July 23, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Kenya to get eight drones from the US
21 Jul – Source: The Standard/Daily Nation/Reuters – 231 words
The Pentagon plans to provide eight small unarmed drones to Kenya to help combat Al Qaida and Al Shabaab in Somalia. Kenya will get eight hand-launched Raven drones with sensors used to pinpoint targets, according to Pentagon documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Ravens are unarmed but can be used to identify targets for strikes using ground forces or armed aircraft. The drones are part of a new package of military assistance for key African partners.
Key Headlines
- TFG troops enhance security in South Somalia (SONNA/Radio Mogadishu)
- Blast targets Somali army in Baidoa town 5 injured (Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab leader killed in Gadon town Galgadud region (Bar-Kulan)
- Obama bans Somalia charcoal import (CNN)
- Foreigner ferrying weapons arrested in northwestern Somalia (Shabelle)
- Kenya to get eight drones from the US (Reuters)
- Food security still a concern in Somalia: FAO (AFP)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM, Somali troops recover weapons from Al†Shabaab camp
21 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 188 words
Four militants were killed and a cache of weapons and communications equipment recovered when Somali security forces supported by AMISOM troops attacked a camp for Al†Qaeda affiliated extremists in southern Somalia on Tuesday morning.
The operation involved troops from AMISOM’s Kenyan contingent and targeted an al Shabaab camp in Tarako village in Gedo region. 11 AK47 rifles with 550 rounds (7.62mm), 2 PKM guns with 60 rounds of ammunition, 2 Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG) with 10 bombs as well as two hand held radios were recovered.
Acting AMISOM Force Commander, Brig. Gen. Audace Nduwumunsi, said the raid was part of AMISOM’s continuing effort to degrade the extremists’ ability to terrorize the civilian population.
“At this critical time, as Somalia prepares to inaugurate a new political order and end 12 years of transition, we remain committed to securing the safety of the Somali people,” he said.
Over the last year, AMISOM successes have pushed the extremists out of much of central and south Somalia. A National Constituent Assembly is expected to deliberate and adopt a provisional constitution, paving the way for the return of permanent and representative government.
African Union wishes Somalia Ramadan Kareem
20 Jul – Source: AMISOM – 231 words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra, has today sent his best wishes to the people of Somalia as they mark the start of the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan.
“This year, Ramadan comes at a momentous period in Somalia’s history as the country debates a provisional constitution that will end 12 years of transitional governments and inaugurate a new and more representative political order,” he said.
“The African Union is proud of the role we have played in helping the people of Somalia achieve the best chance for peace they have had in over two decades. It is our hope that the Holy month will see the leadership of Somalia take another significant step in the process of restoring peace and stability to their nation,” he added.
Amb. Diarra noted that Ramadan was a time of giving and reaching out to those less fortunate and appealed to the international community to rally to the aid of the Somali people as they face yet another severe food crisis. “AMISOM is doing all it can to ensure that aid can be safely delivered to the people and we appeal to humanitarian agencies to take advantage of the gains we have made,” he said.
He said that AMISOM would continue to work together with Somali national forces to enhance security during the holy month.
SOMALI MEDIA
TFG troops enhance security in South Somalia
22 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA – 136 words
Somali troops with the backing of Kenyan forces in South Somalia are approaching the strategic town of Bardhere in South Somalia whichis under the control of al Shabaab. TFG forces stationed in Gedo region say that in a matter of days the town will be placed under the control of the Somali interim authority.
Blast targets Somali army in Baidoa town, 5 injured
22 Jul – Source: Shabelle/Mareeg Online – 139 words
A powerful blast targeted Somali government troops in Baidoa town, seriously wounding at least five people, witnesses said on Sunday. Locals near the site of the explosion said that unknown assailants had thrown a hand grenade into an army base in Baidoa, wounding five soldiers, mostly seriously.
Al Shabaab leader killed in Gadon town, Galgadud region
22 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 134 words
An al Shabaab militant leader was yesterday killed in Gadon town, Galgadud region, after Ahlu Sunna militias acting on tip-off raided his house in the town. Mohamed Hussein Malin (Lugey) reportedly sneaked into the town last night before he was killed together with another militant fighter, Dade Abdi Ali. Lugey is said to have been the man tasked with the co-ordination of all militant attacks in the region, according to the area’s District Commissioner Ahmed Noor Hassan.
Obama bans Somalia charcoal import
21 Jul – Source: Raxanreeb/New York Daily News/CNN/Al Shahid/Jowhar Online/Hiiraan Online – 94 words
US President Barack Obama on Friday ordered a ban on charcoal imports from Somalia. The president said the trade generates “significant revenue” for al Shabaab.The militant group, branded as a terrorist group by the US and several other countries, controls large swathes of southern Somalia.
General Mohamed Nur Galaal announces his presidential candidacy
21 Jul – Source: Radio Risaala – 114 words
General Mohamed Nur Galaal announced in a press conference held in Mogadishu last week that he would be running for the presidency in this year’s elections. General Galaal, one of the long-serving generals under Siyad Barre’s regime, attributed his candidacy to the current situation in Somalia.
Foreigner ferrying weapons arrested in northwestern Somalia
20 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Garowe/Universal TV – 150 words
The security forces of Somalia’ semi-autonomous region of Puntland, have on Friday seized a foreign male with huge weapons after launching security operations in Bari province. The police chief, told reporters in seaside Bosasso town, the capital of Bari region, that the local forces managed on Friday to intercept and capture a foreign man with a boat ferrying a large quantity of small weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pistols and explosive devices intended to destabilize Puntland, as he put it.
Singer Saado Ali in good condition after tragic accident
21 Jul – Source: Garowe Online/Jowhar Online – 239 words
The Somali singer Saado Ali is in good condition after surviving a tragic accident while on her way to Garowe. As hundreds lined the streets of Garowe to welcome the famous singer Saado Ali on Friday, they were unaware that Saado had narrowly escaped with her life after the vehicle she was in crashed into a semi-truck along the busy tarmac road, 60 kms from Garowe.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Two suspects arrested in Kitale in possession of grenades
22 Jul – Source: Daily Nation – 64 words
Two suspected terrorists in possession of two hand grenades have been arrested in Kitale, Kenyan police say. Rift Valley PPO, John Mbijiwe said the two suspects were boarding a Nairobi bound bus during the arrest.”The suspects were heading to Nairobi where they were planning to carry out their terrorist activities,” he said. The suspects have been transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit for interrogation.
Kenya to get eight drones from the US
21 Jul – Source: The Standard/Daily Nation/Reuters – 231 words
The Pentagon plans to provide eight small unarmed drones to Kenya to help combat Al Qaida and Al Shabaab in Somalia. Kenya will get eight hand-launched Raven drones with sensors used to pinpoint targets, according to Pentagon documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Ravens are unarmed but can be used to identify targets for strikes using ground forces or armed aircraft. The drones are part of a new package of military assistance for key African partners.
We are on a high terror alert – police
21 Jul – Source: Capital News – 483 words
The police department has reiterated that Kenya will not relent in its war against terrorism and pointed out that no amount of threats or methods employed will cow Kenyans. The assurance comes amid reports of an imminent attack from Al Shabaab militants who have warned of massive destruction in Kenya during the holy month of Ramadhan.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Food security still a concern in Somalia: FAO
21 Jul – Source: AFP – 287 words
Somalia has made strides toward food security one year since its famine but the situation remains critical, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation said Friday. “Today Somalia is on the path to recovery but the situation remains critical and continued aid is vital in order to preserve food security,” the Rome-based organisation said. The FAO statement came exactly one year after the United Nations announced a state of famine in southern Somalia resulting from extreme drought and war.
Somalia seizes weapons said to be from al-Qaida
21 Jul – Source: AP – 274 words
Security forces of a semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia seized a boat carrying weapons that were being smuggled from al-Qaida militants in Yemen to fighters in Somalia, an official said Saturday. The boat was carrying explosives, switches, rockets, guns, ammunition and rocket-propelled grenades, said the ports and anti-piracy minister of Puntland, Said Mohamed Rage. He did not provide a detailed breakdown of how many weapons were seized.
NATO says it’s winning war against Somali piracy
21 Jul – Source: Alter Net/Reuters – 253 words
The threat from Somali pirates is receding but the international community must continue to work together to eliminate the menace, a NATO official said on Saturday. “We are getting more successful in reducing the Somali piracy threats with our constant patrolling but the international community must continue to exchange ideas and increase efforts to completely eradicate the problem,” Commodore Ben Bekkering, NATO’s counter-piracy commander, said at a news conference on Dutch war vessel HNLMS Evertsen in Muscat.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The leaked pages of the report contains factual errors . How can corruption be fought with the wrong data? According to the report “An internal TFG Public Financial Management Unit (PFMU) was established in 2009″ but ” in May 2011, allegedly under pressure from members of President Sharif’s inner circle, including Abdulkarim Jaama, President Sharif’s Chief of Staff, the new TFG Prime Minister, Mohamed Abdillahi ‘Farmaajo’, disbanded the PFMU ” Abdulkarim Jaama was not ” President Sharif’s Chief of Staff ” in 2011; he was Minister for Information in May 2011.”
Somalia: Corruption and Questionable Data
22 July-Source: Raxanreeb-422 Words
There are two types of analyses on Somali politics . Type 1 analysis interprets trends and makes use of past events to make recommendations. Type 2 analysis makes use of data ( past events or figures) to explain current political trends to make recommendations. Sections of report by Monitoring Group on Somalia leaked to the media belongs to the second category. To be able to discuss the report the UN Security Council members will need time to digest the data used for the report , and written responses from people alleged to have embezzled money. Corruption has been a recurrent theme in many reports on Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) whose term will come to an end in August 2012.
“For Zamzam’s message to the Somali youth is clear; it is never enough to say I have being through a lot. If she can train in the most dangerous City in the world so that she can represent Somalia at the Olympics, what excuse do we have as the Somali youths in Diaspora not to change Somalia’s image in the world?”
The two Somali Olympians…. A symbol of hope for the Somali Youth
21 July- Source: Hiiraan Online-440 Words
As I watched the Somali Olympic team land at Heathrow International Airport in London, I had a mixed emotion of what this moment means to millions of Somali youths who like me have little or no knowledge about their homeland, Somalia. It is a feeling that many Somali youths learned from the darkness of civil war to the decades in refugee camps.