July 6, 2017 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Somalia Says 10 Al-Shabaab Terrorists Killed In Airstrikes

05 July- Source: Xinhua – 219 Words

The Somali government confirmed Wednesday that 10 Al-Shabaab terrorists were killed in airstrikes conducted by Somali and partner forces on Sunday evening.The ministry of information, culture and tourism said the airstrikes were conducted against a formation of Al-Shabaab terrorists operating north of Kismayo in southern Somalia.”The terrorists attacked a Somali forces outpost and were repelled,” the ministry said in a statement released in Mogadishu.

The statement comes after the U.S. military confirmed Monday it carried out an airstrike against Al-Shabab in Somalia as Washington quietly steps up efforts against the deadliest Islamic extremist group in Africa.Pentagon spokeswoman Major Audricia Harris, a spokeswoman said they are currently assessing the results of the operation, and will provide additional information as appropriate.

Somali officials said Washington has carried out several drone strikes in recent years against the Al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab.The ministry said Somali National Security Forces will continue to carry out attacks against the insurgents to keep innocent Somalis safe and disrupt Al-Shabaab’s ability to operate in Somalia.”The Federal Government of Somalia remains committed to defeating terrorism and ensuring the country continues on a path to stability and prosperity,” it said. The airstrike follows one in June that the U.S. said killed eight Islamic extremists at a rebel command and logistics camp in the country’s south.

Key Headlines

Somalia Says 10 Al-Shabaab Terrorists Killed In Airstrikes (Xinhua)
Somaliland Minister Rebuffs Reports On Ailing President Siilaanyo’s Health (Somali Update)
Political Difference In Galgadud Can Be Resolved Says Deputy President of Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama (ASWJ) (Goobjoog News)
Severe Drought Displaces 761000 In Somalia (Xinhua)
‘Al Shabab’ Militants In Day-long Battle With Kenyan Forces (BBC News)
International Report Charts Continued Threat From Global Piracy (The National)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Somaliland Minister Rebuffs Reports On Ailing President Siilaanyo’s Health

05 July – Source: Somali Update – 198 Words

A Somaliland minister has rebuffed reports about the health condition of President Ahmed Mohamed Siilaanyo currently in United Arab Emirates. Somaliland Minister of Animal Veterinary Abdullahi Dahir Ukuse said the news reports that President Siilaanyo’s health deteriorated in UAE were not true.”I have been with the President hours ago. I can confirm that his health is well.” Said Minister Ukuse who is among Somaliland officials currently in UAE to monitor the health situation of President Siilaanyo.

The reports about President Siilaanyo’s health came following a visit by the president to UAE for medical checkup last week. Sources in Hargeisa said the President could not return back to Hargeisa this week as scheduled after his situation deteriorated due to severe infections. The 81-year-old Siilaanyo has been feeling unwell in the past two years and has received medical treatment in the past in hospitals in London, United Kingdom and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Minister said the President is still in UAE and will be back soon, but gave no specific date. Somaliland declared its breakaway from the rest of Somalia following the collapse of Somali central government in 1992, but not internationally recognized.

Political Difference In Galgadud Can Be Resolved Says Deputy President of Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama (ASWJ)

05 July – Source: Goobjoog News – 137 words

Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’ah (ASWJ) administration is ready to settle political predicament in Galgadud region in central Somalia. The Deputy President of the moderate Islamic movement Prof. Abdullahi Hirsi Dirshe announced the readiness of his administration to address the political differences through dilaogue. “Currently there is no open official talks announced so far but if small talks between individuals is portrayed in the media as sensational, it will lead to further discord” said Prof. Abdullahi.

Prof. Abdullahi raised the failure of earlier talks that was spearheaded by the Federal Government but added plans are in place for further talks. The deputy leader of Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’ah stressed on how they want differences to be reconciled purely on talks conducted by the right people and that have the interest of the central people of Somalia in their hearts.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Severe Drought Displaces 761,000 In Somalia

05 July – Source: Xinhuanet – 286 words

An estimated number of people who have been displaced by the severe drought ravaging several parts of Somalia has risen to over 761,000 since November 2016, says the UN. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Tuesday in its latest report that over 22,000 displacements were recorded between June 1 and 23. The UN said out of 22,000, 13,500 individuals arrived in Baidoa town from remote villages in Berdaale, Dinsoor and Qansahdhere districts in Bay region and Rabdhuure district in Bakool. The UN said the cities of Baidoa which had 174,280 of those displaced while Mogadishu (161,100) host 44 percent of these displaced people. “As of June 23, 16,300 IDPs are reported to have returned to their places of origin in Bay and Bakool regions, with 60 percent of them returning in June.

In 2017, 29,087 Somali refugees returned to Somalia,” said the UN. According to the UN humanitarian agency, some 3,769 Somali refugees returned – 3,158 from Kenya, 417 from Yemen, and 197 from Djibouti – in May alone. Humanitarian agencies say the severe drought has made local communities more vulnerable. Most have been forced to sell their assets and borrow food and money to survive. The Horn of Africa nation is in the midst of a drought after rains failed in November 2016, for a third year in the row. Humanitarians in Somalia are seeking over 800 million U.S. dollars to reach the most vulnerable with life-saving assistance until June. According to the UN, donors have been quick with their contributions for a scale-up of response and over 600 million dollars has been made available or pledged for humanitarian response since January.

‘Al Shabab’ Militants In Day-long Battle With Kenyan Forces

05 July – Source: BBC News – 125 Words

Kenyan security forces have been battling suspected Al-Shabaab militants for more than 10 hours after they staged a dawn attack on a police post near the coastal town of Lamu. The latest fighting is reported to be in Boni forest, which straddles the border with Somalia.Three police officers are confirmed dead and one seriously injured, according to a statement released by the Kenyan police.Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility.

The Daily Nation newspaper reports that some 200 attackers were involved in the fighting. It quotes a local official as saying that an unknown number of villagers are also missing. A local communication mast has been destroyed, making it hard to get accurate information from the area. Al-Shabaab has attacked Kenya several times in recent years.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“The hijacking of the UAE-managed tanker Aris 13 enroute from Djibouti to Mogadishu on March 13 ended a five-year lull in piracy attacks off Somalia’s coast after the crude oil tanker Smyrni was held in May 2012,”

International Report Charts Continued Threat From Global Piracy

05 July – Source: The National – UAE – 620 Words

Somali pirates remain a threat to merchant ships and have been responsible for the kidnap of dozens of sailors this year, according to a report from the ICC International Maritime Bureau published on Tuesday. The hijacking of an Indian dhow in early April was one of five incidents reported off Somalia in addition to pirates opening fire on three vessels and a bulk carrier boarded by the raiders in the Gulf of Aden.

The second quarter IMB report says the incident reveals that Somali pirates “retain the skills and capacity to attack merchant ships far from coastal waters.”The report urged ship masters to maintain high levels of vigilance when sailing across the high-risk area. Somali pirates took 39 sailors hostage from January to June this year marking the highest amount of violence against seafarers during the first half of 2017. During the same period 31 seafarers were kidnapped by pirates of the coast of Nigeria. Half of all reports of vessels being fired upon are from pirates in that region.Other violence against sailors included crew being threatened, injured and killed by pirates off Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Peru, Venezuela and Sierra Leone.

Unlike in Somalia where crew are typically held captive on-board the vessel, in kidnapping incidents off Nigeria the pirates remove sailors from the ships and hold them ashore. Such was the case in the Gulf of Guinea and Sulu Sea attacks, said Pottengal Mukundan, director of the IMB.The report advised the shipping community to stay alert off Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and the Red sea.“As the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre continues to monitor the situation in the region, it cautions ship owners and masters against complacency. Somali pirates still have the capability and capacity to carry out attacks.