February 11, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Mortar Attack Targets Somali Mogadishu Airport
11 February – Source: Daily Sabah/AFP – 245 Words
Insurgents in Mogadishu fired “several” rounds of mortar shells on Thursday targeting Somali capital’s airport, witnesses said. Heavy explosions could be heard overnightWednesday by residents in neighborhoods close to the airport, with official sources there confirming the attack. There were no confirmed reports of any casualties, but some flights were reportedly cancelled on Thursday morning. Mogadishu airport is heavily fortified and adjoins the capital’s main base of the African Union mission to Somalia, the 22,000-strong force backing the government in the battle against the extremist Shebab insurgents.
The base also houses United Nations offices, aid agencies, foreign embassies and diplomatic missions. “There was a mortar attack against the airport last night, several rounds of mortar shells landed,” said Bashir Hussein, who lives close to the airport. Mohamed Abdalla, another witness, confirmed there were several loud explosions. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have carried out a string of similar bombings in the past.
Investigations continue into a bomb blast on a Somali passenger plane on February 2. The explosion ripped a hole in the fuselage of a Daallo Airlines plane shortly after it took off from Somalia’s main airport, killing the suspected bomber and forcing an emergency landing. The blast punched a one-meter (three-foot) hole in the side of the Airbus A321 about 15 minutes after it had taken off from Mogadishu. At least 15 people have been arrested in connection with the airplane attack.
Key Headlines
- Mortar Attack Targets Somali Mogadishu Airport (Daily Sabah)
- International Community Delegation Set To Leave Garowe After Failing To Convince Puntland Over 4.5 Decision (Wacaal Media)
- Security Operations In Bay Region Nets Suspects (Goobjoog News)
- Arab League Pledges More Support For Somalia As Premier Sharmarke Hosts High Level Delegation(Wacaal Media)
- Suspected Suicide Bomber Traded Seats Before Somali Plane Blast Airline CEO Says (ABC News)
- MPs Discuss Al-Shabaab Attack On KDF Troops In Somalia (Daily Nation)
- Somalia To Rebuild Its Navy To Curb Illegal Fishing (Xinhua)
- Puntland Is Experiencing A Crisis Of Leadership Not An Electoral Dispute With The Federal Government(RBC Radio)
NATIONAL MEDIA
International Community Delegation Set To Leave Garowe After Failing To Convince Puntland Over 4.5 Decision
11 February – Source: Wacaal Media – 188 Words
An International delegation that was in Garowe the past few days is today set to leave the city after failing to convince Puntland State over the decision to use 4.5 in the coming Somalia elections. In a press briefing, UN special envoy to Somalia Amb. Michael Keating said they met the government and its people with a united and shared stand over the outcome of the national consultative forum and that the delegation found it hard to convince them over 4.5.
Keating is set to hold a final round of discussions with the President of Puntland government Dr. Abdiweli Gas before leaving for Mogadishu later in the day. Puntland favored district and geographical representation in the consultative forums. As a result, when the Federal government announced to have settled for 4.5, Puntland State distanced itself from the decision saying it was against the wishes of its people. The state said 4.5 was derogatory as it places people in different classes according to tribal strengths. It added the electoral model was a recipe for human right violations and allows for trashing of minority rights.
Security Operations In Bay Region Nets Suspects
11 February – Source: Goobjoog News – 95 Words
Coordinated security operation by Somali National Forces and AMISOM troops in several villages and districts in Bay region netted at least twenty suspects. The operation started this Thursday in the early hours after intelligence tipoff indicated the presence of Al-Shabab members in the area. Military sources confirmed the arrest of at least twenty people and said they are trying to identify Al-Shabab members from the arrested people. Southwest State security forces, Somali National Army and AMISOM troops previously launched a number of operation meant to degrade Al-Shabab fighters in Southwest State regions.
Arab League Pledges More Support For Somalia As Premier Sharmarke Hosts High Level Delegation
11 February – Source: Wacaal Media – 139 Words
The Federal Government Of Somalia hailed the contribution of the Arab league towards Somalia’s governance and reconstruction efforts. Speaking after hosting in his Mogadishu office a high level delegation from the Arab League led by Head of the league’s African members Amb. Zaid Al Sabban, Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke welcomed the delegation to Mogadishu and thanked the Arab League for always standing with Somalia.
Prime Minister Sharmarke told the press after the meeting that the two sides discussed wide ranging issues of concern to both countries and agreed on modalities to foster relations between Somalia and the Arab League. The premier was flanked by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Mohamed Ali – Kediye On their side, the delegation assured Somalia of the League’s continued support. Amb. Zaid pledged support for vision 2016 which also includes the upcoming elections.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Suspected Suicide Bomber Traded Seats Before Somali Plane Blast, Airline CEO Says
11 February – Source: ABC News – 349 Words
The man authorities believe may have smuggled a bomb onto a Daallo Airlines jet in Somalia last week apparently traded seats with another passenger before the blast, airline CEO Mohammed Ibrahim Yassin told ABC News. The passenger was originally sitting in a window seat, but agreed to move to the aisle when the suspected bomber, identified by Somali officials as Abdullahi Abdisalam Borleh, asked to switch, according to Yassin, who spoke with the passenger.
Just a quarter of an hour later, shortly after takeoff, the bomb — which authorities believe may have been concealed in a laptop — exploded, ripping a hole in the fuselage and sucking Borleh’s burned body out of the Airbus 321. As the cabin lost pressure and flight attendants herded frightened travelers to the back of the plane, the pilot made an emergency landing in Mogadishu.
MPs Discuss Al-Shabaab Attack On KDF Troops In Somalia
11 February – Source: Daily Nation – 267 Words
The National Assembly Wednesday evening discussed the January 15 attack on a Kenya Defence Forces camp in El-Adde, Somalia in which an unknown number of soldiers were killed. The discussion was, however, held in camera after Speaker Justin Muturi ruled that it was a matter of national security, using a rarely used provision in the Standing Orders for a matter to be handled in a closed sitting.
Saku MP Colonel (Rtd) Ali Dido Rasso asked the Speaker to allow the House to sweep aside all business at5.30pm to discuss the attack under provisions that allow the postponement of all business to discuss a matter of national importance. Mr Muturi said Col Rasso had approached him before the sitting in the required manner and then ordered that the discussion take place at 5.30pm, at which time the galleries were cleared and the sitting was closed to the public and the press.
Somalia To Rebuild Its Navy To Curb Illegal Fishing
11 February – Source: Xinhua – 198 Words
Somalia will rebuild its Navy to protect the country’s territorial waters and marine resources and ward off illegal foreign fishing entities, Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arte has said. The deputy premier said on Wednesday the Navy will play a critical role in securing the country’s marine resources which have been encroached for many years by trawlers owing to lack of a strong marine force.
“It is the responsibility of our marine forces to ensure our marine territory and all resources thereof are protected from any illegal fishing. We will therefore invest in rebuilding the naval forces so that it can handle this task effectively,” said Arte in Mogadishu during the 51st anniversary celebrations of the Somalia Navy.
His remarks come amid concerns that piracy in the Somali waters may make a comeback following increased illegal fishing by international trawlers. A report released by U.S. based Secure Fisheries last year pointed to increased illegal trawling with little intervention from the Somali government. The report noted that foreign boats were hauling in three times more than Somali fishermen — an estimated 132,000 metric tons of fish each year compared to Somalia’s catch of 40,000 metric tons.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“If we assume that the position of President Abdiweli Gaas is that he will not accept the decision of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) on the electoral process for 2016, then isn’t it clear that the President has failed in influencing key stakeholders of alternative options?”
Puntland Is Experiencing A Crisis Of Leadership, Not An Electoral Dispute With The Federal Government
11 February – Source: RBC Radio – 725 Words
A member of the diplomatic (international) community recently shared a frustration with me asserting, we are in disbelief of President Abdiweli Gaas; the guy is indecisive. What is more appalling is his weakness to lead. We are no longer sure whom to consult with on matters pertaining to Puntland. In fact, we have asked him if it was Faroole [Former President] or Ali Haji [opposition leader] because he [Abdiweli] doesn’t exercise this responsibility.
Leadership can be defined in so many ways. But, for the purposes of this article, we shall settle on the concept that leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses. In other words, leaders take charge of their sworn responsibilities, admit their failures/shortcomings, and never blame others for their failures. Ultimately, it all starts with leadership. In this short article, I will underscore why Puntland is experiencing a crisis of leadership, not an internal crisis nor a dispute with Mogadishu over the electoral process.
Over the last two years, we have followed the predicaments Puntland has faced. The first recognized Federal Member State has experienced one misfortune after another threatening its pillars of stability and progress. To note a few; the first-ever bombing in Garowe, the violence/war in Galkayo, mismanagement of public finances, declining morale of the Armed Forces, the domination of Sool region by Somaliland, weak negotiations on the electoral process, and the recent violence/protests in Bossaso. All of these problems have one common denominator.
TOP TWEETS
@paul_okonji : Al Shabaab Planning to Commit Atrocities & Blame it on AMISOM, warns #AU Special Representative to#Somalia #Africa
@Omaar_nor : BREAKING: #SNA & #AMISOM push#Alshabaab out of key village near #Mahaday town in middle Shabelle region. #Somalia.
@ACAPSproject : #Somalia: Three people #killed by #carbombin #Mogadishu and one #killed in #aerialbombing. More at:http://geo.acaps.org
@Vatescorp : #Kenya: MPs debate #alShabaab attack on KDF troops in #Somalia http://ow.ly/Ycdib
@RadioErgo : #Somalia: Gedo pastoralists see decline in essential milk products http://bit.ly/1o5fUtB #Gedo
@MAP_Puntland : #Somalia Media fraternity already suffer gross #impunity on crimes against journalist and will not accept any more
@Mados7Mohamed : Federal President Hassan & so-called state Presidents like Abdiweli Gas are obstacle to functioning govt in #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
A match between young Somali and Saudi Arabia kids in Qatar
Photo: @SalahOsman0