September 9, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali President, PM strongly denounce al Shabaab suicide car bomb outside Mogadishu

09 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC/SNTV – 184 words

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed strongly condemned the suicide car bomb by the al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab outside Mogadishu on Monday.

The suicide car bomb which meant to target a convoy of African Union peacekeepers left at least 14 dead, mostly civilians after two passenger minibuses were hit with the suicide car which was loaded with explosives and drove by a suicide man. At least 31 others were wounded in the attack among them three AMISOM soldiers and two international military advisers.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud described the attack as ruthless and only increased al Shabaab desperate acts against civilians. “Al Shabaab has now gone and In Allah’s wishes they will be soon held accountable for their massacring our civilians.” President Mohamud said.

On his side Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said as the joint forces destroy the enemy, they target the civilians. “I call the Somali people to be united and stand against these ruthless militias, they will never exist so long so let us root out them from our lands.” the Prime Minister added.

Key Headlines

AMISOM condemns suicide attack in the outskirts of Mogadishu (AMISOM)
Somali President PM strongly denounce al Shabaab suicide car bomb outside Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu)
Federal Government of Somalia is concerned by Human Rights Watch allegations (OPM)
The African Union strongly rejects the Conclusions contained in the Report of the Human Rights Watch on allegations on sexual exploitation and abuse by AMISOM (AU/AMISOM)
Uganda military refutes sexual exploitation allegations in Somalia (Coastweek/ Xinhua)
Road between El-bur and Dhusamareb now open for the public (Radio Bar-kulan)
One dead in clan clashes near Jowhar (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Kulmiye)
Taking Back Somalia: Amisom Forces Conduct Daily Patrols In Baidoa (CCTV Africa)
Somali traffic police target cars with tinted windows in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan)
Hiiran administration to deploy security forces to newly captured areas in the region (Radio Goobjoog)
UN deploys explosives-risk education teams in Somalia (Shanghaidaily/Xinhua)
African Union to take action after probing rape claims against AMISOM troops (Daily Nation)
Somaliland VP set to attend conference aimed at addressing investment opportunities (Somaliland Informer)
FM Assistant Minister: Aid agencies from Arab countries will soon reach the country (Radio Goobjoog)
Al Shabaab claims deadly Somalia bombing (Al Jazeera/VOA)
Somali Rebel Leader’s Death May Spur Shift to Islamic State (Bloomberg)
Somalia: UN envoy lends support to state formation process in south-west regions (UN News Center)

PRESS STATEMENT

AMISOM condemns suicide attack in the outskirts of Mogadishu

09 Sept – Source: AMISOM – 166 words

The Acting Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia condemned the twin vehicle-borne suicide attack around Lafoole and Elesha Biyaha in the outskirts of the Somali capital Mogadishu which claimed the life of 16 innocent civilians and wounded many more in the latest callous attacks by al Shabaab.

“AMISOM condemns today’s suicide attacks in the strongest terms possible and wishes to send its sincere condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones in the attacks and wishes the wounded a quick recovery” said the acting SRCC Hon. Wanyoto adding that “al Shabaab has declared war on civilians by explicitly targeting unarmed people and we wish to inform the public, these terrorists will fail as they have failed before.”

Somali National Army and AMISOM peacekeepers are fighting side by side in the ongoing Operation and have already jointly liberated 4 key towns in Bakool, Hiiran and Lower Shabelle region in an operation to weed out al Shabaab from their last hideouts.

Federal Government of Somalia is concerned by Human Rights Watch allegations

09 Sept- Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 226 words

The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia H.E Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed notes with concern the grave allegations of sexual exploitation made by Human Rights Watch in their report on the conduct of AMISOM peacekeepers.

The government condemns all forms of abuse against the Somali people and remains committed to ensuring perpetrators of any crime against its civilians are brought to justice.

The government will lead a rigorous and prompt investigation into the allegations with all stakeholders and necessary action will be taken as required. Respect for human rights and protection of the most vulnerable communities, especially women and children remains a key pillar of peace support operations and uniformed personnel must maintain the highest levels of integrity and discipline at all times.

The Somali government continues to engage with AMISOM and its troop contributing countries on the conduct of soldiers and will assert its rightful role in the supervision of investigative procedures and establishment of effective frameworks that govern engagement with civilians.

“Somalis deserve a life free from terror and indignity; all partners must remain committed to this aspiration and we welcome all stakeholders to play their implementation, oversight and watchdog roles,” said Prime Minister Abdiweli while reiterating the government’s commitment to an objective, fair and just process in dealing with the allegations.

The African Union strongly rejects the Conclusions contained in the Report of the Human Rights Watch on allegations on sexual exploitation and abuse by AMISOM

08 Sept- Source: AU/AMISOM- 1229 words

The Commission of the African Union (AU) is concerned by the report entitled “The Power These Men Have Over Us: Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by African Union Forces in Somalia”, issued today by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The Commission takes note of the allegations contained therein. These allegations will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate measures will be taken if they are found to be true, through the relevant mechanisms that have been developed by the AU to prevent and respond to issues of misconduct and abuse in peace support operations, in accordance with the AU’s zero-tolerance policy on this matter.

The Commission would also like to emphasize that these allegations do not define the character, organizational culture and management of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), currently one of the largest peace support operations in the world. Accordingly, the portrayal of the Mission and the general conclusions drawn from the allegations against it, as reflected in the title of the HRW report, constitute a misrepresentation of the sacrifices, achievements and genuine commitment of AMISOM and the Troop and Police Contributing Countries (TCCs/PCCs), in support of the people and the Federal Government of Somalia in their quest for sustainable peace, security, stability and reconciliation. In 2014 alone, AMISOM recovered more than 14 new areas from the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Al Shaabab, and opened up Main Supply Routes (MSRs) for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to areas that had been unreachable by humanitarian agencies for extended periods of time.

The Commission notes with deep concern the imbalance, inaccuracies and partial view contained in the HRW report. In this respect, the Commission would like to highlight the following points:

(i) Firstly, the HRW report uses a small number of cases to arrive at a generalized conclusion. The HRW report claims that it has documented 21 alleged cases of sexual exploitation and rape. It further states that a single soldier carried out most of these acts. The generalization contained in the report does not reflect the highest professional standards with which the overwhelming majority of AMISOM uniformed personnel have continued to discharge their responsibilities.

(ii) Secondly, it is contradictory that the HRW makes sweeping general assertions about AMISOM culpability yet admits that its research did not exhaustively interrogate the scale and prevalence of these allegations. Furthermore, it would have been extremely helpful for HRW to present, even if in confidence, important facts and evidence to the senior leadership of the AU Commission and indeed to AMISOM, who would then have been in a position to conduct an in-depth investigation into this matter. This request was made by AMISOM in a letter to HRW on 3 June 2014, and there was an opportunity to fulfill this request during a meeting between the AU Commission and HRW on 5 September 2014. HRW’s failure to engage constructively with AMISOM and the AU Commission regarding the disclosure of evidence of wrongdoing, despite the AU’s willingness to do so, undermines the spirit of cooperation that would ensure the prevention and response to such allegations, in an effective manner.

(iii) Thirdly, the HRW report lacks coherence in its account of AU’s efforts to prevent and respond to SEA allegations in the Mission area. On one hand, the report argues that AMISOM leadership overlooks allegations of sexual misconduct. On the other hand, it makes mention of ongoing efforts to tackle allegations by citing the case of the deployment of a Ugandan Divisional Court Martial within Somalia to deal with SEA allegations. The HRW report also alludes to the fact that a Ugandan soldier is facing a court martial in Uganda for a sexual offence committed while serving in Somalia.

The Commission also notes with regret the factual inaccuracies of some of the claims made in this report. For instance, the HRW report states that all AMISOM staff, including locally-recruited Somalis, are immune from prosecution for criminal acts committed in their official capacity and that, as such, no action is taken against alleged perpetrators of rape and SEA. In this regard, the AU would like to stress that immunity is conferred only with regard to civil matters involving AMISOM personnel, including AMISOM national staff. The Commission takes strong exception to the insinuation that persons allegedly involved in SEA and rape are afforded official protection for such crimes. The HRW report ignores tools and mechanisms such as the Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA) signed between the AU Commission and the Somali Government and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the AU and TCCs/PCCs that contain provisions that address issues relating to transgressions.

The 2012 Report by an Independent Panel of Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, which was constituted by the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in Geneva, departs from the assessment and conclusions of the HRW report regarding AMISOM compliance with the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. Specifically, the Experts’ report notes that “Regular training of AMISOM forces on humanitarian and human rights laws had yielded positive results, including in regard to the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence” (A/ HRC/21/61, 13 August 2012, paragraph 20).

The Commission would like to use this opportunity to re-iterate that internal mechanisms have been established to prevent, mitigate and discipline personnel that may have committed sexual exploitation and abuse in AMISOM and in other AU’s peace operations. These preventive measures include pre-deployment training for all AMISOM uniformed personnel before their deployment into the Mission area. Robust training packages cover SEA, gender-based violence, obligations with regard to International Humanitarian Law, International Human Rights Law and International Refugee Law, amongst others. Such training also includes AMISOM Military Rules of Engagement and Police Guidelines on Use of Firearms as they relate to women, children and other vulnerable groups. This training is conducted in conjunction with the United Nations.

Other preventive measures include: release of Force Commander’s Directive on Conduct of Military Actions; in-Mission refresher training covering the same subjects and/or recent developments on the same; establishment of Gender Focal Points in the various contingents; development of a conduct and discipline capacity in the Peace Support Operations Division of the Peace and Security Department of the Commission; and the strengthening of AMISOM Human Rights, Protection and Gender Unit.

AMISOM has also established mitigating measures such as the institution of a Board of Inquiry (BoI), at both contingent and headquarters levels, and the establishment of a Disciplinary Board, especially where there are alleged cases of sexual harassment by AMISOM national and internationally recruited personnel.

These existing mechanisms are being enhanced further to ensure greater effectiveness and accountability. In this respect, the Commission welcomes some of the HRW recommendations that could be considered as part of AU’s efforts to strengthen existing mechanisms. The introduction of in-country divisional Court Martials in Somalia by all TCCs/PCCs, finalization of the SEA policy document and enhanced information sharing between the TCCs and the AU Commission on prosecutions will be given due consideration.

The Commission wishes to reiterate its appreciation to all the TCCs/PCCs, as well as to the AMISOM civilian personnel and leadership, for their huge sacrifices and unwavering commitment to support the FGS and other Somali stakeholders, in their efforts to bring about lasting peace, security, stability and reconciliation in Somalia.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali President, PM strongly denounce al Shabaab suicide car bomb outside Mogadishu

09 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC/SNTV – 184 words

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed strongly condemned the suicide car bomb by the al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab outside Mogadishu on Monday.

Road between El-bur and Dhusamareb now open for the public

09 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 143 words

Local administration in El-bur district of Galgadud region has confirmed that the road between El-bur and Dhusamareb districts is now open for the public. The road was previously blockaded by al Shabaab.

Speaking to Bar-kulan, Somali government commissioner in El-bur district, Nur Hassan Gutale said that the security of the area is now much better saying locals in Dhusamareb and El-bur districts can now use the road for their own business activities and other purposes.

He added that there are other ongoing military operations currently being carried out by Somali security forces aimed at removing other illegal roadblocks in the area.

Meanwhile, the commissioner said he expects the opening of the road will enable relief agencies to deliver much needed aid to the internally displaced families from recent military offensive in the area.

One dead in clan clashes near Jowhar

09 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog/Radio Kulmiye- 149 words

Heaving fighting between two clans broke out in Maandheere locality 15 KM South East of Jowhar district, the headquarters of Middle Shabelle region. The two clans reportedly clashed on Monday following an argument about ownership of farmland in the area.

The clash has left one person, a woman dead and six others wounded during the fierce fighting between the two clans. It is the first time such heavy clash to occur in Maandhere locality though similar clashes on land dispute that has claimed the lives of many people took place in middle Shabelle region.

November last year a similar clash between two clans in Gedo Barkan area near Jowhar has left at least 18 people dead and 20 others wounded, the fighting occurred a time when president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Jowhar district to assess the damages of river Shabelle flood.

Somali traffic police target cars with tinted windows in Mogadishu

09 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-kulan-129 words

Somali traffic police have launched security operations to enforce recent orders from the traffic police, banning the use of cars with tinted windows in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Somali traffic police commander Gen. Ali Hirsi Barre said in an interview with Bar-kulan that targeting cars with tinted windows is part of enforcing orders released by the traffic police earlier this month.

Barre added the traffic police have already started to remove tints from vehicles in the capital to enable traffic police easy access to look inside the car and ask for driver’s license when required.

He further urged car owners and drivers to use license plates to assist traffic police officers carry out their duties as they strive to maintain peace and security on the roads in the capital.

Hiiran administration to deploy security forces to newly captured areas in the region

09 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 149 words

The administration of Hiiran region in Central Somalia stated that new security forces will be deployed in the newly captured areas of the region.

Senior official of Hiiran administration Mohamed Ibrahim said the forces are meant to maintain the security of the areas taken over from al Shabaab by the allied forces.

Mr. Mohamed underlined that the government forces are in hot pursuit of individuals who organized suicide attack aimed at Jalalaqsi district commissioner. A famous elder in region was killed during the suicide attack in the region, no one has claimed the responsibility of the attack.

Similar suicide attack aimed at AMISOM convoy in Mogadishu- Afgoye highway has killed over 15 people on board of two minibuses and more than twenty others wounded during the attack are being treated in Madina hospital.

Somaliland VP set to attend conference aimed at addressing investment opportunities

09 Sept – Source: Somaliland Informer – 133 words

Somaliland’s Vice President Abdirahman Abdilahi Ismail Saylici has departed from the country on Monday and revealed that he is about to attend a conference that Somaliland received its invitation.

The summit is also supposed to attend by 8 presidents from the West Africa and is focused on investment.

The conference is about to kick off in the UAE and Mr. Saylici has stated that the meeting is due to be attended by investors and further went o n to say that they will explain the unrecognized horn of Africa nation that is ready to receive investment and is open for business.

Mr. Saylici has further stated that it is an opportunity that Somaliland will not let to pass by and will remain committed to spell out the undisclosed opportunities in Somaliland.

FM Assistant Minister: Aid agencies from Arab countries will soon reach the country

09 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 191 words

The federal government of Somalia announced that humanitarian aid agencies from Arab countries will soon reach the country to support the Somali people hit by the severe drought and conflicts.

Foreign affairs assistant minister of federal government of Somalia Mahad Salad told the media after the conclusion of Arab League foreign ministers meeting in Cairo that the Arab countries are committed to assist and deliver emergency support the desperate families in all regions of Somalia affected by the severe droughts.

Mr. Mahad added that there are other countries that are ready to lend a hand to the people faced with humanitarian crisis in the region.

The assistant minister also said that the federal government has encouraged the humanitarian aid agencies to come to the country and see the situation and the realities on the ground Somali people currently face.

The assistant Minister has attended Arab League foreign ministers meeting concluded in Cairo, the ministers agreed to impose all necessary measures to combat the Islamic State fighters and to cooperate with international and regional efforts to fight terrorist groups.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Uganda military refutes sexual exploitation allegations in Somalia

09 Sept- Source: Coastweek/ Xinhua-165 words

The Ugandan military has denied accusations against its peacekeeping troops that they sexually exploited vulnerable women and girls in Somalia.

Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, the military spokesman said in a statement issued here that the claims in a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released on Monday were baseless and asked the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to investigate the claims urgently.

“Somali government has not at any one moment complained to AMISOM about alleged sexual harassment,” said Ankunda. “Can a peacekeeper in an APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) start a conversation with a Somali woman and get to sex?

“AMISOM should quickly respond to these allegations and AMISOM should investigate these allegations urgently,” he added.

African Union to take action after probing rape claims against AMISOM troops

09 Sept- Source: Daily Nation- 399 words

The African Union (AU) has said it will investigate claims that its troops are sexually abusing women in Somalia. In a statement Tuesday, AU said it is concerned by the report by a human rights group on the conduct of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) troops.

“These allegations will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate measures will be taken if they are found to be true, through the relevant mechanisms that have been developed by the AU to prevent and respond to issues of misconduct and abuse in peace support operations, in accordance with the AU’s zero-tolerance policy on this matter,” a statement posted on Amisom website read.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released on September 8, 2014 accused the joint forces of sexually abusing and exploiting vulnerable Somali women and girls on their bases in Mogadishu.

Al Shabaab claims deadly Somalia bombing

08 Sept – Source: Al Jazeera/VOA – 114 words

At least 12 people, including four Americans, were killed and 27 others wounded when a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle packed with explosives into an African Union convoy southwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

The attack, the latest in a wave of violence, comes exactly one week after a US air strike killed the chief of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group, prompting threats of retaliation from the group.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack that took place near the town of Afgoye, about 30km northwest from Mogadishu. Two soldiers from AMISOM – the African Union Mission in Somalia – were wounded in the attack, the local governor said.

Al Shabaab’s attacks in Somalia: analysis

08 Sept- Source: Al Jazeera- 2:07 mins

Al Shabaab has carried out its first attacks since the group’s leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, was killed in US air strikes last Monday. At least 12 people were killed in double car bombings near the capital, Mogadishu. Al Jazeera’s Hamza Mohamed who specialises in Sub-Saharan Africa discusses the armed group and its attacks in Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali Rebel Leader’s Death May Spur Shift to Islamic State

09 Sept- Source: Bloomberg- 618 words

The death of Somalia-based al Shabaab’s leader may plunge the militants into a power struggle over switching allegiance to Islamic State from al Qaeda, analysts including Matt Bryden of Sahan Research Institute said.

U.S. special forces on Sept. 1 used manned aircraft and drones to kill al Shabaab chief Ahmed Abdi Godane, 37, who led the group since 2008 and claimed responsibility for the attack on a Kenyan mall a year ago that left at least 67 people dead. Regional leaders hailed the strike in Somalia as the latest step forward in eliminating the Islamist group, which is trying to establish a state ruled by Shariah, or Islamic law.

An “internal leadership rift is likely” as al-Shabaab members “have been questioning Godane’s alliance with al Qaeda and agitating for some time for a switch to” the Islamic State, Bryden, a former head of the United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, said by phone yesterday from Nairobi.

In a radio speech broadcast two days ago, al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Musab pledged loyalty to the group’s new leader, Ahmed Omar, who is known also as Abu-Ubeydah, and vowed to avenge Godane’s death.

Taking Back Somalia: Amisom Forces Conduct Daily Patrols In Baidoa

08 Sept- Source: CCTV Africa-02:01 mins

Staying with Somalia and in our continuing series.Amisom’s Ethiopian forces fighting in southern Somalia say their peacekeeping efforts are not just duty – but a service to the Somalis. They have helped drive out al Shabaab from at least six major towns and are now stationed in ten locations. At their main operational base in Baidoa, daily patrols are done to possibly stop the militants from continuing to raid and recruit.

Somalia: UN envoy lends support to state formation process in south-west regions

08 Sept – Source: UN News Center – 132 words

The top United Nations official in Somalia urged political rivals in the south-western part of the country to take another step towards peace and stability with the establishment of a new interim regional administration.

“I urge those who remain outside the process to support the agreement and contribute to building a federal Somalia,” the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nicholas Kay, said during a visit to Baidoa.

He is in the area to support the Federal Government and local efforts to establish a new interim administration which would comprise regions of Bay, Bakool, and Lower Shabelle.

“All parties should continue their work constructively and peacefully, and avoid any actions that might undermine peace and security,” noted Mr. Kay, who is also the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

UN deploys explosives-risk education teams in Somalia

08 Sept- Source: Shanghaidaily / Xinhua -250 words

UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) said on Monday that it has deployed 20 teams of local explosives risk educators to work in newly recovered areas in south and central Somalia.

Each team consists of one male and female facilitator selected from various localities in south central Somalia, received a two- week training course about how to deliver Explosives Risk Education (RE) messages to their home communities in areas newly retaken from Al-Shabaab militants.

The teams were also trained in first aid, leadership and reporting to enable them to deliver messages in areas contaminated with unexploded bombs and dangerous stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, UNMAS said in a statement.

UNMAS Somalia said the team will “work across South and Central Somalia and deliver training to promote safe behaviour amongst those living in contaminated areas”.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Besides the risk of fragmentation and internal conflicts tearing al Shabaab apart, the new leader may also not be able to step into the shoes of his former boss well, said J. Peter Pham, an expert on African security at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank.”

Somalia’s Islamist al Shabaab at risk of splintering

09 Sept- Source: Al Arabiya English-733 Words

The killing of Somali Islamist group al Shabaab’s leader by a U.S. airstrike earlier this week could foment in the movement internal conflicts and eventual fragmentation, experts say. But despite the White House hailing Ahmed Godane’s killing as “a major symbolic and operational loss” for the al Qaeda linked group, on Monday, just hours after the group pledged allegiance to its new leader, Ahmed Umar, at least 12 civilians were slain in two car bombings that targeted African Union troops and Somali security forces.

The attack was the first such strike by al Shabaab after it had vowed revenge for the killing of its leader. But with Godane’s death, the main threat to the organization in now internal, U.S.-based intelligence firm Stratfor said on its website.

“The removal of Godane as the main decision-maker in al Shabaab could result in another shift in tactics or strategic focus for the organization, but the exact direction this shift will take depends heavily on which al Shabaab leaders are able to consolidate control over the group now,” it said.

“Somalia is often thought of as a semi-nomadic society with little focus on agricultural activities. Consequently, the petroleum and mineral sector has not been utilized. Lack of technical capacity and inadequate foreign and local investment also contributed to the lack of sector development.”

Somalia’s petroleum sector: opportunities and challenges

08 Sept- Source: Hiiraan Online-915 Words

The strategic plan of the Somalia government is based on the six pillars that president Hassan Sheikh committed to as a way to reverse war torn Somalia back to theinternational community. In his six pillars, economic and development strategy is recognized as one of the factors that could potentially generate stabilization in Somalia, and it is this reason that petroleum and Mineral resources portfolio has been created to contribute to the government’s vision for 2016.

Somalia has abundant natural resources that can be sustainably exploited to generate economic growth and transform the country from predominantly being dependent on international community to self-sufficient country. However, the government recognizes that the economy has structural problems that resulted from more than 20 years of civil war and destroyed all infrastructures necessary for the government to function.

In light of this, the Ministry of petroleum and natural resources has taken steps to protect and promote the sector through the formulation of clear petroleum and mineral policy.

“The US airstrike that killed Ahmed Abdi Godane last week took out the mastermind of last year’s Westgate Mall attack. The new leader of the Somali militant group is largely unknown and may struggle to hold it together.”

Will Somalia’s al Shabaab hang together under new leadership?

08 Sept- Source: CS Monitor-532 Words

US airstrikes in Somalia that killed the head of al Qaeda’s East Africa affiliate, al Shabaab, could trigger a collapse of the terror group, analysts say. But in the short term the elimination of Ahmed Abdi Godane raises the risk of major new attacks.

The Pentagon confirmed Friday that Hellfire missiles and laser-guided bombs had killed Mr. Godane, one of Washington’s eight “world’s most wanted” terror leaders. “Removing Godane from the battlefield is a major symbolic and operational loss to al Shabaab,” Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon’s press secretary, said in a statement.

Under his guidance, al Shabaab, which started as a Somalia-based group seeking to impose sharia law in Somalia, adopted a more globalist agenda that culminated in the terror siege of a upscale Nairobi shopping mall in 2013. Now that Godane is dead, opinions are divided on whether his successor, the little-known Sheikh Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaida, will – or even can – continue to lead the group and stage more spectacular terrorist operations.

Top tweets

@IOM_news Fatuma, a fire victim at the IDP settlement in#Somalia receives emergency aid from IOM http://ow.ly/BgGgO pic.twitter.com/zle3yS2maX

@Payitforward87 Interesting study of Somalis and their genetic markers. 201 male Somalis researched.http://www.nature.com/ejhg/journal/v13/n7/full/5201390a.html …#Somalia

@Daudoo This man is NOT the #AlShabaab new leader, Abu Ubaidah, as claimed by some media outlets. – Shabab sources.#Somalia pic.twitter.com/wJQDK1Fbjh

@UNHCREgypt Fatima teaches her fellow #Somali women knitting and crochet as an income-generating skill in Cairopic.twitter.com/k8qM7FEwy8

@OCHASom Humanitarian needs in #Somalia remain vast. Adequate resources vital to sustain response. See latest funding update: http://bit.ly/1tmO9c5

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Image of the day

Image of the day A Somali soldier stands near the wreckage of civilian vehicle destroyed by a suicide car bomb attack near the Elasha Biyaha settlement, in the Lower Shabelle region south of the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. Photo: AP/ABCNews