COMMENTARY ON ISLAMIC WEBSITES
Amiir Nuur - The pro-al-Shabaab website claimed that the Islamist Radio Andalus has acquired new equipment to improve it's technical quality. The newly installed equipment is expected to broadcast to areas beyond it's current headquarters of the port city of Kismayo in Lower Juba region.Somali Language
POLITICS
Garowe Online - A conference to talk about the Somali Constitution and Roadmap has opened at Addis Ababa of Ethiopia today. Representatives from Somali government, the breakaway Puntland region, the central Galmudug region, and the pro-government militia ASWJ are attending the meeting for the formation of a permanent Somali government in order to end e current transitional government. Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohammed Ali, parliament speaker Sharif Hassan and as well as TFG president are at the meeting with officials of the United Nations, US, African Union, Arab League and East African peace bloc, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The conference is expected to review the progress of the Somali Roadmap and progress. Somali Language
Ghana Business News - Former President Jerry John Rawlings, the African Union High Representative for Somalia, has in a meeting with the Prime Minister of Somalia, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, called for renewed momentum and credibility in the Somali transitional process. He said partners and donors will be more forthcoming with resources to support and enhance the process if they are convinced that the process of selecting elders to choose the constituent assembly is a trusted and credible one. Former President Rawlings called on the TFG leadership to resolve disputes emanating from the convening of the elders’ conference and work closely to ensure that the end of transition tasks are implemented in accordance with set deadlines.
Mareeg - A presidential election is announced at Galmudug region today to replace the current president of Galmudug Administration, Ahmed Mohamed 'Allim of central Somalia. The president of Galmudug is currently attending the Addis Conference for Somalia and he vehemently objected to the proposed presidential election of August 2012. President 'Allim has stated that his term is ending by August 2012 and nine members of 18-member committee opposed the proposed presidential election of August 2012. Somali language
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
Garowe Online - Ethiopia Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said that his military is looking to gain more ground from Al Shabaab in southern Somalia, Garowe Online reports. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi stated that the Ethiopian troops deployed in south central Somalia a preparing to increase the onslaught against Al Shabaab, so they can drive out Al Shabaab insurgents remaining in southern regions. "We are committed to strengthening the battle against Al Shabaab in south central and southern Somalia," said Prime Minister Zenawi. According to the Prime Minister, Ethiopia has had a great deal of experience in suppressing and limiting the ability of insurgent groups to thrive.
Somaliland Press - A carrier operated by Turkish Airlines left its Somali passengers stranded in the wrong airport after landing in Kenya rather than their intended destination of Aden Adde airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Friday. The confusion, an airport official says, stems from security measures that advised the carrier to land from a safe direction to avoid being shot-down by insurgents. The plane which could not safely land in the given direction due to prevailing winds abandoned the operation all together and dropped its passengers in Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta international airport.
MARITIME
Garowe Online - Mayor of Bayla district Saeed Adan Ali said on Monday that there are two illegal fishing trawlers currently in Puntland waters, Garowe Online reports. Mayor Saeed of Bayla, a coastal district in Karkaar region, said that there are two foreign trawlers illegally fishing just two nautical miles off of the coast of Bayla. "On Sunday night two foreign trawlers were in Bayla's waters, these trawlers are committing serious damage to our coast and its people," said Mayor Saeed. According to Mayor Saeed, foreign trawlers have been entering the district's waters for a long period time, which has had a serious impact on fishermen's livelihoods in the region. "Foreign trawlers have been operating in Puntland waters since the collapse of Siad Barre's government, they not only illegally fish off our coast but they over-fish and destroy marine habitats, having a huge affect on our fishermen," said Mayor Saeed.
OIL EXPLORATION/PUNTLAND-INDIA
Reuters - Somalia's embattled central government will not argue with semi-autonomous Puntland over potential oil revenues for fear of scuttling a fragile peace process, but a top official said on Monday the law made clear control lay with Mogadishu. Canadian firm Horn Petroleum, majority-owned by Vancouver-listed Africa Oil Corp., and its exploration partners started drilling in March in Puntland's Dharoor Block but have yet to announce any proven reserves. Africa Oil and joint venture partners Range Resource Ltd. (RRS.AX) and Lion Energy entered into production-sharing agreements for the Dharoor Valley Exploration Area and the Nugaal Valley Exploration Area directly with Puntland, bypassing Mogadishu which is grappling with an Islamist insurgency. "Our policy is to let the oil come first rather than now going to Puntland and making our point," Deputy Minister of Energy Abdullahi Dool told Reuters. "Because of the situation between different regions, we don't want to push anyone to the wall. We don't want to make too many Somaliland situations where regions want to break away," he said in an interview.
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
The Somali police forces on Monday displayed new vehicles and trucks, which Japan government donated to the Somali police. The convoy of the vehicles carrying the police patrolled Mogadishu’s streets. The Chief Commander of Banadir region police said the aim of their patrol is to show the enemy the capability of the police.
At least two al-Qaeda militias were killed and more than that number injured as al-Qaeda militias fought against the local residents in Lower Shabelle region on Monday. The fighting erupted when the militants tried to loot properties from the local residents. The chairman of Lower Shabele region Abdukadir Mohamed Nur told Radio Mogadishu the militants demanded every family in the region to bring a boy to attend the fighting in Somalia, but the locals opposed that idea.
Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Heavy fighting between al-Shabaab Mujahiden and Kenyan infidels, which continued more than six hours, took place in Qoqani district of Lower Jubba region on Sunday night. Military officials told Radio Andalus that the Mujahiden used modern weapons. The sound of the gunfire and machine guns could be heard all around the area.
Pro-infidels militias shot and killed a prominent traditional elder, Malaq Ibdow Yonis, in Baidoa town of Bay region on Sunday night. Local residents told Radio Andalus that the killers escaped to Baidoa airport, where the infidels and their slaves have a base.
Radio Al-Furqaan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Reports from Gedo region indicate Ethiopian troops there detained three TFG officers, including the chairman of Gedo Mohamed Abdi Kalil, the chairman of Dolow district Abdi Rashid Janan and military officer Jamal Hassan Saney. The reason of their arrest remains unknown. Recently, MP Bare Aden Shire Hiiraale escaped from an Ethiopian prison after years in custody.
At least seven Kenyan soldiers were killed as a roadside bomb destroyed their military vehicle in Madera County in north-Eastern region of Kenya on Monday. After the blast, the Kenyan troops arrested and tortured many civilians, accusing them of planting the bomb.
Radio Bar-Kulan - An independent radio station
President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed held talks with his Djiboutian counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh in Djibouti city last night. The two leaders discussed a range of issues such as the current political situation in Somalia and the bilateral relations between the two countries. President Sharif praised the host president for his endless efforts to stabilize the chaotic Horn of African country. President Sharif and his entourage later flew to Addis Ababa where they will attend a meeting by the signatories of the Somali political process dubbed the “Road Map.”
A campaign to eradicate Polio in Puntland officially kicked off in Garowe, capital of the semi-autonomous region at Garowe’s Ganbul Mother and Child centre. The event which was attended by several Puntland authorities, members of the civil society, and representatives from the World Health Organization and the UNICEF. Puntland’s Assistant Minister for Health, Seynab Ugas Yasin said the campaign is aimed at vaccinating children under five in the region from the killer disease. UNICEF’s regional Polio officer Sa’id Noor Abshir was quoted as saying that the campaign is also meant to eradicate polio from Puntland. The exercise will continue for the next five days, according Puntland health officials.
Radio Shabelle - An independent radio station
A Somali MP accused Dubai-based SKA Air and Logistics of embezzling revenue from Mogadishu’s international airport. “According to the agreement with SKA air and logistics, the company renders 60% of the income earned from Aden Adde international airport, but SKA has violated that accord and took large sums of money illegally,” said Somali lawmaker Ali Afgoye. The MP stated the money falls directly into the pockets of some high ranking government personnel, including Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohammed Ali and his finance minister. The company hires ex-pats rather than Somalis. SKA Air and Logistics has a 10 year airport management agreement with TFG to provide aviation services and logistics and was set up in 2003.