May 2, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Suicide bomber kills 4, including legislators
02 May – Source: New York Times / NPR/ABC/AP/BBC- 77 words
At least four people were killed, including members of the transitional parliament, and at least a dozen were wounded after a suicide bomber blew himself up on Tuesday at a cafeteria in the central Somali town of Dhusamareb. Analysts blamed al Shabaab, an insurgent group that has claimed responsibility for several previous suicide bombings.
Key Headlines
- TFG forces in Bakol region prevent attacks by al Qaeda militants (Source: Radio Mogadishu)
- ‘Spoilers could face sanctions’ says TFG spokesman (Source: Garowe Online/Bar-kulan)
- PM visits proposed accommodation sites for Somali elders (Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan)
- Al Shabaab takes over privately-owned radio station in Gedo (Source: Bar-kulan)
- Security forces destroy illegal buildings in Bakaro market (Source: Radio Mogadishu)
- Peace ‘spoilers’ threaten Somalia progress (Source: Capital News)
PRESS STATEMENT
AU, UN, IGAD joint warning letter to the parties
01 May – Source: UNPOS – 432 words
We have now entered a critical juncture of the transitional period of the peace process in Somalia. As we move closer to key benchmarks, such as the convening of the Constituent Assembly, adoption of a new Federal provisional Constitution, selection of a new Parliament, we remain greatly concerned that the Roadmap continues to be jeopardized by the actions of individuals and groups in and out of Somalia working to undermine the fragile progress we have collectively made in recent months. We have come too far and too much is at stake for us to allow the process to backslide at the exact moment Somalia has its best opportunity for peace in decades.
SOMALI MEDIA
TFG forces in Bakol region prevent attacks by al Qaeda militants
01 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 91 words
Fighting between Somali national forces, backing Ethiopian troops, and al Shabaab has occurred yesterday night in the outskirts of Hudur, the capital of Bakol region.
Somali lawmaker, Hon. Mohamed Ahmed Lahos told Radio Mogadishu that national forces supported by Ethiopian soldiers prevented an attack by Al-qaeda Somali fighters who attempted to attack Somali forces.
‘Spoilers could face sanctions’ says TFG spokesman
01 May – Source: Garowe Online/Bar-kulan – 332 words
The TFG’s spokesman said that politicians who are against the August deadline for the end of the TFG could be sanctioned or possibly be tried in court.
Spokesman for the TFG Abdirahman Omar Osman (Yarisow) spoke to local media yesterday in Mogadishu where he said, “The TFG and the international community have acknowledged that those who do not want to see the end of the transitional government in August need to be added to the spoiler list. Those in this spoiler list could face sanctions and be tried by international courts.”
PM visits proposed accommodation sites for Somali elders
01 May – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan – 113 words
PM Abdiweli Mohamed Ali on Monday visited the proposed accommodation venues for traditional elders attending the upcoming constitutional meeting in Mogadishu. The PM was accompanied by members of his cabinet ministers and the speaker of the parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan.
Suicide bomb blast hits hotel in Somalia, two MPs believed dead
01 May – Source: Shabelle/Hiiraan Online/Barkulan – 117 words
A suicide bomb blast ripped through a hotel in a central Somali town, causing several fatalities, including parliamentarians, witnesses said yesterday. Witnesses at the scene said the apparent suicide attack took place at a café near a hotel in the heart of Dhusamareb town and that two MPs, Yusuf Mire Seerar and Abdiweli Sheik Mohamud and two guards were believed to be amongst the dead.
Government military commanders say they have surrounded Afmadow
01 May- Source: Radio Risaala- 138 words
Mahmud Farah, one of the military commanders in lower Jubba area told Risaala news station that they have completely surrounded Afmadow and have put it under siege
He said the aim for this military move is to seize Afmadow from al Shabaab who are in control.Mahmud Farah said they are expecting Afmadow to fall into their hands within two days.
Al Shabaab takes over privately-owned radio station in Gedo
01 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 165 words
Al Shabaab militants in Gedo region have reportedly taken over an FM radio staion in Bardera town, south-west Somalia. Armed militants entered Radio Markabley’s compound early yesterday, ordered the staff to vacate and demanded keys to the studios and other offices in the compound. The militant group immediately rebranded the station to Radio Andalus, a pro-rebel FM station based in the port city of Kismayo, according to one of the staffs working in the station.
Puntland security forces capture men with explosives
01 May – Source: Shabelle – 101 words
The police forces of Puntland yesterday said they had seized men carrying a number of explosive devices in Bosaso security operations. “We discovered a large amount of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and spoilers against the peace at some villages and neighborhoods of Bossaso town on Tuesday morning during the search operations. The forces will not stop hunting down such people all over the region,” the officials said.
http://shabelle.net/2012/05/
Another candidate declares his interest in Galmudug’s top seat
01 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 132 words
A third presidential aspirant for Galmudug regional state has joined the growing list of candidates eyeing the regional top seat ahead of the forthcoming August election in the region.
Abdirisack Hussein Gedi, who jetted in Galkayo on Monday, is said to be one of the elites from Galmudug region abroad. He is looking to win the regional top seat to replace Mr. Alin whose term expires next August. On his arrival at Galkayo airport, Gedi was warmly received by local supporters wearing T-shirts bearing his portraits.
11 killed in bloody battle against Somali, Ethiopian forces
01 May – Source: Mareeg Online/Somaliland Press – 203 words
At least 11 people have been killed in the latest clashes between al Shabaab insurgents and Somali and Ethiopian troops in Somalia’s southern of Bakol, locals said yesterday.
Residents said that the clashes began after al Shabaab insurgents stormed the district of Hudur, 420 kilometers (260 miles) southwestern Mogadishu, where Ethiopian and TFG troops were stationed.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Security forces destroy illegal buildings in Bakaro market
30 Apr- Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA- 169 words
The TFG’s security forces have launched a significant operation destroying illegal buildings in Bakara market in Mogadishu.
This task is a joint operation by security forces of the Somali government and Benadir regional administration clearing narrow streets in the market and widening some of them by using bulldozers and tractors.
Chief Commander of Somali national security agency, Mr. Khalif Ahmed Erag told reporters in Bakara yesterday that the government and Bakara traders agreed to remove illegal business centers in the area and reopen all streets in the market.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Peace ‘spoilers’ threaten Somalia progress
01 May – Source: Capital News – 162 words
Peace “spoilers” threaten to wreck fragile progress in war-torn Somalia, the United Nations, African Union and East Africa’s main diplomatic body IGAD warned Tuesday. In a rare joint statement, the three organisations said they were “greatly concerned” at efforts to undermine a “roadmap” signed by Somalia’s disparate leaders, the latest effort to bring peace after more than two decades of war.
Nine pupils injured in dash for freedom from Somali Islamic centre
01 May- Source: Africa Review- 176 words
Police are investigating an incident in which guards shot and wounded nine pupils as they escaped from a rehabilitation centre in Somalia’s Bossasso Town.
The incident occurred at Al-Badri Madrasa and Rehabilitation Centre and affected mainly the children brought by the diaspora families to be taught Islamic religion and culture.
Bossaso, 1,500km from Mogadishu, is the commercial capital and main port town of Puntland, the semi-autonomous state in northeastern Somalia.
Somalis were ‘forced to hijack ship’
01 May- Source: the National (UAE)- 437 words
Ten Somalis who hijacked the UAE ship MV Arrilah were forced to carry out the attack, their lawyer claimed today.
Ahmed Al Othali told the Federal Court the men could not be held responsible for the attack because their boss – an Iranian man called Abdulmajeed – had threatened them with death if they did not do so.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Suicide bomber kills 4, including legislators
02 May – Source: New York Times / NPR/ABC/AP/BBC- 77 words
At least four people were killed, including members of the transitional parliament, and at least a dozen were wounded after a suicide bomber blew himself up on Tuesday at a cafeteria in the central Somali town of Dhusamareb. Analysts blamed al Shabaab, an insurgent group that has claimed responsibility for several previous suicide bombings.
UK arrests 7 on suspicion of funding terror
01 May – Source: AP- 346 words
Seven people have been arrested in Britain on suspicion of financing terrorism in Somalia by smuggling a leaf that can produce a mild high into the United States, officials said Tuesday.
Scotland Yard said the group was arrested as part of an operation that involved Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative branch of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
UN and partners issue ‘unambiguous’ warning against Somali peace process spoilers
01 May – Source: UN Center – 377 words
The United Nations and its partners in Somalia today warned individual groups against jeopardizing a roadmap for ending the transition in the east African country, adding that sanctions and restrictions could be imposed on those who seek to obstruct the peace process.
“We have now entered a critical juncture of the transitional period of the peace process in Somalia,” UNPOS, AMISOM and IGAD said in joint statement.
US to seek death penalty in Somali yacht hijacking
01 May – Source: USA Today/AP- 685 words
KNorfolk, Virginia — Federal prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty against three Somalis charged with fatally shooting four Americans aboard a hijacked yacht last year.
Ahmed Muse Salad, Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar could also face the death penalty on numerous other charges related to the February, 2011 hijacking.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Football can play a key role in the public integration and prevents young boys from taking up arms, drug abuse or falling into other kinds of crimes”
Football fights young men against piracy and taking up arms
01 May- Source: somgoal -580 words
With Football used as a tool of peace building in Somalia for the past 22 years of lack a functioning central government, the most interested sporting event is currently playing a key role in the fight against piracy in the war-devastated country under the theme of fight piracy football tournament.
Through the sub regional football committee, the Somali Football Federation is very hopeful that the football tournament which started in the coastal town of Bosasso over the weekend will help many young men to refrain from piracy or having guns to take part in fighting in their areas.
The tournament which assembled young boys representing 14 districts in the Bari region which is the largest region in Somalia is mainly intended to encourage young boys from piracy and help them refrain from the armed confrontations in their districts.