May 23, 2018 | Daily Monitoring Report
Lower Shabelle Governor Vows To Step Up Offensives Against Al-Shabaab
23 May – Source: Halbeeg News – 244 Words
The newly appointed Governor of Lower Shabelle region, Mohamed Ibrahim Barre, has vowed to step up operations against Al-Shabab fighters in the region. Al-Shabaab controls several towns and villages in Lower Shabelle region. Speaking to the media, Barre said his administration will lead offensives against Al-Shabaab fighters.
“We will increase the operations to flush out Al-Shabab from this region alongside AMISOM and Somali forces. Soon we will recapture the remaining towns and villages in the region,” said Barre. He pointed out that they will secure and reopen roads blocked by Al-Shabaab in the forthcoming days.
The governor noted that the operations will also remove the illegal roads blocks mounted by armed men. “We also want to reopen roads blocked by Al-Shabaab and other gangs. These groups extort money from the public transport vehicles and passengers plying across the region,” he pledged.
Barre who was appointed late last week assumed office two days ago. Al-Shabaab has several stronghold towns and villages in Lower Shabelle region. The sentiments of the new governor come barely hours after Al-Shabaab detonated a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) that targeted forces in Afgoye town. The group has training bases in the region despite the regular U.S led air bombardments against their training bases.
Somali forces backed by AMISOM troops have recaptured towns and villages from Al-Shabaab since February when Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo declared new offensives against Al-Shabaab. The forces also destroyed an Al-Shabaab owned Radio Station in Lower Shabelle region.
Key Headlines
- Lower Shabelle Governor Vows To Step Up Offensives Against Al-Shabaab (Halbeeg News)
- Suspected US Jets Carry Out Airstrike In Southern Somalia (Shabelle News)
- ISIS Claims Assassination Of Traffic Cop In Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
- IJF Send Judo Equipment To Somalia In Bid To Bring Peace (Insidethegames.biz)
- Storm In Somaliland Kills Dozens Wipes Out Farms Livestock (Reutuers)
- Inside Kenya Army’s War On Al-Shabaab In Somalia (The Star)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Suspected US Jets Carry Out Airstrike In Southern Somalia
23 May – Source: Shabelle News -101 Words
Suspected American fighter jets were reported to have carried out an overnight airstrike in Lower Shabelle region, targeting Al-Shabaab bases, residents said. The strikes happened in the outskirt of Arbiska village, located near the capital, Mogadishu late last night; no casualties have so far been reported.
Similarly, African Union forces stationed in the area fired mortar shells towards the suspected Al-Shabaab hideouts, according to a local resident, who asked to remain anonymous. The shelling came hours after a deadly car bomb attack targeting Somali military convoy killed more than 10 people in Afgoye district, about 30 kilometers northwest of Mogadishu.
ISIS Claims Assassination Of Traffic Cop In Mogadishu
22 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 333 Words
The shocking Tuesday afternoon killing of a traffic officer caught on video in Somalia’s capital has raised fears that ISIS remains a potent threat in Mogadishu. Police say the traffic warden was killed near the Bakara market, bringing the total of people assassinated in a similar manner to three in as many days. This attack was filmed by ISIS militants who claimed responsibility for the attack through a video confirmation on Amaq News – an ISIS-linked news outlet that is often the first point of publication for claims of responsibility. The gruesome video shows the ISIS assassin dressed in a powder blue button-down and ‘Somalia blue’ track pants approach the traffic warden from behind before shooting him dead in broad daylight.
The gunman and his accomplice, who was filming the attack, were able to escape. Last week, ISIS militants claimed responsibility for the murder of an intelligence officer in Bakara Market. Witnesses and local media say a man shot and killed the intelligence officer as his accomplice stood by and filmed the attack. In late April, another Somali intelligence officer was killed in a similar fashion. The group also claimed an attack on a Somali soldier in Afgoye, a leafy village town 25 kilometers west of Mogadishu. That same month a suspected ISIS militant was arrested in Mogadishu in possession of bomb-making materials.
Residents are alarmed that such murders can be carried out in the middle of Somalia’s busiest market. Security analysts have noted that the Islamic State has been ratcheting up its operations in Somalia with a significant increase in assassinations inside Somalia. In 2018, ISIS militants are believed to be behind at least 15 attacks inside Somalia. The group’s modus operandi appears to be targeting intelligence and police officers whilst filming the murders for propaganda purposes. ISIS got it’s foothold in Somalia in 2016 after briefly capturing Qandala in Oct 2016. The group held the town for nearly two months before Puntland security forces launched a military campaign to recapture it.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
IJF Send Judo Equipment To Somalia In Bid To Bring Peace
23 May – Source: Insidethegames.biz – 380 Words
The International Judo Federation (IJF) have sent judo uniforms to children in war-torn Somalia in an effort to promote peace in the African country. The IJF sent 20 competition judogi, 50 training judogi and 150 children’s judogi to help youngsters get into competitive judo, a gesture which was well received by the Somali Judo Federation (SJF).
General secretary of the SJF Mohamoud Ibrahim Hassan said: “For us, it is so important. “It shows that we are strongly supported by our international federation. “With that help, we will be able to start our training programme and get ready to participate in world competitions in the future. “Due to the difficult situation in the region, it has not been easy to organise the sport but today, the federation is happy to say that there are already a few clubs in the country. “They still need to be structured and developed but this is a very good first step. “The judogi received from the IJF will be of great help.”
SJF President Jurshe Abdullahi Mohamed said the anarchic nature of the country’s Government in recent times made it difficult for previous generations to get into the sport, but he believes they now have the chance thanks to the IJF’s help. “There are a huge number of Somali young people who are interested in our sport,” he said. “So far they could not really practice but this time we will let them know that it’s possible and we will let their dream happen.
“After a long period of war and anarchy in Somalia, there are so many generations who missed the possibility to practice sport and have fun doing it. “We will offer them that chance. “The federation is now looking for new judoka to come join the judo family. “As the federation representatives underlined, this donation is really the starting point of a new adventure. “There is already a good number of young children who are interested in the activity.
Storm In Somaliland Kills Dozens, Wipes Out Farms, Livestock
23 May – Source: Reuters – 451 Words
More than 50 people have died in Somaliland, livestock has been wiped out and hundreds of farms destroyed by heavy rains and floods caused by a tropical cyclone that hit the Horn of Africa, officials and aid agencies in the breakaway Somali region said. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 and operates as an independent state but has not won international recognition.
“The death toll from the cyclone is so far over 50 people,” vice president Abdirahman Abdullahi Ismail told reporters late on Tuesday in Somaliland’s capital Hargeisa. “(The) death toll may rise because there are other people who are still missing.” Tropical cyclone Sagar made landfall on Saturday in north-western Somaliland and Djibouti, three days after it formed in the Gulf of Aden, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
UNOCHA said 669,000 people have been affected in Somaliland, giving a toll of 25 people so far confirmed dead and 27 missing, with numbers likely to rise as information arrives from areas that are now inaccessible. Two people were confirmed dead in Puntland, a semi-autonomous northeastern region of Somalia, and another two in Djibouti, UNOCHA said. “80 percent of livestock in affected areas were killed. Reports indicate that some 700 farms have been destroyed in Somaliland,” UNOCHA said.
Conflict in the disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag was making it harder to reach some flood-hit areas, UNOCHA said earlier this week. Drought dating back to 2015 has made the regions prone to flash flooding after rain. Vice president Ismail said assistance from the United Arab Emirates had allowed authorities to reach affected areas and bring emergency food. “Using the two helicopters UAE helped us with, we have reached today Lughaya and Baki towns which were hit by the cyclone,” he said. “There are other far areas we flew over but could not land and reach because of floods.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS & CULTURE
“Gains so far include pacification of sector 2, clearance of main supply routes and degradation of al Shabaab. Since 2014, we have been building the capacity of the Somali National Army (SNA) and mentoring them through joint patrols, ambushes, escorts and raids.”
Inside Kenya Army’s War On Al-Shabaab In Somalia
23 May – Source: The Star – 1952 Words
Seven years after Kenya invaded Somalia to tame terror attacks in the Coast and Northeastern by al Shabaab, the army is still lodged in the country. The Kenya Defence Forces have had some ups and downs, but any plans to retreat are pegged back by unending volatility.
Our reporter Ramadhan Rajab visited the KDF operation base in Dhobley, Somalia, where he met Joakim Mwamburi. Mwamburi is the fourth brigade commander of Kenyan forces in Sector 2, southern Somalia. He speaks in a firm and persuasive voice, and was happy to answer our questions.
How far is this operation from victory and how will victory look like?
Victory will not be a one-off event. It will be seen when we hand over the security of the country to the SNA but still sleep soundly back home, knowing that Somali people are going on with their lives normally and all institutions of governance and the criminal justice system are functioning unhindered. This is the reason we are not relenting in the fight until the threat, whether in Kenya or Somalia, is neutralised, and we bring this culture of violence that has been synonymous with Somalia to a lasting end.
What is the progress made so far?
We started under the code name Operation Linda Nchi on October 4, 2011. This was after constant al Shabaab interference in Kenya’s economy and affairs, including repeated grenade attacks, rampant piracy and kidnappings on the shores of Malindi and Lamu.
Operation Linda Nchi culminated in Operation Sledge Hammer, the capture of Kismayu, before the Kenyan army was absorbed into Amisom following a request by Africa nations through the AU. KDF then joined other countries to further pacify Sector 2, namely Burundi, Djibouti, Siera Leone and Uganda.
Gains so far include pacification of sector 2, clearance of main supply routes and degradation of al Shabaab. Since 2014, we have been building the capacity of the Somali National Army (SNA) and mentoring them through joint patrols, ambushes, escorts and raids. We are also supporting the local administration by identifying and training them to fill gaps in the provision of security and social services, such as education and medical service. So we give the people, especially the children of Somalia, hope.
We have supported repatriation of refugees since 2014; over 79000 have been voluntarily repatriated in Somalia. In January and March this year, we have heard 3,199 refuges destined to lower Juba, Kismayu Afmadow and Baidoa. We have intensified our civilian-military cooperation. All our Forward Operations Bases conduct free medical camps in areas they occupy and organise community sports tournaments.
How was Somalia’s national and social fabric before you came here, and how is the rebuilding taking shape?
Upon our entry here, there was nothing worth talking about. Today specifically, speaking about Jubaland, where sector 2 is operating, the institutions are now being built even though at a slow pace because of funding, and the revenue from markets isn’t sufficient. The region needs capacity building and more support for faster reconstruction.
TOP TWEETS
@ACUSomalia: SDRF meeting is going on at Mogadishu, the main issues of the agenda are: Updates from FMS, Upcoming SPF, Agricultural policies and floods response.@DeputySomaliPM @Adow77 @AmbGamal @MinisterWHRD
@DalsanFM: Mogadishu Mayor Yarisow Launches Initiative To Help Needy During Ramadan https://www.radiodalsan.com/
@HiboWardere: #nofgm I fight night and day because every 11 seconds a girl is mutilated somewhere in the world. Pleaae join me in fighting this cruel practice.
@Goobjoognews: IGAD COUNTRIES to open borders for livestock.
@RadioErgo: #Somalia: Herders in #Galgudud restock their animals with hopes of reviving their livelihoods
@DalsanFM: 40 Somali returnees arrived in #Baidoa from neighboring Kenya aboard a UN flight. Government reps, UNHCR n INTERSOS officials were on standby to receive them.#Somalia
@SahraCabdi: A traffic officer shot and killed in #Mogadishu, in a day time with a public crossroad. The gunman kills deliberately & walks away. #ISIS photographed & claimed the responsibility. It’s the kind of killings the group claims, but non was brought to justices for their perpetrators
@engyarisow: This evening we hosted an Iftar with Oman delegation that has been distributing food aid to our vulnerable communities in #Mogadishu. I thanked the Sultanate of Oman and its people for their generosity during the holy month of Ramadan
@KingYusufYusuff: #Awdal, need an urgent help from the gov of#Somalia and all of us!
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Photo: @DeputySomaliPM
The Chairperson of the National Flood Response Committee, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mahdi Mohamed Guled and First Deputy Speaker Ibrahim Mudey co-chair a meeting on the distribution of financial aid to flood-affected communities.