January 24, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
President met with Ambassadors of donor countries
23 Jan – Source: Office of the Somali President
Villa Somalia, Mogadishu
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E Hassan Sh. Mohamud has met with Ambassadors representing donor countries to discuss the creation and the improvement of the Somali Financial Institutions.
The President was accompanied by Minister of Finance H.E Mohamud H, Suleiman, And the
Governor of Central Bank Abdi Salaam Omar.
Ambassadors and representatives of USA, UK, EU, Japan, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden,Findland,World Bank, G7+and DFID were present. The President thanked the
Ambassadors and the representatives, welcomed them to Mogadishu and clearly set out the
importance of a functioning public finance system for the government of Somalia.
Key Headlines
- UN officials visit Guri’el town (Bar-kulan/Universal TV)
- Al-Shabaab compels elders to conscript young potential fighters (Bar-kulan)
- President Abdirahman Farole returns to Puntland (Garowe Online)
- Groups call for Somali gov’t to release journalist (AP Online Regional)
- Kenya Orders Somali Refugees to Home (VOA)
- Al-Shabaab accused of detaining elders (Bar-kulan)
PRESS RELEASE
President met with Ambassadors of donor countries
23 Jan – Source: Office of the Somali President
Villa Somalia, Mogadishu
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E Hassan Sh. Mohamud has met with Ambassadors representing the donor countries,
to discuss the creation and the improvement of the Somali Financial Institutions.
The President was accompanied by Minister of Finance H.E Mohamud H, Suleiman, And the
Governor of Central Bank Abdi Salaam Omar.
Ambassadors and representatives of USA, UK, EU, Japan, Italy, Turkey, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden,Findland,World Bank, G7+and DFID were present. The President thanked the
Ambassadors and the representatives, welcomed them to Mogadishu and clearly set out the
importance of a functioning public finance system for the government of Somalia. He said “One
critical policy of our Six Pillar Plan is to create an effective system”. With the creation of a
special financial facility (SFF) and public financial management (PFM) structure Somalia will
start to move from relief to recovery. Corruption should not, be tolerated in Somalia”
The President also confirmed that he will hold bilateral discussions with donors centered on the
work and resources required to implement this policy
The President concluded, to secure Somalia’s public resources there must be effective,
accountable, and transparent financial institutions, and Somalia needs to be supported in the
creation of these institutions.
SOMALI MEDIA
UN officials visit Guri’el town
23 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Universal TV/Dalka News- 134 words
Government and allied Ahlu Sunna officials in central Somalia town of Guri’el on Wednesday held talks with UN officials from the neighbouring Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The visiting UN officials led by Yusuyuki Misawa held a closed-door meeting with the local leaders including area Provincial Commissioner Ahmed Yussuf Hassan to discuss ways in which the UN World food agency (WFP) to resume humanitarian operations in the region.
Professionals debate US recognition of Somali government
23 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 175 words
A debate on US recognition of the Somali government organized by Heritage Institute has been held in Mogadishu.
Twenty five officials from the civil society groups and government officials took part in the debate.
The participants debated on the effects of the recognition especially on regional administrations and the talks between Somali government and Somaliland.
President Abdirahman Farole returns to Puntland
23 Jan- Source: Puntlandi Online/Garowe Online- 192 words
Puntland president Dr. Abdirahman Momahmed Farole has returned to Puntland after several days visit to Djbouti, and has been warmly welcomed by representatives from the Puntland government, Bari’s regional and district administration, elders, intellectuals and civil society members.
http://puntlandi.com/
Al Shabaab accused of detaining elders
23 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 102 words
The Al-Shabaab group has been accused of illegally detaining elders in parts of Galgadud region for allegedly defying militant orders.
The elders were reportedly detained after they refused to comply with militant order allegedly compelling them to bring together some 300 potential militant fighters in order to counter the allied forces in parts the region.
Al-Shabaab compels elders to conscript young potential fighters
23 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 132 words
Al-Shabaab militant group in central Somalia region of Galgadud is reportedly compelling clan elders in the region to gather young fighters for the group in order to counter the allied forces in parts the region.
The group allegedly demanded elders in Ja’ar, Bargan, Aga-Ade and Garabla settlements to immediately assemble some 200 recruits to boost their military capacity in the region.
It also demanded 200 sacks of beans from each of the settlement to sustain their fighters-to-be young recruits.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Terror suspect arrested in Lamu
23 Jan- Source: Star (Kenya)- 52 words
A man was yesterday arrested and more than 1.5 million shillings recovered from him in Kiunga area, Lamu. Police investigating the man say he came into the country from Somalia and is believed to be a member of the terror group al-Shabaab. He is currently being interrogated to establish his motive.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Kenya orders Somali refugees to home
23 Jan- Source: VOA-551 Words
Somali refugees living in Kenya are returning to Somalia by the hundreds after the Kenyan government ordered them to go back home. The Kenyan government says the presence of Somali refugees has led to the deterioration of security in the country. The Somalis themselves fear a government crackdown.
This week, the Kenyan government began relocating more than 50,000 Somalis living in Kenyan cities back to overcrowded and under-serviced refugee camps near the border, citing security concerns. Thousands are also being flown back to Somalia.
Groups call for Somali gov’t to release journalist
23 Jan -Source: AP Online Regional/ABC News – 145 words
Rights groups are calling for the Somali government to release a journalist arrested by police for interviewing a woman who said she was raped by government security forces.
The freelance journalist, Abdiaziz Abdinur Ibrahim, and three others accused in the case have been held for more than a week without charge. The three groups _ Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Watch _ demanded their release on Wednesday.
The groups said the arrests are linked to an increase in media attention given to the high levels of rape and other sexual violence in Somalia, including attacks allegedly committed by security forces.
The government says the woman made up the rape allegation and that it would not allow journalists to make up stories.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“While attacks and hijackings have decreased, the patrol plane presence has not. The JMSDF is currently building a hanger and support facilities to allow a continuous detachment to operate from the Djibouti-Ambouli airfield. Likewise, western naval forces show no signs of departing from this strategically located African base.”
How Coalition Planes Hunt Somali Pirates In The Horn Of Africa
23 Jan- Source: Business Insider-925 Words
The shipping lanes of the pirate-infested Somali basin have faded somewhat from the headlines in the past year as attacks and successful hijackings have dropped significantly. The decrease is due in part to the continued efforts of several coalition air forces to patrol the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden in a continuous, coordinated way. The Aviationist took an in-depth look at the forces and methods involved to help fight piracy from the air.
The former French Foreign Legion outpost in Djibouti has become a hotbed of military activity as Western forces have waged a protracted but largely secret campaign against extremists in the hinterlands of Somalia, Yemen, and the waters off East Africa. Predator and Reaper drones fly daily from the base,striking targets in restive northern Yemen and Southern Somalia. The airbase is also home to a contingent of maritime patrol aircraft from a variety of nations.