April 23, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Al Shabaab: We’ll keep killing politician

22 Apr – Source: Reuters – 154 words

Islamist rebels shot dead a Somali lawmaker on Tuesday, a day after blowing up one of his colleagues, and vowed to keep killing politicians and wreck efforts to secure the country. Al-Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab told Reuters they wanted to send a message to Western-backed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who on Tuesday was due to wrap up a three-day conference on improving security in the capital. “This proves that they cannot and will never do anything about security … More serious killings are on the way,” said al-Shabaab’s military spokesperson, Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab. Somalia’s two decades of civil war and lawlessness, triggered by the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991, has already spread to destablise the region. Western nations fear Somalia could sink further into chaos and provide a major launchpad for Islamist militancy. Dahir Amin Jesow said fellow member of parliament Abdiasis Mursal was killed outside his house in Mogadishu’s Madina district.

Key Headlines

Somali President condoles with Somali people over the murder of Somali MP (Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan)
Burundi President Visits Somalia and addresses AMISOM troops (AMISOM)
PM vows hunt for the perpetrators will continue after the second MP assassinated (RBC)
UN Special Representative for Somalia condemns killing of parliamentarian and media worker (UNSOM)
Members of the Somali Federal Parliament debates about their security (Radio Goobjoog)UN envoy raises possibility of Somali withdrawal (AP)
Al Shabaab: We’ll keep killing politicians (Reuters)
Puntland Police arrest former Federal MP (Garowe Online)
Cracking down on Nairobi’s Somalis (Al Jazeera)
Al Shabaab claims the murder of another MP in Mogadishu (Radio Goobjoog/Somalimemo Online)

PRESS STATEMENT

Burundi President Visits Somalia and addresses AMISOM troops

22 Apr – Source: AMISOM – 252 words

Burundi President, His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, today made a historic visit to Somalia to check on his forces serving under the African Union peacekeeping mission as well as pay a courtesy call to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud.

During his visit to Somalia, the Burundian President expressed optimism about Somalia’s future, and reaffirmed his government commitment to work in partnership with the Somali government to promote peace and security.

“I am delighted to have visited Somalia at a crucial time for the Federal Government in their fight against Al Shabaab and terrorism. Burundi government now has appointed its first Ambassador to Somalia, we also have our troops serving with AMISOM who have been in Somalia since 2007 and the relationship between the two countries is excellent.” Said President Nkurunziza.

The president had a message to Somali people “my message to Somalia is that of hope and peace, I encourage the people of Somalia to have hope, Burundi was once ravaged by civil war however because of political goodwill of all Burundians, we now live in peace. There is a time for everything, a time for war and a time for peace and development and now it’s a good time for Somalis to think about peace and stability”.

During his time in Somalia, President Nkurunziza also addressed AMISOM troops and thanked them for the contribution they have made to the security and stability of Somalia. “We are deeply grateful to AMISOM forces for the sacrifices you have made to help our Somali brothers.”

UN Special Representative for Somalia condemns killing of parliamentarian and media worker

22 Apr – Source: UNSOM – 259 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, condemned the killing of Mr. Abdiaziz Isaaq Mursal, a Member of the country’s Federal Parliament. Mr. Mursal was shot dead earlier today in Mogadishu by unknown gunmen. Mr. Mursal is the second MP to be killed in less than 48 hours in Mogadishu. Another Somali parliamentarian, Mr. Isaak Mohamed Rino, was killed yesterday. Both attacks have been claimed by Al-Shabaab.

“I am appalled to learn of the death of Mr. Abdaziz Isaaq Mursal and I condemn his murder in the strongest terms. I was also saddened by the killing of a media worker in Mogadishu last night. The media must be allowed to carry out their work without fear of attack,” SRSG Kay said. Unknown gunmen shot dead a Radio Dalsan worker, Muhammad Hassan Amar in Mogadishu’s Bakara Market on Monday evening.

Mr. Kay continued to say, “I am concerned by the recent attacks we have seen in Mogadishu. We remain resolute in our support for the Somali people and their representatives as they work to realise their hopes and aspirations for a peaceful and stable future.”

“The people responsible for these heinous crimes have nothing to offer the Somali people but violence and insecurity. I call on the authorities to investigate these attacks and bring the perpetrators to justice as quickly as possible,” he added. SRSG Kay offers his sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Mursal and Mr. Amar, as well as to the Federal Parliament of Somalia and the country’s media fraternity.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali President condoles with Somali people over the murder of Somali MP

22 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan – 140 words

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has on Tuesday sent his condolences to the families, friends, fellow parliamentarians and the Somali people over the death of MP Abdiaziz Isak Mursal who was shot dead in the capital earlier in the day. The president said that Mursal was among the hardworking members of the parliament who was committed to serving the interests of the nation and the people of Somalia. Mohamud underlined that his government will continue its efforts to wipe terror groups out of the country. The president said that his government’s security plans will not be halted due to terror threats and assassinations against influential figures in the country. Abdiaziz Isak Mursal becomes the second Somali MP to be killed in Mogadishu in two days following the death of Isak Mohamed Rino who was killed in a car explosion on Monday.

PM vows hunt for the perpetrators will continue after the second MP assassinated

22 Apr – Source: RBC – 115 words

The Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has sent his deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of Member of Parliament Abdiaziiz Isaak Mursal, Secretary of Parliament’s Natural Resources Committee who was shot and killed by unknown assailants in Mogadishu on Tuesday morning. The Prime Minister condemned the attack and termed as “horrific and deplorable killings” of two members of parliament have shocked the nation. “MP Abdiaziiz Isaak Mursal was a dedicated Committee Secretary honourably serving Parliament and the people of Somalia. I send my condolences to Abdiaziz Isaak Mursal’s family and friends and I pray they have the strength to move forward whilst we seek justice.” the Prime Minister said.

Members of the Somali Federal Parliament debates about their security

22 Apr – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 115 words

The members of the federal parliament of Somalia had a closed door meeting to discuss in details the security of the members a time when two MPs were killed and another one severely wounded within two days. Today’s agenda of the parliament was to debate on the budget of the federal government as the finance committee was expected to present the information they gathered from the parliament members, but the meeting was rescheduled after some members proposed another agenda about the security of the lawmakers. The speaker of federal parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari who was chairing the meeting condemned the atrocious murder and sent heartfelt condolences to families and relatives of the late MP.

Puntland Police arrest former Federal MP

22 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 108 words

Puntland Police Forces have arrested former Federal Member of Parliament for undisclosed reasons in the state capital of Garowe on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports. Soldiers in armored personnel carrier detained Dahir Irro who served as a lawmaker in Transitional Federal Parliament and he is being held at Garowe police station. Puntland Government officials unveiled that Dahir was arrested in response to a decree from Puntland Ministry of Security’s headquarters. Garowe Online was unable to reach the reasons behind his arrest online but local reports say, the former MP has been linked to a security meeting that last Sunday brought together Nugal traditional leaders at New Wamo hotel in Garowe.

Al Shabaab claims the murder of another MP in Mogadishu

22 Apr – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Somalimemo Online – 113 words

Al Shabaab has claimed the responsibility of killing an MP, Abdiaziz Issack Mursal in Mogadishu today. A spokesman for Al-Shabab who spoke to the media said that the killings that occurred in the capital today and yesterday against federal parliament MPs is a clear message to the federal government that there is no security in Mogadishu despite the claims of top leaders. National security conference Mogadishu has entered its third day; today’s meeting is focused on the role of regional administrations in tackling security and taking part in stabilization. These assassinations are coming a time when president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud while opening the national security conference stated that the insecurity in Mogadishu sharply reduced.

Puntland bans Political meetings in Garowe

22 Apr – Source: Horseed Media – 90 words

Authorities in Puntland have banned political meetings being held in the state’s capital of Garowe, without obtaining permission from the government. The Governor of Nugal region, Abdikani Hashi Ali issued the new ban on Tuesday and told Journalists that the ban shall be applied indefinitely in order “to ensure peace and avoid inconvenience to the public”. “We have decided that no political meeting should be held without first obtaining permission from the relevant authorities… we don’t want meetings which their aims are to disrupt our peace,’’ said the Governor.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Cracking down on Nairobi’s Somalis

22 Apr – Source: Al jazeera – 410 words

In Eastleigh, a mostly Somali area of Nairobi, residents say they constantly look over their shoulders when entering grocery stores, to make sure no security agents are following them. Some families have locked themselves up in their homes, and children rush to alert their parents whenever they see a policeman passing by. Some say they would like to leave Kenya, but are worried for their safety. Over the past three weeks, Somalis living in Kenya have been under attack by a police force often criticised for brutality and corruption. Somali neighbourhoods in Nairobi are on lockdown, and those who have protested, including rights activists, have been labelled as terrorist sympathisers.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN envoy raises possibility of Somali withdrawal

22 Apr – Source: AP – 135 words

The top United Nations envoy in Somalia is warning that foreign diplomats may have to withdraw from the war-ravaged nation if they continue to be attacked. U.N. Special Representative Nicholas Kay said attacks that cause significant losses would likely force international officials to leave or, at least, pare down their missions in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. He spoke Tuesday at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington.

2 Somali Lawmakers Assassinated in Mogadishu

22 Apr – Source: VOA – 126 words

Two Somali lawmakers have been assassinated in Mogadishu, within 24 hours of each other, in attacks claimed by the Somali militant group al Shabab. The latest killings underscore the security challenges facing the Somali government. Somali officials say unidentified gunmen shot and killed parliament member Abdiaziz Isaak Mursal as he was leaving his home in the capital early Tuesday. A day earlier, another MP, Isaak Mohammed, was killed by a bomb hidden in his car. The explosion left another lawmaker seriously wounded. The militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for both attacks. Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed condemned Tuesday’s killing and said such violence only strengthens Somalia’s resolve to defeat terrorism. A spokesman for the prime minister, Ridwaan Haji, praised the work of the two lawmakers.

Al Shabaab: We’ll keep killing politicians

22 Apr – Source: Reuters – 154 words

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“I have come to a similar conclusion on the question over six years ago. Somalia is one of not so many countries around the world in which a population change has never been indicated, and any sign of a noticeable substratum has not so far been observed genetically, linguistically, and anthropologically. There is no evidence for south-emanated expansion toward the north, but there are evidences for the opposite. The largest lexical statistics, and other linguistic standards, from various Afroasiatic languages are used in a forthcoming comparison for reconstructing the Somali history.”

The ancient kingdom of punt and its factor in Egyptian history- part I

22 Apr – Source: Wardheernews – 349 words

The purpose of this study is to shed more light on the location of ancient land of Punt and the nature of its relationship with ancient Egypt through discussion on the following points: origin of Somali history (introduction); review of the opposite arguments on the location of Punt; Punt as a kingdom; the scope of its trade; the evidences in the exported Plants and Animals; Greco-Roman account for the location of Punt; linguistic evidences; ethnographic significance of Puntite names; genetic evidence; archaeological and cultural connections; continuation of commercial aspect; Conclusion. Note: In this document, as in many of other records, the names Somali, Somaliland, Somali Peninsula, and the Eastern Horn of Africa are substitutable; the terms ‘North East Africa’ and ‘Horn of Africa’ (from Sudan to the north and the east of Kenya) also do mean the same thing, although if it’s said ‘the Horn’ only, it usually refers to the Somali Peninsula, not the greater Horn of Africa; but still the term ‘Horn of Africa’ is used elastically depending on the context. On the same token, the terms Southwest Asia, Near East, and Middle East are interchangeable.