September 2, 2016 | Daily Monitoring Report
Somali Government Declares New Offensive Against Al-Shabaab
02 September – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 121 Words
Somali Federal Ministry of Defense has proposed a new military offensive against Al-Shabaab militants amid increasing insurgent attacks against key government and civilian targets in the country.
According to the Minister of Defence, Gen. Abdulkadir Sheikh Ali Diini, the federal government has devised a comprehensive military strategy towards liberating the remaining Al-Shabaab strongholds in the south and central regions as a precaution against potential terror attacks to disrupt the upcoming electoral process.
Briefing the cabinet during their weekly session in Villa Somalia, Gen. Diini indicated that the SNA, in conjunction with the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia are preparing to wage an all-out military attack to counter the looming Al-Shabaab threats at this high time of parliamentary and presidential election year.
Key Headlines
- Somali Government Declares New Offensive Against Al-Shabaab (Radio Kulmiye)
- Respected Cleric Calls For End To Galmudug-Puntland Border Hostilities (Goobjoog News)
- Dahabshil Accountant-General In South And Central Somalia Killed In Las-Anod (Goobjoog News)
- A Major Question Is How Prepared Are The Somalia’s Security Institutions In Particular The Somali National Army Is To Take Over After AMISOM? (NTV)
- Who Is The US-Designated ‘Terrorist’ Leading ISIS In Somalia? (NDTV)
- Action Urged On Humanitarian Situation In Somalia S. Sudan (Xinhua)
- Question And Answer With Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (The East African)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Respected Cleric Calls For End To Galmudug-Puntland Border Hostilities
02 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 223 Words
Mohamed Moalim Ali, who is a well known cleric in the Mudug region has asked the leaders of Puntland and Galmudug to stop inter-state wrangles and resolve their differences through dialogue to ensure peace in the area. He reminded the leaders that despite the small differences, they are brothers who share the same language and there is no need for violence.
“No development can thrive in midst of chaos. Am urging all of you to think of the future of your children and the generations to come,” he said. Ali has urged both leaders to respect for the peace deal signed in the year 2015, a time when inter-state clashes was at its peak.
The cleric said there should be an immediate end of hostilities and all parties must ensure no further aggression occurs. “We call upon the both leaders to respect the peace deal and try to end the constant boundaries squabbles,” said Ali.
He encouraged Puntland and Galmudug on both sides of the border to continue collaborating in the return of lost peace and support the resettlement of misplaced persons and any other effort towards peaceful coexistence. Galkayo is divided into two zones, where the northern portion forms part of Puntland state, while its southern part is governed by the Galmudug administration.
Dahabshil Accountant-General In South And Central Somalia Killed In Las-Anod
02 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 136 Words
One of Dahabshiil officials in Somalia, Mohamed Hirse was gunned down by unidentified armed men in Las-Anod town of Somalia’s northern region, Sool. Hirsi who was Dahabshil’s Accountant-General in South and Central Somalia was shot twice in the head and chest after unidentified men armed with pistols opened fire on him while he was on his way to his house after leaving work.
According to residents, the killers have immediately escaped from the crime scene. The security forces of the breakaway Somaliland arrived at the shooting area, and launched a manhunt. The local authority in Las-Anod did not comment on the attack. Hirsi was also seriously injured in Mogadishu earlier this year when two unknown armed gunmen shot him several times.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
A Major Question Is How Prepared Are The Somalia’s Security Institutions, In Particular The Somali National Army, Is To Take Over After AMISOM?
02 September – Source: NTV – Video: 5:08 Minutes
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was created with an initial six month mandate. Subsequent renewals of this mandate by the African Union peace and security council have also been authorized by the UN Security Council. At the beginning AMISOM had the objective of keeping peace in the country and to support the Somali Transitional Federal Government to establish its rule over the war-torn country.
The current government is now preparing the country for a referendum on the national constitution and a general election initially set for the end of 2016 but this has now been extended to 2018. Whereas a discussion around AMISOM pullout has started, NTV has learnt that this could likely be extended beyond the proposed 2018. Currently, AMISOM forces occupy the largest areas in the country, but how prepared are the Somalia’s security Institutions, in particular the Somali National Army, to take over after AMISOM?
Who Is The US-Designated ‘Terrorist’ Leading ISIS In Somalia?
02 September – Source: NDTV – 648 Words
A middle-aged Somali-born cleric with a bright orange beard was this week put on a US terror list, accused of heading ISIS in East Africa. The US State Department on Wednesday said Abdulqadir (also Abdiqadir) Mumin is “the head of a group of ISIL-linked individuals in East Africa,” using another term for ISIS, and branding him a “global terrorist”. Here’s what we know about the man, and the threat he poses.
Mumin was born in the semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland and lived in Sweden before moving to the UK in the 2000s, where he was granted British citizenship. In London and Leicester, he developed a reputation as a firebrand preacher at extremist mosques and in videos posted online.
Monitored by MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, Mumin is thought to have known Mohamed Emwazi, the ISIS executioner nicknamed ‘Jihadi John’, and Michael Adebolajo, one of two people convicted over the 2013 murder of British soldier Lee Rigby in London. In 2010, Mumin travelled to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-aligned terror group — which both Emwazi and Adebolajo had tried to do, but were unsuccessful.
On arrival, he reportedly burned his British passport then served as an Al-Shabaab propagandist and imam — “an ideologue not a commander,” according to Matt Bryden, director of Sahan Research, a Kenya-based think tank.
Action Urged On Humanitarian Situation In Somalia, S. Sudan
01 September – Source: Xinhua – 365 Words
The international community must galvanize financial resources and political action to contain a dire humanitarian situation in Somalia and South Sudan, an international relief agency official has said. President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Peter Maurer told Xinhua in an exclusive interview that conflicts and natural calamities have exacerbated the humanitarian crises in the two African nations.
“Civilian population in Somalia is still suffering from effects of war. At present we have continuous disruption by violence in the horn of African state and this is a major concern,” Maurer remarked. ICRC has been providing humanitarian assistance to Somalia in the last 25 years since the country erupted into civil strife.
Maurer regretted that insecurity has undermined provision of relief food, medicine and water to civilians displaced by war in Somalia. He clarified that distribution of emergency assistance to internally displaced civilians has improved in several regions like Jubaland and Somaliland in Somalia in the last 12 months.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“No country in the world allows a leadership vacuum or a head of state to step down because of delayed elections. The Somali people expect us to ensure that elections take place in a manner that guarantees as much legitimacy as is possible, and this is my first and foremost priority.”
Question And Answer With Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
02 September – Source: The East African – 1,026 Words
Somalia will be holding its presidential elections on October 30. The current president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud spoke to Fred Oluoch about what he has done in the past four years in terms of democracy, the economy and security.
What have you achieved in the past four years?
In the past four years, the government has focused on setting up a foundation — reopening ministries, developing laws, activating policies and laying down the groundwork for stability and ensuing reform. Piracy has all but disappeared while around 75 per cent of Somalia has been liberated from Al Shabaab and returned to the government.
More than 75,000 children have been enrolled in school; the sea and airport are fully operational; more than 50 kilometres of road have been built, a comprehensive mapping of Somalia’s extensive natural resources has been undertaken, and the private sector continues to flourish and grow. Somalia has undergone a remarkable transformation, with an estimated growth rate of 3.7 per cent.
Industries such as money transfer agencies and telecommunications services have thrived, international trade has grown, and the livestock industry is recovering. We have passed several key pieces of legislation, including investment law, procurement and audit laws. We have established a sound Public Finance Management Act; we streamlined tax collection, and improved the overall economy of the country.
In Somalia, almost everything is a priority: From security, political inclusivity, health care, education and private sector development, to basic economic reform. We faced the extraordinary challenge of simultaneously building frameworks and institutions for government and governance, as these lay the foundations for future development, while needing to immediately deliver tangible benefits for Somalis — schools, hospitals, roads.
Another huge achievement is the political outreach progress as Somali leaders from the Federal Government and regions are now having regular meetings, discussions and forums to move the country forward. The National Leadership Forum extended your term till elections on October 30. Some of your challengers oppose this and say you ought to hand over to the Speaker when your term ends on September 10. What do you say?
TOP TWEETS
@Aadandaahir1 : #AlShabaab claims killing 6 #Somalia soldiers attack in #afgoye town
@HassanIstiila : #BREAKING Somali security forces #claimedto have captured #ISIS #commander in Bay and Bakool regions during operation #southern in #Somalia
@Somalia111 : ,#EU including #UK led by @Rondos_EU w/@SomaliPM briefing electoral process #Somalia in Nairobi#Somalia2016 #EUAU
@hiiraan : #AU calls for joint efforts to fight youth radicalization in #Somalia http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/
@Eye_on_Somalia : #goobjoog U.N. worried La Nina will worsen “dire” drought in Somalia: The La Nina weather phenomenon… http://bit.ly/2bOFMDI #somalia
@Vatescorp : #Somalia: Govt recruits troops amid #alShabaabterror attacks, will recruit 500 before year end
@omabha : What next for Somalia?: Challenges of building a national army and keeping the peace – NTV Ugandahttp://dlvr.it/M9VnN4 #Somalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Minister of Education and U.S Ambassador to Somalia during the signing of a $17M education project.
Photo: @Aynte