August 7, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali president describes his US visit as productive and positive

07 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service/Jowhar Online- 213 words

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated to have received a lot of positives from his meetings with US officials during his three-day stay in Washington for US-Africa Leaders Summit.

In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, the president said he was accompanied by five Somali ministers who have so far held talks with their US counterparts in Washington.

He said that his finance minister has met with World Bank officials and discussed various issues including financial support for developmental projects to be implemented in Somalia.

The president further said they have reached an agreement with the US officials over the training and logistical support for the Somali army. He also noted that the US had already provided support and training to the national army.

Meanwhile, the president stated that he is scheduled to meet with Somali community members in the US State of Minnesota to give latest updates of his country’s peace and political progress.

During his interview with Bar-kulan, the president raised the controversial issue surrounding Somalia’s maritime boundaries and said there are international laws which determine each country’s maritime boundaries adding that these laws cannot be violated.

He said that his government has made its position regarding the maritime boundaries very clear and will make it known to the public very soon.

Key Headlines

Somali president describes his US visit as productive and positive (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali PM hails the completion of Central Somalia administration (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog)
Somalia requests Kenya to extradite the detained al Shabaab official (Radio Mogadishu/BBC Somali Service)
Somalia Again Faces Catastrophic Drought (Bernama)
Somali president warns of al Shabaab’s trap and blame game (Radio Bar-kulan)
Parliamentary Report: Al Shabaab was behind the Lamu terrorist attacks (KTN News)
Himan and Heeb officially joins the formation of central Somali state (Radio Dalsan)
Somalia: Puntland Police arrest Female Journalist in Garowe (Radio Garowe/VOA)
DNO sends experts to Somaliland (Somaliland Informer)
Somalia Sexual Violence (CCTV)
Obama announces security interventions in Kenya Somalia (Capital FM)
Tanzania: DCI probing man to have affiliation to al Shabaab (ippmedia)
President Uhuru asks West to back war on terror (Daily Nation)
Somalia appeals to international community for urgent famine assistance (Sabahi Online)
Form one student latest victim of cross border fighting near Mandera (Standard Media)
Somalis invited to police meeting in Mill Hill (thisislocallondon)
Kenyatta: Terror in Africa a global issue (CNN)
Obama: US will help Africa set up peacekeeping force (Yahoo News/AFP)
Militant suspect linked to Somali passport scam (The Sydney Morning)
Somalia: irresistible investment? (CNN)

PRESS STATEMENT

EU Special Envoy to Somalia welcomes the signature of the Central Regions State Formation Agreement

07 Aug- Source: EU delegation Kenya Somalia mission-134 words

In Mogadishu the Himan & Heeb administration joined the earlier agreement signed on 30 July 2014 by the Galmudug and Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a administrations and the Federal Government of Somalia with the intent to form an interim administration in Central Somalia.

The EU Special Envoy to Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso, said: “This agreement forms a significant step in the process to build a Federal Somalia. I congratulate the signatories and encourage the formation of the technical committee, implementation of the agreement and continued reconciliation efforts.”

Together with other international partners, the EU supports the process to federate Somalia and is committed to ensure the stability of existing and emerging administrations and delivering peace and governance dividends to the population.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali president describes his US visit as productive and positive

07 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service/Jowhar Online- 213 words

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated to have received a lot of positives from his meetings with US officials during his three-day stay in Washington for US-Africa Leaders Summit.

In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, the president said he was accompanied by five Somali ministers who have so far held talks with their US counterparts in Washington.

He said that his finance minister has met with World Bank officials and discussed various issues including financial support for developmental projects to be implemented in Somalia.

Meanwhile, the president stated that he is scheduled to meet with Somali community members in the US State of Minnesota to give latest updates of his country’s peace and political progress.

He said that his government has made its position regarding the maritime boundaries very clear and will make it known to the public very soon.

Somali PM hails the completion of Central Somalia administration

07 Aug- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog/SNTV- 176 words

The Prime minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed stated that his government will take active role in formation of regional administrations in the country. He reiterated that the formation of unified administration for Central Somalia is a milestone for the residents in central regions.

He commended the sides that signed the agreement in Mogadishu especially Himan and Heb regional state for their tireless engagement to establish regional administration. Himan and Heb regional state that has not signed the first phase of the agreement in villa Somalia but agreed to take part in the signing of the second phase of the agreement.

The sign bearers of first and second phase of the agreement are expected to meet in Adado, the administrative capital of Himan and Heb regional state. The agreement was witnessed by Somali Prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, speaker of the federal parliament Mr. Jawari, UN envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay and other dignitaries. The second phase of the agreement comes a time when Puntland still insist that the formation of the regional administration is unconstitutional.

Somalia requests Kenya to extradite the detained al Shabaab official

07 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/BBC Somali Service – 163 words

The federal government of Somalia has requested neighboring Kenyan government to extradite senior al Shabaab media representative Hassan Hanafi who was arrested Nairobi on Sunday. Somalia ambassador to Kenya has said his government has appealed to the government of Kenya to extradite al Shabaab Al Andulus radio director back to Somalia for prosecution process.

Speaking to BBC, Somali Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur has confirmed the request saying his government has asked for Kenyan government to hand over Hassan Hanafi to Mogadishu for prosecution.

“We requested Kenyan government to extradite the suspect to Mogadishu.” He said According to Ambassador Ali Nur the arrest of the key official come as the result of cooperation between Somali National Intelligence and National security intelligence service of Kenya.

A delegation from Somalia is expected in the country tomorrow to follow the case. Hassan Hanafi who is a journalist by profession is believed to be responsible for the killings of more than ten Somali journalists in Mogadishu.

Somali president warns of al Shabaab’s trap and blame game

07 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 179 words

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud gave an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan and warned Somali population not to fall into the trap of Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militant group.
He described the militant group as the number one enemy of the Somali people and said people need to be well aware of al Shabaab’s misleading ideologies.

He said many governments in the world spend a lot of resources and effort to defeat terrorist groups but Somali government always gets the upper hand against al Shabaab fighters during battles between the two sides. The president added that al Shabaab fighters are killed whenever they attack government bases and important installations and many of their attacks are foiled without causing much damage.

He said the group wants to blame top government leaders on their destructive behavior and called for united front to defeat the group once and for all. Finally, the president stated that the overall security in the country is improving gradually while the militant group loses its power as a result of intensified attacks led by the allied forces.

Himan and Heeb officially joins the formation of central Somali state

07 Aug- Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Kulmiye/Radio Mogadishu- 135 words

Himan and Heeb administration in central Somalia has officially joined the earlier agreement in principle to form an interim administration is central Somali regions of Galgadud and Mudug. On Wednesday Afternoon in a meeting held at Villa Somalia, the president of Himan and Heeb, Abdullahi Ali Mohamed aka Baarleex signed the agreement indicating a go ahead from their end.

The same agreement was signed on 30thJuly by Ahlu Sunna and Galmudug State. He also said his administration will convene a peace conference for all the stakeholders in central Somalia, the federal government and the international community. The speaker of the parliament, Mohamed Osman Jawari, prime minister, Abdiwali and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Nikolas Kay appreciated the discretion of Himan and Heeb. They encouraged more efforts to be done to set up the proposed unitary administration. This proposed administration will cover Mudug and Galgadud Regions.

Puntland boycotted the proposed agreement because some districts of Mudug Region fall under its administration.

Somalia: Puntland Police arrest Female Journalist in Garowe

07 Aug – Source: Radio Garowe/VOA Somali Service – 81 words

Puntland Police forces have arrested female journalist Faduma Yusuf Saed in the state capital of Garowe on Wednesday evening. The police stormed Shariqa hotel and arrested her along with two colleagues Abdinasir Da’ad and another female journalist Khadra Mohamud Hassan but the latter were released from Garowe Police station where Saed is being held.

Faduma spoke on VOA Somali Service on Tuesday afternoon, talking about the brief seizure of Puntland Television and Radio Agency building by angry soldiers. Fatuma Yusuf works for a local based Daljir Radio.

DNO sends experts to Somaliland

06 Aug – Source: Somaliland Informer – 155 words

A delegation of DNO experts from Africa arrived in the country on Monday. Somaliland signed a deal with DNO International ASA (“DNO International”), the Norwegian oil and Gas Company on April 2013. The experts are due to meet with Ministry of Energy and Minerals on Wednesday to discuss ways that they can launch their operations in the country.

The African company that DNO asked to send experts will conduct both Environmental impact Assessment. Two other experts who are Somali natives arrived earlier than the delegation of African experts. The two Somalis are due to conduct Geological Assessment for the DNO and did this task for Genel Energy which entered into oil exploration contract with Somaliland.

Zambian experts are due to arrive in the country who will conduct water survey projects in block 18 which DNO is to carry out its operations. The plan is to install water system to Eel Afwein, Hudun and Dera Weine.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Obama announces security interventions in Kenya, Somalia

07 Aug- Source: Capital FM-543 Words

US President Barack Obama on Wednesday said the US would continue to help build the capacity of Kenya’s security services and better equip them to deal with the problem of al Shabaab and other security threats. Assistance, Obama said the US would also be extending to Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana and Tunisia to begin with.

“We’re launching a new security governance initiative to help our African countries continue to build strong, professional security forces to provide for their own security,” he reported to the press on Wednesday after day long meetings with the African heads of states who attended the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC.

“Most importantly,” Obama announced that the US was entering into a, “rapid response partnership,” with six African countries who had, “demonstrated a track record as peacekeepers.”

The partnership with Ghana, Senegal, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Uganda was entered into with the goal of, “quickly deploying African peacekeepers in support of UN or AU missions,” in mind, Obama said calling on countries, “beyond Africa,” to support the effort.

Tanzania: DCI probing man to have affiliation to al Shabaab

07 Aug- Source: ippmedia- 409 words

Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is now interrogating a man who is part of a group of recently arrested individuals for claiming affiliation to the Somali terrorist group, Al-Shabaab.

State Attorneys Brenda Nicki and Adolph Mkini submitted a request for the same before Senior Resident Magistrate Emilius Mchauru of the Kisutu Magistrates Court mid this week in Dar es Salaam.

After hearing and considering the request, Magistrate Mchauru granted the prosecutors’ wish and ordered the accused handed over to the DCI for interrogation.

The case was then adjourned to next week, August 13 pending completion of ongoing investigations.

Mtweve is one of four arrested persons held by police for claiming membership with Al-Shabaab. Others are Ally Othman Rashid, Shabani Bakari Waziri and Faraji Ali Ramadhani.

According to the charge sheet it was alleged that, between January 1, and September 16, last year the four accused professed to be members of al Shabaab, a terrorist group that has conducted attacks in the United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Kenya and Republic of Somalia.

Parliamentary Report: Al Shabaab was behind the Lamu terrorist attacks

06 Aug – Source: KTN News – 1:50 mins

The al Shabaab militia group planned and carried out the recent attacks in Lamu County, assisted by a section of locals. This, according to the Parliamentary Committee on Security Chair Asman Kamama who this morning presented the committee’s findings in parliament. Kamama further asserted that the insecurity in the area was fueled by land related issues, his assertions eliciting heated debate among members of the house.

President Uhuru asks West to back war on terror

07 Aug- Source: Daily Nation- 658 words

The international community is not doing enough to support Kenya’s effort in the fight against terrorism, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said. In an interview with CNN in Washington DC on Tuesday, Mr Kenyatta said terrorism was not country-specific but a global problem.

“The world needs to recognise the fact that this is a global threat which requires to be countered by a global partnership in order to defeat and secure, not just Kenya, but the world,” he told Mr Richard Quest, the host of CNN’s popular show ‘Quest Means Business’ which airs once a week.

Somalia appeals to international community for urgent famine assistance

06 Aug – Source: Sabahi Online – 144 words

The federal government of Somalia issued an urgent appeal to the international community for aid to mitigate the effects of a worsening food shortage across the country.

“Drought has already reached several regions in Somalia, including Gedo, Bakool, Hiran, Galgudud and Mudug,” a statement from Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed’s office said, warning that “it anticipates that the situation will continue to deteriorate”.

“The aid in form of food, water and medication must urgently reach the affected population,” the statement said. “All members of parliament are calling on the international community and the United Nations to assist … to prevent the return of the deadly humanitarian crisis of the 2011 famine.”

Form one student latest victim of cross border fighting near Mandera

06 Aug- Source: Standard Media- 366 words

A form one student at a secondary school in Mandera town is admitted at local hospital, after she was hit by a stray bullet from across the Somali border on Wednesday afternoon following a fierce fighting. Mandera county commissioner Alex Olenkoyo said Hamdia Abdullahi, 17, a student at Moi Girls Secondary School was shot at the thigh by the stray bullet following a brief gun exchange, in Bulla-Xawa, a war-ravaged Somalia border that is less than 500 meters from Mandera town. “There was a brief fighting in Bulla-Xawa at around 11.20 am and the girl was at the time heading home (which is close to the border) from the school and she was hit at the left thigh by a stray bullet,” he added. According to a source within Somali border town, the gun exchange was prompted by confrontation between defectors who refused to surrender firearms and soldiers loyal to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). According to the county commissioner, the girl ignored the bleeding thinking it was the normal monthly cycle, only to collapse on arrival at home.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalis invited to police meeting in Mill Hill

07 Aug- Source: thisislocallondon- 102 words

Terrorism and genital mutilation will be on the agenda at a meeting about issues affecting Somalis. North London’s Somali community are invited to the Eversfield Centre, in Eversfield Gardens, Mill Hill, to meet police officers.

The event will see detectives discuss recruitment, Khat, extremism and other topical issues. They will also be encouraged to consider a career with the force and advice on how to apply.

Organiser PC Shirvin Zeinalzadeh said: “This will be a wonderful opportunity for the Somali community and Metropolitan Police to get together and discuss topical issues.” It will be held on September 10 from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

Somalia Again Faces Catastrophic Drought

07 Aug- Source: Bernama-NNN-ERTA-300 Words

A drought which has hit several regions of Somalia is expected to continue to deteriorate, according to a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister of Somalia.

The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said in a statement here Wednesday that a special committee in charge of the drought situation had updated Somalia’s Cabinet on the drought and food shortages in the country.

The drought was affecting several regions including Gedo, Bakool, Hiran, Galgadud and Mudug and aid, in the form of food, water and medication, was urgently needed to reach the affected populations. It was anticipated that the situation would continue to deteriorate.

The Somali government had already allocated US$500,000 for drought relief and distribution of aid would start shortly but there were many challenges which could slow down or even delay the emergency response. These included illegal al Shabaab checkpoints and “pockets of violence in certain regions”.

Kenyatta: Terror in Africa a global issue

07 Aug- Source: CNN- 06:14 min

CNN’s Richard Quest speaks to Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta about the importance of fighting terror in Africa.

Obama: US will help Africa set up peacekeeping force

07 Aug- Source: Yahoo News/AFP- 324 words

Obama said Wednesday the US would set up a rapid response force to support United Nations and African Union peacekeeping missions. “We will join with six countries that have demonstrated a track record as peacekeepers,” he told reporters at the conclusion of a three-day summit of 50 African nations in Washington.

“We’re going to invite countries beyond Africa to join us in this effort because the entire world has a stake in the success of peacekeeping in Africa,” Obama added. Ethiopia, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda are to be the six countries involved in the effort, he said. Obama did not specify how the new peacekeeping plan would relate to existing African Union missions.

Militant suspect linked to Somali passport scam

06 Aug- Source: The Sydney Morning Herald-563 Words

A Somali people-smuggling cell linked to an overseas terror suspect has been able to get dozens of people into Australia through a passport-swapping scam. Confidential Immigration Department documents obtained by Fairfax Media reveal those suspected of being involved in the scam were known to federal authorities but have not been pursued because of a lack of interest and resources among federal police.

“[The Department of Immigration and Citizenship] is not in a position to pursue the Somali people-smuggling investigation,” a confidential Immigration Department report from 2010 states.

Monash University terrorism expert Greg Barton said Australia faced the serious risk of people from countries racked by extremism and conflict seeking to enter with radicalised views. “Nowadays, we need to be more careful than ever before about vetting people,” Dr Barton said.

The Abbott government has recently cancelled the passports of Australians fighting with extremists in Syria and Iraq.

Somalia Sexual Violence

6 Aug- Source: CCTV Africa- 37 words

Somalia has one of the highest rates of gender and sexual violence against women in the world. According to United Nations statistics about 1,700 women were raped in Somalia in the first 11 months of 2012.

Somalia: irresistible investment?

06 Aug- Source: CNN-7:12 min

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia, speaks with CNN’s Fred Pleitgen about his country’s prospects.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“As the researchers say, a road will not solve all aspects of maritime crime. However, they do believe that investment in infrastructure in remote areas will help to connect poor and cut-off areas that have been previously been recruitment grounds and havens for insurgents.”

Roads and trade could be more effective weapons against Somali piracy

06 Aug- Source: Seychelles News Agency-1301 Words

Villages situated along the coast of the Gulf of Aden in Somalia often have to make hard choices: give pirates and their captives’ safe harbour in return for desperately-needed funds or continue to battle against drought, poverty and a severe lack of infrastructure.

An economist at King’s College London, Anja Shortland, and a sociologist at the University of Oxford, Federico Varese, published a paper arguing that building roads and ports there could allow desperately poor Somali clans the freedom to be able to choose legitimate trade over harbouring pirates, and finally beat the scourge of piracy for good.

The poverty-stricken country, situated on the Horn of Africa, is finally beginning to show signs of political and economic recovery after being ravaged by decades of civil war, militant uprisings and even a complete absence of central government. But the semi-arid country, which contains only about 1.64 percent arable land but yet relies mainly on its exportation of livestock to Gulf states, faces a long period of rehabilitation as it tries to build a central bank that will direct monetary policy and bring together its shattered and war-weary people under a single leadership.

“Only a decade ago, a U.S.-Africa summit would probably have centered mostly around aid deliveries to impoverished nations. But Africa has since developed into one of the fastest growing regions on earth, so the summit now going on in Washington is focused mostly on deepening trade ties between Africa and America.”

Amid violence, Somali President pitches country as irresistible investment

06 Aug- Source: CNN Amanpour Blog-667 Words

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has a pitch. “There is no investment without risk,” the president of Somalia – a country nearly synonymous with “failed state” – told CNN’s Fred Pleitgen, in for Christiane Amanpour, on Tuesday. “In Somalia, the level of risk right now we have – some people may claim that it’s high, but it’s not. It’s a security situation that is improving. It is a state-building program that is improving. And there is a very bright future for Somalia and for the partners in Somalia.”

Optimism may as well be a job requirement for the leader of Somalia – especially for one who is pitching his country to investors at the first-ever U.S.-Africa summit in Washington. When Mohamud was elected president in 2012, it was the first election the country had held on home soil in several decades.

Large swaths of the country are still ruled by Islamist militants, al-Shabaab, who have recently stepped up their attacks in the capital, Mogadishu. The country’s long coastline on the Indian Ocean remains a launching point for the modern-day pirates that wreak havoc on popular shipping lanes.

“Lines between countries used to have little importance in Africa’s most dynamic region. How times have changed.”

Why East Africa’s Borders Are Blowing Up

06 Aug- Source: Foreign Policy-1668 Words

In one short week in July, tension along East Africa’s borders yielded nearly 120 deaths and one nasty lawsuit — offering along the way vivid evidence of the dynamics that are shaping the region’s future.

On July 3, an anonymous farmer from the Gambella region on Ethiopia’s border with South Sudan began legal action in the British courts. The claimant accused the British government of complicity with its Ethiopian counterpart’s policy of forcibly relocating thousands of Ethiopians. On July 5, nearly 30 people were killed near the shores of the Indian Ocean during an attack on a village and police post close to Kenya’s border with Somalia. On the same day more than 90 people were killed during raids on police posts close to Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Here are three different events spanning half a continent, each reported as a distinct episode. But a closer look suggests there is a common thread connecting these and countless similar incidents and stories occurring every day in the borderlands of Northeast Africa.

Top tweets

@Payitforward87 @think_B1G Chinese render of the expansion & renovation of Benadir Mother and Child Hospital, Mogadishu. #Somalia pic.twitter.com/NseFV66oyE

@evolvingprimate In #Mogadishu Somalia’s first Gas Company is helping end the charcoal dependence curse@harunmaruf @tres_HOA pic.twitter.com/zVb3eoM5V9

@amisomsomalia Image of a girl in Belet Weyne. Children; the future of the nation. #AMISOM for a safe and stable Somalia!pic.twitter.com/VDN2PzCG0W

@mukhtaryare ‘What we r looking [4] right now is investment. It’s not in a show of grants & donations only’http://cnn.it/1umm0mL … pic.twitter.com/NMUp1u9xKO

@OCHASom Heard of team work? Well, here’s what an amazing team did to kick #polio out of #Somalia:http://uni.cf/1kojvPY @UNICEF @WHO

Follow the conversation →

Image of the day

Image of the day South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma (L) shakes hands with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (R) at the start of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Session One on ‘Investing in Africa’s Future,’ at the U.S. State Department in Washington August 6, 2014. Photo: Reuters