November 13, 2015 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Court Martial Sentences Two To Death In Mogadishu

12 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 119 Words

Two Somali National Army officers have been sentenced to death by a court martial in Mogadishu after they were found guilty of killings. The first officer, 52 year old Mohiyadin Alaso Idd was accused and found guilty of murdering a civilian following a dispute over the ownership of a house in Wadajir District, Mogadishu in August 21, this year. The second, a non commissioned officer, Isaq Mohmmed Hashi, 27 was sentenced to death for killing a military man in Lower Shabelle September 27, this year. The judge, Hassan Ali Nour Shutte found the two guilty but gave them the right to appeal. The court deploys a firing squad in cases of soldiers found guilty and sentenced to death.

Key Headlines

Court Martial Sentences Two To Death In Mogadishu (Goobjoog News)
South West State Denies Al-Shabaab Claims Of Killing 20 Soldiers In Car Bomb Attack (Shabelle News)
Somalia Objects To Kenya Wall Project (Garowe Online)
Somali Prime Minister Wants Closer Cooperation With Malta On Visas (Malta Today)
KDF Denies Involvement In Somalia Smuggling Racket (Capital FM)
Ilhan Omar kicks Off Her Election Campaign For Minneapolis House District 60B (Hiiraan Online)

NATIONAL MEDIA

South West State Denies Al-Shabaab Claims Of Killing 20 Soldiers In Car Bomb Attack

12 November – Source: Shabelle News – 140 Words

The information minister of the interim administration of South West state Hassan Abdi Mohamed has strongly denied Al shabaab claims of killing 20 soldiers in Wednesday’s car bomb attack near Mogadishu. In an interview with Radio Shabelle, Mr Mohamed said that there no any soldier killed or wounded in the car bomb attack targeted on a convoy transporting South west state leader Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden.
“All our soldiers have been accounted for. There was no any casualties and the human toll of the blast was limited, after the president’s bodyguards foiled the car bomb attack,” said South west state info minister. Reports posted on pro-al shabaab websites said the militants killed 20 soldiers in Wednesday’s car bomb explosion on south west state leader at Arbiska area near Mogadishu.A Toyota Surf packed with explosives was used in the attack.

Somalia Objects To Kenya Wall Project

12 November – Source: Garowe Online – 118 Words

In a fresh twist that may signal diplomatic row on the horizon, Somalia’s Federal Government has officially objected to Kenya proposal to construct security wall along its border, Garowe Online reports. During a weekly cabinet meeting in Mogadishu on Thursday, Somalia Interior Minister Abdirahman Odawa unveiled that Mogadishu wrote to Kenya about its concerns on the unilateral counter-terror strategy. Kenya is planning to push ahead with the ambitious project to keep Al-Shabaab threats at bay on key border point. Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke conveyed Somalia’s objection to Kenya wall project over the course of his recent trip. Remarks coincide with Kenya’s controversial move in which it is demolishing colonial posts along its border with Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali Prime Minister Wants Closer Cooperation With Malta On Visas

12 November – Source: Malta Today – 194 Words

The Prime Minister of Somalia Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke has urged closer cooperation with the Maltese government on the issuances of visas to Somali nationals. In a bilateral meeting held this morning with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Sharmarke said people from his country had to go to New York to obtain a visa to Malta. Commenting on the long coasts of his country and Malta’s sea resource, Sharmarke said the two countries could cooperate closely on maritime and fisheries issues.

“Somalia is rich in terms of resources but conflict is pushing the young generations to leave the country. Those who have left will come back if we have political and economic security,” he told Muscat. He said, that the situation was getting better and thanked Malta for the invitation to the Valletta Summit. Sharmarke added that his ambassador was readily available to help Malta with identifying asylum seekers claiming to be Somali. On his part, the Maltese Prime Minister expressed concern over the situation in the region and pressed for the need of stability in the area. He referred to the Maltese soldiers in missions off the coast of Somalia fighting piracy as part of the EU mission.

KDF Denies Involvement In Somalia Smuggling Racket

12 November – Source: Capital FM – 131 Words

The Kenyan military has denied allegations of involvement in illegal sugar and charcoal smuggling racket in Somalia. Military Spokesman, Colonel David Obonyo says their soldiers have always acted professionally in fighting Al Shabaab militants in the lawless country. Obonyo says the report is ridiculous by suggesting that the soldiers are doing business with the Al Shabaab while at the same time fighting them.

The report released Wednesday night is based on investigations carried out by Nairobi’s Journalists for Justice rights group which interviewed United Nations officials, Western intelligence sources, sugar traders, porters and drivers. It also accused Kenyan troops of “widespread” human rights abuses – including rape, torture and abduction – and conducting air strikes “targeting crowds of people and animals” rather than the militant training camps it claims to bomb.

OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE

“If elected, I am going to make sure we reduce the dependency on fossil fuel and that we are able to divest it.” She said as she lined up some of her previous work experiences including promoting democracy, justice and youth programs.”

Ilhan Omar kicks Off Her Election Campaign For Minneapolis House District 60B

12 November – Source: Hiiraan Online – 364 Words

Having experienced physical, verbal attacks and bullying last year, Ilhan Omar hasn’t taken it so personal but rather an outright attack on her community from which she relies on their vote to win the upcoming Minneapolis House District 60B election, the same district where she was attacked. Yet again, defiant Omar struck again, kicking off her campaign for the election which would see her challenging with the longtime DFLer, Rep. Phyllis Kahn. On Wednesday, the 32 years-old activist turned to her community in Minneapolis, seeking their votes as she unveiled her candidacy for the seat which many believe carries a significant value for diverse communities in Minneapolis.

Mrs. Omar who most recently served as a senior policy aide to Minneapolis City Councilmember Andrew Johnson had left the war-torn Somalia in in 1990s, as she and her family spent years in a refugee camp in Kenya before they got sponsored to come to the United States in 1997. “I hereby declare that I am a candidate running for state representative’s position,” Grinning Ilhan said at her campaign kick-off event. “If elected, I am going to make sure we reduce the dependency on fossil fuel and that we are able to divest it.” She said as she lined up some of her previous work experiences including promoting democracy, justice and youth programs.