July 2, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Congratulations Galore As Somalia Turns 58
01 July – Source: The East African – 410 Words
Several world leaders Sunday congratulated Somalia as it marked 58 years of independence. US President Donald Trump sent a message, stating: “On behalf of the United States of America, I wish you and the people of Somalia a joyous 58th anniversary of independence.” “The United States looks forward to continuing its partnership with the people and government of Somalia to work toward a brighter future,” he added.
“Working together to build a stable, peaceful, prosperous Somalia is in the interest of both of our nations. You will continue to have our support on this path.” President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo presided over the celebrations at the Conis Stadium in north Mogadishu. The Somali National Army (SNA) mounted a guard of honour while a popular music group, the Waberi, provided the entertainment.
The former Italian colony attained its independence on July 1, 1960 and on the same day merged with the former British Somaliland Protectorate, which had obtained independence five days earlier on June 26. The two regions formed the Somali Republic and adopted a multiparty democracy. However, a group of army officers staged a coup on October 21, 1969, abolishing the constitution that granted the young nation the holding of three general elections, two presidents and three prime ministers in just nine years.
President Farmajo congratulated the Somali people and urged all the citizens to uphold their glorious days like July 1. “July 1 is a symbol of our independence and unity. It is the day our people removed the ruthless clutches of the colonialism and embarked on sovereignty,” said the President.
Key Headlines
- Congratulations Galore As Somalia Turns 58 (The East African)
- Former Electoral Delegate Killed In Mogadishu (Halbeeg News)
- ISIL-Linked Faction Steps Up Attacks In Mogadishu (Garowe Online)
- UK Donates Heavy Equipment To AMISOM (AMISOM)
- 5 Civilians Dead In Mortar Attack In Mogadishu (Voice of America)
- Somalia Connection In Sugar Smuggling Syndicate Revealed (Daily Nation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Former Electoral Delegate Killed In Mogadishu
01 July – Source: Halbeeg News – 151 Words
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a prominent Somali elder in the capital of Mogadishu, the latest in a series of targeted assassinations against elders involved in the recent elections. Ibrahim Ali Hassan was shot dead in Dharkeynley district by gun-toting assassins, who fled from the scene before the arrival of police authority.
The late Hassan was among the electoral delegates who elected members of current Federal Parliament from the regional administration of Southwest state in December 2016. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the killing of the elder. The Al-Shabaab militia group has previously threatened electoral delegates who participated in the electoral process with death.
The attack comes less than a week after unknown gunmen killed a well-known elder in Mogadishu. Abdi Ulusow was on his way home from a mosque when two men armed with pistols accosted and shot him in the head and chest several times in Hamar-Jajab district.
ISIL-Linked Faction Steps Up Attacks In Mogadishu
30 June – Source: Garowe Online – 336 Words
As car bombings declined sharply in Mogadishu for the past few months, targeted assassinations are on the rise with more than 50 people killed since last May. The city’s security has been dramatically improved after Somali government deployed additional forces along the main street junctions, searching routinely the private and public vehicles to avert terrorist attacks. Despite this, Mogadishu has seen a surge in the number of assassinations by al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab group and pro-ISIL militants targeting security force members, civil servants and elders, who participated in last parliamentary vote.
Armed men said to be members of the pro-Islamic State faction in Somalia shot and killed at least 3 people – two Somali soldiers and a civilian in Mogadishu and nearby Elasha Biyaha village on Friday, June 29. The victims of the latest attack include a student who has been identified as Shador Dahir Hassan. He was killed outside a mosque in the outskirts of the city, according to the law enforcement sources. This shooting was filmed by ISIS militants, who claimed responsibility for the attack through a video confirmation on Amaq News – an ISIS-linked news outlet that is often the first point of publication for claims of responsibility.
The increase in strength of the ISIL group has attracted attention because some security officials fear it could offer a safe haven for Islamic State militants fleeing military defeat in Syria or Iraq. In October 2015, Sheikh Abdulkadir Mumin, a former high-ranking member and spiritual leader of Al-Shabaab, pledged allegiance to Islamic State in the mountainous Puntland region of northeastern Somalia..
Mumin’s group has gradually been increasing its activity over the past two years. In October 2016, it occupied the ancient port town of Qandala in Bari region, marking the first instance of ISIS securing control of a town in Somalia. The group lost Qandala, some 75 km east of Bosaso, the commercial city of Puntland to the regional forces in December in the same year following days of battle that left scores of fighters and soldiers dead.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UK Donates Heavy Equipment To AMISOM
01 July – Source: AMISOM – 394 Words
The United Kingdom has donated heavy equipment worth 5.6 million pounds to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to help in clearing main supply routes as the force steps up the condition-based transition process. The equipment which includes tractor trucks, bulldozers, backhoe and front end loaders, forklifts and module dump tipper among others will be used in Sectors one, two and five together with the Mission Enabling Unit based in Mogadishu.
While handing over the equipment, on Saturday, the United Kingdom Ambassador to Somalia, David Concar, said his government was proud to be associated with AMISOM in its efforts to stabilize Somalia and help secure lasting peace and security. “What we are doing today, transferring 5.6m pounds worth of equipment is, we hope, going to make a real difference to the ability of AMISOM to clear roads, supply routes and to press ahead with stabilizing Somalia and working in partnership with Somalia’s own forces as they get stronger,” United Kingdom Ambassador to Somalia said.
Mr. Concar thanked the peacekeeping force together with the troop contributing countries for the sacrifice they have made to ensure stability in Somalia. “We thank you AMISOM for everything you have done and the troop contributing countries and above all the troops who are out there in these dangerous environments often paying for the stability and progress we have seen with the ultimate sacrifice,” the UK Ambassador added.
5 Civilians Dead In Mortar Attack In Mogadishu
01 July – Source: Voice of America – 466 Words
At least five civilians were killed and more than 10 others wounded after Al-Shabaab militants fired mortars in a residential areas of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. Security Ministry Spokesman Abdulaziz Ali Ibrahim confirmed to VOA Somali the casualties were the results of a mortar attack. Security experts in Mogadishu told VOA Somali three 60mm mortars landed near mid-day in a civilian neighborhood in Wadajir district near the headquarters of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) at Mogadishu airport.
The Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the attack Sunday and said it targeted the AU forces headquarters. Desperate Al-Shabaab; U.N. Deputy Special Representative for Somalia Peter de Clercq says such attacks by Al-Shabaab are a “desperate” activity by the militant group. “These are hit and run attacks, they take extremely high risks themselves in that respect of being detected, but they were willing to take those risks,” de Clercq told VOA during an interview in Mogadishu. “Desperate people are very difficult to stop, they have no concern for their own security, safety or lives, that is clearly the case here.”
De Clercq reiterated statements by U.N. officials that Al-Shabaab militants do not pose an existential threat to the Somali government, “It [Al-Shabaab] continues to be a spoiler, they continue to undertake the activity in a way that gives them the best possible feasibility as they see it, but no, this does not constitute an existential threat to what we are trying to do here together with the government or the future of Somalia.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The study says because the Somali State is all but absent, local politicians, businessmen and militias cooperate, compete, and negotiate the rules of the game.”
Somalia Connection In Sugar Smuggling Syndicate Revealed
01 June – Source: Daily Nation – 1763 Words
The sugar wars that are threatening to unravel the Jubilee ruling coalition have focused mostly on the product that is imported by scores of licensed traders. But, unknown to many Kenyans, a significant amount of sugar consumed in the country is contraband Brazilian product imported via the Kismayu port and smuggled in through the porous Somalia border.
A study by a Danish think-tank shows how political, business, bureaucratic and security interests in Somalia and Kenya are fuelling the smuggling that threatens the country’s political and economic stability. It describes the smuggling as a “dangerous, lucrative and highly political business.’’
Sweet secrets: Sugar smuggling and State formation in Kenya-Somalia borderlands by Prof Jacob Rasmussen of Denmark’s Roskilde University, blames official neglect of the sugar sector in western Kenya and marginalisation of the country’s northern region for the smuggling. It names a former governor and a leading politician from northern Kenya as some of the top politicians involved in the trade.
There are at least 70 businessmen in Kismayu, Garissa and Nairobi who operate lucrative rings that earn them millions of dollars a year. In contrast to the sugar that comes in through Mombasa, which is imported by licensed traders, the one from Somalia is contraband and is mostly from Brazil.
The smugglers have hundreds of trucks that operate between Garissa and Kismayu. On their way to Kismayu, they carry Kenyan food and consumer goods and, on their way back, they are loaded with hundreds of bags of contraband sugar. The researchers spoke to a number of truck drivers on the frontline of the smuggling. The study says the Kenyan military, its Somali allies and Al-Shabaab militants are cooperating on the trade in a move that has serious security consequences for both Kenya and Somalia.