July 23, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
Coalition Forces Head to Diinsoor Town Amid Heavy Military Offensive
23 July – Source: Somali Update – 190 Words
Somalia National Army and the African Union Forces in Somalia (AMISOM) have headed to Diinsoor town of Bay region amid heavy military offensive to flush out Al-Shabaab remnants from their strongholds in Southern Somalia regions. According to Abdifatah Geesey, the security minister of Somalia’s Southwest Administration, the coalition forces on Thursday moved from a place 30km away from Diinsoor. “The target is to reach Diinsoor town, the second largest town of Bay region before Friday.” he said. The minister said the joint forces liberated Ufurow and several small villages from Al-Shabaab militant fighters, but the group seemed to be re-grouping near Diinsoor.
“They are trying to resist the Somali Army and the Ethiopian forces in AMISOM, but they can not defend.” he added. On Wednesday, the joint forces took control of Bardhere town, the second largest town of Gedo region from Al-Shabaab in the latest military operation in the country. Meanwhile heavy displacement of civilians is reported from Diinsoor and Bardhere where the livelihood situation of the locals became extremely hard due to the prolonged droughts and food shortage.
Key Headlines
- Coalition Forces Head to Diinsoor Town Amid Heavy Military Offensive (Somali Update)
- Ethiopian Forces Accused Of Killing Civilians In Bakool Region (Wacaal Media)
- Dr. Ismael Jim’ale Human Rights Organization Says Marka Toll Stands At 22 (Goobjoog News)
- Unmarried Men In Hargeisa Stage Protests Over Hiked Dowry And Bride Prices (Wacaal Media)
- Djibouti’s US Ambassador Dies Aged 71 (Mustaqbal Radio)
- President: ”UK’s Support Is Vital To Somalia’s Recovery” (Mareeg Media)
- AU Somali forces Kill 17 Militants In South Somalia (Xinhua)
- AU Somali Troops Take Al-Shabaab Town (News 24)
- Suffocating Security Ahead Of Obama’s Kenya Visit (Times Live)
- Obama’s Trip Raises Security Concerns (CNN Politics)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Ethiopian Forces Accused Of Killing Civilians In Bakool Region
23 July – Source: Wacaal Media – 130 Words
Ethiopian forces who are part of the AMISOM mission have been accused of killing many civilians in Bakool region, local elders have said. Speaking to the media in Hudur, the elders accused the Ethiopians who crossed into Somalia of killing up to 50 people including women and children in raids they carried out in settlements that fall under Hudur district. Somali National Army officials in Bakool region refuted the claims. The claims come after a similar accusations emerged from Marko town where AMISOM forces from Burundi were accused of killing 24 civilians after an attack in the area, a claim refuted as well by AMISOM. Several people spoke to the local media in Mogadishu yesterday saying their loved ones were among those killed in Marko and Hudur districts by the AMISOM forces.
Dr. Ismael Jim’ale’s Human Rights Organization Says Marka Toll Stands At 22
23 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 276 Words
Somalia human rights activist Dr. Ismael Jim’ale has called for investigation of the alleged extrajudicial killings by AMISOM troops in Marka, Lower Shabelle. Osman Aweys Dahir, speaking for Dr. Jim’ale’s organization spoke to Goobjoog News. He said, “it’s very disheartening that peacekeepers commit such heinous crime. We sent there our observers and in our records we have 22 shot dead by AMISOM and 6 wounded, they are all civilians.” He urged for an urgent commission of inquiry by African Union to investigate these alleged atrocities by AMISOM troops. He is joined by a chorus of condemnation from different parts of civil society and political groups including MPs who are pushing for a motion in the parliament to pass a resolution condemning AMISOM.
According to Osman Aweys Dahir of Dr. Ismael Jim’ale Human Rights Organization, the situation got out of hand when AMISOM shot dead five youths who went to the hills on outskirts of the city for a photo session since one of them was preparing to travel to the United States. Upon hearing the news of the killing, the residents revolted against AMISOM which further deteriorated the situation and AMISOM soldiers allegedly shot dead 17 others. In a press statement released yesterday, AMISOM unequivocally refuted the alleged killings. Somali federal government has yet to comment on the incident or the following public outrage. Some analysts say the public anger can jeopardize gains by AMISOM and SNA.
Unmarried Men In Hargeisa Stage Protests Over Hiked Dowry And Bride Prices
23 July – Source: Wacaal Media – 158 Words
Unmarried men in Hargeisa yesterday converged at Hotel Mansur in the city to protest at the increased cost of marriage, dowry and brideprice payments. Waving placards inscribed with ‘STILL I AM SINGLE’ the ‘doobs’ (as unmarried men are referred to in the area) the men said that they were unable to settle down with their loved ones as marriage was now out of their reach. “Girls refused to marry instead opting for men from abroad. Local youth remain unmarried as a result for longer periods as they cannot match the financial muscle of their counterparts from abroad” said one of the protesters. Most of those who took part in the demos were students of Hargeisa University while others have already graduated and have jobs that can sustain their lives but unfortunately cannot afford to marry. The move by the youth went viral on social media as it was the first time such an incident is being witnessed.
Djibouti’s US Ambassador Dies Aged 71
23 July – Source: Mustaqbal Radio – 161 Words
Djibouti government’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador of Djibouti to the United States Roble Olhaye has died in the United States on Wednesday. Mr. Olhaye who was the longest-serving ambassador to the United States died of undisclosed illness, according to Abdirahman Isse, a Djiboutian businessman based in Minnesota. Olhaye who was born on April 24, 1944 has represented Djibouti in the Security Council, served as its President in February 1994 and Chairman of the Sanctions Committee established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 841 on Haiti. Prior to his appointment to the Permanent Representative post, he served as Djibouti’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat). He also served as Honorary Consul of Djibouti to Kenya and established ongoing diplomatic relations between the two nations. He has also worked in the private section with commerce, finance, and management. Mr. Olhaye has left behind a wife and five children.
President: ”UK’s Support Is Vital To Somalia’s Recovery”
22 July – Source: Mareeg Media – 170 Words
The President thanked the United Kingdom for its timely and constant support to Somalia, which he said is vital for Somalia’s recovery from chaos and civil war to a fully functioning state. “On behalf of the Federal Republic of Somalia, I want to extend my strong appreciation to the UK and Prime Minister David Cameron for their role in ensuring that Somalia’s situation was brought to the world’s attention. Their support for and lobbying on behalf of Somalia has enabled us to make significant progress.”
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud discussed with Ambassador Mathews issues relating to Somalia’s current political, security and economic conditions. He said Somalia still needs the support of the international community in order to accomplish the huge task of reconstruction. Ambassador Mathews commended the Federal Government of Somalia and the president for the significant progress made on federalisation and programs related to Vision 2016. She said Prime Minister Cameron and the UK government are committed to supporting Somalia, in areas like humanitarian, security, politics, development and economic recovery.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AU, Somali Forces Kill 17 Militants In South Somalia
23 July – Source: Xinhua – 283 Words
The African Union and Somali forces on Wednesday killed 17 militants in fierce fighting with Al-Qaida linked group Al-Shabaab in several villages in the Bakol region of southern Somalia. Deputy Mayor of Hudur town in Bakool region Aden Abdi told Xinhua that they captured three districts near Hudur during the fighting and killed 17 Al-Shabaab fighters. “In the battle, we killed 17 militants and managed to seize Mura-gabe, Garas-wayne and Lagalay villages which were under the control of Al-Shabaab,” Aden said as allied forces intensify their military raids in southern part of the Horn of Africa nation.”We lost one soldier, and two others were wounded during the fighting,” he added. Abdi also noted that Al-Shabaab fighters gathered now in the village of Fijo in Bakool region, and the joint forces on their way to the village to flush out the militants.
Witnesses said they could still hear the sound of sporadic gunfire in the villages on Wednesday evening. “We are at home, but we sometimes hear gunfire, we do not know what exactly is going on,” Shoble Sidow, one of the residents in Garas-wayne village, told Xinhua. Government troops and African Union launched a major military operation in Bakool, Bay and Gedo regions in southern Somalia to flush out Al-Shabaab from its strongholds. The airstrike bombardments have increased this week while on the ground the army coordinated the operations to rid off the militants who have caused insecurity along the border with Kenya. The allied forces had earlier captured Bardhere, one of Al-Shabaab’s last strongholds which served as a strategic location in carrying out their operations. The town has been under control of the militants for the past five years.
AU, Somali Troops Take Al-Shabaab Town
23 July – Source: News 24 – 194 Words
African Union and local troops have seized one of the last major towns held by the Al-Shabaab Islamic extremist rebels in the southwest of the country, a Somali officer said on Wednesday. The militants withdrew from the town as the troops moved into Bardhere, an agricultural centre, said Major Abdullahi Mohamed. David Odongo, the spokesperson of the Kenyan army, which is part of the African Union force, confirmed that coalition forces had seized the bridge into town that morning killing 24 militants with the loss of two Somali soldiers. Bardhere residents reported seeing the soldiers after the militants’ withdrawal. Some of the residents had fled the town in the past few days in anticipation of fighting.
African Union troops, made up of forces from Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti, are backing Somalia’s government against Al-Shabaab, which is allied to al-Qaeda. The coalition forces have managed to push Al-Shabaab out of most of their strongholds in Somalia, including the capital, but the militants remain a deadly force attacking government and civilian targets. Somalia has been wracked by conflict since the 1991 ouster of dictator Siad Barre by warlords who then turned on each other.
Suffocating Security Ahead Of Obama’s Kenya Visit
23 July – Source: Times Live – 812 Words
US and Kenyan officials are fixated on making sure Al-Qaeda’s Somali-led affiliate, Al-Shabaab, cannot violently disrupt the US presidential visit this week. “The American president is a high value target so an attack, or even an attempt, would raise the profile of Al-Shabaab,” warned Richard Tutah, a Nairobi-based security and terrorism expert. Mitigating that is an overwhelming security presence in the capital. “The level of security is suffocating,” said Abdullahi Halakhe, a regional security analyst. President Barack Obama is due to address an international business summit in Nairobi, an event the US embassy itself warned could be “a target for terrorists”. The closely-held details of the security arrangements for the three-day visit are a source of endless fascination and speculation in the Kenyan media. “US President Obama’s Security Gadgets Arrive,” read the headline in The Star, a tabloid with a talent for Kenyan security scoops.
“A US military cargo plane… will ferry in a whole range of secure advanced communications equipment, some of it to be used by President Obama himself when he lands,” the paper breathlessly reported. Hundreds of American security personnel have arrived in Kenya in recent weeks. Kenyan media reports that three hotels — the Sankara, Villa Rosa Kempinski and Intercontinental — have been scouted by the Secret Service. This week the distinctive Osprey tilt-rotor aircrafts, usually stationed at the US military base in Djibouti, flew over Nairobi alongside a White Hawk chopper with presidential insignia, causing much excitement on social media. Other military helicopters have been flown in reportedly from a US Special Forces facility at Kenya’s Manda Bay base, which serves as a launchpad for raids on Al-Shabaab in Somalia. Kenya is also playing its part. Nairobi’s police commander Benson Kibue said on Wednesday that 10,000 police officers — roughly one quarter of the entire national force — would be deployed to the capital.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“The Pentagon isn’t saying much, but the strikes may be timed to the President’s visit. ‘This sends a very clear message to Al-Shabaab not to try to attempt anything against the President’.”
Obama’s Trip Raises Security Concerns
23 July – Source: CNN Politics – 381 Words
President Barack Obama is not just heading to his father’s homeland, but to a region that’s a hotbed of terror. Al-Shabaab militants in East Africa are now posing new worries for the President’s trip to Kenya this week. CNN has learned that, in just the last week, the U.S. military has conducted nearly half a dozen secret air strikes in Somalia against al Qaeda’s Africa affiliate because U.S. intelligence indicated an attack against Kenyan troops there was imminent, according to defense officials. The Pentagon isn’t saying much, but the strikes may be timed to the President’s visit. “This sends a very clear message to Al-Shabaab not to try to attempt anything against the President,” says Seth Jones, a Rand Corporation analyst.
U.S. officials do not believe Al-Shabaab can get anywhere near the President, but there are others reasons to worry. Jones suggested that the group would look for more vulnerable targets to attack to show Kenyans their government cannot keep them safe and to draw attention away from the Obama visit. “What’s most likely is not an attack against a U.S. government official like the President, but an attack that happens while the President is there,” he said. “Security for the president is likely to be very significant and that means what Al-Shabaab is likely to do, based on what it has done very recently, is go for a soft target.” That could include shopping malls and schools, which the group has attacked in the past.
U.S. officials told CNN that in recent days there is growing social media and Internet chatter among the Somalia-based group about the President’s visit. Why Obama’s Kenya visit might be a turning point for African entrepreneurship “They all know he is coming,” one official with access to the latest intelligence told CNN. In addition, a Kenyan flight bulletin outlining some details of the President’s trip has been released, including when airspace in Nairobi would be closed because of the arrival and departure of Air Force One. Such details are usually kept secret for security reasons, but administration officials so far are brushing off the publication of this information, saying there are no public details about the President’s trip that pose a risk to his security.
TOP TWEETS
@TheVillaSomalia 56% in AU/UN commissioned citizens’ perception of peace and stabilization survey give #SomaliPresident high confidence
@Somalia111 Congratulations to #Somali people for recapture of #Bardhere. Big step to lasting peace and stability in#Somalia.
@SomaliaNewsroom #Shabaab, just like AMISOM’s exits during Ramadan, says its withdrawal from Baardheere was “tactical.” #Somalia
@MikaelLindvall In response to urgent humanit. needs, Sweden has now topped up its contribution to #SomaliaCommon Humanitarian Fund with approx. 1.3 MUSD.
@SomaliaNewsroom Uh-oh here it goes again! Ex-#SomaliaFM and current MP Fowzia Yusuf calls for extension of parliament’s mandate http://horseedmedia.net/2015/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
AMISOM officials together with officials from Barawe city’s administration test the renovated borehole at Barawe Hospital.
Photo: AMISOM