May 15, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali government to dispatch mediation team to Beled hawa town
15 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC- 224 words
The Federal Government of Somalia said it will send a mediation team to Beled hawa town to work on immediate ceasefire between two warring sides in the Somali-Kenyan border town. At least nine people were killed on Tuesday after two rival armed faction within the government confronted for the control of the town causing hundreds of civilians to flee from the town.
After an extraordinary meeting by the cabinet of ministers in Mogadishu, the Defense Minister Mohamed Hassan Hamud has mentioned that the government is preparing urgent team to leave for Beled hawa town and start mediating the warring sides.
“Soon there will be a delegation from Mogadishu. They will see the regional authority and will find better solution for the conflict there,” the minister said. “We are hundred percent worrying about the casualties on the civilians,” he added. The minister rebuffed that both warring groups were government soldiers as he said that no military forces involved in the battle.
The government says the conflict in Beled hawa is clan-based one. “We have small number of military forces in Beled hawa, most of our forces are other towns in the region,” the minister of defense declared. He has repeatedly called both sides to refrain from another armed clash which only worsens the plight of the already vulnerable people in the region.
Key Headlines
- Somali government to dispatch mediation team to Beled hawa town (Radio Mogadishu/RBC)
- US will double its support to Somali National Army (Somali Current/Bar-kulan)
- Puntland Government to tackle Drought situation (BBC Somali Service/Horseed Media)
- Armed men gun down Luq court chairman (Radio Goobjoog)
- President Hassan Meets Somali Traditional Elders (Radio Dalsan)
- US ‘concerned’ over Kenya security crackdown (Africa Review/)
- Al Shabaab and govt troops clash on outskirts of Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)
- Cholera outbreak in Middle Jubba region kills 2 children (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Yemen’s chargé d’affaires meets Somali Deputy PM (SABA News)
- Somaliland President Extends Condolences to the People of Turkey (Somaliland Sun)
- INRC demands for ‘end to violence’ in Gedo region (Hiiraan Online)
- Kenya Dismisses ‘Unfriendly’ Foreign Travel Warnings (AFP/NDTV)
- Somalia: Puntland VP visits Eyl Coastal Town (Garowe Online)
- Kenya allocates Sh28m only to fight terrorism against retired presidents’ (Standard Media)
- Australian warship in large drug bust off Somalia (AFP)
- Somali pirate gets 41 1/2 years for attack on Navy ship (hamptonroads)
- Woman gets probation for lying in al Shabaab case (Twincities/AP)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali government to dispatch mediation team to Beled hawa town
15 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC/SNTV/Goobjoog – 224 words
The Federal Government of Somalia said it will send a mediation team to Beled hawa town to work on immediate ceasefire between two warring sides in the Somali-Kenyan border town. At least nine people were killed on Tuesday after two rival armed faction within the government confronted for the control of the town causing hundreds of civilians to flee from the town.
After an extraordinary meeting by the cabinet of ministers in Mogadishu, the Defense Minister Mohamed Hassan Hamud has mentioned that the government is preparing urgent team to leave for Beled hawa town and start mediating the warring sides.
“Soon there will be a delegation from Mogadishu. They will see the regional authority and will find better solution for the conflict there,” the minister said. “We are hundred percent worrying about the casualties on the civilians,” he added. The minister rebuffed that both warring groups were government soldiers as he said that no military forces involved in the battle.
The government says the conflict in Beled hawa is clan-based one. “We have small number of military forces in Beled hawa, most of our forces are other towns in the region,” the minister of defense declared. He has repeatedly called both sides to refrain from another armed clash which only worsens the plight of the already vulnerable people in the region.
US will double its support to Somali National Army
15 May – Source: Somali Current/Bar-kulan – 85 words
US Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas has said the United States will double the training and equipments it provides for the Somali National Army. She also said her government will increase the humanitarian assistance it gives to Somalia.
She added that US will closely work with regional countries against war on al Shabaab militant group in Somalia. US has blacklisted al Shabaab militant group as a terrorist organization and gives millions of dollars to the regional countries on its fight against war on terror.
Puntland Government to tackle Drought situation
15 May- Source: BBC Somali Service/Horseed Media- 199 words
Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has said that it will take steps to tackle drought situation in its states. President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gas said that the situation is worrying, adding that his government is fully committed to taking additional measures for tackling the situation and will do more to prevent a catastrophe. “We are continuously monitoring the drought situation. There are some parts that have received rainfall, but we will do our best to prevent a tragedy,’’ he said in an interview with the BBC Somali Service. He called for the International Community to intervene the situation before it is too late and contingency plan should be placed in.
Last week, the Somali Federal government declared a drought situation in Southern and Central regions of the country. Some of the hardest hit have been the nomadic pastoralists, who depend on their livestock for their livelihood. In the unrelenting drought, hundreds of livestock have starved to death due to lack of pasture and water.
International Aid agencies are warning of a famine similar to the recent one in 2011, where at least 260,000 people, half of them young children, died of hunger.
Armed men gun down Luq court chairman
15 May – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 93 words
The head of Luq court was gunned down by armed gunmen Wednesday night. Sheikh Mohamud Sheikh Ahmed was a member of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa in Gedo region.
Two men armed with pistols killed the chairman and took his gun before disappearing as witness confirmed to the media. The motive behind the murder is not clearly known as no one claimed the responsibility of the murder.
This murder comes a time when over ten people died in clashes between Ahlu suna militia and government forces in Bula Haw the last two weeks.
President Hassan Meets Somali Traditional Elders
15 May- Source: Radio Dalsan- 179 words
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with the Somali Traditional Elders at Villa Somalia on Wednesdayafternoon. Firstly, the president told the elders why he called such a meeting with them, which he said, was because of consultation on the vision into the future. “The president has no special need but I only called you for this meeting for consultation and for us to update each other,” the president said.
After the consultation, the Somali traditional elders pledged that they would work with the government very closely. The president and the elders discussed a plan by the Office of the President which is to take them to other post war countries in Africa so that they can get an experience from what has been done in those countries.
Finally, the president acknowledged the importance of the Somali Traditional Elders in the reconciliation in the country. He further requested them to form a select committee which will work with the Office of the President on the reconciliation matters.
Al Shabaab and govt troops clash on outskirts of Mogadishu
15 May- Source: Radio Shabelle- 159 words
Several al Shabaab terrorist insurgents attacked government military bases on the outskirts of MogadishuWednesday night, which resulted in a full-scale battle to erupt between the al Qaeda affiliated terrorist group and troops of the Somali Federal Government.
A minimum of 4 of the government troops were killed and a further 5 or 6 left wounded with severe injuries after the terrorist fighters launched attacks on the military base at Arbacow territory in Eelasha Biyaha, on the outskirts of Mogadishu.
Witnesses described the fight as intense and said gunshots were continuously been fired from an AK-47 weapon. They added that at least 2 mortar shells were fired at the base before the fighting began.
Somali Federal Government spokesperson or officials are yet to comment on the latest skirmish involving government troops and the terrorists. The al Shabaab Islamist militants have also not publicized the number of losses they sustained.
Cholera outbreak in Middle Jubba region kills 2 children
15 May- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 144 words
At least 2 children have died and over 50 others are experiencing various illnesses due to a cholera outbreak in Bu’ale town, Middle Jubba region. A medical staff in the town who asked for anonymity told Bar-kulan that the number of people affected by the outbreak in the town has been increasing in recent days. He lamented that lack of medical supplies in the town will most likely prevent patients from getting much needed medical care. He said that first cases of the cholera outbreak in the area were reported three days ago. He bemoaned that patients had to be ferried to private medical facilities since Bu’ale General Hospital is currently out of order. Bu’ale General Hospital has been one of Al Shabaab’s biggest military bases in Middle Jubba region in the past few years.
Somaliland President Extends Condolences to the People of Turkey
15 May – Source: Somaliland Sun – 140 words
The government of Somaliland is deeply grieved by the death of over 200 citizens of Turkey. This was informed by the president of Somaliland Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo in a message of condolences released by presidential spokesperson Ahmed Suleiman Duhul in which the head of state said the people of Somaliland are firmly with their Turkish friends during this time of national grief.
The President Silanyo Message of Condolences read. “On My own behalf, that of the government and people of Somaliland I hereby extend heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, government and people of Turkey following the death of 200 citizens occasioned by an accident at a coal mine”.
“We the people of Somaliland extend our deep felt sympathies to the government and people of Turkey during this time of national grief in which we share with them”.
INRC demands for ‘end to violence’ in Gedo region
15 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 152 words
The Independent National Reconciliation Committee of Somalia has called for the cessation of violence in the town of Beled Hawo in the south-western region of Gedo where armed confrontations have killed dozens of people for the past several weeks.
During an emergency meeting which was intended to encourage peace promotion and reconciliation in the country, the Independent National Reconciliation Committee delivered the call urging the rival factions who fought in the town of Beled Hawo to end their differences on the negotiation table.
Key Somali lawmakers, officials from the ministry of interior and federalism and civil society groups attended the meeting which was held in the capital Mogadishu on Wednesday.
“We are calling for an urgent cessation of hostilities in Beled Hawo and we demand that unconditional cease fire must be in place soon” the Independent National Reconciliation Committee Chairman Ismail Moalim Muse told at the end of the meeting on Wednesday.
Somalia: Puntland VP visits Eyl Coastal Town
14 May – Source: Garowe Online – 108 words
The Vice President of Somalia’s North Eastern State of Puntland Abdihakin Abdullahi Amey has on Wednesday arrived in the historic and coastal town of Eyl for a two-day visit, Garowe Online reports.
Deputy Minister of Public Work and Housing Abdirahman Dijana, the Governor of Nugal region Abdiqani Hashi Ali and cheering crowds received Amey and his delegation in the outskirts of Eyl.
Speaking on Puntland-based independent media Dinaana said that Vice President Amey will inaugurate a newly completed 27km-paved road between Eyl and nearby villages.
Meanwhile, Nugal Governor Ali has disclosed that Amey would hold meetings with traditional and community leaders of Eyl during his stay.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya allocates Sh28m only to fight terrorism against retired presidents’
15 May- Source: Standard Media- 301 words
The fight against terrorism is likely to take a hit in the next financial year unless the National Treasury shores up the budget for the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU). The whole unit, which is based at Nairobi Area, just a stone throw away from the Seat of Power has been allocated Sh28 million. The meagre allocation for the crucial unit, which is supposed to spearhead the fight against terrorism, more so now that the Somalia-based al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militia has vowed to strike targets in Kenya, is telling about Government priorities.
Yemen’s chargé d’affaires meets Somali Deputy PM
14 May – Source: SABA News – 106 words
Chargé d’affaires of Yemeni embassy in Somalia Fuad al-Zurqa met on Wednesday in Mogadishu with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowment Ridwan Hirsi. During their meeting, al-Zurqa and Hirsi discussed the cooperation relations between the two countries in various fields.
Hirsi underlined Somalia willingness to cooperate with Yemen in the fight on terrorism, expressing congratulation to President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi on the greatest victories Yemen’s army has made against al-Qaeda in Abyan and Shabwa provinces.
He also praised the support Yemen offers to Somalia in all areas. Al-Zurqa affirmed Yemen’s resolve to eliminate al-Qaeda terrorists from all areas of the country.
US ‘concerned’ over Kenya security crackdown
14 May – Source: Africa Review/Daily Nation – 192 words
The US says it has “strong concerns” on the way Kenya has been conducting a crackdown on suspected sympathisers of al Shabaab militants. In an online press conference, US Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield said her country had told the Kenya Government officials to change their tack in the way they were handling the operation, to avoid mistreating innocent people.
“We know that Kenya has experienced some horrendous terrorist attacks and we want to work with the Kenyan government to ensure that we address the incidents of terrorism taking place because and we know terrorism in Kenya affects all of us,” she told reporters.
“That said, we have expressed our strong concerns to the Government of Kenya. You know what our views are, on human rights violations, we have expressed our concerns to Kenyan Government and we will continue to express those concerns whenever we see evidence of human rights violations being committed.”
Kenya, which has been on the receiving end of attacks, suspected to be masterminded by the al Shabaab last month embarked on a security operation to weed out illegal immigrants and return refugees to the camps.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Australian warship in large drug bust off Somalia
15 May – Source: AFP – 205 words
An Australian warship has seized heroin with an estimated street value of Aus$132 million (US$123 million) off the coast of Somalia, the defence department said Thursday. The 449 kilogramme (990 pound) haul was found on a dhow, a type of sailing vessel, intercepted by HMAS Darwin while patrolling the Indian Ocean some 40 nautical miles off Somalia’s east coast.
The ship’s commander Terry Morrison said the seizure “removed a major source of funding for terrorist and criminal networks which included Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Al-Shabaab”. The drugs were hidden in 20 bags, each weighing between 20 to 25 kilogrammes each.
HMAS Darwin is part of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), a naval partnership involving 30 nations that patrols 2.5 million square miles of international waters. The Australian ship enforces maritime security with a focus on terrorist activity in the Middle East and Indian Ocean regions as part of the British-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, which operates under the CMF.
The bust, the CMF’s seventh “significant seizure” this year, came three weeks after the Australian and British navies jointly found 1,032 kilogrammes of heroin — their largest-ever haul — on a dhow off the coast of east Africa near Kenya and Tanzania.
Kenya Dismisses ‘Unfriendly’ Foreign Travel Warnings
15 May- Source: AFP/NDTV-321 Words
Kenya’s foreign ministry accused several foreign nations of “unfriendly acts” on Thursday, after they issued travel warnings for coastal regions following a wave of attacks and unrest linked to Islamist extremists.
The advice from Britain, France and Australia to their nationals to avoid the coastal city of Mombasa dealt a fresh blow to Kenya’s already embattled tourism sector, as avoiding the port complicates travel to nearby beach resorts.
“The advisories… are obviously unfriendly acts coming from our partners who have equally borne the brunt of global terrorism and no doubt understand the repercussions of terror,” said the statement from Kenya’s foreign ministry.
It “noted with disappointment” the warnings by Australia, Britain, France and the United States, dismissing their cautions to citizens and insisting tourists are assured of “utmost security and safety” in Kenya.
“Issuance of such travel advisories only plays to the whims of bad elements in society whose aim is to spread fear and panic,” the statement added.
Somali pirate gets 41 1/2 years for attack on Navy ship
15 May- Source: hamptonroads- 326 words
A federal judge Wednesday sentenced a Somali pirate to 41-1/2 years in prison after rejecting a prosecutor’s call for a mandatory life term. Mohamed Ali Said, 30, was convicted along with five other Somali men of piracy and related charges in the April 2010 attack on the dock landing ship Ashland. Each faced a mandatory life prison term for the piracy convictions.
Attorneys for Said and the five others argued that mandatory life violates the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The judge agreed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hatch argued that life in prison was appropriate, calling the attack harsh and heinous and adding that Said has shown no remorse or acceptance of responsibility.
Woman gets probation for lying in al Shabaab case
14 May- Source: twincities/AP- 314 words
A former Minnesota woman who lied to a grand jury about raising money for men who left the state to join a terrorist group in Somalia was sentenced Wednesday to three years of probation and ordered to perform community service.
Saynab Hussein, 24, of Nashville, Tenn., showed remorse during the sentencing hearing in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. She pleaded guilty in August to one count of perjury in the government’s long-running investigation into recruiting and financing for al Shabaab, a terrorist group with links to al Qaeda.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The KDF contributes over 3,600 troops to AMISOM, so if Kenya were to withdraw, it would be a blow to the mission’s strength and military operations, according to Abdikarim Daud Nur, a former member of the Somali military who teaches political science at Mogadishu University”
Should Kenya Withdraw From Somalia?
14 May- Source: Sabahi Online/AllAfrica- 1530 Words
Faced with an increase in undeterred, high-profile terror attacks in Kenya, politicians, analysts and citizens alike have weighed in on the vigorous debate about whether the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) should withdraw from Somalia.
Recent calls by some Kenyan politicians for the government to present a roadmap for withdrawal have struck a chord among the segment of Kenyan’s population weary of the human cost of fighting al Shabaab. But security analysts from Kenya and Somalia warn that withdrawing Kenyan troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is short-sighted and ill-advised.
Calling for withdrawal
“In our attempt to help a neighbour we have suffered a lot — costs ranging from human loss and monetary loss,” said Kenya’s Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetangula. “Now it is time we plan as a country to end our presence in Somalia and save the country from further conflicts.”
“A comprehensive approach linking political, security and development efforts in close cooperation with the countries from the region must remain at the heart of the success of counter-piracy action off the coasts of Somalia. There has been good progress, but the results achieved still need to be consolidated.”
No Time for Complacency on Piracy
14 May- Source: Huffington Post Blog- 661 Words
In 2011, 176 ships were attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. Twenty-five of these attacks were successful. In 2013, seven ships were attacked, but no attack was successful.
It is clear that the international fight against piracy is producing results. Yet there is no room for complacency: 49 innocent seafarers are still being held hostage by pirates. Some have been held in captivity for over 1,000 days.
There is also evidence that the piracy business model has been fractured. However, it is far from broken yet.
And the root causes of piracy need to be addressed: while the symptoms occur at sea, the origin of the problem is on land. Piracy remains a complex issue fueled by weak rule of law, instability and poverty.
So the counter-piracy effort of the international community must continue. This week the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia meets under the chairmanship of the European Union for its sixteenth plenary session at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Top tweets
@Somalia111 Congratulations on anniversary of founding of#Somali Youth League. An inspiration still as #Somaliacontinues on path of democratisation.
@OCHASom Latest #Somalia humanitarian factsheet: 857,000 in crisis, 1.1m displaced, 203,000 acutely malnourished children: http://bit.ly/1k0ZbBE
@AidanJHartley Narcotics funding Al Shabaab? Australian Navy claims so after mega #Somalia drug bust, 2nd in weeks off East Africa http://news.yahoo.com/
@HIPSINSTITUTE Today, we’re holding Special Forum for Ideas w/@Somalia111 (Nick Kay) on his 1st anniversary as SRSG to #Somalia. Qs at: #Forum4SomaliaSRSG
@fhassan4 Exploding the myths about #Dadaab refugee camp a must listen &very worth talk @ChathamHouse by@BenRawlence http://www.chathamhouse.org/
Image of the day
Generation for Peace, held a seminar on ‘Peace Dialogue & Youth Aspiration’ for youngsters in #Mogadishu. #Somalia. Photo: @Abdikarim_Abdi3