May 25, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Shabelle journalist assassinated in Dharkenley district

24 May – Source: Bar-kulan/Shabelle/Mareeg Online/Garowe Online/Jowhar Online – 104 words

A Somali journalist, Ahmed Adow Anshur has been shot dead on Thursday afternoon in Suq Bole neighborhood in Dharkeynley district, Banadir region. Ahmed Adow was a journalist working for Shabelle radio and came under fire from unidentified gunmen. The perpetrators behind the murder of the reporter escaped from the scene moments after the incident.

Key Headlines

NUSOJ condemns Journalist killing in Mogadishu (Source: Radio Kulmiye)
Hundreds flee to Somali capital to escape fresh fighting (Source: Shabelle/Mareeg Online)
40 students graduate from Nugal University in Las Anod 9Source: Bar-kulan)
President Museveni UK security advisor discuss Somalia (Source: New Vision)
It’s time to rebuild Somalia says President Kibaki (Source: Star)
Somalia forces rein in al Shabaab ( Source: Aljazeera Video)
Somalia wages war against al Shabaab (Source: UPI News
As troops advance in Somalia thousands flee from rebel-held corridor (Source: Washington Post/AFP)

PRESS RELEASE

UN Special Representative of the SG for Somalia expresses dismay over the murder of Somali Journalist

24 May – Source: UNPOS – 298 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga, is dismayed to learn of the brutal murder of a Somali journalist today in Mogadishu. Shabelle Radio broadcaster Ahmed Addow Anshuur was gunned down and killed in Mogadishu on Thursday. He was the sixth journalist to be assassinated in Somalia this year.
“It is well known that Somali journalists have the most difficult working conditions in the world. But that does not make it any easier to accept when one is brutally killed. Ahmed Addow Anshuur was targeted in cold blood for carrying out his doing his job as a professional journalist, which is an essential element of a free and functioning society,”said Dr. Mahiga. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Somalia has been the second deadliest country for the media in 2012, following Syria.
“It is all the more poignant coming in wake of the Constitutional Conference on Freedom of Expression in which Somali leaders expressed their uncompromising support to press freedom,” added Dr. Mahiga. Last week, the Ministry for Constitutional Affairs and Reconciliation organized a two-day consultative conference on Freedom of Expression, Media Law and Transitional Justice in Mogadishu which made recommendations for the draft interim Constitution.
The discussions centered on the challenges to freedom of expression faced by civil society leaders and journalists and raised the need to enhance the judicial system to bring perpetrators before a court of law. The Somali Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ending the cycle of impunity against
journalists.
SRSG Mahiga offers his heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Mr. Anshuur and calls on the Somali authorities to investigate his death and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
“This cycle of violence must stop,” the SRSG stated.

SOMALI MEDIA

Shabelle journalist assassinated in Dharkenley district

24 May – Source: Bar-kulan/Shabelle/Mareeg Online/Garowe Online/Jowhar Online – 104 words

NUSOJ condemns journalist killing in Mogadishu

24 May- Source: Radio Kulmiye/ Radio Risaala- 139 words

The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) has strongly condemned the brutal killing of journalist Ahmed Adow Anshuur who was gunned down by a unknown assailiants in Mogadishu’s Dharkenley district while he was on his way home,

Hundreds flee to Somali capital to escape fresh fighting

24 May – Source: Shabelle/Mareeg Online – 105 words

Hundreds of families on Thursday, have began fleeing from locations along Afgoye corridor, to Mogadishu to escape fresh offensives against al Shabaab-held positions in Lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia, reports said. On Tuesday, May 23, 2012. African Union and Somali government troops stepped up their assault on al Shabaab militants in the capital’s northern outskirts, forcing hundreds of families to flee their makeshift homes and head for the city centre.

40 students graduate from Nugal University in Las Anod

24 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 82 words

Forty students on Thursday received their degrees after completing a 4-year degree course at Nugal University in Las Anod, Sool. A colorful graduation ceremony held in Las Anod was attended by regional administration officials, delegates from PSU University of Garowe, Burao University and civil society members. The students graduated from fields of Computer Science and Business Administration.

REGIONAL MEDIA

President Museveni, UK security advisor discuss Somalia

24 May – Source: New Vision – 456 words

The Somalis are in desperate need for support to establish a minimum recovery plan that includes maintaining peace, relief efforts, recovery of infrastructure such as health, education and reestablish production, President Yoweri Museveni has said.

It’s time to rebuild Somalia, says President Kibaki

24 May- Source: Star- 241 words

President Mwai Kibaki has called for the beginning of reconstructing Somalia and pledged Kenya’s support in the process. Kibaki has said the building of schools, hospitals and opening up Somalia’s hard to reach areas must start as soon as possible and urged refugees returning to Somalia after more than 20 years away to help rebuild the war-torn country.

Somalia forces rein in al Shabaab

24 May – Source: Aljazeera Video – 75 words

Islamist fighters on the defensive in Lower Shabelle region as AU peacekeepers and Somali troops gain ground.

A joint force of African Union peacekeepers and Somali government troops say they are gaining ground on al Shabaab fighters. And that is taking place in the strategic Lower Shabelle region.

Fighting has intensified in the region as al Shabaab pulls back from key towns close to the capital, Mogadishu.

Kenyan terror suspect kidnapped

24 May – Source: Standard – 830 words

A Kenyan who had been linked to Somalia’s to Al Shabaab Sylvester Owino Opiyo Musa Osodo is missing after he was allegedly kidnapped by unknown people in Molo. Opiyo was “carjacked” on Wednesday night at the junction of Molo-Mau Summit highway where a car he was driving had broken down.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

As troops advance in Somalia, thousands flee from rebel-held corridor

24 May – Source: Washington Post/AFP – 152 words

Thousands of people in speeding trucks or pulling carts piled high with clothes and furniture fled a region north of Mogadishu on Thursday amid the sounds of gunfire and explosions as government troops and their allies tried to take more ground from Islamist insurgents. The Afgoye corridor has been a shelter for hundreds of thousands of people seeking relief from violence that has plagued Mogadishu the last several years.

Somali journalist gunned down, sixth killed in 5 months

24 May – Source: ABC – 500 words

A local journalist was gunned down in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, becoming the sixth journalist killed so far this year and putting the east African nation on track to have its deadliest year ever for media workers.

Ahmed Addow Anshur, who worked at a local radio station, was murdered by four armed assailants on motorcycles near a market midday Wednesday, according to the National Union for Somali Journalists (NUSOJ). NUSOJ said the attackers escaped the scene and the motive for the killing is not yet known.

Somalia wages war against al Shabaab

24 May – Source: UPI News – 191 Words

The United Nations is concerned that Somali efforts to take on al Shabaab insurgents could trigger an escalation of the crisis in the war-torn country.

The U.N.-backed African Union Mission in Somalia is supporting Somalia forces in an operation aimed at taking on al Shabaab forces in Afgooye, a southern coastal city identified as a stronghold for the militant group.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“So should we be optimistic or pessimistic? I certainly think that the agreement in Addis Ababa marks a positive step. And political progress is critical to solidifying any military gains – if the government at the center is plagued by infighting and confusion, how can it establish a legitimate and continuous presence in newly conquered areas? For once, the politics and the conquests seem to be moving partly in sync. But this summer will put optimism to the test, as we see how papers signed in Ethiopia will translate into realities in Somalia.”

Somalia: A Political Agreement and a Military Offensive

24 May- Source: Sahel Blog-573 Words

Somalia took an important step this week in its bid for stability. In neighboring Ethiopia, Somali leaders have signed a deal setting August 20 as the date for a transition to a new government (presidential elections must take place before that date). Meanwhile, within Somalia, the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have launched a new offensive to capture territory from the rebel movement al Shabab, pushing into areas outside Mogadishu, where the TFG-AMISOM forces hope to take the towns of Elasha and Afgoye (map).