March 7, 2016 | Morning Headlines
Despite Graft Allegations, Somali President Assures Army’s Payments
06 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 368 Words
Fighting back allegations that Somali government mishandled money meant for Somali army by donors, Somalia’s president assured that his army does receive their basic salaries, but he acknowledged challenges facing his government in paying its soldiers in a good time.
A report by a U.N. monitoring group last year suggested that corruption was one reason for non-payment of wages, accusing senior Somali military commanders of inflating troop numbers and embezzling funds bound for salaries.“Despite the fact that we are a poor government with limited resources, complaints about lack of the army’s welfare were being raised on regular basis, therefore, i assure you that each soldier does receive his basic salary.” Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somali president said at a press conference in Mogadishu Sunday.
The urgent need for rebuilding the Somali army after decades of civil urgent has been a major challenge due to lack of financial capability by the government which largely relies on support from donors to maintain its existence.Working under tough conditions including lack of regular wages and equipment for years,Somali army is locked in a deadly war with one of the most dangerous global jihadist groups: Al-Shabab which despite being ousted from its key strongholds continues to challenge government’s efforts to extend its rule across the country.The non-payment of salaries, stretching up to six months for some troops, has strained relations between the government and foreign donors, such as the United States and European nations, who have invested billions of dollars to stabilize Somalia and stem the spread of radical Islam from the Horn of Africa, according to Reuters.
However, Mr. Mohamud had instructed the defence minister and army commanders to untangle the doubt surrounding the issue of the army’s welfare in a bid to end the confusion.Hundreds of millions dollars has been spent arming and training the Somali army largely by the European Union to oust the Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabab fighters which continues guerrilla attacks across large parts of the country.Once mighty, Somalia’s army destroyed by decades old conflict is rebuilding on the backdrop of the rising power of the militant group which despite facing a multi-pronged offensive continues to carry out attacks across the country.
Key Headlines
- Despite Graft Allegations Somali President Assures Army’s Payments (Hiiraan Online)
- Mogadishu Mayor Inspects Police Checkpoints In Mogadishu (Mareeg Media)
- Puntland Probes Iranian Boat Escape (Garowe Online)
- Somalia Leader Calls For Collaboration To Defeat Terrorism (Xinhua)
- HMAS Darwin Seizes Huge Weapons Haul From Somalia-bound Fishing Boat (WA Today)
- Profile: Al-Shabab Journalist Hassan Hanafi (BBC News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Mogadishu Mayor Inspects Police Checkpoints In Mogadishu
06 March – Source: Mareeg Media – 118 Words
The new mayor of Mogadishu Yusuf Hussein Jimale has paid an overnight inspection tour to the main police checkpoints in the capital of conflict-recovering horn of Africa country, spokesman said.The move followed a day after Somali security ministry has officially handed over the security responsibility of Mogadishu to Benadir regional administration led by Yusuf Hussein Jimale.
The mayor has observed the security build up by the local government’s police forces at the checkpoints in Mogadishu, where public vehicles are being searched for any security threats.Mogadishu has seen deadly attacks, including car bombings since Al shabaab was driven out of the coastal city in 2011 by Somali National Army (SNA) backed by the African Union troops (AMISOM).
Puntland Probes Iranian Boat Escape
06 March – Source: Garowe Online – 226 Words
Iranian fishing trawler seized by Puntland Marine Forces made a surprise escape at Bossaso seaport late on Friday night, prompting for government to open a probe into the incident, Garowe Online reports.On escape, coastguard units fired at the Iranian boat, with heavy sound of gunfire being heard across Bossaso.
Puntland Ports, Marine Transport and Counter-Piracy Minister Abdullahi Jama Salah has given further details of how the vessel snuck away from the fortified area mysteriously.
Salah blamed Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) soldiers for firing wrong shots, saying the incident is being investigated.Puntland minister also complained that the marine force units are not charged with the security of the port, and it was the port security that would track down the sailors in the escaping Iranian boat.
The fisheries ministry had already obtained documents pertaining to storage capacity and illicit fishing activities practiced by the Iranian trawler in territorial waters, he added.
Garowe Online has learnt that a man identified as Saed Guulle—who is in contract with Iranian businessmen– was responsible for the vessels. Credible sources have noted that sailors were held in Bossaso for three months and a half before being let board the boat without fines and charges leveled before court.Puntland seized five Iranian vessels faulted for intruding into Puntland waters in operation off Qandala coastal town on the eve of weekend.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia Leader Calls For Collaboration To Defeat Terrorism
06 March – Source: Xinhua – 248 Words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud on Saturday called for collaboration between security officers and Somalis to defeat terrorism.”We are in a fight with an enemy at international level which is dangerous for our security and existence. The enemy is Al-Shabaab whose aim is to massacre people, the evidence is how they are targeting our Somali people ruthlessly, we can defeat them if we are united against them,” Mohamoud said at a security forum in Mogadishu.
The Somali leader said that the government will strive to solve payment delay of the National Army and will give their rights as soon as possible considering financial constraints which is being faced by the government.”We have heroes who are losing their lives for saving mothers and children of Somali people, those who lost their lives in the latest attacks were martyrs defending people and the nation,” president Mohamoud added.
He also welcomed the decision by the cabinet this week on security measures aimed at minimizing the risk of terrorist group. He said the measures are meant to counter Al-Shababa attacks in the restive capital and across the Horn of Africa nation.President Mohamoud’s remarks come as the Al-Qaida linked group has increased their attacks in Mogadishu and the rest of the country last week in which many people, mostly civilians were killed.Somali National Army backed by the African Union peacekeeping troops removed the Al-Shabaab group in 2011, but it still carries out frequent attacks showing it is not defeated.
HMAS Darwin Seizes Huge Weapons Haul From Somalia-bound Fishing Boat
06 March – Source: WA Today – 208 Words
Australian sailors have seized a large weapons cache, including almost 2000 AK-47 assault rifles, from a fishing vessel in the Middle East.HMAS Darwin’s boarding team intercepted the fishing vessel about 300 kilometres off the coast of Oman and found 1989 AK-47 assault rifles along with 100 rocket propelled grenade launchers, 49 machine guns, spare barrels and mortar tubes hidden under fishing nets in the dhow.
The weapons were seized under United Nations sanctions which authorise interdiction on the high seas of illicit weapons destined for Somalia.The fishing boat was headed towards the Somalia coast.Chief of Joint Operations Command, Vice Admiral David Johnston, said the seizure on Darwin’s first patrol was highly significant.”One of the key reasons HMAS Darwin is deployed to the region is to contribute to global security and counter international terrorism,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.”The successful boarding and subsequent seizure of the weapons concealed under fishing nets highlights the need to remain vigilant in the region.”
HMAS Darwin is in the region as part of a multinational effort to prevent terrorism, piracy and drug smuggling, and to secure the maritime environment in the Middle East and the north east coast of Africa.It is the ship’s seventh deployment to the area
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Nearly all the murders had a similar pattern. The victims were shot from close range in the streets or at a hotel. Others had explosive devices planted on their cars.Often when a journalist was killed, Hanafi would be among the first to arrive at the scene or to confirm the person’s death,”
Profile: Al-Shabab Journalist Hassan Hanafi
04 March – Source: BBC News – 409 Words
Hassan Hanafi was a respected reporter and broadcaster in Somalia for many years. Now, he has been sentenced to death by firing squad for colluding with Islamist militant group al-Shabab in the murder of five fellow journalists between 2007 and 2011.Hanafi was born in the central Hiran region of Somalia in the early 1980s. When his family moved to Europe in the 1990s, he was the only one who stayed behind.From 2003, he became a household name to many radio listeners in Somalia after joining popular Quran FM station in the capital Mogadishu. He left in 2006 to become an online reporter for a leading Somali website.
A few years later, signs of his affiliation to al-Shabab emerged as he became the major source of all breaking news or reaction from the militant group. It would deny the loss of its members and claim victory through interviews with him on its propaganda station Radio Andalus.He ran a secret bureau, monitoring news and threatening any reporter who spoke out against al-Shabab or portrayed the group in a bad light. He would summon the offending journalists to meet him at his car. Some were killed on the spot while others wisely declined and went on to flee the country.