May 17, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
U.S. advisers train troops for Somalia
16 May – Source: Washington Times – 500 words
American military advisers in Uganda are drawing on lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan to help train African Union soldiers to fight Somalia’s most powerful insurgent group, al Shabaab.
Earlier this year, a small contingent of U.S. Marines joined American military contractors at a training base nestled in Uganda’s rolling countryside about a 2 1/2-hour drive from the capital, helping fill gaps where the al Qaeda-linked fighters have found weaknesses.
Key Headlines
- Three suspected militants arrested in Dobley near Kenya (Source: Bar-Kulan)
- MSF to restructure health support in Galgadud due to deteriorating security (Source: Mareeg Online)
- Kenyan army “kills two Somali businessmen” in Lower Jubba region (Source: Shabelle)
- Al Shabaab raids military bases in El-bur town Galgadud region (Source: Bar-Kulan)
- Somalia approved EU strike against pirate base on its coast (Source: Kuwait News Agency)
- Ex-Somali official asks Va. court for immunity (Source: AP)
SOMALI MEDIA
Three suspected militants arrested in Dobley, near Kenya
16 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 99 words
Somali forces at the border town of Dobley on Wednesday morning arrested three people accused of plotting attacks in the area.
A woman is said to be among those arrested for her alleged links with al Shabaab in the region. A TFG official in Dobley town, Hanad Farah, alleged that the woman was planning to carry out attacks inside the neighbouring Kenya.
President Farole welcomes India assistance to fight piracy
16 May – Source: Garowe Online – 202 words
Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole said he supports India’s assistance in anti piracy operations off the coast Somalia, Garowe reports. President Farole, who is currently in India after receiving an official invite from India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said he supports India’s naval operations to fight piracy off of the coast of Puntland.
MSF to restructure health support in Galgadud due to deteriorating security
16 May – Source Bar-kulan/Mareeg Online/Shabelle – 135 words
An international aid agency working in Somalia, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) on Wednesday announced that it will close down its primary health care programmes in Dhusa Mareb and Hindere due to security concerns. The organisation said it “has made the difficult decision to close” these facilities which have been operational since 2006 and 2008 respectively. It has also said it will restructure its support to Istarlin Hospital in Guri-el town.
Kenyan army “kills two Somali businessmen” in Lower Jubba region
16 May – Source: Shabelle – 113 words
Kenyan military operating in Somalia’s southern regions have reportedly killed two local businessmen and injured another one in Lower Jubba region, south Somalia, reports said. Witnesses confirmed that the killings came after the Kenyan army, based at a camp on the outskirts of Taabta area, opened fire on people they suspected to be part of al Shabaab and killed instantly the two traders.
Al Shabaab raids military bases in El-bur town, Galgadud region
16 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 122 words
Al Shabaab militants raided on Tuesday night Ahlu Sunna and Ethiopian bases on the outskirt of El-bur town, Galgadudu region. Confirming the incident, Ahlu Sunna’s area security boss Abdi Hassan Mohamoud said that heavily armed militants launched a nighttime attack on their bases. He said they repelled the attackers, adding that they killed two militant fighters during the Tuesday night incident.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan police arrest “wanted terrorist” over 15 May grenade attack
16 May-Source: Standard- 416 words
Police have arrested one person suspected of involvement in the Tuesday [15 May] night terror attack on a restaurant in the coastal city of Mombasa. Police commissioner [Matthew Iteere] announced that the suspect now under police guard was a wanted man on the terror list.
Said Iteere in Nairobi:” He was found with a bus ticket and had planned to return to Nairobi at 10p.m. [1900 gmt] after the attack.”
Somalia approved EU strike against pirate base on its coast
16 May- Source: Kuwait News Agency- 251 words
France defended on Wednesday an attack the previous day by European Union forces against Somali pirates and said that the operation had the full backing of the Transition Government in Somalia. The helicopter attack targeted fast boats and supplies of fuel and weapons and no casualties were reported on either side.
Cash crunch weighing down peace roadmap, says Somalia
16 May- Source: Africa Review- 220 words
Somalia has warned that the full implementation of its roadmap towards stabilisation could be hindered by a lack of international funding.
In a press release issued in Mogadishu Tuesday, the transitional government said that while key benchmarks such as a draft constitution and a general improvement in security and governance had been achieved, there were still considerable obstacles on the plan’s course.
“After many hurdles, the government has shown its determination to keep improving the on-going processes,” said the statement, adding that traditional clan elders were striving to ensure the Somali people met their goals.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
New US ambassador to Malta bids farewell to Somalia, Eritrean refugees headed to US
16 May – Source: Washington Post – 117 words
The new U.S. ambassador to Malta has said farewell to 27 Somali and Eritrean refugees headed to the United States under a refugee resettlement program. Since 2007, 985 refugees have been resettled in the United States from the island nation of Malta, which struggles to integrate refugees who reach its shores, mostly from Northern Africa. This year alone, the United States has accepted 174 third-country nationals from Malta.
U.S. advisers train troops for Somalia
16 May – Source: Washington Times – 500 words
American military advisers in Uganda are drawing on lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan to help train African Union soldiers to fight Somalia’s most powerful insurgent group, al Shabaab.
Earlier this year, a small contingent of U.S. Marines joined American military contractors at a training base nestled in Uganda’s rolling countryside about a 2 1/2-hour drive from the capital, helping fill gaps where the al Qaeda-linked fighters have found weaknesses.
Ex-Somali official asks Va. court for immunity
16 May – Source: Times Dispatch/AP – 127 words
The Former Prime Minister of Somalia is asking a federal appeals court in Richmond to rule that he can’t be sued over alleged war crimes. A three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Court of Appeals heard arguments in Mohamed Ali Samatar’s case today.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The rise of internet-based journalism has further complicated Somaliland’s media environment. Like much of the media in Somaliland, most newly-launched websites lack original and objective reporting, and position themselves in a polarised political space, often operating beyond the reach of the Somaliland government in the diaspora.”
Somaliland’s Oppressed Media: The Test of Democracy is Freedom of Criticism
16 May – Source: Think Africa Press – 1019 Words
On May 18, Somaliland will celebrate 21 years of self-declared independence from Somalia. With a thriving democracy, exemplified by the 2010 presidential election which saw Daahir Rayaale peacefully transfer power to Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo, many African observers believe Somaliland should be destined for official statehood.
But all is not as rosy as it seems, and Somaliland’s democratic credentials are by no means untarnished.