November 5, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Floods displace thousands in Hudur

04 Nov- Source: Radio Ergo – 211 words

The affected families, mostly from low-lying villages of the district were directed by the local administration to camp out at a former secondary school on higher ground. “I didn’t expect it would rain that heavily. My rooms were flooded and all our belongings were swept away in the raging waters. I was lucky to have escaped safely with my children,” Hawa Mohamed Nur, 52, a mother of nine children, told Radio Ergo’s local reporter.

The victims appealed to the local administration and relief agencies to assist them, fearing for the health of children and the elderly who are at risk of water borne diseases. Adan Mohamud, one of the locals, said the heavy rain also damaged roads linking the area to other towns, adding that schools were closed with many children forced to remain at home.

Hussein Hassan, the chairman of the worst hit village of Sheikh Aways, said the rain exacerbated tough conditions facing the district which was already isolated due to conflict in the region. He said the affected families urgently needed humanitarian assistance.

Key Headlines

Turkish Ambassador to Somalia reaches Puntland capital Garowe (Radio RBC/PLTV/Radio Goobjoog)
Floods displace thousands in Hudur (Radio Ergo)
Parliament approves Somalia’s military treaty with Italy (Radio Mogadishu/Radio BC)
Muslim scholars pledge to help end political infighting between President and Prime Minister (Radio Dalsan)
Fresh clan clashes embarks in Balanbale (Radio Goobjoog)
Kenya: police kill suspect in Garissa shoot-out (Star- Kenya)
UPDF officers who turned volatile Mogadishu around (The Observer – Uganda)
As power of Shabab Declines once feared fighters leave terror group behind (New York Times)
Indian sailors freed by pirates after four years visit temples churches (Times of India)

SOMALI MEDIA

Turkish Ambassador to Somalia reaches Puntland capital, Garowe

04 Nov- Source: Radio RBC/PLTV/Radio Goobjoog – 145 words

Turkish delegation heading by Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Olgan Bekar has arrived in Puntland’s capital of Garowe. Puntland deputy president Abdihakin Abdullahi Haji Omar Amey and other senior government officials have welcomed the Turkish delegation at the airport. Olgan Bekar, the Ambassador had later taken meeting with the Puntland government leaders where the cooperation between Puntland and Turkey were discussed.

The Ambassador accompanied by government officials had also visited several places in the Garowe including the general hospital and education institutions. “We are welcoming the visit of our Turkish brothers and they are ready to have a close cooperation with the administration, we are thankful for the aid,” Deputy President Abdihakim Amey said. Turkley had been vital contributor to Somalia since 2011 when president Erdogan who was that time Prime Minister paid a historical visit to Mogadishu.

Floods displace thousands in Hudur

04 Nov- Source: Radio Ergo – 211 words

Flash floods, triggered by torrential rains, have displaced more than 600 families in Hudur district, Bakol region. The town has witnessed continued heavy downpours since last week, according to locals who spoke to Radio Ergo. The affected families, mostly from low-lying villages of the district, were directed by the local administration to camp out at a former secondary school on higher ground.

“I didn’t expect it would rain that heavily. My rooms were flooded and all our belongings were swept away in the raging waters. I was lucky to have escaped safely with my children,” Hawa Mohamed Nur, 52, a mother of nine children, told Radio Ergo’s local reporter. The victims appealed to the local administration and relief agencies to assist them, fearing for the health of children and the elderly who are at risk of water borne diseases.

Adan Mohamud, one of the locals, said the heavy rain also damaged roads linking the area to other towns, adding that schools were closed with many children forced to remain at home. Hussein Hassan, the chairman of the worst hit village of Sheikh Aways, said the rain exacerbated tough conditions facing the district, which was already isolated due to conflict in the region. He said the affected families urgently needed humanitarian assistance.

Parliament approves Somalia’s military treaty with Italy

04 Nov- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio BC – 162 words

Somalia’s Federal Parliament on Tuesday approved a newly signed military defense and cooperation treaty by the country’s defense minister with Italy. The Parliament’s session chaired by Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari started with discussion the effectiveness of the treaty which was signed by the defense minister earlier this year.

In a voting session after the discussion ended, Speaker Jawari announced the result of the voting. “134 out 156 voted in favor for the Somalia-Italian military cooperation treaty while five abstained.” Jawari added. According to findings made by the parliamentary sub-committee of the defense, the defense and cooperation treaty between Somalia and Italy will allow Somalia’s National Army receive trainings and re-equipped by the Italian army and the mutual benefit of the two countries.

Earlier this year, the defense ministry of Somalia also signed another military agreement with Turkish government which is now the biggest donor country and humanitarian provider for Somalia.

Muslim scholars pledge to help end political infighting between President and Prime Minister

04 Nov- Source: Radio Dalsan – 188 words

Muslim scholars in Somalia pledged to help to take part in ending the political rift that has emerged between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. The chairman of Somalia’s Muslim Scholars Agency, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad has expressed that similar sentiments to the public, the Muslim scholars are worried about the political tensions which recently emerged between the country’s leadership.

“Whenever rift arises it will destroy the country’s ambition to reach to a better future.” Sheikh Salad said. He added that the Muslim Scholars have a great role to play in safeguarding the country from another turmoil while stressing that lack of internal self-determination could darken the reputation of Somalia.

“If the leaders of the country could not come up with a possible solution to their difference, it will show that we are not genuine people who have the capacity to resolve their issues wisely.” he said. Sheikh Salad the country’s leaders to set the personal interests aside and think of the common ground they share and the unfilled needs of their people.

Fresh clan clashes break out in Balanbale

04 Nov- Source: Radio Goobjoog – 102 words

At least four people have been killed and 14 others injured after two clan militias clashed in Balanbale district in Somalia’s central region of Galgadud. The casualties are said to be from both the warring clans and the civilians.

The fighting is believed to be caused by disputes over grazing land. The wounded people were admitted to the health centers for treatment. The tension in the area remains high at the moment, the local administration, religious leaders and traditional elders are asking the two sides to cease fire and find a lasting solution to the clashes.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: Police kill suspect in Garissa shoot-out

04 Nov- Source: Star- Kenya – 234 words

Police in Garissa on Sunday night gunned down a suspect believed to be behind a series of attacks in the town. A pistol loaded with six bullets was recovered in the 8pm shoot-out that lasted 15 minutes.

Regular and Administration Police officers are hunting three suspects who escaped with gunshot wounds. North Eastern CID boss Musa Yego said police, acting on intelligence reports, trailed four suspected criminals and cornered them near Bulla Sheikh, where they exchanged fire.

“They realised we were trailing them and opened fire at our officers,” he said. Yego said the suspects were planning an attack “but this time round we were ahead of them”. He said the four are linked to previous gun and grenade attacks, including the Saturday evening one where a man and a woman were shot and seriously injured near Anti-Shifta AP camp.

UPDF officers who turned volatile Mogadishu around

04 Nov – The Observer – Uganda – 1, 147 Words

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has announced deployment of 2,754 soldiers to Somalia, marking the start of a 12-month tour of duty in the war-ravaged Horn of Africa country.

The latest contingent of UPDF soldiers joining the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) is code-named Battle Group XIV, commanded by Brig Sam Kavuma.

Since 2007, the UPDF has sent seven battle groups to Somalia, and currently has the largest contingent of at least 6,223 soldiers. So far, the UPDF has provided five of the six overall mission commanders, each of whom has served alongside a commander specifically for the Ugandan contingent.

With each battle group usually deployed to serve for 12 months, the different commanders have each got an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership abilities. In the brief profiles below, The Observer traces the different senior UPDF officers who have served in Amisom.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

As power of Shabab seclines, once feared fighters leave terror group behind

04 Nov – Source: New York Times – 497 words

Bashir was a true believer, a foot soldier who recently quit after seeing too many innocents slaughtered. Ahmed deserted the Shabab because he wanted a real family, not just a bunch of heavily armed, sociopathic militants who called themselves a “family,” he said.

And young Nurta was a slender assassin, with a bright purple scarf and wide, seemingly innocent eyes. “There is no life with them,” said Nurta, who like other Shabab defectors requested that her last name not be used for fear of reprisals.

Indian sailors freed by pirates after four years visit temples, churches

04 Nov- Source: Times of India – 390 words

The seven Indian sailors, released by Somali pirates on October 30, after four years in captivity, spent time with their families on Tuesday, taking a tour of the city, and visiting temples and churches to seek blessings.

They had landed here on Monday and underwent medical tests and attended counseling sessions. They were kidnapped along with eight Indian crew members after MV Asphalt Venture was hijacked on September 28.

The pirates released eight Indians on April 15, 2011, after collecting a $3.5 million ransom but held back the seven, demanding the release of 120 pirates from Taloja jail.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The history of the blunders and the betrayals of previous leadership must be avoided, or else, history will not be kind to the current leadership.”

Somalia: conundrum of an activist

04 Source: Hiiraan Online- 498 words

As issues of the day may dictate, the norm for activists is to engage on substantive issues such as calling for peace, justice, and freedom. To achieve success in advocating for these enduring values, activists must struggle to remain focused and sustain their momentum despite the trials and tribulations as well as the consequential challenges of powerful establishments.

Activism is a noble cause that, at times, clash with the powers that be who possess little or no appetite to be engaged critically with certain level of scrutiny and transparency. Sometimes, such lack of appetite is expressed in a more hostile fashion- the culprit often being intoxication with power.

Granted, like all others, activists can at times fall prey to the potency of intoxication of power. Nevertheless, most have the capacity to resist and employ a disciplined mode of survival and focus on the moral objective that inspired them in the first place. Most of these objectives in one way or another lend to the survival of humanity.