March 24, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali PM deplores assassination against eight elders, calls for probe

24 Mar- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV- 162 words

Somalia Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has condemned the assassination against eight traditional elders in Bay region late on Sunday.

In a press statement released this morning, the Prime Minister has called for urgent investigation to the case to identify the killers. “It was a shocking accident committed by unkind and inhuman criminals.” the Prime Minister said in the statement.

He said the government will try its best to probe up the case as he sent his condolences to the families and friends of the eight people shot and killed near Burhakaba late on Sundayby gunmen.

The eight elders from Lower Shabelle region were shot and killed by gunmen as they were returning from Baydhabo and heading t their home region after attending the election of Madobe Nunow, the president of one of the two disputed administrations in Baidoa.

Baay police commissioner has blamed the attack on the al Shabaab militant group but the group denied the allegations.

Key Headlines

Somali PM deplores assassination against eight elders calls for probe (Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle)
Four killed in Qoryolley shelling (Radio Bar-kulan/RBC)
Security situation of Baidoa stable after riots (Radio Goobjoog)
Armed men gun down eight elders in Bay region (Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle)
Somalia President rallies support for Vision 2016 plan (Africa Review)
Al Shabab denies killing eight elders (Radio Dalsan/Somalimemo Online)
Ahlu Sunna group says they are not part of ongoing operation against al Shabaab (VOA Somali Service)
Somalis fear ‘death-sentence’ deportations (Aljazeera)
World water day marked in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan)
Lasanod Community invests in youth jobs to curb migration (Radio Ergo)
Fishermen in Puntland quit Job due to ‘threats’ from Foreign Vessels (Horseed Media)
Somalia foreign Minister arrive in Kuwait city (Radio Goobjoog/Radio Mogadishu)
Hargeisa Central police Station chief placed under house arrest (Somaliland Informer)
Kenya: Phone records hold clue to Mombasa terror probe (Standard Media)
IGAD to build human capacity in combating terrorism (Walta Information Centre)
Kenyan police chief vows enhanced security despite terror attack (Shanghai/Xinhua)
“The time of al Shabaab is over” Somali General says (Reuters)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister condemns brutal murder of Lower Shabelle elders by Al-Shabaab

24 Mar- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 121 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, today condemned the brutal murder of eight elders from Lower Shabelle. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, said:

“I send my personal condolences to the families and communities of the elders brutally murdered by terrorists. These elders were a pillar of strength and wisdom within the community and their loss will be deeply felt.

“Al Shabaab has once again shown their true colours by murdering eight of our well respected and loved elders. Al Shabaab claim to be Muslims but they are attempting to destroy the religion, our culture, the social fabric of our communities and the economy.

“These murders will not derail us, they only serve to unite us stronger in the fight to finish al Shabaab.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Four killed in Qoryolley shelling

24 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/RBC- 104 words

According to local residents at least four civilians including women and children from one family were killed after a mortar shell hit their home. Heavy gun battle has erupted in the town which was recently captured from al Shabaab militant group on Sunday.

Reports say fighters attacked the town before they were overpowered by the Somali National Army and AMISOM peacekeeping forces. Pro-al Shabaab website reported that the fighters attacked bases of the Government forces and African Union troops but not specified any casualties.

Somali National Army supported by AMISOM forces took the town from al Shabaab militant group on Saturday.

Somali PM deplores assassination against eight elders, calls for probe

24 Mar- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV- 162 words

Somalia Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has condemned the assassination against eight traditional elders in Bay region late on Sunday.

He said the government will try its best to probe up the case as he sent his condolences to the families and friends of the eight people shot and killed near Burhakaba late on Sunday by gunmen.

Baay police commissioner has blamed the attack on the al Shabaab militant group but the group denied the allegations.

Security situation of Baidoa stable after riots

24 Mar- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 131 words

The security of Baidoa, the headquarters of Baay region is now stable after protests that caused riot between the supporters of the parallel conferences meant to establish regional state in the town occurred Sunday.

Reports from Baidoa confirm that two armed militias exchanged fire inside the town but African Union peacekeeping troops immediately managed to stop the violence.

The council of elders proposing to form a regional state comprising of three regional state are preparing to elect the leader of the regional state. Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan , the former speaker of the transitional federal parliament of Somalia who is campaigning for the three regional state arrived in Baidoa Sunday and immediately met angry protesters who temporarily blocked him from the reaching the town.

Armed men gun down eight elders in Bay region

24 Mar- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle/Harar24 Online- 120 words

Eight elders among the council of elders who established the regional state of South west Somalia comprising of six regions led by Madobe Nunow in Baidoa were killed in the outskirts of Bur-Hakaba in Bay region.

The elders were shot dead after the car they were on board was stopped by armed men and taken to nearby bush as Bur-hakaba commissioner confirmed to Goobjoog FM through telephone conversation.

On the other hand the commissioner of KM 50 district in Lower Shabelle Abdullahi Wafoow where the elders were heading to confirmed that the elders will be buried in the district. The bodies of the elders is now kept in Bur-hakaba police station. No one has claimed the responsibility of the murder.

Al Shabab denies killing eight elders

24 Mar- Source: Radio Dalsan/Somalimemo Online- 128 words

As the suspicion grows for al Shabaab to be responsible of the killing against eight elders in Burhakaba, the group says they were not behind the attack.

In a short statement posted online, al Shabaab said they were not behind of the attack that left eight traditional elders dead in Burhakaba town.

On their turn the group blamed the attack on the what they called as apostate militias in the region.
On Sunday, the regional police officers in Baidoa said the attack against the elders was carried out by al Shabab militia who ambushed a car transporting the elders from Baidoa to Lower Shabelle region.

The eight elders were shot and killed while blindfolded on the same place. The bodies were taken to Burhakaba where they were buried on Monday.

Ahlu Sunna group says they are not part of ongoing operation against al Shabaab

24 Mar – Source: VOA Somali Service – 229 words

The paramilitary forces of Ahlu Sunna in central Somalia regions declared their militias were not part of the ongoing military assault against al Shabaab led by the Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union Forces [AMISOM].

Sheikh Ibrahim Gureye, Chairperson of Ahlu Sunna has said that they decided to stay back from the current military operation in the country due to lack of consensus between the Federal Government and the moderate armed group of Ahlu Sunna.

“We are not part of the ongoing military operation, because the government failed to execute the already agreed issues of Ahlu Sunna and its forces.” Sheikh Gureye told VOA Somali Service. The Ethiopian army serving under the African Union Forces and small number of Somali army embarked towards the town of Elbur to fush out from Al Shabab.

Ahlu Sunna which is an government allied militia group rejected to deploy its militia to participate the fresh operation against al Shabaab. “We have been engaging in our own war against the militant group of al Shabaab, but this time we decided not to go to the war,” Sheikh Gureye added saying that they want to establish their own administration and form a regional state.

Ministerial level delegation from Mogadishu returned without any result last week after holding tough discussions with Ahlu Sunna officials in Dhusamareb trying to convince them to send their paramilitary forces into the ongoing operation.

World water day marked in Mogadishu

24 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 115 words

A ceremony to mark the world water day was held in the Somali capital Mogadishu. The ceremony was presided over by the minister for water Jamaa Ahmed Mohamed and both his deputy and the permanent secretary of the ministry.

The minister stressed the importance of the day to the country saying his ministry will work towards the achieving of accessible clean water to citizens of the country.

The director of health who also spoke at the event has called upon citizens living in flooded areas to treat their water before consumption saying they are working towards prevention of water borne related diseases in the areas affected by the floods.

Lasanod Community invests in youth jobs to curb migration

24 Mar- Source: Radio Ergo- 170 words

Communities in Sool’s regional capital of Lasanod have opened a number of small business to create jobs for young men to stop them from migrating abroad. Radio Ergo’s local reporter in Lasanod said the community wants to convince the young people that they can improve their lives at home and don’t have to leave.

About 100 young men have been funded by their parents and local communities to open more than 45 small shops selling creams, perfumes and children’s clothes. Each of these businesses was started with an investment of around $1,000, according to one of the youth, 24-year old Hassan Abdirisaq.

“I never thought that I could have a business in my town and I do feel happy,” Abdirisaq told Radio Ergo. He said he had been planning to migrate to Europe by risking his life crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Italy, but he is now married and happy with his new business. “My life has now changed and I am happy. I am going nowhere,” Abdirisaq said.

Fishermen in Puntland quit Job due to ‘threats’ from Foreign Vessels

24 Mar- Source: Horseed Media- 233 words

Fishermen in Puntland region, Somalia have announced that they have stopped their work after facing ‘’dangerous threats’’ from illegal foreign fishing vessels, who are illegally plundering the semi-autonomous region’s resources.

Most of the fishermen who are based in Alula and Bareda districts of Bari region, said they had faced continuous threats from Yemeni fishing boats who are equipped with weapons.

‘’Our job is in jeopardy… we have been several times chased by them [Yemeni vessel], which are illegally taking our sea resources. And we have submitted our complains to our authority.

They are not just robbing our fish. They are ramming our boats and taking our nets,’’ said one of the Fishermen.

Puntland is battling to curb illegal fishing, which is threatening fishing stocks and lives of hundreds of local fishermen.

Earlier this month, Puntland Maritime Police forces seized an illegal foreign fishing vessel together with several Yemeni nationals fishermen for illegally fishing in its waters.

Fisheries and marine Resources minister called an end to illegal foreign fishing in Puntland Sea and warned that if any vessel without license caught will be heavily penalized.

Local Fishermen have continuously complained about foreign trawlers who are doing the illegal fishing and dumping waste. Some fishermen have gone missing while others are tortured by the trawlers who at times spray boiling water from cannons.

Somalia foreign Minister arrive in Kuwait city

23 Mar- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Mogadishu-150 words

The Minister for foreign affairs of federal government of Somalia Abdirahman Duale Beilah and delegates arrived in Kuwait to participate in Arab league foreign ministers preliminary meeting which is expected to open in Kuwait city.

Arab league foreign ministers are meeting to come up with suitable agendas concerning the problems facing member countries and pave way for the leaders to discuss in details and come up with lasting solutions.

Immediately after landing in Kuwait city, Somalia foreign Minister Mr. Beilah took separate meetings with different officials from Arab countries and discussed the bilateral ties between Somalia and other Arab countries.

The president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is anticipated to take part in Arab league conference which will open in Kuwait city to present the achievements of the federal government of Somalia including the joint warfare against al Shabaab and the challenges facing his government.

Puntland steps up new campaign to battle Malaria

23 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 140 words

Puntland government in northern Somalia Sunday launched a new campaign that will reduce Malaria mosquitoes amidst emerging deadly cases in the port city of Bossaso, Garowe Online reports.

Puntland’s Minister of Health Dr. Sadik Enow officiated the malaria control method with the deputy head of Malaria department Mukhtar Mohamed Jama present. Though mosquitoes nowadays are becoming resistant to pesticides and Malaria remains endemic in parts of Africa, Puntland says, the new measures will target mosquito breeding sites.

In an effort to curb the spread of Malaria, Dr. Enow introduced fish species in the first shallow well at a house in Bossaso where Malaria claimed at killed at least 10 lives over the last four months.

“Fish species consume mosquito larvae because mosquito population is on increase in breading sites such as wells, water tanks and streams,” said Puntland Health Minister.

Hargeisa Central police Station chief placed under house arrest

23 Mar – Source: Somaliland Informer – 93 words

Somaliland Police Commissioner Brigadier General Abdilahi Fadal Iman has ordered on Sunday that the police chief in charge of Hargeisa Central police station Mr. Mohamed Ase be placed under house arrest until the investigations of the mysterious abscond of the mayor of Harshin in the Somali regional government of Ethiopia who disappeared from custody at Hargeisa central police station.

The mayor of Harshin was arrested when he was burying weapons under the ground in territory that connects Somaliland with Ethiopia. The fugitive has been reported to have been in captivity for 20 days.

Somaliland Plans Underway to Roll out New Prefix Numbering Range to be Used as Future Country Code

23 Mar – Source: Somaliland Press – 161 words

Somaliland Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Hon Mohamed Jama Abgaal speaking to the press in his office today revealed plans by the current government of Somaliland to soon roll out a new prefix numbering range for its landline and mobile subscribers in Somaliland different from the 252 STD/ISD country codes which the two countries are currently sharing.

“We have being engaging in consultation and arranging meetings with the local Telecom Operators to decide the way forward in finding an alternative to which Somaliland is part of it since the two countries are sharing the 252 STD/ISD country code, He said.

The Telecommunications Minister said, “Previous Minsters in this Ministry have in the past explored available numbering resources which Somaliland could use and will preferably be totally different from those provided from Mogadishu and we are going to liaise with ITU and other relevant international bodies in order to introduce a different prefixes numbers for both Mobile and Landline numbers.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia President rallies support for Vision 2016 plan

24 Mar- Source: Africa Review-454 Words

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud has urged the country’s legislators to rise to the challenges ahead towards a planned universal suffrage vote in 2016.

“I congratulate you on this, your fourth session during this government’s period in office,” President Mohamoud told Federal Parliament lawmakers on Sunday. “It is now time for action and delivery,” he said, before proceeding to outline the main tasks that lay ahead.

“This year we have embarked on a review of the constitution, implementation of federalism through state formation, and the democratisation process, all of which activity is to ensure that we realise Vision 2016.”

The term of the current post-transitional government formed in 2012 expires in August 2016. President Mohamoud is by then expected to have laid the ground for a ‘one-man-one-vote’ election, the first in nearly five decades.

Kenya: Phone records hold clue to Mombasa terror probe

24 Mar- Source: Standard Media- 287 words

Investigation into a foiled terror attack in Mombasa last week is now centred on three aspects surrounding a car found with explosives. It is focusing on a one-month policy for which the vehicle was insured, the presumed owner of the KAN 410E Toyota Hilux and the profiles of two suspects from Wajir County, now in detention. As detectives grapple for clues, the suspects, Abdiaziz Abdillahi Abdi and Isaak Noor Ibrahim, both born in 1988 according to Identity Cards seized from them, are said to be divulging little information to interrogators who are trying to bridge the information gap through background checks on their past and telephone records. On Monday, police intercepted a vehicle carrying two improvised explosives in Changamwe and arrested two terror suspects. Police say the explosives were connected to a mobile phone and powered by the car battery. Later last week, the two were arraigned in a Mombasa court on seven terror-related charges, including murder. Investigations by The Standard on Sunday have revealed that Abdiaziz was a cattle trader and renowned navigator of old caravan trade routes based in Garissa town prior to his recent alleged dalliance with al Shabaab.

IGAD to build human capacity in combating terrorism

23 Mar- Source: Walta Information Centre- 235 words

IGAD Security Sector Progarmme (ISSP) says that it would beef up its efforts in countering terrorism through human capacity building. Opening a day-long national workshop for law makers in Ethiopia with the theme: “Promoting International Instruments to Counter Terrorism” here yesterday, ISSP Head Commander Abebe Muluneh noted that on top of human capacity building it would carry out activities to ensure maritime security and also prevent transnational organized crime.

Concerning the persistent crisis and conflicts in the IGAD region, he cited Al-Shabaab and its link with Al-Qaeda cell in East Africa, the current crisis in the Republic of South Sudan, acute poverty and unemployment, tense relation between some member states of IGAD, among others.

According to Commander Abebe, IGAD designed regional peace and security strategy in July 2012 to change the points of vulnerabilities into areas of cooperation for peace, stability and sustainable development.

Regarding ISSP plans for 2014, he said that four national workshops would be held in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan to promote international and regional legal instruments.

Somalis fear ‘death-sentence’ deportations

22 Mar- Source: Aljazeera- 651 words

When Ismail finally touched down on British soil early last year, after being smuggled over land and through the air from Somalia, he believed he was finally on the verge of beginning a new life.

“The Britain I had in mind was one in which they welcomed people of different colour, different religion and different backgrounds and where human rights were respected,” Ismail, who preferred not to use his real name, told Al Jazeera.

“I wanted to live in a safe place where I could just study and work and help my family and support myself, so what happened to me was a big shock.”

Less than a year after failing in his bid to claim asylum in the UK, Ismail found himself handcuffed, forcibly placed aboard an airplane bound for the Somali capital, Mogadishu – a journey Ismail holds would have effectively been a death sentence.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan police chief vows enhanced security despite terror attack

24 Mar – Source: Shanghai/Xinhua – 194 words

Kenyan police chief said Sunday that security forces have intensified round the clock surveillance and have also foiled terror threats to ensure that the country is safe despite Sunday’s terror attack in Mombasa.

Police inspector general David Kimaiyo also said the police have launched investigations to establish the motive behind the killing of four worshipers in the coastal city of Mombasa which also left some 17 others injured.

“We have launched the investigations of what could be the motive behind the heinous act. Police are currently pursuing the attackers,” the police chief said in a statement issued in Nairobi late on Sunday.

“The police have been on high alert and we have been conducting intensive patrols and gathering information all over the country,” Kimaiyo said.

Kimaiyo’s remarks come after four worshipers were shot dead earlier in a terror attack. Three minors were among those in critical conditions amid fears that the death toll may rise because some of them had life threatening injuries. Kimaiyo said the church attack was carried out by two unknown gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles who sprayed bullets randomly at worshippers at Kings Joyland church in Likoni, south of Mombasa.

“The time of al Shabaab is over,” Somali General says

24 Mar- Source: Reuters- 1:03 min

African Union troops and the Somali National Army liberate a town from al Shabaab militants in a two-pronged attack that caught the insurgents by surprise. Gavino Garay reports.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The government must address protection and intelligence gaps, including through adequately resourcing the security forces in the region so save the country’s economy. The government must reaffirm its commitment to ensure that all Kenyans and foreigners are safe and that business thrives without the threat of insecurity.”

Kenya: Fight Terrorism to Save the Tourism Sector

24 Mar- Source: The Star-Kenya-213 Words

Yesterday four innocent worshipers were killed, and 17 others injured by daring gun men who stormed a church in Likoni, Mombasa and opened fire. Police said three armed gunmen stormed Joy Jesus Church and opened fire indiscriminately at worshipers killing two on the spot while two other worshipers succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.

Last week police impounded a car mounted with explosives enough big enough to bring down a 10-storey building. This incidents among other have contributed greatly to the decline of tourist numbers with European countries like the UK, Germany and US who are the major key source markets issuing travel advisories against Kenya.

The country has recorded a decline in tourism by 2 percent with Mombasa being the worst hit following flight cancellations. Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers said the the sector has been affected by the terrorism activities led by al Shabaab rebels from Somalia. The number of tourist arrivals is expected to reduce a situation that will affect the economy.

Let’s take a fresh look at Somalia: Abdi Latif Ega at TEDxMogadishu

23 Mar- Source: TEDx Talks-11:52mins

Abdi Latif Ega is a Somali novelist and scholar at Columbia University. His recent book, Guban, is a kaleidoscopic tale of the Somali revolution, which deftly interlocks stories of all strata of society-interlopers, interlocutors, diplomats, camel herders, revolutionaries, military personnel, and clan leaders, to name but a few. Documenting both the brutality of the national dictatorship and the international pressures of this cold war driven world. Guban brings together the immediacy of journalistic reportage with the imaginative expansiveness of the novel.

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Image of the day 425th #AUPSC Meeting opens today @ #AUC to consider the situation in #Somalia @amisomsomalia @AU_PSD @joel_cohen : @AU_PSD