August 11, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
United Nations delegation arrives in Jowhar town
11 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 123 words
A delegation from a number of UN agencies including UNICEF, UNDP, ILO and Somalia’s Ministry of Interior on Sunday arrived in Jowhar town, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region.
The Deputy Commissioner of Middle Shabelle region Yusuf Jalle who was among the delegation said the objective of delegation’s visit to Jowhar is to assess the current situation in the region.
He said the UN agencies will assist the regional administration in new projects including the reconstruction of water canals destroyed by last year’s flooding of Shabelle River.
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner said that new police force will be established in Jowhar town and vowed that Al Shabaab militants will be driven out of the region.
Key Headlines
- United Nations delegation arrives in Jowhar town (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Delegation led by Mogadishu Mayor reaches Stockholm (Jowhar Online)
- National Security shot and killed al Shabaab commander in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/Radio RBC)
- Somali National Army to Launch New Offensive Againat Al-Shabaab – Army Chief (Bernama)
- Emirates Issued travel advisory on Somalia (Radio Goobjoog)
- Reconciliation talks concluded in Abudwak district (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Security forces chasing wanted warlord raid MP’s house in the capital (Radio RBC)
- Tur yare: al Shabaab suspects receive fair judgement (Radio Goobjoog)
- ASWJ voice opposition to central Somali state formation agreement (Bar-kulan)
- AMISOM police set to deploy outside Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
- Senior Puntland Govt official survives attempt on his life (Radio Garowe)
- Former Somaliland minister and president advisor reaches Garowe (Radio RBC/Halgan Online)
- UPDF warns soldiers against spreading ‘lies’ (Daily Monitor)
- Planes used to attack Lamu raiders’ hideouts: Witnesses (Daily Nation)
- A New Life for Refugees and the City They Adopted (New York Times)
- Chinese embassy returns to Somalia (CCTV)
- Somali president calls on diaspora to denounce al Shabaab (Mpr News)
PRESS STATEMENT
President & Prime Minister of Somalia Congratulate Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Winning Turkey’s First Direct Presidential Election
11 Aug- Source: Office of the President-172 words
His Excellency the President, Hassan Shiekh Mohamud and His Excellency the Prime Minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed congratulate Recep Tayyip Erdogan on winning Turley’s first popular presidential election.
HE Excellency the President said: “I congratulate the outgoing Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his election as the new President of Turkey. This is an historic vote and we know how important this vote is for Turkish politics and our friends, theTurkish people.”
HE the President continued: “Turkey has been supporting Somalia in terms of humanitarian assistance, business, infrastructure, development and many other areas. Over the years an excellent relationship has developed between the two countries and the Somali Government and the Somali people are thankful for Turkey’s support. We look forward to many more years of friendship and mutual cooperation .
HE the President concluded: “I look forward to working with President Erdogan and the Turkish people as we build a new Somalia.”
SOMALI MEDIA
United Nations delegation arrives in Jowhar town
11 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 123 words
A delegation from a number of UN agencies including UNICEF, UNDP, ILO and Somalia’s Ministry of Interioron Sunday arrived in Jowhar town, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region.
The Deputy Commissioner of Middle Shabelle region Yusuf Jalle who was among the delegation said the objective of delegation’s visit to Jowhar is to assess the current situation in the region.
He said the UN agencies will assist the regional administration in new projects including the reconstruction of water canals destroyed by last year’s flooding of Shabelle River.
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner said that new police force will be established in Jowhar town and vowed that Al Shabaab militants will be driven out of the region.
Delegation led by Mogadishu Mayor reaches Stockholm
11 Aug- Source: Jowhar Online/Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog/Mareeg Online- 127 words
The high level delegation led by the Governor Benadir Regional Administration and Mayor of Mogadishu Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab reached the Swedish capital, Stockholm.
Banaadir governor received an official invitation from his Stockholm counterpart Mr. Sten Nurdin, and are expected to sign deals and projects to rehabilitate the recovering city.
The delegation headed by the Mayor is scheduled to have discussions with Stockholm Mayor and members of the Swedish parliament on issues concerning the relations of the two cities and to develop ways of cooperation towards twining the cities.
He will also meet the Somali community in Stockholm to discuss how they can participate in the reconstruction process of Mogadishu city, before he proceed the tour to other European countries.
National Security shot and killed al Shabaab commander in Mogadishu
11 Aug- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio RBC- 235 words
The National Security of Somalia Government on Saturday evening shot and killed a senior commander of al Shabaab militant group who was hiding in Mogadishu’s Huriwaa district.
The security forces together with the Intelligence Unit launched tough operation in a house near the S.O.S hospital in Huriwaa district after they have received information relating to senior al Shabaab commander who was hiding in the house.
The Spokesman of the National Security Minister Mohamed Yusuf Osman said the security forces shot and killed Nur Barahow and arrested two other members of al Shabaab from the same house.
“The Security apparatus launched successful operation after receiving information from the local community, as they reached the house near the S.O.S hospital where Nur Barahow was hiding.” the Spokesman said.
He said the killing of Nur Barahow came after intense gunfire with the security forces resulting his death. The spokesman confirmed the two arrested were the guards of the killed commander.
“The security forces ordered Nur Barahow to surrender but he started to resist and that led to his death,” he added.
According to intelligence source obtained by RBC Radio, Nur Barahow was senior commander of al Shabaab’s Amniyat group responsible for assassinating government officials in Mogadishu. He was also key figure for al Shabaab’s intelligence unit operating in Banadir and Shabelle regions.
Mr Barahow has been living in Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle region in the past three years.
Emirates Issued travel advisory on Somalia
11 Aug- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 91 words
The government of the United Arab Emirates has warned citizens against travelling to three countries due to their security conditions. In a statement from the ministry of foreign affairs the government cautioned its people from going to three countries(Somalia, Afghanistan and South Sudan).
The number of countries, which the UAE has warned its citizens against travelling, reached 13 after the above three.
Earlier, the UAE issued travel warning about Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Nigeria, Ukraine, Thailand, Iraq and Libya because of unrest and disorder there.
Reconciliation talks concluded in Abudwak district
11 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 117 words
A meeting designed to reconcile two warring clans in Somalia’s central region of Galgadud has been concluded in Abudwak, Galgadud region. The reconciliation efforts were jointly organized by the federal government, Galgadud regional administration, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a and traditional elders from the region.
Abudwak district administration official Abdirisak Hassan awl Takilo told Bar-kulan that the meeting has produced tangible success and its intended goals.
He said community members in Abudwak agreed to work together in order to maintain law and order and to prevent anything that can disrupt the peaceful coexistence between the communities. Takilo urged locals to work with his administration in its attempts to maintain peace and security.
Security forces chasing wanted warlord raid MP’s house in the capital
11 Aug – Source: Radio RBC – 145 words
Somali government security forces raided Member of Parliament’s house in Mogadishu on Sunday evening after chasing a wanted warlord Abdi Nure Siyad (known as Abdi Waal). According to security source, the National Intelligence and Security Forces hunting the warlord chased his car shortly after he left Hotel Jazeera near the Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle Airport on Sunday evening.
The wanted warlord then escaped from the car. At least one security officer was shot and killed after fierce gunfire broke out between the MP’s militia and the security forces chasing the wanted warlord.
MP Qanayre, the son of well known former warlord in Mogadishu who joined the parliament on behalf of his ailing father said his body guards mistakenly fired the security forces suspecting they were Al Shabaab fighters attacked his home. He blamed the security officials for not informing him the search operation into his home.
Turyare: al Shabaab suspects receive fair judgement
10 Aug – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 137 word
Somali Military Court Chairman of stated that the court is dealing with al Shabaab members in a way different from how they deal with the people especially. Head of Somali military court Abdirahman Mahamed Turyare told Goobjoog FM that al Shabaab members always meet justice without any threats when they are taken into custodies.
Turyare added that they prefer to speed up the judgment of al Shabaab members in the government’s prisons at the moment to give room for fair trials adding that they sometimes hire lawyers to defend their cases.
He accused al Shabaab killing the innocent citizens immediately on the spot without justice while the military court concentrates its energy to provide every Somali citizen rights to defend themselves before the court. Somali military court the last few weeks has executed over six convicted Al-shabab members in Mogadishu.
ASWJ voice opposition to central Somali state formation agreement
10 Aug -Source: Bar-kulan – 151 words
Somalia’s moderate Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a group held a meeting in Herale village to voice opposition to recently signed agreement in principle to form an interim state in central Somalia. Officials from Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a group and traditional elders from the area attended the meeting.
They expressed their opposition to the agreement which calls for the formation of a unified regional state for Mudug and Galgadud regions in central Somalia.Sheikh Abdikani Sheikh Yusuf Ibrahim, one of the traditional elders participating in the meeting told Bar-kulan that they will not accept the outcome of the government sponsored meeting held in Mogadishu.
He said they consider the agreement as a trap against the people of central Somali regions.Ibrahim said they are not against the idea of forming a regional state in the area but questioned the due process and called for consultations with the locals before such announcement are made.
AMISOM police set to deploy outside Mogadishu
10 Aug – Source: Hiiraan Online – 131 words
The police forces of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will be deployed into more areas outside the capital Mogadishu, as part of expanding of AMISOM police operations in the country.
Before the end of the year AMISOM police will begin operations in the city of Jowhar, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region, according to AMISOM police commander General Annad Pillay.
General Pillay made the announcement during a visit to Jowby Key Somali government and AMISOM police officials including the Somali Police deputy commissioner General Osman Gas-gas on Saturday.
“Our trip to Jowhar is to do a survey about the city’s security and to arrange the places where our police forces will be stationed when they come here as soon as possible” AMISOM police commissioner told the media.
Senior Puntland Govt official survives attempt on his life
10 Aug – Source: Radio Garowe – 126 words
The Chairman of Puntland’s military court Abdirizak Haji Adan Ahmed has survived assassination attempt after al Shabaab gunmen sprayed his car with bullets near the Gulf of Aden port city of Bossaso on Saturdayafternoon.
The militants opened fire at Ahmed’s car on Bossaso-Qardo highway but his driver escaped unhurt according to well informed sources. The pre-planned ambush occurred near agriculture-rich town of Laag where the commander of Puntland Defence Force units operating in Galgala area Col. Jama Saed Warsame (Afgadud) was killed in March by al Shabaab fighters.
The chairman of military court that oversees organized crimes in Bari, Karkaar, Hayland, Sanaag and Guardafu regions along with bodyguards made stopover in Qardo due to security threats, with his driver driving into Bossaso.
Former Somaliland minister and president advisor reaches Garowe
10 Aug – Source: Radio RBC/Halgan Online/PLTV – 123 words
Former Somaliland Minister of Transport and president Silanyo adviser on elections Ahmed Abdi Habsade had reached the capital city of Puntland, Garowe.
Puntland deputy president Abdikim Amey accompanied by senior government officials have warmly welcomed Xaabsade at the outskirts of Garowe on Sunday afternoon. This well-known politician was reported to have been escorted to President Palace of Puntland in Garowe, where he has met President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas.
Xaabsade has served many positions including ministerial posts in Somaliland where he has also served offices in Puntland. The motive of his arrival in Puntland region has not been established but political analysis say, he has come back to serve Puntland government where he left 2007 after dispute with Puntland’s former president Cadde Musse.
REGIONAL MEDIA
UPDF warns soldiers against spreading ‘lies’
11 Aug – Source: Daily Monitor – 100 words
The Army has warned at least 38 soldiers who claim they were repatriated from Somalia under unclear circumstances by their bosses and have not been paid, that they face arrest if they continue spreading false information.
The army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, said in a statement issued yesterday, that the allegations made by these soldiers were intended to taint the image of the UPDF.
“The UPDF, therefore, sounds a warning to the soldiers involved in spreading misinformation of nonpayment and other framed up allegations, aimed at tainting the defence Forces’ image, that they risk arrest and prosecution,” he said.
Planes used to attack Lamu raiders’ hideouts: Witnesses
10 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 185 words
Villagers in Tana River and Lamu on Sunday said security forces were bombarding camps in Ozi Forest that were used by raiders behind the spate of attacks in Lamu and Tana River counties. Witnesses told the Nation that they heard loud explosions after military aircraft flew over the forest in Tana River county over the past few days.
The number of casualties could not be independently confirmed, but multiple sources, including some government administration and security officials, claimed that some of the attackers had been killed in the operation while others escaped with injuries.
There were also reports that more than a dozen gunmen affiliated to the Somali-based Al-Shabaab terrorists and local bandits, including ringleaders of the Lamu attacks, could have been captured. However, Deputy Inspector General of Police Samuel Arachi, who has been leading the joint forces operation, denied that military aircraft had bombed camps in the forest.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali National Army to Launch New Offensive Againat Al-Shabaab – Army Chief
11 Aug- Source: BERNAMA-NNN-ERTA- 117 words
The head of the Somali national army, General Dahir Adan Elmi, has disclosed that a new offensive against the Al Shabaab militants will be launched soon.
He said here over the weekend that the original offensive to push the Al-Shabaab group out of new areas which was launched early this year, had been halted earlier to set new tactics for the war against the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group.
Troops from the Somali national army and from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will push the Al Shabaab out of the remaining areas within the next two months, he noted. He said the besieged roads will be secured to allow the flow of humanitarian aid to the residents.
A New Life for Refugees, and the City They Adopted
11 Aug- Source: New York Times- 1574 words
Sadia Ambure is relieved that it is summer. “I hate the snow,” Sadia, who is 16, said. “It hurts my skin. I’m like a snake — my face turns red, then ashy.”
Harsh winters have been one of the challenges of living in this old manufacturing city in upstate New York for Sadia and her family, members of the Somali Bantu tribe. They arrived here from a Kenyan refugee camp almost a decade ago after a stint in St. Louis. “My body is trying to get used to America,” she said.
Her mother, Zahara Hassan, 38, who has 11 children, is just now learning to read and write. Sadia, a high school junior, is perhaps the most assimilated: She is obsessed with the television show “Game of Thrones.”
Chinese embassy returns to Somalia
11 Aug- Source: CCTV- 1:57 min
Chinese embassy returns to Somalia.
Somali president calls on diaspora to denounce al-Shabaab
10 Aug -Source: Mpr News -199 words
Standing in the same place he did a year and a half ago, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged Somali-Americans gathered Saturday night at the University of Minnesota’s Northrop Auditorium not to raise money for al-Shabaab, and he called on parents to prevent their children from being brainwashed by the militant group.
He said al-Shabaab is now in retreat, and that parents in Somalia are taking part in the fight against the militant group by turning in their children who have joined al-Shabaab. “Somalis in Minnesota, you should also play your part,” Mohamud told thousands of flag-waving Somalis. “The enemy that is in [Somalia] is also in here. Keep your children safe.”
Mohamud, who spoke at the end of an evening of songs and speeches, called on all Somalis to work together to overcome their differences and build a future together.
His visit to the Twin Cities, home to the largest Somali community in the U.S., was accompanied by Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, the first Somali ambassador to the U.S. in more than two decades, and by senior Somali government officials. Gov. Mark Dayton and Rep. Keith Ellison also joined Mohamud during his speech at the auditorium.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Mohamud’s visit is more than a Minnesota courtesy call. The state is home to the nation’s largest Somali-American population, an influential group that helps sustain Somalia’s economy through investment and money transfers. The community is gaining political clout here and Mohamud will need its help to get Somalia on track. But people here are divided on whether Mohamud can lead the country from its current problems.”
Why Somali presidents come to Minnesota and what it means
09 Aug- Source: mprnews -343 words
Somalia boasted a stable government, new prime minister and functioning parliament the last time President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud came to the Twin Cities.
The country’s circumstances are very different now as Mohamud returns to speak tonight to thousands of Somalis at the University of Minnesota. The jubilant mood that marked his 2013 visit is gone. Many Somalis now question Mohamud’s ability to bring much-needed stability to the country bogged down by cycles of insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment.
Mohamud’s visit is more than a Minnesota courtesy call. The state is home to the nation’s largest Somali-American population, an influential group that helps sustain Somalia’s economy through investment and money transfers. The community is gaining political clout here and Mohamud will need its help to get Somalia on track. But people here are divided on whether Mohamud can lead the country from its current problems.
“Pulling out of Somalia and restoring calm in the country free from a wave of indiscriminate attacks is a better option than fighting on.”
Talking to Al-Shabaab should remain on the table as a path out of Somalia
09 Aug- Source: Daily Nation- 717 words
It was good to see President Uhuru Kenyatta making friends in America in the last few days. One of the most baffling things about Jubilee Administration leaders has been their consistent and aggressively hostile posture towards the West, simply because harsh words were exchanged during the campaign period. They forgot that there is little room for sentimentality in foreign affairs and that decisions should be guided mainly by interests. Washington, London and others quickly moved on after the results were announced.
“War crimes: How warlords, politicians, foreign governments and aid agencies conspired to create a failed state in Somalia.”
Amidst Somalia’s Looming Hunger, New Book Indicts Role of Aid Agencies
09 Aug- Source: sahanjournal -835 words
A famine is looming in Somalia – yet again. Towards the end of July, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) announced that over 350,000 displaced people in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, were in need of food aid and humanitarian assistance. The UN agency warned of “alarming malnutrition rates” across the country, citing dire drought conditions amidst reduced seasonal rains.To many, the looming hunger crisis is reminiscent of the devastating situation in Somalia back in 2011, when more than 250,000 people, half of them under the age of five, died in one of the country’s worst droughts in decades.
In “War Crimes,” Rasna Warah, a Kenyan writer and journalist, revisits those critical days to assess whether humanitarian agencies “manufactured” disasters in the country, or rather, exaggerated figures in a bid to raising money. Using a blend of personal interviews, contextual analysis and media articles, Warah also discusses how warlords, politicians and foreign governments have over the years conspired to steal, divert and misuse aid money, further deepening the state of anarchy in Somalia.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia #AMISOM participates in the Somali-Canadian engagement urging the community to get involved in rebuilding #Somalia pic.twitter.com/1ovd6l9s4q
@UNDP Did you know that less than 30% of #Somalia‘s population has access to clean water? @UNDPSomaliapic.twitter.com/T25OBwbQ3q
@HLooyaan Action needed to avert humanitarian disaster in#Somalia. @UNRightsWire expert appeals 4 relief fundshttp://sm.ohchr.org/1sDMO1x via @UN_Vienna
@tres_HOA #Somalia warlord MP complains about gov’t security op allegedly in pursuit of weapons stored at his househttp://dalsanradio.com/
@UKinSomalia “Now reduced vulnerability to flooding and seasonal flood damage in Beletweyne #UKinSomalia#Somalia” pic.twitter.com/x3yKTwSCsa
Image of the day
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud speaks to the crowd at Northrop Auditorium. Photo: Mukhtar Ibrahim/For MPR News/Hiiraan Online