December 3, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somalia militants cosying up to al Qaeda
03 Dec- Source: news24/AP-130 words
A new report to the UN Security Council says Somalia’s al Shabaab militants may be moving closer to al Qaeda’s “global ideology and agenda”.
An advance copy of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s report on Somalia obtained on Monday also says Ban is “extremely concerned about the loss of momentum” in the fight against the insurgents, who’ve long carried out attacks across the troubled East African country. He says al Shabaab should not be allowed to recover and regroup from internal divisions.
The militant extremist group claimed responsibility for the September attack on a mall in Kenya that killed at least 67 people. Ban’s report also says Somalia is “making progress” toward national elections by 2016 but “the challenges of … state-building are many.” Those include the long-running problem of hunger and a newer one, polio.
Key Headlines
- Ahmed Madobe to announce state cabinet soon (Dhanaan Online/Somalia Today)
- Hawkers rounded up off Baidoa streets (Radio Ergo)
- Women in Kismayo carry out cleaning up exercise (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Radio Mogadishu archives to get digitalized (Somali Current)
- Somali FA endorses Lower Jubba regional football committee election (Kismaayo News)
- President Uhuru Kenyatta receives eight new envoys (Africa Review/Standard Media)
- Somali-Kenyans registered as refugees caught in conundrum (Sabahi Online)
- Somalia militants cosying up to al Qaeda(news24/AP)
- Somalia North Korea Afghanistan Top Corruption Index (VOA)
- Muslim countries should tap own resources: Somalia envoy (Pakistan Observer/APP)
- UN envoy stresses urgency of appointing new Premier to maintain Somalia’s progress (UN News Centre)
SOMALI MEDIA
Ahmed Madobe to announce state cabinet soon
03 Dec- Source: Dhanaan Online/Somalia Today/Kismaayomedia- 130 words
Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) head of the Juba administration said that he is planning to announce the formation of cabinet of the state soon, and asked tribal leaders to choose the members of the state assembly. Ahmed Madobe said in a press conference in Kismayo that the lineup of the state ministries are ready now.
Speaking about the conference in Baidoa for the formation of a regional state that comprises of six provinces, including the provinces of Juba, Ahmed Madobe said his administration welcome all of the establishment of the regional states for the whole country, and we’re going to help them.
Hawkers rounded up off Baidoa streets
03 Dec- Source: Radio Ergo- 252 words
Hawkers in Baidoa town have been forced off the streets and out of business after several days of a crackdown by security forces last week, in which dozens of hawkers were arrested. Police officials said the operation was aimed at improving the town’s security.
Radio Ergo’s local reporter said most of the hawkers were young people, selling clothes, shoes, books and other items on the streets to earn a living for their families.
Security forces arrested more than 50 people during the operation and held them for periods of three days or more.
Abdi-Aziz Mohamed, who was among them, said: “We were forced to pay $10 each without going to court and later they released us.”
He said the have not committed a crime and had not been given any warnings regarding their business.
Another hawker, Mahad Moalim, 19, said the security forces ordered them to stop selling in the street.“We don’t know where to go because this is the only place we call home,” Moalim told Radio Ergo.
He accused the police of extorting brines and intimidating the hawkers. He said the little money he makes goes to the local administration as taxes and to the security forces as bribes, forcing him often to go home empty handed. Neither the local administration nor the security forces would comment to Radio Ergo on the issue.
The hawkers say they are asking their elders and leaders to negotiate with the authorities to allow them back to the streets to resume trade.
Women in Kismayo carry out cleaning up exercise
03 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 139 words
Women in Kismayo have on Monday started to voluntarily clean up the garbage in the major streets of the city. Batran Mohamud Abdulle, one of the women in Kismayo told Bar-kulan that the garbage which lies in the streets of the city pose major health concerns to the residents.
She added that they will continue the exercise until the streets of Kismayo are cleared and the garbage are properly disposed. Meanwhile, the Interim Jubba Administration has urged the residents and local NGOs to partake the cleaning exercise of the city.
The city’s infrastructure has been heavily damaged by incessant conflicts which left drainage channels and major roads unrepaired for many years. This is the first time a campaign to clean up the garbage was carried out by women of Kismayo since al Shabaab was driven out of the city.
Radio Mogadishu archives to get digitalized
02 Dec- Source: Somali Current- 720 words
After more than 60 years of analogue storage in an inadequate environment, the Radio Mogadishu audio archive is being digitized in order to save it from deterioration and introduce the unique Somali historical recordings to new audience.
Colonel Abshir Hashi Ali has a long day ahead, he moves as fast as his old legs can carry him, as he carries the weight of Somalia’s history on his shoulders. Tucked in a little corner behind the Somali Ministry of information, lies Somalia’s hidden treasure, the archives of Radio Mogadishu and what’s left of the country’s oral history.
The dark room contains thousands of reels with folk songs, political speeches, drama, poetry and religious programs that were saved from various clan militias who took control of areas of the city after the ousting of then Somali president Siad Barre in 1991.
As the country plunged into civil war, there were various attempts to destroy the archives and loot its contents. It was during this time that Col. Ali, then a Police officer decided to protect the archives with his life and save Somalia’s history.
Somali FA endorses Lower Jubba regional football committee election
02 Dec- Source: Kismaayo News- 325 words
Somali Football federation has fully lauded the outcome of the recent election of Lower Jubba regional football committee, which the Somali Football federation termed as a ‘free and fair’ election whilst endorsing the chairman elected and his committee, according to a press statement issued at the SFF headquarters here in Mogadishu on Sunday.
During its monthly meeting on Sunday the SFF executive committee congratulated the new Lower Jubba regional football committee chairman Mr. Burhan Mahmoud Hassan and his Secretary General Ahmed Farah Taqal on their successful election which took place in the southern port town of Kismayo on 26th of November.
“Somali FA delegation under the leadership of deputy secretary general Dr. Hassan Mohamed Mahmoud witnessed the election which was held in accordance with the SFF constitution and international football principles according to the reports gathered by our delegation” Somali Football Federation secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said in a press statement.
The statement noted that four districts out of the region’s five districts voted in favour of Mr. Burhan whose committee will serve for one year-period starting from the date of election. A new committee will be elected then which will serve for a four-year term.
“The SFF is encouraging all regions in the country to hold their local elections; we don’t accept that regional governors appoint local football committees, because football authorities are elected according the international football regulations, so we call other regions in the country to follow such steps and the SFF will send monitoring delegations to all regions in the country” Secretary General Abdi Qani Said Arab said in his press statement Sunday.
The secretary General said that with Somalia currently emerging from decades of civil wars and lawlessness, the Somali Football Federation has been pushing forward that every region in the country holds its local football committee election adding that Somali FA was praising the Lower Jubba football volunteers for becoming pioneers while others expected to follow soon.
REGIONAL MEDIA
President Uhuru Kenyatta receives eight new envoys
03 Dec- Source: Africa Review/Standard Media – 484 words
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta received credentials from eight new envoys at State House Nairobi. The envoys are from Nepal, Germany, Hungary, Italy, France, Iraq, Japan and Zambia.
Presenting his papers, ambassador Remi Marechaux of France said his country and Kenya faced a common enemy – terrorism – which required enhanced partnership to fight.
He said France provided direct bilateral assistance to the Kenya military operation in Somalia as well as supporting the AMSOM peacekeeping force with $100 million (Sh8.5 billion) this year.
“The terrorists that we are fighting in Mali, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, are allies of Somali’s al Shabaab and we cannot effectively combat al Qaeda on one ground without fighting all the others,” the envoy said.
Italy’s Mauro Massoni said his country and the international community valued the “pivotal role” the Kenyan leadership played in countering the terrorism threat and also to stabilise Somalia and the Horn of Africa.
Somali-Kenyans registered as refugees caught in conundrum
02 Dec- Source: Sabahi Online- 236 words
Abdi Osman Sharmake, a 34-year-old Somali-Kenyan, is in a rush against time to reverse his refugee status at the Dadaab refugee complex. Sharmake said he falsely registered as a refugee from Somalia in 2004 in order to benefit from aid assistance offered to refugees in Hagadera camp.
“I have been haunted by that decision to register as a refugee,” he told Sabahi. “I have been unable get the Kenyan identification card and other rights accorded to Kenyan citizens like voting and free movement in the country.”
Sharmake, who was born in Kenya to parents who have never been to Somalia, said he registered as a refugee because he thought he would have a better chance of being relocated to a third country by the International Organisation for Migration.
Mombasa Imams alarmed as radicalised Muslim youth take over popular mosques, police fear moving in might anger even moderate faithful
02 Dec- Source: Standard- 286 words
Moderate Muslim leaders and security officers have expressed fear that radical Islamists are gaining control of Mombasa following last Friday’s forcible takeover of Sakina Jamia Mosque. It has also emerged that police failed to intervene in the incident, fearing that entering the mosque would have angered both the moderate and radicalised Muslims. Now another threat on Liwatoni Mosque at the coastal town has alarmed local leaders that radical preachers could be keen to spread their fiery preaching that authorities fear will radicalise youths. Following the threats, a secret meeting of all Imams and other Muslim leaders in Mombasa was convened in the coastal city to discuss the radicalisation threat and its masterminds.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia militants cosying up to al Qaeda
03 Dec- Source: news24/AP-130 words
A new report to the UN Security Council says Somalia’s al Shabaab militants may be moving closer to al Qaeda’s “global ideology and agenda”.
An advance copy of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s report on Somalia obtained on Monday also says Ban is “extremely concerned about the loss of momentum” in the fight against the insurgents, who’ve long carried out attacks across the troubled East African country. He says al Shabaab should not be allowed to recover and regroup from internal divisions.
The militant extremist group claimed responsibility for the September attack on a mall in Kenya that killed at least 67 people. Ban’s report also says Somalia is “making progress” toward national elections by 2016 but “the challenges of … state-building are many.” Those include the long-running problem of hunger and a newer one, polio.
Somalia, North Korea, Afghanistan Top Corruption Index
03 Dec- Source: VOA-250 Words
An anti-corruption group lists Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan as the most corrupt nations in the world. Berlin-based Transparency International released its yearly index Tuesday based on the perceived levels of corruption compiled from interviews with people in 177 countries.
Its scale gives a corruption-free nation a score of 100, and in 2013 Somalia, North Korea and Afghanistan all scored eight points. By contrast, the least corrupt nations are Denmark and New Zealand with 91 points, followed by Finland and Sweden with 89.
Robert Barrington, executive director of Transparency International, says the worst performing countries are usually those undergoing conflict. “You find a closing down of the transparency in government and, in particular, you find a complete lack of accountability. The institutions of the state start to dissolve. And it’s the citizens that suffer.”
Muslim countries should tap own resources: Somalia envoy
03 Dec- Source: Pakistan Observer/APP-109 Words
Muslim countries should tap their potential as they are rich in natural resources which can play a role in their progress and prosperity. This was stated by Ambassador of Federal Republic of Somalia Ali Sheikh Abdullahi while talking to Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor (VC) University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) hereon Monday.
Principal Officer Public Relations and Publications UAF Prof Dr Jalal Arif and Director External Linkages Prof Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha were also present.
The Somali envoy called for increasing cooperation between the two countries especially in education and agricultural sectors. He said 500 Somali students were studying in various institutions of Pakistan including UAF.
UN envoy stresses urgency of appointing new Premier to maintain Somalia’s progress
02 Dec- Source: UN News Centre-317 Words
The United Nations envoy in Somalia today highlighted the urgency of appointing a new Prime Minister as soon as possible to maintain the progress made so far in the Horn of Africa nation, after incumbent Abdi Farah Shirdon lost a confidence vote in parliament.
Somalia’s President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, now has 30 days to appoint a successor to Mr. Shirdon, who was in office for just over a year.
“I hope the President will consult widely before choosing. It is in all our interests that the next PM and Government is broadly inclusive, able to unite the country and capable of delivering what Somalia needs – peace, rule of law, economic growth and good public services,” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Nicholas Kay.
Mr. Kay paid tribute to the outgoing Prime Minister, and noted that his departure was managed in accordance with the provisional constitution and the rules of procedure of the Federal Parliament.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Experts give Edna much of the credit for Somaliland’s maternal mortality rate being a quarter that of Somalia. One factor in Somaliland’s relative success has been her hospital’s focus on training a generation of midwives.”
PROFILE-Somaliland midwife puts women’s rights at heart of hospital
02 Dec- Source: Reuters-1231 Words
Patrolling the wards of the hospital she founded in the breakaway enclave of Somaliland, Edna Adan Ismail held the hand of a teenage girl about to have a fistula repair operation, urging her to be brave.
She rubbed the back of a woman in labour and demonstrated how to breathe during contractions. She bent down to make eye contact with each patient, squeezing their shoulders, making them laugh, stroking children’s heads and admiring newborn babies with a soft “Masha’allah” – “Thanks be to God”.
Occasionally, she paused to correct her staff or to shoo away relatives lingering in the wards of Somaliland’s first maternity hospital.
“If I see a patient, I always have to see all of them. I cannot just see one. It’s not ethical,” Edna said, hurrying down the corridor of the hospital, a white lab coat over her long yellow and turquoise flowered dress.
It’s an approach that owes much to the influence of her doctor father, Adan Ismail, who had Edna washing forceps and making bandages out of old bed sheets as a young girl.
“Somaliland universities both public and private don’t yet possess research capabilities, infrastructure and need to make them active beneficiaries of global knowledge and to generate knowledge, innovation and problem solving.”
Challenges of Universities in Somaliland
02 Dec- Source: Somalilandpress-365 Words
Higher education in Somaliland has faced many challenges. Shortage of skilled professionals in Somaliland has its root in decade’s education system. Although Somaliland’s universities ought to be breeding grounds for skilled individuals whom the country need, they are overwhelmed by critical shortage of teaching faculty and poor research scholars. The situation is more serious with respect to the shortage of senior faculty management at levels of Masters and PHD.
Higher education institutions in almost Somaliland regions are largely unable to get and retain qualified faculty and research scholars. Most of Somaliland universities face shortage of technical, administrative and management staff. Generally Somaliland universities academic leaders are rarely trained in the management of higher education institutions professionally. Most of education institutional leaders at all level are poor in strategic planning, performance management, partnership building and network skills and they are offering duplicate programs and there is no market research for their institutions and universities are copying programs from each other.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia PHOTOS-Opening of the Strengthening#Somalia Judicial capacity to address Gender based Violence workshop in #Djibouti http://on.fb.me/QqTSeN
@UN_DPA #UN envoy Nicholas Kay stresses urgency of appointing new Prime Minister to maintain progress in#Somalia http://ow.ly/rnql2 @UNSomalia
@SomaliaNewsroom Wow: AMISOM issued doc on plans to improve judicial capacity to fight gender-based violence right before new rape row http://bit.ly/IBI49P
@ActForSomalia #UAE National Day Celebrations @UAEEmbassy in Mogadishu #Somalia.Happy National Day.42 yrs of success &development. pic.twitter.com/N8iZ6JD76n
@UNLazzarini 98% of #Somali girls undergo Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, but things might change, read more here:#16days http://uni.cf/18sN6jt
Image of the day
Participants attend a four (4) day Workshop on Strengthening Somalia Judicial capacity to address Gender-Based Violence that kicked off in Djibouti, Djibouti. Training is organized by AMISOM’s Gender Unit in collaboration with the FGS Directorate of Women and Social Affairs as well as the Directorate of Justice. Photo: AMISOM