June 28, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Hasaan Dahir refuses move to Mogadishu
28 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/al Shahid/Radio Shabelle/Radio Risaala/Hiiraan Online- 158 words
Himan and Heeb administration officials confirmed to Radio Bar-kulan that Hassan Dahir Aweys, One of the al Shabaab leaders who was captured and held at Adado town refused his transfer to the capital, Mogadishu, after a meeting with politicians, military and clan elders.
The vice president of Himan and Heeb administration, Abdi Mohammed Ahmed said in an interview with the Radio Bar-kulan that Aweys refused to move to the capital, Mogadishu, and that there are talks to pursue his transfer to Mogadishu.
He stressed that his administration will not allow him to stay in their regions if his insistence on his position of refusing to take him to the capital, Mogadishu.
Mr. Aweys along with other top al Shabaab commanders escaped from the coastal town of Barawe via a boat and arrived at Adado town on Tuesday.
Key Headlines
- Hasaan Dahir refuses move to Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan/ Hiiraan Online/Radio Risaala)
- President Hassan: Remittances are a lifeline for some of the world’s poorest (Office of the Somali President)
- Somali singer Maryan Ali Moody dies in UK (Radio mogadishu)
- UN political chief visits Somalia to reaffirm support (Radio Shabelle)
- President Hassan: Somalia very grateful for the solidarity of the UN (Office of the Somali President)
- EU rehabilitates Somaliland’s main hospital (Somaliland Informer)
- Somaliland President Silanyo: “We are Stronger Today than at any other Period of our History”(Somaliland Sun)
- Somali leaders urge unity as northern territories celebrate colonial independence (Sabahi Online)
- In Somalia UN political chief offers solidarity support in wake of recent attack (UN News Centre)
- Djibouti celebrates National Day (Tempo/RTD)
- Thousands expected to celebrate Somali Independence Day in Minneapolis (Star tribune)
- With multiple missions U.S. military steps up Africa focus (Reuters)
- Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Somalia and Slovenia (The new dawn Liberia)
PRESS STATEMENT
President Hassan: Remittances are a lifeline for some of the world’s poorest
27 Jun- Source: Office of the Somali President – 296 words
H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, has called on Barclays Bank to suspend its decision to shut down the accounts of crucial Somali cash transfer firms.
The President said: “Some of the world’s poorest people depend on remittances sent to them from the Somali diaspora. At the end of the vast majority of cash transfers supported by Barclays Bank, are families and children whose struggle through each day is unimaginable to most.
“Somalia is on the brink of a breakthrough after two decades of chaos. We have the support of Britain and the world and we need the support of all our friends across all sectors. Barclays are a friend and we cannot understand their sudden decision to foreclose on legitimate accounts that support money transfer.
“I appeal to Barclays to reverse their decision, or at least to postpone it to allow proper consultation. A solution must be in place before such drastic action is taken.
The President hopes that a way can be found for Barclays Bank to retain the service whilst working together with the Somali and UK Governments to remain compliant in monitoring transfer funds and improving procedures that tackle financial crime, a stated commitment of the new Federal Government.
“We understand Barclay’s corporate responsibility and its duty to its global customers to maintain a reputation for tackling financial crime, but that does not have to pull the rug from under the feet of people battling extreme poverty and before our fledgling government can step in to help.
“We need time and support from the UK Government to resolve this issue, or the sad reality is that an “regrettable inconvenience” could directly result in human tragedy.”
President Hassan: Somalia very grateful for the solidarity of the UN
27 Jun- Source: Office of the President – 340 words
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, today received the UN’s top political official, Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in Villa Somalia, as he came to show the UN’s solidarity with the Government and the people of Somalia.
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia and the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN to Somalia were among those present in the meeting.
At a joint press conference with Mr Feltman after their meeting, President Hassan said: “My Government hugely welcomes this visit and its significance in demonstrating the UN’s solidarity with Somalia after last week’s UN Compound attack on 19 June 2013. Al Shabaab’s aim was to terrorize the people and the UN staff who came to help the Somali people.
However, today’s visit by the UN’s top political official, Jeffrey Feltman, is a strong sign of support to the people of Somalia and to show al Shabaab that they did not and can not achieve their aim of terrorizing our people into submission.”
The President thanked Mr Feltham for this special visit to Mogadishu, his second so far this year, and for the unwavering support of the UN to the people of Somalia.
The President updated Mr Feltman on the Government’s priorities and the progress in political and security issues, and they discussed the wider subjects of the new UN mission and the rebuilding of Somalia.
Describing last week’s attack on the UN Compound, he President said: “The attack on UN Compound on the 19 June 2013 shows us how al Shabaab is determined to cause maximum casualties to innocent civilians, but we are stronger and more united than ever before in our determination to defeat them.
Our security forces with the support of AMISOM responded quickly and professionally and saved many lives. However, we continue to need the support of the international community in rebuilding our security institutions in order to bring peace and stability to Somalia.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Hasaan Dahir refuses move to Mogadishu
28 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/al Shahid/Radio Shabelle/Radio Risaala/Hiiraan Online- 158 words
Himan and Heeb administration officials confirmed to Radio Bar-kulan that Hassan Dahir Aweys, One of the al Shabaab leaders who was captured and held at Adado town refused his transfer to the capital, Mogadishu, after a meeting with politicians, military and clan elders.
The vice president of Himan and Heeb administration, Abdi Mohammed Ahmed said in an interview with the Radio Bar-kulan that Aweys refused to move to the capital, Mogadishu, and that there are talks to pursue his transfer to Mogadishu.
He stressed that his administration will not allow him to stay in their regions if his insistence on his position of refusing to take him to the capital, Mogadishu. Mr. Aweys along with other top al Shabaab commanders escaped from the coastal town of Barawe via a boat and arrived at Adado town on Tuesday.
Somali singer Maryan Ali Moody dies in UK
28 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Universal TV/Gaafo Online- 76 words
A famous Somali singer Maryan Ali Muudy has died Thursday night in London. According to press sources, the singer’s death came after entering in a coma during the past two days.
Maryan is one of the most prominent Somali singers, and Somalis remember the song of “Alif la Kordhabey” which was aimed to teach Somalis the alphabet of the Somali language in the educational campaign in early 1970s.
EU rehabilitates Somaliland’s main hospital
28 Jun- Source: Somaliland Informer- 166 words
The European Union has launched the rehabilitation project for the Hargeisa Group Hospital to improve access to health services for Hargeisa’s rapidly growing population.
Together with its partners, Terre Solidali and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the EU will increase the efficiency, quality and sustainability of Somaliland’s main hospital that faces infrastructural and capacity constraints as it was outstripped by the size of the population.
UN political chief visits Somalia to reaffirm support
28 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle- 209 words
The UN political chief visited Somalia on Thursday to reaffirm the world body’s resolve to support the government and people of Somalia following the attack on a UN compound last week.
Jeffrey Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, met with Somali President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud, diplomatic missions and UN staff affected by last week’s attack, the deputy UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey told reporters at a news briefing.
Suicide bombers attacked the UN’s office in Mogadishu on June 19, leaving at least 15 people dead, including eight working for the UN. The al Qaeda linked militant al Shabaab group said it was behind the assault.
During the visit, Feltman discussed security and safety measures for UN operations in Somalia, where a new UN political mission began work earlier this month, said del Buey.
Launched on June 2, the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) is tasked with offering expertise in areas ranging from the political process to disarmament to help the country consolidate and build on hard-won gains towards peace, reconciliation and stability.
UN will not be deterred by the attack, Feltman said, who reaffirmed UN’s commitment to stay and work together with the Somali people for a brighter future for their country, according to the spokesman
Somaliland President Silanyo: “We are Stronger Today than at any other Period of our History”
27 Jun- Source: Somaliland Sun- 905 words
While celebrating 53rd Anniversary of Independence From Britain at the presidency, Somaliland president Ahmed Mahamud Silanyo reiterates citizens determination to sustain their nation’s hard won sovereignty despite all odds and at all costs.
“For want of unity for all Somali people and despite contrary advice from the British Government we entered into a hasty union with Somalia in 1960 that turned sour for us a few years later” This was said by the Somaliland president Ahmed Mahamud Silanyo during festivities marking the country’s 53rd anniversary of independence held at the Hargeisa presidency on the evening of 26th June 2013.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somali leaders urge unity as northern territories celebrate colonial independence
28 Jun- Source: Sabahi Online- 136 words
Somali leaders joined the country’s northern territories in celebrating 53 years of independence from British colonialism Wednesday. Parts of northern Somalia, comprising what came to be known as Somaliland, peacefully ended 73 years of British rule on June 26, 1960. On July 1st the same year, it united with the rest of Somalia, which had been under Italian rule, to form the Somali Republic.
Speaking at an official ceremony celebrating the event at the presidential palace, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged the Somali people to incorporate their forefathers’ values of dignity, freedom and independence, Somalia’s Radio Mogadishu reported.
Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari and Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon also took the opportunity to affirm their commitment to the unity of the country.
Djibouti celebrates National Day
27 Jun- Source: Tempo/RTD- 320 words
Djibouti celebrated its 36th year of independence. As a tiny country in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti is bounded by Eritrea on the north, Ethiopia on the west and south, and Somalia on the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The capital of Djibouti is the city of Djibouti. Located at this intersection of trade routes connecting the Indian Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea, and Africa with the Middle East, Djibouti has a long been an agricultural and commercial crossroads.
The early Djiboutians traded hides and skins for the perfumes and spices of ancient Egypt, India, and China, thousands of years ago. French interest developed in the nineteenth century when the area was ruled by the sultan of Raheita, Tadjoura, and Gobaad. The Republic of Djibouti gained its independence from France on June 27, 1977. However, despite being an independent nation, Djibouti maintains deep relations with France and is a regular recipient of French economic and security assistance.
As a Somali, Afar, and Islamic country, Djibouti regularly takes part in Islamic affairs as well as Arab meetings. The country is a member of the Africa Union, the Arab League, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Thousands expected to celebrate Somali Independence Day in Minneapolis
28 Jun- Source: Star tribune- 131 words
Thousands of people are expected to flock to Minneapolis on Sunday for this year’s Somali Independence Day festival. Organizers say the event is designed to celebrate Somalia’s independence, and also pay homage to the United States — the country that gave refugees a chance at a new life.
Sunday’s event will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. on Lake Street, between Blaisdell and Pleasant Avenues, near the Somali Mall.
It will feature live music, artists, authentic Somali food and other attractions. Several dignitaries are also expected to speak at the event. The festival is hosted by Ka Joog, a nonprofit group that helps enrich lives of Somali-American youth through arts and education. Ka Joog says it welcomes all Minnesotans to celebrate alongside Somali-Americans.
In Somalia, UN political chief offers solidarity, support in wake of recent attack
27 Jun- Source: UN News Centre- 380 words
The United Nations political chief today visited Somalia to express solidarity in the aftermath of the recent attack on the world body’s compound, and to reaffirm the Organization’s resolve to continue its support to the Government and people of the East African nation.
The 19 June attack on the UN Common Compound in the capital, Mogadishu, resulted in the deaths of one UN staff member, three contractors, four Somali guards and innocent civilians.
“The memories of our colleagues killed during this heinous attack will remain in our hearts and minds and strengthen our resolve as we continue our vital work in Somalia,” said Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman.
With multiple missions, U.S. military steps up Africa focus
27 Jun- Source: Reuters- 1042 words
Striking Islamist militants with drones, supporting African forces in stabilizing Somalia and Mali and deploying dozens of training teams, the U.S. military has returned to Africa. Its presence remains mostly low key, barely mentioned in the context of President Barack Obama’s visit this week to Africa.
Nevertheless, with some 4,000-5,000 personnel on the ground at any given time, the United States now has more troops in Africa than at any point since its Somalia intervention two decades ago. That ended in humiliation and withdrawal after the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” debacle in which 18 U.S. soldiers died.
Pres. Sirleaf Congratulates Somalia and Slovenia
28 Jun- Source: The new dawn Liberia -278 words
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent two separate congratulatory messages to The Governments and Peoples of the Republics of Somalia and Slovenia on the joyous occasions marking the 53rd Independence Anniversary and the 22nd National Day of the two countries respectively.
Somalia gained its independence on July 1, 1960 while Slovenia’s National Day which commemorates its Declaration of Independence in 1991 and also known as Statehood Day is celebrated June 25th annually since 1991.
In her message to His Excellency Hassan Shiekh Mohamud, President of the Republic of Somalia, President Johnson Sirleaf extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes on behalf of Liberia to the Government and People of that African country.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“As the world ponders once again how best to rebuild Somalia and donors continue to pour money into Afghanistan to shore up local security forces riddled with desertions, it is clear that doing something is not always better than doing nothing. In the case of al Shabaab, despite being pushed back from the Somali capital, their influence across Africa means they remain a deadly threat.”
When good intentions go bad in Somalia and Afghanistan
27 June- Source: Telegraph Blog-624 Words
He didn’t look much like Mad Abdi, the famed Mogadishu warlord whose arrest by Delta Force was portrayed in the film Black Hawk Down. No, by the time I met him in a smart Nairobi hotel in 2008, Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid was one of ours. He was dressed in a smart military uniform and ran Mogadishu’s police force, all paid for with millions of pounds of European and British money.
This was how it was supposed to work. Somalia was a failed state and the best way to help it rebuild was to pour millions of pounds into law and order, providing security for future development aid. Some £15m of donor funding – including more than £3m from the UK’s Department for International Development – was being spent via the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
There was just one problem. No one really knew where the money was going. Somalia was too dangerous for UN officials to visit. There were reports of 4x4s were being converted into battle wagons and evidence the cash was being used to pay salaries of Brigadier-General Qeybdiid’s own militia. I put all this to a friend at one of the embassies in Nairobi. His response was typical of those I received in any discussion of aid and development. “An element of a leap of faith is required,” is what he told me. “Otherwise we have to walk away.”
“By contrasting sacredness with humility and respect for the natural order of things, death rituals in Somalia are unique to say the least. Once again, it seems as though there is still much to be learned about life and death from different cultures around the world.”
Death Rituals in Somalia
27 June- Source: Seven Ponds Blog-437 Words
In Somalia, a small country on the eastern coast of Africa, the people follow specific protocol after a loved one has died to ensure they pass on to the afterlife. The first step is to bury the loved one’s body on the same day that they have died. Family members read passages from the Quran to encourage the spirit to leave the body.
While the verses are read, another family member prepares the body by straightening the limbs and closing the eyes and mouth. If the loved one is female, the hands of female family members wash the body with a warm cloth; vice versa if the loved one is male. While people in Somalia don’t apply make-up to their dead loved ones (which is kind of an odd American custom now that I think about it), they do mist a traditional perfume called Adar.
Family members then wrap the body securely with white cotton clothes from head to toe. Additional prayers are chanted as the loved one is washed and prepared for burial. Once they complete the initial phase, the people of Somalia take their dead loved ones to a mosque for a service that combines prayers with a special good-bye ritual called Janaaso. After the service ends, they cover the body with a green cloth embroidered with gold.
“If the US presses the current administration in Mogadishu to hand over Sh. Aweys to the US authorities, it may put President Hassan at odds with his supporters who view Sh. Aweys as their hero. If President Hassan looks the other way and does not treat Sh. Aweys as a threat and anti peace element, it may further fuel the current mistrust and clan animosity that is heating up in Southern Somalia.”
Sheikh Awey’s capture poses a test for President Hassan Sh. Mohamud
27 June- Source: Wardheernews-262 Words
The capture of Sh. Hassan Aweys, the ailing senior leader of Al Shabab, poses a genuine test to President Hassan Sh. Mohamuod’s administration that enjoyed an international support since its inception. Aweys, a former Somali army colonel, top leader of the defunct Mogadishu Union Court and founder of Hisbul Islam who joined forces with al Shabaab in 2010, is known for his anti-peace building, extremism, harsh rhetoric and support of suicidal attacks on civilians and transitional government officials. The US government added him to its Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) list on November 2001.
Sh. Aweys is remembered for his notorious speech on Jan 2011 during the worst drought in Somalia where he told a large crowd of suffering Somalis not to accept food aid from international organizations whom he accused of having a Christian agenda.
Sh. Aweys’s capture is a sign of defeat for the al Shabaab militia who until recently controlled a large swath of land in Southern Somalia.The reports stating that Sh. Aweys will be transferred to the Somali federal government in Mogadishu will indeed start a heated debate on the faith of Sh. Aweys.
Top tweets
@UNDPSomalia #UNLazzarini Today as we lay Rita to rest the UN #Somalia team reaffirms we will continue to carry out the work she dedicated her life
@AfriSecurity @Kenyangriot @BBCAfrica Assessing Operation Linda Nchi: Col Cyrus Oguna of #Kenya Defence Forces #KDFon #Somalia http://bit.ly/13bKYuI
@QalinNews #Somalia: Arrested hardliner remains in hardline possition against the Somalia government –http://qalin.net/view.php?id=
@_mediaexperts_ I wish #Somalia media will improve to become proactive instead of reactive media. Through “Peace media” like #Rowanda new media system #Fair
@SomaliaNewsroom Movie rights sold for book about Jessica Buchanan (kidnapped in Oct 2011, rescued in Jan 2012)http://www.mediabistro.com/
Image of the day
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman with Somali President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud at Villa Somalia in Mogadishu. Photo: UN