February 20, 2017 | Morning Headlines
Blast In Somalia Kills 34 In Mogadishu Market Place
19 February – Source : Associated Press – 351 Words
Somalia’s new president visited victims wounded by the Mogadishu car bomb that on Sunday killed 34. President Mohamed Abdulahi Mohamed offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those who planned the blast. The explosion hit a busy marketplace in the western part of the capital, said police Capt. Mohamed Hussein. “It was a horrific and barbaric attack only aimed at killing civilians,” he said from the scene of the blast.
Sabriye Abdullahi, an ambulance driver told The Associated Press that some of the injured victims died on their way to the hospitals. “Many of them suffered extensive third degree burns and others were burned beyond recognition,” he said. The blast from a car parked near a restaurant went off when shoppers and traders gathered inside the market, said district commissioner Ahmed Abdulle. Mohamed Haji, a butcher who suffered shrapnel wounds, pointed to a clothes shop devastated by the blast. “Someone had parked the car here and left before it was detonated,” he said. Pieces of wood and metal sheets on the ground were all that remained of the shop.
Women sobbed and screamed outside the market as rescue workers moved bloodied bodies and wounded victims into ambulances. “It’s a painful carnage.” said Ali Mire, a government soldier who was helping a friend with shrapnel wounds The powerful explosion was the first major attack since Somalia’s new president was elected on Feb.8. Although no group has yet claimed responsibility, it bears the hallmarks of Somalia’s Islamic extremist rebels, al-Shabab. In addition to visiting the wounded in hospital, President Mohamed condemned the blast in a tweet, saying that it shows the “cruelty” of al-Shabab.
A few hours before the blast, al-Shabab denounced the new president as an “apostate” and vowed to continue fighting against his government. Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, in a statement condemning the attack, said that “Italy remains solidly on Somalia’s side in the process of the country’s stabilization.” He added that “together we will act so that the terrorists don’t succeed in stopping the path of peace and reconciliation that is underway.”
Key Headlines
- Blast In Somalia Kills 34 In Mogadishu Market Place (Associated Press)
- Somali President Calls On AMISOM To Expedite Operations Against Al-Shabaab (Goobjoog News)
- President Farmaajo Visits Victims Of Bomb Blast Announces USD$100 Thousand Reward For Information Leading To Bomb Plots (Hiiraan Online)
- Two Arrested In Connection To The Killing Of Former Spokesman Of Himin And Heeb Administration(Goobjoog News)
- UN Agency Seeks 825 Mln USD For Somali Aid (Xinhua)
- Somalia A Great Example To Rest Of Africa (Daily Nation)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali President Calls On AMISOM To Expedite Operations Against Al-Shabaab
19 February – Source : Goobjoog News – 162 Words
Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has called on African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to speed up operations against Al-Shabaab fighters. Farmaajo held a meeting with AMISOM commanders and ambassadors of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) on Saturday in Mogadishu. The meeting was held to discuss AMISOM operational effectiveness in light of future offensive operations against Al-Shabaab fighters who had been fighting Somali government for nearly a decade.
President Farmaajo urged the mission to support Somalia militarily and take part the transformation of Somalia’s army. Farmaajo who served as prime minister for only eight months between 2010 and 2011 is known for his quick moves to implement regular payments of soldiers and building of the army. AU sent its troops to Somalia to back Somalia’s weak government soldiers in 2007. Over 22,000-strong AU forces support Somali National Army (SNA) in the fight against Al-Shabaab in central and southern Somalia. The Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) are Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.
President Farmaajo Visits Victims Of Bomb Blast, Announces USD$100 Thousand Reward For Information Leading To Bomb Plots
19 February – Source : Hiiraan Online – 235 Words
President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo come to Medina hospital to visit the victims of today’s bomb blast and announced that his government would introduce a monetary incentive for civilians to join the fight against Al-Shabaab. Earlier this afternoon, a truck bomb that detonated at a busy intersection in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district ripped through Kawa-Godey market just after Dhuhr prayers killing at least 35 and injuring scores more.
Medina Hospital Director Mohamed Yusuf said that over 35 people were brought to the hospital. 11 were treated for minor injuries and sent home. He added that 3 victims died while undergoing treatment. Among the victims are several young children and women. Speaking at the hospital, President Farmaajo said that his government is offering USD$100,000 as a reward for anybody who provides information leading authorities to car bomb plots, something that he mentioned during his campaign.
The Director of the National Intelligence Agency (NISA), General Gaafow announced a separate USD$10,000 reward for information on assassination attempts. Just yesterday, Al-Shabaab militants targeted two government officials in two separate drive-by shootings in Mogadishu. Authorities gave chase to the suspects but they ultimately managed to escape. Somali and AU forces have been battling the militant insurgency group Al-Shabaab since ousting them from the capital in 2011. The rebel group holds large swaths of land in south and central Somalia and regularly launches attacks at government, military and civilian installations.
Two Arrested In Connection To The Killing Of Former Spokesman Of Himin And Heeb Administration
19 February – Source:Goobjoog News – 81 Words
Somali forces have arrested two people including a woman in connection to the killing of Mohamed Omar Hagafey, the former spokesperson for the Himin and Heeb administration.National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) said suspects were captured during a security swoop in areas believed to be hideouts for Al-Shabaab fighters around Yaqshiid district.The former spokesman was killed near Erdogan Hospital in Mogadishu on Saturday.Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for both shootings. The group has killed many government officials in similar targeted attacks in recent years.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
UN Agency Seeks 825 Mln USD For Somali Aid
19 February – Source:China.org – 336 Words
A UN agency is seeking 825 million U.S. dollars in the first half of 2017 to reach 5.5 million Somalis with life-saving assistance and livelihood support. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said a large scale-up of the drought response in February and March can help prevent the worst-case humanitarian scenario and save lives and livelihoods.”This will also help preserve important gains made in recent years,” OCHA said in its Operational Plan for Famine Prevention released on Sunday.
According to the plan, of the 825 million dollars required for the first half of 2017, 35 million dollars have already been contributed by donors, hereof 18 million dollars from the Central Emergency Response Fund and 14 million dollars channeled through the Somalia Humanitarian Fund.”These requirements reflect an increase in operational requirements which will lead to an associated increase in the Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan,” said OCHA.
The ongoing drought and other shocks have left communities that have already been battered by decades of conflict with little to no resources to fall back on, the UN agency said in a news release.The drought has dramatically pushed up prices of water and locally produced food, and thousands of people are on the move in search of food and water.”The humanitarian situation in Somalia is rapidly deteriorating and famine is a strong possibility in 2017. This comes only six years after a devastating famine led to the death of more than 250,000 people half of them children,” said OCHA.
OPINION, CULTURE & ANALYSIS
“But even as Mohamed took office, Al-Shabaab terrorists claimed responsibility for an attack that left two children dead near the presidential palace.The terrorists were determined to spread fear and despondency and reassert themselves just days before Mohamed is officially sworn in,”
Somalia A Great Example To Rest Of Africa
19 February – Source : Daily Nation – 401 Words
As Somalia’s president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, popularly known as “Farmajo”, prepares to be sworn into office on Wednesday, his ascent to power evokes positive events in Africa in the last two years. Particularly encouraging is the fact that Mohamed managed to beat his incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who had served one term only.The latter readily conceded defeat and even congratulated the man who dashed his second term hopes. Mohamed also beat Sharif Sheikh Ahmed who was in power from 2009 to 2012.There are reports that Mohamoud lost despite showering lawmakers with money.
Another remarkably peaceful handover of power had taken place in Nigeria in 2015 when Muhammadu Buhari put paid to President Goodluck Jonathan’s hopes of winning a second term.The scenario was replicated in Ghana in December when Nana Akufo-Addo, then 72 and head of the New Patriotic Party, ousted John Mahama, yet another one-termer.Just like in Nigeria, and more recently in Somalia, the outgoing president accepted the verdict of voters and won accolades.
Similar but rare orderly handovers have become the order of the day in islands of Seychelles, Cape Verde and São Toméand Príncipe. In Somalia, Mohamed is certainly not a new kid on the block. His ascendancy to power was greeted with celebrations in and outside Somalia. Having served as Somalia’s prime minister between 2010 and 2011, he has the reputation of a no-nonsense leader. However, turning around a failed state will not be a walk in the park. Fortunately, he seems to be aware of the task ahead.During the handover ceremony on Thursday, Mohamed appealed for patience and pleaded with the Somali public to understand how much the government needed their support.“We cannot accomplish things in a few months. We need to forgive one another and improve security and the economy of our country,” he said.