June 6, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia fighting kills at least 4 soldiers

05 Jun – Source: Shabelle/Hiiraan Online/Jowhar Online – 124 words

A TFG official says at least four soldiers were killed and many others injured after TFG soldiers exchanged gun fire in Afgoye district, 30 Kilometers north-west Mogadishu. Abdullah Ahmed, the district commissioner of Afgoye district, told reporters on Tuesday that the combat began around 10:30 pm local time on Monday night with both sides using both heavy and slight weapons during the clashes. “So far at least four soldiers have been killed and more than that number were also wounded in the fighting”.

Key Headlines

Somalia fighting kills at least 4 soldiers (Shabelle)
Allied forces move closer to Kismayo town (Bar-Kulan)
ASWJ claims victory over al Shabaab in Galgadud (Bar-Kulan)
Kenya targets to capture Kismayo within days (Radio Risaala)
One year on thousands flee Somalia every month but successes too (Reuters)
Kibaki commended for regional peace initiatives (Capital News)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia fighting kills at least 4 soldiers

05 Jun – Source: Shabelle/Hiiraan Online/Jowhar Online – 124 words

Allied forces move closer to Kismayo town

05 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 86 words

TFG and Kenyan forces today took over Bibi settlement, 75 kilometers from the port city of Kismayo, reports say. The allied forces engaged brief gun battle with al Shabaab militants few kilometres east of the settlement and later overran the rebel fighters. Bibi is just 45 kilometres from Afmadow town which was recently wrested control by the allied forces battling the outlawed militant group. Colonel Mohamed Abdullahi of the TFG told Bar-kulan that their forces took control of the area and are now advancing towards Kismayo town.

Former President of Somalia calls for the constitution to be based on the religion

05 Jun- Source: Radio Risaala- 166 words

Abdi Qaasim Salaad Hasan, one of the former presidents of Somalia, points out the need to base the new constitution of Somalia on the religion of Islam.
The former president said that the drafting of a new constitution is not an easy task and that the constitution goes through several procedures before it’s finally approved.
He also says that first and foremost the constitution should be based on the Islamic religion and a very experienced committee should be entrusted with the drafting of the constitution before it can be published and subjected to a referendum.

Puntland President’s delegation returns to Ethiopia after attending Istanbul Conference

05 Jun – Source: Garowe Online – 105 words

A delegation led by the President of Puntland State of Somalia H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole) returned to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the night of 4 June 2012 after attending the Istanbul Conference II on Somalia. The Puntland Government delegation attended the Istanbul Conference II on Somalia (31 May 2012 – 1 June 2012) after the Turkish Government prepared separate arrangements for a large delegation of consisting of government officials, traditional elders, civil society and private sector representatives from Puntland and Galmudug.

ASWJ claims victory over al Shabaab in Galgadud

05 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 67 words

Ahlu Sunna on Tuesday claimed it has inflicted heavy casualties on al Shabaab militant fighters in a clash that erupted in Guri-el and Elbur districts. Ahlu Sunna’s executive committee chairman, Mohamed Yussuf Hefow, claimed they killed dozens of militants and injured over 20 others during the operation.

Kenya targets to capture Kismayo within days

05 Jun- Source: Radio Risaala- 142 words

Kenya’s minister for Defense, Yusuf Haji, said that the Kenyan forces were now part and parcel of AMISOM adding that the Kenyan government will now be relieved from the burden and the cost of the war with al Shabaab.

The Kenyan soldiers will be earning their salaries from the African Union.
Kenya’s Minister for Defense, Yusuf Haji, declared that the Kenyan forces have made progress against the al Shabaab group and have seized numerous towns along the Kenya-Somali border.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kibaki commended for regional peace initiatives

05 Jun- Source: Capital News- 313 words

The International Conference on Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has commended President Mwai Kibaki for spearheading regional peace initiatives.
ICGLR Executive Secretary Alphonse Ntumba Luaba noted that Kenya, under the stewardship of President Kibaki, has played a leading role in the promotion of peace and stability particularly in Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

One year on, thousands flee Somalia every month, but successes too

05 Jun – Source: Reuters – 199 words

A year after troubled Somalia was ravaged by the worst drought in decades, no end seems in sight to more than two decades of suffering and Somalis continue to flee their country to escape conflict, human rights abuses and adverse weather conditions.

Horn Petroleum spuds Shabeel North well in Puntland, Somalia

05 Jun – Source: Pri-Inside – 152 words

Horn Petroleum Corporation (“Horn Petroleum” or the “Corporation”) (TSX VENTURE:HRN) is pleased to announce the commencement of drilling operations on the Shabeel North well in Puntland, Somalia, the second well in the current drilling campaign.

The Shabeel North well is targeting Upper Cretaceous Jesomma sands which had good oil and gas shows in the Shabeel well 3.5 kilometers to the south. Petrophysical analysis of downhole electrical logs in the Shabeel well indicated a potential pay zone in the Jesomma of up to 12 to 20 meters with an average porosity of 18 to 20%.

Al Qaeda’s No. 2 leader killed by drone strike, official says

June 6 – Source: CNN, AP, Reuters – 173 words

Abu Yahya al-Libi, the second most senior leader of al Qaeda, has been killed by a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

His death marks one of the most significant blows to al Qaeda since the U.S. military killed Osama bin Laden in a daring nighttime raid in Pakistan a year ago. Al-Libi was second-in-command behind al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took the helm after bin Laden’s death.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Kenya as such had planned the war and had their interests in Somalia carved out. Kenya had trained 4000 Somali troops and facilitated their arming. Kenya deployed these troops then sought pro-government militia alliances including the Ras-Kamboni brigade and ASWJ. These alliances have played the central role in shaping the future of the Somalia. Unfortunately, the military plan and exit strategy that Kenya used was not popular with the US, Britain, and France. They warned Kenya against attacking Somalia. The ramifications of this discontent may be playing out in the current AMISOM scenario.”

KDF Eye on Kismayo, the AMISOM Triangle Complex

05 June- Source: Intelligence Briefs-802 Words

The interest of strategic military players in Somalia particularly Uganda and Ethiopia are diverse. This diversity is explained by the lust for Kismayo, the last stronghold of the al Qaeda Affiliated al Shabaab. Kismayo lies in the sector commanded by the Kenyan defense forces. Ethiopia is not serving under AMISOM, hence its claim on Kismayo which is operated by Kenya Army is an offensive interest. Uganda and Burundi operate the Mogadishu and its neighboring districts hence their claim on Kismayo which miles away from the jurisdiction is also offensive.

Getting Somalia right: How to solve Somalia’s disorder?

June 5 – Source: Today Zaman, by Mehmet Özkan – 500 words

Since last year interest in the conflict in Somalia has been steadily increasing, but will this be enough to achieve a long-term and stable peace?

Turkey has just hosted the second İstanbul Conference on Somalia, after hosting the first one in 2010. In February, the British government organized its own international meeting on Somalia. Considering all these developments, one can identify changing dynamics in the Somalia problem, and have naturally higher expectations for the future of the country. However, the reality is still far from how many media outlets portray it, and there is a long way to go to achieve stability and peace. There is no doubt international efforts have provided for two major developments.