June 12, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

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Somalia: Strengthen Human Rights Law

12 Jun- Source: Human Rights Watch- 681 words

The Somali parliament should revise the draft law establishing a national human rights commission to ensure a robust, independent body with a broad mandate and enforcement powers, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Parliament should hold public hearings on the draft law and consult widely with civil society during the revision process.

“The proposed human rights commission could play a valuable role in helping to tackle Somalia’s ongoing human rights crisis,” said Leslie Lefkow, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “But a weak law will cripple the commission from the start and parliament should make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Somalia’s provisional constitution provides for the establishment of a national human rights commission. The Justice Ministry presented a version of the draft law to Parliament on May 30, 2013. It is scheduled for a second reading before it will be presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Women and Humanitarian Affairs, which has the power to recommend amendments.

Key Headlines

Somalia: Strengthen Human Rights Law (Human Rights Watch)
Heavy fighting erupts in Bay region (Dalsan/RBC)
Somali government warns al Shabaab sympathizers (Radio Shabelle)
Armed men kill teenager in Mogadishu (Radio Mustaqbal)
Fighting between Somali forces and al Shabaab militia near Jowhar town (Radio Shabelle/al Shahid)
Members from African Union and Somali government travel to Uganda (Radio Kulmiye)
Mandera residents living in fear of al Shabaab (Daily Nation)

PRESS STATEMENT

AMISOM begins a four-day workshop on drafting Somalia’s National Gender Policy

12 Jun- Source: AMISOM- 198 words

Somalia will this week begin formulating and drafting its first National Gender Policy with a workshop aimed at exploring and developing gender-sensitive policy whilst providing a framework to the government that will encourage and enforce gender equality.

The Federal Government of Somalia supported by AMISOM civilian component will be drafting its first National Gender Policy which will aim to eradicate gender inequality, empower women and benefit all people of Somalia.

The workshop facilitated by the Mission civilian component, will bring together politicians from the Somali Federal Government, Somalia Directorate of Women and Social Affairs, Somali women’s rights activists and NGOs. Female peacekeepers from the AMISOM military and police components as well as the African Union Gender Directorate will also participate.

During the four days workshop, participants will work together to identify key issues, challenges and strengths allowing them to develop a deeper understanding of gender issues and equality whilst learning from AMISOM contributing nations on their experiences of implementing gender policies.

At the workshop, Somali participants will then map out the process for formulating Somalia’s National Gender Policy to be approved by the Federal Government of Somalia.

SOMALI MEDIA

Heavy fighting erupts in Bay region

12 Jun- Source: Radio Mustaqbal/ Radio Risaala/ Dalsan/RBC/Jowhar Online- 129 words

Reports from Bay region in Southwest of Somalia say that heavy fighting between Somali Federal Government, AMISOM troops along and al Shabaab took place on Wednesday night.

It was reported that the fighting happened at outskirts of Baidoa town, headquarter of Bay region.

The battle occurred after al Shabaab fighters attacked the military bases of Somali government and AMISOM troops at outskirts of Baidoa.The casualties of the war were not yet known, but eyewitnesses in Baidoa confirmed to Mustaqbal radio that mortar shells and machine guns were used in the battle by both sides.

No comment still from the commanders of Somali government and AMISOM troops in Baidoa and also from al Shabaab, the anti-government element in Somalia, which has links with al Qaeda.

Somali Government warns al Shabaab sympathizers

12 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle/SNTV- 110 words

Somalia’s internal security Minister Abdikarin Hussein Guled has warned individuals who sympathize or fund al Shabaab militia groups inside and outside Somalia. During his speech in parliament, the minister said that the federal government is going to treat sympathizers equal to al Shabaab fighters.

Mr. Abdikarin branded the Islamist militia as catalysts to development hiding within civilians inside and outside the country. The minister finally raised the importance of forming a special army that is trained to fight al Shabaab in different regions of the country. The internal security tabled new anti terror laws in parliament yesterday aiming to tackle al Shabaab and similar groups in the country.

Fighting between Somali forces and al Shabaab militia near Jowhar town

12 Jun- Source: Radio Daldan/ Radio Shabelle/al Shahid- 85 words

Heavy fighting broke out between Somali forces backed by African Union troops by and al Shabaab on Tuesday morning, outskirts of jowhar, capital of Middle Shabelle province, northern Mogadishu.

The reports says that the fighting began after al Shabaab militants launched an attack on the town of Jowhar airport, located 18 km from the city. Not yet disclose the casualties caused by the fighting in the area. The Shabaab militants are waging attacks on Somali troops and African Union forces in the Middle Shabelle province.

Armed men kill teenager in Mogadishu

12 Jun- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 148 words

Unknown Gunmen have killed a teenager who lived in Towfiq village in Yaqshid district, radio Mustaqbal reported. The victim was named Isma’il Ga’al, he was taken from his home in Towfiq Villages. His mother named Madino Abdulle Ali told Mustaqbal radio that her son was taken from his home and was killed by unidentified gunmen.

She expressed deep concern over the killing of her son, which she says she doesn’t know the motive behind. The perpetrators escaped from the scene after the killing.

Members from African Union and Somali government travel to Uganda

11 Jun- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 165 words

The delegation consisting of 33 people from the ministry of Social services development and the African Union will be participating a conference which will occur in Uganda and the agenda will be on gender balance when it comes to political situation of the government.

The director of the ministry of Social services Mr. Mohamed Omar Nur, who talked to the journalists in Mogadishu said that the conference will discuss how the women in the country will take part in the politics.

Also speaking to the journalists, the chairman of the African Union-political affairs, Mr. Haji Rumbi has said that they will take-part in the Kampala conference in which politics will be discussed.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Mandera residents living in fear of al Shabaab

11 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 426 words

North eastern Kenya residents curse their proximity to Jubaland, a newly-created state in southern Somalia.
Jubaland’s eastern border lies 40–60 kilometres east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo to the Indian Ocean, while its western side neighbours north eastern Kenya.

While most of it is currently under the control of a new government Kenya helped to form, its Gedo region, which borders Mandera and Ethiopia, is ruled by terror group al Shabaab. The militants have made life difficult for travellers using the Lafey-Fino-Mandera road.

Kenyan police investigate al Shabaab recruitment in Mwingi

11 Jun- Source: Sabahi online- 552 words

Investigators in the Kenyan district of Mwingi are monitoring the activities of at least 22 individuals in connection with recruiting youths into al Shabaab.

“The group is seeking youths to spread violence in the eastern region,” Mwingi Police Chief Simon Biriri told Sabahi. “The intelligence reports we have so far indicate that about 20 youths may have already been recruited. The new recruits are also being used to lure more youths into the terror network.”

Biriri said they are building strong cases against the suspects, who include religious leaders and businessmen, before making arrests and seeking prosecution.

Police are also investigating the whereabouts of more than five youths who have been reported missing by relatives, and following up on reports that local youths were involved in some of the recent attacks in Garissa and Wajir counties.

Somalia: Somali Cabinet Sends Foreign Investment Law to Parliament

11 Jun Source: All Africa/Sabahi Online – 189 words

Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Monday (June 10th) signed a bill outlining the framework for foreign investment in Somalia, according to a press release from the prime minister’s office.

“For obvious reasons, we have been starved of foreign investment for decades. Anyone looking at our economy today knows how much we need it in all sectors,” Shirdon said. “Investors need a secure legal framework and that is what we will provide. I now call on parliament to scrutinise and debate this legislation and get it onto our statute books in good time, recognising the need for Somalia to receive foreign investment as a strategic priority.”

The Ministry of Trade and Industry collaborated with government lawyers to draft the bill, which will go to parliament for debate following its approval by the cabinet. Lawmakers will question Minister of Trade and Industry Mohamud Ahmed Hassan and review the draft legislation in detail. Shirdon praised the law, saying Somalia was now “ready to do business with the world”.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia: Strengthen Human Rights Law

12 Jun- Source: Human Rights Watch- 681 words

Kenya Anti-Terrorism Unit Kills Suspect

11 June- Source: VOA-296 Words

The Kenya Anti-Terrorism Unit gunned down a terror suspect on Tuesday. Security officers believe the slain suspect was behind a grenade attack in Nairobi on Sunday that injured four people.

Benson Kibui, Nairobi area police chief, said police had been trailing the terror suspect since Monday evening. He said they received a tip on where the man lived and then carried out a raid to arrest him.

“This morning we were able to zero on him at Eastleigh section 3. We ordered him to surrender but he couldn’t budge, we were able to get rid of him. And we got from him a pistol with ammunition and we identified this person is one of us, he is a Kenyan from western,” said Kibui.

Sunday’s attack took place in the Nairobi suburb of Majengo. The Somali militant group al Shabaab has long relied on an extensive funding and recruitment network in the suburb.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Friends and acquaintances at home often ask what it’s like to be a journalist working in places like Somalia. Most are surprised to hear that so much of the one’s time is taken up with basic necessities, like finding a safe place to stay, edible food and access to the internet to file pieces like this. All are not easy to come by in Mogadishu.”

Inside Track: Despatch from Mogadishu

12 June- Source: Herald Scotland-513 Words

Ah, it’s good to be back on the road. Arriving in Somalia last week I was quickly reminded of the things I really miss as a foreign correspondent. And that was only after the ageing African Express Airlines DC9 dropped towards what, up until the last moment, looked like the Indian Ocean rather than the runway at Mogadishu airport.

That the plane had seen better days totally preoccupied a New York-based United Nations representative sitting next to me. I knew instinctively I had drawn the short straw within minutes of taking my seat next to him. “Geez, this runway looks like something out of an Indiana Jones movie,” he pointed out unwantedly, as our plane taxied for take off at Berbera airport in Somaliland.

In retrospect perhaps he had a point, given that what can best be described as a series of distinctly retro-looking aircraft lay alongside the apron. I couldn’t help noticing that one lay in a crushed heap having clearly slewed off the runway, while another had the inexplicable slogan “National Paints” peeling from its rusting fuselage.

“In the Jubbaland stand-off, one of the few options is to have some sort of political compromise between the federal government and Jubbaland which permits the federal government to recognize Jubbaland with the current leadership temporarily for three years.”

Jubbaland Stand-off Resolution

12 June- Source: Hiiraan Online-918 Words

As many analysts were predicting Somalia is again in a serious political and constitutional stand-off for the first time after it created its first permanent government in more than 22 years. Somalia has been a failed state since the military government was overthrown in 1991.

In February of 2013, 500 delegates from Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo started gathering in Kismayo to establish a regional administration or constituent unit called Jubbaland State of Somalia under the Federal Charter. In April, 870 delegates approved a draft charter and a flag. Around 50 members of the Federal National Assembly attended the ceremony. On May 15, 485 out of 500 delegates from the three regions elected Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed (Madobe) as the first President of Jubbaland State. On May 17, the new president appointed General Abdulahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartag) as his vice president.

The federal government contested the process and called it unconstitutional; however the new President of Jubbaland, traditional elders, civil society, technical committee of Jubbaland process, men and women who liberated 8 districts out of the 15 in Jubbaland State from Al-Shabaab believe that the creation of Jubbaland is constitutional and asked the federal government to up held the constitution, and respect the will and determination of the people.

Top tweets

@Daudoo A freelance Photojournalist “Abukar Mohamad Muhidin” died in a car crash yesterday in #Mogadishu #Somalia #Journalism pic.twitter.com/yWo7lAUSat

@amisomsomalia “We do not want taboos to prevent people from taking the polio vaccine” President#HassanSheikhMohamud

@LefkowHRW For a detailed analysis on how #Somalia can improve its draft human rights commission law see @HRW http://www.hrw.org/node/116297

@MattBryden Ras Kamboni claims it has seized #SFGweapons destined for anti-#Jubaland militias, #AMISOM is investigating #Somalia http://goo.gl/ymguZ

@storyofcourage #UNDP issue a new narrative for #Somalia:http://bit.ly/18FKOfO But to what extent is this representative of life outside of Mogadishu?

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Image of the day

Image of the day Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has his little finger marked after receiving polio vaccine at Villa Somalia in Mogadishu on June 11, 2013. Photo: African Review