July 13, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
African Union Troops recover stolen relief food from al Shabaab Camp
13 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 205 words
Over 500 sacks of stolen relief food were among items recovered from a terrorist training camp captured by Somali government forces supported by African Union troops. The food, which was meant for humanitarian relief to the Somali people, had been confiscated by the al Qaeda -affiliated terror group, al Shabaab, who used it instead to feed militants at the camp in Lanta Buur, 40kms west of Mogadishu.
The food has been returned to the local people. Also recovered was a cache of weapons, which included machine guns and bomb making equipment. 11 militants were killed and four others captured. The capture of Lanta Buur is the latest in a string of AMISOM successes that have pushed the extremists out of much of central and south Somalia. AMISOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, said that the continuing operations would enable aid agencies to access areas where they had been previously barred by the extremists.
“We are fulfilling our mandate to support the Somali peace process and create a conducive environment for the safe delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid, ” he said. Somalia will require increased assistance after aid agencies warned that the country faces another food crisis following poor rains between March and May.
Key Headlines
- African Union Troops recover stolen relief food from al Shabaab Camp (AMISOM)
- Somali Defense minister comments over Dubai Conference (Radio Risaala)
- ASWJ welcomes WFP’s operation resumption in Mataban (Bar-kulan)
- President Kibaki chairs Cabinet security meeting (Capital News)
- Ministry of education introduces new School certificates (Radio Risaala)
- Customs seize explosive materials at Namanga border with Tanzania (Coastweek/ Xinhua)
- ‘I was raped by Somali captors’ (IOL News)
PRESS RELEASE
African Union Troops recover stolen relief food from al Shabaab Camp
13 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 205 words
Over 500 sacks of stolen relief food were among items recovered from a terrorist training camp captured by Somali government forces supported by African Union troops. The food, which was meant for humanitarian relief to the Somali people, had been confiscated by the al Qaeda -affiliated terror group, al Shabaab, who used it instead to feed militants at the camp in Lanta Buur, 40kms west of Mogadishu.
The food has been returned to the local people. Also recovered was a cache of weapons, which included machine guns and bomb making equipment. 11 militants were killed and four others captured. The capture of Lanta Buur is the latest in a string of AMISOM successes that have pushed the extremists out of much of central and south Somalia. AMISOM Force Commander, Lieutenant General Andrew Gutti, said that the continuing operations would enable aid agencies to access areas where they had been previously barred by the extremists.
“ We are fulfilling our mandate to support the Somali peace process and create a conducive environment for the safe delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid, ” he said. Somalia will require increased assistance after aid agencies warned that the country faces another food crisis following poor rains between March and May.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali Defense minister comments over Dubai Conference
13 Jul- Source: Radio Risaala – 113 words
TFG’s defense minister, Hussein Arab Isse returned to the country from tour broad where he held talks with the representatives of the international community in different countries including Italy, UAE and Kenya to discuss how to curb piracy in the Somali waters.
At a press conference in Mogadishu Airport, defense minister told reporters that in the Dubai conference the main agenda discussed was about how to deal the pirates who terrorized the Somali waters. He said that the restoration of peace in Somalia and how to counter the groups that are a threat to the security of the Somali people was also discussed.
ASWJ welcomes WFP’s operation resumption in Mataban
12 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 117 words
Ahlu Sunna administration in Mataban district has hailed WFP’s decision to resume its humanitarian operation in the district after suspending its activities in the district following the killing of two of its staff in last February. The area district commissioner Abdirahman Abdi Mohamed said the resumption of the organization’s work in the district will help tackle humanitarian crisis facing locals in the area. Mohamed said the district is home to over 8,000 internally displaced persons camping in seven IDP camps, thus resumption of WFP’s humanitarian operation will alleviate the suffering of these people. WFP has earlier this year suspected its operation in Mataban after a gunman shot dead two of its staff at Bedbado refugee camp.
Fifth Hargeisa International Book Fair opens
13 Jul – Source: Somaliland Press – 82 words
Red Sea Online Cultural Foundation and its partners are delighted to present the 5th Hargeisa International Book Fair (HIBF). Celebrated as one of the largest public gathering of arts and literature in East Africa, the book fair is an annual event bringing together an eclectic mix of esteemed writers and poets from the Somali speaking territories as well as celebrated international figures in the arts world. HIBF will open at 09.00 am on the 13th of July 2012 at Guriga Shaqalaha.
Recent Galmudug’s court ruling justified, say locals
12 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 147 words
A section of locals in Galmudug has welcomed the recent court ruling that disbanded the recently appointed regional electoral commission that were to conduct the upcoming presidential election in the region. Ali Mo’alim Noor, a local resident of southern Galkayo said the ruling was in favour of an effort to cool down souring political temperature and possible disputes that may have marred the regional presidential election.
The court said the appointment of the commission members the area vice president Abdisamed Noor Gulleid was unprocedural, making it null and void. The court stated that differences over the exact date of the election could have been resolves before the commission is appointed.
The court also noted that it was in the interest of the regional state for the court to quash the appointment, citing that the appointment could have added fuel to the already political differences in the region.
Cabinet Ministers discuss security and constitutional affairs
12 Jul – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 154 words
Somali cabinet held meeting its normal meeting at Mogadishu’s main seat of government, Villa-Somalia. The ministers deeply focused on the current situation of the country’s security, and how leaders will decide to act together with a general strategy toward the end of transitional periods, and the security boom inside Mogadishu.
Somalia is expected to adopt a new draft constitution, Somalia’s Constitution Minister Abdirahman Hosh Jebril told reporters after the summit, that clan elders are working closely with the transitional committees, and that is what they are currently waiting for, “The outcome will be a good morale for us, and I hope they will be representing us in a good way,” he said.
Draft constitution is long time being disputed by Somali politicians and other Somali stakeholders including the civil society groups who said the constitution needs to ensure religious ethics and the name of capital Mogadishu as well as Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Ministry of education introduces new School certificates
12 Jul – Source: Radio Risaala – 136 words
The Ministry of Education and culture released a new standard certification for the high school graduates across the country. The minister of education and culture of the Somali government , Dr. Ahmed Aidid Ibrahim told the media in a press conference that his ministry has succeeded after hard work in the coming up with a standard certificate for all the high school graduates in the country.
He further informed the media that they are also working on unifying the different syllabus in the country. This comes after the country’s education had severely suffered in the last two decades due to country‘s unstable state of affairs and many private institutions and private schools sprung up each teaching a different curriculum.
Government forces kill 11 al Shabaab fighters in southern Somalia
12 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle – 160 words
Army commanders have said they took control of new areas in Lower Shabelle Region in southern Somalia following fighting between government forces and al Shabaab fighters. Ibrahim Yarow, an army commander told Radio Shabelle that they seized new areas between Afgooye and Laanta Buur from al Shabaab. He said they captured KM50 and Laanta Buur localities.
The commander further said government forces killed 11 al Shabaab fighters and seized weapons. “We carried out operations in Lanta Buur early this morning where we are now; we also killed 11 al Shabaab fighters and captured three others. The operation [against al Shabaab] is still on,” he said.
Another army commander, Gen Ali Arale Cosoble, said Thursday’s operation was a planned one by Somali and African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] troops. The situation in the area remains stable. Al Shabaab officials have so far not made statement regarding the clash. This is part of government and AMISOM troops operation to capture al Shabaab-controlled areas in the country.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Customs seize explosive materials at Namanga border with Tanzania
13 Jul – Source: Coastweek/ Xinhua – 658 words
The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) said on Thursday that it foiled attempts by suspicious people to smuggle into the country with dangerous fertilizer that can be used to make explosive materials. KRA Head of Marketing and Communications Kennedy Onyonyi said its revenue officers at the Namanga border with Tanzania on Wednesday seized 20 bags of potassium nitrate crystalline and 20 bags of sodium benzoate after a raid at a go-down.
“KRA officers in Namanga on July 11 raided a go-down in the no man’s land on the Kenya side of the border and seized 20 bags of potassium nitrate crystalline and 20 bags of sodium benzoate after suspicious people attempted to bribe the officers to allow the consignment into the country using public transport,” Onyonyi said.
President Kibaki chairs Cabinet security meeting
13 Jul – Source: Capital News – 292 words
President Mwai Kibaki on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Security committee at his Harambee House office. A statement from the Presidential Press Service indicated that the meeting discussed security issues within and outside the country which included foreign relations. “The meeting focused on Kenya’s internal and external security matters and steps being taken to ensure the security of the Kenyan people and their property,” the statement read. The meeting was held a week after a major reshuffle of senior police and administrative officers across the country, as part of measures aimed at curbing terror threats posed by al Shabaab militants.
Turkey to help Somalia revive factories
12 Jul – Source: Africa Review – 164 words
Turkey is considering helping Somalia revive industries destroyed by years of civil strife, officials said. According to the government broadcaster, the revival of the industries was top on the agenda at a meeting between the Somali Commercial Attache’ in Turkey, Mr Yusuf Ahmed Hassan alias Jego, and the Chief Executive Officer of Ankara Industry Chamber (ASO), Mr Nurettin Ozdebir, in Ankara, on Tuesday.
The station reported that the two sides exchanged views on commerce and development of bilateral relations. Mr. Hassan gave the Turkish business officials a report on trade and industry in Somalia, putting emphasis on the increasing commercial relations between the two countries.
“The Somali official also reported on the industrial complex the country lost during the civil war,” reported the state broadcaster in Mogadishu. The factories include the processors of meat, sugar and cement. Following the meeting, it is expected that a high level Ankara Industry Chamber delegation will visit Somalia to assess the viability of investments, according to Mr Hassan.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
‘I was raped by Somali captors’
13 Jul – Source: IOL News – 377 words
Debbie Calitz says was raped by her captors during her 20-month hostage ordeal in Somalia, a report has said. Speaking to the Daily News in Durban on Wednesday, Calitz and her partner Bruno Pelizzari, who landed in South Africa almost two weeks ago, relived aspects of their capture. Calitz said the most harrowing part was the kidnapping. “It was like a dream,” she said.
They described how they were taken hostage after their yacht, SY Choizil, skippered by Peter Eldridge, was hijacked off the Kenyan coast en route to Richards Bay from Dar es Salaam in October 2010. Eldridge was later rescued.
“Bruno was asleep and I had finished my shift. Peter just started his shift when I saw three speedboats. From a distance they looked like whales,” she said. “Peter took one look and knew they were pirates. He went downstairs and made a Mayday call. Within a minute the leader was aboard, pointing a bazooka at me.”
About five other men also boarded, wielding AK-47 assault rifles, she said. Cellphones, money and jewellery were demanded, in that order. Calitz said each pirate had about six cellphones. The third boat, which she described as a “supply” boat, arrived with rice, beans, milk and sugar. “I asked for a cup of food for Bruno and myself. It was nice, it tasted like rice pudding.”
Plea deal for U.S. man accused of aiding Somalia’s al Shabaab
12 Jul – Source: Reuters – 209 words
A U.S. citizen accused of providing material support to Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants by intending to become a suicide bomber has reached a tentative plea deal with prosecutors, his lawyer and prosecutors said on Thursday.
A judge scheduled a July 20 change-of-plea hearing in U.S. District Court in Chicago for Shaker Masri, who formerly worked for a company that translated the Islamic holy book, the Koran, into English, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office said.
Masri’s lawyer, Thomas Durkin, and prosecutors told a judge they had worked out a plea agreement in principle, and that Masri was likely to change his not guilty plea to guilty. He did not say what charges Masri would plead guilty to.
Masri was not in court. He has been in custody since his August 2010 arrest, which occurred a few hours before he was scheduled to fly to California with an ultimate destination of Somalia, according to court documents. Masri was recorded in telephone calls with a paid FBI informant explaining how he planned to undergo weapons training in Mexico and then become a suicide bomber to participate in a “jihad,” or holy war, to kill people he termed infidels, the court documents said.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“As another poster noted, most Somalis are nomads, which is another reason why the government is pretty much nonexistent. Nomadic tribes generally don’t have central leadership but instead at most tribal leaders.”
Somalia: A case where Libertarian ideals have failed?
12 Jul – Source: Politico id Blog – 314 Words
I feel that it’s required that I put this post here even though it’s on my old Tumblr blog. So often when I’m discussing the benefits of a decentralized government over that of a national government I come across the argument of Somalia. The argument used is that Somalia is a pure libertarian state and since it’s not successful libertarian philosophy must be wrong.
Well is it wrong? This is definitely the rhetoric I hear from supporters of big government. However, if you do some quick research, you’ll find out that Somalia is not a libertarian state by choice but by consequence.
Top tweets
@smgbristol Political Islam can promote peace in #Somalia.#Somali people want an Islamic government Chatham House|http://bit.ly/NsNC1T.
@evolvingprimate A Real Life Fields of Gold at our Farm in#Balcad, Middle #Shabeele Region, #Somalia #fieldsofgoldhttp://pic.twitter.com/
@Snitchlady Reason I reached out to #Somali Comm: 3 victims of recent gun violence rest in same cemetery @jlancaster Thx 4 coming http://bit.ly/PDyh4q.
@amisomsomalia #AU Troops recover stolen relief food from Al†#Shabaab Camp. http://bit.ly/OBVdMN.
@BillaoJournal Remember – French agent #DennisAllex taken hostage by #Shabaab in #Somalia 3 years ago. Last seen in a video Dec 2010 http://pic.twitter.com/
@McManusW “@tresthomas_HOA: #Shabaab and Hobyo#pirates may have collaborated in Galkayo kidnappinghttp://bit.ly/OeKM0t #Somalia” Nothing new here.
Image of the day
A billboard from the ‘BE INVOLVED: MY COUNTRY, MY CONSTITUTION’ public outreach and education campaign in the Dabka Junction in central Mogadishu. Somalia is gearing up for the passage of Draft Constitution. Photo. UNPOS Tumblr