August 5, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

African ministers meet for coordinated moves in Somalia

04 Aug – Source: Xinhua/Global Times – 214 Words

Foreign and defense ministers from troop contributing countries to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) met here Saturday to discuss ways to coordinate their ongoing operations in the volatile horn of African country. Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa, who is also chair of the meeting,said at the opening of the one-day meeting that it was an opportunity to assess the successes, challenges and the future of AMISOM. He said the existing cooperation between the Somali government, international partners and troop contributing countries was critical to the security gains. “It is essential that this support continues and is carried out by all in a well-coordinated manner, in order to consolidate the security gains made and deny giving extremist groups like Al-Shabaab,” he said.

Key Headlines

AMISOM regrets death of a civilian outside its base (AMISOM)
Somalia gets military police force (New Vision)
Kampala conference on Somalia (Radio Mogadishu)
Infighting continues to plague al Shabaab militants over leadership wrangles (Radio Garowe/Shabelle)
2 senators fault UN al Shabaab report (Star News)
DBG hands over rehabilitated schools to the benefuciaries (Shabelle)
Puntland Rejects the coastal agreement between the Federal government & Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group (Horseed Media)
Somalia: “We have only two Problems now Piracy and Terrorism”-Fozia ( Somaliland Sun)
Jubbaland president tours contested areas ( Radio Bar-kulan )
Somalia: Puntland leader warns of ‘consequences’ in Somaliland oil pursuit (Garowe Online)
President Kenyatta to region: Root out al Shabaab (Capital FM)
Extremist violence returns to hit Mogadishu (IPS)
Kutesa wants AMISOM troop numbers boosted (New Vision)
Truck driver killed outside AMISOM compound in Mogadishu (Sabahi Online)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM regrets death of a civilian outside its base

04 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 199 Words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif has expressed his deep regret over today’s accidental shooting of a civilian outside the AMISOM base in Mogadishu.
The incident happened when AMISOM troops manning the gate tried to stop a truck driver as he approached the gate. The driver did not heed the command and an AMISOM soldier at the gate fired several warning shots before attempting to deflate the vehicle’s tyres. Unfortunately the bullet ricocheted off the ground and hit the driver who succumbed to his injuries as he was rushed to the AMISOM hospital.

“I wish to express my regret over this unfortunate incident. We are currently investigating the circumstances and will take any appropriate action in line with African Union procedures. AMISOM is mindful of its responsibility to minimize the impact of its operations on Somali civilians and we have clear rules of engagement to that effect.” Said Ambassador Annadif.
The AU Special Representative condoles with the family and friends of the deceased whilst reiterating AMISOM’s commitment to support the Federal Government of Somalia in ensuring the safety and sanctity of the lives of the Somali people.

SOMALI MEDIA

Kampala conference on Somalia

04 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/Risaala//Dalsan – 144 words

The Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud attended Kampala conference on Somalia which kicked offon Sunday. The war-ravaged horn of African leader met the leaders of from troops contributing countries such as Burundi, Uganda, Djibouti, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Kenya. Ugandan foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa revealed that the agenda of the conference was ways to enhance the quality of the national army in order they might hand over the security from AMISOM in the future, and also how troop contributing countries would have teamwork. An estimated 17,300 soldiers from Burundi, Uganda, Djibouti, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Kenya currently operate in Somalia, Uganda contributing the biggest number of soldiers.

DBG hands over rehabilitated schools to the benefuciaries

04 Source: Shabelle – 69 words

Daryeel Bulsho Guud (DBG)has today officially handed over four schools rehabilitated by the organization to officials of the Ministry of Education and the parents association of the schools at a special ceremony held at the Guest House of DBG. The ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Education, the Parents association of the schools , the administrator of the schools, and officials of Daryeel Bulsho Guud.

Infighting continues to plague al Shabaab militants over leadership wrangles

04 Aug – Source: Radio Garowe/Shabelle -274 Words
Heavy fighting erupted on Saturday in Gobale vicinity of Lower Shabelle region between the loyalists of al Shabaab overall emir Ahmed Godane and former al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Mukhtar Robow (Abu Mansur). Local reports say that the fighting lasted for several hours with Robow loyalists gaining the upper hand. “The battle began Saturday’s afternoon and stopped at midnight, Militants loyal to Robow are now controlling the area and the local communities fled here,” said witness who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Many militants including two foreigners died in the battle and one of the foreigners was reportedly a battle commander,” he added.

Puntland Rejects the coastal agreement between the Federal government & Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group

03 Aug – Source: Horseed Media – 144 words

On behalf of the Puntland Government, I want to assure the citizen of our esteemed State of Puntland that our territorial waters are under our full control. No company or foreign state has been authorised by the Puntland Government to Monitor, Patrol, Survey and Protect; the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone); Our Natural Resources; Ports; Fishing activities and Trades among others in our territorial waters. The recent contract signed on the 30 Government of Somalia, Abdihakin Fiqi and the Dutch Company Atlantic Marine and Offshore Group (witnessed by President of the Federal Government of Somalia) that hands over the power of Somali Nationals to Foreign Company over our territorial waters, marine resources, Ports and Trade is unacceptable, inapplicable and unsuitable in Puntland State. This agreement clearly undermines the Regional Somali States (Kampala Process Members) efforts of maintaining Somali Sovereignty and control over its territorial waters.

Jubbaland president tours contested areas

03 Aug – Source: radio Bar-kulan – 108 words

Jubbaland president Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) who has recently returned to Kismayo, capital of Lower Jubba region has visited areas where fierce fighting between his forces and rival militias occurred couple of weeks ago. During the visit, Ahmed Madobe, Jubbaland president was accompanied by his deputy Abdillahi Sheikh Ismail Aftag and some officials of his administration. The president also visited Kismayo central station, ex-meat factory, as well as Isku-Shuban and Gulwade neighborhoods. He sent condolence to the families and friends who lost their loved ones in Kismayo clashes. Jubbaland leader also affirmed that his newly formed administration will help victims who were wounded in the battle.

Somalia: Puntland leader warns of ‘consequences’ in Somaliland oil pursuit

03 Aug – Source: Garowe Online – 322 Words

The president of Somalia’s Puntland government Abdirahman Mohamed Farole has warned of ‘consequences’ in the Somaliland separatist administration’s pursuit for oil exploration in Sool and Sanaag regions, Garowe Online reports. President Farole gave the keynote address on Thursday evening at a celebratory event held at Puntland State House in Garowe marking 15 years since Puntland’s statehood was founded in 1998. The Puntland leader said that dialogue process in Istanbul Somalia”.between Somali Federal Government and Somaliland can succeed through consultation among “all of

Somalia: “We have only two Problems now Piracy and Terrorism,”-Fowzia

03 Aug – Source: Somaliland Sun – 485 Words

With piracy drastically down and terrorism waning, Somalia is encouraging businesses around the world to come and invest in this resource-rich “virgin land” that is full of opportunities. That was message to global investors from Somalia’s first woman Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fowzia Yusuf Haaji Adam, who was on a visit to Kenya’s capital Nairobi, when she spoke to Xinhua here in an exclusive interview on Friday. “We have two problems. One is piracy, and the other is terrorism,” she spoke frankly. Piracy has gone down 80 percent compared to two years ago, which is quite a development, she said. As for terrorism, Somalia is gaining progress in pushing it out of the country with the help of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and the European Union, which has been providing financial support.

REGIONAL MEDIA

President Kenyatta to region: Root out al Shabaab

04 Aug – Source: Capital FM – 494 Words

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Africa to remain focused on rooting out al Shabaab and stabilizing Somalia. President Kenyatta said he saw no room for wavering or distraction on the objective of curbing al Shabaab’s heinous acts of terrorism in which people, mainly in East Africa, had lost lives and property destroyed. “Our first, second and third priorities must remain to root out al Shabaab and fully stabilize the Somali state. There can be no wavering or distraction from that clearly and openly stated objective,” President Kenyatta told a summit of states contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Truck driver killed outside AMISOM compound in Mogadishu

04 Aug – Source: Sabahi Online – 150 Words

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) soldiers accidentally shot dead a truck driver who attempted to enter their base in Mogadishu without stopping at the gate on Saturday (August 3rd), according to an AMISOM press release. The truck driver was heading toward the base entrance when the soldiers signalled for him to stop. “The driver did not heed the command and an AMISOM soldier at the gate fired several warning shots before attempting to deflate the vehicle’s tyres,” the press release said. “Unfortunately the bullet ricocheted off the ground and hit the driver who succumbed to his injuries as he was rushed to the AMISOM hospital.”

Somalia gets military police force

04 Aug – Source: New Vision – 140 words

Over 120 Somalis have been passed out after successfully completing a four months military police training conducted by European Union (EU) at Bihanga military barrack training camp in Kamwenge district. The training also skilled trainees with civil military relations and company commanders force skills that will enable them protect VIPs, control of administration, build a good relationship between the army and population, crowd control among others. The fifth intake brings the number of Somali soldiers trained by European Union team at Bihanga Camp to 3400 since the training began in 2010. Among them, 125 trained officers will now be able to reinforce the capacity of the Somali armed forces guaranteeing security and extension of prosperity of Somalia. The Pass out which was special from the past trainings was presided over by the Somali Ambassador to Uganda, Ahmed Sayid Sheikh Dahir.

2 senators fault UN al Shabaab report

04 Aug – Source: Star News – 174 words

Two senators have urged the government to ignore a UN report that links an employee of Parliament to al shabaab. Speaking to the press yesterday, Senators Billow Kerrow and Hassan Omar Hassan said the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia should be ignored because it has perfected the art of linking Kenyans to al Shabaab without evidence. The UN report claims that an employee of the Parliamentary Service Commission has been in the forefront of recruitment of jihadist fighters into Somalia. The report claims that the official sits on the committee of Pumwani Mosque that allegedly finances terrorism and recruitment of fighters in Kenya through a separate entity called Al Hijra. The senators said the report is bogus because it was authored by “four or five” consultancies that sit in offices in Nairobi. They said the UN report fell short of providing evidence on the official alleged role in the funding and recruitment of jihadists.“Throughout the report there is no evidence on the official link to al Shabaab or even the mosque,” Kerrow said.

Kutesa wants AMISOM troop numbers boosted

04 Aug – Source: New Vision – 137 words

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Sam Kutesa has called for the expansion of the African Union Mission in Somalia’s (AMISOM) troop numbers, to enable them consolidate the territory so far captured from the Al-shabaab terrorist group. Minister Kutesa was on Saturday addressing a ministerial meeting for AMISOM troop contributing countries which preceded the summit of Heads of State and government at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo. He said that the AMISOM strategic concept which was developed in 2012, provided for an increase in the level of troop numbers from 12,000 to the current 17,731 which expanded the presence of AMISOM and broadened its mandate. However, with increased in captured territory from Al-shabaab, there is need to increase the troop numbers up to 20,000 from the current 17,731 in order not to allow Al-shabaab to return.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

African ministers meet for coordinated moves in Somalia

04 Aug – Source: Xinhua/Global Times – 214 Words

Jury recommends life sentences for 3 Somali pirates in slayings of 4 Americans aboard yacht

03 Aug – Source: AP/Washington Post – 927 Words

A jury recommended Friday that three Somali pirates be sentenced to life in prison in the slayings of four Americans aboard a yacht off the coast of Africa. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, and 22 of the 26 crimes they were convicted of were death-eligible offenses. But a federal jury in Norfolk, Va., recommended the only other possible sentence for 20-year-old Ahmed Muse Salad, 25-year-old Abukar Osman Beyle and 29-year-old Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar. During the sentencing phase of the trial, defense attorneys attempted to raise doubts about the certainty of the crimes the jury had convicted them of. Salad attorney Claire Cardwell noted that nobody was able to definitively say which person shot which victim, and that much of the evidence presented relied on testimony of other convicted pirates. If the jury and the government wanted to dole out justice by taking an eye for an eye, “Which eye, for which eye?” she asked. Formal sentencing for the men will take place in October and November, and they will face numerous life sentences and additional time.

Extremist violence returns to hit Mogadishu

03 Aug – Source: IPS – 943 Words

As the Somali government announced it would set up a coastguard to combat piracy in this Horn of African nation, insecurity is emerging as the biggest challenge that the government faces – and it is only getting worse. Osman Aweis Dahir, director of the local Dr. Ismail Jimale Human Rights Organisation, said that the Somali militant group al Shabaab has renewed its campaign to bring instability to the country’s capital Mogadishu. “The little stability that the city had experienced since the al Shabaab withdrawal appears to have been broken,” Dahir told IPS from Mogadishu. The Islamist extremist group was forced out of its bases in Mogadishu on Aug. 6, 2011 by Somali and African Union peace-keeping forces. Until the withdrawal, the government only controlled half of the city. But in recent weeks there has been a rise in the number of ambushes, assassinations and suicide bombs in Somalia’s capital.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Somalia can stand tall in spite of countless interventions by neighbors near and far. Perhaps the best byword for Somalia is “resilience,” a trait that is essential as the country looks toward a new dawn.”

Why we should keep out of Somalia’s affairs

02 Aug – Source: CNN – 648 Words

Last weekend, in response to a deadly attack on the Turkish embassy in Somalia that killed three and wounded nine, the U.S. government responded by saying that, “this cowardly act will not shake our commitment to continue working for the brighter, more democratic and prosperous future the people of Somalia deserve.” The statement followed not one bombing in Somalia, but two. This past Saturday’s bombing was the second in under a week; a few days prior, a bomb blew up in a lawmaker’s car, killing one. But while such a positive American response is assuredly better than The Economist’s this summer, which described Somalia as “a byword for conflict, poverty and ungovernability,” it is still riddled with problems. Indeed, ironically, it is exactly this kind of U.S. government-issued statement that fuels the sort of resentment that ultimately leads to more bombings.

“This paper suggests that transformation of the colonial structures is necessary component to prevent clan or ethnic and tribal violence but the design to achieve this may be best accomplished through local consensus without foreign interference. Foreign or external forces intentionally create winners and losers in their state interest, causing long-lasting social and political conflicts. In this effort, more study may be necessary to come up with the right answer.”

Manipulating clan or ethnic political identity for power

04 Aug – Source: Hiiraan Online – 4511 Words

The narrative about the political conflict in Somalia has been characterized as “clan power struggle” by the official media for years and the collusion between local politicians and external forces to gain power has been down-played. Local political opportunists in Somalia continue to use “clan identity” to garner support for selfish personal interests, while the Somali government fights against brutal sectarian conflict. Just as in colonial days, the manipulation of “clan or ethnic” identity by external forces and the subservient role of local politicians to gain power continue. Currently, the Somali State is being rehabilitated from the grasp of clan-nationalists who are ferociously fighting for the creation of clan territories under the guise of “states”. In this effort, the clan-oriented politicians continue to entrench clan identities while undermining the emergence of national government in Somalia and closely working with neighbouring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia in this effort. Can Somalia overcome clan-nationalism?