October 3, 2017 | Morning Headlines

Main Story

Police Chief At Airport In Somalia’s Puntland Shot Dead

02 October – Source: Reuters – 156 Words

A policeman shot dead on Monday the chief of security at an airport in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region and also his bodyguard, police said. The assailant’s motive for killing Colonel Abdisalan Sanyare Owke and his bodyguard at the airport in Galkayo, a city in Puntland, was not immediately clear.Police detained the assailant and have begun an investigation of the incident, said Mohamed Jama, another police officer working at the airport.

Somalia has been mired in conflict since 1991, but Puntland has been spared most of the violence. It has a dispute with the neighbouring semi-autonomous region of Galmudug that has in the past resulted in fighting.Al-Shabaab, the militant group that aims to topple Somalia’s Western-backed government and impose its strict version of Islam on the Horn of Africa state, has become more active in Puntland after being pushed out of its stronghold further south by African Union peacekeepers and the Somali army, officials say.

Key Headlines

Police Chief At Airport In Somalia’s Puntland Shot Dead (Reuters)
Somali President Signs Telecommunications Bill (Garowe Online)
Students Send A Message Of Peace As They March Across Galkaayo Town (Goobjoog News)
Jubbaland Troops Clash With Al-Shabaab Militants In Gedo (Shabelle News)
Somalia: 12 Soldiers 1 Civilian Arrested In Drive-by Shooting Probe (China.org)
New BBC Somali Radio Series Addresses Drought (BBC)

NATIONAL MEDIA

Somali President Signs Telecommunications Bill

02 October – Source: Garowe Online – 229 Words

Somali President, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Monday signed the National Communications law to regulate the country’s telecommunication sector. The signing ceremony was held at the presidential palace and attended by the Senate speaker, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, the deputy Speaker of the House of the People, Abdiweli Ibrahim Mudey, deputy PM, Mahdi Mohamud Guled, Ministers, lawmakers, scholars, and experts who worked on the new telecom bill.

The Minister for Posts, Telecoms and Technology, Abdi Ashur Hassan, said the law was a oldest to be approved by the Parliament, as its drafting started in 2005, which shows its importance to the country. The act has been sitting in front of the 7th, 8th, and 9th parliaments. It was finally endorsed by the current national assembly, both Lower and Upper houses in August 2017.

President Farmajo has praised the various government agencies which worked on the bill, noting that the positive product that resulted in the teamwork was a sign for the good cooperation between the agencies. “It is true that there are many challenges, and we know that the problems of our country cannot be solved in one night, but everyone sees that Somalia is moving forward,” said the President. The telecoms Act comes into effect on the signing of the President as it had already been passed by the Cabinet and the two Houses of the Parliament (Senate and house of the people).

Students Send A Message Of Peace As They March Across Galkaayo Town

02 October – Source: Goobjoog News – 115 Words

Dozens of students in Galkaayo Monday held demonstrations across the town in solidarity for peace and stability in the town which has been the epicentre of conflict for many years. The students drawn from both sides of the town- Puntland and Galmudug matched along the streets before converging at the boundary which separates the two states. Galkaayo town has witnessed deadly tribal conflicts and several peace accords have been violated over time. However a joint stabilisation force formed mid this year has been instrumental in maintaining law and order in the town. Waving white flags symbolising peace, the students sent a message of peace and stability in the town. Local youth organisations organised the meeting.

Jubbaland Troops Clash With Al-Shabaab Militants In Gedo

02 October – Source: Shabelle News – 117 Words

Jubbaland forces, backed by Somali National Army (SNA) launched an attack against Al-Shabaab stronghold in Gedo region, southwest of Somalia on Monday. Heavy confrontation broke out between the allied forces and Al-shabaab at Qondhood, a small town located about 40Km away from Buurdhuubo district in Gedo region.

Local residents have confirmed the clashes, but the casualties had not been confirmed. Jubbaland and Somali government troops began last week offensive aimed to recapture the remaining areas under the control of Al-Shabaab, according to the local authorities. Al-Shabaab has been driven out of key areas in the region since 2012, but the militants still continue to hold large swathes of territory in south and central Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia: 12 Soldiers, 1 Civilian Arrested In Drive-by Shooting Probe

02 October – Source: China.org – 151 Words

Twelve soldiers and one civilian were arrested on Sunday as Somali authorities probe a drive-by attack that left two dead three days ago. Somali Minister of Internal Security Mohamed Abukar Islow Dualle said the arrest was aimed at boosting security in the volatile Benadir region region. “We have taken actions to ensure the security is boosted following a deadly attack that occurred in this region recently,” he said. “Security forces captured a suspect with a vehicle believed to have been used in the drive-by shooting in Hamar-weyne district three days ago.”

The secretary of the country’s National Women Organization and the son of the organization’s chairwoman were killed in the shooting. “We also arrested 12 soldiers who were on duty while the murder took place,” Dualle said. He added that two senior security officers in Hamar-weyne district were fired and investigations will soon start to establish their culpability in the killings.

OPINION, ANALYSIS AND CULTURE

“We are delighted to launch this collaboration in the interests of Somali audiences, who need all the information they can get to help them through these extremely tough times of drought and related hardships. The Ogaal programme brings together our respective strengths and allows the voices and information gathered by Radio Ergo reporters from all over Somalia to be shared among as wide an audience as possible.”

New BBC Somali Radio Series Addresses Drought

02 October – Source: BBC – 457 Words

A unique new series, Ogaal, that will help Somalis cope during the current drought, begins on Tuesday 3 October on BBC Somali. Ogaal will air three times a week, at 5.40pm EAT on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and each show will be 15 minutes long. All of the programmes will also be available online at bbc.com/somaliListeners will hear stories from all parts of the country about the impact of the drought and reports of how humanitarian bodies, the authorities and the affected communities themselves are responding.

The series is a collaboration from BBC Somali, Radio Ergo, and BBC Media Action and will contain a dedicated segment in each edition that will provide lifeline information. This will include advice on what plans people can put in place to deal with the drought and potential lack of food – and provide examples from what is working elsewhere in the country. Abdullahi Abdi, BBC Somali Editor, says: “BBC Somali’s ongoing commitment to telling the stories of its audience as well as bringing them impartial, accurate reporting is furthered by this great collaboration. This programme will enable us to show the way to survival to the most vulnerable people at this difficult time of drought.”

Angela Muriithi, Country Director Somalia for BBC Media Action, says: “Information is a vital form of humanitarian aid. In light of this, BBC Media Action’s collaboration with BBC Somali Service and Radio Ergo to produce Ogaal is a crucial step in helping the 6.2 million Somalis affected by the on-going drought to get answers to basic questions they have on how to survive and cope with the crisis. “Questions like: how do I find food? How do I know my child is malnourished and needs medical attention? What can I do with the types of food that I do have? How do I prioritise use of the little water I have? As well as broader questions about the humanitarian situation in general and what the government and the international community are doing about it. “The programme will also allow the real voices of people who are affected by the crisis and how they are coping to be heard – providing a sense of psychosocial support to many affected listeners.”