November 28, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Al-Shabaab Seizes Crashed US Surveillance Drone In Galgala, Puntland
28 November – Source: Hiiraan Online – 104 Words
Al-Shabaab militants in the mountainous areas in Bari region, Puntland, said they have seized a U.S. surveillance drone after it crashed in the Almadow mountains in Galgala. According to Al-Shabaab media, the aircraft was fitted with cameras to spy on the group’s military activities in the region amid increased U.S. air strikes targeting militant bases in the country.
The incident comes as Puntland security forces recently intensified military activities in the Almadow mountains hunting for Al-Shabaab militant. It becomes the first seizure of a crashed drone by the Al-Shabaab militants in Puntland, even though the group made similar seizures in the southern regions.
Key Headlines
- Al-Shabaab Seizes Crashed US Surveillance Drone In Galgala Puntland (Hiiraan)
- Finnish Ambassador: We Offer State Rebuilding And Humanitarian Assistance To Somali (Goobjoog News)
- Somalia: Puntland Forces Arrest Journalist In Bosaaso (Garowe Online)
- AMISOM Trains Somali Officials On Rehabilitation And Reintegration Of Former Al-Shabaab Fighters (AMISOM)
- Somalia: Officials Visits Prison in Seychelles Encourages Anti-Piracy Cooperation (All Africa)
- UN Monitoring Group Report: Somalia’s Political Spoilers Senator Omar Abdirashid Sharmaake(Bartamaha)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Finnish Ambassador: We Offer State Rebuilding And Humanitarian Assistance To Somali
28 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 241 Words
Finnish Embassy in Somalia is involved in a number of developmental and humanitarian activities that enhances the progress of Somalia, the country’s ambassador to Somalia said. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Goobjoog News, the Ambassador of Finland to Somalia Tarja Fernández today noted the diverse developmental programs, its embassy is rolling out to the Somali government and its people. “We have quite comprehensive program in Somalia including training SNA through EU mission, UN police and state structures through different international organizations” said Ambassador Fernández, during celebrations to mark her country’s independence Monday.
On the humanitarian level, she pinpointed the target group among them the destitute in society and the newly born cases in their post conflict programs. “We assist Somalia through a humanitarian aid that supports a continuous progress, and to reach out to the poorest of the poor in society but, concerning the conflict in the country, the most important program is that every Somali live be supported through UNFPA for neonatal health service to mothers.” Ambassador Fernández related the short span of Finnish civil war terming it as a real example for any country that wants to bounce back to a normal situation and sound economy. “We had a brief civil war in 1980, just after our independence. I think our history has proved pulling together and working for one united country is really something that can make the whole population to prosper” she concluded.
Somalia: Puntland Forces Arrest Journalist In Bosaaso
28 November – Source: Garowe Online – 215 Words
The Security forces in Bosaso the commercial and port city of the semi-autonomous region of Somalia have detained a local journalist on Sunday, Nov 26, Garowe Online reports. A media colleague said, Mr. Omar Mohamed Sa’ed, a journalist was arrested at the city’s main airport, while heading to Bosaaso on assignment. Police did not immediately provide further details on the arrest. It remains ambiguous the motive behind the imprisonment of Mr. Omar. But his detention comes amid disagreement with Puntland government led by President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali “Gaas”
Some reports suggest that the governor of Bari region, Mr. Yusuf Mohamed Wacays (Dhedo) has issued the arrest warrant for the journalist, who was not formally charged by Puntland law enforcement. Puntland authorities did not comment on the case. However, the governor has distanced himself from the accusation. He told local media that the journalist has been apprehended following a court order.
On August 6, police arrested Mr. Omar in Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland over a post on his Facebook, criticizing the President for the printing false Somali shilling notes in Puntland. After 6 days in jail without charges, Puntland’s Nugaal Region’s first-grade court has freed the media worker on bail. This comes amid a surge in arbitrary arrests and abuses against journalists the region.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia: Officials Visits Prison in Seychelles, Encourages Anti-Piracy Cooperation
28 November – Source: All Africa – 205 Words
Maritime security is important for all countries bordering the Indian Ocean, and these countries need to work together to combat piracy, the Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Monday. Yusuf-Garaad Omar made the statement after visiting President Danny Faure at State House, Victoria. “We discussed the issue of maritime security and the cooperation between the two countries to make sure that the ocean is safe for both countries as well as for the international traders who are using the ocean,” said Omar.
He told the press that “piracy is decreasing for many reasons one of which is due to the effort of the regional international forces and institutions working on it.” Somalia is looking to work closely with Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian ocean, to help with capacity building and the exchange of information and intelligence on maritime security.”Somalia is also working on prosecuting pirates. The Somali government is also committing itself to making sure that we can control our people and coasts,” said the minister. Omar and his delegation called upon the president and vice president after having visited the Seychelles’ main prison on Sunday, where six Somali citizens are being detained in regards to a piracy case.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“A conservative estimate suggests that Al-Shabaab receives at least $10 million each year from the illicit charcoal trade. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, continues to be the primary export destination as well as a hub for criminal networks that violate the charcoal ban with near impunity. With the notable exception of Kuwait, implementation of the charcoal ban has been poor, particularly by the Interim Jubba Administration and the African Union Mission in Somalia, and the United Arab Emirates among importing countries.”
UN Monitoring Group Report: Somalia’s Political Spoilers, Senator Omar Abdirashid Sharmaake
27 November – Source: Bartamaha – 858 Words
As the recent United Nations Monitoring Group published its yearly comprehensive report on Somalia, the assessment made within the report and its overall findings is helpful, forward looking and provides a framework which to build on for Somalia’s on-going recovery. This report is to be welcomed and applauded for its widespread investigative sources and content, which should form part of Somalia’s, recovery, peace and stability. Having read through the report, it is still unfortunate there are a number of individuals with influence that receive tribal militia protection, who are sighted by the UNMG as individuals who are an obstacle to peace and stability in Somalia.
As a social activist and a Broadcaster in the Diaspora who yearns for progress and stability in Somalia, I would like to formally request the UN Monitoring Group to turn their attention to Somalia’s former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmake, and his cohorts for promoting instability and chaos in Somalia’s affairs (regional states). The Federal Government structure is still fragile and the last thing Somalia needs are more political spoilers who seem to be advancing the interest of other nations or interest groups, hell bent on fragmenting the Federal unity of Somalia, in pursuit of their own foreign policy goals. This is to be discouraged as the international community has invested heavily politically and economically in Somalia. To have political spoilers who enjoy immunity as parliamentarians is counterproductive to peace and stability.
The Somali money transfer companies and other companies still remain a key role in delivering economic growth and assisting humanitarian support. They continue to remain the live line for the Somali economy and the ability of the Somali diaspora to send much needed financial support for their families in Somalia. Having faced many challenges abroad through bank account closures, they are still resilient and are by majority is still effective means of sustaining the lives of millions of Somali citizens, home and abroad.
However, there are also a number of major Somali Money Transfer companies and other business entities who pay “extortionate form of taxation” to Al-Shabaab, which is wholly unacceptable and counterproductive to fighting terrorism. I would like to also bring this issue to the UN Monitoring Group for their consideration in the next reporting from Somalia. This is an open secret that needs urgent attention and action from the international community and Somali government. If we are all honest and serious about preventing terrorism financing and violent extremism together, we ought to turn our attention to these substantial issues, which is a hindrance to Somalia’s security and stability. To put it simply, the recent horrific double terrorism attack in Mogadishu Zoope and Nasa Hablood Hotel where we have lost over 500 innocent citizens would not have taken place without the availability of solid financial support for Al-Shabaab. We are already counting the cost and we should not continue to tolerate this anymore.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: Amazing scenes at Kasarani stadium where Pres Uhuru Kenyatta will take the oath of office any moment from now (video by @citizentvkenya)
@AMB_A_Mohammed: Somali President H.E. Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed arrives at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) for inauguration tomorrow of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
@engyarisow: Happy 100 yrs Independence Day 2 #Finland. A Historic @SuomiFinland100 Independence reception at#Mogadishu
@Goobjoognews: SECOND US strike against ISIS in Somalia kills one militant –
@FernandezTarja: Great honor to meet a friend of Finland HE Abdirahaman Osman @engyarisow Minister of Information of Somalia @vikesverkko
@DalsanFM: #BREAKING: 65 Yes old Female SNA soldier shot dead by unknown assailants in Garasbaley on the outskirts of Mogadishu. The masked men fled after incident #Somalia
@UKinSomalia: .@SC_Somalia & a consortium of NGOs have launched 4-yr CHANGES project in #Somalia, funded by@DFID_UK & @NorwayInSomalia – the project aims to help empower Somalia’s women socially & economically for benefit of all. #OrangeTheWorld #16Days
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: US says new airstrike has been conducted against ISIS fighters in Puntland killing one militant. It will be the 2nd time US targets pro-Islamic State militants in Somalia; the first strike took place earlier this month.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Finnish Ambassador Tarja Fernández and Minister of Information Eng. Abdirahman O. Osman celebrating Suomi-Finland 100 days in Mogadishu
Photo: @engyarisow