August 23, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
AMISOM forces repel al Shabaab attack in Kisimayo
22 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 176 words
AMISOM troops have thwarted the first probing attack by al Qaeda linked fighters which began at 8.15 pm Wednesday, forcing the attackers to retreat. At 3.30am, the militia returned to attack the defensive position but were engaged before they disembarked from their vehicle. AMISOM troops continued to engage and repel the fighters as they repeatedly attempted to recover their vehicle.
The attackers suffered several casualties and their vehicle was destroyed early Thursdaymorning following their attempt to attack the AMISOM camp at Kismayo International Airport in southern Somalia.
Several items were recovered from the scene including one technical vehicle, medical equipment, several military uniforms, bloodstained scarves, bed sheets and a blanket. The ‘technical’ has been identified
by the mounted communication aerial on its front bumper as a modified stolen NGO vehicle.
Kismayo International Airport was liberated from the al Shabaab militia on 2nd October 2012 by AMISOM troops in support of Somali National Forces.
AMISOM forces together with Somali National Forces continue to conduct stability operations in their area of operation to facilitate much-needed humanitarian aid.
Key Headlines
- Probe on alleged gang rape is underway says minister Maryam Qassim (Bar-kulan/SNTV)
- Afgoye administration complain about escalating insecurityAfgoye administration complain about escalating insecurity (Shabelle)
- Government forces take over new locations in Lower Shabelle region (Radio Dalsan)
- Security forces interrogate university lecturers over Wednesday’s attack in Mogadishu (Raxanreeb)
- Al Shabaab suspends public floggings (Africa Review)
- I’ll return to Somalia as doctor says straight A GCSE girl (Standard UK)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM forces repel al Shabaab attack in Kisimayo
22 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 176 words
AMISOM troops have thwarted the first probing attack by al Qaeda linked fighters which began at 8.15 pm Wednesday, forcing the attackers to retreat. At 3.30am, the militia returned to attack the defensive position but were engaged before they disembarked from their vehicle. AMISOM troops continued to engage and repel the fighters as they repeatedly attempted to recover their vehicle.
The attackers suffered several casualties and their vehicle was destroyed early Thursday morning following their attempt to attack the AMISOM camp at Kismayo International Airport in southern Somalia.
Several items were recovered from the scene including one technical vehicle, medical equipment, several military uniforms, bloodstained scarves, bed sheets and a blanket. The ‘technical’ has been identified
by the mounted communication aerial on its front bumper as a modified stolen NGO vehicle.
Kismayo International Airport was liberated from the al Shabaab militia on 2nd October 2012 by AMISOM troops in support of Somali National Forces.
AMISOM forces together with Somali National Forces continue to conduct stability operations in their area of operation to facilitate much-needed humanitarian aid.
SOMALI MEDIA
Probe on alleged gang rape is underway, says minister Maryam Qassim
22 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/SNTV – 138 words
A committee investigating the alleged gang rape of a woman by AMISOM forces fighting in Somalia has been appointed, the case has sparked outrage in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Maryam Qassim, Somalia’s minister of Social Development, who is among the appointed committee named by Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon on 15th August to probe the alleged gang rape, says that the full investigations on the case are underway. Maryam added that the investigation will continue till the bottom of the matter is known. She added that once the investigations are finalized, whoever held accountable for this will be brought to justice. A Somali woman claimed to have been held as hostage and gang-raped by AMISOM peacekeepers, in a case that has prompted local outrage and could strain ties between the public and foreign troops in the country.
Afgoye administration complain about escalating insecurity
22 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 73 words
Deputy Security Commissioner of Afgoye town Mahdi Ahmed Hassan has raised concerns of rising insecurity in the town. Mr.Mahdi who contacted Shabelle media said that government military soldiers flocked in the town from various other places causing problems to the residents. The official said that he will tackle the soldiers who caused the problems in the town and force them out if the government doesn’t relocate them to where they are needed.
Government forces take over new locations in Lower Shabelle region
22 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan – 102 words
Reports from Lower Shabelle region confirm that Somalia government forces with the backing of AMISOM have took control over several new locations in the region. According to Dalsan Radio reporter, the forces have took over Mushani, Danow and other villages near Marka town, the region’s capital. The joint forces reportedly did not encounter any resistance from al Shabaab fighters who have been dominating the area in the past. With the most of the region controlled by the government forces and the African Union troops, but al Shabaab rebels still dominate the rural parts of the region including one major town called Barawe.
Security forces interrogate university lecturers over Wednesday’s attack in Mogadishu
22 Aug – Source: Raxanreeb – 109 words
Somali security forces have on Wednesday arrested three university lecturers following the attack against a Swedish politician in Mogadishu, RBC Radio reports. The three lecturers from University of Somalia have been taken to the criminal investigations department in Mogadishu late on Wednesday for interrogation, a university official told RBC Radio. The three included two lecturers and one administrative officer of the university was interrogated by the police for more than three hours and later released. The police sources confirmed the arrest and the interrogation as the sources said that they were asked about the invitation the Swedish woman to the university before a gun men attacked the Swedish woman.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab suspends public floggings
22 Aug – Source: Africa Review – 124 words
A group of Al-Shabaab officials led by Sheikh Fu’ad Mohamed Khalaf alias Sheikh Shongole have announced the suspension of public floggings carried out as punishment to certain offences. The announcement came after a meeting with clan elders in the southern Somalia region of Lower Shabelle partly controlled by the militant Islamist militia, according to al Shabaab mouthpiece al Andalus radio.
Sheikh Shongole said that though flogging was in line with Sharia (Islamic law), it was not convenient now. “We want to suspend the employment of public flogging as a punishment,” he said. “Instead, we want to multiply our efforts to teaching and preaching.” The hardline cleric added: “When people learn about the essence and value of Islamic laws, they will apply the public flogging by themselves.”
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
I’ll return to Somalia as doctor, says straight A GCSE girl
22 Aug – Source: Standard UK – 172 words
A pupil who fled war-torn Somalia aged five when her father was killed said she hoped to return one day as a doctor after scoring 11 straight As in her GCSEs. Najma Ahmed, now 16, could not speak a word of English when she arrived with her mother Weliye Salah and grandmother Maryam Muse. Her father Ali had been shot dead in a car robbery two years before and the situation in the country led the family to decide to flee. Najma, who lives in Hackney, said it was hard at first but today she achieved seven A* and four A grades. She will go on to study biology, chemistry, physics and history at A-level with a view to training as a doctor. She said: “It just wasn’t safe in Somalia with the civil war. I was petrified all the time. There used to be days when I didn’t eat I was so scared. My father was killed and some other people around us. The killing just became normal. That’s not right.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The growth of the higher education sector in Somalia in the past two decades, despite widespread conflict, is remarkable. Efforts should now be diverted from expanding the number of institutions operating in the country to improving the quality of service they provide.”
The State of Higher Education in Somalia: privatisation, rapid growth and the need for regulation
22 Aug – Source: African Arguments – 739 Words
Higher education institutions have proliferated in Somalia during two decades of civil war. More than 50,000 students are attending some 50 universities across the country. This exponential growth has happened largely without government oversight and quality control. Research and publications capacity is almost nonexistent. Teaching capacity is low. Universities lack adequate facilities such as science and computer labs. Most rely almost exclusively on student fees to fund their operations. If the next generation of Somali graduates are to contribute towards the reconstruction of the country and compete with returning members of the diaspora in the job market, the quality of service provided by higher education institutions must improve. Shortly before the collapse of the state in 1991, Somalia had just one university located in Mogadishu with approximately 4000 students enrolled. In the absence of central government, local communities, Islamic non-governmental organisations, and the Somali diaspora have spearheaded efforts to develop the higher education sector, even as conflict raged through the country. Between 2004 and 2012 alone, 34 higher education institutions were established. There are now at least a dozen universities in Mogadishu and half a dozen in Hargeisa, the capital of the autonomous region of Somaliland.