October 13, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali Journalist wounded in botched attack

12 Oct – Source: Dalsan Radio/RBC Radio – 227

Somali journalist has sustained serious injuries during attack in Somali capital Mogadishu.
Abdirizack who is the director of Somali channel TV Mogadishu office sustained serious injuries in his stomach when gunmen opened fire outside his home in Howlwadaag neighborhood in Mogadishu around 12:00pm local time, witnesses and colleagues told NUSOJ.

He was immediately rushed to Madina Hospital for treatment and the doctors are performing on surgery operation on his wounds and are yet to decide the nature of the wound, according to Ismail Sheik Khalifa, Deputy Director of Somali Independent Media Houses Association who spoke with NUSOJ at the Hospital.

Key Headlines

At least six people were killed in Mogadishu Somalia blast (Radio Goobjoog)
Prime Minister Abdiweli launches three-day talk between FGS and Puntland in Garowe (RBC Radio)
Somali Journalist wounded in botched attack (Dalsan Radio/RBC Radio)
China officially opens embassy in Somalia today (RBC Radio)
Somalia commemorates 60th anniversary of national flag day (Radio Goobjoog)
Miraa vehicles hijacked with five occupants in Lamu still missing (The Nation)
Shabaab may talk with Somalia govt (The East African)
Kenyan troops intensify onslaught on Al-Shabaab bases (Xinhua)
Somalia to halt banned charcoal trade at port recaptured from al Shabaab (Reuters)
Somalia army weapons sold on open market – U.N. monitors (Reuters)
Somalia’s president visits recaptured Barawe (Deutsche Welle)

PRESS RELEASE

AU Special Representative condemns the attempted assassination of a Somali Journalist in Mogadishu

12 Oct – Source: AMISOM

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou has condemned today’s assassination attempt on journalist Abdirizak Jama Elmi. Mr. Abdririzak Jama Elmi was shot thrice from the back while fleeing from unknown assassins.

“I’m abhorred by such cold-hearted attack on the life of journalist Abdirizak Jama Elmi. I strongly condemn such inhuman acts and wish him a quick recovery.” said Ambassador Sidikou.

Today’s attack is the third of such attacks on journalists in Somalia this year alone, a clear indication of the harsh environment that members of the media continue to operate in the country.

SOMALI MEDIA

At least six people were killed in Mogadishu blast

12 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 62 Words

At least six people were killed by a car bomb in Mogadishu, Somalia on Maka Al-mukarama road, reported by Goobjoog reporters.

“I have seen six bodies,” said Goobjoog reporter Abdulqadir Mohamed Abdule. Also several wounded people were taken to hospital after the blast cafe. ”
Police officers declined to talk with media.

Prime Minister Abdiweli launches three-day talk between FGS and Puntland in Garowe

12 Oct – Source: RBC Radio – 283 Words

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed alongside Puntland President H.E. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas today launched crucial talks between the Federal Government of Somalia and the Puntland state of Somalia.The Prime Minister arrived in Garowe yesterday afternoon to have an honest and open dialogue with the Puntland authorities in a bid to resolving the currents political differences and reviving trust and confidence between the FGS and Puntland. The aim behind his visit in Puntland is to find a common political settlement on a string of issues including the provisional constitution, sharing of resources and power as well as restoring unity.

The Prime Minister expressed hope that these three days will be fruitful, signifying that together Somali minds can find legitimate long term solutions to meet Somali challenges. He pointed out that this dialogue is important for bridging the gap between FGS and Puntland State. H.E. Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said that: “Puntland contributed the political process that ended the transition of the Federal Government on August 2012, I am encouraging it to play a leadership role again.”

Addressing the participants, the Prime Minister said: “First I want to thank the Government and the people of Puntland for their warm welcome in Garowe. This three-day talk is crucial for the cooperation of the Federal Government of Somalia and Puntland State of Somalia as we work together for a united, strong and peaceful future.”

“It’s my hope that the talks will be fruitful as we have the wisdom, the willingness and the experience to solving our problems.Any agreement that we make should based on the reality so it can be implemented.”

Somali Journalist wounded in botched attack

12 Oct – Source: Dalsan Radio/RBC Radio – 227

According to close family friends, the journalist received death threats messages for the past few months. Abdirizack was among the few Somali journalists who got rare access to al Shabaab militant group controlled areas and has since filed exclusive stories.

He was also critical about the recently passed media law by the federal government of Somalia. Somalia is one of the most dangerous environments for journalists to operate. Two Somali journalists lost their lives in Somalia in 2014.

Somali Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) strongly condemns the heinous attack on TV Journalist Abdirazack Jama in Somali capital Mogadishu on Sunday. Abdirizack who is the director of Somali channel TV Mogadishu office sustained serious injuries in his stomach when gunmen opened fire in Howlwadag district in Mogadishu.

China officially opens embassy in Somalia today

12 Oct – Source: RBC – 139 Words

Chinese Embassy in Somalia has been officially re-opened today in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Chinese new ambassador to Somalia Wei HongTian locally nicknamed “Warsame” and other Chinese diplomats, United Nations envoy to Somalia Ambassador Nickolas Kay and the president of the federal government of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud have attended an opening ceremony for the China embassy in Somalia.

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has emphasized the bilateral ties between Chine and Somalia, saying its historical and has been in a good condition ever since the two countries opened their diplomatic ties.

The president highlighted that the opening of the embassy in Somalia will step up the diplomatic ties. Other countries have reopen their embassies in Somalia after relative peace was restored in the country.

Somalia commemorates 60th anniversary of national flag

12 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 139 Words

Somalia celebrates sixty years since the national flag was adopted. Thousands of enthusiastic people with flags gathered in the major cities of the country including the capital city Mogadishu.

The local Radio stations in the country are playing patriotic songs meant to praise the five pointed white star with blue field flag created by the late hero Mohamed Awale Libaan in 1954.

The top leaders of federal government of Somalia sent cordial congratulations to Somali people on this important occasion. The minister for information of federal government Mustaf Ali Dhuhulow attending one of the ceremonies of national flag day in United Arab Emirates narrated the importance of the flag and the stages it passed.

Preparations of big ceremonies to mark the vital day are due to be held in Mogadishu tonight.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Miraa vehicles hijacked with five occupants in Lamu still missing

11 Oct – Source: The Nation – 380 Words

The whereabouts of five people and two vehicles hijacked by suspected Al-Shabaab militiamen in Lamu on Friday remained unknown Saturday. The attackers who were said to be armed intercepted the two Toyota Land Cruiser pick-ups which were transporting miraa between Milimani and Basuba in Lamu East at around 8.30am Friday.

They also took off with the five occupants of both vehicles which were transporting miraa to Ijara. A village elder said the two vehicles passed Milimani village at around 8am only to be intercepted by the gunmen about six kilometres from Basuba.

Kenyan troops intensify onslaught on Al-Shabaab bases

12 Oct – Source: Xinhua – 394 words

Kenyan troops have enhanced their crackdown on Al-Shabaab bases in southern Somalia after killing at least 60 more militants on Friday, military officials confirmed Saturday.
Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) spokesman Colonel David Obonyo said military jets destroyed Al-Shabaab bases in north of Gulagadud in Middle Juba. “Initial battle assessment indicates 60 Al-Shabaab militants have been killed during the attacks…We counted 60 bodies and recovered five vehicles with many bullets,” said Obonyo.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia to halt banned charcoal trade at port recaptured from al Shabaab

12 Oct – Source: Reuters – 480 Words

Somalia’s president said on Saturday he would halt charcoal exports from Barawe, a port town recaptured from an Islamist group who U.N. investigators said had benefitted from the illegal trade.

The U.N. Security Council forbade charcoal exports from Somalia in 2012 in a bid to cut off al Shabaab’s funding, but the group largely ignored the ban.

A report seen by Reuters on Friday, the U.N. Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring group wrote that the militants earned tens of millions dollars in the past year from charcoal exports using the southern ports of Barawe and Kismayu.

“Somalia had banned charcoal exports and we also sent a letter to the U.N. Security Council urging them to do something about the countries which import charcoal from Somalia,” President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told journalists and residents.

Somalia army weapons sold on open market – U.N. monitors

11 Oct – Source – Reuters – 734 Words

Somali army weapons and ammunition continue to be diverted to open markets despite the government’s pledges to prevent its arms from leaking and ending up in the hands of Islamist militants, U.N. investigators said in a new report.

The Somalia-Eritrea Monitoring Group, an 8-member panel of investigators that monitors compliance with U.N. sanctions on the two countries, said there had been improvements in government reports on the contents of its armories but suggested the situation remained unsatisfactory.

“The Federal Government has not imported weapons into Somalia in full compliance with its obligations pursuant to the modification of the arms embargo by the Security Council,” the group said in its confidential 482-page annual report, obtained by Reuters on Friday.

Somalia’s president visits recaptured Barawe

12 Oct – Source: Deutsche Welle – 160 Words

An assassination bid has failed to hinder a visit by Somalia’s President Hassan Mohamud to Barawe. Al-Shabab militants were driven out of the town last weekend by Somali and African Union (AU) troops.

President Muhamud vowed to eliminate “terrorists” from Somalia on Saturday as he visited the newly recaptured port town of Barawe, 220 kilometers (120 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu. An aircraft carrying the president and several ministers landed safely in Barawe despite a mortar barrage launched by suspected militants. An al-Shabab spokesman said the president had “narrowly escaped.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

Somali diplomat who forgave his daughter’s killer 22 years later

11 Oct – Source: The Nation – 1193 Words

In Somalia, the stories that matter are those about normalisation. For a conflict-weary nation, it is the simple human stories about the tiny tentative steps, promising a return to normalcy, that inspire people and generate mass interest…The two most popular stories have been the launch of the first ATM in Mogadishu and the story of the Somali diplomat who met his daughter’s killer some 22 years later and forgave him.

Shabaab may talk with Somalia govt

11 Oct – Source: The East African -379 Words

The recent killing of Al Shabaab’s radical leader Ahmed Godane could enable a moderate faction within the group to seek a negotiated settlement with Somalia’s government, a leading US specialist on Somalia suggested last week.

The US air strike that killed Mr Godane in September may create political space inside Al Shabaab for emergence of a faction that is “more Islamo-nationalist and less inclined to pursue a global jihad agenda,” said Ken Menkaus, a university professor who has published numerous studies on Somalia. If a less radical element does try to make a power-sharing deal with federal authorities in Mogadishu, most Somalis would likely respond favourably, Prof Menkhaus remarked during a panel discussion on Somalia at a Washington think-tank.

A complete review of today’s articles will appear in the Afternoon Report.