April 10, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali president, PM condemn Baidoa market blast
10 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 180 words
Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and his premier Abdiweli Mohammed Ali have both condemned the bombing at a vegetable market in Baidoa, the country’s third largest city, killing at least 12 people.
“We are deeply concerned about what happened on Monday in Baidoa town. It was tragic incident contrary to teaching of Islam and our valuable culture. Al Shabaab militants are responsible for this deadly attack against civilians,” said Somali president.
A press release issued by Somali PM Abdiweli Mohammed Ali said that Monday’s attack was the deadliest since Ethiopian and Somali troops captured Baidoa from al Shabaab in February. Mr. Ali noted that 12 people died while 30 others were injured, all civilians who were shopping in the market
Key Headlines
- Somali president PM condemn Baidoa market blast (Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab militias withdraw from Diinsoor ( Radio Mogadishu)
- Baidoa blast death toll rise (Radio Mogadishu SONNA)
- Speaker meets security officials in Bay Bakol regions (Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali district name changed to symbolize peace ( Bar-kulan)
- Turkey to open college for skilled trades ( Garowe Online)
- Pirates hijack trawler off Seychelles ( Khaleej Times)
- Most wanted ‘Carlos the Jackal’ Somali pirate seized (Africa Review)
- UPDF success in Somalia is due to discipline – Museveni ( New Vision)
- French Warship FS Marne Becomes EU Counter Piracy Flagship ( Defpro)
- US suspends Seychelles drone flights after crashes (Reuters)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president, PM condemn Baidoa market blast
10 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 180 words
Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and his premier Abdiweli Mohammed Ali have both condemned the bombing at a vegetable market in Baidoa, the country’s third largest city, killing at least 12 people.
“We are deeply concerned about what happened on Monday in Baidoa town. It was tragic incident contrary to teaching of Islam and our valuable culture. Al Shabaab militants are responsible for this deadly attack against civilians,” said Somali president.
A press release issued by Somali PM Abdiweli Mohammed Ali said that Monday’s attack was the deadliest since Ethiopian and Somali troops captured Baidoa from al Shabaab in February. Mr. Ali noted that 12 people died while 30 others were injured, all civilians who were shopping in the market.
Al Shabaab militias withdraw from Diinsoor
10 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 84 words
Al Qaeda linked group of al Shabaab have completely withdrawn from Diinsoor district of Bay region while T.F.G and Ethiopian troops are heading there, officials said. District commissioner of Diinsoor, Osman Mohamed Abdi confirmed to Radio Mogadishu that Somali Transitional Federal Government backed by Ethiopian soldiers are very close to Diinsoor and would capture in the coming hours.
The district commissioner stated that al Shabaab militias have deserted the town, adding that people were forced to live in difficult situation in al Qaeda-controlled towns.
Baidoa blast death toll rise
10 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 110 words
The casualties of the deadly blast that occurred Monday at a busy market in Baidoa city of Bay region has risen to 10 officials said. Two other people are reported to have died from their injuries in Baidoa hospital last night and the security forces are carrying out operations.
Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adam, the speaker of parliament condemned the attack, blaming the al Qaeda linked group of al Shabaab for the blast. “They filled explosive elements inside a thermos placed in a very busy market, killing a lot of women and wounding many others, it was a terrorist and cowardly act,” Sharif Hassan said.
Speaker meets security officials in Bay, Bakol regions
09 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 95 words
Speaker of the Transitional Federal Parliament of Somalia, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adam on Sunday met with officials of national forces and Ethiopians troops to discuss the security of Baidoa city in Bay region, reports said.
The parliament speaker said that it is very important to secure all areas where al Qaeda linked group al Shabaab were ousted from and pre-empt suicide attacks and explosion. Sharif Hassan urged people to cooperate with national forces in improving the security and called for forces to clear al Shabaab from the remaining areas in Bay region.
Somali district name changed to symbolize peace
09 Apr – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 169 words
President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Monday officially renamed Mogadishu’s Wardigley district to “Warta Nabadda” in a bid to discourage names coming with violence or bloody image as part of his government strategy to preach peace in the country.
Wardigley which literally translate to the bloody dam will now be called Warta Nabadda meaning the dam of peace. The president said he felt the former name was not a symbolic of peace thus ought to be changed immediately to one that symbolizes peace.
“We are tired of shedding blood, it is better to have a good name as stipulated in our religion, Islam,” said the president. He said the new name was given to the district last February but was officially declared as they did today, adding that the district has been the lead district in efforts to restore peace in the country.
Turkey to open college for skilled trades
08 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 172 words
The Turkish government has announced that it will open colleges for skilled trades in Puntland in the recent future, Garowe reports. The announcement comes after Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole who addressed 200 students in Puntland State University (PSU) on Saturday advised the youth to open their eyes to all fields of education even skilled trades. The announcement of the Turkish government to open colleges in Puntland comes shortly after an arrival by Dr. Kani Torun the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia.
The Turkish government has promised to bring supplies needed to run the colleges and also promised to cover teachers’ salaries. Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) who visited Puntland last month will help build the colleges.
Somaliland’s new head of immigration department takes office
10 Apr – Source: Somaliland Press – 250 word
The assistant minister in charge of national security in the ministry of interior Hon Abdillahi Abokor Osman today officiated a handover ceremony in which the new principal immigration officer assumed the mantle of the immigration department at the agency headquarters in Hargeisa.
Col Mohamed Ali Yusuf who was appointed by the Minister of interior last week takes over the helm from his predecessor Mohamed Osman Alin (Dayib) in a ceremony officiated by the assistant minister of interior in charge of national security Hon Abdillahi Osman Abokor. Mr. Mohamed Osman Alin the outgoing principal immigration officer said during his tenure as the Head of the Immigration Department, we managed to introduce modern state of the art equipment, this new technologies have opened up opportunities to create a new flexible border control that is better focused.
The outgoing principal immigration officer went on to say today our staff are highly trained personnel armed with unmatched sensibility in comprehending and implementation their duties.
TFG denounces looting of humanitarian foods in Gedo region
09 Apr – Source: Radio Kulmiye, Somalia report – 97 words
The Somali Minister of Commerce and Industrial Affairs Khalif Abdikarim Mohamed denounced the looting of the humanitarian foods intended for poor Somalis in Gedo region. The minister stated that unknown assailants stormed food aid storage and looted tons of humanitarian foods of the International Care of Red Crescent (ICRC).
“Food rations has been looted in Gedo by unknown assailants, the food is normally transported from Kenya’s border town of Mandera into the region with the aim of feeding the famine-stricken people, unfortunately it is not reaching the appropriate people who are in need of these humanitarian assistance,” he said.
Somaliland President sets up committee to hold talks with TFG
08 Apr – Source: Garowe Online , Shabelle, Hiiraan Online – 211 words
Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo has named a committee of ministers to hold discussions with the Transitional Federal Government (TFG), Garowe reports.
The committee which consists of 5 ministers will be the focal point between the TFG and the Somaliland government and will work on how they could be able to hold talks in the future. The London conference in February proposed such talks between Somaliland and the TFG.
The ministers that make up the committee include Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Abdullahi Omar, Minister of Internal Affairs Mohamed Nuur, Minister of Justice Hussein Ahmed Aydid, Minister of Agriculture Farah Elmi and Minister of Transportation Ahmed Abdi Habsade.
Al Shabaab fighters reach Galgala mountains in Puntland
09 Apr – Source: Radio Andulus, Somalia Report – 52 words
Hundreds of al Shabaab fighters reached the Golis Mountains to help the Galgala pro-al Shabaab militia who are fighting against Puntland forces in the region. Recently, the leader of Puntland, Abdirahma Farole expressed his worries and disappointment about the al Shabaab fighters who are now moving to Puntland State from the southern Somalia.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Pirates hijack trawler off Seychelles
10 Apr – Source: Khaleej Times – 62 words
An Omani trawler has been hijacked off the coast of Seychelles by alleged Somali pirates, a local newspaper reported on Monday. The ship, Naham 3’ which was on a fishing expedition in international waters, was later escorted to a place some 300km north of Mogadishu, the Oman Tribune said. The vessel was 300 nautical miles from the Seychelles when it was hijacked.
Most wanted ‘Carlos the Jackal’ Somali pirate seized
10 Apr – Source: Africa Review – 224 words
The war on piracy in the Horn of Africa has received a major boost following the capture of one of the world’s most wanted Somali pirate leaders, Mohamed Garad. Garad, a former British soldier, is said to have been arrested together with 12 other suspected pirates on April 4 by Iranian commandos after they hijacked a Chinese cargo ship.
The co-ordinator of the East African Seafarers Association, Mr Andrew Mwangura, said Garad was captured after the seizure of the Chinese vessel, Xianghuamen, last week. Xianghuamen is a Panama-flagged general cargo vessel owned by Nanjing Ocean Shipping Company of China.
“Garad had been on the run for many decades. He was elusive and sly and had slipped out of all the security dragnets before. His capture is the greatest news in the war against piracy and terrorism,” Mr Mwangura said yesterday.
The coordinator described Garad as “an old, experienced hand and a role model in the piracy world”, who has been linked to hundreds of ship hijack cases in the Horn of Africa. “To experts and those who knew Garad, he was like Carlos the Jackal in the crime world and Dedan Kimathi to the British colonialists, mysterious and never easy to capture,” Mr Mwangura said.
UPDF success in Somalia is due to discipline – Museveni
10 Apr – Source: New Vision – 325 words
President Yoweri Museveni has said the success registered by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) contingent that is serving in Somalia is due to Uganda’s ideology, discipline, training and political solidarity.
President Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, was yesterday passing out soldiers who had concluded a seven month peace support operations course at Singo Training Centre in Nakaseke district. The soldiers are due to leave for peacekeeping duties in Somalia.
Museveni observed that the officers who are serving with the African Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) have recorded tremendous success due “to our ideology of Pan-Africanism”. He said Somalia is part of the African continent, adding that when Ugandans were fighting the dictatorship in their country, they got support from Tanzania and Mozambique.
“It is on this note that we could not ignore our brothers, the Somalis,” the President said. Museveni said the UPDF troops were sent to Somalia under the policy that Africa is one and that we are all Africans.
Arms race hots up in East Africa
09 Apr – Source: Daily Nation – 451 words
Competition for military superiority in the East African Community has seen Uganda’s arms expenditure surpass Kenya’s for the first time this year, a new global arms report shows. Kampala spent US$1.02 billion (Sh83 billion) — much more than Kenya’s US$735 million (Sh61 billion), the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) says. The institute does research into conflict and arms control.
In particular, Uganda’s acquisition of six SU-30MK Russian jets is said to have elevated its air force to one of the most advanced in East and Central Africa. The reasons for the increased budget, according to the report, include competition for regional military superiority, especially with Kenya, and the threat of a spillover from potential conflict between Sudan and South Sudan.
Others included the operation in Somalia against al Shabaab where the region’s armies, including Kenya’s, are fighting under the African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and against Joseph Kony’s rebels in the DR Congo are quoted as reasons for Uganda’s ballooning military expenditure.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
French Warship FS Marne Becomes EU Counter Piracy Flagship
10 Apr – Source: Defpro – 484 words
In a ceremony held 7 April onboard Spanish warship ESPS Patino, and presided over by the EU Naval Force Deputy Commander – Rear admiral Rainer Endres (German Navy), the French warship FS Marne became the new flagship of the EU Naval Force, Somalia, under the force command of Rear Admiral Jean-Baptiste Dupuis.
ESPS Patino has been the EU Naval Force flagship for the past 4 months, under the command of Rear Admiral Jorge Manso and during that time EU warships have successfully carried out counter-piracy patrols off the coast of Somalia and across the Indian Ocean.
At the ceremony, that took place alongside in Djibouti, Rear Admiral Manso spoke about how proud he was of the EU Naval Force sailors and marines under his command who have worked so tirelessly to track down and disrupt armed pirate attack groups who prowl the waters off the Horn of Africa.
US suspends Seychelles drone flights after crashes
10 Apr – Source: Reuters – 146 words
The United States has suspended drone flights over the Seychelles while it investigates a second crash in four months on the archipelago, which Washington uses as a launch base for the unmanned spy planes.
One of the remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper aircraft crash-landed last week at the main airport on the island of Mahe shortly after taking off on an unspecified mission. The planes have carried out missions over Somalia and the Horn of Africa from the Seychelles, according to a classified U.S. diplomatic cable dated 2009. Local officials say drones based in the archipelago also track pirates in regional waters.
Students contribute to Somali constitution
09 Apr – Source: R&D – 531 words
Somalia has been engaged in conflict since 1980, when the country descended into civil war following a military coup. But a breakthrough agreement to end conflict in Somalia was reached at a February conference under the auspices of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia with input from a Cornell Law School professor and his students.
Somali leaders adopted the Garowe Principles to guide the transition process to a federal parliamentary form of government. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the agreement, noting that the accord “sets out clear steps for ending the transition and putting in place a constitutional order.”
Cornell Law School Professor Muna Ndulo, who serves as a U.N. consultant to the Somali process, engaged six of his law students to research and write presentations on such subjects as electoral systems, transition arrangements and regulation of political parties and political party funding.
The students’ work supported the negotiations for the Garowe II Principles of peace, security and reconciliation adopted Feb. 17. Somalia’s current transitional government, installed by the international community as an interim entity, is scheduled to evolve into a permanent government Aug. 20, Ndulo said. For that to happen, a new constitution must be drafted and agreed upon to replace Somalia’s 1960 constitution.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The factions in southern Somalia operated under dictatorial leadership wherein one individual exercised complete control over his clan militia due to the absence of traditional authority. Wielding unrestrained power, military and political ambitious men exclusively controlled and utilized their respective clan militias to achieve selfish objectives, be it political, financial, status, etc.”
What Went Wrong? Why southern Somalia Failed and Somaliland Succeeded?
10 Apr – Source: Hadhwanaag – 3885 Words
For the past two decades, southern Somalia has been plagued by sporadic and unrelenting civil war, terrorism, pirates, famine. For the past two decades, southern Somalia has been plagued by sporadic and unrelenting civil war, terrorism, pirates, famine, and wide spread diseases which claimed the lives of up to 200,000 to 300,000 people. The persistent multifarious ordeals that ordinary citizens have endured thus far are widely reported by the international media as well as humanitarian agencies. Since its effects and magnitude have been extensively scrutinized elsewhere, it is futile to reiterate in here. There have been fourteen reconciliation attempts aimed at restoring peace and stability in southern Somalia but all have failed to yield the intended objectives. Subsequently, southern Somalia became, as international community describes it, a failed state due to its manifestation of all its hallmarks: an ineffective government, widespread corruption, lack of public services, prevalent criminal enterprise, economic decline, and muddled movement of populations.
“Simply put, in the case of Somalia, al Shabaab could be considered an “organization” that has a systematic policy of preventing civilians from accessing food aid. Members of the United Nations Security Council that attended the International Conference on Somalia can easily refer the al Shabaab to the ICC. They would not be advocating military force but would simply call for a criminal investigation.”
Why Aren’t We Putting al Shabaab Terrorists Behind Bars?
09 Apr – Source: Huffington Post Blog -7 80 Words
Only the end of impunity will guarantee a lasting peace in Somalia. Recently, the British Government held a major international conference on Somalia. The gathering was attended by heads of government and senior representatives from more than 50 countries and organizations. Canada’s delegation was led by foreign affairs minister John Baird and the United States sent their top diplomat, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.
The main purpose of the conference was to construct a new, effective and robust international approach to Somalia. It was hoped that this would produce valuable momentum that will enable the Somali people to stabilize their country. This is a tall order as Somalia is currently a failed state whose people continue to experience almost constant conflict, malnutrition, and a brutal terrorist campaign from al Shabaab, a terrorist group that last week announced a formal merger with al Qaeda.
“Somalia as a distinct nation should have its national strategic interests and pledge of allegiance. Dutifully, a citizen of Somalia cannot pledge allegiance or feel affection/sympathy to another nation. Otherwise, he or she will trade Somalia’s liberty with slavery. Repeat of 1884 when Somali tribes competed for foreign domination should be avoided at any cost.”
Repeat of 1884: Somalia leaders compete for foreign domination
08 Apr – Source: Mareeg -1475 Words
The death of Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, former President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) in Dubai, UAE on March 23, 2012 has sparked intense debate about his political legacy. Without doubt, president Yusuf left an indelible mark in the Somali history. Some would like to present him as a national hero, patriot, warrior, and honest figure while others see him as national traitor, dictator, self righteous, tribalist, and corrupt leader. One of the reasons behind these opposing views is that President Yusuf singlehandedly sought military support from Ethiopia for establishing his rule on south central Somalia. Consequently, Ethiopia dominated the internal and external affairs of Somalia.
Late president Yusuf regretted his request of military support from Ethiopia. In his last interview with VOA in 2011, he unambiguously said that he decided to resign from the presidency of the TFG because he did not want to be a stooge of Ethiopia. However, with his public regret, the allegiance to and the public defense of Ethiopia by Somali politicians and intellectuals didn’t die. Sadly, loyalty to Ethiopia became a publicly claimed quality by the Somali politicians for gaining political power in Somalia. Surprisingly, the Ethiopians say: Dine with a stranger, but save your love for your family.
“What makes Mowlid Ma’ane stand out from other Members of Parliament was not only his past police and civil service experience, his past foot-ball refereeing experience ( he officiated many football matches of Somalia’s pre-war General Da’ud tournaments) , but also his bravery to stand up to the promoters of the 4.5 power-sharing mechanism.”
Somalia: Mowlid Ma’ane’ enduring political thought
09 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 443 Words
Mowlid Ma’ane, the late Somali MP who was buried in Nairobi on Sunday, had been brought to Kenya for treatment after the suicide bombing that cost the lives of many people and maimed more than ten people who were at Mogadishu’s National Theatre for a ceremony marking the first anniversary of Somalia’s National Television last week. The late Mowlid Ma’ane was a member of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government. He was a tireless campaigner against the 4.5 power-sharing mechanism that relegated his and other clans , wrongly labelled minorities (the others) , to a 0.50 status, implying that clans lumped together into the 0.50 do not count as much as the other major four clans ( Dir, Hawiye, Darod and Digil & Mirifle).
As the the Somali government’s Minister of Constitution and Reconciliation, Abdirahman Hosh Jibril wrote in an eulogy : ” I was told that he [Mowlid Ma’ane] once stood up in parliament and asked the rhetorical question as to whether people see in him standing as a full man or a half a man or point five man!. True to his human rights defender form.”
“Business people from Somalia and Turkey met to discuss partnerships on Saturday in the Somali capital of Mogadishu at a Somalia-Turkey business forum, the first event of its kind in the African country for the past two decades. Somali Minister of Trade Mohamed Ahmed Keynan chaired the forum, which hosted TUSKON member entrepreneurs from the construction, energy, textile, food, automotive and fishery sectors.”
Somalia sees recovery with new Turkish investments
08 Apr – Source: Somali Swiss TV – 506 Words
Long plagued by domestic violence, drought and poverty, Somalia aspires to cast bad memories aside with Turkish support to establish new industries that will create jobs.
Observers see new investments as a magic wand to accelerate an anticipated recovery from problems tearing the country apart. Despite political conflicts and a slow international response, Turkey has continued to reach out with aid to Somalia, sending teams bringing food and medical equipment. Turkish efforts to establish new industries that will create jobs in the country also accompanied humanitarian aid. The Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) is among the Turkish NGOs to lead investment efforts in Somalia.
Top tweets
@RedTukul The bomb that exploded in #Baidoa #Somalia was ferried in a basket into the busy market.
@iLiveUwatch Advert for Somali-Air “Landing is not guaranteed but we will end up somewhere in #Somalia“ #died loool.
@SomaliThinker M7 thinks #UPDF success in #Somalia is down to discipline. I agree. http://bit.ly/Hw5hcU #Uganda#Amisom.
@MrNikoG South #Minneapolis car art. #Somalia@southside_mpls http://pic.twitter.com/
@AbdilatifMaalim A sad story and a moving piece of tribute to the dead #Somalia
http://bit.ly/IedW3h.
@alykhansatchu #Somalia is probably Kuwait, this is a break out moment. Surf’s up folks #Kenya At The Crossroadshttp://j.mp/HxlHOt.
@SeucT copy, paste, RT at leisure MT @astridhka BREAKING: Regional powers making mess of things in #Somalia due to competing interests and ignorance.
Image of the day
Puntland’s Minister of Health Dr. Ali Abdullahi Warsame on Friday 6th April opened a new Tuberculosis Treatment Centre in Jariban town in central region of Mudug. Photo: Raxanreeb.