European Union Training Mission Somalia PRESS SUMMARY 04th December 2018 “In ‘Media’ stat virtus” EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 SUMMARY TITLE PAGE Spy officer shot dead in Beled-Hawo, Gedo region 2 Tension Brewing On The Outskirts Of Jowhar Following Battle 3 ISIS claims to have inflicted casualties on 7 bomb experts in Somali 4 capital US-backed force to begin anti-Al Shabaab operations 5 Deadly clash kills 4 people in south of Somalia 6 Robow Coalition Question New Southwest Poll Dates, Says May 7 Lock Out International Observers New Somali Ambassador To Kenya Arrives In Nairobi 8 Self-exiled Somali opposition leader wants to go home 9 HIV/Aids Activist Shot Dead In Mogadishu 10 Somalia: Govt Announced the Resumption of Passport Issuance 11 Puntland president appoints electoral dispute resolution 12 commission In Somalia, Businesses Face 'Taxation' by Militants 13 Istanbul conference explores Turkey-Somalia, Africa partnerships 17 Somali telecom operators criticise ministry for choice of regulatory 19 directors Somaliland coast guard in Berbera receive three fast boats 20 Kenya: Somaliland Opens Its Doors to Kenyan Investors 22 Somalia: Rise in al-Shabaab Activity in Central Somalia 23 The fight to protect Somaliland’s wildlife 26 EUTM - SOMALIA 1 EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 Spy officer shot dead in Beled-Hawo, Gedo region December 3, 2018 An officer attached to the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) was Sunday shot dead in Baled-Hawo in Gedo region. The officer identified as Abdiqani Ahmed Farah was shot by unidentified gunmen who fled the scene immediately with his AK 47 gun. Security forces launched house to house operations at the town Monday in search of the assailants. Police contacted by Goobjoog News declined comment. http://goobjoog.com/english/spy-officer-shot-dead-in-beled-hawo-gedo-region/ EUTM - SOMALIA 2 EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 Tension Brewing On The Outskirts Of Jowhar Following Battle 03 December 2018 Reports from Jowhar states that fighting has erupted at the outskirts of the town, which is the regional capital of Middle Shabelle. Tension has been brewing between two tribal militias, who fought in the area in the past few days, thereby forcing many families to flee their houses and seek shelters in the nearby villages. Meanwhile, Somali military forces were reported to have left for the battle zones to de- escalate the tension, and prevent any further confrontation in Mandheere and Kongo. Mr. Abdullahi Mohamed, one of the Somali military commanders in the region, told Radio Shabelle that the two sides welcomed the peace efforts by the Somali government. http://somaliamediamonitoring.org/december-3-2018-daily-monitoring-report/ EUTM - SOMALIA 3 EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 ISIS claims to have inflicted casualties on 7 bomb experts in Somali capital 3rd December 2018 MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) has claimed to have inflicted casualties on 7 Somali bomb experts in the capital of Mogadishu. The group says it had inflicted devastating loss of life of 7 explosive experts after exploding improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at Bakara junction in Mogadishu. “We are responsible for inflicting casualties on 7 Somali bomb experts while trying to defuse two IEDs planted at Bakara crossroad”, the group claimed through its website. Earlier on Monday, Somali police said Mogadishu’s bomb squads found two IEDs at Bakara junction, succeeding to defuse and dismantle them. The police said no one was killed or injured during the operation. https://mareeg.com/isis-claims-to-have-inflicted-casualties-on-7-bomb-experts-in-somali- capital/ EUTM - SOMALIA 4 EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 US-backed force to begin anti-Al Shabaab operations 3rd December 2018 MOGADISHU, Somalia – First batch of US backed Somali especial forces known as “Danab” have arrived in Dhusmareb, the capital city of Galmudug State of Somalia. It is a town lies some 511km from Somali capital Mogadishu. The especial commandos were reportedly airlifted from the airport of Galkacyo town to Dhusamareb in central Somalia. A Somali military official, who asked to be anonymous, told Mareeg Online that the US backed especial forces, would launch new anti-Al Shabaab operations in towns in Galmudug. “We want to flush out Al Shabaab in Galmudug region. These new soldiers will help us for eradicating Al Shabaab”, he said. The US led coalition forces will carry out new operations against Eldher and Elbur towns held by Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab. Al Shabaab group has been driven out of many urban areas since 2011 following joint military offensives carried out by African Union forces and Somali National Army forces. The group still controls territory in rural areas and carries out gun attacks and bombings on military and civilian targets in the war-ravaged nation. https://mareeg.com/us-backed-force-to-begin-anti-al-shabaab-operations/ EUTM - SOMALIA 5 EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 Deadly clash kills 4 people in south of Somalia 3rd December 2018 MOGADISHU, Somalia – At least four people have been killed and scores injured in fighting between local armed militias and Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab in south of Somalia. The fighting flared up near Cadalle town, some 140km north of Somali capital Mogadishu, after Al Shabaab launched an attack on villagers, according to local residents. Residents said four Al Shabaab militants had been killed in the fighting. The clash came after locals refused to pay their money to Al Shabaab. Tension between Al Shabaab and local militias has been reportedly building up high in the town of Cadalle since Monday’s morning. https://mareeg.com/deadly-clash-kills-4-people-in-south-of-somalia/ EUTM - SOMALIA 6 EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 Robow Coalition Question New Southwest Poll Dates, Says May Lock Out International Observers 03 December 2018 A coalition led Mukhar Robow, former Al-Shabaab deputy leader stated that the new date December 19th set by the Southwest Election Commission, will make it impossible to have a free fair and favor election, since most of the international community will not be present during the Christmas holidays. The statement was dated on 2nd December and signed by Mr. Robow, Ibrahim Maalim and Nur Adan Nur. “The new date comes at a time that the international community is preparing for the festive season, thereby making it difficult for proper supervision from international agencies. And so that creates fear of whether the polls will be free and fair”. “We are asking the UN, EU, AU, IGAD and Aid agencies from USA, UK,FRANCE, SWEDEN, NORWAY, DENMARK, Finland, Italy, Germany and others, who care for the wellbeing of Somalia to stand with us, so that we have a free and fair elections in Southwest Somalia” the statement added. The coalition said that security must be beefed up worrying that, Al-Shabaab may be planning to disrupt the polls “The candidates are urging the security agencies to act steadfastly to prevent any issue that deters peace effectively.” The electoral commission of Somalia’s Southwest state has admitted it is ill prepared for the elections set for December 5th therefore postponed to the 19th. A statement released by the commission stated that it had several tasks to complete before the elections. The regional parliament will vote for next leader for Southwest, to replace Sharif Hassan Adan, former president who recently quit the race, after he announced his resignation. The race pits former Al-Shabaab deputy leader Mr. Robow, against pro federal government candidates. The government supports former spy Chief Hussein Osman Hussein, former Trade Minister Abdiaziz Hassan Laftagareen and former Somali envoy to Uganda Sid Ahmed Muse. http://somaliamediamonitoring.org/december-3-2018-daily-monitoring-report/ EUTM - SOMALIA 7 EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 New Somali Ambassador To Kenya Arrives In Nairobi 3 December 2018 Somalia’s new Ambassador to Kenya, Mohamud Ahmed Nur (Tarsan) on Monday arrived in Nairobi where, he was received by acting Ambassador, Ali Mohamed Sheikh Ali Bagadi and other officials, from the Somali diplomatic mission in Nairobi. The new Ambassador is expected to present his letters of accreditation to President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, December 5th. Ambassador Nur was the former Mayor of Mogadishu, was approved by Somalia’s Council of Ministers on July 2018. Mr. Nur, who until his appointment was President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed’s Senior Political Advisor, will lead the Somali mission in Nairobi. For the past two years, the embassy was without an ambassador, since the departure of Ambassador Gamal Mohamed Hassan, who is currently Federal Minister of Planning, Investment and Economic Development. Mr. Nur begins his role, at a time diplomatic relations between Somalia and Kenya has significantly improved despite the two countries still remain embroiled over the maritime boundary dispute. https://madmimi.com/p/0a0f5d?fe=1&pact=6632348-148579184-5372507253- c8ff46217d707a1595fde99c00af6ff91a376c52 EUTM - SOMALIA 8 EUTM - SOMALIA 04/12/2018 Self-exiled Somali opposition leader wants to go home Tuesday December 4, 2018 Self-exiled Somali opposition leader Abdirahman Abdishakur Warsame has said he plans to return to Mogadishu this month to mark the first anniversary of his arrest. Mr Abdishakur said he intended to hold a big rally in the Somali capital, which will also be used to honour five of his bodyguards who were killed as security agencies arrested him on December 19 last year. The politician was arrested after a fierce fight between his guards and government security officers who were acting under a search warrant order on his home that led to the death of the politician's four guards and driver. “I am a leader of the party that opposed the federal government. I was attacked by more than 20 security officers who killed my five bodyguards.