June 18, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Al Shabaab carry out suicide car attack in Afgoye
16 Jun – Source: Garowe Online/Somaliweyn/Bar-kulan/
A car full of explosives driven by an al Shabaab agent smashed into a base used by Somali forces in the town of Afgoye on Saturday. The suicide attack on Saturday afternoon was claimed by al Shabaab, who said that they had killed over a dozen of people in the attack in the Afgoye corridor, which is located 30 kms from Mogadishu.
Key Headlines
- President Sharif travels to Saudi Arabia (Radio Mogadishu)
- Former Somalia parliament speaker laid to rest (Bar-Kulan)
- Somalia Sudan sign agreements on education sector (Bar-Kulan)
- Security forces detain 10 suspected al Shabaab members in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)
- Solar-lighting begins in Mogadishu (Daily Nation)
- WHO reopens health clinic after al Shabaab retreat (Global Post)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM Police concludes week‐long workshop on Gender based violence in support of the Somali Police Force (SPF)
17 Jun – Source: AMISOM – 499 words
The Police Component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has concluded a Gender Based Violence Workshop in support of the Somali Police Force (SPF) which pooled participants from the Somali Police Force, TFG Ministry of Women Affairs and Family Support, the Somali Civil Society, female ambassadors representative from Addis Ababa, Somali public health officials as well as specialists from Sierra Leone and Rwanda.
In his keynote address during the official opening, the Special Representative of the Chairperson for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Boucacar Diarra, thanked the TFG for its continued resolve in working with partners to build the capacity of the Somali police force in order to ensure proper policing in Somalia. He commended the organizers for putting gender ]based violence at the forefront of rule and law.
Ambassador Diarra said that the workshop is being organized at a crucial time when the mission is being expanded. As we expand the mission, the challenges ahead will be many. This will require a well ]trained Somali Police Force capable of understanding all aspects of policing and also capable of enforcing the rule of law and protecting its population including women who are vulnerable in conflict environment h, he added.
AMISOM Police Commissioner ] Dr. Charles Makono said that the workshop was organized to develop a broad ]based, Systematic and coordinated response mechanism that will enable the Somali Police Force (SPF) and other key stakeholders to effectively address issues of Gender Based Violence against women, children and other vulnerable groups including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
This workshop is within the framework of AMISOM fs mandate to support the implementation of benchmark 1 also known as Security Pillar for the end of the transition period adopted by the
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia on 6 September 2011. It is also in line with the new National Security Stabilization Plan (NSSP) which provides for the protection of civilians, women and children rights and minority groups. h He said.
Dr. Makono said that participants to the workshop have developed the framework for the formulation of Systematic Gender Based Violence Strategy for Somalia to involve key stakeholders in the SPF, the Judiciary and Women Organizations. He said; The workshop has also helped us to develop a framework to establish Victim Friendly Courts (VFC) to handle cases involving Gender Based Violence that will deal with the perpetrators as a way to restore the dignity of victims.
The AMISOM Police Commissioner added that the workshop also helped to come up with a strategy to enhance safety and security of women, children and other vulnerable groups. The Somali Police Commissioner thanked AMISOM for organizing the workshop. He stressed the importance of protection of the vulnerable groups of society such as women and children. He bemoaned lack of resources to ensure quick implementation of the crafted strategic action plan but said; gwe are committed to ensuring the dignity of our people and therefore will endeavor to do what we can with what is available.
SOMALI MEDIA
Car bomb explodes near a market in Mogadishu
17 Jun – Source: Shabelle/Bar-kulan/Mareeg Online/Jowhar Online – 106 words
A powerful car bomb exploded near a market in Somali capital, wounding at least three people, most of them nearby civilians, witnesses and officials said on Sunday. A small luxury car laden with explosives parked beside a road near Suuq-Bacad market went off, missing its target of the army base, according to Mohudin Mohammed Hassan Jurus, the district commissioner of Yaqshid for the TFG.
President Sharif travels to Saudi Arabia
17 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu/ SONNA- 162 words
A high level delegation led by the TFG’s president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Sunday departed the country heading towards the kingdom of Saudi Arabia where they will attend the burial ceremony of the deceased crownprince, Amir Na’if Bin Abdul Asis Al-Saud.
The official trip of the president to Saudi Arabia was accompanied by high level ministerial delegations including the deputy prime minister who is also the country’s Agriculture and livestock development minister, minister of justice and reconciliation and many other government officials.
Former Somalia parliament speaker laid to rest
15 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 82 words
The late former Somali speaker of the parliament Mokhtar Mohamed Hussein was laid to rest shortly after Friday prayer last week. The burial in Mogadishu was attended by top Somali officials including President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, speaker of parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan and several other TFG dignitaries.
Al Shabaab carry out suicide car attack in Afgoye
16 Jun – Source: Garowe Online/Somaliweyn/Bar-kulan/
A car full of explosives driven by an al Shabaab agent smashed into a base used by Somali forces in the town of Afgoye on Saturday. The suicide attack on Saturday afternoon was claimed by al Shabaab, who said that they had killed over a dozen of people in the attack in the Afgoye corridor, which is located 30 kms from Mogadishu.
Somalia, Sudan sign agreements on education sector
15 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 54 words
Somalia’s Education Ministry has signed agreements with its Sudanese counterpart in Khartoum, education ministry officials say.Under the agreements, Sudan will support Somalia in education sector including provision of scholarships to Somali students. The two ministries also agreed to have a close cooperation with each other, according to Somalia’s education minister, Ahmed Aideed Ibrahim.
Puntland’s Parliament begins 28th Session
17 Jun – Source: Horseed Media – 130 words
The Parliament of Puntland yesterday reconvened after months of recess, and began the first Meeting of it’s 28th Session. The vice President of Puntland Gen.Abdisamad Ali Shire officially opened the meeting, which was attend by 48 of 66 MP’s of the Puntland’s Parliament.
Security forces detain 10 suspected al Shabaab members in Mogadishu
17 Jun – Source: Radio Shabelle – 81 words
Somali security forces have arrested alleged al Shabaab militants in connection with the insecurity situation in Mogadishu after conducting search operations in the past few days, an official said on Sunday. Omar Abdulle Ja’fan, the district commissioner of Huriwa for the Somali government told reporters in Mogadishu that more than 10 people charged to have links with al Shabaab were arrested during crackdowns.
Somaliland forces seize territory in the south
16 Jun – Source: Somaliland Press – 94 words
The Somaliland military have seized a strategic territory near the Somalia border following an offensive against an outlawed separatist rebel on Saturday. The fighting erupted in the early hours of Saturday in the small but strategic town of Tukaraq in Sool region, some 30 kilometers south of the provincial capital Las Anod. Eyewitnesses in Tukaraq said they heard heavy gunfire from the fighting but there were no casualties.
http://somalilandpress.com/
TFG forces take control parts of Gedo region in southern Somalia
16 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu- 108 words
The TFG forces backed by the peacekeeping forces of AMISOM on Saturday took control of al Shabaab military bases in Gedo region in southern Somalia. Warfaa Sheikh Aden, TFG military spokesman in southern Somalia, has briefed the gains of the joint military forces saying that the extremists were inflicted major casualties.
Mr. Warfaa added that the TFG control will continue their military operations in southern Somalia until al Shabaab insurgents vacate the whole territory.
Somali Government announced AMISOM Forces to be deployed in all Southern regions
16 Jun- Source: Radio Mogadishu/ Somalia Report- 50 words
Somali Defense Minister Hussen Arab Isse on Friday declared that the African Union Peacekeepers will reach all regions liberated from al Shabaab. Speaking to Radio Mogadishu, the minister said, “some of the peacekeepers already arrived in the region and we are preparing other troops who will reach the recent liberated regions.”
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan al Shabaab fighters present problems for families
16 Jun – Source: Capital News/VOA -131 words
Al Shabaab has long relied on an extensive funding and recruitment network funneled through a community-based organization in Kenya called the Muslim Youth Center. Kenyans say there has been a devastating impact on the community resulting from hundreds of young men leaving their families to join the Islamist movement.
Solar-lighting begins in Mogadishu
17 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 176 words
On Thursday evening, a number of youths lined up at Maka al-Mukarrama Avenue, a major road that links the city’ Aden Abdulle International Airport and Villa Somalia, the state house in the Somali capital Mogadishu.
The aim was to offer the youngsters an opportunity to race for a medal offered by the municipality of Mogadishu.
Continuing security concerns at Dadaab refugee camp
17 Jun- Source: Coastweek/ Xinhua- 579 words
The United Nations High Commission for Refugees will mark this year’s World Refugee Day next week amid security concerns at the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya which borders war-torn Somalia.
Government and UN officials said the insecurity fears is the biggest headache for the global body charged with the responsibility of looking after the welfare of refugees around the world.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
US declassifies attacks in Yemen, Somalia
16 Jun- Source: AP- 765 words
The White House is partially lifting the lid of secrecy on its counterterrorism campaign against al-Qaida in Yemen and Somalia by formally acknowledging for the first time that it is conducting lethal attacks in those countries. The White House’s semiannual report to Congress on the state of U.S. combat operations abroad, delivered Friday, mentions what has been widely reported for years but never formally acknowledged by the administration: The U.S. military has been taking “direct action” against members of al-Qaida and affiliates in Yemen and Somalia.
WHO reopens health clinic after al Shabaab retreat
16 Jun – Source: Global Post – 158 words
For nearly four years no one in this central Somali town had seen a doctor. Cancers spread, tumors and cists grew, wounds were roughly stitched with unsterilized needles, fractures healed unevenly on their own, mothers died and babies were born, all without medical care.
When Somalia’s Islamist extremists, Al Shabaab, took over Hudur town in Bakool region in 2008, they evicted the only aid agencies operating in the town and looted the storerooms at the town’s only medical center, a maternal health clinic.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Terrorism can be defeated, when governments invest in people-centred welfare projects that make them feel their vote is of value. In the end, there can be no replacement for development. A people who feel their government is not doing enough to get them out of poverty will always succumb to manipulation.”
How al Shabaab can be defeated
17 Jun – Source: New Vision – 696 Words
IS this the end for the al Shabaab terrorists in Somalia?” Following the capture the strategic towns of Afgooye, 30km west of Mogadishu and Afmadow in the south of the country? This seemed to be the question lurking behind the usual and unceasing phone calls from those interested in these developments. To their surprise, my answer was always an emphatic “No!” The rush to declare victory, while a source of encouragement to some, can also be deeply misleading.
“In Istanbul, Somalis of different backgrounds networked, exchanged ideas and many of us are today even more committed to the cause than before. We plan to use the Istanbul conference as a launching pad to fully engage in the Somali political process, not only from our academic or professional offices in the West, but in the streets of Bosaso, Hargaisa and Mogadishu.”
Inspired: Progressive Somalis on the rise
16 Jun – Source: Aljazeera English – 892 Words
Rare are the occasions that we are inspired.
I can count on one hand the number of times that have I felt transformative forces at play in my surroundings. The recent Istanbul civil society conference of May 27-30 was one such experience. Having received the invitation to this gathering barely a fortnight before the date the proceedings were to start, I remained sceptical of the outcome and the utility of such a meeting. I, and many other participants I have spoken with, felt that this could be one more futile international meeting called under the premise of addressing Somali concerns. Our memory is filled with these, which have become almost cliche.