November 27, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Angry people torch Al Shabaab houses in Bula-burte

26 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 123 words

Angry residents in Bulobarde burn down two houses once lived by Al Shabaab figures in revenge four recent torching of nearby villages by the group. The move comes after militant group set on fire houses belonging to locals of Jamaco shin 12 kilometers outskirts of Bula-burte earlier today. Some of the residents who spoke to Bar-Kulan over the incident have lamented their impatience over Al Shabaab atrocities against the locals. Bula-Burte mayor Osman Gedi Elmi has told Bar-Kulan that the locals revenged over the constant Al Shabaab harassment. He said the group torched several houses in Qabane, Jimco shin and several surrounding areas for the past one week. Area mayor urged locals to take own initiatives to defend themselves against Al Shabaab attacks.

Key Headlines

The commander of government forces guarding parliament building sacked (Radio Goobjoog)
Angry people torch Al Shabaab houses in Bula-burte (Radio Bar-kulan)
Kenya house of parliament and senate suggests the creation of Somali army to fight alshabab (Radio Dalsan)
UN envoy to Somalia meets Banadir governor in Mogadishu (Radio Goobjoog)
Ilwad Elman is appointed Youth Ambassador for Somalia on Sexual Violence in Conflict (Hiraan Online)
President Abdiweli Gaas visits Bosaso (Radio Mustaqbal)
Plot to kick out Somalia PM derailed by hecklers (Daily Nation)
Do not give in to al Shabaab Mandera Governor urges (Star)
Government moves to prevent mass exodus of worried workers from Mandera (Daily Nation)
KDF says 49 more al Shabaab militia killed in Somalia (Star)
Somalia’s new bourse sees seven firms listing on opening in 2015 (Reuters)
Somali pleads guilty to drug charge appeals sentence in same sitting (Maltatoday)
U.S. issues travel warning for Djibouti over terror threat (Reuters)

SOMALI MEDIA

The commander of government forces guarding parliament building sacked

26 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 71 words

The acting commander of Somali police Gen. Osman Omar Gasgas sacked the chief officer of the government forces guarding federal parliament building Hassan Jama’a Guleed. A new commander Qasim Hassan Fiidow was appointed to replace the former commander. The reason behind the firing of the commander is not clearly known but reliable sources Goobjoog FM contacted states that it has connection with the political upheaval in the federal parliament.

Angry people torch Al Shabaab houses in Bula-burte

26 Nov – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 123 words

Kenya house of parliament and senate suggests the creation of Somali army to fight al-shabaab

26 Nov – Source: Radio Dalsan – 84 words

The house of parliament and the senate of Kenya are suggesting the creation of a Somali Kenyan’s army in Oder to fight al-shabaab militia. The two houses debated yesterday the insecurity that Kenya is facing and they demanded the government to take necessary step to tackle the security issue. Senator Chris Mungaro a member of the house of the Senate suggested that it necessary to create a local Somali army to fight al-shabaab. The Senator said he now fears the security of parliament.

UN envoy to Somalia meets Banadir governor in Mogadishu

26 Nov – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 124 words

The special envoy of UN secretary general for Somalia Nicholas Kay has taked closed door meeting with the governor of Banadir region and mayor of Mogadishu Hassan Mohamed Hussein in Mogadishu. The envoy and the mayor discussed wide ranged issues including training local government forces and strengthening the security of the city. After the meeting the spokesman of Banadir administration Administration holding press conference said the two officials agreed to speed up the relations between UN and Banadir administration by training local community forces and promoting the engagement of the poor people particularly women in the capital. Kay said he is happy to visit the mayor’s office for third time and commended the mayor’s commitment hold fair elections in Mogadishu.

Ilwad Elman is appointed Youth Ambassador for Somalia on Sexual Violence in conflict

26 Nov – Source: Hiraan Online – 739 words

“What can a small army of committed young people hope to accomplish for devastated women in the world’s most failed state, half a world away? Almost anything. The key to success? Empower dauntless local leaders and survivors to design and direct their own program addressing critical needs in their own community” – Ilwad Elman.

Sexual violence is not country specific. It knows no creed, religion, or age. In conflict, rape is seen as an effective biological weapon, used to terrorize men, women, girls, and boys. Too common are the cases where justice fails to manifest in laws and practice. Impunity for rapists, and harmful traditional practices continue to enable and condone rampant sexual violence, gender stereotypes, and inequality. Though it takes many different forms, sexual violence is most frequently sourced as an armament, to degrade, oppress, and destroy communities in times of war. Across Somalia, violence against women and girls is a major public concern. Sexual violence is one of the most challenging issues for populations affected by armed conflict and humanitarian emergencies. Coupled with the substantial displacement and conflict in Somalia, sexual violence has been especially problematic for the Nation’s capital, Mogadishu. Several international human rights organizations have even documented the use of sexual violence perpetrated by African Union peacekeeping troops against Somali women and girls who were seeking help from the mission.

President Abdiweli Gaas visits Bosaso

26 Nov – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 116 words

The president of semi-autonomous regional state of Puntland Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas and delegates reached Bosaso, the headquarters of Bari region. President Gaas is expected to have meeting with the region’s administration and the local leaders before he lays-brick the Bander Qasim International Airport which its construction is due to commence soon. The construction of the airport will allow residents in Qardho and other towns of the region to easily access and travel to Bosaaso by air instead of road. These come a day after Hobyo sea port was reopened after more than 20 years. Most of the towns in the country do not have airports and seaports that will simplify the people’s business activities.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Plot to kick out Somalia PM derailed by hecklers

26 Nov – Source: Daily Nation – 285 words

MPs disrupted Somalia Parliament just as the House was scheduled to discuss a motion of no confidence against Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. Although the media was kept out of the House, interviews with MPs reveal that lawmakers started chanting and singing, making it impossible to conduct business in the House. It was the third disruption in three weeks. The PM warned that his planned ouster would impede development in the country, which has been rocked by civil war for two decades. Africa Union troops, including Kenyan forces, are stationed in Somalia to protect the Mogadishu government. Mr Ahmed has been at loggerheads with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud over a Cabinet reshuffle.

Do not give into al Shabaab, Mandera Governor urges

26 Nov – Source: Star – 369 words

Mandera Governor Ali Roba on Tuesday urged locals not to give in to the al Shabaab saying the militants’ aim is create fear and panic. Roba noted that there are new terror cells in Mandera but asked the residents to be patient while the county and national governments heighten security round the clock in the region, particularly along the Mandera-Wajir highway and at residential areas. “There have been four attempts on my life. On Monday, the social media reported that my home had been attacked, but we still soldier on,” he told KNA. He pointed out that terrorists have targeted Muslims as well in the past, giving the example of 12 the police officers killed in the county in May, nine of whom he said were locals. Roba said a mass exodus will negatively impact the economy of the county already facing an acute shortage of teachers and medical staff.

Government moves to prevent mass exodus of worried workers from Mandera

25 Nov – Source: Daily Nation – 734 words

The government on Tuesday moved to prevent a mass exodus of workers from Mandera County following the killing of 28 people in a bus attack last Saturday. But the mainly non-Muslim workers insisted they wanted to be evacuated from the area though Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and Army Commander Joseph Kasaon assured them of their security. Mr Kinyua and the army boss were Tuesday dispatched by the government to address the workers camping at the Kenya Defence Forces outpost at the Mandera Airstrip. Mr Kinyua said: “The government’s message is that you should go back to your respective residences and that the government is enhancing security patrols in town by involving the KDF on a 24-hour basis.” “We are providing the security and if we evacuate you then it shall mean we have succumbed to terror pressure,” Mr Kinyua said.

KDF says 49 more al Shabaab militia killed in Somalia

26 Nov – Source: Star – 232 words

The Kenya Defence Forces on Wednesday evening said it has killed 49 al Shabaab fighters. In a statement, the KDF said, its troops under AMISOM carried out an air strike on al shabaab camps at Hargeisayere and Minyonta in Jilib at 12.15pm on Tuesday. Among those killed were five senior commanders, while 27 others were injured. KDF said two technical vehicles were also destroyed during the air strike. “The two camps are important Al Shabaab logistics and operational bases which have been key transit points for militia movement to other areas.” KDF said in the statement. This comes after the KDF on Monday released photos on an alleged rain on the militias in which it said more than 100 militiants in Somalia were killed following a bus attack in Mandera that claimed 28 lives. The Star had independently verified that the photos released by the Kenya Defence Forces have not been posted on any online platform. This is despite the fact that some of the photos have time stamps from 2012.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s new bourse sees seven firms listing on opening in 2015

26 Nov – Source: Reuters – 338 words

The Somalia Stock Exchange expects seven companies in the telecoms, financial services and transport sectors to list their shares when the bourse is set up in 2015, its founder said. Somalia’s economy is slowly recovering from more than two decades of conflict, although the government is still battling an Islamist insurgency. Amid the chaos, some businesses have thrived, including money transfer and mobile phone firms. “These are companies built by Somalis themselves and they have the potential to grow and attract international investment,” Idd Mohamed, chairman of the Somalia bourse, told Reuters on Tuesday. He did not name the firms. “The Somali companies are business-oriented. They have large amounts of cash and resources and they are willing to take this road,” Mohamed said on the sidelines of a meeting of African bourse chiefs in the Kenyan coastal resort of Diani.

Somali pleads guilty to drug charge, appeals sentence in same sitting

25 Nov – Source: Maltatoday – 142 words

A Somali man who ignored his lawyer’s instructions and pleaded guilty to drug possession has lodged an immediate appeal after being jailed for a year. Marsa resident Hassan Mohamed Abubaker, 37, appeared before Magistrate Carol Peralta charged with being in possession of 10 sachets of cannabis leaves in Triq San Gorg, St. Julians, less than 100m away from a school, club or place where youths congregate. The drugs are alleged to have been found in circumstances that denote it was not for his personal use. The court noted that the accused was also a recidivist. When asked by the magistrate as to his plea, the legal aid lawyer Anthony Cutajar tried to prompt the accused to plead not guilty, however the Abubakar pleaded guilty. The Somali appeared not to have expected the sentence however and immediately lodging an appeal in open court.

U.S. issues travel warning for Djibouti over terror threat

26 Nov – Source: Reuters – 163 words

The United States has issued a warning to travelers citing “specific threats from terrorism” aimed at Western and local interests in the east African nation of Djibouti. Djibouti hosts U.S. and French military bases and is an ally in the U.S.-led fight against militant Islam. Somali al Qaeda-linked militants have previously attacked Djibouti, saying it was to punish the east African state for contributing to an African Union force in Somalia. “Attacks may target official government facilities, including embassies and military installations, as well as soft targets such as restaurants, clubs, hotels and other commercial entities,” the U.S. advisory said. “While Djiboutian officials continue the pursuit of those responsible for previous terrorist attacks, many of those involved remain at large and still operate in the region,” said the advisory, released on Tuesday. In May, two people were killed in grenade blasts in Djibouti city at a busy restaurant popular with Westerners. Somalia’s al Shabaab Islamist rebel group claimed responsibility.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

These horrendous conducts does not protect Kenyans from terrorism – it simply radicalizes them into extremist groups.

Why Kenya can’t defeat Al Shabaab

24 Nov – Source: Somali Current – 656 words

Kenya, the East African economic giant has experienced a wave of terror attacks from Al Qaida linked Somali militant group Al Shabaab since it sent its troops to southern Somalia late 2011 to fight the group which has threatened its national security and main economic activity tourism. Every time Al Shabaab claims the responsibility of the attacks inside the country, the government of Kenya on the other side promises to strengthen security and bring the perpetrators before justice to satisfy the families of innocent victims of proxy war between Kenya and the terror organization. Security analysts said much about the inability of Kenyan security forces to preempt further Al Shabaab terror attacks in Kenya particularly in the major cities such as the capital Nairobi and the coastal port city of Mombasa.

Strategies such as repatriation of Somali refugees, creating buffer zone along Kenyan Somalia border and even pulling out the troops for the increasing insecurity back home was suggested but none could work so far. As a Kenyan citizen and a journalist who is closely watching and concerned about the terror attacks by Al Shabaab against innocent civilians and the Kenyan police indiscriminate raids of mosques under the tag of fighting terror, I have a general feeling that Kenyan government cannot defeat Al Shabaab and is just deceiving innocent citizens for simple unnoticed reasons.