Weekly Report and Analysis of Somalia, Oct 27-Nov 2, 2012

An independent Somali Journalist named Hassan Sheikh Nuur, spoke to BBC Somali Service about the situation of lower Shabelle, LS region, southern Somalia, since Somali National Army, SNA assisted by African Union Mission in Somalia army, AMISOM, took much of the region from Shebab, an Al-Qaida linked group[1].

The journalist stated that the area is generally peaceful, even though assassinations and bombs occasionally happen. People, he stated, did not notice much difference.

He provided some evidence to suggest that people preferred Shebab over SNA-AMISOM forces: still Shebab controls some parts of the hinterland, so people who travel from Marka, the capital city of LS region, to Mogadishu or to Afgooye; travel through Shebab controlled parts, even though the main highway linking these towns is controlled by SNA-AMISOM forces.  Moreover, these towns are also controlled by SNA-AMISOM forces; People do this to avoid SNA members robbing them, he implied.

People in the region, he stated, are apolitical: they go about their business paying less attention to who rules them.

He also hinted some developments that took place in the town over last decade: the city has now universities where people go to educate themselves.

BBC Somali service stated today that a bomb has exploded in front of the district center of Kismayo, Lower Jubba region, LJ. Six people were wounded by the bomb, five of them were civilians, and one was soldier[2].

Today six people were reported to have been wounded, one of them was a soldier, and the rest were civilians.

Sunday, October 28, 2012.

At least four soldiers, including General Mohamed Ibrahim Farah, known as Gordon; head of a Somali army division have been killed in Lower Shabelle region, LS, as reported by BBC Somali Service, in its world today program[3]. 

 

 

The battle started when members of Shebab have attacked his convoy as it was travelling towards Mogadishu. 

Shebab members have also sustained some casualties, as claimed by the chairman of LS region.

The dead body of a person accused of lobbing a grenade into Yakhshid police station in Mogadishu was shown to the media today, in Mogadishu[4].

A civilian was also reported to have died from gun shots sustained as a result of refusing to stop when armed officers of Raskamboni militia in Kismaayo, Lower Jubba region, LJ, asked him to do so. This report was filled only by Dayniile, as far I can ascertain[5].

A member of Somali National Security Agencies, NSSA was killed in Dayniile district, Mogadishu, as reported by Dayniile.com; Garbooje, as he was known, was previously the commander of Shebab army in Elasha Biyaha, Lower Shabelle region, as reported by Dayniile. The site claims he was killed by Somali Security forces[6].

Dayniile and BBC Somali service, in its world and today program, reported a fighting which took place between Afmadow and Kismayo, between Shebab and Somali government army assisted by those of African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM. The fighting started when Shebab elements have staged road ambush. No further information was availed[7].

Eight people have died today in Somalia, including a journalist I reported yesterday, but who died because of gun shots he sustained earlier. More than that number was wounded.

 

 

October 29, 2012.

Small units of Shebab army have attacked the house of the district commissioner, DC, of Bardalae District, Bay region, southern Somalia[8]. In the ensuing battle, two guards of the DC were killed and three others were wounded, as Hiiran reported.

Eye witnesses also have informed to Hiiraan that they saw two dead Shebab soldiers.  A number of others were wounded, as reported by hiiraan, but it did not specify them.

An elder artist named Warsme Shire Awale was killed in Waberi district, Mogadishu. He was working for Kulmiye radio in the comedy section. He has composed many literatures. The phenomena were widely reported.

CHARCOAL

Charcoal business in Kismayo has created a sharp difference between local people and the army in the area and the central government in Mogadishu[9].

The local folks, both civilian and military, prefer the charcoal to be exported and further production of the charcoal be stopped.

The central government in Mogadishu, however, wants to stop all export now[10]. The main concern of the central government, it appears, is revenue generated by the export going to Shebab and the environment.

However, money of the shareholders are ordinary people who will lose money if the charcoal is not exported, as confirmed by spokesperson of the business people in Jubba region who spoke to VOA Somali section, on October 29th, 2012. He valued the charcoal around $ 30 million or 5 million bags.

 

 

October 30, 2012.

A female who was previously a member of Shebab, an Al-Qaida linked group, was today killed in Warta Nabadda, peace valley, Mogadishu, after she received several threats before[11].

Somali Police, under intense pressure to assure the security of the town, has carried out house to house searches in various districts of the town to hunt people who were behind number of assassinations[12].

Hiiraan have also reported guards of a Member of Parliament, MP, called Ahmed Kinyati, killing another guard, even though other sites have reported the victim was a civilian[13].

In any case, Jowhar has reported the police were aware of the situation and did not go the house of the MP because of his immunity, but the MP has promised to take the soldier to the police station[14].

Why he did not do that right away to prevent the soldier from running away is not known.

In a sign of justice being performed, Hiiraan has reported Somali military court that has sentenced number of people who were found to be members of Shebab[15]. Hiiraan said this is the first sentence given by the court to the accused ones since the new government was elected by the parliament.

Hiiraan has also reported a Somali Police officer opening fire on a civilian car around KM-4 area, after quarreling with some passengers, thereby killing one and wounding two[16]. The police officer was one of the passengers. The Somali government should investigate these reports and prosecute the officer.

 

 

Somali government army and African Union army in Kismayo, Lower Jubba region, have managed to de-mine various planted mines in various parts of Kismayo, as reported by Hiiraan[17], thereby preventing harm to themselves and to the civilians who live in the town.

I have listened to BBC and VOA Somali services today, October 30^th, 2012; none of them has mentioned the pieces of information herein reported.

October 31, 2012

BBC Somali service, in its website, has reported the death of senior Somali army officer in Baladwayne, Hiiraan, and Central Somalia.

The officer died after confrontation between his small unit, as reported by the governor of the region to BBC Somali service today, October 31st, 2012, A/Fatah Hassan Afrah, and thieves who mounted a checkpoint to collect revenues from travelers.

The officer wanted to remove the illegal checkpoint[18].

The late officer made a deadly mistake, he wanted to do something that he lacked the capacity to do so.

BBC reported that the people, who mounted the illegal checkpoints, were also members of Somali national security agencies, even though the governor of the region, who spoke to them to day, denied such claims.

The governor also stated that the people in the region are armed, as a consequence of prolonged civil war which has been going on for two or even more decades. It is for this reason, he said, that it is easy for ordinary people to use deadly force for variety of reasons, including mounting an illegal checkpoint and collecting fees from travelers.

 

 

The solution, therefore, the governor suggested, is to collect weapons from people and secure the borders to ensure the general security of the people in the region.

BBC Somali service have also reported, in its morning program, today, October, 31st, 2012,  the death of a soldier and injury of another one in Garissa, Northeastern part of Kenya, mostly inhibited by ethnic Somalis[19].

The event occurred as unknown gunmen opened fire to police officers in the center of the town. Exchange of fire ensued, causing people to flee and close their businesses.

The reporter of the BBC in Garissa said he was informed by Garissa chairman Mr. Moalim Mohamed that the people who were behind these attacks were same people who in last month killed two officers. They appear, he told the reporter, to have substituted planting mines with direct attacks against elements of Kenya’s security forces in in the town.

The BBC Somali services have also reported to day the injury of four people in Kismayo, Lower Jubba region. Someone lobbed a hand grenade into members of government army in the town; they missed their target and harmed ordinary people[20].

November 1, 2012

House to house searches have been reported in Kismayo, Lower Shabelle region, by BBC Somali service reporter in Mogadishu.

Communications were cut, presumably to stop information exchange. Around 300 people were arrested suspected of being behind the recent insecurities in the town[21].

Residents heard expositions during the explosions, as reported by a BBC reporter[22]. He then asked the interim spokesperson of the Kismayo administration, Abdi Naasir Maah about the explosions. He said they exploded planted mines.

Analysis.

It is very common practice to carry out large scale operations intended to apprehend people who are behind the insecurity in the town, and then after investigations, most of them are freed. Yes the insecurities continue.

 

 

This method is less effective, even though it reduces the overall insecurities. It is better to build a network of intelligent officers who are assigned at particular parts of the town to go after people who throw grenades or plant mines in the town and then bring them to justice by using greater force.

This method works better, it but would require more sustained work and funds. This fund can easily be secured by taxing the people of the city and its surroundings: transportations, business, airports, the port and other properties such as houses. Efficient taxation system is needed as well as a system that is free from corruption to assure the security of the people Kismayo, Lower Jubba region in general.

November 2, 2012

House to house searches continue next day in Kismayo, Lower Jubba region.  People arrested in these operations have reached almost 600 people, as reported by BBC Somali Service reporter in Mogadishu[23].

The same reporter in the same program referenced above has noted a high delegation from the federal government coming to Kismaayo to asses the situation in the town after Shebab was removed from the town.  They have visited various places, including the port.

BBC Somali service in the same program referenced above has also reported people evicted from their homes and businesses because they were located in public premises.  They settled these public premises after they have left their homes due to wars raging in relevant areas. The government should have given them an alternative before evicting them.

An attempt to throw missiles at the main airport in Mogadishu has been prevented, as reported by Somali police[24].  Some of the people apprehended were well-known Shebab members, as claimed by a regional police commander. No evidence to prove this point has been supplied.

 

 

 

---

[1] The journalist spoke to BBC Somali Service, its morning broadcast, on Saturday, October 27th, 2012.

[2] This information was broadcasted in the afternoon program, around 2: 00 pm, GMT, in BBC Somali service, on October 27, 2012.

[3]  BBC Somali Service. Afar askari oo lagu dilay Marka.  BBC Somali, october 28, 2012. WEB. October 27, 2012.  http://www.hiiraan.com/news/2012/Oct/wararka_maanta28-19716.htmsha Oktober, 2012

 

 

[4]  [2] Maxamed Xaji Xussein.Ciidanka Booliiska oo Muqdisho kusoo Bandhigay Maydka Ruux toogasho lagu dilay oo ay sheegeen inuu Weeraray Saldhig Ciidan.Hiiraan.com.  Shabakad. Oktober 28, 2012.  http://www.hiiraan.com/news/2012/Oct/wararka_maanta28-19716.htm

[5] Tafatiraha Dayniile. Xoogaga Raaskambooni oo nin rayid ah ku toogtay xaafado ka tirsan Kismaayo, xili ay howlgalo ka wadeen. Dayniile.com, october 28, 2012.  Web. October, 28, 2012.   

[6] Tafatiraha Dayniile. “Saraakiil ka tirsan ciidamada milateriga iyo nabad sugida oo lagu kala dilay gobolada Banaadir iyo Sh/hoose” Dayniile.com, oktober 28, 2012.  Waxaan furtay isla taariikhdaan hore. 

[7] Tafatiraha Dayniile. “Kolonyo ay la socdeen ciidamada huwanta oo lagu weeraray wadada isku xirta Kismaayo iyo AfmadowDayniile.com”. oktober 28, 2012.  Waxaan furtay isla taariikhdaan hore. 

 

[8] Maxamed Xaji Xussen, “Xoogag Taabacsan Xarakada Al-shabaab oo xalay weerar ku qaaday guriga uu deggen yahay Guddoomiyaha Degmada Bardaale”. WEB. October 29, 2012.  http://www.hiiraan.com/news/2012/Oct/wararka_maanta29-19737.html  Accessed 29th of Oktober, 2012  

[9] Globalpost. “Saving Somalia: A matter of charcoal and UN bureaucracy.” http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/somalia/121028/somalia-kismayo-al-shabaab-un-charcoal-embargo. October 29h, 2012. WEB. Accessed 29th, 2012.

[10] Office of the Somali President .“Statement by Somali President on the Charcoal Export at Kismayo Port” . Ocotber 28th, 2012. WEB. Accessed on 29th of October, 2012. http://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2012/oct/26569/statement_by_somali_president_on_the_charcoal_export_at_kismayo_port.aspx

 

 

[11] Maxamed Xaaji Xuseen. Kooxo hubeysan oo xalay siyaabo kala duwan laba qof oo uu ku jiro Abwaan ugu dilay Degmooyin ka tirsan Gobolka Banaadir. Hiiraan Online. www.hiiraan.com, October 30t, 2012.  WEB. October 30, 2012.

[12] Hoyga wararka Somaliyeed. Taliska Booliska oo sheegay inay ku raad-joogaan dadkii ka dambeeyay dilal xalay ka dhacay Muqdisho. Jowhar.com. www.jowhar.com, Oktober 30, 2012. Shabakad. October 30, 2012. http://www.jowhar.com/news.php?readmore=2894

[13] See 12.

[14] See 12.

[15] Maxamed Xaaji Xuseen. Maxkamadda Darajada Koowaad ee Ciidamada Qalabka sida ee Dowladda Soomaaliya oo Xukunno ku Ridday Eedeysanayaal. Hiiraan Online.

[16] As Maxamed Xaaji Xuseen.Askari ka tirsan Booliiska Soomaaliya oo Rasaas khasaare geysatay ku furay gaari ay dad rakaab ah la socdeen. Hiiraanonline.com. www.hiiraan.com, oktober 30, 2012. WEB. October,30, 2012.

[17] Xasan Nuur. Ciidamada Dowladda Soomaaliya iyo kuwa Kenya ee ku sugan Kismaayo oo howlgallo ay sameeyeen kusoo qab-qabtay walxaha Qarxa. Hiiraan online. www.hiiraan.com , october 30, 2012. WEB.October 20, 2012.

[18] BBC Somali Service.Taliye lagu dilay magaalada Beledweyne. BBC Somali, october 31, 2012. WEB. October 30, 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/somali/maqal_iyo_muuqaal/2012/10/121031_beledweyne_taliye_dil.shtml

 

[19] BBC Somali service.Morning program. BBC  Soomaali, october 31, 2012. WEB. October 30, 2012.

[20] BBC Somali service.Morning program. BBC  Somali Service, october 31, 2012. WEB. October 30, 2012.

[21] BBC Somali. Dad lagu xirxiray magaalada Kismaayo.  BBC. Nofember 1, 2012. Shabakad. Nofember 1, 2012. http://www.bbc.co.uk/somali/war/2012/11/121101_kismaayo_hawlgal.shtml

[22]  See 21.

[23] BBC Somali. Afternoon Program. BBC Somali Service, November 2, 2012. WEB. November 2, 2012.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/somali/

[24] Maxamed Xaaji Xuseen. Taliyaha Booliiska Muqdisho oo sheegay inay qabteen kooxo doonayay inay weeraraan Garoonka Diyaaradaha Muqdisho. Hiiraan.com, November 2, 2012. WEB. November 2, 2012.

 

Credit of the picture: viewstz.com