October 13, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali president urges business community to invest in the country
13 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 183 Words
The President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has on Saturday officially opened the International Bank of Somalia (IBS), which will work with the internationally acknowledged banking systems.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged the business people both in the country and abroad to invest in the country that is reviving from more than two decades of civil war. The opening ceremony of International bank of Somalia was attended by states minister for finance of federal government, minister for reconstruction, vice chairman of Central bank of Somalia, Banadir governor and mayor of Mogadishu, Somalia chamber of commerce, businessmen and other invited guests.
All the officials who spoke at the ceremony lauded the businessmen who opened the Bank and described them as role model who brought home international bank that can ease the business activities in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, the chairman of the bank said the bank will work according to internal banks as it has swift code. He added that the bank will focus on improving the economic resources of the country such as agriculture and livestock.
Key Headlines
- IJA and AMISOM claim victory over clashes in Bula-Gadud (Radio Goobjoog)
- Bosaso Residents celebrate partnership with Minneapolis (Horseedmedia)
- Torrential rains destroy houses (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somali president urges business community to invest in the country (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somalia President Mohamud: we will dismantle Al-shabab before 2015 (Radio RBC)
- President Hassan due to open national judicial reform conference (Radio Goobjoog)
- Uganda: President Museveni of Uganda Speaks about the fall of Barawe (Radio Dalsan)
- Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed condemns the attack in the capital
- AMISOM forces told to guard against sexual abuse (New vision)
- Blast rocks Somalia’s capital killing at least 10 people police say (CNN Online)
- Interview: Somali President says relationship with China “has never been cut” (Xinhua Online)
- Kenya’s Eastleigh back to life after terror attacks police swoop (China.org)
SOMALI MEDIA
IJA and AMISOM claim victory over clashes in Bula-Gadud
13 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 165 Words
The security forces of interim Juba administration together with AMISOM troops, Kenyan defense forces have claimed victory over a clash with Al-shabab in Bula-Gadud of Lower Juba region on Sunday evening.
One of IJA security officials Hassan Shideye speaking to Goobjoog FM confirmed that the allied forces destroyed military vehicles and weapons after attacking the bases of Al-shabab in the area.
The officer added that the security operations will be not confined to Bula-Gadud and surrounding places but the forces will advance to every area under the control of Al-shabab group in the region. The joint forces have been conducting security crackdown in the region in bid to take over Jilib district.
In recent weeks Kenyan war planes have carried out air strike targeting Al-shabab bases and training grounds in Jilib district which is a major stronghold of the group in Lower Juba region. Al-shabab declined to give comment about the clash in Bula-Gadud.
Bosaso Residents celebrate partnership with Minneapolis
13 Oct Source : Horseed media -256 words
Residents of Bosaso city in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland celebrated on Saturday a sister city partnership with Minneapolis which was established last week.
A new relationship between the cities of Bosaso in Somalia and Minneapolis, USA, was born after it was passed unanimously by the committee of Intergovernmental relations of Minneapolis local council.
The new relationship that is of great cultural significance, was made possible by a convergence of efforts by Somali Community members who hail from Puntland in Minneapolis. Hassan Abdalla, the mayor of Bosaso town welcomed the new partnership and thanked every party who worked on its possibility.
“The creation of this partnership went through different phases and at last it was established…. It carries very many different benefits for both cities and residents,’’ he said. The benefits of being a sister city are that educational, economical and cultural ties enhance cultural understanding, tourism and educational and job opportunities, said one of the Bosaso local elders.
“We are looking forward to exchange difference experiences with the Minneapolis residents,’’ said one of the residents. Located in Northeastern Somalia on the Gulf of Aden coast, Bosaso is the third largest city in the country and it is the economic heart of Puntland State with a major seaport.
The sister city program which was formed by former U.S president Dwight D. Eisenhower, is a non-profit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between communities in the United States and those in other countries, particularly through the establishment of “sister cities”.
Torrential rains destroy houses
13 Oct – Source: Radio Dalsan – 101 Words
Nearly 200 families’ houses were destroyed by the torrential rains of last night. Those houses were in Kaaraan in Mogadishu.
Ibrahim Mohamed Ali who is one of the victims told Dalsan that more than 200 families’ houses were destroyed and are homeless at the moment. He said during the rains, good Samaritans came to the rescue of the victims and those good Samaritans rescued children who would other be swept away by the floods.
He appealed to the government to assist the people whose houses were destroyed by the rains as they are currently on an open field near Fagax Junction.
Somali president urges business community to invest in the country
13 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 183 Words
The President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has on Saturday officially opened the International Bank of Somalia (IBS), which will work with the internationally acknowledged banking systems.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged the business people both in the country and abroad to invest in the country that is reviving from more than two decades of civil war. The opening ceremony of International bank of Somalia was attended by states minister for finance of federal government, minister for reconstruction, vice chairman of Central bank of Somalia, Banadir governor and mayor of Mogadishu, Somalia chamber of commerce, businessmen and other invited guests.
All the officials who spoke at the ceremony lauded the businessmen who opened the Bank and described them as role model who brought home international bank that can ease the business activities in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, the chairman of the bank said the bank will work according to internal banks as it has swift code. He added that the bank will focus on improving the economic resources of the country such as agriculture and livestock.
Somalia President Mohamud: we will dismantle Al-shabab before 2015
12 Oct Source : Radio RBC -130 words
The president of the federal republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud speaking to Chinese based media house stated that his government will dismantle Al-shabab, the terrorist network group in Somalia, within 2014.
President Mohamud stated that the current ongoing offensive against the militants is meant to weaken Al-shabab’s presence in south and central regions of Somalia and they will be defeated before 2015.
Al-shabab has lost several key towns including the Middle Shabelle strategic coast town of Barawe after Somali national army allied by African Union troops waged heavy campaign on the militants.
“Government’s plan is to defeat or dismantle Al-shabab before this year (2014) ends, and we are up to it”, Said President Mohamud. Al-shabab has been recently losing ground in south and central Somalia.
President Hassan due to open national judicial reform conference
13 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 65 Words
The president of the republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to officially open national judicial reform conference in Mogadishu on Monday. The conference organized by the ministry of Justice and constitution is aimed at restructuring country’s judicial system. The meeting is scheduled to continue for three days at Jazeera Hotel, a heavily guarded hotel near Mogadishu’s Adan Adde international airport.
Uganda: President Museveni of Uganda speaks about the fall of Barawe
13 Oct – Source: Radio Dalsan – 96 Words
The Ugandan President Yuweeri Museveni discussed the improving security situation in Somalia and the recent fall of the Al shabaab strong hold of Barawe. He was addressing people at the 52nd Independence Anniversary of Uganda at Kololo area in Kampala.
Museveni discussed the role of UPDF in AMISOM and he mentioned the fact that AMSIOM recently captured Barawe.”We need the Somali brothers to improve the vision of Pan Africanism so that they can direct their country towards the right path,” said Museveni. He added that SNA and AMISOM managed to restore peace in Somalia.
Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed condemns the attack in the capital
13 Oct – Source: Dalsan Radio – 130 Words
Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed presently on an important visit to Puntland sends his deepest condolences to the family, friends of all those who were killed last night following the car explosion in front of the Aroma Café in Mogadishu.
The Prime Minister said: “on behalf of the Somali Federal Government, I am sending heartfelt condolences to the family, friends of all those civilian victims on the day Somalia was celebrating its National Flag 60th anniversary. I strongly condemns this criminal act which took the life of innocent customers and pedestrians and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”
“This cowardly attack will not derail the progress made in Mogadishu and across Somalia. The security agencies will investigate and ensure that those who carried out this attack face justice.”
REGIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM forces told to guard against sexual abuse
11 Oct 2014 – Source: Newvision.com – 337 words
Soldiers serving and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have been told to guard against sexual abuse and exploitation in the course of their duty. Ambassador Maman Sidikou, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, sounded the warning on Saturday.
“AMISOM is duty-bound to diligently respect and implement the mandate entrusted to the mission by the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) and authorized by the United Nations Security Council in line with applicable policy guidelines on gender and human rights,.” She said at a workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Professor Ali Mazrui is dead
13 Oct – Source: Standard Media – 178 Words
Scholar and political writer Professor Ali Mazrui has died in the United States. Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar and Governor Hassan Joho confirmed the death and declared preparations to bury him in Mombasa were underway. Joho said the Coast region had lost a great man, a scholar, academic professor of Islamic and African studies. “My friend Professor Ali Mazrui, your intellect amazed the world.” He added. Prof Mazrui died on Sunday night.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Blast rocks Somalia’s capital, killing at least 10 people, police say
13 Oct – Source: CNN Online – 217 Words
A car packed with explosives blew up outside a popular restaurant in Somalia’s capital Sunday evening, killing at least 10 people, police said. Fifteen others were wounded in the blast in the heart of Mogadishu, senior Somali police Officer Farhah Aden said. He said the death toll could rise, since many of the victims were seriously injured. The car was parked at the gate of the Oromo restaurant before it was detonated, Aden said. The hotel is popular with Somalian government officials and is just a few kilometers from the country’s parliament compound.
Somali President says relationship with China “has never been cut”
12 Oct – Source: Xinhua Online – 646 Words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Saturday praised the bilateral relations between Somalia and China as long and historical and has never been severed since diplomatic relations between the two nations was established.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Mogadishu, the Somali leader said that ties with China “has always been there” and that it was the insecurity that had prevented Chinese diplomats from operating in Somalia.
Kenya’s Eastleigh back to life after terror attacks, police swoop
13 Oct – Source: China.org – 736 Words
Abandoned businesses, empty streets and police security checks were what many encountered when they visited Eastleigh, a commercial hub on the outskirts of Nairobi, capital of Kenya, that is mainly inhabited by the members of the Somali community, sometime in May.
The operation, which saw over 300 immigrants rounded up and deported back to Somalia, has been dubbed successful in the fight against terror. However, it seriously affected trade, leaving Eastleigh a pale shadow of its former self as some of those deported were running businesses in the suburb. It is about five months since the operation was concluded, and Eastleigh has sprung back to life. The suburb is once again bustling with humanity, and business is booming.
Somali start-up, SomAir, eyes domestic, international flights
13 Oct – Source: www.ch-aviation.com – 32 Words
SomAir is a Somali start-up owned and managed by local businessmen. Unveiled earlier this year, the airline intends to offer domestic and international flights.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The concept is to create a positive alternative to these extremists,” Bihi said. “I’m in competition with these recruiters. They want my kids.”
Somali American fights to keep kids from militant recruiter
12 Oct – Source: The Seattle Times – 1, 153 Words
More than two dozen young Somalis have left the Twin Cities to join Islamic radicals across the Middle East and North Africa. Keeping Somali youth safe in their U.S. home has become the volunteer calling of a man who already has lost his nephew.
For seven years, youth leader Abdirizak Bihi has waged a personal battle against an elusive foe: religious extremists using sophisticated online tactics to lure young Somali Americans abroad as militant foot soldiers and suicide bombers. Many of those idealistic volunteers are dead now, including Bihi’s nephew.
“As the African Union, we are trying as much as possible to support the government…The support from the international community in terms of funding, increased international flights and remittance from Somalis in the diaspora are indications of major improvements and trust in the country’s governance and commitment to keeping the peace. Our hope is that Somalia will realise its dream of holding elections in 2016.”
The solution to Somalia’s problems will be a good model for continent
11 Oct – Source: The East African – 1, 036 Words
Amisom’s deputy head of mission LYDIA WANYOTO MUTENDE was in Nairobi recently for a workshop themed: Somalia Towards 2016 and Beyond, at the invitation of the Institute of Security Studies. FRED OLUOCH spoke with her on Amisom’s recent gains and its future role once the Al Shabaab militia are defeated, as well as preparations towards Somalia’s 2016 elections.
Top tweets
@SomPundit I believe if we as Somalis are to prosper we have to educate, Protect & honor our girls / women coz they’re basic unit of a nation #somalia
Somalia111 Tonight’s bomb in #Mogadishu a despicable reminder of need to keep up work to eliminate terrorism in#Somalia. Sincere condolences.
@bunmimakinwa Admirable courage. leadership by #SomaliaPresidentMohamud who defied assassination bid and visited newly recaptured port town of #Barawe.
@martinplaut Somalia Expects Liberation of al-Shabaab-Controlled Areas by May http://bloom.bg/1z0KnML
@tumofa #Somalia China reopens embassy in Mogadishu after 23 years hiatus. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/
@farka20 The #Somalia flag was adopted on this day- 60 years ago! The 5 pointed white star of unity represents the 5 regions
Image of the day
President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh at official opening ceremony of International Bank of Somalia in Mogadishu on Saturday.
Credit :Somali Chamber Of Commerce & Industry