March 9, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Attorney General “Those Who Perform FGM Rituals On Girls Would Be Prosecuted”
09 March – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 117 Words
The attorney General Ahmed Dahir has warned parents and traditional doctors from performing FGM circumcision on young girls, adding that whoever caught doing it would be prosecuted. He was addressing members of the public at women’s day celebrations in Mogadishu on Sunday. The attorney pointed out that enough awareness has been raised for years and that people can no longer claim ignorance about the grave dangers of FGM, he said government would not tolerate the act. “FGM is a criminal act, and I promise to prosecute everyone who performs on young girls, whether it’s the mother, the father and the doctor” said Mr. Ahmed Dahir.
Key Headlines
- Attorney General “Those Who Perform FGM Rituals On Girls Would Be Prosecuted” (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somali President Attends Event Marking The World Women’s Day (Danan Radio)
- Somali Immigrants Die In Car Crash (Radio Danan/BBC Somali)
- Col. Roobow: It Is Good To Discard Traitors From The Patriots (Radio Goobjoog)
- Two TV Journalists Arrested In Somaliland (Garowe Online)
- Gunmen Kill Government Soldier In Wadajir (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Prime Minister Omar Pledges Assistance For The Galgaduud Reconciliation Conference (Radio Danan)
- Al-Shabaab Release Chilling Video About Mpeketoni Attack(Standard Media)
- UN Envoy Lauds Formation Of Regional Assembly In South Somalia (Xinhua/Global Post)
- Somalia To Deploy Drones In Battle With Al-Shabab (VOA English)
- VEAW Seeks To Open Understanding Between Somali Community And Hennepin County Law Enforcement (Twincity Daily)
- International Women’s Day: Remittances Are A Lifeline For Women In Somalia (BlogsOxfam.Org)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali President Attends Event Marking The World Women’s Day
09 March – Souce: Danan Radio – 231 Words
The Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended an event to mark the World Women’s Day in Mogadishu. The event was organized by the Ministry of Gender and Human Rights. The Minister for Gender and Human Rights, Sahro Mohamed Ali Samatar said that her ministry will work on developing women citing that women take an important part in the reconciliation efforts in the country. The president also delivered a speech in which he said that Somali women in the country should be assisted in achieving their dreams.“I hereby acknowledge the role of the Somali women. They portrayed ability and bravery in the past two decades in which there was a civil war in the country”, the president said. “They have achieved to create hope. Women today play major roles in business, services and the governance of the country”. The president added. The president said that his government will strengthen women’s rights. The president also congratulated Somali women all over the country on the important occasion marking the International Women’s Day.
Somali Immigrants Die In Car Crash
09 March – Source: BBC Somali/Radio Danan – 106 Words
At least 13 Somali immigrants died after their vehicle involved in an accident on the outskirts of Khartoum, Sudan. Those immigrants had the intention of proceeding to Libya and then to Italy before meeting their deaths. Their vehicle was reportedly over speeding as the driver was trying to get them to their destinations in time as they were in that country illegally. Fiidow Mohamud Fiidow of the Somali Embassy in Sudan told the media that the embassy is trying to get people who may recognize the bodies before burial. Many Somali youths leave the country by taking in a dangerous journeys through Africa in search of better life in Europe.
Col. Roobow: It Is Good To Discard Traitors From The Patriots
09 March – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 266 Words
After Somali government arrested 11 officials including senior police officers and intelligence officials who were accused of assisting Al-Shabaab during the groups attack on the capital city of Somalia, Mogadishu, Goobjoog News interviewed Hussein Mohamed Roobow, who is military expert, over these allegations. Hussein said that it is possible that there might be some officials in the government who are traitors and work with other agencies for personal interest. “When…Barre’s regime was toppled , the country swam into a pull of confusion and chaos, the security and spy agencies have got damaged.
There was no competent government for about twenty plus years which led the nation to become a hideout for different foreign agencies and other organizations who sucked blood of these innocent Somali people” said Roobow. Mr. Robbow welcomed the decision to investigate these officials saying, “it is good to discard traitors from the patriots.” He pointed out the potential risk it poses when some of the government officials work with other agencies which are against the government. Somali government did not yet detail fully the allegations but investigations are underway. Reports indicate that some officials are detained and are being investigated for allegedly shirking their responsibilities during the Al-Shabab attack on Hotel SYL, which is close to the Presidential Palace.
Two TV Journalists Arrested In Somaliland
08 March – Source: Garowe Online – 122 Words
Somaliland police forces have arrested two TV journalists for allegedly violating local authority in Berbera coastal town on Sunday, Garowe Online reports. Abdirahman Mohamed Ige of Royal TV and Mubarak Osman Saed of Star TV were detained for betraying Somaliland nation according Saahil governor Fahmi Abdi. “The two have been arrested, if you want to find out the reason, you can read their crimes from the websites. They conspired against Somaliland nation,” said Abdi when asked about the reasons for the arrest of the media workers. Nearly 20 journalists were detained by Somaliland authorities over the last two years. Two-third of the arrests targeted TV journalists working for UK-based Somali channels in Lasanod.
Gunmen Kill Government Soldier In Wadajir
08 March – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 70 Words
Armed gunmen have on early Sunday morning killed a government soldier in the Nasteeho neighborhood in the district of Wadajir. The deceased soldier named Yusuf Maalim Ahmed was shot dead while leaving his house. According to Ibrahim Ahmed who is relative of the deceased, the gunmen fled the area after they committed the crime. So far no one has been arrested in connection with the killing of the government soldier.
Prime Minister Omar Pledges Assistance For The Galgaduud Reconciliation Conference
08 March – Source: Radio Danan – 185 Words
The Somali prime minister, Omar Abdirashid is in Dusamareeb town of Galgaduud Region. The premier pledged that the Somali Federal Government will pay the expenses of the reconciliation conference for Galgaduud which is underway in that region. The commissioner of Galgaduud, Hussein Ali Wehliye Irfo who is at the conference said Eeldheer and Galhareeri areas are still not under the government control. He added that Alshabaab militias have recently carried out terror activities there.
“We decided to liberate the remaining areas in the region and to oust the enemy of the Somali Nation, Alshabaab. We need to be assisted on that”, Irfo said. The minister for internal security, Hon. Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein Odowaa said the Galgaduud Reconciliation Conference will contribute to the formation of a unitary state for Mudug and Galgaduud Regions. “People who are reconciled can progress together. So, we appeal to the residents in these regions to work out on the reconciliation efforts for the people of Galgaduud and Mudug Regions”. The minister said. Prime Minister Omar thanked all those who contributed to the convening of the reconciliation meeting.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al-Shabaab Release Chilling Video About Mpeketoni Attack
09 March – Source: Standard Media -1817 Words
Al-Shabaab has unveiled a chilling video of its bloody rampage in Mpeketoni and Poromoko villages of Lamu County on June 16 and 17 last year that confirms survivors’ claims that white jihadists were among the mass murderers. Security analysts suggest the film is a recruitment strategy by the Al-Qaida linked group intended for Kiswahili and East African English speakers since many of the narrators speak in flawless Kiswahili with Mombasa accents although one talks in a typical British accent. It is not clear when the video was released. English sub-titles follow Arabic and Kiswahili narrations. The film is produced by Al-Shabaab’s Al Kataib media agency under the title:”Mpeketoni-Reclaiming Back Muslim lands under Kenya Occupation” and its holistic analysis suggests that violence could have been planned for years given that part of the material justifying the mass murder was an incendiary speech by slain radical Muslim leader Sheikh Aboud Rogo Mohamed who was killed in Mombasa on August 27, 2012.
A narrator declares at the start of the rampage that although Rogo did not live to witness the so called liberation of Coast from Christian occupation “his words are being transformed into reality”. The, apparently, heavily edited film, shows at least three execution scenes in Mpeketoni and Poromoko where men were pulled from rooms, into town squares and shot at close range as well as what appears to be a decapitation in Mpeketoni, by a supposed Caucasian militant as the township went up in flames. Besides restating claim to the bloody night mass murder in which 65 people, all men but one woman, were slaughtered, narrators in the 34 minute video which was uploaded on YouTube on March 3, pulled down and uploaded again on Friday before being brought down again mocks President Uhuru Kenyatta, his spokesman Manoah Esipisu for their June 17 claims absolving Al-Shabaab from blame. The President boldly said the attack was politically instigated.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN Envoy Lauds Formation Of Regional Assembly In South Somalia
08 March – Source: Xinhua/GlobalPost – 246 Words
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Nicholas Kay has welcomed the Interim Juba Administration’s (IJA) progress towards forming a regional assembly. Kay said in a statement received on Sunday that the initiatives towards a full state government formation in Juba region in southern Somalia was a positive step towards the federalization process in Somalia. “I welcome the progress on forming the IJA’s regional assembly, and urge the speedy conclusion of a transparent and inclusive process, in which women and minorities are properly represented,” Kay said. Juba region in southern Somalia has been one of the central political hot points in the country which has seen local and international partners involved in its formation.
It was formed in 2013 following an agreement between the Federal government of Somalia and the region’s leaders in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia. Its headquarters Kismayu was a major stronghold of the militant group Al-Shabaab and was liberated in 2012 by Kenya Defence Forces before handing over to the AU backed force AMISOM. “Ensuring a fair and inclusive process will help build a just and peaceful society for the people of the Juba regions as well as all Somalis,” Kay added. Kay also called on the IJA administration to engage with other regional administrations and the Federal government to facilitate peace and development in the country. “Now it is critical to focus on accelerating federalism, the constitutional review and democratization ahead of the end of the Federal Government’s term in 2016,” he said.
Somalia To Deploy Drones In Battle With Al-Shabab
07 March – Source: VOA English – 158 Words
The Somali government says it plans to use drones to fight the al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabab, targeting the militants’ bases and rural areas they still control. A spokesman for the Ministry of Security, Mohamed Yusuf Osman, told VOA on Saturday that the Somali National Army plans to deploy the drones independently of the African Union Mission in Somalia, also known as AMISOM. But he refused to say where Somalia obtained the drones, or how many there are. U.S. Special Forces have been involved in drone attacks in Somalia in the past, successfully killing al-Shabab senior leaders and military commanders. Top leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was killed in a U.S. airstrike in September 2014. Also Saturday, government authorities in Dhusamareb, central Somalia, said senior al-Shabab commander Abdullahi Ahmed Mohumed gave himself up to authorities after renouncing violence in Somalia. VOA sources said Mohumed helped al-Shabab make and plant explosive devices.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“By the end of the meeting, community feedback seemed largely positive. Mother of two Farhiya Sayad had come in part because she was concerned about her own teenage children. She said that by the end of the meeting, she felt like she knew where to turn.”
VEAW Seeks To Open Understanding Between Somali Community And Hennepin County Law Enforcement
08 March – Source: Twincity Daily – 797 Words
This past Thursday, around three-dozen Somali community members gathered in the auditorium of the Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis to engage with the Hennepin County Sheriff. Organized by the nonprofit group Voice of East African Women (VEAW), the town hall-style meeting included mothers, fathers, elders, and even a few young people. “I do know there’s so much going on in the community [with] the youth and violence, extremists, and all this hype going on in media,” says Farhio Khalif, Founder and Executive Director of VEAW. Just a few weeks ago, in fact, the White House held their Summit on Countering Violent Extremism (CVE).
Several Somali community members and officials attended, including Hennepin County Sheriff Richard Stanek. But, Khalif says, “My focus was not mainly CVE. It was about the Hennepin County Sheriff: what work they do, how can mothers learn more about their programs, and basically just introducing the sheriff to the mothers’ roundtable.” This roundtable was part of a monthly series VEAW hosts with their Circle of Mothers to discuss issues affecting the community. VEAW focuses primarily on domestic abuse, violence against women, and sex trafficking. Khalif says the impetus for this month’s meeting topic came when multiple mothers had called her asking about what their children would go through while in jail. So she decided to reach out to Abdi Mohamed, the Hennepin County Community Outreach Liaison for the Somali community. He helped liaiseThursday’s meeting.
“Taking a bus with Ibrahim, aka Ahmed Somali, is like riding around with the mayor. He basically knows all the other people on the bus who sought asylum. He greets them warmly. He’s either translated for them or interviewed them or helped them in some other way. But his high profile has revealed deep-seated prejudice and resentment by some toward African migrants.”
In Malta, Journalist Makes A Bridge Between Somalia And Asylum
07 March – Source: NRP Radio – Audio – 4:29 Minutes
After fleeing mortal threats in Somalia, a radio journalist found himself languishing in Malta. He’s decided to settle in and is starting a radio program for the many other Somalis there in limbo.
SCOTT SIMON:
Malta, off the coast of Italy, has long been known for its dramatic landscape and historic sites. Malta today is also a gateway to Europe for thousands of asylum-seekers, making dangerous boat rides from Africa. They find safety but face discrimination, automatic detention and a difficult path to integration. NPR’s Leila Fadel brings us a story of a young Somali journalist who hopes to use radio to bridge that gap between migrants and the Maltese.
AHMED NUUR IBRAHIM: My name is Ahmed Nuur Ibrahim, but the people, they call me Ahmed Somali. That’s my nickname.
LEILA FADEL: Ibrahim is a young Muslim Somali journalist who fled his country after the militant Islamist group Al-Shabaab threatened to kill him if he didn’t join them. So he ran and spent thousands of dollars his family scraped together on a dangerous journey through the Sahara Desert in the hands of violent smugglers, through Libya’s prisons and finally, to its shores to get to Europe on a dinghy with more than a hundred other people. His story is not unique. Some 19,000 people have come to Malta from Africa and the Middle East smuggled by boat since 2002, and numbers are expected to rise.
“The flow of remittances has helped to address some of these barriers. Remittances have multiplier effects for the recipients and their extended families and communities, and are already contributing to women’s financial empowerment in Somalia. It is critical that the flow of remittances continue to contribute to this trend, and that any new technology or delivery systems for remittances take into account the particular needs and perspectives of women.”
International Women’s Day: Remittances Are A Lifeline For Women In Somalia
06 March – Source: BlogsOxfam.Org – 771 Words
Imagine life without a bank account. Imagine how completing a simple financial transaction would require travelling a distance, incurring expenses, and losing precious income. Imagine not having access to your main source of income faced with a non-functioning banking system. On International Women’s Day it is worth remembering that this is a harsh reality for many women in Somalia who risk losing their only formal or transparent channel through which to access money. As Somali families visit their local money transfer office to pick up money from their loved ones in the diaspora, they hang on to the hope that this is not the last time they will receive this money. Somalia is not only one of the most remittance-dependent countries in the world, it also faces a unique set of challenges in its effort to maintain remittance inflows according to a recent report ‘Hanging by a Thread’ by Adeso, Global Center on Cooperative Security and Oxfam.
With one out of every three Somalis saying that without these remittance flows they would not be able to pay for food, school or basic healthcare, further strain on this vital lifeline would throw many more families into crisis and undermine efforts to foster a stable and peaceful Somalia. Suhair Ismail, a mother of five says, “This money is used to cover all their basic needs such as food, water, and school fees for my children. We are fully dependent on the money. Without it we would not survive. You need money for everything”. In one way or another, women are seen as caregivers, peacekeepers, innovators, providers etc and for them to capitalise on this they need money. The impact on women in Somalia as the main caregivers in their families is particularly great. Remittances are often the only funds that women are able to access and control, making them a vital tool for women’s economic empowerment, which in turn boosts the ability of women to claim their social and political rights.
Top tweets
@TheEconomist A few years ago the most dangerous waters in the world for piracy were off Somalia. Not so nowhttp://econ.st/1BOGbjk
@SadiaAden @Oxfam Thank you Oxfam for increased awareness @savingmaandeeq @4DialogSK @aysanei@nabadinstitute @SDY2009 @AdarFoundation #Somalia
@YasminYonis Somali women are the shield & shoulder for the freedom fighters of world esp W. Somalia, Oromia, Eritrea, Palestine
@USAforSOMALIA @USADF CEO: “There is a need for an enabling policy environment for entrepreneurship in #Somalia“@Shuraako #investsomalia @IFCAfrica
@OmarBlack#Somalia Investment Forum underway@SafariPark_H in Nairobi. #InvestSomalia
@RadioErgo Evicted IDP families say they want help to go home #Somalia http://bit.ly/1F1RHc0
@UNSomalia #Somali women joined major #IWD2015#MakeItHappen celebrations held in #Kismayo, #Baidoa and#Garowe. Read more: http://on.fb.me/1BY4zz6
Image of the day
Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou, and Deputy Minister of Women and Human Rights Development Mumina Sheikh Omar hold a t-shirt branded with International Women’s Day 2015 during the handover ceremony of items to Somali Federal Government’s Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development
Photo:AMISOM