July 19, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

President Sharif denies corruption claims in leaked UN report

19 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye/Risaala/Shabelle – 357 words

Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has denied allegations of corruption contained in a leaked UN’s Monitoring Group report that alleged that around 70% of money intended for development and reconstruction in a country racked by 20 years of war was unaccounted for. Speaking at a campaign rally held in Mogadishu on Wednesday where his supporters gathered to lobby for his re-election, the president said the content of the leaked UN report is absolutely unfounded, saying that when his government was formed in Djibouti in 2009, they were not given funds to run the government, forcing it to borrow money from Somali business people.

President Sharif expressed his dissatisfaction with the UN’s leaked report, saying it was timed to coincide with the end of transition period in order to discredit his government, adding that a similar report was also timed when the country was facing drought and famine crisis. Responding to particular reference made by the report on the alleged disappearance of a $3million donation from Oman Government, President Sharif said that all that money was used to pay off government expenses, including loans, security forces and parliament.

His sentiment comes just a day after Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali also denied allegations of corruption contained in a leaked UN report. A statement from the prime minister’s office said the allegations were “absolutely and demonstrably false”. Ali said that if some of the accusations contained in the report were not retracted, it “could result in [a] defamation and libel lawsuit”.

“The PMO [prime minister’s office] takes great exception to the careless and irresponsible publication of false reports that can create wrong impressions and perceptions thereby misleading the Somali people,” the Somali government statement said. The UN-backed Somali government’s mandate expires next month when it is due to hand over to an elected president, few months after Somali factions have agreed to elect a new president, ending the transitional period by 20 August this year.

Key Headlines

President Sharif denies corruption claims in leaked UN report (Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye/Risaala/Shabelle)
Four injured in grenade attack in Kenya (China Daily)
Somali district commissioner vows to crush al Shabaab (Mareeg Online/Shabelle)
Grenade explosion kills 7 children in Somalia (Africa Review)
Ahlu Sunna releases detained protesters (Bar-kulan)
African Union lauds security improvements in Somalia (Sabahi Online)
Kenyan Majengo youth recruiting terrorists (Star)
U.S. government issues another worldwide security caution (CNN)

SOMALI MEDIA

President Sharif denies corruption claims in leaked UN report

19 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye/Risaala/Shabelle – 357 words

The Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective central government since 1991 and has witnessed near constant fighting between rival factions ever since – a situation that has allowed piracy and lawlessness to flourish.

Somali district commissioner vows to crush al Shabaab

19 Jul – Source: Mareeg Online /Shabelle – 136 words

A district commissioner in Somalia’s southern region said his administration is committed to wipe out the al Qaeda linked al Shabaab militants.
Mohamed Mo’alin, the DC of Hudur in Bakol region, said in an interview that the Somali national army will spare no efforts to eradicate the Islamists from the rest of Bakol region and put in place law and order under the government.

Somali national army is in control of several key towns in Bay and Bakol regions, mainly Hudur and Baidoa towns of southern Somalia. “Al Shabaab has turned into armed gangs who ambush and loot the public vehicles traveling on the roads in the government-controlled areas in Somalia,” said Mr.Mo’allin.

17 al Shabaab fighters killed in Bardhere fight

18 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Somalia Report – 80 words

Reports from Gedo region indicate that al Shabaab militias fled from Bardere town after the Somali forces backed by Kenyan troops killed 17 fighters and the TFG captured villages near Bardere on Tuesday. According to government military officials in Gedo, the allied forces seized military equipment and forced the militias to pull out from their main bases in the area. The forces are now preparing themselves to enter Bardere town, which is one of the only two districts that al Shabaab controlled in the region.

In Somaliland, Boqor Osman Mohamed Buurmadow freed

18 Jul – Source: Somaliland Press/Somaliweyn – 198 words

Somaliland government has released Bogor Osman Mohamed Buurmadow , four months after he was detained after Initially been charged with “anti-national activity of a citizen abroad”, “subversive or anti-national propaganda” and “continuing offence”, which were later dismissed. Boqor Osman Mohamed Buurmadow was released early Wednesday morning after spending more than four months in prison and he is currently in his residential home in Hargeisa, Somaliland.

Speaking from his home Boqor Osman Mohamed Buurmadow thanked all those who supported him during period he was in detention and that his health was perfect, but he stopped short of revealing the reasons behind his early release from prison. The release of Boqor Osman Mohamed Buurmadow comes amid mounting pressure from both local and the international community for the immediate and unconditional release of the traditional leader from jail.

Ahlu Sunna releases detained protesters

19 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 154 words

Ahlu Sunna group in central Somali town of Dhusamareb has set free six detainees who were accused of taking part in the recent violent protest in the town where one of the protesters was killed.

The six were released after the group found no evidence that links them to the deadly protest that rocked the town early last week when hundreds of angry locals protested against the closure of area district hospital. Two other accused people were moved to Guri’el for furthers investigation. They are accused of firing live rounds of ammunition at protesters.

Elsewhere in the region, the Ahlu Sunna group has said it has made a breakthrough in resolving a looming clan animosity that led to the killing of one of their fighters who was gunned down in Abudwak on Wednesday. The assailant is said to be in custody as clan elders and local Ahlu Sunna administration continue to negotiate between the two clans.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan Majengo youth recruiting terrorists

19 Jul – Source: Star (Kenya) – 117 words

The UN has warned that the Muslim Youth Council is recruiting and training youth to fight in Somalia and lunch attacks in Kenya. According to the UN monitoring group on Somalia and Eritrea, the MYC, which has since been renamed Al Hijra, is based in Majengo, Nairobi and is using its havens in Somalia to launch attacks in Kenya.

“Monitoring Group investigations reveal that the MYC in particular has been deploying several operational cells to Kenya in recent months for this purpose” the report reveals.

The report set to be released soon says the al Shabaab continues to represent a serious threat to peace security and stability, not only in Somalia but also on the International scene.

2 held over attack on policemen in Mandera

18 Jul – Source: Capital News – 323 words

Police announced on Wednesday they were holding two suspects over Monday night’s killing of a police officer in Mandera. The suspects were arrested on Tuesday and police said they were still interrogating them to establish if they were involved in the attack that left another officer with injuries.

“We have reason to believe they were part of the attackers,” Philip Tuimur, the North Eastern Provincial police chief said. The suspects were found with more than 50 bullets.

Police believe the suspects were escaping towards the Somalia border when they were arrested, not far away from the scene where the attack happened. The incident occurred when a gang of 10 armed men believed to be members of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab sprayed a police vehicle with bullets.

Grenade explosion kills 7 children in Somalia

18 Jul – Source: Africa Review – 155 words

Five children were instantly killed when a bomb exploded Tuesday in a Somali village 240 km south-west of the capital Mogadishu. Aden Hassan Aden, one of the parents whose children were affected by the blast, said that two other children died as they were receiving first aid. “At least eight other children were taken to a hospital in Baidoa town, 20 km from the village,” said Mr Aden, grieving with pain as he talked to the media.

He added that the children came from a Madrassa (Quran school) when a grenade exploded. “They probably knocked the bomb with another object, triggering the blast,” remarked another resident. Since the Somali civil war started, children and adults alike have been victims of unexploded bombs.
For the kids, such explosions have been occurring when playing with objects they find on the streets.

African Union lauds security improvements in Somalia

18 Jul – Source: Sabahi Online – 442 words

African heads of state reiterated their support for Somalia as the African Union concluded its 19th summit in Addis Ababa this week. AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Ramadan Lamamra said the peace and stability achieved in Somalia are the African Union’s best accomplishments in its ongoing efforts throughout the continent.

During the summit, Lamamra said the Ethiopian National Defence Force, the Somali Transitional Federal Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia have adopted an integrated approach towards achieving peace and security. He commended the Somali National Army on its victories, which he said have been significant in maintaining peace in Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Four injured in grenade attack in Kenya

19 Jul – Source: China Daily/Xinhua – 260 words

At least four Kenyans were seriously injured in the latest twin grenade attacks in Wajir town in northern Kenya on Wednesday evening, police said. Divisional police commander James Mutungi said unknown people hurled grenades at Ralph Super Cut barbershop and Roho Safi Hotel in the latest attacks by suspected al Shabaab militia from neighboring Somalia.

Mutungi said the incidents occurred at about 8:30 pm (1730 GMT). The scenes of attacks are about 300 meters apart, he said.”We still don’t know the people behind this incident but it is still early to speculate,” Mutungi told Xinhua by telephone from Wajir town. He said at least two people were injured in the barbershop incident. The injured were rushed to the local district hospital. Two others were injured in the hotel.

The incident comes as police have particularly warned against the laxity in the screening of cars for explosives at all shopping malls and any business or social gatherings with at least 10 people at any given moment that these might be vulnerable to attacks. The East African nation has also been plagued by a spate of grenade and landmine attacks in its northern region where the insurgents have killed more than 20 police officers and over 30 civilians.

U.S. government issues another worldwide security caution

18 Jul – Source: CNN – 198 words

The U.S. government issued its latest version of a worldwide safety caution Wednesday to U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorist groups “continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East,” a statement by the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs said. Travelers should be cautious when using public transportation systems, including maritime services like ferries, the statement said.

The Middle East and Africa are the most unpredictable areas, with terrorist groups and pirates attacking recently in Yemen, Algeria, Kenya and Somalia, the statement said. It listed a number of places that might be targeted, including “high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, and other tourist destinations.” Maritime authorities recommend Western seafarers stay at least 200 nautical miles off Somalia and avoid the port of Mogadishu, the statement said.

Somalia’s 2 Olympic athletes defy civil war and terrorism to compete at London Games

18 Jul – Source: Washington Post/AP – 726 words

Training on the bullet-riddled streets of Somalia’s civil war-wracked capital city, Mohamed Hassan Mohamed and Zamzam Ali Farah have defied war and terrorism to make the 2012 London Olympics.

In Mogadishu, it’s not just very difficult to be an athlete — it’s life-threatening. There are armed militias, jumpy gunmen and stray bullets. Suicide bombers can strike at any time.

Somali sport has often been affected by the constant violence that has crippled the country for two decades, but it was rocked to its core this year when the heads of the national Olympic committee and football federation were killed in a bomb blast.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The sooner it can be dramatically reduced the safer the seas will be for everyone. Eventually, stakeholders will come to the conclusion that the symptoms of piracy are found at sea but the cure for it is found ashore.”

Piracy on the Decline: Will it Last?

18 Jul – Source: Enterra Insights – 1360 Words

For the past several years, maritime piracy has received a lot attention in the press. The geographic area that has received the most attention is the area off of the Horn of Africa. The reason, of course, is that Somalia has been the epicenter of pirate activity. Ocean carriers and shippers are concerned about piracy because the nefarious activities of these criminals cost time, money, and, too often, lives.

According to Ron Widdows, group president of Neptune Orient Lines and chairman of the World Shipping Council, “Maritime piracy costs the global shipping industry anywhere from $3.5 billion to upwards of $8 billion a year.” [“Piracy Costs Shipping Industry Billions,” by Peter T. Leach, Journal of Commerce, 19 April 2011]

One of the reasons that piracy has garnered so much attention is that the incidents of piracy have been steadily on the rise. For example, Leach reported, “The International Maritime Bureau said worldwide pirate attacks in the first three months of 2011 reached the highest quarterly number ever at 142.”

Top tweets

@OCHASomalia a new WFP video on humanitarian achievements #Somalia in the past year since declaration of famine –http://bit.ly/PkUD9U.

‏@soobaxblog Mariam Hussein, Captain of #Somalia‘s Women’s Basketball Team featured @FT! Read more @soobaxblog: http://tmblr.co/ZtAi0xPdMFGk http://pic.twitter.com/IZCoA8x6.

@t_mcconnell In #Somalia if you expose corruption you are “against peace”, according to the President http://bit.ly/OXDIGR.

@ProfBrianWalker Al-Shabab losing ground in #Somalia, but a stable & credible government is needed for durable #peace. #video aljazeer…http://lnkd.in/bzc4KC.

@evolvingprimate The President’s criticism coincides with a wider suspicion within #Somalia about the motives and timing of the Matthew Bryden’s Report.

@BBCAndrewH “Not out of the woods yet” – UN warnings on #Somalia 1 year after #famine declared. Am just back from south of country:http://bbc.in/LyWHe7 .

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Image of the day

Image of the day The Somali Olympic team arrives in London ahead of the Olympics. Photo: Reuters/ITV.