June 4, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Top Commander Of Al-Shabaab Fighters Killed In Moqokori Attack – SNA
04 June – Source: Halbeeg News – 218 Words
A top Al-Shabaab commander was killed in fierce fighting between the Somali National Army and Al-Shabaab fighters in Moqokori town, a military official confirmed. Heavily armed Al-Shabaab fighters on Friday evening, stormed a camp occupied by the Somali National Army in Moqokori town. Hussein Madey was killed alongside five of his comrades – Ahmed Ali Fidow, Muhyaddin Mohamed Kaysane and Haji Daud Balli.
General Mohamed Moalim Koronto, the commander of the 27th Brigade of Somali National Army said Al-Shabaab fighters had attacked the camp shortly before dusk on Friday, prompting hours of fighting. “Somali army killed Hussein Madey, a top commander believed to have been leading the fighters, who attacked Somali National Army base in Moqokori town,” the commander stated.
General Koronto noted that the military neutralized 26 Al-Shabaab fighters, among them six high profile commanders. “A total of 26 Al-Shabaab insurgents including commanders were killed in the attack,” General Koronto told reporters.
The commander said among the slain Al-Shabaab commanders were two trained in Syria – Muhyiddin Mohamed Kaysane and Haji Daud Balli. He said an unconfirmed number of Al-Shabaab fighters fled the battlefield with injuries. Despite Al-Shabaab claims, General Koronto did not say the casualties on the SNA side. On their websites, Al-Shabaab claimed to have killed over 70 Somali soldiers in the same attack.
Key Headlines
- Top Commander Of Al-Shabaab Fighters Killed In Moqokori Attack – SNA (Halbeeg News)
- National Security Council Meeting Officially Opens Today In Baidoa (Goobjoog News)
- Somali Army Chief Warns Soldiers Carrying Weapons In Mogadishu Without Permission (Radio Muqadiso)
- IOM: 150 Somali Migrants Stranded In Libya Return Home (VOA)
- Aman Obsiye’s and Osman Hassan’s Irrational Diatribes Against Puntland (Wardheere News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
National Security Council Meeting Officially Opens Today In Baidoa
04 June – Source: Goobjoog News – 113 Words
The National Security Council meeting has officially opened today at Baidoa town. The meeting is chaired by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed ‘Farmaajo’ and is attended by Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire and the regional government leaders. All the leaders arrived in Baidoa on Sunday for the conference.
The agenda to be discussed in the conference will mainly focus on security reforms, rebuilding the army, and enhancing security across the country. Security in Baidoa has been tightened with some of the roads blocked by heavily armed security forces.
Meanwhile, the federal government and regional states leaders held separate meetings last night aimed at improving relations and cooperation between the federal government and regional administrations leadership.
Somali Army Chief Warns Soldiers Carrying Weapons In Mogadishu Without Permission
04 June – Source: Radio Muqdisho – 148 Words
Somalia’s Army Chief General Abdiweli Jama Gorod has issued a new directive, warning government soldiers against carrying weapons in the capital city without permission. General Gorod’s warning was particularly directed at the military, whom he said don’t have any authorization to roam in the capital with their weapons.
“We have assigned the Mogadishu stabilisation forces to secure this city, therefore, the military should remain in their barracks and give the stabilisation forces space to do their work. Any soldier who defies the orders will take the consequences if he is either killed or disarmed in the ongoing operations,” he warned.
He also sent a message to the stabilisation forces to closely work with the various branches of the army, in a bid to avoid infighting between the Somali army. His remarks comes amid a rise in the number of clashes between Somali security forces in the capital.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
IOM: 150 Somali Migrants Stranded In Libya Return Home
03 June – Source: VOA – 280 Words
The International Organization for Migration says it has repatriated 150 Somali migrants stranded in Libya this past week. Most had been held in government-run detention centers for months under abysmal conditions. The returning Somali migrants account for only a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees living in precarious conditions in Libya.
The International Organization for Migration believes as many as one million people, most from Arab and African countries, have made the dangerous journey to Libya as the gateway to Europe and a better life.
But, the reality upon arrival is quite different. IOM says migrants in Libya are exposed to many risks, including smuggling, trafficking, kidnapping, abuse, detention and torture. IOM spokesman Joel Millman says the organization’s voluntary repatriation program has thousands of migrants of different nationalities from this dire fate.
“We believe that these flights and other activities that IOM is doing in Libya is assisting in getting people home and that is reducing the risk and the actual fatalities of some of the world’s most vulnerable migrants from this route across the Mediterranean,” he said.
Data show nearly 30,000 Somali migrants and refugees have left Libya by sea for Italy since 2014. Millman says this latest voluntary humanitarian return of migrants from Libya to Somalia was the fourth and the largest. He says it also was the first chartered, non-stop flight from the Libyan capital Tripoli to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
He says IOM plans to return around 300 other vulnerable Somali migrants in Libya back to Mogadishu in the coming weeks. Upon return, he says the migrants are given psychological counseling and some assistance to help them reintegrate into their home communities.
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“President Gaas undertook his visit within the accepted para-diplomatic norms. Puntland has been exercising effective para-diplomacy in the last 18 years. Puntland para-diplomacy is widely accepted within the scope of socioeconomic development, investment and other constitutional competencies.”
Aman Obsiye’s and Osman Hassan’s Irrational Diatribes Against Puntland
03 June – Source: Wardheere News – 835 Words
In recent weeks, there has been a significant increase in articles critiquing Puntland State’s deal with P&O Ports, and President Abdiweli Mohamed Gaas travel to Abu Dubai. While most of the pieces are of good quality and higher standard to foster lively debate, one could not miss the odd apocryphal account, unsupported claims, and uncalled-for opprobrium, which could stem from self-righteous atavistic resentment, to the way of life for the Somali people in Puntland.
I would endeavour to comment on two such articles namely; Aman Obsiye’s article on (Puntland: Federalist or Quasi secessionist?) posted on Hiiraan Online, and Osman Hassan’s piece called (Abdiweli: A shameless incorrigible betrayer of his nation) posted on Wardheernews. I unreservedly respect the views and intellectual capacity of both authors but both of them could be criticized of banality, bigotry and absolute mendacity in their arguments. Particularly, Hassan’s article is awash with outrageous slur and his ignorance on federal system of government is all too obvious.
As much as one may be tempted to address all the obvious errors, baseless assertions and biased reasoning – some of which do not warrant discussion and dissection – my main aim here is to contribute constructively, to the discourse and lay out my perspectives on President Gaas visit to UAE, the legality of Bosasso port deal, and Puntland’s federalist political inclinations. In the end, I have to touch on some of Obsiye’s irrelevant claims, especially his erroneous presumptions, on the establishment of Puntland.
President Gaas recent visit to UAE was one of many similar visits he to foreign countries in the last four years as Puntland’s president. The visit came at a critical time, when the federal government is contending with a diplomatic row with the United Arab Emirates. I would agree that the timing of this visit could appear suspicious, and unsettling but not treacherous or treasonable act.
I sympathize with the views of those who wish to see a united front to deal with the Gulf crisis, but one has to accept President Gaas visit was also very significant for his constituency, Puntland. President Gaas visit was to stave off the fallout of the diplomatic wrangle between UAE and Somali Federal government, to stand in the way of UAE financial support and investment to Puntland.
Article 53(3) of the Somali provisional constitution, requires the Federal government “to regard itself as the guardian of the interests of the Federal Member States, and must act accordingly”. The Federal government has failed to safeguard the interests of Federal Member States (FMS), in this case Puntland and has done nothing to allay the concerns of Somali people in Puntland. President Gaas gave the Federal Government ample time (more than two months) to resolve the issue. He was left with no other choice, but to visit Abu Dubai in a bid to protect the interests of his State.
President Gaas undertook his visit within the accepted para-diplomatic norms. Puntland has been exercising effective para-diplomacy in the last 18 years. Puntland para-diplomacy is widely accepted within the scope of socioeconomic development, investment and other constitutional competencies.
TOP TWEETS
@mpfsomalia: Access to capital is crucial for both job creation and dignified poverty reduction in #Somaliahttp://www.worldbank.org/en/
@sntvnews1: Over 20 Al Shabaab Militants Killed By SNA Troops After A Botched Attack On Military Base In Kulbiyow, Lower Jubba
@DalsanFM: The National Security Conference kicks off in the administrative capital South West State #Baidoa today as Somalia seeks a national security policy. President@M_Farmaajo , @SomaliPM and leaders of Galmudug, Puntland, South West, Jubbaland and Hirshabelle are in attendance.
@RAbdiCG:There have been over 20 targeted killings in Mogadishu by militants since start of Ramadan – the deadliest spike of AS’s assassination campaign in a single month.
@sntvnews1: With the population growth and inclusion of Sustainable Cities and Communities as one of the UN SGDs, how does Somalis stand to grow the economy of the major cities? #SDGs #Somalia
@HarunMaruf: Somalis: A Nation Marked for Liquidationhttp://hassankeynan.blogspot.
@SahraCabdi: Top security meeting kicks of #Baidio, #Somalia.- The president @TheVillaSomalia and the Pm @SomaliPM with the federal member states are at present. This security meeting comes following a waves of attacks and assassinations happened in #Somalia that carried out by Alshabab.
@HarunMaruf (Graphic!): Somali region of Puntland reportedly displays weapons seized and the bodies of Al-Shabab militants killed during retaliatory military operation in Galgala highlands on Saturday.
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed shake hands with security officials who received him at Baidoa airport.
Photo: @TheVillaSomalia