July 16, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Ethiopian forces vacate Baidoa

15 Jul- Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Bar-kulan- 114 words

Ethiopian forces have reportedly started to vacate Baidoa town the capital of Somalia’s southern region of Bay. Residents told Dalsan Radio that they have seen Ethiopian military convoy vacating the town on Sunday afternoon. The residents said as soon as the Ethiopian forces withdrew from their bases, troops from African Union Orifices [AMISOM] have taken up the bases to avoid security vacuum. The regional administration of Bay region did not comment about the latest development. But local sources said it was expected already the Ethiopian forces to transfer the security of liberated areas to AMISOM and the Somali government.

Key Headlines

Parliamentarians reject new bill on justice (Radio Dalsan/Radio Shabelle)
Ethiopian forces vacate Baidoa (Radio Dalsan/Radio Bar-kulan)
Somaliland announces lifting ban on UN flights (Somaliland Informer/ Hadhwanaag News)
Terrorists and Mercenary groups behind clashes in Puntland says president Farole (Radio Mustaqbal)
Beledweyne administration refutes claims over corruption (Radio bar-kulan)
Former Somali leaders planning to form watchdog (Radio Shabelle)
Tensions in Bakool region as Government forces begin movements (Radio Dalsan)
Ship held by pirates sinks off Somalia (Khaleej Times)
WFP And ECHO Start Cash Distributions To Somali Refugees In Ethiopia (Reliefweb)
Kenya denies defying UN ban on Somalia charcoal trade (BBC)

SOMALI MEDIA

Parliamentarians reject new bill on justice

15 Jul- Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Shabelle/Kulmiye/Risaala/Jowhar Online- 123 words

Members of Somalia Federal Parliament have rejected a new bill from the ministry of justice which was expected the parliament to pass it. During its extraordinary session on Monday, members of the parliament discussed new draft legislation which focused on the country’s justice and later the chair announced to vote for it. After the voting ended, Jeylani Nur Ikar the deputy speaker of the parliament said the new bill was rejected by the parliament. This becomes the first draft legislation from the cabinet sent to the parliament since the extra-ordinary session was opened early this month. The country’s federal parliament will continue to discuss other bills from the cabinet including a draft legislation about the formation of the local administrations.

Ethiopian forces vacate Baidoa

15 Jul- Source: Radio Dalsan/Radio Bar-kulan- 114 words

Ethiopian forces have reportedly started to vacate Baidoa town the capital of Somalia’s southern region of Bay. Residents told Dalsan Radio that they have seen Ethiopian military convoy vacating the town on Sundayafternoon. The residents said as soon as the Ethiopian forces withdrew from their bases, troops from African Union Orifices [AMISOM] have taken up the bases to avoid security vacuum. The regional administration of Bay region did not comment about the latest development. But local sources said it was expected already the Ethiopian forces to transfer the security of liberated areas to AMISOM and the Somali government.

Somaliland announces lifting ban on UN flights

15 Jul- Source: Somaliland Informer/ Hadhwanaag News/ Somaliland Press- 173 words

Mohamoud Abdi Hashi, Somaliland’s Aviation Minister has officially announced on Monday that Somaliland has decided to lift the ban on UN flights. Somaliland government banned the United Nations for landing at or taking off from her airports in May 2013. Somaliland Minister of Aviation has held press conference and informed the people that the ban has been lifted after having been evaluated and consideration has been given to the Aviation agreement reached by Somaliland and Somalia during the second round of talks held in Turkey earlier this month. The Aviation Minister has spoken on behalf of Somaliland government and said that as for 15th July all UN flights are able to land at and take off from her airports after the imposed ban was lifted.

Terrorists and Mercenary groups behind clashes in Puntland, says president Farole

15 Jul- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 152 words

The president of Puntland State Abdirahman Farole speaking to Journalists in Garowe said that the clashes which happened in some regions of Puntland, were orchestrated by terrorists and mercenary groups. The president said the confrontation which took place in Qardo district in Barri region was carried out by hired groups sent to bar the elections of Puntalnd, that was planned to take place in democratic manner. “When I saw groups planning to jeopardize the stability, security and unity of Puntland, those who were part of terrorists and mercenaries, sent to bar the elections of Local Councils, we decided to postpone the election,” said the president..Farole also said Puntland will protect itself from any group that intends to harm the unity of Puntland and jeopardize the elections.

Beledweyne administration refutes claims over corruption

15 Jul- Source: Radio bar-kulan- 90 words

Authority in the Somali central town of Beledweyne, the capital of Hiiraan region has spoken about existence of reports suggesting that tax collected from business people in the town went missing. Addressing the media, Beledweyne governor Col Abdi Bishar Aden Roha stated that some of the authority’s tax collectors had allegedly stolen the money collected from business community in the town. Roha added that many people have been arrested in connections with the allegations, as they will be brought to justice. Reports indicating wide-scale of corruption on the town’s tax has overshadowed the twon.

Former Somali leaders planning to form watchdog

15 Jul- Source: Radio Shabelle- 136 words

Abdirahman Ma’alim Badiyow who was defeated in last year’s presidential elections confirmed to Shabelle radio station that a group of former leaders gathered in Kampala. Mr.Badiyow said that they (former leaders) went to greet the former president of the transitional gov’t Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.
Other sources reveal that the politicians are plotting to form an alliance to act as watchdogs to the federal government of Somalia. Other politicians include Mohamed Gedi and Ali Qalif Geleyr who both held prime ministerial positions in the former governments. Mr. Badiyow said that the government has done quite good and will provide guidelines wherever needed. Several politicians have been holding series of meetings and are believed to be plotting big against the federal government.

Tensions in Bakool region as Government forces begin movements

15 Jul- Source: Radio Dalsan- 135 words

Reports from Bakool region say that Somali government forces with the backing of the Ethiopian troops begun military maneuvers amid heavy combat against al Shabaab. The military maneuvers begun last week after the security officials vowed that they will soon eliminate al Shabaab militant fighters from the region which was once the biggest stronghold of al Shabaab. Colonel Salad Abdi Mohamed told Radio Dalsan that the security forces in the region were ready to remove the anti peace elements from the region. He said the army obtained their logistics and that they were made ready to launch heavy offensive against al Shabaab following the prime minister’s declaration of the new operation in the country. Somali prime minister Abdi Farah Shirdoon has announced new strategic plan to eliminate the militants in the country.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Ship held by pirates sinks off Somalia

15 Jul- Source: Khaleej Times- 665 words

Attacks by Somali pirates have fallen to just eight in six months, but four ships with 57 sailors aboard are still being held captive — with their whereabouts unknown. One of the captured ships, the MV Albedo, sank last week, and there is no trace of its sailors, who have been held hostage for more than two years. The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs said seven of its nationals on board the ship are safe. The status of the other men, who include Indians, Sri Lankans and at least one Iranian, is not known. Seven Pakistani sailors on the ship, including its skipper, were rescued last year after an unspecified ransom was paid by Pakistan authorities. Some sources put the figure at $2 million against a total $10.5 million sought by the pirates. One hostage was killed by the Somalis at the start of their ordeal. Speaking to Khaleej Times, an EU Naval Force for Somalia (EUNAVFOR) official said a warship and maritime patrol aircraft continued to monitor the situation near Somalia.

Kenya denies defying UN ban on Somalia charcoal trade

15 Jul- Source: Standard- 269 words

Kenya has dismissed a UN report which accuses its troops in Somalia of facilitating charcoal exports in defiance of a UN Security Council ban. The report, leaked to Reuters news agency, said Kenyan troops helped export charcoal from Kismayo port after militant Islamist group al Shabaab lost control of it in September 2012. The UN banned the export of charcoal from Somalia in February 2012.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

WFP And ECHO Start Cash Distributions To Somali Refugees In Ethiopia

15 Jul- Source: Reliefweb- 323 words

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched its first cash distributions to refugees in Ethiopia this month, with the financial support of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO). More than 12,000 refugees started receiving monthly cash entitlements last week in addition to a monthly food allocation in a pilot project in Sheddar refugee camp in the Somali regional state capital of Jijiga.

Kenya denies defying UN ban on Somalia charcoal trade

15 Jul- Source: BBC- 378 words

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“It will be important to keep the spotlight on this situation, in order to maintain pressure on Barclays and the UK government to come up with an alternative outcome which does not undermine livelihoods and political stability in Somalia, in the name of ensuring financial transparency in the UK.”

UK remittances: Barclays and Somalia

15 July- Source: Jason Mosley’s blog-423 Words

In late June, it came to light that the UK bank Barclays was due to close the accounts of a range of Somali money transfer businesses (among other such transfer companies) during July. This news produced a swift response from academic, civil society and advocacy groups, flagging up the disastrous consequences this was likely to have on Somali livelihoods in particular, given the country’s otherwise poor linkages to the international financial system. Here is a quick overview of the situation, and some of the great coverage and analysis it has received: