August 6, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali president denies pulling out of ‘roadmap’ talks

05 Aug- Source: Midnimo Online/SNTV/Universal TV/Garowe Online- 127 words

President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmad has denied reports of his “enraged walk out” from a meeting in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, by signatories to the country’s roadmap to peace. President Ahmad, who arrived in Mogadishu on Sunday evening, held a press conference to explain his departure from the meeting. Among various reasons, the Somali president cited “other engagements” for his leaving the meeting in Nairobi.
Earlier media reports said President Ahmed reportedly stormed out of the meeting.
The Somali president also talked about his meeting with US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, saying they focused “on peace, humanitarian, political and national issues”. Somali Transitional Federal Government’s term is set to end by 20 August.The roadmap to peace for Somalia is a UN-backed plan to restore peace and stability in the war-torn Horn of Africa state.

Key Headlines

National forces capture KM-50 from al Shabaab (Radio Mogadishu/SONNA)
Clinton Urges Somali Leaders to Complete Transition on Time (VOA)
Two killed in Mogadishu explosion (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali president denies pulling out of ‘roadmap’ talks (Midnimo Online/SNTV/Garowe Online)
Somali president meets Hillary Clinton in Nairobi (Shabelle)
UAE participates in international meeting to help Somalia (Gulf News/WAM)
Somali government condemns killing of Mogadishu airport director (Radio Mogadishu/SONNA)
Scores arrested in Beledweyne security crackdown (Radio Mustaqbal/ Universal TV)
US hails Kenya’s role in regional security (Standard)
Beware: Shabaab using new tricks to kill (Daily Ntaion)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali president denies pulling out of ‘roadmap’ talks

05 Aug- Source: Midnimo Online/SNTV/Universal TV/Garowe Online- 127 words

National forces capture KM-50 from al Shabaab

04 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA/Jowhar Online – 126 words

Somali National forces backed by the African union peacekeeping troops have taken control of KM50,Muri and KM60 from al Qaeda linked group of al Shabaab, SONNA confirmed. General chief commander of the Somali national army, Gen. Ali Araye Osoble “Ga’mo –Dule confirmed Radio Mogadishu that KM50, Muri and KM60 and many other environs in lower Shabelle region fell into government command after a joint operation by the national forces supported by the African union peacekeeping forces Saturday morning. Gen. Ga’mo-dulle said that they did not meet any resistance from al Qaeda affiliated group in those areas, adding that their joint operation won’t stop until the government soldiers and AMISOM liberate Marko, the capital of lower Shabelle region and as whole the region.

Two killed in Mogadishu explosion

05 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mustaqbal – 99 words

Two people are known to have died in an explosion that ripped through an area near Dayah Market in Mogadishu’s Heliwa district on Sunday.The explosion which is said to be a landmine planted on the roadside killed the two student from a local school in the area, according to locals who spoke to Bar-kulan

Somali president meets Hillary Clinton in Nairobi

04 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 300 words

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Saturday met with members of Somalia’s top transitional government officials including president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed in Kenyan capital,Nairobi. Clinton said she was encouraged by progress made by Somali leaders in trying to re-establish a viable central government in the Horn of Africa nation where an al Qaeda-linked insurgency group still partly rules.

Somalia’s fisheries ministry recovers ships from Yemen

03 Aug – Source: Radio Risaala – 197 words

Somalia’s minister for fisheries, Abdurahman Sheikh Ibrahim told Risaala radio in an interview that his ministry had received pledges from the UK government to train about 400 Somali navy in order to help the Somali government to curb the piracy problem.Minister Abdurahman further stated that the rate of piracy in the Somali waters has reduced highly in the resent days. He also said that the government has succeeded in retrieving 4 government ships belonging to Somali government from Yemen where they were held waiting to be sold in the black market because of incurring heavy debts. He explained that the ships belonged to the Somali ministry for fisheries and that 2 ships among the 4, owed two different companies about US $900,000 and US $480 000 each hence the two companies withheld the 4 ships and were ready to sell them in the black market .

Somali government condemns killing of Mogadishu airport director

04 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SONNA – 126 words

Somali government has strongly condemned the killing of Ibrahim Iman Halane, the managing director of Mogadishu international airport who was shot dead last night in Mogadishu. Deputy minister of transportation, air and land affairs of the Somali Transitional Federal Government, Abdurahman Kulmiye Hirsi said that a group armed with pistols were behind the killing of the director of Mogadishu international airport, saying that security forces are pursuing the case and would bring the criminals before the justice. Ibrahim was killed while coming out of a mosque in Hamar-weyne district by two men armed with pistol who escaped immediately from the scene.

Al Shabaab battle with government forces in south central Somalia

04 Aug – Source: Garowe Online/Midnimo Online – 109 words

Somali forces battled with Al Shabaab insurgents in the town of Qansah-Dhere located in the region Bay, Garowe Online reports. At least 15 people were killed in the battle that lasted for many hours, according to local sources. The clashes sparked after al Shabaab militants ambushed Somali forces stationed in the town of Qansah-Dhere. Witnesses said that the al Shabaab agents covered their faces and could be seen all around the town in technical vehicles while they conducted their attack. According to Bay region Governor, Abdifatah Hasan Gesey, the ambush by al Shabaab insurgents was a failure for the terrorist network as Somali forces repelled the attack.

Scores arrested in Beledweyne security crackdown

03 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal/ Universal TV – 95 words

A Correspondent in Beledweyne Town for Mustaqbal radio reported that Somali forces conducted operation to secure the town of Beledweyne, the headquarter of Hiiraan region in central Somalia. Around 200 people were reportedly arrested during the crackdown. Somali government officials in Beledweyne told reporters that these people were suspected to be involved in the recent killings that happened in town.

REGIONAL MEDIA

UAE participates in international meeting to help Somalia

04 Aug – Source: Gulf News/WAM – 163 words

The UAE has participated in the international meeting, which was held in the Somali capital Mogadishu to discuss ways to enhance support provided by the global community to Somalia. This is the first visit of a UAE delegation to Somalia in more than a decade and it coincided with agreement by the Somali leaders to support a new UN-backed interim constitution, potentially paving the way for the country’s first stable government in over two decades. The UAE delegation was headed by Faris Al Mazroui, Assistant Foreign Minister for Security and Military Affairs.

Agencies reject plan to relocate Dadaab refugees

04 Aug – Source: East African – 441 words

A proposal by Kenya for a phased relocation of refugees from Dadaab camp back to Somalia has put the country on a collision course with global humanitarian bodies.This has forced a delay in the plan to depopulate the camp identified as one of the planning hubs for al Shabaab terrorist group. Kenya government officials said its position is to have the refugees relocated to safer areas that have been liberated from al Shabaab by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) inside Somalia to reduce the security threat the camp presents.

US hails Kenya’s role in regional security

05 Aug – Source: Standard – 371 words

Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held talks with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga focusing on the upcoming elections, trade and investment, peace and security in Somalia and the Sudans.Clinton said the Horn of Africa and the region could benefit immensely from President Kibaki’s 50 years in public office and 10 years of peace mediation as Head of State. Clinton also appreciated the frontline role Kenya continues to play in stabilising Somalia and the region, pledging US’s support to such initiatives.

Beware: Shabaab using new tricks to kill

04 Aug- Source: Daily Nation- 486 words

Al-Shabaab operatives have devised a new way of carrying out terror attacks in Kenya. They are using unsuspecting people to carry explosive devices which they then detonate from a safe distance. Police issued warnings about the new trend a day after identifying the person who died in an explosion in Eastleigh, Nairobi, on Friday. Six others were injured in the 7 pm incident.

Piracy attacks off Somalia coast drop

04 Aug – Source: East African – 224 words

Piracy attacks off the Somali coast have shown their first serious decline in over five years, according to the latest statistics from the International Maritime Bureau. However, while international shipping companies have welcomed the news, there has also been concern at another new report which shows that the level of violence meted out to seafarers who are taken hostage has increased.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Clinton Urges Somali Leaders to Complete Transition on Time

03 Aug – Source: VOA – 408 words

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Saturday and urged Somali leaders to complete a political transition to a new government on schedule. Clinton has previously threatened that the U.S. will impose sanctions on anyone seeking to sabotage the process. Secretary Clinton’s visit comes as Somalia enters the final stages of a political transition due to end August 20 when the United Nations mandate for the existing transitional government expires.

Turks provide aid in Mogadishu, where others fear to tread

05 Aug – Source: Braden ton – 123 words

On the edge of Somalia’s battered capital of Mogadishu, on a hilltop overlooking the Indian Ocean, there’s an unlikely oasis of white tents laid out in perfect rows, where foreigners mingle with locals, a bakery provides free fresh bread daily and even the sandy floors are swept. Flapping audaciously in the seaside breeze above it all is the symbol of Mogadishu’s newest foreign patron, the red and white flag of Turkey.”In other camps, there is not enough food, the tents are too small, there is no medical care. Those are not problems here,” said 70-year old Mahmoud Mohammed Afrah, who fled to Mogadishu two years ago and now, for the first time, has two tents for his large family.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Even though Mo Farah runs for team GB, he is still celebrated in Somalia and he does a lot of charity both in Somalia and UK through Mo Foundation. The Foundation feeds thousands left hungry by famine and also works with young Somalia refugees in UK. So, why not use this man in Somalia talks? How can the world involve him in Somalia peace?”

Involve Mo Farah and Somalia Will be Gold

05 Aug- Source: Huffington Post-662 Words

Just like most people across UK and all over the world, I have been glued to the TV set every evening to catch the London 2012 Olympics highlights and watch evening Olympic sports. My friend Stephanie posted on her face book message that her 2 year old daughter seems to be loving basketball. No doubt 2012 Olympics is inspiring a generation.

“So far, the page has received more than 27,000 likes and individual posts have received hundreds more. The American Refugee Committee, who is spearheading the campaign, will receive a donation from Somali telecom company Hormuud for $50,000 once the page hits 50,000 new posts, shares and likes, which the non-profit will use toward relief.”

Somali Olympic Team Gains the World’s Support on Facebook

05 Aug- Source: Mashable-531 Words

Most attention the east African nation of Somalia gets from outsiders is for the dire situation of its citizens, who have been ravaged by famine and civil war. Thanks to Facebook, the country’s two Olympic athletes are gaining supporters from across the globe and bringing hope to the country in need. Fans from around the world are giving the Somali team virtual cheers, in the form of Facebook likes and shares, on the page I AM A STAR for Somalia. People from more than 80 countries, from Peru to Turkey, have liked the page so far.