May 28, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Prime Minister Shirdon: We will not accept administrations that are not all inclusive and unbalanced

27 May – Source: Shabelle/BBC Somali – 124 words

The Prime minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia Abdi Farah Shirdon has once again reiterated that his government will not accept unbalanced administrations in the regions. He said this while addressing the Juba Land regions and the different administrations that were announced in the region. While talking to the BBC Somali Service, the Prime Minister said that the federal government will not tolerate or by any means recognize an administration that does not represent all the people that hail from the Juba regions. Mr. Shirdon added that his government is ready to form an administration which will satisfy the members of public hailing from the Juba regions and will facilitate a neutral election throughout the three regions that form the Juba land state.

Key Headlines

Kismayo security officials ask for information before demonstrations (Source: Bar-kulan)
Several arrested during security operations in Mogadishu ( Source: Shabelle)
Somalia reiterates Kenya support after deadly terror attack (Source: Africa Review)
Declaration on Regional Conference on Peace and Safety for Somali Media ( Source: Radio Shabelle)
UK soldier killing suspect arrested in 2010 near border with Somalia (Source: Washington Post/AP)
Kenya National Union of Teachers asks teachers to flee volatile Kenya-Somalia border schools (Source: Standard Media)

SOMALI MEDIA

Prime Minister Shirdon: We will not accept administrations that are not all inclusive and unbalanced

27 May – Source: Shabelle/BBC Somali – 124 words

Kismayo security officials ask for information before demonstrations

27 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 102 words

The Kismayo security officials asked the local residents to inform the authority and security agencies whenever they are planning to take to the streets so that the security and stability can be in place. Speaking to Bar-kulan, Kismayo police boss Mohamed Abdi Sugow said that resident are kindly asked to inform the police and other security agencies if they want to demonstrate so that the stability of the city can be ensured. Three people were injured in Kismayo on Sunday after demonstrators rallying in support of the newly elected Jubbaland president Ahmed Mohamed Islan (Ahmed Modobe) were fire on by unknown gunmen.

Several arrested during security operations in Mogadishu

27 May – Source: Shabelle – 91 words

Security operations in the capital city of Somalia has resulted in the arrests of many people suspected to be members of al Shabaab. The operations were jointly conducted by AMISOM troops and federal government troops in some suburbs located inside the city. Residents of wadajir district in Banadir region informed Shabelle media that thorough security searches were conducted by the federal police and those from AMISOM troops. Residents also informed us that the troops were conducting house to house operation looking for anything that may give them a lead of al Shabaab hideouts.

Declaration on Regional Conference on Peace and Safety for Somali Media

27 May – Source: Radio Shabelle – 127 words

WE, the representatives of the media practitioners from all over Somalia, attending the Regional Conference on Peace and Safety for Somali Media with the presence of journalists’ leaders from Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 22-24 May 2013 adopt this declaration; HAVING discussed and agreed that the safety of journalists in Somalia remains a major concern in the light of high levels of violence including threats, intimidation, assaults, arrests and killings targeting media professionals and other media workers in the country;
NOTING that the media as the fourth estate in democratic rule has a vital role in building and sustaining culture of peace in Somalia and plays a constructive role in Somalia’s march towards reconciliation, stability and State-building efforts;

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia reiterates Kenya support after deadly terror attack

27 May – Source: Africa Review – 171 words

Somalia Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said on Sunday that his country is committed to fighting terrorism together with Kenya on either side of their border. Mr. Shirdon was speaking in the wake of a terrorist attack in Garissa, northern Kenya in which six people including two police officers were killed after a five-hour gun battle with an estimated 30 heavily-armed militia men. Later in the day, a Twitter posting believed to be from al Shabaab claimed responsibility. “We completely condemn this action against innocent civilians and police officers and send our condolences to the families of those killed,” he said. The al Qaeda linked militants said on Twitter that “a small unit of mujahedeen (holy warriors) attacked the Kenyan police post.” The premier said the Somali government is deeply grateful to the Kenyan people and their government for the support they have provided Somalia in the fight against terrorism. He added: “They (Kenyans) have paid a high price for their support and we are determined that this will not be in vain.”

Kenya National Union of Teachers asks teachers to flee volatile Kenya-Somalia border schools

27 May – Source: Standard Media – 143 words

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) on Monday asked teachers in schools bordering the volatile Kenya-Somali border to stay away until the government guarantees them security. Knut Garissa branch chairman Ibrahim Atosh said the union is concerned for by the al Shabaab militants incursions that has claimed the lives of teachers. The directive comes after Saturday’s attack in Damajaley and Abdisugow villages left six people dead, including a local primary school teacher. Al Shabaab has since claimed that its “small unit of mujahedeen carried the dusk attack adding that it took two people hostages as prisoners of war. Atosh identified the killed teacher as Zacharia Mwangi. He said the frequent attacks had spread fear among the teachers and the union has asked them to flee the border schools as a precaution. He said there about 20 schools along the Garissa border line with Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali government says peacekeepers didn’t protect them

28 May – Source: UPI – 162 words

A Somali government delegation in Kismayu has accused Kenyan peacekeeping troops of not protecting them. The Kenyan troops are members of the African Union Mission in Somalia, a regional peacekeeping mission operated by the African Union with the approval of the United Nations in Somalia. Heightening tensions in another AMISOM operational area, Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon stated that the government in conjunction with AMISOM troops, is undertaking house searches in Mogadishu. Shirdon said the government will pursue all necessary measures to provide full security in the capital. Shirdon said the government would continue to battle terror groups, adding that the capital’s security operation is being conducted by different government forces alongside those from the African Union Mission in Somalia.

Kenya police kill wanted terrorist who plotted attacks in country, had links with al Shabaab

27 May – Source: AP – 130 words

A Kenyan police official says the country’s anti-terrorism police have killed a wanted terrorist and recovered a cache of weapons in the port city of Mombasa. Police official Boniface Mwaniki said Sunday that Khalid Ahmed was trailed by police from the capital Nairobi to Mombasa where he was killed in a dawn exchange of fire at his mother’s house. Mwaniki says the Somali national sneaked into Kenya from Somalia where he had undergone paramilitary training. Mwaniki said police recovered a hand grenade, a pistol and ammunition inside the house. He said some police officers were wounded in the shootout with Ahmed. Kenya has had a growing terror problem since 2011 when it sent its troops to fight Islamic militants inside Somalia. Al Shabaab has since then staged retaliatory attacks inside Kenya.

UK soldier killing suspect arrested in 2010 near border with Somalia

27 May – Source: Washington Post/AP – 170 words

A suspect in last week’s savage killing of a British soldier on a London street was arrested in Kenya in 2010 while apparently preparing to train and fight with al Qaeda-linked Somali militants, an anti-terrorism police official said. Michael Adebolajo, who was carrying a British passport, was then handed over to British authorities in the East African country, another Kenyan official said Sunday. The information surfaced as London’s Metropolitan Police said specialist firearms officers arrested a man Sunday suspected of conspiring to murder 25-year-old British soldier Lee Rigby. Police gave no other details about the suspect, only saying he is 22 years old. The arrest brought to nine the number of suspects who have been taken into custody regarding Rigby’s horrific killing in London. No one has been charged in the case. The British soldier, who had served in Afghanistan, was run over, and then, witnesses say, was stabbed with knives by two men in the Woolwich area in southeast London on Wednesday afternoon as he was walking near his barracks.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“My discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Foreign Minister Fauzia Yusuf Adam (who speaks good Russian) have revealed a notable interest in restoring Russia-Somali ties to the level they once enjoyed, but upon a modern foundation and under different circumstances.”

Ambassador’s Notebook: Helping Rebuild Somalia

27 May- Source: RIA Blog-556 Words

I recently participated in a high level conference on Somalia which took place at Lancaster House. Since the first conference like this in 2012, Somalia has witnessed a number of significant changes. The transition period that lasted for eight years has now ended. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who was elected in September 2012, and the new government are determined to implement comprehensive measures aimed at the normalization of the situation in the country. Given the progress already made, the following tasks are at the forefront of Somalia’s agenda: ensuring security and the rule of law in areas that have been freed from al Shabaab and other extremist groups, restoring the conditions needed for normal life, setting up an effective and transparent system of governance, and creating conditions for social and economic development.