05 Sept 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- AMISOM statement on incident at K4 on 2nd September 2011
- The killing of a Malaysian TV journalist and wounding of another in Mogadishu
- Somali president opens Nation’s Consultative Conference in Mogadishu
- UN to announce Somalia famine spreading
- 900 newly trained Somali soldiers dispatched from Ugandan military school
- Displaced famine hit people called to back in Mogadishu’s IDPs camp
- President Sharif sends cable condolence to the Malaysian PM
- Over 30 people dead 100 others injured in Galkacyo city of Puntland state
- Bernama TV cameraman killed in Somalia shooting
- MP opposes Somalia’s UN backed consultative meeting
- Somali leaders to hold rare conference in Mogadishu
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM statement on incident at K4 on 2nd September 2011
03 Sept – Source: AMISOM HQ – 214 words
AMISOM is sad to report a serious incident that took place in Mogadishu yesterday, Friday 02 September, which unfortunately cost the life of a Malaysian civilian and injured another. A full AMISOM investigation is underway, in liaison with the Transitional Federal Government Police. Witness reports coming forward so far are not entirely clear but the information leads AMISOM to believe that one of their convoys may have been involved in the incident near K4. Force Commander, Major General Fred Mugisha, said: “AMISOM takes its responsibility for the safety of civilians in Mogadishu very seriously, and this death is deeply regrettable. Our condolences and thoughts go to the relatives of the men who were killed and injured.
“The facts are very unclear at the moment. These are the subject of our urgent inquiry. We will publish the findings and results in due course, as we have done previously. “As the Force Commander, I have spoken personally to the Somali President about the situation and offered my sincere reassurance that a full investigation is underway and that the appropriate action will be taken against any soldiers found to have acted improperly.
“AMISOM would like to reassure the public that we are here to support and protect you. We have many soldiers working here helping to bring greater peace and stability to Mogadishu.”
The killing of a Malaysian TV journalist and wounding of another in Mogadishu
03 Sept – Source: TFG – 208 words
The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia has sent heartfelt condolences to the brotherly Government and People of Malaysia regarding the shocking news of the death of the Malaysian news cameraman in an accidental shooting. The incident which resulted in the death of Mr. Moramfaizul Bin Mohamed, who was a member of a group of reporters covering the humanitarian work of Putera 1 Malaysian Club engaged in helping the displaced victims of the drought, in a part of Mogadishu. This tragedy took place when the convoy of cars carrying the Malaysian aid workers met a convoy from the Ugandan contingent of AMISOM ( The AU peace-keeping force in Somalia ), which then opened fire.
The police and the security forces immediately reached the location of the incident and started a full investigation of the reasons for the shocking action. They promised to produce the result of their investigation in the shortest possible time. The President of the TFG, His Excellency President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed called the Malaysian Prime Minister on the phone and sent condolences to the family of the deceased and to all the Malaysian people. We are also praying for the speedy recovery of the injured journalist Mr. Aji Saregar Mazlan The body of the deceased has been flown back to Malaysia today for burial.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president opens Nation’s Consultative Conference in Mogadishu
04 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan, Kulmiye, Shabelle and Risala – 179 words The president of the TFG on Sunday formally opened the nation’s UN backed consultative conference in Mogadishu. The gathering is occurring at Somali parliament’s building in the warshattered Mogadishu.
President Sharif sends cable condolence to the Malaysian PM
03 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 111 words
The President of Somalia Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has sent a message of cable condolence to Najib Tun Razak, the Premier of Malaysia, regarding the sudden killing of a 39-year old a Malaysian journalist called Noramfaizul Mohd Nor in Mogadishu on Friday.
Blast at al Shabaab gun store kills eight, witnesses say
04 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 96 words
Reports emanating from the Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia say that a blast at an al Shabaab owned gun store killed at least eight of their fighters. Local residents noted that the blast’s cause still unknown, but the incident took place about 20 kilometers east of Kismayo coastal town in southern Somalia. The blast also wounded more than ten people.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Bernama TV cameraman killed in Somalia shooting
03 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan, Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 367 words A Bernama TV cameraman, Noramfaizul Mohd Nor, 39, who was part of a humanitarian mission to Somalia, was killed in a shooting incident in Mogadishu, Friday afternoon. A TV3 journalist, Aji Saregar Mazlan, was injured in the incident which occurred while they were travelling in a four-wheel-drive vehicle escorted by a Somali armed forces truck.
Somali premier, calls waring sides in Galkacyo to stop
03 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan and Shabelle – 58 words
Somali premier, Prof. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has called warring sides in Galkacyo city of Mudug region for peace and asked to stop the fighting.
Somali leaders to hold rare conference in Mogadishu
03 Sept – Source: Jowhar Online – 405 words
Somali leaders will hold a rare three-day conference in Mogadishu next week in an effort to resolve 20 years of turmoil and set up plans for a new government. The UN-backed meeting will gather leaders of the TFG as well as from the breakaway Puntland region and other semiautonomous territories.
http://www.jowhar.com/news.
900 newly trained Somali soldiers dispatched from Ugandan military school
03 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan – 108 words
A total of 900 Somali government soldiers on Wednesday concluded training school at Bihanga Military in western Uganda. Bihanga Military training School commandant, Lt. Col. Winston Byaruhanga said this was the second intake of Somali soldiers trained in Bihanga camp since last year.
Over 30 people dead, 100 others injured in Galkacyo city of Puntland state
03 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online – 195 words
Over 30 people are reported to have died on Friday and 100 others injured in Galkacyo city of Mudug region after battle between armed clan militias and Puntland security forces, medical sources said. Fighting got into the second day and was heavily going on in Galkayo city of Mudug region between Puntland forces and armed clan militias, killing over 30 people and injuring 100 others including civilians and warring sides, medical sources said.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
MP opposes Somalia’s UN backed consultative meeting
03 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle and Kulmiye – 132 words
A member of the TFG on Saturday strongly opposed Somalia’s United Nations backed consultative meeting which opened in Mogadishu on Sunday. Speaking at Shabellle Media Network, Ali Mohamoud Farah, an MP and a member of justice committee of the parliament, said that the meeting will wrap up without results and is fruitless.
Puntland ministers condemn piracy attacks
03 Sept – Source: Garowe Online – 147 words
Government ministers in Somalia’s Puntland region have condemned piracy attacks after pirates hijacked two commercial vessels, Garowe reports. The two vessels were hijacked by pirates on 29 August and 31 August, according to Puntland Ports Minister Said Mohamed Rage.
Military court sent a government soldier to 24 years in jail
03 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 224 words
Military court in Mogadishu, has sentenced a government soldier for 24 years of imprisonment for a murder attempt. Military constable Hussein Isse Ali 24, member of the second battalion attached to the Somali presidential guards was found guilty of attempting to kill a local businessman at his shop in Mogadishu’s Suq Ba’aad market.
Displaced famine hit people called to back in Mogadishu’s IDPs camp
02 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 122 words
Somali National Disaster Management Agency on Friday called on recently displaced famine hit people because of an armed raid and looting against food aid to return to their former IDP camps in Mogadishu.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Al Shabaab accused of committing violations against humanity
03 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle – 65 words
The district commissioner of Mogadishu’s Hiliwaa, Omar Abdulle Ahmed on Saturday accused al shabaab remnants in that district of committing harsh violations against the rights of humanbeing. He said al Shabaab made the district as a zone for decapitating human-beings. Ahmed stated the aim of beheadings is to intimidate create in the Somali society there to heed to the group’s orders.
Puntland delegation arrives in Mogadishu for consultative meeting
03 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 88 words
A delegation from Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland on Saturday arrived at Mogadishu to participate the UN backed Somalia’s consultative meeting. The meeting will take place in Mogadishu on Sunday.The delegation consisting of 25 members will be representing the autonomous region. It includes member of Puntland parliament and ministers.
http://www.shabelle.net/
The situation in Galkacyo city is calm today
03 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online, Shabelle – 67 words
Reports from Galkacyo city of Mudug region where heavy fighting between armed clan militias and Puntland forces, say that it was calm this morning.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Gov’t forces clash with armed militias in Mogadishu
03 Sept – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye and Risala – 159 words
The TFG forces clashed with armed militias dressed in government military uniform who set up checkpoints in Mogadishu to extort money illegally from public buses. The government forces including police and military on Saturday morning launched a security crackdown in parts of the capital in a bid to clear out all checkpoints manned armed militiamen.
5 killed as armed men fire at minibus in southern Somalia
04 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 116 words
Unknown armed men fired at a civilian minibus traveling in southern Somalia killing at least 5 people, witnesses said on Sunday. The fatal incident took place in a street between the Balad district and Jowhar town in Middle Shabelle region. Witnesses also said that at least 8 of passengers were wounded in the shooting incident.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Puntland blames al Shabaab terror group for Galkayo violence
03 Sept – Source: Garowe Online – 278 words
Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland region are blaming al Shabaab terrorist group for two days of violence in Galkayo, Puntland’s second most populous city, Garowe reports.
REGIONAL MEDIA
JK launches committee on famine-hit Somalia
03 Sept – Source: IPP Media – 402 words
President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday launched a national ‘Save Lives in Somalia Committee’ that will coordinate the supply of humanitarian assistance from Tanzania for the strife-torn and famine-ravaged Horn of Africa nation. IPP Executive Chairman Reginald Mengi will chair the team, which comprises five prominent businesspeople and was launched at State House in Dar es Salaam.
http://www.ippmedia.com/
Turkish aid to Somalia: A new pulse in Africa
03 Sept – Source: Al Jazeera – 252 words
In the midst of all the dust and poor security measures, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been the only leader to visit Somalia together with his crowded delegation of Turkish politicians, celebrities, journalists and representatives of aid organisations.
http://english.aljazeera.net/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN to announce Somalia famine spreading
02 Sept – Source: VOA – 302 words
More than 50 percent of the population – are now in crisis. The famine is expected to spread further in coming months. As one of the major food-producing areas of Somalia, the drought in Bay has had far-reaching implications. The U.N. official says food production in the region has fallen by 82 percent.
Journalist killed in shooting attack in Somali capital
03 Sept – Source: BBC, VOA and CNN – 74 words
A Malaysian journalist has been killed in a shooting in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, security officials said. Initial reports say African Union peacekeepers opened fire on his vehicle. A security official told the BBC the attack was being investigated.