August 29, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Agreement between the Federal Government of Somalia and Jubba delegation

28 Aug- Source: Hiiraan Online/Kismaayo News/ Dalsan Radio- 1254 words

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Jubba delegation held talks in Addis Ababa from 20th – 27th August 2013, under the auspices of the IGAD Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Jubba delegations herein after referred to as the parties, discussed several issues regarding the current political, governance and security situation of the Jubbas.

Recalling the Guiding Principles contained in the Communiqué of the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) adopted at its 21st Extra-ordinary Summit on 24th May 2013 held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia;

The principles are as follows:
· Leadership of the Government of the Republic of Somalia in the process;
· Respect of the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia;
· All inclusive consultative process with the peoples’ of Somalia;
· Supportive role of IGAD based on the priorities of the Somali Government;
· Fighting Alshabab as the primary focus of the Somali Federal Government; regional and international partners;

Key Headlines

Security operations conducted by government troops in Mogadishu
(Radio Shabelle)
Somalia: UN envoy welcomes agreement between Government southern region’s leaders
(UN News Centre)
Mogadishu night patrol (Al Jazeera)
90000 children vaccinated against polio in Gedo (Radio Ergo)
Security meeting held in Galkacyo (Radio Bar- Kulan)
Somalia strikes deal with former Islamist over port city (Reuters)

PRESS STATEMENT

Agreement between the Federal Government of Somalia and Jubba delegation

28 Aug- Source: Hiiraan Online/Kismaayo News/ Dalsan Radio- 1254 words

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Jubba delegation held talks in Addis Ababa from 20th – 27th August 2013, under the auspices of the IGAD Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers.

Recalling the decisions contained in the Communiqué of the meeting of the Heads of State and Government of Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) held on 4th August 2013 in Kampala, Uganda;

Reiterating the need for all processes particularly the ongoing efforts towards setting up Somali Regional Administrations and stabilization efforts to be anchored with the Principles of Federalism in the Provisional Constitution, the National Stabilization Plan and the Local Government Act.

In full recognition of the supremacy of the Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia; and that the Federal Government of Somalia shall be the sole representative of sovereign Somalia.

In full respect for the Unity, Sovereignty and the Territorial Integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia;

Hereby the Parties Decide and Agree:

ARTICLE ONE

Establishment of an Interim Administration

1. The Federal Government of Somalia and the Jubba delegations have agreed on to an Interim Administration for Jubba, consisting of Gedo, Lower Jubba and Middle Jubba Regions without prejudice to whatever the people of these regions decide finally as a result of constitutional process. This Interim Administration shall be called the Interim Jubba Administration.

2. The duration of the Interim Administration shall be a period of not more than 2 years, during which – and subject to the constitutional process – a permanent Federal Member State will be established.

3. Through a consultative process, the parties of this agreement shall work together in completing the remaining part of the administration without prejudice to the provisional federal constitution of Somalia.

4. The Interim Jubba Administration shall be constituted of an Executive Council and a Regional Assembly.

5. The head of the Interim Jubba Administration shall be the Leader of the three regions of lower Jubba, middle Jubba and Gedo and also the Chairperson of the Executive Council and shall be accountable to the Federal Government of Somalia.

6. The Leader shall have three deputies appointed by the Leader in consultation with Somali Federal Government and they will also become members of the executive council.

7. The Executive Council shall be the executive organ of the Interim Administration, and whose members will be appointed by the Leader with consultation and coordination with the Federal Government. The Federal Government shall have responsibility to assure inclusivity.

8. The Regional Assembly should be an all inclusive and representative body of all clans and constituencies and selected by the traditional elders with seats been distributed proportionally among the districts of the three regions in full consideration of inclusivity, balance and in reconciliatory manner. The rules and regulations governing this Interim Administration shall be consistent with the Provisional Constitution of the FRS and approved by the Federal Parliament.

9. While the local Government Act takes into effect, the Governors of lower Jubba and Middle Jubba Regions shall be appointed by the Leader based on quota basis ensuring inclusiveness in consultation with local elders and Federal Government of Somalia. The current Gedo administration will remain as it is for now.

ARTICLE TWO

On the Management of Federal Institutions and Infrastructure

10. The Federal Institutions and Infrastructure, including the Kismayo Airport and Kismayo Seaport and other institutions shall be recognized as the assets and commonwealth of the people of Somalia.

11. That the Kismayo Airport and Kismayo Seaport shall be utilized in a manner that is beneficial to the peace and prosperity of the people of Somalia under the leadership and management of the Federal Government of Somalia.

12. The Kismayo Sea Port and Air Port Management shall be handed-over to the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) in 6 months period; after which the Federal Government of Somalia shall appoint a competent management team in consultation with the Interim Jubba Administration meanwhile the current management of port prevails for the next 6 months. The Federal Government of Somalia will appoint immigration officers to all entry points.

13. The revenues and other resources generated and accruing from the Kismayo Airport and Kismayo Seaport shall be managed in a prudent, transparent and accountable manner.

14. The revenues and other resources generated and accruing from the Kismayo Airport and Seaport shall be exclusively utilized, invested and disbursed on the priorities of security, service delivery and institutional building of the Jubbas.

15. This interim arrangement shall continue until there is final agreement on revenue sharing in the country as per the constitutional process.

ARTICLE THREE

On the Management of Security Forces and Militias Integration

16. That all security elements, including, RasKanboni Brigade (RBK), the Darwish and any other militias shall be integrated into the central command of the Somalia National Army (SNA); and the regional police will be under the command of the Interim Juba Administration.

17. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the established Interim Jubba Administration shall jointly establish a Technical Security Committee that will agree on modalities and timetable for the integration of all security elements. The Technical Committee will also be responsible to undertake Security Reform.

18. Integration of the militias in to the Somali National Army will also be implemented within recommended specific timeline by a Technical Committee comprising the FGS, and the Interim Jubba Administration, in close coordination with AMISOM.

19. The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) shall, under the planned reintegration program, give priority to the Jubba Administration so that combatants, particularly lower-level Alshabab fighters in the regions can disengage from combat and return to civilian life in their home communities.

ARTICLE FOUR

On Reconciliation and Confidence-Building

20. The Federal Government of Somalia shall organize and convene, within two weeks a Reconciliation Conference in Mogadishu. A follow-up peace building conference will also be held in Kismayo.

21. Mogadishu Reconciliation Conference will be a consultation mechanism on the process of completing the formation of the interim administration and peace building.

22. During the Mogadishu Reconciliation Conference, modalities of development of the roadmap for the establishment federal member state will be agreed upon.

23. The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia as chair of IGAD shall be the guarantor of this agreement.

Agreed Upon this 27th August, 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Signature Signature
H.E. Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir H.E. Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islaan
On Behalf of the Somali Federal On behalf of Juba Interim Administration
Government

Guarantor
H.E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers of IGAD

SOMALI MEDIA

Security operations conducted by government troops in Mogadishu

28 Aug- Source: Radio Shabelle- 110 words

Dozens of youths were arrested and are currently being questioned by the Somali federal police in Mogadishu after a security crackdown in the city. Some of the districts that underwent a house operation include Daynile and Hodan in Banadir region. Police officials who chose not to disclose their identities told Shabelle radio that their aim was to prevent any possible attacks from al Shabaab. Residents told Shabelle that policemen arrested and interrogated young men yesterday morning of yesterday.

AMISOM, Government troops in Kismayo plan to attack Bu’ale district

28 Aug- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 182 words

The federal government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops in Kismayo are reportedly planning to attack Bu’ale district in middle Jubba region which al Shabaab control. Mr. Yusuf Mohamed Qasim, an official from the federal government troops in Lower Jubba region has spoken to Mustaqbal radio on the telephone line and said that they (allied forces) are planning to remove al Shabaab from Bu’ale district in Middle Jubba region. “The plan is not only (to remove) al Shabaab in Bu’ale but in the areas under their control in Gedo and Middle Jubba regions” said Officer Yuusuf.

90,000 children vaccinated against polio in Gedo

28 Aug- Source: Radio Ergo- 159 words

At least 90,000 children in Somalia’s south-western Gedo region were vaccinated against polio last week. The coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO) Gedo office, Mohamed Sheikh Ali, said the immunization campaign was carried out over five days last week in the districts of Garbaharey, Elwaq, Dolo, Luq, Balathawo and Geedweyne, and had met its target numbers. “This was a good number as it showed the area was receptive to the immunization exercise,” Ali said, speaking to Radio Ergo’s local reporter. The immunization of children under 10 in Gedo is part of the larger national polio eradication campaign, triggered by the increasing polio cases in the country. According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, at least 108 polio cases have been reported from Somalia since April – equivalent to almost half the number of cases around the world in 2012. The vaccination campaigns in Somalia face daunting challenges in terms of accessibility to areas controlled by the militant group al-Shabaab.

Security meeting held in Galkacyo

28 Aug- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 123 words

A meeting to discuss security issues of the central Somali region of Mudug was held in the north of Galkacyo town on Wednesday. The meeting is attended by Puntland authority in Mudug region, commissioners of Galkacyo neighborhoods and Puntland security officials. Puntland police boss in Mudug region Jama Mohamed Ahmed Sandaqad urged local residents to work with security forces in order to ensure security and prevent criminal acts. Mudug region governor of Puntland authority Mohamed Yusuf Jama Tigey asked the public to be vigilant and work with the security institution. This meeting comes a day after at least 3 people were killed in clan-related clashes that have occurred in Qandarre, an area situated about 90 kilometers on the north Galkacyo town.

District commissioner threatens al Shabaab in Dinsor district

28 Aug- Source: Radio Mustaqbal- 125 words

The district commissioner of Dinsor for the federal government of Somalia has threatened al Shabaab in Dinsor. The commissioner said the government troops will take steps against the militants in Dinsor district. Ibrahim Mohamed Nor, who is a commissioner of Dinsor district said that the government troops in Bay region will plan attacks against what he called “terrorists” from Dinsor district in Bay region.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Mogadishu night patrol

28 Aug- Source: Al Jazeera- 361 words

In 2011 African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces largely pushed out the armed group al-Shabab from Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu. Since then, police units from Nigeria and Uganda have been attempting to train and equip the fledgling Somali Police Force (SPF) in securing the capital city. Part of this effort has been conducting nightly joint patrols with the SPF. These patrols, and the recent introduction of solar powered lights onto the city’s main streets, have helped allow businesses to reopen, enabling civilians to move more freely after dark.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia strikes deal with former Islamist over port city

28 Aug- Source: Reuters- 676 words

Somalia’s central government agreed on Wednesday to recognise a former Islamist commander as the interim leader of the southern Juba region, a deal that could help end months of clan fighting and cement plans for a federal nation. Diplomats said the pact signed in Ethiopia’s capital, after days of talks and delays, was a significant step towards stabilising Somalia as it seeks to create devolved government, and could become a blueprint for sharing power in other areas. An official from Mogadishu’s government signed the deal with Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, who has been vying for control of Jubaland’s port city of Kismayu and its hinterland against a clan warlord widely seen as backed by Mogadishu.

Somalia: UN envoy welcomes agreement between Government, southern region’s leaders

28 Aug- Source: UN News Centre- 392 words
The top United Nations envoy in Somalia today welcomed the agreement signed between the country’s Federal Government and the Interim Jubba Administration establishing the terms of governance in three southern regions. “This is a significant step towards restoring peace in Somalia, building a strong Federal Somalia and contributing to regional and international security” said the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Nicholas Kay. “This agreement unlocks the door to a better future for Somalia.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“MSF’s withdrawal from Somalia this month raises important questions about what constitute acceptable conditions to work in Somalia”

Risks and compromises for aid workers: when is enough, enough?

28 Aug- Source: the Guardian- 852 words

On 14 August, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced that, after 22 years, it was closing all its activities in Somalia as “the situation in the country has created an untenable imbalance between the risks and compromises our staff must make, and our ability to provide assistance to the Somali people.”

MSF began its operations in Somalia in the early 1990s when the country first became a byword for anarchy and violent chaos. Acknowledging that Somalia “has always been a dangerous place … there’s a limit to what we can accept and the conditions that allow and permit humanitarian assistance in Somalia are no longer there”, including “the structural inability of the Somali leadership and authorities to prevent these incidents from occurring or to address them when they occur”.