December 17, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali parliament to establish regional offices
17 Dec- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 149 words
Speaking at the normal Somali parliament meeting late Sunday, Speaker of the Somali parliament Prof. Mohamed Sheikh Osman ‘Jawari’ said that the Somali parliament will soon establish regional offices in all the regions in the country.
Speaker Jawari said that the reason behind establishing these offices is to strengthen the relationship between the members of the parliament and their communities.
The speaker of the parliament also said that the MPs will also monitor the problems in their respective regions and report to the concerned offices in the government.
“Members of the Parliament are people’s representatives and are expected to maintain a close link with issues in their constituencies, provide leadership and take part in local events and official functions there.
They are supposed to be role models and motivate their people to seek local solutions to certain issues while they seeks complementary support from the state or other development stakeholders.”
Key Headlines
- Somali parliament to establish regional offices (Radio Mustaqbal)
- Somalia defense minister meets with UN Arab envoys (Radio Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online)
- Al Shabaab militants kill civilian in Luq (Radio Mogadishu)
- Grenade explosion kills one in Nairobi’s Eastleigh (RBC/Hiiraan Online)
- Somali defense minister issues stern warning to undisciplined soldiers (Shabelle)
- Interview: Ex-PM urges Kenya to rethink Somali refugee policy (Xinhua)
- Yemeni nationals arrested over Eastleigh blast (Standard)
- Italian envoy supports Puntland’s offensive against militants (Garowe online)
- Kenyan Police claim they have arrested al Shabaab fighters (Star)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali parliament to establish regional offices
17 Dec- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 149 words
Speaking at the normal Somali parliament meeting late Sunday, the Speaker of the Somali parliament Prof. Mohamed Sheikh Osman ‘Jawari’ said that the Somali parliament will soon establish regional offices in all the regions in the country.
Speaker Jawari said that the reason behind these offices is to strengthen the relationship between the members of the parliament and their communities.
The speaker of the parliament also said that the MPs will also monitor the problems in their respective regions and report to the concerned offices in the government.
“Members of the Parliament are people’s representatives and are expected to maintain a close link with issues in their constituencies, provide leadership and take part in local events and official functions there.
They are supposed to be role models and motivate their people to seek local solutions to certain issues while they seeks complementary support from the state or other development stakeholders.”
Somalia defense minister meets with UN, Arab envoys
17 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online/Universal TV- 153 words
Somalia’s defense minister Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi, has on Sunday met separately with Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General to Somalia Augustine Mahiga, and Arab League envoy to Somalia Mohamed Abdalla Idiris, in Mogadishu.
Minister Fiqi and Ambassador Mahiga talked about UN assistance to Somalia and how they can cooperate in rehabilitating youth defecting from Al-shabaab militants.
The minister said that more than 30 al Shabaab fighters have recently defected after realizing that al Qaeda’s future was not assured.
Also present at the meeting was Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud, deputy defense minister and army commander Gen. Dhega-badan.
The minister also met with Mohamed Abdalla Idiris, Arab League envoy to Somalia. The two discussed about the relationship between Somalia and Arab league and how the later can help in lifting the UN arms embargo which adversely affects the development of Somalia army.
Ambassador Idiris promised that Arab league will support the security and stabilization of Somalia.
Somali defense minister issues stern warning to undisciplined soldiers
17 Dec- Source: Shabelle- 197 words
Somali defense minister Abdi hakin Haji Mohamudd Fiqi has warned undisciplined Somali government soldiers who harm civilians.
Speaking to the media in Mogadishu, Fiqi said that military court will be set up in every town where government forces take over throughout, adding that any soldier found with a crime of transgressing the rights of the Somali civilians will court-martialled.
Meanwhile the defense minister also said that the forces of the moderate Islamist group of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama would be integrated into the Somali national army and stressed that the government has already had talks on that issue with the leaders of the group.
Grenade explosion kills one in Nairobi’s Eastleigh
17 Dec- Source: Raxanreeb/Hiiraan Online- 108 words
A grenade explosion in Nairobi’s Eastleigh suburb on Sunday killed at least one person. According to Starehe OCPD Samwel Kanampiu, several others were injured and were rushed to hospital. Some of the injured people were Somali national, local sources said.
The explosion took place at Muratina Road, in the Mlango Kubwa area. Eastleigh has experienced a number of attacks in the past months.
Most recently, an explosion outside a mosque injured area MP Yusuf Hassan and killing five people. In the aftermath of that attack, police carried out a large security operation, arresting more than 300 suspects, most of whom were reported not to posses identification documents.
Al Shabaab militants kill civilian in Luq
17 Dec- Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Mogadishu- 88 words
Al Shabaab militants beheaded a young man in the outskirts of Luq district in Gedo region of Somalia. According to residents, the slain youngster was well-known distributor of camel milk to the city and nearby areas.
The residents said that al Shabaab warned the deceased several times after they accused him of selling camel milk to some of the government troops in the region.
Mogadishu residents call on government to create jobs for unruly militias
16 Dec- Source: Shabelle- 180 words
Residents in Mogadishu have called on the Somali federal government to create job opportunities for the unruly militias who had been manning illegal road blocks in the city but recently dispersed from the road blocks under a security decree by the president.
The residents also called on the government to integrate those militias into its different security forces.
Meanwhile the residents of Mogadishu, who spoke to Shabelle, have also called on the Somali youths to work for the better of the nation and help the government in creating security throughout the country.
Somali FA concludes division football leagues
15 Dec- Source: Radio Risaala- 342 words
The Somali Football Federation has concluded its 2012 division B and C local football championships on Friday 14th of December at a highly-arranged ceremony in Mogadishu during which the winning clubs of the two leagues were awarded with millions of Somali shillings in cash as part of SFF’s annual encouragement for the promotion of the game.
Somali Football Federation secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab who first addressed at the conclusion ceremony noted that the SFF was very proud of successfully accomplishing a very huge task this year in terms of holding three local football leagues in the same period.
“This year was totally different from the past years, because we finished our competitions peacefully while previously we suffered from fierce battles those sometimes halted the tournaments or caused casualties on our fans, players or journalists covering the event, but this year we say thank you Allah, because we finished all three local leagues with no human casualties during matches” SFF secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab told Friday’s conclusion ceremony.
“Today marks a cheerful moment for us, as we have finalized a very huge task successfully” emphasized the secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab who praised club authorities, coaches and players for showing commitment to the beautiful game.
Banana Export Company launched in Mogadishu
16 Dec- Source: Shabelle- 164 words
In a further sign of return of hope and booming trade in a city not long time dubbed the world´s most dangerous city, a banana export company has been launched in Mogadishu Somalia´s capital city today.
The founders of the new company, Fruit Som say that their plan is to be an umbrella for all Somali farmers so that it can export Somalia´s banana to the outside world.
Sheikh Osman, chairman of Fruit Som company who spoke at the launching ceremony of the company said that the company would bring all Somali farmers particularly those who grow banana under one umbrella.
Shiekh Ali wajis, who is a member of the group founding this new company also spoke there, telling Somalia lacked such business activity for a long time.
Disabled persons in Sool plea for help
16 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 153 words
An organization advocating for disabled persons in Sool region is pleading with aid agencies and Somali Diaspora communities to help handicapped people in the region.
Speaking at a conference highlighting the challenges faced by people with disabilities, Mubarak Mohamed Dol, head of the disabled persons in Sool, urged aid agencies and Somali Diaspora communities to aid them in matters of education, healthcare and income generation.
Mubarak added that the number of people with disabilities in the region has increased, and the main challenge they face is lack of proper care.
“Few people among the disabled ones here have proper care because they have kind relatives abroad.” Mubarak said.
According to Mubarak an International agency, Handicap International, had conducted income generation skills training for a number of disabled persons in Lasa’anod.
Italian envoy supports Puntland’s offensive against militants
15 Dec- Source: Garowe Online- 286 words
Italian Ambassador to Somalia Andrea Mazzella, issued a statement supporting Puntland’s fight against al Shabaab terrorists in the Golis Mountain Ranges, Garowe Online reports.
In a press statement released on Thursday, Ambassador Mazzella expressed his concern regarding “infiltration of the Galgala mountains by al Shabaab” and support for Puntland’s initiative against the terrorists.
“Italy will continue to provide assistance to the Puntland Authorities, through the appropriate stabilization programs and by supporting the security sector,” read the press release.
Al Shabaab fighters attacked a Puntland defense post in Sugurre town near the foothills of Galgala earlier this month. The attack killed two soldiers and coincided with a landmine attack that killed 10 more soldiers near Sugurre town in Bari region.
Puntland authorities quickly began an incursion on al Shabaab controlled villages deep in the Golis Mountains, where the terrorist organization has infiltrated after allied forces’ gains on al Shabaab territories in southern Somalia.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Yemeni nationals arrested over Eastleigh blast
17 Dec- Source: Standard- 271 words
Nine people who include Yemeni nationals have been arrested in connection with Sunday night’s grenade attack Eastleigh that left two people injured.
Police say the suspects include eight Yemeni nationals who were staying a flat next to the scene where the explosion went off along Muratina Road few meters away from a mosque that was targeted a week ago. The other one is a Somali national who was a caretaker of the flat, police said.
The grenade was looped into a compound that hosts a bar and exploded few meters away injuring the two. Nairobi Area police boss Moses Ombati said the suspects were arrested for interrogation.
“It seems the target was the bar and the grenade was looped in there from a different compound but we will know more soon,” said Ombati.
Kenyan Police claim they have arrested al Shabaab fighters
16 Dec- Source: Star (Kenya)- 63 words
Police have confirmed that the four terror suspects arrested on Friday in a bus at Mariakani in Mombasa are al Shabaab fighters. Multiple police source claim that the four are trained al Shabaab members who had sneaked into the country from Somalia. Coast deputy PPO Robert Kitur says they had information that the four were part of a wider terrorism network planning attacks in Mombasa.
Kenya tourism arrivals drop 2.3 per cent in 2012
16 Dec- Source: Coastweek/ Xinhua- 649 words
Kenya’s tourist arrivals dropped by 2.3 per cent due to challenges of insecurity and global economic crisis this year, a senior government official said on Friday.
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) said the Coastal city of Mombasa has been worst hit after it recorded a decline of 23.3 percent of tourist arrival this year.
KTB Managing Director Murithi Ndegwa noted that challenges of insecurity and Eurozone crisis have led to the cancellation of 5 main charters to the Mombasa city. “Mombasa has generally recorded decline tourist arrivals.
“This is attributable to number of factors but mainly by the perceived insecurity in the country as a result of a lull in terror related attacks in the in various parts of the Country,” Ndegwa told journalists in Mombasa.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Blast rocks mainly Somali neighbourhood in Nairobi
16 Dec – Source: AFP News – 215 words
A huge blast shook the predominantly Somali neighbourhood of Eastleigh in the Kenyan capital Nairobi Sunday evening, police said. “There has been an explosion in the area. We do not have any more details currently about the nature of the explosion or whether there are casualties involved,” area police chief Moses Nyakwama told AFP.
Witnesses say there were at least three separate blasts and that the explosions occurred near a bar. The Kenya Red Cross, in a statement said that there had been “at least three seperate grenade attacks” and that the grenades had been thrown from a speeding vehicle.
The blasts follow a recent grenade attack outside a mosque that killed at least five people as well as wounding the local member of parliament.
A recent roadside bomb in Eastleigh district killed one person and wounded several others. And last month, a bomb on a bus killed nine people.
Kenya has suffered a string of attacks, often blamed on al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants, since it invaded Somalia last year.
Interview: Ex-PM urges Kenya to rethink Somali refugee policy
14 Dec- Source: Xinhua/China.org- 1116 words
Kenya should tread carefully before ordering Somali refugees living in urban areas to return to refugee camps, a former senior Somali government official said on Friday.
Former Somali Prime Minister Dr Abdiweli Ali told Xinhua in Nairobi that most of the Somalis resident in Kenya is law abiding and don’t support the extreme ideology of the al Shabaab group.
“Although the policy is understandable in the current security situation, the Kenya government should not act prematurely,” Ali told Xinhua in an exclusive interview in Nairobi.
The remarks come in the wake of Kenya’s government announcement requiring all Somali refugees and asylum seekers living in urban areas to return to the Dabaab refugee camp, located in northeast Kenya.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The PF regime has created and communicated to the people of Zambia that whenever there is a dispute between a Zambian and foreigner, the foreigner must be sorted out even if he is in the right. This is what motivated the people of Ndola to steal food from Somalis. The PF is promoting xenophobia through its reckless deportations of foreigners without giving them a chance to seek justice.”
Let Somalis live in peace
16 Dec- Source: Zambian Watchdog-707 Words
The person who shot dead that Ndola man must be punished in accordance with the law. If the person is, after the due process of the law, found guilty of murder or manslaughter, he must be punished accordingly, whether he is Zambian or Somali. But Zambians in Ndola should not take their lack of Millie meal, fuel and electricity on Somalis.
It is clear that the people who were looting shops owned by Somalis were motivated more by hunger than love of the dead compatriot. If that is not true, how come we saw people carrying bags of rice, sugar and other edibles from those shops? Is that how we express anger in Zambia now, by stealing food?
It is very shameful that the friendly city of Ndola could engage itself in such lawlessness and stupidity. There was absolutely no need for Ndola residents to burn the shops of Somalis just because one man presumably Zambian and another presumably Somali fought and one was killed.
Top tweets
@BillaoJournal Continued #alShabaab attacks make progress in restoring peace and security to #Somalia more difficult but not impossible – there is hope!
@WakeUpSomalia We focus too much on the #Somalis who left to join #Alshabaab and not those that left to help #Somaliae.g. @PPG_Movement @ElleDeville
@AliMohamoud The weekly terror blasts in Nairobi can well be understood when one looks at this Cartoon of AminArts #Kenya #Somalia pic.twitter.com/Be7rKHTy
@ActForSomalia A post-war country & a society still divided along tribal lines, #Somalia needs informed & active youth ready to take on civic responsibility
@Refugees For 5 years, the coastal city of Kismayo was a no-go-zone… but slowly this is changing http://rfg.ee/g5Wtd #Somalia
Image of the day
Kenyan police officers secure the scene of a grenade attack on December 16, 2012 in Nairobi’s mainly Somali ethnic neighbourhood of Eastleigh. Photo: AFP/Getty Images