March 26, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somalia’s battle against al Shabaab militants

26 Mar- Source: BBC-06:00mins

The Somali Islamist insurgent group al-Shabab controls more land than any other al-Qaeda affiliate organisation across the world. In Somalia, government troops have been joined in their operation to suppress the militants by African Union soldiers. The BBC’s International Development correspondent Mark Doyle is the only foreign correspondent accompanying the African troops.

Key Headlines

Prime Minister arrives in Uganda for IGAD Drought Resilience Summit (OPM)
Roadside bomb hits AMISOM convoy in Kismayo (Radio Shabelle/Risaala/RBC/Dhanaan Online)
Violence in Baidoa enters its fourth day (RBC)
Somaliland parliament speaker arrives in Kuwait (Somaliland Informer)
Ugandan police officers question suspected al Shabaab terrorists (Daily Monitor)
Al Shabaab militia attack Via-Afmadow neighborhood in Kismayo (Radio Shabelle)
Kenyan police arrested 500 people in Nairobi (Radio Bar-kulan/Standardmedia)
Arab summit opens in Kuwait (Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog)
Somaliland provides assistance to al Shabaab militants in Galgala Puntland President says (Radio RBC/Radio Garowe)
Somalia’s battle against al Shabaab militants (BBC)
First clinic opens in Mudug’s Elhur village (Radio Ergo)
Somali Minister of Defence: Government committed to re-building army (Sabahi Online)
AU urges Somali government to uphold rights of Journalists (Somali Current)
Somaliland receives UK donation of Hi Tech Security Equipment to improve local Counter Terrorism capabilities (Somaliland Press)
Somali prison officers awareness training kicks off in Mogadishu (UNSOM)
Kenya: Police issue shoot to kill order on terrorism suspects (Standard Media)
Mandera is safe says police boss (Star-Kenya)
Kenya: Senators accuse government of laxity in war on terror (Daily Nation)
Somalia Cabinet approves $218 million national budget (Africa Review/Daily Nation)
AMISOM Officers Repel Ambush Laid By Militants At Qoryooley Somalia (K24TV)
Kenya orders Somali refugees back to camps after attacks (Reuters)
Ethiopia FM receives U.N. envoy to Somalia (Turkish Press)
AMISOM calls on UN to send promised helicopters to Somalia (Press TV)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister arrives in Uganda for IGAD Drought Resilience Summit

26 Mar – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 189 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, this evening arrived in Kampala, Uganda to attend the IGAD Drought Resilience Summit. The meeting is the second IGAD summit on drought resilience following the devastating drought of 2010-2011. Bringing together all IGAD nations the summit will focus on investing differently to end drought emergencies.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, said:“The devastating impact of drought is something that sadly all Somalis know and fear only too well. The drought and subsequent famine of 2010-2011 killed over 250,000 Somalis and threatened the livelihood of 13 million people across the IGAD region.

“Drought not only hits the most vulnerable communities but can have a devastating impact on the entire region – exacerbating food insecurity to famine levels, increasing economic hardships and human suffering.

“We must focus on early warning and preparedness in the drought prone communities and a quick response when drought hits. The long term solution must be to continue to mitigate through safety nets and build resilience.

“As a region we must continue to work together to do things differently to prevent and alleviate the devastating impact drought can have.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Roadside bomb hits AMISOM convoy in Kismayo

26 Mar- Source: Radio Shabelle/Risaala/RBC/Dhanaan Online- 97 words

According to reports from Kismayo the provincial capital city of Lower Jubba region, a roadside bomb has hit an African Union peacekeeping troops’ convoy in Via Afmadow neighborhood. The convoy was passing by the neighborhood when the bomb exploded, damaging one of the vehicles.

The precise number of casualties has not been confirmed yet although the African Union troops opened gunfire almost immediately after the explosion.

Violence in Baidoa enters its fourth day

26 Mar- Source: Radio RBC- 229 words

Violent demonstrations in Baidoa town of Bay region has entered the fourth day as the angry mobs trying to reach a house where the former Parliament Speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden is being kept by AMISOM forces. The demonstrators chanting anti-Sharif Hassan slogans as they forced the town’s business place to remain closed since Sunday.

Violence in Baidoa turned sour on Sunday after a delegation led by the former Speaker Sharif Hassan reached the town to campaign for a three-region state opposing already announced six-region state in the town led by his rival former MP Madobe Nunow.

Supporters of Madobe Nunow and his six-region state took the streets to denounce Sharif Aden’s initiative that resulted to armed clashes between the supporters of the two men.

At least two people were killed in peaceful demonstration which turned into armed clash on Sundayafternoon. A young man was then wounded on Tuesday in another violent day of demonstrations against Sharif Hassan.

The African Union Forces [AMISOM] in the town were reluctant to intervene the situation as they only remained to protect the former Speaker Sharif Hassan who is now being sheltered in AMISOM military base outside Baidoa.

The security officials of the Federal Government of Somalia were also confused in handling the matter swiftly, as the issue soon turned into clan politics rivalry.

Al Shabaab militia attack Via-Afmadow neighborhood in Kismayo

26 Mar- Source: Radio Shabelle- 70 words

Armed confrontations caused casualties Tuesday night in Kismayo, the provincial capital city of the Lower Jubba region. The clashes erupted after insurgents from the al Shabaab rebel group attacked military troops stationed at the Via-Afmadow neighborhood and the Kismayo airport. The precise numbers of casualties are still unclear although locals confirmed to Shabelle radio that the fight went on for at least one hour before the attackers retreated.

Kenyan police arrested 500 people in Nairobi

26 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Standardmedia- 175 words

More than 500 people were arrested on Tuesday night in police swoop in Nairobi aimed at taming rising rate of terror attacks in the country. The suspects were arrested from city streets and estates following deployment of more police officers in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Police say the suspects were being interrogated and sorted out as part of efforts to know who the criminals are. Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue said those arrested included street families; this follows fears of increased cases of terror attacks.

“We will be conducting the operations even on day time as part of measures to drive away these criminals. We now have extra personnel from GSU and AP,” said Kibue.

Six people were killed and many more 20 others injured after two armed men attacked a church service in Likoni Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa on Sunday.

Somali al Qaeda linked group al Shabaab militant group have carried out multiple attacks in the country, in revenge for the Kenyan army’s intervention in Somalia in November 2011.

Arab summit opens in Kuwait

26 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog – 148 words

Arab summit opened in Kuwait as the leaders are making great effort to heal the rifts and misunderstanding among the member countries and get a lasting solution to the crises in Syria.

The gathering in Kuwait follows an extraordinary row among members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) alliance of Gulf Arab states over Qatari support for Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, and a verbal spat between Iraq and Saudi Arabia over violence in Iraq’s Anbar province.

The annual meeting of the 22-member League of Arab States is expected to come up with more humanitarian responses to Syria’s war, which has entered its fourth year and put a ruthless damage on neighbouring countries hosting refugees.

The president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to present the rising challenges of his government to the Arab league conference which the member countries are anticipated to take proper action to save nations.

Somaliland provides assistance to al Shabaab militants in Galgala, Puntland President says

26 Mar- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Garowe- 169 words

Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has alleged that the neighboring administration for backing the al Shabaab militants in the Galgala mountains of Puntland. During his visit in Bosasso, President Gaas said his administration was deeply concerned by the growing support that al Shabaab fighters in Galgala received from the Somaliland. “We will prepare official complaint against Somaliland’s assistance to al Shabab in Galgala,” President Gaas said.

On his side, Puntland Parliament Speaker says 70 of the Somaliland army have been fighting alongside with al Shabab fighters in Galgala.

The allegation was earlier dismissed by Somaliland authorities. The allegation came days after Puntland started to deploy its forces in the Sanaag region in reaction to Somaliland deployment of troops in the region.

Puntland security forces have been engaging in a war against al Shabaab militants in Galgala Mountains since 2009 following numerous deadly attacks by the militants on civilians and government places in the town of Bosasso.

First clinic opens in Mudug’s Elhur village

25 Mar- Source: Radio Ergo-235 Words

A new health centre providing free medical services opened last week in the remote village of Elhur in Mudug region. Local authorities and residents say this brings medical services to the population of around 2,000 people for the first time.

The hospital, built at a cost of around $62,000, has seven wards and five doctors and medical staff. Mohamed Abdi Yusuf, the director of Deh Relief Somalia, said the money was contributed by the aid organization’s board members and staff.

Abdullahi Mohamud Jimale brought his 70-year old mother to the hospital. He said it was a much needed facility. Residents used to have to take patients, including pregnant women, to Harardhere 75 km away or Adado 300km away.

“Some pregnant women used to die of blood loss on the road to these towns,” said Yusuf. “The women don’t need to travel to delivertheir babies anymore,” he added. More than six women have delivered their children in the hospital in its first week, Radio Ergo’s local reporter said.

The centre also provides general medical services free of charge. Jimale said it used to cost between $500-$1,000 to transport the sick to other towns, but now they can seek attention in Elhur. “For the patients who couldn’t find such huge sums of money they used to just suffer in the villages,” he said. “The residents are really happy to get free medical services in their villageat last.”

AU urges Somali government to uphold rights of Journalists

25 Mar – Source: Somali Current – 131 words

Human Rights Commission for African Union (ACHPR) urged the federal government of Somalia and other opposing political parties to adhere to the rights of the media staff in a report withdrawn from the meeting of the commission held in Banjul the capital of Gambia.

The commission denounced the ruthless crimes against the rights of the media in Somalia where Sometimes journalists are killed while delivering their duty.

Within this statement, the commission also criticized the pressure imposed on the rights of the Somali national journalist federation members who advocates the rights of their fellow journalists.

ACPHR Deplored the killings and all the other crimes committed against the journalists in Somali and called on Somali federal Government and AMISOM carry out investigations against those involved in the offenses on journalists in Somalia.

Somaliland receives UK donation of Hi Tech Security Equipment to improve local Counter Terrorism capabilities

25 Mar – Source: Somaliland Press – 190 words

A consignment of Hi tech security equipment donated by the UK government meant to upgraded local counter terrorism capabilities consisting of X-Ray, Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) and CCTV equipment has arrived in the port of Berbera and will be deployed at the two major airports in the country in the coming few days’ reliable sources have confirmed.

As part of the Government’s approach to counter terrorism (CT), the UK assists key partner nations to improve their CT capabilities. By helping countries to undertake CT activities locally, it targets the problem at source and reduces the risk of a terrorist attack against the UK. The UK is committed to developing counter terrorism capability in the Horn of Africa.

The proposal in this case is to gift security equipment and vehicles to a) the Somaliland Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air Transport to be used at Berbera and Hargeisa Airports, and b) the Somaliland Department of Immigration to use at land/sea/air border crossings to ensure that persons entering/leaving Somaliland pass through robust security and immigration checks, allowing Somaliland authorities to identify and disrupt threats to aviation and border security.

Somaliland parliament speaker arrives in Kuwait

25 Mar – Source: Somaliland Informer – 78 words

A delegation headed by Somaliland Speaker of National Assembly and the Chairman of Wadani party Hon. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi aka Cirro received warm welcome while arriving in Kuwait for visit.

The large delegates headed by the speaker left from Saudi Arabia and arrived in Kuwait and Somaliland community in Kuwait received the delegation with cordial welcome.

During their stay in Kuwait the delegation is expected to address Somaliland citizens living in Kuwait and particularly the supporters of Wadani.

Somali prison officers awareness training kicks off in Mogadishu

25 Mar- Source: UNSOM-393 Words

An entry level training course for Somali custodial staff was launched today in Mogadishu following a joint initiative between the Federal Government of Somalia, United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The first was conducted in January 2014.

Some 25 Somali custodial staff of all levels began a three-day prison awareness programme with an aim to improve their skills and conduct their roles more effectively in line with international standards. New systems and practices are also introduced, including dynamic security and fire prevention measures. The training falls under a bigger plan in support of the Somali prison system which has lacked adequate facilities since the collapse of the Central Government.

Welcoming the training program at the opening ceremony, Colonel Hussein, representative of the Custodial corps Commissioner, noted that “the Mogadishu Central Prison was constructed in the 1930’s and as an aging institution is in need of renovation. The collapse of the Central Government of Somalia meant that the prison system suffered due to lack of infrastructure and funding”. He further added that custodial staff who have worked in the prison for over a decade would benefit significantly from refresher courses and new skills.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: Police issue shoot to kill order on terrorism suspects

26 Mar- Source: Standard Media- 325 words

Police have widened search for perpetrators of Sunday church shooting in Likoni, Mombasa to the neighbouring Kwale and Kilifi as the Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa declared a shoot to kill order on all terrorism suspects. Marwa claimed that it is counter-productive to take terror suspects to court because it is very difficult to prosecute them or find witnesses in their prosecution. According to Marwa witnesses fear to testify in terror trials or terrorists kill many people who could have been witnesses to their crimes. Following a prolonged two hours meeting between Mombasa Christian leaders and the provincial administration, Marwa ordered the police to shoot and kill any criminal in the county found terrorising residents saying that the government will no longer wait for innocent lives to be killed.

Ugandan police officers question suspected al Shabaab terrorists

26 Mar- Source: Daily Monitor-477 Words

As part of efforts to confront the ever-present threat of terrorism in the region, a team of senior Ugandan security personnel last week rushed to the coastal Kenyan town of Mombasa where they interrogated suspected al Shabaab terrorists who had been arrested with a truck loaded with explosives.

A police source, who declined to be named, said Ugandan security wanted to establish whether the suspects had any plans to attack Uganda or its interests.

“The officers were in Mombasa last week and they managed to talk to the suspects before they were taken to court. They (the suspects) told them that they had planned to blow the oil pipeline in Mombasa, which would affect both Kenya’s and Uganda’s economies,” the source said.

The discovery of explosives in the truck is said to have prompted police chief, Gen Kale Kayihura, to direct that all fuel trucks en route from Ugandan border posts be escorted to their final destination within the country. However, since the order was issued, it is not clear if police are actually enforcing it.

Mandera is safe, says police boss

26 Mar- Source: Star- Kenya- 146 words

Mandera police boss Noah Mvivanda has said the county is safe and ready for investments. In an interview with the Star at his Mandera town office yesterday, he said although there are a few incidents of crime, the police have beefed up security in the area.

“We have taken all necessary measures to ensure Mandera is safe for all despite the challenges posed at the porous borders,” Mwivanda said.

He said Mandera is a gateway through which illegal weapons enter into the country from Somalia. “We have a stretch of about 300km in Somali that is so porous with no designated entry points into Kenya; and this makes it easy for traffickers to avoid police dragnets,” Mwivanda said.

He said security agents are facing a challenge from the al Shabaab militia from Somalia, and the Oromo Liberation Front from Ethiopia.

Kenya: Senators accuse government of laxity in war on terror

26 Mar- Source: Daily Nation- 331 words

Senators Tuesday condemned Sunday’s gun attack on a church in Mombasa and challenged the national government to tighten security surveillance at the Coast.

The Senate adjourned the day’s business to discuss the state of security in the coastal town blaming the government for not taking the serious the rise of insecurity in the region. They want the Government to reveal what it was doing to ensure safety of all Kenyans.

The lawmakers said persistent attacks on churches and other places of worship was worrying and a trick to scare away Kenyans from enjoying the freedom of worship enshrined in the Constitution.

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar moved the motion saying he was worried by the deteriorating safety of citizens in the county.

Somalia Cabinet approves $218 million national budget

26 Mar – Source: Africa Review/Daily Nation – 145 words

Somali’s Cabinet on Monday approved a $218 million budget for the 2014-15 period. The approval followed a debate on the inputs into the fiscal plan led by the country’s director of budgets in the Finance ministry, Mr Ahmed Abdi Aden.

“The budget is mainly based on income expected to derive from local sources of funds like collection of tax and duties,” said Mr Aden. The spending plan will now be scrutinised by the country’s parliament.

Constitutionally, they have the right to alter or amend it. Earlier this month the minister approved a new system of taxation and tariffs presented by Finance minister Abdi Halane.

The comprehensive system comprises both direct and indirect taxes on individuals and businesses, Mr Halame said earlier. These include tariff levels for income tax, property tax, corporate taxes and levies on goods and services.

Somali Minister of Defence: Government committed to re-building army

25 Mar- Source: Sabahi Online- 534 words

In the two months since Somali Minister of Defence Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud took office, the Somali National Army (SNA) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces have made strides liberating towns in southern Somalia.

The renewed military offensive against al Shabaab has been met with praise from Somali government officials and international partners, but it comes in the wake of a series of terrorist attacks in Mogadishu and a scathing United Nations report alleging that arms shipments to the government had been diverted to clan militias and even an al Shabaab commander.

In addition, the army announced in February that 700 soldiers were fired for “failing to carry out their national duties effectively”.

In an exclusive interview with Sabahi, Hamud addressed these challenges and the various criticisms the army has received.

Sabahi: What can you tell us about the current state of the SNA?

Minister of Defence Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud: The Somali National Armed Forces were destroyed along with all other government agencies that fell apart in the 1990s and every one of those agency’s [pace of] recovery depends on its size [and the correlated damage it suffered]. Therefore, the recovery of the Somali National Army is a difficult task that needs sustained effort.

AMISOM Officers Repel Ambush Laid By Militants At Qoryooley, Somalia

25 Mar- Source: K24TV-01:34mins

AMISOM troops have fended off an attempted ambush by al Shabaab insurgents in the outskirts of Goryooley town in lower Shabelle region, Somalia after a radio controlled Improvised Explosive Device went off near a convoy during a routine patrol to secure a main supply route used by the town’s residents.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s battle against al Shabaab militants

26 Mar- Source: BBC-06:00mins

Kenya orders Somali refugees back to camps after attacks

26 Mar- Source: Reuters- 408 words

Kenya on Tuesday ordered all Somali refugees living in urban areas to return to their camps in a bid to end attacks by Islamist militants carried out in retaliation for Kenya’s intervention in neighbouring Somalia.

Interior Minister Joseph Ole Lenku issued the order citing “emergency security challenges” in Kenyan towns, but the move is likely to be criticised by rights groups which have discouraged similar actions in the past.

Until now, refugees who could support themselves or were in need of specialised education or medical care had been allowed to live in urban areas.

Toronto man told undercover officer it was ‘God’s Will’ for him join terror-group Al-Shabab, trial hears

25 Mar- Source: nationalpost -324 words

A Toronto security guard on trial for allegedly attempting to join the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabab said he believed it was his religious duty to do so, an undercover police officer testified on Tuesday.

“It’s the ultimate sacrifice you can make for your religion,” Mohamed Hassan Hersi said, according to the testimony of the officer, whose identity cannot be disclosed to due a publication ban. “Basically it’s God’s will.”

Three years after Mr. Hersi was arrested at Toronto’s Pearson Airport as he was about to board flights to London and Cairo, his trial is now underway and jurors are hearing from the undercover officer who befriended the Somali-Canadian.

Ethiopia FM receives U.N. envoy to Somalia

26 Mar – Source: Turkish Press – 165 words

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom has met with visiting U.N. Special Representative to Somalia Nicholas Kay for talks on political and military developments in Somalia.

According to a statement by the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, Kay welcomed the continued efforts of Ethiopia to bring about peace and stability in Somalia and in the Horn of Africa region.

“He [Kay] noted particularly the contributions of the Ethiopian troops who recently joined the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) and their contributions to the recent successive military victories over al Shabaab forces in central Somalia,” the statement read.

Adhanom, for his part, underlined Ethiopia’s commitment to support efforts aimed at establishing lasting peace and stability in Somalia.

He also said Ethiopia would continue to work closely with the Somali government, the U.N., the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and other international partners to eliminate the threat posed by al Shabaab and in efforts to establish a solid political order within the country, the ministry statement read.

AMISOM calls on UN to send promised helicopters to Somalia

25 Mar- Source: Press TV-01:43mins

The African Union Mission in Somalia says its operation is being hindered in the country due to the United Nations slow efforts. Also known as AMISOM, the mission says the U-N approved to equip the peacekeepers with helicopters but they have never been delivered. Over 17,000 AMISOM forces were present in Somalia in early 2014. These were contributed by Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Djibouti and Burundi. The number now exceeds 21,000 after Ethiopia sent force to Somalia. AMISOM says the al Shabaab fighters have fled to towns and the capital Mogadishu and the peacekeepers are doing joint security patrols with Somali security forces. The focus now is to prevent anything that jeopardizes Somalia’s general elections to be held in 2016. As Somalia recovers from 20 years of insecurity, the African Union says that the number of African peacekeepers in the country is enough for now.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The Somali Cultural Centre is proud of the work done by Somalis back home. This film helps the wider community know what the British Somalis already know: that we have amazing people effecting change against the odds and with little acknowledgement from the international media.”

Hyde hosts Somali documentary film project

25 Mar- Source: 24 Dash-511 Words

Housing association, The Hyde Group, was proud to host a screening recently (16 March 2014) of the inspirational documentary ‘Through the Fire’ which highlights the bravery of Somali women.
Over a hundred people, including a large number of Hyde’s Somali community, attended the event at The Hub, a community centre on the Stonebridge estate. It was also screened at two other venues in the London Borough of Brent where there is a large Somali Community.

The film, by Eunice Lau and Arthur Nazaryan, features three incredibly courageous Somali women who have each worked tirelessly for many years to spearhead efforts towards peace and renewal, laying the foundations for health, social and educational infrastructure in their homeland.

The three women are Dr Hawa Abdi (2012 Nobel Peace nominee and founder of Dr Hawa Abdi Foundation); Edna Adan Ismail (former First Lady, Foreign Minister, Légion d’Honneur recipient and founder of University Hospital of Somaliland) and Ilwad Elman (Somalia youth ambassador, Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre). The documentary was followed by a panel discussion.

“Earlier predictions of a humanitarian crisis resulting from Barclay’s actions were predicated on a total collapse of the money transfer sector. Instead, the private sector is engaging in ad hoc strategies, and Dahabshiil’s legal challenge has helped to protect remittance flows through its existing systems for a few more months. However, these solutions are partial and temporary. There is still an urgent need for government action to help resolve these issues, in collaboration with the private sector, and put the Somali money transfer system on more secure footing.”

Challenges for the Somali money transfer sector

25 Mar- Source: Rift Valley Institute-3672 Words

Remittances to Somalia are at risk of being caught in the backwash of a global tendency towards tighter regulation of financial flows. This new tightening aims to prevent money laundering and to block flows to groups involved in terrorist activities. One recent consequence of this tendency has been that the banking sector—in the UK, the US and other jurisdictions—has become more circumspect about providing accounts to money service businesses, such as money transfer operators (MTOs), cheque cashers and bureaux de change. Smaller MTOs serving particular ethnic or national niches are finding it particularly difficult to retain direct access to banking services. Most recently, Barclays Bank withdrew from offering bank accounts to many UK-based MTOs.

There is particular concern about the impact on Somali money transfer sector. There are limited alternatives for channeling funds to Somalia, in the absence of an established banking system and there is concern about the possible impact on livelihoods of any major disruptions to remittance mechanisms. Somalis express outrage that a system that functions effectively in a state where there is so much else that is amiss should be undermined—even as the governments of Western countries provide financial support to Somalia’s Federal Government. There are fears that remittances may be pushed into less regulated, or underground, channels, and that a sense of exclusion among Somalis abroad will be exacerbated. These fears have been strongly voiced in advocacy and media coverage. As yet, no systematic evaluation has been carried out of the impact of recent changes.

Top tweets

‏@EdPomfret Totally against agreement #Kenya government signed->Extra cops for cities as refugees directed to campshttp://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2014/03/extra-cops-for-cities-as-refugees-directed-to-camps/ … #Somalia

@MajorEChirchir #Kismayu Burundian troops have completed occupation of a defensive position and ready to protect the people of Somalia against Al Shabaab.

@Abdikarim_Abdi3 Deputy General of the #SNA says military offensives are going good so far with liberation of many territories this month alone. #Somalia

@EUTMSomalia The Minister of Defence Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud signs the ministerial guidance on defence policy year 2014 – 2016 http://www.eeas.europa.eu/csdp/missions-and-operations/eutm-somalia/news/20140323_en.htm …

@UNSomalia 3-day training 4 #Somali prison officers launched today in #Mogadishu with @UNSomalia @UNODC &@unicefsomalia support pic.twitter.com/W6xglKT7hw

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Image of the day

Image of the day A photo taken by my @BBCAfrica colleague of people fleeing Qoryoley #Somalia, latest target of government offensive. Photo: @mary_harper