July 13, 2018 | Morning Headlines
Two Al-Shabaab Fighters Surrender To SNA And Jubbaland Forces In Kismayo
12 July – Source: Halbeeg News – 200 Words
Two Al-Shabaab fighters have defected and surrendered to the Somali National Army (SNA) and Jubbaland forces in Kismayo on Thursday. One of the defectors, identified as Aden Udoow Abdi, handed over an AK47 weapon and rounds of ammunition upon surrendering.
The head of criminal investigations in Kismayo, Ahmed Muse, who addressed the local media at Fiat Police station said the two fighters deserted their Al-Shabaab colleagues after making contacts with security forces in the region.
“These youth, that you can see here, have surrendered to the security forces. We welcomed them and one of them handed over his weapons and ammunition. They have willingly decided to lay down their arms and join their people,” said Ahmed. He further called on other fighters to renounce violence and surrender to government forces adding that Al-Shabaab had become a burden to the Somali people.
Late last month, 12 Al-Shabaab fighters defected to the Federal Government forces in Kismayo.
The fighters who surrendered came from Bar Sanguuni, Bula Haji and Abdalla Biroole villages in Lower Jubba region. Among the fighters are two senior officials, who were Al-Shabaab commanders. The forces paraded the defectors in Barsaguuni village before they were ferried to Kismayo for investigations.
Key Headlines
- Two Al-Shabaab Fighters Surrender To SNA And Jubbaland Forces In Kismayo (Halbeeg News)
- Southwest Army Claims Key Victory Over Al-Shabaab In Bay Region (Shabelle Media)
- Unknown Fighter Jets Carry Out Airstrikes In Middle Jubba Region (Halbeeg News)
- Kenya Calls For Commitment To Eradicate Piracy Off Coast Of Somalia (Xinhua)
- AMISOM Trains Southwest State Police On Handling Public Order Crimes (AMISOM)
- Why I am In London “To Bring The Noise” From Somaliland (ActionAid UK)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Southwest Army Claims Key Victory Over Al-Shabaab In Bay Region
12 July – Source: Shabelle Media – 98 Words
The deputy commissioner of Bay regional administration has said the Southwest army made gains against Al-Shabaab following a battle in the region. According to the official, fighting erupted after the Southwest state troops, supported by Somali National Army (SNA) launched a joint offensive on Al-Shabaab near Qansah Dheere town.
At least three people have been confirmed dead and four wounded in the battle between the allied troops and the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militants. The regional official said the coalition forces had overpowered the Al-Shabaab fighters during the battle and inflicted them heavy casualties. However, there were no independent sources to confirm the official’s claims.
Unknown Fighter Jets Carry Out Airstrikes In Middle Jubba Region
12 July – Source: Halbeeg News – 154 Word
Unknown fighter jets are reported to have carried out airstrikes at an Al-Shabaab base in Middle Jubba region on Thursday. The aerial attacks targeted the Al-Shabaab base and a training ground at Hassan Kusoow village, between Jawaari and Rahole villages, in Middle Jubba region. According to government officials, the war planes fired several missiles at the training camp of the group killing eight fighters and destroying two military vehicles at the camp. There were, however, no independent sources to confirm the number of casualties caused by the air strikes.
Local residents in the village, who talked to the media on conditions of anonymity owing to security reasons, confirmed seeing fighter jets flying very low over the village on Thursday morning after the bombardment. It is not yet clear which foreign country was behind the fighter jets attack. However, Kenyan and American warplanes normally carry out bombardments against Al-Shabaab fighters in southern Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya Calls For Commitment To Eradicate Piracy Off Coast Of Somalia
12 July – Source: Xinhua News – 434 Words
Kenya on Thursday hosted an estimated 200 delegates from 68 countries amid renewed pledge to support innovative strategies aimed at eradicating the menace of piracy along the Somalia coastline.
The 21st Plenary Session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) that was attended by ministers, diplomats and security experts vowed to inject fresh impetus on efforts to contain maritime security threats in Somalia and the western Indian Ocean territory.
Raychelle Omamo, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Defense, said in her opening remarks at the forum that a re-invigorated approach to eradicate piracy in Somalia waters is critical to boost economic growth and stability in the Horn of Africa state: “We must enhance collaboration to eliminate the challenge of piracy and other maritime security threats that are in many ways linked to under-development in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region,” Omamo said.
She noted that Kenya has rallied behind multinational efforts aimed at thwarting attacks on commercial vessels plying along the Somalia coastline. Omamo emphasized that skills upgrade for Somalia Coast guard, cross-border intelligence sharing and investments in livelihood projects is key to eradicate piracy in Somalia waters.
The Kenyan government in conjunction with multilateral partners hosted the three-day summit that is expected to come up with a comprehensive roadmap to revitalize the war against piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Vishnu Lutchmeenaraidoo, the Mauritius Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, said that a new paradigm shift was an imperative in order to defeat the menace of piracy and other maritime crimes along the Somalia coastline.
“The time is ripe to explore long-term solution to the piracy crisis in Somalia and momentum will be sustained if we prioritize investment in community livelihood projects and strengthening of maritime security through enhanced policing,” Lutchmeenaraidoo remarked. He noted that international collaboration on maritime security coupled with capacity building of Somalia Coastguard and public awareness has led to a sharp drop in hijacking of commercial vessels. Ahmed Kheyr Abdulkadir, the Somalia minister for foreign affairs, said Mogadishu has developed a robust counter-piracy strategy that blends military strength, diplomacy and community engagement to eradicate piracy.
AMISOM Trains Southwest State Police On Handling Public Order Crimes
12 July – Source: AMISOM – 372 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has organized a 10-day workshop to train South West State Police Force on handling public order crimes as security improves in most parts of the country.
The workshop on public order management is part of AMISOM’s transition plan to equip Somali security institutions and gradually hand over responsibilities to them in a condition-based process as per the United Nations Security Council resolution passed late last year. The exercise, attended by 30 police officers drawn from various parts of the South West state, will focus on crowd control and how to handle various public crimes, among them, riots and violent demonstrations.
Speaking at the workshop, the Acting AMISOM Police Coordinator for South West State, John Ambayo, said the aim of the training is to teach the officers how to deal with acts of public disorder in the region.
“We have peaceful events like public celebrations which need to be policed and then sometimes we also have incidents of public disorder, the riotous situations, strikes for which we need to equip the police officers to handle,” Mr. Ambayo, who is also the Team Leader of Police Reforms Advisors in South West State, said.
He noted that since peace has resumed in most regions in the country, after years of civil war, there was need for police to start focusing on how to handle public order crimes in the new environment. The AMISOM Police officer advised those undergoing the training to view individuals involved in riots and strikes as momentary opponents and use less force, when restoring order, to minimize casualties.
The Director General of the Ministry of Security in South West state, Mohamed Yasin Abdullahi, praised AMISOM Police for mentoring their counterparts in Somalia noting that officers in the region will now have skills to deal with public order crimes.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Today, Friday, women will stage a march dubbed “Bring The Noise”, where they will speak loudly to say that they will no longer accept mistreatment, scornfully abusive comments, discrimination and physical violence. Sadia Abdi Alin, ActionAid’s Somaliland Country Director explains why she’ll be amongst those leading the march”.
Why I am In London “To Bring The Noise” From Somaliland
12 July – Source: ActionAid UK – 512 Words
Women around the globe continue to be subjected to systematic discrimination, exclusion and violence in all spheres of social, economic and political life. Patriarchal and cultural practice persist, depriving women and girls of their basic rights and opportunities.
Violence against women is such a shameful act of cowardice and we should be brave enough to stop it now and for good. The effects of violence against women are often devastating and long term, affecting the physical health and mental wellbeing of women and girls.
Every day women struggle to access justice. It does not end there. The ripple effects often test women’s financial ability to access justice. In my own country, Somaliland, I witness how patriarchal views dominate society, and gender disparities result in women being subjected to physical, psychological and sexual violence. Every day, women struggle to access justice.
Although there is a constitutional law in the country, the customary law is the dominant legal system and the majority of cases are ruled by the elders where women are often pressured to marry the perpetrators who have abused them. It is an unimaginable horror to have to sleep with the enemy and have children with him. This is the kind of pain women go through as a result of violence – and simply because they are a woman.
There is nothing as basic a right as owning your own body. Female genital mutilation is the most extreme manifestation of violence against women. Ninety-eight percent of girls in Somaliland are cut and at least 200 million worldwide women and girls alive today have undergone this practice, like Hamdah, pictured below, now an ActionAid campaigner.
Hamda, 30, had FGM when she was nine, which led to serious health problems throughout her life. Now she is an anti-FGM campaigner for ActionAid. FGM violates girls’ basic human rights and bodily integrity. It also perpetuates inequality, male control and can have serious and life-long implications on a woman’s health, mental well-being and quality of life.
On Friday, I will be joining ActionAid to march under a banner proclaiming that ‘My Body Is Mine’ – since women should be the ones to decide what happens to their own bodies.So on Friday, we say enough is enough – women have suffered enough.