October 26, 2015 | Morning Headlines
Kenyan Forces Kill 15 Suspected Al-Shabaab Militants In Operation To Capture Jilib Town In Somalia
25 October – Source: The Standard – 344 Words
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops struck and killed 15 suspected Al-Shabaab terrorists in Yantooy, Jubba River, in an operation to capture Jilib town in Somalia. KDF spokesman Col David Obonyo said the troops struck Sunday morning and killed the 15 before recovering two boats that they were using to cross the river. Obonyo said the terrorists were trying to cross Jubba River when they were attacked.
“The two boats they have been using to cross river Juba were also destroyed. There was no casualty on the KDF side,” said Obonyo. He added Yantooy is strategically situated across river Jubba and has been the main base the terrorists use to cross the river from Jilib and infiltrate into lower Jubba. The attack, he added, is part of the ongoing operations ‘Jubba Corridor’ and these are shaping operations to prepare for the capture of Jilib, the remaining Al-Shabaab headquarters in lower Shabelle.
The troops who are under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have captured several towns that were under the terror group as part of efforts to liberate the country. In the process, dozens of suspected militants have been killed and injured. More than a dozen troops have also been killed in the operations. KDF went to Somalia in October 2011. Kenya’s incursion into southern Somalia started after the kidnapping of two Spanish women, who were working for MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organisation, at the Dadaab refugee camp. The Al-Shabaab militants have struck Kenya more than four times demanding the withdrawal of the troops.
Key Headlines
- Kenyan Forces Kill 15 Suspected Al-Shabaab Militants In Operation To Capture Jilib Town In Somalia(The Standard)
- Somali President Officially Opens Seventh Session Of The Parliament (Goobjoog News)
- Al-Shabaab Detains Two Of Its Senior Officers (Radio Dalsan)
- SNA Captures 3 Villages In Bay (Goobjoog News)
- Ethiopian Troops In Somalia Are Under Full AMISOM Command Says Col Areyte (Shabelle News)
- The Face Of A British ISIS Suicide Bomber: Jihadi Who Carried Out Deadly Bomb Attack Which Killed Over 50 People In Iraq ( Daily Mail)
- The UN In Somalia Marks The 70th Anniversary Of The United Nations (UNSOM)
- SPF Officers Undertake Training On Sexual Gender-Based Violence And Child Protection (AMISOM)
- Illegal Fishermen Caught In Somali Waters Must Face The Music (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somali President Officially Opens Seventh Session Of The Parliament
24 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 135 Words
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has officially opened the seventh session of the Federal Parliament after a recess period of two months. During the occasion he delivered a strong message on terrorism and political rifts that have engulfed the country. The Prime Minister, Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharma’arke, deputy Prime Minister, Omar Arte Qalib, Chairperson of the Supreme Court, Aydid Abdullahi Ilka-hanaf and many of the members of the national lawmakers attended the opening session today, on Sunday. President Hassan spoke at length on the urgent need to pass the proposed bills including anti-terrorism bill and foreign investment bill. He said the government was doing its best to handle challenges at hand in order to improve the country’s standing and fortunes. The President accordingly called on politicians to work hand in hand with the government to lead the country towards prosperity.
Al-Shabaab Detains Two Of Its Senior Officers
25 October – Source: Radio Dalsan – 154 Words
Reliable sources say Al-Shabaab fighters have arrested two of its senior officials on Saturday.The two officers were identified as Mohamed Abdullahi Sardheeye, who was the head of the financial department of Al-Shabaab and Khalid Aytamow, who is a member of the preaching department. The report says that the arrests come after the two communicated with Sheikh Abdiqadir Moumin, the head of the Al-Shabaab group in Galgalo, the mountainous area of the autonomous state of Puntland.
The officers are now said to be under detention in a prison in Buale, the headquarters of the middle Jubba region of Somalia. The higher ranking officers of Al-Shabaab have not made any comments regarding the arrest of the two officers. Only a couple of days ago the Al-Shabaab group in the mountainous area of Galgalo declared to have joined the ISIS.
SNA Captures 3 Villages In Bay
25 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 129 Words
Somali National Army forces have taken control of three villages recently abandoned by Al-Shabab fighters, SNA officials have said: “Two villages of Gurbaan and Kanaana have fallen into the hands of SNA soldiers without resistance but in the other one village ,Mitir, our soldiers engaged Al-Shabab fighters for few minutes and we have succeeded in capturing Al-Shabaab fighters, one of them who is named, Mohamed Ahmed,” said Hassan Adan Yarow, who leading the soldiers in the operation.
The government soldiers have been staging attacks on Al-Shabaab controlled areas. The forces made significant gains against the group by capturing the towns that they had once controlled. Al-Shabaab militants have been fighting to overthrow Somalia’s government since 2006. The militants have been pushed out of the capital, Mogadishu, and other major cities by government and the AMISOM troops.
Ethiopian Troops In Somalia Are Under Full AMISOM Command, Says Col Areyte
25 October – Source: Shabelle News – 104 Words
Col Areyte Mohamed, a senior commander of Djibouti-an army in Somalia has refuted reports that Ethiopian troops in the country take orders from Addis Ababa instead of the AMISOM command. Giving an exclusive interview to Radio Shabelle, Mr Mohamed said that floods caused by heavy rains have hindered their joint military operations against Al-Shabaab in Hiiraan region. “We (Djibouti nationals) are in full collaboration with Ethiopian troops as well as Somali soldiers. There is absolutely no disagreement between the allied troops over the operations in the region,” said Col Areyte.He said that war on Al-Shabaab in Hiiraan region will restart soon despite rains.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
The Face Of A British ISIS Suicide Bomber: Jihadi Who Carried Out Deadly Bomb Attack Which Killed Over 50 People In Iraq
25 October – Source: Daily Mail – 402 Words
A British ISIS fighter has carried out a devastating suicide bomb attack near the jihadi held city of Ramadi in Iraq. Abu Khalid al-Britani killed at least 50 Iraqi soldiers in a double suicide bomb attack with a Tunisian fighter whilst defending Ramadi. A photograph was posted online in tribute to the British fighter, who was half Yemeni and half Somali in origin but never lived in Somalia.
Another fighter known as Abu Maidah as-Somali, who used to live in London and Sweden, described the dead jihadi as his ‘best friend’. Abu Maidah revealed that the British suicide bomber was in his 40s and was not fluent in Somali. The two fighters met in a terrorist training camp before Abu Khalid volunteered to fight in Iraq. Abu Khalid al-Britani is the third British fighter to blow himself up at Ramadi whilst fighting for ISIS.
Earlier this week, ISIS released a statement claiming that a British fighter called Abu Omar al-Britani had taken part in a twin suicide bomb attack, killing and wounding 80 people. The attack was carried out as Iraqi Special Forces launched a large offensive to try to re-take the ISIS held city. A photograph showed the British fighter sitting behind an office desk in Anbar province. The fighter is dressed in a white thobe and has chunky gold watch on his wrist. His large framed glasses poke out above the black mask which covers half of his face. In what appears to be an office, the fighter has a large knife, a single green hand grenade and a pistol placed in front of him on the work top.
The UN In Somalia Marks The 70th Anniversary Of The United Nations
24 October – Source: UNSOM – 231 Words
United Nations staff in Mogadishu, Somalia joined colleagues across the world to mark the international body’s 70th anniversary, marked on Saturday. To commemorate the occasion, hundreds of UN staff in Somalia participated in a clean-up exercise of the seashore in Mogadishu, an exercise symbolic of the UN’s commitment to ensure a better world.
Peter de Clercq, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Somalia and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, read Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s message. “The United Nations defends human rights for all, regardless of race, religion, nationality, gender or sexual orientation. Our peacekeepers are on the frontlines of conflict; our mediators bring warriors to the peace table; our relief workers brave treacherous environments to deliver life-saving assistance. The United Nations works for the entire human family of seven billion people, and cares for the earth, our one and only home. And it is the diverse and talented staff of the United Nations, who help bring the Charter to life,” stated the Secretary-General in his message.
In his own remarks, DSRSG De Clercq hailed the UN staff in Somalia for their sacrifice and dedication to serve humanity despite the challenges they face. The day’s events also featured a flag raising ceremony celebrating the dedication, courage and expertise of UN civilian and military personnel who devote their lives to peace, development and respect for human rights throughout the world.
SPF Officers Undertake Training On Sexual, Gender-Based Violence And Child Protection
24 October – Source: AMISOM – 502 Words
Forty Somali Police Force (SPF) officers on Saturday began a two-weeks training course on Sexual, Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and Child Protection aimed at enhancing protection of women and children in the country against all forms of abuse. The training conducted at the General Kahiye Police Academy is organized by the SPF with support from the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Police unit and was opened by the SPF Deputy Commissioner Brig. Gen. Mukhtar Afrah and the AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner Christine Alalo.
Similar trainings have also kicked off, targeting police officers under the Interim South West Administration and Hiran region. Speaking at the launch of the training, Lt. Col. Fadumo Hassan Mohamed, the Head of the SPF Community Policing unit said the training is timely and that the officers upon completion of the course will be deployed as gender desk officers at various police stations in the city and in different parts of the country, providing avenues for the public and victims to report cases of abuse. Upon deployment, the officers will work alongside AMISOM Police mentors at the various police stations.
“We are here for gender training which will continue for 15 days. We will be trained to increase awareness of rape. 40 police officers both men and women are attending the training and will be deployed as gender desk officers at police stations. They are drawn from Criminal Investigations Department, Police Headquarters and other departments,” Lt. Col Fadumo Hassan Mohamed said. Christine Alalo, the AMISOM Deputy Police Commissioner said the training is part of wider effort by AMISOM to build the capacity of the SPF and in this case, to tackle the vice of abuse against women and children.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“When our boys are caught in the high seas they are either killed or they end up languishing in foreign jails, so why on earth are we so naive in releasing these criminals that are denying our own poorly equipped fishermen their livelihood?”
Illegal Fishermen Caught In Somali Waters Must Face The Music
25 October – Source: Hiiraan Online – 349 Words
Time and again illegal foreign fishing vessels are caught in Puntland and elsewhere in the country, but as usual the owners of these vessels pay out thousands of dollars or millions in bribes, and the boats are released and the public never hears again from the authorities and for these fish pirates it is business as usual.
One can also observe the way in which these illicit fish pirates are mocking us. Look at their smiles! One of them is so rude to the extent of showcasing the victory sign. This group is responsible for at least 150 tonnes of illegal fishing a month, not to mention the environmental damage they have caused – although the true extent of their criminality could be much higher.
In addition, many trawlers are actively carrying out further illegal fishing methods,including trawling in Somali waters day in and day out. A number of reports and research papers point out that this trend of bottom –trawling causes substantial damage to important coastal ecosystems that are needed to sustain local fisheries. The International Community has a moral duty to protect and assist poor Somalis affected by illegal and unregulated fishing and those caught in the act must be taken to an International Court.