July 7, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali PM orders heightened security in the Somali capital

06 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan – 104 words

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Saturday met with Somalia’s top security officials and some members of his cabinet to discuss security situation in Somali capital, Mogadishu. Speaking at the meeting, Somali Police Commissioner, General Abdihakim Dahir Saa’id said the security organs are working closely with Banadir administration and the locals to improve security in the capital in the face of increased al Shabaab attacks. Somali Minister for Defence who is also the Acting Minister for National Security, Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud said the security meeting will be held on a weekly basis to assess security developments as well as the challenges in the capital.

Key Headlines

Somali PM orders heightened security in the Somali capital (Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan)
Somali restaurant attack leaves four dead (Radio Shabelle)
Ahlu Sunna offers the government help to secure Mogadishu (RBC/Hiiraan Online)
Ministry of Women hosts training course on gender violence in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu)
Somalia in a bid to regain control over its airspace (Africa Review)
Suicide attack near Somali Parliament kills four (Somali Current)
Puntland and interim Juba administration sign co-operation deal in Kismayo (Radio Goobjoog)
Benadir district heads discuss tackling insecurity in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/RBC)
Gunmen kill 22 during raids at Kenyan police station trading center (CNN/Channel 4/Reuters)
SkyGreece launches flights to Mogadishu (Somaliland Informer)
Al Shabaab claimed responsibility of Kenya’s coastal attacks (AFP)
Police blame MRC for attacks in Lamu Tana Delta (Daily Nation)
Kenya’s DP Ruto gives security chiefs 48hrs to arrest Lamu attackers or quit (Daily Nation)
Senior seaport official survives murder in Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan/Goobjoog)
MP Dalha describes safety of legislators as ‘poor’ (Radio Shabelle)
Islamist militants behind blast near Somalia parliament (Irish News)
Car bomb targets Somalia parliament complex (Al Jazeera/ Africa Review)
Legislators postpone debate due to parliament attack (Radio Shabelle)
Deputy head of AMISOM calls for an end to gender based violence in Somalia (Al Shahid)
Former security minister appointed to presidential advisor (Hiiraan Online/RBC)

PRESS STATEMENT

Information Minister: Weekly update on Government Progress

05 Jul – Source: Ministry of Information – 1067 words

H.E. Mustafa Duhulow spoke to the media in Mogadishu to provide an update on government progress over the last week. The Minister spoke on various issues: the re-launch of Radio Mogadishu, the Voice of the Somali National Army, the 54th Anniversary of Somali Independence Day, the Minister of Livestock’s visit to Puntland, projects implemented in Hiiraan region, the re-launch of the Dalka Newspaper, the parliamentary approval of the Judiciary Service Commission Law, and the Ramadan Knowledge Competition.

The Minister of Information spoke on the re-launch at Radio Mogadishu of the Somali National Army Radio: “The Prime Minister of Somalia cut the ribbon marking the re-launch of the Somali National Army Radio. The programs aired by SNA Radio focus on the successful of the military operations and encouraging engagement between the military and the people.

The re-launch of the radio is part of the army’s policy to do just that: to engage with the public. It is very important for the people to support the radio station in order to provide encouragement to our troops in the fight against Al-Shabaab and other violent, criminal elements, so that people can concentrate on their national duties and the unity of the people.”

The Minister of Information spoke on the 54th Anniversary of Somalia Independence Day: “Somalis inside and outside the country celebrated the 54th Anniversary of our Independency Day enthusiastically and with pride and dignity. This shows how Somali people are passionate about national unity and that they remember the bravery and the sacrifices of their grand-fathers, many of whom paid ultimate prize to gain their independence from colonial rule.

On the 1stof July, 1960, the southern regions of Somalia got their independency from Italian colonial rule (the northern regions had won theirs from the United Kingdom a few days before) and at the same time the North and South of the Country united to become Somali Republic.

The 54th Anniversary of Independence ceremony, marked by the raising of the flag took place in Mogadishu and was attended by the President, the Speaker, the Prime Minister, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the UN, and many other officials. Somalis wherever they were celebrated in style and with dignity.

On the 1st July the Prime Minister and other officials walked through the streets in Mogadishu to wish citizens well and at the conclusion of the walkabout the Prime Minister spoke to the ecstatic people gathered at Daljirka Dahson monument.”

The Minister of Information spoke on the Minister of Livestock’s visit to Puntland: “I would like to thank the President and the people of Puntland for their warm welcome and the continuing support provided to the Minister of Livestock during his visit in Puntland between 16 – 30 June 2014. The objective of the visit was to strengthen the relationship between the Federal Government and Puntland.

The Minister of Livestock visited Galkayo, Garowe and Bosaso and had meetings with the President, the Vice President and the Minister of Livestock of Puntland as well as many other officials. During his stay in Garowe the Minister visited two projects, one to enhance livestock services and another to devise a Livestock Development Policy.

The Minister also visited two veterinary facilities & quarantine centers in Bosaso, one owned by Somali businessmen and another that is owned by Saudi businessmen.” Minister of Information spoke on projects being implemented in Hiiraan: “Recently in Hiiraan we have finished projects such as asphalt road resurfacing in the city of Beledweyne, the building of two bridges and the construction of a canal in order to keep the river from flooding and to provide a communal water supply.

The asphalt road also features a drainage system. I would like to thank the UK government for assisting the Federal Government and Hiiran Authority for implementing these vital projects for the community as part of the stabilization plan. These projects provided jobs for over 700 local people, on top of Hiiraan authority employing 160 cleaners for the roads.”

The Minister of Information spoke on the re-launch of Dalka Newspaper: “I am very pleased to report to you that we have successfully re-launched Dalka Newspaper on 1st July 2014 as part of the Ministry of Information’s programme of work. Dalka newspaper has unique importance for the people as it provides an opportunity to read news and other features, which in turn will increase the knowledge and inform the opinions of the people.

Dalka newspaper is currently a weekly publication but our plan is to publish the newspaper on a daily basis in the near future. Knowledge is power: and every country’s development is hugely dependent on the knowledge of its people; and reading is the prerequisite of knowledge. The Government is committed to providing opportunities for education and for media sector development and the newspaper is part of that plan.”

The Minister of Information spoke on the parliamentary approval of the Judiciary Service Commission law: “The parliament’s 30 June 2014 approval of the Judiciary Service Commission Law was a milestone towards the reform of the Justice sector and the rule of law in Somalia. The Federal Government of Somalia is committed to the reform of the Justice sector in order to ensure that our judicial system is transparent and accountable.

As the country is moving towards peace and stability, it is right that we improve our judiciary system so that our people will be confident in the system. People deserve justice that is fair and treats all citizens equally. We want our people to have confidence in the system. For over 23 years the Somali judiciary system lacked a supreme body that nominate, promote, discipline and oversee the work of sitting judges at the district, regional and federal levels. Therefore the parliament’s approval of the legislation will be the beginning of fundamental reform of Somali judiciary system.”

The Minister of Information concluded by speaking on the Ramadan Knowledge Competition: “I am very pleased to announce that we started the Ramadan Knowledge Competition successfully via Radio Mogadishu and Somali National TV.

The aim of the competition is to enhance public engagement, to provide a knowledge exchange and to strengthen the unity of the people, which in turn will lead us peace and unity. Talented people from nearly all of the regions are taking part in this important competition. I would like to thank the Mayor of Mogadishu for sponsoring the Ramadan Knowledge Competition.”

UN Special Representative for Somalia condemns attack on Somali Parliament

05 Jul – Source: UNSOM – 195 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, condemned the attack on the Somali Parliament and the many killings claimed by al Shabaab’s since the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

“I condemn this morning’s attempted attack on Somalia’s Federal Parliament. I commend the bravery of the security forces who lost their lives ensuring the terrorists were thwarted. Al Shabaab have bombed, assassinated and terrorised Somalis in Mogadishu since the start of the holy month of Ramadan, a month dedicated to prayers and peace. I call on all Somalis to unite and work with the authorities to prevent further attacks and to bring to justice those behind this murderous campaign,” SRSG Kay said.

“The United Nations is working side by side with the Somali people to build peace and a new, functioning state. We are working actively with the Federal Government, AMISOM and international partners to build strong Somali national security forces to protect and serve all Somali people” he added.

SRSG Kay offered his sincere condolences to the family and friends of those killed, as well as to the Federal Parliament of Somalia, and wished a quick recovery for the injured.

Germany Condemns Murder of Somali MP

05 Jul – Source: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany – 98 words

German Ambassador to Somalia Andreas Peschke strongly condemned the murder of the Somali Member of Parliament Mohamed Mohamud Hayd and released the following statement:

“The German Government condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of Somali Member of Parliament Mohamed Mohamud Hayd. We feel deep sympathy with his family and would like to convey our deepest condolences.

We stand firmly at the side of Somalia to overcome this violence by terrorists and will continue to support Somalia to build a peaceful and prosperous state. We strongly hope that the perpetrators of the murder will be brought to justice.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali PM orders heightened security in the Somali capital

06 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan – 104 words

Somali restaurant attack leaves four dead

06 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle/Goobjoog/Hiiraan Online – 114 words

At least four people have been killed and nearly ten others were wounded when a huge blast rocked a restaurant in the Kabooley market in the town of Beled Hawo near the border with Kenya on Sunday. Officials said that three government soldiers and a civilian who were at the restaurant died in the blast which injured 8 others. According to officials, an explosive device was planted inside the restaurant. “This restaurant is well known for gathering of people including government soldiers and civilians and I think it was targeted for that reason,” said a witness who demanded to remain anonymity.

Ahlu Sunna offers the government help to secure Mogadishu

06 Jul – Source: RBC/Hiiraan Online – 97 words

The Moderate Sufi group in Somalia, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama has offered the Federal Government of Somalia its support in securing the country’s capital, Mogadishu following deadly attacks carried out by the militant group of al Shabaab. The offer was announced by Ahlu Sunna executive Chairperson Sheikh Abdirisak Mohamed Ashcari, criticizing the government security officials for irresponsibility. Mr Ashcari has promised that the moderate militia group which has fought against al Shabaab previously, will be ready to voluntarily help the Federal Government security forces in tackling the threat posed by al Shaabab.

Ministry of Women hosts training course on gender violence in Mogadishu

06 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Bar-kulan/Goobjoog – 127 words

A training course designed to discuss ways of tackling and responding to gender based violence, particularly in the case of rape, has been held in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The training course which is expected to last three days was organized by Somalia’s Ministry of Women and Human Rights in collaboration with UNFPA and UNICEF. Somalia’s Minister for Women and Human Rights, Khadijo Mohamed Diriye, representatives from the United Nations as well as other dignitaries attended the course which was held for the staff of the Ministry of Women and Human Rights. Speaking at the opening stages of the training course, Minister for Women and Human Rights, Khadijo Mohamed Diriye said the aim of the course is to build the capacity of the staff in her ministry.

Suicide attack near Somali Parliament kills four

05 Jul – Source:Somali Current/ Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Risaala/Kulmiye/Bar-kulan – 90 words

A suicide car bomb has killed at least five people near Somalia’s parliament, police and witnesses report. Eight other people were injured. The bomb went off outside the main gate of parliament after guards shot at an explosive-laden vehicle after the driver refused to stop for inspection. Three soldiers and the bomber died on the spot while an injured civilian succumbed to injuries later in hospital. Earlier this week, a prominent MP, Ahmed Mohamud Hayd, was shot dead in the city, in a drive-by attack claimed by al Shabaab. An attack by the rebels on the parliament in May left at least 10 people dead. Al Qaeda linked militant group has vowed to step up attacks against government during the holy month of Ramadan.

Puntland and interim Juba administration sign co-operation deal in Kismayo

06 Jul – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 107 words

The Regional Administrations of Puntland and interim Juba administration reached co-operation deal in Kismayo and for the first time issued joint statement on the current situation of the country. They sent message to the federal government of Somalia to equally share foreign aid in the hands of the government. They also asked the federal government to complete the interim provincial constitution so as to get proper solution for many issues of great concern adding that they welcome the federal system that is taking root in Somalia. This joint statement comes a time when delegates from Puntland were taking meetings with the top leaders of interim Juba administration.

Benadir district heads discuss tackling insecurity in Mogadishu

06 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC – 116 words

District Commissioners of Somalia Capital, Mogadishu have on Saturday met to discuss ways of tackling the growing insecurity and the threats posed by al Shabaab during the Holy Ramadan month. The meeting came as suicide car bomber hit near the country’s parliament building on Saturday killing at least four people including two soldiers and two displaced children. The District Commissioners of the 17 locations of the capital stressed the need for emergency intervention to the insecurity and t tackle the assassinations and suicide attacks carried out by the militant group of al Shabaab in Mogadishu during the holy Ramadan month, According to Mohamed Guled Ano-geel, the Deputy Governor of the Benadir region who chaired the meeting.

SkyGreece launches flights to Mogadishu

06 Jul – Source: Somaliland Informer – 106 words

Greek private airline SkyGreece has according to information received started flights between Athens and Mogadishu, operating once a week on a B767-300ER, the only aircraft presently on their fleet. The airline was formed in 2012 and has since last year been operating from Athens to Stockholm and London with flights to the horn of Africa covering Asmara and since last week Mogadishu. Few airlines are flying into Mogadishu and Somalia at large as yet on a scheduled basis, other than Ethiopian, followed last year by Turkish Airlines and now by SkyGreece. From East Africa do Air Uganda and Kenya’s African Express fly scheduled services to Mogadishu.

Senior seaport official survives murder in Mogadishu

06 Jul – Source: Radio Dalsan/Goobjoog – 77 words

Deputy manager of Mogadishu seaport Abdi Ali Jamaa has survived an assassination attempt after an explosive device attached to his car exploded in Hamarweyne district earlier on Sunday. According to witnesses the targeted officer was in a nearby MCH during the attack which destroyed his car. No one was harmed by this attack as no one was inside the acr. The security reached the area immediately and launched operations to pursue those behind the explosion, no one was arrested so far.

Legislators postpone debate due to parliament attack

05 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle – 77 words

Saturday’s session of the Somali Federal Parliament was postponed due to security reasons, in particularly related to the explosion that occurred near the entrance of parliament building. Somali lawmaker Abdi Barre Yusuf, who witnessed the blast, said that that the windows of the parliament debate halls shattered into literally a million pieces. During the time of the explosion, legislators were allegedly inside the building preparing to open their session but all were evacuated safely after the blast.

Former security minister appointed to presidential advisor

05 Jul – Source: Hiiraan Online/RBC – 90 words

The former Internal Security Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Abdulkarim Hussein Guled has been appointed as Somali president’s political advisor. The new advisor was nominated in a presidential decree, dated on 29 June 2014, but was circulated to the media on Friday. In May this year, Mr. Guled resigned from the cabinet due to a failure to tackle local insecurity. His resignation coincided with hours after al Shabab militants attacked Somali parliament building on 24th of May killing several soldiers. Three parliamentarians were also wounded in the attack.

MP Dalha describes safety of legislators as ‘poor’

05 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle – 111 words

Mohamed Omar Dalha, a Member of the Somali Federal Parliament claimed in a statement to Radio Shabelle that the safety of legislators is at jeopardy. Mr. Dalha argued that there is no assurance from the Somali Federal Government that proves that their safety is being taken care of or that the government sheds responsibility to ensure that no further MPs are targeted. Employees at Villa Somalia are provided with bulletproof personal vehicles and MPs own cars that are likely to be targeted from quite a distance, as lawmaker Dalha said. Recently, a legislator of the Somali Federal Parliament was killed in the capital city Mogadishu.

Former Somali diplomat freed after three days in custody

04 Jul – Source: Somali Current – 64 words

Kenyan police have freed Abdisitar Hassan a former staff at Somali embassy in Nairobi after three days in custody. Abdisatar was arrested on Wednesday by Kenyan anti terror police and remanded in Kilimani police station in central Nairobi. Speaking to the media Abdisitar said he is very happy to get back his freedom but rejected to comment on the main reason behind his arrest.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia in a bid to regain control over its airspace

06 Jul – Source: Africa Review – 115 words

Somalia’s Ministry of Air and Land Transport has mounted a campaign to regain control of its airspace from the Canada-based International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). On arrival in Mogadishu from Canada last Friday, the country’s Minister of Air and Land Transport, Said Mohamed Qorshel, revealed that his delegation had met ICAO officials over the issue. For over two decades, ICAO has controlled the airspace after civil war broke out in the Horn of Africa country. “The process of transferring the airspace control to Somalia is to start soon,” said Mr Qorshe. Without giving specific dates, Mr Qorshel revealed that some air control equipment from ICAO’s office in Nairobi, Kenya, will soon be transferred to Mogadishu.

Kenya’s DP Ruto gives security chiefs 48hrs to arrest Lamu attackers or quit

06 Jul – Source: Daily Nation – 107 words

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto has given security agencies 48 hours to flush out attackers who killed eleven people on Saturday night at Lamu, in coast region. “The security team must get these criminals, starting from Inspector General David Kimaiyo to the police constable down here…these people must be arrested,” said Ruto. Addressing a public gathering at Hindi Trading centre in Lamu, Mr Ruto said that deputy inspector general in charge of administration police Samuel Arachi will oversee the operation until all attackers are flushed out of the forest either dead or alive. “It is impossible in the independent Kenya to have criminals and terrorists coming and killing innocent people.

Police blame MRC for attacks in Lamu, Tana Delta

06 Jul – Source: Daily Nation – 68 words

Police have blamed the proscribed Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) for Saturday attacks in Lamu and Tana Delta that left 20 people dead. Deputy Inspector General Grace Kaindi said an armed group of between 30 to 50 people attacked police officers who were manning Gamba police station. “During the confrontation, three prisoners escaped while 10 others remained unhurt in the next cell,” said Ms Kaindi at a press conference.

Car bomb targets Somalia parliament complex

05 Jul – Source: Al Jazeera/Africa Review – 161 words

A suicide car bomb has killed at least five people in an attack at the entrance of the Somali parliament, witnesses told Al Jazeera. The blast on Saturday killed at least three soldiers and two civilians, a source at the scene said. A sixth person was shot dead by soldiers as he drove past the attack, the source added. Abdi Barre, an MP who was in the parliament building and who also witnessed the attack, told Al Jazeera: “It was a large explosion. A suicide car bomb. There are casualties.” Ridwaan Haji, a Somali government spokesman, told Al Jazeera: “Three soldiers were killed and two others injured. A number of civilians have also been injured and investigations are underway.” Al Shabaab, the rebel group fighting the UN-backed Somali government, said it carried out the attack.

Deputy head of AMISOM calls for an end to gender based violence in Somalia

05 Jul – Source: Al Shahid – 163 words

The Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Somalia (DSRCC), Lydia Wanyoto-Mutende, recently met with AMISOM Gender focal point officers and female peacekeepers to map out mechanisms of dealing with issues affecting women in Somalia. The meeting culminated in the formation of the AMISOM Female Peacekeepers’ Network charged with addressing issues affecting women and children in Somalia as part of AMISOM’s broader role of bringing peace and stability to the country. Wanyoto-Mutende said it was the responsibility AMISOM female peacekeepers to support women of Somalia in the fight against sexual exploitation and gender based violence.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Gunmen kill 22 during raids at Kenyan police station, trading center

06 Jul – Source: CNN/Channel 4/Reuters – 98 words

Gunmen ambushed a trading center and a police station in coastal Kenya early Sunday, leaving at least 22 people dead, authorities said. At least 13 people died when attackers opened fire after midnight in Hindi, a center near the popular tourist coast of Lamu, the Kenyan Red Cross said. Hindi is near Mpeketoni, where assailants killed dozens of people under the cover of darkness last month. A second overnight raid killed nine people at a police station in Gamba in Tana River county. One other person was hospitalized, and another was reported missing, the Kenyan Red Cross said.

Al Shabaab claimed responsibility of Kenya’s coastal attacks

06 Jul – Source: AFP – 191 words

At least 18 people have been killed in new attacks in Kenya’s coastal county of Lamu, the same area where 60 people were massacred last month, the Kenyan Red Cross has said. A spokesman for Somalia’s al Shabaab rebels claimed the al Qaeda-linked group’s fighters had carried out another attack in the area. The Red Cross said nine people died and one person was missing in the locality of Gamba, while four people were killed in Hindi, a trading post near Lamu island. The attacks took place late on Saturday, authorities said. “We had attacks at night where people were killed and houses destroyed. We have mobilised our officers and we are on the ground. We are calling on the public to work closely with us,” said Robert Kitur, a senior Lamu police official. Police said unidentified gunmen also torched several houses and attacked Gamba’s police station, freeing a suspect held over last month’s attacks. One policeman was among the dead, officials said.

Islamist militants behind blast near Somalia parliament

05 Jul – Source: Irish News – 132 words

Al Shabaab Islamist militants, who threatened to step up attacks during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, said they were behind a blast today that killed two people in the Somali capital Mogadishu political centre. The two people were killed when a car bomb exploded near the Somali parliament building , a few hundred metres from the presidential compound. “This is our second attack against the parliament building and we shall continue it,“ said Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab‘s spokesman for military operations. Police said soldiers guarding the parliament building had prevented it from reaching its target. “The suicide car bomb was targeting the parliament entrance but it was fired on from all sides as it approached the main gate,“ said Nur Ahmed, a colonel in the police service. Police said two soldiers were killed and four wounded.

UN sees warning signs of return to famine in Somalia

05 Jul – Source: AFP – 139 words

Hunger is set to worsen in Somalia due to rising food prices, patchy rains and a lack of access to people in need, undermining efforts to rebuild the conflict-scarred country, senior U.N. officials said late on Wednesday. The last two rainy seasons, which people rely upon to grow food and provide for their cattle and goats, have been poor. Many Somalis are still reeling from famine in 2011, which killed 260,000 people and was caused by drought, conflict and a ban on food aid in territory held by the Islamist militant group, al Shabaab. “All the signs we saw before 2011’s severe famine are here – reduced humanitarian access, insecurity, increasing food prices, delayed rains and rapidly worsening malnutrition among children,” said John Ging, operations director for the U.N Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Safety of the city cannot be accomplished without reconciliation among Somalia people. It is not enough for the President to just claim the safety of the city is his number one, two, and three priority. It is possible and probably the reason why there is a lack of progress so far is that the president Hassan thought since he was elected the first president after transition period, no further reconciliation is needed and as result he should dictate from top down.”

Somalia: International community should look beyond the verbiage

05 Jul – Source: Hiiraan Online – 654 words

One of the most known member of the parliament, Mohamed Mohamud Hayd was reported to be killed in the center of city Mogadishu while heading to the parliament building on Thursday morning, July 3, 2014. His body guard was also reported to be killed in that gunfire. Immediately it was also reported that Alshabab took the responsibility of that execution and threaten to continue murdering in the month of Ramadan. Security officers are said to be in pursue of assailants. PM, Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed and president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud both declared the killers would be brought to justice. Based on the past performance of security agents whose minister resigned few months ago soon after the parliament building was attacked, it is hard to expect this case to be concluded soon as predicted. Parliament building, Villa Somalia and UN building were attacked recently. The government leaders gave the same speech. Condolence was sent to the families of diseased and promise to pursue killers until brought to justice was declared. None had happened afterward. As result, it is a reasonable in this case to also expect the government agents failing to find the killers.

“As Kenya comes fully within al Shabaab’s strategic focus, it is imperative for policy makers there to understand that continued discrimination is not only morally reprehensible, but is a security problem that gives Al-Shabaab space to thrive.”

Al Shabaab’s foreign operations arm is busy recruiting in Kenya

03 Jul – Source: African Arguments – 952 words

For months, the Kenyan security forces have been rounding up ethnic Somalis in Nairobi. This is part of a security operation (Operation Usalama Watch) which presumes that terrorists in Kenya are solely of Somali origin. This presumption is wrong and is a clear manifestation of the decades-long discrimination of Somalis and other Muslims in the country. The discrimination plays into the hands ofal Shabaab, which uses stories of Muslim oppression in Kenya to recruit members and justify attacks in the country. Al Shabaab’s foreign operations arm is heavily populated by members of non-Somali ethnic background; this makes it operationally easier to insert these individuals into al Shabaab targets in neighbouring countries. On 15th June, al Shabaab gunmen attacked the town of Mpeketoni in Kenya, killing around 60 people. The Kenyan government’s initial response was, for domestic political reasons, to deny that al Shabaab had carried out the attack. While the Kenyan government seemed to have been caught off guard and unprepared, al Shabaab had warned of an impending attack weeks before it took place.