February 21, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Al Shabaab ambushes Ethiopian troops in Gedo

20 Feb- Source: Radio Shabelle- 114 words

Reports coming from the Luuq district in Gedo region says that intense fighting took place between the Ethiopian troops and government forces on one side and al Shabaab fighters on the other side, in Kureed territory; 12km south of Luuq district. The battle came after fighters from al Shabaab ambushed a convoy belonging to the Ethiopian and government troops when they were passing by Kureed in Gedo. In addition, for a brief period there was an exchange of heavy gunfire between the Ethiopian forces and al Shabaab members. There has been no claim of victory after the battle between the sides and no report on the casualty.

Key Headlines

Somaliland Minister of Energy & Minerals signs deal with Chinese based firm to conduct oil exploration(Somaliland Informer)
Tight security in Kismayo after security commander assassination (Dhanaan Online)
Al Shabaab ambushes Ethiopian troops in Gedo (Radio Shabelle)
Puntland to vaccinate 2 Million heads of livestock against lung diseases (Radio Garowe)
Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa official kills himself (Radio Dalsan)
Kenya: Scotland Yard detective probing terror suspect admits his passport was not stamped (Standard Media)
Hundreds in Somalia’s capital flee clashes (AP)
EU trainers to help Somalis track weapons (Janes)

SOMALI MEDIA

Al Shabaab ambushes Ethiopian troops in Gedo

20 Feb- Source: Radio Shabelle- 114 words

Tight security in Kismayo after security commander assassination

20 Feb- Source: Radio Garowe/Dhanaan Online- 175 words

Somalia’s Jubaland administration tightened the security in the southern port city of Kismayo after the brutal assassination of the state’s top security head Isse Mohamed Allaki (Isse Kamboni) last Monday night. Jubaland soldiers in armored personnel carriers began to carry out investigations in Kismayo neighborhoods in a step towards greater security, residents unveiled. The death of Isse Kamboni sparked anger in Jubaland regions, with senior officials within Jubaland administration threatening new offensives against Al Shabaab’s remaining strongholds. Addressing reporters in Kismayo on Wednesday , Social Affairs Minister Moallim Mohamed Ibrahim declared that Jubaland forces are ready to attack al Shabaab hideouts: “We are about to commence military offensives against al Shabaab, Jubaland forces will reach a decision on the fate of anybody who is suspected of being all Shabaab member”. Despite amnesty to Al Shabaab defectors, Ibrahim says Jubaland administration will firmly deal with those who defect from the militant group of al Shabaab. “Al Shabaab is al Shabaab, we were offering amnesty to defectors but now the stance has changed,” added Social Affairs Minister.

Somaliland Minister of Energy & Minerals signs deal with Chinese based firm to conduct oil exploration

20 Feb- Source: Somaliland Informer- 214 words

Hussein Abdi Dualeh, Minister of Energy and Minerals of Somaliland on Thursday has signed a deal with Chinese firm GUANGZHOU DONGSONG ENERGY GPOUO CO LTD that engages oil exploration. The minister has told that the firm is currently working in four African countries conducting oil and mineral exploration. The minister has confirmed that Somaliland is the fifth country to enter into agreement with DONGSON GROUP a Chinese based company. Duale has said that the company has contacted him after having searched information about the tiny unrecognized state in Africa and further noted that they were convinced with the oil and mineral laden in the country. They found the facts about Somaliland following the Minister of Energy’s attendance at the 20th African Mining Indaba. 17 Minister of Energy and Minerals from Africa attended the gathering and Somaliland had the opportunity to unveil its laden energy and mineral resources. The Chinese Firm delegation was in the country for the past couple of days and embarked on an inspection tour to the port city of Berbera. The delegation is due to fly home on Thursday after having wrapped up the agreement with the government. The delegation formally invited the Minister of Minerals and Energy Hon. Hussein Abdi Du’ale to pay visit to China which they will embark.

Puntland to vaccinate 2 Million heads of livestock against lung diseases

20 Feb- Source: Radio Garowe- 255 words
Puntland government in northern Somalia officially launched a new immunization campaign that will target 2 million heads of livestock on Thursday. Puntland Vice President Abdihakin Abdullahi Amey, Minister of Livestock and Animal Husbandary Dr. Abdullahi Du’alle Ali, Health Minister Dr. Sadik Enow, Director-General of Livestock and Animal Hubandry Ministry Dr. Ibrahim Hared Ali and FAO officials attended a well organized event which was held for 20 teams of vacicinators at the Livestock Ministry building in the state capital of Garowe. According to Puntland Ministry of Livestock and Animal Husbandry officials, the mass vaccination will also treat 600 heads of livestock from respiratory disorders. Dr. Hared Ali said in his opening remarks at the launching ceremony that improved health condition is crucial since Puntland people are reliant on livestock for their livelihoods. “Pastoral communities are in constant movement from one place to another however our priority is to ensure improved animal health,” said the livestock ministry director. “As you know, the exportation of livestock reduced to the lowest level in decades due to natural disasters including cyclone, also the nomads are in regular motion”. Livestock Minister, Dr. Ali revealed that 20 teams of veterinarians from the ministry of livestock and animal husbandry are being dispatched to treat 600 goats and sheep from lung diseases and to vaccinate 2 million heads of livestock against other respiratory disorders for two months. At the end of the event, Puntland Vice President Amey urged the vaccinators to fairly put their knowledge into practice and increase the outreach across Puntland regions.

Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa official kills himself

20 Feb- Source:Radio Dalsan- 98 words
According to reports from Luq district in Gedo province an Ahlu Suna Waljama security official has shot himself several times with his own gun killing himself on the spot. The locals who have been contacted by Radio Dalsan confirmed the death of the security officer but said cannot immediately establish the motive behind his action. Top senior security officials of the group have also told Radio Dalsan that the deceased was trying to test his gun before suddenly causing his death.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: Scotland Yard detective probing terror suspect admits his passport was not stamped

20 Feb- Source: Standard Media- 199 words

A British counter-terrorism detective has admitted that his passport was not stamped by Kenya Immigration department at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when he was leaving Kenya two years ago after investigating investigating terror suspect Jermain Grant. The anomaly put in him trouble with Grant’s lawyer who argued that since the passport was not stamped, there is no proof that he travelled to Kenya to investigate the British terror suspect as he alleged in his evidence earlier this week.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Hundreds in Somalia’s capital flee clashes

20 Feb- AP- 134 words

Residents in Mogadishu say that hundreds of families are fleeing the Somali capital after a spike in the number of clashes between militants and pro-government troops. Dozens of vehicles piled high with belongings headed to the outskirts of Mogadishu on Thursday. Mumino Jama, a mother of five, said her family is leaving because the fighting is “scary.” Mohamed Ali, another resident, said heavy clashes have included mortar fire that has landed on civilian homes. Ali said he knows of four people killed in the clashes.

EU trainers to help Somalis track weapons

19 Feb- Source: Janes -122 words

The EU’s Training Mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) is advising the Somali Ministry of Defence and military on how to establish a system to track weaponry, thereby reducing pressure to re-impose the UN arms embargo on the country, said Brigadier General Gerald Aherne, who just completed his tour of duty as the mission’s commander. “One of the urgent things required is a logistics accounting service and a registry for weapons entering depots so that when they are re-assigned from central stores to a particular unit, it is traced,” he told reporters in Brussels on 19 February. “This has to be done in Somalia, and EUTM has the capacity to help the Somali authorities create accounting systems that will move in that direction.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Somalia’s new government clearly faces daunting challenges given the scope of abuse and the extensive measures needed to address it. Many of the recommendations will take significant time and resources to implement. But preventing retaliation against victims who dare to speak out or against health service providers who are valiantly offering basic critical support is a crucial cost-free measure. It only requires the political will to make it happen.”

A First Step Toward Ending Somalia’s Rape Epidemic

20 Feb – Source: Human Rights Watch – 808 Words

Fadumo, a Somali journalist, finally spoke to the media about being raped after her calls to the authorities fell on deaf ears. She said she had been raped by two other journalists several months earlier. Two days after her interview was broadcast, police hauled her in for questioning. Three weeks later, a judge convicted her of defamation—based on a complaint filed by the alleged perpetrators—and sentenced her to six months of house arrest. When I spoke to her in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, she told me: “The most important thing for me now is to have my life back.” In late 2012 a new government came to power in Somalia. Shortly after taking up office the new President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, committed to tackling the country’s rampant sexual violence and to carry out essential security sector and justice reforms. Despite these commitments, Fadumo’s case is one of three high-profile Somali incidents of sexual violence Human Rights Watch documented in 2013 in which state security forces intimidated and sought to discredit women who reported rape. In two of the cases, the new Somali government prosecuted the women reporting the rape.