NATIONAL MEDIA
15 July – Source: Halbeeg – 186 Words
The Mayor of Mogadishu, Abdirahman Omar Osman, has vowed to end armed robbery incidents in the Somali capital. Speaking during a weekly security meeting with members of the security agencies in Mogadishu on Monday, Abdirahman Omar alias Yarisow urged law enforcement agencies to coordinate with district authorities in order to deal with armed criminals that terrorize city residents. “We will continue our operation against armed criminals in the city,” the Mayor said, “We are sending a strong warning to those who violet the law, he added. The Mayor, who is also the Governor of Banadir, Abdirahman Omar Osman, thanked members of the public for their cooperating with security agencies on ensuring safety and, security of the capital. Two armed criminals were separately shot dead by the police in Karan and Abdulasis districts during operation.
15 July – Source: Goobjoog – 181 Words
The Commander of the traffic police of Jubaland has today issued a warning to the drivers to maintain the law and order of the roads. Bashir Hassan Khalif, the commander told the media that there were some local transport vehicle drivers who have neglected the rules and the road instructions provided for them to follow. “Local transport vehicle drivers have neglected the road instructions, breaking rules for packing their vehicles inside the roads,” said commander Bashir Commander Bashir has warned all the public transport vehicle drivers, to maintain the rules of the road, and however objects the rule will take imposed on the law.
14 July – Source: Halbeeg – 181 Words
Somali Prime Minister, Hassan Ali Khaire, and visiting Qatari defense officials have discussed ways to strengthen support for Somali National army. The meeting between the Somali Premier, State Minister for Defense and officials from Doha held in Dhusamareb on Saturday stressed the need to double efforts by the Gulf State in training and equipping of Somali armed forces.
The Qatari delegation, accompanied by senior Somali security chiefs, briefly toured the Somali military 21st division base to assess the necessary renovation for the training of recently integrated Ahlu Suna forces into the national army. The federal government and the leadership of Ahlu Suna religious group signed an agreement to transfer all its forces to the government for training, equipment, and integration into the Somali armed forces.
Somalia and Qatar developed close diplomatic and defense cooperation since Mogadishu’s neutral stance on three Gulf States and Egypt blockade on tiny rich Qatar in June 2017. Since then, Doha implemented ambitious development projects in the Horn of Africa state mainly infrastructure, defense and economic support backed by direct Qatar airways flights from Mogadishu to Doha.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
15 July – Source: Patriotic Vanguard – 161 Words
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the terrorist attack in Somalia: “On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Hodan Nalayeh, a Somali-Canadian journalist who, together with her husband Farid, was killed in the terrorist attack in Kismayo, Somalia. Our thoughts are also with those who were injured or lost loved ones. “Ms. Nalayeh’s work showcased positive, uplifting, and inspiring Somali stories, and was a testament to the role of the free press in broadening people’s perspectives and defending diversity and inclusion. Her loss is deeply felt in Canada, and in Somali and journalistic communities around the world. “Canada strongly condemns this heinous attack, and will continue working with Somalia and other international partners to address the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism. Together, we must create a safer, more peaceful world, where the media freedom so central to healthy democracies and strong societies can flourish.”
15 July – Source: IOM – 256 Words
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has expressed its shock and outrage at Friday’s terrorist attack that claimed the lives of at least 26 people, one of whom worked under the auspices of the UN agency. In addition to those killed, an estimated 40 people were injured in the seige on Asasey Hotel in the port city of Kismayo, where a high-level political meeting was taking place to discuss pending regional elections. Islamist group al-Shabab has claimed the attack, described as its worst in Kismayo since the group was forced out in 2012. IOM director-general António Vitorino said the organization is outraged by the brutal and unprovoked attack and stands with the friends and family of Abdifatah Mohamed. “Our deepest sympathies go to them,” he said in a statement.
Abdifatah was a victim in the attack – which began on Friday evening and ended on Saturday – along with prominent local journalist Hodan Nalayeh and her husband Farid, together with local politicians, Kenyans, Tanzanians, Americans, a Briton and a Canadian. One of Abdifatah’s IOM contractor colleagues, who was also present, was injured in the attack. The assault on Asasey which lasted for about 14 hours started when a suicide bomber rammed a car containing explosives into the hotel compound. Gunmen then stormed the building. Dyane Epstein, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Somalia who worked with Abdifatah for nearly two years, said he made an immense contribution to peace and stabilization in Somalia. “Abdifatah meant a lot to all of us and was amongst the best and brightest.”
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Witnesses testified that terrorists called out people by names during the April 2 attack, which suggested they had prior knowledge of the facility. In the end, 148 people mostly students were killed by the gunmen. The testimony of two witnesses – university student Collin Waliaula and then head of security Elias Wambugu – raised questions whether lives would have been saved by acting on the intelligence by beefing up security and flushing out anyone suspected to have been a militant or sympathiser from the university.”
15 July – Source: Standard Media – 883 Words
Failure to act on prior warnings about an impending infiltration and attack of Garissa University College by terrorists facilitated the 2015 raid by Al Shabaab. Information on how Kenya’s security agencies failed to act on intelligence that the Somali-based insurgents were plotting an attack emerged in a judgement by a Magistrates Court in Nairobi.
Witnesses testified that terrorists called out people by names during the April 2 attack, which suggested they had prior knowledge of the facility. In the end, 148 people mostly students were killed by the gunmen. The testimony of two witnesses – university student Collin Waliaula and then head of security Elias Wambugu – raised questions whether lives would have been saved by acting on the intelligence by beefing up security and flushing out anyone suspected to have been a militant or sympathiser from the university.
Mr Waliaula, who had transferred to the institution from Moi University, was the first State witness. He told Nairobi Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi that he thought the attack was an inside job. Waliaula said that in the midst of the gun battle, he heard the attackers call out names of the people they wanted to kill. Top on the attackers’ list was Berbin Cheruiyot, the students’ council chairman, Laban Kweya, who was the dean of students, deputy principal Prof Kiriamiti and a Prof Mwayuli.
He testified that the familiarity of the attackers with the names signalled that they might have been people who had lived among the students and knew their way around. Waliaula, who the deputy president of the students governing council, recounted that the attack started at 5 am when the calm morning turned into a hell-hole of gunshots, shouts and wails from those who were maimed and dying. He remained in his room in Block D during the chaos. At one point he heard someone issue a command to shoot students who were scampering over a fence. “Kuna wengine wanaruka waya, piga hao miguu (others are jumping over the fence, shoot their legs),” he recalled one of the terrorists instructing another.
He remained hidden and scared in his room for four hours before he saw security agents. But his safety was not immediately assured even with the presence of security officers who had come to their rescue because he had to dodge a hail of bullets. “My roommate, David, with whom I was within the room, also survived. However, the student council president Kumba Laban Daniel, my best friend Christopher Nyakundi, Njeri, Caro Gatitu, Kosgey and Abel Mukhwana were among those who died in the attack,” he recalled.
The untold story of chaotic scenes, lady luck and high adrenaline action, such as what is seen in horror or action movies, and the heroic actions by Kenya’s security agents were contained in a trial that lasted four years and ended up in a conviction of three men. A total of 22 witnesses testified in the trial against Mohamed Abdi Abikar, Hassan Edin Hassan, Sahal Diriy Hussein, Garissa University guard Osman Abdi Dagane and Tanzanian national Rashid Charled Mberesero. They gave a blow by blow account of how a calm morning turned into a death-filled atmosphere, with four men killing innocent students with the pull of a trigger or the toss of a grenade….. |
