AMISOM Magazine - Issue 16 | May - August 2015

www.amisom-au.org Issue 16 | May - August 2015

On the Edge

of Success

AMISOM MAGAZINE

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Message

SRCC

From the

Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Maman Sidikou

I

welcome you to the second edition of the AMISOM magazine this year. This edition comes at a crucial time, not only for the mission but also for Somalia as a country, because it is on the precipice of a new dawn. It is a time when the mission and other key stakeholders seek tangible results in the country’s stabilization efforts.

In my most recent address to the African Union Peace & Security Council and the United Nations Security Council, I spoke about three important developments and the progress made in the prevailing security situation in Somalia; the recently concluded joint AUUN Benchmarking Exercise and; outcomes of the investigation against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and steps that AMISOM has taken to ensure an effective prevention and response regime. The successes achieved are as a result of deliberate efforts made to change the status quo.

There are also significant political developments made in Somalia

– especially on the federalization process, constitutional review and the electoral process, which my Office and other key stakeholders support.

As AMISOM, we are looking to the next steps in the military campaign. Together with the AU Commission and UNSOM, we have initiated consultations with Troop Contributing Countries to negotiate a way forward.

My Office concurs with the outcome of the joint AU-UN benchmarking exercise, which specifies that, while progress is being made, the situation in Somalia as a whole is not conducive for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping operation until the end of 2016 at the earliest.

This means continued presence of AMISOM would be required, potentially until the end of 2016.

I welcome the recommendation to extend the duration of the surge with a structured targeted reconfiguration of AMISOM

I must emphasize that the road is still long and Somalia needs more support to achieve its dream of becoming fully functional

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(military, police and civilian components), to respond to the evolving realities, which include further degrading the Al Shabaab threat and creating an enabling environment for the political process to unfold. Not forgetting, the consolidation and stabilization of the recovered areas, alongside security operations by AMISOM and the Somali National Army.

We are looking at an exciting future for Somalia. I acknowledge efforts by all who work tirelessly to contribute to Somalia’s success story.

Together we are re-writing this country’s history.

But, I must emphasize that the road is still long and Somalia needs more support to achieve its dream of becoming fully functional. We need more support for the Somali National Army to turn it into a more effective partner. The logistical support package to AMISOM requires a boost to enhance the pace of operations and last but not least, provide better capacity to AMISOM Police component to enable it to bolster the confidence of the Somali Police Force.

I am confident that as we look to the future and as 2016 beckons, we will prove to the world that all efforts towards the country’s revival were not a pipe dream.

Contents

Burundi soldier stands at attention during the medal awards ceremony at the former Somali Military Academy in Mogadishu. A total of 1,828 soldiers got medals at the end of their deployment to Somalia on May 30 2015.

AU UN IST Photo/ IIyas Ahmed

Managing Editor: Eloi Yao Design and Layout: Noel Lumbama Photography: AU/UN IST Newsroom | thenewsroom@auunist.org Email: amisommediacentre@gmail.com P.O. Box 20182 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Phone: +254 202 713 755 /56 /58 Fax: +254 202 713 766 Publisher: AMISOM Public Information Unit

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Message From The SRCC

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In the News

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Looking Ahead: The Priorities

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Kuday’s Amphibious Liberation

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The Allies

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When Kerry Came to Town

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Thumbs Up From the EU

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ONE on ONE with AMISOM Force Commander

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Federalism Taking Root

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Tackling Sexual Violence

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The Panel

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Flicker of Hope for Disease Burden

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Selfless Service

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Mogadishu on Call

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At the Helm of AMISOM Police

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Joining Forces

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Listen To The Radio

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Mogadishu’s Fire Fighters

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Banking Solutions

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Observing The Fast

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Eye on AFCON 2017

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IN THE

NEWS

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February 2015:

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Gelle made a two-day visit to Somalia where he attended celebrations to mark ‘International Mother Language Day’, and also visited AMISOM troops in Beletweyne, where he was accompanied by his host Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Addressing a gathering which included leaders of Hiran region at the AMISON compound, the two leaders emphasized the importance of peaceful co-existence. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud specifically urged clan leaders to uphold peace and stop clan clashes in the region. President Gelle requested Hiran elders and intellectuals to preach peace. “What I am requesting from all Hiran residents is peace. I hope you will consider my request,” President Gelle said.

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March 2015:

Kuday Island is liberated from Al Shabaab militants.

The amphibious assault and capture of the strategic Island in the lower Juba region followed weeks of planning by the Somali National Army and AMISOM. “The town of Kuday is very strategic and its liberation will greatly contribute to improved security in the Lower Juba region. We will continue to pursue Al Shabaab from every corner, until the entire country is pacified”, said AU Special Envoy to Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Maman Sidikou.

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April 2015:

The Somali National Army (SNA) marked its 55th anniversary with a commitment to unify and create a central command for all Somali troops. A colourful ceremony to mark the day was held at the Defence Headquarters in Mogadishu and presided over

by Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

“It’s of utmost importance to unify Somali troops and to centralize command. In order to reach this goal Somali federal government and regional administrations have to come to an agreement to make this possible and strengthen the Somali National Army”, said Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Dahir Aden Elmi.

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May 2015:

US Secretary of State John Kerry made a surprise visit to Somalia, making him the first American Secretary of State to visit the Horn of Africa country.

“We all have a stake in your success. The world cannot afford to have places on the map that are essentially ungoverned”, said Kerry in a video message to Somalis shortly after his brief visit to the country.

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May 2015:

The Interim Jubba Administration Regional Assembly was inaugurated at a ceremony held in Kismayo and witnessed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

“What we have lost is a nation and to restore is a huge burden for all us to carry and as the Somali people, we must forget about the past and focus on the present and the future” said President Mohamud.

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May 2015:

The European Union announced the opening of a Delegation office in Somalia.

The announcement was made in Mogadishu during celebrations to mark Europe Day. “Today is a special day. It is Europe Day, so we wanted to move beyond words, to concrete deeds. So we signed an agreement to show that we are the biggest donor but want to be more than that. We want to be present in Somalia and want to open a delegation in Somalia”, said EU Head of Delegation in Somalia Cervone d’Urso.

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May 2015:

Youth across all regions of Somalia turned up in large numbers to mark the 72nd Somali Youth League Day. The day is held every year to celebrate Somalia’s first youth driven political party which was founded on 15th May 1943 and played a key role in the country’s struggle for independence.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud joined thousands of youth in a walk along the streets of the capital Mogadishu, and laid a wreath of flowers at the Somali Youth League monument, in honour of independence heroes.

“The message I have for you today is to urge the youth to build their country. The country awaits no one else except you. You have to double your efforts. The

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youth who formed SYL 72 years ago sacrificed their life for the sake of the country to be independent and realize bigger dreams. I urge you to follow suit and work towards developing your country”, said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in his address to the youth.

May 2015:

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC), to Somalia, Ambassador Maman Sidikou addressed the United Nations Security Council on the ‘State of Somalia’, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia through a video link.

“Be rest assured also that while we will be reinvigorating operations against Al Shabaab as part of the outcomes and recommendations from the recently concluded joint AU-UN Mission, there will be a more prominent resumption of offensive operations in some areas soon”, emphasized Ambassador Sidikou.

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May 2015:

Somalia joined the rest of Africa in marking the African Union Day with a reminder from leaders present at the event, including UN Special Envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Kay and Somali President Sheikh Mohamud, that the success of the continent is pegged on the prevailing situation in countries experiencing armed conflict.

“This day is even more significant now as the continent becomes intrinsically bound by challenges

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that require tackling from a common front”, said the African Union envoy to Somalia and Head of AMISOM Ambassador Maman Sidikou.

June 2015:

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Maman Sidikou led a high level delegation to Beletweyne to visit AMISOM troops. The delegation included the EU Head of Delegation to Somalia Michele Cervone d’Urso and Djibouti Ambassador to Somalia Dayib Doubad Robleh.

Speaking after meeting the troops, Amb. Maman Sidikou said, “We have come to discuss with our friends the Djibouti and Ethiopian contingents. Beletweyne is a model in a sense, because here Djibouti and Ethiopia are putting their strength and intelligence together to not

only fight and defeat the enemy but also support with capacity development of SNA. I believe we had a very useful discussion.”

The Head of EU Delegation to Somalia Cervone d’Urso added, “Today is a special day; it is the first time over ten years the European Union is back in Beletweyne.

It is a joint mission between the European Union and AMISOM. It allows us to take stock of the needs of the population and see where we can help. It is also an opportunity to see what stage we are with the AMISOM offensive in Sector 4”.

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Looking Ahead:

The Priorities

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omalia has progressed substantially on the political, economic and security fronts, with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the United Nations (UN) and the international community.

Tangible achievements have been made in realising the goals of ‘Vision 2016’ and the Somali Compact, which articulate specific priorities towards ensuring the country’s security, political and development progress.

To fast track these developments and make 2015 the year of “Federalism and Delivery”, AMISOM and the UN held their second annual high-level retreat on Somalia, in January 2015. The aim of the joint meeting was to strategize on how to better utilize scarce resources, to further common mandated tasks and

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to work together to continue assisting Somalia on its path to recovery.

This AU-UN retreat on Somalia took place immediately after the conclusion of the AMISOM retreat for 2015, which generated numerous practical recommendations, that would help the mission better align itself to the unfolding realities.

Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission (SRCC), Ambassador Maman Sidikou, enumerated the following recommendations which came out of the AMISOM retreat: l AMISOM should focus its resources

on the priorities established by the Federal Government of Somalia in line with the New Deal Compact, Vision 2016 and other government plans;

l AMISOM should support cohesion

among the political leadership of Somalia;

l AMISOM should support the re-

building of the SNA through the organisation and integration of local forces, including considering their sustainment;

l Enhance support for effective defence

and security services in Somalia beyond a focus on support for the SNA, to include the Somali Police Force, NISA (the intelligence arm of the Federal Government) and other actors, as well as consider community centred approaches to safety and security;

l Ensure sustained access to the

recovered areas;

SRCC Ambassador Maman Sidikou interacting with Somalis from the diaspora, at The Hague, Netherlands

l Enhanced attention and focus on cross

cutting issues in the implementation of AMISOM’s mandate, including protection of civilians, human rights and gender issues.

These priorities mirror those of the UN. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) for Somalia, Mr. Nicholas Kay, singled out

priority areas of focus which included Somali leadership and capacity building for the federal government; the state formation and federalisation process; the adoption of key legislation; and the constitutional review process.

The political process was identified at the centre of the UN’s priorities in Somalia. On this basis, it was noted that

the foundations for peace and stability needed to be built in 2015. The need for inclusive processes was stressed, as the basis of success and sustainability going forward. As such, Mr. Kay noted that it would be important to ensure that all clans and social groups, and in particular women and youth, played key roles in the determination of outcomes.

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Kuday’s Amphibious

K

uday Island, tucked along the Indian Ocean coastline, some 130 kilometres south west of Kismayo, in the lower Juba region, was seized ffrom Al Shabaab by the Somali National Army and troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in March 2015.

The capture of Kuday came just five months after after the Somali National Army, supported by AMISOM troops, liberated middle Shebelle’s port town of Barawe in October 2014. Barawe was the biggest stronghold of Al Shabaab militants.

The liberation of Kuday Island was significant for the Federal Government of Somalia because it was the remaining Al Shabaab stronghold in the region, the third logistical hub and operational base used to launch key attacks in southern Somalia. It also served as a key route for entry of contraband goods in that region.

A few months after its liberation, life is slowly returning to normal in the small island inhabited by slightly over 2,000 people, many of whom ran away during the Al Shabaab reign of terror.

“We liberated Kuday on 22nd March 2015 in a concerted effort with the SNA and in the operation Al Shabaab fled the town and ever since the security situation has stabilized. We are continuing on with the pacification and so far the locals are very happy’’, said the AMISOM Commanding Officer Major Patrick Mutuku from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

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The mayor of Kuday town Mr. Kadiye Ibrahim Abdulle expressed gratitude to AMISOM for gaining control of the strategic island. “There is a big change in Kuday town now. Previously Al Shabaab used to harass us and used to give us a lot of problems but now we are happy that the town is out of their hands. Al Shabaab took from us but they never supported us”, said Mayor Abdulle.

Jubbaland administration spokesman Mr. Abdinasir Serar has been leading the distribution of relief food to Kuday Island residents who have returned home and are in dire need of food supplies.

Kuday’s most distinct feature is a 20 kilometre-long creek with a width of about 850 metres that runs from Anole, a centre 26 kilometres to the north of Kuday, into the Indian Ocean.

Patches of vegetation spread inland to the south west of the port up to the Kenya-Somalia border forming the Lacta Belt. This is the thickest forest in Somalia. The flora and the fauna found here makes it ideal for human habitation.

The vegetation offers concealment from view, which qualifies it as a model militia breeding and training ground.

Most significant is the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) that retreated into this region when they were defeated by the Ethiopian troops in 2007 before mutating into Al Shabaab.

Kuday was strategic to Al Shabaab mainly because it offered a suitable

alternative, after Somali National Army and AMISOM’s capture and control of the ports of Kismayo, Mogadishu and Barawe. This port was thus a military objective. Kuday then became their logistical base and revenue collection center from where they collected tax from ‘miraa’ boats, which supply the stimulant to Kismayo from Ras Kamboni. In addition, the port town was the only entry point through which foreign fighters joined the ranks and file of Al Shabaab.

Other than that, Kuday also offered Al Shabaab access to the Lacta Belt, a thick-forested belt extending into Kenya’s Boni Forest in Lamu County.

The forest belt was a strategic location for Al Shabaab as it offered them easy access to fresh water, while the forest’s canopy concealed their operations.

The Somali National Army with the support of AMISOM troops had first liberated Kuday from Al Shabaab on 8th May 2014. But after AMISOM handed over the position to the SNA, it was recaptured by Al Shabaab four days later, forcing the SNA to withdraw to Ras Kamboni. There was therefore a need to recapture the town. This culminated in the lauch of ‘Operation Ocean Build’.

The second capture of Kuday was well planned to ensure force protection and achievement of operation security.

The planning commenced earlier but it was not until 4th March 2015 when troops massed and readied themselves for the attack.

On Sunday, 22 March 2015, the actual operation started with well-rehearsed and choreographed movements. AMISOM troops set off in one wave and established the first foothold on Kuday beach. They were able to wade through ocean waters with ammunition, water and dry rations strapped on their bodies. It was a challenging task, but following the vigorous training that the soldiers had undergone, they executed it with much ease.

Thereafter the troops moved stealthily through the short shrubs along the coastline. They were able to repulse resistance and secure the town by 10.00hrs. They destroyed two ‘technicals’ (land cruisers used by Al Shabaab) at a high feature killing many Al Shabaab militants, although others escaped with injuries towards Anole, which is 26 kilometres to the north of Kuday. The troops’ thorough preparation and skillful maneuver enabled them to subdue the militants without incurring any casualties.

Within a day after the capture, the troops erected adequate defenses and embarked on aggressive patrolling.

Local Somalis from the Bajuni tribe who are traditionally fishermen, to miraa traders who traverse the shoreline from Ras Kamboni to Kismayo were ecstatic. The days when the militia would waylay them in the ocean and heavily tax them was now a thing of the past.

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The Allies When John Kerry Came to Town

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is visit was unannounced and swift. The United States Secretary of State John Kerry briefly visited Somalia on the 5th of May 2015, and held meetings with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke and regional Presidents as well as civil society leaders.

His unprecedented but short visit, the first by a U.S Secretary of State, was considered a show of solidarity with the Federal Government of Somalia as it seeks to wipe out terrorism from the Horn of Africa country. Observers see it as an acknowledgement of the stabilization efforts and the country’s fast turnaround.

Shortly after his visit to Somalia, the US Secretary of State issued a recorded video message to the Somali people in which he announced that the United States would open a full-fledged diplomatic office in the capital Mogadishu.

He said, “Today I was privileged to be the first American Secretary of State to 12

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visit Somalia. I met with your government leaders and civil society representatives, but I also wanted to take the opportunity to talk to you, the people of Somalia. More than 20 years ago, the United States was

forced to pull back from your country.

Now we are returning in collaboration with the international community, and bearing high hopes, but also mixed with ongoing concerns.”

He added, “I visited Somalia today because your country is turning around.

Three years have passed since a new provisional constitution was adopted and a parliament sworn in. With help from AMISOM, Somali forces have pushed Al Shabaab out of major population centres.

A determined international effort has put virtually all of Somalia’s pirates out of business. Most of the credit goes to you the people of Somalia.”

He emphasized, “During my discussions with your leaders today, I focused on the next steps that must be taken on Vision 2016, to advance Somalia’s development as a unified federal state.

The federal government is now working with new regional administrations to enhance stability and sow the seeds of prosperity in every part of Somalia. That includes finding the right balance of authorities and responsibilities between the national, regional and local levels, and I look forward to seeing progress soon, on integrating regional forces into the Somali National Army, so that we can broaden our security assistance to those forces.

The government is also working towards finalising the constitution and holding democratic elections in 2016. You, all of you must have a voice in this process.

Your leaders confirmed to me today that they are committed to making progress on these issues, and ensuring that there is a broad consensus on how the constitution review and elections will proceed. We all have a stake in your success.”

He concluded by saying, “The world cannot afford having places on the map that are essentially ungoverned. That is why Somalia’s return to effective government is an historic opportunity. In recognition of progress made and the promise to come, I am pleased to announce that the United States will begin the process of establishing premises for a diplomatic mission in Mogadishu. While we do not yet have a fixed timeline for reopening the embassy, we are upgrading our diplomatic representation pending confirmation by the Senate. A career diplomat will lead this effort as our first ambassador to Somalia since we closed our mission in January of 1991. And I look forward as does the President to the day that both the United States and Somalia have full fledged missions in each other’s capital cities.”

Thumbs Up from the EU T he European Union (EU) announced the opening of its Delegation office inside Somalia, following the signing of an Establishment Agreement between the President of Somalia H.E Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the EU Head of Delegation in Somalia Mr. Michele Cervone d’Urso.

The agreement formalizes the presence of the EU in Somalia and in essence paves the way for more European countries to open up embassies in Mogadishu.

“We signed an agreement to show that we are the biggest donor but we want to be more than that. We want to be present in Somalia and want to open a delegation in Somalia,” Cervone d’Urso said.

As one of Somalia’s biggest donors, the European Union shut its office in Somalia in the flare up of war more than

two decades ago. The move to reopen its office follows major improvements in security due to the intervention by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the Somalia National Army (SNA), who have together neutralised and pushed out Al Shabaab militants except in marginal areas.

Somali President Sheikh Mohamud hailed the partnership between Somalia and the European Union saying, “The EU since independence has always been a major partner of development and today after 25 years of being in a difficult situation it still is.”

The EU currently has three field offices in Somalia, which they use to oversee successful implementation and monitoring of EU funded projects. The field offices also keep the EU Delegation to Somalia, currently based in Kenya, abreast with developments in the country.

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ONE on ONE

with AMISOM Force Commander Lt. General Jonathan Kipkemoi Rono

Firstly sir, congratulations on your confirmation to the position of AMISOM Force Commander. Troop Contributing Countries and other stakeholders of AMISOM are keen to know more about you and your background.

Thank you. I started my military service as an infantry officer and grew through the ranks in the Kenya Defence Force, up to my current position as AMISOM Force Commander. I have been in appointments where I relate directly with the soldiers. I joined AMISOM in September of last year as the Deputy Force Commander – Logistics and then from the month of December, I was appointed to act as Force Commander after Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa from Burundi left. In April, I was promoted and confirmed to the position. I am waiting for my ratification as the AMISOM Force Commander.

What motivated you to join the military?

A very interesting question. Way back in high school, as is the case, you choose what career you want to pursue. As I grew up, I was keen on the competitions and training of the military, particularly the cadet training, the climax of which is normally done through a parade. I used to be very impressed by the way they conduct the parade and the way they execute 14

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their displays, and I yearned to be part of it. One time when cadets were being recruited, I was actually headed elsewhere, but when I got wind of the recruitment which was taking place in a town known as Nakuru, I went for the recruitment. By then selection was based on provinces and I was one of those recruited from the Rift Valley, where I come from. Only seven of us were selected out of 700 people and that was the beginning of my life as a military officer. I joined in 1979, then went through the training and I was commissioned by the President to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, so it was an achievement; I got what my heart desired and up to date I don’t regret being a military officer.

As a mission, AMISOM has come a long way since its deployment in 2007. What in your view are some of the successes?

How has the mission evolved?

I think this is one unique mission.

It started at a time when the previous missions that had been in Somalia had left. From 2007, regional countries led

by Uganda have come here to support Somalia and they have done their best.

Uganda was the first to bring in troops followed by Burundi, at a time when the country was widely controlled by Al Shabaab militants. Then came Djibouti,

the Kenya Defence Force and the Ethiopia National Defence Force. At some stage we even had Sierra Leone. With this whole team, a lot has been achieved.

First, bringing normalcy to Mogadishu and then spreading that peace to the rest of Somalia, and today we are talking of controlling 80% of the country that was wholly under the control of Al Shabaab.

This is a remarkable achievement for the SNA and AMISOM and is appreciated by all stakeholders, the Troop Contributing Countries, everybody. In the past past eight years, a lot has changed in Somalia.

We are now looking at a country which will very soon be holding elections and after the elections, hopefully we see them managing their business and their army managing their security issues. These are the successes that I can cite.

As you take over office officially, what are your priorities for the mission? What is your plan?

Today, we still have about 20% of Somalia that is still being held by Al Shabaab. As a matter of priority, the immediate plan is to ensure that the remaining part of the country is liberated and I am talking about the Jubba corridor.

Secondly, facilitate the ongoing regional negotiations for state formations, facilitate

humanitarian access for the population especially in the newly recovered areas.

We want to see humanitarian issues expedited; we want to see normal activities happening across the country and we want to see that we facilitate the successful preparation of elections and then draw down, prepare for the eventual handover to the Somali government.

You take over command of the Force at a time when the Al Shabaab militants have posed fresh challenges with the asymmetrical warfare they are employing.

Do you have a counter strategy?

The asymmetric warfare is definitely because of what has been done to Al Shabaab. A lot of territory has been recovered, they have diminished in numbers and in equipment. Al Shabaab is now desperate and they are trying to survive and also to keep themselves relevant. The only way to do that is through asymmetric engagement; that is engaging our troops through IEDs, assassinations of high profile personalities and those kinds of operations, meant to demoralize the troops. However, we are working closely with our partners on the issue of exchange of information, exchange of intelligence, exchange of material support and equipment to be able to counter the asymmetric nature of Al Shabaab operations. It will take long like any other asymmetric operation, it is not something that you can go over within a short time but all measures are already in place to counter the asymmetric activities of Al Shabaab.

For the partners in the region and the Troop Contributing Countries, it may sometimes be hard for them understand when you say Al Shabaab has been defeated in the face of attacks such as the one at Garissa University in Kenya or even the attacks within Mogadishu and elsewhere.

How would you explain this to them?

Al Shabaab is part of the greater family of international terrorism. Let’s not look at Kenya as a case that we should highlight because Al Shabaab has also attacked across the borders of other countries. You have heard them attack Kampala, their allies have attacked Paris and several parts of the world. This is an international problem, it is not about Kenya. Kenya happens to be the nearest neighbor and therefore day in, day out, you will find that Al Shabaab has attacked Kenya. It could be the same for other neighbors, it is only unfortunate that the open-mindedness and welcoming nature of Kenyans has been taken advantage of.

This is an international problem and this is why the partners are all trying to see how they can help and by doing so, they are helping the international community.

AMISOM together with SNA have displaced Al Shabaab from most strongholds. However most of the militants have been integrated within the community. How is AMISOM planning to tackle this aspect?

We are working closely with the Federal Government of Somalia and particularly the SNA to address this matter. Operations are already ongoing. As you are aware, all along we have operated with the SNA in a way of mentoring them to be able to take over these activities.

Today, I can tell you the SNA are much better off than when we came in, they are a coordinated Force, they have undergone a number of trainings. But this is not to say that there are no challenges, there are challenges here and there but I can tell you, we are looking at the SNA as an army that you can rely on. It is only a question of some little more experience, some little more equipment and other resources.

The training is still ongoing. I see a more organized group in the near future, we are talking about a good number that can sustain themselves in the near future.

Beyond the training, what other challenges have you identified with the SNA? They don’t have barracks. In the military, you must have barracks for soldiers for cohesion, for collective training, for working together. The challenge here is because of the country’s history, barracks are not in existence. So you will find troops moving from point A to B and command and control becomes a challenge. If we are talking of a national army, we would like to see an army which can operate in any part of this country and feel it is part of that side. As it is, these are the challenges that we have to deal with because we are talking about a regional command, and how it impacts on the military. Do we have military, say, from Mogadishu operating in IJA? These are some of the challenges we are

dealing with. Challenges of barracks, equipment and other requirements. You are aware that the AU supports them in non-lethal items but if we exit as planned, they should be enabled to stand on their own. Today if you tell them to handle an escort, they don’t have APCs, AMISOM move with APCs. Therefore, they need certain facilities, very necessary for them.

You have alluded to plans to liberate more territory from Al Shabaab. Is this an operation that AMISOM is able to execute with its current strength?

As I have indicated, the remaining task is about 20%. Don’t forget there are Al Shabaab in other areas also. When they were displaced from their strongholds, they targeted towns like Mogadishu, Kismayo, so there are still operations which are ongoing in these areas, including Barawe. So, our strategy is to use the forces that are on the ground, reorganize and perhaps change the strategy; rather than recovering land and sitting on land, we do what we call intelligence led operations where we go, get Al Shabaab and eliminate, rather than chasing them away. As I said, we need the support of our partners for this, particularly the intelligence gathering and also eliminating the Al Shabaab leadership. And this has worked; some partners have been successful in eliminating key Al Shabaab leaders. There are few that are still left and we will focus on zeroing down on those ones. There is a clear indication that not all Al Shabaab are willing to continue with this fight. We will capitalize on this situation to enforce our operations with hope of success. The TCCs have been very helpful, we don’t have adequate strength but with coordination, help could come in one way or another.

Liberated areas still face a myriad of challenges such as lack of access to basic essential services. Militarily however, to achieve complete pacification of these areas, what should AMISOM be doing?

The biggest challenge that we are facing today is securing the Main Supply Routes, which should be opened.

AMISOM can clear pockets of Al Shabaab strongholds in terms of security so that they don’t interfere but AMISOM may be limited in opening the roads. However, the roads in Somalia have not been repaired for over 20 years. The conditions of these roads are terrible. If you are moving from point A to B, say a distance of 60 kilometres, you do that in eight hours because of the conditions of the roads.

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government, partners, from everybody to be able to have free movement especially from the Main Supply Routes.

In terms of the security, we have our troops on the ground; they conduct patrols, raids, special operations depending on what intelligence they have. The challenge is that in the past, if an area that has been liberated is left unmanned, Al Shabaab come back. This hasn’t happened because we have been holding the ground, liberating the area and staying with elements of AMISOM and the SNA. This is quite a challenge because it consumes troops, therefore, we want to do operations differently.

Capacity building for the SNA is top priority for all key stakeholders including the Federal Government. If you were to scorecard the SNA, how would you rate them in terms of capacity? How many have you trained against the optimal required numbers that is expected to take over from AMISOM? AMISOM and AU in the larger plan identified initially the need to have a well-trained group from the SNA. Specifically, they targeted about 10,900 which are distributed across the sectors.

I am happy to say this figure has been achieved, they have been operating with us, there are professionals, they still need room to improve but the dilemma is that this figure is not the bigger representation of Somalia. It should be bigger. When we talk of 10,900 against a Force of about

support from AMISOM. This will be guided by the political process.

30,000 which the government says they need, it can only mean that we have much more work to do. But the group that we have trained have been inducted, they have been tested in engagements on their own and they have been remarkable. We are heading somewhere, though we still need to do more to make them fully able to stand on their own.

In terms of Vision 2016 and the forthcoming elections, are AMISOM and the SNA able to see this process through?

In my view, that is more of a political question. It is driven by the political movement. Are we succeeding on the political front? If the political arrangements are going to go as per plan, yes, we will be moving with the SNA. We are guided by the political process in the country. I want to say if we went for elections today, the apparatus is enough for the SNA to enforce the election with

Lastly, on a light note, what is the one thing you like about Somalia?

Let me say Somalia is a beautiful country, it’s geographically situated in a very strategic area, it is endowed with resources which are not common to every other country, Somalia has got a very long beautiful coastline and we would like to be coming here to sunbathe or swim. Somalia is endowed with a lot of resources including oil and minerals. This is a country with a lot of potential, if only there could be lasting peace, if only they would get out of this problem of war, you will be surprised. This is a country that can be a regional power and so Somalia for me, is another home for me because it is our neighbor.

Your parting shot?

This is a challenging mission. It is looked at as if it is a peace keeping mission, but it does not really behave like one. We operate under Chapter 7 which is enforcement, but really what is critical for AMISOM, with the success they have achieved, they really need support in terms of logistics, understanding from partners to be able to propel issues to the next stage. With the little that has been given, a lot has been achieved. If given more support, a lot more would be achieved, even in a much shorter time.

His Deputies Maj. Gen. Nakibus Lakara, Deputy Force Commander (Logistical Support): He was born in 1960 in Kotido district North Eastern Uganda. He is a seasoned commander, with experience in diplomatic missions. He attended professional military training within and outside Uganda. He has been to the National Defence College Karen in Kenya, the National Leadership Academy in Monduli Tanzania and Fort Leavenworth, USA. He has 35 years of distinguished service in the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) and held several command and staff appointments, including serving as the Army Chief of Staff.

Prior to his appointment in April this year, he was the Infantry Division Commander based in Moroto, Eastern Uganda.

Maj. Gen. Mohammed Esha Zeyinu, Deputy Force Commander (Operations & Planning): He was born in Axum, Northern Ethiopia in June 1969. He holds a degree in Military Science Leadership, as well as a second degree in Security Sector Management. He also has attained certificates in various military training courses that include Military Science Art, Counter Insurgency as well as Anti-Terrorism.

He has served the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) in various military capacities, in the infantry and the Special Forces. He has also served as a regiment commander, division commander, Special Forces Commander and western Army Commander.

He is fluent in Amharic and Tigrigna native languages as well as English. In his free time, the seasoned military man enjoys swimming.

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Federalism Taking Root: IJA Regional Assembly inaugurated

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he Interim Jubba Administration Regional Assembly was inaugurated on May 8 2015, in a major step towards the state formation process of the Federal Republic of Somalia. It is also key as the ultimate representative body of all communities residing within the three Jubba regions of Gedo, Middle Jubba and Lower Jubba regions.

The inauguration ceremony held in Kismayo was witnessed by the President of the Federal Government of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the United Nations Director for Political and Mediation Group Annie Demirjian, the AMISOM Force Commander Lt. Gen. Jonathan Rono as well as delegations from Ethiopia and Kenya.

The Somali President appealed for unity from all Somali people and called

for concerted effort towards stabilization of the country now recovering from years of conflict.

“What we have lost is a nation and to restore it is a huge burden for all of us to carry. As the Somali people, we must forget about the past and focus on the present and the future” said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The process of constituting the assembly began in January and was concluded last month, with the swearing in 75 Members of Parliament.

The Assembly elected Sheikh Abdi Mohamed as the Speaker, Adan Kalif Haji as the first Deputy Speaker and Abdi Baley Hussein as second Deputy Speaker.

Adado talks for the formation of Central State ongoing

T

he inaugural conference for the state formation of central regions took place in April, in Adado, Galgaduud region, where stakeholders discussed a road map for the formation of Central State.

At the conference was Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, representatives from the regions and international partners, among them the UN Special Envoy to Somalia, Nicholas Kay, IGAD Special Envoy to Somalia Mohamed Affey, Uganda’s Ambassador to Somalia Major General Nathan Mugisha and Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Olgan Bekar.

The conference was the first among others expected to take place before the inauguration of Central State. When formed, Central State will be the fourth federal member state in Somalia after Jubaland, Interim South West Administration (ISWA) and Puntland.

Somalia embarked on the implementation of a federal formula, following the endorsement of a provisional constitution, by Somalia’s National Constituent Assembly on August 1, 2012.

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Tackling Sexual Violence

T

he Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on 21 April 2015 formally released the key findings and recommendations contained in the report of an Independent Investigation Team established to investigate allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by personnel of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

The allegations against AMISOM were contained in a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), titled “The Power These Men Have Over Us – Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

by African Union Forces in Somalia” and released on 8 September 2014.

The Team of experienced investigators was drawn from Ghana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, which are all non-Troop/Police Contributing Countries (T/PCCs) to AMISOM. The Team conducted its investigations both inside and outside Somalia between November 2014 and February 2015.

The Team investigated the twenty-one (21) allegations contained in the HRW report. It found that two of these allegations are indeed proven cases of SEA perpetrated by

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AMISOM soldiers.

On the basis of its findings, the Team made a number of observations and recommendations to strengthen existing mechanisms that the AU Commission and the T/PCCs to AMISOM have put in place to address SEA. In line with its “zero tolerance policy” and its commitment to address SEA, the Commission engaged with the concerned countries, which have the primary responsibility for the requisite prosecutorial action to be urgently undertaken in order to ensure that the victims get justice and assistance.

The Commission said it will convene a meeting with the T/PCCs and Somalia, with a view to identifying the concrete steps to be taken to implement the recommendations contained in both the HRW and the Investigation Team report.

The Commission affirmed its commitment and that of the Member States to continue to respect the dignity of all Somali women and girls and to uphold the religious and cultural values of Somalia, as AMISOM continues to implement its mandate to restore peace and stability in the country.

ThePanel

T

he Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson (SRCC), in Somalia Ambassador Maman Sidikou and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG), in Somalia Nicholas Kay made a joint call for increased measures to protect Somalia’s women and girls and reiterated their commitment to support efforts to combat sexual and gender based violence in Somalia.

The two leaders made the call on 3rd March 2015 during a high level panel discussion on sexual violence in Somalia.

An international Non-Governmental Organization, Legal Action Worldwide in Mogadishu, organized the discussion.

Other panelists included Somalia’s Minister for Women and Human Rights Development, Hon. Minister Zahra Mohamed Ali Samantar, the European

Union Special Representative for Somalia, Michele Cervone d’Urso, the Director of the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre, Ms Fartun Aden and the Executive Director of Legal Action Worldwide, Ms. Antonia Mulvey.

SRCC Sidikou reinforced AMISOM’s commitment and determination in efforts to combat sexual exploitation and abuse.

“There should be no safe haven for perpetrators of such heinous crimes against some of Somalia’s most vulnerable women and girls. By working together, sharing our knowledge and our experience, mobilizing resources and committing our political will we are determined to end rape and other forms of sexual violence in conflict situations. We remain committed to

working with the Somali people, the Federal Government, and the United Nations to support all efforts to hold any perpetrators to account and to improve the response and support to victims and their access to Somalia’s justice system,” he said.

Panel members also highlighted the importance of providing better, more timely and comprehensive assistance to victims and their families.

“Preventing and responding to sexual violence is vital. There should be no impunity for these crimes. The United Nations is committed to working with the Somali people and authorities to increase measures to protect the rights of Somalia’s women and girls,” said SRSG Nicholas Kay. AMISOM MAGAZINE

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Flicker of Hope for Somalia’s Disease Burden

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ny mention of Somalia conjures up images of war. Yet hidden from international glare is a huge disease burden that keeps the Federal Government anxious for solutions. Following decades of war, the national health infrastructure disintegrated to a level where basic health care systems ground to a halt.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), lower respiratory infections is still the leading cause of death in Somalia, followed by diarrhoeal diseases, measles, malnutrition, tuberculosis, meningitis and maternal conditions.

Statistics about Somalia’s health status are scanty. WHO 2013 figures estimate under-five mortality rate in Somalia, at 146 deaths per every 1,000 births and maternal mortality rate at 850 deaths, for every 100,000 live births.

This means that Somalia has fallen short of meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), whose deadline is June 2015, by a big margin.

A report by UNDP describes Somalia’s situation as “seriously off track”, with only one out of eight targets likely to be met.

The report concludes that, “There is insufficient data to plot progress of 20

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Somalia’s MDGs, but the country is predicted to be seriously off track in meeting them. With the current political instability it is unlikely that Somalia will reverse this pattern in the near future.”

Grim as it may be, the report is an outcome of a capacity building workshop for MDGs, held in Kampala, Uganda in 2010.

Somalia’s Director of Policy Planning and Coordination in the Ministry of Health Dr. Abdi Hamid Ibrahim concurs with this report. He says, “The health report of the country is very bad. I think it is the second worst in the world but this is because of a number of the numerous

and endless conflicts, social unrest and famine that the country has faced which have led to the total collapse of infrastructure.”

The situation is compounded by limited resources, but there is a ray of hope. Dr. Ibrahim says plans are underway by the government to reverse the downward trend.

“Together with other partners such as WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA we are trying to revamp the country’s health system,” says Dr. Ibrahim. He adds that to date, the government has so far managed to draft a national health policy, promising that more key health documents are in the

Together with other partners such as WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA, we are trying to revamp the country’s health system offing, even as he concedes that the task before the government is huge.

On the surface, respiratory infections and childhood diseases such as malnutrition, seem like the only hurdle Somalia needs to jump. However, statistics from the world health body, WHO, also shows a significant rise in suicide, homicide and conflict related deaths in Somalia since 2012, indicative of increased mental disorder. With the war almost gone, a new challenge stares Somalia in the face: mental illness.

This illness pervades the country and victims are a common sight. Yet only six nurses in the entire country have been trained in mental health care, according to another report by the World Health Organisation on the assessment of mental health systems in South and Central Somalia.

The Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems (AIMS) paints another grim picture of mental health, in a country still on the path to stabilisation.

The genesis of mental illness in Somalia is hinged on years of violence, civil strife and chaos that characterized the country in the past. Somalia is rated to have one of the highest mental illness rates, with one out of three people afflicted, according to WHO. Figures could even be much higher, given the widely held belief in superstition and the unavailability of data.

Because of its debilitating effects, mental illness remains a taboo in Somali society, there’s a spiral of silence about it, with mentally sick people either isolated, chained or kept in extreme situations. For those lucky to find help, essential psychotropic medicines are hard to come by, and many depend on people of good will, to keep the supply of medicines flowing.

For a country emerging out of war, Somalia’s mental health problem is a conspiracy of factors -- a rundown health care system, lack of a mental health care policy and legislation, no budgetary allocation for mental illness and a laissez faire attitude towards the problem by other stakeholders. This calls for quick intervention.

With no qualified psychiatrists and a dismal number of nurses, some equipped with as much as three months training in mental health, providing care to a population of about 10 million is a daunting task.

Abdirahman Ali Awale, fondly known as Dr. Habeb is a mental health practitioner. He is a man who has dedicated his life to helping Somalia’s mentally ill and runs a chain of mental private clinics across the country.

In these clinics -- five in Mogadishu and others up country -- he treats tens of mentally ill patients. Most mental illness

patients in the country suffer from PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Others suffer from depression or schizophrenia.

And it is not that nothing is being done. Aware of the problem, AMISOM early this year identified the Community Health Care Centre in Baidoa as a needy institution, and donated an assortment of items, including medicines.

Despite a myriad of NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in the country, none of them is involved with mental illness, preferring to deal with communicable diseases. “Mental illness is one of the non-communicable diseases and it is killing more patients than before due to an increase in a number of social issues,” states Dr. Ibrahim.

He adds, “It is a big challenge but we have already developed the mental health policy and we are beginning to train some nurses in mental health care but the problem is that no organizations are willing to support us in this area.”

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Selfless S

Service

he exudes a calm demeanor and speaks with a gentle but authoritative voice. She is well known around hospitals in the capital Mogadishu and in the outskirts, where she routinely volunteers. Dr. Asha Mohamed holds a doctorate in Gynecology and Obstetrics and her services have been a godsend to hundreds of women who have for years sought professional gynecology services from one of their own.

Dr. Mohamed, whose photograph we cannot publish to protect her identity, was born and raised in Mogadishu.

When the war intensified in Somalia in 1991, she was a first year student of medicine at a local university in the city.

Like many others, she and her family fled the fighting and were lucky to find refuge abroad, where she continued with her studies, eventually completing her doctorate in 2008.

In 2009, two years after the African Union troops came to help restore peace in Somalia, she made the difficult decision to return home to serve her people, even as intense fighting continued. She was to take this leap of faith alone, her family resolute on staying in the diaspora. She says of her decision then, “I knew the needs of my country, the lack of female doctors to 22

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handle female problems and I knew the culture and the religion, as a result of which Somali women prefer female doctors.�

If the decision to return to Mogadishu was hard, then the situation on the ground was even harder. She had undertaken a precarious journey back

to Somalia and found herself caught up in the middle of fierce fighting between Al Shabaab militants and troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

“Almost the whole of Mogadishu town was under the control of terrorists and movement was very difficult. The patients also had a lot of difficulty moving and they were very many. Not every day but every couple of hours. There were explosions, gunshots. I handled it by deciding that I would stay until I reach my goals, although several times I was tempted to go away. Four or five times I almost went back, because the situation was so bad,” she recalls.

The then Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed appointed her Director of one of the major and oldest hospitals in the country. Like many other institutions, the hospital did not survive the wrath of terrorists. It was attacked and vandalized, but has since been refurbished, with an Out-Patient department that is open twice a week.

At least 200 patients visit the outpatient unit every day.

Despite being a female in a largely patriarchal society, Dr. Mohamed does not think her gender is in any way a constraint on her work. She recalls that as far back as 1974, Somalia had a female pilot adding that Somali women have always been high achievers. In her opinion, being female and in leadership in Somalia is not peculiar.

The challenges that confront her daily are related to the effects of the two-decade war on the Somali people.

“There is a lot of trauma. There is a lot of counseling needed. The trauma mentally, morally and physically caused a lot of damage,” she says.

She also notes that the war resulted in the breakdown of many institutions, which are just getting reestablished. “You cannot even blame the government. They have many priorities to deal with. They have to worry about the security of the country first, then the finances. But while this happens, key sectors such as health and education suffer”, she adds.

The conditions are worse for women who have to travel up to 100 kilometers to get to a hospital. She recalls a visit to the middle Shabelle region in November 2014 and the dire health situation in the villages. She is saddened by the lack of basic health services in some of the remote regions in the country, where she says patients have no choice but travel to Mogadishu to access medical treatment.

Dr. Mohamed says the biggest health challenge facing Somalia’s women is non-communicable diseases. Cancer of the uterus and breast cancer, which require early detection are killing many women due to lack of health facilities and equipment for early detection, according to the gynaecologist.

“I remember we undertook an OPD in Baidoa and took samples from about 100 women for the Pap smear test. But we had to send these samples to Kampala for the tests and then bring back results. This is not always possible and exposes the women to preventable and treatable diseases,” she observes.

But she concedes that things are slowly changing, as health services become more and more accessible. And as conditions improve, she is utilizing whatever resources she can lay her hands on to make meaningful change. She is also mobilizing Somalis in the diaspora to give back to Somalia.

Her hope in the diaspora stems from a diaspora meeting in Kigali, Rwanda in January 2015. The meeting was organized by the Office of the Diaspora Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia, to bring together Somalis living outside the country, not only to encourage them to return home, but also to give them the true picture of the current status of their home country.

Dr. Mohamed was one of the delegates at this conference where she was given a platform to speak about her pet subject; the ‘State of Health Care in Somalia’. Today Somali health professionals have mobilized themselves into an association known as ‘Associated Social Health Activists’. The group hopes to set up at least 20 delivery centers in different parts of the country by the end of 2015. “We don’t have money but we have a lot of good will. We have lots of volunteers, moral support and physical support. We want to put all our efforts to help these women,” a confident looking Dr. Mohamed said.

She believes Somalia’s fate lies in the hands of the Somali people, whom she says must be the champions of whatever change they want to see in their country.

“Wake up and think about this country.

This country doesn’t have other people, they are just helping us. It is for us to decide one day to stop this madness of fighting”, she pleads.

And her message to the world -

“I can now see some light. We may be far, but we are on the right track.

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Mogadishu on Call I n May 2015, AMISOM Police launched an ambitious community policing initiative targeting 16 districts in the capital Mogadishu.

The initiative has proven to be highly effective in controlling crime in the city’s suburbs due to the introduction of a toll free number, 888, which residents use to report crime or suspicious persons to the police.

The tip offs from the public received through the toll free number, are treated with confidence and the information immediately verified and acted upon.

Residents of beneficiary districts say the initiative has been effective in ridding their neighborhoods of criminal elements.

The project already rolled out in at least 10 districts in Mogadishu is spearheaded by the Somali Police Force and the Districts Commissioners at the local level and supported by AMISOM Police.

From Shangani district in the East of Mogadishu, and one of the oldest and most peaceful neighbourhood, to crime prone Heliwaa district, residents are expressing optimism that this latest community policing initiative will reduce the high level of crime.

Hitherto an Al Shabaab haven, Heliwaa district continues to register high numbers of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) attacks and gun related crimes.

It was the sixth district in Mogadishu to embrace the joint community policing initiative.

“Heliwaa was strategically selected for this programme simply because this place records the most violent crimes, more than any other station and that is why it was the best place to select for this programme,” said AMISOM’s Randolph Somiah, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) from Ghana.

But, one district that has been on top of its game when it comes to neighbourhood watch is Waaberi.

Waaberi District Commissioner Ahmed Mumin Mohamed says long before the current initiative, the district was already using the ‘ten houses’ model in neighbourhood watch. This involves the implementation of the ‘ten houses’ monitoring system, in which one resident is put in charge of 10 houses and is required to make a report every morning, about the inhabitants in the 10 houses and their activities. This model has made Waaberi one of the safest suburbs in Mogadishu.

In Wadajir district, residents were eager to embrace the new initiative. “We love the peace and tranquility this initiative led

by AMISOM has brought. The residents have been waiting for a long time for this and if someone has a problem, they just call the police and not the intelligence or military,” said Amina Abdulle Mohamed, a resident of Wadajir.

Other districts that have benefitted from the initiative are Hodan, Warta Nabada, Hamarweyne, Darkeneley and Bondere.

Encouraged by the success of this initiative, AMISOM Police hopes to introduce it to other regions across Somalia soon.

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“With the help of our AMISOM brothers assisting our police force we will win together. As a women’s leader in Shangani district I can confirm to you that women and youth are ready to assist the Somali Police Force. We appreciate the assistance coming from AMISOM aimed at improving our security situation.”

— Saynab Yusuf Wehliye, the chairperson of the Shangani Women Organization.

“The only way to get peace is for the public and police to work together. The Police alone cannot improve security, they need to work with the public who are required to report anything suspicious they see to the police and that is the only way they can work together. That is what they spoke about and agreed upon.”

— Hamarweyne District Commissioner Abdikadir Mohamed

“The People of Bondere are among the most civilized in Mogadishu and have proven they are law abiding. They have made our work easy by taking control of their own safety and that of their neighborhood and they work very closely with the district security community, which is comprised of people of all walks of life and status in the district. They have pledged to implement the community policing initiative fully, because they have seen the importance of the program.”

— Bondere District Commissioner Kassim Abdulahi Hassan

“Our working relationship with AMISOM Police is good. They have put in a lot of time and effort to help us. We have worked hard at improving relations with the population, the administration and Police. We are now working to improve civic education in order to improve our work and security through partnership with the public, administration AMISOM police and Somali police. The situation is improving.”

— Hodan District Police Chief Abdirahman Osman Koronto

“We have been waiting for this initiative that has started here today which requires us to call a toll free number to report anything bad we see. I am very happy today because for the first time we have been offered with a toll free number to report anything that affects us and we have been waiting for too long and finally it is here with us.”

— Isha Hassan Abdi, Chairperson of Waaberi Women District Association

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At the Helm of

AMISOM

Police

Name: Anand Pillay Rank: Brigadier General Date enlisted: 1982, he joined the police force in South Africa as a private and rose through the ranks to a Brigadier General Career Progression: He once served as the Police Commissioner in the African Union Mission in South Sudan (AMISS) and a Cluster Commander in Milnerton in the Western Cape Province in the Republic of South Africa Deployment to AMISOM: Deployed on 19th May, 2014 as AMISOM Police Commissioner.

Achievements: n Oversaw the deployment of AMISOM Police officers in all the sectors thus improving police visibility and Policing activities in the military defined areas. n Implementation of CONOPS n Enhanced Police working relations between UN-AU and created synergies with Somali Police Force n Carried out an assessment visit to all the sectors n Presided over construction of the Airport Police station. n Spearheaded the ‘Back to Basics’ mentoring strategy, working with Somali Police Force in areas such as criminal investigations, traffic management and control, community policing, crime scene management and crime prevention and control across Somalia.

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Joining Forces Vetting and re-integration

Joint Patrols

A total of 926 Somali Police Force personnel were screened and vetted in February 2015. The personnel included ex-police officers who were targeted for re-enlistment.

The ex-Police officers were critical to the force because of their expertise. They were also expected to help nurture the young police officers who had very little or no experience in policing in a complex environment such as Somalia.

After the vetting, they were posted to various police stations and divisions to augment the strength of the serving officers and mentor the younger generation of officers in basic policing skills alongside AMISOM mentors.

The screening and vetting exercise saw a tremendous increase in the strength and capacity of the Somali Police Force.

This enabled them to improve policing capability and ensure safety and security of the Somali population.

The vetting also contributed to the professionalization of the institution as it helped weed out personnel with criminal records. AMISOM police reform advisers and trainers, who worked hand in hand with the Somali Police Force, at the General Kaahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu, presided over the exercise.

Through joint operations with Somali Police Force, AMISOM Police has succeeded in enhancing law and order, public security and safety in most parts of the capital Mogadishu and its surroundings.

The day and night patrols carried out are aimed at building confidence in the general public about their safety.

This has brought about normalcy in the way things are done. Business is thriving again as Somalis take advantage of the patrols to leave their homes and eke out a living.

The Formed Police Units (FPUs) conduct the patrols within all the districts of Mogadishu including the Parliament, State house, Lido beach, the central business district of Kilometre 4, better known as KM4, X-control, Alkamin junction Afgoye and Fagah junction.

The joint cordon and search operations significantly enhanced safety on the streets, and many a times, suspicious characters have been apprehended.

At a recent joint media briefing with the Somali Police Commissioner Mohamed Sheikh Hassan, AMISOM

Police Commissioner Anand Pillay said the two entities had a comprehensive operational plan that will see round-the clock security around Mogadishu and other towns, to monitor security situation and ensure public safety.

Pillay said, “Our operations will be coordinated from the joint operations centre at the Somali Police Headquarters.”

He spoke shortly after the Somali Minister of Internal Security Abdirizak Omar Mohamed commissioned a modern communication operations system at the Police Headquarters. The equipment, installed by Motorola, is a donation from the Japanese Government with support from AMISOM Police and UNSOM. Minister Abdirizak stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to capacity building of the Police force.

“We are trying to improve and enhance the capacity of the current police force as well as recruit new police officers that have completed formal education. We are also trying to increase the number of female police officers,” said the minister.

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Listen To The Radio:

A Personal Experience

by Hassan Ghedi Santur

O

ne of my most vivid childhood memories growing up in Mogadishu is gathering around our old transistor radio on Friday mornings listening to Maaweelada Caruurta, a children’s show on Radio Mogadishu, performed by professional actors. The fables were often fantastical retelling of famous Somali folklore about cunning foxes, talking hyenas and scary witches.

I was always captivated by these tales. It tapped into a deep and universal need to hear stories. There was a unique intimacy in the act: one human voice telling a story to another human being in a way that transcended time and space. It was simple.

It was intimate. It was beautiful. But in retrospect, I think I was more drawn to the “gather around the campfire” tradition that listening to the radio evoked.

In the evenings while we had dinner, we would listen to the nightly news with reports from far and away places where dramatic events that were beyond my comprehension were taking place. Stories such as British naval attacks in the Falkland Islands; the shootings of Palestinian stone throwers during the first Intifada; or the bravery of rioters in Soweto and other townships in Apartheid South Africa intrigued me. I believe my desire for travel, my curiosity about the world and my love of radio journalism was cultivated by those nightly newscasts on Radio Mogadishu. Radio became a gateway to a vast, chaotic, endlessly fascinating world that I yearned to know more about.

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Even though we had a record player complete with the latest albums from America at home, not to mention a TV set with a VCR player, it was our old transistor radio that consistently held my interest throughout my childhood. It was no surprise then that many years later I ended up becoming a radio journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. And even though my listening habits evolved over the decades— nowadays I download podcasts of my favorite shows from BBC, CBC and NPR and listen to them at my leisure—radio remains my favorite mode of mass communication.

And, as I have found out, I am not the only Somali still in love with radio. Perhaps due to the fact that we have a strong oral culture and have a staggeringly high illiteracy rate of about 55 percent, radio remains the most popular medium through which Somalis get their news, information and entertainment.

According to estimates, there are over 50 private radio stations currently operating in the country. Since the fall of Siad Barre’s regime and the subsequent civil war that devastated Somalia, there has been a proliferation of privately owned radio stations. Long gone are the days when there was only one national radio station whose reports were routinely censored by the regime. What has replaced government monopoly on news and information is a crowded, fragmented media landscape.

The downside to the opening of the media space has been lax journalistic ethics and editorial standards in an environment where media regulation has not been priority.

But that is not to say that there is complete lack of professionalism in the radio industry. There are now an increasing number of well managed radio stations whose journalistic ethics and editorial practices meet international broadcasting standards.

Despite existing challenges, radio broadcasting in Somalia is growing in popularity day by day. Other than offering entertainment, it is the most influential mode of communication to the masses for the Federal Government and its partners.

Radio still has a special place in the hearts of many Somalis, young and old alike. For me, Radio Mogadishu is that station. And I am not alone. Some of Somalia’s most renowned journalists, singers and comedians owe their careers to Radio Mogadishu, which has been on air for over half a century. Even during the dark days of Al Shabaab’s reign of terror in the capital when the terrorist group controlled much of the city, the brave journalists and technicians at Radio Mogadishu continued broadcasting from a walled compound guarded by African Union peacekeepers.

Through all the great social and technological upheavals of the twentieth century, the humble radio not only survived but also somehow thrived. For a while, the conventional wisdom was that television would bring about the demise of the radio.

And the advent of the internet foretold dark days for radio lovers. Surprisingly, however, the reach, influence and quality of radio broadcasting around the world continue to reach new heights. Ironically, the internet which was supposed to kill radio has transformed how we tell and share stories on the radio. Thanks to the Internet, we can now hear live broadcasts from the other side of the world with just a click of a button.

The role radio has and continues to play in the lives of millions of people in the most stressed and remote places of the world, is significant. In countries beset by wars, revolutions and dictatorships, radio continues to be their lifeline. For these people, radio is not merely a medium through which they get a few hours of news and information, it is a source of comfort and solace. It gives them the reassurance that they are not alone.

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Mogadishu’s

Mogadishu fire fighters undertake a joint drill with AU troops at Aden Abdule International Airport in Mogadishu

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he capital city Mogadishu enjoys the services of a team of fire fighters that have earned a reputation of responding fast to disasters and executing their rescue with the highest level of precision.

They receive distress calls whenever anything goes wrong in the city, be it a building that had collapsed, a fire at an oil depot or a terrorist attack. The first to get to the scene other than the law enforcers is always the fire fighters from the Mogadishu Fire and Emergency Service Department, fondly referred to by city residents as Mogadishu’s heroes.

Three years ago the city of Mogadishu lacked basic firefighting 30

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equipment and personnel. Often, during emergencies, the city’s approximately three million people had no help. With the support of partners, Mogadishu now has its own effective Fire Fighting department.

The department, consisting of a team of 60 firefighters was set up with the help of the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA), who have also facilitated their training to enhance their skills in fire fighting, using the AMISOM Trust Fund.

A total of 18 of them concluded an advanced command and rescue course in Nairobi, Kenya in April 2015, to enable them to respond much

more effectively to fire emergencies in Somalia.

The training was conducted by the Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Fire Rescue Services and focused on command and control of emergencies.

This essentially meant that the fire fighters were imparted with skills to enable them to manage more complex emergency operations.

From theory, they went into practicals and rehearsed what they had learnt through make-believe drills at one of Nairobi’s airports.

“I am so happy to be among the 18 Mogadishu fire fighters and rescue team of Somalia. We received an

important lesson called incident command. We learnt how to respond to an incident and also how to respond to fire, be it to put it out or save victims and having an assembly point where all victims are taken,” said one of the trainees, Abdiweli Mumin Abdi.

Located at the old fire station headquarters in north Mogadishu’s Bondere district, the Mogadishu Fire and Rescue Department has fire fighters and nurses. The team operates three fire engines, two ambulances as well as two small water sucking pumps used to pump out water in case of flooding. But with the unprecedented number of emergencies, the equipment is not sufficient. Sometimes they run out of foam used to put out fire and they have to improvise to save lives.

As their team leader Abdisalan Ahmed Abdullahi explains, theirs is a selfless service to residents of Mogadishu.

“We are required to put out burning fuel in a tank, burning property or a house whose owners have run away and whenever we are busy putting out the fires other tanks burst up but we never stop.

The other challenge is explosives.

We sometimes go to save people in a scene where bombs went off and find several vehicles on fire, bodies lying everywhere and the worst part is you are never sure whether the vehicle parked next to you is loaded with explosives too”, he says.

A driver of one of the fire engines Feisal Anbar Mahdi vividly recalls one of the emergencies that the team responded to at a hotel that had been under siege by Al Shabaab militants.

“Blasts were heard and people trapped called for help. We were ordered to go and rescue them.

When we reached the scene we found many people trapped inside the building with fighting raging on. We used our long fire ladders to rescue them through the windows and take them to a safe location.

There were many people. We saved over 30 people,” says Feisal.

The Mogadishu firefighters are a dedicated team offering a challeging service with minimal equipment and resources. Their commitment to work is unquestionable even under the delicate conditions that they operate. They are truly Mogadishu’s heroes.

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Banking

A

Solutions

second international bank opened its doors in Somalia in May, signalling a steady growth in the financial and banking sector in the country. Premier Bank made an entry into Somalia just six months after International Bank of Somalia was launched.

At Premier Bank’s grand opening, attended by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Governor of Somalia’s Central Bank Bashir Isse, the bank’s senior officials pledged to redefine banking standards in the country through transformative banking solutions.

“Premier Bank’s intention is to impact on the overall growth that we continue to witness in our beloved country. On the business side, we have also put in place certain services that we do feel will support the growth of the business community. We are happy to announce today that Premier Bank is a registered swift partner, with a swift code which will enable our people and our customers to send money worldwide”, said Managing Director Mr. Mahat Ahmed.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud credited this development to the conducive environment offered by the Somali Central Bank, which he noted had allowed financial institutions to thrive.

“I commend the Somali Central Bank in their efforts to encourage private financial institutions like this one to open and flourish in the country. As the Central Bank prepares the legal procedures needed for our international partners to operate, there is still a shortage of financial institutions. But I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. There are a lot of great 32

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things we’ve accomplished”, said President Mohamud.

Premier Bank Limited, which transacts its business using major international currencies, is a full-fledged Islamic bank providing several financial services. It has partnered with MasterCard and SWIFT to deliver global online financial services including Automated Teller Machines.

The bank has two branches in the capital Mogadishu and has plans to expand its presence in the country’s main cities.

The look and feel of the bank in terms of ambience and available services matches other international banks across the globe. Somalia’s Minister of Finance Mohamed Ibrahim attests to this.

“This is the most advanced bank ever in Somalia. When I entered I felt like I was outside of the country, because I could see all necessary standard banking procedures in place. I commend the owners and staff for their great work and service to customers”, he said.

The launch of the bank is yet another demonstration of the peace and stability being witnessed in Somalia. Unverified figures put the banked in Somalia at only three percent, out of a population of 10 million people. Millions of Somalis still depend largely on the informal money transfer firms known as Hawalas. However, with almost worldwide restrictions on the unregulated money transfers due to security concerns, the Federal Government is encouraging Somalis to adapt to conventional banking which guarantees security for their transactions.

Observing The Fast

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he Muslim holy month of Ramadhan, when faithful fast from dawn to dusk and deny themselves worldly pleasures, kicked off on June 18th in many places, Somalia included.

Ramadhan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and in Somalia, activity slows down a little bit, as the country focuses more on prayer. The sweltering heat too becomes a bit too much to bear when Muslim faithful have to abstain from food and water for an entire day.

This year, the holy month is being marked under relative peace. On the streets of the capital Mogadishu and other towns, there is robust business, especially of foodstuff, as Somalis spend a little more to buy food stocks that will see them through the month.

A spot check on the streets of the city, at the start of the fasting period, showed traders doing brisk business.

“We hope to have a peaceful Ramadhan celebration because we have been peaceful for 11 months and are now ready to fast and we pray to God to make it easy for us,” Mogadishu resident Leylo says, while shopping for groceries at Hamarweyne market, in a suburb within the capital.

Fruits and vegetables vendor Diday Maalim Salad beams with gratitude. She says her business had picked up.

“People are shopping a lot this week buying fruits and vegetables for the holy month of Ramadhan – like onions for preparing samosas, bananas for breaking the fast, mangoes to prepare juice, grape fruit and coconut which is used to prepare food as well as samosa”, she said.

But even as Somalis credit the peace they are currently enjoying to the intervention of the African Union peacekeepers, security forces are not taking matters lightly. Traditionally, in Somalia, the holy month has always come with security challenges, as it is the month when Al Shabaab militants renew their onslaught against civilians and other prime targets.

The Director General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowment Mohamed Kheyre, says the government put in place measures to enable Muslim faithful in Somalia to observe the holy month in peace.

“We are also required to ensure those fasting go about their religious obligation in a free and peaceful environment by working closely with security agencies to make sure people observe Ramadhan in peace”, noted Kheyre.

The Federal Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia put in placer security measures in all regions.

On 16th June, the Somali Police Force and AMISOM Police unveiled a joint operational plan to ensure security is maintained during the holy month.

Somali Police Commissioner Mohamed Sheikh Hassan and AMISOM Police Commissioner Anand Pillay said, the joint operation had been necessitated by recurring incidents during Ramadhan.

“Firstly, in terms of the Ramadhan season, we have seen there is an increase of incidents that take place. For the previous two Ramadhan seasons, there was an increase of IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks, suicide bombers as well as a breach of community safety, because large groups of people gather and they are easy targets for IEDs and attacks on them”, Pillay said.

Somali Police Commissioner Mohamed Sheikh Hassan concurred. “We have received terrorist threats, as you are aware.

We are in a vulnerable situation but we have to perform the best as we can with the support of AMISOM police and AMISOM military and other Somali security institutions”, he said.

According to Pillay, the joint operation, launched with a massive display of police and paramilitary officers on the streets, is in line with AMISOM Police’s mandate of providing operational support to Somali Police through mentorship, in order to build their capacity to perform according to international policing standards.

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Eye on AFCON 2017 T

he 30th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Africa’s biggest soccer tournament, ended in February with Ivory Coast winning the competition, after beating Ghana 9-8, in a penalty shootout.

DR Congo settled for the third position while host, Equatorial Guinea, was fourth overall.

But although it’s just been months since the curtains were drawn on the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, the scramble for the 2017 qualifiers is already on and yours truly, Somalia which did not enter the qualification matches for the 2015 tournament, is now waiting in the wings, hoping to make it through the qualifiers

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FIFA Fitness Instructor giving instructions to Somali referees at Banadir Stadium in Mogadishu, Somalia on 28 April 2015 during a FIFA fitness training session

next year, due to the prevailing peace.

Gabon will host the 2017 African Cup of Nations, where at least 50 teams are expected to participate, with Somalia looking up its national team the ‘Ocean Stars’, to enter the tournament.

Enthusiasm is shared amongst many across Somalia with players putting in a lot of effort, to perfect their skills, as the government with support of partners embarks on rehabilitating the country’s stadia, most of which became derelict during war. The 2007 tournament is on the lips of all soccer lovers especially the youth who followed the 2015 competition keenly on television.

The sport was hitherto outlawed under Al Shaabab’s reign until the African Union troops and the Somali National Army secured vast regions in the country, flush-

The game has transformed the lives of young people in a country where majority of them are targeted

by Al Shabaab and forced into terrorist activities.

ing out extremists and re-igniting among other things Somalis’ appetite for football.

Other than regaining its flavor across the Horn of Africa country, football is keeping thousands of youths away from crime.

The game has transformed the lives of young people in a country where the majority of them are targeted by Al Shabaab and forced into terrorist activities.

Some of these youths are members and fanatical supporters of the top ten soccer clubs in the country namely; ‘Horseed’, ‘Heegan’, ‘Elman’, ‘Benadir’, ‘LLP Jeengo’, ‘Safana’, ‘Dekadaha’, ‘Gadidka’, ‘Sahafi’ and ‘Somali Fruits’ football clubs.

Many of them are hopeful that in 2016, Somalia will achieve many firsts, hold its first democratic elections and qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.

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