October 2, 2014 | Morning Headlines.
Puntland troops seize Al Shabaab base
01 Oct- Source:Garowe Online/Horseed Media/BBC- 139 words
Puntland Security forces have launched deadly assault on Al Shabaab bases in Galgala area near the difficult terrain of Golis, taking back hideouts from militants on Wednesdaymorning. Initial reports disclose that Puntland army troops reached the base after heavy gun battle with Islamist militants. No casualty figures have been released to the media but Garowe Online learned that a Puntland Defence Force (PDF) unit commander died in landmine explosion while two soldiers sustained injuries. Al Shabaab group-which has reverted to guerilla tactics-has not commented on the significant victory against their remnants in Galgala. Addressing reporters at Puntland State House, President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali confirmed that state’s forces gained ground in the battle. Al Shabaab fighters intensified terror operations along Garowe-Bossaso highway, killing prominent officials within the government over the last six months.
Key Headlines
- AMISOM congratulates Nigeria on its 54th Independence Day Anniversary
- Somalia battles al-Shabab for Galgala mountains
- Government security arrest opposition politician at Aden Adde International Airport
- Technical committee for central state formation arrive in Adado
- Somaliland President receives Swiss delegation
- Kenya: Cabinet Secretary for Interior tells UNHCR Kenya won’t compromise security
- Chinese submarine on its way to Somalia for anti-piracy patrols
- Young Poet Laureate Warsan Shire finally feels ‘at home’ in city
- Drought conditions leave youth vulnerable to radicalism in north-eastern Kenya (Sabahi Online)
PRESS STATEMENT
AMISOM congratulates Nigeria on its 54th Independence Day Anniversary
01 Oct- Source: AMISOM- 251 words
The Acting Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Hon. Lydia Wanyoto has congratulated the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the occasion of its 54th Independence Day Anniversary marked on October the 1st.
Nigeria is one of five African countries that has deployed individual police officers and a Formed Police Unit to Somalia. It has a total of 165 police officers serving under the AMISOM Police component, which is mandated to train and mentor the Somali police force into a professional and respected police unit.
“On behalf of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), I wish to extend our warm wishes and message of goodwill to the people of Nigeria on the occasion of their Independence Day. We join Nigerians in celebrating this important day as part of their long proud history in Africa,” said Hon. Wanyoto.
“We wish to acknowledge the immense sacrifice that the Nigerian Police Force has made in the peace efforts in Somalia, over the past 3 years through their contribution within the AMISOM Police Component. Somalia is now on the road to peace and peace in Somalia is peace in Nigeria. Peace in Nigeria is peace in Africa, and peace in Africa is indeed a major step towards global peace,” added Hon. Wanyoto.
As one of the leading countries in Africa, Nigeria has also played a critical role in many peacekeeping missions in Africa and in other parts of the world.
SOMALI MEDIA
Puntland troops seize Al Shabaab base
01 Oct- Source:Garowe Online/Horseed Media/Radio Kulmiye/Jowhar Online- 139 words
Puntland Security forces have launched deadly assault on Al Shabaab bases in Galgala area near the difficult terrain of Golis, taking back hideouts from militants on Wednesday morning. Initial reports disclose that Puntland army troops reached the base after heavy gun battle with Islamist militants. No casualty figures have been released to the media but Garowe Online learned that a Puntland Defence Force (PDF) unit commander died in landmine explosion while two soldiers sustained injuries. Al Shabaab group-which has reverted to guerilla tactics-has not commented on the significant victory against their remnants in Galgala. Addressing reporters at Puntland State House, President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali confirmed that state’s forces gained ground in the battle. Al Shabaab fighters intensified terror operations along Garowe-Bossaso highway, killing prominent officials within the government over the last six months.
Government security arrest opposition politician at Aden Adde International Airport
01 Oct- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Dalsan- 113 words
The National Security forces apprehended Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan, a known opposition figure during his arrival at Aden Adde International Airport on Wednesday. Mr Hassan has returned from Nairobi trip when the security agents nabbed him inside the airport, family members confirmed. He was taken to Central Command of the NISA in Mogadishu, according to security sources. Abdullahi Sheikh Hassan has been on the run since August following heavy disarmament operation launched by the government forces, in which the security forces targeted houses of clan warlords in Mogadishu. Officials of the NISA and government spokesmen were not available for comment on the arrest.
Technical committee for central state formation arrive in Adado
01 Oct – Source: Bar-Kulan/Radio Goobjoog – 128 Words
Members of the technical committee for the formation of the proposed central Somali state on Wednesdayarrived in Adado town, the administrative capital of Himan and Heeb administration in Galgadud region. The 14-member committee was warmly received at the airport by senior Himan and Heeb administration officials, civil society groups and ordinary people. MP Abdulkadir Ali Omar, a member of the technical committee told Bar-kulan that their trip to Adado is to facilitate the opening of the state formation conference which is expected to be held in Adado town. According to Omar, the technical committee members will hold talks with Himan and Heeb officials, civil society groups and local community leaders as part of the state formation conference preparations.
Somaliland President receives Swiss delegation
01 Oct- Source: Somaliland Inforer/SLNTV- 191 words
President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Silanyo has on Wednesday received at the president’s residence, a Swiss delegation that arrived in the country on an official visit. The two sides reiterated boosting the bilateral ties in the areas of development and that Switzerland will do all it can to assist the unrecognized tiny State in the Horn of Africa to provide development projects. Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Mohamed Bihi Yonis has said in a press briefing that both sides have agreed to consolidate the ties between the two nations. Mr. Bihi went on to say that Somaliland is a peaceful nation that has achieved free and fair elections and is committed to protecting and promoting human rights. Mr. Bihi stated that they cordially welcomed the Swiss high level delegation to Somaliland. On the other hand, Swiss deputy foreign Affairs Minister Mr. Yves Rossier. has promised to help Somaliland on politics and went on to say that they will donate to the Somaliland development fund.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Kenya: Cabinet Secretary for Interior tells UNHCR Kenya won’t compromise security
01 Oct- Source: Capital News- 142 words
The Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government Joseph ole Lenku has told the General Assembly of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) sitting in Geneva that Kenya will neither compromise nor negotiate when it comes to matters affecting the country’s security. The Cabinet Secretary was giving the country’s position during the on-going 65th UNHCR Executive Committee (EXCOM) conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Later in the day, Lenku held a bilateral meeting with Somalia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Buri Mohamed Hamza who is also attending the EXCOM conference. In their discussions, the Somalia Minister thanked Kenya for the hospitality it had shown towards Somali refugees and said that the Somali Government would cooperate fully in the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement.
Drought conditions leave youth vulnerable to radicalism in north-eastern Kenya
01 Oct- Source: Sabahi Online- 549 words
With persistent drought conditions undermining the livelihoods of pastoralists in north-eastern Kenya, the government should invest more resources into educating the region’s youth who are vulnerable to idleness and radical ideology, leaders from Mandera, Garissa and Wajir say. Wajir South parliamentarian Abdullahi Sheikh Diriye told Sabahi that schools in north-eastern Kenya are not learner-friendly and have been unable to attract and retain students. He said leaders from the countries bordering Somalia have for many years called on the government to construct boarding facilities, provide food for students, subsidise secondary school fees and hire an adequate number of teachers to attract and retain nomadic youth.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Somalia battles al-Shabab for Galgala mountains
01 Oct – Source: BBC – 264 Words
Abdiweli Hirsi Abdille, the information minister of Somalia’s north-eastern region of Puntland, told the BBC that troops had captured the Galgala region in an early morning offensive. The fighters have been holding the northern mountains for several years. An al-Shabab spokesman told the BBC that after a heavy battle they still controlled the territory in Puntland.
Chinese submarine on its way to Somalia for anti-piracy patrols
01 Oct- Source: defenceweb- 582 words
China is for the first time sending a submarine to the coast of East Africa to take part in anti-piracy patrols and escort tasks there. The submarine docked at the port of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo on September 15 on its way to the Gulf of Aden, becoming the first Chinese submarine to visit Sri Lanka. The vessel that stopped at Colombo International Container Terminal was a diesel electric Type 039 Song class submarine, commissioned in 2006. It is being accompanied by the Type 925 class submarine support vessel Changxingdao, according to IHS Jane’s Navy International.
Young Poet Laureate Warsan Shire finally feels ‘at home’ in city
01 Oct – Source BBC – 364 Words
For 25 years poet Warsan Shire lived in a part of London but felt like an outsider in the city. Now 12 months after representing the capital as London’s first Young Poet Laureate (YPL) she said she feels pride for the city and part of it. On 3 October last year, National Poetry Day, Ms Shire was announced as the city’s inaugural YPL by Carol Ann Duffy, Britain’s Poet Laureate. It triggered a year of residences ranging from the Houses of Parliament to beauty salons and “beautiful sheds” as well as the creation of a body of work which represented how she saw an ever-changing London, which in turn changed her.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Here’s where the government should focus its money and attention to dissuade interest in extremism.”
Somalis in Minnesota: A second chance to get it right
01 Oct- Source: Hiiraan Online- 799 words
Somalis in Minnesota are in the news again, and again the coverage is not positive. The press is converging on Minneapolis and St. Paul, hoping to break stories of Somali-American youths traveling to the Middle East with the intention of joining terror groups, including the most reviled: the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The media frenzy appears to be a sequel of sorts. Seven years ago, a group of young men went back to Somalia to fight Ethiopian troops invading Mogadishu, the capital. Somalia and Ethiopia have fought several wars over colonial border disputes. Ethiopian troops invading Somalia’s capital triggered deep emotions in the Somali community in Minnesota. Al-Shabab emerged from the struggle against Ethiopia and later aligned with Al-Qaida. Al-Shabab overpowered smaller nationalist groups and consolidated power. Some of the young men who traveled from the Twin Cities ended up fighting for Al-Shabab, a violation of American law. The federal government amassed agents in the Twin Cities in response to the missing men. The concern was that young men of Somali descent would return home after receiving terror training and carry out attacks here.