May 22, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

The war will be shifting to Kenya: al Shabaab

22 May- Source: AFP/Reuters/Times-380 Words

Somalia’s al Qaeda linked al Shabaab vowed to move their war to neighbouring Kenya, one of the top commanders said in broadcast urging fighters to launch attacks.

“The war will be shifting to Kenya, if they kill a Somali girl we kill a Kenyan girl,” Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, one of the al Shabaab’s most senior commanders, said in a radio broadcast.

His words follow a suspected grenade blast near a mosque that wounded 11 people in the eastern Kenyan town of Garissa on Tuesday, close to the border with Somalia, police and disaster officials said.

The attack happened a day after suspected Somalia al Shabaab militants killed at least 12 people in northern Kenya’s Mandera County in an ambush.

Kenyan warplanes have been targeting al Shabaab positions in Somalia over the past days, as the country pursues the militants who have carried out a series of gun, bomb and grenade attacks on its territory. It sent in troops in 2011.

Key Headlines

Second phase of Juba reconciliation conference due to open (Radio Goobjoog/Dhanaan Online)
Cabinet Sub-committees hold first meetings (OPM)
Exclusive: Paving Way for Government Hizbul-Islam Talks (Radio Dalsan)
Government officials in Lower Shabelle region remove illegal roadblocks between Afgoye and Marka towns ( Radio Goobjoog)
Nicholas Kay gives an exclusive interview to Bar-kulan (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somalia: Unfair Trials in Military Courts (Human Rights Watch)
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys tape: Somalia colonized by Ethiopia al Shabaab leadership (Hiiraan Online)
Somali MP Abdallah Boos calls on parliamentarians to oppose any debate on Somalia territorial waters(Radio RBC)
Somalia: Donors Agree to Support Puntland Government on Development Projects (Horseed Media)
Galmudug president lay foundation stone of new educational center in Galkayo (Radio Mogadishu)
Somaliland New members sworn in to Hargeisa City Council (Somaliland Informer)
Somali exports banana to Kuwait and UAE (Radio Goobjoog)
Somaliland President Commends Sheffield Council Recognition Campaigners (Somaliland Sun)
The war will be shifting to Kenya: al Shabaab (AFP)
Renewed Clan Clashes in Mandera Wajir Open Door for al Shabaab Attacks (Sabahi Online)
Suspect in Thika Road blasts charged (Standard Media)
Al Shabaab denies AMISOM claim of killing some of its officials in air strike (Al Shahid)
Oman plays key role in fight against maritime piracy (al-shorfa)
Aid agencies urge U.S. to ease restrictions on money transfers to Somalia (Shanghaidaily/Xinhua)
Somali asylum seeker deported despite terror threat (Politics News)
Stop illegal deportations and spare vulnerable refugees U.N. tells Kenya as crackdown continues(Reuters)
Farming In Somalia: Farmers Use Solar Energy to Irrigate Their Farms (CCTV)
Heavily armed and makeshift – inside Britain’s newest embassy in Somalia (theguardian)

PRESS STATEMENT

Cabinet Sub-committees hold first meetings

22 May – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 282 words

The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia His Excellency Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed chaired the first meetings of the Cabinet Sub-committees. The five sub-committees named by H.E. the Prime Minister on May 6th are: the Political Sub-committee; the National Security Sub-committee; the Economic Development Sub-committee; the Social Affairs Sub-committee; and the Infrastructure Development Sub-committee.

The Sub-committees will strengthen the coordination and cooperation of the Council of Ministers, and will also facilitate their work with the Parliament and donors. Each Sub-committee will work with its counterpart committee in Parliament. The Prime Minister said the Sub-committees will deliberate upon and plan each task facing the Council of Ministers before the Cabinet makes a decision.

Speaking about the Sub-committee meetings, H.E. the Prime Minister said: “The first objective of the Sub-committees of the Council of Ministers is to facilitate the work of the Council of Ministers.
“The Sub-committees will focus on implementing the numerous tasks the government is facing. The members of each sub-committee will discuss the issues concerning their ministries before forwarding their recommendations to the Council of Ministers.”

The important issues discussed in the Sub-committee meetings included how to ensure the implementation of the government’s 2014 Work Plan and how to overcome any challenges that arise.
The discussion also included the progress of Vision 2016 and the New Deal and how to reconcile the 2014 Work Plan with them as a way to achieve tangible progress.

The Council of Ministers welcomed the creation of the Sub-committees and agreed with the reasons for their creation. The Cabinet believes the sub-committees will lead the way to change and progress based on credible work and the implementation of the government’s Work Plan.

SOMALI MEDIA

Second phase of Juba reconciliation conference due to open

22 May- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Dhanaan Online- 160 words

The reconciliation committee named by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed announced to have concluded the first phase of consultations with communities in Kismayo and came back to Mogadishu.

Before coming back to Mogadishu, the committee had meeting with the leader of interim administration of Juba administration in Southern Somalia Ahmed Mohamed Islam aka Ahmed Madobe. They discussed many issues including the intended reconciliation conference.

The chairman of the reconciliation committee Mohamed Ismail Shuuriye stated that the committee and Juba leader Ahmed Madobe agreed on all the issues they discussed during the meeting.

On the other hand Juba administration’s assistant minister for water Mohamed Noor Bule confirmed that the reconciliation committee took separate meeting with the council of elders in Kismayo ahead of the expected reconciliation conference.

The assistant minister reiterated that plans to establish Juba administration Parliament are underway. “ Our plans are to establish Juba Parliament before Ramadan” Bule said.

Exclusive: Paving Way for Government, Hizbul-Islam Talks

22 May- Source: Radio Dalsan- 136 words

Trusted sources told Dalsan Radio that there are preparations paving the way for government and Hizbul-Islam talks. This comes a time when Hizbul-Islam’s leader Hassan Dahir Aways is under house arrest. These talks are said to be for political understanding between the government and Hizbul-Islam, and cooperation between the government and Hizbul-Islam as well as their leader Hassan Dahir who the government is keeping under house arrest as we go to press.

The government leaders in the preparations are being led by the Minister for National Security Hon. Abdikariim Hussein Guuleed while Muuse Araale represents Hizbul-Islam. One of the leaders doing the preparations said that both side would like to do a compromise. The talks may however include finding a solution to end the house arrest of Hassan Dahir Aweys.

Government officials in Lower Shabelle region remove illegal roadblocks between Afgoye and Marka towns

22 May- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Bar-kulan- 115 words

The government forces removed the illegal roadblocks that were set up by government army between Afgoye and Marka town. The removal of the roadblocks was immediately welcomed by the drivers and the owners of the public transport using the roads connecting the major towns in Lower Shabelle.

One of the drivers told Goobjoog FM that there are no challenges restricting their movements in the region, he asked the security officials to remove the remaining checkpoints in the region that demands the owners of the public transport pay thousands of shillings every day.

The forces vowed that the operations against illegal checkpoints set by men dressed in government uniform will continue until all checkpoints are removed.

Nicholas Kay gives an exclusive interview to Bar-kulan

22 May- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 89 words

United Nations Special Envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Nicholas Kay has given an exclusive interview to Bar-kulan. The Ambassador discusses the current political situation and the search for finding a solution to the political standoff in south-western Somali regions following his talks with Madobe Nunow, who is the president of one of the newly formed administrations in south-western Somali regions. Kay also discusses the important role of the parliament by passing necessary legislation regarding the reforming process of the constitution, forming a federal Somalia and having national elections in 2016.

Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys tape: Somalia colonized by Ethiopia, al Shabaab leadership

22 May- Source: Hiiraan Online- 422 words

The former al Shabaab commander Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has released an audio tape while under house arrest in Mogadishu. The forty minute tape which was released on May 20, 2014 is widely believed to coincide with Youth Day; a day reserved to praise the Somali Youth League (SYL). The SYL was a political party that played a vital role in drumming up support for Somali independence.

In his first address since being captured, Aweys praises the SYL and recognized their efforts in securing an independent Somalia and added that the fate of the nation is in the hands of nation’s young people. “I want to call on the youth; it is you who have to prepare something for the people. Take your responsibility.”

In the same breath, he also criticized the SYL in its failure to implement Sharia law at independence. He goes on to add that any attempt to implement Sharia was blocked by the West.

The diatribe continues as Sheikh Aweys accuses the federal as well as various autonomous and semi-autonomous regional governments of Somalia to be complicit in an Ethiopian take over and tribal nepotism.

“There are so-called federal states in the country holding the name and identity of clans; it is Majerten’s government [Puntland], it is Isaq government [Somaliland], it is Rahanweyn government [South west], it is Ogaden government [Jubba], it is Hawiye government [FG]” Sheikh Aweys said.

He labelled the countries who are among AMISOM contributing forces as “traditional” enemies of Somalia and insists that their presence is a guide to “invade and then take over our land.”

The highlight of tape was the anticipated message about al Shabaab. The 80 year old Sheikh was himself a former leader of the armed extremist group before being captured by government militia when he defected, and then fled from al Shabaab during political infighting nearly 11 months ago.

Somali MP Abdallah Boos calls on parliamentarians to oppose any debate on Somalia territorial waters

22 May- Source: Radio RBC- 188 words

Somali Member of Parliament Abdallah Boos calls on parliamentarians to oppose any debate on Somalia territorial waters ahead of a new bill by the cabinet to present in the coming weeks.

“I call on all my fellow parliamentarians to not open any kind of debate on the territorial waters of Somalia. That issue was ended and can not be debated,” MP Boos said.

He said neighboring countries attempted to loot Somalia’s territorial waters in 2009 but fortunately due to the braveness and the courageous of then parliament opposed the greedy attempt of the foreign nations.

“We have to fight back against any kind of attempt towards our sea and our resources,” he added.
His comments came ahead of a new bill from the cabinet which presents the number of the nautical miles of Somalia EEC which is described as 200 nautical miles.

On the other hand, Somali government rejected a call from Kenya five months ago, which Kenya proposed to send six warships to Somalia coast as part of the African Union Mission [AMISOM].

Somalia: Donors Agree to Support Puntland Government on Development Projects

22 May- Source: Horseed Media- 179 words

A key meeting between the Puntland government and international donors was held in the state’s capital on Wednesday to discuss on the semi-autonomous region’s priorities and development targets.

The meeting was attended by representatives from European Union, African Union, United Nations, World Bank, IGAD, Federal government of Somalia officials and other dignitaries.

Opening the roundtable meeting, Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas presented to the donors his government’s goals in the coming five years which were concerning on development, building of economic sector and security.

International donors affirmed their support for the government’s efforts to develop and implement its five year plan, which include combating terrorism, piracy and human trafficking.

African Union Special Representative to Somalia, who was one of the prominent names that attended the Conference called for the donors to support Puntland reach its goals of development.

“I’m encouraged by the developments in Puntland. The last elections are significant proof of positive developments and I call on all Somalis to follow the example of Puntland.” he said.

Galmudug president lay foundation stone of new educational center in Galkayo

22 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog/SNTV- 129 words

The president of Galmudug Regional State in central Somalia Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdiid has laid foundation stone of a new center where Galmudug regional state and USAID are cooperating to build new educational institutions.

The ceremony was attended by the president of Galmudug Mr. Qeybdiid, Galmudug Education minister, the administration of SYL school where the building was started, parents and students.

Galmudug Education minister Mohamed Abdulkadir Haanshi thanked USAID for their tireless efforts of donating funds to implement social services in the region. USAID officials on their part stated that they are committed to promote the social services especially education in all Galmudug regions.

Finally president Qeybdiid said his administration is willing to implement developmental projects in all areas under Galmudug giving priority to the areas in high need.

Somaliland New members sworn in to Hargeisa City Council

22 May – Source: Somaliland Informer – 141 words

Marodi Jeeh City Council has welcomed its newest member Wednesday following the sworn in by the regional court. The new city council member Mubarik Abdi Malow took his seat & replaces Deek Duale Osman who passed away during the commemoration of the independence day of Somaliland which coincided on 18th may.

The swearing in ceremony was in attendance by the chairman of the regional court Mr. Faisal Dega Dego, deputy mayor Mr. Abdiasis, and councilor Dogox.

Speaking at the venue Mr. Mubarik has asked city residents to pray for him that he will discharge his duty easily and that he is about to fill big shoes that his former members vacated.

Another councilor has filled the seat vacated by Mr. Mustafe Dahir Osman who is in prison for the murder of his friend and is awaiting an execution to be carried out.

Somalia exports banana to Kuwait and UAE

22 May- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 126 words

Somalia has exported the highest number of banana in a decade from Mogadishu seaport to Kuwait and United Arab Emirates. The Minister for Agriculture Abdi Ahmed Mohamed Baafo said that the farmers have jointly exported banana products to outside markets so as to restore the trade relations of Somalia with the world.

The exported bananas was harvested from Bal’ad, Afgoye, Awdegle and Janale districts of Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle regions.

Somalia banana industry was one of the flourishing and largest exporter in East Africa, the production ceased during the 1991 civil strife in the country. Between 1993 to 1997 the industry was partly revived with the exports to Europe and Middle East.

Somaliland President Commends Sheffield Council Recognition Campaigners

21 May – Source: Somaliland Sun – 92 words

The government of Somaliland appreciates the efforts of Diaspora Somalilanders who spearheaded the country’s recognition by the Sheffield Council.

This was stated by the Somaliland President Ahmed Mahmud Silanyo during a meeting at the Hargeisa presidency with Somalilanders from Sheffield who, through their efforts, convinced Sheffield Council of UK to recognize the sovereignty of Somaliland.

During the meeting president Silanyo who was accompanied by the vice president of Somaliland awarded honorary certificates to the members from Sheffield thanking them for their great efforts and support in getting Somaliland recognition by Sheffield council.

Somaliland attends international conference in Finland

21 May – Source: Somaliland Informer – 102 words

Somaliland Assistant Minister on Labor & Social Affairs Ms. Shukri Hariri Ismail who is on working visit to Helsinki, the Finnish capital has attended an international gathering hosted by Finnish government and has been organized by Finnish foreign Ministry in conjunction with development Ministry of Finland.

Somaliland has been officially invited to the gathering and according to Ms. Shukri was attended by most of IGAD countries in the Horn of Africa. Somaliland delegation has been given warm welcome following the arrival in Helsinki.

The meeting lasted for five days and the attendees had the opportunity to discuss number of issues ranging from social affairs, women rights, democracy & freedom of speech, good governance and running parliamentary multi party politics.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Renewed Clan Clashes in Mandera, Wajir Open Door for al Shabaab Attacks

22 May- Source: Sabahi Online-1245 Words

The security apparatus in north-eastern Kenya is battling to stem the latest tide in clan clashes while al Shabaab has taken advantage of the discord to carry out several attacks in Mandera County in the past week. Renewed clan clashes in Wajir and Mandera counties resulted in 13 dead in less than a week, officials said.

At the same time, al Shabaab militants have carried out attacks against security forces and elders aiming to broker peace between the feuding clans, killing at least 12 individuals on Monday (May 19th) and hijacking several vehicles before escaping across the border into Somalia.
The latest round of unrest between Degodia and Gare clans started May 13th when three Degodia men who were clearing bushes on the Burmayo-Fincharo road between Wajir and Mandera counties were shot and killed.

The brush clearing started in early April as part of a government initiative to create jobs for the local community and ease visibility for motorists on the roads, according to Wajir County Press Director Yahya Dahiye.

Suspect in Thika Road blasts charged

21 May- Source: Standard Media- 142 words

A man accused of blowing up two buses along the Thika Superhighway over two weeks ago was yesterday charged in a Nairobi court with committing a terrorist attack. The court heard that the suspect, Warque Dejene Sar, received terrorism training in Kismayu, Somalia. But Sar denied blowing up the two buses, which plied the Githurai 45 route. The attack killed two passengers and left scores others injured. The court heard that the accused was traced through mobile phone communication on recovery of a Yu Sim card at the scene by hawk-eyed crime busters investigating terrorism activities in the country. The prosecutor told Senior Principal Magistrate Peter Ndwiga that Sar was recruited alongside other Kenyan youths who sneaked through the border town of Mandera to the home of al Shabaab in Kismayo where they were trained in terrorism.

Al Shabaab denies AMISOM claim of killing some of its officials in air strike

21 May – Source: Al Shahid – 125 words

Al Shabaab spokesman on Wednesday denied reports broadcasted by local and international media which showed that air strike by AMISOM at Jilib town in middle Juba region of Southern Somalia.

“No al Shabaab official was killed in the enemy’s air raid. It is a propaganda,” the spokesperson of al Shabaab said. AMISOM says attack near the southern town of Jilib on Tuesday killed more than 50 al Shabaab insurgents.

AMISOM said on its Twitter feed that the airstrike targeted a hideout where senior leaders and foreign fighters of the al Qaeda-linked militant group had gathered.

This is the second airstrike by AU forces against al Shabaab this week. On Sunday, Kenyan fighter jets bombed an al Shabaab base north of Jilib. There has been no independent confirmation of the claim and counterclaim.

Oman plays key role in fight against maritime piracy

21 May- Source: al-shorfa-231 words

Oman in May advanced its counter-piracy efforts, meeting in Cairo with experts from other Arab justice and interior ministers councils to review a draft regional protocol on combating piracy.

The sultanate’s counter-piracy efforts and multi-level co-ordination with Gulf, Arab and international partners has contributed to a drop in incidences of piracy, Oman’s Coast Guard said.

Maritime piracy has reached its lowest level in six years, according to an International Maritime Bureau report issued this year which cited 15 incidents of piracy in the waters adjacent to Somalia in 2013, down from 237 in 2011.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

The war will be shifting to Kenya: al Shabaab

22 May- Source: AFP/Reuters/Times/East African-380 Words

Somalia’s al Qaeda linked al Shabaab vowed to move their war to neighbouring Kenya, one of the top commanders said in broadcast urging fighters to launch attacks.

“The war will be shifting to Kenya, if they kill a Somali girl we kill a Kenyan girl,” Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, one of the al Shabaab’s most senior commanders, said in a radio broadcast.

His words follow a suspected grenade blast near a mosque that wounded 11 people in the eastern Kenyan town of Garissa on Tuesday, close to the border with Somalia, police and disaster officials said.

The attack happened a day after suspected Somalia al Shabaab militants killed at least 12 people in northern Kenya’s Mandera County in an ambush.

Somalia: Unfair Trials in Military Courts

22 May- Source: Human Rights Watch- 950 words

Somalia’s military courts since 2011 have tried hundreds of people beyond the courts’ legal mandate or in proceedings that fall short of international fair trial standards, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The government should urgently transfer civilian cases to the regular courts. International donors assisting in desperately needed improvements in Somalia’s justice system should not neglect reform of the military courts.

The 33-page report, “Courts of ‘Absolute Power’: Fair Trial Violations by Somalia’s Military Court,” documents violations of basic fair trial rights of defendants tried before military courts, including military personnel, suspected insurgents and supporters, police officers, and ordinary civilians. Human Rights Watch interviewed over 30 defendants and their relatives as well as military court officials, lawyers, and legal experts. They described how military court proceedings restrict defendants’ rights to obtain counsel of their choice, prepare and present a defense, receive a public hearing, not incriminate themselves, and appeal a conviction to a higher court. More than a dozen of those convicted over the last year have been sentenced to death and executed, magnifying the harm to basic rights.

Aid agencies urge U.S. to ease restrictions on money transfers to Somalia

22 May- Source: Shanghaidaily/Xinhua -354 words

Two international aid agencies on Wednesday called on the U.S. government to ease restrictions on money transfers to Somalia. Adeso, an African charity and development agency, and Oxfam International expressed concern that thousands of families across the Horn of Africa nation are under threat due to the recently announced closures of money transfer companies’ bank accounts in the United States. “Somalia is hanging once again on the precipice of a full-blown catastrophe,” said Adeso Executive Director Degan Ali in a joint statement issued in Nairobi. “Even a minor disruption to the link between Somali communities and their friends and family abroad could push them over the edge into crisis,” said Ali.

Somali asylum seeker deported despite terror threat

22 May – Source: Politics News – 148 words

A Somali asylum seeker faces “imminent” deportation by the UK government, despite threats from terrorists to murder him on his return. Anis (not his real name) told Politics.co.uk that he is in a state of “mental torture” as he contemplates his forced return to Mogadishu.

“The situation is very bad. I’m in a state of shock. I’m very isolated here,” he said, speaking on the phone from a detention centre in Dover. “I am scared. I’m in a state of mental torture. I think I will ask them to sedate me. I cannot go through what I went through before.”

Terror group al Shabaab have said they will treat any Somali returning from the UK as an infidel and a legitimate target. Al Shabaab commander Ali Mohamed Hussein has pledged that all those who return “will be killed and fought against in the same manner” as the government.

Stop illegal deportations and spare vulnerable refugees U.N. tells Kenya as crackdown continues

22 May- Source: Reuters-751 Words

Kenya should stop rounding up vulnerable urban refugees and readmit those whose lives are at risk after being deported to Somalia, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Wednesday.

In the last two months, Kenyan authorities have deported more than 300 people to Somalia in a bid to end attacks by Islamist militants carried out in retaliation for Kenya’s military intervention into the war-torn neighbouring state.

“We have come across cases of registered refugees who were erroneously refouled whose readmission we have requested,” Emmanuel Nyabera, UNHCR’s Kenya spokesman, told Thomson Reuters Foundation on Wednesday.

“We have gone to the [police] cells and we have been told that there is refoulement, and in such cases then we communicate with our officers in Mogadishu so that least we continue ensuring the protection of these people.”

Farming In Somalia: Farmers Use Solar Energy to Irrigate Their Farms

21 May- Source: CCTV Africa-01:37mins

For a long time, erratic weather patterns have plagued the productivity of Somali farmers. Today, however, farmers in the Horn of Africa state are using several different means to cushion themselves from the elements. As CCTV’s Mohammed Hirmoge reports, that includes harnessing the power of the sun.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Panel members noted that to tackle maritime piracy, Somalia’s young people have to be given the opportunity to not just survive but thrive. They emphasized the key role the Somali diaspora plays in leveraging investment, expertise and building capacity in the country. The participants underlined the urgent need for investment rather than aid and cited the UAE example in helping Somalia make that transition.”

Rebuilding Somalia through investment and engagement key to combating piracy

22 May- Source: Eurasia Review-709 Words

INEGMA took part in the 16th Plenary Session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) held at the UN Headquarters in New York on 14 May 2014. Greg Ohannessian, INEGMA Analyst and Project Manager, presented the findings of the recent DP World and INEGMA Counter Piracy and Somalia Capacity Building Program (CPSCBP) Expert Panel entitled “The Business Environment, Regulatory Reform and Key Economic Sectors for Investment in Somalia” during the official CGPCS Side Meeting on 15 May 2014.

The audience was composed of official state delegates and private sector representatives to the CGPCS including the Chairman, Mr. Maciej Popowski, U.S. State Department Coordinator for Counter Piracy and Maritime Security, Ms. Donna Hopkins as well as the Somali National Security Advisor, Mr. Abdirahman Sheikh Issa.

Simultaneously, DP World and INEGMA’s CPSCBP released a major white paper based on the discussions and results of the expert panel on “The Business Environment, Regulatory Reform and Key Economic Sectors for Investment in Somalia” organized by DP World and INEGMA on 8 April 2014 in Dubai. Participants included UAE government representatives, international and Somali academics, private sector representatives as well as entrepreneurs and businessmen from Somalia and beyond.

“The war on terror was internationalised by former US president George W. Bush after the September 11bombings in New York. How is it then that the West seems to be privy to intelligence information, which they are not willing to share with other stakeholders, but would still want them to take an active role? Has the war on terror become the new game changer on the continent? What is the bigger picture?”

Terrorism – Africa’s New Game Changer?

22 May- Source: The Herald-1315 Words

AS Africans on the continent and the Diaspora look forward to celebrating the 51st edition of Africa Day on May 25, it’s time to take stock and also ask some hard questions. Is terrorism on the continent the latest threat to Africa’s growth and development, and how does Africa hope to fight this new enemy?

“Africa rising” is the latest buzz term but how will the world’s new growth point rise amid internal conflicts and terrorism? Does Africa have the capacity to fight the war on terror, which major Western powers are dismally losing despite pouring in large amounts of resources? Will Africa in the long term defeat the Lord’s Resistance Army, M23, Seleka, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim), al Shabaab and Boko Haram and many more?

I pose these open-ended questions following two very disturbing developments, developments which have a bearing on Africa’s position in the geo-political sphere. The first development regards the travel advisories and the evacuation of tourists from Kenya by some Western countries. The terror group al Shabaab has been fighting Somalia and other East African countries like Kenya for some time now. They were responsible for the Westgate Shopping Mall bombing in Kenya which claimed dozens of lives.

Top tweets

@faoinsomalia What are Puntland’s development needs? Authorities in Garowe met with the international community yesterday to… http://fb.me/1Rtj0SQwZ

‏@UNSomalia Watch @Somalia111 & #AU envoy Annadif briefing today the #UNSC on #Somalia. 5.20pm #Mogadishutime, 10.20am #NY time http://webtv.un.org/#

‏@UNLazzarini Read how football promotes hygiene change in#Somalia: http://bit.ly/QPKvd1 . Keep up the good work @Oxfam!pic.twitter.com/YWZzLX7Fbx

@WFP In #Ethiopia, @WFP & @EU_Echo distribute cash assistance to Somali refugees. See pics here:http://bit.ly/1i4mVk5 pic.twitter.com/FNrstKs6OA

‏@Oxfam With partner @AdesoAfrica, we’re calling on@USTreasury to ease restrictions on money transfers to#Somalia http://oxf.am/xwx

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Image of the day

Image of the day The President of Puntland, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas makes the opening speech during a donor roundtable meeting held in Garawe, Puntland on 21th May 2014. Photo: David Mutua