18 Aug 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Somalia famine: Andrew Mitchell visits Mogadishu
- Somali government says that it will continue the war against al Shabaab
- Somalia security meeting held in Addis Ababa
- Turkish PM Somali president to address OIC meet on Somalia
- Famine: an opportunity to seek lasting peace in Somalia – Rawlings
- OIC pledges $350 million to Somalia at Turkey summit
SOMALI MEDIA
State Minister of British humanitarian affairs visits Somalia
17 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 109 words
State Minister of Humanitarian Affairs of the British government, Andrew Mitchell yesterday arrived in Mogadishu and met with Somali premier, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali to discuss the humanitarian aid and drought affected people in Somalia, reports said. Andrew also congratulated the Somali premier for his new cabinet ministers installment and the withdrawal of al Shaabab from Mogadishu.
Somali government says that it will continue the war against al Shabaab
17 Aug – Source: Mareeg Online – 67 words
The TFG stated that it would continue wars against al Shabaab as some cabinet ministers paid visits to the frontlines in Mogadishu yesterday, reports said. State minister of defense, Abdikadir Mo’allim told journalists that his government would be fighting against al Shabaab until it secures Benadir region.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Beheaded men found in Mogadishu
17 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 124 words
At least four beheaded bodies have been found dumped in parts of Mogadishu on Wednesday morning. Eyewitnesses said that three of the dead bodies have been found dumped in Barwaqo neighbourhood of Daynile district. Locals suspect that the victims were beheaded after supporting the recent government military achievements in Mogadishu. One of the bodies has been identified as a TFG soldier.
Somalia security meeting held in Addis Ababa
17 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 121 words
A key meeting on the security situation in Somalia was on Wednesday held in Addis Ababa. A distinguished delegation led by Somalia’s Minister of Defense Hussein Arab Isse was there to participate in meeting. Officials from the United Nations, Uganda and Burundi took part in the meeting.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Al Shabaab fighters surrender to Ahlu Sunna in Gedo region
17 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 146 words
Six al Shabaab rebel fighters armed with light weapons on Wednesday surrendered to Ahlu Sunna administration in Garbaharey town, Gedo region, officials say. ASWJ spokesman Sheikh Mohamed Hussein Issack Al-Qadi said they are welcoming youth militia fighters who had been lured into fighting after they were brainwashed by the militia.
Residents in some districts of Mogadishu city flee
17 Aug – Source: Mareeg Online – 93 words
Residents in some villages of Daynile and Hilliwa districts in Mogadishu have yesterday started displacing from their homes, eyewitness said. These people are reported to have been leaving from SOS, Suka holaha in Hilliwa district and some other villages in Daynile district in Mogadishu after the latest clashes between al Shabaab and government forces backed by AMISOM, reports said.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Somaliland’s Interior minister visits Erigabo town, Sanag region
17 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 74 words
A delegation of Somaliland administration led by Interior Minister Abdikarim Garad Bose has arrived in Erigabo town of Sanag region. The delegation from Hargeisa is expected to hold talks with the local administration in the area. The subjects of development, security and economic issues are expected to dominate the meeting.
UNHCR relocates Somali refugees to new site in Dadaab refugee complex
17 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 154 words
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says it has moved 1,500 Somali refugees to the new tents in the Ifo II extension camp to ease congestion at the Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Turkish PM, Somali president to address OIC meet on Somalia
17 Aug- Source: APA, Afrique Avenir – 250 words
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Somalia Sheikh Sherif Ahmad, and the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu will address on Thursday in Istanbul the OIC special meeting that will discuss the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Somalia and its danger to African countries, the OIC said in a press release.
Fighting and cholera plague Somali hospitals
17 Aug – Source; Al Jazeera – 191 words
Somali government troops and African Union peacekeepers have advanced on rebels in northern Mogadishu, prompting one hospital caught in the crossfire to be evacuated. Doctors and patients fled an SOS hospital on Tuesday after stray bullets from a fire fight between members of the armed group al Shabaab and Somali authorities broke out.
http://english.aljazeera.net/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
OIC pledges $350 million to Somalia at Turkey summit
17 Aug- Source: Reuters- 300 words
Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries have pledged $350 million in aid to fight famine in Somalia at an emergency summit in Istanbul, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said on Wednesday.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
Somalia famine: Andrew Mitchell visits Mogadishu
17 Aug – Source: BBC – 331 words
UK International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell has become the first British cabinet minister to visit Somalia’s war-torn capital in 18 years. Mr Mitchell warned of a race against time to tackle the “devastating famine” in the country and said without action 400,000 children could starve to death. Two weeks ago, Islamist rebels pulled out of Mogadishu, but conflict has hampered aid efforts in the country.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Turkey’s Erdogan urges aid for Somalia, criticises capitalism
17 Aug – Source: Reuters – 281 words
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan appealed on Wednesday for aid for drought-struck Somalia, criticising millionaires who drive luxury cars and the “Western world’s” arrogance for ignoring the plight of the poor. In a speech sprinkled with references to Islamic piety and criticism of Western capitalism, Erdogan told the Organisation of the Islamic Conference the famine in Somalia was “a litmus test” not only for Muslims but for the whole of humanity.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
Somali-Americans help drought victims
17 Aug- Source: VOA- 744 words
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the US and, as drought and famine take a devastating toll on their homeland, Somali immigrants are taking action to help victims back home. As she watches televised images of starving Somali mothers and children, Fatima Abdi, 19, remembers her mother’s stories about the country’s 1992 famine.
Famine: an opportunity to seek lasting peace in Somalia – Rawlings
17 Aug- Source: Ghana News Agency- 3 words
Former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Jerry John Rawlings, says the current famine in the Horn of Africa is an opportunity for the continent to pool its resources to seek lasting peace in Somalia.