March 23, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali Parliamentary Defence Committee Issues Security Warning Over The Political Dispute In The Country
23 March – Source: Radio Dalsan – 149 Words
The Somali parliamentary defence committee has issued a security warning over the ongoing political crisis in the country. The committee has urged the sides embroiled in the dispute not to affect the national security. The committee further said that if the crisis is not resolved soon it will negatively affect the security as it will derail the fight against the militant group that has intensified its attacks in recent days.
Secretary-General of the parliamentary defence committee Mr. Sadik Warfaa underscored the need to resolve the crisis through the constitution and warned it could undermine the ongoing security operations if it is not urgently brought to an end.
Key Headlines
- Somali Parliamentary Defence Committee Issues Security Warning Over The Political Dispute In The Country (Radio Dalsan – Somali)
- Waddani Opposition Party Loses Confidence In The Electoral Commission (Hiiraan Online – Somali)
- Nine People Hospitalised In Mogadishu After Inhaling “Poisonous” Gas (Radio Dalsan)
- Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Terrorist Bombing In Mogadishu (Saudi Press Agency)
- UAE Condemns Mogadishu Terror Blast (Emirates News Agency)
- Mr. President You CAN Fix The Army (Umadda Media)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Waddani Opposition Party Loses Confidence In The Electoral Commission
23 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 142 Words
The Somaliland opposition party – Waddani has withdrawn its confidence in the national electoral commission over allegations of poorly managing the October 2017 presidential election.
The party’s chairperson, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro said in a statement that they suggested to President Muse Bihi the dissolution of the current commission and instead form a new one. He said they wrote to the president about the flaws in the recent elections and the violations against the registration regulations and the entire electoral process.
The Waddani party was not content with the results of the elections and the manner the electoral process was handled but made compromises in the interest of the nation and people, according to Irro. However, the other opposition party UCID said they are not of the view to dissolve the commission with UCID party chairman saying that the recent elections were credible.
Nine People Hospitalised In Mogadishu After Inhaling “Poisonous” Gas
22 March – Source: Radio Dalsan – 75 Words
Nine women were on Thursday rushed to hospital, in Mogadishu after they inhaled poisonous gas while cleaning a road in Mogadishu’s Abdiaziz neighbourhood. A Noah vehicle which didn’t have a number plate, stood near the women and sprayed them with unknown poison, before the car vanished from the scene. Four of the women were reported to be unconscious, and were taken to the Ex-Digfeer hospital. The women are members of the Banadir region cleaners.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Terrorist Bombing In Mogadishu
23 March – Source: Saudi Press Agency – 97 Words
An official source of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today expressed strong condemnation and denunciation of the explosion that took place in front of an hotel in Somalia’s capital of Mogadishu, leaving a number of innocents dead or injured.
In a statement, the source reiterated the solidarity of the Kingdom with and its stance by the side of the friendly Republic of Somalia against terrorism and extremism, extending condolence to the families of the victims, the government and people of the Republic of Somalia and wishing the injured a quick recovery.
UAE Condemns Mogadishu Terror Blast
23 March – Source: Emirates News Agency – 108 Words
The UAE condemned the explosion that erupted outside a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu today as an act of terror. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expressed the UAE’s denunciation of such acts of terror and reiterated the country’s principled rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism.
In a statement, the MoFIC affirmed the UAE’s solidarity with Somalia against violence and extremism, calling upon the international community to close ranks and collectively stand up against the resident evil of terrorism which threatens international peace and security. The MoFIC expressed the country’s condolences for the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“These reforms must not shy-away from sacking incompetent Generals and Soldiers who only joined the the Army for titles and a salary. SNA must be ready to reform fully and engage the enemy on the frontline. The SNA must also be integrated and be a national force.”
Mr. President, You CAN Fix The Army
21 March – Source: Umadda Media – 573 Words
The Somali National Army (SNA) is the single greatest opportunity and obstacle for achieving security in Somalia. The SNA must regain all the Somali territories held by Al- Shabaab very quickly if they are to be taken seriously by the Somali people and the international community. The SNA needs support and supervision and President Farmaajo’s residence in the Ministry of Defence is a good start for this.
The President living and working in the Ministry of Defence is a morale booster and a signal that the Commander in Chief will no longer be a bystander in SNA reforms. Instead he will oversee, direct and lead the changes needed for the SNA to be fit for purpose to defeat Al-Shabaab and fulfil their duty to the Somali people and nation.
The SNA for too long has acted above the law and beyond the control of its civilian leaders. Now they must be brought back to the real world and be better managed, organised and held accountable for their actions and performance. There are many in the SNA who are committed to the values and duty of defending the nation against its enemies but they are let down by some who are unable and unwilling to work with them.
These include very corrupt senior SNA officials, including undeserving Generals, who are concerned about how many cousins they can employ and how much money they can make from stealing from their own institution and soldiers. The courage and sacrifice of the few has historically saved the many and in Somalia this is the case. However, achieving security and development at this critical time requires a mass movement led by the majority which unites the country against its enemies. There can be no room for spoilers and exploiters.
During his residence in the Ministry of Defence President Farmaajo must communicate to the senior officials of the SNA and Ministry of Defence itself that he will not tolerate division, corruption and indiscipline. The Ministry of Defence and SNA must work together and with other government Ministries to biometrically register all soldiers for account payments. This will reveal the real number of the SNA and ensure all soldiers are fully paid. For too long cash-handling by senior SNA officials has been the curse that had kept soldiers in poverty and plummeted their morale. This also made Somalia more insecure and untrustworthy to international partners.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: Al-Shabab took credit for the car bomb in Mogadishu claiming “Govt officials, and intelligence officers killed”, but security officials told media all 14 victims killed were civilians.
@Jacfar4661:#SPort: Young Somali Women stand nearby, some disapproving but all watching closely, as the women jog up and down, dribble a worn-out ball between colourful cones and do sit-ups, less than 200 metres (656 feet) from a heavily guarded security checkpoint.
@SalahOsman0: Good Morning from #Mogadishu Work to rebuild and decorate never stops in my city, despite terrorists attacks. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ #Somalia
@Goobjoognews: AMISOM TRAINS Somali security sector personnel on deterrence against use of children in armed conflict.
@DalsanFM: A paramedic with the @AaminAmbulance Omar Sheikh among the injured the Mogadishu car bombing that killed at least 10 people in front of Hotel Weheliye.
@M_H_Ingiriis: I published another academic article on Al-Shabaab in the journal of Contemporary Security Policy. I suggested that the insurgency movement cannot be resolved by mere military combat. Rather, tackling Al-Shabaab entails a radical approach – that is, direct political negotiation.
@Halbeeg_News: First-ever Somali Exhibit at Minnesota History Center Opens in June https://en.halbeeg.com/2018/
@SomalNews: Asli Hassan Abade member of the Somali Air Force, was the first African female pilot. #Africa #Kenya#Ethiopia #Eritrea #Djibouti #Uganda #Rwanda #Tanzani#Nigeria #Ghana #Sudan
@XHNews: Death toll rises to 14 in a bomb attack outside the popular Wehliye hotel in Somali capital Mogadishu (file pic)http://xhne.ws/kiVvS
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The aftermath of yesterday’s explosion near Hotel Weheliye, in Mogadishu.
Photo: @DalsanFM