August 2, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Transition period now over, says president Sharif

02 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu – 145 words

Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has said the country is now out of the transition period and has entered a new era, promising to finish all remaining task before 20 August. The president said the NCA’s move to pass the new constitution was a great milestone in ending the transitional period. He made the remarks on Wednesday during his trip to Bal’ad town.

President Sharif however assured the public and the international community that the selection of the new parliamentarians and the election of the new president will be done before the August 20 deadline. His sentiment comes a crucial time when the country is expected to end the current transition by August 20 this year. Somalia’s Constituent Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved the country’s new constitution for the first time in two decades, paving the way for a new government to be elected this month.

Key Headlines

Transition period now over says president Sharif (Barkulan/Radio Mogadishu)
SRSG Mahiga condemns killing of prominent Somali comedian and media worker (UNPOS)
Government offers amnesty to al Shabaab defectors (Bar-kulan)
Clinton’s East African Trip Focuses On Oil SomaliaAnd Security (Bloomberg/Business Week)
SRSG Mahiga welcomes adoption of Provisional Constitution of Somalia Republic by Constituent Assembly (UNPOS)
Kismayu still on the radar of AU troops (Daily Nation)
US military boosts aid to African nations as terror incidents continue to increase (Washington Post/AP)
Somalia: Take action to end the killings of media workers (Amnesty International)

PRESS RELEASE

SRSG Mahiga condemns killing of prominent Somali comedian and media worker

02 Aug – Source: UNPOS – 268 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Somalia, Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga condemns in the strongest terms the killing of the prominent Somali comedian and media worker Abdi Malaq Jeylani, also known as “Marshale” on 31 July, in front of his house in Mogadishu.

Reportedly two unknown assailants shot to death the renowned comedian and fled the scene immediately. “Almost every month we mourn a victim in the Somali media world. This is simply unacceptable. I call, again, on the Somali authorities to take immediate action and do all that is necessary to conduct a full and independent investigation into this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice,” SRSG Mahiga said.

Yesterday, the Provisional National Constitution was adopted, which clearly stipulates the right to freedom of expression and opinions, including freedom of speech and freedom of the media in all forms. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) held a Constitutional Conference in May on Freedom of Expression, where Somali leaders expressed their uncompromising support to media freedom and raised the need to enhance the judicial system.

“Despite all promises, we have witnessed little to minimum progress so far on the investigations of the crimes against media professionals,” SRSG Mahiga mentioned while he reiterated his office’s support to the TFG on investigating the cases. “We have asked several international partners to provide technical and material support to strengthen the investigation capacity of the Somali police,” he added. “I call again on the relevant authorities to protect the journalists in the country and safeguard their work. UNPOS stands ready to assist towards this end. The cycle of impunity must end.”

SRSG Mahiga welcomes adoption of Provisional Constitution of Somalia Republic by Constituent Assembly

01 Aug – Source: UNPOS – 382 words

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Dr. Augustine Mahiga welcomed today’s adoption of the Provisional Constitution of the Somalia Republic by the Constituent Assembly in Mogadishu, calling it a ‘momentous occasion’. “Today is a day of celebration. The adoption of the Provisional Constitution is an historic achievement as it completes one of the most important milestones towards ending the current transitional period and ushering in a new political future,” Dr. Mahiga said.

After 7 days of deliberations in Mogadishu, the Constituent Assembly today voted to overwhelmingly adopt the Provisional Constitution with a 96% yes vote, which will now provide the legal framework to govern Somalia. The Provisional Constitution was approved after the 621 delegates present, out of 825, voted in favour of the constitution. Only 13 members voted against the document, and 11 abstained.

There was jubilant applause in the plenary hall when the results were announced. The SRSG praised the work of the delegates and recognized that their role of representing the people of Somalia in the adoption of the Provisional Constitution has been key to ensuring transparency and legitimacy in the current political process.

“The Constituent Assembly embodied the diversity of Somali society around the traditional clan system, and ensured inclusiveness by bringing together Elders, Religious leaders, Women, Youth, business people, intellectuals and the Diaspora,” SRSG Mahiga said. SRSG praised further the Somali delegates who “were not deterred” by the suicide bomb attack which occurred earlier in the morning outside the NCA venue in an attempt to disrupt the process. The attempt was promptly foiled by the security forces. “I pay tribute to the Somali and AMISOM security personnel who ensured the safety of the delegates and the process”, Dr. Mahiga noted.

SRSG further emphasised the importance of now completing the remaining tasks in ending the transition, saying, “Adoption of the constitution is not an end to the process; it is a step towards the future. The constitution must now be implemented to become a living reality. For that to happen, the final steps to ending the transition must be taken including selecting a representative Parliament, and electing a Speaker, the President, and appointing an executive government.” The current mandate of the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia will come to an end on the 20 August 2012.

SOMALI MEDIA

Transition period now over, says president Sharif

02 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu – 145 words

TFG-AMISOM Battles al Shabaab in Gedo Region

01 Aug – Source: Somalia Report – 233 words

Some of the heaviest fighting between the hardline Islamist militia of al Shabaab and forces from Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) backed by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) broke out in Fafahdun district of Gedo region Wednesday when al Shabaab fighters attacked the allied forces. During the three hour firefight, the strongest that occurred in the region in recent months according to residents, the al Shabaab militia entered the town.

“The war started 6:00 pm and went on through the evening. The fiercest fighting lasted until 9:00pm, but the bullets still didn’t stop until midnight. Nobody was aware of what was happening until the situation cooled down and al Shabaab vehicles were sighted in the town,” said Barre Gab, a resident. Although the number of casualties remains unknown, the residents said they had seen a number of bodies from both sides throughout the town.

“It is hard to know the exact number of casualties as the war continued through out the night and was difficult for the people to move out of their homes,” another resident who asked not to be named told Somalia Report. The town remains tense now and residents fear another attack could happen at any time. “Al Shabaab attacked the town, but they were prevented from capturing the town. Now the town is in the hands of the TFG and the AMISOM forces,” Ahmey, a resident from Fafahdun, told Somalia Report.

Government offers amnesty to al Shabaab defectors

02 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 121 words

Government authorities in central Somali town of Dusamareb have promised to offer amnesty to al Shabaab militant fighters who renounce violence and defect their militant group.

In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, Dusamareb District Commissioner Abdirahman Ali Geda-qorow urged militant fighters in the region to give up their militancy and join the government, assuring them that they will not be prosecuted for their past militancy activities.

Geda-qorow called on young militant fighters who are natives of the region and still serving the militant group to surrender and join the rest of the public, adding that the group has already lost grounds in the region. Locals welcomed the offer saying this could encourage defection since many militant fighters fear prosecution if they surrender.

Somaliland Diaspora Women donate $ 20,000 to Burao-Hargeisa highway

01 Aug – Source: hadhwanaag Times – 70 words

Somaliland Diaspora Women in Shef field on Wednesday said they donated some $ 20,000 to the project of building Borao-Hargeisa highway which now underway. The women said they wanted to help move forward the good project of building a high ways linking Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland to Burao Owdweine towns. The donations were handed over to the mayor of Buroa. The women called for the people to take part in the road building project.

Funeral held for slain Somali comedian

02 Aug – Source: Radio Kulmiye – 204 words

Hundreds of journalists, relatives, supporters, and other dignitaries attended the burial of slain Somali comedian Abdi Jeylaani Malaaq aka (Marshaale). Abdi Ajakis, fellow comdeian and a close frend of the late Marshaale told the reporters that his colleague will be remembered always for his goodness.

“His death is misery but for sure we will remembered him, we will not forget his legacy, said Abdi speaking to reporters at the burial cemetery in Mogadishu’s Afizone area. Director of radio Kulmiye Osman Abdullah Guure has also sent his condolences to the family and friends he left behind. Guure said the journalists it is time for journalists to protect themselves,

“We believe that our colleague is gone, as everyone will be going, but what is the sadness is really the killing of such peaceful person. I strongly encourage the journalists to arm themselves and not wait for other people to protecting you.”

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kismayu still on the radar of AU troops

02 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 93 words

It may take longer to crush the al Shabaab in their remaining bastion of Kismayu. The southern Somali port town would be taken at the right time, the director of communications at the Ministry of Defence, Mr Bogita Ongeri, said yesterday.

“The Kenya Defence Forces will feature prominently though all the AMISOM troops will be directly involved” Mr Ongeri said. However, he dismissed reports that the capture was put on hold until after the holy month of Ramadhan “that is not true, but again those are operational matters that we cannot discuss” he said.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

US military boosts aid to African nations, as terror incidents continue to increase

02 Aug – Source: Washington Post/AP – 233 words

Growing concerns about persistent terrorist threats from splintered al Qaeda groups across Africa have triggered an increase in U.S. military funding and more focus on a handful of African nations. Already this year, the Pentagon has poured more than $82 million into counter terrorism assistance for six African countries, with more than half of that going to Uganda, and much of the rest going to Kenya, Burundi and Djibouti — all key allies in the fight against the al Qaeda-linked militant group al Shabaab in Somalia.

The assistance, according to the State Department’s latest report on terrorism, may be starting to show some results in Somalia. But across Africa, the number of terrorist incidents increased by about 11.5 percent last year, including in Nigeria. The new report comes as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton begins a series of visits across the continent, including stops in Uganda and Kenya. The two countries are part of AMISOM, the African Union peacekeeping force that has been battling al Shabaab militants and has succeeded in largely pushing the militants out of Mogadishu, Somalia, after years of raging war.

That military effort has helped to make significant gains in degrading al Shabaab’s capability and liberating areas from al Shabaab administration, the State Department report said, adding that “foreign fighters and al Shabaab members remained in many parts of south and central Somalia and continued to mount operations within Somalia and against neighboring countries.”

Clinton’s East African Trip Focuses On Oil, Somalia,And Security

02 Aug – Source: Bloomberg/Business Week – 195 words

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will encourage East African leaders this week to boost security and political stability in a region threatened by al Qaeda and growing in importance as a source of energy. Clinton is scheduled to arrive in Uganda today as part of an 11-day tour that began in Senegalon July 31. She will meet leaders from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Somalia, countries essential to Washington’s strategy to fight Islamist militants and expand American economic interests.

“The dimension of security will be a central part of her visit,” Joseph Siegel, director of research at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, said in a phone interview from Washington on July 31. “The U.S. shares an interest in bringing stability to Somalia — that’s a key point of focus — and reducing the threat that terrorism poses regionally and internationally.”

The Horn of Africa nation’s Western-backed transitional government and an African Union-led military force are battling the Islamist insurgent group, al Shabaab, an al Qaeda’s franchise in Somalia. The country has been without an effective central government since 1991 and Islamist militants, pirates and criminal groups have made it a regional base of operations.

Seven Pakistani sailors released by Somali pirates: Ebad

01 Aug – Source: AP – 132 words

Seven Pakistani crew members of M.V. Al-Bedo ship,taken hostage by Somali pirates nearly two years ago, have been released.This was announced by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad at a news conference here on Wednesday.

He said the sailors would reach Karachi on Thursday at 9.30 p.m. Family members of the seamen were also present.The Governor said no ransom had been paid for the release of the hostages and only $1 million had been paid on account of expenses.

Dr. Ishratul Ebad thanked President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Interior Minister Abdul Rehman Malik, Director General ISI, Malik Riaz of Bahria Town, Citizens Police Liaison Committee chief Ahmed Chinoy, other philanthropists and institutions.He also thanked Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain and said he guided on every occasion on the matter.

UN officials welcome ‘historic’ approval of new constitution for Somalia

01 Aug – Source: UN – 761 words

The overwhelming approval of a Provisional Constitution for Somalia by the representative body convened for that purpose – a key step toward ending the Horn of Africa country’s long transition to stable governance – was hailed today by United Nations officials.

“The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption,” a spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York today. “He congratulates the delegates and the Somali leadership for this historic achievement and their commitment to ending the transition and to establishing new, representative political institutions in the country.”

Somalia: Take action to end the killings of media workers

01 Aug – Source: Amnesty International – 406 words

The Somali authorities and the international community must ensure that those responsible for the killings of media workers are brought to justice, following the death of comedian Abdi Jeylani Malaq ‘Marshale’ in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, Amnesty International has said.

Abdi Jeylani Malaq ‘Marshale’, a popular comedian, was shot dead by two men armed with pistols as he entered his home, at about 5.30pm, in the Waberi district of Mogadishu. He was buried this morning in the capital.

Although the motives for his killing remains unclear, Abdi Jeylani Malaq ‘Marshale’ had produced and broadcast satirical programs for the Somali Radio Kulmiye and Universal TV, and had previously received death threats from al Shabaab, the Islamist armed group fighting against Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“This is “the moment of truth”. Are we going to pursue a bright future or will we slide back to the dark days? Will we rise triumphed by sending our intelligentsia to the House of the people to represent our collective interest or will we succumb to our siege tribal mentality and extend the cynical reign of the myopic tribal warlords?”

A new dawn, a new day for Somalia

01 Aug – Source: Raxanreeb – 908 Words

August 1, 2012, Somalia marked the end of long and painful journey. The National Constitutional Assembly delegates provisionally approved the new Constitution. This is a historic achievement for Somalia long in the making.

The leaders of the Transitional Federal Government have successfully played their party, thanks to the unwavering support of UN Secretary General’s Envoy to Somalia, Ambassador Peter Augustine Mahiga and other Somali political stakeholders. He has shown honest and brotherly deduction to help Somalis out of the mess.

The ball is now squarely in the court of Civil Society, including the traditional elders, media and scholars. The implementation of the new Constitution will start right from the selection of the Members of the Federal Parliament – the subsequent element in Road-map. The members of the new Federal Parliament should be selected in accordance with the criteria set out by the new Constitution.

Top tweets

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@shaistaAziz #Rape is a hidden horror in Mogadishu where victims are afraid to speak out. The justice system barely functions #Somalia #womensrights.

@JosephWinter A surgeon in #Somalia tells of setting up medical services in areas where some people had never seen a doctor http://bbc.in/OK7eTi.

@Sojeede Somali Women are watching You. #Somalia #Somaliland #Puntland #Gelmudug #Alshabab #Women http://pic.twitter.com/KT4htQ4W.

@evolvingprimate Head of #Banadir Security Service survived an assassination attempt today in #Mogadishu. No known casualties. Attacker apprehended #Somalia.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Somali president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed tours a defunct textile factory in Bal’ad town, 30 km north-west of Mogadishu. Photo: Radio Mogadishu.