May 7, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Kerry Praises Djibouti Role In Fight Against Extremism
07 May – Source: Somali Current – 132 Words
Visiting US Secretary of State has praised Djibouti government for their role in the fight against extremism and terrorism.“Djibouti is making significant contribution, helping to push back against extremism,” said Kerry. Djibouti hosts the largest US Military base in Africa which is used for anti-terror operation in Somalia and Yemen as well as other US interest in the continent. Kerry met Djibouti President Ismael Omar Gelle and discussed key issues including the Yemen conflict, the fight against Al-Shabaab and other issues. The tiny Horn of African nation has strategic access to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Djibouti is an important ally of the US in the fight against terrorism and piracy. Kerry’s visit to Djibouti ends a three-day visit to Eastern Africa where the fight against Al-Shabaab has been the focus of talks.
Key Headlines
- Kerry Praises Djibouti Role In Fight Against Extremism (Somali Current)
- Somalis In Yemen Face Desperate Situation (Goobjoog News)
- Human Rights Activist Guled Ahmed Jama Released From Unlawful Detention by Somaliland Charges Have Not Been Dropped (Somali Update)
- River Shabelle Flood Victims In Duduble Locality Appeal For Help (Goobjoog News)
- Knaan Says He Supports Pirates Because They Protect The Coastline (Radio Dalsan)
- Kenya Steps Back From Threat To Expel Somali Refugees (New York Times)
- Abe Encourages SDF Officer Leading Somalia Mission (NHK World)
- Djibouti To Host Somalia Rwanda Tie (Super Sport)
- UN Roots For Investments In Somalia To Facilitate Return Of Refugees (Shanghai Daily)
- Despite Kerry’s Visit Little Movement On Lifeline For Somalis (U.S. News)
- Brace Yourselves Somalia: America’s Back (Daily Maverick)
- A Test Case For ‘Deradicalization’ (Wall Street Journal)
- Dispatches: Kerry’s Lost Opportunity In Mogadishu (Human Rights Watch)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Families Homeless After Rains Pound Bakol
07 May – Source: Radio Ergo – 211 Words
Hundreds of families are spending the night in the cold in Bakol region after their homes were washed away by heavy rains. Officials say up to 500 families in Bulow have been displaced. An unknown number of livestock, mainly goats, were also washed away. Most settlements in the region have been cut off after the rains made roads impassable. “We don’t know where to go as the roads are impassable,” said Hawo Maalim Ali, whose family is among those displaced in Bulow. The rains also caused havoc in Hudur, where crops and entire farms have been destroyed by floods.
A local farmer, Mayow Abdi Nur, said he had lost all his crops and would not have anything to harvest. Dekow Mohamed Kuus, a resident of Hudur town, appealed to aid agencies to help prevent outbreaks of disease. “The rainy season is still on meaning that more rains are expected. We appeal to concerned authorities to drain the stagnant water to avoid the spread of waterborne diseases. We are requesting the government and aid agencies to avert a looming health crisis,” Dekow said. Hudur local authorities and the Bakol provincial administration are reported to be making efforts to help families displaced by the floods.
Somalis In Yemen Face Desperate Situation
06 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 175 Words.
The war in Yemen continues to cost many civilian lives. Thousands of Somali refugees who escaped the conflict and hardships in their country of origin were living peacefully in Yemen before the current conflict erupted. Goobjoog News has launched a Twitter campaign with the theme “Please Spare Refugee Lives In Yemen”. The campaign is intended to help Somalis maintain constant communication with stranded refugees in Yemen and monitor their situation. Some refugees have not been able to reach safe parts of country because of intense fighting in their areas, while others were trapped on their way to the air or sea ports
Zamzam Mohamed, who is currently in Yemen, told Goobjoog News that Somali immigrants in the country are living in extreme distress and fear. She described life in Yemen as unbearable and demanded urgent help from the Somali Federal Government. Goobjoog has learned that large numbers of refugees are running out of subsistence such as food, water and other life saving essentials which, without immediate evacuation by air or sea, could result in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
Human Rights Activist Guled Ahmed Jama Released From Unlawful Detention By Somaliland, Charges Have Not Been Dropped
07 May – Source: Somali Update – 169 Words
Guled Ahmed Jama was arrested on 18th April 2015 after he gave an interview to the BBC Somali Service where he raised concerns about the death penalty. The Regional Court of Hargeisa remanded Jama for seven days from 20th April to 26th April. He was not brought to the court when the six-day remand period ended, but on 7th May he was released from prison. “Human Rights Centre (HRC) expresses its deep gratitude to the individuals, organizations and countries who tirelessly advocated for the freedom of Guled”, said Hana Abdisalam Mohamed, advocacy and lobbying officer of HRC. “We are very grateful to their endless support.” She added that the Human Rights Centre is committed to continuing its activities and will not be intimidated by Jama’s arrest. Like many parts of Somalia, the administration of Somaliland has been accused of violating human rights violator, and constantly arresting human rights defenders and journalists constantly.
River Shabelle Flood Victims In Duduble Locality Appeal For Help
06 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 132 Words.
Recent floods of the Shabelle river in Duduble have affected hundreds of people, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis. Since the river overflowed its banks, many families in Duduble locality have been rendered homeless after their houses were turned into dams. Public transport has been curtailed after the roads were closed, and some of the flood victims used boats to get to drier areas. The water levels of the river have been increasing by day, damaging homes and farmlands in other areas. The affected victims appealed to the federal government, humanitarian agencies and the international community for immediate help. The Shabelle river flows through Middle and Lower Shabelle, Hiraan region, and sometimes causes destructive flash floods
K’naan Says He Supports Pirates Because They Protect The Coastline
06 May – Source: Radio Dalsan – 321 Words
This week’s Clinton Global Initiative conference in Morocco will feature a speech by K’naan Warsame, a prominent hip-hop artist and Somali pirate advocate. K’naan, whose hit songs include “Wavin’ Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Remix)” and “Wavin’ Flag (Coca-Cola Spanish Celebration Remix),” has expressed support in the past for the pirates wreaking havoc off the coast of Somalia, where he was born. “A lot of people don’t like me for saying this but I’m in support of the pirates,” K’naan said in a 2009 radio interview, arguing that piracy had “actually helped us clear our environment” by holding ships for ransom, including some that dump toxic waste off the Somali coast. “The truth is, if you ask any Somali, if getting rid of the pirates only means the continuous rape of our coast by unmonitored Western Vessels, and the producing of a new cancerous generation, we would all fly our pirate flags high,” he wrote in a Huffington Post op-ed published that same year. “As is apparent these days, one man’s pirate is another man’s coast guard.”
The CGI conference in Morocco has been the subject of increased scrutiny following revelations that it is being financed by a generous donation (at least $1 million) from a phosphate mining company owned by the Moroccan government. Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea Clinton are listed as featured speakers at the event; Moroccan King Mohammed VI is expected to attend. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton praised Morocco last year in a statement announcing the conference, describing the country as “a vital hub for economic and cultural exchange.” That sentiment appears incongruous with the statements issued by the State Department during Clinton’s tenure, which complained of “continuing human rights problems” in the country, such as “arbitrary arrests and corruption in all branches of government,” as well as “discrimination against women and girls; trafficking in persons; and child labor.”
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya Steps Back From Threat To Expel Somali Refugees
07 May – Source: New York Time – 457 Words
President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya on Wednesday softened a threat to expel hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees within three months, saying there would be no forced repatriations.Mr. Kenyatta made the assurance after meetings with the top refugee official from the United Nations. He also met with Secretary of State John Kerry here this week. Kenya’s government was sharply criticized last month for vowing to close Dadaab, one of the world’s oldest and largest refugee complexes, home to more than 350,000 Somalis, about 60 miles from its border with Somalia. The deputy president, William Ruto, said the United Nations refugee agency had three months to relocate Dadaab’s residents, or “we shall relocate them ourselves.”
Abe Encourages SDF Officer Leading Somalia Mission
07 May – Source: NHK World – 262 Words
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has congratulated a Maritime Self-Defense Force admiral who is set to become the first Japanese officer to take command of a multinational mission. Rear Admiral Hiroshi Ito will head the multi-force anti-piracy mission off Somalia for about 2 months from the end of May. The command post is located at a US naval base in Bahrain. Ito met Abe at the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday, ahead of his departure next Wednesday. Abe said he wants Ito to faithfully carry out his duties. Ito told reporters that after 30 years in the forces he could not have imagined anyone from the SDF would take up a command post while he was still on active duty. He said he will work hard to respond to the mandate of the Japanese people.
Earlier on Thursday, Ito reported his upcoming departure to Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, the Chief of the SDF. Kawano said the mission will open a new page in the history of the SDF. He told Ito to gather lessons from the mission for future use. Ito said he will work to coordinate troops from other countries and get to grips with the on-site situation. It’s the first time since the SDF was established roughly 60 years ago that a member has taken command of multinational troops on active duty. The Defense Ministry says the commander serves as a liaison and does not issue orders to participating troops. It says the appointment does not constitute the use of Japan’s right to collective self-defense.
Djibouti To Host Somalia, Rwanda Tie
06 May – Source: Super Sport – 287 Words
Djibouti has been confirmed as the host for the Caf Under-23 Championship qualifier return leg tie between Somalia and Rwanda on May 9. Somalia Football Federation (SFF) secretary general Hassan Mohamed Mohamud revealed the development to the Rwanda Football Federation (Ferwafa) on Wednesday following Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) decision not to host the game at the Moi International sports centre in Kasarani, Nairobi. The match will be played at the National El-Hadj Gouled Aptidon Stadium located in the city of Djibouti which was named after the first President of Djibouti.
Mohamud had earlier sent communication to Ferwafa confirming Kasarani as the venue but FKF secretary general Michael Esakwa on Monday noted that, “Arising from the security situation in our region, it is mandatory that we must get clearance from the Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also we wish to bring to your attention that on Saturday, 9 May 2015 the day you have requested for the match we shall be hosting the Botswana national team at the Nyayo National Stadium in the same competition.” “We therefore [take] this opportunity to inform the Somalia Football Federation that in lieu of the lack of getting the necessary Government’s clearance, Football Kenya Federation is therefore regrettably constrained to host the above referenced match.”
UN Roots For Investments In Somalia To Facilitate Return Of Refugees
06 May – Source: Shanghai Daily – 340 Words
Antonio Guterres, head of the UN refugee agency on Wednesday called on multilateral agencies to invest in social programs and physical infrastructure in Somalia in order to facilitate return of refugees to the Horn of African nation.The UN High Commissioner for Refugees also told journalists in Nairobi that smooth repatriation of Somali refugees’ hinges on improved security and living conditions.”The international community remains committed to faster and methodical repatriation of Somalia refugees, but their safety is paramount. We have identified investments in education, health and food security to ensure they have a decent livelihood,” said Guterres who arrived in the country for a three-day visit.
Despite Kerry’s Visit, Little Movement On Lifeline For Somalis
06 May – Source: U.S. News – 1,060 Words
John Kerry used the first-ever trip by a U.S. secretary of state to Somalia to express confidence in the rebuilding efforts of a country rocked by violence for more than two decades and to announce that the U.S. is moving toward re-establishing an embassy in Mogadishu. But this week’s so-called historic visit – America’s top diplomat was confined to the capital city’s airport during his brief, unannounced trip due to security concerns – was apparently absent any mention of a financial system many say is essential to the country’s stability and is being crushed by overly stringent U.S. regulations. “It was a brave move to go to Somalia without any answers on money transfers, because that’s what people want to hear about,” says Scott Paul, a humanitarian policy adviser for Oxfam America. “That’s what Somalis are most interested in: ‘Is my mother going to be able to send me my monthly rent?’ or, ‘Am I going to be able to put food on the table next month?’ “For [Kerry] to have come [to Somalia] without a solution to that problem I think raises more questions than it answers.”
The cutoff of remittances that the Somali diaspora send to family and friends back home has increasingly garnered attention from advocates in the U.S., who say the transfers are a vital lifeline for residents of a country that lacks a functioning bank system. Somalia receives $1.3 billion each year from outside its borders – an amount totaling more than the combined sum of humanitarian aid, development aid and foreign direct investment it gets – and remittances make up between 25 and 45 percent of the country’s economy. These transfers, however, have been curtailed by stricter money-laundering regulations put in place in the U.S. after the terror attacks of Sept. 11. The restrictions have caused several large U.S. banks to close accounts used by money transfer operators to send funds to the country, due to concerns they could be used to finance terrorist groups like al-Shabab. Merchants Bank of California – which was responsible for sending 60 to 80 percent of total remittances to the country – announced it was shutting down its accounts in February, and First American Bank in Illinois is expected to follow suit this week. As native Somalis’ options for sending money back home continue to dwindle, Paul says some transfer operators have started taking suitcases full of cash by plane to the country.
OPINION/ANALYSIS/CULTURE
But Kerry’s visit was not just about Somalia. Is it a coincidence that the renewed American interest in Somalia comes shortly after the disintegration of Yemen and the rise of the Islamic State? There is a whole new fault line in the global war on terror, and Somalia has the potential to turn into a major battleground. Its progress is still fragile, and its socio-economic conditions are still ripe for exploitation by radical groups. Al-Shabaab wouldn’t need much more in the way of personnel and equipment to mount a serious resurgence.
Brace Yourselves, Somalia: America’s Back
07 May – Source: Daily Maverick – 826 Words
It’s taken the USA a long time to get over the humiliation of Black Hawk Down. With his surprise visit to Mogadishu, US Secretary of State John Kerry finally closed that ignominious chapter, and announced that Somalia would be seeing a lot more American involvement from now on. More than two decades ago, the corpses of American soldiers were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu – the brutal and all too public consequences of a botched raid to unseat an uncompliant warlord.
This humiliating defeat was subsequently immortalised in the book Black Hawk Down, and the film of the same name, but the real consequences were less obvious.Scarred by failure, America’s gung-ho foreign policy was tempered. Not forever, as Afghanistan and Iraq have shown, but for long enough to make a difference (for instance, any kind of military intervention in Rwanda in 1994 became politically unfeasible – instead, a timid US actually pushed for the withdrawal of United Nations troops). The incident also forced US forces out of Somalia, and America has been reluctant to engage directly with Somalia ever since.
Until Tuesday, that is, when Secretary of State John Kerry’s plane touched down at Mogadishu airport. The visit was unscheduled, and brief – Kerry didn’t even leave the airport – but marks a major shift in policy. Brace yourselves, Somalia: America’s back, and has finally banished the ghost of Black Hawk Down. “I visited Somalia today because your country is turning around,” said Kerry, who met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as well as several cabinet ministers and the heads of various semi-autonomous regions. “It’s great to be here.”
“Even supporters of deradicalization efforts, like Dr. Stern and Dr. Horgan, say claims about their effectiveness may be unreliable. Lack of data and different cultural standards mean it is tough to know which elements of such programs worked—or if they can be credited at all. Last May, Mr. Yusuf was detained when he tried to fly to Istanbul from the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. In court, he admitted that he had planned to reach Syria and join ISIS. His alleged co-conspirator, Abdi Nur, is believed to be fighting for the group.”
A Test Case For ‘Deradicalization’
06 May – Source: Wall Street Journal – 1,423 Words
The path of reform for Abdullahi Yusuf, a U.S. teenager who tried to become a radical Islamic soldier, passes through writings of Martin Luther King Jr., readings of the U.S. Constitution and discussions about life and literature with a fellow Somali-American named Ahmed Amin. Mr. Yusuf’s attempt to travel to the Middle East last year helped lead authorities to six Minnesota men who were charged last month in connection with a plan to join Islamic State abroad. The 19-year-old has become a test case for whether Americans lured by Islamic extremism can be deradicalized. A Minnesota judge earlier this year sent Mr. Yusuf to a halfway house, where he adheres to a tailor-made curriculum aimed at reintegrating him into American society and his immigrant community here. If the program succeeds, Mr. Yusuf’s sentence could be reduced—and the approach to his deradicalization replicated, experts say. Counterterrorism experts believe it is the first such effort in the U.S. to try to turn a young person connected to a terror prosecution away from an extremist Islamist ideology since the advent of groups like al-Shabaab and Islamic State, or ISIS.
A lot is riding on the experiment, as worries grow about the effect of extremist propaganda in Muslim communities across the country. Most recently, two Phoenix men attempted an assault on a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Garland, Texas. Both were killed by police. U.S. intelligence estimates that 150 Americans have attempted or succeeded in reaching Syria or Iraq to fight with Islamic terrorist groups. At least 15 of them came from Minneapolis. “All eyes are on…Minneapolis,” said John Horgan, director of the Center for Terrorism & Security Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. While the Minnesota effort “doesn’t resemble a full-fledged initiative,’’ Dr. Horgan said, “any failure associated with it will inevitably be used to discourage future efforts” because there is limited openness in the U.S. to alternatives to incarceration since they are perceived as high risk. Mr. Amin, a history teacher who, like his pupil, came to the U.S. as a boy, didn’t sign on to advise him until after they had met. “I realized Yusuf is a smart, everyday American kid,” he said. “He has a chance to succeed.” As many as 40 deradicalization programs exist around the world, many in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. They vary from intensive, formalized programs offering religious education, psychological counseling and job training to informal one-on-one conversations.
“Kerry’s failure to emphasize the importance of rule of law and accountability was particularly stark because he specifically highlighted them in Kenya and during remarks regarding South Sudan on the same day. Making sure the State Department is consistently aligned with these rhetorical commitments is a hugely important next step, especially because there is already a history of weak follow-through. Somalis should have the same expectations of their government.”
Dispatches: Kerry’s Lost Opportunity In Mogadishu
Source: Human Rights Watch – 445 Words
Yesterday, United States Secretary of State John Kerry made an unprecedented move for someone serving in his position – he spent three hours in Mogadishu, Somalia. Unfortunately, despite goodwill and an important meeting with some civil society leaders, he missed a critical opportunity to publicly press the government for the kinds of reforms most likely to improve the basic rights of all Somalis. In January 2013, just after the new government of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud took office, the US recognized a sitting government in Somalia after two decades without formal ties. Kerry’s unannounced visit, coupled with plans to upgrade the US diplomatic presence, marks a step forward in the normalization of diplomatic relations. But Kerry left out three important issues, at least in public comments during his visit:
First, he could have called on the government to do more to prevent and respond to abuses against some of the country’s most vulnerable communities, particularly hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people, including women and girls. He should also have pressed for action against widespread and pervasive sexual and gender based violence including sexual exploitation by men in uniform. Second, he missed an opportunity to remind the government that any semblance of free and fair elections are only possible if the media is free to report on controversial issues and air divergent views without fear of violence or intimidation. That includes from the central and regional authorities. Somalia remains among the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist and this is unlikely to change until government officials lead efforts to better protect the media and free speech.
Lastly, Kerry could have underlined the importance of improving accountability and respect for the rule of law. Somalia may have a hard time improving security for all if the US focuses its support on the military. Ultimately, stability will depend on ending the long and abusive reign of armed groups. Justice sector reform is desperately needed, but training, such as for those in the civilian and military justice systems, can only be effective if the government demonstrates a genuine commitment to make much needed reforms in law and practice.
TOP TWEETS
@SomaliaNewsroom: Int’l media misses nuanced coverage of#Mogadishu by not covering everyday activitieshttp://www.radiomuqdisho.net/
@Abdikarim_Abdi3: #Somalia President Hassan Sheikh heading to #Kismayo this morning to witness the swearing of#Jubbaland Members of Parliament. Good luck!
@MohamedMascud: Foreign ministers of #Kenya & #Ethiopiaarrived in #Kismayo for inauguration of #Jubbaland Parliament.#Somalia
@AU_PSD: #Kenya withdraws threat to force almost 400,000 SomaliRefugees to return to #Somalia; promises force will not be used to vacate #Dadaab camp
@AfricaMediaHub: ICYMI: @StateDept transcript archive has#Kenya, #Somalia & #Djibouti briefings, fact sheets, & remarks by @JohnKerry http://go.usa.gov/3KAB4
@ninamillz: I WILL FIGHT TO LIBERATE MY COUNTRY!!#somalia #somaliahanolato #1978https://youtu.be/cUrl5HXofM0 !! #dailyreminder
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somali women singing during a town hall meeting jointly organized by local authorities, the Somali Police Force and AMISOM Police at Warta Nabadda District headquarters in Mogadishu to discuss community policing and how it can used to check crime, held on 6 May 2015. Photo: AMISOM