April 23, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali MPs to debate about murder of journalists
23 Apr – Source: Radio Dalsan – 132 words
Aburrahman Hosh Jibril, a Somali MP and former minister of Constitution says he plans to present a motion in the parliament, concerning the constant killing of the journalists and ways to prevent.
In an interview with Radio Dalsan, the MP expressed sadness about the continuous attacks targeted on the journalists in the government controlled areas in Mogadishu.
Jibril asserted to put forward systematic measures to the parliament in order to be debated and come up with actions to prevent the journalists assassinations.
The MP’s remarks come after journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Raghe who was working for a government run-radio in Mogadishu was assassinated by unknown gunmen in Dharkenley.
Key Headlines
- Somali MPs to debate about murder of journalists (Somali MPs to debate about murder of journalists)
- Choppers conduct heavy operation in Mogadishu (Shabelle)
- Somalia’s defense minister denies stolen weapons from presidential palace (Radio Mustaqbal)
- UN praises Nigerian police in Somalia (Daily Trust)
- Families flee Garissa ahead of crackdown on terrorists (Daily Nation)
- DNO inks Somaliland production sharing deal (Trade Arabia)
- Formation of new local administrations tests Somali government (Sabahi Online)
- Somalia Targets Shell Eni for Oil Gas Output-Sharing Contracts (Bloomberg)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali MPs to debate about murder of journalists
23 Apr – Source: Radio Dalsan – 132 words
Aburrahman Hosh Jibril, a Somali MP and former minister of Constitution says he plans to present a motion in the parliament, concerning the constant killing of the journalists and ways to prevent.
In an interview with Radio Dalsan, the MP expressed sadness about the continuous attacks targeted on the journalists in the government controlled areas in Mogadishu.
Jibril asserted to put forward systematic measures to the parliament in order to be debated and come up with actions to prevent the journalists assassinations.
The MP’s remarks come after journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Raghe who was working for a government run-radio in Mogadishu was assassinated by unknown gunmen in Dharkenley.
Choppers conduct heavy operation in Mogadishu
23 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 86 words
Witnesses have confirmed to Shabelle radio that helicopters flying very low were seen hovering above Hamar Jadid district in Mogadishu. The whole district was surrounded by specially trained troops known as ALFA group, AMISOM troops and federal government troops.
No statement has been released about the operation. The roads leading to the district are all closed and it is believed that a house to house search is being conducted.
Somalia’s defense minister denies stolen weapons from presidential palace
23 Apr – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 164 words
The Defense Minister of Somalia’s federal government Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi speaking in front of Somali parliament on Monday has denied reports saying that weapons were stolen from stores in Presidential palace in the capital.
The minister told that there was an attempt needed weapons to stolen from stores in the presidential palace, but was protected by the security forces of presidential palace.
“ There were no weapons stolen from the stores in the presidential palace, I clarify to honorable members of parliament, there was attempt, but it was protected by the security forces” Fiqi confirmed to members of Somali parliament. The defense minister of Somalia Abdihakim has, on other hand; indicated that the government is planning to take attacks against al Shabaab, which has links with al Qaeda.
Shabelle river floods into west of Beledweyn town, central Somalia
23 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb/Radio Mogadishu – 91 words
The Shabelle river that cuts across some parts of central and southern Somalia regions reportedly flooded west of Beledweyn town, the provincial capital of Hiiraan region, displacing hundreds of people, RBC Radio reports.
During the last three weeks there had been torrential rains in the region that caused the river to extremely overflow and flood agricultural and residential villages on the west of Beledweyne. Ahmed Jama, a farmer who lives in Beledweyn said that he has lost his vegetables after the floods swept the whole farm.
Somalia’s government forces conduct military operation in Hodan district
22 Apr – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 215 words
The security forces of Somalia’s Federal Government conducted military operation in the capital Mogadishu on Monday, Mustaqbal radio reported. The operation was conducted in Hodan district of Banadir regional administration. The district commissioner of Hodan has on Monday spoken to the journalists in Mogadishu and talked about how the operation took place in his district.
Abdi Mohamed Dabaney indicated that the operation was aimed at securing the district and targeting the members suspected of terrorism in Mogadishu. The commissioner said that the district is now safe as the government forces conducted thorough operations.
Abdi confirmed to the media that several people were arrested during the operation and, they are under investigation. The government troops have been carrying out operations in the districts of Banadir region as the suicide attacks took place in the capital this month.
New Fish Market opens in Garowe
22 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 91 words
Puntland Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Mohamed Farah Adan officially opened a Fish Market in Garowe on Monday, Garowe Online reports.
The new Fish Market in Garowe was built in a cooperative measure by the Garowe local council, the British government and UNDP. A delegation from UNDP and Puntland Ministers were in attendance at the inauguration ceremony of the market.
Minister Adan thanked the different partners who helped build the Fish Market in Garowe. “The new market will help change the lives of many individuals throughout Puntland,” said the Minister.
Somaliland President Silanyo Address at the Atlantic Council
22 Apr – Source: Somaliland Press – 47 words
Somaliland’s President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) and his foreign minister Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omer have addressed the Atlantic Council on matters covering wide-ranging issues such as recognition security, commerce, development, the enhancement of democracy in the horn of Africa and ways to strengthened existing diplomatic ties with America.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Families flee Garissa ahead of crackdown on terrorists
23 Apr – Source: Daily Nation – 394 words
Fear has gripped residents of Garissa Town ahead of a police operation targeting sympathisers of Somalia’s al Shabaab militants, who have been blamed for the recent spate of killings in the town.
On Monday, some residents started fleeing areas where deadly attacks occurred recently to settlements on the outskirts of the town in fear of the impending operation.
Hundreds of policemen from the General Service Unit and the Rapid Deployment Unit, Administration and regular police have arrived in the town in readiness for the operation. More police and administration officers have also been interdicted for allegedly helping al Shabaab sympathisers to carry out atrocities in the country.
Formation of new local administrations tests Somali government
22 Apr – Source: Sabahi Online – 961 words
Efforts by the Somali federal government to form interim administrations in parts of the country recently liberated from al Shabaab are running into resistance from some local tribal elders.
During the past two months, the government has appointed interim local governments in the freed regions of Bay, Hiiraan and Gedo. But tribal elders in those areas sometimes oppose such moves, saying the government has replaced regional administrations without popular consent or input from community leaders.
Kenya police launch manhunt for Garissa killers
22 Apr – Source: Citizen TV – 2:29 min
Anxiety has engulfed Garissa County after a massive security operation was launched in search of persons behind unexplained killings in the area.
80 people were arrested at the break of dawn and by the time of going on air; at least 19 were still being held and are likely to be arraigned in court on Tuesday for alleged involvement in criminal activities.
Over the weekend a high profile security team led by Internal Security PS Mutea Iringo and the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo visited the area in a move that saw at least 12 senior security police officers, including a district CID boss, interdicted over the recent wave of insecurity.
Women from Somali diaspora return home to start enterprises
22 Apr – Source: Sabahi Online – 481 words
Amina Ali, 32, is among a growing number of Somali women who are returning to Mogadishu to start their own businesses after years of living abroad.
Due to ongoing strife in Somalia, Ali left home in 2002 and ended up at the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, where she stayed for two years. In 2004, she was one of 500 Somalis who were given the opportunity to resettle in the United States.
While living in the state of Virginia, Ali experienced a lifestyle far different than the one she had in the refugee camp. She said she was able to earn a comfortable living and graduated from Northern Virginia Community College in 2009 with an associate degree in business administration.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
DNO inks Somaliland production sharing deal
23 Apr – Source: Trade Arabia – 164 words
DNO International, the Norwegian oil and gas company, said it has entered into a production sharing contract (PSC) covering block SL18 onshore Somaliland adding substantial exploration acreage to its portfolio.
The President of Somaliland, Ahmed M. Mohamoud Silanyo, and DNO International’s Executive Chairman, Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, attended the signing ceremony in Washington, D.C.
“The 12,000 sq km block adds substantial exploration acreage to DNO’s portfolio and in an area that is both prospective and undrilled,” said Mossavar-Rahmani.
UN praises Nigerian police in Somalia
22 Apr – Source: Daily Trust – 233 words
Nigerian police contingent in Somalia were adjudged most excellent in peace support operations by the United Nations.
Director of the UN Support Office for the African Mission in Somalia (UNSOA), Amadu Camara weekend led UN and AU officials to Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar and the Peacekeeping Training Centre at Force headquarters, Abuja.
“We are here to express our appreciation to the Nigerian authorities for the support towards ensuring that peace returns to Somalia and it is returned from the status of a failed state to a normal member of the comity of nations. We have seen the very professional and updated way you do your deployments. Those in Somalia are doing very well and making the mandate of the mission realizable,” he said.
Somalia Targets Shell, Eni for Oil, Gas Output-Sharing Contracts
22 Apr – Source: Bloomberg – 409 words
Somalia plans to sign 30 oil and gas production-sharing contracts this year, starting with companies that operated in the country before its government was toppled more than two decades ago, an official said.
“All prior holders have been contacted and three are ready to continue,” including Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Eni SpA (ENI), and ConocoPhillips (C), Hussein Ali Ahmed, managing director of the state-owned Somalia Petroleum Corp., said in an interview on April 18 in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. BP Plc (BP/) has indicated an interest in returning, while Chevron Corp. hasn’t formerly answered the Somali government’s call to come back, he said.
Somalia is one of the last frontiers for oil and gas in eastern Africa as it recovers from a two-decade civil war that shattered the economy and left the nation as one of the world’s least developed. In the region, companies including Eni, BG Group Plc (BG/) and Statoil ASA (STL)have discovered more than 100 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves in Mozambique and Tanzania, while London-based Tullow Oil Plc (TLW) has found oil in Uganda and Kenya.
Authorities must investigate murder of Somali journalist
22 Apr – Source:CPJ – 352 words
The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Somali authorities to keep their promise to prosecute journalists’ killers by investigating the murder of Mohamed Ibrahim Raage. Two unidentified gunmen shot Mohamed around 5:30 p.m. Sunday near his home in Mogadishu’s Dharkenley district, according to local journalists.
Mohamed, better known by his nickname “Honest,” had just completed work at state-run Radio Mogadishu in the capital when the gunmen attacked him on his way home, Radio Mogadishu Director Abdirahim Isse said.
An experienced journalist who formerly worked as a reporter at Radio Shabelle, Mohamed had recently started work as a reporter and producer for Radio Mogadishu and Somali National Television, local journalists said. Mohamed primarily covered government and parliamentary affairs, according to local journalists and news reports.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“To participate, tweet your questions in advance to @JustineGreening with the hashtag #UKaidSomalia. Ms Greening will endeavour to answer as many questions as possible in the time available. The key discussion points from this Q&A will be fed into the Aid Coordination roundtable on 7 May.”
Aid co-ordination roundtable and Twitter Q&A on Somalia
22 Apr – Source: Gov UK – 285 Words
On the morning of May 7th 2013, UK Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, will co-host, together with the Somali Minister of Finance, and the EU, a one hour roundtable meeting focusing on aid coordination in Somalia. This event will seek the commitment of a core group of donors to coordinate aid behind the Federal Government of Somalia’s plans.
This event recognises that aid coordination will be an important part of the New Deal compact, which will frame the relationship of the Government and Somali people with the international community. The roundtable will help set the tone for the Somalia Conference 2013, at which the Federal Government of Somalia will present its vision for: reform of the justice sector; and plans for reforming the security sector, reforming public financial management, developing policing capability and delivering political stability.
Donors will be asked to endorse those plans and agree to coordinate and align our support behind them. The Federal Government of Somalia, the EU and the British Government would like to hear views and questions from civil society organisations and individuals on aid coordination, peace-building and state-building in Somalia. The Secretary of State for International Development, Justine Greening, will participate in a Twitter Q&A on aid coordination in Somalia on 24 April.
“The operation launched yesterday was long overdue but must be conducted under the watch of seniors and local leadership to avoid abuse of human rights, and be seen to be above board and in the public interest.”
Conduct Garissa security operation openly and within the law
22 Apr – Source: The Standard Media – 538 Words
The systematic attacks of civilians and government officials in North Eastern counties cannot and should not be ignored at all levels. The attacks have been ongoing for more than a year now claiming more than two dozens of lives and leaving scores others with serious injuries. This is an area that supposed to be brighter and glittering in terms of business given its strategic position, bordering Somalia, which is slowly gaining stability.
Many expected the situation to be different in terms of stability and security with the new governance system in Kenya. But to the contrary, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera and Dadaab, to mention a few are now insecure than Mogadishu. The incidents started in October 2011 when Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) entered Somalia to fight the terrorist group al Shabaab on their own land.
Whereas there are claims the attacks were being championed by sympathisers of the terror group other officials point at a possibility that other interests were orchestrating the attacks under the guise of al Shabaab, which usually claim responsibility for such incidents.
Top tweets
@farhanjimale For the first time in more than 20 yrs #Somaliahas attended IMF meeting. central bank governor is optimistic about the country’s future.
@amisomsomalia Watch this selection of videos from the#UK and #Somalia in the lead up to the conference on 7 May http://bit.ly/17M3lUq .
@Soma781 Times are changing in #Somalia &people are now more aware of the potential of #women and accepting the role a women can play in the #economy.
@DFID_UK How can we build stability in #Somalia? Tweet your Q’s & views @justinegreening using #UKaidSomalia – Q&A 24 Apr: http://ow.ly/kinp0.
@ggatehouse Snub by Somaliland is a blow to the FCO which had hoped the conference in May would help bring regions closer together #Somalia.
Image of the day
Somali journalist Maxamed Ibraahim Raage gunned down by unknown assailants laid to rest in Mogadishu, Somalia. Photo: @tresthomas_HOA.