March 2, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Somalia’s al Shabaab launches surprise Garbaharey raid
01 Mar – Source: BBC – 143 words
Islamist militants have made a surprise attack on a south-western town used by Ethiopian and Somali government-backed troops as a base to launch assaults. The al-Shabab fighters used heavy weaponry in the attack on Garbaharey, which it controlled until a year ago. Two senior military officers were killed and several wounded, a Somali MP and other officials told the BBC. This is the first major attack by al-Shabab since it lost control last week of Baidoa, an important stronghold. BBC Somali Service analyst Abdullahi Sheikh says the Garbaharey attack was a major military operation – and a strong indication that the movement’s retreat from key positions does not mean it has given up the fight.
Key Headlines
- Mahiga calls TFG to investigate murder of director of Somaliweyn Radio Abukar Hassan Kadaf (Source: Radio Bar-kulan)
- Fred Mugisha: foreigners with al Shabaab are escaping from Somalia ( Source: Shabelle)
- Kenya and Ethiopia tells Somalis to take charge of destiny (Source: Africa Review)
- Mogadishu terror continues despite al Shabaab “withdrawal” (Source: IRIN News)
- Somalia’s oil prospects add new dangers (Source: UPI News)
SOMALI MEDIA
Fred Mugisha: foreigners with al Shabaab are escaping from Somalia
01 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 152 words
General Fred Mugisha, the force commander of AU forces in Mogadishu said that hundreds of Al-Qaeda commanders fighting along with al Shabaab militants began to run away from the country to escape harm from the ongoing military operation by AMISOM and TFG forces in south and central Somalia.
Mahiga calls TFG to investigate murder of Director of Somaliweyn Radio, Abukar Hassan Kadaf
01 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 116 words
The UN Special representative to Somalia,Augustine Mahiga condemned the murder of Abubakar Hassan Kadaf, director of Somaliweyn radio that was conducted on Tuesday in Mogadishu. The UN Secretary General Representative in Somalia called TFG to conduct an independent investigation to sentence the perpetrators of the murder.
Governor of Bay says ” Baidoa is secure”
01 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 200 words
The governor of Bay region Abdifatah Mohamed Ibrahim has said that the region’s capital is secure.
Governor Abdifatah welcomed the delegation led by Defense Minister Hussein Arab Isse who had visited Baidoa on Wednesday. Governor Abdifatah also welcomed the military intervention by Kenya and Ethiopia to defeat the al Shabaab in southern Somalia.
5 al Shabaab militias killed in Garbaharey, Gedo region
01 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 78 words
Five Shabaab militias were last night killed as others were injured in a war they waged on Garbaharey district, says Jamal Hassan sarey, head of TFG forces in Garbaharey. The head of TFG forces in Garbaharey said they lost 2 soldiers on their side with 4 soldiers nursing injuries.
Somali MP wounded in Garbaharey fighting
01 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online, BBC Somali Service – 171 words
A Somali member of parliament was wounded in Garbaharey fighting last night. Heavy fighting erupted in Garbaharey town, the headquarter of Gedo region in Somalia, after al Shabaab fighters launched a counter-offensive in the town.
At least 15 people were killed and dozens injured, among them Mohamud Sayid Aden a member of the transitional federal parliament.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya and Ethiopia tell Somalis to take charge of destiny
01 Mar – Source: Africa Review – 281 words
Kenya and Ethiopia have called on Somali leaders to resolve their disputes peacefully to achieve sustainable peace and political stability in their country. President Mwai Kibaki and Ethiopian Premier Meles Zenawi emphasised that while regional and international leaders had collectively helped to restore peace, order and political stability in Somalia, the destiny of the country rested in the hands of the Somali nationals themselves.
Al Shabaab suspects escorted back to Lamu
01 Mar- Source: the Star- 179 words
Nine al Shabaab suspects, who were taken to Mombasa for treatment after being charged in a Lamu court, have been returned to the island town. The suspects, five of who had bullet wounds were at arrested in Kiunga, a week ago. Some of the suspects had been admitted to the Coast General Hospital, but one declined to have the bullet lodged in his body removed. Yesterday, they were escorted under tight security back to Lamu, by the anti-terror police, to await the mention of their case on March 2.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s al Shabaab launches surprise Garbaharey raid
01 Mar – Source: BBC – 143 words
Islamist militants have made a surprise attack on a south-western town used by Ethiopian and Somali government-backed troops as a base to launch assaults. The al-Shabab fighters used heavy weaponry in the attack on Garbaharey, which it controlled until a year ago. Two senior military officers were killed and several wounded, a Somali MP and other officials told the BBC. This is the first major attack by al-Shabab since it lost control last week of Baidoa, an important stronghold. BBC Somali Service analyst Abdullahi Sheikh says the Garbaharey attack was a major military operation – and a strong indication that the movement’s retreat from key positions does not mean it has given up the fight.
Mogadishu terror continues, despite Al-Shabab “withdrawal”
01 Mar- Source: IRIN News- 651 words
Although al Shabaab insurgents announced their withdrawal from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011, insecurity in the city has continued, as evidenced by the targeted killing of a journalist and a bomb blast in the past week.
Abukar Hassan Kadaf, the director of the private Somaliweyn Radio station, was “killed in front of his home at around Magrib time [sunset prayer, 3pm GMT] on 28 February”, according to Ahmed Mahamud, a journalist in Mogadishu.
Somalia’s oil prospects add new dangers
01 Mar – Source: UPI News – 702 words
After two decades of incessant clan warfare, lawless, divided and poverty-stricken Somalia appears to be on the cusp of becoming an oil state, a transition that many fear could plunge the world’s most failed state into new paroxysms of violence.
Britain is leading the charge to stake its claim on the energy riches oilmen say lies beneath the sands of the Horn of Africa country.
Somalia: Mogadishu terror continues, despite al Shabaab “withdrawal”
01 Mar – Source: IRIN News – 658 words
Although al Shabaab insurgents announced their withdrawal from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011, insecurity in the city has continued, as evidenced by the targeted killing of a journalist and a bomb blast in the past week.
Abukar Hassan Kadaf, the director of the private Somaliweyn Radio station, was “killed in front of his home at around Magrib time [sunset prayer, 3pm GMT] on 28 February”, according to Ahmed Mahamud, a journalist in Mogadishu.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“In other words, the inevitable political crises between Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, which arises from certain contradictions in the Somali Roadmap, which will create condition that will allow the terrorist group, Al-Shabaab, to pose an even greater threat to the Somali national government.”
Somalia: With the transition ending, the fight for political power is in progress
01 Mar – Source: International Policy Digest – 996 Words
The new political dispensation beyond August 2012 points to a positive ending of the transition in Mogadishu. However, a political squabble between President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali is likely, as both men will contend for the presidency once the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) term ends.
This, in the view of many Somali political analysts, may make the internal Somali political process bumpier than envisaged in The Roadmap and reiterated at the recently concluded, London Conference on Somalia at Lancaster House on February 23.
Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has publicly declared his intention to run for the presidency of Somalia. Similarly, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has put together a team that will manage his campaign including cabinet ministers.
With each man vying to become the next president of Somalia, each will try to insure that potential members of parliament are loyal to their respective sides. Not only that, but each will try to influence the Interim Independent Electoral Commission.
“Now that the principle of inter-Somali talks has been called for and accepted by both Somalia and Somaliland, a number of procedural and legal hurdles that may take years if not eternity would need to be initiated. On the procedural side, the important question is who is part of the self-declared “Somaliland” entity which is supposed to talk with the Somali government? Certainly, the people of Sool, Sanaag, and Cayn (SSC) regions belonging to the Khaatumo and Makhir States or those hailing from the Awdal States have nothing to do with the secessionist “Somaliland” construct.”
The Call for Somalia and Somaliland Talks
01 Mar – Source: Harowo -1182 Words
One of the concrete outcome of the London Conference on Somalia is the clear-cut message from the international community, as represented by key governments, the United Nations and international organisations. That message is that the question of Somaliland’s secession from Somalia is not a matter for them but purely for the Somalis themselves. It is in this regard that the participating governments, taking their cue from President Ismail Omar Guleed of Djibouti, called for talks on the issue between Somalia and Somaliland and other countries should mind their own business.
Until now, the position of leading western governments, like the USA and UK, was that the question of Somaliland’s secession was a matter for the African Union and that it is only when the member States of the organisation endorsed Somaliland’s sovereignty, with or without the consent of the government of Somalia, will they consider their own position.