June 15, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Soldiers End Deadly Restaurant Siege By Extremists In Somalia
15 June – Source : Associated Press – 189 Words
Somalia’s security forces early Thursday morning ended a night-long siege by Al-Shabaab Islamic extremists at a popular Mogadishu restaurant.Survivors of the attack were led by soldiers from the Pizza House restaurant building. The injured were taken by ambulances.Soldiers surrounded the restaurant building and used guns mounted on the backs of vehicles to neutralize the militants. Troops entered the ground floor while the insurgent snipers held positions upstairs.All five attackers were killed and after dawn the soldiers secured the building, said senior Somali police office Capt. Mohamed Hussein. The troops’ efforts to take control of the Pizza House restaurant were slowed by the darkness of night, forcing them to wait until morning, said Hussein.
The roofs were blown off the Pizza House restaurant and nearby buildings from the powerful blasts.High casualties are feared in the attack on the busy restaurant. The bodies of five girls thought to have been killed by the militants were found in the restaurant, said police. Inside the building, the body of a Syrian man who worked as a chef at restaurant lay near the rubble of a blood-spattered and bullet-marked wall.
Key Headlines
- Soldiers End Deadly Restaurant Siege By Extremists In Somalia (Associated Press)
- Road Linking Barawa Town To Ethiopia To Be Built (Goobjoog News)
- Row Emerges Between IS-Affiliated Group In Somalia (Jowhar.com)
- Clashes Between Al-Shabaab And Somali Government Forces Erupt In The Outskirts Of Bal’ad(Jowhar.com)
- Somali Survivors Tell Of Restaurant Siege By Rebels (Associated Press)
- How Are Young People Involved in Government-Led Development In Somalia?(World Bank)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM Commends Somali National Security Forces For Swift Response To Terrorist Attack In Mogadishu
15 June – Source : AMISOM – 260 Words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, commends the swift response by Somali National Security Forces to the attack by Al-Shabaab terrorists on a restaurant in Mogadishu on Wednesday evening.Once again, the terrorists, in the same cowardly manner, targeted civilians at a popular restaurant with a vehicle improvised explosive device, killing and injuring innocent people. However, the rapid and quick response of the security forces prevented further destruction and loss of life.
The act of bravery exhibited by the security forces must be commended and is proof that the reforms being undertaken by the government under the new National Security Architecture Agreement are taking shape and beginning to show positive results.“The attack on civilians last evening was a desperate attempt by the terrorists seeking public attention, after having suffered serious losses from recent operations by Somali Government Forces. The ongoing security operation under the stabilization campaign in Mogadishu and others targeting Al-Shabaab camps have left the militants severely weakened. AMISOM commends the government forces for their courage and pledges its continued support towards ensuring total pacification of Somalia,” Amb. Madeira stated.
AMISOM commends President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo for the ongoing operations to seize illegal firearms in Mogadishu and other major towns to help secure the country.The AMISOM Head of Mission commiserates with the bereaved families and wishes the injured a quick recovery.The unity and resilience of the people of Somalia shall win over those that seek to spread terror by disregarding the sanctity of human life.
NATIONAL MEDIA
Road Linking Barawa Town To Ethiopia To Be Built
14 June – Source : Goobjoog News – 255 Words
The administration of Southwest extensively explained about expected plans to construct long road that connects Bawara town to the border of Somalia with Ethiopia as well as building the sea and air ports of the coastal town of Somalia. The local Minister for Ports of Southwest State,Warsame Mohamud Dakane who spoke to Goobjoog News said it was recently that agreements were signed in Baidoa town regarding these programs. The whole programs will costs more than US$500 million and is sponsored by the World Bank. It will be implemented mostly by foreign companies.
All these programs will commence at the end of Ramadan as narrated by the local Minister for Ports Warsame. “Starting from Barawa till the border with Ethiopia through Ceel Barde is 534 Km. The seaport and airport will begin their constructions the coming months. We are supported by the World Bank and other organizations. The road construction expense has been taken by a group. The seaport and airport is also taken by another group. We shall display when everything is ready. The money budget for the road is huge but they said the total is US$500 million” said the Minister.
Row Emerges Between IS-Affiliated Group In Somalia
15 June – Source : Jowhar.com – 162 Words
A row has reportedly erupted between the leadership of the IS-affiliated group in the Galgala mountains, Bari region, Garowe Online has learnt. The rift emerged after a section of the militant group suggested the replacement of the group’s leader, Sheikh Abdulkadir Mu’min due to his age. The section with this view are members of the group that hail from the southern regions.
Their proposal was dismissed by staunch supporters of the group’s leader, who hail from Puntland.
Due to the widening rift, some members of the group went back to Al-Shabaab camp where they previously deserted. Others, though a small number, have surrendered to government forces in the region. It is believed that the emerging rift between the two sides will sabotage the militants’ activities in the region. Mu’min, himself a former Al-Shabaab spiritual leader, has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State’s leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi after running from the southern regions of Somalia where he was part of the Al-Qaeda-linked group.
Clashes Between Al-Shabaab And Somali Government Forces Erupt In The Outskirts Of Bal’ad
15 June – Source: Jowhar.com – 77 Words
A fierce fighting has this morning broke out in the outskirts of Bal’ad between government forces and Al-Shabaab.The clashes erupted after an Al-Shabaab-planted landmine explosion targeted Somali National Army convoy killing two soldiers and injuring six others. A gunbattle ensued between the soldiers and militants who tried to ambush the troops. Two soldiers were also killed in the gunbattle. It is however not yet clear the casualty figure suffered by the militants involved in the attack.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Survivors Tell Of Restaurant Siege By Rebels
15 June – Source : Associated Press – 718 Words
Somali survivors early Thursday described harrowing scenes of the night-long siege of a popular Mogadishu restaurant by al-Shabab Islamic extremists that was ended by security forces. At least 17 people, including foreigners, were dead, police and an ambulance driver said. Survivors of the attack were led by soldiers from the Pizza House restaurant building. The injured were taken by ambulances. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility as the restaurant was under siege.
Soldiers surrounded the restaurant building and used guns mounted on the backs of vehicles to neutralize the militants. Troops entered the ground floor while the insurgent snipers held positions upstairs. All five attackers were killed and after dawn the soldiers secured the building, said senior Somali police office Capt. Mohamed Hussein. The troops’ efforts to take control of the Pizza House restaurant were slowed by the darkness of night, forcing them to wait until morning, said Hussein.
Survivors recounted harrowing stories of hiding under tables, as armed attackers continued firing in the restaurant and hunted for patrons. Attackers moved from room to room, looking for people, said a survivor. “I never thought I would have the chance to see the sun again. They were killing people on sight,” Saida Hussein, a university student, told The Associated Press. She said she survived the attack by hiding behind a large table downstairs. Another survivor, Aden Karie, was wounded by an attacker who spotted him moving behind a curtain in the dark room. “He shot at me twice and one bullet struck me on the leg,” said Karie as he was taken to an awaiting ambulance.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The Office of the President of Puntland is unique in the fact that half of its section heads are women. Female participation is encouraged, though it has yet to become as gender balanced as it is in Shukri’s office,”
How Are Young People Involved in Government-Led Development In Somalia?
14 June – Source : World Bank – 1096 Words
The Public Sector Capacity Injection Project (CIP) is a joint approach to capacity building in Somalia. Administered by the World Bank through the Multi-Partner Fund (MPF), the project enables the government to fill critical capacity gaps in the civil service. And a central part of it is the recruitment of skilled and qualified personnel for cross-cutting government functions.
The CIP has been active in Puntland, at the northeastern tip of Somalia, since November 2015. Since its inception, 54 positions have been filled in key government institutions, such as the Office of the President, Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.All the positions were filled through a transparent and competitive recruitment process, with technical tests on subject matter, and interviews.We spoke to some of the recruits who succeeded to get jobs in the civil service as a result and talked to them about differences in the recruitment processes, about encouraging women in employment, and what they would advise their fellow citizens to do in terms of finding work in Somalia today.
Farhiya graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Puntland State University in 2014. While she was there, she volunteered as an administrative assistant with a local Civil Society Organization (CSO). “I mostly managed support staff and administrative tasks in the office,” she said. “After I graduated, I got a volunteering opportunity with the Puntland Civil Service Commission, working with data collection. This was my first exposure to working with M&E.”As she was volunteering in an M&E capacity in Garowe, Puntland’s administrative capital, government ministries were beginning to implement the capacity project and Puntland coordinated with the Bank to assess where the gaps were within the government. The CIP is recipient-executed, which means that the project is designed and implemented by the government. The Bank just provides it with technical assistance.
TOP TWEETS
@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: 2 soldiers killed 7 injured in IED explosion followed by ambush near Bal’ad 2day; heavy clash ongoing bwn soldiers and militants.
@Daudoo: BREAKING: Massive explosion hits #Somalia military vehicle near #Gololey village in Middle Shabelle region. Casualties reported – Residents
@SomaliaToday1: How Are Young People Involved in Government-Led Development in Somalia? http://v.iew.bz/5ML9VV
@AU_Chergui:We strongly condemn the terror attacks in #Mogadishu. Our condolences to the government and people of #Somalia
@AbdulBillowAli: In Wednesday’s attack, a Syrian national working at Pizza House as a cook was killed.He fled #Syria because of war only to die in #Mogadishu
@Rooble2009: #Somaliland: DP World Brings New Equipment in Berbera as part of the port’s upgrading process https://www.facebook.com/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Minister of Constitutional Affairs ,Abdirahman Hosh Jibril meets the Speaker of Puntland Parliament, Ahmed Ali Hashi.
Photo: Radio Muqdisho