August 24, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
SNA Detains 11 Al-Shabaab Suspects In Southern Somalia
24 August – Source: Halbeeg News – 181 Words
At least 11 Al-Shabaab suspects have been nabbed on Thursday, after Somali army conducted operations in the outskirts of Bar-Sanguni. Somali National Army (SNA), backed by the US and AMISOM allied forces, intensified the war on Al-Shabaab in South and central Somalia.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Colonel Mohamed Bulle said, the forces managed to capture and detain several suspects. “The forces went on patrol in areas surrounding Bar-Sanguni locality, where the group used to orchestrate their attacks from. We have arrested 11 Al-Shabaab terrorists,” he said.
Mr. Bulle pointed out, that some of the suspects had guns when they were detained during operations. “They were arrested Thursday evening. Four of those arrested were captured with rifles. The rest were unarmed,” he explained.
The colonel noted that the suspects were taken into custody, at the military base in Bar-Sanguni village. Previously Al-Shabaab attacked Bar-Sanguni village, 45 kilometers (28 miles) south of the coastal city of Kismayo. Al-Shabaab controls several towns and villages in Jubba region. The group has its main headquarters and number of training bases in Jubba central region.
Key Headlines
- SNA Detains 11 Al-Shabaab Suspects In Southern Somalia (Halbeeg News)
- AVIC Officials Meet With Somali Government To Discuss Construction Of New International Airport (Hiiraan Online)
- SNA Officers Conclude Training Course In Baidoa Town (Halbeeg News)
- Ethiopian Contingent Of AMISOM Engaged In Commendable Mission: Sector Chief (Fana Broadcasting Corporation)
- The Heroic Hawa Abdi One Of Somalia’s First Female Obstetricians Who Saved Thousands During The Civil War (Face2Face Africa)
NATIONAL MEDIA
AVIC Officials Meet With Somali Government To Discuss Construction Of New International Airport
23 August – Source: Hiiraan Online – 186 Words
Officials of the Airport Authority in Mogadishu told Hiiraan Online, that Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) has reached a deal with the Somali government, to construct a new international airport in Mogadishu.
AVIC officials have reportedly met with officials at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Transport on Wednesday, and will meet with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo on Friday to discuss further. AVIC officials arrived in Mogadishu at the request of the Somali government to discuss the aviation industry in the country. During the former Hassan Sheikh Mohamud administration, AVIC and Somalia had penned a deal, whereby AVIC was to supply three MA60 airplanes 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, Mr. Mohamed Guled, and the former Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport, Mr. Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi, blamed each other for the deal falling apart. In the past, government officials in Somalia have approached AVIC with the possibility of constructing an international airport in Mogadishu. However, those talks did not bear any fruit.
SNA Officers Conclude Training Course In Baidoa Town
23 August – Source: Halbeeg News – 150 Words
At least 100 Somali National Army (SNA) officers on Thursday concluded training course in Baidoa city in Southwest State. The new recruits graduated after successfully completing a three-month military course, conducted by UK training commanders.
A pass out ceremony for the soldiers which was attended by officials from Southwest state, UK officials and Somali national army commanders was held in Baidoa town. Addressing the trained officers, the Force Commander of the 60th battalion of SNA, Ismail Mukhtar commended them for their keenness during the training.
“Today marks another milestone in the history of Somalia with the graduation of such gallant men and women, who are ready to serve this great country,” adding that the course would greatly improve the capability of the army in the fight against Al-Shabaab. The officials from the UK said they would continue to enhance the capabilities of the Somali security institutions to prepare them for eventual takeover.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Ethiopian Contingent Of AMISOM Engaged In Commendable Mission: Sector Chief
23 August – Source: Fana Broadcasting Corporation – 319 Words
The Ethiopian contingent of AMISOM is effectively carrying out its mission in Somalia, sources from Ethiopian sector command said. Brigadier General Asefa Chekol, Commander in Chief of Sector 3 of AMISOM said Ethiopian troops are effectively supporting the people and government of Somalia in ascertaining peace in the country.
He added they are training Somali police forces, militia and regular army deployed in the sector as part of a capacity building program and has also conducted a number of operations to annihilate units of Al-Shabaab terrorists operating in the country. He noted that Ethiopian troops have so far sustained no casualties in their operation along with Somali forces and are fulfilling their mission in the most effective manner.
The Ethiopian forces are well aware of the tactics employed by Al-Shabaab in inflicting loss of lives and properties in Somalia and have managed to curb their terrorist activities. In the just concluded fiscal year, Ethiopian troops have detonated 56 bombs and booby traps planted by the terrorist forces along with its development programs including provision of potable water and relief food support from their ration in support of communities and IDPs in its operation areas, he stated.
“Now Baidoa has become a peaceful town frequented by ambassadors from various countries and we are working with representatives of various communities, clan leaders, youth and women’s groups and local administrative bodies as well as local security forces to ensure peace and tranquility in our operation area,” the Commander in Chief said.
Over the last fiscal year, the Ethiopian peacekeeping forces have either killed, put out of action 350 Al-Shabaab terrorists. AMISOM is operating in 6 sectors of Somalia while Sector 3 is under the command of the Ethiopian peacekeeping forces. AMISOM covers 74% of the land territory of Somalia and 4,000 strong Ethiopian armed forces are second to Uganda in the number of AMISOM troops deployed in the country.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“With all the lives under her care, Abdi was able to get a phone and able to talk to anyone and everyone who listened. Pressure from the locals, the United Nations and other rights groups forced the militia out of the clinic.”
The Heroic Hawa Abdi, One Of Somalia’s First Female Obstetricians Who Saved Thousands During The Civil War
21 August – Source: Face2Face Africa – 798 Words
The civil war in Somalia in the 1990s dealt a hard hand on many natives. Those who were able to flee, left the country looking for better lives. Those who stayed back were forced to survive on almost nothing. No food, no water. Children were malnourished and many others died as a result.
As in many civil wars, women and children suffered more in the Somali war and there was a dire need to provide them with care and attention in order to save their lives. This is what Dr. Hawa Abdi did. Abdi, one of Somalia’s female obstetrician and lawyers, had set up a clinic in 1983 at her family’s home in Shebelle.
The clinic known as the Rural Health Development Organisation (RHDO) started off as a one-room clinic where women across the region would visit for obstetrics services. When the war broke out in 1991, she stayed behind at the behest of her grandmother, who encouraged her to use her skills to help the people. She opened up the family compound for people fleeing the war.
“During those dark days of 1992, starvation set in and I sold my family’s gold to buy enough food to sustain the vulnerable children and give the gravediggers enough strength to work. Even when we were burying 50 people per day, I was still able to provide free land, security, and medical treatment.
We clung to one another and we survived, but the fighting continued. Now, again, we see famine—not caused by drought alone, but by the conflict that continues to ravage Somalia,” she said in an interview. Slowly, the plain farm turned into a camp, with thousands of women setting up dome-shaped homes that would house them for years.
As more people streamed in, Abdi established a new clinic and even set up schools for all the children orphaned and displaced by the war. The clinic now has a 400-bed capacity and the school has 850 students. More than 90,000 people are living in the compound. She renamed RHDO to Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation, which is now run by her daughters, CEO Dr. Deqo Adan (also known as Deqo Mohamed) and assistant Dr. Amina Mohamed. They work all through to ensure that people who are suffering are able to access healthcare. They, however, have only two rules.
TOP TWEETS
@MustafaAhmed42: Major development in the occupied Somali state held by Ethiopia. As of today, the original name of the region is re-instated and the new name is: Somali State. The flag is also changing to the original one that has the famous Somali star. This bring the Somali state in line with
@HarunMaruf: Ethiopia Somali regional state to restore original name and flag, sources say. The region will use original flag (R) which will replace the flag preferred by former leader Abdi Mohamoud Omar (L). Name of the region will be just the “Somali Regional State”, according to sources.
@HarunMaruf: #Somalia: Newly appointed army chief Gen Dahir Aden Elmi “Indhoqarsho” takes over from Gen Abdiweli Ibrahim Gorod during a ceremony at the Ministry of Defense, Thursday, August 23, 2018.
@Halbeeg_News: SNA officers conclude training course in Baidoa town https://en.halbeeg.com/
@GEEL_Somali: Ever heard of camel leasing? We introduced it to 10 dairy companies in Somaliland to meet the high demand for camel milk and meat, and provide income for pastoralists affected by drought. The result? Increased heard health, quality and quantity of milk produced and income.
@radiogarowe: EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: #Somali pilgrims who went to perform #Hajj2018 through #Daallo & #Jubba airlines sponsored scheme are facing numerous issues related to accommodation and transportation in #SaudiArabia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Newly appointed army Chief Gen Dahir Aden Elmi “Indhoqarsho” right, takes over from Gen Abdiweli Ibrahim Gorod during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Defense.
Photo: Radio Dalsan