September 21, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
Jubbaland Deports 60 Women Alleged To Be Wives Of Al-Shabaab
21 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 165 Words
Security forces of the Interim Jubba Administration have reportedly expelled 60 women, who are alleged to be wives of Al-Shabab fighters, from Kismayu town. The women were arrested from different parts of Kismayo, the administrative capital of Jubbaland. according to officials. One of the commanders in Jubbaland, Ahmed Arab, confided to Goobjoog News that the 60 women were rounded up and apprehended during the recent security operation carried out by the forces.
“These wives of Al-Shabaab fighters were living in the town and the administration has decided to take them to the areas controlled by Al-Shabab fighters” he said. Somali National Army and AMISOM troops have launched a major security operations to hunt down criminal elements linked to Al-Shabaab violating the restored peace in areas under Hiiraan Region. Hundreds of soldiers are seen in the streets of Bulo-Burde town as security forces patrol in the different suburbs of the town. This comes a day after IJA forces carried out operations to flush out wives and children of the militant fighters, who live in the town.
Key Headlines
- Jubbaland Deports 60 Women Alleged To Be Wives Of Al-Shabaab (Goobjoog News)
- Hand Grenade Attack On Somali Troops Kills Two (Goobjoog News)
- Senior Ethiopian Military Officers Visit Kismayu Ahead Of Ethiopian Forces Deployment In Jubbaland(Wacaal Media)
- Somaliland President Inspects Hargeisa Expansion Project Promises Water For All (Somaliland Informer)
- Security Beefed Up As Kenya Remembers Westgate Terrorist Attack (The Standard)
- 92 Somalis Committed (Times of Zambia)
- India Somalia Fill Gap In Import Of Sacrificial Animals (The Gulf Today)
- Ukraine Detains Ten Migrants From Syria Somalia Jordan Crossing Into EU (Sputnik News)
- The Rise Of Proxy Leaders In Somalia (Foreign Policy News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Hand Grenade Attack On Somali Troops Kills Two
21 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 240 Words
A grenade hurled at Somali troops in Afgoye has killed two soldiers and injured another on Sunday night, according to officials. The bomb was thrown at a place where armed government soldiers were carrying out security operation. Afgoye deputy district commissioner for security affairs, Yussuf Mohamed Mordow has confirmed the incident happened and regrets that the soldiers were casualties of the blast. “We heard an explosion followed by gunfire, we rushed to the area and found two dead soldiers and another one injured. The victims were ferried from the place,” he said. After the blast, the forces opened fire although there are no reports yet confirming the number of casualties. “The explosion was very heavy and we suspect it was carried out by the Islamists,” said another government official. Over the past year, anti government fighters have attacked government targets after being ousted from southern and central regions by AMISOM-backed Somali troops. The guerrilla battle has left thousands of people dead and forced hundreds of thousands to flee mainly from areas near SNA military camps. Somalia has lacked an effective government since 1991 following the ouster of strongman, Mohamed Siad Barre. Ensuing factional clashes have defied numerous bids to restore stability.
Senior Ethiopian Military Officers Visit Kismayu Ahead Of Ethiopian Forces Deployment In Jubbaland
21 September – Source: Wacaal Media – 103 Words
Senior Ethiopian Military officials from the country’s Defence ministry arrived in Kismayu, headquarters of the Jubbaland administration on Sunday ahead of an anticipated Ethiopian forces deployment in the area. On arrival, the delegation was received by Jubbaland’s interior minister Mohamed Faarah Warsame and his Social affairs colleague Maalim Mohamed Ibrahim. The two sides later held discussions over security matters. The Ethiopian delegation also held talks with other AMISOM officials in Kismayu. Their visit comes ahead of an expected deployment of up to 950 Ethiopian soldiers who will join AMISOM’s sector II in Jubbaland territories. The troops are expected to arrive from next week.
Somaliland President Inspects Hargeisa Expansion Project , Promises Water For All
20 September – Source: Somaliland Informer – 275 Words
The President of the Republic of Somaliland, Ahmed Mohamed (Silanyo), accompanied by several Cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, the Mayor of Hargeisa and the head of Hargeisa Water Agency, inspected the construction site of the ongoing Hargeisa Water Supply expansion project. Hargeisa Water Agency Manager Mr. Ibrahim Siyad Yonis briefed the President, who was flanked by government officials, on the ongoing work which aims at expanding the old Hargeisa water supply system. It is noteworthy that the President in his tour was accompanied by officials of several UN agencies. .
Later, the Somaliland President concluded his inspection tour by presiding over a ground breaking ceremony for the unveiling of the second phase of the expansion of the Hargeisa Water Supply System. In his speech, the President reiterated his administration’s commitment to provide enough water for all in the capital. He announced that another project, which aims at revamping Hargeisa water provision, was underway. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is expected to implement this particular project, in what Silanyo is optimistic will finally bring to an end the problem of water scarcity.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Security Beefed Up As Kenya Remembers Westgate Terrorist Attack
21 September – Source: The Standard – 538 Words
Security has been enhanced in Nairobi and major towns as the country marks the second anniversary of the bloody Westgate Mall terrorist attack, authorities have said. Uniformed and plainclothes police officers have in the past week increased their presence in public places such as churches, supermarkets, malls and and other social places to preempt any attacks. They have also asked Kenyans to be extra vigilant . “We are all over but need public participation to ensure total safety,” said National Police Service Director of Communications.
And according to Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Joseph Nkaissery, the country is now safe and ready for economic take off. The CS says security agencies have foiled dozens of attacks and arrested many suspects: “We don’t shout all the time but I can tell you we have foiled many similar incidents. It is unfortunate some (attacks) have happened but we are focused for now,” he said. He cited the August arrest of more than a dozen suspects and seizure of weapons in Garissa town.
Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the Westgate attack, terming it retribution for Kenya’s military incursion into Somalia. The siege at the mall started on September 21, 2013 when four militants stormed the mall and started shooting shoppers. Sixty seven people were killed and hundreds wounded during the four-day siege.Security agencies were caught off guard when the terrorists struck the upmarket mall which is usually frequented by wealthy locals and expatriates.
92 Somalis Committed
21 September – Times Of Zambia – 249 Words
The Kabwe magistrates’ court has committed 92 Somalis to the High Court for sentencing after they pleaded guilty to the offence of consenting to being smuggled into Zambia. Another court discharged eight Somali juvenile offenders who had earlier pleaded guilty to the charge of consenting to being smuggled and failure to appear before the nearest Immigration office upon entering Zambia, contrary to the Immigration and Deportation Act.
The 92, who appeared before magistrate Chimuka Mutafela and filled the courtroom to capacity, pleaded guilty to the charge and admitted the charge read to them but sentencing could not be passed because the charge carried a 15-year jail sentence which could only be meted by the High Court. The convicts on August 31, this year consented to being smuggled contrary to the law.
An Immigration department prosecutor told the court that the convicts were travelling in a Scania truck registration number ACZ 5219 which was impounded at Pensulo Police checkpoint in Serenje District after police discovered that it was carrying foreign nationals whose travelling documents were not clear. Meanwhile, two Zambians who were charged for aiding the Somalis are expected to appear in court this week.
India, Somalia Fill Gap In Import Of Sacrificial Animals
21 September – Source: The Gulf Today – 284 Words
The prices of the animals in Dubai’s Al Ghusais market have been kept in balance this year despite lack of imports from traditional sources of Pakistan, Iran and Sudan. The Gulf Today visited the area yesterday and found the prices of goats and sheep ranging from Dhs450 to Dhs2,200 depending on the weight and country of origin. Most goats from Somalia which are small weighing about 10kg were priced between Dhs450 to Dhs700 while those from Indian side of Kashmir ranged from Dhs450 to Dhs2,200 (36kg).
“The customers are medium. I cannot say they are few or too many,” said Shehrazad S. Next to his stall was Riaz K whose animals went for between Dhs440 and Dhs1,500. “We have not got animals from Pakistan, Iran and Sudan but India, Somalia and Arabi – with that I mean some from Saudi Arabia – have helped close the gap,” the Principal Markets Inspector at Markets Management Section of Property Department, Yousif Ateeq Khamis, told The Gulf Today.
The cows are from Somalia only and range from a minimum of Dhs500 to a maximum of Dhs5,500. The buyers such as Rafiq Ahmad came from as far as Sharjah “because here the choice is wide.” Rafiq said the prices “are reasonable.”
Ukraine Detains Ten Migrants From Syria, Somalia, Jordan Crossing Into EU
20 September – Source: Sputnik News – 189 Words
Ukraine arrested ten citizens of Syria, Somalia and Jordan, who tried to illegally enter the territory of Slovakia and Hungary, the press service of the Ukrainian State Border Service said in a statement Saturday.On Tuesday, Hungary enacted its new border control legislation that envisages, among other measures, a criminal penalty of three years in prison for illegally crossing the border and the deployment of the army to the country’s borders. The Hungarian border fence was also reinforced with barbed wire.
“Early today…border patrol detained three undocumented persons moving toward the Hungarian border. The detained men said that they were Syrian citizens,” the statement said. According to the statement, five Somalis as well as a Syrian and a Jordanian have been detained in Ukraine trying to cross over into Slovakia.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“The election of Madobe was a harbinger of who calls the shot in Jubaland’s affairs. In retrospect, Ethiopia is known to meddle with Somalia’s internal affairs for decades and Kenya is making its debut with Jubbaland being its pilot project.”
The Rise Of Proxy Leaders In Somalia
19 September – Source: Foreign Policy News – 993 Words
As Somalia’s balkanization – masquerading as federalism— intensifies, neighboring states have embarked on a mission to get a share of the country and instill a proxy leader to represent their interests. Every former warlord and aspiring politician is indefatigably working round the clock to create a fiefdom and declare de facto autonomy from the central government. The Interim Jubbaland Administration (IJA) is similarly trying to carve its own path. It has cut ties with central government and formed a strategic relationship with Ethiopia and Kenya. While it has maintained a commitment to integrate troops into the Somali National Army (SNA) and added 10 members to the regional parliament to address complaints from its opposition, the IJA has ignored parts of the Addis Ababa agreement, as displayed by the controversial firing of Gedo’s governor Mohamed Abdi Khalil and failure to transfer control of Kismayo ports to the Somali Federal Government (SFG).
Under the aegis of Ethiopia and Kenya, the IJA’s parliament ‘elected’ Madobe in a landslide victory. He garnered 92% of total vote, and the international community, along with a host of Somalia’s political leaders, attended his inauguration this weekend. Ethiopia is an arch enemy of Somalia, but Somali politicians like Madobes exploit foreign influence for their own political purposes.
TOP TWEETS
@Somalia111:Dawn of #InternationalDayofPeace in#Mogadishu. #Somalia‘s darkest hour is passing. Peace & reconciliation growing
@SalahOsman0:Good Morning From this beautiful City of#Mogadishu Resilience worked nice in #Somalia We never gave UP!
@Goobjoognews:#Somalia Jubbaland security service to expel some 60 wives of Alshabab commanders and fighters from#Kismayo @HarunMaruf
@UNSomalia :Somali poets using their art & craft to promote peace in #Somalia. Watch “Poets for Peace” videohttp://bit.ly/1WcRJVq #PeaceDay #Nabadda
@snap_somalia :#Youth in #Somalia are full potential & must participate politically to defend their interest not in tribal line@USAforSOMALIA @EUTMSomalia
IMAGE OF THE DAY
The Somali Federal Minister for Youth and Sports, Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan, speaks during a recent workshop on Youth Mobilisation in Support of the Federal Government of Somalia.
Photo: AMISOM.