December 24, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

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Local official killed in attack in southern Somalia

23 Dec – Source: World Bulletin – 209 Words

A Somali official was killed and two others injured on Tuesday after unknown assailants attacked a hotel in the port city of Kismayo, located in the country’s autonomous Jubaland region, security sources have said. “Unknown assailants attacked a hotel in downtown Kismayo, which led to the death of Yassin Nour, an opponent of the Jubaland administration,” a security source told The Anadolu Agency. Two others were wounded in the attack, the source said. “Nour had travelled to Kismayo following mediation talks brokered by the Mogadishu government, which were held in September with the aim of ending conflict in the city,” the source added.

Mahmoud Mohamed, deputy head of Jubaland’s administration forces, told local media that “security authorities arrived at the site [of the shooting] and cordoned off the area.” Mohamed went on to accuse the Al-Shabaab militant group of orchestrating the recent attacks in Kismayo. Al-Shabaab, for its part, has yet to comment on the incident. Kismayo has been the site of several recent bombings and assassinations targeting Jubaland administration officials. In 2013, the Somali government signed an agreement recognizing the Jubaland administration – which controls the city of Kismayo – as a provincial administration answering to Mogadishu until the city establishes its own administration after two years’ time.

Key Headlines

300 Somali security forces deployed near Beled Hawo (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Puntland rejects handing airspace control of Somalia to Somaliland (Horseed Media)
Insects plague farms in Hiran (Radio Ergo)
Al-Shabaab execute young man for suspected spying (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Switzerland Ambassador to Somalia Dominik Langenbacher arrives in Garowe (Radio RBC)
Ex-AFC Leopards defender ditches Muhoroni for Somalia (Goal.com)
Australia’s Westpac to quit remittance business by March 31 (Reuters)
Families of both accused and young victim attend hearing in brutal KC mosque murder case (Fox 4 KC)

SOMALI MEDIA

300 Somali security forces deployed near Beled Hawo

23 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 133 Words

Three thousand Somali government soldiers have been deployed in Khadijo Hajji near Beled Hawo in Gedo region. According to the head of security forces in the area Osman Yussuf Qorah, the soldiers will join African Union troops in the region to help boost the security and intensify war against armed group Al-Shabaab. Qorah urged the locals to cooperate with the security forces to strengthen peace and security in the area. The Al Qaida linked militant group is in control o f some parts of the Gedo region particularly major town of Bardere. the group has lost large parts of land that was under its control to Somali national army backed by African Union troops.

Puntland rejects handing airspace control of Somalia to Somaliland

23 Dec – Source: Horseed Media – 372 Words

Puntland President Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has criticised the Federal government of Somalia on agreeing to hand air traffic control to the breakaway region of Somaliland. Dr. Ali welcomed the recent talks between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and Ahmed Silanyo held in Djibouti, but underlined that his administration is skeptical about some crucial points both sides agreed on, specifically on air traffic control. “We are always supporting the talks if the objective is united Somalia, but the airspace control to be handed to Somaliland is unacceptable. It used to be controlled from Mogadishu, or otherwise it should be transferred to Garowe,” he said an interview with the VOA.

Delegates from the Somali federal government and breakaway region of Somaliland agreed to establish a joint committee in Hargeisa to manage air traffic control and equitable revenue sharing during their second round of talks in Istanbul held July last year. “Agreed the return of the air traffic management from the UN and decided to establish a joint control body that is based in Hargeisa to lead the air traffic control of both sides. It is also agreed that this body will propose a mechanism for equitable revenue-sharing,” read the agreement. Somalia wants Somaliland to be part of a united country, but the territory, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has been a haven of relative peace amid the chaos and bloodshed in the country’s south, is seeking international recognition. The international community is urging the sides to find a negotiated solution.

However, Dr Gaas added that ‘’Puntland has the constitutional right to be part of any national or international negotiations that may affect its interest’’ citing article 53 in the Somali constitution. “In the spirit of intergovernmental cooperation the Federal Government shall consult the Federal Member States on negotiations relating to foreign aid, trade, treaties, or other major issues related to international agreements.” Last week, Somalia’s minister for land and air transport Saeed Qorshel declared that International Civil Aviation Organisation, which has been controlling the airspace of the country since 1996 has agreed to hand over the control to the government and it will be managed from the capital, Mogadishu.

Insects plague farms in Hiran

23 Dec – Source: Radio Ergo – 168 Words

Farmers in Garash, Hiran and Lebow villages, some 25 km north of Beletweyne, say their crops have largely been destroyed by insects. One of the affected farmers, Omar Ibrahim Farah, told Radio Ergo that his harvest had suffered from the combined effects of plagues of greenfly (aphids) and delayed rains. He said several farmers harvested nothing this season as the greenfly destroyed some plants while the rest dried up. Mukhtar Hassan Abdi, another farmer, said they needed better pest control to curb future hunger and food insecurity. Abukar Da’ud Gure, chairman of Hiran village, warned that more than 500 families in the area would be short of food if the crop destruction continued. “People learnt a lesson from the 2011 drought that hit the country, so they started storing some of the harvested crops…but that is not enough, because both people and animals need food, and the harvest is not adequate,” he said. Sorghum is the staple planted by farmers in these villages.

Al-Shabaab execute young man for suspected spying

23 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 122 Words

Al Shabaab militants have executed a young man for suspected spying for the Federal Government of Somalia. The group executed the man in front of a crowd in Biyo Ade 40 kilometer outside of Jowhar, the capital of central Shabelle region. Eyewitnesses told Bar-Kulan the group invited a crowd to witness the execution of the man whom they suspected was on a spying mission for the Mogadishu government. Witnesses said the executed man was a resident in the area, and there was no indication that he was working with the government. Al Shabaab militant group which is fighting to topple the government of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has previously executed people it suspected of spying.

Switzerland Ambassador to Somalia Dominik Langenbacher arrives in Garowe

23 December – Source: Radio RBC – 83 Words

Swiss Ambassador to Somalia, Dominik Langenbacher, arrived in Garowe earlier today. Senior government officials welcomed the ambassador to Garowe, and he was later escorted to the presidential palace to meet President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas. Ambassador Langenbacher had a closed door meeting with the president and members of his government at Villa Puntland. The president and the ambassador are reported to have discussed how the Swiss government can work with Puntland on developmental projects.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Ex-AFC Leopards defender ditches Muhoroni for Somalia

23 Dec – Source: Goal.com – 123 Words
Muhoroni Youth defender and captain, Harry Gentle, has made history by moving to Somali Premier League joining Heegan ahead of 2015 season. The former AFC Leopards man, who captained Francis Baraza’s charges despite a season of injuries, has confirmed he has agreed to move to Mogadishu to start life with Somali Police Force club. Goal understands the Somali league giants developed interest in the Nigerian after watching his videos on internet and the money involved, although undisclosed, was the other temptation he could not resist. The Nigerian, however, maintains he would still love to return to Kenyan Premier League, some day. He becomes the first player in modern-day of Kenyan top-flight to switch Nairobi for Mogadishu.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Local official killed in attack in southern Somalia

23 Dec – Source: World Bulletin – 209 Words

Australia’s Westpac to quit remittance business by March 31

23 Dec – Source: Reuters – 345 Words

Westpac Banking Corp, Australia’s second-biggest lender, will become the last big bank in the country to exit the global remittance business, making it tougher or in some cases impossible for immigrants to send money home. The pullout leaves firms operating in Australia’s A$30 billion (US$24.5 billion) remittance sector looking for ways to maintain their services. Some are now seeking help from the Australian government. On Monday, Westpac said it will close accounts of firms that specialise in money remittance services after March 31, falling in line with a court ruling to extend a closure deadline after a group of 20 remitters sued for more time to work out alternative business plans.

The new deadline applies only to those 20-odd remitters who took part in the class action, said Richard Mitry, a lawyer acting on behalf of remitters in the case. Those who didn’t file suit will have accounts shut down when the court settlement takes effect on Dec 24. Australia’s banks have gradually pulled the plug on the US$425 billion global remittance industry, citing rising compliance costs that make it hard to support remittance firms. In the past two months, the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator has cancelled the licence of three remitters, underlining the risk of dealing with some companies. “We are continuing to work closely with the government, regulators and our customers to see what longer-term solutions may be possible to support and help make such payments in the future,” Westpac said in a statement.

Families of both accused and young victim attend hearing in brutal KC mosque murder case

22 Dec – Source: Fox 4 KC – Video – 1:35 Minutes

A local man charged with running over and killing a teenager was in Jackson County Court Monday morning for a hearing. Ahmed Aden, 34, is charged with 1st degree murder in the brutal death of Adam Hussein, 15, on December 4. Adam Sheikh-Hussein was standing outside the Somali Center, 1340 Admiral Blvd., when an SUV accelerated into him, hitting him and severing his legs. Family and friends of both Aden and Hussein were in court for the hearing. Some of them remained in the courthouse for about 45 minutes after the hearing. Aden’s parents made a trip from Virginia, hoping to talk to their son, but they did not. “You not see your son only for one time, but my son forever, who have this pain,” Aden’s father said in broken English.

At first, Aden told police that he lost control of the SUV and that it was an accident, but he later told them he had been looking for a group of four men who had threatened to kill him. His family told FOX affiliate KMSP in Minneapolis/St. Paul that he struggled with mental illness, sometimes refusing his medication. They recalled that he would go to mosques around Minneapolis telling people he was a prophet.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The objective of the group is clear. ‘It is for mixed Somalis to exchange their views, thoughts, experiences, and, most of all, positively the blessing of belonging to more than one culture.’ Even though the group is private, “Non-half Somalis are welcome, but haters are not.”

Mixed Somalis are no strangers to awkward questions

23 Dec – Source: Sahan Journal – 754 Words

When Zulaikha, a light-skinned red head, was in kindergarten, she had an epiphany. She found out that her Somali mother was unique. At the time, Zulaikha was a student in a predominantly white school in California. When the young children saw a black woman picking her up after classes and sometimes volunteering at their school, they were perplexed. “Zulaikha, are you adopted?” the children would ask. When Zulaikha told them no, they would say, “Then how come your mother is black?”

Zulaikha and her siblings, Amina Caddey, 25, and Yusuf Mohammad, 26, are the offspring of a white father and a Somali mother. They are also active members of the Facebook group, “Are You Half Somali?”— a private group that is strict about who joins. The objective of the group is clear. “It is for mixed Somalis to exchange their views, thoughts, experiences, and, most of all, positively the blessing of belonging to more than one culture.” Even though the group is private, “Non-half Somalis are welcome, but haters are not.”

“Most Somalis are not yet oblivious of the 2006 invasion of Ethiopia into Somali territory. Such incursion brought the worst record of brutality as the soldiers ruthlessly slaughtered thousands of innocent civilians, committed rape, torture, arbitrary detentions and disappearances and displaced residents from their homes.”

Military intervention ignites dormant nationalism

23 Dec – Source: Somali Current – 615

Sierra Leone has become the center of the worst-ever outbreak of Ebola, in which about 19,000 people have been affected and more than 7,300 have died, according to the World Health Organization. Sierra Leone is among five African countries contributing peacekeeping contingent to Somalia. In August 2014, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud opposed to the new replacement troops of Sierra Leone. Such an epidemic proportion in Sierra Leone has instilled fear across Somalia as its peacekeeping troops stationed in Somalia. Even though the Sierra Leone government claimed on October 8, 2014 they screened and cleared the new contingent that was supposed to replace those in Somalia of Ebola virus, Somali activists crusading to block the new rotation forced Sierra Leone to withdraw its 850 soldiers from the African Union’s peacekeeping mission in Somalia. As pressure ratcheted up, the African Union finally reassured no new troops from Sierra Leone would be deployed to Somalia. According to AFP, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn stated that his country was willing to replace departing 850 soldiers from Sierra Leone. Mr. Desalegn underlined that the new Ethiopian troops, if permitted, would eradicate Al-Shabab. The call of Desalegn to contribute more troops to AMISOM has as well created a similar fear compared to that of the Sierra Leone’s Ebola outbreak.

“According to the CPJ, 56 journalists have been killed in Somalia since 1992.”

Committee to Protect Journalists releases list of journalists killed in 2014

23 Dec – Source: CPJ – Infographic

The Committee to Protect Journalists released their ‘Deadliest Countries in 2014’ report on December 23, 2014. 60 journalists were killed in 2014; Syria had the highest number of journalist deaths at 17, and Somalia was the fifth highest on the list with four journalists killed. According to the Guardian, ‘the CPJ says it is still investigating the deaths of at least 18 other journalists this year. The organisation does not count deaths from illness or car or plane crashes unless they were the result of “hostile action”.’The organization recorded the last three years as “the most deadly period CPJ has recorded.” According to the CPJ, 56 journalists have been killed in Somalia since 1992.