November 6, 2012 | Morning Headlines.
U.S. expects Ugandan peacekeepers to stay in Somalia
05 Nov- Source: Reuters- 178 words
The United States expects Uganda to keep its peacekeeping forces in Somalia despite a threat to withdraw in protest at a U.N. report, a senior State Department official said on Monday. The government in Kampala said on Friday it would pull out of peacekeeping missions in Africa unless the United Nations amends a report accusing it of supporting rebels in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Key Headlines
- Under Secretary Wendy Sherman welcomes new Somali cabinet (Radio Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service)
- Roadside blast kills 4 Soldiers in Kismayo (Shabelle)
- UN officials visit Beledweyne town (Bar-kulan)
- Somalis implore Uganda not to withdraw troops (Africa Report)
- Senior US Diplomat Sees Hope in Somalia (VOA)
- U.S. expects Ugandan peacekeepers to stay in Somalia (Reuters)
SOMALI MEDIA
Under Secretary Wendy Sherman welcomes new Somali cabinet
05 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/BBC Somali Service- 189 words
The U.S Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman has welcomed the appointment of the new Somali cabinet by Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon. Sherman noted that the United States is pleased to see that the new cabinet includes two women, which is a positive reflection of the important role women play in all aspects of Somali life. In her comments to senior Somali officials, Under Secretary Sherman stressed her conviction that Somalia is now a place of hope, not of despair. She affirmed the centrality of the Somali government and people in guiding international support to the country and urged the Somali leadership to continue to consolidate gains by helping local governance structures emerge through community dialogue and reconciliation, rapidly providing services, drafting legislation to facilitate implementation of the provisional constitution adopted in August, and addressing al Shabaab defectors and the charcoal stockpile in the port city of Kismayo. Sherman however encouraged Somalia’s civil society and business community to continue giving robust voice to their constituencies in engaging the emerging governmental institutions and holding them accountable as the new government establishes itself and its priorities.
Congratulatory messages pour in for Somali women ministers
05 Nov- Source: Somaliland Press- 444 words
Congratulatory messages have began pouring in for Somalia’s first ever appointed woman deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister. Women groups across east Africa have welcomed the naming of Fowziya Yusuf Haji Adan as the new deputy prime minister and foreign minister in Somalia’s new permanent government. Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Said announced his cabinet on Sunday in the Somali capital Mogadishu, citing that this was the smallest cabinet in Somalia’s history — half of the previous transitional administration.
Ten arrested in Qansah-dhere town
05 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 76 words
Somali forces in Qansah-dhere town, Bay region, Sunday night arrested ten people in a security crackdown aimed at stamping out remnant militants in the area. Reports say soldiers acting on a tip-off from locals raided targeted places in the town and arrested the suspects. The suspects are now being held in the area police station for further questioning. The area administration has been conducting similar operation in effort to contain insecurity in the region.
Roadside blast kills 4 Soldiers in Kismayo
05 Nov- Source: Shabelle- 140 words
At least four soldiers died and others injured on Monday in a roadside bomb that rocked Somalia’s southern port city of Kismayo, 500 Km south of Mogadishu, reports said. Reports said the blast occurred near the airport targeting a military convoy carrying Kenyan soldiers serving under the African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
UN officials visit Beledweyne town
05 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 102 words
A UN delegation on Monday visited central Somali town of Beledweyne where they held talks with the local administration and AMISOM officials to discuss security situation in the region. The officials from the United Nations Department of Security and Safety (UNDSS) also toured several parts of the town including military bases and government offices. During the meeting, participants discussed ways to strengthen security in the region and aiding internally displaced persons, according to area deputy head of security Ahmed Osman. Osman promised to closely work with aid agencies supporting locals in the area by providing the maximum security required.
REGIONAL MEDIA
IGAD urges Somalia to lift ban on charcoal
05 Nov- Source: The Star- 890 words
The son of prominent North Eastern legislator is in an Inter Governmental Authority on Development delegation that at the weekend travelled to Mogadishu, Somalia to urge the newly elected President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to change his mind on the ban on charcoal export. The delegation that included Igad executive secretary Mahboub Maalim, a representative from Ethiopia and the son of a Kenyan minister in an Igad technical committee dealing with the Jubaland process travelled to Mogadishu in an attempt to arm twist President Mohamud into not supporting the UN ban.
Somalis implore Uganda not to withdraw troops
05 Nov- Source: Africa Report- 322 words
Somalis living in Uganda have appealed to President Yoweri Museveni’s government to reconsider its threats to withdraw peace keepers from their country. There are fears a planned withdrawal Ugandan troops would give the momentum to al Shabaab Islamist militants who are losing their ruthless grip on the country.

 An estimated 30,000 Somalis live in Uganda with about 16000 found in Kampala while others are housed at a refugee camp about 400 kilometers from the capital.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Senior US Diplomat Sees Hope in Somalia
05 Nov- Source: VOA- 390 words
U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman has praised as “extraordinary” the work Somalia’s new parliament is doing to rebuild the country under difficult circumstances. She commented following a visit to Mogadishu that coincided with the appointment of Somalia’s first female foreign minister. Ambassador Sherman, the third-highest ranking official in the State Department, met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and other top members of the Somali government Sunday during her visit to the capital. She is the most senior American official to travel to Somalia in more than 20 years.
U.S. expects Ugandan peacekeepers to stay in Somalia
05 Nov- Source: Reuters- 178 words
The United States expects Uganda to keep its peacekeeping forces in Somalia despite a threat to withdraw in protest at a U.N. report, a senior State Department official said on Monday. The government in Kampala said on Friday it would pull out of peacekeeping missions in Africa unless the United Nations amends a report accusing it of supporting rebels in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
SOCIALMEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Since the composition of the newly nominated cabinet ministers does not reflect concerns and representations of diverse groups within Somali society, it may be a recipe for disunity and emergence of opposition forces. Therefore, it is high time that Somali MPs take their responsibilities courageously to disapprove the proposed cabinet ministers.”
The new cabinet is a real threat to the unity of Somalia
05 Nov- Source: Wardheernews-657 Words
The composition of the newly appointed cabinet ministers of Somalia was received with a sense of jubilation by the secessionist administration in the north of Somalia. The vigorous diplomatic pressure they exerted on President Hassan and his Prime Minister Mr. Saacid yielded results, because prominent Unionists Politicians from the north are not only overlooked intentionally, but the whole portfolios went to the South as well. From traditional perspective, even Ms. Fosia Haji Adam, the recently nominated foreign and deputy prime minister, is more southerner than a northerner!!!