October 5, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia has made ‘quantum leap’ in its progress but security threats remain, UN envoy warns

04 Oct- Source: UN News Centre- 837 words

With the sound of construction hammers replacing the blast of guns and al Shabaab militants ousted from their last major stronghold in Somalia, an “unimaginable” change has taken hold although the threats of guerrilla war and terrorism persist, the top United Nations envoy for the Horn of Africa country said today. “It may be more difficult, it may be more challenging, [but] we have moved from transition to transformation which entails peacebuilding [and] around it is state-building,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, told a news conference in Nairobi.

Key Headlines

AMISOM commander urges al Shabaab to disarm peacefully (Radio Risaala)
Over 30 rescued after flood swept their houses in Mudug region (Bar-Kulan)
Al Shabaab suspects arrested in Kismayo town (Radio Kulmiye)
Unemployment drives Somali youths to emigrate join extremist groups (Hiiraan Online)
KDF takes over key facilities in Kismayu (KBC)
UK promises Somalia solid partnership (Africa Review)
French hostage in Somalia appeals to Hollande in video (AFP)

SOMALI MEDIA

AMISOM commander urges al Shabaab to disarm peacefully

04 Oct- Source: Radio Risaala- 195 words

In a press conference in Mogadishu the spokesman of AMISOM Col Ali Aden Hamud told the press that the coalition army of the Somali government and AMISOM are continuing with the military operations in Kisimayu town, the headquarters of the Lower Juba province, to strengthen security after they have taken it over from al Shabaab. The spokesman said that Kismayu is stable and the military undertaking the operations will not harm the citizens nor destroy civilian properties.

AMISOM says it captured executioners in Mogadishu

04 Oct- Source: Shabelle- 162 words

The spokesman of the AMISOM forces Colonel Ali Aden Hamud, has announced on Thursday that AU soldiers arrested men suspected to be behind the recent killings against Somali journalists in Mogadishu. Addressing journalists at a press conference held in Mogadishu on Thursday, the AMISOM spokesman said they have successfully managed to detain a number of youths alleged to have carried out deadly bombings and hit and run attacks in Mogadishu in the past.

Over 30 rescued after flood swept their houses in Mudug region

04 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 94 words

Reports from central Somali region of Mudug say over 30 people were rescued after their houses collapsed following heavy floods that swept across El-bur village. Local villages rescued the victims who were trapped under rabbles, according to residents. They said ragging water swept the village following heavy downpours in some parts of the region causing massive flooding in the village. Some of the victims who sustained injuries were immediately taken to health facilities in Adado and Wisil for treatments. There were no reports of any deaths due to the flooding.

Al Shabaab suspects arrested in Kismayo town

04 Oct- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 90 words

The Somali government on Thursday said its security forces arrested 100 people suspected of having links with the militant group of al Shabaab in operations in the port city of Kismayo. General Sahardid, the army commander of Lower Jubba region said the raids are part of moves to strengthen the security of the city following five explosions on Tuesday that killed two people. He added that the forces launched joint massive search operations that targeted members of al Shabaab remnants in the entire city, arresting 100 suspects

Unemployment drives Somali youths to emigrate, join extremist groups

04 Oct- Source: Hiiraan Online/Sabahi Online- 763 words
Unemployment and poverty in Somalia have forced many young people to emigrate in search of a better life through perilous journeys across deserts and seas. Abdirahman Ahmed, a 28-year-old graduate of the University of Somalia, said that despite his efforts to find work in the private or public sector, he has remained unemployed since he graduated last year. He said he hopes to find more opportunities abroad.

REGIONAL MEDIA

AMISOM warn of al Shabaab remnants in Kismayu

04 Oct- Source: Standard- 317 words

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops who include Kenya Defence Forces troops has warned some remnants of Somalia militants are still active in Kismayu, Somalia. The troops plan to begin an exercise aimed at clearing buildings initially used by the militants. “It should be appreciated that security is not fully stabilized as it is suspected that there are Al Shabaab remnants who could be hiding with the local populace, however so far no major incidents have been reported,” said military spokesman Col Cyrus Oguna.

KDF takes over key facilities in Kismayu

04 Oct- Source: KBC- 689 words

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops have began clearing buildings initially used by the militants in Kismayu. A university, radio station, former State House and a police station that were under the command of Al-shabaab are the latest key facilities to fall under the control of the Kenyan defense forces who alongside the Somali national army(SNA) intensify their efforts to liberate the port city.

UK promises Somalia solid partnership

04 Oct- Source: Africa Review- 434 words

Britain will help Somalia build a more stable and prosperous future by boosting its public services and operations, officials said.
International Development Secretary Justine Greening and minister for Africa Mark Simmonds made the announcement at the end of a meeting with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia has made ‘quantum leap’ in its progress but security threats remain, UN envoy warns

04 Oct- Source: UN News Centre- 837 words

Keeping the pressure on al Shabaab

04 Oct- Source: VOA- 338 words

Somali national and African Union peacekeeping mission forces have entered Somalia’s key southern port of Kismayo after dislodging al Shabaab terrorists who held the city for four years. Al Shabaab will continue to pose a threat, but following the liberation of the capital Mogadishu, the joint military offensive shows continued progress is being made in bringing stability to Somalia and the region.

French hostage in Somalia appeals to Hollande in video

04 Oct- Source: AFP- 313 words

A French secret agent held hostage in Somalia urged President Francois Hollande to negotiate his release in a video shot by his Islamist militia captors, a US monitoring group said Thursday. “Mr President, I am still alive, but for how long?” Denis Allex says in the footage, which was apparently released by the Shebab, the Somali guerrilla group that has held him for more than three years.

Kismayo residents fear new clan fighting

04 Oct- Source: AP- 716 words

Renewed clan warfare threatens the future of Kismayo, where African Union and Somali troops earlier this week pushed out Islamic extremists. Kismayo was the last bastion controlled by al-Shabab, the radical Islamists allied to al-Qaida who taxed goods coming into the port to fund their activities. Al-Shabab announced their withdrawal from Kismayo, via Twitter, shortly after the Kenyan assault late last week.

Kenya-Somalia: Battling to contain cholera, hepatitis E outbreaks

04 Oct- Source: IRIN News- 495 words

An outbreak of cholera along the Kenya-Somalia border has left dozens dead and many more sick, according to local residents, aid workers and government officials. “We have recorded nine deaths of cholera patients at our health facilities in the past three weeks, and 89 cases have been diagnosed at different settlement locations close to the border areas,” Mohamed Sheikh, director of public health in Kenya’s North Eastern Province, told IRIN.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Somalia’s new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has asked the Kenyans not to treat Kismayo as their fief. If his request is heeded and an administration that includes people from a range of clans is set up, the Shabab really might fizzle out. If not, clan warlords, the bane of Somalia for decades, may again come to the fore, with support trickling back to the Shabab.”

Somalia and the Shabab: It’s not over yet

04 Oct- Source: Economist-499 Words

IN ITS final broadcast from Somalia’s port city of Kismayo, Radio Andalus, the mouthpiece of the jihadist group known as the Shabab, told listeners that its fighters were withdrawing from the city to launch a guerrilla war. With the city already surrounded by Kenyan troops and with other militias backing Somalia’s government, an amphibious assault persuaded the Shabab to leave its last urban bastion.