February 2, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Former NISA Chief Speaks About Extradition Of ONLF Official
02 February – Source: Hiiraan Online – 177 Words
Former Somali Intelligence Chief, Abdullahi Mohamed Ali ‘Sanbaloolshe’ has for the first time spoken about the extradition of ONLF commander Abdikarin Sheikh Muse Qalbi-dhagah and said the decision to extradite him was made by the government in favor of the national security.
Sanbaloolshe, however, refused to take personal responsibility for the extradition since he was the boss of NISA, which was accused of carrying out the extradition last year. “I don’t want to name names, but the decision to extradite Qalbi-dhagah was made and reached by the government and the Cabinet endorsed the same,” he noted in an interview with VOA Somali.
Meanwhile, he criticized President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo for not speaking about the conflict in Tukaraq which had erupted during his ‘peace and reconciliation’ tour to Puntland. He cautioned against restricting Somali politicians and stated that people are free to express their political views, and termed the raids on some of the political opponents residences as a hasty decision. His interview was carried days after he was defeated in a parliamentary seat election held in Jowhar.
Key Headlines
- Former NISA Chief Speaks About Extradition Of ONLF Official (Hiiraan Online)
- Cargo Plane Crashes In Southern Somalia Fate Of Crew Unknown (Radio Shabelle)
- Graduate Raage Wins Hearts Of Somalis Gets Overseas Masters Scholarship & Premier Bank Job (Radio Dalsan)
- Sri Lanka To Make A Request To Establish The Maritime Operations Secretariat For Suppression Of Sea Piracy Off Somalia Coast In The Country (Colombopage.com)
- Somali Minister Hails UAE Developmental Support (Emirates News Agency)
- Puntland-Somaliland Tension And Its Political Effect (Garowe Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Cargo Plane Crashes In Southern Somalia, Fate Of Crew Unknown
01 February – Source: Radio Shabelle – 102 Words
A cargo airplane has crash-landed in Somalia in territory controlled by Al-Shabaab militants outside Wanlaweyn district in Lower Shabelle region, a government official said Thursday. “We have confirmed a plane crash at Al-Shabaab-controlled area in Lower Shabelle,” Abdifitah Haji Abdulle, told Radio Shabelle over the phone.
The wreckage of the aircraft and any survivors are assumed to have been seized by the militants as the crash site is located between Somali army base and Al-Shabaab bastion. There was no information as to what the plane was carrying, and no immediate response from Al- Shabaab. Wanlaweyn lies about 90 km northwest of Mogadishu.
Graduate Raage Wins Hearts Of Somalis, Gets Overseas Masters Scholarship & Premier Bank Job
01 February – Source: Radio Dalsan – 405 Words
A physically challenged Ismail Ahmed Mohamud Ismael Raage has won the hearts of the Somali people after he graduated from SIMAD University on Sunday with a Bachelor Degree in Banking and Finance, Radio Dalsan reports. Pictures of Raage at his graduation ceremony went viral in social media leading to congratulations, praises and encouragement from top government leaders, politicians and the general public.
In one of the pictures, Ismail was seen crawling on a red carpet to receive his degree from DirectAid Country (Kenya) Director Dr. Hassan Ismail. The Somali Minister of Finance Dr Abdirahman Beileh hosted him in office and showered him with praises. “We are proud of him & all Somali students who are the bright stars of our future. No limit to ambition & progress,” said Dr Beileh on his Twitter account. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo also joined in congratulating Raage for the achievement. “Congratulations to Ismail Rage who graduated from SIMAD University with a degree in Banking and Finance. The government should make sure to give employment consideration to people with special needs,” Villa Somalia tweeted.
Toronto based media personality Hodan Nalayeh, tweeted “Some people take education for granted and some people use all their might to get one! Ismail Raage crawled to get his degree today! He graduated from SIMAD University in Mogadishu.” A joyful Ismail thanked his parents for their unconditional support. “After much struggle and hard work thanks God Allah I am celebrating my first degree of Banking & Finance at @SIMADUniversity. Being physically challenged doesn’t mean you are unable to accomplish your dreams and get a better life. I want to thank God and to my parents. Also, I am indebted to all Somali people,” Raage said on his Twitter account.
Following the trend top Somali banking institution Premier Bank has offered a job opportunity to Ismael Raage. And there is more good news for Raage as former Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud awarded him a scholarship to study MSc in Finance in International Islamic University in Malaysia. “We are proud to announce that Mr. Ismael Raage has become an employee of @pbsomalia. Mr.Ismail will also start MSc in Finance at IIU Malaysia in September 2018. Ex-President @HEhassansheikh sponsored Mr. Ismail’s study during his stay in Malaysia. We appreciate your generosity,” wrote SIMAD University on its Twitter account. Ismail’s story is an exemplary inspiration to all the Somali people that disability is not inability and that dreams are valid.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Sri Lanka To Make A Request To Establish The Maritime Operations Secretariat For Suppression Of Sea Piracy Off Somalia Coast In The Country
02 February – Source: Colombopage.com – 281 Words
The Sri Lankan government plans to make a formal request to the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) establish the proposed maritime operations secretariat for suppression of sea piracy off Somalia coast in the country. Since 2005 there have been numerous incidents of hijacking of commercial ships by pirates in the Indian Ocean region of Somalia, and the highest number of pirate attacks were reported in 2010. The attacks on commercial ships made a strong impact on free-trade and the global economy.
The activities of these sea pirates have been weakened due to measures taken including the deployment of Navy personnel near Somalia coast, and the deployment of armed guards onboard commercial vehicles. However, it is essential to take preemptive steps to enhance capabilities to combat sea piracy and to improve coordination between regional countries.
As an international mechanism to combat piracy, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) was created on January 14, 2009 pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1851. This voluntary, ad hoc international forum brings together countries, organizations, and industry groups with an interest in combating piracy and Sri Lanka is a founding member of the group. An opportunity has risen to establish the group’s maritime operations secretariat in Sri Lanka as Sri Lanka Navy has the necessary capabilities and experience for maritime security operations.Accordingly, President Maithripala Sirisena in his capacity as the Minister of Defense has made a proposal to make a formal request to the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia to consider establishing the operations secretariat in Sri Lanka and the President’s proposal has received the approval from the Cabinet of Ministers.
Somali Minister Hails UAE Developmental Support
01 February – Source: Emirates News Agency – 113 Words
Mohammed Ahmed Othman Al Hammadi, UAE Ambassador to Somalia, today met with Ahmed Isse Awad, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia. The UAE ambassador conveyed the regards of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and his best wishes of success to the Somali minister in his new duties.
The Somali minister, during the meeting which was held in the UAE embassy premises here, commended the deeply-rooted relations between the two countries and their peoples, hailing the developmental projects carried out by the UAE in different fields in Somalia, and the support lent in particular to the Somali Foreign Ministry.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“Tension has been rife in Tukaraq since forces from the northern self-declared breakaway republic of Somaliland took control of a town under the region of Puntland following an attack on 8th January. The takeover came as Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was on his first day for a weeklong historic visit to Puntland, the first since he was elected to office February”
Somalia: Puntland-Somaliland Tension And Its Political Effect
02 February – Source: Garowe Online – 1231 Words
The Escalating tension in Tukaraq town in northern Sool region has heightened fears that armed conflict between Puntland and Somaliland is fast approaching, Garowe Online reports. The territorial dispute between the two neighboring states renewed following the capture of Tukaraq, about 90 Km north of Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland by Somaliland forces on January 8. The lucrative village had been fully controlled Puntland troops and served as a customs center and main entrance to the contested region before it fell to the regional army early this month, sparking tension.
Muse Bihi who was elected as the fifth President of Somaliland in November 2017, has voiced support to state troops’ incursion and capture of Tukaraq, saying Somaliland regained a lost territory. Bihi is a former air force military colonel and member of the Somali National Movement, (SNM), a rebel group that fought for years the secession of the northern regions from the rest of Somalia. Somaliland’s new council of ministers and parliament, which its speaker hails from Sool region have similarly endorsed the military invasion of Tukaraq, where Puntland forces were stationed.
GO understands that President Bihi has rejected repeated requests from the United Nations [UN] and Ethiopia to de- escalate the tension, telling them that the military move was legitimate and irreversible. While briefing the UN security council, Michael Keating, the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Somalia said the brewing tension in Tukaraq could lead battle between Puntland and Somaliland. Keating did not point the finger of blame at either of the sides for starting the conflict. Since the toppling of former central government in 1991, regional states in Somalia heavily rely on the International community support in infrastructures development and the rebuilding of their institutions.
Tension has been rife in Tukaraq since forces from the northern self-declared breakaway republic of Somaliland took control of a town under the region of Puntland following an attack on 8th January. The takeover came as Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo was on his first day for a weeklong historic visit to Puntland, the first since he was elected to office February last year.
Farmajo did not say a word on Somaliland’s raid on Tukaraq, the main customs center for Puntland, but, his government has released a statement urging the sides to show restraint and de-escalate the troop build-up. Somaliland leaders, including President Bihi, laid the blame for the conflict on the Somali Federal government instead of Puntland. The politicians hailing from Sool and Sanaag provinces who hold posts in Somaliland government said the region’s forces captured Tukaraq at the request of Sool residents and sent a stern warning to Puntland state.
Somaliland’s Minister of Defense, Essa Ahmed along with Vice President, Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail Sayli’i paid an unannounced visit to Takaruq town last week to boost the morale of the state troops at the frontlines. During the tour, Ahmed said Somaliland troops will continue the military operation until they secure control of the entire towns in Sool region, including a location situated between Buuro Wadal and Garowe.
TOP TWEETS
@ShariifMoalim: German military to end role in EU training mission in Somalia https://wp.me/p5a931-fBc via @Goobjooge
@MoPIED_Somalia:The joint operational mission between@MoPIED_Somalia and @EU_in_Somalia has been started chaired by #Pillar from EU and @ADirshe from #MoPIED. Great discussion.
@HarunMaruf: #IED explosion kills two telecommunication workers outside Mogadishu, Thursday; unclear why they were targeted. #Somalia
@MoPIED_Somalia: @MoPIED_Somalia team led by the PS@ADirshe having a brief meeting ahead of our quarterly operational meeting with @EU_in_Somalia in #Nairobi.
#nabadiyonolol @AmbGamal @SomaliPM @TheVillaSomalia
@DalsanFM:EXCLUSIVE: Ex President Mohamud Cancels Sweden Trip Over Visa – http://radiodalsan.com/en/
@engyarisow:Today I laid foundation stone 4 Wadajir District HQ that terrorists destroyed before so that we R closer to citizens.
@engyarisow: Today I met the Chairperson of the Ind Election Commission and agreed to fully engage with citizens in#Mogadishu
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: Former Somali intel chief defends his record as NISA Director, says he foiled Al-Shabab plots including 10 car bombings. Abdullahi Mohamed Sanbalolshe suggests decision to rendition ONFL Cmdr Abdikarim Qalbi-Dhagah was made at highest level. Link
@Goobjoognews: Celebration feast took place yesterday in@Gaalmudug state presidential compound in #Adado town in honour of the power unity agreement between the state administration and Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’ah @aswj, a moderate Islamic movement signed on
IMAGE OF THE DAY
New Mogadishu mayor Abdirahman Osman Omar (Eng.Yarisow) with government officials laying down foundation stone for the new Wadajir district administration office in Mogadishu.
Photo: @Goobjoognews