April 16, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Puntland Says It Receives More Than 700 Fleeing Yemen Civil War

15 April – Source: Garowe Online – 265 Words

Somalia’s northeastern state of Puntland said on Wednesday that it received as many as 721 people since the Yemen civil war flare-up, Garowe Online reports. The Deputy Minister of Interior, Abdullahi Haji Warsame, told reporters in the state capital of Garowe that 721 refugees including Yemenis, Ethiopians, Kenyans, Djiboutians and Somalis reached Puntland by boat over the last few days. “We have so far received 721 migrants; most of them arrived at Bossaso seaport and close to 100 others in boats landed in the coastal towns of Tohin, Bargal and Gumbah,” said Warsame. The large influx-721-229 of whom are women crossed Red Sea into Somalia by boat, seeking safer haven as crises continue to mount in the poorest Arab nation. Continuing, Puntland’s Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs noted: “The numbers compose different nationals, some of them are Yemenis, also there are Kenyans, Ethiopians, Djiboutians and Somalis are composed of Puntland natives and those who fled from south-central regions”.

UNHCR revealed that it is coordinating preparations to receive up to 100,000 migrants from Yemen with Puntland and the breakaway Somaliland region. “UNHCR is extremely concerned about the dangers for anyone trying to flee across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where there are no search and rescue operations,” said mr Adrian Edward, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). With Bossaso and Berbera port cities being an entry point, local officials braced up for hundreds of Somalis previously displaced by chronic insecurity, and lately caught in Yemeni crossfire. Despite pledges of evacuation by Somalia Federal Government, many are believed to have been stranded in Yemen.

Key Headlines

Puntland Says It Receives More Than 700 Fleeing Yemen Civil War (Garowe Online)
Court Sentences Members Of Al-Shabaab To 5-10 Years In Prison (Wacaal Media)
Kenya Has To Reconsider Its Decision To Close Remittances And Dadaab Refugee Camps Says MP Dalha (Goobjoog Media)
Reports Of Acute Water Shortage In Central Region Of Somalia.(Somali Current)
International Community Condemns Somalia’s Ministry Attack (Radio Danan)
Somali Ministers Visit Victims Of Yesterday Attack (Somali Current)
UAE Ministry Of Defence Under-Secretary And Minister Of Defence Of Somalia Discuss Bilateral Relations (Emirates News Agency)
Turkey Condemns Terrorist Attack In Somalia (Todays zaman)
Kenyan lawmakers Against Forceful Repatriation Of Somali Refugees (Global post/Xinhua)
Little Mogadishu Under Siege (Foreign Policy)
Puntland: The Sobering Trials Of The First Year (Wardheer News)

SOMALI MEDIA

Court Sentences Members Of Al-Shabaab To 5-10 Years In Prison

15 April – Source:Wacaal Media – 61 Words

A military court in Mogadishu has today sentenced 7 members of Al-Shabaab that were arrested in recent operations to 5-10 years in jail.The 7 were convicted of several counts of terror related crimes. Their names are as follows.Abdirahman Ahmed Afrah ,Abdiraxmaan Muktar Aamir ,Abdinaasir Adan Aynte ,Abdullaahi Hersi Mohamed ,Mohamed Hasan Ali ,Mohamed Abdi Yusuf ,Mohamed Deq Abdikadir Fiido

Kenya Has To Reconsider Its Decision To Close Remittances And Dadaab Refugee Camps, Says MP Dalha

15 April – Source: Goobjoog Media – 157 Words
Mohamed Omar Dalha the deputy chairman of parliamentary foreign affairs committee speaking to Goobjoog News has voiced about the decision of Kenyan government to shut down within the next three months Dadaab refugee camps and the closing down of Somali remittances by Kenyan authorities.

Dalha said that Kenyan politicians are speaking about the issues in unsuitable way which is against the diplomatic ways.“There is no self sufficient country in this world, countries are interdependent so Kenya has to reconsider the decision to close Dadaab camp and remittances” he said. He added that Kenya gets huge money from taxation of many Somali traders who are living in Nairobi therefore Somali people themselves play very important role in the development of Kenya.“Kenyan farmers generate large amounts of money per year for the export of khat to Somalia which large communities heavily depend on it, so Kenyans has to know that they need very precious thing from Somalia,

Reports Of Acute Water Shortage In Central Region Of Somalia.

15 April – Source:Somali Current – 133 Words

Authorities in the Qandale district in the central region say residents of that area are at risk of dehydration and are calling on the emergency services to come to the rescue of the people. “The biggest problem is lack of sustainable water wells, and if any, they are not enough,” administrator at Qandale, Jaamac Mohamed, said while speaking to the media.Over thirty locations under Qandale are at risk of water shortage, he added. “Residents are streaming to villages to look for water since the wells that serve Qandale town are no longer capable of supplying the area,” he stated. Administrator Jamac Mohamed called on the government to bring in help as soon as possible.“We also call upon on the government-owned water company—PSWEN– to immediately dispatch water boozers to the affected area,”

International Community Condemns Somalia’s Ministry Attack

15 April – Source: Radio Danan – 250 Words

The international community has condemned Tuesday’s deadly attack on Somalia’s higher education ministry in which more than 20 people were killed U.S. Special Representative for Somalia James P. McAnulty condemned the ‘reprehensible’ attack and reaffirmed the United States solidarity with the Federal Government of Somalia and its people against terrorist organization al-Shabaab. “We commend the timely response of the Somali and AMISOM security forces that saved many lives, and honor those who died fighting to protect the innocent.” He said. In addition to that, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, condemns the attack that resulted in the death and injuries of civilians, members of the security forces and Government workers.

“I condemn today’s terrible terrorist attack in Mogadishu in the strongest terms and am appalled by the complete disregard for the lives of innocent people shown by the attackers. An attack on the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education is an assault on Somalis’ brave efforts to build a brighter future for the youth of their nation.’ He said.Also, The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Maman Sidikou has condemned the attack that resulted in the deaths of more than 20 people. He said, “I commiserate with the families of innocent civilians killed while trying to earn a living. This latest attack in which the Ministry of Education was the target, is a clear manifestation that Al Shabaab are against progress in Somalia”.

Somali Ministers Visit Victims Of Yesterday Attack

15 April – Source:Somali Current – 178 Words

A group of Somali cabinet ministers led by the Interior Minister who is also the acting Prime Minister Abdirizack Omar Mohamed today visited victims of yesterday’s attack on the compound of the ministry of higher education and culture which claimed the lives of dozen Somalis. “We came here today to assess the damage caused by the terrorist and condole with the families that lost their dear one in yesterday’s cowardly attack,” he said at Dave Hospital, adding that the federal government would bring the perpetrators to book.

The minister for education Qadar Bashir Ali and her counterpart in the Mineral and Petroleum Mahamed Muqtar sent condolence to the bereaved families. Interior minister who is also the acting Prime Minister Abdirizack Omar Mohamed thanked the hospital workers for their help and urged the Somalis to work with the government in rooting out extremist groups that he said were obstacle to a peaceful Somalia. Al Shabab yesterday attacked the education ministry but a contingent of inter-agency security personnel successfully took out all the terrorist before they could take in hostages.

REGIONAL MEDIA

UAE Ministry Of Defence Under-Secretary And Minister Of Defence Of Somalia Discuss Bilateral Relations

15 April – Source: Emirates News Agency – 73 Words

Mohammed Ahmed Al Bawardi Al Falasi, Under-Secretary of the U.A.E. Ministry of Defence, today received Major-General Abdul Qadir Sheikh Ali Dini, Minister of Defence of Somalia, and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they reviewed a number of topics related to the development and strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries and discuss a number of topics of common interest.The meeting was attended by a number of senior officials.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan lawmakers Against Forceful Repatriation Of Somali Refugees

15 April – Source: Global post/Xinhua – 302 Words

Kenyan parliamentarians on Wednesday pledged dialogue with the international community to facilitate voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees. Ekwe Ethuro, Speaker of Kenyan Senate, said the East African nation will abide by international protocols to ensure repatriation of Somali refugees does not compromise their safety.

“The government has an obligation to respect international commitments as we embark on a process of repatriating Somalia refugees. We have commenced discussions with UN Refugee Agency to explore the best modality of returning these refugees to their homeland,” Ethuro told journalists in Nairobi. He was speaking during a forum for parliamentarians in the great lakes region that discussed terrorism and eruption of new conflicts.The Kenyan government has vowed to fast-track repatriation of Somali refugees as part of a long-term war against terrorism. Deputy President William Ruto said last week Kenya had given a three-month ultimatum to repatriate all Somali refugees in the country’s Dadaab refugee camp. He added the government will initiate forceful relocation of the refugees once the three month deadline is over.

Officials from the UN Refugees Agency early this week urged Kenya to reconsider the decision to relocate Somali refugees. They stressed that Kenya is signatory to the Geneva Convention that obligates countries to treat persons fleeing from war and persecution with dignity. Kenyan lawmakers are opposed to repatriation of Somali refugees until their security is guaranteed. According to Speaker of the Senate, Kenya will abide by domestic and international legal instruments to facilitate smooth relocation of an estimated 350, 000 Somali refugees. “The decision to repatriate Somalia refugees is based on the current national security threats we are facing. We need to protect our territory from infiltration by terrorists but the law must be followed,” Ethuro said.He said that refugee camps located in Kenya’s northern frontiers have been infiltrated by terrorists.

Turkey Condemns Terrorist Attack In Somalia

15 April – Source: Todays zaman – 204 Words

Turkey strongly condemned a terrorist attack targeting the Somali Education Ministry on April 14 that left 17 dead, including eight civilians. “We condemn such terrorist attacks targeting the state intuitions of Somalia in the strongest possible terms, and deplore terrorism,” a statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said. Turkey said it stands in solidarity with the Somali people and offers its condolences to families of the victims. The Turkish state will continue to work with Somalia in solidarity to combat terrorism, the statement said.

An assault by gunmen on the offices of Somalia’s Education Ministry on Tuesday left 17 people dead, including seven attackers, a government spokesman said on Tuesday.Police later secured the Ministry of Higher Education office complex, said Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a senior police officer.The Somalia-based al-Shabaab extremist group later claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist activity. The extremist group carried out similar attacks against the Education Ministry in the past, killing students who were applying for scholarship to study in Turkey. Turkey has been an ardent supporter of the current Somali government, providing economic and political assistance to establish stability in the country riveted by an al-Shabaab insurgency and economic hardships.

Little Mogadishu, Under Siege

15 April – Source: Foreign Policy – 1878 Words

Eastleigh is bursting at the seams. This Nairobi neighborhood of some 350,000 people is overrun with food stands, clothing stores, and electronics shops, packed so tight the booths and tables are practically stacked on top of one another. Pedestrians rushing from store to store are often forced off Eastleigh’s crowded sidewalks and into its muddy streets. Women in hijabs chatter on smart phones while men sit on plastic chairs outside local restaurants, drinking black tea turned beige with camel’s milk.

Eastleigh is a predominantly Somali neighborhood — hence its nickname, “Little Mogadishu.” A suburb of Nairobi, the town is an economic powerhouse doing some $100 million of business each month. It is one of East Africa’s most vibrant commercial centers, built by Somalis who have been migrating to Kenya since the early 1990s when their country collapsed under the weight of war. Somalis have invested heavily in the enclave, and bulk imports of electronics and textiles from Asia and the Middle East are sold here. “Somalis have brought money and development,” said Hussain, the 65-year-old chairperson of the Eastleigh Residents Community. “There are more buildings, more business, more ideas.”

On April 2, four al-Shabab gunmen carried out a brutal attack on Garissa University, killing nearly 150 people during a bloody, 15-hour siege. In a show of solidarity, Little Mogadishu made contributions and donations to the grieving families, making donations to the Kenyan Red Cross as it tried to manage the fallout from the assault. Three days after the attack, there was a peaceful protest against the Garissa attacks in Eastleigh. The day after that, the community leaders of Eastleigh held a food drive, followed by a blood drive the next day. Six days after the massacre, Eastleigh held an interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

Yet an unmistakable sense of unease permeates the community. In a speechtwo days after the attack, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta promised to take the fight to al-Shabab. But he added that “the planners and financiers” of the attack were “deeply embedded” in Kenyan communities. Radicalization, he cautioned, “occurs in the full glare of day, in madrasas, in homes, and in mosques with rogue imams” — referring, it seemed, directly to communities like Eastleigh. Increasingly, Eastleigh’s Somali community is caught between an al-Shabab that is now targeting Muslims and Christians alike, and an emboldened Kenyan security apparatus willing to go to extreme measures in an attempt to root out radical elements in Somali communities like this.

The tension can be traced back to 2011, when Kenya began contributing soldiers to the African Union’s military initiative to take on the al Qaeda-affiliated, Somalia-based al-Shabab. In response, the group declared war on Kenya. Since late 2011, there’s been a surge in violent attacks on Kenya — for all of which al-Shabab has gleefully claimed responsibility. Al-Shabab facilitated the 2013 Westgate attack that killed at least 67, and the 2014 Nairobi bus bombings that resulted in three deaths and 62 injuries. Later that year, the group also carried out a bombing in Nairobi’s Gikomba market that left 12 dead and 70 injured, and another bus attack in Mandera that killed 28. This is by no means an exhaustive list.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The key challenges facing Puntland, that needed concrete approach in his first 100 days, as the President outlined, included: jobs creation, strengthening public and private institutions, finding long term solutions to the intricate issue of Sool Sanaag and Cayn (SSC) region and paving the way for a multiparty system. Thus, Abdiwali’s success should be measured on the achievements and progress or the lack thereof he made on these key segments.”

Puntland: The Sobering Trials Of The First Year

15 April – Source: Wardheer News – 44 Words

There was much jubilation among many Somalis and in particular those from Puntland celebrating long and wide when Dr. Abdiwali M. Ali was elected as the president of Puntland on January 8, 2014. The euphoria shown by many from the region when the election results were announced had more to do with the rejection of Abdirahman Faroole than the election of Abdiwali as an agent of change. The people of Puntland were despondent with Faroole’s administration and culture of nepotism, corruption, and incompetency. There was a yearning for any change that would lead to Faroole’s exit. Faroole’s departure was welcomed with much optimism and perceived by many as a new dawn on the horizon for Puntland. It was reminiscent of the same jubilation that was accorded to President Hassan Sh. Mohamoud when he came to power on Oct. 2012; however, the current dismal conditions prevalent under his leadership are testament to his failure not only to Somalis worldwide but also among the International Community. President Mohamoud’s immense shortcomings are due to the prevailing plunder and missed opportunities to lead Somalia to a secure, stable, and prosperous statehood.

Abdiwali M. Ali, the fifth President (including an interim president) of Puntland and the former Prime Minister of Somalia in the transitional administration from June 2011 to October 2012, won the Puntland presidency with a slim margin, at a time when the region was dominated by rampant corruption as well as maladministration. President Abdiwali, while campaigning for the office, put together a vision: “My mission is based on a genuine desire to create a better future for all Somalis-a future that is characterized by the virtuous cycle of peace, stability, and wealth of opportunities, in place of the vicious cycle of insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment”. Moreover, as soon as he was sworn into office, Abdiwali promised that under his watch, Puntland is destined for economic prosperity and political stability. The President was right to focus on economic development and political stability, among other urgent needs of a regional state that has never seen the many promises made by its leaders. He presented these two paramount components of Puntlands’ vision for success in his victory speech.