March 2, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report

Somalia Dismisses Ethiopia -Berbera Port Deal As “Non Existent, Null & Void”

02 March – Source: Radio Dalsan – 189 Words

Somalia government has reacted to the signing of a deal that gave Ethiopia 19% ownership of the Berbera port terming it as illegal and a threat to the Somali unity and sovereignty. “The Federal Government of Somalia is not party to this so-called investment agreement” a statement from the Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport read.

The statement dated March 2 refers to Somaliland as a state within Somalia and not a “Republic” as referred to the deal signed on Thursday in Dubai, UAE. “The so called agreement is both defective and detrimental to the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Somalia” the statement said. “The ministry therefore considering the above declares this deal as non existent null and void” the Ministry said.

Following the deal UAE company DP World has a 51% stake of the strategic port while Somaliland share is 30%. The alleged $1Bn deal was signed by Dr Saad Ali Shire of Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister, Ethiopia Transport Minister Ahmed Shide and CEO DP World Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem. Notably the deal was signed as the Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire toured the Gulf country.

Key Headlines

Somalia Dismisses Ethiopia -Berbera Port Deal As “Non Existent Null & Void” (Radio Dalsan)
Somali President Attends AMISOM Summit In Kampala (Hiiraan Online)
Mayor of Mogadishu Chairs Benadir Security Committee Meeting (Dhacdo.com)
Suicide Bomber Rams Car Into Somali Military Base: Police (Reuters)
AMISOM Army Chiefs Oppose Troop Reduction (The Daily Monitor Uganda)
Gains Made In Somalia Risk Being Eroded Warn AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries’ Ministers (AMISOM)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Somali President Attends AMISOM Summit In Kampala

02 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 413 Words

Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi arrived in Uganda’s capital Kampala on Thursday evening to attend a summit of AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries. The meeting which is hosted by the government of Uganda will kick off on Friday morning. Leaders from Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda will also be participating in the summit which is scheduled to focus on security plans for Somalia.

According to reliable sources within Villa Somalia, President Farmajo is expected to discuss launching massive operations against Al-Shabaab fighters. “This year, President Farmajo wants to prioritize operations against Al-Shabaab. During the summit in Kampala, the President will table plans including offensives against Al-Shabaab across the country. The government plans to win the fight against Al-Shabaab before the planned exit of AMISOM (2020), ” the source at the president’s office told Hiiraan Online.

He noted that Somalia plans to convince the leaders attending the conference to accelerate trainings for the Somali soldiers before mid this year. “President Farmajo will urge the leaders to train more soldiers for Somalia as to conclude the preparation of Somali soldiers before June,” he whispered. The Summit will closely examine the stability and security of the horn of African nation as the continental forces prepare to pull out from the country. Somalia consistently struggles to rebuild its forces which will be taking the security responsibilities from AMISOM troops when their ( AMISOM) mandate expires.

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa, said the Mission was also in need of force enablers and multipliers which are crucial in carrying out effective operations. “Going forward, it is essential therefore that the international community looks at the bigger picture in Somalia, so that the gains made in recent years through enormous efforts and great sacrifice of AMISOM and the Somali National Army (SNA) are not in vain,” Mr. Kutesa noted. Ambassador Smail Chergui, the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, appealed for increased and coordinated international aid for activities that support the transition plan to enable the Somali national security forces take over security responsibilities of their country.

“The primary focus of the African Union in the coming period should then be to support accelerated progress on this roadmap, continue constructive Federal Government of Somalia-federal member states engagement, and full implementation of the Somalia Transition Plan,” Chergui said. The UN Security Council Resolution was strongly opposed by United States saying it was not the right time to reduce peacekeepers in the country. U.S warned that the extremist threat in the region has not been neutralized.

Mayor of Mogadishu Chairs Benadir Security Committee Meeting

02 March – Source: Dhacdo.com – 103 Words

A meeting of the Benadir Security Committee chaired by the Mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman which attended by Deputy Governor, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, and commanders of the regional military, police , intelligence and prisons discussed four points that are important for the security of Mogadishu.

The meeting also discussed how to secure the city of Mogadishu since a new joint force has been established that will be responsible for the security of the city to avert plans by the terrorist groups in Mogadishu. The Mayor of Mogadishu gave a lengthy speech on how best to face the security challenges in the city.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Suicide Bomber Rams Car Into Somali Military Base: Police

02 March – Source: Reuters – 117 Words

A suicide bomber rammed a car into a Somali military base about 30 km (20 miles) northwest of the capital Mogadishu on Friday, a police official said. Captain Hassan Nur, an officer from Afgoye district, said the base was not far from his police station and it was too early to give details.

The Islamist Al-Shabaab group conducts frequent bombings and gun attacks in a campaign to topple Somalia’s western-backed federal government. The militants also want to drive out the African Union-backed peacekeeping force AMISOM which helps defend the government. Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, said the group was responsible for the attack. “There is much casualty. We shall give details later,” he said.

AMISOM Army Chiefs Oppose Troop Reduction

02 March – Source: The Daily Monitor, Uganda – 579 Words

Military chiefs from five countries who deployed in war-torn Somalia want an end to the ongoing phased troop withdrawal. On Wednesday, the army chiefs agreed that the troop strength that had been reduced from 22,126 to 21,626 be restored because the variation has made the troops thin on ground, making them vulnerable to Al-Shabaab attacks.

Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen David Muhoozi, who chaired the meeting, said the troop variation is the reason the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) halted “meaningful offensive operations” against the Al-Shabaab because troops were thin on ground. “It was meaningless to continue capturing territory you can’t defend,” Gen Muhoozi told Daily Monitor in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

The UN Resolution 2372 of 2017 adopted a phased reduction and withdrawal of peacekeeping troops under the African Union Mission for Somalia (AMISOM) and a gradual hand over of security responsibilities to the Somali National Army (SNA).

OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE

Gains Made In Somalia Risk Being Eroded, Warn AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries’ Ministers

02 March 2018 – Source: AMISOM – 621 Words

Foreign affairs and defence ministers from AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) yesterday warned that gains made in Somalia risk being eroded if outstanding issues such as inadequate troop numbers and unpredictable funding are not addressed. The ministers, who are attending a TCCs meeting in Kampala, Uganda, reiterated the stand taken by their respective countries’ chiefs of defence forces, a day earlier, that the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) needs more support to enable it execute its mandate of securing Somalia.

The caution was made by Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa, who said the Mission was also in need of force enablers and multipliers which are crucial in carrying out effective operations. “Going forward, it is essential therefore that the international community looks at the bigger picture in Somalia, so that the gains made in recent years through enormous efforts and great sacrifice of AMISOM and the Somali National Army (SNA) are not in vain,” Mr. Kutesa noted. He emphasised that the AMISOM drawdown should be synchronised with the corresponding strengthening of the Somali national security forces to ensure no gap is left once AU troops exit.

Last year, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution authorising the reduction of AMISOM troop numbers and transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali national security forces. In his remarks at the pre-summit meeting, Ambassador Smail Chergui, the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, appealed for increased and coordinated international aid for activities that support the transition plan to enable the Somali national security forces take over security responsibilities of their country.

Ambassador Chergui paid tribute to personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty in Somalia and thanked the TCCs heads of state for championing the spirit of pan-Africanism. He noted that Somalia was on a positive trajectory, pointing out that political gains made last year are important for AMISOM’s exit strategy and transfer of security responsibilities to the Somali national security forces.

TOP TWEETS

@Tuuryare_Africa: BREAKING: Four people killed in suicide car bomb attack on army base in #Afgooye town, some 30km south of #Mogadishu – Witness #Somalia

@farhanjimale: #Somalia says yesterday’s #Berbera port agreement between @DP_World #Ethiopia & self-declared republic of #Somaliland is non-existent, null & void. It went on to say while the deal is against the country’s constitution & int’l laws, is also detrimental to #Somalia’s sovereignty.

@lasoco: Gains made in Somalia risk being eroded, warn AMISOM Troop Contributing Countries’ ministers – ReliefWebhttp://j.mp/2F5BOK9 #Somalia

@UrbanTVUganda: Today’s Summit will therefore provide an opportunity to further discuss the current situation in Somalia; the continued role of the TCCs/AMISOM in Somalia; a mechanism for sustainable and predictable funding for AMISOM; and inputs to the AMISOM transition plan #AMISOMTCCs #PMLive

@MKahiye: There is need for serious strategic security changes in #Somalia, @HSNQ_NISA should be plain clothes, use their heavy weapons only during specific operations based on intelligence gathering, SNA Mann check points, disband unnecessary SPOKESMEN,ADVISORS!

@HarunMaruf: New infor indicates that the number of Al-Shabaab war prisoners who escaped from the Puntland rehab centre in Garowe on Feb 25 were 14. New info also suggests Puntland officials have been given several warnings about possible escape of inmates but no action taken, reports say.

@Eye_on_Somalia: #Hiraan AMISOM Heads Meet Amid Security Concerns About Somalia http://dlvr.it/QJQ7rg #Somalia

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IMAGE OF THE DAY

Somali Health of Minister, Dr. Fawzia Abikar Nur met with the Minister for health of the Republic of Turkey Dr. Ahmed Demircan in the sidelines of Ankara Health conference to discuss areas of mutual cooperation between the two nations.

Photo: @Caafimadka