March 23, 2016 | Morning Headlines
Somalia Condoles With Belgium Over Terror Attack, Condemns Act As Heinous And Inhuman
22 March – Source: Goobjoog News – 231 Words
The government of Somalia has condemned the attack on Belgium airport and metro station on Tuesday which authorities indicate so far has killed 34 people and injured close to 200 others. In a statement from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the government termed the attacks heinous and inhuman and condoled with the government of Belgium and its people.
“The fact that the terrorist would target innocent civilians in such a brutal and unforgivable manner is the greatest sign of their inhumanity and moral bankruptcy. Any violence against innocent civilians aimed at terrorizing them and their nation is deplorable and wholly evil,” the government said. Somalia said the attacks will not frighten the people and government of Belgium but instead bolster the world world’s response to the great crime of terrorism.
“Our heartfelt condolences are extended to the families, friends and loved ones of all the innocent victims who were affected by this evil tragedy,” the government said. Belgian authorities said they had not established exactly how many people were killed but media reports estimated 20 people were killed in two blasts at Maelbeek subway station attack while another 14 died when the first explosion went off at Zaventeem airport.
US President Barrack Obama speaking in Cuba said the attacks were “another reminder that the world must unite” against terrorism. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, ISIL has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Key Headlines
- Somalia Condoles With Belgium Over Terror Attack Condemns Act As Heinous And Inhuman (Goobjoog News)
- Scores Arrested In Mogadishu Security Operation (Shabelle News)
- Somali Regional State Displays Al-Shabaab Prisoners Of War (Radio Dalsan)
- Somali Prime Minister Pays Visit To Baladweyne To Push Elders To Resume State Formation Conference(Goobjoog News)
- Somalia’s Puntland Says It Repelled Al-Shabaab Raids On Coast (Bloomberg)
- AMISOM Police Donates Biometric And Office Equipment To Somali Police (AMISOM)
- RAF Builds Facility For Basic Education In Somaliland (The Peninsular)
- CAF President Mourns SOMALI Legend Abdi Ali Sheik (CAF Online)
- EU’s Policy Towards Somalis Threatens Return Of Country’s Recolonization – Report (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Scores Arrested In Mogadishu Security Operation
22 March – Source: Shabelle News – 105 Words
The Somali federal government security forces carried out an overnight swoop in the country’s capital city of Mogadishu, netting nearly 24 Al Shabaab suspects, IEDs and weapons. Following a tip-off, the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) troops raided a makeshift camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) located next to the parliament building in Mogadishu.
Explosives devices, including hand grenades and AK-47 rifles were seized during the night-time security operation, according to Benadir regional administration spokesman Abdifitah Omar Halane, who spoke to Radio Shabelle. The spokesman said Mogadishu mayor Yusuf Hussein Jimale is among those who oversaw the security operation at the IDP camp. .
Somali Regional State Displays Al-Shabaab Prisoners Of War
22 March – Source: Radio Dalsan – 150 Words
Puntland regional state of Somalia which has been battling Al-Shabaab for the last two weeks has displayed prisoners of war. According press release, there are more than 35 Al-Shabaab fighters captured in the frontline and now in the hands of Puntland administration. Most of the fighters are teenagers aged between 14 and 17 years.
The regional administration officials have paraded the captured teenagers as well as bodies of Al-Shabaab fighters killed during the military confrontation in Suuj on Sunday. Local officials further said over 75 Al-Shabaab militants were killed in the week long war in the mountainous areas of North Eastern Somalia. Meanwhile, regional state President who is back home after tour to United States has renewed calls for support to defeat armed group in Puntland. President Abdiweli Gas has called upon the Federal government and the international community to boost Puntland’s state security forces in their fight against Al-Shabaab.
Somali Prime Minister Pays Visit To Baladweyne To Push Elders To Resume State Formation Conference
22 March – Source: Goobjoog News – 100 Words
A delegation from the Federal government led by Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid landed in Baladweyne to boost negotiation efforts between Federal Interior minister Abdirhman Odwa and Hiiraan elders. The Prime Minister is due to meet with elders of the region and leaders of civil society. The minister has been in the region for last one week and has held several meetings with elders in Baladweyne. The elders and federal MPs from the region have accused the federal government of alleged conspiracy against the region and distanced themselves from the Hiiraan and middle Shabelle state formation conference in Jowhar.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia’s Puntland Says It Repelled Al-Shabaab Raids On Coast
22 March – Source: Bloomberg – 131 Words
Armed forces in Somalia’s Puntland region killed dozens of al-Qaeda-linked militants in two coastal locations, the semi-autonomous government said. There was no independent confirmation of the fighting.
Troops in the Dhinowda area killed 112 Al-Shabaab fighters and captured 61 others, with operations still under way, Information Minister Mohamoud Hassan told reporters Tuesday in the regional capital, Garowe. Clashes that have now ended in the town of Suuj led to the deaths of 55 Islamist militants, with 43 seized, he said.
Muhaydin Ahmed, the army general who led the Suuj operation, told reporters that two soldiers were killed and four injured. Puntland has avoided most of the violence carried out by Al-Shabaab, which has waged an insurgency in Somalia since 2006. Last week the group briefly held another port town before withdrawing.
AMISOM Police Donates Biometric And Office Equipment To Somali Police
22 March – Source: AMISOM – 327 Words
The police component of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) yesterday donated biometric and office equipment to the Somali Police Force. The equipment is meant to help the Somali Police Force establish an up-to-date biometric database and also aid in the implementation of an efficient personnel and financial management system.
The equipment was handed over to the Somali Police Force (SPF) Commissioner, Maj General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud, by AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner, Christine Alalo. The Somali police boss thanked AMISOM for its continued support to the SPF, saying the equipment will be put in good use to improve security in the city.
The donation is part of the personnel registration and management system equipment, which was recommended for the SPF by AMISOM police commanders: “Normally when rebuilding a collapsed organisation, it requires a lot of patience, support and knowledge. I can today say that part of those needs have been addressed. The leadership of the police force will now get the latest registration and finger printing equipment.” said the Somali Police Commissioner.
AMISOM has been training SPF officers how to collect personal information using software developed by its experts. The software will be installed in the electronic equipment donated to the SPF: “The equipment donated will enable the Commissioner (SPF) plan for his personnel, that is, whether to recruit or not to recruit, whether they need barracks or not because he will know their numbers. He will also know who to promote and reward,” Deputy Police Commissioner Alalo said, adding there will be no need for paperwork, since the whole process will be computerized.
RAF Builds Facility For Basic Education In Somaliland
22 March – Source: The Peninsular – 363 Words
Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) has built a multi-use facility comprising a huge vocational training centre and a school for basic education, among others, at a cost of QR1m for needy people in Somaliland.
The facility — Hisa Bint Yusuf Ahmad Mahmoud Fakhro Islamic Centre — was developed by RAF in collaboration with local partner Zamzam Charity Organisation on an area of 5,000 square metres on the outskirt of Hargeisa, capital of Somaliland. The land was provided by the government of Somaliland but the facility was built from a donation made by a Qatari woman, said a statement.
The facility was opened recently. In first year, 530 students got admission. The opening ceremony was attended by a RAF delegation, led by Abdul Naser bin Ibrahim Fakhro, Deputy Chairman, Ambassadors of Mercy; Abdullah Ibrahim Al Habni, Minister of Education and Higher Education of Somaliland, and other senior officials and dignitaries. The facility includes three big workshops for training in carpentry, blacksmith and electronics. A section for auto-mechanical training will be added in phase-2 of the plan.
A seven-classroom school for basic education is the part of the facility, along with a mosque with the capacity to accommodate 500 worshippers and a two-room centre for reciting the Holy Quran: “The facility will help change the situation of the residents of the area as it will provide education and social developments,” said Fakhro.RAF executed several projects related to health, humanitarian aid and education in Somaliland.
CAF President Mourns SOMALI Legend Abdi Ali Sheik
22 March – Source: CAF Online – 208 Words
CAF President Issa Hayatou has expressed sadness over the death of Somali legend Abdi Ali Sheik. Somali football was thrown into a state of shock following news of the death of Sheik on Friday, 18 March 2016 at his home in Mogadishu. He has since been laid to rest.
“On behalf of the CAF Executive Committee, the entire African football family and in my personal name, we would like to convey to the Somali Football family our deepest condolences and sympathy following the death of the football legend Abdi Ali Sheik. He has been dedicated for the cause and development of Somali football, while he also served as the deputy chairman of the Somali police-owned club Heegan”.
“We send our prayers and thoughts to the family of Mr. Abdi Ali Sheik and may God bless his Soul”, CAF President Hayatou said in a letter dated Monday, 21 March 2016 and addressed to Somali Football Federation president Abdiqani Said Arab. The late Abdi Ali Sheik contributed to the development of Somali football for more than five decades. He was a key figure in the Ocean stars (Somali national team) in the 1960s and 1970s. He died on Friday morning and left behind much respect within the people of Somalia.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“If they are saying a Somali cannot be hired for the job – it’s clearly against the international and European rules.”
EU’s Policy Towards Somalis Threatens Return Of Country’s Recolonization – Report
22 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 343 Words
Having acquired large hectares of land for a plan to build a major base near Mogadishu airport, it has emerged that the European Union proposed an introductory policy which prohibits the employment of Somalis for their missions. Now many say the move bore resemblances to racial stereotypes and prejudices that Somalia’s colonial powers imposed before the country regained its independence in 1960s.
In confidential documents obtained by Dalsoor, a Somali video website, the European Union’s External Action Service instructed the prohibition of Somalis from being employed by EU Somalia with the exception of the construction of the organization’s headquarters in Mogadishu.
“The contractors shall not employ Somali national or personnel of Somali origin for the provision of the service on-site except for the construction phase.” EU said in confidential documents circulated among the organization’s employees.
Analyzing EU’s confidential documents, Jamal Osman, a Somali-British journalist who produced the video report says that the proposal intends to ban anyone with a Somali origin whether they are dual citizens or Somali nationals from working at the EU Somalia: “Anyone who’s a Somali origin – cannot work there. They cannot work as cleaners, security guards or even general workers.” He said.
In addition, Ahmed Ali Kheyre, a Somali legal expert says the new EU policy violated the organization’s foundation, and the Lisbon treaty which clearly stated that the principle of EU is to respect international rules: “If they are saying a Somali cannot be hired for the job – it’s clearly against the international and European rules.”
European Union officials haven’t yet commented on the development which highlights challenges faced by Somali, who despite suffering racial profiling and discrimination in overseas now see the possibility of facing similar fate at home.