July 19, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

UN delegation visits Kismayo

18 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu – 105 words

United Nations Humanitarian and UNDP Resident Coordinator for Somalia, Philippe Lazzarini, has visited the southern Somali port city of Kismayo for his first official visit to the key Somali town. Addressing the journalist on his arrival, Lazzarini stated that he arrived in Kismayo to oversee humanitarian situation in the area and how UN agencies would resume operating in the region. The delegation was received and held talks with the vice president to the newly established Jubbaland administration Abdillahi Sheikh Ismail Fartag at Kismayo airport. Philippe Lazzarini later entered to the town as he was escorted to Kismayo general hospital where he met patients.

Key Headlines

Several casualties reported in Baidoa clash (Garowe Online)
Gunmen kill man in Afgoye district ( Bar-kulan)
2 killed in Kismayo roadside bomb journalists wounded ( Garowe Online)
Grenade attack injuries government soldier in Beledweyne ( Bar-kulan)
Somali journalists say no to proposed media laws ( Shabelle)
Woman state official killed two reporters shot in Somalia (Africa Review/AFP)
UN Hears Demands for Protection of Journalists (VOA)
Spanish aid workers kidnapped in Kenya freed (Daily Nation)

SOMALI MEDIA

UN delegation visits Kismayo

18 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu – 105 words

Several casualties reported in Baidoa clash

18 Jul – Source: Garowe Online – 123 words

Armed confrontation in Bay regional capital of Baidoa left several casualties when around three persons including the Deputy Mayor of Baidoa district were injured in a shootout between Somali Federal government soldiers and the security guards of Baidoa’s Deputy Mayor, Garowe Online reports. Eyewitnesses in Baidoa told the media that the armed confrontation was intense and interrupted the movement of people and businesses “The confrontation caused the injury of several persons from both sides, it began when the Somali government soldiers quarreled with contractors rehabilitating Baidoa livestock market,” an eyewitness said. Reliable sources in Baidoa told Garowe Online that the Deputy Mayor of Baidoa Mohamed Hassan is in critical condition and it is expected to be flown him to Mogadishu for medical treatment.

Gunmen kill man in Afgoye district

18 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 55 words

Unknown assailants have reportedly killed a middle aged man in Afgoye district, some 30KMs northwest of the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Wednesday night. Speaking to Bar-kulan, Afgoye locals said the man was shot dead at his house in Afgoye, Lower Shabelle region in southern Somalia. Number of people believed to have connection with the incident.

2 killed in Kismayo roadside bomb, journalists wounded

18 Jul – Source: Garowe Online -72 words

At least two persons including an African Union soldier (AMISOM) in the southern Somali port of Kismayo were killed in a roadside explosion Wednesday, Garowe Online reports. One AMISOM soldier and one civilian bystander were killed after a roadside explosion occurred along a main road commonly used by AMISOM convoys, local reports said. The explosion also wounded three other civilians and al Shabaab militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing.

Grenade attack injuries government soldier in Beledweyne

18 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 78 words

A government soldier was reportedly killed and two injured in a grenade attack hurled at a restaurant in Beledweyne’s Buol-weyn neighborhood on Wednesday, the regional capital of Hiiraan in central Somalia. Confirming the attack, Beled-weyne police boss told Bar-kulan that the government soldier sustained minor injuries. He added that they have arrested a number of suspects in connection with the attack. This is not the first time Somali government troops in Beledweyne were attacked with hand grenades.

Somali journalists say no to proposed media laws

18 Jul – Source: Shabelle – 79 words

Almost 50 journalists who work in different media stations attended a meeting held in Mogadishu on Thursday. The journalists discussed the recent media laws that have been passed by the cabinet. During their discussion, majority of the journalists opposed the laws which threatened democracy and the right of one’s expression. The journalists forwarded their concerns to the members of parliament who attended the meeting. Parliamentarians who attended the meeting included Mohamed Omar Dalha and Dahir Amin Jesow.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Spanish aid workers kidnapped in Kenya freed

18 Jul – Source: Daily Nation – 101 words
Two Spanish aid workers abducted nearly two years ago by suspected al Shabaab militants at the Dadaab refugee camp have been released. Their employer, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), confirmed their releaseon Thursday saying the two “are safe and healthy and keen to join their loved ones”. The agency could not reveal whether a ransom had been paid to secure their release. “MSF wishes to thank everyone involved in securing their release. As we are still working on the return of the two girls to their homes, we ask you to respect their need for privacy at this time,” the statement said.

Woman state official killed, two reporters shot in Somalia

18 Jul – Source: Africa Review/AFP – 169 words

A woman state administrator has been killed in Somalia and two reporters shot and injured in the war-torn country. The Deputy Commissioner of Somalia’s Yakshid District in north Mogadishu, Ms Rahma Dahir Siad, was killed near her home on Wednesday evening. The journalists, Mr Mascud Abdulahi Adan, of Dalsan radio and Mr Mohamed Farah Sahal, for Goobjoog radio, were attacked on Wednesday evening in Kismayo. “We condemn the attack on the journalists in the strongest terms possible and call for an urgent investigation to bring the attacker to book,” said Mohamed Ibrahim the secretary general of the Somali Journalists. Ms Siad’s killing was first made public by the Mogadishu Deputy Mayor on Security Affairs, Mr Warsame Mohamed Hassan Jodah. “Ms Rahma was attacked and killed around Sheikh Hassan Adde Mosque, near Fagah Crossroad,” said Mr Jodah. The killers managed to flee before security officials reached the scene of crime. Yakshid District Commissioner Mohydin Hassan Jurus told the media on Thursday that his district security forces had apprehended four suspects.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN Hears Demands for Protection of Journalists

18 Jul – Source: VOA – 155 words

Journalists and United Nations diplomats addressed the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to demand increased protection for those in the journalism profession. Jan Eliasson, the United Nations deputy secretary-general, detailed the dimensions of the problem. In the past decade, he said, more than 600 journalists have been killed exercising what he called their critical role in society. Just 10 days ago, he added, a Somali television journalist was shot and killed on his way home. “Every time a journalist is killed by extremists, drug cartels or even government forces there is one less voice to speak on behalf of the victims of conflict, crime and human rights abuses,” said Eliasson. “Every journalist murdered or intimidated into silence is one less observer of efforts to uphold rights and ensure human dignity. The least we can do when a journalist is murdered is to ensure that the death is investigated swiftly and that justice is served.”

Spanish hostages freed from Somalia

18 Jul – Source: BBC – 144 words

Two Spanish aid workers kidnapped in Kenya nearly two years ago and held over the border in Somalia have been freed, their employer has said. Medecins Sans Frontieres said the two women were both “safe and healthy and keen to join their loved ones”. Montserrat Serra and Blanca Thiebaut were abducted from Dadaab refugee camp in October 2011. Following their abduction and those of other hostages, Kenya sent troops into Somalia to battle Islamist militants. In a statement, MSF said it was with great relief that the organisation was able to confirm the women’s release. “MSF wishes to thank everyone involved in securing their safe release,” it said, without giving further details about how they were freed. “As we are still working on the return of the two girls to their homes, we ask you to respect their need for privacy at this time.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“For now, the message is clear to all: The job in Somalia can be done. Halfhearted efforts must end and we rise up to the challenge. Like they say, in the end we will not remember the noise of our enemies but the silence of those we called our friends.”

Making all the difference for Somalia

18 Jul – Source: New Vision – 691 Words

As I wrote this, I was seated just near Mogadishu International Airport where the AMISOM base camp is located. My latest trip to Mogadishu had finally started at 9:00 am after a rather long wait on July 16. I had last been to Somalia on my last tour of duty in July 2012. So, this was exactly one year since I had left the Horn of Africa country. The landing was smooth but the flight was quite noisy. This is a cargo plane that UPDF uses to supply the troops. With wires hanging in its ceiling, the plane reminds me that the UN has not acted fast on providing an administration plane despite incessant calls to provide one. By this, I wasn’t surprised because that is your UN.