November 18, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Mogadishu IDP elders call to end political tension in the country

18 Nov – Source: Radio Dalsan – 134 words

More than 40 Somali elders who are leaving in an IDP camp in Mogadishu are appealing to the President and Prime Minister to allow them to mediate and solve their political stand off. The elders said they are ready to sit down with both President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed if they are allowed in the Presidential Palace as soon as Tuesday 18th November.

The elders said both leaders should respect the tradition of Somali community whenever need arise and seek help from the elders instead of running to the international community and political means. The elders stressed the need for Somali leaders to respect the religion and tradition Islamic way of solving dispute. Political tension between top Somali leaders has gripped the war torn nation for the past weeks.

Key Headlines

Federal government sends congratulation to Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan (VOA Somali Services)
Mogadishu IDP elders call to end political tension in the country (Radio Dalsan)
Unidentified gunmen kill a civilian in Mogadishu (Radio Mustaqbal)
Dawa river flooding destroys crops in Beled Hawo (Radio Bar-kulan)
Mogadishu IDP elders call to end political tension in the country (Radio Dalsan)
Traffic police in Mogadishu gives vehicle accident statistics year 2014 (Radio Dalsan)
Danish aid to help alleviate Somali food crisis (The Copenhagen Post)
Armed assailant kill refugee official (Radio Bar-kulan)
The people of Somalia are facing a deepening humanitarian crisis (Radio RBC)
Three Somali nationals linked to Gikomba terror attack remanded (Standard Media)
Kenyan police raid Mombasa mosques arrest more than 250 suspects (Sabahi Online)
Three stabbed to death by knife-wielding youth in Mombasa (Standard Media)
Somaliland: a would-be nation state (France 24)
Violent protests amid Somali political power struggles (Daily Mail/AFP)
UN envoy calls for political stability ahead of Copenhagen conference (UN News center)
Finland’s first terror trial starts in Helsinki (UUTISET Finland)
Embattled Somali PM tells ministers to resign if they are unhappy (Reuters)

SOMALI MEDIA

Federal government sends congratulation to Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan

18 Nov- Source: VOA Somali Service/Radio Goobjoog/Kismaayo News – R159 words

The federal government of Somalia has welcomed the election of South Somalia’s leader in Baidoa on Monday. The minister for Interior and federalism of federal government Abdullahi Godah Barre speaking to VOA Somali service said he has sent warm congratulations to the newly elected president of South Somalia-three regions Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan.

“ We are happy with the outcome of the two years conference in Baidoa, particularly we are happy to see the people of South West Somalia having functioning administration” the minister said. Another person Ali Mohamed Yussuf declared himself president of South West Somalia’s administration-three regions claiming that he was elected by more than 300 delegates.

The election of Sharif Hassan in Baidoa and the warm congratulations of Godah comes after the speaker of federal parliament Mohamed Sheikh Jawari termed the conference as unconstitutional and its outcomes will not be recognized by the government.

Mogadishu IDP elders call to end political tension in the country

18 Nov – Source: Radio Dalsan – 134 words

Unidentified gunmen kill a civilian in Mogadishu

18 Nov – Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Universaltv – 102 words

The body of a dead man was found in Mogadishu’s Hodan neighbourhood according to residents in Jaamadaha area. Unknown assailants have shot the man to death overnight as he was driving near the universities in Hodan District.

The latest of such killing that raged the city in the past few weeks. Eye witnesses told Mustaqbal radio that the attackers drove the man’s vehicle before they fled the scene.

The motive behind the murder is not clear as no group has claimed responsibility of the assassination. Hodan district administration is yet to comment on the incident.

Dawa river flooding destroys crops in Beled Hawo

18 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 91 words

Farmers in Beled Hawo and Dolow along the banks of river Dawa are counting there loss after Dawa River burst its banks for the second time and destroyed their crops. The torrential rain which has started in the area have resulted the river to burst its banks and flood the surrounding farms. Farmer Ibrahim Issack who spoke to Bar-kulan has said he lost the entire crops in his farm adding that whole farm is flooded with water. He said the flooding also washed away water pump machines in the farm.

Traffic police in Mogadishu gives vehicle accident statistics, year 2014

18 Nov – Source: Radio Dalsan – 85 words
The commander of traffic police Ali Hirsi Barre presented the road accidents in Mogadishu during the first half of this year. He said from January to July 1412 cars collided; donkey carts 15; motorbikes 113. He also said that SNA vehicles over ran and killed 11 persons. Despite this fact, there are many drivers in the capital Mogadishu and in other parts of Somalia who don’t have driving licenses. Traffic police often crack down on drivers without driving licenses so as to ensure road safety.

Armed assailant kill refugee official

18 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 98 words

Unknown assailants have killed Ali Dubow Hire in the Hargardere refugee camp in north eastern Kenya. Hire was killed inside his home when armed men broke into his house. Witnesses have confirmed to the Bar-Kulan that the deceased was an official of the refugee community in the area. It is not clear the main motive behind his killing however in the parts similar incidents have occurred where by refugee community leaders particularly those of Somali origin were targeted by unknown assailants. Al Shabaab militant group have been blamed for some of the attacks.

The people of Somalia are facing a deepening humanitarian crisis

18 Nov – Source: Radio RBC – 127 Words

Over 1 million Somalis are unable to meet their basic food requirements, an increase of 20 per cent since February this year, according to UN Office for Humanitarian Coordination. This is the first time the number of people in need of life-saving assistance has increased since the end of the devastating famine in 2011, an indication that the modest gains made in the last two years are being reversed.

A further 2.1 million people are on the verge of slipping into acute food insecurity, bringing the number of people in need of humanitarian aid to 3.2 million. The fragile humanitarian situation is aggravated by localized flooding, which has affected an estimated 50,000 people across six regions. Hiiraan region is most severely affected by flooding.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Three Somali nationals linked to Gikomba terror attack remanded

18 Nov- Source: Standard Media – 283 words

A Nairobi court has declined to release on bail a man and two women of Somali origin believed to be behind the terrorist attack in Gikomba market in May. Ten people died and scores were injured in the attack on the busy market.

The court heard that the three were arrested on October 25 by Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) officers as they were planning retaliatory terror attacks in Nairobi, after allegedly entering the country from Somalia. Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Joseph Karanja remanded Abdirahman Jamal, Mariam Abdi and Joweriyo Hassan pending the hearing and determination of their case on December 1, after they pleaded not guilty to three counts of terror-related charges.

The magistrate was told ATPU investigators obtained an order from the High Court on October 27 allowing them to remand the accused so they could complete investigations. The magistrate said the prosecution presented in court had compelling reasons that prompted him to remand the three awaiting their December 1 trial.

Three stabbed to death by knife-wielding youth in Mombasa

18 Nov- Source: Standard Media- 416 words

Three people were on Monday night stabbed to death by a group of armed youths in Mlaleo, Kisauni in Mombasa, hours after police raided two mosques killing one and arrested 251 youths. According to police, a gang of between 10 and 15 descended on the public at about 7pm and started to stab those on sight while shouting “Allahu Wakibar” slogans.

Two people were injured in the attacks and are admitted to St Fatima Hospital. “Their condition is life threatening,” One officer said on Tuesday morning. Kisauni OCPD Richard Ngatia said some of the attackers had a black flag that is usually displayed by the Somalia militants, Al-Shabaab.

Kenyan police raid Mombasa mosques, arrest more than 250 suspects

17 Nov- Source: Sabahi Online – 293 words

Kenyan security forces arrested more than 250 suspects, killed one, and seized a variety weapons in a raidMonday (November 17th) on two Mombasa mosques accused of having links with al-Shabaab, police said. Security forces began the operation in the early hours of Monday morning, targeting Masjid Shuhada (formerly Masjid Musa) and Masjid Mujahideen (formerly Sakina mosque), arresting 251 suspects, according to Kenya’s K24TV.

Both mosques had previously been identified as sites of radicalisation for Mombasa youth, and were renamed after previous police raids and the assassinations of mosque leaders. Police said they recovered a number of handguns, knives, eight grenades, recruitment materials and a flag associated with al-Shabaab. “We had information that the group has been planning an attack, and that is why the raid was conducted,” Mombasa Officer Commanding Police Division Chief Geoffrey Mayek said according to AFP. He said six “notorious” suspects were among those arrested.

A 20-year-old man tried to throw a grenade at officers and was shot dead by police during the raid at the Masjid Shuhada, Mayek said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Danish aid to help alleviate Somali food crisis

18 Nov – Source: The Copenhagen Post – 427 words

The trade and development minister, Mogens Jensen, has earmarked a further 60 million kroner to help aid and relief efforts in and around Somalia, which is enduring a food crisis. The latest aid package – which still needs the approval of parliament – means that Denmark’s total aid donation to the beleaguered east African nation for 2014 has been increased to 133 million kroner.

“The food crisis in Somalia is gathering momentum and there are now over 1 million people in critical need of food supplies and over 2.1 million who need help not to drop into that category,” Jensen said in a press release. “Furthermore, there are far too many malnourished children who need our assistance in order to survive.”

Somaliland: a would-be nation state

18 Nov – France 24 – 17:25 Minutes

In the eyes of the international community, Somaliland is an autonomous region in Somalia, on the Horn of Africa. But most of its 3.5 million inhabitants do not consider the territory – which has a president, a flag and even a currency – part of Somalia. Since its self-declared independence in 1991, Somaliland is seen by many countries as an island of stability in a complex region and a solid partner in the fight against piracy and Al Shabaab Islamists. Our reporters went to find out more about this would-be nation state.

Violent protests amid Somali political power struggles

17 Nov – Source: Daily Mail/AFP – 394 Words

At least two people were killed Monday in clashes in the Somali town of Baidoa, the latest violence in the war-torn nation sparked by political power struggles, police said. The United Nations, United States and European Union have all warned political power struggles are putting at risk fragile gains in the Horn of Africa nation.

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets, burning tires and attacking vehicles, in a bid to stop elections for the local president of the federal South West state based in Baidoa, some 250 kilometres (155 miles) northwest of the capital. “The demonstration turned violent after people started burning tires and threw stones at vehicles, then they stopped a pickup with gunmen who opened fire,” said local police officer Mohamed Adris.

A pickup truck was later torched and hurled off a bridge, with two people killed in the fighting, witness Osman Sheikh Mumin said. African Union troops, deployed to fight alongside government troops against Al-Qaeda affiliated Shebab militants, protected the centre where voting took place. “The aim of the violent demonstration was only to disrupt the conference and the election… AU soldiers stopped them from reaching the venue and the situation is under control,” said local elder Mohamed Isack.

UN envoy calls for political stability ahead of Copenhagen conference

17 Nov – Source: UN News center – 371 words
The top United Nations official in Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has met with country leaders in Mogadishu to discuss the ongoing political crisis days ahead of the first high-level meeting held in Copenhagen to review the embattled nation’s progress to political reconciliation. According to his office, Mr. Kay held meetings with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and Speaker of the Federal Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari.

Mr. Kay urged the Somali leaders to find a solution that would allow the Federal Government to implement the Vision 2016 plan for Somalia’s political transformation in a timely manner. These talks came at an opportune time as the Federal Government and Somalia’s international partners prepare for the first Ministerial-level High Level Partnership Forum (HLPF) in Copenhagen on 19 and 20 November.

Finland’s first terror trial starts in Helsinki

17 Nov – Source: UUTISET Finland – 385 Words

Finland’s first-ever terror trial started on Monday with the reading of charges against four defendants who stand accused of funding terror groups in East Africa. Prosecutors allege that the four accused have collected and delivered funds to the Somali al-Shabaab organisation to purchase arms and ammunition.

The accused have admitted transferring money, but deny that they engaged in financing terrorist activities. One of the female defendants says that the man who received the funds, who is known as a radical preacher in Kenya, is her husband. The prosecutor says that their relationship does not meet the definition of a marriage in Finnish law. Prosecutor Juha-Mikko Hämäläinen says that although the sums are small, at 3,200 euros, they can go a long way in funding terror groups in East Africa.

“200-300 dollars will get you a Kalashnikov and ammunition,” said Hämäläinen during a break in the trial. “One fighter gets about 50 dollars a month. We understand that the money was used for exactly these purposes.” The prosecutor says that wiretaps revealed the money had been used to buy weapons, shoes and food for Al-Shabaab fighters. The accused admit sending money via the Hawala informal money transfer network, but deny it went to terrorist groups.

Embattled Somali PM tells ministers to resign if they are unhappy

17 Nov – Source: Reuters – 339 Words

Somalia’s prime minister told cabinet ministers on Monday to resign if they are unhappy, intensifying a dispute which has stymied efforts to rebuild the country after decades of war. More than 100 lawmakers loyal to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have put forward a parliamentary motion to sack Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. Tensions between the two boiled over last month when Ahmed reshuffled the cabinet and sidelined one of Mohamud’s main allies.

Western donors who have promised to help rebuild Somalia’s battered institutions fear Mohamud’s push to oust a second prime minister in less than a year will weaken the government in its fight against Islamist rebels. Somali media websites on Monday said about 14 cabinet ministers have sent a letter to the prime minister’s office asking for his resignation. Ahmed said the letter has not yet been received and dismissed calls for him to step down.

“Cabinet ministers should continue their work for the people and they should be cautious of being … used for destroying the law and governance,” the prime minister said in a statement. “The prime minister is ready to accept the resignation of any minister who wants to resign,” the statement added.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

There must undoubtedly be boots on the ground, but not ours. The civil war within Islam will only ever be resolved within that belief system and to think the west holds the ring is facile, dangerous and ahistorical. So let’s return to Somalia

A guarantee of failure in Iraq

17 Nov- Source: Prospect Magazine – 772 words

In an address to the American nation on 10th September, President Barack Obama cited Somalia as a success story in the fight against terrorism, and rightly so. The African Union, with scant resources, has led an African solution to an African problem. Showing remarkable resilience, the African Union Mission to Somalia (Amisom) has battled al-Shabaab ever more closely and sustained casualties that no western democracy would accept.

Amisom has raised, trained and incorporated Somali units into its order of battle in a way that provides an object lesson to western mentorship programmes in Iraq. A similar sophistication has been evident in an innovative and highly effective information campaign that has drawn on local culture, tradition and religious practice to isolate foreign jihadists as the enemies of the people, rather than the champions of Islam.

“Young people in particular are hampered by several hurdles including political, social and economic challenges. We have become marginalized from our society with no communal voice to address our growing concerns.”

My journey to prosperous Somalia

17 Nov – Shabelle Media Network – 838 Words

My name is Abdikarim Hussein Abdi, I am a 16 year old Somali youth activist. I am extremely interested and strongly passionate about the current issues and problems which young youths face in Somalia. I visited the motherland for the first time in 2013, it was after this initial visit that I decided to make a bold choice and move there. Folks that have gotten to know me could perhaps articulate that I’m a very optimistic individual who, like many other Somalis, merely wants to observe significant progress in the country.

As a teenager, it is ordinary to think ahead of what one might choose to do in the future and feasibly how to accomplish that ambition. I have always longed and still do want to become a politician, ever since I was taught and witnessed from a young age that people primarily enter politics to make a change in the world. It was just less than two months after I settled in the country that I immediately comprehended the issues that I would like to tackle in the future, in a professional capacity, while serving for my country Somalia.

As a young person living in Mogadishu, it was quite simple to make friends and bond with other young people mainly locals who were born and raised in Somalia along with those the majority who had never left the country at a single point in their lives. With my newfound friends, we would regularly go to Mogadishu’s impoverished district grounds to play a game of football or visit Lido beach on the weekends to swim (or just hang out). Over coffee talks in the afternoon, I would listen in admiration as they told me some of their most personal collections of fascinating experiences and amusing tales.

Top tweets

@UN_News_Centre #Somalia: @UN envoy calls for political stability ahead of Copenhagen conference http://ow.ly/EpZv4 @UNSomalia

@Jubaland president Hassan sheikh Mohammud arrives Copenhagen for the US abandoned #NewDealSomaliaconference #Africa #Somalia

@Hamza_AfricaChannel 4’s serial-award winner,@JamalMOsman, bags another one. Here’s the 1 that won him his latest award http://bit.ly/1nMkrxt #Somalia

@BeilehMofa Somalia as a success story in the fight against terrorism,and rightly so.The African Union,@amisomsomalia @Somalia111 http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/world/a-guarantee-of-

@Abdikarim_Abdi3 .@UNFPA_SOMALIA has built a new Maternity Ward in #Garowe and stocked it with state-of-the-art equipment! #Somalia

@ReutersAfrica Embattled Somali PM tells ministers to resign if they are unhappy #Somalia http://af.reuters.com/article/topNew

@unicefsomalia #Childrights – One in seven children in #Somaliadies before their fifth birthday. Change is possible. Every effort counts.

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Image of the day

Universal Children’s Day is on 20 November. This lovely young girl is walking along Lido beach with her father on a hot summer’s day in Mogadishu. Photo:UNSOM