August 25, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Ex Vice President Buried In Mogadishu
25 August – Source: Goobjoog/Shabelle News – 208 Words
Former Somali Vice President and Defence Minister, General Mohamed Ali Samatar has this afternoon been laid to rest at a state funeral function in the capital city of Mogadishu attended by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke.
A private plane carrying the body of the deceased General from USA landed at the Aden Abdulle International airport early on Thursday. He died at a virginia hospital last week aged 85.
Major roads in the city were closed and traffic diverted as security agencies cleared the way for a man whose long service as army chief, defence minister and later as Somalia’s only Vice President drew a lot of mixed reactions. He served under the ex Somalia’s military regime led by Mohamed Siad Barre who was ousted in 1990 by clan warlords.
A well-organized state burial event was held at the Defence Ministry complex in Mogadishu, with top officials from the Federal Government in attendance. President Mohamud, PM Sharmarke and Federal Parliament Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari led mourners in paying last respects to the late Samatar.
The government declared three days of mourning upon the passing of General Samatar who will be remembered for among other feats leading Somalia into war with Ethiopia during the 1977 Ogaden war; a war which defined the relationship between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Key Headlines
- Ex Vice President Buried In Mogadishu (Shabelle/Goobjoog News)
- An Elder Calls On Government To Respect Media Freedom (Shabelle News)
- Renegade ASWJ Militia Leader Defect To Galmudug (Radio Kulmiye)
- AMISOM SNA Pledge Unity In War Against Al-Shabaab (AMISOM)
- Somalia Is At A “Good Turning Point” Says UNDP Head Helen Clark (UNSOM)
- Somalia’s Digital Battleground (Warisboring.com)
NATIONAL MEDIA
An Elder Calls On Government To Respect Media Freedom
25 August – Source: Shabelle News – 135 Words
An elder in Somalia has called on the Federal Government to respect and preserve the freedom of the independent media in the conflict-riddled horn of Africa country. Bedel Jama Hersi popularly known as (Bedel Laangare) said people of Somalia are dependent on the media for the news and information about their country.
“It’s unacceptable and wrong for the government of Somalia to oppress the media, which is the maimn source of news for the people in the urban and rural areas,” he said. The call of the elder came as the media houses in Somalia are having a growing concern over possible harassment and oppression during election coverage. The media in Somalia has been under pressure from the power-struggling sides over the past 20 years, with dozens of journalists killed for their journalistic work.
Renegade ASWJ Militia Leader Defect To Galmudug
24 August 2016 – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 167 Words
Senior Ahlusunna Wal Jama’a (ASWJ) militia commander has defected to the Galmudug administration, officials have said.Abdirizak Ali Tubaako, a high ranking officer within the Sufi militants along with handful of renegade militias, have reportedly surrendered to the Adaado-based Galmudug Interim Administration after defecting from the staunch rebel ASWJ outfit in Dhuusamarreeb.
Galmudug military officials told Kulmiye News Network (KNN) that Mr. Tubaako and his men were accorded a warm reception at the administration’s headquarters in Adaado. The Galmudug officials pledged similar treatment for anyone willing to denounce violence in favor of a peaceful settlement in the region.
Meanwhile, the ASWJ administration in Gura’el has reportedly arrested the mother of Tubaako, the militia commander who defected to the Galmudug administration. They are accusing her of her alleged role in the son’s defection.Mrs. Shamsa Hussain Ali-ad was apprehended at her residential village in Tuulo Aano, about 30 Km North of Gura’el district. ASWJ is yet to comment on the latest developments amid political uncertainty in the region.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM, SNA Pledge Unity In War Against Al-Shabaab
25 August – Source: AMISOM – 369 Word
Senior military officers from the African Union Mission in Somalia and the Somali National Army have pledged to work together to rid the country of the militant insurgent group Al-Shabaab. “If we do not work together to defeat Al-Shabaab and if we cannot effectively hand over the security of Somalia to the Somali national security forces, then we’ll have failed in achieving our mandate”, AMISOM Force Commander Gen Osman Noor Soubagleh Force Commander told participants of a joint conference of AMISOM Sector Commanders and senior SNA officers, Wednesday. The SNA team was led by the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Alibaashi Mohamed.
Soubagleh said the meeting would facilitate the ability of both forces to plan, prepare, coordinate and synchronize joint operations directed against Al-Shabaab in all the five sectors. Gen Mohamed for his part, said after visiting several sectors in Somalia, he had witnessed the plight of the Somali people under Al-Shabaab. He described Al-Shabaab militants as having no defined position, forcing them to collect taxes and food from the public. He further said the group posed no big challenge to AMISOM and SNA as in their current state its armament and equipment was limited.
“If we act together and get support from partners we’ll make major strides”, Gen. Mohamed told the joint conference. The Force Commander noted that the country was preparing for an electoral process and AMISOM was under obligation to support the Federal government before and after the process. “We must support and assist in the economic development and establishment of effective governance in support of the federal government both now and after elections to gain the support of the population and counter the propaganda of Al-Shabaab,” Gen. Soubagleh added.
Somalia Is At A “Good Turning Point,” Says UNDP Head Helen Clark
24 August – Source: UNSOM – 473 Words
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark today described the country as being “at a good turning point” during her visit to the Somali capital. Clark spent the day in discussions with Somalia’s Federal President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and other senior leaders of his government about the 2016 electoral process, a proposed 30 percent quota for women’s representation in parliament and the upcoming launch of the country’s first national development plan in more than 25 years.
Ms. Clark was accompanied throughout her visit by the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Peter de Clercq. She was received at Mogadishu International Airport by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Michael Keating, and other top UN officials.
Also on hand to receive her was the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Lydia Wanyoto. The UNDP chief later met with members of civil society organizations, officials of the federal Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, and UN personnel.
Clark said the purpose of her visit was to get a firsthand account of the situation in Somalia and verify that “we are doing as partners what we should be doing to support Somalia’s movement forward.” The UNDP Administrator said she strongly backs the 30 per cent quota for female representation in both houses of the country’s next federal parliament.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“The internet and cellphones have also proved a liability in other ways for the group. Counterterror officials can exploit them to track militants — and then target them with commandos and drones. Al-Shabaab leaders told their fighters to stop using smartphones in 2013.”
Somalia’s Digital Battleground
25 August – Source: warisboring.com – 944 Words
In early August, officials from U.S. Africa Command, the United Nations and the African Union Mission in Somalia — AMISOM — met in Djibouti for the fifth iteration of the East Africa Public Information Officer Conference. Members of all three have been involved in efforts to defeat Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab as the international community tries to train the new Somali army to take the lead. This year’s conference highlighted social media’s role in that fight.
“Despite language barriers, a common regional challenge, AMISOM nations remain committed to winning the information war as social media use among East Africans continues to grow,” an AFRICOM press release stated. Most Somalis still get their news from radio stations. But many radio journalists increasingly interact with both the government and Al-Shabaab online — and use social media to get official statements. And the use of cellphones and social media has seen a meteoric rise in Somalia, particularly among the country’s youth.
“What is communicated on social media is communicated directly by the radio station,” Ugandan army Capt. Jimmy Davis Omara said. “They don’t have editors to edit, so they find it easier to pick up information and read. If you can exploit that for radio, it would be an advantage.” Al-Shabaab, like many jihadist groups, uses social media to send out messages to followers around the world.
The group has called upon members of the Somali diaspora to return to the country to fight first against the Ethiopian army and now against AMISOM and the new government. In particular, the group has tried to target alienated youths in the United States and the United Kingdom. Group members and their sympathizers frequently post statements on social media taunting American and African officials’ own statements, often within minutes of official press releases or conferences.
TOP TWEETS
@amisomsomalia: Gen Soubagleh: “We’ll have failed in achieving our mandate if we cannot effectively hand over the security of #Somalia to the Somali forces”
@Mogadishucity1 : The Republic of #Somalia burried the Deceased Ex- #Somali Vice-President LT. General H.E. Mohamed Ali in #Mogadishu
@amisomsomalia: Gen. Mohamed: “If we act together and get support from partners we’ll make major strides.” #SNA#AMISOM #Somalia
@mpfsomalia : #Somalia has outstanding conditions for wind energy; potentially some of the best conditions globally!#cleanenergy
@UNdeClercq : Proud day for @UNDPSomalia, sharing with@HelenClarkUNDP their work to support #Somalia‘s transition to development!
@engyarisow : #Somalia makes huge progress every day – students from the Somalia University held their graduation ceremony with… http://fb.me/supuKACm
@Vatescorp: #Somalia: EUCAP Nestor visits Puntland for joint planning and preparation for deployment of experts
IMAGE OF THE DAY
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark reaffirmed the UN agency’s strong support for the development, peacebuilding, and statebuilding processes underway in Somalia during her visit to the country on Wednesday.
Photo:@UNdeClercq