October 11, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia: 60,000 flood and conflict victims in Beletweyn receive aid

10 Oct- Source: ICRC- 318 words

Around 60,000 people affected by conflict and flooding in Beletweyn-Hiiraan, central Somalia, are receiving emergency food rations. They include 39,000 to whom the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Somali Red Crescent distributed essential shelter and survival items during the first week of October after they had to leave their homes because of flooding.

Key Headlines

TFG forces detain 300 suspected al Shabaab members in Mogadishu (Shabelle)
The new Somali premier preparing cabinet (SONNA)
President Mohamud meets Museveni in Kampala (Bar-Kulan)
Police security forces conduct operations in Hodan district (SONNA)
Double explosion kills civilian in Kismayo (Garowe Online)
Defying danger: Somali refugees flock to Journalism School (VOA)

SOMALI MEDIA

The new Somali premier preparing cabinet

10 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/SNTV- 153 words

The Prime minister of the Somali Federal Government, Abdi Farah Shirdon has revealed that he is having consultations and meetings with clan elders, politicians and the society as a whole about his nomination of the council of ministers. Abdi Farah Shirdon, speaking to the state media for the first time since he was appointed prime minister last week said that he is planning to build a highly qualified cabinet.

The commissioner of Deynile district asks more troops to be brought in the district

10 Oct- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 139 words

The Commissioner of Deynile district in Banadir region in the Southern of Somalia Dahir Hassan Husein asked for the government officials to send security and police forces to crack down the insecurity situation reported from the district. Dahir said that there are illegal and weapons in the district with armed groups robbing people indiscriminately.

President Mohamud meets Museveni in Kampala

10 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 100 words

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Wednesday held talks with Ugandan president Yuweri Museverni in Kampala, where they discussed a range of issues, including the bilateral relationship between the two countries. Strengthening the Somalia-Uganda relations and deployment of extra Ugandan troops into Somalia in support of the AU mission in the country were among key issued the two leaders discussed.

Police, security forces conduct operations in Hodan district

10 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA- 154 words

Security and police forces of the Somali federal government on Wednesday conducted a security operation in Hodan district in Mogadishu, holding 346 suspects according to police officials. Police chief commander of Benadir region, Col. Ahmed Hassan Malin and police spokesman, Gen. Abdullahi Hassan Barise, together with district commissioner of Hodan, Mr. Abdi Mohamud Warsame held a joint press conference in Hodan district today after the operation by security and police forces of the Somali federal government in which they arrested over 340 people.

TFG forces detain 300 suspected al Shabaab members in Mogadishu

10 Oct- Source: Shabelle- 130 words

The Somali National Army have detained at least 300 suspected al Shabaab members in Mogadishu, the biggest mass arrest in months in the capital, police official said. General Mohamed Hassan Maalin, the police chief of Benadir region for the Somali government told reporters in Mogadishu that the massive operation was conducted in villages in Hodan district.

Double explosion kills civilian in Kismayo

10 Oct- Source: Garowe Online- 289 words

Two explosions in the port city of Kismayo killed a civilian and injured others on Wednesday. The first explosion which was caused by a grenade did not result in any casualties. The bomb went off in the Via Afmadow neighborhood in the port city of Kismayo. The second bomb to go off in Kismayo was believed to be an improvised explosive device (IED) which was aimed at Somali forces who were driving through a busy intersection in Kismayo’s center.

Gov’t soldier shoots businessman in Beled-hawo

10 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 72 words

A government soldier on Wednesday shot and injured a businessman in Beled-hawo, near the border with Kenya, under unknown circumstances, reports say. The incident reportedly paralyzed all business activities in the area as locals were frightened.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Seven arrested in Belgium as suspects for terrorism

10 Oct- Source: KUNA- 62 words

Seven suspects were taken to the custody in the Belgian capital Wednesday for allegedly recruiting Muslims in Belgium to go and fight for the Al Shabaab group in Somalia, Belgian media reported.

Somalia in row with militias in captured town

10 Oct- Source: Daily Nation- 298 words

Mr Aden Ahmed Hersi alias Rufle, the spokesman of the Somali government forces in Juba region has told the media that a clan-based grouping is disturbing the attempts to stabilise the town of Kismayu, 500 kilometres south of Mogadishu.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia: 60,000 flood and conflict victims in Beletweyn receive aid

10 Oct- Source: ICRC- 318 words

Defying danger: Somali refugees flock to Journalism School

10 Oct- Source: VOA- 483 words

With three months remaining in the year, the Committee to Protect Journalists has already declared 2012 as the deadliest year ever for Somali journalists. Despite the danger, young Somali refugees flock to a journalism school in Eastleigh, an eastern suburb of Nairobi. On the eighth floor of the Binali hotel in Nairobi, journalists gather to honor six of their colleagues killed in Mogadishu in just eight days in late September.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“In most of the areas occupied by the Shabaab, the population is fundamentally opposed to the extremists, but also terrified by them. Once the main terrorist forces are defeated, local populations need armed support and protection to help them eliminate the remnants and prevent them from hiding among the population.”

After Kismayo: what next for al Shabaab and Somalia?

10 Oct- Source: African Arguments-2343 Words

After a long wait, the Kenya Army finally entered the southern Somali port of Kismayo on 28 September, following an attack by sea, air and ground forces. Kenya deserves some praise for its effort to liberate Kismayo from the brutal rule of Al-Shabaab, but in the immediate aftermath it also seems to have missed the point, or an important part of it.