June 13, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Mogadishu is losing ‘Most Dangerous City’ label

13 Jun- Source: AP- 1221 words

Mogadishu is losing a label it never wanted in the first place: The World’s Most Dangerous City. The seaside Somali capital is enjoying a peace that, except for the infrequent attack, has lasted the better part of a year. Somalis who fled decades of war are coming back, as are U.N. workers who long operated out of Nairobi, the capital of neighboring Kenya.

Embassies are reopening and a U.S. assistant secretary of state visited here on Sunday, the highest-ranking U.S. official to set foot in Mogadishu since the infamous Black Hawk Down battle of 1993.

Minnesota resident Abdikhafar Abubakar fled Somalia in 1992, leaving behind his mother, three siblings and other family members. He planned to visit twice in previous years, but each time his mother warned it was too dangerous.

Last week, he finally returned to Mogadishu, where he saw his mother for the first time in two decades. This time she said it was safe and she welcomed him home with tears of joy. He later walked the streets with his brother.

“One thing I could say about Mogadishu as the most dangerous city in the world: I’ve been here one week and I never felt any danger,” Abubakar said. “When I was out walking around, I wasn’t scared. There was nothing to be scared of.”

Key Headlines

President remain in Afgoye for third day (Radio Kulmiye)
Mogadishu is losing ‘Most Dangerous City’ label (AP)
Ethiopia’s withdrawal from seized towns “saddening” – Somali President (Radio Shabelle)
Tanzanian police arrest Nairobi blast suspect (Standard)
Somali Gov’t forces claim victory over al Shabaab battle (Radio Shabelle)
Arts and Music forum held in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan)
TFG and AMISOM prepare to take Bal’ad town (Somalia report)
Kenyan military says fall of Kismayu is key to shift power in Somalia (Coastweek Xinhua)
Ethiopian troops quit Somali area (Daily Nation)
Somalia: Protect journalists from attack – Amnesty International statement to the human rights council(Amnesty International)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali Gov’t forces claim victory over al Shabaab battle

13 Jun – Source: Shabelle – 129 words

Military officers from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Gedo region, south-west of the country, claimed on Wednesday a major victory over al Shabaab fighting.

General Abdi Mahdi, chief of Somali armed forces in Gedo region, told that his troops inflicted heavy losses upon al Shabaab fighters during a fierce fighting took place yesterday several locations near Qoqani town in Lower Jubba region of southern Somalia.

“Somali and Kenyan forces repelled Tuesday attacks by al Shabaab mounted on military bases in the villages located on the outskirts of Qoqani, killing many militant fighters and damaging some of their battle wagons,” said Mr Mahdi. He stated that all battled areas are now under Somali and Kenya control and tightening the overall security in the region to thwart further al Shabaab ambush attacks.

President remain in Afgoye for third day

13 Jun- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 159 words

Still in Afgoye town for the third day the Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is expected to work with the government officials and elders in the city, the presence of president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed is a significant step toward the stabilizing the region says government official in Afgoye.

He spoke to reporters in Afgoye last Tuesday as he encourageed the people in the town to worked with the government and other security agents all the times, this is the second time to be in Afgoye by the president Sharif, but last month the president survived an ambush attack conducted by al Shabaab fighters in the bushes between Mogadishu and Afgoye which is about 30 kms.

Last month Somali government troops backed by African Union peacekeepers flashed out al Shabaab fighters from large residences in outskirt of capital of Mogadishu in a major offensive called as operation free Shebelle (OFS)where militant groups have been controlling for long time.

Ethiopia’s withdrawal from seized towns “saddening” – Somali President

12 Jun – Source: Radio Shabelle – 156 words

The president of Somalia’s transitional government, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad, has termed the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from areas in Galgudud Region, central Somalia as saddening.

Speaking to the media in Afgoye in Lower Shabelle Region, southern Somalia this afternoon, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad said the transitional government was not happy with the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops from areas in Galgudud Region. He said the withdrawal of the forces was circumstantial, as he put it, although he did not say what the circumstances were.

The president also said the government will welcome al Shabaab officials if they surrender, saying there will not be conditions [on their surrender].

The president said there are officials in the government forces who have been given the responsible to receive al Shabaab officials who will surrender, as he put it. Finally, he welcomed the recent remarks by the USA that it will take action against anyone undermining Somalia’s roadmap for peace.

ASWJ officials speak out their withdrawal from some Somali towns

13 Jun – Source: Shabelle – 130 words

Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a officials have for the first time spoke out about their recent withdrawal from some key towns in central Somalia over the past three days. Abdi-Sahkur Husein Cabdi, one of ASWJ executive authorities, told Shabelle during in a telephone interview that their retreat from towns located in Hiiraan and Galgadud region of central Somalia was “a military tactics”.

He expressed optimistic to retake over all towns from al Shabaab fighters who moved into and took control peacefully, shortly after the allied forces from ASWJ and Ethiopian forces under unknown circumstances.

ASWJ officials refuted a statement from interior ministry of Somali government, accusing the group of taking orders from Ethiopia instead the government. In the statement the ministry said ASWJ fighters abandoned Somali towns under Ethiopian orders.

Arts and Music forum held in Mogadishu

13 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 154 words

A forum aimed at discussing possible ways to promote Somali Arts and music were today held at the centre for research and developments’ (CRD) headquarters in Mogadishu. The forum is being attended by Somali politicians and some Musical bands including Horsed and Waberi.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Somali legislator Mohamed Omar Dalha said unity among Somali artists can resolve the current social and political crisis in the country.

Similar sentiment was echoed by the head of the CRD, Jibril Abdulle saying that through such forums, the dignity and reputation of Somali artists and musicians will be restored after more than two decades of political instability in the country.

The managing director of the Somali National Theatre Cabdi Yussuf Hassan who also spoke at the start of the event thanked the organizers of the event, particularly the CRD saying that the organisation also played a key role in reviving the National Theatre.

Somali govt “ordered” withdrawal of Ethiopian troops – minister

13 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle/Caasimada Online- 146 words

The Somali government said it had ”ordered the withdrawal of (moderate Islamic group) Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a and Ethiopian forces from areas in Galguduud Region” in central Somalia, reported the privately-owned Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu. Somalia’s Interior and National Security Minister Dr Abdi Ali told Radio Shabelle ”the government plans to deploy government forces and AU peacekeepers in the region to fight al Shabaab in a new military strategy.” The minister said government forces, Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a and peacekeepers from Djibouti will ”cooperate to end the fighting in Somalia’s central regions.”

The minister’s remarks follow the recapture by al Shabaab militants of several areas in central Somalia’s Hiiraan and Galguduud regions after pro-government moderate Islamic group Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a and Ethiopia withdrew their forces. Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a officials and the Ethiopian troops say their withdrawals are part of their military strategy against the Islamist fighters.

TFG and AMISOM prepare to take Bal’ad town

12 Jun- Source: Sonalia Report- 430 words
Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces are preparing for an assault on Bal’ad (Balcad), 36 kilometers northeast of the capital city of Mogadishu. This marks their second major operation as part of Operation Free Shabelle after flushing al-Shabaab out of Afgoye on May 25th of this year. Their military operation began yesterday afternoon and is currently ongoing.

Several military vehicles accompanied with tanks moved from the Maslah military camp in Mogadishu while another group moved from the town of Daynille. The allied forces are at Garas-Bintow, 9 kilometers from Bal’ad, preparing to capture the town in a few hours.

Meanwhile tensions are high in the town and al Shabaab war vehicles have been seen patrolling throughout Bal’ad.

“I saw many tanks and war vehicles moving down the road between the town and Mogadishu yesterday afternoon. Today at around 6:40 am local time (0440 GMT) there were groups of tanks along with soldiers moving along the side of the road on foot. I saw big vehicles pulling heavy weapons moving slowly coming out of the camp,” Ahmed Guled, a local resident, told Somalia Report.

Samantar Warsame, a TFG commander, told Somalia Report that their soldiers, supported by the AMISOM troops, are prepared and they had not encountered any opposition from al Shabaab since they started their troop movements yesterday.

“Our Somali soldiers, along with our AMISOM brothers, are in the process of freeing the people of Bal’ad from the brutal rule of al-Shabaab. We began a major troop movement yesterday afternoon along two routes, one from Daynille and the other one from the Maslah military camp based out of Mogadishu.

We have not clashed with the al-Shabaab militia along the a highway between the two towns. Last night our soldiers stopped at Gars Bintow and we want to free the people of Bal’ad from al-Shabaab in a few hours,” Commander Samantar said. Somalia Report also contacted a resident of Balad who wished to remain anonymous out of fears for his security.

“The tension in Bal’ad is very high, and we fear heavy fighting is coming as we heard that the TFG and her allies are near to entering the town. The al Shabaab war vehicles are moving in and out of the town. They announced yesterday that they will defend the town and they will not withdraw from Bal’ad.

Many people already are packed and ready to flee, but people fear al Shabaab won’t let people leave the town. The people are discussing how the war will go and wonder whether al Shabaab will withdraw or not,” he said.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Tanzanian police arrest Nairobi blast suspect

13 Jun – Source: Standard – 294 words

Tanzanian police are holding a man hunted by Kenyan police following a blast in Nairobi’s Moi Avenue that killed one person and injured more than 30.
According to Reuters, police in Tanzania are holding a man believed to be Emrah Erdogan, a German national of Turkish origin who is also known as Salahuddin al-Kurdi. Kenyan police last month released a photo of Erdogan who allegedly entered the country from Somalia in May.

Police issued the photograph of Erdogan after a bomb tore through a trading centre in the heart of Nairobi on May 28, killing one person and wounded more than 30.

According to political scientist Dirk Baehr and German media, Erdogan travelled to Waziristan in northwest Pakistan in early 2010 and joined a militant Islamist group. He then went to Somalia in 2011 and was suspected of joining up with the al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab.

Hostage talks in Dubai with pirates’ tribal elders

13 Jun – Source: the National – 646 words

A security team from Malaysia will arrive in Dubai today to begin talks with Somali tribal leaders, seeking to break the impasse in talks between Somali pirates and the families of 22 hostages on the MV Albedo. The talks are aimed at seeking assistance from influential Somali leaders to have the hostages released.

The crewmen have been held captive off the coast of Somalia for the past 19 months. Their cargo vessel was seized in November 2010 in the Gulf of Aden after setting sail for Kenya from Jebel Ali.

Representatives of the Malaysian-based ship owner Omid Khosrojerdi and clan elders from Somalia will arrive in Dubai today, a source involved in the talks said. “The Malaysian team is a professional security team appointed by the owner and they will handle negotiations with the pirates,” he said.

“The elders, the clan leaders, are coming via Kenya for the meeting. They are not part of the pirates or the piracy network, but can help us try to solve any problems. “We are trying our best to handle everything, speak closely and directly to the elders, and finalise all arrangements.”

He would not give details of the probable release date of the crew and ship, or when the ransom amount of US$2.85 million (Dh10.4m) would be paid to the Somali raiders.

Kenyan military says fall of Kismayu is key to shift power in Somalia

13 Jun- Source: Coastweek, Xinhua- 700 words

Kenya said on Tuesday the anticipated fall of the key seaport of Kismayu by mid August from the grip of al Shabaab will be key to successful shift of power from the Somali government to a civilian administration.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga said so long as Kismayu was still under the control of the al Shabaab, the possibility of neutralizing the group will remain distant because the seaport served as its economic hub.

“August will be a crucial month for Somalia owing to the fact that it will be a transitional period to an elected civilian government in Mogadishu and this will only happen when the whole of the country has been liberated,” Odinga said.

Kismayu, Somalia’s third largest city is considered the hub of the militant group, al Shabaab, which formally merged with the dreaded global terror network, the al Qaeda, after several years of pledging loyalty and ideological similarities.

Ethiopian troops quit Somali area

12 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 428 words

Reports from Galgadud region in Central Somalia, Ethiopian troops that had lately been helping Ahlu Sunna wal-Jamea, the moderate Islamic group, have started pulling out from some strategic positions.

Last Sunday, Ethiopian troops abandoned Eel Bur, a strategic town and former stronghold of al Shabaab, the radical Islamist group vehemently challenging the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and its allies like Ahlu Sunna wal-Jamea.

Together with the Ethiopians, Ahlu Sunna militias left Eel Bur, about 320 km north of Mogadishu, which was re-occupied by al Shabaab militants within hours. The retreating forces reached Wabho, a settlement about 40 km north of Eel Bur town.

The local people reported on Sunday that the arriving al Shabaab fanatics waged a terror campaign by capturing and subsequently beheading two youths accused of having collaborated with the allied Ethiopian-Ahlu Sunna forces.

AMISOM cargo leaves for Somalia

11 Jun- Source: Star (Nairobi) – 603 words

A shipment of military cargo trucks, parts and accessories has left the Mombasa port for Somalia under the United Nations Mission for Somalia. The consignment is believed to be the first batch of weapons imported into the country, under the United Nations shipment programme, weeks after the Kenya Defence Forces became part of the AMISOM in operations to wipe out al Shabaab.

Documents seen by the Star indicate that five units of the consignment were shipped to Mogadishu, Somalia, after landing at the port of Mombasa only weeks ago. The KPA manifest indicates that the cargo, which was shipped from Durban in South Africa discharged in Mombasa before being delivered to Somalia. Its arrival date was expected to be on May 1 and sailing date a day later.

The shipper was Osprea Logistics SA, with the consignee being mentioned as the AMISOM, Burundi contingent, under the care of the UN support office for Amisom, Mogadishu. The five units comprised wheels, two Samil 50 cargo truck, parts and accessories, one Samil 50 workshop, which had a total weight of 45.5 metric tones. In one of the correspondence from the Kenya Ports Authority to Diamond Shipping Services, a shipping agency and multinational transport operator, dealing in freight forwarding, M/S Freight Forwarders, its sister company, was granted a transshipment permit for the five units.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Mogadishu is losing ‘Most Dangerous City’ label

13 Jun- Source: AP- 1221 words

Embassies are reopening and a U.S. assistant secretary of state visited here on Sunday, the highest-ranking U.S. official to set foot in Mogadishu since the infamous Black Hawk Down battle of 1993.

Somalia: Protect journalists from attack – Amnesty International statement to the human rights council

13 Jun – Source: Amnesty International – 312 words

Seven journalists have been killed in Somalia since December 2011. Amnesty International is alarmed and concerned that their deaths mark a renewal of the pattern of targeted killings of journalists and civil societies, which previously peaked in the country in 2007-8.

At least 29 journalists have been killed since January 2007 in Somalia. To date, no one has been brought to account before the law for killing a journalist, media worker or civil society actor in the country. Five of the journalists killed since December 2011 were killed in areas under the control of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG): four in Mogadishu and one in Beledweyne.

In Mogadishu, Abdisalan Sheikh Hassan was shot in the head by a man wearing a TFG military uniform in December 2011. In January 2012, Hassan Osman Abdi, known as “Hassan Fantastic”, Director of the Shabelle Media Network, was shot dead outside his home. Abukar Hasan Mohamud Kadaf was killed by unidentified gunmen in February. Ahmed Adow Anshur was shot dead by gunmen on 24 May.

Mahad Salad Aden, a correspondent for Shabelle Media Network was killed in Beletweyne in April 2012. In Galkayo, controlled by the Puntland authorities, two journalists have been killed in 2012. In March, Ali Ahmed Abdi, a journalist with Radio Galkayo, was shot dead and on 2 May, the eve of World Press Freedom Day, Farhan Jemiis Abdulle was killed by unidentified gunmen.
While the Somali authorities announced that they would investigate all seven cases, these promises have not resulted in credible investigations or criminal prosecutions. The TFG announced they had shot dead the person responsible for the death of Mahad Salad Aden in Beletweyne. It was reported that the TFG briefly held suspects in the killings of Abdisalan Skeikh Hassan and Hassan Osman Abdi. Amnesty International is not aware of any efforts to act on promises to investigate the other cases.

Crucial Medical Aid Enables Primary Care in Somalia

12 Jun – Source: Alert Net – 398 words

An Emergency Medical Module, shipped to Somalia in late 2011, contained urgently-needed medicines that helped medical units deliver primary health care to 6,273 sick and injured people.The timing of the AmeriCares shipment made a life-saving difference for thousands of people living in the vulnerable Mudug region. AmeriCares partner Relief International, was able to continue primary health care at three static medical units and three outreach facilities serving both refugees and people living in remote villages.

The supply of antibiotics and other crucial medicines sent by AmeriCares replenished dwindling stock, enabling medical staff to help thousands — including 2,437 children — in the last quarter of 2011. Enough medicines remain to care for an additional 7,000 patients.

Patients were treated for a variety of conditions, including malaria, skin diseases, respiratory infections, acute watery diarrhea, anemia, burns, infections and injuries.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“While there were apparent some delegates at the conference in Istanbul who claimed to represent ASWJ their participation was denounced and condemned by Abdislan Adan Hussein, the Head of Political Affairs for the group. It is possible that this represents a split within the leadership of ASWJ on the issue of its participation in the current political process; however this would also mean at least some factions remain in opposition to it.”

ASWJ and the Istanbul II Conference

12 Jun – Billao Journal (Somali security) blog – 402 Words

The recently held Istanbul II conference ambitiously titled “Preparing Somalia’s Future: Goals for 2015” was noteworthy not only for the participation of representatives from 54 countries but also for the fact that it was able to secure the simultaneous attendance of the Transitional Federal Government, Puntland and Somaliland. Notably absent however were any representatives from the Sufi militia Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a (ASWJ), a point that was largely ignored outside of Somali media organisations.

According to ASWJ this absence was because the group had not received a formal invitation to attend the conference, a seemingly strange claim given that the website of the Turkish Ministry of foreign affairs states that “Participants will be determined based on the list of invitees for the Istanbul I Conference held in May 2010. Somaliland, Galmudug and ASWJ will be invited.”

“Accessibility by road is often tiresome and time-consuming: overland access to Erigavo, the capital of Sanaag, takes at least 12 hours on the nearest tarmac road that connects Burao and Lasaanod to Mogadishu. This has a negative impact on business development, as merchants have to use other means of transport, such as expensive air travel.”

Sanaag: The largest but the most neglected region of Somaliland

13 June- Source: Harowo-472 Words

Sanaag is the largest region of Somaliland, and it is also the most neglected. This disregard has been ongoing since Independence, but most of the current blame falls upon Sanaagers themselves. Many have migrated to the western part of Somaliland or further, and invested both money and time away from home.

Expatriates from Sanaag can be found in North America, Europe and Asia. For example, most of the Somali workers in the UAE originate from Sanaag and are among those who have the highest incomes. When these expatriates send money home, build houses and settle their children in Somaliland, Hargeisa is a more popular choice than their native area of Sanaag.

Multimedia: Deconstructing Mogadishu

12 June- Source: Mail & Guardian

A new photo exhibition in Nairobi showcases images of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, before the pirates, bullet-ridden buildings and two decades of civil war.

Top tweets

@JamalMOsman A #Somali religious leader: “Some of the beneficiaries of #piracy: khat & alcohol come from Ethiopia & Kenya. 4×4 Cars come from Dubai.

@soobaxblog Aspiring #Somali athletes keep their eye on the#London2012 Olympics prize. More @soobaxblog:http://tmblr.co/ZtAi0xNHi4YD http://pic.twitter.com/TOmVwzh3

@somaliexpert #Somali President Sh. Sharif not happy with the withdrawal of #Ethiopian troops from Galgudud region.http://bit.ly/LTbIFW #Somalia

@Hamza_Africa Rewind five years, who would’ve thought Sheikh Sharif will be sad to see Ethiopian troops leaving#Somali towns? #Somalia

@anderson_mark_ #Somaliland shown as sovereign country in Global Peace Index, but no data available; #Somalia is world’s least peaceful http://bit.ly/MAyS0k

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Image of the day

Image of the day Somali athletes running along street in Mogadishu as they train during preparations for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Photo: Calanka.Com