December 4, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
International Community Condemns Renewed Outbreak Of Fighting In Galkayo
03 December – Source: UNSOM – 341 Words
The United Nations, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU), the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Italy have strongly condemned the renewed outbreak of hostilities in the Somali city of Galkayo. In a joint press statement, Thursdayevening, the organizations called on all parties to immediately cease fire and reopen talks to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the underlying issues dividing them.“We have confirmed reports of heavy fighting that broke out in Gaalkacyo at approximately 10 a.m.today and escalated, at a time when the two parties were to begin the disengagement of their forces from the frontlines. This highly regrettable development has occurred in spite of the Galkayo Agreement that was signed by the Presidents of Puntland and Galmudug yesterday afternoon, under which the Galmudug and Puntland leaders committed to respect an immediate cessation of hostilities, pull back their forces, allow the return of displaced civilians and start dialogue on reconciliation,” they said. .
The organizatons warned that the international community was not going to tolerate impunity and the continued needless killing of innocent civilians: “We encourages the parties and the Federal Government of Somalia to explore the possibility of deploying impartial observers to ensure compliance with the agreed ceasefire and identify spoilers who seek to undermine agreements like the one signed in Galkayo on Wednesday”. “Those found to be responsible for the continued violation of the ceasefire that took effect yesterday and the killing and displacement of civilians must be held accountable. Any deliberate shelling of civilian areas of Gaalkacyo may constitute crimes against humanity that must be fully investigated and vigorously prosecuted,” reads their statement. The international partners of Somali reiterated their readiness to support the peace efforts spearheaded by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke. They further called on the elders of the communities of north and south Galkayo, together with the leaders of Galmudug and Puntland, “to demonstrate leadership, restrain the fighting forces, and bring the conflict to an end once and for all.”
Key Headlines
- International Community Condemns Renewed Outbreak Of Fighting In Galkayo (UNSOM)
- AU Special Representative For Somalia Ambassador Madeira Formally Assumes Office (AMISOM)
- Puntland and Galmudug Heads of State In Galkayo Crisis Meeting (Wacaal Media)
- Uneasy Calm Returns To Galkayo Following Deadly Clashes (Shabelle News)
- AMISOM Force Commander Visits Troops In Beletweyne (AMISOM)
- Out of Somalia’s Civil War Rises A Disability Center Turning Lives Around (Takepart)
PRESS STATEMENT
AU Special Representative For Somalia, Ambassador Madeira, Formally Assumes Office
04 December – Source: AMISOM – 236 Words
Ambassador Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira has formally assumed office today as the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC), for Somalia and Head of AMISOM. He takes over from his predecessor Ambassador Maman Sambo Sidikou.
“I take over as the head of AMISOM at a critical point in the history of Somalia, when the country is entering a rigorous political phase, with elections planned next year. Our priority will be to ensure, that together with Somali security forces, we provide a secure environment conducive for statebuilding. I commend my predecessor Ambassador Maman Sidikou, the entire team at AMISOM, the Federal Government and other partners for the massive achievements already made in stabilizing Somalia, and look forward to working with all to make even bigger strides,” said Ambassador Madeira on his arrival in Mogadishu.
Given his experience in diplomacy, counter-terrorism as well as in peace and reconciliation initiatives across the continent, Ambassador Madeira is expected to lead in building on the tremendous achievements made by AMISOM on both the political and Security fronts over the past few years. Born on 4 April 1954, in Beira, Mozambique, Madeira is a career diplomat who has served in high profile positions in his home country, the African Union and United Nations. Ambassador Madeira was appointed AU Special Representative for Somalia and Head of AMISOM by the AU Commission Chairperson Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on 7 October 2015.
NATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland and Galmudug Heads of State In Galkayo Crisis Meeting
04 December – Source: Wacaal Media – 59 Words
News reaching our Galkayo news desk indicate that a high profile meeting has today started kicked off in Galkayo bringing together heads of Galmudug and Puntland states. Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke is chairing the meeting, which according to our sources, will discuss how to immediately withdraw forces from the war front. The closed-door meeting is being held at the Abdullahi Yussuf airport.
Uneasy Calm Returns To Galkayo Following Deadly Clashes
04 December – Source: Shabelle News – 186 Words
Uneasy calm has returned to the central Somali town of Galkayo on Friday, after deadly clashes between forces loyal to the rival states of Galmudug and Puntland over the last few days. At least 10 people have been killed in renewed clashes that broke out in Barahley, southern Galkayo, despite a ceasefire deal signed by the leaders of Galmudug and Puntland on Wednesday.However, there were no gunshot sounds on Friday but Galkayo was a near ghost town with few people in the vicinity and little activity going on. Thursday’s fighting violated the peace agreement brokered by Prime Minister of the Federal Government, Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke as well as Jubbaland and South West state leaders. Fighting in Galkayo town forced nearly 40,000 people to flee from their homes, most of whom are yet to return to their villages since the conflict erupted a week ago. Nearly 40 people are believed to have been killed in the clashes, most of them being civilians. The current conflict started in mid November after officials from the two states disagreed on the construction of a street in Galkayo town.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM Force Commander Visits Troops In Beletweyne
04 December – Source: AMISOM – 452 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Force Commander Lt. Gen Jonathan Rono visited troops in Belet Weyne, the headquarters of AMISOM Sector 4, on Thursday 03 November 2015, to get a first-hand account of the situation on the ground. He was briefed by the military leadership on key achievements in the sector, challenges that exist and future plans, regarding security. AMISOM troops in Sector 4 are charged with ensuring the security of the Hiiran and Galgadud regions. AMISOM troops from Djibouti and Ethiopia are deployed in the sector. The troops have recently liberated the towns of Masaas, Ceel buur, Maqakoor, Guricel, Halgen, Ceel Ali and several villages. As a result, new administrative posts have now been established in Ceel buur, Muqakoor and Halgen.
In a brief to the Force Commander, the Sector Commander Col. Abdourahman Abdi Dhembil, said residents had been terrorized by Al Shabaab for several years. He added that the militants assassinated community leaders, illegally taxed populations and denied them basic social services. He explained that due to isolation, the area lacked basic infrastructure such as roads, schools, hospitals and access to safe water. The troops in Belet Weyne work with; and support the Somali National Army (SNA) in securing the region. They have helped reconstruct military camps including the Lamagalay camp, which was built through donations from AMISOM soldiers, who gave up part of their pay to assist their counterparts in the Somali National Army. The troops also train and mentor SNA soldiers, have been involved in the rehabilitation of the Belet Weyne airstrip, construction of the Boulay and Bulo Burde airstrips, support to the internally displaced persons (IDPs), provision of medical assistance to the local population and mediation of clan conflicts, among others. They also share their rations with needy families in the region.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“DAN, where Hassan has been for more than 20 years, operates in five centers across Somaliland and runs on a modest annual budget of approximately $120,000. This figure covers everything from equipment, prosthetics, and wheelchairs to salaries for physicians, maintenance crew, and security guards,”
Out of Somalia’s Civil War Rises A Disability Center Turning Lives Around
03 December – Source: Takepart – 942 Words
The year was 1991, and Ali Jama Hassan was exhausted, famished, and fleeing civil war in Somalia. Then about 23 years old, he was traveling in an armed convoy with more than 1,000 other university students. Earlier, the group had been so desperate, they had been reduced to eating leaves “like goats,” says Hassan—who, now in his late 40s, recounts the story with a soft laugh to TakePart.“Then we start to see the first Ethiopian border guard,” he recalls. “[In] my life, it was the first time to see an Ethiopian. Because Somalia and Ethiopia were historical enemies, when we are at school—‘They are monsters, they are not normal people’—that’s what we were taught.”
While Somalia and Ethiopia have violently clashed over border disputes since the 1960s, they called a détente in recent years. Hassan explained what went through his mind as they came upon the guard: “Then, I said ‘Ah! An Ethiopian is a human, really.’ That is in my brain. In fact, they were so nice. They welcomed us.” Civil war has raged in Somalia for more than 20 years. While it stemmed from resistance to military dictator Siad Barre in the 1980s, Barre was overthrown, and since then, clan-based armed factions have competed for influence and power, eventually leading to the total collapse of the state in 1991. Amid the overthrow of the government, the former British protectorate declared its independence on May 18, 1991. It has since established a separate government and currency but is unrecognized as a country by the international community.
TOP TWEETS
@fqdayib:When will #SomaliLivesMatter more than clan affiliation? We are all implicated in what is happening in#Somalia because we know the killers.
@omabha :Out of Somalia’s Civil War Rises a Disability Center Turning Lives Around – TakePart http://dlvr.it/Cw5xbK #Somalia
@XHNews:Car bomb in #Somalia capital kills local journalist,#AlShabaab blamed for it (file pic) http://xhne.ws/69ppR
@latest_strike:US confirms it targeted an al #Shabaab leader in an airstrike in #Somalia on December 2. Details scarce beyond that. https://www.
@ElmanPeaceHRC :Canadians Are Leading The Conversation About Gender Violence http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen Jonathan Rono, with the Sector 4 Commander Col. Abdourahman Abdi Dhembil.
Photo: AMISOM.