October 31, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Turkish oil firm Genel to explore in Somalia from 2013

30 Oct- Source: Reuters- 269 words

Turkish oil and gas company Genel Energy Plc plans to conduct seismic work in northwestern Somalia early next year and drill its first well in the second quarter of 2014 and another well in 2015, company officials said. The London-listed explorer said in August it had the rights to two blocks, Block 13 and Block 10B, in the country’s semi-autonomous Somaliland region.

Key Headlines

Somali AU forces conduct security operations in Kismayo (Shabelle)
Five People were injured in an explosion in Kismayu town (Radio Risaala)
AMISOM offers IHL training to senior officials of the Somali National Forces (AMISOM)
ASWJ to parade defected al Shabaab militants in Gedo (Radio Bar-kulan)
German aid for refugee clinics may be in jeopardy (Reuters)
Ethiopia struggling to host Somali refugees since Kenya closed its doors (AlertNet)

PRESS STATEMENT

AMISOM offers IHL training to senior officials of the Somali National Forces

30 Oct- Source: AMISOM- 414 words

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has opened a three day workshop on Improving Understanding and Compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for senior officials of the Somali Armed Forces.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra said while opening the workshop in Djibouti that Somalia is a signatory to the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1948 and therefore bound by both applicable treaty and customary IHL rules in additional to having a rich culture imbued with humanitarianism and respect for human dignity.

He said; “The Somali Armed Forces were once one of the largest and well trained in sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, this capacity has been significantly lost over the past decades. Somalia’s Armed Forces currently consist of cadres of senior officers in need of refresher training in IHL and a large number of new recruits with limited or no training in IHL.This poses danger in terms of compliance with IHL and protection of civilians.”

Ambassador Diarra noted that commanders have important responsibilities in ensuring respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which can only be realized if they are aware of their obligations under IHL. “In accordance with AMISOM’s mandate to build the capacity of the Somalia National Army including through assisting in the implementation of the National Security Stabilization Plan (NSSP), we are gathered here today to contribute to strengthening and professionalizing of the Somali Armed Forces by introducing the essential rules of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) binding on Somalia.” He said.

Ambassador Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra was particularly pleased that for the first time the workshop was being attended by senior officials of the Somali Federal Government.

The specific objectives of the workshop are; promoting understanding of IHL applicable to the conflict in Somalia in particular the rules of the law that are relevant to the commanders’ actual functions, Identifying gaps and challenges to compliance with IHL in the context of the conflict in Somalia and to identify and agree on strategies and actions to overcome the challenges.

40 officers from the Somali National Army and Somali Air Force, and officials from the Ministry of Defense are participating in the workshop. The Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) is providing technical support for the workshop through its Training for Peace (TFP) project. The workshop was formally opened by the Djibouti Chief of Defense Forces, General Hasan Ali, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Djibouti.

UN Special Representative for Somalia statement on killing of Warsame Shire Awale

30 Oct- Source: UNPOS- 266 words

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga condemns in the strongest terms the latest killing of another media worker in Mogadishu. The latest victim is a playwright and comedian for Kulmiye News Network, Warsame Shire Awale; who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen last night in Mogadishu.

“This has been the deadliest year for journalists and media workers in Somalia” said SRSG Mahiga. The latest killing raised the number of Somali media professionals killed in 2012 to 18.

Two days ago, Mohamed Mohamud Turyare, a journalist and producer with Radio Shabelle, died as a result of wounds inflicted on 21st October when he was shot in a similar attack.

“I strongly condemn the targeted and persistent assault on Somalia’s media professionals. The world is concerned that none of these murders have resulted in conclusive arrests, investigations and due process or convictions of suspects. We renew our offer to facilitate assistance to the Government in addressing impunity and urge the Somali public to assist the Government by providing information, which will expose perpetrators of these violent acts to law enforcement agencies” said SRSG Mahiga.

“The role of the media is paramount in fostering a democratic society and bringing lasting peace and stability” said SRSG Mahiga. “The media proved most valuable in advancing the Roadmap process, which have brought welcome change in Somalia” added SRSG Mahiga.

“I send my condolences to the family and friends of Warsame Shire Awale and to the Somali media community, which continues its service with exceptional courage, undeterred by the risks and threats associated with their profession.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali, AU forces conduct security operations in Kismayo

30 Oct- Source: Shabelle- 91 words

Somali and African Union forces launched on Tuesday a sweep in the port city of Kismayo, capturing landmines and other explosive materials, reports said. Witnesses in the city told Shabelle radio via telephone that the allied forces discovered landmines placed on a road and explosives in a house during their security operations. Somali military officials in Kismayo, declined to comment further on the crackdown.

ASWJ to parade defected al Shabaab militants in Gedo

30 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 138 words

The pro-government Ahlu Sunna militia group has promised to show the media and the public in Beled-hawo town two alleged militant defectors who surrendered to their officials in Gedo. In an exclusive interview with Bar-kulan, the group’s spokesman in Gedo Mohamed Hussein Al-Qadi said over four young militants have so far surrendered to them in the last five days. He alleged that several others are willing to run away from the militants group and are in contact with their officials in the region, adding that they will soon be received.

Five People were injured in an explosion in Kismayu town

30 Oct- Source: Radio Risaala/Radio Kulmiye/Shabelle-74 words

Details are still coming in of a recent explosion in Kismayu which targeted Somali troops. The explosion happened near the Kismayu police station; the casualties are said to be 5 with two police and three civilians being wounded.

Destruction as rains continue pounding Mudug region

30 Oct- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 172 words

Heavy rains pounding parts of central Somali region of Mudug have reportedly affected hundreds of families in remote parts of the region.
Most of the affected people are said to be those living in remote villages and pastoralist families. Khalar Sheikh Abdisamed, a resident of War-shubo of Haradere district, one of the worst hit villages in the region, told Bar-kulan they lost herds of goats and other property in the last five days alone.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Security boost at prison after plot to free suspect unveiled

30 Oct- Source: Daily Nation- 517 words

Security has been boosted at the Shimo la Tewa Prison in Mombasa after police uncovered a plot to raid the jail and free a prime terror suspect being held there. It was part of a bigger plan to carry out a series of terror attacks at the Coast in which the suspect, Mr Thabit Jamaldin Yahya, was to be among a team of over 10 suicide bombers, according to an intelligence report seen by the Nation.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

German aid for refugee clinics may be in jeopardy

30 Oct- Source: AP- 131 words

German diplomatic memo warns that a restructuring of aid policies could leave thousands of Somali refugees in a camp in Kenya without proper medical assistance. Germany’s GIZ aid agency currently runs six health centers in the sprawling Dadaab camp near the Somali border jointly with the U.N.’s refugee agency.

Turkish oil firm Genel to explore in Somalia from 2013

30 Oct- Source: Reuters- 269 words

Ethiopia struggling to host Somali refugees since Kenya closed its doors

30 Oct- Source: AlertNet- 522 words

Ethiopia is opening a sixth camp to host Somali refugees in Dollo Ado, which has become the world’s second largest refugee complex since Kenya suspended refugee registration amid rising insecurity. Ethiopia is now the main destination for Somali refugees in the region, hosting 214,000 people in the Dollo Ado and Jijiga camps near its arid southeastern border. Despite the opening of a fifth camp less than a year ago, the Dollo Ado complex is full once again. Its population passed the 170,000 mark earlier this month.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

Somalia’s refugee camps leave women and girls vulnerable to violent assault – audio slideshow

30 Oct- Source: Guardian-02:21 mins

The promise of humanitarian assistance has encouraged thousands of Somali families affected by drought and conflict to converge on Mogadishu. But while the capital’s refugee camps appear to offer a safe haven, the reality for mothers and daughters is markedly different, with many living in fear of rape by armed bandits. Photographer Kate Holt travelled to Mogadishu to document their plight.