December 11, 2015 | Morning Headlines.
Somali Intelligence Official Killed In Car Bomb Explosion In Mogadishu
10 December – Source: Shabelle News – 129 Words
A senior Somali intelligence official was killed on Thursday after a bomb believed to have been planted on his car exploded. Police and eyewitnesses believe the bomb that killed the officer, identified as Abdullahi Mohamed Gardhub, was remotely detonated. His car exploded near Waberi District Police Station, and although he was rushed to hospital by colleagues, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Mohamed Dahir Abdulle, a senior police detective, told Radio Shabelle after the incident, that Gardhub was member of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack, although Al-Shabaab is known for targeting government officials by fitting explosive devices in their cars as well as staging gun attacks in the capital of Mogadishu. Only last week a popular female journalist Hindiya Mohamed, who worked for Radio Mogadishu and Somali National TV, died in similar circumstances after her car exploded as she left her workstation. Al-Shabaab immediately claimed responsibility.
Key Headlines
- Somali Intelligence Official Killed In Car Bomb Explosion In Mogadishu (Shabelle News)
- President: “We Must Ensure That Somalis Live Free From Fear Tyranny And Oppression” (Radio Dalsan)
- Somali Federal Cabinet Seeks 2016 Budget Approval From Federal Parliament (Goobjoog News)
- Fear As Islamic State Fighters ‘Invade’ Village In Somalia (Daily Nation)
- South West Region To Benefit From AMISOM Supported Community Policing Initiatives (AMISOM)
- Life Sentences For Mpumalanga Gang Who Killed Somali Shop Owner (News24)
- Galkayo and Somalia’s Dangerous Fault Lines (International Crisis Group)
PRESS STATEMENT
International Human Rights Day 2015 To Be Commemorated Under Theme Of “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always”
10 December – Source: UNSOM – 361 Words
The International Human Rights Day is observed yearly on 10 December to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This year’s Human Rights Day is devoted to the launch of a year-long campaign marking the 50th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of two international covenants: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Somalia is a state party to these covenants. Together with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights they form the International Bill of Human Rights, which sets out the political, civil, cultural, economic and social rights that are the birthright of all human beings. The two Covenants are also a means for people to hold their governments to account for respecting and upholding civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
This year’s theme, “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always”, aims to promote and raise awareness of the two covenants and launches a year-long campaign ahead of the 50th anniversary on 16 December 2016. The year-long campaign revolves around the theme of rights and freedoms – freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear — which underpins the International Bill of Human Rights.
“This year’s International Human Rights Day comes at a particularly important time for Somalia as the Somali people conclude a series of nationwide consultations and decide on the most appropriate and inclusive electoral model and prepare to elect a new government in 2016,” said the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay. “I encourage the people of Somalia and their leaders to pursue these efforts, which will help to guarantee the freedoms that are envisaged by these international covenants and enshrined in Somalia’s Provisional Constitution.”
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is supporting federal and state-level governments, and civil society organizations to mark this day in Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Kismaayo and Baidoa. Through its Human Rights and Protection Group, the Mission is supporting the government to strengthen its human rights protection system and ensure the promotion of and respect for human rights throughout Somalia.
NATIONAL MEDIA
President: “We Must Ensure That Somalis Live Free From Fear, Tyranny And Oppression”
10 December – Source: Radio Dalsan – 175 Words
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has reaffirmed Somali Government’s commitment to protecting and promoting human rights in the country. In a statement to mark the International Human Rights Day, the President promised to uphold the principles of human rights and protect the Somali people against violation of their basic rights.
“As Somalia moves forward on its pathway of peace and prosperity, as President, I echo the global sentiments on human rights and pledge to ensure that Somalis will live a life free from fear, tyranny and oppression,” said President Mohamud: “We must renew our efforts in demonstrating our commitment to the intrinsic value of each human life in Somalia — of a man, woman or child. Not only should our Constitution and legislative environment enshrine human rights as a guiding principle, our government systems and processes should allow these principles to be applied throughout Somalia.”
The President appealed to Somali nationals to ensure, as individuals, that in their day-to-day life they give truth to the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) example of looking after the less fortunate and most vulnerable people in society: “Somalia is similarly making headway in ensuring a human rights approach to the way the government does business and conducts itself.”
Somali Federal Cabinet Seeks 2016 Budget Approval From Federal Parliament
10 December – Source: Goobjoog News – 104 Words
Somali Federal Finance Ministry has presented a $216 million budget for 2016 to Somali Federal Parliament for approval. The Deputy Finance Minister, Mohamed Hayer Ibrahim, explained to a parliamentary committee the source of 2016 budget as “a combination of national revenue and foreign aid”. Sixty-four percent of the 2016 budget is expected to come from local revenues while the balance will come through in the form of foreign from international donors. The Federal Parliament is expected to debate the budget in a series of readings and if it gets the nod of the legislators it will be approved before January. The Federal Cabinet approved the same budget a week ago amid calls for transparency.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Fear As Islamic State Fighters ‘Invade’ Village In Somalia
11 December – Source: Daily Nation – 195 Words
Reports from Lower Juba region in southern Somalia indicate that militants loyal to Islamic State (IS) militants seized a village on Wednesday. Residents of Tuulo Barwaqo, over 120 kms northwest of Kismayu, the capital of the Jubaland said that armed militants entered the village while wielding the black jihadist banner.
The militants insisted that they were IS loyalists who had replaced the Jubaland authority in the area. Sources indicated that the chief of Tuulo Barwaqo who represented the Jubaland administration and other officials had fled the area upon receiving a tip off that IS fighters were heading towards the village. IS is a split of Al-Shabaab terrorists who still largely remain loyal to Al-Qaeda.
Although reports indicate that the number of Al-Shabaab militants declaring a shift of loyalty to IS is increasing, particularly in Jubaland and Lower Shabelle region, which is also in southern Somalia, the two Islamist groups appear to be using the same banner which has a black flag with Tawheed writing. Tawheed in Arabic means attributing oneness to Allah: “The arriving militants burnt the house of Tuulo Barwaqo Village chief,” said a resident who contacted the media anonymously because of security reasons.
South West Region To Benefit From AMISOM Supported Community Policing Initiatives
10 December – Source: AMISOM – 422 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police unit together with the Somali Police Force launched a community-policing program in Baidoa on Tuesday aimed at promoting community initiatives to fight crime. The Somali Police Force and AMISOM Police component held a town hall meeting attended by women groups, youth, members of the business community and traditional elders among others.
The meeting discussed effective ways of information sharing and coordination between the residents and the Police, in efforts to weed out criminals from their midst. The Baidoa Police Station Commander Mukhtar Ahmed Ibrahim welcomed the community policing initiative and commended the partnership between AMISOM Police and Somali Police Force.
“We thank AMISOM Police for bringing the community policing initiative to Baidoa. This will enhance the partnership between the community and the police so that we work closely together. Working with the police is in everyone’s interest. We all want a safe environment to raise and educate our children and this can only happen when we work together,” Commander Mukhtar said.The residents of Baidoa embraced the program and urged AMISOM to extend it to other areas of the region.
“If each one of us commits to work with the police, we will eliminate insecurity and leave behind a safe and prosperous region and country to our children and their children’s children. The community policing program is all about building partnership with communities in order to prevent crimes, reporting it when it occurs and enhancing security,” said Abdirashid Abdullahi, Governor of the Bay region. AMISOM Public Information Officer Edwin Mugera thanked Somali Police Force for embracing the community partnership program and the strong working relations with AMISOM.
“We thank the Somali Police and the community for the close working relationship. This whole exercise is centered on re-assessing who is responsible for public safety and this will re-define the roles and relationships between the police and the public. Therefore, there should be shared ownership, decision making and accountability with sustained commitment to fight crime in the society,” PIO Mugera said.
Life Sentences For Mpumalanga Gang Who Killed Somali Shop Owner
10 December – Source: News24- 455 Words
A gang who killed a Somali shop owner while robbing his store in Mdutjana, Mpumalanga, were given sentences in the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.Sentencing Themba Mathibela, 33, Elias Skosana, 33, and Joseph Masombuka, 27, of KwaMhlanga for the June 2012 murder of Somali shop owner, Ahmed Salaad, Judge Mmonoa Teffo said the three had shown no contrition for what they did and were therefore not candidates for rehabilitation.She sentenced the three to a further 20 years imprisonment on charges of robbery with aggravating circumstances and the illegal possession of two shotguns, a pistol and ammunition.All sentences would run concurrently with the life sentence.The gang went to Salaad’s shop, Mike Supermarket, in the early hours and accosted him and his two friends who were sleeping in the shop.
They first tried to break down the back door, but then gained entry through the front door as their victims tried to run away.They forced the men back into the shop and robbed them of R2 500. Mathibela, armed with a shotgun, shot and killed the 26-year-old Salaad in front of his friends during the robbery. He died at the scene.One of his friends ran away, while the other one managed to hide in the shop while the robbers continued to loot it.Teffo said the victims had come to South Africa for a better life and to work for their families back home. The manner in which Salaad was killed in front of his friends was senseless and callous and they had been traumatised by his death.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“The violence in Galkayo should serve as a reminder that any rush to finalise the federalisation process – without pause over particularly conflict-prone regions, or at the very least planning for deeper reconciliation processes where old disputes still fester – risks undermining the limited progress made in Somalia since 2012.”
Galkayo and Somalia’s Dangerous Fault Lines
10 December – Source: International Crisis Group – 1,013 Words
Clashes between clan militias in Somalia’s historically divided city of Galkayo that broke out on 22 November have killed at least 40 people, injured hundreds and displaced thousands. The fighting raises fears that the Galkayo dispute could escalate into a national conflict, and shows how fragile Somalia remains during its incomplete transition to a new constitutional order and peace.
The Galkayo clashes symbolise the folly of the Somali Federal Government (SFG) and its international backers – an extraordinarily wide range of actors including the UN, the African Union, the European Union, the U.S., UK, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia – who are pushing for the top-down establishment of Interim Federal Administrations without parallel reconciliation processes between clans at a local and national level.
As long as these multiple administrations are not fully constituted and without their specific local political compacts in place, there will be fierce clan competition over their control and undecided borders. Galkayo is a clear example of what happens when peace is neglected over a desire to show progress. To complete Somalia’s transition, a greater focus on bottom-up peace processes rather than driving through top-down short-term political fixes is needed.
Galkayo (population 137,000) is divided between two federal states, the Galmudug Interim Administration (GIA), just established in 2015, and Puntland, formed in 1998. Its local divisions also mirror the larger divide between two dominant and historically rival clan families, the Darod and the Hawiye. The Darod (specifically Majerteen-Omar Mahmood sub-clan) dominate Galkayo’s Puntland-administered north, the Hawiye (specifically Habar Gidir-Sa’ad sub-clan) dominate the GIA-ruled south.
Italian colonial administrators divided Galkayo and its environs into clearly demarcated clan-based zones – via the “Tomaselli” line – as a solution to inter-clan conflict over land. Even the nationalist and declared enemy of clannism President Siad Barre could not overcome this divide during his 22 years in power. After Barre’s regime collapsed in 1991, Galkayo became a deadly flashpoint between mainly Darod and Hawiye militia. In 1993, clan warlords signed the Mudug Peace Agreement to divide the city and its key revenue sources – including the airport and main market – between the two main clans. This brought relative peace for the next two decades.