March 24, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Galmudug State Sends Stern Warning To Illegal Fishing Vessels
24 March – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 162 Words
The Hobyo administration of Galmudug State has sent a stern warning to illegal fishing vessels telling them to refrain from fishing in Somali waters. The administration, which detained two fishing boats on Sunday, said that anyone caught fishing illegally will face the wrath of the law. Hobyo Deputy Commissioner Bashir Abdi Adow told Goobjoog that they also communicated to the countries these vessels originated from. He further said that Galmudug has coastal guards who are able to take the necessary measures against the illegal fishing boats. According to the deputy district commissioner, fishermen in the district have faced many challenges due to the illegal fishing in their area, and he said that this is some of the factors that led youth to be pirates. At least 7 illegal fishing boats from Iran and Yemen are believed to be in Somali waters, engaging in illegal fishing expeditions.
Key Headlines
- Galmudug State Sends Stern Warning To Illegal Fishing Vessels (Radio Goobjoog)
- Bill Could Boost Funding For Somali Youth (Minnesota Daily/Hiiraan Online)
- IJA Seeks Resettlement For Displaced Kudhaa Residents (Radio Goobjoog)
- Two Federal Govt Soldiers Executed For Civilians’ Murder (Garowe Online)
- In Last Minute Twist Dhusamareeb To Host Regional Formation Conference (Somali Current)
- Clan Clashes Erupt In Central Somalia (RBC Radio)
- Peace Agreement Signed In Dhusamareeb (Radio Bar-Kulan)
- Mandera Elders Dismiss Calls To Remove County Commissioner Over Insecurity (Daily Nation)
- Somalia ‘Overwhelmed’ By Illegal Fishing (Africa Review)
- ISIL Courts Al-Shabab As Al-Qaeda Ties Fade Away (Al Jazeera)
- ‘Shock’ And ‘Anger’ In Grand Forks After Racist Graffiti Targets Somalis (Inforum)
- President Obama Is Backing The Wrong Partners In Somalia (The Daily Caller)
- Somalia: What Has The Money Achieved? (The Guardian)
SOMALI MEDIA
Bill Could Boost Funding For Somali Youth
24 March – Source: Minnesota Daily/Hiiraan Online – 494 Words
State lawmakers want to lend additional support to Somali youth in Minnesota who may be at risk of gang violence, drug abuse and radicalization. A bill introduced this session would appropriate state money to Ka Joog, a nonprofit that focuses on reducing adverse experiences and increasing educational opportunities for Somali youth. The legislation would expand the afterschool program the Takeoff 4H STEAM Club, which Ka Joog runs in partnership with the University of Minnesota. In addition, the bill would allocate funding for Ka Joog to start a pilot program that would create internship opportunities and job readiness training for youth. “It’s all about getting youth engaged and involved and giving them the skills to be productive adults,” said Sen. Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, author of the bill. The bill, which has already passed two legislative committees, would provide $1.9 million over the next biennium to expand the partnership program between Ka Joog and the University to other cities in Minnesota.
Mohamed Farah, executive director of Ka Joog, said the proposed state funds would allow the program to reach other parts of Minnesota with large Somali populations, like Willmar, Rochester and St. Cloud. “We’ve had a lot of success in the Twin Cities, so we’re trying to take that where you have a high population of Somalis,” he said. Farah said Ka Joog was created in 2007 when a group of Somali youth met and discussed the problems their community was facing. “They wanted to create a foundation that does two things: One, get young people away from all negative influences, and two, put them in the right direction, which was and still is education,” Farah said. Jennifer Skuza, an assistant dean of the University’s Extension office, which helps run the program with Ka Joog, said the organizations partnered in 2014 to start the after-school program with funds from private and federal grants.
The program allows kids to meet daily and work on projects related to science, technology, engineering, the arts and math, she said. “On a given day, they’ll be working on an engineering project. They’ll be working on a performance arts project, so you’ll see a content focus to it, but also there’s time for young people to have some tutoring as well as some homework help,” she said. The program, which currently exists in Eden Prairie, enrolled 25 members, but there are many more on a waiting list, Skuza said. With current funding sources, Skuza said the University and Ka Joog will bring the after-school program to schools in St. Paul and Minneapolis starting this summer. Farah said the organization also wants to establish more of an international presence, and it’s currently opening locations in East Africa. “It’s not just in Minnesota, but it’s also working with the international community to make sure that young people are thriving everywhere,” Farah said. “In order to do the work that we’re doing, we can’t do it alone.”
IJA Seeks Resettlement For Displaced Kudhaa Residents
24 March – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 154 Words
The Interim Jubbaland Adminstration has vowed to move quickly to help displaced residents from Kudhaa to return to their homes after Alshabab was driven out of the island on Sunday. Many residents has fled the town late last year after Alshabab’s violent takeover, and later on engages in public beheadings to members of the public who were deemed to support the IJA forces. Salman Ahmed an official from IJA who spoke to Goobjoog on the phone said that the town is almost empty and they should work hard to convince the residents to come back. It’s believed that Alshabab has deliberately evicted the residents to cover up their alleged illegal activities in the town, which was their only access point to the sea. He further said that IJA and AMISOM troops would move on to other villages near the town to secure the surrounding areas from attacks.
Two Federal Govt Soldiers Executed For Civilians’ Murder
24 March – Source: Garowe Online – 162 Words
The Federal Government of Somalia’s military court executed two soldiers at police academy in Mogadishu for the murder of civilians on Tuesday morning, Garowe Online reports. As a result of a series of sentences unleashed on government soldiers and terror suspects, Abdirahman Isse Ahmed, 20 and Abdullahi Ali Abdi-two Somali National Army (SNA) soldiers who were convicted of killing three civilians in separate incidents were executed by firing squad with military court Chief Liban Ali Yarow presiding. Ahmed was found guilty of deliberately shooting the late Saed Dhiblawe Siyad in August 2012, while Abdi was convicted of gunning down Mohamud Hussein Abdi and Sahro Sheikh Omar, deputy prosecutor of the military court Abdullahi Hussein Mohamed told reporters at the scene of the execution. The execution of government soldiers marks the first to be carried out this year. Human Rights watch previously voiced concern over what it described summary executions and sentences devoid of compliance with international standards of justice.
In Last Minute Twist Dhusamareeb To Host Regional Formation Conference
24 March – Source: Somali Current – 106 Words
Officials organizing the Central State formation conference made last minute dramatic decision granting Dhusamareeb the rights to host the conference, dashing Adaado’s hopes of hosting. The decision is a heavy blow to Adaado which already spent resources and time preparing for the conference. On Saturday a unit from AMISOM was also deployed to Adaado to provide security for the conference and delegates. The rivalry between the two towns is not expected to end soon, as the two towns fight for the rights to accommodate the proposed state’s regional headquarters when the regional government is formed.
Clan Clashes Erupt In Central Somalia
23 March – Source: RBC Radio – 123 Words
Two clan militias have engaged in heavy fighting in central Somalia, RBC reports. The clashes reportedly erupted on Monday in Xundhure village in Galgadud region, with people saying the clans opened fire on each other following a dispute over water wells. The local authorities in Galgadud region have not commented on these tensions so far. This comes amid efforts to establish a would-be administration in central Somalia for Galgadud and Southern Mudug regions. Central regions in Somalia have witnessed the highest number of clan clashes since Somalia’s central government was ousted from office in the early 1990s.
Peace Agreement Signed In Dhusamareeb
23 March – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 111 Words
Six clans that live in Mudug and Galagadud region signed a peace agreement on Monday during the ongoing peace and reconciliation conference in Dhusamareeb, the headquarters of Galgaduud region The elders of the clans that signed the peace agreement said they have adopted peace and will enforce the peace agreement. MP Jawahir Ahmed Elmi who spoke during the signing of the agreement said that it is a victory for the six clans to sign the agreement. The signing was also witnessed by the Director-General in the Ministry of Interior and Federal Affairs who said he welcomes the agreement adopted by the six clans.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Mandera Elders Dismiss Calls To Remove County Commissioner Over Insecurity
23 March – Source: Daily Nation – 602 Words
A group of elders from Mandera have opposed leaders calling for the removal of County Commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo over insecurity. Speaking on Sunday, more than 20 elders from five clans of the larger Somali community under the chairmanship of Mr Mahamud Ibrahim Omar called last week’s demonstrations led by Mandera Township MCA Mr Feisal Abdinoor a “disturbance”. “We are elders from five clans out of six that reside in Mandera and those demonstrating and calling for the ouster of our county commissioner are ill-advised. “Their intention is to create tribal clashes, which he has managed to control within the seven months he has been here,” said Mr Omar. “We are not accepting what one clan is doing and our message to the National Government is clear: they should not listen to the few with questionable intentions but (they should) listen to the majority,” he added.
He said they were ready to mobilise enough manpower to defend the county commissioner against those calling for his removal. “We have other Somalis working in different parts of the country and if we are going to do this to non-local civil servants then it means our fellow Somali will be brought back to Mandera,” said Mr Omar. He said Mr Nkoyo was answerable to the National Government and not the county government insisting that any action against him will be taken by the National Government. “The county commissioner has done a lot of good things in Mandera, but if he fails, we will tell the National Government through the right channels but not through demonstrations,” he said. The five clans in Mandera are the Garre (who are the majority), Degodia, Murule, Kona and Marahani. “If the government agrees to transfer him, it means that every other commissioner posted here will undergo the same predicaments,” said another elder, Mr Adan Noor.
Somalia ‘Overwhelmed’ By Illegal Fishing
23 March – Source: Africa Review – 298 Words
Somalia is overwhelmed by boats engaged in illegal fishing, officials said. A District Commissioner, Mr Abdullahi Ahmed Barre, said tens of boats were illegally harvesting the marine resources that local people were supposed to benefit from. Mr Barre is in charge of Himan and Heb, a self-styled authority in Central Somalia, Hobyo, 510km northeast of Mogadishu. “The foreign boats that may have come from Yemen, Oman or from elsewhere can be seen along the coast between Gara’ad to Haradhere,” said Mr Barre. Gara’ad and Haradhere districts respectively lie north and south of Hobyo. The officer said his administration presented the complaints to the Mogadishu-based Federal Government of Somalia. “We told the federal government about the massive invasion our coastal people are facing,” he said. “When we approached the international task force dealing with piracy, they told us that fighting illegal fishing was not its mandate.”
Talking to Raadiyo Muqdisho, a state run broadcaster, Mr Barre said: “The illegal boats are overexploiting the coastal resources. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to counter them.” In 2013, the coast guards of Puntland, a semi-autonomous state in North-eastern Somalia, seized fishing boats owned by entities in Yemen. The governor of Gardafu’ region in Puntland, Mr Ali Salah Yusuf, said in April 2013: “Our coast guards are alert to seize any boat found illegally fishing in our region.” Neither the coast guards nor the regional authorities in Northern Somalia are in a position to combat the illegal fishing boats roaming around the long coast. In the past, young men from the coastal communities mobilised themselves to counter what they called ‘illegal fishing and dumping of waste in the sea.’ Unfortunately, most of the volunteer coast guards later turned into pirates, vying to capture commercial ships.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
ISIL Courts Al-Shabab As Al-Qaeda Ties Fade Away
23 March – Source: Al Jazeera – 1,129 Words
Nigeria’s Boko Haram swore allegiance recently to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in an audio message with French and English subtitles. What most failed to notice was a few weeks earlier an “emissary” of ISIL sent a public invitation to the emir of al-Shabab in Somalia, Abu Ubaidah, urging him to do the same. The emissary was Hamil al-Bushra, the nom de guerre used by two media outlets that have been described by Washington Institute for Near East Policy fellow Aaron Zelin as “official semi-official accounts” from ISIL. In the message Bushra praised the “brothers in Somalia” and encouraged them to attack “inside Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia”. He told Abu Ubaidah all that is needed to pledge loyalty to ISIL is for the al-Shabab media wing, al-Kataib, to issue an audio message.Abu Ubaidah already pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda, reaffirming a long-standing allegiance with that group. The public invitation from ISIL through its semi-official channels may be designed to provoke a disruption within al-Shabab at a time when it has lost territory in Somalia because of a military offensive by African Union troops.
Meanwhile, al-Shabab is turning its attention to Kenya and other African countries in a transformation reflected in slick recruitment videos and magazines produced by al-Kataib, which play upon the marginalisation of Muslims and show details of high-profile attacks in Kenya. Christopher Anzalone, from the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University, said this is evident in al-Shabab’s recruitment tactics. “If they release a video with foreign fighters in it there’s a likelihood that most, if not all, will be Swahili speakers or outright identified as being from Kenya,” Anzalone told Al Jazeera. Al-Shabab works with hard-line imams and underground groups such as al-Hijra, which help with recruitment in East Africa. The emir of al-Hijra, Sheikh Ahmad Iman Ali, for instance left Nairobi to fight in Somalia in 2009, where he was placed in charge of “Kenyan affairs” a few months after Kenyan troops began operations inside Somalia against al-Shabab. However, al-Hijra’s roots go back to the Islamic Party of Kenya in the 1990s, said Matt Bryden, chairman of Sahan Research, “when Sheikh Rogo and Sheikh Makaburi – who became the ideological leaders of al-Hijra – were themselves moving in al-Qaeda circles”.
‘Shock’ And ‘Anger’ In Grand Forks After Racist Graffiti Targets Somalis
23 March – Source: Inforum – 1, 017 Words
Residents said they were shocked and disgusted Monday over racist graffiti that prompted a police investigation and calls for more discussion of race relations. The words Somalia and a racist slur were spray-painted in large letters on the north side of the building at 1020 S. Washington St. By 5 p.m., the building’s owner had painted over the words. Reaction to the graffiti was strong after the group North Dakotans Against Brutality posted the image on its Facebook page that morning. Members of some area organizations, including North Dakotans Against Brutality, said they’re planning educational events to help foster education and religious and racial tolerance in the community.
Residents from all corners of the community voiced embarrassment and called for a greater push for understanding. It also triggered memories for some of a 2010 incident when a swastika was painted on a Grand Forks elementary school. Natasha Thomas, a diversity advocate who is calling for a Diversity and Inclusion Commission in Grand Forks, said the offensive act hits hard. “There’s a lot of shock, there’s some anger, there’s some hurt — some definite hurt,” she said. “But what I think is important now is that we realize it presents an opportunity for us to be better. There’s a need for a diversity commission or a broader conversation on diversity.”
An image of the graffiti spread after it was posted Sunday by a Facebook user. The Grand Forks Police Department heard about the incident Monday through word of mouth and began an investigation, said spokesman Lt. Derik Zimmel. Police are not classifying it as a hate crime yet, though it was clearly motivated by bias, he said. Officers have to approach the case with a neutral perspective, he said. “The language is societally intolerable but especially with this department,” he said. “We’re going to leave no stone unturned in finding out who was responsible for that.”
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Rebuilding Somalia’s society and creating a political process that would lead Somali clans into a lasting peace has to come from inside Somalia. The Somalis must do it for themselves because organic peace would endure more in the long term.”
President Obama Is Backing The Wrong Partners In Somalia
23 March – Source: The Daily Caller – 717 Words
Two years ago, President Obama cited “impressive security and political gains in Somalia” to support his decision to grant diplomatic recognition for the fragile government of Somalia. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the diplomatic recognition of the President Hassan Mohamud’s government, the first Somali government America recognized since 1991, a “new chapter” between the two countries. Last month, Obama nominated a career diplomat Katherine Dhanani to serve as the new U.S. ambassador to Somalia, since 1991, after dictator Siad Barre was ousted. But the new ambassador will not be posted in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, where a climate of insecurity prevails.
It has been more than two years since President Mohamud was selected as the leader of Somalia. But Mohamud’s government did little to contribute peace, security and political reconciliation for the war torn country. His government is struggling to govern, and its authority is not beyond Mogadishu, where al-Shabab is waging asymmetrical warfare with car and suicide bombings, including the recent attack on Central Hotel in the heart of Mogadishu, where 25 people were killed and 40 were wounded, including the deputy Prime Minister, Mohamed Omar Arte. In fact, the prospect for a secure, stable and democratic Somalia looks grim, because of the clannish political infighting among Somalia’s top political leaders over the spoils of foreign aid or for factional reasons and the rampant corruption within the Somali government. Mohamud appointed three Prime ministers, in a span of just eighteen months. And if the African Union troops were to withdraw from Somaliatomorrow, Mohamud’s government would collapse, and further anarchy and starvation would soon return to south Somalia.
“The Stability Fund is committed to release the results of all the evaluations, irrespective of whether they are good or bad. Both recipients and donors of aid have a duty to ensure it is well spent. Only through rigorous evaluation can impact be accurately assessed. That way when someone asks what impact the money has achieved, they will be able to get an answer they can believe.”
Somalia: What Has The Money Achieved?
20 March – Source: The Guardian – 498 Words
In 2013, £1.6 bn of international aid was pledged to Somalia: more than double the country’s gross domestic product. In the capital, Mogadishu, some high-profile investments—such as the upgrading of the airport and port facilities—show this money at work. But elsewhere, the impact of such spending is less visible and therefore faces tough questions from both Somalis as well as the international community. The linkages between meeting immediate needs – water, roads, clinics – and longer term goals of improving lives and securing peace and stability are complex. Harder still, is establishing long-term impact. Rigorous impact evaluations are few and far between. With so many agencies, organisations and a lack of access, mistakes can be repeated: schools might be built without teachers or boreholes drilled without sustainable management. That is why it is essential that both negative and positive lessons are disseminated. As different parts of Somalia make steady progress towards stability, it has become more important than ever to evaluate carefully and honestly critique the impact of aid.
Most research and evaluations are commissioned by donors or implementers; the findings are sometimes not made public and there is little incentive to advertise failure. Local organisations are often contracted to conduct research, but their role is usually limited to data collection. While recognising that such groups are not immune to bias or vested interests, their skills could be better utilised. They have access to communities and existing networks which can provide feedback and insights which outsiders may easily miss. The Somalia Stability Fund is a multi-donor (UKAID, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, European Union, Norway and UAE) fund designed to support peace and stability in Somalia, predominately through Somali partners in government, non-governmental organisations and the private sector. So where does one begin? How can a fund ensure meaningful investment, with maximum impact? How can it be accountable not just to donors, but to Somalis on the ground? Comprehensive evidence, research, monitoring and dissemination are essential to avoid the pitfalls of the past and to share positive lessons learned. Developing the local evaluation aspect is a key part of this.
Top tweets
@Aynte: 1/3 Yesterday I joined @SomaliPM who chaired his 1st Somali Development & Reconstruction Facility conference#Somalia
@Aynte: 2/3 together w/key donors we approved 11 projects including vital support to our govt’s priorities as articulated in Vision 2016 #Somalia
@Aynte: 3/3 @SomaliPM‘s articulated his government’s 3 principles: Somali ownership, govt leadership & govt coordination #Somalia
@SomaliaNewsroom: Pro-#ISIS hackers publish “hit list” of U.S. military members who “participated” in bombing campaigns in#Somalia etc http://www.nydailynews.com/
@UN: IEDs cause 8 incidents per week in #Somalia. @UNMASis training teams to clear landmines http://bit.ly/1cblthO
@Cidilibaax: Pirates have declined in #Somalia, illegal fishing has gone up, this will undermine the effort [of international] community #Puntland @UNSomalia
@africamedia_CPJ: #Somalia @RADIOSHABELLE producer Mohamed Bashir released on bail due to lack of evidence. Held 198 days too long.. http://cpj.org/x/5f23
Image of the day
AMISOM instructors run members of the Somali National Army through a wide array of drills and military tactics at the Jazeera Training Camp in Mogadishu. Photo: AMISOM