COMMENTARY ON ISLAMIC WEBSITES
Amiir Nuur - The pro-al-Shabaab website claimed the al-Shabaab Mujahideens seized a large cache of weapons hidden in a mansion located in Siinka Dheer area on the outskirts of Mogadishu. The large cache was found in a 60-meter underground pit while the Mujahideens were conducting security operations. Al-Shabaab Military Spokesman Sheikh Abdi'aziz Mus'ab confirmed the find and vowed to investigate who owned the cache.Somali Language
POLITICS
Garowe Online - Minister Ahmet who spoke to a Turkey based radio station said that it was crucial for the government of Somalia to hold talks with Al Shabaab so a peaceful resolution could be reached. “Despite our advantage and special relation with Somalis of all stripes, Turkey would play a role in mediating conflicting parties in Somalia," said Minister Ahmet. A proposal the Turkish government has been pushing for despite the international community adhering to a policy of no dialogue with the terrorist organization.
Raxanreeb - The foreign minister of the breakaway administration of Somaliland Mohamed Abdullahi Omar has set a new condition on the recently proposed talks between the transitional government of Somalia TFG and the Somaliland administration, RBC Radio reports. In a press conference in Hargeisa on Thursday, Mr Omar said that the breakaway region will not hold talks with TFG unless the president of TFG makes changes his newly appointed committee for the negotiation. "Until now Somaliland was ready to communicate with TFG as the talks were specially designated between TFG and Somaliland, but on appointing two members from Puntland region Somaliland will not proceed with the talks," the foreign minister of Somaliland Mohamed Abdullahi Omar said.
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
Twin Cities Pioneer Press - A federal judge ruled that a woman convicted last year of raising money for the terrorist group al-Shabaab can await sentencing in a halfway house instead of jail. Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis granted a request by Amina Farah Ali's attorney, rejecting objections by federal prosecutors, and ordered Wednesday, April 18, that the woman be moved from Ramsey County's jail to a St. Paul halfway house Thursday. The judge said he'd establish conditions of her stay in a later order.
MARITIME
Business Daily - Eleven Somalis were on Thursday sentenced to a 20-year jail term for attacking a French naval ship. Mombasa court Principal magistrate Mr S.K. Gacheru declined to have the accused serve their sentence in Somalia as they had pleaded during mitigation. Mr. Gacheru instead ordered that they be deported to Somalia upon completion of their sentence. The court noted that the offence was serious and that it had endangered the lives of the crew of the French naval ship, Nivose. "The accused are not of Kenyan origin, their nationalities have not been established, there are no records of their previous convictions in the country and that they may be treated as first offenders," Ms. Mwaniki added.
Associated Press - Testimony about torture aboard a hijacked German ship off the coast of Somalia is expected to resume during a federal piracy trial in Virginia. A Ukranian crewmember aboard the Marida Marguerite told jurors Wednesday he was tortured in 2010 by Somali pirates. The testimony was heard in the case of Mohammad Saaili Shibin, who's been charged with piracy, hostage-taking and other federal charges in connection with the ship's hijacking. Shibin also faces charges in the hijacking of an American yacht in which all four passengers were shot and killed. The trial resumes Thursday morning.
OP-ED
Wardheernews - The author, Deeq Yusuf urges Somalis not to derail the current TFG leaders to implement the roadmap, especially by referring to the recent attempted assassination of the Somali prime minister. "Luckily, all Somalis and the international community know who the spoilers are and their modus operandi. For the sake of Somalia, let the current caravan of change and salvation move under its present architect Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, the incumbent Prime Minister of the TFG, otherwise history will never forgive us."
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
Training concluded for more than 200 police officers in Mogadishu on Thursday. The commissioner of training, General Mohamed Kulane Wardhere, said the officers learned the basic rules of policing and law enforcement techniques.
TFG special security forces, known as Alpha Group, started sweeping security operations in Mogadishu and seized several anti-peace militias on Wednesday night. The well equipped forces entered several houses in Hamar-jadid, Halane, Industrial Street, and Gubta, where the militias were hiding. The head of Banadir region security forces, General Kalif Ahmed Ereg, said the operations will continue until they secure the capital.
Radio Al-Furqaan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Al-Shabaab Mujahideen fighters shelled the Ethiopian bases in Wabxo village of Galgadud region on Wednesday night. Military sources said more than 20 mortars hit the Ethiopian bases. The report claimed the bodies of the Ethiopian soldiers were lying at the scene and the casualties couldn’t reach the hospitals because the Mujahideen surrounded the Ethiopians.
Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Dozens of Ugandan and Burundian infidels were killed after al-Shabaab Mujahideen fighters launched one of the fiercest battles in Mogadishu on Thursday. The fighting, which continued for more than five hours, erupted when al-Shabaab attacked the enemy’s bases in Ex-control, Dharkinlay and Dayniile districts. During the fighting the infidels shelled the populated area on the outskirts of Mogadishu, but no casualties were reported.
Radio Bar-Kun - An independent radio station
At least two people died following heavy downpour in parts of Shabelle region. One person was killed in Dahabo Saudi village, some 8 kilometers from Kuntuwarey town after lightning struck the village. Another one died in Bula Marer due to the extremely cold weather that followed the downpour which lasted for more than 12 hours. The torrential rains also paralyzed the public transport system after almost all roads in the region were made impassable. The affected areas are said to be those along the River Shabelle.
An outbreak of the measles and cholera has been reported in parts of the Galmudug administered Mudug region, official said. Area regional health ministry officials who toured some parts of the region said measles and diarrhea are threatening lives of several people, mainly children, in Hobyo, Af-barwaqo, Bud-bud and Gawaan. Speaking at a press conference in northern Galkayo, the area Assistant Minister for health, Abdullahi Mohamed Hassan, said there are serious health problems in areas he recently visited because they don’t have any health facilities that can respond to the emerging crisis. Three children have already succumbed to these diseases. Hassan raised a red flag on the possible outbreak of serious waterborne diseases in refugee camps housing hundreds of internally displaced persons in Galkayo once the much awaited Gu’ rains starts in the region.
Radio Bar-Kun - An independent radio station
At least two people died and three others sustained injuries after a luxury mini-bus overturned on Wednesday evening in Mudug province, central Somalia, witnesses and medical sources said. The mini-Bus was traveling from Galka’yo town in Mudug and was heading to the coastal and commercial city of Bosaso in Bari region. The accident occurred between Galka’yo and Garowe after the driver lost control of the vehicle. The victims were rushed to hospitals in Bosaso town for treatment.