COMMENTARY ON ISLAMIC WEBSITES
Amiir Nuur - The pro-al-Shabaab website posted a commentary on the Somalia Conference held in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa and depicted the city as the center for destroying Somalia. It said the Somali people should not expect positive outcomes from the conference in ending the Somali transitional government. The prime minister of Ethiopia also succeeded in mediating the rift between the Somali prime minister and Puntland president and forced both of them to accept and support the Roadmap as it is planned.Somali Language
POLITICS
Garowe Online - The Somali signatories of the process for ending the transition held a consultative meeting in The African Union Headquarters, from May 21 to May 23, 2012. The meeting was hosted by the African Union and facilitated by the Office of the UN Special Representative for Somalia (UNPOS). The Signatories of the Roadmap have today received final draft copies of the Draft Constitution which was subjected to a constitutional review by a technical committee. They harmonized and incorporated the written submissions of the signatories into the final Draft Constitution Considering the current political situation in Somalia as well as the need to urgently and fully implement the Roadmap to End the Transition based on the principles agreed upon in the Garowe I and II and Galka’yo consultations, the Somali signatories discussed at length the modalities of implementing the above- mentioned principles and agreements.
All Africa - Somalia has joined the landmark Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention, becoming the 160th State Party to the international treaty which bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. With Somalia's accession, every state in Sub-Saharan Africa is now bound by the Convention. "Somalia's decision to join this international movement is significant," said H.E. PRAK Sokhonn, the senior Cambodian Minister who presides over the Convention. "Somalia had decided that, in the face of incredible challenges facing the country, it will do its utmost to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines." Somalia is plagued with anti-personnel mines and other explosive remnants of war as result of both recent and historic conflicts.
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
BBC Africa - Thousands of Somalis are fleeing fighting as African Union forces advance on Afgoye, an Islamist stronghold near the capital, Mogadishu. The troops have advanced to within 10km (six miles) of the key town held by al-Shabab, an AU spokesman told the BBC. Residents in the area between the capital and Afgoye told the BBC many people had either left for Mogadishu or fled into surrounding countryside. Al-Shabab is under pressure on a number of military fronts in the country.
Associated Press - Like many other residents of Mogadishu, Ali Osman, who sells wares at the Bakara market, had longed for an end to lawlessness and violence that plagued the capital for two decades. But now that the government is clearing out “illegal” stalls in the overcrowded Bakara market, Osman and other traders feel things have gone too far. Osman watched in horror on a recent day as bulldozers ripped through his small kiosk. Traders nearby scrambled to move their wares and stalls before the bulldozer trained its shovel on them. "My only income source is being pulverized," Osman said as he watched the destruction of his grocery business, which sold items like rice and canned juice. "They did not give us an alternative place to do our business. They don’t care about poor people."
MARITIME
Reuters - A U.S. federal appeals court made clear on Wednesday that the definition of piracy includes violent attempts to hijack a ship, even if unsuccessful, and upheld convictions against five Somali pirates. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, Virginia, upheld what federal prosecutors described as the first U.S. piracy convictions in 190 years, finding that an individual does not have to seize or rob a ship to commit piracy.
Somaliland Press - The Director-General at the ministry of fisheries and marine resources Hon Mohamed Elmi Adan urged local fishermen and processors to take advantage of the vast fishery resources off our coasts. Hon Mohamed speaking at berbera marine collage, he told fishermen who had gathered there to receive equipment which was donated by the Italian government through UNDP that Somaliland will be a major exporter of fish in the near future. However, are faced with a number of problems which impede development of the domestic industry and its ability to penetrate foreign markets Enhancing the skills and knowledge of all those involved in the marine sector.
MEDIA
PR News - A Kenyan journalist investigating the Somali pirates and an Afghan broadcaster exposing violence against women will receive the 2012 Knight International Journalism Awards, the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) announced. The award recognizes excellent reporting that makes a difference in the lives of people around the world. Kassim Mohamed is an investigative reporter covering Kenya and Somalia, a nation plagued by lawlessness and piracy. He has chronicled the ensuing chaos in great detail -and at great personal risk- for the Nairobi-based Star FM radio station and The Star newspaper. His in-depth interviews with Somali pirates have shed light on a lucrative industry that endangers international sea routes. During one investigation, the pirates took him hostage. After they freed him, he wrote a groundbreaking story on the struggles of the pirates' wives. He has received death threats.
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
The Somali National Forces assisted by the AMISOM on Wednesday seized Alamada and Arbiska villages which are five kilometers from Afgoye district in Lower Shabelle region. A TFG military officer, Colonel Abdulahi Ali Anod, told Radio Mogadishu that the security operations against Al-Qaeda are going well and the militants started to flee their military bases.
Somali government security forces shot and killed an Al-Qaeda fighter carrying bombs and explosive devices in Bakara Market on Tuesday night. The head of Somali Criminal Investigation, Abdulahi Hassan Bariise, told the media that the police tried to capture the man before they shot him, but he tried to escape.
Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Al-Shabaab Mujahideen administration of Lower Shabelle region sent a large number of fighters to reinforce the Mujahideens in Banadir region who were fighting against the enemy over the last two days in the outskirts of Mogadishu. The chairman of Lower Shabelle region, Sheikh Mohamed Abu Abdalla, told Radio Andalus that all the different sectors of the community, including the elders, women and children are ready to help their brothers. He urged the other Somali regions to also participate the fighting against the enemy.
Al-Shabaab's Mujahideen military displayed the bodies of four infidels who were killed in the recent Dayniile fighting. This will be a huge disappointment to the enemy since they have already announced that they seized Daynile district. (Editor’s Note: The Radio Al-Furqaan was off air late on Wednesday, since the fighting was impacted the area.)
Radio Bar-Kulan - An independent radio station
Ahlu Sunna Waljama' (ASWJ) officials in central Somalia urged humanitarian relief agencies to offer immediate assistance to at least 30 families affected by torrential rains that affected central Somali regions, in particular Hiiraan region. Deputy head of ASWJ administration in Mataban district of Hiiraan region, Ma'allim Liban Ali Dirie, told Radio Bar-Kulan that torrential downpours damaged many houses in the area. The most affected are the IDPs who are not able to rebuild their makeshift shelters unless relief agencies offer humanitarian support.
The Somali government promised to carry out an investigation against some media outlets in the country which are accused of breaching media laws, based on a press release from the information ministry. The press release stated that some of the investigations are already underway against certain unidentified media outlets that have used an offensive language towards certain government officials.
Delegates from several international and local relief agencies arrived in Beledweyn city in Hiran region to assess the basic needs of residents and the locally displaced people in the city. Aden Haji Yusuf, an USAID officer among the delegates, told the local media in Beledweyn that they came to the city to listen to the ordinary people and he promised to work on providing relief goods to those needy people. The delegates are expected to stay in the town for the next seven days to meet with the local administration as well as the civil society organizations in the city before they fly back to Nairobi, Kenya.
Radio Kulmiye - An independent radio station
The war in Somalia is entwined with the other Jihad wars in Afghanistan and Yemen, Sheikh Fuad Mohamed Shongole a senior al-Shabaab member said on Wednesday. Sheikh Shongole was referring to the latest offensive of AMISOM forces on the outskirts of Mogadishu, especially in Afgoye corridor. Shongole said, "the Mujaahideens are still stronger and the enemy is failing." Somali government forces and AMISOM troops have launched an offensive against the al-Shabaab fighters in Elasha Biyaha.