April 8, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

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Puntland Official Survives Assassination Attempt

07 April – Source: Garowe Online – 224 Words

A senior official with the Puntland’s government survived an assassination attempt in Galkayo town on Tuesday, officials told Garowe Online. A landmine buried along a toll road in the town targeted a car carrying Ahmed Muse, the Deputy Commissioner for Mudug region. Meanwhile, eight civilians were wounded in a separate bomb blast in the town on Tuesday. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Al-Shabab insurgents who have been waging a deadly guerrilla war in Somalia often carries out attacks targeting government officials. on December 21 2014, the Deputy Commissioner for Mudug region survived an assassination attempt after a bomb targeted his car. On November 18, 2014, gunmen shot dead a reporter with Radio Daljir, and one from Horn Cable TV in Mudug region. On November 31 2014, unidentified men hurled a hand grenade into the building housing Radio Galkayo. On January 2, 2015, a roadside bomb blast targeted a car carrying Kenyan teachers; one person was killed in the blast. On January 17, 2015, another hand grenade targeted the Radio Galkayo building. On February 3, 2015, the region’s general accountant Sa’eed Ali Yusuf survived an assassination attempt after a bomb planted in his car was detonated by remote control. On the same day Feb 3, 2015, gunmen murdered Mohamud Diriye, the Garsoor County Commissioner of Mudug region

Key Headlines

Somalia Authorizes Saudi To Use Its Airspace For Yemen Mission (Hiiraan Online)
Puntland President Dismisses Mudug Governor (Horseed Media)
Elders: Kenyan Airstrikes In Somalia Killed Livestock Innocent Civilians Instead Of Al Shabaab (Garsoor Online)
Puntland Official Survives Assassination Attempt (Garowe Online)
Somali Refugee camps not breeding terrorists – UNHCR (Horseed Media)
Six Garissa University Terror Suspects Remanded 30 Days (The Star Kenya)
Garissa Cleric Accuses Police Of Harassment (The Star Kenya)
Somalia lends Support To Saudi-Led Fight Against Houthis In Yemen (The Guardian)
Somalia’s Islamic Body Calls To Protect Refugees In Kenya (Anadolu Agency/Turkish Weekly)
Somalia Lends Support To Saudi-Led Fight Against Houthis In Yemen (The Guardian)
Somaliland To Harvard: How This Student Beat The Odds (CNN Money)
Garissa University: Locals Question Calls To Shut Down A Beacon Of Hope (Christian Science Monitor)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia Authorizes Saudi To Use Its Airspace For Yemen Mission

07 April – Source: Hiiraan Online – 225 Words

Somalia’s government has officially acknowledged that it has allowed Saudi Arabia to employ its airspace for conducting airstrikes against Houthi militias who have taken over large parts of Yemen, including the capital. The subject has been the centre of controversy among Somalis who opposed the government’s move, saying it would provoke a backlash against Somali refugees in Yemen by Shia Houthi fighters who ousted Yemeni President Hadi. In an interview with the BBC Somali service on Tuesday, Abdisalam Omer ‘Hadliye’, Somalia’s Foreign Minister said the decision was made in opposition to the ouster of the Yemeni president by Houthi fighters.

“We have adopted that policy in solidarity with the Arab league since we are a member of the organization,” Omer said. He says despite the war in Somalia, it has since has six transitional periods in which six governments peacefully handed over power to each other through ballot, and affirmed that Somalia would standby the Yemeni government in its fight against Houthi militias. He further stated that Somali government would relocate Somali refugees in Yemen to Somalia,but did not give a specific date. Saudi Arabia and a coalition of regional allies have launched a military operation in Yemen against the Houthi rebels, who deposed the US-backed Yemeni president last month. The coalition said they started airstrikes to “answer the call of President Hadi to protect Yemen and his people from the aggression of the Houthi militia.”

Puntland President Dismisses Mudug Governor

07 April – Source: Horseed Media – 133 Words

Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali ‘Gaas’ sacked the governor of Mudug province on Tuesday, amid of growing insecurity in the region. Mr Mohamed Yusuf Tigey, who has held the position for the last four years was under pressure from the local elders who accused him of “incompetence.” President Gaas appointed a new governor in a decree not yet disclosed to the media. The new governor, Abdulkadir Shire Farah, who worked in the Somali National Army at its peak, has been living in Seattle, U.S.A, ever since the collapse of the central government in 1991. The ex-governor of Mudug Mr Tigey accepted the President’s decision, congratulated the newly appointed governor and pledged to work closely with him.

Elders: Kenyan Airstrikes In Somalia Killed Livestock, Innocent Civilians Instead Of Al Shabaab

07 April – Source: Garsoor Online – 141 Words

Elders in Gedo region where Kenyan airstrikes took place following an Al Shabaab attack on a university in Garissa, are complaining of heavy losses of livestock and other properties. Nirat Nure, one of the elders who spoke to Goobjoog, said that the planes hit their animals and houses and that the intended targets — Al Shabaab fighters — were not harmed. He called upon the international community to stop the airstrike,s and took issue with the fact that airstrikes are not included the AMISOM mandate in Somalia. He warned that Kenya is risking igniting armed uprising by the residents who are affected by the constant airstrikes. Kenya said it destroyed Al Shabab training camps in Gedo and killed many Al Shabaab fighters. The airstrikes are a response to the last week’s attack on Garissa University which killed 147 students and staff.

Somali Refugee Camps Not Breeding Terrorists – UNHCR

07 April – Source: Horseed Media – 193 Words

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has denied a recent accusation from Kenyan officials claiming that the Somali refugee camps in the East African nation are breeding grounds for al-Shabaab terrorists. The spokesman of UNHCR office in Kenya, Emmanuel Nyabera said in an interview with the BBC Somali service that there was no “evidence” behind the allegations made against refugees in Dadaab Camp. “Every government must protect its own citizens, but it’s also a legal right for the government to protect the refugees,” the spokesman said. He called for the Kenyan authorities to respect and implement the conventions of refugees. Following the al-Shabaab massacre at Garissa University last week, leaders from the northeastern region insisted that the extremists are trained and launch attacks from the Dadaab camp, and said they wanted Somali refugees living there to be repatriated. In 2013, when the Westgate mall in Nairobi was attacked by the militants, the government of Kenya similarly called for the refugees to go back to their motherland, but human rights groups condemned the move which they said violates the refugees conventions Kenya signed.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Six Garissa University Terror Suspects Remanded 30 Days

07 April – Source: The Star Kenya – 303 Words

Six suspects linked to the Garissa University College massacre have been remanded for 30 more days pending the completion of a probe.Senior state counsel Daniel Karuri said the suspects, arrested within Garissa town on April 2 and 3, are yet to reveal accomplices still at large.The suspects are Mohamed Adan Surow, Osman Abdi Dakane, Rashid Charles Mberesero aka Rehani Dida, Mohamed Abdi Abikar, Hassan Aden Hassan and Sahal Diriye Hussein. They were not charged when they appeared before resident magistrate Benson Nzioka on Tuesday. Karuri said Surow works at a hotel in Garissa town, where evidence shows the attackers had several meals, and that they are well known to him.He said Dakane is a security guard at the university, who was seen making calls and taking pictures when the public was asked to assist with the removal of bodies. He said call records show that he spoke to individuals in Somalia, suspected to be al Shabaab operatives connected to the attack.

The court heard that Mberesero is a Tanzanian who failed to explain his presence at the scene.Karuri said he was arrested when he was found under a bed in a dormitory in which some of the students were killed. He said the suspect claimed to be a student when questioned by the police and gave his name as Rashid Dida but later changed it to Rashid Charles Mberesero. Lecturers at the university denied his claims. Karuri said Abikar, Hassan and Hussein were arrested on the day of the attack in a bus from Garissa.They are suspected to have been on their way to Somalia after delivering weapons. Their case will be mentioned on May 7. Eleven other terror suspects linked to the al Shabaab militia group were remanded for 15 days to allow the completion of investigations.

Garissa Cleric Accuses Police Of Harassment

07 April – Source: The Star Kenya – 253 Words

A section of residents are unhappy with the curfew imposed following last Thursday’s terrorist attack on Garissa University College in which 147 people were killed. Garissa Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims chairman Abdullahi Saalat said police are using the curfew to harass residents. “Muslims are the most affected as they are being arrested when leaving the mosques,” he said. Speaking to the press, and flanked by clerics and civil society activists in his office yesterday, Salaat said most Muslims have opted to stay indoors for fear of being arrested. Northern Forum for Democracy coordinator Khalif Farah said the curfew will do little to improve security in the town. The curfew imposed by Inspector General Joseph Boinett took effect on Friday and ends on April 16.

Khalif said terrorists have struck in the past despite similar curfews. “The whole mess is in the police force. They are the cause of all the insecurity problems we are facing as a country,” he said. Khalif said police are arresting “young boys and girls” and demanding bribes as low as Sh50 to release them. “The IG has created another fertile ground for rogue officers who will do anything to line their pockets.” However, government officials and other leaders say the curfew will improve security in the town. County commissioner Njenga Miiri said it will prevent more threats from al Shabaab. Garissa Governor Nathif Jama said he supports any measures the government takes to restore security. “I urge the residents to cooperate.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia Lends Support To Saudi-Led Fight Against Houthis In Yemen

07 April – Source: The Guardian – 379 Words
Somalia has approved the use of its airspace, territorial waters and land for Saudi-led air strikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen.According to security sources in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, the president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, gave his consent to the military action during last month’s Arab League summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Abdisalam Hadliye, Somalia’s foreign minister, said on Tuesday his country had “officially approved its airspace, land and territorial waters to be used for the air invasion to prevent the Shia Houthis’ takeover of Yemen”.He added: “We are worried about the situation in Yemen. Somalia shares the same crisis existing in Yemen and we cannot watch what is going on there. Houthis are trying to topple a legal government so it is the responsibility of the Arabs to protect, and Somalia is playing its role to that end.”

Sources in Mogadishu said Bosaso in north-east Somalia and the Berbera seaport in the breakaway region of Somaliland are to be used for the operation because of their proximity to Yemen. They said: “The approval came with a leasing of Somalia’s airspace by the oil-rich Gulf states.”During the Arab League summit, Mohamud met the leaders of several countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen. Addressing the summit, he said his government would not hesitate to support the legitimate government in Yemen and prevent the spread of extremist militia there.

Hassan Nuur, a Somali analyst, believes the country’s support for Yemen did not come without a price. He said: “Of course Somalia needs the money while this invasion is led by the richest Arab countries so it is a way of making money.” There are more than 150,000 Somali refugees in Yemen, where the government has asked Somalia to repatriate them. Nuur added: “Somalis are Sunnis while Huthis are Shias so supporting the current Saudi-led invasion could endanger Somali refugees in Yemen as they could be seen as enemies instead of refugees.” The fighting in Yemen pits allies of the president, Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and their allies, military units loyal to Hadi’s predecessor, Ali Abdullah Saleh. The Saudi-led coalition, which supports Hadi, has been carrying out air strikes on the Houthis to halt their advance on the southern city of Aden.

Somalia’s Islamic Body Calls To Protect Refugees In Kenya

07 April – Source: Anadolu Agency/Turkish Weekly – 228 Words

Somalia’s Ulema Council urged Nairobi on Tuesday to protect Somali refugees in Kenya following Thursday’s assault on Kenya’s Garissa University by the Al-Shabaab militant group, which left 151 students dead and dozens of others wounded. The attacks and assassinations perpetrated by Al-Shabaab contravene Islamic values and Somali traditions, the council – an umbrella group of several Islamic movements – said in a statement. The council also expressed hope that Al-Shabaab’s actions would not threaten “peaceful coexistence” between the Kenyan and Somali peoples. The Kenya attacks sought to “sow hate between Somali and Kenyan society,” the council said, warning the latter against “falling victim to the deception of Al-Shabaab, which has tainted the reputation of Islam.”

The council went on to urge Kenyan and Somali authorities to work on “guaranteeing stability and security while cooperating to protect citizens.” It called on the Kenyan authorities in particular to avoid adopting measures in response to the attack that might put Somali refugees in the country at risk. At least 151 people were killed in a militant attack on Kenya’s Garissa University College last Thursday. Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group claimed responsibility for the attack. Thursday’s attack was the worst Kenya has suffered to date at the hands of Al-Shabaab. The group has vowed to carry out attacks in Kenya as long as the East African country maintains its military presence in Somalia.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
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“Looking ahead to the future, Adan says he wants to focus on academic subjects that will help him serve his country after he graduates. He’s particularly interested in economics and political science. “I’m just trying to put myself day after day in a better position to help my country,” he said. And Adan says he has no problem with Harvard’s cut-throat reputation. “People kept telling me that Harvard is really really competitive and everyone is trying to beat you. I was like, great. That’s what I want.”

Somaliland To Harvard: How This Student Beat The Odds

06 April – Source: CNN Money – 518 Words

Abdisamad Adan could barely carry a conversation in English five years ago, but he’s just been accepted to study at Harvard University. He credits the dramatic change in his fortunes to Somaliland’s Abaarso School, a very small boarding school he attended, which was founded in 2009 by an American hedge fund manager. “I’m not the smartest kid in Somaliland but I’ve had [the] opportunity [to attend Abaarso],” said Adan, who received his Harvard acceptance letter, along with a full scholarship, this month and will begin his undergraduate studies in September. The Abaarso boarding school has become something of a feeder school for elite universities. Adan, 20, is among a small number of underprivileged students who are increasingly getting accepted into the most prestigious American universities, like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon and Georgetown. Abaarso’s founder, Jonathan Starr, is a former American hedge fund manager turned headmaster, who left his job in finance because he wanted to do something different.

A family connection led him to launch the school in Somaliland, a self-declared independent state in Somalia that is still recovering from decades of civil war and a severe drought. The boarding school houses 185 students in grades 7 through 12. It is staffed by American teachers who work on “volunteer pay,” according to the school. The school has received roughly $2 million in financing, mostly from Starr and his finance friends. Many of Abaarso’s students come from nomadic families and, like Adan, didn’t speak English before joining the school. Adan joined Abaarso, on a scholarship, shortly after it was launched. His grandmother had not even heard of Harvard before he began his application process. “Harvard does not mean a lot to her, but when she realized I got into the one I wanted, she was very happy,” said Adan, describing the day he received his acceptance letter. Starr says it’s been an uphill battle to get colleges to notice bright students like Adan. Many elite universities that see an application from Somaliland may crumple it up and think it’s a practical joke, he said. So Starr has been canvassing universities and promoting his school, while also arranging for students to study for a year abroad to gain international exposure.

“A handful of the surviving students, interviewed at the camp last week as they waited for their evacuation buses, said that they wouldn’t come back to complete their degree even if given the chance. That worries town leaders. “The only development we have received since independence is this university. This university is collapsing and will never come back. We are in mourning,” Sheikh Omar says. “We have lost our children who were supposed to be our teachers, the future of our country.”

Garissa University: Locals Question Calls To Shut Down A Beacon Of Hope

06 April – Source: Christian Science Monitor – 791 Words

It has been four years since Garissa University College opened its doors as northern Kenya’s first university. But the school may never see a graduating class.
The attack by Somalia-based Al Shabab militants that killed 148 people last week was a devastating blow to an institution that brought hope to this town at the southern end of the heavily marginalized and largely Muslim region. It’s the only one of Kenya’s 67 universities that is located in the north, which covers more than half of Kenya. The school enrolled only a handful of local students out of more than 800, yet it was still the pride of Garissa. But last week, Wilson Sossion, head of the Kenya National Teachers Union, demanded the immediate shutdown of the university. While the university’s future remains unclear, he suggested that it be turned into a “security installation” and handed over to the police. The union also told teachers in the northeastern region who felt unsafe to leave.

“We had a lot of hope. Our hopes are now dust,” says Hassan Sheikh Ali, the first principal of Garissa Teachers Training College, a spinoff of which became the university. He was a key player in bringing the university to the town, an effort that took several years.
While families across Kenya grieve those who were killed in the April 2 attack, Garissa residents are worried about the potential loss of a school that offered young people something to aspire to. Garissa is the gateway to the arid, sparsely populated region hugging the Somali border, which Al Shabab has repeatedly crossed in recent years to make scores of attacks. A four-year separatist war, decades of discrimination, and minimal assistance from the central government have left northeast Kenya struggling to make progress with the rest of the country, and to deal with increased radicalization of local youths. The community says that what it needs now more than ever is education, not more security. “Education is the driving force for peace,” Mr. Ali says. “If [the university] is closed, we will be playing into the hands of Al Shabab.”