January 15, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
Rights Group demands Somali Journalist’s release
14 Jan – Source: VOA News – 118 words
Human Rights Watch is demanding the release of a journalist arrested in Somalia after interviewing a woman who was allegedly raped by state security forces. The rights group is raising concerns about the treatment of victims of sexual violence in Somalia. Human Rights Watch says Somali police are holding freelance journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, who was arrested Thursday, and two other people linked to the alleged rape victim.
Key Headlines
- AMISOM opens capacity building training for Somali Civil Servants ( Source: AMISOM)
- Somalia govt ‘uninformed’ of French raid: Defense Minister (Hiiraan Online )
- Anti-piracy protest held in Adado town (Bar-Kulan)
- Obama admits ‘limited’ US role in botched Somalia raid ( ABC News /Africa Review)
- Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia post alleged photo of French commando killed in botched raid(CBC/Reuters)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM opens capacity building training for Somali Civil Servants
14 Jan – Source: AMISOM – 224 words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has today opened a two week capacity building training for Somali Civil Servants in Bujumbura bringing together 120 protocol officers, secretaries and administrators from various ministries of the Federal Government. Opening the workshop, the Minister of Youth and Culture of the Republic of Burundi, Honorable Jean Jacques Nyenimigabo expressed his country’s continued commitment to peace and stability in Somalia.
He said;” The Burundi government considers its support to peace in Somalia as a means of reciprocating the support Somalia gave us during the 1970’s especially aviation training for our military officers.”
The training which seeks to impart management and administrative skills to the civil servants is part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government of Somalia and the African Union to rebuild the country’s public institutions destroyed by two decades of fighting.
Speaking during the opening ceremony on behalf of the AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, AMISOM Head of Political Affairs Unit, Ambassador Basile Gateretse said the training is in support of the Federal Government’s policy of reconstruction of state institutions.
“Somalia is currently undergoing positive economic and political transformation which needs not only financial and material support but also capacity building of its human resources. This training therefore is part of a programme to support capacity building for civil servants.” He said.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia govt ‘uninformed’ of French raid: Defense Minister
14 Jan – Source: Garowe Online/Hiiraan Online – 103 words
The Defense Minister in Somalia’s federal government has told reporters that they were uninformed ‘ of the French military operation in Somalia, Garowe Online reports. Abdihakim Mohamud Haji Fiqi, the Somali Defense Minister, told during a press conference on Monday in Mogadishu that the Somali government sends its condolences to the victims. “The Somali Federal Government is very disappointed with France ‘s unilateral military action as the government was uninformed. The government will not tolerate similar unilateral actions in the future, ” said Defense Minister Fiqi , echoing the words of FA Fowsia Yusuf Haji Aden.
Three inmates injured in southern Galkayo
14 Jan – Source: Bar-kulan – 93 words
Three inmates were injured in an attempted escape by prisoners in the Galmudug-administered southern Galkayo town. Area police boss Mohamed Ali Noor told Bar-kulan the inmates were injured by police guarding them after they tried to escape last night. His said prisoners breached the wall of the cell before they were re-arrested by the police. One of the injured inmates was a suspect facing murder charges while the other two were facing unspecified charges, according to Noor. Noor, however, did not specify whether guards fired warning shots before shooting the prisoners on the run.
Anti-piracy protest held in Adado town
14 Jan – Source: Markacadeey Online/Bar-kulan – 107 words
Hundreds of Adado residents took to the streets in protest of piracy activities in the region, just days after the notorious Somali pirate kingpin Mohamed Abdi Hassan, also known as “Afweyne”, announced his retirement. The protest organised by the area’s administration and civil society groups was also aimed at welcoming over 100 pirates who announced their retirement alongside their leader Afweyne, encouraging others to quit piracy.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Obama admits ‘limited’ US role in botched Somalia raid
14 Jan – Source: Africa Review – 135 words
The United States said Sunday it played a limited support role in France’s botched bid to rescue a kidnapped secret agent in Somalia. “United States forces provided limited technical support to the French forces in that operation, but took no direct part in the assault on the compound where it was believed the French citizen was being held hostage,” President Barack Obama said in a letter to Congress. “United States combat aircraft briefly entered Somali airspace to support the rescue operation, if needed,” Obama wrote, adding that “these aircraft did not employ weapons during the operation.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Al-Shabaab militants in Somalia post alleged photo of French commando killed in botched raid
14 Jan – Source:/ CBC News/AP/Reuters – 138 words
Militants on Monday posted photos of what appeared to be a dead French soldier surrounded by weapons and gear. Three photos posted by an al-Shabaab-run Twitter account show a white man wearing military pants and a blood-soaked shirt surrounded by three guns, ammunition clips and protective gear. A helmet lies between his legs. In each of the photos a silver cross pendant hanging from the soldier’s neck is visible. Al-Shabaab said in its posting: “A return of the crusades, but the cross could not save him from the sword.”
Rights Group demands Somali Journalist’s release
14 Jan – Source: VOA News – 118 words
Human Rights Watch is demanding the release of a journalist arrested in Somalia after interviewing a woman who was allegedly raped by state security forces. The rights group is raising concerns about the treatment of victims of sexual violence in Somalia. Human Rights Watch says Somali police are holding freelance journalist Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, who was arrested Thursday, and two other people linked to the alleged rape victim. The woman, who said she was raped by government forces several months ago, was also detained by the Central Investigation Department, but her husband is now being held in jail in her place. A female acquaintance who had put her in contact with the journalist is also being held.
US Forces involved with failed Somalia hostage rescue
13 Jan – ABC News ( Shows Good morning America) – 178 words
President Obama divulged today that the U.S. military played a role in a failed attempt by French commandos to free a hostage in Somalia on Friday.
In a letter to Congress released this evening the president says service members “provided limited technical support” in the raid — likely referring to intelligence or surveillance assistance — although he denies the forces took direct action in the assault on the compound. The NATO member state was attempting to free a French intelligence agent that had been captured by Islamic militant group al-Shabab three years ago.
Somali Islamists may stage ‘macabre’ display of dead: France
14 Jan – Source: AFP World News – 83 words
France’s defence minister said Monday he feared that Somali Islamists will stage a “macabre” display of the bodies of a French soldier and a French spy believed killed during a botched rescue operation.
“All indications unfortunately lead us to believe that the Shabaab are preparing to organise a disgraceful and macabre display” of the bodies, Jean-Yves Le Drian said, referring to the Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab group.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“While I understand the perspective that certain al Qaeda affiliates may be getting relatively stronger, I do not understand, in light of the recent musings of Omar Hammami on social media, how one can believe that al Qaeda as a whole is stronger.”
Hammami’s Twitter War with Shabaab & MYC in Somalia & Kenya
14 Jan – Source: Selected Wisdom – 931 Words
This weekend saw the full scale escalation of a Twitter war between Omar Hammami (or at least the Twitter account associated with him) and most of the Muslim world. Here’s a quick recap of events. On Friday, I left off with this note reference Hammami’s claims that he had gained some defenders from the Raxanweyn clan. This account may not be Hammami and is just a propaganda machine uploading old pictures of Hammami and bashing Shabaab. (I don’t think so, but maybe) Well Saturday morning U.S. time, Hammami answered the question by posting photo on the @abumamerican Twitter account.