March 26, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Somali flag to fly half mast for 7 days
23 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 227 words
Somalia has announced that it will lower its flag for a week following the death of the country’s former president Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed who died earlier this morning at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 77 after years of ill health. After a cabinet meeting in Mogadishu, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed directed that the flag be lowered for seven days as the country continue to moan the death of the former president. Somali flag will also be flying half mast at all Somalia missions abroad.
Key Headlines
- AMISOM and Somali Forces arrest al Qaeda extremists in Mogadishu (Source: AMISOM Force HQ)
- Somali flag to fly half mast for 7 days (Source: Radio Bar-kulan)
- President Museveni offers his condolences to Somali people (Source: AMISOM Force HQ)
- SRSG Mahiga expresses his condolences (Source: UNPOS)
- AU Special Representative condoles with TFG and people of Somalia (Source: AMISOM)
- Somali radio journalist seriously wounded in shooting( Source: AHN. Gant Daily/Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab vacates strategic town in central Somalia (SourceShabelle)
PRESS RELEASE
President Museveni offers his condolences to Somali people
25 Mar – Source: AMISOM Force HQ – 80 words
My condolences and those of the people of Uganda on the death of His Excellency Abdullahi Yusuf which I only learnt of this morning. President Yusuf was a patriot and suffered a lot for it. He was imprisoned repeatedly in Somalia and outside. He demonstrated that patriotism again, only a few years ago when he stood down from the Presidency in order to create harmony. I salute his contribution to the African cause. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
AMISOM and Somali Forces arrest al Qaeda extremists in Mogadishu
23 Mar – Source: AMISOM Force HQ – 337 words
Yesterday, the Somali National Army with the support of AMISOM, arrested four suspected al Shabaab members in Towfiq, inside Yaqshid District in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia.The four men, in their mid-twenties, were seized during cordon and search operations undertaken by a joint security team made up of African Union and Somali forces.
The young men are believed to have joined the al Qaeda backed group al Shabaab over a year ago, and were living among the population after the group was forced to withdraw from Mogadishu last year August. They maintained links with the extremists and have been conducting attacks against AMISOM and TFG positions.
The suspects were found in possession of a rocket propelled grenade and 2 sub-machine guns with 84 rounds of ammunition. Captain Abdul Mohamed Ogare, who led the Somali National Army section which captured the men said that the Somali National Army has been working diligently to weasel out remnants of the al Qaeda backed extremists.
Among the captured was a twenty-five year old Abdul Kadir Dey Abdul, the leader of al Shabaab cell along with Abdifatah Muktari Mohamed, Issa Mohamed Farah and Abdul Ayanle Mohamed.
Captain Abdul Mohamed Ogare said, “The terrorist cell had been cowering indoors during the day and conducting acts of terrorism during the night. This week alone they had attacked our positions at Arafat Hospital and ex-control Bala’ad.” In the past one week alone, 50 al Shabaab members have been captured during these operations.
AMISOM Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha said;
“We will continue to support the Somali National Army and Police to ensure that peace and security is maintained. With useful information from people in Mogadishu we have been able to launch these sorts of successful operations since the fleeing of al Shabaab.”
Under the National Security and Stabilization Plan, AMISOM has a vital role to train and support the Somali National Army and Police forces. Recently, AMISOM trained six hundred Somali National Army soldiers and is working with the Somali army and police forces to re-build the Somali state.
SRSG Mahiga expresses his condolences
23 Mar – Source: UNPOS – 67 words
UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga, expressed today his profound sadness over the death of Mr. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the former President of Somalia.
“On behalf of the United Nations, I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends, the Transitional Federal Government and to the people of Somalia over the passing away of Mr. Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed” said SRSG Mahiga.
AU Special Representative condoles with TFG and people of Somalia
23 Mar – Source: AMISOM – 177 words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra has offered his condolences to the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and people of Somalia following the death of former President, Abdullahi Yusuf.
“Standing for a unified Somalia former President, Abdullahi Yusuf, was a man of honour who worked to create a proud nation at peace with itself. I commend him for his sense of purpose. He was as a figure of strength and an inspiration to his countrymen.” said Ambassador Diarra.
The AU Special Representative said during this time of national mourning, the soldiers and officers of AMISOMstand by all Somalis as they commemorate this great figure of Somali politics.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali flag to fly half mast for 7 days
23 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 227 words
Somalia has announced that it will lower its flag for a week following the death of the country’s former president Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed who died earlier this morning at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 77 after years of ill health. After a cabinet meeting in Mogadishu, President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed directed that the flag be lowered for seven days as the country continue to moan the death of the former president. Somali flag will also be flying half mast at all Somalia missions abroad.
Somali journalist survives assassinations.
25 March- Shabelle-121 Words
Unidentified gunmen have tried on Sunday evening to assassinate a journalist working for Shabelle MediaNetwork based in the capital, Mogadishu, Shabelle Media reports.
Muhaydin Hassan Mohammed also well-known Husni, the head of News for Shabell Media Network survived narrowly the organized assassination attempt on his life around 6:30 P.M local, as he was heading to his house in Mogadishu’s Wadajir district which is under Somali Government control.
Somalis united in funeral of their late president
25 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online – 190 words
In a rare occasion in 21 years of divisions Somali leaders attended the burial of the former president Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed united in unprecedented event.
Hundreds of people turned out in what the TFG called a nationwide funeral for the former head of state at the international airport in Mogadishu, where a burial ceremony was held before being laid to rest in Galkayo.
President Sharif Shiekh Ahmed led the prayers in a national burial ceremony in Mogadhishu calling all Somalis to forgive their former leader.
Ethiopian troops set up base in central Somali town
24 Mar – Source: Radio Galkacyo – 109 words
Hundreds of Ethiopian troops have arrived in Guri Ceel District of Galguduud Region, central Somalia, and have “set up a military base in the town”, privately-owned Radio Gaalkacyo reported on 24 March.
The troops, armed with heavy weapons and armoured vehicles, are “preparing to attack al Shabaab strongholds in parts of Galguduud Region”.
The moderate Islamic group Ahlu Sunnah wal Jama’a district commissioner in Guri Ceel District told themedia that the Ethiopian troops “will try to remove al Shabaab from parts of the region”, adds the source.
Al Shabaab vacates strategic town in central Somalia
25 Mar- Source: Radio Mogadishu, SONNA- 182 words
Reports from central Somalia suggest that al Shabaab extremist’s commanders are fleeing Eelbur town in fear of the rapid Somali national army movement with the backing of Ethiopian troops.
Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and Ethiopian troops also took over the district of Hudur in the region of Bakol on Thursday.
Locals say that a convoy of military vehicles and tanks entered into the former al Shabaab stronghold early Thursday and captured the district without any confrontations from the terror group.
President Ahmed continues overnight tours in Mogadishu
24 Mar- Source: Radio Kulmiye- 209 words
Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed accompanied by his special guards, military officials, a team of journalists had made a surprise overnight tour in almost every district in the capital of Mogadishu, checking on how the soldiers are doing the security operations.
The president visited the police stations in many districts in the capital of Mogadishu including Shibis, Shangani, Hamar-Jajab, and other districts in the city, some of the places.
Somalia, Ethiopia forces foil landmine blast
23 Mar – Source: Mareeg Online – 126 words
Somalia and Ethiopian forces have on Friday foiled a landmine planted on a local airport in Hudur town, the capital of Bakol region, 620 Km away south of Mogadishu, a governor said.
Mohammed Abdi, the governor of Bakol region for Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG), told that the security forces have succeed in the operation to thwart an attempted landmine explosion that the al Shabaab militants meant to sabotage the operation at the airport.
Somali leaders pay tribute to fallen former president
23 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 288 words
Somali leaders continued to pay tribute to the former Somali President Abdullahi Yussuf Ahmed who died earlier this morning at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 77 after years of ill health.
President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed described the late former president as a patriot and a hero who loved his country and his people.
Al Shabaab kills 2, wounds another in Mogadishu
25 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 120 words
One person was killed and another wounded after al Shabaab fighters opened fire on youths at an entertainment centre where they were playing video games in Mogadishu’s Bondere and Wardigley districts, witnesses said.
The Saturday night incident happened after three al Shabaab militants armed with pistols attacked the youths, killing a young boy named Mohammed, injuring his colleague, according to eyewitnesses.
Local elder assassinated in central Somalia
25 Mar – Source: Raxanreeb – 74 words
Reports from Galgadud region say that local traditional elder was gunned down in Gadon village, about 30 KM east of Dhusamareb town, central Somalia. Unknown militia men shot dead Hassan Hashi Mohamed on the head on Saturday evening. The region is controlled by moderate group of Ahlusuna.
Officials of Ahlusuna administration did not comment of the killing. The region has been restive in the past weeks after al Shabab group attacked Dhusamareb town in last week.
President Farole welcomes EU’s new mandate against piracy
24 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 278 words
President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole welcomed an EU mandate to expand the fight against piracy by fighting pirates on the coast of Somalia, Garowe reports.
The EU has agreed to expand and also extend their mission called Operation Atlanta until 2014. The new mandate will allow forces fighting against piracy, to fight piracy on Somali soil. The EU foreign ministers did not detail how they would fight piracy inland but according to AFP, an EU official said the new mandate would allow warships or helicopters to fire at fuel barrels, boats, trucks or other equipment on beaches.
Former Puntland MP detained in Bosasso
24 Mar – Source: Raxanreeb – 214 words
Former Puntland parliament member Mohamud Yusuf was detained by Puntland security forces on March 22nd, relatives told RBC on Saturday. The former lawmaker was taken into police custody from his home in the midnight of Thursday after he publicly criticized the extension mandate of Puntland’s presidential term which has is due to end in January next year.
“The constitution of Puntland state of Somalia does not legalize any extension for the government institutions and the term of every President in Puntland should end within four years.
Somaliland President Sends Condolence to people of Somalia
24 Mar – Source: Somaliland Press – 209 words
Somali President Mohamed Mohamud (Silanyo) has sent message of condolence to the people of Somalia and family of the former President of Somalia late Abdillahi Yusuf Ahmed who passed away on 23rd March 2012 in UAE Hospital where he was undergoing medical treatment.
President Silanyo on behalf of the people of Somaliland said that we are deeply saddened by the untimely death of late Abdillahi Yusuf Ahmed, President Silanyo sent his deepest sympathy to the people of
Somalia, family and friends.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Yemeni envoy meets Somali President
24 Mar- Source: Yemen News Agency- 74 words
Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed receives on Saturday with Yemeni ambassador to Somalia Ahmed Hamid Omar.
Omar conveyed the Yemeni government condolence to President Ahmed over the death of the former Somali President Abdullah Yusuf who has died on Friday in Dubai.
Ethiopia expresses condolence over former TFG President’s death
24 Mar – Source: Ethiopian News Agency – 217 words
The people and government of Ethiopia have expressed their heart felt sorrow over the death of the former President of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Counter-terrorism forum, bilateral ties focus of UAE-UK taskforce meet
24 Mar- Source: Gulf Today- 339 words
The seventh meeting of the UAE- UK Taskforce took place at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on Wednesday.
The meeting was hosted by Alistair Burt MP, Minister for the Middle East and South Asia and the UAE delegation was led by Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. Minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan joined the meeting to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on international development co-operation.
EU gives nod to strikes on Somalia bases
23 Mar – Source: Daily Nation – 205 words
The European Union has agreed to expand its mission against Somali pirates, by allowing military forces to attack land targets as well as those at sea.
In a two-year extension of its mission, EU defence ministers agreed warships could target boats and fuel dumps.
The BBC’s security correspondent Frank Gardner says the move is a significant step-up in operations, but one that also risks escalation.
itarian aid.
Kadaga orders Defence to explain deductions on Somali troops pay
24 Mar- Source: Daily Monitoring- 408 words
Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has ordered the Ministry of Defence to table a statement in the House explaining why deductions are made to salaries of UPDF soldiers working in war-torn Somalia.
Ms Kadaga’s instruction follows revelations by MP Reagan Okumu (Aswa, FDC ), that some soldiers had informed him that $200 (Shs500,000) is deducted from their $1,028 (about Shs1.5 million) pay by officials in the ministry monthly without clear explanation.
Saitoti assures of security, calls for UK advisory review
23 Mar- Source: the Star- 300 words
Kenyan Internal Security minister George Saitoti has backed Tourism minister Najib Balala’s call to have the UK lift the travel advisory against Kenya saying the country is now secure. Saitoti assured tourists of their safety in the country. He said the government has been working hard to ensure no repeat kidnappings of tourists whether local or international. “We are happy the lady is free. This is a demonstration of many things happening in Somalia,” said Saitoti after the release of Judith Tebbutt after seven months in captivity in Somalia.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somali radio journalist seriously wounded in shooting
25 Mar- Source: AHN. Gant Daily 172 Words
A broadcast journalist was seriously wounded Sunday afternoon when he was attacked in Mogadishu.
Mohyadin Hassan Husni was shot in the chest as he attempted to run from his assailants. He is a reporter for Radio Shabelle, an independent radio station in the capital city.
Husni is the fourth journalist to be attacked in Somalia this year.
“We heard the gunshot and later we saw two gunmen running after the journalist as they were firing,” said Abdikadir Sheikh Mohamed, a resident in Wadajir district.
23 Mar- Source: Reuters- 75 words
A Somali police officer patrols along Lido beach as beach goers relax, near the waters of the Indian Ocean, north of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, March 23, 2012. Lido beach was a famous attraction before Somalia tumbled into chaos in 1991 with the ousting of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre. In the last few years, the beach was a frontline for the Islamist al Shabaab militants, who later withdrew from most parts of Mogadishu around August 2011.
Somalia pirates: EU approves attacks on land bases
23 Mar- Source: BBC- 507 words
The European Union has agreed to expand its mission against Somali pirates by allowing military forces to attack land targets as well as those at sea.
In a two-year extension of its mission, EU defence ministers agreed warships could target boats and fuel dumps.
Dutch navy may step up anti-piracy operation
23 Mar- Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide- 306 words
Defence Minister Hans Hillen wants to intensify efforts to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. Dutch naval personnel should be given a mandate to target weapons or fuel depots along the coast, he said. While the minister favours employing military equipment and the deployment of helicopters to fight piracy, he rules out sending forces onto Somalian soil.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Be that as it may, the process of “de-Nairobification” must continue. In addition to bringing an end to the costly routine of multiple outsourcing of all projects and services to Somalia, such decision will bring an end to a detrimental sub-culture that developed since the break up of the State. A sub-culture that lures governmental officials and members of the Parliament to accept invitations and attend private meetings with various colorful foreign characters of multiple agendas at the privacy of their offices, hotel rooms, and residence.”
It is Crucial to “De-Nairobify” Somali Affairs
22 Mar – Source: Foreign Policy Blog -1229 Words
For a number of years, Nairobi (Kenya) has been the de facto capital of Somalia after the State has disintegrated into anarchy. It has been where Somalis sought refuge, re-started their lives, and networked with the rest of the world. By the same token, it has been where almost all of the eighteen or so failed “reconciliation” conferences were concocted, and Somalis found the funding and the nourishment for the indigenous political demons that kept them divided and at war with one another for over two decades.
Yet, to this day—at least from the international community’s point of view—all initiatives related to peace, security, humanitarian, and development must be conceived, crafted, and executed via Nairobi; Through a network of international institutions and organizations with sullied reputation of money squandering, laundering, and rewarding corruption with more contracts. And so long as this continues, so too would the status quo.
Like Vienna (Austria) during the Cold War, Nairobi became a magnet that attracts both the positive and the negative. It is a place where a few good apples are found- those Somali patriots who are committed to work to bring an end to the misery of their people. It is also a place where many rotten ones are found- those who callously sellout everything about their country and people. Nairobi is where the buyers meet the sellers. Moreover, the city is one of the major hubs for security experts, “dealmakers” and deal breakers. It is also the center where around a $1 billion that is donated annually on behalf of Somalia is managed and mismanaged. It is where corrupted technocrats and other colorful characters compete for geopolitical strategic advantages or for crude economic exploitation. The city is also the center for a new breed of diplomats known as “gorilla diplomats”.
“In a polemic essay by Erodgan at Foreign Policy after his trip in Mogadishu, he mildly slammed the international community for their mortal failure in Somalia, letting the country become its own drama that seems going to nowhere. Contrast to that view, Turkey has strenuously – and more modestly – approached to the crisis in Somalia on a delivery-basis, rather than promises and plans as other donors, and made significant inroads that were not seen before.”
Turkey’s Increasing Role in Somalia
22 Mar- Source: Aljazeera-380 Words
In what seems to be an extraordinary shift in its involvement in Africa, Turkey is fast becoming an ally – and international actor – in Somalia’s theater. Lately, Ankara has shown an increasing interest and willingness to intervene to the devastating situation caused by the acute drought, complicated by terrorism and statelessness in Somalia.
In the midst of biblical famine that starved millions of Somalis to death, Turkey was the first country to unilaterally respond to the drought, while traditional donors for Somalia were unable and unwilling to provide more than a fleeting aid package.