March 3, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Suspected Al Shabaab Gunmen Carry Out Grenade Attack In Bossaso
03 March – Source: Garowe Online – 212 Words
Amidst an intense dispute over the sacking of top security commanders, suspected Al Shabaab gunmen carried out an attack on an army patrol in the port city of Bossaso on Monday evening, Garowe Online reports. Officials and witnesses said that militants hurled a hand grenade at soldiers manning a security checkpoint in front of the Bossaso municipal offices. the assailants managed to flee, and no casualties have been reported as of yet. Last week, heavily armed militants raided the residence of Bari governor, Abdisamad Mohamed Galan, killing a bodyguard and wounding another. On January 15, gunmen attacked a security checkpoint near Ramada hotel in Bossaso. Officials confirmed the death of a soldier in the Ramada attack, while another was wounded in the assault. A police officer died and two troop transport vehicles were destroyed when a rampage by Al Shabaab fighters targeted the Balade police station on February 7. Analysts believe that President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali’s administration is languishing in watershed moments. An 8-member panel of UN experts accused Ali of being reluctant in the fight against Islamist insurgents in the rugged terrain of the Galgala mountains, in a confidential report released in October 2014. As a result of the intense military campaign in central and southern Somalia, Al Shabaab militants are said to have migrated north towards the Golis Mountain Ranges.
Key Headlines
- Puntland President To Visit Kismayo (Radio Danan)
- Suspected Al Shabaab Gunmen Carry Out Grenade Attack In Bossaso (Garowe Online)
- Marka District Commissioner: Whoever Kills Someone Will Be Dealt With In Accordance With Sharia Law (Radio Danan)
- Former Puntland Vice President Attends Court Hearing (Radio Bar-Kulan)
- Crime Watch: Casualty Figures In February 2015 (Radio Goobjoog)
- Turkey-Brokered Talks Break Down (Garowe Online)
- Calls For Joint Effort In War On Terror (Standard Media)
- Virginia Cabbie On FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List Detained In Somalia(Washington Post)
- UN Seeks To Rescue 26 Asian Crew (Bangkok News)
- Solidifying Ties With Somalia (VOA)
- Somalia: Is Patriarchy Invincible In Puntland? (Radio RBC)
SOMALI MEDIA
Puntland President To Visit Kismayo
03 March – Source: Radio Danan – 79 Words
The president of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali ‘Gaas’ and his delegation are due to visit Kismayo today. Puntland state house officials confirmed that President Gaas will fly from Garowe following an invitation to Kismayo by the president of the Interim Jubaland State, Ahmed Madoobe. Security has been beefed up in Kismayo ahead of the President Gaas’ arrival, and sources told Danan that the president’s visit to Kismayo will take two days time.
Marka District Commissioner: Whoever Kills Someone Will Be Dealt With In Accordance With The Sharia Law
03 March – Source: Radio Danan – 159 Words
Mohamed Isman Yarisow, the District Commissioner of Marka, called on the residents of Marka who fled from the recurrent clashes in that district to come back to their houses, saying that there is peace. “I call for all the people who fled from Marka to come back as it is peaceful at the moment. The administration has come,” Yarisow said. Speaking to Danan in an exclusive interview, the DC emphasised that security in the district is very good, and criminals will be held accountable. “I would say any person who kills another will be dealt with in accordance with the Sharia Law,” he said. “Any person harming others on tribal basis will [also] be dealt with in accordance with the law.” Adding that his administration pledges to secure the district.
Former Puntland Vice President Attends Court Hearing
02 March – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 126 Words
A former Vice President of Puntland, General Abdisamad Ali Shire and 22 others were presented before an Islamic court in the town of Taleex today. Six judges are presiding over the case in which the 23 on trial are accused of being linked with killings that took place in 2013. In late 2013, Puntland forces captured the town of Taleex killing at least 10 people. A local cleric, Sheik Said Ahmed who is mediating negotiations to end the conflict between the former Vice President and those accusing him, said the court proceedings have started in a peaceful way. He also expressed optimism that the conflict between various clans in the area is coming to an end.
Crime Watch: Casualty Figures In February 2015
02 March – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 772 Words
Despite remarkable efforts in restoring peace and order in the country following years of instability and run away insecurity, wanton killings still dominate the headlines in various parts of the country. In light of this, Goobjoog News has undertaken an initiative to document killings and numbers of those injured every month under the Crime Watch Project, which seeks to promote justice and constitutional rights of the citizens. We may not be able to document all the killings or cases of injuries due to the scarce resources and sometimes lack of access to the affected areas in the country. Lack of basic institutions in the country such as hospitals, mortuaries and police services which ideally gather such information is also an impediment to getting accurate and up to date data. According to our records, 66 people were killed and 79 others wounded in the month of February 2015. This is an increase from the month of January which recorded 40 deaths and 29 people injured. The demographic distribution of the victims is diverse including government officials, business people, journalists, religious leaders and ordinary people among others. For the chronology of events in the month of February, click here.
Turkey-Brokered Talks Break Down
02 March – Source: Garowe Online – 203 Words
Turkey-brokered talks between the Somali Federal Government and breakaway Somaliland collapsed on Monday, Garowe Online reports. Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke said in a press statement from his office that the bilateral talks hit a brickwall over the presence of members in the federal delegation. “It is unfortunate that our brothers from Somaliland failed to come to the negotiating table, they came up with conditions that presented challenges [to progress in dialogue round],” said Sharmarke, adding that neither side has a right to dictate to the other party. “The issue is violation of previous agreements and international standards of negotiations.[The] Somalia delegation, which has come to the negotiating table in spirit of brotherhood and good optimism, ascertains that Somaliland delegates will unilaterally shoulder the collapse of the talks,” read the press statement. Meanwhile, Somaliland’s State Minister for Presidency, Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan, accused the UN-backed central government in Mogadishu of irresponsibility while speaking to the VOA Somali Service. The talks witnessed a two-day delay from the original commencement date, and analysts have since said that there is no upbeat forecast on the outcome of the dialogue. Turkey, a key donor, has been hosting the talks since 2013, with Somaliland’s bid for independence remaining the major bone of contention.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Calls For Joint Effort In War On Terror
03 March – Source: Standard Media – 151 Words
Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery has called on regional countries to collaborate through sharing of resources to contain terrorists. Nkaissery said cooperation is critical to ensuring stability in the troubled region where proxy forces are fanning instability. He said the region is also home to multiple militants and terrorist organisations like the Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram among others. “Due to globalisation and rapid technology innovation, criminals have taken advantage of this window and have executed and masked their nebulous activities unhindered,” he said. The CS said without peace and security, there will be no meaningful development. Nkaissery spoke when he addressed a meeting of regional police bosses -East African Police Chief’s Cooperation Organisation (EAPCCO) – in Naivasha that was discussing transnational crimes on the rise. EAPCCO is made up of Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, South Sudan Uganda and Rwanda.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Virginia Cabbie On FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List Detained In Somalia
03 March – Source: Washington Post – 779 Words
A Northern Virginia man who fled the United States more than two years ago and was recently placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list is in the custody of the Somali government, U.S. officials said.Liban Haji Mohamed, 29, was detained shortly after prosecutors unsealed a warrant for his arrest and the FBI added him to the wanted list in late January. It is unclear how he was taken into custody or how soon he could be brought back to the United States. The former cabdriver is charged with providing material support and resources to al- Shabab, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization allied with al-Qaeda. He is suspected of having an operational role in al-Shabab and of trying to recruit people to join the group. When FBI officials announced his inclusion on the most-wanted list, they said Mohamed was “an asset to his terrorist associates who might plot attacks on U.S. soil.” Officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, noted that he had detailed knowledge of potential targets in Washington. The FBI had offered $50,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction and launched a significant online campaign to find him.
Liban Haji Mohamed, a former Washington-area cab driver, had recently been placed on the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorists” list. An attorney for Mohamed’s family was not immediately available for comment. The attorney, Gadeir Abbas, has said previously that the family is skeptical of the charges,noting that Mohamed has relatives who were killed or captured by al-Shabab. Officials said efforts were being made to bring Mohamed back to Virginia, though there are significant logistical and diplomatic challenges. The United States does not have an extradition treaty with Somalia. U.S. law enforcement had been attempting to track Mohamed, a naturalized U.S. citizen, before he slipped out of the country and into Mexico on July 12, 2012. The case had frustrated FBI agents who strongly believed Mohamed should have been charged with material support of terrorism while he was living in Fairfax County. Some federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia were willing to do so, though they were overruled by others at the Justice Department, officials said. Dana Boente, the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the Justice Department.
UN seeks to rescue 26 Asian crew
03 March – Source: Bangkok News – 405 Words
United Nations agencies are seeking to rescue 26 more Asian crewmen being held captive by Somali pirates after successfully helping to free the Thai crew of the fishing vessel Prantalay 12 in a mission joined by Thai government agencies. Roy Paul, programme director for the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP), told the Bangkok Post on Monday that officials had worked hard to rescue the Thai crew but declined to provide the details of the mission, saying it could affect operations to help other fishermen still being held by pirates.
“We cannot disclose the details about the negotiations with armed Somali pirates, as this might affect the living conditions of the remaining 26 crewmen, who are from different countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China,” he said. “The way the UN negotiates with another party is confidential and for the Thai crew. The UN Office of Drugs and Crimes hostage-release programme based in Africa led the mission to help the Thais,” Mr Paul said. Before returning to Thailand, the four crewmen were taken to the Thai embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, and given a medical check-up. All matters related to passports, travel documents, and flights to Bangkok were arranged by the embassy, he said. In the meantime, a member of the MPHRP team, Apinya Tajit, confirmed that no Thai fishermen had been left behind with Somali pirates.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“When security conditions permit, it is envisioned that an embassy will be re-established in Mogadishu. While Somalia has come far in the last two years, many challenges and threats remain. The al-Qaeda-linked terrorists al-Shabaab have been weakened, but not defeated.”
Solidifying Ties With Somalia
02 March – Source: VOA – 280 Words
Long torn by clan rivalries, stricken by drought and resulting famine, and attacks by a militant extremist group, the East African nation of Somalia has made important strides since completing its political transition in 2012. In a nation once synonymous with chaos, there are hopeful signs of improved security and economic growth. Throughout the process, the United States has stood with the Somali people, providing security, governance and humanitarian assistance to help strengthen democratic institutions and improve stability. Recognizing Somalia’s progress and as a sign of our nation’s deepening relationship with Somalia, President Barack Obama has nominated Katherine S. Dhanani, a veteran diplomat, as U.S. ambassador to Somalia. It’s a critical step towards normalizing the U.S.-Somalia bilateral relationship since our recognition of the Federal Government of Somalia in January 2013.
Since our embassy closed in 1991 amid the country’s then-growing instability, the United States conducted diplomacy on Somalia affairs based out of Nairobi.
Over the past five years, the United States began to travel more frequently into Somalia to conduct official business. When security conditions permit, it is envisioned that an embassy will be re-established in Mogadishu. While Somalia has come far in the last two years, many challenges and threats remain. The al-Qaeda-linked terrorists al-Shabaab have been weakened, but not defeated. Government services are uneven and tens of thousands of Somalis remain displaced from their homes by violence. To keep making progress, the pivotal test for Somalia will not be securing more aid from the United States and other international partners, but for its leaders to put their loyalties and differences behind them and commit to working together for the common good.
“A police commander in Bargaal district complained about non-payment of salaries of policemen. “Some of the policemen have told me they would leave the force and look for jobs”, the commander said. How can Puntland address growing security challenges if it cannot pay its security forces?”
Somalia: Is Patriarchy Invincible In Puntland?
02 March – Source: Radio RBC – 541 Words
A few weeks ago Puntland Development Research Center issued a video based on a survey conducted by its researchers in several districts under Puntland jurisdiction. PDRC researchers visited Baargaal, Badhan, Galka’yo, Boo ‘ame, Garowe and Qardho. The survey was conducted during September 2014, eight months after Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali defeated Abdirahman Farole in a tightly contested parliamentary election. When I watched the video ( with English subtitles) on YouTube two weeks ago, I thought President Abdiweli deserved to be commended for sharing public information that his predecessors might have censored. PDRC interviews with people have spotlighted four issues that Dr Abdiweli’s administration ought to address.
Rape: Three interviewees ( an old man and two ladies) talked about the prevalence of rape against girls below the age of 10. A woman in Bo’ame, a hamlet north of Garowe, said her niece was raped by a young man. The man’s father had offered to pay 40 zakat ( compulsory alms ) to the raped child’s family. The other woman said some fathers of rapists ask for the raped girl to be married off to the rapist. In Islam Zakat is based on the wealth of the person. Zakat obligation on a man with 53 heads of camels is less than that of a man with 200 heads of camel. Condoning rape is a problem interviewees mentioned as well as the misuse of one of five pillars of Islam to victimise Somali girls.
Top tweets
@Somali_Witness: Here is #AlShabaab‘s full video on#Mpeketoni attack. #Somalia #Kenya http://sendvid.com/
@robynleekriel: For once- politics and not security dominating news in Somalia. @SomaliaEU speaks to the press on #Somalia#Mogadishu http://www.enca.com/media/
@cooraaf62 somalia needs a real leader, not someone who serves his personal interest
@KnowSomalia Warsan Shire is a poet. She began writing poetry to connect with her Somali heritage & roots in Somalia#SheIsSomalia
@MinisterDini Visiting Guri’el town of Galgudud region in order to defuse an internal tension and infighting. Our mission is restoring peace and unity.
@MohamedBarawani: The failure of the talks between SL and Somalia is on the shoulders of President Hassan,#Somaliland,#Somalia
@SwedeninZM: Swedish aid agency @sida funds@DalaUniversity web-based education of midwives in #Somaliahttp://www.sida.se/English/
@Cidilibaax: fighting has displaced thousands residents in#guriceel, international communities should intervene #Somalia#Puntland @UNDPSomalia @UN @hrw
Image of the day
AMISOM’s Deputy Operations Coordinator, SP Enos Kalulu, greets players during a football match organised by Warta Nabadda District Commissioner