January 15, 2018 | Morning Headlines

Reconciliation Is The Theme For My Official Trip In Central Somalia Says President Farmaajo

14 January – Source: Goobjoog News  – 212 Words

Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo arrived in Galkayo town where he was received by Galmudug State President Ahmed Duale Haaf, other officials, local and federal MPs. He informed the public that reconciliation is the central theme of his official trip. President Farmaajo expressed his delight for the extraordinary reception he was accorded by the people of Galkayo town. “I am thrilled with your warm welcome, how you have received me and my delegation, a reflection for your patriotism, unity and good citizenship. My journey across the region is connected to the theme of reconciliation. I want everyone in this town and all Somalis to be peace bearers” President Farmaajo told the public.

State President Haaf who spoke initially with the public welcoming event noted the Somali leader is expected to spur up developmental programs in the region. “Today it is our luck we have in our presence the Federal President and other leaders, ministers, senators and even MPs. Galmudug people are thrilled to welcome him and his delegation. We want the government to build for us the road between coastal town of Hobyo and Galkayo, and also the central prison” said President Haaf. President Farmaajo’s trip to Puntland and Galmudug states entered its seventh day, since he was elected in February 2017.

Key Headlines

• Reconciliation Is The Theme For My Official Trip In Central Somalia Says President Farmaajo (Goobjoog News)
• Somalia: Landmine Wounds Five Soldiers In Mogadishu (Garowe Online)
• Galmudug Chief Minister Wants Alshabaab Wiped Out Before 2022 Polls (Radio Dalsan)
• Authorities Intensify Search For Shabaab Attackers In Lamu (Daily Nation)
• Kenya Must Act On Those Destabilising Somalia (Daily Nation)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia: Landmine Wounds Five Soldiers In Mogadishu

14 January – Source: Garowe Online – 171 Words

At least five Somali soldiers were wounded on Sunday morning when their military vehicle hit a landmine in Mogadishu, according to reports. A witness confirmed to Garowe Online  that a pick-up truck carrying military personnel was ripped through by a remote-controlled explosive device [IED] planted near the city’s southern main Ex-control Afgoye. Five government soldiers were wounded in the attack and were taken to a local hospital.

Security officials say a roadside bomb planted by Islamic militants struck a speeding pick-up left Hanta-Dheer area in Deynile district and heading to Ex-control, the main entrance to the capital early in the morning. The incident was the latest of several mine blasts in Mogadishu in the past few days amidst tight security measures and heavy presence of police and intelligence officers on the key streets. Somali security forces backed by AU peacekeepers have been battling militants in the country’s South and Central regions for years, but the insurgents are still capable of carrying out deadly attacks and car bombs in the capital city.

---

Galmudug Chief Minister Wants Alshabaab Wiped Out Before 2022 Polls

14 January – Source: Radio Dalsan – 131 Words

Somalia’s central state of Galmudug wants the Federal government and the public to come up with an immediate strategy to wipe out the militant group Al-Shabaab from the region before the 2022 elections, according to reports. Galmudug’s Chief Minister,  Sheikh Shakir Ali Hassan told reporters in the city of Dhusamareb that the there was a need to come up with a clear strategy to wipe out Al-

Shabaab  “Before the one person one vote election and as we prepare for it Al-Shabaab should be eliminated from the country. Somalia should unite to clear them from the few areas they control. We should partner in rehabilitating those who need rehabilitation, tell to leave those who can leave the group and remove the rest that’s what we pray for a lot” said Sheikh Shakir.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Authorities Intensify Search For Shabaab Attackers In Lamu

14 January – Source: Daily Nation – 581 Words

The operation to hunt down suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists who killed a woman and injured five police officers at Nyongoro along the Lamu-Mombasa road on Saturday morning has been intensified. Linda Boni Operation Director Joseph Kanyiri says they will not relent until all the criminals are arrested or killed. Speaking to Nation early Sunday morning, Mr Kanyiri said enough security officers have already been deployed at Nyongoro and its environs. Mr Kanyiri said the search is also concentrated in areas near Boni Forest where the militants are believed to be hiding. Nyongoro has become an area of concern due to the numerous Al-Shabaab attacks and subsequent killings conducted by the Somalia-based Al-Qaeda-linked group. In mid-June 2017, three Al-Shabaab hideouts were discovered and destroyed in Nyongoro with an undisclosed number of the terrorists killed.
However, the number of terrorist attacks that are being witnessed in the same area continue to increase with members of the public and even the security agencies themselves raising concerns over the same. But Mr Kanyiri said security forces have already identified notorious hotspots that are normally easily attacked by Al-Shabaab and that adequate security barricades have been set up in such areas. Areas that have become known Al-Shabaab attack spots on the Lamu-Garsen road include Nyongoro, Gamba, Mambo Sasa Corner, Lango la Simba and Milihoi.Mr Kanyiri asked members of the public to cooperate with security officers to ensure the security of travellers on the road is guaranteed.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“Somalia is suffering from the same irresponsible geopolitical adventures by these players who seek to bring down the government to advance their narrow interests which are served by perpetual chaos and war.By contrast, Kenya and the region would benefit from a peaceful and stable Somalia. It is time for the country to take a stand and stop the activities of those that seek to destabilise Somalia.”

Kenya Must Act On Those Destabilising Somalia

14 January – Source: Daily Nation – 1153 Words

There is no question that Kenya and Somalia are two countries that are deeply linked economically, socially and culturally. Both countries would stand to benefit immensely from enduring peace and stability in Somalia due to the long-standing ties between the two countries which stretch back hundreds of years. Yet all is not well at present in Somalia. A number of forces, both from Somalia and outside the region, are working very hard to sow chaos there and prolong the suffering of the people of Somalia and the region.

Kenyan authorities can play a role in curtailing these players who are destabilising Somalia simply by ousting them and denying them the right to operate from Nairobi, because a significant number of them are based in the Kenyan capital. In February 2017, there was great hope that the election of Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo as president – a rare case in Somalia elections where the man who was popular with Somalis across the region prevailed over the choice of shadowy power brokers – would be a turning point for Somalia. There were celebrations across East Africa following the election.

However, there are forces including many wealthy Somali politicians and businessmen – a good number based in Nairobi – who benefit from war and chaos in Somalia and are not interested in the pursuit of a lasting peace. These shadowy figures are suspected to be funding al- Shabaab attacks on Somali soil and credible investigations have linked them to the financing of bombings not just in Somalia but also in Kenya. Matters have been worsened by the dispute between Gulf nations whose impact is being felt in many regions, none more so than in the Horn of Africa. That conflict has seen powerful Gulf countries emerge to actively encourage divisions in Somalia which have been a gift to the Al- Shabaab at a time when many were turning against the group.

In June, the young and erratic Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman and his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)  suddenly announced a blockade of their rival Gulf power Qatar. They demanded that all countries with a large Muslim population should follow their lead. Many were forced by the fact that they rely on millions of dollars in aid from the oil-rich Gulf countries to do so. However, to their great credit, the leadership in Somalia decided to take a neutral posture and refused to take sides between the UAE and Qatar. That decision – despite tens of millions of dollars being offered to sway the leadership in Mogadishu – has inflamed the Gulf countries and unleashed a full-blown war to try and bring down the government in Somalia. The activities being undertaken to achieve this should alarm all members of the international community including the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development, major embassies including the Americans and the European Union and other players that have a major stake in peace in Somalia including Kenya.