September 4, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali Government Appoints New Army Chief In A New Strategy To Fight Al-Shabaab
04 September – Source: Somali Current – 283 Words
Somalia government has Thursday replaced its chief of the armed forces barely two days after the armed group Al-Shabaab staged a deadly attack on AMISOM base in Janale, Lower Shabelle region, 90 km south of the Somali capital Mogadishu. In its regular weekly meeting, the Somali Cabinet unanimously endorsed General Mohamed Aden Ahmed to head the Somali Armed Forces, replacing his former commander, Gen. Dahir Adan Elmi. The Cabinet meeting that saw the endorsement of the new general was chaired by the Prime Minister, Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke and attended by the Minister of Defense, Abdikadir Sheikh Ali Diini, who proposed the name to the Cabinet.
The newly appointed general graduated from the Military Academy in Egypt and trained in the Command and General Staff from Moscow. Ahmed Aden similarly attended the War and Strategic Studies in USA. “He has also served in various posts in the National Armed Forces , such as the Commander of the Parachute Commandos Battalion in Ballidoogle and Division Commander in Beledweyne, Baidoa and DhusaMareb, ” added the official statement released to the press. The timing of the appointment is seen as strategic move to counter the heightened activities of the Al-Shabaab militants.
“The move to replace General Adan Dahir Elmi is part of a wider strategy to motivate and empower the national army,” the statement continued. Prime Minister Abdirashid Sharmarke challenged the new General to continue from where his predecessors left, saying they all left the forces in a better shape. Twelve Ugandan soldiers were killed inTuesday’s raid on an African Union (AU) base in southern Somalia. The bodies of ten Ugandan forces have been flown home on Thursday.
Key Headlines
- Somali Government Appoints New Army Chief In A New Strategy To Fight Al-Shabaab (Somali Current)
- SNA Says It Withdrew From Tullo-Barwaqo For Military Strategy (Goobjoog News)
- Puntland Capable Of Securing Maritime Routes Alone – Official (Garowe Online)
- Local Resident In Janaale To Rebuild Destroyed Bridge (Mareeg Media)
- Somali Refugees Demand Resettlement (Dawn)
- Somali Man Who Escaped From Malta To Germany Jailed For Two Months (Malta Independent)
- Somalia’s Bright Oil Prospects Stir Hostilities (BBC)
- Federal Government of Somalia Conducts Consultations On The Citizenship Bill In London (AMISOM)
- From Europe With Love: A Young Poetess’ Mission To Re-Discover Hope In Somalia (Warya Post)
- The Heyday of Somali Music (BBC)
- Kenya Should Recognise The Value Of Immigrants Like Germany (Daily Nation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
SNA Says It Withdrew From Tullo-Barwaqo For Military Strategy
04 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 201 Words
Somali National Army commanders commented on the withdrawal of their soldiers from parts of Gedo region a day ago saying that soldiers vacated the areas as a military tactic. Khaliif Omar Hiiray, one of the commanders leading SNA soldiers in Gedo said they withdrew from the areas as a fighting strategy. “We vacated Barwaaqo village yesterday and the withdrawal of the soldiers is based on military reasons. Otherwise our soldiers are always ready” said Khaliif. He highlighted that SNA soldiers have defeated Al-Shabaab in several battles that took place in Gedo region in the recent days. “SNA soldiers drove away Al-Shabaab from several areas in the region, and we are therefore planning to redouble operations to annihilate Al-Shabaab fighters” he vowed.
This comes a day after Somali National Army and AMISOM peacekeeping forces vacated key positions there, laying bare the town for Al-Shabaab take-over. This move is viewed by some as as a major military setback that can help Al-Shabaab regroup and demoralize the local forces who paid a heavy price for the recapture. These areas have been recently recovered from Al-Shabaab in a devastating war that saw top government leaders killed, including the deputy district commissioner of Bulo Hawa Mr. Mohamed Yakub and Abdi Hawsar, area police commissioner.
Puntland Capable Of Securing Maritime Routes Alone – Official
04 September – Source: Garowe Online – 279 Words
Puntland Anti-Piracy Agency Director Abdirizak Mohamed Ahmed (Ducaysane) on Thursday said, Puntland will be capable of policing maritime lanes against pirates if the mandate of NATO counter piracy task force ends, Garowe Online reports. The Counter-piracy Directorate blamed NATO warships for providing safe haven to illegal trawlers plundering Somalia’s fish stocks in the Exclusive Economic Zone. “If foreign naval vessels leave, pirates will not return but if illegal fishing continuous then it’s clear that piracy activities will make comeback,” Ducaysane said. He noted that foreign counter piracy missions are only tasked with combating pirates on high seas despite poignant decline in maritime crimes.
According to Ducaysane, pirates made their last hijacking in May 2012 and ever since unregulated fishing has been gradually becoming another burden in areas along the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Puntland officials alleged that foreign navies partly contributed to the increasing illegal fishing activities of intruders in territorial waters. “Illegal fishing caused and fueled high seas crimes. When pirates are deterred, we would expect to see an end of illegal fishing. They guard their respective trawlers and as long as illegal fishing is practiced, pirates will regroup”.
He added: “To some extent, Puntland can defend itself but [Somalia Federal Government] should clarify [Exclusive Economic Zone declaration]”. Anti-Piracy Agency Chief decried the absence of internationally-agreed zone which would greatly help Somalia tackle pillage in territorial waters. Counter piracy operations led to a major decline in piracy activities off the coast of Somalia over the last two years. In 2010, Puntland enacted Somalia’s first-ever anti-piracy law, setting up Maritime Police Force to conduct on-land raids and anti-piracy patrols aimed at belittling pirate scourge.
Local Resident In Janaale To Rebuild Destroyed Bridge
04 September – Source: Mareeg Media – 100 Words
Qoryoley administration has on Thursday launched the exercise of rebuilding the bridge that was destroyed by Al-Shabaab militants last Monday, officials said. The bridge was blown up by Al-Shabaab after a box packed with explosives detonated it. Local residents said the town was secluded due to destruction of the bridge. Mohamed Haji Osman, Qoryoley District Commissioner confirmed that the renovation of the bridge is being carried out by both the local administration and traders in the town. The destruction of the bridge was aimed to deny access to the African Union troops from escaping attacks on their military base in Janaale town in Lower Shabelle region.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Refugees Demand Resettlement
04 September – Source: Dawn – 258 Words
Somali refugees gathered outside the National Press Club on Thursday to protest against the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for, what they said, ignoring them. Amongst their grievances was the lack of higher education opportunities for Somali refugees – unlike Afghan refugees, who are allowed access to higher education in Pakistan. They stated that the cultural and language barriers, security issues outside Pakistan’s major cities, and racial discrimination were amongst the problems facing Somali refugees in Pakistan.
The refugees demanded resettlement in another country, where they should have access to better opportunities. UNHCR spokesperson Duniya Aslam told Dawn that of the 60 million refugees in the world, the UN can only settle one per cent of them due to the quotas set up by countries like Australia and the United Kingdom. “Our first priority is to send the refugees back to their countries, like Afghan refugees are going. However, some refugees, like Syrians, cannot go back to their countries so whenever they come out of the country they are declared refugees,” she said.
“The second option is to settle refugees in the country where they are, but Pakistan doesn’t have any refugee laws and it does not give citizenship to refugees. So we use the option of third country settlement. Only extremely vulnerable refugees are considered for the migration,” she said. “There are around 700 Somali refugees in Pakistan. However Pakistan is not the only country in which refugees are living. We have to create balance among refugees living all over the world,” she said.
Somali Man Who Escaped From Malta To Germany Jailed For Two Months
04 September – Source: Malta Independent – 83 Words
Abdurahman Yusuf Adam, 28, of Somalia, today was imprisoned for two months after he admitted to fleeing from Malta to go to Italy and later Germany without having the relevant travel documents. He was found by police in Germany and was sent back to Malta to face charges of failing to inform the Immigration Department that he was leaving the islands. Magistrate Doreen Clarke presided over the case while Immigration Inspector Darren Buhagiar prosecuted. Lawyer Noel Bartolo appeared on behalf of the accused.
Somalia’s Bright Oil Prospects Stir Hostilities
03 September – Source: BBC – 530 Words
Somalia has attractive oil prospects, with reserves which some say could make it one of the world’s major producers. After decades of conflict, recent improvements in security and a decline in piracy off the coast of Somalia have allowed foreign oil companies to start exploration activities there. But investment in this sector is being jeopardised by chronic squabbling between central and regional authorities, in the absence of a formal regulatory structure in the federal state. They disagree over the right to issue licences to oil companies and the central government has now asked foreign companies operating “illegally” in the country to cease their operations.
The row over licences erupted when it emerged that some oil companies were signing deals for oil exploration with regional authorities while others dealt with the central government. The central government naturally wants all oil companies to sign with the authorities in Mogadishu. This was done by the British oil giant, BP and another British company, Soma Oil. In particular, the government in Mogadishu has challenged deals inked with the semi-autonomous region of Puntland. The region’s coast is thought to hold large oil reserves. Puntland however declared itself autonomous in 1998 and has been hostile towards the central government. It has often threatened to completely cut ties with Mogadishu. Amid the row, Canada’s Africa Energy Corp announced its withdrawal from Puntland.
Federal Government of Somalia Conducts Consultations On The Citizenship Bill In London
03 September – Source: AMISOM – 353 Words
The Federal Government of Somalia has extended consultations on the draft Citizenship bill to the diaspora in London. Officials led by the Federal Minister of State, Interior and Federalism Mr. Abdirashid Xidig met with the Somali diaspora to collect their views on the proposed law. The bill seeks to address key of issues of nationality for the Somali, define who qualifies to be a Somali citizen is, what their rights and responsibilities are as well as key issues of dual citizenship. The federal government is conducting consultations with the Somalis both at home and in the diaspora to ensure that their views are incorporated before this crucial legislation, that is essential to Vision 2016 is presented to Parliament. Speaking during the meeting in London, the Federal Minister of State, Interior and Federalism Mr. Abdirashid Xidig said there are vast numbers of Somalis in the diaspora, whose views are as important.
“This law is very important, in the current situation, because the country is going into elections. The last general elections were held in 1960, since then a lot has changed. In 1960, we did not have the Somali diaspora that term did not exist. Currently, nearly half the Somali population leaves abroad in different countries. In that regard it is important to consult with them before we forward the bill to the Federal Parliament,” said the Minister. Participants at the consultation meeting commended the government for the initiative. Seema Malhotra, Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston said, “The strong bond between the Somali community abroad and those at home still remains. I see that in my constituency every day.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“I do say I’m a Somali and use my poetry and the other different avenues at my disposal to communicate that and that is what I mean by I am a vehicle. I want to let the world know that there is a different type of Somalia led by able and positive youths who are not basing their thinking on tribal ideology, she enthusiastically adds.”
From Europe With Love: A Young Poetess’ Mission To Re-Discover Hope In Somalia
04 September – Source: Warya Post – 1,319 Words
It is about 5:45 pm on a Thursday, and Sahro Ahmed Koshin is calmly sitting at the podium of Jamia Central Hotel’s Swara Conference Hall with a small audience in front of her. Sahro, a mother of one, is a poet and a writer. She was launching her new book; Sounds of Laughter, an anthology of poems. The gathering in Nairobi offered many budding writers a glimmer of hope and inspiration. Sahro considers herself a vehicle and guardian of the Somali community. She is on a mission to unite the community. To communicate her thinking which — to herself — is unique; and hopes to divert people from tribalism, which is sinking the Somali community deeper and deeper into the abyss of hatred and civil war.
She says the Somali people have a unique way of approaching each other, by first identifying their tribes and this always baffles her. She however believes in a Somali identity that doesn’t equal clan identity and connecting people through things like poetry, youth and women’s empowerment. Sensitization, she finds, is key to changing the scenario. “People have the tendency to place you in a certain compartment and that will perhaps make it easier for them to deal with you and how to get close to you. And they do this by first asking you which tribe you are and if they find that you are from another tribe from another region, they will choose a way to interact with you which is totally different from the way they are supposed to be interacting with someone else from their tribe or region,” she says with a concerned look on her face.
“We had an orchestra, and we were playing at the national theater the music would be the mouthpiece, the transmitter. We would cover all topics such as health, saying through songs this is what should be done to get better. But we would also even pass messages to the government from the people. Sometimes you would be singing a love song but really you were pointing out something to the government.”
The Heyday of Somali Music
03 September – Source: BBC – Audio: 9:00 Minutes
The fall and rise of Maryam Mursal, who was one of the superstars of Somali music in the 1970s. Musicians were employed by Siad Barre’s socialist state and were seen as crucial to nation-building. But many fell foul of the regime, and Maryam was one of them.
“Construction of a wall is not the most sensible solution because it victimises refugees a second time. Granted that Kenya’s economy is several times smaller than Germany’s, this situation called for both economic and moral strength and Germany decided to offer both. Kenya should act the same way.”
Kenya Should Recognise The Value Of Immigrants, Like Germany
03 September – Source: Daily Nation – 762 Words
Even with a single visit to Germany a year ago and regular reviews of data about its economic and social policies, that country has generally struck me as having the most enlightened economic policy but being too timid regarding social policy choices. In the last week, Germany has shown that it is truly intent on being a leader for Europe in a way that put its dithering European peers to shame. This one act involved the very difficult decision by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government, and it redefined immigration policy by allowing 800,000 refugees from the Middle East and other parts of the world to attain refugee status in the country this year.
This political decision will have weighty political and economic consequences for which this nation deserves credit. To my mind, this is the biggest act of magnanimity that German politicians have achieved since the reunification with the weaker economy of East Germany after the implosion of socialist regimes. Credit is due because other countries within the neigbourhood of the European Union are using sectarian rhetoric to avoid rising to help helpless human beings escaping conflict and poverty from other parts of the world. Although it’s true that many smaller countries in the Middle East and Mediterranean region have accepted many more of the Syrian, Iraqi and even Pakistani refugees, Germany stands out because this approach is new and challenges its neighbours in EU to do the morally correct thing even while acknowledging that it is difficult
TOP TWEETS
@MtSBenBailey: Could #maritime #piracy return to #somalia? Interesting viewpoint from @BBCAndrewHhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
@SomaliGazette: Mr. President Hassan, you can’t secure#Mogadishu and #Somalia so, why did you send Somali troops to Yemen? Answer!
@Eye_on_Somalia: #goobjoog Khatumo State welcomes the appointment of Chief of Somalia Armed Forces: The administration… http://bit.ly/1KOxIkx #somalia
@Knight_Assoc: FULL REPORT: “#Somalia Prison Survey Report: #Piracy Motivations & Deterrents”(UNODC/OBP)https://www.unodc.org/
@PVInternational: 8 Somalis Convicted of Piracy Released by Seychelles Court of Appeal http://www.
@Abdi_AlSheikh: Kenya: Majority of Kenyans Want KDF to Stay in Somalia – Survey – http://AllAfrica.com http://dlvr.it/C3PDKY #Somalia
@ferigom69: Spanish Warship ESPS Meteoro Joins Operation Atalanta | Eunavfor | @scoopit http://sco.lt/7D9KOf #Somalia#piracy #Spain
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The Somalia national soccer team seen doing drills during a training session at Banadir stadium. The team is preparing for the World Cup qualifiers.
Photo: AMISOM