August 7, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali government to set up police forces for Beledweyne

06 Aug – Source: Shabelle/Mareeg Online – 92 words

Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) says it will form a police force for the restive central town of Beledweyne, 206 miles (332 km) North of Mogadishu, Somalia capital. Abdifatah Hassan Afrah, the governor of Hiiraan region for TFG, told Shabelle radio that the government has decided to establish well-trained police force for the city which has witnessed high alarming rate of insecurity acts in the past few months. Al Shabaab has in the past carried out many deadly attacks, including suicide and landmine blasts, killing numerous people, mostly officials and soldiers.

Key Headlines

Somali government to set up police forces for Beledweyne (Shabelle/Mareeg)
SRSG Mahiga welcomes the Communiqueì issued by the Signatories of the Roadmap for Ending the Transition (UNPOS)
Italy takes over EU Counter-Piracy Naval Force Command from France (Bar-kulan)
Ahlusuna: we are unaware of the roadmap and the constitution (Radio Kulmiye/Somali Channel)
The Telecommunication of Hudur town gets off-air (Radio Mustaqbal)
Kenyan defence minister criticises Muslim groups against anti -terror legislation (NTV)
Hargeisa Court frees Somaliland TV manager (Hadhwanaag Times)
Mogadishu celebrates 1 year since al Shabaab’s exit (AP)

PRESS RELEASE

SRSG Mahiga welcomes the Communiqueì issued by the Signatories of the Roadmap for Ending the Transition

06 Aug – Source: UNPOS – 467 words

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Dr. Augustine Mahiga, welcomed the CommuniquéÌ issued today by the Signatories of the Roadmap for Ending the Transition at the conclusion of a meeting convened to discuss and resolve outstanding issues and ensure that all

remaining tasks can be completed to end the current transitional period in two weeks time.

Six agenda items were discussed at the meeting; the consolidation and publication of the traditional elders list (in particular, the Dhulbahante elders issue); the selection of the 275 members of parliament; the integrity and protection of the technical selection committee; the procedures for election by the parliament of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the President; and the current political situation in Galmadug.

Originally planned to be a short meeting held on the margins of the signatories meeting with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the discussions today extended to a third day. “The issue of the Dubahande elders and the interpretation of the Garowe principles regarding the qualifications of Parliamentary candidates took a much longer time than was expected,” said SRSG Mahiga. “The discussions were difficult, but all participants spoke candidly and frankly. In the end a consensus was reached around all issues and a Communique initialed by all attendees was issued.”

SRSG Mahiga welcomed the consensus reached, but expressed concern at the time it took to resolve key issues. “Time is pressing. The process cannot afford any more delays,” SRSG Mahiga said. “Now that these discussions are done I urge all parties to focus all their energy on completing the remaining tasks on time, as they have publically committed to do.”

Through the communiqué, the signatories reaffirmed the need and the determination to end the transition on the 20 August, and issued a stern warning to end the intimidation and corrupt practices that have emerged around the nomination of Parliamentary candidates. They also stressed the need for the Technical Selection Committee, assisted by International Observers, to remain independent, objective, and ethical in their work. The issue around security and protection of the Technical Selection Committee was entrusted to UNPOS and AMISOM.

Dr. Mahiga also affirmed the importance of the work of the Technical Selection Committee and echoed the concern that they be protected. “Since some of the signatories are now candidates, there is also a need to insulate and protect both the traditional elders and the technical selection committee from all new and incumbent political aspirants to allow them to complete this most critical task of vetting the names of the new Parliamentarians,” SRSG Mahiga concluded.

President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed chaired the first day of discussions, and then delegated the chairing of the remainder of meeting to the Speaker, Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden when the President returned to Mogadishu to attend to urgent issues on Sunday.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali government to set up police forces for Beledweyne

06 Aug – Source: Shabelle/Mareeg Online – 92 words

Italy takes over EU Counter-Piracy Naval Force Command from France

06 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 118 words

Admiral Enrico Credindino of Italy today takes over command of the EU Naval force battling piracy off the coast of Somalia, reports say. Credindino takes over from Admiral Jean-Bapiste of France in a colourful ceremony held on board French warship FS Marne in Djibouti.The ceremony was presided over by the EU Naval Force Deputy Commander, Rear Admiral Galtiero Matesi (Italian Navy), who is based at the Operation Headquarters in Northwood, London. Speaking at the ceremony, the outgoing commander Rear Admiral Dupuis stressed how proud he was of his Force’s actions during his four months in command and the trust-based relationships he had with the task force units, which he saw as key to the good results obtained.

Ahlusuna: we are unaware of the roadmap and the constitution

06 Aug – Source: Radio Kulmiye/Somali Channel – 84 words

Sheikh Mohamed Yusuf Hefow, the executive chairman of Ahlusuna Wal Jama said they were not consulted about the ongoing political processes even though they are among the powerful administrations in the country worth to be consulted about the situations. “The TFG did not inform us about the roadmap and again we were not part of the National Constituent Assembly which approved the constitution “said by Sheikh Hefow.

The Telecommunication of Hudur town gets off-air

06 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 124 words

Reports from Hudur Town, the headquarter of Bay region in southern Somalia say the communication of the town was off-air after clashes occurred between Somali forces and al Shabaab fighters. Residents in Hudur town said the communication system went off after al Shabaab attacked and took over the town from Somalia’s TFG forces. Confrontation between the two sides resulted in the death 15 combatants from both sides.

Hargeisa Court frees Somaliland TV manager

06 Aug – Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 86 words

The court of Hargeisa has freed Hassan Mohamud Mohamed, the manager and finance chief of Somaliland national TV. The official has been in jail for five days after being accused of corruption. The arrest of Somaliland TV manager came after the security forces arrested a treasurer at Somaliland TV. The court freed Mr. Mohamed after the jailed treasurer failed to prove accusations against him. The court said that it will hear the charges against the Somaliland National TV treasurer on Saturday.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan defence minister criticises Muslim groups against anti -error legislation

06 Aug – Source: NTV – 0:35 sec

Kenyan acting Internal Security Minister who is also defence minister Yusuf Haji has criticised some Muslim groups over their stand on the Anti Terrorism Bill. Addressing clerics in Garissa town, Haji said the campaign against the new law was misguided, as it was not targeting Muslims. He said those opposing the bill were not speaking on behalf of Muslims.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Mogadishu celebrates 1 year since al Shabaab’s exit

06 Aug – Source: AP – 110 words

Residents of Mogadishu are celebrating the one-year mark since Islamist militants were forced out of the capital. It was last Aug. 6 that al Shabaab fighters fled the city in the face of military pressure from African Union and Somali forces. On Monday thousands of Somalis gathered in a Mogadishu sports stadium to celebrate a victory that ushered in a year of relative peace and progress.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Nowadays, it looks the luck of Somali people and state is changing for good and finally the light at end of the tunnel is getting brighter and nearer and many both in Diaspora and in the country feel uneasy because the end of TFG may not bring continuity the newly achieved gains of the past year. Many Somali intellectuals are happy to see transitional period is over but yet worried things may turn back without the right leadership.”

What’s the future for Somalia after August 20

06 Aug- Source: Africa News-506 Words

On 31st of July, members of Constituency Assembly approved the new provisional constitution of Somalia. This was a process that started seven years ago and for all practical purposes were not going anywhere until a year ago, when a new Prime Minister came on board with a cabinet of mainly professional s who he called them back from their comfort lives over the world.