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21 oct 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- AU backs Kenya incursion in Somalia
- Somali forces retake control of Daynille district in Mogadishu
- Kenyan fighter jets bombard southern Somalia town
- IGAD to hold meeting to discuss Somalia in Addis Ababa on Friday
- Six Ugandan soldiers killed in Somali blast
- Kenyan MPs hold private session on al Shabaab onslaught
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali forces retake control of Daynille district in Mogadishu
20 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu, Shabelle, Bar-kulan, Kulmiye- 120 words
Fresh fighting has erupted between Somali government forces backed by AU peace keepers and al Shabaab yesterday in Daynille, north west of the capital Mogadishu. At least 17 al Shabaab fighters are confirmed to have died and the government forces taking control of large portions of the area in the early morning clashes.
Kenyan fighter jets bombard southern Somalia town
20 Oct- Source: radio Shabelle- 86 words
Kenyan fighter jets on Thursday bombarded the coastal town of Kamboni at Somalia-Kenya border. Reports say that the military planes hit several missiles in suspected al Shabaab bases in the area. It is not clear if there were any people killed or injured in those bombardments, reports added.
Al Shabaab battle with armed gangs in Kismayo
19 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 117 words
At least one person was killed and three others wounded in fierce gun battle between al Shabaab rebel fighters and armed gangs in the port city of Kismayo, Lower Jubba. Eyewitnesses told Barkulan the gun battle erupted in the area after armed gangs attempted to loot relief food stored in Kismayo’s district headquarter. The dead person is said to be a driver of a car hijacked by the gangs.
30 dead, 60 others injured in Mogadishu
20 Oct- Source: Mareeg Online- 180 words
At least 30 people were killed and over 60 others wounded after huge battle between the rebel group of al Shabaab and TFG forces backed by the African union peacekeeping forces occurred in Mogadishu yesterday, reports said. The fighting took place in Daynile district, one of the remaining areas controlled by al Shabaab after AU forces and Somali national army took attack against these militias and seized much of that district, killing 30 people and wounding over 60 others, mostly from warring sides, reports said.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Al Shabaab order ‘young shoe shiners’ in Bardera to join their fight
20 Oct- Source: Bar-kulan- 188 words
Al Shabaab in Bardera district of Gedo region has ordered young shoe shiners to register with them and take part in the fight against government troops in parts of southern Somalia. Reliable sources in the area told Bar-kulan that shoe shiners, mainly young boys have stayed off their job for fear of conscription.
IGAD to hold meeting to discuss Somalia in Addis Ababa on Friday
20 Oct- Source: Radio Shabelle, Bar-kulan, Kulmiye- 64 words
Kenya has revealed that member states of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) are expected to hold a meeting in Addis Ababa on Friday to discuss the situation in Somalia. Kenya Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula told journalists that Kenya and Ethiopia had a common position and re-affirmed their commitment to ensure peace and stability in the region, following his trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
MSF seeks its kidnapped staff release without force
21 Oct – Source: Shabelle – 104 words
Médecins Sans Frontières yesterday called on that force shouldn’t be used in releasing two Spanish female aid workers who were recently kidnapped by armed Somali men in Kenya’s refugee camps. Rakuenl Ayora, the director of MSF Spain said that they are very sorry the kidnapping against their workers helping drought affected people in the Horn of Africa.
http://shabelle.net/article.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Six Ugandan soldiers killed in Somali blast
20 Oct- Source: Daily Monitor- 375 words
Six Ugandan peacekeepers have been confirmed killed in Mogadishu in the latest fighting that brings the number of dead UPDF soldiers to over 80 since Ugandan forces were deployed in Somalia in 2007. However, military sources yesterday put the number of Ugandans killed on Sunday, in Karaan District, Mogadishu at 16. The spokesperson of African Union, Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, told Daily Monitor that the number was lower.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/
Kenyan MPs hold private session on al Shabaab onslaught
19 Oct- Source: Capital FM- 334 words
Parliament was on Wednesday afternoon forced to go in camera to allow for private discussions on the volatile security situation between Kenya and Somalia. The motion which was moved by Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale, was unanimously supported by the legislators on the grounds that the matter was too sensitive to be heard in public.During the afternoon session, House Speaker Kenneth Marende told Khalwale to move the Motion within the guidelines laid in Standing Order 214.
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/
Kenya to conduct swoop to flush out al Shabaab
20 Oct- Source: Standard- 517 words
A ‘mother of all operations’ would be conducted in Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate to flush out any suspected al Shabaab members as the war against the rebel group intensified. All flights and buses headed to and from regions bordering Somalia would also be screened to ensure that Kenyans are safe from any terrorist threats that may be posed by the al Qaeda-linked group.
http://www.standardmedia.co.
Kuwait dispatches 650 tons of relief supplies to Somalia
20 Oct- Source: Kuwait Times, KULNA- 192 words
A ship carrying 650 tons of relief supplies sent by Kuwait for victims of famine and drought in Somalia docked yesterday in the harbor of the Somali capital Mogadishu, said the chairman of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/
Jets hit al Shabaab, as rain delays march
19 Oct- Source: Daily Nation- 327 words
Kenyan jets were on Wednesday pounding al Shabaab positions in Somalia as ground forces prepared a fresh assault against the militia group. The airstrikes were carried out in areas between Kismayu and the border with Kenya. On the fourth day of the operation code-named Operation Linda Nchi (Kiswahili for ‘Operation Protect the Nation’), Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula launched a diplomatic drive to win support for Kenya’s offensive against the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab terror group.
AU backs Kenya incursion in Somalia
20 Oct- Source: Al Shahid, SONNA- 337 words
The African Union is backing Kenya’s military operation against Somalia’s militia group of al Shabaab, Kenya’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Moses Wetangula said on Wednesday. “The African Union is of the view that a threat to Kenya is a threat to peace in the region because of Kenya’s past and present efforts for negotiated settlements of armed conflict in the region.
http://english.alshahid.net/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya reportedly didn’t warn U.S. of Somalia incursion
21 Oct – Source: New York Times – 917 words
As fierce fighting spread to new areas of Somalia on Thursday, American officials said they had been taken by surprise by Kenya’s recent march into Somalia to battle Islamist militants.
Mogadishu on the Mediterranean?
20 Oct – Source: Foreign Policy – 449 words
While fireworks light up the skies of Tripoli and Libyans dance in the street, a note of caution is now in order. Simply removing a dictator is not an automatic cure-all for a society long terrorized. Yes, toppling a tyrant can pave the way toward viable democracy; and there are many examples — from Chile to the Philippines.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/
AU, Somali forces battle Mogadishu al Shabaab rebels
20 Oct – Source: Al Bawaba – 329 words
Heavy fighting broke out in Somalia s anarchic capital Thursday after African Union-backed Somali troops advanced on holdout al Shabaab positions, officials and witnesses said. The fighting was centered in the northwest Deynile suburb, one of the final pockets still held by the Al-Qaeda linked militants in war-torn Mogadishu. “Our forces are now in control of most parts in Deynile, where they have attacked this morning,” Ibrahim Abdalla, a Somali security officer said.
Kenya to target al Shabaab sympathisers in Nairobi
20 Oct- Source: BBC- 646 words
Kenya has announced that it will launch a major security operation in its capital to flush out sympathisers of the Somali Islamist group, al Shaabab. It would begin after Kenyan troops had completed their mission against militants in Somalia, an official said. The government blames the militants for a spate of kidnappings of foreigners.