April 8, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed offers condolences to UN officials and their families

07 Apr – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 129 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed sends his condolences to the two victims and their families of a fatal shooting in Galka’yo.

“I am greatly saddened to hear the news regarding the deaths of two UN officials. I wish to convey my heartfelt sympathies to the victims and their families.” Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed said.

“My government will continue to fight against those with violent agendas and ensure peace, stability and harmony is a consistent and continuous cycle for Somalia and the Somali people. Safety and security is a priority for my government.”

Prime Minister stated that the Somali government will work diligently with all parties to bring justice for the two victims and their families. Acts of violence against innocent civilians is not condoned nor justified.

Key Headlines

President Hassan attends 20th anniversary of Rwandan genocide (Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog)
Anti Piracy group condemns the killing of UN officials in Somalia (Hiiraan Online)
Hiiraan administration reopens main roads in the region (Radio Shabelle)
Galmudug President disbanded his cabinet (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Two UN workers killed in Somalia al Shabaab spokesman “welcome killings” (Standard Media/Reuters/Guardian/Times of India/BBC)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed offers condolences to UN officials and their families

07 Apr – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 129 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed sends his condolences to the two victims and their families of a fatal shooting in Galka’yo.

SOMALI MEDIA

President Hassan attends 20th anniversary of Rwandan genocide

07 Apr – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog – 130 words

The president of the federal republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and delegates who have been in Nairobi the last few days headed to Rwanda to attend the commemoration of 20th anniversary of Rwandan genocide in 1994. This year’s commemoration focuses on the lessons Rwandan people learnt from 1994 genocide so as to prevent similar acts as well as raising awareness on the effects the survivors of the genocide face. The president had meeting with the top leaders of Rwanda to discuss issues of concern including the bilateral tie between the two nations. On the other hand the president visited and supervised all parts of Somali Embassy in Rwanda, to the context he met Somali community in Kigali and encouraged them especially businessmen to take part in re-building the country.

Anti Piracy group condemns the killing of UN officials in Somalia

07 Apr – Source: Hiiraan Online – 112 words

The Somali Anti Piracy Information Centre (SAPIC) has vehemently denounced the assassination of two United Nations officials who were slain inside the airport of Galkayo city on Monday. “SAPIC condemns the murder of two consultants at the Galkayo main Airport. We condemn the barbaric act on the consultants who were working with United Nations Office on Drug and Crime who were in efforts to help the country” the Somali Anti Piracy group said in a press statement of which HOL obtained a copy on Monday. The statement noted that the Somali Anti Piracy Information Centre would like to send their heartfelt and sincere condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.

Hiiraan administration reopens main roads in the region

07 Apr – Source: Radio Shabelle – 101 words

The Deputy Governor of the Hiiraan region Mohamed Ibrahim Abdikarim told Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu that the regional administration will reopen the main road linking Buuloburde to Beledweyne.
Abdikarim said that the road is important to allow access to trucks that are carrying humanitarian aid to the people in Buuloburde. “The anti-peace elements are gone. We have decided to reopen the main road to allow the safe passage of truckloads of aid to civilians in urgent need of it.” Said the Deputy Governor Many towns and districts in Hiiraan have recently been liberated from the control of the al Shabaab Islamist militants.

Galmudug President disbanded his cabinet

07 Apr – Source: Bar-kulan – 74 words

The president of the Galmudug administration has disbanded his entire cabinet terming it as incompetent.
Abdi Hassan Qeybdid has said the cabinet has failed to fulfill it responsibility and therefore has no business to continue. Speaking to the journalists Mr. Qeybdid said he reached the decision according to sections of the administration constitution. He said he will form a new government within the next 30 days. Galmudug is a regional state in central Somalia.

Somaliland Aviation Ministry delegation to attend meeting in London on airports security

07 Apr – Source: Somaliland Informer – 122 words

A delegation headed by Somaliland Director-General of the Ministry of Aviation Hon. Omar Abdilahi Adan aka Omar Sayid and who is accompanied by the top officer in charge of security of Hargeisa airport Mr. Adnan Isak Ali are currently in London to attend an international conference themed security of airports. The delegation arrived in London on Sunday according to press spokesman for the ministry of Aviation issued press statement. It was said the press statement that the duo from the Aviation ministry received an official invitation from the UK government to attend the conference. The conference is expected to commence on the 7th and will end on the 9th of April and it will be discussed on ways to enhance security airports.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Two UN workers killed in Somalia, al Shabaab spokesman “welcome killings”

07 Apr – Source: Standard Media/Reuters – 191 words

A Briton and a Frenchman working for the United Nations were shot dead on Monday at an airport in north central Somalia, officials said. A U.N. mission spokesman said it was not clear who was behind the killings. But one witness said the pair were attacked by a man in a police uniform while they sat in their car at Galkayo airport. Abdi Idris, an official in the semi-autonomous Puntland region which administers the airport, gave the nationalities of the two men and said they worked as consultants for the UN anti-drugs agency. The U.N., which has spent billions of dollars in Somalia since the outbreak of civil war in 1991, has often been targeted by warring clan factions, most recently by al Qaeda-aligned Islamist group al Shabaab. Somalia’s Puntland region has traditionally been more stable than the rest of the country but in recent months attacks there by al Shabaab militants have increased. The Islamist group “welcomed the killing” but declined to comment when asked if it was responsible. “We urge all Somalis to target the U.N.,” a spokesman for the group, Ali Mohamud Rage, told Reuters.

4,000 arrested so far in terror crackdown – Lenku

07 Apr – Source: Capital FM – 197 words

The government says 4,000 suspects have been arrested so far since the crackdown on terrorism started two weeks ago. Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph ole Lenku said that officers from the police and Immigration Department were still scrutinising documents presented by some of the suspects for authenticity, before deciding those to be sent back to Somalia. Lenku added that the mop up of the suspects is going on countrywide, and warned leaders against politicising the matter by claiming it is only concentrated in Eastleigh. “So far we have netted close to 4,000 people and of course some have been released and others charged in court.” “As much as Eastleigh looks stepped up, it is because of the sophistication of crime around there. Right now we are concentrating on Nairobi and Mombasa but we are moving across the country for the mop up,” Lenku explained. The Interior Cabinet Secretary also warned landlords who allow suspected terrorists to reside or use their buildings for criminal activities that the government would take possession of the buildings. “Security is a shared responsibility.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Two foreign UN workers killed in Somalia

07 Apr – Source: Reuters/Guardian/Times of India/BBC/Telegraph – 156 words

A Briton and a Frenchman working for the United Nations were shot dead on Monday at an airport in north central Somalia, officials said. A U.N. mission spokesman said it was not clear who was behind the killings. But one witness said the pair were attacked by a man in a police uniform while they sat in their car at Galkayo airport. Abdi Idris, an official in the semi-autonomous Puntland region which administers the airport, gave the nationalities of the two men and said they worked as consultants for the UN anti-drugs agency. The U.N., which has spent billions of dollars in Somalia since the outbreak of civil war in 1991, has often been targeted by warring clan factions, most recently by Al Qaeda-aligned Islamist group al Shabaab. Somalia’s Puntland regional has traditionally been more stable than the rest of the country but in recent months attacks there by al Shabaab militants have increased.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“In a country that lacked a central government for over two decades there is a long list of technical challenges facing the architects of a new Somali army. Part of the problem is the legacy of previous incarnations of the Somali army. Nevertheless, given an appropriate amount of time, resources and political coordination most of these could be overcome with the assistance of committed external partners – if, the political obstacles noted above can be resolved.”

One Somalia, One Army? Building an Effective Somali National Security Force

07 Apr- Source: Wilson Centre Africa Upclose Blog-1512 Words
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is currently conducting a series of offensive operations against al Shabaab forces across south-central Somalia. It is doing so in conjunction with elements of the Somali National Army (SNA) and with support from some militias aligned with the Federal Government. Al Shabaab has offered little conventional resistance, instead usually preferring to withdraw, destroy wells, and try and sow inter-clan conflict in the settlements it has departed. With the imminent arrival of Somalia’s rainy season, the AU and government troops are rushing to gain as much ground as possible.

Then attention will turn to whether the Federal Government and AMISOM can provide some form of effective administration and basic services in the newly captured areas. This offensive provides an opportunity to reflect on the current state of the SNA. Not only is the Somali Army an important part of degrading al Shabaab, it is also a crucial component of AMISOM’s exit strategy and of keeping the peace in Somalia over the longer-term. But the architects of the new SNA face some major political and technical challenges. With enough time and resources, international efforts to reform and enhance the capacity of Somalia’s security sector should be able to overcome most of the technical obstacles.

It is the political challenges, however, that are the most difficult, yet ultimately the most important. Trying to build a national army without getting the national politics right is a recipe for instability because the force is unlikely to fight as one and will be viewed as an instrument of particular clan interests rather than representing the Somali state for the benefit of all clans and citizens.