February 12, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Fact finding mission to reach Baidoa town
12 Feb – Source: RBC – 137 words
A fact finding delegation comprising the African Union, IGAD and the United Nations Office for Somalia “UNSOM” are planning to visit Baidoa town of Bay region where rival opposition groups are striving to establish opposing regional states, RBC reports.
Representative from the Federal Government of Somalia will be part of the Fact Finding Mission which is anticipated to visit Baidoa soon.
The joint delegation will meet and listen the views of the rival groups who have been holding two separate conferences aimed at forming the new Southwestern Somalia State which one group want to represent six regions and the other wishes to represent only three regions.
The Mission will then focus on possible solution for the widely disputed conferences and the formation of the Southwestern State which is expected to be headquartered in the town of Baidoa.
The rival conferences led by rival MPs and politicians have had an impact on the security of Baidoa last week as AMISOM forces in the town attempted to stop one of the two rival meetings which prompted to local appraisal. The two rival conferences remain continue in Baidoa with each side claiming to form its own regional state.
Key Headlines
- Security agency to operate emergency call centres in Mogadishu districts (Radio Mogadishu)
- Fact finding mission to reach Baidoa town (RBC)
- Court in Hargeisa convicts two youngsters guilty of terrorism putting security in jeopardy (Somaliland Informer)
- Somali National Security Agency to undertake significant changes (Radio Shabelle)
- Puntland Military court sentences alleged al Shabaab member to life imprisonment (Garowe/Hiiran Online)
- Al Shabaab ambush AMISOM base in Mogadishu (Somali Current)
- Puntland security minister attends large gathering on security (Raxanreeb)
- U.S. warns of “terrorist threat” to Ugandan capital(Reuters)
SOMALI MEDIA
Security agency to operate emergency call centres in Mogadishu districts
12 Feb – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Hiiraan Online – 163 words
The Security Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Abdikarin Hussein Guled has said that the security agency will operate emergency call centres for Mogadishu districts to upgrade neighborhood watch.
Mr. Guled has declared the new initiative during a public meeting with different segments of Mogadishu society including Women, Elders and religious men. “We are from today, creating emergency call centres for the districts of Mogadishu to increase the security watch in the capital.” The minister noted.
Calling the people to participate in security watching, the minister said that it will not help better security if the people are afraid or reluctant to give information regarding insecurity activities going in the neighborhoods.
“It is not a matter of shy or afraid, you must work closely with the security agency.’ the minister encouraged. The meeting was part of series of meetings focused on the growing insecurity activities in Somalia capital which the minister and other security officials attended within the past two weeks.
Fact finding mission to reach Baidoa town
12 Feb – Source: RBC – 137 words
A fact finding delegation comprising the African Union, IGAD and the United Nations Office for Somalia “UNSOM” are planning to visit Baidoa town of Bay region where rival opposition groups are striving to establish opposing regional states, RBC reports.
Representative from the Federal Government of Somalia will be part of the Fact Finding Mission which is anticipated to visit Baidoa soon.
The joint delegation will meet and listen the views of the rival groups who have been holding two separate conferences aimed at forming the new Southwestern Somalia State which one group want to represent six regions and the other wishes to represent only three regions.
The Mission will then focus on possible solution for the widely disputed conferences and the formation of the Southwestern State which is expected to be headquartered in the town of Baidoa.
The rival conferences led by rival MPs and politicians have had an impact on the security of Baidoa last week as AMISOM forces in the town attempted to stop one of the two rival meetings which prompted to local appraisal. The two rival conferences remain continue in Baidoa with each side claiming to form its own regional state.
Court in Hargeisa convicts two youngsters guilty of terrorism, putting security in jeopardy
12 Feb – Source: Somaliland Informer – 105 words
Regional court in Hargeisa on Monday sentenced two youngsters and released two others who spent one year in prison. The youngsters were working for Somaliland Intelligence Agency and were accused of terrorism and putting the country’s national security in jeopardy.
The court sentenced Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Ahmed aka Darman to five year imprisonment while Mr. Abdisamad was sentenced to ten years imprisonment. The court released four other youngsters working for the National Intelligence Agency. Lawyers who were defending the convicted nationals said that they will appeal against the court decision.
Somali National Security Agency to undertake significant changes
12 Feb – Source: Radio Shabelle – 104 words
Somalia’s National Security Agency director, General Bashir Mohamed Jama’a alias Bashir Gobe has stated that the forces will be expanded and facilities provided to the agency in the coming days.
The director added that soldiers wearing uniform will be reduced and instead increase plain clothes soldiers. “we want to make significant changes to national security force so that peace can prevail in our country, “ said Mr. Bashir Gobe.
The intelligence agency is crucial in maintaining the security of the country, particularly the capital, Mogadishu where there have been attacks and targeted assassinations.
Puntland Military court sentences alleged al Shabaab member to life imprisonment
12 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online/Universal TV – 171 words
A military court in the semi-autonomous Somali regional state of Puntland has sentenced three men who were found guilty of being linked to the Islamist militant group al Shabaab.
Abdi Fitah Haji Aden, the regional military court chief, announced that Abdirahman Muse Osman has been sentenced to life in prison saying that the court gathered enough evidences to prove that he was involved in terrorist activities.
“The evidences we collected show that Abdirahman Muse Osman was an active member of the terrorist group al Shabaab and the court sentenced him to life imprisonment,” the regional military court chief told the mediaon Tuesday.
Al Shabaab ambush AMISOM base in Mogadishu
11 Feb – Source: Somali Current/Radio Shabelle – 75 words
At least one person was killed and others were injured after al Shabaab militants ambushed African Union Mission in Somalia bases in Mogadishu, witnesses said on Tuesday evening.
Heavily armed al Shabaab fighters attacked AMISOM base in Suqa-Holaha (Livestock Market) in Heliwa district at around 5:30pm, and the clash lasted about an hour, according to the residents.
Reports say at least four civilians were injured during the clash that led to anxiety and fear among the residents.
Puntland security minister attends gathering on security
11 Feb – Source: Raxanreeb – 122 words
The Security Minister of Somalia’s Semi-autonomous State of Puntland has attended the first gathering on security since he was appointed for the post in late January, RBC reports.
The meeting addressed the security issues in the Puntland capital, Garowe where officials and government members suggested for beef up.
The governor of Nugal region Abdi Hersi Ali, Police officers, members of the local communities, women and heads of the city’s neighborhoods have been invited to attend at the meeting.
Elders and women who expressed their views on the recent insecurity incidents have talked about armed men looting people’s belongings in the evening in the town of Garowe as they asked the security forces to halt these activities.
20th African Mining Indaba conference was a Success – Somaliland Energy Minister
11 Feb – Source: Somaliland Press – 150 words
The Minister of Energy and Minerals Hon Hussein Abdi Dualeh arrived in the country after a week-long in Cape Town, South Africa where he had been attending the 20th African Mining Indaba conference.
Speaking moments after his arrival during a press briefing at the Egal International Airport Hon Hussein Abdi Dualeh said, 20th African Mining Indaba conference was a success for Somaliland people as a whole this being the first time the country attended a major energy forum with more than 9000 delegates in attendance drawn mainly from African mining industry executives, as well as professionals and representatives from resource-rich countries, to network and secure deals to develop African mining at the forum.
“My presentation at Indaba was directed at attracting investors, financiers and international mining exploration companies in Africa and worldwide and the ministerial provide industry stakeholders with insight about the great opportunities that exist in Somaliland,” stated Dualeh.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya: Suspects in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport terror attack freed on bond
12 Feb – Source: Daily Nation/Standard Media/Capital News – 387 words
The four terror suspects charged over the blast at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have granted bail. They will be required to deposit Sh20 million each and provide two Kenyan sureties of similar amount.
While dismissing a request by prosecution to deny the suspects bail on grounds that they were likely to commit more terror attacks and their alleged association with Somalia’s al Shabaab militants, Chief Magistrate Doreen Mulekyo said “the prosecution did not tender any tangible evidence to prove its claim.”
Immediately after reading the ruling, the prosecution said it would appeal. According to an affidavit sworn by a detective from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, the four suspects have been travelling to Somalia for militancy training and plotting terror attacks.
Al Shabaab man jailed 21 years
11 Feb – Source: Star-Kenya – 179 Words
An al Shaabab member has been jailed for 21 years by a Mombasa court. Salim Chagawa Karisa aka Issa was arrested last year in an operation by officers against youths who had returned from Somalia after receiving training from the al Shabaab.
He appeared before resident magistrate Abraham Gachie accused of planning terror activities in Mombasa and Nairobi. The prosecution said Issa was armed with a loaded Glock Austrian-made pistol at Bagras Café in Mtwapa. Police said the cafe was run by Issa’s accomplice who fled during the swoop.
The pistol was to be used to commit felonies in the country. Issa was also charged with altering the firearm’s serial number and unlawfully having 10 bullets. He was jailed for seven years on each of the three counts. The sentence will run concurrently. Before his arrest, ATP U officers said he was under surveillance and planned to attack targets in Mombasa and Nairobi.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
U.S. warns of “terrorist threat” to Ugandan capital
11 Feb – Source: Reuters – 240 words
The United States has warned of a “specific terrorist threat” to Kampala, saying a group of attackers were looking to strike the Ugandan capital this month or in March but without identifying who was behind the threat.
Uganda is a close security ally of the U.S. in East Africa and its troops form the backbone of the African Union (AU)-mandated peacekeeping force battling Somalia’s Islamist al Shabaab militants.
Al Shabaab fighters killed at least 67 people in September during a raid on the Westgate shopping mall in neighbouring Kenya and the group has repeatedly threatened to strike Uganda unless it withdraws its troops from Somalia. Twin bombings by al Shabaab in Kampala in July 2010 killed at least 79 people watching the soccer World Cup final.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“While the future of this conflict is uncertain and it is a difficult task to combat any insurgency, it seems that U.S. forces are moving in the right direction. By creating distrust within al Shabaab and its power base along with building stronger ties with the Somali government, the U.S. forces are conducting successful counter-insurgency operations.”
Is the U.S. Strategy in Somalia Working?
11 Feb – Source: Council on Foreign Relations Blog – 382 Words
In the last week of January news outlets reported that an American drone had conducted an unsuccessful strike against a high level al Shabaab leader in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia. Later reports stated that the target of the strike was Ahmed Abdi Godane, the presumed current head of al Shabaab.
While the strike failed in its main mission to eliminate Godane, it and other such strikes may represent greater success for American and Somali strategies against the terrorist organization than this single unsuccessful strike.
While Godane is still alive, sources have confirmed that he was in close proximity to the attack. The U.S. military was acting on accurate intelligence, and in fact killed one of Godane’s top aides, Ahmed Abdulkadir Abdullahi, in the attack. In an apparent response to this intelligence leak al Shabaab recently began abducting the residents of villages in the Lower Shabelle. Of even more importance they are abducting people within their own organization. Four al-Shabaab members have reportedly been arrested.
“Overall, the protracted federalism crisis in Somalia is set to occur over and over again in part due to repeated mistakes and lack of foresight on behalf of the international community. At the core, though, are several other factors that beg for redress”
Analysis: Baidoa Becoming the Next Crisis in Somalia’s Federalism Process
11 Feb – Source: Somalia Newsroom – 1724 Words
After patting itself on the back for putting a pause on the “Jubaland” crisis, Somalia and its international partners in IGAD and UNSOM will soon have to address the next federalism row in the country emanating from the Bay region capital of Baidoa.
Over the last several months, two competing conferences led by various Digil/Mirifle clan leaders (but involving selected other clans) have taken place in Baidoa to form a new administration called Southwestern state.
Earlier attempts to form the state from the early 2000s failed in part because of [1] internal fighting between Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA) leader Colonel Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud and his deputies Adan Madobe and Muhammad Ibrahim Habsade and [2] external (and often competing) efforts to integrate the RRA (one faction under the umbrella of the SRRC) within a transitional government.
“Maintaining a costly mission of patrolling the longest coast in Africa is not going to be sustainable in the long term. What will certainly work is to provide Somali federal government the capacity to build effective coast guards that deals not only the piracy, but also the illegal fishery and dumping that devastate the livelihoods of poor coastal communities across Somalia.”
Addressing holistically the issue of piracy in the horn of Africa
11 Feb – Source: Somali Current – 599 Words
The issue of piracy in the coast of Somalia began in 1990, when foreign vessels flocked to Somalia’s unguarded coast, profiting the marine resources and at times dumping radioactive chemical wastes as evidenced with the barrels of the 2004 Tsunami that surfaced on the northeastern coastal towns of Somalia.
According to a report issued by the UN in 2006, Somalia loses annually more than “$300 million worth of seafood” for illegal fishery by foreign vessels. As a result, the country’s coast has become the hotbed for all illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) activities. As one expert noted, the amount of resources that is lost to IUU is “staggering sum.”
That, however, was the context of piracy as we know it today. The violent reaction was particularly prompted when foreign vessels attacked the fishing nets of Somali fishermen, freezing both activities of fishermen and their livelihoods, using trawlers and water hoses to submerge local boats, which often remain rudimentary and traditional in nature.
“The troubles in Somalia and the surrounding regions have led to many fleeing in search of a better or more stable life. Addis Ababa is often the first destination as plans are made for the future and travel arrangements finalized. One area in particular has become home for many Somalis, and Tibebeselassie Tigabu visited it to find out more about the vibrant and unique place.”
Little Somalia – home away from home
08 Feb – Source: The Reporter-Ethiopia – 1743 Words
A tale of a promising start after the end of a horrific war and the persistent struggle for recognition as a state are part of the current rhetoric regarding Somalia. Most stories seem to be disconnected but they all concern the cross-border Somalis in Somalia, Somaliland, Ethiopia and Djibouti respectively, as they cross paths in the Somali neighborhoods of Addis Rwanda and Bole Michael: little Somalia.
From the distinctive henna tattoos, camel meat and milk, kesir and the dazzling dresses, it is a community full of different stories, often starting with the downfall of Siad Barre and the terror of the al-Shaabab.
Somalia is always in the news, whether through the recent Kenyan mall attack or the pirates that patrol the seas. The media rarely mention the other side of the story, such as the pirates who call themselves the “coast guards”, fighting to protect their lobster and tuna from the multinational “looters”. As far as Ethiopia is concerned, there is always the strong association with the Ogaden Liberation Front.
This is a community with many stereotypes, regarding terrorism, as a failed state, “nomads”, shrewdness and carelessness, but seldom in a cultural way, with its rich heritage of poetry and music.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia Head of #AMISOM meets #SomaliGovernment Ministers, pledges continued support.http://bit.ly/NyzT1r.
@mofasomalia MFA Dr.Abdirahman Beileh discussed with Philippe Lazzarini about humanitarian,#Somali refugees in#Kenya & new deal http://dhacdo.com/main/news.
@SomaliaNewsroom Except HOA war before, during, after#Shabaab always crossed borders -> Pushing #Somalia’s “civil war” across borders http://econ.st/1gPELMu.
@OCHASom STORY: 25 new #midwives focused on improving maternal health in #Somali http://bit.ly/1eMIcSB @SomaliaUNFPA @WHOsom pic.twitter.com/IpeyfHhx8g.
@gcmcSomalia #Somalia: Humanitarian Dashboard – December 2013 (issued on 11 February 2014)http://bit.ly/MaIRkx #crisismanagement.
Image of the day
A Djiboutian soldier belonging to the African Union Mission in Somalia reads the Qur’an at a base in Eel Jaale, Somalia, on February 7. Photo: AMISOM.