09 Dec 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Ban Ki-Moon welcomes Kenya’s role in Somalia ( Source: The Standard)
- This statement has been released by the Minister of Information H.E. Abdulqadir Hussein Mohamed (Jaahweyn) to the Residents of Mogadishu (Source: TFG)
- Somali premier hails the decision Kenya’s military to join AMISOM (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Somali and Sudanese issues top discussions between Ban and Kenyan leaders (Source: UN News Centre)
- Massive fire cause destruction in Hargeysa market (Source: Radio Mogadishu)
PRESS RELEASE
This statement has been released by the Minister of Information H.E. Abdulqadir Hussein Mohamed (Jaahweyn) to the Residents of Mogadishu
08 Dec – Source: TFG – 335 words
The Al-shabaab terrorists have once again caused the murder of innocent civilians going about their daily businesses, as well as members of the Mogadishu police and the armed forces who were also engaged in the lawful activity of saving innocent lives. The Terrorist’s murderous activities has been foiled by an alert public and hard working members of the security forces many times in the last few days and weeks. However, it is natural that a mistake happens once in a while, which allows the murderers to kill and maim members of the public. Unfortunately, the km4 explosion of the 6th of December was one such occasion. It is in the above context that I would like to address the public through this Press Release; of what they should do when they spot any suspicious person, package, car or activity. I am advising the public to follow the instructions written below when they spot:
A) Suspicious Packages
- Do not touch
- Do not go near
- Go as far away from it as possible
- Tell children and other members of the public not to go anywhere near it.
- Call the telephone hotline provided by the security services and give them the description and the location of the package.
B) Suspicious persons, Cars and Activity
- In the case of a suspicious person or activity , look for a uniformed member of the police or the armed forces and tell them of your suspicions. If none is nearby, call the hotline and give good description of the person and the location. Never approach or talk to them. Be always discreet by not being noticed by those involved.
- In the case of a suspicious car, be discreet again, so that those inside car do not notice that you are observing them. Memorize and remember the make, the registration, the colour and oyher distinctive marks of the car, plus the number of people inside and their appearances.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali premier hails the decision of Kenya’s military to join AMISOM
08 Dec – Source: Shabelle, Radio Bar-kulan, Radio Mogadishu – 159 words
The prime minister of the TFG Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali yesterday hailed Kenya’s Parliament decision late on Wednesday to allow the country’s troops to join African Union peace-keeping troops known as AMISOM in Mogadishu. After returning home from an official visit in some Arab states namely Qatar and Kuwait nations, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the Somali PM welcomed the Kenyan army to join the African union mission in Somalia, he said there is a great need for security in the country and that it therefore welcomes Kenya to be part of AMSIOM.
http://www.shabelle.net/
Airstrike hits key al Shabaab base in Bardhere town, Gedo province
08 Dec – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Shabelle and Hiiraan Online – 85 words
An unidentified fighter jets bombed the Bhaardere town in Gedo province of a Somali rebel-controlled area on Thursday afternoon. Local people said the air raid happened in the town center of Bhaardhere, which is a stronghold of al Shabaab. The airstrike is thought to be targeting al Shabaab members who operate in the town.
We foiled several attacks and explosions by al Shabaab: minister
08 Dec Source: Mareeg Online – 145 words
The TFG has disclosed on Thursday that it thwarted numerous attacks and car bombs from al Shabaab militants against government buildings in the capital Mogadishu. Hussein Arab Isse, the defense minister for the Somali government, said while speaking to the journalists in Mogadishu that his government troops have successfully foiled and prevented a number of blasts and suicide car bombs by al Shabaab directed to attack on the strategic sites for TFG in Mogadishu.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Al Shabaab redeploys more fighters to Mogadishu
08 Dec – Source: Somalia Report – 32 words
The militant group al Shabaab has deployed additional fighters to the capital Mogadishu even as fierce fighting between the Islamist insurgents and the African Union-backed TFG troops continued on Thursday.
PM: Qatar, Kuwait ready to support Somalia
08 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 155 words
Qatar and Kuwaiti governments promised to support the Somali government in terms of humanitarian assistance, social development and restoring law and order in the country, government says. Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said leaders from both countries promised to support his government’s effort to stabilise the country. They made the pledges during his recent visit to these countries. He said his government thanked these two countries for taking part the international efforts to save the lives of millions of Somalis who were badly affected by recent ravaging drought.
Massive fire cause destruction in Hargeysa market
08 Dec – Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA – 59 words
The report from Hargeysa, Somaliland, says that a massive fire broke out in a market situated in Hargeysa town. Thousands of properties were burnt in the inferno which lasted for many hours. Businessmen in the market rushed to save their remaining belongings after the major destruction in the market. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Ahlu Sunna recruits finish millitary training
08 Dec- Source: Somalia Report- 34 words
Some 550 new recruits of the pro-government Ahlu Sunna Waljamaa (ASWJ) Islamist militia have completed military training in Hargaboobe village in Guri’el district of Galguduud Galgaduud region, a senior security official said on Thursday.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Ban Ki-Moon welcomes Kenya’s role in Somalia
09 Dec – Source: The Standard, The Star – 500 words
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has commended and welcomed Kenya’s leadership role in efforts to stabilise Somalia. He especially pointed out at the great sacrifice Kenya had taken in efforts that have given the people of Somalia the best opportunity for stability and prosperity after twenty years of war.
UN boss lauds Kenya “sacrifice” in Somalia operation
08 Dec- Source: Daily Nation- 440 words
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has commended Kenya’s “great sacrifice” and role in efforts to stabilise Somalia. At a meeting with President Kibaki at Harambee House, Nairobi Thursday Mr Ban said that the UN and the international community will support the latest initiatives that have seen Kenyan Defence Forces and those of the TFG work together in an operation to defeat militia group al Shabaab. He lauded the decision taken by the Cabinet and approved by the Kenyan Parliament to re-hat Kenyan forces in Somalia under the AMISOM command.
Somali leaders promise more secure Mogadishu
08 Dec- Source: Africa Review- 171 words
Top officials of the Transitional Federal Government have vowed to improve the security in the Somali capital Mogadishu. The announcement came amid fresh clashes in and around Mogadishu. Police Commander Sharif Sheikhuna Maye stated that radical Islamist group al Shabaab had been weakened a great deal, forcing the members to resort to desperate measures like suicide attacks. “It is unfortunate that al Shabaab movement is now targeting public places with landmines planted or placed everywhere,” stated Gen Maye.
Tenth KRCS aircraft heads to Somalia
08 Dec – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 102 words
The tenth Kuwaiti rescue airplane took off to Somalia from Abduallah Al-Mubarak Air Base on Thursday loaded with two ambulances and food. This aid is offered to the Somali people facing harsh living conditions due to the drought that hit various areas in the country. Beside this aircraft, four more ships loaded with food reached Somalia, Chairman of the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society (KRCS) Barjas Al-Barjas told KUNA.
http://www.kuna.net.kw/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali and Sudanese issues top discussions between Ban and Kenyan leaders
08 Dec – Source: UN News Centre – 269 words
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today discussed the situation in Somalia and Sudan with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, with the United Nations chief taking note of progress since the adoption by Somalia’s leadership of a political roadmap on the restoration of peace and stability in the Horn of Africa country.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/
Somalia’s al Shabaab militants rebrand
08 Dec – Source: ForeignPolicy – 435 words
Want a play-by-play of the battles al-Shabab militants are waging today with Kenyan forces in southern Somalia and Somali troops in Mogadishu? Look no further than al Shabaab’s Twitter feed, which launched yesterday with a quote from the Koran (“in the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful”) and has since tweeted in vivid and impassioned English.
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/
Fighter jets target rebels in south Somali town
08 Dec – Source: Reuters / AP – 160 words
Fighter jets bombed the southern Somali town of Baardheere on Thursday, killing at least one civilian, local residents and the al Shabaab rebel group said. Some locals believed the warplanes came from neighbouring Kenya, which is eight weeks into an offensive inside Somalia aimed at crushing rebel networks and has carried out numerous air strikes. “Two fighter jets bombed the ADC stores in a suburb of the town,” resident Ali Mohamud Ali told Reuters by telephone. “Al Shabaab were using these stores as a military base for the last three years.”
http://in.reuters.com/article/
Aid ban, insecurity “could lead to more deaths”
08 Dec – Source: IRIN – 583 words
Officials are warning of an escalation in the humanitarian crisis in Somalia if the ban imposed by al Shabaab insurgents, on 16 aid agencies is not reversed. “If the current situation continues, many more people will die,” a civil society source told IRIN on 8 December. “A combination of factors is colluding to make matters worse for the displaced and drought victims: we have had an upsurge in explosions, which have killed over 40 people in the last two weeks; and the ban on 16 aid agencies and the Kenyan forces’ entry into southern Somalia are making the delivery of aid very, very difficult.”