December 4, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

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Somalia rejects corruption allegation report by Transparency International

04 Dec- Source: Radio Dalsan- 137 words

Somalia Federal Government has rejected the corruption allegations by the Transparency International. A report released by the Berlin-based corruption watchdog Transparency International said on Tuesday that Somalia is the most corrupt state in the world.

Somalia Deputy Minister of Finance Ahmed Hassan Adan has casted doubt on the credibility of the report, saying it lacked clear evidences to substantiate its allegations. “We want to see any evidence to these allegations. It is only just someone’s idea written on papers without any proof,” he said. Mr Adan asked if any agency can proof which office of the government has the said corruption taken place. “Corruption is not good for any country, it is killer so it is shameful that such NGO writes a report to damage the dignity of Somalia,” he added.

Key Headlines

Somalia rejects corruption allegation report by Transparency International (Radio Dalsan)
No forceful repatriation Somali refugees told (Radio bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan)
Press release by the EU Special Envoy (EU Somalia Mission)
Heavy fighting causes casualties in Beledweyne Somalia (Radio Shabelle)
Ceremony held for 54 students in Bulo Hawo town (Radio bar-kulan)
United Kingdom: We Have No Intentions of Opening a Consulate in Hargeisa (Somaliland Informer)
Speaker Jawari says current cabinet should lead the country as a “care-taker government” (Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu)
Court declines to release 4 Westgate attack suspects on bail (Standard- Media)
Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa bans schoolbooks promoting suicide bombings (Sabahi Online)
Eastleigh refugees express concern on forceful (NTV)
UN praises Somali peaceful vote (Daily Nation)
Smuggling cartels militants hinder revival of Somali port (Reuters)
Kenya MPs want to fire KDF police chiefs over Westgate raid (The Star)
Somalia: Storm devastated Puntland struggles to recover (IOM)

PRESS STATEMENT

Press release by the EU Special Envoy

03 Dec- Source: EU Somalia Mission-143 Words

EU Special Envoy for Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso, underscores the continued commitment of the EU to Somalia’s post-transition political process.

The EU recognizes that Somalia has overcome an important political challenge and it appreciates the leadership of the outgoing Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon ‘Saaid’ and the efforts of his Government in the past year that culminated in the Somali Compact.

“I praise the Federal Parliament and the federal leaders for the responsibility shown during the vote on the motion of no confidence. The Somali leadership has shown that they put the interests of the nation first”, said EU Special Envoy Michele Cervone d’Urso.

The EU looks forward to the speedy appointment of a new Prime Minister and a representative and capable government responsive to the needs of the Somali people and committed to take forward the important tasks between now and 2016.

SOMALI MEDIA

No forceful repatriation, Somali refugees told

04 Dec- Source: Radio bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan/Radio Risaala- 166 words

Nairobi’s Kamukunji Constituency MP, Yusuf Hassan Abdi has on Tuesday reiterated that Somali refugees in Kenya will not be forced to return to Somalia.

Speaking at a meeting in Eastleigh, Abdi stated that the tripartite agreement signed by Kenya and Somali governments with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees calls for a voluntary return of the Somali refugees.

“It is important to note that Somalis will not be forced to leave Kenya,” he said.

Somalia ambassador to Kenya Mohammed Alinur urged refugees to stop speculating the purported rumors about forceful repatriation process by Kenyan government.

Mohamed Alinur said he was part of the delegates who witnessed the signing ceremony and there was no indication of forceful repatriation whatsoever.

“The process is voluntary there is no force that should be very clear to all Somali refugees in the country.” He said. “We will not allow refugees to be taken to insecure areas” he added

More than half a million Somali refugees live in Dadaab Refugee Complex and some Kenyan politicians have been calling on the closure of the camp since al Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility of the Westgate Shopping Mall attack on September which left 67 dead.

Meanwhile, they both urged Somali population in Kenya to work with the security apparatus in order to heighten and improve the overall security of the country.

Heavy fighting causes casualties in Beledweyne

04 Dec- Source: Radio Shabelle- 94 words

Reports from Beledweyne, the capital of Hiiran region confirm that heavy fighting occurred Tuesday night between al Shabaab fighters and AMISOM troops based in the region.

The fighting erupted after the al Shabaab fighters attacked an AMISOM base in the town causing severe casualties on both sides. Locals told Shabelle radio that the two sides used heavy artillery against each other during the heavy confrontation forcing the al Shabaab fighters to withdraw. The situation of the town returned back to normal after the night’s fighting.

Ceremony held for 54 students in Bulo Hawo town

04 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 84 words

A ceremony to mark the achievements of 54 students who had completed educational courses from Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan College has been held in Bulo Hawo, Gedo region.

The management of the college congratulated the students and urged them to serve the country in order to improve the lives of their communities. They promised to support the students fulfill their dreams by creating job opportunities.

The graduates completed courses in the fields of computer studies and technical skills from Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan College.

EU envoy praises Somali leaders for respecting constitution, showing leadership

04 Dec- Source: Raxanreeb/Hiiraan Online-156 Words

The European Union Special Envoy and Ambassador to Somalia Michele Cervoned’Urso has said on Tuesday that the European Union appreciated how Federal Institutions leadership respected the constitution and leadership shown during the parliament’s no confidence vote on Monday.

“Appreciate how Federal Institutions leadership respected the constitution and leadership shown.” Cervoned’Urso tweeted on his twitter account “Time for inclusive and competent Government..” he added.

On Monday members of the Federal Parliament voted to oust the country’s Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saacid after impeachment motion against his government over allegations of low performance and lack of capability to safeguard the nation during the post-transition period.

Mr Shirdon who has served only a year in office has strongly rejected the allegations in a press conference in his office on Monday, hours before the parliamentarians voted for his oust.

The European Union is now funding the Somalia’s New Deal Program which aims to lead the country’s largest recovery project.

Somalia rejects corruption allegation report by Transparency International

04 Dec- Source: Radio Dalsan- 137 words

UK: We Have No Intentions of Opening Consulate in Hargeisa

04 Dec- Source: Somaliland Informer/Horn news paper- 189 words

The British Government announced that it has no plans of opening a consulate in Somaliland and would rather have its presence, through a representative, on a weekly-basis in Hargeisa.

Uk Ambassador to Somalia, Neil Wigan, answering questions via an open-forum discussion on Twitter, once posed with the question whether or not a prospective consulate in Hargeisa was in the pipeline, stated the following: “There are no plans of opening a UK Consulate in Somaliland; however we will be present in the nation on a weekly basis”. The Ambassador was a member in a delegation comprised of senior officials from the United States of America, European Union and Italy. In a closed-door meeting with the President of Somaliland, Ahmed Silanyo, the foreign delegation spoke on progress, development and upcoming elections.

“I, accompanied by a delegation comprised of officials from America, Italy and the European Union, meet with the President of Somaliland in order to discuss prospective elections and developmental initiatives” said Ambassador Neil Wigan. Several questions were not answered by the Uk Ambassador on whether or not the President of Somaliland pledged to hold elections on schedule in 2015.

Speaker Jawari says current cabinet should lead country as “care-taker government”

03 Dec- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu- 164 words

The Speaker of Somalia Federal Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari has called on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to appoint new Prime Minister a day after the parliamentarians sacked the Prime Minister in a no confidence vote.

In a press statement released, the Speaker said that it was a constitutional right the parliament to hold a vote of confidence for the cabinet while upholding the federal constitution.

“Until new Prime Minister is appointed and then the Prime Minister selects new ministers, the current cabinet has the right to serve as a caretaker government.” Speaker Jawari said.

Mr Jawari noted that the parliament will continue its ordinary third session until December 31st while the parliamentarians will take their yearly leave after that date.

“If a new Prime Minister is appointed then the parliament will be called for extraordinary session.” the statement concluded.
The statement comes a day after 184 lawmakers out of 249 fired the country’s Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon amid impeachment motion tabled against his cabinet.

Somaliland President attends World Disability Day

03 Dec- Source: Somaliland Informer/Somaliland Press- 176 words

Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo has attended on Tuesday a large ceremony held for the commemoration of World Disability Day which is celebrated across the world on the 3rd December annually. Well organized ceremony held in the Working Men’s Club was attended by members of Somaliland cabinet ministers, organizations that involve on disabled and handicaps as well as other international organizations involved in helping the disabled community in Somaliland. Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo has distributed 28 motorbikes and 150 bikes to disabled members of Somaliland community at the event. The presidential palace is said to have donated the motorbikes and bikes to the handicapped people among Somaliland community. The disabled community tested their luck on lottery and those who won it received either motorbike or bike. Chairman of Somaliland Disability community Mr. Mukhtaar Osman made lengthy speech at the ceremony and stressed the current constraints faced with disabled community and passed a message to Somaliland president. He asked the president to help the disabled community to overcome the challenges they are faced with.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Court declines to release 4 Westgate attack suspects on bail

04 Dec- Source: Standard Media- 92 words

Four suspected terrorists behind Westgate shopping mall attack have been denied bail. Nairobi Chief Magistrate Kiarie Waweru has declined to release the four on bail cited security concerns in the country as reason behind his ruling. Waweru added that public safety supersedes individual rights not to be detained. The accused are Mohamed Ahmed Abdi, Liban Abdullah Omar, Adan Mohamed and Hussein Hassan Mustafah. The magistrate also noted that investigations regarding the suspects are underway in various countries and releasing them could jeopardise such. The case will be mentioned on December 18, 2013.

Eastleigh refugees express concern on forceful

04 Dec- Source: NTV- 1:37 min

Somali refugees living in the country have been assured that they will not be forced to leave the Country. This comes amid fears that they would all be required to move back to Somalia. They were in a meeting with Kamukunji Member of Parliament Yusuf Hassan, Nairobi Women representative Rachel Shebesh and Somali ambassador Ali Nur.

Kenya MPs want to fire KDF, police chiefs over Westgate raid

04 Dec- Source: The Star (Kenya)-621 Words

THE parliamentary committee that investigated the Westgate attack has recommended the sacking of Police Inspector General David Kimaiyo and Kenya Defense Forces chief General Julius Karangi. They also want senior officers who failed in their duties punished.

The four day attack on the Westgate mall began on September 21 and left 67 people dead and another 200 injured. Two floors of the building were brought down in circumstances that are yet to be fully explained. Yesterday Administration and National Security committee chairman Asman Kamama said the report will be brought to the National Assembly for debate tomorrow.

“The report will be tabled in the House on Thursday this week. There is a lot in the report and you will see much of it once it is ready,” Kamama said. He said that the committee has proposed a total overhaul of the Immigration Department and demanded total war on terrorism. Immigration officers who have served for a long time in their posts and who are suspected to collude with criminal elements will either be retired or sacked.

Radical group beheads man in Kenyan coastal town

04 Dec- Source: The Star (Kenya)-167 Words

Kenya Police are investigating the murder of a man allegedly beheaded by radical Muslim youth in coastal town of Malindi. Family members said Faiz Rufai was kidnapped on Sunday night by the group, before beheading him and dumping his head in the Indian Ocean. His body was discovered by residents who informed the security agencies.

Rufai was allegedly killed for collaborating with a moderate Muslim group that works with the government. Sources said Rufai was a mujahedeen (warrior) accused of being a traitor and government sympathiser. Security sources say the deceased had returned from Somalia and secretly abandoned the radical group’s activities and worked as a double agent.

Acting Malindi police boss Charles Rotich said “detectives have launched investigations to establish the motive of the bizarre murder although information remains scanty”. He asked Rufai’s family to come out and record statements with the police to assist with investigations. The incident comes in the wake of heightened tension and mistrust among moderate and radical Muslims in the area.

Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa bans schoolbooks promoting suicide bombings

03 Dec- Source: Sabahi Online- 689 words

Ahlu Sunna wal Jamaa (ASWJ) has banned schools in Somalia’s central regions from using a book entitled “Islamic Education”, which contains chapters that justify the use of suicide bombers and promote the notion of apostasy.

ASWJ had implemented a similar ban on schools in the regions under its control five years ago and renewed it November 18th after it was discovered that various schools started using the book in question, ASWJ’s Executive Committee Deputy Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi Mohamud told Sabahi.

ASWJ appointed a committee to look into the book’s content and ordered schools to stop using it after they found text that used language that justified suicide bombing, Mohamud said.

The ban has affected more than 50 schools in the districts of Dhusamareb, Adado, Guriel, Harardhere, Hobyo and several other areas in central Somalia, he said.

UN praises Somali peaceful vote

03 Dec- Source: Daily Nation- 484 words

Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Mr Nicholas Kay on Monday paid glowing tribute to Somalia’s outgoing Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon and noted the responsible role played by the Federal Parliament and the Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari in handling the “no confidence”.

At the same time, the EU Special Envoy for Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso also praised the Parliament and federal leaders for the responsibility they showed during the vote on the motion of no confidence. “The Somali leadership has shown that they put the interests of the nation first,” the envoy said.

The EU underscored its continued commitment of the EU to Somalia’s post-transition political and said it looks forward to the speedy appointment of a new Prime Minister.

The reaction by the two came just hours after the parliament in Mogadishu withdrew its confidence from the government that had been led by PM Shirdon over the past 15 months.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Smuggling cartels, militants hinder revival of Somali port

04 Dec- Source: Reuters- 1213 words

Al Qaeda-linked militants, drug smugglers and shadowy criminal networks stand in the way of the Somali federal government’s hopes of hiring a foreign firm to manage the lucrative but run-down southern port of Kismayo.

One of only three deep-water ports in Somalia, Kismayo’s proximity to northern Kenya and Ethiopia has for decades made it integral to a thriving business smuggling arms, sugar and increasingly narcotics across porous east African borders.

Foreign powers trying to curb militant Islam in Somalia fret about the money-spinning charcoal trade that remains a big earner for the Islamist group al Shabaab. The U.N. Security Council has banned charcoal exports but the trade continues unabated in areas where the government holds little influence.

Somalia: Storm devastated Puntland struggles to recover

03 Dec- Source: IOM news-551 Words

Two weeks after a tropical cyclone struck the northeast coast of Puntland State of Somalia with unforeseen ferocity, the government estimates that over 35,000 people have been affected by the disaster and are at risk of destitution and hunger.

About a hundred and fifty people have been reported dead or missing, thousands of head of sheep, goats, and camels have been killed – the basis for livelihood and survival of most of the local community – infrastructure lies in ruins, and fears of an outbreak of waterborne diseases are intensifying.
“For three days almost 10 years of progress were hanging in the balance – we watched schools and health facilities being washed away by the heavy rainfall,” reported Hussein Hassan, Head of IOM’s sub-office in Garowe, Puntland.

Details on the damage are only now emerging because part of the main tarmac road was swept away and some remote areas have been hard to reach. But so far, the assessment team, including IOM, ministries and agencies, observed that there is considerable damage on infrastructure and huge loss of livestock with dead bodies of animals everywhere in the epicenter with a strong stench of decaying flesh.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The camaraderie that was displayed by the Somali fans last Sunday just goes to show why the Mogadishu government has no option but to turn around the fortunes of the national soccer team so that it can in turn, through its victories, help in cementing relations between and among the Somali people.”

How Football Can Bring Back Peace to Somalia

04 Dec- Source: Tanzania Daily News/All Africa-827 Words

THERE is one interesting thing about the on-going CECAFA Challenge Cup in Kenya, the vast improvement by the region’s whipping boys, the Somali national soccer team!

They were simply a marvel to watch, especially when they ran rings around their opponents before they were finally subdued, in every match, due to their inexperience! On Sunday they almost caused an upset against Kilimanjaro Stars only to succumb, in the second half, to a one goal defeat.

But Kilimanjaro Stars would not have won that match had they not roped in a pair of fresh legs and thrown all their men into offensive! What is very special about the Somali team, which in my opinion, is the most improved team of the tournament in the region was their ability to scale down their last year’s defeat against Kilimanjaro Stars from 7 to 1!

“Journalists have being the victims since Somalia descended in war in early 1990s,18 of the were killed last year while seven of the lost their lives this year. Somali government has failed to stem the unrelenting wave of attacks and tackle the runaway crimes in Mogadishu. Some of the journalists have escaped this scenario by seeking asylum elsewhere. Others are left stranded in the capital with nowhere to hide or escape, waiting for a disaster to strike.”

Why Mogadishu journalists live in fear?

04 Dec- Source: Radio Dalsan-462 Words

Mogadishu city,the capital of Somalia is well known for its bad reasons.one of the reasons is the upsurge of killings targeting journalists.The demise of newsmen has gone a notch higher in the past years.This brutal killings has made the newsmen live in fear constantly.Despite the cruel assassinations facing them,they still survive in such a threatening situation.

This continuous murder has become the order of the day in most parts of the city for the newsmen who are ruthlessly attacked by unknown assailants dwelling in the area.incidents of murder against journalists are being reported with increasing frequency in all the media houses in the capital.The journalists have now gone beyond being afraid of being the next victim.

“The current infighting comes at considerable expense to the political capital the government has managed to accrue among the international community, which subsequently mobilized unprecedented political and financial support in the past year.”

The Consequences of Political Infighting

03 Dec- Source: Radio Dalsan-1022 Words

The rift between the two top office holders in Somalia, and the subsequent removal of Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon ‘Saa’id’, has dealt a serious blow to the credibility of the Federal Government of Somalia and disoriented it from the urgent task of statebuilding. Another phase of infighting could lead to the collapse of this government.

For a little over a year, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Shirdon demonstrated an unusually high degree of harmony. Early on the duo pledged publicly that, as long-time friends, they will commit to a ‘rift-free’ government for the sake of the nation.

Amid mounting criticism against the government, however, the spirit of cooperation between the two began to fade. The consolidation of inclusive politics has given way to the internal squabbling so characteristic of previous transitional governments. The net result is a disoriented leadership and weakened government lacking domestic cohesion and international confidence.

Top tweets

@JamesGadin #Somalia National Army soldiers at the Final Parade of the Specialist Training conducted by #EU in Bihanga Uganda pic.twitter.com/EXTx3wAUPB

@amisomsomalia PHOTOS: AMISOM #Djibouti and SNA troops recover goods from Al Shabaab #Somalia http://bit.ly/1camktE http://on.fb.me/QqTSeN

@IOM_news IOM plans longer term efforts to support the recovery of storm devastated Puntland, #Somalia http://ow.ly/rovlX @reliefweb @AidNews

@KamauNyokabi Somalia is often described as many states within a state — each with its own system of bribes.http://www.buzzfeed.com/sheerafrenkel/the-23-most-corrupt-countries-in-the-world …

@UNLazzarini #Somali refugees from South Africa returning 2make a difference & participate in re-building #Somalia http://bit.ly/1b6vSoh via @irinnews

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Image of the day

Image of the day Workers lay down an undersea fibre optic cable system in Mogadishu. The Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) connects countries in Eastern Africa to the rest of the world. The arrival of the cable, which is expected to be up and running in the coming weeks, will dramatically increase Somalia’s Internet and data capacity. Photo: UN