Mungisha: we will put in place extra measures to prevent explosions

Mogadishu (Sunatimes) The African Union forces Commander Gen. Fred Mungisha has said they will double their efforts to prevent deadly explosions in Mogadishu that claims the lives of both civilians and soldiers.

In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, the AU force commander said TFG and AU forces have on several times earlier foiled explosions including landmines and suicide bombing aimed at killing masses in Mogadishu.

He said Al-Shabaab has recently failed several attempts to detonate explosions in populated areas in the city, as such was achieved through public corporation with the AU and TFG forces.

Mungisha promised to do all means to possible to make sure that rebels dot not inflict harm on civilians.

Security forces in Mogadishu in the past days trying hard to intercept and detect explosives aimed at causing devastation in the war-torn capital.

Al-Shabaab has so many times claimed responsibility of deadly bomb attacks targeting both civilians and soldiers in Mogadishu.

UN Security Council tightens sanctions against Eritrea

New York (Sunatimes) The U.N. Security Council has tightened sanctions against Eritrea after African nations appealed to the world body for more action, reports say.

The council Monday voted 13-0 in favour of the resolution with China and Russia abstaining.

The resolution condemns Eritrea for violating sanctions imposed in 2009 by continuing to provide support to militants in Somalia, including Al-Shabaab. Asmara denies aiding Al-Shabaab or any other militant groups, VOA reported.

The resolution allows the council to increase the number of individuals and entities that can face a travel ban and assets freeze. The final version dropped language from earlier drafts that sought to ban investment in Eritrea’s mining industry and outlaw imports of its minerals.

Members of a six-nation bloc in Eastern Africa asked the United Nations to toughen sanctions against Eritrea, saying that the world body must “act now” because the region’s stability is at stake.

Government officials from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Uganda addressed the U.N. Security Council in New York by video link earlier Monday.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said the U.N. must send a clear signal to warn Eritrea that it cannot destabilise the region without consequences.

Eritrea is already subject to U.N. sanctions, including an arms embargo, because of its alleged support for Al-Shabaab.

Al-Shabaab detains 20 people in parts of Middle Shabelle

Jowhar (Sunatimes) Al-Shabaab militants in Jowhar town, Middle Shabelle, Monday night raided Barow-weyne village, 15 km north of Jowhar town and rounded up people they accused of allegedly taking part in an inter-clan fight that erupted in the area few days ago.

An Al-Shabaab leader in the area accused these people of masterminding the fight between the two clans in the area three days ago, adding that his militant group is investigating the incident.

The accused are said to have been involved in the inter-clan fight that claimed the lives of at least three people including the village chief.

Six infants die of diarrhoea in Bakol region

Bay (Sunatimes) Six children have died of diarrhoea related complications in parts of Bakol region for the last 24 hours, reports say.

Over 60 other people including elderly people who succumbed to the disease are said to be in bad condition.

Reports say children in three districts including Hudur, Wajid and Tiyeglowa are said to be the worst affected children in the region.

Mohamed Hassan Tukow, a resident of Hudur told Bar-kulan that health facilities have no enough drugs to deal with the diarrhoea outbreak. Diarrhoea is common in the area during the rainy sessions.

The outbreak comes a week after aid workers in Somalia warned of disaster after Al-Shabaab rebel group banned 16 aid groups from its territory, a decision they said will puts tens of thousands of sick mothers and malnourished children at risk.

UNICEF said thousands of children could die if its operations in parts of south and central Somalia are stopped.

Tens of thousands of Somalis have already died from drought and famine-related causes this year, and the U.N. estimates that 250,000 people still face starvation in a country plagued by violence.

Early last week, Al-Shabaab ordered UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the Danish Refugee Council, among others, to leave, with some offices already raided in southern Somalia.

The rebel group accused the 16 groups of misappropriating funds, collecting data, and promoting secularism, immorality and the “degrading values of democracy in an Islamic country.’’

Al-Shabaab compels Bur-hakaba traders to pay money

Burhakaba (Sunatimes) Al-Shabaab rebel group in Bur-hakaba district of Bay region has reportedly compelled local traders in the area to pay $18,000 within 15 days.

The money is aimed to meet the needs of the rebel group in order to allow them fight TFG and Ethiopian troops, according to militia leaders.

Area rebel leader Mohamed Hassan who addressed the public at an open field has reportedly threatened to punish anybody who fails to meet their demand.

Ibrahim Hussein, one of the local traders in Bur-hakaba told Bar-kulan that even though it was hard for most of the people to pay such amount of money, others have already paid their share of the money.

Earlier in mid July, Al-Shabaab leaders in Bardera district of Gedo region compelled small scale traders in the area to pay Shs 200, 000 every month.

The cash strapped militia group is known for such actions whenever faced by either military pressure or financial crisis.

Local traders say they are worried of the Al-Shabaab’s brutal rules compelling them to pay an amount they could not afford.

Two security officers injured in a grenade attacks in Galkayo

Galkayo (Sunatimes) Reports from Somalia’s central city of Galkayo say unknown gang on Monday night attacked Puntland regional administration headquarters with hand grenades and wounded two security officers.

The attack occurred at Puntland administered volatile north of the city. The reportedly attackers lobbed two hand grenades in to the area administration headquarter, wounding two security officers guarding the area, according to Eyewitnesses.

The attackers have reportedly fled the area immediately after the attack.

Puntland security officers who arrived at the scene of the incident rounded up several youths sitting at tea kiosks around the area.

No group has claimed responsibility of the attacks. There were no official comments from the area administration.

The incident comes days after two people were killed and three others wounded when two clan militias exchanged gunfire in northern part of the city.

The incident is linked with long standing clan rivalry in the area.

The city has in the past few months seen waves of violent assassinations and organised crimes targeting government officials, prominent traditional elders as well as journalists.

Just recently, officers were injured in an explosion near a mosque in the area after unknown men hurled hand grenades at officers who were conducting security operation in the area.

On November 22, armed gangs killed a village chief, Musa Abdirahman Ahmed, in his office in part of the city.

Earlier in November, several Puntland officials including Mudug deputy regional governor Farah Ali Hirsi escaped death narrowly after an explosion hit a car they were travelling in at Garsor neighbourhood, north of the city.

The deputy governor and one of his bodyguards were slightly injured after a remotely detonated bomb hit his car which was carrying several top Puntland officials.

Galkayo is divided into two parts, with the north coming under Puntland while south comes under Galmudug.

The two breakaway regions of Somalia have been pointing fingers at each other over insecurity in the region.

The relation between two administrations which has been an all-time-low was mended in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, during the recent UN-backed three day consultative meeting.

By Rooble Dirir