September 8, 2014 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Jowhar residents support the military offensive against al Shabaab
08 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Risaala- 174 words
A protest to show support to the ongoing military offensive against al Shabaab militant group in Somalia has been held in Jowhar town, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region.
Senior officials from both the district and the regional administrations participated in the protests along with civil society representatives and local residents of the town.
Addressing to the protesters, the chairman of Middle Shabelle Women Association, Sadiya Burus said that women in the region are ready to support Somali forces who are trying to restore peace and stability back to the country.
Middle Shabelle Governor, Ali Abdullahi Hussein who also spoke to the protesters urged Jowhar residents and the locals in Middle Shabelle region in general to collaborate with security agencies.
Somali government forces and African Union troops in Somalia have recently launched a massive military offensive against al Shabaab militant group in several fronts in the country.
The military offensive dubbed Operation Indian Ocean has so far proved successful as the allied forces seized several small and strategic towns in south and central regions.
Key Headlines
- Jowhar residents support the military offensive against al Shabaab (Radio Mogadishu)
- Al Shabaab’s last line of defence now crumbles (Daily Monitor)
- Federal government reopens Ministry of Culture and Higher Education headquarters (Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog)
- Government describes death of Godane as an opportunity to advance peace process (Radio Mogadishu/RBC)
- Puntland President Says death of al Shabaab leader is achievement for Somalia (Radio Dalsan/Radio Garowe)
- Juba reconciliation committee held preliminary meeting with clan elders (Radio Goobjoog)
- Four children die of malnutrition on the outskirts of Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Deals for humanitarian projects in Somalia Sudan (thepeninsulaqatar)
- UNSOM joins Somalia to celebrate ahead of the International Peace Day through sports (Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali Islamist rebels pledge allegiance to new leader (Reuters)
- 7 killed in al Shabaab attacks in Galgadu region (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Somaliland President confers with governors and Mayors (Somaliland Informer)
- FBI claims Norwegian terrorist died in Kenyan attack (newsinenglish.no)
- Ahlu Sunna lauds Indian operations (Radio Goobjoog)
- Al Shabaab MRC now one says police boss David Kimaiyo (Daily Nation)
- Three terrorism suspects arrested at Frankfurt airport (DW/ DPA/ AFP)
- DNO Gets Somaliland Oil Extension (The Wall Street Journal)
- Shells hit Mogadishu after militant leader death (AP)
- Klobuchar visits Africa to discuss food security Somali refugees (Star Tribune)
- Death of al Shabaab Boss Godane Could See Jihadis Returning to U.S. (NBC News)
SOMALI MEDIA
Jowhar residents support the military offensive against al Shabaab
08 Sept- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Risaala- 174 words
A protest to show support to the ongoing military offensive against al Shabaab militant group in Somalia has been held in Jowhar town, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region.
Senior officials from both the district and the regional administrations participated in the protests along with civil society representatives and local residents of the town.
Addressing to the protesters, the chairman of Middle Shabelle Women Association, Sadiya Burus said that women in the region are ready to support Somali forces who are trying to restore peace and stability back to the country.
Middle Shabelle Governor, Ali Abdullahi Hussein who also spoke to the protesters urged Jowhar residents and the locals in Middle Shabelle region in general to collaborate with security agencies.
Somali government forces and African Union troops in Somalia have recently launched a massive military offensive against al Shabaab militant group in several fronts in the country.
The military offensive dubbed Operation Indian Ocean has so far proved successful as the allied forces seized several small and strategic towns in south and central regions.
Federal government reopens Ministry of Culture and Higher Education headquarters
08 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog – 118 words
A colourful ceremony meant to reopen the building of the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education was held in Mogadishu. The ceremony was attended by members of parliament, diplomats, teachers, parents, officials from various universities and singers who presented patriotic songs during the opening of the ceremony.
The Minister for Culture and Higher Education Duale Adan Mohamed explained in details the efforts his ministry made to reopen the building that was of no use for more than two decades.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Religious Affairs Ridwan Hersi Mohamed who officially opened the building praised the tireless efforts of the ministry adding the reopening of the building is a big achievement for the government and the public.
Juba reconciliation committee held preliminary meeting with clan elders
08 Sept- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 138 words
As the second phase of Juba reconciliation conference is due to open in Kismayo, Juba reconciliation committee is taking separate meetings with the clan leaders of Juba and Gedo regions.
The preliminary meeting is meant to persuade the clan elders to play a vital role in the upcoming reconciliation conference in the region.
The vice chairman of the reconciliation committee Abdi Baaley told Radio Goobjoog that the representatives of Gedo and Juba regions realized the importance of the reconciliation conference that is expected to open in Kismayo, the headquarters of Lower Juba region and agreed to attend the talks.
The vice chairman denied that IGAD officials observed the meeting of the committee with the elders. The second phase of Juba reconciliation conference will open on 21st September in Kismayo.
Four children die of malnutrition on the outskirts of Mogadishu
08 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 112 words
At least four children are reported to have died of malnutrition in Sarkus village on the outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Two of the children were said to be from same family according to area residents.
The village is home to hundreds of internally displaced families. Some of the displaced families stated to have fled the recent confrontations between Somali government forces and Al Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle region.
The internally displaced families in Sarkus village on the outskirts of the Somali capital are appealing for urgent supplies of food and water from the government and the international relief agencies.
Government describes death of Godane as an opportunity to advance peace process
08 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC – 153 words
Somali government welcomed the killing of al Shabaab’s powerful leader Ahmed Abdi Godane by the U.S drones on Monday last week in Lower Shabelle region. “The Federal Government welcomed the killing of al Shabaab Leader Ahmed Abdi Godane.” Minister of Information Mustaf Dhuhulow told reporters in Mogadishu.
“This is an opportunity to advance the peace process in the country.” the minister added. Both U.S and Somalia announced the death of Godane on Friday after four days of investigations to confirm if the killed al Shabaab officials were among Ahmed Godane, the most wanted man in Somalia.
Godane died during an air raid carried by two U.S planes- a drone and a manned military aircraft in the midnight of Monday. Al Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage said that Godane and two other senior officials were killed as he did not name who were the other two al Shabaab members killed except Godane.
Puntland President Says death of al Shabaab leader is achievement for Somalia
08 Sept- Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Garowe- 158 words
Visiting some of the ministries of Puntland in Garowe city, the Puntland president Abdiwali Mohamed Ali Gaas said on Saturday that the demise of the overall leader of al Shabaab Ahmed Godane is an achievement for Somalia.
“I think this will change a lot in terms of the problems facing Somalia..”, President Gaas said. These remarks of President Gaas came at a time when the US government and the federal government of Somalia have announced the killing of Ahmed Godane by American drones in Southern Somalia. The reports on the demise of Ahmed Godane were everywhere on the local and the international media since last Monday especially after drones attacked al Shabaab leaders including Godane near Sablale in Lower Shabelle Region, Southern Somalia.
The death of Ahmed Godane comes at a time when the government troops and AMISOM are carrying out an operation dubbed as Operation Indian Ocean in south-central Somalia. The government and AMISOM say the operation will continue.
UNSOM joins Somalia to celebrate ahead of the International Peace Day through sports
08 Sept – Source: Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu – 188 words
Somali Football Federation and the United Nations Office in Somalia (UNSOM) have jointly organized a football for peace event as an observation for the international day of peace. The match was played at stadium Banadir in Mogadishu on Sunday 7th of September 2014 after the UN special representative for Somalia Nicholas Kay requested the Somali FA to organize the match this weekend as an early celebration for the International event which is annually observed throughout the world to strengthen the ideals of peace in the world.
Before the UN representative was invited to kick the first ball of the match, the Somali Football federation President Abdiqani Said Arab and the UN representative Nicholas Kay talked to the media to high light the importance of the peace day program.
“It is a great honour for the Somali Football Federation to welcome the top UN official to Stadium Banadir for the first time and his arrival here is a clear indication that the UN was interested in football by preferring to mark the world peace celebration with football match with the help from Somali FA” President Abdiqani Said Arab noted.
7 killed in al Shabaab attacks in Galgadu region
08 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 130 words
Seven people were killed and nine others injured Sunday night after government forces and fighters from al Shabaab militant group engaged in fierce clashes in El-garas village in Galgadud region.
The seven were killed after al Shabaab fighters attacked government security forces base in El-garas village according to Col. Mohamed Kahiye Arale, a senior Somali military in the area. He told Bar-kulan that all the casualties were inflicted on al Shabaab side that attacked the government forces base in the area.
The officer vowed that Somali forces will continue the military offensive to keep pressure on Al Shabaab militant group. He urged Somali youth on the ranks of Al Shabaab militant group to surrender and seek amnesty from the federal government.
Somaliland President confers with governors and Mayors
07 Sept – Source: Somaliland Informer – 112 words
President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo has conferred on Sunday with regional governors and mayors in the presidential palace.
The discussion focused on the smooth implementation of the civic registration and launching an awareness raising project that is expected to pave the way for citizens to have full understanding of the registration.
The president has urged government officials to be responsible in order to conduct smooth registration of citizens in nationwide. First, the Head of State has welcomed them and reminded that it is a national constitution to keep peace and stability.
Somaliland’s Minister of Interior Hon. Ali Mohamed Waran Adde has stated that the registration is about to commence in nationwide soon.
Ahlu Sunna lauds Indian operations
07 Sept – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 122 words
Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama administration in Southern Somalia speak well of the military operations against al Shabaab movement launched by Somali forces together with AMISOM troops. Abdirahman Al-Azhari, senior official of Ahlu Sunna Wal-Jama stated that they are ready to support Somali government to succeed the Indian Ocean operation.
Sheikh Azhari urged Somali government and AMISOM to speed up their operation to push al Shabaab out of the country. The official reiterated that this operation was too late and government was to launch Indian Ocean operation before this time.
AMISOM and Somali government seized many cities from al Shabaab the last two weeks. His remarks came when US drones killed the leader of al Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane and named new Emir to replace him.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab, MRC now one, says police boss David Kimaiyo
08 Sept – Source: Daily Nation – 115 words
The Mombasa Republican Council has established links with al Shabaab, police boss David Kimaiyo said on Sunday, just two weeks before Kenya marks one year since the Westgate Mall attack in which the Somalia-based terrorist group killed 69 people.
The two organisations are now working closely, according to Mr Kimaiyo. MRC is localised secession group at the Coast. Al Shabaab, on the other hand, is fighting to establish a Taliban-style state in Somalia.
Its leader, Ahmed Godane, was killed last week in a US airstrike and at the weekend, the group announced that it had picked Ahmed Omar Abu Ubaidah to replace him. Godane is believed to be one of the masterminds of the Westgate attack.
Deals for humanitarian projects in Somalia, Sudan
08 Sept- Source: thepeninsulaqatar- 366 words
Two agreements worth more than QR3.26m have been signed by Qatar charities to fund humanitarian projects in the war-torn Somalia and Sudan. The first was signed by Qatar Charity (QC) and Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) which will see them funding a health centre in Somalia to meet the needs of the local population.
The agreement was signed by Yousef bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO, QC, and Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Secretary-General, QRC, at the QC headquarters in Doha. The centre will be built by QC in Odjla village in the province of Lower Shabelle.
The agreement stipulates that QRC will fund the running of the centre at a cost of about QR260,000 in the first year, with QRC working in cooperation with QC to secure funding for the centre in the coming years.
Al Shabaab’s last line of defence now crumbles
07 Sept – Source: Daily Monitor – 100 words
Somali forces backed by African Union troops from the Ugandan Contingent launched an offensive operation code-named “Operation Indian Ocean” two weeks ago that has since left al Shabaab insurgents lose strategic towns.
When the insurgents are finally pushed out of Baraawe port, which is their main source of revenue, there will be no area still controlled by al Shabaab in central and middle Somalia following nine years of its maladministration.
Currently, UPDF is planning a forward march to Baraawe without aerial support but massive ground force supported by Somali National Army (SNA) units. Ugandan troops in a range of 79kms to Baraawe.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Three terrorism suspects arrested at Frankfurt airport
08 Sept- Source: DW/ DPA/ AFP-140 words
Three German nationals have been arrested at Frankfurt airport upon returning from east Africa, according to media reports. The trio are suspected of belonging to the Somali militant group al-Shabab.
A spokeswoman from the prosecutor’s office in Karlsruhe confirmed to the DPA news agency on Monday the three had been arrested over the weekend.
Regional broadcaster SWR info reported they had been taken into custody on Saturday after returning from Kenya and were suspected members of al-Shabab. There was no information about whether the three had planned a specific attack.
Al-Shabab is currently active in Somalia and Kenya. The group was responsible for an attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi last year that 67 people dead.
Somali Islamist rebels pledge allegiance to new leader
08 Sept- Source: Reuters- 476 words
Rebels of the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab have pledged allegiance to their new leader after his predecessor was killed and said their enemies would reap the “bitter fruits” of revenge after Ahmed Godane’s killing, a spokesman said.
Al Shabaab confirmed that Godane was killed by a U.S. air strike in a raid last Monday and said Sheikh Ahmed Umar Abu Ubaida would replace him to head the group, which wants to impose its strict version of Islam on Somalia.
In a statement on Saturday, al Shabaab also reaffirmed its allegiance to al Qaeda and promised revenge for Godane’s killing. The government, trying to rebuild a nation torn by more than two decades of conflict, has said it could face retaliation.
FBI claims Norwegian terrorist died in Kenyan attack
08 Sept- Source: newsinenglish.no -207 words
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation claims that a 23-year-old Norwegian identified as one of the terrorists in the attack on the Westgate Shopping Center in Nairobi last year was among those killed in their operation. Another 63 people were killed in the attack.
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that according to one of its sources, Norway’s police intelligence unit PST confirmed to Kenyan police that Norwegian citizen Hassan Abdi Dhuhulow was among the terrorists in Nairobi. They all were part of the Somalian Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab.
Dhuhulow had moved to Norway from Somalia when he was nine years old. Family and neighbours described him as a quiet and polite child who dreamed of becoming a doctor. He later became radicalized as a teenager and traveled to Somalia in 2009, becoming part of al-Shabaab’s martyr brigade.
DNO Gets Somaliland Oil Extension
08 Sept- Source: The Wall Street Journal- 304 words
Oslo-listed Oil Company DNO ASA (DNO) said Monday its production-sharing agreement in Somaliland had been extended for two years, and it is waiting for the regional government to establish an oil security unit before gathering seismic data.
The license partners “will initiate a planned seismic acquisition program once the Government of Somaliland has put in place a planned Oil Protection Unit to support the international oil companies operating in Somaliland,” said DNO.
Somaliland is currently in the process of establishing the OPU, a security unit of 420 personnel, and DNO expects the force to be operational in 2015. Somaliland, the largely self-governed region of Somalia, has been more stable than the rest of the country in recent years, but a DNO water survey team recently had to leave the Hudun area after gunshots were fired.
Shells hit Mogadishu after militant leader death
07 Sept- Source: AP- 123 words
A Somali police officer says mortar shells have struck a Mogadishu neighborhood a day after the al Qaeda-linked militants named a new leader and vowed to avenge the death of the previous leader killed by a U.S. airstrike.
Mohamed Abdi said Sunday the shells landed in residential areas in Hamarjajab neighborhood, wounding five residents. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
But al Shabaab militants, while naming Ahmad Umar, also known as Abu Ubaidah, as their new leader, vowed to avenge the killing of their previous spiritual leader, Ahmed Abdi Godane, killed in a U.S. airstrike on Monday.
Somalia’s government said Friday night that it has credible intelligence al Shabaab is planning attacks in retaliation for Godane’s death.
Klobuchar visits Africa to discuss food security, Somali refugees
07 Sept – Source: Star Tribune – 163 words
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., returned last week from an 11-day fact-finding trip to Africa, where she visited Senegal, Ethiopia and Tanzania to discuss food security and Somali refugees. Klobuchar’s staff said the senator made the trip to review “the significant agriculture and aid investments we have in Africa and make sure they are effective and making progress so that countries are able to start building their own economies.”
While there, Klobuchar also met with officials from the United Nations High Commission on Refugees and Ethiopia’s Administration for Refugees to discuss the plight of Somali refugees in Ethiopia and how to strengthen the security situation inside Somalia, where the U.S. military has launched drone strikes.
Democratic Sens. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Maria Cantwell of Washington, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii were also part of the all-female delegation, which was briefed on the Ebola outbreak in west Africa by high-level officials from Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea, and Senegal.
Death of al Shabaab Boss Godane Could See Jihadis Returning to U.S.
07 Sept- Source: NBC News-824 Words
The death of a brutal terror leader in a U.S. airstrike in Somalia could see a dangerous splintering of his organization and potentially worrying consequences for the United States, according to experts. Ahmed Godane was the ruthless “emir” of al Shabaab — Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked terrorist organization — for at least six years.
Considered a gifted intellectual and lover of poetry, he maintained a pitiless internal order by killing or banishing any possible leadership challengers. The 37-year-old transformed the group into a force of global jihad, orchestrated its alliance with al Qaeda in 2012, and continually threatened the U.S. with attacks.
All considered it was no surprise when a U.S. security source described Godane’s death — along with 11 other fighters in a volley of Hellfire missiles — as “a big win” for the U.S. But without Godane’s iron rule, analysts say the future of the group’s leadership is far from certain.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“To pull Somalia out of years of anarchy, havoc, uncertainty and political pandemonium, the Somali Federal Government must come up with strategies not based on empty anecdotes but on artifice against those who disturb the peace and the progress of the country.”
Somalia: Aftermath of al Shabaab’s Potential Demise
07 Sept- Source: Somali Current-521 Words
The killing of al Shabaab leader, Godane, and capturing all territories previously administered by al Shabaab can be a good sign that peace is coming back to Somalia. At this point in time, as to the latest developments on the ground, the hope for Somalia to stand its own feet is getting stronger and I believe Somalia can emerge from the grave after three decades of mayhem and destruction, but that can happen only if things keep improving the way they are improving lately, especially from the military perspective, which is aimed at washing away the dirty stains of terrorism on Somalia’s white walls of integrity and compassion.
Big kudos goes to the United States which is helping Somalia to rid Somalia of terrorists and terror ideologies. The major obstacle hindering Somalia’s progress in all frontiers is terrorism and its garbage. If that garbage is removed out of the way, Somalia will be a paradise not only benefiting its people but touching all global citizens in a positive and productive way.
According to an AFP news report, the president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thanked the United States for killing the leader of the country’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants in an air strike earlier this week.
“Government is optimistic that Godane’s death will lead to a wavering of purpose among the group”
Somalis delighted with killing of Al Shabab leader
07 Sept- Source: Gulf News-263 Words
The Somali Islamists in Al Shabab have announced a new leader and an intention to continue their previous policies after the American killing of Ahmad Abdi Godane, who transformed their rambling organisation from being one of many local militias into a very effective group that affiliated itself to Al Qaida. Godane also succeeded in steering Al Shabab out of near total defeat three years ago when the African Union forces won some significant victories that were followed up by renewed vigour from the transitional government and the present federal government.
The Somali government is well aware of the highly personal impact that Godane had on Al Shabab and is optimistic that his death will lead to a wavering of purpose, if not disintegration. This is why Somali President Hassan Shaikh Mohammad has appealed to Al Shabab members to defect even if his call is unlikely to have much effect — thanks to the deep tribal and ethnic loyalties that define Somalia’s various groups.
“Sometimes killing the leader does succeed in both degrading and destroying; sometimes the residual group metastasizes, and becomes more hydra-headed, making the task of eradicating it all the more complex. Al Qaeda hasn’t been the same since bin Laden was killed, but now there is ISIS, and who could ever have imagined such grotesque killers? Whether in Syria or Somalia, continuity of action is essential.”
Killing Godane, Chasing ISIS
06 Sept- Source: New Yorker-600 Words
The killing of Ahmed Abdi Godane, the co-founder of the Al Qaeda-allied Somali terrorist group the Shabaab, in an American airstrike, may help bolster President Barack Obama, who has lately seemed powerless to halt the jihadist mayhem spreading across the Middle East. The Administration apparently wanted to make sure it got it right: armed drones and manned aircraft had carried out the strike on Monday, but only on Friday did the Pentagon confirm that Godane was dead.
Godane had led the Shabaab as the group sought to impose an extreme form of sharia law in the areas it controlled inside Somalia–effectively, most of the hinterland. (The BBC has a good map.) Godane was prominent on the State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” wanted list, with a seven-million-dollar reward on his head. He is regarded as the mastermind behind the Shabaab’s efforts to internationalize its reach in recent years, launching bloody terrorist attacks in Uganda, in 2010, and at the Westgate Mall, in Nairobi, Kenya, where sixty-seven people, mostly civilians, were murdered last September. (The strikes were envisioned as reprisals for the presence of Kenyan and Ugandan troops in the peacekeeping force sent into Somalia by the African Union.)
Top tweets
@BBCAfrica The #Somali government has shut down two independent radio stations which reported a statement made by the new leadership of Al Shabaab.
@AbdisalamAato #SOMALIA: Head of #Somali national intelligence sacked http://www.bartamaha.com/
@LowlandsSN 3 #German nationals arrested at #Frankfurtairport suspected of belonging to #Somali militant Al #Shabaab@ http://www.hiiraan.com
@RadioErgo Galgadud: Education institution reports rise in students dropping out due to eyesight problems #Somaliapic.twitter.com/wGYOSutZYP
@amisomsomalia VIDEO: The #Djiboutian government donates food to #Somalis in the areas of Beletweyne and Buulo Burto http://bit.ly/1rMTuLv
Image of the day
UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia Nickolas Kay At a Benadir FC vs Elman FC Peace Trophy match. #Somalia & #Mogadishu enjoying more & more peace. Photo: @Somalia111