February 12, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
SNA And AMISOM Recaptures Biya-Adde From Al-Shabaab
12 February – Source: Goobjoog News – 240 Words
After approaching their way into Biya-Adde locality of Middle Shabelle region, Somali National Army backed by African Union peacekeepers took control without fighting on Thursday. The spokesperson of the Middle Shabelle region Daud Haji Iro confirmed to the media that the government forces alongside with AMISOM took over the village earlyThursday morning while there was no engagement. Eyewitnesses told Goobjoog News that the allied forces raided the area from different sides with Al-Shabaab reportedly fleeing the area making it possible for the National forces to take over the area without firing a single shot.
“The Somali forces and peacekeepers of AMISOM took control of Biya-Adde and now the situation has returned to normal. Al-Shabaab fighters ran away,” local resident reached by telephone from Mogadishu told the Goobjoog News. He added “Al-Shabaab fighters abandoned the area last night and shifted to nearby base before SNA and AMISOM troops moved in Biya-Adde.” BiyaAdde lies nearly 40km north of Jowhar town and 25 km from Mahadey in the Middle Shabelle region. The seizure comes at a time when the state formation conference for Hiiraan and Middle Shabelle regions is going on. Al-Shabaab has yet to comment on the recent loss of Biya-Adde which is part of the areas they use to control. Al-Shabaab lost key strongholds in between 2012 and 2013 to the AU troops and Somali national army, but the group has since carried out deadly attacks in the Somali capital.
Key Headlines
- SNA And AMISOM Recaptures Biya-Adde From Al-Shabaab (Goobjoog News)
- Puntland Rejects International Pressure Over Somali Election Model (Hiiraan Online)
- Speaker Holds Talks With Delegations From Arab League And Turkey (Wacaal Media)
- Mogadishu Orders Removal Of English-language Signboards (News 24)
- Drought Wreaks Havoc In North Somalia (Africa Review)
- States’ Meddling Foments Lengthy Somalia Conflict (The Star)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland Rejects International Pressure Over Somali Election Model
12 February – Source: Hiiraan Online – 356 Words
Puntland has resisted an international pressure to accept the outcome of the recent Mogadishu consultative forum which agreed on a framework for holding presidential elections this year. The international community has hailed the agreement as ‘an important milestone’ that it said would stabilize the long-chaotic horn of Africa nation. However, Puntland’s president Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas who walked out of the forum in January described the outcome as ‘inconclusive’, opposing the 4.5 power sharing formula which was endorsed by Somalia’s political leaders.
Representatives from the United Nations and Somalia’s donor countries have since moved to end the stalemate, and visited Puntland to hold further talk with leaders last week. However, the two sides again failed to reach an agreement with no date set for further meetings. Speaking to the reporters in Garowe, the regional capital of Puntland, president Abdiweli confirmed that the three-day talks ended without breakthrough. “No agreement has been reached, however we have agreed to hold further talks and continue negotiations.” he told reporters soon after the international community delegates have flown to Mogadishu.
The international community hasn’t so far commented on the development which is a significant setback to the efforts aimed at ending the political standoff between the country’s political stakeholders, heaping worries that diplomats fear would interrupt the election plans. Somalia’s government has proposed a presidential election in 2016; however, it dismissed the likelihood of holding popular elections due to security challenges.
Puntland leaders have earlier recommended holding the upcoming elections, considering constituencies unlike other political leaders who suggested holding elections based on the 4.5 power sharing formula. According to Somalia’s Provisional Federal Constitution, adopted in 2012, the mandates of the Somali Federal Parliament and of the Government would come to an end in August and September 2016, respectively. The country still faces security challenges as the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab group continues to carry out violent attacks across Somalia by carrying out guerrilla attacks including suicide attacks and assassinations.
Speaker Holds Talks With Delegations From Arab League And Turkey
12 February – Source: Wacaal Media – 114 Words
Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia Prof. Osman Jawari had a busy day yesterday hosting delegations from the Arab League and Turkey. In the first meeting, the speaker hosted officials from the Arab league and the two sides discussed relations between the Somali parliament with its counterparts in the Arab League where Somalia is also a member. The delegation was pleased with the work of the Jawari led house. On the same note, Speaker Jawari played host to the former and current Turkish Ambassdors to Somalia who paid him a courtesy call. Wide ranging matters including the ongoing construction of the Somali parliamentary buildings being undertaken by Turkey were discussed in the meeting.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Mogadishu Orders Removal Of English-language Signboards
12 February – Source: News 24 – 215 Words
Mogadishu – The Somali capital Mogadishu has ordered entrepreneurs to remove English-language signboards so as to protect the Somali language, a spokesperson for the mayor said on Thursday. “Residents are required to remove signs written in English from their businesses in the capital. The order is aimed at promoting the Somali language,” spokesperson Abdifirah Omar Halane said.
Those refusing to obey can be fined or jailed, said Ahmed Abdulle Afrah, district commissioner of Wadajir, one of the 17 districts in the capital. “We have to follow the instructions and remove the signboards from our shops,” businessman Omar Halwo said, expressing concern that he could otherwise be arrested. “Somalia belongs to Somalis, and we have to protect our culture and language … Our language has been dominated by the English language,” Afrah said.
But not everyone was happy with the prospect of English-language billboards and other signs vanishing from the capital. “I think it is unwise for … officials to impose such language discrimination,” pharmacist Anwar Ali said. “Our children are learning the English language in schools and universities,” he added. “We can show our love for our country by being honest, by paying taxes in time. But by obeying bad laws like bans on other languages, you would look like a racist,” university student Ahmed Hagi said.
Drought Wreaks Havoc In North Somalia
12 February – Source: Africa Review – 143 Words
Somalia’s semiautonomous region of Puntland is facing severe food shortage due to drought, reports indicate. The mostly pastoralists villagers have reportedly abandoned their homes in search of food and water. The worst-affected areas are Eil and Dangoroyo districts in Nugal about 1,000km northeast of Mogadishu.
Reporters who visited the drought-hit area expressed fears that the situation could get worse. The Nugal valley has had depressed rainfall over the past year and half. Recent reports from Gedo region in the south also painted a picture of widespread shortage of water and food. Parts of Somalia were flooded during the Gu’ (short rains) season in October and November 2015, courtesy of the El-Niño weather phenomenon, while other parts remained dry. Thousands of people died in Somalia in 2011 due to famine, but the situation improved following a worldwide humanitarian intervention.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“In the course of establishing a platform for collective self-sustaining and integrated socioeconomic development, a lot of bilateral and multilateral relations should come into place. This way, a lot will be achieved jointly.”
States’ Meddling Foments Lengthy Somalia Conflict
12 February – Source: The Star – 587 Words
On taking the mantle of the African Union leadership from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, President Idris Deby of Chad said: “Everything that we (the AU) are doing now will be in vain and without purpose if we allow Africa to go through these perpetual crises … We should be the main actors in search for solutions to African crises.”
One area that has suffered for long is the Horn of Africa – Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea and Djibouti. It has faced inter-state conflicts, protracted political and civil strife and terrorism. These problems arise from local and national grievances and interstate rivalries. There is also the issue of unwarranted external interventions. The Somalia crisis has been the worst.
Addressing the summit, President Uhuru Kenyatta called for a review and boost of Amisom’s mandate to match the changing tactics of al Shabaab mode of warfare. He urged the Peace and Security Committee to ensure that Amisom is well equipped and fully deploys troops in their areas of jurisdiction and review allocations.
Uhuru noted that there is an urgent need to offer support for initiatives that would increase productivity in liberated areas to accelerate the return of refugees to Somalia. However, a sustainable solution in Somalia needs more than that. A proper analysis and understanding of the Horn politics and the external interventions is imperative.
The complexity of the region’s political relations can only be well understood by delving into and dissecting the history of the people, their tribes, clans and most importantly, political relations. The shaky political relations among the states themselves; Ethiopia-Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, Transitional Government of Somalia and Djibouti have continued to deteriorate. The statelessness of Somalia was for long used as a incubating zone for criminals, terrorism, piracy and proliferation of small arms.
TOP TWEETS
@AbdulGhelleh : Al shabab wants to send #Somalia back to stone age. But recovery is underway in #Kismayo
@robynkrielCNN : Laptop bomb “sophisticated”&fooled X Ray screeners. Ramifications for international aviation safety#Somalia http://edition.cnn.com/2016/
@Abdi_AlSheikh : Children from Somalia to play football with Qatar after drawing with Saudi – somalicurrenthttp://dlvr.it/KTndMB #Somalia
@jmdelmotte : Read the story of Ali who, thanks to #unicef , is building a new life in #somalia after been a #ChildSoldiers :http://goo.gl/sweWX5
@Mohacpr : Will Iraq’s largely Shia government assist the Shia defiant #Somalia ?
@saeed_abdiaziz : The leaders of federal government of#Somalia must honor the agreements with federal member states.Governance is a social contract #puntland
@RadioMogadishu : #BreakingNews: Several mortars landed at Halane base in #Mogadishu where #AMISOM stationed, &#Shabab terrorists have claimed it what’s up?
IMAGE OF THE DAY
SRCC Amb. Madeira receives the approved copy of revised harmonised Concept of Operations(CONOPs) from Col Mbow, PSOD
Photo: AMISOM