22 Aug 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Ministry of Information has responsibility to safeguard and protect journalists
- AU delegation arrives at Mogadishu to study famine situation
- Erdogan says his gov’t will reconstruct some Mogadishu roads
- Sudan: Beef up AMISOM to face Somalia challenges
- Turkey to set up embassy in Somalia – Erdogan
- Surveillance drone crashes in Somali capital
PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Information has responsibility to safeguard and protect journalists
21 Aug – Source: Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications – 339 words
The Somali Government refutes the false allegations made in a statement by some media outlets regarding the Turkish PM visit to Mogadishu.
The NUSOJ, the union of Somali Journalists, claimed yesterday what they called “ media crackdown by Security forces. “ during the coverage of the Turkish PM visit.
The Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications, stated today it refutes the above allegations by those media organizations. The NUSOJ statement was made prior to examining the full facts from all sides. It was unprofessional to publish the claims of a small minority as “the truth” without even attempting to find out the other side of the story.
Here are the undisputable facts that should be taken into account before rushing to any conclusion.
- Two days before the visit of the Turkish PM the Ministry arranged a meeting with all the independent media in order to smooth out all the planned activities during the visit.
- All the members of the media were registered and provided with ID cards.
- The Ministry made press buses available to all journalist so that they could get access to event locations as a group with prearranged security clearance.
Unfortunately few journalists went on their own to the event locations ahead of the majority; and some came late, contravening the security arrangement; these were then rightfully stopped on their tracks by the security forces. These journalists refused to play by the rules, flaunting the arrangement adhered to by the more thoughtful and considerate men of their trade.
They have no one but themselves to blame and if in the future they repeated the same antics again, the security forces will have no choice but to throw the book at them.
In this matter, the paramount consideration of the government and all its departments was to make sure that the visit by an important and influential leader, who has shown exceptional boldness and bravery in coming to Mogadishu, should go smoothly and without incident. We were guided solely by security requirements and would be guided by the same in the future.
SOMALI MEDIA
AU delegation arrives at Mogadishu to study famine situation
20 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan – 231 words
A delegation from the African Union arrived at Mogadishu to study the drought and famine conditions. African Union Commission Chief Jean Ping, who was leading the AU delegation held meetings with the Somali president, his prime minister and the speaker of the parliament at Villa Somalia, the presidency.
Erdogan says his gov’t will reconstruct some Mogadishu roads
19 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan, and Shabelle – 252 words
After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited refugee camps and a hospital in Mogadishu, he went to Villa Somalia to meet with the top Somalia leaders. At a news conference, Erdogan promised Turkey would construct a road from the Mogadishu airport to the city to make it easier to deliver aid. He also vowed his country would build schools and a hospital.
TFG forces in Lower and Middle Jubba regions planning to attack al Shabaab militia
21 Aug – Source: Radio Shabelle – 127 words
Somali government forces in southern Somalia are at war against al Shabaab fighters in Lower and Middle Jubba regions, a military official said on Sunday. Mohamed Farah Dahir, a military official of the Somali government, told Shabelle Radio that plans to launch a huge offensive against al Shabaab are at their last stages.
Somalia signs education-related deal with Turkish organization
19 Aug – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 118 words
The TFG’s Ministry of Education has disclosed it has signed an education related deal with the Turkish Nile Organization. In a press conference held in Mogadishu, Somalia’s minister of education, Dr. Ahmed Aydid Ibrahim said the Nile Organization will help Somalia in regards to education and health. Mr. Ibrahim said the government will hand over schools in Mogadishu to the Turkish organization.
Somali forces, Ras Kamboni fighters conduct operation in southern town
20 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 116 words
The TFG forces allied with Ras Kamboni fighters on Saturday conducted search operations in parts of a southern Somalia town. The Somali forces and the allied local militias started the operations after some local residents were robbed by armed men in the border town of Dhobley.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Deadly fighting breaks out in Gedo, Southern Somalia
22 Aug- Source: Radio bar-kulan, Somaliareport, Radio Kulmiye- 41 words
At least 20 fighters were killed and more than 30 injured as heavy fighting between TFG troops and al Shabaab insurgents raged in Busar village, 45 kilometers east of Elwak district in Gedo region over the last 24 hours.
Puntland community conference focuses on security
20 Aug – Source: Radio Garowe – 462 words
The Puntland State has concluded a three-day conference in the capital Garowe which was attended by 50 Representatives from Mudug region (Galkayo area), including traditional elders, religious scholars, businesspeople and intellectuals. The conference’s primary focus was security issues, regional administration matters and development issues.
Mayor of Mogadishu: We will reopen all stations in Banadir region
20 Aug – Source: Mareeg Online – 119 words
Mogadishu mayor, Mohamed Ahmed Nor Tarsan visited Abdi Aziz, Shangani, Karan and Yakshid districts in the northern part of the capital Mogadishu last Saturday and held a press conference in Abdi Aziz district saying that his administration would reopen stations in these districts, journalists said.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Al Shabaab loot trucks carrying aid food to starving people
20 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 96 words
Fighters loyal to al Shabaab movement on Saturday robbed and looted at least 8 trucks carrying aid food to the starving people in the areas under the control. Reports say that the incident took place in Elasha Biyaha, about 18 kilometers south of Mogadishu.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Gunmen kill, injure people in Galkacyo
20 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 66 words
Two people were killed and several others seriously injured in Galkacyo town of Mudug region as unidentified assailants opened fire on a bus. A businessman and a woman were killed while others who were in the same vehicle were severely wounded.
The first aid flight lands in Garbaharey, southwest Somalia
21 Aug – Source: Mareeg Online – 79 words
Reports from Garbaharey city of Gedo region say that the first flight in years carrying (UNICEF) aid to the drought affected people in southwest Somalia has landed in that city. An Ahlu-suna official confirmed this news for local press.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Fighting breaks out in the central regions
21 Aug- Source: Mareeg- 96 words
Fighting between al Shabaab and Ahlu-suna on Sunday broke out on the border between Hiiraan and Galgudud regions in central Somalia, killing 7 and injuring a number of others, reports said. The battle occurred at villages close to Mahas in Hiiran region as well as between Galgudug and Hiiraan region, central Somalia.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
One soldier dies as Somali forces clash in Mogadishu; aid food looted
22 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 150 words
At least one soldier was killed after some Somali forces clashed Sunday in Mogadishu. Locals said the forces were from military and police of the TFG as they used light weapons in the district of Wadajir of Mogadishu. It is still not known what caused the armed confrontation and no government official has commented the incident so far.
http://www.shabelle.net/
REGIONAL MEDIA
Afewerki comes to Kampala to mend fences, but still has stake in Somalia
20 Aug – Source: Eastern Africa – 695 words
Long accused of aiding and abetting the al Shabaab insurgency in Somalia, Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki’s three-day visit to Kampala last week was interpreted as an attempt to end his country’s isolation. Analysts said the outcome of the visit would thus have security and geopolitical ramifications right across East Africa and the Horn of Africa.
Saudi king orders donation campaign for Somalia
20 Aug – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 89 words
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz ordered the launch on Monday of a national campaign to collect donations for famine victims in Somalia. The king, in a statement released last Saturday, urged the Saudis to grant aid for the Somalis, considering that their homeland had witnessed birth of the message of Prophet Mohammed.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/
Sudan: Beef up AMISOM to face Somalia challenges
20 Aug – Source: Afrique jet – 320 words
Experts have called for the acceleration of deployment of additional troops pledged by Burundi, Uganda, Djibouti, Republic of Guinea and Sierra Leone to enable the AMISOM to quickly reach the strength of 12,000 troops, a statement issued by the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last Friday.
http://www.afriquejet.com/
Sultan bin Khalifa visits Somalia
21 Aug – Source: Emirates News Agency – 207 words
Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa al Nahyan, the Emirati president’s advisor, has made a humanitarian visit to the Somalia. He was accompanied by his wife Sheikha Bint Saif bin Mohammed al Nahyan and Hussein Mahmoud Mohammed, Somali Charge D’affaires. Sheikh Sultan met with Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and PM Abdul Mawala Mohammed Ali.
Egyptians contribute to Somalia’s famine relief
19 Aug – Source: Egypt Daily News – 586 words
While struggling with their own economic hardships, Egyptians were quick to mobilize efforts to help drought-stricken Somalia through collecting donations and organizing aid convoys. The Arab Doctors Union’s emergency and relief committee in Egypt has set up hotlines and bank accounts through which donations can be transferred.
http://thedailynewsegypt.com/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Turkey to set up embassy in Somalia – Erdogan
19 Aug – Source: Reuters – 63 words
Turkey will establish an embassy in Somalia, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday during a visit to Mogadishu to draw international attention to the famine sweeping across the Horn of Africa nation. He also told a news conference that Turkey would construct a road from Mogadishu airport to the city, dig wells to improve water supply, as well as building schools and houses.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
Surveillance drone crashes in Somali capital
20 Aug – Source: AP – 109 words
A surveillance drone has crashed in Mogadishu. An AP reporter saw pieces of the drone, which was shaped like a small plane, before it was removed by AU soldiers. It had crashed into a house in the city center. It was not immediately known who was operating the downed drone, but the U.S. is known to fly surveillance craft over Somalia, where Islamist rebels are battling the weak U.N.-backed government.
Al Shabaab an obstacle to aid in Somalia
20 Aug – Source: VOA – 432 words
The US calls on al Shabaab to allow the secure delivery of relief to famine victims in Somalia. Even as the rain failed in Somalia for two years in a row, as the crops and cattle died, and famine set in, al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization with links to al-Qaida in the Horn of Africa, made a conscious decision to ban relief agencies or impose restrictive rules on their operations.
Somaliland says PetroTrans to extend Berbera port
20 Aug – Source: Reuters – 240 words
PetroTrans, a Chinese petroleum firm, will carry out extension works to Somaliland’s Berbera port, after it signed a deal with the Somaliland gov’t, the foreign minister of Somaliland said on Saturday. The Horn of Africa has been attracting increased investments in the area of exploration by foreign oil firms, due to its proximity to east Africa, where oil has been discovered in Uganda and natural gas found in Tanzania.
http://af.reuters.com/article/