26 Apr 2013 – MORNING HEADLINES
Main Story
UK Foreign Secretary opens new British embassy in Somalia
25 Apr- Source: Standard-392 words
Foreign Secretary William Hague has opened a new British embassy in Mogadishu – the first time the UK has had one in Somalia since 1991.
The UK is the first European Union country to reopen an embassy in the country since the Federal Government of Somalia was established last year.
Mr Hague said Somalia had been through a “dramatic shift”, but continues to face “huge challenges”.
The prime minister will host a Somalia Conference in London on 7 May.
Key Headlines
- Somali President receives delegation from the UAE (Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali delegates reportedly walk out of Kismaayo conference (Shaeelle Media)
- William Hague says UK “committed to be strong friend to Somalia” (Raxanreeb )
- The world will see that Somalia has turned the corner, Prime Minister tells UK Foreign Secretary (Prime Minister’s Media Office)
- UK Minister Simmonds Regret Somaliland Boycott, But Welcomes Talks With Somalia (Qaran news)
- Kenyan president, AU chairperson discuss Somalia (KBC Online)
- Journalist murder unnerves Somalia media (Al Jazeera)
- Britain pledges support for Somali intelligence organs (Shabelle Media)
- Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad: Alshabaab conduct killings in Mogadishu (Garowe Online)
- Illegal fishing crackdown in Somalia, 78 Iranians detained (Reuters)
PRESS STATEMENT
The world will see that Somalia has turned the corner, Prime Minister tells UK Foreign Secretary
25 Apr – Source: Prime Minister’s Media Office
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon today outlined recent progress on security and human rights and laid out his government’s hopes for a successful Somalia Conference in London as he welcomed the British Foreign Secretary William Hague to Mogadishu on his second visit to the Somali capital.
The Prime Minister congratulated the Foreign Secretary on opening the British Embassy in Somalia, a strong sign of the improving situation that other countries would note and follow. The government had just appointed Somalia’s first Ambassador to the UK in many years and Somalia-UK relations were excellent.
“Most of your counterparts around the world have not yet visited Somalia, so I am particularly delighted to see you here again on your second visit, the Prime Minister said.”
The government also welcomed the UK championing the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative as part of its G8 Presidency.
“My government has been extremely clear on this issue. Sexual violence is against Somali culture, against our religion, and is completely unacceptable,” the Prime Minister said. “This is one of the reasons we launched the Independent Task Force on Human Rights and we have taken other action in this area. I appreciate the UK working with us on this and also taking note of the progress we have made on this critical issue.”
Updating the Foreign Secretary on recent progress ahead of the Somalia Conference in London on 7 May, the Prime Minister said:
“Security remains our greatest priority and our greatest success. I have instructed my ministers to share with the Somalia Conference our progress on building our armed forces and police, reforming public financial management systems and the justice sector, rebalancing the relationship between the centre and regions and promoting national dialogue and reconciliation. The world will see that Somalia has turned a corner.”
The Prime Minister said he was now looking forward to hearing how the international community would be supporting the Somali governent’s plans.
“As we rejoin the community of nations, one of the last barriers to full membership is the issue of our arrears clearance. I am hopeful that with the UK as our key partner in London we can make real progress here. Now that we are recognised by the IMF, we are at last poised to end our economic isolation – just as we have ended our political isolation. Finding a solution to our arrears position would be one of the greatest achievements of the Somalia Conference.”
Email: media@opm.gov.so
http://s1190.photobucket.com/
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali President receives delegation from the UAE
25 Apr- Source: Radio Mogadishu/al Shahid/SNTV- 126 words
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud met on Thursday at the presidential palace in Mogadishu, a delegation from the UAE, headed by Minister of State for the office of the president Dr. Sultan Al Jaber.
Somali President discussed with the UAE delegation bilateral relations between the two countries and cooperation in their common interest.
The Minister of State of Foreign Affairs of Somalia Mohamed Nuur Gacal said that the Somali President talked with the UAE delegation about common issues, adding that the UAE delegation presented a tribute to the Somali president.
Somali delegates reportedly walk out of Kismaayo conference
25 Apr – Source: Shabelle Media – 216 words
Up to 20 delegates representing southern and southwestern regions of Gedo and Jubba have reportedly walked out of the Kismaayo conference citing foreign interference and disregard for local objectives as fronted by the organizers of the meeting. Deserters of the conference say that independent elements in the persons of Raas Kaambooni militia leader, Shaykh Ahmad Madoobe, Jubbaland presidential aspirant Prof. Ghandi, are steering talks in a non-inclusive manner.
Former spokesman for the conference Muhammad Abdullahi Guled who also walked out of the conference described it as a personal agenda that is not for and by the Somali people as three communities have pulled out of the process.
Britain pledges support for Somali intelligence organs
25 Apr – Source: Somali Shabeelle Media – 102 words
The UK minister for African affairs, [Mark Simmonds], has told reporters that his country will support Somalia’s intelligence agencies to curb threats from Al-Shabab and Al-Qa’idah.
The minister, who was speaking at a forum in United States attended by a large number of Somalis, told the media that Britain was ready to help the Somali government maintain security, and establish its intelligence agencies..
A journalist in Somaliland survives planned assassination attempt
25 Apr- Source: Raxanreeb- 381 words
The editor of a daily independent newspaper in Hargeysa, the capital of breakaway northwestern Somalia region of Somaliland has survived a planned assassination attempt on Thursday midnight after confronting his two attackers identified as police officers, the editor told RBC Radio on the phone.
Mohamed Ahmed Jama (better known as Caloolay) confirmed that he has sustained minor injuries on his right hand on Thursday around 11:20 p.m (local time) when two masked men armed with pistols, sticks and padlocks in their hands entered his office and began beating him.
Sheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad: al Shabaab conduct killings in Mogadishu
25 Apr- Source: Shabelle/ Garowe Online- 261 words
Somali religious leaderSsheikh Bashir Ahmed Salad talking to al Jazeera Arabic said that most of the killings in the capital are conducted by al Shabaab.
The Sheikh’s interview comes after he survived an assassination attempt early this month.
Plots to assassinate clan elders, religious leaders and journalists have been rampant in the country for the past one year.
http://shabelle.net/sheikh-
William Hague says UK “committed to be strong friend to Somalia”
25 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 184 words
The UK foreign secretary, William Hague, on 25 April announced the opening of British embassy in Mogadishu which was closed since a civil war broke out in the country in 1991, privately-owned Raxanreeb news website reports.
“I congratulate the foreign secretary on opening the British embassy in Somalia, a strong sign of the improving situation that other countries would note and follow,” Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said in a statement after meeting Hague in Mogadishu.
UK Minister Simmonds Regrets Somaliland Boycott, But Welcomes Talks With Somalia
25 Apr- Source: Qaran news- 179 words
The United Kingdom minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds has declared that Somaliland’s decision to not attend the London conference on Somalia as re-affirmed by President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud “Silaanyo” was disappointing, but has welcomed the direct talks between Somaliland and the provisional government in Somalia.
The London conference which is being hosted by the British government will be co-chaired by the UK Foreign minister William Hague and the head of the provisional government in Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Journalist murder unnerves Somalia media
25 Apr- Source: Al Jazeera- 926 words
In a two-bedroom house in Mogadishu’s Medina district, a group of about 10 women have gathered to mourn in silence. Sitting on plastic chairs, the women silently stare at the cement floor, tears freely flowing from their eyes.
The women are the relatives of Mohamed Ibrahim Rage, a Radio Mogadishu and Somali National TV (SNTV) journalist assassinated by unknown gunmen in front of his house on Sunday evening. Men armed with pistols shot Rage six times at close range while he was sitting at the front door of his house playing with his four-year-old daughter.
http://www.aljazeera.com/
Kenyan president, AU chairperson discuss Somalia
25 Apr – Source: KBC Online – 474 words
President Uhuru Kenyatta has Thursday [25 April] reiterated that Kenya’s only interest in Somalia is to bring peace and stability in the country.
President Kenyatta said that peace and stability in Somalia is in the interest not only of the people of Somalia but the entire Horn of Africa region.
Speaking at State House Nairobi during a meeting with the chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the president said that the Kenyan forces are operating under the umbrella of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to restore normalcy.
UK Foreign Secretary opens new British embassy in Somalia
25 Apr- Source: Standard-392 words
Foreign Secretary William Hague has opened a new British embassy in Mogadishu – the first time the UK has had one in Somalia since 1991.
The UK is the first European Union country to reopen an embassy in the country since the Federal Government of Somalia was established last year.
Mr Hague said Somalia had been through a “dramatic shift”, but continues to face “huge challenges”.
The prime minister will host a Somalia Conference in London on 7 May.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Foreign Secretary opens new British Embassy in Mogadishu
25 Apr- Source: gov.uk-339 words
Foreign Secretary William Hague has travelled to Somalia to open the new British Embassy in Mogadishu.
This will be the first time the UK has an Embassy in Somalia since 1991 when the Embassy was closed and the Ambassador and his staff evacuated. This makes the UK the first EU country to re-open an Embassy in Somalia.
https://www.gov.uk/government/
Illegal fishing crackdown in Somalia, 78 Iranians detained
25 Apr- Source: Reuters- 257 words
Maritime police in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland seized five Iranian ships and detained 78 Iranians in a rare crackdown on illegal fishing in Somalia.
Somalia has long complained about illegal fishing off its shores but its coastline, the longest in Africa, is infested with pirates and has been left defenceless against foreign fishing fleets after two decades of civil war.
http://www.reuters.com/
New push against polio and new vaccines in Somalia
25 Apr- Source: AP- 803 words
Two dozen babies sat on the laps of their mothers, who dressed in a rainbow of headscarves at the Medina Maternal Child Health Center. They are among Somalia’s luckiest – the first to receive a new vaccine that protects against five dangerous diseases.
With more regions of Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu, at peace for the first time in 20 years, health care workers are expanding vaccination programs and can now access 40 percent of south-central Somalia, where the influence of hardline Islamic insurgents is highest.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Stig Hansen’s book is an essential tool for those wishing to understand what the future might hold for “one of Somalia’s most efficient political organisations of the last 20 years.”
REVIEW: Al Shabaab in Somalia: the history and ideology of a militant islamist group, 2005 – 2012
25 Apr- Source: African Arguments-904 Words
Stig Jarle Hansen has written what is undoubtedly the best book on Al-Shabaab – a militant islamist group based in Somalia – currently available. It has received high praise from international Africa commentators as Gerard Prunier, J.Peter Pham and Christopher Coker.
Hansen, a Professor in International Relations based in Norway, clearly had unprecedented access to the movement over years of conducting research in Somalia. The attendant dangers of associated with a westerner seeking to carry out such work in one of the world’s most dangers country’s makes this study all the more remarkable.