April 25, 2016 | Morning Headlines
AMISOM And Somalia Call For Coordinated Approach To Defeat Al-Shabaab
24 April – Source: Goobjoog News – 286 Words
The Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union force, AMISOM have reinforced the need for more coordinated collaboration between AMISOM and Somali National Army in dealing with the terror threat in the country. Speaking during a meeting in the capital of Mogadishu, the head of AMISOM Francisco Madeira and Deputy Premier Mohamed Omar Arte reiterated the need for closer cooperation while acknowledging the existing gaps between the two forces.
“The interaction between AMISOM and the Somali national security forces will in the end determine whether we shall be able to overcome Al-Shabaab. In the absence of such cooperation we are doomed to fail”, Madeira said. Madeira said he had raised the security and defence issue with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and noted that some of the pressing issues were related to the command and control structures between AMISOM and their Somali counterparts.
Arte shared similar sentiments but said the two can find an amicable way to iron out any pending issues: “Sometimes there are operational difficulties but we hope that SNA and AMISOM can address them”, the deputy Prime Minister said. During a meeting in Djibouti in February, troops contributing countries (TCC) to AMISOM stressed the need for a more coordinated approach observing there were inadequacies in the command and control structures of AMISOM.
In a communiqué, the TCC leaders emphasised the need to undertake a review of immediate requirements for AMISOM and SNA for operational effectiveness. They also called on relevant partners to enhance coordination especially in information sharing as part of efforts to revitalise offensive operations in Somalia against Al-Shabaab. Present during the talks were Somali Defense Minister, Abdulkadir Sheikh Dini, and the deputy Chief of Defense Forces, Gen Ali Bashi Mohamed.
Key Headlines
- AMISOM And Somalia Call For Coordinated Approach To Defeat Al-Shabaab (Goobjoog News)
- Six Al-Shabaab Fighters Blow Themselves Up In Burhakaba Following Police Raid (Goobjoog News)
- Multiple Suicide Blasts Reported In Somalia (Shabelle News)
- Calls To End Tribal Fighting In Galgadud Region (Goobjoog News)
- Somalia: At Least 12 Die Of Cholera In Southern Somalia (All Africa News)
- Construction Of The 700km Kenya-Somalia Border Fence To Continue Says Kenya’s Security Minister (The Standard)
- UPDF Receives 1800 Soldiers From Somalia (New Vision)
- Africa Assuming Importance In The Global Security Agenda (Daily Nation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Six Al-Shabaab Fighters Blow Themselves Up In Burhakaba Following Police Raid
24 April – Source: Goobjoog News – 111 Words
Six Al-Shabaab fighters blew themselves up in Burhakaba district in Bay region after they were cornered by security forces following an operation in the area. A deputy forces commander in the region, Mohammed Isaq Aflow, told Goobjoog News the six were holed up in a house when they were surrounded by a special police unit.
“When the police finally zeroed in on the house, the six refused to surrender but instead blew themselves up. Three others were captured alive,” said Aflow. The operation followed a tip off from members of the public. Sources say the cell was preparing to launch explosions in the small villages in Burhakaba in the early hours of Sunday.
Multiple Suicide Blasts Reported In Somalia
24 April – Source: Shabelle News – 156 Words
A government officials has said that at least seven suicide blasts happened at an Al-Shabaab base near the strategic town of Baidoa in Somalia’s southern Bay region on Sunday morning, killing six Al-Shabaab members. Burhakabo district commissioner Mohamed Abdi Mohamed, told Radio Shabelle that south west state of Somalia forces backed by AMISOM foiled an imminent bomb attack by Al-Shabaab members at Raydable village.
He said the allied troops laid a siege on a house, and killed at least six Al-Shabaab fighters who were planning an attack in Baidoa city following a tip-off from local residents. Burhakabo DC also said the south west state forces managed to capture three Al-Shabaab militants alive just in time before they staged the attack. Raydable, is a key village located between Baidoa and Burhakabo towns in Bay region. The area has been under Al-Shabaab control for years before the coalition forces retook it on Sunday.
Calls To End Tribal Fighting In Galgadud Region
24 April – Source: Goobjoog News – 140 Words
Elders and Members of Galmudug state assembly have called for immediate ceasefire in tribal fighting in Meraowl village of Galgadud region. Member of Parliament Abdiqadir Ali Shire called on the warring sides to end hostilities immediately and make peace with each other.
“People are displaced from their homes, fighting has been going for the last two days” said the MP. Clan militias’ dispute on water wells turned to full scale fight between the two main clans in Galgudud region. MP Shire accused Ethiopian region police for fuelling the fight: “Uniformed paramilitary police from Ethiopia have been attacking the civilians. We want to see an immediate end to this,” said the MP. Clan fights caused by disputes over water and pasture are frequent in Galgadud region
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia: At Least 12 Die Of Cholera In Southern Somalia
24 April – Source: All Africa News – 187 Words
At least 12 people have died of cholera, and over 60 others are suffering from diarrhea in towns of middle Jubba region, southern Somalia this week, health ministry confirmed Saturday. Health Minister Hawo Hassan Mohamed said 11 of the patients died of the disease in Sakow, while the other one died in Bu’ale, capital of middle Jubba region.
She said 43 patients are being treated at medical centers in Sakow town, and 21 in Bu’ale. Mohamed added the government is doing its best to handle the health conditions of the patients, and will bring medical assistance to those towns as soon possible.
However, the insecurity situation in those towns might prevent health officials from providing medical assistance to those affected since the regions are currently under Al-Shabaab control. Analysts say enhanced rainfall related to El Nino in Somalia early this year leading to some flooding and displacement of families can precipitate the outbreak of a number of diseases, including diarrhea, cholera and typhoid. This is due to exposure to contaminated water, as well as disrupts or destroy of vital infrastructure such as health clinics, schools and roads.
Construction Of The 700km Kenya-Somalia Border Fence To Continue, Says Kenya’s Security Minister
24 April – Source: The Standard – 487 Words
The construction of the 700km Kenya-Somalia border fence to bar unwanted persons from illegally getting into the country will continue as planned. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said the fence will not deter or limit the movement of other people from and to Somalia as perceived.
“This fence will help us check on people like Al-Shabaab from crossing to and from Somalia. We will not limit movement of other people,” he said. The minister said there will be entry points with immigration officers at Mandera, Elwak, Liboi and other areas down to Lamu to screen those getting in and out of the country. Designated border points will be have police posts, Kenya Revenue Authority officers and other government offices to provide vital services. He made the remarks in Nairobi when he met group of Marehan clan leaders who are here to discuss security issues.
Nkaissery urged for continued support from local clans and especially the Marehan group for both countries to achieve security and stability. “There is need for joint cooperation from both countries and leaders in dealing with terrorism that has affected us negatively.” The clan leaders are in Nairobi to discuss how they can help foster stability. The clan has been opposing the Jubaland government headed by President Ahmed Mohamed Islam alias Madobe.
Madobe is expected in Nairobi and will among other demands be asked to include leaders from the clan in his government as part of efforts to ensure stability and integration. El-Adde, where Kenya Defence Forces lost more than 80 soldiers in an attack in January is occupied by the Marehan and there has been speculation the clan contributed in the execution of the mission. Speakers at the meeting called for cooperation from the clan to ensure stability and security.
On the fence, locals of the clan have been seeing as a Kenyan strategy to lock them away from their country and especially in Mandera region. But Nkaissery said it is meant to ensure security for both countries. He said the fence will have CCTVs installed at strategic points and will consist of various obstacles including a ditch and a patrol road for the security agents. The fence will run across the whole Kenya-Somalia border from Kiunga in Lamu county to the Mandera-Ethiopia border at River Dawa.
UPDF Receives 1,800 Soldiers From Somalia
24 April – Source: New Vision – 329 Words
The Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) battle group 15 which was deployed in Somalia as part of the African Union Mission in Somalia to keep peace against Al-Shabaab militants have returned home. The troop of over 1,800 soldiers was received by the Commander of Defense Forces (CDF), Gen. Katumba Wamala at Singo Urban Military Training school over the weekend.
In his remarks Katumba expressed concern that the troops have not received their monthly allowances in a space of seven months. AMISOM soldiers are entitled to a $1028 (about UGX 3.3m) monthly pay from the African Union, subject to $200 deduction to support the cost of administration. Katumba said that delaying soldiers salaries affects their morale and undermines the essence of the mission which puts civilians lives at stake.
Katumba also said that, “the budget proposal for 2016/17 doesn’t indicate that the UPDF salaries will be increased as earlier requested but the soldiers feel cheated because other civil servants like teachers have had increments, so we are engaging the ministry of finance and public service so that we can have at least a 15% top up.” In 2013 government increased UPDF salaries by 4% with the least paid soldier earning UGX 310, 000 up from UGX 290,000 while the top most paid officials got an increment of UGX 1,600,000 from UGX 1,540,000.
On his part, the commandant of battle group 15, Col. Silvio Aguma attributed their success to strict discipline and paying attention to instructions acquired during the training. “We appreciate the British, Qatar and French training teams for skillfully preparing us so well. When we reached Mogadishu, we took the modules for granted but decided to observe the guidelines and as a result, we realized that what they had equipped us with was very necessary in defeating the terrorists. Whenever we set foot in defense against the Al-Shabaab, they had to retreat because we were lethal and well prepared,” Aguma said
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“On October 14, 2011, Kenya, which successfully mediated the conflict in Somalia that led to the establishment of the Transitional Federal Government in 2005, deployed its forces in Somalia. It was responding to Al-Shabaab’s incursions into its territory where it carried out cross-border raids on police stations, abducted and killed civil servants, nuns, aid workers and tourists.”
Africa Assuming Importance In The Global Security Agenda
24 April – Source: Daily Nation – 971 Words
Africa is emerging from the margins of the global security agenda. At least, this is the sense one got attending the 5th Tana High-Level Forum on “Africa in the Global Security Agenda” held at the Ethiopian lakeside resort of Bahir Dar on April 16-17, 2016. A brainchild of the late visionary Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the Tana Forum, now in its fifth year, is evolving into Africa’s “Munich Security Conference” (MSC) where the state of global security is discussed.
Tellingly, on April 14-15, ahead of the 5th Tana Forum, Ethiopia hosted the first-ever MSC Core Group Meeting on the African continent focusing on the fight against violent extremism among other topics. However, Africa is the Cinderella of the global security order, despite the hype around the mantra of “African solutions to African problems”.
Western powers – mainly America, Britain and France – continue to drive UN policy and ride roughshod over Africa’s security solutions: “Why does Kenya insist on staying in Somalia”, a senior French official asked a Kenyan delegate attending the MSC Core Group Meeting.
“The same reason why France is in Mali,” the Kenyan answered. This brief “diplomatic tiff” reveals what Chalmers Johnson called the “hubris of empire” – the imperialistic misbehaviour by Western powers in the UN Security Council – which has left, in its path, a trail of deaths, destruction and chaos in countries like Libya. When the Libyan conflict started in early 2011, African leaders, fearing that the contest between Col Muammar Gaddafi and his rivals could easily get worse and spill across borders, warned against forcible regime change.
They crafted a blueprint for an “inclusive transition” to democracy leading to Gaddafi stepping aside. Celebrating the Libyan uprising as a turbulent version of Tunisia’s democratic uprising, Western powers unfairly derided and dismissed the African roadmap. The US, France and Britain, who were driving UN policy, were hell-bent on regime change. In March 2011, the UN Security Council authorised a no-fly zone over Libya and airstrikes to protect civilians. The rest is now history.
In March 2016, President Barack Obama told the Atlantic Magazine that Libya is now “a mess”. On April 11, 2016, he told Fox News that failure to prepare for the aftermath of the ousting of Gaddafi as “the worst mistake” of his presidency. In a rare rebuke of allies, Obama blamed the mess in Libya on the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and French former President, Nicholas Sarkozy, saying they got “distracted” after the intervention.