March 7, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Loud Explosion Heard From Blast Near Somalia Airport
07 March – Source: Horseed Media – 160 Words
A major blast on Monday rocked the vicinity of Beledweyn airport, Central Somalia, eyewitnesses said.According to some sources, the explosion occurred after one person with a laptop computer bag was stopped by security officials but detonated the explosives in it immediately. Other witnesses say that it was a car laden with explosives that went off.
There were no immediate details on casualties or damage from the blast, which occurred as the airport was busy.It is also not clear if the bomb was obviously meant to explode on a flight, something that Somali government officials would naturally find embarrassing after the recent Daallo airlines planes incident in Mogadishu.
Beledweyne airport bomb attack comes one month after a bomb blast caused by a laptop computer containing a bomb ripped through on a Somali passenger plane, killing the suspected bomber and injuring two passengers.Al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility of the Daallo plane bombing which caused major panic among Somali government officials.
Key Headlines
- Loud Explosion Heard From Blast Near Somalia Airport (Horseed Media)
- Former Somali Journalist Turned Politician Dies Aged 70 (Hiiraan Online)
- Security Ministry Issues 30 Day Ultimatum To Unregistered Gun Holders In Somalia (Goobjoog News)
- Puntland Petroleum Director Says ‘Not Consulted On New Office’ (Garowe Online)
- AMISOM Force Capture Al-Shabaab Commander In Southern Somalia (Xinhua)
- Somalia Exports Livestock To Egypt (Africa Review)
- Former Somalia Jihadist Finds Asylum In Qatar (Africa Review)
- 4 Terror Suspects Picked By Kenyan Police For Joining IS (News Ghana)
- Everything Must Go: Somalia Sells Its Dignity (Huffington Post)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Former Somali Journalist Turned Politician Dies, Aged 70
07 March – Source: Hiiraan Online- 208 Words
One of Somalia’s most respected politicians as well as a former prominent journalist with a career spanning over three decades has died in Nairobi at the age of 70, his family announced on Sunday.Mohamed Abshir Yusuf Walde died late on Saturday after months of an undisclosed illness that left him bed-ridden at a hospital in Nairobi.
Tributes have been paid to Mr. Walde by Somalis from all walks of life and leaders, with president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who is among those paying tribute said that he will be remembered for his commitment to his nation who will be missed dearly by all Somalis and the nation as a whole.Having graduated from Columbia University with the M.A degree, the former BBC Somali Service broadcast journalist had later worked as the director of the state-run Radio Mogadishu in 1960s, helping the national radio to grow its audience and reach throughout the country.During his lifetime, the former journalist as well as a businessman had also authored books about piracy, politics and patriotism before he became a politician.In the meantime, hundreds of Somalis took to the social media on Sunday, calling Mr. Walde’s death as a ‘painful loss’ and said they have very fond memories of him.
Security Ministry Issues 30 Day Ultimatum To Unregistered Gun Holders In Somalia
07 March – Source: Goobjoog News – 332 Words
The ministry of internal security has ordered all unregistered gun holders to register with the government within 30 days failure to which action will be instituted against them. In a raft of measures aimed at curbing run away insecurity in Mogadishu, Internal security spokesman Abdikamil Moalim Shukri announced Monday his ministry will also form a committee to verify all gun holders and validity of their licenses. “All gun holders whether public or private, radio stations, TV stations, hotels or companies which have not registered their guns must do so within the next 30 days,” said Shukri. Shukri also ordered all organisations intending to conduct trainings or any form of public gatherings to seek permits from the police.
The announcement follows the restructuring of the security operations in the country which has seen the Mogadishu police tasked with security of the city which was initially under the auspices of the National Intelligence Agency, NISA. Shukri also announced the city police will be in charge of the Liddo Ex-Control road which stretches from the city’s main beach, Liddo to about ten kilometres south of Mogadishu. NISA on the other hand will be moved outside the central business district and will be based in 30 Street, Wadnaha and Industrial Roads. Shukri noted that both agencies will be accountable for the security of the respective areas.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Saturday the restructuring of the security arrangement of the city was aimed at enhancing effective security management and called on city residents to cooperate with the police and authorities to ensure peace and safety.The development comes following several security lapses in the recent weeks which have seen the city witnessed three major terror attacks since January and a string of killings. Intelligence Chief General Abdirahman Tuuryare was Saturday grilled by parliament with concerns that his capacity to handle the country’s intelligence assignment was wanting. The spokesman also said all the security checkpoints in the city will be manned by the city police
Puntland Petroleum Director Says ‘Not Consulted On New Office’
07 March – Source: Garowe Online- 132 Words
Puntland Petroleum and Minerals Agency Director-General Isse Mohamud Farah (Dhollawa) has said, he was not consulted on the opening of new directorate office in the state capital beforehand, Garowe Online reports. In an interview with Puntland-based independent station, Radio Garowe, Mr. Dhollawa who is in Australia on Sunday decried any move exploiting his absence, asking Puntland Vice President for clarifications regarding his post.
Yesterday, on March 5, Vice President Abdihakin Abdullahi Haji Omar inaugurated offices for Petroleum and Minerals Agency.Dhollawa added, he didn’t receive a letter stripping him of authority nor reports alleging of his sacking.He also blasted some officials within government for ignoring premises of his directorate in Garowe.Puntland Petroleum and Minerals Agency has more recently warned of seismic survey offshore Somalia in a statement seen by Garowe Online .
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AMISOM Force Capture Al-Shabaab Commander In Southern Somalia
07 March – Source:Xinhua – 222 Words
African Union peacekeeping forces (AMISOM) backed by Somali National Army troops on Sunday arrested a senior Al-Shabaab commander during a security operation in an area close to Qoryolay town in lower Shabelle of southern Somalia.Somali government’s army commander in Qoryoley, Ahmed Gabow Bule confirmed that the allied forces captured Mohamed Ali Gele, the militants’ commander who was operating in many areas in lower Shabelle region after long search for him.”The joint forces captured Mohamed Ali Gele, Shabaab’s Commander for Qoyoley, Janale towns and many other villages in the region. We were looking for him for a period of time. We arrested him in a security operation which was conducted in the region,” Bule said.”The police are questioning him; we will transfer him to the central government of Somalia after the investigation. This was a very successful operation that resulted in the arrest of one of the senior Al-Shabaab commanders,” he added.Government and regional leaders said they are going to intensify more security operations against Al-Qaida linked group of Al-Shabaab across the Horn of Africa nation.The group lost many key towns in south and central Somalia, but it still carries out deadly attacks in Somalia including the killing of Kenyan soldiers in Gedo region on Jan. 15 and attack on a beach restaurant in Mogadishu in late January.
Somalia Exports Livestock To Egypt
07 March – Source: Africa Review – 127 Words
The first batch of 2,000 animals arrived at the Egyptian Port Suez on Thursday following a trade agreement between the two states.Somali Livestock minister Sa’eed Hussein Eid said trade with Egypt was blossoming following the deal signed mid last year.“The accord was signed in Egypt in mid-2015,” said Mr Eid.“It is the first time Somalia was exporting livestock to Egypt over the last quarter of a century, thanks to the deal,” Mr Eid remarked. Somalia exports the bulk of its livestock to the Gulf states and herders and traders were excited about the additional market in Egypt.The Horn of Africa state was struggling to revive its economy devastated by decades of war since the 1991 fall of dictator Siad Barre.
Former Somalia Jihadist Finds Asylum In Qatar
07 March – Source: Africa Review – 216 Words
Former Somalia Islamist militia leader Mohamed Said Atam has reportedly been granted asylum in Qatar.Universal TV, a largely Somali news broadcaster, reported on Saturday that Mr Atam had flown to Doha.Mr Atam deserted the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab in 2014, voluntarily surrendering to the Somali government.He had led militants in vicious fight against Puntland, a semiautonomous authority in northeastern Somalia.
His group was based in a mountainous area known as Galgala, which lies to the west of Bossaso, the main port and commercial capital of Puntland.In 2012, Mr Atam and his militants pledged loyalty to Al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda.Reports indicate that Mr Atam’s move to Qatar was part of an agreement with the Somali government.The former jihadist stated that he renounced the manner in which Al-Shabaab embraced jihad.“I still suggest that the Somali government engages in dialogue with Al-Shabaab,” remarked Mr Atam.In December 2014, Mr Atam was removed from a list of terrorists circulated by the UN.A number of high profile jihadists have surrendered to the Somali government. They include Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a veteran Islamist, in 2013 and Zakariye Ismael, a former Al-Shabaab spy master, in 2014.Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud offered pardon for the Al-Shabaab members abandoning the jihadist doctrine.
4 Terror Suspects Picked By Kenyan Police For Joining IS
07 March – Source: News Ghana – 216 Words
Police spokesman George Kinoti said the four suspects who all have pending court cases in the coastal city of Mombasa were nabbed at the Busia border late Saturday
Kinoti said Kassim Ahmed Ali, Ali Omar Bwanaadi, Muhammed Kassim Abdalla and Mustaha Kheri Shali will appear in court in Mombasa on Monday.
“The four suspects were arrested at the Busia border while planning to travel to Libya to join IS. These are fugitives on the run,” Kinoti told Xinhua by telephone.
He said the four suspects who were initially charged for planning to carry out a massive terror attack in Mombasa in January had been out on bail after being released by the Mombasa court.“Shali is unknown and he was together with the two ladies but investigation is on to identify them. One of the men initially said they were going to Juba,” Kinoti said.The arrests come after anti-terrorist police said they have unearthed a syndicate of extremist online recruiters who have been targeting university students to join armed extremist groups in Libya and the Middle East.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“In the Somalia of my childhood, respect for the dignity of women was a keystone of our culture. It was as near as sacred; the respect for Somali women was wrapped up deeply with our sense of national pride. We were proud of our entrepreneurial spirit that saw us trade in camels and sheep to Saudi Arabia. We were proud of our ability to build a thriving economy, while also building a societal and cultural legacy based on dignity and respect.”
Everything Must Go: Somalia Sells Its Dignity
04 March – Source: Huffington Post – 766 Words
The dramatic fall in the price of oil has had some unusual effects on the petro-economies of the Persian Gulf. Countries like Saudi Arabia have grown dependent on importing cheap foreign workers to do the jobs its citizens won’t. Now, traditional sources of domestic labor like South Asia have become uneconomical in straightened times. Saudis have had to look for cheaper alternatives, and no one can be bought more cheaply than the government of Somalia.
Despite notoriously appalling working conditions and examples of horrific abuse awaiting domestic staff, Saudi recruiters are believed to be seeking as many as 15,000 housemaids, a move that is thought to be welcomed with open arms by Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. His enthusiasm is in stark contrast to many other African leaders. Only last month the Ugandan government banned its citizens from taking up domestic work in Saudi Arabia after evidence of the torture of a Ugandan maid went viral.
When criminals seek to supply cheap labor across borders for abusive and exploitative employers, it is called human trafficking. When governments do the same it is apparently called creating jobs.Some nine million foreigners work in Saudi Arabia, but the region is not only importing workers to build its cities, clean its homes and drive its enterprises. The war currently being prosecuted by the Saudis and their allies in Yemen has shone a light on the fact that for some time now, the influx of foreign labour has included soldiers recruited to fight and die in local wars. Indeed, so many mercenaries from Latin America have been recruited in the region that the Colombian government reportedly tried to reach an agreement to limit numbers.
TOP TWEETS
@Omaar_nor:#BREAKING: Two #Djibouti-an peacekeepers among six wounded in bag explosion inside an airport in#Beldweyne city, central #Somalia – Police
@BarudGSD:The revival of our nation requires radical solutions, I’m proud to be part of Fursad Fund Team building the first Trust Fund #Somalia
@Gobanimodoon:Amet Ali,The World’s First Black Pilot was an Ottoman Soldier from #Somalia According 2 the Islamic History.#Turkey
@Bogorad_Olga :Weapons discovered by Australian navy patrol on a fishing boat bound for #Somalia, intercepted off the coast of Oman
@Aynte:In #Kismaayo 4 the groundbreaking of a model school funded by EU #Somalia @SomaliaEU
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Deputy SRCC Lydia Wanyoto with Somalia’s first lady Sahra Omar Hassan. Strong partnerships driving progress.#IWD
Photo: AMISOM