AMISOM Magazine Issue 14

July 2014 - AMISOM REVIEW

The process of liberating Somalia from al Shabaab insurgents has

been gaining ground since the United Nations Security Council passed Res-olution 2124 which paved the way for an increase in AMISOM troop num-bers with an additional 4,395 soldiers, bringing AMISOM’s strength to over 22,000 military personnel.

With the new troop surge, we revived our military operations to assist the Somali National Army to recover and bring back under Somali government control more territories hitherto controlled by al Shabaab in-surgents. Since the launch of the new operations in March this year, code named Operation Eagle, the Somali National Army and AMISOM troops have wrested 10 major towns from the insurgents. The towns account for almost the entire Bakool and Gedo regions as well as significant parts of Hiraan region.

We have significantly degraded the insurgents’ military capability and crippled their economic lifelines. Their support base is fast waning and their fighters, mostly youth, are defecting in large numbers, opting instead to contribute to a peaceful and stable Somalia. The tide is, therefore, slowly but surely turning against the insurgents.

We shall continue to support the Somali National Army in their efforts to free more towns in the coming months. As towns are rescued from the extremists’ grip and the people start settling back in their homes, a new set of challenges comes into play, revolving especially around issues of stabilisation. Our ultimate goal is to hand over the security of the country to Somali Defence Forces while we continue supporting them in stabilis-

ing the country. In this current maga-zine issue, we bring to the readers the steps AMISOM is taking to support stabilisation in newly recovered areas. Military operations undertaken are aimed at opening the way for the people to settle back in their homes and start rebuilding their lives. Stabil-isation activities are intended to assist the people to do this. We hope you will find the articles informative.

I take this opportunity to welcome Dr. Maman S. Sidikou who has been appointed as the new Special Rep-resentative of the AU Commission Chairperson and Head of AMISOM. Dr. Sidikou, who hails from Niger, is highly experienced in the spheres of political, diplomatic, communication and humanitarian affairs. I am hon-oured to be handing over the Mission to such distinguished African states-man and I leave the Mission with full confidence that he will lead AMISOM to even greater achievements.

I also welcome the newly appointed Deputy Special Representative of the Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson, Hon. Lydia Wanyoto Mu-tende, who has joined the Mission. A citizen of Uganda, Hon. Mutende has a rich experience as a member of the East African Legislative assembly and also in negotiation, governance issues and information management. Hon. Wanyoto has already taken up her re-sponsibilities in the Mission area which she has been pursuing with vigour.

I am happy to also welcome the new AMISOM Police Commissioner,

Mr. Anand Pillay, a South African citizen, who assumed his duties in May this year. As Somalia continues to be liberated from the stranglehold of extremists, the role of the Somali Police Force as the custodians of law and order becomes even more critical. AMISOM Police has the responsibil-ity to build the capacity of the Somali Police Force so that they can fully and ably assume their responsibility across the entire country.

During my one and a half years as head of AMISOM, the Mission has gained strength, both in terms of scope and achievements, but most especially in terms of consolidating relations with the people and gov-ernment of Somalia in the pursuit of peace and stability. It has been a great honour to serve in this capacity and I shall treasure the experience gained as well as the opportunity accorded to me by the AU Commission Chairper-son to serve the African people.

It is gratifying to note that all our efforts are being complemented by a strong political will by the Federal Government of Somalia to maximise these gains and create an environment conducive to the holding of general elections in 2016 and to the eventual phased exit of AMISOM troops from Somalia. This political and military progress is a demonstration of what can be achieved in stabilising the country if we all work together. We are fully committed to working with the people of Somalia to achieve a secure and stable Somalia.

Since the launch of the new operations in March this year, code named Operation Eagle, the Somali National Army and AMISOM troops have wrested 10 major towns from the insurgents.

Editorial by the AU Special Representative for Somalia, Amb. Mahamat Saleh Annadif

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MessageSRCCfrom

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AMISOM REVIEW - July 2014 3

July 2014Contents

SRCC’s message

News Roundup

Caretaker administrators deployed to Bulla Burde and Jalalaqsi

Force Commander’s Interview

Qoryooyle: Life after al Shabaab

Al-Shabaab vandalize Hudur town before fleeing AMISOM offensive

Lido Beach life guards

AMISOM escorts humanitarian convoy

Press freedom in Somalia: Through the eyes of a blind journalist

Mogadishu’s entrepreneurial spirit

AMISOM’s Baidoa Mr. Fix It

AMISOM troops help Baidoa farmers plough their fields

AMISOM hands over water wells to Mogadishu administrations

Zabina Muhondo: Breaking the odds as armored vehicle driver on the frontline

Kismayo’s stunning beach view frontline position

AMISOM Police trains Somali Police Force

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Managing Editor: Eloi YaoForce Spokesperson, Col. Ali Aden Houmed

Design & Layout: Zvezdan Djukanovic Photography:

David Mutua and Tobin Jones

Email: [email protected] [email protected]

P.O. Box 20182 – 00200, Nairobi, KenyaPhone: +254 202 713 755 /56 /58

Fax: +254 202 713 766

Publisher: Information Department of theAfrican Union Mission Somalia

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issuu.com/amisom

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www.amisom-au.orgvimeo.com/amisomnews

Find us online


10 June 2014 - As part of ongoing efforts to boost the skills of the Somali National Army, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) contin-ues to train SNA on key security aspects including vehicle check point as-similation. This is part of wider efforts by AMISOM to boost the capacity of the various security institutions of the Federal Government of Somalia to facilitate AMISOM’s eventual exit. Speaking at one training session, the AMISOM Chief Instructor, Maj. Amza Martin said that AMISOM has trained over 3,000 Somali National Army personnel through various military courses. “We are here to support the Somali Government and the country’s security forces. The training will enable the army to take over the security of the country in the eventual plan for AMISOM’s drawdown. The Somali National Army has been strained by two decades of war and is currently undergoing extensive capacity building.”

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RoundupNews

5 June 2014 - The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), through its Humanitarian Liaison Unit, handed over four water wells to the Banadir Admin-istration in Mogadishu. The four wells, located in Hamarweyne, Dharkenly, Wadajir and Hamaarjajab, will benefit over 260,000 households. The construc-tion and rehabilitation of the wells was funded by the Swedish Government, supported by AMISOM and implemented by Hadaf Humanitarian Relief Organiza-tion (HADAF), a local Non-Governmental Organiza-tion. The project aims to provide affordable, clean and safe water to the residents of Mogadishu districts in the aftermath of two decades of civil war that have left the people of the city without basic services and prone to chronic diseases, a situation AMISOM is helping to rectify. The acting Mogadishu Mayor, Ismail Maalim Abdi, thanked AMISOM and the Swedish Government for the continued support to the Somali people and its government saying that the water wells would alleviate the suffering of the Somali people.

3 June 2014 - For the first time in more than 20 years, the U.S.A. has ap-pointed an ambassador to Somalia. U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman said the decision to name an ambassador to Somalia reflects what she called a sign of the deepening relations between Washington and Mogadishu and “the faith that better times are ahead.” She urged Somalis to eschew generations-old clan rivalries and focus on building a united national government. “None of us can make that choice for Soma-lis,” Sherman told the U.S. Institute for Peace in Washington. The Pres-ident of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed the appointment of a U.S. ambassador. “I am delighted to confirm our mutual goals of security, sustainable development and good governance for Somalia. The appointment of a US Ambassador demonstrates the strength of trust and cooperation between Somalia and the United States. We are at the start of our journey towards peace and prosperity in Somalia. I acknowledge the long road we have before us, but that road is made easier knowing that we are joined by friends with the same goal ahead,” he said.

AMISOM continues to train Somali National Army

AMISOM hands over four water wells to Banadir administration, Mogadishu

US appoints first ambassador to Somalia in 20 years

1 March 2014 - As part of AMISOM’s mandate to enhance the capacity of the So-mali Police Force, AMISOM handed over to the Somali Police Force ten Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles procured with assistance from the Italian Government. The dona-tion followed a three month specialized Public Order Management training course conducted in Djibouti last year, facilitated

by AMISOM and the Italian government. During the handover ceremony, the Somali Police Commissioner thanked AMISOM and the Italian govern-ment for their cooperation and continuous support and reaffirmed the success of their initiative. He said the vehicles will facilitate the Somali Police Force in their work to establish the rule of law and create a safe

and secure environment for the people of Somalia. AMISOM’s Police Component has the primary role of transforming the Somali Police Force into a credible and effective institution adhering to strict inter-national standards.

Somali Police Force receives vehicles from AMISOM

6 June 2014 - The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), in partnership with UNSOM Human Rights and UNSOM Police, carried out a joint five day training of trainers (ToT) of Somali Police Force (SPF) officers on human rights principles pertaining to the Police Force. The training focused on poli-cy engagement and transformation of formal and cultural systems to ensure that they are responsive to and respect the human rights of all. A total of 27 Somali Police Officers participated in the training, 13 of them female officers. The Director of the Human Rights Department, Sarha Mohamed Ali thanked the organizers and graduates for their commitment to addressing human rights issues and reiterated that the responsibility of upholding human rights is dependent on the Police Force as the institution charged with ensuring observance of rule of law and order.

Human rights training to strengthen the capacity of the Somali Police force


15 May 2014 - Twenty nine Somali National Army officers graduated from a Platoon Commander training course conducted by AMISOM at the Jazira Training camp in Mog-adishu. The three month training covered training in tactics, fields craft, counter insurgency, profes-sional handling of arms, public health, improvised explosive de-vices (IED) awareness and interna-tional humanitarian law. Speaking on behalf of the AMISOM Force Commander, the Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Masele Maseret said AMISOM would continue to en-hance the capabilities of the Somali

National Security Forces through further training so that they can take over the security of the country. “The Somali armed forces are an integral part of Somalia’s recovery and the training received today will fill a key gap in the Somali National Army after years of civil war and armed conflict,” he said. General Abdulqadir Maalim Nur of the Somali National Army advised the graduates that this was their chance to show what they had learnt in the three months. “It is your role to defend the sovereignty and territori-al integrity of the Somali Republic,” he said.

5 May 2014 - Somalia has this year joined the rest of the world to mark World Press Freedom Day with a pledge from government to im-prove the security of journalists in the country. The 2014 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters With-out Boarders ranks Somalia in the 176th position of the 180 countries reviewed in terms of the safety of journalists. In his message to journalists in Somalia, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission

(SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif expressed AMISOM’s recognition of the Somali media’s contribution to na-tional development and the attain-ment of democratic governance, in which freedom of expression is fundamental. “AMISOM stands with members of the Somali media fraternity who are sacrificing their freedom of personal well-being as they perform the crucial role of informing the population on issues of national importance.”

AMISOM trains new Platoon Commanders

1 June 2014 - The Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Maj. Gen. Samuel Omar Williams made a visit to Somalia to acquaint himself with the command chain of AMISOM, to which his country contributes a contingent. The CDS visited his troops on the ground and discussed the areas of concern and how they can be resolved with the AMISOM lead-ership to further enhance the relationship between his country and AMISOM. He also held discussions with the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC), Am-bassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa, the Deputy Force Commander in charge of Operations, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Muheesi, and the Sector Kis-mayo Commander, Brig. Gen.Tamba Rodnic Allieu. AMISOM’s Sierra Leone contingent is deployed in Kismayo Sector.

28 May 2014 - AMISOM’s Political Unit carried out a ten-day Executive Leadership and Management Course for 80 senior civil servants. The course, which took place at General Kaahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu, brought together a cross section of direc-tor generals and heads of department of the Federal Government of Somalia. The training was officially opened by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed and attended by Somalia’s Minister of Labour, Luqman Sheikh Ismail, Police Commissioner Brig. Gen. Abdihakin Dahir and senior representatives of AMISOM. Somalia’s civil service has borne the brunt of more than two decades of statelessness that decimated the service’s ranks and technical capacity. The training was aimed at building the foundation of the country’s nascent civil service as the govern-ment restores public service delivery for the first time since 1991, in line with key objectives of the Somalia Development and Reconstruction Facility (SDRF) and the Somali Compact’s Peace and State-building Goals (PSGs). This particular training is especially a mile-stone in Somalia’s recovery journey as it is the first of its kind to be conducted within the country. Previous sessions have taken place since 2010 in Uganda, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Rwanda. As part of its mandate, AMISOM supports capacity building of Somalia’s federal institutions in key areas including security, governance and human rights.

Sierra Leone’s Chief of Defence Staff visits Somalia

AMISOM concludes intensive training of Somali civil service leaders

World Press Freedom Day

July 2014 - AMISOM REVIEW6

May 2014 - The residents of Kab-ka Internally Displaced People’s camp, located in the Banadir re-gion, recently had reason to smile when a school for their children was rehabilitated. Marked with shanty structures and a buzz of activity, but lacking key social services crucial to their wellbe-ing, Kabka IDP camp is home to thousands of people who fled their homes to escape al Shabaab terror. For the children, the camp is the only home they know. Saabir Primary School therefore, built at the camp by AMISOM and its partners, is not just any ordinary school, but a symbol of opportuni-ty and hope for a better future for

the children. The school now runs seven classes divided into morn-ing and afternoon sessions. As a reiteration of AMISOM’s Civilian Component’s goal of empowering the various Somali communities amongst which they work, the project was executed by a local contractor, Brothers of Relief and Development Organization (BRADO). AMISOM Senior Civil Affairs Officer, Dr. Opiyo Odo-da said the aim is to ensure that the community benefits from all possible angles of the project. So far, four schools have been built in Mogadishu. The mission has also provided scholastic materials and furniture for some of the schools.

April 2014 - AMISOM’s Formed Police Unit continues to support the Somali Police with day and night security operations in dis-tricts around Mogadishu to flush out rogue elements. The Somali Police Force, in partnership with AMISOM Police, is charged with the responsibility of enhancing the general security of the capital and maintaining law and order. Speak-ing at a press briefing, the AMISOM Force Spokesperson, Col. Ali Aden Houmed said AMISOM will con-tinue supporting the Somali security forces with security operations to eliminate criminal elements “who sometimes hide amongst the popu-lation.” AMISOM’s Formed Police Units play a crucial role in ensuring improved security in the liberated areas through joint patrols with the Somali Police Force, assisting in Public Order Management and providing VIP escorts as well as protection to AU Individual Police Officers to co-locate with the SPF in as many police stations as possible.

8 March 2014 - As the world cele-brated International Women’s Day, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Soma-lia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif highlighted the role Somali women are playing in bringing about positive change in Somalia. “It is gratifying to note the significant strides that Somali women have been making towards the growth and development of their country. The participation of women in the country’s civic affairs is helping to build momentum towards restoration of peace in Somalia,” he said. Am-bassador Annadif also applauded the unwavering stand of women in the country’s security matters, thanking the female peacekeepers serving with AMISOM for their contribution to the restoration of peace in Somalia. AMISOM continues to work side by side with the government of Soma-lia and Somali women groups in rebuilding key institutions and in the reestablishment of public services.

22 April 2014 - President Pierre Nkurunziza of Bu-rundi made a visit to Somalia to check on his forces serving under the AU peacekeeping mission as well as pay a courtesy call on President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. During the visit, President Nkurunziza expressed optimism about Somalia’s future and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to work in partnership with the Somali government to promote peace and security. “I am delighted to have visited Somalia at a crucial time for the Federal Government in their fight against Al Shabaab and terrorism. The Burundi government has now appointed its first Am-bassador to Somalia, and we have our troops serving with AMISOM since 2007. The relationship between our two countries is excellent,” he said. “My message to Somalia is that of hope and peace. Burundi was once ravaged by civil war. However, because of the political goodwill of all Burundians, we now live in peace. There is a time for everything: a time for war and a time for peace and development. Now is a good time for Somalis to think about peace and stabili-ty.” President Nkurunziza also addressed AMISOM troops and thanked them for their contribution to the security and stability of Somalia and for the sacrifices they have made “to help our Somali brothers.”

March 2014 - In renewed joint operations between the Somali National Army (SNA) and AMISOM, ten strategic towns across Somalia have been reclaimed from the control of the Al Shabaab extremist group. Early this year, SNA and AMISOM forces regained control of Qoryole, Hudur, Buulo Burto, Qunrulow, Wajid and Rabdhure among the towns that saw al Shabaab driven out in the recently concluded Operation Eagle. The AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, said the capture of the towns was a major victory for the country and a boost for the process of restoring peace in Somalia. The capture of the towns will facilitate the extension of the Somali government’s control over its territory and enable the people of Somalia to live their lives free from Al Shabaab’s tyranny. The joint operations were carried out with due diligence and strict observance of international human rights standards.

Hope in an IDP camp as AMISOM rehabilitates a school

AMISOM continues night patrols in the city of Mogadishu

AMISOM celebrates International Women’s Day

Burundi president visits Somalia

Ten towns liberated through joint operations by the Somali National Army and AMISOM

AMISOM REVIEW - July 2014

The month of June saw a landmark development in the process of sta-

bilisation in areas recently recovered from al Shabaab by the Somali national forces with support from their partners, AMISOM. A key component of the stabi-lisation process, following almost imme-diately after the area has been recovered from the extremists, is to start setting up local administrations that will ensure that the affairs of the area are run and man-aged by the people of the area.

As a first step towards this, Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) officials have been deployed as Caretaker admin-istrators for Bulla Burde and Jalalaqsi, two newly recovered districts in Hiiraan region. The Caretaker administrators were officially deployed by the Ministry of Interior of the Federal Government of Somalia, led by the Director General, Mr. Ali Abtidoon Halane at a function in Bul-la Burde.

A group of us traveled to Bulla Burde to attend the function. Bulla Burde, often referred to as Buulaay by its inhabitants, lies 219 kilometers away from Mogadi-shu and 125 kilometers to Beledweyne, Hiiraan region headquarters. During the rainy season, the aerial view of Bulla Bur-de is a refreshing green vegetation not very common of the area.

The air strip where we landed, currently used only for helicopters, is close to the town center, unlike Beledweyne airport which is over 5 kilometers away from the

town. The road from the airstrip is rough and dusty despite the recent rainfalls in the area. When it rains, the water is im-mediately absorbed by the water-starved soils which go for months without get-ting a single drop of rain. As we passed through the middle of the town, we saw shopkeepers sitting in front of their shops, customers sitting on benches in front of cafeterias, sipping tea, others busy with their daily business, all curiously looking at the passing vehicles. There were people holding Somalia flags to welcome the new caretaker administration, a sign that the town people knew about the historic step

taking place that day.Gathered at the AMISOM Command

Centre to witness the installation of the Caretaker administrators were delegates from the interim administrations, com-munity elders, religious leaders, women and youth group, civil society, AMISOM and SNA commanders as well as media practitioners.

The Director General Ministry of Inte-rior, Ali Abtidoon Halane told the gath-ering that the government had for three months been planning how to set up Care-taker administrations in areas newly back

under the government’s control. “Our plan is that as soon as the Caretaker ad-ministrators are named, we provide them with training. The objective is to train the administrators who, together with the commanders of prisons, security and the police, will lead the administration.”

“The process of deploying the caretak-er administration has been very smooth,” he continued, “and we have now deployed them. We thank the population of Bulla Burde. We have deployed Jalalaqsi DC in Bulla Burde so that he liberates his district with support from AMISOM, the SNA and the people of Bulla Burde.”

Prof. Abdi Mohamed Shuaib of AMISOM Political Affairs Unit com-mended the Federal Government of So-malia for taking timely steps to deploy caretaker administrations in newly recov-ered areas to take over governance from the Somali National Army and AMISOM as part of stabilisation efforts. “Caretaker administrations have been deployed else-where and are implementing their tasks as elaborated in the stabilisation strategy,” he commented.

“AMISOM has continued to fulfill its mandate to support the Federal Govern-ment of Somalia in their efforts to erad-icate the extremists’ activities and create an environment conducive for good gov-ernance, human rights and rule of law,” explained Prof. Shuaib. “With support from AMISOM, Caretaker administra-tions are now deploying. Today’s deploy-ment in Bulla Burde and Jalalaqsi districts is a further sign of progress.”

Speaking at the event, the newly de-ployed care taker district commissioner of Bulla Burde Mr. Ahmed Abdi Wehli-ye expressed his deep appreciation to the SNA and AMISOM, civil society, moth-ers, children and the former interim ad-ministrators who he said had welcomed the new administrators well. Talking about the AMISOM forces currently present in the area, he said “they are the forces of Hiil Walaal (brother’s support). They are AMISOM by name but they are Somali people. We have a good working relationship with AMISOM.” g

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deployed to BULLA BURDEJALALAQSIand

administratorsCARETAKER

AMISOM has continued to fulfill its mandate to support the Federal Government of Somalia in their efforts to eradicate the extremists’ activities

Elders in the Hiran region at a workshop held by the AMISOM and the Somali Federal Government. AMISOM Photo /Ilyas A. Abukar


The AMISOM Force Command-er, Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa has called upon his AMISOM

forces, working even more close-ly with their Somali National Army counterparts, to prepare for a last-push offensive to emancipate the few Somali towns still under the brutal rule of Al-Shabaab terrorists.

Since taking over command of AMISOM forces in Somalia in No-vember 2013, the highly experienced Burundian Lt. Gen. Ntugurirwa has led his forces which, working hand in hand with Somali forces, have taken from the al Shabaab extremists major strategic towns such as Hudur, Wa-jid, Bula Burte and Qoryoleey, there-by denying the extremists income to fund their crimes against civilians.

The Force Commander pointed out that key military operations will soon commence in all AMISOM Sectors, facilitated by the adoption of UN Se-curity Council Resolution 2124 that boosted troop numbers with an ad-ditional 4,400 soldiers. The Resolu-tion also provided a logistical support package for 10,000 Somali National Army personnel including medical evacuation and treatment.

“With AMISOM supporting the Somali National Army, I believe we have the capacity to liberate the last outposts manned by Al Shabaab. We are very keen to finish the job and

we have no doubt in our minds that we will be able to do that,” the Force Commander affirmed in an interview.

At 46 year years of age, Lt. Gen. Ntigurirwa has an impressive CV. He has held senior military and govern-ment positions in his native country Burundi, which has recovered from a 10 year old vicious circle of violence in the 1990s. It is perhaps from this background that Lt. Gen. Silas brings much needed knowledge and first-

hand experience of managing vola-tile and sensitive situations including demobilization, disarmament and re-integration (DDR), all of which are critically needed in Somalia.

Under his tutelage, AMISOM has already implemented a new concept of operations which sought to strengthen the force through a strategic realign-ment of AMISOM Sectors in Soma-lia to ease command and structure as well as give AMISOM a tactical edge

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AMISOM

of Al-Shabaab

TO FREE SOMALIA

prepared for last-push

Interview with AMISOM Force Commander



over Al-Shabaab terrorists.In the latest concept of opera-

tions, the capital Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle regions fall under Sector One which is jointly manned by Uganda and Burundian forces. Sector Two brings together Lower Juba and Middle Juba regions under Kenya Defence Forces. Sector Kis-mayu is overseen by a multination-al force led by Sierra Leone and in-cluding Burundi and Kenya. Sector

Three covers Bay, Bakool and Gedo regions and falls under Ethiopian peacekeepers. Sector Four is based in Hiiraan and Galgadud regions and is commanded by Djiboutian peace-keepers assisted by Ethiopians. And last but not least, Sector Five oper-ates in Middle Shabelle region and falls under Burundi.

The General praised the Somali population for closely collaborat-ing with their government and with

AMISOM in the fight against Al-Shabaab.

“We want the Somali people to know that they are in charge of their destiny and our success belongs to them. This Mission is the pride of Africa and the ultimate success in Somalia will be when its people live in peace and are able to determine their future without intimidation from terror groups,” said Lt. Gen Ntigurirwa. g

9AMISOM REVIEW - July 2014

AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Silas Ntigurirwa and Somalia’s Chief of Defence Forces, Maj. Gen. Dahir Aden Elmi. AMISOM Photo /David Mutua


The first phase of AMISOM’s Operation Eagle saw eight stra-tegic towns in Southern Soma-

lia liberated from Al-Shabab insur-gents. One of the towns, Qoryooyle, is located in the rural area of the Lower Shabelle region, once known as ‘So-malia’s food basket,’ where the great Shebelle River flows. With a local pop-ulation consisting mainly of farmers whose activities revolve around raising livestock and cultivating produce, the area plays an important role in the ag-ricultural development of the country.

Slightly more than a month after liberation, the town is beginning to rebuild itself with the help of Soma-li National Forces and AMISOM’s Ugandan contingent. Along the streets of the town and the pathways leading to the agricultural settle-ments, there is a renewed social life previously suppressed when Al-

Shabab ruled the district. Young men smoke freely in the streets and cig-arettes are openly sold on roadside tables. Abdi, a young man selling cigarettes on the roadside, speaks of this recent freedom, “During the time when Al-Shabab ruled the town, cig-arettes were not allowed and anyone seen buying, selling or smoking ciga-rettes would be punished with lashes”.

Town elders clothed in tradition-al white shawls and colorful red and green sarongs sit outside humble tea shops, sipping tea and playing dom-inos, their aging white beards dyed with red henna, on their faces a mix-ture of relief and uneasiness.

“I have lived in this town all my life. The people here are humble, spiritual people who harm no one. At the time of Al-Shabab we were even denied the right to practice our religion the way we wanted. Suufi gatherings were

banned under Al-Shabab and we were stifled as a community. I am happy that AMSIOM has restored freedom here again, but we are still fearful of the insurgents as they have terrorised us for many years and the memory of them still haunts us” said Shaikh Abukar, a traditional elder.

Women walk freely in the town, sell-ing samosas and small snacks to pass-ersby or running small kiosks with everything from milk to toiletries. In a place where one would not imagine women to have much freedom, local women are seen walking with their tools to cultivate their farms, others walk to the town with their baskets heading to the local markets to sell vegetables. The farmers are content to be back on their farms without fear of being harassed for extortionate taxes. However, they remain anxious about the late Gu rains, which normally last

Life after Al-ShabaabQORYOOYLE:

10 July 2014 - AMISOM REVIEW

Two men sit outside their shop in Qoryoole. AMISOM Photo /Tobin Jones


from April to June. “We harvest tomatoes, lemons and

onions, and we sell our products at the market. We don’t have many prob-lems, thanks to God. My family and I fled to the villages for fear of being caught up in the conflict, but now we are returning to our homes. The only thing we are worried about is the late rains,” said one of the farmers.

One of the many challenges facing the local community is the insecurity related to using the roads that connect the towns in the Lower Shebelle area through Marka up to Banadir. The lack of access to the connecting roads has caused a considerable rise in the price of staple foods such as rice, pasta and oil. A local resident explained that the price of these items has doubled, “We used to be able to buy a litre of sesame oil for $1 but now it costs $2.50,” said Abdullahi. He said he was unable to

cultivate his farm because Al-Shabab had blocked the road.

AMISOM peacekeepers have a vis-ible presence in the town and, twice a day, they conduct their routine patrol of the town, exchanging the Somali greeting ma ficantahay (how are you) and ficaan… ficaan (good….good) with the townspeople. Captain Olweny, an AMISOM Officer, stresses the impor-tance of communicating with the local community. “Part of the military oper-ation is to build rapport with the local community. Naturally people are un-easy after seven years of insurgent rule and we understand that the fear will not go away overnight,” he says.

When AMISOM convoys pass through the town, the children run af-ter the convoys and wave. They seem excited by the new comers who have managed to restore a certain level of stability in their town.

Residents say their lives are consid-erably better under AMISOM and they are able to go about their business free-ly without intimidation or harassment. However, they still face many chal-lenges, most especially the lack of in-frastructure such as schools, hospitals and local administration where they can access services. School teachers in the area fled the town because they were being targeted by the insurgents, so the children find themselves with-out access to basic education. Some of them work on the farms with their parents. Clearly, although the town of Qoryoole has been liberated from Al-Shabab, it still has a long way to go to become a fully functioning town able to cater for the needs of its people. Hopefully, with the stabilization mea-sures planned by the Federal Govern-ment, these newly liberated towns will receive the support needed. g


A Somali man passes African Union troops during a foot patrol in Qoryoole. AMISOM Photo /Tobin Jones

AMISOM peacekeepers conduct a foot patrol in Qoryoole. AMISOM Photo /Tobin Jones

AMISOM peacekeepers conduct a patrol in Qoryoole. AMISOM Photo/Tobin Jones

Young boys look on as African Union troops conduct a foot patrol in Qoryoole. AMISOM Photo/Tobin Jones


The al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab terrorists recent-ly showed their disregard for life and open animos-ity towards Somalis by deliberately vandalizing

the only water well in the town of Hudur, the main hospi-tal and schools after hearing that AMISOM and Somali national forces were closing in on the town.

In a move that shocked many, the militants went on a rampage, destroying the main water pump and even go-ing to the extent of covering the well with stones in order to deny water to returning Somalis who they had ren-dered homeless in the first place when they took the town a year ago.

Al Shabaab also ransacked shops and stores, tak-ing away food before storming the main Hudur hospi-tal where they cleaned the shelves of all medical drugs. Schools were not spared either in this trail of destruction that left the town bleeding. Hudur is the regional capital of Bakool and was an al-Shabaab stronghold for the last one year until they fled from the town as AMISOM and Somali forces approached on March 10.

As a result of the al-Shabaab vandalism, food prices in Hudur have shot up as scarcity continues to bite, prompt-ing AMISOM and Somalia to appeal for urgent human-itarian assistance for the population in Hudur and other liberated areas in Somalia badly affected by al-Shabaab’s distruction of their life support facilities.

Hudur is slowly recovering from this unprecedented al-Shabaab onslaught deliberately intended to increase the suffering of the war-weary population. The relative stability the town is now enjoying has seen residents, with the help of the government, pick themselves up and start rebuilding their shattered lives with the resumption of water services and other facilities to meet their basic needs.

AMISOM’s Sector Three Commander, Brig. Gen. Gebremedhin Fikadu recently visited Hudur and Bur-dubo towns in Bakool and Gedo region to console the affected population and assess their needs. During his visits, he met with local AMISOM and Somalia National army commanders to thank them for their bravery. He also had discussions with elders and local administration officials who he assured of AMISOM’s continuous sup-port and help.

“I came to thank you for your support to AMISOM and the Somalia government without which we would not have liberated Hudur from Al-Shabaab. AMISOM is aware of the difficulties you are going through following the Al-Shabaab vandalism,” he said. “We have appealed to the world to come forward and help you during this difficult period,” Brig. Gen. Gebremedhin told Hudur elders.

Halima Hassan, a shopkeeper in Hudur said business is slowly picking up even though the purchasing power of locals is fast diminishing due to lack of income.

“Our supply of food and other basic commodities is not replenished because vehicles do not come. A small sack of sugar now costs $75 USD, half a sack of rice costs $40 USD. Business is slow, there are no clients and there is no food in the town. That is the problem we are facing. Al-Shabaab have just proved to us how much they want us to perish after they cut off our water supply and looted our food. They wanted us dead but God is great because our government and AMISOM came to our rescue to save us from the hunger,” she said. g

vandalize Hudur town Al-Shabaab

before fleeing

offensiveAMISOM

Girls seen at the market of Hudur town, capital of Bakool Region.AMISOM Photo/Mohamud Hassan

Ariel view of Hudur town, capital of Bakool Region, Somalia. AMISOM Photo/Mohamud Hassan


Mogadishu’s Lido beach has quickly become a place of fun and festivities. On Fridays, families gather at the beach to swim and

do barbeques while livening the face of the beach with the brightest colors.

A few years back, with al-Shabaab’s hold on the city still firm, this would have been unimaginable. With the liberation of Mogadishu in August 2011 by SNA and AU forces, the city’s citizens are finally able to enjoy their beautiful white sand beaches and clear blue water coasts.

“I am now not afraid, compared to three years ago. When al Shabaab was controlling this area, none of us could come here. We have to thank AMISOM, our friends of the African Union, who gave us the opportunity to defeat al Shabaab.” said Mohamed Yusuf, Mogadishu Mayor’s spokesman.

The beach has become one of the ‘IT’ places to hang out in Mogadishu. Whether you’re at the beach front restaurants, taking a swim or going for a simple stroll down the beachfront, you get a feel-ing a that you are safe.

To provide safety, the local council has trained a team of lifeguards to help reduce the number of cases of drowning, a significant problem along the coastline in the past. Many people go swimming in the beach waters without knowing how to swim and end up drowning.

Abdullahi Hussein Hassan, a former teacher and now the current commissioner of the area, recalls how one of his students drowned at Lido beach, a tragedy that made him determined to push for a lifeguard project at the beach.

The life guard project was started by the May-or’s office in Mogadishu together with the District Commissioner of Abdiaziz. The project comprises a team of 15 volunteers, who are trained and given boats by the Commissioner’s office.

“People often drown because the waves are heavy and pull you into sea, and yet many don’t know how to swim, so we go and rescue them,” says Omar Haji Mohamud, a fisherman turned lifeguard. “Ev-ery weekend we save many lives, without pay. We volunteer our time and experience. The District Commissioner provides us with the fuel we need.”

The lifeguards have already had a huge impact. Many regular swimmers as well as first timers at the beach are now happier and feel safer to enjoy the seashore. “I come here every Friday and I am happy with the improvement being made because it allows me to swim safely,” says Osman, a Mogadishu resi-dent.

The Abdiaziz District Commissioner has urged business people at the beachfront, including restau-rant owners, to help with the purchase of more res-cue boats to better assist the lifeguards especially during high tide. An emergency health center has also been set up at the beach to deal with injuries incurred by swimmers.

The lifeguards and emergency center are en-couraging steps the local administration is taking to provide a safer and secure environment for resi-dents who come to enjoy the beach. g

LIFEGUARDS

L do beach

A lifeguard on watch on Mogadishu’s Lido beach in Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo /Tobin Jones

The Lido beach lifeguards patrol the waters near Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo /Tobin Jones

Mogadishu residents enjoying the waters of Lido beach. AMISOM Photo /Tobin Jones


A few months ago, the popula-tion of Hudur and Wajid start-ed returning to their towns

which used to be under al-Shabaab extremists’ control for many years, now liberated by AMISOM’s Ethio-pian forces. The extremists’ brutality had displaced many of the people to the border with Ethiopia. Now back home, they faced famine as for many years they had not been able to cul-tivate their farms. Additionally, the extremists had destroyed most of the public supplies structures as they re-treated from AMISOM’s impending arrival. In a further gesture of ill will towards the population, they blocked the main roads to the towns soon af-ter AMISOM and SNA took over the towns, subjecting the people to severe shortages of food, commodities and other provisions.

The Federal Government of Soma-lia and other partners have intervened by bringing in humanitarian aid to support the people in Hudur and Wa-jid. However, some problems were encountered due to the rainy season.

The aged trucks carrying supplies got technical problems and the con-voys were stuck in Baidoa town for a lengthy period. An Ethiopian cargo plane had to ferry rounds of supplies to alleviate the situation temporarily until the road convoys were able to get back on the road.

On June 10, the road convoy, carry-ing one of the largest consignments of humanitarian supplies, began moving to Wajid from Baidoa. Comprising a total of 59 trucks, the convoy was tak-ing humanitarian aid, administrative items for the local administration at Hudur as well as military and com-mercial vehicles escorting the convoy. Both the air supplies and the road convoy were received with great relief by people at Hudur and Wajid, a true demonstration of the alliance between AMISOM and the Somali people.

During the entire process, there was close collaboration between AMISOM forces, the zonal admin-istration, Somali security forces, the FGS humanitarian aid committee and the communities in the area of oper-

ation. AMISOM’s humanitarian assis-

tance to the people in the area will continue until the situation stabilizes and the people are able to get sup-plies and to start reaping the fruits of their agricultural activities. Speaking to the convoy escort team, the Com-mander of AMISOM’s Sector Three B, Gen. Gebremedhin Fikadu under-lined the critical importance of the convoy to the people in need, urging the escort team to at all times be cau-tious, physically and psychologically alert, always bearing in mind the risks on the way to their destination.

One of the escort teams went to Kurtum town, 60 kms from Baidoa, from where another escort team from Wajid escorted the convoys to their fi-nal destination. There was no major attack - one explosion injured a sol-dier whereas another locally made an-ti-mine explosive was safely removed by AMISOM combat engineers.

With all the challenges from the bad roads and the old convoy trucks’ fre-quent technical problems, the escort

escorts humanitarian convoyAMISOM



forces managed to pick up the convoy at their agreed location, from where the convoy was safely escorted to Wa-

jid and onward to Hudur. The convoy reached Hudur safely after six days on the road, the contents to be distributed

to the residents of Hudur. This was the first humanitarian aid to reach the re-gion since the ouster of al Shabaab. g


Civilians passing by an AMISOM peacekeeper in Bay region. AMISOM Photo/Sabir Olad

A truck loaded with humanitarian supplies escorted by AMISOM. AMISOM Photo/ Sabir Olad


Growing up in a poor family in the outskirts of Mogadi-shu town, 30 year old Hassan

Abdifatah dreamt of becoming a jour-nalist. At two and a half years old, an ill-fated kick from a donkey as he fol-lowed his father to the farm left him partially blind. Young Hassan went through the next three years with one eye until another unfortunate incident claimed the rest of his eye sight. He was left blind after a friend acciden-tally hit his eye during a sports game.

Born in Marka town in Somalia, he and his family had moved to Moga-dishu a year later, where only after a few months, his father passed away following a period battling illness. “The family was devastated,” he re-calls. “I remember the years that fol-lowed were especially hard for my mother who was left to support my six siblings and myself, a special

needs child, having to do several odd jobs to make ends meet.”

This is the story of Hassan Abdifa-tah Ahmed, a journalist who, despite his blindness, manages to shed light on issues affecting his community.

Hassan has been an active player in the media of Somalia for the last eleven years, despite the challenge his visual impairment poses, and amid Somalia’s fragile security situation. The 2014 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Boarders ranks the recovering country in the 176th position of 180 countries reviewed in terms of safety for journalists. Has-san’s resilience and passion for his job, together with his calm, humble character have seen him make a name for himself and an audience of loyal followers.

Hassan currently works as a report-er, news anchor and talk show host at

Radio Goobjoog in Mogadishu, where he has worked for three years now. His working day starts at 8.00 o’clock in the morning and ends at 5.00 o’clock, after which he can be found drinking tea with his friends at the street-side kiosks in Mogadishu. He does not have many hobbies, he says, as there is only so much his visual limitations permit him do. He says he would like to play football and other sports, but he has learnt to accept that he cannot do everything he wants. This howev-er does not stop him from enjoying a happy fulfilled life.

Usually, after his evening ren-dez-vous, Hassan calls a taxi or gets one of his friends to drive him home. He has a wife and three little children who he says are the reason he untir-ingly works regardless of all the chal-lenges his situation presents, as he wants them to have a good life.

Press Freedom in Somalia through the eyes

of a resident blind journalist

16

Hasan Abdi Fata reviews an interview via his mobile phone. AMISOM Photo/David Mutua


Life has not been easy for this am-bitious journalist. He talks of a time during his school days when he came close to giving up all hope of ever having a normal life.

“I studied up to secondary level. I had wanted to continue and acquire a university education, but there was no institution in the country cater-ing to the needs of people like me. I used to sit in the classroom just to listen to what the teacher was saying. There were times when the teacher would ask the class to turn to a par-ticular page and read,” he smiles. “It was tough. Obviously, that is not something I could do, so I would just sit. When it was time for exams, the teacher told me I couldn’t do the exam because I was blind, so he would just write for me a few remarks on my exam paper.”

“I complained to the head teacher that I had a right to do the exam just as every other student in the class and that I had studied for an entire term like everyone else. The head teacher did nothing to help me. When the re-sults came back, I had been marked as

having missed the exam.” Hassan was lucky to be transferred

to another school after that, which he says is the only reason he did not drop out. At the new school, the teacher sat with him in a separate room and gave him an oral exam. He continued to go forward with increasing optimism, un-til he turned his dream into real life.

“The reason I wanted to become a journalist is because I had a disadvan-tage compared to other people. I was a vulnerable individual and the media is a powerful institution. I have met people and gone to places I would never have had the chance to go to had I been just anybody.”

Asked about his experience as a journalist, Hassan has many stories to tell. Once, for instance, “I woke up in the morning on a very ordinary day and went to cover a conference at one of the hotels in the city where many high profile government officials were in attendance. While I stood at the gate waiting to be checked in, people appeared from nowhere and started shooting randomly.

Everybody started screaming and

fleeing the scene. I couldn’t run be-cause I couldn’t see. I had nowhere to go. I fell to the ground and started to crawl, not knowing if I was going away from the danger, or towards it. I was extremely relieved when I came across an AMISOM protective barrier built to guard the area from attack. I took cover behind it, but even then, I didn’t know whether the firing was in front or be-hind me. All I heard were bullets and my heart pounding in my throat.”

According to Hassan, there is still a lot the media has to strive for in Somalia. He wishes professional in-stitutions could be set up to train and mentor local journalists. He identifies inadequate pay and the still fragile se-curity situation as some of the most pressing challenges. He says the con-stant threat from the Al Shabaab and other disgruntled militias still poses a major threat to the lives of people like him in this career path. Nonetheless, he is positive that things will get bet-ter with the continued improvements in the security of the country brought about by government troops with AMISOM’s support. g

Hasan Abdi Fata interviewing MP, Hussein Arab Isse. AMISOM Photo/David Mutua


Finding a link between Soma-lia and entrepreneurship day at first seems difficult. However,

for the people of Somalia, the spirit of entrepreneurship is fast becoming an everyday reality, especially in the capital Mogadishu. Mogadishu went back under Somali government con-trol in August 2011 with assistance from the African Union Mission in So-mali (AMISOM). Since then, the city has seen a large number of businesses opening up.

As the world was celebrating Inter-national Entrepreneurial Day on the 16th of April 2014, Mogadishu, for

many years the ultimate example of ruin and chaos, had reason to feel part of the celebrations. Today, the city is once again becoming a hive of busi-ness activities as its inhabitants start rebuilding their lives following the long nightmare of al Shabaab. A key factor in the rebirth of the city is the continuing return of Somalis from So-mali Diaspora communities across the globe. When you walk through Mog-adishu today, at a glance you’ll see brick layers, barbershops, restaurants, florists and many other commercial activities you normally find in any Af-rican city.

“The difference between Bristol and Mogadishu is huge, both from a social and economic perspective. Currently, breaking into the Mogadishu market is far more challenging due to the effects of prolonged war. However Bristol also had some challenges. The extremely long work hours made it difficult for me to spend time with my family and friends, whereas Somalia is home, and I feel like the struggles and sacrifices faced are far more worthwhile,” says Abdulqadir Abdul, a barber shop own-er not long ago living in Bristol.

Even though Somalia has a long way to go before achieving full peace, there

EntrepreneurialSpiritMOGADISHU’S


A tailor in Hamar Weyne market in Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo /Stuart Price


are still many opportunities ready to be taken ad-vantage of.

“I am urging the diaspora to come back as Soma-lia is currently booming with opportunities. Facto-ries and the industrial sector are being offered land, the hospitality business is on the rise. It’s cheaper and more lucrative than ever. There are benefits that can be gained before restrictions are put in place,” says the former Foreign minister of Somalia, H.E Fawzia Yusuf H. Adam. In a nutshell, this may be the right time to get your business venture. Many Somalis who are leaving their countries of refuge and going back home have sensed this and grabbed the opportunities openly available in their mother land. Mogadishu is now benefitting from a healthy mixture of businesses being set up by those who stayed throughout the bad years and those who are coming back from the Diaspora, all with experienc-es to share and skills to learn from each other, the very foundation of entrepreneurship. g

19AMISOM REVIEW - July 2014

A street vendor displays his produce in Hamar Weyne market in Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo/Stuart Price

A shopkeeper in Hamar Weyne market in Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo/Stuart Price

A woman and young girl buy products in Hamar Weyne market in Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo /Stuart Price


A cobbler, electrician, carpenter. He is the repair man of Baidoa, or simply put, Mr. Fix It.

Meet Private Gerard Sindayihebu-ra, a Burundian peacekeeper serving in AMISOM’s Sector Three, a man of immense talent.

Whenever you see him, he is al-ways busy doing something, repairing something, and when asked why, he says he hates being idle and wants to utilize his time maximally, becoming a crown favorite among peacekeepers in Baidoa where the 39 year old Ge-rard is stationed.

Even when he is at work as a guard post, Gerard is busy repairing old shoes or making new sandals that do not easily wear out as they are made from old tyers. He also repairs furni-ture, helps soldiers to construct their makeshift houses and repairs dam-aged tents as well as broken mobile phone cover cases. His own broken glasses’ frame is tied with a green plastic string which he personally fixed, protecting his eyesight but also saving himself some cash.

Gerard explains that from a young age, he has always fixed things, teach-ing himself how to mend his shoes, repair household furniture, cutlery

and other items at home, gaining ex-perience and making it a habit to use his spare time constructively.

“I hate staying idle. That is why you will always see me busy mend-ing shoes or repairing other things. I decided to help my fellow soldiers because life away from home is chal-lenging and there are so many little needs the soldiers have that I always try to help fix things for them,” he smiles.

When he was deployed to Somalia in April 2013, his first trip outside his home country Burundi, he decided to bring with him his cobbler’s needle which became handy a month later. He saw a senior officer unhappy about his torn leather sandals because they were still usable but the strapping had come off. The officer was going to throw away the sandal when Mr. Fix It intervened and repaired the sandal.

Gerard is now one of the most sought after soldiers in the AMISOM base in Baidoa. The officer he first helped has spread the word about him around the base and now anyone who wants any-thing repaired from torn shoes, leak-ing buckets, rickety chairs or anything else simply brings it to Mr. Fix It.

“I once made a bicycle from scrap

metals, thrown plastic tubes and wires. Initially people called me a mad man when they saw me going round collecting the rusty metal and plastic pieces. But when I finished making my bicycle everyone wanted to ride it. Word about the bicycle spread so fast that people started pestering me to sell it to them. I could not resist the temptation and finally sold it for $40,” Gerard said, busy mending a shoe for another Burundian peacekeeper.

The Burundi Contingent Public Information Officer Captain Ana-tole Ciza says skilled people such as Gerard with special talents are very important in their peacekeeping op-eration in Somalia as they make life easier for their brothers at arms in the unfavorable conditions, miles away from home.

“Imagine if we had no cobblers like him or repair men, it would have been a disaster as the soldiers would have to abandon their duties to seek assis-tance elsewhere. We recognize his important contribution to the contin-gent and wish to formally thank him and encourage him to continue re-pairing and fixing broken items. He is a very important man for us,” Captain Ciza said. g

of the month:

Baidoa

Peacekeeper

AMISOM’s

Mr. Fix ItSindayihebura in action

AMISOM REVIEW - July 2014 21AMISOM REVIEW - July 2014

Mr Fix It Sindayihebura mending a tent

Sindayihebura mends a tent


their fieldsBaidoa farmers

22

help

plough

troops AMISOM


AMISOM peacekeepers plant seeds in the field of a woman in Baidoa. AMISOM Photo /Mahamud Hassan


The arrival of the long-awaited long rains set off a bustle of activities by farmers in Baidoa who were relieved that their long

days of anxiety about the rains were finally over. As the rain poured down, the farmers hurried to start working their farms, ploughing and plant-ing their fields, their efforts boosted by peace-keepers from AMISOM’s Ethiopian contingent who were helping them on the farms. AMISOM peacekeepers in Baidoa volunteered to help them with the long task of tilling the land and planting maize, sorghum and sesame seeds.

The community work was organized by AMISOM’s Civil and Military Cooperation (CIMIC) unit to strengthen relations with the people in the community. The peacekeepers also provided free drinking water and offered free healthcare to the people living in the environs of the AMISOM base. The women and elderly who were assisted with ploughing said that without AMISOM’s help it would have taken them nearly a month to till the land and plant the seedlings.

Sector Three CIMIC Officer Col. Gebrahawari Fitiwi said AMISOM had decided to help the community in order to inspire the Somali pop-ulation as well as encourage productivity in the area.

“Since it is the rainy season in this area, AMISOM is helping disabled persons, the el-derly and women to plant their farms. We are committed to taking part in such activities for the community. There are some positive changes

in this area because the security is improving. As peacekeepers here, it is in our plans to con-tinue with such activities of helping the commu-nity and to implement quick impact projects in future,” Col. Gabrahaware said.

Baidoa, situated in Bay region, is a rich ag-ricultural city located 240 west of Mogadishu. During the era of peace in Somalia, Bay region was the sorghum basket of Somalia. It was fa-mous for its cool environment and plenty of pas-ture and milk, attracting the nickname Baydha-bajanay (Paradise Baidoa).

Due to insecurity and persistent drought in re-cent years, farmers in Bay and Bakool regions have had to contend with low harvests coupled with “double taxation” and threats from Al-Shabaab militants resulting in many farmers fleeing their farms to take refuge in other areas, where many lived in poverty and squalor as in-ternally displaced persons. AMISOM’s support was therefore received with a sigh of relief by the farmers.

“It would have taken me and my children three months to plough our farm and at least one month to plant it, so we are really grateful to AMISOM forces for helping us plant our farm,” said 40 year old Sontay Muhumed, mother to 7 children.

Another farmer, 60 year old Gedi Abdi, was greatly touched. “AMISOM forces have made us so proud and happy because they really helped us today and we hope they will continue to help us,” Gedi said. g


AMISOM peacekeepers help to plough the field of an elderly man in Baidoa. AMISOM Phot /Mahamud Hassan


MogadishuWATER WELLS

administrations to

hands over AMISOM


AMISOM REVIEW - July 2014 25AMISOM REVIEW - July 2014

AMISOM through its Human-itarian component,

recently handed over four large water wells to the administration of the Banadir region in Mogadishu. The wells, located in Hamarweyne, Dharkenly, Wadajir and Hamaarjajab, will ben-efit 260,000 households.

The construction and rehabilitation of the wells was funded by the Swedish Government, supported by AMISOM and implemented by Hadaf Humanitarian Relief Organization (HA-DAF), a local Non-Government Organization.

Speaking during the handover ceremony on behalf of the African Union Special Represen-tative for Somalia, AMISOM Political Officer James Gadin said the donation would uplift the living standards of the people by providing ba-sic social services. The residents of the Moga-dishu districts will be able to access affordable, reliable, clean and safe water following two decades of civil war that left a trail of destruc-tion in the city and rendered it devoid of basic services and infrastructure. The destruction of water sources and other essential infrastructure led to chronic diarrhea outbreaks among the city residents, a situation AMISOM sought to rectify.

AMISOM’s Senior Humanitarian Liaison of-ficer, Abdul Diagabate said the project would greatly help improve individual as well as pub-lic health, and enable parents to spend more time working to provide for their families’ needs. He said the poor health resulting from consumption of unsafe water adversely affect-ed school children whose productivity dropped due to poor health. This had also affected eco-nomic activities in the city. The high costs of healthcare had negatively affected the standard of living of the people so the water wells were meant to improve individual as well as public health. Greater accessibility to clean safe water would particularly benefit women in the area, who most especially need it to execute their day-to-day chores to sustain their households. Mr. Diabagate added that the water projects had also created much needed short-term employ-ment and improved the capacity of Somalis to manage future large-scale reconstruction proj-ects.

Acting Mogadishu Mayor Ismail Maalim Abdi thanked AMISOM and the Swedish Gov-ernment for the continued support to the So-mali people and its Government saying that the water wells will provide basic humanitarian as-sistance to the people of Somalia and alleviate suffering.

AMISOM has rehabilitated and modified the wells, while at the same installing a water treatment plant, power generators, water pipes, a reservoir, a water fountain and a water tank, as part of efforts to provide basic humanitarian assistance to the people of Somalia. g

A Mogadishu offiicial tastes the water at a new well donated by the AU Mission. AMISOM Photo / Tobin Jones

Hamarjajab District Commisioner at a handover of a well donated by AMISOM in Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo/Tobin Jones


25 year old Zabina Muhondo is not your ordinary wom-an. Born in Gulu District

in northern Uganda, Zabina is serv-ing on the frontline of Somalia as an AMISOM armored vehicle driver.

She had learnt of her deployment quite undramatically. “On an ordinary morning, I saw an announcement on our office noticeboard that I was to go to Singo military camp for a pre-de-ployment training course,” she said, adding “I was elated that I was bring-ing my experience from Uganda to a more challenging situation in Somalia. I knew I could do the job well.”

Although excited about the news, she was at the same time sad that she would be leaving her child and hus-band back home in Uganda. “I start-ed having mixed feelings about the deployment, about being away from my family for long periods, but I told myself that when duty calls one has to answer, and my family understood.”

Zabina explains that flexibility is one of the main things any officer in the military has to get used to. “It is not an easy thing to be away, with no guaran-tee of life, but when you remember that you will make a difference in some-one’s life you will feel a bit better.” Her

family was very supportive to her and their reassurance made her feel better about her coming deployment.

Before going to Somalia, Zabina was a trained tank driver in Gulu District in northern Uganda. However during that period, she mostly served as an ordi-nary soldier because her expertise was not needed as Uganda was not at war.

Zabina believes that what a man can do, a woman can do even better, and this she calmly states without mincing words. “Military training can be tough for a girl,” she explains. “I did not ex-pect it to be easy and as a woman in a male dominated industry, I knew I had

Breaking the odds

frontline

ZABINA MUHONDO

armored vehicle driver as an

on the


Lance Corporal Muhondo of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces, in the drivers section of her tank.

AMISOM Photo /David Mutua


to work three times as hard as my male counterparts to prove that I could do it.”

Zabina meets al lot of people who are surprised that a woman can drive a military armored vehicle especially on the frontlines of Somalia, “but I keep telling them that all it takes is com-mitment and hard work,” says Zabina. “Women are very powerful people and, combined with devotion, the results you make cannot be questionable.”

Her normal routine includes getting up early ready for the tough training, just like her counterparts. She then checks the tank’s condition and en-sures that everything is okay as she

prepares for the day’s movement. “Given the way I have mastered my tank, even if you got me in the mid-dle of my sleep, I could operate it with ease,” she said adding that a soldier is on duty 24 hours a day, every day. “Duty calls at all time. In the event of a minor incident in the wee hours of the night, you get up, get dressed and be on guard for anything that might happen,” she explains.

In Somalia, she gets enough time to do personal things and to relax. “We watch television, we even get some time to watch movies in the evenings, and we listen to lots of music on our phones.”

Zabina tries as much as possible to keep in touch with her loved ones back home. “When I get airtime, I call at least every three days. Other times, maybe every week or two. All the family need to hear is my voice and to know that I am well. That’s all they need.”

Being in Somalia has changed her and she hopes to be a better person by the time she finishes her mission. “Ev-erything that I have learnt and every-thing that I am still learning, I will take back to my country and extend the knowledge to others. The experience I have got here is invaluable. I can’t compare it to anything,” she adds. g


Lance Corporal Muhondo manoeuvring her tank. AMISOM Photo/David Mutua

Lance Corporal Muhondo with fellow AMISOM peacekeepers on their tank. AMISOM Photo /David Mutua

Lance Corporal Muhondo listens to instructions from her commanding tank officer. AMISOM Photo/David Mutua


Kismayu’s

viewSTUNNING BEACH


Aerial view of Kismayu coastline. AMISOM Photo /Stuart Price

Aerial view of Kismayu coastline. AMISOM Photo /Stuart Price


In another world, this beach view location would have been a five-star tourist ho-

tel raking in millions of dollars. However, due to Somalia’s pro-longed lawlessness, this stunning beach front location now serves as an AMISOM frontline position in Kismayu, jointly manned by Kenya Defense Forces and Sierra Leonean soldiers. The Kenya De-fense Forces, along with Jubaland Somali forces, took Kismayu in September 2012 from Al-Shabaab militants who melted away into remote villages not far away from the port city.

Since then, the city of Kismayu has been slowly opening up to de-velopment as aid trickles in, and its former inhabitants have flocked back to rebuild their shattered homes and businesses. Local res-idents and AMISOM forces often talk about Kismayo’s beauty and its potential.

“I don’t understand why we So-malis keep fighting. If we all went fishing in this massive sea, we would get enough food and sell the rest to get money. In the evening, we simply need to sit back and en-joy our country’s beauty. Kisma-yu residents would have been in heaven if we had peace because of its captivating beach, its fresh fruits and food and, to cap it all, its abundant milk,” lamented Abdul-lahi Abdi, a Somali from Australia who has returned home.

Tucked away from the busy streets of Kismayu, along the main road to Mogadishu, is a se-rene hilly area surrounded by trees and mountains. An AMISOM de-tachment jointly manned by Ken-yan and Sierra Leonean forces lies nearby to provide protection to Kismayu city from any unwanted Al-Shabaab militants who some-times try to disturb the peace and tranquility but are always chased away.

The AMISOM base there has two fascinating and yet distinc-tive compounds. One compound on the right, where Sierra Leo-neans peacekeepers are stationed, is located at the foot of a chain of mountains overlooking Kismayu. Below this, an eye-catching sandy beach front from where Kenyan Defense Forces protect the city

from any aggression on its north-ern sea line. The area is covered by beautiful sand dunes and crawl-ing crabs, interrupted by the sound of massive waves that periodical-ly pound its banks. Camouflaged makeshift defense positions made of green sand bags and green tents dot the entire beach frontline posi-tion overlooking Kismayu city.

As AMISOM’s Kenyan forces have gradually secured the area, the beach that was once enjoyed only by a few al-Shabaab com-manders is now safe for all to swim in the waters, stroll or jog along the beach.

“You see that little hill there? Now behind it is where al-Shabaab sometimes emerge from to aim-lessly shoot towards us but we quickly counter their fire so they melt back into the bushes. Al-Shabaab do not have capacity to mount a serious offensive. They just come and shoot and run away as if just to tick a roll call,” quipped Lieutenant Maurice Otieno, ad-ministration officer of the 2nd mechanized infantry battalion.

“It is my pleasure to represent my country in such a noble peace-keeping mission like AMISOM. We are determined to help Soma-lia find lasting peace because this country is really beautiful and will be a major economic force once peace prevails,” says Corporal Omar Ali Said who had hosted me for the night together with three other Kenyan officers all of who share a makeshift frontline posi-tion close to the sea shore.

Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Cha-la, AMISOM Kenya Contingent’s battalion commander of the forces stationed at the beach front is con-fident that, with time, Somalia will rise from the ashes and claim its place in the world.

“When you talk to the local population, the majority of them tell you they are tired of war. It is only a few war profiteers like al-Shabaab who want the status quo to remain because of their own selfish gain. As soon as we oust al-Shabaab from Jilib and Barawe where they have fled to, I am very certain people here will celebrate and the final road to recovery will begin,” the commander said confi-dently. g

Kismayu’s

viewSTUNNING BEACH

frontlineposition



AMISOM is continu-ing to car-

ry out intensive training of Somali Police Forces in fulfillment of its man-date to build the capacity of Somali institutions so that they can eventually take over the task of guaranteeing law and order in their country.

AMISOM’s Police Component re-cently concluded training for 100 members of the Somali Police Force (SPF) at General Kahiye Police acad-emy in Mogadishu. The week-long training was meant to equip the offi-cers with the ability to detect and ad-dress any security threats across So-malia.

The 100 trainees comprising wom-en and men police officers underwent training in Cordon & Search, Arrest & Handcuffing, Patrols & Motor Vehicle Search as well as Interrogation. They also received instruction in commu-nity policing, maintaining law and or-der, how to resolve local conflicts and how to manage hostilities among the general public.

“The trainees have been performing duties for some time now with FPU [Formed Police Unit], going on dai-ly patrols and have been mentored a number of times. We however saw the need to conduct a refresher course on some of the enhanced issues that are prevalent in the mission area today,” commented Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, AMISOM Police Training Coordina-tor

The trainees said the refresher came at an appropriate time when the Fed-eral Government of Somalia, sup-ported by AMISOM, was setting up a security team to beef up security during the Holy Month of Ramadan. The acquired training would help fill a key gap in the Somali Police Force capabilities after years of civil war and armed conflict, and at the same time increase the SPF’s ability to enforce the rule of law and protect the com-munities they serve.

AMISOM Trainer Inspector David Olama expressed confidence that the training would bear fruit as the Soma-li Police Force continued to improve their skills and professionalism. “Upon completion of the training, we will go out with trainees to conduct practical duties such as patrols and see how they apply the taught skills. If we discover some gaps, we shall bring them back for more refresher training,” explained Dr. Agordzo. g

AMISOM Police

TRAINS Somali Police Force

Somali police officers take part in train-ing at General Kahiye Police Academy.

AMISOM Photo/Tobin Jones

A training exercise at General Kahiye Police Academy conducted by AMISOM Police. AMISOM Photo/Tobin Jones

A Somali Police officer in training at General Kahiye Police Academy. AMISOM Photo/Tobin Jones


An AMISOM Police demonstration at General Kahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo/Tobin Jones

Female Somali Police officers on training at General Kahiye Police Academy in Mogadishu. AMISOM Photo /Tobin Jones

Somali women dance and sing at the han-dover of a new well donated by AMISOM. AMISOM Photo /Tobin Jones

Documents

AMISOM Magazine Issue 14