January 3, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Police commanders among the dead in Mogadishu explosions

02 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan- 131 words
Reports indicate that two police commanders were among those killed on Tuesday night’s explosions outside Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu. Somali Police head of logistics, General Abdullahi Hassan Barise told Bar-kulan that Mursal Showre and Abdikani Ahmed Ga’al, two police commanders in charge of Shangani and Wardhigley police stations were among the dead. Barise said that the two officers were killed while taking part in the rescue operations at the scene of the deadly explosions on Wednesday night. He sent his condolences to the families of the two officers. Somali militant group al Shabaab has claimed the responsibility of the attacks on one of the capital’s heavily guarded hotels. This is the second time that al Shabaab targeted the hotel which is mostly frequented by Somali politicians and government officials.

Key Headlines

UK condemns bomb attack in Somalia (GovUK)
Opposition candidate relinquishes bid supports other contender for Puntland Presidency(Radio Garowe)
New political party launched in Somalia capital (Radio Dalsan)
Somaliland: At least five injured after police Oodweyne residents clash (Somaliland Informe)
Somalia twin bombing toll rises to 11: police( Daily Nation)
France condemns twin attacks in Somalia that left a dozen dead(Kuwait News Agency)
Italian navy rescues 233 migrants (Times of Malta)

SOMALI MEDIA

Police commanders among the dead in Mogadishu explosions

New political party launched in Somalia capital

02 Jan- Source: Radio Dalsan- 130 words
A new political party has been launched in Somalia capital, Mogadishu which its founders said that they will work for the country’s unity. Former Somalia Deputy Defense Minister and MP Salad Ali Jelle has been announced to be the chairman of the political party named as “United and Democratic Party”. Mr Jelle who is a well-known politician has said that he will spare no efforts to restore the country’s unity within a political agenda based on consensus. “I promise ahead of you that this party will bring about united Somalia and the Somali people,” Mr Jelle said. Members of the country’s Federal Parliament, Civil Society Members and independent politicians gathered to attend the launching event of the new political party in Mogadishu on Thursday.

Opposition candidate relinquishes bid, supports other contender for Puntland Presidency

02 Jan- Source: Radio Garowe-210 Words
Opposition presidential candidate Thursday announced that he has decided to pull out of the forthcoming Puntland presidential election race. Mohamed Ali Yusuf ‘Gaagaab’-who served as interim Vice President for one year and finance minister under former President Mohamud Musse Hirsi (Adde)’s incumbency-told a press conference in Puntland capital of Garowe that he abandoned his contention and made concession to a fellow presidential candidate Ali Haji Warsame. Gaagaab said he no longer seek to compete for the state’s top political position: “I have been in Puntland for many years; I had been holding key positions since the establishment of SSDF, I became a lawmaker, vice president and finance minister. After I evaluated the prevailing situations, I decided to relinquish my bid for Puntland president and vacate the space for presidential candidate Ali Haji Warsame”. Warsame thanked Gaagaab for his decision and noted that he will concentrate in his future plans on the security, good governance and economy if he is elected as Puntland president.

Somaliland: At least five injured after police, Oodweyne residents clash

12 Jan- Source: Somaliland Informer/Hadh wanaag News- 261 words

At least five people are reported to have sustained injuries and eight were arrested in connection with protest against ministerial level delegation that visited Oodweyne, Togdheer province of Somaliland on Thursday. Sources said that once the delegation headed by the presidency minister accompanied by member of Somaliland parliament, Assistant commerce minister and the committee in charge for the construction of Oodweyne reached the town, they were received by the local town councillors and the district level administrations. Meeting was convened between the delegation and the committee in charge of the fund -raising for the construction of Oodweyne road. Somaliland minister for presidency has asked that the money raised should be handed over to him and the residents got furious over the minister’s statement. Member of Oodweyne councillors by the name of Ibrahim Mohamed Nur tried to speak but the minister for presidency denied him the chance. The Minister ordered the arrest of the local councillor which sparked the residents to hold protest organized by the youth Police clashed with the residents and reports say that the situation is calm.

Fire leaves 14 injured in Minneapolis apartment

02 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Shabelle- 136 words

At least 14 people have been injured after a three-storey apartment caught fire in Minneapolis in the United States on Wednesday. Minneapolis firefighters arrived at the scene and tried to put out the blaze which raged for hours. Fire officials said that at least six of the victims were critically injured and were rushed to the hospital for treatments. A witness in Minneapolis who spoke to Bar-kulan said that some of the people were injured after they jumped from the burning building in an attempt to escape from the fire. The fire reportedly erupted about 8:00 a.m local time, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation according to Minneapolis fire officials. Minneapolis is a home to the largest Somali community in the United States.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia twin bombing toll rises to 11: police

02 Jan- Source: Daily Nation- 364 words

The death toll from the twin bomb attacks in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu has risen to 11 after three people died from their wounds, police said Thursday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack which took place late on Wednesday, but it appeared to involve a commando of gunmen, and bore all the hallmarks of the al-Shabaab. “The number of dead is 11, with 18 others who were wounded,” police commander Abdi Mohamed Jama said.

France condemns twin attacks in Somalia that left a dozen dead

02 Jan- Source: Kuwait News Agency- 168 words

France on Thursday condemned a twin bomb attack in Somalia on Wednesday in which around a dozen people died and scores were wounded, according to preliminary figures. The attacks took place in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which is nominally under government control but subject to raids and bombings by al Shabaab militants and other anti-government militias. Expressing condolences for the relatives of the victims, Paris reiterated its support for the Somali government. France has given strong backing to the Mogadishu authorities and has helped train security forces in both bilateral and European programmes. The French navy also plays a key role in helping fight piracy in the high seas off Somalia, notably in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean waterways.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UK condemns bomb attack in Somalia

02 Jan- Source: Gov.uk- 91 words

FCO Minister Mark Simmonds comments on the bomb attack in Mogadishu on 1 January. The attack at the Jazeera Hotel killed 11 and injured many others. Mark Simmonds said: The British Government unreservedly condemns yesterday’s bomb attack on the Jazeera Hotel in Mogadishu. My thoughts are with the families of the victims and those injured. This attack and those like it, such as last week’s attack on the restaurant in Mogadishu, only strengthens our determination to work with the Somali people in their efforts to build a secure and stable future.

Italian navy rescues 233 migrants

02 Jan- Source: Times of Malta-135 Words
The Italian navy last night rescued 233 mostly African migrants from a 10 metre (yard) boat off Lampedusa as the immigration crisis that killed hundreds in shipwrecks in 2013 showed no signs of letting up in the new year. The navy picked them up in choppy sea and is ferrying them to a port near Syracuse on Sicily’s eastern coast, a statement said. On board were men and women from Eritrea, Nigeria, Somalia, Zambia and Mali as well as from Pakistan, the navy said. Malta was not involved in the rescue. Sea arrivals to Italy from Northern Africa more than tripled in 2013, fuelled by refugees from Syria’s civil war and political strife in the Horn of Africa.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The year ended with clan-nomination of Puntland’s new 65-member strong parliament which is due to elect a new President on 8th January. The system of clan nomination of representatives which took place in Mogadishu earlier and now in Puntland, falls short of Somaliland’s experiment of a direct elected parliament.”

Somaliland & Somalia: The Year 2013 in Review

02 Jan- Source: Somalilandpress-1704 Words
The most heartwarming initiative that happened in Mogadishu in 2013 was the start of an inspirational reconstruction momentum thanks to the city’s energetic and ambitious mayor Mohamud Ahmed Nur Tarsan. If he continuous with this vigor and commitment aimed at restoring the beauty and glory of Mogadishu, Tarsan will be the person to watch in 2014. It is encouraging also to see the vital role played by the diaspora returnees who are investing heavily in rebuilding the city not only in the form of pouring money into business but also in bringing back creative ideas and breathing a new life into the morale of the people. There is no doubt that the Somalis with their renowned entrepreneurial skills that created lucrative businesses in many parts of Africa as well as in Minnesota, London, Dubai and elsewhere can and should make Mogadishu the pearl and commercial hub of the Horn of Africa. After more than 20 years of ruin, misery and lawlessness, one can see the undefeatable spirit of the Somali people who despite the forces of darkness like Al Shabab who wants to keep the people under their destructive and backward ideology, surge ahead in a promising effort to make the country stand again on its feet.