November 22, 2018 | Morning Headlines

Two Employees Of Somali Telecom Giant Killed In Somali Capital

21 November – Source: Hiiraan Online – 149 Words

Two employees of Somalia’s largest telecom company, Hormuud, were shot dead in the Somali capital on Wednesday in a string of attacks suspected to be by the ISIS-linked militia group, which has killed over ten employees of the company in recent weeks.

According to witnesses, gunmen fatally shot the two employees, who were heading to a mosque in Mogadishu’s Bakara market area. The attackers escaped from the scene after the attack. Employees of the telecom company have been targeted in recent attacks across Somalia. Hormuud officials were not immediately available for comment on the latest attack. However, security officials suspect the wave of attacks against the company are linked to extortion demands by the Islamic State.

Somalia’s main businesses continue to face pressure from different militia groups including Al-Shabaab and ISIS, all trying to extract money in form of protection money to fund their deadly insurgency activities across the Horn of Africa nation.

Key Headlines

• Two Employees Of Somali Telecom Giant Killed In Somali Capital (Hiiraan Online)
• We Can’t Talk Unity Till Mogadishu Changes Cause President Bihi (252Politics)
• Kenya Police Thwart Al-Shabaab Plot To Destroy Telco Mast (Goobjoog News)
• US Airstrike In Somalia Against Al-Shabaab Kills 7 Extremists (Daily Mail)
• China Trained Somali Graduates Return Home To Aid Recovery (Xinhua)

NATIONAL MEDIA

We Can’t Talk Unity Till Mogadishu Changes Cause, President Bihi

21 November – Source: 252Politics – 169 Words

The President of the self declared state of Somaliland, Muse Bihi, has vowed to stay away from the negotiation table with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) “until Mogadishu changes its behavior”. Speaking to the residents of Burco, during his tour on the region, the Somaliland leader said the FGS had lately taken steps which dimmed the possibility of talks with Somaliland.

President Bihi blamed President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo’s government of what he termed as “spreading lies against my republic” at the United Nations Security Council in New York. The only condition for talks with Somalia, he said, was for Mogadishu to accept Somaliland’s autonomy.

The Somaliland leader observed that his country was stronger than ever despite setbacks over its quest for international recognition. Mr. Bihi’s reaction comes just days after Ethiopia recalled its consulate to Hargeisa in what is seen as a move by Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed Ali, to respect Somalia’s sovereignty. Talks between Hargeisa and Mogadishu have severally stalled over preconditions set by both sides.

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Kenya Police Thwart Al-Shabaab Plot To Destroy Telco Mast

21 November – Source: Goobjoog News – 206 Words

Kenyan Police on Monday thwarted an attempt by suspected Al-Shabaab militants to blow up a communications mast in the north eastern town of Garissa, Kenya. According to area police commander Emmanuel Rono, the militants fired mortar shells at the mast belonging to Safaricom with a view of disabling communications in the area.

Rono said that police killed one of the militants after he was cornered during a multi-agency security operation after he reportedly fired rocket-propelled bombs at a police and administration police camps before targeting the Safaricom mast.

According to Police reports, an unknown number of militants ambushed the security installations during a gun battle that lasted for hours before they were overpowered and retreated into the bushes. “Security officers were thrown into action and caught up with the heavily armed militants near the Safaricom mast which was recently replaced after it was destroyed during a similar attack,” the police commander said.

The mast was under guard by the multi-agency security team lead by Rapid Deployment Unit and Kenya police reservists. The police commander appealed to health facilities to ensure that the injured fighters are not given any treatment anywhere but that those who encounter the injured should report their case to the security apparatus immediately.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

US Airstrike In Somalia Against Al-Shabaab Kills 7 Extremists

21 November – Source: Daily Mail – 133 Words

The U.S. military says it has carried out an airstrike in central Somalia targeting Al-Shabaab that killed seven extremists. The U.S. Africa Command statement says Tuesday’s airstrike occurred in Quy Cad in the Mudug region. The strike was carried out a day after two other U.S. airstrikes killed 37 extremists with the al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab.

Like the previous statement, this one says it believes no civilians were killed or injured. The U.S. has carried out 33 airstrikes this year against Al-Shabaab, the deadliest Islamic extremist group in Africa. The military says the airstrikes are aimed at reducing Al-Shabaab’s ability to plan attacks, disrupting its leadership networks and limiting its freedom of movement in the Horn of Africa nation. Al-Shabaab often targets the capital, Mogadishu, and other cities with deadly bombings.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“Chinese embassy in Mogadishu flagged off 42 Somali students drawn from all regions in September to study in China through a Chinese government funded scholarship scheme. The number was double that of 2015 which saw 20 students benefit from the scholarship.”

China Trained Somali Graduates Return Home To Aid Recovery

21 November – Source: Xinhua – 541 Words

Somali youth are on the frontline of promoting recovery in the strife-torn Horn of African nation after pursuing higher education in foreign countries, including China. Hundreds of Somali youth have undergone university education in China either through scholarships or through self-sponsorship in recent years.

These graduates are now forming the background of the country’s key sectors such as education, health, and engineering among others. Adan Abdulkadir is a surgeon based in Bay Regional Hospital in southwestern Somalia. He studied in China and decided to bring his skills home at a time the country was undergoing an acute famine in 2012.

“I started my study in medicine in 2007 in China and after completing with a Bachelor’s degree, I returned to Somalia in 2012. The country was undergoing a severe famine,” Abdulkadir told Xinhua on Monday. He took up assignment at Banadir hospital in the city. “There were so many children suffering from diarrhea and so my main work was to treat these children,” said Abdulkadir.

According to the United Nations, the famine in Somalia which started in 2011 claimed about 260,000 lives. “I moved to Bay region in southwestern Somalia and started working in the biggest hospital there – Bay Regional Hospital,” said Abdulkadir, adding that he is now in charge of the surgery department.

Abdulkadir has been able to transfer his skills and knowledge to several of his colleagues both in Mogadishu and Bay region. He is not alone in the cause. Amin Mohamud earned his Master’s degree in medicine from China in 2017. “I started my undergraduate studies at Wuhan University and thereafter proceeded for masters at Central South University. I came back to the country and teamed up with friends we studied together in China to establish a hospital to serve our people,” Mohamud told Xinhua.

He said he received quality education in China which has enabled him offer professional services to his clients, adding that he appreciated the support he got during his studies. “The people in China are very friendly and we got all the support we needed,” said Mohamud.