January 19, 2018 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Somali General Shot Dead In Capital Mogadishu

18 January – Source: Reuters – 247 Words

A Somali general was shot in the head and killed in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday and a colonel who was his deputy has been arrested for the murder, senior army sources said. The killing of Marine general Saiid Aden Yusuf in what was apparently an internal dispute is a fresh sign of problems facing the army as it battles an insurgency by Islamist militant group al Shabaab with the help of African Union peacekeepers. “Our marine general was killed by his deputy at Mogadishu seaport today. The murderer was seized. It was unfortunate and unexpected. An investigation goes on,” marine officer Ahmed Ali told Reuters.

Mogadishu resident Nur Mohamed told Reuters the colonel fired several shots from his pistol and hit the general in the head. “I was chatting with the general shortly before he was killed …. I heard the gunshots and when I ran to the scene I was shocked to see the general lying on the ground, bleeding,” he said, adding that Yusuf died on the scene from bullet wounds. Marine officer Ahmed Ali said the colonel was arrested. Al Shabaab is fighting to oust the government and establish its own rule based on its strict interpretation of Islam’s sharia law. The group has been pushed out of most of its urban strongholds but it is able to mount deadly attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere. Somalia has faced violence and lacked a strong central government since President Mohamed Siad Barre was overthrown in 1991.

Key Headlines

Somali General Shot Dead In Capital Mogadishu (Reuters)
ASWJ-Galmudug Merger Will Boost War On Al-Shabaab Farmaajo Says (Radio Dalsan)
Ethiopia Committed To Somaliland Peace Stability Says Hailemariam (Radio Shabelle)
Somalia: US$1.6 billion Urgently Needed To Save And Protect 5.4 million Lives From Unprecedented Drought (Africa Newsroom)
Somalia Forces Capture Southern Town From Al-Shabaab (Xinhuanet)
Mum of Somali Music Dead At 82 (Music Africa)

NATIONAL MEDIA

ASWJ-Galmudug Merger Will Boost War On Al-Shabaab, Farmaajo Says

18 January – Source: Radio Dalsan

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo on Thursday visited the 21st Battalion base in Dhusamareb ahead of a merger ceremony to amalgamate Ahlu Sunnah Wa Jama’a and Galmudug administration. Farmaajo told the Somalia National Army soldiers and leaders present that the merger of ASWJ and the Galmudug administration would bolster the war on Al-Shabaab.

“After Ahlul Sunnah Wal Jama’a and Galmudug administration merged and formed one regional administration we expect to strengthen our powers train more soldiers reconstruct this camp and bring army equipment” he said at the military base.“And God willing we will free this region from Al-Shabaab as soon as possible” he added. The merger took place in the South Central Somalia city of Dhusamareb on Thursday at a ceremony attended by representatives of the international community, regional states leaders.

Ethiopia Committed To Somaliland Peace, Stability, Says Hailemariam

18 January – Source: Radio Shabelle

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Somaliland President Musa Behi Abdi held discussions on various issues here in Addis Ababa yesterday. Prime Minister Hailemariam stated his country’s commitment to Somaliland’s peace and stability, saying, “Ethiopia is working aggressively to dismantle Al-Shabaab from the surrounding since it is our common enemy.” The PM also underscored that any incident in Somaliland will have direct and indirect impact on Ethiopia.

As part of its effort to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the region, Ethiopia has offered numerous scholarship opportunities to Somaliland students, he added. “We discussed thoroughly and agreed on accessing Port Berbera, and we have already started developing infrastructure in the corridor to facilitate the growing import-export trade of Ethiopia.” According to him, this move will strengthen Ethiopia’s and Somaliland’s economic cooperation. “We benefit from this development in a win-win manner,” he added. The Premier also mentioned that both countries have agreed to develop additional new ports.

Moreover, the Prime Minister said that the political question of Somaliland will be solved as per the guiding principles of IGAD (Inter Governmental Association for Development) and African Union (AU). Musa Behi Abdi for his part said the two discussed several issues regarding security, economical development cooperation and political issues of the Horn of Africa. “We are greatly thankful to Ethiopia’s sustained support”, he added.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia: US$1.6 billion Urgently Needed To Save And Protect 5.4 million Lives From Unprecedented Drought

18 January – Source: Africa Newsroom – 427 Words

The 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia, which calls for $1.6 billion to protect the lives of 5.4 million Somalis, was launched today by the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Peter de Clercq. In his remarks, De Clercq said: “Working together with the Somali authorities and with historical levels of support from the international community, I am proud that we averted a possible famine last year.

“Lasting solutions to drought, conflict and displacement remain, however, out of our reach, and much more must be done to eliminate the looming threat of famine in this country. We must tackle the humanitarian needs while simultaneously looking at longer-term solutions. If we do not continue to save lives and in parallel build resilience, then we have only delayed a famine, not prevented one,” warned de Clercq.

The 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is an extension of the 2017 famine prevention efforts. It prioritises immediate relief operations in areas with significant numbers of people living in Crisis and Emergency (IPC Phases 3 and 4). The HRP now also includes a strategy to address protection gaps, particularly during humanitarian crises and for those most vulnerable, such as the internally displaced, women and children.

2017 was one of the most challenging years for Somalia, with the country precariously close to famine after several failed rainy seasons. Hundreds of thousands of people were driven from their homes as a result of the drought and persistent conflict, resulting in unprecedented levels of displacement. Food security needs have nearly doubled the five year average, with an estimated 2,444,000 people in crisis and 866,000 in emergency — that is, one step away from famine — throughout Somalia. The number of Somalis on the brink of famine has grown tenfold since this time last year. An estimated 1.2 million children are projected to be malnourished in 2018, 232,000 of whom will face life-threatening severe acute malnutrition.

To mitigate future crises, humanitarians are working with development partners and Somali authorities to address the underlying causes of recurring crises, including food insecurity and mass displacement, through the development of a Recovery and Resilience Framework informed by a Drought Impact Needs Assessment. “With important progress made on the political and governance fronts, Somalia is on a positive trajectory, despite ongoing crises. The country has more effective institutions than it has for decades. However, these gains are reversible and must be protected. With continued international support, we can break the cycle of recurrent crises that undermine the peacebuilding and State-building process in Somalia,” De Clercq concluded.

Somalia Forces Capture Southern Town From Al-Shabaab

18 January – Source: Xinhuanet – 145 Words

Somali army Thursday captured a town in the southern region and killed at least seven Al-Shabaab militants, including four senior commanders, an officer said Thursday. Somali army 43rd infantry division commander General Ismail Sahardid told journalists the forces launched an attack on Bar-Sanguni town, some 45 km south of the coastal city of Kismayo, before wresting control.

Sahardid did not comment on possible casualties on his forces. He added the forces seized two technicals from the militants. Somali and African Union forces have increased ground and air offensives against the militant group Al-Shabaab in the last few months. This came as African Union forces have started a conditions based draw-down from the Horn of Africa nation. Kismayo was one of the strongholds of Al-Shabaab, with its port being used as the group’s main revenue source, before it was forced out by Kenyan forces in 2012.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“Daleys was a member of Waaberi (Dawn Players), a music group established by members of the Radio Artists Association. As Somalia’s leading music group, Waaberi gave rise to a number of popular artists who went on to enjoy successful individual careers and shape the face of Somali music.Condolences for the activist and singer have poured in on social media,”

Mum of Somali Music Dead At 82

17 January – Source: Music Africa – 318 Words

Daleys, who is known as the ‘Mother of Somali Music’, was the first female singer to perform live on radio in Somalia in the 1950s. Somalia Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman confirmed the news on Twitter. “I am extending my condolences on the death of Khadija Abdullahi Daleys, she was the first female musician who sang on Radio Muqdisho in 1952,” he wrote. Fellow artist and Daleys’ friend, Abdi Gab, told National Public Radio that the late musician was met with resistance after her debut radio appearance because “at that time no Somali women were singing on radio”.

NPR radio journalist Eyder Peralta said: “In fact, when she was done [with her first radio performance], people took to the streets in protest. And then they went to her father’s house to snitch. According to Gab, Daleys’ dad shrugged. ‘Yes, she’s singing,’ he said. ‘But what’s the problem? The whole world is singing’. “And that was it. From then on, Daleys inspired generations of Somali women to find their voice.

She became not only one of the most beloved musicians in the country but also one of its most important political voices, advocating for independence and pan-Africanism – and in this song, calling on Africans to love their blackness.” The founder of YouTube channel Integration TV, Hodan Nalayeh, said: “Rest in peace to my dear friend Khadija Abdullahi. Daleys was Somalia’s first woman singer. A woman who lived in the best times of Somalia and who cried for her nation daily. Her strength and character will never be forgotten.”