October 25, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Number of murdered Somali reporters grows to 16
24 Oct – Source: AP/BusinessWeek/other – 108 words
The list of murdered Somali journalists keeps growing longer, and no one seems able to stop it. The death of Ahmed Saakin Farah brought the number to 16 Somali journalists killed this year, most in targeted attacks by gunmen who know there is little chance they will be caught or jailed. Assailants shot Farah, a 25-year- old reporter for the London-based Universal TV, three times in the head around 9 p.m. Tuesday in the northern region of Somaliland.
Key Headlines
- Somali government forces bases in Kismayu come under attacks (Raxanreeb)
- Somali AU forces battle al Shabaab in Lower Shabelle region (Shabelle)
- AMISOM assists Somali Police Force in vetting ex†police officers (AMISOM)
- Inter-clan skirmishes claim seven in Bay region (Bar-Kulan)
- Somalia’s online ambitions bringing it closer to the world (Africa Review)
- UN Special Representative for Somalia statement on attacks against journalists (UNPOS)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM assists Somali Police Force in vetting ex†police officers
24 Oct – Source: AMISOM – 172 words
The Somali Police Force in partnership with AMISOM, UNDP and UNPOS are embarking on a vetting exercise of 600 ex†police officers. The exercise aims to increase the number of operational police officers in the Somali Police Force to enable them to improve their operational effectiveness to maintain law and order in Somalia.
AMISOM Police Commissioner, Dr. Charles Makono said: “Bringing in ex†police officers shortens the training period needed before deployment as it take advantage of the past policing experience of the officers. However, care has to be taken to ensure that the elements are brought in to the Somali Police Force, hence the need for vetting. AMISOM is committed to working with the Somali Police Force to help keep communities across Somalia safe and secure”.
The vetting teams will focus in particular on whether ex†police officers were involved in any human rights abuses or criminal offences during their absence from service in the Somali Police Force. Rebuilding the Somali Police Forces will add value to stability and bring security to the country.
UN Special Representative for Somalia statement on attacks against journalists
24 Oct – Source: UNPOS – 186 words
The Special Representative of the Secretary General for Somalia, Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga deplores the recent targeted attacks against Somali journalists. On Tuesday Ahmed Saakin Farah Ilyas, a correspondent with Universal TV was shot dead in the town of Las-Anod in Sool region. On 21st October Mohamed Mohamud Tuuryare, a journalist working for the Shabelle media network in Mogadishu was shot and is still in a critical condition.
“I condemn these horrific attacks in the strongest terms. Trying to silence the media will have a devastating effect on the nation’s vibrant media community. These attacks must stop and the crimes must be fully investigated by the Somali and Somaliland authorities,” SRSG Mahiga said.
“I send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ahmed Farah Ilyas and I wish Mr. Mohamed Tuuryare a quick and full recovery,” SRSG Mahiga said. Somalia is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to operate, with 2012 being one of the bloodiest years on record for the country’s media industry. Sixteen Somali journalists have been killed this year alone and more than 20 reportedly injured.
Al†Shabaab suffers double set back in Kismayo and Albao
24 Oct – Source: AMISOM – 190 words
AMISOM coalition forces in Somalia have carried out two overnight operations against Al Shabaab targets outside Mogadishu and in Kismayo which represent a double set back for the Al ]Qaeda linked terrorist group.
During Monday night, AMISOM troops from the Ugandan contingent successfully raided an Al Shabaab hideout at Albao, 20 kilometres north ]west of Mogadishu. A significant cache of weapons, improvised explosive devices, grenades and communications equipment was seized which can no longer be used against the local population.
On Tuesday night, Somali government forces together with AMISOM troops conducted a night raid at a recently established Al ]Shabaab observation post near the new airport in Kismayo, which was secured on 2 October. During the raid, an assortment of weapons and ammunition was recovered from the site.
AMISOM Force Commander Lt ]Gen Andrew Gutti said:  gI pay tribute to the AMISOM coalition forces that continue to conduct operations across Somalia with the same goal: to work with the Somali government and its people to build a Somalia where its citizens can go about their daily lives in safety and provide for their families with confidence and dignity.Â
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali government forces bases in Kismayu come under attacks
24 Oct – Source: Raxanreeb – 107 words
A string of attacks targeted on Wednesday government and allied forces bases in southern Somalia’s port city of Kismayu, officials said. The attacks happened around 1:00pm local time when gunmen attacked all Somali army positions in the city with rocks and grenades. Al Shabaab rebels have claimed the responsibility for the overnight attacks. No casualties were reported.
Ex-PM promises to set up health facility in Goldogob
24 Oct – Source: Bar-kulan – 103 words
The former Somali PM Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has promised to establish a health facility in Hero-jale settlement of Goldogob district in Mudug region to meet the needs of the local population in the area. The former PM made the promise after visiting the area, saying that funds to establish such a facility will be solely from his pocket.
Somali, AU forces battle al Shabaab in Lower Shabelle region
24 Oct – Source: Shabelle – 110 words
A fierce fighting has erupted on Wednesday between Somali National Army (SNA) backed by the African Union forces and al Shabaab fighters in Lower Shabelle region of northwestern Mogadishu, reports said. The combat broke out after al Shabaab fighters attacked new military bases set up by the allied forces, located between Leego and Yaqbariweyne villages on Baidoa corridor, just 100 Km northwest Mogadishu. The exact figures on the casualties following the fighting are to be confirmed.
Inter-clan skirmishes claim seven in Bay region
24 Oct – Source: Bar-kulan – 96 words
At least seven people are known to have been killed in inter-clan skirmishes in the southwest Somali region of Bay fin the last two days, reports say. The skirmishes at Adada and Bohol Baar areas, some 18 kilometres from the regional capital, Baidoa, occurred when a rift emerged between two rival clans over land dispute, with each side demanding to have full control of the area.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s online ambitions bringing it closer to the world
24 Oct – Source: Africa Review – 155 words
At The Village Restaurant, a popular open-air hangout for Mogadishu’s returning diaspora community, a charcoal-powered Italian espresso machine brews Somalia’s best cappuccino. Wi-fi internet beams throughout the cafe, as patrons check email, download music videos, and keep tabs on Somalia’s latest news. As Mogadishu shifts from two decades of civil war to a quivering democracy, opportunities for business – from hotels to off-grid espresso makers to cafes like the Village – are flourishing. And so too are the opportunities for bringing them online.
Kenya to open six more embassies in new economic diplomacy drive
24 Oct – Source: Daily Nation – 112 words
Kenya is planning to open embassies in at least six Africa countries in an effort to deepen economic diplomacy on continent. Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi on Wednesday told the Nation that the government was planning new diplomatic missions in Ghana, Algeria, Morocco and Angola. An embassy in Senegal will serve as a key entry point for Kenyan commerce into Francophone West Africa while a mission will also be established specifically for the eastern region of DRC.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Number of murdered Somali reporters grows to 16
24 Oct – Source: AP/BusinessWeek//other – 108 words
The list of murdered Somali journalists keeps growing longer, and no one seems able to stop it. The death of Ahmed Saakin Farah brought the number to 16 Somali journalists killed this year, most in targeted attacks by gunmen who know there is little chance they will be caught or jailed. Assailants shot Farah, a 25-year- old reporter for the London-based Universal TV, three times in the head around 9 p.m. Tuesday in the northern region of Somaliland.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“There may also be a prosaic explanation: the weather this year has apparently been unusually bad. The pirates could be staying at home because the seas are too rough. But the big question is whether the return of some measure of stability to areas of southern Somalia, notably Mogadishu, is also having an impact.”
Somalia’s pirates in retreat
24 Oct- Source: Telegraph Blog-315 Words
The last time I was in Somalia, I marveled at the sight of three cargo ships sailing with brazen confidence along the Indian Ocean coast near Mogadishu. Were they not risking capture by pirates? Well, the latest figures confirm that Somalia’s pirates are in retreat. According to the International Maritime Bureau, the number of attacks has fallen by two thirds since last year. There was only one attempted hijacking in the third quarter of 2012. In the first nine months of this year, 70 incidents of piracy took place, compared with 199 in the same period of 2011.