January 28, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia President welcomes killing of senior al Shabaab commander, says blow to militants

27 Jan- Source: Radio Dalsan- 114 words

Somalia president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has welcomed the killing of senior al Shabaab commander by U.S drone attack in Somalia. President Hassan has stated in a short statement on his twitter account that killing the al Shabaab commander in southern Somalia is a blow to the militant group which usually organizes terrorist attacks against the civilians. The president said Somali government is working with its international partners to eradicate the terrorist groups. “Working with our partners to eliminate them from Somalia”, the president said. Late on Sunday the U.S drone attack has killed Sahal Isku dhuq [or Abdikadir Camo], an al Shabaab commander near the town of Barawe in the southern Somalia region of Lower Shabelle.

Key Headlines

Somalia President welcomes killing of senior al Shabaab commander says blow to militants (Radio Dalsan)
Prime Minister closes 2014 Program conference: “I want my government to be close to the people(Office of the Prime Minister)
New Somali FM on his first AU meeting (Hiiraan Online)
Jubba elders welcome southwestern semi-autonomous state formation (Radio Bar-kulan)
Parliamentary defense committee urges government to intervene rising insecurity in lower Shabelle region (Radio Shabelle)
Juba administration warns against change of Kenyan troops in Jubba regions (RBC/Jowhar Online)
Puntland president hosts luncheon for MPs ahead of Cabinet announcement (Radio Garowe)
Kenya: Security alert issued following reports of al shabaab retaliation (Standard Media)
Slain al Shabaab member was in group’s intel unit (AP)
Interview: Nicolas Kay UN Special Rep for Somalia on US missile strike new cabinet and Jubaland(RFI)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister closes 2014 Program conference: “I want my government to be close to the people”

27 Jan- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 373 words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed today chaired the second day of a two-day Cabinet conference on 2014 Program of government at Villa Hargeysa.
The second day of the working session was attended by Cabinet ministers and representatives from the international community, including: United Nations, African Union, European Union, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Norway.
The two day conference has focussed on ensuring the implementation and delivery of the government’s ambitious program for 2014, with a specific focus on day two on working with the international community. Sessions over the two days have covered: Parliamentary procedure, legislative timetable, implementation and delivery of the government’s 2014 Program and working in collaboration with international partners.
Closing the conference, the Prime Minister said: “I thank our international partners for participating today and your continued support to Somalia. A strong Somali led and owned relationship between the Federal Government and international partners is essential in the continued rebuilding of Somalia.
“Our priorities for 2014 include continuing to secure the remaining areas of Somalia to ensure we can deliver basic services. We must continue to build our institutions as we cannot provide services if we do not have the institutions and tools to do it. The government must represent and be strongly linked to the regions, we must put our footprint in the regions so we are not limited to Mogadishu.
“The aim of this two day conference has been to focus our minds as a Cabinet on the challenges and priorities ahead. I want my government to be close to the people. We have an ambitious program of government and we owe it to the people of Somalia to deliver the reforms and services that will make a difference to their lives.
“We do not have the luxury of time, we have to move quickly and effectively. We all have one interest, one goal and one vision and that is to make Somalia a better place. A Somalia with dignity that is at peace with itself and its neighbours. A Somalia where its people have access to basic services and has the capacity to lift its citizens out of poverty.”

SOMALI MEDIA

New Somali FM on his first AU meeting

27 Jan- Source: Hiiraan Online- 217 words
The New Somali foreign and international cooperation minister Abdirahman Dualeh Beileh is on his first diplomatic tour to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa where he is attending the AU foreign ministers’ meeting which kicked off in Addis Ababa on Monday 27th of January 2014. The two-day AU foreign ministers’ meeting is intended to pave the way for the 22nd summit of African Union heads of state slated in Addis Ababa for 29-30 January which will mainly focus on how African countries might have reached sufficiency in food and agricultural development. “The AU foreign ministers will discuss on several issues including how the African Union can find a lasting solution for the armed confrontations in some African nations mainly the central African republic, Somalia, south Sudan and others” the Somali foreign ministry said in a press statement.

Jubba elders welcome southwestern semi-autonomous state formation

27 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 107 words

Somali traditional elders in Jubba regions have on Monday welcomed the proposed formation of a three-region semi-autonomous state in southwestern Somali regions during a meeting in Kismayo. Sheikh Ali Mohamed, one of the elders said that the proposed formation of the semi-autonomous state is going to be a resounding victory for the people of southwestern regions in Somalia. He urged politicians from Bay, Bakol and Lower Shabelle regions who are gathering in Baidoa to continue their efforts to establish a semi-autonomous state for their regions. Hundreds of Somali politicians who hail from the three aforementioned regions are currently gathering in Baidoa to create a southwestern semi-autonomous state.

Parliamentary defense committee urges government to intervene rising insecurity in lower Shabelle region

27 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle- 124 words

Parliamentary committee on defense has called for the quick intervention by the Government to solve the problems in the lower Shabelle region. The region has experienced problems such as inter clan conflicts and illegal roadblocks which are used to extort or loot passengers off their belongings. Most of the road barriers are manned by men on military uniforms and the government has done little to eradicate them. Mohamed Ibrahim Habsade , the vice chairman of the parliamentary committee on defense is now demanding the federal government to intervene and act as quick as possible in the region. Habsade has urged Somali security minister to address the issue as quick as possible because civilians in the region are facing major security problems.

Juba administration warns against change of Kenyan troops in Jubba regions

27 Jan- Source: Radio RBC/Jowhar Online- 112 words
Jubba Administration commented on the ongoing plans to change Kenyan troops operating in Jubaland Regions. Juba administration spokesperson Abdinasir Serar warned the plan of changing Kenyan troops and stated that they have done a tremendous work in the region. The Juba Administration spokesperson stated that it will be difficult for them to cooperate with new troops. “If Kenyan troops in the region are changed, it will be difficult for us to cooperate with new troops. Kenyan troops have achieved many victory since the intervention in Juba Regions,” Jubba administration spokesperson said. Over the weekend, the residents in Kismayo and Afmadow protested the change of Kenyan troops in the region.

Puntland president hosts luncheon for MPs ahead of Cabinet announcement

27 Jan- Source: Radio Garowe- 193 words

The newly inaugurated President of Somalia’s Puntland Government Dr. Abdiweli Mohamed Gaas has hosted a luncheon for Members of Parliament in the State capital of Garowe ahead of cabinet announcement on Monday. President Gaas along with the Vice President Abdihakin Abdullahi Haji Omar Amey and the Parliament speaker Saed Hassan Shire attended the lunch event at Puntland parliament building. Addressing the MPs about his political and economic agendas when the new cabinet is announced, Puntland leader initially apologized for a minor mishap that happened during his inaugural ceremony on 24th of January and proceeded to brief remarks on the issues ahead for the forthcoming government cabinet. President Gaas reiterated that Puntland government will stage a consultative meeting for the local communities in an effort to resolve the standing differences among clans within the first hundred days of the tenure. On economy, he said the new government would carry out major economic reforms by quelling the currency crisis and ensuring an environment conducive for investment and better development. Speaking about the security and stability, the President stressed the need for tight security, pledging training and capacity building programmes to the state’s different security branches.

Somalia President welcomes killing of senior al Shabaab commander, says blow to militants

27 Jan- Source: Radio Dalsan- 114 words

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: Security alert issued following reports of al shabaab retaliation

27 Jan- Source: Standard Media – 336 words

Security has been tightened in wake of reports that the US military carried out a missile strike in Somalia against a suspected militant leader with ties to al Qaeda and al Shabaab. US defence officials say they are trying to establish whether the strike killed the intended target, who is believed to be Sahal Iskudhuq, an al Shabaab commander who was close to the head of the militant Islamist group, and to al Qaeda. The strike was aimed at a vehicle in a remote area of southern Somalia, near the town of Barawe on Sunday. The Pentagon says the target was a senior leader in the two organizations. The US launched a failed raid in Barawe – seen as a militant stronghold – in October to capture an al Shabaab commander.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Slain al Shabaab member was in group’s intel unit

27 Jan- Source: Yahoo News/AP- 660 words
Masked al Shabaab fighters retrieved bits of flesh overnight from a burned-out car that had been hit by a U.S. missile and in which a member of the armed Islamic group’s intelligence unit died, a commander in the group said Monday. Sahal Iskudhuq was killed in Sunday’s attack and was with al Shabaab’s intelligence unit, helping choose targets for bombings and to plan attacks, a commander in the al Qaeda-linked group told The Associated Press. There was no immediate indication that Iskudhuq had been involved in planning the September attack on an upscale mall in Nairobi, Kenya.

Interview: Nicolas Kay, UN Special Rep for Somalia on US missile strike, new cabinet and Jubaland

27 Jan- Source: RFI-06:54mins
In Somalia, the US military carried out a missile strike on Sunday against a suspected militant leader with ties to the hardline al Shabaab group. Al Shabaab have been weakened in recent years following operations by African Union forces (AMISOM). Meanwhile, there have been numerous political developments in the country – a new cabinet has been approved in recent days and last month a new prime minister was appointed, the second in just over a year. So what does the UN make of this, as it tries to help the government rebuild the country after years of civil war. RFI’s Daniel Finnan speaks to Nicholas Kay, the UN Special Representative for Somalia.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Some bank somewhere – or more than one – will need to be “persuaded” with stick, carrot, or a combination of the two to play ball if an interim – or long term – solution is to be found.”

Somali remittances: 10 things you need to know

27 Jan- Source: Africa Research Institute-1252 Words

In May 2013, Barclays announced that it would close the accounts of all but 19 of its 165 clients in the remittance transfer business. As HSBC and other UK banks had already substantially withdrawn from the sector, the effect of Barclays’ decision was magnified. With very few exceptions, remittance transfer companies have found it impossible to secure banking facilities elsewhere – a prerequisite for the continued operation and regulatory compliance of larger ones. While there are consequences for receivers of remittances in many countries, the threat to the economic fabric of the Somali regions is particularly grave. They have no functioning banking system to provide any alternative to the remittance of funds from the Somali diaspora through well-established money transfer operators (MTOs).