September 13, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia’s Juba President escapes unhurt after car bomb attack

12 Sept – Source: Garowe Online/SNTV/Bar-kulan/Danaan Online – 95 words

The President of Somalia’s Juba Administration Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) survived car bomb attack on Thursday, highlighting first-ever deadly attack plotted by al Shabaab terror group in Kismayo. Explosive-laden car hit President Madobe’s motorcade near Saadam II apartment building in Southern port city of Kismayo shortly after a delegation led by Madobe landed at Kismayo Airport, officials said. The targeted convoy was driving into Presidential palace when what appeared to have been caused by a suicide car bomb left 20 people including civilians and security guards dead and dozens wounded.

Key Headlines

Somalia’s Juba President escapes unhurt after car bomb attack (Garowe Online/SNTV)
AMISOM condemns Attack in the Port City of Kismayo (AMISOM)
Statement of the UN Special Representative to Somalia Nicholas Kay attack on Ahmed Mohammed Islam in Kismayo (UNSOM)
16 arrested in Beledweyne security sweep (Radio Bar-kulan)
US born militant executed in Somalia by al Shabaab Raxanreeb/Somali Channel TV
Hundreds displaced by floods in Jowhar(Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Ergo)
Somalia launches free education programme (NTV Kenya)
Al Shabaab militants kill American who cut ties with group (VOA News/Al Jazeera)

PRESS STATEMENT

AMISOM condemns Attack in the Port City of Kismayo

12 Sept- Source: AMISOM-193 Words

AU Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif condemned today’s attack in the port city of Kismayo during which innocent civilians were killed.

The incident occurred when a car loaded with explosives was detonated close to the convoy of the Leader of the Jubba Interim Administration, Ahmed Mohammed Islam (Madobe) in Arco Fanoole district of Kismayo city.

Mr. Madobe had just returned from the Somali capital, Mogadishu, where he had fruitful consultations with the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Sheikh Hassan Mahmoud and the Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid regarding the proposed reconciliation conference for the Jubba communities.

“We strongly condemn this atrocity and we will continue to stand by the people of Somalia as they fight against the violent minority that seeks to drag them back into the dark days of chaos and anarchy,” said Ambassador Annadif.

The AU, working with IGAD and the UN, will continue to support the Somali stakeholders in implementing the Addis Ababa Agreement and further encourages them to sustain the spirit of peace by which they will overcome those negative forces seeking to undermine the progress being recorded in the country.

Statement of the UN Special Representative to Somalia Nicholas Kay attack on Ahmed Mohammed Islam in Kismayo

12 Sept- Source: UNSOM-136 Words

The UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia condemns in the strongest terms the violent attack on a vehicle in which Ahmad Muhammad Islam Madobe, leader of the interim Jubba administration was traveling. Ahmed Mohammed Islam is reported to have escaped serious injury however his bodyguards and innocent civilians were killed when his car was hit by another vehicle carrying explosives in the port city of Kismayo, southern Somalia.

SRSG Kay said, ‘Ahmed Madobe is a key partner in the search for peace and reconciliation in Somalia. It is reprehensible that he would become a target for extremist violence at a time when he is playing a key role in statebuilding and peacebuilding.

He expressed his sincere condolences to those who lost loved ones and wished all those injured in the attack quick recovery.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia’s Juba President escapes unhurt after car bomb attack

12 Sept – Source: Garowe Online/SNTV/Bar-kulan/Danaan Online – 95 words

16 arrested in Beledweyne security sweep

12 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan – 70 words

Somali government security forces arrested 16 suspects in a security sweep in Beled-weyne’s Hawlwadag neighborhood on Thursday following the killing of Hussein Moalim Mohamud, a prominent elder in the region. Hiraan region police boss Colonel Isaq Ali Abdillahi told Bar-kulan that security operation will continue. Many mourners in the city of Beled-weyne have attended the burial of elder Hussein Moalim Mohamud who was laid to rest today in Beled-weyne graves.

US born militant executed in Somalia by al Shabaab

12 Sept – Source: Raxanreeb/Somali Channel TV – 100 words

The American-born al Shabaab fighter Omar Hamami was killed on Thursday near Bardhere town of southern Somalia after an attack by Al Shabab fighters, RBC reports. Omar Hamami (who is known as Abu Mansur Al Amriki) was confirmed dead after heavy fighting between him and al Shabaab fighters who have attacked on his hideout at Shongolow village. The militants also killed three other men including Omar Hamami’s brother-in-law and a British al Shabaab member. According to residents in the area, there was heavy gun battle earlyon Thursday at the small village of Shongolow between Somalia’s Gedo and Bay regions.

Hundreds displaced by floods in Jowhar

12 Sept – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Ergo – 100 words

River Shabelle overflows after the river broke its banks as hundreds have been forces from their homes in the southern Somali town of Jowhar on Wednesday, according to the Bar-kulan reporter in Jowhar. The river’s overflow has reportedly destroyed about 10 thousand hectares of crop. Residents of Jowhar and surrounding towns have started fleeing their homes, anticipating further flooding in the coming days. Thousands of people are expected to be affected if the river continues to rise. Middle Shabele region administration of the Somali government warned locals not to flee though it now seems impossible to wait for further damage.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia launches free education programme

12 Sept- Source: NTV Kenya-01:13mins

The Somali government has launched a nationwide educational program for nearly a million school students. Making the announcement, the Country’s development and social affairs minister said that the Somali federal government has already put in place plans to realize a free education program that will target both young children and adults across the strife-torn country.

Murder not ruled out As corpse identified that of Somali maid

12 Sept – Source: Arab Times – 102 words

The security authorities have identified the human remains which were found in Khuwaisat, near Jahra, as that of a Somali maid, reports Al-Watan Arabic daily. The daily quoting security sources said, preliminary examination indicated the woman died a long time ago and died by hanging. It has also been reported she entered the country on April 21, 2012, via the Salmi border post. Police have not ruled out murder. At the time when the woman’s skeleton was found by an unidentified person half buried in the sand it was believed to be of a woman judging by the clothes on the corpse.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

US Welcomes the Decision of the Somalia Government on Syria

12 Sept – Source: US Embassy – 103 words

The U.S. Special Representative for Somalia, James McAnulty, welcomes the decision of the Federal Government of Somalia to join 33 other nations in supporting the September 6 Joint Statement on Syria. “Somalia has shown great leadership on the issue of chemical weapons, acceding to the Chemical Weapons Convention on May 29, 2013 and becoming the 189th State Party to that landmark agreement”, stated the Special Representative. Somalia is in proud company with many of its Arab League and Organization of the Islamic Conference partners in condemning the brutality of the Assad regime in its horrifying chemical attack on the people of Damascus.

Al Shabaab militants kill American who cut ties with group

12 Sept – Source: VOA News/Al Jazeera – 150 words

An American citizen who broke ties with the Somali militant group al-Shabab is reported to have been killed by the group’s fighters. Former militants tell VOA’s Somali service that Omar Hammami died early Thursdaywhen fighters attacked his hideout near the village of Shongoleh in Somalia’s Gedo region. There was no immediate confirmation from al Shabaab on its Twitter account, which the group often uses to announce attacks. Hammami has been reported dead before — as his father, Shafik Hammami told VOA in an interviewThursday from his home in the southern U.S. town of Daphne, Alabama. “Early this morning, some reporter called me and told me the news,” Shafik Hammami said. “I was shocked and of course did not believe it, because we’ve been through this before many times. And I was hoping and praying this would be like the news in the past and would not be true.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Collapsing on my bed after a quick dinner and shower, I was deep in thought about the coming days of exploring Somaliland, and curious how it would be, being one of the few people who actually visit here as a tourist. But the beginning signs made it seem alright, welcome to Somaliland! I was told several times already, hoping that there would be a lot more of that to come.”

Heading into Somaliland.

12 Sept- Source: Somalilandpress-526 Words

Welcome to Somaliland, said the friendly and enthusiastic immigration official . Have a good time in our country, said another. After crossing through no-mans land between Ethiopia andSomaliland, excitement crept in, as I was now entering a country that wasn’t officially acknowledged by the international community. Somaliland declared independence from the rest of Somalia over two decades ago, and has technically been it’s own country since. Yet still many people hear the word with Somali in it and images of Mogadishu and terrorism come to mind. But so far this was a great introduction, and after leaving the smiling immigration officials behind, went looking for a shared taxi to the capital Hargeisa.