September 27, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali Defense Minister To Be Grilled Over SNA Atrocities
27 September – Source: Halbeeg News – 183 words
Somali Defense Minister, Hassan Ali Mohamed, is expected to appear before the National Assembly’s Committee on Defence over atrocities committed by members of the Somali National Army (SNA). Speaking to the media, Sadiq Warfa who is the secretary of the defence committee, said the panel wants the minister to give an explanation on recent incidents where government soldiers were reportedly involved in the killing of several people. The soldiers’ primary responsibilities is to protect vulnerable members of society.
The secretary said they would grill the commanders of the armed forces over all allegations levelled against the army. The grilling follows the horrifying shooting of 9-year-old Deeqo Dahir Ali in Mogadishu this month. Somali government arrested four soldiers in connection with the murder of the young girl. Police chief Bashir Abdi Mohamed vowed to prosecute anyone who shoots randomly at members of the public: “We will not allow civilians to be killed by a gun which is supposed to defend them,” Mohamed said. “Killing people and running away must come to an end. We will arrest them and bring them to justice straight away.”
Key Headlines
- Somali Defense Minister To Be Grilled Over SNA Atrocities (Halbeeg News)
- Security Forces Block Roads In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
- Somaliland Ethiopia To Ink Transportation Deal (Somaliland Standard)
- 500 Surgeries To Remove Cataract In Somalia Within Blindness-fighting Program Adopted By MWL (Riyadha Daily)
- Somali Airbase To Have Runway Repaired (Jane 360)
- Horn Of Africa Still At Risk From Violent Extremism (The Epoch Times)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Security Forces Block Roads In Mogadishu
27 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 156 Words
The Somali Federal Government security forces have early Thursday morning blocked all the major roads in the capital of Mogadishu. Although it was not announced why the roads were blocked, heavy security forces were seen in the main roads preventing public and private vehicles from accessing the roads.
Public transport vehicles were denied access to the road linking KM-4 and KM-5 (Zoobe) crossings in Mogadishu. Reasons behind the road closure still unclear. Many vehicles were stuck in the resultant traffic jam along the main roads of the capital of Mogadishu. Majority of the pedestrians who are employees and students, were mostly affected by the morning traffic operation. Roadblocks in the capital Mogadishu have lately been uncommon over the last few months, especially after Mogadishu stabilization forces were withdrawn from checkpoints within the city.
Somaliland, Ethiopia To Ink Transportation Deal
26 September – Source: Somaliland Standard – 95 Words
Ethiopia and Somaliland recently signed a joint agreement on transportation. Somaliland Transport Minister, Abdillahi Abokor, observed during an inspection tour of Burao that the current government will strengthen the capacity of transport associations. He also made it clear that the government would launch a comprehensive campaign aimed at repairing and rebuilding country’s roads.
Abdillahi Abokor further said the government would do its best in terms of improving roads security and strict traffic rules. He called on transport associations in Togdheer region to rally behind the government in implementing the agreement signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
500 Surgeries To Remove Cataract In Somalia Within Blindness-fighting Program Adopted By MWL
27 September – Source: Riyadh Daily – 391 Words
The World Muslim League (MWL) has conducted 500 surgeries to remove cataracts from the eyes and implant lenses in addition to the distribution of 1000 medical and sun glasses to patients in the medical camp that has been established at the regional hospital in the city of “Buroa” the capital of the province “Togdheer” in northern Somalia. The number of patients examined by the medical team, which included senior consultants in eye surgery, was 4000 ones.
The inauguration of camp was attended by governor of the province, Mohammed Hassan Jamea, a number of dignitaries and members of the Somali municipal council. Designated Secretary-General of the International Organization for Relief, Welfare & Development Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Ahmed Sarhan made clear that the camp was established upon many calls received by the MWL a matter which prompted Secretary General of the MWL Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa to issue directives to accelerate the implementation of these camps for the purpose of carrying out the mega project fully financed by the MWL through International Organization for Relief, Welfare & Development in the African continent to combat blindness for the benefit of humanity and people with special needs.
Dr. Sarhan pointed out that the MWL adopted the program of blindness fighting in the African continent. It include providing medical care for more than 25.500 patients and conducting 2700 surgeries to remove cataracts for patients in Chad, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, northern Somalia and Mauritania together with establishing a medical center specializing in eye diseases in South Africa. Volunteer medical teams took part in these medical camps in aforementioned countries and comprised consultants, technical assistants; medical cadres led by Saudi consultants specializing in eye surgery. He pointed out that this medical program has been fully praised by officials of these countries and local and international media.
All beneficiaries of this project and their families extended gratitude and appreciation to the MWL for this humanitarian donorship. For his part, Governor of the province Mr. Mohammed Jameh thanked the Somali government officials for these great health efforts exerted for helping Somali patients, stressing the readiness of the province to provide all required facilities without hesitation. He also called upon the Muslim World League to continue to provide these efforts for the presence of large numbers of patients and establish medical centers for treating eye diseases in Somalia.
Somali Airbase To Have Runway Repaired
26 September – Source: Janes 360 – 130 Words
The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 24 September that it had awarded a USD12.3 million contract to the North Carolina-based company URS Group to carry out emergency runway repairs at Camp Baledogle (Bahle Dogli) in central Somalia. The DoD said the work will include “full depth patching and overlay to allow required airfield operations” and is expected to be completed by September 2019.
Also known as Wanlaweyn Airport, the Baledogle runway is 3.2 km long and was built for the Somali military in the 1970s when it was supported by the Soviet Union. It is currently used by the African Union Mission in Somalia’s (AMISOM’s) Aerostar unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveillance unit, the UN mission that provides logistical support to AMISOM, and Somalia’s Danab special forces.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“They should also take steps to address broader grievances that the Islamist insurgents exploit, including the political and economic exclusion of Muslim minorities in East Africa. According to the researchers, the Somali terrorist group is likely to remain a formidable force inside Somalia and a menace in the neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa.”
Horn Of Africa Still At Risk From Violent Extremism
26 September – Source: The Epoch Time – 800 Words
Countries in the Horn of Africa continue to face a growing threat from extremist Islamic groups, particularly the Somali militant group al-Shabab. In recent years, the problem has largely been compounded by rising levels of youth unemployment, according to security analysts. “We cannot underestimate the nature of the problem; this is a major regional security challenge,” said Mutuma Ruteere, director of the Center for Human Rights and Policy Studies, a Kenya-based regional security think tank.
Ruteere, a former U.N. special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, and related intolerance, says violent extremism has also become a social problem for communities and families, which have seen their young men and women embrace ideologies of groups like al-Shabab, and even sign up as active members. “It is for sure one of Kenya’s major security challenges,” he added.
Kenya has suffered a string of deadly terrorist attacks in the recent past since sending its troops into Somalia in 2011 to fight against the al-Qaeda affiliate in East Africa. The Somali militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for major assaults, including the 2013 terrorist attack on Westgate shopping mall in the Kenyan capital, which killed at least 67 people and left scores of others wounded.
In April 2015, the terrorist group carried out another massacre on Kenyan soil when the extremist fighters attacked Garissa University College, killing 148 people, the majority of them students. Officials said the Garissa attack was the deadliest in Kenya since the 1998 terrorist bombings of the U.S. embassies in East Africa, which claimed more than 200 lives, including 12 Americans. But as Kenya marked five years since the Westgate Mall massacre on Sept. 21, the memories of the event still lingered. Eunice Kavetsa, 30, whose husband was among the security guards killed by the attackers, said the deadly incident is still fresh in her memory. “I still live in fear five years later,” said the mother of two children.
She said that on that fateful day, her husband, Maurice Adembtsa Ombisa, had been called by his junior colleagues to find out why the would-be attackers did not want their car to be inspected by security guards. No sooner had he arrived, than he was shot at point-blank range and died instantly. “It’s not been easy coping with the trauma,” Kavesta said. In a statement, President Uhuru Kenyatta said, “We will never forget all those who lost their lives on that day.” But Kenyatta said Kenya remained unbowed. “It is a war that we shall not let up,” he added. Kenyan officials say security agencies have effectively reduced the attacks by al-Shabab. “It has taken many years to learn, but overall, we have seen significant progress in reducing the incidences of attacks, especially in cities and urban areas,” Ruteere said. “The problem still remains, particularly in the border areas.”
TOP TWEETS
@Halbeeg_News: MoreSomali defense minister to be grilled over SNA atrocities https://en.halbeeg.com/2018/
@AbdulBillowAli: A commendable job by @MofSomalia under@DrBeileh. @WorldBank offers $80 million for #Somalia to Support Inclusive Growth and Resilience. A first for the country in three decades.
@mpfsomalia: Multi Partner Fund is eligible for pre-arrears clearance (PAC) grants, which are available for countries re-engaging with IDA after long periods of disengagement. Grants are used to accelerate the reforms necessary for arrears clearance. These grants are *not* loans.
@NorwayInSomalia: Norway gives 210 mill NOK to UN-MPTF to support the Constitution reform process, Local Governance and Human Rights. The UN-MPTF remains an important channel for coordinating donor support and strengthening UNs role in contributions to stability in Somalia @UNDPSomalia@NorwayMFA.
@MogTechSummit: In less than a month…! The Mogadishu Tech Summit will kick off bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators and investors to upscale the tech world in Somalia! Here’s a small clip of what to expect. #MTS2018 #Somalia.
@warsame_Fouzia: So grateful to be part of conversations that brings light to higher Education setting & reconstructing.#UNGA2018 @UN at the heart of peace building in post-conflict society education should be core discussion #Somalia’s public ed is back. @SomaliPM @SNU_University @Godahbarre
@GoobjoogTV: 1/1 #Somalia; The lower house suspended their meeting today after MPs have failed to attend. LISTEN, the list of MPs who have failed to attend today’s forum. is your MP representing you in the parliament on the list? #Mogadishu#GoobjoogTV #Baarlamaanka.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President of Jubbaland Ahmed Islam Madobe along with other high ranking commanders when they visited SNA troops stationed in Bar Sanguni and Muse-Haji villages in Lower Jubba region. Photo: @MOsabrie