December 28, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Al Shabaab: “We are behind the night shelling in the capital”

27 Dec- Source: Radio kulmiye- 152 words
Al Shabaab’s representative for Benadir, Shiekh Ali Mohamoud Hussein has talked about the midnight shellings in Mogadishu, claiming that his group is behind the attacks.
The Sheikh has indicated that they have executed operations in Mogadishu, targeting the government centers and as well the supporters of the government.
“For us to reach the success, we are passing through many problems and we request from the people of Mogadishu to give us a helping hand,” said al Shabaab representative.

Key Headlines

Hamarweyne administration removes checkpoints in district’s main roads (Radio Mustaqbal)
Al Shahid Center holds workshop on management of development projects in Mogadishu (Al Shahid)
Galmudug warn Pirates from its territory (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali government delegation arrives in Kismayo (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somaliland troops accused of committing atrocities against civilians (Radio Risaala/RBC)
Somalis aiding illegal fishing says Puntland minister (Africa Review)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali government delegation arrives in Kismayo

27 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Dhanaan Online/Radio Risaala/Jowhar Online- 84 words
A high level government delegation has arrived in Kismayo.The ministerial delegation left Mogadishu to meet with interim administration in Kismayo.The two sides will discuss about security and military cooperation, Radio Bar-kulan reporter in Mogadishu said.
Among the delegation are Justice minister Abdullahi Ebyan, defense minister Abdihakim Haji Mohamud Fiqi, interior minister Abdikarim Hussein Guled, and information minister Abdullahi Ilmog Hirsi.
Abdihakin Haji Mahamoud Fiqi, the Minister for Defense, is expected to inspect and assess the security situation and the government’s operations in the town.
The Ministry of Justice is also expected to set up offices and courtrooms in the area.

Hamarweyne administration removes checkpoints in district’s main roads

27 Dec- Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Kulmiye- 147 words
The district commissioner of Hamar Weyne Abdullahi Sahal(Gardub) said his office received complaints over militia manning roadblocks who extort money from vehicles and pedestrian. The commissioner indicated that their forces succeeded to remove roadblocks that were erected in between Hamarweyne and Km4.
On the other hand, the district commissioner issued stern warning on street vendors, who sell their goods at the roadside causing accident.

Galmudug warn Pirates from its territory

27 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 93 words
Galmudug leader Gen. Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdid warned Somali sea gangs from operating in areas under his administration.
Speaking to the residents of Hobyo district, who were affected by the Tropical Cyclone 4 that hit Eastern coastal towns this week, Qeybdid said, Pirates have no place in the society.
He said stiff action will be taken against the pirates seen operating in the area.
The leader urged the pirate groups to release all ships and crew members in their custody.
Hobyo, 300 kilometres (180 miles) north of Mogadishu, was once a pirate stronghold.

Somaliland troops accused of committing atrocities against civilians

27 Dec- Source: Radio Risaala/RBC- 124 words
Senior officials from the administration of Khaatumo State of Somalia have accused Somaliland forces of using excessive force and committing atrocities on unarmed civilians.
The Minister for Defense for the Khaatumo State, Mohamed Duale told the media that troops from Somaliland have gang-raped a 14 year old girl and then later killed her.
The girl was herding goats in the plains of Sool Province near Hudun when she was attacked.
Duale said that many other human rights abuses were also committed in the area.
However, We could not contact Somaliland authorities for comment on these allegations and there are no independent sources to verify it.
Khaatumo State of Somalia and Somaliland are in continuous state of conflict and often clash in bloody encounters.

Al Shabaab: “We are behind the night shelling in the capital”

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalis aiding illegal fishing, says Puntland minister

27 Dec- Source: Africa Review- 149 words

The semi-autonomous state of Puntland says some of its nationals are helping foreign trawlers to illegally fish in its waters.

Fisheries and Marine Resources minister Mohamed Farah Wednesday said that many Somali nationals were working with foreigners fishing in the authority’s Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden waters and urged them to register to avoid being targeted.

The foreign trawlers were definitely engaged in illegal fishing, the minister said.

Al Shahid Center holds workshop on management of development projects in Mogadishu

27 Dec- Source: Al Shahid- 250 words
Al Shahid Center for Research and Media Studies on Wednesday commenced a two day workshop on management of development projects in Mogadishu.
The workshop which opened at the Center’s office in the capital was attended by intellectuals from the society as well as officials from Somali social organizations.
At the opening ceremony, Abdirahman Mohamed, head of Al Shahid office in Mogadishu, highlighted the activities of the Center.
He said that the Center conducted a number of researches, encouraging local researchers to be creative and quality driven.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali, Turkish students fail to finish Kastamonu race due to cold

27 Dec- Source: Hurriyet Daily News-128 Words
A number of students competing in a race marking the 93rd anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s visit to Ankara in the northern province of Kastamonu failed to complete the course due to freezing temperatures.

All students were challenged to finish the race despite the cold weather. Two Somali students at the local imam-hatip vocational religious school, Abdulhani Ahmed Hassan and Abdiaziz Ahmet Salah, failed to finish and were taken to a hospital by ambulance.”

“The weather is too cold here. It doesn’t snow in Somalia, it only rains. That is why I had to give up after two kilometers,” Salah told Anatolia news agency. Another Somali student, Zekeriya Abdurrahman Muhammed, crossed the line in the middle of the group.

Review of Chinese Navy’s escort missions in Gulf of Aden in past 4 years

27 Dec- Source: peopledaily- 230 words
December 26 of 2012 marks the 4th anniversary of escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast carried out by the task forces of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
On this day four years ago, the 1st Chinese naval escort task force sailed from Sanya of south China’s Hainan province to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the Somali coast 4,400 nautical miles away to conduct escort mission, marking the beginning of rotated and normalized escort of the PLA Navy.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Nobody knows what the future holds for this city – once upon a time called the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”. As resilient as it might be, chances of restoring its image as the nation’s capital now and in the foreseeable future appear more elusive.”

Mogadishu: Has It Restored Its Image as the Nation’s Capital?

27 Dec- Source: Markacadey/Gaafo-1516 Words
About a year ago, Mogadishu was still in tears. It is now busy wiping out the deluge of tears that had previously inundated its cheeks. It is now recovering from the ordeal of over twenty years of insecurity, lawlessness and despair. But it is also haunted by the spectre of a relapse. The large-scale violence in the city might have ended, but the challenges facing it are enormous – peace is still fragile, and the needs of the people are far greater than the capacities and the resources of the national and international actors to meet them. More disconcerting is the reality that Mogadishu is yet to restore its image as the nation’s capital.