February 22, 2016 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Masked Gunmen Rob Dahabshiil Bank

21 February – Source: Goobjoog News – 118 Words

Several masked gunmen in Somali National Army (SNA) uniform have robbed Dahabshiil bank in a midday holdup on Sunday. The robbery happened at around 12:10pm at Dahabshiil Bank in Marka town, according to eyewitness who spoke to Goobjoog News. Another witness said that the men held the tellers at gunpoint for five minutes during which they relieved them of an undisclosed amount of cash. “The Men were wearing masks and guns when they entered the bank and demanded money” he said. They fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. There were no shots fired and no injuries. Authorities have not yet released a description of the suspects or a possible getaway vehicle.

Key Headlines

Masked Gunmen Rob Dahabshiil Bank (Goobjoog News)
Ahlu Sunna Bans Former Somali Ambassador To Ethiopia To Reach Dhusamareeb Town (Radio Dalsan)
Somali President Becomes First to Congratulate Yoweri Museveni After Disputed Election Victory (Somali Update)
Somali Government Hands Over Rescued Doctor To Kenyan Embassy In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
Somali Prime Minister Detained In Nairobi (Daily Nation)
Interview: Global Unity Crucial To Eradicate Piracy Off Somali Coast: Expert (Xinhua)
Memorable Working Tour At Somalia’s Oasis Of Peace (The Citizen)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Ahlu Sunna Bans Former Somali Ambassador To Ethiopia To Reach Dhusamareeb Town

21 February – Source: Radio Dalsan – 192 Words

The reports we are getting from the central regions of Somalia say that the moderate Islamist group Ahlu Sunna has banned the former Somali Ambassador to Ethiopia honorable Ahmed Abdisalan and a delegation he is spearheading to reach in Guriel and Dhusamareeb towns in Galgaduud region. The ambassador who is currently in Mogadishu and planning to fly to Dhusamareeb town the headquarters of Galmudug region received a message that he should not step in the areas where Ahlu Sunna is in control of this include the capital of Galgaduud region.

Forces loyal to Ahlu Sunna have been deployed in the airstrips of Dhusamareeb and Guriel, to prevent the landing of this delegation. Sources close to the delegation told us that they are not going for any political issue, but to observe the condition of the people they belong to. There is no official announcement declared by Ahlu Sunna regarding the objection of the delegation’s reach in some areas in Galgaduud region. Ambassador Ahmed Abdisalan was among the presidential candidates who have been contesting for presidency seat in Galmudug state, and was at whiskers beaten by the current President Abdikarim Hussein Guleed.

Somali President Becomes First to Congratulate Yoweri Museveni After Disputed Election Victory

21 February – Source: Somali Update – 176 Words

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, has become the first African leader to congratulate to Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni following a disputed electoral victory on Saturday. A written letter from Villa Somalia, the President has extended a congratulation message to Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on his re-election as the President of the Republic of Uganda.

“I am greatly pleased to seize this great opportunity to extend my warmest congratulations and wish you every success in the great task of taking Uganda to greater heights in terms of stability, national unity , prosperity and maintaining the position of Uganda in Africa as an example of development and contributing in peace building efforts in the continent’’, said the President.

The President added that it was refreshing to witness Ugandan people under President Museveni proved to the world the maturity of practicing democracy in peaceful manner. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud concluded that Somalia is looking forward to consolidate the brotherly relations between the two nations, and appreciated Uganda’s role in the peacekeeping mission of AMISOM, aimed at restoring peace and stability in Somalia.

Somali Government Hands Over Rescued Doctor To Kenyan Embassy In Mogadishu

21 February – Source: Goobjoog News – 120 Words

Somali government has handed over Kenyan citizen who was rescued by Galmudug forces to Kenyan embassy in Mogadishu on Saturday. Kenya Ambassador to Somalia, Lucas Kyonze Tumbo thanked the Somali government for their effort in rescuing Kenyan doctor as identified as james Gajumbo . On 17th this month, Kenyan doctor who was kidnapped by gunmen 18 months ago in Adado town, central Somalia was rescued by Galmudug forces. The operation took place at Xilibi, which is 160 kilometres from Adado town. Galmudug Information Minister Mohamud Aden Osman who spoke to the media said security forces have successfully managed to free James Gajumbo from hostages following a tipoff near Adado town. “Our troops rescued the Kenyan doctor as parts of efforts aimed pacifying Galmudug territory.” said minister that day.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali Prime Minister Detained In Nairobi

21 February – Source: Daily Nation – 329 Words

Somalia Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke was yesterday detained for several hours in Nairobi for breaching protocol. The embarrassing incident that could test diplomatic relations between Kenya and war-torn Somalia happened mid-morning yesterday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Sharmarke could not be cleared in Nairobi because his plane had not been inspected at Wajir Airport, as is the requirement for all flights to and from Somalia.

“This is a real breach of security,” an official at JKIA told the Standard on Sunday. By 2 pm, security and foreign affairs officers had not agreed on how to handle the Somali leader. Security officers had demanded that Mr Sharmarke be sent back to Mogadishu, notwithstanding that the plane he had arrived in had left immediately after the entourage disembarked. But the department of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already provided the visiting head of government with a fleet of cars — which would remain parked at the VIP arrivals gate for several hours.

The chartered plane carrying the Somali top official and his delegation touched down at 10.30 am, and left for Hargeisa in Somaliland. Officials at the JKIA disclosed that the jet was chartered from Freedom Airline Express. Mr Sharmarke was in a 20-member delegation of top officials of his government, including three ministers. The delegation was to early today make a connecting flight to an unnamed Middle East country, after a day-long stop-over in Nairobi. Kenya has enjoyed rather cordial relations with unstable Somalia, and is leading the fight against Al-Shabaab militia group that has ravaged the country.

Interview: Global Unity Crucial To Eradicate Piracy Off Somali Coast: Expert

21 February – Source: Xinhua – 306 Words

The international community must revitalize military, diplomatic and economic interventions to eradicate the menace of piracy off the coast of Somalia, experts told Xinhua in separate interviews Friday. While agreeing that piracy in the expansive Somalia coastline has diminished remarkably thanks to military onslaught by foreign naval forces, the experts said new strategies were required to ensure the challenge does not recur.

Noel Choong, the head of Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) at the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), hailed joint military interventions that have led to a slump in piracy along the Somali coastline. While noting that no single case of piracy has been reported in the Somalia coastline since 2015, Choong attributed this feat to enhanced patrols and economic empowerment for the horn of African state’s youth.

“It is true piracy has declined in Somalia coast mainly due to international ship’s adhering to the latest best management practices (BMP4) recommendations and private armed security guard onboard ship s,” Choong said. However, experts still believe that a single successful hijacking of a merchant vessel will rekindle the Somali pirates’ passion to resume its piracy efforts.The menace of piracy in the larger Gulf of Eden that reached a crescendo five years ago triggered an international military response.

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“The focal point is a large, leafy courtyard, where its resident ministers and foreign regulars converse over cappuccinos and copious amounts of watermelon and mango juice. These are mainly served by Kenyan waiters: I was told Somalis don’t like taking orders. The chef is Kenyan too, and the food was excellent.”

Memorable Working Tour At Somalia’s Oasis Of Peace

21 February – Source: The Citizen – 756 Words

“Don’t worry, we’re not under attack; it’s just an assassination”. As a senior government official’s car exploded a few blocks away from where we were having our meeting, our Somali colleagues carried on talking business and sipped their tea with a composure that can only come from living in a city like Mogadishu. That said, after only three days cooped up in a hotel, I quickly appreciated how easy it is to ignore the distant explosions and the intermittent gunfire — stark reminders of the city’s instability. This became immediately clear after a somewhat disconcerting landing over the sea at Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport, which was swarming with Somali police and Amisom forces. Security was extra tight, we were told, because of the recent explosion that blew a hole in the fuselage of a Daallo Airlines flight to Djibouti.

No one so far, as I’m writing this, has claimed responsibility for the attack, probably because the suspected bomber only managed to blow himself up and get sucked out of the hole he created. Despite the heavy security, we were through immigration in minutes, thanks to the help of Hassan, our hotel’s transport manager. We were staying at the Peace Hotel — what Time magazine once referred to as “the best hotel in hell.” A bit harsh on Mogadishu, but it’s certainly one of its finer establishments. It’s not cheap, though, at $150 (Tsh 300,000) a night.

The compulsory 30second lift from the airport in an armoured Land Cruiser is also $150, and their grand tour of the city — if you’re brave and rich enough — is a cool $1,000 (Tsh 2m). These seem to be the going rates for security in Mogadishu, something that the hotel’s owner, Mr Bashir Yusuf Osman, doesn’t take lightly. The hotel is set back quite a distance from the road, in between which his heavily armed private security team man many steel barriers. One of these guards sits behind a wall of sandbags in a shipping container behind the main gate, an M16 rifle in hand.