December 30, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Federal government AU forces liberate new areas in Hiran

29 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 141 Words

Somali government forces aided by African Union peacekeepers liberated a string of areas in Hiran region of central Somalia from Al Qaeda linked Al Shabaab militants on Monday, Garowe Online reports. Hero Lugole, Rahale, Jar, Janbiley, Burweyn, Mirgab and Anfac fell to the allied forces. April 12 division commander, Col. Mohamud Mohamed Qafow told the media that they aim to safely transport a convoy carrying food aid to the Al Shabaab-sanctioned town of Bulo Barde.

Somali National Army (SNA) troops were dispatched from Mogadishu to reinforce AU forces in Jalalaqsi through Middle Shabelle regional capital of Jowhar. A beleaguered Al Shabaab group imposed a blockade on Bulo Barde, denying trucks loaded with food commodities from entry into the town for 10 months. The Somali army alongside African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces have dislodged militants from key bastions in central and southern Somalia.

Key Headlines

Federal government AU forces liberate new areas in Hiran (Garowe Online)
Kenyan citizen was leading Al Shabaab AU base attackers (Dalsan Radio)
The speaker of the federal parliament receives the ambassador of China to Somalia (Radio Goobjoog)
First Islamic insurance opens in Mogadishu (Dalsan Radio)
Puntland President to announce Electoral Commission by January (Garowe Online)
AMISOM fires its spokesman in Somalia (Standard Digital)
Shabaab plays down surrender of wanted official (News 24)
Burundi US forces enhance regional security for Somalia (Marines.com)
Man charged with woman’s murder at Whitechapel’s Denning Point tower block (The Hackney Gazette)

SOMALI MEDIA

Federal government AU forces liberate new areas in Hiran

29 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 141 Words

Kenyan citizen was leading Al-Shabaab AU base attackers

29 Dec – Source: Dalsan Radio – 179 Words

According to an audio clip produced and posted on a pro-Al-Shabaab militant group website Somali Memo, a Kenyan citizen was allegedly leading the group attack targeted at the African Union main base in Mogadishu. The attack on the Halane base by the militant group on Thursday last week resulted in the death of all the attackers, three AMISOM soldiers and one civilian contractor. The 11 minute audio clip, which was recorded before the attack features the alleged Kenyan fighter Omar Said who says he is prepared to die by attacking those he terms as ‘infidels’ and ‘enemies of Islam’. The speaker, who appears to speak in broken Somali, says that he is motivated by his dream of heaven.

Other names of the attackers revealed in the audio clip are Ibrahim Salad, Mohamed Sheikh and Omar Said, all reportedly Somali citizens. The Kenyan government believes that there are a significant number of citizens among the ranks of Al Shabaab in Somalia that are facilitating the retaliatory attacks back home. Al Shabaab militant group has also previously confirmed number of trained Kenyans among its fighters in Somalia.

The speaker of the federal parliament receives the ambassador of China to Somalia

29 Dec – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 123 Words

The speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, received the ambassador of China to Somalia, Wei Hong Tian, at Villa Somalia. The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, and held a joint press conference at Villa Somalia; Jawari, addressing the media, said they discussed the relationship between the two countries, and China’s efforts to rebuild the country. The ambassador applauded the federal parliament of Somalia for their tireless work including amending and passing bills. The government of China is preparing developmental projects to reconstruct the country.

First Islamic insurance opens in Mogadishu

29 Dec – Source: Dalsan Radio – 152 Words

First Somali Takaful Insurance Company today opened its doors in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The Islamic compliant insurance firm will be the first in the post-conflict country, since the collapse of the central government of Somalia more than two decades ago. The chairman of the Islamic insurance company, Mohamed Abdi Mohamed, has said the firm will openly operate according to Islamic sharia law, and has close working relations and is recognized by various leading international Islamic insurance companies across the globe.

Somali traffic police commander, Ali Hersi, who was also present at the launching ceremony welcomed the initiative saying they will closely work with the firm. On his part, the acting Somali transport minister, Said Jamaa, urged the management of the company to expand their services across the country. Jamaa also urged Somali business companies to invest in the country to improve the economy.

Puntland president to announce electoral commission by January

28 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 198 Words

The President of Somalia’s north eastern state of Puntland Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has announced that he will appoint electoral commission members in January 2015, Garowe Online reports. Speaking to Puntland-based independent station, Radio Garowe shortly after the Performance Review Conference has come to conclusion in health ministry complex, President Ali said that he hopes to name Puntland Electoral Commission by January in line with parliamentary consultation. He said: “if I and the parliament jointly agree, I will set up Puntland Electoral Commission in January, [and] it will be appraised…the democratization process is a top agenda for [the government]”.

Meanwhile, Puntland leader stressed the need for semi-annual review gatherings. On December 9, lawmakers in Puntland parliament passed an electoral commission bill in an overwhelming vote following amendments and debate. MPs voted on the role of Ministry of Constitution in the registration of political associations and supervision of body’s day-to-day activities. The original election bill that was introduced on January 2, 2011 gave due emphasis on [corruption] unlike the amended electoral law.

REGIONAL MEDIA

AMISOM fires its spokesman in Somalia

29 Dec – Source: Standard Digital – 156 Words

The African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia ( AMISOM) on Saturday said in a press statement that Djiboutian Colonel Ali Aden Hamud is not their spokesman. Any statements issued by Colonel Hamud is his own view and cannot consider as theirs whatsoever, according to the statement. “AMISOM disassociates itself from any statements issued by Colonel Ali Aden Houmed and further advises that such statements be regarded as his own personal view and at no time should they be seen as AMISOM’s position,” it said. The peacekeeping mission has directed members of the media to new spokesperson Eloi Yao for more inquiries, but it hasn’t explained the reasons for the reshuffle. Reliable sources confirmed to Xinhua that all Somali workers including translators working at AU main base were sent home until further notice

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Shabaab plays down surrender of wanted official

29 Dec – Source: News 24 – 333 Words

Somalia’s Shabaab militia on Monday played down the surrender and arrest of a senior militant figure, saying the official had left the movement more than a year ago. The al-Qaeda-affiliated rebels said Zakariya Ismail Ahmed Hersi, identified as a top Shabaab intelligence official and the subject of a $3m bounty as part of the US State Department’s “Rewards for Justice” programme, would be of little intelligence value.

“He abandoned the organisation more than a year ago,” a senior militant official told AFP, insisting that the “news of the defection was only released in order to shift attention” away from last week’s Shabaab attack against the headquarters of the African Union force in the capital Mogadishu. “All the information on military set up or plans he knew has been changed since he left, and therefore the so-called defector has no intelligence value to offer to our enemies,” the Shabaab official said.

Burundi, US forces enhance regional security for Somalia

29 Dec – Source: Marines – 284 Words

The Burundi National Defense Force are preparing their soldiers for deployment to Somalia with the help of U.S. Marines and Sailors from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response-Africa. “The benefit of our training engagement is building partnerships and capacity with Burundi and the African Union Mission to Somalia,” said Major Luke Sauber, the officer-in-charge of the Marines and Sailors that trained with the BNDF. “By working alongside the BNDF and sharing our knowledge and practices, we are supporting Burundi and the AMISOM in their fight against Al-Shabaab.”

The team of U.S. Marines and Sailors partnered with more than 160 Burundian Soldiers where they advised and trained with the BNDF in logistics and engineering disciplines for approximately 3-months from October through December. “Our company is better positioned to continue preparation for deployment,” said the 7th Sapper Company Commander of the BNDF. “We appreciate the knowledge, professionalism, and camaraderie of the Marine security cooperation team.”

Man charged with woman’s murder at Whitechapel’s Denning Point tower block

29 Dec – Source: The Hackney Gazette – 121 Words

A man appears in court today charged with the murder of a woman in a high rise tower block near Petticoat Lane in London’s East End. Abdulqadir Abdullah, 34, was charged last night with the murder of a 40-year-old woman at Whitechapel’s Denning Point in Commercial Street. Abdullah, a Somali national living in Denning Point, appears in custody at Thames Magistrates’ Court this-morning. Police were called at 11pm on Saturdayto a disturbance in a flat in the tower block where they found the woman’s body.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“I tell people, security starts from the personal level. AMISOM has zero tolerance to sexual explotation and abuse.”

AMISOM Police inducts new Ghanaian contingent

29 Dec – Source: AMISOM – Video – 2:57 Minutes

AMISOM Police has inducted a new contingent of Ghanaian police officers who arrived in Somalia to mentor and train their Somali counterparts. The Chief of Staff AMISOM Police, ACP Rex Dundun on Mondayaddressed the Ghanaian officers who underwent induction into the purpose of the assignment in Somalia.

“When you look at Somali politics, you will realize that we are not serious in governing ourselves yet. The politicians this country has gotten since 1992 were simply Sunday picnic organizers.”

The pockets of Somalia’s politicians speak louder

29 Dec – Source: Radio RBC – 941 Words

General Sani Abacha of Nigeria once asked Nigerians this question: “if you could talk to one person from the afterlife, who would it be?” To echo this great General, I am asking my fellow citizens the same question; if you could call someone from the afterlife to save Somalia, who would it be? I would definitely call the late-president Mohamed Siad Barre. And the reason is simple. President Barre was where the prosperity began and where it ended. History recorded him as a man of talent and intent. He knew the country and its inhabitants.

If Somalia can get a man like president Barre, democracy will have lived in exile. Wait a second, what is democracy anyway? It means what you intend it to mean. Same people in different geographical locations can interpret it differently. What this means is that Americans and the Chinese will never interpret democracy the same way. Why would
you? The world is being fooled. Aid has failed to promote democracy in the Third World. And in my view, it won’t really fix the prejudices of injustice and social exclusions popular in the black continent. Let necessity rule the game of the day.