July 9, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Government to block streets in Mogadishu
09 Jul – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 128 words
Government of Mogadishu has issued warnings over the security operations in the capital of Mogadishu, the director of Ministry of Interior Affairs Bashir Gobeh says government forces will be blocking important streets including Debka junction. Gobe said this measure is aimed at improving security throughout the capital. “Some of the strategist roads in the capital would be blocked temporarily for security reasons,” he said. Reports indicate that security measures have been taken to safeguard the upcoming constitution conferences and reform preparations.
Key Headlines
- Government to block streets in Mogadishu (Radio Kulmiye)
- Ministry of Information Condemns the Attempted Assassination of Journalist (MIPT)
- Security beefed up in Dusamareb (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Bomb blast rocks northern Somalia city (Mareeg Online/Shabelle)
- Mr. Erdogan drew world’s attention in Somalia (Anatolia News Agency)
- Newly appointed Somali envoy to S.Africa meets Somalis in Cape town (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Sharjah charity provides bread for 150k Somali families a month (Emirates News Agency)
- Aid Policy: Early warning into early action (IRIN News)
PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Information Condemns the Attempted Assassination of Journalist
08 Jul – Source: Ministry of Information, Posts & Telecommunications – 147 words
The Somali government condemns the attempted assassination of the Universal Television journalist, Mr. Abdulkadir Omar Abdulle, who sustained serious injuries in the abdomen when two unidentified men shot him near his home at Wadajir District on yesterday evening in Mogadishu.
The Minister of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, Abdulkadir Hussein Mohamed expressed strongly as he said, “We condemn this attempted assassination and call for investigations to bring to justice the perpetrators of this criminal act.”
The government urges the public to cooperate with the security forces to ensure organized criminal activities are tackled throughout the country, including terrorism which poses serious threat to society.
“The public should not allow the criminal groups to intimidate them with such cowardly acts, and should support the ongoing security operations in the capital that will certainly confront those who professed hostility against journalists as well as peace activists” said Minister Mohamed.
The Ministry of Information encourages anyone with information about the attempted assassination to forward any tips that would lead to the arrest of individuals responsible for the crime.
SOMALI MEDIA
Government to block streets in Mogadishu
09 Jul – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 128 words
Government of Mogadishu has issued warnings over the security operations in the capital of Mogadishu, the director of Ministry of Interior Affairs Bashir Gobeh says government forces will be blocking important streets including Debka junction. Gobe said this measure is aimed at improving security throughout the capital.
“Some of the strategist roads in the capital would be blocked temporarily for security reasons,” he said. Reports indicate that security measures have been taken to safeguard the upcoming constitution conferences and reform preparations.
Security beefed up in Dusamareb
09 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 125 words
Security has been tightened in Dusamareb and its environs last night after a UN delegation arrived at the town on Sunday evening. Ahlu Sunna’s security boss in the area Farah Mo’alim Ali told Bar-kulan that their militias surrounded the town to provide maximum security and prevent any militant attacks in the area.
Ali said the visiting UN officials are today expected to hold talks with the relevant Ahlu Sunna authorities in Dusamareb. Heavily armed Ahlu Sunna militias were reportedly seen patrolling along the main streets in the town while several others were station at all entry points on the outskirt of the town. Authorities also barred vehicles from entering the town after dusk as part of their strategy to beef up security in the area.
IDPs in south Somalia complain of difficult living conditions
09 Jul – Source: Shabelle – 188 words
Even as the UN announced last year that famine had ended in areas in south-central Somalia, reports from some villages near the capital, Mogadishu, indicate that the suffering of the population, mostly women and children, from drought and conflict is increasing.
More than thousand of internally displaced people at make-shift shelters in Carbiska village located on the outskirts of Mogadishu say they are faced with poor and difficult living conditions.
These IDPs said shortages of water made their conditions worst, adding that Somali government troops have taken away water wells which the local displaced people in the area have been fetching their water from.
Bomb blast rocks northern Somalia city
08 Jul – Source: Mareeg Online/Shabelle – 125 words
Heavy explosion was heard in the heart of Las’anod town, the capital of Somalia’s northern province of Sool, Witnesses and Officials said on Sunday. Residents said Unknown assailants attacked with a hand grenade on home of the head of Somaliland’s spy for Sool region, Arab Ibrahim, killing 1 and injuring three, all from the relatives of Mr. Ibrahim.
“At least one person dead and three others sustained serious wounds in a hand grenade attack in Las’ anod city of northern Somalia,” witnesses said on Sunday. Mr. Ibrahim was reported to have escaped from the attack unhurt. Somaliland security forces begun urgent investigations on the blast in the town, arresting ten people suspected over the attack, according to the locals, whom Shabelle Media contacted on the phone.
Newly appointed Somali envoy to S.Africa meets Somalis in Cape town
08 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 133 words
The recently appointed Somali ambassador to South Africa Sayid Hassan Sharif on Saturday evening met Somali community members in Cape Town, Western Cape province. Sharif thanked the community members for welcoming him to South Africa as he takes up his job in the country.
The envoy said the embassy will be offering diplomatic services as well meeting the needs of the Somali community in the country. He urged the community members to support and have faith in their government.
Sharif said the embassy will help Somalis get their passports, adding that they were waiting Somali businessmen to fulfill their early promises that they will help the government establish the embassy. He however called on the community members maintain their unique culture and their religious practice and interact well with local South African communities.
Khatumo leader denies media speculations, calls for probe on Col. Nadalo’s assassination
09 Jul – Source: Raxanreeb – 190 words
The leader of Khatumo state, a newly established state in northern Somalia Ahmed Elmi Osman Karash has denied on Sunday media speculations claiming his administration dismantled, RBC Radio reports. Mr. Karash said that he was furious about the speculations which he rebuffed that he was the source of such commentary.
“I have neither given any interview nor I spoke to media, but indeed it was a kind of false propaganda aimed to demoralize the people of Khatumo,” the state’s president Ahmed Elmi Osman Karash, former Puntland Minister for Aviation said in a press conference in Armoley district of Somalia’s northern region of Sool.
He said that his administration had to maintain what he called resistance against Somaliland forces in Sool region where the Khatumo state is fighting to dominate. “We thank to Somalia’s transitional government and we declare clearly that we are always part of unity Somalia.” He added. On the other hand, Mr. Karash called for the authorities of neighboring region of Puntland to launch a full investigation on the assassination of Col. Abdullahi Salah Nadalo, former Puntland police chief who was killed in Garowe on July 2nd.
Mayor: my apology to innocents nabbed in security crackdown
08 Jul – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 135 words
Mohamud Ahmed Nur Tarsan governor of the Banadir administration and the mayor of Mogadishu the capital of Somalia regretted the arrest of the innocents people during a widespread crackdown launched by the security agents in the capital of Mogadishu last week, Mohmud says.
“We are very sorry for the mass arrests while those of you are innocents, you not be longer in jails after we confirm that you are not involved in the insecurity.” He continued, “This is a special operation to ensure the security in our capital.”
The mayor also sent warning message to restaurant owners near km 4 where he saw piles of garbage. Tarsan has also encouraged the people of Somalia to work closely with the Banaadir administration in order to achieve common goals.
Alleged al Shabaab man to stand trial soon
07 Jul – Source: Raadio Bar-kulan – 146 words
Government authorities in southwest Somali region of Gedo on Friday promised to arraign in court a militant man allegedly captured recently during a fierce gun-battle with militant fighters in Beled-Hawo town.
Mohamoud Sayid Adan, a member of the Somali parliament who is leading the government push against al Shabaab militants in the region told Bar-kulan that the militant man, Mohamoud Nuh, will soon appear before a court of law to answer militant charges.
He said Nuh was recently captured with gunshot wound after his militants launched nighttime attack on government military base in Beled-Hawo near the border with Somalia. Nuh was allegedly leading the militant fighters during the attack where he was wounded. Adan further said the man is now being treated in a military hospital in Dolow, adding that doctors managed to remove a bullet lodged in his body and will soon be charged in court.
Al Shabaab deserts strategic districts in Hiiraan region
07 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/ Somalia Report – 64 words
Al Shabaab militias deserted certain strategic districts of Bulo-burede, Halgan and jalalaqsi in Hiiraan region on Friday, according to local residents. The militias fled when they heard that the Somali National Forces and allied troops are heading to those districts. Al Shabaab militias, who are allegedly in their last days in Somalia, are tactically opting to vacate bases and not to confront the national forces.
Al Shabaab accused of instigating instability in northern Kenya
08 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 137 words
Al Shabaab was today accused of carrying out the recent deadly twin attacks on two churches in northern Kenyan town of Garissa. The group was accused in a security meeting held in Garissa town on Sunday where local politicians and relevant government authorities met to discuss on security matters following the Sunday attack that killed 17 people.
Speaking at the meeting, the area peace committee chairman Dakane Karur blamed the al Shabaab militant group for creating insecurity in the region. He said locals will remain united against the group.
The area MP Adan Barre Duale who was part of the meeting said participants agreed to form a vigilante group to bolster security in the area alongside with the police. The meeting comes just a week after gunmen attacked two churches in Garissa killing 17 people and injured 60 others.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Sharjah charity provides bread for 150k Somali families a month
08 Jul – Source: Emirates News Agency – 95 words
Sharjah Charity Association said its bakery in Mogadishu caters for the needs of 5000 families daily at refugee camps in the capital city. The effort is a continuation of with the “Help Them” campaign which was announced by H. H. Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah to assist famine and drought victims in the Horn of Africa, according to the acting secretary general of the Association Mohammed Hamdan Al-Zarri. The official added that a total of 150000 families monthly benefit from the agency’s humanitarian project in Somalia.
Kenyan military moves to recruit specialists in a bid to modernise
07 Jul – Source: Daily Nation – 314 words
The Kenya Defence Forces is seeking to hire experts to shore up its capacity at a time when its troops are engaged in a war against al Shabaab militants in Somalia. In addition to advertising for general service cadets, the Kenya Defence Forces also plans to recruit university graduates with specialised training to join its ranks. Military spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the recruitment is “part of a modernisation programme designed to make the forces more efficient”.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Aid Policy: Early warning into early action
09 Jul – Source: IRIN News – 1033 words
No one can say they did not see last year’s food crisis in East Africa coming; there was almost a year of increasingly strong warnings, but it was not until Somalia was formally declared to be in a state of famine that substantial funding finally started coming in. After this, just the latest of a long series of failures to translate early warnings into timely action, researchers at London’s Chatham House embarked on a project to try to find out why.
Rob Bailey, who is leading the project, says previous research had tended to focus on technical issues. “If only we could improve the early warning information; if only we could improve the way organizations coordinate with each other, then we would be able to get a better response.
This has been the focus in research and policymaking for the past couple of decades, and yet it has only really demonstrated marginal improvements at best, and it did nothing at all in the case of Somalia last year.”
Mr. Erdogan drew world’s attention in Somalia
08 Jul – Source: Anatolia News Agency – 142 words
Somali Presidential candidate Haji Mohammed Yassin Ismail said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan drew the world’s attention in Somalia, while many people and leaders did not temp to come to Somalia.
Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan’s visit to Somalia drew the attention, and then many countries extended help to Somalia which improved the condition of the country, added Ismail who spoke to AA.
Ismail said that firstly civil war in the country should end, adding that they could not have a government for 21 years due to civil war. Commenting on the upcoming elections in Somalia on August 20, Ismail said that the country would choose the right leader for itself.
Noting that Somalia had been the first country which adopted Islam in Africa, Ismail said that the relations between Turkey and Somalia were very sound for this reason.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Despite its dedication to democracy and the rule of law, Somaliland’s independence is not internationally recognized. Though the U.S. has recognized the need for a stable area to serve as a bulwark against terrorism and an ally in fighting piracy, the Obama Administration currently follows the position of the African Union by refusing to acknowledge Somaliland’s independence, reluctant to encourage further portioning of African nations.”
Somaliland Continues to Strive for Recognition
08 Jul – Source: Heritage Blog – 325 Words
Amid the lawless bloodbath that is Somalia, the northern state of Somaliland remains a rare example of functioning democracy in the Muslim world. Unlike the rest of Somalia, Somaliland has maintained relative stability and peace despite occasional border conflicts with the semi-autonomous Somali province of Puntland. Since its unilateral referendum on independence in 2001, Somaliland has remained dedicated to free democratic elections, as demonstrated by the presidential elections in 2003 and 2010 as well as parliamentary and local elections.
Furthermore, Somaliland has been a major partner in combating regional piracy. In 2010, Somaliland built a maximum security prison (with the help of the U.N. Office of Drugs and Crime) to relieve the burden of regional partners lacking the capacity and/or will to incarcerate pirates.
“After 21 years, Somalia and Somaliland sit together, face to face, at a technical level and discussed to clarity their future relations without the presence of a third party during the course of the discussion in Chevening House, UK, on 21 June 2012. Within two hours of the meeting the two sides reached an agreement that the facilitating committee were not expecting, in fact the notion that was in place was an expectation of confrontation by the two sides and that was proven wrong. The outcome of that meeting was again ratified by the two presidents of Somalia and Somaliland in a similar setting in Dubai on 28 June 2012. A new lesson that the international community learned from the Somali people: With their own affairs they can agree if the platform and the opportunity are given to them.”
Can The International Community Empower Somaliland To Help Somalia?
09 Jul – Source: Qurbejoog – 2226 Words
On the onset of the article, I would like to highlight briefly, to my best recall, the melt down of the Somalia dignity and an unprecedented events that unfolded after the late Siyaad Barre’s regime has got ousted by the rebel forces in 27 January 1991.
The collapse of the Somali Government in 1991, regardless of the past, was the eventual upshot of the country’s disintegration into several, mostly clan based, administrations with conflicting political aspiration – the footprint of a failed state: first Somaliland (former British Protectorate) broke away from the rest of Somalia (former Italian colony) – not without a reason.
Somalis in Dubai
08 Jul – Source: Mary Harper Blog
Here is a report I did for the BBC about Somalis in Dubai. There are tens of thousands of Somalis in the United Arab Emirates. Many work as traders in the souks and at the port. It is said that Somalia exports more from Dubai than any other country apart from Iran. My guide was a Somali called Adan. As you can hear from my report, we started off in the souk:
Top tweets
@Aynte #British woman suspected of terror attacks in #Kenyais said to’ve joined #Somalia‘s #alShabaab militantshttp://bit.ly/RIeYFH
@jeromestarkey From #Somalia to #Zanzibar: the refugees who fled spice islands for wartorn #Mogadishu in 2001 finally make it home. http://bit.ly/PE7CGb
@BillaoJournal A key question for #Somalia is who will have more influence over a semi-autonomous #Jubbaland –#Ethiopia or #Kenya.
@HOA_News Djiboutian Ali Adam Hamud will be in charge for AMISOM’s information office. #Somalia #AU #Djibouti
@aminkowz “#Somalia has a real chance to set in stone the foundations of a better, prosperous country for its future generations” http://bit.ly/NhpcvD
@ThrghTheFire “At this time, there are more than 10 self-declared states and administrations in #Somalia“http://tinyurl.com/7cat8o7
Image of the day
Outgoing AMISOM spokesperson Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda (R) shakes hands with his successor, Colonel Ali Aden Houmed of the Djiboutian Armed Forces (L). Colonel Ali replaces Lt. Col. Ankunda who has been AMISOM spokesperson since April 2011. Photo: AMISOM