June 27, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

New Deal Compact with international partners will be a milestone to move Somalia forward

26 Jun- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 425 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon today officially announced the New Deal for Somali conference in Brussels on September 16th, at the core group meeting in Mogadishu. The conference is co-hosted by the Somali Government and the European Union, which aims Somalia to enter a joint compact with international partners and frame a new paradigm for political and socio-economic development of Somalia.

“Entering a New Deal Compact with international partners will be a milestone for the Federal Government of Somalia as it re-asserts its sovereignty and takes a greater responsibility for its future,” Prime Minister said. “We hope the Brussels New Deal Somali conference will provide a positive momentum in the political and economic reconstruction for the new Somalia.”

Prime Minister stated that the government set national development plan, as well as compact with international partners to support plan implementation through the New Deal for Somalia will deliver human development results that are sustainable in the long-run, while providing a short-term boost.

“We believe the New Deal process for Somalia will signal global recognition of the need for a new way of thinking and working in the fragile states, and establishment of broad-based consensus on a core set of priorities and reforms,” Prime Minister said.

European Union Managing Director of East Africa Affairs Nick Westcott said that the New Deal Compact preparations are in hand. He said the Somali government and the international partners should agree the steps of the process between now andSeptember 16th. Nick also specified that the aim of the compact is to show solidarity and move Somalia forward while reassuring by providing resources that will enable Somalia achieves its planned development goals.

UN special representative for Somali Nicholas Kay described the News Deal as a process to strengthen the relationship between Somalia and international community. He said the process will prioritise and find support for the Somali citizen’s needs. He urged the Somali government to articulate its needs and come up with a unified development agenda.

Prime Minister stated that the Somali government hopes the adaptation of the New Deal principles would outline future synergies between the Federal Government of Somalia and the international partners. He said Somali is fortunate enough to have New Deal partners that have already implemented the process, and hope to learn from their successes and failures.

“My government started initial discussions with international partners to identify the best financing mechanisms and aid modalities. In this respect, the FGoS would like to see move to in-country instruments and modalities to strengthen national capacity”, Prime Minister said.

Key Headlines

Himan and Heb president meets ‘captured’ al Shabaab leader (Radio Shabelle)
Fierce fighting erupts in Kismayo ( Radio Bar-kulan)
Britain supports Africa’s overall dev’t endeavours (Walta Information Centre)
Tensions high as Galmudug and Ahlu Suna order al Shabaab leader to be handed over (/Universal TV)
Somaliland:”Civic Registration is due to take place in the country Says NEC (Somalilandpress)
Sorry state of Mandera-Garissa road (Star (Kenya)
At least three dead in Somali port clash (witnesses (Reuters)
Japan to Join Multinational Anti-Piracy Mission (Rtt News)
WATCH: One Incredible Doctor Provides Safety & Healthcare to 90000 Displaced People (International Political Forum)

PRESS STATEMENT

New Deal Compact with international partners will be a milestone to move Somalia forward

26 Jun- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 425 words

SOMALI MEDIA

Fierce fighting erupts in Kismayo

26 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Shabelle/ Dhanaan Online- 119 words

Reports from Somali port city of Kismayo say that fierce fighting has erupted in the town between Jubbaland administration forces and fighters loyal to Col Bare Hirale who claimed to be the president of the newly established Jubbaland. Confirming the clashes, Bar-kulan reporter Khadar Mohamud Hared said that at least four people of the fighting sides have so far been killed in the battle as many others wounded. The battle which exploded at the Argo junction in the city centre sparked after the two sides seized vehicles from each other.This is not the first time such a clash occurred in the port city by troops fighting over the control of the strategic town since al Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab group liberated from.

Himan and Heb president meets ‘captured’ al Shabaab leader

26 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle- 159 words

The president of Himan and Heb region of central Somalia has met Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a senior al Shabaab leader who was captured while seeking asylum from his miltant group. The top militant leader escaped from Barawe town via a boat days ago after divisions between al Shabaab escalated into bitter wars. It is reported that Aweys was welcomed by residents of Bali Busle village in central Somalia expressing the joy towards the Sheikhs decision to escape al Shabaab militants. Aweys was accompanied by 10 top al Shabaab commanders who escaped with him.

Tensions high as Galmudug and Ahlu Suna order al Shabaab leader to be handed over

26 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle/Universal TV/Mareeg Online- 98 words

Sheikh Abdiwali Diriye who is among the top leaders of Ahlu Suna wal Jama’a group has warned Himan and Heb administration whom he accused of giving refuge to the al Shabaab leader, Hassan Dahir Aweys. Sheikh Abdiwali added that Ahlu Suna have put in place special troops which will arrest Aweys if he is not handed over to their authorities. The president of Galmudug regional administration Abdi Hassan Awale warned that the presence of Aweys might spark conflict in the central regions of Somalia. He urged Himan administration to hand over the al Shabaab leader to the government of Somalia.

Somaliland:”Civic Registration is due to take place in the country, Says NEC

26 Jun- Source: Somalilandpress- 155 words

Triplet Meeting that brought together the country’s National Electoral Commission (NEC), the three National Political Parties and the Ministry of Interior was held at NEC office in Hargeisa on Tuesday. The three sides held discussion on reaching unanimous decision regarding the implementation of civic registration across Somaliland. It is said that the country’s National Electoral Commission as well as the interior ministry are busy with the best possible way of registering citizens and aliens in the country.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Britain supports Africa’s overall dev’t endeavours

26 Jun- Source: Walta Information Centre- 185 words

British Ambassador to Ethiopia Greg Dorey said Britain will contribute share in coordinating Africa’s endeavourts towards development. Ambassador Dorey told journalists on Monday that being chair of the G-8 Britain will do its level best to provide the necessary support towards development of the continent. He said Britain will further continue support to make sustainable the rapid and successive growth being registered in Africa. The Ambassador said it will exert efforts to make rich countries keep promises to provide support to poor countries to tackle climate change. He said his country will also provide support to help African people lead stable life as well as ensure peace and security in the continent. The Ambassador said Britain supports Africa’s encouraging activities to find solution to problems related to peace and security. African led peace-keeping force has registered commendable results in Somalia, he said, adding, it is discharging similar mission in Mali.

Sorry state of Mandera-Garissa road

26 Jun- Source: Star (Kenya)- 98 words

Despite its potential to propel the local and national economy, the Mandera –Wajir –Garissa road, which is categorised as national by the Roads ministry, has been neglected by successive governments since independence. The class B9 road is the main transport artery running through northeastern region and connecting it to the rest of Kenya and horn of Africa through Somalia and Ethiopia. The 765km road is the gateway to the rich pastoralist hinterland which, as per government records, produces over 65 per cent of livestock products in the country. The road links Kenya with Somalia and Ethiopia at Bulla Hawa and Suftu border points respectively near Mandera town, a linkage extending to Eritrea and Djibouti, the two other countries falling within the horn of Africa axis which give it a regional status.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

At least three dead in Somali port clash – witnesses

26 Jun- Source: Reuters- 80 words

At least three people were killed in a brief skirmish between rival militias in southern Somalia, witnesses said, the second deadly flare-up so far this month in the disputed strategic port of Kismayu. The clash between the Ras Kamboni militia and Marehan clan fighters has heightened tensions in a city already divided by rivals claiming the presidency of Kismayu and the southern Jubaland region and raises worries of a broader conflict.

Japan to Join Multinational Anti-Piracy Mission

26 Jun- Source: Rtt News -178 words

Japan will extend by another year its anti-piracy mission off the Somalia coast by deploying one of its two destroyers now in the area to join the multinational naval force against piracy. The Defense Ministry’s Operation Policy Bureau Director-General Testsuro Kuroe explained the plan at a joint meeting of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party policy experts in Tokyo on Tuesday, Japanese media reported. Two destroyers and two patrol aircraft from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force have been deployed in the region since 2009 to escort Japanese and foreign merchant ships off Somalia. The one-year mission based on Japan’s anti-piracy law has been extended every year since 2010, and the current mission will expire on July 23.

WATCH: One Incredible Doctor Provides Safety & Healthcare to 90,000 Displaced People

26 Jun- Source: International Political Forum – 3:25 min

For her lifetime dedication to providing safety and healthcare to 90,000+ internally displaced persons at her camp in Somalia, Dr. Hawa Abdi was honored with the 2013 Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards’ Fern Holland Award. As a trained gynecologist, Dr. Hawa Abdi fights for the women, children and elderly people of the Hawa Abdi Village. With the help of her two daughters, Deqo and Amina, both doctors, she founded the Dr. Hawa Abdi Foundation (DHAF) which provides healthcare, food and shelter to Somalis displaced by famine and civil war.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Looking at somalia’s recent history, it is not hard to see why the banks and Somalis on the receiving end find themselves in this predicament. In the midst of somalia’s famine in 2011, International NGO’s found themselves held back from helping the starving, lest they violate US anti terror measures and be accused of providing inadvertently material help to al-Shabaab.”

Somalia’s money transfer woes; flexibility in special circumstances

26 June- Source: Somali War Monitor Blog-742 Words

Barclay’s bank One of Britain’s largest announced to the dismay of many that, it will no longer furnish Business Management Services (BSM’S) to Somali money transfer companies, arguing in a brief statement that; …some money service businesses don’t have the proper checks in place to spot criminal activity and could therefore unwittingly be facilitating money laundering and terrorist financing. – statement