August 7, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Southwest Minister Says Clashes In Marka Are Between Locals And Al-Shabaab
07 August – Source: Jowhar.com – 191 Words
Southwest authorities have for the first time spoken about the ongoing intermittent clan clashes in the seaport town of Marka in Lower Shabelle. Southwest minister of agriculture, who is also the acting President, Mohamed Hassan Fiqi said that clashes are between ISWA forces backed by local residents and Al-Shabaab, whom he accused of aiming to recapture the town.
“The fighting is between Southwest administration getting the support of local residents and the anti-peace elements of Al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab is trying to recapture the town following its removal from nearby territories,” he said. Fiqi said Marka is a strategic place and the commercial hub of the Southwest administration, thus wouldn’t allow the continued instability in the city.
“There is no more clan-based conflict in the town. Clan -related hostilities have been resolved through reconciliation and peace talks. The current conflict is between us and Al-Shabaab,” he noted, adding that Al-Shabaab was working to destabilize the peace of the town by turning local clans against one another. The city has in the past few years seen deadly clashes between warring clan militias vying for its control. Several ceasefire agreements have failed as clashed renewed.
Key Headlines
- Southwest Minister Says Clashes In Marka Are Between Locals And Al-Shabaab ( Jowhar.com )
- Prominent Journalist Detained In Puntland Over Critical Reporting (Horn Observer)
- A Member Of Parliament Accuses President Gaas Of Printing Fake Money (Garowe Online)
- From Baidoa Somalia: ‘We Have No Hope’ (The Guardian)
- Why The U.S. Must Stand By Somalia At Its Turning Point In Fighting Al-Shabaab And ISIS (Newsweek)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Prominent Journalist Detained In Puntland Over Critical Reporting
06 August – Source: Horn Observer – 167 Words
The Puntland police have on late Sunday night arrested Omar Mohamed, a prominent journalist and press freedom advocate in Garowe the capital of Puntland administration, witnesses said.”He was approached by soldiers and was ordered to follow them” said Jama Deperani, another prominent journalist who was with the Omar Mohamed at the time of the arrest posted it on facebook. Omar Mohamed was the editor in chief of Horseed Media and contributed to Somali Cable and Sahan Online. Omar was also the director of communications and advocacy of the Media Association for Puntland (MAP). It was not immediately clear the reasons behind his arrest.
However, many journalist suspect that Omar was arrested after he posted an article published by Sahan Online, alleging the Puntland President Gaas is involved in the publication of fake Somali currency in Puntland. Early in July, Puntland security forces loyal to Gen. Muhudiin Ga’amey detained Ahmed Ali Kilwe, accusing him of posting in what they described as “a defamatory report against Puntland President”.
A Member Of Parliament Accuses President Gaas Of Printing Fake Money
07 August – Source: Garowe Online – 286 Words
A Member of Parliament in Puntland government accused and holds responsible both the President and the committee of MPs for causing inflation and subsequent protests that are currently happening in Puntland. Burhan Adan aw-Abdi, an MP who spoke to reporters stated the crises began when the President and other MPs brought the printing machine to Bosaso. Mr. Adan aw-Abdi reiterated that the evidence points directly to the executive officials within the government who are responsible for creating the current economic and insecurity problems in the region. “All these problems were created when the fake money was printed and those responsible are the President, the Chairman of Parliament and the Deputy, since they are the shareholders,” said the MP Burhan. Further, talking to the business communities and the people in Puntland he said to burn and destroy all the fake money in circulation.
The fake money that was printed in Bosaso has caused so much problem and caused high inflation, include increase the US dollar exchange rate. MP Burhan disagrees the plan of trying to force people to accept the fake money and are told to disregard using any the other currency. Some residences believe that the current crises in Puntland in parts is similar to what is happening in the Arab countries and that the government and its Security must immediately resolve the situation before it gets out of control. Many residents are told to use the money printed in Puntland since no other currency is accepted. The President during a Parliament seating did deny the existence of such money however, the former Deputy Ministry of Finance of Puntland Ahmed Yasin Salah who spoke to reporters stated that the government knew and printed the Somali Shilling.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
From Baidoa, Somalia: ‘We Have No Hope’
07 August – Source: The Guardian – 124 Words/Picture
The worst drought in 40 years has a cruel grip on Somalia. A struggling young government and militant violence have compounded to bring crisis to 6.7 million lives. The town of Baidoa is facing some of the harshest conditions. Surrounded by territory controlled by al-Shabaab militants and amid ongoing attacks, 160,000 people have had to leave their farms and are surviving in camps where hunger, thirst and cholera await them. The numbers are huge – one in six people in Somalia displaced as a result of conflict, drought and the resultant food crisis. Humanitarian assistance in the country is needed by 6.7 million. Somalia is one of four countries currently in the grip of hunger along with Yemen, South Sudan and Nigeria.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Security and stability are the key foundation for building lasting peace and prosperity in Somalia. The U.S. government can support the federal government in Somalia tackle insecurity and conflict through strengthening security and rule of law sectors. Somalia requires sustainable programs to overcome insurgency challenges presented by the post-conflict environment in the country.”
Why The U.S. Must Stand By Somalia At Its Turning Point In Fighting Al-Shabaab And ISIS
06 August – Source: Newsweek – 771 Words
Somalia is at a turning point, in need of a sustainable resolution to decades of instability and threatened by militants including the Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab and a splinter of the Islamic State militant group (ISIS). It needs the help of the United States. The United States government must increase financial, military, security and intelligence-sharing support to Somalia. The threats and security risks facing Somalia are many and include: instability; protracted violence perpetrated by Al-Shabaab and ISIS; the proliferation of small arms; unprotected borders; piracy; poverty; and chronic youth unemployment. If these threats and risks are not immediately tackled, the U.S. national security and regional interests will be profoundly affected.
The Somali government does not have the resources (financial and institutional) to tackle Al-Shabaab and ISIS threats. At the moment, while the political will and commitment exist, the government lacks adequate military and security institutions and resources that can support counter-terrorism strategy in the governance and security sectors. Strengthening the government’s national security policymaking structures, institutions and financial resources is essential. This could be done in a wide effort that seeks both to improve training for security services, ministries and institutions to deliver a broader campaign of improved security. The delivery of specialized training, equipment, payment of stipends, rehabilitation of office spaces and establishing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and management systems are the main structural challenges.
In addition, the lack of adequate command leadership to develop defense policies serve as a serious limitation toward improving the effectiveness and professional standards of the military, police and state security services in regards to adherence to the rule of law, respect for rights and the protection of civilians. Right sizing, doctrinal development, integration of the various militias and professionalism remain a huge challenge for the new federal government. Somalia fell into civil war in the early 1990s, and after 20 years without an effective legal system and rule of law, Somali security forces are not socialized to the idea of criminals being prosecuted. This lost generation also means that there is a lack of experience within the judiciary. Access to justice is also limited as the judiciary and courts are not equipped and functioning effectively.
The perverse interpretation of Islam by Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda and ISIS has resulted in multiple, flagrant abuses of rights. The civilian populations are subjected to targeted killings and assaults, repressive forms of social control, and brutal punishments under Al-Shabaab’s draconian interpretation of Sharia law. The absence of Sharia law was an original Al-Shabaab claim.
Reconstituting security services will help to overcome the threats, risks and important challenges identified above. The Somali military ultimately offers an opportunity to improve the quality of defense and police forces and assist Somalia’s battle against terrorism, piracy, and criminal organizations.
TOP TWEETS
@SagalBihi: Female MPs walked out 4m 2day’s session at the parliament protesting z constant violations to the constitution excludng thm 4m the committees
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: Security guards of a govt minister involved in another deadly shooting in Mogadishu: reports
@HarunMaruf:BREAKING: Senator Abdi Hassan Awale Qaybdid elected as the Chairman of Federal Parliament’s Joint Constitutional Review Commission.
@SwedeninSomalia: Fruitful meeting with Minister Deqa discussing the importance of women’s inclusion in peace negotiations. #Mogadishu #Nabad @MinisterWHRD
@NIECsomalia: @NIEC Commission at The House of the People Session answering questions regarding conducting universal elections in 2020
@Aynte:#Somalia that’s the sad reality! That’s why revenue generation must be our 1st priority. W/out adequate $$, we can’t do much, incl security
@engyarisow: Public places for bus stops established in#Mogadishu – the capital is getting more peace and stabile, so new initiatives emerge everyday
@DalsanFM: Farmaajo & Kheyre Appoint A Record 40 “Advisors” Since Taking Office – http://radiodalsan.com/en/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre Visit Military warehouse to access the preparedness of the somali National Army.
Photo: @SomaliPM