NATIONAL MEDIA
4 November – Source: Goobjoog – 108 Words
Reports indicate on the airstrike raid in Bay and Middle Juba region last night targeted Al-Shabaab base located in the area Bulla Falay which results of various losses. The shelling followed by direct flights between the National Army forces and Al Shabaab militants. It is not yet known how many casualties have affected both sides. On the other hand, warplanes reportedly bombed Jilib district in Middle Juba region the shelling targeted a suspected Al-Shabaab official named Ibrahim Abu Hamza, the head of the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab network. Reports indicate that the officer was dead at the point; meanwhile, the federal government security official has not commented still the incident.
3 November – Source: Halbeeg – 185 Words
President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmajo has directed state agencies to accelerate efforts to finds lasting solutions for natural disasters in the country. Thousands of families have been displaced by floods after the River Shabelle broke its banks. A delegation, led by President Farmajo, on Saturday evening, arrived in Beledweyne town to assess the situation of the town which is submerged in water by floods. President Farmaajo said a durable solution must be put in place to alleviate the suffering of affected communities, especially considering recurrent floods and droughts in the country. He also lauded the cooperation of the local community to help the victims of the floods. “The pain and suffering from the recurrent floods is one we all share with our citizens, and in the expression of our togetherness, I join you to let you know that you’re not alone. May Allah shower his mercy upon all our affected families as we seek lasting measures in the long term,” said the president. The president, who waded through the floods to reach the affected communities, also applauded the emergency relief efforts spearheaded by the National Floods Emergency Committee.
3 November – Source: Hiiraan Online – 673 Words
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) with support from UN Women and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today commemorated in Mogadishu this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists under the theme “End the Violence and Harassment against Women Journalists”. Over 50 journalists from the local media were joined by senior officials from the federal government and judiciary to remember murdered journalists and to challenge the impunity enjoyed by armed individuals and groups who threaten, attack, torture and murder journalists in Somalia. In his address to the commemorative event, Somalia’s Justice Minister, Hassan Hussein Hajji has vehemently condemned the unpunished crimes against journalists, particularly the impunity of violence and harassment against women journalists. “Somalia had witnessed a significant decrease in the number of harassments, killings and arbitrary arrests since the current Government came into office in early 2017 when compared to the previous years. Our government has likewise taken trustable actions to create a favourable environment in which journalists can exercise their basic human rights.”………
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
3 November – Source: World Bank – 360 Words
The World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region, Hafez Ghanem concluded his first visit to Somalia today after witnessing the progress made by government and people of Somalia. “I commend the government and the people of Somalia for making progress on improving the security and economic situation in the country,” said Hafez Ghanem, World Bank Vice President for Africa Region. “The World Bank Group will continue to be a steadfast partner, to help ensure that reform efforts yield positive and tangible results for all Somalis.” Ghanem was accompanied by Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu, IFC Regional Director for Eastern Africa. He held high-level talks with President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, Minister of Finance Abdirahman Duale Beileh, and other senior government officials. Ghanem reiterated the World Bank Group’s support for Somalia’s reform efforts as the country approaches the Decision Point for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. At this milestone, the country’s eligibility for debt relief will be determined and Somalia will have access to much-needed development grants from international finance institutions……..
3 November – Source Anadolu Agency – 231 Words
The Turkish foreign minister on Sunday said Somalia needs Turkey’s help to ensure political stability, to restructure national security forces and to create an environment that will allow economic development. Mevlut Cavusoglu’s remarks came at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Somalia Contact Group meeting in Doha. “It is primarily the duty of the Ummah to relieve the suffering of Somalia,” Cavusoglu said, adding that a consensus should be built to ensure peace in Somalia leaving differences aside. Cavusoglu said cooperation was needed to raise Somalia’s position in the world. “Somalia needs our help to ensure political stability, to restructure national security forces and to create an environment that will allow economic development,” Cavusoglu said Turkey has participated in all international initiatives in Somalia to support the country. “We offer a facilitating and mediating role in the negotiations between Somalia and Somaliland,” he said and added that the elections to be held in 2020 would constitute a turning point for the future of Somalia.
3 November – Source: Gulf Times – 328 Words
Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, H.E. Ahmed Isse Awad, said that the ministerial meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Somalia, held on Sunday in Doha, achieved what was hoped for and more, expressing his happiness with the results and the decisions of the meeting. He explained in remarks on the sidelines of the meeting, that the most important decisions of the meeting were to emphasise the continued support for Somalia, its political stability, development and debt relief. The Somali minister thanked Qatar for hosting the meeting in co-operation with the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) and its role in the success of its work. He stressed, at the same time, the importance of the resolutions that were passed and the support of the OIC member states for the stability and development of Somalia…….
3 November – Source: Daily Nation – 548 Words
Police have zeroed in on most-wanted terror suspect Abdullahi Banati as the mastermind of a group targeting security forces in parts of the North-Eastern region. According to a security brief seen by the Sunday Nation, the group’s operations include an intelligence wing that shares information on potential targets. Mr Banati is not a new name to the police, but he has remained elusive. despite efforts to locate him. He is thought to be part of a group that operates between Somalia and Kenya carrying out attacks using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s) targeting the police.
TERRORISTS
A source within the security agencies this week told the Sunday Nation that it is suspected Mr Banati led the group of terrorists that planted the IEDs which killed 11 police officers last month in Garissa County. “Our officers traced his activities and his team to the border, and we believe they escaped to Somalia immediately the attack took place, but we shall get him,” said the source who spoke in confidence. Our source further revealed that Mr Banati has been receiving aid from some refugees who reside within the vast Dadaab Camp who police are also tracking down. His name has featured in all the three deadliest attacks that have taken place in Kenya over the years. He is said to have joined the terror group in 2012. In the Dusit D2 attack- his name featured adversely with the police believing that he played a key role in the transportation of the fighters who participated in the attack from Somalia to Kenya……
3 November – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 341 Words
Kuwait has expressed its determination to hold a donor conference to back education in Somalia next year, Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizations Affairs Ambassador Nasser Al-Hayen said on Sunday. Speaking before a ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Somalia, Al-Hayen affirmed Kuwait’s support to Somalia and keenness on coordinating and intensifying efforts with brothers to maintain Somalia’s security and territorial integrity. “Through its non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council, Kuwait has spared nor effort in urging the international community for further efforts to back brotherly Somalian people,” he said. “This is based on the deep-rooted relations between Kuwait and Somalia, and the responsibility of Kuwait towards defending both Arab and Islamic issues,” Al-Hayen added……..
OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE
“Many of her friends shut down during similar conversations, Elmoge said. She’s working to start a group that teaches young Somali women how to share their stories. “People have been fed so many fabricated things that are totally made up — things that are not true. I don’t feel offended about things that are not true,” she said. “I explain why they are not true.”
2 November – Source: Albert Lea Tribune – 1728 Words
Linda Thielen has lived in St. Cloud her whole life. She has always been a people person, quick to strike up a conversation, open her door to company and bake treats for neighbours. But she remembers feeling a mix of emotions — fear, confusion, anger — when she and other longtime residents started to notice more Somali and East African people moving to the city about a decade ago. “I couldn’t really believe that so many people were coming … It was like what was going on?” said Thielen, who works as a realtor. In the back of Thielen’s mind was 9/11, the devastating terrorist attacks claimed by Islamic extremists that she said had instilled an omnipresent fear for many in Central Minnesota and across the country. As more Somali residents — many of them Muslim — moved to St. Cloud, Thielen said she was afraid of another attack, this time in her community. “That was what we knew: Those people were over there. We wanted to keep them there,” she said. “When fear is involved in any culture it does an injustice. And not knowing — you develop a fear.” Thielen was among those who vigorously opposed the city’s rapid changes. “I don’t think I liked it any more than anyone else,” she said.
But five or six years ago, Thielen’s perspective started to change. Prompted in large part by difficult conversations with her family, budding friendships with Muslim residents and her Christian faith, Thielen said she has embraced a more welcoming view of her Somali neighbours. “I knew that wasn’t right. I knew something in me had to change.” Thielen’s daughter, Samantha Grimsley, works in St. Cloud for a Christian non-profit organization that helps settle refugees. She remembers struggling to push back against her mother’s concerns about the area’s growing refugee community. After one particularly bad argument, Grimsley said, her husband gave Thielen a challenge: Get to know one of her Muslim neighbours. |
