May 16, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
SNA Retakes Town From Al-Shabaab Following Commando Raid
16 May – Source: Shabelle News – 106 Words
Somali National Army (SNA) forces have retaken full control of the strategic town of Barire in Lower Shabelle region following a commando raid on Monday morning. Local residents said SNA backed by African Union troops entered the city from different corners, after encountering a little resistance from the Al-Shabaab fighters. Following Al-Shabaab retreat, loud explosions were heard at the police station and administrative headquarters in Barire town, located just 50 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu, residents said. Details of the casualties remain sketchy as the situation is tense and the allied troops keep pursuing militants fleeing the town during the commando attack by SNA.
Key Headlines
- SNA Retakes Town From Al-Shabaab Following Commando Raid (Shabelle News)
- Allied Forces Foil Al-Shabaab Attack In Halgan Hiiraan Region (Goobjoog News)
- New Cycling Race Brings Joy To Somali Town (Hiiraan Online)
- Shock As Gunman Opens Fire At Wedding Party Near Jilib (Shabelle News)
- Somali President Extends Amnesty To Al-Shabaab Fighters (Xinhua)
- Apologise To Issack Hassan For ‘Return To Somalia’ Calls NE Leaders Ask Opposition (The Star)
- State Leaders Spoil For A Fight With Parliament Over 2016 Electoral Proposals (Goobjoog News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Allied Forces Foil Al-Shabaab Attack In Halgan, Hiiraan Region
16 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 89 Words
Somali army and AMISOM troops Sunday night repulsed Al-Shabaab attack in Halgan locality of the Hiiraan region, central Somalia, government official said. Area Deputy Commissioner Abdi Warsame told Goobjoog News the allied forces fought back and pushed Al-Shabaab fighters out of the place and now have full control. “Our troops are now in charge of Halgan after they thwarted attempts by Al-Shabaab to retake it,” said Warsame. There was however no reports of casualties. Al-Shabaab claimed it has inflicted losses to the forces but the claims cannot be independently verified.
New Cycling Race Brings Joy To Somali Town
16 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 233 Words
For Kismayo, a former Al Shabab stronghold, holding public events were the unthinkable few years ago that the militant group banned all sports activities before allied forces ousted its fighters from the port city in 2012. Despite security challenges still posed by the group, residents say life is gradually returning to normal that locals started organizing local sports leagues and entertainment activities.
On Sunday, the town has organized its first cycling race for the young as parts of a new exercise which local officials hope would help to boost the town’s image and portray it as a safe zone. The 1.5 km short distance race has drawn thousands of cheering local residents who lined up along the town’s dusty streets to watch the young sportsmen looking to cash in on the race to win prizes.Local security officials have enforced restrictions on all traffic movements during the sports contest in the town which has seen attacks by the Al-Qaeda linked Al Shabab group in recent years.
The symbolic event, the first of its kind the town had seen in decades is seen as a considerable uniting factor by officials after decades of war during which the port city’s control subsequently changed hands among warlords and Islamist militants. “It’s an uplifting development – that event has raised our spirits and hopes for a better future.” Said Ahmed Mohamed, a resident in the town.
Shock As Gunman Opens Fire At Wedding Party Near Jilib
16 May – Source: Shabelle News – 90 Words
A Somali family’s joy turned into grief after a gunman opened fire on a wedding party in the country’s southern Jilib town of Middle Juba on Sunday night. The guests at the wedding event have been sprayed with bullets by the unknown gunman, killing a woman and wounding several others. The terror incident occurred at a rural area near the Al-Shabaab-controlled Jilib town in Middle Juba region of southern Somalia. The executioner has managed to escape the scene after carrying out the shooting spree, according to witnesses who spoke to Radio Shabelle by phone.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali President Extends Amnesty To Al-Shabaab Fighters
16 May – Source: Xinhua – 104 Words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Sunday extended amnesty to Al-Shabaab militants who renounced terrorism and violence. Speaking during the 73rd anniversary of the Somalia youth league that was instrumental in the country’s liberation struggle, Mohamud said his government will not punish Al-Shabaab fighters who laid down arms. “Our amnesty offer to the youths who have joined Al-Shabaab remains and appeal to them to renounce violence and join us in the task of nation building,” said Mohamud. The Somalia government announced an amnesty for Al-Shabaab fighters last year and has been re-integrating the ones who heeded the offer to surrender arms into the society.
Apologise To Issack Hassan For ‘Return To Somalia’ Calls, NE Leaders Ask Opposition
15 May – Source: The Star – 318 Words
Several Northeastern leaders want the Opposition to apologise for an alleged call by anti-IEBC protesters for Issack Hassan to return to Somalia. Cord leaders Raila Odinga, Moses Wetang’ula and Kalonzo Musyoka have been leading protests for the IEBC to be disbanded. They want Hassan, who is the electoral body’s chairman, and commissioners to leave office before the 2017 general election set for August.
Raila has accused the Jubilee government and the IEBC of arguing against reforms for a democratic electoral system. He said changes being pushed by the Opposition reflect the will of the public. Leaders who defended the chairman termed the remarks demeaning and disrespectful, and said they were issued in bad faith against a Kenyan. Garissa Senator Yussuf Haji said: “Asking Hassan to go back to Somalia is an insult to the Somali community. Those saying so are doing so out of ignorance since we are part and parcel of this country.”
Concerning Raila, he said: “It is unfortunate that a person of his stature organises demonstrations by assembling a group of smokers whose sole aim is to engage in lawlessness. That is not right.” He spoke at al Manar madrasa during a funds drive on Sunday.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“Though the international community looks keen on not entertaining an extension, they have given indications to the government they won’t mind a two months extension. This is also based on a pragmatic view of the pending issues to be addressed which cannot practically be achieved within two months,” a senior government official told Goobjoog News.
State Leaders Spoil For A Fight With Parliament Over 2016 Electoral Proposals
16 May – Source: Goobjoog News – 722 Words
Regional administrations are headed for a clash with the Federal Parliament following what is emerging as the House’s move to clip the powers of the federal state leaders in the forthcoming elections. Jubbbaland and Puntland issued statements in the past three days castigating what it terms as arbitrary attempts by parliament to mutilate the recommendations of the National Leadership Forum, NLF which were presented to parliament early this month. The two states, though have not zeroed in the specific concerns, point to the proposal to deny regional presidents the power to nominate the two candidates for the Upper House and subsequently sign off the final list of the chosen candidate.
The NLF, whose make up the regional presidents gave powers to the regional heads in what critics have termed as an affront to democratic principles since the said leaders are interested parties in the process. The civil society has demanded the National Independent Electoral Commission, NIEC, which is the constitutionally mandated organ to oversee the polls be left to undertake the whole process.
Parliament appointed a 26 member technical committee to go through the proposals before submitting it to the House for debate. The committee is made up of serving and former MPs. In a statement Sunday, Jubbaland took issue with the composition of the committee noting the presence of serving legislators will compromise the process since they have vested interests. It further accused the committee of seeking to whittle down some of the proposals as agreed by NLF.
“Already sources close to the committee have reported a drop in the points in the proposal that were jointly agreed from the four deliberative days in the NLF. Sources have also indicated a scheme for an extension of both the term of the legislature and the government beyond its constitutional mandate and alteration to the structure and mandate of the Upper House and the Electoral College,” said Jubbaland government Sunday.
TOP TWEETS
@Tuuryare_Africa : BREAKING: Hours of fighting after#Somalia, #US and #AMISOM forces have re-captured Barire village from #AlShabaab – Residents #Somalia
@MoPIC_Somalia : Key constraints of the Private Sector Of#Somalia are Access of Electricity, Finance and Politics.
@AbdallahAlas : Witnessing the Growth Trend of #SomaliaPrivate Sector and the numbers are surprisingly increasing dramatically. #QorshahaQaranka
@UNSomalia : Youth feel life in #Somalia for the next generation will be better. #NationalYouthDay
@OCHASom : Want to know more on changing lives & ending need in #Somalia?Join us @ Somalia Side Event @WHSummit.#ShareHumanity
Omar Hassan@omabha: Somalia marks May 15 Nat’l Youth Day – Garowe Online http://dlvr.it/LKKsJ5 #Somalia
@SIDRAInstitute : Tomorrow we’ll be #launching our research study report on #Women‘s #Political Participation in #Puntland#Somalia
@Limettamelitta : #Guardian Turning migrants away ‘won’t work’: The UN high commissioner for refugees says the 60m peo… http://bbc.in/22d4B0B #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somalia marks May 15th, National Youth Day
Photo: UNSOM