POLITICS
AMISOM - The Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (DSRCC) for Somalia, Honorable Wafula Wamunyinyi has urged Somali leaders to re‐energize the ongoing political process to compliment recent military successes; emphasizing that military achievements alone will not bring about peace and stability. He said that Somalia has reached a critical juncture in its political history as the progress made towards completing the road map, cumulating to the end of the Somali transition, have provided crucial moments to determine the future of the country.
All Africa - The special representative United Nations for Somalia Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, declared on Wednesday that the UN is going to send international observers in the Somali Traditional Elders' convening in Mogadishu that are tasked to select a constituency assembly of 825 delegates that will make national constituent assembly (NCA). In a wide-range exclusive interview the envoy gave today to Shabelle Media Network, he said that United Nations is committed to put more efforts in order the Traditional Elders meeting in Mogadishu to be more, sovereign, fruitful and effective for Somali people. "I urge all Somalis to make use this opportunity and solve their differences through peaceful dialogue and understanding in a little while to move Somalia from the transitional period to a permanent government," said UN envoy for Somalia, H.E. Ambassador Augustine Mahiga.
Somaliland Sun - The TFG prime minister has been informed that re-unification with Somalia was an untenable dream. This was said by the minister of information Hon Abdirahman Yusuf Duale "Boobe" during a press briefing in his office in Hargeisa where he stressed on the irrevocable sovereignty of Somaliland. "As of today and henceforth the gap between Somaliland and Somalia is like the sky and earth thus no ground for neither unification nor discussions of re-unification" Hon Boobe, Information Minister.
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
Hiiraan Online - TFG's Interior Minister and the National Security, Abdisamad Ma'llin Mohamoud today visited Beledweyne town of Hiiraan region of central Somalia. The Interior Minister held meeting with the traditional elders and intellectuals of the region and they discussed the security situations of Hiiraan region. Somali Language
BBC Africa - An Eritrean man has pleaded guilty in a US court to receiving military training from the Somali al-Shabab group. Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed, a resident in Sweden, went to Somalia in 2009 to learn bomb-making and detonation skills, the US Attorney's Office said. He also contributed 3,000 euros ($3,769, £2,433) to the Islamist mlitants, court documents revealed. "Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed travelled a long way from his home in Sweden to Somalia, where he took up the cause of al-Shabab, a deadly terrorist organisation and sworn enemy of the United States and its people," Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara said in a statement.
MARITIME
Radio Netherlands Worldwide - Dutch parliament has agreed to expand involvement in the NATO operation Ocean Shield, targeting piracy in Somali waters. But ships wanting to hire private security forces to give them extra protection will not be allowed to do so. The Netherlands will send extra personnel, two Cougar helicopters and an unmanned plane to the region. Meeting a NATO request, the Netherlands will also send a submarine to join the mission in the second half of 2012. The additional involvement aims for intelligence-gathering and will cost 13 million euros. The Dutch government says the aim is to help detect piracy early on and prevent the escalation of violence. The pirates are well organized, have substantial financial backing and operate from well-equipped mother ships supplied from camps along the Somali coast.
Garowe Online - The Governor of Bari Region accompanied by a delegation, visited the coastal areas of Bari, after Puntland's Maritime forces carried out operations in the region, Radio Garowe reports. Governor Abdisamad Mohamed Galan alongside Ministers, MPs and Bari region representatives for almost a week have been touring towns and cities across Bari region. The delegation visited Bargal, Qandala, and the village of Bali Dhidin and plans to visit more districts in the region. The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) carried out operations in some parts of Bari and Karkaar regions in an effort to rid the area of pirates. PMPF were successful in driving away pirates from their hubs along the coast.
OP-ED
African Arguments - The authors, Abdisalam Warsame Hassan and Awet T. Weldemichael, propose Somali government leaders to reclaim the sovereignty of Somalia's air and water spaces from the United Nations. "Somalia Must Reclaim Control Over Airspace And Waters: UN May Owe Millions In Unaccounted For Air Navigation Charges."
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Thursday met with Somali cabinet ministers in Mogadishu. to discuss how to tighten the security of the recently librated regions from al-Shabaab. And both sides discussed how to facilitate the payment of Somali national forces which the president promised to pay as soon as possible.
Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
Dozens of Ethiopian and Sierra Leonean soldiers were killed in a two seprate fights against al-Shabaab Mujahideens in Kurteele and Yurkud villages in Bay region. The two fights erupted when the Mujahideens ambushed a convoy of Ethiopians and Sierra Leoneans who were from Luuq district and heading to Baidoa town. Al-Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Abdiaziz Abu Muscab held a press conference and said that the Mujahideens killed at least six Sierra Leone soldiers and more than ten Ethiopians. Also the Mujahideens burned three military vehicles. Editor’s note: - al-Shabaab is claiming that Sierra Leone peacekeepers reached Gedo and Bay region, but AMISOM did not confirm that claim.
Gunmen shot and killed prominent TFG security officer in Shangaani district of Mogadishu on Wednesday night. The assassinated officer, Abdirahman Jim’aale, was the head of TFG intelligence in Shangaani. The gunman escaped from the scene as reported.
Radio Al-Furqaan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
An Ethiopian airplane flew the bodies of at least eight Ethiopian soldiers who were killed fighting in Somalia and 17 others injured and the airplane flew from Hudur town of Bakool region and headed to Ethiopia, according to the local residents. The Ethiopians were killed in a fighting took place in Teed village near Hudur town on Wednesday. during the deployment, the Ethiopians banned all the movement in the area and protected the residents to reach the airport.
Radio Bar-Kulan - An independent radio station
A team of ten Turkish doctors have provided free medical services to locals in the central Somali town of Galkayo. Hundreds of patients today visited a Galkayo specialist center where the Turkish doctors are pitching tents to offer desperately needed medical services, medicine and specialised treatments. Locals and area authorities who spoke to Bar-kulan Radio praised the Turkish government for its continuous support to the Somali people during this difficulty time.
Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali applauded the Kenyan military activities in Somalia and its effort to eliminate al-Shabaab militants from the country. The Somali PM stated that the Kenyan government is backing the TFG's efforts to restore law and order into the war-torn country. The PM made the remarks in Nairobi on Wednesday while meeting Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki and his co-principal Raila Odinga, where they discussed the bilateral relationship between the two countries and the joint operation against al-Shabaab militants in Lower Juba region.
Al-Shabaab militias in Wajid district, Bakol region, have forced local traders in the area to pay $8,000 in support of their militant activities. Speaking at a mosque in Wajid town last night, an al-Shabaab leader Mohamed Hassan Abuu Sumeya told the faithful that the local traders in the district are required to pay the amount within 15 days. Abu Sumeya said the money is needed to fight against what he called “invading countries” and threatened to take decisive actions against defaulters. Abuu Sumeya claimed that they were aware of traders supporting the Somali government and the money will be a challenge for them, threatening that whoever fails to pay it will be lose his business and properties. Local traders reportedly condemned the rebel order saying they will not be intimidated by such threats.
Radio Shabelle - An independent radio station
A powerful blast on Thursday rocked Beledweyne, the latest series of attacks against Somali and Ethiopian troops in the town since al-Shabaab evacuated it last year. Thursday’s explosion hit a convoy of military vehicles carrying Ethiopian forces traveling to the outskirts of Beledweyne, causing an unknown number of casualties, according a TFG official. “The blast was from a remote-controlled landmine that struck Ethiopian troops at a remote village located on the suburbs of Beledweyne town and the casualties are yet to be confirmed,” said, Mohammed Ibrahim, a TFG official in Beledweyne. Witnesses said Ethiopian troops cordoned off the blast site and conducted search operations to find out the mastermind of the attack, but no arrests were made.