June 10, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali President Lauds The Victory Of AMISOM And SNA Troops In Halgan
10 June – Source: Goobjoog News – 296 Words
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has applauded the quick response and bravery of the AMISOM troops and SNA soldiers in quelling the reprehensible attack on Halgan village carried out by Al-Shabaab fighters on Thursday morning. “On behalf of the Somali Federal Government, I welcome the victory of our forces and Ethiopian troops who taught Al-Shabaab a lesson. The defeat of Al-Shabaab indicates that the terrorists can be defeated while inflicting heavy blows” said Mohamud in a press statement.
On Thursday, Al-Shabaab and African Union’s AMISOM forces and Somali government have each claimed to have killed large numbers of the other side’s combatants in a gun battle in central Somalia. The AMISOM force fighting in Somalia said its troops repelled an attack on one of its bases by Al-Shabaab and killed 110 fighters. “AMISOM forces killed 110 Al-Shabaab and captured a large cache of weapons,” AMISOM spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Joe Kibet told Reuters, adding that a claim by Al-Shabaab that it had killed AU soldiers was a “falsehood”.
Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesperson, told Reuters that “several” Al-Shabaab fighters had died in the raid but he did not give a figure. African Union peacekeepers killed about 240 al-Qaeda-linked militants in clashes at an Ethiopian military base in central Somalia on Thursday, Security Minister Abdirisaq Omar said.
Key Headlines
- Somali President Lauds The Victory Of AMISOM And SNA Troops In Halgan (Goobjoog News)
- Over Thirty People Killed In Fighting Between Al-Shabaab And Somali Forces (Goobjoog News)
- Jubbaland Parliament Approve Regional Cabinet (Radio Kulmiye)
- Somali Youth Calls For Meaningful Voice Alongside Decision-makers (Radio Dalsan)
- Al-Shabaab On The Brink Of Death – GCAO Minister (Fana Broadcasting Corporate)b
- Minnesota Takes Action On Anti-radicalization Funding Even As Federal Officials Fall Short (Star Tribune)
PRESS STATEMENT
AU Chairperson Condemns Attempted Attack Against AMISOM In Somalia
10 June – Source: AMISOM – 209 Words
The Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, condemns in the strongest terms the failed attack carried out by terrorists’ elements in Halgan in the Hiiraan region of Somalia, on 9 June 2016.
The militants were repulsed by AMISOM and the Somali National Army (SNA) troops on the ground and suffered heavy casualties. Hundreds of Al Shabaab fighters were captured during the clashes. AMISOM and SNA forces also captured and destroyed a significant amount of the weapons used by the terrorist group. The Chairperson commends the fast response and gallantry exhibited by the Ethiopian contingent of AMISOM and the Somali forces.
Attacks such as this further demonstrate the despicable nature of Al Shabaab, whose sole purpose is to spread terror and continue the destabilization of Somalia. Our resolve can only be rejuvenated, to fight on until Somalia is freed of all elements of terror. She further stresses that the failed attack demonstrated AMISOM’s capability to respond effectively against this terrorist threat.
The Chairperson condoles with the families of the fallen soldiers, commiserates with the injured and wishes them quick recovery. The Chairperson reaffirms the commitment of the AU to continue to support the Somali Government and people in their effort to achieve sustainable peace.
NATIONAL MEDIA
Over Thirty People Killed In Fighting Between Al-Shabaab And Somali Forces
10 June – Source: Goobjoog News -155 Words
At least 32 people have been killed in a fight between Somali forces and Al-Shabaab fighters in Bulajadiid village in the outskirt of Tiyeeglow town in the Bakool region. Somali forces on Thursday evening raided an Al-Shabaab base prompting hours of fighting, according to Deputy District Commissioner of Tiyeeglow, Hussein Hassan Ibrahim. Ibrahim said the government forces killed over 21 Al-Shabaab fighters in the raid whereas the government soldiers lost eleven soldiers. Somali government forces have been carrying simultaneous attacks on Al-Shabaab training camps. However, on Thursday a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into the gates of an African Union base in central Somalia, setting off a predawn gun battle between fighters and African Union soldiers.
Jubbaland Parliament Approve Regional Cabinet
10 June – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 74 Words
Jubbaland State Parliament has overwhelmingly approved the newly formed government of President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madoobe) in the administrative capital, Kismayo. Fifty three out of the 58 members of the Jubbaland Interim Assembly, who attended the parliamentary endorsement session, voted in favor of the new cabinet during the first sitting of its second session. The approved cabinet consists of 18 ministers and similar number of deputies that was recently announced by the Jubbaland leader.
Somali Youth Calls For Meaningful Voice Alongside Decision-makers
10 June – Source: Radio Dalsan – 238 Words
Youth public forum entitled “Consultative Youth Forum: Exploring Role of Somali Youth in 2016 Election” was held in Mogadishu. The meeting attracted over 1,300 young Somalis from across universities, schools and business sectors. This was the first time in recent history that such large gathering took place in the capital. According to Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle a leader in the Somali civil society who spoke at the forum, Somalia’s youth population presents a powerful opportunity for economic recovery and building sustainable peace in Somalia, yet this demographic are totally excluded from the political process and decision making.
Speaking to jubilant youth, Jabril said “How can a country recover from a brutal civil war when 70% of its citizens (youth) are excluded from the political and socio-economic processes.” Another participant, Abdisalan Nur a university graduate said “we can no longer wait on current leaders who have already failed to deliver on the national agenda, we as youth should design and develop youth-led initiatives with a meaningful voices alongside decision-makers. Despite of our limitation of not being able to directly elect our leaders, we should actively campaign for those who embody Youth Vision and change for new direction.”
At the end of the meeting, youth participants issued five point plan including; Developing national youth manifesto spelling out youth vision and creating national movement that encourages youth to contribute to Somalia’s ongoing political discourse. A similar meeting was held in Istanbul last week attended by Somali student across Turkey.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Al-Shabaab On The Brink Of Death – GCAO Minister
10 June – Source: Fana Broadcasting Corporate – 310 Words
Government Communication Affairs Office Minister, Getachew Reda has labeled Al-Shabaab as an organization which is on the brink of death. The Minister made the remark following Ethiopian defense force’s attack against the militant group in Somalia yesterday. “Al-Shabaab is an organization which is on the brink of death. Its attempted attack against the Ethiopian defense force is to pretend that it is alive and to inspire its supporters,” he said.
Al-Shabaab is a fading group, he said, adding yesterday it tried to attack the Ethiopian defense force with all its capacities and using heavy weapons and military trucks. In a counter attack waged by the Ethiopian defense force, a large number of Al-Shabaab fighters had been killed, he said. The Ethiopian defense force, who previously managed to wipe out Al-Shabaab from various parts of Somalia, will intensify its attack against the militant group along with the Somali national army troops, he said.
The Ethiopian defense force and Somali national army troops yesterday foiled Al-Shabaab’s attempted attack on Ethiopia’s military base in Halgan town of Hiiraan region, Somalia. Most of Al-Shabaab’s fighters were destroyed in a counter attack jointly carried out by the Ethiopian and Somali military forces, said Ethiopian Ministry of Defense in a statement. Some 245 Al-Shabaab fighters, including 5 senior leaders of the group, were killed in the counter attack. One of the five senior Al-Shabaab leaders, who were killed in the attack, is not a Somali national.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“To Minnesota’s credit, its Legislature took action this year to fund preventive measures even as federal officials dither.”
Minnesota Takes Action On Anti-radicalization Funding Even As Federal Officials Fall Short
10 June – Source: Star Tribune – 498 Words
The recent conviction of three young Somali-American men from Minnesota on terrorism charges chillingly detailed Middle East-based extremists’ broad reach. After watching online videos and exchanging social media messages, the three succumbed to false promises of desert glory and prepared to join the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria.
Fortunately, they were intercepted by officers before they reached their destination — a testament to American law enforcement’s dedication. But stopping wannabe jihadis is just one strategy needed to thwart radicalization. Prevention is also critical. Building resilient communities — where education, opportunity and a sense of belonging abound — helps inoculate new Americans against terrorist recruiters and keeps all Americans safer.
To Minnesota’s credit, its Legislature took action this year to fund preventive measures even as federal officials dither. In a session marred by gridlock, an initiative providing $2 million in grant money for Somali-American youth development garnered bipartisan support. The state is home to the nation’s largest Somali-American community. Young Somali-Americans from here have been recruited by Al-Shabab, an African terrorist organization, and are now being targeted by ISIL.
Half of the grant money, $1 million, will go to Youthprise, a respected Twin Cities nonprofit that already has distributed $300,000 in youth development grants as part of a federal anti-radicalization pilot program. The state Department of Employment and Economic Development will administer the other half directly.
TOP TWEETS
@AU_Chergui : Amb. Smail Chergui Retweeted Sarah KagingoWe welcome this new book &commend #Uganda for deploying peacekeepers to #Somalia when there was yet no peace to keep
@WhoseinMoulid: UNHCR boss expected to visit #Kenya‘s#Dadaad refugees complex today as Kenyan gov plans to send 350,000 to #Somalia by Nov
@Vatescorp: #Somalia: Hiran governor says he saw bodies of 240 #alShabaab, 7 ENDF killed in Halgan attack
@Somaliupdate ; #UAE Offers Assistance To South-West State Of #Somaliahttp://somaliupdate.
@melissarfleming : “Nobody wants to be a refugee. But to stop being a refugee, conditions must be there” in #Somalia. –@RefugeesChief
@HananMSalah : Rare glimpse into #Somalia‘s forgotten conflicts & humanitarian response @OmarICRChttp://cicr.blog.lemonde.fr/
@omabha : Somalia: Puntland President vows revenge for victims of Al Shabaab terror – Garowe Onlinehttp://dlvr.it/LWvY2K #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somalia and Kenya leaders hold bilateral talks on peace, security, stability and refugee repatriations.
Photo: @TheVillaSomalia