September 18, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali government praises Britain for its role on Somalia’s progress

18 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan- 205 words

Somali Minister of Information Mustafa Sheikh Ali Dhuhulow has praised the role of the government of Britain on Somalia’s recovery and developmental progress ahead of a security meeting in London which is jointly chaired by the governments of Britain and Somalia.

The security meeting in London is designed to discuss ways to enhance and provide more support to the Somali National Army as the country continues to recover from decades of chaos and civil unrest.

“We are delighted to attend this very important security event in London that aims to bring peace and stability to Somalia. The UK has been a very strong ally to us, as we have seen from their constant commitment and leadership on Somalia.” Dhuhulow said.

The security meeting comes at a time when Somali National Army and African Union troops in Somalia continue to make major advances on al Shabaab territories as the military campaign against the militant group intensifies in south and central Somalia.

Somali delegation in London including the prime minister and the ministers of defense and information are expected to outline the government’s vision for the development of the national army including the integration of regional militias in compliance with the human rights and the arms embargo.

Key Headlines

Parliamentarians called to return to Mogadishu ahead of the 5th session (Radio RBC)
Somali government praises Britain for its role on Somalia’s progress (Radio Mogadishu)
Somali PM: Amnesty for al Shabaab militants ‘is working (BBC)
London conference on Somalia due to open (Radio Goobjoog)
President Mahmoud describes Kuwait Amir as ‘Humanitarian Leader’ (Radio Mogadishu/RBC)
Federal government urges the remaining sides outside Juba reconciliation to join negotiation (Radio Goobjoog)
IJA leader appeals for humanitarian aid amid drought crisis (Radio Bar-kulan)
Qatar charities distribute 4000 sheep in Somalia (Peninsula Qatar)
USAID promises to support Somalia tackle drought crisis (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somalia: Puntland Govt bans lobster trade (Garowe Online)
Firm to launch Virtual Banking Services in Somalia (Capital News)
Dozens of al Shabaab members taking advantage of amnesty ‘every day’ (Sabahi Online)
Assistant Chief critically injured after grenade attack in Mandera (Daily Nation)
Mogadishu residents rally for peace (Sabahi Online)
Somalia to rewrite contracts in response to corruption concerns (Financial Times)
Ignorance and emotions is the main cause of armed conflict in muslim world says spokesman of Somali scholars (Somali Current)

PRESS STATEMENT

Minister of Information Praises UK’s Role on Somalia ahead of today’s London Security Event18 September 2014

18 Sept- Source:Ministry of Information- 515 words

H.E. Mustafa Duhulow, Minister of Information today praised UK’s role on Somalia ahead of today’s London Security Event that will be attended by H.E. Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, the Prime Minister of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed Sheikh Hassan, the Minister of Defence, H.E. Mustafa Duhulow and senior officials from the Federal Government of Somalia including the Joint Chief of Somali National Army Major General Dahir Adan Elmi (Indha Qarsho). The meeting takes place at Lancaster House, co-hosted by the UK and Somalia, to discuss support to the Somali National Army.

The Minister of Information said: “We are delighted to attend this very important security event in London that aims to bring peace and stability to Somalia.

The UK has been a very strong ally to us, as we have seen from their constant commitment and leadership on Somalia. Previous Somalia conferences in London galvanized the International Community’s support towards Somalia, for which the Federal Government and the people of Somalia are very grateful.

his event in London comes at the right time as the Somali National Army, with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), are in the middle of Operation Indian Ocean, a military operation to clear out the remaining strongholds of the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab.”

The Minister of Information continued: “One of the objectives of the security event in London is to ensure the optimization of donor support to the SNA to enable them to bring long-term stability in the country. The Federal Government of Somalia will outline its vision for the development of the SNA and will set out the associated pathways for the integration of regional militias, compliance with the arms embargo, fiscal planning and human rights compliance. The expected outcomes will include an agreed path for development of the SNA to 2019, a commitment to focus donor support on SNA’s operational capability and a commitment between Somalia and the UK to continue to work as partners in order to convince the international community to support the development of Somali National Army. We also expect donors to outline additional support, details of which could well be announced at the end of today’s meeting.”

The Minister concluded: “The Federal Government of Somalia thanks the UK Government. Under the leadership of the Right Hon David Cameron MP, the Prime Minister of UK, the UK has shown continual commitment and leadership on Somalia. The UK has not only hosted a number of conferences and events here in London but has also shown serious commitment on the ground, such as establishing UK Embassy in Mogadishu (the first western Embassy in 25 years), supporting the Stabilization Plan, the development of human rights, media sector development, the judiciary and many other aspects. We will never forget the support of the UK and we are committed to taking advantage of this support in order to bring peace and stability in Somalia and to achieve our vision which is to see a Somalia that is stable in terms of security, politics and economy so that we can be a useful member of world community.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Parliamentarians called to return to Mogadishu ahead of the 5th session

18 Sept – Source: Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu – 190 words

The Chair of the Federal Parliament of Somalia has on Wednesday informed the Members of the House of the People to end their annual leave and return to Mogadishu this week ahead of the opening of the 5th session.

“I call my fellow parliamentarians to return back before 20th September in order we can have time to launch the fifth session opening ceremony,” Second Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Mahad Abdalla Awad said in a press conference in Mogadishu on Wednesday.

Mr Awad also reminded the legislators that there will be tougher agendas for the upcoming fifth session of the parliament including the approval of numerous proposed legislation from the cabinet. “All MPs should come to the capital, Mogadishu as their constitutional leave ended. We have the responsibility as MPs to execute the tasks we were assigned,” Mr Awad added.

The security of the parliament seat has been a hotspot issue since al Shabaab carried two major attacks on the parliament building in Mogadishu this year. The militant group also claimed the killing of five lawmakers of Somalia Federal Parliament this year making for the MPs the most deadly year.

Somali government praises Britain for its role on Somalia’s progress

18 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan- 205 words

The security meeting in London is designed to discuss ways to enhance and provide more support to the Somali National Army as the country continues to recover from decades of chaos and civil unrest.

London conference on Somalia due to open

19 Sept– Source: Radio Goobjoog- 227 words

An international conference aimed at rebuilding Somali National army and tightening security begins in London today. Regenerating the security forces and tackling insecurity cases are among the principal issues being discussed in the conference. The conference is hosted by the government UK.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and some of his cabinet ministers represent Somalia in this important conference. Delegates from different countries especially Somalia partners and organizations are expected to attend the conference.

PM Abdiweli is anticipated to present the achievements of his government the past six months in the field of security particularly the efforts of government forces to seize many areas from al Shabaab through offensive military and show international partners the need of getting strong Somali forces who are capable of taking the lead from the over 20,000 African Union peacekeeping troops in the country.

May 2013 a similar international conference co-hosted by the governments of UK and Somalia was held in London. The conference was aimed at providing support to the government of Somalia in restructuring the country after more than two decades of conflict.

Prime Minister Cameron, in his opening remarks of the conference expressed a good hope of long-term security plan that helps Somalia build up its army, police and judiciary. He added that UK will not allow Somalia to fall back.

President Mahmoud describes Kuwait Amir as ‘Humanitarian Leader’

18 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC – 114 words

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has thanked the role of Kuwait to support the drought hit people in Somalia and playing a leading role on the country’s humanitarian efforts. President Sheikh Mohamud has lauded great philanthropic efforts exerted by His Highness the Amir locally and internationally.

In a letter addressed to the Kuwaiti Government, Somali President described Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the ‘Humanitarian Leader’. President Mahmoud will be addressing the United Nations to choose Kuwait as humanitarian center.

On his side, the Amir of Kuwait sent a reply cable thanking Somalia’s President for his warm greetings that reflect great brotherly ties between Kuwait and Somalia as two Muslims and Arab countries.

Federal government urges the remaining sides outside Juba reconciliation to join negotiation

18 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 138 words

The federal government of Somalia called on the sides that boycotted the second phase of Juba reconciliation conference to join the meeting.

The assistant minister for public works Mohamed Ismail Shuriye giving exclusive interview to Radio Goobjoog said the federal government has made efforts to end the political differences in Juba and Gedo regions. “The door is open for the politicians outside the reconciliation conference to join the negotiation,” said Shuriye

He noted that its necessary for the clans in Juba and Gedo regions to solve their difference through negotiation, peaceful and compromise adding that the federal will take every step possible solve the tensions in the region.

Several politicians boycotted the second phase of Juba reconciliation conference that has entered its third day in Kismayo.

IJA leader appeals for humanitarian aid amid drought crisis

18 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-kulan-124 words

Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, the leader of the Interim Jubba Administration has called on the international and local relief agencies as well as the federal government to provide humanitarian aid to the drought-hit families in Jubba and Gedo regions.

He made the call at the reconciliation conference in kismayo where he said thousands of families in Jubba and Gedo regions are affected by the drought in many parts of the country which destroyed their livelihoods.

The leader of the Interim Jubba Administration added that the drought-hit families in the area are in great need of urgent supplies of water, food and medicine.

Somali government has recently described Gedo region as one of the most drought-hit regions in the country.

Ignorance and emotions is the main cause of armed conflict in muslim world, says spokesman of Somali scholars

17 Sept – Source: Somali Current/Radio Mogadishu – 130 words

According to Sheikh Nur Barud, the spokesman of Somali scholars the growing number of armed Islamic groups in the Muslim world is due to ignorance and the lack of proper knowledge about religion.

Speaking during weekly program at Radio Mogadishu in Somali capital on Wednesday Sheikh Barud said it is unfortunate to see the growing number of armed Islamic groups calling for caliphate yet lacking the proper knowledge to achieve the goal.

“We need to ask where the groups such as al Shabaab, Boko Haram and ISIS got the Islam they practice,” he asks. “Killing innocent Muslims in the name of Jihad that is not Islam,” He said.

Sheikh Barud also blamed ignorance and emotions among the young Muslim generation as the key to rising conflict in the Muslim world.

USAID promises to support Somalia tackle drought crisis

18 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 167 words

USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa, Earl Gast on Wednesday briefed reporters at US embassies in Kenya and Ghana in a telephonic press conference over the plans of the agency in the continent in the years ahead.

Answering a question put to him by Zakariye Abdulkadir Amarre, a reporter from Bar-kulan at the US Embassy in Nairobi over the USAID’s strategy towards the drought crisis in Somalia, Gast stated that officials from the agency visited Somalia last year for discussions with the president.

He said they discussed on ways to build the capacity of the government as well as increasing aid delivery to the communities in recently liberated areas in the country.

He added that they are mindful of the drought conditions in many parts of the country and promised that the agency will continue to support the people of Somalia during these difficult times

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funds various developmental projects in Somalia. Listen below Earl Gast’s response on Somalia’s drought crisis.

Somalia: Puntland Govt bans lobster trade

17 Sept -Source: Garowe Online – 97 words

Puntland Government in northern Somalia has banned lucrative lobster trade until March 2015 on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports.

According to a press statement from Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Minister of State Abdirahman Kulmiye announced the ban on deep-sea lobsters, citing that the coveted species are on the verge of extinction.

“The depletion of marine resources, particularly lobsters is imminent,” said Kulmiye in the statement and urged fishermen and fishing cooperatives to comply with the ministerial decree. Continuing, he warned illegal foreign fishing vessels in the territorial waters against any breach and threatened with appropriate action.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Qatar charities distribute 4,000 sheep in Somalia

18 Sept – Source: Peninsula Qatar – 178 words

The Qatar Alliance for the Relief of Somalia and the Philippines, comprising Qatar Charity, Qatar Red Crescent, the Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah for Humanitarian Services Foundation (RAF) and Sheikh Eid bin Mohammed Al Thani Charity, has completed a number of early recovery projects for those affected by the cyclone that hit the region of Puntland in northeast Somalia last year.

The alliance distributed 4,000 sheep to 200 families affected by the hurricane; 20 per family, which made a significant difference to the quality of life of these families, as around 50 percent of the population of the state of Puntland is dependent on grazing, which was seriously affected by the hurricane and associated flooding.

Before the distribution of sheep the alliance coordinated with the official authorities and the local community to organise awareness programmes for the beneficiaries who were selected according to the criteria of the project, with the aim of raising public awareness of how to maximise the use of the sheep, including how to protect them pests and diseases that often infect livestock in Somalia.

Firm to launch Virtual Banking Services in Somalia

18 Sept- Source: Capital News- 228 words

Rapid Communications Limited, a fully owned Kenyan company recently acquired 16 percent shareholding in Nationlink telecom, a GSM operator, along with the license for banking services.
This has enabled the launch of Virtual Banking Services in Somalia.

The service will allow the market in Somalia to access various banking products virtually through the mobile phone. Rapid Communications Limited currently manages the content management system (CMS) platform for Nationlink telecom.

With this new opportunity, Rapid Communications Ltd hopes to take advantage of Somali remittance business estimated to be over $2 billion annually. The service will run on the back of E-mal mobile wallet solution currently deployed in Somalia.

Speaking after the deal signing, Rapid Communications Ltd Chief Executive Officer, Anwar Hussein, said Rapid intends to tap into its network of over 5,000 outlets in Europe, Middle East and the US offering Diaspora market remittance and banking products.

Dozens of al Shabaab members taking advantage of amnesty ‘every day’

17 Sept – Source: Sabahi Online – 119 words

At least 30 al Shabaab fighters are surrendering every day to the Somali government to take advantage of the 45-day amnesty window that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced, according to Ministry of National Security spokesperson Mohamed Yusuf Osman.

“We do not want to share with the media the exact number of people who have surrendered, but we receive at least 30 people who defect from al Shabaab every day,” Osman told Sabahi. “Some fighters have taken advantage of this opportunity, and we hope many others will take advantage of it.”

Osman told Sabahi that the amnesty is open to any member of al Shabaab — from senior leaders to low ranking fighters — and includes women and children who have been brainwashed.

Assistant Chief critically injured after grenade attack in Mandera

17 Sept – Source: Daily Nation – 96 words

An assistant Chief in Mandera County was Wednesday evening injured when unknown people hurled a grenade at his house. Muhamed Ibrahim, the assistant chief for Mandera Township, was in company of her 2year old daughter when the attackers struck.

Mandera Governor Ali Roba said the assistant chief who was critically injured while her daughter sustained minor injuries were rushed to Mandera district hospital for treatment.

“The unknown attackers first hurled a grenade and fired at him. Police on night patrol have responded and are pursuing the attackers,” said Mr Roba on Wednesday shortly after the attack.

Mogadishu residents rally for peace

17 Sept- Source: Sabahi Online- 230 words

More than 150 people on Tuesday (September 17th) gathered in Mogadishu to honour the International Day of Peace at a rally co-organised by journalists and the United Nations, Somalia’s RBC Radio reported.

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and the Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) have organised the event with funding from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. Representatives from various international and local non-governmental organisations attended the event.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali PM: Amnesty for al Shabaab militants ‘is working’

18 Sept – Source: BBC – 68 words

Somalia’s prime minister says members of the Somali militant Islamist group al Shabaab are responding to a government amnesty and have defected from the organisation. Just over two weeks ago, Somalia’s government confirmed the killing of the group’s then leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, in a US air strike. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said al Shabaab, which has links to al Qaeda, was divided, despite the appointment of a new leader.

Somalia to rewrite contracts in response to corruption concerns

17 Sept – Source: Financial Times – 137 words

Somalia is cancelling or renegotiating a series of high-profile contracts ranging from oil exploration to port operations as the country struggles to stave off donors’ concerns about government corruption.

The contracts – nine multi-million-dollars deals – include a contentious agreement with Shulman Rogers, a US law firm, and an oil exploration deal with Soma Oil and Gas, a new UK company headed by the former leader of the Conservative party, Michael Howard.

The government in Mogadishu wants to rewrite or cancel the contracts following the advice of a new donor-backed committee, which identified irregularities ranging from mild to egregious, officials say.

The committee, which was set up in the wake of a series of scandals at the central bank, includes senior Somalis and officials from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The Westgate attack probably didn’t cost al Shabaab $3,000. Al Shabaab, then, exploits our weakness. We use our resources inefficiently, and steal quite a chunk of them. Otherwise, with the money available to State and public institutions, they could address all the problems of poverty, marginalisation, and unemployment that terrorists use to recruit, and still have some left.”

Westgate attack a year later: Let’s use al Shabaab’s tricks to defeat terrorists

18 Sept- Source: Daily Nation-729 Words

This week is the first anniversary of the terrorist attack at the Westgate Mall. On September 21, 2013, gunmen linked to the Somalia terror group al Shabaab attacked the mall, and by the time the siege ended on September 24, there were at least 67 dead, and over 175 people injured.

Typically, a new American documentary Terror at the Mall, is causing the usual debate about how outsiders come to “steal” our stories, and then fail to give a “nuanced picture”, yadda, yadda . . . .
In late October a friend who was visiting Kenya and staying at The Tribe Hotel in Gigiri came downtown for coffee. We talked and denounced al Shabaab and other terrorists for nearly two hours. When it was time to leave, I offered to call my regular cabbie to take him back to Gigiri.

No need, he said, the one that had brought him was waiting. “Wow, that is a lot of waiting fee you are going to pay”, I said.“No, I am not paying anything”, he said. “I had asked him to go away and pick me up later, and he said it wouldn’t make a difference. I was the first customer he had had in nearly a week, and he wasn’t going to get one even if he left.”

The ethnic profiling of Somalis at EIA is counterproductive to the diplomatic relations between the two countries and may even lead to hostility in the future. It will certainly deter many Somalis with disposable income from traveling to Uganda.

Nightmare at Entebbe airport: Somalis denied entry due to ethnic profiling

17 Sept- Source: Warya Post-1494 Words

A few weeks ago, I embarked on a journey to Kampala, Uganda, with 30 media professionals for a 5-day media and reconciliation conference. With a luxury resort booked on Lake Victoria, we were all excited at the prospect of discussing media related issues in the most idilic settings. Our journey started at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), in Nairobi and we arrived at Entebbe International Airport (EIA), at 8pm.

As a British Citizen, naturally, I followed the queue for ‘Other Nationalities’ and ‘Visas’. As I approached the counter, I was stopped by an immigration officer who asked to see my passport; he took a look at it and told me that I needed to go to an area where a large group of Somali nationals were congregated. I noticed that other British citizens and people with other western passports had passed through without a problem.

I approached another immigration Officer for a second opinion, and again I was told that I was required to go to the other area and fill in an extra form, which was exclusive for people of Somali ethnicity. I asked why this was the case since I was traveling with a British passport. I was abruptly ushered away and told I would find out when I got to that corner of the room. My colleague, a Somali-American was also told the same. When he questioned the immigration officer, he was told “yes you have an American passport but where are you really from?”.

Voices from the mall: The first terrifying hours of the Westgate siege

17 Sept- Source: BBC News Magazine-1000 Words

The morning of Saturday 21 September 2013 had been sunny in Nairobi, and as lunchtime approached, the Westgate Mall was getting busy. The complex – just to the north-west of the city centre – was filling with hundreds of people. Families had popped in to run errands and shop. Some had gone in for lunch, others to see a film.

From the top of the building, excited shrieks from youngsters could be heard. Up there, in a section of the rooftop parking area, a Masterchef-style cooking competition for children was under way. Then suddenly – close to noon– everything changed. There were sounds of explosions. Gunshots cracked around the mall.

Many people thought it was just a robbery at one of the banks inside the building. But it soon became clear that it was something far more deadly. On the ground floor, at Urban Gourmet Burgers, Arnold Nicholas had arrived for his shift as a waiter.

Top tweets

@lhammondsoas Just wondering whether changing Soma Oil & Gas’ contract will have any effect on British policy towards Somalia?

@amisomsomalia #PeaceDay is 2 days away! Peace dividends are already visible in Somalia, in aspects like the freedom of worship. pic.twitter.com/oRzAklGYAw

@Hamza_Africa Surely you’ll all agree with me that #Somali kids are the cutest in the world! #Mogadishu #Somalia #My252 pic.twitter.com/EbB1pPWHkV

@nichaileyFCO Gathering in London for our conference on supporting #Somalia‘s army w many international partners (and@FCONeilWigan)

@UNLazzarini .@guardian reports on challenges of raising funds for “forgotten crises” in places like #Somalia:http://gu.com/p/4xfvy/tw @OCHASom

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Image of the day

Image of the day @SomaliPM speaking at London #Somalia Security Meeting on need to exploit opportunity of #AMISOM SNA offensive. Photo: @FCONeilWigan