November 21, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

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President Hassan: “Somalia will soon ratify the International Convention on Children’s Rights”

20 Nov- Source: Office of the President- 291 words
H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, today pledged that Somalia would soon ratify the International Convention on Children’s Rights. The President made his remarks during a visit to Hamar Jab-Jab School in Mogadishu marking International Children’s Day. Somalia, South Sudan and the US have yet to ratify the 1989 convention.
“Education is like light – without it it is simply impossible to survive,” said the President in a speech at the mixed boys and girls school. “Today is International Children’s Day, a suitable moment for us to reflect that we must ensure our children receive all their basic rights, above all free quality education. And a suitable moment, also, to declare that the Somali government will soon be ratifying the International Convention on Children’s Rights. Today’s visit shows our commitment to this landmark and also to our determination to implement our Go to School policy, our aim to provide free quality education to at least one million children within the next three years. It is a real challenge but we must make it.”
The President said: “Education is the one real deposit that will not run out, and no one can take it away from you during your lifetime. I spent most of my life in education, as a student, as a teacher, and as a Dean, so I know from long personal experience the value and importance of education. You students should ensure you pursue your education because you are the future leaders of the country. You are tomorrow’s generation of leaders in all walks of life in Somalia.”
The President appealed to all Somalis, including businessmen and women, the diaspora, and parents to ensure that all Somali children receive a decent education.

Key Headlines

Security remains top priority says Prime Minister on visit to Ministry of Defence(Office of the Prime Minister)
Kenya: TNA tells state to pull out KDF from Somalia (Star/Citizen TV)
UN Envoy for Somalia in Puntland to discuss tropical cyclone response and forthcoming elections(UNSOM)
We will continue the fight against al Shabaab declares Prime Minister (Office of the Prime Minister)
Somalia: Localized flooding hits hardest in Jowhar district in Middle Shabelle region(Raxanreeb)
Somali Premier visits Tuesday’s attack victims at Halane Hospital(Radio Mogadishu)
Kuwait: Parliament speaker meets Somali Algerian counterparts Lebanese foreign minister(Kuwait News Agency)
Under fire from Somalia’s al Shabaab (BBC)
As Somali piracy falls questions over what to do with captured pirates(Neurope)

PRESS STATEMENT

President Hassan: “Somalia will soon ratify the International Convention on Children’s Rights”

Security remains top priority, says Prime Minister on visit to Ministry of Defence

20 Nov- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 255 words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said his government’s overriding priority remained security, whilst visiting the Ministry of Defence.
“The main point of my visit and all our discussions today was security. We discussed plans to extend deployments in liberated areas and intensify the fight against al Shabaab to complete their defeat. Security has been this government’s greatest priority and its greatest success. There will be no let-up on this front.
“I want to thank, on behalf of the entire nation, our security forces for their selfless sacrifices and tireless efforts in helping to bring peace and stability to Somalia.”
The Prime Minister toured the Ministry of Defence before meeting with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Forces and other senior military officers to discuss the ongoing re-building and modernisation of the Somali security forces and future operations against al Shabaab.
“We have well trained and highly motivated soldiers ready to take the fight to al Shabaab. From my meetings today the commanders made clear what they now need is the logistical support to enable them finish the job defeating al Shabaab.
“The recent United Nations Security Council resolution endorsed plans for the SNA to be provided a package of logistical support through a trust fund. It is key this logistical support is now delivered to allow the SNA, alongside AMISOM, to expand their scope and area of operations, bringing peace and stability to the whole of Somalia,” the Prime Minister said.

UN Envoy for Somalia in Puntland to discuss tropical cyclone response and forthcoming elections

20 Nov- Source: UNSOM- 245 words
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay visited Garowe today, the first stop of a three-day tour in the Federal State of Puntland.
During his meeting with Puntland President Abdirahman Farole, he expressed his great sorrow over the recent tropical cyclone that hit Puntland causing deaths, damage to infrastructure and loss of livestock. He also congratulated the authorities on their hard work and timely response and said that the United Nations would do its utmost to support the people of Puntland during this difficult time. He noted that UN efforts to date included provision of food, water and basic provisions for thousands of affected people.
SRSG Kay discussed with President Farole progress on the Puntland electoral process especially on issues of women’s participation, security and the formation of the vetting committee (Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation Committee), which will review the nominated MPs.
“I heard from President Farole his plans for providing the right security arrangements for presidential candidates. I underlined the importance of forming the vetting committee in good time and noted that it needed to command the confidence of candidates, traditional leaders and the people of Puntland” said SRSG Kay. “I urge all involved in this process to strengthen the upcoming Puntland Parliament by increasing the representation of women,” Mr. Kay added.
Mr Kay welcomed President Farole’s continuing commitment to holding the elections on 8 January 2014 and his invitation to visit Garowe at that time.

We will continue the fight against al Shabaab, declares Prime Minister

20 Nov- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 154 words
Somalia alongside AMISOM will continue the fight against Al-Shabaab His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon said Wednesday, after visiting those injured in yesterday’s attack in Beledweyne.
Talking at AMISOM Halane Hospital in Mogadishu, the Prime Minister said: “I want to thank AMISOM medical staff for their hard work treating and caring for the civilians and Somali and AMISOM soldiers injured in yesterday’s attack.
“I send my condolences to the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and wish a speedy recovery to those injured. Somali security forces and our AMISOM brothers demonstrated once again their faultless commitment in standing up to terror.
“Somalis know that this foreign inhumane agenda has no place here. al Shabaab offers nothing but indiscriminate violence and suffering to innocent Somalis. The government alongside AMISOM will continue the fight until we have eradicated the plague of al Shabaab from Somalia.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia: Localized flooding hits hardest in Jowhar district in Middle Shabelle region

20 Nov- Source: Raxanreeb- 272 words
Seasonal rains which started at the end of September continue across Somalia. The rains contributed to flooding, especially in and around Jowhar town in Middle Shabelle region, where flooding had already started in mid-August due to rains in the Ethiopian highlands, the source of the Shabelle River. The flooding in Jowhar district and parts of neighbouring Balcad district was exacerbated by heavy downpours in October and early November. The flooding is estimated to have affected at least 42,000 people in 28 villages, according to the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) managed by FAO.

Somaliland Delegation heads for Ethiopia

20 Nov- Source: Somaliland Informer/SLNTV- 105 words

A delegation led by Somaliland Minister of Information, Culture and National Mr. Abdilahi Mohamed Dahir “Cukuse” embarked on working trip to Ethiopia on Wednesday where he will hold meetings with heads of Ethiopian Information ministry. The minister of information is accompanied by the former Fishery minister Mr. Abdilahi Jama Osman “Geeljire”. Before they departed from Egal International airport, they spoke to the media and told that the trip has something to do with the bilateral ties between the Somaliland and Ethiopia to cooperate on the areas of media. The delegation headed by the information minister was seen off at Egal airport by the information ministry officials and other people.

Somali Premier visits Tuesday’s attack victims at Halane Hospital

20 Nov- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/RBC- 109 words

Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has on Wednesday visited Halane Hospital in Mogadishu where some of Tuesday’s al Shabaab attack victims are being treated. Thirteen of the injured were airlifted from Beledweyne to Mogadishu for further treatments. At least 29 people have been confirmed dead after al Shabaab stormed a police station in Beledweyne, a strategic town in central Somalia.
The Prime Minister thanked AMISOM medical staff at Halane Hospital while wishing quick recovery to the victims. “I want to thank AMISOM medical staff for their hard work treating and caring for the civilians and Somali and AMISOM soldiers injured in yesterday’s attack,” he said in a statement.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: TNA tells state to pull out KDF from Somalia

20 Nov- Source: Star/Citizen TV- 317 words
The National Alliance party has called on the government to withdraw its security troops from Somalia following the UN Security Council’s decision on Kenya’s ICC cases. TNA national chairman Johnson Sakaja said the government is considering a review of a lot of issues regarding Kenyan foreign policy. “It’s not worth it for Kenya to keep its security forces in Somalia and risk Kenya’s relations,” he said. Sakaja castigated ICC for settling on evidence from Mungiki members who he termed “Kenyan known criminals since 2009”. He said the sect members were promised immunity after false confessions that would fix President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kuwait: Parliament speaker meets Somali, Algerian counterparts, Lebanese foreign minister

20 Nov- Source: Kuwait News Agency- 74 words

Kuwait Parliament Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim met on sidelines of the Third Africa-Arab Summit here on Wednesday with Parliament Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia Mohamed Osman Jawari. Talks covered a review of bilateral relations between Kuwait and the three countries at the parliament and political levels.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Under fire from Somalia’s al Shabaab

20 Nov- Source: BBC-03:19mins
A road in Somalia has become a deadly battleground between African Union troops and the Islamist group al Shabab. Al Shabaab came to wider international prominence for its attack on Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall on 21 September but the group had already been waging war in Somalia for a number of years. The BBC’s Mark Doyle was given special access to the front line of the battle, where his convoy came under attack.

As Somali piracy falls, questions over what to do with captured pirates

20 Nov- Source:Neurope-1099 words
The UN Security Council on Monday voted to continue policing measures off the coast of Somalia that have seen a notable decrease in attacks by pirates, unanimously renewing authorizations for international action against the gunmen. With resolution 2125 (2013), the Council stressed “the need for a comprehensive response to repress piracy and tackle its underlying causes by the international community”, while acknowledging that the primary responsibility to stop the crime rested with the fragile Somali government.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“…for the layman Somali Piracy and Terrorism in the Horn of Africa may prove interesting since it takes a bird’s view of a conflict and its spillover effects that have eluded the world for decades.”

Review – Somali Piracy and Terrorism

20 Nov- Source: e-International Relations-782 Words

The last decade has seen an abundance of books about the state of Somalia, Somali terrorism and the Somali piracy. While some have provided important contributions of our collective knowledge with regards to Somalia, piracy and terrorism, others take a more popular approach providing anecdotes but little new in terms of fact or theoretical advances. Professor Christopher Daniels has in his book Somali Piracy and Terrorism in the Horn of Africa tried to deal with three of the more frequent Somali topics: Piracy, terrorism and the Somali state. As far as intellectual challenges for the social scientists goes this should qualify as one of the greatest. It requires a good orientation of the state of Somalia and state building as well as awareness of theories of interstate war, a good command of the quantum leap research on international terrorism and international operations has taken the last decade, pared with a kinship to research on maritime security and naval operations. Diverse fields and needless to say, a gigantic task to set oneself and one can only commend Professor Daniels for trying to connect the dots between various areas of research which often is quite particular about its own scopes and limits. Reviewing such a book is also challenging as the field of “unknown unknowns” is ever present.