December 15, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Suicide Car Bomb Explodes At Checkpoint In Mogadishu
15 December – Source: Reuters – 170 Words
A suicide car bomb exploded on Thursday at a checkpoint near Somalia’s national theater in the capital Mogadishu, killing the bomber, police said. There was no immediate word on whether anybody else was killed or injured in the blast, which witnesses said had been followed by gunfire. The national theater stands about 500 meters (yards) away from the presidential palace. “The bomber blew up the car after police ordered him to stop at gunpoint. We are investigating,” Abdikadir Hussein, a police officer, told Reuters. The explosion also destroyed the front wall of a nearby restaurant, he added. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack but Al-Shabaab militants have been trying to disrupt Somalia’s protracted parliamentary elections – part of efforts to rebuild the fractured nation after decades of war. The three-month vote is due to end on Dec. 29. Al-Shabaab also wants to drive out African Union peacekeepers, topple Somalia’s Western-backed government and impose its strict version of Islam on the Horn of Africa state.
Key Headlines
- Suicide Car Bomb Explodes At Checkpoint In Mogadishu (Reuters)
- Security Operation Carried Out In Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
- Parliamentary Swearing-In Ceremony Is To Be Delayed (Jowhar.com)
- Puntland President Calls For Support Amid Ongoing Drought (Garowe Online)
- Southwest And Puntland Election Commission Boycotts The IEDRM Decision (Jowhar.com)
- UAE Among Largest Supporters Of Development In Somalia Says President Sheikh Mohamud (Emirates News Agency)
- FIFA Grassroots Program For Somalia Comes To An End (Soko25east)
- Childbirth Challenges In The Conflict Zone (ECNS)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Security Operation Carried Out In Mogadishu
15 December – Source: Hiiraan Online – 93 Words
Somali security forces have carried out an operation in various parts of Mogadishu last night in a bid to secure the city. The operation is said to be meant to flush out criminal elements within the society.The said security operation comes at a time when Somalia’s elections are ongoing. The terrorist group Al-Shabaab has vowed to disrupt the ongoing electoral process. There have been blasts that took place in Mogadishu recently one of which took place near the Mogadishu port which has killed more than 20 people. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the blasts.
Parliamentary Swearing-In Ceremony Is To Be Delayed
15 December- source: Jowhar.com- 73 Words
The swearing-in ceremony for new MPs set for today has been postponed. The National Leadership Forum last week agreed that the swearing in ceremony be held today. Sources say the function will not take place as planned, as issues surrounding the disputed northern regions have not been resolved. The delay is likely to affect the schedule of the election of the speakers of both houses of parliament and, subsequently the Presidential election.
Puntland President Calls For Support Amid Ongoing Drought
15 December – Source: Garowe Online – 222 Words
The President of northeastern region of Puntland, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali “Gaas”, has called for support to provide humanitarian aid to affected nomadic community from the ongoing drought situation that has stricken the region. During a news conference at the State House, attended by local and international press agencies including Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Anadolu Agency, AFP and Reuters, the President appealed for assistance for hundreds affected by severe water shortages and famine in the region. Ali stated that Puntland government couldn’t tackle the worsening humanitarian situation, since it persisted for long period, but said the government is pushing efforts to provide relief program amid insufficient resources. “The drought situation in Somalia and particularly in Puntland has devastated people, many livestock died and pastoral communities are migrating from the rural centres to the cities. The ongoing drought situation calls for intervention, first we need to provide assistance such as water, food and medicine to the affected people. Second, we need a collective approach to avert the ongoing drought condition,” said Ali. President Ali also criticized international NGOs that operate in Puntland region for failing to provide adequate relief response, since Puntland government has declared a state of emergency in the beginning of this year. Ali urged Puntland people, international community and humanitarian organizations to assist the government in its efforts to fight the ongoing drought.
Southwest And Puntland Election Commission Boycotts The IEDRM Decision
15 December- source: Jowhar.com- 121 Words
The regional election commissions of Puntland and South West have refused the decision of the Independent Electoral Dispute Resolution Mechanism (IEDRM) today. The IEDRM has issued yesterday a decision they nullified the election of 11 seats in the lower house.The chairman of the State Level Electoral Implementation Team (SIET) for Southwest Abdullahi Mohamed Mursal said the nullification does not concern us because there were no dispute for the seats that IEDRM dropped. “I don’t know why IEDRM especially targeted southwest” Mursal said. Also, the chairman of indirect election committee of Puntland, Khalif Aw-Ali said that the decision does not apply to Puntland lower house election and they will not be willing to return to the drawing board for those elected members in Garowe.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UAE Among Largest Supporters Of Development In Somalia, Says President Sheikh Mohamud
15 December – Source: Emirates News Agency – 225 Words
President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday lauded the UAE for promoting and supporting development in his country, saying it has been one of the largest supporters of Somalia and its people over the course of the past two decades, in hard times and in various areas. Ties between the UAE and Somalia are fraternal and historical, he said while on a tour to the UAE-funded Sheikh Zayed Hospital in Mogadishu, following a visit to the UAE Embassy.While touring the hospital, where he was briefed by Emirates’ doctors about services, he noted that every day, some 300 patients from all segments of society receive free treatment at the facility. The Somali president also visited the site of an expansion of the hospital, a UAE-funded project planned to be completed in 2017. It is part of the UAE’s support for reconstruction and development across the Horn of Africa country. He noted that his visit to the UAE Embassy was another sign of these unique relations. President Sheikh Mohamud further noted that the government and people of Somalia are grateful for the UAE support. Hamdan Rashid Al Shamsi, Adviser at the UAE Embassy, who accompanied the Somali president, stressed that the UAE will continue to provide aid and support to all regions of the country to bolster its peace and stability.
FIFA Grassroots Program For Somalia Comes To An End
15 December – Source: Soko25east – 595 Words
Somali Football Federation in collaboration with the world football’s governing body [FIFA] on Wednesday 14th of December concluded a 5-day grassroots program which was the second of its kind to be held in the country. The course was attended by 21 coaches who were taught lessons about how to educate children through football and make them love the game. The course was conducted by FIFA instructor, Ulric Mathiot [Seychelles] assisted by local instructors. In his address at the closing ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Mathiot said he witnessed a lot of football progress in Somalia. From my experience when I first arrived in Somalia in 2013, I can see that Somalia football is going up. I would like to acknowledge that Somalia is doing a greater work to develop its football and I am happy with that great approach” the FIFA instructor said. He continued to say “I saw a team work and that is good for football development. I always see people working together and togetherness we reach our goals. Course participants were very determined and in the end I am very happy that they know what exactly grassroots is and they are now ready to pass their knowledge to Somali children”.“Somalia is doing a lot of progress and on behalf of FIFA I would like to announce that FIFA is committed to developing football in your country” he said, adding that he was very pleased to be back in Somalia for the second time in three months.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somalia has been in an almost constant state of war and its health systems are mostly supported by development partners and funded by donors. UNICEF alone supports 70 percent of Somalia’s health facilities”
Childbirth Challenges In The Conflict Zone
14 December – Source: ECNS – 444 Words
Baby Fadumo lies quietly with her big, dark eyes wide open. Her tiny head and dainty fists rest on a nest of blankets, wrapped in a shawl. To keep her warm, the bundle has been placed in a black plastic bag. Fadumo is 15 days old and was born prematurely at seven months. Her mother, who was only 15, died during childbirth. Ideally, Fadumo should be kept in an incubator. But here in Bosaso General Hospital in the state of Puntland, Somalia, few things are ideal and a plastic bag and blankets are the best doctors can do to keep her warm – and alive.”We need incubators and our staff also need training on how to use them,” said Doctor Mohamed Said, the pediatrician at the hospital. Besides being premature, Fadumo is also malnourished. She weighed 1 kilogram at birth, and weighs not much more – 1.1kg – now.When asked about the challenges his country faces, Abdirizak Hersi Hassan, Director General of the Ministry of Health in Puntland, sums them up in two words: “Too many.”
TOP TWEETS
@Daudoo: UPDATE: Car bomb explodes outside the Village restaurant near #Somalia‘s presidential palace in #Mogadishu, casualties reported – Witness
@Amalow11: BREAKING: Two journalist wounded as suicide bomber attack Village restaurant where journalists get together#Mogadishu
@Somaliupdate: #Mogadishu Gov spox Mr Halane says attack was suicide car bomb drove by a man. Target was busy #VillageRestaurant, scene of 3 prev attacks
@Somaliupdate: BREAKING: Senior police commander shot and wounded in Bosasso city, NE #Somalia by gunmen. The commander was #Puntland Deputy police chief
@Sirculusmedia: UAE among largest supporters of development in Somalia, says President Sheikh Mohamudhttp://sirculus.com/uae-among-
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Youths in Kismayo attend a workshop to discuss ways of enhancing their involvement in the ongoing political process
Photo: AMISOM