29 Aug 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Somali president UN especial envoy Augustine Mahiga reach Garowe city
- Presidents of TFG and Puntland agree on the location of consultative meeting
- Somali army troops receive July/August salaries
- Somalia creates Special Forces to assure Mogadishu security
- AMISOM helping secure Mogadishu following extremists’ retreat
- Somali PM Puntland leader meet in Garowe town
- South Sudan divided over sending troops to AMISOM
- More Somali famine victims fleeing to Yemen-UNHCR
PRESS STATEMENT
Somali army troops receive July/August salaries
28 Aug – Source: AMISOM HQ – 68 words
Working under a joint coordinating mechanism, teams from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union Mission in Somalia and the Somali government have, since August 23, been issuing salary payments for July and August to the 10,000 soldiers serving in the Somali National Army. The soldiers have been paid regularly for 9 months now, reflecting a significant step forward in the process of professionalizing the Army.
Video links: http://bit.ly/ndaMk9 http://bit.ly/q0avoz
Success of operations against extremist insurgents opens space for famine relief
27 Aug – Source: AMISOM HQ – 74 words
On July 29, the Somali National Army with the support of AMISOM troops launched an operation in Mogadishu with the aim of pressuring Al Qaida-linked extremists to leave Bakara Market, where they were extorting revenue from local business to fund their insurgency. The success of the operations eventually led to the extremists retreat from the capital, creating a relatively secure space which the government is exploiting to provide humanitarian supplies to the famine-hit population.
Video links: http://bit.ly/n595kA http://bit.ly/qesYuz
AMISOM helping secure Mogadishu following extremists’ retreat
27 Aug – Source: AMISOM HQ – 64 words
On August 6, AMISOM troops occupied the Konis Stadium in Mogadishu after Al Qaida-linked extremist insurgents vacated the city following operations launched against them by the Somali National Army with AMISOM’s support. The success of the operations eventually led to the extremists retreat from the capital, creating a relatively secure space which the government is exploiting to provide humanitarian supplies to the famine-hit population.
Video links: http://bit.ly/qRw2Qi http://bit.ly/o2MyeI
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president, UN especial envoy, Augustine Mahiga reach Garowe city
28 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan, Shabelle and Kulmiye – 131 words Somali president, Sheikh Sharif Sh. Ahmed, together with other delegates and UN Special Representative to Somalia, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga separately arrived in Garowe city of Puntland Adminstration on Sunday.
Somali premier visits Puntland
26 Aug – Source: Radiio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan, Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 109 words
The Somali Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has arrived in Puntland’s capital, Garowe, where he was received by president Farole and other senior Puntland officials. Both sides discussed several issues including the highly awaited consultative meeting scheduled to kick of in Mogadishu on 4th September 2011.
Presidents of TFG and Puntland agree on the location of consultative meeting
28 Aug- Source: Mareeg, Shabelle- 103 words
Somali president, Sheikh Sharif Sh. Ahmed and Farole of Puntland Administration have agreed that the UN-sponsored consultative meeting would take place in Mogadisu, reports said after long hours of discussion attended by the UN representative to Somalia Ambassador Mahiga.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Explosion kills a child, injures 8 others in Mogadishu
27 Aug – Source: Mareeg Online – 124 words
A child is reported to have died and other young children including 2 women were wounded as a result of an explosion which occurred in Karan district in Mogadishu on Saturday morning. The explosion was said to be caused by a wire coming out of the ground and triggered when children touched it, district commissioner of Kaaran district told reporters.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Somalia creates Special Forces to assure Mogadishu security
29 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 165 words
The TFG on Sunday unveiled that it had created Special Forces to assure the overall security and restore peace to the conflict ridden seaside Mogadishu city only weeks after al Shabaab militants pull out. Abdisamad Moallim Mohamoud, interior and home security minister said the Special Forces will also play a key role in protecting aid convoy to famine stricken Somalis in the volatile capital.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Egyptian delegation jets in Mogadishu
26 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan – 208 words
An Egyptian delegation led by Egypt’s Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Mona Omar on Friday arrived in Mogadishu to assess drought and famine crisis in Somalia. In a join press conference, the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs Mona Omar said she was pleased to be in Mogadishu to assess drought and famine situation in the Horn of African nation.
Somali PM, Puntland leader meet in Garowe town
27 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 118 words
In a two-day visit to Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the TFG’s PM held key talks with Puntland leaders including Abdurrahman Sheikh Mohamoud Farole, the president of th regional administration, in which they discussed the bilateral relations of Puntland and the TFG.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Ahlu Sunna threats to purge al Shabaab from central Somalia
27 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 130 words
The newly elected administration of Somalia’ moderate Islamist group of Ahlu Sunna Waljama on Saturday said it is committed to clearing al Shabaab from the central Somalia regionsr of Mudug, Hiiraan and Galgudud.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Berdale-based al Shabaab bans Tahajud prayer
26 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 91 words
Al Shabaab militia in Berdale town, Bay region, has reportedly banned the praying of Tahajud, a prayer usually conducted during the last ten days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Ali Isack Nurow, one of the locals in the area told Bar-kulan that the militia has shut down two mosques and used force to disperse people thronging in to conduct their prayers.
Somali PM visits IDPs camps in Garowe town
27 Aug – Source: Radio Garowe – 132 words
The PM of the TFG on Saturday visited some IDP camps in Garowe town, the capital of Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland. Accompanied by members of his cabinet and lawmakers from the transitional federal parliament, Mr. Ali observed several refugee camps.
Al Shabaab set a light to water well amid famine in Somalia
27 Aug – Source: Radio Shabelle and Kulmiye – 111 words
The al Shabaab movement fighters on Saturday set alight two engines used for water wells in southern Somalia town amid devastating famine and drought in the region. The incident, which took place in the town of Garbaharey, has already had a negative impact on the previously suffering people because of the famine.
WFP sends aid to Somalia
27 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 117 words
Cargo planes carrying relief supplies to support the starving Somali population landed on Saturday at the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu with shipments from Sudan and other consignments brought in by the UN World Food Programme. The Somali Minister for Interior and National Security Abdisamad Ma’alin Mahmoud received the aid on behalf of the Somali government.
Al Shabaab orders Baidoa residents to surrender their Zakat
28 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 123 words
The al Shabaab militia group in Baidoa town, Bay region, has compelled locals to surrender their Zakat-ul-fitri (alms paid by Muslims at the end of Ramadan) to their area administration. The militia who made the announcement on pro-militia FM station urged locals not to give out their Zakats and instead surrender to their administration for distributions.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Threats posed by al Shabaab on decline, says envoy
27 Aug – Source: Kenyan Broadcating Cooperation KBC – 299 words
Somalia Ambassador to Kenya Mohamed Ali has expressed his optimism on the current situation in Mogadishu, saying the threat posed by the al Shabaab militia has declined since the troops withdrew from the capital. His sentiments come barely a day after Police commissioner Mathew Iteere cleared two politicians, Tourism Minister Najiba Balala and nominated MP Amina Abdalla, over allegations of funding the militia group after they attended a fundraiser at Pumwani Riyadha Mosque.
http://www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?
Sierra Leone joins Somalia mission
29 Aug- Source: Daily Monitor- 255 words
Sierra Leone has promised to send a battalion of 850 soldiers to reinforce Uganda and Burundi peacekeepers in Somalia. The peacekeepers from the African country will be deployed next year in April, the Sierra Leone defense and national security minister, Maj. Alfred Palo Conteh said.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/
South Sudan divided over sending troops to AMISOM
27 Aug – Source: the East African – 368 words
South Sudan’s promise to send peacekeepers to Somalia could help bolster its standing in regional politics but critics argue that the country is not yet ready for such an undertaking. Moments after Africa’s 54th state was inducted into membership of the African Union on August 15, Foreign Affairs Minister Deng Alor Kuol announced that South Sudan was ready to contribute troops to the AU Mission in Somalia, AMISOM.
Somalia response faces access issue: OCHA
27 Aug – Source: Coastweek, Xinhua – 595 words
For UN agencies working to provide humanitarian aid to those suffering from famine in Somalia, gaining sufficient access to people in need is still an issue, a press officer from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs told Xinhua in a recent interview.
http://www.coastweek.com/3434_
Sudan extends 3 million dollars food assistance to famine-hit areas in Somaia
26 Aug – Source: Sudan News Agency – 98 words
Sudan has extended a food assistance estimated at 3 million dollars to the famine-hit people in some areas in Somali. State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Salah Wonsi last Thursday underlined that Sudan’s efforts to assist the affected people in Somalia will continue.
Kenya, Ethiopia support Somali militia — report
27 Aug – Source: The East African – 592 words
Kenya and Ethiopia are facing fresh accusations of supporting pro-government militia in Somalia who continue to violate human rights and international humanitarian law. A report by the Human Rights Watch released last week details how the al Shabaab, the TFG, their allied militia, the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa, and the militias supported by Kenya and Ethiopia, have routinely violated human rights.
http://www.theeastafrican.co.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
More Somali famine victims fleeing to Yemen-UNHCR
27 Aug – Source: Reuters – 223 words
There has been a jump in the number of Somalis, hit by famine, instability and high food prices who are fleeing to Yemen instead of other countries in the drought-ridden Horn of Africa region, the U.N. refugee agency said. Some 3.7 million Somalis are at risk of starvation in the worst drought in decades.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
Somali pirates free hijacked Greek oil tanker
26 Aug – Source: Reuters – 320 words
Somali pirates on Friday freed a Greek-operated oil products tanker and its crew after holding them hostage for nearly 10 months, the vessel’s manager said. The tanker’s operator and manager Paradise Navigation did not give any details about whether a ransom was paid.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
Local efforts to aid Somali famine victims grow as world leaders flock in
28 Aug – Source: Xinhua – 597 words
Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia is the latest world figure to arrive in the Somali capital Mogadishu in an effort to assess the humanitarian crisis unfolded by the severe drought and famine in the Horn of African nation. Saudi Arabia is one of the Gulf States that has launched national campaign to collect donations for the famine stricken east African nation.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/