November 10, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Unidentified Fighter Jets Bomb Al-Shabaab Base In Somalia
10 November – Source: Shabelle News – 123 Words
Unidentified fighter jets launched an airstrike on a training camp belonging to the Al Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab in the Middle Jubba region of southern Somalia on Wednesday night. The air raid took place at Waraha-Dhoobley area, about 45km west of Bu’alle district, a main stronghold for Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia where they run a training camp to prepare its new recruits.
After the airstrike, heavily armed militants reached the area and started an operation in which they rounded up several people who they suspected to be in connection with the aerial bombing, according to a source. Reports said top Al-Shabaab leaders were at the militant camp during the airstrike, however there were no immediate reports of casualties on the militants.
Key Headlines
- Unidentified Fighter Jets Bomb Al-Shabaab Base In Somalia (Shabelle News)
- Puntland Forces Attack Qandala From The Sea (Jowhar.com)
- Corruption Overshadows Galmudug Lower House Election (Shabelle News)
- Mayor Of Mogadishu Hands Over Money To Hodan District Administration (Shabelle News)
- UNSC Condemns Piracy Off Somalia (Kuwait News Agency)
- Trump’s Victory Triggers Anxiety Among Minnesota Somalis Other Immigrants (Star Tribune)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Puntland Forces Attack Qandala From The Sea
10 November – Source: Jowhar.com – 120 Words
Reports indicate Puntland forces have carried out attacks on Qandala town from the sea as Puntland tries to regain control of the town from Daesh fighters. Senior officers of the Puntland marine forces said on condition of anonymity that they faced fierce resistance from the ISIS linked fighters but gave no official figures of casualties.
The forces are stationed in the sea near the town heavily armed and monitoring the situation using speed boats. Heavily armed contingents of Puntland forces are also on their way to Qandala by road with reports indicating the militants have already set up defensive positions outside the town. Local residents have been fleeing the town for fear of being caught out in the fierce fight.
Corruption Overshadows Galmudug Lower House Election
10 November – Source: Shabelle News – 150 Words
Eng Ahmed Salad Aden, who is a senior Somali politician said a widespread corruption and vote rigging has overshadowed the electoral process of the Lower House election in Galmudug. Speaking in an interview with Radio Shabelle, Mr Aden said local authorities have halted parliamentarian post candidates from their campaigns and the process of the election.
He said the chairman of FIEIT, Omar Dhagey is expected to arrive in Adado and resolve the current crises for the Lower House elections in Galmudug state of Somalia. “The election commission of Somalia is behind the turmoil since it changed in the frame delegates expected to elect the MPs of the lower house election,” said Eng Ahmed Aden. Galmudug was the first state in Somalia to elect its upper house senators early last month, and is now preparing to hold the election of the lower house election due to take place in Adado.
Mayor Of Mogadishu Hands Over Money To Hodan District Administration
09 November – Source: Radio Muqdisho – 110 Words
Yusuf Hussein Jimale, the Mayor of Mogadishu has handed over 100,000 dollars to the Hodan district administration along with the committee that implemented the rebuilding of Road June 26 which connects to the KPP junction and the Shaqaalaha.
The Mayor noted that the money did not come from foreign assistance, however the road was rebuilt with taxes collected from the Somali people. Hodan District Commissioner Ahmed Salad Ibrahim praised and thanked the mayor for the construction of the road. This marks the fourth road to be renovated with asphalt by the Banadir regional administration. According to the mayor, the four renovated roads cost a total of 10 million dollars.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UNSC Condemns Piracy Off Somalia
10 November – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 320 Words
UN Security Council adopted unanimously a resolution reiterating its condemnation all acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia. The US drafted resolution 2316 notes improvements in Somalia. However, it recognizes that piracy exacerbates instability in Somalia by introducing large amounts of illicit cash that fuels additional crime and corruption. The UNSC stressed the need for a comprehensive response to prevent and suppress piracy, and tackle its underlying causes by the international community.
Underlining the primary responsibility of the Somali authorities in the fight against piracy and armed robbery at sea off its coast, the resolution welcomed the draft coast guard law which the Somali authorities, with the support of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Atalanta and EUCAP Nestor have submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval by Parliament.
It also urged the Somali authorities to “continue their work to pass a comprehensive set of anti piracy and maritime laws without further delay and establish security forces with clear roles and jurisdictions to enforce these laws and to continue to develop with international support as appropriate the capacity of Somali courts to investigate and prosecute persons responsible for acts of piracy and armed robbery, including key figures of criminal networks involved in piracy who plan, organize, facilitate, or illicitly finance or profit from such attacks.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Jaylani Hussein, the head of CAIR-Minnesota, said members of the Somali and other Muslim communities fear Trump will act on policy proposals he has touted on the campaign trail, including more intense surveillance of these communities.”
Trump’s Victory Triggers Anxiety Among Minnesota Somalis, Other Immigrants
10 November – Source: Star Tribune – 732 Words
Mohamed Mohamed stayed up past 3 on Wednesday morning, tracking election results and hashing them out with friends. The following morning, the recent high school graduate grilled the instructor in a college prep class he takes in St. Paul: Would President-elect Donald Trump deport him to Somalia, two years after he arrived in Minnesota from an Ethiopian refugee camp? “It’s very scary for people,” he said.
For members of Minnesota’s Somali and other immigrant communities, Trump’s election spurred anxiety — even as some said they were heartened by his speech early Wednesday calling for unity. Trump’s victory came just days after a Twin Cities rally at which he suggested Somali refugees have put a strain the state, and vowed again to halt resettlements from parts of the world grappling with terrorism. It coincided with the election to the Minnesota House of Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American legislator in the United States.
Supporters of Trump’s stance on immigration and resettlement said the close presidential race in Minnesota shows the president-elect’s positions resonate with many of the state’s voters. Trump had an especially strong showing in places like Stearns County, which have experienced recent demographic changes and tensions over the issue of new arrivals.
Trump has also vowed to repeal an Obama administration program that gave work permits and deportation reprieves to people brought to the United States as children; nearly 6,000 benefited from the program in Minnesota. He promised to step up deportations of immigrants living here illegally, particularly those with criminal convictions.
During his recent visit, Trump echoed comments he made during a Maine rally this past summer singling out Minnesota’s Somali refugees. He has invoked a recent stabbing attack on shoppers at a St. Cloud mall and the case of nine Minneapolis men convicted in a plot to join ISIL as evidence of inadequate refugee vetting — even though the Somali-Americans involved grew up in the United States.
TOP TWEETS
@HassanIstiila: Opportunities’ job fair under way in #Mogadishu. I’m appreciated. @JobFair_ 2016 #FursadoAbuur #Somalia
@Goobjoognews : #Somalia‘s star paralympian Farhad Hadafo arrives in the country after competing in Rio Paralympic Games
@livingtruely : Ilhan Omar’s win is a sweet victory #Africa#Somalia #USElection2016
@Samooner : Excited for 1st contribution on @TC_Africa from a@USIUAfrica professor. Fatuma Ahmed Ali on #Somaliaelections
@dalsoornews1 : Suspected #US military jets bomb #Alshabaabtraining camp at War-dhobley area, 45Km west of #Bu‘alle town in middle #Jubba region. #Somalia.
@joaoscarpelini : Sheikh is another example of #SomaliYouthchallenging discrimination and working towards an inclusive#Somalia for all!
@Mohamedkeynan : 80% of the upper house is ready & waiting only Somaliland upper house #Somalia!
@ShuQale : Security Council urges cooperation with #Somaliato combat piracy https://goo.gl/xI95hd via @NewIndianXpress
IMAGE OF THE DAY
A panel speaks to the attendees of a job fair that opened in Mogadishu on November 10th.
Photo: Ayan Dirie