September 24, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
President Hassan appoints the chief of Somali military court
24 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog/Radio Dalsan- 139 words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appointed the country’s chief of military court days after the former court chief was appointed as the new director of Somali intelligence.
In a presidential decree dated on 23rd September 2014, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially appointed Col. Liban Ali Yarrow as the new head of Somali military court.
Col. Liban before his appointment was the chairman of the military court.
President Hassan has also appointed Hassan Ali Noor Shuute as the new chairman of the military court to replace Mr. Yarrow.
Mr. Shuute was acting head of Somali military court before he was promoted.
The decree also noted that the nomination of the new chief of the military court came following recommendations made by the defense minister Mohamed Sheikh Haamud.
Key Headlines
- Somali president meets with senior World Bank officials in New York (Radio Mogadishu)
- Tension high in Galgacyo following military buildup (Somali Current)
- President Hassan appoints the chief of Somali military court (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog)
- Himan & Heb president and delegates arrives Adado (Radio Goobjoog)
- NUSOJ trains Journalists in Nairobi (Radio Dalsan)
- Somali prime minister returns to Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali pirates free abducted journalist (Al Jazeera/AFP)
- Over twenty suspected al Shabaab members apprehended in Lower Shabelle (Radio Goobjoog)
- Al Shabaab militant group attacks Somali military base in Galgadud region (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Former Intelligence boss is due to be nominated as the commissioner for Banadir Region (Radio Dalsan)
- IOM expresses concern over IDPs eviction from their camps (Radio Goobjoog)
- Pastoralist family hospitalized after eating poisoned meat (Radio Ergo)
- Iraq offers scholarship opportunities to Somali students (SNTV)
- Kismayo hospital on the verge of closure (Radio Goobjoog)
- Somaliland coast guard discover unexploded missile at the shores of Eil-sheikh (Horn Newspaper Online)
- Somali Journalists Stand Up for Peace (Somali Current)
- Somalis arrested at Busia border (Daily Monitor)
- Clerics form council to fight terror in E.Africa (Citizen TZ)
- Prolonged Droughts Threaten Renewed Famine in Somalia (VOA)
- Somalia hands over the seaport control to a Turkish company- Viedo (CCTV)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president meets with senior World Bank officials in New York
24 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan/Somali Current- 175 words
Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with senior World Bank officials including the institution’s vice president for Africa Makhtar Diop in New York.
The president outlined his government’s plans to rebuild the country’s financial institutions to the World Bank officials.
He said it is time for the World Bank to double its efforts in helping Somalia recover and rebuild its financial institutions and to regulate the growing economy of the country.
World Bank’s vice president for Africa, Makhtar Diop said the bank will take the president’s proposals into consideration and will analyze ways to help Somalia’s financial recovery and economic growth.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also met with senior officials from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as well as the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Muree in New York.
Meanwhile, the president is scheduled to meet with the United Nations Secretary General Bank Ki Moon later today in New York to discuss latest political and rebuilding developments in Somalia.
Tension high in Galgacyo following military buildup
24 Sept- Source: Somali Current- 152 words
Tension is high in Galkayo in the semi-autonomous regional state of Puntland in south central Somalia. Eyewitness has told the media that there is large military build up in city along the border of Puntland and Galmudug regional state.
Reports say that the troops with armored vehicles conducted security operation in the Galmudug administered Galgayo.
No comments from the Puntland administration concerning the presence of its forces and motives however the move is suspected to be linked to recent decision by Mogadishu government to support the creation of new regional state Galmudug which is bordering Punt land.
Punt land has since opposed the move while cutting it’s ties with central government in Mogadishu. Puntland has also closed down a separate airport established by the Galmudug alongside the main airport in city. Punt land is opposed to encroachment of ongoing establishment of federal system in its own territory.
President Hassan appoints the chief of Somali military court
24 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog/Radio Dalsan- 139 words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appointed the country’s chief of military court days after the former court chief was appointed as the new director of Somali intelligence.
In a presidential decree dated on 23rd September 2014, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud officially appointed Col. Liban Ali Yarrow as the new head of Somali military court. Col. Liban before his appointment was the chairman of the military court.
President Hassan has also appointed Hassan Ali Noor Shuute as the new chairman of the military court to replace Mr. Yarrow.
Mr. Shuute was acting head of Somali military court before he was promoted.
The decree also noted that the nomination of the new chief of the military court came following recommendations made by the defense minister Mohamed Sheikh Haamud.
Himan & Heb president and delegates arrives Adado
24 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 122 words
Delegate led by the president of Himan & Heb administration in Central Somalia Abdullahi Mohamed Baarleh arrived Adado, the administrative capital of the administration after visit to Mogadishu. Mr. Baarleh and his delegates were welcomed at Adado airport by senior officials of Himan & Heb administration.
The president of Himan & Heb has not briefed the media on the aim of his trip to Mogadishu, the capital city.
The administration of Himan and Heb is preparing to host a conference meant to create a unified regional administration of Galgadud and Mudug regions.
Recently the federal government of Somalia has announced a technical committee to facilitate the establishment of a regional state in Central Somalia.
NUSOJ trains Journalists in Nairobi
24 Sept- Source: Radio Dalsan- 208 words
NUSOJ and the US Embassy in Nairobi conducted a training for Somali journalists this week.
The training is a useful tool for the Somali journalists as it teaches journalist safety precautions while reporting from conflict zones and also the know how of writing good features and news on social matters. The Deputy Minister for Information Abdullahi Olad Rooble and the Secretary General of NUSOJ Mohamed Ibrahim Pakistan who spoke during the opening ceremony of the training detailed the role of the Somali journalists. They explained how journalists can best report while also being on the safe side. At the training, the chairperson of the parliamentary commission for media MP Abdi Hashi told the participating journalists the Media Bill which the parliament is due to debate on in the recent future.
MP Abdi Hashi said if the bill passes and assented, then the Somali media will enjoy more rights and freedoms enshrined in that law. On the other hand, Dalsan Radio journalists who are among the participants of that training reported that the participants were drawn from different media houses in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia. They said this an opportunity for Somali journalists from different media outlets to know each other and to learn from each other.
Somali prime minister returns to Mogadishu
24 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Goobjoog/Radio Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online- 100 words
The prime minister of federal government of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed and delegates returned to Mogadishu after finishing his visit to London where he attended an international conference on rebuilding Somali national army and security and also other countries in Europe.
The Prime minister and his delegates were warmly received at Adan Adde international airport by the acting Prime minister Riwan Hersi Mohamed and other officials.
PM Abdiweli is expected to hold press conference and substantiate the importance of his trip to countries in the world including UK that has hosted the conference.
Over twenty suspected al Shabaab members apprehended in Lower Shabelle
24 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 149 words
A number of Al-shabab members were apprehended in a huge security crackdown the government forces have conducted in Lower Shabelle region on Wednesday.
Lower Shabelle police commander Col. Ismail Ahmed Osman told Goobjoog FM that the forces have succeeded on all the operations they carried out in the region.
He reiterated that the government forces have targeted areas where Al-shabab members were hiding and use to organize the planned attacks against government forces and AMISOM.
Mr. Osman also confirmed that over twenty suspected Al-shabab were arrested during the massive security operations in the region adding that after intensive investigations some individuals who confessed to be al-shabab members were handed to security intelligence in Mogadishu for thorough investigations.
Finally the commander said the crackdown is aimed at maintaining the overall security of the region and foil the planned attacks of Al-shabab.
Al Shabaab militant group attacks Somali military base in Galgadud region
24 Sept -Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 139 words
Al Shabaab militant group on Monday night attacked Somali government forces and African Union troops in their military base in El-garas village, which lies few kilometers out of El-bur district of Galgagdud region.
Somali government forces commander in El-bur district, Mohamed Kahiye Arale told Bar-kulan that the allied forces inflicted heavy losses on the militant group that attacked the base while there was no casualties on their side.
Mohamed said they have seized unspecified number of weapons and ammunition from the militant group. He added the allied forces have launched a military campaign against the group who are believed to be hiding in their hideouts in the rural areas of the region.
He called on locals in rural areas near El-bur to work with the Somali and African Union forces in their military offensive against al Shabaab militant group.
Former Intelligence boss is due to be nominated as the commissioner for Banadir Region
24 Sept- Source: Radio Dalsan- 262 words
Credible sources told Dalsan Radio that the former NSA boss, Abdullahi Mohamed Ali aka Sanbololshe is due to be nominated as the new commissioner for Banadir Region.
This is a plan by the government that he is going to be compensated with this position so as to forget the deprivation of his immediate former post as the NISA boss. In a recent consultation leaders from the PDP party persuaded President Hassan to appoint Mr. Sanbololshe as the commissioner for Banadir so as to replace Hassan Hussein aka Muungaab. Another plan by the government is to separate the two positions held by Muungaab as Commissioner for the Region as a Mayor of Mogadishu. Sources say a man called Jimaale who is close relative of MP Omar Filish will be appointed the Mayor of Mogadishu this time.
Credible sources have confirmed that the relationship between President Hassan and Muungaab is not so good as the president refused a recent suggestion by Muungaab to bring NISA under the Administration of Banadir Region.
Despite this he is just criticized for embarking a high number of travels to abroad in the past few months. PDP want to win in the anticipated 2016 elections but they think if Muungaab persists to be in that position, that can be a card for worse for their current aspiration.
On the other hand, unconfirmed reports say Muungaab may be nominated as an ambassador after he leaves his current job.
IOM expresses concern over IDPs eviction from their camps
24 Sept – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 116 words
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has expressed its concern over the displaced persons living in the government institutions that may be evicted from their camps and centers, according to a report from IOM.
The orginisation said in its statement that it has so far managed to profile 49,651 persons in five different settlements in Mogadishu, stating that there are large scale evictions currently underway in several locations in the city.
“Currently IDPs settlements targeted are Darwish and parts on Bondhere. Almost 5,000 persons have already been evicted in Hodan neighbourhood late August…, these people already live in most appalling conditions and by evicting them will only make their situation worse.” the statement says.
CPJ welcomes the release of German-American journalist Michael Scott
24 Sept – Source: Radio RBC – 137 words
The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of German-American journalist Michael Scott Moore, who was kidnapped by Somali pirates in the city of Galkayo in January 2012. Moore’s abduction was not previously reported by most media outlets at the request of those seeking his release.
The German magazine Spiegel Online reported that a crisis team from the German Foreign Ministry worked with U.S. officials to secure Moore’s release. The journalist arrived in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, today and was taken for a health checkup, according to news reports.
An Associated Press report citing Bile Hussein, a pirate commander in the Somali town of Hobyo, said that some of Moore’s abductors “reached a deal with negotiators after ransom was paid.”
The German Foreign Ministry did not immediately disclose any details on whether a ransom was paid.
Pastoralist family hospitalized after eating poisoned meat
24 Sept- Source: Radio Ergo- 179 words
An entire family has been admitted to hospital after feasting on a goat which they had treated with unknown medicine for a sickness, local healthcare authorities told Radio Ergo.
The pastoralist family of 12, including seven children, from Qabri-bayah settlement, 30 km east of Lasanod district, was brought to the emergency room of Lasanod General Hospital.
Osman Jama, a neighbour who brought the victims to the hospital, told Radio Ergo that they became seriously ill shortly after consuming the meat.
“They showed signs of having been poisoned, including unconsciousness and severe diarrhoea. So we rushed them to the health facility for treatment,” Jama said.
Health officers say there are numerous incidences of people misusing drugs for the treatment of their animals. This often leads to human health being jeopardized.
Fahima Koosa-faare, the head of the hospital, described the condition of three of the children as fairly serious, while the rest were in a stable condition.
She said the victims needed further treatment and called on the locals to come to their assistance.
Iraq offers scholarship opportunities to Somali students
23 Sept – Source: SNTV – 127 words
The government of Iraq has offered a number scholarships to Somali students who are interested to pursue their studies abroad. The Assistant Minister for Culture and Higher Education of federal government of Somalia Mohamed Ahmed Kulan in a press conference confirmed the issue to the media on Monday.
Mr Kulan stated that 352 students from all the regions of the country will benefit from scholarship opportunities given by the government of Iraq. The Asssistant Minister stated that the registration of the scholarship applicants will start today and continue up to 8th of October 2014.
The minister reiterated that the ministry will form a committee that will manage the scholarship fairly. He thanked the governments of Iraq, Sudan and Yemen for their consolidation and support to Somali students.
Kismayo hospital on the verge of closure
23 Sept – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 111 words
The administration of interim Juba administration in Southern Somalia has asked the federal government of Somalia to refurbish Kismayo general hospital.
IJA Health Minister speaking to Goobjoog FM said the hospital is faced with acute drugs shortage and other medical facilities and lack of doctors which really affects the activities of the hospital.
On the other hand the administration of Kismayo general hospital stated that the hospital is on the verge of closure if urgent step is not taken to speed up the needs of the people.
A Senior official of Kismayo hospital said many patients from far areas in Juba and Gedo regions regularly reach the hospital for medical checkups.
Somaliland coast guard discover unexploded missile at the shores of Eil-sheikh
23 Sept- Source: Horn Newspaper Online- 159 words
The commander of Somaliland coast guards Brigadier general Ahmed Osman has disclosed that his officers have discovered this week the remains of a military jet fighter and un exploded missile at the shores of Eil-sheikh.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Osman said thata his men came across a missile which looks like the ones carried by military air craft’s and some dismantled parts of a fallen military jet. “The length of the missile is 8 metres while the width is one miter and 10 centimeters, I think the missile has been on the water not less than eight days.” Said the brigadier.
Mr. Osman said that they are waiting for expert to come to help with the investigations.
Resident’s were warned to move more than one kilometer from the unexploded bomb. According to military experts at scene said that the launcher of the rocket was intact.
No country has come forward to claim the suspect military aircraft in Somaliland waters.
Somali Journalists Stand Up for Peace
23 Sept- Source: Somali Current- 475 words
Dialogue on the importance of peace to the Somali people continued today in the capital Mogadishu, days ahead of the International Peace Day, with members of the country’s media fraternity stepping up to address their role in peace-building.
The discussions were led by journalists under the umbrella body, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and attracted representatives of the media, the Federal Government, women, the youth and members of civil society from different parts of the country.
Participants discussed how they can lead a movement that advocates for unity and reconciliation, raise awareness among the Somali people as well as call for individual actions that will promote peace across Somalia.
The discussions also looked at ways in which the media can use their work to support the stabilization process in the country and use journalism as a tool for peace.
Speaking during the dialogue, Mohamed Ibrahim Bakistaan, Secretary General, of NUSOJ, said the media has and will continue to play a central role in ensuring peace in Somalia.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalis arrested at Busia border
24 Sept – Source: Daily Monitor – 132 words
Security agencies at the Busia border are holding three Somali nationals for allegedly engaging in illegal activities in the country . The suspects, who are held at Busia Police Station, were arrested on Sunday night in an operation that targeted lodges and hotels in Busia Town.
Area Resident District Commissioner Hussein Kato Matanda confirmed the arrests, saying the suspects were singled out after screening more than 100 people arrested during the operation.
Mr Matanda told Daily Monitor that one of the suspects has been behind trafficking Somali nationals from Somalia through the porous Busia border to the Nakivale refugee camp where they would get refugee status.
He said traffickers have a lot of money which they use to bribe the local leaders at the border to allow them bring in the illegal migrants.
Somali pirates free abducted journalist
24 Sept – Source: Al Jazeera/AFP/BBC/Washington Post – 108 words
Somali pirates have freed a German-American journalist two and a half years after he was kidnapped in the semi-autonomous Puntland, officials have said.
Ahmed Muse Nur, a governor in the region, said Michael Scott Moore was handed to authorities on Tuesday. The AFP news agency quoted an unnamed Somali pirate source as saying that a ransom was paid for his release.
In Berlin, a German foreign ministry spokeswoman confirmed “that a German citizen, who also has US citizenship and who was abducted in Somalia, went free today”.
The 45-year-old Moore had worked for Der Spiegel in Berlin before he travelled to Somalia to write a book on piracy.
Clerics form council to fight terror in E.Africa
23 Sept – Source: Citizen TZ – 136 words
Religious leaders from five East African States (EAC), meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, have agreed to form a regional inter religious council to address extremism and terrorism in the region.
After 5 days of meeting in Kigali, Religious leaders also agreed to strengthen collaborations between religious leaders, government officials, politicians and the society as whole.
The formation of the EAC inter-religious council follows a Second EAC Conference on Peace and Security held in Bujumbura on 13-15th November 2013 that recommended that religious communities have an important role to play in promoting peace and security in the EAC.
“Religious leaders also agreed that various religions have differences about matters of faith but both should recognize the shared obligation of responding to temporary crisis with respect to the different faith,” said Ms Bina Hemani from Hindu Council of Africa.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Prolonged Droughts Threaten Renewed Famine in Somalia
24 Sept- Source: VOA- 02:40 mins
Droughts and heavy fighting have brought Somalia close to another bout of famine, just three years after food shortages killed 260,000 people in the troubled Horn of Africa country. The United Nations has begun urgent humanitarian aid deliveries to parts of Somalia that previously were controlled by armed insurgents. Zlatica Hoke reports that Somali journalists have discussed how they could contribute to peace building in the troubled country.
Somalia hands over the seaport control to a Turkish company- Viedo
24 Sept- Source: CCTV- 00:39 sec
Somalia hands over the seaport control to a Turkish company.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Botha’s research gives unprecedented insight into the background and motivations of the people who make up extremist organisations in Kenya. This is what a Kenyan radical looks like. Now it is up to Kenya’s policymakers to tailor their responses accordingly.”
Think Again – Portrait of a Kenyan Radical
23 Sept- Source: ISS Africa-1095 Words
Given the extent to which it dominates global news and politics, it is remarkable how little we know about the men – and, very occasionally, women – behind Islamist extremism. How are people drawn into such radical politics? What type of person becomes a terrorist? What is it that forces radicals out of day-to-day politics and into the extreme and often violent margins of society?
There are theories, of course. Maybe, some say, there’s something inherent within Islam that encourages intolerance; maybe it’s a function of widespread poverty, neglect and discrimination; maybe human nature inherently dictates that there will always be groups that want to overturn the status quo.
These, however, are guesses, and guesses aren’t very helpful when it comes to combating this problem. To contain and discourage radicalisation requires a thorough, substantiated answer to the question of why and how people are radicalised.
“Vision 2016 stipulates that Somalia should vote in a national referendum for a new constitution by 2016, as well as vote for a new parliament and president. I ask the reader, without a 2015 Somali Federalism Conference can the Somali nation, and its international stakeholders, really achieve Vision 2016? I ask the reader, how else will Somalia form a more perfect union?”
Finalizing the Somali Federal Process
23 Sept- Source: Hiiraan Online-765 Words
In 2012, Somalia theoretically regained statehood with a new constitution serving as its people’s social contract. The first article of the constitution states that “Somalia is a federal, sovereign, and democratic republic . . . .” Provisional Fed. Const. June 12, 2012, art. 1, §1 (Som.) (emphasis added). The great debacle is that Somali Federalism has yet to be properly discerned.
More precisely, the issues of federal delegated powers and reserved state powers have not been addressed. Additionally, Somalia’s remaining provinces have not yet fully federated. If Somalia is to complete her social contract by 2016, she must implement policies that will iron out the wrinkles of Somali Federalism.
What differentiates federalism from other forms of government is the dual-sovereign notion of “vertical separation of powers.” This notion disseminates governing powers between two main entities, the federal government and the state governments (i.e. Federal Member States), and each entity may not encroach upon the other entity’s governing powers.
Top tweets
@OxfamInSOM 43,800 severely malnourished children have high risk of dying in #Somalia. More aid needed.http://www.fsnau.org/in-focus/
@tobinbjones Came across this gentleman during a trip yesterday to Bulo Burte, #Somalia, with the #UN.pic.twitter.com/w8NYsyosdD
@Somalia111 Very pleased to meet @amisomsomalia Special Rep Amb Sidikou. Look fwd to continued partnership for#Somalia progress pic.twitter.com/20V1SI3cRG
@Guuleyste “Xadka Riddada” is #Somali book giving critical look @ penalty 4 #apostasy in #Islam. Shook militants 2 core#Somalia pic.twitter.com/H0adAYLenb
@Dahirkulane At the @UN today President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and @BeilehMofa holding bilateral meetings before#UNGA69 #Somalia pic.twitter.com/vjZldjB3c3
Image of the day
AMISOM Head of Mission Dr. Maman S. Sidikou meets UN SRSG Nicholas Kay, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. @amisomsomalia