May 20, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somaliland marks 22 years of independence

18 May – Source: Al Jazeera/SLNTV- 178 words

People in Somaliland are marking 22 years of self-declared independence from Somalia, but they are still waiting for the world to recognise their region as a country. Celebrations were held in the capital, Hargeisa, on Saturday, with people holding rallies, waving flags from their vehicles and staging shows in various stadiums. Somaliland, which is more tribally homogeneous than the rest of Somalia, has been striving for international recognition since it broke away in 1991. Ahmed Mahamoud Silanyo, the region’s president, told Al Jazeera on Friday that, despite Somalia’s calls to be united with the region, Somaliland is determined to retain its independence.

Key Headlines

Somalia president addresses Somaliland separatism Jubaland formation (Garowe Online/Radio Mogadishu)
Somalia’s Foreign Minister returns home after attending conference (Radio Shabelle/SNTV/Radio Mogadishu)
Somaliland shuts its borders for security (Bar-kulan)
IGAD fact-finding delegation meets Somali prime minister in Mogadishu (RBC)
Jubaland President Madobe nominates Gen. Fartaag as his deputy (Garowe Online/Kismaayo News)
Two soldiers wounded in Jowhar grenade attack (Bar-kulan)
Ruto lobbies for more AU troops in Somalia (Capital FM)
Somali prime minister to face confidence vote in parliament (Reuters)
Somaliland marks 22 years of independence (Al jazeera/SLNTV)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia president addresses Somaliland separatism, Jubaland formation

19 May – Source: Garowe Online/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV – 100 words

The president of Somalia’s federal government Hassan Sheikh Mohamud addressed major national issues including Somaliland separatism while speaking at the opening ceremony of a new center for orphans in Mogadishu. President Hassan’s comments on Somaliland coincided with May 18, as the separatist region in northwestern Somalia celebrated 22 years since unilaterally declaring independence from Somalia in 1991. “Somali unity is a must and I call upon our brothers in Somaliland to swallow their ambition [for independent nationhood],” said President Hassan, at the opening ceremony of the new orphan center named Anadol and built by Turkish aid agencies.

Somalia’s Foreign Minister returns home after attending conference

19 May – Source: Radio Shabelle/SNTV/Radio Mogadishu – 73 words

Fowzia Yusuf Haji Adan, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister addressed the media at the Aden Adde international airport in Mogadishu after returning home from abroad where she attended the London conference that addressed Somalia on May 7th . She also spent few nights in Kenya where she was holding diplomatic meetings with officials from foreign countries.

Ahlu Sunna says it killed al Shabaab leaders in Gedo

18 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 118 words

The Moderate Islamists of Ahlu-Sunna Wal Jama’a in Gedo region said that it has killed at least 12 al Shabaab militant, among two leaders in the battle that happened on the outskirts of Tulo-Barwaqo village in Gedo region on Thursday. Ahlu-Sunna Wal Jama’a spokesman in Gedo region Sheikh Mohamed Hussein Ishaq (l Qaddi) told Bar-kulan that one of the top leader that had been killed in the battle was a foreigner, stating that the other man was a Somali national whom they have beheaded and dumped his head for him not to be recognized. The spokesman added that they have secured new areas from the al Qaeda-linked militant as they advance to capture more area from the insurgents.

Somali Youth Celebrate Europe Day in Mogadishu

19 May – Source: Hiiraan Online – 199 words

The first ever Europe Day in Mogadishu was celebrated on 15th May 2012. The celebration brought together Somali government officials, Civil Society and international partners, led by the European Union Special Envoy, Ambassador Michele Cervoned’Urso. All parties to the celebration noted the significance and the symbolism of the event-Europe Day marked the day that Europe decided to join forces to prevent further conflict by ‘making war not only unthinkable, but materially impossible’. The EU Special Envoy pointed out that the day was quite relevant to the effort of all partners in rebuilding the new Somalia. He reiterated that EU and the other partners were ready and willing to work with the Somali government on Somali soil to reconstruct Somalia.

Somaliland shuts its borders for security

17 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 107 words

The breakaway region of Somaliland has declared that it has closed its borders from Friday to Saturday afternoon to tighten the security in the area ahead of the administration’s 22th anniversary since Somaliland administration’s claim to have separated from the rest of Somalia. Somaliland Internal affairs minister Mohamed Arale Nur Dur who held a media briefing in Burco, the capital of Togdheer region in north eastern Somalia said that the administration’s borders are closed from Friday morning to Saturday afternoon. Dur added that the movement of population and also transpiration has been stopped during the final preparations of the marking of Somaliland’s 22th anniversary.

IGAD fact-finding delegation meets Somali prime minister in Mogadishu

17 May – Source: Raxanreeb – 114 words

A fact-finding delegation from regional bloc, Intergovernmental Authority on Development IGAD- comprising officials from the seven-member states has arrived in Mogadishu on Thursday as they met with Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, RBC Radio reports. Information Minister of Somalia Federal Government Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi said the delegation held a closed door meeting with the prime minister as they discussed several issues. “The prime minister explained the position of the government towards Jubbaland crisis as he mentioned the way to form regional administrations through national reconciliation process,” Minister Hersi told reporters in Mogadishu. He added that they have also listened to some comments from members if civil society and traditional elders from Jubbaland clans in Mogadishu.

Aweys blames al Shabaab chief for ‘targeting foreign fighters’

17 May – Source: Halgan Online/Garowe Online/Somali Channel TV – 188 words

In an audio recording distributed to Somali media on Friday, high-ranking al Shabaab member Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys has blamed al Shabaab chief Ahmed Abdi Godane for “targeting foreign fighters” and for “unilateral decisions” that led to the militant group losing territory to Somali government forces aided by AMISOM peacekeepers. Sheikh Aweys, who was leader of the Islamic Courts Union in 2006 that led to al Shabaab splinter group, said in the audio statement that Mr. Godane “rejected” a proposal to set up new leadership for al Shabaab militant group. Aweys blamed Godane for “targeting, arresting, killing, and hunting down foreign fighters” who fought alongside al Shabaab militants since 2007. “Godane has made unilateral decisions that led to al Shabaab losing control over territory in south-central Somalia,” said Sheikh Aweys.

Two soldiers wounded in Jowhar grenade attack

18 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 78 words

Two Somali government soldiers have been wounded in Hanti-Wadag office in Jowhar district of middle Shabelle region in southern Somalia after hand grenade was hurled in the office premises. Confirming the incident, Jowhar district police boss Khalif Abdulle Carfaye told Bar-kulan that the two wounded soldiers were taken to Jowhar district general hospital where they are undergoing treatment. The police boss added that security agencies are at the scene of the incident where investigation is underway.

Jubaland President Madobe nominates Gen. Fartaag as his deputy

17 May – Source: Garowe Online/ Kismaayo News/ Dhanaan Online – 106 words

The newly elected president of Jubaland state in southern Somalia has nominated Gen. Abdullahi Ismail Fartaag as the state’s new Vice President in accordance with the adopted State Charter. Jubaland President Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) nominated Gen. Fartaag after consultations with community elders, politicians and intellectuals, according to sources in Kismayo. Gen. Fartaag took the oath of office Friday afternoon in Kismayo in front of community elders and other sectors of Jubaland society, witnesses reported. Speaking to the media, Gen. Fartaag said the Jubaland election of Ahmed Madobe as the new state’s first president was “right and legitimate”.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya government walks a tightrope in Somalia as Kismayo gets new leader

18 May – Source: Standard Media – 132 words

Somalia’s clan elders have created a new mini-state and elected a Kenyan ally as its leader, a move likely to anger Mogadishu and sour ties between the two neighbouring countries. Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has reportedly welcomed the development, strongly rejected by the Somali Government.
“The Somali Federal Government regrets the way the people in Jubas and Kismayo are being misled,” read a statement from the office of the Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon. Nairobi and Mogadishu have been at loggerheads over how to manage regions liberated last year by KDF and AMISOM. And Igad has been pushing for a local driven administration, which Mogadishu has strongly resisted arguing it has the prerogative to name governors. Mogadishu has tried to frustrate Igad efforts to set up the pro-Kenya administration of Jubaland that will be headquartered in Kismayo town.

Ruto lobbies for more AU troops in Somalia

17 May – Source: Capital FM – 153 words

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto has called on the African Union to increase its military presence in Somalia in order to ensure regional stability. Speaking as he represented President Uhuru Kenyatta on a tour of four African nations, the deputy president said the political instability in Somalia has led to the proliferation of small arms and increased terrorist attacks from the al Shabaab within Kenya’s borders. “We need to stabilise Somalia fully because the continued absence of a stable government is piling a lot pressure on Kenya,” Ruto stressed at a meeting with President Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo Brazzaville and President Ali Bongo of Gabon. A stable Somalia, Ruto added, would also enable the large number of Somali refugees Kenya is currently hosting to return home and allow the Kenyan government to focus on threats to security from within its borders.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali prime minister to face confidence vote in parliament

18 May – Source: Reuters – 164 words

Somalia’s prime minister is expected to face a vote of confidence next week, lawmakers said on Friday, and backers of the challenge said they were frustrated with the pace of political reform. Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid heads a fledgling government Western capitals say is the best the strife torn country has had for decades, determined to improve security, impose the rule of law and end corruption. A vote against the prime minister could threaten the delicate recovery of a nation Western powers have long seen as a launchpad for militant Islam across east Africa and beyond, analysts said. One said Saaid was likely to survive. “(The government) vowed to tackle many things in the first six months but they have achieved nothing,” said legislator Dahir Amiin. “The ministers just sit on their seats, they do not know what is going on.” Other lawmakers confirmed the motion had been filed and said a debate in the 275-seat chamber was expected on May 22.

Somaliland marks 22 years of independence

18 May – Source: Al Jazeera/SLNTV/Horncable TV/Universal – 178 words

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Danger lurks as the average person in Kismayo—the epicenter of rapidly gathering political tsunami—belongs to one of these three categories: either being intoxicated with euphoria, dejected by frustration or incapacitated by fear. Meanwhile, those contending for power are positioning themselves for the worst case scenario.”

Somalia And The Slippery Slope Of ‘Jubbaland’

19 May- Source: Eurasia Review/International-1188 Words

If the latest development in Somalia gives you the feeling of being trapped in the Twilight Zone—somewhere between relative security and renewed bloodshed—you are not alone. Due to the array of competing internal and external interest groups and the federal government’s lack of clear grand strategy or capacity to assert its authority, the formation of “Jubbaland State” is proving as highly volatile as some have predicted. Jubbaland is a microcosm of the Somali political conundrum. Not that it is only second to Mogadishu in terms clan-based violence, it has all the highly flammable political elements necessary to detrimentally undermine the current government, and, God-forbid, reignite the 1991 civil war all over again.

“Post-transition Somalia fits in the mantra of “Africa rising,” the new optimism buoyed by the return of peace and discovery of oil and strategic mineral resources. Mogadishu’s new rulers should not blow this chance.”

With emerging peace and stability, the scramble for Somalia is on

18 May- Source: The East African-2404 Words

Three years after the overthrow of Somali military dictator Siad Barre in 1991, Robert D. Kaplan published his highly influential essay in the Atlantic Monthly(February 1994), warning of “The Coming Anarchy” and relating a sad tale of how scarcity, crime, tribalism, disease and overpopulation were rapidly destroying the social fabric of the planet. Africa was on the threshold of Afro-pessimism, exacerbated by the withering away of the Somali state, the genocide in Rwanda, public disorder, poverty, disease, death and destruction. Two decades on, Africa is rising and Afro-optimism is in the air. Somalia is inching towards a new order, hopefully ushering in peace, stability, economic recovery and progress.