COMMENTARY ON ISLAMIC WEBSITES
Somali Memo - The pro-al-Shabaab website published a commentary on the assassination of a well-known religious leader in Puntland, Dr. Ahmed Haji Abdirahman. The Islamist website denied that al-Shabaab elements were behind the assassination and accused the Puntland government of committing the murder. The commentary also stated that Puntland officials, TFG leaders, the infidel supporting media, America, Ethiopia and Kenya are united to oppress the Muslim people and will do anything to tarnish the image of Muslims. Somali Language
POLITICS
Voice Of America - In East Africa, hopes are high that the long-running Somali conflict will soon abate with the United Nations Security Council’s approval Monday of tougher sanctions against Eritrea. The nation is accused of supporting Somali militants, including al-Shabaab. For its part, Eritrea denies the allegations and calls the sanctions "illegal and unjust." Analysts and some of those involved in the long-running Somali conflict say they are hoping for a quick end to the fighting following Monday’s decision by the United Nations Security Council.
Suna Times - Djibouti president, Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh, has recently granted a long interview with the weekly Jeune Afrique. President Guelleh talks about succession, Somalia, Arab revolutions, the death of Qaddafi and his relations with France. "South Sudan and Somaliland are not entirely comparable. South Sudan has reached this result after a long and difficult dialogue with the North. The Somaliland dilemma is different, and I fear they have put the cart before the horse. They hoisted their flag unilaterally declared independence and that they no longer discuss. I respect, I accept their passports and their representation in Djibouti. But I can not go further. They were too busy. I told them."
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
Somali Memo - The Islamic Administration of Gedo has persecuted a man for spying for the Ethiopian forces at Buurdhuubo village. The man has confessed to the Islamic court that he was working and spying for the Ethiopian troops in Gedo. Somali Language
MEDIA
All Africa - The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemns the widespread clampdown by security forces of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia that has resulted in the arrest and detention of three radio journalists in Mogadishu. On the evening of 2 December 2011, TFG police in Karan district, in the northern part of Mogadishu, arrested two journalists who work for the privately-owned Radio Banadir radio station. The journalists, Salad Tifow Hassan and Qadar Hussein Ahmed, a programme presenter and a programme producer respectively, were arrested by patrolling police officers who refused to accept their journalist ID cards and accused them of committing a security breach. Both journalists were released on 4 December with no explanation given for the actions against them.
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
The TFG military has sentenced to death seven al-Shabaab fighters on Tuesday after they were caught creating insecurity in the capital. The court also sentenced to death Tawane Uumin Abdi, a TFG soldier, for raping internally displaced women in Mogadishu. Eight other people were sentenced two to three years in prison after they committed crimes against the Somali people. The court released three people after they were found innocent of various crimes.
Radio Andulus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Kenyan infidels in Dadaab refugee camp raped two Somali refugee women on Monday night. Residents of the refugee camp confided to Radio a-Furqaan that the criminals were Kenyan policemen who were patrolling the camp last night.
Radio Al-Furqaan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
A French airplane today took the bodies of 12 Ugandan and Burundian troops back to their home countries after they were killed while fighting in Mogadishu. Airport workers who didn’t want to be named said that they saw 12 coffins being carried toward the airplane and 50 others who were injured also boarded the plane.
Radio Bar-Kulan - An independent radio station
The al-Shabaab militia of Buurhakaba of Bay region are demanding money from local businessmen. The militants ordered the men to pay $18,000 within 15 days to be used in the fight against the TFG forces and the Ethiopians. The leaders of al-Shabaab in Buurhakaba district Mohamed Hassan who spoke with residents in public arena said if they don’t pay that amount of money they will face harsh consequences. Ibrahim Hussein, a local businessman in the district, told Bar-Kulan that it’s very difficult for them to pay that amount of money.
Al-Shabaab militias in Jowhar district of Middle Shebelle region arrested 20 civilians on the outskirts of Barrow-weyne village, 15km north of Jowhar, for having connection with the tribal fighting in the area. The fighting killed three people including the chairman of the village and investigations are ongoing.
Radio Shabelle - An independent radio station
The committee of Hawiye traditional elder condemned the TFG Speaker of the Parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan for misusing the power of the parliament and failing his responsibilities. The spokesman of the Hawiye elders, Ahmed Diiriye Ali, said that the speaker is refusing to open the parliament to debate the UN road map and other important motions. MP Mahamad Omar Dalha said that the members of parliament have ability to axe any TFG top officials to avoid abuses of power.
Radio Risaala - An independent radio station
More than 100 Somali MPs held a meeting in Mogadishu on Tuesday and strongly condemned speeches by the head of United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPSOS) Augustine Mahiga in which he said that Somaliland deserves to be recognized. The MPs stated that Mahiga is now dividing the political situation of Somalia and said the Transitional Federal Government needs to stand strong against him. The MPs agreed that unity of Somalia is the most important goal for the country.