May 28, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali FM : the government’s plan for Juba regions is clear
28 May – Source: Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/BBC Somali Service/Radio Mustaqbal – 83 words
Somalia Foreign Minister Fowzia Yusuf haji addressing the Head of African states in Addis Ababa said that the federal government has plans to appoint a balance and all inclusive administrations for the Juba regions. The Minister said that her government will facilitate an administration which will represent the majority and minority communities living in the Juba regions.
The Foreign Minister speaking to BBC-Somali said that the Somali government is not against the people of Jubaland demand to create their state, “but we must make sure that everything that we are doing must be under our federal government charter and constitution.” Ms. Fowzia added that the federal government should be left to facilitate an all inclusive administrations representing the members of the public residing from the regions.
Kismayo was liberated by African Union troops last year. Fighters with the militant group, al Shabaab had controlled the city for several years using the port to import weapons. The worry is that unless the current political instability is resolved, Somalia’s second largest city could return to the violence of the recent past.
Key Headlines
- Somali FM : the government’s plan for Juba regions is clear (Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/BBC Somali Service/Mustaqbal)
- Somali cleric calls for assassination of leaders creating nuisance in al Shabaab (Radio Kulmiye/Mustaqbal/Somaliweyn/
Bar-kulan) - Kenya suffers major setback over new State (Standard Media)
- African leaders create emergency military force (Reuters)
- Mogadishu’s Taxi Company offers good service and cheap prices (Qalin News/Universal TV/ SNTV)
- Kenyan firms head for Somalia investment forum (Business Daily Africa/Daily Nation)
- Somaliland releases 10 traditional elders (Bar-kulan/Horn Cable TV/Universal TV)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali FM : the government’s plan for Juba regions is clear
28 May – Source: Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/BBC Somali Service/Mustaqbal – 83 words
Somalia Foreign Minister Fowzia Yusuf haji addressing the Head of African states in Addis Ababa said that the federal government has plans to appoint a balance and all inclusive administrations for the Juba regions. The Minister said that her government will facilitate an administration which will represent the majority and minority communities living in the Juba regions.
The Foreign Minister speaking to BBC-Somali said that the Somali government is not against the people of Jubaland demand to create their state, “but we must make sure that everything that we are doing must be under our federal government charter and constitution.” Ms. Fowzia added that the federal government should be left to facilitate an all inclusive administrations representing the members of the public residing from the regions.
Kismayo was liberated by African Union troops last year. Fighters with the militant group, al Shabaab had controlled the city for several years using the port to import weapons. The worry is that unless the current political instability is resolved, Somalia’s second largest city could return to the violence of the recent past.
Somali cleric calls for assassination of leaders creating nuisance in al Shabaab
28 May – Source: Radio Kulmiye/Mustaqbal/Somaliweyn/
Sheikh Hassan Hussein, one of Somali religious leaders supporting al Shabaab urged that the militant leaders stocking conflicts within what he called “Mujahiden” should be killed.
“The ones who are creating separation and divergence in al Shabab, should be killed, those are not in Jihad with militants, they are serving as porters for the infidels,” said Hassan.
The remarks of this Sheikh comes at time when there is a great division between al Shabaab top leaders. The group has been militarily weakened by joint African Union and Somali forces in the country.
Mogadishu’s Taxi Company offers good service and cheap prices
28 May – Source: Qalin News/Universal TV/ SNTV – 334 words
The Somali capital, Mogadishu, which was once labeled the most dangerous city in the world, but recovering from the ruins of the civil war, gets its first taxi company for more than two decades, after businessmen started Mogadishu Taxi Company -MTC.
The company, which has about 40 blue-yellow colored taxicabs, promised to provide the best taxi services within the city and the cheap prices starting $1 per killometer.
The deputy manager of Mogadishu Taxi Company Ahmed Hussein Bulle confirmed that his company will be reliable and will provide taxi services to the people traveling inside and outskirts of Mogadishu.
Somaliland releases 10 traditional elders
28 May – Source: Bar-kulan/Horn Cable TV/Universal TV – 112 words
The breakaway region of Somaliland has released at least 10 traditional elders who had been detained for the last couple of weeks after they had been alleged of fueling community clashes in Borama town, capital of Awdal region in northern Somalia.
Elders’ release came after delegation led by the Somaliland interior minister Mohamed Nur Arale Dur reached the area put off the clan affiliated tension in the area.
All the released elders who hail from the same community were alleged to have facilitated the murderer. Clan related clashes often happen in Harirad areas and its outskirt caused by pastoralists’ land related disputes that lead into the death and wounds of many.
Suspects over-handed to Somali region authority in Ethiopia
27 May – Source: Radio Bar-kulan -138 words
Abud-waq administration has over handed at least six people to the Somali region administration in Ethiopia who were alleged of killing people in an area near Galladi in Somali region in Ethiopia.
Confirming the incident, Abud-waq district commissioner Ahmed Jama Dhirif said that the security troops in the town have detained suspects on Sunday and over handed them to the Somali region authority in Ethiopia today.
The six detained people were accused of the killing two traditional elders who were shot dead in the Somali region in Ethiopia and were believed to have fled into Abud-way district. Dhifir added that an agreement between the Somali region authority in Ethiopia and Abud-waq district administration allows both sides detain criminals and hand over them to where they were allegedly fled from.
President Silanyo sends Goodwill Message to People of Ethiopia as they Celebrate National Day
27 May – Source: Somaliland Press – 92 words
President H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) on behalf of the people and government of Somaliland, I am delighted to send our best wishes to the H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the good people of Ethiopia as they celebrate their National Day this 28 May, 2013.
The people of Somaliland send their best wishes to the brotherly people of Ethiopia as they celebrate 22nd anniversary of the liberation war which freed the people of Ethiopia from the tyranny of the brutal military regime.
Details on fighting that occurred outskirts of Jowhar
27 May – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 127 words
The fighting took place on outskirts of Jowhar town in middle Shabelle region in the southern of Somalia as gunmen linked with al Shabaab attacked government military base in there.
Somalia’s al Shabaab insurgents said they carried out the attack near the airfield of Jowhar town. “A small unit of mujahedeen raided the government base,” the Shabaab said in a message on Twitter, one of the first times they have confirmed that they had launched raids over Jowhar.
Al Shabaab said that they have killed government soldiers in that attack but they didn’t tell the exact casualties caused by the fighting. No comment still from government officials in Jowhar but some of them said they will talk about the fighting in next hours.
Gunmen kill government soldier in Afgoye district
28 May – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 98 words
Gunmen have shot dead a Somali government soldier in Afgoye district in Middle Shabelle region in the Southern of Somalia. The unidentified armed men killed the soldier in the center of the district, before escaping the area. No group yet claimed the responsibility of the killing.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya suffers major setback over new State
28 May – Source: Standard Media – 336 words
Kenya’s hope to have a staunch ally rule regions bordering its northern territories has suffered a setback. This was after the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) decided to back the position of Somalia’s government that vehemently opposes the newly formed Jubaland administration.
The move was however, swiftly rejected by the new administration in Kismayo, terming any effort to re-start the process “unacceptable,” and threatening to cut ties with Mogadishu if it fails to recognise the Kismayo-based administration.
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Kismayo on Sunday to protest what they say is interference in their affairs from Mogadishu and to express support for the Jubaland State, said Abdinasir Serar, spokesman for the Jubaland State administration.
Kenyan firms head for Somalia investment forum
27 May – Source: Business Daily Africa/Daily Nation – 344 words
Kenyan companies have signed up to participate in the first regional investment conference on Somalia to be held in Nairobi on Tuesday. The two-day Somalia Reconstruction and Investment Conference and Exhibition (SORIC) at the KICC in Nairobi has brought together local and international organisations to back the event which has been organised to showcase the potential of the war-torn country as well as encourage investors to invest in the country.
Equity Bank, Deloitte, Astral Aviation,National Bank, Chase Bank and Athi River Steel Plant are some of the Kenyan companies that have come on board to support the two-day conference.
International organisations FAO and ILO are also sponsors. “We have seen immense opportunities in Somalia. It is a place with many opportunities, where we can create new businesses and synergies,” said Astral Aviation chief executive Sanjeev Gadhia. Astral Aviation, a cargo airline, operates daily flights to Mogadishu.
Military joins search for missing officers
27 May – Source: Standard Media – 196 words
The Kenyan military has joined in the hunt for two Administration Police officers who are in the hands of Somalia’s al Shabaab terror group following an abduction. The insurgents attacked two police posts at Damajaley and Abdisugow on Saturday night at the main border in Garissa County.
Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said security agencies in Kenya and Somalia have joined hands to locate the whereabouts of constables Fredrick Chirchir and Joseph Wambugu who were abducted in the attack.
Kimaiyo said the attackers were members of al Shabaab from Somalia and that they are tracking their movements. “We cannot account for two of our officers after the attack but we are sure they are alive. Our security forces are pursuing them,” said Kimaiyo.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
African leaders create emergency military force
27 May – Source: Reuters – 596 words
African leaders said on Monday they would immediately create a military rapid reaction force to deal with regional coups, rebellions and wars, seeking to reduce the continent’s reliance on foreign troops and funds for its defense.
African Union (AU) Chairman and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced the creation of the so-called African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises, and said South African President Jacob Zuma had proposed the force.
Besides South Africa, which in March had more than a dozen soldiers killed in Central African Republic by coup rebels, Uganda and Ethiopia have also pledged to contribute to the new contingent, officials said at an AU summit in Addis Ababa.
More than 90 percent of the AU’s peace and security efforts, including its AMISOM mission in Somalia, are funded by external actors such as the European Union and United States.
Somalia’s economic renaissance
27 May – Source: CNN – 04:22mins
CNN’s Nima Elbagir to Mogadishu, Somalia where real estate and hotel sectors are growing as well as investment optimism.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“With two women appointed as part of the ten-member cabinet by the new Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, it looks like we’ll be seeing and hearing more about Somali women who are part of the country’s rise, which will bring a much needed breath of fresh air in the usual media focus on Somalia and Somali women.”
The Women at the Forefront of Somalia’s Future
27 May – Source: Patheos Blog -786 Words
For more than 20 years there has been a continuous stream of bad news where Somalia is concerned with images of war, famine and piracy. Now with Al Shabaaab driven out of Mogadishu, and the Somali Transitional Government and African Union in control of the capital, Somalia seems to have joined the Africa Rising tide, and interestingly the image of Somalia’s new era of a peaceful future seems to be largely women.
Indeed, a dominant narrative in rebuilding Somalia seems to focus on women, not only the women in refugee camps who are struggling to support their families and husbands, but also those in the Diaspora who are coming back to do their part in rebuilding the nation.
Somalia: A Letter from Jowhar
27 May – Source: Raxanreeb – 456 Words
District of Jowhar , 90 KM north of Mogadishu, is the administrative seat of the Middle Shabelle region. Before the revolutionary government formed Middle Shabelle region Jowhar was part of Banadir region. Old Jowharites know the city as Villa Abruzzi , named after Prince Luigi Amedeo Giuseppe Maria Ferdinando Francesco who passed away in Jowhar in 1930s. The city is remembered for Sugar factory in SNAI.
The revolutionary government divided Jowhar into two major neighbourhoods –Horseed ‘Pioneers’ and Halgan ‘Struggle’– and gave new names to old hamlets (Jowhar Eyle was renamed Jowhar Soomaali). The city was spared the horrors of the civil war (no major clan wars occurred there but the sugar factory and SNAI complex were looted). The factory was a major employer.
Since 1991 the city has been ruled by different rulers. During the first half of noughties (2000s) the late Mohamed Omar Habeeb (Mohamed Dheere) ruled the city. His administration was seen as the best in the southern Somalia during his leadership as the Chairman of Middle Shabelle Political Committee.
He hosted the former Transitional Federal Government, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. Mohamed Dheere’s reign in Jowhar came to an end after he made a pact with a group of warlords who formed anti-terrorism alliance in 2006. The Union of Islamic Courts ruled the city for six months. Al Shabaab captured the city in 2009 and ruled for nearly 4 years. The Somali government troops and AMISOM captured Jowhar six months ago.
Somalia: Lifeline Mogadishu
27 May – Source: ICRC Blog – 5:23mins
After years of conflict in Somalia, safe access to health care remains a serious problem, medical infrastructure is insufficient and many medical professionals have left the country. Despite the difficult conditions, local health workers are struggling to provide emergency medical services. The photographer Andre Liohn filmed one of the few ambulance teams working on the ground.
Top tweets
@SomaliConf There is no country in Africa that has nearly as many seaports as #Somalia #SORIC Hassan Noor, CEO Hanvard.
@CNyamaiComms This afternoon, a number of companies are scheduled to sign contracts on investment in #Somalia#SORIC.
@EmilyWaita Somali’s may not be good politicians, but they are ASTUTE business men #Eastleigh #Jubaland#Puntland #Djibouti #Somaliland #Somalia.
@dayliff D&S supports #Somalia as it embarks on a dynamic path of political & economic renewal after long-running civil strife and political turmoil.
@MinisterHashi #Somalia: A documentary on how the transition was ended. It was an honour to have been part of this historic process. http://youtu.be/QH93_ocWUIU.
Image of the day
Mogadishu’s newest taxi services. Photo: @ASSIYYA