January 23, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali army court sentences soldier to death, another to 20 years in jail

22 Jan – Source: Jowhar website – 108 words

The Somali military court in Jowhar [southern Somalia] has sentenced four soldiers to death and jail terms. Announcing the verdict, chief judge Col Liban Ali Yarow, said the four soldiers were found guilty for the charges they were accused of.

The court handed Abdifatah Hasan Muhammad a death penalty after it found evidence that he killed Muhammad Dahir Umar last Sunday [20 January]. The court also sentenced Husayn Tarus to 20 years in jail in absentia. Adan Abdi Yarow and Abdullahi Hasan Ga’al were handed five years imprisonment each.

Key Headlines

Saudi crown prince meets Somali president Moroccan prince Iraqi vice president (SPA News agency in Riyadh)
EUTM Somalia extended and refocused (Council of the European Union)
Mahiga lauds US recognition of Somalia (Bar-kulan )
Jubaland formation process underway says Kismayo leader (BBC Somali Service)
Writer says US recognition of government in Mogadishu will help unite Somalia (Hiiraan )
UN says food security to improve in Somalia by June (Shanghai Daily)
Somali military technical committee meets in Mogadishu (Bar-kulan)
Traders cart away capital from Eastleigh (Standard Media)
Kenya seeks payment for UN mission (Daily Nation)

PRESS STATEMENT

EUTM Somalia extended and refocused

22 Jan – Source: Council of the European Union – 238 words

The Council extended the EU training mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) for two years. The mission will continue to contribute to the strengthening of the Somali armed forces so they can ultimately take over security responsibilities. But given the changing situation in Somalia, EUTM will refocus its activities.

The mission will provide political and strategic advice to the Somali ministry of defence and the chief of defence forces, advise on security sector development as well as provide specialised military training and mentoring in the training domain. This is to lay the foundations of a Somali-owned military training system, with basic and specialised military training taking place in Somalia.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said: “EUTM Somalia has provided great assistance to the Somali armed forces. All those who have been trained by EU military experts make a real difference on the ground.” The mission will gradually move training activities from Bihanga (Uganda) to Somalia, depending on security conditions. Brigadier General Gerald Aherne from Ireland will take over the command. The common costs of the operation until 31 March 2015 are estimated at EUR 11.6 million.

EUTM Somalia, first launched in February 2010, has contributed to training about 3,000 Somali troops so far. It is part of the EU’s comprehensive approach for a stable, democratic and prosperous Somalia and embedded in the EU strategic framework for the Horn of Africa.

SOMALI MEDIA

Saudi crown prince meets Somali president, Moroccan prince, Iraqi vice president

22 Jan – Source: SPA News agency in Riyadh – 155 words

Crown Prince Salman bin Abd-al-Aziz Al-Sa’ud, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence received separately President Hasan Shaykh Mahmud of the Republic of Federal Somalia and the accompanying delegation; Moroccan Prince Rashid bin Al-Hassan II and Iraqi Vice President Dr Khudair bin Musa Al-Khuzai.

During the meetings, they reviewed bilateral relations between the Kingdom and these countries.

Mahiga lauds US recognition of Somalia

22 Jan – Source: Bar-kulan – 101 words

The UN Special Representative for Somalia Augustine Mahiga on Tuesday welcomed the recent US move to officially recognize the government of Somalia. He termed the US recognition as a step forward that can lead to international recognition of the Somali government. Mahiga made the remarks after meeting Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon in Mogadishu. He congratulated the new government for the achievement it has taken since assuming office late last year, hoping that the new government will completely restore law and order in the country.

Somali army court sentences soldier to death, another to 20 years in jail

22 Jan – Source: Jowhar website – 108 words
The Somali military court in Jowhar [southern Somalia] has sentenced four soldiers to death and jail terms.
Announcing the verdict, chief judge Col Liban Ali Yarow, said the four soldiers were found guilty for the charges they were accused of.

Writer says US recognition of government in Mogadishu will help unite Somalia

22 Jan – Source: Somali news website Hiiraan – 312 words

17 January 2013 is a memorable day for the entire people of Somalia. It will be marked as a day for jubilation. It is the day the US government abandoned its misguided policy towards Somalia and formally recognized the central government of Somalia after 22 years of avoidance, indifference or miscalculation. US diplomatic recognition symbolizes a walker or underarm crutch for united Somalia to stand up and walk.

Puntland leaders send condolences for death of former Vice President

22 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 114 words

The leaders of Somalia’s Puntland government have sent condolences for the death of former Puntland Vice President Hassan Dahir Mohamud (Afqura), Garowe Online reports.The late vice president of Puntland died of an illness in Nairobi on Monday. Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole, who is currently on a visit in Djibouti, sent condolences to the family, friends and to the people of Puntland.

Somali military technical committee meets in Mogadishu

22 Jan – Source: Bar-kulan – 98 words

Somali military technical group on Tuesday held a meeting in Mogadishu to discuss strengthening the military might of the Somali army through trainings and chatting ways forward in taming Al-Shabaab defectors. Speaking at the meeting, defence minister Abdihakin Fiqi said the meeting focused on training of the military and rehabilitating Al-Shabaab fighters in order to create alternative jobs for them and help them acquire education.

Jubaland formation process underway, says Kismayo leader

22 Jan – Source: Garowe Online/BBC Somali Service – 95 words

The leader of Kismayo interim administration Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) has said that the process to establish Jubaland state in southern Somalia ‘is underway’, Garowe Online reports. Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, who is also leader of pro-government Ras Kamboni militia, told the BBC Somali Service on Tuesday that the delegates are supposed to begin arriving in Kismayo in the coming days.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya seeks payment for UN mission

23 Jan – Source: Daily Nation – 87 words

Kenya has urged the United Nations Security Council to pay the country for its military contribution to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom). Kenya’s ambassador to the UN Macharia Kamau urged the world organisation to make “timely and total reimbursement” as failure to do so was “unacceptable and unsustainable.” Speaking during a council debate on UN peacekeeping activities, Mr Kamau did not specify how much Kenya was owed but only said the country had received “a fraction of the millions of dollars committed by this council.”

Traders cart away capital from Eastleigh

22 Jan – Source: Standard Media – 101 words

Human traffic within the Eastleigh peri-urban shopping centre has thinned to unimaginable levels like the morning dew that evaporates with the rising sun. The flow of toxic sludge — evidence of human life and activity — onto the roads is gradually drying up. The verandas of mega buildings that teemed with hawkers and wares on display have been zone off with mean nylon ropes — as if to keep the ‘bad guys’ away.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN says food security to improve in Somalia by June

22 Jan – Source: Shanghai Daily – 160 words

The food security situation in Somalia is likely to improve during the first half of 2013, a report published by the UN humanitarian agency said on Tuesday. The latest monitoring data by Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) published by the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) suggests that the number of people in crisis will likely reduce. “However, the nutrition situation in southern Somalia, parts of the north and the central regions will most probably remain critical largely due to lack of health infrastructure, poor feeding practices and possible outbreaks of acute watery diarrhea and measles during the April to June rainy season,” FSNAU said in its update issued in Nairobi.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“It will be difficult to restore confidence in government with such perpetrators still at large. After victory in his case against Samantar, Aziz Deria, whose father and brother were abducted by Somali officials and never seen again, observed that holding former officials “formally accountable for atrocities in Somalia’s civil war is the best way for Somalia to move forward.”

Somalia’s Next Phase Should Include Accountability for War Criminals

22 Jan – Source: Huffington Post Blog – 556 Words

Last week, the U.S. government recognized a government of Somalia for the first time since 1991. In his remarks to Secretary of State Clinton, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud spoke of Somalia emerging from a period of chaos to one of peace. This new Somalia, he said, will make a “valuable contribution to the region and the world at large.” If Somalia is to be a shining example, it should start by ending impunity for war criminals and giving victims justice.