19 Oct 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- AMISOM condemns deliberate targeting of civilians in Mogadishu
- Suicide car bomb kills 3 in Mogadishu
- Al Shabaab arrest civilians in southern Somali town
- Al Shabaab war: Somalia pledge support for Kenya’s military
- Cabinet backs offensive against al Shabaab
- Suicide car bomb rattles Somali capital 4 dead
PRESS RELEASE
Joint communique issued at the conclusion of a meeting between the government of Kenya and the TFG
18 Oct – Source: TFG – Kenyan gov’t- 664 words
H.E Sheikh Shariff, President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, received and held crucial talks with the Kenyan delegation led by Hon. Moses Wetangula, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, in Mogadishu, Somalia. The Kenyan delegation also included Hon. Mohammed Yusuf Haji, Minister of State for Defence of the Republic of Kenya. Prior to meeting with the President, the delegation was also received by the Prime Minister and held a session with key members of his Cabinet.
The meeting with the President was convened against the backdrop of the growing spate of armed attacks by the Al Shabaab elements on Kenya. The meeting deliberated on the current situation on the ground, and noted as follows: That the prolonged situation of crisis and conflict in Somalia, resulting from the collapse of the Somalia state in 1991, has progressively mutated into a myriad of threats to the Somalia population, the neighbouring states, the region and the international community. The region, through IGAD and the AU, has consistently called upon the international community to focus serious attention on these growing threats. However, most of these pleas have been met with inadequate, inconsistent and unsustainable support. The security situation in Somalia improved following the defeat of Al Shabaab after six months of intensive military operations by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and AMISOM forces and their subsequent withdrawal from Mogadishu on 6th August 2011. However, the al Shabaab group has since re-grouped and is posing a significant threat to the peace and security in Somalia and throughout the region.
Further, the al Shabaab relocation towards Lower Juba, near the border, has seen some of its elements infiltrate into Kenya and commit heinous crimes, including abductions of foreign nationals within Kenya, attacking civilians, destroying property and obstructing humanitarian efforts for the more than 600,000 refugees hosted in the Dadaab complex. More fundamentally, these activities increasingly pose threats to public safety and security within Kenya, create anxiety among the populations and negatively impact Kenya’s economy. The recent spate of blatant attacks is indicative of a changed strategy by Al Shabaab calculated to terrorize civilians. This warrants decisive action to forestall the threats of Al Shabaab elements to the humanitarian operations, restore security in the border areas and ensure that insurgents do not launch attacks against Kenya, the region and beyond.
Based on the discussion, the two sides agreed that al Shabaab constitutes a common enemy to both countries, and therefore, they should evolve a common political and security strategy to address this threat. In this regard, they agreed to:
- Continue working together to stabilise Somalia and to stamp out the threats of the Al Shabaab elements, especially terrorism, piracy, abductions, extortion, ransom demands and other international crimes.
- Cooperate in undertaking security and military operations in the Lower Juba regions of Somalia and to undertake coordinated pre-emptive action, and pursuit of any armed elements that continue to threaten and attack both countries. In this regard, both sides agreed to revamp the joint mechanism to ensure enhanced cooperation and coordination in all aspects.
- Reaffirm their commitment to continue to work together in urging the international community to favourably consider the recommendations and decisions of the IGAD and AU in relation to strengthening the Peace Support Operation in Somalia.
- Express their determination to strengthen the existing cooperation between the two sides. In this regard, they agreed:
a) To facilitate cooperation among communities along the common border on matters of mutual interest. b) To cooperate and collaborate in sharing and exchange of information that is relevant to the fight against cross border crimes. c) To continue working with the international community in the implementation of Peace Support operations as well as humanitarian action in Somalia. 5. Reaffirm their obligations to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries from internal and external threats. 6. H.E the President of Somalia reaffirmed the commitment of the TFG to fully implement the Kampala Accord of 9th June 2011.
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/
AMISOM condemns deliberate targeting of civilians in Mogadishu
18 Oct- Source: AMISOM- 230 words
Today, a suicide car bomb killed at least 4 civilians and injured 15 near a building housing the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Among the dead were a street vendor and a pedestrian. The AU Mission in Somalia strongly condemns this cowardly act and expresses its horror at the deliberate targeting of Somali civilians by al Qaeda-linked terrorist insurgents, and vowed to continue doing all it can to protect the people of Mogadishu. Ambassador Boubacar Diarra, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Somalia, said: “We abhor this indiscriminate terror attack in Mogadishu and mourn the needless loss of life. We have sent medical teams to the scene to assist the injured. At this difficult time our thoughts are with the wounded and with the families of those killed. It is now clear that the extremists are deliberately targeting civilians. AMISOM expresses its continued solidarity with the Transitional Federal Government and our forces remain committed to improving security in the capital.”
Last week, the extremists were driven out from their last stronghold in the city by the Somali National Army with the support of AMISOM troops. AMISOM has approximately 9000 troops in the Somali capital and is continually calling for additional troops, already authorized by the UN Security Council, and the strengthening of Somali forces so as to consolidate the gains in Mogadishu and secure the city.
SOMALI MEDIA
Suicide car bomb kills 3 in Mogadishu
18 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan, Shabelle, Risaala, Kulmiye, BBC- 159 words A suicide car bomb exploded near a building housing ministries in Mogadishu yesterday, killing at least three people, reports say. Somali police officer Mohamed Adam told Reuters that a suicide car bomber blew up in front of the building. The bodies of three people totally burnt and ripped apart, including one which appeared to be the suicide bomber were seen at the scene of the explosion.
Puntland President meets UK ministers in London
18 Oct- Source: Radio Gaalkacyo- 67 words
The president of Puntland, Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud Farole, has met on Monday with UK Minister for Africa Henry Bellingham and DFID Minister for Africa Stephen O’Brien at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London, UK. Discussions covered a range of topics, including the Roadmap process and the way forward, humanitarian and development issues, as well as the fight against piracy and terrorism in Somalia.
Wounded rebel fighters taken to Kismayo
18 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 91 words
Over 60 wounded al Shabaab fighters have been taken to Kismayo town for treatment after they were injured during the recent clashes in Tabto and Qoqani, Lower Jubba. Reports say militia from Ag-Libah and Hosingow who were wounded in an arterial bombardment of foreign warplanes have also been taken to Kismayo.
Al Shabaab arrest civilians in southern Somali town
18 Oct- Source: Shabelle- 113 words
The al Shabaab group has arrested a number of civilian people in the town of Afmadow in Lower Jubba region of southern Somalia, reports said on Tuesday. The fighters of the insurgent group seized people accusing them of supporting the Kenyan forces who entered Somalia to join al Shabaab. Reports say that the 18 apprehended people were taken into custody. Well-known businessmen were among those arrested.
http://shabelle.net/article.
Puntland speaker of parliament in Galkayo on peace mission
18 oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 173 words
A high-level delegation from Garowe who was seen in Galkayo for the last few days are now pushing for last peace talks in ending hostilities between Puntland and a local clan militias. Led by Puntland speaker of the parliament, the delegation comprising of cabinet ministers and legislators are said to be engaging in traditional elders in the city to end the differences between the two sides.
TFG-Puntland join to fight piracy, al Shabaab
18 Oct- Source: Somaliareport- 35 words
TFG officials and the semi-autonomous region of Puntland agreed during a meeting in Garowe to join forces to fight against any group which can create insecurity, including al Shabaab and pirates.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Cabinet backs offensive against al Shabaab
18 Oct- Source: Daily Nation- 244 words
Cabinet has supported the actions of the Kenya military to battle Somalia militia al Shabaab Wednesday. It also condoled the family of five military personnel, who died in a helicopter crash at Liboi on Sunday. “The Cabinet that met today (Wednesday) at State House, Nairobi, also supported and commended the actions taken by members of the Kenya Defence Forces and other security forces in the offensive against the al Shabaab,” said a statement from the Presidential Press Service.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/
Al Shabaab war: Somalia pledge support for Kenya’s military
18 Oct- Source: NTV- 3: 29 min
Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali Nur expressed support for Kenya’s military offensive against al Shabaab targets, saying that the military has the right to protect the country’s sovereignty in the face of the recent kidnappings of tourists and aid workers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Offensive unstoppable, Kenya tells al Shabaab
18 Oct- Source: Capital FM- 520 words
Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula has dared Al Shabaab militants to execute their threats of reprisals in Kenya following a military offensive that is currently underway in Somalia. In an interview with BBC’s Focus on Africa, the minister said he was confident the Kenyan military would succeed in its mission in Somalia “because we have the capacity.”
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Mysterious al Qaeda ‘envoy’ dispenses aid in Somalia
18 Oct – Source: CNN – 1,121 words
The mysterious visitor stands in a patch of scrubland in Somalia, surrounded by Islamic militants wielding AK-47s. His face is covered by a white-and-red headscarf; he is slim and seems young. But there is something puzzling about him: His skin is fair, and when he speaks in an audio recording, his English is near perfect and spoken with a North American accent.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/
Suicide car bomb rattles Somali capital, 4 dead
18 Oct – Source: USA Today / AP – 857 words
A suicide car bomb exploded near Somalia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, killing at least four people even as Somali and Kenyan leaders met and agreed to cooperate on military action against Islamist insurgents. The blast rattled central Mogadishu and killed at least three passers-by and the suicide bomber, said police official Ali Hassan. Six people were wounded and taken to the hospital, he said.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/
Turkey sends 5,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Somalia
18 Oct- Source: Xinhua- 152 words
A ship loaded with 5,000 tons of humanitarian aid has set sail for Somalia, the Turkish Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate Tuesday said in a statement. The statement said the ship, carrying humanitarian aid worth 16 million TL (about 10 million U.S. dollars), left the Mersin Port in southern Turkey for Somalia.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/
Rains slow Kenyan army hunt for Somali militants
18 Oct- Source: AP- 521 words
A push by Kenyan ground forces toward a strategic Somali town has been slowed by heavy rain, a military spokesman said Tuesday, as Kenya’s defense and foreign ministers arrived in Mogadishu for talks. Kenyan troops and pro-Somali government forces are heading toward the town of Afmadow, a crossroads town just north of the port city of Kismayo, where the militant group al Shabaab is entrenched.