July 9, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
New AMISOM spokesman takes office
08 Jul- Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Kulmiye/Somali Channel TV -149 words
Newly-appointed spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia, Col. Ali Adam Hamud from Djibouti’s national army took office from former spokesman Capt. Paddy Nkunda from UPDF on Saturday.
At a joint press conference held in an AMISOM compound in Mogadishu, the two officials transferred the office as the former spokesman declared that Col. Ali Adam Hamud will be from now on in charge of AMISOM’s information office.
Key Headlines
- Interior ministry: We don’t recognize the self-declared local administrations (Shabelle)
- Somali journalist survives assassination attempt in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Universal TV)
- Somalia challenges Kenya over oil blocks (Reuters)
- Mogadishu roads closure planned for Somali constitution ratification meetings (Jowhar website)
- Terror suspect tracked to London Olympic Park (AFP)
- IDP’s in Somalia facing dire living conditions (Radio Risaala)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali journalist survives assassination attempt in Mogadishu
08 Jul- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Universal TV- 184 words
A Somali journalist survived an assassination attempt near his home in Madina District, Mogadishu on Saturday evening, around 6:00pm local time, when two unidentified gunmen approached him and shot him four times. Two unidentified gunmen on Saturday shot and seriously injured a reporter and anchor for the Universal Television; the journalist sustained four gunshot wounds from stomach, and right leg.
Mogadishu roads closure planned for Somali constitution ratification meetings
08 Jul – Source: Jowhar website – 169 words
The Committee for National Security has declared that ‘certain roads in Mogadishu will be closed for the constitution ratification’ meetings that are to be held in the city. The constitution ratification meetings, which will take place at Gen Kaahiye Training school (School Polizia) will last for a period of two weeks and are set to begin on 10 July.
Interior ministry: We don’t recognize the self-declared local administrations
08 Jul- Source: Shabelle- 166 words
The state minister for Somalia’s home affairs and national security ministry, Abdi Ali, declared for the first time that the government doesn’t recognize any of numerous self-declared regional administrations in the country. Speaking at press conference in Mogadishu on Saturday, Mr. Ali stressed that there are no any provincial administrations that the Somali government recognizes at the moment since they are not based on the permission or interest of the local people.
Al Shabaab shells Baladweyne town in central Somalia
08 Jul- Source: Radio Risaala- 101 words
As confirmed to Risaala Radio by the deputy in command of security matters in Baladweyne town, Ahmed Abdalla Inji, the town came under intense shelling and rocket attacks from al Shabaab yesterday.
Ahmed Abdalla Inji said that the rockets were fired from the outskirts and landed inside the town of Baladweyne, the headquarters of Hiraan Province. However, no injuries or damages have been reported.
New AMISOM spokesman takes office
08 Jul- Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Kulmiye/Somali Channel TV -149 words
Col. Ali Adam Hamud from Djibouti national army officially took office from former UPDF spokesman Capt. Paddy Nkunda on Saturday.
Newly appointed spokesman for the African Union Mission in Somalia, Col. Ali Adam Hamud from Djibouti national army took office from former spokesman Capt. Paddy Nkunda from UPDF on Saturday.
Joint security operations continue in the capital Mogadishu
07 Jul- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Radio Kulmiye- 152 words
National security forces backed by the African Union peacekeeping forces are carrying out a joint operation against insecurity acts in some districts of Benadir region in Mogadishu, SONNA confirmed.
A large number of al Qaeda suspects has been arrested in the districts of Kaaran, Yakshid and Heliwa where the joint operation by Somali national security and AU forces occurred.
Somaliland court sentences one year jail term to prominent elder
08 Jul- Source: Raxanreeb- 209 words
Somaliland’s Hargeysa regional court on Sunday sentenced Boqor Osman Mohamud Burmadow, a prominent traditional elder who was arrested in March, to a one year jail term.
He was charged of being affront on the Somaliland leaders and of opposing the secessionist policy of the breakaway region.
The court prosecution Hassan Adam said that the elder was found guilty, according to article 156 which implies the punishment of those who are rude to the authority.
Puntland President signs Political Party Act into law
07 Jul- Source: Garowe Online- 194 words
Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole signed the Puntland Political Party act into law on Saturday. The act was proposed in parliament and had been approved after three weeks of discussions by the house of representatives.
Heavy fighting, shells kill three in central Somalia
08 Jul- Source: Shabelle- 222 words
At least three people were reportedly killed and several others were injured on Sunday in a fierce battle between Somalia government troops backed by Ethiopian and Djibouti forces and al Shabaab militants in central Somalia, reports said.
Witnesses said the fighting began at about 6:00 p.m. local time, after heavily armed al Shabaab insurgents attacked military positions inside Beledweyne and other neighborhoods controlled by the pro-TFG forces.
IDP’s in Somalia facing dire living conditions
08 Jul- Source: Radio Risaala- 141 words
IDPs in various camps in Mogadishu are faced with daily hardships and dwindling or non-existent humanitarian aid compounded with worsening climatic conditions. Mohamed Ma’ow is one the thousands of internally displaced persons in Badbaado Camp in darkeynlay district. He revealed that he, along with other displaced persons in the camp, have not received any aid in more than 8 months.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan military operation “Linda Nchi” success silences KDF critics
07 Jul- Source: Daily Nation- 552 words
The success of the Kenya Defence Forces in the operation against Al-Shabaab militants in southern Somalia has considerably raised the profile of a military force often made the region’s whipping boy.
“The perception of the Kenyan military at home and in the continent has changed forever with far-reaching political and security ramifications,” said security analyst Captain (rtd) Simiyu Werunga.
3 charged for kidnapping aid workers
06 Jul- Source: Capital news- 236 words
Three Somali nationals have been arraigned in a Garissa court over kidnapping of four aid workers from the Dadaab refugee camp.
Ahmed Hassan, Abdikadir Omar and Hassan Ali were arraigned before Principal Magistrate John Onyiego in Garissa where they faced four counts.
Somalia factions move to chart political future
06 Jul- Source: Standard- 456 words
For 21 years, Somalia has in the eyes of the world passed as a war theatre and terrorists’ haven mired in a humanitarian disaster.
With no effective central government control since President Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991, and being one of the poorest and most violent states internationally, it has perennially topped the list of the world’s failed states.
Six sought in race to block Boko Haram style attack
06 Jul- Source: Standard- 553 words
Police are looking for six Kenyans believed to be planning attacks on mosques in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Garissa in an attempt to spark religious hatred.
The six include Ahmed Iman Ali, Al Shabaab’s leader and co-ordinator for Kenya, and Abdikadir ‘Ikrima’ Mohammed, an Al-Qaeda commander of foreign fighters in Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Terror suspect tracked to London Olympic Park
08 Jul- Source: AFP- 349 words
An Islamist terror suspect in Britain charged with breaking restrictions on his movements had crossed through London’s Olympic Park five times, newspapers reported Sunday.
The 24-year-old — named only as CF — is suspected of being a militant for Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-allied Shebab rebels, The Sunday Telegraph and the Sunday Mirror said.
Somalia challenges Kenya over oil blocks
06 Jul- Source: Reuters- 531 words
Somalia’s government accused Kenya on Friday of awarding offshore oil and gas exploration blocks illegally to multinationals Total and Eni because the concessions lie in waters claimed by Somalia.
The spat between Kenya and its war-ruined neighbour could complicate the hunt for resources along a part of the East African coastline, rapidly emerging as one of the world’s hottest oil exploration prospects.
Somali forces say detained 500 with Islamist links
07 Jul- Source: AFP- 144 words
Somali security forces said Saturday they had detained over 500 people in a two-day operation in the Mogadishu area who were either Islamist rebel fighters or had have links to them.
“The crackdown on remnants of Al-Qaeda affiliated militants was carried out in several districts yesterday (Friday) and today,” Kalif Ahmed Ereg, one of the Somali commanders who took part in the operation told reporters.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Juba is home to all Somalis and thus belongs to all. Some may claim to be in majority and others may be seen as a minority. However, peace, stability, and modicum of established governance in Juba benefits both the so-called majority and minority. In fact, those that claim to be the majority are best advised to make biggest sacrifices and compromises for peace, stability, and evolving system of governance for this violence-engulfed region of Somalia.”
JUBA: Why the IGAD-AU embryonic initiatives must be welcomed and be expanded
08 July-Source: Wardheernews-1184 Words
In a recent article published on WDN, Mohammed Ibrahim Shire critiqued the embryonic initiative towards the future regional governance of the Juba regions (Lower, Middle, and Gedo) of Somalia that had recently come to the surface after a IGAD and AU facilitated meeting in Nairobi. In sum, Mr. Shire’s critiques of the initiative (i.e. general premise, needed stakeholders, and the actual representatives of the initial meeting) were aptly said. However, as in all things Somalia, Mr. Shire’s critique also conveyed matters of grievances – particularly dissatisfactions with and suspicions of the participants of the said initial meeting.
“Turkey’s most interesting relationship is with Somalia. While there is a tendency to see Turkey’s deep involvement in Somalia as a surprise, it has important antecedents, some dating back to Ottoman control over Somali port enclaves. Turkey had an embassy in Somalia until the state collapsed in 1991.”
Turkey and the Horn of Africa: Emerging Interests and Relations
08 July- Source: Internatioal Policy Digest-1624 Words
Chatham House in London held an afternoon session on 28 June 2012 dealing with Turkey’s engagement in the Horn of Africa. I was asked to make remarks at this workshop. My opening comments provided a brief synopsis of Turkey’s relations with Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Somalia. Somalia, where Turkey has made an extraordinary investment, dominated the discussion at the workshop.