July 9, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Al Shabaab in major attack Somalia’s presidential palace: Police

08 Jul – Source: AFP/AP/Huffington Post/Reuters/ABC News – 147 words

Somalia’s Islamist al Shabaab rebels launched a major bomb attack and armed assault against the country’s presidential palace late Tuesday, penetrating the heavily-fortified complex and fighting a major gunbattle with security guards. Security sources said Somalia’s internationally-backed President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was unharmed and safe with guards from the African Union’s 22,000-strong AMISOM force. “There was an attack on the presidential palace, with gunmen attacking a checkpoint at the rear of the compound,” police officer Ali Hussein told AFP. “There was a major explosion and security forces are fighting them.” An al Shabaab spokesman said the al Qaeda-linked group was behind the attack, and claim their commandos had managed to seize the president’s office inside the presidential compound known as the Villa Somalia. “Our commandos are inside the so-called presidential office,” al Shabaab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab told AFP. “We are in control of the headquarters of the apostate regime.”

Key Headlines

Cabinet ministers meet security institutions in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog)
Al Shabaab attack presidential palace in Somali capital (Radio Goobjoog/Shabelle/Bar-kulan)
Puntland Leader meets new Italy envoy to Somalia (Garowe Online/ Puntland TV)
Police and KDF arrest 50 in Lamu operation (Capital News)
Security heightened in Baidoa amid fears of terror attacks (Bar-kulan)
Nine killed as Al-Shabaab attack Somali presidential palace (Africa Review/New Vision/BBC)
Eight wounded in Tanzanian tourist town restaurant blast (Standard Media)
Somalia Refresher Course to Help Boost Security in the Country (CCTV Africa)

PRESS STATEMENT

Increased Security Measures

08 Jul – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 2268 words

Security Conference between the council of Ministers, Benadir Regional Administration and the Defense committee in Parliament was held last night in Mogadishu chaired by H.E Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. Matters concerning heightened security measures were broadly covered, obstacles discussed and further solutions formulated.

At the opening of the gathering, H.E Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed highlighted the outcomes of a meeting he recently held with H.E President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Honourable Speaker of Parliament and Members of Parliament in which they exchanged different views on the most strategic and viable methods to prevent terror attacks by the “enemies of peace”. At the end of that forum discussion, the Federal Government of Somalia has reiterated the necessary magnitude of strengthening security in the country.

Furthermore, H.E Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed stated that the gathering will be a focal point for H.E President Hassan Sheikh, Honourable Speaker, MPs and relevant security forces; the aim was to share their views on critical matters concerning the country with security as a major priority. The Prime Minister informed security officials and agencies to implement the decisions agreed upon from the previous meeting to discuss security and public cooperation to overcome enemies who conspire against peace and freedom.

In addition, as the Press conference concluded the Minister of Defense and acting National Security Minister Mohamed Hassan Xaamud stated that the meeting will be taken as a collective measure of the Federal Government of Somalia and its people. Acting National Security Minister also urged the brave citizens of the Mogadishu to contribute to security and unite against those who which to terrorize the nation.

SOMALI MEDIA

Cabinet ministers meet security institutions in Mogadishu

08 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog – 111 words

Council of Ministers of the Federal Government of Somalia, security institutions, Banadir regional state and defense committee of federal Parliament on Tuesday held meeting to discuss security in the country in Mogadishu. The security meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed. Opening the meeting PM Abdiweli described the aim of the meeting as a move to get an appropriate method to jointly prevent the insecurity cases in the country especially Mogadishu that has witnessed waves of assassinations and suicide bombings claimed by al Shabaab. PM Abdiweli urged the security agencies the decisions from the preceding meetings of security and collaborate with the public so as to thwart explosions.

Al Shabaab attack presidential palace in Somali capital

08 Jul – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Shabelle/Bar-kulan – 95 words

A loud explosion was heard near the presidential palace of Somalia followed by heavy bursts of gunfire between the security forces and al Shabaab fighters. Casualty figures were not immediately known. The security forces blocked all roads entering the presidential compound. The city has been hit by a series of suicide bomb attacks and organized killings in the past few days, claimed by al Shabaab, who were pushed out of the city about two years ago but have waged a sustained guerrilla campaign.

Puntland Leader meets new Italy envoy to Somalia

08 Jul – Source: Garowe Online/Puntland TV – 108 words

The President of Somalia’s Puntland Government Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has met Italian Ambassador to Somalia Ambassador Farbizio Mercelli on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports. The two held discussions covering the expansion of bilateral ties between Somalia’s northeastern state of Puntland and Italy which stepped up its involvement in the region during Farole’s tenure of office. According to a press statement from Puntland State House, Ambassador Mercelli arrived in Garowe to hand over the management of Puntland TV and Radio station. Italy envoy’s meeting with President Gaas moreover centred on the ongoing development projects including Bossaso airport runway construction, health initiatives and technical support to Puntland Police force.

Security heightened in Baidoa amid fears of terror attacks

08 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 91 words

Security forces in Baidoa town have arrested over 20 youths in security sweep across the town according to security officials in the area. Police chief in Bay region, Col. Mahad Abdirahman Aden said that security forces have been deployed to major roads and intersections in the town and are instructed to carry out searches on vehicles and people alike. He said they received tips on possible attacks against important installations in the town during the holy month of Ramadan which prompted the security organs to increase their presence in the area.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Nine killed as Al-Shabaab attack Somali presidential palace

08 Jul – Source: Africa Review/New Vision/BBC – 139 words

An attack by al Shabaab rebels against Somalia’s presidential palace Tuesday ended with at least nine of the attackers killed, a security official told AFP. “There were at least nine attackers, all have been killed, and the situation is under control, the attack is over,” security official Abdi Ahmed said. “There were eight blasts towards the end of the fighting, believed to have been suicide vests. They detonated themselves.” Earlier, the al Shabaab rebels said they had taken control of the office of the country’s internationally-backed president following a major assault on the presidential palace. “Our commandos are inside the so-called presidential office,” al Shabaab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab told AFP. “We are in control of the headquarters of the apostate regime.” Gunfire and explosions could be heard as suspected Islamist militants attacked the palace from two directions, witnesses told the BBC.

Eight wounded in Tanzanian tourist town restaurant blast

08 Jul – Source: Standard Media/Africa Review – 102 words

Eight people were wounded in a blast in a restaurant late Monday in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha, police said Tuesday. “The explosion took place late in the evening, eight are wounded, one seriously,” a police officer at the scene said. It was not immediately clear what caused the blast. Eight people were wounded in a blast in a restaurant late Monday in the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha, police said Tuesday. “The explosion took place late in the evening, eight are wounded, one seriously,” a police officer at the scene said. It was not immediately clear what caused the blast.

Police and KDF arrest 50 in Lamu operation

08 Jul – Source: Capital News – 111 words

Police have arrested 50 suspects connected with the Lamu and Tana River attacks following a two-day multi-agency security operation in the areas. Five of them were arrested on Tuesday by Kenya Defence Forces and will be arraigned in court once investigations are finalised. The Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo through a speech read by spokesperson Zipporah Mboroki said the operation which was being led by Deputy Inspector General of Police Samuel Arachi will ensure the area return to normalcy. “These suspects will be arraigned in court once investigations are finalised,” she stated. Mboroki also said police were investigating the source of leaflets with threatening and intimidating messages against the people.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Al Shabaab in major attack Somalia’s presidential palace: Police

08 Jul – Source: AFP/AP/Huffington Post/Reuters/ABC News – 147 words

Somalia Refresher Course to Help Boost Security in the Country

08 Jul – Source: CCTV Africa – 0202 mins

About one hundred Somali police personnel recently received training at the General Kahiye Police academy, in the country’s capital Mogadishu. The week-long training was meant to equip the officers with skills necessary to ensure vigilance and the ability to detect, as well as address any security threats.

Lazzarini urges donor community to tackle Somalia’s food crisis

08 Jul – Source: AP – 123 words

United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Philippe Lazzarini has appealed to international community to respond to Somalia’s looming food security crisis following a recent report by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The report highlighted the country’s worsening food security crisis will likely affect millions of people in south central Somalia in the next few several months. Below is Philippe Lazzarini’s statement following FAO’s recent report. “The latest assessments from the Food and Agricultural Organization warn that the food crisis in Somalia will deteriorate in the coming months, with drought conditions already observed in parts of the country due to a poor rainy season. Rainfall was recorded at less than 50 per cent of normal levels during the March to June Gu rains.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“When Coast attackers speak of “Christian invaders” stealing territory and abusing Muslims in “Muslim lands,” their argument is applicable to them both in Kenya and Somalia. Al Shabaab is using this duality to its advantage by recruiting and carrying out attacks in both countries. Contrastingly, Uhuru is misguidedly re-framing the argument as a mostly local and tribal issue–seemingly in pursuit of his own political agenda while ignoring the larger context. Uhuru is able to redirect blame at “local political networks” rather than open up the possibility that extremist groups are exploiting these very dynamics.”

Truth and Fiction: Who’s Really Behind Terrorist Attacks in Kenya?

08 Jul – Source: Somalia Newsroom – 1181 words

Terrorist operations in Nairobi, Mombasa, Mpeketoni and other sites in Kenya’s urban and coastal towns have driven a polemic debate about who exactly is responsible. Before and after al Shabaab’s September 2013 attack at the Westgate Mall, dozens of unclaimed grenade and IED explosions in the country caused considerable confusion among the public about whether the bombs were the work of al Shabaab, local affiliate al-Hijra, or even “false flag” attacks by rival Kenyan businessmen. Now that al Shabaab has increased the number of attacks it has claimed in Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration has been absolving them at each opportunity and blaming various opposition groups and politicians instead. If Uhuru is correct in claiming that al Shabaab (and its local affiliate al-Hijra) are not responsible for recent attacks, it would mean that the estimated 700 al-Hijra members and countless al Shabaab militants (from various countries) that are able to cross the porous border with Somalia have been decisively silent in recent months. In many ways, this is an unlikely proposition. To many observers, Uhuru’s deflection of al Shabaab claims is a continuation of a strategy in which he has blamed the opposition for using “hate speech” and incitement that could be used to instigate early elections–or worse–mass violence at a level seen during the ’07-’08 election crisis that could force another coalition government. If you believe the hype, it’s Raila’s would-be coup by another name. These days, Uhuru’s simmering allegations have thickened to the point of blaming rival political elements for terrorist attacks as well. The strategy could easily backfire.