February 21, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Liberate Somalia From Al-Shabaab, Galmudug Tells Military Soldiers
21 February – Source: Radio Dalsan – 192 Words
Galmudug state’s Chief Minister, Mohamed Shakir Ali Hassan told soldiers that they should liberate Somalia from Al-Shabaab. Speaking at a passing out of military officers, Mr. Hassan said that they will have to defeat Al-Shabaab. “We are saying that our efforts are starting to bear fruits. You should be ready to liberate Somalia from Al-Shabaab. Liberate it from the enemy that is fighting and destroying the public. The enemy that doesn’t leave the old, the wise, the scholar or children,” Mr. Hassan said.
Mr. Hassan appreciated the trainees for their commitment in the course and said that Galmudug administration will motivate them to perform their duties. “Thank you for completing your training. God willing we will strive to support you and take care of the military’s needs so that you take care of your people,” said the First Minister. “After a lot of trainees pass out from this Balihowd training school, another new lot comes in,” he said in reference to the continuity of Galmudug’s military recruitment and training. Mr. Hassan was the leader of Ahlul Sunna Wal Jama’a which recently merged with Galmudug administration after a power-sharing deal was signed.
Key Headlines
- Liberate Somalia From Al-Shabaab Galmudug Tells Military Soldiers (Radio Dalsan)
- PM Khaire Hosts Youths Evacuated From Libya (Jowhar.com)
- Hirshabelle Releases Traders Arrested For Meeting With Al-Shabaab (Jowhar.com)
- U.S. Military Denies Al-Shabaab Killed Its Soldier In Somalia (Xinhuanet)
- Al-Shabaab Steps Up Extortion And Indoctrination As Morale Dips (The Guardian)
NATIONAL MEDIA
PM Khaire Hosts Youths Evacuated From Libya
21 February – Source: Jowhar.com – 124 Words
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire hosted a luncheon for Somali youths evacuated from Libya recently. Prime Minister Khaire hosted the repatriated youth at his home in Mogadishu. He was accompanied by ministers of security, interior and constitution. He listened to the harrowing accounts of the youths who were enslaved in Libya by human smugglers and gangs. They appealed to the prime minister to help them create a new life in their country. Prime Minister Khaire promised to attend to their problems saying that he already formed a special commission to address the needs of returning youth from Libya. He expressed his delight over the repatriation of Somali migrants from Libya and advised them to have confidence in their country and stop migrating to foreign countries.
Hirshabelle Releases Traders Arrested For Meeting With Al-Shabaab
21 February – Source: Jowhar.com – 89 Words
Reports from Jowhar say traders arrested for meeting Al-Shabaab were released Tuesday evening. The release of the 17 traders came after concerted efforts by the local business community and traditional elders in Jowhar. The released traders expressed their outrage over their arrest by the Middle Shabelle authorities and asked for an apology.They were arrested for attending an Al-Shabaab meeting in Gamboole area convened for local traders to discuss zakat payment. National Intelligence Agency (NISA) command in Middle Shabelle earlier cautioned the locals against seeking redress in Al-Shabaab courts.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
U.S. Military Denies Al-Shabaab Killed Its Soldier In Somalia
21 February – Source: Xinhuanet – 188 Words
The United States military confirmed Tuesday no American soldier was killed or injured in southern Somalia as claimed by the Islamist militant group, Al-Shabaab. The U.S. Africa Command (Africom), which oversees American troops on the continent, dismissed the report as incorrect that the insurgents killed the American soldier on the outskirts of Kismayo during a gunfight early Tuesday. “We are aware of the reports, but they are incorrect. No U.S military were killed or injured in Somalia, as alleged in the reports,” Africom spokesperson Samantha Reho told Xinhua.
The militants through their radio station, Andalus had reported that the American soldier was killed in a gun battle that took place outside Kismayo town on Tuesday morning. The allegations came amid intensified security operation by the African Union peacekeeping mission (AMISOM) backed by Somalia National Army (SNA) on Al-Shabaab controlled areas in the Lower Shabelle region, destroying several militant bases, checkpoints and explosives including an FM station run by Al-Shabaab. The allied forces have ramped up offensives against the militants as the African Union forces continue with the drawdown which started with 500 troops last December.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“A new military campaign launched by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and supported by the US has seen intensive drone strikes on al-Shabaab targets, putting the militants under significant pressure. Fears of spies have led to a series of internal purges.”
Al-Shabaab Steps Up Extortion And Indoctrination As Morale Dips
21 February – Source: The Guardian – 1239 Words
Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia are extorting huge sums from starving communities and forcibly recruiting hundreds of children as soldiers and suicide bombers as the terror group endures financial pressures and an apparent crisis of morale. Intelligence documents, transcripts of interrogations with recent defectors and interviews conducted by the Guardian with inhabitants of areas in the swath of central and southern Somalia controlled by al-Shabaab have shone a light on the severity of its harsh rule – but also revealed significant support in some areas.
Systematic human rights abuses on a par with those committed by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria are being conducted by the al-Qaida-affiliated Islamist militants as the west largely looks away because most analysts do not see the group as posing a threat to Europe, the UK or the US.
The group has put to death dozens of “criminals”, inflicted brutal punishments on homosexuals, conducted forced marriages, and used civilian populations as human shields. In one 2017 incident investigated by the Guardian, a man was stoned to death for adultery. In another, four men and a 16-year-old boy were shot dead by a firing squad after being accused of spying for the Somali authorities. In a third, a 20-year-old man and a 15-year-old boy were killed in a public square after being found guilty by a religious court of homosexuality. Last year at least five people were lashed publicly after being accused of “immoral or improper behaviour”. They included a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old who were given 100 lashes each for “fornication”. UN officials said they had received reports of stonings for adultery. The former al-Shabaab leader, Hassan Dahir Aweys, who defected in 2013, described the group’s aim as “Islamic government without the interference of the western powers in Somalia”.
Al-Shabaab, which once controlled much of south and central Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu, was forced to retreat to rural areas by a military force drawn from regional armies seven years ago. Since then it has proved resilient, and remains one of the most lethal terrorist organisations in the world, but appears to be suffering a crisis of morale and financial pressure, prompting the drive to squeeze revenue out of poor rural communities. One recent defector from central Somalia told government interrogators that the group forces “Muslims to pay for pretty much everything except entering the mosque”. Another said that al-Shabaab’s “finance ministry” – part of the extensive parallel government it has set up – is “hated” Al-Shabaab used to demand money or children from clans: now they demand both. The former mid-ranking commander, who defected four months ago, described how wells were taxed at $20,000 (£14,000) per month and a fee of $3.50 levied at water holes for every camel drinking there. One small town in Bai province was forced to pay an annual collective tax of a thousand camels, each worth $500, and several thousand goats, he said.
TOP TWEETS
@CPD_Africa:Shelter is a basic Human Right. With funding from@shf_somalia, @diakoniekh in partnership with @CPD_Africahelped 2500 IDPs in Adado, Galkaayo South & Dhusamareeb Districts through provision of emergency shelter & Non-Food-Item kits. #WithSomalia #SustainSomalisupport
@Ahmed_Yasto: #Somalia: President Bihi Pledges Free Learning #Materials For Students At Public #Schoolshttps://wargane.com/2018/02/
@HarunMaruf: Explosion from under-vehicle IED reported near village restaurant, Mogadishu, tonight. Driver of the car who is an employee of the local govt is unharmed, no other injuries reported so far: source
GEEL_Somali: Agricultural development is a key priority for the Somalia Government, represented today by #Somalia’s Acting Ambassador to UAE, Ahmed Dahir Mohamed, who enjoyed meeting Somali traders at the #SomaliaRising booth at#Gulfood2018. #BuildSomalia
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/
@DalsanFM: Liberate Somalia From Alshabaab, Galmudug Tells Military Soldiers – http://radiodalsan.com/en/
@adancabdulle: By @burke_jason Al-Shabaab steps up extortion and indoctrination as morale dipshttps://amp.theguardian.
@HarunMaruf: Finance Minister @DrBeileh defends 5% sales tax on goods, says it’s a requirement that govt covers costs, clears debt and does not get into local debt. He says businesses should now this tax is regulated by law. (Here is my extensive interview)
@US2SOMALIA: Members of the #Somali maritime police participate in a visit, board, search and seizure drill (VBSS) during exercise Cutlass Express 2018 in the Port of Djibouti Feb. 5, 2018. http://www.hoa.africom.mil/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Members of the Somali maritime police participate in a visit, board, search and seizure drill (VBSS) during exercise in the Port of Djibouti
PHOTO: @US2SOMALIA