After an overnight exchange of mortar shells between Somali government forces and rebels that killed at least nine civilians and injured 14 others, a military officer the from government side defected to the Islamist group al Shabaab with more than 60 guns. Residents said government shells targeted houses occupied by al Shabaab members in the north of Mogadishu.
Nyasa Times "Minister of Women and Child Development Kate Kainja-Kaluluma has passed away in United Kingdom. “Indeed Hon Kate Kainja Kaluluma has died,” confirmed family friends in London. The 57-year-old minister was admitted to a North England hospital – York Hospital. Diplomatic sources at Malawi High Commission in London have said arrangements are being made to send her remains to Malawi. Kainja who was Dedza South West Constituency parliamentarian flew to United Kingdom for medical attention after a long-illness. She is survived by a husband, Emanuel Kaluluma and three children."