January 2, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

2012 one of “bloodiest years” for journalists – media body

31 Dec- Source: Reuters- 339 words
A heavy death toll in war zones such as Syria and Somalia made 2012 one of the bloodiest years for journalists, with 121 killed, an international journalists’ group said on Monday.
The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said the figure was up from 107 journalists and other media workers killed in targeted attacks, bomb blasts and cross-fire incidents in 2011.
The heavy casualties were the result of a “systematic failure by governments and the United Nations to fulfil their international obligations to protect and enforce journalists’ basic right to life”, the group said.

Key Headlines

Somali presidents is in Sudan for official visit (SONNA/Radio Mogadishu)
Mogadishu Mayor survives assassination attempt (Radio Risaala)
Year End Letter (UNPOS)
90 UPDF soldiers get promotion (Daily Monitor)
Somalis in Nairobi-Kenya come home back (Universal TV/Radio Bar-kulan)
Al Shabaab leaders withdraw from Bardhere town ((Radio Bar-kulan)
Kenyan among 10 convicted in Ethiopia over Qaeda links (businessdailyafrica/AFP)
President Farole defends Puntland constitution and statehood (Garowe Online)
Electronic money transfer improves in Somalia (Press TV)
Ethiopia extends its New Year good wishes to Somalia (Radio Bar-kulan)

PRESS STATEMENT

Year End Letter

01 Jan- Source: UNPOS- 1231 words

from Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia Augustine P. Mahiga

We have come to the end of an historic year for Somalia, for the region and for the rest of the international community. On 10 September 2012 a new Somali Parliament, sitting in Mogadishu, elected a President—the first such democratic exercise in over twenty years. Holding such an election in the Somali capital would have been unthinkable just months before, and it sent an unambiguous signal to Somalis, to the region and to the international community that the winds of change were blowing. In Mogadishu, the sound of gunfire and explosions has been replaced with the noise of construction and the hum of commerce. Flights into the city are booked solid months in advance. New restaurants and hotels open every day and the city’s building boom produces frequent concrete shortages. Fresh produce from the countryside and fish from the ocean spill from the city’s bustling markets and scores of Somalis from the diaspora return to Mogadishu each day. Similar stories are being played out in other cities recently recovered from the insurgents. Hope and progress have returned to Somalia.

After several failed attempts to end of the Transition in Somalia, we succeeded this past year because the process was inclusive, transparent, legitimate, participatory and Somalia-owned. This underpinned the integrity of the change process, which was enabled on the security front by the determined efforts of the Somali National Forces and the AU Peacekeeping Mission (AMISOM). Throughout this remarkable year, the United Nations, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other international partners worked together to overcome challenges as they arose. Above all, it was the desire of the Somali people for peace and change that moved the process forward. Patience and persistence pays.
In August 2012 we celebrated the first anniversary since al Shabaab was forced out of Mogadishu. This followed a watershed moment in Somalia’s political history when the Signatories to the Roadmap and leaders of all major clans selected a Council of traditional elders who in turn selected delegates from a broad cross-section of Somali Society; to a National Constituent Assembly (NCA) that adopted a Provisional Constitution. The provisional constitution will eventually be ratified through a referendum and it will serve as the supreme law of the country and constitutionally guarantee the rights and freedoms of the Somali people while maintaining a system of checks and balances between the different branches of government.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali presidents is in Sudan for official visit

01 Jan- Source: SONNA/Radio Mogadishu/Jowhar Online/SNTV- 152 words

Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud led a high level delegation to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum where he is expected to attend Sudan’s independence day.

President Mohamud and his delegation left the capital Mogadishu Tuesday to attend the 57th anniversary of Sudan’s independence, Somali National News Agency SONNA reported.

President Mohamud is also expected to hold talks with his host, Omar Hassan Albashir of Sudan. The independence celebration will occur in Sudan’s Blue Nile province.

President Hassan is expected to pay another short visit to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, one of the countries that contributed troops to serve in the African union peacekeeping forces backing Somali national army in the fight against the al Qaeda linked group of al Shabaab.

Mogadishu Mayor survives assassination attempt

01 jan- Source: Radio Risaala- 109 words
The provisional commissioner of Banadir region, who is also the mayor of Mogadishu, Mahmud Ahmed Nuur Tarsan survived an assassination attempt on his life while attending a security meeting in Banadir provisional headquarters alongside commissioners of all the 16 provinces.
Security agents foiled attempts by a council council to plant a bomb inside of the car of mayor. The police commissioner Khalif Ahmed Ereg said the plot was foiled and the suspect behind the attempt who was working for al Shabaab is in police custody.
Former prime minister urge government to boost security
01 Jan- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 69 words
Former Somali prime minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gas has urged the government to continue fighting and defending the country and eliminating the few al Shabaab who have remained in the country.
His also encouraged the army to be strong and always be ready to defend the country.

Somalis in Nairobi-Kenya come home back

01 Jan- Source: SONNA/Universal TV/Radio Bar-kulan- 140 words
The number of the Somali people in Nairobi-Kenya who are coming back home has increased after Kenyan government ordered Somalis there to relocate to the Dadaab refugee complex, the largest refugee camp in the world.

Radio Mogadishu’s reporter in Nairobi says Somali community in Eastleigh neighbourhood are going back to the country especially Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

Many Somali people are streaming to the capital Mogadishu, there are daily flights from Nairobi to Somalia, with over 400 hundred people coming back to Somalia with their families after Kenya’s orders and the insecurity that battered the country, according to the flight agencies.

Ethiopia extends its New Year good wishes to Somalia

01 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 105 words
The Ethiopian government has passed on its New Year congratulations and best wishes to the government and the people of Somalia.
In the message, the Ethiopian government through its embassy in Mogadishu termed the New Year as the year of hope for Somalia.
It expressed optimism that the Horn of African nation will once again regain its status in the world community.
In its message, the Ethiopian government hoped that the year 2013 will see many Somali diaspora communities return home in order to take part in rebuilding the country.
Ethiopia promised to support the Somali government and its people in and outside the country.

President Farole defends Puntland constitution and statehood

31 Dec- Source: Garowe Online/BBC Somali Service- – 63 words

The president of Somalia’s Puntland government Abdirahman Mohamed Farole has strongly defended Puntland’s constitution and statehood, declaring that the ongoing democratization process enjoys public support in Puntland, Garowe Online reports.

President Farole made the statement during an interview with BBC Somali Service on Monday from the port city of Bossaso, saying that his administration “has never requested a term extension” and criticized the media for “misreporting” about developments in Puntland.

Al Shabaab leaders withdraw from Bardhere town

31 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan-87 words
Reports from Bardhere town of Gedo region indicate the withdrawal of al Shabaab leadership from the town
Local residents told Bar-kulan that the town is in a state of panic as the al Shabaab fighters prepare for an assault from government and allied forces.
The group imposed an evening curfew on Sunday to facilitate the departure of the leaders, some residents said.
Among the fleeing leaders are foreigners, the residents told Bar-kulan.
Bardhere is remaining stronghold of al Shabaab militants.
The town is approached by government troops and Kenya defense force.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan among 10 convicted in Ethiopia over Qaeda links

01 Jan- Source: businessdailyafrica/AFP-158 words
A Kenyan is among 10 people convicted by an Ethiopian court of having links to the al Qaeda terrorist group and of money laundering.
This is the first trial in Ethiopia for al Qaeda suspects and all but the Kenyan pleaded not guilty.
The convicts who were found guilty by Judge Bahru Darcha were charged in April under Ethiopia’s anti-terrorism legislation.
While the crimes carry a maximum penalty of death, prosecutors requested a sentence of life in prison with defence lawyers saying that they would appeal.

90 UPDF soldiers get promotion

01 Jan- Source: Daily Monitor- 284 words
At least 90 UPDF officers will today start the New Year with smiles after President Museveni promoted them.
Col. John Mugyenyi, the former director Joint Anti-Terrorism Unit (JAT) and now a businessman, has been elevated to the rank of Brigadier.
According to the statement issued by the UPDF spokesperson, Col. Felix Kulayigye, Lt. Col. Anette Nkalubo has been promoted to a colonel, becoming the second most senior female officer in the UPDF.
The promotions saw two officers, who were killed in Somalia, get posthumous elevations.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

2012 one of “bloodiest years” for journalists – media body

Electronic money transfer improves in Somalia

01 Jan- Source: Presstv- 357 words
The Somali capital, Mogadishu is regenerating with businesses re-opening up and life springing back to its streets after two decades of civil war and al Shabaab militancy. Somalis are fast embracing the power of technology thanks to the prevailing security and stability in Mogadishu.

Somalia’s major telecom firms Hormuud and Nationlink pioneered mobile money transfers EVC Plus and E-Maal, and besides transferring cash to friends and relatives, the service allows one to pay water and power bills. The system is the first of its kind in south and central Somalia and has made it easy for people to trade and buy basic commodities from the market.

Terror suspect goes on run while under police surveillance

01 Jan- Source: .independent- 503 words
The Government was facing serious questions over its anti-terror policies last night after a Somali-born extremist became the first person to abscond while the subject of new monitoring powers imposed by Theresa May, the Home Secretary.

Ibrahim Magag, 28, was last seen on Boxing Day in north London. Police have alerted all ports and airports amid fears that he is heading to Somalia to join the ranks of some 50 British jihadists operating in and around the country.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Though killing of journalist, innocent Somali citizen is going on without hope in sight of slowing down, we must take a note of other progress we made the year 2012, albeit trivial in comparison.”

Somalia: Best things of 2012

01 Jan- Source: Gedo Online-605 Words
The year of 2012 rivals with 1960. The year was certainly not without turbulence just in this month of December alone, more than sixty Somalis died in the sea. They were migrating and they only knew what they were fleeing from-prolong civil war, hunger and chronic lack of opportunity but never knew where they were fleeing to or what lurk behind distance beyond their eyes-sight. Such actions are blend both of bravery and simpleton.

“…the Somali government and all authorities in the country from district level to the cities and other National and International organisations/stakeholders have to play a role in influencing the course of the disasters prevention and mitigation activities in their respective locations. The key message here is that, many of our communities who are living in fragile and hazard prone environments should no longer be seen as helpless victims that just wait to be rescued after the impact of floods, droughts or other calamitous events.”

Somalia’s road to disasters awareness, prevention and mitigation

01 Jan- Source: Hiiraan Online-1241 Words

The world needs to sustain its seven billion people that rely on it for their daily living. But the way we sustain our lives has not always been friendly to our environment. This includes but not limited to the overuse of fossil fuels, deforestation and so forth, all of which emit greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, the trigger of the climate change. Climate change is a subsequent result of over an accumulation of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N20) and the halocarbons). It is worthwhile to note that without greenhouse gases; the average temperature on earth would be approximately 33°c colder than it is now. However, the greenhouse gases abundance in the atmosphere trap and release so much heat as to cause global warming and abnormal weather patterns such as tropical storms, long rain seasons, drought and so forth all of which are affecting Somalia in one way or another.