February 7, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
State burial held for former Somali PM in Mogadishu
07 Feb- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Barkulan/Risaala/
A plane carrying the body of former Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdirizak Haji Hussein has landed at Aden Adde International airport in Mogadishu for the state burial. Security was tightened in and around the airport with security personnel seen manning roads and strategic places in Mogadishu.
At the airport to receive the body were high ranking officials led by president, prime minister, parliament speaker, leaders from regional states, ministers, MPs, officials and units of the armed forces – Thursday morning.
Local media report the leaders and other dignitaries attended the funeral prayers President of Somalia , Sheikh Hassan , chairman of parliament , Mohamed Sheikh Osman and the President , Mohamed Ali was one of the funeral prayer was prayed deceased .
The organizing committee for the burial said that the deceased will be buried in the cemetery of El-Farey, north of Mogadishu next to first president Aden Abdulle Osman. Three Days of national mourning has be declared where the flag of the nation will be lowered. The late Hussein was the second Prime Minister of Somalia died in the United States last Saturday ( January 31 , 2014)
Key Headlines
- State burial held for former Somali PM in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/Barkulan/Risaala/
Dalsan/Kulmiye/Mustaqbal/RBC) - Gunmen kill Somali cleric in Mogadishu (Radio dalsan/Risaala/Shabelle)
- Government to ban FGM in Somalia (SNTV/Somali Current)
- Grenade blast targets Somali troops in Marka (Radio Shabelle)
- Somali leaders push to end female genital mutilation (Sabahi Online)
- Djibouti FM Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on tackling al Shabaab (BBC)
- Female genital mutilation prevalent in Somalia (AFPTV/Yahoo News)
- Somali Simad University: Making Higher Education Accessible in Somalia (CCTV Africa)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM dismantles al Shabaab outpost during a surprise attack
06 Feb- Source: AMISOM-155 Words
Somali forces from the Jubba region supported by AMISOM forces conducted a surprise attack at an al Shabaab outpost in Hagar town 50km North of Afmadhow in Southern Somalia.
During the 11am operation, the joint forces dismantled the site during which seven al Shabaab militants were killed. The troops also recovered assortment of ammunitions, one Suzuki escudo vehicle and several communication equipment.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif said this is part of renewed efforts to root out al Shabaab from their strongholds by AMISOM.
“AMISOM will continue to confront the enemies of peace and to support the people of Somalia as they strive to rebuild their nation,” said Ambassador Annadif.
Meanwhile, a joint operation led by Somali National Army and AMISOM troops resulted in the liberation of Gandershe town located between the capital, Mogadishu and Marka, the administrative capital of Lower Shabelle region.
SOMALI MEDIA
State burial held for former Somali PM in Mogadishu
07 Feb- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Barkulan/Risaala/
A plane carrying the body of former Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdirizak Haji Hussein has landed at Aden Adde International airport in Mogadishu for the state burial. Security was tightened in and around the airport with security personnel seen manning roads and strategic places in Mogadishu.
At the airport to receive the body were high ranking officials led by president, prime minister, parliament speaker, leaders from regional states, ministers, MPs, officials and units of the armed forces – Thursdaymorning.
Local media report the leaders and other dignitaries attended the funeral prayers President of Somalia , Sheikh Hassan , chairman of parliament , Mohamed Sheikh Osman and the President , Mohamed Ali was one of the funeral prayer was prayed deceased .
The organizing committee for the burial said that the deceased will be buried in the cemetery of El-Farey, north of Mogadishu next to first president Aden Abdulle Osman. Three Days of national mourning has be declared where the flag of the nation will be lowered. The late Hussein was the second Prime Minister of Somalia died in the United States last Saturday ( January 31 , 2014)
Gunmen kill Somali cleric in Mogadishu
07 Feb- Source: radio dalsan/Risaala/Shabelle-100 Words
Unknown gunmen Thursday night killed a prominent cleric named Sheikh Abdihamid Sheikh Abdil Bari Fiqi, in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district. The slain Sheikh was reportedly a close relative of former Somali defense minister Abdihakin Haji Fiqi.
The gunmen armed with AK 47 gunned down the cleric in Nasteho neighbourhood and then fled before Somali troops arrived. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the killing. The Somali officials are yet to comment on the killing, latest in string of targeted assassinations in the city.
Government to ban FGM in Somalia
07 Feb- Source: SNTV/Somali Current-179 Words
Somalia plans to ban Female Genital Mutilation in the horn of Africa country, its Prime Minister said on Thursday. Many countries marked the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)Thursday, including Somalia, where 98 percent of women affected the practice.
Somalia’s Prime Minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed called on to end the practice, which he said is against the Islamic religion.
“FGM is not a religious practice it is a horrific act that is simply an abuse of a young girl’s human rights. Let us be clear it is an 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.” PM Abdiweli said.
“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.” he added.
Grenade blast targets Somali troops in Marka
06 Feb- Source: Radio Shabelle-83 Words
A grenade explosion targeting Somali government troops occurred in the port town of Marka located in the lower Shabelle region. The early morning attack was a hand grenade thrown at Russia suburbs where government troops were that time located causing several casualties consisting of death and injury to the troops. The troops opened heavy gunfire immediately after the blast which may have added up the civilian casualties. The troops are said to have minimized movement in the town after the blast.
Senior al Shabaab member stands trial in Hargeisa courts
06 Feb- Source: Somaliland Informer-193 Words
A court in Hargeisa, the capital of breakaway region of Somaliland on Thursday started hearing a case involving a man who was arrested on charges of being a member of Somalia’s militant group, al Shabaab.
Mr. Abdullahi Mohamed Ahmed Arabey, is senior member of Al Shabab who allegedly defected and went into hiding in Somaliland was recently detained by counter terrorism forces in Widh Widh district in Togdheer region close to the border between Somaliland with Ethiopia.
The first hearing was held on Thursday and the attorney general accused him of being member of terrorist organization. Mr. Araby who was interrogated by the court said that he joined the outlawed terror organization in 2009 but decided to defect from al Shabaab in 2010.
He added that he lived in the war torn capital city of Mogadishu for three years but after deserting from al Shabaab came to Xidh Xidh village and lived there for about five months. The court hearing was adjourned after the hearing.
Somaliland government is yet to bring on trial another man who was arrested in Las Anod as being member of al Shabaab.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somali leaders push to end female genital mutilation
06 Feb- Source: Sabahi Online-314 Words
Education is the only way to protect women and girls from the “barbaric act” of female genital mutilation, Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said Thursday (February 6th) on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation.
Approximately 6.5 million Somali girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), otherwise known as female circumcision, according to a June 2013 report prepared by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Although support for the practice is waning, 98% of Somali women between the ages of 15 and 49 have been cut or mutilated — the highest per capita percentage in the world, the report indicated.
“FGM is not a religious practice; it is a horrific act that is simply an abuse of a young girl’s human rights,” Ahmed said in a statement. “Let us 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.”
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Djibouti FM Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on tackling al Shabaab
07 Feb-Source: BBC-02:13mins
The tiny, impoverished nation of Djibouti is home to America’s main military base for all of Africa, and the epicentre of US counter terrorism efforts against al Shabaab in neighbouring Somalia. US forces also support Yemen’s government in the fight against al Qaeda in Southern Yemen. Security correspondent Frank Gardner spoke to the country’s foreign minister, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, about the issues facing the region.
Female genital mutilation prevalent in Somalia
07 Feb- Source: AFPTV/Yahoo News-01:15mins
February 6th is the International Day against Female Genital Mutilation, a practice that still persists in many countries. According to a report released by UNICEF in 2013, the prevalence of FGM in Somalia remains high at 95%.
America’s terror war in the Horn of Africa
07 Feb- Source: BBC-03:46mins
The US is dramatically increasing its military operations in the Horn of Africa, in an effort to counter what it calls “violent extremism”. The Americans says that missile strikes by US drones against al Shabaab and al Qaeda leaders in the region are ‘vital’ . Those attacks are launched from a big US military base in Djibouti, from where our security correspondent Frank Gardner reports.
Somali Simad University: Making Higher Education Accessible in Somalia
06 Feb- Source: CCTV Africa-02:20mins
Once a pipe dream, access to higher education is now possible in Somalia after many years of conflict that saw institutions of learning collapse. Universities are up and running, they are churning out young graduates who see themselves navigating through the fragile security into a brighter future. CCTV’s Mohammed Hirmoge reports.
Somali Community Run School to Learn English
06 Feb- Source: Ground Up-487 Words
Somali Association of South Africa (SASA) Western Cape chairperson Abdikadir Mohamed has established an English school project with the help of the Scalabrini Centre. The school, situated in Bellville, has been going since November 2012. The project, known as the Bellville Education Centre (BEC), was born out of research done by Vanya Gastrow of Wits university. She illustrated how Somalis’ rights are infringed in most cases partly because they cannot communicate effectively due to the language barrier.
All immigrants are accommodated and it is not necessary to have teachers who speak Somali because the teaching is done with pictures. The textbooks have pictures captioned in English and the teachers help with pronunciation. The programme is divided into four classes: beginners, elementary, pre-intermediate and intermediate. Newcomers write a placement test to determine their level. Students choose a suitable timetable since most are self-employed.
USARAF training helping African nations
06 Feb- Source: Defence Web-809 Words
The training US Army Africa (USARAF) is providing to different African nations is helping them secure their own borders as well as own regions, in line with the US policy of helping Africans solve their own problems.
This is according to Major Albert Conley III, USARAF’s Counter Terrorism Desk Officer for International Military Engagements. He said that this means the US doesn’t need to get involved and whatever American interests are in that region or country will, as a secondary effect, be secure because USARAF is helping them with internal and external security.
“If Africans are solving African problems the US government won’t need to use the United States Army to solve African problems. For example, by having a conglomerate of nations in the African Union going into Somalia to help fix that nation’s problems means American servicemen don’t have to go into Somalia to help fix that problem,” he said.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“As many as 200,000 people were buried in mass graves in the 1980s under Somali dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.”
Investigating genocide in Somaliland
06 Feb- Source: Al Jazeera English-1140 Words
Frankincense wafts through the air of a quiet building on the outskirts of Hargeisa, in the self-declared republic of Somaliland. It masks the odour of the remains of 38 men, whose skeletons are packed into cardboard boxes.
The tattered containers will be opened this month with the arrival of a forensics team on February 10. Somaliland officials want to show that the men were victims of a clan-based killing spree carried out by Somalia’s government in the 1980s. They say as many as 200,000 men, women and children were executed and buried in mass graves. They accuse Somalia’s late dictator, Mohamed Siad Barre, of atrocities and want to put his alleged henchmen on trial.
“Everybody is missing a relative. Fathers, mothers, brothers, cousins,” said Khadar Ahmed Like, who runs the territory’s War Crimes Investigation Commission. “It is about getting the perpetrators in court. Unless we learn lessons, heads of state can do what they want.”
“For Somalia, the UK and the US are the two top remittance-sending countries, but most banks refuse to deal with the money transfer operators. One of the largest still handling such transactions has been Barclays Bank, which decided last May to close off these ties because of the alleged risk of financing terrorism.”
Somalia: Threat to Remittances Lifeline
05 Feb- Source: Africa Focus-245 Words
“Collateral damage” from the war on terror takes many forms. Civilian deaths from drone or missile strikes are the most dramatic when they come to light. Damage from the “financial war on terror” is less visible but also deadly.
As illustrated in the case of Somalia, regulations intended to curb financing for terrorism end up threatening sources of income vital for survival, such as remittances and humanitarian aid. The effects, although indirect and rarely noted in the media, are systemic and large-scale.
In Somalia, many of the quarter of a million people who died during the 2010-2012 famine could have been saved if U.S. regulations had not blocked humanitarian aid to areas controlled by al Shabaab. Currently, the remittances lifeline, which is essential for survival to some 41 percent of Somalia’s population, is threatened by the potential cutoff of access by Somali money transfer operators to Western banks.
Top tweets
@MinisterHashi #Somalia Ministry of Women Affairs should prepare a legislation outlawing FGM in the country. #Puntlandhas already outlawed this practice.
@harunmaruf Breaking: Internet ban now extended to all big cities in South-central #Somalia; 200k+ smartphone subscribers directly affected. @VOA_Somali
@TheVillaSomalia A big welcome to #Puntland President Abdiweli Mohammed Ali Gaas from @TheVillaSomalia and@SomaliPM pic.twitter.com/1WBRohoE8o
@KhayreONE #Somali ice hockey team wins hearts in #Siberiahttp://j.mp/1bwDR30 I could nevr B more…http://evpo.st/1e4NHWl pic.twitter.com/QLDVNommyZ
@amisomsomalia Somalis are championing the fight against FGM among their countrymen and women. Follow link for multi-media piece http://bit.ly/1fv1E2z
Image of the day
Encouraging sign for #Somalia as President and PM of Federal Republic sit with President of #Puntland in #Mogadishu. Photo: @Somalia111