July 6, 2015 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Al Shabaab Advances In Several Towns In Southern Somalia

05 July – Source: Horseed Media – 322 Words

Hundreds of Al-Shabaab fighters stormed a strategic district in a province northwest of the capital after the Somali government forces withdrew, residents confirmed.Wanlaweyn, a small town in the southeastern Lower Shebelle region and some 50-miles from Mogadishu, was briefly seized by Al-Shabaab militants on Saturday night. One local resident who requested not to be named told Horseed Media that the Al-Shabaab officials spoke to the residents and warned them to not support the government and AMISOM forces before leaving the town for unknown destination.“The Al-Shabaab officials went to several mosques and spoke to the people who were attending taraweeh prayers at that time, telling them to support them rather than the government… later on they left and we don’t know where they have gone,’’ he said. Somali army commanders have not commented on the reasons behind their withdrawal from Wanlaweyn district. In the past few weeks, the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group has been making substantial advances in the lower Shebelle region. Local officials and residents have confirmed to Horseed Media that the Al-Shabaab militants are now in control of at least three districts in the region – Awdheegle, Tora-toro and Mubarak which are all less than 150-KM southwest of Mogadishu.

Last week, the African Union peacekeepers and Somali military withdrew from two strategic towns, though the the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of AMISOM Ambassador Maman Sidikou strongly denied. The Al-Qaeda-linked extremists remain dangerous, unpredictable and bold, known for audacious and chilling attacks. Their fighters routinely target the Somali government in Mogadishu. The group has also sought to terrorize neighboring Kenya.The latest successes of Al-Shabaab comes as the second phase of the Operation Indian Ocean – a campaign to further neutralize Al-Shabaab forces and capture remaining ports controlled by the Al-Qaeda-linked militant group has been postponed due to the lack of sufficient resources and funding from the EU powers.

Key Headlines

Al Shabaab Advances In Several Towns In Southern Somalia (Horseed Media)
New Galmudug Leader Says He Wants Talks With Puntland (Garowe Online)
Puntland Refuses To Recognize Galmudug State In Its Entirety (Wacaal Media)
Somali Government Calls On Ahlu Sunna Movement To End Disagreement Through Talks (Dalsan Radio)
Car Bomb Hits Senior Somali Security Officer In Mogadishu (RBC Radio)
AU Forces Deny Retreat From Al-Shabaab In Somalia (Xinhua)
Somalia Hires First Six Female Prosecutors (VoA)
Puntland Should Welcome Galmudug (RBC Radio)

NATIONAL MEDIA

New Galmudug Leader Says He Wants Talks With Puntland

05 July – Source: Garowe Online – 361 Words

The newly elected President of Galmudug, Abdikarim Hussein Guled said that he wants to talk to Puntland in dialogue a day after 50 MPs of 89-member regional assembly picked him as president, Garowe Online reports.“We are ready to talk to each and every side, our brothers of Puntland, we say let’s help each other, together work on security and set up a co-operation,” said the president, adding that he is keen to cooperate with neighboring administrations. On July 1st, in an anniversary celebrations address in Garowe, Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali made the first public comments on Adado endeavor, calling Galmudug a ‘phantom’ meant for destabilizing peaceful regions.“Ongoing Adado conference doesn’t look like a push to form a federal state, but in turn it is a plot orchestrated from Mogadishu to undermine existing and peaceful state,” Puntland leader told a crowd of politicians and traditional leaders on Somalia’s 55th Independence Day. The remarks has came after United Nations, IGAD, EU, AU, and the US called on Mogadishu-based Federal Government and newly elect, President Abdikarim Guled to open dialogue with Puntland to resolve the dispute on boundaries.

“We call on the Galmudug administration and Federal Government of Somalia to open dialogue with Puntland to resolve the dispute on boundaries, noting that the legal issue arising from state formation processes will ultimately be resolved through the work of the Boundaries and Federation Commission and the harmonization of constitutions,” the international community partners said in a joint press statement. On the paramilitary group of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a, President-elect asked for participation in his forthcoming government.“I urge Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a administration to welcome newly-formed Galmudug state; Ahlu Sunna played a big role in security and stabilization of [central regions]. We are ready to extend calls for talks to them, and take part in the administration,” he said in a message to the most dominant armed wing in central Somalia. With government troops being forced to flee, the moderate sufi group cruised through Dhusamareeb last month, selecting their own leader in protest over the Adado conference during the weekend. President Abdikarim Guled, influential presidential aide and former National Security Minister defeated his closest rival and former Spy Chief Ahmed Moallim Fiqi in an overwhelming vote on Saturday.

Puntland Refuses To Recognize Galmudug State In Its Entirety

05 July – Source: Wacaal Media – 214 Words

Puntland State of Somalia will not recognize the newly formed state of Galmudug. Speaking in a press conference in Garowe on Sunday, the state’s Minister of Information, Mohamed Hassan Soo’ade said that yesterday’s elections of the state’s head in Adaado was equally a sham process and as a result Puntland will also not recognize the newly elected head of Galmudug State Abdikarim Hussein Guled. His remarks follow yesterday’s pledge by the newly elected head of state of Galmudug who said that his administration would open talks with Puntland and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a in order to resolve any differences. “Puntland is government and can only go into negotiations or talks with another government and not individuals. Since we do not recognize him or his state, how can he open talks with us,” posed the minister of information. Puntland accused the Federal government of shipping delegates from Mogadishu in order to impose its puppets on the people of the region. “We will not recognize sham administrations being put together by Hassan and Jawari (President and Speaker respectively) in order to create renewed conflicts in Somalia” added Sooade. The latest move by Puntland will add to the already existing standoffs which may prove a challenge to Somalia’s latest state. Ahlu Sunna has already came up with its own parallel administration.

Somali Government Calls On Ahlu Sunna Movement To End Disagreement Through Talks

05 July – Source : Dalsan Radio – 195 Words

The Federal Government of Somalia has called upon sufi armed group Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a to end political standoff and start talks with new established Galmudug regional state.The movement has shunned the regional administration that was elected in Adaado on Saturday claiming constant central government interference and lack of inclusiveness in the formation process. Minister of Interior, Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein who was part of the federal government officials who witnessed the election of Galmudug government has urged Ahlu Sunna to join Abdikarim Hussein Guled administration and end unnecessary political difference through dialogue. Speaking shortly after jetting back in Aden Abdulle international airport from Adaado, Minister Abdirahman Mohamed Hussein praised the transparency and organized manner in which the election was held. The minister thanked all who directly or indirectly contributed to success of the process saying it was a good example of Somali led transparent democratic process. Former Minister of Interior, Abdikarim Hussein Guled defeated his close rival and former intelligence chief Ahmed Maalim Fiqi becoming the first president of Somali federal state of Galmudug. In his speech Guled promised to reach out to neighboring Puntland regional state which has rejected the creation of Galmudug state over territorial dispute.

Car Bomb Hits Senior Somali Security Officer In Mogadishu

05 July- Source: RBC Radio – 113 Words

A car bomb has hit a senior Somali security officer in Mogadishu, RBC Reports. A heavy explosion was heard near Mogadishu’s Hamar Weyne district after a car belonging to the victimized officer has been planted with a bomb. A medical team has rushed the officer to a hospital in the Somalia capital shortly after the explosion.The office whose name is Abdulkadir Habib Muunya has sustained serious injuries and is now receiving treatment. Security agencies have cordoned off the scene and making investigations to bring criminals before book. No group has claimed the credit of this bomb attack but security agencies have associated with Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda affiliated militants who are known to target government officials with similar attacks.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

AU Forces Deny Retreat From Al-Shabaab In Somalia

05 July – Source: Xinhua – 227 Words

African Union peacekeepers in Somalia have denied reports they have vacated key towns and location in southern region following a string of attacks by ‘Al-Shabaab’ fighters. The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Maman Sidikou said no AU troops have pulled back from towns and other locations which had been recovered from Al-Shabaab. “AMISOM and the Somalia National Army (SNA) are currently re- adjusting and re-organizing troop deployments in order to revitalize an already effective strategy that has enabled the recovery, consolidation, expansion and control of over eighty percent of South Central Somalia by the government,” Sidikou said. Witnesses said the AU troops vacated key towns including Owdhiigle, and Qoryooley, and some villages, including Tora-Torow, Mubarak and Bariire in Lower Shabelle region on Wednesday night due to a series of attacks by the militants. Osman Shiikhalow, resident in Owdhiigle told Xinhua that after AMISOM and government forces withdrew from the towns, A’al-Shabaab’ fighters took the control of them.

“I can confirm that Owdhiigle and other villages under the control of ‘Al-Shabaab’, residents fear too much,” Osman said. Al-Shabaab has launched a heavy attack on AMISOM base in Leego area in Lower Shabelle region, southern Somalia, claiming responsibility for killing 70 AMISOM soldiers, but African Union Peace keepers admit later 50 soldiers were killed in the attack.

Somalia Hires First Six Female Prosecutors

04 July – Source: Voice of America – 400 Words

In a nation long marred by conflict, corruption and impunity, Somalia’s government is hoping to rebuild the country’s justice system and, for the first time, has brought on board six female prosecutors. Abdullahi Ahmed Jamaa, Somalia’s Justice Minister, has high expectations for the new prosecutors. “You have all been given a major role to play in the justice sector,” he told them. “You are expected to offer justice to society. All of you are required to uphold the principles of fairness and equality before the law. And I have trust and confidence that the new six female prosecutors will deliver on these promises.” After the fall of President Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia’s court system stopped working. And with no rule of law for years, impunity, corruption, nepotism and favoritism took the place of justice in the East African nation.

Samira Hussein Daud, one of the new prosecutors, is a graduate of Somalia National University and Malaysia University. She said she hopes to use the knowledge she acquired to make the courts fair again. “Our main priority is to fight corruption,” she said. “We have received many complaints from the public, complaining of no justice and court structures. People have complained to us that corruption is used to determine justice in this country. We will eradicate corruption and restore equal rule of law, justice and fairness in the Somali justice system.” The country’s senior law officials want the six women to pay special attention to crimes against women and children, which usually go unpunished in Somalia. “There is one major thing that is expected of you,” Ahmed Ali Dahir, Somalia’s attorney general, told the new prosecutors. “Both my office and that of my deputy will assist you in tackling crimes against women, children and the underprivileged in the society. Their cases should be dealt with first and given priority.”

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“Resolving the territorial dispute between Puntland and Galmudug could pave the way for resolving the territorial dispute between Somaliland, Puntland and Khatumo administrations.”

Puntland Should Welcome Galmudug

05 July – Source: RBC Radio – 407 Words

The election of Abdikarim Guled as president of the expanded and institutionally more inclusive Galmudug state is political development that can reverse the trend of under-development in South Mudug and Galguduud. It should not be a cause of concern for Puntland. Puntland took offence at Galmudug for a constitution that claims districts under Puntland administration. Writers of Galmudug constitution assumed that Goldogob, Jarriiban and north Galka’ayo will be a part of the Galmudug administration. Ratified in Adaado, Galmudug constitution is a statement on the indivisibility of Mudug , a region jointly ruled by Puntland and Galmudug. It is Galmudug’s response to Puntland which has long argued that efforts to form a state for central regions contravene against the draft federal constitution that stipulates at least two regions can form a federal state. Galmudug administration consists of one region ( Galguduud ) and 2 Mudug districts ( Hobyo and Haradhere). But what makes the two-region requirement inapplicable is the fact that Galmudug was a regional administration in its own right, and had a role in ending of the transition period.

Puntland has never questioned Galmudug’s territorial disadvantage before the state formation efforts for central regions had begun. It was content with Galmudug as tiny administration with multiple presidents despite security implications for Puntland.Puntland leaders believe Galmudug has violated the 1993 Galka’yo agreement. Galmudug can counter such accusation with the counter-accusation that Puntland has tried to nip state formation efforts in the bud by invoking an irrelevant article in the draft constitution. Galmudug constitution makes North Galka’yo, Goldogob and Jarriiban disputed territories similar to the territories Sool, Sanaag and Togdheer claimed by Somaliland and Puntland administrations. Territorial disputes affect lives of people: aid workers cannot visit Sool because of the territorial dispute and territorial wars since 2004.