February 18, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Mogadishu: Security Operations Ongoing At Key Junctions
18 Feb – Mareeg Media – 144 Words
The Somali National Intelligence Services Agency this morning conducted security operations and cordoned off several key Mogadishu intersections and roads, particularly Maka Al-Mukarama and other roads. Masked NISA personnel were seen this morning at different roads and junctions, searching vehicles. The security operation took place in areas like Sayidka, Dabka, Shaqaalaha, and KM4 up to Benaadir in KM5. Benaadir junction has witnessed tough searching of all vehicles coming from Afgooye district of Lower Shabelle region. Security personnel have removed many people from vehicles whom they believed to be suspicious. The Deputy Prime Minister, Mohamed Omar Arte, addressing press yesterday about insecurity in Mogadishu directed the security forces to be vigilant and confront acts of terrorism.
Key Headlines
- Mogadishu: Security Operations Onoing At Key Junctions (Mareeg Media)
- Government Forces Capture Al-Shabaab Ring Leaders in Bakol (Radio Goobjoog)
- Unlawful Detention: Somali-American Languishes In Kenyan Prison (Sahal News)
- UK Diplomat Warns Against The Increase Of Somali Immigrants On Libyan Coast (Dalsan Radio)
- Somaliland Clan Militia Clash Near Buuhoodle (Garowe Online)
- Somali Government Forces Conduct Security Operation In Wajid (Radio Bar-Kulan)
- UN Team Reviews QRC Projects In Somalia (Peninsula Qatar)
- Soldier Who Killed Three Women Acquitted (New Vision)
- Muslim Leaders Concerned About Anti-Extremism Initiative (Washington Times/AP)
- Joe Biden Draws Criticism For Remark About Somali Cab Drivers (The Huffington Post)
SOMALI MEDIA
Government Forces Capture Al-Shabaab Ring Leaders in Bakol
18 Feb – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 130 Words
Government Forces in Bakol region claim that they have captured two Al-Shabaab ring leaders in a security operation. The Somali National Army head of operations in Bakol, Abdiladhif Mohamed Botan, told Goobjoog that they faced resistance in their operation from Al-Shabaab insurgents, but still managed to penetrate and capture important people. He names the captured suspects as Sheik Hassan Dhubow and Sheik Abdi Barow who he described as the main culprits in the outlawed organization. Al-Shabaab has yet to comment on the development. According to analysts, it could be a breakthrough as this would help destabilize Al-Shabaab cells in the region. Government forces in Bakol have been the hardest hit by the ongoing Al-shabab guerilla war which started after Al-Shabaab lost large swathes of territory.
Unlawful Detention: Somali-American Languishes In Kenyan Prison
18 Feb – Source: Sahal News – 222 Words
Kenyan security forces detained a Somali-American man in Nairobi for illegally staying in the country, SHL has learned. Mahdi Mawel from Seattle, who spends his eighth day in a Nairobi prison, contacted Somali Media houses from the prison saying he has received no support from US embassy in Kenya, which he said was supposed to back him in his legal challenges. “I’m in the jail with false charges of staying in Kenya while I have a visa issued to me by Kenya to enter the country,” he said. Somali reporters who visited the detainee in the prison confirmed he had his own legal papers including his passport and visa which is valid until April this year. In the court papers, his charges include that he’s a Somali national who entered in Kenya illegally, a charge he denies. The validity of his papers calls Kenya’s charges against him into question. Mr. Mawel’s arrest by Kenyan forces is part of a series of crackdowns against Somalis in the neighboring country which is trying to end deadly attacks by Islamist militants carried out in retaliation for Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia. During the crackdown, many illegal immigrants from Somalia were sent to overcrowded camps in Kenya, which accused of them of illegally staying in the country.
UK Diplomat Warns Against The Increase Of Somali Immigrants On Libyan Coast
18 Feb – Source: Dalsan Radio 130 Words
A British diplomat has warned against the increase of Somali immigrants across Libyan coast. Jonathan Powell who worked in former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s administration has said if the international community will not urgently intervene in the Libyan crisis, the world will witness a catastrophic increase in immigrants across Libyan coast via Europe. Thousands of African immigrants mainly from war ravaged countries such as Somalia have lost their lives while trying to reach Europe via the Libyan coast. Mr. Powell also expressed security concerns about the increasing number of immigrants trying to reach Europe via the North Africa and Italy. His concern comes as Italian coast guard rescued more than 200 immigrants near the island of Lampedusa.
Somaliland, Clan Militia Clash Near Buuhoodle
18 Feb – Source: Garowe Online – 143 Words
Somaliland forces and clan militias loyal to the self-declared administration of Khaatumo clashed in a brief battle near Cayn, the regional capital of Buuhoodle, according to local officials, Garowe Online reports. The fighting flared up after Somaliland troops began to enter Horufadhi village, which is situated a few kilometres away from Buuhoodle, seeking the capture of Khaatumo officials. Tensions remain high today, following stiff resistance Somaliland forces faced from armed clan militias on Tuesday afternoon. Somaliland and Khaatumo have fought sporadic battles, largely in the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag. In early 2012, Somaliland suffered major setbacks following the deadliest fighting in over two decades in Buuhoodle. Buuhoodle, a historic town in northern Somalia is a home to Dhulbahante clan which shares a kinship with Somaliland’s arch rival to the east, Puntland.
Somali Government Forces Conduct Security Operation In Wajid
17 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 107 Words
Somali security forces backed by AMISOM troops on Tuesday carried out a security operation in several neighborhoods of Wajid’s district in Bakol region, officials say. The operation was aimed at stamping out Al-Shabaab elements hiding amongst the locals in these neighborhoods, according to the area district commissioner, Hassan Adan Ali (Gardhuub). Ali told Bar-kulan that their forces nabbed five suspects in the operation. The suspects have been taken to the area’s police station where they are being interrogated. He said their administration received information pointing out that the militia group was planning to cause insecurity acts in the area.
REGIONAL MEDIA
UN Team Reviews QRC Projects In Somalia
18 Feb – Source: Peninsula Qatar – 297 Words
A United Nations delegation visited Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) headquarters to enhance cooperation and discuss issues of common interest. The delegation comprised Nicholas Kay, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, and Noboru Fernandes de Abreu, Special Assistant to Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia. They were received by Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Secretary-General, QRC, Hamad Al Fayyad, Communications Adviser, and Izedeen Elglal, Head, Africa Office, Relief and International Development Department, QRC. Al Mohannadi highlighted QRC’s relief and development interventions in Somalia on its own and in tandem with Qatari Charitable Alliance for Solidarity with the Somali People, culminating in an MoU with its Somali counterpart as a legal framework to execute humanitarian projects in the country.
Kay said the situation in Somalia has largely improved in terms of security, economy, health care, education and new jobs, thanks to cooperation between authorities, Qatar and UN agencies, including Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Unicef. Al Mohannadi stressed the importance of enabling local communities to return home and establishing productive projects for them, especially as the situation is improving in capital Mogadishu. He said QRC has implemented relief and development projects through its office in Somalia, the latest of which being the opening of a health centre in Awdheegle district, Lower Shebelle, in partnership with Qatar Charity.
Soldier Who Killed Three Women Acquitted
17 Feb – Source: New Vision – 498 Words
A UPDF soldier who killed three women including his domestic partner in Luzira, a Kampala suburb, has been set free by the appeal court of the army. He shot dead Irene Nakibirango and her friends – Zaina Nassolo and Loyce Kawendeke on December 10, 2012 at Kisenyi zone III in Luzira in Nakawa division. He also shot at Ali Bavawala, a man he accused of having an affair with Nakibirango, but he survived. Rwakihembo started seeing Nakibirango in 2011 when he was deployed at a military police detach near Kiseeka market in the city. Nakibirango was reportedly selling airtime cards near the detach by then.
Rwakihembo rented a house for Nakibirango in Nansana, a Kampala suburb, before he left for Somalia in 2011 to serve under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). Nakibirango informed Rwakihembo that she was pregnant with his child and he returned to Uganda after she had given birth to see the baby. The soldier left her with his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card to withdraw money to buy land and set up a piggery project in Mukono district when he returned to Somalia. Rwakihembo set up a hair salon and a boutique for Nakibirango in Luzira upon return from Somalia after the UPDF battle group under which he was deployed in Somalia was replaced by another. However, Nakibirango failed to account for sh13m she withdrew to buy land and establish the piggery project. She also reportedly told Rwakihembo that he was not the father of the baby.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Muslim Leaders Concerned About Anti-Extremism Initiative
18 Feb – Source: Washington Times/ AP – 139 Words
Some Minnesota Muslim leaders are raising concerns about an initiative to counter extremism in the Twin Cities. U.S. Attorney Andy Luger is leading a Minnesota delegation to Washington this week to share a strategy for empowering young Somali-Americans and fighting homegrown radicalization. Jaylani Hussein is executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Minnesota Public Radio News reports Hussein says Luger’s plan may be well-intentioned, but he says the top federal prosecutor in the state shouldn’t be leading the effort to expand social services. Luger’s office is separately prosecuting cases related to the recruitment of fighters for radical groups in Syria. Critics have objected to the pilot program to stem recruiting, arguing it risks stigmatizing Muslims and won’t be effective due to community suspicion of the government’s involvement.
Joe Biden Draws Criticism For Remark About Somali Cab Drivers
18 Feb – Source: The Huffington Post – 189 Words
Vice President Joe Biden drew criticism on Tuesday after he spoke about the Somali community in his home state of Delaware. During a White House roundtable discussion on the fight against violent extremism, Biden touted his relationship with Somali-Americans by noting that many of them drive cabs in Wilmington. “I might add if you come to the train station with me you’ll notice I have great relationships with them because there’s an awful lot driving cabs and are friends of mine,” he said. “For real. I’m not being solicitous. I’m being serious,” he added. Critics accused Biden of making insensitive comments that played to a racial stereotype. The vice president made a similar gaffe as Delaware senator in 2006 about the Indian-American community. “I’ve had a great relationship. In Delaware, the largest growth in population is Indian-Americans moving from India. You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking,” Biden said. A request for comment with the vice president’s office was not immediately returned. Watch Biden’s remarks above.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“She declared that she disowned her musical heritage and career that spanned nearly 50 years during which she had become one of the most respected and most admired female singers of the Somali people. She also made an appeal to her fans not to listen to her music; seemingly oblivious to the fact that her music as a national heritage, was the collective product of song writers, musicians, public resources, and the audience who engaged with it and endowed it with its real value and longevity.”
A Jihad Against Somali Music in the Land of Freedom
17 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online – 2, 403 Words
While Daesh was burning the Jordanian pilot alive, Boko Haram creating killing fields in the villages and towns of Nigeria and neighboring countries, and Al Shabab was executing Somali women by firing squads for committing no other crime than being the weakest and most defenseless members of society, a group of Somali Mullahs itched to do something equally dramatic but fortunately less earthshaking, and due to circumstances could find no better cause than waging a jihad against Somali music in North America and Europe.
It seems these Mullahs, most of whom live in the West and enjoy the freedoms guaranteed to them by the secular laws of their adopted countries could not see the barbaric and heinous crimes committed in the name of Islam by the terrorist groups as repulsive actions that deserve their wrath and condemnation but instead found their noble duty in strangulating Somali music. In what seems to be a well defined plan of division of labor, they assumed the role of the fifth column of Al Shabab by carrying out covert operations of spiritual purification while the terrorist militias were doing the physical slaughtering. Their aim is to obliterate the collective memory of the Somali people and the most treasured common heritage of all Somalis and indeed humanity at large; their voice.
Top tweets
@Mogadishuevents: #Somalia’s President, H.E. Hassan, meets with H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, #Ethiopian Prime Minister in#AddsAbaba. @DrTedros @DrTedrosA
@MareejoXaamud Sad thing about Bidens comment regarding Somali-american cab drivers is that his admin is preventing them from feeding relatives in #Somalia
@amisomsomalia: As part of its community engagement, AMISOM Civil Affairs unit donated an assortment of non-food items to the population in Bula-Gaduud town
@UNLazzarini In Hodan, #Mogadishu, internally displaced Zahra Abdi can now access clean water due to water project@OxfamInSOM: http://bit.ly/1CCWTRn
@ASSIYYA: We need to stop commending people for being mediocre in this country #Somalia
@UNLazzarini “2015 should be the year of federalism and delivery,”SRSG Nick Kay on #Somalia’s perspectiveshttp://bit.ly/1vcwMvi @Somalia111 @UNSomalia
@NadiraMahamoud A new midwifery school in #Somalia is making the country safer for pregnant women. http://ow.ly/J9gip
@UNSomalia · @UN team reviews @QRCS projects in#Somalia http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/
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