July 20, 2016 | Morning Headlines
AMISOM Investigates Alleged Killing Of 14 Civilians In Wardinle, Bay Region
19 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 182 Words
The African Union force in Somalia said it is investigating the alleged killing of 14 civilians by Ethiopian soldiers, with witnesses claiming they opened unprovoked firing on a prayer meeting.
The incident occurred late Sunday in the west of Somalia, about 30 kilometres from regional capital Baidoa, and involved Ethiopian troops from the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM): “AMISOM has received reports of alleged civilians killed during an offensive between its troops and Al-Shabaab in Wardinle, Bay region,” the mission said in a statement posted on Twitter on Monday evening.
The Al-Qaeda-aligned Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Somalia which is defended by AMISOM troops in the capital Mogadishu and elsewhere. AMISOM said it had “commenced investigations” and that the findings would be made public.
“Fourteen people, among them traditional elders and civilians, were killed after clashes broke out between Shabaab fighters, and Somali government troops and AMISOM peacekeepers,” said local MP Ibrahim Isak Yarow. “They were at a prayer gathering when a Shabaab fighter started shooting in the area causing the confrontation that led to major civilian casualties.”
Key Headlines
- AMISOM Investigates Alleged Killing Of 14 Civilians In Wardinle Bay Region (Goobjoog News)
- Egypt Hands Over Military Equipment To Somali Government (Goobjoog News)
- Relative Calm Returns To Somali Town After Battle (Shabelle News)
- Opposition Party Daljir To Sue Government Over Restriction On Public Meetings (Goobjoog News)
- We’re On Shabaab Hit List – Kwale Informers (The Star)
- Somaliland Improvises To Keep Economy Running (Deutsche Welle TV)
- Why Somaliland Now Needs International Recognition (IRIN News Agency)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM Investigates Claims Of Civilian Deaths In Wardinle, Bay Region
19 July – Source: AMISOM – 259 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is investigating claims of civilian deaths in Wardinle village, near Baidoa town in Bay region, during an ambush on SNA and AMISOM troops by Al-Shabaab terrorists on Sunday.
Preliminary investigations indicate that AMISOM forces received credible intelligence information, of an Al-Shabaab’s radicalization exercise in the village and went to investigate. The troops were ambushed as they approached the village and intensive fighting ensued. The terrorist fighters were overpowered and fled, after sustaining casualties. It is not clear at this point in time, if the fighting occasioned civilian deaths, as it is being claimed.
“AMISOM holds civilian lives sacrosanct and any negligence or omission by our personnel will be dealt with severely in accordance with the African Union rules of engagement and relevant provisions of the International humanitarian law, the international Human rights law and in full compliance with the UNHRDDP,” the Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira said.
“My Office, in consultation with the relevant Federal Government of Somalia institutions, is investigating the incident to establish the veracity of the claims. We shall certainly get to the bottom of this matter,” he added.
Ambassador Madeira emphasized AMISOM’s commitment to the African Union rules of engagement that requires AMISOM troops to be very careful and do their best, to avoid civilian casualties in its operations. He directed all AMISOM personnel to strictly adhere to the fundamental tenets of International Humanitarian Law, the international Human rights law and the African Union Peace Support Operations Code of Conduct.
NATIONAL MEDIA
Egypt Hands Over Military Equipment To Somali Government
19 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 227 Words
The Egyptian government has handed over military equipment to the Somali government and pledged to increase the military support in a bid to give Somalia chance to bounce back to its feet.
Egyptian Ambassador to Somalia, Waliid Mohamed Ismael, handed over the donation to the Somali Ministry of Defense, Abdukadir Sheikh Ali Diini at a well organized ceremony held in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Tuesday. The occasion was attended by government officials and diplomats.
“We gave vehicles, weapons, and uniforms to Somalia, it is for Somali National Army (SNA)’s Commandos, Danab’, we contributed office supply and military support to the ministry of defense of Somalia last year,” Egyptian Ambassador told Somali National news Agency (SONNA). Ismael added that the Egypt is planning to support and bring humanitarian assistance to Somalia as soon possible.
“Egypt does not support Somalia in terms of military only, but education, health and make investment,” noted Ismael. On his part Defense Minister of Somalia, Diini thanked the Egyptian government for its permanent support.
“This military supply from our brothers-Egyptian government is intended for our special forces ‘Danab’ to fight against terrorism, We thank Egypt again and again, It used to support us from army training, scholarships, and health”, Mr. Diini said. Somalia and Egypt had very strong and historic relations earlier and it appointed the current ambassador, Waliid Mohamed to Somalia late in 2014.
Relative Calm Returns To Somali Town After Battle
19 July – Source: Shabelle News – 134 Words
Relative calm has returned to Dahar area in Somalia’s northern Sanaag region after fierce battle between Somaliland and Puntland troops on Monday, according to residents.
Local elders in the area reportedly initiated ceasefire efforts, and called on the rival sides to pull out their forces from the front lines and start negotiations to avoid further deadly clashes. Monday’s fighting between the two sides began early morning of Monday and continued until midday. Residents said Somaliland and Puntland forces used heavy artillery fire during the clash.
Unspecified number of people, including civilians were killed in the renewed battle between Somaliland and Puntland troops in Sanaag region, according to sources. The warfare erupted a day after Garowe-based Puntland administration accused Somaliland of violating its borders in Sanaag region, north of Somalia.
Opposition Party, Daljir To Sue Government Over Restriction On Public Meetings
19 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 188 Words
Opposition party, Daljir, will sue the Ministry of Interior for what it terms as violation of basic citizen rights following an order by the ministry requiring political parties to seek clearance before holding public meetings.
Daljir Secretary General Ahmed Mohamed Fiqi told Goobjoog News the order by the Ministry of Interior was contrary to the constitution and that his party will take legal action against the ministry: “Article 20 section 1 of the Provisional Constitution allows for public gathering and right to peaceful demonstration. Every person has the right to organize and participate in peaceful demonstrations without having to seek permission from the state,” said Fiqi.
Security officials on Saturday stopped a political party meeting noting that there were instructions from the ministry requiring political parties to first get a permit from the ministry before holding any public meetings.The ministry, it is understood, noted there was need to deal with terror attacks in the city in which attackers have been targeting hotels hosting members of parliament or ministers. A recent terror attack at Nasa-hablod hotel in Mogadishu left at least 16 people dead among them Environment minister Hamza Burci.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
We’re On Shabaab Hit List – Kwale Informers
19 July – Source: The Star – 323 Words
Kwale police informers in Kenya are living in fear of Al-Shabaab revenge attacks by hundreds of returnees from Somalia. Police and other security agencies will meet today in Diani to discuss the problem.
Elders, said to have been identified by al Shabaab returnees as “loud mouths”, are seeking refuge in neighbouring counties, including Mombasa and Kilifi. Intelligence reports indicate Kwale county has the highest number of al Shabaab returnees due to poverty, illiteracy and communal prejudice.
About 500 Kwale youths have returned from Somalia. Militants have drawn up a hit list of informants whose lives are in danger, police say: “We are in danger. Even our neighbours are worried about us. We have been in lodges for a long time. By Allah’s grace, I once narrowly escaped a bullet,” an elder, who requested not to be named, said. He said the returnees have a good network and are highly trained.
Police are watching several mosques, including Mbuluni Mosque in Kinango, Mstunga Mosque near Lunga-Lunga and others in Mbita and Kambingu, where youths are said to be radicalised. Investigations by the Star show terror suspects Mwamba Charo Rua, Nyawa Salim Chikuta among others who are behind bars, have influenced several youths into joining Al-Shabaab.
The suspects are being probed by the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit for several terror claims and for allegedly killing boda boda operator Beja Nyota. Beja was found murdered in Mlafyeni, Mwaluphamba, last month. His cap was found hanging on a tree.
Somaliland Improvises To Keep Economy Running
19 July – Source: Deutsche Welle TV – Video: 3:05 Mins
Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia 25 years ago. But without international recognition, it’s hard to lure investors and development aid.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“With non-statehood depriving the country of direct large-scale international support and multilateral lending, the government operates on a tiny budget of about $250 million. About 60 percent of that is spent on the police and security forces to maintain what it views as its main argument for recognition: continuing peace and stability.”
Why Somaliland Now Needs International Recognition
19 July – Source: IRIN News Agency – 1,173 Words
In mid-April a boat capsized crossing the Mediterranean killing up to 500 migrants, a large proportion of whom most international media reported as being Somali. But in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, local media noted how many who died were actually Somalilanders.
Since 1991, and its proclamation of independence following a civil war that resulted in about 50,000 deaths, Somaliland has existed as a de facto independent nation separate from Somalia, albeit one legally unrecognised by the international community.
As a result, cut off from international assistance, Somaliland has had to help itself. It successfully rebuilt its economy and infrastructure, shattered by the rebellion that forced much of its population into Ethiopian refugee camps. Now Hargeisa is a bustling city of about 800,000 people, and about to experience the traditional summer return of diaspora Somalilanders from around the world, wanting to enjoy – or experience for the first time – their resurgent homeland.
But Somaliland’s apparent success against the odds remains highly vulnerable. Its economy is fragile. A recent trend has seen Hargeisa’s streets inundated with an upsurge of second-hand taxis – cars bought by parents for children to dissuade them from tahriib, the local term for the dangerous and illegal migration to Europe. These cabs have even become known as hooyo ha tahriibin, which translates roughly as “my son, do not tahriib”.
“Why are they leaving? Unemployment,” Abdillahi Duhe, a former foreign minister of Somaliland, told IRIN. “Now is a very important time. We’ve passed the stage of recovery. We have peace. But many hindrances remain.” Crowds of men on the streets sipping sweet Somali tea and chewing the stimulant plant khat throughout the day testify to a chronic unemployment rate of about 75 percent, leading to another concern in a volatile part of the world.
“Young men are a ready-made pool of rudderless youth from which militant extremists with an agenda can recruit,” said Rakiya Omaar, a lawyer who also chairs the Horizon Institute, a consultancy firm that works on strengthening the capacity and self-reliance of institutions in Somaliland.
“We are doing all the right things that the West preaches about, but we continue to get nothing for it,” said Osman Abdillahi, minister for Somaliland’s Ministry of Information, Culture and National Guidance. “This is a resilient country that depends on each other – we’re not after a hand-out but a hand up.”