March 6, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

U.N. EXTENDS PARTIAL EASING OF SOMALIA ARMS EMBARGO TO OCTOBER

05 Feb – Source: Reuters – 533 Words

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday extended a partial suspension of the decades-old arms embargo on Somalia for eight months while highlighting concerns about the possible diversion of weapons to al Qaeda-linked militants. A resolution unanimously adopted by the council has its members “condemning flows of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through Somalia in violation of the arms embargo on Somalia, as well as the destabilizing accumulation of such weapons, as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.” A year ago, the 15-nation Security Council agreed to partially lift the arms embargo on Somalia, allowing the government in Mogadishu to buy light weapons to strengthen its security forces to fight the Islamist group al Shabaab and other militants. Instead of extending that partial easing for a year, or scrapping the embargo entirely as the Somalia government would have liked, the council resolution renews it only until October 25, which is when U.N. experts who monitor the embargo and other sanctions on Somalia and Eritrea are due to report back. “The resolution makes very clear that the Somali authorities need to meet strict conditions on the monitoring and reporting of arms imports into Somalia to ensure in particular that they do not get into the hands of al Shabaab,” British U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters.

Key Headlines

Somali Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs meets Swiss ambassador (Mareeg Online/Dalsan)
Somali government delegates heads to India (Radio Mogadishu/Radio Dalsan)
Somali PM back from Dubai visit says UAE to support Somalia’s economic recovery (Radio Mogadishu)
Al Shabaab retreats from Hudur in south west Somalia (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Ethiopian peacekeepers conduct human rights training for Somalia forces in Baidoa (Al Shahid)
U.N. extends partial easing of Somalia arms embargo to October (Reuters)
Iran Navy thwarts two pirates attacks (IRNA News)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs meets Swiss ambassador

05 Mar – Source: Mareeg Online/Dalsan – 85 words

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation Mahad Mohamed Salad, Wednesday met in his office with a delegation led by the Swiss ambassador to Somalia, amb. Dominik Langenbacher and discussed the strengthening of relations between both countries, supporting the Federal government’s agencies and aiding the regional administrations of Somalia. Salad spoke about the meeting and thanked the Swiss government for their much appreciated advice and support for the Federal government of Somalia.

Somali government delegates heads to India

05 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio Dalsan/Shabelle – 108 words

High level delegates led by Minister state minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Burii ‘Mohamed Hamza headed to India to participate of summit of India and African countries in New Delhi, the capital of India. The minister and his delegates were officially invited by the government of India to take part in the conference which opens in New Delhi. Mr. Hamza is expected to address the conference by focusing the achievements of the federal government of Somalia. The conference is scheduled to continue for three days 9th, 10th and 11th of this month, this is the seventh conference of its kind between India and African countries.

Somali PM back from Dubai visit, says UAE to support Somalia’s economic recovery

05 Mar – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Shabelle/RBC – 90 words

Somalia’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has returned back to Mogadishu after his three-day visit to Dubai where he has met with senior UAE government official and Somali business community. As he was welcomed in the Aden Abdulle International Airport, the Prime Minister said his visit has gained major achievement after meeting with United Arab Emirates’ Deputy Prime Minister. “We have met with UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who has promised his country’s commitment to stand side-by-side with our Somali government,” the Prime Minister said.

Al Shabaab retreats from Hudur in south west Somalia

05 Mar – Source: Bar-kulan – 102 words

Reports say al Shabaab militant group has moved out of Hudur town the capital of Bakol province in south west Somalia earlier today. Locals have confirmed to Bar-Kulan saying the militants headed towards Wajid which is few kilometers from Hudur town. Some residents have also started evacuating the town for fear of attacks. There is no comment from the militant group regarding their pull out however it is believed that the move is linked to an ongoing preparation of a major offensive against the group by the Somali national army together with their AMISOM forces allies which is not far from the area.

New Fishing Port expected to Generate Significant increases in Economic Activity

05 Mar – Source: Somaliland Press – 96 words

Somaliland’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Hon Ali Jama Baruud and the Minister of Finance Hon. Abdiaziz Samaale jointly laid the foundation stone for a new fishing port as part of the renovation and modernization of a the “NET FISH” fishing facility in the port city of Berbera. Hon. Ali Jama, the Fisheries Minister speaking at the function said, “The lives of those who depend on fishing will from today improve thanks to this good fishing port infrastructure which is essential for the conduct of commercial fishing operations and we hope this new port will would generate significant increases in economic activity from commercial fishing and a significant increase in employment.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Ethiopian peacekeepers conduct human rights training for Somalia forces in Baidoa

05 Mar – Source: Al Shahid – 157 words

At least 50 Somalia National Army (SNA) forces including four women soldiers took part in a 3 day human rights, civilian protection, gender violence and sexual abuse, international humanitarian law and AMISOM mandate and military discipline training conducted by Ethiopian peacekeepers in Baidoa town. This is the first of such specialized training conducted by AMISOM peacekeepers in sector 3 for the government soldiers in Baidoa in a bid to improve their knowledge and understanding of the importance of protecting human rights, civilians as well as gender related issues. The training was held at the headquarters of the Somalia National Army adjacent to the main AMISOM base in Baidoa. The training was conducted by Major Girma Wendimu, Sector 3 Training Center Commander who is an experienced ENDF trainer who has conducted similar trainings for Ethiopian peacekeepers serving in Somalia. He was assisted by Captain Adan Mohamed, a Somalia Ethiopian who served as his translator and Lieutenant Dems Dres.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

U.N. extends partial easing of Somalia arms embargo to October

05 Feb – Source: Reuters – 533 Words

The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday extended a partial suspension of the decades-old arms embargo on Somalia for eight months while highlighting concerns about the possible diversion of weapons to al Qaeda-linked militants. A resolution unanimously adopted by the council has its members “condemning flows of weapons and ammunition supplies to and through Somalia in violation of the arms embargo on Somalia, as well as the destabilizing accumulation of such weapons, as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region.” A year ago, the 15-nation Security Council agreed to partially lift the arms embargo on Somalia, allowing the government in Mogadishu to buy light weapons to strengthen its security forces to fight the Islamist group al Shabaab and other militants. Instead of extending that partial easing for a year, or scrapping the embargo entirely as the Somalia government would have liked, the council resolution renews it only untilOctober 25, which is when U.N. experts who monitor the embargo and other sanctions on Somalia and Eritrea are due to report back. “The resolution makes very clear that the Somali authorities need to meet strict conditions on the monitoring and reporting of arms imports into Somalia to ensure in particular that they do not get into the hands of al Shabaab,” British U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told reporters.

Iran Navy thwarts two pirates attacks

05 Mar – Source; IRNA News – 123 words

Iranian Navy forces have repelled two Somali pirates’ attacks on an Iranian oil tanker in Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari told reporters that armed pirates attacked the 29th Fleet of the Iranian Navy twice on Monday, announcing that the attacks were twarted by the naval forces. Sayyari underscored that presence of the countryËˆs naval forces in international waters is aimed at ensuring security and conveying messages of peace and friendship to other countries. He reiterated that the 29th fleet of the Navy is safeguarding the security of the Red Sea. Iranian Navy ships have been patrolling the Gulf of Aden since November 2008 safeguarding the cargo vessels against pirates’ attacks.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“It is a big step from the images presented by the 1993 movie Black Hawk Down to the idea of Mogadishu as a holiday resort.”

Holidays in Mogadishu

05 Feb – Source: Port Strategy – 349 Words

Well believe it or not work is underway on the development of a multi-million dollar beach resort in Mogadishu with this being a prominent indicator of the building boom underway there. After 20 years of violence, investment is returning to Mogadishu assisted by more stable government and determined international efforts to contain the Islamic militant group al Shabaab and elements of al Qaeda. Security is still a problem in Mogadishu and al Shabaab still control large tracts of Somalia but the situation is improved and with this investment in the port of Mogadishu is returning. The Federal Government of Somalia has launched the Mogadishu Port Rehabilitation project, an initiative to rebuild, develop and modernise the port and positive developments are flowing out of this. In mid 2013, a joint international delegation consisting of the director of the Port of Djibouti and Chinese officials, specialising in infrastructure reconstruction, visited the port. Then, in October 2013, the Somali Cabinet seemingly progressed further endorsing an agreement with Al Bayrak, a Turkish company, to manage Mogadishu port for a 20-year period. A statement from the Prime Minister’s office said the agreement made by the Ministry of Ports and Public Works gives Al Bayrak responsibility for reconstructing, modernising and developing the port as well as managing it.