September 29, 2015 | Daily Monitoring Report
President Hassan Sheikh Meets With Heads of States Of Troop Contributing Countries
29 September – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 95 Word
The President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has met with the leaders of troop contributing countries of AMISOM in New York. The president and his counterparts discussed about fast tracking the fight against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. Similarly, President Mohamud also met with Prime Minister David Cameron to further discuss the full implementation on the UK government’s recent commitment to deploy troops to Somalia. In addition, the president also had a chance to meet with the King of Jordan to discuss more support in the fight against terrorism in the region.
Key Headlines
- President Hassan Sheikh Meets With Heads of States Of Troop Contributing Countries (Radio Kulmiye)
- Two Clans In Hawaadley Urged To Stop Clashes (Goobjoog News)
- El-Adde District Commissioner Survives Attempt On His Life (Wacaal Media)
- Internal Security Ministry Working On Plans To Improve Security (Radio Muqdisho)
- Uhuru Calls For Global Participation In Stabilising Somalia S. Sudan (The Star)
- Five Thousand People Benefit From ERC’s Sacrificial Meat Programme In Somalia (Emirates New Agency)
- UN Chief Calls On Somalia To Continue Moving Forward In Building Federal Democratic State (Xinhua)
- How Ethiopian Intelligence Infiltrated And Took Control Of Al-Shabaab (RBC Radio)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Two Clans In Hawaadley Urged To Stop Clashes
29 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 103 Words
Lower Shabelle Regional Judge, Sheikh Ahmed Haji Ibrahim has sent appeal to the feuding clans in Hawadley locality. He called out for immediate cease-fire and reconciliation among the warring clans.“I urge People of Hawadley locality to stop the recurrent fighting, residents living in those areas are brotherly neighbours” he said. He urged them to seek peaceful settlement for both clans who cohabit together in those two regions. Meanwhile Sheikh Ahmed also called on the administration of Hawaadley locality to deploy soldiers in battlefield to intervene the militias. The recurrent fighting in that locality has claimed many lives and displaced hundreds of people from their homes.
El-Adde District Commissioner Survives Attempt On His Life
29 September – Source: Wacaal Media – 109 Words
A district commissioner has survived an attempt on his life on Monday after assailants planted an explosive on a road leading to his residence. Confirming the incident to the local media, Abdirashid Ali Qorleh of El-Adde district said that although he was safe, he lost one of his bodyguards in the attack. “The terrorists planted explosives on a road that leads to my residence in an attempt to kill me but luckily I am alive and as fit as a fiddle” said Qorleh. Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attacks saying the district commissioner sustained serious injuries. The militants also said the town was taken over by Kenyan forces.
Internal Security Ministry Working On Plans To Improve Security
29 September – Source: Radio Muqdisho – 142 Words
The Ministry of Internal Security has said it is fast tracking its operations on how to strengthen the security of the country and to prevent terrorist activities. The Spokesperson for the Ministry, Mohamed Yusuf Osman has said the general security of the country specifically that of the capital city is improving , the spokesperson attributed this to close working relationship between the various actors in the security sector in Mogadishu and it environs.
He pointed out that the ministry has in place a new plan that aims to improve the security further which is based on modern times adding that there are new ways to prevent terrorist activities that has hurt the Somali population. The spokesperson praised the efforts of the security agencies for their work during the Eid festive period in which they were no reports of insecurity in the capital.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Uhuru Calls For Global Participation In Stabilising Somalia, S. Sudan
29 September – Source: The Star – Video: 30 Minutes
President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on the international community to support regional efforts in stabilising Somalia, South Sudan and other African countries. Uhuru made the call when he gave a speech at the 70th United Nations General Assembly annual debate in New York on Monday evening. President Kenyatta’s speech went big on Kenya’s determination to continue playing its role in fostering stability in the region as well as enhancing its international responsibility in improving global cooperation for the improvement of humanity. The President rallied world leaders to take more concrete steps to support the restoration of stability in Somalia and South Sudan as well as other countries affected by instability.
Five Thousand People Benefit From ERC’s Sacrificial Meat Programme In Somalia
29 September – Source: Emirates News Agency – 78 Words
The Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, has distributed sacrificial meat to a thousand families totalling about five thousand people in the town of Bosaso in Puntland State, Somalia. The beneficiaries expressed their thanks and appreciation to the UAE’s wise leadership and the Emirates Red Crescent, which has supported the Somali people in various situations. The authority has carried out many humanitarian and charitable projects in the Somali town of Bosaso, including Iftar projects, which benefited thousands of Bosaso citizens.
UN Chief Calls On Somalia To Continue Moving Forward In Building Federal, Democratic State
28 September – Source: Xinhua – 301 Words
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Monday that Somalia has made steady progress in building a federal, democratic state but the momentum must be sustained. Ban made the remarks while speaking at the high-level meeting on Somalia held at the UN headquarters in New York.”We have seen the formation of a new interim regional administration, the launch of the constitutional review process, and the creation of a National Independent Electoral Commission. Most recently, I welcome the launch on Sept. 19 of a National Consultative Forum to agree on the 2016 electoral process,” said Ban, claiming these are important steps, but the momentum must be sustained.
Somalia cannot afford to get side-tracked by partisan politics or self-interest.”I urge all parties to work together on the goals they have set, including to complete state formation, advance the constitutional review and ensure an inclusive electoral process in 2016,” he said.”The threat of Al-Shabaab continues to destabilize the country,” he said. But “the threat of Al-Shabaab cannot be defeated by military means alone. I call on all Somalis, as well as Somalia’s friends, neighbors and partners, to reflect on the need for a more comprehensive approach to counter violent extremism in the country.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“With both Al-Shabaab’s Amir and his deputy arrested, and the remaining Al-Shabaab leaders scattered, a group of young, unfamiliar individuals within the organization grabbed the opportunity, and, after a quick, unscheduled conference, announced a new leadership for Al-Shabaab. The new leadership was led by men who were unknown within the Islamist movement in Somalia. A mysterious man by the name “Sheikh Mukhtar Abu Zubayr” was now elected as the Amir of Al-Shabaab. His real name turned out to be Ahmed Abdi Godane.”
How Ethiopian Intelligence Infiltrated And Took Control Of Al-Shabaab
28 September – Source: RBC Radio – 2,261 Words
Since 2006, the east African region in general, and Somalia in particular, has been terrorized by the Al-Shabaab group. So many studies have been done and many articles written about the group’s savage bombings and suicide attacks against both civilians and governments. However, very little has been written about one question that bewilders those who closely watch the group: why does Al-Shabaab avoid attacking the Ethiopians while it attacks all the other countries in the region?
Keep in mind Ethiopia was the first country that sent its troops to Somalia and was accused of killing tens of thousands of Somali civilians in Mogadishu between 2007 and 2009, when it occupied southern Somalia. Also keep in mind that of all the Horn/East African countries, Ethiopia is the country where the largest number of ethnic Somalis live in with the exception of Somalia. The Ogaden region where the ethnic Somalis in Ethiopia live, has endured decades of government oppression and genocide, making it a potential recruiting ground for anyone conducting attacks against Ethiopian. There is also at least one ethnic Somali rebel group fighting the Ethiopian government in Ogaden.
The Ethiopians remained unscathed, however, while Al-Shabaab’s suicide bombers have struck as far as Kampala. Not only that, Al-Shabaab has almost never attacked Ethiopian AMISOM forces in Somalia while it conducts nearly daily attacks against other AMISOM troops. Al-Shabaab forces always conducted a smooth withdrawal whenever the Ethiopian forces arrived in an area. An interesting point that many observers have missed is that the Ethiopians don’t even use their tanks, airplanes, or artillery when “capturing” territory from Al-Shabaab. Why waste fuel when you know “your enemy” will withdraw his forces on your command!
It took the Kenyans with their warplanes, tanks, and heavy artillery, years of constant fighting to reach Kismaayo. It took many years for the Ugandan/Burundian AMISOM forces to move from Mogadishu to the Lower Shabelle using large armored forces (and they had to withdraw from most of that after constant attacks). The Djiboutian forces in Beledweyne can hardly go outside their bases. But the Ethiopians criss-cross all the southern states in Ural trucks! On several occasions in the last few months, Ethiopian government officials have tried to come up with some reasons after many people in Kenya (including the wealthy businessman Jacob Juma who twitted “..Ethiopia is a suspect”) accused Ethiopia of secretly supporting Al-Shabaab. Some Ethiopian officials tried to explain the matter by simply saying that the Ethiopian forces are too brave for Al-Shabaab. That’s hardly convincing because no one, no matter how brave they are, can scare away a suicide bomber.
TOP TWEETS
@engyarisow: DRAFT COMMUNIQUÉ: HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON #SOMALIA
NEW YORK 28 SEPTEMBER 2015
@MOALIMUU: EU training mission commander in #Somaliareaches to Beledweyne
@alijira: Time is a running #Vision2016 what next #Somalia‘s future? “Security,Motion,Regional administrations,Federalism process & Reconciliations.
@Dahirkulane: High-level meeting on #Somalia held on the margins of the 70th UN General Assembly #UNGA
@AbdurahmanShar: Protection of civilians in armed conflict, cornerstone of international humanitarian law which also identifies & protects children #Somalia
@FCOMattBaugh: Welcome #Somalia event at #UNGA70. Opportunity to assess progress & for Somalia’s partners to reaffirm commitment #together @UKinSomalia
@AbdisalamAato: Voluntary #Repatriation from #Kenya to#Somalia – #UNHCR animation (English)http://youtu.be/T2gwr0QQRHY?a
IMAGE OF THE DAY
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at a high level meeting on Somalia.
Photo: @Dahirkulane