October 29, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
AU-chartered Aircraft Crashes In Southern Somalia
29 October – Source: Hiiraan Online – 274 Words
A plane chartered by the African Union force in Somalia crashed in a rebel-held area in southern Somalia amid heavy rain and strong winds on Wednesday, officials said. The Kenyan-registered aircraft Dormier DO-328, which was carrying a logistical stuff for the African Union force in Somalia, had taken off from Nairobi and was scheduled to land at Belidogle, a military airfield in Lower Shabelle region before it crashed in a rural village near the agricultural town of Afgoye.
The Belidogle airfield also hosts a small US force that undertakes military training for Somali troops. A State department official told Voice of America Somali Service that there were no Americans on board the crashed plane. Military officials told the local media that troops from the African Union and Somali government have reached the area, which was an epicenter of clashes between militants and allied forces in Somalia to safeguard the plane and its crew. Other reports suggests that armed fighters from the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab group have taken over the crashed plane and arrested the crew. No fatalities have so far been reported, as information related to the crash so far remain sketchy. Al-Shabaab officials declined to comment on the plane crash, which comes two weeks after another plane carrying a foodstuff for African Union force crash-landed in an open area outside Somali capital.
Key Headlines
- AU-chartered Aircraft Crashes In Southern Somalia (Hiiraan Online)
- Somaliland’s Sports Minister Resigns In Latest Mass Resignations (Hiiraan Online)
- Somali President Meets The President Of India (Radio Muqdisho)
- Terror Group Plans Evictions In Wajir (Daily Nation)
- More money for South Sudan Somalia (9 News)
- Why Is The Number Of Somalis Entering The Minnesota Mental Health Care Network (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somaliland’s Sports Minister Resigns In Latest Mass Resignations
29 October – Source: Hiiraan Online – 239 Words
Somaliland’s Sports and Youth Minister has resigned, bringing to at 13, the total number of officials who have resigned from government, most of them being ministers. The resignations have exposed deep divisions within the ruling party in the breakaway country. Mr Ahmed Abdi Kahim told reporters that he would join the region’s parliament. He also distanced himself from colleagues, who earlier on staged a mass walk out from the Somaliland government. However, local officials told HOL that the minister had resigned in protest of the refusal by government to release funds for local football leagues.The development comes one day after President Ahmed Silanyo appointed new ministers to replace the 12 top officials including ministers and directors.
The subsequent resignations have dealt a big blow to the government of President Silanyo, which is struggling to improve its public image despite widespread discontent towards his recent bid to extend his term for two more years.Somaliland has escaped decades-old conflict which ravaged southern Somalia by building its independent army, finance system and government.According to political analysts, the resignations reflected the political instability of the Somaliland government. Somaliland has declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, however, no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.
Somali President Meets The President Of India
29 October – Source: Radio Muqdisho – 102 Words
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, who is currently in India, has met his Indian counterpart. The two Presidents discussed various issues regarding the relationship between the two countries. The Somali President discussed with his Indian counterpart issues including business and the development of natural resources in Somalia. The President will meet other leaders on the sidelines of the India- Africa summit . The India- Africa summit was in the past held in Addis Ababa andis this year being held in New – Delhi and it expected to showcase various investment opportunities available in Africa for the Indian government and it’s people.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Terror Group Plans Evictions In Wajir
29 October – Source: Daily Nation – 274 Words
Police have discovered a new Al-Shabaab cell in northeastern Kenya that is planning mass evictions in the region. A photograph of its leader, Mohamed Kunow Yussuf, also known as Abu Ali, has been circulated with an appeal to the public to report his whereabouts to the police. Detectives say he was sent by Al-Shabaab leaders in Somalia to strengthen the cell, called Mustapha Atto Network.
Police believe the cell operates from Wajir and spreads terror to other towns. It is also recruiting youths from the region: “In an effort to increase its activities in Kenya, particularly (in the northeastern region), Al-Shabaab has named Mohamed Kunow Yussuf as the head of a new cell whose operations will mainly focus on Wajir, though other northeastern towns are not ruled out. The main role of the cell will be to sow discord between locals and non-locals in the area akin to what the group attempted to achieve in Mandera and Garissa,” says a government report seen by the Nation.
Security agencies in the region have also been placed on high alert, with orders to forestall recruitment for the new cell.
Yussuf surfaced on police radar after he was arrested for robbery in Wajir in 2012, but he defied court orders to report to police every week. He then fled to Somalia: “In 2012, he was one of the main suspects over grenade attacks that targeted businesses owned by non-locals. Police established (Yussuf) was involved in trafficking of arms from Somalia that fuelled inter-clan violence in the area,” says the report. At one time, he was an imam at the Al Rahma mosque and also a madrassa teacher.
More money for South Sudan, Somalia
29 October – Source: 9 NEWS – 63 Words
The Australian government is providing another $10 million to South Sudan to deal with the ongoing conflict in the region. The money will provide emergency food, water, sanitation and shelter, as well as helping to combat gender-based violence. A further $4 million in humanitarian assistance is being given to Somalia, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a statement on Thursday.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“It is particularly difficulty in cultures such as Somali where adults are not accustomed to learning from children. When children have English language proficiency and parents don’t, this creates an imbalance of power in the family, which makes parenting and acculturation very stressful and confusing.”
Why Is The Number Of Somalis Entering The Minnesota Mental Health Care Network Continuing To Grow?
27 October – Source: Hiiraan Online – 680 Words
Over the past two decades, there has been a vast influx of Somali refugees and immigrants making their new homes in Minnesota, USA, with the overwhelming majority residing in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. While official estimates indicate that less than 60,000 Somalis are in Minnesota, it is well accepted that there are, in fact, closer to 70,000 – 85,000. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact number due to limitations in census data collection and the continual growth resulting from such factors as secondary migration.
Since Minnesota has welcomed African immigrants, family members who live in other states within the U.S. and Canada continue to join many newly arrived families already in St. Paul and Minneapolis. The prospect of Somali immigrants and refugees returning to their homelands is unlikely. Continuing war, civic strife and economic crises make the outlook for return to Somalia bleak indeed. Therefore it is important that Minnesota continue to embrace and welcome Somalis into the community and assist in their acculturation process.The challenges facing Somali immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities are complex and their needs are great. Besides facing enormous cultural and language differences, African immigrants and refugees contend with racism, often have limited literacy skills, and hold jobs where they barely earn minimum wage and have difficulty providing for their families. Another dynamic in families occurs when a parent, usually the father, has lost his stable role as primary breadwinner. When resettling in a different culture, previous work skills are often not easily transferable. As a result it is often very difficult for a parent with little or no English language ability to secure a job. When parents require financial assistance from the government they usually feel distressed that they are not providing for their families. This can lead to feelings of guilt, humiliation, and worthlessness.
TOP TWEETS
@ProSyn:#Somalia seeks help in protecting its rich coastline from foreign illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishinghttp://bit.ly/1Wg2aG2
@Daudoo:Roadside bomb targets #Ethiopia troops on the outskirt of Luuq town in #Somalia‘s Gedo region this morning, at least 3 killed – Residents.
@jazeerapalace: #QoTD @jazeerapalace Of all the choices you make each day none is more important than the choice of a positive attitude.#Mogadishu #Somalia
@mary_harper:US ambassador to #Ethiopia tells#EthiopiaSummit ‘Ethiopia is an excellent partner in a very difficult neighbourhood’. #SouthSudan #Somalia.
@_Rerbadiyow:#Kenya is on the verge of economic collapse,#Somalia is rising and ready to receive Kenyan economic refugees!
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The Somali National Army (SNA) Chief of Defence Forces Maj. Gen. Mohamed Adan Ahmed receives AMISOM force commander Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono in his office. Photo: AMISOM.