March 23, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Six Al-Shabaab Members Killed In Bardale
22 March – Source: Radio Dalsan – 86 Words
Six members of armed group Al Shabaab were killed when an explosive device they were trying to assemble on the road accidentally exploded, according to area residents. There has been no official comment from Al Shabaab concerning the claim. Al-Shabaab has targeted senior Somali government officials using explosive devices many times since being pushed out of main cities such as Mogadishu and Kismayo over the last couple of years.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia Marks World Water Day Amid Water Shortage In Parts Of The Country
23 March – Somali Current – 282 Words
Somalia joined the world in marking World Water Day on March 22, 2015 amid acute water shortages in parts of the country. Several high profile officials including ministers attended an event for World Water day, and leaders who spoke at the event emphasized the necessity for clean water. Abdi Hakin, the Assistant Minister of Energy and Water called on water companies to provide clean water to their residents to prevent waterborne diseases, and also called on water companies to reduce the price of the water which has skyrocketed in recent months. There have been reports that 200 liters now cost 100,000 Somali Shillings, more than $5, in some villages in central and southern Somalia.The price is too high for most Somalis who live on less than a dollar in a day.
Water and pasture has been at the center of conflict between many Somali communities over the past few years. According to a report released by Oxfam only 30 percent of Somalis have access to clean water, leaving the other 70 percent vulnerable to life threatening diseases from contaminated water. The global theme for World Water Day this year is “Water and Energy.” Worldwide, 768 million people lack access to improved water ,and 2.5 billion people have no improved sanitation. According to the UN Millennium Development Goals, in the last two decades 2 billion people have gained access to safe drinking water.
MP Says Justice Is A Foundation Stone For Building Strong State
23 March – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 160 Words
Veteran Somali Federal MP Prof. Mohamed Omar Dalha said that establishing a sound justice system in the country is a key element for building a strong Somali state that can serve to its citizens and live peacefully with its neighbors. Prof. Dalha, also remembered for his past singing career, in which he debuted the popular “Shankaroon” song, believes that all the country’s woes could be put to an end if justice is served. He said that even the citizens would support the government if they see justice done in all circles of government. But the MP reminded the public that they should start exercising justice in their homes and localities, and shouldn’t only wait for the government to deliver justice. Injustice is rampant in the country where there are no legal frameworks, and courts often fall behind in trying cases.
University Of Nugal Students Conclude Tour
23 March – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 106
An association of students from the University of Nugal has concluded a tour in the regions of Sool, Sanag, and Cayn. According to Samra Mohamed Hashi, who is the heading the association, the tour is meant to encourage youth in the area to work hard in their studies. They also sensitized youth in the area on the dangers of illegal immigration and the use of drugs such as khat. Education leaders from the region welcomed the visit by the university students saying students in the area need the motivation boost.
President Hassan Fires Top Somali Military Commander
22 March – Source: Waryalist/Somali Current – 147 Words
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has fired one of the Somali key military commanders, Gen. Mohamed Qafow, and appointed a new official for the post following a presidential decree issued on Sunday. The Somali National Army commander of the 12 April Unit headed major military operations against Al-Shabaab insurgents in parts of southern Somalia, which has led to key security gains in the last two years. In an exclusive interview with Dalsan Radio, Mohamed Qafow endorsed the president’s move saying the President has constitutional rights to replace Somali officials. “I am not disappointed about president’s decision and I don’t have any grievance, this is a government process and they thanked me for what I did,” the General said. President Hassan has appointed General Saney for the position. The Al-Qaeda affiliated militants still control tracts of land in southern Somalia.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya To Build Wall Along Somalia Border In Terror Fight
23 March – Source: Standard Digital – 351 Words
Kenya will this week start constructing a wall along the border with Somalia as part of efforts to contain terror attacks, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has said. Mr Nkaissery said they will start in Mandera down to Wajir and erect a wall that will reduce border entries. “Mandera and Bulahawa are almost merged and you cannot tell which is which. Now we want to put up a wall at border point one and close the border. That will reduce the porous border entries into our country,” he said. Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow welcomed the move but argued it is not a long-term solution. “He is admitting there are terrorists operating there and not bandits as he has been claiming. We hope it will help in containing the problem,” said Mr Kerrow. He said it would be difficult and expensive to construct and man the over 200km long wall.
The senator challenged Nkaissery to come up with long lasting solutions that can help contain continued attacks. Other officials said the Government had transported construction materials to the targeted areas and construction will start anytime. Al-Shabaab has carried out numerous attacks in the region. Mandera and Bulahawa are about two kilometres apart and officials believe it is the only area that has remained under attack whereas others are relatively calm and secure. Governor Ali Roba said terror attacks have claimed almost 90 lives in the last seven months. Roba said County Commissioner Alex ole Nkoyo is feeding Nkaissery with wrong information about terror attacks and demanded his sacking. “Is a county commissioner under whose watch nearly 90 Kenyans have lost their lives extremely competent as claimed by Nkaissery?” asked Mr Roba. Kerrow wondered why police officers in Mandera covering over 30,000 square kilometres are paid less compared to other regions, which are less than 5,000 square kilometres. He said insecurity is hampering development in the area and other affected regions and called for seriousness from the national government in tackling it.
AMISOM Head Engages With EU Partners And Somali Diaspora
22 March – Source: AMISOM News – 506 Words
The Special Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia and head of the AU in Somalia Amb. Maman Sidikou has appealed to Somalis in the diaspora to be the champions of the change and growth the country needs. He made the call during a diaspora engagement meeting in the Hague, Netherlands, that was held on the heels of a meeting with the EU Political and Military Committee composed of the ambassadors of all the EU member states held in Brussels. The SRCC also held bilateral meetings with senior officials of the European Commission. While in Brussels, the SRCC briefed the Committee on the prevailing situation in Somali, the activities of AMISOM, highlighting the achievements of AMISOM and SNA joint operations as well as current operations that continue to weaken the Al Shabaab.
Amb. Sidikou noted that Somalia remains on the right path towards the attainment of the Vision 2016 agenda but still faces challenges including the need to strengthen the Somali National Army (SNA), the form and shape of elections in 2016 and stabilization of the areas recovered from Al Shabaab that require the international community’s continued attention. On AMISOM, the SRCC underlined the need for the forthcoming joint AU-UN benchmarking to facilitate the reconfiguration of AMISOM, with a view to strengthening it including through the deployment of specialist units, additional formed police units, and deployment of civilian personnel in the sectors.The SRCC also held bilateral meetings with a number of officials including Mr. Stephano Manservisi, Chef de Cabinet of the High Representative/Vice President of the EU, Mr. M. Popowski, Deputy Secretary General, European External Action Service, Mr. Nicholas Westcott, Managing Director Africa, European External Action Service and Mr. Koen Doens, Director East and Southern Africa and ACP Coordination, Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, among others.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Strategic Port Captured In Fight Against Al-Shabaab In S. Somalia: Military Source
22 March – Source: Xinhua News – 224 Words
Kenyan and Somalia forces on Sunday captured the strategic port town of Kuday in a major beach landing operation in southern Somalia, military officials confirmed. Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesman David Obonyo said the operation also saw KDF and Somalia National Army (SNA) operating under African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) kill several militants and destroy five technical vehicles. He said the attack is a major blow to the Al-Shabaab. “This morning at 4:30 a.m., KDF and SNA troops under AMISOM operations in Somalia captured the key port town of Kuday in a major beach landing operation,” Obonyo said in a statement issued in Nairobi. “During the operation, scores of Al-Shabaab fighters were killed, five technical vehicles were destroyed and assorted weapons and ammunition were seized.” Kuday, which lies south of the strategic port town of Kismayu, was a key logistical and operational base and heavily defended by Al-Shabaab militants. It was also used to launch attack in southern Somalia.”The town also served as a key pointy for entry of contraband goods into southern Somalia,” Obonyo said, adding that AMISOM is also in control of the adjacent island of Mdoa and Dagazi In recent months, AMISOM forces have been reported to have exerted considerable pressure on the Al-Shabaab fighters.
Turkish Model In Somalia Focus Of Daily Sabah’s London Panel
22 March – Source: Daily Sabah – 570 Words
Turkey’s increasing diplomatic involvement in Africa was discussed by the panel, “Turkish Foreign Policy in Somalia: Humanitarian or Strategic?” on Friday at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. The Daily Sabah Center for Policy Studies, the think tank extension of the Daily Sabah newspaper, organized the event in collaboration with the SOAS Somalia Society. Turkey’s former ambassador to Mogadishu, Dr. Kani Torun, Muslim Charities Forum Chairman Abdurahman Sharif, and Jason Mosley from the Chatham House think tank participated in the conference.
An associate fellow in the Africa Program at Chatham House, Mosley opened the discussion as the first speaker. In his remarks Mosley underlined the difference of Turkey’s efforts in Somalia compared to others who are engaged in the country. “Turkey’s efforts in Somalia are much different than the Western approach in the country. It has much more legitimacy and popularity,” he said. Mosley also said that the reason behind the popularity of Turkey is the manner of humanitarian aid. “Turkey has the support of the grassroots of Somalia. They have the appreciation because Turkish involvement is only business, no counter-terrorism or anything else.”
Torun started his speech by laying out Turkey’s clear principles in its engagement in Somalia. He said one of the most important principals was no involvement in local politics in the country. He also said Turkey took risks that other countries could not take in Somalia: “Turkey has opened an embassy in downtown Mogadishu. No other country has opened an embassy in the heart of the country. Our embassy in Mogadishu was attacked and a security officer was killed. Unlike other international organizations, Turkey took the risk and the Somali people understood and appreciated this because this was something that came from our hearts.” He also emphasized how sensitive President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is about Somalia. “The Somali issue really touches President Erdoğan; he sees this effort from the point of Muslim solidarity,” he said.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“No young person gets up one day and says, ‘I’m going to join ISIS,’ ” said Abdirizak Bihi, 50, a Somali activist who has worked against radicalization since his nephew left Minnesota in 2008 and was killed fighting for the Shabab. There has to be someone on the ground to listen to your problems and channel your anger.”
From Minneapolis To ISIS: An American’s Path to Jihad
22 March – Source: New York Times – 2, 793 Words
Reading back over Abdi Nur’s Twitter feed, his chilling progression from the basketball courts of South Minneapolis to the battlefields of Syria is clear. Early last year, he began posting stern religious pronouncements and snippets of scripture. By April 2, a day after turning 20, he hailed Islamic fighters: “If the sky would be proud of the existence of the stars, the land should be proud of the existence of the Mujahideen.” On May 29, the day he disappeared, he posted, “I Thank Allah For Everything No Matter What!” Soon he was in Turkey, rebuffing his mother’s and sister’s anguished pleas to come home. In late July, he declared, “What A Beautiful Day in Raqqa,” the de facto capital of the Islamic State in Syria. Last Aug. 7, he posted a picture of himself online with his finger on the trigger of a Kalashnikov.
Mr. Nur had become one of a small number of Americans enticed by the apocalyptic religious promise of the self-described Islamic State, which has seized large sections of Syria and Iraq and claims to be building a caliphate. A slightly built man with an easy smile, he is a rare example of an American fighting for the terror group whose story can be pieced together from online postings, interviews and public records. His case suggests that the Islamic State may rely on recruiters inside the United States and shows how hard it is to predict who will be swept away by ideological fervor. Mr. Nur was enrolled in community college outside Minneapolis and spoke of becoming a lawyer. Then he started visiting a new mosque and dressing in more traditional garb. He plotted his getaway with a friend, Abdullahi Yusuf, 18, but their fates starkly diverged. Mr. Yusuf was stopped as he tried to leave the country and is now in a Minneapolis halfway house, part of a closely watched experiment to spare him a long prison term and give him a role dissuading others attracted to terrorism.
The number of Americans drawn to the Islamic State remains modest, especially by comparison with the 3,000 or so who have joined the group from Europe. More than two dozen men and women have been stopped by the F.B.I. and charged before they could fly away. Social media posts and court records suggest that perhaps another two dozen have made it to the group in Syria, though even intelligence agencies do not have an exact count. At least four Americans have died fighting for the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. With no clear pattern among recruits, law enforcement officials have scrambled to identify people attracted to the terror group in time to intervene — blocking their travel or potentially stopping a plot at home. Most of the American ISIS volunteers display an earnest religious zeal, usually newfound. In an incongruous touch, several have visited malls to buy athletic gear before leaving for jihad — Mr. Nur, for instance, went to Macy’s for Nike apparel, the F.B.I. discovered.
“Talking about the particular need to ensure access to water for people deprived of their freedom, Ms Mousa explains: “The ICRC works to improve living conditions in places of detention. If you are free, you can move around to fetch water. Detainees do not have the same opportunity. Lack of water and poor sanitation systems in detention places quickly affect the health of inmates. Waterborne diseases are one the consequences of the lack of clean water and proper sanitation systems.”
Somalia: For Detainees, Water Is A Particularly Urgent Need
20 March – Source: ICRC – 462 Words
In Somalia nature and years of conflict have conspired to restrict the people’s access to water, the very essence of life. To ease their suffering, the ICRC endeavours to provide water to detainees and civilians affected by conflict, and to improve their sanitation facilities. Somalia’s dry climate and lack of rain make it very challenging for the population to get access to water. Following two decades of armed conflict, water and sanitation infrastructure is almost totally rundown. This protracted problem has not spared detention places, such as prisons and police stations. Yet supplying water in sufficient amounts is one of the basic services that must be carried out without interruption in any place holding detainees. Water is essential for drinking, preparing meals, maintaining personal hygiene, and also for sewage disposal.
As the ICRC water specialist for Somalia, May Mousa, explains, a detainee requires a minimum of 10 to 15 litres of water a day for drinking, hygiene and food preparation. To help alleviate problems caused by severe water shortage, the ICRC’s water and habitat programme in Somalia works not only to supply water to detention centres but also to meet the water and sanitation needs of nearly 300,000 people across the country. In Puntland region, inmates detained at the police station in Garowe town say that, “since ICRC specialists managed to build equipped latrines and a large water tank, the situation radically improved. Look at us and around. Our clothes are washed, the cells and their environment are clean and most important, thanks to good hygiene, we are healthy. ”
Top tweets
@UNSomalia: #Somalia: Interagency Rapid Assessment Report: Dharkenley Evictions (March 2015) http://shar.es/1fRzwv via @reliefweb
@ygaraad: President Hassan Sheik of #Somalia meets representatives of Somalis with disability.
@Aynte: Discussion w/#Puntland part of @MoPIC_Somalia plan to cooperate w/regions in key areas for the sake of #Somalia
@robynleekriel: Life is breathed into #Somalia‘s security sector. From neighborhood watch 2 SWAT teams w female officers. Our report: http://www.enca.com/africa/
@ASSIYYA: Watch this 14mins video on #Somalia between 1960-1990 and you will understand just what made us so great!https://www.youtube.com/watch?
@calestous: @dailynation #Somalia‘s #windpower resource is comparable to Denmark’s. Sleeping giant. More reason for peace
Image of the day
AMISOM Police Gender Officer, SP. Sylvia Auma, leads a Gender Perspective workshop.
Photo: AMISOM