January 23, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
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Attack claims 2 Kenyan soldiers, 11 al Shabaab militants23 Jan – Source: Capital News – 478 words Two Kenyan soldiers were killed in Somalia on Sunday in a major attack that also left 11 al Shabaab militants dead. Military Spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir said a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldier was also killed in the air strike. “Yesterday at around 2300hrs KDF/TFG conducted a raid on an al Shabaab camp where 11 were killed,” the army spokesman said adding “out of the raid KDF unfortunately lost two of its personnel while TFG lost one.” Chirchir said several arms were recovered from the slain al Shabaab militants. On Saturday, Cyrus Oguna of the Defence Forces said the militia had resorted to using women wearing bras fitted with explosives to further their cause. Oguna said that the militia was getting desperate and had started using unconventional means to strike back at the Kenyan army. “We are all aware that al Shabaab for a long time prohibited women from wearing bras. The phenomenon that is emerging now is that al Shabaab is using these women who are in their ranks and supplying them with bras that are fitted with explosives and this is something that is critical even to homeland security,” he explained. He said that they were also dressing up as civilians in a bid to fool both the Somali people and the Kenya Defence Forces. |
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PRESS STATEMENTSomali PM visits government funded school in Mogadishu23 Jan – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 303 words The Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gas yesterday visited Mohamud Mire School (a school comprised of elementary and intermediary classes) at the time of the central government. It is now government owned, funded and under the control of the ministry of education of the transitional federal government of Somalia. It is currently serves as secondary school. The assistant ministers of the ministry of education and Mohamed Mire School administration accompanied the premier in his visit. Dr. Abdiweli greeted the pupils and toured the administration offices as well as school store. The premier thanked the school administration for seeing the school through the tough times and their unrelenting dedication. He expressed his happiness in addressing hundreds of students who are ready to build their future and to make use of the free education offered by the government. “The government gives keen look on education and you are aware that every nation’s success depends on its emphasis in education” Dr. Abdiweli said adding that his government sponsored many students to study abroad in countries like Turkey, Sudan, Yemen and other countries which pledged to offer free education to Somali students. “We were successful in getting pledges from many countries. We received guaranty of building the ministry education and the Somali National University (SNU) from the United Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, the prime minister said stating that his government will do maintenance of some part of Mohamud Mire School. On the other hand, the premier also toured the Ministry of Foreign Affairs centre which was renovated where a number of ministries have moved into relocating from the former hides and skin centre. The premier asked the ministries to instantly start offering public services. SOMALI MEDIAEthiopian troops make military manoeuvers in Hiiraan region23 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 93 words Reports from Hiiraan region say Ethiopian troops in the region are making military maneuvers in efforts to reach rebel-held Bula Burde town as new troops arrive in Beledweyne town. Tension is reportedly looming in the areas between Beledweyne and Bula Burde since the Ethiopian troops began making some movements. Early this month, Ethiopian troops backed by pro-government militias seized control of Beledweyne town, ending the three year old rebel rule in the city. TFG military officials have been threatening to attack another rebel-held position in the region after the fall of Beledweyne. Somali government: Al Berjawi’s death opens new door of peace for Somali people23 Jan – Source: Raxanreeb, RBC – 216 words Somalia Transitional Federal Government pleasantly welcomes the killing of senior al Qaeda operative in Somalia. Bilal al Berjawi, a senior foreign commander fighting for al Shabaab group was killed in an American drone strike at KM 13 location near the Somalia capital, Mogadishu. The spokesman of TFG Abdirahman Osman Eng.Yarisow said the killing of al Barjawi will ultimately open a new door for Somali people who are in need for peace and stability. “We see the death of al Berjawi as great opportunity for our people and our government and really this will open a new door of peace”. Eng. Yarisow told the state-run radio on Sunday. He said the killing of al Berjawi demonstrates that other foreign elements battling alongside al Shabaab group have time to escape from Somalia before they are killed. “Those other foreigners hiding in our land have a chance to leave here, otherwise they will be targeted”, a government spokesman added. Somali gov’t prosecutes soldier for killing colleague23 Jan – Source: Shabelle, Hiiraan Online – 120 words The Military Court of the Somalia’s Interim Federal government has on Monday publicly prosecuted a soldier convicted for the previous killing of a colleague in the army in Mogadishu, an official said. According to the TFG Military Court Judge, Hassan Mohamed Hussein ‘Mungab’, the court has sentenced to death Mohamed Abdullah after he was found a guilty of murdering a soldier in the security forces in Hodon district in Mogadishu. Mr. Mungab also told reporters at the prosecution square in Mogadishu that a firing squad was presented at Bulisiya School in Mogadishu’s Hamar Jajab district, where hundreds of people gathered to watch the shooting of the soldier, whose hands were tied behind his back to a pole in the square, before being shot dead. Locals flee homes in Elasha Biyaha22 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 210 words Reports say people are fleeing their homes in rebel-held area of Elasha Biyaha, on the outskirts of Mogadishu, in fear of drone attacks targeting foreign and al Shabaab militants in the area. Bar-kulan correspondent in Mogadishu says he met with a number of people who fled their homes in Elasha Biyaha and sought refuge in the city. He said that most of these people are women and children who had earlier left the capital and camped in Elasha Biyaha but now resorted to come back to their homes as tension looms in their current area. This displacement comes a day after foreign airstrikes in the area killed a senior rebel leader, Bilal al Barjawi, a Lebanese born British citizen. Somalia’s al Shabaab militant group said a U.S. drone strike killed the al Qaeda official fighting alongside them in Somalia. A statement from the group’s al Kataib media foundation late Saturday says that three missiles fired from an unmanned aerial vehicle hit Bilal al Berjawi’s car on the outskirts of Mogadishu. Al Shabaab abducts 200 teenagers in southern Somali town22 Jan – Source: Mareeg Online, Shabelle – 200 words The al Qaeda-affiliated militants of al Shabaab have on Saturday forcibly abducted at least 200 young boys in the town of Afgoye, some 30 km from Somalia capital, Mogadishu, residents confirmed. Witnesses said al Shabaab fighters in military vehicles stormed villages in Afgoye town, abducting hundreds of youngsters whom they ordered to join their fight against Somalia government in Mogadishu. Reports said local residents were forced early on Saturday morning to go to the squares in the town and listen to speeches from al Shabaab leaders, who encouraged locals, especially youths to join the war against TFG and AMISOM. Al Shabaab senior officials have made presentations in front of thousands of local people who gathered at the area to take part in what they call a Holy war (Jihad) against African Union Peace keeping troops as well as TFG troops. Health Minister says WHO session in Geneva successful23 Jan – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 184 – words Somalia Minister of Health Abdiaziz Sheikh Yusuf and a high level Somali government delegation have arrived back home after attending a World Health Organization session that addressed the current health situation in Somalia and other African countries in Geneva, Switzerland. Abdiaziz represented the Somali government delegation as well as the International aid agencies that tackle health issues that affect the entire African continent. Somalia has been the worst affected nation health wise, after an influx of displaced persons in the capital caused outbreaks of cholera, water diarrhea and severe cases of malnutrition. The Minister met the international aid agencies heads and discussed the health situation in Somalia as well as the progress made by the TFG’s Health department, despite the ongoing conflict in Somalia that has seen many killed and thousands wounded. The Ministry of Health has in the past months distributed drugs to hospitals in the capital Mogadishu and opened hospitals that had been non-operational for the past twenty years, after countries like Turkey and Iran offered massive assistance. Kenya calls for release of two Kenyans by al Shabaab23 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 132 words The Kenyan government has called for the unconditional release of two of its civil servants that were abducted by al Shabaab in Wajir 11 days ago. Internal Security Permanent Secretary Francis Kimemia said his government had put in place measures to ensure the safe return of the two officiers, a District Officer, Mule Yesse and registration of Persons officer, Patrick Wainaina. Mr Yesse and Mr Wainaina were kidnapped when suspected al Shabaab militia men raided an Administration Police camp in Wajir, near the border with Somalia. The armed raiders killed eight people and injured others. Last week, al Shabaab posted the photographs of the two Kenyan government officers on Twitter. Ahlu Sunna calls on Western powers to expand air strikes against al Shabaab23 Jan – Source: Shabelle – 144 words The administration of Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a ASWJ in central Somalia has on Monday called on Western countries to expand their air strikes against the militants of al Shabaab in the country. Sheikh Abdullah Ilkase, the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Council for the group talked about the latest aerial attacks which killed a senior al Qaeda foreign operative and al Shabaab fighters in Somalia, calling on the Western powers to double their air raids against the militants. “We ask the Western powers to continue the aerial campaign in the country and hunt down al Qaeda and al Shabaab fighters everywhere in Somalia because they are international terrorists.” Al Shabaab controls much of south and central Somali regions and is waging war against the UN-backed government and its allied forces from African Union mission known as AMISOM. Al Shabaab attacks TFG base in Somalia23 Jan – Source: Radio Kulmiye. Shabelle – 159 words Deadly fighting took place in a suburb of Tabta village in Lower Jubba region in Southern Somalia between al Shabaab fighters and TFG troops, official said last night. The place named Delbiyow is 20Km away from Tabta village in Lower Jubba region, which is a base for TFG forces. Reports said that at least 10 persons were killed and 20 others wounded from bothsides. The attacked base of TFG troops near Tabta area has previously witnessed attacks by al Shabaab fighters. One of the Somali government troop officials told Shabelle Media that al Shabaab attacked their base, adding that they chased them from the area and killed a number of fighters. Puntland marines conduct anti-piracy operations near Bossaso21 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 125 words Puntland marine forces that have recently finished training are coordinating operations against pirates along the coast of Puntland, Garowe reports. Government coordinator for the Puntland marine force Mr. Abdirazak Mohamed Xidig who spoke to the media said that the marine force is conducting anti-piracy operations in Qow. Mr. Xidig added that citizens of Qow welcomed the marine forces which have been trained to battle piracy in Puntland. Puntland’s anti-piracy battle has had negative effects on pirates’ attempts to successfully hijack ships off of the coast of Somalia. REGIONAL MEDIAAttack claims 2 Kenyan soldiers, 11 al Shabaab militants23 Jan – Source: Capital News – 478 words Two Kenyan soldiers were killed in Somalia on Sunday in a major attack that also left 11 al Shabaab militants dead. Military Spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir said a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldier was also killed in the air strike. “Yesterday at around 2300hrs KDF/TFG conducted a raid on an al Shabaab camp where 11 were killed,” the army spokesman said adding “out of the raid KDF unfortunately lost two of its personnel while TFG lost one.” Chirchir said several arms were recovered from the slain al Shabaab militants. On Saturday, Cyrus Oguna of the Defence Forces said the militia had resorted to using women wearing bras fitted with explosives to further their cause. Oguna said that the militia was getting desperate and had started using unconventional means to strike back at the Kenyan army. “We are all aware that al Shabaab for a long time prohibited women from wearing bras. The phenomenon that is emerging now is that al Shabaab is using these women who are in their ranks and supplying them with bras that are fitted with explosives and this is something that is critical even to homeland security,” he explained. He said that they were also dressing up as civilians in a bid to fool both the Somali people and the Kenya Defence Forces. Al Shabaab kicked out of suburbs23 Jan – Source: Daily Monitor – 388 words Forces of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and peacekeepers from the African Union Mission in Somalia, waged an all out attack have kicked out al Shabaab militants from the suburbs of the Somali capital Mogadishu. Through al-Andalus, a series of broadcasters that run the fanatical movement, the Islamist militants admitted to have lost their last positions at the outskirts of Mogadishu. In the northern sections of the capital, residents in Heliwa District confirmed that the TFG forces and Amisom peacekeepers advanced beyond the strategic Suuqa Hoolaha and Waharaadde neighbourhoods on Friday.Other sources confirmed that the pro-government forces cleared al Shabaab fighters of Daynile District, including the strategic Gupta neighbourhood and the main campus of Mogadishu University. Col. Abdullahi Ali Anod, a TFG army officer, told the media that the pro-government forces are in control of Mogadishu. Al Shabaab officials, however, were reluctant to accept defeat. “The war will not end that way,” stated some militant officials via the media. They sounded like promising a comeback.The fighters had abandoned most of their positions in August last year but they continued waging hit-and-run assaults, particularly in the neighbourhoods. Front line states join AMISOM to protect interests in Somalia22 Jan – Source: East African – 352 words The decision by Kenya to join African Union Mission in Somalia is an opportunity for the frontline states to harmonise their disparate interests in Somalia.Since the collapse of the Siad Barre government in 1991, the three frontline states, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti, have tried to offer solutions on Somalia individually depending on their national interests without much success. Now that the African Union (AU) is playing a leading role in Somalia, the question is whether Amisom can harmonise these divergent interests and restore peace. According to Kenya’s Defence Minister, Yusuf Haji, there is an ongoing effort to harmonise these interests with a common objective of a peaceful Somalia and a secure East African region. “Both the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are there to ensure the harmonisitation of the Somalia intervention by various countries. The paramount interests of every frontline country is to protect their national security and stabilise Somalia,” he said. Al Shabaab kill two UPDF soldiers in Somalia23 Jan – Source: Daily Monitor – 326 words Two UPDF soldiers, one a junior officer, have been killed by al Shabaab militants in Somalia, military and family sources have confirmed. This newspaper was told that Capt. Julius Wandaba and a colleague were shot dead during an Amisom offensive against the insurgents on Friday. The particulars of the other dead colleague were not immediately available but another soldier was injured, the army said. There was no word on fatalities or casualties suffered by al Shabaab fighters, who in August last year, fled from Mogadishu following heavy shelling by Amisom troops on their strongholds. Col. Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesman, confirmed they lost two soldiers in the Friday battle a few kilometres outside Mogadishu city centre, but declined to give their particulars. “We first need to inform their relatives,” he said, suggesting the bodies could be flown in by today. It was not immediately clear why relatives had not been notified more than 48 hours after the soldiers’ demise. Mr Richard Siango said a friend in Somalia telephoned them on Friday to informally convey the sad news of the killing, at the battlefield, of his younger brother Wandaba. Earlier reports suggested he was injured and had been hospitalised, and his family in Mbale relaxed a bit hoping he would recuperate. At about 5pm on Friday, however, another contact sent a short text message on the mobile phone of a family friend, announcing the passing on of the Captain, according to Mr Siango. Kenyan paper profiles Somalia’s al Shabaab leader in country23 Jan – Source: Daily Nation – 377 words Before he released a video declaring war against Kenya on behalf of Somalia militant group al Shabaab, few Kenyans had heard of Sheikh Ahmed Iman Ali. Last week, al Shabaab appointed Sheikh Ali as the de facto leader of Kenyan al Shabaab fighters in Somalia. Recently, Sheikh Ali called for revenge attacks against Kenya. Interviews with those who know Sheikh Ali, a former chairman of Muslim Youth Centre (MYC) in Pumwani, Nairobi, say he has been controversial since his days at Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology where he graduated with a degree in engineering. Born either in 1973 or 1974, Sheikh Ali presents security agents with something new in the fight against terrorism. Those who know him say he was a charming preacher with a fanatical following among various Kenyan communities. He is said to have the ability to attract financial support and followers from countries like the US and Europe. Britons Natalia Faye Webb and Jermaine Grant arrested in Kenya over claims of links to terrorism were reportedly close to him. His mix of scripture and vitriol made him differ with Imams close to him. Piracy driving economic boom in Somalia22 Jan – Source: the East African – 564 words The proceeds of piracy have generated broad economic benefits in parts of Somalia, giving local residents and political leaders incentives to allow high-seas hijacking to continue, suggests a new study by a London-based think tank. “A deep-rooted culture of sharing” leads Somali pirate chiefs to spread ransom payments broadly within their respective clans while discouraging conspicuous personal consumption, says the analysis written by Dr Anja Shortland for the Chatham House research institute. “It’s not like three people split a million bucks,” pirate leader Abshir Boyah is quoted in the report as saying. Based on a statistical model developed for the study, Dr Shortland estimates that one-third of ransom receipts are converted into Somali shillings, thus benefiting casual labourers and pastoralists in Puntland, the heartland of Somali piracy. About $21 million of the $70 million paid in ransoms in 2009 is believed to have been invested in local economies, particularly in the regional hubs of Garowe and Bosasso, the study calculates. By comparison, Puntland’s official budget for 2009 totalled $17.6 million. Rogue refugees to be repatriated to Somalia22 Jan – Source: Capital News, Standard – 413 words The Kenyan government says it will revoke refugee status of Somali’s found to have links with the al Shabaab militant group, particularly at Dadaab camp. “I wish to warn that refugees who do not abide by the law, or collude with al Shabaab or any other criminal groups will be prosecuted, their refugee status revoked and will be repatriated back to Somalia,” Kimemia said. Deadly explosions at the Dadaab refugee camp are often blamed on al Shabaab sympathisers, some of whom hold refugee status, according to police. In a terse statement issued late Saturday, Kimemia said the government will no longer tolerate refugees who are out to destabilise the country. “The heavy burden of hosting over 600,000 refugees over the last 20 years is already sagging and getting out of hand and Kenya cannot afford these increasingly criminalised refugee camps,” the statement from the Office of the President said. It also urged refugee leaders to work with security agents in ‘weeding out criminals from the camps’. INTERNATIONAL MEDIAAl Qaeda official killed by drone ‘was British citizen’23 Jan – Source: Independent – 213 words An al Qaeda official killed by a US drone strike while working alongside insurgents in Somalia grew up in Britain, Islamist rebels have claimed. “The martyr received what he wished for… brother Bilal al Berjawi was exposed to bombing in an outskirt of Mogadishu from a drone that is believed to be American,” the statement said. Al Shabaab’s media wing claimed Mr Berjawi, who had Lebanese origins, grew up in Britain and had fought in Afghanistan before going to Somalia. The rebels’ claim that Mr Berjawi had British citizenship was denied by officials. The Foreign Office said it did not know if he had spent time in Britain. Observers say there are several hundred foreign fighters in Somalia, mostly Africans from nearby nations. However, British Somalis have also returned to fight on both sides of the conflict. The drone attack followed the reported death a day earlier of another London-based man. The al Shabaab Twitter feed showed documents said to belong to the government official as proof that he had been killed by insurgents. Kenya battles Islamist militants in southern Somalia23 Jan – Source: AFP, news.com – 247 words Kenyan troops clashed with Somalia’s al Qaeda linked al Shabaab militants in southern Somalia, the latest attack in a three-month long push forward against insurgent bases, officials said Monday. Two Kenyan soldiers and one Somali government were killed during an attack late Sunday on hardline al Shabaab positions at Delbio and Hosingo, said Kenyan army spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir, who claimed Shebab gunmen had retreated. Kenya “unfortunately lost two of its personnel while TFG (Somali government) lost one,” Chirchir said, adding that 11 al Shabaab fighters were killed in the attacks, some 30 kilometres (18 miles) from the Kenyan frontier. None of the casualty reports could be independently verified, and al Shabaab have repeatedly dismissed Kenyan claims that it has killed large numbers of its forces as propaganda. Kenya sent troops across the border into Somalia in October to battle the extremist al Shahaab it blamed for a spate of attacks on home soil, and are fighting alongside Somali pro-government forces. Al Shabaab insurgents control large parts of central and southern Somalia but are facing increasing pressure from government forces and regional armies. Armies from neighbouring countries are converging on the Shebab — Kenyan forces in the south, Ethiopian soldiers in the west, and an African Union force in Mogadishu made up of 10,000 troops from Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti. War-weary Mogadishu revels in new lease of life23 Jan – Source: All Africa – Word 695 The traffic signs are not the only things coming up in Mogadishu. The constant drone of cement mixers can often be heard as the reconstruction of shelled buildings picks up and many damaged structures get a much-needed facelift. Indeed the phrase “property development” is now beginning to be used in public discourse, albeit hesitantly. Previously sleepy trading centres such as Hamarweyne in the city centre and the long-abandoned Sinai in northern Mogadishu are packed with sellers and shoppers, despite the ever-present fear of suicide bombers who could materialise in this disorderly mix. Even the badly affected Bakaraha market, the largest trading centre in Somalia, looks to have come to terms with months of shelling and street warfare, and is now home to a cacophony of trading activities. Ordinary street junctions like Banadir and Zoppe in southern Mogadishu have become strategic bases for merchants of popular commodities like khat, the stimulant herb widely chewed in Somalia. SOCIAL MEDIACULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDSLondon Conference: Somalia needs sovereign and effective Governance22 Jan – Sunna Times/Hiiraan Online/Alshahid Opinion – 1, 458 Words The first clarification is the recognition that Somalia was not only a failed state but it has been sliding backwards for the last 20 years and the second clarification is related to the UK’s commitment In essence, The PM’s definition reflects the truth that Somalia literally lacks a functioning state that can perform state functions necessary for being a national legitimate Government as well as a responsible member of the global system of governance. Therefore, the London Conference on Somalia (LCS), planned to take place on 23rd February 2012, should finally articulate the unified determination and commitment of the key international actors on the formation of sovereign and effective governance in Somalia so that all corollary problems can be taken care off. Otherwise, the conference would be one day fanfare for international bureaucrats. Any attempt of repackaging the current political and security narratives and strategies propounded by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), African Mission for Somalia (AMISOM), the United Nations political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) will nurture a culture of political demagoguery, mafia style governance and insecurity to the disservice of the Somali people and the International community. Fighting terrorism and piracy must be primarily an integral part of the Somali government responsibilities. Somalis face an economic death penalty22 Jan – Hiiraan Online Opinion – 1106 Words Somalis face an economic death penalty as banks across USA continue to cut off cash transfers to Somalia. Sunrise Community Bank in the state of Minnesota, USA, is the latest US bank to close down accounts of Somali money transfer companies. The bank is afraid of being in violation of government rules if the money ends up in the wrong hands. The remittances are a lifeline to thousands of Somalis who cannot meet their basic needs without the ability to receive financial support from their relatives in the diaspora. Daniel Wordsworth, president of the American Refugee Committee, said “With famine and drought already impacting families throughout Somalia, the cessation of bank transfers will be devastating on a national scale.” The Somali diaspora is estimated at 1.5 million worldwide. According to the Somali government the annual remittances from the diaspora are about one-third of the country’s income. USA is believed to be home to some 150,000 to 200,000 ethnic Somalis and Minnesota is host to the largest Somali community in USA. Shannon Scribner of Oxfam America said “It is estimated that $100m in remittance goes to Somalia from US every year.” Drone strike kills British al-Qaeda agent in Somalia?23 Jan – Source: Yahoo Answers A US drone strike has killed a British al Qaeda agent who was fighting alongside Islamist guerrillas in Somalia. How long before the British government payout compensation to his relatives? How will it affect his benefit status? Will his family be forced to downsize to a mere 6 bedroom dwelling in central London? Is there a fast track to the European Court of Human Rights? |
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A Ugandan soldier serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia stands as a tank passes following an advance with the Somali National Army to capture Mogadishu University in insurgent territory via Reuters