October 5, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Over 10 Al-Shabaab Fighters Killed In An Operation at K50
05 October – Source: Jowhar.com – 136 Words
Somalia’s defense ministry has given further details about an operation in K50 in Lower Shabelle region that saw the death of more than ten Al-Shabaab fighters. Speaking to Somalia’s National News Agency (SONNA), Deputy Minister of Defense Abdalla Hussein Ali, said 14 Al-Shabaab fighters including commanders were killed in an ambush attack on the outskirts of K50.
He said the operation was solely conducted by Somali military forces. Many Al-Shabaab weapons were seized and a vehicle also destroyed in the operation. He said the targeted Al-Shabaab fighters were heading on their way to carry out an ambush in parts of the region.Somalia’s professionally trained Danab special forces have been recently conducting well-organized operations in parts of Lower Shabelle still under the control of Al-Shabaab. The operations saw the killing of senior and mid-level Al-Shabaab officials.
Key Headlines
- Over 10 Al-Shabaab Fighters Killed In An Operation at K50 (Jowhar.com)
- I Was Not In Baidoa For Election Campaigns says President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Jowhar.com)
- Senior Al-Shabaab Commander Killed In Southern Somalia (Goobjoog News)
- Gold Star Awards 2016: Teenager Fahma Mohamed Honoured For Tireless Campaign To End FGM(Bristol Post)
- Kenyan Police Nab Suspected Al-Shabaab Member In Mombasa (Xinhua)
- Delayed Elections Sabotage Somalia’s Democratic Dreams (Fair Observer)
NATIONAL MEDIA
I Was Not In Baidoa For Election Campaigns, Says President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
05 October – Source: Jowhar.com – 196 Words
Outgoing Federal Government President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has said his visit to Baidoa was in no way linked to his campaigns for a second stint in the highest office of the land but rather he was in town for efforts to see the upcoming parliament constituted as scheduled.President Mohamud said he declared his candidacy two years ago and will officially launch his campaign for a second bid when both houses of parliament were constituted.“Since the election will not be done on one-man-one-vote basis, I will unveil my bid when the 329 members of parliament are officially selected. I am now here to ensure there was successful election of these members,” he said.
The President said he will undertake similar trips to the rest of regional government headquarters to oversee the smooth running of the election process which he said has to be concluded on time. Presidential candidate Jibril Ibrahim Abdulle was in Baidoa earlier in the week where he opened his campaign. MPs from the Digil and Mirifle clans will be selected in Baidoa and given their good numbers, Baidoa was catching the eye of notable presidential candidates.
Senior Al-Shabaab Commander Killed In Southern Somalia
05 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 199 Words
A senior Al-Shabaab commander was killed on Tuesday in an operation carried out by Somali forces in Southern Somalia, the Somali Defense Ministry said. Somali National Army (SNA) has launched well orchestrated attack on Al-Shabaab in the outskirt of K50 area of lower Shabelle region where they killed several fighters including Al-Shabaab’s chief commander and seized cache of weapons, according to the Deputy Defense Minister, Abdalla Hussein Ali, who spoke to SONNA.
Ali said 13 Al-Shabaab fighters were also killed but he did not mention the casualties of Somali forces. “The Senior Al-Shabaab Commander was among those killed in the operation, the troops also destroyed technical vehicle owned by Al-Shabaab and some weapons recovered by SNA today”, Mr. Ali said. SNA backed by the AU Troops has stepped up its operation against Al-Shabaab fighters ahead of Somalia’s upcoming elections scheduled to take place at end of this year.
Al-Shabaab was pushed out of Mogadishu by African Union peacekeeping forces in 2011 but has remained a potent antagonist in Somalia, launching frequent attacks in its bid to overthrow the Western-backed government. Al Shabaab was also behind deadly attacks in Kenya and Uganda, which both contribute troops to an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Gold Star Awards 2016: Teenager Fahma Mohamed Honoured For Tireless Campaign To End FGM
05 October- Source: Bristol Post – 740 Words
Fahma Mohamed is not your average teenager.One of nine daughters in a Muslim Somali family who came to Britain when she was seven, Fahma, from Barton Hill, has been hailed a hero by many – including the Secretary General of the United Nations – for her tireless work to safeguard young girls against FGM.
At just 14 years old, Fahma – who has admitted she was once “shy” and “reserved” – bravely spoke out about the horrific acts of FGM in Britain and violence against girls.She started volunteering with the Bristol-based anti-FGM and sexual violence charity Integrate, becoming a trustee at 16.”I had just started school at City Academy where Lisa Zimmerman (from Integrate Bristol) was my English teacher at that time,” said Fahma.”We kept hearing about the charity and the work that was done there, but I had no idea what FGM was. I was even more shocked it was practised in Bristol – in Britain.”It was such a taboo subject that no one talked about it. I knew then I wanted to get involved with the charity. I was quite shy and reserved at first, but they helped me grow into it.”I kept thinking about how helpless the girls [victims] were feeling and that was what motivated me to keep going.”
In early 2014, she launched a petition demanding that Michael Gove, the then Secretary for Education, write to all schools reminding him of their duty to safeguard girls from FGM. In three weeks, the petition attracted over 250,000 signatures.Speaking at the time, the former City Academy student said she was “stunned” and when Mr Gove agreed to contact every school, primary and secondary, to discuss teaching pupils about the horrific practice and how to stop it..
Kenyan Police Nab Suspected Al-Shabaab Member In Mombasa
04 October- Source:Xinhua- 151 Words
Kenya’s anti-terrorism police on Tuesday arrested a suspected Al-Shabaab member and recovered a rifle in the coastal city of Mombasa.Police say the suspect is believed to be a member of the Somalia-based Islamist group and behind previous grenade and gun attacks in Mombasa.
Mombasa police commander Willy Simba said Rama Ali Bamama, 30, was arrested during a major operation conducted within Likoni area. His two accomplices however managed to escape.Detectives said Bamama had crossed into neighbouring Somalia, where he had joined Al-Shabaab, before returning to stage terrorist attacks in Kenya.
The suspect will be questioned by anti-terrorism police before being arraigned in court.The discovered G-3 rifle was stolen from the house of a police officer early June under unclear circumstances, according to police.The police recently shot dead a wanted terror suspect and recovered another G-3 rifle belonging to police officers killed in 2014 by suspected Al-Shabaab members.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“In 2012, when the first permanent Somali government in 22 years came to power in Mogadishu, it was welcomed with optimism and high hopes. Four years on, however, Somalia remains a divided and unstable country, one that is politically fragmented, institutionally weak and vulnerable to foreign exploitation, terrorism and human rights abuses by all parties to the conflict,”
Delayed Elections Sabotage Somalia’s Democratic Dreams
04 October – Source:Fair Observer- 1124 Words
For Somalia to achieve peace and democracy, state-building must be the new federal government’s cornerstone policy.Somalia was supposed to have a new parliament in August, followed shortly thereafter by parliamentarians voting in a new president on September 10. This imperfect system has brought to power four new presidents since 2000.
The postponed elections put an extra burden on a fragile political, security and humanitarian situation. In addition to years of political instability and terrorism, the United Nations (UN) says that more than 5 million people are suffering food shortages, further exacerbating local conditions.
The initial revised electoral calendar expected a new parliament in office by October 20 and a presidential election on October 30, but the election commission has announced more delays. The commission now says that the federal parliament will be established by November 23 and a presidential election held on November 30.
The delays come as a major disappointment, and the UN’s special envoy to Somalia, Michael Keating, has warned that “the new extension does not create additional space for manipulation or disruption by spoilers.” The outgoing government’s interference in the election commission’s mandate and in the selection of delegates is a cause for concern. Opposition candidates are worried that government officials are manipulating the process and exploiting clan politics.
TOP TWEETS
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@Fatumaabdulahi:rony of ‘religious leaders’ warning against foreign-driven ideas while preaching in Arabic & corruption from their 5-star hotels!! #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The flag of Somalia’s upcoming Federal State for Hiiran and Middle Shabelle has been approved by delegates meeting in Jowhar.
Photo: Radio Muqdisho