March 5, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

AMISOM Forces Capture Maslah, extend Mogadishu defenses

02 Mar – Source: AMISOM Force HQ – 330 words

The Somali National Forces with the support of AMISOM troops have this morning pushed Al-Qaeda-backed al Shabaab terrorists out of a neighborhood on the northern OUTSKIRTS of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The AMISOM Force Spokesman, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda confirmed the new development.

In a swift move that started this morning, the Uganda Contingent helped capture Maslah which the extremists have been using as a base to launch attacks on the city. The move comes barely two weeks after a similar push to the south saw the security cordon around the city expanded further outwards.

“Today’s operation has successfully extended the city’s defenses and will deny the terrorists important ground from which they have been attacking the population,” saidAMISOM Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha. Maslah has also been a ground from which the extremists were conducting firing squads. Alot of innocent civilians are said to have been executed from there since 2008.

Key Headlines

President Sharif praises TFG troops for their achievements (Source: Radio Bar-kulan )
TFG forces promise to take over Juba regions (Source: Radio Bar-kulan)
Somaliland leader: We welcome talks with TFG (Source: BBC Somali Service)
UPDF capture another town from al Shabaab (Source: Daily Monitor)
Mogadishu rumbles back to life as the Shabaab falters (Source: Daily Nation)
Sporting euphoria in Mogadishu ( Source: Africareview)
Bozdağ travels on first Turkish flight to Somalia (Source: Today Zaman)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM Forces Capture Maslah, Extend Mogadishu Defenses

02 Mar – Source: AMISOM Force HQ – 330 words

The Somali National Forces with the support of AMISOM troops have this morning pushed Al-Qaeda-backed al Shabaab terrorists out of a neighborhood on the northern OUTSKIRTS of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. TheAMISOM Force Spokesman, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda confirmed the new development.

“Today’s operation has successfully extended the city’s defenses and will deny the terrorists important ground from which they have been attacking the population,” said AMISOM Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Fred Mugisha. Maslah has also been a ground from which the extremists were conducting firing squads. Alot of innocent civilians are said to have been executed from there since 2008.

Two of our soldiers were injured during this operation. We are committed to continue working with Transitional Federal Authorities to eliminate threats to the Somali peace process and to create an enabling environment for reconciliation.

“AMISOM forces, both in Mogadishu and in the south of the country, will continue to support the people of Somalia as they strive to rebuild their country,” he said. Since August last year, when AMISOM helped clear the al shabab from their bases within the capital, Somali leaders have taken advantage of the improved security to reach agreement on the peace process and the reconstitution of the Somali state.

In September 2011 they adopted a Roadmap to ending the transition. Earlier this year and in two conferences in the Puntland capital, Garowe, the leaders established a framework for the adoption of a provisional constitution as well as for the creation of federal units in liberated areas. Last week, the UN Security Council passed a resolution raising the AMISOM troop ceiling to 17,731 and allowing for the integration of Kenyan forces.

London Conference: Opportunity for all Somalis

02 Mar – Source: TFG – 238 words
MM House warmly welcomes the London conference outcomes which clearly show to the extent international community and Somali leaders are serious to politically stabilize this war-torn country. It is very crucial to address that the London conference on Somalia brought the international eyes together on Somalia to set unanimous strategy on what is going on Somalia; so that an ultimate solution will be easily reached.
Since MM House is a center for press freedom, security/safety of journalists and sustainable freedom of expression for all Somali citizens, we hereby specifically appreciates the inclusion of respecting the press freedom and protecting the journalist on the conference’s final communique which clearly heals the weakened moral of Somali journalists who work under bad conditions of threat and targeting attacks.
MM House has recently provided different assistances for Somali journalists upon their security and safety. In 16th Feb, this year, MM House carried out seminars on “Safety and security of journalist working in Mogadishu”. During these seminars, veteran journalists shared their experiences with juniors to provide guidelines and vital advises.
Also MM House plans by March this year, to host comprehensive meeting invited to all stakeholders to set laws protecting Somali journalists under “Media Safety principles”.
It is the duty of Somali Federal Government to secure the country and the people as we especially ask the government to protect Somali journalists by giving special consideration to them and create safe environment to practice their social works.

SOMALI MEDIA

President Sharif praises TFG troops for their achievements

03 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 128 words
The president of the TFG Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has praised the Somali national forces for the significant security roles they played in areas controlled by the transitional government. The president who was addressing a ceremony on the achievements of the national forces said the forces have enhanced security as anticipated and strengthened the war on al Shabaab militias.

TFG security forces on high alert to thwart attacks in Baidoa

03 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 176 words
The TFG of Somalia said on Saturday that it will tackle security threats from al Shabaab militants against Baidoa town, the capital of Bay region of southern Somalia. Lt. Aden Ahmed Omar Biid, a TFG army commander in Baidoa told Shabelle Media that the security forces have thwarted an explosion by al Shabaab fighters against Baidoa town. He said the Security was intensified in Baidoa town and search operations were underway on Saturday after the army discovered four landmines being planted in parts of the town to detonate TFG convoys.

TFG forces promise to take over Juba regions

04 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 85 words

TFG forces pledge to take over Juba regions of Somalia which al Shabaab militias are currently controlling. General Yusuf Husen Dumal, Head of the Somali National forces of the Juba regions told the press their next target is Kismayo port town. He added the forces were previously blocked by heavy rains witnessed in the Jubas.

Puntland police shut sdown radio station

04 Mar – Source: Mareeg Online, NUSOJ, Bar-kuan – 653
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the raid on the privately owned radio station in the commercial port town of Bosaso in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, on late Saturday
night on 3 March, 2012 around 10:20pm local time and the detention of its director by the Puntland police.

Armed police raided the radio premises of Radio Voice of Peace (Codka Nabadda Radio) in Boosaaso on Saturday night March 3, 2012, around 10:20pm local time taking equipment, including two laptop computers, the mixer and locked the studio. The director of the radio, Awke Abdullahi Ali confirmed the attack, before he was
detained.

Somaliland leader: We welcome talks with TFG

02 Mar – Source: Shabelle, BBC Somali Service – 94 words

The president of Somaliland Mohamed Mahamud Silanyo said on Friday that his administration would welcome any talks with Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG).

While speaking to BBC Somali service, Mr. Silanyo said that Somaliland is committed to talk with Somali president Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed about Somaliland’s sovereignty

Landmine search operation conducted in Baidoa, Bay region

02 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 98 words

A land mine search operation was last night conducted in Baidoa town by a collaboration of Ethiopian and TFG troops who recently captured the town. The collaboration forces have removed three land mines near the “afar irtood” building in Baidoa where the locals informed the forces that the withdrawn Shabaab militias have inserted the land mines.
The district commissioner of Baidoa district, Hasan Bikole said that the residents helped in removing the landmines al Shabaab militias have put on roads in Baidoa.

Al Shabaab attack military outpost in Puntland

03 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 275 words
After recently joining the al Shabaab network, the Golis mountain militias have attacked a military outpost near Bossaso. They attacked Puntland security forces twice in the early hours of Saturday, one attack occurring in the middle of the night. The other attack took place a few minutes after dawn as Aa Shabaab agents stormed an outpost where some Puntland troops were stationed. The Puntland spokesman Ahmed Omar Hersi said that Puntland forces had killed 7 al Shabaab members in the battle, adding that there were 3 civilian bystanders injured.

UNHCR hosts meeting in S.Africa addrresing plight of refugees

03 Mar – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 89 words
A meeting hosted by UNHCR was held in Cape Town, South Africa aimed at addressing challenges faced by Somali refugees living there. Among the participants of the meeting were heads of human right activist organizations and the Somali community in South Africa. Hadis Haji Adan, head of foreign affairs of the Somali community in South Africa said that the meeting addressed problems of refugees and measures for protecting them from human rights abuses.

Militants, army clashes in southwestern Somalia leave 3 dead

04 Mar – Source: Shabelle -153 words
At least three people have been killed and more others were wounded in a fierce clashes between Somali government soldiers allied with Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a (ASWJ) fighters and al Shabaab militants in southwestern Somalia, reports say on Sunday.

The fighting which lasted for hours took place overnight whensome of al Shabaab fighters launched a surprise attack on TFG, Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a-controlled bases at villages located on the outskirts of Beled-Hawo town, just few miles from the border between Somalia and Kenya.

Al Shabaab takes over a village in Somalia after attack

04 Mar – Source: Radio Shabelle, Bar-kulan – 11 words
Heavily armed militants from the islamist militant group of al Shabaab have taken over the Diif area on Saturday night, a small village near the border region of Lower Jubba region of southwestern Somalia, witnesses say. Reports say the attack which continued for hours enabled al Shabaab militants to regain control of the village from Somali government soldiers. The village is a strategic one that links the regions’ districts.

Al Shabaab says it was involved in deadly fighting in Puntland

03 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online – 148 words
One of the deadliest fighting near Bossaso in Puntland claimed the lives of more than 30 people.

A local militia allied with al Shabaab launched an attack against Puntland forces who was patrolling in the area. Shiekh Abdi’aziz Abu Musab an al Shabaab spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack.
“They were trying to attack the Mujahedin ,we planted explosives on the road, then we hit their cars with rockets, we have killed 27 of them; we lost three of our fighters in the fighting” he said.

Al Shabaab fighters surrender to TFG troops in Gedo region

04 Mar – Source: Radio Shabelle, Kulmiye – 107 words
Eight al Shabaab rebel fighters armed with light weapons on Saturday surrendered to Somali government troops in Garbaharey town, Gedo region, officials say. Farhan Ali Mohamed, one of Tthe FG troop officers in the region confirmed to Shabelle that 8 militants from Dofaray village gave themselves up Somali government troops in Garbaharey town on Saturday afternoon.

Al Shabaab raids AU, TFG bases in Mogadishu

04 Mar – Source: Shabelle – 104 words
Al Shabaab militants have attacked on Sunday joint AU/TFG army bases in Mogadishu, with both sides exchanging heavy machinegun and artillery fire, locals say. Heavy fighting broke out Sunday at Jamhuriyah village in Karan district of Mogadishu a day after government forces backed by African Union troops launched an assault on an insurgent stronghold,witnesses said.

Puntland Marine Police Force begins operations in Eyl

04 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 201 words
Puntland Marine Police Force (PMPF) have begun operations in the coastal city of Eyl. The small unit consisting of more than 200 troops was sent to Eyl ,a coastal town 155km east of Garowe. The government coordinator for the PMPF Abdirasak Mohamed Hidig who spoke to reporters said that President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole requested that the PMPF were sent to coastal towns to begin anti-piracy operations.

Thirty said to be killed as Puntland troops, Islamists clash in northeastern Somalia

03 Mar – Source: Radio Voice of Mudug – 144 words

Thirty people are said to have been killed as Puntland troops, Islamists clash in northeastern Somalia

“At least 30 people have been killed and dozens have sustained injuries after outbreak of heavy fighting between Somalia’s Puntland troops and fighters loyal to Islamist leader Shaykh Muhammad Sa’id Atam” who has bases in the mountains area of Galgala in Bari Region, northwestern Somalia, privately-owned Radio Voice of Mudug reported on 3 March.

Former Somali PM accused UN Envoy to Somalia of violating the agreed principles of Somalia’s roadmap

03 Feb- Source: Radio Kulmiye, VOA Somali Service, Somalia Report-81 words

The former Somali’s Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo has blamed the United Nations special Representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga. The former PM stated that the views of the UN’s Representative for Somalia are meaningless and that without a central Somali government a lasting peace and good government will not be acquired. Mr. Farmaajo also accused Ambassador Mahiga of violating the principles of Somalia’s Roadmap by not supporting the peace process itself.

Al Shabaab recaptures Diif Village

04 Mar- Source: Somalia Report, Somalimemo, Radio Kulmiye- 64 words

Somalia’s al Shabaab insurgent group seized Diif village in Lower Juba region early on Sunday morning after small clashes between them and the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) alongside pro-government clan militias of Ras Kamboni.

According to the residents of Diif, there was brief encounter between the two groups on Saturday night on the outskirts of the village which forced the allied forces to abandon Diif.

Somali welfare agency denies accusation against al Shabaab

03 Feb- Source: Radio Shabelle, Radio Risaala- 71 words

The DBG agency [Welfare of general public], a local charity, has denied reports claiming that al Shabaab had destroyed and looted the agency’s centre at Mogadishu’s Tareedisho locality. Ther director of DBG, Umar Olad Ahmad, who held a media conference in Mogadishu, distanced the agency from fabricated reports which have been making the rounds in recent days to the effect that al Shabaab had destroyed and looted the contents of its centre.

REGIONAL MEDIA

UPDF capture another town from al Shabaab

04 Mar – Source: Daily Monitor – 339 words

The UPDF peacekeepers in Somalia have launched an attack on the al Shabaab positions in the outskirts of Mogadishu in retaliation of the attack by the insurgents on the peacekeepers’ positions.

The African Union forces spokesperson, Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, said in the statement issued on Thursday that two soldiers were injured in the offensive that pushed rebels back after trying to regain the lost ground.

Sporting euphoria in Mogadishu

03 Mar – Source: Africareview – 200 words

Nowadays, sports games are employed by all and sundry in Mogadishu to grace events and harmonise communities, especially the youth.

The latest to join the rush for games organisations was Bar Kulan radio, a widely listened 24 hours broadcaster that transmits its programmes from Nairobi, Kenya.

Two female basketball teams, Horseed and Municipio, got ready for a peaceful duel on Thursday, March 1, to compete for a Cup in honour of the second anniversary of the launching of the popular radio.

Mogadishu rumbles back to life as the Shabaab falters

03 Mar – Source: Daily Nation – 538 words

For the last 20 years, Mogadishu has been comfortably unchallenged as the bad news capital of the world.

Displacement of populations on a scale and consistency not seen anywhere else, deaths from disease and famine, war and yet more war; those have been the consistent story lines coming out of a port city that was once one of the greatest centres of commerce on the East African coastline.

Kenya mulls pull out from Somalia by October

03 Mar – Source: Horn of Africa News, Capital News – 661 words
Military Spokesman Colonel Cyrus Oguna told a press briefing on Saturday that the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia AMISOM, under which KDF is operating, ends on October 31.

“Since we were integrated into AMISOM, we will operate within its mandate which expires on October 31 this year. We expect to be there for as long as that mandate is running. The mandate within that resolution is peace enforcement which is meant to provide an environment within Somalia that would allow for political processes to take place,” he revealed.

The exploits of a father and son in al Shabaab war

03 Mar – Source: Daily Nation – 499 words
As he grew up at Sironga village in the current Nyamira district, Daniel Abuga Nyatigo admired soldiers in uniform as they drove by in Land-Rovers.

Yet, when he came of age and made an attempt to join the Kenya Army, the recruiting officers rejected him five times.

Sporting euphoria in Mogadishu

03 Mar- Source: Africa Review- 234 words

Nowadays, sports games are employed by all and sundry in Mogadishu to grace events and harmonise communities, especially the youth.

The latest to join the rush for games organisations was Bar Kulan radio, a widely listened 24 hours broadcaster that transmits its programmes from Nairobi, Kenya.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Bozdağ travels on first Turkish flight to Somalia

04 Mar- Source: Today Zaman-355 words

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ will be in Somalia on Tuesday to mark the official opening of Turkish-built facilities in Mogadishu. He is scheduled to fly on Monday night on the first flight of Turkish Airlines (THY) to the Somali capital. THY earlier announced that it would add Mogadishu to its growing network, operating twice weekly via Khartoum.

The way to a new Somalia

04 Mar – Source: The Guardian – 707 words

Ask a Somali taxi driver in Streatham or Shepherd’s Bush what they remember of Mogadishu and their eyes widen, their hands leave the steering wheel in wild gesticulations and they become poets, rapturously describing it as a jewel, the ancient, sophisticated pearl of the Indian Ocean.
I have my own vision of the capital buried deep in my memory, some time during the few weeks I spent there as a four-year-old, waiting for our Aeroflot flight to London. Someone took me to the top of a lighthouse, and the view from its height is still with me: an expanse of ocean borde.

Rebel, army clashes kill nine in Somalia’s Puntland

03 Mar – Source: Reuters/Jerusalem Post – 136 words

Islamist al Shabaab rebels attacked soldiers from Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, leaving at least nine people dead on Saturday, officials said, in the latest sign of a resurgence by the militants in the area.

Al Shabaab promised last week to step up action in the northern Puntland area – a territory which up to now has escaped the worst of Somalia’s turmoil – after merging with another militant group there.

Somalia car bombing near military base

03 Mar – Source: AFP – 243 words
A car bomb exploded on Saturday near a military base housing Burundian soldiers from an African Union peacekeeping force in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killing the driver, police said.

“The car exploded as it was closing on a base of Burundian peacekeepers. The driver was killed and two civilians nearby were slightly injured,” said Mohamad Duale, a senior Somali police officer.

With Shabaab rebels forced out, rebuilding begins in Baidoa

04 Mar- Source: AFP- 28 sec

Ethiopian troops took over Baido, Somalia, from Shebab rebels on February 22, 2012. The fall of Baidoa dealt a major blow to the al-Qaeda-backed Islamists took who have occupied the city since 2009.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Western countries may be looking at Somalia as an opportunity to expand markets and revive local industries. It is possible that Western countries have woken up to the fact that Somalia represents an untapped source of natural resources and a destination for Western goods.”
“Somalis are in need of virtually every service, and have huge infrastructure shortfalls, which could be filled by Western companies. Also, the country’s resources have remained under-exploited for 20 years, and its leaders could be persuaded to give rights and concessions to Western companies in exchange for aid.”

Sudden interest in Somalia points to suspect Western corporate interests

03 Mar – Source: The East Afrcan – 1955 Words
In her book The Shock Doctrine, Canadian author Naomi Klein argues that Western governments often use humanitarian relief and reconstruction as an excuse and an opportunity to force poor or strife-torn countries to adopt neoliberal economic models that ultimately serve the interests of Western corporations.
Citing examples from Chile, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Russia, Argentina, among other countries, she shows how political and economic turmoil has been used as an entry point by Western countries to introduce economic reforms that would ordinarily be unpopular with local populations.

“The London conference has also for the first time united the international interests in Somalia. Before the meeting, the world seemed not to read from the same script when it comes to Somalia. That is now history largely due to the dangers posed by extremists groups in Somalia, who as expected, recently admitted to have officially joined Al-Qaeda.”

London conference revives Somalia optimism

04 Mar – Source: Guled Mohamed Blog – 392 Words

A lot has been written or said about the recent international conference on Somalia hosted by the British government. This conference had many “firsts” than the dozens of conferences held for Somalia.

This was the first ever conference hosted by Britain, a former Somalia colonial master. The former British protectorate of Somaliland, which broke away from the rest of Somalia, also attended the meeting for the first time since it seceded in 1991.

I have covered Somalia since 2004 but I have never seen such a positive optimism from Somalis before. The renewed hope seems to have spurred patriotism among Somali forces as government forces and their AU backers AMISOM are winning on the ground. They have just kicked out Al-Shabaab from their last hideout in the outskirts of Mogadishu which acted as a base and a killing or assassination base for civilians.

“The failure of the London meeting to address these and other core issues of the Somali conflict emphasizes the need for another broad-based conference (of national reconciliation) under the auspices of the UN, which would focus on a number of things, including: disarming all militias and an agenda for putting in place a credible interim government (representing all groups, including al-Shabaab) to prepare a Constitution that would lead Somalia to democratic elections, legitimacy, peace, stability and progress.”

London conference on Somalia failed to meet expectations

03 Mar – Source: Citizen – 679 Words

When, in early 2009, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed became Somalia’s second interim president, succeeding Abdullahi Yusuf, to head the fragile Transitional Federal Government (TFG), he made lofty promises to his fellow citizens.

The principal one was that he would strive to reunite the country, bring peace and open a bright new chapter in Somali history. How he could deliver on this pledge in the face of the huge challenges he, like his predecessor, faced was mind-boggling.

Since the rise of Al-Shabaab, following the fall of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), which controlled Mogadishu for six months until it was ousted by the Ethiopian military, backing up the TFG, the insurgents have put up a spirited fight against the government and African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops.