July 23, 2015 | Morning Headlines
UPDATE: Bardhere Falls To Allied Forces In Final A Assault As Al-Shabaab Flees
22 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 440 Words
African Union and Somali troops rolled into Bardhere on Wednesday with ease after weeks of military buildup and airstrikes as the militant group Al-Shabaab fled the town effectively denying them one of their last revenue sources. Goobjoog News correspondent on the ground says the troops had an easy entry into the town which Al-Shabaab had already given up following sustained attacks in the last few weeks which have claimed tens of militants including two of their leaders in a US airstrike last week. “The AMISOM and SNA tanks rolled into Bardhere this morning and took control without any struggle or fight. Al-Shabaab fighters had already left the town for fear of a clash,” he said.
There were fears that Al-Shabaab may have planted landmines and roadside bombs to target the soldiers but there were no reported incidents. The fall of Bardhere marks another milestone for AMISOM and Somali National Army in their bid to rid Somalia of violent extremism. It is also a major blow for Al-Shabaab which is now being strangled thanks to the fall of the two other major revenue sources, Kismayu which fell in 2012 and coastal town of Barawe last year.” A military source in Bardhere also told Goobjoog News their soldiers did not encounter any resistance and that they are now in full control of the town which until this morning was a major revenue source for the group. Bardhere, with an estimated population of 200,00 people is largely an agricultural zone and Al-Shabaab has been collecting taxes (zakat) from locals to run their operations.
The military source said they kept some of their troops outside the town to avoid scaring residents, some of whom had fled the town in the last one week. “We have settled most of the troops on the fringes of the town in order not to scare the residents. Only a small infantry is now inside. The mood is calm and there is no attack or resistance. Residents are calm,” said the soldier. Al-Shabaab has been controlling the town since 2008 after they dislodged government soldiers. Al-Shabab, meaning “youth” in Arabic, emerged out of a bitter insurgency against Ethiopia, whose troops entered Somalia in 2006 in a US-backed invasion to topple the Islamic Courts Union that was then controlling the capital Mogadishu. Al-Shabab fighters continue to stage frequent attacks, seeking to counter claims that they are close to defeat after losing territory in the face of repeated African Union and Somali government offensives, regular US drone strikes against their leaders and defections.
Key Headlines
- UPDATE: Bardhere Falls To Allied Forces In A Final Assault As Al-Shabaab Flees (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Lawmaker Calls For Extension Of Parliament’s Mandate (Horseed Media)
- Gulleid To Be Officially Crowned As Galmudug Head Of State In A Ceremony To Be Held In AdaadoTomorrow (Wacaal Media)
- Gedo: Hundreds Flee Homes Over Conflict Fears (Radio Ergo)
- Somalia Needs Urgent Efforts To Protect Civilians From Violence (Somali Update)
- Well-known Elder Gunned Down In Bardhere As Allied Troops Close In On The Town (Goobjoog News)
- Somali-Based Pirates Down But Not Out (Hellenic Shipping News)
- Miraa Has Same Effects As Illicit Brew MP Says Calls For Ban In Kenya (The Star Kenya)
- Somalia: Unlikely Pageant (Garowe Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Lawmaker Calls For Extension Of Parliament’s Mandate
22 July – Source: Horseed Media – 270 Words
With the legal term of the Somalia’s Federal Parliament coming to end in August 2016, a lawmaker has called for an extension of the Parliament’s mandate. Somalia’s former deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs a current member of the Parliament, Fowsia Yusuf Haji Aden argued that the lawmakers needed an extension in order to complete outstanding tasks. “The Parliament should at least be given a further six or 12 months in order to accomplish the pending huge tasks otherwise it will be a major setback to the whole country,’’ she said. Fowzia’s call for extension of Parliament mandate comes at a time when President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and other top government officials have ruled out any possibilities of postponing next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
The current Parliament which was formed in August 2012 has been widely criticized for not executing their duties to the expectations and been fuelling the country’s political crisis. In May, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who paid a landmark visit to Mogadishu said that the Federal government leaders along with the regional administrations had assured him that peaceful and democratic elections will be held in next year after holding a meeting with them. The international community has also urged Somali leaders to work on holding peaceful and credible elections across the country. Since last year, speculations have been going regarding the possibilities of holding national elections across the country. Some sources revealed that the government was planning to ask the parliament to extend its mandate for a further two years.
Gulleid To Be Officially Crowned As Galmudug Head Of State In A Ceremony To Be Held In Adaado Tomorrow
22 July – Source: Wacaal Media – 116 Words
Galmudug State’s newly elected Abdikarim Hussein Gulleid and his deputy will officially be crowned at a ceremony slated for tomorrow in Adaado, Wacaal Media has learnt. High ranking Federal and regional government officials will grace the ceremony which will see Guuleid and Arabey officially take charge of the new state. South West Somalia’s head of state Sharif Hassan is among invited guest. Some leaders from the international community as well as IGAD are also expected to send representatives. However, Puntland and Jubbaland states refused to recognize the new state and may therefore not attend the event.
Gedo: Hundreds Flee Homes Over Conflict Fears
22 July – Source: Radio Ergo – 290 Words
Hundreds of families are fleeing their homes in Gedo’s biggest town of Bardhere for the fear of fighting between Somali government troops with forces from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the militant group of Al-Shabaab. The residents are leaving the town using vehicles and donkey carts, while others who could not afford to hire transportation are fleeing on foot, according to Radio Ergo’s reporter in the town. The joint Somali and African forces that are advancing to the town from two fronts are now positioned 50km and 65km to Bardere respectively, thus increasing fear among the locals.
The displacing people, mainly women and children, are moving to safer towns and villages in the region. Rukaya Ali, a mother of ten children who was among the fleeing families told Radio Ergo she opted to leave the city with her children to Garbaharrey. This town is controlled by Al-Shabaab and several people have died for hunger and malnutrition last year. “We are not fleeing from conflict alone. Everything has changed in the town. The food stores are closed and as a result food prices have risen up,” said Rukaya.
Radio Ergo’s Gedo reporter says one fourth of the local population left the town to Middle and Lower Juba regions as well as other towns in Gedo. Abdullahi Mumin has been a porter in the town, but now fled with his three wives and their children to Sakow town in Middle Jubba region. “We have left everything including our own house and small farm behind because the town is becoming a war zone,” said Mumin. He is now living in a camp for displaced people in Sakow where aid agencies operate hardly.
Somalia Needs Urgent Efforts To Protect Civilians From Violence
22 July – Source: Somali Update – 222 Words
Thousands of civilians reported fleeing towns ahead of military operations in many parts of south and central Somalia where AMISOM forces backing Somalia National Army are battling against Al-Shabaab militant group. Conflict continues to cause new displacements in southern and central Somalia, with reports indicating that people have started pre-emptive movements from towns expected to be affected by upcoming military operations. According to senior United Nations humanitarian officer who spoke to Somali Update.com, Over 2,500 people are reported to be already displaced from towns Qoryooley, Awdheegle, Mubarak, Janaale, Yaagbariweyn and Wanla Weyn all in Lower Shabelle region, and Buur Hakaba and Leego in Bay region of southern Somalia.
People are reportedly moving in fear of reprisal attacks by armed groups which usually happens when towns change hands. The military operations are also likely to have adverse impact on the overall humanitarian situation, particularly on the protection of internally displaced people, returnees and other civilians, notably women and children. Areas affected by the operations are also likely to face serious food security crisis if vital supply roads, as has often been the case, are blocked by armed groups. Protection of civilians remains the most urgent priority and concrete actions must be taken to prevent violations of rights during the conduct of the military operations.
Well-known Elder Gunned Down In Bardhere As Allied Troops Close In On The Town
22 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 264 Words
A Well-known elder was gunned down in the town of Bardhere in south of Somalia’s Gedo region witness say. Three persons armed with pistols are said to have killed Mohamed Dhere who was living in Kur-maan suburb. A resident in Bardhere who asked not be named for security concerns told Goobjoog News that the assailants killed the elder after they called him to stop. “We do not know where these murderers came from or which group they belong to but what we only know is that they managed to escape from the scene after the incident,” he said. Mohamed was well known for his participation in reconciliation conference held for clans in the region. Meanwhile, over ten thousand people are reported to be fleeing from Bardhere town since Somali National Army (SNA) backed by AMISOM troops headed for the town.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali-Based Pirates Down But Not Out
22 July – Source: Hellenic Shipping News – 1, 117 Words
While the economic cost of Somali piracy has fallen and considerable progress has been made in deterring pirate operations, the latest attacks on Iranian fishing vessels by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean may be another signal that it is too early to cut back international counter-piracy efforts, according to a new report. Exercise Milan 2014 for 17 navies of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, organised by Indian Navy, at the Andaman and Nicobar Command of the Indian Armed Forces. The report by Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP), titled “State of Maritime Piracy 2014″, underscores that due to restrictive reporting criteria, small-scale attacks on dhows and vessels are not always included in official piracy records ” may hide a development that the reduced cost is masking – namely that Somali pirates still possess the means and capability – and are waiting for opportunities to strike,” it says.
Conditions conducive to the development of piracy in the first place, such as illegal fishing, poverty, political instability and a lack of economic opportunities, have not been properly addressed yet, according to the analysis. As reported by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), a specialised division of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the number of pirate attacks has been steadily decreasing since Somali piracy peaked with 237 attacks in 2011. While the IMB had reported a total number of 75 attacks in 2012 and only 15 attacks in 2013, the number has fallen further to 12 attacks in 2014. Even though the actual numbers of attacks, including on dhows and foreign fishing vessels, might be higher, a significant decline in piracy over the course of the past four to five years cannot be denied. This is due to a variety of factors. Speaking to IPS, Oceans Beyond Piracy Program Director Jon Huggins highlighted in particular the efforts of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), which have allowed practical solutions to be developed.
Created in January 2009 pursuant to U.N. Security Council Resolution 1851, the CGPCS is an ad hoc international forum bringing together countries, organisations and industry groups to provide support to international counter-piracy efforts in Somalia. As explained in a report by the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) dedicated to lessons learnt from the CGPCS, the CGPCS is a highly unconventional if not unique international governance mechanism due to its open architecture, informality and malleable structure. It was established outside the U.N. system to “ensure that it was as inclusive, apolitical, issue-driven, result-focused, efficient and flexible as possible. The setting up of the Contact Group reveals the limits of existing security institutions in tackling non-traditional threats which are neither state-based nor of a strictly military nature and that therefore require new forms of policy response.”
Miraa Has Same Effects As Illicit Brew, MP Says, Calls For Ban In Kenya
22 July – Source: The Star, Kenya – 178 Words
Miraa is a drug just like cocaine and heroin and should be banned in Kenya, Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi has said. Mwinyi said miraa cripples the economy as it affects health and makes users unproductive. “Why do we have double standards? Why does the government want to support miraa when the effects are the same as illicit brew?” he posed. Speaking to the Star on Monday, he said marriages have broken as chewers are rendered irresponsible. “Even those who sell the drug do not chew it. Miraa is simply for people meant to be destroyed. We only want to retain Meru county for political reasons,” he said. He urged the government to find an alternative. On June 12, Mombasa MCAs shot down a motion by Nominated Mombasa MCA Fatma Swaleh, to ban miraa chewing in public vehicles. The motion proposed a Sh100,000 fine, or six-month jail sentence for operators of matatus, tuk-tuks, boda bodas and taxi operators found chewing miraa while on duty.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Eyl, 1166km northeast of Mogadishu and former pirate hub is another destination for young photographers in the country. Ali Abdi Du’allle is novice in photography and just started snapping the nature this year.”
Somalia: Unlikely Pageant
20 July – Source: Garowe Online – 1, 029 Words
On the streets of Mogadishu, it is noticeable that construction industry is booming and glitzy towers are gradually replacing potholes and bullet-ridden shacks. “This is flashy Mogadishu,” a female photographer, Zahra Qorane Omar rehearsed. “I realized that nobody except for me and my peers would stand up for this country to show the new image of Somalia because every human is an asset for his or her country,” said Omar, one of very few female photographers in Mogadishu. Having mired into unrelenting conflict for over two decades, Mogadishu lures you into peeps of new shopping centres, solar-powered street lights lined along major roads and tall structures as far as the eye can see. Energetic Somali photographers nowadays reflect well on the very image of a country that has been synonymous with one of the bloodiest conflicts in the history of humanity, piracy, bout of drought, famine and poverty. Fighting tore apart Mogadishu in 1990s and tens of thousands were forced to flee into neighboring countries to shelter under makeshifts while others were left in chaos. If you log in for social media or hit #Somalia hash-tag, you will find better candid photographs letting out beautiful sandy beaches, extraordinary nomadic tradition, gorgeous landscape photos and unrivalled portraits. In Hargeisa, Somali-Canadian, Ikram Isse bewrays conspicuous relics. She wants to share positive depiction and let the world understand that Somali stories are no longer dark. Life has inspired her most to display the Somalia the media never portrays, a country adorned with love, happiness and prosperity via her iPhone and iPad. Most of the time, you can look at her love for shooting on Instagram.
Mohamed Dahir Aynsane is a photojournalist in Puntland which has been relatively at peace when compared to south-central regions. He said, he aims to tackle what world believes about Somalia by capturing shots speaking volume about the country’s path to recovery after more than 20 years of unrest. “I strongly believe that too many photos will build a fresh narrative unlike the image media has in mind, for example Somalia is known for interminable chaos, hunger and hostility,” Aynsane says. His colleague, Mohamed Salad Haji Dirir pointed to challenges facing their profession due to the absence of serenity and functioning government institutions. He recounts mistreatment by inept soldiers, mainly drawn from former clan militias and those who couldn’t even earn a morsel for living. “Our photographs show off a new potency that Somalis were able to withstand the brunt and have now started renovating roads, investing in healthcare and the launch of universities,” Aynsane told me while insisting on his rigid dedication to display another side of Somalia.