May 9, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Al Shabaab agent killed in failed landmine explosion
09 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA – 161 words
An al Shabaab sympathizer died as he was planting an improvised explosive device at a road in Mogadishu’s Howlwadag district on Tuesday evening. Local residents report that the man died on the spot after he messed up with the landmine meant to cause harm to the innocent Somali population.
The plan by the al Shabab extremists shows their lack of respect for human life with landmines, beheadings, amputation and other harsh forms of punishment inflicted to the innocent Somali people. The Somali people are crying foul in the regions that are administered by the al Shabaab extremists with so many restrictions and fear growning in the Somali people who demand freedom from the extremist’s control.
AMISOM and Somali Security Intelligence agency have jointly detonated landmines that were found planted in several of Mogadishu key streets. Security of Mogadishu has been upheld after the exit of the insurgent group of al Shabaab that has seen world leaders visit Mogadishu due to the improved security.
Key Headlines
- Somali prime minister meets with American and United Nation delegations (Radio Risaala)
- Defence Minister Promises to eradicate al Shabaab from Somalia (Shabelle)
- Somali President leaves Kuwait ( Kuwait Times)
- Al Shabaab agent killed in failed landmine explosion (Radio Mogadishu/SONNA)
- French ambassador to Kenya visits Somalia (Hiiraan Online)
- Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli participates in Security meeting in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/OPM)
- Evidence ready against al Shabaab suspects (Star/Nairobi)
- Navy ‘forced to drop year-round Somalia piracy patrols’ (Telegraph)
SOMALI MEDIA
Al Shabaab agent killed in failed landmine explosion
09 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA – 161 words
An al Shabaab sympathizer died as he was planting an improvised explosive device at a road in Mogadishu’s Howlwadag district on Tuesday evening. Local residents report that the man died on the spot after he messed up with the landmine meant to cause harm to the innocent Somali population.
The plan by the al Shabab extremists shows their lack of respect for human life with landmines, beheadings, amputation and other harsh forms of punishment inflicted to the innocent Somali people. The Somali people are crying foul in the regions that are administered by the al Shabaab extremists with so many restrictions and fear growning in the Somali people who demand freedom from the extremist’s control.
AMISOM and Somali Security Intelligence agency have jointly detonated landmines that were found planted in several of Mogadishu key streets. Security of Mogadishu has been upheld after the exit of the insurgent group of al Shabaab that has seen world leaders visit Mogadishu due to the improved security.
Somali prime minister meets with American and United Nation delegations
09 May – Source: Radio Risaala – 144 words
Somali Prime minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gas on Tuesday met with delegations from the United Nation, European Union and USA. The delegation led by Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Catherine Brag discussed with the premier over humanitarian issues and how UN efforts in Somalia can be doubled. Catherin Brag said the purpose for their visit to Mogadishu realize the real living conditions of the internaly displaced people living in Mogadishu. Others who were in the delegation include U.N. Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Somalia Mark Bowden and others.
Defence Minister Promises to eradicate al Shabaab from Somalia
09 May – Source: Shabelle – 219 words
Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) says it will soon clean al Shabaab and its allied al Qaeda from all the regions in the war-torn nation. Minister of Defence Hussein Arab Issa promised to continue the fight against al Shabaab and Al Qaeda in south and central Somalia. The Minister told reporters that the coalition forces working in southern Somalia have made much progress in fighting the terrorist organization.
Minister Issa explained the TFG’s objective is to eradicate al Shabaab from southern Somalia in order to build peace in the region. He stated, “Although they (al Shabaab) have left Mogadishu it does not mean we can relax, our troops will continue to fight Al Shabaab in
“After al Shabaab fighters were defeated in Mogadishu they shifted their tactics and begun to melt into the population so as to carry out deadly attacks against civilians. I urge Somalis to work with TFG forces in order to eliminate the threat so we can stabilize and promote peace in the region,” he added.
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli participates in Security meeting in Mogadishu
08 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/OPM – 331 words
Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas and some members of his cabinet are participating in security meeting for the second day in Halane (the main base of African Union troops in Mogadishu) which they discusses the security situation of the country. The meeting was attended by the Joint Security committee meeting, the UN, the TFG officials, members of Ahlu Sunna wal Jama, Puntland, IGAD, AMISOM, Britain and US and EU. The meeting discussed how to reinforce the relative peace and tighten the security of the country.
Defence minister Hussein Arab Isse briefed the Joint Security Committee meeting on the security of the country particularly Mogadishu and other liberated areas from al Shabaab. He said that the government made significant strides on security but added that there should be concerted efforts to consolidate the gains made and also equip the police force.
The security committee underlined the importance of strengthening the security that was hard earned. In the meantime, premier Abdiweli met with the US envoy to Somalia James Swan and they debated on the relations between the two countries and the measure the US is taking to make sure Somalia forms a new government.
The Prime Minister also met with the Catherine Bragg, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and head of the European Union on Somalia affairs George Mark Andrea discussing humanitarian situations among others. Abdiweli and Catherine jointly addressed the media after the meeting.
Premier Abdiweli highlighted that the UN and his government will work together to address the humanitarian situations in the country. He thanked Ms Catherine for her first visit to Mogadishu. Ms. Catherine, on the other hand, thanked the government for welcoming her and expressed her happiness by visiting Somalia. She promised the UN will increase their support to the Somali people.
French ambassador to Kenya visits Somalia
08 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 177 words
France’s ambassador to Kenya, Etienne de Poncins, visited Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on 7 May 2012. This was the first bilateral visit of an ambassador of France to the Somali capital since 2008, and the first step towards the recovery of French-Somalia relations.
The Ambassador met with the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, where he highlighted France’s support to the political process which has now entered a crucial phase with the opening of the Constituent Assembly scheduled for the 15th of May this year.
The ambassador informed the Prime Minister that France, a permanent member of the Security Council, fully supports the joint letter of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, the AU and IGAD on the imposition of sanctions against individuals threatening peace and the political process in Somalia.
He recalled France’s massive support worth around 100 million Euros in 2011, besides Operation Atalanta, and France’s constant assistance to Somalia, either under humanitarian aid, or its contribution towards Europe’s programmes in the areas of security and development, or support to AMISOM.
Security Forces foiled suicide attack in Mogadishu
08 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Somalia Report – 58 words
Somali Security forces in Ex-control junction of Mogadishu foiled an attempted suicide attack after they captured a young man who wanted to blow himself up. The chief commander of Banadir region security, Kalif Ahmed Ereg, told the media they knew the plan two days ago when al Qaeda militias were preparing the attack on the outskirts of the capital.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Evidence ready against al Shabaab suspects
09 May – Source: Star/Nairobi – 85 words
Police in Mombassa have completed investigations of a Belgian and Tunisian national arrested by anti-terror officers in Lamu, ahead of their trail. The case of Hassan Kafi, the Belgian, and Mohammed Debarli, in which they have been charged with being members of the al Shabaab militia group, will be heard from May 29.
The case was mentioned yesterday in a Mombassa court, with chief magistrate Stephen Riech being informed that all the evidence has been collected, and that the case against the two could proceed.
Somali President leaves Kuwait
09 May – Source: Kuwait Times – 105 words
Somali President, Sharif Sheikh Ahmad and his accompanying delegation, left the country after a three-day visit during which official talks were held with His Highness the Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. the Amir, and his Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, National Assembly Speaker Ahmad Al-Saadoun and Deputy Chief of the National Security Apparatus, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah bid farewell to the Somali President at Kuwait International Airport.
UNESCO urges justice for Somali journalist
09 May – Source: Africa Review – 195 words
UNESCO’s Director General Irina Bokova has called on Somali authorities not to spare effort in finding the killers of journalist Farhan Abdulle. The 27-year-old employee of Daljir Radio was last week killed by unidentified gunmen in Galkayo village, 750km north of Somali capital of Mogadishu.
The Unesco boss noted that Mr. Abdulle was a “fervent defender of press freedom,” and fought for improved security for journalists. “His tragic death, on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, deprives the people of Somalia a voice that spoke out for their right to be informed and their right to freedom of expression,” she said.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Navy ‘forced to drop year-round Somalia piracy patrols’
09 May – Source: Telegraph – 329 words
The Royal Navy no longer has enough warships to dedicate one to fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia all year round, it was reported. Cuts mean that the UK has had to scale back its commitments in the region, despite David Cameron making the fight against the multi-billion dollar piracy problem there a foreign policy priority.
While the US, France, Italy, Denmark and other countries still send frigates, Britain has quietly withdrawn its ships, according to a newspaper. The UK can now only deploy two frigates for contingency operations east of the Suez canal, with neither able to be committed to piracy full time, it was reported.
The Navy’s fuel and supply ship, the Fort Victoria, has been supporting the counter-piracy fleet in the region since last year but it is unclear whether this will continue beyond the summer. Four frigates had been dedicated to Somalia, deployed on rotation to give year-round support. But four frigates were scrapped in Ministry of Defence cuts.
Shooting to kill pirates risks Blackwater Moment
08 May – Source: .Business Week – 770 words
At first the video depicts a seemingly calm, sun-drenched sea from aboard the Avocet, until a pale blue skiff appears in the distance, cutting rapidly across the Indian Ocean toward the bulk ship’s starboard side.
After a tense radio exchange between the ship’s armed guards, who believe they’re under attack by pirates, their team leader steps through the bridge door and orders warning shots. Immediately, he and another guard fire dozens of rounds at the oncoming boat. The blaze of gunfire continues after the skiff crashes into the ship, with guards shooting down into the vessel, and as it then trails behind the Avocet. “Second skiff coming in,” he shouts, then they turn and begin firing on the new boat, and the video ends.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The context of the novel are gender relations in the Somali world, importance of clans, regional cleavages, military dictatorship in the 1970s and impact of the cold war on Somalia’s fragile statehood; novel is timeless in reflecting across the entire existence of Somali republic, it demonstrates deep impact that cold war has had on Somalia as it swung in pendulum between Bi- Polar Powers, allegiance to Soviet Russians Initially and US hegemony later and finally to its demise.”
Guban Somalia novel out in print
08 May – Source: Suna Times – 1463 Words
Karl Marx tells us that “history is repeated by those who fail to learn from it”:Somali state is in ruins today, it is described as a failed state and despite various attempts since 1992 to resuscitate the state , in the form of humanitarian intervention, war on terror and many other pretext, not only has it proved to be mission impossible but instead it has disintegrated further into various autonomous regional and ethnic enclaves; clannism which used to be considered backwards in the past is now fashionable, hence the competing elites in the various regions no longer are interested in Somali Nationalism but instead are actively hindering revival by offering revisions of history.
The quote from Marx is instructive in that current attempts at restoring Somali state will not be successful until we learn from our past failures, how did the state collapse? recently in London there was an attempt at reconciliation and diplomacy by UK prime Minster David Cameron and they hosted conferences and seminars to engage constructively the various actors in the Somali Politics in UK.
“ people and government of Somalia are resolute to see through the implementation of the Roadmap and establish a constitutional order and permanent national government after 12 years of stagnation in transitional governance. Al-Qaeda/Al-Shabaab, Warlords, fearmongers and naysayer are in no position to hold a country in hostage and deny the people to pursue its destiny.”
Somalia will surely have a new Constitution despite the wish of Fearmongers
08 May – Source: Raxanreeb – 810 Words
Last ditch attempt to block the ‘Roadmap to end the Transition’ has been made by fearmongers, Naysayers , and assortment of TFG ex-officio members, all of them keen of spreading distorted facts aimed at manipulating the public perception, specially targeting the planned Constituent Assembly conference were over 800 delegates consisting of all segments of society anticipated to debate and approve the draft constitution document just completed by the Independent Federal Constitution Commission (IFCC) and the Committee of Experts on 20th April 2012.
Fearmongers use scare tactics to influence public opinion to impede change and progress by disseminating false information about the draft constitution and the planned Constituent Assembly meeting. Naysayers, natural skeptics and cynical people among us, habitually express negativity about the accomplishment of others and are pessimistic about change. Dale Carnegie’s famous quote fittingly describes the nature of Naysayers when he wrote “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain, and most fools do.”
“The nation cannot continue to engage in the usual, incessant didactic arguments and endless debates that always end with certain politicians opposing change. Such a practice is a luxury that the country cannot afford at this critical juncture. Somalis should not have the perfect be the enemy of the good. Rather people of goodwill from throughout the country should support the Road Map and the Draft Constitution.”
Somalia: Road Map or Bust!
07 May – Source: Wardheer News – 838 Words
Somalia’s arduous twenty-year odyssey is fast approaching a defining moment. The long running national nightmare will soon reach a clearly marked fork in the road. Contrary to the witty Yogi Berra’s line, however, you can’t just “take it”; one has to make a conscious choice as to which way to proceed.
The choices before Somalis, in this regards, are two and their differences are easy to recognize: one way is the continuation of the perilous passage to nowhere that the nation has been on since the fall of the central government in 1991. It is a particularly circuitous road that is full of hazardous twists and turns; a virtual dead-end leading to no destination that the long-suffering Somali people would want to go. Its journey has been and remains to be strewn with the ill-effects of all manner of destructive and anti-social behavior that rendered the Somali Republic the failed state by which all others are judged.
“Al Shabaab itself may indeed be in decline, although its demise has been reported prematurely before. The danger is that al Shabaab may dissolve and its Islamist leadership and cadre may simply reform into yet another reincarnation of itself while the international community turns its attention elsewhere once again.”
Al Shabaab in Decline?
08 May – Source: Critical Threat – 1469 Words
The anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death last week focused attention briefly on the continued threat posed by al Qaeda. Too much of that attention has been devoted to al Qaeda Central itself—the remnants of bin Laden’s organization that continue to reside in Pakistan under the leadership of Ayman al Zawahiri.
But the greatest and most imminent threats to the U.S. and its allies come not from that group, which ten years of continuous attacks have severely degraded, but rather from its franchises elsewhere, particularly al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and al Shabaab in Somalia, which only recently announced its formal merger with al Qaeda. The viability of the threats these groups pose to the U.S. deserves more careful consideration than it has received.
“Any change at best emerges as a very long-term endeavor. Thus in the immediate term, given the clear and present danger that pirates pose to the free passage of maritime traffic and innocent life, changing the rigid rules of engagement to authorize lethal force becomes a serious option.”
Somali pirates see their ambitions trimmed
09 May – Source: Japan Times – 730 Words
There has been a significant drop in ship seizures and hijackings by Somali pirates in the troubled waters off East Africa. Despite last years spike in piracy with 28 vessels captured in the first half of 2011, there were only three ships seized in the second half of the year according to the Commander of the European Union’s anti-piracy task force. So far this year only four merchant ships have been seized by the latter-day buccaneers.
Top tweets
@TallieSomali “We are the pain of the past, the awareness of the present, and the optimism of the future.” #Somalia.
@JBowen_Weber Cuts force #RoyalNavy to drop #Somalia #piracy patrol h
@AbukarArman Nothing is more inspiring than the rising spirit of altruism within #Somali youth in the Diaspora & their motivation to contribute positively.
@IntelTweet #Shabaab al-
@kinmath Fear of #pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean and reckless weapon use may lead to a “Blackwater moment” #somali http://bloom.
@kishkafka If Western nations don’t want to commit troops to fight #AlShabaab in #Somalia, they have to PROPERLY FUND #AMISOM http://reut.rs/
Image of the day
Participant at a joint security meeting in Mogadishu that brought together representatives from the UN, TFG, Puntland, Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama, IGAD, AMISOM, Britain and US and EU envoys. Photo: Radio Mogadishu.