European Union Training Mission Somalia
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European Union Training Mission Somalia PRESS SUMMARY 13th April 2018 “In ‘Media’ stat virtus” EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 Blast Kills 4, Injures 13 at Somalia Soccer Match April 12, 2018 - Mohamed Olad Hassan - A bomb exploded during a local soccer (football) game in southern Somalia's restive Lower-Shabelle province on Thursday, killing at least four people, security officials said. "An improvised explosive device went off during the semifinal of a local soccer team's cup" in Barawe town, Bashir Mohamed Yusuf, the town's deputy commissioner for security, told VOA. Yusuf and hospital sources said at least 13 people were also wounded in Barawe, which is about 220 kilometers southwest of the Somali capital, Mogadishu. "The bomb was planted in the VIP section of the soccer stadium with the intention of harming the local authorities," said Yusuf. "But since we tactically sat at a different location today, it hit some of the football players and spectators." A spectator who was at the soccer field at the time and asked to remain anonymous said the bomb exploded at the start of the second half of the game between locally popular teams Elmen and SYL, and "it seems it was detonated remotely from the nearby areas." Barawe is a strategic port town and major base for African Union troops in the region. It is remembered for being a key stronghold of al-Shabab Islamists, but the Somali National Army captured it in 2014 with the backing of African Union forces. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. But al-Shabab militants have carried out a string of deadly bombings in the region and elsewhere in the country. EUTM - SOMALIA 1 EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 FILE - A Somali soldier attends the scene after a bomb attack near the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Mogadishu, Somalia, March 28, 2018. At the beginning of the month, they launched coordinated attacks on five military camps in the region. Two of the attacks targeted a military camp for African Union peacekeepers in nearby Bula Marer, a town 110 kilometers south of Mogadishu and one of the main towns in the region. This was followed by an al-Shabab infantry attack on the camp. Eight Ugandan soldiers were killed, according to Somali government officials. Over its 11-year existence, al-Shabab has often moved to shut down non-Islamic schools and replace them with those with a strongly religious curriculum. The group, which wants to impose a strict version of Sharia in Somalia, has also banned the watching of movies and playing of soccer. https://www.voanews.com/a/blask-kills-four-injures-thirteen-somalia- soccer/4344344.html EUTM - SOMALIA 2 EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 Blast kills 5 at Somalia football stadium Local footballers among the casualties 13.04.2018 - By Mohammed Dhaysane MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least five people were killed and more than 10 injured Thursday when a blast rocked a football stadium in the town of Barawe in Somalia's lower Shabelle region. Barawe District Deputy Commissioner Bashir Mohamed Yusuf told local media the explosion was from a remote-controlled landmine. "The explosion targeted local footballers and football fans. What we can confirm is that five people were killed and more than 10 others were wounded," Yusuf said. The wounded were rushed to the district hospital and private medical centers for treatment, he added. Three local footballers were among the dead, according to local media. The bomb went off while a match between local teams Elman and SYL was under way. The Somali-based insurgent group al-Shabaab claimed responsibly for the attack in an online statement. Barawe is a coastal town located 179 kilometers (111 miles) southwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu. Thursday’s explosion comes six days after a double car bomb blast in Mogadishu that killed at least three people. Last October, at least 300 people died in a double car bombing in Mogadishu, the deadliest attack in modern Somali history. https://aa.com.tr/en/africa/blast-kills-5-at-somalia-football-stadium/1116693 EUTM - SOMALIA 3 EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 UPDF flags off over 1800 soldiers to Somalia UPDF dispatches a total of 1822 soldier to Somalia to help fight Al- shabaab insurgents. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KATO UPDF deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki, said the 24 battle group will be commanded by Col Jackson Kayanja. He said these will be deployed at Arabisca, which is 32km from Aden Bullpen Airport in Lower Shebelle. Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) on Thursday flagged off 1,822 soldiers for Somalia mission in the horn of Africa. Maj Gen Sam Kavuma, deputy commander land forces cautioned the soldiers to always be fit and disciplined, if they are to avoid being attacked by Al-shabab insurgents. "To protect Somalis you must be fit and must have discipline. Being fit would help you fight Al-shabab and return alive," Gen Kavuma said. On Easter Sunday, alshabab killed 8 Ugandan soldiers and left scores injured. UPDF deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki, said the 24 battle group will be commanded by Col Jackson Kayanja. He said these will be deployed at Arabisca, which is 32km from Aden Bullpen Airport in Lower Shebelle. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/UPDF-flags-off-1800-soldiers-Somalia/688334- 4390250-mbd4brz/index.html EUTM - SOMALIA 4 EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 Somali National Army marks 58th anniversary Apr 12, 2018 Mogadishu(SONNA)-Somali National Army is today on Thursday, April 12 marking 58th anniversary of their foundation here in Mogadishu, SONNA reported. EUTM - SOMALIA 5 EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 I Was Not Bribed Millions of Dollars to Resign, Jawari Says In Farewell Speech On Apr 12, 2018 - Former Somalia’s Lower House Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari has refuted claims that his resignation was induced by millions of dollars bribe by the executive. “There are statements all over media claiming that I received million of dollars so that I resign. I hereby again clarify considering the above oath as a shield that I again swear in the name of Allah that I never took any bribe from anyone to woo me resign my seat” Jawari said in his farewell speech to Parliament on Thursday. “The president and I discussed the matter at length and concluded that my resignation is very significant for the nation and the relations with the Somali Federal House. We agreed to work together to restore peace and stability in the country. He promised to consider me in the decision making on national matters as a member of parliament” he told Parliamentarians. “Anything else apart from what I stated here is nothing but rumors that are intended to disgrace the government and kill its reputation” Jawari said. Jawari has assumed the duties of a Member of Parliament after he announced his resignation to on Tuesday at a Press briefing with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. “I defended this constitution for the betterment of the people, country and my religion thus to safeguard this principal is what caused me to handover the seat you entrusted me with EUTM - SOMALIA 6 EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 on 1/01/2017 back to you and resign with least external force or pressures” Jawari concluded. On Thursday photos of Prime Minister Khaire and Jawari hand in hand created a buzz of social media as the two rivals reportedly buried the hatch to end a month long tussle. Three attempts to hold an impeachment motion against him had flopped until his unexpected resignation. Jawari served as the Speaker since 2012. http://radiodalsan.com/en/i-did-not-receive-millions-of-dollars-to-resign-jawari-says-in- farewell-speech/ EUTM - SOMALIA 7 EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 End Of An Era To A Patriot Who Served Somalia For 50 yrs, Will The Next Speaker Fit His Shoes? On Apr 12, 2018 - By Hassan Ali Gesey Those who know his contribution to Somalia fondly refer to him as the walking library of the Somalia constitution and law. For close to fifty years the 72 year old Mohamed Osman Jawari served the country in many capacity as early as his college years as a law student at the Somalia National University Jawari was elected as the Chairman of the committee of specialists tasked with formulating Somalia’s draft constitution putting to use his experience as a legal expert while working alongside UN officials . The constitution was eventually adopted in July 2012.He had been based in Nairobi and Mogadishu working as a expert of constitution after he fled the unforgiving cold winters of Norway where he was working as a part time teacher of Somali language. In 2012 he became an MP and immediately friends in his circle advised him to go for the Speaker position since being from the Digil Mirifle clan he automatically qualified to contest under the 4.5 system. Sharif Hassan Adan a fellow clansman was at the time eyeing for the Presidency. I met the grey haired law expert and now Mp at an apartment at the Mogadishu Port for a radio interview where he opened up to me about his ambition to be the Speaker of Somalia Federal Parliament. EUTM - SOMALIA 8 EUTM - SOMALIA 13/04/2018 From our interview I gathered he had vast experience having served under different capacities in the Pre and Post civil war governments. Around the the well set dinner table were his close friends and confidantes who encouraged him to be a candidate in the race for Speaker. A man of humble character who loved his cup of tea we continued with our interview with a few breaks of cigarette puffs.