www.amisom-au.org Issue 13 Aug - Dec 2013 AMISOM Expands AU Welcomes Increase in Troops Celebrating 50 Years of African Unity Contents 2 SRCC Message 4 News Roundup Message 7 Expansion of AMISOM: Just the First Step from 8 The Mogadishu Florist: Replacing Fear With Flowers the 10 AMAN Radio: Empowering the Women of Somalia Editorial by SpecialSRCC Representative, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif 12 Kismayo Field Marshall: 30 Years and Still Going Strong 14 Change of Guard: A Term Well Served elcome to the 13th edition of the in Europe and North America. The Somalia, and the Gender Office is helping WAMISOM Review. participation of the diaspora is critical to give voice to the voiceless victims of 16 Somalia’s Top Military Chief Declares Military Revival We have come to the end of yet to Somalia’s re-emergence and stability. such assaults. another momentous year for AMISOM Their remittances back home are not This issue also spotlights AMISOM’s and look forward to the beginning only Somalia’s largest source of both activities in the Hiiran region where the 18 A Thousand Words: AMISOM Engages the Diaspora of what is likely to be another year of hard currency and “foreign” direct Djiboutian contingent has been extremely progress in Somalia. In this issue, we assistance, but the returning members active, despite its limitations in terms 20 Enhancing AMISOM’s Image in TCCs and PCCs take a look at the UN Security Council of the diaspora also bring with them of numbers and equipment, not only in authorization in November of the much- needed skills in commerce and training members of the national security expansion of AMISOM’s strength by governance. It is thus crucial to keep forces, but also in fostering reconciliation 22 AMISOM Troops Intensify Foot Patrols Around the Sectors 4000 troops and what this means for the them abreast of developments within between competing clans and militias in international efforts to stabilize Somalia the country and to address any concerns the region. 24 I Too Am A Soldier…. and combat international terrorists they may have. The latest in a series I take this opportunity to send my within its borders. of AMISOM engagement events was condolences to the victims of November’s As the AMISOM Review notes, held over two days at the beginning of cowardly attack on a police station there 26 Preserving the Past: Digitization of Radio Mogadishu the increase will allow AMISOM to October in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which killed at least 19 people including transition from the defensive posture it 28 Peace is the Ultimate Gift to the People of Somalia had adopted following more than two years of expansion and consolidation, to enabling the Somali National Security 30 Football Comes Home to Somalia Forces secure more areas of south- The participation of the diaspora is critical to central Somalia from the Al Qaeda- 32 2013; A Year in Review affiliated extremist group, Al Shabaab. Somalia’s re-emergence and stability The two-year, 3 battalion surge will also be crucial to creating the space for the Somali state to continue to rebuild its forces, extend its authority, USA. A full report on the event is one soldier from the Djibouti contingent deliver services to the people and work contained in the pages of this issue. as well as innocent civilians and officers towards a constitutional referendum We also feature AMISOM’s initiatives from the Somali Police Force. Such Find us online: and elections in 2016. As Somalia is able in helping Somalia tackle the spectra attacks illustrate the need to keep up the to progressively take charge of its own of lawlessness and especially sexual pressure on the Al Shabaab and to deny Managing Editor: Eloi Yao amisom.somalia security, so AMISOM will be able to exploitation and abuse of its women them the opportunity to plot and plan Spokesperson: Lt. Col. Ali Aden Houmed amisom.somalia amisomsomalia draw down its troops with a view to an and girls. The Police and the Civilian atrocities in the Somali hinterland. It is a Design & Layout: Vikki Keingati eventual withdrawal from Somalia. Components have been active in cause to which AMISOM is committed Photography: Over the last year, AMISOM has teaching basic self-defense skills to and we will continue to stand shoulder to Stuart Price & Tobin Jones | AU/UN-IST issuu.com/amisom amisomsomalia vimeo.com/auunistnews also carried out a series of events female members of neighborhood watch shoulder with our Somali brothers and Email: [email protected] or to engage with the Somali diaspora teams from the different regions of sisters until it is accomplished. [email protected] P.O. Box 20182 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Phone: +254 202 713 755 /56 /58 Fax: +254 202 713 766 www.amisom-au.org Publisher: Information Department of the African Union Mission Somalia 2 3 AMISOM and the UN Office Jubba Reconciliation Efforts for the Coordination of November 4th 2013 – A Three day reconciliation conference for the Jubba Humanitarian Affairs for communities was officially opened by Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdoon in Mogadishu who expressed his optimism of achieving a lasting solution for the Somalia concluded the first problems of the Gedo and Jubba regions. News The 200 delegates discussed ways to enhance on-going peace building and Somalia United Nations reconciliation efforts, how to increase security and re-integrate armed groups and Humanitarian Civil-Military extend the fight against terrorism, and provide for economic progress and social development. Roundup Coordination Course The communiqué signed by all delegations committed the parties to continued reconciliation, an inclusive Interim Jubba Administration, amalgamating all local November 30th 2013 - AMISOM in partnership forces into the Somali National Army and to working alongside the Somali Federal with the United Nations Office for the Coordination Government and AMISOM to clear Al-Shabaab from the remainder of the region. of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and United The participants agreed to fully accept the Addis Ababa Agreement of August AMISOM holds a Leadership Capacity Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) 2013 and to strengthen the role of civil society in the Jubba regions. Building Conference for Somali Youth concluded the first Somalia specific United Nations Humanitarian, Civil-Military course. December 9th 2013 - The Federal on the role of the youth in the The course aimed at promoting the Government of Somalia (FGS) implementation of the ‘Six Pillar humanitarian-military coordination and improving African Union AMISOM Head visits supported by AMISOM concluded Policy’ of Somalia namely Supremacy the effectiveness of international relief operations in a three-day leadership capacity of the Law and Good Governance; Somalia. The five day course primarily focused on Peace and Security Beledweyne building conference for the Somali Economic Recovery-Livelihood the use of foreign military and civil defense assets youth in Kampala. and Economic Infrastructure; Peace in support of humanitarian activities, as well as Council visit to October 15th 2013-The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the The three-day conference Building-Social Reconciliation improving the collaboration between AMISOM and Somalia African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Mahamat provided an interactive forum through building bridges of trust; civilian organizations in complex emergencies. Saleh Annadif accompanied by Senior AMISOM leadership in Somalia between AMISOM, the FGS and Service Delivery-Health, Education October 25th 2013 - The Peace and visited AU forces stationed in Beledweyne’s Hiraan region. The delegation the Somali youth to establish and and Environment; International Security Council (PSC) of the African was received by AMISOM’s Sector 4 Contingent Commander Colonel maintain effective communication Relations-building collaborative Union paid its first field visit to Somalia. Osman Doubad and the local administration. between youth groups and the relations and polishing the national UNSC approves The council members were received in The visit to the region which coincided with Eidul Adha celebrations government on policy awareness. image; and the Unity and Integrity of request for Mogadishu by the Special Representative was to get first-hand information on the overall progress of the forces in The discussions focused the country. of the Chairperson of the African Union the region. Ambassador Annadif commended the troops for their relentless additional Commission for Somalia, Ambassador effort in mobilising support during flooding, the subsequent cholera Mahamat Saleh Annadif and held outbreak, clan mediation troops meetings with the Somali President H.E efforts and the securing of AMISOM and Stakeholders conclude Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. key facilities in the region. The Commissioner of the AU Peace The delegation also had a four-day Gender Workshop on and Security Council and Djiboutian an opportunity to tour ambassador to the African Union, H.E. the Lama Galaay military Strengthening Somalia’s judicial Capacity Mohamed Idriss Farah said deliberations training camp where the with the President raised important recently deployed AMISOM to address Gender Based Violence issues that would be further discussed in police have been conducting Addis Ababa. The meeting also discussed training for the Somali the judicial systems to November 11th 2013 - The United Nations the progress that Somalia has made in Police Force. ensure that they uphold Security Council authorized a temporary surge recovering from decades of anarchy. and respect women’s for the African Union peacekeeping force in The PSC is the AU’s standing decision- rights, was attended Somalia. Troop numbers will increase from the making body, responsible for the by representatives current 17, 731 to 22,126. The surge also includes maintenance of continental peace and from the Federal an increase in logistical support. The council security and comprises 15 members, AMISOM concludes a three-day Government of Somalia unanimously adopted the resolution and extended elected by the AU Assembly of Head of working in the judicial the deployment of the AU Mission in Somalia States and Government.