November 11, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia top leaders jointly suspend the formation of South West Somalia administration

10 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog/BBC Somali/Radio Dalsan/Raddio bar-kulan -109 Words

The top leaders of Somalia, president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed and the speaker of federal parliament Mohamed Sheikh issued joint statement to suspend the formation of South West Somalia state in Baidoa.

The leaders stated that the conference will be suspended for two weeks starting from the date the statement was issued. The leaders also called the technical committee facilitating the conference to immediately return to Mogadishu for consultation. All the concerned parties were asked to implement the issued statement by the the leaders. The delegates passed the interim constitution of the administration and were preparing to elect the leader of the regional state.

Key Headlines

Five Al Shabaab suspects detained in Kismayo (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somalia top leaders jointly suspend the formation of South West Somalia administration (Radio Goobjoog/BBC Somali/Radio Dalsan)
Danish Refugee Council donates aid to displaced families (Radio Bar-kulan)
Security forces evict IDPs from government buildings (Radio Goobjoog)
New terror cells emerge in Mandera (The Star)
Scores killed as Al-Shabab captures town in Somalia (mathrubhumi.com/IANS)

SOMALI MEDIA

Five al-Shabaab suspects detained in Kismayo

10 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 130 Words

Somali security forces in Jubaland have arrested six suspected al-Shabaab militants believed to be threat to security. According to security official Abdullahi Abdirahman Nasri who spoke to Bar-Kulan said the men were detained while trying to plant landmines in the city roads. Nasri also said they succeeded in defusing two explosives ready for detonation in the city during a security operation.

The suspects who are currently held in Somali national security and intelligence agency prison in Kismayo are expected to be arraigned in court soon. Al Shabaab militant group have killed 15 people that they said were closely working with Jubaland security forces after they were pushed out by the group from Kudha Island. Two women were among the 15 executed by Al Shabaab for the last 24 hours.

Somalia top leaders jointly suspend the formation of South West Somalia administration

10 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog/BBC Somali/Radio Dalsan/Raddio bar-kulan -109 Words

Danish Refugee Council donates aid to displaced families

10 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 87 Words

Danish Refugee council has donated aid to more than 2000 displaced families in Celjale near Beledweyn town. The families who were displaced by recent flooding by Shabelle River received aid which include blankets, utensils and tents from the organization. According to Beledweyn Mayor most of the displaced families were farmers and livestock keepers who were affected by the seasonal flooding. He urged federal government of Somalia and other humanitarian aid agencies to come into the rescue of the families who he said to be living in appalling condition.

Security forces evict IDPs from government buildings

10 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 174 Words

Hundreds of families living in government buildings were today forcefully evacuated from their houses in Mogadishu. The evacuated families state that they were not given any notice to be able to get alternative place to live and only found security forces carrying dawn operations to displace the people.

Wardhigley district commissioner Yasin Noor Issa who addressed the media during the eviction said the federal government has reached decision to get back its building occupied by people mostly IDPs. Banadir spokesman Ali seeko called the families living in the remaining government building to adhere to the government’s warnings and voluntarily vacate before they are forced.

Many families mostly internally displaced people are the numerous government buildings and settlements scattered inside Mogadishu and on the outskirts of the city. Despite continued advocacy efforts, forced evictions remain a serious threat to displaced people and other vulnerable groups in Mogadishu. Last year, about 27,000 people were evicted from different settlements in Mogadishu, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.

Bahrain Specialised Hospital opened in Mogadishu

8 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 275 Words

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has lauded His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s honourable stances towards humanitarian and charitable work, and directives to extend a lifeline to the brotherly Somali people and provide development project for Somali citizens.

He made the statement marking the opening of the Bahrain Specialised Hospital in Mogadishu by the Secretary-General of the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO). Shaikh Nasser lauded the continuous support accorded by the government, led by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, to RCO. Backed by the Kingdom’s leadership, RCO has implemented a number of development projects that serve all segments of the Somali people, he said. RCO Secretary-General Dr. Musafa Al-Sayed stated that following HM the King’s directives, the Bahrain Specialised Hospital in Mogadishu was inaugurated, under the patronage of Shaikh Nasser.

He explained that the 17,500-square-metre hospital will provide comprehensive medical care for about three million Somali citizens. Al Sayed extended sincere thanks and appreciation to the Somali Government for helping RCO implement the project, praising the fruitful cooperation between RCO and the Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRWW) in this regard. Somali Health Minister expressed utmost thanks and appreciation to Bahraini leadership and people for their kind initiatives towards the Somali people, affirming that Bahrain was the first to implement development projects in his country. IRWW Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed El-Alfy lauded the Bahraini leadership, government and people for their constant keenness to provide support and relief aid to stricken people, hailing the on-going cooperation between IRWW and RCO.

REGIONAL MEDIA

New terror cells emerge in Mandera

10 Nov – Source: The Star – 159 Words

Mandera Governor Ali Roba has raised the red flag over the emergence of new terror cells in Mandera town. He warned that the cells might recruit members from other parts of the country if they are not crushed soon. He linked frequent terror attacks in the county to its proximity to the Somali border and urged the police to increase surveillance at the border. Roba was addressing the press on the sidelines of a county government leadership consultative meeting in Naivasha on Friday.

Roba said the police have failed to stop terror activities in Mandera. Last year, the county recorded 15 terror incidents while in the last two months 10 such incidents have been reported.None of the cases have been investigated comprehensively, he said.He termed as unfortunate media reports linking the recent attacks in the county to local problems rather than terrorism. He said police are downplaying terror activities in the area and this has affected development.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Scores killed as al-Shabab captures town in Somalia

10 Nov – Source: mathrubhumi.com/IANS – 169 Words

At least 50 people were killed and more than 40 others wounded after Al-Shabab fighters took over Kudha town in the Southern Somalia from the Raskamboni militia, officials confirmed Sunday. The coastal town of Kudha, which is close to the Somalia-Kenya border, is an important makeshift port for Al-Shabab. The Raskamboni militia loyal to Jubba administration had captured it from the Al-Shabab two weeks ago, Xinhua reported.

Yusuf Mohamed Hussein, a spokesman of Jubba administration, confirmed that Al-Shabab fighters launched a heavy offensive overnight Saturday and took over the town. Hussein argued that though his forces retreated from the town for military tactics, they will return to it and the fighting will continue as long as Al-Shabab fighters remain in the area.

On the other hand, Al-Shabab military spokesman Sheikh Abdulaziz Abu Musab claimed that his fighters killed 63 soldiers and captured Kudha town from them. Locals confirmed that fighters from both side and innocent civilians lost lives during the fighting that was going on for roughly 4 hours.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“It is for sure that there are ongoing local and international efforts to end the disagreement but the diplomats indicate that there are no compromise and understanding between them.”

President Hassan and PM Abdiwali should compromise and think of the nation

10 Nov – Source: Dalsan Radio – 402 Words

Political stagnation, opposing motions, mediation which is edgy and difference of opinions are still frenzying between the president and the PM for the third week. Even though the disagreement emerged clearly on October 25th after the premier reshuffled his cabinet, the rift between the two principals of the federal government can be realised that it was existing way before the time. The two principals used to cover it up for political dynamics. Political analysts believe that since the president nominated the PM on December 12th 2013, the two leaders had differences on several occasions but resolved them covertly despite the fact that no one knows who compromised.

“The whole novel, in fact, might be read as a sort of map of displaced people living in a welter of conflicting generalizations.”

‘Hiding in Plain Sight,’ by Nuruddin Farah

10 Nov – Source: startribune.com – 519 Words

When we left Mogadiscio, in Nuruddin Farah’s novel “Crossbones,” it was to the sound of a character crying, “What a dastardly city!” And of Somalia: “What an accursed country!” In Farah’s new work, “Hiding in Plain Sight,” we’re back in that once beautiful, now broken city on the western coast of Africa only long enough to meet Aar, a logistics officer working for the United Nations, before he dies in a suicide attack in his office — whereupon he becomes a ghost forcefully haunting the rest of the novel. Farah, who has taught at the University of Minnesota and now splits his time between New York and South Africa, has long been a literary emissary of his native land, which political strife and civil war have turned into a nation of refugees, with vast numbers of Somalis now living abroad, many in Minnesota.