May 22, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
AMISOM begins house searches in Mogadishu: spokesman
21 May – Source: Garowe Online/Shabelle/Hiiraan Online/Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/RBC/Universal TV – 115 words
The Spokesman for African Union troops (AMISOM) in Somalia Col. Ali Hamud announced that AMISOM and Somali government forces have began house searches in Mogadishu. Speaking at a press conference Tuesday in Mogadishu, Col. Hamud said: “Somali government forces and AMISOM troops have began searches of houses, markets and other locations in Mogadishu and its environs.” He indicated that Somali police, military and intelligence units will be working with AMISOM troops in “house to house searches to identify and capture criminals”, who have been responsible for a spike in violence in Mogadishu in recent months. On Monday night, Somali and AMISOM troops detained over 100 persons in overnight raids on Mogadishu neighborhoods.
Key Headlines
- AMISOM begins house searches in Mogadishu: spokesman (Garowe Online/Shabelle/Hiiraan)
- High delegation from US EU and China visit Kismayo (Bar-kulan)
- Somaliland leader hosts EU Special Envoy to Somalia in Hargeisa (Hiiraan Online/Universal TV)
- Elders who appointed MPs criticize motion against cabinet (Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali government begins removing illegal roadblocks outside Mogadishu (Sabahi Online)
- Shifa Hospital heals wounds in Somalia (World Bulletin)
SOMALI MEDIA
AMISOM begins house searches in Mogadishu: spokesman
21 May – Source: Garowe Online/Shabelle/Hiiraan Online/Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/RBC – 115 words
The Spokesman for African Union troops (AMISOM) in Somalia Col. Ali Hamud announced that AMISOM and Somali government forces have began house searches in Mogadishu. Speaking at a press conferenceTuesday in Mogadishu, Col. Hamud said: “Somali government forces and AMISOM troops have began searches of houses, markets and other locations in Mogadishu and its environs.” He indicated that Somali police, military and intelligence units will be working with AMISOM troops in “house to house searches to identify and capture criminals”, who have been responsible for a spike in violence in Mogadishu in recent months. On Monday night, Somali and AMISOM troops detained over 100 persons in overnight raids on Mogadishu neighborhoods.
High delegation from US, EU and China visit Kismayo
21 May – Source: Bar-kulan – 102 words
High level delegation has on Tuesday reached at the port city of Kismayo, the capital of Lower Jubba region in southern Somalia. This distinguished delegation from US, European Union and China have held a meeting with the deputy president of the newly established Jubbaland administration Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartag. The aim of this delegation’s visit in Kismayo is said to be overseeing the presidential election that had been held in Kismayo recently in which Jubbaland President Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) was elected and how it was conducted, and also the possibility of reaching humanitarian assistant to the people of Jubaland administration.
Somaliland leader hosts EU Special Envoy to Somalia in Hargeisa
21 May – Source: Garowe Online/Hiiraan Online/Universal TV/Horn Cable TV – 125 words
The leader of Somalia’s separatist region of Somaliland Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo hosted the European Union’s Special Representative to Somalia Amb. Michele Cervone in Hargeisa on Tuesday, Garowe Online reports. After the meeting, Somaliland’s foreign minister, Mr. Mohamed Abdullahi Omar, and Amb. Cervone held a joint press conference at State House in Hargeisa, capital of the separatist region. “In general, we discussed continuing cooperation between Somaliland and the EU, and in particular about the ‘New Deal’ initiative that the EU will be using to assist countries in Africa and other parts of the world, for security, political, and economic development purposes,” said Minister Omar. Continuing, the Somaliland minister emphasized that the EU will be “working directly with Somaliland and basing EU assistance on Somaliland’s National Priorities Plan”.
Armed woman kills two soldiers in Kismayo
21 May – Source: Bar-kulan/Kismaayo news/Dhanaan Online – 78 words
An armed woman has reportedly have killed at least two soldiers of the newly established Jubbaland administration in Kismayo on Monday night. Confirming the incident, Kismayo police boss Mohamed Aden Simow told Bar-kulan that a dispute between the armed woman and the two soldiers resulted the death of the soldiers, adding that the police have arrested the woman.
Elders who appointed MPs criticize motion against cabinet
21 May – Source: Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu – 89 words
Elders who appointed Somali lawmakers have strongly condemned the proposed motion to vote out the prime minister and his cabinet. The elders said that it was unfortunate to vote out a cabinet which only worked for 6 months and requested the Mps to abandon the motion. Garad Adan Elmi who is an elder speaking during the meeting said that the members of the public clearly opposed the motion against the cabinet. He added that members of the public were convinced with the work done by the PM and his cabinet.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Somali government begins removing illegal roadblocks outside Mogadishu
21 May- Source: Sabahi Online- 692 words
The Somali government last week began a three-phase campaign to remove illegal roadblocks set up by militia members on the roads connecting Mogadishu to the Lower Shabelle capital of Marka and the Bay capital of Baidoa. For many years, these roadblocks have made travel costly and dangerous for traders, bus drivers and regular citizens who routinely travel between Mogadishu and the regional capitals, oftentimes leaving them robbed of the their possessions and sometimes far worse.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Shifa Hospital heals wounds in Somalia
21 May- Source: World Bulletin-220 Words
Shifa Hospital heals the wounds of hundreds of Somalian people every day. Supported by the Turkish Red Crescent and the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), the hospital offers health services with its 66-bed capacity. The Project Coordinator Seyda Sever said all the services are free including the surgical operations and the medicines. Stating that most of those who go to the hospital are living in refugee camps, Sever said “We have no aims of making profits. With this project, we should bring up new strategies in order to hand over the system to the local people there.”
Somali government says guns won’t decide disputed port’s fate
21 May – Source: Chicago Tribune – 84 words
Somalia’s new government said on Monday it was pursuing talks to resolve rival claims for control in the south that have stoked fears of a return to the clan wars that pitched the nation into anarchy two decades ago. A local assembly on Thursday declared a former Islamist warlord, Ahmed Madobe, president of Jubaland. Madobe is not viewed favorably by Mogadishu and within a day two other men had pronounced themselves president, including Barre Hirale, a former warlord and defense minister seen as pro-government.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Jubaland is a potentially rich region, with good seasonal rainfall, year-round rivers, forests, and lush farm- and range-lands, as well as potential off-shore oil and gas deposits.”
Jubaland in Jeopardy: The Uneasy Path to State-Building in Somalia
21 May- Source: Crisis Group Blog-1172 Words
On 15 May 2013, Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, leader of the Ras Kamboni militia and a close ally of Kenya, was elected Jubaland president by regional clan representatives. Hours later, Barre Hirale, a warlord from a rival clan allied with the Somali Federal Government (SFG), declared himself president. The effort to create a Jubaland state within Somalia will test the limits of federalism in that country, and threatens to touch off clan warfare not only within Somalia but also in its neighbours. We spoke to Zakaria Yusuf, Somalia Analyst , and Claire Elder, Horn of Africa Research Assistant, to learn more about Jubaland and find out if there is a risk of conflict.