June 27, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Somalia gains another area from al Shabaab militants
26 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 160 words
The African Union and Somali forces have gained yet another territory from al Shabaab militants after hundreds of its forces and Somali troops swept into Bal’ad, a town north of Mogadishu, forcing al Shabaab militants to flee. AMISOM spokesman Paddy Ankunda confirmed to Bar-kulan that the town changed hands peacefully. “Bal’ad is now completely secured, the Ugandan contingent advanced this morning and captured the town, the al Shabaab fled”, said Ankunda.
Key Headlines
- African Union Troops secure Balad town from al Shabaab terror group (AMISOM)
- General Abdullahi Anood: “our next stop is Jowhar” (Radio Risaala)
- TFG optimistic of its talks with Somaliland (Bar-Kulan)
- TFG army officials: Fighting kills 8 people mostly militants in Southern Somalia (Shabelle)
- Somaliland president sends congratulations to the people over Independence Day (Hahdhwanaag Times)
- Telecoms firm draws militia’s ire in Somalia (The Standard)
- Troops prepare to deploy to Somalia (British Forces News)
PRESS STATEMENT
African Union Troops secure Balad town from al Shabaab terror group
26 Jun- Source: AMISOM- 222 words
The Somali National Forces supported by African Union troops in Somalia have this morning secured Balad town from the Al†Qaeda backed terror group the Al†Shabaab.
Situated 30kms north of Mogadishu, Balad is an area rich in farmland and a bread†basket for most of Somalia. Securing Balad allows the local population in this important farming region to build their livelihoods free from extortion of money which Al†Shabaab used to fund their daily terror activities against the Somali people.
Speaking about the importance of Balad town the AMISOM Deputy Force Commander Brigadier General Audace Nduwumunsi said: “The Al†Shabaab were using Balad to launch attacks on Mogadishu. Now that it is liberated, the city of Mogadishu will be much secure from terrorist activities”.
Balad is a key strategic town and its loss is an enormous setback for Al†Shabaab, being the gateway connecting Mogadishu to central Somalia regions as well as the Puntland regions. It is 50kms from Jowhar, the provincial town of Middle Shabelle region.
Last week Somali leaders agreed to the country’s draft transitional federal constitution and emphasized the principles of ending the transition by August this year. The Al†Qaeda backed terror group has in recent months lost most strategic towns in both south and central regions of the country.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia gains another area from al Shabaab militants
26 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 160 words
The African Union and Somali forces have gained yet another territory from al Shabaab militants after hundreds of its forces and Somali troops swept into Bal’ad, a town north of Mogadishu, forcing al Shabaab militants to flee. African Union force spokesman Paddy Ankunda confirmed to Bar-kulan that the town changed hands peacefully. “Bal’ad is now completely secured, the Ugandan contingent advanced this morning and captured the town, the al Shabaab fled”, said Ankunda.
General Abdullahi Anood: “our next stop is Jowhar”
26 Jun- Source: Radio Risaala- 115 words
Senior commanders of the TFG forces yesterday described the events which led to their capture of Bal’ad, located in the Middle Shabelle. TFG and AMISOM jointly entered the town without any clashes or resistance from al Shabaab. TFG General Abdullahi Ali Anood noted that his forces were now beyond Bal’ad and were currently stationed at Galaleey and that their next target was to liberate Jowhar from the claws of al Shabaab.
TFG optimistic of its talks with Somaliland
26 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 139 words
The TFG has expressed its optimism in regards to its recent talks with Somaliland in London. Interior and Internal security minister Abdisamed Mo’alim Mohamoud said the London talks ended in a good atmosphere, based on mutual understanding between the two sides. He said the meeting was the first of its kind in two decades and that he hoped that the two sides will later come to a positive conclusion.
TFG army officials: Fighting kills 8 people, mostly militants in Southern Somalia
26 Jun- Source: Shabelle- 188 words
A Somali army official says at least eight people, mostly Al Qaeda-affiliated militants were killed and seven others wounded in a heavy battle between government soldiers backed by Kenyan military forces in Lower Jubba region, south of the country. The combat erupted after al Shabaab agents with rocket-propelled grenades and machine-guns attacked Somali and Kenyan army bases in Badhadhe town yesterday morning.
Somaliland president sends congratulations to the people over Independence Day
26 Jun- Source: Hahdhwanaag Times- 52 words
The president of Somaliland republic, Ahmed Mohamud Silanyo on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Somalilanders over the commemoration of Somaliland’s independence about 52 years ago. The president of Somaliland Mr. Silanyo expressed his hope for the people of Somaliland to live in peace and prosperity.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Telecoms firm draws militia’s ire in Somalia
26 Jun- Source: Standard- 591 words
A money transfer venture by Somalia’s leading telecommunication company [Hormuud], modelled alongside Safaricom’s M-Pesa system, has come under threat of closure by the Al Shabaab terror gang. Through public statements aired on some Somali radio stations and posted on the Internet, Al Shabaab claims the service, which has proved popular among the Kenya Defence Forces tracking down the rag-tag army in Somalia, is “an oppressive tool of the Jews and US”.
AU forces seize key al Shabaab towns
26 Jun- Source: Daily Nation- 232 words
TFG force and African Union peacekeepers have seized al Shabaab bases in the south of Mogadishu following Monday attacks.
The allied forces pushed further fighters of al Shabaab, taking over villages and settlements close to Awdegle town in Lower Shabelle region, about 65km southwest of Mogadishu. “The pro-government forces moved towards south of Afoye town,” a resident in Barire village, 55km west of Mogadishu, said.
Other reports indicated that more fighting took place at Lanta Bur, an Al-Shabaab training ground.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Uganda detains five Pakistanis suspected of rebel ties
26 Jun- Source: Reuters- 191 words
Uganda has arrested five Pakistanis suspected of militant links, police said on Tuesday, two weeks before the second anniversary of a bombing attack in Kampala for which Somali Islamist rebel group al Shaabab claimed responsibility.
UN refugee agency: more displaced Somalis citing difficulty in providing for themselves
26 Jun- Source: UNHCR -491 words
The UN refugee agency said today that growing numbers of displaced Somalis have been citing difficulty in providing for themselves as the main reason for fleeing their homes. Most of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Somalis have fled their country to escape insecurity, including 146,000 so far this year, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Troops prepare to deploy to Somalia
26 Jun- Source: British Forces News- 4:01 words
Ten years ago Sierra Leone was coming out of a decade of a brutal civil war. British military intervention helped saved the country and bring it to peace.
Now, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, or RSALF have progressed so much that for the first time they are about to deploy a battalion of troops into Somalia, another country plagued by civil war.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
How To Get To Somalia Without Getting Killed By Pirates (VIDEO)
26 June- Source: Huffington Post-57 Words
The Gulf of Aden is nicknamed “Pirate Alley” for the unfortunate amount of piracy in the area. Attacks are unlikely on Somali ships, and for a fee (and with a little luck), tourists can hitch a ride from Yemen with some cargo. In my case, there were a lot of cookies involved.
Here’s how I did it.