European Union Training Mission

PRESS SUMMARY 6th August 2018

“In ‘Media’ stat virtus”

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SUMMARY TITLE PAGE Two al-Shabab militants killed in 2 Al-Shabaab executes 4, including soldiers in town 3 Gunmen kills two people in Mogadishu amid tight security 4 Three dead after bomb blast in center of Somalia's capital 5 Mogadishu Suicide bomb attack kills at least three Somali soldiers outside 6 Mogadishu Qatar strongly condemns attack on Somali Forces 7 Mogadishu youth protest failing security, demand action from 8 government Somalia: Mayor of Mogadishu: “ I hope police Forces Will cope with 9 the hard responsibility towards security of the city” Somali prime minister names new ministers 10 Somali court official arrested for alleged corruption 11 Ten suspects arrested following Buhoodle bombing 12 Unrest spreads in eastern Ethiopia after deployment of troops 13 EU shipowners welcome extension of anti-Somalia piracy Operation 14 Ex-UNMISS boss Ondieki taken to task over S. Sudan deaths 15

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Two al-Shabab militants killed in Mogadishu

2018-08-05

MOGADISHU, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday killed two al- Shabab militants and injured another at Sei piano location in the capital Mogadishu, officials said.

Security official who requested not to be named told Xinhua that the militants were going to carry out assassinations in the town, but the forces thwarted their plans.

"The forces recovered two AK47 rifles and there is an ongoing operation at the moment," he said.

Al-Shabab militants claimed that their fighters killed five government soldiers and injured three others in the attack in the same area.

An eyewitness told Xinhua that the militants opened fire on an SNA vehicle while on the way in a drive by shooting incident, prompting an exchange of fire.

"I saw two bodies of al-Shabab militants in a small car while others escaped with injuries, two government soldiers were wounded and a civilian who was injured in the area succumbed to his injuries at Madina hospital later," he added. http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-08/05/c_137369709.htm

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Al-Shabaab executes 4, including soldiers in Jilib town

August 5, 2018

The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab militants have publicly executed at least four men, including three soldiers, reportedly captured alive during a recent attack near Kismayo city.

The execution was carried out by a firing squad from Al- Shabaab in an open area in in Middle Jubba region, which is under the control of the militants, sources said.

A woman was among those shot dead by Al-Shabaab. The mass killing was the latest in series of public executions against soldiers and alleged spies in the militant-held-Jilib town.

The fourth man whose name has been identified as Mohamud Abdi Abshir, 32, was convicted of killing and then Al-Shabaab court sentenced him to death. http://radioshabelle.com/al-shabaab-executes-4-including-soldiers-in-jilib-town/

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Gunmen kills two people in Mogadishu amid tight security

August 5, 2018

Suspected Al-Shabaab assailants have shot and killed at least two civilians in Mogadishu amidst tight security measures imposed on the seaside capital city.

The first killing took place in Hamar-Wayne’s Afar Irdodka area after gunmen attacked a soldier serving under Somali Police force and shot him dead on the sport.

The soldier was executed shortly after leaving a mosque last night by two men armed with pistols who later managed to escape from the scene before the security forces arrived.

A similar incident was reported in the city’s northern , where assailants thought to be Al-Shabaab members shot dead an elderly man identified as Hussein Hilowle.

Al-Shabaab has claimed the latest assassination, saying Holowle was a member of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency, known as [NISA]. http://radioshabelle.com/gunmen-kills-two-people-in-mogadishu-amid-tight-security/

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Three dead after bomb blast in center of Somalia's capital Mogadishu

August 5, 2018

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - A car bomb exploded along the main street of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Sunday, according to police, and a Reuters witness said he saw three dead bodies after the blast.

Police said a car bomb parked in front of a restaurant at the busy street of Maka al Mukaram had exploded. The front of the restaurant had been destroyed, blood stained the floor and chairs had been strewn around by the blast.

“A car bomb exploded at a parking in front (of) a restaurant,” Major Abdullahi Hussein, a police officer, told Reuters. Abdikar Abdirahman, director of Amin ambulance services said, “so far we have taken 2 dead people and 7 others are injured.”

A Reuters witness said he saw three dead and the wreckage of three cars and a tuktuk. Somalia has been convulsed by lawlessness and violence since 1991. Islamist group Al Shabaab is fighting to dislodge a Western-backed government protected by African Union- mandated peacekeepers. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-blast-capital/three-dead-after-bomb-blast-in- center-of-somalias-capital-mogadishu- idUSKBN1KQ0KR?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_ medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+Ne ws%29&&rpc=401

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Suicide bomb attack kills at least three Somali soldiers outside Mogadishu

05 August 2018 a suicide bomb attack in Afgoye district, a town 30 kilometres to the north west of the capital Mogadishu, police and militants said. The attack was claimed by Islamist militants al Shabaab. Somali soldiers were deployed in Afgoye this week in efforts to tighten security in the town ahead of an expected visit by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.

"Police and military fired at a speeding suicide car bomb today and it exploded in Afgoye district. So far we know three soldiers died," Captain Nur Ali, a police officer, told Reuters by phone from Afgoye. Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, citing a higher death toll than the police.

"A suicide car bomb targeted Somali forces who were deployed ahead of president Farmaajo’s visit in Afgoye. We killed 11 soldiers," Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operation spokesman, told Reuters on Sunday. In a separate incident, Somali forces killed two militants after fighting erupted briefly at a checkpoint in Mogadishu early on Sunday, police said.

"Somalia's military killed two armed militants at Benadir checkpoint. Two soldiers were slightly injured in the exchange of fire," Major Mohamed Abdullahi, a police officer, told Reuters. Somalia has been convulsed by lawlessness and violence since 1991 when dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled. Al Shabaab is fighting to dislodge the western-backed central government and African Union-mandated peace-keeping force AMISOM, which defends it, and install its own government based on its strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law. https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/africa/2018-08-05-suicide-bomb-attack-kills-at-least- three-somali-soldiers-outside-mogadishu/

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Qatar strongly condemns attack on Somali Forces

06 Aug 2018

DOHA: The State of Qatar voiced its strong condemnation and denunciation of the attack that targeted the Somali Forces in the town of Afgooye in northwest of the capital Mogadishu and resulted in deaths and injuries. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the State of Qatar’s firm stance on rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of motives and reasons. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the condolences of the State of Qatar to the families of the victims, and the government and people of Somalia, and its wishes of speedy recovery to the injured. https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/06/08/2018/Qatar-strongly-condemns-attack- on-Somali-Forces

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Mogadishu youth protest failing security, demand action from government

Dozens of youth in Mogadishu took to the streets Sunday to demand for security from the government amid rising cases of killings in the city targeting young people.

The demonstrations which happened along KM 5 follow Thursday’s killing of startup entrepreneur and youth activist Mohamed Sheikh Ali in junction, Mogadishu.

The demonstrations add to the online campaign #WeAreNotSafe which has been trending on social media in the past week. “We want to know why our youth are being killed, why they target our intellectuals and progressive youth,” one of the demonstrators who did not want to be named for security reasons told Goobjoog News.

There is no word from the police yet regarding the cold blood murder of Ali. A founder of the start-up Mogadishu Grind, Ali was eulogized as a promising youngster who moved from abroad to build his country only for his life to be cut short by an assassin.

Mogadishu has recently experienced several targeted killings with most of the cases going silent just like their victims. An elderly man was gunned down Saturday in by armed men who later escaped. http://goobjoog.com/english/mogadishu-youth-protest-failing-security-demand-action- from-government/

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http://hornobserver.com/articles/847/Somalia-Mayor-of-Mogadishu-I-hope-Police-Forces- Will-Cope-with-the-Hard-Responsibility-towards-Security-of-the-City

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Somali prime minister names new ministers

August 5, 2018

Somali PM Hassan Ali Khaire has named six new ministers among them ministers, deputy ministers and state ministers, the Information Minister announced the decision on Sunday.

The new Ministers

Abdullahi Godax Barre for Minister for education,

Sheikh Nor Mohamud Hassan for Minister for religious affairs,

Hussein Sheikh Mohamud Hussein for Minister for Livestock,

Abdullahi Bidhaan Warsame for Minister of fisheries,

Abdullahi Shiekh Ali Baqdaadi, state minister for the presidency,

Shawaqar Ibrahim Abdalla, deputy minister of labour.

The move came days after the council of ministers held their weekly sitting in Garowe, the administrative Capital of Puntland. http://radioshabelle.com/somali-prime-minister-names-new-ministers/

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Somali court official arrested for alleged corruption

5th August 2018

MOGADISHU, Somalia – A Somali regional court official has been arrested by police soldiers in Mogadishu over alleged corruption scandal, a court chief said.

Abdulkadir Abdullahi Hassan, an assistant at Banadir regional court was arrested after ordering his detention by regional chief of Banadir court, Mouse Mo’alim Mohamed.

Mohamed says Hassan is expected to appear in court in Mogadishu, in a bid to find out alleged corruption scandal.

He added that Hassan had been accused of taking large some of bribes.

Mohamed said there were 240 cases of corruptions which are now under investigations.

There was no comment from Hassan’s office over the fraud allegations.

His detention comes a day after Somali Attorney General, Ahmed Dahir Ali accused deputy of country’s Foreign Minister, Mukhtar Mohamed Da’ud of losing ‘public funds’, using his own interests.

However, Somali leaders pledged to fight against corruption, saying anyone who is found alleged corruption scandal will be in behind bars and put on the trail. https://mareeg.com/somali-court-official-arrested-for-alleged-corruption/

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Ten suspects arrested following Buhoodle bombing

August 5, 2018

Somali government soldiers secure the scene of an explosion in front of Dayah hotel in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, January 25, 2017. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

Ten suspects among them local residents and officials have been arrested following bomb explosion in Buhoodle in Somaliland’s Toghdeer region.

Buhoodle governor Abdifitah Ali said the team appointed to investigate the incident had compiled a preliminary report and that investigations are still ongoing.

“We have got a lot of information regarding the incident but we are also still in the process of investigation,” Ali told Goobjoog News

He also added that they have arrested more than 10 suspected people for the explosion.

Governor Abdifatah said the people arrested include residents and officials but he declined to give names.

The explosion occurred Thursday killing three people and injuring others after a suicide bomber targeted minivan vehicle ferrying politicians. http://goobjoog.com/english/residents-and-officials-arrested-for-buuhoodle-explosion/

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Unrest spreads in eastern Ethiopia after deployment of troops

August 4, 2018

Mobs looted shops and burned down properties in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali region on Saturday, as unrest gained momentum and spread across the province following deployment of soldiers, witnesses said. On Friday evening, Ethiopian troops entered the regional capital Jijiga in an apparent attempt by central authorities to arrest regional officials, residents said. On Saturday soldiers traded fire with members of local government security forces. Violence has since broken out in at least four towns, with mobs attacking civilians and looting property, witnesses said.

“Ethnic non-Somalis are the ones being targeted. (The region’s) security forces are collaborating with them,” one resident told Reuters. At least two Ethiopian Orthodox churches have been burned down, another witness said. Shops, hotels and banks remained closed, he added.

Residents in four other towns said gunshots were being heard. A third witness in Jijiga said government soldiers had been deployed in the region’s administration offices with the intention of arresting officials. It was not immediately clear why authorities in the capital Addis Ababa sought to apprehend them. Government officials in Addis Ababa and Jijiga were not immediately available for comment, but Ethiopia’s defense ministry confirmed the deployment of soldiers.

“The violence has not been halted despite attempts by defense forces and other security forces to restore calm,” the ministry said in a statement. https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-unrest-spreads-in-eastern-ethiopia-after- deployment-of-troops/

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EU shipowners welcome extension of anti-Somalia piracy Operation

August 4, 2018

The European shipowners are pleased with the European Council’s decision of 30 July to extend the mandate of EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta until 31 December 2020.

The objectives of the Operation Atalanta is the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast and the protection of the World Food Program (WFP) and other vulnerable shipping, fishing activities and other EU missions and programs in the region.

‘The naval presence of the EU NAVFOR Operation Atalanta and the cooperation with other international forces, has strongly contributed to the dramatic decrease in piracy attacks in this region’, said ECSA’s Secretary General Martin Dorsman.

The number of attacks off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean has decreased from 176 in 2011 to 9 in 2017, while no incident was reported during the second quarter of 2018.

Following the UK’s decision to withdraw from the EU, the Council also decided that the Operational Headquarters will be transferred from Northwood (UK) to Rota (Spain), and the Maritime Security Center Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) to Brest (France) as of 29 March 2019.

‘It needs to be guaranteed that the Operation Atalanta will continue to run as effectively and efficiently as today’, Dorsman stressed.

The shipping industry will continue to cooperate with the EU NAVFOR commanders to ensure that Somali-based piracy stays suppressed. http://radioshabelle.com/eu-shipowners-welcome-extension-of-anti-somalia-piracy- operation/

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Ex-UNMISS boss Ondieki taken to task over S. Sudan deaths

August 4 2018

The ghosts of being fired as the commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan and the illegal multibillion shilling charcoal trade in Somalia came back to haunt Lt Gen Johnson Ondieki on Friday during his vetting as Kenya’s ambassador to Turkey.

Mr Ondieki, facing the National Assembly Defence and Foreign Relations Committee, said that, to date, he has never been told what led to his sacking. His met his waterloo in the killing of hundreds of Southern Sudanese nationals by rival factions of Sudan Peace Liberation Movement (SPLM), forcing then United Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to send a team of investigators to the world’s youngest nation “to save face”.

“After four months into the job, I got a letter inviting me to New York (US) for the induction course. When I went there, I was informed that the report had come out and I was being blamed for not protecting the civilians,” General Ondieki told the committee chaired by Kajiado South MP Katoo Ole Metito.

TROOPS WITHDRAWN

Other Kenya High Commission nominees - Mr Peter Ogego (Saudi Arabia), Chris Mburu (South Sudan) and former Ainamoi MP Benjamin Langat (Namibia), were also vetted. General Ondieki’s exit would see Kenya withdraw her troops from the civil war-ridden country in a huff under orders of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“I asked what the problem was but they could not tell me. But I thank God that I did the best I could do to save the citizens of South Sudan and the members of the UN who were there,” he said.

The General defended his credentials despite confessing to the vetting panel that he took over the leadership of the force before being inducted in New York (US) as is customary. He

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DECISION-MAKING

By the third week of his assignment, the crisis in Juba broke out when he had just returned to the camp. The crisis soon spread to other areas of the country. His mission was to restore order in Juba.

Still, he managed to ensure the safety of 46,000 vulnerable individuals. Mr Ondieki admitted that the matter was complicated further by the system he found in place, which meant that decisions were not made individually, unlike during the Linda Nchi mission in Somalia where he would take full responsibility as the commander of KDF. He added that the complication in UNMISS is manifested by the fact that it has more than 26 countries with vested interests including Kenya and Uganda where decisions follow a bureaucratic channel through crisis management teams.

EMIGRATION

He said that the illegal charcoal trade in Somalia was on before the entry of Kenya but noted that the Kenya Defence Forces was roped in to malign the country’s image. Mr Ogego challenged the government to develop a sophisticated policy regime to promote and regulate labour emigration.

"I think Kenya has come of age; we have educated Kenyans. We need a clear framework of exporting our labour, he said. Mr Mburu, who served as National Intelligence Service (NIS) director in charge of external intelligence, said he would push for Kenya’s interests in South Sudan, with Mr Langat saying that he would ensure Namibia becomes a key market for Kenya’s products. https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Ex-UNMISS-boss-Ondieki-taken-to-task-over-charcoal- trade/1056-4697276-cmn0dd/index.html

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