14 Sept 2011 – Morning headlines
Key Headlines:
- Somali Government starts implementing the new Road map
- AU Blames International Indifference for Somalia Famine Deaths
- UNICEF starts food voucher and cash transfer programme for children and their families in need in southern Somalia
- Govt arrests foreign Somali aid workers in Mogadishu
- Two Kampala bomb suspects guilty
PRESS RELEASE
Somali Government starts implementing the new Road map
13 Sept – Source: TFG – 691 words
The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) starts implementing the new Roadmap following recent high level Consultative meeting that was concluded on 06 September 2011 in Mogadishu. At the end of the meeting participants agreed on a roadmap. This was a historic moment for Somalis as the consultative meeting ended with harmony and above all served a unity of purpose and ownership of the outcome of the meeting, namely the Roadmap. Within a couple of days the Council of Ministers met on 8th September 2011 and approved the adoption of the new roadmap. The Prime Minister of Somalia, Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali stated: “ The new roadmap is an important historical document and the government is committed to implementing it with a view to make a difference for our people. This roadmap process was Somali-led; participants were all Somalis with our international security and development partners attending as observers. More importantly, Somalis had the ownership of the outcome of the consultative meeting. The roadmap was adopted in a transparent manner and shows our priorities for the next 12 months.”
To meet one of the first deadlines of the Road Map, the Council of Ministers had an extraordinary meeting on September 11 to discuss the implementation of the roadmap and in particular the process of the constitution. The Council of Ministers agreed with the government’s policy paper on how to proceed with the constitution process and agreed on the following 8 points: 1. The TFG to appoint a committee of experts by September 19, 201 to review the draft constitution and re-draft and complete the constitution. The committee shall be inclusive reflecting the diversity of Somalia along clan and geographical lines and gender balance. On gender balance, female representation shall be 4 if the number of the committee turns out to be 9 members or 6 if the total number is 15. Since no funding has as yet not been allocated to the constitutional making process, the September 19 deadline for this action item can be thought through.
- A Joint Committee of stakeholders (15) to be appointed by September 19, 2011to prepare modalities of adopting the draft constitution.
- The Committee of experts shall be in office no later than the first week of October 2011 so that it can begin consultations with the various stakeholders about possible options of Decentralization including Federalism, and the isolation of contentious issues by October 19, 2011.
- Beginning the first week of October, 2011, the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and Reconciliation to begin public consultations on the constitution through Radio, TV, theatre, town hall meetings and popular arts in various cities in many regions of Somalia.
- First Constitutional Conference among stakeholders to be held in Garowe around the end of October 2011. This conference will be one such conference among many conferences to be held in various localities in Somalia.
- Beginning in November 2011, the Committee of experts to hold consultative meetings with Somali religious scholars, women’s groups, civil society and the Somali business community in order to obtain input from civil society.
- In the middle of November 2011 the TFG through its Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and Reconciliation will formally table a request to Parliament to engage in the process of amending the existing charter in order to accommodate the forward processing of the constitutional project.
- The joint Committee shall begin the preparation of the process of adoption of the constitution in November 2011 so that it can meet the January 2012 target date for provisional adoption of the constitution. The Prime Minister of Somalia Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali stated: “The implementation process of the roadmap will be inclusive to all TFIs, regional administrations, Ahlu Sunna and all segments of the society. I appeal to all Somalis to take part in this process. We are embarking on a new era of making a difference to our people. We urge our key partners and friends in the International Community to provide timely resources to help us achieve our ambitious targets. We need to consolidate recent progresses on security, reconciliation and political outreach. This is the best time to implement the roadmap and at the same time to bring peace and stability in the country.”
SOMALI MEDIA
TFG and Galmudug sign historic agreements
13 Sept – Source: Radio Mogadishu, Bar-Kulan – 219 words
Somalia’s TFG and Galmudug regional state on Sunday signed a historic mutual collaboration agreement. The two signed the deal following the earlier visit to the region by the Somalia’s Prime Minister Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Ali on August 30, 2011. Both parties agreed on an eight point plan to strengthen their relations, including safeguarding the unity of the Somali people.
Fresh fighting between al Shabaab, Ahlu-Suna breaks out in central Somalia
13 Sept – Source: Mareeg Online, Shabelle – 66 words
Heavy fighting between Islamist militias of al Shabaab and Ahlu-Suna occurred in Beerta Hoteye, 20KM east side of Dhusamareeb, Galgudud region killing 3 and injuring 7 others, reports said.
http://www.mareeg.com/fidsan.
Gov’t arrests foreign, Somali aid workers in Mogadishu
13 Sept – Source: Radio Shabellle and Kulmiye – 163 words
The TFG has arrested at least 14 people including Turkish and Somali aid workers after delivering aid to famine-stricken people in an al Shabaab-controlled area in southern Somalia. Some Somali soldiers who were involved in arresting those aid workers were taken into custody by Somalia’s National Security Agency, according to Ahmed Abdullahi, Somali military officer in Mogadishu’s Ex-Control Afgoi.
Netherlands identify active members of al Shabaab in EU countries
13 Sept – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 170 words
Dutch authorities have identified a Dutch national of Somali origin and two other Somali men in Europe as active members of al Shabaab militant group, who is in the U.S list of foreign terrorist groups. Dutch intelligence agencies confirmed that the men whose names have not been revealed traveled to Somalia via Kenya in October last year along with two others.
Somaliland: Information Minister says ‘enemies amongst us’
13 Source: Somaliland Press – 149 words
Somaliland Information Minister Mr. Ahmad Abdi Habsade informed the press that enemies of the Republic have infiltrated the country during a press conference in Hargeisa. The Information Minister went on to say that from every corner of the country there were people that deny Somaliland and would stop at nothing to destroy it from within.
http://somalilandpress.com/
REGIONAL MEDIA
Two Kampala bomb suspects guilty
13 Sept – Source: New Vision – 457 words
Two of the 14 al Shabaab suspects, Mohamoud Mugisha and Edris Nsubuga, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to participating in the July 11, 2010 Kampala bombings. Mugisha, 25, told the High Court trial judge Alfonse Owiny-Dollo that he conspired with al Shabaab leaders in different countries including Somalia, Kenya and Uganda to commit acts of terrorism.
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
AU blames international indifference for Somalia famine deaths
13 Sept – Source: VOA – 613 words
An African Union report says many people are dying in famine-stricken Somalia because of international indifference to their plight. AU officials are urging the United Nations and the donor community to move quickly now that Somalia’s al-Qaida-linked militants are in retreat.
UNICEF starts food voucher and cash transfer programme for children and their families in need in southern Somalia
13 Sept – Source: UNICEF Media – 558 words
UNICEF and its partners are striving to reach children and their families affected by famine and drought in southern Somalia with the start of a food voucher and cash transfer programme. “The magnitude of the crisis, with 336,000 children acutely malnourished, requires all of us to be creative and find fast and innovative ways – at scale – to prevent more children from dying,” said UNICEF Representative for Somalia, Rozanne Chorlton.