September 6, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
AMISOM troops deploy to Elma’an Port
05 Sept – Source: AMISOM – 100 words
Troops from the AU Mission in Somalia yesterday deployed in Elma’an port about 40km North East of Mogadishu as the force continues to secure more territory from Al Qaeda-affiliated extremists.
The port had previously been used for import of illegal arms and shuttle foreign fighters from the Gulf of Eden into Somalia.
AMISOM Force Commander Lt‐Gen Andrew Gutti said that the move aims to improve security in the port town, an important source of goods for many of Somalia’s coastal communities. “This deployment will bring peace to the people of Elma’an as they work to rebuild their lives,” he said.
Key Headlines
- 5 presidential candidates fulfil election requirements (Bar-Kulan)
- Somali AU forces clash with al Shabaab near Afdamow (Shabelle)
- Grenade attack kills two in Mogadishu (Shabelle)
- Kenya cleric Abubaker Ahmed charged over Mombasa riots (Mmegi Online)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM troops deploy to Elma’an Port
05 Sept – Source: AMISOM – 100 words
Troops from the AU Mission in Somalia yesterday deployed in Elma’an port about 40km North East of Mogadishu as the force continues to secure more territory from Al Qaeda-affiliated extremists.
The port had previously been used for import of illegal arms and shuttle foreign fighters from the Gulf of Eden into Somalia.
AMISOM Force Commander Lt‐Gen Andrew Gutti said that the move aims to improve security in the port town, an important source of goods for many of Somalia’s coastal communities. “This deployment will bring peace to the people of Elma’an as they work to rebuild their lives,” he said.
SOMALI MEDIA
5 presidential candidates fulfil election requirements
05 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online/Hiiraan Online – 44 words
Five presidential candidates have so far submitted their application forms after they have fulfilled the requirements set by the election commission. Presidential election commission spokesman, Osman Libah listed the following candidates who fulfilled the presidential candidature requirements when they submitted their application forms.
Grenade attack kills two in Mogadishu
06 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 77 words
A grenade attack in Mogadishu yesterday left two people dead, the latest in a series of attacks against Somali and AU forces in the city since al Shabaab’s pull out.
On Wednesday, unidentified assailants hurled a grenade into an army checkpoint at Bar-ubax junction in central Mogadishu, killing two.
“The soldiers fired back following the blast, killing two bystanders while several others sustained severe injuries and were rushed to a hospital for proper treatment,” a witness said.
Somali PM submits presidential application form
05 Sept Source: Bar-kulan – 101 words
Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali yesterday submitted his presidential application form to the election commission in Mogadishu. A cheerful PM submitted his application form saying he was very happy to see a peaceful Mogadishu that is anticipated to held presidential after 21 years.
Somali, AU forces clash with al Shabaab near Afdamow
05 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 90 words
Witnesses say AMISOM forces, together with Somali soldiers, clashed with al Shabaab militants in Miido, a town 16 kilometres south of Afmadow, which was recently secured by the coalition forces. Reports said heavy fighting between Somali forces backed by Kenyan army broke out on Wednesday in the Miido village near Afmadow town in Lower Jubba region of southern Somalia.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya cleric Abubaker Ahmed charged over Mombasa riots
05 Sept – Source: Mmegi Online – 128 words
Abubaker Ahmed denied the charge after handing himself to a court in the city.The riots were triggered by the killing of another Muslim cleric, Aboud Rogo Mohammed, by unknown gunmen. The US had accused both clerics of supporting militant Islamists in neighbouring Somalia. Kenyan police issued an arrest warrant for Ahmed following the riots that killed five people. Ahmed told Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper that he handed himself over because he feared for his life.
Mogadishu mayor calls for youth participation
05 Sept – Source: Sabahi Online – 102 words
Mogadishu Mayor Mohamed Ahmed Nur has called on Somali youth to participate in furthering the country’s future.”Youths must take part in ongoing developments in Somalia,” Nur told hundreds of teenagers gathered for a seminar on youth empowerment in Mogadishu. “They were pillars for good community but were not rewarded; instead they found guns. For those who lost their rights, we want to rehabilitate them and take them to a better future.”
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Residents flee rebel-held city as Kenyan ground troops approach
05 Sept – Source: New York Times – 127 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. 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
“Healing Somalia requires a comprehensive long-term strategy, not a quick fix. The new coalition of politicians working across the clans in Mogadishu is the best opportunity for Somalia since 1990…”
A Glimmer of Hope for Somalia
05 Sept – Source: Bridge Online – 485 Words
Somalia eyes its first glimmer of hope in more than twenty years with the recent election of the former minister and civil servant, Mohamed Osman ‘Jawari’, as new speaker of the newly elected parliament in Mogadishu. The significance of this surprising outcome is the apparent success of a new set of competent actors – mainly from the Diaspora – in concerting a joint effort across the clan-based political constituencies; in defying the old corrupt practices of the incumbent TFG leaders and the business-warlords in manipulating the traditional clan-elders; and in building new alliances across the clans creating a sufficient new majority in the parliament. By mid September we will know if this new concerted effort also succeeds in determining who the new President will be.