March 3, 2016 | Morning Headlines
15 killed As Sufi Militia Recapture Town From Pro-govt Forces
02 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 295 Words
Fighters from a moderate Sufi militia recaptured a contested strategic town in central Somalia from pro-government regional forces in fierce clashes that killed at least 15 people, officials said Wednesday.The clashes erupted in Dhusomareb town, the regional capital of Galgadud region few days after talks between an armed Sufi militia Ahlu Sunna Waljamaca and the government-backed regional state of Galmudug ended in failure, with the moderate Islamist group rejected a new power sharing offer by Galmudug.
Mursal Mohamed, a spokesman for the Sufi militia told reporters that their troops have taken full control of the town, and captured the commander of the rival force Liban Madahweyne before ousting Galmudug forces have withdrawn into the outskirts.However, an uneasy calm has returned to the town’s deserted streets, as Sufi militia tightened their grip over the town’s control.
Galmudug authorities confirmed that their troops were involved in the clashes which they said aimed to push Sufi fighters out of town, however, they are yet to comment on the loss of the town’s brief control.Hundreds of residents have fled from their homes, as witnesses reported chaotic scenes and bodies strewn along deserted streets in the town.
Somali government hasn’t yet commented on the ongoing fighting which analysts say further challenge the government’s efforts to extend its rule and open a second frontline against the government which is struggling to contain a deadly insurgency by the Al-Qaeda-linked group, Al-Shabab.
Ahlu-Sunna militia have seized both Dhusomareb and the nearby Guriel towns from Al-Shabab four years ago after deadly battles with the feared militant group which is fighting the Somali government and the African Union forces protecting the weak government.The militia has since defended both towns against repeated counter attack by Al-Shabab to recapture the two neighboring towns
Key Headlines
- 15 killed As Sufi Militia Recapture Town From Pro-govt Forces (Hiiraan Online)
- Somali Premier Faces Parliament Over Security (Shabelle News)
- Puntland Marine Police Forces Capture Illegal Trawlers (Villa Puntland)
- Will Elections In Somalia Be Realised In August? ( Somali Current)
- Deported Somali Puts Up Fight At Michigan Airport But He’s Going Back Judge Says (Michigan Live)
- Fadumo Dayib: Somalia’s Future President? (DW)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Premier Faces Parliament Over Security
02 March – Source: Shabelle News – 126 Words
The Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Omar Abdirashid Sharamarke, along with several ministers and chief National Intelligence and security agency (NISA) faced the parliament today to answer questions over the security.
Wednesday’s parliamentary session was a door-closed one after the PM has asked the speaker of the parliament for the journalists to be ejected from the meeting hall due to the sensitivity of the agenda.Sources say the prime minister of Somalia attended to the meeting to discuss ways to handle the worsening security situation of the country, especially Mogadishu following series of Al shabaab attacks.On Tuesday, the MPs of the federal parliament declined to question the internal minister of Somalia Abdirisack Omar Mohamed over the insecurity and increasing Al shabaab bombings.
Puntland Marine Police Forces Capture Illegal Trawlers
02 March – Source: Villa Puntland – 124 Words
As local fishermen outcry illegal fishing off coast Somali waters, Puntland Police Marine forces have captured illegal trawlers amid active on fishing near Qandala, Garduu province, Villa Puntland Reports. In an operation, the Marine police forces of the state arrested the trawlers along with fishermen according to Admiral Abdirizak Dirie Farah, the commander of the the PMPF.Admiral Farah has said that these fishermen and their boats will be brought before court of justice.The President of Puntland Government H:E Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has termed the illegal fishing as “A National Disaster”.H:E President Abdiweli urged the International community to help respond to the escalating illegal fishing of off coast Somali sea which can eventually cost the resurgence of the notorious pirates.
Will Elections In Somalia Be Realised In August?
02 March – Source: Somali Current- 375 Words
The prospect of holding an election towards the end of the year in Somalia is slowly dimming at the wake of run-away insecurity in the country.Analyst and political commentators are torn between which of the two— preparing for an election or addressing the security crisis in the country—should be prioritised.
Abdullahi Godaah Barre was a former minister of interior in the Interim Somali government. He says that with the current security menace in the country, elections should be the last thing on the minds of the Somalis.He believes that the level of violence in the country has escalated with Al Shabab now targeting soft spots and seeking to cause devastating effects with every attack.“There has been over 64 attacks in Mogadishu since June last year. How will election be possible under such circumstance,” the former legislator said in Mogadishu.
In the last week alone, two major twin blasts in the cities of Baidoa and Mogadishu have killed at least 30 people. The target was clearly civilians. In the first twin attack in Mogadishu, two lorries stuffed with explosives were driven into the city center where there was a huge human traffic to achieved maximum casualty.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Deported Somali Puts Up Fight At Michigan Airport, But He’s Going Back, Judge Says
02 March – Source: Michigan Live – 549 Words
A Somalia citizen designated for removal from the U.S. told immigration agents he wasn’t going back – and put up a fight at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.He missed his flight but he’ll get another one, a federal judge said.Issa Abdiraham Mohamad, held since Sept. 12, 2014, says his due-process rights have been violated by his continued unlawful detention.
The U.S. Supreme Court says such detainees should only be held 90 days, with an outside limit of six months under a showing of a “strong special justification.”They cannot be held indefinitely. “(Mohamed) argues that his continued detention violates his Due Process rights, as he has been detained for almost a year and a half while waiting to be removed,” U.S. District Judge R. Allan Edgar wrote Monday, Feb. 29. “(The government) contends that the only reason he is still being detained is because of his own actions (as he would currently be in Somalia had he complied with his most recent removal travel arrangements),” he wrote.
Edgar said the process was also slowed by Somolia’s new government requiring briefing of procedures for removal of Somali nationals from the U.S.If he had been released from custody, Mohamed would have still been under the supervision of U.S. officials. Court records show that Mohamed received a humanitarian parole in the U.S. on Nov. 13, 1992, and became a lawful permanent resident three years later. In November 1999, he was convicted in Washtenaw County Circuit Court of fourth-degree criminal-sexual conduct.An immigration judge in August 2000 ordered his removal from the U.S. Mohamed was released under supervision by ICE.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“This year, if we are going to elect a new leadership by using the 4.5 tribal power sharing system [the top clan leaders elect a president] because it’s a system that segregates the majority of Somalis, then I’m not going to give it legitimacy by running for presidency. This is the system that is actually causing insecurity in Somalia. It is feeding terror inside the country,”
Fadumo Dayib: Somalia’s Future President?
02 March – Source: DW – 868 Words
Somalia could soon have its first female candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. She tells DW about her determination to enter the race and her plans to end Somalia’s chronic insurgency
Somali-born Fadumo Dayib has lived as a refugee with her four children in Finland since the early 1990s and worked as a nurse. But now she wants to return to her home country and make history. She would become Somalia’s first elected female president who would put an end to the al-Shabab insurgency which is tying down 22,000 African Union peacekeepers.Dayib will have to submit her candidacy to parliament for approval in July and pay a deposit of approximately $20,000.
But that would just be the beginning of a most arduous political journey. She has no illusions about the difficulties she faces in trying to realize her ambition to become president, especially as a woman in a traditional male-dominated society.
DW: Why are you motivated to run for the presidency?
Fadumo Dayib: I’m motivated to run for the presidency because I believe it’s a moral obligation and a civic duty to us to prevent further bloodshed in Somalia. We have watched on sidelines for more than 25 years and it is imperative that we step forward and take up this responsibility. The current and previous leaderships have failed us; we must take matters in to our hands and that is why I’m running for presideny because I have capabilities, skills and motivation.
How confident are you in securing support from Somalia, a country that is not so keen on supporting women to go for higher positions?
This is a global phenomenon. It’s not only exclusive to Somalia. This is a male dominated society but nonetheless, there is a new generation that believes that gender of the person doesn’t matter. What matters is what they can bring on the table, their competencies and their leadership skills rather than their gender. Yes there is that challenge but we will make sure that is tackled so that women are not kept from running for public office. But I’m very confident of Somalis’ support because they have reached a stage whereby they want a peaceful living, a capable leadership in place and their children having access to quality education.
You have received a series of death threats since you made the announcement. What’s your reaction to that?
I see this as something very strange but it also means that I must be doing the right thing for people to feel threatened and for them to threaten my life to say that ‘we will kill you’ if you step forward. They must have acknowledged what I can bring to the country. They see a capable leadership in me, a visionary leader, a servant leader. This is not what they have been used to and it scares them because the moment I come into office they know that their existence will be threatened.
The European Union (EU) is planning to pull back some of its support for the government. What do you think of this decision?
I think this decision probably comes because of increase of terror and violence in Somalia. The EU is looking at what it has been paying and the results that it is receiving. I think there is a valid reason for them to cut funding and I would advise the African Union (AU) to really revisit their strategy in Somalia. It’s time for them to empower our national armed forces, to strengthen our security sector so that we can take the lead and so that way the resistance will be lessened.