January 24, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali Islamists threaten to execute Kenyan hostages

24 Jan – Source: Daily Nation/Capital News/AFP/Reuters/New Vision – 224 words

Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgents issued an ultimatum to Kenya on Wednesday to release all prisoners held on terrorism charges or they will execute all Kenyan hostages they hold. Issuing a February 14 deadline, the extremist group demanded in messages posted on Twitter the release of “all Muslim prisoners held on so-called terrorism charges in Kenya”.

Kenya must also “secure the release of Muslims extradited to Uganda for terrorism charges”, it added, apparently referring to those jailed or on trial for the al Shabaab’s July 2010 twin bomb attacks that killed at least 74 people in Kampala. Al Shabaab also released a video titled “the final message” with two men featured and a photograph of four others, who the al Shabaab said were Kenyan prisoners.

It was not possible to verify the video, and it is not clear how many Kenyans the group may hold, having in the past claimed to have kidnapped two civil servants from inside Kenya and Kenyan soldiers in Somalia. “Following the expiration of this period, all the kuffar (non-Muslim) Kenyan prisoners who appeared in the recent video will be executed,” the Shebaab added on Twitter.

Key Headlines

Somali Islamists threaten to execute Kenyan hostages (Daily Nation/Capital News/AFP/Reuters/New Vision)
Communiqué of the 46th Extra-Ordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers (IGAD)
Somalia’s position in intl. community gaining momentum (Press TV)
Kenya’s ambassador to Somalia arrives in Mogadishu (Radio Risaala/Bar-kulan/RBC/Hiiraan Online/Radio Kulmiye)
Death sentence and detentions raise profile of rape in Somalia (IRIN News)
Militias reintegration bolster Somali gov’t forces in Hiiraan region (Radio Bar-kulan)
Government blocked from moving refugees to camps (Standard Digital Media)
Puntland leader terms US recognition of Somali government as big step (Radio Mustaqbal)

PRESS STATEMENT

Communiqué of the 46th Extra-Ordinary Session of the IGAD Council of Ministers

24 Jan – Source: IGAD – 1036 words

The 46th Extra-ordinary Meeting of the IGAD Council of Ministers was convened at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 23rd January 2013 to discuss the political situation in the Federal Republic of Somalia and the peace process in the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan amongst other agenda items.

The Council was chaired by H.E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the current chair of the IGAD Council of Ministers.

It was attended by H.E. Mme. Fowsiya Yusuf H. Adan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Yousouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Djibouti, H.E. Hon. Amb. Prof. Sam K.Ongeri, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Ali Ahmed Kharti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Sudan, H.E Sam Kutesa Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Luka Biong Deng Co Chair of Abyei Joint oversight committee (AJOC) of South Sudan, H.E. Eng. Mahboub M. Maalim, Executive Secretary of IGAD.

The meeting was also addressed H.E. Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Commissioner for Peace and Security and and H.E. Staffan de Mistura, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Italy, Co-Chair of IGAD Partners Forum.

After deliberating at length on the political situation in Somalia, the peace process between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan among other agenda items, the Council:

On Somalia

1. Congratulated the people and the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia for the unprecedented successful conclusion of the transition period and the establishments of the Federal Government, which is an important milestone for the stabilization of Somalia;

SOMALI MEDIA

Kenya’s ambassador to Somalia arrives in Mogadishu

24 Jan – Source: Radio Risaala/Bar-kulan/RBC/Hiiraan Online/Radio Kulmiye – 126 words

A high ranking Kenyan delegation was on Wednesday warmly received at Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu. The delegation included diplomats and officials from Kenya’s ministry of Foreign Affairs. Josphat Maikara, Kenya’s newly appointed ambassador to Somalia forwarded his credentials to the office of the president.

Mr. Josphat noted that Kenya enjoys a good relationship with the Federal Republic of Somalia. He said Kenya’s embassy will start functioning so as to boost the diplomatic ties between the two East African nations.

On the other hand, the Somali envoy to Kenya, Mohamed Ali Nur revealed that his office has being engaged in working to ensure that Somalis are not deported forcefully from Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. He said the rights of the Somali refugees will be respected accordingly.

Militias reintegration bolster Somali gov’t forces in Hiiraan region

24 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 226 words

More than 500 clan militias in central Somali town of Beledweyne are expected to be reintegrated into the government forces in the region once they complete their 45-day long military training that commenced Thursday at Lama-galay camp. Officers from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) will start training the constituted clan militias to equip them with the necessary military skills and discipline before they are deployed into the government forces in the region.

The training kicked off on Thursday at Lama-galay military camp on the outskirt of Beledweyne town in a ceremony attended by local leaders and AMISOM officials in the region. Speaking at the ceremony to mark the beginning of the training, AMISOM regional force Commander Col. Osman Dubbad Subugle said they are committed to reviving and strengthening the military might of the Somali forces to replace foreign force dependency of the government.

Officials say this is the third patch of the militias to be trained and reintegrated into the armed forces. Clan elders were given the task to reconstitute the militias for military training to boost the capacity of the government forces in the region and help the region maintain the prevailing peace. The training comes two weeks after the AU force said Somali troops will from now on be trained inside the country instead of sending them abroad for military trainings.

Puntland leader terms US recognition of Somali government as big step

24 Jan – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 65 words

The president of Somalia’s Puntland state Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamed Mohamud “Farole” praised the U.S government’s decision to officially recognise the Somali government, terming it big step for the war-torn country. He also requested the rest of the world to follow suit and recognise the government in Mogadishu. President Abdirahman urged Somali citizens to welcome the move and assist the government in developing the country.

Somali Basketball team beat Burundi 98-80

24 Jan – Source: Hiiraan Online – 90 words

The Somali national basketball team on Wednesday beat Burundi 98-80 at the African Cup of Nations qualifiers in Dar es Salaam Tanzania advancing to the next stage. The Somali team was leading 50-40 on the first half of the game giving the confidence that the will win the game.

Said Farah Duale, the secretary general of the Somali Basketball Association and the head of the Somali delegation told HOL that they were excited the victory because they beat both Kenya and Burundi.”This team is on fire” said Said Farah.

Puntland Vice President Opens JPLG Program Steering Committee Meeting

23 Jan – Source: Puntlandi Online/Universal TV – 282 words

The Vice President of Puntland State of Somalia Abdisamad Ali Shire opened the Steering Committee Meeting for the Joint Program for Local Government (JPLG) Program on Wednesday in Garowe, the capital of Puntland.

The one-day event was held at Puntland Development and Research Center (PDRC) and was attended by Puntland Cabinet Ministers, Director-Generals of Ministries, District Commissioners, and senior officials from Puntland President’s Office.

The visiting Delegation consisted of representatives from Donor Communities, Foreign Embassies, and U.N. Agencies, including the European Union, Danish and Swedish Embassies, ILO, UNCDF, UNICEF, UNDP, UN HABITAT, and JPLG program officers. The Puntland Vice President opened the meeting, expressing appreciation for the Donor Communities and U.N. Agencies for supporting the JPLG program, while underscoring the hard work and commitment of Puntland Ministries and local governments.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somali Islamists threaten to execute Kenyan hostages

24 Jan – Source: Daily Nation/Capital News/AFP/Reuters/New Vision – 224 words

Government blocked from moving refugees to camps

24 Jan – Source: Standard Digital – 304 words

The High Court has restrained the Government from rounding up all refugees in urban centres. High Court Judge David Majanja blocked the Government and its agents from organising a swoop on all refugees and asylum seekers and holding them at Thika Municipal Stadium before dispatching them to Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps.

In his ruling following a suit filed by Kituo Cha Sheria under certificate of urgency, the judge issued the conservatory order stopping the move until the suit is heard and determined. “I hereby issue order prohibiting the Government, its agents or State officers from implementing the decision made on December 18, 2012 until the petition is heard and determined,” he ruled Wednesday.

Kituo Cha Sheria moved to court opposing the Government’s decision to start repatriating refugees from January 21, terming the move unconstitutional. “The said decision is in violation of many provisions of the Constitution as well as international law concerning refugee protection. There is need for the court to halt the decision to give affected parties an opportunity to ventilate their concerns,” the institution’s lawyer Solomon Masitsa said in the petition.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Death sentence and detentions raise profile of rape in Somalia

24 Jan – Source: IRIN News – 1025 words

The recent execution in Somalia of a soldier convicted of rape and the detention of a journalist investigating sexual assault have given the traditionally taboo issue of gender-based violence an usual degree of prominence.

Even the president has weighed in. Speaking from Washington, DC, where he met with US President Barack Obama on 17 January, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that his government would not intervene in the case of the journalist, despite pressure from numerous organizations, including Human Rights Watch, and senior UN officials. Mohamud said that freedom of the press “does not mean that tainting the image of the government is acceptable by any standards”.

Somalia’s position in intl. community gaining momentum

23 Jan – Source: Press TV – 265 words

Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991 but the election of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the Somali president in September 2011 has been widely viewed as the first democratic step, prompting many countries to formalize ties with the Horn of Africa Nation.

Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in a press conference said that recognition of Mogadishu by world powers will play a fundamental role in restoration of Somalia’s position in in the international community and access to international aid and assistance.

Several countries have expressed interest in opening their embassies in Mogadishu two decades after a prolonged civil war and increased insurgency by armed militant groups. Iran and Turkey have already established permanent embassies in Mogadishu.

The United States recently announced that it was officially recognizing President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration following his visit to Washington. The announcement was made on 17th of January by the US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in a joint press conference with the Somali President.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The United States government’s recognition of the Somali government opens the door to money that could help entrench the political elite of the new government. Unfortunately, it does not guarantee that the new government will provide the protection of individual rights and economic freedoms that are necessary for sustained development.”

U.S. Recognition Doesn’t Bode Well for Somalia

23 Jan – Source: Huffington Post Blog – 759 Words

The United States government’s recent recognition of Somalia’s new government is no cause for hope for the Somali people. Official recognition brings official largess in the form of development aid that will do little to promote development. Worse yet, recognition might help to legitimize what is likely to be yet another oppressive African government.

In a White House ceremony with Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the recently elected president of Somalia, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “I’m very pleased that… we are taking this historic step of recognizing the government.” Most news stories have reported the event as a good sign for progress in the region.

Unfortunately, official recognition is likely to do more harm than good for the average Somali. President Mohamud and his government will benefit from official recognition because they are now eligible for official development grants from the World Bank, IMF, and USAID. More than $2 trillion has been given in official development assistance since 1950, but there is little to show for it other than flush Swiss bank accounts for former government officials.

“China is so successful in Africa because it gives Africans what they want, and it’s time we did too. So, instead of thinking in terms of aid — military or financial — David Cameron should be encouraging our companies to invest. Africa needs, more than anything, our geologists, bankers and financiers ready for deployment in the remotest corners of the Sahara.”

What Africa needs now: Don’t intervene, invest

23 Jan – Source: Spectator – 1121 Words

The Prime Minister has committed Britain to a struggle against the ‘existential threat’ of terrorism in Africa that he says will take ‘years, even decades’ of patience, intelligence and toughness. Well, there’s some truth in what he says, but not in the implication that this is a new threat to Africa — nor that our response should be a military one. In a way this same struggle was happening when the young Winston Churchill was covering Kitchener’s war against fanatical Muslim, Mahdist forces in the Sudan in 1898. ‘Year after year, we see the figures of the odd and bizarre potentates… It is like a pantomime scene at Drury Lane,’ wrote the young Winston in his memoir of the battle for Omdurman.

‘For a space their names are on the wires of the world and the tongues of men… And then the audience clap their hands, amused yet impatient, and the potentates and their trains pass on, some to exile, some to prison, some to death…’ The Victorians had the Mad Mullah and the Khalifa. Today we have Mokhtar Belmokhtar the ‘One-Eyed’, Boko Haram and al Shabaab. As for Osama bin Laden, I first heard his name in 1992. I was a Reuters correspondent in Mogadishu when a US Army Humvee was blown to bits, killing three American military police and their Somali interpreter. Later, at a briefing with an intelligence officer, there was, for the first time, talk of bin Laden.

At that time, bin Laden’s designs were on Africa. He had just been invited to take sanctuary in Sudan from where he planned al Qaeda’s opening attacks against the Americans in Somalia. Luckily for him, having promised to fix the spectacularly failed state of Somalia, the Americans then abandoned it after the bloody Black Hawk Down battle. So al Qaeda moved in and organised the August 1998 US embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.

‘The West claims to love democracy but not in Islamic countries,’ al Shabaab military commander Abu Mansoor once told me over a cup of tea. ‘Look at Algeria.’ Indeed, in 1991 the pro-French government annulled the country’s first democratic election because an Islamist party won. In response, Algerian Salafists who were veteran volunteers in the CIA-funded, anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan launched an ultra-violent insurgency.

Across Africa in the 1990s, other ‘Afghan’ veterans came home to exploit environments where states weakened or failed in the aftermath of the Cold War. All you need to start a war, an African rebel leader told a friend of mine, is $10,000 and a satellite phone. ‘You use the dollars to recruit enough fighters to raid the local police stations for their guns. The phone you use to call the world’s press after the attack.’

“In a moment of irony, the Somali President actually slipped answering one question. America’s right-wingers must have been elated to hear him say, in addressing freedom of the press: “Yes, but they are responsible like any other person and must not say negative things about the government.” BINGO: this gave an indication Somalia has a LONG way to go to be the great nation we are.”

Birth of a Nation – For God’s Sake

23 Jan – Source: UK Progressive – 664 Words

On Thursday (1/16/13) I witnessed the birth of a nation. At 12 noon President Obama greeted Hassan Sheikh Mahamud the newly elected President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, a rebirthed nation – 22 years a failed state. The next hour President Mahamud traveled the 300 yards to the State Department to register his country as a “Nation among Nations” and received recognition as a political entity.

Next the new president was driven by State Department convoy to a special public presentation at CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies), where 200 of us stood by to help introduce the new country to the world.

As the new President spoke, many Somalis were present. I noticed their tremendous pride as they hung on every word. During the Q & A, not all were in agreement, you could sense the electricity in the air, as these new nation holders were placed on the world stage.

To this excitement I juxtaposed the hundreds of Americans I know. Many seem not to have a clue as to the deep desire of purpose coming from oppressed and outsider peoples like these Somalis; they have NO government, NO currency, are bankrupt and don’t have a snow balls chance of surviving (all things we Americans take for granted). What the new comers had, that most Americans have lost, is a pride in purpose worth great sacrifice. The President told of his need to form a governing structure, Somalia has ZERO.

Top tweets

‏@UNPOSomalia #Somali Defence Minister notes improvement in #security at Military Technical Working Group in #Mogadishu.@UN @UN_DPA pic.twitter.com/58whVnDD.

@EUTMSomalia #EU Council appointed a new Mission Commander for #EUTM #Somalia. Brig Gen Gerald AHERNE will succeed Col Michael BEARY.

‏@Cantoobo #Somalia will meet #Rwanda in their next game on Friday,African championship basketball, after beating Kenya&Burundi pic.twitter.com/adTpizuY.

@RefugeesIntl The latest from Nairobi: #Kenya‘s Courts Deliver Good News for Refugees. (For now.)http://refugeesinternational.org/blog/kenyas-courts-deliver-good-news-refugees … #Somalia.

@tresthomas_HOA From Hammami drama sidelines, it’s a shame there isn’t The Real Foreign Fighters of al-Shabaab reality show. #Somalia.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Fans cheer Somali basketball team as it beat Burundi 98-80 at the African Cup of Nations qualifiers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on January 24, 2013. Photo: Somgoal.