November 15, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Ahlu Sunna Shuts Down Radio Galgaduud In Central Somalia
15 November -Source: Garowe Online – 118 Words
The moderate Islamist group Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a have shut down Radio Galgadud in Guri’el town located in central Somalia on Monday night. The Somali-owned private station, considered the most popular and influential domestic station in central Somalia, went off air shortly after the raid yesterday at around 10:25 P.M. local time.
“Ahlu Sunna militiamen have stormed inside the headquarters of Radio Galgadud station and ordered the staff to immediately switch it off air,” said a reporter over the phone to Garowe Online. He added the Radio’s FM transmitter was seized by Ahlu Sunna and they don’t know yet the main reason behind the shutdown of the local Radio.
The group and Al-Shabaab insurgents have unleashed a renewed crackdown on radio stations in areas under their control for airing reports critical to their strict rules. Somalia is ranked the most dangerous country on the African continent for media staff and the 2nd most dangerous in the world after Syria, with most of the killings occurring in Mogadishu.
Key Headlines
- Ahlu Sunna Shuts Down Radio Galgaduud In Central Somalia (Garowe Online)
- Lower House Elections Continue In Jubaland 5 Members of Parliament Voted In (Radio Muqdisho)
- Auto Rickshaw Driver Killed In A Gang Style Shooting In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
- Intense Lobbying For Amina’s AU Job Bid Enters Second Leg (The Star)
- Government Officials Coercing Refugees Back To War-torn Somalia (Amnesty International)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Lower House Elections Continue In Jubaland, 5 Members of Parliament Voted In
15 November – Source: Radio Muqdisho – 80 Words
Kismayo, the administrative of the Jubaland held another round of elections for the Lower House. The 6th round of the electoral process for the Lower House was concluded in Kismayo today, voting in five Members of Parliament from the region. The five Members of Parliament voted into the Lower House include, Sahra Haji Hussein, Mohamed Nur Iftin, Ambaro Abdulkadir, Osman Sagaar Ibrahim and Abdifatah Mohamed. Jubaland has voted in 3 men and 2 women in this round of the election.
Auto Rickshaw Driver Killed In A Gang Style Shooting In Mogadishu
14 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 136 Words
An auto rickshaw driver was found dead this morning by police officers who has been killed in a gang style shooting in Wadajir district, Mogadishu. Witnesses told Goobjoog News the gun wielding officers who were in a pickup track opened fire on the driver to clear traffic and left him for dead.
“There was some traffic build-up and as usual those vehicles with police officers at the back fire in the air to clear the road. However this time they opened fire on the bajaj (auto rickshaw) driver killing him instantly and drove away,” the witness said. Witnesses also said the body of of the slain driver lay in pool of blood for a whole hour before it was picked by members of the family. Officials in Wadajir district declined to comment on the matter noting they were still conducting investigations.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Intense Lobbying For Amina’s AU Job Bid Enters Second Leg
15 November – Source: The Star – 264 Words
The second leg of shuttle diplomacy to campaign for Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohamed’s candidacy for African Union Commission chairperson begins this week. Kenya has put up spirited and well-funded campaigns for Mohamed. At least 35 of the 53 member countries will have to vote for her if she has to occupy the seat. Nineteen Comesa countries have pledged their support.
Deputy President William Ruto returned to the country on Saturday after lobbying West Africa and parts of East Africa. “This is part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s commitment to ensuring African institutions have robust leadership that delivers on the continent’s agenda, including the ambitious Agenda 2063,” State House said on Sunday. “Kenya remains encouraged by progress made in the campaigns. The EAC endorsement followed that by Comesa and Somalia’s announcement of the first vote at the election.”
Comesa is a 19-country free-trade bloc, but its members also belong to other regional communities. “You can expect to see more of the travel, as Kenya robustly seeks an African consensus on Mohamed’s candidacy. That can only be achieved if the President reaches out to all the continent’s leaders, which is what he is doing,” the State House added.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The refugees are caught between a rock and a hard place. Kenyan government officials are telling them they must leave by the end of the month or they will be forced to leave without any assistance”
Government Officials Coercing Refugees Back To War-torn Somalia
15 November – Source: Amnesty International – 1,118 Words
Just two weeks before the deadline given to close the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenyan government officials are deliberately coercing refugees to return to Somalia, where they risk being injured or killed in the ongoing armed conflict, Amnesty International said in a report released today.
The government announced in May that it would close the world’s largest refugee camp, which is home to more than 280,000 mostly Somali refugees, citing security, economic and environmental concerns, in addition to lack of support by the international community. Since then, government officials have made statements in the media and visited the camp, threatening people to leave before the closure slated for 30 November 2016.
“The refugees are caught between a rock and a hard place. Kenyan government officials are telling them they must leave by the end of the month or they will be forced to leave without any assistance,” said Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes.
“These actions contravene the Kenyan government’s assurances to the international community that it would ensure all refugee repatriations are voluntary and carried out in safety and dignity.” Amnesty International researchers visited Dadaab in August, where they interviewed 56 refugees individually and held focus group discussions with 35 more.
The refugees are caught between a rock and a hard place. Kenyan government officials are telling them they must leave by the end of the month or they will be forced to leave without any assistance. Michelle Kagari, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes
Among those interviewed were two brothers aged 15 and 18 who had gone to Somalia in January 2016 and came back to Dadaab four months later. They said that when they got to Somalia, their father was killed in front of them and they were forcibly recruited by Al-Shabaab. They eventually escaped and made it back to Dadaab.
TOP TWEETS
@amisomsomalia: Somali National Army and #AMISOM are determined to return security to #Somalia to allow the Somali people go about their lives without fear.
@Daudoo: Fierce fighting erupts again in #Tayeglow this morning, #AlShabaab in full control of z town, heavy casualties reported – Resident. #Somalia
@HussienM12 : #Somalia Ahlu Sunna militia shuts down radio Galgaduud for unclear reasons. The freedom of expression must be respected @africamedia_CPJ .
@Henry_Dijkhoff : #Somalia: #Puntland President appoints former #security official in a new post https://lnkd.in/g3ErgaT
@USAIDSomalia : Fursad Fund, together with support from@USAID @GEEL_Somalia , organized Mogadishu’s first job fair 10-11 Nov @US2SOMALIA #Somalia
@SomaliaNewsroom : UAE-backed politicians hold meeting in#Kenya to defeat #Somalia‘s incumbent president in elections http://somalireview.com/2016/
@HassanIstiila : #BREAKING Somali National Army #SNAbacked by @amisomsomalia have captured at Miir-Tuugo village in Middle shabelle region of #Somalia
@omabha : Scores feared dead in Somalia police station attack – http://TUKO.CO.KE http://dlvr.it/Mg8st9 #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Somali Police, with the backing of AMISOM Police, remained vigilant at the polling centers in Jowhar to ensure that the voting of Upper House representatives for HirShabelle State went on in a peaceful and secure environment.
Photo: AMISOM