22 Sept 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- International Peace Day celebrated in several Somali cities
- Somali airport and logistics: We boycott High Court decision to SKA Company
- Boy 12 carrying explosives arrested in Mogadishu
- Al Shabaab seize farms in Middle Shabelle
- OIC and world heads address Somali drought crisis
- Al Shabaab fighters government soldiers exchange fire in Mogadishu
- PM Abdiweli Mohamed Ali hails UAE’S relief efforts
PRESS STATMENT
Press release from the presidency of the republic of Somalia
21 Sept – Source: Somali National News Agency SONNA – 336 words
On the 2nd of September, 2011 Amnesty International issued a Press Release in connection with the State of Emergency proclaimed by the President of the Somali Republic covering the areas vacated by al Shabaab, (a group recognized as a terrorist organization by the International Community.), and the camps of the displaced people who were driven from their regions by the drought as well as by the war being waged by the same group. The report drew a particular attention to the work of the Armed Forces Court which is fulfilling its lawful responsibilities. It is the duty of the Somali Government to protect its citizens from acts that infringe their rights, and their right to live in peace.
Amnesty Inter. is well aware that Somalia is a signatory to the Human Rights Convention. It is also well aware of the difficulties that the country and the people are facing, which makes it necessary that the International Community and the Somali government should act together for solutions. And it would be better if A.I. Advised on the factual realities that exist inside Somalia. The Somali Government is working very hard to help in the resettlement of the displaced people and those returning to their homes after fleeing them due to the actions of al Shabaab. At the same time the Government will oppose, and will not be afraid of any one, who wants to harm them whether this comes from civilians or armed men.
Our country has its Constitution and its Laws. And every court will apply the law, especially the Military Court which will apply its jurisdiction according to the law and fulfill its responsibility in the areas they liberate from armed groups such as al Shabaab in order to protect the civilian population. This court has been constituted under the National Laws. The government promises, taking into account the interest of the people, to stop any crime being committed against its citizens. Somalia is a sovereign nation and is more concerned about human rights than any other organization.
Statement by UN special representative for Somalia Dr. Mahiga on the occasion of International Peace Day
21 Sept – Source: United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) – 300 words
United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/282 calls on all Member States and organizations the world over to commemorate the International Peace Day in an appropriate manner, through various activities, including public awareness, purposefully to strengthen the ideals of peace and alleviate tensions and conflicts.
One of the objectives of our mission is to promote peace and reconciliation in Somalia. The theme for this year focuses on “Peace and Democracy” which is a core value for the United Nations and is crucial for the human rights of the Somali people whose country has been torn apart by war for over twenty years.
Despite the devastating famine that still rages in Somalia, we have recently seen the first hopeful moments in years on the political side. A series of landmark positive developments, starting with the signing of the Kampala Accord and continuing with the successful Consultative Meeting in Mogadishu which resulted in the endorsement of a roadmap for ending the transition. The withdrawal of Al Shabaab from Mogadishu likewise gives us reason for hope.
With these encouraging positive developments in the country I call on all Somalis to contribute their collective resources and energies to embark on outreach and reconciliation initiatives, in particular to those outside the peace process, and to solidify relations with emerging administrations.
Peace is a fundamental right. The citizens of Somalia, the Diaspora, the displaced and refugees have waited two decades and have endured great privations. As we celebrate this Peace Day, finally, we have a reason to hope that there is light at the end of the long dark tunnel of recent Somali history.
http://www.garoweonline.com/
SOMALI MEDIA
International Peace Day celebrated in several Somali cities
21 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan, Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 305 words
The commemoration of International Peace Day has been marked in several cities of Somalia, including the war-torn capital, Mogadishu. People in several Somali cities have taken part in various activities and organize events centered on the theme of the day “Peace and Democracy” as Somalis have been longing for peace for the last two decades.
A colourful ceremony was held in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district attended by Somalia’s Interior and National Security Minister Abdisamad Maalim Mohamud in marking the significant day. The minister praised the area’s administration and locals in the district for lobbying for peace and fighting militants creating havoc in the district. He promised that the government will do every thing to boost the moral of the locals as far as security is concerned.
Elsewhere, a similar ceremony was held in Garowe, the capital city of the breakaway region of Puntland. Several government officials and international aid agencies in the region converged in the Puntland’s Development and Research Centre (PDRC) in Garowe to mark the day. PDRC’s director Abdirahman Abdulle Shuke has noted the significance of marking the day, saying that peace as a fundamental right is much needed in the Horn of Africa.
Somali government says it will clear al Shabaab from whole country
22 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Risala and Kulmiye – 76 words
The TFG has on Wednesday declared that it would clear al Shabaab from the whole of Somalia. Deputy Premier and Defense Minister of Somali government, Hussein Arab Issa speaking at a Peace Day occasion held in Mogadishu yesterday 21st September, stated that his government would remove al Shabaab from the country.
EU officials visit Somali refugee camp in Uganda
22 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 125 words
Officials from the European Union and other UN aid agencies on Wednesday visited Nakivale refugee camp in western Uganda, where thousands of Somali refugees are pitching tents. The officials were assessing the living conditions of the refugees in the camp and later promised to assist them in health and education. They also promised to establish extra heath and education facilities in the camp.
The refugees, mainly Somalis, have been complaining about the poor health conditions in the camp. The visiting officials praised the refugees for their small scale business in eking livings as they stay in their camps. The Nakivale refugee camp, which was opened in 1994, is home to over eight thousand Somali refugees who fled their country after the fall of Somalia’s central government in 1991.
Somali Information Minister: al Shabaab gives guns, bombs as awards to young children
22 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online, Radio Mogadishu – 106 words
The TFG’s Minister of Information Affairs, Abdikadir Hussein Jahweyn stated that al Shabaab have given guns and bombs as awards to young children, state media said. “It’s very bad and brutal giving guns and explosive elements to youth as an award” the Information minister said.
Boy, 12, carrying explosives arrested in Mogadishu
21 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 267 words
An al Shabaab-linked 12-year-old boy carrying explosives has been arrested by TFG security forces in a security crackdown in Mogadishu, an official said Wednesday. Adan Fidow Barre, the director of explosives prevention for the Somali National Security Agency (NSA) said the boy, Jabril Mohamed Ali, was intercepted while carrying an explosive device and cellphones that the director said were intended to detonate the devices. “The explosive device was aimed at harming the officials of the government and civilians in Mogadishu and this was plotted by the extremist Al Qaeda-inspired group al Shabaab,” Barre said at a news conference.
“It was an attempt of a suicide attack by al Shabaab using this very young Somali boy as equipment to conduct their devil and vindictive act, but fortunately Somali security managed to thwart the attack and save the life of the youngster,” he explained.
The director stated the arrest of Ali and the seizure of the explosive device came with the help of government soldiers who had defected from al Shabaab. The boy told reporters that he was sent by al Shabaab to kill government officials or soldiers by committing suicide.
“I have been in Elasha Biyaha neighborhood (18 kilometers south of Mogadishu) where my family live in. I don’t know more about what al Shabaab loaded on me…,” Ali lamented. On Aug. 6, al Shabaab, which has declared its allegiance to al Qaeda, abandoned most of Mogadishu districts in what it called a tactical move but vowed to continue its war against the transitional government and African Union peacekeepers in the capital.
Al Shabaab seize farms in Middle Shabelle
21 Sept – Source: Somalia repots – 77 words
Al Shabaab are yet again harassing Somali citizens living in areas under their control as they have begun taking over several farms in the districts of Middle Shabelle region, according to farmers living in the districts and villages near Jowhar and Bal’ad districts.
“The militias have begun harassing and taking over the farms by force in and around the districts of the Middle Shabelle region” a local farmer told Somalia report on the condition of anonymity.
OIC and world heads address Somali drought crisis
22 Sept – Source: SONNA, Isria – 377 words
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu met with the President of Djibouti HE Mr. Ismael Omar Guelleh on September 21, 2011 on the sidelines of the Annual UN General Assembly in New York. They reviewed OIC-Djibouti bilateral relations and discussed preparations for next year’s OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ conference, which will be hosted by Djibouti. The Secretary General also discussed the situation in Somalia and the OIC Humanitarian efforts there. President Guelleh expressed his appreciation of OIC efforts in alleviating the suffering of the Somalis.
http://www.sonnanews.net/en/
Al Shabaab fighters, government soldiers exchange fire in Mogadishu
21 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online – 87 words
Fighters of al Shabaab and government soldiers are reported to have exchanged fire in Dharkenlay district in Mogadishu killing 3 TFG soldiers. The clash came as al Shabaab fighters organized an ambush against some government soldiers who were checking civilians in a passenger bus in Kah-shikal village in Dharkenlay district, killing 3 soldiers in the event, reports said.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
“We will suppress al Shabaab soon” says Somali army official
22 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 150 words
The Deputy Chief of Somali Army General Abdikarim Yusuf Adam better known as “Dhagabadan” unveiled the army is committed to soon suppress al Shabaab. In an interview with Shabelle Media Network, Somali army commander, Mr. Adam said the government plans to get rid of al Shabaab from the regions it controls right now. There are battles in the areas under al Shabaab control, such as Bay, Bakol, and Jubba regions, according to the military official who spelled out that the TFG army will soon force the group to flee there.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Ahlu Sunna resolves inter-clan hostilities in central Somalia region
22 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 133 words
Ahlu Sunna administration in central Somalia region of Galgudud has on Wednesday claimed to have made a breakthrough in its efforts to mediate between two warring clan militias who recently fought in parts of the region.
The Group’s Consultative Committee Chairman Omar Abdulkadir told Bar-kulan that his group managed to resolve hostilities between the two clans, adding that area traditional elders also took part in the process. The chairman said they used Somalia’s customary law in resolving differences between the two clans by ordering each one to pay blood compensation from those killed from the other clan within a month.
He added that the negotiation took almost more than two weeks before making the breakthrough. Deadly clashes between the two clans have in the past few weeks claimed the lives of several people in the region.
Somali Airport and Logistics: we boycott High Court decision to SKA Company
21 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online – 96 words
Officials of Somali Airport and Logistics, a local flight agency have on Wednesday boycotted the decision reached by the Somali high court allowing SKA to go ahead with its task in Mogadishu airport legally, reports said. Nor Bo’or Jelle, Deputy Chairperson of Somali Airport and Logistics told the reporters that he was not satisfied by the decision of the Somali high court letting SKA continue its operation in Mogadishu airport.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
REGIONAL MEDIA
OIC Contact Group Meeting on Somalia discuss peace-building and humanitarian assistance
21 Sept – Source: Saudi Press Agency – 168 words
The OIC Contact Group on Somalia met at Ministerial level on 20th September 2011 on the sidelines of the Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers in New York. The meeting reviewed the latest developments in Somalia and received a briefing from the Somali Foreign Minister and the OIC Secretary General.
The meeting deliberated on the peace building process and the restoration of durable peace in Somalia. The meeting commended the Transitional Institutions for ending their dispute by signing and implementing the Kampala Accord and the Roadmap on ending the transition in Somalia.
On the other hand, the meeting expressed its deep sympathy to Somalia in the face of the severe drought and famine afflicting the country and commended the activities of the OIC Humanitarian Coordination Office in Mogadishu. It urged the Member States to channel their humanitarian assistance through the OIC Office on the ground. The meeting also welcomed the establishment of the OIC Trust Fund for Somalia and urged the Member States to generously contribute to it.
Refugee police posts to be upgraded
22 Sept – Source: Nairobi Star – 82 words
All the Kenya police posts in the three refugee camps in Dadaab will be upgraded to full stations and special district officers will be posted to manage the overwhelming refugee population. The lower Northeastern regional commissioner Hassan Farah said Kenya suffered the burden of hosting the largest number of refugees as 400 Somali refugees crossed the border daily due to the famine in their country.
He said the current figure registered by the United Nation High Commission for refugees’ stands at 440,000.
Turkey’s ‘neo-Ottoman’ return to Africa
21 Sept – Source: Africa Review – 201 words As early as last year, the presence of Turkey in Africa was easily noticeable. In an Economist article, Mehmet Buyukeksi, president of Turkey’s exporters’ association, was quoted as saying that Turkish exports to Africa had leapt from $1.5 billion in 2001 to over $10 billion in 2009.
“We believe in the future of Africa,” he said. These days, flag carrier Turkish Airlines flies has more scheduled flights through several African capitals bringing in goods, and people for business deals and even humanitarian activities. Only two weeks ago, over 200 Turkish professional flew into Somalia, a country that has been in turmoil for years. The delegation has already started its reconstruction efforts, even before all the insecurity issues are cleared.
Interestingly, the troublesome al-Shabaab, a terror group that has been opposed to the Transitional Government, was quick to welcome the Turks into the country. The Turkish delegation- including professional in different fields- was part of a pledge delivered earlier in Mogadishu, by none other than the Prime minister himself when he visited the country in August. Accompanying him on the trip was his Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu – who continued on to South Africa and Ethiopia as part of his own African tour.
http://www.africareview.com/
Saudi National Campaign to deliver 2000 tons of dates to victims of famine in Somalia
22 Sept – Source: Saudi Press Agency – 74 words
In implementation of the directives by the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi National Campaign for the Relief of the Somali people started receiving a shipment of Saudi dates in preparation for delivering it to the victims of famine in Somalia. The campaign has initiated coordination for receipt of the 500 tons of dates of a total of 2000 tons to be delivered by sea to Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AFM supports EU training mission in Somalia
22 Sept – Source: The Malta Independent Online – 529 words
For the past 18 months, the Armed Forces of Malta have been continuously supporting the EU’s training mission (EUTM) in Uganda, with six of its members deployed over the period, and a further four prepared for imminent deployment in the coming days. It is envisaged that during this year alone no less than 62 members of the Armed Forces of Malta will be participating in crisis management operations in Georgia, the Gulf of Aden, Italy, Greece, Lebanon, the UK and Uganda.
The EUTM SOMALIA training contingent, based in Bihanga Camp, Uganda, is composed of nine multinational teams hailing from over fifteen EU countries. The mission which was mandated by the EU Council on the 25th of January 2010 operates within the framework of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) in support of UN Security Council resolutions.
The aim of this mission is to make a comprehensible and sustainable contribution towards the development of the Somali Security Forces through the provision of specialist military training to Somali trainees in a bid to provide the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) with a professional security force capable of supporting the Government’s stabilization efforts in the country.
Following the first successful six-month deployment of three Maltese military instructors in April 2010, a second team was deployed to Uganda in January 2011. This second detachment was composed of infantry trainers from 1 Regiment, Armed Forces of Malta. Commenting on his team’s recent deployment, the national contingent commander, Warrant Officer 1st Class Mark Chircop, stated that he was proud to have represented his country on this important mission and that his participation provided him with an exceptional opportunity to put to good use his military knowledge and experiences accumulated over many years of service in the AFM.
As in the previous tour of duty the AFM contingent formed part of a combined Maltese/Irish instructor team operating in Bihanga Camp, Uganda and were responsible for providing Somali non-commissioned officers with military training in infantry drills and tactics. To date over 2000 Somali soldiers have been trained at the Camp with an equivalent number expected to receive similar training over the coming year.
Today, the AFM will be deploying an officer, Capt Chris Attard to the EUTM Headquarters in Kampala, Uganda, as Personal Assistant to the overall Mission Commander. This is a first for the Force. A third AFM instructor team, which is currently being readied for a six month deployment, will also be departing in the coming days.
http://www.independent.com.mt/
PM Abdiweli Mohamed Ali hails UAE’S relief efforts
21 Sept – Source: Inter Press Service – 253 words
Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has hailed relief efforts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) being the first country who profoundly responded to drought and famine victims in Somalia. He said that UAE initiatives towards the victims have strengthened his country’s efforts to limit the effects of the disaster over the Somali people, who are facing difficult humanitarian conditions by all means.
During his meeting with the UAE’s delegation to Somalia led by Ahmed Humaid Al Mazroui, Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA), at the conclusion of their visit to Mogadishu, the Somali Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the delegation for the rehabilitation of a number of vital sectors in the country.
The UAE has taken many initiatives to support the efforts undertaken by his country for the rehabilitation of victims of drought, especially in the health and relief areas, he added and noted that the support is still underway for displaced people in camps which are lacking the most basic necessities of life.
The Somali PM also discussed the results of the UAE delegation’s visit to Somalia, which was aimed at studying the needs of the country in health, educational and humanitarian fields in addition to energy and water services.
The Chairman of the UAE Red Crescent Authority stressed during his meetings with a number of officials in the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) in Mogadishu the RCA’s keenness to promote partnership with the Somali counterparts to reinforce their role in the local arena.
Drought IDPs forced to flee fighting in border town
22 Sept – Source: IRIN News – 420 words
Hundreds of displaced families taking refuge from the drought in a town on the Kenya-Somalia border have been forced to flee fighting between forces loyal to the Somali administration and Al-Shabaab insurgents, said locals. The fighting broke out on 11 September in the town of Eil Waq in Somalia’s southwestern Gedo region. “Our estimate is that 5,700 families [34,200 people] were displaced by the fighting,” Mohamed Ahmed Badiyow, the team leader of Dialog Forewing (DF), an NGO based in Eil Waq, said.
Badiyow said many of those who fled had initially come from the famine-stricken regions of Bay and Bakol while others were from other parts of Gedo. The UN estimates that four million Somalis need assistance, mostly in south-central Somalia, which has been the hardest hit by famine and drought.
Badiyow said the displaced were now scattered in villages on both sides of the border; they had not returned to Eil Waq, despite a lull in the fighting in the past few days. “There are constant rumors that the fighting will resume any time and people are afraid,” he said. “It is that fear [of violence] that is keeping them away and in areas where they have no access to any assistance.”
A local journalist told IRIN that Eil Waq was one of the places Al-Shabaab was likely to target. “They are now targeting areas where they think defense is weak and Eil Waq and many other small towns in Gedo fit that.” He said the group seemed to be more interested “in creating fear and uncertainty than actually holding territory”.