April 6, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Convicted Pirates Freed In Yemen Prison Attack Reach Puntland

05 April – Source: Garowe Online – 271 Words

Convicted Somali pirates who were freed following an Al Qaeda attack on a prison in the Yemeni city of Mukallah arrived back in Puntland, Garowe Online reports. Speaking on VOA Somali Service on Saturday afternoon, Mahdi Isse said he was serving a sentence in the prison after he was convicted of taking part in high sea crime off the coast of Somalia. Isse added that he was among 45 Somali inmates held for various crimes, and had been informed about the attack in advance. “We were informed that the prison will be attacked, once the assault commenced, we managed to escape,” Isse said. Meanwhile Abdullahi Ahmed, another prisoner disclosed that four Somali prisoners were wounded during the escape — “Two of the four sustained leg fractures after they jumped over the long wall of the prison,” Ahmed said.

Although Somali pirates have long been jailed in Yemen, no independent sources confirmed the exact number of pirates set free in Al Qaeda operation. Photographs purporting to show senior Al Qaeda official Khalid Badrifi went viral on social media, with some posts saying, “from Prison to Mukallah presidential palace.” Gripped by sectarian strife, the poorest Arab nation on the Gulf has been witnessing intense airstrikes for two weeks. A coalition of ten countries with Saudi Arabia at the forefront wants to contain the spread of Shiite militias, Houthis, who gained ground against forces loyal to the US-backed Yemeni President Abdu Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. On April 1, Somali refugees began returning home from Yemen which shares strategic maritime boundary with the East African country.

Key Headlines

Convicted Pirates Freed In Yemen Prison Attack Reach Puntland (Garowe Online)
Somalia Set To Review Constitution In 2015 ( Radio Danan)
Somalis In Kenya Protest After Deadly University Attack(Hiiraan Online)
Federal Government Shuts Down Mogadishu Radio Station Again (Garowe Online)
Diarrhoea Outbreak Kills Three In Bullo-Burde District (Goobjoog News)
Discontent Over New Kenya Ambassador’s Appointment (Radio Danan)
35 Somalis Arrested Before Illegally Travelling To Italy (Cairo Post)
Leaders Call For Urgent Withdrawal Of Kenyan Troops From Somalia (Standard Media)
Son Of Mandera Chief Among Slain Al Shabaab Militia That Killed 147 In Garissa Attack (The Star Kenya)
Kenyatta Says Campus Attackers ‘Embedded’ In Kenya’s Muslim Community(Reuters)
Kenyan Politicians Urge Repatriation Of Somalia Refugees (China.org)
Somalia Must Plan For Post-Amisom Period (Daily Nation)
Kenyans Blame Corrupt Government For Escalating Al-Shabaab Violence (Time)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia Set To Review Constitution In 2015

05 April – Source: Radio Danan – 178 Words

Somalia’s parliament speaker says the government will review the country’s draft constitution this year ahead of the country’s 2016 elections. Somali Parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari says that the formation of political parties is a benchmark for the upcoming elections. Some political parties, including Tayo led by the former Somali prime minister Mohamed Abdullahi are already in the scope, while others have only recently been established. Among the factors believed to have contribute to the recent increase in political party formation is financial sponsorship by external donor countries and from the Somali diaspora. Those who hold that belief say that the formation of the parties and their political ideologies are defined and strategized with the influence of the external agents, a claim denied by some of the political parties. Some members of the Somali community think it’s the right time to move towards a fair, free and transparent government, and in turn democratic elections, while others have expressed approval at the increase in political parties who will be vying for seats.

Somalis In Kenya Protest After Deadly University Attack

05 April – Source: Hiiraan Online – 229 Words

Hundreds of Somalis took to the streets in Nairobi’s Somali-dominated Eastleigh neighborhood on Sunday to protest against the recent deadly attack on Garissa University, in northeastern Kenya that killed at least 147 people. Angry protesters gathered in Eastleigh in solidarity with Kenyans who are observing three days mourning after losing many compatriots in the attack. The Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab group in Somalia claimed the responsibility for the attack, vowing more attacks targeting Kenya. However, a President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed a ‘tougher’ response to Al-Shabab group in an address to the nation, saying that Kenya will respond “in the severest ways possible” to the Al-Shabab attack on Garissa University.

The protesters, including community and religious leaders, said they’d stand by their host nation in its fight against terrorist groups. The attack by gunmen was Al-Shabab’s deadliest assault in Kenya. The group also killed at least 67 in an attack on the upscale Westgate mall in Nairobi in 2013. Somalis in Kenya are often subject to backlash after attacks by Al-Shabab, as troops typically carry out security sweeps against Somalis. The protesters said Al-Shabab’s attacks are isolated incidents that have nothing to do with religion, accusing Al-Shabab of using Islam as a tool to carry out their activities.

Federal Government Shuts Down Mogadishu Radio Station Again

05 April – Source: Garowe Online – 114 Words

The Federal Government of Somalia’s intelligence service closed down Shabelle FM for the second time in a year, signaling a massive crackdown on independent media houses, Garowe Online reports. Intelligence officers are said to have also arrested Shabelle Director Mohamud Musse Mohamud and Program Producer Ahmed Abdi Hassan in the raid. The closure of the FM station comes two days after Somali government forces detained Abdifatah Kacan, a blind journalist with Goobjoog FM. A spokesman for the Security Ministry, Mohamed Musse, told reporters that Shabelle broadcast malicious content that would harm stability. A Banadir court recently released the founder of Shabelle and journalists from the station on bail, following arrests for ‘presidential defamation’.

Diarrhoea Outbreak Kills Three In Bullo-Burde District

05 April – Source: Goobjoog News – 97 Words

Reports from Hiraan region state that an outbreak of diarrheal disease in Bullo-Burde town and surrounding areas has left the available health centre overcrowded. The Deputy District Financial Commissioner, Liban Abdi Burusow confirmed that at least three people died as a result of the diarrhoea outbreak in Bullo-Burde district. Burusow said Internally Displaced Peoples are the most affected because they lack shelter and access to basic needs. He appealed to the government, local and international humanitarian aid agencies, and the Somali diaspora to deliver emergency support to Bullo-Burde residents.

Discontent Over New Kenya Ambassador’s Appointment

04 April – Source: Radio Danan – 183 Words

One day after Somalia’s government replaced its long-serving Kenya ambassador, Mohamed Ali Americo, and appointed his successor, questions are being raised on the course of action the government used to bring in a new diplomat. Mohamed Omar Dalha, the Deputy Chair for the Parliament’s Foreign Committee told Danan Radio that the new Kenya ambassador was appointed in contravention of the constitution and the country’s 4.5 power sharing formula. He lambasted the Foreign Affairs Ministry for acting outside the law, by appointing new ambassadors without consultations to their parliamentary committee. Jamal Hassan succeeded Mr. Americo, who is currently campaigning for a mayoral appointment. In the new diplomatic reshuffle, Somalia’s government also appointed Jamal Mohamed as Somalia’s ambassador to South Africa, and Fatima Insaniya as the United Nations ambassador. Somalia also named two new ambassadors Dahir Guelleh and Khadijo Mohamed for as yet unidentified diplomatic positions.

REGIONAL MEDIA

35 Somalis Arrested Before Illegally Travelling To Italy

05 April – Source: Cairo Post – 123 Words

Border guards foiled an attempt of 40 foreigners to illegally travel to Italy through the Mediterranean Sunday, Youm7 reported. Those arrested include 35 Somalis, four Sudanese, and a Yemeni woman; they were allegedly planning to take a fishing boat from the Mediterranean city of Kafr al-Sheikh. Investigations indicated a man called Abu Nesma, who facilitates the risky move in return for $2,500 per person. Egypt and Italy have been coordinating to curb illegal immigration, as Egypt’s north shore is also a destination for asylum-seekers from Syria, Palestine, and some African countries. Illegal immigration has resulted in several cases of abuse, blackmail, torture and human trafficking; meanwhile, hundreds have drowned on their way to Europe.

Leaders Call For Urgent Withdrawal Of Kenyan Troops From Somalia

04 April – Source: Standard Media – 491 Words

Opposition leaders have renewed their calls for the withdrawal of Kenyan troops from Somalia as a measure of deflecting terrorist attacks. They said Al-Shabaab had made it clear that the presence of Kenyan troops in Somalia was the reason the country was often targeted by jihadist groups. Speaking at Moi University’s Odera Akango campus in Yala during the burial of writer and politician Grace Ogot, the leaders asked the government to reassess Kenya’s involvement in Somalia’s civil war. Intelligence briefs Siaya Senator James Orengo noted that the US had withdrawn it troops from Afghanistan because occupation was ultimately unsustainable.

“We know very well the consequences of a war of occupation. We must withdraw our troops from Somalia to end this. We must rethink our strategy and have a targeted and principled way of engaging Somalia rather than put our people at risk,” said Orengo. ” See also: Grief as relatives identify bodies at Chiromo mortuary Condemning the Garissa terror attack that resulted in 152 deaths, Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo said Kenya should draw key lessons from Ethiopia which has a longer border with Somalia but is hardly a target of attacks.

To stem further attacks, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta to iron out problems in the police service. “The President should organise the chain of command in the force to more effectively engage with the Al-Shabaab,” he said.,Seme’s Dr James Nyikal said the Government should utilise the intelligence reports it receives to avert attacks. “We have on many occasions failed to prevent attacks because we ignore intelligence reports,” he said. Others who attended the funeral paid tribute to Ogot. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife Ida described Ogot as a great African who should be emulated. Ogot was my mentor. Nominated women leaders should emulate her achievements and seek elective positions like she did,” said Mrs Odinga. Former Karachuonyo MP Phoebe Asiyo asked women not to only depend on affirmative action to progress. Great leader “We went through a great deal in the past but stood firm. This should emulated by other women leaders,” said Asiyo.

Son Of Mandera Chief Among Slain Al Shabaab Militia That Killed 147 In Garissa Attack

04 April – Source: The Star Kenya – 479 Words

It has now emerged that one of the four slain al Shabaab militants during the 12-hour siege at the Garissa University College last week Thursday, is the son of a Kenyan government official.The militant identified as Abdirahim Mohamed Abdullahi was the son of Abdullahi Daqara who is the Chief of Bulla Jamhuri in Mandera county.

According to a blog post by journalist Yassin Juma, Abdirahim was identified by residents of Garissa who had demanded the parading of the slain militia publicly. In the post, residents said Abdirahim was a law graduate of the University of Nairobi in 2013. The residents further said he was one of the most brilliant students while at Wamy High School situated in Nairobi’s Imara Daima estate.

“He is the man in striped shirts. He graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2013,” a source who spoke to Juma on condition of anonymity said. The source said he knew Abdirahim and his family. Another source who identified himself as a former schoolmate at Wamy, also positively identified Abdirahim. The source said Abdirahim and two other classmates harboured dreams of joining either the al Shabaab or the Islamic State of Iran and Syria (ISIS).

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenyatta Says Campus Attackers ‘Embedded’ In Kenya’s Muslim Community

04 April – Source: Reuters – 856 Words

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said on Saturday that those behind an attack in which al Shabaab Islamist militants killed 148 people at a university were “deeply embedded” in Kenya, and called on Kenyan Muslims to help prevent radicalization. His televised speech in response to Thursday’s 15-hour siege at the Garissa university campus came after the Interior Ministry said five suspects in the assault had been detained, some while trying to flee to Somalia.

Four suspects were Kenyans of Somali origin, and the fifth was Tanzanian, the ministry said. The suspected mastermind, Mohamed Mohamud, a former teacher at a Garissa madrasa, is still on the run. Kenya has offered a 20 million shillings ($215,000) reward for his arrest. “Our task of countering terrorism has been made all the more difficult by the fact that the planners and financiers of this brutality are deeply embedded in our communities,” Kenyatta said. “Radicalization that breeds terrorism is not conducted in the bush at night. It occurs in the full glare of day, in madrasas, in homes, and in mosques with rogue imams.” The attack at Garissa, which lies 200 km (120 miles) from the Somali border, has put Kenya on high alert and spooked its Christian communities after reports the gunmen sought out Christian students while sparing some Muslims.

Kenyan Politicians Urge Repatriation Of Somalia Refugees

04 April – Source: China.org – 278 Words

Political leaders from the volatile Kenyan northeastern region on Saturday requested the government to repatriate Somalia refugees in the wake of terrorist attack at a university in the north. Led by the majority leader in the national assembly Adan Duale, the leaders regretted that refugee camps have become bleeding ground for terrorist activities that has claimed many lives in Kenya.

“We are ready to change the law to facilitate repatriation of refugees to help the government fight terrorism. Leaders from the northern region will support the government address rising insecurity in the country,” Duale remarked.
Somalia based Al-Shabaab militants on Thursday stormed into Garissa University College and killed near 150 people. The political leaders from northern Kenya said that terrorists have infiltrated refugee camps to plan attacks.

Speaking at a public rally, the leaders urged the United Nations to look for alternative sites to host the swelling number of refugees from Somalia.”The terrorists are using refugee camps as recruitment and planning bases. Local people should cooperate with police to flush out criminal elements,” said Duale Religious and political leaders from north eastern Kenya vowed to support the government to identify terrorists hiding in communities. According to Garissa county governor Nathif Jama, the leaders will support community policing to flush out terrorists and their sympathizers.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“This is especially urgent now because Amisom is expected to exit Somalia before September 2016, yet there is no united and representative national Somali military force to take its place. This situation has been brought about due to lack of planning and funding.”

Somalia Must Plan For Post-Amisom Period

04 April – Source: Daily Nation – 551 Words

Somalia’s capital city, Mogadishu, has been a ghost town for almost a quarter of a century, torn apart by a civil war that now, thankfully, seems to be coming to an end.Insecurity is rife in most parts of the city. Al-Shabaab controls most of the city by night and the Federal Government during the day. I visited Mogadishu in 2012 and was shocked to see the destruction. Many buildings are in bad shape. You need a taxi to get to the nearby Lido beach from the city centre as walking is likely get you molested in plain daylight. In the past two months, the security situation in Mogadishu has deteriorated and many people have been attacked and some killed. Al-Shabaab has struck at key strategic locations in Mogadishu more than 10 times in the past four months.

Elections are planned for September, 2016, to complete the system of federalism and the constitution. There will also be a referendum on the constitution and also to decide the choice of capital city.It appears increasingly doubtful that the Somali Federal Government will manage to put in place all the mechanisms required for the elections and the referendum to take place. Most of the independent commissions that are to carry out these duties have yet to be named and there are no parties or a viable Opposition to co-select members of the commissions.

“Entrenched corruption in the security system allows al-Shabaab to move freely in and out of Kenya and carry out such attacks with ease,” said prominent Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi in a statement online. Kenya ranks as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, landing 145th out of 174 on Transparency International’s Global Corruption Perception Index. The Kenyan police rank as the most corrupt institution in Kenya.”

Kenyans Blame Corrupt Government For Escalating Al-Shabaab Violence

04 April – Source: Time – 1,377

When al-Shabaab militants stormed University College of Garissa early on Thursday morning no one knew that by the end of the day 148 would be dead, constituting Kenya’s deadliest terrorist attack in 17 years. What most Kenyans did know is that they had lost faith in their government’s ability to keep Kenya safe from al-Shabaab’s increasingly deadly presence. Since 2011, it is estimated that more than 300 people have been killed by terrorist attacks in Kenya.

“This is an issue of security and the government. It’s not an issue that is starting now—it’s been an issue that has been going on for a while. The security matter should be taken seriously and they’ve completely neglected the issue,” said Hussein Malaam, a student at University College of Garrisa who was awoken early on the morning of the attacks by a phone call from a friend warning him not to go to school. That was when Malaam started to hear gun shots coming from the nearby university. The gunmen first fired indiscriminately into the campus before zeroing in on students in their dormitories, most of whom were fast asleep when the attack started. By mid-morning, students had been evacuated from three of four of the student hostels. At the last hostel, gunmen reportedly separated Muslim students out for freedom, taking non-Muslim students hostage or executing them on the spot. “The people were trapped here for 13 hours—where was the government? They failed to protect their people,” said Farhiya Haji, a high school student from a nearby village who had walked two hours the day after the attack to see what was happening for herself at the gates of the university. “We don’t feel safe here and the government isn’t doing anything to protect us.”

By Saturday, most surviving students had been bused to Nairobi to be reunited with their families. Those critically injured had been airlifted to the capital city in the preceding days. Around mid-morning, emergency response teams received word that several surviving students had been found in the university. They had climbed the rafters to hide in the ceiling, waiting there for days as security teams cleared the university of remaining students. The four terrorists were killed and their bodies were brought to the morgue at Garissa Hospital on Saturday where local and international forensics teams performed autopsies. The bodies, bloating and rotting in Northeastern Kenya’s sweltering sun, were then displayed at Garissa Primary school for the community, searching for a sense of justice or certainty, to see. Kenya’s security situation has continued to deteriorate since the 2013 attack on Nairobi’s Westgate Mall, where 67 people were killed. Late last year, al-Shabaab militants carried out two attacks in Mandera, also in Northern Kenya. In the first attack 28 people were killed and in the second, 36. Both times gunmen identified Muslims and freed them while shooting or decapitating non-Muslims. “Its not that al-Shabaab is so good at what they’re doing—the government just does such a terrible job that they make them look good. Al-Shabaab is probably at its weakest point since 2006,” said Abdullahi B. Halakhe, a Nairobi-based East Africa researcher with Amnesty International.