March 24, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

AMISOM and Somali National Army capture Qoryooley

22 Mar- Source: AMISOM- 270 words

In an operation early Saturday morning, Somali National Army backed by African Union forces overran al Shabaab outposts to capture the key town of Qoryooley in Lower Shabelle.

Located 120 kilometers Southwest of Mogadishu, Qoryooley has been under the brutal rule of the terrorists for five years. In the last one month, many of the al Shabaab’s commanders have been fleeing towards the town following a string of defeats by the SNA and AMISOM forces. The capture of Qoryooley is also critical for AMISOM future operations to liberate the port city of Baraawe, one of the remaining sources of illicit revenue for extremist group.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif congratulated Somali National Army and AMISOM troops on the achievement noting that this operation demonstrates AMISOM’s continuing determination to support the people of Somalia as they embark on a new path of renewal and reconstruction.

“AMISOM will continue to bring security to more areas of Somalia so that local people can live their lives and pursue their livelihoods in freedom” The joint operations between the Somali National Army and AMISOM which began this month have so far liberated the eight towns in the various regions around the country, the most recent being Qurunlow town in Middle Shabelle.

Since the UN Security Council boosted AMISOM troop numbers to over 22,000, the forces who are working closely with Somali National Army have been expanding to new areas and have helped the Somali government by providing a secure environment and recovering more territory, as well as ensuring law, order and justice.

Key Headlines

“It is time for action and delivery” President tells legislators at opening of Parliament (Office of the President)
Prime Minister concludes successful mission to Switzerland ( Office of the Prime Minister)
AMISOM and Somali National Army capture Qoryooley (AMISOM)
Prime Minister holds bilateral meeting with Switzerland (Office of the Prime Minister)
Somali President opens 4th parliamentary session (Radio Goobjoog)
Somali parliament requests federal government to unveil its agendas (Somali Current)
Mortar shelling attack in Qoryoley 4 civilians killed (RCB)
AMISOM IGAD and UNSOM Somalia heads hold meeting in Nairobi (Somali Current)
Protest against visit of MPs in Baidoa (Bar-kulan)
Inteior minister vows no amnesty for al Shabaab’s top commanders linked to al Qaeda (Radio Mogadishu)
Kenya: Terror in Mombasa church (Daily Nation)
AU troops from Burundi reach Kismayo (Kismaayo News)
Juba security forces launch massive operations in Kismayo (Radio Googjoog)
Al Shabaab Pushed Out of Town Near Somali Capital (VOA)
Uganda creates tourism police amid terror threat (New Vision)
Warm welcome to Puntland president in Bossaso Port City (Garowe Online)
Ikrima: The man who planned Westgate Mall attack (Standard Media)
Relief agencies say millions of Somalis lacks clean water (Shanghai Daily)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister concludes successful mission to Switzerland

23 Mar- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 395 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, arrived back in Mogadishu concluding a three day mission to Switzerland aimed at encouraging job creation and decent work in Somalia.

Over three days the Prime Minister addressed the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Governing Body, on the important role decent job creation must place in Somalia’s recovery; ratified three core ILO conventions and agreed Somalia’s involvement in ILO’s Decent Work Program. On day two of the trip the Prime Minister partook in a bilateral meeting with Switzerland to further enhance the two countries bilateral relationship and discuss Switzerland’s commitment to provide technical support to the Federal Government of Somalia. As well as meeting with the leadership of the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to discuss the important role information technology can play in Somalia’s continued development.

Highlighting the Prime Ministers commitment to the importance of fostering strong regional relationships within the Horn of Africa the Prime Minister met with the Ambassadors to the United Nation Missions (Geneva) of Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Djibouti to discuss regional economic infrastructure development and the benefit that regional infrastructure projects could have for economic growth and security within the region. The Prime Minister also met with Pitso Montwedi, South Africa’s Chief Director of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs to raise concerns over the discrimination and violence Somalis living in South Africa continue to face on a daily basis.

Whilst in Geneva the Prime Minister took the opportunity to thank the influential ‘Geneva’s Friends of Somalia’ for their support and update them on the current developments in Somalia and ongoing operations against al Shabaab.

At the conclusion of the trip Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, said: “the main aim of my trip was to demonstrate that investing in job creation is more productive, sustainable and cost effective than peace-making, peacekeeping or any other conventional military operations. By signing up to three of ILO’s core conventions it not only provides protection to workers in Somalia but is another sign of Somalia’s continued recovery and reemergence as a member of the international community.

“This trip to Geneva has also been hugely successful in updating our friends and partners in the international community on the military advances we are making against al Shabaab and the progress Somalia is making on its long path to recovery.”

AMISOM and Somali National Army capture Qoryooley

22 Mar- Source: AMISOM- 270 words

In an operation early Saturday morning, Somali National Army backed by African Union forces overran al Shabaab outposts to capture the key town of Qoryooley in Lower Shabelle.

“It is time for action and delivery,” President tells legislators at opening of Parliament

22 Mar- Source: Office of the President- 332 words

His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud opened Parliament, calling on legislators to rise to the challenges ahead.

“I congratulate you on this, your fourth session during this government’s period in office,” the President said. “It is now time for action and delivery. This year we have embarked on a review of the constitution, implementation of federalism through state formation, and the democratization process, all of which activity is to ensure that we realise Vision 2016.”

The President updated legislators on the ongoing military offensive against extremists. al Shabaab was on the run, he said, but it was still a dangerous enemy and had to be eliminated for good.

“Every day we are taking new ground from an enemy in headlong flight, putting us in a position to deliver the assistance that is so desperately needed by all those Somalis who have suffered terribly under al Shabaab. We now move into stabilisation mode and, with the help of our partners, must deliver basic public services such as humanitarian assistance, security, justice, good governance, healthcare and education.”

Reform of Somalia’s public financial management system was progressing well, the President said. A new Auditor General and an Accountant General had recently been appointed after a competitive, merit-based selection process supported by the World Bank. The Cabinet had also approved and sent to Parliament legislation introducing a comprehensive taxation system, a critical step towards eventual economic independence.

The President underlined the importance of the Cabinet and Parliament working closely together on the big strategic issues facing Somalia in the coming months.

“The challenges ahead of us are formidable, which is why a strong working partnership is so important. Compromise, flexibility and mutual understanding are always essential in politics, whichever part of the world you’re in. I urge each and every one of you, serve the Somali people to the best of your abilities and never lose sight of the national interest.”

Prime Minister holds bilateral meeting with Switzerland

21 Mar- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 345 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, participated in bilateral meeting with Swiss Secretary of State for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Yves Rossier, at the Swiss Federal Government in Berne, Switzerland.

The Prime Minister alongside Somali Permanent Representative to UN Missions (Geneva), Ambassador Yusuf Mohamed Ismail Bari-Bari, briefed the Swiss Foreign Minister on the current operations against al Shabaab, priorities for the Federal Government of Somalia and Somalia’s vision for improving regional economic infrastructure development.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, said: “Somalia is doing well on its path to recovery and rebuilding of the state, we now have a functioning parliament and executive but there is still a long way to go.

“We are fighting and winning against a un-Somali ideology, al Shabaab claim to be defending Islam but they are attempting to destroy the religion, our culture, the social fabric of our communities and the economy. We have not finished the fight yet and we will not let up till it is finished.”

The meeting discussed Somalia’s and Switzerland’s ambition to foster a stronger bilateral relationship and support to Somalia. The Swiss Foreign Minister committed to providing technical support to the Federal Government of Somalia. The minister also pledged to examine what further humanitarian support could be provided to the newly liberated areas and announced his plans to visit Somalia later in the year.

“I welcome Switzerland’s bilateral engagement with Somalia, last month they reappointed an Ambassador to Somalia for the first time in 30 years and today we met to discuss how Switzerland can further support Somalia’s recovery.

“There are almost 10,000 Somali diaspora living in Switzerland and we are very keen to engage with the diaspora and encourage those with the right skills to return to Somalia and inject their skills and experience into the Somali government. We are rebuilding our institutions after 23 years and there are many well trained and highly educated diaspora with skills that could greatly help their country and government on its road to recovery,” the Prime Minister said.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali parliament requests federal government to unveil its agendas

23 Mar – Source: Somali Current/Radio Shabelle – 135 words

Somali parliament speaker Prof Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari at the 4th session of parliament opening ceremony asked for Somali federal government’s agendas. Prof Jawari requested the prime minister of the federal government of Somalia to unveiled his agendas in quest of enhancing the cooperation between the prime minister’s cabinet and parliament. The parliament wants to contribute their opinions to the government agendas which the parliament asked to be unveiled in the soonest possible. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended the opening ceremony of the 4th session of the Somali parliament and delivered speech touching on many parts including the national security and development. The Somali parliament is expected to continue its normal meeting later in this week following the start of the parliament’s 4th session in Mogadishu.

Protest against visit of MPs in Baidoa

23 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Shabelle/Kulmiye/Radio Mustaqbal – 123 words

A huge demonstration was held on Sunday in Baidoa, the capital of Bakol region which was spearheaded and organized by the local politicians from the region. The demonstration was against Mogadishu government delegation to the area to assess the situation regarding a new regional state that was recently formed by the name south west regional state of Somalia. Angry protesters have burnt tires bringing the business in Baidoa to standstill for hours. Reports say some of the local politicians who were leading the protest were summoned at AMISOM peacekeeping forces base in Baidoa airport in order to calm the situation. There has being political standoff between Mogadishu and Baidoa following the formation of the new south west regional state which brings together mo than six provinces.

Mortar shelling attack in Qoryoley, 4 civilians killed

23 Mar – Source: Radio RBC – 128 words

Heavy gun battle has erupted in the town of Qoryoley Sunday, as the joint forces of Somalia National Army and the African Union Forces [AMISOM] took the town from al Shabaab on Saturday. The fighting started after al Shabaab fighters attacked the town where they were forced to flee. According to residents at least four civilians including women and children were killed after a mortar shelling hit their home. The four were from two families. Pro-al Shabaab website reported that the fighters of the al Qaeda linked group attacked bases of the African Union Forces and Somali government forces. There were no immediate response from Somalia government officials and the AMISOM officials regarding the attack in Qoryoley.

Somali President opens 4th parliamentary session

23 Mar- Source: Radio Goobjoog/Dalsan/ Radio Mogadishu/Kulmiye- 118 words

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has opened the 4th Session of the Parliament and gave a historic speech to the members of the federal parliament of Somalia in the parliamentary building. The President in his speech gave the MPs full details of the ongoing military offensive against al Shabaab. ” Every day our forces and AMISOM seize new important areas from al Shabaab and maintain security of seized areas getting a helping hand from the people,” he said. He asked the federal parliament of Somalia to work hand in hand with the cabinet ministers to implement the tasks in hand to develop the government institutions for the common good and national interest.

Juba security forces launch massive operations in Kismayo

23 Mar- Source: Radio Goobjoog- 113 words

The security forces of Juba administration in Southern Somalia conducted operations in Farjano village in Kismayo Saturday night to uphold the security of the town. Over twenty people who were apprehended by the security forces during the operations were taken to Kismayo police stations where investigations are under way. Our correspondent in Lower Juba Farah Sahal says the security forces have declined to give comment about the on going operation in Kismayo. Public transport was hampered as business activities in the town came to stand still. This operation comes a time when over seventy Burundian forces under AMISOM reached Kismayo yesterday to take part in the fight against al Shabaab in the region.

Warm welcome to Puntland president in Bossaso Port City

22 Mar- Source: Garowe Online/Horseed Media/Halgan Online- 162 words

The President of Somalia’s north eastern state of Puntland Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas has arrived to warm welcome in the Gulf of Adan port city of Bossaso on Saturday. The Governor of Bari region Abdisamad Mohamed Galan, Bossaso Mayor Hassan Abdalla Hassan, traditional leaders and members of the public received President Gaas’ delegation in the outskirts of port city of Bossaso, marking his first visit to Puntland’s most populous city since being elected to the post on 8th of January 2014. Shortly after the welcoming rallies, the motorcade carrying Puntland President drove into Bossaso Presidential Palace under tight security. Speaking to media members, the President thanked the people who came out for his visit for the warm welcome and reiterated that his chief aim is to deliver on election promises. Ahead of his arrival in Bossaso, Puntland leader made pre-planned stops in Qardo, Rako Raho, Waiye and Armo towns on Galkayo-Bossaso highway.

AU troops from Burundi reach Kismayo

22 Mar- Source: Kismaayo News/RBC/Dhanaan Online- 113 words

African Union troops from Burundi had reached Kismayo, the seat of Jubba interim administration. At least 70 Burundi national soldiers have reached Kismayo to partake the African Union Mission of eliminating the al Qaida linked militants in Somalia. Jubba interim administration spokesman Abdinasir Serar stated these troops are part of planned 200 Burundian soldiers that will be deployed into Kismayo and will be deployed into AMISOM camps in the town adding they will back the warfare against al Shabaab in Jubba regions. Serar stressed that; more African Union troops from Sierra Leone will reach Kismayo in the coming weeks increasing the number of AMISOM troops in the capital of Jubba interim administration. AMISOM is making huge efforts to capture the remaining important towns under al Shabaab’s control.

AMISOM, IGAD and UNSOM Somalia heads hold meeting in Nairobi

22 Mar- Source: SomaliCurrent/Hiiraan Online- 114 words

The heads of UNSOM, IGAD and AMISOM have met with International representatives in Nairobi. United Nation envoy to Somalia Nickolas Kay, African Union representative in Somalia Mohamed Saleh Annadif and IGAD representative Mohamed Abdi Afey held meetings with international envoys to Kenya informing the current security situation in Somalia and the AMISOM victories against Al-shabab militants in the central regions of Somalia. The official’s meeting with the international representatives in Kenya’s capital Nairobi came just days after the break off African Union’s rapid military confrontations against the al Shabaab militants in Somalia. African Union troops have captured key towns in Central Somalia from al Sahabab militants.

Inteior minister vows no amnesty for al Shabaab’s top commanders linked to al Qaeda

22 Mar- Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/RBC – 232 words

Somalia’s Interior Minister Abdullahi Godah Barre has vowed that the government will punish the operatives and the commanders of the al Qaeda-linked group of al Shabaab if they are captured. Speaking about the ongoing military assault to flush out al Shaabab from the country, the minister has categorized the al Shabaab operatives into three levels. “This group comprises many sub-groups; the first group is the fighters holding the guns and have no other agenda except to fight for al Shabaab while in return receiving small payment or incentives; the other group is the middle officials who with knowledge decided to commit crimes and use the youth as fighters for them; the third group is the top commanders including Ahmed Godane,” the minister told the state-run radio. The Minister has strictly said that there will be no amnesty to group’s top commanders who are linked to al Qaeda. “Because they are criminals according to Somali law. So they will be punished according to their crimes,” he added. Askd if there were any attempts to rehabilitate or negotiate with al Shabaab’s low profile fighters, the minister voiced that there have been several wounded fighters callingon the government officers in Hiran region and appealing for amnesty.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: Terror in Mombasa church

23 Mar- Source: Daily Nation/ Standard/Capital News- 412 words

Security officers were Sunday combing the Likoni area in search of gunmen who opened fire in a church, killing four people and injuring 21 others. The gunmen, with faces covered in balaclavas, attacked Joy in Jesus Church at 10.30am. One entered the church through a back door and started shooting indiscriminately while two others, who were armed with an AK-47 rifle and a pistol, waited outside and shot fleeing worshippers. When the attackers left, blood splattered on the floor, bodies lay on the ground with the personal effects of victims and survivors strewn all over the church whose walls also bore the marks of the killers’ bullets.

Uganda creates tourism police amid terror threat

22 Mar – Source: New Vision – 394 words

Uganda has set up a specialist tourism police force as part of counter-terrorism measures, amid warnings of attacks by Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab, police said Friday. “The tourism police is important because it counters threats of terrorists who might want to target tourists when they are in the country,” police spokesman Patrick Onyango told AFP, as the first officers entered into service. Tourism is the east African nation’s second largest foreign exchange earner, estimated to be worth $662 million a year (480 million euros), according to official statistics.

Somalia, AU troops capture town from al Shabaab

23 Mar – Source: Daily Nation – 332 words

The Somalia National Army backed by African Union forces has captured a key town from al Shabaab in the country. In an operation on Saturday, SNA and African Union Mission in Somalia overran al Shabaab outposts to capture the key town of Qoryooley in Lower Shabelle. Located 120 kilometers Southwest of Mogadishu, Qoryooley has been under the brutal rule of the terrorists for five years. AMISOM said in a statement that in the last one month, many of al Shabaab’s commanders had been fleeing towards the town following a string of defeats by the SNA and AMISOM forces. The capture of Qoryooley is also critical for AMISOM’s future operations to liberate the port city of Baraawe, one of the remaining sources of illicit revenue for the extremist group.

Ikrima: The man who planned Westgate Mall attack

22 Mar – Source: Standard Media – 651 words

The hunt for Kenya’s most wanted terrorist, Abdukadir Mohammed Abdukadir, alias Ikrima, has gone a notch higher with the US government placing a $9 million (Sh779.4 million) bounty on his head alongside two other men. Ikrima is being sought alongside the two who have been identified as Jafar and Yasin Kilwe. Both are said to be based in Somalia and responsible for terror activities in the East African region. The bounty was announced on Thursday in a statement from the US State Department. The American government said it was authorising “rewards of up to $3 million (Sh259.95 million) each for information leading to the arrest of Abdukadir Mohammed Abdukadir alias Ikrima, Jafar and Yasin Kilwe”. Ikrima is believed to have been one of the masterminds of the September 21, 2013 Westgate Mall terrorist attack, with calls made by terrorists from the besieged mall going to contacts in Uganda and to Ikrima in Somalia.

Somalis in newly-liberated towns express hope as they struggle to rebuild after al Shabaab

21 Mar- Source: Sabahi Online- 549 words

Residents of six towns liberated from al Shabaab by the Somali National Army (SNA) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) within a week say they are looking forward to putting behind them the fear and abuse inflected by al Shabaab. Between March 6th and 13th, the allied forces liberated from al Shabaab the towns of Rabdhure, Ted, Hudur, Wajid, Burdhubo and Bulo Burde, in the Bakol, Gedo and Hiran regions. While people in the liberated areas say they remain hopeful for conditions to improve with al Shabaab forced out, they also continue to struggle as they try to rebuild the infrastructure the militants destroyed when they left. For five days before the allied troops entered Hudur, the regional capital of Bakol, al Shabaab used loudspeakers mounted on vehicles to instruct the people to evacuate the town, residents told Sabahi.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Gunmen kill four in ‘terrorist’ attack on Kenyan church

23 Mar- Source: Reuters- 105 words

Two gunmen stormed a church near the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa on Sunday and opened fire on worshippers, killing four people and wounding others, in what police called a terrorist attack. One witness said the gunmen shouted out in a foreign language before shooting indiscriminately at the congregation. Blood-spattered Bibles and overturned plastic chairs lay strewn across the church’s floor after the attack. “Both carried big guns and began shooting all over the place. I fell to the ground and could hear screams,” said Lilian Omondi, who was leading a prayer recital at the time.

Al Shabaab Pushed Out of Town Near Somali Capital

22 Mar – Source: VOA – 413 words

A Somali government official says troops have overpowered al Shabaab militants and regained control of Qoryoley, a town located about 100 kilometers south of Mogadishu. Shabelle region deputy governor Abdifitah Haji Abdulle said Somali and African Union troops met heavy resistance from fighters with the al Qaeda-linked group before overpowering them on Saturday. He told VOA Somali Service that sporadic fighting continued near the town. A resident said the unrest has prompted people living in the town to flee. In recent weeks, Somali troops and the AU peacekeeping force in Somalia, known has AMISOM, have been conducting an offensive to oust al Shabaab militants from their remaining strongholds.

Relief agencies say millions of Somalis lacks clean water

21 Mar- Source: Shanghai Daily- 414 words

Two international relief agencies said Friday millions of Somalis remain in danger of drinking contaminated water and lack of sanitation with young people being the most vulnerable. In a joint statement issued in Nairobi on the eve of the World Water Day to be marked on March 22, Oxfam International and the Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) only 30 percent of Somalis have access to clean water, leaving the majority vulnerable to several life threatening diseases. Oxfam Somalia Country Director Enzo Vecchio called on the international donors not to abandon the Somali people in need, and provide support for clean water programs in Somalia.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The three central female characters are an ageing widow, Kawsar, bed-bound after a brutal assault at the local police station; Deqo, a street urchin from a refugee camp who is cared for by prostitutes; and Filsan, a young soldier from Mogadishu, a “neat beret perched to the side of her pinned-up hair”, who has a “strange combination of femininity and menace”.”

Somali novel shows war and hope in the eyes of women

23 Mar- Source: South China Morning Post- 738 Words

In a seminal trilogy on the Somali dictatorship of Major General Mohamed Siad Barre, which held power in the 1970s and ’80s, Somalian novelist Nuruddin Farah wrote unforgettably of the regime’s fellow travellers, who “hide in the convenience of a crowd and clap”. Thirty years on Nadifa Mohamed, who was this year named one of Granta’s best young British novelists, reimagines such cheering acolytes in the opening pages of her second novel, The Orchard of Lost Souls. Her focus is on the reluctant recruits of the Guddi, the “neighbourhood watch”, which rallies supporters to a sports stadium to mark 18 years since the military coup that deified a nomadic boy – his mammoth portrait now hanging over the stadium “like a new sun, rays emerging from around his head”. Mohamed, born in 1981 (and aged four when her family fled Somalia), is at one remove from the history Farah experienced, rather as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun was a new-generation take on the Biafra war, to which Chinua Achebe bore painful witness. While, at times, this distance shows in a dutiful assembly of images and references that fail to rise off the page, other moments reveal a tenacious imagination and maturing talent.

“There are other matters which require a comprehensive enquiry and examination in order to get a complete picture of the underlying aspects. However, reexamining the tax system, sanctioning a customs at the border with East Ethiopia, and removing ubiquitous checkpoints along the main highway would support an immediate trade increase and job creation for the people.”

THREE THINGS PRESIDENT GAAS SHOULD DO TO REIGNITE TRADE RECOVERY IN PUNTLAND

21 Mar- Source: Wardheernews- 1365 Words

To reinvigorate the beleaguered trade in Puntland (PL), President Gaas needs to remove the obstacles that have contributed to economic slowdown in the past four years. High taxes, a closed border between Ethiopia and PL, and copious checkpoints on the main road have been the main factors of the economic setback. And the last election in PL, as a matter of fact, was based on a search for leadership that could improve the debilitated economy, rather than just a change in leadership itself. As an economics professor with loaded credentials and a profound knowledge of fiscal policy, people trust Gaas as someone who can address their economic concerns. To positively answer the demands and aspirations of the people, the president should immediately reduce taxes, open customs and remove all unnecessary checkpoints on the highway between Bosaso and Glakacyo. The people of PL insisted on a change of government in last year’s presidential election, and members of parliament affirmed the will of the people’ at the ballot box on January 8th, 2014. The overwhelming majority of the people called for removal of the regime that had instigated and overseen five years of downward spiral economic regression. The hopes and expectations of the people had been validated with the election of the new president, in whose capability as a leader people have conferred a high hope would bring back the good days of economic progress.