February 1, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Potential suicide bomber seized by security officials at Mogadishu’s airport

31 Jan – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 251 words

Somali National Security Agency has on Tuesday publicly displayed a would-be suicide bomber in the capital Mogadishu after arresting him in one of the government manned districts of the capital. 20 year old Ismail Ahmed Yusuf was arrested by the special wing of the Somali security agency. The young man said that he was destined to carry out an attack on a government base after being brainwashed by the al Shabaab.

The head of the security affairs at the Aden Adde International Airport told SONNA that the young man was to carry out a suicide attack inside the airport as instructed by the al Shabaab but the forces pounced on him before the act. “The al Shabaab sent me on mission to assess the airport before the actual suicide attack. The al Shabaab brainwashed me and told me that i will enter paradise after committing suicide” Ismail told journalists.

Most of the youths who have surrendered to the government have been taken to a rehabilitation center run by the Somali government where the youths will also have an opportunity to undertake quality training to better their lives. The Somali Transitional Federal Government of Somalia has extended amnsety period previously given to al Shabaab extremist’s fighters to defect.

In December 2011, 50 al Shabaab fighters defected in one day and was the largest number of al Shabaab fighters to have ever surrendered to the Somali government within a day. Al Shabaab extremist’s increased recruiting young teenagers to fight for them since February 2011 when government forces launched heavy operations in the capital, Mogadishu, southern and central regions of Somalia.

Key Headlines

Somalia’s Prime Minister Meets with Italian minister of Internal Affairs ( Radio Mogadishu OPM )
President Sharif says sorry to Somaliland for past “mistakes” (Radio Bar-kulan)
Nunow: Somali parliament will not attend London conference (Radio Risaala)
UK pledges more support to Somalia (Africa Review)
Somalia’s CID probes murder of Shabelle Media Network director (Shabelle)
Potential suicide bomber seized by security officials at Mogadishu’s airport (Radio Mogadishu SONNA)
Somali PM meets Italian Defence minister IFAD director and addressed Rome 3 students (Radio Mogadishu OPM)
400 Somali students to receive religious education in Turkey ( Today Zaman)
Al Shabaab claim responsibility for suicide bombing in central Somalia ( Mareeg Online)

PRESS RELEASE

Somalia’s Prime Minister Meets with Italian minister of Internal Affairs

01 Feb – Source: Radio Mogadishu, OPM – 209 words

The Somalia Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali met with the internal minister of Italy Annamaria Cancellieri while in Rome after receiving official invitation from his Italian counterpart. The two leaders meeting focused on issues such as security and how the two country’s internal ministries could work together.

Premier Abdiweli thanked the minister for her warm reception. On her part, Annamaria Cancellieri commended the work of the premier and the progress made on security issues and the revival of the hope the international community had on Somalia.

The two leaders finally agreed that the Somali police force and the Italian police force will work together and would sign an agreement where Italy will provide the necessary logistical help and standardization of the Somali police force.

Setting up administrations and a sense of authority in the areas liberated from al Shabaab was also among the issue the two leaders agreed. Fighting piracy and forming naval army to guard the coast of Somalia from the menace of pirates was also discussed by Dr. Abdiweli and Annamaria Cancellieri.

One measure of fighting piracy, as stated by Dr. Abdiweli and Annamaria Cancellieri, is to create development projects to help the youth to engage themselves. Finally Annamaria Cancellieri agreed to help Somalia on the national security plan.

SOMALI MEDIA

President Sharif says sorry to Somaliland for past “mistakes”

01 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 143 words

Somalia’s president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has apologized for any past mistakes committed by the southerners against northern, now the breakaway region of Somaliland, before the country plunged in to chaos early in 1990s. President Sharif was speaking at a colourful ceremony held at Benadir’s regional Headquarters to mark the third anniversary of his presidency.

He said his government is committed to mend the relations between the south and the north to bring together the entire Somali population. He added that his government supports the prevailing relative peace and other developments in Somaliland. Somaliland has unilaterally declared its independence from the rest of Somalia after the fall of Somalia’s central government.

Meanwhile, the president said he will try all means possible to end the current political impasse in the parliament and promised a reward for individuals or groups who will take parts in that process.

Nunow: Somali parliament will not attend London conference

31 Jan – Source: Radio Risaala – 78 words

Madobe Nunow Mohamed has on Monday said that the Somali parliament will not attend the London conference, noting that the Somali government is authorized to attend such meetings that take place outside the country. Addressing lawmakers in Mogadishu, Nunow stressed that the Somali Interim Federal Constitution states that the government of Somalia has the mandate to participate in the conferences and external meetings, in which the outcome of those conferences should be tabled in Parliament for debate.

Potential suicide bomber seized by security officials at Mogadishu’s airport

31 Jan – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 251 words

“The al Shabaab sent me on mission to assess the airport before the actual suicide attack. The al Shabaab brainwashed me and told me that i will enter paradise after committing suicide” Ismail told journalists.

Somalia’s CID probes murder of Shabelle Media Network director

01 Feb – Source: Shabelle – 150 words

The criminal investigation department (CID) of the Somalia’s Transitional Federal government has announced Wednesday that it is investigating the killing of Shabelle Media Network director Hassan Osman Abdi.

The chief of CID and the Somali police spokesman Abdullahi Hassan Barise who made the comments during an interview with Shabelle Media, said that they would leave no stone unturned to bring to justice the perpetrators. He expressed hope to nab the killers of the late director of Shabelle Media as soon as possible.

Mr Barise urged residents to help police in the case of Mr. Abdi who was shot dead by unknown gunmen on Saturday evening after arriving home from Radio Shabelle. Hassan Osman Abdi, 29, was a father of three, a leading journalist and director of the Shabelle Media Network, a private Radio and Television Network based in the lawless capital, Mogadishu-Somalia.

Somali PM meets Italian Defence minister, IFAD director and addressed Rome 3 students

01 Feb – Source: Radio Mogadishu, OPM – 217 words

Somali premier Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali held talks with the defence minister of Italy. The premier has been on an official visit to Italy where he was honoured with an official invitation by his Italian counterpart. Gianpaolo Di Paola and Dr. Abdiweli discussed key issues including the security matters of Somalia, the current state of the country and how the ministries of the two countries could team up for common good.

Dr. Abdiweli briefed the defence minister on the immense progress made on security including the liberation of Mogadishu, the Juba regions, Gedo region and Beledweyn, the progress on the National Security and Stabilization Plan and the greater efforts and operations to flush out al Shabaab from the country.

Defence minister Gianpaolo Di Paola welcomed the Somali prime minister stating that Italy government is keen on Somali issues and will help in anyway. Gianpaolo thanked Dr. Abdiweli for the tremendous and outstanding progress on security issues as well as collaborating with regional administration, reconciliation efforts, the drafting of the constitution and the implementation of the roadmap.

The two leaders agreed they will closely work together and that Italy will help the Somali army militarily including training of soldiers, energise and enliven the Somali Air Force, rebuild the Somali army and national security plan. Gianpaolo said he is happy to see the two ministries work together.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Mohamed Ali met with the director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Kanayo F. Nawanze and discussed on how to revitalise the relations between Somalia and IFAD, create development projects. The meeting was organised by the Somali ambassador to FAO Dr. Ibrahim Haji. Present at the meeting were the assistant minister for defence Atoosh, Somalia’s ambassador to Italy Nur Adde and other officials.

IFAD director thanked the Somalia Prime Minister, adding that IFAD will be more than ready to help Somalia on development projects in agriculture and fisheries. Kanayo stated that Somalia is owed 20 million and they are in consultations with Saudi Arabia on ways to repay the debt.

On similiar development, Premier Abdiweli addressed the Rome 3 students. Abdiweli stressed the importance of good governance and creation of government institutions in any governmental set up. He made an analogy of some Asian and African countries where outstanding developments were achieved. Consolidating the developments and progress made in Somalia will go a long way in achieving good governance and lasting peace in Somalia, the premier reiterated.

Al Shabaab claim responsibility for suicide bombing in central Somalia

01 Feb – Source: Mareeg Online – 97 words

Al Shabaab has claimed the responsibility for the suicide bombing in central Somalia. The Spokesman of al Shabaab militia Abdi-Aziz Abu Mus’ab “said that the suicide bomber was among the al Shabaab fighters, and will not stop the fighting against our enemy”.

“A man wearing an explosive vest blew himself up after he was stopped by security guards” as he tried to enter the main gate at the house of Abdi Qeybdid, a senior militia commander in the central Somali regional state of Galmudug.

Overnight attack kills one, injures others in Mogadishu

01 Feb – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 91 words

At least one person has ben killed in an overnight attack in Mogadishu’s Gedjayl village. Witnesses say at least one person was killed and two others wounded after unknown gunmen attacked a crowd at the area.

The attack caused the death and the injuries of mainly youths, said Abdi Moalim, an eyewitness. Reports say the gangs immediately fled the scene of the fatal incident. No one has claimed the responsibility of the attack. Villages in the capital Mogadishu are coming under attack since the withdrawal of al Shabaab fighters in earlier last August in 2011.

Somalia: Galmudug security forces detain 5 suspects over assassination

01 Feb – Source: Shabelle – 141 words

The security forces of Somalia’s Galmudug state in central Somalia have reportedly detained at least five suspects over the attempted assassination of former Somali warlord yesterday in Galka’yo town.

Reports say the forces launched major operations early hours on Wednesday morning in parts of the divided and fragile town of Galka’yo in central Somalia, in which they arrested five suspects of a suicide attack attempt to kill Gen.Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdid in his home town yesterday. Five people were killed, including three bodyguards and two civilians.

Mr. Qeybdid accused al Shabaab militants of being behind such attacks. Mr. Qeybdid, a former Mogadishu warlord arrived at Galka’yo few months ago to mediate dispute between Galmudug state and Puntland administration over the insecurity of the divided town of Galka’yo, the capital city of Mudug region in central Somalia.

Somaliland: President Meets Danish Development Cooperation Minister

31 Jan – Source: Somaliland Press – 178 words

Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo met with Danish Development Cooperation Minister Christian Friis Bach in his office today. According to a press release from the President’s office the meeting took place at the president’s office.

President Silanyo welcomed the Danish delegation headed by Christian Bach the Development Cooperation Minister and said Somaliland’s strong bilateral relationship has made Denmark one of the top donor countries that provide support to Somaliland on the areas of social progress and development. Speaking at the meeting, Danish Development Cooperation Minister lauded Somaliland’s progress in key areas of tranquillity, human rights, development and stability the key role that it can play in the region.

He reiterated that his government remains committed to increase the assistance that it provides to Somaliland in a bid to improve the human life in the areas of social progress. Mr. Christian further commented that Somaliland achieved the advance of democracy and security in a hostile and challenging region and called on Somaliland government to strengthen the system of governance in the country.

REGIONAL MEDIA

UK pledges more support to Somalia

31 Jan – Source: Africa Review – 212 words

British will extend more support to Somalia, an official said. Mr Andrew Mitchell, the UK International Development Secretary, said while on a visit to Garowe, the capital of the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, that conditions in Somalia ought to be changed by tackling the causes of the current problems. Prior to moving to Garowe, about 1,000km north of Mogadishu on Monday, Mr Mitchell had visited Gedo region in Southern Somalia.

“Britain will increase its own aid efforts focused on the underlying issues affecting the region over the next three years,” stated Mr Mitchell. The British-supported aid programmes will include more police training, a stronger judicial system and youth employment.

Britain, said Mr Mitchell, envisaged to double its contribution towards the resolution of the internal hostilities in Somalia as well as the strengthening of the police force. “Alongside this, support for job creation and economic development will also double, creating 45,000 jobs across Somalia by 2015,” indicated the UK Secretary.

Britain will provide resources to be used for the collection of weapons from private hands, an exercise envisaged to benefit 3.4 million people. British Prime Minister David Cameron, is expected to hold a conference in London on February 23 on how the international community might support progress towards peace and stability in Somalia.

Hired guns can help to tackle threat of piracy, says British minister

01 Feb – Source: National – 469 words

Private security contractors could play a valuable role in countering maritime piracy, the British minister for Africa said during a visit to the UAE yesterday. The number of companies offering antipiracy training and protection has soared in recent years due to the rise of the threat, although not without controversy. As long as they are closely regulated, contracted security could be useful at sea and on land in Somalia, said the British minister, Henry Bellingham.

Some companies have sought deals with Somalia’s regional governments to train local law enforcement officials, while others have placed armed guards aboard ships to ward off pirates. Many companies are registered in Britain and staffed by former military personnel from the UK, US and other countries.

The trend has generated debate in shipping, defence and government circles, with some backing the need for effective protection and others fearing the lack of regulation and the threat of escalating violence. Mr Bellingham expressed confidence in the companies.

He said they were “setting the highest possible standards” and that British companies – some contracted by his government – were “carefully regulated”. He believes they fulfil security needs while the Somali authorities lack the ability to control their waters or crack down on piracy.
“You can’t just build a navy overnight, and it presupposes you have the facilities for training,” he said. “In the meantime, there is a role for private security companies.”

Kenya war on terror claims officer

31 Jan – Source: Daily Nation – 439 words

A Kenya Army officer who played a leading role at the military parade during the promulgation of the new Constitution has died in action in Somalia. Lieutenant Kevin Webi of the 1st Battalion Kenya Rifles was the Color Officer during the Trooping of the Color parade at Uhuru Park on August 27, 2010.He performed the same role at Nyayo Stadium during the first Jamhuri Day celebrations after the promulgation of the Constitution, on December 12, 2010.

Lt Webi, who was buried on Tuesday at Ndalala village in Kapomboi Location in Trans-Nzoia county, was killed on January 22 alongside a fellow officer, Lt Edward Juma Okoyo, during an operation that led to the capture of Delbio, a key centre used by al Shabaab.

Lt Okoyo had only recently married wife Doreen Magak on December 17 at Arya Primary School in Kisumu. The couple enjoyed a honeymoon at Sunset Hotel for three days before he left for the battlefront. He hailed from Kasipul Kabondo.

UAE minister backs improving Somalia’s justice system to fight pirates

01 Feb – Source: National – 205 words

The UAE assistant minister of security has backed calls for a new international system to make it easier to bring pirates to justice.Faris Al Mazrouei, the assistant minister for security and military affairs at the ministry of foreign affairs, said at today’s meeting of a six-nation Contact Group that he hoped a programme could be agreed on, to help Somalia improve its justice system.

He told the meeting of senior security officials from Italy, the US, Denmark, UK, Egypt, and Netherlands that “as a maritime nation, the UAE is united in its concern at the threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia”. Representatives are expected to present and discuss recent developments in their anti-piracy efforts.

Mr Al Mazrouei said the UAE’s priorities were in the fields of public awareness and outreach, increasing “compassionate” support to Somalia, enhancing the region’s capacity to respond to piracy, and highlighting the role of education in countering piracy.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

400 Somali students to receive religious education in Turkey

31 Jan – Source: Today Zaman – 191 words

A total of 400 students from famine-stricken Somalia will come to Turkey on Thursday for religious education. The Directorate of Religious Affairs and the Turkish Religious Affairs Foundation (TDV) will bring 400 students, 100 of whom are female, from Somalia to Turkey on Thursday to receive Islamic education through Quran courses and in imam-hatip high schools. After these students receive religious training, they will return to Somalia to officiate religious services.

Ä°smail PalakoÄŸlu, deputy director of the foundation, called the project one of Turkey’s most important initiatives for the Somali people. “Three months ago, we conducted interviews with 3,000 students from all over Somalia. Four hundred students were then selected to study in Turkey,” he said.According to the Yeni Åžafak daily, the foundation will pay for 50 male students to study in the Ondokuz MayÄ±s University’s theology department in Samsun.

PalakoÄŸlu said 50 female students will receive scholarships to enroll in Quran courses in Ä°stanbul. They will receive religious training as well as education in the Turkish language and culture. Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄŸlu said Turkey has collected TL 538.2 million in funds to fight the hunger crisis in Somalia.

Bahrain Contributes to Second Development Project in Somalia, Eases Needs of Famine Victims

31 Jan – Source: Reuters – 138 words

Yesterday, Bahrain signed a $1.5 milliondeal to provide a teachers’ institute for Somalia, marking Bahrain’s second major contribution toward improving conditions in the country.

Last November, Bahrain donated funding for the Bahrain Specialist Hospital in Mogadishu to help restore eyesight to 1,000 Somalis and also extended 200 tons of emergency relief aid to the country. Yesterday, in cooperation with Islamic Relief Worldwide, the Bahrain Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) agreed to a new development project—this time in the education field.

Somali Education Minister Edid Ibrahim thanked Bahrain for its generosity and noted that Bahrain has long been a leader in relief efforts worldwide.At the signing, Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the RCO Board of Trustees, reaffirmedBahrain’s commitment to supporting Somalia through humanitarian initiatives and to helping improve standards of living at home and abroad.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“This conference would offer Somaliland a unique platform to present its case to the international community and an opportunity to stress to the world that ignoring Somaliland far too long would be exceedingly detrimental to the peace, security and the stability of the entire region. This is also an opportunity to embarrass the Somali representatives from Somalia in failing to uphold the interest of their own suffering people a head of their own selfish and personal interests, as well as to underline their failure to address the root causes of their protracted conflict”

What would Somaliland Gain from the Upcoming London Conference on Somalia?

31 Jan – Source: Somaliland press Opinion – 925 Words

Recently, world renowned special representatives and diplomats had been seen pouring into Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland with an especial request and invitation to vivaciously contribute to the upcoming London Conference on Somalia. The intend of this conference is no less than a strong endeavor by the international community to find an effective approach to the enduring “Somalia Problem”. The main discussions are expected to centre on around various issues including, but not limited to the piracy crisis, terrorism, enduring civil war, drought & other humanitarian crisis, the prolonged political impasses of the weak TFG, and the lack of democracy and effective governance in Somalia.

This is not a new approach, but rather an attempt to maneuver and redirect previous efforts that failed to yield workable progress after decades of ill advised and poorly conceived international interventions. Despite early multilateral and international approaches to the “Somalia Problem”, involving both energy and huge sum of international aid, solutions remain illusive and Somalia has only managed to further digress politically, socially, and economically into oblivion with no clear direction of where it is heading aside from remaining a failed state.

“It is imperative to underline three particular facts. First, threats that have been emanating from Somalia are currently in declining trend. Second, these threats are symptoms, not the core problems. Third, political instability and underdeveloped and mal-equipped security apparatus are the real problems.”

TFG’s Position Paper on the London Conference

31 Jan – Source: SomaliaOnline Forum

The United Kingdom government has recently announced a conference on the Situation in Somalia to be held on February 23, 2012 in London. Subsequently, certain statements were made by British officials to pave the way for the said conference. The British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said: “Somalia poses significant threats to international security, as a base for terrorists and pirates who threaten the security and prosperity of people around the world.” Furthermore, British Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued a statement calling Somalia a “failed state that directly threatens British interests.”

“The reality of Italy’s cynical role in Somalia is clear from documents made available to Parliament by the Italian Foreign Ministry. They show that Italy sponsored 114 projects in Somalia between 1981 and 1990, spending more than a billion dollars. With few exceptions (such as a vaccination program carried out by non-government organizations), the Italian ventures were absurd and wasteful.”

The Italian Connection: How Rome Helped Ruin Somalia

1 Feb – Source: Halbeeg Opinion – 1726 Words

The agony of Somalia has its roots in the endemic political corruption of Italy. Throughout the 1980s, Italian politicians and businessmen used the country, once a colony of Italy’s, as a playground for huge construction projects that either did little to help the local population or actually disrupted and damaged Somalian society.

“Italy is definitely responsible for the tribal warfare and the genocide in Somalia,” says Francesco Rutelli, a congressman for the environmentalist Green Party, which has played a leading role in exposing what has become a scandal in Italy. The United States, while not deeply involved in Somalia, was well aware of what was going on. Two U.S. ambassadors to Rome, Maxwell Rabb III and Peter Secchia, relayed Washington’s approval of Italian policy in the Horn of Africa in the late 1980s, according to Western diplomats and Italian officials.

Global Disposition of Somali Diaspora

31 Jan – Source: Soobax blog

If you needed more proof of the global disposition of the Somali diaspora then read the story of Ahmed Dini who formed the Australian Somali Football Association (ASFA) which has drawn countless spectators. The success of ASFA prompted the Australian Football Federation of Victoria to incorporate the championships into its ‘United through Football’ program. Despite enduring the challenges of living in a refugee camp as a young boy, Ahmed Dini, still only 24, has become a leader in Australia’s Somali community. He has galvanised Somalis through events and initiatives that provide significant support to their community thus becoming a strong voice and influential advocate. His efforts earned him Australians Local Hero Award for 2012. Read about his feature on Australia’s The Age here. Be Inspired! Be Positive! Be Somali!

Top tweets

@Abdihalim115 The world especially the western countries have now turned their attention to Somalia, when they have previously contributed its downfall.

@guardianworld “Mogadishu was one of the most beautiful cities in Africa. Now it’s one big refugee camp” Somalia dispatch by @clarnic gu.com/p/355cc/tw

@SomaliaReport Rumors of Sheikh Aweys’ arrest appear to be just that: rumors. #somalia

@IdiAuslander Left my home in Mogadishu decades ago by political force, & will continue to wander the streets of earth, till I find her again.#Xamarcadeey

@CostasPhotos Camel herders in #Somalia. They walk all day and live off of their camel’s milk. Amazing lifestyle! @lonelyplanet flic.kr/p/bituMH

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Image of the day Somali Women carry flags in Mogadishu to celebrate the 3rd anniversary since Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was elected Somali President.