COMMENTARY ON ISLAMIC WEBSITES
Amiir Nuur - The pro-al-Shabaab website claimed that the former warlord Hussein Mohamed Aideed (son of late warlord Gen. Mohamed Aideed) called on the Somali people to fight against the invasion of the colonial Ethiopian troops in Somalia. In a radio interview, Hussein Mohamed Aideed claimed that the United States government is backing the invasion of the Ethiopian troops. Somali Language
POLITICS
Mareeg - Somali Prime Minster Abdiweli Mohammed Ali has once again called on Somalia’s business community to pay the government for taxes in order to achieve the security of the country and root out Al shabab elements linked with Al-Qaeda. "Paying Taxes income is the main driving force of the government and its institutions as to keep to law and order of the country. If the duties unpaid, the army can’t achieve the battle against al-Shabaab," the Somali PM added. The Somali premier told reporters that his government is committed to maintain its war on Al shabab until the country will be out of under militants threat.
Somaliland Press - Somaliland has passed a law that formally establishes a central bank, and is now poised to pass another to set up commercial banks in a bid to attract foreign lenders to start operating in the self-declared country by 2013. Somaliland, a breakaway state in the northeast of Somalia, remains unrecognised internationally. It has no formal banking sector and its people rely heavily on remittances from diaspora communities in Europe, North America and the United Arab Emirates, as there are no ATMs or loan facilities. "The President has signed the Central Banking Act into law," Abdi Dirir, governor of Somaliland’s Central Bank, told Reuters on Monday.
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
Yemen Times - The flow of African refugees in Yemen, in particular Somalis, has sparked a wave of accusations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Iranian and Saudi media outlets have accused each other’s countries of recruiting Somalis who flow into Yemen as fighters. The Iranian military-run Fars News Agency (FNA) said last Thursday that 1,300 Somali refugees were transferred to Saudi Arabia to be militarily trained. "Saudi Arabia uses Somalis to fight the Houthis in north Yemen, and they are trained in Saudi military bases who take advantage of Somalis who infiltrate into Saudi Arabia through trafficking. They are trained to fight on behalf of them," FNA said.
Capital FM - The US embassy in Nairobi has warned of impending terror attacks targeting hotels in Nairobi and government buildings. An advisory from the embassy said the timing of the attacks was unclear, but intelligence information showed the planning was in the final stages. "The Embassy informs US citizens residing in or visiting Kenya that the US Embassy in Nairobi has received credible information regarding a possible attack on Nairobi hotels and prominent Kenyan government buildings," the statement advised.
MARITIME
Associated Press - Sea piracy worldwide dropped 28 percent in the first quarter of the year as attacks fell sharply in Somalia’s waters thanks to international naval patrols, an international maritime watchdog said Monday. Pirate attacks intensified, however, in Nigeria and Indonesia. "It is unlikely that the threat of Somali piracy will diminish in the short to medium term unless further actions are taken," the agency said. "The EU announcement to expand their anti-piracy mission to target pirates ashore is another welcome move that could further threaten the Somali piracy model."
The Hindu - Besides participation by EU member-States, EU NAVFOR Atalanta also draws strength from additional international military maritime presence in the area, comprising the Combined Maritime Force (CMF), NATO and independent national units such as China, India, Japan and Russia – all committed to counter piracy. "We have permanent liaison with these forces and India remains a key player in it. We want to put extra cost to the pirates who continue to operate with a sense of impunity. We are also mandated to search, attack and seize the vessels of pirates. We have put in place a regional anti-piracy intelligence centre at Seychelles. While deterring acts of piracy in the region, we continue to follow 'no- boots on the ground’ policy as well," said Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, Operation Commander of EU Naval Force while talking to a group of visiting Indian journalists to Operation Atalanta’s headquarters here last week.
MEDIA
IFJ Africa - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the arrest and detention of two broadcast journalists and persistent acts of intimidation of media professionals in northern Somalia. "We deeply condemn the continued arbitrary arrests and sustained acts of intimidations of journalists in Somalia, especially disputed regions of Sool and Sanaag," said Gabriel Baglo IFJ Africa Office Director. According to National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), an IFJ affiliate, Mohamed Shaqale, a reporter for Somalisat TV in Las Anod city in Sool region, was arrested by Somaliland police on 19 April in armored vehicle in the centre of the district of Las Anod, the headquarters of Sool region. He then was taken to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) where he was reportedly interrogated and currently being detained. The police did not state the reason behind the arrest.
PHOTO ESSAY
Radio Mogadishu - This is over 50-photos depicting the celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of the Somali National Army and the anniversary ceremony was attended by the top TFG leaders.
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
Somali President Sharif Ahmed and senior leaders of the Somali government attended a ceremony marking the 52nd anniversary of the creation of the Somali National Army. The ceremony did not coincide with actual date but had been postponed due to potential threats posed by al-Shabaab Mujahideens in Mogadishu. The Somali president and TFG's top leaders praised the armed forces for their role in stabilizing the Somali capital as well as parts of the Somali nation.
Radio Al-Furqaan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Al-Shabaab Mujahideens carried out planned and fierce attacks in Mogadishu last night. The Mujahideen forces attacked various military bases of the foreign troops in Mogadishu, especially Dharkinley district and downtown Mogadishu. Heavy mortar shelling was heard in various parts of Mogadishu and the infidel armies vacated military bases after suffering heavy losses.
A suicide attack targeting Ethiopian troops in Beledweyne town this morning caused the death of six Ethiopian soldiers and several others were wounded in the explosion. The explosion took place at the center of the town as the Mujahideens targeted at Ethiopian military convey. This is not the first time that Mujahideen fighters carried out such attacks in Beledweyne town of Hiiraan region. Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Two Somali lawmakers were forced to unexpectedly fly to Addis Ababa after the Ethiopian prime minister sent a small private airplane to Baidoa town. The TFG lawmakers, Mohamed Ibrahim Haabsade and Aden Mohamed Nur Madoobe who hail from Bay and Bakol regions, are opposed to the Ethiopian prime minister's plan to establishment a regional administration in the area. The two lawmakers support the transitional Somali government and oppose the establishment of regional administration that comes under the control of the Ethiopian instead of the Somali government.
Radio Shabelle - An independent radio station
People in Mogadishu woke up on Monday morning to hundreds of TFG security forces in the streets of Mogadishua ahead of the anniversary of the armed forces. "There was a heavy army presence this morning at KM4, Ex-control Afgoye junction and as well as airport street. People have been asked to remain in their houses. The police and military jointly were conducting searches at houses to maintain security," a resident told Shabelle Media.
A high level delegation from Kenya on Sunday visited Mogadishu, a move that indicates Nairobi wants to accelerate its military operations against al-Shabaab militants. The visiting delegation, led by the Kenya’s deputy foreign minter Richard Onyango, was received cordial welcome from Somali officials and held talks at the state house, Villa Somalia, with President Sharif Sheik Ahmed and other senior TFG authorities.
Radio Bar-Kulan - An independent radio station
The traditional elders of Gedo are calling for immediate humanitarian assistance for the local peoples who are affected by food shortages and hunger in parts of the region. Speaking to Radio Bar-Kulan, a local elder of in Beled-Hawo town, Muhumed Ali, stated that the local people in the area need an immediate humanitarian assistance and he urged aid agencies to intervene, especially in areas that have been hit the worst: Jiracle, Kamoro Kof and Tula Amin villages.