September 15, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Uganda seizes explosives, suicide vests from suspected al Shabaab cell
15 Sept- Source: Star-Kenya- 334 words
Police in the Ugandan capital Kampala seized “substantial amounts of explosives” and suicide vests in raids on a suspected al Shabaab cell that was planning an imminent attack, a Ugandan official said in an interview on Sunday.
Police arrested 19 people in the operation on Saturday, and Information Minister Rose Namayanja urged the public to “remain vigilant” as Uganda continues its investigation into the planned attack. “The operation is still going on,” Namayanja said. “We just want to ensure that we exhaust all the leads so that there are no more terrorist cells.”
Ugandan authorities say they have increased security at hotels and other key sites, including Entebbe International Airport, since making the arrests.
Key Headlines
- Somali PM addresses delegates in Baidoa Reconciliation Conference (Radio bar-kulan)
- Row Brewing Between Kenya Somalia over Indian Ocean Waters (K24TV)
- President Hassan visits renovation project at Aden Adde international airport (Radio Mogadishu)
- Jubba Official: Juba reconciliation conference will be held as planned (Radio Goobjoog)
- Main agenda of Baidoa Conference is reconciliation (Radio Dalsan)
- African Union Forces Destroy al Shabaab Camps in South Somalia (Bloomberg)
- Three die of hunger in the outskirts of El-wak district (Radio Goobjoog)
- Uganda seizes explosives suicide vests from suspected al Shabaab cell (Star-Kenya)
- Karaan residents arrested for failing to install security spotlights (Radio Dalsan)
- Uganda: Scores arrested in police operation against al Shabaab (Observer)
- Banadir administration plans to renovate government centers (Radio Goobjoog)
- Kenya: State threatens to close mosques over terror links (Standard Media)
- Kenya Police gun down alleged terrorist in morning raid (Daily Nation)
- Somaliland President Silanyo attends Alpha University graduation (Somaliland Informer)
- Why splintered al Shabaab worries security experts (theeastafrican)
- Raysut Cement to construct a new terminal in Somaliland (worldcement)
- Somalia: the disabled pray for peace (Presstv)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali PM addresses delegates in Baidoa Reconciliation Conference
15 Sept- Source: Radio bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu- 118 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed on Sunday addressed Somali delegates in the reconciliation conference in Baidoa town, the provincial capital of Bay region.
During his opening remarks, the prime minister called on the delegates in the conference to work together in achieving peace and unity among communities in south western regions of the country.
He said the federal government will support the outcome of the ongoing reconciliation conference and an inclusive regional state for Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle regions.
The prime minister hailed Somali Parliament Speaker, Prof. Mohamed Osman Jawari for his courageous and tireless efforts to find lasting solutions to the political standoff in south western regions.
President Hassan visits renovation project at Aden Adde international airport
15 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Dalsan/SNTV-240 words
The president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited construction project at Aden Adde International Airport. The government of Turkey is doing innovation at Aden Adde International Airport.
The president was together with Minister for Transport and Aviation among other important dignitaries. The project is being implemented by Turkish firm called Favori. President Hassan said he liked the project which Favori is implementing at Aden Adde International Airport. He also called the people to take part in the reconstruction of the country. “Currently, there is big development going on in the country. The construction that is underway being done by Favori is changing a lot for the better”. The president said.
“The airport will be renovated up to the world standard airports”. President Hassan added.
Aden Adde International Airport formerly known as Mogadishu International Airport, is an international airport serving Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. It is named after Aden Abdullah Osman Daar, the first President of Somalia.
Originally a modest-sized airport, the facility grew considerably in size in the post-independence period after numerous successive renovation projects. With the outbreak of the civil war in 1991, Aden Adde International flight services experienced routine disruptions. However, with the security situation in Mogadishu greatly improved in the late 2010–2011 period, large-scale rehabilitation of the grounds’ infrastructure and services once again resumed. By early 2013, the airport had restored most of its facilities and introduced several new features, with further upgrades in the works.
Jubba Official: Juba reconciliation conference will be held as planned
15 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Kulmiye- 115 words
The committee organizing second phase of Juba reconciliation conference stated that the forum will be held as it was planned without delay.
The chairman of the committee Abdi Baaley Hussein confirmed that they are actively getting ready for the opening of the conference adding that he is not aware that the conference was rescheduled. Mr. Baaley encouraged the sides attending the conference should not listen the claims that the conference was postponed.
The remarks of the committee comes a time when the former defense minister Barre Adan Shire alias Barre Hiirale announced that the conference was delayed to due interference from the interim Juba administration.
Main agenda of Baidoa Conference is reconciliation
15 Sept- Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Mogadishu- 160 words
The prime minister of the federal government of Somalia, Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed went to Baidoa to attend the reconciliation conference for south-western Somalia.
His delegation included cabinet ministers and MPs. They were received by the speaker of the parliament, Prof. Mohamed Isman Jawari who was already there for the conference. The conference will take a period of time of 45 days. The main agendas are reconciliation and making a unitary non-partisan administration for south-western Somalia. Elders, youths, women groups and religious leaders are among the different dignitaries who converged into Baidoa for the important reconciliation conference.
Prime Minister Abdiweli assured that the federal government will support the outcome. At the end of the conference, the delegates are supposed to set up an administration for the regions of Bay, Bakool and Lower Shabelle.
Prof. Jawari said the unity of the Somali people is very important and this is one conferences to bring together the large population of south-western Somalia together.
Three die of hunger in the outskirts of El-wak district
15 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 117 words
Three people have been confirmed dead due to hunger in areas under Elwak district of Gedo region on Monday. The three members that died include children in a village 15 KM to El-wak district.
Abdullahi Bule, one of the officials of El-wak administration confirmed the death of the three persons in the outskirts of El-wak district to Goobjoog FM
Many people mostly children have died of starvation in Burdhubo district before couple of months after Al-shabab blocked the routes entering the town.
Gedo is one of the regions that Somalia’s National Disaster Agency cautioned could face dire shortage of food and water similar to 2011 extreme famine.
Karaan residents arrested for failing to install security spotlights
15 Sept- Source: Radio Dalsan- 129 words
The administration of Mogadishu’s Kaaraan District arrested nearly twenty residents of that district after they have failed to obey an order wanting all residents of that district to install spotlights in front of their houses for security purposes during the night.
Mohamed Ibrahim Yussuf, the Deputy Commissioner for Security and Politics told Dalsan Radio that after survey, they have seen many houses without the spotlights. “We have seen many houses without the spotlights..In our survey, we have caught almost twenty residents who failed to comply with the order by the district administration”. Mr. Yussuf said. “We arrested those and others were charged fines”. He added. He however said this order applies only to those who have electricity installed in their house but not the people with no electricity.
Banadir administration plans to renovate government centers
15 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Kulmiye- 163 words
The administration of Banadir region is planning to regenerate the important government centers in Mogadishu. The governor of Banadir region and mayor of Mogadishu Hassan Mohamed Hussein Muungaab supervising the reconstruction of the former local government center( Fisho Guverno) said his administration will give priority to the revival of all government centers that have been devastated by the civil war.
The mayor called the locals especially the business people to support Banadir administration to reconstruct government centers that have not been functioning over two decades so as to improve social services.
On Saturday the administration of Banadir has officially opened one of the important markets, Ansaloti market in Hamar Jajab district of Mogadishu.
After the collapse of central government led by Siyad Barre many government centers have been devastated by the civil war and have not received any repairing up to date that forced Somalia federal government to resort on overcrowded certain centers in the capital.
Somaliland President Silanyo attends Alpha University graduation
14 Sept – Source: Somaliland Informer – 127 words
Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo has on Saturday attended a highly and well organized ceremony held for the 3rd batch of students that graduated from Alpha University. President Silanyo has been accompanied by some members of the ministers.
Mr. Silanyo made a speech at the venue has congratulated the new students that finished tertiary education from Alpha. He said that he was happy to see youngsters completing knowledge from local universities.
Two disabled students were among the graduates and president Silanyo did not hesitate to send felicitation. Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Maal, president of Alpha University has congratulated the graduates.
He further went on to say that he is committed to provide quality education to the students that are ready to make a big difference to the country.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Uganda seizes explosives, suicide vests from suspected al Shabaab cell
15 Sept- Source: Star-Kenya- 334 words
Police in the Ugandan capital Kampala seized “substantial amounts of explosives” and suicide vests in raids on a suspected al Shabaab cell that was planning an imminent attack, a Ugandan official said in an interview on Sunday.
Police arrested 19 people in the operation on Saturday, and Information Minister Rose Namayanja urged the public to “remain vigilant” as Uganda continues its investigation into the planned attack. “The operation is still going on,” Namayanja said. “We just want to ensure that we exhaust all the leads so that there are no more terrorist cells.”
Ugandan authorities say they have increased security at hotels and other key sites, including Entebbe International Airport, since making the arrests.
Uganda: Scores arrested in police operation against al Shabaab
15 Sept- Source: the Observer- 406 words
At the weekend, foreign nationals were arrested in a pre-planned police- led secretive operation that targeted a cell in Kampala reportedly run by the Somali militant group al Shabaab.
The operation mostly covered the city centre. Police spokesman Fred Enanga said on Saturday that some foreign nationals were arrested but declined to reveal their identities.
“All I can tell you is that the operation is still going on,” Enanga said.
In response to news of the operation, the US embassy in Kampala posted a statement on its website on Saturday, urging its citizens to be vigilant and avoid crowded places.
Kenya: State threatens to close mosques over terror links
15 Sept – Source: Standard Media – 150 words
The Government has warned that it will close mosques which are being used to radicalise youths to join terror groups like al Shabaab. The Director of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Ndegwa Muhoro said some mosques are being used to recruit youths to join the group under the disguise that they were places of worship.
Last week, Mr Ndegwa said the Government had closed a mosque in Machakos where he said over 30 youths were arrested while they were being recruited to join al Shabaab.
The CID chief said intelligence showed that fiery preachers are duping youths to join the terrorist organisation through radical teachings. He cited the Coast region, Mombasa Road, Kayole and Komarock as among the areas the Government was concerned could be breeding zones for terrorists. Ndegwa regretted that the youth are being linked to the criminal group by prominent men who he said are profiting from al Shabaab activities.
Kenya Police gun down alleged terrorist in morning raid
14 Sept – Source: Daily Nation – 116 words
Police in Mombasa Sunday raided a house in Bondeni where they shot a man they described as a terrorism suspect, and whom they blamed for the recent killing of a Russian and a German tourist in the Old Town.
Across the border in Lower Juba, Somalia, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) led an onslaught on Al-Shabab fighterson Friday, killing 33 and injuring more than 100.
In Mombasa, County Police Commander Robert Kitur said the man who was gunned down in the early morning operation was a wanted terrorist. He said the suspect’s brother fled.
A contingent of anti-terrorism officers stormed the traditional Swahili house at 4.30am after a tip-off that the suspects were hiding there.
Row Brewing Between Kenya, Somalia over Indian Ocean Waters
14 Sept- Source: K24TV/KTNTV- 2:03 mins
A row is brewing between Kenya and Somalia over a maritime border dispute with the Somalia government having sued Kenya at the hague – based international court of justice over ownership of territorial waters of the Indian Ocean.
The suit comes just days after lucrative oil and gas reserves were discovered off the Kenyan Coast. Should Somalia win the case, Kenya risks not only losing its prospective oil wells which are mostly located in the contested area, but also becoming virtually landlocked as it would lose most of its teritorial waters to the horn of Africa nation.
As Yusuf Ibrahim reports, Kenya is reportedly engaging in negotiations with the Somali government in a bid to resolve the dispute.
Why splintered al Shabaab worries security experts
13 Sept- Source: theeastafrican- 498 words
Following the killing of al Shabaab leader Ahmed Godane and several field commanders, the next challenge security agencies in the region are facing is how to deal with a fragmented terrorist group, which present significant threat.
Security analysts say while Godane’s death and al Shabaab’s continual loss of territory in Somalia will weaken and splinter the group, the developments are unlikely to impact significantly on its operations.
The group, according to the analysts, will maintain asymmetrical warfare for some time as it leverages its Amniyat branch to reassert its presence.
The Amniyat, one of three sections in al Shabaab’s command structure, comprises highly trained and specialised operatives that are charged with intelligence gathering, assassination and bombing missions. It was behind the attack last September on the Westgate Mall in Nairobi.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
African Union Forces Destroy al Shabaab Camps in South Somalia
15 Sept- Source: Bloomberg- 165 words
The African Union intervention force in Somalia said it destroyed two camps of the al Shabaab militant group near the southern town of Badhadhe.
Kenyan and Ugandan forces carried out the Sept. 12 attack on the village of Lagta Berta, the African Union Mission in Somalia, or AMISOM, said in an e-mailed statement dated Sept. 13. The militants had fled to the area from their stronghold in Barawe, which is the target of an advance by Ugandan troops, according to Amisom.
“Al Shabaab suffered heavy losses,” Amisom said, adding that the area was “a hideout for the terrorists.”
Raysut Cement to construct a new terminal in Somaliland
15 Sept- Source: worldcement- 139 words
Raysut Cement Company has signed a joint venture agreement with Barwaaquo Cement Company for the construction of a new packaging and distribution terminal at Berbera port, the commercial capital of Somaliland. The companies will reportedly invest a total of US$7.5 million in the project.
According to a filing released by Raysut Cement, the agreement was signed by Eng Salim Bin Alawi Bin Mohammed Baabood, Chief Executive Officer of Raysut Cement, and Ismail Saeed Hussain, Board Chairman of Barwaaquo Cement. Baabood noted that the agreement formed part of Raysut Cement’s expansion plans, and would help the company to increase its exports and diversify its source of income.
The terminal will have a storage capacity of 12 000 t and construction works are expected to be completed by the end of 2015.
Somalia: the disabled pray for peace
14 Sept- Source: Presstv- 2:10 mins
Tired of the endless conflict, people with disabilities in Somalia have called for an immediate end to all hostilities as they seek to highlight their plight.
According to the Somali Disability Empowerment Network (SODEN), an estimated 30,000 people are living with disabilities in the capital Mogadishu. And as they met here, they discussed their challenges. Apart from the illiteracy, lack of basic skills and extreme poverty, stigmatization by the society is their main concern. Bashiro Abdi, one of the many disabled Somalis, is visually impaired, but she constantly encourages her fellow people, to remain united.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Oddly enough also it is the Somali weddings that take place in American and European cities that wholeheartedly accepted such alien cultural austerity and it has to be a place like Abu Dhabi, in the heart of the Arab world, that Somali people find the mental freedom to invoke the true synergy of their culture and Islam in the way they knew it over the centuries.”
Breaking Barricades: A Wedding Restores My Hope in Somali Cultural Festivity
14 Sept – Source: Hiiraan Online – 1010 words
It was one of the most refreshing and reassuring weddings I attended for a long time, almost over a quarter of a century. Refreshing because since the grip of extremist trends of Ideologies that shun everything that appears, tastes and sounds genuine and indigenous in local cultures and replaces it with its narrow and sterile interpretation that deprives all kinds of enjoyment, music and beauty from life, it was the first time I saw an inclusive wedding where all community members regardless of sex and age celebrated together the delight and festivities of a real Somali wedding.
It was refreshing because it was a joy to see family couples, sometimes with their children, coming to the wedding hall and taking their seats together. No walls divided between women and men, no barricades, no segregation; all well groomed and decently but elegantly dressed for the occasion with traditional Somali Diric and hagoog dominating the scene while the youth dressed trendy clothes to their taste in all fashion styles. Even elderly women who came were dressed in reminiscently Somali style without alien black shrouds.
“What I’ve tried to do is create a sense of the intimacy of violence,” Mr. Reed, 49, said in an interview at HBO’s Manhattan headquarters last week, shortly before the premiere screening. “It’s that collision of worlds that happens in a protected space. There they are eating cake at the cafe. Here they are lying in a pool of blood.”
In This Horror Film, Blood Is All Too Real
14 Sept- Source: New York Times-811 Words
One year ago, gunmen from al Shabaab militant group in Somalia laid siege to the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya. Armed with AK-47s and grenades, they stalked their victims from a gourmet burger restaurant at the entrance to the vegetable aisle of a grocery store at the back.
The British filmmaker Dan Reed assembled thousands of hours of footage gleaned from more than 100 security cameras inside the mall, video from television crews and modest cellphones, as well as still photographs. Then he and his team tracked down more than 200 people and interviewed 82 of them on camera, many survivors or their rescuers.
The result is a harrowing hour long documentary, “Terror at the Mall,” airing on HBO on Monday night. Tracer bullets slash across blurry closed-circuit footage, blood stains tile floors where children skipped moments before, and family members recount in horrific detail the deaths of loved ones.
A tough year for al Shabaab
13 Sept- Source: The Reporter-235 Words
Last year also concluded with another unprecedented phenomena in the Horn of Africa, which saw the death of Ahmed Abdi Godane, head of al Shabaab militants, in Somalia after a US drone strike. During the last Ethiopian month of the year, US forces struck Godane’s encampment in south-central Somalia with Hellfire missiles and laser-guided munitions. The Pentagon did not confirm his death until August 5, 2014.
Following the news of Godane’s death, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, welcomed the death of the head of al Shabaab.
Al Shabaab on its part admitted it the next day when announcing the appointment of Abu Ubeid Ahmed Omar as Godane’s replacement. President Mohamud said the US forces had conducted the airstrike that killed Godane with the full knowledge and agreement of the Federal Government of Somalia.
Top tweets
@MoulidHujale Drone journalsm in #Somalia. foreign media using drones 2 shoot ova #Mogadishu &surrounding areas. is the gov. aware? http://bit.ly/X4OnKv
@somaligov #Somalia: President H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visits the construction of the Aden Abdulle International Airporthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?
@KentPage #Somalia: @unicefsomalia helps Amimo and 40K children go to school for first time http://uni.cf/1xJidFo pic.twitter.com/vPBSEwoDpO
@DalmarMillenium Headquarters of the Ministry of Culture & Higher education renovated and re-opened #Mogadishu#Somalia pic.twitter.com/rOYySvsLYr
@amisomsomalia #PeaceDay Reflect with #AMISOM on the value of peace for Somalia! With peace, effective health care will be possible. pic.twitter.com/VSuBNXHY2w
Image of the day
Construction of New terminal at aden adde airport going to plan #Mogadishu #Somalia. Photo: @DalmarMillenium