July 16, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali FM’s visit to Spain ends with a promise of closer partnership
16 Jul- Source: Hiiraan Online- 657 words
On the last day of his official diplomatic visit to Spain, the Somali Foreign Minister Abdirahman Beileh continued his meeting from the previous day at the Spanish Ministry of Defence with the Secretary General Mr Alejandro Alvargonzález, senior civil servants and the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
At this meeting the Spanish government representatives confirmed their continued commitment to assisting the Somali government in programmes they are already involved in such as the European Union Military Mission in Somalia (EUTM) which has so far trained 3,600 Somali soldiers in Uganda and Atalanta which is focused on deterring and combating piracy off the coast of Somalia.
The outcomes of yesterday’s meetings between the Somali Foreign Minister Abdirahman Beileh and his Spanish counterpart host, Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo, senior civil servants and the Director of the Spanish International Development agency was a positive one which concluded with the Spanish government’s interest in funding some priority development projects that are related specifically to creating employment and alternative livelihoods for young people as a means of deterring them from terrorism and other unproductive and violent activities. The Somali government’s Give Your Gun and Go to School programme attracted interest and support from the highest levels of the Spanish government. It was agreed that the Somali government is to formulate and submit a proposal to the Spanish development agency for consideration for funding towards this programme.
Key Headlines
- Wadajir district security arrest three young men for murder (Radio Shabelle/RBC)
- Constitution review meetings opens in Mogadishu (Radio Goobjoog/Shinganinews)
- Somali FM’s visit to Spain ends with a promise of closer partnership (Hiiraan Online)
- Armed confrontations leave 2 dead in Lower Jubba region (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Somali PM calls on Saudi officials not to haste in ban decision against Somali camels (Radio Mogadishu/Radio RBC)
- Ethiopian PM assures Somaliland president that border will be reopened (Somaliland Informer)
- Yemeni-Somali cooperation sides discussed (Yemen News Agency)
- Somalia to dispatch delegation on peace mission to Defow (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan)
- Djibouti Will Deploy Battalion of Troops to Somalia by Year-End (Bloomberg)
- Lafoole administration calls on federal government to solve crises in the area (Radio Goobjoog)
- Intense clashes break out in Qoryoley (Radio Shabelle)
- Somaliland Military Holds Journalist in Military Custody (Radio RBC)
- Al Shabaab infiltration of Somali government raises new security alarm (Sabahi Online)
- Deputy Head of Mission tours AMISOM basecamp (AMISOM)
- 10 arrested in Jowhar for failing to comply with night time curfew (Radio bar-kulan)
- AMISOM Spokesperson Col. Ali Aden Houmed press briefing to update the media on the situation around the country (AMISOM)
- Exclusive: U.N. monitors allege ‘conspiracy’ to divert Somali assets (Reuters)
- Reveal death toll from Somalia war says Raila (Daily Nation)
- Somaliland parliament urges reporters to avoid airing tribal news (Somaliland Informer)
- Al Shabaab vows to intensify attacks in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)
- Kenya back in court over Somali refugee roundup (Trust/Reuters)
- 3 Kenyan crew members missing after ship hijacked off Somalia coast (Sabahi Online)
- France Uganda vow to combat terrorism (Daily Monitor)
- Parents pay bribes to release kids in Eastleigh (Star-Kenya)
- Somalia firing squad executes al Shabaab members for nurse’s murder (rfi.fr)
- Kenyans fleeing to prison for safety in Lamu (BBC)
PRESS STATEMENT
Somali Prime Minister calls for immediate ceasefire in Hiiraan province
16 Jul – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 373 words
On behalf of the Federal Government of Somalia, the Prime Minister His Excellency Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed expressed deep sadness over the clan clashes that have taken place in Defow village, on the outskirts of Beledweyne in the Hiiraan region and called on the parties in conflict to commence an immediate ceasefire and resolve the conflict through dialogue instead.
Prime Minister Ahmed held an emergency meeting with the Cabinet Committee on Inclusive Politics and National Security to discuss the developing issue today. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet Committees condemned the clashes between the clans during the holy month of Ramadan and called on each side to consider the cost of warfare on their communities.
At the end of the meeting it was decided that a ministerial level delegation will be dispatched to the area to implement the ceasefire, begin reconciliation between the conflicting parties by addressing the root causes of this conflict and assess the humanitarian situation in the area. H.E. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said of the conflict:
“It is truly painful for all of us to hear about the bloody clashes that have taken place between brotherly clans in Hiiraan. Today I met with the Cabinet Committees on Inclusive Politics and National Security and we have agreed to immediately send a ministerial delegation to the area to facilitate dialogue and reconciliation.
“I am calling on my brothers in Hiiraan to consider the harm in resorting to violence to resolve differences. Dialogue is the only way to handle the conflict in the region and we would like to remind them that loss of life in bloody conflict is never a solution.
“This blessed month of Ramadan is a time of worship and forgiveness and it saddens me to hear of the loss of life and mayhem that has resulted from this conflict. Let us remember that it is in our collective interest to talk to one another and resolve our differences.
The Federal Government of Somalia will spare no effort to facilitate a peaceful resolution to this conflict and is urging both parties to cooperate fully with the reconciliation efforts.” The Prime Minister calls on humanitarian organisations to urgently provide any assistance needed to those affected by the conflict.
SOMALI MEDIA
Constitution review meetings opens in Mogadishu
16 Jul- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Shinganinews/
An extra-ordinary Meeting on Constitution review opened in Mogadishu today on Wednesday. The Conference was organized by the Independent constitution review Commission recently approved by the parliament.
In the meeting the participant will focus on different agendas including constitutional amendment procedures, public consultation and how the committee conduct its duties.
Top government officials including president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud are expected to attend the meeting which is held in Jazeera hotel.
This is the first meeting of its kind since the federal parliament of Somalia passed the independent committee29th May this year.
Wadajir district security arrest three young men for murder
16 Jul- Source: Radio Shabelle/RBC-186 Words
Security forces in Wadajir district of Somalia capital, Mogadishu have apprehended three suspected murders during an overnight operation conducted in parts of the district, according to the deputy district commissioner.
The three young men whom the security forces linked to al Shabaab members were arrested on Tuesdaynight after a heavy operation was launched. They are now being interrogated in the police station, as the district commissioner said that they will soon transfer to the national criminal investigation department and the intelligence unit to have their turn interrogate them.
“These three men were arrested after we have been on their heels for many days,” unnamed security official said. He added that the three were suspected to have carried the latest assassinations in the district including a former MP and a young activist who was shot dead in the district days before.
On Tuesday, the High Military Court executed two young men who were convicted on the killing of a young female student in April. The pair who were al Shabaab members were executed through a shooting by a firing squad at the Police Academy in Mogadishu.
Somali FM’s visit to Spain ends with a promise of closer partnership
16 Jul- Source: Hiiraan Online- 657 words
On the last day of his official diplomatic visit to Spain, the Somali Foreign Minister Abdirahman Beileh continued his meeting from the previous day at the Spanish Ministry of Defence with the Secretary General Mr Alejandro Alvargonzález, senior civil servants and the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
At this meeting the Spanish government representatives confirmed their continued commitment to assisting the Somali government in programmes they are already involved in such as the European Union Military Mission in Somalia (EUTM) which has so far trained 3,600 Somali soldiers in Uganda and Atalanta which is focused on deterring and combating piracy off the coast of Somalia.
The outcomes of yesterday’s meetings between the Somali Foreign Minister Abdirahman Beileh and his Spanish counterpart host, Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo, senior civil servants and the Director of the Spanish International Development agency was a positive one which concluded with the Spanish government’s interest in funding some priority development projects that are related specifically to creating employment and alternative livelihoods for young people as a means of deterring them from terrorism and other unproductive and violent activities. The Somali government’s Give Your Gun and Go to School programme attracted interest and support from the highest levels of the Spanish government. It was agreed that the Somali government is to formulate and submit a proposal to the Spanish development agency for consideration for funding towards this programme.
Armed confrontations leave 2 dead in Lower Jubba region
16 Jul- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 136 words
At least two people were on Tuesday afternoon killed in Shabelley village of Lower Jubba region after locals reportedly clashed with al Shabaab militants.
Iftin Hassan Basto who is one of the security officers of the Interim Jubba Administration confirmed the confrontations between al Shabaab and the locals to the media.
Basto said al Shabaab fighters in the area issued orders forcing locals to pay extortion money, an order locals refused to heed causing the armed conflicts between the two sides.
Meanwhile, al Shabaab fighters on Tuesday reportedly took three trucks ferrying goods on the road between Kismayo and Abdi Dhore village in Lower Jubba region by force. One of the truck owners who did not want his name to be disclosed confirmed the incident to Bar-kulan.
Somali PM calls on Saudi officials not to haste in ban decision against Somali camels
16 Jul- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio RBC- 273 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has called on the officials of the government of Saudi Arabia not to haste in imposing ban decision against Somali camels exported to the kingdom.
Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed strongly defended the health status and certification made through the process of screening and checking before any Somali owned livestock is exported to the outside countries.
“I have heard that rumors are being circulated these days claiming that the newly identified virus within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is suspected to be born from Somali camels. That is totally baseless and do not have any possible evidence,” Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed said.
Somali Government officials strongly insisted that such allegations were spread by foreign elements attempting to challenge the quality of Somali livestock and were used for the international media to jeopardize Somalia’s trade with the Gulf States.
“I call on our brothers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to be mindful and not to haste in any decision against Somali livestock,” he added.
He repeatedly said that Somali Federal Government will be ready to coordinate any health investigation toward this phenomena and to prevent future consequences on this matter.
Earlier, Somalia’s Minister of Animal Husbandry rebuffed the allegations in which he said was the latest attempt by the foreign elements against the quality of the Somali Livestock which is credited as the best in the world.
Livestock exporting remains as one of the biggest source of Somalia’s trade to the outside world and plays a vital role in the country’s Gross National Income.
Ethiopian PM assures Somaliland president that border will be reopened
16 Jul- Source: Somaliland Informer- 167 words
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi held discussions on Tuesday with a delegation from Somaliland led by President Ahmed Mohammed Mahmud. Mr. Solomon Abebe head of African affairs for the Foreign Ministry of Ethiopia told that it was a high level meeting.
The focus of the talks aimed at addressing the bilateral ties between the two allied and bordering countries. In a press statement issued from Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister stated that the two leaders held lengthy discussions and deeply talked about the concerns that Somaliland president discussed with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn that the border should be re opened.
Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn has agreed the appeal made by Somaliland president Mr. Ahmed Silanyo. The talks focused on security, trade and the dialogue between Somalia and Somaliland.
Mr. Hailemariam Desalegn has informed president Silanyo that he gave the green light and the go ahead to reopen the border. The two leaders reached a common understanding regarding the talks to be continued pertaining to the development of Berbera port.
Somalia to dispatch delegation on peace mission to Defow
16 Jul- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Goobjoog- 160 words
Somali federal government will dispatch a ministerial delegation to Defow village in Hiran region in an attempt to find solution to the clan militia conflicts in the area.
According to a press release from the office of the Somali prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, the prime minister held an emergency meeting with Somali cabinet over the crisis in the region.
The cabinet condemned the clashes between the two clan militias during the holy month of Ramadan and called on both sides to stop the warfare and resolve their differences through dialogue.
The prime minister said that a ministerial delegation will be sent to the area to work on ceasefire, begin reconciliation talks between the two sides and assess the humanitarian situation in the area.
Finally, the prime minister called on humanitarian agencies in the country to provide much needed assistance to those affected by the clan militia conflicts in the area.
Lafoole administration calls on federal government to solve crises in the area
16 Jul- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 131 words
The administration of Lafoole locality in Lower Shabelle issued warnings that the clashes in the region might affect the residents. The administrator of the locality Ibrahim Mohamed Guled stated that his administration will no longer tolerate individuals whom he described as instigators making efforts to create havoc in the area.
The administrator called the ministry of interior and federalism to intervene and solve crises so as to maintain the security of the region.
On the other hand Mr. Guleed sent appeal to international aid agencies to deliver emergency support to internal displaced people who reached Lafoole earlier this year.
Hundreds of families who fled from their homes in Lower Shabelle region clan clashes settled Lafoole and are in desperate conditions.
Intense clashes break out in Qoryoley
16 Jul- Source: Radio Shabelle- 111 words
A fierce and violent conflict erupted on the outskirts of Qoryoley district in Lower Shabelle between joint African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops and Somali National Army soldiers (SNA) against al Shabaab.
The terrorist insurgents attacked an SNA and AMISOM military position just outside Qoryoley when the battle initiated. Locals have told Radio Shabelle that the fight also affected towns in the district like Maanyo Mudug, Farhanle and Abdi Ali.
The Qoryoley district commissioner for Lower Shabelle region, Mohamed Haji Osman, said that the battle caused immense losses to al Shabaab insurgents. Despite the confrontation last night, the atmosphere around the district is relatively calm according to local residents.
Somaliland Military Holds Journalist in Military Custody
16 Jul – Source: RBC/Radio Bar-kulan – 97 words
Units of Somaliland military arrested Adam Mohamed Karaama a correspondent of the banned UK based Universal Television, in the Sool region and took him to military custody, according to journalists and local media reports.
According to Mohamed Shaqale, “the journalist was detained by the military and his whereabouts is not yet known.” Adding, they knew he was taken to military custody for questioning.”
Somaliland authorities did not comment the arrest of the journalist, but journalists believe that the journalist was arrested in connection with a recently published story that accused Somaliland military of killing civilians outside Las-Anod.
10 arrested in Jowhar for failing to comply with night time curfew
16 Jul- Source: Radio bar-kulan- 118 words
At least ten people have been arrested in Jowhar town, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region for accusations of not complying with recently imposed night time curfew in the area.
Eyewitnesses in Jowhar told Bar-kulan that the ten were arrested in various neighborhoods of the town after allegedly failing to comply with the night time curfew.
Officials in Jowhar town imposed dawn to dusk curfew on the residents in the town two nights ago but failed to give specific details regarding the length of the curfew.
The new order called on residents to remain indoors from dawn to dusk and threatened anyone who fails to comply with the new order to face full force of the law.
Somaliland parliament urges reporters to avoid airing tribal news
15 Jul – Source: Somaliland Informer – 180 words
The Standing Committee of Somaliland’s Upper House of parliament (Guurti) informed independent media to shun the dissemination of tribal news that may incite acrimony among the public. This was revealed in a meeting between the members of the standing committee of the house of Elders on Tuesday. They urged reporters to do all they can to not broadcast and publish or air news concerning clans leveling accusation against each other.
They were told that they should censor news and avoid unethical information to be passed onto the public through the media. It is the time that the reporters and media outlets should focus on development news rather than concentrating on news that may divide the nation and may lead to hostility among the public.
It is urged that all should be held responsible for news that is intended to instigate violence or havoc among the public that is enjoying a period of stability and peace. Media reporters must be informed that the nation needs to be united and to work together for making possible that the public solidity must be strengthened.
AMISOM Spokesperson Col. Ali Aden Houmed press briefing to update the media on the situation around the country
16 Jun- Source: AMISOM- 953 words
The situation around the country remains fairly calm. Regrettably last week, there was an attack at Villa Somalia, the quick reaction force comprised of both Somali security forces and AMISOM responded and foiled the attack.
AMISOM continues to work closely with the Somali Security Forces in the on-going security stabilization operations in the country to ensure the safety of the civilians especially during the holy month of Ramadhan.
AMISOM supporting the Government remain committed to defeating al Shabaab during the course of this year and call upon the Somali people to play a part in this process. Ultimately, sustainable peace in Somalia will be a product of the collective will of the Somali people.
Al Shabaab vows to intensify attacks in Mogadishu
16 Jul- Source: Radio Shabelle- 84 words
Sheikh Ali Mohamed Hussein (Ali Jabal), a senior al Shabaab official, said that the terrorist organization will continue to stage attacks in Mogadishu. The al Shabaab representative for Benadir region, Sheikh Ali Jabal, strained that the government’s security initiative to strengthen security at iftar times has failed and that the government are incapable of anything. The short statement by Ali Jabal comes at a time when there is an increase in assassinations in the capital city Mogadishu.
Deputy Head of Mission tours AMISOM basecamp
15 Jul- Source: AMISOM-163 Words
The Acting SRCC-Honorable Lydia Wanyoto Mutende took a tour of the Mission Headquarters within basecamp to appreciate herself of the living conditions of AMISOM troops. During the tour, the Acting SRCC also inspected United Nation Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) especially in the area on the ongoing construction of accommodation and Guard Towers for AMISOM forces.
Earlier in the day, Mutende received in her office the Special Representative of the European Union for Somalia-Ambassador Michele Cervoned’Urso. The two held consultations on matters of mutual interest with regard to support for the Federal Government of Somalia in line with their mandates focusing on support for military expansion.
The Acting SRCC also chaired a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP) regarding support by the United Nations presence in Somalia to non-United Nations Security Forces in Somalia. The Joint Working Group which consists of AMISOM and UNSOM was also attended by the Deputy UN SRSG for Somalia-Ambassador Fatiha Serour.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Reveal death toll from Somalia war, says Raila
16 Jul – Source: Daily Nation/Standard Media – 127 words
Cord leader Raila Odinga has asked the government to disclose the number of Kenyan soldiers killed since the beginning of the military campaign against al Shabaab in Somalia three years ago.
“KDF soldiers are dying in Somalia. We only see coffins arriving in Kenya each day but they have not revealed the number of our fallen soldiers to date,” Mr Odinga said.
He and other Cord leaders have in recent weeks been demanding that the government recall the soldiers in the wake of terrorist attacks in parts of the Coast, Nairobi and northern Kenya.
Mr Odinga has also dared the government to arrest him and other Opposition politicians if it had evidence linking them to the recent Lamu and Tana River attacks in which 87 people have died.
France, Uganda vow to combat terrorism
16 Jul – Source: Daily Monitor – 131 words
The French government has applauded Uganda for demonstrating “operational capabilities” on frontiers in Somalia and the Central African Republic and reiterated its support in the fight against terrorism which it said is a threat to basic human rights.
French Ambassador to Uganda Sophie Makame said the principle of liberty which the French Revolution aimed at is challenged by extremist groups who pretend that building a new order is imposing their order, irrespective of people’s identity.
She was speaking on Monday at the occasion of the 225th French National Day, marking the storming of Bastille-a medieval fortress and prison in Paris which represented the despotic monarch.
The storming of Bastille was one of the key highlights of the 1789 French Revolution which gave birth to the principles if liberty, equality and fraternity.
Parents pay bribes to release kids in Eastleigh
16 Jul- Source: Star-Kenya- 648 words
CLAIMS of police extortion have emerged in the wake of Operation Usalama Watch, but officers have denied any wrongdoing. This follows the release of the report by the Independent Police Oversight Authority indicating that though well-intentioned, the operation did not adhere to statutory requirements, rules and procedural regulations and violated human rights.
The report, released on Monday said the operation was marred by bribery allegations. Residents yesterday said since the operation began, they have known no peace as police have used it as an excuse to profile, harass, brutalize, and extort money from them.
However, Starehe-Pangani OCPD Barasa Wabomba denied the claims. “To the best of my knowledge these claims are false. But this is not to deny it completely, because there are some people who are masquerading as police officers in Eastleigh and are extorting unsuspecting members of the public,” he said.
Yemeni-Somali cooperation sides discussed
15 Jul- Source: Yemen News Agency-58 Words
Deputy Foreign Minister ambassador Amir al-Aidaroos discussed here on Tuesday with Charge D’affaires of the Somali embassy in Sana’a Hussein al-Soufi mutual relations and cooperation aspects of the two brotherly countries.
During the meeting, al-Aidaroos handed over a letter to the Somali official from Foreign Minister Jamal al-Salal to his Somali counterpart, dealing with the Yemeni-Somali bilateral relations.
Al Shabaab infiltration of Somali government raises new security alarm
15 Jul- Source: Sabahi Online-932 Words
Somali citizens and analysts are taken aback by the revelation that a man working inside the Villa Somalia presidential compound helped al Shabaab pass through several checkpoints when the militant group attacked the complex last week.
The government revealed it arrested the man, Hassan Muhiyadin Hassan, after he was slightly injured in the attack. In an interview with government-run Somali National Television (SNTV) on July 10th, Hassan, who worked for Hormuud Telecom’s base transmitter station at Villa Somalia, admitted to having worked for al Shabaab for almost two years.
Hassan told SNTV that he helped gather information on potential al-Shabaab targets in Mogadishu, such as hotels and government buildings, and he gave information to al-Shabaab regarding the losses sustained by the government whenever al Shabaab carried out a terrorist attack. Hassan said he was recruited by his brother-in-law, Abdirasaq Said Ibrahim, who he knew was a member of al Shabaab.
3 Kenyan crew members missing after ship hijacked off Somalia coast
15 Jul- Source: Sabahi Online- 157 words
Three Kenyans are still missing after their merchant ship was reportedly hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Secretary General of the Seafarers Union of Kenya Andrew Mwangura said he was worried about the fate of the hostages after they received conflicting reports about their safety. “We were told they were on their way home but this doesn’t sound true. Rarely do crew [members] abandon their ship and cargo,” he said, adding that the pirates will not release the hostages without ransom.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Djibouti Will Deploy Battalion of Troops to Somalia by Year-End
16 Jul- Source: Bloomberg- 370 words
Djibouti plans to deploy an additional battalion of troops to Somalia to bolster the existing 1,000-strong force it has in the war-torn country, Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said.
The soldiers will help consolidate gains made by Djibouti’s armed forces in Somalia’s central Hiraan region, Youssouf said in an interview yesterday from the capital, Djibouti. Its troops have captured the districts of Buuloburde and large parts of Beledweyne from al-Qaeda-linked militants, he said.
“We need that strengthening,” Youssouf said by phone. “In a few weeks time, we should deploy 450 troops and then another 500 a couple of months later.”
Djiboutian forces are part of the 22,000-strong personnel under the command of the African Union that is battling an insurgency by al Shabaab Islamist militants in Somalia. Djibouti is boosting its contribution to the multinational army after suspected members of the militia attacked a restaurant in Djibouti in May and killed a Turkish national and injured “several” other foreigners, according to Agence-France Presse. It was the first suicide bombing in the country’s history.
Kenya back in court over Somali refugee roundup
16 Jul- Source: Trust/Reuters-405 Words
Rights groups are helping Somali refugees to appeal a high court ruling that allowed Kenya to send 100,000 refugees living in urban areas to overcrowded camps, while 29 police officers involved in mass arrests in a Somali-dominated neighbourhood may face prosecution for abuse.
On June 30, the high court dismissed a petition brought by 10 Somali refugees challenging the government’sMarch 25 order that all urban refugees be taken to camps due to “emergency security challenges”.
Amnesty International is one of the advocacy groups providing legal assistance to the Somalis.
“The lawyers at the moment are preparing their grounds for appeal,” Amnesty researcher Gemma Davies told Thomson Reuters Foundation after the appeal was filed on Friday.
Kenyan police have arrested thousands of people without identity documents in the capital’s Somali-dominated suburb of Eastleigh following a blast in the area on March 31 that killed six people.
Somalia firing squad executes al Shabaab members for nurse’s murder
16 Jul- Source: rfi.fr- 220 words
A Somali firing squad has executed two men found guilty of murdering Nafisa Osman, a nurse working in a foreign-funded clinic, officials and relatives said Tuesday.
Somalia’s military court sentenced Hassan Salman and Shafi Abdi to death by firing squad for the murder of Nafiso Osman, who was a nurse at a Turkish-funded clinic in Mogadishu.
“The military court found that the two men had deliberately killed Nafiso Osman,” the court chairman, Liban Ali Yarow, told RFI.
Abdikarim Ali, a relative member of Nafiso Osman told RFI by phone that the two men broke into her parents’ home in the middle of the night equipped with pistols and forced her to follow them, later shooting her several times in the chest and head.
Exclusive: U.N. monitors allege ‘conspiracy’ to divert Somali assets
15 Jul- Source: Reuters-1122 Words
A United Nations panel that monitors compliance with U.N. sanctions on Somalia has accused the country’s president, a former minister, and a U.S. law firm of conspiring to divert Somali assets recovered abroad, according to a new report.
The Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group, an 8-person committee, disclosed the findings in a confidential report to the U.N. Security Council’s Somalia/Eritrea sanctions committee. Reuters reviewed a copy of the 37-page document.
The U.N. Monitoring Group said the information it has gathered so far “reflects exploitation of public authority for private interests and indicates at the minimum a conspiracy to divert the recovery of overseas assets in an irregular manner.”
Most of the overseas assets were frozen at the outset of the civil war in 1991 and include cash and gold held in banks during two decades of chaos and conflict in Somalia, as well as government properties on foreign soil.
Kenyans fleeing to prison for safety in Lamu
15 Jul- Source: BBC- 228 words
“I am really scared,” says James Kamua who comes with his family every night to sleep at Hindi Prison in Kenya’s coastal region. He joins dozens of other families who stream into the compound to seek protection as the sun sets, afraid of suspected Islamist-linked militants who have been attacking towns in the area since June. I don’t know what my family will eat, all my crops have been stolen and the little that was left has been destroyed by monkeys”. The gunmen have now begun targeting villages and harvesting produce in the fields to steal food.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
But the IPOA did not mention the greatest failure of ‘Operation Sanitization’ – it failed to catch a single member of al Shabaab! The sweep did catch a few undocumented refugees who were deported back to Somalia. But was it worth alienating a whole community just for that? ‘Operation Sanitization of Eastleigh’ was a total flop. It was unethical, incompetent and ineffective. We cannot defeat terrorism like this.
Operation Eastleigh was a total failure
15 Jul- Source: Star-Kenya-203 Words
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority released a damning report into the police sweep in Eastleigh that began in April. ‘Operation Sanitization of Eastleigh’ was supposed to flush out al Shabaab operatives from a predominantly Somali suburb of Nairobi.
Instead the IPOA uncovered a catalogue of errors and corruption. Confusion in command resulted in some buildings being searched multiple times and some not being searched at all. The regular police, administration police and GSU were all involved but failed to coordinate their activities.
Police started extorting money and releasing ‘suspects’ for between Sh1,000 and Sh20,000. Hundreds of Somalis were detained in overcrowded cells with no sanitation for long periods. The constitutional right to be released or charged within 24 hours was ignored.
“The two Somali candidates know one big challenge facing the Somali community in St. Cloud — housing, especially for families whose size is more than eight.”
Letter: It’s good to have Somali candidates for council
15 Jul- Source: St. Cloud Times-173 Words
As a St. Cloud resident and an immigrant, I am proud to see increasing Somali immigrant contributions to the St. Cloud community and American growth. It excites me to see Somali-Americans who are running for St. Cloud City Council. This is the first time members of the Somali community have run for any public office in this community or around St. Cloud. In addition, the Somali community is growing faster in St. Cloud.
Abdul A. Kulane is running in Ward 1 and running against incumbent Dave Masters and Darrell Bruestle. Kulane is a well-known community organizer and active community member who is the founder of Language Bank. Kulane moved to the United States nine years ago and graduated from St. John’s University. Kulane told me he will bring a new perspective and change.
“In the United States, banks must have proof that the company receiving the remittance knows its customer and can validate the identification of the person picking up the cash. Because of the lack of formal financial services in Somalia, and the absence of other infrastructure (the country transitioned from an interim to permanent government just two years ago), it’s difficult to verify the identification of those receiving money.”
Somalia: Facing Drought with Fewer Remittance Lifelines
15 Jul- Source: CFI Blog-531 Words
Somalia is facing another potentially life-threatening drought. Aid agencies in East Africa indicate a strong possibility that drought in 2014 will be as severe as that of 2011, which resulted in the deaths of about 260,000 people. But this year, Somalia’s people may not be able to count on a trusted lifeline in times of drought: remittances from the United States and other countries. Remittances from the United States to Somalia are responsible for roughly $214 million annually, but increasingly, U.S. regulators are imposing a string of service provider shutdowns. If these services are constrained, the effects of a drought on Somalis will likely be exacerbated.
The reason for this challenge for cash flows between friends and family across the Somali diaspora? Regulatory issues centering on the risk of these remittances funding potentially dangerous individuals. In 2011, for example, two Somali-Americans from Rochester, Minnesota were convicted of supplying cash to the terrorist group al Shabaab. Such incidents prompt often sweeping regulatory action and/or preemptive actions by banks to avoid transactions involving Somalia.
The global network providing cash transfers to Somalia is known as hawala, meaning transfer in Arabic. The system, which functions both in conjunction with and outside of formal services channels, primarily serves the Middle East, North Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia 1/ The #AMISOM Police component will continue to train, mentor, monitor and advice the #Somali Police Force (SPF) pic.twitter.com/3FEMVdRhoY
@UNLazzarini Thanks to $1.4m @UNCERF donation@UNICEF & @WHO can vaccinate 520,000 children against measles http://bit.ly/1jr86OT pic.twitter.com/mBYMme6Jdp
@OCHASom Video clip: Aid workers visit Lower Shabelle in#Somalia to assess the community’s living conditions –http://vimeo.com/unsom/review/
@OxfamInSOM Sign this petition to ensure that lifeline of money from #Somalis in the USA continues to flowhttp://chn.ge/1lQoRlg pic.twitter.com/xZ3775j0Kj
@savechildrenuk 11-year-old Fartun Adam in Ethiopia, taking part in our education programme for Somali refugees.#IAmMalala pic.twitter.com/GJXeXS2CjC
Image of the day
#Somali Foreign Minister Abdirahman Beileh visits #RealMadrid’s Estadio #Bernabéu pix via @hiiraan #Spain #Somalia. Photo: @AlinoorMB