December 29, 2017 | Morning Headlines

US Airstrike Kills 4 Al-Shabaab Militants, Destroys Bomb Near Mogadishu

28 December – Source: Voice of America – 215 Words

U.S. airstrikes killed four members of the al-Shabab extremist group and destroyed a vehicle carrying explosives near the Somali capital, U.S. Africa Command said Thursday. The strike, carried out on Wednesday evening 25 kilometers west of Mogadishu, prevented the “vehicle-borne improvised explosive device” from being used against civilians in the capital, the statement from the military said. The statement also said that the U.S. Africa Command had assessed no civilians were killed in the strike, which was carried out in coordination with Somalia’s federal government.

The United States has carried out over 30 such airstrikes against terrorist group al-Shabab and a small but growing number of Islamic State-linked fighters in the past year. On Wednesday, the Pentagon said a December 24 airstrike in southern Somalia killed 13 al-Shabab militants northwest of the coastal city of Kismayo. “The strike targeted the militants as they mobilized to launch an attack against our base. Fortunately, the military from a friendly nation disabled them with a drone strike and killed 13 of them,” a Somali military commander in the area told VOA.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration approved expanding military operations in the Horn of Africa nation, where al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab is attempting to overthrow the Somali government and impose a strict version of Islamic law.

Key Headlines

• US Airstrike Kills 4 Al-Shabaab Militants Destroys Bomb Near Mogadishu (VOA News)
• HirShabelle State Announce War Against Al-Shabaab (Radio Dalsan)
• Somaliland Criticizes Mogadishu Over Airspace Management (Sahal News)
• Somalia Regains Control Of Airspace Management After 27 Years (Xinhua Online)
• Victims Of Sexual Violence Against Women In Somalia Deserve Justice (Hiiraan Online)

NATIONAL MEDIA

HirShabelle State Announce War Against Al-Shabaab

28 December – Source: Radio Dalsan – 126 Words

The President of Somalia’s HirShabelle regional state , Mohamed Abdi Ware has announced war against Al-Shabaab. The President said that the state’s army, Somali National Army and AMISOM peacekeeping troops will take part in the anticipated offensive against Al-Shabaab from the region that is meant to eradicate the group and open up access roads currently blockaded by them.

President Ware also told the parliament that he was elected at a time when there were many challenges due to political differences between the federal government and those of the regional states which arose from conflicts in the Gulf States but those issues have now been solved. Meanwhile, the region’s parliament has yesterday approved a list of new Cabinet members that was proposed by the president.

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Somaliland Criticizes Mogadishu Over Airspace Management

28 December- Source: Sahal News -108 Words

Somalia’s breakaway state of Somaliland on Thursday said that they not allow Somalia rein their airspace after Mogadishu regained the airspace management from ICAO. The state aviation DG Abdi Mohamed Rodol has said that move will jeopardize previous talks which the two held in Istanbul.

“This would led a political instability and we will not let Mogadishu control our airspace,” the Director said shortly after Somalia described that move as milestone’ He said they are prepared to re-open negotiations with Somalia over the matter. Somaliland has declared its separation from the rest of Somalia in 1991.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia Regains Control Of Airspace Management After 27 Years

28 December – Source: Xinhua Online – 233 Words

The Somali government on Thursday announced that it has officially regained control and management of its airspace after 27 years being run by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regional office in Nairobi. Somali President Mohamed Abdulahi Farmajo officially inaugurated the offices and equipment installed at Mogadishu International Airport on Thursday and said that the move represents a significant step towards the development of the country. “It is a great honor for us to witness this historic day that we retake control and management of our airspace. This did not come simply and luckily, but through hard work,” Farmajo said.

He thanked the officials of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation for their efforts as well as ICAO which has been running the airport. He added that taking over the running of Somalia’s airspace is part of his government’s commitment to restore important public services. Somali Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mohamed Abdulahi Salad, said that all equipment for the control of the airspace is ready and secure with its staff who are currently based in Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi.

Salad thanked all those who have played a role in the return of Somalia’s airspace control back to local oversight. He added that the government has also established direct flights between Mogadishu and Nairobi, which previously required a stopover in Wajir in North East Kenya for security reasons.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“Finally, the Somali and international community are expecting from Puntland leadership to take action against violence against women and girls and to hold the offender of the heinous crime accountable and deliver justice to Faiza and her family. While in her hospital bed in Turkey, Faiza said, “All I want from the Puntland administration is justice,”

Victims Of Sexual Violence Against Women In Somalia Deserve Justice

28 December- Source: Hiiraan Online -747 Words

Last October, a member of the Puntland security forces shot Faiza Mohamed Abdi,16, in the “pelvic area” after she refused his sexual advances in the port town of Bosaso, according to Somali websites. Faiza has been receiving medical care at Turkish run Erdogan hospital, formerly “Digfeer” hospital, in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. But the local doctors can’t perform the specialized reconstruction surgery required because of the severity of the injuries she suffered in the “pelvic area”, which has a lot of arteries and vital organs such as the bladder, rectum and reproductive organs.

Fortunately, last week, the girl has been flown to Turkey for further medical care. Thanks to the young and energetic Mogadishu mayor, Mr. Thabit, who sponsored her trip, including her parents. This is good news, and I hope and pray that everything goes well for her medical care and quick recovery. It was remarkable for Thabit, who is fighting to keep Mogadishu safe, to get time and effort to help Faiza and her family.

Last month, he also helped a child who is suffering from congenital heart disease to get medical treatment in Turkey. Since the heinous crime against Faiza took place in Bosaso and the perpetrator was a Puntland police officer, I have written to Puntland authorities, including the Minister of Heath and Minister of Women Development and Family Affairs, to find out more about the facts surrounding this tragic incident.

Although I did not receive any response from them, I asked Puntland authorities three questions:  Why haven’t Puntland authority taken the lead in assisting the medical care of the rape victim and  her family? Second, why has Puntland President, Dr Abdiweli Ali, failed to reach out to the family or pay a visit to give comfort to the girl while she was still in Mogadishu hospital?