August 21, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

Main Story

Somali MPs sworn in to historic parliament

21 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service – 194 words

Somalia’s first formal parliament in more than 20 years has been sworn in in the capital, Mogadishu on Monday, marking an end to an eight-year transitional period. The MPs held their first session at Adan Adde International airport, one of the most heavily secured areas of the city. The new parliament is expected to elect a speaker and two deputies before a new president in the next few weeks. Members of the new parliament spent Monday morning at the country’s main airport, which is under protection of the African Union force, being accredited, according to the BBC.

The new parliament which is made up of a lower house with 275 members and an upper house with a maximum of 54 members held its first session. So far, 211 MPs have been sworn in – enough for a quorum – by clan elders and vetted by a technical selection committee to eliminate people accused of war crimes. According to tradition, the interim speaker of parliament is the oldest MP – Gen Muse Hassan. He will oversee the formation of an electoral commission that will organise the vote of the new parliamentary speaker and the president.

Key Headlines

President Sharif demands fair elections (Radio Mustaqbal)
Somali MPs sworn in to historic parliament (Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service)
UN chief welcomes inauguration of new Somali Federal Parliament as ‘watershed moment’ (UN News Center)
Statement by the Press Secretary on Somalia’s New Federal Parliament (Office of the Press Secretary)
Progress on transition in Somalia (UK in Somalia)
UN envoy urges traditional elders to finish parliament selection (Reuters)
Somalia to get extra time to meet UN deadline: envoys (Daily Nation/AFP)

PRESS RELEASE

Statement by the Press Secretary on Somalia’s New Federal Parliament

21 Aug – Source: Office of the Press Secretary – 227 words

The United States welcomes today’s convening of Somalia’s New Federal Parliament. This marks an important milestone in completing the Roadmap to End the Somali Transition. We commend the people of Somalia for their hard work and unwavering commitment to a better future, and urge those remaining Somali communities that have not yet nominated their members of parliament to do so with urgency. We also call on all communities to work to increase the participation of women in the Parliament and other leading national institutions, now and in the future, as called for in the Provisional Constitution.

We look forward to Parliament expeditiously completing all remaining tasks. Parliament must now quickly adopt rules of procedure and hold elections for Speaker and then President. The United States reminds Somali leaders of their responsibility to the people of Somalia to fulfill their obligations to immediately end transition. Any attempt to impede the political transition will not be tolerated. All parties must work in a fair and transparent manner and will be held accountable for any failure to do so.

Today’s convening of a new Parliament marks another step towards ending instability and restoring governance. The United States will continue to work with the international community, regional stakeholders, and the people of the Somalia to promote transparency, good governance, and development to achieve a better future for the people of Somalia.

Progress on transition in Somalia

21 Aug – Source: UK in Somalia – 126 words

“Convening a new federal national parliament gives the people of Somalia a stake in their political future for the first time in a generation.” said Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt.

“This is a welcome first step towards their goal of building a credible, legitimate and accountable government. We will continue to do all we can to support Somalia to achieve this.

“I urge all parties to finish what they have started within the next few days: appoint the remaining parliamentarians quickly, fulfil the quotas for women, and appoint a Speaker and President as soon as possible. Anyone who tries to spoil or delay the end of transition, or deny the Somali people the opportunity for a more representative and legitimate government should be held to account.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali MPs sworn in to historic parliament

21 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service – 194 words

The new parliament is expected to elect a speaker and two deputies before a new president in the next few weeks. Members of the new parliament spent Monday morning at the country’s main airport, which is under protection of the African Union force, being accredited, according to the BBC.

President Sharif demands fair elections

21 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 163 words

Somalia’s interim president has called on the newly-selected members of Parliament to hold the fair and just presidential election. The president congratulated Somali People on the establishment of the new government that will restore, peace, security and order in Somalia, calling on the population to rebuild their country and collaborate with government in restoring all important issues for their life.

He was speaking at a swearing in ceremony for the new parliament in Mogadishu. 221 members of Parliament were on Tuesday night sworn in, marking the first step to install a central government as since the ouster of President Mohamed Siyad Barre in 1991.

UN envoy urges traditional elders to finish parliament selection

20 Aug – Source: Radio Risaala – 114 words

United Nation’s Special Representative to Somalia, Augustine Mahiga urged Somali traditional elders to complete the list of the names of the lawmakers so that the new parliament can start its work immediately.

Addressing press in Mogadishu’s Aden Ade Airport, Mahiga said the completion of the selection process will pave the way for the elections of of the speaker, his deputy and finally the president. The UN envoy said that he hoped these tasks will be accomplished smoothly very soon.

Ahlu Sunna speaks on fighting in Hiiraan region

21 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 120 words

The Deputy Commissioner for Ahlu Sunna in Mataban district of Hiiraan region, Central Somalia spoke about fighting that pitted Ahlu Sunna fighters and armed militias in the district. Liban Abdi told Mustaqbal radio that two people, a woman and a fighter were wounded after unidentified armed men attacked the base of Ahlu Sunna fighters in the district.

U.S welcomes Somalia’s New Federal Parliament

21 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 237 words

The United States has welcomed Monday’s convening of Somalia’s New Federal Parliament which marked an important milestone in completing the Roadmap to End the Somali Transition. In a statement from the White House, the U.S said “we commend the people of Somalia for their hard work and unwavering commitment to a better future, and urge those remaining Somali communities that have not yet nominated their members of parliament to do so with urgency”.

The U.S also called on all communities to work to increase the participation of women in the Parliament and other leading national institutions as called for in the Provisional Constitution. “We look forward to Parliament expeditiously completing all remaining tasks. Parliament must now quickly adopt rules of procedure and hold elections for Speaker and then President,” added the statement.

The United States reminded Somali leaders of their responsibility to the people of Somalia to fulfill their obligations in order to immediately end transition. The U.S warned of any attempt to impede the political transition, saying that it will not be tolerated and urged all parties in work in a fair and transparent manner adding that they will be held accountable for any failure to do so.

Somali govt displays al Shabaab defectors

19 Aug – Source: Hadhwanaag Times – 95 words

Somalia’s National Security Agency on Saturday displayed two al Shabaab fighters that had defected and surrendered to the government. The defectors, identified as Mohamed Osman and Aden Noor, said they decided to defect after they understood what they have been doing was very wrong.

Mr. Mohamed said he was in Jowhar when he joined the militant group and then he was transferred to Mogadishu where he fought against Somali government and AMISOM. In the past few years, al Shabaab has been weakened after in Mogadishu and southern Somalia.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia to get extra time to meet UN deadline: envoys

21 Aug – Source: Daily Nation/AFP – 223 words

Somalia’s transitional government missed a UN deadline on Monday to elect a new president but will be given more time to complete political steps agreed with the Security Council, diplomats said. UN leader Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the inauguration of a new federal parliament in conflict-stricken Mogadishu but said the final transition steps must be urgently completed “in an environment free from intimidation.”

The UN said 215 of the 275 members in the transitional parliament had been sworn in on Monday. Some 185 were needed to allow the assembly to work with a functioning majority. But to be in line with the August 20 deadline set by the Security Council, the assembly should also have elected a president, a parliamentary speaker and deputy speaker.

Ethiopians lost their honored leader; Prime Minister Meles has died

21 Aug – Source: Walta Information Centre – 73 words

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died Monday mid night. Ethiopians lost their dedicated leader who has contributed to the transformation of the country from absolutely dictatorial military rule and poverty to democratic and development.

The Premier had been one of the most remarkable transformational leaders in Africa and the rest of the world. According to the information released from Council of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn will be acting prime minister.

International Crisis Group call for ‘transparent process’ in Somalia

21 Aug – Source: Coast Week/Xinhua – 898 words

The International Crisis Group (ICG) on Monday called on the world to ensure that the process towards installing a permanent government in Somalia is transparent and free from manipulation.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, the ICG also warned that should roadmap signatories fail to resolve their political differences within 60 days and stop manipulating the transition process, the world should recognize Somalia’s council of elders as the legal representatives of the Somali people and the depository of Somalia’s sovereignty.

“They should be asked to form a caretaker government that would ensure continuity of government and more importantly assume responsibility for concluding the end of transition process and ushering in an inclusive and accountable government,” the think- tank said.

Poll, Somali border row rattle oil explorers

20 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 578 words

Next year’s General Election and a looming dispute over a maritime border with Somalia are causing jitters among oil explorers in the country, tempering the optimism that had been growing in the industry.

Tullow’s Ngamia discovery and the potential for oil wealth could emerge as a highly politicised issue in the coming election, said investment analysts at Germany’s Deutsche Bank. Exploration activity is expected to slow down immediately before and in the aftermath of the election slated for March next year.

Why East Africa, world are watching closely as Somalia votes

18 Aug – Source: East African – 530 words

Governments in the East African region and beyond will be closely following the Somali presidential elections to be held on August 20, hoping to see a strong government emerge to protect their interests.

What is at stake as Somalia votes? A number of countries from the region have strategic interests in Somalia that are at variance with each other, even though they have come together under the umbrella of the African Union Mission in Somalia, AMISOM, to defeat al Shabaab and stabilise the country.

In theory, regional partners want a strong central government that would permanently end the al Shabaab threat, chase foreign terrorists from Somali soil, and end the insecurity that plagued the region since the collapse of the Somali state in 1991.

In theory also, the partners would like to see the will of the people of Somalia reflected in a free and fair election. However, the different countries are still trying to influence the outcome by quietly lobbying for candidates they believe will serve their strategic interests best. For the member states of the East African Community, the continued conflict in Somalia has brought piracy and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s Islamist rebels hail Ethiopia PM Meles’ death

21 Aug – Source: Reuters – 65 words

Somali Islamist militants hailed on Tuesday the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi as an “historic day” and said Ethiopia, which has troops inside Somalia, would now crumble.

“We are very glad about Meles’ death. Ethiopia is sure to collapse,” Sheikh Ali Mohamud Rage, the spokesman for al Shabaab told Reuters. Meles twice rolled his troops across the border to help crush Islamist insurgencies.

Somalia Olympic runner ‘drowns trying to reach Europe’

20 Aug – Source: BBC – 341 words

A Somali Olympic athlete has reportedly drowned while attempting to reach Europe on a migrant boat. Runner Samia Yusuf Omar was trying to cross from Libya to Italy in April when the boat she was travelling in sank, according to Italian media. The head of Somalia’s National Olympic Committee confirmed to the BBC that she had died but did not say how. Samia competed in the 200m event at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 despite having almost no formal training.

Somalia wakes up to a different picture, a new sense of optimism

19 Aug – Source: Guardian – 1498 words

Under cover of darkness the men creep out to their prime targets in the capital of Somalia. Their aim is to grab attention with a spectacular political statement. By dawn they will have disappeared without trace, but the city will not be the same.

Meet Muhiyidin Sharif Ibrahim, Adan Farah Affey, Mohamed Ali Tohow and Ahmed Ado, a collective of painters slowly but surely changing the face of Mogadishu through guerrilla art. Their message – for peace, against corruption – is riding a wave of optimism unprecedented for more than two decades in this all but doomed city.

UN chief welcomes inauguration of new Somali Federal Parliament as ‘watershed moment’

20 Aug – Source: UN News Centre – 827 words

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomes the inauguration today of the New Federal Parliament of Somalia as a major milestone in the nation’s peace and reconciliation process, according to his spokesperson.

“He congratulates the people of Somalia on reaching this watershed moment on their road to peace, stability and political transformation,” Mr. Ban’s spokesperson added in a statement. “The Somali people have waited twenty years for peace to take root in their country. Now is the time to begin a new chapter in their history.”

According to the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), some 215 of the total number of 275 Members of Parliament were sworn in today at an inauguration ceremony in the capital, Mogadishu, passing the benchmark of 185 which allows for the new Federal Parliament to convene with a functioning majority. The UN chief was joined in his welcoming of the inauguration by his Special Representative and head of UNPOS, Augustine Mahiga.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“From the international community a more realistic frame of mind will allow them to craft an approach that seeks incremental improvements and manages the expectations of Somali people and their international partners. Otherwise we may see a repeat of Afghan history in Somalia. By 2013, we may find the end of the transition has not provided any renewed legitimacy to central institutions…”

History repeats itself in Somalia

20 Aug – Source: New Statesman Blog – 705 Words

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the Foreign Secretary William Hague are publicly optimistic that Somalia’s transition is going well. Having just returned from Mogadishu, I can say that the reality on the ground does not meet this optimism. At best, Western powers have a naïve vision of political developments within Somalia, at worst they are showing a wilful misunderstanding of current dynamics and ignoring problems which are being created for the future. International players need to radically reassess their analysis if they do not want Somalia to slide into a new wave of conflict.

Directed by its fight against a Jihadi organisation, al Shabaab, the “international community” – basically Western States led by the USA and UK – emphasize military successes over the last year against that movement and the timely implementation of a political roadmap that, it argues, provides Somalia with permanent institutions, a better qualified Parliament and a new leadership to move the country into a period of recovery.

“Neither the Somalis who led the “election” process nor the main international players involved, including the United States, see the country as being ready for real democracy. They fear it might upset the delicate balance of power between the clans and lead to more bloodshed. But many Somalis say that unless Monday’s election produces a different crop of leaders from the transitional figures who have misgoverned Somalia for the last five years, it won’t have credibility or legitimacy, nor will it bring the change they crave.”

Can Somalia dare to hope for the future?

20 Aug – Source: Los Angeles Times – 1140 Words

As Somalia approaches its umpteenth attempt to forge a government that will actually stick, there’s a deadening familiarity here: bloodstained warlords reemerging, clan elders manipulating politics, roadblocks going up as militias try to reclaim turf.

And yet a year of relative peace in Mogadishu, long the world capital of chaos, and the recent adoption of a new constitution have raised faint hopes that this latest stab at shedding the “failed state” label might actually work. But can it?

“A rare mood of optimism is in the air, as on Monday members of a new parliament were sworn in, whose first duty will be to choose a new president, prime minister and speaker. The process has been dogged by delays, as members have been nominated by tribal elders, vetted by a committee on the hunt for warlords, and subject to a welter of allegations of intimidation and corruption. But the hope is that, along with a new draft constitution, better governance will result. Is this optimism misplaced? Much will depend on how new the new government is.”

Somalia: confidence grows in Mogadishu

20 Aug – Source: The Guardian Blog – 480 Words

Mogadishu is waking up from a 21-year nightmare. Countless buildings lie pulverised while people squat in tents amid the rubble but, at least for some in the capital, the war appears to have receded. Peace is a relative word, as two suicide bombers recently made clear, but in the past year al Shabaab has suffered dramatic reverses, losing territory, revenue, and some measure of unity.

The foreign armies that roamed Somalia are either putting themselves under the command of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), as is the case with the Djiboutian and Kenyan forces, or indicating that they intend to withdraw.

“As incomplete as the process may be at this point in time, the fact that Somalia is attempting to define a national leadership for itself represents an important step — even if, for the moment, it remains a symbolic one.”

The world’s No. 1 Failed State gets a government

20 Aug – Source: Foreign Policy Blog – 557 Words

For over two decades, Somalia has been touted as the paradigm of a failed state — an ungovernable web of warring clans, militias and semi-autonomous statelets that have not seen centralized control since the last government imploded in 1991. However, on August 20, as Somalia’s winding eight year U.N.-sponsored transitional process draws to a close, 215 new members of parliament were sworn in and held their first parliamentary session at the Mogadishu airport.

Though the unconventional location — chosen because it is one of the most highly secured areas in the city — could be seen as inauspicious, the MPs selected today represent the closest thing the country has had to a real government in 20 years.

Top tweets

@BBCNews A #Somalia runner who competed at the Beijing #Olympics has reportedly drowned on the way to Europe on a migrant boat http://bbc.in/OtlP4Z.

@HMAMattBaugh The new #Somali Parliament is being convened with a functioning majority of 211 MPs out of 275. A new phase in Somalia’s future begins.

@MinisterHashi There are many educated members in the new Parliament. I am optimistic that we will quickly move the state re-building agenda forward.

@livingstone2004 I am getting slighly tired of constant blame on foreigners for either failing to fix #Somalia or getting too involved. http://bit.ly/PM3S4r.

@mary_harper: Corruption is a huge problem in the current #Somali government. The next will be cleaner: http://bbc.in/JBUyIm.

@PiersPloughman Horsetrading a plenty in #Mogadishu, some interesting CVs. A triumph of hope over expectation. Dirty politics apart life goes on.

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Image of the day

Image of the day New members of parliament placed their hands on copies of the Koran as they were sworn in on Monday in Mogadishu. Photo: BBC/AFP.