September 25, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

UN envoy for Somalia calls for stepping up fight against al Shabaab

24 Sept – Source: Reuters – 123 words

The United Nations envoy for Somalia called on Tuesday for additional African troops to counter al Shabaab, which he said numbered some 5,000 people and posed an international threat. Nicholas Kay, U.N. special representative for Somalia, condemned the deadly attack on Westgate mall in Kenya, which the Somali militant group has claimed responsibility for, and said that there was a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to help bring peace to Somalia. “Security remains the number one challenge, the control and defeating of al Shabaab is key to this,” Kay told a Geneva news briefing. “The amount of money that we’re talking about that’s required for the extra effort in Somalia would be very small. But the cost of walking away would be very expensive.”

Key Headlines

Somali parliament speaker calls for regional cooperation (Radio Mustaqbal)
Government forces remove illegal roadblocks in Lower Shabelle region (Shabelle)
Somali parliamentarians express concern over their security appeal for protection (Radio Dalsan)
Kenya President: More bodies trapped in besieged Nairobi mall (Africa Review)
Somaliland MPs Deliberate Improvement of Peace and Security (Somaliland Sun)
Al Shabaab threatens new attacks if Kenya does not leave Somalia (Radio Mustaqbal)
Somali FM: Kenya troops to remain in Somalia (Africa Review)
UN envoy for Somalia calls for stepping up fight against al Shabaab (Reuters)
Kenyan Govt: Army in Control of Besieged Mall All Hostages Free (VOA)
Somalis in U.S. condemn Kenyan mall attack (USA Today)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali parliament speaker calls for regional cooperation

24 Sept – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 103 words

Somalia’s federal parliament speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari said it is necessary for Somali regions to enhance cooperation among the states in the region and collaborate in tackling the security challenges in the country. Prof. Jawari said that the current security challenges facing the regions can only be overcome if the regional authorities coordinate and cooperate with the central government.

Government forces remove illegal roadblocks in Lower Shabelle region

24 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 80 words

Somali government forces and the local administration of the lower Shabelle region have successfully removed illegal road blocks along the main highway connecting Afgoye district and Marka town. The estimated 10 roadblocks were operated by a militia group dressed in government military dresses where they usually terrorized and robbed civilian. The residents of the region are now relieved and happy, according to Omar Arabay who is a member of the local administration who contacted Shabelle media in Mogadishu.

Somali parliamentarians express concern over their security, appeal for protection

24 Sept – Source: Radio Dalsan – 101 words

A Member of Somali parliament, Bisharo Abdi Abdulle, accused the government of neglecting the security of the lawmakers. Speaking at the funeral of the late member of parliament that was killed in Mogadishu on Sunday, she said ” As a members of the Somali parliament we don’t have protection. I appeal to the government to protect us, we don’t have guards and security in the country is bad,” said Bisharo. The security of Mogadishu is delicate and al Shabaab militants are targeting government officials, especially the lawmakers . In this year alone, the Somali parliament lost two MPs on the hands of al Shabaab.

Somaliland MPs Deliberate Improvement of Peace and Security

24 Sept – Source: Somaliland Sun – 104 words

Somaliland’s House of Representatives held a session where they discussed methods of further improving peace and stability nationwide. This discussion was lead by the deputy of the House and was attended by members of the House.The aim of holding similar discussions is finding methods of improving and maintaining peace and stability in Somaliland. The members of the House of Representatives had long debated on the agenda of peace which plays one of the main roles in every state. Deputy of the House of Representative Sacid Jamac Ali gave a conclusion speech to the representatives and spoke about the significance of peace in Somaliland.

Al Shabaab threatens new attacks if Kenya does not leave Somalia

24 Sept – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 107 words

Somalia’s al Shabaab insurgents warned Tuesday they would follow the ongoing siege in Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall with further attacks if Kenyan troops did not pull out of Somalia immediately. “If not, know that this is just a taste of what we will do… you should expect black days,” al Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage said, speaking in Arabic in an audio broadcast released by the group. Kenyan troops invaded southern Somalia two years ago, joining forces with a Somali militia and wresting the key port of Kismayo from the militant. Kenyan troops later joined the 17,700-strong African Union force deployed in Somalia.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya President: More bodies trapped in besieged Nairobi mall

24 Sept – Sept – Source: Africa Review – 137 words

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta Tuesday evening confirmed that more bodies were still trapped in the rubble of a Nairobi mall that was attacked by terrorists on Saturday. In an address to the nation, covered live on national television, the President said that the bodies of both the victims and the attackers were trapped in the sections of the building that collapsed during the siege that prompted a protracted rescue operation by Kenya’s security forces. He announced three days of national mourning beginning Wednesday. During the three days, said President Kenyatta, all national flags will fly at half mast throughout the country. The Kenyan leader announced that five of the terrorists had been killed while 11 suspects were in police custody. Somalia’s al Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the attack in which 62 people have been confirmed dead.

Somali FM: Kenya troops to remain in Somalia

24 Sept – Source: Africa Review – 155 words

Somalia’s Foreign Affairs minister Fawzia Yusuf Haji Aden said Monday that Kenyan troops will remain in the country as part of AU stabilisation force. “Kenyan troops are part of the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom),” said Ms Fawzia, who also doubles as the country’s Deputy Premier.
Addressing reporters ahead of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, Ms Fawzia said the Westgate attack in Nairobi by al Shabaab will not force Kenya to withdrawal from Amisom or disrupt efforts to stabilise the eastern Africa region “Al Shabaab represents an aggression against humanity. It is an invasion against the eastern Africa region and must be defeated in unanimity,” the Foreign minister said. An emergency Cabinet meeting on Monday evening in Mogadishu condemned the Westgate Nairobi. Somali nationals, among them citizens from the US and the UK, are reported to have participated in the attack that has left more than 60 people killed and about 175 injured.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN envoy for Somalia calls for stepping up fight against al Shabaab

24 Sept – Source: Reuters – 123 words

Kenyan Govt: Army in Control of Besieged Mall, All Hostages Free

24 Sept – Source: VOA – 125 words

Kenyan officials say the army has taken complete control of the besieged Nairobi shopping mall from Islamist terrorists, and that all hostages have been freed. Soldiers are still combing the huge Westgate shopping center floor-by-floor. Al Shabaab militants from Somalia claimed responsibility for taking over the mall during a busy shopping day Saturday. Gunmen walked from store-to-store, shooting down shoppers. They also opened fire on a group of children in a cooking class and murdered people in the parking lot. At least 62 people were killed along with two gunmen. The Red Cross puts the death toll at 69. Al Shabaab says the attack was in retaliation for Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia. It demands all Kenyan forces leave Somalia — a demand the Kenyan government rejects.

Kenya’s president says his military has ‘ashamed and defeated’ terrorist inside mall

24 Sept – Source: AP – 136 words

Kenya’s president says his military has “ashamed and defeated” al Qaeda-linked terrorists in an apparent end to a standoff and hostage situation inside a popular mall that lasted for four days. Uhuru Kenyatta said in a national address Tuesday that Kenya’s armed forces were able to kill five of the militants and took eleven into custody. He said 67 people were killed in the violence, including six security officers, and called for three days of national mourning beginning Wednesday. Earlier Tuesday, the al Shabaab terror group, which has claimed responsibility for the attacks, said its fighters were still holding out inside Nairobi’s Westgate Mall, despite claims from Kenya that said otherwise. “There are countless number of dead bodies still scattered inside the mall, and the Mujahideen are still holding their ground,” al Shabaab wrote on its Twitter account.

Somalis in U.S. condemn Kenyan mall attack

24 Sept – Source: USA Today – 129 words

Somalis in the United States are condemning the deadly attack on a Kenyan shopping mall tied to the al Shabaab terror group based in their homeland. Yet they and others also fear the latest battlefront on terrorism could radicalize more of their own here. It’s unclear whether Somali Americans are part of the al Shabaab assault that has killed at least 62 people and wounded scores more in a Nairobi siege that extended to four days Tuesday. Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed said Monday on PBS’ NewsHour that “two or three Americans” and “one Brit” were among the militants involved in the attack. She said the Americans were 18 to 19 years old, of Somali or Arab origin and lived “in Minnesota and one other place” in the United States.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The Westgate attack is part of a global strategy by militant groups, and to counter them, a new way forward is needed.”

Al Shabaab, the global jihad, and terrorism without borders

24 Sept – Source: Al Jazeera English – 1582 Words

At least 70 people died, over 175 injured and several others held hostage when a group of Islamists fighters stormed Kenya’s high-end Westgate Mall in Nairobi and randomly opened fire on shoppers enjoying their weekend. Reportedly, the Islamist fighters shouted in the local Swahili language that Muslims would be allowed to leave while all others were subjected to their bloodletting. France confirmed two of its citizens had been killed, and two Canadians, one of them a diplomat, were also among the dead. The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand have all confirmed that their citizens were among those affected. The respected Ghanaian Poet, Professor Kofi Awoonor, was also among those confirmed dead in the Westgate attack. The Somali-based and al Qaeda-linked terror group, al Shabaab – the youth in Arabic – has since claimed responsibility for the horrific attack through its Twitter account. In one tweet, the Islamist group said: “The Mujahideen entered #Westgate Mall today at around noon and are still inside the mall, fighting the #Kenyan Kuffar inside their own turf.”