November 25, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

AMISOM launches fresh assault to liberate central Somalia

25 Nov- Source: Radio RBC/ Hiiraan Online- 193 words

The African Union Forces (AMISOM) contingent in Beledweyne town, the central Somalia region of Hiiraan on Sunday declared that they have launched fresh assault to clear the remnants of the militant groups from the region.

Col. Osman Dubbad, the commander of the Djibouti forces in central Somalia said a joint forces from AMISOM and the federal government of Somalia liberated new locations in the region following morning operation on Sunday.

“Our forces launched new operations to fight against the remnants of those anti-peace elements in this region.” Col. Dubbad told the media in Beledweyne later on Sunday.

“We have now two new locations namely Baardheere and Raangaab. These two areas were previously one of al Shabaab’s main bases in the region.” he added.

According to Hiiraan police commissioner the joint forces did not encounter any resistance from al Shabaab as they have moved from Beledweyne, the region’s capital where more than 20 people- mostly members of Somali Police Force were killed in a deadly suicide attack claimed by al Shabab last week.

“This is an operation meant to dismantle the terrorist group attacking the big cities.” the police commissioner Isaq Abdulle said.

Key Headlines

AMISOM launches fresh assault to liberate central Somalia (Radio RBC/ Hiiraan Online)
UN envoy to Somalia calls for peaceful elections in Puntland (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somaliland: EU and British ambassadors begins officials working visit to Hargeisa (Somaliland Press/Somaliland Informer)
New office to facilitate repatriation process to be set up in Dadaab (Radio Bar-kulan/Star FM)
Civilians complain over government forces harassment on road (Radio Dalsan)
Demining activities start in Burao town (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somaliland Acquires War Planes (Radio Dalsan/ Somaliland Informer)
Fresh displacement begins in Jowhar after Shabelle river floods again (Radio Dalsan)
Somaliland High level delegation is leaving for Djibouti (Somaliland Informer/SLNTV)
Somaliland traffic police receive new emergency service vehicles (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali Police Chief says SPF capacity will be boosted (Radio RBC)
Somalis die in Angolan jail (Radio Ergo)
Repatriation of Somali refugees could take years UNHCR warns (Standard Media)
Sultan Qaboos receives letter from Somali President (Omanet/Bahrain News Agency)
UPDF generals face new probe over Somalia (Observer)
Sharp drop in Somali pirate attacks (Al Jazeera English)
Somalia ready for battle: Coach Abdulle sets second round target in Cecafa ties (Standard Media)
Disease hunger fears after Somalia cyclone (IRIN News)
Middle Shabelle administration intervenes in clan feud ceasefire in place (Sabahi Online)
Somaliland to Sign Accord With Fourth Company on Oil Exploration (Bloomberg)
Somali MP wants Canadian parents to keep close eye on youths who could be radicalized by extreme imams (National Post)

SOMALI MEDIA

AMISOM launches fresh assault to liberate central Somalia

25 Nov- Source: Radio RBC/ Hiiraan Online- 193 words

“Our forces launched new operations to fight against the remnants of those anti-peace elements in this region.” Col. Dubbad told the media in Beledweyne later on Sunday.

“We have now two new locations namely Baardheere and Raangaab. These two areas were previously one of al Shabaab’s main bases in the region.” he added.

“This is an operation meant to dismantle the terrorist group attacking the big cities.” the police commissioner Isaq Abdulle said.

UN envoy to Somalia calls for peaceful elections in Puntland

25 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 148 words

United Nations Special Representative to Somalia, Nicholas Kay has spoken about the upcoming elections in Puntland and the safety of the presidential candidates.

In an interview with Bar-kulan, Kay stated that he has held wide-ranging discussions with all concerned parties urging all sides to give priority to the peace and security of the region.

He said that a significant amount of consideration should be given to the selection of Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation Committee as well as the selection of the new parliamentarians.

He emphasized the importance for all sides to have full confidence in the selection process as he promised further consultations will be made before the formation of the new committee.

Kay has recently travelled to Puntland ahead of the upcoming elections and has had separate meetings with Puntland officials, traditional elders and the presidential candidates.

Somaliland: EU and British ambassadors begins officials working visit to Hargeisa

25 Nov- Source: Somaliland Press/Somaliland Informer- 186 words

EU and British delegations arrive in Hargeisa on Sunday beginning official working visit to the country and headed by EU and British ambassadors to Somalia and Somaliland.

The delegation is headed by Michele Cervone, EU special envoy to Somalia and Somaliland and is accompanied by British ambassador to Somalia and Somaliland Mr. Neil Wigan. The delegation was greeted at Egal International airport by members of Somaliland cabinet ministers and on Monday is expected to hold talks with the Head of State Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo and members of cabinet ministers.

The delegation is the second high level that have visited the country and days ago, Turkish ambassador to Somalia and Somaliland leading business tycoons arrived in Hargeisa and met with government officials including Somaliland president. Mr. Turin has announced that as part of ongoing projects, Turkey will renovate and facelift Hargeisa Hospitals. The delegations are here in Somaliland to strengthen diplomatic ties as well as investment opportunities.

New office to facilitate repatriation process to be set up in Dadaab

25 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Star FM- 162 words

Reports from Dadaab Refugee Complex in northeastern Kenya indicate that an office to facilitate the registration of Somali refugees that are keen to return home will be opened in January 2014 in the camp.

Hussein Yusuf Farah, one of the community leaders in the camp told Bar-kulan that those who decide to voluntarily return to Somalia will have themselves registered in the new office.

Some of the refugees who spoke to Bar-kulan expressed concern over the proposed return to Somalia, citing a lack of education for their children and the volatile security situation in the country pose significant challenges to the refugees.

However, some of the refugees claim they are keen to return home if they are given assurances of safety and better living conditions in Somalia.

Both the governments of Kenya and Somalia have previously promised to offer assistance to the families willing to voluntarily return to their homeland.

Civilians complain over government forces harassment on road

25 Nov- Source: Radio Dalsan-107 Words

Civilians complain over mass looting and torture by the forces of Somali government on the road that links between capital Mogadishu and Merka, capital of Lower Shabelle region. Passengers of three buses who were heading to Merka town were looted and some tortured as they were passing near Muri, some 40km south of Mogadishu.

“We were tortured badly and then our belongings were taken away,” said one passenger who did not wish his name to be revealed due to his security.

Security in the road between Mogadishu and the southern regions of the country has deteriorated since clan-based fighting erupted there. Somali government officials and the regional authorities could not be reached for comment.

Demining activities start in Burao town

25 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 129 words

Landmine clearing activities has been initiated in Burao town, the provincial capital of Togdher region in Somaliland. Togdher region governor, Ahmed Omar Haji Abdullahi told the media that a demining NGO with the support of the local residents is going to start a process to clear landmines from the entire neighborhoods of the town.

The governor urged the owners of telecommunications and electricity companies as well as business communities to assist the demining staff to complete their tasks without any obstacles.

Meanwhile, the police chief in the area, Ahmed Hassan Abdirahman promised that security forces will be deployed to ensure the security and the safety of both the staff and the local population.

Landmine explosions have in recent months killed few people in Burao town.

Somaliland Acquires War Planes

25 Nov- Source: Radio Dalsan/ Somaliland Informer- 156 Words

The self declared state of Somaliland has revealed it has acquired latest war planes to boost what it says as its national security. Minister for home affairs Ali Mohammed Waran Ade has confirmed the report while presiding over a function to hand over equipments to traffic police unit.

Mr. Waran Ade said his government has obtained the war machinery particularly helicopters to strengthen the security in the country. “I want to tell you from today our security forces will use helicopters to perform their duty of maintaining peace and order in the country.” He said.

On his part Somaliland police commissioner Abdullahi Fadal has thanked the authorities for the step forward. The traffic police receive ambulances and other police vans to support their cause. This is the first time the self declared state has revealed in investing in its air power and there is no doubt this is attached to the ongoing developments in Mogadishu government.

Fresh displacement begins in Jowhar after Shabelle river floods again

25 Nov- Source: Radio Dalsan-85 Words

People in Jowhar town have been displaced again after Shabelle river resumed to flood. Hundreds of families were seen fleeing from their homes on Saturday and Sunday seeking shelter on other places including nearby villages.

Dalsan radio reporters say that the seasonal rains which started at the end of September continue across the region and contributed to flooding, especially in and around Jowhar town in Middle Shabelle region.

Thousands of families are feared to be homeless as the new displacement continue in the Middle Shabelle region.

Somaliland High level delegation is leaving for Djibouti

25 Nov- Source: Somaliland Informer/SLNTV- 161 words

A large delegation compromising Ministers and country’s heads of army is leaving for Djibouti on Monday, officials said. Somaliland ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Commerce and Investment, Police Commissioner and Army Chief are among the delegation. The purpose of the trip is said that the Somaliland delegation will hold talks on issues of high importance and the bilateral ties between the two nations.

Somaliland FM on his last visit to Djibouti said that during his meeting with Djibouti government officials said that they were fed up with goods smuggled from Somaliland territory to Djibouti and said that they should do something about that. Djibouti and Somaliland to consolidate ties, it is said that both Djibouti will send representative to Somaliland. On the other hand, the delegation is to play ky role when it comes to broke deal with Djibouti to release business tycoon in which the Djibouti government is putting him on trial.

Somaliland traffic police receive new emergency service vehicles

24 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan-126 words

Somaliland’s Interior Ministry has handed over 7 emergency service vehicles to the traffic police of Somaliland in Hargeisa. Interior Minister Ali Mohamed Waran-adde said that the emergency vehicles were designed to boost the capacity of the traffic police in Somaliland.

Somaliland Police Commissioner, General Abdullahi Fadal Iman who received the vehicles from the minister said that the emergency vehicles will help the Somaliland traffic police maintain traffic laws in the country.

Iman added that there has been a sharp increase of road accidents in recent times and hopes the vehicles will assist the traffic police in Somaliland to act and respond in an efficient manner.

At least ten people have recently been killed in road accidents in Somaliland’s main highway that links the country’s major towns.

Somali Police Chief says SPF capacity will be boosted

23 Nov- Source: Radio RBC- 255 words

Somali Police Chief General Abdihakin Dahir Said has said his command will ensure to boost up the capacity of the Somali Police Forces in order they can able to handle the terrorist activities and other serious crimes.

General Said is currently visiting Beledweyne town, central Somalia where a deadly terrorist attack killed more than 20 people mostly from the members of the Somali Police Forces.

“We are working hard to make the capability of our police forces as required so that they can prevent any crime and investigate those committed by the terrorist groups.” the police chief added.

He has paid gratitude to the work of the police forces in Beledweyne for utmost efforts to safeguard the life of the people and secure the provisional capital of Hiiraan.

“Bit still we need to increase the number of the police in the region and to give capacity building and strategic trainings.” General Said said.

Somalis die in Angolan jail

22 Nov- Source: Radio Ergo- 216 words

Three Somali prisoners have died in a border town jail at Santa Clara along Angola’s southern border with Namibia. A Somali businessman in Angola, Abdiqadir Barrow, told Radio Ergo that the Somali nationals died last month due to ill treatment and disease in jail. “We were told that they died of malaria and other treatable diseases because they got no treatment,” Barrow said.

There are 67 other Somali migrants believed to be in the same prison. The migrants were heading to Angola, Namibia and Bostwana through Santa Clara to escape joblessness and escalating violence in their homeland.

Santa Clara has become a transit point for illegal immigrants seeking entry into Angola and neighbouring countries. Most of the migrants are from the Horn of Africa.

Some of the 67 detained Somalis were arrested as they were escaping from xenophobic attacks against them in South Africa. “Some of the Somalis have been in that jail more than eight months,” Barrow said.

Somali businessman in Angola, Abas Abdirahman, said women and children were among those in the cells in Santa Clara. The Angolan government had threatened to deport them, he said. He and other businessmen are urging the Somali federal government through its foreign affairs ministry to intervene in the case, fearing that more Somalis may die in detention.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Repatriation of Somali refugees could take years, UNHCR warns

25 Nov- Source: Standard Media- 191 words

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says Dadaab will continue to grow even after the repatriation of the refugees as planned.

UNHCR Representative in Kenya Raouf Mazou said the process will take up to 10 years to complete. “Just like in Liberia, this is not a one-day event. It will take long to take all the refugees to Somalia. Dadaab will continue to grow,” he said as he stressed no jobs will be lost. He added the agreement for the repatriation of Somali refugees signed with the Kenyan and Somali governments is based on the premise that the exercise will be voluntary. “It’s important to underline that no one is forcing Somalis to leave Kenya,” Mazou told The Standard. Government directive He added according to the UN agency’s data, there are 474,483 Somali refugees residing in Kenya. Mazou was reacting to the government directive that the camps be closed and the refugees return to Somalia. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku on Saturday turned down pleas by the refugees to continue staying here and announced there will be no turning back.

Sultan Qaboos receives letter from Somali President

24 Nov- Source: Omanet/Bahrain News Agency-211 Words

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has received a written message from President Hassan Shaikh Mahmoud of Somalia. The message was received by His Highness Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmood al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, when he received in his office here yesterday Dr Mohammed Noor Ga’al, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Envoy of the President.

During the meeting, the envoy conveyed sincere greetings of the Somali President along with his best wishes to His Majesty on the occasion of the 43rd Glorious National Day. He also conveyed thanks of the leadership for the Sultanate’s support and positive stances towards Somalia.

Conversation during the meeting reviewed the efforts being exerted for stabilising the situations in Somalia and the results achieved in this arena. The conversation also touched on the fraternal ties between the two countries, as well as a number of current issues at the regional arena.

UPDF generals face new probe over Somalia

24 Nov- Source: Observer- 530 words

President Yoweri Museveni was last week headed for a major dilemma, after it emerged that some of his top army officers could be implicated in the Somalia UPDF corruption scandal.

The Observer has learnt that mid this month, Museveni ordered what amounts to an investigation of investigators. The development came after counter-intelligence information pointed at the possibility of grand-scale collusion in the scandal involving army officers deployed under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Details of the investigation are scanty, but it is understood that Brig Leopold Kyanda, the chief of staff of the Land forces, is heading it. Saturday Vision reported that the commission had 12 members. The army at the weekend moved to clarify that there was ‘no new’ investigation, only a continuation of the inquiry conducted by the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence.

Lt Col Paddy Ankunda, the UPDF spokesman, said that after the officers were recalled from Somalia, President Museveni instructed Kyanda to receive them and conduct further investigations.

Somalia ready for battle: Coach Abdulle sets second round target in Cecafa ties

24 Nov- Source: Standard Media -285 words

Every year, the Somali national team always emerges as one of the worst performers during the regional Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup. The team has always been eliminated from the first round, losing out to their opponents by huge margins. However, despite their many challenges created by a long drawn civil war that has hit the country in the last 20 years, Somalia has never missed honouring the regional tournament — reputed to be the oldest in the continent. This year’s contest starts on Wednesday and coach Mohammed Abdulle says he hopes their long record of participation can inspire them towards a better performance this year. The team was the first to arrive for this year’s event after jetting into the country on Saturday evening and held their first training session at Upper Hill High School on Sunday.

Sharp drop in Somali pirate attacks

23 Nov- Source: Al Jazeera English-02:23mins

Piracy attacks in Somalia have fallen to their lowest level in seven years. Up until October there had only been 10 attacks compared with 70 in the same period last year. And the authorities are combating piracy, with very little help from outside. Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow reports from Bossaso.

Middle Shabelle administration intervenes in clan feud, ceasefire in place

22 Nov- Source: Sabahi Online- 652 words

A ceasefire between two rival clans in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region is holding while local officials say they are working to broker peace talks to end the deadly clashes.

The fighting broke out earlier this month between the Abgal and Shidle clans, leaving more than 20 people dead, 30 injured and hundreds of families displaced, said Middle Shabelle Deputy Governor Yusuf Abdi Abdulle.

The fighting first erupted in the Gedo Barkan area near Jowhar in a dispute over farmland. Residents told Sabahi that the disagreement escalated when armed men started fires that damaged farmland and houses in seven villages in the area.

However the two sides agreed to a ceasefire November 17th arranged by the Middle Shabelle administration, Abdulle told Sabahi.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Disease, hunger fears after Somalia cyclone

25 Nov- Source: IRIN News- 650 words

Two weeks after a tropical cyclone struck the northeast coast of Somalia, killing more than 100 people and thousands of head of livestock, important infrastructure lies in ruins and fears of an outbreak of waterborne diseases are mounting.

The storm struck the autonomous region of Puntland from 8 November.

“For four days, the cyclone brought heavy rainfall, icy winds, flash floods, and mudslides. Roads, houses, mosques, schools and farms were destroyed. Fishing boats sank. Water sources were damaged,” according to Adeso, a humanitarian and development agency.

“Many wells in the provinces of Eyl and Dangorayo collapsed during the storm. There are also numerous dead livestock lying around. This has contaminated the water sources for thousands of people,” said Kwame Darko, the health delegate of the Somalia delegation of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in a 21 November statement.

Somaliland to Sign Accord With Fourth Company on Oil Exploration

25 Nov- Source: Bloomberg- 468 words

Somaliland expects to sign an agreement with a fourth international energy company this week to begin exploring for oil in the semi-autonomous region, Energy Minister Hussein Abdi Dualeh said.

An accord with the Middle East-based company, which Dualeh declined to identify, has been completed, he said in a phone interview on Nov. 21 from Somaliland. The other three companies already operating in the country are London-based Genel Energy Plc (GENL), RAK Gas LLC, owned by the government of Ras al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates, and Oslo-based DNO International ASA. (DNO)
“All talks are concluded” with the fourth company, Dualeh said. “It’s just a matter of inking the deal, which hopefully is going to be this month.”

Somali MP wants Canadian parents to keep close eye on youths who could be radicalized by extreme imams

24 Nov- Source: National Post-842 words

A senior Somali government official wants Canadians to pay closer attention to youths to make sure they are not being influenced by radical preachers trying to lure them into taking up arms in his country.

Abdurahman Adan Ibrahim, a Member of Parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister, flew to Toronto last week to accompany a fellow MP who was badly wounded in an al Shabaab suicide bombing in Mogadishu.

In an interview, Mr. Ibrahim, a member of his government’s foreign relations committee, said several Somali-Canadians had joined al Shabaab and that someone had radicalized them and financed their travel.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Kenya should consider rewarding Kenyan Somalis who provide vital information leading to the arrest of terror suspects or smugglers. Rewards should range from government scholarships to job placements and citizenship for those who have lived here for more than 10 years.”

The Somali Question

25 Nov- Source: World Policy Institute Blog-3482 Words

Throngs of traders haggle and jostle for goods along busy streets, constantly interrupted by the hooting of matatus, local public transport vehicles, and the shouting of pushcart drivers, known as mkokotenis. This neighborhood is no place for the squeamish. The matatus and the mkokotenis make their way through deep, water-filled potholes, splashing thick, dark liquid onto crowded sidewalks.

Like the badly damaged roads, the sewage system in Nairobi’s Eastleigh district was built by British colonists in the 1920s to service a few hundred working-class Africans and Indians, but now it must bear the waste of over 100,000 residents. Today raw sewage oozes out of thousands of household pipes that have ruptured after decades of neglect. The dark green sludge mixes with runoff in the streets to form a foul porridge of human excrement.

But these pools of unsanitary sludge are not what is deterring thousands of Nairobians from coming to “Little Mogadishu,” as Eastleigh is known due to its Somali population. It is the grenade attacks.

“The absence of state-led security and the fact that Amisom’s tenure in likely to end in coming years may discourage many refugees from returning home. Refugees leaving Dadaab to go to Jubbaland and other parts of Somalia will face numerous problems, including lack of healthcare and education, which they get in camps like Dadaab.”

Plans to repatriate Somali refugees premature and not well thought-out

24 Nov- Source: Daily Nation-648 Words

The joint agreement by the Kenya and Somalia governments to repatriate about one million Somali refugees over the next three years appears to be based on two assumptions: one, that stability has returned to Somalia; and two, that the closing down of refugee camps will reduce threats posed by terrorist groups.

Both these assumptions are only partially accurate. While some parts of Somalia do experience relative stability, many parts, particularly some areas in central and southern Somalia, are still heavily controlled by Al Shabaab.

Moreover, it seems that the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is already showing signs of internal rivalries and corruption allegations, which are threatening to pull the country apart just one year after it was established.

President Hassan has recently had to deal with the resignation of Yussur A. F. Abrar, the first female Central Bank governor in Somalia who took over from Abdusalam Omer. The latter was implicated in a recent UN Monitoring Group report for diverting funds from the bank.

Top tweets

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@lhammondsoas Info on the UNHCR Global Initiative on Somali Refugees/High Level Panel, includes reading list on selected issues: http://www.unhcr.org/pages/527b8f7d6.html …

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Image of the day

Image of the day International delegation led by EU Special Envoy and Ambassador to Somalia Michele Cervone d’Urso meet with Puntland president in Garowe. Photo: @FranceinSomalia