February 23, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

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Dutch Dual Nationals In Mogadishu Hotel Suicide Bombings

21 Feb – Source: AFP/Yahoo News – 392 Words

Twin suicide bombings at a Mogadishu hotel popular with government ministers and officials that killed 25 people were carried out by Dutch-Somali nationals, Somali intelligence sources said Saturday. Somali intelligence believe both bombers — a man and a woman — were Dutch-Somali citizens who infiltrated the Central Hotel close to the presidential palace to carry out the attack on Friday. Sources within the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said the man, identified as Ismail Muse, detonated a bomb in a car parked at the hotel while the woman, Lula Ahmed Dahir, set off her explosive vest inside the hotel’s prayer room. The woman “worked part-time in the hotel for up to four months,” according to an intelligence report seen by AFP. “Her relationship to the male attacker… is not yet known but is thought to be very close, if not husband,” said the report.

The attack left 25 people dead including two MPs, the deputy mayor of Mogadishu, the prime minister’s private secretary and the deputy prime minister’s chief of staff. Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Arte as well as the ministers of transport and of port and marine resources were among dozens injured in the blasts. Heavy gunfire followed the two explosions as nervous security forces searched the hotel compound. “The building was badly hit, the explosion was very big,” said police officer Abulrahman Ali. “There were very many wounded people too, many of them seriously.” Thick clouds of black smoke were seen pouring from the hotel as the injured were rushed to hospital.

Key Headlines

Mohamud Guelleh Tour Djiboutian Peacekeeping Force Bases (Garowe Online)
Former Somali Lawmaker Says He Knew Hotel Suicide Bomber (Xikmo News)
Arrests Made After Mogadishu Hotel Bombing (Hiiraan Online)
Modest And Fragile Food Security Improvements (Somali Globe)
IDPs Evicted From Camps In Kismayo (Radio Ergo)
Joseph Nkaiserry Says Terrorists Now Using Mosques (Standard Media)
Kenya Endorses New Somalia State (The Star)
Dutch Dual Nationals In Mogadishu Hotel Suicide Bombings (AFP/Yahoo News)
Al-Shabaab Threatens Malls Some In U.S.; FBI downplays threat (CNN)
Turkey Extends Naval Mission In Gulf of Aden (Turkish Weekly)
The Hollywood Pirate Returning To Somalia (Newsweek)
Choking Off The Somali Hawala (Warscapes)

SOMALI MEDIA

Mohamud, Guelleh Tour Djiboutian Peacekeeping Force Bases

22 Feb – Source: Garowe Online – 142 Words

Federal Government of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud along with Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh paid a visit to the central Somali town of Beledweyne on Sunday, Garowe Online reports. AMISOM commanders, traditional leaders and Hiran region administration officials received the two at Ugas Khalif airport. Mohamud and Guelleh observed a guard of honor staged by a division from African Union peacekeepers. The tour follows a visit by Djibouti Defence Force commander-in-chief Zakariye Sheikh Ibrahim to Beledweyne last week. On the eve of the IGAD summit in Mogadishu, the Djiboutian Foreign Affairs Minister pledged some 1000 additional peacekeepers for the UN-backed central government in Mogadishu. More than 22,000-strong AU forces prop-up government forces in the fight against Al Shabaab militants in central and southern Somalia.

Former Somali Lawmaker Says He Knew Hotel Suicide Bomber

22 Feb – Source: Xikmo News – 182 Words

Former Somali Member of Parliament Salat Ali Jelle said Saturday that he personally knew the woman suicide bomber who attacked Central Hotel in Mogadishu on Friday. Jelle said he knewDutch national Lul Ahmed, who blew herself up, killing more than 25 people including two lawmakers, and wounding over 45 others. Ahmed was his favorite receptionist at the hotel, and it never occurred to him that she would carry out such deadly attack, the official said. “She was one of the most active receptionists at the hotel and I used to joke with her. She was like my daughter,” Jelle told Xinhua in Mogadishu, adding that Ahmed was warm, welcoming and very respectful. The former lawmaker survived the deadly attack in the hotel, which is popular with senior government officials and foreigners. Somali security agencies have since taken over the home of female suicide bomber in Mogadishu for further investigation. Somali militants Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they targeted government ministers and lawmakers who gathered at the hotel for Fridayprayers ahead of a national holiday.

Arrests Made After Mogadishu Hotel Bombing

21 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online – 190 Words

Somalia’s security forces arrested dozens of staffers after a hotel was bombed by the Al-Qaeda-linked group, killing dozens including top Somali government officials, Somalia’s security minister said. On Friday, a car bomb parked inside Central hotel and a suicide bomber have killed at least 25 people, including two legislators, politicians and wounded top officials including the deputy prime minister. Surprised by the access into the hotel, Somalia’s intelligence forces have arrested the employees of the hotel for interrogation after reports emerged that some staffers facilitated the attack that shocked the nation. Somalia’s security minister Abdirizaq Mohamed told reporters that 12 employees including security guards and two managers for the hotel were arrested. “We believe they facilitated the attack, though investigations are underway,” he said. He urged hotel owners to ensure the security of their properties, preventing militants from using them to carry out attacks in the city. Friday’s attack wounded more than 40 people including the deputy prime minister Mohamed Omar Arteh who was airlifted for treatment on Saturday.

Modest And Fragile Food Security Improvements

21 Feb – Source: Somali Globe – 281 Words

Fewer people face acute food insecurity, but progress is easily reversible. About 731,000 Somalis face acute food insecurity while an additional 2.3 million people are at risk of sliding into the same situation, bringing the number of Somalis in need to about 3 million. Internally displaced people living in urban areas are among the most vulnerable and make up 76 per cent of those facing acute food insecurity. Overall, this is an improvement from six months ago when over 1 million people were unable to feed their families and 2.1 million were on the verge of acute food insecurity, according to post-harvest findings from the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU), led by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET).

Relatively good October to December rains, improved flow of goods and humanitarian assistance have helped prevent a worsening of the humanitarian situation and allowed a number of people in the most affected areas to get back on their feet and not constantly have to worry about the next meal. However, whilst it is good news that conditions have not worsened further, this should be seen as a short reprieve from the most acute situation. A poor rainy season could reverse the humanitarian situation to where it was six months ago or worse. The Humanitarian Coordinator on 29 January stated that the outlook for 2015 remains worrisome and that it is an essential prerequisite to continue to do everything we can to address the current humanitarian needs to prevent the relapse of a major crisis that could jeopardize recent historic peace- and state-building gains.

IDPs Evicted From Camps In Kismayo

20 Feb – Source: Radio Ergo – 418 Words

Hundreds of displaced people have been evicted from camps on government owned and private land in recent months by the Interim Juba authorities and landowners. Some 328 families are reported to have been forced to move from their temporary shelters in various places. In the past week, 84 families were told by landowners to vacate the Lafole camp. The affected families were prevented from shifting temporarily to another plot in the town, and later camped at Dalhiska on the outskirts of town. Siidi Muse Amina, 60, with 16 family members, told Radio Ergo he had lived in Lafole camp for two and half years. The landowner ordered them out saying he wanted to build on the land. “We moved to a land near Qilmawaye hotel close to the beach, but we were also stopped from putting up huts there. We are currently at the Dalhiska, and we have not yet tried to build huts since we have not been officially allowed to do so.”

A further 180 families in Barawe camp have also been forced out. Ruqiya Mohamed Ahmed, 36, appealed to humanitarian organizations to intervene to help her and 12 family members. “I have been outside since yesterday with no shelter for my children. We don’t have anywhere to keep our belongings, so we request the administration and the aid agencies to help us,” she said. Similarly another group of 45 families in Daljir camp building have been ordered to vacate. “We were moved out of Daljir camp in the former maize factory compound. The administration ordered us out and we were forced to carry our belongings on our heads. The government has the right to reclaim its land, we are not against that, but we don’t have alterative places to move to and make new houses,” said one of the displaced.

The Lower Jubba Governor, Dr Abdirashid Ali Gone, admitted that his administration was involved in the evictions. “There is an ongoing plan to evict people, whether IDPs or individuals, who are squatting in government buildings. The administration needs these premises for its own use. For those people moved from the Caymiska building, we gave them some small financial assistance to help ease their relocation process,” he said. However, he said there was no plan to compensate those evicted nor to give them alternative land and shelter. He said he would send an appeal to the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) and Kismayo’s business committee to assist the evicted displaced people.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Joseph Nkaiserry Says Terrorists Now Using Mosques

22 Feb – Source: Standard Media – 191 Words

Terrorists are using protected institutions like mosques and refugee camps to fan terrorism and violent extremism, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has told a conference in the United States. Nkaissery said there is a growing use of electronic medium to recruit, incite and even train candidates for extremism. He told a White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism in the US that Kenya also shares a 700 kilometer border with Somalia, where Al-Shabaab bases are located.

“The doctrine of terrorism is encouraging the use of local persons to plan and execute attacks. In line with this, the Al Shabaab is luring Kenyan youths and using their bases in Somalia to recruit, radicalize, train and plan terrorist attacks against Kenya and the region,” he said. The summit, which started on February 18 and will run until the 24th aims to develop an action agenda to address the phenomenon of violent extremism. The Summit will build on President Obama’s call to action at the September 2014 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for all countries to do more to address violent extremism within their borders and regions.

Kenya Endorses New Somalia State

21 Feb – Source: The Star – 717 Words

Kenya has endorsed the latest regional state in Somalia, a move that is likely to offend Mogadishu.
The Central government of the neighboring country has been uncomfortable with Kenya’s “continued fragmentation” of its fragile administration. Deputy President William Ruto yesterday hosted the president of the new South West State of Somalia, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan in his Karen home in Nairobi. “Kenya would assist in stabilising individual states of the Federal Government of Somalia as prerequisite to bringing stability to the whole country and the region at large,” Ruto said. Sharif Hassan is a former Finance minister and speaker of parliament. He was ousted in 2011 as speaker after he held “unauthorised” talks with the Union of Islamic Courts which later morphed into the al Shabaab militia group. He has business interests in Nairobi as well.

Mogadishu has been uncomfortable with Kenya’s “crowning” of regional leaders in the name of Somalia’s unity and prosperity. Last May, Somalia temporarily recalled its ambassador, partly in protest of Kenya’s close association with the Jubaland region. The Interim South West State of Somalia which brings together the Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions has its capital in Baidoa and it borders Jubaland to the east. It was inaugurated in November last year in a process supported by Intergovernmental Authority on Development and United Nations Operations in Somalia. Baidoa is the headquarters of African Union Mission to Somalia’s Sector Three, manned by Kenyan and Ethiopian forces. It is considered an important town in the fight against al Shabaab. The formation of the state in Last November was vehemently opposed by the Somalia’s parliament led by speaker Mohamed Osman Jawaari. There were also demonstrations in Baidoa opposing the new administration. The South West state becomes the fourth semi-autonomous state of Somalia. Others are Puntland, Somaliland and Jubaland.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Al-Shabaab Threatens Malls, Some In U.S.; FBI Downplays Threat

22 Feb – Source: CNN – 775 Words – Video – 3:17 Minutes

Terror group Al-Shabaab has released online a video calling for attacks on shopping malls in Canada, the UK and the United States. But “there is no indication of any specific, real threat” against malls in the U.S., according to FBI spokesman Rich Quinn. Another U.S. law enforcement official familiar with the situation also told CNN that there is no actual working threat against any mall in the country and added that no one should avoid going to the mall because of the online threat. Al-Shabaab, an al Qaeda-linked terror group, apparently posted the video Saturday. The group talks about its September 2013 attack on a mall in Kenya. The brazen four-day siege left more than 60 people dead at an upscale mall in Nairobi. In its new video, Al-Shabaab calls for similar attacks on malls in the three Western countries. Al-Shabaab identified specific malls, but CNN will not list them unless they respond publicly.

Quinn told CNN that “there is no doubt Al-Shabaab would like to carry out an attack on a U.S. mall, but they are in a pretty weakened state.” The “bigger danger is their ability to inspire homegrown violent extremists inside the U.S. who might see this propaganda and decide to act,” Quinn said. “Do we believe Al-Shabaab is sending operatives to the U.S.? No,” he said. The new threat against malls did not alter the threat level in the United States, Quinn added. “Al-Shabaab’s desire to conduct an attack is there, but their capability and access is probably not,” he said. “This is more of a call to arms. Seeing the attention other groups like ISIS and (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) are getting, they are ringing their own bell.” Jeh Johnson, the secretary of homeland security, spoke on CNN on Sunday, saying, “If anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today, they’ve got to be particularly careful.” “There will be enhanced security there,” he said, “but public vigilance, public awareness and public caution in situations like this is particularly important, and it’s the environment we’re in, frankly.”

Turkey Extends Naval Mission In Gulf of Aden

21 Feb – Source: Turkish Weekly – 651 Words

Experts agree that Turkey’s decision to extend its mandate in NATO’s operation in the Gulf of Aden is strategically important. Turkey’s parliament approved on February 3rd a motion to extend the mandate of Turkish Naval Forces in the Gulf of Aden for one more year. The recent extension, calling for the further participation of Turkish ships in NATO’s international anti-piracy mission, Operation Ocean Shield (OOS), was first approved in 2009. OOS aims to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast while increasing the level of security for commercial vessels. The North Atlantic Council extended its counter-piracy mission in 2014 for two more years, until the end of 2016. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, a law professor at Istanbul Medipol University, said the region is critical for Turkey’s foreign trade activities.

As the number of Turkish ships using the route increases, Ankara further co-operates with the international community to contribute to the security of maritime trade channels and decrease the threat of piracy, Topal said. “On the other hand, this latest decision from the Turkish parliament to extend the mission’s term is a necessity within the current foreign policy that Turkey follows. It is consistent with Turkey’s policy in adopting an active role regarding the international problems that occur beyond its borders,” Topal told SES Türkiye. Topal also noted that the active participation of Turkey in OOS ensured that Turkish commercial ships face fewer attacks during their navigation period through the region. “Turkish armed forces provide security for the international humanitarian aid channelling to this region. In fact, during the famine in Somalia, the Turkish Navy provided security for the Red Crescent aid ships,” he added.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The story goes that Somalia’s struggling fishermen eventually said enough was enough, and armed themselves to fight the foreign ships laying waste to their seas. What began as a coastguard operation became a thriving hijack and ransom business that took nearly half a billion dollars between 2005 and 2012, averaging $2.7m per ship. Any vessel was fair game if it had the capacity to pay. Keffiyeh-clad, gun-toting Somalis struck fear into insurance brokers in the City of London and brought piracy’s image up to date.”

The Hollywood Pirate Returning To Somalia

20 Feb – Source: Newsweek – 3,068 Words

Piracy was good to Omar Hassan. The skinny Somali fisherman in his mid-twenties throws his head back and rolls his eyes. “There were way too many fish,” he laughs. Five years ago, Somali pirates were attacking foreign ships in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian sea on a near-daily basis. Their cold-blooded assaults scared off the unlicensed European and Asian fishing vessels that for years had been pillaging Somalia’s seas. Under the pirates, Somalis felt safe to fish anywhere, and marine stocks grew. Hassan started fishing in 2000, aged 10 – it is all the only trade he knows. But last month, he quit. Piracy is now dead, thanks to a multilateral effort to stamp it out, and the unlicensed foreign fishing vessels are back. Just as piracy was good to the fishermen of Somalia, Hassan says, Nato’s $75m anti-piracy task force has been good to those foreigners wishing to plunder her seas.

The conditions Hassan describes today are almost exactly the same as those 10 years ago that drove Somalis to attack foreign fishing vessels in an attempt to recoup some of their losses, giving birth to a multi-billion dollar piracy industry. By 2005, according to the UN, Somalia was losing $300m to illegal fishing every year. The Federal Republic of Somalia has the longest coastline on mainland Africa, but now, artisanal fishing is not a viable income stream, according to residents in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, the region at the tip of the horn of East Africa. “I’m jobless,” Hassan says, “and I’m not the only one. Our options are either to become a charcoal maker, a pirate, to join al-Shabaab [the Islamist military group], or to starve or beg.” I ask if the rebirth of piracy is really an option, and he looks glum. “As long as Nato is there, it’s a dead end. If they’re not, then it becomes an option. Nato? We can’t take on that.”

Somalian piracy got the Hollywood treatment in 2013, when director Paul Greengrass presented the 2009 hijacking of the US-flagged Maersk Alabama in a blockbuster film Captain Phillips starring Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. Abdi’s skeletal frame and protruding teeth made him the spitting image of the real-life pirate, Abduwali Muse. But while Abdi walked the red carpets picking up a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination, Muse languished in a US prison cell, making history as the first person charged with piracy in an American court in over a century. The fates of these two Somali men, both infants when the ongoing civil war started in 1991, diverged the day Abdi escaped the country to Yemen and then Minnesota. Muse remained in Somalia as the country descended further into anarchy. Seventeen years later, he turned to piracy to survive.

“When we consider the larger economic impact of the Merchant Bank decision, we see that this is not just a simple mater of compliance. It is a matter of market aggression. Traditional U.S. money corporations like the Western Union, Money Gram, and Barclays will almost certainly step in to fill the void left by the small Somali companies, and make billions of dollars in the process.”

Choking Off The Somali Hawala

20 Feb – Source: Warscapes – 937 Words

In the global imagination, the conceptual idea of Somalia derives from the notion of the uncanny, fantastic and primitive savage. The mainstream media has managed to frame this oriental construction of Somalia using the dehumanizing nomenclature of “pirates,” “warlords” and “terrorists.” These caricatures are exhumed from a long-dead history and then projected as marauders of our twenty-first century conscience. It began with Black Hawk Down operation, then carried on following the manhunt for three mysterious figures accused of bombing the East African American embassies in 1998. They had supposedly sought ayslum in Somalia. A decade later, a drone attack targeted one of the accused bombers yet no one saw the body, as much as these gruesome events are paraded trophy-like on the news. Anything goes and is justifiable under the auspices of the War on Terror – including the suspension of the rule of law, by the rule of exception. Somalia has faced this again, again and again. The idea of collective punishment is something too well known and almost internalized, even by Africans themselves.

The most recent decision by the Merchant Bank to stop processing Somali money transferring organizations in the United States should be construed as part of this continuum. The Merchant Bank out of California processed 80 percent ($250 million) of the funds being transferred by these businesses. Their claim that it’s “too risky,” is based on compliancy concerns regarding U.S. Treasury Department regulations. There is no evidence to corroborate this worry about “risk” or anything else to substantiate the bank’s response. In the decade after 9/11, the treasury, the F.B.I and American intelligence agencies have been keenly watching—with something of a forensic eye—Muslims in the United States. From student organizations at American colleges to the money transfers of Muslim citizens to their families and friends abroad, government surveillance knows no bounds. Despite it all, they haven’t found much—here in the States, or abroad.