June 27, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

President Mohamud sends good will message to Somaliland

26 Jun – Source: Somali Current – 83 words

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has sent his goodwill message to the Northern self declared state of Somaliland in the 26th June anniversary in Mogadishu on Thursday night. During his speech in 26th June anniversary since Somali flag was first hosted in Somalia president Mohamud called upon Somali people to protect their identity. He also urged Somali people to show the importance of the flag in their daily lives saying the Somali flag should be visible in households and business centers.

Key Headlines

President Mohamud sends good will message to Somaliland (Somali Current)
Somali PM attends AU summit in Malabo (Radio Goobjoog)
State Minister for Foreign Affairs meets with Swiss Ambassador (Bar-kulan)
Al Shabaab gunmen attack hotel in Somalia (Al Jazeera)
“Government forces in the area are alert to prevent other planned attack” Bulo-burte Commissioner(Radio Goobjoog)

SOMALI MEDIA

President Mohamud sends good will message to Somaliland

26 Jun – Source: Somali Current – 83 words

Somali PM attends AU summit in Malabo

26 Jun – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 82 words

The Prime Minister of Federal Government of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed arrived Malabo, the capital city of Equatorial Guinea. He was welcomed by senior Guinean officials. The prime minister attended African Union heads summit which opened in Equatorial Guinea. The prime Minister of Somalia met his counterpart ahead of the summit as government spokesman Ridwan posted his Facebook account. The two leaders discussed wide range issues including the bilateral relations between the two African nations and reconstruction of Somalia.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs meets with Swiss Ambassador

26 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 87 words

Somali State Minister for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Buri’ Mohamed Hamza has met with Switzerland Ambassador to Somalia, Dominik Langenbacher in Mogadishu. The two officials discussed various issues including strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, supporting Somali government implement a federal system and the humanitarian aid to the needy people in the country. Switzerland Ambassador to Somalia, Domanik Langenbacher said the two officials agreed on the issues discussed and reiterated his country’s commitment to the federal government and its efforts to stabilize the country. Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdullahi Dool Mohamed hosted Burundian ambassador Brigadier General Joseph Nkurunziza at his office in Mogadishu. They discussed the relation between the two countries.

Suicide bomb hits Bulo-burde Hotel

26 Jun – Source: Radio Shabelle – 120 words

At least two people among them a Djiboutian Official and soldier were killed in Bulo-burde town of Hiran region after suicide bomb hit Amalow hotel in the town. A witness who declined to be named told Radio Shabelle that the gunmen believed to be al Shabaab militants rammed into hotel and killed Djiboutian Official and soldier. Commissioner of Bulo-burte for Somali Gov’t said that Somali troops along with AU forces completed the operation against al Shabaab raid in the town adding that the Hotel is under the control of allied forces. Somali Officials accused al Shabaab of being the mastermind of the bomb that is targeted on the Amalow Hotel in Bulo-burte town.

“Government forces in the area are alert to prevent other planned attack” Bulo-burte Commissioner

26 Jun – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 115 words

Bulo Burte district commissioner in Hiiraan region Ahmed Ali wehliye alias Waaweyne, has given details of an attack which al Shabaab has carried out in the town earlier Thursday. Mr. Wehliye speaking to Radio Goobjoog immediately after the attack said that two men armed with AK47 attacked a military base in the town. “The two men were wearing explosive vests,” the commissioner said. He added that the attackers killed two soldiers among the guards before gunfire with government officials embarked in the area. “Both of the attackers were killed by the government forces” he said.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Al Shabaab gunmen attack hotel in Somalia

26 Jun – Source: Al Jazeera – 137 words

At least two Djiboutian soldiers and two al Shabaab fighters have been killed in an attack on a hotel used by African Union troops in Somalia, the AU has said. The attack happened at the Amalow hotel in Buulobarde on Thursday. Al Shabaab fighters hurled explosives at the entrance before exchanging fire with Somali and African Union troops at the hotel. Elio Yao, a spokesman for the UN-backed AU mission in Somalia, told the AFP news agency that gunmen failed to enter the compound but had killed two Djiboutians. The two al Shabaab fighters “dressed in military fatigues or uniform” were also killed, Yao said. “There was an exchange of fire at the checkpoint, during that exchange the two Djiboutians were killed… the attackers were not able to enter the compound.” Al Shabaab meanwhile said it had killed six AU soldiers.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Al Shabaab fighters attack African Union base in Somalia

26 Jun – Source: AFP – 172 words

Al Qaeda-linked Shabaab commandos on Thursday attacked an African Union military base in central Somalia dressed in stolen government army uniforms, killing at least two soldiers from Djibouti, the AU force said. The Shebab said their gunmen stormed the compound of a hotel where Djiboutian troops with the AU force were based in the town of Bulla Burte, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu, their spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab told AFP. “The area command headquarters (of the AU force) was attacked, these attacks will continue,” Musab said, boasting to have killed six AU troops. However, Elio Yao, spokesman for the UN-backed AU mission in Somalia (AMISOM), rejected the claims, saying the gunmen failed to enter the compound but had killed two Djiboutians in a firefight. The two Shebab fighters “dressed in military fatigues or uniform” were also killed, Yao said. “There was an exchange of fire at the checkpoint, during that exchange the two Djiboutians were killed… the attackers were not able to enter the compound,” he added.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“AMISOM has to show strength as al Shabaab continues its transformation from a conventional militia into an underground terrorist group. The danger is of course that AMISOM misjudges its enemies’ priorities. Al Shabaab doesn’t seem to be interested in holding and administering territory any more. Consequently, it will be hard to hurt it by going after its last strongholds.”

Africa is going to war with al Shabaab

26 Jun – Source: Medium – 463 words

Forces from six African countries seem determined to destroy al Shabaab, the notorious Somali militant group. The African Union Mission in Somalia claims it just killed more than 80 al Shabaab fighters in two separate air strikes—and is also about to push the armed group out of some of its last remaining strongholds. Simultaneously, al Shabaab has said on its propaganda radio station Al Andalus that its fighters ambushed a Kenyan convoy close to the Somali border, killing 13 soldiers and destroying four vehicles. Local residents reported heavy fighting in the area indicated by al Shabaab, but we could confirm neither Al Shabaab’s claims, nor AMISOM’s. AMISOM has described the air strikes, which were likely carried out by Kenyan F-5 or Short Tucano fighters, in the context of “a final push to liberate Somalia from the brutal grip of al Shabaab.” It’s likely that the A.U. also meant the air strikes as an answer to the militants’ recent attack on the Kenyan town of Mpeketoni, during which more than 50 people died. The Kenyan government in particular is under enormous pressure to quickly end the al Shabaab insurgency. Kenya joined AMISOM in 2011, pushing al Shabaab out of the coastal town Kismayo, which until then was the militant’s main base. As a result, the Islamist group embarked on a military and terrorist campaign against Kenya, staging frequent and high-profile attacks against the Kenyan military and civilian targets like Mpeketoni. Al Shabaab also staged last year’s bloody terror attack on the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi.