January 10, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Defence minister Fiqi travels to Kenya, Uganda for key talks

09 Jan – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Jowhar Online – 122 words

Defence Minister Abdikarim Mohamoud Fiqi and other top government officials on Wednesday travelled to neighbouring Kenya and Uganda for key talks on military issues..
Leading top government officials, Fiqi is expected to meet his Kenyan and Ugandan counterparts on key issues including cooperation and strengthening of AU and Somali forces led efforts to liberate entire Somalia from the Al-Shabaab group, according to a statement from the defence ministry.

Key Headlines

AU team in Mogadishu to review Amisom mandate (Africa Review/Daily Nation)
Turkish doctors to train specialists in Somalia (World Bulletin)
Puntland president extends term and sets date for election ( Shabelle)
IOM Somalia receives Euro 1-million to help IDPs in Somalia ( Raxanreeb)
Defence Assistant Minister visits Garbaharey (Bar-kulan)
How smugglers are flooding Kenya with arms ( Star News )

SOMALI MEDIA

Defence minister Fiqi travels to Kenya, Uganda for key talks

09 Jan – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Jowhar Online – 122 words

Puntland president extends term and sets date for election

09 Jan – Source: Shabelle – words

The leader of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in north east Somalia has declared when the presidential election of that region would be held. Speaking at a ceremony held in Bosaso last night, Abdurahman Mohamed, the president of Puntland said that the presidential election would be held in Puntland in January next year. This means that he will lead Puntland beyond his current term which ended this month. Farole said that the constitution of that region permits his administration to extend one year to the normal term and he fiercely attacked his opponents as failed politicians.

IOM Somalia receives Euro 1-million to help IDPs in Somalia

09 Jan – Source: Raxanreeb – 101 words
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Somalia has received a generous donation from the Government of France of € 1 million for a year-long stabilization project commencing in January 2013. IOM will assist the Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia to provide support to the most vulnerable IDPs migrants and mobile populations, as well as their affected host communities in Lower Juba, Gedo and Mogadishu, Somalia.

Defence Assistant Minister visits Garbaharey

09 Jan – Source: Bar-kulan – 68 words

Assistant minister for defence Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud has arrived in the southwest Somali town of Garbaharey, Gedo region, to deliver medical supplies to the regional administration in the area.
Upon his arrival, Mohamoud held talks with the area’s government and Ahlu Sunna officials. Speaking during the meeting, the assistant minister said the medical supplies are aimed at treating soldiers who were injured during the recent clashes in the region.

REGIONAL MEDIA

AU team in Mogadishu to review Amisom mandate

09 Jan – Source: Africa Review/Daily Nation – 142 words

An African Union delegation is in Mogadishu to review the AU peacekeeping force (Amisom) mandate in the country. The six-member team, led by Mohamed Saleh Annatif, the Special Representative of the AU Commission for Somalia Chairperson Mahamet Saleh Annadif, the six-member team arrived in Mogadishu on Tuesday. So far, it has held talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon and several ministers and officials at Villa Somalia, the presidential residence in the Somali capital.

How smugglers are flooding Kenya with arms

09 Jan – Source: Star News – 155 words

There are estimated 530,000–680,000 firearms in the wrong hands in Kenya. The number of illegal arms has grown over the years and is said to fuel the conflicts witnessed within Kenya and the region. In an investigation that took close to a year, our correspondent KASSIM MOHAMED tracked down some of the people who smuggle small arms and light weapons into Kenya and unveils a dangerous trend that can affect the current peace if nothing is done by not just the Kenyan Government but the international community.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Turkish doctors to train specialists in Somalia

09 Jan – Source: World Bulletin – 109 words

Turkish doctors who provide voluntary health care service in Somalia will start training medical specialists at the only training and research hospital in capital Mogadishu built by Turkish charity donations. Deva international training and research hospital, which will be opened officially in March, will play an important role on meeting the qualified medical specialist need of the civil war weary country.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“As 2013 begins, many challenges exist; but so do the opportunities for a more stable future. Partnership, commitment, leadership; with the right resolve, the ambitions of all Somalis for a more peaceful, stable Somalia – one which the UK fully shares – could be within reach.”

Somalia: A New Year’s Resolution – Together into 2013

09 Jan- Source: FCO Blogs-708 Words
A year ago, few predicted that Somalia would see such significant changes; yet 2012 saw some real progress in Somalia – including the end of the Transition; a new Parliament (with a significant number of new MPs); the election of a new, reform-minded Speaker and President and a desire for a different type of politics. Al Shabaab has been weakened, having lost the strategic locations of Baidoa and Kismayo, to add to the loss of Mogadishu in 2011. It has also seen renewed international support – from Somalia’s neighbours, the AU and, via the London and Istanbul conferences, the wider international community.