January 10, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
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Al Shabaab names new al Shabaab leader to Kenya10 Jan – Source: Radio Kulmiye, Radio Risala, Shabelle – 127 words Al Shabaab militia has today announced that they have appointed a new man representing al Shabaab in Kenyan affairs. Speaking in a videotape posted on pro-al Shabaab websites, the new representative has sent a clear message to the Kenyan government and the people of Kenya, saying that the Kenyan government should face the wrath of terror attacks in the near future and that the Mujahidins will soon invade the country. Mr. Imaam Ali has also told Kenyan military forces in Somalia that they will meet death and destruction if they do not return to their homeland. |
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PRESS STATEMENTMeeting of the International Coordination and Monitoring Group on Somalia09 Jan – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 1522 words H. E. Augustine Mahiga, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somalia. Excellencies, distinguished participants, Ladies and Gentlemen It is an honour to be here with you today. Let me take this opportunity to thank Ambassador Mahiga, SRSG and the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) for hosting this important conference, and the first of the International Coordination and Monitoring Group on Somalia. This is an excellent forum, which brings together international Community and key stakeholder for Somalia, and clearly demonstrates the United Nations commitment to the support and protection of the people of Somalia. We are glad to have the opportunity to discuss the issues that are important to the people of Somalia in a transparent and objective manner. Today, we will delve in some detail into the progress that has been made since the signing of the Roadmap on 06 September 2011 and I am sure that we are all here to contribute towards a common understanding of the way forward and how we can all bring peace and stability to Somalia. Let me take this opportunity by offering my heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation for the ongoing support of the United Nations, the African Union (AU) and the International community to Somalia. Excellencies and distinguished participants, For the last 5 months since I have been appointed Prime Minister, my government has been working very hard to implement the highly ambitious Road map plan, and we have been doing it with very little resources, limited human capacity and in an increasingly tense political climate. Despite these challenges, we are proud to report significant progress. The Roadmap is the foundation plan and while we are putting our top priority into implementing all tasks, we also need to continue delivering basic services and humanitarian assistance to those people desperate for help. We have published our first quarterly report at the end of November, and I am sure you have read it already. Before I go into specific achievements, let me make some general observations:
I believe that it is increasingly evident that the Government is making valuable contributions and progress towards security, political outreach and reconciliation, good governance, constitutional making process and reforming of the parliament as well as to our society as a whole. Let me start with the security. We are still in the process of consolidating security gains in Mogadishu and other parts of the country, such as the Jubba regions, Gedo, and now Hiiraan. This huge success was the result of an exceptional partnership between a much improved Somali National Army, our AMISOM brothers and now our neighbours Kenya and Ethiopia. We are being successful because our security forces have changed and improved in so many ways. This success presents both opportunities and challenges for the TFG as we strive to consolidate security in the city, provide public services to the population, and tackle the enormous humanitarian emergency enveloping our country. Failure to do this will fatally undermine the legitimacy and popular support that the government currently enjoys. The lack of effective government over the course of the last 20 years has resulted in a culture of lawlessness and chaos. As Somalia strives to rebuild its armed forces and security institutions with the help of AMISOM and the international community, we are winning the battle against terrorism and extremism. Stabilizing security inside the capital has been a determined focus of my government over the past 5 months and the Mogadishu Stabilization Plan is progressing very well. But the extremists continue to obstruct the distribution and delivery of critical life-saving assistance to the famine areas of the country. We have now finalized the National Security Stabilization Plan (NSSP) with input from regional stakeholders, Puntland, Galmudug and ASWJ. The NSSP was debated and approved by the Council of Ministers on 26 October 2011. With regards to the Constitution, we have appointed a Committee of Somali Experts and the Joint Committee, who are working extremely hard to finalise a draft document. Furthermore, the National Consultative Constitutional Conference took place 21 to 24th December in Garowe, which ended with participants signing the Garowe Principles. In terms of Political Outreach and Reconciliation we have made significant progress and a milestone has been achieved. 5 months ago, there was no working partnership or coordination between TFG and the Regional Administrations. Now, however, we have excellent working partnerships and better coordination between TFG and the regions, as well as to Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama’a (ASWJ). Even prior to the Roadmap Meeting, TFG leaders visited Puntland and Galmudug. There have been other consultative meetings which have been successful, such as the high level reconciliation dialogue with new emerging regional administrations which took place in Nairobi on 19 September. Also, as part of the NSSP consultations process, the TFG sent Missions to Puntland and Galmudug in October. Additionally, a Civil Society Consultative meeting took place in Mogadishu between 26 to 28 November. In terms of Humanitarian situation the TFG appointed a Ministerial Committee as well as the Somali National Disaster Management Agency. As a result of these we have successfully managed the humanitarian situation with better coordination and partnership working between Aid Agencies and TFG. With regards to the Good Governance, again we have made huge progress in this area. TFG continues to take an active stance on combating corruption. In October two district commissioners were arrested and investigated on charges of diverting food aid. We have established a ministerial committee on Anti-Corruption and the cabinet approved an Anti-Corruption Law and the selected Interim Commissioners are in the process of being vetted and will be publicly announced shortly. There are regular and on-going Town Hall meetings with TFG leaders taking questions from the public. The aim of these meetings is transparency and accountability to the public. Furthermore, all ministers address the public via radio and TV programmes to discuss the progress of their ministries. I am sure the TFG progress report on the Roadmap will highlight all the achievements made so far. However, we are all here to see both what has been achieved and what we need to improve on in the next few months. My government is committed and determined to making further improvements and progression towards the Roadmap. However, as I often note, the TFG cannot do it alone and we continue to need the help and assistance from the International Community. Our huge challenges are sustaining security gains while providing basic services to our people. Our National Security Stabilization Plan requires resources in order to fully implement it. Furthermore, we need to immediately start the implementation of DDR which is desperately needed to rehabilitate ex militia and most particularly the generation of our young people who have been exposed to violence. Finally, I would strongly appeal to you to provide the timely resources needed in order for us to fully implement the Roadmap. I urge the International Community to understand the urgency required to commit the resources in order to bring peace and stability in Somalia and to end the transition as per the Roadmap. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your participation and looking forward to taking part of your lively discussions during the session. I hope that all your contributions and exchange of ideas will further enhance our progress towards bringing peace and stability in Somalia. Thank you, SOMALI MEDIAAl Shabaab names new al Shabaab leader to Kenya10 Jan – Source: Radio Kulmiye, Radio Risala, Shabelle – 127 words Al Shabaab militia has today announced that they have appointed a new man representing al Shabaab in Kenyan affairs. Speaking in a videotape posted on pro-al Shabaab websites, the new representative has sent a clear message to the Kenyan government and the people of Kenya, saying that the Kenyan government should face the wrath of terror attacks in the near future and that the Mujahidins will soon invade the country. Mr. Imaam Ali has also told Kenyan military forces in Somalia that they will meet death and destruction if they do not return to their homeland. MPs hold extraordinary meeting in Mogadishu 10 Jan – Source: Mareeg Online – 71 words Somali parliamentarians were this morning supposed to hold an extraordinary closed door meeting in Mogadishu. The meeting was due to take place after 9:00 o’clock local time this morning though the agenda on the desk is not known. The new parliament speaker, Madobe Nunow, was supposed chair lawmakers’ gathering today as some of the MPs confirmed to the media. Somali MPs urge Speaker to hand over office 09 Jan – Source: Radio Shabelle – 221 words Some Members of the Federal Somali Parliament have asked the former Speaker, Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan to vacate his office and hand it over to the newly elected Speaker. While participating in a radio debate in Shabelle, lawmaker Osman Haji Ali threatened that there will be an uprising against Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan if he continues with the insistence and refusal to hand over his office to the new Speaker. “If the government fails to forward its agenda to the new Speaker, a decision will be made,” said the MP. The National Security Committee chaired by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad recently issued a statement terming the elections of the new Speaker of Parliament as “illegal”. It is not yet known what steps the president will take following this continued insistence by the MPs that Sharif Hasan Sheikh Adan is no longer the Speaker. TFG distributed food aid from Saudi Arabia to residents of Mogadishu 09 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan, Somalia Report- 74 words The TFG disaster management agency today distributed food aid from Saudi Arabia to displaced people in Heliwa district of Banadir region. The chairman of Hiliwa district, Omar Abdulle Ja’faan, said that the aid – comprising of 8,000 sacks of maize and 8,000 cartoons of dates – were distributed to 10,000 displaced families in Heliwa. Omar said that there are many other families who need aid and he requested immediate help with the humanitarian aid. 2 killed, 3 wounded in heavy fighting in Mogadishu10 Jan – Source: Shabelle – 189 words At least two people were killed and three others injured in fighting between Somali government soldiers backed by AU peacekeepers and al Shabaab militants which took place in the capital, Mogadishu, witnesses said today. Residents confirmed to Shabelle Media that the battle occurred overnight in many parts of Mogadishu’s districts of Huriwa and Karan, where both sides used heavy artillery and mortar shells. Witnesses said the battle erupted overnight at Wahar Adde village in Huriwa district, after armed militants of al Shabaab launched an ambush attack on several military bases for AMISOM and Somali government soldiers in the area, killing two people. Both Somali government and al Shabaab have not yet made any comments about the overnight battle in Mogadishu but the crackle of gunfire and thud of mortars could be heard last night parts in the capital. AMISOM plans to take over areas liberated by Ethiopia10 Jan – Source: Shabelle, Mareeg Online – 195 words The African Union Peacekeeping troops in the war-torn horn of Africa country said today that they are planning to take over regions in central Somalia liberated from al Shabaab fighters with the support of Ethiopian troops, an official said. Major General Fred Mugisha, the Force Commander of AMISOM in Mogadishu said that Ethiopian troops are preparing to hand over areas captured from the militants to AMISOM troops in Mogadishu. “The Ethiopian troops in the country are not under the command of AMISOM, their intention is to help the Somali government fight against al Shabaab fighters. I will make sure that Ethiopia hands over gains made in Somalia operations to the African Union” said AMISOM Force Commander Fred Mugisha. Somali pirates buy kidnapped aid workers for 200,000 dollars09 Jan – Source: Somalia Report – 391 words Two female Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) aid workers who were kidnapped from a Somali refugee camp in northern Kenya three months ago have been moved to Harardhere in Somalia’s Mudug region after pirates bought the hostages from the al Shabaab militant organization, according to pirates in Harardhere who spoke exclusively to Somalia Report. Two Spanish aid workers, Blanca Thiebaut and Montserrat Serra, arrived in Harardhere by speedboat late Sunday and are now in the hands of a pirate group led by Mohamed Abdi Hassan (known as Afweyne), a well-known pirate commander in Mudug region who hails from the Saleeban clan (sub-clan of Hawiye). “The two MSF hostages are now in Harardhere. They arrived here late yesterday (Sunday) and are doing well,” one of the pirates in Harardhere told Somalia Report. “I can confirm that we have them, but I cannot tell you anything specific. We are in a conference now to discuss the ransom we will demand,” said the pirate. The MSF hostages were kidnapped on October 13, 2011 from Kenya’s Dadaab refugee camp and taken to Afgooye in Lower Shabelle by the al Shabaab militants before they were sold to the pirates. Al Shabaab militants denied they were responsible for the kidnapping because it is considered haraam (forbidden in the Islamic religion), but pirates told Somalia Report that they bought two aid workers from the militants. “We bought both hostages from al Shabaab for $200,000 ($100,000 for each hostage) and then brought them here to Harardhere,” said the pirate. “We don’t have any links with al Shabaab. This was only a business deal because they needed money and don’t have any way to negotiate a ransom. We do and so we paid $200,000 because we will get millions of dollars for this in the future. That is business,” added the pirate. Somalia Report has not received separate confirmation, but our source has been reliable in the past. MSF recently issued a statement on their website condemning the kidnapping: “three months ago, two MSF aid workers, Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut, were abducted in Dadaab refugee camp in Northern Kenya while carrying out emergency assistance for the Somali population. These attacks on aid workers must be condemned in the strongest of terms. They put in jeopardy life-saving medical projects that are already far from adequate in addressing the scope of the medical needs of the Somali population.” TFG prime minister: Roadmap nearly to fail09 Jan – Source: Raxanreeb, RBC – 238 words The Prime Minister of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, voiced his concern over the newly signed “Roadmap” which he says is nearly to fail, RBC Radio reports. Speaking to the state-run radio on Monday, the prime minister said that his government on its side made great efforts to implement the Roadmap which was reached under UN-sponsored meeting held in Mogadishu on Sept 2011, but that lots of challenges were facing the process. “As a government, we made all we could do to implement the Roadmap, but we want to make clear that there are many obstacles we are encountering”, the prime minister said, pointing at the fact that there is a “lack of finance and of course that Somali people were not willing to adopt it.” The prime minister spearheaded members of his cabinet in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi on Sunday for what was meant “as a consultation meeting” with UN envoy for Somalia. “We intend to convey our concern about this to the UN Political Office for Somalia” the PM also said. REGIONAL MEDIAPolice boss warns locals of terror attack threat10 Jan – Source: the Standard – 480 words Residents of North Eastern Province have been urged to be on the alert following intelligence reports of an impending suicide bombing attack by al Shabaab. Addressing the Press in his office, NEP police boss Leo Nyongesa urged wananchi to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious-looking characters to the authorities. “It is my appeal to the locals to assist the security apparatus in the region in identifying these criminal gangs through the community policing spirit. We believe we will achieve very little without their support,” said the police boss. His statement comes just a day after police in Garissa arrested two suspects in connection with the December 31 terror attack at a local bar. Five people were killed and more than 20 injured during celebrations to usher in the New Year. Among the dead were a GSU and Administration Police officers. The two suspects — a former police officer and a taxi driver — are being held at Garissa Police Station. The PPO said a jungle police jacket was found in the house of one of the suspects. Al Shabaab propaganda video declares Jihad against Kenya09 Jan – Source: Daily Nation – 317 words Al Shabaab has released a propaganda video declaring war against Kenya. The video was released by Sheikh Ahmed Iman Ali, the self-proclaimed de facto leader of Kenyan al Shabaab fighters in Somalia. Sheikh Ali in the video recording entitled: If they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them, says war or Jihad should now be waged in Kenya in response to the military operation in Somalia. “Kenya has declared war against Somalia and Jihad should now be waged inside Kenya which is legally a war zone,” Sheikh Ali says in the video. The video which was initially posted on YouTube but has since been withdrawn can still be viewed on other social media networks. He says the war Kenya is fighting in Somalia is not against al Qaeda, al Shabaab or terrorists but the terms are being used to camouflage the truth. The report of the UN Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group indicates that Sheikh Ali, a former chairman of Muslim Youth Centre in Pumwani, Nairobi, was central in the recruitment of non-Somalis in Nairobi to join al Shabaab fighters in Somalia. The report says al Shabaab “has extensive funding, recruiting and training networks within Kenya” and has “established connections with jihadist groups across the continent.” The UN investigation that focused on the youth centre claims that the organisation was involved in the recruitment of al Shabaab operatives. Officials of MYC have since distanced themselves from Sheikh Ali and the recruitment of Kenyans to join al Shabaab. INTERNATIONAL MEDIAEx-US soldier charged with trying to join al Shabaab10 Jan – Source: AFP – 665 words A former American soldier with specialist intelligence and cryptology training has been charged with trying to join Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants, US justice officials said Monday. Craig Baxam, a 24-year-old from the Maryland suburbs outside Washington, appeared briefly in court Monday near the US capital to hear charges that he attempted to join — and provide material support to — a terrorist group. Baxam, who served in Iraq and South Korea, was apprehended on December 23 aboard a bus near the Kenyan city of Mombasa with $600 to $700 in cash that he intended to give the al Shabaab as an introductory offer, prosecutors said. Baxam allegedly told FBI officers he wanted to die fighting for the al Shabaab “with a gun in my hand,” and replied “that is awesome” when informed that the militant group encouraged beating people who did not attend prayers. Counter-terrorism experts have expressed growing concern about a steady stream of recruits, many of them British, making their way to Somalia to join the al Shabaab. An extremist accused of heading a wave of British recruits to the al Shabaab was arrested four days before Baxam in Mombasa. Dadaab leaders flee after killings, threats07 Jan – Source: IRIN News – 1520 words Several community leaders among the 463,000 mostly Somali residents of the world’s largest refugee complex have left the facility in eastern Kenya, fearing for their safety after the killing of two of their colleagues. These deaths, and threats to other refugees, came after an agreement by refugee leaders to step up vigilance with patrols in Dadaab after roadside bombings. Police blamed the attacks on al Shabaab, a Somali insurgent group, now being targeted by the Kenyan military in Somalia. The police, one of whose officers was killed in the latest blast, on 19 December, believe al Shabaab has established a presence in the complex. Some refugees told IRIN that police, during a robust response, had told them to hand over the “evil ones” living among them. Police detained several people in two of Dadaab’s camps – Ifo and Hagadera – during the vigilance patrols. What’s behind the sharp spike in rapes in Somalia?09 Jan – Source: Uprising Radio – 200 words Epidemic levels of rape in Somalia have captured international attention after human rights activists raised the alarm. The Somali capital of Mogadishu in particular, shows a spike in reported rapes with this winter terrifyingly dubbed the “season of rape.” The New York Times reported extensively in late December about the widespread sexual assault of women and girls by militants, as well as “rogue militiamen,” and government troops. The Times also reported on the stoning to death of a young girl who refused to marry an al Shabaab commander, and her 17 year old friend who was subsequently gang raped. Women and girls are being preyed upon within and outside refugee camps, many being forced to marry commanders for a few weeks in what is being described as “sexual slavery.” The Transitional Federal Government in Somalia is struggling to assert itself in the capital after battling militants affiliated with al Shabaab. The government’s weak control has created an insecurity which provides cover for increased rapes. Adding to the high number of armed men in the capital are more than 10,000 troops from neighboring African countries including Uganda and Burundi which are there to bolster the Somali government against militants. SOCIAL MEDIACULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDSSomalia: The sinkhole of the world09 Jan – Source: Dahn Batchelor’s opinions Blog – 1169 Words There are countries in the world such as Iran, Yemen, Mexico, Nigeria, Sudan and others where people really don’t want to visit because they are very dangerous places to be in. But the worst of them is Somalia. Even putting a foot into that country is like stepping into quicksand. You may never be seen again. It is a sinkhole in which even the United States armed forces fear to walk into. It is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It lies in the eastern-most part of Africa. It is bordered by Djibouti to the northwest, Kenya to the southwest, the Gulf of Aden with Yemen to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, and Ethiopia to the west. It has the longest coastline on the continent, and its terrain consists mainly of plateaus, plains and highlands. The year, 1991 was a time of great change for Somalia. The Barre administration was ousted that year by a coalition of clan-based opposition groups, backed by Ethiopia’s then-ruling Derg regime and Libya. Following a meeting of the Somali National Movement and northern clans’ elders, the northern former British portion of the country declared its independence as Somaliland in May 1991. Although de facto independent and relatively stable compared to the tumultuous south, it has not been recognized by any foreign government. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country’s territory. The basis of most of the conflicts is clan allegiances and competition for resources between the warring clans. But terrorism in Somalia has raised its ugly head and the terrorists are primarily Shabab militants who claim that raping women is their right in a holy war. Harakat al Shabaab means ‘The Youth’ and is a militant Islamic group of terrorists in Somalia. al Shabaab’s troop strength as of May 2011 is estimated at 14,426 militants. Somali Nationalism: A Dead Concept?09 Jan – Source: Medeshivalley Blog – 737 Words Since 1991, Somalia has undergone a tumultuous process of geopolitical reconfiguration. Some have termed this the ‘balkanisation’ of Somalia, where regions and states have sought varying degrees of autonomy from central government in Mogadishu. After Somaliland’s unilateral declaration of independence in 1991, other regions followed, such as the Puntland State of Somalia, which declared its autonomy as part of a federal State of Somalia in 1998. At first glance, these moves have been vindicated. By fencing themselves off from the wider environment of political instability, Somaliland and Puntland have been able to create internal environments of relative peace. Without the spectre of Al Shabaab that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has had to compete with in South and Central Somalia, the Somaliland authorities have successfully expanded their capacity, and developed their economy, largely due to the healthy state of livestock exports from the northern port of Berbera. Next door, in Puntland, post-conflict reconstruction has likewise benefited from internal stability, and the more effective state apparatus which that has allowed. Social mechanisms for ending conflicts within these societies have remained strong. Elders, religious leaders and politicians notably came together towards the end of last year to end conflict in Galkayo, Puntland. That is not to say that the regions are without serious problems. As security concerns related to armed conflict fade away, other more social and cultural concerns have arisen in these areas, such as gender inequalities, urban poverty, and the plight of the large numbers of internally displaced persons who have fled the south. However, as Puntland and Somaliland move towards reconstruction and development, South and Central Somalia has been left behind. Caught in the mire of insurgency, famine, and now foreign invasion, many Somalis in the region can only dream of the peace that their northern brothers and sisters have been able to secure. Bridging the Gap09 Jan – Source: Diverse Podium – 967 Words Within the last year, two Minnesota school districts have reached agreements with the U.S. departments of Education and Justice to settle complaints of harassment brought by Somali-American parents and a civil rights group. The complaints alleged that district officials failed to take action when students made “inflammatory and derogatory” comments about Somalis and Muslims in school and on social media. There also were allegations that a school bus driver refused to pick up Somali-American students. The immigrant population in Minnesota from East Africa, and Somalia specifically, has burgeoned in recent years to the point that the state now has the largest Somali population in the U.S. — between 29,000 and 36,000 — according to a U.S. Census Bureau report released in October. As Somali high school students move into higher education, campus leaders say they are reaching out to Somali communities to recruit students and to enhance their collegiate experiences once they enter college.
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Health science students present different types of Somali food and fruits in Mogadishu after successful completion of their course.