December 8, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Six Al-Shabaab Militants Surrender In Southwestern Somalia
08 December – Source: Xinhuanet – 136 Words
Six Al-Shabaab militants on Thursday surrendered to Somali forces following an increasing assault by the militants in southern regions of the country. Al-Shabaab militants and their top officials are on the run from their hideouts after Somali National Army (SNA) backed by African Union peacekeeping forces and international partners have intensified the military operations against the group.
The militants, who were armed, surrendered to Somali national army and state forces in Dinsor district in Somalia’s Bay region, which is located in the south west of the country. “The six armed militants had weapons and one technical. They had travelled from Arabow where Al-Shabaab militants are hiding themselves,” Dinsor Commissioner Ibrahim Mohamed Shigshigow told journalists. Somali forces backed by African Union troops have been conducting operations in Lower Shabelle region pushing the militants from their main strongholds.
Key Headlines
- Six Al-Shabaab Militants Surrender In Southwestern Somalia (Xinhuanet)
- Drone Strike Kills 5 Suspected Militants (Garowe Online)
- President Farmaajo Calls For Implementation Of Deal Between Galmudug And ASWJ (Radio Dalsan)
- Uganda Starts Somalia Troop Withdrawal (Anadolu Agency)
- We Feel Like We Are Foreigners In Our Own Country (Somali Update)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Drone Strike Kills 5 Suspected Militants
07 December – Source: Garowe Online – 210 Words
At least five Al-Shabaab militants were killed in a suspected U.S. drone strike near Mogadishu, the Somalia capital on Wednesday afternoon. The US drone fired missiles and pounded a convoy carrying members of Al-Shabaab commanders traveling in Ilimey, a rebel-held area located in Lower Shabelle region, 130 Km southwest of Mogadishu.
Reliable sources in the region confirmed to Garowe Online that the airstrike killed five militants after a missile struck their vehicle. The identities of the slain Al-Shabaab members have not yet been released. “A truck carrying members of Al Shabaab was obliterated by the US drone strike, with five fighters on board, including a senior commanders, killed just before sunset,” a resident who asked not to be named, told our reporters over the phone. Ilimey lies 10Km south of Farsoley town, a main Al-Shabaab stronghold, where senior Al-Shabaab leaders are believed to be hiding out.
Al-Shabaab and Somali government did not comment on the airstrike which is the latest in series of attacks by U.S. military in the country, targeting extremists, including Pro-ISIL faction in Puntland. On 30th July, an airstrike killed Sheikh Ali Mohamed Hussein known as “Ali Jabal” former head of Al-Shabaab terror operations in Benadir region near Taratorow district, located in the same province.
President Farmaajo Calls For Implementation Of Deal Between Galmudug And ASWJ
07 December – Source: Radio Dalsan – 92 Words
Following the signature of the power-sharing deal between Galmudug and Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (ASWJ), President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo urged leaders from the two sides to genuinely implement the outcome of the power-sharing deal. He appealed to the people and leaders of Galmudug to compromise to one another and show maturity for the sake of peace and harmony in their region.
He vowed that his government will help Galmudug in reaching peace and prosperity and rebuilding its state institutions. President Farmaajo made the remarks at the deal-signing ceremony held at the Villa Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Uganda Starts Somalia Troop Withdrawal
07 December – Source: Anadolu Agency – 206 Words
Uganda has started withdrawing its troops from Somalia, where they have been fighting Al-Shabaab terrorists for 10 years, the military said Thursday. “The reduction has already started and UPDF [Uganda People’s Defence Forces] shall be in compliance by Dec. 31,” spokesman Brig. Richard Karemire told Anadolu Agency. He said 281 soldiers would leave Somalia by the end of the year. Uganda was the first country to deploy troops under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in March 2007, according to the mission’s website.
It has provided all four AMISOM commanders and has the largest contingent of troops more than 6,200 soldiers based in Mogadishu and the Middle and Lower Shabelle regions. It has also sent hundreds of police officers to the conflict-torn country. The withdrawal is being carried out under UN Security Council plans for troop-contributing countries to replace military units with police.
The plan calls for AMISOM personnel numbers to be cut to 20,626 by October 2018 as Somali security forces shoulder the work of combating terrorism. Karemire said the gradual handover of security responsibilities would be “in tandem with the capacity-building of the Somali National Forces.” Troops from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Sierra Leone make up the AMISOM force.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Yes, there are definitely some moments where roadblocks are necessary to use, for instance when there is high level conference/summit in the city or when hosting foreign head of states. That can be accepted with prior public announcement being made by the government so that people are informed about it.”
We Feel Like We Are Foreigners In Our Own Country
06 December – Source: Somali update – 862 Words
We live in a country where the rights of ordinary citizens are denied, disrespected and sometimes brutally violated. For those who would be angry for what I am about to say you need to read the following Article 21 in our constitution which says “Every person lawfully residing within the territory of the Federal Republic of Somalia has the right to freedom of movement, freedom to choose their residence, and freedom to leave the country.”
As civilians living and working in Mogadishu, too many obstacles are placed upon us, we face difficulties in our own city, we sometimes feel like we are foreigners in our own country when you look at the way the security forces mistreat us, the one who were supposed to protect us. In Mogadishu, We, the civilians, are banned from using certain streets and roads not because we are threats or because we are foreigners but simply because we don’t have government Identity Card.
Is it possible that the 3 million people living in Mogadishu have government ID? If you are student for example or health professional or teacher or even any other ordinary person you will not have access to some streets in the city even if you show your work ID card to the security forces. In fact it seems that the security forces were commanded not to allow anyone expect the government ID holders to pass those streets. It even seems that they were specifically instructed to check if the ID card has the national symbol or the ‘coat of arms of Somalia’. They don’t care what is written on it because they either cannot read it or don’t have the will to read it.
The use of the “national security threat” to justify the denial of these roads is unacceptable because it is the responsibility of the government as duty bearer to balance the rights of its citizens and at the same time protect them from harm without violating their basic rights. Yes there are some serious circumstance in our country that could cost lives of hundreds but the way the government is handling is miserable and it doesn’t help protecting its citizens.
In 2016, my friend and I wanted to visit another friend living near the airport but the security forces at KM4 area refused us to pass the airport street because we didn’t had government ID. I showed my work ID and the man who seemed to be former armed militiamen wearing government uniform said to me “this is not allowed, do you have government ID card?” “No” I said “Because I don’t work for government, how am I supposed to have one?” I replied. “Then go back to where you came from” he said.
We tried to reason with him but the next move he made was pointing his gun toward us! We made U-turn without saying a word. Later on, I was told that if you have government ID card you are cleared by default to pass any road in Mogadishu even if you are not government staff. It is worth mentioning that some people who are not working for the government have already managed to get the IDs through various channels, probably through their Godfathers inside the system.