17 Oct 2011- Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Kenya declares war on al Shabaab
- Kenyan military crosses into Somalia
- TFG and pro-TFG forces capture al Shabaab-controlled area
- PM says implementation of Roadmap on track
- We are sorry for the suspension UN aid ops in Kenya—Somali diplomat
- Kenya military chopper crashes
- Somalia’s children dying in record numbers
- Somalia has best chance for peace in years says UN envoy
- Rawlings urges Somali political leaders to implement transition roadmap
SOMALI MEDIA
TFG and pro-TFG forces capture al Shabaab-controlled area
16 Oct- Source: Mareeg Online, Radio Shabelle, Kulimye- 96 words
The TFG forces backed by pro-government soldiers have captured “Qoqani” village close to Afmadow district in lower Jubba region without any bloodshed, reports said. Both forces reached the city yesterday evening with out any battle against al Shabaab. Spokesman of Raskamboni movement, Abdinasir Serar told local station that they are now heading to the strategic town of Kismayo.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
UN representative to Somalia, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga arrives in Mogadishu
14 Oct Source: Radio Kulmiye, Shabelle, Risaala- 162 words
The UNs’ Special representative to Somalis political affairs, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, on Saturday arrived in Mogadishu and had talks with TFG top officials including Somali premier, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, parliament speaker, Sharif Hassan Sh. Adam and President Sheikh Sharif at presidential palace, state media added.
PM says implementation of Roadmap on track
14 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu, Risaala- 139 words
Somali PM Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has said that the Roadmap initiated by the international community and the Somali government is on track. The PM said that the Somali government was keenly implementing the Roadmap in full accordance with the remaining period of the transitional period.
Property destroyed as heavy rains received in Kismayo, Lower Jubba
14 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 101 words
Reports from the port city of Kismayo say over 200 makeshift houses have been swept away by raging floods following heavy downpours in the area for the last 24 hours. The rains, which are said to be the heaviest ever received in the area in the last couple of years, have also halted public transport in the area.
Government forces on the offensive in Lower Jubba regions
15 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA- 132 words
Somali government forces have retaken several key bases that were al Shabaab strongholds in the Lower Jubba regions following a massive military offensive on Thursday and a better part of Friday. The government forces dismantled road blocks that were placed on roads that served as a revenue collection for al Shabaab.
Puntland president receives AU Representative for Somalia
14 Oct- Source: Raxanreeb, Garowe Online- 292 words
The President of Puntland State of Somalia, Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Farole), has met with the African Union’s High Representative for Somalia, Jerry Rawlings, and the Special Representative of the AU Commission Chairperson for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diara. During Thursday’s meeting, President Farole was accompanied by Puntland’s State Minister for International Cooperation Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi.
http://www.raxanreeb.com/?p=
Al Qaeda distributes ‘aid’ to IDPs near Mogadishu
15 Oct- Source: Radio Kulmiye, Shabelle, Somaliareport, BBC- 119 words
Al-Qaeda has delivered its first aid to Somalia and distributed the supplies to IDPs living on the outskirts of Mogadishu on Friday. A man identified as US citizen Abu Abdulla Almuhajir handed out food, hijabs and Korans to people at a refugee camp near the capital.
Al Shabaab pull out of Afmadow, Lower Jubba
16 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 158 words
Al Shabaab have last night reportedly vacated all its positions in Afmadow in fear of imminent attacks from allied TFG and Ras Kamboni militias. Rebel group fighters fled their bases in the area on battle wagons at around 3PM, heading towards Bu’aale and Kismayo.
Galmudug calls on WFP to assist IDPs in Mudug
16 Oct- Source: Radio Gaalkacyo, Shabelle, Radio Mogadishu- 149 words
Leader of the semi-autonomous state of Galmudug administration Mohamed Ahmed Alin has called on the UN World Food Programme to speed up its operations in Mudug, where thousands displaced by the drought have pitched camp. Mohamed Ahmed Alin speaking to journalists in Galkacyo town appealed to the relief agencies to increase its assistance to the IDPs.
Al Shabaab take 150 trucks from their owners
16 Oct- Source: Mareeg Online, Shabelle, Kulmiye – 93 words
Al Shabaab have on Sunday afternoon taken over 150 big trucks in between Mogadishu and Afgoye.
Reports indicate that al Shabab led these lorries from their owners – in some cases kidnapping the driver – and have been heading towards the KM50 camp where they are bringing more than 450,000 families back to their regions.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
We are sorry for the suspension UN aid ops in Kenya—Somali diplomat
16 Oct- Source: Shabelle- 157 words
The Somali embassy in Kenya on Sunday expressed concern about UN’s move to suspend its aid operations in Dadaab refugee camps, the largest refugee camps in the world which is located in northern eastern Kenya after repeated kidnappings. Mohamed Ali Nur, the Somali ambassador in Kenya said it’s deplorable the situation.
http://shabelle.net/article.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya declares war on al Shabaab
15 Oct- Source: Daily Nation- 439 words
Kenya’s military will pursue Somali gunmen across the frontier who they say are responsible for a spate of kidnappings of foreigners, the internal security minister said Saturday. “Our territorial integrity is threatened with serious security threats of terrorism, we cannot allow this to happen at all,” said Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, accusing Somali Islamist Al Shabaab rebels of the attacks. “It means we are now going to pursue the enemy, al Shabaab, to wherever they will be, even in their country,” he told reporters.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/
Kenyan troops off to war
15 Oct- Source: Daily Nation- 436 words
The Kenya military has been ordered into action to stop al Shabaab militia from further threatening the country’s security and economy. At a press briefing on Saturday, the country’s top security chiefs declared war on the terrorist organisation operating from Somalia and said Kenyan security forces will henceforth pursue the aggressors across the border.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/
Kenyan military crosses into Somalia
16 Oct- Source: the Standard- 330 words
The Kenya military has crossed more than 100km into Somalia but it is not clear whether they were pursuing the suspected al Shabaab militants who kidnapped two Spaniard aid workers in Dadaab and shot a Kenyan. Informed sources within the military said the top command had expressed frustration that they learnt about the kidnap of the two aid workers two hours after the incident.
http://www.standardmedia.co.
Kenya readies anti-al Shabaab offensive inside Somalia
16 Oct- Source: Capital FM- 706 words
Kenyan military has begun assembling troops at the border points in readiness for deployment to Somalia to pursue al Shabaab attackers who are responsible for the kidnapping of four women of British, Spanish and French nationals. An official at the military headquarters in Nairobi told Capital News that the forces will start entering Somalia in the coming days to flush out al Shabaab militants who have wedged a war against Kenya.
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/
Kenyan forces go after raiders inside Somalia
16 Oct- Source: Daily Nation- 402 words
Kenyan forces were on Sunday operating deep inside Somalia with orders to make sure there are no al Shabaab extremists within 100 kilometres of the border. Units from the Kenya Army are understood to have crossed into Somalia at Liboi and Mandera with orders to fight their way into the lawless country and create a buffer zone to ensure that insurgents do not launch attacks against Kenya.
Kenya to attack al Shabaab
15 Oct- Source: the Standard- 206 words
Kenya has announced it is exercising its right to attack Somalia’s al Shabaab terrorists to defend itself against continued aggression. The formal declaration signals attacks by security forces on targets and groups in Somalia intended to prevent future attacks. At a press conference in Nairobi, Defence Minister Yusuf Haji and his Internal Security counterpart George Saitoti formally invoked Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Somalia’s children dying in record numbers
14 Oct- Source: Al Jazeera- 101 words
Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, is overrun by the number of people seeking food as a result of famine and drought. The UN estimates there are just under half a million people now housed in the temporary plastic-covered shelters that pack the city. Although there is international support to tackle conditions, it is failing to stem the number of children who are dying.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Al Shabaab warn Kenyan soldiers
16 oct- Source: Daily Nation- 180 words
Somalia’s Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab rebels on Sunday warned Kenyan soldiers, as they crossed the frontier to attack insurgent strongholds, that they would feel the “pain of bullets”. “Kenya violated the territorial rights of Somalia by entering our holy land, but I assure you that they will return disappointed, God willing,” said Sheikh Hassan Turki, a senior Shabaab leader. “Mujahideen fighters will force them to test the pain of the bullets.”
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/
Kenya military chopper crashes
16 Oct- Source: Daily Nation, AFP- – 64 words
A Kenyan military helicopter crashed at the border with Somalia on Sunday afternoon. Witnesses said two helicopters landed at an operation base near Liboi primary school but during lift off, one of them crashed and caught fire. The helicopter crew had landed at the base established by the Kenyan military near the border with Somalia. It was not immediately clear what caused the accident.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia has best chance for peace in years, says UN envoy
14 Oct- Source: UN News Centre- – 497 words
Somalis currently have a rare opportunity to advance peace in their country and establish a fully functioning government, says the United Nations envoy to the Horn of Africa nation. Augustine Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, said the peace process has taken a “great leap forward” with the adoption last month of the Roadmap.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/
UN official thanks Turkey for helping Somalia
14 Oct- Source: Today Zaman- 125 words
A UN official on Friday shared his appreciation for Turkey’s flood of humanitarian assistance to Somalia, which has been struggling with the worst drought the region has witnessed in 60 years, reported the Anatolia news agency. Director General of the UN’s FAO, Jacques Diouf, while visiting Turkish Food and Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker on Friday, thanked Turkey on behalf of his organization for the country’s resolve to help build a sustainable future for the region.
http://www.todayszaman.com/
Somali forces seize town from al Shabaab rebels
16 Oct- Source: AFP- 249 words
Somali government troops and allied militia have wrested control of an al Shabaab stronghold in the south of the country after reported bombing by military aircraft, officials and witnesses said. Witnesses said troops from the Western-backed government, as well as gunmen from the pro-government Ras Kamboni militia, took control of the southern Somali town of Qoqani in the Lower Juba region, which borders Kenya.
Rawlings urges Somali political leaders to implement transition roadmap
15 Oct- Source: Ghana web- 520 words
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has urged Somali political leadership to ensure that the progress of political transition runs in tandem with the military gains achieved recently. He said it was important that political stakeholders in Somalia take the implementation of the new political Roadmap seriously.