July 17, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Strikes Al-Shabaab Base, Kills 40 Militants
16 July – Source: Garowe Online – 161 Words
A Somali official says at least 40 Al-Shabaab militants were killed in an airstrike by Kenyan Defense Force (KDF) warplanes at a rebel-held locations in the country’s southwestern Gedo region on Sunday. Osman Nur Hajji, the Deputy Governor of Gedo region who is in charge of the security confirmed the attack, saying the fighter jets targeted Al-Shabaab meeting in Kabis area, 20 km north of Garbaharey town.
Hajji said several foreign jihadists were among the senior Al-Shabaab commanders killed in Sunday’s air raid. The Kenyan military jets also hit Funuje, a nearby militants’ hideout, killing several combatants. “40 Al-Shabaab members, including foreign commanders when Kenyan air forces carried out airstrike in Funuje and Kabis villages in the northern outskirts of Garbaharey district, ,” said the Deputy Governor. A local journalist in the region who did not want to be identified also confirmed the raid, but, he did not confirm the number of the casualty figures resulted in the aerial bombardment against Al-Shabaab.
Key Headlines
- Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Strikes Al-Shabaab Base Kills 40 Militants (Garowe Online)
- Albayrak Company To Renovate Mogadishu Seaport (Goobjoog News)
- First Batch Of Applicants For Senate Departmental Heads Face Interview Panel (Goobjoog News)
- ISIS Militants In Puntland Accused Of Looting Livestock (Horn Observe)
- More Than 2000 Ugandan Troops Leave For Peacekeeping Duty In Somalia (New Vision)
- The Night That Sealed Our Brotherhood For Eternity (Radio Dalsan)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Albayrak Company To Renovate Mogadishu Seaport
17 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 216 Words
The Turkish Albayrak company which operates the city seaport in Mogadishu is expected to refurbish the city port which has been neglected for a long time. The Federal Minister of Commerce and Industries, Kadra Ahmed Duale whose ministry is responsible for the seaport operations highlighted the situation of the port. “There is a huge congestion in the seaport and after long discussion and work with Albayrak Company, they brought equipment that will change the port for the better” said Minister Duale.
The preliminary tools and other equipments are on their way to ease the huge congestion and workload felt in the port, according to the Minister Duale who also passed her gratitude to the company for the great efforts it is undertaking to realize the repair of the seaport. Ahmed Sami, the head of Albayrak Company in Somalia suggested the quick implementation to revamp the sea port especially on the dockside where ships are moored.“As Albayrak, we are determined to perform what is expected of us and as mentioned by the Federal Minister, we hope these equipments will enhance the work of the seaport and more tools are on their way soon” said Sami. It was recently when a ship from Turkey docked in the seaport that was loaded with equipment to renovate the port.
First Batch Of Applicants For Senate Departmental Heads Face Interview Panel
16 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 142 Words
Applicants for positions of departmental heads in the Senate were underway today to be interviewed for the various positions following the completion of pre-qualification process conducted by the UNDP. The first batch of 42 candidates faced the interview panel which sought to fill the position of the six departmental heads. “The first team of staff meant for the Federal Upper House was advertised for 6 departmental Managers and the Permanent Secretary of Federal Upper House and the applicants numbered 1,290.
Only 61 applications were shortlisted,” according to the Upper House first deputy speaker Abshir Ahmed Bukhari. The short listing was conducted by UN Development Programme (UNDP) and after assessing the huge applications, selected only 61 applications accepted but only 42 applicants reported for the screening test. The Senate intends to select 24 candidates in the final round for the positions advertised.
ISIS Militants In Puntland Accused Of Looting Livestock
16 July – Source: Horn Observer – 90 Words
Pastoralists in Puntland’s Bari region say that ISIS militants started looting hundreds of their livestock. The affected herders have asked the Puntland government to protect their livelihood, local media reported. The ISIS militants established bases in Puntland after splitting from the Al-Shabaab, a militant group affiliated to Al-Qaeda. Local media reports cite a pastoralist whose name withheld for safety s who said hundred of livestock were confiscated by the militia group. There are no independent sources confirming the matter in question. Puntland authorities is yet to comment on the matter.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
More Than 2,000 Ugandan Troops Leave For Peacekeeping Duty In Somalia
15 July – Source: Newvision – 128 Words
A batch of over 2,000 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has left for Somalia to beef up the African Union backed Africa Mission to Somalia(AMISOM). The troops were seen off on Friday at the Peace Support Operation Training Centre in Singo, Kapeka, Nakaseke district. Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi, presided over the ceremony.
The troops, categorised as Battle Group XXII and United Nations Guard Unit IV(UNGU IV), will join other troops in the UN funded mission. Others in attendance were Land Forces commander Maj Gen Peter Elwelu, army spokesperson Brig Richard Karemire, and Battle Group XXII commander Col Bony Bamwiseki, among others. Muhoozi tasked the troops to maintain UPDF’s solid reputation of successful combat operations, and the unwavering commitment to African solidarity.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Looking ahead, we take our strength from this extraordinary feat by the Turkish nation and encouraged by the heartfelt sympathy and resolute solidarity extended to us by the Somali people. Somalia is now at crossroads and needs political stability, security and development more than ever.”
The Night That Sealed Our Brotherhood For Eternity
15 July – Source: Radio Dalsan – 494 Words
On July 15, 2016, what had started as a lovely summer night, evolved almost into a horrifying nightmare for the Turkish democracy. Members of a sleeper cell, lurking within the state institutions, attempted to stage a coup in a striking show of treachery. The perpetrators belonged to the sinister Fetullah Gulen Terrorist Organization (FETO), a terror cult, which assaulted Turkish people and its democratic institutions with total and absolute disregard for civilian lives on the night of 15 July.
The citizens of Turkey responded with vitality in defiance of this nefarious coup attempt. Their daring and bold resistance frustrated the plotter’s treacherous designs and saved Turkish democracy. By the time President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan returned to the Istanbul Atatürk airport, hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens had poured out into the streets, confronting terrorists in guise of military uniforms who were armed with heavy artillery, tanks and assault rifles, in exactly the same way as enshrined wonderfully in the Turkish National Anthem, ‘‘Render your chest as armor and your body as trench! Stop this disgraceful rush!’’
The courage and deeds of the Turkish nation at that night did justice to these words, also eternalized in the Turkish National Anthem, proving that they may be ‘‘armored with walls of steel, but I have borders guarded by the mighty chest of a believer.’’ While the world was witnessing the heroic defense of democracy by the Turkish people, scores of Somalis also hit the streets of the country’s capital, Mogadishu to denounce coup attempt in Turkey. The protesters marched through the city and gathered near the Turkish embassy, where they declared their support for the Turkish nation, in unique show of solidarity.
The mosques of Somalia were also brimming up with believers, hands raised in du’a, praying God for divine assistance in order for their Turkish brothers and sisters to overcome the disgraceful assault on their democracy. We especially owe a debt of gratitude to Somalia, for the resolute stance against FETÖ. Eliminating FETO presence completely in the immediate aftermath of the malicious coup attempt was a clear sign of our brotherhood and unshakable solidarity in the fight against terrorism.
Looking ahead, we take our strength from this extraordinary feat by the Turkish nation and encouraged by the heartfelt sympathy and resolute solidarity extended to us by the Somali people. Somalia is now at crossroads and needs political stability, security and development more than ever. However, as the events unfolded on the night of 15 July last year demonstrated notably, no challenge is too great when confronted by the insurmountable will of the people.
I would like to emphasize that Turkey believes in the bright future of Somalia. We will also accompany you through this perilous journey ahead, just as you stood by us on that extraordinary night. Finally, on behalf of my nation, I would like to express my gratitude once again for Somali nation that deserves much more than the thanks we can extend them.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: Internet service restored in#Mogadishu after 23-days outage: residents
@HodanTV: Happening NOW: my first seminar in #Mogadishuon “How to use Social Media for Social impact” in #Somalicommunities at @HanoAcademy #Media
@SomaliPM: Do you have any questions for me and my office? See the infographic for more information. #NabadIyoNolol#Somalia
@abdirashidmd: An excellent networking platform underway at#GIBF2017. People with diverse backgrounds in a single space at EAU Garowe Campus #Somalia
@GaroweBookFair: Puntland Prez – Abdiweli Mohamed Ali – praises organizers, billing #GIBF2017 as a bigger milestone and an exciting gathering #Somalia
@SRSGKeating: Receiving Lexicon of Electoral Terms from NIEC Chair Halima. Process 2 agree 2020/21 electoral model needs 2 start now!
@caawiwalaal:Your donations have reached another 70 households affected by the drought in Elbarde, Bakol #SomaliaThanks to all #CaawiWalaaldonors
@mpfsomalia:@SomaliPM reaffirms the important partnership@mpfsomaliahas with Govt institutions in #Somalia
@MucahidDurmaz: Somali students who have successfully enrolled military training in Turkey. #Turkey will soon open a military base in #Somalia for training.
@ChismaioCity: It is an incredible feeling when u are up in the sky seeing such beautiful landscape. #Kismayo, #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President Farmajo with Upper House Speaker Abdi Hashi Abdullahi and Mohamed Sheikh Osman (Jawari), Speaker of Lower House during the opening of the 2nd session of Parliament.
Photo: @TheVillaSomalia