February 20, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Global Muslim scholars condemn killing of Sheikh Abdikadir

19 Feb- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Halgan Online- 110 words

The Qatari based Muslim World’s most influential non-governmental organisation, the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) has condemned the recent killing of Sheikh Abdikadir Nuur Farah who was shot dead on Friday in Masjid in Garowe.
IUMS extended its condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and the entire people of Somalia for the loss of a great scholar within the Somali community.

Key Headlines

Minnesota congressman arrives in Mogadishu (AP)
Traditional elders leader calls on to restore peace (Radio Mustaqbal)
Arab Parliament hails Somalia bid to lift decades old arms embargo ( Radio Bar-kulan)
AU Forces capture an airfield in Somalia (Independent (Uganda))
AMISOM donates medical supplies to Beledweyne (Radio bar-kulan)
Puntland leader discusses upcoming elections with EU delegation (Garowe Online)

SOMALI MEDIA

Puntland leader discusses upcoming elections with EU delegation

19 Feb. Source: Garowe Online 199 words

Puntland President met with an EU delegation led by EU Ambassador to Somalia in Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland,
President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole met with EU Ambassador to Somalia Michael Cervone who led dignitaries from the United Kingdom and Norway including an EU democratization steering committee.

Arab Parliament hails Somalia bid to lift decades old arms embargo

19 Feb- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mustaqbal- 139 words

The Arab Parliament on Monday supported Somalia’s bid to lift the arms embargo on the Horn of African nation, which has been in place for the past 21 years.
In its meeting in Cairo, the Arab Parliament said the time is right for the UNSC to lift the arms embargo on Somalia in order to allow it rebuild and strengthen its armed forces.
Somalia recently demanded the United Nation Security Council to lift the arms embargo to help rebuild its security forces and consolidate military gains against al Shabaab militants.

US Congressman met with Somali President

19 Feb. Source: Shabelle 96 words

Keith Ellison, a member of the American congress, came to Somalia to meet with president Hassan Sheikh. The leader of the congress said that he was glad to be in Somalia, adding that the US government is ready to build strong relation with Somalia.

AMISOM donates medical supplies to Beledweyne

19 Feb: Source: Radio bar-kulan: 138 words
AMISOM on Tuesday donated medical supplies to Beledweyne hospital. The Djiboutian troops serving the mission delivered the aid to the hospital management in order fill the gap left by MSF Swiss which pulled out of the area December last year. Area force commander Col. Osman Dubad handed over the donation to the director of the hospital Ahmed Mohamed Khalif at a ceremony at the hospital.

Traditional elders leader calls on to restore peace

19 Feb Source Radio Mustaqbal/ Radio Kulmiye-113 words

The traditional elder has urgently called on the Somali traditional elders to commit to initiate long-term peace across Somalia. Sultan Abdi Gureh, has urged to the traditional leaders to stand for their people and country in a bid to gain security and stability in the country. “I am sending special appeal towards the breakaway state of Somaliland to support unity and to pull out varying political ideologies, which can harm the harmony and unity of Somalia”, said the king.
In addition, Gureh requested from the traditional elders to be united as one.

Global Muslim scholars condemn killing of Sheikh Abdikadir

19 Feb- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Halgan Online- 110 words
The Qatari based Muslim World’s most influential non-governmental organisation, the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) has condemned the recent killing of Sheikh Abdikadir Nuur Farah who was shot dead on Friday in Masjid in Garowe.
IUMS extended its condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and the entire people of Somalia for the loss of a great scholar within the Somali community.

REGIONAL MEDIA

AU Forces capture an airfield in Somalia

19 Feb- Source: Independent (Uganda) -241 words

The Somali National army supported by African Union forces from the Ugandan Contingent on Monday evening captured a strategic airfield located 100km North East of Mogadishu.

Maj Henry Obbo, Spokesperson Uganda Contingent says Jawhar airfield located in Middle Shabelle, 15 Km North of Jawhar town; fell to the allied forces after minimal resistance from the fleeing Al Shabaab.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Minnesota congressman arrives in Mogadishu

19 Feb- Source: AP- 147 words
A U.S. congressman from Minnesota has arrived in Somalia for a rare visit by a United States politician.
Keith Ellison said Tuesday that his visit to Mogadishu fulfills a request from his constituents with ties to Somalia. Minnesota has one of the largest populations of Somali-Americans in the U.S.
Ellison noted that the U.S. government recently recognized the Somali government for the first time since the country fell into anarchy in 1991. President Barack Obama’s administration formally recognized the Somali government on Jan. 17.

Minnesota congressman meets Somali president

20 Feb – Source: New York Times – 500 words

Representative Keith Ellison, Democrat of Minnesota, visited Mogadishu on Tuesday and met with Somalia’s president, Hassan Sheik Mohamoud, in a rare visit to the strife-plagued country by a member of Congress.
Mr. Ellison, who is Muslim, was fulfilling a campaign promise. His district in Minnesota is home to one of the world’s largest concentrations of Somali emigrants.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“And although the Government has made efforts to rein in the militia, it is not hard to tell that the war is far from being won. And the police and the National Intelligence Service should take the flak for this. They should have sent the best of their intelligence minds there long ago to sniff out and tackle any mischief in a timely fashion.”

Garissa shouldn’t become al Shabaab’s paradise

19 Feb- Source: The Standard Media-188 Words

The botched terrorist plot against Nark-Kenya presidential candidate Martha Karua should serve as a wake up call to the authorities, if they are still in slumber, that all is not well in Garissa.
Since the Kenya Defence Forces crossed into Somalia, the dusty North Eastern town has experienced intermittent terror attacks carried out by agents of Al Shabaab militia. There is no other town, perhaps besides Eastleigh in Nairobi that has suffered the brunt of the ragtag group more than Garissa. Going by the number of attacks, the town could easily pass for local headquarters of Al Shabaab.