January 23, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
International Community Calls For Speedy Election Of Somali President
23 January – Source: Xinhua – 269 Words
The international community on Sunday called for speedy formation of the Joint Ad Hoc Committee to facilitate the holding of a presidential poll by both houses of Somalia’s parliament. In a joint statement issued in Mogadishu after the installation of the parliamentary leadership, which concluded a crucial phase of the electoral process, the partners said members of the new parliament will face a hefty and critical legislative agenda.
The partners that include the United Nation, the African Union and the European Union said abuses and malpractices that tarnished some of the parliamentary voting must be avoided at all costs. “The international community wishes to stress the paramount importance of conducting a transparent, clean and credible presidential election whose outcome will be widely accepted by the people of Somalia and the international community,” it said.
“At a time when Somalia is facing multiple challenges including the drought, joblessness and insecurity, parliamentarians have the opportunity to show leadership which responds to citizens’ most basic needs,” said Michael Keating, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia. Earlier this month, Mohamed Osman Jawari was elected Speaker of the Lower House. On Sunday, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi was elected Speaker of the Senate.
Key Headlines
- International Community Calls For Speedy Election Of Somali President (Xinhua)
- Security Operations In Jowhar Net Suspects (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Presidential Candidate Applauds New Senate Leadership (Shabelle News)
- Elderly Woman Killed In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
- Bomb At Army Base In Burhakabo Kills Five Somali Soldiers (Garowe Online)
- Police Reservist Killed In Mandera Al-Shabaab Attack (Daily Nation)
- Maritime Terrorism Cyber Crime Kidnappings and Ransoms are the “New Somalia” For Today’s Shipping Industry (Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Security Operations In Jowhar Net Suspects
23 January – Source: Goobjoog News – 139 Words
Somali forces have conducted security operations in areas located in and outside Jowhar town which are suspected to be the hideouts of Al-Shabaab fighters. The force arrested dozens of suspected Al-Shabaab fighters. Military sources have claimed dismantlement of Al-Shabaab secret cells which were operating in Jowhar town. Jowhar administration said they would do everything to neutralize the sleeper cells so as to cut off breeding ground for extremism.
The operations follow after Middle Shabelle regional police commander, Khalif Abdulle Arfaye was killed in a bomb explosion at police headquarters in Jowhar town. Al-Shabaab has been weakened as a military and political force since being driven out of the Somali capital Mogadishu by the joint forces. Jowhar is an agricultural and strategic town situated north of the Somali capital Mogadishu, which was once under Al-Shabaab control.
Somali Presidential Candidate Applauds New Senate Leadership
23 January – Source: Shabelle News – 74 Words
Prof Sa’iid Isse Mohamud, the Chairman of Somali People’s Party and a presidential candidate running for has congratulated the new leadership of the country’s first senate. The Presidential candidate praised the senators for voting for the right persons into the new leadership of the Upper House chamber of Somalia’s Federal Parliament. He called on MPs to elect a qualified and educated president, and avoid taking bribes from the numerous candidates vying for the presidency.
Elderly Woman Killed In Mogadishu
23 January – Source: Goobjoog News – 124 Words
Unidentified gunmen have shot dead an elderly woman in Mogadishu in the latest attack in the horn of Africa nation where gunmen stepped up attacks against the government soldiers, NGO workers and civilians. Amina Mohamud Ahmed was killed after two armed men approached her and opened fire in Yaqshiid district.
Witnesses told Goobjoog news that the victim who was shot more than six times died on the spot. According to witnesses, the attackers immediately escaped the scene after the attack. Security officials in the district said that security forces were pursuing the attackers. Despite a relative stability in the Somali capital since the ouster of Al-Shabaab fighters, civilians remain a common target for unknown gunmen, government soldiers and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
Bomb At Army Base In Burhakabo Kills Five Somali Soldiers
23 January – Source: Garowe Online – 188 Words
Five soldiers were reported killed and six others seriously wounded in a bomb attack on a Somali military base in Burhakabo district on Monday. An eyewitness said the incident happened when a remote-controlled landmine detonated targeting Somali National Army (SNA) stationed in the town, located 200 km from the Somali capital of Mogadishu. A medical aide at Burhakabo district hospital, told Garowe Online over the phone that at least six people were admitted to the hospital “in very serious condition.”
He added the death toll was likely to rise because of the number of seriously injured people by the improvised explosives device (IED) at the SNA outpost. The Al Qaeda-linked Al- Shabaab militants, which frequently carry out attacks on government and civilian targets in the country has claimed responsibility for the latest attack. Local officials are yet to release its own statement concerning the attack. The militant group was pushed away from large areas in central and southern Somalia, but still poses significant threat as it aiming to topple the western-backed Somali Federal government in Mogadishu.
INTERNATIONAL
Police Reservist Killed In Mandera Al-Shabaab Attack
23 January – Source: Daily Nation – 102 Words
A Kenya Police Reservist (KPR) was killed Monday morning after suspected Al-Shabaab militants hurled explosives at a bank and two hotels in Mandera town. Police and the Kenya Defence Forces on Monday morning secured Equity Bank, which had one of its walls destroyed and windows shattered.
KDF sealed off the bank, Jabane hotel and a food kiosk located opposite Mandera deputy governor’s home to check whether there are other explosives. Mandera County Commissioner Frederick Shisia said the police reservist was killed in the attack on the eatery near the deputy governor’s house. There is a dusk to dawn curfew imposed in Mandera.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The industry is poisoned by Pirate maritime security companies. These “companies” are active in an illegal weapons trade daily coupled with dangerous guards swapping. They do this simply because they keep making millions from it. Numbers and severity are not exaggerated.”
Maritime Terrorism, Cyber Crime, Kidnappings and Ransoms are the “New Somalia” For Today’s Shipping Industry
23 January – Source: Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide – 1,755 Words
A few years back it was Somalia which took the maritime world by force, awakening ship owners to a new reality of maritime dangers. Today, when most people seem to think that these are now perils of the past, the realities of maritime shipping are much more dangerous and complex, just not so much in the spotlight any more, as high profile attacks are now scarcer. In an exclusive interview with Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide Mr. Alexandros Theodosios Kontos, Chief Operating Officer with LSS-SAPU, a specialized maritime security company, highlights the complexity of threats, noting that maritime terrorism, kidnappings for ransom reasons and cyber crime are the three main issues.
A lot has changed since the rise of Somalian piracy back in late 2000’s until today. Where do we stand today in terms of Somalia and its threat to the maritime industry? Following the recent attack faced by the CPO Korea some 300nm off Somalia and the Chinese Navy deterrence by the use of warning shots against a Pirate Action Group consisting of 4 skiffs along with the hijacking of the Iranian fishing vessel a few months ago, it is safe to conclude the Somali Piracy threat is still out there. The NATO withdrawal from the area certainly does not assist. Any balance in the HRA still comes from the three-legged stool of Navy active presence, BMP4 and Private Maritime Security Companies. Remove one of the three legs and the stool will collapse. Shorten one or more of the legs and the stool will not be performing well, if at all.
Which are today’s major “hotspots”, which ships will have to be extra careful when crossing? The major hotspots are the HRA and especially the Bab Al Mandeb (BAM) where we even saw the tragic death of seafarers from an RPG attack against MV Joya, which set the vessel ablaze and ended up sunk. The Gulf of Guinea remains a deeply problematic area with no signs of improvement. Last but certainly not least the Sulu and Celebes seas area are quickly evolving into one of the worst areas a ship can sail with constant attacks, kidnappings and even beheadings of hostages when ransom payments are delayed. Combine the last with the recent attacks against Navy and Merchant vessels by RPGs in the BAM along with the Mukala attack we faced last year and we are clearly looking into a new era as far as maritime threats are concerned. This new threat is Maritime Terrorism.
TOP TWEETS
@alihwarsame: One of key survival strategy 4 #Somalia is planned/proper reconciliation principled with honest, forgiveness & commitment. #DibuHeshiisiin
@HassanIstiila: #BREAKING Two soldiers were killed in a landmine in #Burhakaba district in Bay region of southern#Somalia, Alshabaab claimed for the attack
@faoinsomalia: Severe #drought, rising prices, dry forecasts will take a heavy toll on #Somalia. But solutions exist. Read more:http://bit.ly/2jp0ukS
@abdirizakdhore: #Breaking. Explosion at Cinema Somalia area locates Makalmukarama Road. Casualties reported.
@amisomsomalia: #Somalia elects speaker of the Upper House ahead of the presidential election. http://bit.ly/2jI2VNe #Doorashada2017
@Amalow11: An Officer working for Interior ministry, survived after bomb fitted into his car exploded around Ex-cinema along Maka al mukaran. #Somalia
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IMAGE OF THE DAY
Members of Somalia’s Upper House elected Abdi Hashi Abdullahi as their new speaker ad Abshir Mohamed Ahmed as the first deputy speaker.
Photo: UNSOM