June 8, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Troops close to taking Somalia out of terrorists’ control
07 Jun – Source:Washington Times – 493 words
African troops are targeting the Somali port city of Kismayo, the last main town controlled by al-Shabab terrorists, after driving the al Qaeda-linked rebels out of strongholds across a nation afflicted by 20 years of instability, war and famine.
African Union troops ran al-Shabab out of Mogadishu in August, but the nearby town of Afgoye allowed the Islamist rebels to control traffic in and out of the capital and extort money from anyone who wanted to enter or leave.
Key Headlines
- Hormuud Telecommunication extends aid to hospitals in Mogadishu (Radio Risaala)
- FAO launches national tree-planting campaign in Somalia (Somaliweyn)
- Somaliland drought level to be assessed (Hadhwanaag Times)
- Kenya military denies human rights abuse allegations (Daily Nation)
- Swimming off Mogadishu a sense of hope (Reuters)
- UN: Kenya police lists possible terror targets (AP)
- Turkey takes on redevelopment efforts in Somalia (VOA)
SOMALI MEDIA
Turkey promised a lot for Mogadishu, say Tarsan
07 Jun – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 134 words
Turkey has promised to strengthen its developmental projects in Mogadishu, Banadir regional governor has revealed. The governor who is also the mayor of Mogadishu, Mohammoud Ahmed Nur Tarsan said that the Turkish government has promised to support his administration by building infrastructures like roads and provision of other essential public services like water and electricity in Mogadishu.
Hormuud Telecommunication extends aid to hospitals in Mogadishu
07 Jun – Source: Radio Risaala – 69 words
The Hormuud Telecommunication firm donated charity items such as mattresses and petroleum fuel to the hospitals in Mogadishu today. Among the hospitals which benefited from this charity are Keydsaney general hospital which is the biggest hospital in Mogadishu and Mother and Child Hospital of Banaadir.
FAO launches national tree-planting campaign in Somalia
07 Jun – Source: Somaliweyn – 133 words
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has launched a national tree-planting campaign in Somalia in a bid to restore the country’s fast-disappearing forest cover. The “Plant-A-Tree” campaign, which started in Hargeisa, Somaliland–coinciding with the World Environment Day celebrations on June 5–saw hundreds of trees planted by dozens of volunteers, civil servants and members of the general public.
Senior Puntland officials visit Bargal, Bari region
07 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 137 words
A group of Puntland officials on Thursday visited Bargal town, Bari region, where there has been a crack down on Somali pirates in the region. The eight member officials led by the area regional governor Abdisamad Mohamed Gallan reportedly travelled to the area to convene a security meeting with the local population.
Somaliland drought level to be assessed
07 Jun – Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 123 words
The government of Somaliland republic is to assess the impact and the level of drought that hit some regions in the country, an official said. Speaking to the reporters in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland republic, the minister of resettlement Abdirazak Ali Osman said he and a delegation he is leading will travel in some Somaliland regions where the drought hit to make an assessment.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Interpol joins Uganda hunt for terrorists
07 Jun – Source: New Vision – 613 words
The International Police (Interpol) has joined the hunt for terror suspects suspected to be in Uganda. At least four suspected terrorists are believed to have sneaked into Uganda recently, prompting the security agencies to issue security alert.
The Police have circulated photographs of the suspected terrorists and heightened security in the Capital City as well as other urban areas including Mbarara where the national Heroes’ Day celebrations will be held this weekend.
Kenya military denies human rights abuse allegations
07 Jun – Source: Daily Nation – 620 words
Defence minister Yusuf Haji has denied allegations of human rights violations that have led to threats of a military aid ban on Kenya.
The matter is pending in the United States Congress with proposals to stop the yearly funding to Kenya Defence Forces and the police, unless the Kenyan Government demonstrates having conducted “credible investigations,” and action taken.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Swimming off Mogadishu, a sense of hope
07 Jun – Source: Reuters – 749 words
The turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean were too much to resist. I jumped out of my clothes, hopped over the crumbling sea wall and waded out into the frothing waves.
After all, it is not every day you get to swim off Mogadishu, Somalia’s ruined capital more commonly associated with feuding warlords, Islamist militants and kidnappings.
UN: Kenya police lists possible terror targets
07 Jun – Source: AP – 535 words
The Kenya police force has listed seven buildings, including the headquarters of the revenue authority, as being under immediate risk of a terror attack from an al-Qaida-linked militant group that has threatened to bring down skyscrapers in Kenya’s capital city, an internal U.N. security report says.
Turkey takes on redevelopment efforts in Somalia
07 Jun – Source: VOA News – 526 words
Turkey is reaching out to war-torn Somalia with a huge redevelopment effort – in Ankara’s latest effort to expand its economic and political influence in Africa and play a greater role in the international arena.
Rebuilding Somalia, bringing peace and security, and helping establish a stable government top Turkey’s list of goals in the East African nation. With its thriving economy, Ankara is also looking at future trade possibilities in the energy, construction and agricultural sectors.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Although pirate attacks are down, the pirate gangs are still bringing in, on average, $10 million a month in ransoms. Last year there were 31 ransom deliveries, averaging $5 each. This keeps the gangs going, and innovating to get around the new countermeasures of the anti-piracy patrol. The U.S. is offering $33 million in rewards for help in capturing or killing the top seven leaders of al Shabaab. This includes $7 million for the founder and $3-5 million for the other six.”
Somalia: Too Hot To Help
07 Jun – Source: Strategy Page – 455 Words
Drought, al Shabaab violence, corruption, banditry and general chaos have caused 800-900 people a day to flee Somalia for the last year. Most flee to neighboring countries, while a minority had the cash to try and get to the West. Nearly a million Somalis are living in refugee camps outside Somalia.