June 14, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Ethiopian forces ditch another town in south-central Somalia
13 Jun – Source: Garowe Online – 160 words
Ethiopian and government backed Ahlu Sunna forces, have abandoned another town in south central Somalia, Garowe reports. The village of Wabho, approximately 40 kms south west of El Bur was vacated by Ahlu Sunnah and Ethiopian forces on Tuesday. According to residents of Wabho, after the allied forces deserted the village, al Shabaab militants quickly seized control and have been carrying out inspections of the allied forces’ empty barracks.
Key Headlines
- President Sharif visits fresh frontlines in lower Shabelle region (Radio Mogadishu)
- Al Shabaab beheads a veteran Somali elder in Galgadud region (SONNA)
- MP condemns TFG officials (Shabelle)
- Somali forces to receive their monthly salaries soon (Bar-Kulan)
- Somalia PM thanks Kenya for solid support (Capital News)
- Tanzania police: top al Shabaab suspect seized (Reuters)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president returns to Mogadishu
13 Jun- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 120 words
Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed yesterday returned to Mogadishu after being in Lower-Shabelle for several days.
Mr. Sharif visited Mareerey town close to the port town of Marka which al Shabaab fighters are still controlling.
Al Shabaab beheads a veteran Somali elder in Galgadud region
13 Jun – Source: Radio Mogadishu/ SONNA – 118 words
Reports from Galgaduud region in central Somalia indicates that al Shabaab extremists on Wednesday beheaded a veteran Somali elder in Webho district after accusing him of having links with Ahlu Sunna movement and the Ethiopian troops who abandoned the city days ago.
President Sharif visits fresh frontlines in lower Shabelle region
13 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu- 130 words
TFG president Sharif Sh. Ahmed yesterday visited the latest frontlines at Mararey village close to Afgoye district where al Shabaab was recently freed from by national forces backed by the African Union peacekeeping forces.
MP condemns TFG officials
13 Jun – Source: Shabelle – 87 words
A lawmaker in Somali parliament accused Somali authorities of appointing new ambassadors and high-ranking officials as the country is preparing to hold presidential elections by August 20 in this year. Professor Mohammed Omar Dalha, the legislator said” Somali government top officials are busy for their own interests instead the nation by naming fresh districts where they want the new inhabitants’ votes for the next elections.” On the other hand, Professor Dalha denounced Roadmap signatories of misusing their legitimacy and power against the country and the people of Somalia.
Somali forces to receive their monthly salaries soon
13 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 102 words
President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has assured the Somali forces that they will soon receive their monthly salary. Speaking at Marerey village on the outskirt of Afgoye town on Wednesday, the president said his government is working on plans to make sure that the armed forces are paid monthly for their services.
UN envoy speaks out on his political role in Somalia
13 Jun- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 154 words
Speaking in an exclusive interview conducted by radio Kulmiye the United Nations’ Special Envoy to Somalia Augustine Mahiga spoke out over his current political role in Somalia.
The ambassador praised the process of the country’s constitution process but denied any interference with the internal affairs of the Somalis.
Al Shabaab detain seven in Wabho, Galgadud region
13 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 100 words
Al Shabaab militants in Wabho town have reportedly detained at least seven people for allegedly collaborating with Alhu Sunna militias who were manning the town earlier. Reports say the accused were rounded up after heavily armed militants conducted an operation since yesterday afternoon. Some of the detainees were reportedly bundled into rebel trucks heading towards Elbur town where they are expected to face a rebel court.
Ethiopian forces ditch another town in south-central Somalia
13 Jun – Source: Garowe Online – 160 words
Ethiopian and government backed Ahlu Sunna forces, have abandoned another town in south central Somalia, Garowe reports. The village of Wabho, approximately 40 kms south west of El Bur was vacated by Ahlu Sunnah and Ethiopian forces on Tuesday. According to residents of Wabho, after the allied forces deserted the village, al Shabaab militants quickly seized control and have been carrying out inspections of the allied forces’ empty barracks.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somalia PM thanks Kenya for solid support
13 Jun – Source: Capital News – 139 words
Somalia Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has thanked Kenya for its unwavering support to the war-torn nation.
Acknowledging the role Kenya has continued to play towards the restoration of peace in Somalia, the prime minister expressed optimism that his country was on the right path towards stability.
Kenyan police in Tanzania to pursue terror suspect
13 Jun- Source: Capital News- 411 words
Kenya sent its officers to neighbouring Tanzania on Wednesday to commence extradition proceedings against a wanted terror suspect who was arrested there, weeks after Nairobi circulated his photograph.
Emrah Erdogan who is thought to be a German or Turkish national has been on the run since last month after he slipped out of Kenya, days after a bomb went off at a building on Nairobi’s Moi Avenue leaving one person dead and 37 others wounded.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Tanzania police: top al Shabaab suspect seized
13 Jun- Source: Radio Netherlands/ Reuters- 233 words
Tanzania police said on Tuesday they have arrested a top German terrorist, whom they have pursued since the 28 May bombing in Nairobi.
Last month, Kenyan police released a photo of a man they identified as Emrah Erdogan, a German national of Turkish origin who is also known as Salahuddin al-Kurdi. The Kenyan police said he had entered the east African country from Somalia in May.
How a former council official from west London has helped tame the world’s most dangerous city
9 June – Source: The Telegraph – 1151 words
As his armoured car bumps through the rutted streets of Mogadishu on the way home from another day at the office, Abdirahman Osman often stares through the thick bullet-proof glass at the chaos outside and thinks of his family back in London.
The twice-daily commute from the government’s fortified headquarters, where Mr Osman is the prime minister’s right-hand man, is now relatively safe. At least, it is by the standards of Mogadishu, which until last year was routinely described as the most dangerous city in the world.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The International Community must form an independent inquiry commission to probe the circumstances surrounding the case. The Somali public and donors should identify the disgraced villains that abused the power and utilized the public funds for their own private interests.”
Comment on World Bank Report about the scandalous Corruption and Mismanagement in Somalia’s TFG
13 Jun – Source: Hiiraan Online – 382 Words
The recent report issued by the WB which disclosed the theft of over 100 million US dollar of public funds collected from tax revenues or donations paid by the international community to aid the Somali people sounds shock and bizarre. Though the exposé of the swindle made to the public at present, but supposedly the incident was not unusual among Somalis top politicians.