May 13, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Car bomb kills at least 12 people in Somalia: police

12 May – Source: Reuters – 141 words

A car bomb killed at least 12 people, including Somali soldiers and civilians, on Monday in a city that was once a stronghold of al Qaeda-linked rebels, police said. Baidoa – about 250 km (150 miles) southwest of Mogadishu – was the second most important city for Al Shabaab insurgents after the port of Kismayu, before they were routed by Ethiopian troops in 2012. “A car bomb killed 12 people including government forces and residents,” Captain Nur Aden, a police officer, told Reuters by telephone from Baidoa. “The car bomb was targeted at the former governor of Bay region who was by then in a local bank opposite the cafeteria. His cars and others which were also parked there were destroyed. Some of his bodyguards were seriously injured. Most of the people who died were residents who were in the cafe.”

Key Headlines

Somalia hails Uganda for support (New Vison)
Britain pledges to enhance capacity of Somali security agencies (Bar-kulan)
At least five killed in Somali town explosion (Africa Review/Al Jazeera)
Parliamentarians temporarily postpone motion against Interior Minister (Radio Shabelle)
Kenya apologizes over the recent detention of Somali diplomat (Bar-kulan/Goobjoog)
Heliwa commissioner claims tougher security have been enforced in the district (Radio Shabelle)
Kenya court orders terror suspect released on hefty bail (Turkish Press)

PRESS STATEMENT

Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia condemns attack in Baidoa

12 May – Source: UNSOM – 102 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, has condemned the attack in Baidoa today that resulted in the death of many civilians and injuries to many more.

“I am shocked and saddened by the attack in Baidoa today. I urge the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly. The United Nations will continue to support the Somali people and their Government as they strive for a peaceful and stable future.”

Mr Kay expressed his sincere condolences to the families and friends of all those killed in today’s attack and wished a swift recovery for those injured.

SOMALI MEDIA

Britain pledges to enhance capacity of Somali security agencies

12 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 98 words

The federal government of Somalia and the government of Britain have discussed on ways to reform and enhance the capacity of the Somali security agencies in order to improve their performances. Speaking in Mogadishu, Somali Security Minister, Abdikarim Hussein Guled said that he discussed with the British security agencies on important security issues concerning both countries during his recent trip to Britain. He stated that the British government had promised to enhance its relationship with Somalia and thanked the government of Britain for its continuous support to the country. Somalia maintains good relationship with the government of Britain.

Ten killed in Baidoa suicide bombing

12 May – Source: Garowe Online/Bar-kulan/Goobjoog – 91 words

At least 10 people were reportedly killed in a suicide bombing in Bay regional capital of Baidoa of southwestern Somalia on Monday according to witnesses. According to local reports, a suicide bomber targeted vehicles carrying former Governor of Bay region Abdifatah Geesey in the middle of the town. The dead include civilians and uniformed soldiers who were lying in a pool of blood near wreckages from the deadly attack. Health officials at Baidoa General Hospital have so far confirmed that twenty wounded persons are receiving medical treatment.

Parliamentarians temporarily postpone motion against Interior Minister

12 May – Source: Radio Shabelle – 120 words

Somali Members of Parliament (MPs) as usual, convened Monday for their daily session at the National Assembly in Mogadishu. Mahad Abdalla Awad, the second deputy parliament speaker announced that the motion against the Interior Minister will be delayed until further notice. In Sunday’s sitting, over 65 MPs brought forward a motion to the second deputy speaker of parliament requesting that lawmakers hold a vote of confidence for the Minister of Interior & Federalism, Abdullahi Godax Barre. Several legislators reported to Shabelle on the condition of anonymity, that the motion was expected to be debated today among parliamentarians but that Mr. Awad announced the setback on the vote of confidence, not giving a specific date as to when it will be held.

Kenya apologizes over the recent detention of Somali diplomat

12 May – Source: Bar-kulan/Goobjooog – 118 words

Somali Ambassador to Kenya, Mohamed Ali Nur Ameriko has revealed that the Kenyan government has apologized over the recent detention of a Somali diplomat in Nairobi. In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan shortly after his return from a week-long trip to the Somali capital, the ambassador said that the Kenyan government expressed its regret over the detention of Siyad Mohamud Shire, the consul at the Somali Embassy in Nairobi. He added that the Somali government accepted the apology letter from the government of Kenya. He said the diplomatic relations between the two countries will not be strained by the row over the detention of the diplomat following the official apology of the Kenyan government over the incident.

Heliwa commissioner claims tougher security have been enforced in the district

12 May – Source: Radio Shabelle – 100 words

Mohamed Ahmed Hashi the district commissioner of Heliwa reported to Shabelle that the security situation in the district has perfectly improved since the appointing of General Hassan Mohamed Hussein Mungab as Governor of Benadir & Mayor of Mogadishu in February this year. The commissioner claimed that that the district troops along with the government’s National Intelligence & Security Agency, have coordinated with each other to prevent terror attacks, planned killings or any other insecurity acts in Heliwa. Furthermore, Mr. Hashi said that there is understanding and cooperation between the Heliwa administration and residents to prevent attacks on civilian life in the district.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia hails Uganda for support

12 May – Source: New Vison – 235 words

Somalia president Hassan Sheik Mohamud has hailed Uganda for its endless support as his country struggles to restore peace and stability. He said the support showed their brotherhood. President Yoweri Museveni met and held bilateral talks with the Hassan Sheik Mohamud at State House in Entebbe today. The Somalia president called for Museveni’s support as a regional leader in their efforts and to let him know what is happening in his country. Uganda has more than 6000 troops serving under AMISOM. President Mohamud who has left for home after a two day working visit briefed the president as a regional leader about what is happening with the stabilization programme in Somalia, the security situation given the expanded area now under their control, challenges from within and also the vision 2016.

At least five killed in Somali town explosion

12 May Source: Africa Review/Al Jazeera – 168 words

At least five people were killed Monday in a huge explosion targeting a senior official in Baidoa southern Somali police said. “He escaped the attack, but two of his security guards were killed along with three civilians.” The town, which is under the control of government troops backed by African Union forces, was wrested off the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels two years ago. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but the al Shabaab have carried out a string of bombings and vowed to overthrow the war-torn country’s internationally-backed but fragile government. “I saw the dead bodies of five people around the site of blast… several other people were wounded,” witness Hassan Nurow said. It was not immediately clear what caused the blast, but some witnesses said a suicide bomber had rammed a car laden with explosives into the pick-up. The al Shabaab have been driven out of fixed positions in Somalia’s major towns by the UN-mandated AU force, but still regularly launch attacks that include bombings and guerrilla-style raids.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Car bomb kills at least 12 people in Somalia: police

12 May – Source: Reuters – 141 words

Kenya court orders terror suspect released on hefty bail

12 May – Source: Turkish Press – 106 words

A Nairobi court on Monday ordered the release of a Kenyan-Somali terror suspect, on bail set at $122,000, thought to be linked to a car bomb that went off outside a police station three weeks ago, killing four people. Ahmed Dugali Ali, whose car was used in the April 23 bombing, appeared on Sunday before Nairobi Resident Magistrate Esther Rienyi to answer two charges. Ali is accused of providing the car used in the bombing and harboring one of the attackers – identified as Mohammed Abass Hassan – who was killed in the explosion, which also claimed lives of his alleged accomplice and two policemen.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The trip will last two weeks. Byard is coming straight home to go camping. Kindle is going on to Palestine, where he will spend the rest of the summer teaching. Lindsay is going to visit her mother, who is the assistant principal of an international school in Dubai. And Mohamed is staying on to celebrate Ramadan.”

Anne Sullivan students help prep 4 teachers for trip to Somalia

12 May – Source: Minn Post Blog-988 words

Every day, Ayan Mohamed’s fourth-grade students ask, “Have you gone yet?” “No,” she answers, laughing. “You would notice if I was gone.” Whereupon the students add more to the already voluminous list of things they want Mohamed, a bilingual education assistant, and the other three teachers at Anne Sullivan who will visit Somaliland next month to see, do and photograph. James Kindle’s third- through sixth-grade students, most of whom were born in refugee camps in Ethiopia, want to see pictures of places they’ve never been — places their parents lived and have talked so much about. Kaitlin Lindsay’s kindergarten and first-grade students want her to find and photograph a particular kind of tree that doesn’t exist here but that plays a special role in their culture. When it gets really hot in East Africa, the community gathers under its branches to tell stories, play games or — sometimes — hold class. The girls in Laura Byard’s middle-school classes are making sure she knows how to wrap her head scarf properly. Nearly two-thirds of Anne Sullivan’s students are Somali and 30 percent are recent refugees. Greater engagement with them was the goal the four teachers had in mind last fall when they applied for a grant from AchieveMPLS to partially fund the trip.