August 29, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Interim Southwest Administration President Offers Amnesty To Al-Shabaab Fighters
29 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 219 Words
The President of the Interim Southwest Administration, Shariif Hassan Sheikh Adan on Sunday extended amnesty to Al-Shabaab fighters who renounced terrorism and violence. Speaking during his visit to Barawe, the president said his government will not punish Al-Shabaab fighters who laid down arms. “Our amnesty offer to the youths who have joined Al-Shabaab remains, and we are also encouraging others to do the same and renounce violence and join us in the task of state building,” said Adan.
It was the first time the interim administration had offered amnesty to Al-Shabaab fighters. The president also said that the hit and run tactics of the terrorist group in the state will not stop the ongoing security efforts in securing the state.
“Southwest administration does not want to revenge, however we plan to invite and welcome anyone who renounces violence and the terrorist group.” Last year, the Federal Government of Somalia also announced amnesty for Al-Shabaab fighters. A reintegration into society has been taking place for the ones who heeded the offer and surrendered arms.
Key Headlines
- Interim Southwest Administration President Offers Amnesty To Al-Shabaab Fighters (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Armed Chief Closes Training For Hundred Of Commandos (Goobjoog News)
- Deadly Explosion Reported In Baardhere (Garowe Online)
- MP Voices Concern Over Money Theft At Central Bank (Shabelle News)
- Kenyan Muslim Cleric Killed By Explosive Devices Near Somali Border (Xinhua News)
- Somali Ambassador To Bahrain Presents Credentials To Foreign Affairs Minister (Gulf News)
- Africa Japan In Pledge To Fight Terrorism And Piracy (Daily Nation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Armed Chief Closes Training For Hundred Of Commandos
29 August – Source: Goobjoog News – 151 Words
Chief of the Somali armed forces, Mohamed Ahmed Adan on Sunday wrapped up a training of new commandos in Mogadishu. Addressing the officers who have wrapped up the training, Adan applauded their commitment to serve their country, encouraging them to abide by the law.
“I congratulate you on your graduation of the training conducted here Mogadishu. Security is the core pillar of the country’s rebuilding and development. Hope you will contribute in the fight against the Al Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group,” said Adan.
He also said the forces have received special training for fighting in the jungle and in the city. “They can conduct any kind of operations in modern warfare, [including] guerrilla type,” Adan siad. Somali commandos have carried out several raids conducted in south and central somalia where they killed a number of Al-Shabaab fighters and destroyed their training camps.
Deadly Explosion Reported In Baardhere
29 August – Source: Garowe Online – 103 Words
Bomb blast has targeted Somali government troops, leaving at least two soldiers dead and four others wounded according to a witnesses. Security forces afterwards opened fire indiscriminately, and harmed civilian bystanders, sources have added. Nobody claimed responsibility for the explosion yet, however security experts said, the bomb might have been embedded in a road frequented by armored vehicles. The bomb attack coincides with tensions simmering between opposing militias in Baardhere. Somali government officials have not spoken to the media about the blast.
MP Voices Concern Over Money Theft At Central Bank
29 August – Source: Shabelle News – 209 Words
A member of the Somali parliament, Sharif Mohamed Abdalla, has voiced concern over the central bank scandal of money theft by a teller who is now on run after stealing $530,000 last week. “It’s unbelievable for a teller to steal such amount of money from the central bank of Somalia without inner collaboration,” Adalla said while speaking with Radio Shabelle.
The Somali lawmaker has called for an independent and transparent investigation to be launched into the matter and bring those involved in the case into justice rapidly. “The Somali central bank scam will have a serious effect on the financial aid pledges by the international donors,” he said.
He stated that international community has been keeping an eye on corruption and the lack of accountability in the country, specifically the Central Bank.
The MP’s comments come days after the Central Bank Governor Bashir Isse confirmed $530,000 was stolen by a bank teller named Muhyadin Mohamed Hassan. Isse added the cashier has gone missing since than. Reports have said that the alleged thief spent some time swapping real notes for fake ones.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan Muslim Cleric Killed By Explosive Devices Near Somali Border
29 August – Source: Xinhua News – 152 WOrds
A Muslim cleric died on Saturday evening after his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device (IED) in the Kenyan coastal county of Lamu, near the border with Somalia, police said. James Ole Serian, a regional security official, said on Sunday that the IED might have been planted by Al-Shabaab militants and that an investigation was underway.
“While approaching Ishakani border, their vehicle ran over IED which exploded killing the Imam, his driver sustained injuries,” Serian said, adding that the vehicle was extensively damaged. Serian said security forces were pursuing Al-Shabaab members who he said had changed tactic of attacks within Lamu East.
He said combined teams of military and police had intensified patrols to deal with the Al-Shabaab Islamist group. In July, a suspected Al-Shabaab militant was killed while one police officer injured when a group of over 20 heavily armed men attacked the Mangai Rapid Deployment Unit camp in Lamu East.
Somali Ambassador To Bahrain Presents Credentials To Foreign Affairs Minister
29 August – Source: Gulf News – 161 Words
Minister of Foreign Affairs Khalid Al Khalifa recently met with Taher Jili, and the two discussed the positive relationship between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Federal Republic of Somalia. Jili submitted to the minister his credentials as Riyadh-based designate ambassador of the brotherly Federal Republic of Somalia to the Kingdom of Bahrain and committed himself to the continuous efforts to build strong ties with the kingdom.
Before the meeting concluded, Al Khalifa wished the ambassador success in his role and reiterated the need for developed, mutual ties between the two countries, which work to serve the economy, community relations and trade for both parties. The ambassador showed mutual respect and interest in the minister’s desire to build strong partnerships and reassured him that Somalia would hold nothing back in its efforts to keep the partnership strong. In addition, the two spoke on several different topics of interest involving both countries.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“We emphasise the significant role played by the private sector and the importance of improving the business environment to promote trade and investment to create employment, especially for women and youth.”
Africa, Japan In Pledge To Fight Terrorism And Piracy
29 August – Source: Daily Nation – 601 Words
African leaders and Japan have committed themselves to tame the rising threat of extremism, piracy on the seas and to improve the business environment on the continent. In the latest bid to rid the continent of poverty, the leaders or their representatives from 54 African nations and Japan on Sunday evening adopted by acclamation a statement declaring to give opportunities to the youth and women and a bigger role for the private sector to boost economies.
“We resolve to promote social stability by responding comprehensively to security concerns. In this regard, we emphasise that protecting and empowering individuals, especially youth and women, families and their communities by improving access to education, technical and vocational training, job creation and opportunity, and promoting social cohesion, are fundamental,” they said in the Nairobi Declaration.
The statement marked the end of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (Ticad VI), happening for the first time on African soil, and the sixth since 1993. In many ways, the statement repeated what leaders pledged at the last meeting in Yokohama in Japan in 2013. At the time, African leaders and Japan agreed in a document titled the Yokohama Action Plan to boost economies through trade, build more infrastructure and invest in modern agriculture.
They also agreed to invest in healthcare, support science and technology innovations as well as invest in disaster management. In total, Japan pledged to give Africa $32 billion (Sh3.2 trillion). In Nairobi, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised an additional $10 billion (Sh1 trillion) which could rise to $30 billion (Sh3 trillion) if combined with investments from the Japanese private sector.
But this time, the leaders agreed that the rising threat of violent extremism, conflicts and piracy could dent all those investments. “We reaffirm our commitment to address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism. We call for enhanced international cooperation to strengthen counter-terrorism capacity in Africa,” they pledged.
TOP TWEETS
@Daudoo : Fighting btwn 2 rival clan militia within govt troops erupts in #Somalia‘s Balad Hawo town, near #Kenya border. at least 3 killed – Witness
@Vatescorp : #Somalia security forces arrest 2 #AlShabaabsuspects in Dharkeynley Sun night, NISA/AMISOM joint ops
@TerrorEvents: #Somalia #Mogadishu – Somali Police Seize Abandoned Explosives-laden Vehicle in Hamarweyne, Mogadishu – http://intelligencebriefs.
@Cidilibaax: The entire team of Central bank of #Somalia & the Governor should step aside for investigation @US2SOMALIA@UKinSomalia @EU_in_Somalia
@MKahiye : #Somalia the road to peace after instability is long, tough and bitter but the hope + desire to achieve it is real.
@Somaliupdate : Tight Race Expected in Upcoming #SomaliaPresidential Pollshttp://somaliupdate.com/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Degradation of Al-Shabaab continues: Al-Shabaab suffered a major blow following a security operation by the joint forces of AMISOM and Somali National Army.
Photo: AMISOM