September 5, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Dozens eye Somali presidency ahead of nomination deadline
04 Sept – Source: Africa Review – 125 words
Twenty-two aspirants have so far picked up nomination forms for Somalia’s highly competitive presidency ahead of a September 6 deadline. The parliamentary election committee tasked with organising the election said that there were requirements to be met for an aspirant to be cleared for the race to Villa Somalia, the state house in Mogadishu.
Key Headlines
- 26 presidential hopefuls given presidential application forms (Bar-Kulan)
- Somali AU forces seize town outside Mogadishu (Shabelle)
- Mombasa terror suspect surrenders self (Bar-Kulan)
- ASWJ seize weapons and suspects in Galgudud (Radio Kulmiye)
- U.N.: Mercenary soldiers in Somalia (ABC News)
- Kenya’s navy shells Kismayo in Somalia (BBC)
- Residents flee rebel-held city as Kenyan ground troops approach (AP)
SOMALI MEDIA
26 presidential hopefuls given presidential application forms
04 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 98 words
The presidential election commission says that 26 candidates for the presidential seat have so far taken application forms to fill up. Osman Libah, Spokesman of the commission said that the election commission is in its second day of giving and collecting application forms from presidential hopefuls.
Somali basketball tournament ends in Mogadishu
04 Sept – Source: Somaliweyn – 133 words
A colourful ceremony which intended to mark the conclusion of the four week-long 2012 Somali basketball tournament was held in Mogadishu over the weekend in the presence of high-profile Somali NOC and government officials.
Mombasa terror suspect surrenders self
04 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 102 words
A Kenyan cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Ahmed, turned up in a Mombasa court on Monday after he surrendered himself, fearing for his life as he is accused of causing the recent deadly Mombasa riots. Riots erupted in Mombasa over the murder of Muslim cleric Sheikh Aboud Rogo whose supporters accused the police of killing him. Sheikh Abubakar Ahmed is accused of mobilizing youths in Mombasa to protest.
Somali, AU forces seize town outside Mogadishu
04 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 95 words
African Union and Somali troops seized a town on the outskirts of Mogadishu on Tuesday from Islamist militants, the latest since the pro-government forces took control of the port city last weekend. Daud Hajji Iro, the spokesman for Middle Shabelle region, said the troops moved into El-ma’an port on Tuesday and that most of the town was under the coalition’s control. “African Union and Somali troops are here now, and al Shabaab fighters abandoned the town,” Mr. Iro said by phone.
ASWJ seize weapons and suspects in Galgudud
04 Sept – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 83 words
Weapons and suspected personnel were seized by the Somali moderate groups of Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa (ASWJ) in Guri-El Galgudud region south Somalia. Ahlu Sunna’s Sheikh Abdiwali in Guri-El says the operation was successful seizing illegal weapons and suspected men. The security cleaning came after unknown men attacked a local office for the authority in the Guri-El, among other similar attacks in the region.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Dozens eye Somali presidency ahead of nomination deadline
04 Sept – Source: Africa Review – 125 words
Twenty-two aspirants have so far picked up nomination forms for Somalia’s highly competitive presidency ahead of a September 6 deadline. The parliamentary election committee tasked with organising the election said that there were requirements to be met for an aspirant to be cleared for the race to Villa Somalia, the state house in Mogadishu.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
U.N.: Mercenary soldiers in Somalia
04 Sept – Source: UPI News/ABC – 250 words
A former South African mercenary now living in Australia is running a private army for the breakaway Somali region of Puntland, the United Nations says.
Lafras Luitingh, who lives in Sydney and became an Australian citizen in 2009, is under investigation by the Somalia Monitoring Group, a U.N. agency, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported. U.N. investigators say Luitingh is one of the main backers of Sterling Corporate Services and Saracen, two companies organized by South African mercenaries and involved in equipping a Puntland army.
Australian accused of funding private Somali army
04 Sept – Source: ABC News – 141 words
United Nations investigators say an Australian citizen is helping to fund and run a “private army” for the president of Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region. The Somalia Monitoring Group, a team of specialists appointed by the UN Security Council to investigate suspected arms embargo breaches, claims Lafras Luitingh is a leader of a group which is helping to train and equip a large militia force.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/
EU Naval Force Somalia warns ship owners
04 Sept – Source: UPI – 240 words
Northwood England, — EU Naval Force Somalia is urging ship owners to remain vigilant off Somalia.
Despite the downward trend in piracy off Somalia, major components of EU Naval Force Somalia — Operation Atalanta, NATO and Combined Task Force 151 are urging ship owners traversing the Somali coast to remain on their guard against possible attacks.
Kenya’s navy shells Kismayo in Somalia
04 Sept – Source: BBC/ The Standard (Kenya) – 103 words
The Kenyan navy has shelled Kismayo, the main Somali city controlled by militant Islamist group al Shabaab, a military spokesman has told the BBC. Colonel Cyrus Oguna said the attack was part of a push by an African Union (AU) force to capture the city. Residents told the BBC that al Shabaab was reinforcing its positions in the city and people had started to flee. AU forces have vowed to capture Kismayo – a port city that is key to financing and arming the al-Qaeda affiliate.
Residents flee rebel-held city as Kenyan ground troops approach
04 Sept – Source: New York Times/AP – 230 words
Hundreds of residents have fled the southern port of Kismayo after the Kenyan Navy shelled the town in preparation for a ground operation to capture it, officials and residents said Tuesday. Kismayo is the main remaining stronghold of the Shabab, a rebel group linked to Al Qaeda. Residents say the militants have ordered them not to leave Kismayo, but the prospect of being caught in a war between the militants and the Kenyan forces is outweighing whatever brutal punishment they could get for disobeying.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“As demonstrated by Umar II, Abraham Lincoln and Tayyip Erdogan, with exceptional leader Somalia can be guided back to an equal and just society and among the Democratic peaceful nations on earth.”
Visionary Leadership Lessons
04 Sept- Source: Hiiraan Online-728 Words
One of the finest rulers of Islam was Umar Ibn Abd Al Aziz also known as Umar II. He is known for his lasting reforms in the Muslim society, its economy, politics and religious sciences. Umar II embodied humility, kindness and tolerance toward others. He enacted a profoundly transforming polices that created scholarly activities and institutions that transcended time and place. He operated and facilitated in truth and freedom of conscious.