December 6, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

President Hassan Sh. Mohamud strongly condemn and sends his heartfelt condolences to the victims of today’s horrific attack in the port city of Bosaso Puntland region.

05 Dec- Source: Office of the President- 114 words
The President of the Federal republic of Somalia Hassan Sh. Mohamud strongly condemn and sends his heartfelt condolences to the victims of today’s horrific attack on innocent Somalia citizens that took place today in the port city of Bosaso Puntland region.
“The Terrorists have lost the war on the battlefield and are now devoting all their efforts in harming innocent Somali civilians. We will defeat them in this front as well. I urge you my fellows to resist and stay strong in ending the existence these terrorist”
President Hassan concluded by saying “to the Families and friends of the victims your government is with you and you are not alone in this fight”

Key Headlines

UN Envoy to Somalia condemns Bossaso attack (UNSOM)
Puntland Government Condemns Deadly Terrorist Attack in Bossaso (Puntland State of Somalia)
Floods displace thousands destroy farms in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle (IRIN News)
AMISOM and Stakeholders conclude a four-day Gender Workshop on Strengthening Somalia’s judicial Capacity to address Gender Based Violence (AMISOM)
Somalia banks on economic recovery to stabilise Somalia and defeat terrorists says Foreign Minister (Office of the President)
Somali government delegation arrives in Jowhar town(Radio Bar-Kulan)
Mogadishu suspends flight to Hargeisa (Radio Ergo)
Prime Minister thanks Cabinet for their hard work and dedication over the past year(Office of the Prime Minister)
EU continues training Somali troops (Al Jazeera English)
Suicide bomber targets northern Somalia (Al Jazeera English)

PRESS STATEMENT

President Hassan Sh. Mohamud strongly condemn and sends his heartfelt condolences to the victims of today’s horrific attack in the port city of Bosaso Puntland region.

UN Envoy to Somalia condemns Bossaso attack

05 Dec- Source: UNSOM- 125 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has strongly condemned a violent attack on Puntland government forces today.

At approximately 11 am this morning, a suicide car bomber targeted Puntland forces in the port city of Bossaso; reports suggest that several people were killed and dozens injured in the attack.

Puntland is in the midst of an electoral process that should lead to a new parliament this year and presidential elections in January 2014.

“Such cowardly acts will serve no purpose,” SRSG Kay said. “We stand by the people of Puntland as they strive for stability and prosperity.”

He expressed his sincere condolences to those who lost loved ones and wished all those injured in the attack a quick recovery.

Puntland Government Condemns Deadly Terrorist Attack in Bossaso

05 Dec- Source: Puntland State of Somalia- 261 words
Puntland Government strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack near Masjid Rowda in the port city of Bosaso.
A suicide car bomber targeted Puntland government forces. Preliminary information indicates that seven persons – three soldiers and four civilians – were killed in this heinous terrorist attack.
A total of 37 persons – six soldiers and 31 civilians – were also wounded. The terrorist attacker intentionally exploded near a busy intersection at a densely populated marketplace area around 11:05 A.M. in the morning.
Puntland Government shares its sincere condolences with the families of the deceased and prays for the wellbeing of wounded persons. The Government praises the quick and professional action of Puntland security forces, medical personnel and the public to respond to this emergency.
Al Shabaab terrorist group has carried out savage attacks against government and civilian targets in Puntland and this destructive group is committed to carrying out acts of senseless violence, extremism and terrorism to achieve their evil goal. Two years ago today, on December 5, 2011, al Shabaab terrorists assassinated renowned Islamic scholar and man of peace – the late Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Haji Abdirahman in Bosaso – testimony that al Shabaab is fighting against Islamic religion and against peace.
The people and Government of Puntland stand united in solidarity to condemn all forms of terrorism and to strongly support peace, security and development. Terrorist tactics will not weaken nor discourage Puntland’s resolve to strengthen peace, security and justice towards a prosperous future.
Puntland Government is committed to defending the constitution, security, political stability, economic progress, and rule of law.

AMISOM and Stakeholders conclude a four-day Gender Workshop on Strengthening Somalia’s judicial Capacity to address Gender Based Violence

05 Dec- Source: AMISOM- 310 words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Somalia and the civil society has today concluded a workshop on strengthening Somalia’s judicial capacity to address Gender Based Violence.
The workshop which aimed at focusing on building the capacity of the judicial systems to ensure that they are responsive, uphold and respect women’s rights, was attended by representatives from the Federal Government of Somalia working in the judicial institutions, AMISOM and from civil society organizations.
The workshop was officially opened by Djibouti Minister of Gender H.E. Hasna Barkat. In her opening remarks, H.E. Hasna Barkat praised the participants for their show of commitment in ensuring that the rights of women are respected and protected, and reiterated Djibouti’s support to the cause.
“Our efforts and initiatives are aimed at supporting Somali judicial institutions through our role within AMISOM and actively engage in the consolidation of peace and stability. Djibouti is happy to share its experiences to help create a more protective and peaceful environment for women,” said H.E. Hasna Barkat.
The workshop highlighted the international and regional instruments that protect women, discussed policies that enable women’s access to judicial systems as well as work to reform institutional cultures that prevent women from fully enjoying their rights.
The African Union Commission’s Head of Gender Coordination and Outreach Division, Yetunde Teriba, closed the workshop. During her closing remarks, she thanked the organizers and the participants on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H. E Dlamini Zuma, for their commitment to enhance the capacity of Somalia’s judicial systems to address gender based violence. She also noted that the workshop was in line with the Federal Government of Somalia’s commitment elaborated under the New Deal Compact, pledging to enhance the capacity of practitioners to better address the most prevalent conflict grievances, including sexual and gender based violence.
Somalia banks on economic recovery to stabilise Somalia and defeat terrorists, says Foreign Minister
05 Dec- Source: Office of the President- 281 words
Accelerating commercial and economic recovery will spell the final defeat of terrorists in Somalia, Her Excellency Fawzia Yusuf H. Adam, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, said in Paris today.
Speaking ahead of the two-day Élysée Summit for Peace and Security in Africa hosted by the French President François Hollande, the Foreign Minister invited foreign groups to invest in Somalia.
“I encourage all foreign companies looking for commercial opportunities in new markets to give serious consideration to Somalia, a country that is recovering from conflict and is open for business. When they arrive they will find one of the most commercially minded populations in Africa and a people who thrive on free trade. Our economic recovery is already underway and I invite dynamic, entrepreneurial companies to be a part of it.”
The Foreign Minister met Stève Gentili, President of BRED-Banque Populaire, France’s second largest bank, and had a wide-ranging discussion about the Somali government’s ongoing reforms, commercial opportunities for French and foreign companies in Somalia and foreign investment legislation.
“A strong and stable Somalia will allow our natural entrepreneurial talents to flourish freely,” the Minister said. “We must remember that a prosperous Somalia is the nail in the coffin for Al Shabaab.”
The Foreign Minister is attending the two-day Élysée Summit for Peace and Security in Africa, which is set to bring together heads of state and leaders of more than 50 countries, together with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, African Union Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlaimini Zuma, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and senior representatives from the World Bank, IMF and African Development Bank.
Somalia’s delegation includes General Bashir Mohamed Jama, head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency.
Prime Minister thanks Cabinet for their hard work and dedication over the past year
05 Dec- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 174 words
Following the weekly meeting of Cabinet this morning His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, said:
“The Cabinet reconfirms its acceptance of Parliament’s historic decision of 2nd December, just as we did one year ago when they endorsed me as Prime Minister. It is right that Prime Ministers are answerable to parliament and I am naturally disappointed that I was not given the opportunity to address parliament. I hope future Prime Ministers and governments will be given that opportunity.
“I want to thank my Cabinet and Ministers for their hard work and dedication over the past year working to rebuild our country and its institutions after two decades of civil war. A lot has been achieved in a year under difficult and challenging circumstances but there is still much work to be done. I call on the Somali public to support the new government just as they have supported my government.
“Now is not the time for progress to slow, we must all continue to work together in building a peaceful strong new Somalia.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali government delegation arrives in Jowhar town

05 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu- 83 words

A delegation led by State Minister for Internal Affairs and National Security Mahdi Mohamud Ali has on Thursday arrived in Jowhar town. The delegation is on a mission to persuade two warring clans to end the warfare which left a number of people dead and scores injured in an area near Jowhar town, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region. The State Minister was accompanied by a number of Somali parliamentarians and was received at the airport by local administration authorities.

Mogadishu suspends flight to Hargeisa

05 Dec- Source: Radio Ergo- 257 words

The Somali federal government has suspended all flights to Hargeisa from Mogadishu amid tensions between the two immigration departments in Mogadishu and Hargeisa. The head of Somalia’s Immigration Department in Mogadishu, Abdulahi Gafow Hirse, told Radio Ergo that his agency has refused airlines to fly from Mogadishu to Somaliland’s Hargeisa and Berbera towns, because the Somaliland Immigration Department had failed to implement Mogadishu’s ban on the Somalia’s old green passport.The old green passport was used by pre-civil war governments. The Somali government replaced it with a new biometric blue passport in 2006.Use of the old green passport was officially banned in 2011, but the Somaliland administration has not enforced the ban and still accepts the old green passport. The head of Somaliland’s Immigration Department, Mohamed Yusuf Ali, told reporters in Hargeisa that Somaliland would still use the old green passport as it did not recognize the new blue one. He said the Somaliland authorities had last week closed down a “secret office” in Hargeisa, where new blue Somali passports were being printed illegally. He said several people who were working in that office were arrested for illegal printing and operating as agents of Somalia’s Immigration department inside Somaliland. The flight ban effectively halts trade and business connections between Somalia and Somaliland. Dahir Hashi Warsame, the director of Macqul travel agency in Mogadishu, said three daily flights between Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Berbera had been suspended since last week. He said many travelers

were asking for information about when the airlines would resume service but he could not answer.

Police officer shot dead, three men suspected of having links with al Shabaab arrested in Somaliland

05 Dec- Somaliland Informer- 129 words

Unknown assailants shot dead a police officer on Thursday afternoon in Hargeisa, police officials confirmed. The police officer by the name of Mohamed Abdi Adam, member of Special Unit Police has been gunned down by armed assailants. The perpetrators of this attack have not been caught and escaped from the scene. On the other hand, Somaliland police arrest three men suspected of having links with al Shabaab, an extremist organization based in Southern Somalia. The three men were arrested at a house in Sinai which lies in the south of the city and one of those arrested by police is said to be next of kin to al Shabaab leader Ahmed Godane. The men were staying with a friend once police launched the raid and eventually apprehended them and they are now under police detention. Sources close to Somaliland police said that raids are underway in all regions of the country.

REGIONAL MEDIA

EU continues training Somali troops

05 Dec-Source: Al Jazeera English-02:38mins

Soldiers from the European Union will soon head to the Somali capital Mogadishu to continue training regional forces. Nearly 4,000 Somali troops have already been put through their paces in neighbouring Uganda over the past three years. Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb reports from western Uganda, where he joined the final class as they graduated at Bihanga Training Camp.

Suicide bomber targets northern Somalia

05 Dec- Source: Aljazeera/AFP- 210 words

A suicide bomber has killed at least seven people and wounded 37 others in northern Somalia, a police official said. The bomber targeted vehicles that were carrying Puntland Marine Forces, local security forces, in the semi-autonomous region on Thursday. “The car bomb targeted a convoy of cars,” a shopkeeper, Hussein Nur, told Reuters. “I could see victims being carried away.” Two foreigners working for a company that was training local security forces were in the vehicles at the time of the blast, according to AFP news agency.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Floods displace thousands, destroy farms in Somalia’s Middle Shabelle

05 Dec- Source: IRIN News- 638 words
Thousands of people have been left homeless following continued flooding in parts of Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region over the past couple of months, with large tracts of farmland being inundated, raising fears of livelihood losses. The Shabelle River floods started in late August in and around the Middle Shabelle town of Jowhar, according to an update by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), due to rains in the Ethiopian highlands. Subsequent flooding has since left an estimated 11,000 households – about 66,000 people, spread over 33 villages – affected by localized flooding in Middle Shabelle’s Jowhar District, according to a 4 December OCHA update.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The Invisble Art program doesn’t just showcase artists. There’s also a curriculum behind it that involves talking about the history of different art forms.”

Invisible Art celebrates Somali art and culture

05 Dec- Source: City Pages Blog-410 Words
Ka Joog, a Somali community cultural organization, holds its bi-weekly Invisible Art gathering tonight at Augsburg College. Somali poet Abwaan Abdirizak Alibos will be featured as a special guest. The ongoing evening cultivates multiple artistic disciplines while engaging Somali youth, adults, and non-Somali community members, and seeks to honor and preserve Somali culture. The Invisible Art workshop takes place every two weeks, bringing in local and national artists, youth, and people of all ages especially geared toward the Somali community. “We’re focusing on Somali oral history and storytelling so they learn about the culture,” says spoken-word artist Abdi “Phenomenal” Farah, director of programs and teaching for Ka Joog. The Invisible Art program has been going strong for two years.