Abu Dhabi (Caasimada Online) – Somalia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed an agreement to strengthen military and security ties, as well as cooperate in anti-terrorism efforts, in an effort to improve strained relations between the two countries.

The deal was signed by Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur and his UAE counterpart, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al-Bowardi, on Wednesday evening in Abu Dhabi.

According to a statement by Nur, the agreement will help to strengthen the “institutional capacity-building of Somalia’s security forces” and aid in ongoing efforts to defeat Al-Shabab in Somalia.

Al-Shabab is an Al-Qaeda affiliate that has claimed thousands of lives in a campaign against the Somali government and international peacekeeping forces since at least 2007. 

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has declared full-scale war against Al-Shabab as the group continues to carry out violent attacks in the country.

On Wednesday, the group was responsible for twin suicide car bombings in the central Somali town of Mahas, which killed at least 35 people and injured more than 70 others.

The UAE remains a “strategic partner in Somalia’s peace-building and state-building efforts,” Nur added. A UAE Defence Ministry statement read talks also focused on efforts to protect mutual interests. 

Relations between Somalia and the UAE have been chilly in recent years, particularly over Somali allegations of UAE interference in its internal politics.

Tensions reached a boiling point during the tenure of former President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo after Somalia seized $9.6 million from a United Arab Emirates plane in Mogadishu in April 2018. In response, the UAE closed a military facility and a hospital in Mogadishu and disbanded its military training mission.

Somalia released the money in February 2022, and prime minister Mohamed Hussein Roble apologized, which the United Arab Emirates accepted. 

President Mohamud, who led Somalia from 2012 to 2017 and started his second tenure last May, has made mending diplomatic relations with the UAE a top foreign policy priority. 

During a June 2022 meeting with UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Somali President Mohamud expressed gratitude for the UAE’s longstanding support of Somalia and thanked Al Nahyan for the warm reception of the Somali people.

The leaders discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between their countries in various sectors, particularly concerning development and peace in Somalia. 

Al Nahyan reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s efforts to establish a peaceful and stable state and expressed a desire to assist the Somali government in construction, development, and stability. 

In return, Mohamud expressed a desire to expand cooperation between the UAE and Somalia across all fronts and contribute to regional stability and security.

The signing of the new defense cooperation agreement between Somalia and the UAE represents a significant milestone in the relationship between the two countries as they work to improve strained relations and strengthen cooperation in the face of shared challenges, such as terrorism and instability. 

The agreement will help to strengthen the capacity of Somalia’s security forces and support efforts to combat Al-Shabab. This terrorist group has claimed thousands of lives in its campaign against the Somali government and international forces.

Washington (Caasimada Online) – The US Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program announced on Thursday a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Maalim Ayman, leader of Jaysh Ayman, an al-Shabaab unit operating in Kenya and Somalia. 

Ayman is wanted in connection with the January 2020 terrorist attack on US and Kenyan personnel at the Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya, in which a US soldier and two US Department of Defense contractors were killed, and two other US service members and a third DoD contractor were injured.

Al-Shabaab, an al-Qaida affiliate based in East Africa, has claimed responsibility for the attack. 

The group, designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State and a terrorist organization by the UN, is responsible for numerous terrorist attacks in the region that have killed thousands of people, including US citizens.

In a statement, the US Department of State said, “Al-Shabaab continues to plot, plan, and conspire to commit terrorist acts against the United States, US interests, and foreign partners. We will not rest until justice is served for the victims of this attack and their families.”

The Manda Bay Airfield is part of a Kenyan Defense Forces military base used by US armed forces to provide training and counterterrorism support to East African partners, respond to crises, and protect US interests in the region.

In November 2020, Ayman was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department of State under Executive Order 13224. In February 2021, he was also designated by the UN Security Council’s Somalia Sanctions Committee.

“The attack on Manda Bay Airfield was a brutal and cowardly act of terrorism that will not be tolerated,” said the US Department of State. “We are committed to bringing those responsible to justice and will use all means at our disposal to hold them accountable for their actions.”

This reward offer is part of a larger US government effort to bring terrorists to justice and prevent acts of international terrorism. The Rewards for Justice program has paid over $250 million to more than 125 people since its inception in 1984.

Nairobi (Caasimada Online) – A leading Somali Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mohamud Shibli, has called for Somalis to hunt down and kill members of the Al-Shabab extremist group.  

Speaking at a public square in Nairobi, Sheikh Shibli denounced the group’s attacks on Muslims in Somalia and praised ongoing efforts to combat them.  

Sheikh Shibli said that the actions of Al-Shabab in Somalia are fundamentally opposed to Islam, as they indiscriminately attack and kill Muslims and Somalis in markets and hotels while claiming to be fighting infidels.  

“What is happening in Somalia is the killing of Islam. Al-Shabab says that they are fighting infidels, but they are bombing markets and hotels. There are no infidels in the country, except AMISOM and those in the Halane compound who are defending themselves, and Al-Shabab cannot approach them,” said Sheikh Shibli.  

He added, “The so-called infidels they are fighting, the ones they are attacking and whose blood is halal and whom they are getting close to Allah, the ones whose videos we watch being slaughtered are the ones in the Zoobe market and our hotels, Muslims and Somalis.”

The Sheikh said it is a duty to fight the “Kharijite” group because they do not deserve to be called Muslims, adding that the only solution is to kill and exterminate them.  

He also said it is a crime to help Al-Shabab and cited the blood they have shed and the extortion they have carried out against the Somali people.  

Sheikh Shibli’s call to action comes as fighting against Al-Shabab continues in some parts of Somalia. On Wednesday, at least 15 civilians, including women and children, were killed in a series of car bomb attacks in the central town of Mahas by the militant group. 

There have been ongoing efforts by the Somali government and its allies to push back against Al-Shabab, including a revolt by local clan militias in July and the deployment of troops by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in September.  

These efforts, aided by US air strikes and the African Union force known as AMISOM, have retaken large areas of territory in the central states of Galmudug and HirShabelle. 

However, Al-Shabab has continued to carry out retaliatory attacks, showing its ability to strike at the heart of Somali towns and military installations. 

Al-Shabab, which has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda, has been active in Somalia for over a decade and is known for its violent attacks on civilians, including bombings, kidnappings, and assassinations.  

The group has been particularly active in targeting hotels and markets, such as the one in Zoobe that Sheikh Shibli mentioned in his speech. 

It has also been responsible for high-profile attacks outside of Somalia, including the 2013 Westgate mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya, in which 67 people were killed.  

In recent years, the group has faced increasing pressure from Somali government forces and their allies, but it remains a significant threat to the stability and security of the region.

Ankara (Caasimada Online) – Turkey and Somalia have announced plans to strengthen their judicial cooperation, with Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag praising the efforts of the Somali authorities to end the activities of Turkish terrorist organizations in the country.  

During a meeting in the Turkish capital of Ankara, Bozdag revealed that the Somali authorities had handed over the management of schools belonging to these groups to the Turkish government. 

The two countries also plan to sign new agreements in the fields of human rights and justice.  

Somali Justice Minister Hassan Moalim praised the historical relations and common heritage shared by the two countries and highlighted the support provided by Turkey to Somalia. The two officials also discussed ways to develop their cooperation further. 

This comes as Turkey announced on Monday the appointment of Ibrahim Mete Yagli as its new ambassador to Somalia, replacing Mehmet Yilmaz, who has served in the role since December 2018.” 

Turkey has had a long history of relations with Somalia, dating back to the Ottoman Empire. In recent years, Turkey has become one of the major donors to Somalia, providing humanitarian and development assistance to the country.

In 2011, Turkey opened an embassy in Mogadishu, becoming the first country to do so since the collapse of the Somali government in 1991.

In addition to its development and humanitarian assistance, Turkey has also played a role in the stabilization of Somalia. Turkey has also provided training to Somali security forces.

The judicial cooperation between Turkey and Somalia is just one aspect of the broader relationship between the two countries.  

Both countries have expressed a desire to strengthen their ties further and cooperate in a variety of areas.

LasAnad (Caasimada Online) – The military of the self-proclaimed republic of Somaliland, in northern Somalia, was forced to retreat to army bases on the outskirts of LasAnod on Thursday after anti-government protesters and local militias stormed the city.

There were reports of overnight skirmishes, but the number of casualties is currently unknown. 

Residents were celebrating their takeover of the city after a 11-day struggle in which they withstood various barriers including the use of force and lack of access to telecommunications.

The current protests, which have been ongoing for over a week, were sparked by the assassination of a prominent local figure, Abdifatah Abdullahi Abdi Hadrawi, after he left a mosque.  

The killing has sparked outrage in the previously stable region and led to the deaths of at least 20 people after Somaliland forces used excessive force to quell the protest. Somaliland authorities also cut off internet and phone service in LasAnod.

Somaliland President Muse Bihi has apologized for the deaths of civilians in LasAnod and promised to investigate the incident. 

He has also pledged to withdraw troops from the town once stability has been restored. However, he has accused the federal government of Somalia and the regional government of Puntland of interfering in Somaliland affairs. 

In response, Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni threatened a “military and political solution” if the situation in Somaliland persists. 

The town has been at the center of a longstanding border dispute between Somaliland and Puntland over control of the area for more than a decade. 

The impact of the violence on the local population has been significant, with many residents fleeing the city for fear of further clashes—those who remain live in fear and uncertainty, with the threat of violence hanging over them. 

The militias that have taken control of the town have made it clear that they will use force to achieve their goals and have threatened to burn down telecommunications firms if they attempt to shut off the internet and phones. 

The situation has also harmed the local economy, with businesses shutting down and people unable to go about their daily lives.  

The fear and uncertainty caused by the unrest have ripple effects in the broader region, potentially destabilizing the area even further.

The international community has expressed concern about the ongoing violence in LasAnod and called for an end to the use of excessive force.  

They have urged all parties to engage in dialogue to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. 

However, despite these efforts, the situation remains volatile, and there is a real risk of escalating further. 

Mogadishu (Caasimada Online) – The Federal Republic of Somalia is ramping up its efforts to convince the international community to lift the longstanding arms embargo on the nation as the war on Al-Shabab militants intensifies.

The Somali government believes that obtaining weapons will give it a stronger position in the fight against the ongoing insurgency led by the Al-Shabab group, which has recently made significant gains.

The push to lift the arms embargo is being spearheaded by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who on Wednesday met with ambassadors from various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy, as well as representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, and the African Union at Villa Somalia to discuss the issue.

During the meeting, President Mohamud emphasized the unity of the Somali people and government in their efforts to liberate the country and implored the international representatives to support their struggle, particularly in the push to lift the arms embargo on Somalia, which is seen as crucial to the fight against terrorism.

The President also highlighted the efforts of the Somali Armed Forces, working alongside the local population, in liberating various areas in the Middle Shabelle, Hiiraan, and Galgudud regions, demonstrating the government’s determination to rid the country of the terrorism that has hindered its development and progress.

In addition to President Mohamud’s efforts, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre also held a meeting on the security situation in the country and the arms embargo on Somalia.

The Prime Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to lifting the embargo and proposed the establishment of a two-tier committee consisting of an implementation committee and a technical committee. The committees will work on the planned objectives of the Somali government to ensure the complete lifting of the arms embargo on the country, with a goal of implementation within a year.

The Prime Minister stated that the government is committed to eliminating Al-Shabab and that time is running out for the militants as the offensive is preparing to open more fronts.

The arms embargo on Somalia has been in place for nearly three decades, first imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in 1992.

It was initially put in place in response to the civil war and the collapse of the government in Somalia, which led to widespread violence and humanitarian crises.

The UNSC has renewed the arms embargo on Somalia several times since its initial implementation, most recently in November 2022.

The arms embargo on Somalia is intended to prevent the proliferation of illegal arms and related material in the country and reduce the risk of violence and conflict. It prohibits the sale, transfer, or supply of arms and military equipment to Somalia, except in certain circumstances where the UNSC has authorized such transfers.

In recent years, there have been calls to lift or modify the arms embargo on Somalia, particularly from the Somali government and its allies, who argue that the blockade hinders their efforts to combat terrorism and provide security for the country.

However, opponents of lifting the embargo argue that the country’s fragile security situation and the risk of arms falling into the hands of terrorist groups make lifting the embargo a risky proposition.

Nevertheless, the Somali government and its allies continue to push for its lifting. They argue that the embargo hinders their efforts to combat terrorism and provide security for the country and that obtaining weapons would give them a stronger position in the fight against the Al-Shabab insurgency.

The international community, however, remains divided on the issue. Some countries and organizations, such as the United States and the European Union, have supported lifting the embargo. In contrast, others, such as the United Kingdom and the African Union, have voiced concerns about the potential risks and consequences.