August 22, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Five Al-Shabaab Suspects Killed In Clashes With SNA In Marka Town
22 August – Source: Halbeeg Online – 236 Words
At least five Al-Shabaab suspects have been killed and several others injured, in fighting between Somali military forces and Al-Shabaab group in Marka city, as confirmed by a military official on Wednesday. This week Somali army drove Al-Shabaab out of several suburbs of Marka city in Lower Shabelle region.
Speaking to the media, Captain Ali Kheire Dhiblawe said, Somali forces managed to repulse an attempted terror attack on military base. The attack occurred on Tuesday in Obasiibo and El-Haji neighbourhoods. According to Mr. Dhiblawe, an exchange of fierce fighting ensued and lasted for one hour, before Al-Shabaab was overpowered thereby fleeing to the dense Boni forest
“The attackers started by firing motor shells on the base before firefight broke out. The forces defeated Al-Shabaab fighters and managed to secure the area,” he said. The captain confirmed the death of five Al-Shabaab suspects, who were killed in the fighting. “We saw five bodies of Al-Shabaab fighters who were killed in the attack. We suffered no casualties,” he stated.
The incident comes just three days after Somali military forces seized Al-Shabaab based in Marka city The villages the troops recapture are Lusiya, Obasibo, and El-Haji which are part of Marka city. In 2016, Al-Shabaab fighters seized the town, which is situated 100 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Mogadishu. Since the
Key Headlines
- Five Al-Shabaab Suspects Killed In Clashes With SNA In Marka Town (Halbeeg Online)
- Regional Director Of Chinese Aerospace And Defence Conglomerate Arrives In Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
- Banadir Region Administration Distributes Wheelchairs To Some Of The Physically Disabled People In The Community (Mareeg Online)
- US Airstrike On Al-Shabaab In Somalia Kills 2 Militants Africom Says (Defence Post)
- UN Urges Somalia To Enhance Efforts To Achieve Gender Parity (CTGN Africa)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Regional Director Of Chinese Aerospace And Defence Conglomerate Arrives In Mogadishu
22 August – Source: Hiiraan Online – 196 Words
Sources within Mogadishu Airport have confirmed the arrival of the regional director of a Chinese state-owned aerospace and defence conglomerate on Wednesday. Our source inside the airport has told Hiiraan Online that Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) International Africa Director, Huang Hong You, landed at Aden Adde International Airport early Wednesday morning at the request of the Somali government.
The purpose of the meeting is not yet known, but ostensibly they will talk about the aviation industry in Somalia. With over 100 subsidiaries, 27 listed companies and half a million employees globally, AVIC is one of the leading aerospace and defence companies in the world. AVIC produces air transport for both civil and military use, aircraft systems and automobiles.
During the Hassan Sheikh Mohamud administration, AVIC and Somalia penned a deal, whereby AVIC was to supply three MA60 airplanes that would go to Somali Airlines. The planes were supposed to be used to ferry passengers on domestic routes. However, the deal fell through and both the Somali Airlines CEO at the time, Mohamed Guled, and the former Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport, Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi, blamed one another for the deal falling apart.
Banadir Region Administration Distributes Wheelchairs To Some Of The Physically Disabled People In The Community
21 August – Source: Mareeg Online – 172 Words
Banadir Region Administration has distributed wheelchairs to a group of physically disabled citizens living in the region. Mayor of Mogadishu, who is also the governor of Banadir Region, Abdirahman Omar Osman has said that the move remains part of a plan through which, the Banadir Region Administration is aiming to provide to physically challenge citizens.
“Our people deserve to be granted a continuous care, and they expect everything from us, therefore, I call upon all Somalis especially members of the business community in Banadir Region, to play a role to extend a helping hand to them.”
Social Affairs Chairman-Assistant of Banadir Region, Mrs. Basmo Amir Ahmed, said that the number of the disabled people increased and they live in all the 17 districts of Banadir Region. On the other hand, among those disabled people are those who remain internally displaced in Banadir Region. Banadir Region Administration is now undertaking some programs through which it intends to accommodate and provide for the poorest people in our society during these festive and Eid days.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
US Airstrike On Al-Shabaab In Somalia Kills 2 Militants, Africom Says
22 August – Source: The Defence Post – 230 Words
U.S. forces conducted an airstrike in Somalia on August 21, killing two militants associated with the al-Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab, U.S. Africa Command said. “In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, U.S. forces conducted an airstrike targeting al-Shabaab militants approximately 46 kilometers northeast of Kismayo, Somalia, on August 21, killing two (2) terrorists,” Africom said in a Wednesday, August 22 statement.
“We currently assess no civilians were killed in this airstrike.” The U.N. Security Council reauthorized the African Union Mission in Somalia on May 15. It was first launched in 2007 to defend the internationally-backed government against al-Shabaab, and more than 22,000 personnel are deployed on the mission. Africom works with AMISOM on both advise-and-assist missions as well as air support missions to target al-Shabaab’s forces, but has drawn controversy from strikes that have killed civilians.
On May 11, AFRICOM launched a review on a raid after locals near Bulcida claimed civilians had been shot dead in an operation involving two military helicopters and special forces. Prior to that, an AFRICOM airstrike took out a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device near Jana Cabdalle, although in a statement Africom said no militants or civilians were killed in the process. The strikes are the latest in an increasing number of U.S. airstrikes against insurgents from al-Shabaab and Abnaa ul-Calipha, Islamic State’s affiliate in Somalia, in recent months.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“We are there with them every step of the way,” Mlambo-Ngcuka said. “(We) call on all of those who work in the humanitarian space to have targeted interventions to ensure that the security of women and girls is addressed and their participation as leaders and not just as victims is also enhanced.”
UN Urges Somalia To Enhance Efforts To Achieve Gender Parity
21 August – Source: CTGN Africa – 277 Words
Nations has urged Somalia to enhance its efforts aimed at achieving gender parity and women’s empowerment. Visiting Executive Director of the UN entity dealing with issues related to gender (UN Women), Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, expressed optimism that the country’s ongoing constitutional review process can ensure women are given more opportunities in the Horn of African country.
“We can have an impact on the constitutional review process to make sure (a future constitution) contains language that gives women opportunities in a very specific way, so that girls and women will benefit in the future.”Mlambo-Ngcuka, who is on a three-day to Somalia, said.
Somalia’s constitutional review comes ahead of the federal elections scheduled for 2020. The previous federal elections, in 2016, were held under an indirect suffrage system, which a report from UNSOM, released earlier this month, credited with the formation of a more diverse Parliament: almost a quarter of those elected were women, up from 14 per cent in 2012.
Mlambo-Ngcuka’s visit coincided with the World Humanitarian Day. She took the opportunity to thank humanitarian workers in the country for their sacrifices and their dedication to communities. Since the beginning of the year, there have been an estimated 74 incidents of violence affecting humanitarian personnel in Somalia, resulting in the deaths of seven workers. A further 18 were abducted, and six are still being held captive.
“We are there with them every step of the way,” Mlambo-Ngcuka said. “(We) call on all of those who work in the humanitarian space to have targeted interventions to ensure that the security of women and girls is addressed and their participation as leaders and not just as victims is also enhanced.”
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: New US strike in Somalia kills two militants northeast of Kismayo town: @USAfricaCommand
@STN_KE: The government of #Somalia is paying a US lobbying firm Sh40 million ($400,000) through the end of this year to help it gain renewed funding for the country’s army and to lift the Trump administration’s ban on Somalis’ travel to the US.
@HarunMaruf: Somalia: Puntland regional MPs submit motion to review port deal with UAE’s DP World.
@taakulosom: Today TASCO have performed one of#EidAlAdha deeds on behalf of @ISRA_UK doners in two villages in El-Afwein district, Sanag region.
@faaraxdayax: #UPDATE:the attack in #Marka_City of Lower Shabelle of region at between Al-Shabaab and #Somaligovernment forces.
@DalsanFM: BREAKING: 2 revellers injured at a an Eid Music concert in Mogadishu’s Royal Palace Hotel following a stampede. Hotel management say its crowd management was overwhelmed by the large crowd that attended to see Ethio- Somali singer Suldaanka Geeska, Harir Ahmed & Hidigaha Hamar.
@DalsanFM: Eid Ul Adh-ha In Pictures: Somalia President performs the Eid Prayers with the military. #Mogadishu#Somalia Share your Eid Moments photos via @DalsanFM
@MoulidHujale: “For 20 years I was trapped in #Dadaab@Refugees camp in Kenya. I never thought I would stay that long but I had no choice. I got married here & blessed with one child .My biggest worry now is for my son to grow up in the camp! We both need #DurableSolution.” Ahmed Alahi 26.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo with Somali National Army Chief Defence Force, Major General Abdiweli Jama Hussein inspecting military institute base in Mogadishu.
Photo: @TheVillaSomalia