August 19, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali Federal Govt executes journalist’s killer in Mogadishu

17 Aug – Source: Garowe Online/SNTV – 108 words

The Somali Federal Government’s Military Court has executed a man convicted of killing radio journalist, Hassan Yusuf Absuge in Mogadishu on Saturday, Garowe Online reports. The convicted murderer-Adan Sheikh Abdi, who was tied as a blindfolded to a pole at Mogadishu Police academy was executed by the Federal Government’s firing squad. Speaking to the media at the spot shortly after executing the journalist’s killer, Somali Military court spokesman, Abdullahi Muse Keyse said, after “three witnesses including a policeman”, who apprehended the perpetrator of the killing crime proved that Adan Sheikh Abdi deliberately shot dead journalist, Hassan Yusuf Absuge, the military court decided to carry out this execution act.

Key Headlines

AMISOM repels al Shabaab attack (AMISOM)
Uganda president hails Somali Parliament (Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu)
UN Says Rape Gender-Based Violence Rampant In Somalia (VOA)
Himan & Heb authority urges parents to take children for vaccination (Radio Bar-kulan)
World Medical Relief donates medical equipments to Hospital in Puntland; Puntland leader receives its head (Garowe Online)
AMISOM Police forces deployed to Baidoa (Radio Mustaqbal)
Gunmen kill senior radio and TV engineer in Mogadishu (SNTV/Radio Mogadishu)
Somali government condemns killing of government media staff (SNTV)
President Silanyo Reopens Egal International Airport (Somaliland Press)
Battle for refugees as cartels fight bid to close Dadaab ( Standard Media)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM repels al Shabaab attack

17 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 144 words

Somali National Army forces supported by AMISOM last night killed three al Shabaab operatives after the insurgents attacked AMISOM position in Tabda, Middle Juba region.

The joint forces repelled the attack and recovered ammunition from the scene after the incident. A deployment of Sierra Leone troops have been based in Tabda since their arrival in Southern Somalia in May this year.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif commended the forces on their vigilance saying their prompt action was important in maintain peace in the region.

Last week in another attack, AMISOM troops and the Somali National Army raided an Al- Shabaab elite group planning to attack a different AMISOM defensive position in Afmadow in Southern Somalia but the attack failed after the forces repelled it and killed twenty Four Al Shabaab members.

SOMALI MEDIA

Uganda president hails Somali Parliament

18 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu – 126 words

Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni has on Saturday praised the members of the Somali Federal Parliament for the excellent work they have done since the 275 members house was formed in mid-September 2012. Speaking in a meeting with the Somali Parliament speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari held in Ugandan capital Kampala on Saturday evening, president Museveni stated that the Somali Parliament made a significant progress in a bid to emerge the war-torn nation from 22 years of lawlessness and chaos. On the other hand, Somali Parliament speaker Mr Jawari applauded Uganda’s Parliament saying it was one of the best in Africa. He also hailed Uganda’s Parliament noting that it has developed many systems and processes. President Museveni has also welcomed an agreement signed by the two houses.

Somali Federal Govt executes journalist’s killer in Mogadishu

17 Aug – Source: Garowe Online/SNTV – 108 words

Himan & Heb authority urges parents to take children for vaccination

18 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 76 words

Him and Heb authority in central Somalia has urged parents to take their children for vaccination. Speaking to Bar-kulan, Dr Dahir Ali Abtidon, head of health in the area asks parents to take children to vaccination centers as all public health institutions will be offering free vaccination services. The first phase vaccination campaign has just been concluded as the second phase set to start on Sunday in many parts of the war-ridden horn of African nation.

World Medical Relief donates medical equipments to Hospital in Puntland; Puntland leader receives its head

17 Aug – Source: Garowe Online – 110 words

World Medical Relief, a health care and a nongovernmental organization based in USA donated medical equipments and drugs to Bilcil Hospital in Armo District of Puntland’s Bari region on Friday, Garowe Online reports. Speaking at an event held for World Medical Relief’s donation, Armo Mayor, Ibrahim Shire Mohamed thanked the charity for donating medical supplies to needy area and told that Armo is a home to rural communities, who are in desperate need for health services. Abdisamad Mohamed Galan, the Governor of Bari region, who also spoke at the event, stressed the need for continued medical support, which he said is an essential lifeline for both poorer and rural communities.

Gunmen kill senior radio and TV engineer in Mogadishu

17 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/SNTV/Radio Mogadishu – 72 words

Reports from Mogadishu indicate that Ahmed Sharif Hussein, a senior radio and TV engineer was gunned down while on his way to work on Saturday morning. Two man armed with pistols reportedly killed Mr Sharif and managed to escape, according to witnesses. Speaking to Bar-kulan, Abdirahman Yussuf Sheikh (Al-Adala), director of Radio Muqdisho, a government-run station confirmed the incident. Al-Adala added that the assailants immediately fled from the scene.

Somali government condemns killing of government media staff

17 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal/SNTV – 128 words

The federal government of Somali Republic has greatly condemned the killing of Ahmed Sharif Hussein who was the engineer of National Broadcaster by armed group in Mogadishu on Saturday morning. The deputy minister of the ministry of communication and posts of Somali federal government Abdi Shakur Ali Mire speaking to Radio Mogadishu has greatly condemned the brutal act that took away the life of Ahmed Sharif Hussein who was the engineer of government media. The deputy minister has sent heartfelt condolence message to the relatives, colleagues and all Somali people about the.

President Silanyo Reopens Egal International Airport

17 Aug – Source: Somaliland Press – 103 words

HE President Ahmed Mohamed Mahmoud (Silanyo) on Saturday the 17th of August officially reopened Hargeisa’s Egal International Airport, these after the completion of the last phase of the re-carpeting of runaway and modernization of the facility which was initiated nearly one year ago. Speaking during the occasion the President said that ,”I and all of you who are here today to witness this historic moment which is part of the ongoing pursuit of the government to establish and implementing much needed development projects and I also want to reiterate the commitment of this government to continue towards improving the livelihoods of our citizens”,.

AMISOM Police forces deployed to Baidoa

17 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 115 words
Police forces from African Mission In Somalia (AMISOM) were reportedly deployed to Baidoa, the head quarter of Bay region in South west of Somalia on Friday. The aim of the police forces from AMISOM was said they will join the peace keeping forces in Baidoa and to maintain the security of Baidoa where Ethiopian troops vacated in the last months. The deployed police troops will fill the position where the Ethiopian forces vacated. Officials of Somali government in Baidoa told the media that deployed forces will keep the security of Bay region particularly Baidoa town. The administration of Bay region for Somali federal government also said there will be another extra AMISOM forces that will be deployed very soon.

Explosion in Kismayo kills pro-Jubbaland clan elder

16 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan/Raxanreeb – 114 words

A car bomb explosion has killed Abdukadir Haji Ahmed, a pro-Raskamboni led administration elder in the port town of Kismayo on Friday. According to witnesses in Kismayo the car on which the elder was driving went over the landmine near the Former Meat Factory in Kismayo. Two security guards were also killed in the bomb blast while one other person was wounded. No group claimed the responsibility of the attack and the Kismayo administration officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Hunt for ‘al Shabaab’ militants who killed four police officers

18 Aug – Source: Coastweek/Xinhua – 149 words

Kenyan police on Saturday intensified a major manhunt for heavily armed suspected al Shabaab militants who killed four police officers and burned down a security camp in northern county of Garissa near border with Somalia. The suspected members of the Somali Islamist group, al Shabaab raided Galmagala administration police post in Fafi district 10 km from Somali border at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and killed four officers manning the security station at dusk attack that also saw the scores of residents missing. County Commissioner Rashid Khatour said security officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit and other police units had been deployed in the remote area and were pursuing the over 40 assailants who were said to be fleeing towards the border. Khator also said the attackers managed to loot the Administration Police Post making away with unknown number of guns and ammunition before razing it to the ground.

Battle for refugees as cartels fight bid to close Dadaab

17 Aug – Source: Standard Media – 148 words

The Government’s decision to repatriate refugees to Somalia is facing stiff resistance from high profile business and political figures, we can report. Those opposing the plans include key players in cartels thriving on the ‘aid economy’ and a section of politicians largely from North Eastern Kenya. They have joined a chorus of disapproval from human rights activists who say nobody should be forced to go back to Somalia against their will. The reservations of those who say the country is not safe have now been bolstered by the departure of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) this week, citing rampant insecurity. Officials in the Department of Refugee Affairs (DRA), an arm of the Immigration ministry, intimated that the cartels are trying to protect multi-billion shilling business interests. Specifically, they are unhappy with plans to close camps housing about 500,000 people that make Dadaab Kenya’s third largest town.

Somalia polio outbreak worsens amid insecurity

17 Aug – Source: New Vision – 130 words

Aid workers in war-torn Somalia are struggling to contain a dangerous outbreak of the crippling polio virus, with rampant insecurity hampering efforts, the United Nations said Friday. Six years after the Horn of Africa nation was declared free of the virus, at least 105 cases have been confirmed in Somalia, the “worst outbreak in the world in a non-endemic country,” the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement. “The polio outbreak plaguing Somalia has spread despite significant efforts to curb the disease,” OCHA added. While some four million people have been vaccinated, getting drugs to more than 600,000 children in southern and central Somalia — areas partly under control of the Al-Qaeda linked Shebab, who block vaccination efforts — is “extremely challenging”, it added.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Gunmen kill Somali public radio worker

18 Aug – Source: AFP/AP/New York Times – 137 words

Two gunmen shot dead a technician employed at Somalia’s state-run broadcaster Radio Mogadishu on Saturday, the sixth media professional killed in the country this year, officials and a colleague said. “Two men armed with pistols shot Ahmed Sharif and escaped the scene. He was rushed to hospital but he died instantly,” said colleague Mohamed Sacid. Sharif was gunned down near his home in the capital Mogadishu just hours after Somalia publicly executed the only person to be convicted to date of killing a journalist in the country, ranked as one of the worst in the world for reporters. Deputy Information Minister Abdishakur Ali Mire confirmed the death to reporters. “We condemn the killing,” he said. “He was an innocent man who did nothing wrong and we expect the law enforcement departments to bring those responsible to justice.”

Four Kenyan policemen killed in suspected al Shabaab raid

17 Aug – Source: Reuters – 127 words

Four Kenyan police officers were shot dead in the border county of Garissa when 40 heavily armed men, suspected of belonging to Somali militant group al Shabaab, attacked a police post, a senior regional government official said on Saturday. The east African nation, which sent its troops into Somalia in late 2011 to pursue the al Qaeda-linked militants, has suffered a string of gun and grenade attacks claimed by al Shabaab group as retaliation. “Four administration police officers were killed during the attack and we are now preparing to transport their bodies from the scene,” Garissa County Commissioner Rashid Khattor said. “Our initial assessment points to the attackers being al Shabaab militants who crossed over the border and carried out the hit and run attack,” he said.

UN Says Rape, Gender-Based Violence Rampant In Somalia

16 Aug – Source: VOA – 139 words

The United Nations says that rape and sexual abuse is widespread throughout Somalia, though cases remain seriously underreported. A new report notes during the first half of the year, from January to June, some 800 cases of sexual and gender-based violence were reported in the capital, Mogadishu, alone. Sexual and gender-based violence has been pervasive in Somalia for many years and appears to be growing. A spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jens Laerke, says internally displaced women and girls are most affected. “Rape continues to be perpetrated by unknown armed men and men wearing military uniform. Sexual and gender-based violence also includes domestic violence, harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, and early and forced marriage. The majority of the survivors of this are women aged 18 and above,” said Laerke.

Somali Officials Back Terrorists Against Aid

16 Aug – Source: IPS News – 163 words

Foreign aid workers are increasingly becoming targets of corrupt officials within the Somali government and the Islamist extremist group Al-Shabaab. “The government is laden with corrupt officials and allied clan militias that are determined to use them [aid workers] for their own interests,” political analyst Hassan Abukar told IPS. “Kidnapping foreign aid workers has become a way to extract cash from NGOs. Al Shabaab is mistrustful of the NGOs for fear of losing control in the way aid is administered and [mistakenly believes] that these relief agencies are spying on the terror group.” Abukar’s comments come as international and independent aid organisation Médecins Sans Frontières, or Doctors Without Borders (MSF), announced this week that it was pulling out of Somalia after over two decades of delivering aid and healthcare there. The murder and harassment of their staff has made it increasingly impossible for the organisation to operate, Dr. Unni Karunakara, MSF’s international president, told reporters at a press briefing in Kenya on Aug. 14.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“When I departed Washington, D.C. in early August, there were reports of new violence coming on the heels of summer bombings at the UN mission and the Turkish embassy. But to walk the streets of Mogadishu’s old city, in Shangani and Hamar Weyne, with friends who grew up here, who witnessed decades’ worth of destruction, and who still hold out hope for a foreseeable turning point, is inspiring.”

My surprising, startling experience in Somalia this August

16 Aug- Source: Fox News-616 Words
When Americans think of Somalia, famine or violence comes to mind — a fair perception because the country has suffered both — or they think of the movie “Black Hawk Down” about U.S. attacks in Mogadishu. The reality in Mogadishu, however, and throughout Somalia, is much different. America’s response to, and treatment of, this country, therefore, must also be different. The status quo, tried for decades, will not work any longer. Whether it was the thousands flocking to Mogadishu’s beautiful beaches last week, celebrating Eid al-Fitr after Ramadan, or the busy, bustling streets of Mogadishu filled with new business, optimism and opportunity, from what I witnessed, a new dawn is rising.

“At a time when Somalia finding its feet, the pulling out of an internationally acclaimed NGO like MSF will only harm the reputation of the country. Potential investors are unlikely to be filled with confidence after these events and in terms of security it is a blow to the image of the country. MSF pulling out of Somalia shows the long road ahead in re-birth of the country.”

Medecins Sans Frontieres leaving Somalia: A Victory for terrorists or a loss for the people?

16 Aug- Source: Hiiraan Online-1099 Words
“We are ending our programmes in Somalia because the situation in the country has created an untenable imbalance between the risks and compromises our staff must make and our ability to provide assistance to the Somali people.” These words of Dr Unni Karunakara, President of Doctors of Borders, have gone on to make headlines across the world, particularly because MSF has always been known as an organisation which has stayed committed to vulnerable populations regardless of adversities. The decision to leave Somalia has resulted in three areas of concern forming discussion points; first, the power which terrorist groups continue to have in the country, secondly, the implication this has for the image of the Hassan Sheikh Mohamud government and thirdly, what will become of the millions of civilians who have been dependent upon MSF.