March 22, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
TFG soldiers capture new areas in Hiiraan region
22 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 84 words
Reports from Beledweyne city of Hiiraan region, central Somalia say that Somali national army backed by the Ethiopian troops have seized new areas from extremist group of al Shabaab this morning.
The forces have captured Bardhere village, 30 KM to Beledweyne city of Hiiraan region without any resistance from al Qaeda militias, the officials there confirmed this morning. The officials added that both soldiers are carrying out operations to maintain the security in the area and would continue ousting al Shabaab from the whole the region.
Key Headlines
- TFG soldiers capture new areas in Hiiraan region (Radio Mogadishu)
- AMISOM Force Commander Re-Assures Somalis Of Enhanced Security (AMISOM Force HQ)
- Somali speaker calls for urgent al Shabaab ouster (Bariga Afrika Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab fighters surrender to government forces in Gedo (Shabelle Radio Mogadishu SONNA)
- EU set to back strikes on Somali pirate lairs (AFP)
- Arab league to discuss Somalia situation ( Radio Risaala)
- Somali government to tighten Mogadishu security ( Shabelle)
- Conflicting reports on al Shabaab fighters entering Yemen ( Yemen Times)
- Al Shabaab claims victory over bloody fighting in Bakol ( Radio Kulmiye)
- Freed UK hostage set to fly home (KBC)
- Ottawa police officer sets up Somali Hope Academy (EMC)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM Force Commander Re-Assures Somalis Of Enhanced Security
22 Mar – Source: AMISOM Force HQ – 312 words
The commander of AU forces in Somalia re-assured Somali citizens of enhanced security in Somalia, despite al Qaeda backed extremists’ campaign of fear in recent days. On 19th March 2012, several mortars were launched on an Internally Displaced Peoples Camp near the presidential palace, killing six civilians. The Force Commander Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha condemned the recent attacks. He stated;
“These attacks are part of their campaign to implant fear and intimidate people. All Somalis must stand firm against these enemies of peace. We encourage you to continue to come forward with information about possible attacks and explosives. We will stand with you as you seek to build a better way of life.”
AMISOM and the Somali government have been working closely with the populationto intercept up to 70% of improvised explosive devices planted within the city. Yesterday, government forces foiled a suicide car attack at fagah junction, after they were tipped off by civilians.
Speaking of the extremists’s lost cause, the Force Commander highlighted how the al Qaeda backed militants are not at all concerned about the welfare of the Somali people. He said, “…if they were seeking to improve the situation of the people, they wouldn’t be attacking unarmed civilians,” while cautioning that these attacks may not be the last emphasizing that Somalis must stand firm and be resilient against al Qaeda’s desire to spread chaos.
Since last August, when al Shabaab was forced into a humiliating withdrawal from Mogadishu, the al Qaeda backed militia continues to undermine the Somali peace process.
The United Nations Security Council recently boosted AMISOM’s strength to 17,700 troops and accorded more resources. On 24th February 2012, the international community gathered to show confidence in the Somali-led peace process during the London Conference. With a new mandate and support from the international community, AU forces will soon expand their activities to the rest of Somalia.
SOMALI MEDIA
TFG soldiers capture new areas in Hiiraan region
22 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 84 words
Reports from Beledweyne city of Hiiraan region, central Somalia say that Somali national army backed by the Ethiopian troops have seized new areas from extremist group of al Shabaab this morning.
The forces have captured Bardhere village, 30 KM to Beledweyne city of Hiiraan region without any resistance from al Qaeda militias, the officials there confirmed this morning. The officials added that both soldiers are carrying out operations to maintain the security in the area and would continue ousting al Shabaab from the whole the region.
Somali speaker calls for urgent al Shabaab ouster
22 Mar – Source: Bariga Afrika, Shabelle – 149 words
The Speaker of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) Sharif Hassan Sheik Aden has on Thursday called for immediate removal of al Qaeda-aligned al Shabaab insurgents from remaining parts of the country. The speaker demanded Somali government armed forces and Ethiopian army to step up the mission to liberate Bay and Bakol regions in south-western Somalia to restore peace and order as soon as possible.
While speaking at a business community gathering in Baidoa town, the provincial capital of Bay region which is just 250 Km away south of Mogadishu, Sharif Hassan emphasized the importance of the war waged against the militants as well as forming local administrations under Somalia government for all regions liberated from al Shabaab. Lastly, Somali speaker urged the scholars, politicians and clerics to set up Special Forces to curb the insecurity in Baidoa town which is now under the control of government.
Al Shabaab fighters surrender to government forces in Gedo
22 Mar – Source: Shabelle, Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 84 words
Al Shabaab fighters have on late yesterday afternoon surrendered themselves to Somali government soldiers in Gedo region south Somalia, the administration of Gedo told the media this morning. 27 militiamen from the al Qaeda-linked group including two officers surrendered to Somali national forces in Gedo province laying down their weapons including machine guns after they had made contacts with T.F.G officials in Garbaharey city of region, officials added.
These fighters were in Bardhere district of Gedo region before they finally decide to lay down their weapons. “We received 27 defectors from the hard-line al Shabaab rebels in the past 24-hours, two of them senior commanders after they got in touch with us via telephone contacts,” said TFG military officials.
Arab league to discuss Somalia situation
22 Mar – Source: Radio Risaala – 107 words
The Arab League is to discuss Somalia among other issues in its parliament sitting which is to open in Cairo today. As reported by Mina News Agency, Somalia will be represented by some parliamentarians who will brief the house on the latest developments and the current situation of the country.
Also in this parliament sitting, hardships facing Arab countries specially the situation in Syria will be discussed. This meeting follows a similar one held earlier this month by the Arab League ministers in which Somalia was discussed. The Arab League insists that it’s determined in finding a solution for Somalia conflict and helping the Somali people and government.
Somali government to tighten Mogadishu security
22 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 134 words
Somali government said on Thursday that it plans to tighten the overall security of the war-torn Mogadishu, just days after string of deadly car bombs by al Shabaab fighters. Sources told Shabelle Media that the national security committee of Somali government led by president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed has held talks at the presidential palace over the security of the capital where TFG and AU soldiers are struggling to put off the run and hit attacks by the militants.
Mogadishu has seen spate of deadly attacks, including roadside bomb and suicide car blasts since al Shabaab pulled out last year over Somali and AMISOM constant offensives. Al Shabaab pledged on Tuesday to continue its guerilla-style attacks that would target Somali government buildings and AMSIOM military bases in Mogadishu, warning civilians to avoid those targets.
Al Shabaab vacates Hudur town
22 Mar – Source: Radio Risaala, Somalia Report – 165 words
Fighting broke out between al Shabaab Islamist fighters and forces from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) aided by Ethiopian troops on Wednesday afternoon when the allied forces began their advance on Hudur, in Somalia’s Bakol region. The TFG and Ethiopian forces secured the outskirts of Hudur and plan to seize the city on Thursday morning. TFG officials claimed the killed 10 al Shabaab militants during the fighting.
The commissioner of Hudur in Bakol region Mohamed Maalin added that yesterday’s clashes between al Shabaab and the joint forces saw militant group overpowered and some locations in Hudur district taken. Residents told Somalia Report al Shabaab fighters were still in the city.
“Al Shabaab is getting ready to defend the city and they have brought many troops here so the TFG and the Ethiopians can’t come in,” said a resident. Residents further reported that tensions are high in Hudur and fear fighting will break out at anytime as commanders of the government of Somalia troops say they are headed for town.
Hudur town is the headquarters of Bakol region and it is a key town currently occupied and controlled by al Shabaab, the government and Ethiopian troops are said to be headed for the town. The joint forces of the government of Somalia and Ethiopia have previously captured the town of Baidoa, the headquarters of Bay region.
Al Shabaab claims victory over bloody fighting in Bakol
22 Mar – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 118 words
Heavy fighting wracked parts of Bakol region last Wednesday, claiming many people and number of combatants among them Ethiopian troops were wounded. Al Shabaab fighters claimed a victory in the latest bloody battle in the region.
Speaking to the press on the phone line the spokesman for the group says they have killed a number of Ethiopian troops and also some of the Somali government troops. Somali government troops alongside the Ethiopian forces have launched large offensives against the Somali Al-Qaeda Alshabab fighters in the country, capturing some of the strategist locations in Gedo region, including Baidoa and other towns in the region.
Top al Shabaab commander arrives in southern Somali port city
22 Mar – Source: Keyd Media – 215 words
A senior al Shabaab rebel commander has on Tuesday arrived in the port city of Kismayu in Lower Jubba region, 500 Km away south of Somalia capital, Mogadishu, sources said. Reports confirm that high level delegation of al Shabaab led by the hard-line Galgala militia leader Sheikh Sa’eed Atom that traveled from Afgoye town in Lower region,30 Km south of Mogadishu has finally reached in the insurgent-held port town of Kismayu.
Sources suggest that the main aim of al Shabab rebel commander’s tour of the city is said to officially introduce himself to the senior al Shabaab leaders in southern Somalia, a month after his Galgala militia disclosed their formal merger with al Shabaab.
In his visit, Sheikh Sa’eed Atom is accompanied by several al Qaeda-aligned al Shabaab chiefs, including Sheikh Muqtar Robow known as ‘Abu Mansor’ Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rageh ‘Ali Dhere’ and Ibrahim Hajji well-known ‘Ibrahim Afghan’.
Puntland Minister of Agriculture warns of drought
21 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 227 words
Puntland’s minister of Agriculture Mohamud Haji Salah who held a press conference in Garowe warned of a drought in Puntland, Garowe reports.
Minister Salah who held a press conference in Garowe on Tuesday said that due to lack of rainfall in some regions for up to 2-3 years and rising temperatures in regions of Puntland that the possibility of a drought are very high in some areas and other regions are already facing a severe drought. The minister said that officials in his ministry who assessed drought areas in Puntland reported that wells in some areas have dried up.
“Average rainfall for Puntland has been substantially low for the past 2 years, many areas are in danger of a drought and some areas are already facing a drought. Pre-emptive measures need to be set in place, if there is nothing done about the drought, the situation will grow dire making it this an emergency case,” said minister Salah.
The minister said that the Puntland government will be assisting residents in drought areas and asked for the assistance from Diaspora, international aid organizations and residents in Puntland to do their part.
Somaliland Foreign Minister addresses Foreign Affairs Committee of European Parliament
21 Mar – Source: Somaliland Press – 374 words
The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Somaliland, Dr Mohamed A. Omar, today had a meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament.
In his statement to the Committee, Dr Omar drew attention to the contrasting fortunes of Somaliland and Somalia since the former declared independence in 1991. He spoke of “the emergence of a peaceful and democratic Somaliland through a painstaking process of reconciliation at the local level. At the same time, governance collapsed in Somalia, leading directly to the problems confronting the Horn of Africa today, namely terrorism, piracy, and hunger.”
Dr Omar declared that: “Somaliland has recently re-engaged with the international community, in order to play its part in solving the ongoing challenges in neighbouring Somalia. Last month’s London Conference represented an important milestone in Somaliland’s diplomacy.” The Foreign Minister continued that: “the international community’s focus on an inflexible and unrealistic notion of Somalia’s so-called territorial unity endangers the very stability that we are all looking for.
Protests Grip Mandera town
22 Mar – Source: Shabelle, Somalia Report – 164 words
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in Kenya’s border town of Mandera in north-eastern province to show their anger and sorry towards the growing insecurity in the region, reports said.
The demonstrations began after a well known man was killed by three gunmen on Tuesday night. Isaq Ali, a popular taxi driver, was killed as he left a mosque at the Mandera Islamic Center after Magrib Prayer, sparking chaos in the streets and prompting local authorities to close the border.
The protests forced traders to close their businesses and Somali refugess to flee into the neighbouring Beled-Hawo town. The refugees who fled civil war and unrest in their country, said they feared the crowds may turn against them even though they had no part in the killing today.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Conflicting reports on al Shabaab fighters entering Yemen
22 Mar – Source: Yemen Times – 1159 words
Conflicting reports about Somali al Shabaab forces entering Yemen to support al Qaeda related groups, have been provided by the Yemeni and Somali governments. The Somali Embassy in Sana’a said in a recently issued statement that 500 al Shabaab fighters had arrived on the beaches of Yemen to fight alongside al Qaeda linked militants in the Arabian Peninsula.
The Yemeni Interior Ministry accused the Somali youth movement of sending nearly 300 armed fighters to Yemen last week to participate in fighting with al Qaeda against the Yemeni army. The statements from the Interior Ministry and Somali Government on Somali arrivals to Yemen to support armed militants in Abyan, have created another layer of volatile complexity in the south and east of the country.
Faris Ghanim, a Yemeni journalist specializing in terrorism, told the Yemen Times that so far there have been no records of dead or injured Somali fighters in recent fighting in Yemen. This included airstrikes in Abyan, and ground fighting in both Abyan and Al-Baida.
Freed UK hostage set to fly home
22 Mar – Source: KBC – 368 words
A woman kidnapped from a remote beach resort in Kenya and held hostage in Somalia for more than six months is preparing to return home to Britain. Judith Tebbutt, 56, from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire was freed on Wednesday and flown to Nairobi after her family paid pirates a ransom.
She was reunited with her son Oliver at the British High Commission there. Mrs Tebbutt, whose husband David was shot dead during her abduction, said she was overwhelmed by “immense grief”.
It is unclear how much was paid as a ransom to her kidnappers, but the Times claims $1.3m (£800,000) was dropped from an aircraft. The negotiations were carried out by private security firm Control Risks, the paper reported. The UK Foreign Office said it did not make or facilitate ransom payments.
Mrs Tebbutt, a social worker, revealed she did not know her husband had been killed until two weeks after her kidnap. Mr Tebbutt, 58, who worked for publisher Faber & Faber, was shot by a gang of six men during the abduction at Kiwayu Safari Village, a luxury resort north of Lamu island.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
EU set to back strikes on Somali pirate lairs
22 Mar – Source: AFP – 197 words
The European Union will likely approve plans Friday to strike Somali pirate equipment on beaches, widening the scope of its naval operations four years into a mission to protect shipping. Germany had voiced reservations about plans to allow EU warships to fire at trucks, supplies, boats and fuel stowed on the coast of Somalia, but a minister indicated Thursday that Berlin would now back the plans.
“I expect that we will find a consensus,” German deputy defence minister Christian Schmidt told reporters on arrival for a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels. The decision is expected to be taken when EU foreign ministers meet Friday, one day after the defence chiefs, EU officials said.
The expanded mandate, however, will have to be submitted to the German parliament for approval, he added. The ministers will also formally approve the extension of the EU mission, Operation Atalanta, until December 2014.
EU officials have stressed that the new mandate would not call for the deployment of troops on the ground in Somalia. Nine EU naval ships are currently operating off the Horn of Africa, escorting vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Somalia and policing the key shipping route to thwart pirate attacks.
Ottawa police officer sets up Somali Hope Academy
22 Mar – Source: EMC – 744 words
A new 300 student school in Somalia should be opening this coming August thanks to the efforts of a Somalian-born Ottawa police officer, his colleagues and friends. Mahamud Elmi knows the value of education from his own life experience and that’s why he founded the Somali Hope Academy project.
Born in Somalia, Mahamud lived in a refugee camp in Kanya for three years before coming to Canada in 1996, speaking no English. He ended up graduating from Ridgemont High School and then from St. Lawrence College, joining the Ottawa Police Service in 2003. He is currently completing an undergraduate degree in sociology at Carleton University.
He told members of the Rotary Club of Ottawa – Stittsville at the Club’s meeting on Tuesday, March 13 that education changed his life and education is also a way of making a difference in Somalia.
Safe Water remains scarce in Somalia
21 Mar – Source: UNICEF – 526 words
A line of women and children curves around the wall of a defunct hospital, now home to an Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) in the Hodan District of Mogadishu.
At the entrance to the centre, which is run by UNICEF partner and local NGO SAACID , a water tap, basin and soap sit invitingly. These are life-saving resources for the families queuing outside the centre, many of whom have been displaced by violence or food insecurity.
Lack of water devastated Somalia last year. It was the worst drought in over two decades, leading to famine in several areas of the south. While the situation has improved, 2.34 million people still require life-saving assistance.
Safe water is still one of the most difficult commodities to come by in Somalia, despite the above-average rains during the last rainy season. The scarcity of this essential resource continues to challenge the health of all Somalis. Women and children are hit particularly hard, especially in areas experiencing continued food insecurity and conflict.
Billion-barrel oil field draws Canadian company to Somali desert
21 Mar – Source: Ma Cleans – 179 words
The prospect of plentiful crude oil has lured one Canadian company to northern Somalia’s hard-to-reach desert—and al-Qaeda isn’t happy about it. Bloomberg reported that Vancouver-based Africa Oil Corp. plans to invest $50 million to drill two wells in northern Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, which is home to the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militia. The first well, to be completed in March, will be the first drilled in Somalia in more than 20 years.
Africa Oil predicts the Dharoor Block in Puntland holds a bounty of over one billion barrels of oil, but the risks are equally large. An al-Shabaab Twitter post cited by Reuters rejects the intrusion of Western companies and warns of potential local threats: “Western companies must be fully aware that all exploration rights and drilling contracts in N. Eastern Somalia are now permanently nulliï¬ ed.” Africa Oil CEO Keith Hill acknowedged that there are “significant” security costs and insurance premiums for operating in war-torn Somalia. Still, given the insatiable global thirst for crude, Hill says the rarity of a “billion-barrel oil field” is a risk worth the reward.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
The Most Influential Players in Somali Politics
22 Mar – Source: Wardheer News – 2936 Words
Somalia has been in turmoil for the past 20 years, though Somalis are, first and foremost, to blame. However, there are other key figures that have vested interests in influencing Somalia. Some have brought much needed positivity in the looming chaos which has turned things around drastically. Others keep turning the wheels of mayhem while the average person in Somalia subsists in a life of nonexistence. The world is growing worrisome of the ongoing anarchy, and change is a must whether or not those at the helm are ready.
The recent London Conference, organized by David Cameron, the Prime Minster of the United Kingdom, brought together 50 countries to find a lasting solution to the Somali problem. However, judging from the seating arrangements of the delegates, the Somali leaders were seated at the periphery, thus telling their lack of importance. WardheerNews.com has compiled a short list of these key players and ranked them in this editorial.
“Today’s poets walk in the footsteps of their ancestors, inspired by their homeland’s history as a “land of poets,” where poetry was used for communicating information and for offering social commentary.” “Poets coming of age in Minneapolis, Toronto and London take their cues from the spoken word and hip-hop styles pioneered by African-Americans. Poems from this new generation take on issues that reflect their experiences as children of war, and the struggles that come with trying to make it in a new homeland.”
The new Somali-American bards
21 Mar – Source: Star Tribute – 1035 Words
Abdifatah Farah paused at the microphone before unleashing his words on the fidgety crowd of high schoolers last week. “In a world of delusion,” he began reciting, “I wait for a beginning, conclusion, a great mental confusion, one that perhaps can be called for a revolution.” The mostly Somali-American audience sat still, mesmerized by the young man’s words:
“Put the guns to the side and let’s reunite, put the guns to the side and let’s reunite,” he continued. “Let’s cast the past and laugh tonight. Let’s cast the past and laugh tonight. Now proceed, for you misconceive. ‘Cause the key to life is faith indeed. ‘Cause the key to life is faith indeed.”
“With Bin Laden dead, Zawahiri sees the opportunity to 1) achieve a unification with al Shabaab previously blocked by UBL and his “Old Guard” and 2) remove internal opposition to his supremacy from old stalwarts like Fazul.”
“Zawahiri then communicates to Godane, after UBL’s death, that the path to an AQ merger arises from the elimination of Fazul, Bilal al-Barjawi, and Barjawi’s deputy – those of old AQ ranks aligned with UBL against a formal merger. Godane agrees and adds in other al Shabaab rivals to the hit list – rivals which command other AQ foreign fighters like Hammami.”
Are Zawahiri and Godane killing off al-Qaeda members?
21 Mar – Source: Selected Wisdom – 970 Words
In Andrew Lebovich and I’s HSPI article “Hammami’s Plight Amongst al Shabaab & al Qaeda’s Game of Throne,” we posed some hypotheses related to recent infighting amongst al Shabaab factions and their al Qaeda alliances. My belief is that Hammami’s scrambling is not solely the result of a minor squabble, but instead an externality of a broad strategy by Mukhtar Abdirahman Godane to secure power within al Shabaab by eliminating older al Qaeda elements in Somalia and substituting key al Shabaab leaders with loyal supporters.
The first hypothesis put forth in the paper addresses potential broader implications of Godane’s internal bullying, assuming the reports of his power play prove true.
“The amount of their annual remittances to Somalia is around $1 billion. It is quite telling that no country in the East African Community matches this figure. “Also, such a statistic goes a long way to shed some light on the potential Somalia holds in the EAC if it was to gain back its stable nationhood and utilise the talents and famed business acumen of its citizens.”
Somali Diaspora’s unadorned lesson to EAC
21 Mar – Source: The New Times – 509 Words
Kenya may not be the only country in the region aiming to tap from the rich pickings of its Diaspora, but its political class is on the cusp of beginning a trend to woo their scattered votes starting this election cycle.
One, however, may not think of comparing Kenya’s Diaspora with Somalia, which has already expressed its intentions to join the East African Community (EAC). Yet, aside from politics, there can be some surprising comparisons.
Somalia still too lawless
21 Mar – Source: Daily Nation – 184 Words
A British woman kidnapped in Kenya by Somali bandits has been freed. We are happy that Mrs Judith Tebbutt has reunited with her family six months after she was seized from a beach resort in Lamu County on the Kenyan coast. Her husband, David, was killed in the cross-border incursion.
Mrs Tebbutt’s kidnapping marked the start of a series of raids in Kenya from Somalia. A number of Kenyans and foreigners were killed and abducted. It was partly in response that Kenya launched “Operation Linda Nchi”, a mission that took the battle to the extremists.
However, Somalia is by no means yet liberated from the insidious grip of terror. Large parts of the country are still under the control of al Shabaab, a terrorist group. Pirate gangs still make the Indian Ocean waters off Somalia a nightmare for shipping. More than 230 innocents from around the world remain captive.
That it took the payment of a ransom to secure Mrs Tebbutt’s release is a stark reminder that lawlessness still rules. Therefore, the international effort to return Somalia to sanity must be scaled up, not relaxed.
Top tweets
@Abdirik The 3 M, Mahiga, Museveni and Meles pose the greatest danger against #Somalia and the unity of our people,
@KarinaTR4S The ransom for releasing Judith Tebutt from #Somalia is alleged to be £800k. The price of a life?
@AbdulGhelleh @
@didrikblyverket #SooDaawoow
@tzaf #Somalia: ‘If money’s the motive, maybe it’s the solution, too’ http://goo.gl/ppAGy by @
@UNICEFAfrica Safe water still 1 of most difficult things to come by in #Somalia, despite the abv-avg rains during last rainy season. http://uni.cf/GKx9ZG.
Image of the day
Today is World Water Day, commemorated each year on 22 March. This year’s theme is “Water and Food Security”