February 18, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
Somalia denies opposing funding for Kenya navy
17 Feb- Source: Daily Nation- 464 words
Somalia has now denied opposing funding for Kenya’s navy to fight Al-Shabaab. Somalia Ambassador to Kenya Mr Mohamed Nur on Sunday clarified that his country only thought it would be more expensive to fund a navy and instead proposed for the building of its equivalent called the Somali Coast Guard.
“We prefer to get help in building our Coast Guard which would be less costly and more effective for the long term security of Somalia and the wider region,” he said.
On Thursday, the Nation learnt that Somalia Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Fawzia Adam had opposed to the Security Council for the African Mission in Somalia (Amisom) to be funded for a maritime component.
Key Headlines
- AMISOM condemns Mogadishu restaurant attack (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Puntland accuses al Shabaab of killing a prominent Sheikh in Garowe (Hiiraan Online)
- Journalist killers must be brought to justice Prime Minister tells Media Roundtable (Universal TV/Shabelle)
- Requesting assistance from USA to fight al Shabaab (Shabelle)
- One killed in a car blast at a beachfront restaurant in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Galmudug NATO agree to fight piracy (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Kenya says no talks with rebels who ‘killed soldier’ (New Vision/Reuters)
- Hassan Dahir Aweis criticizes those who are behind the killing of Sheikh Gacamey (Radio Kulmiye)
SOMALI MEDIA
AMISOM condemns Mogadishu restaurant attack
17 Feb- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Mareeg Online/Markacadey/Radio Mustaqbal-199 words
The African Union Mission in Somalia Sunday condemned the car bomb attack which targeted civilians outside a popular restaurant in Mogadishu, killing at least two people and injuring several others.
The incident occurred when a car bomb exploded outside the Lido Restaurant. Eight vehicles were also destroyed by the blast, which is suspected to be the work of the Al Qaeda-affiliated terror group, al Shabaab.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Somalia, Mahamat Annadif, termed the attack a heinous and cowardly assault on the people of Mogadishu.
Requesting assistance from USA to fight al Shabaab
17 Feb- Source: Shabelle- 107 words
The minister of Defence for the Somali government Abdihakim Hajji Mohamud Fiki spoke at a grand opening of military barracks this week-end, funded by both the US and Somali governments. Hon Fiki requested the government of U.S.A to assist Somalia in its war war on al Qaeda and al Shabaab.
Al Shabaab arrest drivers in southwestern town
17 Feb- Source:Radio Mustaqbal- 118 words
Al Shabaab Islamists fighters in southwest Somali town of Bardere, Gedo region, have reportedly detained five public transport vehicles drivers for allegedly failing to pay a monthly fee required from them.
Their colleagues in the transport sector who spoke under condition of anonymity for security reasons have confirmed that the five were kept behind bars for failing to pay 2 million shillings expected from each of them.
Puntland accuses al Shabaab of killing a prominent Sheikh in Garowe
16 Feb- SOurce: Hiiraan Online- 161 words
Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland has accused al Shabaab militants of carrying out the assassination of a prominent Islamic scholar Shiekh Abdukadir Nur Farah.
He was shot dead in Garowe, the administrative town of Puntland, while he was praying in a Mosque.
Puntland’s president Abdirahman Mohamed Farole has blamed the attack on al Shabaab and called the people of Puntland to cooperate closely with the security forces to tackle the increasing insecurity in the region.
Galmudug, NATO agree to fight piracy
17 Feb- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 95 words
Galmudug administration will work closely with NATO forces in their fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia, officials say.
In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, Fisheries minister Abdulkadir Ali Jamaa said his regional administration on Thursday held talks with NATO officials to discuss strengthening of their cooperation in order to fight piracy.
Journalist killers must be brought to justice, Prime Minister tells Media Roundtable
17 Feb- Source: Jowhar Online/Universal TV/Shabelle- 348 words
Judicial reform is at the heart of the government’s efforts to ensure killers of journalists are brought to justice, His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon told a roundtable of journalists in Villa Somalia.
The Prime Minister called the meeting to discuss the government’s relationship with the media and listen to journalists’ concerns, following the killing of a journalist on January 18 and two recent arrests of reporters.
Mufti of Puntland killed inside Garowe mosque, terrorist killer captured
15 Feb- Source: Garowe Online- 288 words
One of the most knowledgeable Islamic scholars in Somalia, Sheikh Abdulkadir Nur Farah, who was the mufti of the country’s northern Puntland region, was killed Friday afternoon inside a mosque in Garowe. Civilians praying at the mosque quickly overwhelmed the killer, who shot and wounded a young male and a woman bystander as he tried to escape.
The killer has been detained by Puntland security forces and witnesses said the killer looks like a teenager between 14 and 20 years old. Security officials have confirmed that a second man, believed to be a helper to the killer, has also been detained and security forces are following up closely on information provided by the killer and his accomplice, sources added.
Hassan Dahir Aweis criticizes those who are behind the killing of Sheikh Gacamey
17 Feb- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 165 words
After the killing of Sheikh Abdul Kader Nur Farah, for which al Shabaab were blamed, al Shabaab leader Hassan Dahir Aweis has criticized the act, blaming everybody who is behind the murder. “Whether it is al Shabaab or not I will not accept such a killing of valuable people.”
One killed in a car blast at a beachfront restaurant in Mogadishu
16 Feb- Source: Universal TV/Radio Bar-kulan/Shabelle/Horn Cable TV- 128 words
A Somali police officer says a car bomb detonated by remote control killed one person and wounded two others in Somalia’s capital.
Mohamed Hassan said Saturday the explosion took place in the parking area of a popular beachfront restaurant in the Lido area of Mogadishu frequented by Somali officials and city residents.
The restaurant called Lido Seafood was opened last year following the ouster of al-Qaida-linked militants from the seaside capital.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia denies opposing funding for Kenya navy
17 Feb- Source: Daily Nation- 464 words
Somalia has now denied opposing funding for Kenya’s navy to fight Al-Shabaab. Somalia Ambassador to Kenya Mr Mohamed Nur on Sunday clarified that his country only thought it would be more expensive to fund a navy and instead proposed for the building of its equivalent called the Somali Coast Guard.
“We prefer to get help in building our Coast Guard which would be less costly and more effective for the long term security of Somalia and the wider region,” he said.
Kenya says no talks with rebels who ‘killed soldier’
16 Feb- Source: New Vision/Reuters- 553 words
Kenyan defence officials said on Friday they would not negotiate with Somali militants linked to al Qaeda who said they executed a Kenyan army private at midnight on Thursday.
The al Shabaab militants, who want to impose a strict version of sharia, or Islamic law, said they killed the soldier after the expiry of an ultimatum for the release of Muslims held by Kenya on terror charges.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
One killed in car-bomb at Somali capital restaurant
Feb 16 – Source: AFP – 500 words
At least one person was killed Saturday by a car bomb in the latest of a string of attacks in Somalia’s war-ravaged capital, set off outside a popular beachside restaurant, police said.
“We have reports that one person was killed and another was injured in the blast,” said police officer Hussein Ali, who was nearby when the car exploded.
The explosion took place close to Mogadishu’s famous Lido beach, which is usually crowded on a weekend with families enjoying the sand, playing football or swimming in the Indian Ocean waves.
China’s 14th escort fleet departs for Somali
17 Feb- Source: China.org/ Xinhua-241 words
The 14th naval squad, sent by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, departed Saturday from China to the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters for escort missions.
The squad, which set sail from a port in Qingdao of east China’s Shandong Province, will succeed the 13th escort fleet currently conducting missions in Somali waters.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“If it is determined that any contemplated policy, regulation, or decision is going to impact the private sector negatively it should be thought about long and hard or dropped for the sake of the future of the economy and the nation.”
Advice to the New Somali Government: Do no Harm to the Economy
16 Feb- Source: Hiiraan Online-2469 Words
Finally for the first time since 1990, Somalia has a permanent government with a mandate to reconstitute the nation and its system of government. This is a great opportunity and a very risk undertaking. It is a great opportunity because it represents a new beginning and a chance to design a new system of government that puts the country on path of sustainable economic growth and a lasting peace. However, there are also real dangers, if not avoided, that could result the new government to squander this opportunity resulting Somalia to remain a nation on the edge of collapse or once again descend into chaos. As an economist who lives in the policy making world, I am practically giddy at the prospect of contributing to the rebirth of a new nation albeit at the comfort of my home in Ottawa.
“It’s a cold February evening in Toronto, Canada. Although he spent the past two years in warm and sunny Somalia, Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali doesn’t seem fazed by the cold Canadian weather. The former Prime Minister of Somalia is embracing the Canadian community and culture with open arms today. After he addressed the Toronto Somali community, we sat down for some Tim Horton’s and had a conversion on various subjects.”
Interview with Fm. Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali
17 Feb- Source: Hiiraan Online/ The Paper Dreams-1071 Words
What do you do in your spare since you returned from Somalia?
I returned to my job at Niagara University. Currently I am teaching one graduate class and two undergraduate classes, the rest of the time I am spending with my family. I spent two years away from my kids and they need some time to spend with their father.
Are to up you date with social media and new technologies ?
I like social media, I often use my Facebook page to connect, and it’s a good way to reach the Somali community. I launched a twitter account when I was running for president and do intend to use it soon.