February 2, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Ethiopian troops kill civilians in Beledweyne

01 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 100 words

Four people were killed and two others were injured when Ethiopian troops in Beledweyne town opened fire on civilians at a bridge in the city, reports say. The troops opened the fire after an explosion presumably targeting one of their water tanker trucks went off. A woman and a primary school head teacher were among those killed during the fatal incident. Reports say TFG and Ethiopian troops in the area started conducting search operations.

Key Headlines

Explosion rocks TFG AU military convoys in Somali capital (Shabelle)
3 arrested following recent suicide attack in Galkayo (Radio Bar-Kulan)
UN holds a security meeting on Somalia in Mogadishu (Shabelle)
Al Shabaab roadside bomb hits Beledweyne (Somalia Report)
Turkish Navy extends anti-piracy task off Somalia (Defence)
CGPCS working groups chairs on anti-piracy hold meeting in Abu Dhabi (Emirates News Agency)

PRESS RELEASE

UN Special Representative for Somalia condemns murder of radio station director

01 Feb – Source: UNPOS – 162 words

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga has strongly condemned the murder of Hassan Osman Abdi, the Director of Radio Shabelle, who was shot dead on Saturday, 28 January in Mogadishu.

“I am shocked and saddened by the killing of Hassan Abdi, one of the most prominent journalists in Somalia,” SRSG Mahiga said. “I send my deepest condolences to his family and friends.”

The SRSG welcomed the public condemnation of the killing by the President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, and called for the Transitional Federal Government to conduct a “full, independent investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

The United Nations Political Office for Somalia is working with the Transitional Federal Government and its offices in providing constitutional guarantees necessary to safeguard freedom of expression and the protection of journalists in the country.

“Fostering media independence and pluralism is an essential part of the process of establishing lasting peace and stability in Somalia,” Dr. Mahiga added.

SOMALI MEDIA

Explosion rocks TFG, AU military convoys in Somali capital

01 Feb – Source: Shabelle – 112 words

A huge landmine blast targeted on Somali government and African Union peacekeeping troops in the lawless capital, Mogadishu, witnesses said on Wednesday. Witnesses said the blast went off at TFG and AU military convoys passing through Mogadishu’s Dharkenlay district, Suqlif village in particular, causing unidentified casualties on soldiers. Mo’allin Abdulle Hilowle, the district commissioner of Dharkenlay told reporters that the blast did not cause any casualty for the troops but damaged civilians cars in the area.

3 arrested following recent suicide attack in Galkayo

01 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 167 words

Three people have been arrested in connection with this week’s suicide attack targeting a former Somali government police commander in the semi-autonomous Galmudug region, Abdi Hassan Awale, says.
The suspects were arrested in an operation aimed at nabbing the perpetrators of the failed assassination against the former police commander, according to police officials. Galmudug police boss Abdi Jamaa Habeb told Bar-kulan that investigations are underway to determine whether the suspects were involved in the attack.

UN holds a security meeting on Somalia in Mogadishu

01 Feb – Source: Shabelle – 125 words

A UN-organized meeting on Somalia took place yesterday in Mogadishu with officials from TFG, EU, AU and international aid agencies attending it. The UN special envoy for Somalia Augustine Mahiga made a speech during the meeting held in Mogadishu; he said that the meeting’s agenda was to discuss issues relating to terrorism, piracy and security in the country.

Hussein Arab Issa, the defense Minster of Somalia government told reporters at Halene base, the main military position of the African Union soldiers in the capital, that the security of the country was high on the agenda.

Al Shabaab roadside bomb hits Beledweyne

01 Feb – Source: Somalia Report – 204 words

At least six Ethiopian soldiers were killed and more than five were injured as two explosions targeted troops passing through the center of Beledewyne, Hiraan region, on Wednesday morning, an eyewitness said. According to local residents, following the attack, Ethiopian troops killed at least five civilians, including students, teachers, and women who were passing near the scene. “The blast took place in Hawo-Tako neighborhood, were the Ethiopians fetch water every day. The Ethiopians captured many residents and killed them at the scene,” a local journalist who requested anonymity told Somalia Report.

Ethiopian troops kill civilians in Beledweyne

01 Feb – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 100 words

REGIONAL MEDIA

Radical Islam spills into Kenya – report

01 Feb – Source: The Star – 537 words

Somalia’s growing Islamist radicalismis spilling over into Kenya, a new report shows. The International Crisis Group attributes this to the militia’s swift rise torelative dominance in southern Somalia since early 2009, which it says hasadded to concerns about radicalisation in Kenya and beyond.

CGPCS working groups chairs on anti-piracy hold meeting in Abu Dhabi

01 Feb – Source: Emirates News Agency – 456 words

General Faris al Mazrouei, Assistant Foreign Minister for Security and Military Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opened here today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Abu Dhabi Consultative Meeting: CGPCS Working Groups Chairs, on Anti Piracy.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Human Rights Watch: Ukraine should stop harassing Somali asylum seekers

01 Feb – Source:Human Rights Watch – 1135 words

The Ukrainian authorities should immediately stop police harassment and threats against Somali asylum seekers held at the Zhuravychi Migrant Accommodation Centre, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter sent to the Ukrainian authorities, Human Rights Watch also called for the immediate release of all Somali asylum seekers who are being held in administrative detention pending deportation.

Turkish Navy extends anti-piracy task off Somalia

01 Feb – Source: Defence – 140 words

Turkish Parliament has approved an extension mandate for Turkish naval ships to participate in international anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea for one more year.
In 2009, Turkish Parliament gave the government the power to send units from the Turkish Navy to the Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters to contribute to the multinational efforts of anti-piracy.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The British Government has heard the Somaliland case, but has not listened. It probably won’t act unless the European Union as a whole does so.”
“Liberal Democrats instinctively sympathise with the Somaliland case. Pressure from within our Government coalition and especially though the Foreign Office would help make Europe pay heed. I hope Liberal International will promote the Somaliland’s case.”

Lib Dems should promote Somaliland’s case for international recognition

1 Feb – Source: LibDemVoice Opinion – 476 Words

While Scottish Liberal Democrats are playing a full part in the debates about the country’s constitutional future, they should not forget problems facing other less fortunate small lands. The plight of Somaliland is a case in point and is exercising the Scottish branch of Liberal International.

The first problem Somaliland confronts on the world stage is that people confuse it with lawless Somalia. It is an immediate neighbour and shares Somali culture but is largely peaceful and enjoys a recent record of solid democratic progress. So are its achievements in the troubled Horn of Africa lauded? Not a bit of it, because neither Britain nor the European Union, nor the international community in general recognise its existence.

Yet in 2010 Somaliland, which was born out of British Somaliland (whereas Somalia owes its boundaries to the former Italian colony) passed one of the key tests of a democratic state. In a tightly contested election for the presidency, the incumbent but losing candidate handed over power without conflict or bloodshed. International observers testified to the fairness of the election process.

“We must do the Barack Obama thing: Call our boys back home, stay armed, alert and vigilant. We must work with the international community as we keep our borders safe and secure.”

“Indeed, our policy should be to keep 100 miles of bordering Somali territory clean of Al-Shabaab. Should they attack us again, then we must (in collaboration with the United Nations Security Council) determine the next phase of conflict.”

Bring our soldiers in Somalia back home

1 Feb – Source: Daily Nation Opinion – 528 words

We have bombed them, whacked them and clobbered them. What next? Every event, however nice or ugly, must have an end – be it a dance, sex or beer-drinking. If you outstretch the limit you might die.

The government must decide when to put a stop to our foray in Somalia. To roam all over Somalia chasing Al-Shabaab will be futile. We think they have been taught a lesson. All that remains is to tell them: “Behave yourselves, or else, we will return”.

Yes, let a team of our army join the pan-African force in Mogadishu to support the Somali Government to do its work. The point, however, is that Kenya has no capacity to hold Somalia for long. We have better things to do with our funds.