September 24, 2013 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Gunmen who stormed Kenya mall reportedly spoke English, were from different countries

24 Sept – Source: Washington Post – 209 words

One of the militants wore a white turban, witnesses said, while others wore black head scarves. Most were in civilian clothes, but a few donned camouflage fatigues. Some carried sophisticated machine guns, and others wielded the AK-47 rifles widely used by African insurgents. Most of the extremists who seized the upscale Nairobi mall were young and barked orders in English.

By Monday evening, Kenyan security forces said they controlled much of the Westgate Premier Shopping Mall, although several militants from al Shabaab, a group allied with al Qaeda, appeared dug in, determined to fight to the death.

With the standoff apparently drawing to a close after three days, there was a growing focus on the identity of the militants and how they could pull off a sophisticated assault that killed at least 62 people and kept security forces at bay. Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed said Monday that “two or three Americans” and “one Brit” were among the perpetrators of the attack.

She said in an interview with “PBS Newshour” that the Americans were 18 to 19 years old, of Somali or Arab origin and lived “in Minnesota and one other place” in the United States. The British jihadist was a woman who has “done this many times before,” Mohamed said.

Key Headlines

Somali Minister defense: High ministerial delegates will go to Kenya to express their emotion on Westgate (Radio Mustaqbal/SNTV/Radio Mogadishu/Dalsan)
Gunmen who stormed Kenya mall reportedly spoke English were from different countries (Washington Post)
Anti-terror police arrest two suspects at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (Standard Media)
Somalis donate blood for wounded in Nairobi terror attack (Radio Risaala/BBC Somali Service)
Africa must not allow terrorists to exist – Museveni (New Vision)
Somali militant group says hostages in Kenya mall alive (Reuters)
Muslim leaders in Kenya condemn al Shabaab’s terror attack (Somali Current News)
Nairobi attack is sign of al Shabaab’s shifting survival strategies US. officials say (Washington Post)
Kenyan troops battle remaining militants inside Nairobi mall (Al Arabiya)
Uganda beefs up security in Kampala malls (Star News)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali Minister defense: High ministerial delegates will go to Kenya to express their emotion on Westgate

24 Sept – Source: Radio Mustaqbal/SNTV/Radio Mogadishu/Dalsan – 168 words

The Minister Defense of Somali federal government Abdihakin Haji Mohamud Fiqi speaking to the journalists said that the cabinet ministers decided to send high level delegation to Kenya where there has been security situation in the recent days.

The Minister said Somali federal government and its citizens are expressing their heartfelt condolence to Kenya over the attack on Westgate Mall in Central of Nairobi. Fiqi called on Somali people to assist on how the militants of al Shabaab would be eliminated from Somalia since it is dangerous to the global security.

Kenyan security forces battled al Qaeda-linked terrorists in an upscale mall for a fourth day Tuesday in what they said was a final push to rescue the last few hostages in a siege that has left at least 62 people dead.

Despite Kenyan government assurances of success on Twitter, another explosion and more gunfire could be heard coming from the mall at around 6:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

Somalis donate blood for wounded in Nairobi terror attack

24 Sept – Source: Radio Risaala/ BBC Somali Service – 96 words

Somali community in Nairobi donated blood to hospitals in Nairobi to the victims of the massacre of the Westgate commercial building in Nairobi. According to Somali local media, numbers of Somali community in Nairobi went to blood donation centers in Nairobi to donate blood and to show solidarity to their fellow Kenyans in this painful incident of the terrorist operation that targeted civilians in Westgate Mall. For their part, Kenyans flock to hospitals to donate blood for the victims of attack commercial building which continues for the fourth day in Nairobi.

Muslim leaders in Kenya condemn al Shabaab’s terror attack

24 Sept – Source: Somali Current News – 116 words

Kenya’s Muslim leaders have strongly condemned the terror attack at Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall by Somalia’s militant group al Shabaab. Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims Adan Wachu the act which targeted on innocent civilians among children is against Islamic religion.

Leaders said the attack is intended to create rift among the communities and religious devotes in the country. Al Qaeda affiliated terror group al Shabaab claimed the responsibility of the attack that left 62 people dead.

Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdifarah Shirdon condemned the attack, saying the attackers are not Muslims. Somali Community in Nairobi’s Eastleigh Suburb was among the volunteers who were donating blood, food and money to support victims in Westgate attack.

In Somaliland, Students protest against tuition fee hike

23 Sept – Source: Somaliland Informer – 155 words

Students at Hargeisa University held a demostration against the tuition fee hike on Monday for the second day running. University management has decided to increase the tuition fees in an effort to provide quality education to the students according to the chancellor.

The protest was sparked after the student committee and the university management failed to resolve the concerns and grievances that the students expressed over the tuition fee hike.

The student felt that the university management were adamant not to lower the tuition fee hike and students decided to take to the streets and set fire to old tires outside the university’s main campus.

Somaliland Government condemns terrorist attack at Nairobi’s Westgate Mall

23 Sept – Source: Somaliland Press – 96 words

The Somaliland Government condemns the terrorist attack at Nairobi’s Westgate Mall, and sends its condolences to the nation and people of Kenya.

In a message of support and solidarity with the people and government of Kenya, Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Somaliland Mohamed Behi Yonis issued the following statement via BBC Somali Service.

“The Somaliland government condemns in the strongest terms the hideous and intolerable acts that occurred in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, and we fully deplore the horrific death and violence brought upon these innocent people, including women and children.”

Universal TV London Interview with UN envoy to Somalia

23 Sept – Source: Universal TV – 15:24 min

Somali Universal TV London Interview with Nicholas Kay, UN envoy for Somalia.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Africa must not allow terrorists to exist – Museveni

24 Sept – Source: New Vision – 344 words

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said Africa must not allow terrorism to exist on the continent, adding that as long as terrorists are allowed to exist and as long as they have havens here, they will remain a threat to countries and the continent citing Somalia and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where armed groups have caused mayhem leading to loss of lives and thousands of displaced communities.

“African countries have become part of the terrorism concept and this must stop. The continent must not allow terrorists to exist,” he said.

The President was on Monday evening addressing the summit of the African Union Peace and Security Council convened by H.E Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire to discuss the partnership between the AU and the UN on African peace and security issues at the AU mission in New York.

Kenyan troops battle remaining militants inside Nairobi mall

24 Sept – Source: Al Arabiya – 233 Words

The battle between Kenyan special forces and Islamist militants holed up inside Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall was still ongoing on Tuesday as the siege went into its fourth day. Security sources told Agence France-Presse that they were still battling “one or two” militants located and isolated in or around a casino located on one of the upper floors of the complex.

On Monday, Kenyan troops were “in control” of Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall, the Kenyan interior ministry said. Following the announcement, sporadic gunfire and the sound of blasts could be heard coming from inside the mall at dawn, witnesses told AFP.

Kenya’s defense ministry had said that “three terrorists have been killed so far”, while “a few others have suffered injuries.” Two or three young American men and a British woman were among the attackers who stormed Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall killing more than 60 people, Kenya’s top diplomat told PBSMonday.

Uganda beefs up security in Kampala malls

24 Sept – Source: Star News – 312 words

Following a deadly terrorist attack in Kenya, the Uganda Police have tightened security at key public places, especially shopping malls in Kampala. Security has been beefed up in Malaba and Busia borders.

The Uganda Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura yesterday said it is important to tighten security at public places to avert a similar attack. “What has happened in Kenya is very unfortunate and can happen anywhere,” Kayihura said.

By Sunday, the police and other security agencies had beefed up security with more deployment of uniform and plain clothes officers in many public places, including supermarkets and shopping malls.

Since July 2010, Uganda has maintained tight security in Kampala and other towns, with the Police issuing terror alerts regularly. The Somali al Shabaab terrorists in July 2010 carried out twin terror attacks that claimed over 80 lives and left over 50 others injured.

Anti-terror police arrest two suspects at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

24 Sept- Source: Standard Media – 210 words

Two people with suspect documents were arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as authorities urged immigration officials to step up vigilance against suspicious travellers.

“We’ve arrested some individuals at the airport for questioning. We ask officers dealing with vital ID documents to be very careful,” the Interior Ministry said in a posting on Twitter Monday.

Officials however did not disclose the identity of the person(s) and the nature of the alleged offence. Speculation swirled that the issue could be linked to reports of a suspected terrorist whom a witness reported slipped out among victims of the Westgate Mall attack.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Gunmen who stormed Kenya mall reportedly spoke English, were from different countries

24 Sept – Source: Washington Post – 209 words

Somali militant group says hostages in Kenya mall alive

24 Sept – Source: Reuters – 126 words

Somalia’s al Shabaab militant group said on Tuesday its militants were still holding out in a Kenyan shopping center they attacked over the weekend, and said hostages they held in the Westgate mall in Nairobi were still alive.

“There are countless number of dead bodies still scattered inside the mall, and the Mujahideen (fighters) are still holding their ground #Westgate,” the group said on its new Twitter feed @HSM_PR. “The hostages who were being held by the Mujahideen inside #Westgate are still alive, looking quite disconcerted but, nevertheless, alive.”

The group regularly changes its Twitter handle as its accounts are frequently suspended, but it informs journalists and others of the change by email or other means.

Nairobi attack is sign of al Shabaab’s shifting survival strategies, US. officials say

24 Sept – Source: Washington Post – 794 words

A carefully choreographed assault on Kenya’s most upscale shopping mall was described by U.S. counterterrorism officials Monday as evidence that the militant group al Shabaab has turned its energies toward regional attacks after losing power and territory in its home base of Somalia.

Smoke continued to billow from the Westgate mall in Nairobi on Monday as Kenyan security forces pursued a team of al Shabaab gunmen who have killed at least 62 people and wounded dozens in a rampage that began Saturday.

Somali Americans on FBI radar screen

24 Sept – Source: RT – 634 words

The FBI is keeping a close watch on American minority communities as al Qaeda is successfully recruiting American citizens to fight the jihadist cause in the US and abroad, Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, told RT.

RT: The House Homeland Security Committee says that al Shabaab has recruited up to 50

Somali-Americans. Why are American citizens joining this extremist group?

Brian Levin: There are a couple of ways. There is a Somali community in the Minneapolis area, which is very much against what is going on here by the way, but that has been the main recruiting spot for the small, small splint of youth. But then again, al Shabaab means “the youth.” There have been a few extremists there that were able to convince others to join them.

There also has been an effort through the internet and other online publications to recruit young, Westernized Muslim youth of the world to come to that area. In fact, the first American suicide bomber, Shirwa Ahmed, who blew himself up in October 2008 was with al Shabaab and came from the Minneapolis area.

Somali leader says threat of al Shabaab is global

23 Sept – Source: AP/Yahoo News – 467 Words

The Islamic extremist group claiming responsibility for the weekend terrorist attack at a Kenyan mall presents a threat not just to the region or Africa but to the world at large, the president of Somalia said Monday on a trip to Ohio. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said reports that some of the attackers may have been Somalis who lived in the United States illustrate the global nature of al Shabaab.

“Today, there are clear evidences that al Shabaab is not a threat to Somalia and Somali people only,” Mohamud said in a speech at Ohio State University. “They are a threat to the continent of Africa, and the world at large.”

Kenyan authorities say dozens of people have died in the attack. Mohamud said he has spoken with the president of Kenya and plans to visit the country. Mohamud likened the attacks to an al Shabaab assault on Somalia’s main court complex in April that killed dozens, and a 2010 al Shabaab attack in Uganda’s capital that killed about 76 people.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Kenya’s decision to entangle itself in Somalia did not happen in isolation. The casualties of Westgate include scores of foreigners, including two Canadians. Kenya’s bitter fruit, in many ways, is all of ours to harvest.”

Kenya’s suffering reflects its admirable action in Somalia

23 Sept – Source: The Globe and Mail – 372 Words

Al Shabaab’s brazen attack on Nairobi’s Westgate Mall was the desperate act of a terrorist force on the wane, a brutal way of punishing Kenya for its recent efforts to oust the al Qaeda-affiliated militia from its homeland of Somalia.

“We’ll not negotiate with the Kenyan govt as long as its forces are invading our country, so reap the bitter fruits of your harvest,” al Shabaab ominously tweeted last weekend. But Kenya, in many ways, was simply carrying out the West’s bidding. As the death toll continues to mount from the horrific attack, it is now incumbent on the West to stand by Kenya, which now faces tough questions on how to move beyond what some are calling its “9/11 moment.”

The attack also serves as grim reminder that there is no such thing as an arms-length intervention. While Washington has carried out limited drone strikes in Somalia, it has largely depended on African forces to combat al Shabaab on the ground, which merged with al Qaeda last year.

“There is no doubt that, as time goes by, more pondering and analysis will follow to reflect on the horrific events of 21 September.”

How the Nairobi Mall Attack Unfolded on Social Media

23 Sept – Source: Global Voices Online – 755 Words

In a moment, everything changed. On 21 September, 2013, a group of armed militants stormed an upscale mall in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, and opened fire, killing by the latest count 69 people and injuring hundreds more.

Twitter captured the confusion of the attack in real-time as users first reported what they thought was an explosion. Shortly after noon, news started trickling through the social network that something had gone horribly wrong at Westgate Mall, one of Nairobi’s most popular locations for foreigners and middle-class Kenyans.

In the immediate few minutes after after the news broke, however, it was still unclear what, exactly, was going on. Naporneon Pornaparte (@aCreole) reflected this uncertainty in his tweet: For some, the location of the reported incident itself was under dispute. Ramsy Ama Ramah (@ramjanja) suggested that initial reports claiming that an explosion had taken place at Westgate were mistaken: Soon enough, however, it became clear that something ominous was taking place at the mall. Confirmation of this came after the Ministry of Interior tweeted the update.

“While Kenya’s current approach to al Shabaab has garnered some successes, it has created tension in Somalia and left unaddressed shortcomings at home. Rather than respond in blind rage to the Westgate attack, Kenya should meditate and answer soberly to the real questions that it is confronting in trying to increase stability at home and abroad.”

Analysis: The Westgate Attack and Kenya’s Approach to al Shabaab

23 Sept – Source: Somalia News Room – 1184 Words

With casualty numbers rising, at least 62 people are dead, many missing, and hundreds injured in a brazen al Shabaab attack at the upscale Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. According to reports, between 10 to 15 attackers–reportedly including a woman–were involved in the double-pronged operation. Al-Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage stated, “Kenya will not get peace unless they pull their military out of Somalia.”

Many media reports cited witnesses who said that al Shabaab militants were specifically targeting non-Muslims by allowing Muslims to leave, asking potential victims “recite a Muslim prayer,” or correctly answer “who was the mother of the prophet Mohamed.” However, much of the casualties appeared to be caused by indiscriminate fire and explosions from AK-47 and G-3 assault rifles and grenades.

Given the tempo, nature, location, and quantity of al Shabaab attacks in the last year (spanning Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya), it is misleading to say the group is on the back foot or merely seeking a “desperate” cry for publicity amid infighting.

The al Shabaab “civil war” appears to be winding down in favor of top leader Ahmed Abdi Godane due to the death [e.g., Sh. Ibrahim al-Afghani, Omar Hammami], silence [Sh. Mukhtar Robow], capitulation [Sh. Fu’ad Shongole] or fleeing [Sh. Hassan Dahir Aweys] of dissidents.

“So Americans wondering how to address the marginalization of young Muslim immigrants might examine what their own country’s embassy in Britain, and many Somali-Americans in Minnesota, are already doing. Both stake their hopes on a simple, visionary premise: Given opportunities, support, and acknowledgment that Islam and violence are not synonyms, the vast majority of young diaspora Muslims are likely to reject extremism on their own.”

The West Need Not Fear Its Young Muslims

23 Sept – Source: New York Times – 1062 Words

It has been five years since Shirwa Ahmed, a 26-year-old from Minneapolis, blew himself up in northern Somalia, and sent shivers up American spines about young immigrants from war-torn Muslim countries who were turning into terrorists. Unconfirmed reports that American Muslims might have been among the gunmen who stormed Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall over the weekend will no doubt revive fears of the “enemy within.”

I know the Westgate well. Nairobi was my jumping-off point for many research trips to Somalia in 2011 and 2012. The sunny terrace of the ArtCaffe, with its excellent coffee and free Wi-Fi, became my virtual office. I shopped often in the mall’s Nakumatt supermarket, where the jihadis staged their attack. They reportedly singled out non-Muslims for execution by asking them the name of the Prophet’s mother: a test that I would not have passed.

I remain, however, unafraid of Somalis, least of all of Americanized ones. I spent time in Minnesota in 2011 — the Twin Cities is home to the greatest concentration in the United States of Somalis in exile — and uncovered this reassuring truth: hotheads inclined to support the al Shabaab may exist in Minneapolis, but they are a mere handful in a community of tens of thousands of Somalis who want nothing to do with extremist Islamism.

“Turkey mustn’t deny the existence of certain redlines in the region. Additionally, countries with deeply-rooted influences in Somalia have recently begun spreading their strategies over East Africa. The fact that Turkey has not yet begun such an initiative prevents it from turning its traction in Somalia into a strategic gain.”

Somalia and Turkey: Humanitarian success or strategic failure?

23 Sept – Source: Turkish Weekly – 1146 Words

Turkey’s humanitarian interests in Somalia over the past years are not enough to explain why Turkey has become one of the main actors in the country. In the past few years, Turkey has begun to show interest in the crisis in Somalia. It can even be said that Ankara gained a degree of expertise on the subject during its 2009-2010 temporary membership in the UN Security Council.

While President Erdogan’s 2011 Somalia visit drew the attention of many countries to Somalia’s humanitarian tragedy, many great powers and interested parties have also turned their gazes to Turkey’s policies in the Horn of Africa. Undoubtedly, on many platforms Turkey is now a part of the Somalian equation. There are many strategic, political and security challenges that will likely accompany this dynamic.

The security problem is arguably Somalia’s foremost challenge. The worry now is that the political efforts expended so far have been unfruitful. After the collapse of the state, warlords came onto the scene, followed by a juridical institution called the Islamic Courts. The Islamic Courts decided to start negotiating after Ethiopia’s military intervention into the country in 2006.

However, the Islamist Youth Movement, Haraket al-Shabaab al-Mujahideen (al-Shabaab), resisted the negotiations, as well as any other political solution under the observation of the United Nations or the African Union. From this date onwards, al-Shabaab became the greatest security threat. At the end of 2011, when al-Shabaab was defeated by Kenya, with support from the African Union and Somali central government soldiers, strategic front moved away from the southern Kismayo port.

Top tweets

@ferigom69 How Somalia’s coastal communities called time on the pirates | @scoopit http://sco.lt/8cCkFd #somalia #piracy.

@BBCAfrica Members of #Nairobi‘s #Somali community are delivering food & drinks to soldiers & security personnel near the #Westgate shopping centre.

@amisomsomalia The #AfricanUnion strongly condemns the dastardly terrorists attacks against innocent civilians in #Nairobi http://bit.ly/18NOnwB.

@UNSomalia . @UN envoy Nicholas Kay pushing the case for extra resources for the campaign against Al Shabaab, speaking to media in Geneva #Westgate.

@UNSomalia .@somalia111 : @amisomsomalia “..doing a great job.. They are now under-resourced. They need … helicopters and more armoured vehicles”.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud discusses security and political issues in Somalia, during a question and answer session after a speech on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in Columbus, Ohio. Photo: AP.