NATIONAL MEDIA
25 July – Source: Somaliaffairs – 146 Words
The President of HirShabelle State of Somalia, Mohamed Abdi Waare, has sent condolences to the families of the people who were killed in Wednesday’s attack on the Banadir region’s headquarters. President Waare and his vice-president, Ali Gudlawe Hussein, sent their condolences to the families of the officials and civilians who were killed in the attack and prayed for the quick recovery of the wounded.
Hirshabelle regrets and condemns the terror attack that targeted the Somali citizens, who were there to serve their people and country, and shares the grief with the relatives of those who were brutally murdered and wishes a quick recovery for the Governor and Mogadishu Mayor, Abdirahman Omar Osman Yarisow,” a statement from the state presidency said. The statement mentioned that the attack killed a number of very active youths who were playing a key role in the development of the capital, Mogadishu.
25 July – Source: Halbeeg – 136 Words
At least 12 of the seriously injured people wounded in recent attacks in Mogadishu were airlifted to Qatar for further medical attention on Thursday. The six, including the mayor of Mogadishu, were wounded in a suspected female suicide bomber attack in his office on Wednesday evening while the others were injured during a car bomb attack at a security checkpoint in KM4 junction on Tuesday.
Family members and government officials are accompanying the victims to a hospital in Qatar. An air ambulance flight carrying the patients took off from Aden Abdulle International airport on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, six government officials who were killed in Wednesday attack were buried today. The three district commissioners, two regional administration directors and legal advisor to the office of the governor were laid to rest at Madina hospital cemetery. Senior governmental officials attended the funeral event.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
PRESS STATEMENT
25 July – Source: AMISOM – 333 Words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, has assured the Independent Expert on the Human Rights Situation in Somalia Mr. Bahame Tom Mukirya Nyanduga that AMISOM continues to conduct its operations in full compliance with its obligations under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Human Rights Law and the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP).
Ambassador Madeira was speaking in Mogadishu on Tuesday after a meeting he held with the Independent Expert in his office at the AMISOM Mission Headquarters. He informed Mr. Nyanduga that AMISOM has strengthened its internal oversight and accountability mechanisms such as Boards of Inquiry (BOI) to ensure enhanced compliance and accountability on issues relating to IHL and human rights law. All credible allegations of violation of IHL and human rights are thoroughly investigated and commensurate action is taken when such allegations are substantiated. There has been a reduction in the number of allegations reported by the UN and NGOs in 2018 compared to 2017, from about 94 cases related to civilian casualties to 21 respectively”. Said Ambassador Madeira.
He observed that this declining trend in the number of allegations of violations of human rights and IHL attributed to AMISOM is expected to continue in 2019 as AMISOM continues to strengthen its prevention and accountability mechanisms. AMISOM continues to train Somali Security Forces in IHL and Human Rights Law. He said; “Since your last visit, AMISOM trained more than 600 SNA soldiers and officers in IHL and Human Rights Law and offered its expertise to senior government officials in this regard.”
AMISOM has also provided training to more than 500 Somali security forces personnel on human rights, gender issues, child protection and prevention of sexual violence in armed conflict. With regard to amends payment, Ambassador Madeira said that there has been lack of positive response from the International Community to the repeated appeals by AMISOM and UNSOS for the provision of funds to pay amends for the civilian casualties.
25 July – Source: intelligence brief – Words
Thursday, 25th July 2019, Latest military intelligence reports from Somalia indicate that three (3) Tanzanians fighting for the Al-Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab have been captured in a military operation conducted in Afmadow, Somalia. Military source reports indicate that the intelligence-led operation saw the three Tanzanian, terror operatives arrested and a number of jihadists materials, bomb-making materials recovered from their house.
The arrests come at a time Al-Shabaab has increased operations especially in the capital Mogadishu where it has staged deadly attacks with notable casualties. Kenyan troops and Somali government forces have in the past years battled and captured the town of Afmadow and a strategic militant base in the south of the country.
Afmadow is a city in southern Somalia, located in the middle of the Juba region and close to Kenyan border, it is also the second-largest town in the south, about 115km from Kismayo, another strategic and economic hub where Al-Shabaab has been fighting in an effort to regain control.
25 July – Source: Xinhua – 253 Words
The East African bloc on Thursday condemned the suicide attack that took place in the offices of Mogadishu’s mayor on Wednesday which left seven government officials dead with the mayor among those injured. The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) expressed sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and wishes speedy recovery to those wounded.
“IGAD condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Al-Shabab against the Mayor’s Office in Mogadishu yesterday, which left a number of innocent civilians dead and others wounded, including the city’s Mayor,” the bloc said in a statement. The eight-member regional bloc reiterated its support and solidarity with the people and government as they continue to fight the scourge of terrorism and strive towards achieving lasting peace and stability.
The statement comes after minister for information Mohamed Abdi Mareye confirmed three district commissioners, two directors and legal advisor were killed in the attack. Mareye said a suicide bomber who targeted the weekly security meeting chaired by the mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman detonated explosives which were strapped in the waist.
The militant group which has been fighting the Western-backed Somali government claimed responsibility for the attack, saying their target was the UN envoy who they believe was inside the mayor’s compound at the time of attack. Despite being driven out of Mogadishu, the militant group still stages guerrilla-style assaults and bomb attacks to drive out AU mission’s troops from Somalia and impose its harsh version of Islamic law across the Horn of Africa nation.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The Independent Expert pointed to progress in several areas including the recovery of territory by Somalia’s security institutions, AMISOM troops and bilateral forces. He praised the increased number of women in Parliament and cabinet, saying it highlighted the importance of women participating in public affairs, in peace and reconciliation, and in decision-making on matters that affected them directly.”
25 July – Source: UN Human Rights Council – 573 Words
The international community must continue to help Somalia strengthen its institutions and the justice and security sector ahead of the next elections, says UN Independent Expert Bahame Tom Nyanduga. “Somalia has made considerable progress in the political, economic, social and human rights situation over the past six years, but there is much more to do,” Nyanduga said, presenting a statement at the end of a visit to the country.
“I urge the international community and Federal Government of Somalia to address the negative effects of climate change on the population, and ensure access to basic human rights such as water supply, health services, and education for all children, in particular girls.” “Somalia also faces many other challenges including the continuing conflict, inequality, discrimination and youth unemployment, as well as delivering economic, social and cultural rights,” Nyanduga said.
The Independent Expert commended the people of Somalia for their resilience in the face of conflict, terrorist bomb attacks, natural disasters, grave violations of human rights and other challenges, such as poverty and lack of basic necessities for their livelihoods. He also expressed concern at the delay in the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, and the lack of progress on a Sexual Offences Bill. “I urge the Federal Government and Federal Parliament to address these challenges as a matter of priority to enhance protection of human rights in the country,” he said. Nyanduga welcomed the establishment of Alternative Dispute Centres in several of Somalia’s States, which play an increasingly key role in the settlement of local civil cases.
The Independent Expert pointed to progress in several areas including the recovery of territory by Somalia’s security institutions, AMISOM troops and bilateral forces. He praised the increased number of women in Parliament and cabinet, saying it highlighted the importance of women participating in public affairs, in peace and reconciliation, and in decision-making on matters that affected them directly.
He urged Federal Parliament to include within the proposed electoral law specific mechanism to ensure representation of women, minority clans and other vulnerable groups in Parliament, rather than leaving this task to the election commission. If it doesn’t do so, it risks losing the gains made in 2016. Nyanduga also welcomed Somalia’s accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He stressed the importance of respecting the right to freedom of expression and opinion of journalists against a backdrop of reports of continuing intimidation, arbitrary arrests and harassment…. |
