September 18, 2014 | Morning Headlines.
Somali PM: In 2015, al Shabaab group will not control any territory in Somalia
17 Sept – Source:Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog/SNTV/
The Prime Minister of federal government of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed taking meeting with Somali community in London explained the aim of his trip to UK. He stated that his main aim is to attend the conference hosted by UK government on rebuilding Somali national army and maintaining security adding that strong forces can restore law and order. The PM also stressed that the ongoing operations in South and Central Somalia will lead to ousting of al Shabaab from Somalia by 2015. He added that the joint forces have captured over 10 areas in south and Central Somalia since the military offensive against al Shabaab was launched earlier 2014. “In 2015, al Shabaab group will not control any territory in Somalia” Prime Minister Abdiweli said. Finally Prime minister Abdiweli said the government will actively speed up stabilization and development of the country by collaborating with Somali partners.
Key Headlines
- Somali PM: In 2015 al Shabaab group will not control any territory in Somalia (Radio Mogadishu)
- UN deputy envoy opens reconciliation conference in southern Somalia (UN News Center)
- Somali refugees brought before a court in Kenya (Radio Dalsan)
- Finland: 4 Charged With Funding Somali Militants (ABC News/AP)
- Kuwait Amir receives congratulatory cable from president of Somalia (KUNA)
- Djibouti to train federal government forces (Radio Goobjoog)
- UPDF commander has case to answer – court (New Vision)
- Somaliland President meets with Civil Society (Somaliland Informer)
- Kenya Westgate massacre: developments one year on (East African)
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali PM: In 2015, al Shabaab group will not control any territory in Somalia
17 Sept – Source:Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog/SNTV/
The Prime Minister of federal government of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed taking meeting with Somali community in London explained the aim of his trip to UK. He stated that his main aim is to attend the conference hosted by UK government on rebuilding Somali national army and maintaining security adding that strong forces can restore law and order. The PM also stressed that the ongoing operations in South and Central Somalia will lead to ousting of al Shabaab from Somalia by 2015. He added that the joint forces have captured over 10 areas in south and Central Somalia since the military offensive against al Shabaab was launched earlier 2014. “In 2015, al Shabaab group will not control any territory in Somalia” Prime Minister Abdiweli said. Finally Prime minister Abdiweli said the government will actively speed up stabilization and development of the country by collaborating with Somali partners.
Somali refugees brought before a court in Kenya
17 Sept – Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Star/Star-Kenya – 105 words
Nine Somali refugees from Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya were yesterday brought before Eldoret court. This followed after police recovered them from a bus bound for Nairobi at a police checkpoint on Webuye-Eldoret Highway. They were prosecuted by the police that they were found at a place beyond their designated refugee camp. 8 of them admitted the crime and requested to be sent back to Kakuma Refugee Camp. The ninth one requested to be reunited with his family in Nairobi. The names of these refugees are Mohamed Abdi, Abdulkadir Mohamed, Abdullahi Mohamed, Amina Mohamed, Hibo Halake, Sagal Walab, Hibo Mukhtar, Faduma Abdi and Natasha Adan.
Djibouti to train federal government forces
17 Sept – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Kulmiye – 135 words
The government of Djibouti is set to train Somali government troops in its country. At least 20 soldiers who departed from Beledweyne on Wednesday will be trained in Djibouti to help bring peace, law and order in Somalia that has been devastated by over two decades of civil war. Ali Dhux Mahad Alle, Beledweyne police commander while in Beledweyne airport confirmed to Goobjoog that 20 government forces will benefit from the training though he has not specified the duration and the courses they will be taking during the train. This comes a time when Djibouti has recently announced to send more peacekeeping troops under AMISOM to Somalia to reinforce the federal government’s effort to push al Shabaab from Somalia. Djibouti has sent over 800 peacekeeping troops under AMISOM to Somalia.
Somaliland President meets with Civil Society
17 Sept – Source: Somaliland Infromer/SLNTV – 37 Words
Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo has met with Civil Society and presidents of universities at the presidential palace on Wednesday which was aimed to reach a common understanding of how the government will work with them.
REGIONAL MEDIA
UPDF commander has case to answer – court
17 Sept – Source: New Vision – 443 words
The Army’s top court has ruled that, Col. Hassan Kimbowa, formerly the commander of UPDF Battle Group 11+ in Somalia should defend himself against charges of selling fuel meant for peacekeeping operations in the horn of Africa nation. The General Court Martial chairman, Maj. Gen. Levy Karuhanga has ruled that Kimbowa has a case to answer while ruling on the accused’s defense submission of no case to answer. “A case has been made out against the accused by the state. There is essential evidence that state adduced which has not been discredited by the defense and I hereby put the accused on defense,” Karuhanga ruled. Kimbowa commanded one of the battle groups that constituted Uganda’s troop contingent in Somalia between June 2013 and February 2014 when he was arrested in the mission area and brought back to Uganda to face charges relating to issuing 2,400 litres of diesel fuel to Somali civilians.
Kuwait Amir receives congratulatory cable from president of Somalia
17 Sept – Source: KUNA – 103 words
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah received on Wednesday a cable of congratulation from President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for naming His Highness the Amir a “Humanitarian Leader” and choosing Kuwait as a “Humanitarian Center” by the United Nations on September 9 in New York. President Sheikh Mohamud lauded great philanthropic efforts exerted by His Highness the Amir locally and internationally. Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir sent a reply cable thanking Somalia’s President for his warm greetings that reflect great bilateral ties between Kuwait and Somalia.
Kenya Westgate massacre: developments one year on
17 Sept – Source: East African/AFP – 451 words
One year after Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab rebels stormed Nairobi’s Westgate mall, killing at least 67 people in a four-day siege that began September 21, multiple questions remain. Here is an update on investigations and developments. The official toll is 67 victims. Western officials suggested as many as 94 could have died, but forensic experts say evidence based on body parts matches the toll of 67. Security camera footage, as well as bodies at the morgue, provide no evidence to back up gruesome media reports of torture, nor that hostages were ever held. Security cameras show only four attackers, not the dozen that officials reported during the siege. All four are believed to have died inside the mall. Al Shabaab said they were suicide commandos, but have never confirmed directly that they died, and no video or statements from the attackers have been released.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Finland: 4 Charged With Funding Somali Militants
17 Sept – Source: ABC News/AP – 113 words
Prosecutors in Finland have charged four people with financing terrorism for allegedly collecting money for an al Qaeda linked militant group in Somalia. District Prosecutor Elina Hypponen told The Associated Press on Wednesday that it’s the first time terror charges have been filed in Finland. She said the defendants, who were not identified, collected “thousands of euros” to fund terrorist activities by the al Shabaab group in 2008-2011. One of the defendants was also charged with recruiting members to al-Shabab, which is trying to create an Islamic state in Somalia.
UN deputy envoy opens reconciliation conference in southern Somalia
17 Sept – Source: UN News Center – 249 words
A senior United Nations official today welcomed the opening of the Kismayo reconciliation conference in the southern Somali port town as a step towards strengthening the country and consolidating peace in the region. “I urge participants to create an environment that allows the conference to develop resolutions that are inclusive of all stakeholders – particularly women, youth and elders, regardless of social or economic status,” said the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Fatiha Serour in a news release. She added that this reconciliation process is “an avenue to develop a roadmap for the Interim Jubba Administration” to continue to build its capacity.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“If Kenya forces these young men back to Somalia without proper support, it will become the main recruiting agent for al Shabaab. Let Somali refugees stay in Kenya until their country has returned to normal.”
Don’t Force Somali Refugees to Leave
17 Sept – Source: Star-Kenya/AllAfrica – 194 words
THE Somali government has denied that it is boycotting meetings with the Kenya government to organise the return of 480,000 refugees to Somalia The ambassador in Nairobi said that he had been away for medical treatment. However he emphasised that the return of refugees should be voluntary. And that will be the sticking point for Kenya which wrongly believes that getting rid of Dadaab refugee camp will improve security in Kenya. Somalia is still deeply insecure and a failed state. Amisom and the new government are trying to rebuild the country but large swathes are still controlled by al Shabaab. The UNHCR and the Somali government would be unable to set up a camp the size of Dadaab. Many women, children and old men would die if all Somali refugees were forced to leave Kenya. And the young men would probably join al Shabaab.