September 30, 2016 | Morning Headlines
United States Denies It Killed Somali Troops
29 September – Source: Radio Dalsan – 161 Words
United States has denied the claims by Somali regional administration that scores of its security forces were killed in airstrike. Galmudug regional state administration said more than 30 troops who were part of its soldiers were killed when US aircrafts bombed Somali National Army base near Southern Somali city of Galkayo.Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davies told reporters that two air operations conducted by US army in Galkayo and Kismayo killed Al-Shabaab fighters.
He said small number of US forces in Somalia who train advise Somali and AU troops carried out operations on 26th and acted on self defense when they come under fire from Alshabaab militants.He added that four fighters were killed in the exchange of fire. Pentagon also confirmed that there was operation on 28th spearheaded by Somali forces near Galkayo and backed by US forces and nine militants were killed in the operation. US defense headquarters added that no Somali troops were targeted in the attack as reported.
Key Headlines
- United States Denies It Killed Somali Troops (Radio Dalsan)
- Somali Foreign Forces Raid Al-Shabaab Base In Somalia (Shabelle News)
- Former Somali President Believes Dispute With Kenya Was Politicized (Radio Dalsan)
- Somalia Seeks Explanation After U.S. ‘friendly fire’ Strike (Reuters)
- Somalia Improves Payroll System To Pay Troops On Time (Xinhua)
- Somali Journalist’s Personal Tale Of A Terror Attack (The Standard)
NATIONAL MEDIA
SOMALI, FOREIGN FORCES RAID AL-SHABAAB BASE IN SOMALIA
29 September – Source: Shabelle News – 137 Words
Somali special forces, backed by foreign soldiers have launched a joint military offensive on Al-shabaab controlled village, which lies 90 KM northeast of Kismayo city on Thursday. Sources in Kalishunba area near Kismayo city, said they saw three dead bodies, believed to be Al shabaab members lying on the ground following the raid by the allied troops.Reports said Somali and their allied foreign troops have seized several Al shabaab fighters and took them away from the militants-held village to undisclosed location. The Al shabaab bases near Kismayo city, the regional capital of Lower Jubba region have been the scene of attacks carried out by Somali and U.S. soldiers.
Somali and foreign troops thought to be American soldiers have stepped up attacks against Al shabaab strongholds in south and central Somalia in the past few months.
Gunmen Shoot Dead Somali Official In Mogadishu
29 September – Source: Shabelle News – 105 Words
Unidentified assailants have gunned down an official working for Somalia’s justice ministry in Mogadishu on Thursday evening, relatives said.Mohamed Aden Qordhere, a staffer at the justice ministry was killed by Al-Shabaab suspects armed with pistols as he walked out of a mosque in Waberi district.Sheikh Osman Omar, a relative of the assassinated official has confirmed the death of Qordhere, saying he was shot on the head by the gunmen who escaped the scene immediately. Late Qordhere was leaving a mosque after performing the evening prayers and heading to his house in Waberi district at the time of the attack, according to Sheikh Osman.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia Seeks Explanation After U.S. ‘Friendly Fire’ Strike
29 September – Source:Reuters – 290 Words
Somalia’s government on Thursday requested an explanation from the United States after Somali officials said a U.S. “friendly fire” airstrike killed at least 22 soldiers and civilians in the Horn of Africa nation.Officials in the semi-autonomous, northern region of Galmudug said a U.S. airstrike killed members of its forces this week and accused a rival region, Puntland, of duping the Americans into believing those targeted were Islamist rebels.Washington said the United States carried out a “self-defense air strike” after Somali troops faced fire from militants.
It said nine al Shabaab militants had been killed but that it was looking into reports others may also have died.”The cabinet requests the U.S. government give a clear explanation about the attack its planes carried out on the Galmudug forces,” the government statement, signed by Mohamed Omar Arte, said.It also urged both Galmudug and Puntland, which have often clashed over territory in the past, to mend fences. Protests erupted in Galkayo after the U.S. strikes, with demonstrators burning U.S. flags and chanting anti-American slogans.The United States, a major donor to Somalia’s government in Mogadishu, has often bombed al Shabaab militant positions and commanders in its bid to support the government and help the nation rebuild after two decades of war.
Somalia Improves Payroll System To Pay Troops On Time
29 September – Source: Xinhua – 290 Words
Somalia’s government said Thursday it plans to implement an improved payroll system to ensure that its troops are paid in a consistent and timely manner to step up fight against Al-Shabaab effectively.Finance Minister Mohamed Adan Ibrahim said a revised payroll process which includes robust fiduciary controls will pilot a new automated and functional payroll process for the Somali National Army (SNA).”This new system will reduce loopholes for corruption and enable government funds to be efficiently used and accounted for,” Ibrahim said during a meeting in Mogadishu.He said the initiative supports the progress made on the security sector reform agenda, which the government has committed to.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the Somali troops on the frontlines work tirelessly to fight Al-Shabaab and provide security and stability for the country.”Our government has a duty of care to pay our troops, and to do so in a regular, accountable and transparent manner,” the President said.”A functioning and effective payroll system is central to the building of a national security sector architecture and I am pleased to see the coming together of key government ministries and the army to make this happen,” he added.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“At that moment the only thing that was lingering in my head was my mum and how she would dissolve the scenario and how my family would find out about my death. My biggest worry at that moment wasn’t about the pain or death, it was my mother and how she would mourn and how this would break her heart. I love her so much and she loves me more,”
Somali Journalist’s Personal Tale Of A Terror Attack
29 September – Source: The Standard – 1828 Words
Five years ago a day like today. Wednesday night 14th Sept 2011 around 8:00pm, I left my place of work at Radio Gaalkayo, where I was working then. I was offered a lift by our station manager Abdullahi Hirsi Aade without hesitation I jumped in because it was a bit late.After we drove a quite short distance, I requested Uncle Abdullahi to drop me on the main road around the market place from there I could walk since my house wasn’t far from the main road and I didn’t want to bother him to drive me all the way, he insisted but I convinced him, it was all God’s plan.
I bid him bye and he requested that I should come to work early the following morning as he had some extra work for me.As I was walking home from the main road, I received a call from Radio Risala in Mogadishu where I also worked as a news monitoring agent in Gaalkayo. I couldn’t talk to them so I asked them to call me back after a while.I crossed the main road to the path leading to my house, due to previous threats on my life through texts by unknown people; I decided to use a different path to make my movements unpredictable. Journalists in Somalia are always under attack- worse female journalists. Somalia is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for media people.
My phone rang again and this time it was the editor probably wanting to ask something concerning work. Before I could answer the call I felt an eerie feeling of imminent danger and I remembered through the horde of horror. I forgot to end the call; I looked back just to see a person in plain white clothes facing the other way-it was a male figure. I sensed he pulled out a pistol from the back of his belt, then deep inside I knew something dangerous was about to happen and I had no way to escape from it.
The person in the plain white clothes fired shots in the air to scare away few men who were in front of the mosque-prayer building. Another person wearing a black jacket appeared from the back, cogged his gun and fired shots aiming for my head. I bent down placed my hands over my head knowing that my hands wouldn’t protect my head from bullets -human nature, but reflex worked at its best. The first bullet hit my right hand, I decided to run for my dear life or die trying. The shots were coming like rain I didn’t know where it hit –my shoulder, belly, upper chest, leg a total of seven bullets penetrated through my body. I could see sparks of light as I was running as bullets burst out of my body while other bullets missed me.