August 15, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Several Senior Al-Shabaab Combatants Killed In Middle Shabelle And Lower Jubba Operations
15 August – Source: Jowhar News – 181 Words
The Somali military commented on its latest military operations in Middle Shabelle and Lower Jubba. Somali National Army Commander in charge of the 43rd Division in Jubbaland, Mohamed Buulle told the press that four senior Al-Shabaab combatants and seven low ranking militants were killed in the latest operations in Lower Jubba’s Muse Hajji and Arare villages. Buulle stated that during the operation, the Army destroyed the militants’ bases in the two villages and seized two of their “battlewagons” — pickup trucks with weapons mounted on the back. Unconfirmed reports indicate that U.S. forces with military helicopters partook in the operation.
Meanwhile, U.S. trained Somali forces, Danab, supported by AMISOM carried out a raid on Al-Shabaab bases in Basra. The village has been an Al-Shabaab bastion where it used to launch attacks on the main Bal-Ad-Jowhar highway.
Military commanders said, several Al-Shabaab fighters were killed in the attack. Local residents reported to have heard airstrikes during the attack. Since the resumption of the military offensive, the Somali military has claimed a number of achievements in the ongoing operations against the militants.
Key Headlines
- Several Senior Al-Shabaab Combatants Killed In Middle Shabelle And Lower Jubba Operations (Jowhar.com)
- Mogadishu Hosts Its 4th Annual Book Fair (Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia Willing To Mediate Eritrea And Djibouti Ministry Of Foreign Affairs (Halbeeg News)
- ‘Sex Tourists’ Duping Somali virgins Into Marriage (Channel 4)
- UN Says Favorable Weather Improves Food Security In Somalia (Xinhua)
- Despite Trump Somali-Americans Overcame Scrutiny To Make Political History In Minnesota (Quartz Africa)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Mogadishu Hosts Its 4th Annual Book Fair
15 August – Source: Hiiraan Online – 182 Words
Thousands of voracious readers have converged in Mogadishu on Wednesday, for the fourth annual Mogadishu Book Fair, that attracts local and international participants. The book festival will feature dozens of guests and will run for three days. Festival-goers will have plenty to do from book reading, and plenary discussions, to book signings and presentations by authors.
The three-day literary exhibition will draw works from various participants such as scholars, playwrights, poets, journalists and book enthusiasts who gathered in Mogadishu. The book fair showcases the commitment of young Somalis to rebuild something positive in a country, that is recovering from decades of civil war and the absence of functioning government.
The event is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and money transfer company Dahabshiil. The Mogadishu Book Fair was first organized in 2015 and it has grown into an annual attraction featuring thousands of writers, poets, journalists, and photographers from across the world. Other cities in Somalia have also held similar events including Hargeisa, which just celebrated its 11th anniversary in July as well as Garowe and Kismayo cities.
Somalia Willing To Mediate Eritrea And Djibouti, Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
14 August – Source: Halbeeg News – 228 Words
Somalia is ready to play a mediation role to resolve a bitter border dispute between two of their neighbours, Djibouti and Eritrea, the country’s Foreign Ministry said. Speaking to the media, Somali Foreign Minister, Ahmed Issa Awad announced that the country has expressed its desire to play a mediation role to the governments of Djibouti and Eritrea.
A border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea resulted in armed clashes in June 2008, leaving several people dead from both sides. “We will play a constructive role to bridge the gap between Eritrea and Djibouti,” The border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea is perennial, starting from the colonial days when the former was under French administration while the latter under the Italians. They have argued over ownership of Ras Doumeira since the 1900s. The UN Security Council responded by imposing sanctions on Eritrea over claims Asmara was financing troublemakers in the Horn.
In 2010, Qatar agreed to mediate the conflict and offered to provide troops as a buffer between the two sides. Both sides seemed amenable to the offer and it somehow calmed the trouble. That was until last year in June when Doha withdrew their troops, in the wake of a blockade imposed on Qatar by its Middle East neighbours. Incidentally, neighbours like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates accused Qatar of financing terrorists, a charge it has denied.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
‘Sex Tourists’ Duping Somali virgins Into Marriage
14 August – Source: Channel 4 – Video: 11:00 Minutes
In Somalia, poverty is forcing women into sexual exploitation as men from the country who’ve emigrated to the west return to take advantage of them. Many of the women are refugees who are lured by the offer of a better life abroad.
They often go through a fake wedding ceremony. The women are later abandoned as the men return to their families in the West. It’s a practice known as vacation marriage. Jamal Osman has been to Nairobi, where he put together this exclusive report. He was assisted by Nick and Deka Hassan.
UN Says Favorable Weather Improves Food Security In Somalia
15 August – Source: Xinhua – 489 Words
Favorable weather conditions experienced during the main (Gu) rainy season combined with a large-scale humanitarian assistance have improved the food security situation in Somalia, the UN said on Tuesday. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the April-June rains started earlier than normal and was significantly above average, breaking the downward trend which emerged during the last two years.
It said the gains are, however, still fragile. “The favorable weather conditions brought about by the Gu rains (April-June) have had a relatively positive impact on livestock conditions, water, pasture availability in Somalia,” OCHA said in its latest report.
The Horn of Africa nation experienced a prolonged drought from late 2016 through late 2017 that resulted in significant livestock losses and consecutive seasons of below-average production causing severe and at times extreme acute food insecurity. The UN said the rains that pounded Somalia early this year were not without negative impacts as severe flooding resulted in deaths, temporary displacements and damage to infrastructure and cropland.
According to the UN humanitarian agency, the cyclone Sagar has equally had a devastating impact in the North, especially in the Awdal district of Somaliland. “More than 2.6 million people are displaced, evictions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are on the rise and in total more the 5.4 million people — around 43 per cent of the population — need humanitarian assistance in Somalia,’’ UN said.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“In other trailblazing wins, Hodan Hassan won the Democratic primary race for district 62A in Minneapolis, likely becoming the second Somali-American woman to be elected to the Minnesota state legislature.”
Despite Trump, Somali-Americans Overcame Scrutiny To Make Political History In Minnesota
15 August – Source: Quartz Africa – 374 Words
Two days before the 2016 US presidential elections, Donald Trump visited Minnesota and told supporters that faulty refugee vetting processes allowed large numbers of Somalis to come to the state. They came here, he said, “without your knowledge, without your support or approval, and with some of them then joining ISIS and spreading their extremist views all over our country and all over the world.”
His characterization of Somalis was deemed “dangerous,” with critics saying the remarks were a setback for the community who worked hard to become part of the state and nation’s fabric. Around 150,000 Somalis live in the US according to United Nations estimates, with many of them living in Minnesota than any other state. On Tuesday night (Aug. 14), voters in that state cast Trump’s comments aside and delivered a resounding victory for immigrants and women. The ongoing primary elections are being seen as a test of Trump’s influence and whether Republicans or Democrats will control both houses of Congress next year.
Ilhan Omar, 36, won the Democratic primary in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district, likely becoming the first Somali-American to serve in Congress. Omar, who fled the Somali civil war and lived in a Kenyan refugee camp, won the seat left behind by representative Keith Ellison, another Muslim who is running for state attorney general in November. Along with Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, the two are poised to become the first Muslim women elected to Congress.
In other trailblazing wins, Hodan Hassan won the Democratic primary race for district 62A in Minneapolis, likely becoming the second Somali-American woman to be elected to the Minnesota state legislature. Another Somali, Mohamud Noor, won the primary for Omar’s seat to represent District 60B in southeast Minneapolis.
The historic wins represent a hopeful moment for Somalis in the state, who have faced scrutiny even as they pushed for more integration and made political strides. The Trump travel ban on Somalia in Jan. 2017 affected the community, with many wondering if they would ever be reunited with loved ones. Since Trump’s election, the spike in the number of African migrants sent back home has especially affected the Somalis, with some deportees accusing the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement of maltreatment and abuse during removals.
TOP TWEETS
@Goobjoognews: @DeputySomaliPM: Every human civilization started with writing. Even the Quran encourages writing; the first verse of the Quran is ‘read’ #MBF2018
@Fatumaabdulahi: “In #Somalia, poverty is forcing women into sexual exploitation”. Glad to see Jamal go back to what he is good at, telling stories. And this one is another uncomfortable but necessary story to tell.
https://www.channel4.com/news/
@taqwamedia3: JUST IN: Al Shabaab commander among several Militants killed in lower Juba region, #Somalia after a successful raid by Somalia Special forces backed by AMISOM forces. The operation was carried out in the area of Muse Hajji and the District of Araare.
#MuslimsAgainstViolence
@STN_KE: #Somalia‘s Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has put government officials on notice over corruption.
@STN_KE: Favourable weather conditions experienced during the main (Gu) rainy season combined with a large-scale humanitarian assistance have improved the food security situation in #Somalia, the UN has said.
@HarunMaruf: US-trained Somali forces, Danab, backed by AMISOM attacked Basra village area which has been an Al-Shabab bastion, late Tue. Basra which locates in agricultural zone was used by militants to launch attacks on the main Bal’ad-Jowhar Highway. Reports say allied forces seized it.
@DalsanFM: Ilhan Omar wins primary to replace Keith Ellison in Minnesota’s fifth district https://www.radiodalsan.com/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Thousands of Book lovers converge as the 4th Mogadishu Book Fair kicks off.
Photo: @MohamadDuale