January 28, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali forces round up suspected al Shabaab militias
28 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle/Jowhar Online/Hiiraan Online/keydmedia- 122 words
Somali special trained forces named Alpha group conducted massive security operations ensuring the overall security of Daynile district, north of Mogadishu on Tuesday.
Witnesses who spoke with Radio Shabelle on condition of anonymity confirmed that the Special Forces detained many people in their house to house operations.
The local administration confirmed that the forces conducted massive operations in specific places in a bid to thwart al Shabaab’s hit and run attacks launched from there some times. The commissioner of Daynile Hirey Muhidin said the forces intercepted explosive devices.
Key Headlines
- Somali forces round up suspected al Shabaab militias (Shabelle/Jowhar Online)
- Street and House numbers in Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
- AMISOM road accident claims man in Mogadishu (Radio Risaala/Radio Kulmiye)
- AU lauds Kenya judiciary for quashing refugee ejection (Star – Kenya)
- Well known elder shot dead in Garowe (Radio Garowe)
- Ethiopian troops deploy to south-central Somalia (Radio Shabelle)
- Somali embassy staff in Nairobi arrested over terrorism suspicion (RBC)
- Three people die of unidentified disease in Gedo (Radio Ergo)
- Illegal road blocks cleared between Afgoye and Mogadishu ( Radio Shabelle)
- UAE to implement key development projects in Somalia (Hiiraan Online/Dalsan Radio)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali forces round up suspected al Shabaab militias
28 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle/Jowhar Online/Hiiraan Online/keydmedia- 122 words
Somali special trained forces named Alpha group conducted massive security operations ensuring the overall security of Daynile district, north of Mogadishu on Tuesday.
Witnesses who spoke with Radio Shabelle on condition of anonymity confirmed that the Special Forces detained many people in their house to house operations.
The local administration confirmed that the forces conducted massive operations in specific places in a bid to thwart al Shabaab’s hit and run attacks launched from there some times. The commissioner of Daynile Hirey Muhidin said the forces intercepted explosive devices.
AMISOM road accident claims man in Mogadishu
28 Jan- Source: Radio Risaala/Radio Kulmiye/Radio Dalsan- 55 words
Armoured vehicle belonging to the forces of the African peacekeeping (AMISOM) based in Mogadishu, killed a man in a tragic road traffic accident Tuesday in Taree-Biyaano, along Maka Al Mukarama in Mogadishu. The man, identified as Saleh Nur Mohammed, was struck by one of the vehicles in the armoured convoy. The deceased was a taxi driver in Waberi neighborhood in Mogadishu. Somali police arrived the area after the accident and collected the body.
On AMISOM twitter account, AU special envoy SRCC Amb. Mahamet Saleh Anadif said AMISOM regrets the tragic accident, adding “Our thoughts are with the family and we are working with Somali authorities in its investigation.”
Meanwhile, responding to the incident Minister of Interior Abdullahi Godah Barre, said: “The government regrets all loss of life and has launched an investigation into this morning’s tragic incident on Maka al Mukarama. “I call on AMISOM to ensure they respect and adhere rigidly to the local laws and customs and work with the Somali Police and government in investigating this incident with utmost urgency.”
Well known elder shot dead in Garowe
28 Jan- Source: Harar24 Online/Radio Garowe/Halgan Online- 125 words
Unknown gunmen have gunned down a prominent elder in Garowe the capital city of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland. The elder Mahamud Mahamed Farax (Hamari), was killed on Monday night by three unknown men armed with pistols as he was heading to his house, according to witnesses.
“The attackers were armed with pistols and shot the elder several times in the head, killing him instantly,” a resident who asked anonymity
The killers have immediately escaped from the area after the murder and no one was arrested in connection of the killing. No group has so far claimed the responsibility of the killing in Garowe tonight, and the motive of the killing is yet unclear.
Ethiopian troops deploy to south-central Somalia
28 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle- 151 words
Reports from Baidoa the provincial capital of Bay Region say that additional troops from Ethiopia arrived at the town. Reliable sources confirmed that Ethiopian troops arrived at Baidoa to take over the overall security of Bay, Bakol and Gedo regions.
On the other hand, news sources from Beledweyne town the capital of Hiran Region noted that Ethiopian forces have also reached at Kalaberka intersection. The forces deployed are from Somali regional state of Ethiopia and have set up a new military base there. The Ethiopian forces deployment to Bay and Hiran provinces comes days after the troops integrated were into African Union peacekeeping mission.
Somali embassy staff in Nairobi arrested over terrorism suspicion
28 Jan- Source: Radio RBC/Universal TV- 122 words
The chief of protocol for Somali embassy in Kenya, Ilyas Yusuf Warsame was arrested in Nairobi. Ilyas was arrested by Kenya’s anti-terrorism police unit in relation with terrorism. The Somali ambassador in Kenya did not comment on this arrest.
Meanwhile, a section of Somali populace in Mogadishu have expressed their concerns over the arrest of Somali embassy staff, calling for his release.
Last year September, fighters from al Shabaab staged attacks on Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi which left close to 80 people dead and scores of others injured. The attack has made Kenyan security forces put on high alert and also grow fear in Kenyan Muslim community.
Three people die of unidentified disease in Gedo
28 Jan- Source: Radio Ergo- 161 words
Three people have died from a disease apparently related to poor sanitation in a remote village of Dabley in Gedo region in recent days. Two girls under the age of five are among those who died, according to Sheikh Mohamed Derow, the chairman of Dabley village, which is 15km from Gedo’s regional capital of Garbaharay.
There are dozens of people infected by the disease and they have no access to a doctor, he said. The area has no medical centre and the patients have to walk to Garbaharay for the closest clinic, Radio Ergo local reporter said. The outbreak of the disease is linked to poor sanitation and unclean drinking water.
The head of local administration’s health office, Shire Abdi Hassan, said they had received information indicating the outbreak of the disease in several villages in Gedo region including Dabley. He said they will send a medical team to the village to assess the situation and provide necessary treatments for patients.
Street and House numbers in Mogadishu
28 Jan- Source: Hiiraan Online- 354 words
Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia soon is going to have names on its streets as well as numbers on the doors of its houses, for the first time in the history of the country. Similar plan is also expected to be implemented in the major towns of the country.
Mayor of the Somali capital Mogadishu, Mahmoud Ahmed Nur, popularly known as ‘Tarsan’ on Sundayinaugurated the program named ‘House numbering and post code system’ a project that attracted warm welcome from the capital’s inhabitants. The inhabitants of the capital welcomed the initiative.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, the Mayor said that this is an important step not only for the modernization of the postal service in the capital, but also for the security of the people and the capital, adding, “the registration of the properties in the capital has been already started.” The Mayor asked the people of Mogadishu to give their full cooperation to the project.
Illegal road blocks cleared between Afgoye and Mogadishu
27 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle- 114 words
A government battalion has started an operation to cleanse illegal roadblocks between the Somalia’s capital and Afgoye district. The operation started early Monday morning and the roadblocks are said to be manned by men in military uniform. The operation is said to have been successful as the troops managed to remove several road blocks.
Top government officials led the cleanup up exercise as the lower Shabelle region experiences the rising road blocks which have halted the movement of vehicles in and out of the region.
UAE to implement key development projects in Somalia
27 Jan- Source: Shabelle/Hiiraan Online/Dalsan Radio/Radio Bar-kulan/Somali Channel tv- 339 words
The United Arab Emirates is planning to extend its development programs to Somalia as part of the Gulf nation’s humanitarian assistance to Somalia. The announcement was made by Somali minister of Interior and Federalism Abdullahi Godah Barre and the UAE ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Al Osmani.
At a joint press conference here in Mogadishu on Monday, the minister said that the UAE government was in the final process of implementing key development projects in the country with particular focus placed on the of the former al Shabaab strongholds in a bid to help inhabitants in the regions recover from years of setbacks caused by al Shabaab’s hard-line rule.
Somaliland Minister of Information meets with Djibouti Religion Minister
27 Jan- Source: Somaliland Informer- 188 words
Djibouti Religion and Endowment Minister Hon. Adam Hassan Adam on Saturday hosted the Minister of Information and National Guidance of Somaliland Hon. Abdilahi Mohamed Dahir aka U’kuse who is on working visit to the neighbouring country of Djibouti.The two ministers discussed issues ranging from consolidating the friendly cooperation and the close working ties between the two countries.
Somaliland minister of Information was accompanied by the presidential spokesman Hon.Ahmed Suleiman Dhuhul. Minister of Religion has reiterated that it is committed to have friendly ties between the two countries of Somaliland Djibouti.
Hon. Abdilahi Mohamed Dahir has thanked the minister for the cordial welcome that he provided to him and further added that the ministry of information will have close ties with Djibouti religion minister.
He added that Djibouti will help the ministry of Information to adapt the new technology regarding radio and Television.
Somaliland Minister of Information already met with Minister of Information, Culture and Telecommunication of Djibouti and the Director General and the two officials discussed that they should cooperate and close working relations between the tow ministries.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya: Kwale police arrest ‘al Shabaab’ terror suspect, recover fire arms
28 Jan- Source: Coast Week/Standardmedia-434 Words
Kenyan police have arrested a terror suspect and recovered firearms in Ukunda area in the coastal district Kwale amid intensified security following the killing of a key ‘al Shabaab’ commander in Somalia.
Msambweni police commander Jack Ekakuro said the lady suspect was arrested during raid conducted by combined team of police and anti terror police officers on Sunday night.
“Acting on highly place intelligence information, our officers raided the house and recovered the firearms. “We are interrogating the lady whom we believe is the wife of the owner the house,” Ekakuro told Xinhua on Monday.
In Mombasa, Ekakuro said police recovered an AK-47 rifle, 38 rounds of ammunition, two magazines and military uniforms from the house situated four kilometers from Msambweni town.
AU lauds Kenya judiciary for quashing refugee ejection
27 Jan- Source: Star-Kenya- 391 words
The African Union has listed the move by the Kenyan High Court to stop a planned government refugee relocation program as one of 2013’s human rights success cases in Africa. The government had given the orders to relocate all refugees living in urban areas back to camps. The orders to this effect were issued in December 18, 2012 and January 16 2013 following spates of terror attacks.
However last July, High Court judge David Majanja nullified the directives saying they threatened the rights and fundamental freedoms of the refugees as vulnerable group of society. Kituo Cha Sheria and seven refugees had moved to the court to challenge the directive which also required UNHCR and other agencies to stop providing direct services to asylum seekers and refugees in urban areas.
Soldier with gun in one hand and razor in the other
27 Jan- Source: Daily Nation- 542 words
Kenya Defence Forces Private Stephen Mwenda Makau did not know he would have an additional role besides fighting the enemy when he was posted to Kismayo in October last year. His other job now entails ensuring his colleagues are clean-shaven to maintain their identity as they battle al Shabaab militants near the Indian Ocean.
Mr Mwenda, 26, is a 120mm gunner attached to the KDF 2nd Mechanised Infantry Battalion, which is working under the African Union Mission in Somalia. He is based at the Old Kismayo Airport. Mr Mwenda acts as a barber for the soldiers based in the remote location with no electricity supply.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s diaspora returning home
28 Jan- Source: CCTV Africa-02:41mins
For over two decades, war raged in Somalia forcing its people to flee to different parts of the world, where many struggled to re-establish their lives. Today, many parts of Somalia enjoy peace, with improving security and life returning to normal. This peace has seen many Somalis return home and participate in the reconstruction of their country.
Sterling Increases Interest In Odewayne Block
27 Jan- Source: Epmag- 106 words
Sterling Energy (East Africa) Ltd. has obtained an additional 15% interest in the production-sharing contract (PSC) of the Odewayne block, located onshore Somaliland, after gaining approval from the Somaliland government, a news release said.
The farm-out agreement was executed with Jacka Resources Somaliland Ltd. With the government’s consent, the agreement is complete. Sterling already held a 10% interest in the PSC pursuant to a transaction with Petrosoma Ltd., which was completed Nov. 6, 2013, the release said.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Is our nomadic existence in jeopardy? Is it time to address this subject seriously? These are questions I would like our conscious readers to answer. Let us keep in mind that this green leafy problem is a plant that we import from another country, one that does not grow in abundance here in our own country.”
Somaliland: The Lost Nomad
28 Jan- Source: Somalilandpress-1298 Words
“Hearing stories about the lost nomad with a flashlight trying to find his home in the middle of the night at first might strikes as funny, but when you hear about men kidnapping animals from their own heard to sell at the market for a bundle of khat, you realize that this is a serious issue. khat does a bustling trade estimated at well over $50 million annually. Doctors warn, however, that the drug is not only a drain on limited Somali resources but is also destroying lives.
According to a report by Tristan McConnelly of the Global Post/Pulitzer Center “It is not unusual for men to spend $5, or $10 a day on Khat making the habit a huge drain on a very limited resource, the Government’s entire annual budget is les then $50 Million, around $14 a head for each of Somaliland’s 3.5 million citizens”. It is apparent when looking at the numbers mentioned above that it all does not add up. Yet again we all are aware of the fact that remittance sent by most Somalis living abroad makes up for that difference.
“Some bank somewhere – or more than one – will need to be “persuaded” with stick, carrot, or a combination of the two to play ball if an interim – or long term – solution is to be found.”
Somali remittances: 10 things you need to know
27 Jan- Source: Africa Research Institute-1252 Words
In May 2013, Barclays announced that it would close the accounts of all but 19 of its 165 clients in the remittance transfer business. As HSBC and other UK banks had already substantially withdrawn from the sector, the effect of Barclays’ decision was magnified. With very few exceptions, remittance transfer companies have found it impossible to secure banking facilities elsewhere – a prerequisite for the continued operation and regulatory compliance of larger ones.
While there are consequences for receivers of remittances in many countries, the threat to the economic fabric of the Somali regions is particularly grave. They have no functioning banking system to provide any alternative to the remittance of funds from the Somali diaspora through well-established money transfer operators (MTOs).
In the short term, an injunction preventing Barclays from closing the account of the largest money transfer organisation serving the Somali regions – Dahabshiil – has provided temporary relief. The UK government has established a Working Group on Safer Corridors to find a long term means of securing the flow of remittances to the Somali regions, but a short term interim solution is also urgently required. To understand the implications of this issue, here are 10 things you need to consider.
Top tweets
@amisomsomalia The sun rises over ships anchored off of#Mogadishu as they await to unload their supplies at the seaport. pic.twitter.com/alKNCSylV8
@UNSomalia #UN, #AU & international community join the Cabinet conference on the 2014 programme of the #Somaligovernment: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjRjWP5C
@SomaliPM Aim of mtg to focus Cabinet on challenges & priorities ahead. I want my government to be close to people of#Somalia http://mad.ly/fd4074
@faoinsomalia From Victims to Victors: An in-depth look into the work of Sister Somalia with @IlwadElman.http://fb.me/14VTZ28YX
@TheVillaSomalia Hambalyo to ministers for smooth, peaceful handovers to assist continuity. A new government for a new#Somalia pic.twitter.com/OQLHBMcfz1
Image of the day
@SomaliPM Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed with Deputy #UN Envoy to #Somalia @UNLazzarini at the second day of a two-day Cabinet conference on the 2014 programme of the Somali government at Villa Hargeysa in Mogadishu. Photo: @UNSomalia