POLITICS
Capital FM - President Mwai Kibaki has called on the international community to facilitate voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees to safer areas in their country that have so far been liberated from Al-Shabaab militants. President Kibaki noted that through the joint efforts of African Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), Kenya’s Defence Forces and the Transitional Federal Government safe areas had been created that can host Somali refugees in their country. He called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in collaboration with the international community to facilitate the relocation of the refugees.
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
Mareeg - Some of the individuals seriously injured in the suicide attack of Dhusamareb are evacuated to Addis Ababa of Ethiopia for treatment as reported by close sources. Ahmed Abdisalam and Hussein Warsame Samatar who were among the seven injured in the attack were evacuated with special airplane sent by the Ethiopian government. The special airplane landed at Gure-El to evacuate some of the casualties. Somali Language
Hiiraan Online - The suicide bomber is claimed to have trained at Elesha Biyaha of outskirts of Mogadishu and then moved to Dhusamareb town of Galgadud region to carryout the operation. The chairman of Ahlu Sunna Waljama' (ASWJ) for Operations, Mohamed Yusuf Hefow stated that the man behind the suicide attack is named Mohamoud Artan Addawe Ulusow and the man was aided by insiders and ASWJ arrested several people linked to the man and they are still investigating the matter in order to provide a detailed information of the case. Somali Language
Bar-Kulan - Al-Shabaab rebel group in the port city of Kismayo is forcibly recruiting students from schools in the city, reports say. Militant leaders on Wednesday visited Ahmed Ibnu Hambal School and ordered teachers to line-up over 50 students to be registered militant trainings. Militants forcefully assembled young boys for registrations after the school administration remained reluctant to the rebel order.
DRUG TRAFFICKING/TERRORISM
The Sun - More than 500 counter-terrorism cops backed by local police and officers from the UK Border Agency carried out dawn raids in London, Coventry and Cardiff. Homeland Security Investigations from the US were also involved in the operation, codenamed Iridescent. A source said last night: “A line of inquiry is the providing of money to finance terrorism and al-Shabaab in Somalia. Sales of khat are believed to be the source. "Also being looked at is the sending of weapons to the US for onward shipment to pirates in Somalia." Warrants were granted allowing searches at 12 residential addresses. The suspects are all thought to have links to Britain’s Somali community. A police statement said: "The arrests were a part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation into suspected fundraising for terrorism overseas."
HUMANITARIAN/US IMMIGRATION POLICY
Associated Press - The Department of Homeland Security is once again renewing the temporary protected status for some Somali immigrants living in the United States. The protected status, first issued in 2001, will now expire in March 2014, meaning that Somali immigrants can stay in the U.S. until then. Homeland Security says their status is being extended because of an ongoing armed conflict and severe drought in Somalia. Somali immigrants already in the U.S. can apply for the status with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services between now and July 2.
HUMANITARIAN/CORRUPTION
The Week - Senior government ministers in Mogadishu have expressed concern at the renewed international interest led by London. They believe the "projectification" of Somalia benefits mainly Nairobi, the capital of neighbouring Kenya, where NGO workers have earned a negative image because of a fondness for driving brand-new Land Cruisers and inflating property prices. "They don't consult with us. It's like a doctor trying to prescribe medicine for a patient you haven't seen yet", says Abdullahi Goodah Barre, Somalia's Minister for Planning and International Cooperation. According to Barre, it is the Italian NGO workers in particular who are thriving. "One of them is building houses in Nairobi. Another is making cheese. It's like The Sopranos," he said.
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
The Somali Interior Minister warned the Somali people against meetings and social gatherings in the capital without informing the security agencies. The minister stated that the government is responsible the safety of the Somali people and no one can hold conference without permission. He sent a warning message to those individuals who are creating insecurity in the country.
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is implementing a development project that will dig 150 borehole wells in Somalia. A large opening ceremony for the project which attended by TFG and Saudi Arabia officials was held in Mogadishu on Wednesday. The Saudi project manager stated that his government is interested in providing the Somali people with access to enough drinking water. The Somali information minister showed his happiness about the project and thanked the Arabian government.
The Somali government on Wednesday strongly condemned the suicide attack that took place in Dhusamareeb district of Galgaduud region on Tuesday. The Spokesman of the Somali Government Abdirahman Omar Yarisow stated that the Somali government is saddened by the death of the Somali people and confirmed that two TFG parliament members were killed in the attack.
Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
At least nine pro-infidels militias were killed as two heavy explosions took place in Mogadishu on Wednesday. The first explosion happened in KM4 junction, which killed a top TFG military official named Arafaat. The other explosion took place in Bar-ubah village and killed eight TFG soldiers. Also at least seven pro-infidels militias were killed as eight separate explosions rocked the Somali capital on Tuesday night. (Editor's note: Arafaat was a local businessman forced to commit the act after Shabaab strapped his car with explosives and remotely detonated it)
Heavy fighting between al-Shabaab Mujahideens and the infidels took place in Mogadishu late Tuesday night. The fighting erupted when the Mujahideens attacked several enemy bases in Dharkinley district. Local residents told Radio Andalus that the Mujahideens used heavy gunfire and the Mujahideen military vehicles entered inside Dharkinley.
Radio Al-Furqan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Denmark's high court convicted citizen Muhyadin Mohamed Gelle to 10 years in prison after accusing him of attacking Kurt Westergard, who published cartoons insulting Prophet Mohamed. Mr. Gelle attacked the infidel in early 2011 using knives, but tightened home security saved him from the attack.
Radio Shabelle - An independent radio station
Reports from Afgoi district in southern Somalia indicated that at least four people were arrested by al-Shabaab militias over allegations of being connected to the Somali government. Among the arrested people were elders traders and prominent individuals.
An official in Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama' (ASWJ) militias said Wednesday that ASWJ authorities are investigating Tuesday’s deadly suicide attack on a coffee shop in Dhusamareeb district in Galgadud region. Sheikh Mohamed Yusuf Hefow announced that they are hunting down the mastermind of the suicide bomb that killed at least eight people, including TFG MPs and injured more than 30.