21 Dec 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Djiboutian troops join AMISOM (Source: AMISOM HQ)
- 68th anniversary of Somali police kicks off in Mogadishu (Source: Radio Mogadishu)
- Turkey can play vital role in humanitarian affairs – UN official (Source: UN News Centre)
- Air strike hits rebel-held Somali village-residents (Source: Reuters)
- An overnight clash claims lives of several extremists (Source: Radio Mogadishu)
- Explosion in Dadaab two shot in Garissa (Source: the Standard)
- US mulls action over al Shabaab twitter (Source: Daily Nation)
PRESS STATEMENT
Djiboutian troops join AMISOM
20 Dec – Source: AMISOM HQ – 179 words
The AMISOM Deputy Force Commander today received the first Djiboutian soldiers joining the African Union Mission in Somalia. An advance party consisting of 100 troops, led by General Zakaria Sheikh Ibrahim, arrived at Mogadishu airport this afternoon. A further 800 troops will follow in the course of the next week or so to bring the Djiboutian contingent up to strength.
Somali Prime Minister, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, was there to welcome the Djiboutian forces as they landed at the Mogadishu airport.
Deputy Force Commander of AMISOM, Brigadier-General Audace Nduwumunsi, said, “Today’s initial deployment of the Djiboutian contingent is a great step forward for the AMISOM Force in Mogadishu and for building stability in the country. The nine hundred extra troops will initially be based at Al Jazeera IV as they undergo specific, in theatre training.”
Djibouti is the third country to send troops into Somalia under AMISOM. Uganda and Burundi troops, currently numbering 9800, are in Mogadishu in support of the Somali peace process and the institutions it has generated. In August, they forced the terror group Al Shabaab to withdraw from the capital.
SOMALI MEDIA
68th anniversary of Somali police kicks off in Mogadishu
20 Dec – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 80 words
The 68th anniversary of the Somali police kicked off in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. The event was held in General Kahiye school located in Mogadishu.
Several killed in Mogadishu clashes
20 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 105 words
At least seven people are known to have died and three others wounded as a result of the AU peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu and al Shabaab rebel fighters clashing in the Aba-gedo area, Mogadishu’s Darkenley district on Monday night, according to reports. The clashes erupted after rebel fighters launched attacks on an AMISOM base in the area.
SONNA Director: Sudan to train Somali journalists
20 Dec- Source: Somalia National News Agency- 128 words
Sudan has promised to train Somalia journalists who have been operating in Somalia to expand their knowledge on the media industry. Director of the Sudan media service agency Abdirahman Ibrahim Abdullahi invited Somali National News Agency SONNA director Abdulkadir Mohamed Osman in Sudan; he said that the Sudan media industry will play a key role in improving the Somali media industry.
An overnight clash claims lives of several extremists
20 Dec- Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA, SNTV- 100 words
At least seven al Shabaab fighters passed away and three others were wounded when overnight fighting rocked Dharkenley district on Monday night. The AU peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu and al Shabaab fighters clashed in the Aba-gedo area in Mogadishu’s Darkenley district, causing many casualties.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Explosion in Dadaab, two shot in Garissa
20 Dec – Source: the Standard – 480 words
An explosion believed to be caused by a grenade occurred near a training centre in Ifo Dadaab on Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported but police are investigating the incident. Meanwhile on Monday night, two people were shot and seriously wounded in Garissa town in what police believe is a new tactic being employed by al Shabaab sympathisers in the area.
US mulls action over al Shabaab twitter
20 Dec – Source: Daily Nation- 219 words
American officials say they are considering how to respond to Somalia militia al Shabaab’s use of Twitter, the New York Times reported on Monday. The militants have used their recently established Twitter account to boast about their actions and to taunt the Kenyan troops that entered the country in October. “Your inexperienced boys flee from confrontation and flinch in the face of death,” said an al Shabaab posting addressed to the Kenyan Army and cited in the Times’ story.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
First Djibouti troops in Somalia to join AU force
20 Dec- Source: AFP /New York Time – 599 words
The first Djiboutian contingent of 200 soldiers landed in Mogadishu Tuesday to join the African Union force battling al Shabaab forces in Somalia, a government official said. “Djibouti deployed its first contingent to Somalia today to help the country restore peace and stability,” Mohamed Abdirahman, a Somali security official, told reporters.
Turkey can play vital role in humanitarian affairs – UN official
19 Dec – Source: UN News Centre – 323 words
Turkey’s role in humanitarian affairs is rapidly growing and has become vital for the international community, the United Nations relief chief said today, calling for stronger partnerships between the country and international organizations to provide assistance to people who have been affected by emergencies around the world.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/
Air strike hits rebel-held Somali village-residents
20 Dec – Source: Reuters – 215 words
A warplane bombed a Somali village held by Islamist rebels near the border with Kenya on Tuesday, killing several civilians, residents and a Somali military official said. It was not immediately possible to identify who carried out the attack in the village of Hosungow near the area of Dhobley, which is under the control of Somali government and Kenyan troops, as well as a militia allied to Somalia’s government.
http://af.reuters.com/article/
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
Young Generation Choose Your Path
Somalia Forum
Now as the second generation of Somalis are aging in countries outside of Somalia it will be a crucial time in shaping our future. The older generation has left us nothing but a legacy of shame and disgrace, however we must forgive them and move on. By forgiving I do not mean we should follow their ways but we should learn from their past mistakes and not let their tainted,primitive, ignorant view of the world influence our decisions. With that being said the second generation of Somalis will have three paths to choose from.
- Carry on Religious Extremes and Tribalism
- Become Hoodlums,Gangsters and be trapped in welfare system
- Get Educated and rid ourselves of ignorance, so that we can finally make a positive change individually and as a community.
Wake up the time for change is now, do not be like your elders and let personal selfishness ruin the future of your children.
http://www.topix.com/forum/
Somali Police Force celebrate 68th anniversary in style
SomaliNet Threads
Forum member from Mogadishu posts photos of the ceremony marking the 68th anniversary of Somali police force held in the Somali capital on Tuesday.
http://www.somalinet.com/