July 22, 2015 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Coalition Forces Advance to Al-Shabaab Stronghold

21 July – Source: Mareeg Media – 192 Words

Somalia National Army backed by AMISOM forces with battle-wagons and tanks have positioned near Al-Shabaab controlled town of Bardhere in south of Somalia’s Gedo region, officials said. A Somali government official, Farah Abdi Haharo told Mareeg Media based in Mogadishu that AMISOM and SNA had positioned themselves in an area just 30 km away from Bardhere where it is being held by Al-Shabaab. Meanwhile, Mr. Farah said that government troops along with African Union peacekeepers were planning to flush Al Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab militants out of 2 towns in Somalia’s Gedo and Bakool regions.

“We are planning to drive the militants out of towns in south of Somalia regions during the following days. The government soldiers and AMISOM troops are to launch military offensives against the Al-Shabaab held areas” he added. Mr. Farhan added that Al-Shabaab militants have been planning to launch deadly bombings and attacks bases targeting civilians and Somali National Army along with AMISOM troops. Somali National Army along with AMISOM vowed to re-take over Diinsoor and Baardheere towns where Al-Shabaab has been controlling for many years.

Key Headlines

Coalition Forces Advance to Al-Shabaab Stronghold (Mareeg Media)
Kenyan Warplanes Carry Out Airstrikes In Gedo Region (RBC Radio)
Over 1200 Somali Returnees Arrive In Northern Somalia (Horseed Media)
Somalia To Rebuild Somali Language And Culture Academy (Goobjoog News)
Galmudug State Denies Abudwaq Capture By Ahlu Sunna (Wacaal Media)
Government Officials To Take A 25% Wage Reduction Following Foreign Aid Cuts (Horseed Media)
Japan To Extend Anti-piracy Mission Off Somalia (Joc.com)
Uhuru Meets Youth In Walk of Hope Campaign At State House (The Star)
City Dwellers Throng Afgoye The New Getaway Destination For Mogadishu Residents To Mark Eid(Goobjoog News)
How Somali Piracy Became Big Business (Business Standard)

PRESS STATEMENT

AMISOM Refutes Allegations Of Civilian Deaths Against AMISOM troops in Marka Town

21 July – Source: AMISOM – 212 Words

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) strongly refutes allegations being circulated in the media in which AMISOM soldiers are accused of killing civilians in Marka town. AMISOM would like to state that at about8:45am today, AMISOM troops on regular patrols encountered an Al Shabaab training center at Juujomo, close to El Hindi Village. In the ensuing gun battle to dislodge the terrorists, as AMISOM is mandated to do, five Al Shabaab fighters were killed including one of their notorious leaders, Mohammed Dahir. It is instructive to also mention the fact that two riffles, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), an instruction board and the Al Shabaab flag were also recovered from the scene.

For the avoidance of doubt, AMISOM would like to reiterate that, in line with our Rules of Engagement (RoE) which are in consonance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), our troops are under obligation to avoid civilian casualties and to exercise maximum restraint even under imminent attack. And it is in this regard that in this particular event, AMISOM categorically denounces this devious allegation especially as our troops were not involved in this alleged killing of civilians in Marka Town. AMISOM will continue to conduct patrols to ensure the safety and security of the population in the area.

NATIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan Warplanes Carry Out Airstrikes In Gedo Region

21 July – Source: RBC Radio – 100 Words

Reports coming from Somalia’s Gedo region confirms that Kenyan warplanes have carried out strikes in a village in the region. Unknown number of people have died in air bombardment by Kenyan fighter jets in Juungal, a village which lies 35 km to Bardhere, an Al-Shabaab held district in Gedo region. Al-Shabaab militants in Juungal have gained reinforcement following this attack. Somali Federal Government forces along with African Union troops are moving towards these localities in the region. The militants have recently been using martial movement tactics after they have learned of the anticipated offensive to flush them out of these villages in Gedo region.

Over 1,200 Somali Returnees Arrive In Northern Somalia

21 July – Source: Horseed Media – 221 Words

A Ship carrying more than 1,200 Somali returnees running away from the deteriorating violence in Yemen arrived in the port town of Berbera, in Northern Somalia. Officials in the breakaway region of Somaliland have told the media that 1,238 Somali nationals arrived on Monday afternoon and were transferred to makeshift camps. A boat journey from Yemen to the port towns of Bossaso and Berbera in Northern Somalia takes roughly 12-hours, crossing the dangerous red sea. An estimated 9000-plus refugees have arrived in the port town of Berbera since 1st of April when the conflict erupted in the impoverished middle-eastern country. In May, Somaliland authorities controversially declared that they will not receive refugees of Somali identity in their regions, a move that sent shock waves.

Following huge criticism from local residents and human rights activists, the self-declared state was forced to make a U-turn from the decision. The conflict in Yemen had not only had an impact on Yemeni nationals, but also on the thousands of Somali immigrants who have went there to work, study, live or pass through to reach another destination. More than 20,000 Somalis have managed to escape the violence since April, according to government and International organization statistics. Back in Yemen, Tens of thousands of Somali citizens are still stuck in the violence, many in conflict-zones.

Somalia To Rebuild Somali Language And Culture Academy

21 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 199 Words

Somalia President, Education Minister and important Somali figures have attended a ceremony to lay the foundation for the Somali language and culture academy. The president has laid foundation stone of Somali culture and language academy which was completely ruined during the civil in 1990 after Somali central government toppled. Somali president speaking during the event stressed the importance of rebuilding the academy saying “Nation without language and culture is like tree without root therefore, I am uplifted when I see efforts that serve for that purpose. We must preserve our language and culture”.

The academy homed the first ever written Somali official script 52 years ago and many Somali poets and artists which are heritage for the upcoming young Somali generation. The entertainment and cultural industries of the country has disappeared since the demise of the Somali central government in 1991 and any efforts to reclaim may need time and patience. A weeklong conference on Somali language and the establishment of the academy was on the 21st of February in Mogadishu. The conference was attended by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, his counterpart Djiboutian President, Ismeal Omar Guelleh and delegates from four horn African nations with inhabitants of Somali speaking people.

Galmudug State Denies Abudwaq Capture By Ahlu Sunna

21 July – Source: Wacaal Media – 95 Words

The administration of Galmudug state has denied claims that Ahlusunna has taken control of Abudwaq district after reports to that effect emerged. Speaking in an interview with the VOA’s Somali service, Galmudug Vice president Mohamed Abdi Arabey who hails from the district trashed the claims terming them baseless. He added that the town was still under the control of forces allied to his administration. “Ahlusunna captured settlements between Dhuusamareeb and Heraale and not Abudwaq as reported. It is still in our hands” he confirmed. We could not however independently verify claims by the two sides.

Government Officials To Take A 25% Wage Reduction Following Foreign Aid Cuts

21 July – Horseed Media – 228 Words

Somalia’s Federal Government announced that it would reduce the salaries of government officials by 25% following cuts to direct foreign aid assistance. Officials have been forced to seek ways to cut expenditures following a ministerial meeting held in Mogadishu to review the government’s budget of 2015. Minister of State Finance Mohamed Ali Nur said in an interview that the cuts will affect the president, prime minister, parliament speaker, ministerial appointees, head of government agencies and government workers. “We have not received any kind of money from our International donors in the past six months. The cabinet decided to take a 25% pay cut for the coming six months,’’ he said in an interview with the BBC Somali Service.

Minister Nur added that the reduction of wages will not affect the government soldiers. Western governments have pledged billions to the Somali government, but not as direct budget support. The government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud irritated many Western donors over the scandal triggered by the resignation of central bank governor Yussur Abrar, who said she quit after only seven weeks in the job due to pressure on her to sign suspicious deals. Somali government was backed by the Western countries when it came to power in September 2012, but has become a source of grumbling for Somalis, as changes come in a very slow pace.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Japan To Extend Anti-piracy Mission Off Somalia

21 June – Source: JOC.com – 231 Words

Japan will extend its Self-Defense Forces six-year-old anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden for another year despite a sharp decline in the number of pirate attacks there. According to the Japanese transport ministry, SDF vessels escorted a total of 3,577 commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden between July 28, 2009 and June 30, 2015. Of the 3,577 commercial ships escorted by the SDF vessels on 621 occasions during the nearly six-year period, only 17 were Japanese-registered. Of the 3,560 foreign-registered ships, 650 were operated by Japanese shipping firms and the remaining 2,910 were operated by foreign shipping companies.

A breakdown of the 3,577 commercial ships escorted by the SDF is as follows: 1,736 were oil tankers, 1,393 were general cargo ships, 153 were special cargo vessels, 110 were liquefied petroleum gas carriers, 80 were container ships, 67 were automobile carriers, 26 were passenger vessels and 12 were liquefied natural gas carriers. The Anti-Piracy Law, which was enacted in Japan’s parliament on June 19, 2009 and took effect on July 24, 2009, allows the SDF to escort foreign commercial ships and fire at pirate boats if they ignore warning signals and approach merchant ships. The SDF had previously been allowed to escort only Japanese-registered and -operated vessels, and its use of weapons limited to legitimate self-defense

Uhuru Meets Youth In Walk of Hope Campaign At State House

21 July – Source: The Star, Kenya – 276 Words

President Uhuru Kenyatta has commended youths from North Eastern who walked for almost a 1000 kilometres preaching peace and unity. The President said the North Eastern youth had set a good example. He encouraged other young people to be in the forefront in the search for solutions to the challenges facing the country. Uhuru spoke at State House, Nairobi, on Tuesday,when he met three of the young men who managed to finish the 1000 kilometre “Walk of Hope”. The three – Noordin Badil Tube, Ahmednour Saleh Mohamud, and Salah Mohamed Abdinour – trekked from Garissa to Mandera during the month of Ramadhan while they were fasting. The walk initially attracted hundreds of people but many dropped along the way as the journey progressed across the difficult terrain of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties. The President said young people have a big role to play in consolidating the country’s unity and promoting peace.

“The country’s prosperity lies in our unity and everyone of us playing their part. To do that we have to shun tribalism and negative ethnicity,” the President said. He said the youth should be brought on board and facilitated to fully participate in addressing challenges facing the North Eastern region. The three said they spread messages of hope, tolerance and anti-radicalisation in every village they stopped along the route. Members of the North East Professional Association led by their Chairman, Dr. Abdirizack Arale, accompanied the youths to State House. Dr Arale said the association is committed to working with the Government and the youth from the region to ensure peace and security.

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“Unlike many picnic sites elsewhere, a visit to Afgoye plantations does not just afford you the chance to take pictures and enjoy the cool environment; one is spoilt for choice on a variety of fruits ranging from oranges, bananas, mangoes to paw paws. But there’s one cardinal rule, you can feast to your fill but not carry even a seed.”

City Dwellers Throng Afgoye, The New Getaway Destination For Mogadishu Residents To Mark Eid

21 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 709 Words

Clad in their finest outfits and each clicking away as they sought to capture images of the lush and serene environment on their phones, hundreds of Mogadishu residents drove to Afgoye, 30 kilometres south of Mogadishu for picnic as part of Eid celebrations, Friday. In express defiance of explosions and killings by the militant group Al-Shabaab during the just ended holy month of Ramadan, families, friends and lovers threw caution into the air for a picnic which to many was almost fictional a while ago. “I came here to enjoy the fresh air from these plantations. I also want eat fresh fruits straight from the farm.This is once in a year opportunity that should not be missed,” said Najma Mohamed who accompanied by her female friend. The stretch of fruit plantations and criss-crossing rivers make Afgoye an ideal city dweller’s escape destination away from the bustle and bustle of Mogadishu coupled with the steaming heat and humid air from the Indian Ocean.

Ahmed Abdisalan Moose who drove with his family told Goobjoog News a drive away from the city was the best thing for his family. “I am busy throughout the week, so I never get quality time with my family but today is what I had always looked forward to. Besides the usual outing to a hotel in the city, a walk through the farms is an exceptional treat for me and family,’’ said an elated Ahmed. A number of those who spoke to Goobjoog News attest to the improving security situation in the country and prospects for a developed Somalia which could in the near future be a tourist’s destination from any part of the world. “This year’s Eid is very different from last year. We can travel to and out of the city without fear of any security threats. I feel so comfortable here and I don’t even feel like going back home,’’ said Abdi Hussein Ibrahim a resident of Waberi District in Mogadishu. For taxi drivers and public service vehicle owners, it’s all a fortune unknown to them since their income has always come from normal transport of passengers but not from holiday makers.

“With no functioning government to protect its waters, the seas off Somalia began to be pillaged of fish stocks by foreign fleets fishing illegally in the country’s waters, and polluted by the uncontrolled dumping of toxic waste. Small bands of Somali fishermen – calling themselves the “Somali Volunteer Coastguard”- then began “approaching the foreign vessels and hijacking them, to extract compensation.”

How Somali Piracy Became Big Business

21 July – Source: Business Standard – 868 Words

In March 2009, a Somali pirate named Abduwali Muse and his cohorts boarded the US-flagged Maersk Alabama, a 500-foot container ship headed from Djibouti to Kenya with a cargo of food aid. Captain Richard Phillips sent most of the crew to a secure room deep within the vessel, and when Muse got separated from the other brigands, the ship’s first engineer captured him. Meanwhile, three US warships arrived on the scene in response to the Maersk Alabama’s distress call and navy SEAL snipers who parachuted on to it killed all the pirates except their leader. Captain Phillips is back at sea, Muse is serving a 34-year prison term in the US, and the incident inspired the Hollywood movie Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks.

“It was one of the most publicised and dramatic ship rescues”, writes John Boyle in Blood Ransom, a detailed, well-rounded and absorbing account of the scourge of piracy that has bedevilled shipping in the Indian Ocean over the past 10 years, and whose annual cost to the global economy is estimated at several billion dollars a year. The story is told through interviews with Somali pirates lodged in Seychelles jails, Seychelles government officials, former hostages and officials at the London headquarters of the European Union’s anti-piracy operations. Mr Boyle – who ran a criminal law firm in the UK before turning to documentary filmmaking – writes that the root cause of piracy is Somalia’s descent into anarchy and lawlessness over two decades ago. With no functioning government to protect its waters, the seas off Somalia began to be pillaged of fish stocks by foreign fleets fishing illegally in the country’s waters, and polluted by the uncontrolled dumping of toxic waste.