June 26, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali, AU forces seize strategic town of Bal’ad from al Shabaab

26 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Shabelle/RBC/ Jowhar Online- 205 words

Somali National forces backed by the African union peacekeeping soldiers have seized control of Bal’ad district and Golaley environ in middle Shabelle region and pushed al Qaeda linked group of al Shabaab further north.

General Ali Araye Osoble, an army commander confirmed to Radio Mogadishu that joint forces have completely captured Bal’ad district and Golaley area in the middle Shabelle region this morning, adding that forces are carrying out operations in those areas.

General Abdullahi Anod, another army commander who spoke with Shabelle radio by phone also said the successful offensive, launched by the joint forces in the early hours on Tuesday, has enabled them to secure Balad district, which lies 36 kilometers northeast Mogadishu.

The seizure of Balad town came after al Shabaab militants, who had been in control of the town for the last three years, moved out hours before troops from Somali government backed by AMISOM forces with their battle wagons rolled into the town, according to the residents.

“We are at this moment 10 Kilometers away from Jowhar, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region after taking over Bal’ad this morning peacefully from the militants and we are planning to secure the entire region soon,” added Mr. Anod.

Key Headlines

Somalia today marks its 52nd anniversary (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye/Shabelle)
Somali AU forces seize strategic town of Bal’ad from al Shabaab (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Shabelle)
Somalia’s president to attend anti-piracy conference (National)
Somali Cabinet Ministers hold meeting in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/OPM)
Somali troops carried out security operations in Eelasha Biyaha (Radio Risaala)
African Terrorist Groups Starting To Cooperate U.S. Says (Bloomberg)
MPs accuse government of pushing for anti-Somali constitution (Radio Shabelle)
Senior Ethiopian force commander visits Mogadishu since 2009 (Raxanreeb)
Kenya charges Iranians over explosives (Capital News)
Ethiopian PM reaffirms his government’s commitment to bring sustainable peace in Somalia (Ethiopian News Agency)
200 Britons are fighting alongside al Qaeda terrorists in Middle East and Africa (Mirror)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali, AU forces seize strategic town of Bal’ad from al Shabaab

26 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Shabelle/RBC/ Jowhar Online- 205 words

Somali Cabinet Ministers hold meeting in Mogadishu

26 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu/ OPM- 236 words

The Somali cabinet Ministers convened for an extraordinary meeting Monday evening which was chaired by the Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali discussing key issues among them constitutional issues and security of Mogadishu.

The Premier briefed the ministers about the recent roadmap signatories meeting in Nairobi on 20th and 22nd of June 2012. He stated that the meeting ended successfully and a finalised draft of the constitution has been proposed.

The Ministers were also briefed by the minister of constitution and reconciliation Abdirahman Hosh Jibril stating that the people of Somalia have now a new constitution which will be presented and publicised soon.

Minister of defence explained the security plan of Mogadishu adding that the Somali National Army has made significant strides in some regions. The minister unveiled that his ministry was busy giving out the stipends for the National Army in the last few days.

On matters of the constitution, the cabinet ministers agreed on the following:

The mandate of the Independent Federal Constitution Commission has expired as stipulated in the roadmap signatories meeting, 20-22 of June, 2012 in Nairobi.
The meeting to approve the constitution will commence on July 12, 2012.
The constitution should be made available to the Somali public in the next 24 hours through the media outlets.

On the other hand, the cabinet agreed to form a technical committee for selection of the constituent assembly.

Puntland declares public holiday in commemoration of 26 June

26 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/ Garowe Online/ Universal TV- 130 words

Puntland has declared Tuesday as a public holiday allowing its employees to stay away from jobs in order to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of Somali Independence (northern Somalia region).

The regional administration’s Information Minister Ahmed Ali Askar declared the day a public holiday in the entire Puntland and urged all state employees to stay home in order to celebrate the day.

The minister made the remarks on Monday in Garowe and sent a special message of goodwill to all Somalis wherever they are, saying that the day is significant in the history of Somalia.

Askar said 26 June and 1st July marks important days in the history of Somalia, urging Somalis to also remember the significance of 27 June, the Day Djibouti got its independence from her colonial master.

Somali troops carried out security operations in Eelasha Biyaha

26 Jun- Source: Radio Risaala- 141 words

The Somali security forces carried out extensive operation in Eelasha Biyaha district north of Mogadishu town yesterday. These military operations was carried out by the special branch in the Somali army whose mission in to restore peace and order and hunt for al Shabaab sympathizers in the area.

The officer in charge of the mission Khalif Ahmed Ereg told the Somali press that the main objective of the operation is to secure the security of the region.

He said that during the operation they have managed to arrest many young suspected al Shabab sympathizers but stopped short from pointing out the exact number of the captives.

Eelasha Biyaha is one of the areas the government armed forces combined with that of AMISOM took over after ousting the al Shabaab militants and up to now there are some confrontations between the two parties.

Senior Ethiopian force commander visits Mogadishu since 2009

26 Jun- Source: Raxanreeb- 193 words

Senior Ethiopian army commander Gen Gabreh pays visit to Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, the first visit since Ethiopian forces withdrew from Somalia January 2009, RBC Radio reports. Gen Gabreh accompanied by two other Ethiopian military officials reached Mogadishu late on Monday as they met with the defense minister of the transitional government of Somalia Hussein Arab Isse and other high ranking Somali military officials, sources confirmed to RBC Radio.

The meeting took place at the presidential compound late on Monday and after the meeting Gen Gabreh took a closed door meeting with Somali prime minister.The details of the meetings had not been released so far as the government officials declined to comment on the arrival of Gen Gabreh to Mogadishu.
Meanwhile on Monday other Ethiopian officials visited Guriceel town in the central region of Galgaduud where they met with Ahlusuna officials.

MPs accuse government of pushing for anti-Somali constitution

25 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle- 166 words

Some Somali MPs have held a meeting in Mogadishu, accusing Prime Minister Mohammed Ali Gas and the minister of federal constitution and reconciliation of pushing a constitution which is not addressing the interests of the Somali people and of discarding the constitution which was drafted by the independent commission.

MP Sulayman Muhammad Ibrahim who talked to Radio Shabelle after the meeting said that the draft constitution which took the independent commission six years to prepare is being replaced by Prime Minister Gas and the minister of federal constitution with another one which is backed by foreign countries. He said that they had warned against this move in the past.

Sulayman Muhammad Ibrahim stressed that the prime minister and the minister of federal constitution had already violated parliamentary procedures and were now intending to discard the constitution drafted by the independent commission. The MP emphasized that the constitution hat is being promoted by the prime minister and minister of constitution has the backing of some foreign countries bent on destroying Somalia.

Somalia today marks its 52nd anniversary

26 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye/Shabelle- 95 words

Somalia today marks the 52nd anniversary of the independence of its northern regions from the British colonial government. The day, 26 June 1960, the Somali flag was hoisted in Hargeisa which was before then a British protectorate. It is a significant day in the history of the Somali people and several events are today expected to be held in all cities across the country. Somalis in rebel held towns like the port city of Kismayo are not expected to commemorate the day as al Shabaab militants will not allow it as they consider such commemorations un-Islamic.

Ten killed as Somali forces clash with al Shabaab in Bay Region

25 Jun- Source: Garoowe Online- 170 words

At least 10 people were killed and up to 20 others wounded in fighting between Somali government forces backed by Ethiopian troops and al Shabaab in Bay Region, southwestern Somalia. The fighting broke out after al Shabaab militants attacked a convoy of government and Ethiopian forces. Reports say allied [Ethiopian and Somali] forces are in control of the scene of the fighting. Eyewitnesses said the fierce fighting lasted for hours. The dead and wounded were all combatants although al Shabaab claimed it had killed government and Ethiopian soldiers.

Somali and Ethiopian military officials have not issued any statement on the fighting. Reports say al Shabaab militants later fled the area which is located between Bardaale and Yurkud village in the region.

The allied forces attacked by al Shabaab left Baydhabo in Bay Region and were headed to Luuq in Gedo Region [southwestern Somalia]. The forces were attacked many times in the area. Al Shabaab still carries out guerrilla attacks in many parts of southern Somalia as it tries to recapture areas it lost to Ethiopian troops.

First Joyful Olympic day commemorations in Somalia

25 Jun- Source: Raxanreeb- 475 words

This year, the international Olympic day commemorations have been observed in Somalia with the most joyful moment rather than it had been commemorated for the past two decades and that is because of Somalia emerging from years of conflicts to the atmosphere of peace and stability.

Both athletes and traditional dancers who took part in this year’s Olympic day events in Somalia traveled from their places and walked through the capital from edge to edge with no fear or other restrictions. This has happened for the first time in more than 20 years, The global day was commemorated with different sports events including running, relay, karate and taekwondo and traditional dance.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s president to attend anti-piracy conference

26 Jun- Source: National 157 words

Somalia’s President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed will attend the global anti-piracy conference that begins here tomorrow to affirm his country’s commitment to fight the menace. Mr Ahmed will also seek to shore up support and funding for development initiatives to root out piracy. He will be among foreign ministers, senior government officials from more than 50 countries and heads of maritime industries at the two-day convention, which ends on Thursday.
Titled “A Regional Response to Maritime Piracy: Enhancing Public-Private Partnerships and Strengthening Global Engagement”, the conference was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the port operator DP World. It will take place at Al Jawhara Gardens Hotel in Jumeirah.
“The president is here to show the world that the country wants piracy to be eradicated once and for all,” said Hussein Mahamed, the charge d’affairs of the Somalia embassy in the UAE. “We also want to thank the UAE government for the initiative it has taken.”

Kenya charges Iranians over explosives

25 Jun- Source: Capital News- 536 words

Two men thought to be Iranians who were arrested last week in Nairobi and Mombasa were charged on Monday with being in possession of dangerous explosives. Charges for Ahmed Mohamud and Said Mausud, read that they were found with 15 kilograms of RDX explosives in circumstances which indicated that they were armed with intent to commit a felony otherwise known as grievous harm.

The offence was committed on or before 20th June, 2012 at Mombasa Golf Course along Mama Ngina drive in the port city. They both denied the charges before Principal Magistrate P. C Biwott at the Milimani Law courts. Tehran had on Saturday said the identities of the two suspects were yet to be known.

Ethiopian PM reaffirms his government’s commitment to bring sustainable peace in Somalia

25 Jun- Source: Ethiopian News Agency- 160 words

Prime Minister Meles Zenawi reaffirmed Ethiopia’s firm commitment to bring sustainable peace and stability in Somalia. While discussing with Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG) President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Monday PM Meles said Ethiopia would further strengthen its support to bring sustainable peace and stability in that country.

PM Meles said the peace and security situation in Somalia is improving, the premier noted that IGAD has played key role for the success. He attributed the success also to the unified efforts of African countries, the premier said African Union is extending support backing the effort of IGAD. Meles confirmed that Ethiopia will continue its efforts to restore peace in the country. PM Meles said the international community has come to hold common position on the Somalia issue.

TFG President, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed told journalists after the talks that currently commendable job is being done by peace loving forces.
He requested Ethiopia to further extend support to Somalia.

A day with soldiers in the Somali battlefield

25 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 377 words

“You can either sleep in a handaki or APC.” Nobody understood what he was talking about. He then explained that nobody sleeps in the tents we had seen erected around the camp. Those are only for storage of assorted material.

All the soldiers spend their nights either underground, in small holes lined with sandbags which resemble shallow graves (handaki in military speak) or on a hard bench inside the Armoured Personnel Carrier vehicles which can safely absorb the impact of incoming missiles. What happens when it rains, you ask? Well, said Major Emmanuel Kaliakamur, the best idea is not to move at all once the rain enters the bunker.

That way, the sleeping bag will remain warm because you will be in one position but if you turn, your night will be over.The first night was comfortable enough. Supper is usually served extremely early (the exact time, we were told, is classified) to avoid giving the al Shabaab ideas on when to attack, after which everybody retreats to their bunker for the night long before the sun has set.

Sierra Leone to send troops to Somalia in September

23 Jun- Source: Africa Review- 179 words

Sierra Leone will send troops to support the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in September, a government official has said. The country’s Defence minister Paulo Conteh said the troops were undergoing specialised training and that presently there were no Sierra Leonean soldiers in Somalia. The minister was responding to recent reports attributed to the Somali media that Sierra Leonean soldiers had been killed in combat operations in al Shabaab infested country.

“…No Sierra Leone soldier has been deployed into Somalia and none of our personnel anywhere in the world has been killed in any fighting recently,” Major (rtd) Paulo Conteh told local media. “No date has been fixed yet for their departure for Somalia. That is something I am working on with the United Nations Headquarters. It might be sometime in September,” the minister added.

About 850 Sierra Leonean troops are set to join the offensive against the fundamentalist group has been blamed for endangering peace in the horn of Africa. In April, an al Shabaab commander reportedly warned Sierra Leone not to send troops to Somalia, threatening retaliatory moves.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Pro-govt forces push militants out of Somali town

26 Jun- Source: AP- 129 words

A Somali military official says hundreds of African Union and Somali troops have swept into a town north of Mogadishu, forcing al Shabaab militants to flee. Col. Abdullahi Ali Anod said troops encountered little resistance as they moved into the town of Balad on Tuesday. He said the town changed hands peacefully.

The taking of Balad is the latest success for pro-government forces in a year of big gains against al Shabaab. African Union forces kicked al Shabaab out of Mogadishu last August. In May, African Union troops moved into the Afgoye corridor outside of Mogadishu, pushing into the capital’s suburbs for the first time.

Al Shabaab’s last remaining stronghold is the port city of Kismayo. Kenyan leaders have promised that Kenyan troops will take control of Kismayo within the next two months.

200 Britons are fighting alongside al Qaeda terrorists in Middle East and Africa

26 Jun- Source: Mirror -436 words

Al Qaeda maniacs in the Middle East and Africa are waging holy war alongside around 200 radicalised Britons, it has been revealed.
The renegades from across the UK have joined forces with the heavily armed Islamist terror groups in Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Syria – and have even fought British troops in Afghanistan.

Since the 9/11 atrocities in 2001, more than 1,000 Brits have travelled abroad to join al Qaeda before they returned to plot attacks or died in combat overseas.

The shock figures were revealed by sources as MI5 chief Jonathan Evans warned last night that the Arab Spring has opened up new safe havens for al Qaeda terrorists.

In his first speech since 2010, the security service’s director general said: “Parts of the Arab world have once more become a permissive environment for al Qaeda.”

He added: “A small number of British would-be jihadists are also making their way to Arab countries to seek training and opportunities for militant activity, as they do in Somalia and Yemen.

African Terrorist Groups Starting To Cooperate, U.S. Says

26 Jun- Source: Bloomberg- 790 words

Three African terrorist groups are seeking to “coordinate and synchronize” their operations, the head of the U.S. military’s Africa Command said.
Army General Carter Ham said al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, al Shabaab in Somalia, and Boko Haram in Nigeria are increasingly trying to work together on the African continent.

“Each of these organizations is, by itself, a dangerous and worrisome threat,” Ham yesterday told a leadership seminar of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a Defense Department center. “But what really concerns me is that the three organizations are seeking to coordinate and synchronize their efforts.”

The militant Sunni Muslim groups are starting to share funds, training and explosive material to assist each other’s efforts to establish Islamic regimes, he said.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Overthrowing oppressive or bad government is legitimate course of action for the citizens of a country but partitioning or dividing a country like Somalia into clan or semi clan fiefdoms based on unfair claims is not right cause. Rwanda remained as a country despite the genocide that shock the world and today Tutsi and Hutu are living together. The people of Southerner Somalia need their Northerner brothers and sisters for their bravery, civilization, strong spirit, as well as for the shared identity, culture and history.”

Somaliland: Blaming and Debasing Southerners is unfair game

25 June- Source: Hiiraan Online-1323 Words

At the outset, I would like to make clear that my purpose here is not to argue against the right of the people of Somaliland (Northern Somalia) to withdraw from the union with the rest of Somalia. My immediate concern is the frightful implications of the unfair accusations the leaders of Somaliland are hurling against their Southerner kinfolks for gaining international recognition. Blaming and debasing Southerners for the horrible atrocities committed against Northerner fellow citizens, specifically the Isaaq Community is unfair game.

The responsibility of the crimes committed against the people of Somaliland remains with Siad Barre regime abetted by leaders from all clans and regions of Somalia. As someone who witnessed the political dynamics of Somalia for more than four decades, I think that Somaliland leaders are committing deliberate sin if they claim that the suffering inflicted upon their population is attributable to the Southerners acted out by Siad Barre Regime. The calamity that visited all Somali communities is the result of wild abuse of government power caused by the combination of personal cruelty, despotism, clan prejudices and perceptions, or nationalistic views executed wrongly.

“There are some really good Somali journalists and media outlets, but in order to find them you would have to navigate through the complex web of clan politics and the thousands of media outlets that represent their interests.”

Somali Media and Journalists

25 June- Source: Aar Maanta-478 Words

I was recently asked to record a short video for Aljazeera English’s The Listening Post, a weekly media review programme. I was asked to comment on the media landscape in Somalia, while considering a number of factors including the quality of journalism, media outlets and the routine attacks on journalists by allegedly al Shabaab. As someone who follows Somali news very closely, forty seconds video comment was never going to be enough. Therefore, I decided to write this blog in order to elaborate on my points.

Somali journalists suffer in all Somali territories. Killing of journalists is becoming common in the unstable south and south central parts of Somalia. Harassment, imprisonment and other mistreatment are more common in the autonomous parts of the country. Somali journalists used to suffer well before the word Islamist was associated with Somalia and well before some exploitative Western media corporations sensationalised this word.

“After the talks a communiqué was released of consisting of less than dozen articles, regarding co-operation on security, combating terrorism, fishing etc, talks about future talks, the inclusion of legal advisor ( no doubt to advise on the when Somaliland and Somalia go their separate ways, and who will be responsible for the union debt, etc).”

Somaliland: Somaliland & Somalia Who Talks About More Talks

25 June- Source: Harowo-431 Words

Last week representatives from the Somaliland government led by its erstwhile Foreign Minister, Dr. Omar, held talks with representatives from the transitional federal government in Somalia . These talks took place among tight security and secrecy at a grand mansion in the English countryside.

There was much trepidation from the Somaliland side concerning these talks. After all Somaliland has a democratically elected government whilst the transitional federal government is a caretaker entity created overseas without a mandate from its citizens. Nevertheless, the talks took place at the instigation of the United Kingdom , Norway and the European Union.

Top tweets

@NewsHorn First Joyful Olympic day commemorations in Somalia http://bit.ly/LMvdgQ #Somalia #GoodNews #HornOfAfrica

‏@rogermid #Somalia important new docs inc. Parliament (Eng $ Somali) and constitution (Somali) http://bit.ly/LxQNJ7

@warsameh Somali gov’t forces & #AMISOM troops take key town of #Balad in northeast #Mogadishu from Al Shabaab fighters. #Somalia

@Africa_Conf #Somalia: report from @NZDefenceForce and@Australian_Navy finds that only the summer monsoon affects#piracy trends http://bit.ly/LcsmOM

@tresthomas_HOA #Shabaab‘s Sheikh Mumin says group is receiving fighters and Puntland govt defectors; planning attacks from #Galgala http://bit.ly/MOyEEK

@africarenewal Equatorial Guinea honors pledge of USD 2 Million to the people of Somalia & provides inâ€ kind donation:@_AfricanUnion. http://bit.ly/KyPl53

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Image of the day

Image of the day Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi hosts Somali delegation led by president Sheikh Sharif at his office in Addis Ababa. Photo: Radio Mogadishu.