November 1, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
President Hassan arrives in Kismayu city
31 Oct – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan/SNTV – 91 words
The president of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, visited in Kismayu city, the administrative seat of Lower Jubba region. President Hassan held talks with the leaders of the interim administration of Jubba in Kismayo regarding the implementation of the agreement signed by both sides during August talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The president was accompanied by officials from the federal government in his first visit to Kismayo city. The security of the city has been beefed up in the port city following president.
Key Headlines
- President Hassan arrives in Kismayu city (Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan/SNTV)
- Somaliland’s Vice president opens new UNICEF building (Somaliland Informer)
- 200 hospital beds donated to Jowhar General Hospital (Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online)
- Somaliland president dismisses Director General of Ministry of Aviation (Somaliland Informer)
- President Farole dissolves parliament to pave way for new elections (Bar-kulan/Garowe Online)
- Police in Burao make arrests in security operation (Bar-kulan)
- Somali president visits key breakaway southern port (AFP)
- Somali president lands in Kismayo (Al Shahid)
- KDF destroys al Shabaab training camp (Citizen TV/Standard Media)
- Surge in troops sought for Amisom as fight against al Shabaab falters (Daily Nation)
- Kenyan warplanes bomb al Shabaab strongholds in Somalia (Reuters)
- Somali pirates convicted of attacking Spanish warship (BBC)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM Press Statement
31 Oct – Source: AMISOM – 194 words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) today resumed implementation of its armed operations against al Shabaab safe havens in Middle, Lower Juba and Bay regions of Somalia. The operations, led by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) under AMISOM, are targeted against Al Shabaab training camps and its senior commanders in the tri-border area between Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle and Bay region.
Targeting these remaining al Shabaab locations will complement the operations already being conducted by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and other allied forces as well as deny al Shabaab freedom of movement and further reduce their ability to perpetrate attacks against the civilians in Somalia and the region.
The operations are being conducted following clearly defined objectives which have been validated following extensive surveillance and intelligence in order to minimise the chances of causing civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Mahamat Salah Annadif hailed the historic visit to Kismayo today by the President of Somalia, His Excellency, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who was warmly welcomed by the leader of the Interim Jubba Administration, Mr. Ahmed Madobe.
SOMALI MEDIA
President Hassan arrives in Kismayu city
31 Oct – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan/SNTV – 91 words
The president of the federal government of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, visited in Kismayu city, the administrative seat of Lower Jubba region. President Hassan held talks with the leaders of the interim administration of Jubba in Kismayo regarding the implementation of the agreement signed by both sides during August talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The president was accompanied by officials from the federal government in his first visit to Kismayo city. The security of the city has been beefed up in the port city following president.
Somaliland’s Vice president opens new UNICEF building
31 Oct – Source: Somaliland Informer – 70 words
Somaliland’s Vice president Mr. Abdirahman Abdilahi Ismail ‘Zaylici’ on Wednesday opened Unicef’s new building which was built nearby Egal International airport. Besides the VP, the ceremony was attended by members of Somaliland’s cabinet miniters and other heads of organization based in the country. Having the VP officially opened, he delivered speech extending thanks to Unicef for carrying out humanitarian projects in Somaliland be it education, health, water and other services.
200 hospital beds donated to Jowhar General Hospital
31 Oct – Source: Bar-kulan/Jowhar Online – 84 words
200 hospital beds were donated to Jowhar General Hospital on Wednesday by a Saudi humanitarian organization. The head of the logistical department of the hospital, Ibrahim Sharif Mu’min said that the modern hospital beds will assist the medical staff to carry out their duties in an efficiently manner. Mu’min urged the Somali Diaspora as well as well-wishers to contribute the re-equipment of the hospital in order to help the patients receive timely treatments. He added that the beds were installed in the maternity ward.
Somaliland president dismisses Director General of Ministry of Aviation
31 Oct – Source: Somaliland Informer – 70 words
Somaliland President Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo has dismissed the Director General of Aviation and Air Transport Ministry Mr. Ahmed Dalal Farah. According to press release issued by the presidential spokesman on Thursday, the president of Somaliland through a presidential decree #JSL/M/XILQ/249/1-2129/102013 and exercising his constitutional powers, the head of state has appointed new Director General Omar Abdilahi Adam Qalilnle to replace his predecessor.
President Farole dissolves parliament to pave way for new elections
31 Oct – Source: Bar-kulan/Garowe Online – 94 words
Puntland president, Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, has dissolved the parliament to pave the way for the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. The president praised the members of the parliament for the adoption of the new constitution of Puntland before announcing the dissolution in a presidential decree. In the final session of parliament, the speaker of Puntland parliament, Abdirshid Mohamed Hirsi also praised the dissolved members for their commitment and hard work during their tenure. Hirsi believes most of the dissolved parliament members will be re-elected during the electoral process in Puntland due to their impressive performances.
Police in Burao make arrests in security operation
31 Oct – Source: Bar-kulan – 77 words
Several people accused of insecurity activities have been arrested in Burao town during a security operation carried out by Burao police. The regional police commander, Ahmed Abdirahman Hassan told Bar-kulan that the security operation was meant to tighten up security in the town. He promised the arrested will be taken to the regional court after a thoroughly investigations are carried out. Hassan added that the security sweep in the town will continue in the next two days.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somali president lands in Kismayo
31 Oct – Source: Al Shahid – 123 words
Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mahmud, and delegates mostly MPs reached Somali port city of Kismayo on Thursday. Reports from the town say that the leader of Jubba interim administration welcomed the president and his delegation after the plane landed in Kismayo airport and escorted to the regional presidential palace. The security of the city is tightened and curfew was imposed so to restrict the movement. The president met Ahmed Madobe the leader of Jubba interim administration so to complete the Addis Ababa accord in August. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Jubba delegation held talks in Addis Ababa from 20th – 27th August 2013, under the auspices of the IGAD Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers.
KDF destroys al Shabaab training camp
31 Oct- Source: Citizen TV/Standard Media-231 Words
An airstrike by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) within AMISOM has destroyed an al Shabaab training camp at Hurguun. KDF conducted a major aerial offensive on al Shabaab location in the Dinsoor on the 31st of October. Reports from the ground confirmed that 4 technical vehicles and a weapons store were destroyed. This was confirmed through a statement by the Information Operations Officer on behalf of the Chief of the Defence Forces. At the time of the airstrike, the camp had over 300 recruits, many of whom are believed to have perished with many others suffering injuries. The training camp has been used by al Shabaab to train operatives some of whom are eventually infiltrated into the country. The Westgate attackers allegedly received their training from the camp.
Surge in troops sought for Amisom as fight against al Shabaab falters
31 Oct – Source: Daily Nation – 107 words
United Nations leaders called on Wednesday for a surge in African Union troop deployments in Somalia, warning that the AU’s military campaign against al Shabaab has “ground to a halt.” In a report to the Security Council, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recommended an increase of 6235 uniformed support workers assigned to the AU mission in Somalia (AMISOM). That would bring the total number of troops and Amisom administrative personnel to nearly 24,000. Mr. Ban also asked UN member-states to act “urgently” to supply AMISOM with helicopters and other weapons presently unavailable to the Kenyan, Ugandan, Burundian and Sierra Leonean troops that make up the current force.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenyan warplanes bomb al Shabaab strongholds in Somalia
31 Oct- Source: Reuters-240 Words
The Kenyan military said its warplanes bombed targets held by al Qaeda-linked Islamists in Somalia on Thursday, in retaliation for an attack on a Nairobi mall that killed at least 67 people. The Kenya Defence Forces said they destroyed a training camp used by the members of the al Shabaab Islamist group who attacked the Westgate Mall on September 21. A Kenyan drone strike killed two leading members of al Shabaab on Monday. “This was part of a broader mission by the AMISOM (the U.N.-backed African peacekeeping mission in Somalia), targeting where the Shabaab were training. Those attackers at the Westgate did their training there,” Colonel Cyrus Oguna, a spokesman for the Kenyan military, told Reuters. “We have been monitoring this particular area over a period of time, and we moved in when we got the green light.” The camp had over 300 fighters, many of whom are believed to have been killed or injured, the KDF said in a statement. Oguna said raids on the Islamists’ strongholds would be sustained. Al Shabaab denied there had been any attack.
Somali president visits key breakaway southern port
31 Oct- Source: AFP-290 Words
Somalia’s president visited for the first time the southern port of Kismayo on Thursday, a former militant stronghold now controlled by a warlord long opposed to rule of central government, his spokesman said. The move comes amid efforts to bolster support for central government from breakaway regions, and to combat a common threat of al Qaeda linked al Shabaab insurgents, who control large areas circling the port city. Al Shabaab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab boasted of firing dozens of artillery and mortar rounds at the “infidel leader” as the president landed, but officials dismissed that as lies. Kismayo, patrolled by Kenyan and Sierra Leonean troops in the African Union force, is controlled by the Ras Kamboni militia of warlord Ahmed Madobe, who claims leadership over the southern semi-autonomous region of Jubaland in defiance of government in Mogadishu.
Journalist held hostage in Somalia tells students how she supports Somali women
31 Oct – Source: AP – 133 words
Author and activist Amanda Lindhout spent 460 days as a hostage in Somalia — now she raises millions to educate Somali women. The Alberta journalist promised if she survived, she would make a positive change, especially for the people of Somalia. Lindhout told 16,000 awed students at We Day that not only has she raised millions of dollars to help educate 200,000 Somali women, she has returned there to organize food convoys. Earlier this afternoon, former Mexican president Vicente Fox tol We Day students told We Day students young people should dedicate themselves to bringing happiness to the world. “You have the burden on your shoulders,” Fox told the young social justice activists. “We are going to make sure that every kid has the opportunity to be in school,” Fox said.
Somali pirates convicted of attacking Spanish warship
31 Oct – Source: BBC – 111 words
Six Somali men have been convicted of piracy by a Spanish court after they attempted to board a Spanish warship off the Somali coast in January 2012. One of the men was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison, while the other five received eight years in jail each. During their trial in Madrid, all six men denied being pirates; they said they were fishermen who had approached the ship for help. The men eventually surrendered after being pursued by a military helicopter. The Spanish navy supply ship, the Patino, was taking part in the European Union’s Atalante operation against piracy in the Indian Ocean when its was approached by a skiff.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“A typical operation has three to five investors. Some provide loans or investment advice to other financiers. Some financiers, especially those in the Somali diaspora who have little cash inside Somalia but large deposits abroad, employ what the report describes as “trade-based money-laundering” to send funds to Somalia. This involves finding legitimate Somali importers willing to use a financier’s foreign money to pay for their shipments and reimburse him at home in cash once the goods are sold.”
Somali piracy: More sophisticated than you thought
31 Oct- Source: The Economist-924 Words
PIRACY remains a concern for ships passing the Horn of Africa, even though the number of incidents has plummeted since 2011, when armed protection was beefed up on board many large vessels. The topic grips the public imagination. Witness the success of “Captain Phillips”, a film in which a vessel captained by the actor Tom Hanks is hijacked by Somalis. Yet the pirate economy is poorly understood. A report*, to be released on November 4th by the World Bank, the UN and Interpol sheds new light. The authors interviewed current and former pirates, their financial backers, government officials, middlemen and others. They estimate that between $339m and $413m was paid in ransoms off the Somali coast between 2005 and 2012. The average haul was $2.7m. Ordinary pirates usually get $30,000-75,000 each, with a bonus of up to $10,000 for the first man to board a ship and for those bringing their own weapon or ladder.