January 20, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali official killed in Mogadishu landmine blast

19 Jan – Source:Worldbulletin – 132 Words

A Somali official was killed on Monday along with two of his guards when his car struck a landmine in Somali capital Mogadishu, eyewitnesses and security sources have said.The sources said the landmine explosion targeted Ali Adow, the district commissioner of the southeastern city of Afgooye, leaving him and two his bodyguards dead.The same explosion left two passersby injured, one of the sources said. He added that the explosion was followed by gunfire, noting that government troops arrived in the site a short time later and closed off the area to vehicles.There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack. The Somali government has not issued an official comment either. Somalia has remained in the grip of on-again, off-again violence since the outbreak of civil war in 1991.

Key Headlines

Southwest security forces launched operations to tighten the security in Baidoa (Radio Goobjoog)
Security operation conducted in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Puntland forces beef up security in Bossaso ( Radio Danan)
Somali PM meets UAE ambassador (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Water Shortage in El Dher District Galgadud Region (Radio Goobjoog)
1000 teachers in boycott threat over insecurity (Daily Nation)
Two Kisenyi women terror suspects set free (Daily Monitor)
Somali official killed in Mogadishu landmine blast (Worldbulletin)

SOMALI MEDIA

Southwest security forces launched operations to tighten the security in Baidoa

19 Jan – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 138 Words

The security forces of Southwest State conducted intensive operations in Baidoa to beef up the security of the town. The security officials confirmed that they apprehended many suspects linked to cases of insecurity in the town. Col. Mahad Abdirahman Adan, one of the security officials conducting the security crackdown told the media that the aim of the operations is to tighten the security of the area and bring to justice the individuals threatening the safety of Baidoa town. Mr. Mahad noted that thorough investigations on the arrested suspects are now underway. The Southwest State Minister of Security, Abdifatah Mohamed Ibrahim, addressing the media stated that they set plans overcome the insecurity in the area. He called upon citizens to collaborate with the security forces as to restore security in Baidoa.

Security operation conducted in Mogadishu

19 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 75 Words

Somali security agencies conducted a massive security operation inMogadishu on Sunday. The police backed by Special Forces conducted the operation primarily in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district. The Bar-Kulan reporter in Mogadishu reported that the operation which started on Sunday night is still ongoing. There has been no formal comment from the Somali security agencies manning the operation. Somali security forces regularly conduct operations in the capital to avert suspected Al Shabaab terror attacks.

Puntland forces beef up security in Bossaso

19 Jan – Source: Radio Danan – 164 Words

Security is being beefed up in Bossaso. This follows several grenade attacks in which grenades were hurled at bases manned by Puntland security forces in Bossaso, and a bomb attack on Radio Galkayo.The Mayor of Galkayo, Hassan Abdullahi Hassan, said there is need to beef up security in Bossaso, and that security forces have already started to tightening security. Security forces have also launched efforts to secure Galkayo. “We have agreed to beef up security in Bossaso and Galkayo,” the mayor said. Four days ago, security forces and gunmen exchanged fire; the heavy gun battle ensued when the gunmen attacked Puntland Defense Forces. Five of the militia fighters were reportedly killed, and 7 others were wounded. Eyewitnesses, who opted to be anonymous, said prior to the gun battle, the soldiers were extorting money from vehicles that were ferrying goods in transit to the town. No group has claimed the attack. Recently, security forces and Al-Shabaab fought at Galgala.

Somali PM meets UAE ambassador

19 Jan – Source:Radio Bar-kulan – 99 Words

The Prime Minster of the Federal Government of Somalia, Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, met United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Somalia, Mohamed Al Uthmani.The two discussed how to strengthen the diplomatic ties between two states, and ways the two countries can cooperate in Somalia’s rebuilding process. PM Abdirashid said the relationship between Somalia and UAE is not a new one, and his counterpart, Ambassador Mohamed Al Uthmani, promised his government’s commitment to the reconstruction of Somalia. The Somali PM dissolved his cabinet over the weekend, and is set to form a new one within the next two weeks.

Water Shortage in El Dher District, Galgadud Region

19 Jan – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 144 Words

Residents of Eldher district in Galgudud region are reporting severe water shortages in their locality, after water ponds went dry. According to Mohamud Ahmed Omar, a district official in the region, the shortage is due to the dry season.“We are in the dry season of the year, all water wells and ponds went dry, and there are no public services in the district. The livestock are becoming weak to the extent they no longer produce enough milk.” He added that there are also disease outbreaks in the district like diarrhea, calling on the Somali government to act on the situation.“We appeal to the government, aid agencies and all the wealthy people to lend a helping hand to the affected community,” he said. Several other localities in the region are reporting water shortages, and people have started migrating to water sources elsewhere in the region.

REGIONAL MEDIA

1,000 teachers in boycott threat over insecurity

19 Jan – Source: Daily Nation – 551 Words

Public schools reopen on Monday when teachers countrywide resume work after ending their two-week strike over pay. Teachers are expected back in class this morning amid claims that there was a split over the decision to call off the boycott that paralysed learning in public schools for 10 days. Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion on Sunday denied claims that teachers lost out and that the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) members were sharply divided last Friday when they met to ratify the decision on teachers’ return to work.

“Rumours that teachers lost should be disregarded as we still have a clear opportunity to gain from the ongoing process,” said Mr Sossion. He also said all the NEC officials were unanimous in endorsing the decision to call off the strike. “As we had said before, we advise all our members to report to school (on) Monday, January 19, 2015 in the morning as we follow up on the progress of the judicial intervention being undertaken on this matter,” he said.

Two Kisenyi women terror suspects set free

19 Jan – Source: Daily Monitor – 333 Words

Two Kisenyi women terror suspects arrested last year have been set free after the Director of Public Prosecution (DDP), Mike Chibita said he had lost interest in the case against them.The duo was part of the group of ten suspects, including nine Somalis and one Kenyan who were accused of sneaking into Uganda on a terror mission.

Buganda Road Magistrate’s Court presided over by Ms Pamela Ocaya discharged Yasimin Abdullahi, 20 and Hodan Ahmed, 23 following a letter from the DDP presented by State attorney, Mr Edward Muhumuza indicating that the state has lost interest in the case against the two. “Your worship, I have received a letter from the DPP seeking court to discontinue proceedings against the two female suspects,” Mr Muhumuza said. They were charged with two counts, including aiding and abetting terrorism, contrary to Section 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Act and belonging to a terrorist organisation.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali official killed in Mogadishu landmine blast

19 Jan – Source:Worldbulletin – 132 Words

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“IGAD had compelling reasons to hold its meeting in Mogadishu. The most important one is IGAD’s determination to dismantle Somalia into clan satellite entities, not viable politically and economically, and to justify the prolonged presence of 22,000 African Union forces (AMISOM) and of growing number of foreign and Somali civilian teams funded by western donors.”

Nothing to be excited about the 53rd IGAD Meeting in Somalia

18 Jan – Source: Jowhar.com – 1,246 Words

No one should be fooled by the holding of the 53rd Extraordinary Session of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Council of Ministries in Mogadishu, Somalia, on January 10, 2015 under the chairmanship of Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Foreign Minister of Ethiopia as historical event. GAD delegations were guests of AMISOM forces who are also protecting the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). Somalia did not operate as full member and equal partner of IGAD because the purpose of the meeting was on shaping the new fragmented Somalia through the off-the-wall vision 2016 consisting in the review of the constitution, formation of federal member states, and political election in 2016. For the Somali people, the three tasks are mysteries. The meeting laid the groundwork for the next destabilizing steps and processes that will make Somalia into pieces for prey.

IGAD, dominated by Ethiopia, met in Mogadishu after many high profile official visits of UN Security Council, UN Secretary General, Arab league delegation, large delegation led by current President of Turkey, and foreign ministers of many European countries in Mogadishu. Because of the high level real insecurity in Mogadishu, the life of residents remained standstill during the meeting. As reported by AFP, one resident said, “All roads are closed and movement is almost impossible in Mogadishu.” The AFP report challenges the truthfulness of the statement that peace and security returned to Somalia when residents in Mogadishu live in constant fear both from Al Shabab and FGS. It is disingenuous to project a lockdown of almost all Mogadishu as an example of progress for Somalia. The comfort and security accorded to few people should not take attention away from the suffering of millions of Somali people who are starving and are in need of emergency food assistance in different parts of Somalia, or are fleeing from the country for lack of hopeful future.

The commitment of IGAD member countries- Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, Sudan, South Sudan- to promote peace and stability in Somalia should be taken with a grain of salt because IGAD member countries are all mired in perpetual conflicts, in need of massive foreign aid and are condemned for widespread human rights violations. Eritrea is denied the right to resume its membership by Ethiopia and the two are locked into war of attrition. There is tension between Sudan and Uganda over South Sudan. The relation between South Sudan and Sudan is bitter and explosive. The relation between Djibouti and Eritrea is frozen. Ethiopia undermines the influence of Kenya over South Sudan. Sudan and Ethiopia share the interest to oppose the western democratic agenda but are in political and military despise. In succinct, the internal political environments of IGAD member countries are volatile and worrisome. Human Rights Organizations are issuing alarming reports about Ethiopia, Eritrea, and South Sudan for massive human rights violations. Within IGAD, Ethiopia seized Somalia leadership. Uganda, Djibouti, and Burundi, troop contributing countries, limited themselves to respect diplomatic norms in their bilateral engagement and cooperation with the FGS.