February 17, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia’s Islamist rebels kill four airport workers in capital

16 Feb – Source: Reuters – 246 Words

Islamist gunmen killed four airport workers in a drive-by shooting in the center of Mogadishu on Monday, the police and rebels said, showing the rebels can still carry out attacks in the capital even as they lose territory in the countryside. The Mogadishu airport’s deputy director was one of the people killed, according to Nur Ismail, a police officer. The attack took place near the airport in K4, a bustling business district. “Armed men in a car opened fire on Mogadishu airport aviation workers,” Ismail said. “The workers died then and there and the attackers escaped.” Al-Shabaab militants were pushed out of Mogadishu in 2011, but the group has vowed to continue its battle against a Western-backed government which also enjoys broad pan-African support. African Union peacekeepers and the Somali army last year opened a campaign that has forced the al Qaeda-linked rebels out of major strongholds in central and southern regions. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters the group was behind the attack on the airport workers. “We shall step up killing those who work for the government or at their airport,” he said. Al-Shabaab militants have in the past targeted Mogadishu’s main airport, Aden Adde International Airport, with suicide bombers and mortar attacks. However, the airport has in recent years been refurbished and several major upgrades are planned as more international airlines express interest in flying to Somalia.

Key Headlines

Puntland court sentences alleged Al-Shabaab members to death (Garowe Online)
Ceasefire takes effect in Guri’el following deadly battle (RBC Radio)
Gunmen carry out attack on the headquarters of Jubaland (Radio Danan)
Somaliland denies supporting Al-Shabaab (Garowe Online)
Newly recruited journalists graduate from Somali Media Academy (Radio Goobjoog)
Recently appointed education minister assumes office (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Foreign shipping vessels foil pirate attacks off Somalia coast: IMB (Coastweek/Xinhua)
Somalia’s Islamist rebels kill four airport workers in capital (Reuters)
20 Al-Shabaab militants killed in airstrike on S. Somalia (Anadolu Agency)
Fear in Tanzania town after alleged Al-Shabaab attack (World Bulletin)

SOMALI MEDIA

Puntland court sentences alleged Al-Shabaab members to death

16 Feb – Source: Garowe Online – 147 Words

A military court in Somalia’s north-eastern state of Puntland handed down death sentences to four alleged Al-Shabaab members amidst unprecedented upsurge in terror attacks on Sunday, Garowe Online reports. The death penalties mark the first in this year, with Puntland military court also sentencing two others to life in prison. The four-Mohamed Abdi Ahmed Olol, 23 Xaajow Sheikh Nur Omar, 21 Ismael Abdulkadir Jim’ale,20 and Hassan Hussein Abdi, 23-received death sentences while Adan Mohamed Yusuf, 23 and Abdihakin Mohamed Isse, 24 will be facing life imprisonment. According to court judges, two new Al-Shabaab recruits-Abdirizak Sharif Omar, 17 and Mohamed Abdullahi Ahmed, 18 will serve prison terms of 10 and 15 years respectively. Bossaso, Puntland’s most populous city, has become a hotbed for terrorist attacks as Al-Shabaab carried out three deadly attacks in a month.

Ceasefire takes effect in Guri’el following deadly battle

16 Feb – Source: RBC Radio – 126 Words

Ceasefire between Somali government forces and Moderate Sufi Islamist Ahlu Sunna forces has taken effect in Guri’el village following a deadly clashes, RBC reports. A commission consisting of clan leaders and politicians who were appointed to ease the escalating conflict in Guri’el, a village in Somalia’s Gal-gudud region, commented for the first time on the the village’s situation saying both conflicting parties have agreed to implement ceasefire. Speaking to RBC Radio, Gal-mudug former president Mohamed Ahmed Caalim, who is the chairman of this commission stated that Ahlu Sunna and Somali Government forces have agreed to implement a ceasefire. Caalim has urged the village’s residents who have fled to return to their houses, promising them no more fighting in the village.

Gunmen carry out attack on the headquarters of Jubaland

16 Feb – Source: Radio Danan – 92 Words

Gunmen attacked the headquarters of Interim Jubaland State in Kismayo last night. The gunmen attacked troops loyal to the Interim Jubaland State who have bases there. One of the area residents told Danan that the casualty figure is not known so far. We have contacted Interim Jubaland State officials but they declined to comment on the incident. Sources say the Interim Jubaland State security forces carried out operations in Kismayo today as they tried to hunt down the perpetrators of the attack.

Somaliland denies supporting Al-Shabaab

16 Feb – Source: Garowe Online – 252 Words

Somaliland’s separatist administration in northern Somalia on Sunday denied it supports Al Qaeda linked Al-Shabaab militants a week after its neighbour to the east, Puntland made accusations, Garowe Online reports. Minister for Interior Ali Mohamed Waran Adde said on BBC Somali Service that Puntland falsely levelled criticism at Somaliland without tangible evidence. Waran Adde pointed accusing fingers at Puntland Security Minister Hassan Osman Alore who he said lacks political background and failed in domestic affairs. “From now on, Somaliland recognizes Alore a criminal and he will not be allowed to arrive in. If he comes to Somaliland, he will be pinched,” Somaliland Interior Minister went on during the interview. On January 30, Puntland censured Somaliland over the ownership of weapon-laden ship, pointing out it could fall into the hands of Al-Shabaab militants operating in hideouts along Golis Mountain Ranges and the rugged terrain of Galgala, allegations categorically denied by the breakaway region.

Following a pre-planned raid on a hotel in the port city of Bossaso, Puntland security officials displayed Somaliland banknotes found in the pockets of Al Shabaab attackers-something it said proves the region’s support for the terror group. On February 14, Puntland Security Minister lambasted Somaliland for allowing Al Shabaab fugitives free passage into Galgala. Both Puntland and Somaliland, located in northern Somalia have been at loggerheads over the control of Sool and Sanaag regions since 1998. Somaliland militarily seized Sool’s regional capital of Lasanod from Puntland forces in October 2007.

Newly recruited journalists graduate from Somali Media Academy

16 Feb – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 364 Words

More than 120 new media professionals graduated on Monday from the prestigious Somali Media Academy in Mogadishu, adding a new crop of ambitious journalists in the ever growing media industry. The graduation ceremony was attended by dignitaries across sectors, including media experts, MPs, Trade Unions, University Rectors and Civil Society. They included MP Ahmed Abbi, General Jama Mohamed Galib Former Police Commissioner, Prof. Yahye Ibrahim of SIU University , Abdirahim Isse Adow of State Broadcaster Radio Mogadishu, Fadumo Abdullahi of InterNews and others.

The new graduates were trained in topics including news gathering, sound bites, radio journalism, investigative journalism and, most importantly, media ethics. Speakers at the ceremony were united in calling for the employment of the new recruits as this will reduce the youth unemployment in the country. Fadumo Abdullahi, the head of programs for InterNews, a media support agency, has particularly noted the need for fully employed female journalists. General Jama Mohamed Galib , who is also a distinguished author and university lecturer, called upon the new recruits to uphold the culture of promoting the Somali language, he believes that the media is the best tool to preserve what he called an already eroding language.

MP Ahmed Abbi, who is the deputy chair of parliament portfolio for social affairs, said “Somalia is a post war country, that means it’s like a giant standing on mosquito feet, and if you shake it, chances are that it will collapse, so that I would like to appeal to the journalists to focus their reporting on positive issues, rather than obsessing themselves with negative reporting”. Abdirahman Isse Addow of Radio Muqdisho reminded the private media and journalists that the Somali government belongs to all citizens of this nation, and that they should help achieve its goals of lasting peace and prosperity. The new recruits who were in a jubilant mood lined up to receive their certificates from the dignitaries who were standing on the podium. Somali Media Academy is one of the finest media training institutions in Somalia; it focuses on training working journalists and equipping new ones with the best possible journalism knowledge.

Recently appointed education minister assumes office

16 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 181 Words

The newly appointed minister for education and higher education has officially assumed office following a handover ceremony held in Mogadishu on Monday. Khatra Bashir Ali has taken over the two ministries of education and higher education separately run by former education minister Isse Mohamed Ahmed (Gurase) and minister of higher education Du’ale Adan Mohamed. Speaking at the handover ceremony attended by several government officials, Khatra promised to work hard in improving the education sector of the country and to accomplish incomplete tasks left by the outgoing ministers.

She requested ministry employees and her predecessors to help her in her new job. Education ministry General Director, Prof. Mohamed Abdikadir Nur, said the ministry employees will welcome the new minister, and promised to work with her, saying that she was a former member of the ministry. Former education minister Isse Ahmed said they did a good job in reforming the education curriculum of the country during his tenure in office. Former higher education minister also said they contributed to the improvement of the country’s higher education.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Foreign shipping vessels foil pirate attacks off Somalia coast: IMB

16 Feb – Source: Coastweek/Xinhua – 402 Words

A global maritime body said on Wednesday that combined efforts by foreign navies have helped in thwarting piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia. International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said in its 2014 report on piracy that the number of Somali pirate attacks continues to remain low with 11 incidents reported including two vessels fired upon. “From January 1 to December 31, 2014, the IMB PRC has received reports of 11 incidents including two incidents in which vessels were fired upon,” IMB warned in the report.

It said the combined efforts of the Navies in the region, along with the increased hardening of vessels and Best Management Practices (BMP4) compliance, employment of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP), and the stabilizing factor of the central government within Somalia have resulted in the huge drop in attacks. “As the IMB PRC continues to monitor the situation in the region, it cautions shipowners and Masters against complacency. Somali pirates still have the capability and capacity to carry out attacks,” the anti-piracy watchdog cautioned. The annual piracy report says IMB believes that a single successful hijacking of a merchant vessel, will rekindle the Somali pirates’ appetite to resume its piracy efforts. ”

As of December 31, 2014, suspected Somali pirates held 33 crewmembers for ransom,” the IMB annual piracy report shows. The drop in piracy incidents is, however, a relief to shipping companies using the Indian Ocean that have been target of pirates often paying heavy ransom to secure release of their vehicles and the crew. The African maritime industry, along the Indian Ocean, had been greatly affected by piracy that has raised the costs of shipping as insurance companies and private ship security companies increased their premiums to mitigate the risks.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s Islamist rebels kill four airport workers in capital

16 Feb – Source: Reuters – 246 Words

African Union peacekeepers and the Somali army last year opened a campaign that has forced the al Qaeda-linked rebels out of major strongholds in central and southern regions. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Al-Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters the group was behind the attack on the airport workers. “We shall step up killing those who work for the government or at their airport,” he said. Al-Shabaab militants have in the past targeted Mogadishu’s main airport, Aden Adde International Airport, with suicide bombers and mortar attacks. However, the airport has in recent years been refurbished and several major upgrades are planned as more international airlines express interest in flying to Somalia.

20 Al-Shabaab militants killed in airstrike on S. Somalia

16 Feb – Source: Anadolu Agency – 143 Words

Around 20 Al-Shabaab militants were killed on Monday in an airstrike carried out near the southern Somali town of Merca, a local official has said. “We received reports that a foreign warplane had bombed an Al-Shabaab camp near Merca, leaving 20 militants dead and destroying cars and boats used by the group,” Abdukadir Mohamed Sidi, governor of the Lower Shabelle region, told The Anadolu Agency. He did not specify, however, the source of the reports or the origin of the warplane that struck the Al-Shabaab camp. There has been no comment yet from Al-Shabaab regarding the reported airstrike. Al-Shabaab has recently suffered several significant blows, losing most of its strongholds in southern and central Somalia to government and African Union troops. Several group members have also recently been killed in U.S. drone strikes.

Fear in Tanzania town after alleged Al-Shabaab attack

16 Feb – Source: World Bulletin – 304 Words

Fear reigned among the residents of Tanzania’s northern Tanga region on Sunday, hours after security forces exchanged fire with militants believed to belong to the militant Al-Shabaab movement. Security forces exchanged fire with the militants for 20 minutes early on Sunday in Amboni caves in Tanga, before the latter ran away. A policeman was killed and five others wounded in the exchange. “We reached a decision to call backup from Tanzania Peoples’ Defense Forces (army) and other security forces after realizing that we were dealing with people who are more than bandits,” Paul Chagonja, the police commissioner in charge of operations, told The Anadolu Agency. “So far, we cannot confirm or deny that the group is related to Al-Shabaab, because we have not arrested any of them yet,” he added on the phone. He revealed that security forces that arrived at one of the caves – where the militants were hiding – found explosives, a motorbike, three bicycles and a rope. He said the rope was most likely used by the militants in climbing to another cave and escaping the area. According to Chagonja, the militants escaped through an opening in the roof of the cave.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“I wrote a post about the 30 Somali Valentine’s birthdays – and all the ones on New Year’s Day. Within two hours, the post had more than one-hundred-and-seventy ‘likes’ and more than fifty comments. Non-Somalis were completely baffled. My Somali friends quickly put them right – in witty and touching ways. Abdi said it was likely only one percent of Somalis who say their birthday is on Valentine’s Day were actually born on the 14th of February.”

The connection between Somalia and Valentine’s Day

13 Feb – Source: BBC Somali Service – Radio – 2:14 Minutes

Somalia is often described as the world’s most dangerous country, the quintessential failed state. It has had no effective central government for more than two decades, and is affected by conflict, drought, piracy and famine. The BBC’s Africa Editor Mary Harper has a special interest in Somalia. Today she found out something new: I was somewhat taken aback when I opened my Facebook page this Valentine’s Day morning. I discovered it was the birthday of 30 of my Somali Facebook friends. It reminded me of New Year’s Day when 279 of my Somali Facebook friends had their birthdays. True, I have a lot of Somali friends on Facebook – but those numbers are extraordinary. Or maybe not. Many Somalis don’t know when their real birthdays are. They have after all lived through more than two decades of war. Records have been destroyed and there is currently no functioning administration. Even before conflict tore their country apart, most Somalis were nomads, and their culture was largely oral. The Somali language wasn’t written down until the 1970s.