Wednesday- 22,Jan- 2025 {HMC} Over 20 people were killed and more than 10 others wounded during two days of fighting between Islamic State fighters and security forces from Somalia’s Puntland region, officials said Tuesday.

In an interview with VOA’s Somali Service, a spokesperson for Puntland security operations, Brigadier General Mohamud Mohamed Ahmed, said that 15 Islamic State militants and seven Puntland soldiers were killed in the clashes Sunday and Monday.

Ahmed said IS fighters used improvised explosive devices to protect their hideouts near the Ufeyn area. As soldiers were clearing landmines, one of the devices exploded, killing six soldiers and wounding three, he said.

The spokesperson said that during the operation, soldiers killed eight Islamic State militants.

Ahmed said the latest military operation, which centered around the Cal Miskat mountains in the Bari region, continued through Monday.

“On Monday, our soldiers encountered the terrorist fighters around Laba-Afle area, killing seven of them. One of our soldiers was also killed and four others injured,” he said.

Residents, who requested anonymity fearing for their lives, told VOA they saw the bodies of militants strewn along the roads leading into the Cal Miskat mountains.

Puntland began a military offensive last month against extremist groups in the region following months of preparations.

The region’s leader, Said Abdullahi Deni, appealed to the public to support the operation, which he said is aimed at dislodging the Islamic State militants from their hideouts in mountainous areas.

Puntland has endured terrorist attacks perpetrated by al-Shabab and Islamic State militants, but the ongoing military operation appears to be focused on IS.

The group has a relatively small presence in Somalia compared to the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, but experts have warned of growing activity.

U.S. military officials and Somali security experts reported that IS increased its membership numbers in Somalia last year.

The group was previously estimated to have between 100 and 400 fighters, but Somali security and intelligence experts estimate their current numbers to be 500 to 600 militants.

Most of the newcomers are said to be from the Middle East and eastern and northern Africa.

IS in Somalia was formed in October 2015 by a group of former al-Shabab fighters led by the cleric Sheikh Abdulkadir Mumin, who reportedly pledged allegiance to the late IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Mumin appears to have survived a U.S. airstrike on May 31, 2024.

A United Nations counterterrorism official last year warned of increased attacks by Islamic State affiliates in Somalia, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Source VOA NEWS

Wednesday- 22,Jan- 2025 {HMC} The Kenyan government has announced the removal of eTA and visa requirements for all African nationals, excluding those from Somalia and Libya, citing security concerns.

The move aims to bolster regional integration and promote tourism growth across the continent.

African visitors will now enjoy a two-month stay, while East African Community (EAC) nationals will retain the privilege of a six-month stay under existing free movement protocols.

To streamline the entry process, Kenya will introduce expedited eTA processing, enabling instant approvals with a maximum turnaround time of 72 hours.

Additionally, the adoption of an Advanced Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record system is expected to enhance security and expedite passenger clearance at airports.

The Cabinet has directed the Ministries of National Treasury, Transport, Interior, and Tourism to devise comprehensive guidelines to improve traveler experiences at Kenyan airports within a week.

Source CAPITAL FM

Wednesday- 22,Jan- 2025 {HMC} Turkey has detained nine people, including the owner of the hotel, in connection with a deadly fire that claimed the lives of 76 people and injured dozens at a ski resort in western Turkey, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said early Wednesday.

Yerlikaya also reported that the bodies of 45 victims had been handed over to their families, while DNA tests were being conducted to identify the remaining bodies at the forensic institute.

The fire occurred at the Grand Kartal Hotel in the Kartalkaya ski resort in the Bolu mountains.
The hotel, where the fire broke out, expressed deep sorrow in a statement on Wednesday and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.

“We are cooperating with authorities to shed light on all aspects of this incident,” the statement said. “We are deeply saddened by the losses and want you to know that we share this pain with all our hearts.”

The 12-storey hotel, which had 238 registered guests, was consumed by flames after the fire started on the restaurant floor around 3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT). Survivors described scenes of panic as they fled through smoke-filled corridors and jumped from windows to escape.

Authorities are facing growing criticism over the hotel’s safety measures, as survivors reported that no fire alarms went off during the incident. Guests said they had to navigate the smoke-filled corridors in complete darkness.

President Tayyip Erdogan declared Wednesday a day of national mourning following the tragedy, which occurred during the peak of the winter tourism season, with many families from Istanbul and Ankara travelling to the Bolu mountains for skiing.

Reporting by Ece Toksabay; Editing by Michael Perry

Wednesday- 22,Jan- 2025 {HMC} Somali government has expressed its condolences to Türkiye following a tragic fire that engulfed a 12-story hotel at a ski resort in northwestern Turkey early Tuesday, killing at least 76 people and injuring 51 others.

In a statement released by Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government extended heartfelt sympathies to the victims’ families and wished a swift recovery to those injured.

“Our thoughts and solidarity are with the families who have lost loved ones and all those affected by this devastating fire as we stand with the people of Türkiye during this time of sorrow. Our prayers are with those affected, and we wish a swift and full recovery to all those injured,” the statement read.

The fire broke out on the Grand Kartal Hotel restaurant floor in Kartalkaya, a ski resort located in Bolu province’s Koroglu mountains, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) east of Istanbul. It started around 3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT) and quickly spread through the building, which had 238 registered guests.

The incident occurred at the start of Türkiye’s two-week school winter break, a peak time for tourism in the region. The Turkish government has detained nine people, including the owner of the hotel, in connection with a deadly fire.

Source Hiiraan online