May 12, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somalia Refutes Claims Of Child Abuse
12 May – Source: Xinhua – 273 Words
The Somali government on Wednesday slammed a sensational report that appeared in the Washington Post, alleging its security forces were involved in violation of children’s rights. In a statement, Mogadishu trashed the report from the leading American newspaper, terming it misleading and factually inaccurate.
“We are concerned by the report appearing in the Washington Post on May 7, which alleged that fundamental rights of children have been violated. As a signatory to the UN convention on the rights of the child, we are concerned by these allegations and will conduct thorough investigations to establish the truth,” it said.
The paper reported that security personnel in the Horn of Africa state violated the rights of children during anti-terrorism operations. In a strong rebuttal, Mogadishu claimed that it is the Al-Shabaab militants who were responsible for gross violations of children’s rights and not the security forces.
“The government uses legitimate tools in its military and ideological war against terrorism. Al-Shabaab on the other hand recruits and radicalizes children to carry out violence against innocent civilians,” said the statement It added that Mogadishu has intensified rehabilitation and reintegration of children who were previously recruited by Al-Shabaab.
Key Headlines
- Somalia Refutes Claims Of Child Abuse (Xinhua)
- Allied Forces Take Two Villages In Afgoye Lower Shabelle As Clash With Al-Shabaab Rages (Goobjoog News)
- Riots Break Out in Beled-Weyn Over Puntland Minted Fake Somali Currency (Mareeg Media)
- Somalia Federal MP Calls For Fair And Inclusive Elections In The Country (Goobjoog News)
- State To Spend Sh1b Repatriating Somali Refugees: Interior CS Nkaissery (Standard Digital)
- Italy Arrests Somalis Accused Of Taking Migrants Hostage (Times Live)
- Despite Challenges Mogadishu’s New Music Artwork Provide Cultural Soundtrack To City’s Rebirth(Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Allied Forces Take Two Villages In Afgoye, Lower Shabelle As Clash With Al-Shabaab Rages
12 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 102 Words
The Somali National Army and AMISOM forces Thursday morning wrested control of Mareray and Sabib villages in Afgoye town, some 30 kilometres south of Mogadishu in a fierce clash with Al-Shabaab. Goobjoog News correspondent in Afgoye said the two sides clashed in the wee hours of Thursday before the allied forces took control of the villages which were until then under Al-Shabaab grip. There are no immediate casualties established since the fighting is still ongoing, our correspondent said, Al-Shabaab still commands control of some villages in the Lower Shabelle region but incessant offensives by the joint forces have weakened their positions in the recent past.
Riots Break Out in Beled-Weyn Over Puntland Minted Fake Somali Currency
12 May – Source: Mareeg Media – 238 Words
The residents of Beled-Weyn have taken to the streets on Wednesday to protest against the decision by the business owners to dump Somali shilling. Business was brought to stand still for hours before the intervention of the local authorities. Business owners in the area have opted for US Dollar currency in their service to the public due to low value of Somali shilling for the past few months. Efforts led by city mayor Omar Adan Ibrahim have requested local currency exchange market to look into the matter to resolve the crisis. The US dollar is widely used in Somalia after more than two decades of the civil war de-valued Somali shilling. In another development, angry demonstrators also took the streets in Garowe last week due to the same problem.
Somalia Federal MP Calls For Fair And Inclusive Elections In The Country
12 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 158 Words
Abdi Ali Hassan, a Federal MP stressed the need for holding inclusive and fair elections in the scheduled general elections in the country this year. The MP called on proper technical preparation for the election and settling important political issues before the elections kicks off in the country. “I would like to calm down Somali people and let them know as Parliament we will try to make sure that the upcoming election will be fair and inclusive,” said the MP.
Abdi Ali also said regional state leaders and elders should deliberate to choose the elections centers within their states. The MP also expressed concerns of possible funding challenges in the upcoming elections saying international community may not keep its word to finance the elections. “International community may say we finance the elections but our experience of 2011 elections tells us to be cautious. The elections concluded without receiving the money that was pledges to finance the elections,” said the MP.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
State To Spend Sh1b Repatriating Somali Refugees: Interior CS Nkaissery
12 May – Source: Standard Digital – 567 Words
Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said to kick-start the repatriation process and subsequent closure of Dadaab Refugee Complex, the Government has provided Sh1 billion. The refugees will be repatriated to their countries of origin or to third-party countries for resettlement. A task force was gazetted yesterday to put in place the requisite technical infrastructure to oversee the repatriation process.
“Their work will be to oversee, manage and expedite the repatriation and closure of Dadaab by May 31, when they hand in their report,” said Mr Nkaissery. He added that Kakuma would not be affected for now because it is not a security threat like Dadaab. The CS said the decision to fast-track repatriation of refugees is anchored in an evolving understanding by virtually all regional and international bodies that Kenya faces a serious security threat.
All refugees in the Dadaab camp will be repatriated to Somalia by May next year, the Government has said. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery said to kick-start the repatriation process and subsequent closure of Dadaab Refugee Complex, the Government has provided Sh1 billion. The refugees will be repatriated to their countries of origin or to third-party countries for resettlement.
Italy Arrests Somalis Accused Of Taking Migrants Hostage
12 May – Source: Times Live – 177 Words
Italy has arrested 13 Somalis accused of being part of a network which held migrants hostage on their arrival in Sicily to extort money for the trip to northern Europe. An eight-month investigation in Catania, in the island’s south, uncovered a “criminal organization” which scanned reception centers for Somalis who had recently been picked up at sea while crossing from North Africa, police said Wednesday in a statement.
The migrants, many of whom are likely to have faced similar extortion in crisis-torn Libya before attempting the perilous crossing, were held in apartments until relatives or friends abroad paid for their liberation and the rest of their journey in Italy or across Europe. Police intervened several times during the probe to free those being held in Catania or the surrounding area, including minors. According to the UN’s refugee agency Somalis account for nine percent of the 31,000 migrants who have landed in Italy so far this year. Like Eritrean and Sudanese migrants, they rarely file for asylum in Italy and the majority hope to reach northern Europe.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“The new relative peace in the city has allowed long missing musicians to come together after years of war. Their peace messages through music continue to gain ground. Their music tune is quite different than a year ago that they can now sung in support for the army which is fighting Al-Shabaab fighters.”
Despite Challenges, Mogadishu’s New Music, Artwork Provide Cultural Soundtrack To City’s Rebirth
12 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 767 Words
With bright blue Somali flags tied around their waists, Somali musicians danced and sang for a cheering and clapping audience at a Mogadishu stadium on a recent afternoon. Until recently, such performances were banned under the puritanical rule of Islamist militants but as a peace not seen in years settle over the capital musicians and artists are also enjoying a renaissance.
The music is steadily returning, but Somalia still has a long way to go to regain its rich cultural past. The packed open-air venues of the 1980s are bombed to rubble or occupied by squatters. The music has changed too. Gone are the songs about love and romance, instead new tracks are about everyday struggle and the desire for peace. “Peace, peace, peace is our prime target now than anything else, we want to reshape our people’s minds,” says Yusuf Hassan, a Somali singer strumming his guitar at at the stadium in the Somali capital.
“We have been through over 20 years of blood and war, now we are in search for peace,” he said. Since the ouster of Somali militants from the capital in 2011, musicians say their hopes have returned that their country’s once vibrant music scene is making a comeback. With optimism, musicians say they are now busy getting their old musical instruments work again, thanks to the relative stability in the seaside city, and the old vibrancy of music being important to a thriving Somali culture is again growing.
“Music is a power which can influence people so easily, and it can guide our people to the path of peace,” Hassan, a veteran Somali musician said, sitting at the lobby of a hotel in the Somali capital. Few years ago, Somali musicians were not able to sing in public to promote peace, as Al-Shabaab militants were threatening musicians, but could instead secretly recorded songs discouraging war and the recruitment of children as soldiers.
TOP TWEETS
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@Abdishukry : BREAKING: Suspected #US forces with warplanes attacked #AlShabaab controlled village near #Afgoyetown, fierce fighting reported. #Somalia
@donnaZharrod : The Female Army Captain Fighting One Of The World’s Deadly Terrorist Groups http://www.refinery29.com/
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@AhmedKadiye : #Somalia is turning the corner towards peace, stability, progress and prosperity.@AliHoshow @LibanObsiy@HindaAli19
@HassanIstiila : #UPDATE Presidents of #Sudan and #Somaliaarrives in Uganda for swearing in of President #Museveni
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The Prime Minister discusses with the Somali youth their role in the upcoming election.
Photo: @SomaliPM