April 23, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Three arrested in connection with the murder of Somali lawmaker
23 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog/SNTV/Radio Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service – 86 words
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of MP Abdiaziz Isack Mursal who was shot dead on Tuesday in Mogadishu, according to Ministry of National Security.
Deputy Minister for National Security, Ibrahim Isack Yarow told the media that the three are suspected of having involvement in the assassination of the lawmaker adding that investigations will be carried out in due course. Yarow vowed that the government will take all measures possible to bring the perpetrators behind the killing of the lawmaker to justice.
Mursal becomes the second Somali lawmaker to be killed in Mogadishu following the death of MP Isak Mohamed Rino who was killed in a car explosion on Monday.
Al Shabaab militant group has claimed the responsibility of both killings.
Key Headlines
- Three arrested in connection with the murder of Somali lawmaker (Radio Mogadishu)
- Increasing pressure prevents us from punishing terrorists: says security chief (Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia PMs announce lawmakers’ security review after two lawmakers were assassinated in Mogadishu (RBC/Jowhar Online)
- UN vehicle hijacked by suspected Somali militants (Shanghaidaily/Xinhua)
- Sierra Leone to host fragile states summit (Africa Review)
- Somaliland Minister of Posts off to Tanzania to attend World Telecommunication (Somaliland Informer)
- Children die in diarrhoea outbreak in Galgadud (Radio Ergo)
- Somaliland New Headquarters for Environment Ministry Unveiled (Somaliland Informer)
- Somalia offences: Army officers plead for lenience (Daily Monitor)
- Somalia’s Vision 2016 is top government priority minister says (Sabahi Online)
- France condemns assassination of two Somali lawmakers (KUNA)
- Terror suspect arrested with police college video clips remanded (Daily Nation)
- Arab Parliament expresses solidarity with Somali people (KUNA)
- 115 African migrants arrested while attempting to cross into Yemen (Yemen Times)
- UN Envoy Warns Violence May Force Diplomats Out Of Somalia (AP)
- ‘Support Somali state or risk takeover’ (IOL)
SOMALI MEDIA
Three arrested in connection with the murder of Somali lawmaker
23 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog/SNTV/Radio Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service – 86 words
Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of MP Abdiaziz Isack Mursal who was shot dead on Tuesday in Mogadishu, according to Ministry of National Security.
Deputy Minister for National Security, Ibrahim Isack Yarow told the media that the three are suspected of having involvement in the assassination of the lawmaker adding that investigations will be carried out in due course. Yarow vowed that the government will take all measures possible to bring the perpetrators behind the killing of the lawmaker to justice.
Mursal becomes the second Somali lawmaker to be killed in Mogadishu following the death of MP Isak Mohamed Rino who was killed in a car explosion on Monday.
Al Shabaab militant group has claimed the responsibility of both killings.
Increasing pressure prevents us from punishing terrorists: says security chief
23 Apr- Source: Hiiraan Online- 233 words
The director of Somalia’s National security and intelligence agency General Bashir Mohamed Jama has complained about an increasing pressure from key government officials who are against arrested terrorists and other criminals be brought to justice.
Addressing at a 3-day national security conference which ended in Mogadishu on Tuesday, the top intelligence chief said that due to widespread corruption and pressure from various government officials captured terrorists cannot be punished.
“Whenever security forces arrest someone assembling a mine on streets or who has hurled a bomb at a crowd or any other criminal activity including murder, key government officials immediately come to us asking for the release of the culprits, so that is the main problem which prevents us from punishing terrorists” the intelligence chief added.
Somalia PMs announce lawmakers’ security review after two lawmakers were assassinated in Mogadishu
23 Apr – Source: RBC/Jowhar Online – 175 words
Members of Somalia’s Federal Parliament said they will commence a special session to review the security of the lawmakers after two lawmakers were assassinated in Mogadishu in the past 48 hours, RBC reports.
“We are planning to launch on review to our security in order we have the capability to execute our duties as parliamentarians.” Deputy Speaker Jeylani Iikar said. He was speaking after the second lawmaker was shot and killed in Mogadishu on Tuesday by unidentified assailants.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of Somalia Federal Parliament, Mohamed Osman Jawari insisted that threats and assassinations against lawmakers will not derails the smooth running of Somali’;s Federal Parliament.
“We will not be afraid, we will be strong. I once again assure that we have taken this risk as we were all sworn-in to be parliamentarians for Somalia.” Speaker Jawari told a session of the parliamentarians on Tuesdayshortly after gunmen shot dead MP Abdiasis Isaq Mursal in Mogadishu.
Late MP Mursal was laid to rest in Mogadishu as fellow parliamentarians and government officials attended the funeral service.
Somaliland Minister of Posts off to Tanzania to attend World Telecommunication
23 Apr – Source: Somaliland Informer – 158 words
Somaliland Minister of Telecommunication and Posts Jama Abgaal accompanied by the Secretary General of telecommunication companies Mr. Yusuf Ahmed Yasin have left for Dares Salam, the capital city of Tanzania where they are expected to attend two day conference that will officially kick off on the 23rd of April.
Delegations from Rift Valley countries are due to attended the conference which will be discussed on world telecommunication development especially in Africa.
Mr. Jama has confirmed to the media that he received a formal invitation from his Tanzanian counterpart and further added that the attendance of Somaliland at the conference will open a window of opportunity for Somaliland to have meets with the attending delegates and will do all it can to boost the ties with the countries expected to come to the meeting.
The duo departed from Egal International airport on Tuesday heading to Dar se Salam where the major gathering on world telecommunication is to kick off.
Children die in diarrhoea outbreak in Galgadud
23 Apr- Source: Radio Ergo- 172 words
At least three children have died in a diarrhoeal disease outbreak in Galgadud region, where dozens of others have been hospitalized in the past week. The children died in Elshil village, where dozens of people fleeing the conflict in Elbur district have been living since last month.
Elsewhere in Galgadud region, at least 19 people have been hospitalized in Abudwaq district after an outbreak of diarrhoeal disease in an internally displaced people’s (IDP) camp in the district. Dr Hassan Elmi in Abudwaq told Radio Ergo’s local reporter that most of the patients were children, elderly people and women.
He linked the outbreak to the consumption of contaminated water as the ‘jilal’ dry season intensifies. Elmi warned of the possibility that the disease could spread to other camps and villages, where dozens of people fleeing the government forces’ operation against al-Shabaab have settled.
Recent fighting between the government troops backed by African Union forces against Al-Shabaab has increased the number of displaced people in the region.
Somaliland New Headquarters for Environment Ministry Unveiled
22 Apr – Source: Somaliland Informer – 189 words
President Ahmed Silanyo has inaugurated new offices to house the Ministry of Environment & Rural Development headquarters in a unique and symbolic function with departure from normalcy witnessed in other official duties graced by the head of state.
Silanyo also took the opportunity to plant a tree within the ministry’s new plaza to show his Government’s commitments in preserving & conserving the environment. The head of state was flanked by the Environment & Rural Development Minister Shukri Bandari and her Religious Affairs counterpart Sheikh Khalil in the ceremony to open the doors to the new building that took place on Tuesday in Hargeisa.
Missing from the function and in contrast with norms in official events attended by the president were the official or casual attires worn by dignitaries that were substituted by the traditional dressing in symbolizing Somali culture with Silanyo and the first lady Amina Weris putting on the outfits.
Contemporary drinks and modern snacks were also out of sight; there were no bottled water, carbonated soda, biscuits, and cookies & instead dignitaries were refreshed with camel milk, honey, dates, butter, gee so as to feel the lifestyle of the rural folks.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia offences: Army officers plead for lenience
23 Apr- Source: Daily Monitor- 214 words
Two UPDF officers who were charged with offences in connection with Somalia operations yesterday pleaded for lenience after they admitted committing the offences. Maj Nassur Namara, a former operations commander in charge of training in the Uganda contingent of the African Union Mission in Somalia and Maj Louis Bagenda, who was formerly in charge of transport, through their lawyers, pleaded guilty to the offences and asked court for mercy.
Maj Namara was charged with conduct prejudicial to good conduct and discipline while Maj Bagenda was charged with fraudulent offences, all contrary to the UPDF.
Sierra Leone to host fragile states summit
3 Apr- Source: Africa Review- 224 Words
Nineteen countries making up the world`s fragile and conflict ridden nations are to meet in Sierra Leone this June. The conflict affected countries, officially called G7+ Group, was conceived in the early 2000s and basically champions the voices of fragile states in international debates.
Member countries share experiences and forge a common front towards mobilisation of international action in support of state-led transition initiatives.
The grouping was officially inaugurated in 2010 in East Timor, which is the current chair and which hosts the Secretariat.
Other members are Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’ Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Togo and Comoros.
Somalia’s Vision 2016 is top government priority, minister says
23 Apr – Source: Sabahi Online – 129 words
Revising the provisional constitution, forming regional administrations, and establishing democracy across Somalia form the core priorities of the current government, according to Somali Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir Mohamed.
Mohamed took up his current post in January 2014 when Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed announced his cabinet, and in the short time thereafter, he said his ministry has accomplished several important tasks, from finalising the draft law to create the Judicial Service Commission to working on reforming the laws governing Somalia’s penal code, which was written in 1962 and last updated in 1974.
With many more tasks on the books, Mohamed took time to sit down with Sabahi to explain his ministry’s priorities, namely working towards achieving the goals set under Somalia’s Vision 2016.
Terror suspect arrested with police college video clips remanded
22 Apr – Source: Daily Nation – 159 words
A man charged with collecting crucial information intended for use by terrorists in carrying out attacks has been remanded in prison custody awaiting trial.
Mr Mohammed Abdi Adan, a graduate in Sharia Law from Dharal Olum University of Mogadishu in Somalia, was allegedly found in possession of an external storage device with video clips of the Administration Police Training College (APTC) in Embakasi, Nairobi.
Senior principal magistrate Joseph Karanja heard that the “the information was intended for commission of terrorism acts within the country.”
The prosecutor, Mr Charles Wanjohi, informed the magistrate that Mr Adan was a threat to national security and should not be released on bond until the case is determined.
France condemns assassination of two Somali lawmakers
23 Apr – Source: KUNA- 109 words
France condemned on Tuesday the assassination of two Somali lawmakers in the capital Mogadishu, and called for boosting efforts in combating terrorism and bring those criminals to justice.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal said in a press conference that his country condemns the assassination of Isak Mohammad and Abdulaziz Mursal, extending condolences to victims’ families.
The spokesman stressed importance on finding the perpetrators and brings them to justice. France also called on Somali authorities and people to unite and exert efforts to achieve stability in the country.
Earlier, Islamist group Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for shooting dead a Somali lawmaker and planting last night a bomb to the other lawmaker.
Arab Parliament expresses solidarity with Somali people
22 Apr- Source: KUNA- 136 words
The Arab Parliament affirmed Tuesday on support and solidarity with the Somali people amid efforts to rebuilding their country and confront all kinds of terrorism and criminal activities.
In a press statement, the parliament expressed sorrow for the assassination of Somali lawmaker Abdulaziz Isak Mursal, earlier in the day by armed men during his departure of his residence, describing the attack as a “terrorist cowardly” act.
The attack, the second in less than 24 hours after the assassination of MP Isak Mohammad Ali, who was killed in a bomb attack while his guard Mohammad Abdi was injured. Al-Shabab extremist group claimed responsibility for the two attacks.
The attack come as the government holds the third and final day of a security conference hoping to tackle continued attacks by Al-Shabab.
115 African migrants arrested while attempting to cross into Yemen
22 Apr- Source: Yemen Times- 217 words
Coastguard and military units on Saturday arrested 115 migrants and refugees traveling in two boats. The detained are from Somalia and Ethiopia.
Shuja Mahdi, the operations director of the Coastguard, said the first boat was encountered near Mayyun island with 75 on board, 15 of them Somalis and four of them women.
Patrols of the 17th Infantry Brigade spotted the second boat carrying 23 Somalis and 17 Ethiopians off the Dubab coast, according to the state-run Saba news agency.
Zaid Alalaya, a senior public information officer at the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said March witnessed the largest influx of migrants and refugees over the last three months.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN vehicle hijacked by suspected Somali militants
23 Apr- Source: Shanghaidaily/ Xinhua- 105 words
A UN vehicle from northern Kenya’s Dadaab refugee complex was hijacked by suspected Somali Al- Shabaab militants and taken to Somalia early Wednesday, a government official said.
Fafi District Commissioner Geoffrey Taragon told Xinhua by phone that three militants fired at the driver of the Nissan patrol vehicle at 08:30 a.m. local time, seriously injuring him before hijacking the vehicle and crossed over with it to Somalia via the porous border.
“We have confirmed that this vehicle has been hijacked and driven away to Somalia. I wish we had an air surveillance, this could have assisted us in tacking it and recovering it,” said Taragon.
UN Envoy Warns Violence May Force Diplomats Out Of Somalia
23 Apr – Source: AP – 222 words
The top United Nations envoy to Somalia warned Tuesday that the U.N. and other foreign diplomats may have to withdraw from the war-ravaged nation if they continue to be attacked. He spoke the same day that two Al-Shabab gunmen killed a Somali legislator as he left his home in Mogadishu, marking the second fatal attack on a member of parliament in as many days.
U.N. Special Representative Nicholas Kay said attacks that cause “significant losses” would likely force international officials to leave or, at least, pare down their missions in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. “I am deeply conscious that if we make a mistake in our security presence and posture, and suffer a significant attack, particularly on the U.N., this is likely to mean to us withdrawing from Somalia,” Kay said at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington.
“There are scenarios in which if we take further significant losses, then that would have a strategic effect on our mission,” Kay said.
Western diplomats began increasing ties with Mogadishu after Somali civil activist Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected president in September 2012.
At the time, the West cautiously predicted improvements in Somalia’s security, given the expected stability Mohamud’s government would bring to the failed state and the ouster of rebel network Al-Shabab from Mogadishu the year earlier.
‘Support Somali state or risk takeover’
22 Apr – Source: IOL – 191 words
Jens Mjaugedal, Special Envoy of Norway to Somalia, is frustrated… which is hardly surprising given his mission to try to turn Somalia, the world’s most failed state for many years, into a success. The biggest problem in Somalia is how to keep the deadly al-Qaeda-affiliated Islamist militant group al-Shabaab at bay.
The AU’s robust peacekeeping mission in Somalia expelled al-Shabaab from Mogadishu two years ago, and is now engaged in a major offensive to try to rid the country of the scourge altogether.
Norway has had a long engagement in the country, and Mjaugedal warns war alone cannot save Somalia.
It will not be helpful to clear al-Shabaab from the territories it holds, unless the Somali government replaces al-Shabaab’s administration in those areas with its own administration – rather than just military barracks. And that raises Somalia’s second-biggest problem. The state has virtually no capacity, nor money, to run anything.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“A 15-year-old boy, seen sitting on a stretcher center, who stowed away in the wheel well of a flight from San Jose, Calif., to Maui is loaded into an ambulance at Kahului Airport in Kahului, Maui, Hawaii Sunday afternoon, April 20, 2014. The boy survived the trip halfway across the Pacific Ocean unharmed despite frigid temperatures at 38,000 feet and a lack of oxygen, FBI and airline officials said. FBI spokesman Tom Simon in Honolulu told The Associated Press on Sunday night that the boy was questioned by the FBI after being discovered on the tarmac at the Maui airport with no identification. “Kid’s lucky to be alive,” Simon said. “
15-year-old stowaway was trying to reach mother in Somalia, ended up in Hawaii
23 Apr- Source: blog.al -208 words
The 15-year-old boy who hid in a plane’s wheel well between California and Hawaii told authorities he was trying to hitch a ride to Somalia but ended up in the wrong plane.
The boy, whose has not been identified, stowed away in the landing gear of a Hawaiian Airlines flight between San Jose, Calif., and Maui Sunday. Authorities say it’s amazing he survived the almost 6-hour journey in the frigid wheel well.
Maui officials told KGMB in Honolulu the boy actually intended to get to Somalia where his mother lives. The boy told them he picked the Hawaiian flight because it was closest to the fenced in scaled at San Jose International Airport. He also said he got confused by the plane’s markings.
Somaliland: Uninvited Outsiders Should Keep off Our Internal Affairs
20 Apr- Source: Somalilandsun- 238 words
It is true a fact that Somaliland reached where it is today without tangible International Community support.However, the most important issue herein to be understood quite well is that SL reached her own peaceful stability without ANY IC support, be it remotely even moral one.
Through its own peace-meal system, it was able to slowly but surely- with and through much ado and duress- managed to pacify area from area and area to area.
Whatever time it took, Somaliland managed to re-install and re-instill social economical and orderly social political structures.
Now, we have all our national institutions back in place and the social fabrics have been molded from the tatters and ruins it was condemned and put into. The irony of the matter has its gist on two main factors.
Top tweets
@Daudoo Suspected #Shabaab fighters escape into #Somaliawith #UN vehicle after attacking the driver near #Kenyan-Somalia border.
@amisomsomalia @MaatMHI AMISOM is working towards improving SNA, this includes trainings and logistical support.#AskAMISOM
@JamalMOsman UN envoy warns violence may force diplomats out of #Somalia if al-Shabab continues to wreak havoc:http://america.aljazeera.com/
@UN_DPA #Somalia: #UN envoy Nicholas Kay condemns murder of second lawmaker in less than 48 hourshttp://ow.ly/w37aa
@AFPAfrica Sunday: #Somalia President vows ‘lawlessness…coming to an end.” Monday: MP killed in car bomb, another wounded http://news.yahoo.com/somali-
@Tommy_Africa #Somalia Somalia: Al Shabab vows to keep killing lawmakers of Somalia http://ow.ly/2FWlW2
@amisomsomalia @getas85 We call on international partners to help Somali forces logistically & provide air assets to the joint forces conducting Operations
Image of the day
Somalia: AMISOM soldiers help locals in Baidoa, Bay region, till the land & plant. Photo: @amisomsomalia