February 3, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Britain names Ambassador to Somalia

02 Feb – Source: New York Times / Reuters /Guardian – 142 words

Britain sent Foreign Secretary William Hague to Mogadishu and appointed an ambassador to Somalia for the first time in two decades on Thursday, signaling London’s intention to help make a push to address the country’s long-running conflict.

Key Headlines

William Hague pledges UK’s commitment to future of Somalia (Source: The Telegraph)
Kenyan Raskanboni troops seize a key town in southwestern Somalia ( Source: Radio Shabelle)
ICRC regrets ban on its relief supplies to Somalia (Source: Xinhua Net)
Landmine blast strikes Kenyan truck in Mandera town (Source: Markacadeey)
Eight killed in overnight attack in Lower Juba (Source: Somalia Report)

SOMALI MEDIA

Kenyan, Raskanboni troops seize a key town in southwestern Somalia

02 Feb- Source: Radio Shabelle- 110 words

Kenyan troops with Raskamboni militias have on Thursday seized a key rebel-held town of Badhadhe in Lower Jubba region of southwestern Somalia, reports said on Thursday.

Witnesses confirmed to Shabelle radio by phone that the militants faced heavy joint offensives from the Kenyan army backed by Raskamboni fighters which forced al Shabaab militants to evacuate from Badhadhe town in Somalia.

British Foreign Secretary launches Somalia mission

02 Feb- Source: Radio bar-kulan, Mreeg Online- 221 words

British Foreign Secretary William Hague has on Thursday visited Mogadishu in bid step up a fight against Somali-based terrorism as he became the first British foreign secretary to visit the war-torn state for 20 years. His arrival in the capital Mogadishu amid tight security marked the start of a major diplomatic push to bring stability to a country he described as “the world’s most failed state”.

Landmine blast strikes Kenyan truck in Mandera town

02 Feb – Source: Markacadeey, Shabelle – 105 words

A huge blast was heard in the early hours yesterday morning in Mandera town in northeastern Kenya, reportedly targeting a military truck with dozens of soldiers. Witnesses say, the explosion destroyed the truck in Mandera town. At least 20 suspected people were arrested for the attack by the Kenyan military.

Eight killed in overnight attack in Lower Juba

02 Feb- Source: Somalia Report- 281 words

The insurgent group al Shabaab attacked Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Somali Transitional Government (TFG) bases in the border town of Dhobley in Lower Juba last night, a Dhobley resident told Somalia Report. The insurgents were forced back by allied troops after hours of heavy fighting, residents and officials told Somalia Report on Thursday morning. Initial reports obtained by Somalia Report indicate that up to eight people, mostly combatants from warring sides were killed in the assault and at least four civilians were wounded.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Ex-Kenyan cop arrested over al Shabaab links

02 Feb- Source:Capital News- 513 words

A former senior Administration Police officer has been arrested in Garissa for alleged involvement in training al Shabaab recruits and coordinating attacks in the region. The officer was arrested on Wednesday night and was being interrogated by detectives from the CID and Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, police said.

Four Kenyan policemen unhurt in Mandera explosion

02 Feb- Source: Capital News- 316 words

Four police officers narrowly escaped death in Mandera on Thursday morning after their vehicle ran over an explosive device. “There has been an explosion, but no one was injured,” a senior police officer said. Police believe the explosion was caused by an improvised bomb.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

William Hague pledges UK’s commitment to future of Somalia

02 Feb- Source: . The Telegraph – 189 words

William Hague has become the first Foreign Secretary to visit Somalia for more than 20 years, as he starts a diplomatic push to bring stability to the anarchic Horn of Africa nation. It was the first visit to Mogadishu by a British foreign minister since 1992 and comes ahead of a conference in London this month to discuss measures to tackle instability in Somalia and piracy off its shores.

Britain names Ambassador to Somalia

02 Feb – Source: New York Times / Reuters /Guardian – 142 words

Mortality rates among world’s highest in Somaliland

02 Feb- Source: IRIN News- 477 words

The self-declared Republic of Somaliland is grappling with high child and maternal mortality rates, malnutrition and inadequate medical personnel, health officials told IRIN.

ICRC regrets ban on its relief supplies to Somalia

02 Feb – Xinhua Net – 546 words

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday it regretted the decision by Somalia’s al Shabaab which last week ordered it to close its emergency relief operations in the regions it controls.

SOCIAL MEDIA

“So while the train is on slow coach, the glance is cast on African states, some of which are on the economic limp, keeping their heads barely above the water line.”
“Never give up, seemed to be the AU’s hopes. Still undersized, the force is kicking hard to move to battle strength of 12,000 and some say to 17,000.”

African Notebook

02 Feb – Source: Awoko – 914 Words

In about seven month’s time, Somalia’s President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed will end his term of no return to State. Going is not the issue but what legacy he will leave behind that would be value-added to possible settling down of Somalia from the rot of several years.
About that time too, the country’s parliament will end its mandate and new crops of legislators are expected to hotly contest the election whenever and if ever they are held.
In Somalia, everything, even eating times are sometimes on hold with many folks jokingly saying it all begins and ends in “inshala.” (God willing).
But if current development is of any guide, President Ahmed is being seen partly as a man who tried unsuccessfully to keep the country on the move against all ends but was defeated by the odds.

“Forces from the three frontline states, namely Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya, are already in Somalia, and their numbers could increase any time. The Ugandans and Burundians have formed a solid base for the peacekeeping of the AU Mission in Somalia, AMISOM, whose mandate includes supporting the pro-government forces battling Al-Shabaab militants.

“In addition, local forces that include the TFG army, Ahlu Sunna wal-Jamea – the moderate Sufis Islamists– and Ras Kamboni Brigade have all their guns trained on Al-Shabaab positions. American unmanned drones also appear to be making matters worse for the Al-Qaeda inspired Islamists.”

Who is really winning Kenya’s al Shabaab war?

02 Feb – Source: African Review – 1114 Words

Just over three months ago, Kenya’s army crossed the border to launch an incursion against Somalia militant group Al-Shabaab in what it said was meant to protects itself from the grave threat posed to its economic and security interests by the fundamentalists.

Ethiopian troops, weeks later, rolled into the country to shore up the offensive against the Islamist group that has been seeking to topple the weak transitional government.

Some 100 days later into the operation, Al-Shabaab says that Kenyan forces have made little headway in taming the group.