Critical Threats
Monday, January 28, 2013
Horn of Africa: British government reissues travel warning for Somalia and Somaliland; unknown gunmen attack a vehicle headed for Baidoa, Bay region; Somali government forces conduct security operations in Hodan district, Mogadishu; Hiraan region plans to train local militias for Somali army; Somali president attends African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Somali defense minister and interior and national security minister travel to Baidoa, Bay region; Somali prime minster meets with Italian envoy in Mogadishu; South Sudan extradites murderer to Somalia
Horn of Africa
• The British government reissued a travel warning for Somalia on January 27, specifically noting that all British citizens living in Somaliland should leave. The British Foreign Office said they received intelligence of a specific threat to westerners in Somaliland.[12]
• Unknown gunmen attacked a truck traveling between Lego and Burhakaba, Bay region on January 27. Two women were killed and six other passengers were injured. The shooters were able to flee the scene and have not yet been caught.[13]
• Somali government troops conducted security operations in the Hodan district of Mogadishu on January 28. Around 200 people were arrested during the searches targeting al Shabaab militants and sympathizers.[14]
• Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 27.[15]
• Somali Minister of Defense Abdihakim Mohamud Haji Fiqi and Somali Interior and National Security Minister Abdikarin Hussein Guled traveled to Baidoa, Bay region on January 28. The delegation, which met with local and AMISOM leaders, was there to assess the security situation in the city.[16]
• Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon met with Italian envoy to Somalia, Andrea Mazella, on January 28 in Mogadishu. The two men discussed strengthening the relationship between their countries as well as Italy’s role in rebuilding Somalia.[17]
• South Sudan extradited a man to Somalia who killed someone in Mogadishu before leaving the country. Somali investigators tracked the murderer to Juba, South Sudan and South Sudanese authorities returned him to Somalia for trial.[18]
[12] “Britons Warned of Somaliland Threat,” BBC, January 27, 2013. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21222932
“Somalia Travel Summary,” British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, January 27, 2013. Available:http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/somalia
[13] “Two Killed After Gunmen Attack Passenger Truck,” Bar Kulan, January 28, 2013. Available: http://www.bar-kulan.com/2013/01/28/two-killed-after-gunmen-attack-passenger-truck/
[14] “Government Forces Operates at Hodan District with Reported Civilian Arrests,” Kulmiye News, January 28, 2013. Available: http://www.kulmiyenews.com/?nid=11910
[15] “Somalia President Calls for Lifting of Arms Embargo at African Union Summit,” Garowe, January 27, 2013. Available:http://www.garoweonline.com/artman2/publish/Somalia_27/Somalia_president_calls_for_lifting_of_arms_embargo_at_African_Union_summit.shtml
“African Leaders Meet in Addis Ababa,” Bar Kulan, January 27, 2013. Available: http://www.bar-kulan.com/2013/01/27/african-leaders-meet-in-addis-ababa/
[16] “Ministers Visit Baidoa, Bay Region,” January 28, 2013. Available: http://www.bar-kulan.com/2013/01/28/ministers-visit-baidoa-bay-region/
[17] “PM Shirdon Meets Italian Envoy in Somalia,” Bar Kulan, January 28, 2013. Available: http://www.bar-kulan.com/2013/01/28/pm-shirdon-meets-italian-envoy-to-somalia/
[18] “South Sudan Extradites A Murderer to Somalia,” January 27, 2013. Available: http://shabelle.net/s-sudan-extradites-a-murderer-to-somali/