February 6, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Mogadishu residents question security measures after two nights of explosions
06 Feb- Source: Sabahi Online-1107 Words
After two consecutive nights of bombardments in Mogadishu, residents have been left wondering whether the newly implemented security measures in the capital are sufficient to protect them from militant attacks. Officials said al Shabaab fired “improvised devices”Sunday and Monday nights (February 2nd-3rd) in the vicinity of the Somali presidential residence and in six other districts of Mogadishu, including Hamarweyne, Hamar Jajab, Waberi and Warta Nabada.
“There are no deaths or property damage caused by the explosions in the six districts,” Benadir Regional Commanding Officer General Mohamed Yusuf Omar Madaale said on Radio Mogadishu. “We know that these are improvised devices from the investigations carried out by a group of explosives experts who are part of the Somali police force.”
A number of suspects have been arrested in connection to the events, and al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attacks via Radio Andalus on Monday. Although no casualties or damages were reported, the blasts still rattled residents.
Key Headlines
- Security operation launched in parts of Mogadishu (Bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan/Radio Mogadishu)
- UAE Red Crescent delivers medical supplies aid to Mogadishu medics (SNTV/Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan/Shabelle)
- Somali Egyptian basketball federations to boost cooperation (Hiiraan Online)
- Information Ministers holds consultative meeting with media stakeholders in Mogadishu (SNTV/Radio Mogadishu/RBC/Bar-kulan)
- Mogadishu residents question security measures after two nights of explosions (Sabahi Online)
- Kenya Police to probe 3 Mombasa mosque laptops (Star-Kenya)
- UN calls for increased humanitarian efforts in Somalia (Xinhua/Global Times)
PRESS RELEASE
Prime Minister: “Education is the only solution to rid our country of FGM and protect our young girls from this barbaric act”
06 Feb- Source: Office of the Prime Minister-308 Words
Today is the eleventh anniversary of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This important Day was first declared by four African first ladies on February 6, 2003, aimed at bringing people around the world together to put an end to female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).
FGM affects millions of women across Africa with the practice often performed by untrained practitioners, without anesthesia, using unsterilized and crude instruments. The barbaric act causes intense physical and mental harm, the procedure poses severe short- and long-term health risks.
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, said: “FGM is not a religious practice it is a horrific act that is simply an abuse of a young girl’s human rights. Let’s be clear it is an absolutely unacceptable practice and an act that will soon be illegal under Somali law, is against the provisional constitution and will be incorporated into our final constitution. “I want to take this opportunity to thank the brave FGM activists and campaigners doing tremendous work helping to educate, change attitudes and protect women in Somalia.
“Education is the only solution to rid our country and protect our young girls from this barbaric act. There is a lot of work to be done by the government, NGOs and Somali communities to change social attitudes and cultural practices. Somali women and men must unite to protect the rights of our young girls.”
Speaking at FGM Conference in Djibouti, Minister for Women and Human Rights, Khadija Mohamed Diriye, said: “My Ministry will take every step to protect and strengthen the rights of women and young girls. “We are committed to ending this horrific assault on young women. Providing the education and alternate livelihoods for FGM practitioners as well as working with community leaders to raise awareness of the short term and long term physical harm FGM causes.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Security operation launched in parts of Mogadishu
06 Feb- Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan/Radio Mogadishu-133 Words
Security forces Thursday launched operations to strengthen security in parts of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. Forces launched their operation along the industrial road, adjacent neighborhoods and parts of Daynile and Heliwa districts, with soldiers searching homes for weapons and suspects, according to the local media. Reports added that many people have been arrested, most of them are youth.
Security officials in Mogadishu are yet to comment on the operations which started following night attacks witnessed on the seaside city in recent days.
Meanwhile, Somali traffic police commander has warned motorists to adhere the traffic lights and rules or risk imprisonment and fine. Gen. Ali Hersi Barre ‘Gaab’ said many motorists in Mogadishu have been ignoring the traffic rules, especially road lights, adding that the police have launched crackdown and so far 12 drivers are in custody to answer charges.
UAE Red Crescent delivers medical supplies aid to Mogadishu medics
06 Feb- Source: SNTV/Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan/Shabelle-154 Words
Medical donation comprising 30 cartons, including malaria medicine from the Red Crescent Association of United Arab Emirates has today reached Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
The medicine donated by the Leader of the United Arab Emirates, who is also Crown Prince of Abu-Dhabi Khalif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was delivered to Medina hospital in Mogadishu .
Medina hospital director Dr Mohamed Yusuf received the donation and thanked donors for helping the hospital treat patients with malaria.
15 cartons of the donation were also delivered to Association Somali Doctors in Mogadishu. While receiving the donation, Dr Mohammed Moahmmud, who is a representative of Somali doctors association said it is the first type of grant received from the Red Crescent Society of the United Arab Emirates.
The head of the UAE Red Crescent projects for Somalia Abdul Hamed Suleymani said that the assistance was as result of need to combat malaria which he said was prevalent in Somalia.
Somali, Egyptian basketball federations to boost cooperation
06 Feb- Source: Hiiraan Online-211 Words
The Somali Basketball Federation has re-established contact with its Egyptian counterparts as both organizations hope to strengthen ties and improve cooperation. Somalia’s Basketball Federation Deputy President for Development and Technical Affairs and former National women’s basketball player, Mrs. Hawa Sheik Ahmed Taako, held a lengthy meeting with Egyptian Basketball Federation officials in Cairo.
“During my visit to the Egyptian Basketball Federation headquarters in Cairo last week, I met with the Egyptian Basketball Federation President, Mr. Mr Magdy Abo-frekha; his Deputy, Mr. Mohamed; and Executive Committee member, Mr Khaled El-Koussy . We decided that both nations will have friendly matches in the near future,” Mrs. Hawa Sheik Ahmed Taako said in a press statement on Wednesday.
The Somali Basketball Federation is very hopeful of rebuilding its ties with the rest of the world and hopes to travel abroad for more friendly competitions.
“Before the collapse, Somalia was one of the stronger basketball nations in Africa, but after more than 22 years of setbacks, we now want to revive and regain our lost basketball reputation” Mrs. Hawa Sheik Ahmed Taako said.
The Pan Arab Basketball Federation Secretary General, Mr. Hanafi Abu Dhalha, said that he was very happy with the re-establishment of contact between the Arab League Basketball and the Somali Basketball Federation.
Information Ministers holds consultative meeting with media stakeholders in Mogadishu
05 Feb- Source: SNTV/Radio Mogadishu/RBC/Bar-kulan-310 Words
The newly appointed Information Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Mustaf Dhuhulow on Wednesday held the first consultative meeting with the Somali media fraternity in Mogadishu to discuss the ongoing media reform initiatives.
The meeting attended by the Deputy Minister of Information Abdullahi Olad Roble, senior media practitioners and government officials discussed the development of the relation between the media stakeholders and the government. At the end of the consultative meeting, the participants announced four points communique in which the country’s independent media called for quick reform to the ongoing draft media law which the former minister proposed but contained some contentious articles and restrictions against the work of the independent media.
On behalf of the independent media in Somalia, the Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists [NUSOJ] Mohamed Ibrahim has supported the communique from the consultative meeting and emphasized the need for creating an environment that will always allow the work of the free press and that government should make sure that no journalist will be in trouble for the sake of his profession. The Information Minister Mustaf Dhuhulow who wrapped up the meeting hailed the call from the Somali fraternity, pledging that his ministry will uphold the freedom of expression and that the media will be free to cover any story that has of value and interest to its public.
Somali expats plan to rebuild Somalia’s embassy in Belgium
05 Feb- Source: Hiiraan Online-408 Words
Somali expatriates in some Western countries are planning to help the reconstruction of the country’s embassy building in Belgium which wasn’t renovated since Somalia fell into anarchy more than two decades ago. The issue was raised during a meeting at the embassy compound between Somali ambassador to Belgium Ali Said Fiqi and members from the Somali communities in the UK and Holland who visited the embassy in a bid to foster how to get the old compound rebuild for the first time in decades.
Ambassador Ali Said Fiqi who first addressed at the meeting outlined the Somali community members about the embassy compound, how much reconstruction it needed and the amount of money wanted for the rebuilding of the embassy compound. “It really cheers me to meet such Somali nationals who are interested in helping the reconstruction of the embassy compound which wasn’t renovated for a long time” Somalia’s ambassador to Belgium told the meeting with the Somali community members this week.
Radio Bar-kulan now transmits to Beledweyne
05 Feb- Source: Bar-kulan-145 Words
Residents in Beledweyne city can now listen to Radio Bar-kulan via 92 MHz FM frequency. This is the 7th city in Somalia that Radio Bar-kulan reached. Radio Bar-kulan director, Mohamed Dahir Farah congratulated the residents of Beledweyne on the transmission, saying Bar-kulan is an impartial public radio.
“This is the first time a public radio is established in Beledweyne. We promise to air accurate news and beneficial programs to the residents.” Farah said. The director added that they are planning to reach more cities in the country. “To the people of Beledweyne, I say Bar-kulan is your station, enjoy it and tell us what you think.” Farah said.
Radio Bar-kulan is a 24 hour broadcasting station and can be listened in Mogadishu, Garowe, Bosaso, Galka’yo, Baidoa, Kismayo, Dhusamareb and Beledweyne. It also has a Live Streaming via http://www.bar-kulan.com and 24 hours Thaicom 5 Satellite service.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Mogadishu residents question security measures after two nights of explosions
06 Feb- Source: Sabahi Online-1107 Words
After two consecutive nights of bombardments in Mogadishu, residents have been left wondering whether the newly implemented security measures in the capital are sufficient to protect them from militant attacks. Officials said al Shabaab fired “improvised devices” Sunday and Monday nights (February 2nd-3rd) in the vicinity of the Somali presidential residence and in six other districts of Mogadishu, including Hamarweyne, Hamar Jajab, Waberi and Warta Nabada.
“There are no deaths or property damage caused by the explosions in the six districts,” Benadir Regional Commanding Officer General Mohamed Yusuf Omar Madaale said on Radio Mogadishu. “We know that these are improvised devices from the investigations carried out by a group of explosives experts who are part of the Somali police force.”
A number of suspects have been arrested in connection to the events, and al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attacks via Radio Andalus on Monday. Although no casualties or damages were reported, the blasts still rattled residents.
Kenya Police to probe 3 Mombasa mosque laptops
06 Feb- Source: Star-Kenya-451 Words
DETECTIVES in Mombasa yesterday handed over three laptops seized at Masjid Musa mosque to the Cyber Crime Unit in Nairobi. Their contents will now scrutinised for links to extremist elements.
“The laptops were switched off and require passwords to be opened by detectives who will thoroughly examine their contents before compiling a report,” said Mombasa deputy police boss Tom Okoth.
“We have a specialized unit that is expected to analyze the electronic contents to assist to unearth al Shabaab operation in the country,” added Okoth.
Police sources said that they believe the three computers may contain Jihad training materials, sermons and details of al Shabaab networks in Kenya including possible financiers.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN calls for increased humanitarian efforts in Somalia
06 Feb- Source: Xinhua/Global Times-421 Words
A senior UN relief official for Somalia on Wednesday warned against complacency in the wake of a slight improvement in humanitarian response in the Horn Africa nation.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia Philippe Lazzarini said the momentum of the humanitarian response in Somalia has to be maintained for a country still recovering from the 2011 famine, which killed over 260,000 people in excess mortality.
“Much of this incremental improvement is due to the rapid and focused actions of humanitarian agencies who responded to early warnings of the potentially poor harvests issued at the end of 2013,” Lazzarini said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
“This softened the impact and helped prevent a worsening of the crisis. Early warnings were translated into early response and saved lives.”
Lazzarini cautioned that the recent improvements could easily be reversed without sustained assistance and noted that agencies are now facing significant funding gaps for 2014.
Somali ice hockey team wins hearts in Siberia
05 Feb- Source: Russia and India Report-737 Words
Sports fans in Irkutsk were pleasantly surprised to watch an unusual looking bunch of ice hockey players: The Somali national team took part in the 2014 Bandy World Championship in the Siberian city on Jan.27-Feb.2. Bandy, also known as Russian hockey, or ice hockey with a ball, is popular in Russia and the Scandinavian countries.
It was invented at about the same time as ice hockey played with the puck. For a while, the two games co-existed, but in the 1950s and 1960s bandy was upstaged by regular hockey, which had always been more popular in Canada. The Federation of International Bandy is now trying to popularize the sport in other countries in order to have it included in the Olympic program. The appearance of the Somali national bandy team has been an unexpected product of those efforts.
“Our story is more than just about sport,” says Patrik Andersson, the manager of the project. “It is an attempt to adapt the Somalis to European life. There are more than 3,000 refugees from Somalia living in the small Swedish town of Borlänge. We have assembled a team, founded the Somali national federation, and are now planning to start up a children’s team as well. Why bandy? Because it is the most Swedish of all games. We want to use it as an example to demonstrate that skin colour doesn’t matter. The important thing is that we live together and play together.”
Female genital mutilation: A family speaks out against the abuse
05 Feb- Source: BBC-1044 Words
As the government announces hospitals are being told to log information on patients who have suffered or are at risk of suffering female genital mutilation (FGM), three generations of one family scarred by the practice have spoken out. In a modest house in north London, a Somali family debates the wrongs of FGM. Two of them, grandmother Fatima Ali and her daughter Lul Musse, were cut as girls in Somalia. One, Lul’s daughter Samira Hashi, who came to the UK as an infant, has not been and will not be.
Fatima, who is in her 80s, was mutilated in the most brutal way – FGM in its most extreme form, and without anaesthetic. “I was seven years old,” she says, speaking through her granddaughter as an interpreter. She says she was in a group of four girls and that she initially felt brave and excited and had wanted to go first. “The woman that was cutting me had my blood, splashing over her face,” she says. She says the pain she went through “nearly killed me” but that she went on to have it done to her daughter because she was “not educated enough” and thought it was the Islamic thing to do.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The al Shabaab group in late 2013 ordered all ISPs to close the internet in areas under their control. Despite pleas from the government to resist, most ISPs duly complied, with the result that people in several regions have had their internet service suspended. Mobile services from Hormuud Telecom have also been disrupted in al Shabaab-controlled areas, by the simple means of the operator having its offices raided and equipment destroyed.”
Somalia sees improving telecom connectivity, but militants disrupt it for citizens
06 Feb- Source: Budde Blog-233 Words
Somalia’s international telecom services have long depended on slow and relatively expensive satellite links. Such services are expected to be augmented later in 2014 when the satellite provider O3b Networks provides additional capacity to Somtel.
The local telco Dalkom is a signatory to the EASSy cable consortium operating along the African east coast, and has built two landing stations. The company, in conjunction with the West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), planned to provide connectivity via the cable later in 2014, offering services directly from Mogadishu.
To complement this, Liquid Telecom has built the country’s first international fibre-optic link, connecting with Kenya. The cable effectively ended the country’s reliance on satellites for international connectivity. Liquid Telecom’s network provides Hormuud Telecom’s subscribers with access to a number of other key submarine cable systems serving the east coast.
“As a new cabinet it is imperative you introduce drastic measures to curb corruption and other malpractice. Seek support from your own people, secure their trust, you may get their collaboration. The vast majority of the people yearn for kind and caring leaders who are hard on dishonest officials. Mobilize public support to fight corruption, injustice, abuse of power and saboteurs. Initiate self-help schemes to re-build roads and schools.”
Advice to the new cabinet
05 Feb- Source: Hiiraan Online-1056 Words
It is not the size of the new cabinet that matters but their devotion and commitment to national duties and obligations. A blind loyalty to an influential interest group is a deplorable conduct, the behaviour of a totalitarian regime. A strong team with a clear social conscience led by incorruptible leaders can rescue Somalia. A broken country awash with weapons, citizens hungry for justice, long-neglected youth and orphaned children need effective political, social and economic reforms with immediate effect, not a repeat of what has been happening in Somalia for the last 13 years or so (since 2000).
Apparently, Somalia cannot solve its problems by using the same kind of mentality that the ruthless warlords used when they ruined the country. Hatred, clan hostility and greed had devastated Somalia. As a new generation of leaders, you must come up with new strategies to heal our social ailments. Stop bickering on trivial, mind-boggling issues. The arduous task of re-building a collapsed state lies ahead. Clannish chauvinism must end and the building of a modern state must begin earnestly. 2014 is optimism-laden year. Make it happen.
Top tweets
@JamesGadin We have resumed ops against shabaab. Yesterday,with #Somalia Army #AMISOM recovered Gandershe, town btw Mogadishu + Marka in Lower Shabelle
@mukhtaryare A 17-year-old Somali girl leads @Guardiancampaign to end female genital mutilation in Britainhttp://bit.ly/1gOCl0P
@harunmaruf Aside from military preps #Somali expert urges Govt to initiate a “national dialogue” with entities like Al-#Shababhttp://bit.ly/1ezPgAp
@TheVillaSomalia Today we salute the great women of#Somalia & lend our voices to the campaign to stop #FGM. No more. Zero tolerance. pic.twitter.com/b746bLYNHU
@TheVillaSomalia Security is top priority. We need security officials trained in international best practice.Thanks to@UKinSomalia http://mad.ly/978874
Image of the day
Flag draped coffin of the late #Somalia PM Abdirazak H. Hussein has been flown to Mogadishu where he will be buried on Friday. Photo: @amuhumud