March 23, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Government Denies Al-Shabaab In Control Of Lanta Buro Area
23 March – Source: Shabelle News – 119 Words
The military commanders of the Somali National Army (SNA) have vehemently denied reports that Al-Shabaab militants are in control of Lanta Buro village in Lower Shabelle region after attack. The commander of SNA’s fifth brigade Abdullahi Ali Warsame said in a phone interview with Radio Shabelle that the area is under the full control of the Somali armed forces.
“I can confirm that Al-Shabaab has attacked the village and encountered a fierce resistance from the Somali military forces. The fighters retreated and took only 3 army vehicles in the base,” said Warsame. The commander’s comments came as Al-Shabaab claimed seizing 9 battle wagons from SNA base in Lanta Buro following an overnight attack by heavily armed militants.
Key Headlines
- Government Denies Al-Shabaab In Control Of Lanta Buro Area (Shabelle News)
- Somali Prime Minister In Talks With Elders In Beledweyne City (Shabelle News)
- Hiiraan Administration Appeals For Urgent Aid As Drought Bites The Region (Goobjoog News)
- Kenya Warns Over Incursion Of Fleeing Al-Shabaab Militants (Xinhua)
- Mpeketoni Attack Suspects Dyana Salim And Mahadi Swaleh Freed (Daily Nation)
- Mo Farah: Born In Somalia. Made In Britain (Eurosport)
- Hmong Hip-hop Artist And Somali Journalist Are Among 2016 Bush Fellows (Twincities.com)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Prime Minister In Talks With Elders In Beledweyne City
23 March – Source: Shabelle News – 126 Words
Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke is having separate meetings with the traditional elders and Hiiraan administrations officials in the central town of Beledweyne, reports said. The premier met with elders at Beledweyne headquarters, whereby both sides sought alternatives to defuse the stalemate over the state formation conference in Jowhar which was shadowed by disagreement.
The PM along with ministers and lawmakers arrived in Beledweyne on Tuesday to meet with Hiiraan elders who walked out Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle inter-regional state formation conference in the agricultural town of Jowhar. The information minister of the federal government of Somalia who is accompanying the PM on Beledweyne visit Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareye said “Time is running out” for building the federal state for Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions.
Hiiraan Administration Appeals For Urgent Aid As Drought Bites The Region
23 March – Source: Goobjoog News – 321 Words
Hiraan local administration has urged the international community to help feed inhabitants of the southern region, where rain failure has led to the lowest cereal production in years and cattle dying for lack of water and pasture. A serious drought has taken hold in parts of southern Somalia and thousands of people are facing significant water and food shortages. “I wish to appeal for emergency food aid to save many people before the situation gets out of hand,” Osman Geedi Elmi, Bulaburde District Commissioner told Goobjoog news.
Elmi said that severe water shortage and the intensifying drought left many households in the region more destitute. He spelled out that the lives of hundreds of families mainly women and children might be in danger or die of thirst and hunger. “The current famine situation in the district actually demands urgency, not only assessments and faroff responses, because many people are dying in the district on a daily basis for lack of help,” said Elmi. On Sunday Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud issued an urgent appeal for international aid as drought continues to strike the country.
“The situation is very severe. The conditions are very harsh,” said President Mohamud. He added “Drought and water shortages have hit many places of the country, the situation may be calmed if these areas get rain in April but before then the situation should be considered urgently and extend aid to the drought affected areas.” Acute water crisis has hit some villages in Middle Shabelle and Hiiraan regions following a drought that has shrunk pasture and water resources in the region.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya Warns Over Incursion Of Fleeing Al-Shabaab Militants
23 March – Source: Xinhua – 230 Words
Kenyan police say they have stepped up surveillance across the country, warning that Al-Shabaab militants, fleeing military operations in southern Somalia, may sneak into the country. Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinett, on Tuesday urged Kenyans to remain vigilant, saying the militants may stage attacks in Kenya.
“Al-Shabaab elements have been fleeing in different directions with some heading towards our border,” Boinett said in a statement issued in Nairobi. He asked the public to report any suspicious person or activity to police immediately. The warning comes after Kenyan troops, part of the African Union (AU) force in Somalia, killed 34 Al-Shabaab militants and captured a middle-level commander in two operations in Somalia over the weekend.
Two Kenyan soldiers however died in the attacks, said army spokesman, David Obonyo. Boinett also called on private security providers to tighten security. “Hotel operators and their innkeepers as well as those offering their premises for short lets are advised to thoroughly scrutinize their prospective clients before admitting them,” the army chief said.
Mpeketoni Attack Suspects Dyana Salim And Mahadi Swaleh Freed
23 March – Source: Daily Nation – 108 Words
The High Court in the coastal city of Kenya, Mombasa, has acquitted matatu driver and businessman of 60 counts of murder in relation to the 2014 Mpeketoni attacks in Lamu town.
Dyana Salim and Mahadi Swaleh, alias Jesus, were set free after Justice Martin Muya ruled that the case had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt. Two more people have also been acquitted of 12 counts of murder in relation to attacks in Hindi, also in Lamu County. The attacks were reportedly executed by Al-Shabaab militants.
Justice Muya said the charges against Swaleh Shebe Auni and Joseph Kimani had not been proven. This brings to four the number of individuals acquitted the number of individuals acquitted in relation to the Lamu attacks.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
Mo Farah: Born In Somalia. Made In Britain.
23 March – Source: Eurosport – Video: 00:52 Seconds
“The value of investing in people is apparent when you look at the accomplishments of Bush Fellows and their impact on our region over that past 50 years.”
Hmong Hip-hop Artist And Somali Journalist Are Among 2016 Bush Fellows
23 March – Source: Twincities.com – 445 Words
Hmong hip-hop artist Tou SaiKo Lee and veterans’ advocate Trista Louise Matascastillo, both of St. Paul, are among the two-dozen people selected by the Bush Foundation for a 2016 fellowship. Bush Fellows receive up to $100,000 over one to two years for travel, formal academic study or training that they design themselves to develop their expertise. The honor, which is bestowed on a new cohort every year, is a vote of confidence given to people age 24 or older who have demonstrated leadership and have “extraordinary potential to make significant contributions,” according to Tuesday’s announcement.
Lee is a spoken-word artist, hip-hop emcee and community organizer in St. Paul who bridges the Hmong generation gap. He has traveled to Thailand with his grandmother and teamed up with her for performances. According to the Bush announcement, he uses the arts to build a sense of cultural identity with youth in Frogtown. He will use the fellowship to return to Southeast Asia, listen to elders’ stories and make them relevant for a new generation.
Matascastillo is one of few people who has served in three branches of the U.S. military, according to the Bush announcement. After 16 years of service in the Navy, Marine Corps and National Guard, she formed a nonprofit organization to support and advocate for women veterans. She will use the Bush Fellowship to expand her organization and pursue college and graduate degrees.
Mukhtar Ibrahim of Vadnais Heights is the other fellow from the east metro. Fellows are selected from across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. According to his bio, Ibrahim arrived in the United States in 2005 from East Africa speaking little English. He is a reporter with Minnesota Public Radio and the first Somali-American journalist in the state to work at a major news outlet.
He wants to close the gap between longtime and new Americans through more balanced and in-depth storytelling about immigrants. With his Bush Fellowship, Mukhtar will complete a master’s degree in journalism at Columbia University with a focus on long-form narrative writing, investigative reporting, digital storytelling and radio documentaries.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf : #Somalia: 167 Al-Shabab militants killed, 100+ captured during a weeklong fighting in two battle fronts in Puntland: regional Info Minister.
@SaidMose : #Somalia: Children are very vulnerable in conflict-ridden areas such as Somalia and need to be protected
@Abdi_AlSheikh : Somalia condemns Brussels attacks; offers support to eradicate extremism – Horseed Mediahttp://dlvr.it/KsFFJn #Somalia
@MinisterMOFA : Addressed @ElliottSchoolGW about political and security developments in #Somalia today with Professor Doug Shaw.
@Fatumaabdulahi : #Somalia should be adopting a domestic policy to ‘save goats, camels and eat fish’ 4 no other reason other than hard currency and survival.
@Sh_Garjeex : Recolonisation of #Somalia — “EU not to employ#Somalis“. Illegal under intern law. #SFG remains quite@JamalMOsman http://saadaalnews.net/?p=
@tika_english1 : Diplomatic Delegation from #Somalia and#Somaliland paid a visit to #TİKA
IMAGE OF THE DAY
A Burundian soldier serving under AMISOM holds a young boy’s hand during a patrol near the town of Mahaday, Somalia. Life in the area is changing for the better after liberation by SNA and AMISOM troops.
Photo: AMISOM