May 29, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Mogadishu Security Is Improving, Says Mayor
29 May – Source: Shabelle News – 172 Words
The Mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman, is now optimistic about the security the capital amid ongoing routine operations to restore peace and stability. Speaking at a security meeting in the city, the Mayor said government forces with the support of the locals had made tangible progress in security in the past months.
“During the conference on the stabilization of the country, we presented our own plan to secure Mogadishu, and the achievements made in the past four months,” he added. The situation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the capital and surrounding areas dominated the meeting, as the Locally Displaced People are currently in dire need of humanitarian assistance following heavy rains and floods.
The mayor stated that his administration was working to restore the city’s lost glory, through enhanced service delivery, better management, and the integration of the people. The city’s municipality wants to rebuild Mogadishu Stadium, the biggest sports field in Somalia, which has been a military base for the African Union forces AMISOM for 10 years now.
Key Headlines
- Mogadishu Security Is Improving Says Mayor (Shabelle News)
- Galmudug Deputy President Calls On Federal Government To Intervene Political Crisis In The State (Halbeeg News)
- Somalia: Eight Hurt As Anti-Somaliland Rally In Las Anod Turns Violent (Garowe Online)
- Kenya Set To Raise AMISOM Refunds Bill To Sh7 Billion (Business Daily Africa)
- AMISOM Explores Sea Air Options To Deliver Supplies (The East African)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Galmudug Deputy President Calls On Federal Government To Intervene Political Crisis In The State
29 May – Source: Halbeeg News – 348 Words
Galmudug Deputy President, Mohamed Hadii Abdi Arabay has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the looming political crisis in Galmudug state. Months after Galmudug and Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (AWSJ) formed an inclusive government with its administrative Capital identified as Dhusamareb, several leaders in the state have opposed the move.
The onset of full blown rift led politicians from the region to downplay the agreement between Galmudug state and Ahlu Sunna to bury their hatchet. The deal was hammered out in Djibouti and Mogadishu. Speaking at a meeting in Adado town, Mr. Arabay expressed concern over the standoff that was far from being resolved. “This escalating political tension between Galmudug state leaders derails the gains so far made and must be resolved immediately,” said Mr. Arabay.
The leader urged the Federal Government to mediate between the sides saying it is a crucial time for the government to host talks for the opposing Galmudug leaders. “We highly welcome and appreciate anyone willing to mediate in this crisis. We are ready for negotiations and we encourage the government to intervene in the situation,” he noted.
His remarks come barely a day after Somali government said it would host the two feuding sides to a reconciliation conference to resolve the differences of the Galmudug state leaders. The Interior Ministry of the Federal Government directed the opposing sides to convene in Mogadishu to attend a conference which kicks off on 30th of this month. Through a statement, the ministry suspended the implementation of the Djibouti deal and the process to unite the assemblies of Ahlu-Sunna Waljama’a and Galmudug state.
In December last year, the leaders from Galmudug state and Ahlu-sunna signed a deal in Mogadishu which culminated in the formation of Somalia’s most bloated regional Assembly with 178 MPs. The deal also gave Ahlu-Sunna Waljama’a the position of chief of Ministers, a post now held by Mr. Sheikh Mohamed Shakir. The agreement led the state’s ministers to move to Dhusamareb, the administrative capital Galmudug state in March this year for the first time since the inception of the state in 2014.
Somalia: Eight Hurt As Anti-Somaliland Rally In Las Anod Turns Violent
28 May – Source: Garowe Online – 251 Words
A violent protest erupted on Monday in Las Anod city, the capital of the disputed Sool province, where the breakaway Somaliland state has been deploying police officers in recent times. A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters that hundreds of irate demonstrators, some carrying the Puntland flag, marched through the streets to protest against the self-declared state of Somaliland based in Hargeisa city.
At least eight people, including women and children, were wounded in clashes between the security forces and protesters. The injured were admitted to a local hospital: “We have witnessed deliberate attempts by Somaliland police to intimidate, harass and silence the people,” said one of the protesters.
During the violence, police in the city detained reporters and around 60 people on suspicion of participating in the anti-Somaliland rally, throwing stones at the police station and government offices. Some reports suggest that a delegation led by former President of the now-defunct Khatumo state, Mr. Ali Khalif Galayr, was heading to the city to address the brewing tension in the region. Some of the residents in Las Anod, who spoke to the media, said they will not continue to tolerate Somaliland interference in the Sool region.
The protesters chanted pro-Puntland slogans and expressed their support for military movement in Tukaraq, near Las Anod, which was captured by Somaliland forces last January. Mr. Abdirisak Jama Abdi, a member of Puntland Parliament, who hails from Sool region, has blamed Somaliland for coercion and arbitrary illegal arrests of residents in Las Anod.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya Set To Raise AMISOM Refunds Bill To Sh7 Billion
29 May – Source: Business Daily Africa – 243 Words
Kenya will demand more compensation in the year starting July from the United Nations (UN) for its troops fighting Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia. Treasury documents show that Kenya expects reimbursement of Sh7.05 billion in the next financial year starting July, up from the current Sh6.1 billion — which has remained static for the past four years.
The refund is set to drop to Sh5 billion and Sh3.5 billion in the next two years, signalling gradual reduction of troops in Somalia. The UN eased Kenya’s cash crunch after it refunded Sh4.68 billion in the 10 months to April. In the past, delay in reimbursement of the funds has been linked to the UN’s insistence on verification of claims.
About 4,000 Kenyan soldiers are part of AMISOM. The international community pays $1,028 (Sh103,828) for each soldier per month; their respective governments then deduct about $200 (Sh20,200) for administrative costs meaning the soldiers take home about $800 (Sh83,628). The soldiers receive the funds through the government.
Kenya formally sent 4,660 soldiers to Somalia in October 2011 after incessant attacks and kidnapping of civilians by Al-Shabaab militants within its territory. A year later, the UN Security Council gave Kenya the green light to join the African Union Mission to Somalia, a decision that meant the Treasury would not bear the full costs of the incursion. AMISOM’s soldiers are drawn from Uganda, Burundi, Djibouti, Sierra Leone and Kenya.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“The runway to enable us to do this is under construction. It should be completed in the next one or two months,” he said. While sea transport works for delivery of supplies and troop reinforcements over longer distances, there are no options when it comes to reinforcement of army bases within a few kilometres of each other.”
AMISOM Explores Sea, Air Options To Deliver Supplies
29 May – Source: The East African – 727 Words
Already hamstrung by logistical challenges over the area it controls, the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia is exploring water and air transport to deliver supplies and troop reinforcements.
In recent months, these have suffered deadly ambushes at the hands of the Islamist militant group Al Shabaab. The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) field commanders report that in recent weeks, floods have also rendered impassable the improvised routes in the Lower Shabelle region, where roads are non-existent in most areas. As a result, military supplies and infantry vehicles are delayed for weeks, risking the security of troops in the forward operating bases across 80 percent of Somali territory currently under AMISOM’s control.
It is divided into sectors, each manned by a contingent from each of the troop-contributing countries — Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia and Djibouti. The Uganda contingent, which covers 75,000 square kilometers — the largest of AMISOM-controlled areas — is the most stretched. The farthest point from force headquarters on the western side is Baraawe, 240 kilometres from Mogadishu. On the northern side, the distance is 90 kilometres.
“It takes one to two weeks by convoy to reach the farthest soldier in Baraawe,” said Sector One spokesman Maj Caesar Olweny. “By that time, we’ve lost two or three vehicles. Some areas are inaccessible and difficult to operate, especially at this time of flooding.”
Contingent commander Brig Gen Paul Lokech told journalists at his office in Mogadishu recently that they have started using the sea to take supplies to Baraawe. “But this is in the short term. In the medium term, we will deliver supplies by air. The runway to enable us to do this is under construction. It should be completed in the next one or two months,” he said.
While sea transport works for delivery of supplies and troop reinforcements over longer distances, there are no options when it comes to reinforcement of army bases within a few kilometres of each other. At 3,000 kilometers, Somalia enjoys the longest coastline on the African continent but AMISOM lacks full control, sharing it with Al-Shabaab and pirates who operate off the shore. For instance, wading through the sand in sweltering conditions, it took a convoy of five infantry fighting vehicles with AMISOM soldiers and embedded journalists one hour to cover a distance of six kilometres from the headquarters Battle Group XXII at Ceel-jaale to the next base of the First Infantry Battalion at Shalamboot.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: A military colonel, a policeman, a regional MP, an elder, a parliamentary staffer, civil servants, traders, a Qur’an teacher and other unsuspecting individuals are among the targets of ongoing assassinations by militants in Mogadishu which increased during the month of Ramadan.
@DalsanFM: Kenya: Police arrest three terrorism suspects in Nyeri https://www.radiodalsan.com/
@RAbdiCG: Predictably matters have since deteriorated with reports of serious tensions in Cadaado as standoff between rival political factions escalates. Attempts by clan elders to mediate, reportedly thwarted. All roads closed. Prospect of new instability in Galmudug disconcerting.
@Vatescorp: #Somalia: Parliamentary staffer responsible for L/House finances shot dead yesterday in Mogadishu.
@HodanTV: Praying for my family in #Laascanood tonight. Sad that people have to die fighting for their own land. My grandfather invested majority of his wealth in the 1960s building Las Anod. I pray war does not destroy this peaceful city. #Somalia#LAForever #LasAnod #Tukaraq
@KingYusufYusuff: The Somalia gov invest and encourage solar energy in the whole of #Somalia.
@GuleidJ: Like any other country #Somalia needs separation of powers. Firing a Chief Justice and forcing speaker out don’t serve the interest of rule of law. I believe @M_Farmaajo is having dictatorship tendencies. His attempt to oust CJ should be averted.
@DrBeileh: Today I chaired the weekly SMP meeting@MofSomalia offices. Steady progress is been made. All government & key implementing agencies are working closely together for the fiscal and economic reforms of #Somalia .
@Goobjoognews: Lawmakers urge review of the new constitution to secure interests of clans.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Deputy of African Union Ambassador Simon Mulongo during a meeting with the Denmark’s Ambassador to Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea and Seychelles, Mette Knudsen, yesterday at AMISOM.
@Tuuryare_Africa