February 26, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

President Hassan Sheikh: Govt to reform security agencies

25 Feb – Source: Radio Shabelle – 107 words

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud claimed that the government will take necessary measures in reforming the national security agencies within the country. Mr Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stressed that the government plans on amending the security agencies’ tactics to improve the peace in the country, especially in the capital city Mogadishu. “The government will soon regain control of the country,” said the President. Continuing with his talk, the President added that they will start the final operations needed to get rid of al Shabaab carried out by the Somali National Army and AMISOM soldiers.

Key Headlines

President Mahmoud dismisses UN Monitoring Group’s allegations on arms diversion to al Shabaab(Raxanreeb)
Switzerland ambassador hands his diplomatic credentials to President Hassan Sheikh (Bar-kulan)
President Hassan Sheikh: Govt to reform security agencies (Radio Shabelle)
Somalia: 50000 children at risk amid donor fatigue (Spec News)
Ahlu Sunna militias bans Somali newly issued curriculum (Al Shahid)
Al Shabaab threatens to attack Turkish Aid Workers Officials in Somalia (Horseed Media)
Al Shabaab rejects they are responsible warning letters seeing in Mogadishu (Al Shahid)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister sets out Government steps to address threat of terrorism

25 Feb – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 576 words

The Prime Minister of the Somali Federal Government H.E. Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed today laid out during a press conference his administration’s plan in the wake of the recent attack on the presidential compound by the terrorist group al-Shabaab on Friday, February 21, 2014.

In his press conference, Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed sent a message of condolence to the families of the victims of the Friday attack. The innocent lives lost in the attack included the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister Mohamud Hirsi “Indha-ase” and General Nur Shirbow.

The Prime Minister said: “I condemned the loss of innocent lives at the hands of these terrorists.

These terrorists have no Islamic basis for their indiscriminate violence, which led to the death of worshippers who were attending Fridayprayers in a mosque on the presidential compound. Although the terrorists caused the deaths of innocent people, they did not achieve their ultimate goal of causing maximum casualties thanks to the quick and brave response of the Somali soldiers who eliminated them”.

Prime Minister Ahmed outlined steps the government is taking to address the threat of terrorism in the country in the wake of the terrorist attack. Prime Minister Ahmed outlined the following:

1. The government will conduct an in-depth investigation into the events of the attack to determine what happened, how it happened, who was behind it and the immediate response to the attack. An investigative committee consisting of ministers and experts has been commissioned for the task. Anyone implicated in aiding the terrorists will face justice.

2. The government has established a task force to work on security at the district level. It includes members from the Council of Ministers, parliament, civil society groups, district administrations, the business community, police, intelligence, religious leaders, women’s groups and youth. This is part of an effort to create real collaboration between the government and the public, which is essential to ensuring security and stability within local communities.

3. A committee will be established to assess the strength and performance of security agencies, including the intelligence, the police and the military. The aim of this committee is to issue recommendations on enhancing the readiness, responsiveness and effectiveness of the national security agencies.

4. The administration is working on draft anti-terrorism laws to be presented to parliament. These laws will provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to deal effectively with terrorist groups and those who support and aid them.

Prime Minister Ahmed stressed his government’s commitment to swiftly implement the recommendations of these committees, saying: “Immediate action will be taken in Mogadishu and beyond to dismantle terrorist networks and prevent future attacks.

I call on the public to work with us and assist the security agencies in their efforts to ensure security by alerting the appropriate agencies of any suspicious activities. Religious leaders also have a key responsibility to educate the public on the dangers of terrorism and that it is against the teachings of Islam to take innocent lives.

“I praise the heroic acts of the soldiers and staff who put their own lives at risk to save and come to the aid of their fellow citizens in the mosque during Friday’s attack. My government is working on appropriate recognition for these national heroes.

“Let me say again the harm that Al-Shabaab is causing our great nation and our innocent people, we must all join together as through collective action we will eliminate this terrorist group.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Switzerland ambassador hands his diplomatic credentials to President Hassan Sheikh

25 Feb – Source: Bar-kulan/RBC/Horseed Media/Somali Current – 103 words

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia on Tuesday received the credentials of the new Switzerland Ambassador to Somalia, Dominik Langenbacher. The president welcomed the move by the Switzerland government in strengthening the bilateral relations of the two nations. The new ambassador handed over a letter to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud that comes from the government of Switzerland. He thanked the president the way he accepted his diplomatic identification documents, he vowed that his government will support Somalia in the processes of rehabilitating Somalia, the implementation and development of the federal system and the general stabilization of the country.

President Mahmoud dismisses UN Monitoring Group’s allegations on arms diversion to al Shabaab

25 Feb – Source: Raxanreeb – 134 words

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud ha strongly dismissed allegations recently appeared in a report published by the United Nations Monitoring Group in which the group allegedly said that large quantity of government arms and ammunition diverted to al Shabaab militant group, RBC reports. Speaking in a press conference at the Mogadishu’s Aden Abdulle Airport, President mentioned that the UN Monitoring Group’s report was not based on facts and lacked an approrpriate government respons. “The Federal Government of Somalia has fully cooperated with the UN Monitoring Group during their assessment mission.” President Mohamud said “We have since responded to the UN Security Council and sent concrete evidence to address the discrepancies highlighted in the UN Monitoring Group -a matter that could have been easily avoided if the Group posed their questions and concerns to us.”

President Hassan Sheikh: Govt to reform security agencies

25 Feb – Source: Radio Shabelle – 107 words

Al Shabaab threatens to attack Turkish Aid Workers, Officials in Somalia

25 Feb – Source: Horseed Media – 92 words

Somali Militant group al Shabaab has threatened to attack Turkish aid workers and other officials currently operating in the country. Spokesman of the group, Ali Dheere accused the Turks of working the Interests of what he called ‘’Biggest enemy” of the Muslim people, NATO. ‘’ NATO uses Turkey as hammer to crush the Muslim people, anywhere we see Turkish people we will attack al Shabaab has been strongly opposing Turkey’s presence in Somalia, alleging it of ‘’attempting to suppress the establishment of Shariah law’’, which the group is fighting to impose in the country.

18 suspects nabeed in security operations at Beledweyne

25 Feb – Source: Bar-kulan – 96 words

18 persons is understood to have been captured in a security operations conducted by the AMISOM troops and the Somalia national army today morning at Beledweyne, the regional headquarters of Hiiraan region. During the operation, 18 AK-47 rifles were seized, as was confirmed to Bar-kulan by the Hiiraan commander-in-chief in the department of police Col. Isack Ali Abdulle. Col Isack told that the operation was successful, among those arrested in the operations were released after they were found not guilty. He further hinted that the operation will continue till the security of the town is ensured.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Al Shabaab rejects they are responsible warning letters seeing in Mogadishu

25 Feb – Source: Al Shahid – 102 words

Sheikh Ali Mahamed Hussein the al Shabaab governor of Banadir region denied that they are responsible for warning letters seeing in Mogadishu especially Hiliwa district which locates eastern corner of the city. Last week, papers which look like to be from al Shabaab and published with warning statements for business owners in Hiliwa district have been seen. The warning statements are said to be, “Al-shabab will banish he who opens his or her business center in Hiliwa district from Wednesday (February 12th)”. Sheikh Ali Mahamed Hussein said in an interview with al Shabaab radio Radio Alfurqan, “Al Shabaab is declaring that the warning is a propaganda campaign.”

Two Kenyans held by Somali pirates ‘are cousins’ – Seafarers Union

25 Feb – Source: Daily Nation – 140 words

The two Kenyan engineers abducted by suspected Somali pirates last month in Mogadishu are close family members from Nairobi’s Rongai area, the Seafarers Union of Kenya has revealed.The union’s secretary-general Andrew Mwangura said families of the two, who are cousins, were expected home two days before their abduction after completing their contract in Mogadishu. They were kidnapped on January 12 in Hodan District within the Somali capital Mogadishu. However, Mr Mwangura told Nation.co.ke that family members had requested that their names be withheld to avoid compromising their safety in the hands of their abductors. “The families of the two Kenyan hostages were not aware of their abduction until they read the story published in the Daily Nation on Monday. They contacted us saying they last communicated to them on January 10,” added Mr Mwangura in the interview.

Ahlu Sunna militias bans Somali newly issued curriculum

25 Feb – Source: Al Shahid – 130 words

Sheikh Mohamed Shakir Ali Ahmed, the educational department official of pro-government group of Ahlu Sunna confirmed that his militias apparently banned Somali education curriculum on Sunday after they saw it as violation of stability of the country. Mr. Ahmed said that the curriculum which was issued recently by Somali government is pro al Shabaab one which they can’t bear to spread the residents they control. “This curriculum is anti Islamic, it is encouraging al Shabaab. It was also proposed by especial umbrella, not from government. Educational umbrella can’t be responsible for the whole educational curriculum”, Sheikh Mohamed Shakir Ali Ahmed said. “We made research on this curriculum and we saw it the encouragement of al Shabab militant, we will boycott everything which flourishes the militants, the curriculum applies the terrorism ideology”, the official retreats.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia: 50,000 children at risk amid donor fatigue

25 Feb – Source: Spec News – 179 words

Somalia Somalia’s 2011 famine is over. Militants have been pushed out of Mogadishu. Political progress is being made. And yet the U.N. and Somali government are pleading with international donors to help a country they say is still in crisis. Aid groups, pressed to respond to emergency situations in Somalia in recent years, have not been able to put the time or resources into building the country’s systems, the U.N’s aid chief for Somalia said Tuesday. Many in the country remain in dire circumstances. “We have 50,000 children at the doorstep of death,” because of severe malnourishment, Philippe Lazzarini said. International donors, squeezed by the continuing crisis in Syria and new emergencies in South Sudan and Central African Republic, have given less money to Somalia. Donors also have continuing concerns about the theft and corruption of aid money in a country with less effective government oversight of money. Lazzarini argues that Somalia’s health indicators are even more dire than those in South Sudan or the Central African Republic, two nations getting more headlines in recent months.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“As Somalia’s government plans a new offensive against al Shabaab, the BBC’s Mary Harper considers why the Islamist militants remain so brazen.”

Somalia’s al-Shabab: Striking like mosquitoes

26 Feb – Source: BBC – 963 words

The storming by al Shabaab fighters of Villa Somalia, the seat of government in the capital, Mogadishu, last Friday did not take me altogether by surprise. On a recent visit to this large, shabby, sprawling compound I was struck by the lackadaisical security. True, I had to walk through a lot of checkpoints, but each one seemed more sleepy and chaotic than the next. They prepared themselves to die like lions” I was surprised the African Union and Somali government soldiers let my companion in: His name was not on the security list at the gate, and he was not carrying ID. The day after the attack, in which at least 11 people were killed, I spoke by telephone to an al Shabaab official. He sounded relaxed, assured and in a very good mood. “Villa Somalia is meant to be the most protected part of Mogadishu, and Mogadishu is meant to be the most protected part of Somalia,” he said. “Yet we managed to strike the president’s house. My advice to the apostate President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is try to protect your house and your staff before trying to protect your country.” He then went on to describe in great detail how “our boys” prepared for the attack. “They took time surveying the area, identifying the weak spots,” he said.