December 28, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somalia Arrests Two Iranians Over Shiite Indoctrination In Mogadishu
28 December – Source: Hiiraan Online- 292 Words
Somalia’s security forces arrested two Iranians it accused of converting locals to Shiite doctrine, a development which underlines the tricky relationship between the Sunni horn of Africa nation and the overwhelmingly Shia country of Iran.According to authorities, the two were arrested during a religious ceremony joined by dozens of locals at a hotel in Mogadishu last week.Somalia’s intelligence agency paraded the two Iranian men Muhsin Hussein and Ruhu Allah Qulam Muhsin before the media Sunday, accusing them of ‘disseminating’ the Shiite doctrine among Mogadishu residents.“Their mission was an outright assault against Somali people and their religious conviction.” an intelligence official said. He requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The official also accused the Iranian of arranging mass-weddings for locals during a religious ceremony marking the birthdate of Prophet Mohammed as parts of a process which he said aims to convert ‘many’ to Shiitism doctrine.No comment could be reached from the Iranian mission in Mogadishu on the development.Ideology clashes and arguments between Shiites and Sunnis date back to the death in 632 of Islam’s founder, the Prophet Muhammad. Tribal Arabs who followed him were split over who should inherit what was both a political and a religious office, according to a report by Pew Research Centre, a Washington-based think tank.
The development has sparked a social media outrage with some Somalis calling for the ‘expulsion’ of Iranians in the country, while others urged Somalia’s government to use to a more cautious diplomatic tone with Iran than expulsions, a scenario which may threaten relations between the two countries.“This is just an issue that can be handled through diplomatic means – expulsions will not help.” said Ali Abdi, a twitter use in Minneapolis.
Key Headlines
- Somalia Arrests Two Iranians Over Shiite Indoctrination In Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
- Interior Minister Led Delegation Arrives In Jowhar (Radio Muqdisho)
- Al-Shabaab Attacks Government Forces Base In Qoryoley (Wacaal Media)
- Somalia’s First Female Presidential Candidate Inspired By Rwanda’s Recovery Process ( New Times)
- Al-Qaida-linked Somalia Militants Claim Killing Four Security Troops In Northeast Kenya Ambush (Japan Times )
- Somalia Is No Longer A Failed State: Rhetoric Or Reality? (Somali Current)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Interior Minister Led Delegation Arrives In Jowhar
28 December – Source: Radio Muqdisho – 117 Words
A delegation of government officials led by the Minister for Interior, Abdirahman Mohamed Hussien (Odawaa) has arrived in Jowhar, the headquarters of the middle Shabelle region. The delegation was received warmly.
The delegation includes the Minister for internal security , the fisheries minister, youth affairs minister and State Minister for the presidency. The government delegation was accompanied by Members of Parliament from Hiiraan and the Middle Shabelle region. The delegation was received at the Jowhar airport by the governor of Middle Shabelle, Ali Gudlawe , his deputy and other leaders.The minister for interior and his delegation will meet the community in Jowhar regarding the process to establish a state for the two regions of Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan .
Al-Shabaab Attacks Government Forces Base In Qoryoley
28 December – Source: Wacaal Media – 92 Words
Al-Shabaab militants last night raided a government forces base in Qoryoley town of lower shabelle region. A fierce gun battle broke out between the two sides in the town’s Wadajir and Hodan neighborhoods. A senior member of the government forces told Wacaal media on condition of anonymity that they killed four militants in the process. Sources say AMISOM forces in the outskirts of the town were not involved. Additional reports indicate the militants have taken over the town but we could not independently verify this. Qoryoley lies 120km Northwest of Mogadishu.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s First Female Presidential Candidate Inspired By Rwanda’s Recovery Process
28 December – Source:News Times – 1562 Words
The Federal Republic of Somalia is among African countries that are scheduled to have elections in the coming year. Among the persons who have put their names forward as candidates is Fadumo Dayid, the country’s first female candidate.Dayid, who currently resides in Finland where she moved in the early 1990s as a refugee, presents her candidature at a time when her country is not only going through civil strife but also insurgency from Al Shabaab terror group. She was recently in Rwanda for the High Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human rights and governance in Africa.
The New Times’ Collins Mwai caught up with her and she shared her thoughts on the prospects of her country Somalia, her candidacy, women’s role in leadership, and Rwanda.Below are the excerpts:
Among the purposes of the forum you were attending was to look into reasons why women have not been very active in politics on the continent. As a politician, what are the reasons behind this?
I am not a politician in a sense that I do not make a livelihood out of politics; I am not a career politician. I am a lay person who feels that the time has come for us to take power and responsibility from politicians because they are not doing what they set out to do. Rather than sit and complain, I am of the opinion that we take charge.In terms of why women are not very visible in politics, why their numbers are negligible in some societies, including Somalia, it is because some societies have not realised that in order for a country to progress and have sustainable development and peace, they must ensure participation of both women and youth in the development programmes.Women also face cultural, structural and institutional barriers in some communities, in some societies it is a combination of factors and in others it is individual barriers.It is not easy for women to be active in politics in some communities. For instance, just by declaring my candidacy for presidency, it has resulted into getting death threats.This discourages women from political ambitions.
Al-Qaida-linked Somalia Militants Claim Killing Four Security Troops In Northeast Kenya Ambush
28 December – Source: Japan Times – 196 Words
The Somali Islamist group Al Shabaab said it ambushed a Kenyan security vehicle in remote northeastern Kenyaon Sunday, killing four members of the security forces.The Kenyan Red Cross said in a post on Twitter that two police officers had been killed and two others injured, while a Kenyan police spokesman said he was unaware of the attack.“Security has been beefed up in the region. Tension remains high,” the Red Cross said.
Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al Shabaab’s military spokesman, told Reuters the militants had ambushed the car on the main road in Mandera County, on the Somali border, killing four Kenyan soldiers, and seizing their weapons.The statement made no mention of police.Al- Shabaab and officials often given conflicting details and death tolls.
Al Shabaab, which seeks to overthrow Somalia’s Western-backed government and impose a strict version of Sharia law, has carried out regular assaults in neighboring Kenya in retaliation for Kenya contributing troops to an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.The attack in Mandera County came two days after al Shabaab, which has links to al-Qaida, targeted two Kenyan security vehicles in Lamu County, killing at least one police officer.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Somalis can only get past of the standing problems if they hold genuine Somali-owned reconciliation and build a strong Somali army and police who are financially and morally ready to keep up the security. I urge Somali leaders to own the definitions of their political terms and path of their policy,”
Somalia Is No Longer A Failed State: Rhetoric Or Reality?
26 December – Source: Somali Current – 1069 Words
The outgoing Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Assistance Mission in Somalia Nicholas Kay speaks to the media and emphasizes that Somalia is no longer of a failed state. Many Somalis hail his remarks in different ways. Some proponents of the federal government applaud the end of state failure as a positive signal taken toward peace and progress while many critics consider his comments as baloney and empty rhetoric. People have strong differences of opinion on social media whether Mr. Kay helped bring a stable and peaceful Somalia.
Many questions swirl around many people’s minds today – Is Kay taking the exclusive credit for country’s improved security? Did Somalia grow out of state failure for real? Whatever the case is, Kay’s remark has coincided with the crucial moment when he was about to complete his assignment. Therefore, if you listen to the local voices, you may realize that there will never be a definitive answer to the question of whether it has been a success or a failure. Regardless of how many perceive him as a political savior or saboteur, Somalia’s security challenges, in fact, is far worse than ever before.
Today, Somalis can’t negate the insecurity, corruption and internal political brawls. Neither Kay nor other foreign stakeholders can fix the inherent power struggle, and burgeoning regional animosity with just blank words. Somalis were better off under the factional leaders than they are under this federal government now in terms of security. At that time, people did not experience suicide attacks from the members of Islamist militants.Let me define what failed state means. When a country is characterized as a failed state, such country can no longer carry out the basic functions such as security, justice, education, and governance due to its perpetual violence or presence of extreme poverty. The questions that we need to answer are – can Somalis enjoy everlasting peace and security? Can the government maintain its security, provide public services or free education to its citizens and end poverty? Is Somalia a sovereign country today?
TOP TWEETS
@NewTimesRwanda :#Somalia‘s first female presidential candidate inspired by #Rwanda‘s recovery processhttp://buff.ly/1OogpnE
@Somaliland26jun:How a breakaway region of #Somalia hopes to build a new country http://wpo.st/zDvz0 #somaliland@mary_harper
@MoPIC_Somalia:”There are a lot of street children in#Mogadishu, and other cities across #Somalia – we are planning to provide them their basic rights.
@MoPIC_Somalia :”I can tell you now that the international community have expressed their support for the Somali National Development Plan..” @ADirshe
@Tuuryare_Africa:Somalia’s intelligence soldiers arrested 2# Iranian nationals for spreading Shia ideology in #Mogadishu,#Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, poses for a photo with members of Somali women organisation during his farewell lunch in Mogadishu, Somalia, on December 23, 2015. Photo: UNSOM.