July 31, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali Government signs landmark coastal protection contract

31 Jul – Source: Office of the Somali President – 316 words

The Minister of Defense for the Federal Government of Somalia has signed a contract with The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group to deliver structure, assets and services in order to develop an effective and sustainable Coast Guard in Somalia.

Instituting a Coast Guard is essential for the establishment of the rule of law within Somali waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This contract clearly contributes to the stability and economic recovery of Somalia and is supporting the Country’s Six Pillar Policy.

With its Headquarters in The Netherlands, The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group has set out the main objectives for the new structured Somali Coast Guard:

Key Headlines

Somali Government signs landmark coastal protection contract ( Office of the Somali President)
Al Shabaab Emir publicly criticizes slain commanders warns more rift inside his group (Radio Dalsan/ Risaala/Somalimemo/Al furqan)
Somaliland government bans development of new villages (Radio Ergo)
NSA officer assassinated in Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan)
Kenya jails 9 pirates over attempted hijack (Capital News/Al Jazeera)
Regional Presidents in Nairobi for security talks (Daily Nation)
UNHCR welcomes Kenya High Court decision on urban refugee rights (UNHCR)
3 Turkish officers wounded in Somalia discharged from hospital (World Bulletin News)
Somalia supplies meet to Bahrain ahead of Eid (Gulf Daily News)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali Government signs landmark coastal protection contract

31 Jul – Source: Office of the Somali President – 316 words

With its Headquarters in The Netherlands, The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group has set out the main objectives for the new structured Somali Coast Guard:

• Monitoring and Surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone

• Patrolling, controlling and securing the Exclusive Economic Zone.

• Securing trade and Ports

• Protecting natural resources

• Protection of fishing grounds from illegal foreign fishing boats

• Prevention of dumping of toxic materials

• Search, Rescue and Anti-Smuggling services

The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group has developed a series of innovative Long Range Patrol Vessels, equipped with high speed intervention vessels. The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group will build, maintain and operate the Coast Guard Fleet in compliance with Somali Coast Guard Directorate in a safe, effective and cost efficient manner.

The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group has developed an education and training programme for the Somali Coast Guard Directorate and will develop a Coast Guard Training Centre to train Somali Coast Guard personnel, security officers and shore based support personnel.

The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group will aim to hand over all development, training and operations aspects within medium term to the Somali Coast Guard Directorate.

The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group will operate, on behalf of the authority and administrative command of the Federal Republic of Somalia – Somali Coast Guard Directorate and will adhere to all applicable embargoes and restrictions set by the United Nations.

SOMALI MEDIA

Al Shabaab Emir publicly criticizes slain commanders, warns more rift inside his group

31 Jul – Source: Radio Dalsan/ Risaala/Somalimemo/Al furqan – 227 words

Somalia’s Al Shabaab overall emir Ahmed Abdi Godane has publicly criticized recently assassinated commanders in his group after going against him and warned more rift inside his group. In his first voice recorded since the internal rift emerged, Godane said that he was very upset of the growing split of al Shabaab as he called those against him were “non Muslims” inciting violence within the group’s jihadi circle.

“I call on the members of the Mujahidin to maintain unity and to listen to their commanders whether they are commanders of unit or commanders of brigade,” Godane said in his one hour and eight minutes audio tape. Al Shabaab emir did not specifically mentioned the names of Ibrahim Afghan, Mo’alim Burhan and several commanders of the group who were assassinated in Barawe early last month after they have opposed his strict leadership.

“There are those who fight for show off and to gain public glory only,” he said while criticizing them. He has repeatedly recited Quran verses, Ahadith and some poems. This tape which seems to be recorded after last month’s assassination of the members of al Shabaab becomes the first speech from Godane since the rift between the group came out on the public.

Somali citizen killed in Cairo

31 Jul – Source: Jowhar Online/al Shahid – 107 words

Somali citizen were killed on Tuesday night in the Egyptian capital Cairo. Informed sources said that Hassan Abshir Hussein was killed Tuesday night by a gang armed with knives in the Egyptian capital Cairo.

The sources said that three people armed with knives attacked him near his home, killing him and then the gang took a bag he was carrying, and fled from the area after the incident.

The sources added that the Egyptian security forces arrested one of the perpetrators, and are investigating the incident. The incident has raised great concern among the Somali community in Cairo.

Somaliland government bans development of new villages

31 Jul – Source: Radio Ergo – 168 words

The Somaliland government has put a stop to the development of new villages and urban centres in a bid to protect grazing land. The minister for the environment and pastoralist development, Shukri Haji Ismail Bandare, told Radio Ergo that the mushrooming of urban centres, if left unchecked, would lead to environmental degradation and depletion of grazing fields.

“We have made this decision to safeguard our environment and prevent deforestation,” the minister said. New villages and trading centres have been springing up rapidly in Somaliland in recent years. Different sub-clans have been establishing their own villages.

The minister indicated that stopping further developments would enhance better national integration and clan cohesion, as it would promote sharing of shopping centres and villages among different sub-clans. However, some sections of the community are concerned about the ban. Chief Farhan Hussein, a member of the traditional council of elders of Sanaag region, told Radio Ergo that it would lead to overcrowding and congestion in towns.

NSA officer assassinated in Mogadishu

31 Jul – Source: Radio Dalsan – 112 words

Unidentified gunmen have assassinated an agent working National Security Agency in Wardhiigley neighborhood of Mogadishu on Tuesday night. According to eyewitnesses, men armed with pistols have shot and killed the off duty officer whose name was not released yet and the perpetrators have escaped from the scene before police reached there. No one was arrested yet even after operation was carried out.

Wardhiigley district officials and the local police officers could not comment on the killing which is the latest in the strings of targeted assassinations and explosion mainly conducted by the al Shabaab rebels during the Ramadan month.

Immigration Czar Grilled by Presidential Committee for Youth Empowerment,illegal Immigration and Human Trafficking

30 Jul – Source: Somaliland Press – 113 words

Somaliland immigration department Boss Col Mohamed Ali Yusuf today appeared before the recently appointed Presidential committee task with Youth Empowerment,illegal Immigration and Human Trafficking the main cause of mass exodus of Somaliland youth for lack of employment opportunities in the country.

The head of the immigration department during his first appearance before the Presidential committee said, “During the past month the immigration department has taken steps which are vital in the fight against human trafficking by raising awareness which focus on preventing and combat this phenomenon by putting in place strict border checks and monitoring procedures, especially by strengthening cooperation and coordination between the police and judicial authorities of the neighboring countries,”.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya jails 9 pirates over attempted hijack

31 Jul – Source: Capital News/Al Jazeera – 129 words

Nine Somali pirates have been sentenced to serve five years in jail each for a 2009 attempted hijacking of a German cargo ship. Mombasa Chief Magistrate Stephen Riech ruled that there was sufficient evidence to convict the suspects.

“The sole aim of suspects carrying weapons at the high seas was to terrorize the crew, so I hereby find them guilty as charged and commit them accordingly,” he ruled on Tuesday, saying he relied on evidence from 15 witnesses.

The nine were identified in court documents as Mohaamud Mohammed Hashi alias Dhodi, Mohammed Ali Awa-Dahir, Mohammed Dogol Ali, Abdiwahid Mohammed Osman, Abduliani Omar, Abdirahman Mohammed Caser, Khadar Mohammed and Mohammed Cifer Ismail. They had all denied the charges and claimed that they were fishing at the time of their arrest.

Somalia supplies meet to Bahrain ahead of Eid

31 Jul – Source: Gulf Daily News – 261 Words

AN EXTRA 20,000 live sheep have been brought to Bahrain to meet soaring demand during Eid Al Fitr. The Bahrain Livestock Company (BLC) yesterday confirmed it had imported the animals from Somalia ahead of next week’s holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan. More than 15,000 sheep and chilled Pakistani beef has also been distributed to markets across the country in the last three days.

“Live sheep are being supplied from Somalia at a rate of 1,400 to 1,500 a day,” said BLC general manager Ebrahim Hamad. “In preparation for the last week of Ramadan and Eid, 19,500 live sheep have been brought from Somalia. “After veterinarians checked the sheep, they were transferred to the BLC pens where they will remain until they are distributed.”

The company said negotiations were on-going to set up deals with other meat suppliers to import more live sheep from Somalia following Eid. Bahrain has been hit by a series of meat shortages since August last year when it turned away 21,000 sheep due to health concerns.

Somali foreign investment bill brings hope of jobs, development

30 Jul – Source: Sabahi Online – 667 Words

The foreign investment bill now in front of the Somali parliament’s commerce committee carries the hope of attracting international companies to help re-build the country, create new jobs and further develop the economy. The bill outlines a framework for foreign investment in Somalia to safeguard the rights of foreign nationals investing in the country and establish a favourable trade environment based on a free market economy, said Somali Ministry of Commerce and Industry Director General Abdullahi Duale.

“We hope that within this year, when this bill passes, the country will see changes in investment such as re-opening factories and [opening] new ones in the country, rebuilding old factories and producing marine and agricultural resources,” he told Sabahi. “These opportunities will be an advantage for us and foreign nationals who want to invest in our country.”

The Somali cabinet has already approved the bill. “For obvious reasons, we have been starved for foreign investment for decades,” Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said when signing the bill June 10th. “Anyone looking at our economy today knows how much we need it in all sectors. Investors need a secure legal framework and that is what we will provide.”

Regional Presidents in Nairobi for security talks

30 Jul – Source: Daily Nation – 262 words

Eleven Heads of State are expected in Nairobi Wednesday for talks on regional security and trade. A report by the region’s inter-ministerial committee will be tabled for adoption during the meeting. The report focuses on the implementation of an agreement on peace, security and development in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region.

International Conference on the Great Lakes Region chairman Yoweri Museveni is expected to attend alongside AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and their host President Kenyatta at UN headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi. Peace and security have dominated the closed door meetings which kicked off over the weekend. In an interview with the Nation, Foreign affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed said peace and security would be key agenda in the negotiations to boost trade.

“Peace and security are key especially in Somalia, Sudan and the DRC. When we have the two, trade becomes easy same to the movement of goods and services especially within the great lakes countries,” said Mrs Mohammed.Kenya has also lobbied for the repatriation of Somali refugees and campaigned for a seat at the UN Security Council.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UNHCR welcomes Kenya High Court decision on urban refugee rights

31 Jul – Source: UNHCR – 155 words

UNHCR welcomes the High Court of Kenya’s ruling which upholds the asylum right of urban refugees. The decision, reached on 26 July, relates to the “Petition number 19 of 2013” in which refugees challenged a directive issued by the Government of Kenya in December last year to transfer refugees from urban areas to the refugee camps at Dadaab and Kakuma.

The High Court ruled against the directive which had particularly dire consequences for the protection and well-being of refugee communities in Nairobi and other cities in the country. Indeed, as a result of the directive Somali refugees and asylum seekers began to report increased police harassment, detention and extortion mainly in Nairobi.

Many of them could not move about freely and fear of such treatment led hundreds of Somali refugees to return to Somalia or move to neighboring countries. As of December, there were a total of 51,000 mainly Somalia urban refugees in Kenya.

3 Turkish officers wounded in Somalia discharged from hospital

30 Jul Source: Worl Bulletin News – 146 words

The three wounded police officers out of four who were injured in Somali bomb attack on Turkish mission were discharged from the hospital on early Tuesday. Speaking to AA, Professor Safa Kapicioglu, the manager of Yildirim Beyazid Medical University, said “Three wounded security guards out of four were discharged from the hospital at 09.30, on Tuesday and their medical condition is very well.”

Regarding the other wounded security guard, who remained at hospital after having a leg surgery, Kapicioglu said, “His state of health is also very well but his treatment will continue for a while.”

One Turkish security guard was killed and four others were injured on Saturday while two suicide bombers were killed as another suicide bomber blew himself up in front of staff building of Turkey’s Embassy in Somali capital Mogadishu. The wounded police officers were airlifted to Turkey for medical treatment.

Kenya jails nine Somali pirates for attacking German ship

30 Jul – Source: Reuters – 136 words

A Kenyan court in the coastal city of Mombasa sentenced nine Somalis on Tuesday to five years in prison each for attempting to hijack the German merchant vessel MV Courier in the Gulf of Aden in March 2009. The men were arrested by international anti-piracy forces before being handed over to Kenya to be prosecuted, as Somalia was not considered able to try them properly.

Although the number of attacks has fallen markedly since 2011 thanks to tougher security aboard ships and increased Western naval patrols, piracy emanating from the Horn of Africa nation may still cost the world economyabout $18 billion a year, the World Bank said in April.

Prosecutors told the court the men attacked the ship armed with a rocket launcher, an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, a SAR80 carbine rifle, and other weapons.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“In order to enlighten the importance of Somali youth, they are required to put all their efforts to change the current clan based systems by forming strong youth unions which aim to unite the silent power of Somalia and making their voice louder. Somali youth should feel the ownership of the country and stop glancing to smuggle or seeking asylum in another country, it’s the time to overtake the authority and shape a better future for the nation.”

SOMALIA: The Awakening of the Somali Youth in the Political Participation and the Challenges they are facing

31 Jul – Source: Raxanreeb – 777 Words

Somalia is a nation that belongs to 10.085 million (2012) . After the collapse of the central government of Somalia in 1991, Some of the people who remained in the country founded their own local administrations governing certain regions. Community elders, educated people and politicians were driving the motion.

In 1991, the northwest regions of Somalia (Somaliland) achieved to declare the first administration while the civil war was ongoing in some regions of Somalia, despite Somaliland’s claim of breaking away from Somalia, it became a lesson for other regions of Somalia to form their own local governances. The other administration that has been set up from the bottom is Puntland which will celebrate in August for its 15th anniversary; Puntland beliefs united Somalia and a state under the federal national government of Somalia which is in the Somali constitution where Somaliland’s motive is to be separate from Somalia.

After the formation of these states and yet lacking any functioning central government, the UN and other donors started to deal with the states by dividing into three main zones; Somaliland, Puntland and South-central Somalia with the aim of facilitating the international aids to reach the needy people on the ground and enhancing the states’ capacities of pursuing their duties. In addition, the last two decades of Somali central government’s absence the Somalia’s data were collected, recorded and kept by the UN and international organizations who operate in Somalia though it is questionable on the reliability and the accuracy these data due the fact that this data were collected as a sample based not a census.

“In order to combat this situation, we should be targeting the misperceptions that exist within our community about disability, which create an environment where some parents of children with disabilities feel ashamed. Being the parent of a special needs child can be a trying and socially isolating experience, even for those parents who have accepted their child’s condition.”

Improving perceptions of disability within our communities

30 Jul – Source: Hiiraan Online – 1050 Words

It’s clear that there is a stigma attached to disability in the Somali community. Some parents keep their children with developmental disabilities at home, fearing that if they’re in the public eye, they will be the talk of the community and the family will be looked down upon. This is not a new outlook, adopted while in the diaspora, as even in pre-civil war Somalia, Somalis with developmental disabilities were often hidden from their communities.

Moreover, other Somalis believe that disabilities are from Allah and nothing can be done to change the conditions of these children. This outlook stops parents short from reaching out for help from schools, doctors, or therapists, as they don’t believe the situation will be bettered. While Islam does indeed teach us that everything is from Allah, we also learn that if someone is ill, we should do everything possible to assist them. It is time that we had an open and honest discussion about disability, about the resources available to disabled children and their families, and how we can ensure that all Somali parents feel secure within their communities, regardless of the medical condition of their children.

To begin, I wanted to define some terms to assist you in understanding the issues this article seeks to raise. Developmental disabilities are disabilities that leave affected individuals with impairments in the following areas: physical, learning, language or behavior. These disabilities typically show up before the age of 18 and impact individuals for the whole span of their lives. Conditions which fall under this category include Autism, Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disability, Cerebral Palsy and Down’s syndrome.

Top tweets

@FCONeilWigan Met @FawziaYusufAdam. Discussed issues she and #Somalia face, from security to jobs, and how #FCOcan help her Foreign Ministry meet them.

@MattBryden Hassan Dahir Aweys reportedly to be transferred from NISA cell to presidential compound, Villa Somalia#Somalia http://goo.gl/ffx4Tc.

@myfairobserver #Somalia: The root causes of piracy must be understood and addressed if progress is to be lasting.http://bit.ly/1bHZ9fN.

@amisomsomalia QUOTE OF THE DAY: #Somalia and#Amisom forces conduct joint #Security operation in #Jowhar http://bit.ly/11u5lkS , http://on.fb.me/QqTSeN .

@t_mcconnell On using social media networks to track#Somalia‘s pirates and terrorists http://on.tnr.com/1cluqTz by@mtredden for @tnr .

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Image of the day

Image of the day Ugandan formed police units serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) rotating in and out of the mission area at Mogadishu International Airport on July 27, 2013. Photo: AMISOM.