April 10, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali president returns to the country after visiting Kenya
10 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/al Shahid – 118 words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud returned on Wednesday morning to the Somali capital Mogadishu after visiting Kenyan capital Nairobi to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Somali President met last night with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta and discussed with him bilateral relations between the two countries. Somali President congratulated his Kenyan counterpart on his victory in the presidential election in his country last March.
Somali President said that a large number of Somali refugees are scattered in different parts of the world, stressing that the Somali government plans to repatriate these refugees to their country.
Key Headlines
- Somali president returns to the country after visiting Kenya (Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/al Shahid)
- Prime Minister seeks regional support to nation building for Somalia (Prime Minister’s Media Office)
- Prime Minister discussed strengthening relationship with his Ethiopian counterpart (Prime Minister’s Media Office)
- UK minister hails Uganda’s Somalia role (Observer)
- Somali Government promises security of Somali clerics (Radio Dalsan)
- Somalia president admits rapes by security forces (AP News)
- Uhuru gets down to work meets Somali leader (Capital FM/Daily Nation)
- Somali president sends warning to government troops (Radio Mustaqbal)
- Gedo Admin says those who attended Kismayo meeting will not be allowed back (Shabelle)
- Kenya to back Somalia on security matters says Uhuru (Daily Nation/Standard Digital Media)
PRESS STATEMENT
Prime Minister seeks regional support to nation building for Somalia
10 Apr – Source: Prime Minister’s Media Office – 295 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in a regional tour to strengthen relationship between the new Somalia and countries in the region arrived in Kampala, Uganda meeting with his counterpart Amama Mbabazi and other government officials.
Prime Minister highlighted new government initiatives toward getting public support and fight al Shabaab. Showing a great level of trust with his government and the Somali people the Prime Minister asked the government of Uganda the backing needed to implement new security and development related initiatives. He pointed out that the Somali people are seeking solutions to the internal issues and also mentions the growing government support after concluding a “listening tour” in the country.
“We understand the urgency and the need to protect our people from terrorists and securing our borders. We are determined to insert new initiatives in the nation building process,” Prime Minister said. “We seek your support to face some of the divisive issues and challenges that are rooted in our history.”
Prime Minister indicated the need to expand the scope and the operation of the AMISOM troops in Somalia. He believes the security situation has improved and there is a need to work on delivering services in order to maintain government mandate. He pointed out that his government would like to see Uganda taking an active role in capacity building and helping in the process of reforming security institutions. Hence, the Ugandan Prime Minister warmly welcomed his request and reassured his government’s support to Somalia.
“We are committed ourselves helping you fight and overcome terrorism, which we feel threaten here in Uganda,” Prime Minister Mbabazi said. He commended boosting the confidence of the Somali people to submit to the state and defeat al Shabaab terrorist group that don’t offer opportunities to the Somali people.
Prime Minister discussed strengthening relationship with his Ethiopian counterpart
09 Apr – Source: Prime Minister’s Media Office – 245 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailamariam Daselegn discussed on ways to strengthen relationship between the two countries in Addis Ababa.
Prime Minister congratulated Daselegn of his African Union chairmanship starting this month. He stated the importance of the cooperation between the two countries on security and development. He pointed out the danger of al Shabaab in Somalia and the whole region and that it required higher level of collaboration to defeat.
“Al Shabaab poses a huge threat to our nation building efforts and undermines development in the region and must be defeated at all cost,” said Prime Minister Shirdon. Prime Minister Hailamariam Daselegn assured the Somali delegation of the unwavering support of the Ethiopian government to Somalia. He stressed the need to lift people from poverty and minimize negative forces that are destabilizing social and economic development.
“We are always ready, this is our benefit and we should defeat al-shabaab together” said Prime Minister Desalegn recognizing the risk presented by this group in the region and that it is necessary to win the fight against extremists.
They recognized the need to speed up rebuild the Somali National Army, and making this top priority of the new Somali government. They concluded their meeting with renewed friendship and promised of a greater collaboration. Prime Minister and his delegation are in the middle of their regional strengthening relationship tour and will be travelling to Uganda on Tuesday.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president returns to the country after visiting Kenya
10 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/al Shahid – 118 words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud returned on Wednesday morning to the Somali capital Mogadishu after visiting Kenyan capital Nairobi to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Somali President met last night with his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta and discussed with him bilateral relations between the two countries. Somali President congratulated his Kenyan counterpart on his victory in the presidential election in his country last March.
Somali President said that a large number of Somali refugees are scattered in different parts of the world, stressing that the Somali government plans to repatriate these refugees to their country.
Somali Government promises security of Somali clerics
10 Apr – Source: Radio Dalsan – 120 words
Somali government has strongly condemned |Tuesday’s blast aimed to kill one of the well-known spiritual scholars, blaming it on al Shabaab while vowing to provide the security for the Ulimas
Somali’s Minister of Information, Telecommunication and Transport, Abdulahi Elmoge Hersi said al Shabaab wanted to assassinate the head of Somali Cleric Association Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, terming the act as un-Islamic. The minister said the government ill guarantee the security of religious scholars to defend them from what he called the foe of Somali societies.
Dollar exchange hurts low income earners in Garowe
10 Apr – Source: Radio Ergo – 236 words
The Puntland administration’s latest attempt to control the US dollar exchange rate against the Somali shilling is causing hardship for lower income and poor people. As the value of the dollar has decreased, prices of food and essential commodities have remained the same. Construction workers in Garowe, the capital of Puntland, said their wages, paid in dollars, now earn them less when they change the money to local currency.
“Now when I’m paid $10 for instance, I exchange it for 300,000 Somali shillings. It is not enough to buy adequate food for my family, nor for my lunch and daily expenses. This has been the situation for some time and we are not seeing things improving,” Mohamed Ma’alin, a builder, told Radio Ergo.
Across Puntland, $100 now exchanges for 2 million Somali shillings as fixed by the finance ministry. The ministry acted to try to stem the downward slide of the shilling. Before February, $100 was exchanged for 3 million shillings or more. Isman Hassan, a labourer working in Garowe, said he takes home 90,000 shillings today, up from 80,000 shillings before, but the current income was not enough to pay for daily needs.
Gedo Admin says those who attended Kismayo meeting will not be allowed back
10 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 116 words
Mohamed Abdi Kalil, the leader of Gedo region informed Shabelle that those who attended the meeting in Kismayo from Gedo region are not allowed back into the region.
Mr. Kalil vowed that they will take serious actions against them if they tried to return back to Gedo because they do not represent the people of Gedo and were attending the meeting on the own interest.
On the other hand, Mr. Kalil added that the troops from Ahlu Sunna merged with the government troops and they will fall under the command of Somali defense force. He continued saying that the merged troops will work together to liberate areas occupied by al Shabaab militia.
Somali president sends warning to government troops
09 Apr – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 202 words
The President of Somali Federal Government Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has supervised the barracks of Somali government troops in Mogadishu, sending warning to Somali government troops. The president speaking ahead of hundreds of government troops in different garrisons, has warned the rogue soldiers within the forces.
“The government will fight those who harm the civilians, we will fight against them like al Shabaab fighters,” The president told the soldiers. The president said few rogue soldiers are soiling the name of the forces, adding that they should defend their people, religion and country.
Meanwhile, president Hassan called on the troops to double their operations and efforts on the security of the country as the people to get in prosperity and development. It usually happens that armed men dressed in uniforms, robe and maim the civilians in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The government of Somalia is in efforts for restoring hope of the country and its security. Calm has returned to Somalia after 22 years of civil war.
Puntland Minister assesses education in towns
09 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 120 words
Puntland Minister of Education Abdi Farah (Juha) led a delegation to the coastal city of Eyl so they can assess education in the town, Garowe Online reports.
Minister Juha has been on a tour of Nugal region assessing education in towns and villages in the region. On Monday afternoon he arrived in Eyl where he was warmly welcomed by government officials, civil society and community leaders.
On Tuesday morning, the delegation began observing schools and education centres in Dawaad and Badey the two neighborhoods that make up Eyl. Minister Juha before arriving in Eyl visited the districts of Godob Jiraan and Dangorayo and the towns of Hasbahaleh, Mayle, Reemati and Dhegele where he met with municipal officials to asses Education.
Somali President pledges restoring passport’s value
09 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 83 words
The Somali president expressed concern over the country’s passport that has still been denied by many countries and pledged restoring the country’s passport identity that was once internationally recognized. RBC reports in Mogadishu on Tuesday.
The president termed, those Somalis who hold their passport encounters risks of been blamed of a terrorist in which he said to be brought by lack of preserving its dignity by Somalis themselves. Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, the president of Somalia, committed to restore the worthiness of the passport.
Bossaso armed robber caught after gunfight with Puntland police
09 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 206 words
A suspected Bossaso money exchange robber was captured in Galkayo after a brief gunfight with Puntland police authorities on Monday, Garowe Online reports. Radio Garowe’s Ali interviewed Galkayo Mayor Ahmed Ali Salaad after the robber’s arrest in Garsoor neighbourhood in Galkayo.
“After receiving information that one of the suspects [Farhan Abdulqadir Isse] was at a home in Garsoor neighbourhood, authorities and government officials arrived at the scene and there was a brief gunfight,” said Mayor Salaad. Two police officers were injured in the gunfight with Mr. Isse, who eventually gave up after his family members interceded.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Uhuru gets down to work, meets Somali leader
10 Apr- Source: Capital FM/Daily Nation – 356 words
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday evening met and held talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud of Somalia at State House, Nairobi.
During the meeting also attended by Deputy President William Ruto, President Kenyatta assured the Somali President that Kenya will continue to work with his country’s leadership to consolidate peace and security.
Underscoring the cordial and friendly relations existing between Kenya and Somalia, the president said the two countries will engage politically on regular basis to deal with emerging issues of mutual interest as well as regional matters.
UK minister hails Uganda’s Somalia role
10 Apr – Source: Observer – 165 words
Britain’s Africa Minister Mark Simmonds yesterday toured the Peace Support Training Centre at Singo, in Nakaseke district, thanking Uganda for its contribution to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), and pledging more support.
Simmonds is in the country on a two-day visit ahead of next month’s Somalia Conference in London. A British army training team is currently conducting the final exercises for Battle Group 11, which will soon head to Somalia.
A statement from the British High Commission said the centre’s capacity building support for the 6,000 troops, who pass through the centre each year, would rise from £400,000 (Shs 1.6bn) to £500,000.
Kenya to back Somalia on security matters, says Uhuru
10 Apr – Source: Daily Nation/Standard – 169 words
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday evening said Kenya will support Somalia in ensuring that peace prevails for the sake of regional development.
President Kenyatta also said that repatriation of Somali refugees will be conducted after the two nations convene a meeting at an appropriate time.
In a meeting with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud that was attended by Deputy President William Ruto, President Kenyatta said the two countries will engage politically on regular basis to deal with emerging issues of mutual interest.
Somali leaders pledge judicial reform following landmark meeting
09 Apr – Source: Sabahi Online – 849 words
Fresh off convening a landmark conference on reforming Somalia’s justice system, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said his administration would press forward with implementing recommended judicial reforms.
“Our objective is for the law to be above everyone and for all of us to live under the rule of law,” he said at the conclusion of the National Dialogue on Justice Reform conference Friday (April 5th).
“This conference to reform the justice system is the first in a series of similar meetings we will host to debate the needs of the country. We will hold these meetings in the coming days [to address each need] one-by-one,” Mohamud said, referring to Somalia’s first conference in 22 years to confront the topic of improving its court and penal system.
Yemen, Somalia talk on cooperation areas
08 Apr – Source: Yemen News Agency – 157 words
Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi discussed here on Monday with his Somali counterpart Mohamed Noor Ga’al areas of cooperation between the two countries.
The two sides touched on supporting the efforts of the Central Somali government in establishing the basis of the State.
The meeting reviewed a number of common issues, including the issue of Somali ships moored in the port of Aden and aspects of cooperation in the rehabilitation and training of Somali cadres in various institutions of the State, and the Yemeni government’s efforts in hosting more than a million Somali refugees on its soil.
Yemen calls for intensive terrorism fight
08 Apr – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 261 words
Yemen Monday called for intensified efforts at regional and international levels to fighting terrorism, protection of people and properties primarily in the Gulf of Aden, through which 70 percent of the global trade pass.
Participants in the three-day conference are discussing a host of issues like threats posed by terrorist networks, and strategies to fighting terrorism in Yemen, Somalia and Djibouti.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia president admits rapes by security forces
09 Apr – Source: AP News – 351 words
After months of denial, Somalia’s government has for the first time acknowledged that its security forces were involved in rape cases that drew an international outcry by human rights groups.
Army commanders often denied accusations that soldiers were involved in a spate of rapes, blaming the crimes on militants, al Shabaab who wore army uniforms to smear the reputation of the military.
“Those few among the security forces who rape and rob our citizens must be fought and be defeated just like al Shabaab,” said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, while speaking to military cadets at a training camp in Mogadishu on Monday.
New Somali Counter-piracy Force Flagship on Station
09 Apr – Source: Marine Link – 168 words
The Portuguese Frigate ‘NRP Álvares Cabral’ joins the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta – as flagship.
During her participation in Operation Atalanta, for the next 4 months, Álvares Cabral will be the EU Naval Force flagship, hosting the Force Commander and his multinational staff on board. NRP Álvares Cabral is a multipurpose MEKO class frigate, 116 meters in length and 3400 tonnes displacement.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The country has stabilized, and U.S. assistance can ensure that it becomes a security ally and trading partner.”
In Somalia, a window of opportunity
08 Apr – Source: Star Tribute – 648 Words
It’s a new day in Somalia. That’s the message I took away from a trip to the capital city of Mogadishu earlier this year. We have our best opportunity in more than two decades to help stabilize Somalia and advance U.S. national security interests — but only if we act quickly.
The improved security situation has filled Mogadishu with new life. Somalis can once again play music and dance, activities banned by terrorist group al Shabaab, which until recently controlled much of the country. Crowds of people fill the streets, socializing and shopping.
Somali-Americans from my district in Minnesota are starting businesses and buying real estate. And a new generation of Somalis from the global diaspora is returning. One of them started Somalia’s first think tank, the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies. Another woman left her high-paying job on Wall Street to help build up Somalia’s financial sector from scratch.
These positive developments are largely a result of Somalia’s successful political transition last year. After many failed attempts, Somali leaders completed a process that produced the first representative, permanent government since the fall of Siad Barre’s regime in 1991.
In pictures: Music returns to Mogadishu
08 Apr – Source: Al Jazeera English – 231 Words
Mogadishu has come to symbolise the epitome of the war-torn city. The Somali capital was engulfed by civil war in 1991 when President Siad Barre’s regime collapsed, leading to open conflict between competing warlords. US forces intervened in 1993, culminating in the Battle of Mogadishu, in which 18 Americans and hundreds of Somali militiamen and civilians lost their lives.
Last week, amid secrecy and last-minute preparation, 18 entertainers waged a war of a very different kind, as international artists from seven countries performed in Somalia’s first formal music event in more than 25 years.
The city once had a thriving music scene, with Somali jazz filling the night air in the 1960s and ’70s. But the hard-line al Shabaab group outlawed music in 2009, and despite their ouster by African Union forces in 2011, the hangover from al Shabaab’s rule has remained.
International acts from the US to Sudan supported Waayaha Cusub, a Somali hip-hop collective who formed while in exile in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. They had never before played a concert in Mogadishu. Shiine Ali, who founded the group, has spoken out strongly against al Shabaab, which made him a target in 2007 when gunmen shot him five times and left him for dead.
Since then, his lyrics have continued to encourage Somalis to turn their back on al Shabaab. He believes these concerts represent a major milestone in Mogadishu’s return to normality.
“Once I was, rightfully, upset. I started to explain my situation in English but the English-speaking staff where I was didn’t get it. I switched to French and they began to sense my frustration. But it was only when I turned on the full throttle Somali that they grasped the true nature of my anger and did something to improve things.”
How to speak Somali without saying a word
10 Apr – Source: Djibouti Jones Blog – 222 Words
I’m not Somali, I’m a Somali-language learner. I’m bound to make mistakes in the following post. Please feel free to correct me but no internet-haters, okay? I promise I won’t come around your blog and tell you what a terrible person you must be if you make an English mistake or cultural error, okay? Deal? Also, remember I started learning Somali in Somaliland and have continued in Djibouti so I speak a mix. Anyway, here goes…
Somali is a lively, vibrant, guttural language with loads of gestures. Before I studied it, it seemed like every group of Somalis I saw speaking together were on the verge of a brawl. Probably they were just talking about tea or camels or football. One of my favorite things about Somali is that it is a great language to get angry in. The forceful sounds and exaggerated hand movements are perfect for when this timid introvert loses her temper.
Once I was, rightfully, upset. I started to explain my situation in English but the English-speaking staff where I was didn’t get it. I switched to French and they began to sense my frustration. But it was only when I turned on the full throttle Somali that they grasped the true nature of my anger and did something to improve things. Speak Somali without saying a word…
“It is therefore important that instead of opening another front to oppose each other, the various stakeholders find ways to work towards the common goal of peace and stability in the country, so as not to end up strengthening al Shabaab.”
Tensions over the Jubaland process in Somalia could embolden al Shabaab
09 Apr – Source: ISS Africa – 1014 Words
In the battle against Islamist fighters in Somalia, the liberation of Kismayo in October 2012 was symbolic of the progress made in ridding the country of al Shabaab’s influence.
The port city and its environs is a melting pot of several clans, a business hub linking neighbouring countries and the Middle East, and, until its liberation, the base and financial nerve centre of al Shabaab.
Months after its liberation, however, the struggle over the control of Kismayo and its surrounding areas continues. Various stakeholders have an interest in the formation of Jubaland state – made up of the Gedo, Middle Juba and Lower Juba regions – and this has become a bone of contention capable of derailing the progress achieved thus far.
Tensions have been simmering since the idea of creating a Jubaland state was first mooted by Kenya as a buffer zone between its territory and south-central Somalia.
Top tweets
@Anisa_Hajimumin Was there ever a woman in #Somalia that allegedly claimed #rape knowing the consequences she’d face even if it was true! SMH.
@SYLUnited Let’s be clear about what we want in the future, how we will get it and the kind of outcome we expect.#Somalia #AA.
@MDSomaJ Amazing turnout for Dr. Hawa Abdi in Minneapolis! #MagersAndQuinnBooksellers #Legendary#Somali #Somalia pic.twitter.com/LK8kHKclsA.
@MarkC_Anderson #Somalia: In memo to @JohnKerry,@BarackObama says more military support to #Mogadishuwould “promote world peace” | http://wapo.st/14V6jc7.
@Hamza_Africa PIC: This is why #Mogadishu needs planning laws & permits. You can’t just build how & where you want! #Somalia.
Image of the day
Nigerian police perform in a medal ceremony at Mogadishu Stadium on April 09, 2013. Photo: @tobinbjones.