April 24, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Uganda deploys additional 1,700 troops in volatile Somalia

23 Apr – Source: Xinhua – 200 words

Uganda has deployed an additional 1,700 troops in volatile Somalia, bringing the total number of Ugandan peacekeepers in the Horn of African country to 8,000, a military spokesman said here on Monday.

Col. Felix Kulayigye, spokesman of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces, told Xinhua by telephone that the troops will stay in the Somali capital Mogadishu as their colleagues advance deep into hostile territory.

Key Headlines

Progress Report on National Security (Source: TFG)
Draft constitution delivered on schedule (Source: Raxanreeb)
Landmine explosion targets Ethiopian troops in western Somalia (Source: Radio Shabelle)
Gedo elders call for immediate humanitarian aid ( Source: Radio Bar-kulan)
A Somali national burned to death in South Africa (Source: Radio Risaala)
Somaliland passes central banking law eyes foreign banks (Source: Reuters)

PRESS RELEASE

Progress Report on National Security

23 Apr – Source: TFG/ Jowhar Online – 253 words

The National Security Committee met yesterday to discuss the security situation of the country as the committee obtained progress reports from heads of country security agencies. The meeting emphasized on the importance of enhancing coordination among government security agencies and urged for the effective implementation of the national security plan to ensure the safety of Somali citizens.

Chaired by President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, the committee welcomed the progress made so far on the security front and urged government security agencies to capitalize on the recent gains.

The Committee:

1. Noted the improvements made on the counter terrorism strategy that led to the sharp decline of suicide bombings and targeted assassinations in government-controlled areas.

2. Reviewed the government plan to enhance the security of public places, including official sites where the government has arranged to convene the conference for the traditional elders.

3. Reiterated progress made on the political front in bringing together 135 traditional elders that will select delegations for the National Constituent Assembly.

4. Reaffirmed the commitment to secure the venue where the National Constitution Assembly will be held as scheduled on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.

5. Encouraged the leadership of the Ministry of Interior and National Security for its nation-wide campaign to end the reign of Al Qaeda terrorism in Somalia.

The committee agreed to expand the security operations with focus on the recently liberated regions of the country. The security challenges in the capital are largely met; however, the committee recognized the need to remain on the offense so as to eradicate terrorist groups across the country.

SOMALI MEDIA

Draft constitution delivered on schedule

23 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 239 words

Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has confirmed the finalization of the draft constitution on 20 April 2012 by the Independent Federal Constitution Commission (IFCC) and Committee of Experts (CoE) in conformity with the Charter stipulations, the Roadmap timelines and the Garowe principles. The efforts of the TFG and the IFCC and the CoE was a culmination of eight years of sustained concentration on the constitutional making process, marred by failures, setbacks and successes.

Landmine explosion targets Ethiopian troops in western Somalia

23 Apr – Source: Radio Shabelle/Garowe Online – 121 words

An explosion causing deaths and injuries took place in central Beled Weyne town today. The explosion targeted Ethiopian troops who were on foot escorting vehicles delivering water to their quarters.

Reports by eyewitnesses in Beled Weyne say that the remote-controlled landmine killed two Ethiopian soldiers and wounded a number of others.

Gedo elders call for immediate humanitarian aid

23 Apr – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 91 words

Elders in south-west Somali region of Gedo are calling for immediate humanitarian assistance to locals facing hunger in parts of the region. Muhumed Ali, one of the local elders in Beled-Hawo town said locals in the area need immediate humanitarian assistance and urged aid agencies to intervene the situation. He said the affected areas include Jiracle, Kamoro kof and Tula Amin.

Italy Ambassador visits former pirate hub Eyl

23 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 78 words

Italian Ambassador to Somalia Andrea Mazzella accompanied by his deputy visited the historic coastal city of Eyl, Garowe reports. Amb. Mazzella accompanied by his deputy ambassador Giuseppe Caposeno Torres visited the former pirate hub Eyl, located 155 kilometers east of Garowe. Amb. Mazzella spent two days in Eyl and met with district authorities, community leaders and civil society groups in Eyl.

A Somali national burned to death in South Africa

23 Apr- Source: Radio Risaala – 152 words

Reports reaching us from South Africa say that a Somalia youth was set ablaze by a gang of South Africans. Sayid Omar Mohamed confirmed to Risaala Radio that indeed three Somali young business men were ambushed in their shop by a gang of South Africans. Two of the Somali youth managed to escape while the third one was captured, poured with petrol and then set ablaze.

REGIONAL MEDIA

US Embassy warns of Nairobi terror plot

23 Apr – Source: Capital News/ Daily Nation/Bloomberg – 347 words

The US Embassy in Nairobi has warned of impending terror attacks targeting hotels in Nairobi and government buildings. An advisory from the embassy said the timing of the attacks was unclear, but intelligence information showed the planning was in the final stages. American nationals have been cautioned to remain aware of their surroundings at all times and be vigilant of their personal security.

Yemeni fishing boat freed from pirates

23 Apr – Source: Yemen Times – 333 words

Forces of the Yemeni Coast Guard, in coordination with Spanish Naval Forces in the Gulf of Aden, freed a Yemeni fishing boat from Somali pirates on Friday, 42 miles off the coast of Al-Mahra governorate, south of the port of Nashtun. The boat, which was abducted by Somali pirates on March 26, has been returned to its owner in Al-Mahra, after being brought in to the port of Nashtun, Shuja’a Mahdi, commander of Yemeni Coast Guard Operations on Saturday.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Uganda deploys additional 1,700 troops in volatile Somalia

23 Apr – Source: Xinhua 200 – words

Somaliland passes central banking law, eyes foreign banks

23 Apr – Source: Reuters – 178 words

Somaliland has passed a law that formally establishes a central bank, and is now poised to pass another to set up commercial banks in a bid to attract foreign lenders to start operating in the self-declared country by 2013. Somaliland, a breakaway state in the northeast of Somalia, remains unrecognised internationally.

It has no formal banking sector and its people rely heavily on remittances from diaspora communities in Europe, North America and the United Arab Emirates, as there are no ATMs or loan facilities.

Pirates release seized Italian tanker

23 Apr – Source: Reuters – 58 words

Pirates who hijacked the Italian chemical tanker Enrico Ievoli off the coast of Oman late last year have released the 16,631 tonne vessel and its crew, Italy’s foreign ministry said on Monday. The vessel, with a crew of six Italians, five Ukrainians and seven Indians, was seized in the Arabian Sea during the early hours of Dec. 27.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Through murder and destruction, Alshabab and ASWJ want to make sure their position in Somali politics to be recognized. They are using Islam as a bargaining chip in the contest among other rival groups for
power in Somalia. Neither the Qur’an nor the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) justify their cruel crimes. Not only that, but what these two groups stand for is even against the secondary sources
of Islamic law.”

Al Shabaab & ASWJ: Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right

23 Apr- Source: Dhanaan- 2043 Words

I have no doubt that the absolute majority of Somalis will agree with me that both al-Shabaab and the so-called Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a (ASWJ) have ruined the image of Islam in Somalia and beyond. Somalis have been Muslims since the time when the Islamic faith was first introduced into Somalia in the first century of the Islamic calendar.
And since then, Islam became a unifying force among Somalis, not only in religious matters, but in all other aspects of life including political matters. But nowadays, it is difficult to understand the killing of a Somali by another Somali in the name of Islam in a country where the entire population are Muslims.