May 30, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali Premier and delegates reach Istanbul to attend Somalia meeting
29 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu /Hiiraan Online/ Somaliweyn – 256 words
Somalia Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has on Tuesday evening reached Istanbul, Turkey where he was warmly welcomed. The Premier and his wife were accompanied by cabinet ministers including Minister of Federalism and Constitution Abdirahman Hoosh Jibrill, Minister of Planning and International Co-operation Abdullahi Goodah Barre, Minister of Information, Post and Telecommunication Abdikadir Mohamed Hussein Jahweyn and assistant minister of Transport and Ports Abdirahman Dheere.
The UN envoy to Somalia Ambassador Augustine Mahiga was prominently accompanying the premier’s delegation. The Prime Minister and his team were received at Istanbul airport by the acting ambassador of Somalia’s embassy in Turkey Nuur Sheikh Ali Hamud, assistant minister of Interior and National Security Abdihakim Ige Guled, the chairman of Somali Diaspora in Turkey Mohamed Hoosh, Turkish ambassador to Somalia Kamalutin Kani Turum among other officials.
The Prime Minister is staying at Conrad Hotel in Istanbul which was previously occupied by the speaker of the parliament. The speaker proceeded to Ankara for official talks with Turkish officials. Meanwhile, the president of Somalia Sh. Sharif Sh. Ahmed and his delegation is travelling to Istanbul on Wednesday 30th May, 2012 to take part in the forthcoming meeting to discuss Somalia issues.
The elders’ and civil society groups meeting entered its third day in Istanbul at Dedeman Hotel. The attendees are still grouped into the political, economic, civil society and security groups. It is expected the meeting would end tomorrow in order to proceed to the second phase where the government leaders and the international community will gather for further deliberations.
Key Headlines
- Somali Premier and delegates reach Istanbul to attend Somalia meeting (Radio Mogadishu /Hiiraan Online/ Somaliweyn)
- AMISOM military officers reach central Somalia (Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab terrorist beats airport security (Daily Monitor)
- Explosion kills soldiers in Galkayo (Radio Kulmiye/Hiiraan Online/Raxanreeb/Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab spokesman says they killed three KDF commanders (Raxanreeb)
- Kenyan Ships Shell al Shabaab Controlled Kismayo (VOA)
- TFG declares new administration for Afgoye (Bar-kulan)
- Four policemen injured at Kenya’s border Liboi (Standard)
- Somalia bans antipersonnel landmines (Relief Web News)
- Security forces arrest senior al Shabaab official in Afgoye (Radio Mogadishu)
SOMALI MEDIA
Explosion kills soldiers in Galkayo
30 May – Source: Radio Kulmiye/Hiiraan Online/Raxanreeb/Shabelle – 128 words
Puntland soldiers have been killed in a heavy expulsion that occurred in Galkayo, the blast was targeted on the Punltnad solders who were trying to prevent terrorist attacks and pirate acts in the region.
Puntland government condemned the attack and blamed it on al Qaeda. This is one of the deadliest attacks in Puntland since the terrorist groups ofal Qaeda have announced its military bases in Puntland specially the residence of Galagala and the Golis Mountains in the area.
Al Qaeda groups did not yet spoke about the deadly attack in Galkayo which killed number of soldiers in the city during plans of military operations against al Qaeda and pirates in the region which made the situation in the region much worse.
AMISOM military officers reach central Somalia
30 May – Source: Shabelle – 94 words
Military officers from the African Union Mission (AMISOM), reportedly arrived on Wednesday at Somalia’s central strategic town of Beledweyne, some 206 miles (332) Km north of Mogadishu.
After arriving at the town early on Wednesday, AMISOM officers held security talks with officials from Somali government in the region and Djibouti troop commanders serving under AU Mission in Somalia, according to Kamadid Mumin Ali, a TFG official.
AMISOM has previously dispatched the first patch of its troops from Djibouti in Beledweyne, the provincial capital of Hiiraan region to take over the control from Ethiopian forces, central Somalia.
Security forces arrest senior al Shabaab official in Afgoye
30 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 132 words
National Security Forces that are carrying out security operations in Afgoye district in lower Shabelle region have last night arrested a senior official of al Qaeda linked group al Shabaab.
Our correspondent on the military affairs, Abdiasis Africa who is in Agoye district where al Qaeda militias were removed says that the senior extremist al Shabaab official was identified only as Osman and he was top official of the group’s ad hoc judiciary. Abdiasis Africa reported that the captured official admitted that there was no doubt that he was in was committing evil acts against people in Afgoye city.
Forces of Somali Transitional Federal government backed by the African Union Peacekeeping Forces continue the security operation named ‘Free Shabelle’ all areas where those militants were chased.
Somali Premier and delegates reach Istanbul to attend Somalia meeting
29 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu /Hiiraan Online/ Somaliweyn – 256 words
Somalia Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has on Tuesday evening reached Istanbul, Turkey where he was warmly welcomed. The Premier and his wife were accompanied by cabinet ministers including Minister of Federalism and Constitution Abdirahman Hoosh Jibrill, Minister of Planning and International Co-operation Abdullahi Goodah Barre, Minister of Information, Post and Telecommunication Abdikadir Mohamed Hussein Jahweyn and assistant minister of Transport and Ports Abdirahman Dheere. The UN envoy to Somalia Ambassador Augustine Mahiga was prominently accompanying the premier’s delegation.
The Prime Minister and his team were received at Istanbul airport by the acting ambassador of Somalia’s embassy in Turkey Nuur Sheikh Ali Hamud, assistant minister of Interior and National Security Abdihakim Ige Guled, the chairman of Somali Diaspora in Turkey Mohamed Hoosh, Turkish ambassador to Somalia Kamalutin Kani Turum among other officials.
The Prime Minister is staying at Conrad Hotel in Istanbul which was previously occupied by the speaker of the parliament. The speaker proceeded to Ankara for official talks with Turkish officials. Meanwhile, the president of Somalia Sh. Sharif Sh. Ahmed and his delegation is travelling to Istanbul on Wednesday 30th May, 2012 to take part in the forthcoming meeting to discuss Somalia issues.
The elders’ and civil society groups meeting entered its third day in Istanbul at Dedeman Hotel. The attendees are still grouped into the political, economic, civil society and security groups. It is expected the meeting would end tomorrow in order to proceed to the second phase where the government leaders and the international community will gather for further deliberations.
Al Shabaab spokesman says they killed three KDF commanders
30 May – Source: Raxanreeb – 202 words
Somalia’s al Shabaab group said that they have killed three senior commanders from Kenyan Defense Forces known as KDF in ambush battle near Afmadow district on Jubba region, spokesman said on Tuesday.
“On Tuesday morning we ambushed KDF convoy in the suburb of Afmadow town and in the Allah’s will three senior commanders of the KDF, who were in charge of leading the Kenyan mission in Somalia were killed,” al Shabaab’s military spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis abu Mus’ab said in a phone press conference.
Abu Mus’ab said that his fighters also manage to burn at least five military battle wagons including two armored vehicle of the KDF during the attack near Afmadow on Tuesday as he also claimed that the area was under al Shabaab’s control. “Since they joined AMISOM mission, the KDF were struggling to move forward into the region, even they could not go one step.” The spokesman added “Afmadow town is the front line and will be the graves for them.”
TFG, Ethiopian forces arrest al Shabaab suspects in Hudur
30 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 91 words
Somali forces along with Ethiopian security personnel have on Tuesday night arrested around 20 people in Hudur district, Bakol region. Hudur district commissioner, Mohamed Mo’alim Ahmed told Bar-kulan that TFG and Ethiopian forces in the town launched a security operation on Tuesday night against suspected al Shabaab elements.
Ahmed claimed that the security personnel conducted the operation after receiving various tips on possible bomb plots. He praised the people of Hudur for their cooperation with the security officers during the operation adding that the men are undergoing interrogations in Hudur police station.
Somalia’s Puntland authority to launch new TV, radio stations
30 May – Source: Halgan Online – 101 words
The foundation stone has been laid in Garoowe, the capital of Puntland, for new pro-government TV and radio stations. The radio station will be on Short Wave and will broadcast to the whole of Somalia on FM, as Puntland’s presidential spokesman, Ahmad Umar Hirsi, told the press.
The president of Puntland, Abdirahman Muhammad Farole, previously said a new pro-government TV and radio stations will be operationalized. The presidential spokesman said the Italian government will fund and equip the stations, adding that they will be used to sensitize the communities in Puntland as well as air the administration’s achievements.
Gunmen kill civilian in Wadajir district
30 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA – 85 words
Gunmen have on Tuesday evening killed a civilian at Nasteho village in Wadajir district in the Somali capital Mogadishu. A well known taxi driver named Osman Barihi was shot dead by gunmen armed with pistols and immediately escaped from the scene. The gunmen who killed this man are believed to be al Qaeda linked group of al Shabaab. TFG security forces in Nasteho village are reported to have reached where the man was killed and began investigation as though they held nobody.
TFG declares new administration for Afgoye
30 May – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 143 words
Transitional Federal Government of Somalia has declared a new temporary administration for recently seized town of Afgoye in Lower Shabelle region.President Sharif Ahmed has announced the creation of the new administration after holding talks with traditional elders and officials in the town.
Speaking in Afgoye, the president noted the significance of establishing authority in new areas captured from the militant group of al Shabaab. He promised that the people of Afgoye will have transparent elections to choose their own administration in the near future.
A decree from the Ministry of Interior and National Security has confirmed the appointment of Abdullahi Abdi Ahmed as the head of the new administration of Afgoye according to Bashil Mohamed Jama, General Director for the Ministry. On last week, joint forces of TFG and AMISOM took over Afgoye and Elasha Biyaha in Lower Shabelle region from al Shabaab fighters.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab terrorist beats airport security
30 May – Source: Daily Monitor – 509 words
Passports recovered from al Shabaab hideouts in Al fitri, 12kms, north of Mogadishu by the UPDF show that one of the terror group’s commanders travelled through Entebbe International Airport without being detected by airport security.
The entry into the country by Abubarker Nur Hussein in July last year exposes what could be a lack of vigilance by airport security although the Internal Affairs ministry yesterday said he could have slipped through because his name was not on the available list of wanted terror suspects. It also shows how Uganda is still vulnerable to terrorist. Infiltration and likely attack despite the lessons learned from the July 11, 2010 twin attack which left 80 Ugandans dead.
The UPDF findings, made possible by the ongoing AMISOM operations against al Shabaab, comes at a time when an explosion ripped through a shopping complex on Moi Avenue in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, leaving over 30 people seriously injured in a suspected terror strike.
Kampala has been on terror alert for the last three months as AMISOM continues to conduct offensive operations in the outskirts of Mogadishu, making considerable progress in the bid to rout the al Shabaab.
Iran pledges support for war against terrorism
29 May – Source: Daily Nation – 287 words
Iran has pledged to help Kenya fight terrorism and the threat posed by extremist groups. This was one of the resolutions reached in talks between the Kenya Government and an Iranian delegation led by its Vice-President Mohammed Reza Rahimi in the last two days.
According to a document signed by the two governments, a meeting to discuss the threat posed to Kenya by terrorists as a result of instability in Somalia will be held in Tehran before September. The meeting will bring together delegations from the two nations, a representative of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and Igad.
“Expressing concern over the current situation in Somalia which is endangering the peace and security in East Africa region, as well as terrorism and extremist movements, both sides emphasised on cooperation between regional countries, the African Union and Igad to find a peaceful settlement,” the statement read by Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Ongeri said on Tuesday.
2 people wanted over Nairobi bombing
29 May – Source: Capital News – 475 words
Police say they are now looking for two suspects believed to have been involved in Monday’s attack at a building on Moi Avenue in Nairobi. Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe said they are compiling data on the two suspects which will be released to the public soon.
“We have been given a clear description of the two suspects and are now piecing together the information. These are the two people who were involved in the attack,” Kiraithe said of the men, one of them said to have left a bag in a shop in the building before the explosion went off, wounding 38 people.
“We are working closely with various other agencies, including from foreign countries. The people you saw at the scene are just part of the teams from outside the country who are working with us. We are looking into calling for more assistance from our friends,” he told a press conference late Tuesday.
Four policemen injured at Kenya’s border Liboi
30 May – Source: Standard – 107 words
Four policemen were seriously wounded in a gun ambush by unknown gunmen in Liboi area at the Kenya-Somalia border on Tuesday night. The injured officers have been taken to a clinic in Liboi and are expected to be flown to Nairobi today for specialised treatment.
Police say the gunmen escaped soon after the attack in which left the officers’ Land Cruiser vehicle flattened. The vehicle was towed to Liboi Police Station by General Service Unit officers.
Area Provincial Police Officer Leo Nyongesa says they are pursuing the gang which escaped towards Somalia. The area has been enjoying relative calm since Kenya Defence Forces troops crossed to Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan Ships Shell al Shabaab Controlled Kismayo
29 May – Source: VOA – 387 words
Kenyan warships have shelled the Somali port of Kismayo. Kenya says it shelled the al Shabaab-controlled port city of Kismayo after Kenyan ships came under fire.
Kenyan military spokesman, Cyrus Oguna, said “they fired at us and we fired back.” Oguna says Kenya Defense Force ships routinely patrol the area, but this is the first time that they have engaged in combat in Kismayo. He said he could not confirm casualties at this time.
Militants blamed Kenyan forces for the attack. A Kismayo resident who prefers to give just his first name, Mohamed, said that the first shelling started just after three in the morning.
The warships at the coast of Kismayo started shelling the port, Mohamed says the warships started the shelling and al Shabaab returned fire. He said the shelling stopped for a few hours before resuming midmorning.
Somalia bans antipersonnel landmines
30 May – Source: Relief Web News – 309 words
The Transitional Federal Government in Somalia has decided to join the Mine Ban Treaty of the United Nations. The mine action unit within the Danish Refugee Council recognizes and supports the development. Somalia is one of the regions in Africa most contaminated by mines. As the last African country to officially ban use of landmines, Somalia has now agreed to destroy all stockpiles no later than 1 October 2016 and to clear all contaminated land no later than 1 October 2022.
In addition to this, Somalia is obliged to provide assistance to the thousands of mine victims. Somalia has never produced mines, but it is assessed that around 200 communities are contaminated by mines. At least 159 casualties of landmines and explosive remnants of war in Somalia (excluding Somaliland) where recorded in 2010, including 19 children killed and 86 children injured. The true casualty figure is likely to be much higher.
“Joining the international Mine Ban Treaty happens despite ongoing conflict and shows that Somalia now recognizes the humanitarian impact of landmines,” says Klaus Ljørring Pedersen, DDG Regional Director for Horn of Africa & Yemen. In Mogadishu the mine action unit within the Danish Refugee Council, the Danish Demining Group (DDG) is focusing on emergency clearance and Mine Risk Education coordinated through the UN office responsible for demining in Somalia.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“My views on Uganda’s participation in the invasion of Somalia are well known to many of you. I would like Uganda to be defeated and forced to withdraw immediately. I am opposed to the invasion of Somalia like I opposed the invasion of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The reason I am opposed to foreign interference in Somalia is simply because Somalis had crafted a solution to their problems, but the Americans opposed it because its leaders professed a “strong brand of Islam.”
Uganda can never sort Somalia out
29 May – Source: Observer (Uganda) – 749 Words
The United States has announced the withdrawal of 23,000 troops from Afghanistan by September this year. The US has over 80,000 soldiers in this country. The entire NATO force of 100,000, nearly two times the size of Uganda’s military, will withdraw by 2014. To strengthen the US and Europe-backed Afghan army, $4.1 billion in military support will be provided annually.
Uganda’s national budget is about $ 3.5 billion. The war in Afghanistan has cost the US/NATO allies nearly $275 billion, equivalent to Uganda’s budget for about 80 years. The allies have lost over 3,000 troops, and many more thousands of Afghan civilians have died during the decade-long war.
“Somaliland is far from perfect, however it is genuinely a marvel considering the fact that Somaliland has achieved state-building and reconciliation for 21 years with little outside influence. In contrast the US have pursued state building in countries as far flung as Vietnam (in the 70s) and Iraq and Afghanistan in modern times and despite plowing millions into these countries the outcomes have been modest at best.”
Somaliland: Our version of events
29 May – Source: Somaliland Press – 2206 Words
I write this article because I have scoured the internet for Somaliland related opinion pieces and to my surprise I have found that there lacks a genuine viewpoint from young Somalilanders in Somaliland and those in the diaspora. With myself being from the diaspora and London to be precise I felt that I could offer a fresh perspective on Somaliland and our hopes and aspiration for Somaliland.
Being a Somali person in the West and part of the wider Somali diaspora one always comes across the topic of allegiance. Should our allegiance be to Somaliland or to Somalia? To put it frankly my allegiance is to the Somali people first and foremost and then Somaliland as my mother country. Some would argue that this is contradictory so here I shall elaborate.
“To put it in a nutshell: it is very dangerous for the Somalis and the international community to assess the condition of the current war with the parameters of what was the war in 2011. And I believe that is exactly the mistake the Ethiopians made in 2007. They had been able to crush al Shabaab in December [of 2006] in a very easy and very radical manner, because they fought face-to-face, and of course al Shabaab couldn’t confront a professional army and therefore lost with many casualties. But then al Shabaab shifted to an urban-style guerrilla, and that created a new problem for the Ethiopian army.”
“The war is changing, not over”: Roland Marchal on Somalia after Afgooye, part two
30 May – Source: Focus On Horn Blog – 1191 Words
In part two of our interview with Roland Marchal, find out why the war in southern Somalia is changing but not ending, and why the road map process may soon run into trouble. For part one of the interview, click here. It seems that you are quite cautious about the current TFG offensive, and the prospects that it will be over soon. So military victories and territorial gains are not the only story there is to tell?
The question is, and we see that everywhere, what kind of political answer you give to the population after having beaten al Shabaab. In Beledweyne and Boosaaso, two big cities that have been taken from Shabaab, the Ethiopians promoted their friends, their allies.
That makes a lot of sense. But if you don’t have local reconciliation with clans that explicitly supported al Shabaab – because they had some good interest to do that, some very real interest beyond the jihaadi rhetorics – if you don’t do that, then sooner or later you create tensions and new problems come up.
Top tweets
@MinisterHashi We want our international partners including @MFATurkey to encourage reconstruction of #Somalia through a dialogue among all Somalis.
@mary_harper Exhibition in #Kenya and #Turkey of photos of #Mogadishu #Somalia during its best and worst days http://f24.my/N2MPqL.
@TrueSLANDER @kenyanpundit
@MinisterHashi For #Istanbul
@BillaoJournal Most recent statements by #Shabaab attempt to convince readers that resistance to #AMISOM #TFG #ENDF #KDF
@RhymingNomad The London conference made how much difference in Somalia? #Istanbul won’t make any difference either. It’s up to Somalis to figure it out.
Image of the day
Somali Prime Minister Abdweli Mohammed Ali arrives in Istanbul, Turkey on Tuesday ahead of the Istanbul Conference on Somalia which kicks off Thursday. Photo: Hiiraan Online