June 11, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
UN envoy faces Somalia challenges
11 Jun- Source: Al Jazeera- 02:42 min
The Somali government says it will host a reconciliation conference to calm tensions in the southern city of Kismayo after an eruption of fighting between rival clans during the weekend.
Restoring peace in Kismayo is a key challenges facing the UN’s new special representative to Somalia.
In this exclusive report, Al Jazeera’s Peter Greste interviews Nicholas Kay, the UN’s special envoy to Somalia, in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.
Key Headlines
- Somali Defense Minister says most serious wounded civilians in Kismayo were taken to Mogadishu(Radio Mustaqbal/SNTV)
- Activists discuss plight of Somali women (VOA)
- Somali government and AMISOM troops conduct security operation in Huriwa district in Mogadishu(Radio mustaqbal)
- President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud continues to urge peace and calm in Kismayo (Radio Mogadishu/SNTV)
- Jubaland seeks talks with Somali Government ( Standard)
- The Somali fisherman abducted and abandoned in Paris (BBC)
- Madobe denies role in Kismayo fighting (Star (Kenya))
- Scholarships in Dadaab: Educating Somali refugees out of poverty ( trust.org)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali government and AMISOM troops conduct security operation in Huriwa district in Mogadishu
11 Jun- Source: Radio mustaqbal- 196 words
Somali Federal Government Troops backed by AMISOM are seen this morning(Tuesday) 11th June, conducting security operation in Huriwa district in Mogadishu, the capital.
The allied troops were making house to house searches in villages of Huriwa district. it is reported that the troops were searching illegal weapons and figures suspected to have links with al Shabaab, the anti-government element in Somalia.
Our reporter Abdiwahab Mohamed Ibrahim says ‘ AMISOM troops were using dogs for the searches of explosive devices’
It was also reported that the operation had an impact on the day to day activities in the district.
Witnesses who spoke to Mustaqbal radio on the telephone confirmed that teenagers were seized in the operations and it is not known whether they are al Shabaab fighters or ordinary people.
Somali government and AMISOM have been conducting frequent security operation in the recent days in the city in a bid to maintain the peace and stability of the Capital.
Somalia seems to be recovering from the illness of battle in more 21 years. Somalia got federal government backed by International community.
Somali Defense Minister says most serious wounded civilians in Kismayo were taken to Mogadishu
11 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu/ Radio Mustaqbal/SNTV/UniversalTV/
Somali Federal Government has said it has evacuated seriously wounded civilians in Kismayo, the headquarter of Lower Jubba region in the Southern of Somalia.
The defense minister of Somali government Abdihakin Haji Mohamud Fiqi who was leading a delegation from Kismayo said that the civilians who were wounded and are in critical condition have been transfered to Mogadishu where they are being treated.
The defense minister also said that the government regrets the battle between the rival sides claiming the leadership of Jubba region, that took place.in Kismayo, which killed at least 18 persons.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud continues to urge peace and calm in Kismayo
10 Jun- Source: Radio Risaala/Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV- 252 words
Speaking to media, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, addressed the issue of the violence in Kismayo and said:
“I call on the Elders, civil society and traditional leaders to bring all violence to an immediate end. This is your responsibility and the people of Kismayo will not accept any further fighting. All our communities have had enough conflict.
“We still only have one common enemy – al Shabaab. They are against peace, against national unity and they are an insult to our religion.
“Fighting each other only weakens us and plays into their hands. We must stay united and strong and solve our differences peacefully through dialogue and reconciliation.
“The Government will host a reconciliation conference for the people in the Jubbaland and Gedo regions very soon, where all views and opinions will be listened to. We must find our common ground and build on that for a peaceful future.”
He said that although the overall situation continued to evolve positively, there were still serious challenges which required full attention of political, religious and community leaders at all levels. AU Special envoy, Ambassador Annadif said he welcomed the Federal Government’s initiatives to engage regional authorities through outreach and dialogue, as informed by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and by the national reconciliation and dialogue process. He urged the Somali leaders, particularly those in the Juba areas and other regions “to demonstrate the required maturity and goodwill as their country grapples with the challenges of this new page in their history.”
REGIONAL MEDIA
Police gun down terror suspect in Nairobi
11 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 183 words
A suspected terrorist has been shot dead by police in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate Tuesday. Police said the man was behind Sunday’s grenade attack that injured 4 people in the sprawling suburb.
Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) officers gunned down the suspect in an operation early Tuesday morning and recovered a pistol.
Nairobi police boss Benson Kibui said the man was on a wanted list of dangerous criminals and had travelled to Nairobi on June 5 from Mandera, barely four days before Sunday’s incident where a grenade was hurled at pedestrians.
Madobe denies role in Kismayo fighting
11 Jun- Source: Star (Kenya)- 234 words
The president of Somalia’s new autonomous region of Jubaland has blamed some unnamed people in the federal government based in Mogadishu for the resurgence of violence in the port city of Kismayo.
Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam, popularly known as Ahmed Madobe, who was meeting his supporters at a Nairobi hotel Monday, said the officials in the Somalia government are out to portray his administration as weak and unable to govern the new state. Somalia’s federal constitution says two or more regions that meet requirements can form a state within a new federal system. In an election held on May 15, delegates voted for Madobe as the Jubaland’s first President and General Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail as Vice President. Kismayo, is the capital city of the new state and was considered a stronghold of terrorist group al Shabaab prior to Kenya Defence Forces’ takeover last September.
Madobe refuted claims that his administration is comprised only of members of his clan. The recent insecurity in Kismayo has been attributed to clan fighting. “My election was an initiative of the people of Jubaland through their own resources at the Kismayo University and the delegates were picked by all the clans in the south,” Madobe said through a translator.
UN envoy faces Somalia challenges
11 Jun- Source: Al Jazeera- 02:42 min
The Somali government says it will host a reconciliation conference to calm tensions in the southern city of Kismayo after an eruption of fighting between rival clans during the weekend.
Restoring peace in Kismayo is a key challenges facing the UN’s new special representative to Somalia.
In this exclusive report, Al Jazeera’s Peter Greste interviews Nicholas Kay, the UN’s special envoy to Somalia, in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.
Jubaland seeks talks with Somali Government
10 Jun- Source: Standard- 274 words
President of Somalia’s autonomous region Jubaland has said he is ready to engage Federal Government of Somali under president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud.
Sheikh Ahmed Madobe said the self-declared State of Jubaland is not seeking secession from Mogadishu but creating a strong administration in Kismayo.
Speaking in Nairobi, Madobe said he was willing to meet president Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud and the Mogadishu administration to work out a formula of co-operation where the federal government recognises the autonomous State.
The former warlord also refuted claims that his administration is composed of members from his clan and thus cannot be acceptable to the people of South Somalia.
Civil servants and traders flee Garissa as al Shabaab unleashes reign of terror
10 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 536 words
Fear of terror attacks is driving out people working or doing business in North Eastern where al Shabaab insurgents have vowed to disrupt peace.
The insurgents have been unleashing terror targeted at non-Somali people, especially the business community and government employees, since October 2011 when Kenya Defence Forces launched a military campaign to liberate Kismayo from their hands.
Already, 10 schools in Garissa County, which is the worst affected, have been forced to close down. This is after al Shabaab killed a teacher at Damajale Primary School in Liboi two weeks ago.
Dialogue the only avenue for peace in Kismayo
10 Jun- Source: Sabahi Online- 816 words
Residents, traditional elders and government officials across Somalia are urging militias feuding over control of Kismayo to put down their arms and come to the negotiating table to resolve outstanding issues and ensure innocent lives are spared.
The violent standoff broke out on Friday (June 7th) after Ras Kamboni militias loyal to Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe reportedly barred militia leader Iftin Hassan Basto from a meeting with Somali Defence Minister Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi. Madobe, Basto and Barre Adam Shire Hirale all recently claimed to have been lawfully elected president of the nascent Jubbaland federal state.
Heavy fighting ensued, killing at least 18 people, injuring more than 20 others and forcing hundreds of residents to flee and seek cover in nearby villages, according to Nur Abdirahman, a 38-year-old resident.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
The Somali fisherman abducted and abandoned in Paris
11 Jun- Source: BBC- 873 words
A 35-year-old Somali fisherman, wrongly accused by the French government of being a pirate, has spent five lonely years in Paris – mostly behind bars – unable to see his son or wife and is now fighting for compensation.
For many people in Africa, the idea of visiting the French capital is an unattainable dream but for Abdulqader Guled Said, his real-life experience of Paris has been a nightmare.
At the end of the four-month 2008 fishing season, he was heading from the coast of Somalia to his home in the town of Garowe, about 180km (110 miles) inland, but never arrived.
He was detained in a dramatic helicopter raid by French commandos near the town of Jariban on 12 April, along with five others.
Kenya jails nine Somalis to five years for piracy
10 Jun- Source: Reuters- 280 words
A Kenyan court sentenced nine Somali citizens each to five years in prison on Monday after finding them guilty of violently hijacking a vessel, MV Magellan Star, in the Gulf of Aden in September 2010.
The nine were captured by international anti-piracy forces before being handed over to Kenya to be prosecuted, because 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 economy about $18 billion a year, the World Bank said in April.
Activists discuss plight of Somali women
10 Jun- Source: VOA- 400 words
Somali women activists recently shared their experiences and challenges with the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay at a meeting in Mogadishu.
The women from different groups across the country raised discussions about protecting human rights, promoting women’s political participation and addressing sexual and gender-based violence.
Somalia has been plagued by civil war, anarchy and Islamist insurgencies for over 20 yeas. Women carried the heaviest burden – struggling to care for their children and to survive in the insecurity.
Scholarships in Dadaab: Educating Somali refugees out of poverty
10 Jun- Source: trust.org- 497 words
Somali refugees in Dadaab live far from universities and education opportunities. Instead, they end in unemployment or are forced to take on unskilled jobs in the camps to make a living. To address the growing unemployment rates and needs to empower Somali youths, a project offering scholarships has been launched by Danish Refugee Council in the world’s largest refugee camp.
Scholarships to youths and vocational trainings to adult Somali refugees is the latest of a series of initiatives launched by Danish Refugee Council in Dadaab. The new UNHCR funded project offers educational and training opportunities to around 2,450 Somalis in the world’s largest refugee camp.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“From being the world’s archetypal basket case for so long, suddenly Somalia is on the “road to stability” while donors and diplomats sing the praises of its new, untested government. The extensive African intervention in Somalia may have helped the country turn a corner, but it’s still too soon to tell for sure – and, in the meantime, the country’s myriad complexities (including the little-appreciated fact that al Shabaab is down but certainly not out) risk being lost in the hype.”
Somalia: a ‘good news story’ that’s far from over
11 June- Source: Daily Maverick-1029 Words
When it comes to Somalia, there is a lot of optimism in the air at the moment. Al Shabaab has been vanquished! Stability is here! The diaspora is coming home! There’s a newly-elected government ensconced safely in Villa Somalia, eager donors are gathering funds for post-conflict reconstruction and Mogadishu’s stagnant social scene is coming alive with hip coffee shops, trendy restaurants and maybe even a nightclub or two (shh, don’t tell al Shabaab).
In the narrative arc so often used to describe Somalia’s recent history, the climax of this good news story came late last September, when the internationally-blessed African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces took control of the port city of Kismayo, al Shabaab’s de facto headquarters and main generator of the Islamist militant group’s income. The Battle of Kismayo, it was called in reverent tones, even though al Shabaab slunk away without a fight, conspicuously failing to deliver the waves of bloodshed their over-exuberant spokesmen kept promising (at least we think so; Amisom boasted that they had incurred no casualties in taking the city, but they have a track record of drastically under-reporting casualty figures).
That this was a major blow to al Shabaab is not in doubt. That this was the moment when the war against al Shabaab was won – when Somalia’s bad news story turned into its good news story – may also turn out to be true. But perhaps we should leave these determinations to the historians, because it is too early for anyone else to make this kind of judgment. Truth is, al Shabaab still controls most of Somalia, and where it doesn’t the country still faces many threats that are just as existential.
“The never-ending maritime dispute between Somalia and Kenya is, by now, well understood. Indeed, since 1972, the two countries have been lobbying the UN to see their side of the ‘Indian Ocean’ story. Reports of possible pirate political involvement aside, for the most part, this disagreement has only been a war of words. Going forward, it remains to be seen whether the two nations will engage in a full-scale violent confrontation over the hydrocarbon-rich sea.”
Stirring the Somali waters: toward a maritime oil war?
10 June- Source: Inkerman Blog- 1087 Words
For many armchair analysts, East Africa appears to have enough problems. Plagued by pirates riding the waves of the Indian Ocean, and bullied by al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants that threaten the very foundation of Somalia, the region has been a constant focal point for insecurity. To be fair, the pirates are starting to let up. Moreover, the latest reports paint a picture of an al Shabaab on the decline – at least for now. However, a looming fight over oil and gas could threaten to undue any transition toward stability in the region, particularly when it comes to Somalia’s relationship with Kenya.
The latest East African scandal began with a seemingly innocuous clarification by the Somali Government. Amid a weekly council of ministers gathering on 06 June 2013, officials decided to embark on the contentious topic of Somalia’s maritime borders. By meeting’s end, the ministers had agreed to make “null and void” the 2009 maritime borders Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Kenya and Somalia’s now-defunct Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Adding fuel to the fire, the Somali Government, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, officially ‘extended’ the country’s sea territory by 200 nautical miles, and also defined the continental shelf as part of its maritime boundary.
To the outside observer, this move may seem like a trivial declaration. Indeed, Somalia and Kenya have been fighting over this very issue since 1972. However, when given the fact that those 200 extra nautical miles could lead Somalia to join the Indian Ocean hydrocarbon bonanza and simultaneously pit Nairobi and Mogadishu in a fight over potentially lucrative reserves, this announcement is far more consequential.
“Jubaland is only one of several Somali regions to oppose central control, from fiercely independent Somaliland along the Gulf of Aden, to Puntland in the northeast, which recognises a federal government but says that it has no role in its internal affairs.”
Somalia’s restive Jubaland, a region divided
10 June- Source: AFP/Global Post-391 Words
Conflict in Somalia’s volatile southern Jubaland region has pitted rival clans, central government and the competing interests of neighbouring nations against one other.
Many eye the economic, strategic and political profits of the region, which includes a lucrative charcoal industry, fertile farmland along the Juba river as well as potential off-shore oil and gas deposits.
Bordering Kenya to the west and Ethiopia to the north, the region contains three districts: Middle and Lower Juba and Gedo, with the main city the key port of Kismayo.
It is also one of the most diverse regions in terms of Somali clans — with the Ogadeni, Marehan and Harti all present, almost all of them with well-armed militia forces. Kismayo has changed hands more than a dozen times since the collapse of central government in 1991.
TWEETS
@AnalystSomalia #Mogadishu airport. For short trips, helicopters R handy for some; could not get better than this. #Somalia #progress pic.twitter.com/IYsbZNKU8G
@RefugePt Number of #Somalia #refugees still skyrocketing– hit one million this month! Check outhttp://bit.ly/14PsPyn for pics and graphics.
@FSP_Team Photos from Arc Solutions trip in #Somalia. https://www.facebook.com/
@SomaliaNewsroom Quickly after #Nairobi econ conf, SFG drafts/fw “business friendly” law to Parliamenthttp://www.raxanreeb.com/2013/
@SomaliHateMonit Too many Tweeps from #Somalia are spreading hate messages using deeply sectarian rhetoric. It’s about time we promote tolerance & peace
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Augustine Mahiga, former Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of UNPOS adorned in a traditional Somali attire, complete with the traditional Baat (shield) and spear presented to him by Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at a farewell ceremony held in Villa Somalia, Mogadishu. Photo: Office of the President