February 26, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali Forces Carry Out Joint Security Operation In Mogadishu
26 February – Source: Shabelle News – 131 Words
The security forces of Somalia’s Federal Government have carried out a massive security operation in Mogadishu on Sunday night in response to Friday’s deadly Al-Shabaab attack. The troops comprising of intelligence and police backed by African Union soldiers conducted a house-to-house operation in parts of the capital and detained hundreds of people.
The allied forces targeted villages in Heliwa district and other nearby areas believed to be a hotbed of Al Shabaab secret agents and their sympathizers. Somali security officials say those arrested during their crackdown are under inquiry on suspicion of being Al-Shabaab. They added individuals not found guilty will be released. The operation followed twin car bomb and gun attacks around the Presidential Palace last Friday by Al-Shabaab which killed nearly 50 people, including soldiers.
Key Headlines
- Somali Forces Carry Out Joint Security Operation In Mogadishu (Shabelle News)
- Somali Army Officers Conclude 10 Weeks Capacity Building Training (Goobjoog News)
- Somaliland Halts UAE Military Base Construction Over “Breach Of Contract” (Radio Dalsan)
- Somali PM Demands Intensified Security (Voice of America)
- Somaliland Needs a New Approach With Somalia (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Army Officers Conclude 10 Weeks Capacity Building Training
26 February – Source: Goobjoog News – 205 Words
Somali National Army officers this week concluded a ten weeks long ‘training of trainers’ course conducted by the European Union Training Mission in Somalia. The training which is the third one covered areas such as human rights, leadership and law of armed conflict. It adds to several other training programmes conducted by the EUTM for Somali National Army.
“The “Training of Trainers” Course, aimed to teach the trainees military subjects, as well as motivation, leadership, human rights and law of armed conflict,” EUTM said in a statement Sunday. “It signifies one of the most important courses delivered to the SNA as it represents the first step in the path to set up a Somali Owned Training System.”
The Mission noted the trainers will now be able to replicate the same skills learnt among their counterparts in the various units they represent. The knowledge acquired during the training is critical in enhancing accountability and reliability of the military among the Somali citizens, the mission said. Eight SNA officers participated in the course which concluded at General Dhagabadan Training Centre (GDTC) in Mogadishu. The closing ceremony Thursday was attended by GDTC Deputy Commander, Col. Mohamed Ibrahim Osman and the EUTM-S Training Team Head, Col. Juan Lopez Martin.
Somaliland Halts UAE Military Base Construction Over “Breach Of Contract”
26 February – Source: Radio Dalsan – 141 Words
Somaliland authorities on Sunday stopped the construction of the UAE military base in the coastal city of Berbera. Berbera town administration officials were on the construction site to order a stop to any further construction citing breach of contract. The $ 1 billion deal was to foster economic and social development for the locals by constructing the Berbera Wajale highway, a new cargo Airport in Berbera, large dams to be built across Somaliland, water Energy, Health and Education projects.
The deal with DP World also indicated that all employees working at the military base shall compromise of locals and for the rest of the projects signed, the majority will be from Somaliland. Local administration says that UAE has failed to honour its pledge. The pact between the breakaway region of Somaliland and UAE was inked in March 2017 in Abu Dhabi.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali PM Demands Intensified Security
25 February – Source: Voice of America – 603 Words
Somalia’s Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has ordered police and intelligence agents to immediately intensify security “a hundred percent” in the capital of Mogadishu after attacks by Al-Shabaab killed nearly 40 people on Friday.
Friday’s attacks were the first by Al-Shabab in the capital since October when a truck bomb killed more than 500, and an attack on a hotel two weeks later claimed the lives of at another 30 people. “Security is the utmost priority,” Khaire said. “We will not tolerate the killing of our people. We will not be demoralized by one or two explosions. It’s important you end insecurity in Mogadishu.”
Last year, the government formed the Mogadishu Security and Stabilization Forces, who were instructed to raid homes suspected of being hiding places for militants and to erect checkpoints without warning. But the effort had several setbacks, including the deadly truck bombing and the firing of two security chiefs in the aftermath of the bombing. There were also incidents where security forces working with the stabilization force clashed after mistaking each other for Al-Shabaab.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“One of the important things to mention was that Somaliland has not had a clear strategy to come to the negotiation table. Two things that are supporting this argument are that the government has not clearly decided to create a framework for the dialogue, and its members who participate in the meetings usually change from one meeting to another.”
Somaliland Needs a New Approach With Somalia
26 February – Source: Hiiraan Online – 966 Words
2018 opens a new cycle in Somaliland’s foreign policy. The result of the 2017 presidential election showed that hardliners won the election. By hardliners, it means that a senior leader from the military wing of SNM won the election by a majority of 55%. Many analysts agree that the election result implies that there will be changes in the foreign policy, although the foreign minister retained his position, changes in the presidency demonstrates a new desire to shift the policy, while the foreign ministry executes the policies that are initiated by the president.
However, analysts are looking to the extent it will be shifted and its effect on the dialogue between Somaliland and Somalia. Despite the fact that the dialogue was a proposal from the ruling party, Bihi seems to oppose the policy of opening a dialogue with Somalia as his stated positions were during the election campaign. His main argument was that until Somalia recognizes the ‘independence’ of Somaliland, Somaliland is not ready to negotiate with Somalia. Dialogue with Somalia was not an option before Bihi’s predecessor Silanyo came to office in 2010.
The fundamental test that Bihi would face is setting up a policy towards Somalia that includes official dialogue, while in fact there was an absence of approach to negotiating with Somalia since the talks commenced due to various reasons. In fact, a dialogue with Somalia was not on the table when Somaliland participated in an international conference hosted by the United Kingdom back in 2012, but it suddenly appeared in the communiqué.
Four months after the conference, representatives from both sides met in London to establish ‘a framework for future talks,’ without a prepared strategy. This first round of talks was facilitated by the United Kingdom, in the presence of representatives from the European Union and Norway. After seven official meetings between representatives from the two countries, the dialogue failed and Somaliland suspended any formal talks with Somalia.
New reports suggested that several European countries are interested in playing a mediatory role in the talks. Somaliland welcomes this new initiative and Foreign Minister Shire made public that Switzerland will host official talks between the two countries, as Turkey, which facilitated four out of the seven official meetings, had huge political, economic, security and strategic interests in Somalia, and Somaliland accused Turkey of lacking neutrality among the two sides. Ankara’s involvement in the dialogue played a role in the failure of a productive dialogue.
TOP TWEETS
@mukhtarainashe: Following is a link to an informative article on the upcoming #Somalia and #Somaliland political dialogue on the “International Policy Digest” magazine. http://bit.ly/2EX0f8e #Puntland #Mogadishu @musebiihi @M_Farmaajo
@ICRC_Africa: Proper and dignified management of human remains in conflicts and disasters is a key component of our work in #Somalia. This is why we recently held a training that brought together first responders from various organizations.https://www.icrc.org/en/
@HarunMaruf: Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has ordered his security forces to end insecurity in the capital, pledges full support for a new round of security operation set to begin tonight. He told newly appointed Cmdrs that he expects a “100% improvement” in security of Mogadishu.
@khadarHared: Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe has received today a delegation from Turkey government including members of Turkish Municipality Union and Turkish traders led by Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Olgan Bekar in Kismayo, they discussed how to enhance the development needs in Jubaland.
@Eye_on_Somalia: #Goobjoog Somali army officers conclude 10 weeks capacity building training http://ift.tt/2GGQATR #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Jubaland Regional President, Ahmed Mohamed Madobe welcomes Turkish delegation led by Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Olgan Bekar in Kismayo.
Photo: @HiisSon