC)
Kenya: 26 killed in Mpeketoni attack (Daily Nation/Standard Media)
UPDF sends 16th contingent of troops to Somalia (NTV Uganda)
Somalis sent back home in fear of al Shabaab (BBC)
Dozens killed in Kenyan town after suspected Somali rebel attack (The Guardian/AFP)
Joint Press Statement: Appeal for All Armed Forces to Withdraw from the Disputed Areas within Sool and Sanaag Regions (U.S. Somalia Unit)

SOMALI MEDIA

Wardhigley court judge shot dead in Mogadishu

16 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Kulmiye- 202 words

According to sources, armed assailants gunned down an official of the Benadir Supreme court for the Wardhigley district last night in Mogadishu.

The Judge, Ibrahim Hassan Mohamed, was shot by gunmen in the Via-Laberi neighborhood of Waaberi district late last night before his murderers immediately escaped.

Soldiers of the Somali Federal Government reached the crime scene soon after the murder and began to conduct search operations in the vicinity to search for the perpetrators.

The district commissioner of Waaberi, Ahmed Mumin Mohamed, spoke to Shabelle radio and confirmed the murder victim was Ibrahim Hassan Mohamed.

Somalia Governments Announces Tougher Punishment for Rapist

16 Jun- Source: Hiiraan Online- 256 words

In the aftermath of international conference on sexual violence in London this week, the federal government of Somalia has announced that anyone found guilty of rape will not escape unpunished.

The chief of Somalia military court colonel Abdirahman Mahmoud Tur-yare told a press conference in Mogadishu on Sunday that rape is one of the worst crimes must be eliminated immediately.

“If a woman is raped that means she was killed, so she must see rapist being punished for his wrongdoings and I want to make it clear in front of Somali people that if a soldier or any other individual makes a lady cry or rapes then he will not go unpunished” the military court chief said.

“The sword to kill with a rapist is out of box” colonel Abdirahman Mahmoud Tur-yare threatened. This is the first time that Somalia issues such hard punishment for rapists.

Meanwhile, the court leader said that any captured Al Shabab militant will be dealt with in accordance with the military law.

Security forces conduct operations in Afgoye for the second day

16 Jun- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 96 words

Somali security forces in Afgoye district are conducting security crackdown in the town for the second day. The forces are making door- door search asking people questions. Dozens of people mostly youth were arrested during the two days search and taken to police stations where the investigations are underway. Public transport has been interfered with as most roads remained blocked and business activities in the town came to standstill. The security officials declined to give comment about the motive of the continuing operations in the town.

Police officers gunned down in Mogadishu’s Hodan district

16 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Risaala- 76 words

Gunmen shot dead two police officers of the Somali Police Force Sunday night in the Taleh neighborhood of Mogadishu’s Hodan district. The two officers were walking in the neighborhood when they were shot dead by men with guns and they stole the AK-47s that the officers had. Furthermore, chief of the Hodan district police force Mohamed Dahir, told Shabelle that intense sweeps were launched to find the suspects.

UAE wants to augment diplomatic and business bilateral relations with Puntland

16 Jun – Source: Radio RBC – 154 words

The president of Somalia’s north eastern state of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas along with ministerial delegation was officially welcomed in Abu-Dhabi by senior officials from the government of the United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi Airport.

Following UAE’s official invitation to Puntland’s head of state, President Abdiweli Gaas accompanied by Puntland parliament deputy speaker Abdihamid Shiekh Abdisalam, minister of commerce Mohamud Hassan So-adde and finance deputy minister Ahmed Yassin Salah among many senior officials from Puntland presidential palace has had taken off for United Arab Emirates.

President Abdiweli held a press conference at his departure at the under-construction Bossaso airport and stated that their official visit to United Arab Emirate will take about one week time. President Gaas also stressed that he will dialogue with UAE government on improving the diplomatic and business relations with Puntland state of Somalia. “We want United Arab Emirates to make mammoth investments in Puntland.” said the president.

Mortar fire kills 5 in southern Somalia Island

16 Jun – Source: VOA Somali Service – 117 words

At least 5 people have been killed when al Shabaab militants shelled Madhoba Island south of the country on Saturday afternoon. A number of other people were also wounded in the mortar shells.

The commissioner of Badhaadhe district in the Lower Jubba region Farah Haybe said in an interview with VOA Somali service that the shelling rained on residential areas in the Island causing the deaths and injuries of innocent civilians.

The commissioner noted that for the past several days al Shabaab were trying to siege the small Island trying to prevent commercial goods and people from getting and out of the Island. Al Shabaab previously controlled the Madhoba Island, but they were forced to leave earlier.

Elders in Hiran region call on warring clans to stop hostilities

16 Jun- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 106 words

The elders and intellectuals in Hiran region called on the clans fighting in Galgadud and Lower Shabelle regions to cease fire and come into negotiation table without condition. Jamal, one of the elders told Goobjoog FM that the inter-clan fighting in these two regions has affected the lives of the people.

He called the federal government of Somalia to intervene and quickly stop the hostilities between the clans. Hundreds of people who fled from the areas where the inter-clan clashes embarked reached the nearby localities are in desperate conditions.

Since the start of the tribal clashes in Lower Shabelle and Galgadud regions over thirty people were killed.

Drivers in Lower Shabelle complain of roadblocks in the region

16 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle- 122 words

A driver of a public commuter vehicle that works in the Lower Shabelle region told Radio Shabelle that several roadblocks have been erected in towns and districts of the region specifically on the road connecting Wanlaweyn to Afgoye.

The driver confirmed to Radio Shabelle that bandits are dressing in the military uniform of Somali soldiers and forcing people to pay a lot of money.

“We have a huge problem with these illegal checkpoints that are in Lower Shabelle region because we cannot afford the fees we are requested to pay,” he said.

At last the driver called on the regional administration and the Somali Federal Government to remove the roadblocks as soon as possible.

Khaatumo state claims victory over clashes between its forces and Somaliland

16 Jun- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 162 words

The regional state of Khaatumo claimed victory over clashes between their forces and Somaliland forces at Grangeyo locality in the outskirts of Las Anod district, the headquarters of Sool region.

A senior Khaatumo state official who spoke on a condition of anonymity as he was not allowed to talk to the press stated that their militia seized bases near Las Anod and killed senior official from Somaliland.

The officer said Khaatumo state will not allow the provocation of Somaliland and will continue defend their land from anyone.

This comes a time when Somaliland forces have seized the control of the historic town of Taleh, the headquarters of Khaatumo regional state, during the capture of the town by Somaliland forces when Khaatumo determination conference was going on in the town.

Recently, Somaliland forces took over the control of Taleh town but immediately withdrew after calls from intellectuals, federal government and neighbouring countries.

Puntland VP: International Community has failed to address Sool and Sanaag crisis

15 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 186 words

Puntland vice president, Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar who held a press conference in Garowe said the international community has failed to address the situation in the disputed Sool and Sanaag regions.

While responding to yesterday’s joint press statement released by US, UK and EU special envoys to Somalia, the vice president said the disputed regions are part of Puntland’s territories.

United Kingdom Ambassador to Somalia Neil Wigan, United States Special Envoy to Somalia James P. McAnulty and European Union Special Envoy to Somalia Michelle Cervone d’Urso have on Saturday issued a joint statement calling all armed groups to withdraw their forces from the disputed lands in Sool and Sanaag regions.

The statement urged Puntland and Somaliland administrations to collaborate with the local communities and find constructive ways to jointly address economic, developmental and humanitarian grievances of the local populations in the disputed regions without prejudice to their competing claims on these areas.

Puntland and Somaliland both claim the territorial ownership of Sool and Sanaag regions and have recently deployed armed forces to the area.

Businessmen threaten to boycott use of Mogadishu’s seaport

15 Jun- Source: Kismaayo News/Harar24 Online- 148 words

Somali businessmen involved in car trading and importing vehicles into Somalia have threatened to stop using Mogadishu’s seaport and boycott it, due to the levying of high taxes imposed by the government.

A spokesman for the union of car dealers, Mohidin Gudlawe, said that they are on the verge of boycotting the seaport of Mogadishu for importing cars, due to the heavy taxes levied on them by the Ministry of Finance, while simultaneously they get charged even more by illegal checkpoints after they leave the seaport.

However, Abdulahi Mohamed Nur, a spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, denied the claims of imposing heavy taxes on imported cars, adding that the taxes are only used to improve and help re-build the country. He brushed aside the claims of the businessmen claiming that they just wanted to avoid taxes, in essence insinuating that they’re preventing money from re-building the country.

Somali NOC concludes combined sporting development courses in Kismayo

15 Jun – Source: Somaliweyn – 98 words

After nearly 8 years of absence, people in the once Al Shabab-controlled city of Kismayo, the provincial capital of Lower Jubba region south of the country are now enjoying in sport with the help from the National Olympic committee of Somalia who sent a large delegation to the region to regenerate sport.

The delegation under the leadership of Somali NOC secretary General Duran Ahmed Farah organized three development courses; most importantly administration course and community engagement program.

This was the 3rd and the final round of the development programs which were launched in the region three months ago.

It is a must for Somaliland to secure her border: says defense Minister

15 Jun – Source: Somaliland Informer – 122 words

Somaliland Government has robustly responded to a statement made by Puntland president Mr. Abdiweli Gaas which was meant to instigate war and hostility against the residents in Taleeh.

Mr. Gaas has made clear that his forces will wage war against Somaliland forces that are currently based in Taleh to deter any foreign invasion against the residents. He said that the presence of SDF in Taleh is a sign of aggression made by Somaliland.

Defense Minister has firmly said that Somaliland does not pose threat but confirmed that the fresh military operations were meant to secure the stability in the border with Puntland. He added that it was the national duty of men & women wearing uniform to defend any foreign invasion from Somaliland.

Police in Hargeisa send Haatuf Newspaper chairman behind bars again

15 Jun- Source: Radio RBC- 315 words

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) expressed deepening concern about the attrition of press freedom in Somaliland, where they have numerous times arrested critical journalists and shutter independent news media, following the arrest of the chairman Haatuf and Somaliland Times Newspapers by the Somaliland police.

Police in Hargeisa on Saturday arrested the chairman of the twin newspapers, Haatuf and Somaliland Times, Yuusuf Cabdi Gaboobe on Saturday 14 June, 2014 citing court orders, after paying visit to the the court to get information regarding the scheduled date for the hearing of his newspapers’ case.

According to the editor of the Haatuf newspaper, Ahmed Ali Cige who spoke to the local media, said that the regional Hargeysa Court demanded the arrest of Gabobe through warranty on Saturday, following his visit to the court, sending him behind bars.

Both the editor Ahmed Ali and the Chairman Yusuf Abdi Gabobe were released on bail on May 28, 2014, after spending at least 17 days in prison. However, the Somaliland authorities also shut down the offices of Haatuf newspaper and its sister English publication Somaliland Times on 7 April, 2014 following police raid.

“We call upon the Somaliland authorities for the unconditional release of Mr. Gabobe.” Mohamed Ibrahim, NUSOJ Secretary General said, “A democratic administration respects the principles of the free press, contrary to the crackdown we are witnessing, as we demand total RESET to the Media Freedoms.”

“Applying the press in criminal law, while the press law is in place shows the regime’s zero tolerance against the independent press.” Mr. Ibrahim added.

In February, Somaliland authorities also suspended indefinitely the offices of Universal TV for allegedly accusing to have offended the regional president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo. The comedy programme that Universal Television broadcast weekly annoyed the administration leading to the shutdown of the Television offices in Hargeisa. The UK based Television continue to broadcast via Satellite.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: 47 people killed in Mpeketoni town attack

16 Jun- Source: Standard Media- 394 words

Police have confirmed at least 47 people died in Mpeketoni, Lamu County attack by gunmen last night and warned toll could rise. Other witnesses say there are more than 30 people who died in the attack by gunmen believed to be al Shabaab from Somalia. Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said among those confirmed dead so far is a police driver. The deceased officer was a driver to Lamu County commander. “We are going there to witness but the situation is not good for now. The toll could be more than the 47 bodies that we have collected,” said Kimaiyo on phone. Mpeketoni town is about 40 kilometers inland in Lamu County and the attack was not a surprise. Police have been mobilised to collect the bodies and police boss David Kimaiyo says there were about 50 gunmen who struck the town with explosives and guns attacking two hotels, a bank, police station and other structures. “They came in as passengers in the quiet town. No arrest,” Kimaiyo said adding that police still collecting bodies. Britain had closed its consulate in Mombasa on Friday over terror fears.

Kenya: 26 killed in Mpeketoni attack

16 Jun – Source: Daily Nation/Standard Media/Capital FM – 156 words

At least 26 people were killed when some 50 insurgents flying black Islamist flags swept into a Kenyan coastal town firing guns in an unprecedented attack, a local government official said Monday.

“So far we have collected over 26 bodies and taken them to the mortuary, but we are still looking for more,” Benson Maisori, deputy commissioner for the district, told AFP. The town of Mpeketoni was reported calmMonday, the morning after the attack.

They opened fire from two minibuses and set two hotels on fire, officials said, adding that the attackers were suspected Islamist insurgents. There was no immediate confirmation of casualties, but residents said the attack lasted for hours.

Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the gunmen entered the western town of Mpeketoni, a trading centre on the main coastal road, and started “shooting people around in town”. The “assailants (are) likely to be al Shabaab,” Chirchir said, referring to Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked insurgents.

UPDF sends 16th contingent of troops to Somalia

16 Jun- Source: NTV Uganda- 1:58 min

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalis sent back home in fear of al Shabaab

16 Jun- Source: BBC-685 Words

“I live in constant fear. I don’t go anywhere because I face threats from all sides,” says the 39-year-old Somali man who asks me not to use his name.

“I was taken in handcuffs onto a Turkish Airlines plane in London, and flown to Mogadishu via Istanbul. In Istanbul, the British guards accompanying me beat me to the ground, breaking my front tooth.”

The man, who tells me by phone he is now living in a makeshift shelter in a displaced persons’ camp in the Somali capital, was living as an asylum-seeker in the UK until 3 May.

His is the first known case of a Somali being forcibly removed to Mogadishu under what the UK Home Office describes in legal documents related to his case as a new “Somalia test pilot scheme”. “An old friend of mine gives me rations of oil and rice, and a little money to buy fresh vegetables. That’s all the help I get.”

Dozens killed in Kenyan town after suspected Somali rebel attack

16 Jun- Source: The Guardian/AFP- 374 words

At least 26 people have been killed after insurgents flying black Islamist flags swept into a Kenyan coastal town firing indiscriminately, a local government official said Monday.

“So far we have collected over 26 bodies and taken them to the mortuary, but we are still looking for more,” Benson Maisori, deputy commissioner for the district, told AFP. The Red Cross, which said it had personnel on the ground, put the death toll at 34.

Gun battles began Sunday evening and continued into the early hours of Monday in the town of Mpeketoni. The insurgents were reported to have been from Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels.

Joint Press Statement: Appeal for All Armed Forces to Withdraw from the Disputed Areas within Sool and Sanaag Regions

14 Jun- Source: U.S. Somalia Unit ‏-298 words

United Kingdom Ambassador to Somalia Neil Wigan, United States Representative for Somalia James P. McAnulty, and European Union Special Envoy to Somalia Ambassador Michele Cervoned’Urso express profound concern about the deployment of armed forces within disputed areas between Somaliland and Puntland.

“We call for the immediate withdrawal of armed forces from the disputed areas of Sool and Sanaag regions, and call on all actors to refrain from violence. We urge restraint and oppose the use of force. All parties must make immediate efforts to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and demonstrate genuine willingness to create the conditions necessary for long-term and durable stability in the region.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“With Somalia now somewhat safer, Britain returned its ambassador to Mogadishu last year. Neil Wigan’s “residence” is sparse, almost a shipping container. He tells NPR’s Rachel Martin why he’s hopeful.”

Dorm Living For Staff Of New British Embassy In Somalia

15 Jun- Source: NPR News-589 Words

The Obama administration says that it will soon appoint a U.S. ambassador to reopen the mission in Somalia. Now the U.S. embassy closed its doors in 1991 when the Somali government collapsed and warlords took over the country. The danger sharpened two years later when Somali fighters shot down two U.S. helicopters, killing 18 U.S. soldiers in an incident that came to be known as Black Hawk Down.

Recently, though, the situation has improved, and Great Britain returned its own ambassador to Somalia just last year. His name is Neil Wigan, and he told Rachael Martin why he’s hopeful.

AMBASSADOR NEIL WIGAN: We felt that Somalia has really – has the potential to really turn a corner, to put 25 years of conflict behind it. There’s a government which we feel much more comfortable dealing with and a real sense amongst Somalis that they’ve had enough of civil war, that they want to unite and bring peace to the country. And there was a real international consensus that this was an effort worth supporting. And we felt that one of the ways of symbolizing that would be to reopen a full normal embassy in Mogadishu dealing with the Somali government as we do with any other state around the world.

“New TV program Integration: Building a New Cultural Identity airs on City”

TV host Hodan Nalayeh shines a light on Somali life in Toronto

14 Jun- Source: Inside Toronto-1193 Words

Hodan Nalayeh knows what it takes to successfully integrate into a new culture and society. As one of 11 kids, she immigrated to Canada from Somalia with her family at age six in 1984 – and has thrived ever since.

After graduating from Etobicoke’s West Humber Collegiate Institute, Nalayeh went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Windsor, then a postgraduate certificate in broadcast journalism from Seneca College.

Following an early career in American radio and TV – where her credits included American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance – Nalayeh has now returned to her roots as host and executive producer of City’s Integration: Building a New Cultural Identity.

The weekly, half-hour program showcases the Somali-Canadian experience through stories that “empower, enlighten and inspire.” Now mid-way through its 26-episode first season, Integration has, through the power of social media, spread beyond Toronto to the international Somali Diaspora.

Top tweets

@neptune_ms Weekly Piracy Report http://bit.ly/UF9AKC #pirates #Somalia #SouthEastAsia #hijack

@JosephWinter Is Somalia safe enough to send back failed asylum-seekers? Man deported from UK says he fears al-Shabab @mary_harper http://bbc.in/SMQkJi

@Somalia111 @WiltonPark for timely conference on peace operations – time of high demand & squeezed supply #wp1336 #Somalia

‏@UNSomalia .@UNLazzarini warns of looming humanitarian emergency in #Somalia http://bit.ly/1vr1DWe pic.twitter.com/s3r8uIWJXU

@unicefsomalia Children are often the most affected in any emergencies. Somalia’s children have suffered enough. The world needs… http://fb.me/6yYHKCRKh

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Image of the day

Image of the day #Canadian Amb to #Somalia David Angel presents his credentials to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as Dr Abdirahman Beileh, Minister of Foreign Affairs & Investment looks on in Mogadishu. Photo: @Dahirkulane