April 30, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somaliland ministers meet Puntland president in Ethiopia

30 Apr – Source: Radio Garowe Online/Radio RBC- 219 words

Somaliland ministers said they met with the President of Somalia’s Semi-autonomous state of Puntland during a visit to Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, according to Somaliland foreign minister.

Mohamed Bihi Yonis, who is the foreign minister of the self-proclaimed breakaway region of the northern Somalia, now known as Somaliland commented that the Addis Ababa meeting was good and positive in advance.

“We have discussed many issues as we have some common concerns including the security of the two regions.” he added.

Both Somaliland and Puntland have disputes of territorial ownership in the Sool and Sanag regions which led to deadly wars since 2001.

The minister said they have addresses the land disputes between Somaliland and Puntland, despite he termed the claim as “Somaliland borders”.

If the minister’s claim were correct, this becomes the first ever direct talks between the two neighboring regions since the new president of Puntland took office early this year.

In early April, Somaliland forces seized the strategic town of Taleh, which is claimed by Somaliland, Puntland and the newly former administration of Khatumo. Puntland then threatened that it will react against the invasion which led to Somaliland forces to withdraw from the town a day after its seizure.

Puntland officials did not comment on the claims of the meeting in Addis Ababa from the Somaliland ministers.

Key Headlines

Somaliland ministers meet Puntland president in Ethiopia (Radio Garowe/RBC)
Three Interim Jubba Administration soldiers shot dead in Kismayu (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Risaala)
Kismayo DC Says Britain played significant role in reconstruction efforts in Kismayo (Radio Goobjoog/Dhanaan Online/Salaan Media)
Landmine explosion kills four in central Somalia (Radio Kulmiye/ Radio Bar-kulan)
Galmudug plans to send emergency relief to areas hit by acute water shortage (Universal TV/SNTV/Radio Goobjoog)
Lafoole administration plans to relocate people displaced from Qoryooley district (Radio Goobjoog)
EU to continue to be key Security Partners for Somalia (Somali Current)
Aid food for southern regions diverted by government officials (Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle)
Minister of National Security vows to reopen roads in the regions (Radio Shabelle)
The day they dragged my son’s body in the streets of Kismayu (Standard Media)
Somalis in Minnesota condemn Kenyan police crackdown (Somali Current)
Two warring clans agree on ceasefire in Galgadud region (Radio Bar-kulan)
African defense ministers to hold security forum in Ethiopia (Walta Information Centre)
Scars of war: The untold story of fathers who give their sons for the war on terror (Standard Media)
Polio cases in Horn of Africa threaten Tanzania (Ippmedia)
The soldier who predicted his own death (Standard Media)
Kenya: Saudis get terrorism suspect released (Star-Kenya)
Father of teenage stowaway arrives in Hawaii -state official (Reuters)
Interview with Vincent Makori of Voice of America’s Africa 54 (State.gov)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somaliland ministers meet Puntland president in Ethiopia

30 Apr – Source: Radio Garowe Online/Radio RBC- 219 words

Somaliland ministers said they met with the President of Somalia’s Semi-autonomous state of Puntland during a visit to Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, according to Somaliland foreign minister.

“We have discussed many issues as we have some common concerns including the security of the two regions.” he added.

Both Somaliland and Puntland have disputes of territorial ownership in the Sool and Sanag regions which led to deadly wars since 2001.

The minister said they have addresses the land disputes between Somaliland and Puntland, despite he termed the claim as “Somaliland borders”.

If the minister’s claim were correct, this becomes the first ever direct talks between the two neighboring regions since the new president of Puntland took office early this year.

Puntland officials did not comment on the claims of the meeting in Addis Ababa from the Somaliland ministers.

Three Interim Jubba Administration soldiers shot dead in Kismayu

30 Apr- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Somalimemo/Radio Risaala/Jowhar Online- 102 words

Gunmen have on Tuesday night shot dead three Interim Jubba Administration soldiers in the port city of Kismayu, the administrative capital of the interim administration.

Eyewitnesses told Bar-kulan that the assailants immediately escaped from the scene after gunning down the three soldiers in Via Afmadow neighborhood.

Interim Jubba Administration security forces arrived at the scene shortly after the incident and carried out search and security operations. No arrests were reported and the motives behind the killings of the soldiers are unclear.

There has been a sharp increase of attacks and killings against influential figures and security forces in Kismayu in recent weeks.

Kismayo DC Says Britain played significant role in reconstruction efforts in Kismayo

30 Apr- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Dhanaan Online/Salaan Media- 124 words

The leaders of interim Juba administration in Southern Somalia stated that the government of Britain has actively taken part in reconstruction of Kismayo town.

Kismayo district commissioner Mohamed Yussuf Timajilic said that the government of Britain has supported Juba administration to install solar powered lights in the bigger streets of Kismayo.

He added that the solar powered lights has improved security of the town as business activities in the district continue up to late hours of the night.

Delegates from Britain and Kenya led by Britain’s Minister for Africa Mark Simmonds arrived Kismayo and had discussions with top leaders of interim Juba administration and pledged that Britain will continue its support to juba administration.

Landmine explosion kills four in central Somalia

30 Apr- Source: Radio Kulmiye/ Radio Bar-kulan/Rasminews- 157 words

Reports from Galgadud region in central Somalia indicate that at least four people have been killed and three others were injured in a landmine explosion in Dabeyla-weyn village, 6 KM north of Dhabad.

Aden Abulle Galal, a Somali government official in Dhabad told Bar-kulan that those who were injured in the incident were admitted to a medical centre in Dhabad for further treatments. Galal further stated that landmine explosions have been frequent occurrences in this part of the region.

He lamented the negligence of landmine clearing agencies in the region where he said there have not been any demining activities in the area in recent times.

The official called on the federal government and the landmine clearing agencies to immediately engage in demining activities in the region.

The last time a similar explosion occurred in this area was twelve years ago when at least 7 people from a single family lost their lives in a landmine explosion.

Galmudug plans to send emergency relief to areas hit by acute water shortage

30 Apr- Source: Universal TV/SNTV/Radio Goobjoog- 118 words

The president of Galmudug regional state in central Somalia Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid for the first time spoke about the situation of areas under his administration where water shortage to loss people and animals.

Speaking to the journalist in Galkayo Mr. Qeybdiid stated that his administration will immediate support to the affected people in the region.

He called on the aid agencies and businessmen in the region to take part in the rescue mission to supply water and food to the people who are in desperate conditions due to acute water shortage.

Over six people died in Galmudug due to acute water shortage that has resulted to mass displacement of people from the region in search of water.

Lafoole administration plans to relocate people displaced from Qoryooley district

30 Apr- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 113 words

The administration of Lafoole locality in Lower Shabelle region stated that they will give relocation to be people who fled from Qoryooley district when the offensive war against al Shabaab started in the area.

The head of social services of Lafoole administration told Goobjoog radio that the people who reached the area are in desperate conditions and need immediate help.

He called the federal government of Somalia and international aid agencies to send emergency relief to the affected people in the area.

On the other hand other people who fled from Qoryooley are now stationed in Elasha Biyaha. Somali national army and African Union troops have taken over Qoryooley from Al-shabab earlier last Month.

EU to continue to be key Security Partners for Somalia

30 Apr – Source: Somali Current – 169 words

European Union Military Committee who has met Somali Federal Government President Hassan Sheik Mohamoud, Prime Minister Abdiweli and the Somali National Security Council in Mogadishu’s presidential Palace, named Villa Somalia pledged their commitment to continue to be key security partners for Somalia, according to a Press release issued by EU Military Committee.

EU Military Committee composed of General Patrick de Rousiers, Chair of the EU Military Committee, together with the EU Military Representatives of Ireland, The Netherlands and Sweden. The aim of their meeting was to review the progress of the EU Training Mission of the Somali National Armed Forces, to take the stock of the progress made by the current SNA/AMISOM operations, and to discuss broader EU cooperation in support of the Somali security forces.

General de Rousiers underscored the “EU commitment to enhance capacities of the Somali National Armed Forces and maritime security structures”. President Hassan Sheikh “appreciated the continued EU support to AMISOM and welcomed the full deployment of the EU Training Mission in Mogadishu”.

Aid food for southern regions diverted by government officials

30 Apr- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle/Wajid Online- 234 words

Aid food directed to most needy people in Baay and Bakool regions of Southern Somalia was diverted by government officials, according to the Interior and Federal Affairs Minister Abdullahi Godah Barre.

Mr Barre who was briefing parliamentarians on Tuesday admitted that the food aid donated by a foreign country was intended to be distributed to the people in the newly liberated districts of Baay and Bakool regions but unfortunately was diverted by government officials responsible for its distribution.

“It is true and as some of your distinguished parliamentarians aware, the food aid was allocated to the people in Baay and Bakool regions, especially the newly captured areas, but it was stolen by irresponsible people.” the minister said.

“But fortunately we have retaken the food and caught those responsible stealing.” he added.

There are no any of those claimed to be responsible of stealing food aid appeared before a court yet, despite the minister confirmed for their arrest.

According to the minister’s comments, the food aid was redistributed to the most needy citizens in the Lower Shabelle region, where hundreds of civilians displaced from their homes following massive military assault on Al Shabab controlled districts of the region by the National Army and the African Union Forces.

The statement of the aid food diversion comes as a dozen of people reportedly died for hunger and thirsty in the south and central regions of this country.

Minister of National Security vows to reopen roads in the regions

29 Apr – Source: Radio Shabelle – 96 words

Many roads in South and Central Somalia have been closed by al Shabaab, blocking access of the civilians that want to enter regions like Bakool and Hiiraan.

The Minister of National Security Abdikarim Hussein Guled declared that the Federal Government will open the roads leading from Buloburde to Beledweyne amongst other streets. The Minister claimed that the Federal Government is planning on opening the roads as soon as possible in order to allow access to trucks carrying aid.

After liberation of many towns in Bakool and Hiiraan, al Shabaab insurgents have blocked the borders of roads entering the regions.

Somalis in Minnesota condemn Kenyan police crackdown

29 Apr – Source: Somali Current – 135 words

A meeting attended by Somalis who live in Minnesota and members from US government has been held in Minnesota where participants of the conference have denounced and showed their anger against Kenyan police crackdown on Somali citizens and refugees in Nairobi, Kenya.

For the last 30 days, more than thousands of Somali refugees, Kenyan Somali nationals, and others seeking asylum have been rounded up and were in an impossible condition after Kenyan police forces indiscriminately arrested, tortured and forcefully deported in a brutal crackdown by Kenyan Paramilitary police forces.

“When we compare the ongoing barbaric incidents in Kenya, where police is ruthlessly punishing and torturing Somali refugees, to the modern world that we live, the situation is craziness and cannot be accepted any longer.” Said Jibril Af-yare, Chairman of Somali Citizens league Organization in Minnesota.

Two warring clans agree on ceasefire in Galgadud region

29 Apr – Source: Bar-kulan – 108 words

A meeting to reconcile two warring clans in Gumare locality in Galgadud region has been concluded on Tuesday. The meeting was organized by Himan and Heeb administration officials and was attended by community and traditional elders from the two warring clans.

Hassan Abdullahi Mohamed, the Minister for Interior of Himan and Heeb who led the administration’s delegation in the meeting told Bar-kulan that the sides agreed on a number of key points including immediate ceasefire and the implementation of the new agreement.

At least five people were killed and 8 others injured after two clan militias clashed over a land ownership dispute in Gumare in February this year.

REGIONAL MEDIA

African defense ministers to hold security forum in Ethiopia

30 Apr- Source: Walta Information Centre/ newbusinessethiopia-238 words

Defense ministers from different African countries along with United Nations and United States officials are set to hold ‘Peacekeeping & Stability Links Africa 2014’ forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The summit, Peacekeeping & Stability Links Africa 2014, set to take place from June 25-26, 2014, aims to address the ever-growing concern for long-term security and stability across the continent, according to the press statement of the conference organizer, ConfLinks.

Global military budgets are currently estimated to exceed $20billion whilst the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations exceed a further $12billion.

The forum will also bring together participants from local and global business operators for idea sharing and bilateral discussions focused on public-private partnerships (PPPs), the organizers stated.

Discussions will include topics around counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, logistics solutions, border control, counter- narcotics, construction / refurbishment, defense sector training, maritime security, capacity building, equipment procurement, aerial surveillance and election monitoring.

Some of the guests include minister of defense and Interior from across Sub-Saharan Africa such as South Sudan, Ghana, Somalia, Djibouti, Nigeria, Central Africa Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Niger, Cameroon, Uganda and Kenya.

Representatives from United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in the DRC (MONUSCO), the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), Central African Republic (MISCA), Darfur (UNAMID) the African-led Support International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Trans Sahara Counter-terrorism Partnership (TSCTP) are also will attend.

Scars of war: The untold story of fathers who give their sons for the war on terror

30 Apr- Source: Standard Media- 9:54 min

Since 2012 a number of military officers are said to have resigned from the force, some are on the brink of being court-marshaled for desertion. Ktn’s Kathryn Omwandho spoke to two soldiers who say that this could have been as a result of what went on in Somalia and how the kenya armed forces treated it’s soldiers. Officers who saw war first hand are yet to receive counseling and those injured are yet to be compensated. Tonight serving soldiers tell you how the battlefield was and how they feel about the incursion into Somalia.

Polio cases in Horn of Africa threaten Tanzania

30 Apr- Source: Ippmedia- 417 words

While Tanzania has not had a single case of polio since 1998, recent outbreak of the virus in the Horn of Africa (cases in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia) threatens to spread and re-infect the country.

Addressing a news conference in Dar es Salaam early this week, Rotary International President -Elect Gary Huang warned that: “We saw in 2009 and 2010 how quickly polio came back to Uganda, and that is why it is critical that all children are protected from this devastation disease.”

However, he reassured the public that: “Rotary and its partners are close to eradicating the second human disease in history after smallpox…we have achieved 99 percent reduction in polio cases since 1988,” he said.

The day they dragged my son’s body in the streets of Kismayu

29 Apr- Source: Standard Media- 384 words

On the morning of September 1, 2012, the world woke up to shocking footage of Al-Shabaab militants dragging the bodies of men in military uniform in the streets of Kismayu. The militants had forced families to come out of their homes to watch them lugging the bodies leashed on cars. Kenyans were being subjected to same humiliation that Americans endured in 1993 when warlords dragged mutilated bodies of US soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu. The Twitter handle for Al-Shabaab even referred to the infamous Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, saying “Just like all invaders before them, #Kenyan soldiers were mercilessly dragged in the streets of Kismayu by an angry mob.” One of the bodies tied to a vehicle driving through the streets was that of Private Suleiman Adan, the son of a soldier from Isiolo, who was barely out of his teens by the time he was enlisted in the military. The Kenya Defence Forces promised Kenyans that they would do everything possible to have Suleiman’s body brought back home for burial.

The soldier who predicted his own death

29 Apr- Source: Standard Media- 248 words

There is only one reason why scores of military officers in uniform arrived at Joseph Onguso Nyabanga’s home in Nyamira County on that gloomy day in 2012. His son, Private Jasper Onguso, 26, was dead. He had been killed on the frontline in Somalia, fighting for his motherland. Before his death, Mr Onguso had been mourning silently for seven days, pleading with God to spare his first-born son, who had had a premonition of his own death. Jasper had already warned him that he was unlikely to return home alive. “The last time I spoke with him, he told me he was not coming home. He said that his friends had gone (died). That was on aSaturday. The next Saturday, Jasper was dead,” recalls Mr Onguso. Jasper had told his father in that phone call that they were approaching Kismayu.

Kenya: Saudis get terrorism suspect released

29 Apr- Source: Star-Kenya- 324 words

The Saudi Arabian Embassy has intervened in a case where a Saudi Arabian was charged with terrorism. Ali Hanas was discharged by a Mombasa court yesterday. Magistrate Abraham Gachie said he considered a sworn affidavit of Barisa Abaroba, the investigating officer, that Hanas was not connected to the alleged terrorist activities. “Upon hearing Abaroba’s application, I hereby allow his application to release the suspect to the royal embassy of Saudi Arabia,”said Gachie. The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia wrote to the Mombasa county CID Department confirming that Hanas is a Saudi Arabian national. The letter said Hanas came to Kenya as a tourist and had no ill motives towards Kenya. The letter indicated that upon release, they would take up the responsibility of repatriating Hanas back to his original homeland.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Father of teenage stowaway arrives in Hawaii -state official

30 Apr- Source: Reuters- 647 words

The father of a 15-year-old Somali boy has arrived in Honolulu, where his son is in a hospital after surviving a trip from California to Hawaii stowed away in the wheel well of a jet, Hawaii officials on Tuesday. The boy sneaked into the wheel compartment of a Boeing 767 that took off earlier this month from San Jose International Airport. He became one of only a fraction of stowaways to emerge alive after braving freezing temperatures and low oxygen levels.
He told investigators he wanted to go to Africa to see his mother, according to CNN.

Interview with Vincent Makori of Voice of America’s Africa 54

28 Apr- Source: State.gov- 894 words

Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. is considering sanctions on people encouraging unrest in South Sudan, where political and sectarian violence has displaced more than 1 million people. Kerry had a wide ranging interview Monday with Vincent Makori from VOA English-to-Africa’s Africa 54 program.

Question: Now, we’re still on the terrorism activities. So in the East African region, al-Shabaab is quite a menace to Somalia and now to Kenya. What more can the U.S. do there?

Secretary Kerry: Again, we are providing support to the Somali – to the government. We’re also supplying support to the international forces on the ground that are there to help try to keep the peace. We’ve made some progress. We’re – we think the leaders in Somalia have helped significantly to try to create a beachhead of governance, and they’ve made some progress. But al-Shabaab and others have reached not just there, into Kenya, into other parts of the east, and this is a continued struggle. This is not going to be easy. But I’m convinced the vast majority of the populations, and I think the leaders, want to move in the right direction. And it just takes additional help. That’s one of the conversations we will have in our meetings with AU people when I’m in Addis Ababa. We will talk about continued assistance to Somalia, to the AMISOM effort and so forth.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“With Kenya’s leadership backing the ongoing operation, which also enjoys popular public support, Somali leaders have had to bite their tongue until now, when they can mount a loud protest rather disproportional to the triggering case. Turning up the heat on Kenya’s leaders debunks the image of being seen as toothless by Somalis and plays to the public gallery, while also staying on the “right” side of the Kenyan authorities. It is clearly a win-win situation for both sets of leaders.”

Why Somalia wants to escalate Kenya consular arrest

29 Apr- Source: Africa Review- 551 words

In one of the most cited cases of diplomatic immunity, Antonio da Silveira, Jr., the 23-year-old son of the Brazilian ambassador to Washington, one night in November 1982 took time off his studies at an American university and headed for a night club.

While there, he got into an altercation with the club’s management, who encouraged him to leave. The chastened young man threatened the manager with a gun, before attempting to shoot the bouncer who had moved to eject him.

The weapon would not fire, but he was more successful when the confrontation spilled outside the building, wounding the bouncer in three places.
The Brazilian youth was later detained, and having given a false name, was unable to post bail.

Reported missing the next day to the FBI and local police, he was only found when he identified himself late the next day. He was immediately released and the charges against him dropped.

The public uproar at this precipitated his departure together with his mother a month later. The bouncer eventually recovered and was the next year paid cash ex gratia, having unsuccessfully tried to sue for damages. The concept of diplomatic immunity and privileges is one of the most known, even if one of the most poorly understood by the public.

This week, Somalia recalled its ambassador to Kenya in protest at the Nairobi arrest of a consul of the Horn of Africa country in a security swoop following rising insecurity.

“My message to Somalis is very loud and clear: Dear compatriots, there is no place like home, that is Mogadishu, Hargeysa, Bosassao and Kismayo where you all belong, not Nairobi and Eastliegh, A person travels the world, to quote George Moore’s masterpiece, “The Brook Kerith”, in search of what he needs and finally returns home to find it.”

A Lesson for Somalis in the Ongoing Kenya Security Swoop

29 Apr- Source: Horseed Media- 376 words

Google search of “Somalis in Kenya” trawls files in 0.20 seconds, with specific prompts of 1984 Wagalla Massacre of ethnic Somalis by Kenyan Security forces. A click on the pictures portal leads to an array of images aggregated for years. Elders still recall their pain, and their good fortune of having lived to tell their stories.

If ever there was a shrine of tears, to paraphrase the late Francis Imbuga’s novel, then it surely was that ghastly day.
The subsequent Kenyan leaders were almost all boorish with Somalis, here is script of President Jomo Kenyatt’s infamous 1964 statement, “To the people who live in North Eastern region (Somalis), I have this to say: We know that many of you are herdsmen during the day and shiftas (bandits) at night”.

Today, years later, Somalis(whether Kenyan Somalis or not ) are still suffering in Kenya, being hounded as suspected terrorists and flocked to Stadium Kasarani, a place human rights activists say is reminiscent of a concentration camp.

“Sahro Hassan sticks out, which is hard to do when you’re maybe five feet tall. This girl wears cheetah print on cheetah print. Her skirt’s like a disco ball.”

This Somali teen fashion designer goes big with animal print hijabs

28 Apr- Source: PRI- 771 words

Sahro is a Somali immigrant, one of thousands who immigrated to the United States to escape the violence back home in Somalia. Like many Muslim women, Sahro wears a hijab, a traditional headscarf, to cover her hair. But her hijab is bright orange and sparkly.

“I wouldn’t go Lady Gaga extreme, but I like something that people look at it and think, oh my god, that’s interesting. Like, what is she wearing,” Sahro says.

The high school senior lives in Lewiston, Maine, and she’s mad for fashion, but the fashion scene in Lewiston isn’t quite up to her standards.

“Oh god. Jeans. Sweatpants,” she says.

Lewiston is blue collar, an old mill town. Thought hijabs don’t stand out there the way they did when the first Somali refugee families began arriving in 2001. The city is now nearly 10 percent Somali, and the downtown crowds are a mix of lumberjack flannel and East African influences.

Top tweets

@SimonFraserFCO Pleased to meet Leader Madobe in#Kismayo yestrdy. Valuable to listen to his view of #Somalia.@UKinSomalia @FCONeilWigan.

@amisomsomalia Somalis enjoy themselves at Lido beach. al Shabaab had banned such social gatherings between men & women in #Somalia pic.twitter.com/RpVe3wfUHo

‏@radiogarowe #Somalia: Puntland leader meets Somaliland delegation on sidelines of Africa Security Forumhttp://bit.ly/1hP6SFX

@africareview #Burundi has denied “rumours” that the UN is planning to expel Burundian peacekeepers serving in the African Union in #Somalia (AMISOM).

@Miss_E_White @KieraStein #SomaliaAlert 2.9 million people still in need in #Somalia. Spread the word, sign-on to our#Thunderclap http://thndr.it/1tZ6sGD

@Payitforward87 Banadir Hospital Mogadishu to be reconstructed by the Chinese government. Well as long as there’s security. #Somalia pic.twitter.com/vJpORAbbUK

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Image of the day

Image of the day UK Delegates meet Jubba State leader Ahmed Mohammed Islaan Madobe in Kismaayo yesterday. Photo: Dhanaan Online