May 13, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Peacekeepers admit to their heavy losses
13 May- Source: Strategy Page – 750 words
The AU (African Union) revealed that in the last six years some 3,000 AU peacekeepers have died in Somalia. The peacekeeping effort began small and it took a year to get the force up to 3,000 troops. Currently there are nearly 18,000 peacekeepers in Somalia. It’s been a dangerous area for peacekeepers, with about 15 percent of them killed or wounded since 2007.
For a long time the AU played down their losses but did not hide them. The casualties were reported in the countries the peacekeepers came from. Somalia has been one of the bloodiest peacekeeping missions ever. As the only professional soldiers in Somalia during this period, it was the peacekeepers that did the most damage to al Shabaab and were decisive in breaking the power of the Islamic terrorist militia.
Al Shabaab is still active in the far south (near the Kenyan border) and in Puntland up north. Without the peacekeepers, or a Somali government force, the Islamic terrorists can recover from their losses and become a threat once more. The violent and extremist ways of al Shabaab still appeal to many young Somalis, especially if they are unemployed.
High unemployment and low literacy rates are the result of persistent internal problems (corruption, tribalism and a tradition of violence) that are always standing in the way of any political or economic progress. For example, when Mogadishu was freed from al Shabaab two years ago, there then developed major problems with the new police force, which tended to commit most of the crimes. Looting and assault by cops is still common and the government seems unable to do anything about it.
Key Headlines
- Somali president defies al Shabaab by venturing into Mogadishu ( CNN)
- Prime Minister sends condolences and condemns the Turkish bomb attack (Prime Minister’s Media Office)
- Peacekeepers admit to their heavy losses ( Strategy Page)
- Somali government forces in Jubba regions deny al Shabaab claim on Afmadow district (Radio Mustaqbal)
- Somali president returns home after UK visit (Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Universal TV)
- Somali PM: Piracy Reduced by Land Strategy
- Chiefs asked to be on alert over MRC (Daily Nation)
- Puntland journalists held consultative meeting on draft press law (Radio Garowe/al Shahid/Bar-kulan/ Mareeg Online)
PRESS STATEMENT
Prime Minister sends condolences and condemns the Turkish bomb attack
13 May – Source: Prime Minister’s Media Office – 215 words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon condemned strongly the car bomb attack that killed more than 43 people and injured many today in the town of Reyhanli, in Hatay province Turkey. In a statement issued by His excellency Prime Minister expressed his sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims and wished for the speedy recovery of all those that were injured in the attack.
“Somalia has been a victim of such heinous acts of terror and our country has been fortunate to have the assistance of the Turkish government and its people. I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims. I wish for the speedy recovery of all those that were injured in the attack,” Prime Minister said in the statement.
Prime Minister expressed solidarity and commitment to the Turkish government and the Turkish people. He called upon the international community to unite and combat terrorism, regardless of origin or cause to avoid the loss of innocent lives.
“I express our full solidarity and commitment to our sister country, Turkey and its strong and resilient people during this tragic time. This action is immoral and sinful and I hope that the perpetrators of this attack will be immediately identified and brought to justice,”.
New Police Chief Commissioner vows to reform and rebuild the Somali Police Force
12 May – Source: Prime Minister’s Media Office – 302 words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon and Interior Minister H. E. Abdikarin Hussein Gulled today welcome the new Somali Police Chief Commissioner transfer to Brigadier General Abdihakim Dahir Said well-known as Gen. Saacid .
Prime Minister speaking at the transfer ceremony pointed out that the appointment of the new police and intelligence top leaders is part of the government’s effort to improve security. The council of ministers this week appointed top country security officers to Brigadier General Abdihakim Dahir Said as the new Police Chief Commissioner and Major General Bashir Mohamed Jama as the new Director of National Intelligence and Security Agency.
“We have to guarantee the safety and security of all of our residents and visitors. That great responsibility falls upon you – the Somali Police Force. So I am calling on you to redouble your efforts to stabilise Somalia,” Prime Minister said speaking at the police chief transfer ceremony at General Kahiye Police Academy Mogadishu.
His Excellency Abdikarim Hussein Gulled, the Interior Minister, welcomed the transfer. He praised the outgoing Police Chief Major General Shareif Sheikhuna Maye for the exceptional work did on rebuilding the police force. He also welcomes the new Chief Gen. Abdihakim and wishes him success on this new job.
Gen. Abdihakim is the 10th Police Commissioner since the Somali Police Force was established in 1943. That is 17 years before the independence of the Somali nation in 1960. He stated his commitment to reform the police force in order to quickly respond the security and human rights issues in Somalia.
“The Somali Police Force should soon be prepared organization dedicated to provide safe environment and professional police services. We are committed upholding the constitutional rights of everyone in Somalia, and earning the public trust by holding ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism,” General Abdihakim said.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president returns home after UK visit
13 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Universal TV – 69 words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud and his delegation returned on Sunday evening to the Somali capital, Mogadishu, after visiting Britain for London conference on Somalia.
Somali president praised the role of the British government towards Somalia, and it is support to the Somali government. Britain hosted last Tuesday an international conference to help Somalia, and participated more than 50 countries and international organizations.
Somali PM: Piracy Reduced by Land Strategy
13 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 92 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon stated that the massive reduction in pirate attacks on ships put down by land strategy.
Speaking to Al-Jazeera, the Somali Prime Minister said the massive deduction to piracy activities along the Somali coastline is a result of the ground operation.
Global group trying to combat the pirates indicated in a report that Somali piracy activities extremely reduced in the past one year. The fight against Somali pirates has been so effective that they have not been able to mount a successful hijacking in nearly a year.
Puntland journalists held consultative meeting on draft press law
13 May – Source: Radio Garowe/al Shahid/Bar-kulan/ Mareeg Online – 145 words
A consultative conference on the draft law on the press and media in Puntland organized by the umbrella of civil society has concluded in Garowe, the capital of Puntland State of Somalia. 30 Somali journalists working in different local media participated in the conference.
The consultative conference was officially opened the Puntland Minister of Information, Mohamoud Aideed Dirir who said that this media law has been established by the Ministry of information and was using since its establishment and now we have decided to consult with the media stakeholders to comment and contribute their inputs.
“ The importance is, today we are together for the media law consultative process and your contributions are very important as equal citizens. “ Mr. Mohamud Aideed Dirir, PUntland Minister of information said, “We, as the ministry of information, have been working the media law since late last year, it is good for all of us to contribute this media law in order to get a healthy media.”
Somali government forces in Jubba regions deny al Shabaab claim on Afmadow district
13 May – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 185 words
Al Shabaab recently published on its websites that it had captured Afmadow district from Somali government forces in Jubba regions, but that claim was denied and termed propaganda by the officials of Somali government troops in Afmadow.
The Spokesman for government forces in Jubba regions Dahir Farah speaking to Mustaqbal radio stated there is no al Shabaab presence in Afmadow district in Jubba region. He added that al Shabaab fighters do sometimes carry out ambush attacks against government forces.
“There are no al Shabaab fighter in Afmadow district, it is a lie that al Shabab took over Afmadow district,” Dahir said. The spokesman also vowed that government forces will target al Shabaab group wherever they are in Jubba regions.
Puntland warns of gov’t infighting after MPs forward motion to oust PM
12 May – Source: Garowe Online/RBC – 144 words
The Puntland government issued a press release on Sunday urging against “the renewal of political infighting amongst federal institutions”, after a group of MPs are attempting to bring a motion against Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, Garowe Online reports.
The Puntland press release “warned strongly” against a motion from MPs – after only 7 months as Somali Federal Government (SFG) – against Prime Minister Shirdon. Calling the motion an attempt to renew political infighting, the Puntland government stated that the motion was not needed at this critical juncture.
“This attempt wastes time, resources, and the joint efforts Somali stakeholders and international partners invested in bringing forth the new Federal Institutions of Somalia,” read the press release. The Puntland government advised that the SFG consider the political infighting, “ that paralyzed the Government’s ability to meet its obligations and to deliver basic services to Somali citizens.”
‘Pay us a visit,’ Dadaab refugees tell Somali leaders
12 May – Source: Radio Ergo – 339 words
Refugees living in Dadaab, north eastern Kenya, have called on the new leadership of Somalia to visit the camps to see conditions for themselves and plan for their repatriation.
Radio Ergo surveyed refugees’ opinions on this week’s London conference, at which donor countries pledged a big financial aid package to rebuild Somalia. Most refugees were positive about the conference but felt they had been ignored by successive Somali regimes over two decades.
“We find this conference so promising, and important for the people; the refugees here need to be relocated back home,” said Mustafa Awli in Hagadera camp. “The top leadership in Somalia are to blame for never taking the time or thinking of visiting these camps, which accommodate close to half a million people, most of us Somali nationals.”
Maulid Abdi Hassan, another refugee in Hagadera, said: “I have lived in this camp since 1992. All those years I have been waiting for my country to be peaceful again, to give me the chance to return. This London conference is an important milestone; it’s the most promising of all Somalia’s conferences. I expect great things from it. I urge the British government to pioneer a comprehensive reconciliation programme for Somalis.”
Resettlement Minister returns to Somaliland
12 May – Source: Somaliland Informer/Universal TV – 168 words
Somaliland’s Resettlement Minister Suleiman Isse Ahmed has returned to the country on Sunday after having wrapped up working visit to the neighboring country of Djibouti. The Minister has told the press that his visit to Djibouti was to assess the situation of Somaliland people living in Djibouti.
The minister has also spoke about news reports that emerged regarding his working visit to Djibouti and the reports said that there is conflict between the Minister himself and members o Somaliland government officials.
The Minister has said that the news was totally baseless and has not factuality. The Minister has said that he went to Djibouti to see Somaliland people living in Djibouti for the past 20 years and to evaluate their lives.
A plane carrying delegation to Kismayo unexpectedly returns back to Mogadishu
12 May – Source: Raxanreeb – 131 words
A commercial plane carrying at least 40 persons delegation including politicians, former MPs and elders has unexpectedly jetted back to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia after authorities in Kismayo refused to allow the plane to land at Kismayo airport, RBC Radio reports.
Former parliament member, Mohamed Amiin Abdullahi who was leading the delegation from Mogadishu said they were heading to Kismayo but while on air the pilot received a call from Kismayo saying the plane was not authorized to land at the airport.
“Before leaving from Mogadishu we have consulted with civil aviation and the AMISOM office in Mogadishu, there was nothing wrong to go there, but unfortunately when we reached Kismayo we were informed that our aircraft could not land at the airport,” Mohamed Amiin said upon his return to Mogadishu on Sunday afternoon.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Chiefs asked to be on alert over MRC
12 May – Source: Daily Nation – 292 words
The government has directed chiefs in Lamu County to be on alert over activities of a secessionist group and Somalia-based insurgents. County commissioner Stephen Ikua told chiefs that they would be held accountable should there be any attacks linked to the Mombasa Republican Council and al Shabaab, among other criminal groups.
In 2011, Somali pirates sneaked into the county and abducted British tourist Judith Tebbutt and killed her husband David Tebbutt. They later returned to kidnap a French national Marie Dedieu.
“Any person coming from the other side (Somalia) and purporting to be a Kenyan should be properly vetted. If he or she claims to be related with somebody in Kiunga, let that relation be properly explained,” added Mr Ikua.
Is there life after piracy in Somalia? The headache of al Shabaab, politics
11 May – Source: East African – 438 words
“We have them in camps,” Afweyne says, speaking through a translator, “Like snakes in a cage.”
He is talking about the more than 900 pirates — from rank-and-file guards to top financiers — in the central Somali state of Ximan iyo Xeeb, being rehabilitated by the local administration.
Assuming this figure is accurate, it would represent nearly all pirates thought to operate in central Somalia, one of the country’s two pirate centres of gravity — the other being the region of Puntland to the north.
Mystery how terror chemical was smuggled in
11 May – Source: Daily Nation – 636 words
Police are still trying to unravel the mystery of how two Iranians sneaked 15 kilogrammes of the highly explosive chemical RDX into the country, a chemical experts say is many times more powerful than the material used in the 1998 US embassy bomb blast.
Ahmad Abolafathi Mohammed and Sayed Mansour Mousa were sentenced to life in prison after they were found guilty of possessing the dangerous explosives.
But because the men did not cooperate throughout the trial, how such sensitive and dangerous material found its way into the country remains a mystery.
KDF not pulling out of Somalia soon
10 May – Source: Star News – 40 words
Kenya Defense Forces will not be pulled out of Somalia any time soon. Raychel Omamo, defense cabinet nominee says Somali soldiers should first be trained before the return of refugees to the country.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Peacekeepers admit to their heavy losses
13 May- Source: Strategy Page – 750 words
The AU (African Union) revealed that in the last six years some 3,000 AU peacekeepers have died in Somalia. The peacekeeping effort began small and it took a year to get the force up to 3,000 troops. Currently there are nearly 18,000 peacekeepers in Somalia. It’s been a dangerous area for peacekeepers, with about 15 percent of them killed or wounded since 2007.
For a long time the AU played down their losses but did not hide them. The casualties were reported in the countries the peacekeepers came from. Somalia has been one of the bloodiest peacekeeping missions ever. As the only professional soldiers in Somalia during this period, it was the peacekeepers that did the most damage to al Shabaab and were decisive in breaking the power of the Islamic terrorist militia.
Al Shabaab is still active in the far south (near the Kenyan border) and in Puntland up north. Without the peacekeepers, or a Somali government force, the Islamic terrorists can recover from their losses and become a threat once more. The violent and extremist ways of al Shabaab still appeal to many young Somalis, especially if they are unemployed.
High unemployment and low literacy rates are the result of persistent internal problems (corruption, tribalism and a tradition of violence) that are always standing in the way of any political or economic progress. For example, when Mogadishu was freed from al Shabaab two years ago, there then developed major problems with the new police force, which tended to commit most of the crimes. Looting and assault by cops is still common and the government seems unable to do anything about it.
Somali president defies al Shabaab by venturing into Mogadishu
13 May – Source: CNN – 369 words
A female soldier roughly passes her hands over the waistband of my jeans as a finishing touch to the most intimate pat down I’ve ever received. But we’re not done yet, a metal detector is then passed in unusually close contact with my skin. Up down, over and around. And that’s just to get through the first gate.
At the second entrance, a Somali close protection officer bars the way and Special Forces officers crowd around as our camera is switched off and on to prove it is indeed a camera.
Even though we had traveled in with African Union soldiers tasked with escorting the President, suspicions still had to be assuaged.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The first major victory was recorded in September 2012 when the forces managed to capture the Islamists major stronghold. This victory buoyed the confidence of the transitional government and it inaugurated the first formal parliament in more than 20 years.”
Somalia: The road to failure
13 May – Source: Nigerian Tribune – 633 Words
The failure of Somalia which has not had any central government since 1991 was precipitated by the inability of the people of Somalia to bury their differences and work towards building a united country. The stage for the parlous economic and political state of the country was set in 1991 following the disagreement between those who plotted the overthrow of President Siad Barre on going forward.
Sequel to the differences, the northern part of the country declared its independence as Somaliland in May 1991, though it has not been recognized as independent by any foreign government. On the other hand, Ali Mahdi Muhammad was selected by the Somali Manifesto Group as an interim president ahead of a conference to select a national leader by all the major stakeholders the following month. The choice of Muhammad did not however go down well with many of the stakeholders.
The disagreement degenerated into disaffection among all the stakeholders including the SNM, USC and SPM as well as the armed groups; Manifesto, Somali Democratic Movement (SDM) and Somali National Alliance (SNA) and within the USC forces. This eventually resulted in a civil war whose casualty figure is over a million.
“A stable Somalia would be a great benefit to East Africa and the Arab Gulf as well as to international shipping. This is one major reason that the international community would like to see Somalia restored to more orderly government.”
Somalia needs international help
11 May – Source: Gulf News – 342 Words
A major conference on supporting the fragile Somali government has ended with modest success, as the international community rallied behind the new government of President Hassan Shaikh Mohammad. It was good that the UK and other donors took the opportunity of the conference to pledge around $130 million in aid for Somalia, which should be well-coordinated so that the donors’ work does not overlap with consequent waste of money.
After two decades of a brutal civil war, the country is still badly divided. The president only really controls the capital Mogadishu and the surrounding territory is still partially controlled by the Islamist group, Al Shabab. The north east has broken way into two autonomous statelets in Puntland, and Somaliland in the north west has been separate from the rest for many years, successfully holding elections and managing its affairs well.
It was unfortunate for the new government in Mogadishu that leaders from both Puntland and Somaliland boycotted the London Conference, as they were unwilling to cede any credibility to the new Mohammad’s untested government.
“If Somalia offers an opportunity to create a model for turning around a failed state, Mali presents the chance to improve on it.”
To Stabilize Mali, Look to Somalia’s Lessons
13 May – Source: Bloomberg – 702 Words
The United Nations Security Council has made a wise decision to create an ambitious African stabilization mission for Mali. To succeed, however, this mission will need to draw lessons from the other side of the continent, where African peacekeepers have had notable results pacifying Somalia.
Their experience suggests how an effective partnership between African nations and external powers, such as the U.S. and European Union, can create the space for promising political solutions.
Mali is like Somalia in that, in both places, Muslim extremists took advantage of political turmoil to seize large areas of the country. In each case, African countries agreed to send soldiers to neutralize the threat — a way around Western reluctance to commit troops to far-off places, and a local solution more likely to be acceptable to African populations. Yet the forces largely floundered when left to their own resources.
Deployed in 2007, the African Union Mission in Somalia began to thrive four years later once it was provided logistical support by the UN, technical advice by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, management expertise by the EU, and funding from countries including the U.S. and U.K.
“As wonderful as it would be to believe that the actions and involvements of the British and their fellow contributors are entirely altruistic, perhaps it is best not to delve into such idealism. Western governments have always been honest about the threats posed to them by the rise of ‘terrorism and extremism.’”
UK-Somalia conference: the good, bad and ugly
12 May – Source: The Observer – 1274 Words
Attendees included British Prime Minister David Cameron, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President Museveni and recently- elected Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, along with representatives from numerous international organisations and foreign governments. Having undergone a 20-year-long civil war, Somalia is now being led by its first widely-recognised government for more than 20 years and is showing vast signs of improvement.
There has been a reported rise in Somalis from the diaspora returning to the country, an increase in the availability of education for children and a sign that the government is extending its influence beyond the capital Mogadishu, a city which is starting to show signs of economic recovery despite continued terror attacks.
The conference involved much discussion regarding possible strategies for the way forward in Somalia. However, it has left more questions than answers and unveiled the numerous issues, actors and topics of debate which can be posed when it comes to what was once known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean.’ As was expected, a total of £50 million was pledged by nations including America, Britain and China to be put towards building the Somali army and police force. Britain then went on to pledge an additional £35 million (approximately $54 million) to further strengthen security forces and protect the Somali coastline from pirates.
Top tweets
@BBCAfrica Public transport operators in #Somalia on strike because they say they have to pay bribes at checkpoints to government soldiers and police.
@Seatrade Somali piracy still a ‘high risk’ despite a year without a hijacking http://www.seatrade-global.
@giulioraffa #Piracy declines off #Somalia‘s coast thanks to combined sea-ground strategy #NATO #EU Interesting doc on @AJEnglish http://aje.me/15ADGTb.
@DiscoverSomalia A man rides on a donkey-drawn cart with his children in #Beledweyne, central #Somalia. http://tmblr.co/ZyXEZskr2m-0
@SomaliPM Our international connections continue to expand – Air Uganda to start flights to #Mogadishu http://www.newvision.co.ug/
Image of the day
Photo taken in Jan 1991 when #Somalia central bank was looted and money blew down streets like autumn leaves. Photo: @AidanJHartley.