September 6, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Fresh batch of Ugandan troops set for Somalia deployment

06 Sept – Source: Daily Monitor – 329 Words

The revelation was made yesterday at a meeting between the UPDF Amison leadership and members of the Pan Africa Parliament (PAP) at Singo Military Barracks. “We have nothing to hide and we are proud to be participating in serving and bringing peace in the continent,” said Col Steven Kashure, the commandant in-charge of training at Singo Military Training School.

“We are sending 2,831 soldiers to replace those who are retuning. There is a ceiling of 6363 soldiers for Uganda and the UPDF rotates within that number.” The PAP legislators, led by Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal, had visited the military installation to get acquainted with the welfare and operations of Ugandan soldiers working under the Amisom partnership.

“Why has Amisom remained Pan African yet it is only Uganda, Burundi and Kenya serving in Somalia and most of the countries have refused to join and help?” Ms Ogwal asked. Ms Ogwal also serves as the chairperson of the PAP M committee on corporation and conflict resolution.

Key Headlines

President Sharif Submits Election Form (Barkulan)
Fresh batch of Ugandan troops set for Somalia deployment (Daily Monitor)
Electoral commission announces names of candidates qualified for presidential election race (Raxanreeb/Radio Kulmiye/Garowe Online)
Final “onslaught” on Kismayo prepared (Bar-kulan)
Somalia: AMISOM troops deploy in captured port (New Vision)
Paul And Rachel Chandler Kidnapped At Sea By Somali Pirates To Set Sail Again On Same Yacht (Huffington Post/NBC)
Las Anod ejects southern Somalis over alleged links to al Shabaab (Sabahi Online)

SOMALI MEDIA

President Sharif Submits Election Form

06 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 99 words

Somalia’s incumbent President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed submitted his presidential application form late Wednesday to the election commission in Mogadishu. Election Commission spokesman, Osman Libah confirmed to Bar-kulan that president Sharif has fulfilled all requirements set by the commission for presidential aspirants.

President Sharif is one of the first eight presidential candidates who have submitted their forms to the election commission. Sheikh Sharif is contesting for a second term to lead the war-torn nation. Meanwhile the election commission spokesman asked all presidential aspirants to submit their forms to beat Thursday’s deadline for receiving the forms.

Electoral commission announces names of candidates qualified for presidential election race

06 Sept Source: Raxanreeb/Radio Kulmiye/Garowe Online – 151 words

Although the deadline time for the collection of application forms of those presidential candidates is on Thursday, the electoral commission has announced on Wednesday the names of those who fulfilled and qualified for all required conditions.

The spokesman for the electoral committee MP Osman Libah Ibrahim who held a press conference in Mogadishu told the press that they have received applications of 37 candidates but only five of them qualified for the running as all the remaining other didn’t fill and fulfill all required conditions.

“Until now we have only 5 candidates who filled the application form as required and even paid the $10,000 US Dollar,.’’ Said MP Libah. He added. ‘’any candidate who is willing to contest the presidential race should bring his/her application form by tomorrow (Thursday) which is the last day of collecting and accepting application forms.’’

Final “onslaught” on Kismayo prepared

06 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 106 words

Somali National forces and their allied AMISOM troops in the lower Juba are preparing for a final onslaught to capture Kismayo port city where al Shabaab militants are staying put. Kenyan military spokesman,Col.Cyrus Oguna said they are preparing for the capture of Bibi settlement which is one of the outskirts of Kismayo in a bid to move towards the port city.

The Spokesman added that the coalition forces have been succeeding in its last missions one of them being the capture of miido on Friday. Bibi is just 90 KM away from the port city of Kismayo, a stronghold of the al Qaeda linked al Shabaab militias.

Two killed in southern Somalia attack on civilian bus

06 Sept – Source: Shabelle/Radio Dalsan – 109 words

At least two people dead and ten others sustained variety of wounds, after unknown gunmen opened fire on a civilian bus in southern Somalia, reports said on Thursday. The killing took place at a village in the vicinity of Bur-hakaba in Lower Shabelle region, after unknown gunmen opened fire on a civilian bus carrying dozens of passengers from Baidoa en route to Mogadishu. “Last night, armed gunmen shot and killed two people in Somalia’s southern town of Buur-hakaba controlled by al Shabaab militants as they (gangs) were trying to loot the passengers’ belongings,” a witness said.

Somaliland lifts ban on Somalia passport

05 Sept – Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 96 words

The government of (self-declared republic) Somaliland has lifted ban on Somali passport as the Muslims are preparing to attend performing the duties of Hajj. Reliable sources said that the cabinet ministers of Somaliland last Thursday endorsed to lifting ban on the Somali passport. The lifting ban on the Somali passport came after lengthy discussions by the cabinet ministers. However, the government of Somaliland did not so far release any comments about that. Sources noted the people of Somaliland were allowed to use the passport to go to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam.

12 suspects arrested in Daynile over explosion

05 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 79 words

Somali Police officers in Mogadishu’s northern district of Daynile carried out a security operation where they have arrested 12 suspects after a bomb explosion in Gubta areas. According to the police officers, the security operation was aimed at beefing up the security of the people of Daynile where a bomb exploded earlier Wednesday. Nobody was killed in the explosion. Head of the police requested locals in Banadir region to cooperate with the police in maintaining security.

Former Somali foreign minister declares his candidacy

05 Sept – Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 107 words

Former Somalia foreign minister Mohamed Abdullahi Omaar, who is from Somaliland, on Wednesday announced his candidacy for the presidential elections. He joins a dozen of candidates vying for the country’s top job as it is expected that the election to be held Thursday in Mogadishu for the first time in more than 40 years.

So far, at least five candidates sent their application for the candidacy to the presidential elections committee. Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaho, former Somali prime minister, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the outgoing prime minister, Abdullahi Ahmed Adow and Abdullahi Ilmi Gonjeh are the only the ones who so far met the conditions of the presidential elections.

Clan fighting in central Somalia kills 8, injures 13

06 Sept – Source: Shabelle/Mareeg Online – 137 words

Clashes between rival clans in central Somalia have killed at least 8 people, 13 others injured, residents said Thursday. Abdikadir Abdi-Bare, a local peacemaker said that at least 8 people were killed in fighting in the central Galgadud region. Most of the dead were militia members.

There have been sporadic clashes between two clans near Abud-waq town over access to land and water for several days. The most recent fighting began early Monday. Local elders have called for calm but residents are fleeing the area around the town and more gunmen are arriving.

“It’s awful fighting and tension is still high so I call for prompt action,” an elder said by telephone. Thirteen people were wounded in the fighting, said a nurse in the main hospital in Abud-waq town, controlled by pro-government Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (ASWJ) fighters.

Tremor felt in Somaliland town

05 Sept Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 87 words

A slight earthquake was felt in the town of Borama in the republic of Somaliland, residents said on Wednesday. The tremor was witnessed about 01:01 PM local time, the town’s inhabitants noted. The quake took place as most of the local residents were relaxing from work. After the tremor, the local residents started calling their relatives in the same town to know if it was big. It is common in the town to witness such slight quakes as the people adapted to it.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Fresh batch of Ugandan troops set for Somalia deployment

06 Sept – Source: Daily Monitor – 329 Words

The UPDF is today sending 2,831 troops to Somalia to fight the al Shabaab insurgents. The troops are heading to the horn of Africa as battle group ten to replace battle group eight which has been part of the Uganda contingent fighting the militants. The revelation was made yesterday at a meeting between the UPDF Amison leadership and members of the Pan Africa Parliament (PAP) at Singo Military Barracks. “We have nothing to hide and we are proud to be participating in serving and bringing peace in the continent,” said Col Steven Kashure, the commandant in-charge of training at Singo Military Training School.

Somalia: AMISOM troops deploy in captured port

06 Sept – Source: New Vision – 256 words

Troops from the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have deployed in Elma’an port about 40km North East of Mogadishu as the force continues to secure more territory from al Qaeda-affiliated extremists al Shabaab. The AMISOM peacekeepers deployed in the Horn of Africa country to restore stability first launched their assault on Elma’an port in June. The troops led by UPDF secured the port on Tuesday and subsequently deployed to build defenses.

According to a statement issued by the AMISOM information office in Nairobi, the port had previously been used, by the militants fighting the Somali government, for import of illegal arms and to shuttle foreign fighters from the Gulf of Eden. AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti said that the operation is aimed at improvement of security in the port town. It’s an important source of goods for many of Somalia’s coastal communities.

“This deployment will bring peace to the people of Elma’an as they work to rebuild their lives,” Gutti commented. Meanwhile Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper reported on Tuesday that seven al Shabaab fighters, including a senior commander, were killed in an AMISOM raid. The missile strikes on Kismayo by Kenya Navy vessels, came as African Union forces stepped up efforts to capture Kismayo, the militants’ only remaining base in southern Somalia.

Reports identified the commander who was killed as Abdikadir Duecsane. Military sources told the Nation that he was among al Shabaab fighters fleeing Kismayo to neighbouring towns. The missile strikes also hit Jilip another town near Kismayo.

Las Anod ejects southern Somalis over alleged links to al Shabaab

06 Sept – Source: Sabahi Online – 185 words

The Sool regional administration in northern Somalia has issued a decree telling certain young southern Somalis who work in Las Anod to leave by September 12th because of their alleged links with al Shabaab. Some tribal elders and traders affected by the decree say the move is unjustified and illegal.

Sool Administrator Mohamed Mohamud Jeniyare described the targeted individuals as being between the ages of 17 and 30, originally from Bay, Bakol and Benadir regions, and affiliated with the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab organisation. “They are misled youth engaged in destabilising actions,” he said.
Suspected individuals have been given 20 days, starting on August 23rd, to leave. The ejection affects about 400 individuals employed in trade and manual labour in the city, Jeniyare said.

“The individuals we are expelling are those employed in the markets, who came at various times,” he said. “They use their work to mask the destabilising actions they are secretly engaged in — for which we believe they partner with al Shabaab to carry out — such as shooting soldiers in the head and causing explosions, to which some have confessed after we arrested them.”

Al Shabaab fighters surrender

05 Sept – Source: Daily Nation – 211 words

Hundreds of al Shabaab fighters and some of their top commanders have surrendered to African Union peacekeeping forces following four days of attacks on their bases near Kismayu. By Wednesday, more than 200 militants had surrendered in Afmadow town, according to security officials.

The surrender of the militants is seen as a major boost to African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces as the defectors are likely to reveal al Shabaab’s war plans. It also emerged on Wednesday that the Kenyan contingent of AMISOM forces and their Somali allies were advancing towards Biibi from Miido which they liberated on Friday night.

Kenya Defence Forces spokesman Cyrus Oguna confirmed that the troops were preparing to capture Biibi before advancing to Kismayo. “They are making progress and moving forward. Our troops will be in Biibi very soon,” Col Oguna said. He could, however, not immediately confirm the surrender of al Shabaab militants, saying he was still seeking more information from the battlefront.

Biibi town is located about 90km from Kismayo and KDF intends to use it as one of its forward operation bases. From Biibi, the troops will head to Janai-Abdalla before closing in on Kismayo. AMISOM spokesperson Ali Aden Hamoud told Nation that Ugandan and Burundian troops had made progress in the war against al Shabaab.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Al Shabaab defends Somali turf

06 Sept – Source: UPI News/BBC – 146 words

Residents in a Somali city under the authority of al Shabaab said the al Qaeda ally was shoring up its positions in the face of a Kenyan naval barrage. A military spokesman in Kenya confirmed to the BBC that naval forces were shelling militant-controlled Kismayo in an effort to take control of the city.

Residents stated that al Shabaab strengthened its positions and people were fleeing the area. Al Shabaab lost control of the Somali port city of Marka this summer during battles with pro-government forces supported by African Union forces.

Somalia has made political progress since adopting a draft constitution and appointing some members of Parliament. The move formally ended a political transition period. A presidential vote is set for Sept. 10, though the central government struggles to extend its influence beyond the Mogadishu. The Kenyan military has been a key supporter of the African Union effort in Somalia.

Paul And Rachel Chandler, Kidnapped At Sea By Somali Pirates, To Set Sail Again On Same Yacht

05 Sept – Source: Huffington Post/NBC – 172 words

Paul and Rachel Chandler are severely testing the old saw about getting back on the horse. Kidnapped at sea three years ago and held for 388 days by Somali pirates, the British couple is setting sail again. They depart this week on a six-month voyage to Brazil, aboard the same yacht that carried them into their nightmare. “I never stopped wanting to go out to sea,” Rachel told NBC News.

No one would blink if the Chandlers chose to be landlubbers for the rest of their lives. In October 2009, as they were en route from the Seychelles to Tanzania, armed pirates snuck onto their beloved vessel, the Lynn Rival, and took them hostage. Six days of confinement at sea turned into an additional 322 days of captivity in Somalia.

As a $7 million ransom stood between them and freedom, tensions between the pair and their captors skyrocketed when it became apparent the sum wasn’t forthcoming, according to news accounts. The kidnappers constantly threatened to sell them to al Qaeda, NBC reported.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“After nearly a year in Somalia, Kenya is preparing to commence its assault on Kismaayo, al Shabaab’s strategic and financial outpost, and the current front line of the concerted counter-insurgency campaign in southern Somalia. With Marka just fallen, could this prove the boon to the KDF’s expeditionary gamble?”

With Al-Shabaab on the Run, Kenya Moves on Kismaayo

05 Sept – Source: RUSI Journal – 1485 Words

In October 2011, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) invaded southern Somalia with the stated purpose of dismantling al Shabaab and seizing the port city of Kismaayo, from which the Islamist militant organisation earns the majority of its revenues. After an initially swift invasion, Kenyan forces languished in southern Somalia for seven months before conquering the city of Afmadow, which lay only 90 miles from its common border with Somalia.

Upon seizing Afmadow, both Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga and KDF Chief of General Staff, General Julius Karangi projected that Kismaayo would fall by 20 August – the date of the expiration of the mandate of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG). Like previous targets articulated during the course of the Kenyan military’s involvement in Somalia, the attack on Kismaayo has since been delayed, but is imminent nonetheless.

When Kenya sent troops across the border last autumn, there were many reservations about the KDF’s prospects for success. The failure, to date, of successive military interventions by the United States, Ethiopia, the United Nations (UN) and, until recently, the African Union (AU) was but one of these concerns. Although the KDF is a professional military that has formerly participated in AU and UN peacekeeping operations, it had no expeditionary experience outside of these deployments, and has had limited experience fighting an unconventional adversary like al Shabaab. Compounding these challenges, Kenyan forces entered Somalia right at the outset of the rainy season and were stalled for several months, burdened by the logistical challenges imposed by the poor infrastructure of southern Somalia.

“Somalia is now entering a new threshold which demands people with high caliber in the diplomatic intricacy. The Parliament has already casted votes of historical proportions in choosing a Speaker. What the next choice will be is anyone’s guess. However, I remind the Parliamentarians the large number of young men and women who got lured to come back homeland is not with the intention of enriching themselves. They opted sacrifices in saving their countries from the grips of mediocre politicians. Your choice for the highest position of the nation will either save the country from the worst calamities or put it over a cliff of no return.”

September 10th is a D-day Decision for Somali Parliament

05 Sept – Source: Wardheer News – 617 Words

No country in the world has been subjected to total extinction; economically, socially, politically, and environmentally like our country, Somalia. The people who were political players in all these years, were contributors of the havocs and destruction that engulfed the country. They were patronized by ruthless merchants who amassed wealth by an unscrupulous way and were responsible for creating perpetual lawlessness in the country to benefit the suffering of the masses who were subjected to abject poverty.

Over a million people fled the country, some languishing in refugee camps while the luckier ones resettled in foreign countries. The other players of Somali politics are the international communities; who were puzzled by the squabbles of clanism to find solutions for the country’s paralysis. Marathon meetings were held in foreign countries to find an equitable agreement among the antagonists.

After they exhausted their diplomacy, they came to know that the Somalis had more allegiance to clanism than to nationhood. Then, in the Arta meeting, the dubious “4.5 Solution” was adopted which marginalized some segments of our people. Subsequently, balkanization of the country into pseudo federalism based on clanism emerged. If regionalism based on clanism is not halted there will be an eventual move for disintegration.

“In the run up to next week’s Presidential election in Somalia, Zainab M. Hassan writes an open letter to new women parliamentarians asking them to demonstrate collective leadership in their choice of someone to lead a ruined country.”

Somalia: a call for sisterhood

05 Sept – Source: Indepth Africa – 2118 Words

The mandate of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) ended on August 20th, in accordance with the Road Map agreement signed in Mogadishu on September 6th 2011. The Road Map produced the Garowe II Principles and subsequent Protocol for ending the transition, and established the composition of the NCA and the new Parliament in June this year. Traditional Elders (TEs) of the Somali clans were set to select 825 National Constituency Assembly (NCA) members, and 275 new Somali Federal Parliament members along a 4.5 clan power-sharing formula for the four major clans – Darood, Digil and Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye – and a half for the rest of the clans considered as minority groups.

A 30% percent quota of NCA and parliamentary seats were set aside for women. The quota for women produced an uproar from some of the men, particularly those who were vying for parliamentary seats and some of the Traditional Elders who were assigned to select members of Somalia’s next parliament. The Tribal Elders were supposed to represent the whole community, not just men, and it’s their inherent responsibility to be the stewards of the well-being of the community, the country and the people. They did not comply with the quota, and only 24 percent of the NCA members are women.

Top tweets

@UNPOSomalia #UN Envoy Mahiga: Presidential vote will be secret ballot; calls on Parliament to vote their conscience: http://bit.ly/MfRyFe #Somalia.

@Aynte A fascinating profile of the South African/Australian mercenary setting up private army in #Somalia‘s #Puntland region http://bit.ly/RDo0Ft.

@pvandenende #Somalia #Uganda #AMISOM: UPDF is today sending 2,831 troops to Mogadishu to fight al-@Shabaab insurgents http://bit.ly/Q1Fwmw.

@J_T_Horowitz As Kenyan navy attacks Kismayo, is al Shabaab using civilians as human shields? http://n24.cm/R8dUO1 via @News24 #Kenya #AMISOM #Somalia.

@CispSom Everybody says #Mogadishu was amazing before the war. See it with your own eyes in these pictures of #Somalia http://ow.ly/dvhYc.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Part of the Ugandan contingent to African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM) at its final briefing before setting off for Somalia (5th Sept 2012). Photo: big sam photography.