Al Shabaab suspects captured in Puntland Security Sweep

BOSSASO, Somalia April 29, 2014 (terrorfreesomalia) -Puntland Police Forces have captured 12 alleged Al Shabaab members including three women in a security sweep in the gulf of adan port city of Bossaso in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Garowe Online reports.

Bari region police commander Abdirahman Ali Hussein (Muslim) told reporters that botched blast led to the massive security operation: "We on Monday evening heard explosion, police presence was immediately maintained in the area where the explosion took place and we seized the perpetrator".

"A mobile phone was mounted on a bomb but it went off during the bomb-making exercise. The assailant was caught red-handed after he traversed a short distance from the scene of the explosion," said Muslim.

Residents spotted Security forces in armored personnel carriers in Bossaso neighborhoods on Tuesday morning and the soldiers manning security checkpoints have been put on high alert for the security sweep according to Bari Police commander.

Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab fighters and Puntland Defence forces clashed in deadly battles near Golis Mountain ranges in northeastern Somalia.

Puntland President accused Somaliland of providing financing muscle with Al Shabaab fighters who were flushed out of key bastions along the difficult terrain of Golis during former Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole's tenure of office.

Jihadi Mohamed Hersi found guilty of trying to join Somali terrorist group Al-Shabab

update on Somalia: Canadian Arrested On Way to Somali Al Qaeda Group

Jurors have found a Toronto man guilty of attempting to join Al-Shabab, the Somaliterrorist group responsible for last year’s massacre at a Nairobi shopping mall.

  

Jihadi Mohamed Hersi, a 28-year-old former security guardat the downtown building that houses the Hockey Hall of Fame, was also found guilty of counseling another person to join Al-Shabab.The jury took two days to reach its verdict, which came Friday. After beginning deliberations on Wednesday, jurors returned to the court three times to ask the judge questions.

“It’s not fair. where is the justice in the world,” a woman sobbed in the hallway outside the court after the verdict was announced. “He didn’t do anything.”The case marked the first time Canadian authorities had laid charges of attempting to participate in terrorist activity.“Today’s verdict speaks to [the RCMP's] strong resolve to root out terrorist threats and keep Canadians and our allies safe,” Superintendent Doug Best said in a statement. “We continue to work diligently with our partners to detect individuals who plan to engage in terrorist activity, to deny them the means and opportunities to pursue their plots and to bring them to justice.”Hersi was arrested at Toronto’s Pearson airport in March 2011 as he was about to leave for Cairo.But the Crown argued he was really on his way to Somalia, where he was born, to join Al Shabab. Two of his friends had already joined Al Shabab in 2009, one of whom is now dead.Hersi was charged with “attempting to participate in terrorist activity” and “providing counsel to a person to participate in terrorist activity,” the RCMP said following his arrest.The counseling charge stemmed from advice Hersi gave an undercover Toronto police officer playing the role of a Somali-Canadian who wanted to travel to Somalia to join Al-Shabab.On the witness stand, Hersi said he was not an extremist, did not support Al Shabab or terrorism and was simply on his way to Egypt to study Arabic when he was arrested .His defence lawyer, Paul Slansky, accused police of fabricating a confession the undercover officer said had occurred before police began recording Hersi’s conversations 

Somalia recalls its ambassador to Kenya over diplomat arrest

The federal government of Somalia has recalled its ambassador to Kenya after the Kenyan Police arrested it’s Consular on Friday.

 

Following an emergency meeting of cabinet ministers on Saturday, the government decided to recall its ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Noor alias Ali America for consultations over what it termed as ‘’unlawful’’ detention of its diplomatic staff.

Minister for Information Mustafa Ahmed Dhuhulow has told the Journalists after the meeting that on-going Eastleigh Crackdown on Somali refugees was also top on the agenda.

Somali Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari described Kenyan’s attitude as violation of international law and disrespect to its diplomatic relations.

Kenyan Government has yet to comment on the arrest of Consular general who was later released after more than five hours in police custody.

The Somali government had been earlier criticized for not responding to the mass arrest of its citizens in Kenya.

Kenya and Somalia have enjoyed good bilateral relations that dates back to 1960’s despite the civil war that broke out in 1990’s however analyst say this latest diplomatic row is not expected to change the ties.

Hammer time! Youssef al-Khattab Sentenced to 2.5 Years

Hammer time! Youssef al-Khattab Sentenced to 2.5 Years

Exclusive Report :Stowaway was trying to get to Somalia - 15-year-old is a nephew of Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked rebel group Al-Shabaab spokesman

here are new details this morning on how and why a teenage boy decided to travel in the wheel well of a passenger jet traveling from California to Hawaii.

Investigators are now reviewing surveillance video that shows the 15-year-old was inside a secure area of the San Jose Airport for roughly seven hours.

According to the FBI, the teenager snuck on to the tarmac, chose a plane at random and had no idea where he was flying to.

The teen's incredible stunt has highlighted what some lawmakers call gaping holes in airline and airport security.

"Looking at airports in general and taking a diagnostic would serve all of us well to make sure that only ticketed screened passengers are getting on planes," said Rep. Eric Swalwell. 

The teen, who lives with his father in California, told investigators he was trying to get to his mother who lives in Somalia.

The boy is resting in a hospital in Hawaii. Experts say he's lucky to be alive.

terror free somalia ” conduct a background investigation, we found out,15-year-old  Is Actually a nephew of Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked rebel group Al-Shabaab Sheikh Ali Mahmud Ali Dheer, the Shabab spokesman, "We don't know what kinds of s relationship he had with his uncle...maybe he was trying to get to his Uncle's house.
 

Somalia: UN bomb blast kills more than a dozen

Police arrest Saudi Arabian near Somalia

PATROL: Police speedboats patrol the Coastal waters including Vanga at the South and Kiunga

POLICE yesterday arrested a Saudi Arabian national suspected to be involved with al Shabaab. Ahmed Hanas was intercepted near the Kenya-Somalia border in Kiunga, Lamu East district.

 According to detectives, the Saudi was detained when he arrived in the coastal town on Wednesday morning. Lamu police boss Samson Obara said they also recovered a speedboat allegedly used to transport al Shabaab fighters between Kenya and Somalia.

 Obara told the Star that detectives working on shared intelligence reports raided a hotel where he checked in and arrested Hanas with two Kenyans. The man claimed that he was on a fishing expedition.

 “We have handed him over to anti terrorism police officers for further profiling and grilling. His presence in the town remains suspect. The two Kenyans have so far disowned him,” he said.

 Obara said the suspect had no travel documents and had difficulty speaking in English or Kiswahili. Police said that he sailed into Lamu from Ngomeni in Malindi.

 Obara said Hanas is suspected to be a link man for the regional al Shabaab network and is responsible funding and recruiting local and foreign fighters. “Our intelligence believe that the man is associated with illegal activities including terrorism. He will be arraigned in court once we are done with interrogating him,” said Obara.

 Islamic fighters reportedly travel to Lamu town by road and sea where they mix with locals before slipping into Somalia for training. They eventually come back as trained jihadists.

 Earlier this year, police arrested six radical Muslim youths attempting to cross into Somalia through Kiunga to join al Shabaab. Anti-terrorism officers working on intelligence reports intercepted a passenger bus to Lamu that they had boarded in Mombasa.

 The youths aged between 16 and 18 from Mombasa were later charged in a Lamu court with being members of a terror group. Faraj Fahim Swaleh, Twafiq Swaleh, Nabil Mohammed Lali, Fara Abdi Kassim and Mohammed Abdalla are now serving sentences in Lamu prison.

 They were due to be trained by al Shabaab on how to assemble and detonate bombs, use weapons, and to carry out offensives in Somalia and Kenya. Police have warned against the ongoing radicalisation of Kenyan youth.

 In a recent video on a Jihadist website, fighters with blurred faces urged Kenyan Muslims to migrate to Somalia to join the jihad. "It is not that Westgate was enough. There are still hundreds of men who are wishing for such an operation, and make Hajrah to Somalia to fight Jihad against Kenya,” said the youths in the video.

 The Kiswahili in the video had a clear Kenyan coastal accent. The youths brandished AK47 rifles and a rocket propelled grenade. The National Police Service is yet to issue a statement on the authenticity of the tape.

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Somalia: The Only Solution (weekly news roundup )

Djiboutian soldiers destroy an al Shabaab flag after the town of Bula Burde was liberated by AMISOM forces on 16th March 2014

April 26, 2014: Peacekeepers and Somali security forces continue to chase al Shabaab out of towns and villages from central Somalia (west of Mogadishu) south to the Kenyan border. The al Shabaab gunmen tend to flee, so it’s largely a matter of chasing the Islamic terrorists constantly, leaving them little opportunity to organize attacks. Al Shabaab is forced to forage and loot to survive, which makes them even less tolerable to the locals. There has been some violence, or threats of violence and this has produced over 40,000 refugees. There are also a lot of roads that go through areas where al Shabaab operate and often ambush and rob vehicles. This has made delivery of aid more difficult. There are still over half a million people in the area dependent on food aid. Al Shabaab publically insists that it will fight on, so the peacekeepers are wearing them down to the point where al Shabaab is no longer a major threat. That could take years, as in until the end of the decade. That is what has worked against similar terrorist movements in the past and grinding them down still appears to be the only solution.

In response to a March 31^st al Shabaab attack (three bombs) in Kenya the government there immediately began searching buildings in the main Somali neighborhood of the city seeking al Shabaab members and sympathizers. By the next day police had arrested over 650 local Somalis for questioning and so far several thousand have been taken in for interrogation. This brought forth much criticism from the UN and the Arab world. This did not bother the Kenyans who consider the Arabs complicit in the creation and spread of Islamic terrorism. Al Qaeda and other Islamic radical groups came out of Arabia and many wealthy Arabs still support Islamic terrorist groups like al Shabaab. The fact that current al Shabaab leadership contains many Arabs adds to Kenyan animosity towards the Arabs. The UN is considered corrupt and subservient to oil-rich Arab states and Western leftists who glamorize and sympathize with some Islamic radical groups. Ignoring the UN and Arab criticism Kenya has been deporting hundreds of Somalis back to Somalia. Those sent back are the ones found living illegally in Nairobi outside refugee camps. Police believe these illegals are the most likely to be Islamic terrorists or al Shabaab supporters. To add to the problems there is the long-standing animosity between Somalis (who are Moslem and consider themselves “Arab”) and the Kenyans (who are Christian and black Africans, who have long been disdained and abused by Arabs). The crackdown on Somalis in Kenya is popular with most Kenyans but hampered by the corruption. Somalis (even al Shabaab members) with enough cash can buy their way out of detention, arrest or deportation.

The Somali government has been seeking ways to deal with al Shabaab terrorist cells returning to Mogadishu. The city has 1.5 million residents and too few (and too corrupt) police to deal with crime or terrorism. Efforts to set up an informant network stumbled because of the rampant corruption among police and the general knowledge that police can be bribed by al Shabaab to get out of being arrested or to obtain the names of informants.   

The UN is bringing in trainers, advisors and cash to create a Somali operated logistical capability for the Somali Army. This force currently consists of six brigades and about 7,000 troops actually in service. The ultimate size is to be three times that and without support troops that won’t happen. Corruption and poor discipline remain a major problem and creating a logistical force that will handle purchasing, storing and distributing supplies as well as maintaining equipment will face enormous problems with corruption. Meanwhile the 22,000 foreign peacekeepers provide most of the logistical support for Somali security forces.

The Somali pirates are still in business and there have been five attacks so far this month. The piracy business has changed a lot since 2010, when it reached levels of activity not seen in over a century. But over the next three years that all changed. By 2013 attacks on ships by Somali pirates had declined 95 percent from the 2010 peak. It’s been over two years since the Somali pirates captured a large commercial ship, and even smaller fishing ships and dhows (small local cargo ships of traditional construction) are harder for them to grab. The rapid collapse of the Somali pirates since 2010 was no accident. It was all a matter of organization, international cooperation and innovation. It all began back in 2009 when 80 seafaring nations formed (with the help of a UN resolution) the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. The most visible aspect of the Contact Group was the organization of an anti-piracy patrol off the Somali coast. This came to consist of over two dozen warships and several dozen manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as support from space satellites and major intelligence and police agencies. Despite all this there are still pirates who are active along the coast.

April 23, 2014: In Kenya (Nairobi) a car bomb went off outside a police station in a Somali neighborhood, killing two policemen and two civilians.

April 22, 2014:  In Mogadishu two al Shabaab men shot dead a member of parliament. The government agreed to provide better security for senior government officials while al Shabaab has boasted that it will keep on killing key government people. Most of these officials are hiring whatever security they can afford.

April 21, 2014:  In Mogadishu an al Shabaab bomb placed under his car killed one member of parliament and wounded another.

April 18, 2014: In Balad (30 kilometers north of Mogadishu) militiamen of a local pro-government warlord got into a firefight with some national police. There were several casualties before a ceasefire was arranged. Balad was under al Shabaab control until June 2012 and because of a shortage of trained and trustworthy security personnel the government had to make deals with local warlords to keep the peace. These warlords are often uncomfortable around the trained police and army units and their gunmen are undisciplined and unpredictable.

April 17, 2014: Uganda has sent 400 more peacekeepers to Somalia to provide security for UN facilities. These troops received specific training for this duty.

April 10, 2014: In Mogadishu three Turkish construction workers were wounded when al Shabaab fired RPG rockets at the Turkish embassy compound.

In the south, near the Kenyan border, Kenyan peacekeepers rescued two Kenyan aid workers who were kidnapped in 2011. The two were finally released in March when they agreed to convert to Islam. Al Shabaab was unable to obtain any ransom for the two men and sought to at least get some positive publicity with the “conversion.” The two men were still being watched but found an opportunity to escape when peacekeepers patrolled the area they were in.

April 7, 2014: At the Mogadishu airport two UN anti-drug officials were shot dead. It’s unclear who was responsible, although al Shabaab will kill anyone associated with the UN and there many criminal gangs who would murder anti-drug investigators from anywhere.

April 4, 2014: In central Somalia (Gal Hareri) there was a large explosion outside the town and when troops arrived they found three dead al Shabaab men and evidence that wounded victims were removed. The Islamic terrorists were apparently assembling a car bomb when the explosives went off by accident. This sort of thing is becoming more common as experienced bomb builders are killed, captured or flee the region because of the constant pressure from peacekeepers and security forces...via our partner  StrategyPage

Somalia: Dozens of Secessionist Somaliland forces Surrender to Puntland Government

                            The defected Soldiers were welcomed in Armo district of Bari region

Authorities in Somalia’ssemi-autonomous region of Puntland say that dozens of troops loyal to the self-declared Secessionist  state of Somaliland have surrendered to them.

The mayor of Armo district of Bari region, Ibrahim Shire – where the troops had arrived- told the media that at least 60 men have surrendered themselves and their weapons from the breakaway region.

He did not say what the authorities were planning to do about them.

The troops have been reported to be based in Sanaag region, one of the disputed provinces between Puntland and  Separatist Administration aka Somaliland.

‘’ We were heavily armed in order to kill our people and we couldn’t accept o do such things, we decided to reunite with our people,’’ said one of the Soldiers who surrendered.

Their surrender comes as military tensions between both sides increased in the last weeks, after Somaliland deployed its troops to Sool- one of also the disputed regions- and captured Taleh district, but they withdrew after facing protests from the local residents.

Puntland Government warned  Separatist Administration aka Somaliland over its provocation and said that it will take the ‘‘necessary actions’’.

Last month, President Silanyo paid a surprise visit to the port town of Lasqoray , which lies on the Red sea and under goes Sanag region. His visit was coincided with the assassination of Puntland commander of forces in Galgala mountains late Col Jama Said Warsame, who was killed in a highway ambush.

Al-Shabaab claimed the responsibility of the assassination.

Puntland leader Abdiweli Gaas accused Somaliland of financing and training the al-Shabab militants hiding in Galgala mountain ranges and said that they got ‘’evidences’’ proving the link and will pass it to the International Community.

But Somaliland denied the allegations.

Troops from both entities have clashed over disputed borderlands in the past.

Hammer Time: AQ Chief Bombmaker Killed-. Join the celebration!

Al Qaeda's chief bombmaker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, is thought to be behind the design that went into the underwear bomber, Umar Farouk "Crispy Crotch" Abdulmutallab's, undetectable explosives. And we know how that "ingenious design" turned out? Sure, it had no metal parts and therefore could be easily passed through airline security but we're not half glass empty around here. Half glass full: the wearer now sings soprano and no one else was hurt.

I know, it's easy to laugh at al-Asiri and part of me says "hey, we should have let this guy live and keep blowing up more jihadis" if not for the likelihood that he would probably have kept improving the design of this and other devices over time. When the other side has no regard for human life, including the lives of their own foot soldiers, then failures like Abdulmutallab are viewed as human experiments in the furtherance of jihadi science. It's all fun and games as they prematurely detonate themselves all the way up until the point that they don't.

In any event, the other notable thing here is that al-Asiri and the 54 other jihadis killed in Yemen weren't droned -- a US special forces team took them out the old fashioned way. It's an interesting development. Since bin Laden was killed by SEALs a few years ago I can only think of one other time (offhand) that we've gone with boots on the ground rather than drones in the sky. That would be the SEAL raid last year into a Somali villagewhich was nixed before the target was achieved. Am I missing any others?

Al-Asiri has been reported as killed before -- the last time in a drone strike -- but it turned out to be a false alarm. This time, at least if MSM reports are to believed, the remains were identified. The operators behind the hit are reported to have brought dogs with them to help them search through the hit zone and find remains, apparently to aid in identifying the targets. But maybe we got lucky and the dogs found survivors? Too bad Obama shut down our Black Sites and got rid of anything approaching harsh interrogation.

It's not clear that al-Asiri was even the primary target, for included among the dearly departed was also Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader Nasir al-Wuhayshi, who just last week showed up in a propaganda video talking to close to one hundred jihadis in Yemen. And if we just killed 55 bad guys ... Let's see here, 100 - 55 = time to dig deep into the bench and go to al Qaeda's third stringers.

INN:

Reports indicate that a massive US military operation in Yemen on Saturday and Sunday killed well over 55 Al Qaeda terrorists. Among the dead reportedly is Ibrahim al-Asiri, the chief bombmaker of the terrorist organization.

A 4x4 truck which the 32-year-old al-Asiri was thought to be in was ambushed by US special forces over the weekend, according to the Daily Mail.

The US special forces, who were dropped in by helicopter, reportedly took position by the road and waited for the truck to arrive before showering it with a hail of bullets. While the occupants managed to fire back, all were killed in the barrage.

Now is the time at the Jawa that we dance!..more Hammer Time: AQ Chief Bombmaker Killed

Somalia: Al Shabab increased jihad tax on local Business

On Tuesday, the militant group Al Shabaab has increased the jihad tax on local business and the residents in the south-central regions of Somalia.

The group has already enforced the new tax in Galgaduud region (central of Somalia), residents say.

“…The local bus and lorry drivers have to pay $150 Us dollars a month, while the other drivers from other regions will pay $600 us dollars…” says one of the local residents who asked not to be named for security reasons. He added “… the local livestock traders are also forced to pay the tax…”

Al-Shabab has been driven out of major towns by a UN-mandated African Union force, but the group still controls many of the rural areas in south-central Somalia and regularly launch attacks that include bombs and guerrilla-style raids.

Kenyan schools on the lookout for radicalisation among students

Kenyan authorities have asked teachers across the country to be watchful of students in primary and secondary schools, following increasing fears that school-age children are being radicalised by al-Shabaab and its sympathisers. ,more

65 suspected Shabaab militia arrested in Ruiru

NABBED: Suspects alight from a police lorry in Kasarani Stadium after being arrested on suspicion of being al Shabaab militia. -

 

 

65 Ethiopians suspected to be members of the Al Shabaab were arrested this morning in Ruiru. The suspects were living in a gated home on the Thika superhighway near Rainbow hotel. Ruiru Ocpd Isaac Thuranira said the police were tipped off by a resident. Thuranira said the suspects were being sponsored by an asylum seeker from Ethiopia known as Yusuf Wadeh Badole,whose documents were confiscated by the police. Badole had the keys to the self contained house. A caretaker of the building Jacob Muturi said he was not aware of the occupants in the house.Muturi said he lives away from the house where the suspects were caught. He lives near Ruiru prison staff training college. He said the landlord Teresia Wanjiru had rented the house to a tenant whom she fallout with last week."I do not know when the new tenants moved into the house. Last week I left Njagi as the only tenant of this house. Today the landlord told me to come and lock this house because she said the tenant had failed to pay rent by 15th April." Muturi said. Muturi,Badole and two other suspects of Kenyan origin were arrested. Police also recovered a Toyota probox that Badole was using to deliver food to the suspects. The suspects were taken to Kasarani Safaricom stadium for screening. Interior secretary Joseph Ole Lenku arrived shortly after the suspects arrived in a police lorry at Kasarani.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed concludes visit to Kismayo

 

Mogadishu, Saturday, 19 April 2014 – His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed concluded his seven-day working visit to Kismayo with a ceremony to mark the progress made during his visit. The ceremony signals the success of the visit of H.E. the Prime Minister and the commitment of the Interim Jubba Administration (IJA) and other stakeholders to promoting peace and harmony amongst the people of Jubba. The leader of the Interim Jubba Administration H.E. Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), parliamentarians, cabinet members, traditional elders, women’s groups, religious leaders, diplomats, UN and AMISOM officials attended the ceremony, which was held at the former Insurance Centre.
Representatives from the UN, AMISOM, IGAD and the neighbouring countries praised the progress made during the Prime Minister's visit and the agreement between the political factions in Jubba vowing to support the peace process and the implementation of the agreement.
Addressing the ceremony, the Prime Minister said that progress in Jubba benefits all communities. His Excellency praised the leadership and efforts of H.E. Ahmed Madobe and his administration, the traditional elders and women’s groups of Jubba, calling on them to collectively continue to work for peace, collaboration and the development of Jubba.
It was announced during the ceremony that the troops who had been positioned outside the city of Kismayo for some time have now agreed to come into the city after engaging in successful talks with leaders from the federal government, IJA, and traditional elders. This marks the beginning of a process to officially integrate those troops into the Somali National Army so that they can receive their rightful benefits and salaries.
“We are all committed to working for peace and collaboration, and it is my hope that all Somalis will work towards a better Somalia. The period of conflict, war and mistrust is over. We are turning towards peace, development and peaceful co-existence for the people of Jubba,” the Prime Minister said.
A communiqué was read before the participants of the ceremony that outlines all the points that were agreed upon and reaffirms the commitment of all parties to the Addis Ababa agreement between the Federal Government and the Interim Jubba Administration. The Prime Minister acknowledged the efforts made by the Interim Jubba Administration and paid tribute to SNA Forces and AMISOM for their role in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

After extensive consultations with the IJA and the community in general, the Prime Minister:
1. Instructed the full implementation of the Addis Ababa Agreement;
2. Instructed responsible authorities in the FGS in coordination with IJA and community leaders to immediately work out the implementation of the integration of the forces in the Jubba Regions;
3. Welcomed the recently established Technical Security Committee and instructed the committee to fast-track on-going integration efforts;
4. Established a joint high level committee to chart out action plan for the implementation of the outstanding issues in the Addis Ababa and Mogadishu Agreements;
5. Acknowledged the supportive role of IGAD and Ethiopia in the implementation of the Addis Ababa Agreement;
6. Urged the International Community to assist FGS and IJA priority programs in the Jubba;
7. Endorsed the reconciliation committee to organise Kismayo reconciliation conference;
8. Established inter-clan peace committees composed of elders and women groups to help the reconciliation efforts in the region;
9. Advised IJA to establish the regional assembly as soon as possible;
10. Welcomed IJA to engage with the National Defence Working Groups (DWG);
11. Instructed relevant federal institutions to provide the necessary support to IJA line institutions;
12. Directed the Federal Ministry of Defence to enlist SNA troops from the Jubba Regions so that they participate in the Concept of Operations (CONOPS). This undertaking should be concluded within the next 4 weeks;
13. Strongly warned those who obstruct the on-going peace processes in the country and appealed to IGAD and the international community to cooperate with the FGS in taking measures against the obstructers.

--END--

Somali Prime Minister addresses soldiers at military training camp in Kismay

Thursday, 17 April 2014 Somali Prime Minister addresses soldiers at military training camp in Kismayo The Prime Minister of the Somali Federal Government His Excellency Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed toured a military training camp in Kismayo on Wednesday April 16th where new recruits of the Interim Jubba Administration are in training and offered them words of encouragement and wisdom. The encamped forces are in training to promote peace and security in the three Jubba regions and take part in operations to rid the area of terrorists. Cabinet members, parliament representatives, ambassadors, and officials from the Interim Jubba Administration and AMISOM accompanied the Prime Minister on his tour of the military training camp. After training, the soldiers, who are currently receiving instruction from both Somali and AMISOM officers, will join various divisions of the Jubba Administration’s armed forces. In the briefing received by the Prime Minister and his delegation, officials from the Jubba Administration said the soldiers are receiving a variety of training and are preparing to take part in the country’s defense. Some of the recruits have also been sent to neighboring countries for training. H.E. Prime Minister Ahmed thanked AMISOM and Somali instructors for their service and urged the training soldiers to work for the public good while at the same time protecting human rights. “You have to defend the lives, property and honour of the public and protect the country from its enemies, starting with our primary enemy al-Shabaab. However, as you are fighting al-Shabaab, you will also have to carefully separate the terrorists from the innocent citizens so that you do not infringe upon their rights,” Prime Minister Ahmed told the soldiers. Furthermore, the Prime Minister told the troops the Somali Federal Government is preparing to equip the troops so that they can adequately perform their duties, and is currently formulating a plan, in consultation with senior security officials, to distribute these soldiers among the different divisions of the armed forces. “My government will strive to support you in your work so that you can safeguard the security of Jubba and the rest of Somalia. We will integrate you into the different sections of the armed forces such as the Somali National Army, police, corrections and intelligence,” the Prime Minister said in his address to the training officers. “Soldiers from the Somali National Armed Forces have the same goal whichever region they are based, and that is to liberate the country from its enemy and defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. You are required to stay committed to that goal,” Prime Minister Ahmed said in his concluding remarks. --END--

 

Somalia PM visit Jubaland forces training camp and the Somali Army who currently returned outside Kismayo : RA'ISUL WASAARE CABDIWELI OO BOOQDAY XERADA CIIDAMADA LAGU TABABARO EE M...

'UPDF instructors trained Al-Shabaab fighters'

UPDF instructors trained ten Al-Shabaab fighters using African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) facilities on instructions from their commanders.
Lance Corporal, Jackson Byabagambi, told the General Court Martial in Makindye, a Kampala suburb, Tuesday that the ten Al-Shabaab fighters were trained at Aljazeera training ground shared by AMISOM troops and Somalia National Army (SNA) last May.

Maj. Frank Kawero, formally the training officer at Aljazeera training school and Capt. Hassan Wantimba, formally the school’s chief instructor, are facing trial for having allegedly sneaked the Al-Shabaab fighters into the military facility to attend training on firing guns.

Byabagambi told court presided over by, Brig. Moses Ssentongo, that the alshabab fighters were trained under instructions from Watimba. He added that the SNA commandant in the camp stopped them from training the group because they were not known and their training had not been scheduled.

 “Watimba and Kawero then met the SNA commandant. After their meeting, Watimba told us to continue with the training without worry, but he asked us not to use SNA facilities,” Byabagambi said.

The witness explained that the two weeks training took place at the time when the AMISOM commandant from Ethiopia was on leave and he had left Watimba and Kawero in charge.

During examination by prosecutors Capt. Gerald Bamwitirebye and Lt. Ambrose Baguma, the witness said before the group arrived in the camp for training, Watimba told them to be prepared to train “a group” from alshabab
  

'UPDF instructors trained Al-Shabaab fighters'

Somali Prime Minister meets with the traditiona​l elders and women’s groups of Jubba

 

Mogadishu, Wednesday, 16 April 2014 – The Prime Minister of Somalia His Excellency Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and a delegation he is leading have been in Kismayo, the capital of the Interim Jubba Administration, on an official visit since Saturday, April 11th 2014. In keeping with his promise to meet with various sectors of the community, the Prime Minister met with traditional elders and women’s groups from Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions in Kismayo as part of his efforts to accelerate the on-going reconciliation process in the Jubba regions.

In his meeting with the traditional elders, H.E. the Prime Minister praised their historic role in promoting peace and harmony within the different communities, and called on them to assume an even bigger role in reviving peaceful co-existence among the people of the Jubba regions.

“The people of the Jubbas are brothers and sisters who have historically lived together in mutual respect and harmony while sharing everything they had. Today, there is a need to restore the brotherhood, collaboration and cooperation you were famous for. My government is ready to support the reconciliation effort from the grassroots level in the villages to the regional and federal state levels of Jubba,” said Prime Minister Ahmed while addressing the assembly of traditional elders.

The Prime Minister also met with the members of various women’s groups from the three regions of Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo. He asked for their support in peace-building while emphasizing his government’s commitment to advancing peace in the country by establishing working institutions and credible security and governance structures.
“The Somali women are an important part of our history in the key role they played in the country’s struggle for independence. We now need you to take a leadership role in reconciling the people and resolving the conflicts in Jubba,” H.E. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed told the women’s groups.
On their part, the traditional elders and women’s groups promised to support the government in its efforts to unify the people of Jubba and committed to work together to ensure prosperity and harmony in the Jubba regions.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ahmed and his delegation have been engaged in continuous meetings with the leaders of the Interim Jubba Administration. An official announcement is expected through the media to announce the results of these consultations once they are concluded.

--ENDS--

The Somali Prime Minister visits important sites in Kismayo

H.E. the Prime Minister was very pleased with the reception he received and announced his intention to meet with various sectors of the community while he is visiting the city.

The Prime Minister of the Somali Federal Government His Excellency Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed arrived in Kismayo, the capital of the Interim Jubba Administration, on Saturday, April 11th 2014. The Prime Minister and his delegation, which includes Somali Federal Government cabinet and parliament members, received a warm welcome in Kismayo from Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), the President of the Interim Jubba Administration and other high-ranking officials. The Prime Minister’s trip to Kismayo follows his visit to some of the areas that were recently recovered from al-Shabaab terrorists.

“I bring you profound salutations from the President of the Federal Government of Somalia and the Speaker of the Parliament. I am greatly honoured to be received with such immense friendship and goodwill by the people of Kismayo,” said H.E. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed.
On his part, Islam announced his full support for the Federal Government of Somalia and remarked on the similarities between Mogadishu and Kismayo, calling them twin cities.

The Prime Minister stated his intention to focus on development, security and the revival of various livelihood projects during his Kismayo visit. He highlighted the importance of pushing on-going efforts to stabilize the region and promised that the Federal Government will oversee the preservation of peace in all areas. H.E. the Prime Minister said that all parties will build on the Addis Ababa Agreement and vowed to oversee its full implementation. In addition, he held meetings with AMISOM officials to discuss enhancing security in order to advance development and reconstruction in the region.
As part of his Kismayo visit, H.E. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed toured government facilities including schools, hospitals, the port, and other public structures in Kismayo. H.E. Ahmed Madobe accompanied him on the tours.
During his visit to the Kismayo General Hospital, the officials of the hospital briefed H.E. Prime Minster Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, after which he declared that the central government will deliver urgent assistance to the hospital. He announced that the Minister of Health will pay a working visit to Kismayo to assess the needs of the hospital. The Prime Minister also authorized the Ministry of Interior Affairs to provide immediate food aid to the newly liberated areas in Jubba.
In addition, H.E. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed visited the recently rehabilitated facilities of the Ministry of Interior and the Central Bank of the Jubba Administration, which represent the progress Kismayo has made since the liberation of the city by Somali National Forces and AMISOM. The inaugurated bank will boost the public financial management of the Jubba Administration, and signals the administration’s commitment to promoting transparency and accountability.

“We are delighted and proud to witness the Jubba Administration’s progress in Kismayo. The people of Kismayo have suffered many years of civil war and extremism. The city of Kismayo is now ready for prosperity after decades of civil strife,” said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister concluded his tour of public facilities by overseeing operations at the Port of Kismayo where he pledged to assist efforts to rehabilitate the port as it serves many Somali citizens in Jubba.

--END--

Sagal Ahmed
Senior Press Officer
Prime Minister’s Media Office
Mogadishu, Somalia

Somalia: PM in Kismayo Port City for official visit

KISMAYO, Somalia April 13, 2014 (terrorfreesomalia )-Federal Government of Somalia's Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed on Thursday arrived in the southern port city of Kismayo for official tour, marking his first visit since being appointed to the post in December 2013, terror free Somalia  reports.

 

Jubaland President Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe), Vice President Gen. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismael Fartag, cabinet ministers and traditional leaders received Prime Minister Mohamed at Kismayo International airport where he was saluted by a division from Jubaland forces.

Addressing reporters during a joint press conference with President Madobe, Mohamed said that he will hold discussions on Jubba agreement and the ongoing stabilization efforts with Jubaland officials.

"[Federal Government of Somalia] looks forward to removing Al Shabaab remnants from the areas under their control," said the Prime Minister. "Jubba agreement is of utmost priority for both sides [Federal Government and Jubaland] and I hope our talks will focus on key issues regarding security, liberation and stabilization efforts".

Speaking on BBC Somali Service, Jubaland Interior Minister Gen. Mohamed Warsame Darwiish unveiled that Jubaland security forces have been put on high alert for possible terror plots following the arrival of Somalia's Prime Minister in Kismayo.

He added, tight security is in place and terror threats continue to abate spectacularly due to effective measures being taken by Jubaland administration.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Abdiweli alongside his entourage and Jubaland leader toured several landmark sites including Kismayo General Hospital, the lucrative seaport, schools and former national insurance company complex.

Earlier this week, Mohamed made a surprise visit to Hiraan regional district of Bule Barde, discussing the humanitarian and security situation after Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab fighters have been flushed out of a string of strategic towns in central and southwestern Somalia.

As a follow-up move, he visited agriculture-rich town and Middle Shabelle regional capital of Jowhar, with local residents asking his government to mitigate recurrent disasters such as severe floods that more recently threatened the lives of hundreds of people.