April 19, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali Cabinet approves draft of anti-terrorism law
19 Apr- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Universal TV/Radio Bar-kulan- 118 words
Somali Cabinet Ministers approved on Thursday the Somali anti-terrorism bill in an effort to eliminate “terrorist” groups throughout the country.Cabinet approval of the draft anti-terrorism law comes after Sunday’s suicide bomb attack of the Court of Banadir, for which al Shabaab claimed responsibility.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud recently announced a new war against al Shabaab militia, and stated that the extremists changed their combat tactics, accusing it of targeting civilians to destabilize the security and stability of the country.
The Council of Ministers referred the Somali anti-terrorism bill to the Somali parliament, which will be voted in the near future.
Key Headlines
- Somali Cabinet approves draft of anti-terrorism law (Radio Mogadishu)
- Fighting between al Shabaab members in Bardera town (Shabelle)
- Jubbaland Technical committee accuses SFG of failing to continue dialogue (Raxanreeb)
- Rain destroys IDP homes and causes health alert (Radio Ergo)
- UPDF capture 52 militants (Daily Monitor)
- Nine shot dead in Garissa Town (Standard Media)
- Counter-terrorism unit to hit Mogadishu streets (Sabahi Online)
- Kenyan Government condemns attacks on Mogadishu (The Star)
- EU to launch a new framework of assistance to Somalia (Ertagov)
- Somalia’s young army recruits face uphill battle for credibility (The Guardian)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali Cabinet approves draft of anti-terrorism law
19 Apr- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Universal TV/Radio Bar-kulan- 118 words
Somali Cabinet Ministers approved on Thursday the Somali anti-terrorism bill in an effort to eliminate “terrorist” groups throughout the country. Cabinet approval of the draft anti-terrorism law comes after Sunday’s suicide bomb attack of the Court of Banadir, for which al Shabaab claimed responsibility.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud recently announced a new war against al Shabaab militia, and stated that the extremists changed their combat tactics, accusing it of targeting civilians to destabilize the security and stability of the country.
The Council of Ministers referred the Somali anti-terrorism bill to the Somali parliament, which will be voted in the near future.
Fighting between al Shabaab members in Bardera town
19 Apr- Source: Shabelle- 113 words
Fierce fighting has occurred at Bardera town in Gedo region after a fierce engagement broke up between members of al Shabaab militia. The town is still controlled by al Shabaab. The fighting begun when two (Amirs) leaders, both from al Shabaab, disagreed with a decision to impose a curfew in the region. One leader declined the orders and started firing at Amir’s troops.
The number of casualties resulting from the battle is not known and al Shabaab have not released any statement about the incident. Last night residents of Bardere town reportedly stayed indoors and feared war might ignite between the divided members of al Shabaab.
Jubbaland Technical committee accuses SFG of failing to continue dialogue
19 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 72 words
The Chairman of the Jubbaland Technical Committee Mr. Abdulkani Abdi Jama has accused the Somali Federal government of failing to continue the dialogue that it had with them. The chairman stated that the government has put aside the continuation of the talks it had previously engaged with Jubbaland authorities.
Mr. Abdulkani mentioned that the government has only focused on talks with Somaliland and ignored to resolve the differences between them and government.
Rain destroys IDP homes and causes health alert
19 Apr- Source: Radio Ergo- 214 words
Seventy-six IDP families in Halaboqad camp have been left without shelter after heavy rains pounded Galkayo in Puntland, destroying their grass-made huts.
Many fear the outbreak of waterborne diseases and malaria in the camp. Pools of stagnant water and other factors are making conditions unsanitary.
The camp leader, Abdullahi Hussein Irfe, said: “The rains have inflicted many losses on the people, the huts have been either totally washed away or left too water–logged to live in. The people here are vulnerable and need help to prevent disease occurring now.”
Rukiya Farah is one of those left homeless. “My hut is in tatters, it’s now so damaged it can’t shelter us from the rain. If it continues raining there will be big problems and we won’t have anywhere to escape!” she said.
There are 1,700 families in Halaboqad camp, mostly victims of conflict and drought from central and southern regions of Somalia.
Ahmed Ali Salad, commissioner of Galkayo district, told Radio Ergo he had called on the IDP residents to help finding ways of draining the stagnant water.
Dr. Mohamed Hussein Aden, administrator of Galkayo General Hospital, advised on the need for a thorough hygiene campaign to drain stagnant water and clean up the whole town, especially in the IDP camps which were “deplorable.”
Minister details the killing of Somaliland intelligence chief
18 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 130 words
The breakaway region of Somaliland’s Interior Minister Mohamed Nur Araale stated that 16 people were arrested for the jailbreak that killed a Somaliland intelligence chief, Garowe Online reports.
Minister Araale stated at a press conference in Hargeisa that Somaliland authorities have arrested 16 men who have been charged with conspiring to free two men who had been jailed in Aynabo jail station for a grazing land dispute issue.
“In the city of Aynabo at the local jail station a group of armed men stormed the jail station forcefully freeing two men from their clan.
Luckily there were armed forces who were operating in the area and heard the gunshots and rushed to the scene, successfully arresting 16 armed men who participated in the jailbreak,” said Minister Araale’s on Tuesday’s meeting.
REGIONAL MEDIA
UPDF capture 52 militants
19 Apr- Source: Daily Monitor- 211 words
African Union forces from the Uganda contingent recovered thousands of ammunition and captured 52 Somali insurgents, the unit’s first 2013 quarterly report has shown. The report released yesterday, two days after the al-Shabaab carried out their biggest attack that killed more than 30 people, shows that the Ugandan forces captured 20 kilogrammes of TNT, an explosive substance used to make bombs and improvised explosive devices.
“Additionally, 23 fighters disengaged to the contingent and a couple of them including key commanders were killed. About 50 al-Shabaab associates including tax collectors and informers surrendered and this was a big blow to the terrorists’ manpower levels,” the report says.
Nine shot dead in Garissa Town
19 Apr – Source: Standard Media – 114 words
An unknown number of hooded gunmen stormed Kwa Chege hotel off Jamia Mosque road and opened fire at close range with AK 47 rifles, killing six on the spot. Three people later succumbed to gunshot injuries. Police say the gunmen escaped soon after the attack and motive of attack is yet to be established. Witnesses said the attack happened at 7.30pm as revellers were glued on a TV set watching news.
North Eastern PPO Charlton Muriithi while confirming the attack said that an operation was underway. Earlier this month, a student was shot dead and three people injured in an attack by gunmen said to have targeted a kiosk dealer in the town.
Counter-terrorism unit to hit Mogadishu streets
18 Apr- Source: Sabahi Online- 734 words
The Somali federal government has formed and trained a special unit of troops to conduct anti-terrorism operations in Mogadishu and thwart al-Shabaab’s plans to carry out future suicide bombings.
The government plans to deploy the 1,000-strong unit by the end of April, comprising troops from various branches of the armed forces and security services, according to Mohamud Ahmed Hirsi, a manager in the military supply and logistics department of Somalia’s Ministry of Defence.
The unit will dismantle and disarm terrorist cells and hideouts, root out their operatives and defuse bombs, in an effort to restore peace and order in the capital.
Kenyan Government condemns attacks on Mogadishu
18 Apr- Source: Star (Kenya)- 177 words
The government has condemned the recent terrorist attacks in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Sunday. In a statement released through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government has termed the attacks that killed over 30 people in Mogadishu as “cowardly” and has called for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the attacks.
“As Somalia emerges from decades long civil strife the enemies of peace and progress should not be allowed to interfere with the brightest prospects for peace Somalia has had for a long time.” the government said. The government has also pledged to stand by Somalia in the fight against terrorism and the maintenance of peace within the region.
EU to launch a new framework of assistance to Somalia
17 Apr- Source: Ertagov -344 words
Somali Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon, held discussions with the EU’s Director of Cooperation for Sub-Saharan Africa, Ms. Francesca Mosca, at Villa Somalia on Tuesday.
Discussions focused on ways to strengthening their security partnership and bilateral relations and Ms Mosca gave details of the EU’s new framework for assistance to the Somalia government.
The Prime Minister welcomed the EU’s commitment to provide €22 million in direct budget support to the Somali government to be used for public finance management and public administration.
He noted the value of direct support to government and line ministries was preferable than support through NGOs which bypassed the government and did not enhance capacity.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s young army recruits face uphill battle for credibility
19 Apr- Source: Guardian- 889 words
Captain Muhudun Ahmed Muhamud has faced the same weaponry – rocket-propelled grenades – that brought down two Black Hawk helicopters during the US special forces assault on Bakara market in Mogadishu in 1993.
Muhamud, 21, succeeded where “Operation Restore Hope”, which killed around 1,000 Somalis, could not; in 2011, he led a company of 100 men to oust insurgents from the market area, playing an important role in the liberation of the capital from Islamic extremists al-Shabaab. Muhamud lost six men in the operation. “Soldiers have died, officers have died, but still we will defend,” he says.
Born in 1991, the year Mohamed Siad Barre’s government fell, Muhamud has only ever known Somalia at war. In 2007, he was among the first batch of national army recruits to be trained abroad after the state collapsed.
Tribute to the tireless efforts of Somali human rights defenders
17 Apr- Source: UNDP- 413 words
In Sunday’s dual attacks on the Banadir Regional Court and in Wadajir District in Mogadishu, where dozens of people died, Somalia tragically lost a number of its legal professionals, including a judge, prosecutors, lawyers and legal support staff, who until their last minutes were working tirelessly to protect the fundamental human rights of the Somalis they represented.
This is a devastating blow for Somalia’s justice sector. But these individuals leave behind an important legacy – it is due to their commitment and hard work that there exists a strong foundation of rule of law in Somalia on which the younger generation of legal professionals can build.
Since 2006 at least 23 legal professionals including judges, prosecutors and lawyers, and 19 court support staff have been killed in Somalia.
Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia, 57
18 Apr- Source: Time- 153 words
Emerging from the presidential contest of September 2012, Somalia’s Hassan Sheik Mohamud is discarding destructive clan-based politics in favor of anticorruption measures and national reconciliation as well as embracing vital security-sector and economic reforms.
A 17,000-strong African Union force finally helped to restore security in Somalia, but there should be no illusions about the challenges that come with governing a nation torn apart by two decades of civil war.
Almost 20 years of rebuilding in Rwanda has taught us that there is no definitive manual for leading nations through and beyond debilitating conflict. President Mohamud is faced with the difficult task of balancing much needed international assistance with asserting Somalia’s right to govern itself.
The leader of Somalia’s first constitutional government in 20 years, President Mohamud symbolizes an increasingly confident Africa that is shedding its long history of strife and moving toward greater stability and prosperity.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“These two letters are precise manifestations of the view that the jihadi experience in Mali and Somalia has been a failure because of poor and harsh policies implemented by the Al Qaeda militants that just alienated local populations”.
The Letters: How Al-Qaeda Failed in Mali and Somalia
18 Apr – Source: Wardheer News – 1614 words
Recently, two separate letters written in Arabic by Al Qaeda leaders in Mali and Somalia have surfaced. The writings paint a grim picture of the jihadist experience in both countries. The first was found in Mali, and the second is an open letter from a Somali jihadist leader to Al Qaeda supreme leader, Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri. The first was discovered when reporters from the Associated Press stumbled across a collection of documents that included a letter written by Abdelmailk Droukdel, the emir of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), after that radical group was defeated in Timbuktu, Mali, by French forces. Droukdel (also known as Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud) was appointed by the late Usama Bin Laden to oversee Al Qaeda’s operations in North Africa.
The second letter is presumed to have been written by Ibrahim Haji Jama Mee’aad (Al-Afghani), who until two years ago was the deputy emir of Somalia’s Al Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabab. The letter has appeared on several websites sympathetic to Al-Shabab and carries Al-Afghani’s nom de guerre, “Shaikh Abu Bakr Al-Zaylici.” It is an indictment of the emir of Al-Shabab, Ahmed Abdi Godane, and his brutal, secretive, “un-Islamic” and ruinous style of leadership which has had tragic repercussions on the course of jihad in Somalia.
“The documentary by Thymaya Payne provides surprising details about the pirate trade and why they do what they do”.
Review: ‘Stolen Seas’ shows ruthless ways of Somali pirates
18 Apr- Source: .latimes -245 words
The Somali pirates in the documentary “Stolen Seas” brandish bazookas instead of swords and have roughly the same sense of chivalry as the husbands on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” “There’s no such thing as a romantic Somali pirate,” says one of the movie’s many talking heads.
You probably suspected as much. Still, Thymaya Payne’s ambitious doc contains plenty of surprising and interesting details about the Somali pirate trade, which, according to the film, costs the shipping industry $7 billion to $12 billion annually.
Payne frames “Stolen Seas” around the 2008 hijacking of a Danish merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden, featuring audio of the lengthy negotiations between the pirates and the owners in Copenhagen. It also has dramatic footage of the pirates in action, taken by Somali reporters whom Payne hired.
What really elevates the film, though, is the crucial context that Payne provides to explain — but not justify — the pirates’ actions. The movie details the toll famine and poverty have taken in Somalia and notes how unregulated fishing has cost the locals $300 million a year.
The movie’s central figure, Ishmael Ali, is a single father hired by the pirates to negotiate with foreign ship owners. Ali considers himself an independent contractor, not a pirate, doing what he can to provide for his son. “Piracy feeds a lot of people,” he notes. He’s not happy about it. But he’s not apologizing, either.
Top tweets
@UKinSouthAfrica The Governments of the #UK & #Somalia will co-host an international conference on Somalia on 7 May 2013 in the #UK http://bit.ly/XZIdo1
@EUTMSomalia EU to Launch a New Framework of Assistance to Somalia http://allafrica.com/c/-4nw0h #somalia via @allafrica
@mfaethiopia #Djibouti to reinforce its troops serving with@amisomsomalia in #Somalia … #AlShabaab
@Abdi_AlSheikh Somalia: Somalia takes major step forward on counter-terrorism – Midnimo Information Centerhttp://dlvr.it/3Fp22J #Somalia
@FederationA sad time for us. RT @gyovannij: #Turkey: Red Crescent convoy attacked in #Somaliahttp://bit.ly/XUzSsx @Federation
Image of the day
UK Prime Minister David Cameron Meets Somaliland Leader in 10 Downing Street ,London, on Wednesday night. Photo: Somalilandpress