August 14, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
Traditional elders say parliament selection is almost over
13 Aug- Source: Radio Mogadishu- 111 words
Traditional clan elders who are involved in selecting members of the Somali parliament declared that their tasks on this process is on final stages warning obstacles that might come from politicians. Garad Jama’ head of selection committee told Radio Mogadishu that the first phase of parliament selection completed successfully saying that he was optimistic that the remaining parts would finish soon.
Key Headlines
- Traditional elders say parliament selection is almost over (Radio Mogadishu)
- AMISOM Condemns Targeted Assassinations Urges Action from Somali Authorities (AMISOM)
- President Sharif urges Elders Arbitration Committee to resolve obstacles in parliament selection (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Al Shabaab threatens Kenya with revenge (Radio Risaala)
- U.S hails AUUN IGAD joint statement on Somalia process (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Puntland forces ward off pirate attack on jail (Garowe Online)
- Ugandan Army Choppers: Two still missing (Daily Monitor/Daily Nation)
- 2 pre-teen pirates sent back to Somalia after trial in Seychelles (Source: Washington Post)
- 3 Ugandan helicopters have problems while headed to Somalia; no fatalities (Washington Post/AP)
PRESS RELEASE
AMISOM Condemns Targeted Assassinations, Urges Action from Somali Authorities
13 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 273 words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra, has said that Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government must do more to stop targeted killings within Mogadishu.
Ambassador Diarra said that although overall violence levels within the capital had reduced markedly since last year, there had been a steady rise in assassinations targeting journalists, government officials and businessmen.
“The Somali authorities must institute investigations into these killings with a view to bringing the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice,” he said. “AMISOM is ready to provide any assistance it can to help with such investigations,” he added. Ambassador Diarra condemned yesterday’s murders of businessman Mohamed Rage as well as those of Yusuf Ali Osma aka Yusuf-farey, the Director of Media Relations at the Ministry of Information, and journalist Mohamed Ali aka Buniste. Their killings bring to 7 the number of assassinations carried out in Mogadishu in the past week.
A week ago, the city marked the one year anniversary since AMISOM helped expel the al Qaeda-affiliated terror group, al Shabaab, out of fixed bases within it, ushering in the longest period of relative peace it has experienced in two decades.
Despite the targeted killings, this last year has seen a commercial and construction boom in Mogadishu as thousands of residents have taken advantage of the general improvements in security and returned to rebuild their homes and businesses.
The political process has also been re-energized and last month a National Constituent Assembly adopted a provisional constitution for the country, paving the way for the inauguration of a more representative and legitimate government.
MMHouse condemns target assassination against Somali Journalists
13 Aug – Source: TFG – 308 words
Mogadishu Media House (MMHouse) condemns in the strongest terms possible the double killing of journalists Muhamud Buneyste and Yusuf Ali Osman (Fareey) in Mogadishu.
The death of the journalists barely come hours of each other, painting the worsening state of affairs that continues to befall journalists in Somalia. This is further aggravated by the indifference portrayed by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia as it fails to prosecute perpetrators of this injustice.
“Mogadishu has become a grave yard for journalists because the TFG is encouraging impunity as it is yet to bring to books the assailants that have in 2012 alone claimed lives of 9 Somali news makers. The government has failed the fourth estate and we appeal to the international community to intervene, “stated MMH Director, Abdullahi Hassan Black.
The late Fareey who served as Somali Tennis Federation Vice President for 8 years was one of the founding members of the Somali Sports Press Association in 1997. The veteran journalist was gunned down by unidentified men on Sunday morning on his way to the ministry of information where he served as a consultant.
Hours after Farey’s burial, 22-year-old Buneyste was hit by stray bullets as he attempted to take pictures of a car accident outside Stadium Mogadishu in Yaqshid district. At the time of his death, Mr Buneyste worked for Voice of Democracy Radio and also served as a webmaster for www.horyaalmedia.com.
“We are saddened by the heinous act allegedly carried out by government soldiers, MMHouse, condoles with the bereaved family and friends of Farey and Buneyste,”
As an non-profit –non-governmental -organization charged with protection of journalists -by providing accommodation, securing movement and release , news production platform and technical support-we appeal to the international community and development partners to promote the efforts and activities of media advocacy programs in Somalia.
SOMALI MEDIA
Traditional elders say parliament selection is almost over
13 Aug- Source: Radio Mogadishu- 111 words
Traditional clan elders who are involved in selecting members of the Somali parliament declared that their tasks on this process is on final stages warning obstacles that might come from politicians.Garad Jama’ head of selection committee told Radio Mogadishu that the first phase of parliament selection completed successfully saying that he was optimistic that the remaining parts would finish soon.
President Sharif urges Elders Arbitration Committee to resolve obstacles in parliament selection
13 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 130 words
Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Monday urged Elders’ Arbitration Committee to try and resolve emerging differences within clans concerning the selection of the new parliament.The president made the remarks while meeting Somali elders in Mogadishu before flying to Saudi Arabia. He said the elders are required to speed up their selection process to meet the 20 August deadline, saying that there will be no additional time to extend this deadline. Garad Jama Garad Ali, chairman of the Elders’ Arbitration Committee said the selection process will soon be concluded as scheduled. After the meeting with the elders, the president travelled to Saudi Arabia for an official trip after receiving an official invitation from the kingdom, according to Foreign Affairs minister Abdiwahab Ugas Hussein.
Al Shabaab threatens Kenya with revenge
13 Aug- Source: Radio Risaala- 107 words
Al Shabaab Monday vowed to avenge for all the “civilians” killed in a recent shelling of Kismayo by warships it suspects belonged to Kenya. Al Shabaab commander in charge of Juba regions, Sheikh Abdurahman Hudeyfa , in a speech, said that Kenya will pay a price for its bombardment of the city and that they will strike a blow that “will chill them to the bone”, as he put it. He warned Kenya to be sure of a response.
Ex Somali PM returns home, urges action against al Shabaab
13 Aug – Source: Shabelle/Garowe Online/Mareeg Online/Jowhar Online/Radio Risaala – 76 words
Former Somali prime minister Omar Abdi-rashid Ali (Sharma’arke) returned home on Monday as the country is due to have a new parliament and president by the end of this month. Mr. Sharma’arke told reporters at Aden Adde International Airport that his former government has done a lot about the country’s national security, calling upon the current TFG to redouble the war on al Shabaab and its al Qaeda affiliate remained in Somalia.
U.S hails AU,UN, IGAD joint statement on Somalia process
13 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 93 words
The U.S. Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador James C. Swan has welcomed the recently statement jointly released by the UN, IGAD and AU concerning what they called increasingly interference of the selection of the new Somali parliament by individuals seeking to undermine this critical process. In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, Swan said the U.S welcomes the progress that has been made by the Somali leadership in trying to end the transitional period especially the selection of the elders, convening of the constituent assembly and the adoption of the new constitution.
Puntland forces ward off pirate attack on jail
13 Aug – Source: Garowe Online – 120 words
Puntland forces repelled an attack by armed pirates on the Galkayo central jail station early Sunday afternoon, Garowe Online reports. Pirates armed with automatic guns attacked the Galkayo central station in a bid to forcefully free fellow pirates who were apprehended in a raid by Puntland security forces that netted over 40 people related to insecurity in the region. Puntland forces repelled the attack, wounding two of the pirates who along with others were captured while a few fled the scene after failing to break free their comrades.
U.S. Condemns Assassination of Veteran journalist
13 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 105 words
The U.S. Special Representative for Somalia, Ambassador James C. Swan has condemned in the strongest terms Sunday’s cowardly murder of Yusuf Ali Osman, a veteran journalist who worked as the Media Relations Director for the Ministry of Information, Posts and Telecommunications. Swan said the United States is committed to helping end the culture of impunity and violence that threatens both the lives of Somalis and their universally recognized right to freedom of expression. “For the era of impunity to end in Somalia, those who seek to profit from or promote instability must be held accountable,” he said in a press statement sent to Bar-kulan newsroom.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Ugandan Army Choppers: Two still missing
13 Aug- Source: Daily Monitor/Daily Nation- 189 words
Two of the four Ugandan attack helicopters that went missing on Sunday as they flew to Somalia to shore up the final attack on the port city of Kismayo are still missing, the Ugandan Military says. Ugandan military spokesperson Col. Felix Kulayigye said in Kampala Monday afternoon that one – an MI-23 transport chopper, made it to Mogadishu, while two of the three MI-24 attack helicopters are yet to be found.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
3 Ugandan helicopters have problems while headed to Somalia; no fatalities
13 Aug – Source: Washington Post/AP – 137 words
One Ugandan military helicopter made an emergency landing and two others came down hard while being deployed to strengthen peacekeeping troops in Somalia, a Ugandan military spokesman said Monday. Col. Felix Kulayigye, the Ugandan army spokesman, said two of the aircraft were Mi-24 helicopter gunships and the third was an Mi-17. Kulayigye said the Ugandan military has received “unconfirmed reports” from Kenyan officials that there were no fatalities involved, even though the helicopters that had experienced a “hard landing” were yet to be located by the appropriate Kenyan officials.The two “hard landing” helicopters each carried 5 military personnel and crew, he said. The other two helicopters — an Mi-17 that arrived in Garissa safely and an Mi-24 that made an emergency landing around Mount Kenya — carried 18 military personnel and crew in total, he said.
Activists laud ban on FGM/C, say implementation will require more
13 Aug – Source: IRIN News – 126 words
Activists have welcomed a ban on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in the new constitution of Somalia – a country where 96 percent of women undergo one of the more extreme forms of the practice – but warn that translating the law into action will require more than just a legal declaration. “The fact that the new provisional constitution outlaws the circumcision of girls is a welcome development, but this will require education, awareness-raising and strong legal provisions. Without this, the provision will be little more than ink on a piece of paper,” Fatima Jibrell, a women’s advocate, told IRIN. The provisional constitution states, “Circumcision of girls is a cruel and degrading customary practice, and is tantamount to torture. The circumcision of girls is prohibited.”
2 pre-teen pirates sent back to Somalia after trial in Seychelles
13 Aug – Source: Washington Post – 131 words
Two Somali children traveling the high seas with pirates are being sent back to Somalia. The two pre-teens — ages 12 and 11 — were captured in January with 12 other Somalis on suspicion of piracy. The 11-year-old was acquitted because of his age. The 12-year-old was sentenced to a provisional release upon being sent back to Somalia.The Seychelles police said Monday that the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime was helping to fly the two back to northern Somalia to be reunited with their families. A recent report by the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea said the international community is investing big resources to pursue pirates at the bottom of the chain — such as illiterate youth — instead of going after piracy’s power brokers.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“In these critical times, Somalia needs men and women with integrity, vision for the future, who would put forth a comprehensive plan to bring Somalia out of the anarchy, mayhem, and also would uphold the territorial integrity of the country.”
Countdown to end Somalia’s Transitional Government
13 Aug- Source: Wardheernews-1066 Words
The situation in southern Somalia is both promising and perilous. It is promising, on one hand, because Al-Shabab fighters have been retreating and losing ground. Today, they do not control Mogadishu, Afgooye, Hiiraan, and parts of Gedo. The exception is Kismayo, the only major city the group still controls. The Kenyan contingent of the AMISOM forces has practically not made much of a progress in capturing the port city of Kismayo, a hub for the al Shabaab militant forces.