01 Aug 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Disaster Management Agency
- AMISOM concludes police training to help build security in Mogadishu
- Somali president visits injured soldiers at AMISOM run hospital
- AU organizes Somalia donor conference in Ethiopia
- Fighting in Mogadishu continues for third day
- Government troops seize Burdubo Gedo region
- Drought victims in Idale receive humanitarian aid
- Somalia’s drought-displaced seek shelter in Somaliland
- Somali lawmaker killed in Mogadishu
- Battle against Al Qaeda Al Shabaab almost won
- US commando advises government on declaring Somalia a no-fly zone
- African Union sources: Al Shabaab planning push during Ramadan
- Somali women fleeing famine preyed on by rapists
PRESS STATEMENT
Disaster Management Agency
30 Jul – Source: TFG – 413 words
The Prime Minister of Somalia Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali having considered the urgent need to manage disaster, the Government’s responsibility towards the droughts situation and the people fleeing from their homes due to the current famine stage. The Prime Minister having assessed the current famine situation in the country and the proposals of setting up Disaster Management Agency from the humanitarian assistance ministerial committee decided to set up Disaster Management Agency.
The Prime Minister appointed individuals that are well known within the community and have the confidence of the people to lead the agency. These individuals also have the knowledge, and the experience to leading the agency. The names of the management team of the agency are as follows:
- Abdullahi Mohamed Shirwa – Chairperson of the Disaster Relief Agency
- Jamal Mohamed Barrow – Deputy Chairperson for Programs
- Abdihakim Ahmed Guled – Deputy Chairperson for Management
- Ali Abdirahman Ahmed – Head of logistics
The Prime Minister wishes for the above team to fulfill their duties, roles and responsibilities to the best of their abilities with patriotism, honesty and integrity. The agency is expected to manage all disaster issues within the country, and in particular the current famine situation in the country. The Disaster Management Agency is an independent agency and above individuals are from civil society groups.
AMISOM concludes police training to help build security in Mogadishu
30 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 391 words
The AMISOM Police Component today successfully concluded a course in Traffic and Community Based Policing for fifty Somali police recruits, the first to be held in Mogadishu by the African Union peace support mission.
The course was three weeks long and will help prepare the Police force for taking over law and order responsibility in the government-held areas of Mogadishu. The training took place at Jazeera training facility in the outskirts of Mogadishu. It lasted from 11th July to 30th July with the trainees undergoing oral, practical and class-based courses.
Twenty five trainees who included women and men police officers were taken through the courses of road traffic, investigating traffic accidents, road and traffic signs and their importance as well as how to properly record traffic accidents. The other twenty five trainees were instructed in community policing and learned how to work with the public in maintaining law and order as well as how to resolve local conflicts and manage hostilities among the general public.
Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission visits Mogadishu
29 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 508 words
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E. Erastus Mwencha made a one day visit to Mogadishu to assess the humanitarian situation and consult with the Transitional Federal Government on possible ways of addressing the crisis which is mainly as a result of the current drought affecting the country.
During the visit, H.E. Mwencha saw for himself the humanitarian situation in Mogadishu and announced that the AU Commission is planning to hold a pledging conference on 9th August in Addis Ababa as part of its commitment to supporting those affected by the drought. The Deputy Chairperson said that $500,000 of assistance had already been given by the Union to alleviate the famine. (…)
He said; “This is not a time for second thoughts, or any hesitation. Not for more than twenty years has the continent faced such a catastrophe of food shortages that we are seeing today in the Horn of Africa. To build a prosperous and peaceful future on the continent we must come together to help our African brothers.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president visits injured soldiers at AMISOM run hospital
31 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 99 words
The president visited government forces being treated at Halane hospital run by AMISOM in Mogadishu.
Somali military court opens trial courts at frontlines
30 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Shabelle and Kulmiye – 92 words
The National Military Court has opened courts at the frontlines in Mogadishu to take action against soldiers, state media said.
Detained journalist freed
31 Jul- Source: Radio Bar-kulan, Hiiraan Online- 129 words
Faysal Mohamed Hassan, a reporter working for Hiran online was freed by authorities on Sunday after being in custody for one month in Bosaso, Puntland.
AU organizes Somalia donor conference in Ethiopia
31 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 153 words
The African Union (AU) has announced that it will organise a donor conference on 9 August in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in order to support Somalia as it is one of worst countries affected by drought in the Horn of Africa.
AU delegates arrive in Mogadishu
30 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan, Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 130 words
An African Union delegation led by the deputy chairperson of the African Union Mr. Drastes Mwanja has arrived in Mogadishu and held talks with officials of the transitional federal government, reports said.
Fighting in Mogadishu continues for third day
30 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle, Bar-Kulan, Kulmiye and Risala – 87 words
Fighting between al Shabaab and government forces backed by AMISOM continued for a third day in the districts of Wardhigley and Yakshid in Mogadishu, reports said.
Government troops seize Burdubo, Gedo region
31 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan, Shabelle – 90 words
At least three people were killed when government troops and allied forces of Ahlu Sunna Waljama launched a full scale attack of al Shabaab bases in Burdubo town, Gedo region, seizing control of entire town.
Speaker of parliament accused of blocking motion against government
31 Jul – Source: Shabelle – 133 words
Some Somali MPs on Sunday accused the speaker of parliament of blocking a motion about the alleged corruption by government officials.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Somalia: Shabaab claims victory over past day
30 Jul – Source: Radio Al Furqan – 77 words
Al Shabaab has claimed victory over government forces backed by AMISOM in fighting that occurred on Saturday in Mogadishu.
US reportedly freezes accounts of nationals fighting for al Shabaab
30 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye – 103 words
The US Department of Treasury said that it has imposed economic sanctions on two al Shabaab senior officials Abu Mansour Al Amriki and Hassan Mahdi Omar.
Drought victims in Idale receive humanitarian aid
31 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 162 words
The recently appointed drought rescue committee in Bay region has delivered humanitarian aid to starving people in Idale area, 60KM from Baidoa town.
Wobbly calm returns to Mogadishu after days of fighting
31 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 82 words
After three days of fierce fighting between government forces backed by AMISOM and al Shabaab, precarious calm returned to Mogadishu.
Somalia’s drought-displaced seek shelter in Somaliland
30 Jul – Source: Somaliweyn – 302 words
Hundreds of families from south-central Somalia who have sought refuge in the self-declared independent Republic of Somaliland lack food, shelter and water, say local officials.
http://somalilandpress.com/
Al Shabaab demands girls for their militia
29 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 117 words
Elders in Adan Yabal in middle Shabelle region have been ordered by al Shabaab to bring girls who will be married off to ‘MuJahidins’ in the area.
Al Shabaab: We killed an American officer in Mogadishu battle
31 Jul – Source: Radio Al Furqan – 93 words
Al Shabaab allege that an American officer has been killed in the ongoing battles in Mogadishu.
Somali lawmaker killed in Mogadishu
31 Jul- Source: Hiiraan Online, Raxanreeb VOA News, AP, Washington Post – 111 words
Witnesses say a member of parliament has been shot and killed in the capital, Mogadishu. Khalif Jire Warfaa was killed on Sunday in Mogadishu’s Hamar Weyne district.
http://www.hiiraan.com/news2/
Ahlu-Suna says 5 Shabab fighters killed in Burdhubo
31 Jul- Source: Shabelle- 142 words
Ahlu Sunna Waljama on Sunday claimed that their forces killed at least 5 al Shabaab fighters in parts of southern Somalia.
http://shabelle.net/article.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Battle against Al Qaeda, Al Shabaab almost won
31 Jul- Source: The East Africa- 399 words
The US counter-terrorism officials and the head of the African Union Mission in Somalia are separately suggesting that victory may be near in their respective wars against Al Qaeda and Al- Shabaab.
Strike a decisive blow against terror groups
31 Jul- Source: Daily Nation- 296 words
A report submitted to the United Nations Security Council lays bare the level of al Shabaab infiltration in Kenya. According to the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, the Somali-based offshoot of the notorious Al Qaeda terrorist network has been able to operate with impunity right under the noses of Kenya security agencies.
http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/
US commando advises government on declaring Somalia a no-fly zone
31 Jul- Source: Daily Monitor- 2461 words
President Museveni has proposed a no-fly zone over Somalia to limit the inflow of weapons into that country. How come the USA was quick to respond to a no-fly zone in Libya but has ignored a similar call over Somalia.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/
Fourth Kuwaiti relief plane heads to Somalia
31 Jul- Source: Kuwait News Agency- 156 words
The fourth Kuwaiti relief plane took off from here on Sunday loaded with food and humanitarian aid to Somalia to help those affected in the drought-stricken country.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), Barjas Al- Barjas told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that the aircraft, which took off from Abdullah Al- Mubarak Air Base, was carrying food and relief aid, in addition to tents and baby-milk formula.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/
America bans Kenyan linked to al Shabaab
31 Jul- Source: Daily Nation- 278 words
The US Treasury Department announced on Friday that it is imposing financial sanctions on a Kenyan described as both a key figure in Somalia’s al Shabaab insurgency and the leader of a mosque in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/
AU to hold pledging conference on the drought in Somalia
39 Jul- Source: Sierra express media, VOA- 468 words
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission H.E. Erastus Mwencha made a one day visit to Mogadishu to assess the humanitarian situation and consult with the Transitional Federal Government on possible ways of addressing the crisis which is mainly as a result of the current drought affecting the country.
http://www.sierraexpressmedia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN sanctions Kenyan, U.S. citizen over links to part of local al-Qaeda net
30 Jul – Source: Bloomberg, Reuters, Xinhua – 222 words
The United Nations Security Council imposed travel bans and asset freezes on a Kenyan-born man and a U.S. citizen over their links to al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda linked insurgency group.
Somali refugees brave fighting in Mogadishu in hope of UN food aid
30 Jul – Source: Guardian – 402 words
Hit by the worst drought in 60 years, tens of thousands of people are leaving the rural areas of central and southern Somalia for the war-ravaged capital, Mogadishu, where last week the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) started an airlift operation to deliver to 20 feeding centres. Despite continuing fighting, with troops of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and African Union-led forces battling the Islamic militants of al-Shabaab, more and more people are coming into the city, hoping to find relief from a drought that is affecting 11 million in Somalia alone.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
African Union sources: Al Shabaab planning push during Ramadan
30 Jul – Source: CNN – 439 words
Somalia’s top militant group may soon counter the government’s recent thrust against them with an offensive of their own.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/
Somalia’s president visits troops in Mogadishu
31 Jul – Source: Xinhua – 120 words
Somalia’s president has visited African Union and government troops in Mogadishu. The visit comes a day after they captured three strategic locations from al-Qaida-linked rebels.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/
Rains add misery to Somalia’s famine refugees
31 Jul- Source: AP, Guardian – 3530 words
Tens of thousands of famine-stricken Somali refugees were cold and drenched after torrential rains pounded their makeshift structures in the capital, as the U.N. raised concerns Sunday that renewed conflict in the country may jeopardize relief work.
Somali women fleeing famine preyed on by rapists
31 Jul – Source: AP – 1000 words
Refugee Barwago Mohamud huddles silently beneath a few blankets stretched over sticks at night, fearing for her life after a neighbor was raped, and a naked woman who had been kidnapped and gang-raped for three days in front of her terrified children was delivered to the medical tent next door.