October 7, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali PM urges neighboring countries to be on high alert

06 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan- 184 words

Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has urged neighboring countries to exercise caution to prevent al Shabaab fighters fleeing the ongoing military offensive to cross their borders. Al Shabaab militant group in south and central Somalia has been facing a major military offensive by joint Somali and African Union forces in the last few months. The prime minister was speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu along with senior government officials including National Security Minister, Defense Minister and senior military chiefs. He said the objective of the military campaign is to completely destroy the group’s power and appealed to Somali youth fighting along with al Shabaab to take advantage of the 45-days amnesty. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed congratulated Somali National Army and the African Union forces in Somalia (AMISOM) for their military success against al Shabaab militants and the capture of Barawe, where al Shabaab was believed to organize its attacks on the capital, Mogadishu. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Abdullahi Godah Barre said roads in former al Shabaab territories will be opened to allow the delivery of aid to the people in the recently liberated areas of the country.

Key Headlines

UN Special Representative for Somalia welcomes the recovery of Barawe (UNSOM)
Somali PM urges neighboring countries to be on high alert (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan)
Eight wounded in Afgoye explosion (Radio Goobjoog)
Puntland leader meets EU envoy (Garowe Online/Universaltv)
Joint forces close another al-shabaab stronghold (Somalicurrent Online)
Calm returns in Barawe after the joint forces’ seizure from Al-shabab (Radio RBC)
Kenya Defence Forces kill 22 al-Shabaab fighters (Standard Digital Media)
IICO offers aid to victims of drought in Somalia (Kuwait News Agency)
African Union forces take al-Shabaab-held town (Al Jazeera English)
Somali African troops deploy inside former rebel stronghold (Reuters)

PRESS STATEMENT

UN Special Representative for Somalia welcomes the recovery of Barawe

06 Oct- Source: UNSOM-102 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, welcomed the recovery earlier today of the port city of Barawe from Al-Shabaab by the Somali National Army and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces.

“The recovery of Barawe by the Somali National Army and AMISOM forces is a critical milestone in Somalia’s path to peace and stability. I welcome this important achievement. I encourage any remaining Al-Shabaab to lay down their arms. Now is the time for peace and political progress for all Somali people.” SRSG Kay said.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali PM urges neighboring countries to be on high alert

06 Oct- Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Bar-kulan- 184 words

Eight wounded in Afgoye explosion

07 Oct – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 78 Words

At least eight people were wounded after explosion aimed at the vice chairman of Afgoye district occurred in the town on Monday. The explosion occurred at a busy market in the town and the vice chairman escaped unhurt as eye witness confirmed to Goobjoog FM. The wounded people during the explosion were immediately rushed to the hospitals in the district for treatment. No one has claimed the responsibility of the explosion in Afgoye.

Puntland leader meets EU envoy

06 Oct- Source: Garowe Online/Universaltv/Radio Daljir/Hiiraan Online- 187 words

The President of Somalia’s north eastern state of Puntland Abdiweli Mohamed Ali has on Monday met EU envoy to Somalia Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso amid sporadic assaults on Al Shabaab bases in Galgala, Garowe Online reports. Speaking at a joint press conference with Ambassador d’Urso after a closed-doors meeting at Puntland State House in Garowe, President Ali stressed the need for coordinated cooperation as the state is battling fugitive Al Shabaab fighters in the restive Galgala area. “We discussed the ongoing fight against Al Shabaab extremists in Galgala with EU delegation and how crucial Puntland is,” said Ali. On EU-sponsored initiatives, Puntland President noted that development programmes including environmental protection, health care and education projects are underway. “The relations between Puntland and the Federal Government were also raised during the bilateral meeting,” he said, referring to the cooperation re-suspended on July 31. On his side, d’Urso expressed delight with his arrival in Puntland and once again reiterated EU’s support for the loose state-building process across Somalia. President Gaas hosted luncheon for EU delegation led by Ambassador d’Urdso shortly after the press briefings.

Joint forces close another Al-shabaab stronghold

06 Oct – Source: Somalicurrent Online- 152 Words

Sources from Indian Ocean operation in the Somali southern districts indicate that joint forces are heading to Sablaale in lower Shabelle region day after the allied forces driven out Al-shabaab militants from their key stronghold, Barawe. Sablale is the only town that remain under Al-shabaab control in that region. SNA forces are approaching the town as the residents started to flee neighboring districts seeking refuge. “It’s unthinkable to remain Al-shabaab in Sablaale and our forces are prepared to carry on further onslaughts against the militant, we are orchestrating to retake that base “ General Mohamud Qaafow told reporters. He stated that Barawe is regaining its calm again following years of Al-shabab command while armed forces have stationed outside of the district. Al-Qaeda affiliated group of Al-shabaab turned out a number of districts including Barawe in the last three weeks due to Indian Ocean operation.

Calm returns in Barawe after the joint forces’ seizure from Al-shabab

06 Oct- Source: Radio RBC- 171 words

Calm in Barawe, the coastal town of Middle Shabelle region of Somalia has returned after Somali national army backed by African Union troops captured the town from Al-shabab group. The region’s governor Abudkadir Nuur Sidii has stated that the town is calm and peaceful today after the militants fled the town prior to the joint forces campaign on the town. The regional administration of Middle Shebelle region along with AMISOM and Somali National Army commanders had held a meeting in Barawe main stadium with the local traditional elders, religious clerics and the district’s residents. The governor has also highlighted that the people in the town seems have welcomed the capture of the town from the terrorist linked militants and will cooperate with government. Barawe, a port town in middle shabelle has been safe haven for terrorist group and and economic hub where it was estimated $25 million in annual taxes from charcoal export from Barawe used to go into the hands of Al-shabab.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya Defence Forces kill 22 Al Shabaab fighters

06 Oct – Source: Standard Digital Media – 197 Words

Twenty-two members of Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants were on Monday killed in an operation by the Kenya Defence Forces in Bula Gadud area, Somalia. During the operation that happened at about midday, one KDF soldier and three Somali National Army soldiers were injured. According to KDF, three vehicles belonging to the terror group were destroyed and assorted weapons and ammunition recovered. “The town is a key logistical and planning base for Al-Shabaab and it was used to launch attacks in Kismayu and its environs,” read part of a statement from KDF spokesman Col David Obonyo. Other reports suggested the KDF and SNA personnel were in Bula Gadud ahead of a planned assault on Jilib that is one of the towns occupied by the militants. The operation in Bula Gadud seemed to coincide with that of Somali government troops backed by African Union (AU) forces who have taken the last coastal stronghold Barawe of the al-Shabab Islamist group.

IICO offers aid to victims of drought in Somalia

07 Oct – Source: Kuwait News Agency – 195 Words

Kuwait’s International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) has offered urgent relief aid and Eid Al-Adha meat to hundreds of Somali families victims of drought. UN Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Amiri Diwan Advisor Dr. Abdullah Al-Matouq, IICO chairman, has been concerned with the humanitarian issue in Somalia since it emerged, a statement by the organization’s field relief team said on Monday. Al-Matouq ordered offering all possible support and aid to the afflicted people in the country, located in the Horn of Africa. IICO Director General Othman Al-Hajji formed a relief team to provide the aid to Somalis hit by drought in southern and central parts of the country.

Berbera touted as recreational coastline

06 Oct – Source: The Reporter/AllAfrica.com – 639 Words

Berbera, a convenient coastal town located in eastern Somaliland, a self-declared independent nation in the Horn of Africa, is the economic capital of the small nation largely due to the port outlet to the Indian ocean. However, the small port town is now venturing out to a new business that is coastal recreation. With the presence of large landlocked nations in East Africa, sea-outlets like the Port of Djibouti and Mombasa serve the majority of population at the moment. In that, Port Berbera is among the hopefuls to be another major outlet. But, the port, as it is at moment, needs a lot of work to have it ready to offer a standard service. The government of Somaliland had long planned to nurture the port. However, until it it is ready, the coastal town is making preparations to sell its sandy beaches and favorable weather condition. Mohamud Hashi Abdi, minister of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, told The Reporter that it is time to promote Berbera as a recreational place for the rising middle class in Ethiopia. “We have to draw in the Ethiopian middle class to the recreational facilities of Berbera,” Mohamud said.

African Union forces take al-Shabab-held town

07 Oct – Source: Al Jazeera English – 4:56 Minutes

Somali troops backed by African Union (AU) forces have retaken the al-Shabab stronghold of Barawe, key to the financing of the armed group. Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, embedded with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in Barawe, said: “Special forces are securing the city. They are having people open their doors, looking for al-Shabab elements.” Soi said that government officials and leaders of the AU force had held a meeting with locals on Monday, in a bid to gain their confidence.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali, African troops deploy inside former rebel stronghold

06 Oct- Source: Reuters- 118 words

Somali, African troops deploy inside former rebel stronghold. Somalia’s army and African troops deployed forceson Monday inside a strategic port which they retook from Islamist rebels at the weekend, promising residents they would be protected. The force of African Union peacekeepers and the Somali National Army said on Sunday they had driven out al Shabaab militants without a fight from Barawe, a stronghold used by rebels to ship in guns and generate cash from charcoal exports. An official from the African Union force AMISOM told Reuters troops had entered the town at dawn on Monday. Previously, officials said they had avoided a hasty deployment in the town in case of ambushes or booby-traps left by the militants.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Given the terrorist threat and the difficulty of dealing with the transnational crimes, it’s prudent for all parties is to maintain the best possible relations between Kenya and its Western allies, and between Kenya and its regional partners.”

World should stand by Kenya on security

06 Oct- Source: Star-Kenya- 462 words

Given its history and geographic position, Kenya faces profound security challenges. Without a political class that regards security as a bipartisan matter, and allies who stand firmly with us, these challenges can become existential threats, not only for Kenya, but for the 200 million people of the greater Eastern and Central African. Since the start of the multiparty era, political violence has recurred. Though its frequency has declined in recent years, prudence demands that a careful eye be kept on the political class’s propensity for violence. Large-scale economic crime remains a genuine problem, as does organised crime. But perhaps the two most severe security challenges at the moment – certainly in terms of their potential for mass violence, political disorder and divisiveness – are serious violent crimes against the person and transnational crimes. Both categories intersect with those considered earlier: for example, transnational crimes, of the sort Kenya experienced at Westgate, have the potential for severe effects on political crimes and violence against persons.