January 24, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
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Suicide explosion rocks central Somali town24 Jan – Source: Radio Shabelle, Radio Kulmiye, Risaala – 84 words A suicide explosion attack has occurred this morning in Beledweyn town, Hiiraan Region in central Somalia. |
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Key Headlines
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PRESS RELEASEUN Special Representative moves to Mogadishu – first time in 17 years24 Jan – Source: UNPOS – 375 words The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Ambassador Augustine P. Mahiga today moved the office of the SRSG back to Mogadishu after an absence of 17 years. Ambassador Mahiga, who was welcomed at the airport by Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Somali Officials and foreign diplomats, said he was delighted that the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) would now be working from the capital. “I sincerely hope that the arrival of the UN Political Office will mark the start of renewed hope for the future of Somalia,” said Ambassador Mahiga. “Being in Mogadishu will allow us to work far more closely with the Transitional Federal Institutions, the UN agencies and NGOs already based here, civil society and ordinary Somalis. We have much to do and we are eager to get straight to work.” The last SRSG to be based in Mogadishu, James Victor Gbeho of Ghana, who was with the UN Operations in Somalia II (UNOSOM II), left in early 1995. UNPOS was established shortly afterwards and was based in Nairobi. However UN staff remained in Somalia throughout the following years and at present six agencies have permanent staff in Mogadishu. After the airport welcome and the raising of the UN Flag, the SRSG proceeded to Villa Somalia to be officially welcomed by President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed. The SRSG then travelled back to AMISOM Headquarters to meet the Deputy Force Commander, inspect a Guard of Honour and pay tribute to the remarkable sacrifice of both the AU forces and Somali Security Services in advancing the cause of peace. “Without the incredible efforts and sacrifice of the troops from Somalia and other African countries, we would not be here today,” said Ambassador Mahiga. He pledged to the Somalis that the UNPOS move to Somalia would herald the beginning of a new era of cooperation and political engagement as the transitional period draws to a close. The SRSG will spend Wednesday at Villa Somalia for discussions with his Somali interlocutors on resolving the ongoing Parliamentary crisis and will also meet the UN Country Team. “Now we are here working among you, I believe we will see significant progress on implementing priority tasks in the Road map to restore peace and stability to Somalia,” the SRSG said. SOMALI MEDIASuicide explosion rocks central Somali town24 Jan – Source: Radio Shabelle, Radio Kulmiye, Risaala – 84 words A suicide explosion attack has occurred this morning in Beledweyn town, Hiiraan Region in central Somalia. Al Shabaab claim responsibility for suicide bombing in Beledweyn town24 Jan – Source: Shabelle, Radio Mogadishu, Hiiraan Online, Bar-kulan – 136 words Suicide blast reportedly caused by a truck filled with explosive devices has targeted a military base for the Ethiopian troops in Beledweyn town, the centre of Hiiraan region in central Somalia, witnesses confirmed to Shabelle radio. Sources say that the attack was carried out early morning and aimed the Ethiopian troops who recently took over the control of the town from al Shabaab. The number of casualties as a result of the blast is unclear so far but reports say that the blast seriously damaged the centre of Beledweyn town.The al Shabaab extremists claimed responsibility for the attack but there is no comment over the blast from neither the Ethiopian and Somali government officials in the town. UN Office due to re-open in Mogadishu on Tuesday24 Jan – Source: Raxanreeb, RBC – 176 words Somalia government officials and UN sources confirmed that United Nations Political Office for Somalia [UNPOS] is due to re-open officially in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Tuesday. Officials told RBC Radio that a highly organized event will be held in Mogadishu to mark the re-starting of what the government called ‘UN’s direct mission’ in Somalia. The office of UNPOS will be opened in Halane compound, the largest command centre of African Union troops [AMISOM] in Mogadishu. Senior government officials, UN members and media representatives will attend the event on Tuesday. AMISOM will provide protection service to staff of the office, sources told RBC Radio. The Transitional Federal government of Somalia have been in a long time calling for the UN to relocate its offices to Mogadishu from Nairobi, Kenya. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who visited Somalia in December announced that UN will move its political office to Mogadishu this January. TFG’s State minister toured Mogadishu’s front-lines23 Jan – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 63 words Somalia’s Defense State Minister Mohamud Moalim Noor toured the frontlines of Yaqshid district that Somali National Forces recently liberated from al Shabaab militias. The State minister stated that the government will continue with the fight against the terrorist group and TFG is committed in securing the civilian populations. The State minister also urged the Somali people to help the national forces by informing them of any insecurity acts. US representative to Somalia visits Somaliland24 Jan – Source: Somaliland Press – 171 words U.S. Department of State’s Special Representative for Somalia Mr. James Swan today arrived in the Somaliland capital of Hargeisa for two working day where he is expected to hold talks with senior government officials. Ambassador Swan’s agenda includes meetings with the country’s leadership about the general situation in the region on stability and development issues. The ambassador acknowledged that his government has established close working ties with Somaliland over the past fifteen years. Mr. Swan also accredited Somaliland on the progress, stability and democracy that it has achieved over the years. Mr. James Swan, US ambassador to Somalia, revealed that his government is fully committed in furthering the bilateral ties between the two countries. Speaking to the press, Mr. James Swan said that his country has received an invitation extended to attend an international conference arranged by the British government which is scheduled to open in London next month. The agenda for this conference will be to find a lasting solution for Somalia. Heavy fighting rocks Somali capital24 Jan – Source: Radio Shabelle – 106 words Heavy fighting between Somalia government troops supported by African Union peacekeeping forces known as AMISOM and the Islamist militants of al Shabaab remnants in parts of Mogadishu erupted overnight, eyewitness said. Locals said the fighting happened after a number of al Shabaab fighters launched an attack around 9:00 am local time at military bases of TFG forces and AMISOM in Mogadishu’s districts of Deynile, Yaqshid, Karan, Huriwa and Dharkenlay with both sides exchanging heavy shells and machine guns. Somali MPs condemn al Shabaab harming civilians24 Jan – Source: Shabelle – 118 words Members of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Parliament have on Tuesday strongly condemned al Shabaab fighters for frightening and harming the civilian people who are living under their stronghold in Jubba regions. Mohamed Omar Gedi, a Somali lawmaker who originally comes from Jubba regions of southern Somalia, noted that the people of Jubba regions faced enormous problems from al Shabaab militants. He also indicated that al Shabaab fighters are forcibly taking inhabitant’s animals and threatening the civilians in Jubba regions with arrests and killings if they refuse to hand out the demanded animals. Federal Government authorises regional administrations to pursue oil drilling23 Jan – Source: Jowhar Online – 279 words The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG] has given regional administrations the authorization to drill oil in their respective regions. This follows a recent move by the Puntland Administration in which they were allowed to drill the first of a series of oil wells. The TFG Minister for Water and Mineral Resources said they welcome Puntland’s move to drill oil wells in regions and are encouraged by the progress made so far. “We do support peaceful regional administrations in their attempts to drill oil so that the country’s resources can be shared and the Somali public can start benefiting from it,” said the minister for water and mineral resources. The minister, in an interview with Mogadishu-based Radio Kulmiye, said the TFG is encouraging other regional administrations in the country to follow suit and utilise the natural resources in their respective regions so that people in these areas can be self-sufficient. “Every administration can now drill oil in areas under its control. The government has put in place an energy bill in 2007 which entitles it to half of the output,” added the minister. A Canadian oil company named African Oil has said oil wells in Puntland have a capacity of up to 300 million barrels, this being the first time that oil wells are being drilled in Somalia. Lower Shabelle governor says air strikes will continue23 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 114 words The governor of Lower Shabelle region in Southern Somalia Abdikadir Mohamed Sidii said that air strikes will continue in his province, Garowe reports. When asked about the recent drone attack that killed Bilal Berjawi, Governor Sidii who spoke to reporters on Monday in Mogadishu said he was glad to see the death of the foreign al Shabaab fighter. Lower Shabelle is home to many al Shabaab insurgents and Sidii said that his province will experience more air strikes until al Shabaab leave the land. Governor Sidii has advocated for the use of air strikes to battle al Shabaab in southern Somalia. Governor Sidii requested the increase of air strikes in and around his region. Somali piracy can be eradicated-IMO24 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-kulan, UN Radio – 250 words Piracy off the coast of Somalia can be eradicated according to the new Secretary-General of the UN’s International Maritime Organisation (IMO). IMO chief, Koji Sekimizu, says although Somali pirates are still holding over 200 seafarers on eleven ships off the coast of Somalia, the pirates can be defeated. He said Somali pirates have made several attacks on vessels but the number of successful attacks has dropped, saying that this has encouraged the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia. He added that they have seen good signs of the reduction in incidents, insisting that he was optimistic that this menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia can be eradicated. His sentiment comes days after a report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has revealed that pre-emptive strikes by naval forces, the deployment of private armed guards and protective measures by ships helped to almost halve the number of successful hijackings by Somali pirates last year. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB), which has been monitoring piracy worldwide since 1991, said in its latest report that Somali pirates continued to account for over half the total number of attacks worldwide. The number of Somali incidents increased to 237 last year from 219 in 2010, but the number of successful hijackings fell to 28 vessels from 49 in 2010, the IMB said. REGIONAL MEDIAEleven al Shabaab killed in ambush23 Jan – Source: Daily Nation – 363 words Eleven al Shabaab militants were killed when Kenyan soldiers and those of the Somali government attacked their camp in Hosingo in southern Somalia on Sunday night. Two Kenyan soldiers and one from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government were killed during the attack, said Military spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir. “On 22 January 2012 at around 2300hrs in the general area of Delbio and Hosingo, Kenya Defence Forces and TFG conducted a raid on al Shabaab camp where 1) al Shabaab militia were killed while others escaped with injuries,” he said. Major Chirchir said four AK-47 rifles, communication equipment, collapsible water tank and several rounds of ammunition, among other things, were found. A fortnight ago, six people were killed and three others abducted when al Shabaab militants raided an Administration Police camp in Wajir. On Wednesday, al Shabaab released pictures of two of the abducted men on Twitter and released the third. The government has called for unconditional release of the two civil servants. Internal Security permanent secretary Francis Kimemia said over the weekend that the government had put in place measures to ensure the safe return of district officer Mule Yesse and registration of persons official Patrick Wainaina. Al Shabaab kidnaps strike fear in North Eastern Kenya24 Jan – Source: Star – 291 words Panic has gripped civil servants in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera towns in northern Kenya after the recent kidnap of two government workers by al Shabaab. Officers, who spoke to the Star on condition of anonymity, yesterday said they had been forced to impose a self curfew in the evening to avoid being captured by the al Shabaab insurgents. “It is dangerous working in this part of the country ,” said the officer who works with the Ministry of Agriculture. “We are forced to be indoors as early as 6p.m.” The extremist group last week kidnapped a district officer Edward Mule, 30, and a registration clerk with the Registrar of Persons, Fredrick Irungu Wainaina, 56, as Prisoners of War. There photos were posted on twitter by the group on Thursday. The officer said there were reports that al Shabaab have resorted to kidnapping civil servants forcing them to stay indoors in the evenings for fear of the dreaded insurgents. “There is no walking at night in this place,” Frankline Misoi, a teacher in Mandera, told the Star on phone yesterday. “I don’t know if I will ever get a transfer from this place.” Knut secretary general David Okuta said teachers are fearing for their lives and called on the government to intensify security in the region. He said police officers should be posted to schools to protect teachers and students. In their recent attacks, al Shabaab has targeted civil servants with the latest being the kidnap of Mule and Irungu. At the beginning of the year two KRA officials escaped death narrowly after an explosive devise believed to have been planted by the al Shabaab exploded near their car in Mandera. The remote controlled devise went off moments after the vehicle passed over it. INTERNATIONAL MEDIAUN Somalia representative opens Mogadishu office24 Jan – Source: AP – 145 words The U.N.’s special representative to Somalia is moving his office to Mogadishu for the first time in 17 years. Mahiga said that being in the Somali capital will allow the U.N. to work more closely with the country’s Transitional Federal Government. The government’s mandate is up in August. Mahiga was previously based in Nairobi, the capital of neighboring Kenya. Several other U.N. agencies have already had a permanent presence in the Somali capital for over a year. But the last U.N. special representative based in Somalia left the country in 1995. General Assembly President and Somali Minister discuss security in Mogadishu24 Jan – Source: UN News Centre – 233 words The President of the General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, held talks today with the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, in which he discussed the developments in the security situation in the country. Hussein Arab Isse, who is also Minister of Defense, told Mr. Al-Nasser that the security situation had significantly improved in Mogadishu, the capital, since last July. During the meeting, Mr. Al-Nasser stressed the necessity of carrying through the implementation of the Somali Roadmap adopted last September to ensure meeting the August 2012 deadline for the end of the transition process, and reaffirmed the Assembly’s readiness to offer assistance to the Somali people. The Roadmap spells out priority measures to be implemented before the current transitional governing arrangements end next August in the areas of security, writing a constitution, reconciliation and good governance. It also calls on the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) to lead the implementation, working with the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP), regional entities, and all sectors of society, including women, the business community, religious leaders, elders and youth.The two men also discussed the agenda for the upcoming London Meeting on Somalia, which will be held on 23 February with the aim of addressing the issue of development and humanitarian aid to the country. Somalia suicide bomber attacks gov’t office near border24 Jan – Source: Reuters – 203 words An al Shabaab fighter rammed a minibus loaded with explosives into a government building in central Somalia used by troops and politicians on Tuesday, a military official and an al Shabaab spokesman said. The attack occurred in Baladweyne, a town near the Ethiopian border which was captured by Ethiopian troops about three weeks ago. Both Ethiopia and Kenya have sent troops into Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab following a wave of cross-border attacks and kidnappings that Nairobi blamed on the rebels. The militia, which left most of its bases in the capital Mogadishu last August, has launched guerrilla-style attacks despite losing ground in some key southern strongholds since the incursion by Ethiopian and Kenyan troops. “A minibus carrying explosives entered Baladweyne administration headquarters compound. Government soldiers tried to stop it by firing but all in vain,” Hussein Aden, a senior military official, told Reuters by phone. Aden said there was no immediate report of casualties and the area surrounding the compound had been sealed off. Aden Abdulle, head of a pro-government militia group fighting alongside Somali and Ethiopian soldiers against al Shabaab, told Reuters the building attacked by the rebels housed Transitional Federal Government lawmakers and Ethiopian and Somali government soldiers. SOCIAL MEDIACULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDSArt, conflict and the Somali diaspora24 Jan – Source: Aljazeera Stream Conversation During more than two decades of turmoil Somalia’s people have undertaken one of the largest migrations in human history. Millions of Somalis live in refugee camps or as immigrants abroad, but despite being displaced, the community has maintained a unique sense of culture, identity and affinity for their mother country. Here are some highlights of the online conversation: Somalia: The Age of Oil23 Jan – Source: Al Akhbar English – 1063 Words Horn Petroleum Corporation, a Canadian oil and gas company, announced the commencement of its oil drilling operations in areas under the control of the regional government of Puntland in northeast Somalia. The company is currently preparing to drill the Shabeel-1 well to a depth of 3,800m (about two miles) following a test drill to a depth of 50m. Horn Petroluem Corporation will drill, for a period not exceeding 90 days, in the Dharoor Valley in the east of the region. Assuming that the drilling attempt is successful in Dharoor, the rig will then be moved to drill two other wells in the Nugaal region. There has been no oil drilling in Somalia for over 20 years, a period in which the country faced a severe crisis that led to the toppling of the central government in 1991. Foreign companies have not extracted oil and minerals since the fall of the central government due to the inability of Somali factions and various drilling companies to agree on drilling terms, in addition to the weak security situation in the country. Shabeel-1 and other wells close-by are located in the northern Dharoor region. The well will operate in the Jurassic aged rift system, which is part of the same system from which oil was extracted in the Masila and Shabwa Basins in Yemen. Those basins contain an estimated 6 billion barrels of oil. Shabeel-1 is estimated to have over 300 million barrels of recoverable oil. It should be noted however that the type of source rocks found suggest that the well’s prospects are below what was originally expected. London’s Calling To Somaliland: A Case of Perfidy Or Palmerstonian’s Action?23 Jan – Source: SomaliaOnline Forum Is it a “naked perfidy”, or perhaps it’s a “Palmerstonian’s politics” in action? There is a great deal of talk regarding the London’s conference and its intended delegates; which of course, Somaliland is supposed to be a one of the invitees. Also, the British government seemed to have went into a great deal of effort in convincing the Somaliland’s administration in attending (preferably at the highest level) this conference. However, reading all the tealeaves of UK’s larger government agenda in here, one could say with confidence, that, it’s with regret that Somaliland must decline such an invitation. Since, the over-all agenda of this conference is not conducive to her over-all bottom-line. For, what we have in here (at least in so far as Somaliland is concern) is nothing but what, in different age, the likes of Viscount Palmerston would of understood it. And, that is, because his old political dictum would of have come to play in here; which was: “….Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests….” For both UK and for Somaliland, it seems that their respective and core national interest seemed to have taken a “divergent path” from one another (at least in the view of what each is to the other is concern). And, by that, we mean, it’s quite evident that UK’s ultimate objective is to settle the issue of security of Somalia (where Al-Shabaab) has menacing case of a “religious appeal” to make to young British Somalis. |
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Somali traditional dancers entertain residents of Mogadishu in Lido Beach