June 18, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
Joint troops capture villages from al Shabaab rebels
17 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Universal TV/SNTV- 133 words
Somali government forces with the support of African Union troops and Ethiopian forces,on Sunday evening launched an offense against al Qaeda-linked Somali rebels, capturing villages near the central town of Beledweyne. Confirming the incident, AMISOM troops commander in Hiiraan region Col Osman Dubad told Bar-kulan that joint troops have captured areas including Luq-Jesow, Baar, El-Ali, and Bardhere villages. Dubad underlined that the troops detained at least 11 al Shabaab fighters and sympathizers during the operation. AMISOM commander vowed that the operations to sweep al Shabaab away from areas in central Somalia will continue.
Key Headlines
- Somali president returns to Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Joint troops capture villages from al Shabaab rebels (Universal TV/SNTV)
- Tension mounts in an area near El-Dher (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Somali government troops seized over 100 people in security operation in Hodan district ( Radio Mustaqbal)
- Kenya begins process of repatriating one million Somali refugees (Standard/Capital News)
- Mandera crime wave blamed on foreigners (Star (Kenya)
- Kenyan police kill two in raids on suspected militants’ homes (Reuters)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali president returns to Mogadishu
17 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Universal TV- 108 words
A high-level delegation led by the president of the Somali Federal government Hassan Sheikh Mohamud hason Monday returned to the Somali capital Mogadishu. The delegation returned to Somalia from London where they attended the G8 summit. The delegation was cordially received at the Aden Adde international airport in Mogadishu by Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, Parliament speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari together with other government officials. Addressing the media at Mogadishu airport, Somali president spokesman Eng Abdirahman Omar Osman stated that the president’s meeting with Britain Prime Minister David Cameroon was successful. The Somali President met various British officials during his two day official visit in the UK.
Joint troops capture villages from al Shabaab rebels
17 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Universal TV/SNTV- 133 words
Somali government forces with the support of African Union troops and Ethiopian forces, on Sunday evening launched an offense against al Qaeda-linked Somali rebels, capturing villages near the central town of Beledweyne. Confirming the incident, AMISOM troops commander in Hiiraan region Col Osman Dubad told Bar-kulan that joint troops have captured areas including Luq-Jesow, Baar, El-Ali, and Bardhere villages. Dubad underlined that the troops detained at least 11 al Shabaab fighters and sympathizers during the operation. AMISOM commander vowed that the operations to sweep al Shabaab away from areas in central Somalia will continue.
Tension mounts in an area near El-Dher
17 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 111 words
Reports from El-Dher indicate that tension has mounted between Galcad residents of El-Dher district in Somalia’s central region Galgadud and al Shabaab militant in the area. Speaking to Bar-kulan, a senior Ahlu Sunna official in Galgadud region stated that tension has sparked after a prominent traditional elder called Abdillahi Gesey was shot dead in the area by unknown gunmen last week.The militants vowed to arrest criminals behind the killing of the elder, but tension and doubts begun to emerge have al Shabaab failed to make any arrests in connection with the elder’s killing, al Qaeda-affiliated militant often terrorize and torture residents in the areas they still control.
Somali government troops seized over 100 people in security operation in Hodan district
17 Jun- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 145 words
Somali federal government troops have on Monday morning conducted security operation in Hodan district in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, where they arrested over 100 people suspected to have links with al Shabaab fighters. The officials leading the operation didn’t comment as Mustaqbal radio contacted them on the telephone line. The government troops were enforcing the security operation in the last days in Mogadishu and have been making house to house searches in the districts of Banadir region.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya begins process of repatriating one million Somali refugees
17 Jun- Source: Standard/Capital News- 364 words
Kenya will host a major international conference in August to discuss on modalities of repatriating more than one million Somali refugees to their country. The conference, which will be held in the second week of August, will be co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya, Somali and UNHCR with the International Organization for Immigration (IOM) being invited. Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed Monday revealed that a group of international organisations are already mapping out safe places for the refugees to resettle; saying the exercise will be conducted in the most humane manner.
Mandera crime wave blamed on foreigners
17 Jun- Source: Star (Kenya)- 480 words
Employment of foreigners by residents of Mandera has been cited as the reason behind the increase in insecurity incidences in the county. Khalalio location chief in Mandera East Mohamed Kahiye revealed that many aliens from the Neighboring countries of Ethiopia and Somalia were working in Mandera illegally after they were employed by the local people.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan police kill two in raids on suspected militants’ homes
17 Jun- Source: Reuters- 349 words
Kenyan police shot dead two suspected militants on Monday who they said were planning attacks in the country on behalf of Somalia’s al Shabaab. During a dawn raid on a house in the port city of Mombasa, police shot Kassim Omollo after he defied orders to surrender and returned fire, senior police officer Thomas Sangut said. Police arrested Omollo’s wife, who gave information that led them to the home of the second suspect, Salim Mohammed Nyiro, also known as Abdullahi.
Somalis get Aussie asylum option
17 Jun- Source: the Australian -632 words
People-smugglers in Kenya and Somalia are telling Somalis seeking asylum they can easily get them to Australia through Malaysia and Indonesia. Australian Somali Association president Abdullahi Farah said he had been expecting an influx of Somalis arriving by boat as the message of an Australian option grew. It comes as a woman was found dead on an asylum-seeker boat carrying about 60 Africans and people from the Middle East after it was stopped by HMAS Warramunga east-northeast of Christmas Island on Saturday. The Australian Federal Police is investigating and will prepare a report for the West Australian Coroner.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“European states place a top priority on the stability and development of East Africa”.
European, East African prosperity are intertwined
15 Jun- Source: East African- 503 words
Last month, when more than 50 countries met at the Somalia Conference in London, the European Union committed $575 million in new funding to the rebirth and security of that fragile nation. In doing so, European Union member states were building on their long-term status as the single biggest donor to Somalia’s stability.
The European Union continues to demonstrate its commitment not just to Somalia, but to a comprehensive strategy that benefits the whole of East Africa — an approach that will be developed further at September’s New Deal Conference for Somalia in Brussels.