October 9, 2017 | Daily Monitoring Report
Militants Attack Checkpoint In Somalia’s Puntland, Seven Dead
09 October – Source: Reuters – 257 Words
Islamist Al-Shabaab militants attacked a checkpoint in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, killing at least seven people in the early hours of Monday, police said. The fighters then ambushed officers rushing in to help colleagues on the outskirts of the city of Bosaso, an officer at the scene told Reuters. Al-Shabaab said it took the checkpoint then left, though the police said they fought off the assault. Al Shabaab has launched a string of attacks on Somalia’s capital Mogadishu and other areas controlled by the federal government in a bid to oust the Western-backed authorities and impose the group’s interpretation of Islamic law.
Attacks are relatively rare in Puntland, which has its own government and security forces patrolling its territory on the northeastern tip of the Horn of Africa, jutting out into the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. “At about 1 a.m., many well-armed Al-Shabaab fighters attacked us from all directions in an attempt to capture the checkpoint,” police captain Abdifatah Mohamed said.
Three police and four civilians died and at least 13 others were wounded in the clashes, he said over the phone from the checkpoint. Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabaab’s military operation spokesman, said its fighters killed seven soldiers and wounded 11 others. “We captured the Bosaso checkpoint and left this morning. We also ambushed a police reinforcement,” he said. Puntland is also home to a splinter group of Al-Shabaab that has sworn allegiance to Islamic State. Security sources say a small contingent of foreign fighters is based there.
Key Headlines
- Militants Attack Checkpoint In Somalia’s Puntland Seven Dead (Reuters)
- Somali Government Forces Arrest A Soldier Who Injured An MP In Jowhar (Shabelle News)
- Somalia: UN Encourages Somali Political Leaders To Work Together (Garowe Online)
- Government To Clear All Salary Arrears By December – PM Kheyre (Goobjoob News)
- Somalia Rises To Third Top Buyer Of Kenya Goods (Business Daily)
- Why Turkey Remains Somalia’s Greatest Friend? (Goobjoog News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali Government Forces Arrest A Soldier Who Injured An MP In Jowhar
09 October – Source: Shabelle News – 87 Words
Somali government forces have managed to arrest a soldier reported to have opened fire at members of HirShabelle state Parliament in Jowhar town. A lawmaker sustained a gunshot wound from the fire, while others escaped unhurt from the attack, according to Mohamed Osman Olow, a legislator, who spoke to Radio Shabelle. The soldier was taken to custody, where he is being questioned now. The incident took place near the police station of Jowhar, and the motive of assailant still remains unclear. The local authorities say they are investigating the shooting.
Somalia: UN Encourages Somali Political Leaders To Work Together
09 October – Source: Garowe Online – 169 Words
The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has encouraged the Somali Federal Government and regional states to start dialogue boosting relations, Garowe Online reports. In a leaked letter sent to Galmudug President Ahmed Duale Gelle, and obtained by GO, the UN envoy for Somalia and UNSOM head, Michael Keating urged leaders to end the current political tension through constructive talks.
Mr. Keating called for a strong relationship that enables Somali Federal Government and its Federal Member States (FMS) to work together and advance pressing political, security, economic and humanitarian priorities. “Strengthening the relationship between the federal government and FMS is the highest priority and essential to the success of Somalia’s state-building efforts at this critical junction,” read the letter dated 8th October. “The UN and International Partners are engaging with the federal government to deliver this message. UNSOM called on Galmudug top leaders to solve the current political crises, and maintain peace and stability in the region already beset by conflict, Al Shabaab insurgency, recurrent drought, and famine.
Government To Clear All Salary Arrears By December – PM Kheyre
09 October – Source: Goobjoog News – Words
The government will clear all arrears owed to public servants and members of the disciplined forces by December, Prime Minister Hassan Kheyre has said adding that his government will not incur any external credit until close of the year. Speaking during a fundraiser event for the Military Welfare Committee Sunday evening, the PM said his government was committed to ensuring that all government workers and security forces receive all their dues owed by December. “I want to categorically inform the Somali people wherever they maybe, on 31st December, 2017, anyone working for the Somali government whether they are in the military or a civil servant will receive their salaries and the government will pay all its [local credits] from January to December,” the PM said. “I also pledge that Somalia will not incur international credit for 2017.”
The International Monetary Fund last month urged the government to avoid accruing arrears which it said had ballooned over time. It also urged Somalia to align its budgetary expenditure with realistic revenue projections or confirmed grants to avoid accumulation of domestic arrears. The global lender noted Somalia’s domestic arrears had accumulated numerous times in the past owing to budgets based on unrealistic revenue projections echoing a World Bank warning July in its second Economic Update report. The Prime Minister also challenged Somalis to contribute in supporting the Military Welfare Committee formed this year to provide assistance to Somali military. “The men and women standing beside me wearing military, police and prison warder’s uniforms indicate they are ready to die for their country while in the prime of their lives. What are you as Somali citizen ready to do for the Somali nation tonight?” Khaire said the government had pledged to contribute $20,000 to support the committee.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia Rises To Third Top Buyer Of Kenya Goods
08 October – Source: Business Daily – 342 Words
Exports to Somalia increased by 33.5 per cent in the first half of the year, making it the third largest destination for Kenya’s merchandise in Africa after other markets shrunk. Exports grew to Sh10.71 billion in the first six months compared to Sh8.02 billion over the same period in 2016, data released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicate. The performance sets Somalia apart as the only significant market outlet in Africa to record growth months after Nairobi resolved the miraa (khat) trade row with Mogadishu.
Somali overtook Egypt, South Sudan and Rwanda among the top buyers of Kenyan goods. Last year, miraa, which accounts for up to 90 per cent of the goods that Kenya exports to Somalia annually was the subject of numerous trade disputes, which started with claims of 100 per cent duty and climaxed with a complete ban. The export ban followed an early July 2016 visit to Hargeisa by a Kenyan delegation led by former Meru Governor Peter Munya, ostensibly to resolve the tariff row. Kenya later resolved the dispute, allowing miraa exports to resume. The KNBS data shows that Kenya’s other export markets in Africa shrunk with performance of Uganda, the single-largest outlet for manufactured merchandise remaining flat at Sh30 billion. Tanzania, usually Kenya’s second largest market in the continent, recorded a 32 per cent drop to Sh13.24 billion from Sh19.43 billion over the same period last year.
AMISOM Donates Equipment To South West State Police Force
09 October – Source: AMISOM – 293 Words
AMISOM Police has donated an assortment of office equipment to the South West State Police Force to help enhance security in the regional state. The equipment was handed over, last week, to Gen. Mahat Abdirahman Adan, the Commander of South West State Police Force, by John Ambayo, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police Team Leader in South West state. The equipment which included computers, printers, furniture, filing cabinets, solar lamps and stationery will be distributed to police stations in the federal state.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Ambayo said the donation was meant to improve service delivery by the police and also maintain law and order in the region. “Today we donated items that will support and enhance their [South West State Police Force officers] capacity to deliver services better. AMISOM remains committed to fulfilling this mandate,” said the AMISOM official. AMISOM Police has played a crucial role in training and mentoring local officers, both at the federal and state level. On his part, Gen. Adan described the gesture as timely, given the dire need for modern equipment by Somali Police Force to help improve the country’s security.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Above all, the opening of the base is a continuation of the recent Somalia-Turkey relations, which began in earnest when Somalia was in throes of combinations of natural and manmade calamities. A devastating famine, the first of its kind in 60 years which killed over 250,000 people according to the United Nations, coupled with ruinous war pitting the government against Al-Shabaab militants, a formidable foe then as they are now, put Somalia on the brink of sudden death.”
Why Turkey Remains Somalia’s Greatest Friend?
08 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 723 Words
If you have not been following Somalia politics of late, something extraordinary happened a week ago. Yet again, Turkey, a country with a population of about 80 million and a true ally of Somalia, pulled off another successful venture – this time a military complex, cementing its place in history as the country that stood by an impoverished and war-ravaged nation of 12 million people on the hour of need. Believed to cost $ 50 million, the military training center is an ultramodern base, spread over four square kilometers, which will overall train about 10,000 Somali forces, and has the capacity to train 1,500 soldiers at a time.
“This is the largest training base of its kind outside of Turkey,” Hulusi Akar, Turkey’s chief of General Staff, said at the ceremony. “The government of Turkey and its army will provide all the needed support to our brothers in Somalia.” Indeed, the base, while serving as a training ground for the nascent Somali security force, offers a bigger and a more crucial purpose. In the long term, it will deter the predatory advances of Somali regional enemies. Countries like Ethiopia, with a history of persistently intervening in Somalia, including in 2007 when it violently dislodged Islamic Courts Union from Mogadishu, even though it did not pose any credible security threat.
Somaliland, the self-declared republic breakaway region in northern Somalia, which sees Somalia as its strategic enemy, is also weary of the base. In statement after the ceremony, it said it is cautiously watching the base. Above all, the opening of the base is a continuation of the recent Somalia-Turkey relations, which began in earnest when Somalia was in throes of combinations of natural and manmade calamities. A devastating famine, the first of its kind in 60 years which killed over 250,000 people according to the United Nations, coupled with ruinous war pitting the government against Al-Shabaab militants, a formidable foe then as they are now, put Somalia on the brink of sudden death.
Then in 2011, like a messiah from heaven, Erdogan, the prime minister of Turkey, leading a large entourage of ministers, their wives and businessmen visited Mogadishu against the prevailing narrative that Mogadishu was a no go zone for foreign leaders, given the security threat Al- Shabaab posed. In Somalia, Erdogan’s visit galvanized everything. But one particular effect, more than the great developmental and humanitarian projects he later embarked on, was that in the face of gloom and hopelessness, Somalia realized they have a dependable brother; one who is here to stay in the foreseeable future to help and not exploit, like many have done before. “We have really struggled to make Somalia’s voice heard, to make those who do not see or feel what’s going on in Somalia, see and feel,” Erdogan said.
TOP TWEETS
@MohamadDuale: #Somalia :Kaah International Microfinance Services among 3 shortlisted for fifth EFICA http://www.horndiplomat.com/
.@iRiseHub:Day 7: Pitching Day, Minister @AmbGamal & UN officials are currently touring the #Innov4Som booths. #Mogadishu #SomaliaRising
.@DalsanFM: UN Calls For Dialogue Over Galmudug Crisis –http://radiodalsan.com/en/un-
.@engyarisow: Correction – #Somalia mini-football team loses 2 – 3 against Brazil in Tunis as part of the World Mini Football Tournament 2017 – unlucky this time
.@Goobjoognews: GOVERNMENT TO clear all salary arrears by December- PM Khaire –
.@HarunMaruf: BREAKING: At least three dead 10 injured after suspected militants attacked a security checkpoint near Bosaso early Monday: @voasomali
.@Aynte: Day two of the AU/IGAD Strategic Consultation Conference on the future of the Horn of #Africa. Discussions on peace & development nexus.
.@engyarisow: #Somalia: Committee to raise funds for security forces launches their public awareness campaign in #Mogadishuas the PM made historic speech
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre addresses an event organised by the Committee to Raise Funds for Security Forces.
Photo: Mr. Ali Ducale