October 14, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
Galmudug Forces Head To Al-Shabaab Strongholds In Mudug Region, Says Officer
14 October – Source: Shabelle News – 118 Words
A senior military commander says Galmudug forces are heading towards the Al-Shabaab’s strongholds in Mudug region, a day after the troops captured Amara village from the militants. Speaking to Radio Shabelle, Aden Abdi Omar, who is Galmudug Army Special Operations Command, said his troops will defeat Al-Shabaab in the ongoing offensive and drive them out of their bases in the region. The commander’s remarks come after Galmudug forces took over Amara town in southern Mudug region after the militants withdrew from the vicinity following confrontation with the African Union allied forces. Al-Shabaab controls Harardere town and several key areas in Mudug and Galgaduud regions of central Somalia.
Key Headlines
- Galmudug Forces Head To Al-Shabaab Strongholds In Mudug Region Says Officer (Shabelle News)
- NATO Meets Galmudug State Pledges To Implement Developmental Projects In Hobyo Town (Goobjoog News)
- Hundreds Nabbed In A Major Security Crackdown In Galkayo Mudug Province (Villa Puntland)
- Flag Belongs To Both The Republic And Somali Ethnic (Mareeg Media)
- Garissa Campus Attack Victim Leaves Hospital (The Star)
- IFRC And Iranian Red Crescent Sign Agreement To Strengthen Resilience And Improve Food Security In Somalia And Kenya (Reliefweb)
- Turkish Company Favori Turns Around Fortunes At Aden Adde Abdulle Airport (Goobjoog News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
NATO Meets Galmudug State, Pledges To Implement Developmental Projects In Hobyo Town
14 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 404 Words
Officials from Galmudug state and several NATO Navy commanders of Indian Ocean counter-piracy mission have held talks on board one of NATO the ships offshore near Hobyo coastal town. The sides discussed on wide range issues including anti-piracy operations, the emerging foreign fishing vessels in Somalia’s waters and developmental projects to be implemented by NATO. Mohamed Awale, district commissioner of Hobyo speaking to Goobjoog News said that Denmark Navy commanders under NATO have had crucial meeting with some ministers from newly formed Galmudug state.
He pointed out that NATO pledged to implement several developmental projects in the coastal towns of Galmudug state. “NATO commanders have promised to support and implement several projects that will be inaugural soon as the operations against Somalia’s piracy successfully annihilating pirates” he said. Hobyo DC highlighted that ministers submitted complains against the foreign fishing vessels which carry out overfishing in Somalia’s waters. Somali fishermen have seriously complained about foreign vessels which are illegally fishing in Somali waters. The chairman of Hibo umbrella, Somali Fishermen’s Cooperative Society, who spoke to Goobjoog News a week ago said they had faced continuous threats from foreign fishing boats, which are equipped with weapons. He underlined that the number of seafood has been decreased due the overfishing done by foreign vessels.
“Our job is in jeopardy, we have been chased several times y these vessels, which are illegally taking our sea resources. We know that vessels benefit at the expense Somali fishermen and that is what has created the emergence of Somali pirates” he said. Local fishermen have continuously complained about foreign trawlers, who are carrying out illegal fishing and dumping waste. Some fishermen have gone missing while others are tortured by the trawlers, who at times spray boiling water from cannons.
The development comes a month after a campaign group warned of a possible resurgence of piracy in the Somali waters as a result of increased illegal fishing. Secure Fisheries noted in its report that foreign boats take three times much fish than Somali fishermen totalling to 132,000 metric tons against Somalia’s 40,000 metric tons. There has been a general lull in the Indian Ocean waters following a steady decline in piracy activities though there are reports pirates are still holding some foreign crews demanding ransom.
Hundreds Nabbed In A Major Security Crackdown In Galkayo, Mudug Province
14 October – Source: Villa Puntland – 121 Words
Hundreds of suspects have reportedly been nabbed in an intense security crackdown in Galkayo, Mudug region, Villa Puntland Agency reports. Following a string of security operations carried out in Galkayo by Puntland police, at least 194 suspects were detained and are now under screening for criminal charges, according to Mudug police chief Bashir Gabi-Gabi. A number of gang-related cases have lately been recorded in the town, prompting the operations that left close to two hundred suspects behind bars. Addressing the press, Gabi-Gabi noted anyone found innocent will be freed but those who are proved guilty will be dealt with accordingly.
Flag Belongs To Both The Republic And Somali Ethnic
13 October – Source: Mareeg Media – 213 Words
Somali Prime Minister has said his country’s national flag is not only created for the Republic but the Somali ethnic wherever they may reside across the globe. PM Omar Abdirashid was speaking during 61st anniversary of Somali National Flag marked across the country on Monday. “The dignity of this flag will entirely depend on how we as Somalis safeguard and keep our unity and it was not only created for the Republic but the Somali ethnic wherever they may reside,” PM said.
Abdirashid reminded Somalis on the circumstances that led to the creation of the great blue Somali flag saying hundreds of precious lives have been sacrificed. He thanked the Somali Armed forces for protecting the dignity of the country’s flag: ”Many perished for this flag and many more were born under its freedom. In light of this, I humbly extend my sincere congratulations to the Somali people and of course members of the Armed Forces, who have protected the existence of this flag,” Somali marked 61 years since colonial flag was taken down and blue flag with white star at the centre hoisted. The five pointed star in the middle signifies the settlements of the Somali people. The blue color resembles the sky to define the absence of boundary among Somalis.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Garissa Campus Attack Victim Leaves Hospital
14 October – Source: The Star – 322 Words
A student who survived the Garissa University College terror attack has been discharged from hospital after six months’ treatment, including 28 surgeries. Anastasia Mikwa, 20, walked out on crutches yesterday from the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital in Nairobi. She told the Star she fell unconscious during the April 2 attack, in which al Shabaab killed 148 people. “It was a terrible moment. I don’t want to remember it, but I have forgiven those who caused me this suffering. I have no hard feelings against them,” Mikwa said.
The first-year bachelor of education in science student reunited with family after an emotional discharge by hospital staff. “I’m very happy as I say goodbye to doctors I had become friends with and join my colleagues to continue with my studies,” she said. Mikwa is expected to recover and walk without the crutches in two months. Her winding and painful journey to recovery started with five days in a high dependency unit before she was moved to the wards.
“I thank God and the doctors here. I have learnt God is powerful and can do miracles,” she said. “When I came here, I was very weak and could not walk. I didn’t imagine I shall ever walk or lift my legs again.” Colonel James Mwika, who treated Mikwa, said she was in a coma for five days before she was moved to the wards. “She had sustained multiple gunshots in her thighs and her femur bones had been completely shattered,” Mwika said. “It was impossible to tell how many times she had been shot.”
IFRC And Iranian Red Crescent Sign Agreement To Strengthen Resilience And Improve Food Security In Somalia And Kenya
13 October – Source: Reliefweb – 560 Words
The Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) will support 5,000 vulnerable families in Somalia and Kenya, through a Hunger Resilience and Food Security partnership signed yesterday by the leaders of the two organizations. The programme, which will be implemented in collaboration with the Somali Red Crescent Society and the Kenya Red Cross Society, will target communities affected by one of Africa’s most protracted and yet often overlooked humanitarian crises.
Successive cycles of extreme drought and floods in Somalia, combined with the consequences of decades of violence and insecurity, have left many communities without access to durable livelihoods and exposed to chronic food insecurity. As a result, millions of people have fled their homes to other parts of Somalia or into neighbouring Kenya.
Elhadj As Sy, the Secretary General of the IFRC, said the prolonged nature of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia and northern Kenya had created a sense of apathy among many donors. “The crisis currently facing millions of people in the region is avoidable and therefore unacceptable,” he said. “This agreement will help us alleviate the impacts of this crisis on a group of particularly vulnerable people. It will make them stronger and more resilient to future shocks.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“This airport is the face of Somalia, when people come here for the first time, the first impact is this terminal itself. This is not Favori, this is Somalia and if people come here and see this terminal, they can believe in Somalia and they will want to do business in this country.”
Turkish Company Favori Turns Around Fortunes At Aden Adde Abdulle Airport
14 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 594 Words
Barely a year ago, the old terminal at the Aden Abdulle Airport in Mogadishu was a traveler’s headache having to do with one arrival and departure terminal, crowded and disorderly immigration section topped up with sweltering heat. Fast forward October 2015 and Aden Abdulle ranks at par if not better than a number of its contemporaries in Africa. A spacious terminal with separate domestic and international sections, both arrival and departure, exotic lounge and cafe, integrated ticketing system among a host of other high end services akin to a modern aviation facility.
But it has not been a walk in the park, says Mustafa Durgut, the marketing and public relations manager of the Turkish based ground handling company, Favori which is the face behind the turn around of Mogadishu’s flagship facility. “Two years ago when we came there was a small terminal with people so crowded that it was even difficult to be served. But we put pen to paper and hit the ground to build this magnificent terminal which is now the face of Somalia,” said Durgut in an exclusive interview with Goobjoog News.
For Favori it was not just about building an aviation facility, it was about setting standards for the airline industry in Somalia with the dream of making Mogadishu an aviation hub and boosting trade in years to come. “This airport is the face of Somalia, when people come here for the first time, the first impact is this terminal itself. This is not Favori, this is Somalia and if people come here and see this terminal, they can believe in Somalia and they will want to do business in this country,” adds Durgut.
Favori signed a contract with the government of Somali in 2013. Part of the contract involved building the new international standard terminal, managing the facility and developing it to incorporate all aspects of industry standard facilities. “We have finished phase one of the project which involved the construction of the terminal and cargo handling sections. The second part involves the expansion of the apron and the ramp site to accommodate more traffic,” said Durgut.
TOP TWEETS
@omabha : CAF World Cup Qualifying Review: Niger thump Somalia – FourFourTwo http://dlvr.it/CRLHNT #Somalia
@Rooble2009: #Somaliland delegation off to Ankara to attend the airspace talks with #Somaliahttp://www.somalilandinformer.
@Abdi_AlSheikh: Somalia:Wagosha brief the US officials on the atrocities and discrimination … – SomalilandPresshttp://dlvr.it/CRPbMY #Somalia
@smgbristol: #Somalia wins first round maritime case against#Kenya http://www.kenya-today.com/
@Bogorad_Olga : #Somalia unrest reported throughout Awdal’s capital Borama in Somaliland after police killed two people during football match @hiiraan
@KweschnMedia: Somali Remittances to Urban Areas and for IDPs – $1.2 billion annually: http://ow.ly/3yjkgL #Somalidiaspora #Somalia #Africa
@Mubarak_A_Salah: On 15th October 1969 Somali President Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke Assassinated in Lasanod #somalia:
IMAGE OF THE DAY
People walk inside the Mogadishu Peace Garden in Hamar jajab district of Somalia. In background, buildings and infrastructure destroyed by two decades of conflict have been repaired and diaspora Somalis are returning home to invest and help rebuild the country.
Photo: AMISOM