April 20, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
AU troops in Somalia report gains against rebels
20 Apr- Source: AFP- 273 words
African Union troops in Somalia said Friday they took control of al Qaeda allied al Shabaab insurgent bases on the outskirts of Mogadishu, the latest loss for the extremist fighters. Burundian troops with the AU force seized areas of the capital’s Banadir district late Thursday, including securing the Deynile airstrip, part of long-running efforts to drive the militants from the city.
“The operation was necessary to deny the extremists a platform to target the people of Mogadishu,” the AU Mission in Somalia said in a statement.
Deynile commands access to the Afgoye corridor, an area some 30 kilometres (20 miles) northwest of Mogadishu which is controlled by the al Shabaab and is home to the world’s largest concentration of internally displaced people.
Key Headlines
- AU troops in Somalia report gains against rebels (AFP)
- Somaliland pulls out of proposed talks with TFG (Somaliland Press)
- Gunman killed Turkish embassy staff (Radio Kulmiye)
- Senior Puntland judge rejects newly endorsed regional constitution (Radio Shabelle)
- Fighting is reported in parts of Galgudud region (Radio Kulmiye)
- Relief food to Somalia to be shipped soon says minister (Tanzania Daily News)
- Turkey offers to mediate between Somali government al Shabaab (Radio Shabelle)
- Somali premier Abdiweli meets with EU representative for Africa (Radio Mogadishu)
- TV journalist arrested in Las’anod town others hunted (Raxanreeb)
- Somali Pirates jailed 20 years (Star)
- Six Sri Lankan fishermen held by Somali pirates rescued (Shanghai Daily/Xinhua)
- Malta looks into deploying more troops to Somalia (Times of Malta)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM Captures Daynille Airstrip
20 Apr – Source: AMISOM Force HQ – 190 words
AMISOM’s Burundian contingent last evening launched an operation to secure outstanding areas of the Banadir distict of Somalia which extremists have been using to target the population in the capital, Mogadishu.
The operation resulted in the capture of the Daynille airstrip which was previously controlled by the extremist group al Shabaab. Brigadier General Audace Nduwumunsi, the AMISOM Deputy Force Commander, said the operation was necessary to deny the extremists a platform to target the people of Mogadishu.
“The international community has mandated AMISOM to secure Somalia so its people have the opportunity to select a form of government that is best suited to them. By securing the strategically important Daynille airfield, we have made a big step towards making this a reality and helping create the necessary conditions for reconciliation and reconstruction,” he said.
In February the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution enhancing the AMISOM mandate and expanding its authorized strength to 17,731. Since then, AMISOM has expanded its presence throughout the south and central regions of the country and today its forces are present in several regions of Somalia including Banadir, Baidoa, Lower Juba and Gedo.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somaliland pulls out of proposed talks with TFG
20 Apr – Source: Somaliland Press – 335 words
Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Mohamed Abdillahi Omar has announced the decision reached by the government of Somaliland to pull out of the upcoming talks with the Transitional Government of Somalia which were to be held in London soon, we also denounce the tactics deployed by TFG President which are meant to undermine and hijack the Talks.
Hon Mohamed Abdilahi Omar said the government of Somaliland has officially pulled out of the upcoming talks with TFG of President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed which were to be held London in August in accordance with the requirements set by the London conference so as to agree practical outcome.
The Somaliland foreign minister said the reason we are pulling out of this talks is because it has became clear to us that the TFG President Sheik Sharif is not interest in form of talks, we on the other hand were committed to negotiate with them to expedite process, but it came clear to us when he added two more members to the previous team of seven elevating TFG negotiators to a 9 member team contrarily surpassing the maximum five required.
Senior Puntland judge rejects newly endorsed regional constitution
19 Apr – Source: Radio Shabelle – 189 words
Sheikh Muhammad Nur Ali alias Barre who is the Chairman of the main Galkacyo court under Puntland in an interview with Shabelle said the newly endorsed constitution for the administration is a contradiction of the Islamic values.
Sheikh Muhammad Nur Ali Barre said only officials of the Puntland administration led by President Abdirahman Farole were the only ones involved with the new Puntland constitution and that its drafting was handled in a manner that was inappropriate. He said the traditional elders that endorsed this Puntland constitution do not have any knowledge about the document that they endorsed and that residents of Galkacyo were not at all consulted on the new constitution.
The Chairman of the main court in Galkacyo under Puntland Administration said the region’s leader, Farole, plans to use the new constitution as an opportunity to extend his four year term by an additional one year adding that the extension could be problematic as candidates vying for the position might disagree with the administration leader. A delegation of Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG] officials yesterday attended a function to endorse the new Puntland constitution which was held in Garowe.
Gunman killed Turkish embassy staff
20 Apr- Source: Radio kulmiye- 109 words
Unknown gunman killed Mr Yusuf Sheikh Hussein, an interpreter for the Turkish embassy in Mogadishu. Witnesses told Radio Kulmiye that gunman dressed in TFG military uniform fired shot Yusuf near Village Street close to the embassy building in km 4 area. Turkish embassy did not yet spoke about the killing of their translator.
Meanwhile, a man who described himself as brother of Yusuf told Radio Kulmiye that his brother was killed a soldier in police uniform. It is not clear why Yusuf was targeted but sources say Yusuf had alleged dispute with other individuals that were not yet identified.
Senior militant leaders defect to TFG side
20 Apr- Source: Bar-kulan- 174 words
Two alleged al Shabaab militant leaders surrendered to government troops in Lower Juba, officials say. One of the alleged defectors, Mohamoud Hajji Korane gave himself up together with two of his guards and a battle-wagon to the Somali forces in Qoqani town.
The militant leader surrendered Thursday evening after negotiating with the relevant government authorities in the area, according to TFG officials. another militant leader only named Anas also surrendered early Friday morning.
TFG official, Col. Mohamed Abdullahi confirmed the defection of the two militant leaders to Bar-kulan, saying that the two were in contact with the area government officials for a couple of days seeking amnesty before giving themselves up. Abdullahi said they will hand over these defectors to the government’s command centre in Dobley to ascertain the geniuses of their defection.
Fighting is reported in parts of Galgudud region
20 Apr – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 122 words
Fighting is reported in parts of Galgudud region on thrusday night as pro-goverment militias of Ahlu Sunna and al Shabaab fighters clashed in parts of the region. Witnesses in the region said that the militias fought after several weeks of control by the Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa ASWJ.
Somali government officials in the region says the situation is likely to return in to normal. Speaking on the phone to radio Kulmiye, Ahlu Sunna official who is in the region says their troops are in preparing to proceed with the offensives across the region. On their side, al Shabaab militia says they will carry out attacks inside the region. The spokesman of the group said last week they are organizing new guerrilla tactics.
Turkey offers to mediate between Somali government, al Shabaab
19 Apr – Source: Radio Shabeelle – 153 wods
The Turkish government has said it would mediate in the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia [TFG] and the al Shabaab Movement.
Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ahmet Davutoglu has said his government would embark on starting talks between the TFG and the al Shabaab. The minister said the Turkish government would play an active role in resolving the conflict in Somalia and the restoration of peace in the country. Turkish foreign affairs minister said talks between the Somali government and al Shabaab could lead to attainment of peace in the country.
He said Turkey has been involved in Somali political landscape in recent years and would from now take part in strategies to revive the country. The TFG has on several occasions in the past said they were willing to come to the negotiation table; however, al Shabaab has been repeatedly rejecting it.
Somali cabinet meeting in Mogadishu
19 Apr- Source: Radio Mogadishu, OPM- 370 words
In the ordinary meeting convened by the Somali council of ministers chaired by the Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the cabinet discussed the financial aspect of the government, the taxes and expenditure, the investigations into the theatre bombing, regional security issues, delegates from South Africa expected to visit Mogadishu among others.
Minister for finance Abdinasir Mohamed Abdulle briefed the cabinet about the government’s revenue from the international airport of Adan Ade,, Ex control Afgoye and others from the ministry of immigration, ministry of transport and civil aviation and the expenditure of the revenue like the logistics for the military, stipends for the government staff and parliament.
The prime minister urged the ministers to implement measures to increase the government revenue. Responding to questions from fellow cabinet on the cause all revenue not finding its way into the treasury, Abdinasi Garjeex said that his ministry is planning to make a list of all business premises for registration and revamping the taxes department
A preliminary report was tabled by the committee tasked to probe into the national theatre bombings and pledged to submit the full report in the next Saturday. The minister for health Abdiasis briefed the council of ministry of the good recovery those injured at the theatre are making.
The Somali military commander also gave a lengthy presentation on the progress made in the operations of the military. He explained how AMISOM troops will be deployed adding that there will be four sectors of deployment for the troops; the first sector is Mogadishu, the second is Kismayu, the third being Baidoa and the fourth is Beledweyne.
The ministers also accepted a request from the ministry of defense of the appropriate names to be used for the all government soldiers like ‘the Somali Security Forces’ and that there should be no other name designated for the soldiers in the country.
Information minister also tabled a plan meant to develop the communication sector and introduce interconnectivity platform and Secure Network System for the government.
On the other hand, the minister for foreign affairs talked of his recent visit to South Africa where he said a delegate will be visiting the country soon to held talks with the transitional federal government of Somalia.
TV journalist arrested in Las’anod town, others hunted
20 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 218 words
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the continued arbitrary arrests and hunt for journalists following the arrest of TV journalists and NUSOJ Executive committee member in the town of Las-Anod in Sool region.
Somaliland police arrested Mohamed Shaqale, a correspondent for the Somali sat television, who is also member of the executive committee of the National Union of Somali journalists (NUSOJ), in the town of Las-Anod, the regional headquarters of Sool region on Thursday 19 April, 2012, around 8:00 am. Shaqale is still in detention.
Somaliland authorities did not comment on the arrest, but NUSOJ believes that it is part of Somaliland administrations’ crack down for independent the media, following the announcement of Khatumo State, an independent state of Sool, Sanaag and Ceyn, which declared independent from Somaliland regions, in January, which Somaliland authorities arrested dozens of journalists and silenced media stations that covered that conference.
Mortar slams into residential houses in Mogadishu, killing one person
20 Apr- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 77 words
One person was killed and 11 others were injured when a mortar slammed into Mogadishu’s Wadajir district on Thursday night.Reports say the mortar struck the victims, mainly women and children, at their home compound in Obasibo neighbourhood, Wadajir district. The injured people were rushed to health facilities in Mogadishu for treatments.
The area district commissioner Ahmed Hassan Adow blamed al Shabaab militants for the attack, saying that the group is against the wellbeing of the Somalis people.
Suspected al Shabaab militants arrested in special security operation in Mogadishu
19 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Somalia Report – 62 words
TFG special security forces, known as Alpha Group, started sweeping security operations in Mogadishu and seized several anti-peace militias on Wednesday night. The well equipped forces entered several houses in Hamar-jadid, Halane, Industrial Street, and Gubta, where the militias were hiding. The head of Banadir region security forces, General Kalif Ahmed Ereg, said the operations will continue until they secure the capital.
Somali premier Abdiweli meets with EU representative for Africa
20 Apr- Source: Radio Mogadishu- 239 words
Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has today received the EU representative for Africa in his office where they discussed the furthering of the EU-TFG relations.
In a joint press conference they held at the premier’s office, Abdiweli said they discussed the relations between the TFG and the EU and how the EU would help the government of Somalia in the implementation of the roadmap on ending the transition which is the biggest task before the transitional federal government of Somalia.
“We discussed with the EU the implementation of the roadmap, the ending of the transitional period, the selection of the new parliament and the formation of the new government by August which will be a holistic and an inclusive one enjoying the support of its people”, the prime minister said.
Mr. Alexander Rondes, on his part, said that this is not his first visit to Mogadishu and hold meetings with the Somali government. He added that the discussions went well.
“I thank the Somali Prime Minister for the warm reception and i will forward our discussions to the EU member states”. Said Mr. Rondes.
Rondes commended the tremendous changes and progresses made in Mogadishu. He added that his meeting with the Prime Minister was preceded by another he held with the president, terming it as fruitful also.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somali Pirates jailed 20 years
20 Apr- Source: Star (Kenya)- 68 words
Eleven Somali pirates have been sentenced to 20 years in prision by a Mombassa court. The Eleven, who were accused of attacking MV Novise in May 2009, were arrested five days later and have been at the Shimo la Tewa prison. They will serve the sentence in Kenya after the courted rejected an application by their lawyer, Francis Kadima, to have the pirates serve their term in Somalia.
Relief food to Somalia to be shipped soon, says minister
19 Apr – Source: Tanzania Daily News – 304 words
About 300 tonnes of relief food to hunger-stricken Horn of Africa will be dispatched to the designated place as soon as the South African ship under SADC flag docks at the Dar es Salaam Harbour.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Bernard Membe told the National Assembly here on Wednesday that the vessel would deliver all consignments of relief food pledged by the members of the Southern African Development Cooperation.
“The ship is expected in Dar es Salaam anytime now,” said the minister, attributing the delay in shipment to, insecurity off the Somalia Coast in the Indian Ocean. He ruled out any further delay as security situation in the region had improved tremendously of late. He added that the government also pledged 200,000 US Dollars to the war and hunger ravaged Somalia.
The minister was reacting to Chambani Member of Parliament (CUF) Salim Hemed Khamis who had sought to know how the government was living up to the Africa Union’s slogan “One Africa- One Voice Against Hunger” adopted last year, requiring African countries to come to the rescue of the troubled region.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AU troops in Somalia report gains against rebels
20 Apr- Source: AFP- 273 words
African Union troops in Somalia said Friday they took control of al Qaeda allied al Shabaab insurgent bases on the outskirts of Mogadishu, the latest loss for the extremist fighters. Burundian troops with the AU force seized areas of the capital’s Banadir district late Thursday, including securing the Deynile airstrip, part of long-running efforts to drive the militants from the city.
“The operation was necessary to deny the extremists a platform to target the people of Mogadishu,” the AU Mission in Somalia said in a statement.
Deynile commands access to the Afgoye corridor, an area some 30 kilometres (20 miles) northwest of Mogadishu which is controlled by the al Shabaab and is home to the world’s largest concentration of internally displaced people.
Six Sri Lankan fishermen held by Somali pirates rescued
20 Apr – Source: Shanghai Daily/Xinhua – 152 words
Six Sri Lankan fishermen held by Somali pirates for ransom for more than eight months have been rescued by a Spanish battleship, an official said on Friday. A senior official from the External Affairs Ministry said that the fishermen were rescued by Spanish battleship “Infanta Elena” in the coastal belt 50 kilometers off Tanzania.
Further details would be gathered by Sri Lankan missions in France, the official said. Media reports quoted the Spanish navy as saying that seven others who were suspected to be Somali pirates had been occupying the vessel along with the six Sri Lankan fishermen.
The pirates had asked for a ransom of 6 million U. S. dollars to release the fishermen and threatened to kill the fishermen unless the money was given. In January last year, Somali pirates killed two Sri Lankan fishermen and took another three as hostages after their vessel got lost in the Indian Ocean.
Malta looks into deploying more troops to Somalia
20 Apr – Source: Times of Malta – 299 words
The government is considering sending more Maltese soldiers to take part in an EU, anti-piracy mission off the Somali coast. Following a recent EU decision to extend Operation Atalanta by two years until the end of 2014, a government spokesman said that Malta would continue to take part in the mission, primarily through a fixed presence at the operation’s headquarters in the UK.
It was also possible more troops would be deployed to take part directly in action in the troubled area.
“Malta intends to maintain a presence in the operation’s headquarters and is also considering the option of contributing further to this mission in the future with another vessel protection detachment (VPD),” the spokesman said.
Since the beginning of the operation at the end of 2008, Malta has constantly deployed an Armed Forces of Malta officer to the UK headquarters of the operation. The deployment lasts for six-month. In 2010, a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Dutch Ministry of Defence that catered for a 12-person (two officers and 10 other ranks) Maltese VPD to serve on the Dutch naval vessel HNLMS Johan de Witt.
Twins face court over Somalia terror charges
20 Apr- Source: Evening Standard- 137 words
Twin brothers will appear at the Old Bailey accused of terror charges today.Mohammed Shabir and Mohammed Shafiq Ali, 24, are charged in connection with an inquiry into fundraising for terrorism in Somalia.
Shabir was arrested at his home in east London and Shafiq at a business address in west London three weeks ago.They are each charged with assisting another to commit acts of terrorism or in preparation for acts of terrorism. They also each face a charge of having a document, 44 Ways To Support Jihad by Anwar Al Awlaki, which could be of use in terrorism.
American-born Anwar al Awlaki was killed last year in a drone strike after leading al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.The alleged offences are said to have taken place between August 20 2008 and June 21 last year.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“In what can be described as a case of misplaced priorities the TFG is undertaking momentous tasks in its Roadmap initiative. Among other things, they’re drafting a new constitution and readying the nation for elections. It seems these phantasmagorical projects are more important than improving the deteriorating security situation in the capital city and winning the war against al Shabaab. Or perhaps this war is never meant to be won at all. This goose that lays the golden eggs is better chased around than killed!”
Somalia: the limits of theoretical State
20 Apr- Source: Harowo-1457 Words
For a start, there is no denying that Somalia as a nation state exists. Yes it does. It’s on the world map; it’s also represented in the United Nations and numerous international bodies. It has a flag, a president, parliament, national army and police–although these nascent institutions are concentrated mainly in some parts of the capital city Mogadishu.
However, outside Mogadishu there is another reality. From much of South-central Somalia all the way to Puntland, there exists no geographic contiguity and a system of governance that directly takes its cue from the government in the capital city. Yet the administrations of Ahlusunah waljameeca, Hiiraan, Xima & Xeeb, Azania and Puntland all claim, theoretically, allegiance to the TFG.
“If two TFG Cabinet members could not convince selected audience, some who were former TFG members and almost all TFG supporters, on the legality, fairness and transparency of the Road Map which is to bring an end to the transition period in little over three months – then how on earth would millions that it is set to govern would be convinced. If anything the Nairobi workshop was jolt of realism – there is something amiss in here – Legitimacy, Inclusiveness and Legality and above all OWNERSHIP.”
Somalia: A Jolt of Realism
19 Apr – Source: Allgedo Online – 680 Words
On the 17th of April the Minister of Constitutional Affairs, Mr. Abdirahman Jabril Hosh and Minister for Planning and International Cooperation Abdullahi Godah Barre, convened a workshop in Nairobi to detail the progress of the Road Map, the Constitution making and the ending of the Transition period.
The well organised one day conference brought together well known Somali dignitaries who were expected to have an input and give their blessing to the ongoing process. Among the attendees were current MP’s of the TFG Parliament, former Prime Ministers, former ministers, Presidents of Regional States, former and reputed civil-servants and journalists.
“An American Somali may return to Mogadishu with liberal ideas about the role of government, while a Saudi Somali might have a more conservative approach. Of course one cannot generalize about how being from a country can affect a person’s perspective, but one thing is for sure, there will be many diverse and conflicting perspectives that could potentially collide in Somalia very soon.”
Global diaspora of ideas
19 Apr – Source: Develop Somalia Blog – 420 Words
Somalis are the new Jews. You can find Somalis in almost every country on earth. I can’t tell you how many times I discovered Somalis living in some remote tiny country. I recently discovered you can find them in places like Morocco, Zambia, Thailand, Syria, Brazil, Mexico and in large numbers in China. I have Somali relatives in Hungary, Vietnam and Norway, and hearing about these surprising location got me thinking – maybe there is a Somali in every country on earth. And what does this mean for Somalia once the country becomes stable?
“As part of the bloc’s deal with the EU, Operation Atalanta will make available four warships and support ships at all times. The EU navy ships will not be under Indian command, however. The operation will be on a military scale and every effort will be made to co-ordinate to avoid overlapping patrol areas.”
Keeping the Indian Ocean safe from pirates
19 Apr- Source: Bangladesh Chronicle-736 Words
India and the EU will be working together to help tackle a problem that has dealt severe harm to international shipping. The worst affected areas lie off the coast of Somalia, Yemen, the Singapore Strait and Indonesia,” explains the EU’s new ambassador to India, Joao Cravinho.
In 2011, according to International Maritime Bureau figures, there were 439 verified attacks on merchant vessels worldwide, of which 237 involved Somali pirates. Twenty-eight of the 45 hijackings happened off the Somali coast.
“When one really delves into the effects of Somalia, one cannot help but be pessimistic about whether the people of Somalia will ever emerge victorious from this conflict. One cannot help but wonder whether there is any myriad of solutions that can begin to tackle the dire situation of Somalis (both within and outside Somalia’s borders).”
20 years on in the Somalia Conflict
20 Apr- Source: Rumblings of Liberal African blog-1028 Words
War in any country brings with itself very ugly repercussions especially for the vulnerable groups in the society. Recent development in Syria continue to show us that there are human right violations, poverty levels are increasing, businesses collapsing, people are displaced, killings and torture of civilians are escalating, and that children are much more vulnerable and in some instances their rights have been severely affected. But if you think that the Syria conflict only started a year ago, and the effects are so dire then begin to dig deeper on what the effects might be in Somalia where 20 years on, the instabilities continue, then you realise that the time bomb has already exploded in Somalia.
Top tweets
@SomaliThinker The mayor of #Mogadishu got this one wrong. $500 for a head! In no time, #Mogadishu will be teeming with head hunters.
@SomaliaReport Al Shabaab sources now telling Somalia Report that Amriki is alive and under “house arrest” Still waiting for proof.
@DorothyNgila Imagine having to bury your entire family as you run from war. Today a spouse, father or mother has had to do that in #Somalia.
@IntelligencNews Al-Shabaab soldiers have been massing in the Galgala mountains of the Bari region of #Puntland after fleeing… http://fb.me/
@SomaliThinker Amin Amir, Somalia’s foremost cartoonist, has a clue why breakaway #Somaliland turned down negotiation with the #TFG. http://pic.twitter.
@tresthomasiii @
Image of the day
Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali addressing press after hosting the EU representative for Africa, Mr. Alexander Rondes in his office. EU-TFG relation was focus of the meeting. Photo: Calanka Website