September 19, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

New semi-autonomous state will be formed in Southern regions, says Speaker of Parliament

18 Sept – Source: Radio Dalsan – 105 words

Somali Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari who is currently visiting his home region of Bay and Bakool said the government will support forming new state in Southern Somalia regions if the local community wish. Speaking to the local media in Baidoa on Tuesday, Mohamed Osman Jawari said establishing an administration that will govern six regions in southern Somalia will come upon the local community’s consultations. “We will start discussions among us and listen all the views from the different segments of the society.” Jawari told the reporters. He said the views from the people will bring positive ideas that serve for the goodness of the people.

Key Headlines

New semi-autonomous state will be formed in Southern regions says Speaker of Parliament (Radio Dalsan)
Hizbul islaam senior officer arrested in Mogadishu (Radio Dalsan/Jowhar Online)
Somaliland is happy with the international community’s support to federal government of Somalia(Raxanreeb)
Governor of Galgadud region visits Matabaan town to solve conflicts (Shabelle)
Somaliland: “Genel to Resume Oil Exploration” (Somaliland Sun)
150 Somali-owned shops looted in South African rampage (Africa Review)
Yemeni President meets Somali Interior Minister (Yemen News Agency)
Bahraini Deputy King receives Special Envoy of the African Union to Somalia (Bahrain News Agency)
Uganda hauls back two dozen Somalia peacekeepers over scam (Reuters)
Somali President: Italy “most suitable” to support us (TMNews/ Internazionale/Unita)

PRESS STATEMENT

Leaving Mogadishu, by Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Somalia, Peter de Clercq

18 Sept – Source: UNSOM – 521 words

It has been just over 17 months on the job – first with UNPOS and now with UNSOM – and unfortunately time has come for me to leave Somalia. I leave with a heavy heart, feeling that there are still many things that I would have wanted to be a part of.

Much is being said about all the things that have NOT happened since the end of the transition, and, true enough, we would have all liked to see a new, safe, stable and prosperous Somalia emerging at a much faster pace. However, it took almost 25 years for Somalia to reach the state of disrepair that it was in at the end of the “transition period” and it will take a considerable amount of time to put everything back on track.

In spite of some senseless and indiscriminate actions on the part of extremists, Somalis have not been discouraged and they are simply getting on with their lives and rebuilding their country. On the streets of Mogadishu, life is slowly returning to normal and construction is taking place everywhere. Even traffic jams are not uncommon, as many of us can attest.

We have come a long way in the past year and amongst the outstanding accomplishments is the fact that Somalia now has a functioning and articulate Parliament with a clear strategy on the way forward. We have just concluded the New Deal Compact in Brussels, which constitutes a set of mutual obligations between the International Community and Somalia on which the reconstruction process will be based.

We are seeing an increasing number of young Somali diaspora members, women and men; returning home to seize the opportunities offered by the promise of a new era of peace at the end of the transition.

They accept that in spite of the less than ideal conditions, it is time to come home and contribute to building a new Somalia. I believe this is an example that we, as members of the International Community, should not fail to recognize and appreciate. The time to invest our efforts and resources in Somalia is right now. Not doing so would be to miss the best chance we will get in our life time to help turn things around.

Let us, as the International Community, support the Somali people to find their own solutions and let us embrace the principles of Somali ownership and leadership as we have committed to do in the New Deal. Solutions can only work if they are owned by the Somalis themselves. No one and nothing can substitute that!

Finally, I hope that the process of peace building will also include elements of reconciliation and justice. Somalia can only move forward if it deals with its past. I hope that people can find it in their hearts to forgive the terrible things that have happened, to overcome the divisions and dynamics that are remnants of the past and instead move forward towards a new and bright future.

I wish Somalia all the best, and hope I will be back, one day soon, to enjoy another lobster lunch at Lido Beach!

SOMALI MEDIA

New semi-autonomous state will be formed in Southern regions, says Speaker of Parliament

18 Sept – Source: Radio Dalsan – 105 words

Somaliland is happy with the international community’s support to federal government of Somalia

18 Sept – Source: Raxanreeb – 114 words

Somaliland president Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo has welcomed the recent pledge by the international community to help rebuild Somalia, RBC reports. “As Somaliland we welcome the pledge and the support of the world for Somalia” Ahmed Silanyo, the president of self-declared region of Somaliland said. ”EU aid to Somalia can’t deviate Somaliland from its path to full-fledged statehood.” he added. Silanyo reiterated that this week’s New Deal Conference for Somalia will not bring any impact on his region, Somaliland which he said it had already reached its political decision. “There will no any impact from the New Deal Conference on our nation and the way ahead of us which is reaching full nationhood.” Silanyo added.

Hizbul islaam senior officer arrested in Mogadishu

18 Sept – Source: Radio Dalsan/Jowhar Online – 107 words

Somali National Security forces have on Wednesday arrested Sheikh Mohamed Moalim foreign secretary of Hizbul islaam group. According to a Hizbul islam spokesman. “we are very regretful for this arrest and we are demanding Sheikh Mohamed Moalim to be freed , the situation will be really bad “Said Ismail Adow, spokesman of Hisbul islaam. The NSS captured Mohamed Moalim in hotel Mubarak when he was taking lunch . The reason for his arrest was not immediately clear as the SNS officers rejected to comment but a close source told Radio Dalsan in the NSS confirmed that he threatened to attack the government if Hassan Dahir Aweys is not released.

Governor of Galgadud region visits Matabaan town to solve conflicts

18 Sept – Source: Shabelle – 67 words

Two communities recently fought in Matabaan town located in Somalia’s Hiiraan region. This has led to a large delegation led by the governor of Galgadud region visited the town to solve and reconcile the two communities. “We have met elders and officials of the local administration of Matabaan town, we have arrested those behind the recent fighting” said Mr Cirfo who is the governor of Galgadud region.

Somaliland: “Genel to Resume Oil Exploration”

18 Sept- Source: Somaliland Sun-252 Words

Somaliland’s government is in talks with Genel Energy PLC (GENL.LN) about the Anglo-Turkish oil company resuming its exploration operations–after they were halted due to security concerns earlier this month–the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a statement. “Genel is not leaving Somaliland. We are in close discussions with Genel regarding the steps that need to be taken prior to a resumption of operations,” said the Energy Ministry statement. A Genel spokesman declined to comment. The company, helmed by former BP PLC (BP.LN) Chief Executive Tony Hayward, said Sept. 9 that it had called a temporary halt to its operations in Somaliland, a breakaway nation in the Horn of Africa, due to fears over a sudden spike in violence in the region.

REGIONAL MEDIA

150 Somali-owned shops looted in South African rampage

18 Sept – Source: Africa Review – 158 words

More than 150 Somali-owned shops have been looted in four days of xenophobic violence in South Africa’s coastal city of Port Elizabeth, police said Wednesday. “Since Sunday when all the trouble started, 150 shops have been looted and it is spreading to other townships. The situation is still tense,” police spokeswoman colonel Sibongile Soci said. At least 70 suspects have been arrested in connection with the pillaging and will appear in court this week, she said. The ransacking of the small shops that sell mainly groceries and popularly know as spazas, was sparked by the killing of a 19-year-old South African boy by a Somali shop owner on Sunday. It occurred in New Brighton township following an argument over cellphone airtime. Since then, attacks on the shops spiralled and spread to other townships as locals claim they were avenging the killing. Amid widespread poverty and unemployment, frustration in South Africa’s run-down neighbourhoods often boils over into anti-immigrant violence.

Yemeni President meets Somali Interior Minister

18 Sept- Source: Yemen News Agency-186 Words

President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi met here on Wednesday with Somali Interior Minister Abdulkarim Hussein Guled. During the meeting, the President indicated to the talked about the problems Somalia has suffered during 23 years of conflict that left tragedies and destroyed infrastructure in Somalia, stressing the need to build a new Somalia and benefit from the international community’s interest in Somalia. He urged the Somalis to seize the opportunity, stressing that Yemen will always stand by Somalia as Somalia’s security is an integral part of the security of Yemen. Yemen will do all possible effort to enhance the security and stability of Somalia, Hadi said. The Somali Interior Minister expressed the Somali leadership’s appreciation to the Yemeni government and people of their support for the Somali people.

Bahraini Deputy King receives Special Envoy of the African Union to Somalia

18 Set- Source: Bahrain News Agency-194 Words

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy of His Majesty the King and Crown Prince today met the Special Envoy of the African Union to Somalia, Mr. Jerry Rawlings, the former President of Ghana, at the Riffa Palace. His Royal Highness praised Mr. Rawlings’ dedication and efforts in co-operating with the multiple parties involved efforts to bring stability to Somalia and encouraging greater development in the African country and the wider region. His Royal Highness also acknowledged Mr Rawlings’ role as the former president of Ghana in the ongoing economic success of his country, considered one of the main engines of growth on the African continent.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Uganda hauls back two dozen Somalia peacekeepers over scam

18 Sept – Source: Reuters – 135 words

Uganda has recalled the commander of its peacekeeping force in Somalia and almost two dozen other officers suspected of involvement in a scam to steal food and fuel and sell it on the black market. Lt Colonel Paddy Ankunda, military spokesman, said the officers had been placed under “open arrest”, which will restrict their movements pending the investigation. If the alleged racket is proven, it would underscore how embedded corruption, including among senior officers, is within a military infamous for taking the pay of “ghost soldiers” and money for helicopters which turned out to be junk. “(Brigadier Michael) Ondoga and 23 others have been brought back from Somalia,” said Ankunda, spokesman for the Uganda People’s Defence Force. “Their travel documents have been withdrawn as investigations into allegations of selling fuel and food in Somalia commence.”

Somali President: Italy “most suitable” to support us

18 Sept- Source: TMNews/ Internazionale/Unita-170 Words

Italy is “the most suitable country” to support the process of reconstruction of Somalia, in the light of long-standing relations that bind the two countries, said Somali President Sheikh Hassan Mohamud at the end of the meeting at Palazzo Chigi with the Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta. “Italy and Somalia have longstanding relationships and Italy is positioned in the best way to ensure its support, which has always been relentless and we are here to express our gratitude,” said the president, explaining thus his visit to Rome with the need to “explain to the Italian Government the process started by the Somali government to get one unified Somali state, under one flag and one constitution.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“While Mogadishu struggles toward political stability, Somaliland already has a head start in its ambitious bid to become the Horn of Africa’s next big commerce hub.”

As Somalia Struggles, Can Neighboring Somaliland Become East Africa’s Next Big Commercial Hub?

18 Sept- Source: International Business Times-830 Words

The autonomous region of Somaliland is angling to become a trade and transit hub for East Africa, pouring millions of dollars into infrastructural development with the help of international financiers. But its plans are complicated by its ties to Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu. Though Somaliland has long functioned as a “de facto autonomous state,” the international community nominally recognizes it as a territory of Somalia, which endured two decades of civil war, famine and poverty before implementing a new constitution and national government last year. Somaliland, a region with a population of 4 million located in Somalia’s northwest (bordering Ethiopia and Djibouti), has long been petitioning for formal independence. Somaliland has its own government, constitution, currency and economic ambitions.