April 27, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somalia And International Partners Discuss Progress On Comprehensive Approach To Security
26 April – Source: UNSOM – 427 Words
Efforts to advance Somalia’s progress on the security front were the key topic at a high-level meeting of Somali authorities and international partners in the country’s capital today – with all involved highlighting the need for continued momentum on the implementation of the so-called Comprehensive Approach to Security (CAS). The CAS executive group meeting was attended by representatives of the Federal Government of Somalia, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and international partners, and chaired by Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.
At the meeting’s opening, the Prime Minister told participants that much had been achieved since last December’s Somalia Security Conference in developing a transition plan that will eventually give primary responsibility for the country’s security to Somalia’s own security forces. “The transition plan focuses on a number of key elements. First it stresses local delivery as a key component for success. Second, the plan outlines the necessary supporting activities in recognizing that there is no purely military solution to our problems,” said Mr. Khaire. “And, finally, the plan places great emphasis on institutional capacity building.”
Key Headlines
- Somalia And International Partners Discuss Progress On Comprehensive Approach To Security (UNSOM)
- Security Ministry Dismisses Claims That Looted Weapons From General Gordon Are For Sale (jowhar.com)
- PM Chairs High Profile Security Meeting Held In Mogadishu (jowhar.com)
- AMISOM Police Trains Somali Government Officials On Biometric Registration (AMISOM)
- Heavy Flooding Hammers Vulnerable Communities In Somalia (Norwegian Refugees Council)
- Back To Mogadishu: Thirty One Years Later (Wardheer News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Security Ministry Dismisses Claims That Looted Weapons From General Gordon Are For Sale
27 April – Source: Jowhar.com – 187 Words
The spokesman of the Somali security ministry Abdulaziz Ali Ibrahim has dismissed reports that some of the arms allegedly looted from General Gordon are for sale in the markets. Reuters News Agency reports has published purported photos of weapons allegedly looted from General Gordon training camp. The Reuters report said that up to 600 rifles were stolen from the military training camp and are being sold openly in Mogadishu markets. “The media and private local news websites have published baseless reports that some of the weapons at the General Gordon military training were looted and are being sold in the markets,” Abdiaziz noted.
Asked if there are arms on sale in Mogadishu, the spokesman acknowledged by stating there existed illegal markets that sell arms and that the government was trying to do something about it. ” There are arms markets in Afghanistan, Iraq and US so what prevents such business from thriving in Mogadishu, which has experienced armed conflict? We hope to do something about this, ” he added. There has been a standoff in Gen. Gordon between SNA and Emirati trained troops since reports emerged that arms had been looted.
PM Chairs High Profile Security Meeting Held In Mogadishu
27 April – Source: Jowhar.com – 66 Words
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire has chaired a high profile security conference that was attended by representatives from the international community, Federal Government Ministers, and AMISOM officials. The meeting focused on reviewing the progress so far made on the comprehensive approach to security ahead of next week’s Somali security conference which takes place in Brussels. Somalia’s international partners will present their strategy in support of the Somali government’s plan to take over the security responsibility of the country once the AU forces withdraw.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM Police Trains Somali Government Officials On Biometric Registration
27 April – Source: AMISOM – 369 Words
AMISOM Police is conducting training on biometric registration for federal government of Somalia staff to help spearhead the integration of pro-government militias into the Somali national security forces. Officials from the Ministry of Internal Security are attending the two-day course, in Mogadishu, to acquire the necessary skills needed to register members of armed pro-government groups operating in Galmudug state.
A team of officers have already been trained in Jubbaland and South West states to perform the same function. “This particular exercise is being done to capacitate the officers to go to Galmudug state to also register the regional forces there,” Paul Kissi Frimpong, AMISOM Police Deputy Coordinator in charge of Reform, Restructuring and Development said.
Mr. Frimpong explained that AMISOM Police decided to train Somali officers to be part of the exercise after the Federal Government requested the AU Mission’s aid in registering the pro-government armed groups. “Apart from the SNA (Somali National Army), some of these states have some security forces that have been supporting them to fight the Al-Shabaab. These forces are outside the SNA and (those are the ones) we are going to register,” he added.
Last month AMISOM and Somali security officers commenced the registration of Darwish militia in Jubbaland to pave way for their integration into the Somali national security forces. The Darwish militia group has been helping the Jubbaland administration fight Al-Shabaab militants and restore law and order.
Heavy Flooding Hammers Vulnerable Communities In Somalia
27 April – Source – Norwegian Refugees Council – 371 Words
Over 427,000 people have been affected by heavy flooding across Somalia in April. “Our staff on the ground have seen the elderly, women and children struggling to survive while their flimsy shelters are knee-high full of stagnant water. And worst is likely yet to come. Countless displaced communities are sheltering in flood-prone areas. With limited access to proper toilets and clean water, it’s a ticking time bomb for disease outbreaks like cholera and malaria,” warned Victor Moses, Somalia Country Director for Norwegian Refugee Council.
In Baidoa town alone, about 174,000 people have been affected by flooding. Over half of their existing shelters can’t withstand heavy rains, and many have already been washed away. Many community latrines have been destroyed or filled with flood water. Forecasts predict more heavy rains in the coming week.
One displaced mother in Baidoa told NRC staff how she delivered a baby during the flooding: “My labour pains started in the middle of the rains. The flooding came into my house and the floods pushed us to seek refuge in a neighbouring community. I’m staying there until the water dries out.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“Six days after my arrival, I met a friend from San Diego, California, who loves baked chicken. He and his companion walked to a restaurant a block away from the popular Wehliya Hotel with me. It was a nice outing in which we reminisced about good times in Southern California.”
Back To Mogadishu: Thirty One Years Later
April 26 – Source: Wardheer News – 1505 Words
The last time I visited Mogadishu was in 1987, and the last time I lived there was 40 years ago when I was a teen. Then, I finally visited last month. At times, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. On the one hand, I saw a city that has undergone what one might consider a Kafkaesque ordeal two decades of civil war had cemented the city’s seemingly catastrophic plummet from grace. On the other hand, the city was brimming with an atmosphere of hope and a sense of newfound optimism.
There was a tangible feeling that the residents of Mogadishu believe the city is in the process of becoming an emblem of triumph over adversity. In a way, I needed some psychic distance from a nostalgic past to face today’s reality. In my first hour after arriving in Mogadishu, I encountered two minor incidents. First, immediately after I landed, I stood in a long line designated for foreigners entering the country. I thought the word “foreigner” had a painful ring to it. After all, I was the one who had left Somalia as a teen and gained citizenship elsewhere. Most of the Somali passengers in that Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Mogadishu were like me and were standing with me before the immigration officer. Only a small number of Somalis from the flight stood at the window for “Somali nationals and citizens.” We “foreigners” had to pay $60 to enter our native country.
As I waited to be processed for entry, I heard my name being called by an airport employee holding a cell phone: “Hassan Abukar.” “Yes, I am Hassan Abukar,” I responded. “Here,” the man said, “talk to the director of the office of the presidency.” “Are you ‘Hassan Abukar’ from America?” the voice said. “Yes.” “Well, welcome home.” The airport employee smiled and took the phone back. He said he would meet me at the baggage claim.
After I was done with immigration, the man came back and told me the official I had just spoken with had sent him my picture. I know I had not met the official, nor sent him my picture. However, I wondered why the employee was calling my name if he had my photo. Perhaps, my images in some of my writings online had generated a little notoriety. I am not a cleric, but I remembered an anecdote about a famous Yemeni cleric who was undertaking a trip to Saudi Arabia. Being a man with vanity, he wondered if the Saudis would recognize him as a “sheikh.” At Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia, he was received by a young Saudi who called him “sheikh.” The cleric was so pleased that he had been recognized as a man of cloth, and relaxed. Then, as he and the young man strolled in the city, a dog tried to cross the street but was repelled by the Saudi yelling: “Idlac yaa sheikh.” (Get out of here, sheikh). The Yemeni cleric realized that the Saudis were hopeless because they used the word “sheikh” on everything people and animals.
TOP TWEETS
@Abdishakurmire: If you use federalism as a political tool to divide the country, you are undermining the original idea of pro-federal system camp, because they always argue that federal system is the only viable option that can hold country together.
@amisomsomalia: #AMISOM was carrying out a countrywide awareness campaign to sensitize both the #military & civilian actors to enhance coordination between the two. Many have said the training was extremely beneficial & will #help them discharge their duties. http://bit.ly/2Hwncka
@HarunMaruf: Somaliland court sentences prominent traditional leader to 5 years just days after he attended the crowning of another traditional leader in Puntland. Local Human Rights Centre says Boqor Osman Burmadow didn’t get a fair trial. http://hrcsomaliland.org/
@amisomsomalia: Officials from the Ministry of Internal#Security are attending the two-day course, in #Mogadishu, to acquire the necessary skills needed to register members of armed pro-government groups operating in #Galmudug state.http://bit.ly/2r4OgAA
@NRC_Norway 28m28: PRESS RELEASE: Over 427,000 people have been affected by heavy flooding across #Somalia in April. The situation is urgent, more aid is needed!http://ow.ly/dV9p30jHSkq
@UNDPSomalia: As part of work to build #alternatives to#charcoal in #Somalia, UNDP has handed over 600 gas cylinders, 300 stoves & 20 tons of briquettes to the #SomaliGov., for distribution to #IDP communities & communities in#Mogadishu, w/ support of #EU: http://bit.ly/2HzAUTg
IMAGE OF THE DAY
AMISOM Police trains Somali government officials on biometric registration for the federal government of Somalia Police in Galmudug.
Photo: AMISOM