October 24, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Al-shabab attacks government forces in Afgoye’s outskirts
24 Oct – Source: Radio RBC – 104 Words
Somali government forces and Al-shabab fighters have battled in Sabiib village of the outskirts of Afgoye district last night.
This confrontation has come after Al-shabab militants carried out attack on the government forces stationed in Sabiib village. Government forces are reported to have pushed back the Al-shabab fighters who launched the assault.
The village’s governor Mayow Mayow had spoken to the press and stated that government forces have pushed back Al-shabab fighters. There were casualties although not clearly established as the governor indicated. The village is experiencing calm today and Somali government forces are continuing operations to hunt down Al-shabab fighters in the area.
Key Headlines
- Kismayo residents visit free AMISOM medical clinic (Alshahid.net )
- Parliamentary committee questions foreign minister (Radio Goobjoog)
- Aid groups worry Somalia’s military gains are yet to translate into predictable humanitarian access(Radio RBC)
- Al-shabab attacks government forces in Afgoye’s outskirts (Radio RBC)
- Gunmen kill two civilians in Marka outskirts (Radio Danan)
- High alert as Shabaab flee Somalia war (Daily Nation)
- Al-shabaab no longer a serious threat to Somalia: Ambassador (waltainfo.com)
- UN moves to enforce Somalia arms charcoal embargoes (AFP News)
SOMALI MEDIA
Kismayo residents visit free AMISOM medical clinic
23 Oct – Source: Alshahid.net – 314 Words
African Union peacekeepers have conducted a free medical camp for residents in the port city of Kismayo. The free consultations took place at the main AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) base in Kismayo. Over 100 locals including women, children and men were treated. The patients were suffering from a variety of ailments including malnutrition and a range of infections.
Kismayo’s residents, like most people in the towns and villages of southern Somalia, were some of the worst-affected by decades of internal conflict. Extremist group Al-Shabaab blocked humanitarian aid from reaching people in the region.
Medics from AMISOM’s Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) worked through the day to examine patient and dispense free antibiotics and other drugs. “AMISOM is doing incredible work and we are really happy because they have also made it part of their work to help the community. They treat very poor people who can’t afford medical treatment, like women, children and the elderly. We are very grateful to them and we will always remember the support AMISOM gives us,” said Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Hajji from the Interim
Juba Administration’s Ministry of Health. Joint forces made up of the Somalia National Army and AMISOM troops recently captured the strategic town of Bula-Gadud town – about 30 kilometers north of Kismayo. Bula-Gadud has been a gateway for Al-Shabaab militia who used it as a base for springing attacks on Kismayo and its environs.
Parliamentary committee questions foreign minister
23 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 181 Words
The parliamentary committee of foreign affairs in the parliament have questioned the minister for foreign affairs and investment Abdirahman Duale Beilah in the parliament building on Thursday.
The members of the committee questioned the minister about the closure of foreign embassies, Somali passport, foreign investors and Somali refugees. Responding to a question about the closed embassies abroad, the minister said the government has decided to shut down the embassies due to financial problems and scandal resulting from poor administration of foreign embassies.
He underlined that the embassies will remain closed until the federal government is be able to fully manage. Minister Beilah also stated that some of the countries currently investing in Somalia like China have a lot of their national held captive by Somali pirates therefore making difficult for foreign investment to take root.
He called on the pirates holding over 25 Chinese nationals to free them without condition. One of the parliamentary foreign committee members Aweys Mohamed who briefed the media after the meeting said they are satisfied with the minister’s responses to the questions asked.
Aid groups worry Somalia’s military gains are yet to translate into predictable humanitarian access
24 Oct – Source: Radio RBC – 259 Words
The military offensive by the Somali National Armed Forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia to recover Al Shabaab controlled areas in southern and central Somalia continues.
More than 7,000 people have fled their homes in August and September due to the military offensive, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). People have largely been temporarily displaced in Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions. Since the initial launch of the military operation in March this year, over 80,000 people have been uprooted from their homes, with more than 73,000 during the first phase.
It is hoped that if the military operation leads to the establishment of proper administrative structures in the newly controlled areas, it may provide an opportunity for humanitarian organizations to have a safe and predictable access to people in need in those areas.
Road access is severely constrained in 28 districts in southern and central Somalia due to insecurity, fighting along major supply routes, road blockages and encirclement of newly recovered areas by non-state armed actors.
Illegal check-points, banditry and demands for bribes are experienced even in areas where there has been no active conflict. In the first nine months of 2014, 2,200 conflict incidents with humanitarian implications were registered, of which 107 incidents were related to checkpoints.
Al-shabab attacks government forces in Afgoye’s outskirts
24 Oct – Source: Radio RBC – 104 Words
Somali government forces and Al-shabab fighters have battled in Sabiib village of the outskirts of Afgoye district last night.
This confrontation has come after Al-shabab militants carried out attack on the government forces stationed in Sabiib village. Government forces are reported to have pushed back the Al-shabab fighters who launched the assault.
The village’s governor Mayow Mayow had spoken to the press and stated that government forces have pushed back Al-shabab fighters. There were casualties although not clearly established as the governor indicated. The village is experiencing calm today and Somali government forces are continuing operations to hunt down Al-shabab fighters in the area.
Gunmen kill two civilians in Marka outskirts
24 Oct – Source: Radio Danan – 129 Words
Unidentified gunmen shot and killed two civilians in Shalanbood locality near Marka district, the provincial capital of lower shabelle region. One of the deceased civilians was a well known teacher in Shalanbood neighborhoods.
Reports from the area indicate that murders were wearing Somali force uniforms and they have escaped the scene instantly after the killing. “I know them very well, one of them was a teacher while the other was a shopkeeper in here “ witness has told radio Danan.
It’s too early to know the motive behind the killing. Marka residents have called regional administration and the federal government to seek out justice for the venerable people in here. Marka district has experienced a wave of killings in the last five months.
REGIONAL MEDIA
High alert as Shabaab flee Somalia war
23 Oct – Source: Daily Nation – 586 Words
Security agencies were Thursday placed on high alert over fears of an influx of Al-Shabaab terrorists into Kenya.
Inspector-General of Police David Kimaiyo said the ongoing massive multi-national offensive against the terrorists in Somalia had caused them to abandon their camps in droves, with most of those fleeing likely to seek refuge in Kenya.
“This operation has been going on for some time and has recorded significant achievement so far. It must be understood however, that in spite of these efforts, the elements who are being fought may most likely seek to escape as the pressure on them intensifies,” Mr Kimaiyo said.
He added: “Our country being one of the immediate neighbours of Somalia, is likely to be one of the areas where these insurgents and militias may seek to escape to. The possibility that they may want to further their agenda (here) cannot be down-played.”
Al-shabaab no longer a serious threat to Somalia: Ambassador
23 Oct – Source: .waltainfo.com – 461 Words
Ambassador of Somalia to Ethiopia, Abdisalam Mohamed said that al-shabaab is no longer a serious threat to the peace and security of Somalia.
In an exclusive interview with WIC, Ambassador Mohamed said the al-Qaeda-linked militant group, which was the biggest obstacle for peace and stability in Somalia, is now at its weakest position following a joint military operation by the Somali National Army and AMISON.
“Al-shabaab is now driven out of all major areas of Somalia. There is no place which it controls as military and political bases like before. The only thing it can do now is to terrorize the people by planting bombs and other means,” he said.
Though al-shabaab is at its weakest position, Somalia is not immune from the militant group’s threat, he said. “I will not say Al-shebab is finished completely. But, it is time for all to collaborate and finish it soon,” he said.
According to him, the Federal Government of Somalia is working strenuously to clear the scar and the hatred ideology left by the militant group in the country. “We are working at community, district, regional and federal levels to make sure that the hatred ideology planted by al-shabaab is cleared out and to heal the scar left by the group,” he said.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN moves to enforce Somalia arms, charcoal embargoes
24 Oct – Source: AFP News – 380 Words
The UN Security Council is set to approve Friday a resolution allowing inspections of ships off the coast of Somalia that are suspected of carrying arms and charcoal, in violation of a UN embargo.
The draft resolution seen by AFP also demands that the Somali government provide a full accounting of the arms shipments it has received after the weapons embargo was partially lifted last year.
The measure authorizes countries to conduct snap inspections of vessels in Somali territorial waters and on the high seas for a period of 12 months.
The UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea said the charcoal cargos continued to Gulf countries, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, in violation of the embargo. The Group counted 161 vessels exporting charcoal from Shebab-controlled sites between June 2013 and May 2014, worth a total of more than $250 million.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Kenya will not succeed in grabbing Somalia’s territorial waters because the Somali cause is just. There are books, articles and archive material supporting the Somalia case.”
There is no dispute – Kenya will not succeed in grabbing Somalia’s territorial waters
23 Oct – Source: The Star – 405 Words
I have read a few articles in the press on the issue of Somalia suing Kenya over the maritime border dispute. I must say, I expected more of Kenyan journalists. For example, it was unprofessional for Mutua Ndonga to choose not to do any research for his article in the Star of Monday, October 20 ‘After all we’ve done, Somalia is very ungrateful’
This whole issue arose because a Norwegian company advised the Kibaki administration they could lay a claim because the Kenya-Tanzania maritime border due south does not follow the land border. The Kenyan government made gullible Somalia government officials sign a document where the term ‘dispute’ was introduced — for the first time in history — to the maritime border between the two countries. Kenya will not succeed in grabbing Somalia’s territorial waters because the Somali cause is just. There are books, articles and archive material supporting the Somalia case.
“The hijackers wanted money and one armed with an AK-47 rifle told him it was just “business, relax.”
The real Captain Phillips brings story of piracy to St. Vincent College
Oct 24 – Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – 639 Words
The American ship captain held hostage for four days by armed Somali pirates off the coast of Africa in 2009 said he expects that shipping in the Mideast will continue to be the target of piracy, particularly with so many terrorists operating in the region.
“I’m expecting more ships to be hijacked … with all those terrorist groups. There’s hundreds of ships being hijacked, even in front of the Navy, and they (pirates) succeed,” Capt. Richard Phillips said prior to a speechThursday at St. Vincent College in Unity that drew more than 700 people.
Phillips became famous in April 2009 when Somali pirates hijacked the container ship MV Maersk Alabama off the Somali peninsula in Northeast Africa. He was rescued by Navy SEALs, who killed his three captors after he was held for four days in a lifeboat the pirates had commandeered from his vessel.
Top tweets
@NGOConsortium #UNSC asks @amisomsomalia to prioritize securing supply routes 4humanitarian actors in its new mandate.http://bit.ly/1pFL7xs
@IamThomasNaef UN moves to enforce Somalia arms, charcoal embargoes http://ift.tt/12ntfCz #kenya #news
@AhmedCharlie @Mhussen: Art Activism is well and alive in Somalia, powerful messages and sometimes entertaining “
@El_Globalista Al-shabaab no longer a serious threat to Somalia: Ambassador http://binged.it/1rqdgsV
@africanewsaddic SOMALIA: Aid groups worry Somalia’s military gains are yet to translate into predictable humanitarian access Mo… http://ift.tt/1DH6zdG
@Bacdadhuuqso JUST IN: Somalia’s Jubaland forces capture Abdalla Biroole from Alshabab 60km from Kismayo
Image of the day
Banadir Regional Administration jointly with the Somali Women Development Center and AMISOM Police yesterday launched a Community Based Policing Initiative
Photo Credit: AMISOM