April 28, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali Government calls on the Kenyan Government to ensure the protection of innocent Somalis

28 Apr- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 383 words

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed met with the Somali Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Mohamed Ali Nur, who arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday, April 27, 2014 after he was invited to brief the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the latest developments on the situation of Somali citizens in Kenya.
Somalis in Kenya have been facing hardships due to the ongoing security operation by the Kenyan forces that has resulted in mass detentions. The same operation led to the arrest of the Political Consular at the Somali Embassy in Kenya, Siyad Mohamud Shire, which the Somali Federal Government finds to be a violation of diplomatic convention.

The Somali Cabinet has repeatedly discussed the condition of the Somali citizens in Kenya. The Somali government sent a request to the relevant agencies in the Kenyan government to approach the ongoing security operation in a manner that respects the rights and dignity of innocent Somalis in Kenya.

The Prime Minister’s meeting with the Somali Ambassador follows an Extraordinary Meeting of Cabinet on Saturday evening at which the cabinet discussed the situation of in Kenya.

The Prime Minister, said:

“The Federal Government of Somalia continues to expresses serious concerns over the detention of law abiding Somali citizens in Kenya. The majority of Somalis living in Kenya are peace-loving citizens, with many significantly contributing to the Kenyan economy.

“The Somali government has been in constant communication with the Kenyan Government on these detentions and would like to see the government of Kenya make every effort to ensure the protection of innocent Somali citizens.

“The Somali government also seeks an official response from the Kenyan Government on the arrest of the Somali Consular to Kenya, Siyad Mohamud Shire, which is a serious violation of diplomatic immunity.

“Both our governments share the same security concerns, but the continued detention of innocent Somalis only serves to create an atmosphere of fear and mistrust that will result in dividing our communities.

“We have always had strong relations between our two nations, and we acknowledge and appreciate Kenya’s continued support to Somalia. Both governments must continue to work together in our efforts to secure our nations from the threat of terrorism.”

Key Headlines

Somali president travels to Djibouti (Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Goobjoog)
Somali Government calls on the Kenyan Government to ensure the protection of innocent Somalis(OPM)
Somali delegation meets with African Development Bank officials (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somalia opens embassy in Kuala Lumpur (Radio Goobjoog/Universaltv)
Puntland President to deliver a speech in the Tana Forum (RBC)
National security Minister face the parliament for the second day (Radio Goobjoog/Radio Bar-kulan)
Somaliland to Enhance its Environmental Protection Initiatives (Somali Current)
Somalia diplomat arrested during swoop (Standard Media)
Somalia: Shortage of Water Hits Critical level in Balanbal IDP Camp (Somali Current)
Witness pins UPDF soldier over Somalia offences (Daily Monitor)
Pangani explosion suspect run a football club in slum (Standard Media)
Refugee status for Somali pirates unacceptable: VVD (Dutch News)
The Sheikh who would have fought Shabaab at Westgate (Daily Nation)
10 people dead in Somalia as water scarcity bites (Africa Review)
Kenyans in Somalia (Citizentv)
Somali leaders in Mpls. urge peace justice in Kenya for refugees (Startribune)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali Government calls on the Kenyan Government to ensure the protection of innocent Somalis

28 Apr- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 383 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed met with the Somali Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Mohamed Ali Nur, who arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday, April 27, 2014 after he was invited to brief the Prime Minister and Cabinet on the latest developments on the situation of Somali citizens in Kenya.

Somalis in Kenya have been facing hardships due to the ongoing security operation by the Kenyan forces that has resulted in mass detentions. The same operation led to the arrest of the Political Consular at the Somali Embassy in Kenya, Siyad Mohamud Shire, which the Somali Federal Government finds to be a violation of diplomatic convention.

The Prime Minister’s meeting with the Somali Ambassador follows an Extraordinary Meeting of Cabinet on Saturday evening at which the cabinet discussed the situation of in Kenya.

The Prime Minister, said:

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali president travels to Djibouti

28 Apr- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Goobjoog/Radio Kulmiye- 84 words

The president of Somalia Hassan sheikh and delegates headed to Djibouti to meet the top leaders of the country. President Hassan will have discussions with his counterpart Ismail Omar Gelle in Djibouti, their discussion is expected to focus on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Djibouti is one African countries who sent peacekeeping troops to in Somalia. To the context president Ismail Omar Gelle promised to send more troops to Somalia a time when military offensive against has embarked in South-central Somalia.

Somali delegation meets with African Development Bank officials

28 Apr- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 105 words

A delegation led by Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdirahman Duale Beyle is on Monday expected to meet with the president of the African Development Bank Donald Kiberuka in the Tunisian capital of Tunis. The delegation will discuss with the bank president on how to fulfill previous reconstruction projects and financial pledges made to Somalia. Beyle and his delegation will then meet with Tunisian officials and will exchange ideas on potential investment programs in Somalia. The minister is leading a high profile delegation from the federal government including the Minister of Finance Hussein Abdi Halane among others.

Somalia opens embassy in Kuala Lumpur

28 Apr- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Universaltv- 150 words

The foundation stone of the new building of Somali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur the capital of Malaysia was laid, and the opening ceremony of the new embassy was attended by many people from various communities in the country.

The event was organized by ambassador of the Federal Republic of Somalia to Malaysia Nur Farah Hersi. He thanked the participants of the event and he called on them to lead a peaceful and joint nation and noted that Somalia is targeting a bright future to end the long time conflicts in the country.

Also the deputy ambassador and the first counselor of the Embassy in Malaysia Jibril Mohamed Osman who gave a prolonged speech in the ceremony thanked the Somali community and asked them to take part in the reconstruction and the developmental activities going on in the country.

Puntland President to deliver a speech in the Tana Forum

28 Apr – Source: RBC – 131 words

The president of Puntland government Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas and a delegation he was leading have officially reached Bahir Dare Ethiopia after officially invited to attend a conference that African heads of states will attend in Bahir Dar, Amhara region.

The president accompanied by ministerial delegation including minister of education Ali Haji Warsame and minister of security Hassan Osman Alore was warmly welcome to Bahir Dar by heads of the regional administration and the federal government of Ethiopia

The president is expected to deliver a speech on illicit Financial flows and Human Security in this conference where heads of African states are invited including Puntland’s head of State Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas to discuss the security of the region. President Gaas is also expected to meet some leaders of African countries.

National security Minister face the parliament for the second day

28 Apr- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Bar-kulan- 135 words

Somali federal parliament for second day ask questions to the national security minister Abdikarim Hussein Guled to get accounts for the increasing insecurity in Mogadishu and other regions of the country.

Yesterday the members asked questions to the Minister including the recent killings of two lawmakers in Mogadishu and the suicide car bomb attack on presidential palace where where at least 10 people were killed.

At least thirty (30) members of federal parliament among the ones who listed themselves yesterday are expected to ask questions to the Minister.

This is part of the plans for federal parliament of Somalia to scrutinize, eye and promote the effectiveness of of federal government’s activities.

On the other hand Interior Minister and federalism Abdullahi Godah Barre is also expected to come before the parliament as sources close the speaker confirm.

Somaliland to Enhance its Environmental Protection Initiatives

28 Apr – Source: Somali Current – 168 words

Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo has stressed that his government is ready to sustain its commitment and to double its preservation efforts on country’s environment in order to tackle the increasing environmental tragedies that might have a negative impact on Somaliland community’s progress.

Mr. Silanyo said this during a ceremony where he cut the ribbon of the new Head Quarters constructed for the ministry of environment and rural development.

The president has also praised Shukri Bandare, the Minister of environment for her tireless effort as well as her expertize on the field of safeguarding the natural environment which he said to be the epicenter of progress.

“We are a pastoralist community as well as farmers. Preserving and tackling the increasing environment tragedies in the country will have more advantage for our people’s progress and it will be vital for sustaining efforts on protecting environment for that our community’s life depends on it.”

The President added that his government will take part contributing on developing environmental protection framework.

Pregnant Somali woman survives after jumping from 3rd floor for fear of Kenyan police arrest

27 Apr- Source: BBC Somali Service/Radio Dalsan- 204 words

Pregnant Somali woman trying to escape from the Kenyan police crackdown has survived after jumping from the 3rd floor of premises she was residing in Eastleigh.

The woman and her unborn baby are safe and sound according to the doctors who treated her where she was rushed after the incident.

The woman who was named Nadifo Abdi has told the local media that despite possessing legal alien Identity card, she has paid bribes several times to the Kenyan police for fear of arrest and was forced to jump from her apartments because she did not had no money to buy her freedom again.

“It is a shocking that a pregnant woman trying to hide from the brutal dragnet of the security personals fell from the 3rd floor of such building.” Said Nadifo relative Habibo Hassan.

Nadifo sustained back injuries and is currently under medication.

This incident comes at a time as Kenyan Security forces are facing condemnations from rights groups concerning the indiscriminate arrest Somali refugees in Kenya.

Kenya accuses Somali refugees of hiding or sympathizing with al Shabaab militant group who are carrying out attacks in the country.

Kenya has experienced increased terror attacks inform retaliatory attacks since it sent its troops inside Somalia.

Somalia: Shortage of Water Hits Critical level in Balanbal IDP Camp

28 Apr – Source: Somali Current – 178 words

Residents who live in Balanbal IDP Camp of Galgadud region told water shortages in the areas is getting worse and need to be taken a swift action.

Mohamed Yousuf who is one of the internally displaced people who lives in Balanbal IDP camp told Barkulan, a local Somali website, that the cost of a barrel of water is around 130,000 to 140,000 Somali shilling, as he added that the people in the IDP camp can’t afford to buy it.

Somali government Chairman to the district Hereri Hassan Barre confirmed the existence of the water shortage in the region which severely affected the lives of the people in the IDP Camp and others who live in the far areas of the countryside of Galgudud region.

“This water shortage has been resulted by the delay of the rainy season and the water wells of those areas dry up and now it hits critical level.” Hereri said,

The chairman has urged Federal government and the aid relief agencies to provide emergency assistance for those people as quick as possible.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Witness pins UPDF soldier over Somalia offences

28 Apr- Source: Daily Monitor- 318 words

Despite constant and abundant supplies of lubricants and spares to tanks used by UPDF soldiers serving under the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom), some of the tanks were not serviced in time, a situation which put operators at risk, a prosecution witness told court last week.

Maj Samuel Tumwebaze, who formerly worked as operations and training commander in Somalia, told the General Court Martial at Makindye that some of the tanks were deliberately left unserviced.

“I cannot tell what went wrong but there was overwhelming supplies of lubricants every three months but nothing was sent on the ground to service the tanks. I suspect that some of these items were sold,” Maj Tumwebaze said during cross examination.

Pangani explosion suspect run a football club in slum

28 Apr – Source: Standard Media – 127 words

One of the terror suspects who died in a car explosion outside Pangani Police Station was a former player of a top team at the Kenya Premier League ( KPL).

Police also revealed on Sunday that Abdul Hajira, went “missing” from his Nairobi home in 2010. Hajira is a son of a Kenya Defence Force officer based at Kahawa Garisson in Nairobi. He left the premier league club to start his football club in Majengo slums.

Hajira’s father told police his son disappeared for more than a year and resurfaced last year to finish his Bachelor of Commerce degree at University of Nairobi. “His father never gave up in trying to trace him. We suspect he had gone to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab,” a source told The Standard.

Somalia diplomat arrested during swoop

28 Apr – Source: Standard Media – 142 words

A top diplomat at the Somali Embassy in Nairobi was among people who were at the weekend arrested in a police swoop in Lavington, Nairobi. The Consular general of the Somali Embassy in Kenya, Siyad Mohamud Shire, was arrested by police on Friday but was later on released after interrogation.

It is not clear why he was arrested from his home. He was detained for several hours, which angered Mogadishu. Somalia Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari was quoted saying Kenya’s attitude violated all international conventions.

“The fact is that (the) Kenyan authorities have behaved atrociously with the Somali diplomat. He even showed the police his identity as a diplomat but still they didn’t respect him. These provocative and unlawful acts are not acceptable to this Parliament and are not acceptable to the Somali people. They cannot be ignored,” said the Somali Speaker.

The Sheikh who would have fought Shabaab at Westgate

28 Apr – Source: Daily Nation – 155 words

When you meet him in the mosque, Sheikh Mohamed looks like he cannot hurt a fly. He wears the demeanour of a shy, polite and courteous man of faith who religiously delivers his sermon at a mosque in Afmadow in southern Somalia every day.

As Afmadow’s Chief Kadhi, he is highly regarded in the small town of 15,000 people from where the extremist Al-Shabaab militants were ejected by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) under the African Union Mission in Somalia last year.

But immediately after the sermon, Sheikh Mohamed switches to his Somalia National Army (SNA) jungle uniform. He packs a rifle and a sword, ready for war.

He then joins other SNA colleagues and KDF in patrols to ensure Al-Shabaab do not attack. It’s not a battle for the faint hearted: this week alone, the militants killed two Somali MPs in Mogadishu and threatened to assassinate all legislators of the internationally backed government.

Kenyans in Somalia

27 Apr- Source: Citizentv- 3:48 min

With relative peace having returned to parts of Somalia, Kenyan professionals having been flying there for greener pastures. But what are the challenges that come with the numerous job opportunities in Somalia? Alex Chamwada interacted with some of the Kenyans working especially in Punt land and Somaliland regions and filed the following report.

10 people dead in Somalia as water scarcity bites

26 Apr – Source: Africa Review – 153 words

Ten people have reportedly died in Central Somalia following extreme water shortage as the dry season intensifies. Community activists including Mohamed Abdullahi Burale, a youth leader in Hiiraan region, who visited parts of the region and the zones close to the border between Somalia and Ethiopia, confirmed on Saturday that scarcity of water is hitting villagers and pastoralists very hard.

The long rains known in Somalia as Gu’ was supposed were expected at the beginning of April. However, the month coming is ending with no signs of rain. “More than forty villages and related pastoral lands in Mataban district (about 380 km north of the Somali capital Mogadishu) are badly affected,” the community leader said.

Another district in the area badly affected by the dry season is Mahas, also in Hiiraan region. Self-help groups and Good Samaritans listed the dry-season-stricken areas as Jiracle, Beergadeed, Bundomadow, Qabno, Libile Madahmarodi, Omaad, Lasole and many others.

Woes of families, soldiers returning from war in Somalia

27 Apr- Source: Standard Media- 238 words

A Senior Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Private serving combat duty in Somalia who helped liberate thousands of kilometers of land from Al-Shabaab militants returned home to receive a frosty reception.

Contemporaries in the military and civilians call him a war hero every time he narrates to them stories of how they were blown up, shot at, traumatised and most importantly, how they whipped the enemy.

His friends honoured him with rounds of drinks. The military gave him a shiny medal, like the rest of the troops. They honoured him for serving the country gallantry.

But a “black shadow” has followed the 28-year-old Senior Private (name withheld) back home from Somalia. In public, he stood tall when he told the stories. Yet in private, he felt not like a rained on and wounded lion but a skinned chicken.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Refugee status for Somali pirates unacceptable: VVD

27 Apr – Source: Dutch News – 139 words

It would be unacceptable if three Somali men convicted of piracy were to be given refugee status in the Netherlands, according to VVD parliamentarians.

‘These troublemakers should be thrown out of the country as quickly as possible,’ MP Malik Azmani said. The pirates have been released from jail but will not be deported because their applications for asylum are still being processed.

The situation is too bizarre for words, Azmani said. ‘First you shoot at Dutch soldiers and then you request asylum here,’ he is quoted as saying. ‘It is unacceptable that these criminals want to remain here.’

The three are part of a group of nine Somali pirates jailed for 4.5 years in 2011 after going on trial in the Netherlands. Having served two-thirds of their sentence, they have now been released from jail.

Somali leaders in Mpls. urge peace, justice in Kenya for refugees

26 Apr- Source: Startribune- 374 words

Leaders of Minnesota’s Somali community urged state and national officials Saturday to condemn the Kenyan government’s detaining of thousands of Somalis.

After rallying at the State Capitol two weeks ago, local Somali-American community and faith leaders metSaturday in Minneapolis to criticize the country’s actions and call for justice for the refugees and citizens that they say are innocent victims, left voiceless.

“Is this the world we live in now? This is crazy,” said Jibril Afyare, president of the Somali Citizens League. “We cannot, as humans, stand it.”

According to international media reports, thousands of refugees, immigrants and Kenyan citizens have been detained in what the government says is a security campaign in response to increasing terrorist activity, turning Kasarani Stadium, in the capital of Nairobi, into a police station to hold suspects.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Somalia needs urgent resuscitation before it goes on a life support system, or possibly, Allah forbid, rests in peace!.”

Somalia: Critical Juncture

26 Apr- Source: Hiiraan Online- 449 words

I am still in denial of how long we, Somalis, endured the ever-lasting state of on-going lawlessness in the land and nationwide intercontinental immigration into seemingly unprecedented foreign habitat. Some might argue this is potentially a continuation and extrapolation of an inherent pastoral, nomadic tradition hailing from our great grandfathers. This generation informally collected quantitative data relying heavily on observed patterns of natural events -signs of rain in their horizon, movement of the wind, and so on-, to project how life will evolve. Many post-civil war Somalis are driven by delusional thinking and unrealistic expectations of safety, wealth and success. Some failed, others succeeded, and the rest are still in pursuit. Collectively, our current bitter reality has led to an unfortunate paradox of emotional instability, making us fall many years behind our peers and biological clock.

Somalia, by and large, has long been called “the land of punt”, remaining a Sub-Saharan symbol for peace and prosperity for centuries. In our recent past, plantation crops from once-rich agricultural fertile land, large livestock export industry, and the geographical advantage of owning the longest coastline in the region created the spinal cord of the Somalia economy. We have been a nation of poets with a rich literary tradition whose heritage remained orally preserved, flourishing so well in spite of the constraints of time and space. Inhabitants of greater Somalia were well known for their patriotism, pride and bravery, making our contemporary enemies resort to the use of the deadliest tactics of warfare.

The cost of dictatorship: a book review

27 Apr- Source: Wardheernews- 233 words

Although I heard about it and reminded myself, on several occasions, to have a look at it, I, finally, had the opportunity to read Jama Mohamed Ghalib’s book, The Cost of Dictatorship, 1995 Edition. While I commend the author’s efforts to record his own experience with the extremely repressive regime he served loyally for such a long time, and although I am, perhaps, a bit sympathetic to his inclination to the Somali unity, I found the author’s account in the book full of historical distortions, perhaps with intended omissions of facts and extreme partiality towards forces that led to the removal of Siyad Barre military dictatorship.

When I read Ghalib’s book I suddenly remembered one incident involving the author during the Somali National Reconciliation Conference in Imbagati, Kenya, 2002-2004. For whatever reasons Mr. Ghalib avoided Hargeisa even when it felt to the forces of Somali National Movement (SNM), he claims that he was the key man in Mogadishu at the time to support its armed struggle against Barre; the General remained connected to Mogadishu even after the collapse of the Somali State. Whatever role he played within the reign of Mogadishu Warlords and their struggle to finish one another, the General finally decided to act as an active member of the Mogadishu civil society politicized organizations. Because of external donors’ manipulations, these organizations became the most serious obstacle to the restoration and re-institution of the Somali state.

“It should be reiterated here that the government and people of Somaliland are truly bound by law to remain impartial and objective to each other and to national objectives in strict adherence to the Constitution of Somaliland and their oft stated goal.”

Somaliland: democracy held aloft

27 Apr- Source: Wardheernews- 419 words

It is win-win for all around to cement our national unity, ward off fragmenting intrusions, foster peaceful coexistence, establish cordial relations with one another, foster partnerships with useful entities, uphold the norms and values in democracy that wholly mould into our culture and faith, and to maintain all of the above till death do us apart.

The Republic of Somaliland is on the side of democracy, freedom of the press and the protection of the basic tenets of the rights of the individual. There is plenty of proof for this assertion: the existence and support of multi-party system, the financial and administrational assistance accorded to the Somaliland electoral system and related bodies, the conduct of freely run municipal council elections, the proliferation and respect of independent media outlets in Somaliland, the constant upgrade of Somaliland judicial organs, human rights bodies, living conditions of prison inmates, and the remarkable achievements in almost all spheres crucial to the socio-economic development of the people of Somaliland.

There are plenty of instances in which the Constitution of the Republic of Somaliland establishes the weight it places on the protection of the rights of the individual, peaceful co-existence, freedom of expression and association within the realms of the national and international laws and the inviolability of the dignity and personal reputation of the individual.

Top tweets

@BBCAfrica #Somalia recalls its ambassador to #Kenya after diplomat arrested – calls for Kenyan govt to ensure the ‘protection of innocent Somalis’.

@Dahirkulane #Somalia needs Int’l support to rebuild federal institutions hold its first truly elections 2016 #UNSOM @Somalia111 http://bit.ly/QOaZwk

@Abdikarim_Abdi3 Legislators are currently demanding serious answers from Minister of National Security regarding Villa #Somalia attack on 21/02/14.

‏@abiudombati #Somalia tells Kenyan govt to ensure the ‘protection of innocent Somalis,’ a day after recalling its ambassador in #Nairobi.

@amisomsomalia #SierraLeonian troops conduct a foot patrol near the city of Kismayo in Southern #Somalia

@AbdullahiAbdi8 @SomaliPM expresses “serious concerns” over the detention of “law abiding” Somalis, who contribute to the Kenyan economy.

Follow the conversation →

Image of the day

Image of the day Somali Foreign minister H.E Dr Abdirahman Beileh Meets with H.E Mongi Hamadi Foreign Minister of Tunisia , 27 Apr 2014, Photo: @BeilehMofa