June 12, 2017 | Morning Headlines
U.S. Airstrike Hits Al-Shabaab; Somalia Says Base Destroyed
11 June – Source : Reuters – 276 Words
The United States carried out an airstrike on al Shabaab militants in Somalia on Sunday, and Somalia said its special forces had joined in the attack to destroy one of the group’s main training and command posts. The Pentagon estimated that the strike, in response to attacks in Somalia by al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, killed eight militants. The strike was the first by the United States in Somalia under new authorities granted by President Donald Trump in March and was conducted in coordination with regional partners, the Pentagon said. It was a drone strike, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity.
The base was in the Middle Juba region in southern Somalia, the office of Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi said. “Earlier today, I authorised our special forces with the support of our international partners to conduct a strike against an al Shabaab training camp near Sakow,” his statement said. “This was a successful strike that destroyed a key al Shabaab command and supply hub. This will ultimately disrupt the enemy’s ability to conduct new attacks within Somalia.” There was no immediate comment from al Shabaab.
On Thursday, al Shabaab killed 59 people in an attack on a military base in the semi-autonomous Puntland region in northern Somalia. Since being pushed out of the capital Mogadishu in 2011, al Shabaab has lost control of most of Somalia’s cities and towns. But it still retains a strong presence in swathes of the south and center and still carries out major gun and bomb attacks. The group aims to topple Somalia’s government, drive out African Union peacekeeping troops and impose its own harsh interpretation of Islamic law.
Key Headlines
- U.S. Airstrike Hits Al-Shabaab; Somalia Says Base Destroyed (Reuters)
- PM Khaire To Attend IGAD Extra-Ordinary Summit In Ethiopia Monday (Goobjoog News)
- A Forum On Political Multi-Party System Kicks Off Amid Security Crisis In Bari (Garowe Online)
- Explosion Hits Near Busy Junction In Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
- Somalia’s Puntland President Seeks Global Effort To Tackle Terrorism (Xinhuanet)
- The Agenda: PM Should Push For Joint IGAD Position On Qatari Crisis During Summit (Goobjoog News)
NATIONAL MEDIA
PM Khaire To Attend IGAD Extra-Ordinary Summit In Ethiopia Monday
11 June – Source : Goobjoog News – 144 Words
Prime Minister of Somalia Hassan Ali Khaire is expected to attend the IGAD Extra-Ordinary Summit on South Sudan on Monday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Summit convened by current chair Hailemariam Desalegn, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia is expected to address the unfolding humanitarian and security situation in South Sudan. “The Summit is expected to deliberate on the dire security and humanitarian situation facing South Sudan,” read statement from the IGAD Secretariat in Djibouti.
The deteriorating security situation has resulted in sharp increase of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, requiring IGAD Leaders to speak with one voice to abate the crisis,” the Secretariat noted. Prime Minister Khaire is however expected to brief the Summit on the humanitarian situation, security and refugee situation in Somalia. This will be the PM’s first visit to Ethiopia and his second abroad since his appointment to the premiership.
A Forum On Political Multi-Party System Kicks Off Amid Security Crisis In Bari
11 June – Source : Garowe Online – 237 Words
A forum to discuss on multi-party system has kicked off in the regional capital of Garowe on Sunday, organized by Puntland administration. The forum is participated by top government officials led by Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, prominent elders, politicians and members of the civil society, held in Puntland Research and Development Center (PDRC). Sources said the attendance of the forum was low, which aimed to focus on the reasons for the delays to open political parties by the civil societies despite the government early announcing the launch of the democratization process in the region.
Another controversy shadowed the forum is the time of the meeting which comes three days after the recent tragedy in Af Urur village where militant group Al-Shabaab has attacked military outpost killing many soldiers and civilians. On the other hands, pundits have expressed doubts on the plans of the government to implement the political multi-party system while the mandate of the current government is scheduled to end next year.
The current administration has failed to take steps to adopt the democratization system in Puntland after assuming office in 2014, although President Ali vowed during his campaign to expedite the process in the first year. The past administration led by former President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, attempted to carry out a democratic election in 2014 but oppositions groups and several clans have strongly opposed the move who saw it as risk to their political interests.
Explosion Hits Near Busy Junction In Mogadishu
11 June – Source : Hiiraan Online – 112 Words
An explosion was reported near a busy intersection in Mogadishu on Sunday evening, according to local residents. Residents report hearing an explosion just before 7 PM (local time) and placed the blast near the Banadir junction, close to the Digfer hospital. Gunfire could be heard immediately after the blast.
Local radio reports that the blast could have been targeting military personnel who were travelling on the road, although that cannot be independently confirmed as of yet. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility, however, the modus operandi of the explosion seems to point towards Al-Shabaab. On Sunday morning, the U.S. hit militant supply routes in an airstrike in southern Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s Puntland President Seeks Global Effort To Tackle Terrorism
10 June – Source : Xinhuanet – 249 Words
President of Somalia’s Puntland region Abdiweli Mohamed Ali on Saturday called on the global community to support his administration in the fight against Al-Shabaab terrorists who have stepped up their onslaught in the region. Ali who also condemned Thursday’s deadly attack on the region’s military base in Af-Urur, about 100km from the port city of Bosaso, and appointed a committee to assess the number of casualties in the incident. “Al-Shabaab militants who attacked civilians and Puntland forces at Af Urur area committed a genocide. I commend Puntland forces for protecting their people and land from terrorists,” he said.
Ali vowed to revenge on the militants following the attack that claimed lives of more than 30 soldiers. “We call on the federal government of Somalia and the international partners to support us in the strong fight Al-Shabaab. We are committed to remove the terrorists from our region and enough is enough,” Ali said. Heavily armed militants stormed a military base in Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland, killing over 30 people and injuring dozens more.
The assault began with a blast at the remote Af-Urur camp, about 100km west of the commercial hub of Bosaso, before the fighters overran the base and killed Puntland Dervish Army at close range. Puntland’s interior minister Abdi Hersi Ali said the militants killed fasting civilians, including elders before attacking the troops stationed at the base and dismissed the death toll figure given by the Al-Shabaab who had claimed they killed 61 soldiers, terming it “baseless”.
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“The Prime Minister should seek solidarity with IGAD bloc regarding the ongoing Qatar crisis which is fast spiraling with far reaching diplomatic, economic and even security consequences in the Gulf region and by extension countries allied to the Gulf. Somalia is a member of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Countries hence it is directly or indirectly affected by the spillover effects of the Qatar crisis.”
The Agenda: PM Should Push For Joint IGAD Position On Qatari Crisis During Summit
11 June – Source : Goobjoog News – 616 Words
Prime Minister Hassan Khaire will be attending the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Extra-Ordinary Summit in Addis Ababa, the second of his foreign visits since coming into office February. The Prime Minister is expected to among others brief the IGAD members which comprise Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti on interventions regarding the ongoing drought, security situation in the country and economic developments towards Somalia’s recovery process. Though the Extra-Ordinary Summit has been convened in light of the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in South Sudan, it is also expected to follow-up on commitments by the Heads of States and Governments of the bloc during the March Extra-Ordinary Summit in Nairobi.
During the Summit, the leaders agreed on joint proposals to deal with the Somali refugee crisis in Somalia whose effects have spread to virtually all the IGAD countries. In the Summit, the leaders agreed to harmonize and ease refugee laws in member states to allow refugees access gainful employment in countries they are under refuge. The bloc also proposed the formation of a Multi-Donor Trust fund to be managed by the Federal Government of Somalia with the aim of supporting and facilitating the creation of an enabling environment and the rolling out of durable solutions, including safe, sustainable and voluntary return of refugees. Focusing on tomorrow’s meeting, the Prime Minister should consider the following issues as integral in his agenda and address to the meeting.
First, the Prime Minister should seek solidarity with IGAD bloc regarding the ongoing Qatar crisis which is fast spiraling with far reaching diplomatic, economic and even security consequences in the Gulf region and by extension countries allied to the Gulf. Somalia is a member of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Countries hence it is directly or indirectly affected by the spillover effects of the Qatar crisis. Prime Minister Khaire should therefore push for a joint IGAD position on the Qatar crisis-a neutral position just as his government had indicated earlier in the week. As a key and founding member of IGAD, Somalia deserves support and solidarity from its neighbours and members of the regional body.
Secondly, Somalia has missed out significantly in the leadership of IGAD for a long time. This is Somalia’s time to not only have a voice in the regional bloc but also constitute its leadership. The Prime Minister should therefore convince the IGAD bloc to give Somalia an influential position now and ensure it takes the mantle of chair of the Secretariat upon the conclusion of the term of the current occupant. Somalia needs to bring its voice, experiences and solutions to the policy making and implementing room of IGAD.