June 30, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
At Least 18 Killed By A Roadside Bomb In Somalia
30 June – Source: Reuters – 161 Words
At least 18 civilians were killed when a roadside bomb which went off on Thursday in Somalia’s Lafole town, southwest of the capital, blowing up a packed mini-bus that was passing by, police said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The Al-Shabaab militants have frequently launched attacks against security forces and civilians around the country in the past. The group wants to topple the Western-backed government.
“All the 18 people on board the mini-bus are dead and burnt. A remotely controlled bomb along the road exploded,” said Abidkadir Mohamed, a police officer at the scene. Nur Ahmed, who was driving along the same road, said the mini-bus was being escorted by a vehicle carrying troops. A government lorry full of soldiers followed by the minibus overtook him at high speed before he heard a loud explosion, Ahmed said. “The government car which was probably the target escaped undamaged,” he said.
Key Headlines
- At Least 18 Killed By A Roadside Bomb In Somalia (Reuters)
- Kenyan Air Force Jets Carry Out Airstrikes In Somalia (Shabelle News)
- Administration Of El-Ali locality Claims Victory In Battle With Al-Shabaab In Hiiraan (Goobjoog News)
- Somali New Zealanders Held Up By Customs – National MP (NZ Herald)
- Step Back For Press Freedom In Somalia (Voice of America)
- US Urged To Use ‘Soft Power’ In Somalia (Voice of America)
- As Conflict Zone Gets Safer Somalis Go For 3D Movies And Pizza (Bloomberg)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan Air Force Jets Carry Out Airstrikes In Somalia
30 June – Source: Shabelle News – 113 Words
Kenyan Air Force jets have launched more airstrikes in south west of Somalia, in pursuit of Al-Shabaab after militants carried out deadly attacks on KDF bases in Lamu county. The latest reports from Gedo region indicate that Kenyan Air Force fighter jets bombed Al-Shabaab camps at small area near Bele-Hawo town, killing militants and civilians.
The local residents in Beled-Hawo town of Gedo region said they witnessed the KDF airstrikes, adding those near bombed zones fled from the houses to escape casualties. Kenyan jet fighters have pounded parts of Somalia’s Gedo region in chase of Al-Shabaab militants who attacked Kenyan military bases in Lamu and killed KDF soldiers in the past.
Administration Of El-Ali Locality Claims Victory In Battle With Al-Shabaab In Hiiraan
29 June – Source: Goobjoog News – 228 words
The administration El-Ali locality has claimed victory in a fierce gun battle with Al-Shabaab militants near the village in the country’s central Hiiraan region. Reports say that the attack began with heavy artillery and mortar fire by Al-Shabaab fighters. The residents say the sound of heavy artillery used by both sides was heard all over the two localities and their environs. The combat erupted when Al-Shabaab fighters attacked SNA military base in the area, according to El-Ali chief, Yarow Omar Abiikar.
Yarow has confirmed the combat, saying they have inflicted losses on the militants during the fighting at the village. “Al-Shabaab thought the military as a soft target but they were slapped hard, the soldiers killed over twenty of them and left with several injuries. SNA had several wounded soldiers but suffered no death,” he said. He added that the government will keep on fighting till Al-Shabaab and their sympathizers are annihilated.
“Our soldiers are ready to flush out Al-Shabaab fighter from these areas,” he noted. Fighting between Somali government forces and Al-Shabaab fighters at military bases in Hiiraan region on Tuesday night has claimed lives of over ten people including both sides, according to reliable sources.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali New Zealanders Held Up By Customs – National MP
30 June – Source: NZ Herald – 542 Words
Customs is holding Somali New Zealanders up for hours and many Kiwis feel they are targeted at the border, a National MP says. Hamilton East MP David Bennett raised the issue with his National colleague and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner and Comptroller of Customs Carolyn Tremain at a select committee today. After a discussion about a new scheme to fast-track selected travellers through airports, Mr Bennett said other New Zealanders felt targeted when they travelled.
“We have a very diverse population now. I had dinner with somebody in my Somali community on Monday, and they were saying that sometimes they can get held up for three or four hours at the border coming back from their country.
“These are people who have worked for 10 years in government departments in Hamilton, you know, they pose no risk at all. And, yet, just because of the country of origin that they’ve gone to, it makes it difficult.” Many New Zealanders now felt that the border was a “slowing down process” for them, compared to other Kiwis without such a background, Mr Bennett said.
About one in every four people in Hamilton East were born overseas, and Hamilton has been home to refugees from Somalia since the early 1990s. There are now more than 1200 Somali people living in Hamilton. Refugees from other countries include the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia and Burma.
Step Back For Press Freedom In Somalia
29 June – Source: Voice of America – 199 Words
On June 23rd, the Puntland government closed down independent Daljir Radio’s FM station in the state capital of Garowe, reportedly for interviewing former governor of Bari province Abdisamad Gallan. The action drew a sharp response from the United States.
The United States Mission to Somalia issued a statement calling the closure of Radio Daljir a “direct contradiction of the right of free expression,” and urging the Puntland government “to honor its commitment to our shared support for press freedom and reopen Radio Daljir without delay.”
According to the State Department’s Human Rights Report, during 2015 federal and regional authorities subjected journalists to violence, harassment, arrest, and detention. The report also noted that “Al-Shabaab killed five journalists, and harassed and threatened others.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“If the new ambassador goes there with the existing [diplomatic] approaches it’s going to fail. It won’t benefit the U.S. It won’t benefit Somalia,”
US Urged To Use ‘Soft Power’ In Somalia
30 June – Source: Voice of America – 689 Words
The United States must pursue a different approach in helping stabilize Somalia following the appointment of the first U.S. Ambassador to Somalia in more than 25 years, said a former Somali diplomat and respected foreign policy analyst. Abukar Arman, the former Special Representative of Somalia to Washington, said Wednesday the United States has been weak in using “soft power” in its effort to support the government attain security and political stability.
“If the new ambassador goes there with the existing [diplomatic] approaches it’s going to fail. It won’t benefit the U.S. It won’t benefit Somalia,” he said. Arman said the appointment of Stephen Schwartz as ambassador to Somalia is historic, but said the new ambassador must use this opportunity to advocate for reopening remittance bank accounts in the United States.
“The concern of the banks was that this money may fall into the wrong hands. But now the money is not in the bank, it’s in private hands. So which one is riskier?” he asked. Remittance is an issue raised by U.S. congressmen Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Tom Emmer (R-MN), co-chairmen of the Congressional Somali Caucus.
In a press release, the congressmen said Schwartz’s appointment was “a historic moment for the future of a democratic Somalia and for the future of relations between our two countries.” “We look forward to working with Mr. Schwartz to address the issues the Somali people still face: ensuring the future of a stable, democratic government, protecting the remittances pipeline, and addressing the drought in East Africa.”
“Even with hurdles such as insecurity, we have the resilience and perseverance to stay in business.”
As Conflict Zone Gets Safer, Somalis Go For 3D Movies And Pizza
29 June – Source: Bloomberg – 341 Words
House is one of the latest Western-style restaurants opening in Mogadishu as the streets become relatively safer and money flows in from Somalis living overseas. The success of these outlets could be a bellwether for investment prospects in Somalia, which has been mired in civil war for more than two decades and is trying to use recent advances against Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab to rebuild the economy.
For years, Somalis fled abroad — where many still provide a lifeline by sending back a total of $1.3 billion each year, or 80 percent of the country’s investment. But as African Union forces help the army seize back territory such as Mogadishu, which the insurgents abandoned in 2011, some of the country’s estimated diaspora of 1 million people are coming home.
The diaspora has “significantly contributed to the revival of business in the country” since 2013, Abdi Abshir Dhore, the head of Somalia’s Chamber of Commerce, said. “They’ve opened up many modern businesses in Mogadishu. They own and run shops, and they have polished our image.” A short walk from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud’s official residence in the capital, Yasin Abikar Arif has returned from the U.S. with a plan: to make money from Somalis craving fried chicken that tastes taste similar to Yum! Brands Inc.’s KFC.
TOP TWEETS
@hassan_wali12 : #UPDATE: At least 20 people killed after roadside blast hit passenger bus outside #Mogadishu – Police#Somalia
@omabha : Somalia: Roadside bomb kills at least 18 on bus –http://Aljazeera.com http://dlvr.it/LhHVhk #Somalia
@itayron5 : As #Somalia‘s Independnce Day takes place on July 1,security forces must remain highly vigil. #Alshabaab may attempt to destroy celebrations
@Gobannimo: The most terror attacks happen in Ramadan while Ramadan should be the month of givings, and prayers.#InsolidarityWithMogadishu.#
@MenEngageAfrica: #Somalia’s women speak out about their experiences of #FGM, a very extreme manifestation of violence against #women http://bit.ly/297kGTB .
@fqdayib : Security must be 1 priority in #Somalia. “Fighting#Alshabaab isn’t working. Therefore negotiate.#SomaliLivesMatter http://www.aljazeera.com/news/
@mathiaslacroix : [FR] Uganda announced the withdrawal of its forces from CAR and #Somalia #Horn2025 CCTV 2706/16
IMAGE OF THE DAY
H.E. Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi, the new Minister of Education of Somalia takes office and has huge tasks ahead of him
Photo: @engyarisow