March 9, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.
Kenyan troops in Somalia to join AMISOM next week
09 Mar – Source: Standard – 350 words
Kenyan troops in Somalia are set to join the African Union (AU) force fighting militant Islamist next week, military spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir has revealed. Maj Chirchir did not reveal the exact day when it will happen but indicated the rehatting will take place next week.
“Rehatting the much awaited green berets likely to finally get to the ground/individual soldiers next week…..we are firmly in AMISOM,” he said in a Twitter posting. Maj Chirchir also revealed the troops together with those of the Transitional Federal Government on Thursday killed six al Shabaab militants in an attack at Aglibax, north of Afmadhow.
In the ambush, two AK 47 rifles were, 200 rounds of ammunition and four rounds of motar bombs were recovered together with assorted drugs/medicine. The Kenyan forces, which entered Somalia in mid-October, will join African Union troops from Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti. The foreign troops are deployed in Somalia alongside government soldiers and Ethiopian forces, which separately entered Somalia in December, in pursuit of the Islamist al Shabaab militia that the U.S. says has links to al-Qaeda. The move will enlarge the AMISON from the current 12,000 troops to 17,000 troops.
Key Headlines
- Somali govt. to boost energy ties to Puntland Somaliland (Radio Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab says Turkey wants to colonize Somalia (Bariga Afrika Radio Kulmiye Somali Chanel TV)
- MPs elders warn over replacing Somali ambassador to Kenya (Shabelle Bariga Afrika)
- Liberated areas of Somalia pose serious political challenges (VOA News)
- Kenyan troops in Somalia to join AMISOM next week (Standard)
- Fighting in Lower Juba claims five (Somalia Report Radio Kulmiye Shabelle)
- Stakeholders meet in Cape Town to discuss safety of Somalis in South Africa ( Radio Bar-kulan)
- US pledges long-term help for Horn hunger (AFP)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali govt. to boost energy ties to Puntland, Somaliland
09 Mar – Source: Radio Shabelle – 114 words
Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed said on Friday his government will boost ties with Puntland, Somaliland administrations in the country. While addressing crowd marking Women’s day on 8th March in the capital, Mogadishu, president Ahmed said that his government is committed to have closer ties with Puntland and Somaliland administrations to reunite the country after the long running conflict.
Mr. Ahmed noted that tangible results to achieve Somalis solution have been gained from the UN-sponsored consultative meeting on Somalia held in Mogadishu and Garowe town as well as London conference with Officials from more than 40 head of states and aid agencies.
Al Shabaab says Turkey wants to colonize Somalia
09 Mar – Source: Bariga Afrika, Radio Kulmiye, Somali Chanel TV – 116 words
The Spokesman for al Qaeda-linked group, al Shabaab Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage accused the Turkish government of destabilizing Somalia, saying Turkey’s humanitarian involvement in Somali is generally baseless and it’s a conspiracy against the Somali people.
Rage told reporters that al Shabaab condemns the work of Turkish government in Somalia, “we are aware of Turkish work in Somalia, it is a hidden agenda, they want to paralyze our economic, they want to seize this country, their aim is to hold our nation in colony,” he said. The spokesman for al Shabaab has also send a message to Turkish government saying it has to abandon its plans in Somalia.
Well-known Somali singer calls on youths to reject al Shabaab
08 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Somalia Report – 60 words
Ahmed Naji Sa`ad, a prominent Somali singer called on Somali al-Shabaab fighters to quit the group and join the peace process. “They are our children who are misled by foreign individuals so its necessary to call on them to stop the problem.” He vowed that he will start a campaign advocating for the interests of the Somalia’s misled young generations.
MPs, elders warn over replacing Somali ambassador to Kenya
09 Mar – Source: Shabelle, Bariga Afrika – 128 words
Somali parliamentarians and Hawiye clan elders have on Friday warned over replacing the country’s ambassador to the neighbouring Kenya, Mohammed Ali alias ‘America’. Ahmed Diriye Ali, the spokesman of Hawiye Traditional elders expressed concern over reports about the replacement of Somali ambassador to Kenya Mr. Mohammed whom he said is a nationalist. “Mohamed Ali was the one who brought back the building of Somali embassy in Kenya after being sold during the 20-years of anarchy, we really deplore the report about replacing him,” said Ahmed Diriye Ali.
Gunmen kill, injure civilians in Mogadishu
09 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 116 words
Unidentified Somali gunmen have shot dead an innocent civilian and injured another on Thursday night in the war-torn capital, Mogadishu, witnesses said on Friday. Residents of Hamar-Bile village in Mogadishu confirmed to Shabelle Media that two masked men armed with pistols overnight killed a well-known and highly respected cleric called Sheikh Mohammed in front of his business centre and injured another colleague in the area. Reports say the assailants immediately fled the scene. The identity and the motive of the gunmen are yet to be established.
Fighting in Lower Juba claims five
09 Mar – Source: Somalia Report, Radio Kulmiye, Shabelle – 221 words
At least five fighters were killed and one other injured after fighting between Transitional Federal Government (TFG) soldiers, backed by Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF) and the pro-government clan militias of Ras Kamboni battled al Shabaab insurgents in Hayo village in Lower Juba region on Thursday.
The fighting erupted when the allied forces launched an attack on the militant bases, including two military camps on the outskirts of Hayo. According to local residents the fighting was intense.
“The national forces attacked al-Shabaab bases and destroyed two military camps, which al Shabaab had used as re-grouping points,” a TFG military officer in Lower Juba told Somalia Report on the condition of anonymity, since he is not authorized to speak to the media. “One of our soldiers died and one other was injured. We killed four of the militants as well.”
TFG urges Turkish government to train Somali security officers
08 Mar – Source: Radio Moagadishu, Somalia Report – 58 words
The Somali government urged the Turkish government to train Somali security officers after holding talks between the two sides in Mogadishu on Thursday. TFG’s Internal and Security Minister Abdi Ali Hassan told Radio Mogadishu that they asked the Turkish authorities to train the security officers and he urged the Somali security officers to take advantage of this opportunity.
Somaliland vice president inaugurates 12 water wells
08 Mar – Source: Hadhwanaag Times, Horn Cable TV – 110 words
The vice president of Somaliland republic on Wednesday inaugurated some 12 water wells established in the Somaliland capital Hargeisa. The launching of these new wells are part of government plans to enlarge social services throughout the capital and other towns. Officials from Alfa Arabian Gulf, the company which is drilling the wells, were present at the occasion.
The establishment of these new wells was attended by the minister of water and minerals of the Somaliland, the deputy governor of Marodi Jeh, the mayor of Hargeisa and other officials. Speaking at the occasion, the vice president of Somaliland Abdurrahman Abdullahi Saili said that the United Arab Emirates has helped Somaliland to establish and drill these wells. He welcomed the move the UAE.
Stakeholders meet in Cape Town to discuss safety of Somalis in South Africa
09 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 404 words
A forum aimed at discussing ways to tackle attacks on Somali nationals and their business centres in South Africa was yesterday held in Khayelitsha, a black South African township on the outskirt of Western Cape city of Cape Town. The forum brought together members of the Somali Community and the host South African officials including regional Police officials. Participants discussed ways in which attacks on Somali-owned shops by armed South African gangs can be averted in the near future.
Speaking at the forum, South African spokesperson to minister and deputy minister of police, Zweli Mnisi, said his government is committed in safeguarding the lives and properties of Somali asylum seekers in the country. Mnisi urged the native South Africans to desist from harming their fellow Africans from Somalia who sought refuge in the country. Western Cape’s deputy chairman for the Somali community, Abdulkadir Khalif Mohamed, told Bar-kulan that local South African businessmen attending the forum accused their Somali counterparts of selling cheap goods and opening several shops in locations outside several major towns in the country.
Somalis in the country have been targeted by armed locals who loot their property while sometimes shooting shop-owners inside Black South African townships. The rise in human rights abuse and theft cases against Somali nationals are due to the fact that Somali businessmen keep their cash in shops with poor security measures, according to a report released by South African police late last month.
The report also says that Somali shops are located far away from major cities which make them vulnerable to attacks and robbery. Many thousands of Somalis fled famine and warfare at home, braving a treacherous journey across the continent to reach South Africa, with most of the Somali population in South Africa living in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. The Department of Home Affairs, in charge of registering refugees and asylum seekers has earlier last year revealed that there were more than 32,000 documented Somalis living in South Africa, according to the BBC.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan troops in Somalia to join AMISOM next week
09 Mar – Source: Standard – 350 words
Kenyan troops in Somalia are set to join the African Union (AU) force fighting militant Islamist next week, military spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir has revealed. Maj Chirchir did not reveal the exact day when it will happen but indicated the rehatting will take place next week.
“Rehatting the much awaited green berets likely to finally get to the ground/individual soldiers next week…..we are firmly in AMISOM,” he said in a Twitter posting. Maj Chirchir also revealed the troops together with those of the Transitional Federal Government on Thursday killed six al Shabaab militants in an attack at Aglibax, north of Afmadhow.
In the ambush, two AK 47 rifles were, 200 rounds of ammunition and four rounds of motar bombs were recovered together with assorted drugs/medicine. The Kenyan forces, which entered Somalia in mid-October, will join African Union troops from Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti.
The foreign troops are deployed in Somalia alongside government soldiers and Ethiopian forces, which separately entered Somalia in December, in pursuit of the Islamist al Shabaab militia that the U.S. says has links to al-Qaeda. The move will enlarge the AMISON from the current 12,000 troops to 17,000 troops.
Somalia mission boosted
08 Mar – Source: KTN TV – 75 words
The European Union has pledged to increase its funding for AMISOM forces in Somalia by 100 million Euros up to 2013, and strengthen its military presence in the horn of Africa up to 2014 to help contain the threats posed by terror and piracy groups. This was agreed on when the president of the European council Herman van Rompuy disclosed this at a meeting with Prime Minister Raila Odinga at the council’s headquarters in Brussels.
Woman wanted for terror links fled to Somalia
08 Mar – Source: Standard – 400 words
Police have said a wanted British woman believed to be the widow of one of the July 7, 2005, London bombers has fled to Somalia and is more than three months pregnant. Intelligence reports show Samantha Lewthwaite fled to Somalia after evading a police dragnet in Mombasa last December in which her terror accomplices were arrested. Police, who are still combing the Coast, believe a Kenyan who is responsible for the pregnancy also fled Mombasa. She was part of a group of British citizens and other foreign nationals who arrived in Kenya last year to plan a bomb attack at the Coast over Christmas and New Year celebrations.
An official aware of investigations and hunt of Lewthwaite said she was in charge of finances for the planned attack and was fundraising for the group. The officer asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue. Lewthwaite is the widow of Jermaine Lindsay, one of the bombers who took part in the London attack that killed 52 people and wounded more than 700. She was connected to the aide of East Africa’s top al Qaeda operative. Both men were killed in Somalia last year.
Anti-Terrorism Police Unit officers suspect Lewthwaite was working with Musa Hussein Abdi, the Kenyan man who was shot dead with al-Qaeda operative Fazul Abdullah Mohammed in Somalia in last June.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
US pledges long-term help for Horn hunger
09 Mar – Source: AFP – 376 words
US officials pledged Thursday to work for permanent solutions to ease hunger in the Horn of Africa, warning that Somalia remained a major crisis even though its famine is officially over. The United Nations estimates that tens of thousands died in the half-year famine. The world body said on February 3 that famine no longer existed but that at least 2.34 million people — a third of Somalia — needed support.
US officials, testifying before Congress, credited better rains for the improved conditions and said the ultimate solution was to bring stability to lawless Somalia, where al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels had hindered foreign aid. “The rains ahead are uncertain and we have to underscore that, even as famine has abated, the situation is still one of the most severe crises globally,” said Nancy Lindborg, a senior official at the US Agency for International Development.
Lindborg said that the United States and other major donors would meet in Kenya in late March to support longer-term Horn of Africa plans, which have included vaccinating livestock and encouraging alternative livelihoods.
Liberated areas of Somalia pose serious political challenges
08 Mar – Source: VOA News – 408 words
Regional military forces battling al-Shabaab militants in Somalia are leaving behind political vacuums in liberated regions. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and foreign powers say they want local administrations to set up in these areas, but it is hard to determine which of these will be reliable and trustworthy.
The international community is following closely the events unfolding in central and southern Somalia, as al Shabaab loses more ground to forces from the Somali government and the African Union mission, known asAMISOM. Foreign governments invested in Somalia’s political stability say it is important to see the quick establishment of local authorities in areas liberated from al Shabaab.
The U.S. government is one of the major parties supporting the political process in Somalia. U.S. policy is to give strong support to the federal government, while also expanding engagement with local authorities. The U.S. special representative for Somalia, James Swan, says the U.S. is listening to the concerns of community representatives in newly-liberated to try to understand the situation better.
“The situation in all these newly-captured areas, we think there has to be a strong linkage between both a bottom up approach in which the community itself selects leaders in which that community and whom that community has confidence as their representatives, and as people who can help advance the interests of that community,” said Swan.
But there is fear within these areas that some individuals will hijack the process of establishing local authority and administrations for their own purposes. ake, for example, the town of Baidoa, which was under the control of al Shabaab until Ethiopian troops pushed the group out last month. The operation to secure the town took place just a day before a conference in London on the future of Somalia.
Captain Adan Nur Adan, a member of parliament from Baidoa, says the timing may have been politically motivated to give Ethiopia a larger role in the talks. “Why did Ethiopian troops move 24 hours before London conference? Why didn’t they liberate Bakol which is very close to the Ethiopian boundaries before Baidoa itself? If you want to liberate an area, you need to have plan for that area, especially what you do after you liberate,” Adan said. “There is no plan still from the TFG and the Ethiopians.” Adan says a new administration could gain support of the community if AMISOM forces move in fast and establish peace. But already, rival factions are wrangling for control of Baidoa.
Angelina Jolie Champions Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Dr. Hawa Abdi
08 Mar – Source: the Daily Best – 574 words
The actor and humanitarian told the story of Dr. Hawa Abdi, the inspiring obstetrician whose medical camp in Somalia has saved thousands—but is now being overrun by militants. At the final onstage event of the night, Charlie Rose encouraged genocide survivor Sandra Uwiringiyimana to introduce Angelina Jolie, a woman whose spotlight, she says, has “taken justice to a whole new level” and has been able to provide hope for many people.
Jolie, who is also a Goodwill Ambassador and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, gave a testimonial about Dr. Hawa Abdi, the obstetrician and gynecologist whose clinic in Somalia has been a haven for thousands of people since its founding in 1983. Dr. Abdi came to last year’s Women in the World summit as an icon for a peaceful society, and her story “illuminates the nightmare of tens of millions around the world,” said Jolie, “the internally displaced and the ones homeless within their homelands.”
After more than two decades of murder, rape, disease, and most recently, famine, Somalia still only knows violence. But the camp was operated with strict rules of conduct, overseen by Dr. Abdi and her two daughters, both doctors themselves. Despite facing many obstacles, it was encroached only once, when militants invaded and took Dr. Abdi hostage. With the force of her moral authority, she lectured her own captors: “What have you ever done for Somalia?” Dr. Abdi was freed.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
What is wrong with Mahiga?
08 Mar – Source: Nabad News – 740 Words
This 67 Years old man was born in Tanzania. In the year 1971 Mahiga earned a Bachelor of Arts (Education) at the University of East Africa located in Dar as Salaam Mr. Mahiga completed his Masters of Arts at the University of Toronto where He also received his PhD in International Relations in the year 1975.Mahiga is a former ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United Nations.
Augustine P. Mahiga is the current United Nations Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia, positions to which he was appointed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on June 9, 2010.
The political frustration
Since appointed to this office Mahiga has been in a political turmoil where he conflicted with many political parties and personnel. Mahiga was accused by different Somali politicians that he is part of the Somali problem; many others accused him that he is even trying to dictate the Somali top leaders like the president and the prime minster.
Speaking to Somalia Report website, UN envoy to Somalia Ambassador Mahiga criticized some Somali MPs who have created a crisis in TFG parliament, saying: “These people have no future…These people will have to protect themselves against the ICC [International Criminal Court]“. This is a political Foul to my View.
In another political foul Mahiga Speaking about ex-TFG Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, Ambassador Mahiga said: “Farmajo is fighting tooth and nail to comeback on a stage …any savvy politician starts by controlling parliament. And we have evidence of him [Farmajo] even bringing forward some people to contest the Speaker position.”
Some members of the Somali parliament criticized him as much as they could, some even sent a letter to Ban Ki moon where they asked him to appoint a new envoy to Somalia “Since Mr. Mahiga Failed to perform his duties we hereby ask your honorable, general Secretary of united nation Mr. Ban Ki Moon to Appoint new Envoy to Somalia “Reads the letter addressed to ban Ki moon.
Some times back when Mahiga was asked abut his interest in Somalia he didn’t answer the question as required but he Said “Politically, intellectually, all my adult life I’ve been involved with it intellectually. I’m an academic, teaching at the University of Dar es Salaam in issues of regional integration and conflict resolution. This has been my preoccupation, and frankly whether I worked for the UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees) in some of the most persistent conflict areas — in Liberia, in the Great Lakes — I feel that peace is a commodity that needs to be treasured and brought anywhere.
The Ala Sheik Group!
Lastly Augustine P. Mahiga Made Remarks that triggered Mr. Sheikh Sharif sheikh Ahmed, his advisors, and Followers.
Mr. Mahiga talking to Somalia report he said “Ala-Sheikh group is back in power…The Ala-Sheikh group by definition never wanted any power sharing, they are against the Roadmap…They are not different from Al Shabab, except they don’t take up arms.” He added “…they have just created a forum… an Islamic organization which they are going to transform into a political party.”
The President of Somalia Mr. Sharif was angered by Mahiga’s remarks, he held a press conference in Mogadishu Somalia where he busted his anger and made some comments about Mahiga’s remarks.
When Sheikh Sharif was asked a question regarding the Ala sheikh group being mentioned by the United Nations Special Representative, he said “If Mahiga said those words, then ‘his clothes have fallen off’ and I do not wish to add more,” which sheik Sharif meant that if mahiga said so, then shame on him.
Who are these Ala Sheikh Groups? This is the question many politicians are asking, to my view when Mahiga mentioned this name he meant the members of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) who joined the Somali government and held top positions.
Within few intervals, ex-Prime Minister Farmajo formed Tayo Party and ex Minister of information Mr. Dahir Ghelle formed Daljir Forum. Both men are closely associated with President Sharif’s inner circle, and analysts believe that these political parties are part of Ala-Sheikh group’s hidden plans to return to Villa Somalia after the end of the transition period In August 2012.
Mahiga attacked everybody he could; he even threatened some political members that he will take them to court. But the future of the Ala sheikh group and also the future of Augustine P. Mahiga are still unclear.
“Tribal and ethnic tension has caused bloodshed all over the continent, not just in the Horn. The linguistic differences, ethnic variances, and cultural distinctions between tribes (even those in close proximity) can be stark. This doesn’t excuse tribal and ethnic tension, but it does help explain it. But not in Somalia. Even with its small, disadvantaged minority groups Somalia is one of the most homogenous places in Africa. To outsiders the differences between the four major clans are seemingly inconsequential; they share a common Samaal heritage and all speak various dialects of the same Cushitic language. It is not ethnic or tribal tension that is the crux in Somalia—it is the clan. This means blood, honor, and justice—encompassed in the Somali word heer.”
Somalia: Between the Clan and Nationhood
08 Mar – Source: World Policy Blog – 1094 Words
Somalia’s coastline is beautiful, with long stretches of unspoiled beach and sparkling waves. I mention to a friend that while the city was hot, there weren’t many mosquitoes. “You know a city has issues when even the mosquitoes have bailed,” he replies. When you hear the words “hopeful” and “Somalia” in the same sentence it’s usually a reference to Somaliland–an autonomous region in Somalia’s northwest. The rest of the country is largely viewed as an ungovernable basket case that the international community attempts to keep an unsteady lid on.
This is not entirely fair. Things are starting to feel cautiously optimistic in Mogadishu. Still, one main obstacle lies in the way of turning Somalia into a modern nation-state, and it’s not what most people think. The militant Islamist group Shabab is on its heels. After many recent setbacks, the group announced its “formal” affiliation with al Qaeda last month. But the world should take this for what it is—an act of desperation.
“But there is fear within these areas that some individuals will hijack the process of establishing local authority and administrations for their own purposes.Take, for example, the town of Baidoa, which was under the control of al Shabaab until Ethiopian troops pushed the group out last month. The operation to secure the town took place just a day before a conference in London on the future of Somalia.Captain Adan Nur Adan, a member of parliament from Baidoa, says the timing may have been politically motivated to give Ethiopia a larger role in the talks.”
“Yet today there are clear positives from Uganda’s role in Somalia that cannot be ignored. This week Turkish Airlines became the first international airline to land in Mogadishu in 20 years. Somalis are understandably ecstatic at this development. Ever since al Shabaab fled Mogadishu in August 2011, foreign dignitaries have been flocking to the capital, symbolising a return to normalcy. Only last month, a conference was convened in London to help Somalia get back on its feet.”
Somalia Mission Has Paid Some Dividends
07 Mar – Source: The Observer/ All Africa – 322 Words
Five years ago, when the Ugandan army contingent arrived in Mogadishu, no foreigner dared visit the war-battered capital of Somalia. The UPDF had come in as part of the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) to protect the western-backed but fledgling Transitional Federal Government (TFG), which controlled just a few streets in chaotic Mogadishu. Much of the city remained in the hands of the insurgent al Shabaab.
Liberated Areas of Somalia Pose Serious Political Challenges
08 Mar – Source: Hedge Analyst News/VOA – 461 Words
Regional military forces battling al Shabaab militants in Somalia are leaving behind political vacuums in liberated regions. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and foreign powers say they want local administrations to set up in these areas, but it is hard to determine which of these will be reliable and trustworthy.
The international community is following closely the events unfolding in central and southern Somalia, as al-Shabab loses more ground to forces from the Somali government and the African Union mission, known asAMISOM. Foreign governments invested in Somalia’s political stability say it is important to see the quick establishment of local authorities in areas liberated from al Shabaab.
A Salute to Women Power!
08 Mar – Source: Ygoy
Every year on 8th March, we all come together to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). The day marks a common day globally, for applauding and recognizing women’s achievements. Also, the day highlights gender inequalities and other women-related issues. Many fearless individuals and organizations work tirelessly to support these issues through a multitude of actions, causes and initiatives.
Let’s celebrate the power of womanhood by discovering the works of few fearless women – women who did not bend to the conforms of the world! They had the courage of conviction to stand up and make their voices heard! They fostered a new generation! I feel so proud and gratified to write about these inspirational women. They are the torchbearers who are not afraid to break the mold and strive for success. Here’s my ode to these powerful and fearless women!
Hawa Abdi – Somalia
Dr. Hawa Abdi studied medicine in a land far away from home – Ukraine. She returned to her homeland to become the one of the first female gynecologists. Later, she did her graduation from law school at Somali National University. She then opened a one-room clinic which later emerged as the Hawa Abdi hospital and camp. In her hospital, nearly 100,000 Somalis receive food and medical care. Surprisingly, most of them are treated as refugees in their own country. No matter to which clan they belong, everyone is treated equally with love and respect!
Top tweets
@MinisterHashi This day next year women in #Somalia will occupy at least 30% of the seats in the new parliament. A major victory for women everywhere. #IWD.
@WomenInWorldOrg Angelina Jolie is honoring Dr. Hawa Abdi and her phenomenal work in #somalia #wiw12.
@KoenaRabbi Ok Africa is not poor *continues looking at pics of kids in somalia* RT @iamReags: As a African you can’t say … m.tmi.me/mLjaZ.
@ojosso Kenyan troops in Somalia to join Amisom next week via @StandardKenya.
@denizzfirat #TURKEY mediates between #terrorist
@yassinomar Ahhh. Mogadishu is now two flights away. Chicago to Istanbul. Istanbul to Mogadishu. pic.twitter.com/
Image of the day
As world marked International Women’s Day, calls for greater roles for Somali Women in National Affairs were echoed across the Horn of African nation.