September 7, 2015 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

KDF, GSU Deployed To Flush Out Al-Shabaab Militia In Boni Forest

06 September – Source: Standard Digital – 603 Words

The first batch of security forces have set up camps in four regions within two counties bordering Boni forest, hours after the Inspector General of Police declared the area dangerous. A battalion of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) together with the paramilitary wing of General Service Unit and police officers have pitched camp at Bodhai and Hulugo in Ijara sub County of Garissa County while another group has been deployed to Mangai and Baure in Lamu County. The three-months operation is expected to flush out Al-Shabaab militants reportedly hiding within the expansive forest along the Kenya-Somali border.

Reports indicated last evening that the forces bombed sections of the forest using helicopters. The arrival of the security team has caused fear and anxiety among residents many of whom were displaced from Basuba in Lamu where the militants’ activities have been on the rise since May. The families are ethnic Wata and Wasanye, who are hunters and gatherers that also subsist on forest farming. Most militants in Jaysh Ayman, an affiliate of Al-Shabaab, originate from Kilifi and Mombasa counties and have been linked to controversial mosques in Mombasa where they were, reportedly, recruited in 2001 and trained in Somalia. This group carried out the massacre in Mpeketoni and Hindi areas of Lamu and Gamba areas of Tana River where they also freed prisoners in police stations last year.

Some estimates indicate that close to 300 militants including foreign jihadists linked to Jaysh Ayman, roam the forest in northern parts of Lamu. Separate group of militants linked to the late Mohamed Kunow alias Gamadheere are responsible for the attacks on police and KDF that began in May in areas around Korahindi in Ijara. The militants have since spread out to Yumbis and Galmagalla areas of Fafi sub county in Garissa, taking over mosques to recruit residents. The two groups have exploited the forested areas on the boundary between Lamu and Garissa counties and sections of the Kenyan border with Somalia that meets the Indian Ocean to launch guerilla attacks on KDF and police.

Key Headlines

KDF GSU Deployed To Flush Out Al-Shabaab Militia In Boni Forest (Standard Digital)
Youths In Somaliland Are Leading A Campaign To Rid Their Communities Of Tribalism (Somali Current)
Federal Government of Somalia Enters Into An Agreement With Multi-Client Seismic Survey Company Spectrum ASA (Mareeg Media)
Central Bank Governor: Puntland New Currency Notes Illegal (Goobjoog News)
3 Dead As Government Forces Battle Al-Shabaab Outside Beletweyne (Wacaal Media)
The Impeachment Motion Against The Somali President Heads To The Court (Somali Current)
Europe’s Migrant Crisis Can Be Averted By Investment In Africa Says Somali Foreign Minister (The Telegraph)
Norwegian Somali Responsible For Deadly Nairobi Shopping Mall Siege (Sputniknews.com)
Speaker Jawari Under Pressure For Stalled Impeachment Motion (Hiiraan Online)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Youths In Somaliland Are Leading A Campaign To Rid Their Communities Of Tribalism

06 September – Source: Somali Current – 262 Words

A group of youths in Somaliland’s capital Hargeysa are leading a campaign to rid their communities of tribalism and, instead, instill nationalism and oneness. The intensity of the campaign is so huge that every resident of Hargeysa is feeling the heat. The youths, drawn from different clans in the breakaway region, are driving towards a common call: tribalism has never done us any good. AbdiKarim Ahmed Mooge is among the organisers of the campaign. He said the idea of the campaign was borne after they realised, together with a group of other youths, that the people of Somaliland could be disintegrated along tribal lines. “I am optimistic about what this noble initiative can achieve. We want to strike out discrimination and tribalism so that the people of Somaliland can all pursue their dreams regardless of their background,” he said.

The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the former British Somaliland. The state, founded in May 1991, has a population of over 3.8 million, according to a 2008 survey. Hargeysa is regarded as the 652nd largest city in the world by population size. Though not internationally recognised, Somaliland has a working political system, government institutions, a police force and its own currency. The territory has lobbied hard to win support for its claim to be a sovereign state. Abdikarim and colleagues are fighting to prevent disintegrated Somalia in the early 90’s—tribalism and their campaign seems to be gaining support from the people of Somaliland.

Federal Government of Somalia Enters Into An Agreement With Multi-Client Seismic Survey Company Spectrum ASA

06 September – Source: Mareeg Media – 326 Words

The East Africa region has been emerging as a major new frontier in the oil and gas industry for some time. The news that Somalia has opened itself up to exploration is a further indication that the region is aware of the potential hydrocarbon resources that is available. In this context, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources is pleased to announce that the Federal Government of Somalia entered into an agreement today with the Multi-Client seismic survey company Spectrum ASA, during a signing ceremony in Mogadishu. The agreement allows Spectrum to acquire approximately 28,000 km of long offset 2D seismic data offshore south Somalia in order to image subsurface structures. The survey will focus on Shell blocks and create extensive data needed by Somalia and international oil/gas companies.

The new acquisition is intended to complement 20,000 km of existing seismic that was acquired in 2014. These seismic surveys will allow the in-depth study of hydrocarbon prospectivity offshore Somalia, which lies in close proximity to major discoveries on the East African margin. The Multi-Client model described within the agreement ensures that the government will receive the acquired data to help map the hydrocarbon resource potential at no cost. With the acquired data, Spectrum ASA will use its global marketing reach to raise interest and awareness amongst the oil and gas industry.

At the signing ceremony, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, His Excellency Mohamed Mukhtar Ibrahim, said that “this historic seismic data agreement will be the resumption of the exploration programme of the hydrocarbon reserves of our country, which will be a turning point for the economic development of our nation.”Mohamed Aden, Minister of Finance who is also the Chair of the Financial Governance Committee commended the process of drafting this agreement. His Excellency Omar Abdirashid A. Sharmarke, Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia who concluded the event said “Seismic data can lead to good decision-making and guided strategy.”

Central Bank Governor: Puntland New Currency Notes Illegal

06 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 169 Words

Bashir Isse Ali, Governor of Central Bank of Somalia has spoken out about new Somali Shilling counterfeit money printed in Puntland, which has poured into the local markets. The governor said this amounts to economic sabotage. “It is unfortunate that counterfeit money is printed in Puntland, which is a federal member state. This is economic sabotage and it can create inflation,” said Bashir. He said the move is unacceptable especially at a time the government is investing in rebuilding the country and establishing law and order.

However the governor has noted that there are ongoing efforts to print new Somali Shilling with the help of international partners like IMF. Somalia has not officially printed currency notes since 1991, necessitating the use of old defunct single note currency while scrupulous traders went ahead to print their own. This has created room for the printing of new Somali Shilling to replace the old note. The Central Bank has urged Puntland and others who might be involved to stop the exercise.

3 Dead As Government Forces Battle Al-Shabaab Outside Beletweyne

06 September – Source: Wacaal Media – 94 Words

Three people lost their lives in a fierce gun battle in the outskirts of Beletweyne, headquarters of Hiiraan region. A senior Somali National Army official told the local media that the three died after Al-Shabaab ambushed a convoy that left Beletweyne heading for Halgan. The conflict spread to the nearby areas of Garsiyaani and Nuur-Fanah near Halgan which was recently liberated from the militants. Government forces and AMISOM have been battling Al-Shabaab in Western Hiiraan region the past few days. The militants did not on their side comment on the latest development.

The Impeachment Motion Against The Somali President Heads To The Court

06 September – Source: Somali Current – 259 Words

The motion against the President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is headed to the Courts after the speaker of the Federal Parliament stated that the assembly could not settle the matter since there are no guidelines in place to go about the impeachment motion against the president. The members of the parliament have last month presented to the Speaker a notice of impeachment motion against the president, accusing Hassan Sheikh of public funds mismanagement and failing to reconcile the Somalis. They vowed to see him out of the office and turned down any attempted move for dialogue. The President, on his side, called on the MPs to cool down, saying Somalia had a lot to tackle that impeachment motions against public office holders.

The European Union envoys called on the members to delay the motion, saying such a process needed a fully fledged working system of government and existing laws to see to its end. Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Prof Jawari, in a statement Saturday called on the executive and the members of the parliament sponsoring the motion to come to the negotiating table and solve the matter in dialogue. “The outcome of the negotiations will be presented before the assembly for a vote over whether the outcome of the negotiation should be forwarded to the constitutional courts,” “We will have the High Court act as the constitutional court to determine the accusations against the president,” the Speaker added. There has never been a sitting president impeached while serving his term in office in since independence in Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Europe’s Migrant Crisis Can Be Averted By Investment In Africa, Says Somali Foreign Minister

06 September – Source: The Telegraph – 467 Words

Somalia’s minister of foreign affairs has urged his fellow citizens not to join the exodus of African migrants to Europe, saying the country is now on the mend and need them to help rebuild it. In an intervention in the debate now dividing Europe’s politicians, Abdusalam Omer said that hard-won improvements in the war-scarred nation’s security meant a time could come when Somalis were no longer prominent clients for the people-smuggling gangs of the Mediterranean. Over the past three years, the country’s transitional government has made major gains against the Islamist al-Shabaab movement, who once ruled most of the capital, Mogadishu, and much of the south of the country.

In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph ahead of a visit to London to speak at the Chatham House international think tank, Mr Omer said that Mogadishu was becoming safer by the day and was now “open for business” to foreign investment. “A few years ago, the government controlled only a fraction of the city, but that is no longer the case,” he said. “Now I can take a car and go shopping or visit the Mogadishu beachfront. I wouldn’t want to say things were perfect, but they are certainly going in the right direction. “Fewer migrants are leaving now than they were, but with every pound of direct investment we get, that is more money that can go towards creating schools, hospitals, and jobs for the future generation of Somalis.”

Norwegian Somali Responsible For Deadly Nairobi Shopping Mall Siege

06 September – Source: Sputniknews.com – 302 Words

An investigation by Norwegian police has confirmed that Hassan Dhululow was one of the al-Shabaab terrorists responsible for the attacks, which killed 67 people in a shopping center. Norwegian national Hassan Dhululow has been confirmed as one of the terrorists who attacked the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi in September 2013. “The Police Security Services’ [PST] conclusion is that Hassan Dhuhulow was one of the terrorists. The investigation has been formally concluded,” a spokesman told the Norwegian press on Thursday.

Hassan Dhululow was named as a suspect shortly after the attack, in which a group of four al-Shabaab gunmen opened fire and threw grenades in the shopping center. At least 67 people were killed in the four-day siege; all four of the terrorists are believed to have died. Dhululow, a 23-year-old Norwegian citizen of Somali origin was initially identified from CCTV footage. The Norwegian police have now formally identified his remains from dental records, and closed the case. “I don’t know what I feel or think. If it is him, he must have been brainwashed,” said one of Dhululow’s relatives, on being shown the CCTV footage of the terrorist attack.

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“The Speaker of Somali Parliament has the responsibility of handling the impeachment motion in accordance with the rule of law to restore public confidence in government leaders. The public would have the opportunity to see and understand the merits of the serious allegations labelled against President Hassan Sh. Mohamud.”

Speaker Jawari Under Pressure For Stalled Impeachment Motion

04 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 1,296 Words

Political crisis are part of democratic system of governance but it can be avoided or properly managed by good quality leadership that adheres to the rule of law, good policy, and to a well-defined, transparent procedures, and practices in order to have a trustworthy government. The handling of impeachment motion against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is a major challenge to the leadership quality of parliament Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari who must ensure the practice of differentiating political arguments from constitutional and legal arguments. The frivolous claims of constitutionality and unconstitutionality of an argument by everyone in the media must be challenged and corrected through rulings, opinions, and decisions of legitimate institutions and processes.

The Speaker’s principal responsibility is to make parliament’s activities consistent with pre-agreed norms, procedures, and practices founded on legal, administrative, and common sense principles with the aim of improving public confidence in Parliament and whole government. Stalled process of impeachment motion fans social conflict, speculations, and erodes nation building and state building efforts and hopes.

Article 61 and 1 of the provisional constitution establishes the political, legal, and moral responsibility of members of parliament who in fulfilling their duties should be guided by the best interests of the nation as whole. This reflects the quote of Edmund Burke: “Parliament is not a congress of ambassadors from different and hostile interests; which interests each must maintain, as an agent and advocate, against other agents and advocates; but parliament is a deliberative assembly of one nation, with one interest, that of the whole; where, not local purposes, not local prejudices ought to guide, but the general good, resulting from the general reason of the whole. You choose a member indeed; but when you have chosen him, he is not a member of Bristol, but he is a member of parliament.”