April 28, 2016 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Somali Security Forces Arrest 15 Al-Shabaab Suspects

28 April – Source: Xinhua News – 160 Words

Somali security forces on Wednesday arrested 15 Al-Shabaab suspects in a joint operation in Daynile district, west of the capital Mogadishu. Spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Security Abdikamil Moalim Shukri said during the security operation carried out together with the African Union peacekeeping forces, the forces held 15 suspects, including an injured member of Al-Shabaab.

“National security forces and AMISOM conducted successful operation in Daynile district. We have captured 15 suspects, three of them admitted being Al-Shabaab militants including injured member. We had the information before the operation and it happened as planned,” Shukri said. Forces from National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and AMISOM have increased operation against the militant group of Al-Shabaab recently.

The NISA captured senior Al-Shabaab militant Hassan Fanah from Kahda district in Benadir early this week. Somali and AU forces flushed out the Islamist militant group from Mogadishu in 2011, but the group still carried out deadly attacks in the Horn of Africa nation.

Key Headlines

Somali Security Forces Arrest 15 Al-Shabaab Suspects (Xinhua News)
EU Envoy And AU Envoy In Somalia Speak On Peacekeeping Funding (Garowe Online)
Construction Of 10000 Housing Units To Start In Mogadishu After Elections Say Turkish Foreign Officials(Goobjoog News)
Fears Of Renewed Clashes As Militiamen Seize Buhodle Town (Goobjoog News)
EU Reiterates Its Continued Support For AMISOM (AMISOM)
Minnesota T.S.A. Manager Says He Was Told To Target Somali-Americans (New York Times)
Somalia: Crisis Not Over (MSF International)
More Effort Needed To De-Radicalize Somali Youths – AU Special Rep For Somalia (AMISOM)
Can A Border Wall Stop ISIS? Construction To Begin On Massive Security Barrier To Stop Terrorists In Kenya (International Business Times)

NATIONAL MEDIA

EU Envoy And AU Envoy In Somalia Speak On Peacekeeping Funding

27 April – Source: Garowe Online – 249 Words

EU envoy to Somalia Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso has stressed strong partnership with the African Union Mission even as the former slashed financial aid by 20 percent. The European Union has provided AMISOM with millions in aid as part of ongoing stabilization operations in central and southern Somalia.

“We know that Al-Shabaab has not been defeated and we are committed to the mission but there are other missions to be accomplished in other areas and we have to give our support,” said Michele, according to Kenya’s newspaper, The Star.

Earlier, AU envoy and AMISOM head Ambassador Fransisco Madeira disclosed that they were on charm offensive to get other donors on board. Troop contributing African countries receive $1,000 for logistics and wages, with each soldier in Somalia securing roughly $800 a month, handsomely contrasting cash to pays of Somali National Army (SNA).

“Our partnership is still excellent. We remain hugely committed to Amisom and to fighting terror,” stressed EU Ambassador to Somalia. Moreover, he called for partners to gather on ways of enhancing the capacity of Somali forces: “That is what this country needs.

”Though EU still pays from last year’s balance of payments, exactly, the 20% that goes to the State would be omitted. AU previously expressed concern over the 20 per cent cut in payments for African Union peacekeepers in the East African country. Somali government forces aided by African Union peacekeepers dislodged Al Shabaab militants from a string of strategic towns in central and southern Somalia.

Construction Of 10,000 Housing Units To Start In Mogadishu After Elections, Say Turkish Foreign Officials

27 April – Source: Goobjoog News – 211 Words

Turkey will start the construction of 10,000 housing units in Mogadishu after August elections in line with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s pledge during his visit in Mogadishu last year. Turkish undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ali Kamal Aydin told Goobjoog News the construction of the housing units will commence once all the legal procedures with the government of Somalia have been finalised.

He added that the process will be conducted in accordance with the City Council planning procedures. The city authorities are yet to announce the site of the houses, which will each range between 45 and 85 square metres: “The government of Turkey will soon start the implementation of the project to construct 10,000 houses but this is not easy work. We need to get all the facilities and documents as the base of the project is related to buying of land,” said Aydin.

Aydin said his country was determined to help Somalia in the reconstruction process noting that the construction of the housing units will go a long way in providing shelter for those who cannot afford it. The housing project will add to a number of other projects undertaken by Turkey, which include the Aden Adde Airport, Digfer Hospital and road construction and street lighting in the capital city of Mogadishu

Fears Of Renewed Clashes As Militiamen Seize Buhodle Town

27 April – Source: Goobjoog News – 143 Words

Tension is mounting in northern Somalia after over hundred fighters with battlewagons took control of Buhodle town, which was previously under the control of Khaatumo self-declared regional state. Residents in Buhodle town said that the militiamen, who were formerly loyal to Khaatumo State, have seized the town without much resistance.

Meanwhile administration of Khatumo has refuted claims that fighters have captured the city. They maintain that the city is still under their control. The President of Khatumo, Ali Khaliif Galayr, who spoke to Goobjoog News said that Khatumo forces are in the city and manning all important government premises: “The town is in our control and no fighting occurred in the area” said Galayr. Somaliland and Khaatumo have previously had sporadic battles in the area, particularly in the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag. In early 2012, Somaliland suffered major setbacks following the deadliest battle in over two decades in Buhoodle.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

EU Reiterates Its Continued Support For AMISOM

27 April – Source: AMISOM – 507 Words

The European Union will continue supporting AMISOM in its efforts to stabilize Somalia despite the recent funding cut, the trade bloc’s ambassador to Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso, has reiterated. Ambassador Cervone d’Urso, who spoke at a media briefing, this week, said EU’s move to cut funding to AMISOM should not be misconstrued as a sign of bad relations, adding that the reduction was a result of competing priorities in Africa and the world in general.

“We had a conference on Somalia recently in Istanbul, and this matter came up and we asked other countries, other organizations, to come up and support AMISOM,” he said. The EU ambassador emphasized AMISOM was important in the fight against terror and must be given the necessary support by the international community.

“Since we are involved and working together in other crises in world, we should also stand with AMISOM in Somalia. On our side, we are committed to maintain the current levels, which is a big commitment,” he added. Last February, heads of state from Troop Contributing Countries, meeting in Djibouti, expressed concern about the EU’s decision to reduce AMISOM troop allowance by 20 percent, urging the UN to intervene and cover the financial shortfall. Currently, the EU is the main funding partner for AMISOM and has committed to continue playing a key role in restoring peace and security in Somalia.

Ambassador Cervone d’Urso thanked AMISOM for enabling a conducive environment for progress and peacebuilding in Somalia: “We have seen in the past three years the development of administrations; we have federal states being created. In a few months, we will have elections in Somalia. In this context, the role of AMISOM is key,” observed the EU ambassador.

He noted that were it not for AMISOM, it would have been difficult for the Somalis in the diaspora to return home or even the Federal Government to control vast swaths of the country. Ambassador Cervone d’Urso observed that there has been increased engagement between international partners and the Somali people beyond the capital Mogadishu, facilitating initiation of political and development programs both in towns and rural areas.

Minnesota T.S.A. Manager Says He Was Told To Target Somali-Americans

27 April – Source: New York Times – 1,119 Words

A Transportation Security Administration manager in Minneapolis said he was instructed by his supervisor to provide the names of Somali-American leaders visiting the agency’s local office so they could be screened against national security databases for terrorist ties, a disclosure that quickly drew accusations of racial profiling.
In a mid year performance evaluation, David McMahon, the supervisor of Andrew Rhoades, an assistant federal security director, wrote that he had advised Mr. Rhoades to check potential visitors to the agency’s offices with the field intelligence officer to determine “if we want them in our office space or meet elsewhere.”

Mr. McMahon, a deputy federal security director, wrote that he “reminded employee that with our current world affairs that we need to be mindful of those we interact with.” Mr. Rhoades, who works with Somalis in the Twin Cities area, said he considered the remarks racial profiling and reported the incident to the T.S.A.’s Office of the Chief Counsel and the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. He has also contacted members of the Minnesota congressional delegation and the Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency that protects federal employees from reprisal.

“I have never been asked to give the names of anyone else who visited the office to the intelligence officer,” Mr. Rhoades said. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties said Tuesday that it had opened an investigation into the allegations. In a statement, the T.S.A., an agency in the Department of Homeland Security, said it did not tolerate racial profiling.“We are reviewing this complaint and will take appropriate action if there is evidence that any T.S.A. officer acted inappropriately,” the agency said. “However, it would be unfair and irresponsible to infer or conclude that profiling is a common T.S.A. practice based upon a single interaction between one employee and his supervisor.”

The disclosure by Mr. Rhoades has prompted accusations of racial profiling from some members of the Somali community, who say they have a long history of mistreatment by T.S.A. at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. It also threatens to undermine efforts by the Obama administration to fight against the recruitment of Somali youth in the United States by the Islamic State and other extremists groups.

Dozens of young men have left Minnesota to join terrorist groups, according to law enforcement officials. Several men who were accused of trying to leave the country to join the Islamic State were indicted by a federal grand jury here in October. Somali leaders acknowledge that the arrest of young men trying to join terrorist groups like the Islamic State is a cause for alarm, but they say that law enforcement agencies should not use that as an excuse to subject the entire community to additional scrutiny.

Somalia: Crisis Not Over

27 April – Source: MSF International – 253 Words

In a report released today, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) highlights violence, displacement and food shortages as salient features of Somalia’s humanitarian landscape. The report, entitled “Hear My Voice”, draws on a survey of more than 800 Somali patients attending MSF medical facilities in Somalia and in Ethiopian refugee camps, as well as quotes from personal testimonies from community members.

What is described is a consistent pattern of high vulnerability and needs related to basic survival such as food, healthcare and protection from violence: “As the Somali government and the international community look to a brighter future in Somalia with a focus on stability and development, we cannot forget that many thousands of people are still exposed to extreme levels of violence and in need of emergency life-saving assistance,” says Operations Manager Joe Belliveau.

Over half of the persons reported being displaced from their homes with approximately half of them stating violence and fear of attack, and another third stating food shortage, as the main reasons for displacement: “Lack of security, lack of food, lack of humanity, lack of freedom and family separation are the hardest things in life. I have been displaced more than 10 times in my life. My husband died in an attack, and two of my children died because I was not able to give them food,” reported a 25-year-old woman from Lower Juba. The report emphasises that humanitarian assistance must remain a priority in large parts of south-central Somalia and that it must remain independent of any political agenda.

More Effort Needed To De-Radicalize Somali Youths – AU Special Rep For Somalia

27 April – Source: AMISOM – 497 Words

The African Union Special Representative for Somalia Ambassador Madeira Francisco has reiterated the urgent need to de-radicalize youths in Somalia and protect them from victimization by Al Shabaab terrorists.

Speaking during a recent media engagement session in Mogadishu, Ambassador Madeira observed that though extensive progress has been made against Al Shabaab, more needs to be done to curtail its ability to spread terror: “We are going to concentrate on de-radicalization. We are going to sensitize the youths that they are being misled by these murderers; that joining these people is not a good idea and that these people stand for evil,” he said.

Ambassador Madeira said the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will try its best to provide education, shelter and food to the youth to prevent them from being recruited by Al Shabaab. He also spoke about the on-going efforts, undertaken together with the international community to bar supply of arms to terrorists and also cut their sources of funding.

Last February, the heads of state from Troop Contributing Countries, meeting in Djibouti, urged the international community to cut financial links and punish financiers of Al Shabaab wherever they are: “We are working with the international community, to reduce the number of weapons that come, for instance, from Yemen into Somalia,” he added.

Last March, in separate incidents, French and Australian navies, operating under Combined Maritime Forces, seized Somali-bound ships carrying large amounts of weapons believed to consignments for Al Shabaab. The weapons were seized under United Nations Security Council mandated arms embargo to prevent illegal weapons reaching the terrorist group.

Ambassador Madeira said AMISOM with the help of its development partners will continue helping Somalia strengthen its government institutions to restore and maintain the rule of law. He further expressed optimism that the war against Al Shabaab will be won by sheer will and resilience of the Somali people, evident in the on-going initiative to stabilize and reconstruct the country.

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“At least one senior Kenyan politician has expressed skepticism over the government’s plan to pay for the wall’s construction, reported local news outlet Tuko. “Kenya government doesn’t even have the resources to build over 1000km [approximately 621 miles] of a wall,” said Aden Duale, leader of Majority in the National Assembly”.

Can A Border Wall Stop ISIS? Construction To Begin On Massive Security Barrier To Stop Terrorists In Kenya

27 April – Source: International Business Times – 443 Words

Perhaps taking a page from U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s book on national security, the East African country of Kenya plans to build a massive wall along part of its border with neighboring Somalia in an effort to prevent terrorists from crossing between nations, Defense News reported. The wall is expected to run nearly 435 miles along Kenya’s northeastern border and specifically targets the Somalia-based al-Shabab terror group, which recently launched a series of deadly attacks in Kenya.

“This wall will help us check on people like al-Shabab from crossing to and from Somalia,” Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said last weekend in the capital city of Nairobi. It was immediately unclear when the construction would begin.

Trump has proposed building a similarly styled wall along the southern U.S. border with Mexico to reduce the number of people illegally entering the country. The businessman-turned-politician has also hinted that the Islamic State group is entering the U.S. by crossing those same borders. The proposal has been rejected by the Mexican government, and Somalia’s government has reportedly reacted similarly to Kenya’s plans.

“There is a need for joint cooperation between both countries and our leaders in dealing with terrorism, which has affected us negatively,” Nkaissery added. Al-Shabaab is chief among the countries’ terror concerns, but the Islamic State group’s recent attack in Somalia could complicate matters. It’s an indication that there may be a larger terror threat at hand for each country, as well as the region.

In Somalia, ISIS claimed responsibility for detonating an explosive that damaged a vehicle. While that instance is decidedly less deadly than the attacks the group has come to be known for, “it does testify to the presence of Islamic State sympathizers on the ground in Somalia and the potential for the group to inspire fissures among Al-Shabaab fighters and sympathizers,” Matt Bryden, a Somalia expert based in Nairobi, told the International Business Times this week.

Aside from the Kenya-Somalia border wall’s considerable length, it is expected to have barbed wire electric fencing, multiple observation posts and surveillance cameras, among other preventative features. The cost for building and maintaining the wall was immediately unavailable, but the Kenyan government has declared it will fund the endeavor entirely.