January 8, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somalia’s Puntland picks a new president

08 Jan- Source: Al Jazeera English-187 Words

Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has chosen Abdiweli Mohamed Ali as president in a vote held in Garowe the regions capital, amid tight security. Abdiweli unseated the incumbent president Abdirahman Mohamed Farole in a tightly contest run-off poll. Ali is a former prime minister of Somalia under Sheikh Sharif. Ali garnered 33 votes as opposed to Farole’s 32.

No candidates secured the required two-thirds majority in the first and second round of voting. Farole won the first two rounds of voting with comfortable margins. Eight candidates were eliminated in the first round voting. The whole voting processes was broadcast live on local TVs and radio stations.

Puntland declared itself to be semi-autonomous from Somalia in 1998 as fighting raged through most of the country. Since then the region of about 2.5 million people has had four presidents, all selected by MPs who were in turn selected by clan elders.

Key Headlines

Former Somali Prime Minister wins Puntland Presidency (Somali Current/Radio Garowe/BBC Somali Service/ Radio Kulmiye/Hiiraan Online)
Speaker of Federal Parliament initiates parliament presence in the regions (Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu/Radio Risaala)
National Security and Intelligence celebrates its 42nd anniversary (Radio Dalsan)
Somali local chief survives assassination attempt (Radio Shabelle)
PM Abdiweli condoles with Somali people over death of historian Aw-Jama Omar Isse (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu)
Somalia’s Puntland picks a new president (Al Jazeera English)
Aid workers narrowly escape death in Dadaab explosion (Daily Nation)

SOMALI MEDIA

Former Somali Prime Minister wins Puntland Presidency

08 Jan- Source: Somali Current/Radio Garowe/BBC Somali Service/ Radio Kulmiye/Hiiraan Online- 296 words

Former Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali (Gas) was elected as Puntland’s fifth president since it was established in 1998. Abdiweli met a heavy challenge from the outgoing Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) and beat him in the third round, only one vote separating between them.

Puntland Speaker announced that Abdiweli Mohamed Ali will lead the Regional State in the next five year. The President-Elect Abdiweli Gas won 33 votes of the total 66 votes, while Former President Abdirahman Farole got 32 votes of the lawmakers. One of the votes canceled, according to the Parliament Speaker.

Abdiweli is economist, professor and politician. He was the last Prime Minister of Somalia’s Transitional Governments. He was born in Galkacyo town of Mudug region in 1965; and took his primary and secondary education in Dhusamareb City of Galgadud region. Abdiweli who has a dual citizenship (American and Somali) graduated from Somali National University in 1984, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

In 1999, he earned Master Degree of Public Administration from Harvard University in the United States. In the year 2000, he obtained a Ph.D. in Economics from George Mason University. In June 2010, former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo appointed him as the Minister of Planning and international co-operetion; also, he was one of three Prime Minister Deputies in the cabinet.

On June 19 2011, he was appointed as interim Prime Minister after Farmajo was forced to resign. Four days later, former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed appointed him as the country’s PM. He was one of the country’s presidential candidates in 2012 election and members of parliament before he left the job in few months. Prof. Abdiweli is credited with his role in ending the Somalia’s eight years of transitional administrations.

Speaker of Federal Parliament initiates parliament presence in the regions

08 Jan- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu/Radio Risaala- 131 words

The Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia Mohamed Osman Jawari has said that the parliament intends to establish regional presence in the country. The Speaker said that in order to gain social participation and to seek the views expressed by the citizens, he initiates the parliament to open sub-offices in the provinces of the country. “I urge the parliament to open at least three regional offices in the South and Central Somalia.” Speaker Jawari said.

Meanwhile, Members of Somalia Federal Parliament vowed that they will hold the new cabinet accountable and will look if achievements were done properly. The Parliament promised a government review sitting in each parliamentary session to check if the appointed ministers did all their responsibilities and timely alternate if any misdoings were made.

National Security and Intelligence celebrates its 42nd anniversary

08 Jan- Source: Radio Dalsan- 59 words

Somalia National Security and Intelligence Agency has celebrated today in its 42nd anniversary. Interior Minister, Security Officials and senior government officials attended in a well organized ceremony at the headquarters of the agency today in Mogadishu. The head of Somalia National Security and Intelligence Agency Gen Bashir Mohamed Jama has congratulated the members if the security forces in Somalia.

Turkish staff member killed in Mogadishu

08 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle- 184 words

Report from Bakara Market says that young men armed with pistols killed a woman named Halima Ahmed who works for Turkish agencies operating in Mogadishu. Witness who spoke with Shabelle Radio on condition of anonymity said the woman was sitting in a pharmacy near her house when armed men opened fire and shot her several times, killing her on the spot. The source added that assailants escaped at the crime scene quickly before government forces arrived.

Following the shooting Somali government troops arrived at spot and conducted massive investigations hunting down the perpetrators behind the killing although no arrests have been confirmed yet. No comments were made by local administration as well as Somali federal government. No one yet claimed the responsibility of killing, but this comes just a day after big demonstrations commending the role of Turkish reconstruction plan occurred in different districts in Somalia’s Capital.

Somali government to announce new cabinet soon: officials

08 Jan- Source: Harar24- 143 words

A new Somali cabinet is expected to be announced within the next 48 hours in the Somali capital Mogadishu, officials close to the Prime Minister’s office told Harar24. The recently appointed Somali Prime Minister, Abdiwali Sheekh Ahmed is anticipated to publicize the new cabinet and its ministers; however the announcement of the new cabinet has been delayed several times.

According to a source within the Somali government the announcement of the cabinet has been delayed due to some representatives of certain clans being not happy with the appointment of some members in the cabinet. “There’s an underlying problem here, every clan wants a representative who will look out purely for their own interests rather than the national interests. If he doesn’t cave in to their demands, they won’t be satisfied with him and will demand a replacement,” the source said.

Somali local chief survives assassination attempt

08 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle- 163 words

Report from Yaqshid District say that men armed with pistols wounded a local chief in the district named Faraweyne. Witnesses told Radio Shabelle via phone that the local chief was attacked by armed men in Towfiq village in Yaqshid district, leaving with injuries.

Yaqshid police officers who were contacted by Radio Shabelle confirmed that the local chief was rushed to Madina hospital for treatment. No one has claimed the responsibility of the attack but Somalia’s al Qaeda linked group of al Shabaab carry out similar attacks in the seaside city.

Meanwhile, a remote controlled bomb was targeted on a place frequented by Somali federal government troops in Caymiska Village in Yaqshid district. News added that the casualty number remained unknown. The commissioner of Yaqshid district who was phoned by Radio Shabelle refrained from commenting the cause of the attack and its exact number of casualties.

Somali FA equips regional football committee offices

08 Jan- Source: Radio Dalsan/Kismayo Online-385 words

As part of its regional development program under the ‘Spread the football’ initiative the Somali Football federation (SFF) on Tuesday donated complete office equipment and different kinds of football materials to the recently-elected chairman of the southern Lower Jubba football committee Mr Burhan Mahmoud Hassan who is on an official working tour to the SFF headquarters for the first time after his election by the end of November last year.

A colourful ceremony which intended present the equipment to the regional football boss was held at Stadium Banadir on the eve of Jeenyo United-Horseed FC clash which ended in 4-2 in favour of Jeenyo On Tuesday.

“On the behalf of the football committee and the entire people in the southern Lower Jubba region I am very grateful to Somali Football federation authorities for the generous donation and I testify that SFF was fully committed to promoting football both in our region and the entire country” Lower Jubba football committee chairman Mr Burhan Mahmoud Hassan told the media during the equipment presentation ceremony on Tuesday.

“For the past several days I have had lengthy meetings with SFF executive committee members and I would like to tell with a loud voice that their generosity will not only be confined to the equipment we are receiving here today, but more other developmental steps will follow” the regional football committee boss told the ceremony.

Mr Burhan noted that with the help of Somali Football Federation, his committee will prioritise to work on a sudden recovery of football in the former Islamist stronghold region which is currently emerging from decades-long civil wars.

The president of Somali Football Federation Ali Said Guled Roble for his part said that the SFF was fully jubilant at the return of football influence into the region which was once well known for its great role in Somalia’s regional tournament just nearly 30 years ago.

PM Abdiweli condoles with Somali people over death of historian Aw-Jama Omar Isse

08 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu- 148 words

Somali Prime Minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed condoles with the Somali people over the death of a veteran Somali historian, Aw Jama Omar Isse, who died in Djibouti on Monday night. The prime minister sent his condolences to the family, friends and the entire Somali people in a press statement.

The late historian passed away on Monday night in Djibouti after battling with an illness in the recent past, according to Mohamed Maallim Osman, a freelance journalist in Djibouti.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said that history will remember the late historian for his tremendous work in preserving Somali history and literature as well as his work in the development of the Somali language.

The late historian was renowned for his excellent narrations of the history of former Somali freedom fighter, Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan and his Darvish army who fought against the British rule in early 20th century.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s Puntland picks a new president

08 Jan- Source: Al Jazeera English-187 Words

Aid workers narrowly escape death in Dadaab explosion

08 Jan- Source: Daily Nation- 160 words

A convoy of aid workers and their police escort Wednesday morning narrowly escaped after a landmine exploded at IFO 1 in Dadaab refugee camp.

An eyewitness who was among the NGO personnel told Nation.co.ke that the explosion occurred just after the last vehicle, which was escorting the aid workers, passed. He said following the blast the security officers fired into the air in panic. “We thank God we are safe” said the eyewitness who was not willing to be named.

The 8.40am incident comes after a similar landmine in Dagahaley refugee camp on December 30, which injured two security officers escorting aid workers. Most parts of northeastern Kenya have been prone to attacks where officers have lost their lives or sustained injuries when patrol cars run over Improvised Explosive Devices(IEDs).

Kenya: Diani police escape grenade attack unhurt

07 Jan- Source: Star-Kenya- 250 words

A grenade was thrown at a police car in Diani on Sunday night. The F1 Russian-made grenade, which did not explode, was hurled at officers in the vehicle as they patrolled Kona ya Musa area.

Shopkeepers and bar owners closed their businesses for fear of attacks as police stopped vehicles for inspection. Sources said the police vehicle was carrying five officers when the 8pm incident occurred. Msambweni police boss- Jack Ekakoro said the attack targeted the police but luckily missed their vehicle.

“The grenade landed on the other side of the road after missing the vehicle, but the attacker was not spotted.” “We think he might have been hiding somewhere when he threw the grenade at the police,” Ekakoro said. He said they managed to trace the grenade and handed it to bomb experts.

Security is tightened as Puntland holds state’s presidential election

07 Jan- Source: Sabahi Online- 470 words

A tense security climate has descended on Puntland’s capital of Garowe in Somalia, with the city cordoned off ahead of the state’s presidential election Wednesday (January 8th). The city’s two entry points have been closed and no one has been allowed to enter or leave the city since January 2nd. Vehicle traffic has also been suspended around main roads inside the city with motor traffic limited to security forces and emergency vehicles.

“The entire city is safe. We will keep conducting the security exercises. We have increased troops in the city so that the election can take place peacefully,” General Said Mohamed Hirsi, head of the Puntland Election Security Committee, told Sabahi. “We are asking the public to work on security with us. Be patient during the days when the roads are closed. No vehicle is allowed to drive within the city unless it is an emergency.” Special security forces have been deployed throughout the city to patrol the streets and conduct searches along Garowe’s main roads and residential neighbourhoods.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Puntland elects former Somali PM as new president

08 Jan- Source: AFP/Daily Star-155 Words

Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas, a former Somali prime minister, was elected president Wednesday of the semi-autonomous Puntland region, an area of Somalia struggling to shed its image as a pirate haven and still threatened by Islamist militants.

An economist by training, Ali was elected by lawmakers by the narrowest of margins, scoring 33 votes in the third round of polling, just one more than incumbent President Abdurahman Mohamed Farole. One vote was spoilt. The 66 lawmakers who cast their votes were appointed last month by clan elders in the poverty-stricken region, which forms the tip of the Horn of Africa and makes up around a third of Somalia’s territory.

“I am very grateful for the support of my people who trusted me to run Puntland,” Ali, in his late forties, told those assembled at the parliament building. Incumbent Farole accepted defeat gracefully, wished his rival well and said the election had been “clean and democratic”.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“What was unique about last year was the grumbling and opposition of key jihadists, foreign and local, against the imperial leadership of Godane. Hammami, Ibrahim al Afghani, and some of their colleagues went online and lashed out at the emir of al Shabaab.”

Al Shabaab in 2013: Boom and Bust

07 Jan- Source: Wardheernews-1292 Words

For al Shabaab, 2013 was a year of many twists and turns. It started in January with an ominous threat by the al Qaeda affiliate to the Alabama-born jihadist Omar Hammami: Surrender in two weeks or face death. This was followed by the brutal killing in February of Shaikh Abdulkadir Nur Farah, a prominent Somali scholar in his seventies, while he was praying in a mosque in Puntland. After such a perverse start, the year ended when on December 20, the group killed another foreign jihadist, Abdirizak “Burundi” (The Burundian).

For Hammami, January was a point of no return. The al Qaeda groups, after all, are not paper tigers; they mean business. Nine months later, Hammami was killed in an ambush ordered by Godane, the emir of al Shabaab. Gone were the professed brotherly love and the years of comradeship and struggle. Such was the unceremonious end of the Hip Hop jihadist who once sang rap songs in praise of the militant group. For Al-Shabaab, issuing threats and killing are just two sides of the same coin. The year 2013 was no exception.

The year manifested the hounding and the marginalization of foreign jihadists, loss of more territory, a power struggle among the group’s leaders, a deadly terrorist mission abroad, an unusual military victory, and an unprecedented infiltration of the weak Somali government.

“When Hastings arrived perhaps the most important part of teaching computer skills was, for practical purposes, missing. Somaliland is one of the few remaining areas of Africa not to have fiber optic Internet access, according to the UbuntuNet Alliance. Most Africas get on the web via basic mobile phones.”

Being the IT guy in war-torn Africa

07 Jan- Source: Seattlepi blog-934 Words

“Twelve tabs with Justin Bieber videos screw over the whole school. I still get a hard time about it,” Dan Hastings says. He’s defending his decision, as the IT guy, to block YouTube at the high school where he worked, in one of the most barren reaches of populated Africa.

This was at Abaarso School in Somaliland, the northern portion of the Horn of Africa. For most western schools, a dozen YouTube clips would barely register on an IT dashboard, but Abaarso is “literally is in the middle of nowhere,” a dozen or so miles to the east of Hargeisa, the small capital. The landscape is red rocks and the occasional swaths of underbrush.

Somaliland is an autonomous northern region of Somalia, which has yearned, unsuccessfully, to be recognized as an independent nation. Fighting clans and pirates on the coasts (mostly in the south of Somalia, however) deter all but the bravest travelers and aide workers.

National Day of Towbah, Forgiveness and Dua for Somalia

07 Jan- Source: Waaberi Project Blog-191 Words

For the past two decades and so, other than political campaigns, there has been no one single Somali who has called for a national day of towbah and prayers. Of all the existing theories of conflict and management, the Somali crisis defied any conventional wisdom to explain. And maybe, there is a need to look for other possible explanation: this time religious explanation and the fact that we as Muslims need to go back to our maker, repent, forgive each other and then attend to the challnges facing us and our great country: Somalia.

The whole concept of a National day of Prayers (A day of towba, forgiveness and dua) came first when Dr. Ibrahim Farah (a lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies – IDIS and Founder of Justice & Peace Network- Somalia aka MAANDEEQ Network) visited Mogadishu to attend the political conference (Vision 2016 and beyond) and called for a national day of prayers On this day various events and awareness is being raised all across the world in Nairobi, Mogadishu, London, Ottawa, Minneapolis, Baidoa, djibouti, Kampala, and several other cities to be confirmed soon.

Top tweets

@SomaliPM Condolences to family of Aw Jama Omar Isse.#Somalia will remember him for preserving Somali history & literature http://bit.ly/1gdmIvo

@CrisisGroup We’re keeping a close eye on #Puntland2014 For background see our recent briefing http://bit.ly/18YFRzI

@UKinSomalia Wanting to support #media development in#Somalia? DFID funding available through @stability_fundApply now: http://www.stabilityfund.so/content/apply

@Aynte #Puntland has stolen the thunder from @SomaliPM &@TheVillaSomalia who’re still pregnant with new cabinet.#Somalia

@SomaliPM Congratulations to Abdiweli Mohamed Ali on election as President of #Puntland State, look forward to working together for a New #Somalia

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Image of the day

Image of the day Incumbent Puntland president Abdirahman Mohammed Farole, right, congratulates Dr. Abdiweli Mohammed Ali Gaas on his election as the new president onWednesday, 08 Jan 2014 in Garowe, the state’s capital. Photo: @DhanaanMedia