23 Sept 2011 – Daily Monitoring Report
Key Headlines:
- Somali Parliament Committee calls on immediate corruption probe
- Somali PM to address UN Special session on Somalia
- OIC office in Mogadishu distributes 4500 tons of Corn
- President Kibaki and Mr. Jean Ping discuss Somalia
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali Parliament Committee calls on immediate corruption probe
22 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 261 words
Somali parliament’s committee for finance has urged the United Nations to immediately start probing the allegedly corruption with Somali leaders. Suleiman Mohamed Ibrahim, a Somali MP and a member of Somali Parliament’s Finance Committee said in an interview with the media that the United Nations is needed to act quickly to tackle and fight against the corruption which has mired the leadership of the TFG.
He also suggested aid agencies operating in the Horn of Africa nation are to be investigated the same as the leaders of Somalia, adding that they don’t give out food aid to famine victims properly.
A UN official said on Tuesday that corrupt Somali politicians could face travel bans and have their foreign assets frozen under tough new United Nations sanctions, a move that analysts said could also help get desperately needed food aid to the country’s growing number of famine victims.
A team of eight investigators is due to begin work this week. It’s the first time senior Somali politicians could face consequences for corruption in the 20 years since the country dissolved into civil war. The country’s justice system has virtually stopped functioning and there has been no system to hold politicians in the famine-struck Horn of Africa nation to account.
Somali PM to address UN Special session on Somalia
23 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 191 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has met world heads in New York, USA where the United Nations are holding a series of meetings. The Somali Prime Minister is said to have held talks with Gabon president Ali Ben Bongo, Malaysian foreign Affairs Minister Malaysia Dato’ Sri Anifah and the head of the Arab League Nabil el Araby.
The Prime Minister appealed to the heads he met to assist Somalia which is suffering from the worst drought in sixty years and called on these countries to initiate several projects in Somalia that will in turn reduce the cases of malnutrition. The leaders also talked of the bilateral ties between Somalia and Gabon, Malaysia, Arab League among other countries.
The Prime Minister of Somalia is set to address the United Nations Security Council on 23rd and the 24th three detailed reports namely general report, political and humanitarian reports and finally attend a special session on 24th by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon that will address the Somali drought crisis, the implementation of the road map as well as how Somalia can be assisted in overcoming the current drought crisis.
Somaliland delegation to visit Mogadishu in historic trip
22 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online, Jowhar Online, and VOA – 156 words
Somaliland plans to send a delegation to Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Saturday in what would mark the breakaway region’s first official visit there in more than 20 years. During a news conference Thursday, Somaliland Vice President Abdirahman Saylici downplayed any political significance, saying the trip is purely humanitarian. The delegation plans to deliver money to help Somali drought and famine victims. Somaliland’s trade, industry and tourism minister, Abdirisaq Khalif, said his region’s people have raised $700,000.
A second delegation from Somaliland will visit Kenya’s massive Dadaab refugee complex near the Somali border on Saturday. Dadaab is home to more than 400,000 Somali refugees. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, but is not recognized by any nation. The region runs its own affairs and has existed in relative peace and stability for two decades.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Somali journalist shot and wounded in Puntland
22 Sept – Source: Shabelle, Mareeg Online, and Bar-Kulan – 136 words
Unidentified armed men on Thursday shot and wounded a Somali journalist in Bosaso port town of the semi-autonomous state of Puntland. Reports emanating from Bosaso, the commercial town of Puntland, suggested that Hassan Mohamed Antenna, a journalist working for a local radio station there, was attacked and critically wounded.
Two gunmen shot him while he was around Odka Nabbada Radio building in the town, reports said. The assailants were reported to have escaped immediately after the shooting of the journalist. After that, the security forces of Puntland reached the spot shortly after the incident and started search operations, witnesses told Shabelle Radio.
Meanwhile, it is not known if there are people who have been arrested in connection with the shooting and wounding of journalist. Health officials at Bosaso town said the wounded reporter is in critical condition.
http://www.shabelle.net/
10 civilians die in battle for Mogadishu
23 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 93 words
At least 10 civilians have been killed and many others injured in heavy clashes between Somali government troops backed by African Union forces and al Shabaab fighters in Mogadishu. The battle broke out in Mogadishu’s northern neighborhoods of Towfiq and Yaqshid after al Shabaab fighters launched attacks on TFG forces. Two Somali soldiers and scores of al Shabaab fighters were killed during the skirmishes. Over 35 local residents were also injured as the two sides exchanged heavy gunfire and barrages of mortar shells. Somali ambulance workers transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
Turkey, Sudan and Egypt offer 300 secondary scholarships to Somaliland students
22 Sept – Source: Somaliland Press – 297 words
Symposium vis-� -vis scholarships for Somaliland’s secondary school graduates held on Sept/21st/11 at a governmental institution for exams in Hargeisa, Somaliland marks the first of such programmer put forth by the government of Somaliland. The meeting of the scholarships’ contributed by Sudan, Turkey and Egypt which had been partaken by honorable officials of Somaliland government as well as some 300 secondary school graduate students appeared longawaited opportunity for many.
To be eligible for the scholarships the 300 students will undergo and sit in for an exam that will be led by Somaliland’s Ministry of Education and out of those 300 students participating; the top 200 will be eligible and attain scholarships.
The Vice-Minister of Education and Higher education of Somaliland Hon. Ali Hamud Jibril in his remarks to the press said “ As a ministry, one of our policies is to focus on methods giving rise to more scholarships exclusively accessible to secondary school students, similar to these scholarships munificently contributed by the Turkish, Sudanese and Egyptians governments.”
Somalia’s military court endorsed over execution of murderers
22 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle – 142 words
The TFG’s Military Court has been endorsed and supported after a meeting by members of the parliament and local elders on Thursday. The MPs and elders jointly said the execution by Somalia’s military court is well-appreciated and could lessen the meaningless killings in the capital.
During the meeting, the participants strongly opposed a report issued by Amnesty International and Human Rights over the Somali military court verdicts. Abdurrahman Mohamoud Farah Janaqow, a Somali MP and former Religious Affairs minister, said that the rights groups’ report is unacceptable and unbearable.
He says that since the designation of Hassan Mohamed Hussein Mungab, the current judge of the court, there has been big changes, noting that the daily meaningless killings have declined. Also, Hawo Abdullahi Qiyad, a Somali female MP, pointed out that Amnesty International is needed to offer an apology for the report.
Turkish medics offer their life-saving services to Galkayo people, Mudug region
23 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 185 words
A team of ten Turkish doctors have arrived in Somalia’s central city of Galkayo, where they are set to offer free medical services in one of the main hospitals in the city, Mudug region. Puntland’s information minister Ali Abdullahi Warsame said the Turkish doctors will be tackling malnutrition related complications in the city, as well as general surgery and cleft repairing.
One of the Turkish doctors said there medical services will be helpful to needy people in the city who could not afford to get proper medications as they face one of the worst drought and famine crisis in the last six decades.
Locals and area authorities praised the Turkish government for its continuous support to the Somali people during this time of crisis in the country. Meanwhile, the Anatolia news agency reported on Wednesday that Turkish doctors have treated nearly 15,000 patients in the past month in famine-stricken Somalia.
Over 22 Turkish people, including technical personnel, have served in �‡adır Hospital, which was established by Turkey’s Ministry of Health in Mogadishu, including experts on infectious diseases, gynecology, pediatrics and general surgery.
REGIONAL MEDIA
President Kibaki and Mr. Jean Ping discuss Somalia
22 Sept – Source: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation KBC – 194 words
President Mwai Kibaki who is in New York held talks yesterday with the African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping. President Kibaki and Mr. Jean Ping discussed issues affecting the Horn of Africa region particularly drought and the Somalia conflict which are the main causes of famine and humanitarian crisis facing the region.
President Kibaki said there is need for the international community to join hands in helping communities that are suffering as a result of the drought currently ravaging the Horn of Africa. The Head of State also said Kenya will seek funding from the World Bank and the African Development Bank to help in financing the humanitarian aid in the Horn of Africa.
On the Somali conflict, the Head of State and the AU Commission Chairman called for the strengthening of the African Union Mission in Somali (AMISOM) saying the force is making a positive impact in the war torn country.
They further noted that the withdrawal of the Al-Shabaab from Mogadishu offers a unique opportunity of legitimizing and strengthening the TFG. Present during the talks were Minister Moses Wetangula, Ambassador Patrick Wamoto and other senior Government officials.
http://www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?
Kenyan linked to Lamu kidnap terrorist group
22 Sept – Source: Daily Nation – 357 words
A Kenyan has been identified as the leader of the Somali pirates who abducted a British tourist two weeks ago. Lamu West district commissioner Stephen Ikua appealed to residents to help track down Mr Famau Kahale, who has been missing since the September 10 raid at Kiwayu Safari beach resort.
“The moment the hotel was attacked, we knew he must be the one responsible because from the look of the issues, the attackers must be people conversant with of the facility,” said Mr Ikua. He added: “He defected to the other side of Somalia in 2006 and joined the former Somalia Islamic Courts and later al Shabaab. He is now a ring leader of a small group of pirates,” Mr Ikua said the suspect had been sending threatening messages to government officials.
“He has been a fugitive for close to seven years and has been writing messages and calling to threaten our officers. We have been looking for him. It is just a matter of time before we apprehend him,” he said.
Mr Ikua said the suspect, whose home is in Lamu East constituency, is holed up in southern Somalia’s port town of Kismayu. “He was part of pirates who hijacked a fishing vessel and held some Indian sailors hostage last year. We tried to arrest him but he fled to Somalia and has remained there,” said the administrator.
OIC office in Mogadishu distributes 4500 tons of corn
22 Sept – Source: OIC – 86 words
An agreement was signed on 21 September 2011 in the Somali capital Mogadishu between the Somali National Commission for Disasters Management and the Office of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Mogadishu. The agreement included allocation of 4,500 tons of corn from Sudan’s aid to Somalia, which will be distributed through the OIC Office outside the capital city Mogadishu.
Noteworthy that the OIC Office in Mogadishu had earlier distributed 2800 tons of aid provided to Somalia in the most affected provinces by drought and famine.
http://www.oic-oci.org/topic_
Decades-old camps swollen with new wave of Somali refugees
22 Sept – Source: Almasryalyoum – 1385 words
When volunteers arrive at the Dabaab refugee camp on the Kenya-Somalia border, many believe they are coming to help Somalis suffering from the severe food shortage currently ravaging the horn of Africa. They are half right.
In fact, the camps in this border area are mostly well-established and house hundreds of thousands of refugees from a series of catastrophes, natural and man-made, over the past few decades. Now absorbing new waves of famine victims, these make-shift towns are testimony to Somalia’s troubled recent history, plagued by an unfortunate mixture of crippling civil wars and an inability to deal with natural disasters.
With no permission to enter Kenya proper, and little chance of a secure life back in Somalia, many refugees have opted for a semi-permanent existence in the border camps, relying on handsouts and unable to invest in any kind of independent life. And the camps keep growing.
Approximately 1200 refugees arrive at the UNHCR reception center in Dabaab daily, hungry, exhausted and happy to be out of Somalia. But those escaping the drought-induced famine, which the United Nations says could leave around 750,000 Somalis at risk of starvation, are joining an established refugee camp with a population of 440,000 that dates back 20 years.
Dadaab lies in the sparse desert expanse of northeast Kenya, only eight hours by car from the capital Nairobi, which is humid, green and at an elevation of 1600 meters. Dagahley, one of the three main camps in Dadaab, starts out looking like a bustling, albeit destitute rural city, with clusters of tin-roofed shacks, and even a small marketplace.
After a labyrinth of small mud-houses, and the walled-off NGO headquarters, the tent-city of newcomers becomes visible, and the first glimpses of real tragedy begin to reveal themselves. This is where the semi-stable demeanor of the veteran camp dwellers gives way to the struggling and tentative demeanor of recent arrivals.
“I know there’s food here, but more importantly, it’s safe,” said Abdelqader, upon his arrival from a month-long journey on foot from southern Somalia with his wife and three children. “The political situation is making it very difficult to get any aid into Somalia, where the biggest tragedy is taking place and where the drought is at its worst,” said Shams, a Kenyan aid worker of Somali decent.
http://www.almasryalyoum.com/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
At UN, Tanzanian president urges greater support to fight maritime piracy
22 Sept – Source: UN News Center – 282 words
Tanzania’s president Jakaya Kikwete today urged the international community to boost support for East African countries to combat maritime piracy, telling the General Assembly that the problem, which has been centered in Somalia, has extended further south in the Indian Ocean.
Mr. Kikwete told the Assembly’s annual general debate that 13 ships had been attacked by pirates – including five that were hijacked – in Tanzania’s territorial waters since last year. “If we don’t succeed in stopping these attacks they may disrupt shipping services and impact negatively our economy,” he said.
“We need the support of the international community to help build capacity to fight piracy,” the Tanzanian leader added. He welcomed the readiness by some States to strengthen the capacity of courts and prisons in the region to deal with captured pirates.
In his address Mr. Kikwete noted that democracy was taking root in Africa and that peace now prevailed in almost the entire continent, except in Somalia, which continues to need the support of the United Nations and the African Union to restore peace and stability.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/
Somalia famine: World’s response ‘unforgivable’
22 Sept – Source: BBC – 245 words
Calls to arms do not get much more urgent, or more emphatic. Ken Menkhaus explicitly compares the current famine – and more specifically, the world’s response – to the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Not surprising, you might say, given that he’s writing on behalf of the American advocacy group, enough.
Such shrill, provocative language may help, or may undermine his case – refer to the whole debate over Darfur and genocide – but it is encouraging to see him take aim, with such rousing vigour at all sides in Somalia’s wretched status quo.
Nobody gets off lightly. Somalia’s Western-backed “slippery” transitional government is accused of “massive corruption and food aid diversion”. The Islamic world is urged to step up and put far more pressure on al-Shabaab and its “nonnegotiable moral obligation to open up… to unimpeded famine relief”.
President Barack Obama is implicitly accused of dithering, and of allowing various competing wings of the US government to disagree over whether to prioritize humanitarian action, or counter-terrorism.
Borrowing loosely from Iraq, Mr. Menkhaus calls for an international “diplomatic surge” to shame and force Somalia’s leaders into giving unimpeded access to the starving. If that fails – should the world sit back, or send in the troops? Let me know what you think.
I’ve just left Libya but have been below the radar for almost a week after an unexpected detour to a Tripoli hospital – I’ll write about that little adventure in the next day or so.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
US using controversial money-transfer system to deliver aid in Somalia
22 Sept – Source: The Washington Post / AP – 276 words
The United States are using a controversial money-transfer system to deliver aid directly to Somali famine victims and keep it out of the hands of militants. The director of USAID, Raj Shah, told The Associated Press Thursday that aid agencies have had to resort to creative ways to prevent the militant group al Shabaab from seizing aid.
“In Somalia, we have had to really innovate how we do this work,” he said. Shah was discussing the response with officials from other countries in New York during the meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. Shah says the U.S. and U.N. officials are now using the hawala system to deliver food vouchers. U.S.
Authorities have long complained that the informal network for money exchange common in the Muslim world is a conduit for al Shabaab and other groups accused of terrorism. Al Shabaab controls most of the famine ravage area in Somalia and won’t let international aid groups into the territories it controls.
Shah says the partners including U.N. agencies are helping to identify who in Somalia should receive the vouchers that can be spent locally on food. Merchants in Somalia can then convert vouchers into cash through hawala contacts. The effort is a response to the challenges posed by al Shabaab attacks on convoys of aid trucks used to bring in food.
The United Nations says that more than 4 million people are suffering from a food crisis in Somalia, and that 750,000 of those people are at risk of death in the next four months. Shah says that he is particularly worried that seasonal rains in the region could intensify the tragedy by spreading waterborne disease among a population that is weakened by malnutrition.