October 25, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Suspected Extremists Attack African Union Base In Somalia
25 October – Source: Associated Press – 91 Words
A Somali police officer says a suicide car bomber hit an African Union army base in central Somalia Tuesday. Ahmed Ali said the bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle at the gates of a base of soldiers from Djibouti in Beledweyne town.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, however Somalia’s Islamic extremist rebels, Al-Shabaab, often carry out such assaults. Despite being ousted from major strongholds across Somalia, Al-Shabaab, which is allied to al-Qaeda, has recently been attacking military positions of Somali and African Union troops bolstering Somalia’s government.
Key Headlines
- Suspected Extremists Attack African Union Base In Somalia (AP)
- We Are Confident Elections Will Be Concluded In Time – Somali Polls Body (Goobjoog News)
- We Are Not Part Of Federalisation Process In Somalia: Somaliland Foreign Minister Says (Goobjoog News)
- Government Officials Accused Of Failing Mogadishu Security (Shabelle News)
- Calm Returns To Galkayo (Jowhar.com)
- 12 Killed In Mandera Overnight Attack By Al-Shabaab Gunmen (Daily Nation)
- Somalia Kicks Off Fierce Lower House Election (Hiiraan Online)
- Clashes In Galkayo Somalia Harm Civilians (Human Rights Watch)
NATIONAL MEDIA
We Are Confident Elections Will Be Concluded In Time – Somali Polls Body
25 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 371 Words
The Federal electoral body FIEIT has expressed confidence it will meet the polls timelines noting that over 75% of delegates lists for the Upper House have been processed as talks with Somaliland electoral college point to their participation in the elections contrary to earlier reports the breakaway region might boycott the process. FIEIT official Nafisa Santur told Goobjoog News, the polls body had managed to deal with some of the key challenges including cleaning up the delegate’s lists. “Almost all the regions have submitted their delegate’s lists. We are remaining with Somaliland lists for both the Upper and Lower House,” said Santur. She noted remaining issues will be dealt with going forward and that the Independent Dispute Resolution Committee is already in place to handle any other emerging concerns.
A member of Somaliland State Indirect Electoral Team (SIEIT) told Goobjoog News on Sunday that talks were progressing well despite concerns the region might not participate in the elections. “The Constitution provides for a 54 member chamber, therefore it would not be possible to have a House less by 11 members,” the official who did not want to be named said. Somaliland and Puntland were each allocated 11 seats for the Upper House while the remaining regions were each given 8 seats.
It is not however clear if Somaliland government will officially agree to the elections especially for the Upper House. Given its quest for self- determination, Somaliland government would find itself in an awkward situation if it pursued representation in the Mogadishu based Federal Parliament,” a political analyst who requested anonymity told Goobjoog News. Orientation for the delegates is ongoing and candidates will state their case before them shortly before ballots open, said Santur.
For logistical purposes and efficiency, the process will be done in batches especially for regions such as South West which have large numbers of delegates,” said Santur. Clans aggregated in South West state take the lion share of MPs (69) in the Federal Parliament. This means a total of 3,519 delegates will participate in the exercise, each MP being elected by 51 delegates. According to the FIEIT elections for the Lower House run from October 23 through to November 10.
Government Officials Accused Of Failing Mogadishu Security
25 October – Source: Shabelle News – 153 Words
Former Hodan District Commissioner Abdi Salad has accused the top government officials of failing to secure Mogadishu which has seen an increase in attack of late. Speaking in an interview with Radio Shabelle, Mr. Salad said the leaders of the government are busy with the elections and spending their time in campaigning instead of the national security.
“All the federal government leaders whose mandate has expired are busy with the election campaigns, while Al-Shabaab militants keep carrying out attacks and killing people in Mogadishu,” he added. The former district commissioner’s comments come as Mogadishu has seen series of car bombs and killings on security force members and public servants by Al- Shabaab militants. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has asked AMISOM troops to help the Somali National Army secure the country during the election which is scheduled for Nov 30, 2016.
We Are Not Part Of Federalisation Process In Somalia: Somaliland Foreign Minister Says
24 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 227 Words
The breakaway region of Somaliland has termed comments by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud regarding the federalization process in Somalia as detached from the reality of the northern state’s quest for self determination. Somaliland’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sa’ad Ali Shire accused President Mohamud of ignoring the state’s efforts to self independence following the President’s comments this past week that Somaliland and Banadir regions were the only remaining regions in the federalization agenda.
“President Mohamud ignores the fact that Somaliland is an independent country. I know Mr. President you ignore that fact but I would like to let you know that Somaliland is an independent country from Somalia,” said Shire in a media conference in Hargeisa. Speaking during the swearing in of President Ali Abdullahi Osoble of the newly formed HirShabelle state, President Mohamud said the federalization was almost complete with Somaliland and Banadir remaining.
The Minister also said Somaliland is not ready to waiver its rights to full independence from Somalia but added it is still committed to negotiations with the Federal government. Somaliland has been pursuing self determination since 1991 following the collapse of the central government. There had been earlier reports the region would not be participating in the election of Lower and Upper Houses but the Federal electoral body FIEIT told Goobjoog News Monday there was now signs of the state participating.
Calm Returns To Galkayo
25 October – Source: Jowhar.com – 118 Words
The situation in Galkayo is today reported to be calm. This follows days of fighting between Galmudug and Puntland forces in the town. An increase in the number of displacement in the town has also been reported as those who remained in the town are now leaving fearing clashes might erupt again. The United Nation has said in a report that close to to 70,000 people have been displaced since the start of the renewed clashes. The two forces are still facing each other in the town and a fight might re-ignite once again. Yesterday’s clashes has seen the deaths of close to 14 people and injured many who are now being treated in the hospitals.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
12 Killed In Mandera Overnight Attack By Al-Shabaab Gunmen
25 October – Source: Daily Nation – Video – 0:21 Seconds
Twelve people have been killed in an overnight attack at Bishaaro lodge in Mandera Town by suspected Al-Shabaab gunmen, police confirmed on Tuesday. Mandera East police boss (OCPD) Ezekiel Singoe said the 12 included ten who were visiting for set book performances at schools in the county. He said the 10 had arrived in Mandera on Monday to stage plays for Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam candidates. The police boss said they were still identifying the bodies.
Somalia Kicks Off Fierce Lower House Election
25 October – Source: Hiiraan Online – 209 Words
Somalia’s electoral body said there would be no extension to the Lower House election, which kicked off on Sunday amid prediction of fierce competition. Omar Mohamed Abdulle, chairman of the Federal Indirect Electoral Implementation Team, said in a statement that the lower house election would last until Nov. 10. “We have started registration of aspirants vying for parliamentary seats,” Abdulle said, adding they would stick to its announced timetable for the vote.
Abdulle said stiff competition was expected during the election given the large number of contestants who are taking part. “Initially we expected to have two or three aspirants per seat but we have more than that,” he said. With parliamentary elections underway for both the lower and upper houses, newly-elected lawmakers are expected to choose a president on Nov. 30.
Abdulle said 200 local and international observers had been accredited to monitor the process, while most of the logistical requirements were in place. He also said a 30-percent quota for women in the lower house would be met. Abdulle said a number of women had been elected senators in the upper house to represent federal states, adding that number had exceeded the expectation of the electoral body.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“The fighters on both sides appear to show little regard for civilians or their property. Halima said that on October 7, the bullets were flying everywhere from early in the morning until night time across the Donyale camp where she lives, hitting several shops and tents.”
Clashes In Galkayo, Somalia Harm Civilians
25 October – Source: Human Rights Watch – 548 Words
“We can’t afford to keep fleeing,” said “Halima,” a 35-year-old mother of four who recently fled fighting in the contested town of Galkayo in central Somalia. “Those fighting might have big houses to hide in, but we live in tents and the bullets can easily reach us.” Halima (not her real name) is among thousands of Somalis affected by renewed violence in Galkayo, stemming from conflict between the Galmudug interim administration that was established in 2015, and Puntland – a conflict that is deeply rooted in regional and clan rivalries. The town of Galkayo lies on the fault line of that conflict.
On October 7, 2016, forces from Puntland, which controls the north of the town, and Galmudug, which controls the south, clashed in the Garsoor area where a “green line” divides the two administrations. The outbreak of fighting comes nearly a year after another face-off between the two regional forces. Once again, civilians are paying a heavy price. Halima had already fled a year ago from fighting in the Garsoor area, which hosts many displacement camps including her own.
It is not clear yet how many people have been injured or killed in the fighting but medical officials told Human Rights Watch that at least 22 people have been killed, including at least four civilians, and dozens have been injured. Doctors say the injuries are mainly bullet wounds. Najma (not her real name), a resident of a displacement camp, saw two young men shot on October 7, as they fled the camp for safety; a third was shot dead. Residents in the town report hearing heavy weaponry during the three weeks of fighting.
TOP TWEETS
@AbelMelaku: Deadly attack in #Kenya Mandera a city on the border with #Ethiopia and
#Somalia
@Terror_Monitor: #Somalia‘s #AlShabaab Claims Responsibility For Attack On The #Bishar Guesthouse In #Mandera.#TerrorMonitor
@Abdi_AlSheikh : With just one place to worship, Somalia is a dangerous place for Christians – Catholic News Agencyhttp://dlvr.it/MWjkj3 #Somalia
@omabha : Somalia violence claims 18 lives over last two weeks – Citizen http://dlvr.it/MWjH56 #Somalia
@hiiraan: Lule turns down #Somalia national football team head coach job
http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/
@AlinoorMB: Interesting story about a US army man who wanted to live under #sharialaw in #Somalia but ended up in#Kenyan jail! https://www.theguardian.com/
@AhmadAlhaadi: 34 members of Galmudug parliament submits motion on monday against the speaker of the parliament .#Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Galmudug Vice President Hashi welcomed Force Commander Gen. Osman Noor Soubagleh and the forces, noting that the people of Adaado are happy that they have arrived.
Photo: AMISOM