August 21, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

AMISOM opens training on improving understanding and compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Human Rights (HR) for the Somali National Army Officers.

Key Headlines

Somali president praises Ethiopia’s role on Somalia peace (Radio Dalsan)
Somaliland Foreign Affairs minister Unveils New Policies (Somaliland Press)
Ethiopian and AMISOM officials attend meeting to address security of Hiiraan region(Shabelle)
Somalia gang rape victim accuses African Union force (Capital News)
No Ransom No Release For Hostages of Somali Pirates (VOA)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM opens training on improving understanding and compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Human Rights (HR) for the Somali National Army Officers.

20 Aug- Source: AMISOM-485 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has today opened a four-day training workshop on improving understanding and compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and Human Rights (HR) for thirty-two officers of the Somali National Army (SNA) in Kampala, Uganda. The training which is being convened with technical and logistical support from the Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission seeks to contribute to professionalizing and building a competent Somali Armed Forces by introducing the essential rules of International Humanitarian Law, both treaty and customary rules and other relevant norms binding Somalia.
The workshop was officially opened by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of the Republic of Uganda, Honorable Asuman Kiyingi who noted that IHL is a fundamental instrument in the day to day running of the national and International Affairs for a country like Somalia that is emerging from a long spell of armed conflicts. He said; “… it is incumbent upon you to borrow a leaf from countries like Uganda, Burundi, South Africa, among others to ensure discipline, reconciliation, unity in diversity in order to build a prosperous, secure and self sustaining Somalia.”
Representing the Federal Government of Somalia, Colonel Ali Amer said it was important for such training programmes in IHL and HR to include all commanding officers and key personnel of the Somali National Army. The workshop which has drawn experts and other high ranking officials from the African Union Commission, United Nations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (ICRC) among others is the second of such initiatives by AMISOM after a similar event was conducted in Djibouti towards the end of last year for senior officers of the Somali National Army.
In the opening remarks read on her behalf, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi observed that the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1977 additional protocols remain important tools for the protection of civilians, as they clearly stipulate the rules of engagement in a situation of armed conflict. “I hope this training will provide us with a way forward on how we can use IHL and other relevant regional and international legal instruments such as the ones on human rights in enhancing the protection of such vulnerable persons.” She Said.
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif commended the Somali National Army for the security gains in the country especially driving out Al-Shabaab terrorists from key towns. He encouraged the officers to build on the Somali customs and norms to better respect IHL and HR.
The training will enhance Somali National Army Officers’ understanding of the basic rules regulating the conduct of hostilities in Somalia. It will also lead to the adoption of a forward looking strategy and action plan to ensure compliance with IHL by SNA and respect for other relevant norms.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali president praises Ethiopia’s role on Somalia peace

20 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan – 114 words

Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has praised the role by the Ethiopian government towards Somalia peace. Addressing a memorial ceremony for former Ethiopian prime minister, the late Meles Zenawi in Addis Ababa Tuesday, president Hassan said “Ethiopia’s role in Somalia was always supportive and friendly.” President Hassan also thanked the current Ethiopian prime minister in his role to stand for the help of Somali people and their government. The president asked the Ethiopian government to assist in building a strong national army for Somalia. “Building Somali national army will only be the best alternative to defeat the extremists and secure the country,” he said.

Somaliland Foreign Affairs minister Unveils New Policies

20 Aug – Source: Somaliland Press – 131 words

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon Mohamed Bihi Younis has for the first time in a rare press conference held today at the Mansoor Hotel, Hargeisa underlined his new foreign policies. The former UN diplomat said started by stating the importance of current talks with Somalia and that he supports engagements with the government of Somalia if it means securing international recognition for Somaliland citing the ongoing talks between Somaliland and Somalia to start the dialogue to end the decade’s long standoff between the two which have led to Somaliland and Somalia to engage directly for first face -to-face discussion in London, UK, followed by Dubai, the UAE meeting in June 2012 while the third and fourth were the ones hosted by the Turkish Government in April 2013.

Al Shabaab calls on Muslim Brothers in Egypt to fight

20 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 97 words

Somalia’s al Shabaab links with al Qeada issued statement from the situation of Egypt, urging the Muslim Brotherhood to take arms.

“We advise The Muslim brothers to fear Allah and……, forget the democracy, take the weapons and fight with those who massacre the people,” al Shabaab said in statement it issued Tuesday. The statement from al Shabab was all about the Egypt affairs and advices to Muslim brothers.

Ethiopian and AMISOM officials attend meeting to address security of Hiiraan region

20 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 76 words

A meeting attended by traditional elders, members of the Hiran administration, AMISOM officials based in the region and Ethiopian officials was Tuesday held in Beledweyne town which is the capital of Hiran region. The meeting addressed on ways to improve security in the region which is recovering after allied forces liberated it from al Shabaab fighters. The ten day meeting will also host diaspora citizens who have been flocking to the town for the past few months.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia gang rape victim accuses African Union force

20 Aug – Source: Capital News – 132 words

Abducted, drugged and gang raped in Somalia: a young mother details the most brutal of allegations against African Union troops and Somali soldiers in a case causing widespread anger. “The soldiers raped me… I tried to defend myself but they beat me badly and I passed out,” she said, speaking to the Somali Channel television about the attack earlier this month. She alleged she was stopped on the streets of Mogadishu by three soldiers from the national army, blindfolded and forced into a car, before being handed over to African Union troops, where she says she was repeatedly raped. She has needle marks on her arms from where she says drugs were injected during the several hours long assault in the Maslah compound, a Ugandan troop base on the outskirts of Mogadishu.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

No Ransom, No Release For Hostages of Somali Pirates

20 Aug – Source: VOA – 120 words

In recent months the number of pirate attacks along Somalia’s coast has dropped, but an estimated 97 seafarers remain in the hands of pirates. Many of these hostages are uninsured and negotiations for their release have come to a standstill. For two years and nine months now, Somali pirates have held the crewmembers of the Malaysian flagged MV Albedo. The hostages were confined to the vessel until it sank last month, when four of the fifteen men went missing. The Albedo was uninsured and its Iranian owner has disappeared, leaving nobody to foot the ransom bill for the 11 remaining hostages. John Steed, a counter piracy expert who now runs a hostage support program, has been working for their release.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“As the power outages, the dusty, muddy and potholed roads, the pervasive waste and sewage and the thousands of internally displaced persons indicated, Somalia now needs to be rebuilt and there are youth ready and willing to do it. Somalia’s peace lies in Somalia’s future. Time to help them put food on the table.”

Finding Hope in Somalia

20 Aug- Source: US News & World Report-920 Words
As Doctors Without Borders announced last week that they’re quitting Somalia after 20-plus years in the country due to an increase in violent attacks, the need for new solutions to this crisis is key. The answer to the rebel group al-Shabaab’s growth in Somalia, as I discovered this month while visiting Mogadishu, can be found in the women and youth. Sound like an oversimplification of a sophisticated counter-terrorism problem? Perhaps. But there’s a reason why the military response – as witnessed by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) presence throughout the country – has yet to put a stop to al Shabaab. Armed attacks by AMISOM will only go so far in stopping armed attacks by al Shabaab.