August 16, 2017 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Former Senior Al-Shabaab Leader Says Militants Should Leave Group

15 August- Source: Reuters – 256 Words

The one-time deputy leader of Somali Islamist militants Al-Shabaab called on Tuesday for others to quit the group following his defection to the government side in Mogadishu. Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansur, who was also Al-Shabaab’s spokesman, said the group did not represent the interests of those it claimed to. “I left Al-Shabaab because of misunderstanding, and I disagreed with their creed which does not serve Islamic religion, people and the country,” he said.

Robow fell out with Al-Shabaab in 2013, keeping a low profile in the jungles with his forces until defecting last week. The Islamists have launched multiple attacks to try kill or capture him.”I urge the militants to leave Al Shabaab,” Robow told reporters at a heavily guarded hotel in Mogadishu. He took no questions.

Robow’s defection comes two months after the United States removed a $5 million reward for his capture and took him off its list of sponsors of terrorism. It was not immediately clear if the timing of the defection was linked. The defection, however, it could give pro-government forces more freedom to operate in the regions of Bay and Bakool, cutting Al-Shabaab’s operational territory in two.

Key Headlines

Former Senior Al-Shabaab Leader Says Militants Should Leave Group ( Reuters)
Removal Of HirShabelle President Draws Mixed Reaction As Minister Terms Vote Illegal (Goobjoog News)
Lawmakers Call For The Release Of A Somali Man Detained By NISA Over Unfavorable Comments (Horn Observer)
Suspected Somali Militants Kill 5 Kenyan Police Officers – Sources ( Reuters)
Turkish Students Leave For Somalia On Africa Project (Anadolu Agency)
Former Al-Shabaab Commander Denounces Militant Group And Hopes To Enter ‘Fruitful’ Talks With Somali government (Hiiraan Online)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Removal Of HirShabelle President Draws Mixed Reaction As Minister Terms Vote Illegal

15 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 352 Words

The removal of HirShabelle President, Ali Abdullahi Osoble from office through a no confidence motion Mondayhas elicited mixed reactions with some state ministers dismissing the process as unconstitutional. State minister for Information Mahad Hussein said the vote was illegal since the state assembly was not in session. “Today no entity has ousted a President. No parliamentary proceeding happened today since it is in recess. I am one of the MPs. What happened is a very unfortunate thing that is against our constitutional and governance of the state. Few disgruntled MPs met in a kangaroo court and voted to oust President Osoble” said State Minister Hussein.

The minister said over 50 legislators are meeting at the presidential office alongside the assembly speaker and will be making their stand known. Hussein accused the deputy speaker Anaab Mohamed Isse of leading an onslaught against the president in contravention of the constitution. “If two MPs meet and say they have ousted someone, it is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated.” Isse announced Monday deputy speaker Ali Abdullahi Hussein will take over as acting president until a new president is elected.

Similarly, Federal Upper House Senator Samira Hassan Abdulle from Hirshabelle said the removal of President Osoble was a result of external interference calling for an amicable resolution of the political crisis between the president and the assembly. “As you are aware 39 MPs brought the motion against the state President. According to the local constitution, the quorum for a motion to begin is 66 MPs. They brought the motion yesterday and the media was barred from coverage. I have the feeling that politicians are interfering with and pushing this matter. It is a tribal minded move,” said Senator Abdulle.

On the other hand, Federal Lower House member Dahir Amin Jesow also from HirShabelle State cited the lack of progress from the inception of the local state and the steps taken by the state assembly was a matter they were expecting. “There was a meeting among the federal MPS from Hirshabelle state and after lengthy deliberation, they largely supported the move to remove the president. ” said Jesow.

Lawmakers Call For The Release Of A Somali Man Detained By NISA Over Unfavorable Comments

15 August – Source: Horn Observer – 225 Words

Somali parliamentarians and civic leaders called upon the Federal Government of Somalia to unconditionally release a Somali man who was detained by the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). The man, identified as Xarbi Jubbad, has been arrested and is currently detained at the Godka Jilacow detention center for the third day. Xarbi Jubbad is said to have criticized the government on Facebook posts.

“The arrest of Xarbi Jubbad is a practical example over how the current government want to govern the country.” Mahad Salad, member of parliament, said, “It’s unfortunate that the law enforcement agencies are violating the constitutional rights of the Somali nationals through politically motivated means.” “I, therefore, call for the release of Xarbi Jubbad and warn against similar violations.” Lawmaker Mahad Salad added.

Article 18 of the provisional federal constitution guarantees the freedom of expression and opinions as such “Every person has the right to have and express their opinions and to receive and impart their opinion, information and ideas in any way” Another Lawmaker Ahmed Fiqi, also criticized the security agency for using force to oppress the public and called for the release of the Xarbi Jubbad. “It’s important to know that we are working inside democratic nation, where the freedom of expression is constitutional right.” Lawmaker Ahmed Fiqi said in a Facebook post in solidarity with Xarbi Jubbad.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Suspected Somali Militants Kill 5 Kenyan Police Officers – Sources

15 August – Source: Reuters – 139 Words

Suspected Somali Islamist militants killed five police officers in an ambush in northeastern Kenya on Tuesday, according to police sources, the latest in a string of deadly attacks. Around 100 suspected insurgents stole the officer’s’ weapons and torched their vehicle during the attack in Alijize in Garissa county, according to a police official who asked not to be named. Two officers survived the ambush, although one was shot in the thigh.

Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants have claimed a series of cross-border attacks in recent months, including a spate of roadside bombings targeting security forces and a mass beheading of non-Muslim civilians in Kenya’s coastal Lamu district. Al-Shabaab say the raids are retaliation for Kenyan security forces operating in Somalia, but Kenyan officials say al Shabaab launched raids and kidnappings on their territory long before Kenyan soldiers entered Somalia in 2011.

Turkish Students Leave For Somalia On Africa Project

15 August – Source: Anadolu Agency – 186 Words

A group of Turkish students set off for Somalia on Tuesday to participate in an exchange program. The program has been organized by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Turkish Airlines, Anadolu Agency and Turkish Radio and Television (TRT). Omerul Faruk Kaya, who studies public finance at Istanbul University said in the 10 days he spends in Somalia, he will understand the problems that plague the country. “We will have the opportunity to visit agricultural vocational schools and hospitals,” he added.

Another student from Istanbul’s Yildiz Technical University, Yusuf Gunduz said: “We will tell our African brothers, who have been exploited for years, that we are here to strengthen our bonds.” Ceyhun Dogan, a student in the international trade department at Cankiri Karatekin University, said he would contribute to the restoration of Al-Haramain Orphanage in Somalia. “We are members of a country that does not hesitate to reach out to oppressed communities,” he said. The 2017 Africa Experience Sharing Program will give an opportunity to 200 students to visit several African countries, including Tunisia, Libya, Somalia, Kenya, Algeria, Chad, Sudan, Ghana and Niger from Aug. 5-30.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“One of the original founders of Al-Shabaab, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow diverged with the late emir Ahmed Abdi Godane (Mukhtar Abu Zubair) over the use of foreign fighters. The ensuing row split Al-Shabaab into two factions and eventually led to the death of American fighter Omar Hammami and the defection of Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys. Mukhtar Robow is the last “founding fathers” of Al-Shabaab.”

Former Al-Shabaab Commander Denounces Militant Group And Hopes To Enter ‘Fruitful’ Talks With Somali government

15 August – Source: Hiiraan Online – 511 Words
With the Somali flag displayed prominently in the backdrop, the former deputy commander and founding member of Al-Shabaab denounced the Islamist militant insurgency group for their beliefs, saying that it was contrary to Islamic principles and hurt the country and its people.

Mukhtar Robow Abu Mansur made these comments and a packed press conference at the Royal Palace Hotel in Mogadishu. Reading from a prepared statement, the former spokesperson of Al-Shabaab officially announced that he left the militant group and that they do not share the same ideology. “I would like to state to the Somali people and the international community that I quit Al-Shabaab five years and seven months ago and that I’m not a member of the group,” he said. “I left al Shabaab because of misunderstanding, and I disagreed with their beliefs which do not serve Islamic religion, Somalia, and its citizens” .

Robow also urged fighters within Al-Shabaab ranks to put down arms and defect to the government. Mukhtar Robow was airlifted to Mogadishu after surrendering to government officials in Hudur, a town in the south western Bakool region of Somalia on Sunday. Last week, Al-Shabaab militants launched an attack on Robow in his hometown of Abal which led to the death of 19 of his fighters. Robow said that for the last five and a half years, he lived in the Bakool region where he repelled several Al-Shabaab attacks. “I was living in Bakool and they (Al-Shabaab) attacked me there and they (Al-Shabaab) tried to kill me but I defended myself, by the grace of God I lived.” The defection comes after months negotiations between Mukhtar Robow and the Federal Government of Somalia.

Prior to his firefight with Al-Shabaab, the Somali government confirmed they were in communication with Mukhtar Robow and hinted that they were warm to the idea of providing reinforcements to him and his fighters should Al-Shabaab attack him. Mukhtar Robow was once a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). He was accused of being responsible for the planning and execution of deadly attacks that targeted Somali government and AMISOM troops. A $5 million bounty was removed by the US government in June.

During the press conference, Mukhtar Robow thanked the Federal Government of Somalia and its people for welcoming him to Mogadishu. “I thank the Federal Government of Somalia and its people for warmly welcoming me in Mogadishu, I hope that we will pursue a path of peace.” He promised that the upcoming talks with the government will be productive and fruitful. Robow did not take any questions from reporters and was escorted away by security forces immediately after reading statement.