COMMENTARY ON ISLAMIC WEBSITES
Amiir Nuur - The pro-al-Shabaab website claimed that hundreds of Somali youths are joining the Jihad against the foreign invaders in Somalia. The young Jihadists are both from the Diasporas as well as the different parts of Somalia. The new Jihad recruits are inspired by the invasion of Ethiopian and Kenyan troops into the Somali nation. Somali Language
POLITICS
Garowe Online - The Dutch Minister for International Cooperation and European Affairs visited Garowe, the capital of Puntland, on Wednesday, Radio Garowe reports. Ben Knapen landed at Garowe airport early Wednesday, where he met with Vice President Abdisamad Ali Shire, Saeed Mohamed Ragge Minister of Ports and Counter Piracy and other Puntland officials. Minister Knapen was accompanied and Dutch Major Gen. Leo Beulen and the director of operations of the Dutch Ministry of Defence. In a statement provided by the Dutch Minister, he said that more needs to be done to combat piracy, suggesting that prosecution and detention of pirates should be done locally after rule of law is strengthened.
Turkish Weekly - The Somali Transitional Federal Government and political analysts say the momentum achieved from the Istanbul Conference bodes well for the future. Somali analysts and officials welcomed the results of the Istanbul Conference on Somalia after its conclusion Friday (June 1st) in Turkey. Analysts said they hope the momentum of the conference would put Somalia on the right path for building a new future. The conference, held under the theme "Preparing Somalia's Future: Goals for 2015," issued a statement emphasising the unity of Somalia and the importance of dialogue and transparency in the appointment of new members of government. Attendees called on the international community to provide funds and assistance in the post-transition period to rebuild Somalia's infrastructure. "By addressing the economic issues and chronic impoverishment, the Somali people will have new opportunities for jobs -- which could be alternatives to the violence -- especially for the youth," the government said.
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
Shabelle - Deputy security Minister of Puntand State of Somalia Abdi Jama'a Isman Mohamed, held a press conference in Garowe town, the capital of Puntland state, said Somaliland Navy forces have attacked on ships near the coastal city of Lasqorey, a disputed town that straddles between both puntland and Somaliland. He said Somaliland troops continuous their aggressive attacks against the people of Puntland State of Somalia, who live in the disputed regions between the two states. And he added that such acts will not be tolerable. "A day ago Somaliland forces attacked Laqorey city and forced many locals to flee their homes in fear of imminent assault between Puntland and Somaliland armed military," said Mohammed.
Radio Netherlands - A Kenyan court on Wednesday charged a Swiss man with being a member of Somalia's Al-Qaeda allied Shebab, the latest in a string of foreign nationals accused of links to the Islamist insurgents. Magd Najjar, who was initially reported to be Swedish when he was arrested last month, was charged in a court in the Kenyan capital Nairobi of "engaging in organised criminal activities by being a member of Al Shebab." Najjar was also charged with being in Kenya illegally. Najjar, who is believed to be in his late 20s, did not speak when he appeared in a crowded court room for the brief hearing. He did not issue a plea.
Somaliland Press - Educating children and their mothers in Somalia on how to identify and manage threats from unexploded ordnances explosive devices has become increasingly important as the al-Shabaab movement has changes its strategies towards militia warfare using also so-called IEDs – Improvised Explosive Devices. The mine action unit within the Danish Refugee Council aims to reach 225,000 children during this and next year teaching them how to awoid the danger of explosives. The mine action unit within the Danish Refugee Council, the Danish Deming Group (DDG) is working to change this through educating Somali aid workers in how to teach children about the dangers of new and old explosives. "Decades of conflict in Somalia has resulted in widespread contamination with unexplodes ordances and abandoned and privately stockpiled weapons and ammunition," explains Klaus Ljørring Pedersen, the regional director of the Danish Demining Group’s office in the Horn of Africa & Yemen.
MARITIME
Associated Press - An official from the autonomous Somali region of Puntland says its forces launched an aerial attack targeting a pirate leader in Somalia. The official said Wednesday that forces in a helicopter fired on a house in the village of Bali Dhidid where the pirate was believed to be, possibly wounding him. The official asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press. (Editor's Note: For Detailed Story with pictures, visit Somalia Report.)
PHOTO ESSAY
Reuters - This is 40-pictures photo essay on the 'Battle for Somalia', especially the recent fighting and liberation of Afgoye and Elasha Biyaha areas from al-Shabaab forces.
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
Somalia President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Wednesday met with the Somali traditional elders in Mogadishu. Speaking at the meeting, the president challenged the elders to come up with qualified legislators who can represent the country and its citizens. The president urged the leaders to uphold their efforts to insure the constitution is approved on time. President Sharif also refuted claims that those attending the constitutional meeting were not genuine elders from all regions of the country.
Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Al-Shabaab Mujahideen military spokesman Sheikh Abdiaziz Abu Mus'ab declared that the guerilla attacks against the enemy will continue and the Mujahideen inflicted many loses on the enemy since they changed their military tactics. "Whenever they spread themselves the loses will increase on them. For example, we burned five vehicles in Galgadud region and killed dozens of them. We couldn’t do that when they were in specific districts. I’m telling the Somali Muslim people to hope victory, the victory will come early," he said.
At least five pro-infidels militias were killed and dozens injured after a heavy explosion targeted their base in Gubta village of Mogadishu on Wednesday at noon. An eyewitness told Radio Andalus that the militias rushed many casualties from the scene. In a second attack, an unconfirmed number of Ethiopian Christians were killed as an explosion rocked their military camp in Elbur district of Galgadud region.
Reports from Afmadow district in Lower Juba region indicate that a major rift broke out between the Kenyan infidels and the pro-infidels militias in that district. The rift caused distrust among the enemy and the Kenyan forces vacated the district and based themselves five kilometers from Afmadow. The Mujahideen fighters are on the outskirts and can attack the district anytime they want.
Radio Al-Furqan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
An unspecified number of foreign troops as well as TFG militias were killed as one of the heaviest fighting over the last days broke out between the Mujahideen and the enemy in Hero-Malesia village on the outskirts of Mogadishu on Wednesday. The Mujahideen military officials confirmed to Radio al-Furqaan that the Mujahideen entered the bases of the enemy and burned military vehicles. Meanwhile five TFG militias were killed in Elasha Biyaha village on Wednesday morning.
Radio Shabelle - An independent radio station
A judge in Somalia’s military court on Wednesday said the court banned soldiers from collecting illegal taxes in Afgoye in Lower Shabelle region. Judge Hassan Mohammed Hussein Mungab warned TFG forces controlling Afgoye, a former al-Shabaab stronghold in southern Somalia, from taking the unlawful money from the vehicles traveling between Mogadishu and other regions in southern Somalia. The court also issued an order to prohibit people from carrying illegal weapons inside the town to improve security.
Tensions are rising in northeast Somalia following clashes between Puntland forces and local militias loyal to Ras-Casayr state, and officials called on all sides to show restraint. Sources say on Wednesday there was a growing build up of arms and troops in Bargal of Puntland’s Bari region between rival regional administrations of Puntland and Ras-Casayr. Farah Mohamud Dooha-Joog, the president of Ras-Casayr state, said his troops warded off an attack from the Puntland army against the territories of Ras-Casayr state on Tuesday, saying the intension of the attack was to loot the mineral resources. Puntland officials denied that claim and said they were in Bargal to fight the pirates and not to attack Ras-Casayr state. Locals say there both sides were involved in military movements in and around Bargaal town.
Radio Bar-Kulan - An independent radio station
Fifteen alleged al-Shabaab militants on Wednesday surrendered to Ahlu Sunna Waljama' group in Garbaharey town of Gedo region, an official with ASWJ has claimed. The ASWJ spokesman for Somalia’s southern regions, Mohamed Hussein Issack, has told Bar-Kulan that they received fifteen alleged al-Shabaab defectors. He claimed that there are other militant fighters willing to join them in the coming days. One of the defectors who allegedly spoke to the media was quoted as saying they opted to leave their militant group after realizing they were part of a group that has no mercy for the Somali population.