The region’s largest private financial institution, Dahabshiil, was hit by a wave of cyber attacks that have exposed customer account numbers and other sensitive information. The hackers allege that the Dahabshiil company is tied to terrorism financiers, an accusation that was leveled by other Somalis.

A quick rundown of the major events unfolding in and around Somalia on the week of July 21, 2012.

Mogadishu

• The new constitution is to be voted on this week, with elders from various regions touching down in the Somali capital.
• A car bomb killed Mohamud Abdi Ibrahim, a former minister for humanitarian affairs and trade.
• Speaker of Parliament Sharif Sheikh Hassan has announced his bid for presidency.
• US president Barack Obama officially placed sanctions on Somali charcoal products, citing it as a source of funding for Al-Shabaab.

Somaliland

• The region’s largest private financial institution, Dahabshiil, was hit by a wave of cyber attacks that have exposed customer account numbers and other sensitive information. The hackers allege that the Dahabshiil company is tied to terrorism financiers, an accusation that was leveled by other Somalis.
• Boqor Osman Aw-Mahamud Bur Madow, a high-ranking clan chief, was pardoned from what should’ve been a one-year prison sentence for speaking out against the ruling regime.
• A terrible drought is afflicting the eastern regions of Somaliland, affecting up to 150,000 rural individuals.

Puntland

• Iconic musician Sado Ali Mire was injured in a car accident which killed a prominent Somali journalist. She was visited after the accident by the president of Puntland.
• Elder representatives also voted unanimously to push for the new Somali constitution and took to the Somali capital Mogadishu.
• Puntland Maritime Police Forces intercepted a shipment of weapons from Yemen that were destined for Al-Shabaab militants in the region.
• The former leader of the Sool, Sanaag, and Ayn militia Saleban Haglatosiye is due in the Puntland capital Garowe this week to discuss a political solution to the western half of the disputed Nugaal Valley.
• Oil exploration firms have given a maximum of 48 hours after July 18 to carry out testing at the Shabeel-North well in the Dharoor Valley. Results had still not been confirmed by July 21, which also marks the 45th day of exploration on the second Puntland well.

Other fronts

• The war against Al-Shabaab has gained good ground in Somalia, with impending coalition victories in Gedo and Lower Shabelle provinces anticipated. However, the war has had nasty effects on Kenya, which is currently dealing with a Muslim ‘awakening’ and a spiraling terror war on its own soil.
• Ethiopia’s dictator of 21 years is suffering from brain cancer and hospitalized in Belgium. Similar to Kenya, Ethiopia is also experiencing a bout of sectarian uprising from its Muslim population.
• A formal treaty has been signed in Nairobi with all of the major actors in the Gedo, Lower Jubba, and Middle Jubba provinces to create an all-inclusive administration that will fill the gap when Al-Shabaab is ousted.

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