October 28, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Somali FG forces, AMISOM hunt for militants in Beledweyne
28 Oct – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 134 words
Somali forces and AMISOM troops conducted joint operations in four villages of Beledweyne, capital of Hiiraan region in the central of Somalia. The allied troops have reportedly carried out the operation on Sunday around midnight in Beledweyne, where the forces searched for the militants hiding within the community
Several people were seized in the operations and taken to the prison in Beledweyne where they are being questioned. The officials are yet to comment about the operation in the town.
“We have seen at once several troops in the villages, we were shocked, we didn’t know their aim,” said one of the residents. The federal government forces backed by AMISOM are committed to keeping the security and restoring hope and stability of Somalia.
Key Headlines
- Somali FG forces AMISOM hunt for militants in Beledweyne (Radio Mustaqbal)
- Federal Govt cabinet debates 2014 budget (Garowe Online/SNTV)
- Somalia’s expatriate football team beats Zambian side (Radio Dalsan)
- Turkish company to manage Mogadishu main seaport (Raxanreeb)
- Somaliland Govt ‘plans’ to issue e-passport by 2014 (Somaliland Sun)
- Top diplomat opens Somalia UN office (African Review)
- Petrol stations open in Somalia (Aljazeera English)
- Britney Spears songs used to scare off pirates in Somalia (Metro News)
- Somali journalists protest radio station crackdown (Radio Survivor)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali FG forces, AMISOM hunt for militants in Beledweyne
28 Oct – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 134 words
Somali forces and AMISOM troops conducted joint operations in four villages of Beledweyne, capital of Hiiraan region in the central of Somalia. The allied troops have reportedly carried out the operation on Sunday around midnight in Beledweyne, where the forces searched for the militants hiding within the community
Several people were seized in the operations and taken to the prison in Beledweyne where they are being questioned. The officials are yet to comment about the operation in the town.
“We have seen at once several troops in the villages, we were shocked, we didn’t know their aim,” said one of the residents. The federal government forces backed by AMISOM are committed to keeping the security and restoring hope and stability of Somalia.
Somali federal govt cabinet debates 2014 budget
28 Oct – Source: Garowe Online/SNTV – 155 words
Somali Federal Government council of ministers Sunday debated 2014 annual budget and reviewed an agreement in which Ministry of Public work and housing struck with a Turkish company on 24 October.
The extraordinary cabinet meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon initially focused on broad discussions of increasing 2013’s $109 million as New Deal Conference offered huge amount of financial aid to Somalia and Mogadishu port management deal.
The Somali Federal Government spokesman, Ridwan Haji Abdiweli who spoke to the media after the cabinet meeting said “Council of Ministers agreed on the increment of next year’s budget and also passed Federal Government-Turkish Company, Al Bayrak agreement,” adding that Al Bayrak would run Mogadishu port for 20 years by renovating the buildings and improving the port service.
Abdiweli noted that Somalia Federal Government expects Al Bayrak to increase the current port revenue from $300,000 to $6.5 million.
Somalia’s expatriate football team beats Zambian side
28 Oct- Source: Radio Dalsan-230 Words
With the Perth World cup 2013 entering its third week, Somalia’s expatriate football team taking part in the global competition has humiliated their Zambian rivals by 4-1 in a hotly-contested game in the western Australian host city of Perth over the weekend.
In the early minutes of the match, the Somali boys happened to lead the match by 1-0 when they scored their first goal in the 13thminute of the first half. But the Zambian boys who launched successive attacks on the Somali side realized their dream to compensate for the early goal which came as a surprise to them.
The first half of the match ended in 1-1 draw, but Somalia’s boys whose coach Abdul Haq Mohamed Ahmed was committed to winning in Friday’s match scored two successive goals in the early minutes of the second half and led the match 3-1 and that caused the Zambian boys to lose hopes.
In the last minutes of the match Somalia gained its fourth goal and fully confirmed their victory over Zambia. This was the second major defeat for Zambia who was previously beaten 6-1 by Chile on the 6thof October, the opening day of the Perth World cup. In its next match Somalia will take on South Sudan on the 2nd of November. According to the schedules the match will kick off in Perth at 14:30 local time in Australia.
Turkish company to manage Mogadishu main seaport
28 Oct- Source: Raxanreeb-104 Words
Somali cabinet of ministers have on Sunday endorsed a new agreement with a Turkish company called Al Bayrak which will manage Mogadishu seaport, RBC Radio reports.
“The council of ministers unanimously endorsed the agreement by the Ministry of Ports and Public Works with Al Bayrak company to manage the seaport of Mogadishu in the coming twenty years.” A press statement from the Prime Minister’s office said.
According to the press statement, Al Bayrak will reconstruct, modernize and develop Mogadishu seaport. Another Turkish owned company, Favori has been granted ten years agreement to lead the management and handling services of the Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle Airport.
Somaliland Govt ‘plans’ to issue e-passport by 2014
27 Oct – Source: Somaliland Sun – 144 words
Somaliland’s Interior Minister told State Television in an exclusive interview, that Somaliland will soon replace its old Passport into an electronic one by early 2014.
“Many countries accepted Somaliland passport as a legal valid travel document. We are also expecting many others to accept Somaliland passport. Government banned Somalia e-passport to be a valid travel document in the country due to lack of confidence and trust.
“Somalia e-passport will no longer be a valid travel document in Somaliland. Somali E-Passport has no confidential authoritative signatory and it can be found anywhere including countryside by anyone. They send their E-Passport through Remittance Company and it can’t be trusted anymore.
“Budget for replacing the old handwritten passport was included in this year’s annual budget which was recently approved by members of House of Representatives.”
Somaliland Ministerial Delegation on official visit to Egypt
27 Oct – Source: Somaliand Press – 101 words
A high level delegation From Somaliland have visited to Egyptian’s Capital of Cairo on Friday, The delegation was leading Minister for Foreign and International Relations of Somaliland Mr. Mohamed Bihi Yonis among of the delegations are, The Director General of Middle east and Arab affairs of Foreign affairs Mr. Fahmi Qasim and Minister of Education Sam Sam Abdi Adam.
According to the Mr Bihi, The visit came after Former Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omar visited in Egypt 2010, and discussed with The government of Egypt bilateral relationship between both Sides. The delegation has met Somaliland Community and Students association in Egypt.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Top diplomat opens Somalia UN office
27 Oct – Source: Africa Review – 186 words
UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson on Saturday held talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud in Mogadishu as the country continues to be welcomed back into the international fold. Mr Eliasson was in the capital to open the headquarters of the United Nations Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) in Mogadishu.
Mr Mohamoud in a statement termed the diplomat’s visit “historic”. “The opening of a new UN office in Mogadishu is a vote of confidence,” said the Somali leader. “Today’s visit is a historic event demonstrating the UN’s unwavering support…”
“An effective partnership with the UN is essential for the new Somalia and this will enable us to work even closer together, greatly improving coordination of humanitarian aid and support, decision-making, efficiency and accountability.”
He added: “We are working for a Somalia that is at peace with itself and its neighbours, where its citizens can go about their daily lives in safety, and provide for their families with confidence and dignity.” The mission occupies a building within the highly-guarded Villa Somalia area in downtown Mogadishu. Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon also met with the UN official.
UN pledges support for Somalia
27 Oct- Source: KTN Kenya-01:48mins
The United Nations has pledged its continued support to Somali government, which is rebuilding its structures and institutions following decades of war.
Petrol stations open in Somalia
27 Oct- Source: Al Jazeera English-01:43mins
Petrol stations in Somalia have opened for the first time in more than 20 years. The violence that has ravaged the country for decades meant that oil companies did not want to take the risk of opening up shop there. Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal reports.
Gang imposes reign of terror in Eastleigh
27 Oct – Source: Daily Nation – 155 words
A criminal gang is slowly taking root in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate, causing tension and anxiety among residents. The knife-wielding gang, known as Superpower, has been attacking businesses and individuals with impunity— mostly at dawn and dusk.
In the latest incident, more than 20 people were at the weekend held hostage before being robbed of their phones, jewellery and cash. “We were heading to the mosque when we met 10 Somali youths. They rounded us up and ordered us to place our phones, cash and other valuables in a small bag,” said one of the victims, who requested anonymity for security reasons.
Those who hesitated were attacked, he added. Ironically, more than 50 members of the gang were arrested in a police swoop in July and charged in court but most of them walked to freedom after paying bail. A few who could not raise the Sh1 million bail were locked up and are awaiting trial.
Somali reporter dies from gunshot wounds
27 Oct – Source: Daily Nation – 125 words
A Somali television journalist who was seriously wounded by gunmen in the capital Mogadishu earlier this week has died, relatives and colleagues said Sunday.
The attack Tuesday on Mohamed Mohamud Timacade, a reporter with London-based Somali-language Universal TV, was the latest on journalists in the conflict-wracked country.
Timacade was shot several times in the neck, chest and shoulder when the attackers sprayed his car with bullets. “My brother died in the Medina hospital last night (Saturday) from the gunshot wounds. We wish him rest in heaven,” Fadumo Abdirahman told AFP.
Sahro Ise, a local TV journalist, added: “His death touched us all. I visited him a few hours ago and he looked getting better, he was talking to people and could identify them as well.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Britney Spears songs used to scare off pirates in Somalia
28 Oct – Source:Metro News – 168 words
Her hits are blasted out to deter kidnap attacks, merchant navy officer Rachel Owens revealed.
Spears’s chart-toppers Oops! I Did It Again and Baby One More Time have proved to be the most effective at keeping the bandits at bay.
Second Officer Owens, who works on supertankers off the east coast of Africa, said: ‘Her songs were chosen by the security team because they thought the pirates would hate them most.‘These guys can’t stand Western culture or music, making Britney’s hits perfect.’
Ships in the region are in constant danger from gun-toting pirates boarding and kidnapping crews for multi-million-pound ransoms. In 2011, there were 176 attacks on ships by gangs of bandits off the Horn of Africa. They are such a threat the Royal Navy has 1,500 sailors on 14 warships operating round-the-clock patrols in the area.
Ms Owens, who regularly guides huge tankers through the waters, said the ship’s speakers can be aimed solely at the pirates so as not to disturb the crew.
Somali journalists protest radio station crackdown
28 Oct- Source: Radio Survivor-442 Words
Somali reporters are up in arms over a police raid of the Shabelle Media Network, which describes itself as the “leading independent media network in Somalia,” located in Mogadishu. Here is Shabelle’s account of theSaturday incident:
“Security personnel cordoned off the building hosting Radio Shabelle and SkyFM, both part of Shabelle Media Network. The police restricted the entry and exit of the workers, and then broke the gate of the building with terrorist response police vehicle and forcefully entered the building. Security forces started beating journalists with butts of their guns. Radio Shabelle was on air during the attack and the public could hear the beatings and noise inside the studio until the police violently disabled computer servers and radio transmission equipment before shutting down the generators, effectively halting broadcasting indefinitely.”
Mogadishu police insist that the raid was not intended to silence the stations, but to carry out an eviction order. “The radio houses a government-owned building and there had been a previous notice given to the management of radio Shabelle,” a police chief told Somali based RBC Radio. “The police went to the radio Shabelle premise fulfilling the orders of the senior officials of the interior ministry. We have asked the staff of the radio to open the gate but they rejected so that the police broke down the gate and entered on that way.”
Somalis take to drinking coffee blended with camel milk
27 Oct- Source: CCTV Africa-01:32mins
Now Somalis are generally so fond of the coffee espresso, it is the afternoon “must take” indulgence beating even the Somalis first beverage- black tea sweetened with sugar. Now taking 4 to 6 cups of black tea is common with Somalis, but with coffee, there is simply no count
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“So before pushing to expand the AU force — which the UN supports logistically — Ban should first require that the Kenyan contingent respect the charcoal sanctions. The U.S., which has provided training and other assistance for the Kenyans, and the European Union, which pays their allowances, should second the demand.”
Combating Corruption in Somalia
28 Oct- Source: Bloomberg-455 Words
In the wake of the barbarous attack on Kenya’s Westgate shopping mall last month, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wants decisive action against the group responsible for at least 67 deaths, the Somalia-based al-Shabaab. He proposes adding 4,000 African Union troops to the 18,000 already in Somalia and providing the forces with attack helicopters and other advanced equipment so they can pursue al-Shabaab in its sanctuaries in the rural south.
The idea sounds reasonable. In addition to attacking Kenya, al-Shabaab struck Uganda in 2010, killing more than 70 people, and this year it has repeatedly assaulted Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. The group controls parts of southern Somalia, including the port of Baraawe, from which U.S. commandos retreated under fire earlier this month, having failed to capture an al-Shabaab commander.
Before the UN expands the role of the AU troops, however, it should first work to clean up the mission. One of its components, the 4,600-strong Kenyan contingent, has been a force for ill as much as good in the effort to stabilize Somalia; its corruption is even helping to enrich al-Shabaab.
“It is hard to persuade Somali youth especially when their minds are made up. This is one of the reasons the issue of illegal migration is becoming more alarming. Somali youth are convinced that their dreams will never be realized in their motherland, so they set sail for Europe, America, Australia or some other place, far from their ancestral land.”
The Dilemma of Somali Youth: to Stay or not to Stay
27 Oct- Source: Sahan Journal-990 Words
Joyce Cary, the Irish writer presented the African as little more than a boy, incapable of understanding complex issues, but full of admiration for everything European. This paternalism of Africa and Africans has continued for generations and is even stark when it comes to Somalia and Somalis, a nation and a people divided by lines in the sand, artificial borders that make no sense except to those who drew them or benefited from them.
It doesn’t help that a few short years after independence, successive autocratic regimes such as Mohamed Siad Barre’s dictatorship seemed to vindicate the colonial paternalism. The rest, as they say, is history – what with the decades of civil strife, mass murder, starvation and the attendant external interventions on humanitarian grounds, the interminable peace conferences and transitional authorities.
For the first time now there is a post-transitional government in place, but the old bugbear of paternalism is not that far behind Somalia in the form of this deal and that deal and various guises and permutations of new solutions for Somalia’s problems from the usual posse of three “M”s, to paraphrase Kenyan journalist Rasna Warah, “missionaries, mercenaries and misfits.”
“In the wake of the Lampedusa tragedy, the Somali bandy side is certain to be seen as an advertisement for Sweden’s success in integrating refugees from Africa.”
Cool Runnings 2: Somali team are a hit on ice
25 Oct- Source: The Independent-273 Words
In war-torn Somalia, finding enough ice to cool a drink is difficult. But discovering enough frozen water on which to glide around on ice skates and play hockey is nigh on impossible. So plans by a team of 11 Somali refugees to travel to Siberia next year to compete in the world championships for the game of bandy – a Nordic version of ice hockey – must rate as sensational. They will be the world’s first African bandy team on record.
Somalia’s bandy players have only been on ice a handful of times, but their coach, Swedish bandy professional Per Fosshaug, intends to take the team to the 2014 World Bandy Championships in Irkutsk, Siberia, in January. Their participation is being compared to Jamaica entering a bobsleigh team in the 1988 Winter Olympics, a tale which inspired the film Cool Runnings. “Everyone can play football, but ice-skating – that requires time and patience,” said Ahmed Hussein, 18, who is in the side.
Top tweets
@SomaliPM Today I’m launching the #Somalia Development & Reconstruction Facility (SDRF), the first step towards the realization of the New Deal dream
@UNSomalia Maintaining the New Deal’s momentum: PM Shirdon today launched the #Somalia Development & Reconstruction Facility. pic.twitter.com/Q6fjuhnVWk
@MaryFitzger What Mogadishu airport will apparently look like when Turkish sponsored renovation is completed #Somaliapic.twitter.com/IjZvkhWQxm
@amisomsomalia AMISOM is continuing to train & build up the capacities of the Somali forces to eventually take over responsibility for securing the nation.
@Oxfam Why remittances to #Somalia are importanthttp://oxf.am/Utc #diaspora
Image of the day
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson greets commanders of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) upon his arrival in Mogadishu on a visit to the Federal Republic of Somalia. Photo: UNSOM