July 31, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Two Kenyans abducted from Wajir in January 2011 released by Al shabaab

30 Jul – Source: Standard Media/Capital FM/Daily Nation – 92 words

Two Kenyans abducted by Somali al Shabaab insurgents on January 11, 2011 have been released following successful negotiations spearheaded by border communities in North Eastern Province. The two, Edward Yesse Mule, a District Officer in Burder division, and Fredrick Irungu Wainaina Registrar of Persons, Wajir South District, have now rejoined their families and in sound health. The officers were abducted on January 13, 2011 at Gerile AP border post in Wajir South District. Efforts are being made to secure the release of other Kenyans still held captive by a lShabaab militiamen in Somalia.

Key Headlines

Somali Government signs landmark coastal protection contract ( Horseed Media)
Ahlu Sunna trains 200 militias in central region (Hiiraan Online/Radio Kulmiye/Dalsan)
Puntland govt and media association agree on Draft Media Law (Garowe Online)
Al Shabaab burnt down vehicle belonging to civilian in El-Bur (Bar-kulan)
The EU and Somalia to hold “The New Deal for Somalia Conference” 16th September 2013 (Shabelle)
Abud-waq administration request support on demining operations (Bar-kulan)
Two Kenyans abducted from Wajir in January 2011 released by Al shabaab (Standard Media/Capital FM/Daily Nation)
SA condemns Somalia attacks (Sowetan Live News)
Somalia Polio Outbreak Places Ethiopia at Risk (VOA)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali Government signs landmark coastal protection contract

30 Jul – Source: Horseed Media – 82 words

The Minister of Defense for the Federal Government of Somalia has signed a contract with The Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group to deliver structure, assets and services in order to develop an effective and sustainable Coast Guard in Somalia. Instituting a Coast Guard is essential for the establishment of the rule of law within Somali waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This contract clearly contributes to the stability and economic recovery of Somalia and is supporting the Country’s Six Pillar Policy.

Ahlu Sunna trains 200 militias in central region

30 Jul – Source:Hiiraan Online/Radio Kulmiye/Dalsan – 120 word

The moderate Sufi group in central Somalia have on Tuesday presented 200 newly trained militias in Heraale town of Galgadud region, central Somalia. The group said the militias trained for six months will join its forces to tackle what they called extremist fighters willing to topple the nation. Ahlu Sunna executive leader who addressed the newly trained militias said that these militias were preparing themselves to defend the country against al Shabaab and to keep law and order. He has also whispered that Ahlu Sunna forces will be used to stabilize the regions under their control as he also labelled the new intention by the Ahlusuna leaders to form joint regional administration between Ahlu Sunna, Galmudug and Himan and Heeb.

Puntland govt and media association agree on Draft Media Law

30 Jul – Source: Garowe Online – 144 words

Puntland Ministry of Information and Media Association of Puntland (MAP) have agreed on Puntland second draft media law on Sunday, Garowe Online reports. An event held at New Rays Hotel in Puntland capital of Garowe was attended by Puntland Information Minister Pro. Ahmed Sheikh Jama, former Information Minister and the current Planning and International relations Minister Mohamud Aideed Dirir, the Secretary General of the Media Association of Puntland Burhan Ahmed Dahir, journalists and the heads of Civil Society organizations. Abdifatah Sugulle, a PUNSAA official who initially spoke to the participants, explained the stages in which the draft media law went through and how they brought together the Information Ministry and the journalists who were at loggerheads over the proposed draft media law before Puntland non state actors association (PUNSAA) organized experts for the law to be reviewed and edited it in an agreeable manner.

Al Shabaab burnt down vehicle belonging to civilian in El-Bur

30 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 96 words

Reports from El-Bur district in Galgadud region suggest that al Qaeda-inspired al Shabaab group has burnt down a vehicle belonging to a local resident in the town early on Tuesday. As a senior Ahlu Sunna security official Abdi Hassan Mohamed (Biyo-Qute) in the area confirmed the incident to Bar-kulan. Al Shabaab rebel group burnt the vehicle in to ashes after they accused the owner of carrying Khat and bring in the town illegally, according to the official. A similar incident occurred in the road between Cel-garas and Cel-La-Helay areas of Hiiraan region in central Somalia couple of weeks ago.

The EU and Somalia to hold “The New Deal for Somalia Conference”, 16th September 2013

30 Jul – Source: Shabelle – 105 words

The Federal Government of Somalia and The European Union (EU) are to co-host “The New Deal for Somalia Conference” in Brussels on 16 September 2013. The international conference will endorse the “New Deal Compact” that will commit the Somali people and their international partners to a set of key priorities and new support for the reconstruction of Somalia over the next 3 years. The Conference is set to build on the momentum of progress and change in Somalia, supported by the recent international conferences on the country. High Representative Vice President Catherine Ashton said:”The situation in Somalia has been transformed over the past year.

Abud-waq administration request support on demining operations

30 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 139 words

Abud-waq district administration has called for assistance on demining process which is due to be launched in the central regions of Somalia where landmine danger persists in the troubled horn of Africa nation. In an intervening with Bar-kulan, head of Abud-waq social affairs Khalif Abdisamad Ali said that thousands of landmines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO) scattered in parts of the region over past decades of conflict are emerging as a threat to the relative security. He adds that bases of the Somali central government troops where internally displaced persons now live suffer from a degree of explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination. Khalid asked the Somali Federal government, United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and business community in the region to support the regional administration on demining operation in order to limit the damages caused by unexploded devices.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Two Kenyans abducted from Wajir in January 2011 released by Al shabaab

30 Jul – Source: Standard Media/Capital FM/Daily Nation – 92 words

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Ban, Security Council Condemns Attack On Turkish Building In Somalia

30 Jul – Source: Leadership News – 136 words

The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and members of Security Council on Monday strongly condemned the suicide attack on an office housing Turkish embassy staff in Mogadishu, Somalia. The attack resulted in one death and several other people wounded. Ban’s spokesperson, Martin Nesirky, in a statement said the Secretary-General condemned the July 27 terrorist attack on the office housing Turkish personnel in Mogadishu. He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the people of Turkey and its government as well as to the Somali people. “His thoughts are with the families and friends of those killed and injured,” Ban’s spokesperson said. The statement added that “terrorist attacks of this nature should not deter Somalia’s partners or weaken their resolve to stand by the people and government of Somalia as they work courageously to build peace in their country.’’

SA condemns Somalia attacks

30 Jul – Source: Sowetan Live News – 132 words

South Africa condemned an attack on a building housing Turkish embassy staff in Mogadishu, Somalia, that claimed the lives of six people. “The government of the Republic of South Africa condemns in the strongest terms the bomb attack that targeted a building in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Saturday,” the international relations department said in a statement. “South Africa welcomes the announcement by Turkey that it will remain steadfast in its support for Somalia despite the attempts by terrorists to plunge the country into further disarray.” The attacks, carried out by al Shabaab militia, claimed six lives, including a Turkish official, two Somali security guards, and a university student. Nine people were injured, including four members of the Turkish security force charged with protecting the complex.

Somalia Polio Outbreak Places Ethiopia at Risk

30 Jul – Source: VOA – 132 words

Somalia’s Ministry of Health confirms there are now 94 cases of polio in south-central Somalia and the outbreak is showing no signs of slowing down. New cases of the disease near the border with Ethiopia have also put that country at risk. The polio outbreak, first identified in May in the Dadaab refugee camps in Kenya, is spreading throughout Somalia, according to Dr. Yassin Nur, head of immunization at Somalia’s Ministry of Health. He said another case also has been confirmed in the autonomous region of Somaliland, close to Ethiopia, and could easily be transmitted across the border. “The risk is there,” Nur said. “Not to mention that Ethiopia is having a very long border and porous border with Somalia and it would be very easy to have the outbreak in Ethiopia.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Rank-and-file members were airing their complaints about leadership on Twitter, and making frequent reference to an internecine power struggle among senior leadership. One of them posted a letter of complaint he’d sent to the local al Qaeda affiliate. Something like this is likely what the U.N. is looking to do with the information it sought from Facebook and similar companies—fodder for the incremental chore of piecing together who is a player and who’s a bystander in the lawless world of Somali piracy.”

Facebook Isn’t the Key to Catching Terrorists

30 July- Source: New Republic-730 Words

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that U.N. investigators have asked for the private details of Somali pirates’ Facebook profiles—and that top Facebook officials, chastened by Edward Snowden’s revelation that the company had provided the NSA with emails and pictures, said no. The news begs the question: What are foreign fighters or terrorists dumb enough to share on an American-based social media site that U.S. officials (if not the U.N.) can access pretty easily by subpoena? That is, what exactly did the U.N. monitoring group expect to find? The AP wondered as much, and it even put the question to the targets themselves: “Two Somali pirates who spoke to The Associated Press said pirates don’t use social networks for piracy work.” Of course, social media accounts can furnish, in theory, data about a known aggressor’s or known associate’s social connections. But turning the data about who friended whom into useful information turns out to be a surprisingly painstaking, analog process.