October 17, 2018 | Morning Headlines

US Says Airstrike In Somalia Killed 60 Al-Shabaab Fighters

16 October – Source: CNN – 223 Words

The US military said Tuesday that an October 12 US “precision airstrike” near Harardhere, Somalia killed some 60 Al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters. “We currently assess this airstrike killed approximately 60 terrorists,” US Africa Command which oversees US military operations on the continent said in a statement.  Two US defense officials told CNN the strike was carried out by an unmanned drone.

The statement added that Africa Command currently assesses that no civilians were killed or injured in the strike. The strike targeted the militants associated with the group Al-Shabaab, al Qaeda’s largest affiliate. Africa Command said Friday’s strike “was the largest airstrike against Al-Shabaab since November 21, 2017, when US forces conducted an airstrike against an Al-Shabaab camp killing approximately 100 terrorists.”

While the US has conducted 27 airstrikes against Al-Shabaab in 2018, though usually the strikes target small groups of militants. A “collective self-defense” strike on Sunday killed four Al-Shabaab fighters after a US-backed local partner force came under attack near Araara, Somalia.

In March of 2017, President Donald Trump authorized the US military to carry out precision strikes targeting Al-Shabaab in an effort to bolster the Federal Government of Somalia. Prior to that the US military was only authorized to carry out airstrikes in self-defense of advisers on the ground. The US has some 500 troops in Somalia, primarily in advisory roles.

 

Key Headlines

• US Says Airstrike In Somalia Killed 60 Al-Shabaab Fighters (CNN)
• Somalia’s First ICT Exhibition Opens In Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
• Somalia’s First ICT Exhibition Kicks Off In Mogadishu (Halbeeg News)
• Turkish Entrepreneurs Group Opens Office In Somalia (Anadolu Agency)
• Communities In Jowhar Benefit From Sixteen Shallow Wells With Hand-pumps Implemented By AMISOM (AMISOM)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s First ICT Exhibition Kicks Off In Mogadishu

16 October – Source: Halbeeg News – 244 Words

Somalia’s first and largest ICT exhibition has today opened its doors in Somalia`s capital, Mogadishu, showcasing the development Somalia is making in the field of communications and technology. More than 60 exhibitors from telecom, technology, education, and government sectors have gathered at the Expo to demonstrate new products and services in their respective fields. The event, which is open from 16th to 17th October, will give the general public a first-hand experience about the products and services of the exhibitors and have active participation of the panel discussions by the experts in the sector.

The minister for Planning and Economic Development, Jamal Mohamed Hassan, commended the progress that Ministry of Post and Telecom made in recent months. The minister acknowledged that Somalia ICT sector is growing remarkably, according to data collected by his ministry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister for Post, Telecom and Technology, H. E. Abdi Ashur, highlighted that the Ministry is ready to support such initiatives that promote the ICT sector. “These events serve one of our mandates to coordinate and provide a platform where private, public and international stakeholders in the sector can connect,”. The Deputy Prime Minister, H. E. Mahdi Guled, who officially opened the Expo, congratulated the organizers for putting together an event that is going to change the narrative from Mogadishu and Somalia in general. “We can use technology for the public good to help Somalia reach the development it deserves,” concluded the Deputy Minister.

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SNA And AMISOM Beef Up Security In Baidoa Town Ahead Of Election

16 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 148 Words

Somalia National Army in support with the Ethiopian troops who are part of the AMISOM mission have early Tuesday launched a foot patrol operation around the town, in a bid to strengthen the security in Baidoa town. According to a recent report, the troops are said to have entered homes in Baidoa town and arrested several people, who were allegedly linked to Al-Shabaab militants. The foot patrolling was a new operational method conducted in the Baidoa, following the October 13 explosion that has left the resident in fear of Al-Shabaab members hiding in the town.

At least 7 people were killed by suicide bombers in Baidoa last Saturday. On the other hand, Baidoa administration has announced two days ban of rickshaw and NOAH vehicles movements within the town. Baidoa security will be beefed up as the election to choose a new state president is slated for November.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Turkish Entrepreneurs Group Opens Office In Somalia

16 October – Source: Anadolu Agency – 241 Words

The largest association of independent businesspeople in Turkey has opened an office in Somalia as part of its drive to expand into Africa. The Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD) now has 209 contact points in 79 countries, the group said on Tuesday.
Ibrahim Uyar, the head of MUSIAD’s foreign organization and development commission, said it hopes to have representation in 30 African countries by the end of this year, adding that the association has a “sensitive stance” on Africa.

MUSIAD has already said 2018 will be the “year of Africa.” “We aim to increase our current economic and trade ties with Somalia, which we always see as a sister country,” he said. Uyar said that whatever happens, Turkey will continue to stand with the people of the Horn of Africa nation.He added that he believes the trade volume between the countries will shortly reach $200 million.

Last year, Turkey’s exports to Somalia totaled around $143 million while the country’s imports from Somalia topped $1 million, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data.  Uyar said they aim to open representative offices in 100 countries by the end of 2018 and work to meet Turkey’s export target.

Ahmet Sami Isler, MUSIAD’s new Somalia representative, said the group has no imperialist goals in Somalia, adding that bilateral relations should translate into more trade and prosperity in line with a win-win strategy. MUSIAD earlier announced that it had opened a branch in Kuwait.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“Other than providing potable water, it is hoped that the wells will also reduce inter-community conflicts, sparked off by scarcity of water resources. We are grateful to AMISOM and its partners for implementing these 16 shallow wells for us.”

Communities In Jowhar Benefit From Sixteen Shallow Wells With Hand-pumps, Implemented By AMISOM

16 October – Source: AMISOM – 378 Words

Water scarcity is now a thing of the past to over twenty-seven thousand people in eight villages in Jowhar, in Middle Shabelle region – beneficiaries of sixteen new shallow wells, implemented by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The wells, handed over to the local Administration of HirShabelle state on Monday by the AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira, were constructed with funding from the government of Kazakhstan.

Fitted with hand pumps, the wells were formally received by communities at a hand over ceremony in Daifa village, in the outskirts of Jowhar town. “These new approaches aim to establish, promote and enhance community engagement, constructive and effective AMISOM-local community relations,” said Ambassador Madeira, during the handover ceremony, where he was flanked by senior AMISOM officials among them the Acting Police Commissioner Christine Alalo, AMISOM Civil Engineer Andrew Alele, the Head of AMISOM Mission Analysis Cell (MAC) Dr. Walters Samah and the Head of AMISOM Humanitarian Liaison Unit Abdul Diabagate.

The AU Special Representative lauded the Republic of Kazakhstan for funding the project, which he said will go along way in improving the well-being of the beneficiaries. He reaffirmed AMISOM’s commitment to community engagements in Somalia, especially in the regional states. Sinking of wells was a priority project to the villagers, who lacked clean water sources; after existing water wells were poisoned by fleeing Al-Shabaab militants.

Lack of access to safe water remains a challenge in most parts of Somalia, and is a leading cause of waterborne and diarrheal diseases. Other than providing potable water, it is hoped that the wells will also reduce inter-community conflicts, sparked off by scarcity of water resources.