October 30, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Former PM Gedi Calls For Unity To Defeat Extremism In Somalia
30 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 238 Words
Former Prime Minister, Professor Ali Mohamed Gedi has appealed for unity and working relationship between the federal and state governments to forge a common front against extremist groups in the country. Prof. Gedi who served as prime minister between 2004 and 2007 said the security challenges afflicting the country called for unity of purpose and support for the government to restore peace and order. “God made us people with power, education, with a sovereign state and possessing military personnel with patriotism. If we don’t combine all these and prevent the enemy from the country, we shall be recorded in history as people who evaded their responsibilities,” said Gedi.
The former PM’s remarks follows a twin bombing attack at Nasa Hablod II hotel in Mogadishu which claimed 27 lives and injured more than 30 others. Al-Shabaab, Gedi said relishes in the shedding of the blood of innocent Somalis in the name of fighting for a legitimate course. “The enemy pardons no one. They are not fighting the government but against the innocent civilians whom they kill every day. I appeal to all to stand up to them.”
He called on regional state leaders who are meeting in Mogadishu with President Mohamed Farmaajo to unite and fight the enemy together. “If we are not united, we shall never defend ourselves from the enemy and fail our people too. Let us all stand to defend our country wherever we may be.”
Key Headlines
- Former PM Gedi Calls For Unity To Defeat Extremism In Somalia (Goobjoog News)
- Survivor Recounts Hotel Siege That Killed Family Members (Garowe Online)
- Turkish Troops Will Take Part In Securing Somalia PM Kheyre Says (Radio Dalsan)
- QRC Provides Medical Help To Mogadishu Bombing Victims (Gulf Times)
- Mogadishu Massacre: Policy Policing And Intelligence Failures (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Survivor Recounts Hotel Siege That Killed Family Members
30 October – Source: Garowe Online – 340 Words
A victim of the bloody siege at a popular hotel in Mogadishu has recounted the terrifying moment he came face-to-face with the terrorists. At least five attackers stormed Nasa-Hablod 2 hotel at around 5:00 p.m. on Saturdayafternoon and took guests as hostages after detonating two car bombs at the main gate of the building in Mogadishu. More than 27 people, including high-profile people, regional Minister and former MP were killed, and dozens wounded in the night-long attack by militants at the hotel, according to the Security Ministry.
Among the dead were four individuals from the same family: three children aged 6 months, 9 months and 3 years old, and their grandmother. A 6-year-old child survived the attack. The boy’s father recounted the horrific experience. The man, who asked not to be me named because of security concerns, is a 29-year- old university student. He and his brother took their wives and children to see the children’s grandparents at the hotel.
The first explosion caused chaos in the hotel. He and his brother were in the cafeteria with their father at the time of the explosion. They ran upstairs to find the children and the rest of the family on the second floor. As the gunmen attacked, “We discussed what we do? Should we help the mother to jump the window? Then we thought it’s not possible; at that point, a grenade landed near us and we ran into the room,” he said. Al-Shabaab fighters followed them, shooting and throwing bombs. “They were throwing a bomb into each room followed by a hail of bullets,” the man said.
His wife called out his name, and then his son. He told them to get back in the room. The man and three other residents hid in a bathroom. In another room, gunmen wounded his wife and killed their 6-month-old son. Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the carnage, according to its military operations spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab, saying they killed 70 people, including Intelligence officials and 2 Turkish nationals.
Turkish Troops Will Take Part In Securing Somalia , PM Kheyre Says
30 October – Source: Radio Dalsan – 108 Words
Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre has talked about Turkish support and the commitment it has given to the Federal Government of Somalia in the light of the agreements reached during his visit to Turkey. Speaking about the agreement he noted several issues including strengthening bilateral relations between Somalia and Turkey particularly security sector where Turkey will assist local security forces in the battle against Islamist militant group Al-Shabab. The Prime Minister was speaking during celebrations of the 94th anniversary of the independence of Turkish people.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
QRC Provides Medical Help To Mogadishu Bombing Victims
30 October – Source: Gulf Times – 237 Words
The Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has provided support to the victims of the Mogadishu bombings, which took place about two weeks ago, and they are currently being treated in hospitals in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. QRC Secretary-General Ali bin Hassan al-Hammadi visited the victims of the recent terrorist bombings in the Somali capital Mogadishu, who were transferred for treatment in Sudanese hospitals, where he provided support for the wounded, wishing them quick recovery, and expressed hope that Somalia would return to stability soon, the QRC said in a statement yesterday.
The wounded expressed their thanks and gratitude to the QRC. Al-Hammadi said in a press statement that the efforts of Qatar will continue to provide assistance to the wounded, pointing to the close co-operation between the Qatari Red Crescent and its Sudanese counterpart in all areas of humanitarian work. QRC secretary-general noted the projects carried out by the QRC in Sudan, based on the historic relations between the two countries.
He also expressed his thanks and appreciation to the government of the Sudan for its role in hosting and treating wounded Somalis. For his part, Sudan Red Crescent Secretary-General Dr Othman Jafar Abdullah praised the role played by the Qatari Red Crescent in supporting humanitarian and charitable work throughout the world, adding that the initiative to host the wounded Somalis came from Qatar.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Although on the surface, police and intelligence failures may seem to have directly led to the Mogadishu Massacre, it is not enough to place the blame solely on the police or the intelligence communities. It is essential to uncover other elements and forces that seemed to be acting alongside or simultaneously to the intelligence and policymaking communities,”
Mogadishu Massacre: Policy, Policing And Intelligence Failures
29 October – Source: Hiiraan Online – 3271 Words
In Mogadishu, Somalia, a huge truck bomb loaded with homemade explosives was detonated by a terror group known as Al-Shabaab, near a fuel tanker, Zoobe junction, one of Mogadishu’s vital arteries, destroying nearby buildings, including shops and hotels, and emitting trails of dark, thick smoke into the sky. After the dust had settled, it is believed that nearly 400 civilians lost their lives, and over 400 were injured. It was the most deadly attack to occur in Somalia. Most of the victims have been burned beyond recognition.
On 28 October, 2017, just two weeks after the massacre, a suicide car bomb exploded outside a popular hotel known as Nasa-Hablod hotel two, close to the presidential palace, killing at least 13 innocent victims and wounding more than 16 people. Two more blasts were heard, one when an attacker detonated a suicide vest sending more victims to the hospitals that were already jammed with casualties.
The failure to protect civilians is attributed to poor leadership. Failure of leadership goes beyond just one or two individuals within the government, or specific political leaders, it refers to management at all levels. For instance, the attack indicates the failure of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Internal Security, the National Intelligence and Security (NISA), the national police force, and the military leadership of the country, due to lack of security strategy and poor communication and coordination between security services.
This includes a failure to be proactive in effectively addressing the problem of insecurity to the extent that various violent crimes, including bomb blasts, killings and assassinations have continued unabated without being addressed, detected, or the culprits and perpetrators apprehended and brought to justice. Likewise, it is the failure of the head of the judiciary that accused or apparent convicts are not being put on trial and punished promptly to serve as a warning to others with such intentions.
In addition, it was a failure by the policymakers acting on behalf of the Mayor of Mogadishu as well as the NISA Mogadishu division and the police division in Mogadishu, that they were not successful in their duties to secure the city and protect its citizens – failing to look into fundamental security policy failure inherited from previous administrations, due to a lack of clear-cut goals, visions, delivery, and the intersection of every stage of the policy process.
This sits within the context of an absence of clear direction on policy mission. It is clear that the resultant confusion stemmed from unclear policy, and lack of judicial accuracy. The point that these security and intelligence failures continue to occur indicates that something is not functioning at the highest levels, and that large-scale, essential reform to the security policies are required.
TOP TWEETS
@ahmedvision1: Without first securing our peace we can not think about economic growth, quality education, employment opportunity and prosperous Somalia, waa markaagi, maantay najoogtaa, qeyb kanoqo #KacdoonkaNabadda
@USAIDSomalia: @USAID partners with @AaminAmbulance to provide search & rescue equip & training to help save lives in#Somalia @DrMaryanQasim
@engyarisow: Turkey’s engagement in #Somalia has resulted in visible results to the country in every field from infrastructure…
@SadiqKhan: London stands with the Somalian people after further attacks in Mogadishu this weekend. We must all unite against global terrorism.
@RadioErgo: #Somalia: Women dying in childbirth due to lack of health services in Bakool http://bit.ly/2zQLktq
@AbdulBillowAli: Militants who killed 23 at #Mogadishu hotel used intelligence service ID cards. #Somaliahttps://www.theguardian.com/
@alldhacdo: Drought in Somalia drives children from school Share http://www.marqaati.com/2017/
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Kheyre makes a speech during the celebration of the 94th anniversary of the proclamation of Turkish independence.
Photo: @SomaliPM