March 17, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Warsheekh district falls for Somali government and AMISOM
17 Mar – Source: Radio RBC/Radio Dalsan/Soamlicurrent/Radio Dalsan – 158 words
Somali government forces backed by the African Union Forces seized Warsheekh district in the Middle Shabelle region in an operation started early morning on Sunday. The joint forces took the town from al Shabaab fighters without any resistance, the Deputy Governor of Middle Shabelle region Abdi Abdulle said.
Warsheekh is a coastal town on the Indian Ocean, some 90km north of Mogadishu, the country’s capital. The town has been one of the safest places for al Shabab fighters in the region.
Taking over Warsheekh is another frontier on al Shabaab’s warfare against the western backed government in Mogadishu and the African Union led mission in Somalia known as AMISOM.
The joint forces so far secured at least six new towns from the al Qaeda-linked group of al Shabaab since the beginning of March in a fresh operation to clear al Shabaab from the country. Somalia’s Federal Government gave the operation code name “Somalia unity operation”.
Key Headlines
- Delegates from the federal government head to Hudur (Radio Goobjoog/Radio Mogadishu)
- Puntland describes visit of Somaliland president to Laasqoray as “provoking” (Radio RBC/Radio Garowe/Horseed Media)
- Somali Prime Minister meets Musicians poets in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog)
- Warsheekh district falls for Somali government and AMISOM (Radio RBC/Radio Dalsan)
- Somali traffic cops battle gridlock and chaos (Al Jazeera)
- Somali Producers Exhibition conference opens in Dubai (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Women disabled undergo military drills to secure Somalia (Standard Media)
- Government forces AMISOM seize Bur-Eyle locality (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somali Parliament resumes sessions on March 22nd speaker declares (Radio Mogadishu/RBC/SNTV)
- Somaliland: Former director in charge of land planning escapes assassination attempt (Somaliland Informer)
- Quranic teachers arrested over indoctrination (Garowe Online)
- Somali PM hails Yemen Support (SABA)
- Life in former al Shabaab turf slowly returning to normalcy (Standard Media)
- Stability in Somalia the first step in countering terrorism in East Africa (East African)
- Nairobi police anti-terror unit has to get by on US$735 a month (South China Morning Post)
PRESS STATEMENT
Prime Minister hosts National Band ‘Waabari’ to discuss the importance of culture in countering terrorism
17 Mar- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 248 words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, hosted a meeting with the Somali National Band, ‘Fanaaniinta Qaranka Waabari’, to discuss the important role they and other leading figures in Somali culture have to play in the fight against terrorists and rebuilding of the nation.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Information, Mustaf Ali Duhulow, in which the Prime Minister committed to rebuilding and reopening the National Theatre.
During the discussions the Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, said:
“Somalia has always had a strong proud history of music, poetry and storytelling. Waabari is the nation’s band and you have contributed hugely to Somali society and the unity of our nation since the 1970’s. You continued to promote the importance of education and development when the country had no government; you are an icon of our people.
“We are at war with terrorists, they recruit our youth by brainwashing our future generation. Al-Shabaab want to prevent freedom of speech and expression and Somali culture is fundamental in undermining and standing up to these terrorists.
“Together we are responsible for ensuring our youth contribute to peace and development rather than destruction. Through your positive words and music you have a key role to play in helping to educate our youth and eradicating the threat of terrorism, extremism corruption and the abuse of human rights in Somalia.
“We are all united in the fight against terrorism and we will not rest until they have no hiding place in Somalia.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Delegates from the federal government head to Hudur
17 Mar- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Mogadishu/Jowhar Online- 86 words
High level delegates including ministers and parliamentarians from the federal government of Somalia headed to Hudur district, the headquarters of Bakol region.
The reason behind their visit to Hudur is to supervise the captured areas in the region and send emergency relief to the affected people in the region. The security situation of the district is tightened as the administration is in full preparation to welcome the delegates.
Hudur was recently seized by the federal government of Somalia backed by African Union peacekeeping troops in Somalia.
Puntland describes visit of Somaliland president to Laasqoray as “provoking”
17 Mar- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Garowe/Horseed Media/Halgan Online/Radio Garowe- 189 words
Puntland State of Somalia today reacted annoyingly against the visit of Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo to the disputed region of Sanag.
Puntland’s Information Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Indhaguran has warned against the visit of Somaliland president in Laasqoray which Puntland said it will lead into possible armed clashes in the region.
“Puntland is very concerned on today’s visit by President Ahmed Silanyo of Somaliland in Laasqoray which is a provocative act.” The minister said in a press conference in Garowe, the capital of Puntland later today.
“Puntland will not tolerate any aggressive intervention into its borders.” The minister added.
Asked if Puntland was deploying its forces into the region to prevent Somaliland’s interference, the minister replied that Laasqoray, on the east of Sanaag region is not a war front.
Somaliland presidential spokesman declared that president Silanyo visit to Laasqoray was the first in its kind and was aimed to inspect the livelihood of the people there. Both Somaliland and Puntland claim the two regions of Sool and Sanag as part of its administrative border.
Somali Prime Minister meets Musicians, poets in Mogadishu
17 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog – 102 words
The Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed met with Somali Musician and artists in a dinner and asked them to take an active role in public awareness to restore peace and stability.
During the Meeting the prime was accompanied by Information Minister Mustafa Ali Dhuhulow. They focused on the best way the musicians can work hand in hand with the federal government to guide and prevent the youth from joining piracy and insurgence in the region.
The Musicians and poets who attended the meeting include members who returned to the country recently, they presented songs and poems with lots of interests.
Warsheekh district falls for Somali government and AMISOM
17 Mar – Source: Radio RBC/Radio Dalsan/Soamlicurrent/Radio Dalsan – 158 words
Somali government forces backed by the African Union Forces seized Warsheekh district in the Middle Shabelle region in an operation started early morning on Sunday. The joint forces took the town from al Shabaab fighters without any resistance, the Deputy Governor of Middle Shabelle region Abdi Abdulle said.
Warsheekh is a coastal town on the Indian Ocean, some 90km north of Mogadishu, the country’s capital. The town has been one of the safest places for al Shabab fighters in the region.
Taking over Warsheekh is another frontier on al Shabaab’s warfare against the western backed government in Mogadishu and the African Union led mission in Somalia known as AMISOM.
The joint forces so far secured at least six new towns from the al Qaeda-linked group of al Shabaab since the beginning of March in a fresh operation to clear al Shabaab from the country. Somalia’s Federal Government gave the operation code name “Somalia unity operation”.
Somali Producers Exhibition conference opens in Dubai
17 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 142 words
A conference dubbed Somali producers and exhibition conference has opened on Monday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. According to United Nations food and agricultural association (FAO) which is one of the co organizers of the conference there will be much focus on the production of the Somali agricultural sector whereas products mainly from farming, fishing and livestock will be exhibited in the conference.
The conference which is also attended by Somalia government officials is meant to lure investors to invest in Somalia livestock, fishing and farming sector in an effort to rebuild the collapsed economy.
Somali businesses men who are taking part in the conference have told Bar-Kulan that they expect the conference to be on an annual basis so as to encourage food production in Somalia.
The event which has opened today is expected to conclude on Wednesday 19th.
Government forces, AMISOM seize Bur-Eyle locality
17 Mar- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 80 words
Somali government forces and African peacekeeping forces in an offensive military drive seized the control of Bur- Eyle locality in Bay region. The district commissioner of Bur-Hakaba Hussein Mohamed Ali told the press that the joint forces captured Bur-Eyle in Bay region Sunday night without confrontation.
He stated that the forces will go ahead and capture the remaining areas in Bay from al Shabaab fighters region. Al Shabaab has not yet comment about the capture of Bur- Eyle.
Somali Parliament resumes sessions on March 22nd, speaker declares
17 Mar- Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC/SNTV- 146 words
Somalia’s Federal Parliament will commence its 4th session sitting in Mogadishu on March 22nd, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari declared on Sunday. “I inform the lawmakers of Somalia’s People’s House [Parliament] wherever they are that the 4th session of the parliament will be resumed on March 22nd,” Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari said in a statement released late on Sunday.
The Speaker called on all the parliamentarians in the country and those in the overseas to reach the capital of Mogadishu in order to be prepared for their duties. “In compliance with the Parliament’s bylaws, I urge all the Parliamentarian to be ready in executing their national duties,” the statement from the Speaker added.
Somalia Federal Parliament which is formed in August 2012, has 275 members representing the five main clans as a clan-based formula.
Somaliland: Former director in charge of land planning escapes assassination attempt
17 Mar- Source: Somaliland Informer-243 words
Former Hargeisa City Hall land planning Director Hon. Abdilahi Aw Ali Ahmed aka Ubah narrowly escaped unhurt in an assassination attempt after he was ambushed by unidentified armed men near his residence.
He claimed that armed assailants opened fire but one of the bullets broke the rear mirror of the car he was driving at the time of the attack.
Mr. Ubah contacted Hadhwanaagnews to break the attack and declined to name names of those who he thinks are the master minders of the attack. He pointed an accusatory finger to five local councilors are behind the attempted assassination on his life.
Mr. Ubah, the ex Director in charge of land and planning at the Hargeisa City Hall resigned from the post last month and cited that the sole reason he left from the post was that he felt that certain councilors were the real obstacle that were staunchly against him to discharge his duty but later added that they do not know anything about the task that they are responsible of. His vehicle was taken to Somaliland Criminal Investigation Department.
The presence of police can be seen the former Director of planning residence and are investigation into the attempted assassination.
It is the fourth attempt assassination intended to murder innocent civilians. Fire was opened to a parliamentarian. First deputy Chairman of current ruling party escaped an assassination attempt. Hubaal was also another target for an assassination attempt.
Quranic teachers arrested over indoctrination
16 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 127 words
Federal Government of Somalia’s security forces Saturday launched a surprise security sweep that led to the arrest of dozens of Quran recitation teachers in Mogadishu districts, Garowe Online reports.
Security sources disclose that Somali Intelligence and National Security Agency (NISA) suspected the holy Quranic teachers of being Al Shabaab agents who are brainwashing and indoctrinating children at private schools in Mogadishu’s Hodon and Wadajir districts.
Witnesses confirmed to GO that soldiers in armoured personnel carriers opened volleys of gunfire upon their arrival at pre-planned Quranic schools.
Reacting to the new security sweep, a mother of two whose teacher has been taken into undisclosed custody for investigation expressed displeasure over the move: “It is an alarming issue which is new to the Somali people, it could eliminate Islam”.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somali traffic cops battle gridlock and chaos
17 Mar- Source: Al Jazeera English-1075 Words
“Tow it away, tow it away!” shouts a short man at a group of men wearing white shirts and navy blue trousers. They are the Somali traffic police, and Ali Hirsi Barre – the short man with a larger-than-life personality – is the head of the department. His voice is raspy, but it doesn’t stop him from shouting to be heard over the Mogadishu rush-hour cacophony.
Barre is Somalia’s first traffic commissioner in over two decades. With a stick in his right hand, a mobile phone in his left, and a pistol dangling from his waist, he orders his men to tow away a vehicle parked illegally by the side of Mogadishu’s main thoroughfare. It’s the 10th vehicle they have towed this morning – and it is not even 10am yet.
Three years ago when he was appointed to the $130-per-month job, the city was divided into zones controlled by the government on one side and the armed rebel group al-Shabab on the other. “No one wanted the job or to be a traffic officer. We had no offices or traffic centre,” said Barre, wiping sweat from his brow with a white handkerchief.
Somali PM hails Yemen Support
17 Mar – Source: SABA – 77 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed hailed on Sunday the Yemen’s efforts to support his country. During his meeting with Charge d’Affaires of Yemeni embassy in Mogadishu Fuad al-Zurqa, Ahmed indicated to aid Yemen would provide for Somalia in the petroleum and gas fields in addition to the education and training scholarships for Somalis.
The Somali PM and the Yemeni Charge d’Affaires discussed also the possible means to enhance the cooperation relations between the two brotherly countries.
Life in former al Shabaab turf slowly returning to normalcy
16 Mar – Source: Standard Media – 102 words
Dhobley town on the Somalia-Kenya border was a stronghold of al Shabaab terrorists before they were kicked out by Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) forces under the aegis of the African Union Mission to Somalia ( AMISOM).
Since KDF and other AMISOM forces moved into Somalia over two years ago and threw the militants out of the town, life is slowly returning to normal. Town residents are upbeat over the prevailing peace.
An immigration post has been built at the border and a police camp is also in place to ensure security. But more important is the acceptance the forces have gained among the locals.
Women, disabled undergo military drills to secure Somalia
16 Mar- Source: Standard Media-646 Words
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops are now training Somali soldiers to take over the mandate of securing their country. At the Dhobley Somali National Army (SNA) training camp, women and 242 men are undergoing military drills. Fatuma Abdullahi, 32, and Farhia Aden, 37, are not deterred by age in their determination to see a better Somalia, which will be safe for their children. Abdullahi is a mother of one while Aden, a widow, has seven children who she has to take care of. However, the training is not as conventional as military training should be because of the unique nature of Somalia’s political and security situation.
For a country that has seen two decades with no functional government, there are still many firearms in civilian hands, which make it difficult for security operations. The training is slightly flexible for the two women to give them time to tend to their children. They report for training in the morning and go home later in the afternoon. The military also has disabled people – most of them having been victims of war but have decided to stick with the army.
Stability in Somalia the first step in countering terrorism in East Africa
15 Mar- Source: East African- 432 words
Recently, the US and UK issued an alert about a possible terrorist attack in East Africa. Jeff Otieno spoke with Maalim Mahboub, the Executive Secretary of Igad on the threat of terrorism to the region’s stability and efforts being made to counter serious crimes.
East Africa has been on high alert following warnings that terrorists were planning an attack. What measures has IGAD taken to protect the region’s citizens?
In January 2002, the IGAD heads of State summit committed itself to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Between June 2006 and 2010, the IGAD Capacity Building Program Against Terrorism (ICPAT) helped member states to focus on enhancing judicial measures, building internal counter-terrorism co-ordination units, strengthening border management to stop the movement of terrorists across borders and training of law enforcement officers.
As a result of the success of the project, an IGAD-wide counter-terrorism judicial mechanism was formed and practical border control guidelines developed. Some 275 law enforcement officers were trained and IGAD passed its Mutual Legal Assistance and Extradition Conventions.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Nairobi police anti-terror unit has to get by on US$735 a month
17 Mar- Source: South China Morning Post- 598 words
Kenya’s lead counterterrorism agency is working to stop another Westgate Mall-style terrorist attack – which many in Nairobi believe Somali militants will try again – on a shoestring budget: the Anti-Terror Police Unit in the capital has just US$735 to spend this month.
Documents show that even after the September attack by al-Shabab on an upscale mall in Nairobi that killed at least 67 people, the country’s top anti-terror security force is allocated only around US$2,205 for its operations – for maintenance and fuel for cars, travel expenses and office supplies – in January, February and March. By comparison, a Kenyan member of Parliament earns about US$45,000 in salary and allowances during a three-month period.
Kenya is facing a budgetary crisis brought on by high salaries paid to some government employees, its government has said. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his vice-president have each pledged to take a 20 per cent pay cut, and Kenyatta is urging other top government officials to do the same. Kenyatta also said more resources would be allocated to the police and military.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“If Kenya and other East African nations want to counter al Shabaab, they should put in sufficient forces of their own. The fate of the factions that desire to rule Somalia in place of al-Shabab is not a compelling national interest of the United States. There is nothing here worth risking American lives or money.”
Advising Somalia
17 Mar- Source: The Blade-257 Words
The Pentagon has acknowledged that the United States recently sent a team of military advisers to war-torn Somalia, to help Somali and other African forces fight the al Shabaab opposition group. This is risky business.
The team, which the Pentagon characterized as “small,” is tasked with providing communications, logistics and planning help. Its installation in Mogadishu — where a climate of car and suicide bombings, widespread fighting, and tenuous government authority has prevailed since 1991 — represents the first U.S. boots on the ground in Somalia since the 1993 “Black Hawk Down” killing of American servicemen. That incident led to the withdrawal of U.S. troops who had been in the northeast African nation since the previous year.
President Obama’s decision to deploy U.S. forces is consistent with continuing American involvement in Somalia through a Central Intelligence Agency presence, raids by Special Operations forces, fighter-bomber strikes, drone attacks, and training and financing provided to Somali, Kenyan, and other African fighters who have sought unsuccessfully to impose order.
“You keep your head down and windows rolled up as you drive through Mogadishu’s present, shaking your collective heads at how far you’ve fallen and the lives never lived. You know shit is bad when you to point to the dictatorship era as your very own La Belle Époque…you say a really silent secular prayer for comrade Siyaad.”
Messy notes on Mogadishu
15 Mar- Source: Idaly Bilan Blog-1077 Words
When you leave Mogadishu, you must remember how terrified of the planes you were. Frantically searching the interwebs for casualty history of their McDonnell MD-80 flight liners. You’re a hypocrite who commits herself to all things African, unless they have wings and seek to transport your body from one space to another. Technology is for the melanin challenged, your self-hating fear explains. The mortars terrified you too, as did the hungry boys who come baring body amour made of molten trauma seeking more of Mogadishu’s carcasses as penance.
You try to still your mind and not think of the 1001 ways you can expire in the next few moments while you wait for this struggling plane. Instead, you’ll sit at Aden Adde International Airport, browsing all the images that fill your Smartphone. You delight at the faces of Mogadishu’s sons and daughters, and marvel at the possible reactions those images would instill in homesick friends. Then the remains of your feeble ethics will interject and tell you that you mustn’t publish faces of children you haven’t fed.
You’re a writer now, and writers ought to have words in their pockets and limbs, words about what you’ve just seen in Mogadishu. But you have nothing, no letters, no poetic syntax, no scathing rhetoric, no geopolitical insight, nothing. You just wanna write this city and turn those paragraphs into authentic accounts of a deeply majestic place. You’ll laugh at the girl who once wanted to create movements here, who had no answers to the, ‘how’, ‘when’ questions, but had the answers for the, ‘why’ and ‘where’ ones.
Top tweets
@Guuleyste VIDEO: #Mogadishu is safer and more secure than some would like us to believe. Roads are remarkably good#Somalia http://www.youtube.com/watch?
@GabeJoselow Addressing a growing concern among Somalis RT @amisomsomalia: “#AMISOM will not stay in Somalia indefinitely.” Col Ali
@justinmarozzi It’s tough to be a traffic cop in #Mogadishu#Somalia on $100 a month. Hats off to them.http://geeskaafrika.com/?p=
@UNLazzarini ‘#Somalia: Less Than 3 Years After Famine Gripped Breadbasket, Somali Farmers Bounce Back‘@WFPSomalia http://bit.ly/OaFPhk
@amisomsomalia AMISOM continues building capacity of Somali institutions so that they take on full responsibility for managing the State when AMISOM leaves
Image of the day
AMISOM Djibouti Contingent pray after capturing the town of Bulo Burto on 13 March. Photo: @NgogaFred