August 7, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

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SOMALIA ALLOWS UK COMPANY TO EXPLORE FOR OIL AND GAS

06 Aug- Source: Business Daily-184 Words
Somalia on Monday granted a UK-based oil company rights to explore oil and gas in a move that could intensify competition with Kenya in the Indian Ocean area. The deal with Soma Oil and Gas Exploration Ltd did not specify the area of exploration. Sona chairman Michael Horward was former Conservative Party leader and Home Secretary. “Under the agreement the company will conduct seismic surveying to assist the development of Somalia’s hydrocarbons sector,” reads part of the announcement sent to newsrooms by Somalia authorities. The government described the move to award the contract as strategic. Autonomous Puntland has previously issued similar licences.

Key Headlines

Federal government to control airport and port revenues (Shabelle)
Somalia inks oil deal with British ex-Tory leader (AP News)
Ahlu Sunna: Non-Ahlu Sunna members won’t be allowed to hold position in areas controlled by group(Bar-kulan)
Former Somali warlord buried in Mogadishu (Shabelle/Kulmiye)
Baidoa police urged to tighten security ahead of Eid ( Bar-kulan)

SOMALI MEDIA

Federal government to control airport and port revenues

06 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 74 words

The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mr. Hassan Sheikh who held a press conference at the airport after arriving from Kampala said that the central government will take control of state assets. The assets include the port and the airport which are now controlled by armed militia groups. The president stressed the importance of equality and added that the agenda agreed will benefit the Jubaland communities equally.

Ahlu Sunna: Non-Ahlu Sunna members won’t be allowed to hold position in areas controlled by group

06 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 97 words

Ahlu Sunna moderate group in central Somalia has declared that non-Ahlu Sunna members will not be allowed to hold any position in the areas controlled by the pro-government group. Speaking to Bar-kulan, a senior Ahlu Sunna Moalim Mohamud Sheikh Hassan stated that they will never let any non-Ahlu Sunna member to hold position in the region administered by the moderate group, saying it will let down group’s dignity. He added that anyone interest to hold a position in these area to be permitted by the Ahlu Sunna, a pro-government religious group that controls most of central Somalia.

Former Somali warlord buried in Mogadishu

06 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/Kulmiye – 70 words

Osman Hassan Ali (Osman Ato), an infamous former Somali warlord who died Monday has been buried in Mogadishu at a funeral attended by Somali officials led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Atto was a member of Somali parliament and also served as minister of trade in a previous interim government that ruled the horn of African nation.

Baidoa police urged to tighten security ahead of Eid

06 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 93 words

Baidoa police chief has asked forces to be vigilant and strength security during the preparations of Eid festivities, which mark the end of the Muslim month of fasting. Speaking to Bar-kulan, Mukhtar Ahmed Dugudow, Baidoa police boss vowed that they will tighten security and protect civilians during Eid occasions. Dugudow warned parents and Baidoa locals to take children in to play grounds and use children are playing equipments. Bay region authority, struggling with a deadly insurgency by Islamist militants al Shabaab, advised residents to be on alert and boosted patrols ahead of Eid celebrations.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia allows UK company to explore for oil and gas

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia inks oil deal with British ex-Tory leader

06 Aug – Source: AP News/AFP- 135 words

Somalia’s government has signed an oil and gas exploration deal with a newly formed British company, the first such agreement by a central government in Somalia following decades of conflict. The deal with Soma Oil and Gas allows the company to conduct seismic surveys in Somalia’s territorial waters and in limited onshore regions. The company’s chief executive, Robert Sheppard, said Tuesday that Somalia remains significantly underexplored in the oil and gas sector despite recent discoveries across East Africa. Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania are among nations with recent discoveries. Somalia’s Mogadishu-based government said it expects the deal will attract new development “in an area of immense economic potential” for the nation.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Nevertheless, Somaliland is still a difficult country for the tourists. The local bureaucracy may end up being frustrating. This is especially true about the airport security and the police. Still, when anyone comes to this part of the world, it can really be an extremely rewarding experience.”

Somaliland: The ‘Not Yet’ Country in East Africa

06 Aug- Source: International Business Times-367 Words
Whenever we think of poverty, war and lawlessness in the world; one country comes to our mind often: Somalia. We have an assumption that the nation is populated by bloodthirsty warlords and pirates. Its neighbour Ethiopia portrays a better image, by no means. Thus, we come to a conclusion that this part of the world is nearly impossible to live in. Here comes a wonderful exception: Somaliland. Somaliland is yet to be officially recognized as a country. However, it is often considered as an island which has relative stability and peace. The most shocking aspect about Somaliland is that the global community is yet to consider it as an official country. Things may not be heavenly here but Somaliland has a government which has been democratically elected. Not every official country in this world has that kind of a government.