NATIONAL MEDIA
18 August – Source: Garowe Online – 334 Words
The electoral commission of Jubaland has turned down International community calls for further steps to improve the electoral process and solve concerns of the stakeholders, Garowe Online reports. In a letter obtained by Garowe Online, Hamza Abdi Bare, the state’s polls agency said they rejected the demands of the UN, AU and IGAD “unreasonable”, adding that the election of the President will take place as planned on August 22. “There are no additional steps required to improve the process as all necessary steps were taken, the commission believes all constitutional and legal requirements were fulfilled on the conduct of the electoral process in line with the constitution and electoral laws in Jubaland,” read the statement in part.
The was a response to a letter from some of Somalia’s International partners in which they called for a single, transparent, agreed, credible and peaceful process which enjoys the support of the people. “The commission and all stakeholders believe strongly that the current electoral process enjoys the broadest support of the people of Jubaland, contrary to point stated in your letter,” JIBEC said. JIBEC – Jubaland Independent Boundaries and Electoral Commission has expressed dismay and disappointment over the Int’l community assumption that the process doesn’t enjoy people’s support.
Meanwhile, the Somali regional state electoral body said it demands an apology from the International Community on “misrepresentation” of the views of Jubbaland people. In a letter addressed to JIBEC, UN envoy for Somalia, James Swan has said on Saturday that the measures are taken by JIBEC to reopen registration of the candidates and extended date of the presidential election “falls short” of their calls that the process be “single, transparent, agreed and credible” This comes as Jubaland is heading to the polling station on Thursday, August 22nd to elect a new president after the parliamentary election in which elders chose MPs that then picked speaker. The incumbent President Ahmed Madobe who is seeking a third term in office is among several candidates vying for the top seat of Jubaland.
17 August – Source: Halbeeg – 208 Words
Somali Federal Government has warned that it will not recognize the outcome of the ongoing Jubbaland regional State elections. A statement from the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation on Saturday said that due process was not followed in the selection of members of the regional assembly. “The Ministry of Interior is closely following updates in the Jubbaland State and therefore, confirms that the selection of the traditional elders is not aligned with that of the Ministry(Interior),” read the statement, adding “The selection of members of the regional assembly was also unconstitutional”
The Ministry of Interior statement further called for reconciliation meeting among various stakeholders in the state to avert what it described as violence and instability. “In order to avoid instability and violence, the Federal Government calls upon Jubbaland state to organize reconciliation meeting that brings together the communities across the state.” The Federal Government assured that it is ready to take part in the realization of a peaceful, free and fair election process in the state but strongly warned that any formula contrary to the law will not be tolerated. The statement comes as the new members of the Jubbaland state assembly elected speaker and his two deputies on Saturday morning(17 August 2019).
17 August – Source: Garowe Online – 276 Words
At least 21 members of the Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group, Al-Shabab were killed in two airstrikes in southern Somalia, the country’s state media reported, Garowe Online reports. Somali National Army Radio, citing unnamed military officials said the separate airstrikes took place in Mubarak and Janale towns in the southern Lower Shabelle region, which are under the control of Al-Shabab Thursday night, August 16.
The first airstrike struck Mubarak area while the second hit a nearby Janale town, about 80 Kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, the Somali capital. The army radio station, however, did not provide further details about which country belongs the fighter jets conducted the aerial bombardments. The airstrikes were announced shortly after a pair of car bombs killed nine Somali soldiers and a local cameraman embedded with the army at an army base in Awdheegle in the same region on Wednesday.
The U.S. has carried out dozens of such strikes this year, more than half the number in all of 2018 into territory controlled by Al-Shabab,” helping Somali and AU partner forces able to stabilize the nation. The United States says it acts in coordination with Somalia’s UN-backed government whose military is expected to take over responsibility for the country’s security from AU forces over the next few years. The 22,000 African Union soldiers who have arrived in the country in 2007 began gradual withdrawal this year, but some security analysts warn that Somali forces are not yet prepared. Despite being driven out of its main strongholds in the south, the Islamist group still controls swathes of territory and remains lethal as it is carrying out persistent terrorist attacks in the country and Kenya.
17 August – Source: Goobjoog – 162 Words
Somali security forces have on Friday shot and killed four Al-Shabaab assailants among them a woman in Bakaro Market of the capital Mogadishu. The attackers who were attempting to assassinate a Somali government official at the scene before the security forces have suspected them and shot them at the market.] The Deputy Commissioner of the Somali Police Force, Zakia Hussein, has confirmed on her twitter page that police forces in Hawl Wadag District of Mogadishu have managed to stop Al-Shabaab assassination attempt against the General Director for Somalia’s education ministry, Abdi Garre and endorsed that the officer survived the attempt and he is safe and sound. Security forces killed those who attempted to kill the official including three armed Al-Shabaab militants and a woman who was said to be supporting the gunmen. The Somali government has deployed security forces on the streets and blocked all the linking roads in Mogadishu to prevent possible come back attacks by the militants in the capital.
17 August – Source: Somaliaffairs – 120 Words
Two roadside bomb explosions targeted two busy streets in Mogadishu’s Daynile District this morning, officials have confirmed. The first bomb targeted a vehicle belonging to Daynile District official by the name Mahad Mohamed. According to witnesses, he survived the blast. The second explosion, which occurred at Jayga street in the same district, wounded at least three civilians. The target of the second bomb remains unknown. Security forces arrived at the scenes of the two blasts and immediately began security operations to arrest the suspects. Banadir regional administration officials are yet to comment on the explosions. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attacks but the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab has carried out similar attacks in the in past.
17 August – Source: Goobjoog – 118 Words
Galmudug Reconciliation Conference, which was scheduled to open in Dhusamareb on Saturday, was delayed for the second time. According to reports from Galmudug says that the reconciliation committee had before announced the conference to be held on 17 August but have been delayed for technical issues. Reports indicate that most of the clan delegates who have before boycotted to attend the conference in Dhuusamareeb have not arrived. The Galmudug reconciliation conference committee has faced many challenges in the past few days, though some of the challenges have been solved. This is the second time that the Galmudug Reconciliation Conference has been delayed and now the committee has not designated a specific date for the conference to be held.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
18 August – Source: Anadolu Agency – 221 Words
At least two government forces were killed and two more injured when al-Shabaab militants attacked a military base in southwest Somalia on Saturday, officials said. The attack took place in Daynunay town, some 25 kilometres (16 miles) south of Baidoa city, the administrative capital of Southwest State. “On Saturday, fighters belonging to terrorist group al-Shabaab attacked our base in Daynunay. I can confirm that two soldiers were killed and two others wounded in the attack,” Ibrahim Khayre, a military official in Baidoa, told Anadolu Agency over the phone. Khaire said that the military responded and killed at least four al-Shabaab militants.
According to local media reports, Somali government forces have regained control of the military base after al-Shabaab militants initially overran it. The attack came as al-Shabaab lost significant ground in the Lower Shabelle region after Somali special forces backed by African Union peacekeeping forces in Somalia (AMISOM) launched a new offensive against the group in the region.
Separately, Somali National Army (SNA) said in a Twitter post that they have killed four al-Shabaab militants and wounded two others in Cel Salin, a small village located in Lower Shabelle region. On Aug. 4, Somali special forces, including units graduated from Turkey’s largest overseas military base in the Somali capital, supported by AMISOM liberated the strategic agricultural town of Awdhegle from al-Shabaab.
16 August – Source: The Star – 359 Words
Leaders in Mandera have condemned an al Shabaab attack on Friday in which two Kenya Police Reservists died in Fino Lafey constituency. The militants stormed Fino village on Thursday night and terrorized residents before attacking the two nearby police camps. The terrorists whose number could not immediately establish, were, however, repulsed by security officers. They then attacked the homes of the reservists and killed them. They are Muhumad Adan Noorow, 68, and Abdullahi Muhumad Adan, 38 – a father and son.
Northeastern regional commissioner Mohamed Birik said police officers pursued the attackers.
Area MP Abdi Mude told the Star on the phone that it is unfortunate that the terrorists continue to carry out attacks in the border towns with impunity. “I want to make a passionate appeal to the national government to deploy the military inside Somalia at our borders because. We need to keep Kenya safe. we can’t leave our borders and go deep into Somalia and hope that we will be safe. It doesn’t make sense at all,” he said. “As residents of Northeastern, we will not give up in the war on terror. We will continue supporting the security apparatus in this fight because they can only do so much alone. Together, we can win the fight,” he said…….
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The AMISOM Deputy Force Commander, Maj Gen Nakibus Lakara, says, “We came here as a war force because there was no peace to keep. Somalia was in the hands of Al Shabaab. Twelve years later, we have a semblance of calm in cities we control.”
18 August – Source: Standard Media – 1257 Words
The misty, salty air creates an aura of expectation. How the body yearns for a dip, to soak up the humid heat. Socks in closed shoes feel ridiculous against the backdrop of the howling winds and the violent lapping as the waters viciously slap the beach. The temptation to slip off the shirt and dash to the bewitching blue waters is overwhelming. But a military voice breaks through the afternoon fantasy with a chilling warning, “The beach is like heaven. You cannot swim there unless you want to go to heaven and swim with the fishes.”
“If the terrorists don’t get you, the sharks will. It will be a messy affair,” the soldier warns. This message delivered to all visitors in this troubled coastal resort is perhaps to blame for the deserted beaches whose waters appear irresistible. When the message is delivered to a group of fun-loving journalists, any desire to venture out is effectively neutered. Welcome to Mogadishu, the city that derives its name from Persia. It was founded in the 10th century and was regarded as Maq’ad-i-Shah, which means “the seat of the Shah”, reached its peak in the 13th century and has through ages defied various occupational forces and dynasties. The tapestry of the city’s lingering history is contradicted by the state of the international arrivals desk at Aden Adde International Airport. Two boys in their teens’ lounge around the airport and peer curiously at the visitors noisily marching past them via the electronically controlled gate to the reception.
Here, two police officers are manning the area where non-residents are supposed to manually fill a yellow entry declaration card issued by the immigration and the naturalisation directorate where they are supposed to indicate the duration of stay, country of origin and mode of transport. As they pass, a female attendant points a blue gadget that looks like a toy pistol on the foreheads of the guests. She directs them to two desks where miniature cameras take blurred coloured images of each face, which is then affixed to the passport. This, it turns out, is the visa which is given upon payment of $60 (Sh6,000). The arrival board shows that before the Kenya Airways flight’s touchdown, there had been two more from Djibouti and Ethiopia. There is a relaxed atmosphere at the arrivals’ desk where visitors are even sitting on the stationary conveyor belt, which ordinarily would be moving around laden with bags and baggage.
Payment in dollars
When the baggage is finally sorted and delivered, a tripod has been forgotten in Nairobi by Kenya Airways attendants. Another bag’s wheels are missing but this is nothing compared to the shock a self-appointed porter is about to unleash. The young man, who refers to anybody as a brother, grabs a bag and hoists it on his shoulders as he trots after the guests to a courtesy bus. He hands over the bag and starts demanding payment. The owner has no dollars and fishes out a Sh50 note (new generation) and hands it over to his porter. The porter waves the offering away, insisting that his payment must be in dollars or a more respectable denomination. The standoff ends when the harassed journalist hands over a Sh200 note, which is scrutinised by the youngster who finally trots away happily. The unwilling giver grumbles that he “has never paid such a huge fare” for such a short distance…… |
