October 17, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Dozens arrested in fresh security swoop in Barawe town
16 Oct – Source: Radio RBC/ Radio Muqdisho – 170 Words
Somali government forces backed by the African Union Forces [AMISOM] are continuing heavy security swoop in the town of Barawe weeks after the town has fallen for the joint forces.
Lower Shabelle governor Abdukadir Nur Siidii said the security swoop was carried by the joint forces on Thursday morning aiming to eradicate if there were some Al Shabab hideouts in the town. “The security forces carried the latest security operation meant to assure that Barawe is safe for the civilians.” the governor said “At least one dozen of young suspects were arrested. We are now questioning them.” he added.
Barawe town has been the Al Shabab’s stronghold and safe haven for its top leaders including the foreign fighters for almost six years. The town has fallen for Somalia forces backed by the African Union Forces two weeks ago.
Key Headlines
- Somalia asks Kenya to hand over convicted pirates (Radio Ergo)
- Information minister concerned about targeted killings of Somali journalists (Bar-kulan/Mustaqbal radio)
- Acting PM called for the Somalis to work with the country’s security forces (Radio Dalsan/Radio Muqdisho)
- More than 30 suspects arrested over Mandera governor’s convoy attack (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Burdubo farmers complain of high fuel prices poor harvest (Radio Ergo)
- Dozens arrested in fresh security swoop in Barawe town (Radio RBC/ Radio Muqdisho)
- Radio Ergo journalists among media award winners (Radio Ergo)
- Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for café bombings (Sabahi Online)
- Somalia anticipates liberation of more al-Shabaab-Controlled areas (mfa.gov.et)
- Somalia on the brink once again (Reliefweb.int)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia asks Kenya to hand over convicted pirates
16 Oct – Source: Radio Ergo – 289 Words
The Somali Federal Government is hoping Kenya will agree to transfer 122 convicted Somali pirates from Kenyan jails back to Somalia.
Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, Mohammed Ali Nur, told Radio Ergo in a special interview that if an agreement is reached, over 122 convicted Somalis serving prison terms in Mombasa for piracy related offences would be repatriated to Somalia to serve out the remainder of their sentences in Somali prisons.
Some of the pirate prisoners are serving jail terms of between 5 and 20 years, the ambassador said. They are complaining of bad living conditions in the Kenyan prisons and have requested to be transferred back to Somalia. “I visited them in a Mombasa prison recently. Some of them are recovering from injuries they sustained on the high seas, others have got bullets in their bodies and need surgery, while others are suffering from illnesses like diabetes and hypertension,” the ambassador said.
He added that the Somali embassy was pushing hard to get an agreement with the Kenyan government soon. Relatives of some of the pirate prisoners had also been pressurising the embassy to speed up the process of bringing the convicts back.
Speaking about the repatriation process of Somali refugees in Kenya, meanwhile, the ambassador told Radio Ergo that negotiations were moving on smoothly and that the Somali government, in collaboration with international aid agencies, was engaged in improving social services and security in areas liberated from the Al-Shabaab militant group, before the start of any repatriation exercise.
He said thousands of Somali refugees had voluntarily returned to their country with the help of the embassy in Nairobi, which had issued travel documents for them. Many others had approached the embassy and were willing to go back home.
Information minister concerned about targeted killings of Somali journalists
16 Oct – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Mustaqbal Radio – 142 Words
Somali minister for information Mustaf Ahmed Duhulow has said the federal government of Somalia is concerned about the increasing cases of targeted killings meted against innocent Somali journalists.
Speaking exclusively to Bar-Kulan radio in Nairobi Mr. Duhulo said the federal government will put in place mechanism to cap the serious threat posed to the media practitioners in the country.
He acknowledged that long civil war in the country has contributed to the dangers facing Somali journalists in their daily reporting activities. Somalia is one of the dangerous environments for Journalists to operate after Syria and Iraq.
Last Sunday TV journalist was shot and wounded in an attempted murder. Two journalists lost their lives in the hands of unknown assailants this year in Somalia. Right groups have faulted both the government and the Al Qaida linked militant group Al Shabaab of targeting journalists.
Acting PM called for the Somalis to work with the country’s security forces
16 Oct – Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Muqdisho – 141 Words
The acting PM who is also the Minister for National Security Hon. Khaliif Ahmed Ereg condemned the recent terror acts in Mogadishu.
Addressing the media, Hon. Ereg said after Al Shabaab were defeated in the war fronts, they turned to target the people and the public places. “Firstly, on behalf of the government and on behalf of myself, I hereby send condolence message to the Somali nation especially the families whose innocent members were affected by the series of heinous acts carried out by the peace spoilers,” Hon. Ereg said. He also requested from the members of the public to report any suspicious activities to the security forces.
Hon. Ereg requested from the owners of business premises where members of the public meet in large numbers to be alert so that the enemy cannot harm the people there and their property.
More than 30 suspects arrested over Mandera governor’s convoy attack
16 Oct – Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 215 Words
At least 35 suspects have been arrested in connection with an attack on Mandera governor convoy on Wednesday.
Mandera County Police Commander Noah Mwivanda said the suspects are under interrogation in connection to the latest blast on Mandera. “We are carrying out a vetting exercise to identify the bandits behind the Wednesdaymorning attack. “We carried out a swoop in which we have arrested 35 people and a special team is screening the suspects,” Mwivanda in Mandera.
He said arrests were prompted by the fact that no one was seen running away from the scene. “We expect to zero in on the perpetrators because nobody was seen by the people around the scene running away immediately after the explosion,” the county police chief said.
The Mandera governor faulted the police failure to provide a single report of the four attacks that have been aimed at him. “The police have not provided any single report after I have escaped death four times within Mandera, I want them this time round to produce a report on this one,” Roba told journalists.
Burdubo farmers complain of high fuel prices, poor harvest
16 Oct – Source: Radio Ergo – 193 Words
Irrigation farmers in Burdubo district have complained of poor harvest during the past few months, citing drought, conflict and high fuel prices as the main causes. The district has not received enough rainfall this rainy season, and fighting near the district had caused fuel prices to go up.
One of the local farmers, Dirham Sheikh Ali, told Radio Ergo that soaring fuel prices were driving up the costs of running tractors and pumping irrigation water. Roads to the town are cut due to the conflict in the region between the Somali government troops and Al-Shabaab militant group.
Radio Ergo’s local reporter said that fuel is being brought to the area on donkey carts from Luq district, which is 85 km from the town. One litre of diesel is selling at $2.5 in Burdubo, while the same sells at $1 in Luq.
The farmers also have to pay three million Somali shillings to hire tractors for land preparation and cleaning canals. This is three times higher than the cost of tractor hire costs in places not affected by the violence. Farmers warned the situation could get worse if no rains were received soon.
Dozens arrested in fresh security swoop in Barawe town
16 Oct – Source: Radio RBC/ Radio Muqdisho- 170 Words
Somali government forces backed by the African Union Forces [AMISOM] are continuing heavy security swoop in the town of Barawe weeks after the town has fallen for the joint forces.
Lower Shabelle governor Abdukadir Nur Siidii said the security swoop was carried by the joint forces on Thursday morning aiming to eradicate if there were some Al Shabab hideouts in the town. “The security forces carried the latest security operation meant to assure that Barawe is safe for the civilians.” the governor said “At least one dozen of young suspects were arrested. We are now questioning them.” he added.
Barawe town has been the Al Shabab’s stronghold and safe haven for its top leaders including the foreign fighters for almost six years. The town has fallen for Somalia forces backed by the African Union Forces two weeks ago.
Radio Ergo journalists among media award winners
17 Oct – Source: Radio Ergo – 193 Words
Twelve Somali journalists have won awards in the UN-sponsored 2013 Somali Media Awards for their coverage on developmental and humanitarian issues in the country.
The awards, which recognize professionalism in the Somali media industry, were launched last year by the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and Somaliland Journalists Association (SOLJA), in partnership with UNDP, UNFPA, OCHA and UNESCO. Dozens of radio, newspaper and online media journalists submitted their stories for consideration. The entries were judged by an independent panel of judges.
Awards were given for winners from South-central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland (treated as three separate areas for the awards purpose) in each of four categories – Gender, Children and youth, Access to basic services and Investigative journalism.
Three Radio Ergo reporters, Yusuf Ahmed Keynan, Ali Nor Farah and Mohamud Abdi Dirshe, were among the award-winners in south-central. Keynan’s story on “Women’s Role in Farming” won in the Gender category, while Dirshe’s “Public threatened by unregulated medical profession” won in Access to basic services. “The award is a way of recognising and encouraging our contribution to the nation,” said Radio Ergo’s Nor Ali Farah, who was winner in Youth and children category.
Somalia and Germany discuss cooperation
17 Oct – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 104 Words
The federal governments of Somalia and its German counterpart have discussed how to improve ties between the two states. National security minister Khalif Ahmed Ereg and German ambassador to Somalia Andreas Peschke who meet in Mogadishu on Thursday have discussed how to strengthen the diplomatic ties between the two states.
Somali minister for planning Said Abdullahi who spoke to the media after the meeting has thanked the federal government support to his country saying they are committed in the rebuilding of the war torn country.
Several European countries have resumed their diplomatic relations with Somalia after normalcy has returned mainly in the capital Mogadishu.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for café bombings
16 Oct – Source: Sabahi Online – 636 Words
Five civilians were killed and 14 others injured Wednesday (October 15th) when a car bomb detonated in front of Panorama Café in Mogadishu’s Hamar Weyne district, the second such attack carried out by the militant group in three days.
Al-Shabaab spokesperson Abidaziz Abu Musab said the group will continue targeting venues frequented by employees of the Somali government. “A few hours ago al-Shabaab fighters killed officers [fighting against Islam] who were followed and killed in the middle of the capital,” Musab said Wednesday night according to Somalimemo, a website that supports al-Shabaab. “It will not be possible for you to be safe in your homes and in the rest of the city while you imprison Muslim civilians and sell our people to the infidels,” he warned.
Somalia anticipates liberation of more al-Shabaab-Controlled areas
16 Oct – Source: mfa.gov.et – 221 Words
Somalia defense official told reporters that Somalia’s government expects to liberate areas still controlled by al-Qaeda-linked militants within the next six months. The Somalia National Army, backed by African Union forces, seized the port town of Barawe, 220 kilometers south of the capital, Mogadishu, on October, 5 after meeting little resistance from the al-Shabaab insurgent group.
State Minister of Defense Mohamed Ali Haga said, “we believe it will take the remaining months of this year and the first few months of next, maybe the first three to four months of next year, to liberate the rest of the areas.” Al-Shabaab has been in retreat in Somalia since its fighters were forced to withdraw from the capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011 after a series of military defeats.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia on the brink once again
17 Oct – Source: Reliefweb.int – 335 Words
Somalia is once again under the brink of another humanitarian catastrophe, says aid agency, World Vision International. The organization raised the red flag today over a severe drought as well serious food and water shortages that are having life-threatening consequences on over 3.2 million people in the country.
“We are extremely concerned that the figures have increased by 20% over the last 6 months. Sadly 218,000 children are now severely malnourished,” said Francois Batalingaya, World Vision’s Country Director in Somalia. “The world must act now and let it not forget that it waited too long for the famine that killed thousands in 2010 to occur.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Al-Shabaab invoke an obsolete apostasy law in their fight against Somali government officials and soldiers as well as civilians working for the government, who the radicals accuse of abandoning Islam simply because they oppose the extremists’ out-dated draconian version of Sharia.”
A new booklet on apostasy in Islam has rattled extremist Somali clerics
17 Oct – Source: Daily Nation – 694 Words
It’s not often that we hear of a battle of ideas between reformist Muslim scholars and fundamentalist clerics of Somalia, who are fighting tooth and nail to silence the voice of moderation and reformation.
A booklet titled Xadka Riddada Maxaa ka Run Ah? (Is there punishment for apostasy in Islam?) published in Nairobi, is a scholarly treatise dealing with the contentious issue of apostasy in Islam and what punishment, if any, is prescribed by Islam.
The author, Abdisaid Ismail, is a Somali scholar, who studied Economics and Islamic Religion at a university in Saudi Arabia. He has done extensive research on the issue of apostasy in Islam and freedom of religion, and concluded that Islam does not prescribe the death penalty for apostasy, and that freedom of religion is clearly enshrined in Islam.
“Four Somalis hijack a charter plane in Seychelles and hold hostage an American crew doing some “60 Minutes”-style reportage for a cable news network. Among them: has-been star journalist Frank Saltzman.”
‘Default’ a hostage thriller that demands little attention
17 Oct – Source: Los Angeles Times – 150 Words
Default tosses plenty of buzzworthy ideas into the mix, but at its heart it’s a run-of-the-mill hostage thriller, spruced up as found footage with Somali pirates.
Four Somalis hijack a charter plane in Seychelles and hold hostage an American crew doing some “60 Minutes”-style reportage for a cable news network. Among them: has-been star journalist Frank Saltzman.
“The following are some critical issues that Somali-Americans in Minnesota are eyeing. The first and foremost of these is access to resources. From health to education to economy of scale to information, the community will have a case to argue and promote come November 4.”
Somali-Americans: why your vote matters on November 4
17 Oct – Source: RBC Radio – 740 Words
The other day, I got an email from a stranger. The header of the message said this: “Can minorities get their votes counted on?” At first, I was terrified by the naked truth behind this question. However, it wasn’t until one hour later that I summoned my courage to compose an answer. What made my understanding worse was that I could not figure out the party affiliation of the sender.
And in so doing, you will keep democracy flourish by exercising your rights to vote. You do democracy a favor, a big one, in short. You co-own the liberty all enjoy. That is why “making democracy work requires informed and active citizens who voice their interests, act collectively and hold public officials accountable.”
Top tweets
@mfaethiopia #News: #Somalia anticipates liberation of more Al-shabaab Controlled areas.http://www.mfa.gov.et/
@omabha Fears black market will flourish as Aussie banks stop Somalia remittances – SBS http://dlvr.it/7Df4HT #Somalia
@Eye_on_Somalia #allAfrica Somali Ministerial Committee to Mediate Between Clans in Hiran Region: [Sabahi]The Somali …http://bit.ly/1wgaID5 #somalia
@amisomsomalia #AMISOM CIMIC team recently conducted a Medical Aid Program in Kismayo, Somalia. A total of 528 patients turned out
@Somalia_Focus #AMISOM continue security operations in newly liberated areas. @amisomsomalia @TheVillaSomalia@Somalia2016 @Ridwaanhaji
@lasoco Somalia and Germany discuss cooperationhttp://j.mp/1CuJcS3 #Somalia
@RefugeesMedia Reasons for the surge in arrivals include the ongoing drought in #Somalia as well as conflict, insecurity & lack of opportunities #Yemen
Image of the day
AMISOM’s CIMIC team recently conducted a Medical Aid Program (MEDICAP) in Kismayo, Somalia. A total of 528 patients turned out especially women & children below the age of 10.
Photo Credit: AMISOM