January 17, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somalia, Uganda police agree to fight terrorism
17 Jan- Source: Daily Monitor- 154 words
Uganda and Somalia police chiefs have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will enable Uganda to send police trainers to train Somali officers in exchange for intelligence on suspected terrorists. Uganda police chief Kale Kayihura and his Somalia counterpart, Brig Gen Abdihakim Dahir Sa’eed, signed the deal yesterday in Kampala, Uganda. Gen Kayihura said the agreement will allow them to train Somali officers in Uganda and within Somalia.
“We shall be able to send our officers to train Somali officers in Somalia. We shall share whatever we have to fight terrorism and crime in both countries because it is the spirit of the EAPCCO (East African Police Chiefs Organisation),” Gen Kayihura said yesterday.
Brig Gen Abdihakim said Somalia needed more technical support in building capacity in the departments of criminal investigations and counter terrorism that were affected by the two-decade civil war. The MoU allows the two countries to jointly procure police equipment.
Key Headlines
- Mogadishu Mayor turns down an offer in the new Somali cabinet (Bar-kulan)
- Somali president accepts new cabinet (hiiraan online)
- Al Shabaab suspects arrested in security crackdown in Bay region (Bar-kulan)
- Somaliland President fixes date for the Somaliland ruling party’s National Convention (Somaliland Informer)
- Somalia announces new government (Africa Review)
- Somalia Uganda police agree to fight terrorism (Daily Monitor)
- Sierra Leone to Command AMISOM by February (Awareness Times)
PRESS STATEMENT
Prime Minister: “Cabinet will work tirelessly for the people of Somalia”
17 Jan- Source: Office of the Prime Minister-452 Words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed today announced his Cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister, said: “I am pleased to announce my Cabinet today after extensive consultations. This Cabinet is representative of all of Somalia, made up of people with the right talents, enthusiasm and dedication to serve the Somali people and take our country forward.
“After a tragic conflict that lasted too long, Somalia has now turned a corner and there is no going back. Somalia now has the opportunity to write a new, positive chapter, in our proud country’s history. “My Cabinet and I are in no doubt that there are still many complex and difficult challenges ahead. We must continue the fight to eradicate Al-Shabaab from all of Somalia, continue to reform our institutions and public finances, improve and extend public service delivery and continue building a federal Somalia.
“This government will work tirelessly for the people of Somalia, building on the progress made in the last year, to build the new Somalia that we all want to see.”
Full List of Cabinet Ministers:
Ridwan Hirsi Mohamed – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Religious Affairs
Abdullahi Godah Barre – Minister of Interior and Federalism
Hussein Abdi Halane – Minister of Finance
Mohamed Sheikh Hassan – Minister of Defence
Abdirahman Duale Beyle – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Abdikarim Hussein Guled – Minister of National Security
Ahmed Mohamed Gurase – Minister of Education
Yusuf Moalin Amin – Minister of Ports and Marine Transport
Said Abdullahi Mohamed – Minister of Planning
Farah Sh. Abdulkadir Mohamed – Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Jama Ahmed Mohamed – Minister of Energy and Water
Mustaf Ali Duhulow – Minister of Information
Said Jama Mohamed – Minister of Air & Land Transport
Lugman Ismail Ali – Minister of Labour and Social Affairs
Mohamud Ibrihim Adan – Minister of Post and Telecommunications
Abdi Ahmed Hussein – Minister of Agriculture
Khalid Omar Ali – Minister of Sports and Youth
Duale Adan Mohamed – Minister of Culture and Higher Education
Adan Mohamed Nur – Minister of Industry and Commerce
Eng. Nadifo Mohamed Osman – Minister of Public Works and Reconstruction
Khadijo Mohamed Diriye – Minister of Women and Human Rights
Mohamed Olow Barrow – Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources
Daud Mohamed Omar – Minister of Mineral Resources
Salim Aliyow Ibrow – Minister of Environment and Livestock
General Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud – Minister of Health
State Ministers:
Mohamud Moalin Yahya – State Minister of Interior and Federalism
Abdullahi Ahmed Nur – State Minister of Finance
Hamza Mohamed Buri – State Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
Mohamed Ali Haga – State Minister of Defence
Daud Abdihakim Omar – State Minister of National Security
President hails new Council of Ministers and calls for continued progress and reform
17 Jan- Source: Office of the President- 200 words
His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today approved the Prime Minister’s proposed appointment of a new Council of Ministers, hailing a “government of many talents”. “I have pleasure in approving the Prime Minister’s decision and selection. The Council of Ministers, selected to represent all areas of Somalia, has my full confidence and trust. This is a government of many talents. They now have a great responsibility to accomplish the reforms essential to the rebuilding of the country.”
“Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed has my full support, and I assure the Somali people and our international friends that we recognise the hard work before us. We are committed to real change that can be seen, felt and trusted by every Somali.” “We are under no illusions that the government has a formidable challenge in the sheer scale of its agenda. We need to continue extending security, improve public services delivery, accelerate public finances reform and make further progress in building a federal Somalia.”
“I now request the Parliament to fulfil its constitutional role and approve the Council selection, so that the Government can continue this ambitious programme of reforms that are so critical to the stabilisation and development of Somalia.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Mogadishu Mayor turns down an offer in the new Somali cabinet
17 Jan- Source: Bar-kulan-116 Words
Banadir Governor who is also the Mayor of Mogadishu, Mohamud Ahmed Nur Tarsan has turned down a cabinet position offer in the new government after he was appointed the Deputy Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu, Tarsan turned down the offer saying that he was not consulted before the announcement of the new cabinet and was not ready to accept the offer.
He added that he was thankful to the prime minister for his consideration to the position. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed announced his new cabinet in the early hours of Friday in Mogadishu which consisted of 25 ministers, 25 deputy ministers and 5 state ministers.
Al Shabaab suspects arrested in security crackdown in Bay region
17 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 113 words
Somali government forces have on Thursday apprehended an unspecified number of suspected al Shabaab fighters in a security crackdown in Bay region. It is reported that the operation came after al Shabaab fighters reportedly killed two government soldiers in Galow locality in Bay region.
Some locals have confirmed to Bar-kulan that a security sweep spearheaded by government forces has been conducted in many parts of the region including Galow and Modamode localities. However, the locals could not confirm the exact number of people arrested in the crackdown. Galow lies an estimated 10 KM east of Baidoa, the provincial capital of the region.
Somali president accepts new cabinet
17 Jan- Source: Hiiraan Online- 241 words
Somali president Hassan Sheik Mahmoud said he has fully accepted the newly announced 55-member cabinet and asked the federal parliament to approve the new government which he said was consisted of experienced individuals who can rescue the country from the hard situations it was experiencing.
“I have accepted the selection of the new cabinet members displayed by Prime minister Abdi Weli Sheik Ahmed, I am confident in the new cabinet and I wait from them to complete the hard tasks ahead of them including the reformation and the reconstruction of the country” president Hassan Sheik Mahmoud said in his press statement apparently in less than 30 minutes after the new cabinet was disclosed.
“I believe that there are more obstacles facing the new government which must work hard to stabilize the country, develop public services and tight grip on local security” the president noted in his press statement.
Somaliland President fixes date for the Somaliland ruling party’s National Convention
17 Jan- Source: Somaliland Informer- 142 words
Somaliland Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo has nominated nine members committee that are tasked with finding lasting solution to the conflict that impacted upon the ruling party and the president further announced that the ruling party’s Third convention to be held on 22nd March 2014.
Ministers as well as MP’s are now members of the committee that are tasked with bring the rift within the party to an end. The president has held meeting with the nine members committee and informed that they must decide everything that can pave the way for the smooth holding of the National Convention.
He added that every step that they are about to take should be approved by the Executive Council which have the final say when it comes to binding decisions.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia announces new government
17 Jan- Source: Africa Review-249 Words
New Somalia prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has announced a Cabinet that is significantly enlarged in recognition of the country’s competitive clan politics. The new team of 25 ministers, 25 deputy ministers and five state ministers was made public in the early hours of Friday. The new line up includes both new faces a well as individuals who held Cabinet positions in the past including MPs drawn from the parliament.
“I made this list of Cabinet members, following consultations I made with various sections of the society,” Mr Ahmed said from his office at Villa Somalia, the state house in the capital Mogadishu. He told gathered legislators, government officials and the media that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud had endorsed the new government. The ministers will assume office when the Federal Parliament approves the new government and its proposed policies. “I am going to present my government to the honourable legislators as soon as possible,” said Mr Ahmed, a political newcomer appointed as premier on December 12 last year.
Somalia, Uganda police agree to fight terrorism
17 Jan- Source: Daily Monitor- 154 words
Uganda and Somalia police chiefs have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will enable Uganda to send police trainers to train Somali officers in exchange for intelligence on suspected terrorists.
Uganda police chief Kale Kayihura and his Somalia counterpart, Brig Gen Abdihakim Dahir Sa’eed, signed the deal yesterday in Kampala, Uganda.
Gen Kayihura said the agreement will allow them to train Somali officers in Uganda and within Somalia.
“We shall be able to send our officers to train Somali officers in Somalia. We shall share whatever we have to fight terrorism and crime in both countries because it is the spirit of the EAPCCO (East African Police Chiefs Organisation),” Gen Kayihura said yesterday.
Brig Gen Abdihakim said Somalia needed more technical support in building capacity in the departments of criminal investigations and counter terrorism that were affected by the two-decade civil war. The MoU allows the two countries to jointly procure police equipment.
Lenku warns of rising extremism among youths
17 Jan- Source: Capital News- 199 words
The government has warned of escalating extremism among Kenyan youths who are keen to join terrorist groups like Al Shabaab. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku says the government will expand community engagement and development programs to empower local communities as part of the measures to contain the situation.
“High prevalence of poverty in some Muslim dominated areas especially in parts of North Eastern, Eastern and Coast Provinces provide a fertile environment for extremist elements to lure young people into radicalism with promises of a better life,” he acknowledged.
“The presence of extremist elements and groups in the country; Al Qaeda and its affiliates are actively seeking to recruit Kenyans to travel to Somalia to fight for Al Shabaab and to carry out attacks in the country,” he warned.
Kenya: Al Qaeda militia chiefs killed in KDF attack
17 Jan- Source: Star- Kenya- 312 words
Six senior foreign al Shabaab leaders are among 57 members of the al QAeda linked militia who were killed in the Kenya Defence Forces air strike on Gedo region last Thursday.
Intelligence sources in Somalia yesterday confirmed that key foreign al Shabaab commanders Imran Abu Jilali from Pakistan, Shabdalla Al Manzur from Egypt, Alakim Nurala from Sudan, Abdul Hakim Mohamud an al Qaeda leader from Yemen and Shukri Bin Khalifa also from Yemen were killed in the Kenya Defence Forces F-5 jet air strike on Birta Dheere, in Garabarhey within Gedo area.
According to the intelligence sources, Al Amud Bin Ibrahim, a senior al Shabaab commander respected by the terror group’s leader Ahmed Godana, the outgoing al Shabaab Gedo region commander and Fara Dheere, the incoming commander were also killed in the attack. The KDF attack targeted Godane, who left thirty minutes before the bombs were dropped. The KDF conducted three air strikes on the target.
Al Shabaab behind Kwale gun attacks, officials allege
16 Jan- Source: Standard Media/Star- 523 words
Security officials in Kwale now allege that newly trained jihadists with links to Somalia’s Al Shabaab are behind the crime wave and rising gun violence in the region. They spoke a day after gunmen traded fire with police on patrol in the area which an officer was injured but it was not clear what motives Al Shabaab would be advancing by sowing crime in Kwale. On Thursday, Msambweni Sub County assistant commissioner Justus Maina claimed that detectives believe 20 suspected jihadists who returned from Somalia are behind the violence in Kwale. “We are currently doing investigations and there are issues which we cannot make public due to the sensitivity of the matter. Those targeted might know the tricks and device ways to evade investigations,” he said at Muhaka grounds. The criminal’s incidents which range from killings to grenade attacks and shoot-outs have sparked fear especially in the Diani town tourist resort.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Sierra Leone to Command AMISOM by February
16 Jan-Source: Awareness Times-507 Words
Sierra Leone will take up the leadership and command of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Sector 5 in Kismayo from the current Kenyan Commander on the ground. This was according to Brigadier General David Baburam, Chief of Peace Support Operations of the African Standby Force who made this announcement during a consultative meeting convened by the African Union Commission for Chiefs of Defence Staff of Troops and Police Contributing Countries in Addis Ababa on AMISOM’s operations on Sunday 12th January 2014.
The aim of the meeting was to specifically discuss important operational issues arising from the development of the revised AMISOM concept of operations. The proposed change in the leadership of Sector 5 is in line with the sectorization and reconfiguration of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The change is necessitated against the back drop of the transformation of Sector 5 into a multi-national force with a battalion of a Sierra Leonean contingent, a company of Kenyan and Burundians and a Reform Police Unit from Nigeria.
S. Korea sends anti-piracy troops to Gulf of Aden
17 Jan- Source: Yonhap news Agency-110 words
South Korea dispatched the 15th batch of troops to the Gulf of Aden on Thursday to continue its part in the worldwide effort to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia, the Navy said.
A 4,500-ton destroyer departed the southern port city of Busan to conduct anti-piracy missions for six months starting in February. Its voyage is expected to take approximately one month, naval officials said.
“Somali waters are the main shipping route and the lifeline of our economy. Put utmost efforts for your readiness,” Adm. Hwang Ki-chul, the Navy chief of Staff, said during a send-off ceremony at the port.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“When I was doing the research for this short article, what came to my attention is that most of those who run all those Somali News Sites are based overseas, especially in the US, Europe, Australia and so on and so forth. And all those site visitors or comment makers live overseas, which is very interesting and reminds you of the internet access gap that exists in the world, and Somalia and Somalis are on the same coin in the global context.”
SOMALIA: Somali Internet Websites Reviewed
17 Jan- Source: Raxanreeb-713 Words
Kudos to Somali internet media: there are tons of Somali sites simultaneously avowing news about Somalia. The Somali sites have grown into countless numbers to the extent that it is hard to tell or to guess how many of them are really there. There are longstanding and famous sites like Hiiraan Online and the Google News included sites such as Raxanreeb, Somali Current, Midnimo Information Center and others, which have become household names among the Somali Internet community.
There are political gossip sites like Waagacusub. You have News sites like Kismaayonews, Allpuntland, Allbanadir, Somalilandpress, Garowe Online and others: the news those sites publish focuses on an area, a city, or a region of local administration in Somalia.
Is it really a negative thing that there are too many Somali sites out there? Do the Somali Web users need all these Somali sites with such close similarities, usually slanting things towards 24 hour non-stop news about Somalia?
“While Somalis can trenchantly disagree over their clan politics, however, when it comes to their sovereignty, both personal and collectively, they will never negotiate. They are unrepentant nationalists, and in the absence of a state, rhetorically and sometimes symbolically, al Shabaab acts as the vanguard and the only reliable guardian of Somali nationalism and identity.”
Al Shabaab: Guardians of Somali identity?
16 Jan- Source: Al Jazeer English-784 Words
British Channel 4 journalist Jamal Osman had an exclusive on al-Shabab that included a training and graduation ceremony. The picture that emerged was that al-Shabab is a sophisticated group which, more than others, grasped the duality of the state; one of brutal efficiency in employing force and in the second order, the ability to undertake state’s benign “soft” function: collecting garbage and ensuring pharmacies stock unexpired drugs.
In popular state formation theories what distinguishes or indeed makes a state a state, is its ability to project the use of force. By being the prominent purveyor of violence, the state increases the cost to anyone who wants to challenge it, and also provides an incentive for a group(s) to accept to be part of the state. Since its collapse, Somalia’s ability to function as a state and project the use of force has been outsourced to external actors. As a result – nature abhors a vacuum – al-Shabab or previously, warlords, filled in.
The group’s overarching understanding that the centre of gravity- for its survival- rests with the citizens, and not the state or external actors, explains their durability. As long as they can provide security – because they are the biggest source of violence anyway – and garbage is collected in areas that they control, it buys them legitimacy, albeit through fear.
Top tweets
@UNSomalia Legislative framework needed to support, regulate investment in #Somalia -Shirwa Jama, International Development Law Organisation #SOPEC2014
@SomaliPM List of my new Cabinet to take #Somali forward. My Cabinet & I will work tirelessly to build the new #Somaliapic.twitter.com/5LpK7IcXtb
@UKinSomalia Did you know that #Somalia produces one of the highest quality sesame in the world? Interesting facts ahead of #SOPEC2014
@faoinsomalia The business community in #Somalia needs to lobby for proper systems and frameworks to enable fair trade.@buanaluca #SOPEC2014
@Somalia111 Percentage of women lower in new proposed#Somalia govt (under 10%). Yet more than 50% of all Somalis are women. #UN backs women role.
Image of the day
Is #Somalia ready 4 foreign investments? Nairobi meeting organized by @RVInews @faoinsomalia addresses challenges & opportunities. Photo: @UNSomalia