COMMENTARY ON ISLAMIC WEBSITES
Somali Memo - The pro-al-Shabaab website republished a statement issued by Pan-African Community Movement (PACM) of Sierra Leone in opposition to the deployment of troops from Sierra Leone in Somalia under the AMISOM umbrella. "PACM holds the view that the deployment of Sierra Leonean soldiers in Somalia is wrong. We believe that the problem in Somalia cannot be resolved by military action. The deployment of Sierra Leonean forces there will only be seen by the people of Somalia as an attempt by the rulers of Sierra Leone to be part of the greater conspiracy, sponsored by western imperialist forces to dominate and further the long suffering of the people of Somalia and deepen the conflict."
POLITICS
Mareeg - The 13th Security Conference for Somalia was concluded in Mogadishu today. The meeting was attended by TFG leaders, representatives of regional administrations of Puntland, Gamudug and ASWJ, members of international community and IGAD. The Somali Security Committee members agreed the unification of all TFG allied security forces in different regions of the country and all TFG allied forces to be under single command. Somali Language
Hiiraan Online - Somali business owners of Eastleigh of Nairobi Kenya have staged a huge demonstration by closing all their businesses due to increased insecurity at Eastleigh. An armed men broke into business stores owned by Somalis and looted all the property including large sums of cash money. The Somali business owners are demonstrating about the inaction of the Kenyan security forces to prevent the escalating insecurity at Eastleigh. Somali Language
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
Associated Press - Mortar shells likely fired by insurgents crashed into civilian homes overnight in Somalia's capital, killing seven people, including four children, witnesses said Tuesday. A father, mother and their two children died in one home, and a mother and her 8-year-old child died in a nearby house, said Abdinur Hashi, a resident in the Hodan district of Mogadishu. A fourth child also died after suffering serious wounds caused by shrapnel. Some of the bodies were wrapped in white shrouds at daylight. Hashi called the violence a "catastrophe."
MARITIME
The Guardian - So it is hardly surprising the Somali pirates are feeling a little outgunned at the moment. The pirates take to the seas off the Horn of Africa in small dhows, and even smaller skiffs, armed with old machine guns and pistols, wearing flip-flops, and gambling that they will be able to hijack a vessel before they run out of food or water, or drown. Over the past year, the number of successful pirate attacks fell from 45 to 24, and more than 120 others were foiled. But nobody involved in the military mission off the coast of east Africa believes the battle has been won. In fact, many senior officers believe the counter-piracy operation has reached a critical point. Few countries are willing to prosecute and most captives suspected of sea piracy are eventually released.
UNCHR - Somali asylum-seekers who landed their boat on one of Malta's most popular beaches at the weekend have told UNHCR that seven fellow passengers died during their week-long voyage from Libya. The boat came ashore at Riviera Bay on Saturday and the emergency services were alerted to the arrival of the 90 exhausted Somalis by people enjoying an evening on the beach. This is the fourth such boat to have arrived in Malta this year, bringing a cumulative total of more than 210 people.
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
Somali Security forces in Ex-control junction of Mogadishu foiled an attempted suicide attack after they captured a young man who wanted to blow himself up. The chief commander of Banadir region security, Kalif Ahmed Ereg, told the media they knew the plan two days ago when al-Qaeda militias were preparing the attack on the outskirts of the capital.
Somali Prime Minister Abdiwali Mohamed Ali met with UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Catharine Brag, who arrived at Mogadishu on Tuesday. Both officials discussed the current Somali humanitarian situation and how to increase relief aid for the Somali people. The PM also met with US ambassador to Somalia, James Swan, and the head of EU on Somali affairs, George Mark Andrea.
Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Four separate fights broke out between al-Shabaab Mujahideen and Ethiopian Christians in Galgadud region. The fighting erupted when the Mujahideen launched attacks on the Christians who came from Wabxo district and were heading to Elbur district. The heaviest fighting occurred in Dac and Dabqurun villages and the local residents took part in the fighting. Al-Shabaab military officials told Radio Andalus the dead bodies of Ethiopian soldiers are laying at the scene.
Radio Al-Furqaan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Several TFG militias were killed as two pro-TFG militias fought in Tarabunka village of Mogadishu on Tuesday. According to an eye witness, the fighting erupted when the two groups disagreed over bribes they took from the small business people in that area. The people started to flee the area when the fighting broke out.
Radio Kulmiye - An independent radio station
Somalia's traditional leaders are gathering in Mogadishu for the third day to debate the country's future including the constitutional issues, parliamentary reforms, as well as presidential elections. Some of the elders are still reluctant to accept viewpoints suggested by the Somali government, politicians and the international community. Reports says the tribal leaders are eager to represent their own clans and not the national interests, while others urges that the members are accurately selected and want to reform transparently for August this year which is scheduled to hold the national election in the country. Political disagreements are still splitting across the conference compound in Mogadishu where many of the Somali's traditional figures from various clans are shouting loudly through the media.
Radio Bar-Kulan - An independent radio station
Turkish Airlines began direct flights between Khartoum and Mogadishu in an effort to end tiresome trip between the two countries involving transit to neighboring countries. It has also reduced its ticket price more than three times. The initial price for a ticket from from the Sudanese capital to Mogadishu was $900 but is now only $200.
The national joint security committee members concluded their meeting on Tuesday in Mogadishu. The meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was also attended by officials from the international community, the UNPOS, the U.S ambassador to Somalia, Puntland and Galmudug as well as members of the Ahlu Sunna militia group. Speaking at the meeting, the UN Deputy Special Representative for Somalia Peter De Clercg said there have been positive achievements in terms of security in both Mogadishu and several parts of the country. Prime Minister Abdiweli acknowledged the role played by the joint forces in Mogadishu to bolster security in the city, saying that they will overcome the remaining obstacles to achieve stability in the country.
Radio Shabelle - An independent radio station
Unidentified gunmen shot to death at least two people in Mogadishu on Monday night. Witnesses told Radio Shabelle that the assailants armed with pistols shot and killed two middle-aged men, a TFG soldier and Moallin Ismail, who worked for Somalia’s immigration and identification office in the Bulo-Hubet neighborhood in Wadajir district. Some reports suggest that TFG forces in the area killed the soldier as he was trying to run after the assailants who assassinated Mo'allin.
At least three people, among them two government soldiers, were killed by a landmine blast in Mogadishu. “At dawn on Tuesday morning a remote-controlled landmine explosion ripped through a military vehicle carrying Somali soldiers at Folorenza junction in Mogadishu’s Wardhigley district, killing three, including a passerby near the blast site,” an eyewitness told Radio Shabelle.