September 30, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

President Hassan warns more terrorist attacks, calls for vigilance

29 Sept- Source: Radio Dalsan /Radio Mogadishu/Hiiraan Online- 171 words

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has warned possible terrorist attacks in Mogadishu and called on the locals to work closely with the security forces. Speaking at a press conference in Aden Abdulle airport in Mogadishu shortly after arriving from the New York, the president said the Westgate attack was not different from previous terrorist attacks in Somali capital. “You have heard about the Westgate attack that killed many innocent civilians in Nairobi, It is a terrorist attack which is similar to attacks in Mogadishu,” the president said. President Mohamud noted that al Shabaab is an international terror outfit that claimed the lives of many Somalis. “The terrorists killed many of our civilians in Mogadishu, you remember Mogadishu court attack, the UNDP attack and they even targeted Village restaurant.” President Mohamud said urged the residents to collaborate with the security agencies in order to defeat al Shabaab terrorist.

Key Headlines

President Hassan warns more terrorist attacks calls for vigilance (Radio Dalsan /Radio Mogadishu)
Interim Jubba Admin appoints new security commander for Kismayo (Kismaayo Online)
Banadir Governor to attend investment conference in Turkey (Radio Mustaqbal)
Scores arrested in Kismayo security sweep (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali government forces clash with al Shabaab in Bakol region (Radio Mustaqbal)
American British and other agents comb shopping mall for leads on suspects (Daily Nation)
Cabinet donates $50000 to floods-hit people in Middle Shabelle region (Raxanreeb)
Puntland forces seize illegal fishing vessels arrest 25 Yemenis (Garowe Online)
Turkey Somalia vow to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism (APA)
Al Shabaab now turns to poaching to fund terror activities (Standard)
President Museveni US defence bosses discuss Kenya attack (Daily Monitor-)
US warns its citizens against travel to Kenya (Capital News)
Minnesota Somalis united against al Shabaab (Star tribune)
PM Erdogan says Turkey to keep aid to Somalia (worldbulletin)

SOMALI MEDIA

President Hassan warns more terrorist attacks, calls for vigilance

29 Sept- Source: Radio Dalsan /Radio Mogadishu/Hiiraan Online- 171 words

Interim Jubba Admin appoints new security commander for Kismayo

29 Sept- Source: Kismaayo Online- 221 words

The Interim Jubba Administration on Saturday appointed Issa Mohamed Allaki popularly known as Issa Kamboni as the new security commander of Kismayo city. Issa Kamboni was one of the founders of the Ras Kamboni Brigade which later merged with Hizbul Islam in January 2009. His appointment comes after acts of insecurity took place in the city. The Jubba Administration has expressed confidence that the new commander would tackle rising insecurity in the city.

Banadir Governor to attend investment conference in Turkey

29 Sept- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 116 words

The governor of Banadir regional administration and Mayor of Mogadishu Mohamed Ahmed Nur ‘Tarsan’ has traveled to Turkey on Sunday. The governor and his delegation is expected to attend the international investment conference which will take place in Istanbul, Turkey. The conference will bring together many international organizations to discuss investment opportunities in the horn of Africa nation. Somali federal government has already called on the international community to come and invest in the country.

Scores arrested in Kismayo security sweep

28 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 101 words

Jubba interim administration said that its security troops have today conducted a major security operation in the southern Somali port city of Kismayo, capital of Lower Jubba region. Mohamed Qalib, a senior security official of the Jubba Interim Administration said that detained people are under interrogations. He further added that a dusk to dawn curfew has been imposed in the town in-order to enhance security following numerous insecurity acts in the key Somali city. On Wednesday, at least three people have been shot and killed in separate incidents in the town under unknown circumstances.

Somali government forces clash with al Shabaab in Bakol region

29 Sept- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 143 words

Somali federal government forces in Bakol region have claimed a victory over fighting with al Shabaab fighters in Bakool region in West-southern of Somalia on Sunday. The fighting took place in El-lelow village around 30 KM in the west of Bardale in Bakol region. Major Ali Salad Mohamed who was leading the fight told Mustaqbal radio that government forces killed 5 al Shabaab militants and seized weapons during the fight. The officer did not reveal any casualties on their side but vowed that the government forces will attack and target al Shabaab militants wherever they are in the region.

Cabinet donates $50,000 to floods-hit people in Middle Shabelle region

28 Sept- Source: Raxanreeb- 158 words

The cabinet of minister of the federal government of Somalia held an urgent meeting on the floods affected region of the Middle Shabelle region whereby thousands of families fled from their homes. In a statement from the cabinet meeting, the ministers further discusses the effects left by the continuing floods which resulted destruction of hundreds of farm lands and evacuation of thousands of families. “The minister pledged $50,000 of emergency support for the floods affected families in Jowhar town.’ the statement said. The cabinet called for urgent intervention and asked the aid agencies operating in Mogadishu to reach the people affected by the flash floods.

Puntland lifts ban on Bar-Kulan, two other stations

28 Sept- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 128 words

Somalia’s autonomous region of Puntland has on Thursday lifted a ban on Radio Bar-kulan after nearly six months on ban. Radio Bar-kulan’s programs had been aired by Puntland-based radio dubbed One Nation. The northeastern administration has also lifted ban on Rego and Hirad radio station, two other humanitarian organization that has also been banned from the area. A Press statement from Puntland’s Ministry of Information said Bar-kulan, Ergo and Hirad radios can resume broadcasting to the area after six months on ban. The radios have not studios in Puntland, therefore broadcast their programs through local FMs in the area. The administration urged the owners of the local FMs to the register the radio stations that they have relationship with.

Puntland forces seize illegal fishing vessels, arrest 25 Yemenis

28 Sept- Garowe Online- 180 words

The coastguard of Somalia’s northeastern state of Puntland have seized three small fishing vessels, a boat and 25 Yemeni sailors off the coast of Bossaso on Saturday, Garowe Online reports. According to Ministry of Maritime transport, Ports and Counter Piracy officials, Bossaso port police’s patrol boats conducted the operations, five miles off east of Bossaso port where the illegal fishing vessels were sailing. The Yemeni fishermen and a Somali national onboard were arrested in the operation, said the Director General of Puntland Ministry of Maritime transport, Ports and Counter Piracy Abdimajid Samatar Jafan who spoke at a press conference in Bossaso port city, Puntland’s commercial hub.

REGIONAL MEDIA

American, British and other agents comb shopping mall for leads on suspects

29 Sept- Source: Daily Nation- 569 words

The United States considers the Westgate attack a direct threat to its security and has sent dozens of investigators to Kenya, according to the New York Times. The Obama Administration fears that the Somalia-based al Shabaab, which has claimed responsibility for the Nairobi siege that left at least 67 people dead, may plot similar attacks on US soil and against its citizens in East Africa.

Al Shabaab now turns to poaching to fund terror activities

28 Sept- Source: Standard- 540 words

In May 2007, three Kenya Wildlife Service rangers died at the hands of Somali bandits in a pre-dawn shoot-out. The gang of poachers was crossing the Tana River on their way to Tsavo East National Park. The incursion was halted, but the eventual cost in human life from this emerging deadly trend was to be massive. Six years later, an 18-month investigation by South African environmental groups Maisha Consulting and Elephant Action League in the involvement of al Shabaab on trafficking ivory through Kenya established that this trade could be supplying up to 40 per cent of the funds needed to keep the merchants of terror in business.

President Museveni, US defence bosses discuss Kenya attack

29 Sept- Source: Daily Monitor- 340 words

Last weekend’s deadly attack on Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall was at the heart of discussions yesterday in Washington D.C. between US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel and President Museveni. Mr Museveni, a steadfast US ally on security matters in the Great Lakes Region, travelled to Pentagon from New York where he had been attending the UN General Assembly, and was accompanied to the Friday meeting by Uganda’s Defence Minister Chrispus Kiyonga. Mr Ashton B. Carter, the US deputy secretary of defence, attended the meeting. In a statement, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little noted that the principals “discussed a wide range of regional security issues, including the recent terrorist attacks in Kenya”. He offered no details.

US warns its citizens against travel to Kenya

28 Sept- Source: Capital News- 681 words

The United States of America has warned its citizens against travelling to Kenya after the September 21 terror attack. In a statement, the US Department of State told Americans that Kenya was insecure due to threats by terrorists. “US citizens in Kenya, and those considering travel to Kenya, should evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing and recently heightened threats from terrorism and the high rate of violent crime in some areas. The levels of risk vary throughout the country,” it warned.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: New Arrest As Travel Warning Slated

29 Sept- Source: Sky News- 498 words

Another person has been arrested over last weekend’s terror attack at a Nairobi shopping centre that left at least 67 people dead. Nine suspects are now in custody following the gun and grenade assault believed to be by militants from the al Qaeda-linked Somali group al Shabaab. Kenyan officials have arrested 12 people in connection with the raid on September 21 in the capital, but three have been freed. Interior minister Joseph Ole Lenku said the latest arrest was made on Sunday.

Minnesota Somalis united against al Shabaab

29 Sept- Star tribune -589 words

Five years ago, Abdifatah Farah was a college student and budding poet who knew little about the terrorist group rapidly emerging in the bloody ruin of his native Somalia. He’d heard about the young men and boys from the Twin Cities who had vanished to join the fight for control of his homeland, and he knew that one had died in a suicide bombing there. But for the most part, this group that called itself al Shabaab or “The Youth” was a mystery.

PM Erdogan says Turkey to keep aid to Somalia

28 Sep- Source: worldbulletin -148 words

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey would maintain its humanitarian aid to Somalia, as the latter’s premier is on a working visit at Erdogan’s invitation on Sept 25-30. A statement by Turkish Prime Ministry said late on Friday that Erdogan reiterated Turkey’s continued support for the Somali government and people. The statement added that Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon expressed his government’s gratitude for Turkey’s help, and offered his condolences for the June 27 attack on Turkish embassy in the Somali capital of Mogadishu that killed three people.

Turkey, Somalia vow to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism

28 Sept-APA- 158 words

The Turkish and Somali governments on Thursday pledged here to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation after attacks took place in Somalia targeting Turkish buildings and citizens, APA reports quoting Xinhua. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters that Turkey and Somalia will put forward strong cooperation to prevent terrorist groups from attacking workers at the Turkish embassy and Turkish NGOs after meeting with visiting Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The number of Gaza youth who sympathize with the Somali al Shabaab may be larger or smaller than what I expect it to be, but it does exist. This is where the difference lies. In my days, there was no place for such people at all. The things we disagreed on, and they were many, did not justify murder in any name, especially religion.”

The ‘Shabaab’ of Gaza and Somalia

29 Sept- Source: Asharq Al Awsat/ Al Arabiya English-1078 Words

First of all, I would like to explain that I do not mean the youth of Gaza today. I am referring to my own generation in the title, and will explain why later. Last Monday evening, Frank Gardner, the BBC security affairs correspondent, translated the word Shabaab for his viewers to the English term “lads.” Many Arabic terms have found their way into the English dictionary over the years, but over the last three decades the most famous of them have been “intifada,” “al Qaeda,” and “Shabaab.” What a massive difference there is between the reactions of non-Arabs to the first term, “intifada”—one of sympathizing with a people and understanding their struggle—and their reactions to the second term, “al Qaeda,” and its offspring, “al Shabaab,” and other similar terms, to which they react with terror and revulsion towards Arabs. What is even worse, and more dangerous, is the resulting hatred and distrust towards Islam and Muslims, which has become a recognized phenomenon and has found its way into all dictionaries as “Islamophobia.”

“Somalia rests at a critical juncture. There is the chaos of the past, exemplified by this week’s terrorist attack, and the promise of a better future. More than ever, it’s time to stand with the people of Somalia.”

Neutralize al Shabaab by supporting Somalia

28 Sept- Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune-722 Words

Al Shabaab’s assault on Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, exemplifies the behavior of a cornered animal — it lashes out when threatened. The tragic paradox of last week’s attack is that recent security gains against al Shabaab in Somalia have caused the organization to pursue soft targets abroad. It’s hard to talk about reasons for optimism in Somalia when blood is still warm in Nairobi, but the way to eliminate al Shabaab is to support the Somali government’s efforts toward a path of stability and prosperity. Al Shabaab’s brazen attack, which left more than 60 dead, was a desperate attempt to bait the Kenyan government into an overly broad response. Any crackdown on ethnic Somalis in Kenya would fulfill al Shabaab’s propaganda about Kenyan oppression, breathing new life into the organization that desperately needs it. The horror that a small group of heavily armed men can rain down upon innocent people at a shopping mall does not mean that al Shabaab is thriving. In fact, there is no doubt it is on the decline.