August 17, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
AU Special Envoy congratulates 602 Somali Army graduates
17 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 231 words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Mission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra has sent his congratulations to the Somali National Army after over 600 Somali troops on Tuesday graduated from AMISOM-organized training in Uganda and at the Jazeera Training Camp in Mogadishu. Ambassador Diarra said that the graduates would provide a major boost for the Somalia’s security efforts as it nears the critical transition period. “AMISOM is working hard to train up the Somali National Army and Somali Police Force so they will eventually be able to fully assume responsibility for the nation’s security,” he said.
Ambassador Diarra reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to supporting the country’s peace process saying that AMISOM was deploying extra troops and police to beef up security in Mogadishu in the run up to the elections. “Our role is to ensure that the campaigns and elections are carried out within a secure environment,” he said. “AMISOM remains impartial and we urge all to respect the choice of the Somali people,” he added.
Three weeks ago a provisional constitution was overwhelmingly adopted by a National Constituent Assembly and the country is now in the final stages of appointing a new parliament which will elect a new President. Campaigns are in full swing across the city and AMISOM has urged the Somali security forces to respect the citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
Key Headlines
- AU Special Envoy congratulates 602 Somali Army graduates (AMISOM)
- Somalia elections expected to be three horse race (Standard)
- Somaliland security forces seize explosive-laden truck (Somaliland Press)
- 17 al Shabaab suspects arrested in Afmadow (Bar-kulan)
- Somalia: Two Women Running For President (Eurasia Review)
- Somali youth receive training in agriculture in Turkey (Antolia News Agency)
PRESS RELEASE
AU Special Envoy congratulates 602 Somali Army graduates
17 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 231 words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Mission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra has sent his congratulations to the Somali National Army after over 600 Somali troops on Tuesday graduated from AMISOM-organized training in Uganda and at the Jazeera Training Camp in Mogadishu.
Ambassador Diarra said that the graduates would provide a major boost for the Somalia’s security efforts as it nears the critical transition period. “AMISOM is working hard to train up the Somali National Army and Somali Police Force so they will eventually be able to fully assume responsibility for the nation’s security,” he said.
Ambassador Diarra reaffirmed the African Union’s commitment to supporting the country’s peace process saying that AMISOM was deploying extra troops and police to beef up security in Mogadishu in the run up to the elections. “Our role is to ensure that the campaigns and elections are carried out within a secure environment,” he said. “AMISOM remains impartial and we urge all to respect the choice of the Somali people,” he added.
Three weeks ago a provisional constitution was overwhelmingly adopted by a National Constituent Assembly and the country is now in the final stages of appointing a new parliament which will elect a new President. Campaigns are in full swing across the city and AMISOM has urged the Somali security forces to respect the citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somaliland security forces seize explosive-laden truck
16 Aug – Source: Somaliland Press – 121 words
Somaliland security forces intercepted a truck loaded with explosives in the eastern village of Dararweyne on Wednesday, local paper reported. According to the Republican newspaper, two men, including the truck driver have been taken into custody by police in Dararweyne, some 110-km west of Erigavo.
The lorry had been en route to Somalia’s seaport town of Bosasso when it got intercepted by security during an inspection, local authority said. They added that they believe it was loaded from the two Somaliland regions of Togdheer and Marodi-Jeeh. The paper, who made contacts by telephone said the truck loaded with chemicals and materials used in bomb making, had a driver and a mechanic. Both men were taken into custody for further questioning.
Civilian die after drinking poisonous water in Puntland
17 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 107 words
Reports from Bosaso town, the commercial hub of Somalia’s Puntland state say person died and five others are in critical condition after drinking poisonous water in Qalanqal village The director of ministry health for Puntland Abdirisak Hirsi Hassan told to Mustaqbal radio in Bosaso that those in critical condition were admitted at an hospital for treatment.
17 al Shabaab suspects arrested in Afmadow
16 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 124 words
Seventeen al Shabaab suspects were Thursday arrested in Afmadow town following a joint operation by Somali forces and the allied Raskamboni militia group, officials say. Col. Fathi Hussein Abdi, a TFG military official in the area told Bar-kulan that the suspects are believed to be members of the outlawed al Shabaab militant group.
He said the suspects were arrested while in possession of illegal firearms including pistols and hand grenades, adding that they are being held at the area central police station where they are undergoing further interrogations before arraigning them in court to answer charges against them. Col. Abdi claimed the suspects were trying to disrupt the prevailing security situation in the district and other areas in the region under the control for the government.
Somali Youth Complain Lack of Involvement in Political Process
16 Aug – Source: Radio Risaala – 108 words
A section of Somali youth convened in Mogadishu on Thursday to discuss their role in the political process and in the reconstruction of the country. Most of the youth who study in various universities in Mogadishu noted that though they form the backbone of the nation, they were not even allocated 1% of the national cake. They said this contrasts sharply with the 30% allocated to women in the upcoming government. They highlighted the importance of their involvement in any future development program in the country. The youth borne the brunt of Somalia’s 22 years of anarchy, forcing most of them to flee abroad.
Quran teachers in Jowhar to miss Zakat-ul-fitri
16 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 134 words
Al Shabaab militants in Jowhar town, Middle Shabelle, have allegedly started confiscating Zakat-ul-fitri from local Quran teachers who were the absolute beneficiaries of the payment at the end of Ramadan. Zakat-ul-fitri is alms paid by Muslims at the end of Ramadan to needy people to allow them enjoy the Eid which marks the end of the month-long fasting and is mostly paid in terms of food stuff.
Traditionally, in Somalia, Quran teachers receive the Fitrah from their students who collect it from their families at the end of every Ramadan. But this time, things worked against Quran teachers in Jowhar. A local teacher who requested not to be named for fear of reprisal told Bar-kulan that three armed militants on Wednesday forcefully took away a sack of maize that was collected by his students as Zakat-ul-fitri.
Somali civilians die in Damascus skirmishes
16 Aug- Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Bar-kulan -138 words
Reports from Damascus, the capital city of Syria say 3 Somalis died in clashes between the government forces and opposition fighters .The death of the 3 Somalis came after mortar shells landed at building in Damascus. Other reports also say some others are missing and feared to be trapped in the building rubbles. The Somali communities in Syria are expressing deep concern over the confrontations between the government and oppositions. The year-long violence in Syria is yet to be solved as the UN-Arab representative for Syria Kofi Annan resigned, citing hurdles.
CRD unveils book titled “The Pillars of Peace”
16 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 116 words
The Mogadishu-based Centre for Research and Dialogue (CRD) Wednesday unveiled a new book titled The Pillars of Peace in a colourful ceremony held in Mogadishu. The 176 pages book is based on researches on peace building, reconciliation and state reconstruction carried out by the organisation in central Somali regions of Galgadud, Hiiraan and Mudug.
In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, CRD Director Jibril Ibrahim Abdulle said his organisation conducted researches in these three regions to get the public views on peace, reconciliation, role of civil societies and inclusive state formation. He said the book contains the factual opinion of the public and challenges facing people who are interested in setting up developmental projects in these regions.
Somaliland president meets local religious figures
16 Aug- Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 108 words
The president of [self-declared republic of] Somaliland Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo held key meeting with local religious figures as the month of Ramadan draws to its end. The meeting took place at the presidential palace as the president thanked the clergymen for their good guidance to the society. According to statement from the presidential office, the clerics came from six regions of Somaliland as they attended Iftar meal held in presidency. During the lengthy meeting, the president urged the religious clerics to promote peace and the internal security. He also requested the clergymen to guide people whose understanding in the religion is not right.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia elections expected to be three horse race
17 Aug – Source: Standard – 364 words
The August 20 election in Somalia is expected to turn a new leaf in the administrative structure of the country that has been ravaged by war for the last 20 years. After failed attempts in two decades to install a unitary government, the international community and especially Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan, are keenly watching the unfolding scenario due to security interests.
The entry of Prime Minister Abdiweli Ali into the presidential fray has turned the fight into a three-horse race pitting him against President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Speaker of Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden.
Hope for war-traumatised Somalis
17 Aug – Source: Aljazeera – 02:21 min
Conflict in Somalia has left a lasting impact on its people. The World Health Organisation says one out of every three Somalis suffer from mental illness.
With an upcoming election, the Somali people hope to finally move beyond the scars – physical, mental and socio-political – left by the nation’s long-running conflict. Al Jazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri reports from Mogadishu.
Illegal charcoal exports generate huge revenues for al Shabaab
16 Aug – Source: Sabahi Online – 793 words
The illegal trade of charcoal in southern Somalia is booming and generating significant revenue for al Shabaab, analysts and observers say. Al Shabaab relies heavily on revenues from charcoal exports to finance its terrorist operations, said Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, leader of the Ras Kamboni movement, which is taking part in the allied forces’ military campaign against al Shabaab in the Juba regions.
“The illegal export of charcoal is currently considered al Shabaab’s main source of revenue,” Madobe told Sabahi. “Al Shabaab is the only faction that allows corrupt businessmen to export charcoal from ports under its control.
” Madobe said there are no official figures on how much money al Shabaab receives from charcoal exports, but said revenues could reach several millions of dollars annually. A letter by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea leaked in June said charcoal is “al Shabaab’s single most important source of revenue”. Al Shabaab controls three main ports in Kismayo, Barawe and Marka through which charcoal is exported.
Scores injured as onslaught on Kismayo starts
16 Aug – Source: Star – 270 words
Fighter jets and naval ships have began bombarding the outskirts of Kismayu as the onslaught on the al Shabaab controlled port city began on Saturday. The attack targeted, among others, the residence of al Shabaab’s chief intelligence officer, Sheikh Abdirahman Fiillow, where several people were injured.
The attack on Kismayo comes after surveillance planes overflew the port several times last week taking aerial pictures. The attack also targeted al Shabaab camps around the city. Al Shabaab press service, HSMPress, confirmed the attack, but blamed it on the Kenya Defence Forces. “KDF ships cowardly shelled Kismayu with mortars from afar.
Several rounds of mortars have so far landed in the crowded city. The mortars indiscriminately targeted heavily populated residential areas,” said the HSMPress tweet.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia: Two Women Running For President
17 Aug – Source: Eurasia Review – 162 words
Two women are running for president: Amal Abdi Ibrahim and Asha Ahmed Abdalla.In announcing her candidature, Asha Ahmed Abdalla, a member of parliament, accused the current government of favouring corruption and intimidation in the parliament.
This is the second time she runs in the presidential race: in 2004 she was defeated by former president Abdullahi Yusuf. While Amal Abdi Ibrahim, 37, who has been living for 20 years in Finland, announced that if elected she would fight for widows of war and single mothers.
“Women are the prime victims of war and must be helped”, she said in an interview on Finish TV. Both women claim they are ready to lead the nation out of the crisis. Based on the Constitution, 30% of seats, i.e. 82,5 on 275, must be women.
Somali youth receive training in agriculture in Turkey
16 Aug – Source: Anatolia News Agency – 110 words
A group of Somali youth received certificates in Istanbul on Thursday after attending a three-month training in agriculture under a program co-organized by Turkey’s Humanitarian Aid Foundation (IHH) and the Sabahattin Zaim University.
Speaking at the ceremony where the certificates were presented to the Somali youth, Deputy Rector of the Sabahattin Zaim University, Prof. Dr. Omer Inan said that those Somali youth who received training in agriculture would overcome the ill fortune of Somalia.
Also speaking at the occasion, IHH’s Foreign Relations Coordinator, Huseyin Oruc said that they taught the Somali youth how to be successful in agriculture. 11 Somali youth, aged between 18 and 22, received their certificates on Thursday.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“That is Somalia, a country that apart from having no central government has seen numerous tragedies including piracy, famine, attacks by foreign armies, killings and destabilization by religious and terrorist groups, as well as attacks by US secret drones. Thanks to TFG soldiers and AMISOM military components, police and civilian components that at last Somalia is rising.”
At last, Somalia is rising again
16 Aug – Source: The Citizen – 790 Words
Somalia, a country whose name became a synonym for a failed state two decades ago is once again becoming a governed state, thanks go to the continental initiative spearheaded by the African Union (AU), largely financed by the United Nations and the United States and diligently executed by a few African countries led by Uganda.
Today, as Africans we can beat our chests that we have accomplished what big powers could not for 21 years. The peace that Somalia is starting to witness in Mogadishu is the product of the blood and sweat of Africans who volunteered to rescue their brothers and sisters from the mayhem of a collapsed state. Somalia is still a hot place but we can now see light at the end of the tunnel.
“Somalia’s nascent transitional process is at a tipping point. In the next few days, we will know whether Somalia will have a new government that may bring an end to 20 years of transitional governments marred by chronic corruption, instability and dysfunctional institutions. As the election date is looming, a new aura of optimism can be sensed in Mogadishu. Realistically, however, the prospects for a successful transitional look quite grim.”
A Precarious Crossroads for Somalia’s Transition
16 Aug – Source: NAI Forum – 1013 Words
Somalia’s transitional process is at a tipping point. In the next few days, Somalia could have a new government bringing an end to 20 years of transitional governments marred by chronic corruption, instability and dysfunctional institutions.
Last year, a UN-brokered political roadmap was agreed with ambitious goals: Peace and security, reconciliation and outreach, and a new constitution. In essence, the roadmap was devoted to laying the groundwork for an independent, secure and permanent state of Somalia.
“It is indeed the hope of the Somali people that rebels, warlords and Islamist militia are excluded from Somalia’s new federal parliament. This creates renewed hope in a lost nation. This renewed hope creates an evolving environment that is conducive to trust, development and progress – all essential ingredients of nation building.”
Credibility and governance in Somalia
16 Aug – Source: Garowe Online – 515 Words
With Aug. 20 only a few days away, it is becoming increasingly clear that the much anticipated and final political benchmarks of the Roadmap for End of Transition Process will not be met exactly on time. What remains is the finalization of the list of 275 MPs of Somalia’s new Federal Parliament, elections for Speaker and Deputy Speakers, and President.
The most remarkable political process is the selection process for Somali MPs. The Technical Selection Committee (TSC), consisting of representatives from Somalia’s various political groupings, is mandated with assisting and screening new MPs selected by a group of Somali Traditional Elders, who consult their own communities in the selection process. The TSC, as a political instrument, has already accomplished some amazing political acts vis-à-vis the stagnated political landscape of Somalia, where impunity, corruption, favoritism and lack of capacity rule the day.
“In order to sustain peace and thwart militant activity, the Government of Somalia needs to be able to operate independently and effectively. This has not happened in over two decades. Although the task at hand is daunting and strenuous to say the least, it is a task that must be performed successfully in order to bring both peace and results to the thousands of famished and poor Somalis.”
The Ball Is in Somalia’s Court
17 Aug – Source: Foreign Policy Journal – 659 Words
On July 26, Somalis voted on their new constitution. The country is currently working towards establishing a Parliament, which will in turn nominate a President. Over the past ten years, Somalia has been riding the wave of international assistance, in the form of Ethiopian forces invading and taking back Mogadishu in 2008, the Kenyan led African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and other forms of assistance and transitional efforts from other major players in the World.
Now, we must look to Somalia to defend itself. Based out of Kismayo, al Shabaab is the rebel militant group that currently terrorizes Southern and Central Somalia, however, there is nothing preventing another militant group from creating an uprising against the Government of Somalia.
Somalis needs to stand on their own two feet and not rely on AMISOM support. In just under a week, Somalia will have to transition its Government. On July 26, 2012, the National Consituent Assembly met in Mogadishu to vote on a new Constitution. While this is a huge step, it is just one of many to come.
Top tweets
@robynleekriel Being told that the technical selection committee for #Somalia‘s new parliament has approved 184 names, a working majority.
@AbukarArman #Somalia Right Path Indicators: growing trend of promoting introspection, dialogue, reconciliation, reform & vigilance at the grassroots….
@Hamza_Africa Property prices ‘soaring’ in #Mogadishu, say estate agents. Nice shots of Liido beach. http://bbc.in/QBZ78B #Somalia.
@ilvesBBC: Check out the BBC Somali special election cluster page http://bbc.in/PhDoqi #Somalia @BBCAfrica”.
@DissidentNation What would you change about #Somalia? A young Somali student explains in detail – http://bit.ly/OB6z8W #TeamSomalia #Mogadishu #TFG #HOA #AU.
Image of the day
Participants receive a copy of the book ‘The Pillars of Peace’ published by Mogadishu-based Centre for Research and Dialogue (CRD) Wednesday. Photo Hiiraan Online.