COMMENTARY ON ISLAMIC WEBSITES
Somali Memo - The pro-al-Shabaab website posted dozen of photos of farmlands of Jannaalle town of Lower Shabelle region. The Islamist website claimed that Jannaalle was visited by journalists of the Islamic media and Jannaalle is town bestowed with rich agricultural sector as propaganda to enhance their image. Somali Language
POLITICS
Associated Press/FOX - Evil laughter pealed out of the mobile phone. Abshir Ali Mohamed, an al-Shabaab defector now wearing a Somali military uniform, had asked his former commander to join him. The commander, an al-Shabaab judge known for ordering amputations, said he would instead kill Mohamed. Somali military and government leaders say Mohamed's defection is an example of a trend growing in their favor, with the East African country's most notorious militant group losing manpower and ground. "Al-Shabaab is no longer. It's going to end soon," Mohamed said last week at freshly dug Ugandan-Somali military base on the outskirts of Mogadishu. The base was set up after African Union troops kicked militants out of the towns of Elasha Biyaha and Afgoye.
SECURITY/AL-SHABAAB
The Guardian - Soldiers from the UN-backed Amisom force are edging towards the Islamist militants' stronghold of Kismayo. Colonel Kayanja Muhanga is describing his troops' latest victory when suddenly there is a rattle of machine-gun fire somewhere beyond the fortified base set among thorn trees and cacti. "That's about three kilometres away," the Ugandan commander says. "Mop-up operations. We know where they are." "They" are al-Shabaab, the Islamist militia allied with al-Qaida who are in retreat. Having surrendered the capital, Mogadishu, last August, they were recently pushed out of Afgoye, a town 30 miles away, by a force of African peacekeepers aided by Somali troops.
Shabelle - A witness says al-Shabaab fighters have launched an attack on Somali and Ethiopian troops in Yurkut village which locates near the border between Bay and Gedo regions of southwestern Somalia. The fighting broke out when al-Shabaab fighters armed with heavy and small weapons ambushed a convoy of vehicles carrying Somali and Ethiopian forces in Yurkud village, sparking face-to-face confrontation. "The fighting is now over and the al-Shabaab have been heavily repelled during the attack and many of their fighters were killed by the coalition forces," said Isac Gees-dheer, ASWJ official who gave an interview to Shabelle Media.
MEDIA
NUSOJ - National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) welcome Ahlu Sunna waljama' release the two journalists arrested in the Somalia's central town of Dhusomareb two days ago were illegally sentenced to three months jail by the Sufi militia run local court and submitted to the central prison in the town but later released with the help of The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) on Thursday. But after many contacts with the Sufi Ahlu-Suna rulers in Dhusomareb, the NUSOJ officials succeeded to convince the court judge the charge against the journalists was baseless and they were released on Wednesday at 06:00 PM local time. The journalists were sued with an false charges on accusing them of a news coverage describing the Ahlu-Suna fighters as clan based militia bandits but that case lacked any evidence.
OP-ED
Newtime Africa - Abukar Arman, the Somali Envoy to the UN, writes why Somaliland should be a be part of the Somali Union instead of seeking independence. "The leadership of Somaliland has the opportunity to change the course of history and spearhead a better future for all Somalis."
RADIO ROUNDUP
Radio Mogadishu - A pro-government radio station
The Somali National Security Council on Friday met in Mogadishu and agreed to form new 3-member committee to manage the security, administration and social services of areas newly liberated from al-Shabaab militias. The meeting was chaired by Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and he stated that the military operations must be scaled up to improve the security and called the civilians to co-operate with the Somali National Forces.
Somali Defense Minister Hussen Arab Isse on Friday declared that the African Union Peacekeepers will reach all regions liberated from al-Shabaab. Speaking to Radio Mogadishu, the minister said, “Some of the peacekeepers already arrived in the regions and we are preparing other troops who will reach the recent librated regions.”
Radio Andalus - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
The Kenyan infidels and their slaves have detained dozens of Somali women in Afmadow district of Lower Juba region over the last days. Although they released some of the women, five women are still in custody and the reasons for their arrest is unknown. Some of the relatives of the apprehended women told Radio Andalus that the troops tortured and rapped the women.
Radio Al-Furqaan - A pro-al-Shabaab radio station
The Ethiopian Christian troops in Beledeweyne town of Hiiraan region are preparing themselves to pull out the town after they failed to stabilize Hiiraan region. Over the last three days thousands of Ethiopian infidels carrying military vehicles vacated their bases in the town and headed to the Ethiopia-Somalia border villages. Some troops are still in the town and the Mujahidens are preparing themselves to enter the town as soon as possible.
Radio Bar-Kulan - An independent radio station
The late Somali parliament Speaker Mokhtar Mohamed Hussein was laid to rest shortly after Friday prayer. The burial in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, was attended by top Somali officials including President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, speaker of parliament Sharif Hassan Sheikh Adan and several other TFG dignitaries. Speaking at the burial ceremony, president Sharif praised the fallen leader saying that Hussein being the first Somali speaker of parliament was a mentor of many Somalis.
Somalia’s Education Ministrer Ahmed Aideed Ibrahim has signed agreements with his Sudanese counterpart in Khartoum, education ministry officials say. Under the agreements, Sudan will support Somalia's education sector including provision of scholarships to Somali students. Education officials from Mogadishu who have been in Khartoum for the last few days have also signed a partnership with several Universities including the International University of Africa where there are over 2,000 students.
At least 54 families who fled their homes in El-bur and Wabho towns of Galgadud region have reached Guri’el town to escape rebel brutality. Locals who spoke to Bar-kulan alleged that they fled their homes after al-Shabaab militants who recently gained control of these towns subjected them to torture, beheading and robbery. Others said they fled the homes after several of their relatives were killed by the militants, forcing them to leave behind their property and escape what they called rebel brutality.
Radio Shabelle - An independent radio station
Unidentified gunmen have shot and killed a young prominent Somali civilian in Mogadishu on Thursday night. A witnesses who declined to be identified for security reason reasons, confirmed to Shabelle Radio the death of the youngster, saying two anonymous gangs armed with pistols shot Abdi Yare, the victim on the head and chest in several times at Labo-dhagax neighborhood in Wardhiglay district. The assailants managed to run away from the shooting scene before Somali security forces reached.
Radio Kulmiye - An independent radio station
Somaliland’s Minister of Information Abdi Yusuf Duaale denied any involvement in talks between the TFG and Somaliland that is about reconciliations for Somalia. The minister stated Somaliland is so far making efforts to bring stability to the region and that is why the two governments are determined to the improve situation. After the London Conference there has been growing talk about the possible reconciliations between Somalia and Somaliland.