February 26, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Al Shabaab kills government officials in Gedo
26 Feb – Source: Bar-kulan/Mareeg Online/Shabelle/Hiiraan Online – 128 words
Al Shabaab gunmen have on Monday night killed two government officials in Busaar , a small town in southwest Somalia region of Gedo, an army official has told Bar-kulan. Heavily armed militants shot dead the area Deputy Administration Officer Osman Abdinoor Abdirahman and the Head of Social Affairs Mohamed Hussein Ibrahim inside a restaurant in Busaar town, according to regional army spokesman Col. Warfa Sheikh Adan.
Col. Adan said Busar police boss was also present at the restaurant during the attack but managed to escape unhurt, adding that government troops are now pursuing the assailants who managed to escaped the scene of the incident. Busaar is just about 40 kilometres from the border town of El-Wak and is among the several towns in the region Al-Shabaab lost control early in 2011.
Key Headlines
- AMISOM forces and Somali troops take over new district (Shabelle/Radio Kulmiye)
- Al Shabaab kills government officials in Gedo (Bar-kulan/Mareeg Online/Shabelle/Hiiraan Online)
- Puntland urges hands off approach to formation of Jubaland after Kismayo fiasco (Radio Kulmiye)
- Somali teenager gets five to nine for piracy (Japan Times)
- Al Shabaab cannot ‘turn away from the truth’ as al Amriki saga continues (Sabahi Online)
- AfDB Re-engages with the Federal Government of Somalia (AFDB News)
- Kenyan Somalis May Lean Toward Odinga in Vote (VOA News)
SOMALI MEDIA
AMISOM forces and Somali troops take over new district
26 Feb – Source: Shabelle/Radio Kulmiye – 87 words
The Somali federal government together with the AMISOM forces which recently advanced to Dardab and the Jirada Kullow in Bay region, have secured the areas around the towns.
Al Shabaab was overpowered and had to flee the areas, handing the control of the towns to AMISOM and Somali government troops. The latest advances allowed the allied troops to consolidate their grip in Shabelle and Bay regions.
Al Shabaab kills government officials in Gedo
26 Feb – Source: Bar-kulan/Mareeg Online/Shabelle/Hiiraan Online – 128 words
Al Shabaab gunmen have on Monday night killed two government officials in Busaar , a small town in southwest Somalia region of Gedo, an army official has told Bar-kulan. Heavily armed militants shot dead the area Deputy Administration Officer Osman Abdinoor Abdirahman and the Head of Social Affairs Mohamed Hussein Ibrahim inside a restaurant in Busaar town, according to regional army spokesman Col. Warfa Sheikh Adan.
Col. Adan said Busar police boss was also present at the restaurant during the attack but managed to escape unhurt, adding that government troops are now pursuing the assailants who managed to escaped the scene of the incident.
Busaar is just about 40 kilometres from the border town of El-Wak and is among the several towns in the region Al-Shabaab lost control early in 2011.
Puntland urges hands off approach to formation of Jubaland after Kismayo fiasco
26 Feb – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 157 words
A press release from the office of the President of the Puntland state condemned the fighting in southern Somali port city of Kismayo and called on federal government in Mogadishu not interfere but ‘only assist’ the residents in that region to form their own administration.
President Abdirahman Sh. Mohamed Farole has also requested the international community to intervene the issues of the formation of Jubba regions administration and its services. The remarks by president Farole coincides with a time when the coastal town is occupied by the two factions.
Somali militants detain 12 Koranic teachers in central town
25 Feb – Source: Dhacdo Online – 154 words
Reports coming from Hiiraan Region say that Koranic teachers have been detained in Halgan town. They were rounded up after refusing to comply with the order issued by the local al Shabaab administration to attend a seminar.
Area residents, who declined to give their names, said al Shabaab fighters detained 12 Koranic teachers from the town’s mosque. They were all detained at the [police] station last night. As yet, there has been no word from the area al Shabaab administration on the matter, which has caused fear and concern among Halgan residents; they are speaking about the teachers’ detention in subdued tones.
Recently, a decapitated man’s body was placed in Buq Aqable village, Hiiraan Region. The man, said to be a doctor, had been pulled out of a vehicle by al Shabaab.
Data and cash stolen from Mogadishu airport
25 Feb – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 131 words
Abdullahi Gafow Mohamud, Somalia’s Immigration and Naturalization Department Chief spoke about the burglary that happened inside the airport of the Aden Adde International in Mogadishu
He said the thieves had stolen a cash money estimated at 260.000 $ and computer data and other files containing information. General Gafow said that all the surveillance cameras were switched off at the time of crime. A number of suspects who are believed to be behind the act were arrested and questioned by the Somali intelligence agency, he added.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab cannot ‘turn away from the truth’ as al Amriki saga continues
25 Feb – Source: Sabahi Online – 1466 Words
A document released February 18th by an unknown author claiming links to al Shabaab is further evidence that the ongoing saga surrounding American-born militant Omar Hammami is a serious — if not existential — threat to al Shabaab’s leadership.
The 17-page document, titled “Turning away from the truth won’t make it disappear: Demystifying the Abu Mansur saga”, is a comprehensive attempt to discredit and marginalise supporters of Hammami, also known as Abu Mansour al Amriki, by attacking his personality, motives and commitment to jihad.
“Time and money is being dedicated to limit the damage already done by the exposed rift [within al Shabaab],” said Samson Omusula, a Nairobi-based security consultant, adding that the militant group is sparing no effort in reaching a widespread audience.
“[The document] is an attempt [by al Shabaab] to portray itself to the group’s concerned financiers and sympathisers that it is united,” he told Sabahi. Little is known about the document’s alleged author, Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, other than what is offered in the text.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali teenager gets five to nine for piracy
26 Feb – Source: Japan Times – 151 words
An 18-year-old Somali was sentenced Monday to five to nine years by the Tokyo District Court for boarding and attempting to hijack a Bahama-registered oil tanker off the east coast of Africa in March 2011.
The defendant, whose name has been withheld because he is a minor, is one of four Somalis to face trial in Japan under a 2009 anti piracy law. The series of trials is being heard by three professional judges and six citizens under the lay judge system.
The 18-year-old admitted to participating in the assault on the tanker operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. but said he only aided the other three men. But presiding Judge Katsunori Ono ruled Monday that he was a full accomplice, and that because he was the only one who could speak English he was supposed to play a large role in the hijacking by communicating with the hostages.
AfDB Re-engages with the Federal Government of Somalia
25 Feb – Source: AFDB News – 228 words
An African Development Bank Group mission led by Abdirahman Beileh, Acting Director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department, and comprising members of the Fragile States Unit and the East Africa Regional Resource Centre (EARC), visited Mogadishu, Federal Republic of Somalia, from February 14 to 19, 2013.
The objective of the mission was to consult with the authorities of the Federal Republic of Somalia on strategic issues related to economic and institutional development priorities to pave the way for future Bank activities and operations in the country, as peace and reconciliation are rapidly becoming a reality.
The mission to Somalia was preceded by a roundtable meeting with key development partners actively involved in Somalia for information sharing in Nairobi, chaired by Gabriel Negatu, Director of the EARC.
In Mogadishu, the mission met with Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the Prime Minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon, and other high-level Government officials from the Ministries of Finance and Planning, National Resources, Human Development and the Governor of the Central Bank of Somalia.
Kenyan Somalis May Lean Toward Odinga in Vote
25 Feb – Source: VOA News – 121 words
In Kenya, political coalitions usually are formed on the basis of tribal alliance and who can get the most votes from their base. With next week’s presidential vote looking to be a close contest, though, minority tribes have a bigger role to play.
The latest public-opinion poll shows Prime Minister Raila Odinga running neck-and-neck with Uhuru Kenyatta in the presidential race. Political observers estimate the tribes of the two men and their running mates account for about 10 million of Kenya’s 14 million registered voters.
Political analyst Adam Oloo, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, said Odinga’s CORD coalition and Kenyatta’s Jubilee coalition are tribal-based, but minority tribes are likely to go with the one that has a national image.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“In Somali, The word “waan ku dilayaa” is common word that expresses disapproval and depends in the context that is used. For instance, when children playing around get angry from one another they say “waan ku dilayaa”. Even it is common to hear parent say to their children (“waan ku dilayaa” if you do so and so or if you do it again). When teens and adults get angry from each other they use “waan ku dialayaa” the same objective which they mean “I will beat you up”. It is obvious that the parents don’t mean killing their children but instead to show the child disapproval of his/her action and the consequence will be punishment.”
Choosing the right word might help!
24 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online – 1448 Words
A married couple who lived together had disagreement on very minor family issues. The wife, a home stay mother who recently had a baby and dealing with post partum condition; did physically attacked her husband.
She punched him on the face and left a bleeding lip. She was then afraid that her husband may respond to her and do harm to her. She then called 911. When she realized that her husband left her and went into another room in the house she hanged up the telephone before she spoke to the 911 operator. Apparently, she did not know by hanging up the phone will not stop her request for help.
A few minutes later, police officer knocked the door and as the culture is the husband responded the door knock. The police saw from his face signs of injury and asked what happened to him and who did the injuries to him. Due to the husband’s limited English language he replied “she is crazy.” The police officers were not able to really understand the expression behind husband’s “she is crazy” response.
The police officer immediately called crisis intervention from the local hospital with the assumption that the wife is mentally ill. The police asked medical professionals mental health evaluation for her. She was taken to the hospital and later charged with one count of domestic assault and two counts of disorderly conduct. The evaluation led to questions on her parenting capability and how she is able to take of her four children including three weeks old baby since she is mentally ill.
The husband admitted that he would better use another word that he would appropriately express his disapproval of his wife’s action but he never meant that she is mentally ill and needs treatment. Another scenario on the same topic, Another day I was called to interpret on a jury trial for a defendant who is charged with domestic assault and a terroristic threat. The alleged victim claims the defendant assaulted her and threatened that he will kill her after their relationship became infertile.
“There is a boom of private sector businesses all over Somalia and is growing. Foreign investments will come as soon as a conducive environment is created. Tax revenue will then increase covering our routine domestic service needs. Then we can be more assertive in the world stage and reclaim our pride.”
Some Insights into the Current Administration
25 Feb – Source: Hiiraan Online – 865 Words
Since the new government was inaugurated three months back, we have been seeing and hearing rumours about its unusual modus operandi. In fact, there are less generation of sensational daily news and the armchair warriors are bored to death.
The team work and the harmony among the different levels of the government proved to be unacceptable to some sectors of the society that used to benefit from the discord and developed persistent civil war mentality. The cyber blogs owned by different interest groups are not getting enough hits for lack of leaks from the highest government offices.
The private TV channels are not happy reporting only about reconstruction and improved security. Some foreign interest groups who were political handlers of the previous transitional governments will do everything to torpedo the momentum, so they can maintain their relevance. The war merchants built upon the ashes of the destruction smelled law and order coming on the way and they will not hesitate to defame the major political players and sabotage the process. There is complex web of interconnectivity among those groups and they use the news outlets to give distorted images of the facts. Above all, people see the political landscape largely through the lens of the media.
Top tweets
@UNPOSomalia #Somali Minister for Social Development and Public Services, Maryam Qasim meeting #UNPOS staff in #Mogadishu. pic.twitter.com/2v8yHEfGsC.
@Refugees Good luck to the crew & all-refugee cast of @ASAD_film, #Oscar nom for best short film! Download: http://ow.ly/hVALC #Somalia.
@albanyassociate Football practice in #Mogadishu http://www.flickr.com/photos/
@amisomsomalia PHOTO OF THE DAY: #AMISOM & #Somali National Army (SNA) troops make their advance in the #Bay region pic.twitter.com/L8r5yeHtaW.
@MissBihi #Somali community in #Cardiff to stage the De Gabay, a performance of poetry and music based around their lives – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
@GEESKA_AFRICA In pictures: #Mogadishu‘s first modern mall is under construction. pic.twitter.com/G1D5VwaVOT.
Image of the day
Soldiers from Djibouti contingent, serving under AMISOM pray in the evening at their base on the outskirts of Beledweyne, central Somalia. Photo: AMISOM.