August 2, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Government condemns Foiled attack at National Constituent Assembly

01 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 182 words

Somali government has condemned attempts by two suicide bombers to target the venue of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA). The Minister of Information, Abdulkadir Hussein Mohamed, praised the heroic efforts of the security forces that foiled the attack and saved lives. “The soldiers that prevented the suicide bombers from entering NCA venue have shown act of heroism and great exemplary that saved the lives of hundreds of delegates” said Minister Mohamed.

Key Headlines

The African Union Congratulates Somali People on New Constitution (AMISOM)
Government condemns Foiled attack at National Constituent Assembly (Radio Mogadishu)
Qeybdid elected new Galmudug president (Radio Bar-kulan)
President Speaker head to Nairobi for talks with US secretary of state (Radio Kulmiye)
Foreign marine looters fanning Somali piracy PM says (Radio Africa Review)
President Sharif visits Bal’ad town (Radio Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online)
The Netherlands cannot send Westernised Somali woman back (Radio Netherlands Worldwide)

PRESS STATEMENT

The African Union Congratulates Somali People on New Constitution

01 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 283 words

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra has today congratulated the people of Somalia on the adoption of a provisional constitution, saying it was a major step forward on the road to national recovery.

An 825 member National Constituent Assembly, which has been sitting in Mogadishu for the last week, today approved the Provisional Constitution, which will replace the 8-year old Transitional Federal Charter and pave the way for the conclusion of the transition process on August 20.

“Today is the culmination of years of hard work by the Somali people with the support of the International community,” said Ambassador Diarra. “The adoption of a Provisional Constitution by a National Constituent Assembly, representative of the people of Somalia, will protect the gains made and provide a legal foundation for Somalia’s new institutions. In this regard I wish to emphasize that the future steps in the political process, the election of the Members of Parliament, the Speaker and his deputies and the President, should be conducted in a fair and credible manner.” he added.

He noted that much of the progress had been achieved in the last year following the ejection of the Al-Qaeda linked al Shabaab from Mogadishu by Somali forces with the support of troops from the African Union Mission in Somalia.

“The AMISOM mandate is to help secure the country so that all the Somali people have the chance to participate in an accountable, legitimate and transparent political process and have a say in their democratic future,” he said, noting that the newly-adopted provisional constitution would be subjected to a nationwide referendum as soon as the security situation on the ground allows.

SOMALI MEDIA

Government condemns Foiled attack at National Constituent Assembly

01 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu – 182 words

Qeybdid elected new Galmudug president

01 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye – 106 words

The former TFG minister for Minerals and Water, Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdid has been elected president of the semi-autonomous State of Galmudug on Wednesday.Qeybdid won in a hotly contested presidential election held in Galkayo town by the region’s parliamentarians after garnering 20 votes out of the 22 voters casted. His only contender, Abdisamed Noor Gulleid who is the current Vice President got only one vote while the remaining vote was declared spoiled.Speaking after he was confirmed the winner, the newly elect president promised to tackle insecurity in the region and foster relations with the neighbouring regional administrations in order strengthen security in the region.

President, Speaker head to Nairobi for talks with US secretary of state

01 Aug – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 54 words

Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and parliament speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden are heading to Nairobi where they are scheduled to meet the Secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Mrs Clinton and Somali leaders are expected to discuss about the ongoing political process in the country, as well as the corruption scandals, and the presidential elections.

Puntland celebrates 14th anniversary

01 Aug – Source: Garowe Online – 299 words

Across cities and districts in Puntland and worldwide, people are celebrating Puntland’s 14th anniversary, Garowe Online reports.The festivities began early Wednesday morning with almost every major city holding events, to mark the day Puntland state formed.In the Puntland capital, President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole accompanied by Ministers, MPs and government officials was the keynote speaker as thousands crowded Garowe’s center to take part in the celebrations.

President Sharif visits Bal’ad town

01 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 149 words

Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Wednesday visited recently seized Bal’ad town where he addressed a public gathering at the former Cloths Factory in the area.The president and his entourage comprising of several top government officials was warmly received by government officials in the district and military officials including AMISOM force. President Sharif who addressed a mammoth crowd in the former cloths factory said he came to Bal’ad to assess security situation and the living standards of local population.The thanked the Somali and African Union for welcoming him in Bal’ad for the second time since the town fell into the hands of the government few weeks ago.President Sharif however noted his government’s responsibility to secure the lives and property of its citizens in the town, promising that the government will do all means possible to make sure locals are free to go about their business without fear.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Foreign marine looters fanning Somali piracy, PM says

01 Aug – Source: Africa Review – 209 words

Somalia’s Prime Minister has accused foreign vessels of looting the country’s marine resources and appealed for international help in policing its vast coastline.”[The] depletion of marine resources is partly the cause of joblessness,” Prof Abdiweli Mohamed Ali said at a youth event in Mogadishu on Monday. The premier said that the looting was leading the country’s youth to become pirates and hijack ships.Somalia has been without a central government since the 1991 collapse of Siad Barre’s regime, leading to a free for all in Somalia’s rich waters.Prof Ali asked state and development partners to set up schemes that will provide jobs for the youth as the country looks to recover from years of instability.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

The Netherlands cannot send Westernised Somali woman back

01 Aug – Source: Radio Netherlands Worldwide – 153 words

The Dutch government must take into consideration how Westernised asylum-seekers are when evaluating their asylum requests. If asylum-seekers are unable to re-adjust to their country of origin, they must be allowed to stay in the Netherlands.The Council of State – the Netherlands’ highest legal body – issued the ruling in a case involving a Somali woman. The Dutch authorities had rejected her asylum request, which meant that she would have to return to Somalia. But the Council ruled that Somali refugees have adopted too many Western norms and values to be able to return to Somalia, where they would have to live under the strict Islamic rule of the Al Shabaab movement.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“The Diaspora might have been a tool for future governmental leadership if they were able to self organise and take co-ordinated action. But the reality is that aside from been dispersed all over the world, not being very well integrated into their new societies, speaking different languages and living under different political systems, they have different regional political ambitions..”

The Somali Diaspora: Too Much Hope Placed in the Wrong People

01 Aug- Source: Harowo-1455 Words

The role of the Diaspora in development is well documented and proven. Members of the Diaspora who leave their homelands for others for many different reasons be it economic, social or political have always played a major role in the affairs of their homeland. The Irish, Indian and Chinese Diaspora members living all over the world can be credited with taking back their expertise, wealth and rich networks to advance their nations into potential future superpowers. President Obama’s visit to the Republic of Ireland was not just diplomatic but arguably a source of future votes back home as an estimated 30 million Irish descendants live in the USA.