April 16, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali President appoints committee to spearhead TFG-Somaliland talks

15 Apr – Source: TFG/Jowhar Online/Somalia News Agency – 243 words

President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed announced today a committee of seven members that will lead the negotiation process with Somaliland administration to advance the consolidation talks as envisaged in the London Conference on Somalia in last February.
The announcement was an important milestone that indicates the government’s commitment to implement the outcome of that conference.

The President stated that the committee is going to be led by the Minister of Interior and National Security, Mr. Abdisamad Ma’alin Mohamud, as they are going to engage with the Somaliland committee that was recently appointed by Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud, “Silanyo”, who is the leader of Somaliland.

The committees are scheduled to meet in London though the date was not confirmed.

Key Headlines

Somalia’s presidential palace comes under mortar attack (Source: Shabelle)
Agencies warn poor rains threaten Somalia’s recovery (Source: BBC News)
Kenya Somalia at risk of another ‘famine’ as weatherman predicts poor rainfall(Source: The East African News)
Kenya captures al Shabaab recruit (Source: Capital News)
Somali soldiers graduate from EU-run training (Source: AFP)
Tension runs high in southern Somalia town after battle (Source: Mareeg Online)
Khatuma state of Somalia denies that it’s harboring al Shabaab activity (Source: Radio Risaala)
Baidoa’s airport and statehouse hit with mortars ( Source: Garowe Online)
Somali embassy in Kenya says Somali refugees will not be returned ( Source: Radio Risaala)
Islamist rebels warn Sierra Leone troops “not to come into Somalia”( Source: Raxanreeb)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali President appoints committee to spearhead TFG-Somaliland talks

15 Apr – Source: TFG/Jowhar Online/Somalia News Agency – 243 words

The committees are scheduled to meet in London though the date was not confirmed.

The formation of these committees will bolster efforts to hold direct negotiations to address issues of national importance that will improve conditions of the Somali people.

Before his departure to Addis Ababa for an African Union heads of states meeting, President Ahmed expressed his confidence that the negotiation is the way forward and will bring about breakthroughs.

On April 9, the President made it clear that part of the Transitional Government mandate was “to open a negotiation channel with our brethren in Somaliland” in which he said the efforts to implement that was underway.

Speaking to a crowd at an event in Warta Nabadda district, formerly known as Wardhigley- the President added, “…we hope that differences will be addressed when parties come together on the table.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia’s presidential palace comes under mortar attack

15 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 82 words

Armed groups launched mortar attacks on Villa Somalia, the Somali presidential palace, last evening. Eyewitnesses told Shabelle in Mogadishu that the shells fired by the armed group landed both inside and outside the palace.

Blasts kill 3 people, wound over 10 others in Garbaharey city of Gedo

15 Apr- Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA, Radio Risaala- 162 words

Consecutive land mine blasts occurred in the center of Garbaharey city, the capital of Gedo province southern Somalia, killing at least 3 civilians and wounding over 10 others today by al Shabaab, SONNA confirmed.

Four consecutive roadside attacks took place in Garbaharey city of Gedo region ran by the TFG on Sunday and one of these explosions hit the main market killing at least 3 people and injuring over 10 others.

Puntland converges in Garowe to adopt a new constitution

14 Apr – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 185 words

In its quest for a new constitution, Puntland has brought together over 480 delegates from all walks of life to discuss and adopt a new constitution for the breakaway region. The delegates will be sitting for two days to find ways forward in order to adopt the newly drafted regional constitution.

Tension runs high in southern Somalia town after battle

15 Apr – Source: Mareeg Online – 155 words

Tense situation and military movement between Somali government soldiers, aided by Kenyan military forces, and al Shabaab militants stir up sunday in Hayo village of Lower Jubba region of southern Somalia, according to the local residents.

Khatuma state of Somalia denies that it’s harboring al Shabaab activity

14 Apr – Source: Radio Risaala – 79 words

The Minister for internal security of Khaatuma State of Somalia, Mohamed Duale Abdi today held a press conference in Mogadishu where he denied that al Shabaab had a presence in his region. Mr. Mohamed Duale Abdi was countering an earlier allegation by the President of Puntland, Abdurrahman Farole who claimed that al Shabaab had bases in Khaatuma State of Somalia.

TFG says it will tackle the insecurity of Mogadishu

15 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 137 words

The TFG has on Sunday promised to tackle the current insecurity acts in the capital, Mogadishu which has seen in the past few nights assassinations and killings against locals and soldiers. Abdisamad Mo’allin Mohamud, the Minister of Interior and National Security of Somali government said that his government is planning to secure the overall security in the capital as well as the whole country.

Somali pirates clash

15 Apr – Soure: Radio Kulmiye – 113 words

A group of Somali pirates have seized foreign hostages from other pirates’ hands in Mudug region.

According to independent reports from the region there were a surprise attacks by the pirates to handle about 21 hostages who were in the hands of other Somali pirates on the ground.

Baidoa’s airport and statehouse hit with mortars

14 Apr – Source: Garowe Online – 240 words

Al Shabaab insurgents attacked an airport, state house and a hospital in Baidoa with mortars, Garowe reports. Shortly after sunset al Shabaab agents bombarded the city of Baidoa with mortars targeting Baidoa’s international airport and state house. It is unclear at this time how many people were killed or injured in the attacks since authorities in Baidoa have shied away from questions.

Somali embassy in Kenya says Somali refugees will not be returned

14 Apr – Source: Radio Risaala – 173 words

The prime minister of Kenya Raila Odinga is on a tour of refugee camps, among the places he visited include Mandheera town in the NFD region and he is expected to visit other neighboring regions which host Somali refugees. Public relations officer for the Somali embassy in Kenya Abdi Sataar Hassan Ali ruled out the idea that Kenya is planning to return Somali refugees living in its country.

Islamist rebels warn Sierra Leone troops “not to come into Somalia”

15 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb -258 words

Al Shabaab has warned on Sunday troops from Sierra Leone not to join the war in Somalia otherwise they will fail, an al Shabaab commander said. Abdurahman Muhumed Hudeyfa, senior al Shabaab commander in Lower Jubba region said that any troops from Sierra Leone which reached the region should expect retaliation attacks against them.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya, Somalia at risk of another ‘famine’ as weatherman predicts poor rainfall

14 Apr – Source: the East African – 483 words

When the Kenya Meteorological Department announced the country would receive inadequate rainfall during the long rainy season (March-May) many people expressed their frustration with Mother Nature.
“Oh God, not again,” said Joseph Kamau on twitter. “Another drought coming just when I thought the economy was coming out of intensive care,” said George Kimanzi.

Kenya captures al Shabaab recruit

13 Apr – Source: Capital News – 408 words

Police said Friday they were interrogating a suspected terrorist who has confessed having traveled to Somalia to receive al Shabaab training. Abdullah Abdul Majid aka Abul was arrested on Thursday last week on suspicion of involvement in the grenade attacks at Nairobi’s country bus station which killed nine people and wounded dozens others last month.

The 28-year-old has since told police he is a resident of Majengo, Mombasa.

Somali militants chop man’s arm off

13 Apr – Source: Africa Review – 171 words

Somali Islamic militants al Shabaab Thursday amputated the hand of a man accused of theft at Alamada, 18km south of Mogadishu. The amputation of the young man, identified only as Mohamed, was witnessed by a large crowd of onlookers. An al Shabaab official at the scene said Mohamed was found guilty of stealing clothes.

Miraa users flee towns after ban

13 Apr – Source: Daily Nation – 151 words

Hundreds of miraa (khat) users have fled from southern Somalia districts after al Shabaab outlawed the drug. Residents in various parts of Mogadishu said several miraa users had moved to Mogadishu in the last few days. Mr Mohamed Hussein, a media analyst, said most of the new arrivals were users of miraa, who faced scarcity of the drug following ban on trade and consumption of the substance.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Agencies warn poor rains threaten Somalia’s recovery

13 Apr – Source: BBC News – 332 words

Poor rainfall forecast for Somalia threatens its recovery from last year’s devastating famine, aid agencies say.

Famine warning system Fewsnet says the March to May rains are forecast to be late, below average and poorly spread.
A report by 17 agencies in Somalia says the worst case scenario of 60% of average rainfall would cause major crop failure in the Horn of Africa’s east.

Somali soldiers graduate from EU-run training

14 Apr – Source: AFP – 2:38 min

Less than a year ago, the al Shabaab insurgent group controlled most of Somalia but now the al-Qaeda backed group is in retreat. A European Union-run military training programme for Somali troops is now in its third year.

Al-Qaeda allied fighters open new bases in Somalia

13 Apr – Source: Independent Online, Sapa-AFP – 282 words

Al Shabaab have urged followers to open a new front in the northern breakaway region of Puntland, as the rebels find themselves encircled by regional armies in the south.

Influential hardliner Sheikh Abdulkadir Mumin, who issues Islamic decrees for areas under the command of the extremist gunmen, left in recent days the al Shabaab-held Afgoye region outside Mogadishu for the north.

Cooperation, diplomacy and patrols effectively tackle Somali piracy – general

13 Apr – Source: Defence Web – 838 words

Regional cooperation, maritime patrols, legislation and diplomacy are what is needed to successfully fight piracy, according to the chief of the Tanzanian Navy, Major General Saidi Shabani Omar.

“The breakout of the piracy in the Indian Ocean opened a new era of cooperation in the SADC [Southern Africa Development Community] region,” Omar said yesterday during the second day of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in Cape Town.

Jeffrey Gettleman web-extra on Somalia

13 Apr – Source: CNN – 3:21 min

More of our fascinating interview with Jeffrey Gettlemen of the NYTimes.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“I strongly believe that economic agreements will end our fractious wars and disputes and oil can be at the forefront of this. In Armo, Puntland (near where the Shabeel Wells are being drilled) tribes put aside their territorial disputes and clashes to engage in economic agreements so that oil exploration can operate in the area safely. These examples will hopefully be the template for Somalis as the country moves into oil exploration.”

Somali Oil & Gas: A blessing or a curse?

15 Apr- Source: SomaliTalk-977 Words

Black gold is a resource curse. These words are all too familiar in the minds of many African citizens today. The recent flurry of activity and interest in Somali oil and gas prospects have caused many in the world to become newly interested in Somalia. I too myself have sought to dig deeper and understand the possible idea of black gold discovery in the midst of the ferocious political quagmire that is Somalia today not only because it is my area of training but also as a Somali nationalist. The discovery of oil and gas in Somalia could very well cause significant positive in roads to a lasting solution of the two decades old crisis. Or it can do the opposite and follow the paths evident in that of Nigeria.

“True, we may not have had one unifying state, but we still achieved what to other, much larger nations, proved impossible, as a nation united by one language, one religion, and one national heritage. If you do not believe these words, just imagine what would have been of your clan if none of the other Somali clans ever existed. Just, for a moment, close your eyes and imagine the unthinkable. I shudder!”

The Memory of a Nation

14 Apr- Source: Hiiraan Online-1590 Words

If you want to see where Somalia is headed, just see which voices sound loudest and travel fastest. No doubt, you will find that such are the times we live that the medium is set for divisive voices: “golden times,” you might say for clannish demagogues who want to divide the nation and hold it asunder. And the voices of division want us to see history and imagine the future only through the lens of the past four decades, whichever segment of it suits them. History, to them, is a manageable quantity that can be molded, if not altogether erased. These are the voices of men and women with trapped minds and cynical hearts. And these voices are having a field day, pulling us this or that way, because they run amok unopposed. Missing is the voice that could give vent to the memory of the nation.