August 26, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Kenya – Somalia: General Karangi going to Mogadishu soon
26 Aug – Source: Africa Intelligence/The Indian Ocean News Letter- 51 words
The head of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), General Julius Karangi, is to go discreetly to Somalia to meet with representatives of the Mogadishu federal government and commanders of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) about the conditions for a retreat by the Kenyan contingent from the south of the country.
Key Headlines
- Military commander blames Shabelle regional administration holding militias (Radio Dalsan)
- Somali parliament speaker sends condolence message on the death of Somali elder (Radio Mustaqbal)
- Somali Gov’t troops battles with al Shabab in Bakool region (Radio Shabelle/Mareeg/ Somalimemo Online)
- Puntland vice president to pay unconfirmed visit to Taleh (Radio Dalsan/Radio Garowe)
- Somali FM visits regions in China (Radio Mustaqbal/SNTV)
- Somaliland says it will fight against HIV/AIDS (Radio Mustaqbal/Xogmaal Online)
- Body of SNA second division commander buried in Mogadishu (Raxanreeb)
- Puntland delegation on visit to Somali region of Ethiopia (Radio Dalsan)
- Rape against women spreads in Somaliland (Raxanreeb)
- Experts: Horn of Africa set for depressed rainfall (KBC)
- Peace is a prerequisite for Somalia (Uganda media Centre)
- Somaliland commends Ethiopia’s role to bring peace in the Horn (Walta information Centre)
- In Kismayu fragile peace or a gathering storm? (East African)
- Kenya – Somalia: General Karangi going to Mogadishu soon (Africa Intelligence)
SOMALI MEDIA
Military commander blames Shabelle regional administration holding militias
26 Aug- Source: Radio Dalsan- 134 words
A high ranking commander of the Somali government military has blamed the Lower Shabelle regional administration officials for holding illegal clan militias and inciting insecurity. Col. Geesey Ali, one of the commanders of the third division based in the Lower Shabelle region has rejected allegations of looting and setting up illegal roadblocks against the military.
Speaking to radio Dalsan, the commander made clear that his military men were not involved in any insecurity or any harm against civilians.
He called the government to do something with the regional administration whom he said were holding illegal clan militias serving for them.
The allegations came as the governor of Lower Shabelle region recently complained against the government military in the region, whom he blamed of looting civilians.
Somali parliament speaker sends condolence message on the death of Somali elder
26 Aug- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 203 words
The speaker of Somali federal parliament H.E Mohamed Osman Jawari sent a heartfelt condolence message to the family and all Somali people on occasion of the death of Somali elder Amen Ali Mumin who was killed in Mogadishu on 24th August 2013. Amen was one of the elders who selected the members of the parliament.
The Speaker said ” May Allah mercy Amen and remain in Fordowsa paradise, and leave patience for his family and all Somali people”.
Several elders involved in the selection of the members who approved the State constitution were killed in Mogadishu because of their role in the selection process.
Somali Gov’t troops battles with al Shabab in Bakool region
26 Aug- Source: Radio Shabelle/Mareeg/ Somalimemo Online- 119 words
Federal government troops battled with al Shabab fighters in the early hours of Monday morning in some areas in Bakool region of Somalia. The war broke out when al Shabab fighters launched attacks on government bases in a town known as Qura’a Jome.
The al Shabab fighters are said to have taken control of the town and other surrounding areas which were previously controlled by government troops.
The war which lasted for hours is reported to have incurred many casualties including death and injuries to both fighting sides. Both fighting sides have not released any statements about the heavy fighting and official figures of death casualties have not yet been released.
Puntland vice president to pay unconfirmed visit to Taleh
26 jul- Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Garowe- 140 words
Reports from Garowe town, Puntland state say that the region’s vice president will go to visit the town of Taleh, the base of rival administration Khaatumo state.
Officials in the Puntland administration said the vice-president Abdisamad Ali Shire will be leaving on Tuesdayto visit Taleh, his hometown in the Sool region.
He will pay a five-days visit in the area, the officials added.
Other sources said the visit was unclear yet as the town is administered by Khatumo state, another regional administration which opposes the Puntland and Somaliland administrations.
Khaatumo state has been in war with the two neighboring administration of Puntland and Somaliland and the visit by the Puntland vice-president could cause fresh conflict in the region.
Somali FM visits regions in China
25 Aug Source: Radio Mustaqbal/SNTV – 94 words
The Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of the federal government of Somali Fowsia Yusuf Haji is conducting visits in the region of China.
The minister already visited Shanghai, where she met the mayor and discussed a wide range of issues about potential partnership between Mogadishu and Shanghai .
The Foreign minister of Somalia is expected to visit other areas in China, meeting officials of regional states.
Somaliland says it will fight against HIV/AIDS
26 Aug- Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Xogmaal Online- 167 words
The president of Somaliland’s self-declared administration Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo recently spoke about the danger of HIV/AIDs which has reportedly spread in areas of Somaliland in recent times. Silanyo said the administration of Somaliland will fight against the disease of HIV/AIDS.
The president pledged that his administration will facilitate the plan for the collecting of data related to HIV/Aids in Somaliland in order to protect from the danger of this disease.
The Somaliland president has requested the businessmen in Somaliland to participate in the fundraising for protection against the disease.
One injured in Federal Govt officials’ flight accident
25 Aug – Source: Garowe Online/VOA Somali Service – 129 words
One person was reportedly injured after a plane carrying a delegation led by the Deputy Chief of Somali Military forces Gen. Abdirizak Khalif Elmi lost a wheel upon landing at Guricel Airstrip in Galgaduud region of central Somalia on Sunday.
Gen. Elmi was accompanied by Galgaduud’s new governor Hussein Ali Weheliye (Cirfo) and other government officials who will hold talks with Ahlu Sunah Wal Jamaa, which maintains military presence in some parts of the region.
Speaking on VOA Somali Service, Galguduud Governor confirmed the accident but denied reports of casualty. Sources close to the delegation disclosed that one delegation member sustains injuries. Shortly after landing at Guricel airstrip, Gen. Elmi said to the reporters, “We have come here to meet Ahlu Sunah officials and community members”.
Body of SNA second division commander buried in Mogadishu
25 Aug – Source: Raxanreeb – 148 words
Somali Defense Minister Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi, Military Officers, AMISOM and elders have attended the burial of the commander of the second division of Somalia National Army Colonel Ali Gure who has diedon Saturday following bullet wounds last week in Mogadishu.
The body of the late Colonel Gure was transferred from AMISOM hospital at Halane base on Saturday night after his death was declared by AMISOM doctors. Before the burial of the body, the defense minister and AMISOM military officers met with the relatives and friends of the late Colonel as they expressed their condolences to the family members and relatives.
Speaking with the local media after the meeting, the country’s defense minister said that the government is now investigating the shooting against the late colonel last week in Mogadishu after the colonel tried to clear illegal roadblocks set up by the military.
Farole accused over hindering Somalia peace process
25 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan – 108 words
Puntland civil society members have accused the president of the Puntland state of hindering Somalia peace process. Dahir Omar, the spokesman of the Puntland civil society coalition said that they have full evidence that President Farole of Puntland was pressuring the Ras Kamboni militia commander Ahmed Madobe not to sign any peace agreement during the ongoing talks in Addis Ababa where the federal government of Somalia and the anti-government militia leaders were talking.
The spokesman of the Puntland civil society coalition expressed great concern that president Farole, whose region is plunging into internal conflict, was now opposing a peace agreement in the southern part of the country.
Minister of Energy and Mineral heads to Australia to attend Africa Down Under Conference on Minerals
25 Aug – Source: Somaliland Press – 131 words
Somaliland Minister of Energy Mining and Minerals Hon. Hussein Abdi Dualeh flew out of the country to attend the Africa Down Under Conference on Minerals and Oil on 28 August – 30 August 2013 in Perth, Australia.
The Minister of Energy & Minerals of the Republic of Somaliland, Mr. Hussein Abdi Dualeh is charged with directing H.E. President Ahmed Silanyo’s agenda to develop Somaliland’s energy and mineral resources in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way for the benefit of its people. These include the development of hydrocarbons, hard minerals, renewable energy and power generation. This is not the first time the country has been invited to such a conference.
Puntland delegation on visit to Somali region of Ethiopia
25 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan – 133 words
A Puntland delegation led by Minister of Labour, Youth and Sports Abdiweli Hirsi Abdulle (Indhoguran) is on visit to a Somali region of Ethiopia.
The delegation which consists of Deputy Minister of Interior Ali Yusuf Hosh, Deputy Chief of cabinet at Puntland President’s office Ahmed Aideed, the Governor of Bari region Abdisamad Mohamed Galan, respected clan elder Suldan Saed Mohamed Garase and businessmen held various meetings with the officials of a Somali regional state of Ethiopia.
Among the issues discussed by the two sides were the strengthening of the bilateral ties between Puntland and neighbouring Ethiopia,and continuing cooperation on security, education and economic matters which were highlighted in an agreement signed by Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole and the President of Somali regional State of Ethiopia Abdi Mohamud Omar in June 2012.
Rape against women spreads in Somaliland
25 Aug – Source: Raxanreeb – 122 words
Rape cases and other acts of sexual violence against women are spreading unprecedentedly in the Somalia’s breakaway regions of Somaliland, Deputy Health Minister Nimca Hussein Qawdhan says.
At a press conference in Hargeysa, the Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Health of Somaliland said that the local hospitals in the region received the highest number to this day of women who were victims of rape and other sexual violence.
According to recent statistics received by the ministry, the rape cases are mostly again young virgin girls who cannot hide the wounds and trauma they got from the rape action. “The worst and most recent cases we have seen are the ones of two young girls who were raped in Hargeysa” the deputy minister added.
Mudug administration speaks about Bacadweyne killings
25 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 86 words
Mudug region’s administration of Puntland has spoken about yesterday’s killings which occurred in the Bacadweyne area of Mudug region.
Speaking to the media, Mudug region governor Mohamed Yusuf Jama (Tigay) stated that a man armed with an AK47 killed two civilian women in the area and injured three men of the same family.
Mr Tigey added that they arrested the man who was mentally patient, as investigations are underway. The Mudug region governor sent condolences to the family and friends of the two killed civilian women.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Experts: Horn of Africa set for depressed rainfall
26 Aug- Source: KBC- 436 words
The Greater Horn of Africa is set for depressed rainfall over most of the region during the short rains season which begins in September through to December. According to climate experts drawn from the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development – Igad and the World Meteorological Organization member countries, a vast area of the GHA sub-region including parts of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Sudan and eastern and north eastern Kenya will experience near normal to below normal rainfall during the SOND season.
The experts meeting under the auspices of the Igad Climate Predictions and Applications Center – ICPAC at the Climate Outlook Forum held in Eldoret said the rest of the region which falls within the equatorial region including; Burundi, the western parts of Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Western Tanzania will receive near normal to above normal rainfall, meaning enhanced rainfall during the season.
In Kismayu, fragile peace or a gathering storm?
24 Aug- Source: East African- 523 words
When bullets tore through the streets of Kismayu in June, leaving over 70 dead as rival militias fought twice for control of the Somali port city, many international aid agencies halted a cautious scale-up of activities. One of the few to stay was the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“For us, conflict means casualties. We are doctors; we have to be there,” Omar Saleh, WHO Somalia’s emergency health co-ordinator, said last week.
But for most international organisations — many of which had just returned to Kismayu after militant Islamists Al Shabaab were driven out late last year — the June violence proved too dangerous.
Peace is a prerequisite for Somalia
24 Aug- Source: Uganda media Centre- 379 words
President Yoweri Museveni has said that peace is a prerequisite for the people of Somalia to trade and lead normal lives. The President was yesterday speaking during a meeting with the visiting Italian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lapo Pistelli, who called on the President at his country home in Rwakitura, Kiruhuura district.
He told the Italian Minister that security work is not yet accomplished in Somalia because the peace-keeping forces in the war-torn Horn of Africa country are not enough. He stressed that zonal forces in that country must remain there in order to prevent the Al Shabaab terrorists from re-entering those areas that have been secured. He noted that more forces and better equipment are needed in order to ensure security.
President Museveni informed the Italian guest that the modernization is the politics of Africa where the people on the continent need both monetary and non-monetary economies.
Daredevil women on the frontline in Somalia
25 Aug – Source: Daily Monitor – 167 words
We may not mean it literally when we say “I will catch a bullet for you”, but the story is totally different when it is coming from a woman in camouflage trotting an AK47 assault weapon and wearing the glare of a Hollywood movie director.
Women have ventured into brave professions over the years, but the ones that took up military service as a career are something else. The sight of a woman in comouflage may be more commonplace today, but it still draws attention here at home. Now, think of those deployed in the recuperating Somali capital of Mogadishu and beyond.
In Somalia, our daredevils do not only serve under safe UPDF units but are also deployed in the war zones and serve in combat units “to catch the bullet for world peace”. During our recent visit to Mogadishu and Baidoa, 240 kilometers from the capital, we caught up with these female combatants who face heinous acts of terror from the Somali insurgents, al-Shabaab, every day.
Somaliland commends Ethiopia’s role to bring peace in the Horn
23 Aug- Source: Walta information Centre- 132 words
Somaliland has praised Ethiopia’s tremendous effort to bring lasting peace in Africa in general and the Horn in particular. In an exclusive interview with WIC, the minister of presidential Affairs of Somaliland Mr. Hersi Ali H. Hassan, said that Ethiopia has done a lot to guarantee lasting peace and security in the Horn region.
According to Hersi, Ethiopia is a good player in the Horn of Africa that it supports many countries including Somalia. Except some areas, the Horn has now become secure and stable as the Ethiopian people and government have been exerting tremendous efforts against anti-peace elements, Mr. Hersi said.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya – Somalia: General Karangi going to Mogadishu soon
26 Aug – Source: Africa Intelligence/The Indian Ocean Letter- 51 words
The head of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), General Julius Karangi, is to go discreetly to Somalia to meet with representatives of the Mogadishu federal government and commanders of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) about the conditions for a retreat by the Kenyan contingent from the south of the country.
State’s first Somali elected official – a member of the Minneapolis school board – loses leukemia fight
26 Aug – Source: Star Tribune – 134 words
Hussein Samatar, who made history in Minnesota when he was elected to the Minneapolis school board and attracted attention internationally for his work with small businesses, died Sunday after a battle with leukemia. He was 45 and was credited with helping dozens of African immigrants carve out new lives as entrepreneurs.
“I believe he is one of the people in the city whom I have admired the most,” Mayor R.T. Rybak said Sundaynight. “I am just completely crushed.”
Samatar considered running for mayor this year before learning he had to undergo a bone-marrow transplant. Three years earlier, he had become the first Somali immigrant to be elected to public office in Minnesota and went on to cultivate a reputation as an advocate for students who are immigrants or the children of immigrants.
More than 200 migrants, mainly Somali, land in Italy
24 Aug – Source: Yahoo News – 123 words
The Italian coast guard said Saturday it had rescued more than 200 migrants off Sicily, swelling the ranks of the thousands of boat people who have made the crossing thanks to calm summer waters.
A group of 116, most of them Somalis, were drifting in the Canal of Sicily on a small rubber dinghy when they were spotted by a navy vessel and taken to the island of Lampedusa by the coastguard.
Another 100 were picked up by a vessel of the European Union border control agency Frontex and handed over to the coastguard, which took them to Portopalo, a Sicilian port south of Syracuse. Around 1,000 migrants crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa had already landed in Italy this week alone.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“He served a prison term when his poems annoyed the Siad Barre regime but he has no regrets about it. The universal principle of justice and freedom and the deep human impressions that run through his poems are mainly what win Hadraawi the huge admiration of the Somali people and the merit of recognition”.
Hadraawi: Somalia’s mild-mannered fierce critic
23 Aug- Source: Daily Nation- 1004 words
I had heard a lot about Hadraawi, the legendary Somali poet. Even though I didn’t see him when he last came to Nairobi for the last Kwani? Litfest, I got my second chance to see him when I attended his performance at the sixth Hargeysa International Book Fair in Somaliland.
I expected to see a fiery old man with the steely gaze of the Old Testament prophets, a fitting persona for a fearless critic who told the truth to power without fear.
So I was surprised to find a rather mild-mannered old man who acknowledged the applause of his audience with a warm smile, then calmly walked off stage, his papers tucked under his arm, to seemingly melt into the crowd.
You could easily mistake Mr Hadraawi, real name Mohamed Ibrahim Warsame, for just another Somali pastoralist going about his daily business.
Top tweets
@engyarisow The President of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud meets the new US Special Representative to Somalia H.E…. http://fb.me/1mAhlHAsK
@Abdi_AlSheikh Somalia wants UN to lift sanctions on suspected Shebab – Zee News http://dlvr.it/3sG5wQ #Somalia
@IOM_news For 21 years, images of destruction & bloodshed have defined #Somalia. But now a different story is emerging:http://ow.ly/ogc0p
@AfricanNewsNow Somalia defends alleged Al-Shabaab financier http://bit.ly/1di7Qhz
@KimScriven Why MSF decided to leave Somaliahttp://www.msf-seasia.org/
@Abdi_AlSheikh #ASWJ leadership at odds over appointment of new #SFG administration in Galgaduud #Somaliahttp://goo.gl/AU4E1K
Image of the day
UN Envoy for Somalia Nicholas Kay (left) briefing the AU Peace and Security Council. Addis Ababa, 26 August 2013