January 22, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
I Was Sacked For Two Reasons Only Says Former Mogadishu Mayor
22 January – Source: Goobjoog News – 230 Words
Former Mayor of Mogadishu Thabit Abdi Mohamed announced that he was fired for two main reasons while executing his duties, noting that is was to maintain and stabilize security affairs in Mogadishu, and advocating for the federal position of the Somali capital, was the ultimate price he paid for his mayoral position. Addressing the media yesterday afternoon, in his residential home in the Somali capital, he announced the move behind his sacking was “initially to maintain peace and stability in Banadir State and, secondly for actively advocating for the upcoming consultative meeting, meant to carry out deliberations on crucial matters on economic growth, security and political representation of the 3 million city residents.”
He mentioned that, he wholeheartedly accepted the move to send him home saying he did for the sake of ‘Muqdishawi’, a term he coined referring to the city residents, to feel secure and appealed to the federal government to remove the siege on his former office for the mayoral work to continue. Two nights ago, special government forces took over the security affairs in the City Council compound at 10:00 pm and, restricted access to the streets adjacent to the area especially vehicles. Mr. Thabit was sacked yesterday morning through a presidential decree and was immediately replaced with the federal minister of Information and Culture Abdirahman Omar Osman who took the office the same day.
Key Headlines
- I Was Sacked For Two Reasons Only Says Former Mogadishu Mayor (Goobjoog News)
- Intense Clan Clashes In Sanaag Region Kills 17 People (Hiiraan Online)
- Constitutional Affairs Ministry Organises Ceremony For University Students (Jowhar.com)
- Foundation Stone Laid For Several Campuses Under Somali National University In Galmudug State (Goobjoog News)
- Rising Piracy On Indian Ocean Spells High Insurance Charges (The Daily Nation)
- 58 Students Have Abandoned Varsities To Join Terror Groups (The Daily Nation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Intense Clan Clashes In Sanaag Region Kills 17 People
22 January – Source: Hiiraan Online – 177 Words
At least 17 people have been killed in inter-clan clashes at Dararweyne village in El-Afweyne district of Sanaag region. The fighting which is the latest in a series of backlashes between rival clans, which began on Sundaymorning reportedly lulled in the evening. Abdullahi Hussein Darwish, a local journalist in Airigavo town said about 17 people from both sides was killed after rival clan militias engaged in deadly gun battle.
He also pointed that fighting had displaced many people from their homes. “Fierce fighting erupted between neighboring clans. Though there is no confirmed number of deaths from both sides but early reports put the death toll between sixteen and seventeen,” Darwish told Hiiraan Online. According to the journalist, forces including police and military had been deployed to area to intervene the fighting sides. There is no comment yet from the local authorities and elders in the region. The region has experienced perennial clan clashes that claimed many lives. Arguments over land use, borehole and pasture have perennially contributed to fighting among Somali community who are largely pastoralists.
Constitutional Affairs Ministry Organises Ceremony For University Students
22 January – Source: Jowhar.com – 130 Words
The Department of Constitutional Affairs of the Federal Government held a consultative seminar with Somali National University Students Association, the meeting will address the role of the students in regards to the review of the provisional constitution. The Director General of the Ministry Mr. Mohamed Abukar Zubeyr welcomed participants from 50 Universities all over the country, and the Director General explained how the Ministry wants students to play a key role in the constitutional review process.
Also, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Hussein Abdi Elmi told the students that the Ministry will consider the youth’s recommendations. “Education is one of the best ways to develop a country, it is important that educated students and take part in the constitution review process; the ministry will consider your proposals,” said Mr. Hussein Elmi.
Foundation Stone Laid For Several Campuses Under Somali National University In Galmudug State
21 January – Source: Goobjoog News – 97 Words
Several university campuses have been initiated in major location in Galmudug, which will be directly under the administration of the historic government – owned by Somali National University located in Mogadishu.
The regional State President Ahmed Gelle Haaf announced today in Abudwak town, in the presence of the Somali Federal President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, he laid the ground breaking stone for these campuses, to spur educational and economical development in his region. Galmudug students currently converge in Galkayo town for their tertiary educational need which has the only university in the state with no branches across the region.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Rising Piracy On Indian Ocean Spells High Insurance Charges
21 January – Source: The Daily Nation – 295 Words
Cases of piracy in Indian Ocean off Somalia coast increased in 2017, raising fears that sustained attacks could raise insurance and freight costs for Kenya importers. Nine piracy attacks were recorded off Somalia in 2017, up from two in 2016, a new report shows, as global attacks dropped to a 22-year low. “The dramatic incident, alongside our 2017 figures, demonstrates that Somali pirates retain the capability and intent to launch attacks against merchant vessels hundreds of miles from their coastline,” Mr Pottengal Mukundan, International Maritime Bureau (IMB), director said in a statement.
The increase in such attacks usually comes with costs such as increased insurance premiums, longer freight routes as vessels avoid hot spots and additional cost of hiring private armed guards. For country that imports more than Sh1.3 trillion worth of consumer and industrial goods, the increased cost is eventually passed to the consumer through higher retail prices. In their heyday six years ago, Somali pirates launched 237 attacks off the coast of Somalia in 2011, the IMB says, and held hundreds of hostages. That year, Ocean’s Beyond Piracy estimated the global cost of piracy was about $7 billion.
The shipping industry bore roughly 80 per cent of those costs, the group’s analysis showed. But attacks fell sharply after ship owners tightened security and avoided the Somali coast. Intervention by regional naval forces that flooded into the area helped disrupt several hijack bids and improved security for the strategic trade route that leads through the Suez Canal and links the oilfields of the Middle East with European ports. The IMB data shows a total of 180 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships took place globally, the lowest level of sea-based crimes to be recorded since 1995, when 188 reports were received.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“He said the government will crush the militants and that there was no cause for alarm. “I have not seen any cause for concern as it were. The isolated criminal incidents such as the one we had on Saturday are matters that we will deal with decisively as we move along because we have the willingness and focus,” Dr Matiang’i said.”
58 Students Have Abandoned Varsities To Join Terror Groups
21 January – Source: The Daily Nation – 654 Words
At least 58 Kenyan students abandoned universities to join terrorist groups in Somalia, Libya and Syria over the last three years. A government report seen by the Nation further says 14 of the students were recruited into the terror organisations last year while the rest joined earlier. In other cases, recruited students were found out early and detained before they could leave the country. The figure could be higher because the authorities have not established the fate of others who have been reported as missing persons. A number of those who fled have since been killed either in combat or executed after falling out with their commanders. For instance, Jared Mokaya Omambia, who left studies at Moi University to join al-Shabaab in Somalia, was shot dead by a firing squad after the terror group accused him of spying for the Kenya Government.
Farah Dagane Hassan, 26, and Hiish Ahmed Ali, 25, who were medical interns at Kitale Hospital as they continued with studies, were killed in United States air strikes in Sirte, Libya, where they had joined the Islamic State. In the most prominent case, Abdirahim Abdullahi abandoned University of Nairobi Law School and joined al-Shabaab. He was killed at Garissa University College after he led three other militants in gunning down 147 students in one of the worst terror attacks in Kenya on April 2, 2015. Among the 54 listed in the government report, there are those held in safe houses where they are undergoing rehabilitation. At the same time, security agents are grappling with the resurgent and increased al-Shabaab attacks in Lamu. The militia has turned the county into a playground, often launching explosive attacks on government installations, security personnel, locals and motorists; killing, maiming and destroying property.
The terrorists have caught security personnel involved in Operation Linda Boni unawares and left many dead. Between May and November last year, more than 30 police officers were killed in attacks by the terror group. This year, the terrorists have resurfaced with fresh raids targeting security personnel and motorists using the Lamu-Malindi road. Last week, the attackers raided Ishakani village, a day after killing a woman and injuring five police officers at Nyongoro on the Lamu-Malindi road. Last Tuesday, tension was high at Ishakani village in Lamu East after more than 100 heavily armed insurgents took over the area and preached radical teachings to the residents. They hoisted their flag at a deserted local police station before going back to their hideouts. Sources revealed that the attackers have also been conducting daily prayers at mosques in the area at will.
TOP TWEETS
@DalsanFM: The coastal town of #Hobyo awaits to welcome President @M_Farmaajo who is expected to arrive on Mondayas part of Galmudug state tour. Farmaajo has completed two days visit of Abudwak town.
@SomaliPM: I am leading a team to attend a 3- days conference for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The invitation of Somalia to @wef is an indication that we are heading in the right direction. #Davos2018#WorldEconomicForum #NabadiyoNolol
@DalsanFM: #Somaliland President @musebiihi has ordered for the army to de deployed to Sanaag to quell clan fighting that erupted end of last week. At least 20 people have been killed in the recent fighting.
@Goobjoognews: Newly elected #Somaliland president@musebiihi Abdi appeals for the stoppage of the fight between two related tribes in #Dardarweyn location in #Sanaag region.
@HarunMaruf: Political lifetime in Somalia is very short, and it’s increasingly creating a large pool of political elites who had been sacked from posts at least twice or replaced because of the 4.5 power-sharing formula where someone is displaced through no fault of their own. Your thoughts?
@Goobjoognews: More than 300 internally displaced families especially from Lower #Shabelle region have been badly affected by the cold weather at night in #Banadir region.
@Goobjoognews: I was Sacked for 2 Reasons Only says Former #MogadishuMayor. http://bit.ly/2Dxe1B8 .
@DalsanFM: 2 Killed In Exchange Of Fire Between SNA & Police –http://radiodalsan.com/en/2-
@JustAwHirsi: My meeting with the Somali Bantu (The Great Jareer) Community earlier today. I have reiterated our pledge that the family of late Nur M. Matan will have their day in court. The alleged killer of Ali-Matan is in@Jubaland State custody awaiting trial. @khadarHared @Fatumaabdulahi
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The new mayor of Mogadishu Eng. Abdirahman Osman Yarisow met with the former Mogadishu mayor Mr. Thabit Abdi Mohamed, after he was removed from office.
Photo: @DalsanFM