December 5, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

KDF aircraft crashes in Kismayu after combat, fate of crew unknown

05 Dec – Star Kenya – 185 Words

A Kenya Defence Forces aircraft crashed after it developed technical problems while returning from a combat mission in Kismayu Thursday afternoon.The fighter jet was coming from Dhasheegga near Farwamo, which is an area under the control of foreign Al Shabaab fighters and Baar Sanguni area when it crashed within the general Kismayu area. The fate of the pilots and other crew on board is still unknown.

“Today, 04th December 2014, at around 1515hrs (3.15pm) a KDF aircraft while returning from a combat mission in Jamaame, (Southern Somalia), developed technical problems and crashed in the general area of Kismayu,” a statement from KDF spokesman Colonel David Obonyo said. A military camp and ammunition store were destroy and a number of attackers killed during the airstrikes according to residents and members of the Guddud administration. KDF has increased air strikes in Somalia after Al Shabaab attacks in Kenya in which over seventy six people have been brutally massacred in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa.

Key Headlines

Puntland troops mutiny over pay (Garowe Online)
Crime Watch: the number of people killed in somalia in the month of November 2014 (Radio Goobjoog)
Civilians bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict (Radio RBC)
Baidoa mental health facility runs out of funds (Radio Ergo)
Puntland President lays foundation stone for Bossaso airport runway (Garowe Online)
Al Shabaab kidnaps three people in Hiraan (Radio Bar-kulan)
Kuwait to re-open embassy in Mogadishu (Kuwait News Agency)
Al-Shabaab kills former lawmaker bodyguards in Mogadishu (Sabahi Online)
KDF aircraft crashes in Kismayu after combat fate of crew unknown (Star Kenya)
Kenya’s Leader Receives Report on Combating Terrorism (Voice of America English)
2014 immigrant man of the year (UUTISET Finland)
Somali teen intentionally struck by SUV dies (KCTV 5 News Kansas)

SOMALI MEDIA

Puntland Army troops mutiny over pays

05 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 232 Words

Army troops on the frontline straddling the restive border between Puntland and Somaliland vacated their positions on account of unpaid salaries on Thursday, Garowe Online reports. Mutineers formed temporary positions in the outskirts of Garowe, calling on President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali’s administration to address their plight.

Insiders tell Garowe Online that the soldiers went on strike after Puntland government withheld their salaries over the last four months. “Frankly speaking, besides the missing pays of soldiers the reason behind the mutiny lies in lack of support services including petroleum fuels,” one source said on condition of anonymity.

Statewide frustrations, and complaints over economic hardship have been dragging on for months. In March, Puntland Defence Forces in 54th Somali army base staged similar mutiny, setting tires on fire and chanting for their military rights.

Revenues being generated from Bossaso seaport and customs increased exponentially during the summer according to sources that declined to be named in print. In early July, a 500-bed Danish-funded pirate complex in the state capital of Garowe came on the verge of closure but Puntland Custodian Corps Chief Gen. Ali Nur later denied reported substandard conditions in the prison facility in an emailed statement.

Ali who was elected Puntland’s new president in a narrow victory margin of 33-to-32 parliamentary vote on January 8, 2014 pledged that he will focus on the wages of government employees.

Crime Watch: the number of people killed in somalia, in the month of November, 2014

05 Dec – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 1, 038 Words

Somalia has been ravaged by civil war over 20 years, so killing people has become the norm whether they are innocent or guilty, with reason or without reason. Moreover there is very limited justice served or most of the time no justice is served when a person is killed. Therefore Goobjoog has undertaken an initiative to document those killed every month under our Crime Watch Project which promotes justice and constitutional rights of the citizens.

We may not be able to document all those killed due to the scarce resources and sometimes lack of access to the affected areas in the country and also lack of basic institutions in the country like hospitals, mortuaries and police service which usually gathers information regarding deaths. According to records, there are 32 people killed in the country in the month of November, 2014. 19 of those are killed in Mogadishu alone, 3 in Puntland, 4 were killed in the Lower Shabelle region, 4 in Hiiraan Province and 2 were killed in the Central Regions. 5 of those killed are high ranking officials serving in the government; others were business people, religious people, women, journalists and government soldiers. In the average, there is one person killed every day in the month of November, 2014. Taking into consideration that there were no major explosions in the country which used to kill too many people at once, this makes the least number of people killed in one month compared to other months. All the killings have one common phrase to conclude, and its “Unknown gunmen did the killing and they fled the scene without trace”. For more detailed of number of people killed and the circumstances of their deaths in the month of November, 2014 click on the title for a link.

Civilians bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict

05 Dec – Source: Radio RBC – 154 Words

The security situation remains volatile and risks associated with humanitarian aid work are high due to insecurity and direct and indirect attacks against humanitarian personnel and assets, according to UNOCHA humanitarian report.

Over 220 conflict incidents with humanitarian access implications were registered in October 2014. While the number of high profile attacks was low in October, the number of recorded incidents involving improvised explosive devices is the highest since September 2013.

Since January 2014, more than 5,000 weapon-related injuries have been treated in nine hospitals in Mogadishu, Kismayo, Doolow, Mudug, and Baidoa. In October, 619 weapon-related injuries were reported at the facilities; a 13 per cent increase compared to the previous month. Following a number of incidences of explosions reported in Mogadishu, there was a 23 per cent increase in civilian injuries. In total, more than 500 casualties were reported in Mogadishu and treated at the four major WHO supported hospitals during October.

Puntland President lays foundation stone for Bossaso airport runway

04 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 197 Words

The President of Somalia’s northeastern state of Puntland Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has laid foundation stone for Bossaso airport runway on Thursday, Garowe Online reports. Italy Ambassador to Somalia Farbizio Marcelli, United Nations Office for Project Services officials, cabinet ministers, parliamentarians and traditional leaders attended a launching ceremony in the airport complex, with the tender winner, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation putting equipment, and expatriates on display.

In his opening remarks, President Ali expressed his delight with the construction of Bossaso airport runway and called the project a ‘flagship’ which will contribute to progress in aviation sector. On his side, on behalf of the Italian government that largely funded the runway project, Ambassador Marcelli indicated that the move has been long awaited and finally the dream has come true.

The tender winner is expected to upgrade and bitumen the existing gravel runway from 1.8km to 2.65km in conformity with code 4C operations requirement. In late 203, 20 international companies vied for Bossaso airport runway bid under the incumbency of former Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole. Poor safety of aircraft, coupled with earthen runways have long hampered the flights departing and flying into Puntland according to state officials.

Al Shabaab kidnaps three people in Hiraan

04 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 86 Words

Al Qaida linked Somali armed group, Al Shabaab has kidnapped three locals of Mahas in Hiran province. Local security official Abdulle Roble has told Bar-Kulan that the group took the three to remotes areas in the area which is still under their control. Roble said the group has started to harass local residents who are mainly livestock keepers saying pastoralist repulsed several efforts by the armed group. He urged federal government of Somalia to come into the rescue of the locals against Al Shabaab militant group.

Baidoa mental health facility runs out of funds

04 Dec – Source: Radio Ergo – 257 Words

Baidoa’s only mental health care centre is short of supplies, as financial support from the local community has dried up. The facility currently hosts 93 patients, comprising of 45 male and 48 female. Head of the centre, Adan Abdirahman Gentleman, told Radio Ergo’s local reporter about the deteriorating situation of the centre. “In fact this centre is there to care for and treat people with mental illness in the town and has been in operation since 2010, but we are now running out of drugs and that is a big challenge.” he said.

“There is no specific agency that provides us with drugs, as we normally run the facility with support from the local community, but for some time the local community has been unable to continue funding due to financial difficulties.” Gentleman said most of the patients in the centre were young people suffering from trauma due to their exposure to conflict in the country.

“I have been here for the last five months with my sick brother. I am very concerned about the shortage of medicines, I am urging aid agencies to save these youth and donate drugs to this centre,” said Bakar Ali Gurey, whose brother is being treated at the centre. Psychiatric doctor, Abdiraman Mohamed Khayr, warned that if the funding crisis continued they would be forced to discharge the patients, which would be a disaster. “The community cannot handle such people, all they would be able to do is chain them up, which is not good for their health,” said Dr Abdirahman.

REGIONAL MEDIA

KDF aircraft crashes in Kismayu after combat, fate of crew unknown

05 Dec – Star Kenya – 185 Words

Kuwait to re-open embassy in Mogadishu

05 Dec – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 217 Words

Kuwait will re-open its embassy in Somalia, visiting First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said on Thursday. Sheikh Sabah Khaled added in a press conference with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud in Mogadishu that Kuwait will cooperate with other Arab embassies to support development projects in Somalia.

Over the coming period, the State of Kuwait will focus on enhancing development efforts in Somalia through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). Sheikh Sabah Khaled said :”It carries a message of support from the Arab countries to Somali President, government and people.” “We appreciate the program set by the Somali President to restore security and stability to Somalia,” the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister said, noting that the Arab League will offer all forms of support “since Somalia security is part of the Arab security.”

Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for attack that killed former lawmaker, bodyguards in Mogadishu

04 Dec – Source: Sabahi Online – 186 Words

Former lawmaker Liban Abdullahi Noor and two bodyguards were killed Thursday (December 4th) in a drive-by shooting targeting the car of lawmaker Mustafa Mayow in Mogadishu. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

“The government says they have eradicated al-Shabaab from Mogadishu, but this is to show that we are here and active,” al-Shabaab spokesperson Abdiaziz Abu Musab told AFP. Gunmen in a moving car opened fire on Mayow’s vehicle and then raced off killing Noor and Mayow’s two bodyguards and wounded Mayow and another passenger.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenya’s leader receives report on combating terrorism

05 Dec – Voice of America, English – 370 Words

Kenya’s presidential spokesman says a parliamentary committee has given President Uhuru Kenyatta a report that aims to clear legal and administrative obstacles hampering the administration’s fight against violence by armed groups such as the Somali Islamist group al-Shabab. Manoah Esipisu said Kenyatta asked the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security this week to review the country’s security architecture to come up with recommendations to help clear hurdles that impede the fight against terrorism.

Esipisu said the report recommends tough measures to strengthen the government’s commitment to combat terrorism and protect civilians’ life and property. “The president asked for recommendations that would ensure there is a better if you like environment in which security agencies deal with terrorists,” said Esipisu. “The country is at war and when you are at war you need to ensure that you are in a position to combat your enemy in a way that is complete. We cannot put the lives of Kenyans in any more risk and the measures the president has received and on which he will apply his mind will be able to go a long way in dealing with some of the issues,” he said.

Kenyatta asked for the parliamentary report after the latest massacre of 36 Kenyan citizens by al-Shabab militants at a quarry in the country’s northern border region last Tuesday. Parliamentarians were scheduled to go on recess for the Christmas holidays, but Kenyatta asked the legislative body to extend its current sitting following the latest attack, according to Esipisu.

2014 immigrant man of the year

05 Dec – Source: UUTISET, Finland – 493 Words

Somali-born Aadan Ibrahim has been selected the 2014 Immigrant Man of the Year – an award distributed by the Finnish Refugee Council. The 1,000-euro prize was established in 2012 to reward deserving migrant men and to highlight the diverse immigrant community, according to the Council. The group has presented an award for Immigrant Woman of the Year since 1998.

The 2014 recipient of the Immigrant Man of the Year award – also known as the Mr. Immigrant award by the Finnish Refugee Council – was selected on the basis of his positive impact on society. The 29 year-old Somali native Aadan Ibrahim was singled out by the organisation for his work helping immigrant youth. The Vantaa resident works with the R3 association, a support group for young migrants. “By presenting this award to Ibrahim we want to remind others that even migrants with the most difficult backgrounds are working hard to participate in building our society,” said FRC head Annu Lehtinen.

Ibrahim arrived in Finland from Somalia in 1996 to escape political unrest. He was alone in Finland except for his then twenty year-old sister who had settled in Finland a few years earlier. After graduating as a youth counselor he went into the army and later began working with young immigrants in Vantaa.

Somali teen intentionally struck by SUV dies

05 Dec – Source: KCTV 5 News, Kansas – 426 Words

The family of a teen targeted in a devastating hit-and-run is calling it a hate crime. The teen who had critical injuries after the crash has died. The wreck, at Admiral Boulevard and Lydia Avenue at 5:23 p.m. Thursday, happened in a Somalian neighborhood, as the teen and several others were leaving prayer at a mosque.

A family friend says the teen’s father was the leader of the mosque. Police said the teen, either 14 or 15 years old, was standing outside a Toyota, about to get in, when the driver of an SUV appeared to intentionally swerve towards them. They said both of the boy’s legs were severed as a result. Family friends say there was an adult standing outside with him and three younger children inside the car, all of whom suffered less serious injuries.

The SUV driver ran, but was quickly caught. “I hope somebody brought him to justice because my nephew he is a good kid,” said the boy’s aunt, who gave only the name Kajdra. “He is a smart kid, he is a straight-A student, so he really doesn’t deserve what happened to him.” Others in the community said they recognize the SUV as the one once covered in anti-Quaran graffiti, driven by a man who has since been banned from Somali markets and restaurants for his rants. They showed KCTV5 a photo they took two months ago. The writing on the back window read, “Quran is a virus disease woreste [sic] than Ebola.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The notion that a divided political elite in the home country can preach unity to the Somali Diaspora is far-fetched. More than 80% of Somalis in the Diaspora fled Somalia due to prolonged instability in Somalia caused by the political class that failed to agree on how to rule Somalia after the military dictatorship was overthrown in 1991.”

Global Somali Diaspora and clan politics

05 Dec – Source: Radio RBC – 645 Words

The Somali word for Diaspora is qurbejoog . It was coined to emphasise the contribution of the Somali Diaspora to politics and economy of Somalia after state collapse. Of the ten prime ministers Somalia has had since 2000 seven are from the Somali Diaspora; the last three presidents of Puntland (2005-2014 ) are members of the Somali Diaspora. If there is one thing on which Somali Diaspora in North America, Australasia and Western Europe is united, it is the obligation to support extended families and relatives in Somalia. Beyond that, the work of Somali Diaspora organisations has been tarnished by divisive clan politics and inability to make their presence positively felt in host communities.

Global Somali Diaspora aims to unify the Somali Diaspora under the banner “Towards a Unified Somalia Diaspora Community”. If successful, GSD will unify Somaliland , Puntland, Bravanese and Arlaadi Diasporas. A Somali Diaspora group conference is exclusive to a clan and is usually attended by Somalia-based politicians through a phone-call to praise the commitment of the group members to helping clansmen and clanswomen in the homeland.

The notion that a divided political elite in the home country can preach unity to the Somali Diaspora is far-fetched. More than 80% of Somalis in the Diaspora fled Somalia due to prolonged instability in Somalia caused by the political class that failed to agree on how to rule Somalia after the military dictatorship was overthrown in 1991.

“The government must invest in, and protect, North East Province before it’s too late. The dire service provision in NEP is a scandal that should not have been allowed to persist for so long.”

Kenya: KDF must review Somalia strategy to tackle Al Shabaab

04 Dec – Source: African Argument – 1009 Words

Al-Shabaab strikes again. With the security services seemingly unable to protect Kenyans, it is time to reflect on strategy. In the commotion since last week’s brutal murder in Mandera, much ink was spilled in outrage at the hopelessness of the security services and at the callousness of absent politicians. More will no doubt now follow. But, once gain, I am sure, little attention will be paid to trying to understand the attacks themselves beyond a lazy assumption that al-Shabaab is ‘evil’ and that they want to incite religious war for the sake of it. Such attitudes will not take Kenya very far. What is al-Shabaab’s strategic goal? And what is Kenya’s strategy to counter it?

First let’s take a look at what the terrorists themselves are saying. Survivors of Westgate quoted their attackers as saying, “You are killing our people in Somalia now it is your turn.” The notice justifying the attack on Mpeketoni included as its second point, “the massacre of innocent Muslims in Somalia.” A survivor of the Mandera bus attack reported the gunmen making similar claims, and now al-Shabaab’s statement following the quarry murders states they are “a response to Kenya’s occupation of Muslim lands and their atrocities therein.”

“A journey, which normally takes less than seven hours, took us close to 10 hours because of numerous roadblocks, which are there to give us a reminder that we, Kenyan-Somalis, are still not yet Kenyans.”

Kenyan Somalis not treated like citizens

05 Dec – Source: The Star, Kenya – 1, 351 Words

I have always wanted to write about what I face, about what we — Somalis travelling from north eastern Kenya — face when coming to the capital Nairobi. In August this year, I travelled from Nairobi to Garissa to visit my family for a week. The journey from the capital to Garissa in north eastern Kenya was smooth. After my visit ended, it was time for me to bid them goodbye and travel back to Nairobi.

If you have visited Garissa town at any one time of your life, there is a bridge just before you enter the main town. That is the first police roadblock in a series of police checkpoints when exiting the town. It has become a routine for Somalis in this part of the country that every time, before entry and exit into the town, they must prove their “Kenyanness” to the men in blue staffing the area.

The bridge is not far away from Garissa. Here, you do not wait for the law enforcers to shout that you get out of the bus. It is normal for everyone to get off. When we left Garissa and reached the bridge, we all get off, everybody clutching their identity cards in their hands. Sometimes though, for a Somali, a Kenyan identification card is not enough of a proof that he or she is a Kenyan.

We line up to show our IDs to an officer. Sometimes your own ID card can betray you. The officer might judge that the picture on the ID card does not resemble you at all. Only a moment of prayer can help you. After almost half an hour of proving that we are indeed Kenyans, born and bred in this country, the driver hits the road again. The bus conductor then starts going round confirming everyone’s bus ticket. Some travelers start making stories, while some like me are dead silent, observing everybody else just to get more content for this story.

Less than two kilometers later, we arrive at the next roadblock. The police signal the bus to stop for a quick inspection. I look at the faces of my fellow commuters. They are not amused. This time, though, we do not have to get out of our seats. The “good” officers were gentle enough to climb up the bus and do what they do best. They shout, “ID mkononi,” IDs in your hands, as they enter the bus. They go round confirming everyone has an ID.

Top tweets

@Inspire_Somalia ‘The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.’#InspireSomalia

@FCONeilWigan Sadly #Somalia still bottom on Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Will it be higher next year ? http://www.transparency.org/cpi2014/results

@ElmiDhigal H.E. Sheikh Sabah Khalid Hamid Al-Sabah, the Deputy PM of Kuwait today made a historic visit to #Mogadishu #Somalia

@ReutersAfrica #Somalia‘s Al Shabaab rebels say shot down Kenyan military plane in Somalia #Kenya

@radiogarowe #Somalia: Puntland President lays foundation stone for Bossaso airport runway http://bit.ly/1I3Iy3F

@NJtweeting Construction of the new, first-class Airport by the Turkish #Somalia , we continue being hopeful for better days

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Image of the day

Dr Maman S. Sidikou arrives in Baidoa for the Inauguration of President of Interim South West Administration. Photo: AMISOM