February 20, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Dutch, Spanish navies detain nine ‘pirates’ off Somalia
20 Feb – Source: Expatica News/AFP – 103 words
The Dutch and Spanish navies on Tuesday detained nine alleged pirates off the Somali coast, the Dutch defence ministry said in a statement. A helicopter took off from Dutch frigate De Ruyter early Tuesday after a Panamian-registered vessel said it had felt threatened. The helicopter intercepted one high-speed boat and detained “some” of the suspects, the ministry said.
Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez also dispatched a helicopter which intercepted another speedboat, detaining more suspects, all of whom are now aboard the Dutch ship. The ministry said those on board the detained skiffs had thrown objects overboard and tried to head off in different directions.
Key Headlines
- Somali government plans to provide educational opportunities for children (Radio Risaala/Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid/Somali Channel TV/Radio Dalsan)
- Security is our priority in the region (Shabelle)
- Somalia: Appeal hearing for jailed journalist and alleged rape victim (Garowe Online/Somaliweyn)
- Russian anti-submarine destroyer at Dar port (IPP Media/Guardian/Daily News)
- Dutch Spanish navies detain nine ‘pirates’ off Somalia (Expatica News/AFP)
- Somalis in diaspora seek support for country (Daily Nation)
- UN must prepare for future potential missions – heads of peacekeeping field support say (UN News Center)
- AMISOM troops secure Jowhar airfield (AMISOM)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM troops secure Jowhar airfield
19 Feb – Source: AMISOM – 156 words
Somali government forces with the support of troops from the AU Mission in Somalia yesterday captured Jowhar airfield 20 Kilometers from Jowhar town in Middle Shabelle. The allied forces faced little resistance from fleeing militants of the al Qaeda affiliated terror group, al Shabaab, as they moved to consolidate security in their former stronghold.
The move comes only four days after the African Union troops moved to secure the three key towns of Janalle, Barire and Aw Dheegle in Lower Shabelle. AMISOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti said the move would help improve security in Jowhar and deny the terrorists a vital resupply point.
“This also opens up the opportunity for the reconstruction of Somalia’s infrastructure and will assist in the development of the key transport sector,” he said. Following the securing of the Ballidogle and K50 airstrips, normal business has already commenced and they have begun receiving local flights. Plans are currently underway for their renovation.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali government plans to provide educational opportunities for children
20 Feb – Source: Radio Risaala/Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid/Somali Channel TV/Radio Dalsan – 120 words
The Ministry of Development and Social Services of Somalia on Tuesday said that it is planning to provide education opportunities for a million Somali children in the various provinces in Somalia. Dr. Maryam Qasim Minister of Development and Social Services said the ministry seeks to develop education in Somalia, stressing that there was a project to provide educational opportunities for a million Somali children.
Minister added that the ministry will hold a training course for thousands of Somali teachers within this project, noting that unemployed children in the all provinces of the country will benefit from the project. Dr. Maryam Said the United Nations funded project, which aims to enable a large number of Somali children for admission to education.
Mariam said that her ministry also plans to build 900 schools across Somalia as she highlighted those built schools will be free charge, the minister also emphasized the significance to overcome the illiteracy that she said to have taken part demolishing the country during the civil war.
Security is our priority in the region
20 Feb – Source: Shabelle – 143 words
Col. Osman Dubad, the Commander of Djibouti troops in the district of Hiiraan who spoke with Shabelle radio in Mogadishu said that his office is trying to do everything in order to make sure that the security of Hiiraan is in position every single minute.
The commander also said that they have recently introduced a method to eliminate the militias group that are in the region. Col. Dubad also said that there are 14 villages that fall under Hiiraan and recently they held meeting to enhance the security in the region and how AMISOM will comfortably assist and operate in the region. Lastly, the Col. urged the citizens who reside in the region to work hand in hand so that they can improve the security.
Somalia: Appeal hearing for jailed journalist and alleged rape victim
20 Feb – Source: Garowe Online/Somaliweyn – 105 words
The Mogadishu court of appeals is currently hearing the case of the incarcerated journalist and alleged rape victim that were sentenced to one year in prison earlier this month, Garowe Online reports.
Abdiaziz Abdinor Ibrahim Koronto was arrested and charged with slandering the Somali Federal Government after he interviewed a woman who alleged that she was raped by Somali troops. He and the woman were tried in a controversial hearing in Mogadishu that resulted in 1 year in prison for the two.
Mohamed Mohamud Farah the prisoners’ attorney spoke to Somali media on Wednesday stating that the appeals court will listen to testimony midday Wednesday.
Health Minister Attends Workshop on Communicable Diseases
19 Feb – Source: Somaliland Press – 163 words
Somaliland Minister of Health Dr. Hussein Muhumed Mohamed (Hussein Hog) today attended the closing of a three day workshop aimed at improving health care in the country at Hotel Mansoor, Hargeisa. The three day workshop aimed at highlighting the dangers of Hepatitis B which a potentially life-threatening liver infection is caused by the hepatitis B virus.
It can cause chronic liver disease and puts people at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. Dr. Hussein told those participating in the three day workshop, said the disease is a major global health problem and the most serious type of viral hepatitis and much need to be done to counter the disease.
Worldwide, an estimated two billion people have been infected with the hepatitis B virus and more than 240 million have chronic (long-term) liver infections. About 600 000 people die every year due to the acute or chronic consequences of hepatitis B, said Mrs. Asiiya Osman WHO Country Representative.
Somalia: Changes For Media Under New Govt
19 Feb – Source: Shabelle – 62 words
A close door meeting attended by journalists and government officials discussed how they will improve the country’s journalism standard, especially the broadcast and websites journalism.
The Somali Organization of Journalism NUSOJ said that the laws that currently apply were laid down under the former late president of Somalia Abdullahi Yussuf which was not comfortable to journalists. It said that it would like to see changes with the new government of somalia so that journalism could be appreciated. The organization also noted that they have appointed a representative, Mohamed Bashir Haashi to be responsible for the Banadir region.
Somaliland boasts about arrest of terrorists in Somalia
19 Feb – Source: Garowe Online – 397 words
Deputy Chairman of the ruling political party, in the self-declared republic of Somaliland stated that his government has apprehended the most terrorists operating in Somalia, days after opposition party chairman Faisal Ali Warabe’s son was arrested on terrorism charges, Garowe Online reports.
Following an arrest of 2 alleged terrorists in Las’anod, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed deputy chairman of Kulmiye party stated that Somaliland has arrested the highest number of terrorists compared to the rest of Somalia.
“The majority of terrorists that have carried out of operations [in Somalia] were arrested by Somaliland authorities,” said deputy chairman Mohamed to Somaliland media.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalis in diaspora seek support for country
20 Feb – Source: Daily Nation – 188 words
Somalis in the diaspora have called for more support to the country for it to fully recover from two decades of of war. In a statement released from Toronto, Canada, the Somalis led by former Cabinet minister Ahmed Awad Ashareh, also called on their country’s leaders to respect the federal constitution.
“We urge the Somali leadership and people to be united to salvage the war-torn country and create an atmosphere that will completely end lawlessness,” Mr Ashareh said. He said peace and stability were crucial for Somalia and the region’s development.
The group discussed the situation in Somalia, the country’s economy and lifting of the arms embargo. They welcomed the US and Britain’s support for Somalia, their recognition of its sovereignty and membership of the UN and other organisations.
Somali court to hear journalist’s appeal
20 Feb – Source: Al Jazeera – 327 words
A Somali court of appeals is due to hear the case of a journalist and a woman he interviewed who alleged that government forces had raped her. Both journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim and the 27-year-old woman were sentenced to one year in prison during an earlier hearing. The charges included insulting a government body, making false accusations and seeking to profit from said allegations.
Rights activists, including US-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW), have alleged that the ruling was politically motivated, and urged the appeals court to acquit the two defendants during Wednesday’s hearing. Three other defendants were acquitted during the February 5 trial by a Benadir regional court.
Russian anti-submarine destroyer at Dar port
20 Feb – Source: IPP Media/Guardian/Daily News – 203 words
The Russian anti-submarine destroyer ‘Marshal Shaposhnikov’ has docked at the Dar es Salaam Port at the start of a five-day courtesy visit to the country. According to a media communiqué availed yesterday, Marshal Shaposhnikov landed at the Dar es Salaam port on Sunday where among other things it will offer counter training to native marine forces in fighting against piracy along the Indian Ocean coast.
The statement explained that the training is due to the reduced but ongoing pirate attacks off the Somalia’s coast that the international community seeks to put an end to and to which effect a security agreement was reached by the UN Security Council who collectively approved a resolution that gives permission to the states to send warships to the maritime belt of Somalia.
In accordance with the resolution, the leading maritime powers would devote significant forces to patrol the shipping routes through areas of pirates’ activities, it added. Atalanta, an EU marine operation against piracy off the Somali coast and is linked to the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA), an initiative established by the European Union Naval Force in response shipping threats in the waters off the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa.
Somali Sheikhs vow to combat extremism after cleric assassinated while praying
19 Feb – Source: Sabahi Online – 757 words
Somali leaders and citizens expressed shock and condemnation after a young man shot Sheikh Abdulkadir Nur Farah inside Badar Mosque in Garowe during Asr prayer last Friday (February 15th). Farah was shot in the back as he was kneeling to pray.
Hours later, Puntland regional President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole publicly blamed al Shabaab for the assassination of the prominent Somali sheikh, announcing the capture of Abdirahman Hussein Jama Bile in connection with the murder. On Saturday, Somaliland police apprehended two more suspects in Las Anod believed to have been involved in the assassination.
“One of the two men we have in our custody is believed to be directly involved in last week’s murder of the late Sheikh Abdulkadir Nur Farah, while his accomplice had facilitated his escape,” Abdullahi Said Guleid, deputy commander of police in Sool, told Dawan newspaper.
He said the suspects were arrested as they drove into the city, approximately 150 kilometres west of Garowe. The men have been transferred to Hargeisa and are under investigation, Guleid said.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN must prepare for future potential missions – heads of peacekeeping, field support say
20 Feb – Source: UN News Center – 154 words
While focused on current peacekeeping operations around the world, the United Nations must also prepare for potential future peacekeeping roles ranging from Mali to Syria to the Horn of Africa, the heads of the UN peacekeeping and field support departments today told a special review committee.
“We have increased our engagement in contingency planning, in close cooperation with the Departments for Field Support and Political Affairs, for potential requests for peacekeeping operations in Mali, Somalia and Syria,” Hervé Ladsous, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations known informally as C34.
The committee, which works through the Fourth Committee on Special Political and Decolonization, reviews all issues relating to peacekeeping, ranging this year from troop reimbursement to intermission cooperation and resource sharing. Noting an “extremely grave political, security and humanitarian crisis” that threatened the entire Sahel region, Mr. Ladsous said a UN peacekeeping operation in Mali is a “very real possibility”.
Dutch, Spanish navies detain nine ‘pirates’ off Somalia
20 Feb – Source: Expatica News/AFP – 103 words
The Dutch and Spanish navies on Tuesday detained nine alleged pirates off the Somali coast, the Dutch defence ministry said in a statement. A helicopter took off from Dutch frigate De Ruyter early Tuesday after a Panamian-registered vessel said it had felt threatened. The helicopter intercepted one high-speed boat and detained “some” of the suspects, the ministry said.
Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez also dispatched a helicopter which intercepted another speedboat, detaining more suspects, all of whom are now aboard the Dutch ship. The ministry said those on board the detained skiffs had thrown objects overboard and tried to head off in different directions.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The film centres on a Somali boy torn between life as a budding fisherman and the temptation to become a pirate. Jarjoura says he and director Bryan Buckley wanted to capture the indomitable spirit of Somali people, which they discovered while making a short documentary for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 2010.”
Oscar-nominated ‘Asad’ examines Somali life beyond pirates and warlords
19 Feb – Source: Times Colonist/Canadian Press – 993 Words
Scoring an Oscar nomination is generally considered a career-changing achievement for any aspiring movie maker. It certainly feels that way for Toronto-bred producer Mino Jarjoura, who suspects the broad embrace of his 16-and-a-half-minute short “Asad” could jump start his feature-filmmaking ambitions.
“I still have moments (that feel) completely surreal,” Jarjoura says in a recent interview from his office in Los Angeles, where he produces TV commercials for the production house Hungry Man. “It’s been surreal but it also feels like a major responsibility at this point to be nominated and put this film out there in the right way and have as many people see it and understand why it’s been nominated.”
“His poetry has an ostentatious life of its own, and he as well has a life different from his masterpieces. But, the thread of his life’s work and his personality are the same: an obstinate obsession with truth and justice. His poetry was born out of a moment of injustice in his childhood when as a boy of four-years he’d overheard an elderly relative shamelessly chastising a whimpering young girl, and it is that fine day when he composed his first four bars, and I hope he never stops writing about life and its axioms.”
And The Award Goes to … Hadraawi!
20 Feb – Source: Wardheer News – 560 Words
Earlier in the year, ten of his most personal poems, including my favourite Somali song ever, the commercially successful love ballad “Cajabeey,” and the sweeping masterpiece (which I’ve said elsewhere should be a required reading for all mankind) “Sirta Nolosha” have been translated by the esteemed English poet W.N. Herbert, and recently he’s been named recipient of this year’s prestigious Prince Claus of the Netherland’s Award.
Many have come before him, some contemporary rivals, some loyal confidents, but all whom he’d saluted in his poem “Halabuur”—Sayidka, Raage Ugaas, Cali Dhuux, Muuse Galaal, Cabdulle Raage, Qamaam Bulxan, Salaan Carrabeey, Timacadde—whom he’s outlived and outshone … I’m sure ya’ll know who I’m writing about by now, but for clarity his beautiful name is Hadraawi—Maxamed Ibraahim Warsame Siciid Walanwal … I’ve memorized his genealogy, I swear, and I can recite it as flawlessly as my very own, for he and his poetry are the most powerful part of my essence.
Hadraawi is the original Somali Renaissance Man—poet, philosopher, professor—who encompasses knowledge about the wider world, the son of an unapologetic nomad from Burco, Somaliland. His poems often skilfully lace together wholly unconnected and yet relevant historical figures and inaugural events to get at the truth of how things ought to be, fleetingly referencing Aristotle’s celestials, Darwin’s theory of evolution, Copernicus’s sun-centered planetary, the Congolese Prime Minister and Pan-Africanist Patrice Lumumba’s assassination, Mahatma Gandhi’s hungry-strike for an independent India, Nelson Mandela’s unfaltering hope for Apartheid South Africa—his is truly a knowledge reaching the scope of Euclid’s mathematics and Newton’s laws of nature.
Ultimately, even if the government is determined to regard these urban refugees as a threat to Kenya’s security, there are other ways to resolve the issue than sending them back to Dadaab. One thing the government could do would be to demand all urban Somali refugees register with the local chief in their area. This way the daily activities of the urban refugees could be more closely understood and monitored, and insecurity perpetrated by them could be reduced if not eliminated.
Kenya’s Somalis Face Urban Ejection
19 Feb – Source: Think Africa Press – 1013 Words
Kenya has experienced a spate of terrorist attacks in some of its major towns and cities since the Kenya Defence Forces intervened in Somalia in October 2011. Following the army’s invasion to root out al-Shabaab, the militant Islamist group – which had been dominant in southern and central Somalia – vowed to retaliate.
Over the last year, the group seems to have made real on its threats, claiming responsibility for a string of violent attacks in many parts of Kenya, especially Nairobi and the northern town of Garissa.
Most of the attacks in the capital Nairobi have occurred in Eastleigh, a residential and commercial estate predominantly populated by ethnic Somalis. In responding to the threat, the police has been accused of heavy handedness and targeting innocent citizens instead of carrying out genuine investigations and apprehending the real criminals.
Top tweets
@SongaStone #Uganda is opening an embassy in Mogadishu a move that further builds confidence #Somalia is on a road from war to stability.
@rogermid #Somalia media law to be discussed in light of new constitution – in one of most dangerous places to be a journo http://ow.ly/hSfrp.
@UNDPSomalia @UNDP Associate Administrator @RGrynspan met with #Somalia‘s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in #Mogadishu yesterday: pic.twitter.com/Sq0km8Rp.
@gcmcSomalia #Somalia World: UN must prepare for future potential missions – heads of peacekeeping, field s… http://bit.ly/XtX9NQ #crisismanagement.
@AJEnglish A Somali journalist sentenced to jail for reporting on a rape case will appeal in court today. Background here: http://aje.me/13dwsOi.
Image of the day
The United Nations’ global development network, UNDP’s Associate Administrator Rebeca Grynspan shakes hands with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud after their meeting in Mogadishu. Photo: @UNDPSomalia.