May 6, 2014 | Morning Headlines.
Somali Lawmakers call President Mohamud to resign
05 May – Source: Radio RBC/Shabelle/Dalsan/Kulmiye/
More than 100 Somali lawmakers on Monday signed a statement which called President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to resign or face parliamentary vote of no confidence. In a meeting in Mogadishu today, parliamentarians released a press statement which they have noted down 14 points to shed the light the failure of president Mohamud’s leadership. The statement touched down the ongoing clan-based conflicts in some of the country’s regions of Hiiran, Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle which they said was the result of poor leadership and bad governance. The lawmakers called the President to resign immediately or he will face a parliamentary vote of no confidence. “We can not accept to see as this serious matter is going on.” MP Abdukadir Osoble said. He said some parliamentarians went to th president’s office to advise him to resign before they tabled this motion.
Key Headlines
- Somali Lawmakers call President Mohamud to resign (Radio RBC/Shabelle/Dalsan/Kulmiye/
BBC Somali Service) - Invest in the people of Somalia says ASG Cheng-Hopkins as she starts her visit in Somalia (UNSOM)
- Somali Prime Minister meets with UN officials in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/Universal TV)
- Exiting Somalia not an option – Kenyan Deputy President (Capital News)
- Angry mass against the presence of Somaliland delegates took into the streets of Buhodle (Radio Goobjoog)
- Police thwart a terror attack targeting primary school children in Garissa town (Standard Media)
- Al Shabaab blamed for multiple bus bombings in Kenya (Examiner)
- Somalia to restructure police force (Africa Review)
PRESS STATEMENT
Invest in the people of Somalia, says ASG Cheng-Hopkins as she starts her visit in Somalia
05 May – Source: UNSOM – 249 words
The Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Judy Cheng-Hopkins, arrived yesterday in Mogadishu to begin a five-day visit to Somalia. Ms. Cheng-Hopkins will discuss with the Federal Government as well as with Somali people in the next few days priorities for support through the Peacebuilding Fund. Today she met with the Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Federalism, Minister of Finance and the Speaker of Parliament.
Upon her arrival ASG Cheng-Hopkins said: “The Peacebuilding Fund will respond and assist the Federal Government in a timely, flexible and pragmatic way to sustain momentum of its state- and peace-building efforts under the Somalia New Deal Compact.”
On 19th of March, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, announced the allocation of $3 million from the Fund to support the stabilisation efforts in the newly recovered areas in south central Somalia. The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and Federalism is currently finalising the first project to release these funds.
“We should invest in the people of Somalia as much as in the state” said ASG Cheng-Hopkins. “The Fund is designed to help especially women, children, youth, disadvantaged groups, minorities and those who bore the brunt of the protracted conflict.”
The UN Secretary-General declared Somalia eligible to access the Peacebuilding Fund in December 2013. The Fund was set up in 2006 following a request from the General Assembly and the Security Council to support peacebuilding efforts in countries emerging from conflict or political crisis.
SOMALI MEDIA
Somali Lawmakers call President Mohamud to resign
05 May – Source: Radio RBC/Shabelle/Dalsan/Kulmiye/
More than 100 Somali lawmakers on Monday signed a statement which called President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to resign or face parliamentary vote of no confidence. In a meeting in Mogadishu today, parliamentarians released a press statement which they have noted down 14 points to shed the light the failure of president Mohamud’s leadership. The statement touched down the ongoing clan-based conflicts in some of the country’s regions of Hiiraan, Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle which they said was the result of poor leadership and bad governance. The lawmakers called the President to resign immediately or he will face a parliamentary vote of no confidence. “We can not accept to see as this serious matter is going on.” MP Abdukadir Osoble said. He said some parliamentarians went to th president’s office to advise him to resign before they tabled this motion.
Somali Prime Minister meets with UN officials in Mogadishu
05 May – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/Universal TV – 285 words
Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has on Monday met with the Assistant Secretary-General for Peace-building Support Judy-Cheng Hopkins and the United Nations Special Envoy to Somalia Nicholas Kay in Mogadishu. The prime minister and the two visiting officials discussed on various issues including the peace process and the fight against al Shabaab rebel group, according to a press release from the office of the prime minister. The officials promised immediate stabilization efforts in the newly recovered areas from al Shabaab militants in south and central Somalia. Ahmed said that he also discussed with the two officials on constitution review process, federalism as well as delivering basic social services to the Somali people in newly liberated areas.
Angry mass against the presence of Somaliland delegates took into the streets of Buhodle
05 May – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 116 words
Tensions are high in Buhodle town following mass demonstrations organized by the local youth against the presence of Somaliland health Minister Suleiman Issa ahmed alias Hagla Toosiye who arrived the town yesterday afternoon. Business activities and public transport came to standstill as the demonstrators blocked the major roads of Buhodle. These mass demonstrations comes a time when delegations led by Ali Khalif Galaydh, a member of federal Parliament of Somalia and one of the founders of Khatumo state and other delegates led by Somaliland health minister Suleiman Issa Ahmed. Somaliland forces have recently seized the control of Taleh district a move which Puntland regional state termed as provocation to spark inter clan clashes in the region.
Puntland leader meets his Yemeni President
05 May – Source: Horseed Media – 114 words
Puntland President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas, who is on an official visit to Yemen, has met Yemen President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The meeting took place in the Presidential Palace of Sana’a and was attended by several ministers from the Puntland administration. During the meeting, the two heads discussed strengthening of the bilateral ties between the two sides, including cooperation in trade and economic, investments. Both sides also exchanged their opinions on acute issues on the international agenda, including security issues in the region. Yemen agreed to open a consulate in the semi-autonomous region as well Puntland expected to open its own in Sana’a, as stated in a Press statement from the Presidential Office.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Exiting Somalia not an option – Kenyan Deputy President
05 May – Source: Capital News – 195 words
Deputy President William Ruto was on Monday categorical that Kenya would not withdraw its troops from Somalia, until the war against the al Shabaab militia is won. Speaking after meeting Kenya’s top security chiefs at his office, Ruto dismissed those calling for an early exit, saying such a move will amount to an act of cowardice. While underscoring the need for the Judiciary and all government agencies to play their role in the fight against terrorism, Ruto stressed the need for every Kenyan to be involved in the initiative, saying that this is the only way to overcome such attacks. “We will not relent and we will not withdraw from Somalia. We will not be cowed or intimidated until Somalia has a free and stable government free from terror. But the singular fact that cannot be denied is that our troops have greatly destabilised al Shabaab operations and created relative peace and security in that country,” he said.
Somalia to restructure police force
05 May – Source: Africa Review – 209 words
Somalia is in the process of restructing its police after years of conflict that tore the force apart. General Abdihakim Dahir Sa’eed, the commander of the country’s police force, highlighted some of the gains made at a meeting with the country’s Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed on Sunday. “We have crafted an ambitious plan to establish bonds between the police and the communities it serve, tagged as Community Police Programme,” Gen Sa’eed said. “We have so far implemented it in five out of Mogadishu’s 16 districts. When we complete the programme in the capital, it will be replicated in upcountry districts,” the General added.
Police thwart a terror attack targeting primary school children in Garissa town
05 May – Source: Standard Media – 176 words
Police in Garissa, on Monday afternoon foiled a terror attack targeting primary school children in Garissa town. The grenade which was hidden in a jerrican to disguise it from public curiosity was planted at a boys town primary school play ground by unknown people during the lunch break. Confirming the incident the North-Eastern region head of criminal investigation department Musa Yego said the assailants who placed the explosive in the primary school were targeting school children who normally play around the field after classes. “Just before the break, a member of the public who was passing near the school saw the suspicious jerrycan and notified the school authorities, who later called in the security personnels to ascertain what the container carried in it.” The sound of the explosion which was later detonated by the military officers could be heard a radius of 10km from the scene of the detonation and created a huge crater on the ground an indication that it was too powerful.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Al Shabaab blamed for multiple bus bombings in Kenya
05 May – Source: Examiner – 120 words
In the midst of a continuing battle against Somalia’s al-Qaida-linked terrorist group, three Kenyans were killed and more than 60 were wounded on Sunday when improvised explosive devices (IEDs) went off on two city passenger buses in Nairobi, Kenya, according to reports coming out of North Africa on Sunday night. The two explosions occurred almost simultaneously on busy highway in the northeast quadrant of Kenya’s capital city and the buses were crowded at the time of the bomb blasts, according to Kenyan police. The terrorist attack was the second in President Barack Obama’s ancestral home in as many days, and the Kenyan leaders have blamed the extreme violence on Somalia’s Islamist group Al-Shabaab, which became affiliated with al-Qaida in 2010.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Somaliland needs advocates who promote good governance and Voluntarily act as a Supervisory Committee to ensure Somaliland citizens are not wronged again.”
The Political Situation in Somaliland is Unraveling
05 May – Source: Somaliland Informer – 425 words
The government of Somaliland, which allegedly seems to be headless body, is exhibiting frantic, disconcerting signs towards the escalating malcontent among its citizenry. Recently, the people of Somaliland are visibly expressing their frustrations, and it seems that there is building moment towards revolt if the government exacerbates the situation or ignores the voices of the people. Instead of the government addressing the issues and resolving problems that have been raised by the citizenry, it is inciting more anger by infringing on their rights and suppressing their voices. Recently, the police, under misguided pretext, arrested many bus drivers who put stickers on the bumper of their cars that read “Free Haatuf & Hubaal media”. It is flabbergasting to witness such despicable draconian behavior from the government of Somaliland in the 21st century.