June 4, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

US taps first envoy to Somalia in 20 years

03 Jun – Source: AP/Reuters/VOA/Washington Post/Yahoo News – 385 words

For the first time in more than 20 years, the U.S. will appoint an ambassador to Somalia in what a senior official on Tuesday described as show of faith for future stability in the war-ravaged African nation. Even so, the U.S. has no immediate plans to re-open its embassy in the Somali capital Mogadishu, which has been beset by violence and deadly bombings spurred by the militant network al-Shabab. As recently as two weeks ago, a car bomb outside the national parliament building killed at least seven people, and a senior al-Shabab fighter threatened Americans in a radio broadcast in Somalia. In a Tuesdayspeech, U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman said the decision to name an ambassador to Somalia reflects what she called a sign of the deepening relations between Washington and Mogadishu and “the faith that better times are ahead.” She challenged Somalis to eschew generations-old clan rivalries and focus on building a united national government. “None of us can make that choice for Somalis,” Sherman told the U.S. Institute for Peace in Washington. “But Somalis should know, if they choose to continue to come together, they will have enthusiastic and substantial international support.”

Key Headlines

President thanks UNSOM for dedication to building peace and prosperity in Somalia (Office of the President)
UN Envoy for Somalia pledges support calls on Somalis to unite for progress (UNSOM)
Defense Ministry Accused of the Increased Roadblocks in Lower Shabelle (Radio Dalsan)
Hundreds of families flee rebel controlled areas in Jubaland (Horseed Media)
Top US official unveil U.S. Foreign Policy in Somalia (Hiiraan Online/Radio Dalsan)
IDPs forced to evacuate embassy compound (Radio Ergo)
UK warns of more attacks in updated Kenya advisory (Daily Nation)
Jowhar residents fear river Shabelle flooding (Radio Dalsan)
Kenya: Cops say slain clerics were al Shabaab suspects (Star News)
‘White Widow’: Kenya probes ‘Samantha Lewthwaite sighting’ (BBC)

PRESS STATEMENT

UN Envoy for Somalia pledges support, calls on Somalis to unite for progress

03 May – Source: UNSOM – 339 words

Speaking at an event to mark the first anniversary since the launch of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, pledged the UN’s continued support for Somalia and called on Somalis to step up progress on peace and state building.

Commenting on the occasion, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said: “In the year since the Federal Government of Somalia asked the United Nations to help coordinate international assistance as the country emerged from decades of conflict, UNSOM has established a presence across the country. Today, the UN family has a larger presence on the ground in Somalia than at any time in the last eighteen years. This is tangible evidence of our strong commitment to continue to work alongside Somalis as they build peace and rebuild their country.”

“Somalia has made important political, economic and security progress in the last year but much more remains to be done, including the development of a federal system, reviewing the provisional Constitution and preparing for elections in 2016” SRSG Kay noted. “The expectations of the Somali people are high and time is limited. I call on all Somalia’s leaders and institutions to unite for the greater good of Somalia. Much work needs to be done between now and 2016. International support for peace and state building in Somalia will continue to be guided by the principles of Somali ownership, leadership and respect for the provisional Constitution” he added.

Note to editors

UNSOM was established by the UN Security Council on 3 June 2013. Based in Somalia, UNSOM is mandated to support the Federal Government of Somalia with its peace and state building agenda, including the federalism process, review of the provisional constitution and elections in 2016. It also works to strengthen Somalia’s security sector, promote respect for human rights and women’s empowerment and assist in the coordination of international assistance. UNSOM’s mandate was renewed for a further year on 29 May 2014 by Security Council resolution 2158 (2014).

President thanks UNSOM for dedication to building peace and prosperity in Somalia

03 May – Source: Office of the President – 224 words

The President today marked the one-year anniversary of the United Nations Assistance Mission to Somalia (UNSOM) and acknowledged the UN Security Council’s renewal of UNSOM’s mandate for another year.

He paid tribute to the work of the United Nations and the leadership of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, saying, “The UN has always been a good friend- working with us to build a stable, flourishing Somalia.

We value UNSOM’s role in coordinating the full range of UN assistance: from delivering life-saving humanitarian aid; to helping to transform and build our security and justice institutions; to advancing a human rights-led development agenda, to supporting our progress in building a robust, transparent public financial management system; and galvanising support behind Vision 2016 to establish a federal nation, the Constitution and deliver general elections in 2016.”

He acknowledged that the Federal Government of Somalia has set an ambitious agenda for 2014 and reminded all that political stability, wherein all work together according to their mandate, is critical to success.

“We value the ongoing support of the UN and other international partners in fulfilling their part of the development partnership. We look forward to continuing to work together with SRSG Nick Kay and UNSOM, as we move closer towards our common desire for peace and prosperity in Somalia,” The President concluded.

SOMALI MEDIA

Hundreds of families flee rebel controlled areas in Jubaland

03 May – Source: Horseed Media – 136 words

On Tuesday, hundreds of families arrive in Kismayo the capital of Jubbaland, South of Somalia. Most of these displaced people arriving in Kismayo are from the town of Jilib (Middle Juba region), which is still controlled by the al Qaeda linked group Al Shabab. Rising inflation, unemployment and fear of the shelling and fighting in the area caused latest exodus from Jilib. Two weeks ago Kenyan air force bombed al Shabaab camps in the town, there have been also several drone strikes in the area, targeting high ranking al Shabaab leaders. Now most civilians in the town are fleeing to Kismayo the regional capital of Lower Jubba.

Top US official unveil U.S. Foreign Policy in Somalia

03 May – Source: Hiiraan Online/Radio Dalsan – 153 words

A senior U.S. diplomat on Tuesday unveiled her country’s new policy toward Somalia, a sign that Washington may be changing its earlier policy that focused on security and counter-terrorism. The U.S. had no clear political policy toward Somalia since it withdrew its troops after it was humiliated by Mohamed Farah Aideed militia in 1993. Since then, Washington focused on containing the threat of the Somali civil war to regional countries. And after 2001, it switched gear toward counter-terrorism issues. Wendy Sherman, the U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, shared “the new U.S. policy,” which is expected to “advance” development issues as well as peace and stability in the Horn of Africa nation.

Defense Ministry Accused of the Increased Roadblocks in Lower Shabelle

03 May – Source: Radio Dalsan – 120 words

Deputy Commissioner for Lower Shabelle for Politics and Security was interviewed by Dalsan Radio and said the army is causing problems in Lower Shabelle by increasing the number of roadblocks hence the Defense Ministry is liable for this. He pointed out that they have discussed the matter with the Defense Ministry in a countless number of times but all in vain. Finally, he said there is tension in the region as different groups in the military who are organized as communities are misunderstanding one another when it comes to manning the checkpoints. However, the problems in the Lower Shabelle Region are not new. At numerous times, army officials in that region said all checkpoints were removed but they reappear again.

IDPs forced to evacuate embassy compound

03 May – Source: Radio Ergo – 284 words

Dozens of displaced families living at the former British Embassy compound in Mogadishu’s Hamarweyne district are being forced to evacuate the building by businessmen claiming its ownership. About 150 families, who fled from their original homes in southern regions due to conflict, drought and famine, have been living in the compound for the past two decades. A widowed mother of several children, Fadumo Aweys Abdi, said they had been given 20 days to leave the compound otherwise they would be removed by force. “We have been living here our whole life and we don’t have anywhere else to go,” Abdi told Radio Ergo’s local reporter.

Jowhar residents fear river Shabelle flooding

03 May – Source: Radio Dalsan – 151 words

Some people at some neighborhoods in Jowhar fear that River Shabelle which passes in the town will overflow and will flood into their house. They fear for their livelihoods as they fear the floods will wash away their belongings. This came amid a sudden increase in the water volume in the river. Some of the residents have already started blocking some places where they think are weak points for the floods with bags filled with sand. In the recent past, when the river flooded into the town, it is remembered that it made most of the roads impassable and it has destroyed residents’ livelihoods such that aid had to be delivered and the humanitarian situation in the town was very daring as food aid was not enough.

REGIONAL MEDIA

UK warns of more attacks in updated Kenya advisory

03 May – Source: Daily Nation – 518 words

The British Government has revised its travel advisory on Kenya, warning of more imminent attacks on areas it had cautioned its nationals to avoid. In its latest update, the UK government says “further attacks are likely” in some parts of Nairobi, the Coast and areas within 60 kilometres of the Somali-Kenyan border. “Attacks could be indiscriminate in places frequented by foreigners including hotels, bars, restaurants, sports bars and nightclubs, sporting events, supermarkets, shopping centres, beaches, buses, trains and transport hubs. “Attacks have also previously targeted places of worship including churches and mosques. Be particularly vigilant in these areas,” the advisory posted on the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) website stated.

Kenya: Cops say slain clerics were al Shabaab suspects

03 May – Source: Star-Kenya – 267 words

THE Kenya Defence Forces on Sunday night gunned down two Kenyan Muslim clerics in Mandera. The two are believed to be members of al Shabaab. They were killed at Khadija Haji, near the border. Police said the two were part of a group that was planning to carry out an attack in Mandera town. Mandera county commissioner Michael ole Tialal told the Star on the phone that police recovered eight hand grenades. He said the key suspect, a Somali who is believed to be a key member of the militia group, escaped and entered Somalia on foot.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

US taps first envoy to Somalia in 20 years

03 Jun – Source: AP/Reuters/VOA/Washington Post/Yahoo News – 385 words

For the first time in more than 20 years, the U.S. will appoint an ambassador to Somalia in what a senior official on Tuesday described as show of faith for future stability in the war-ravaged African nation. Even so, the U.S. has no immediate plans to re-open its embassy in the Somali capital Mogadishu, which has been beset by violence and deadly bombings spurred by the militant network al-Shabab. As recently as two weeks ago, a car bomb outside the national parliament building killed at least seven people, and a senior al-Shabab fighter threatened Americans in a radio broadcast in Somalia. In a Tuesday speech, U.S. Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman said the decision to name an ambassador to Somalia reflects what she called a sign of the deepening relations between Washington and Mogadishu and “the faith that better times are ahead.” She challenged Somalis to eschew generations-old clan rivalries and focus on building a united national government. “None of us can make that choice for Somalis,” Sherman told the U.S. Institute for Peace in Washington. “But Somalis should know, if they choose to continue to come together, they will have enthusiastic and substantial international support.”

‘White Widow’: Kenya probes ‘Samantha Lewthwaite sighting’

03 May – Source: BBC – 332 words

Kenya is investigating reports that British terror suspect Samantha Lewthwaite – known as the “White Widow” – has been sighted in the country. Reports say an unknown woman, possibly Ms Lewthwaite, was given a police escort to visit a Kenyan army base in Somalia before disappearing. She is accused of links to Somali Islamist group al Shabaab, which has attacked Kenya several times. Ms Lewthwaite’s husband died in a 2005 suicide attack.Her husband Germaine Lindsay was one of the four bombers who carried out the 7 July bombings in London that year in which 52 people were killed and hundreds more injured.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

Mercifully, the quick actions of solicitors stopped another deportation to Mogadishu, another potential dead body on Britain’s conscience. We now have to hope the upper tribunal strikes down the desperate nonsense asserted by the home secretary. There is no such thing as safe return to Mogadishu.

“What on earth is Britain doing deporting people to Somalia?”

03 Jun – Source: Politics UK – 975 words

The Home Office guidance on Somalia is a fairy story. It ignores the warnings of the UN secretary general, the UN high commissioner on refugees, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. It ignores the reports – such as are available – from humanitarian groups on the ground. It ignores the accounts of rape, targetted killing and public executions. In the crazed world of the Home Office, Mogadishu is an oasis of serenity in a volatile country. “There is no frontline fighting or shelling any longer; and the number of civilian casualties has gone down. The available country information does not indicate that, at present, the situation is of such a nature as to place everyone who is present in the city at a real risk of treatment such that removal to Mogadishu would be contrary to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.” This is the Home Office country guidance on Somalia. It is intended for one purpose only: to create a political environment in which the deportation of people to Somalia is acceptable. The advice is so contrary to reports from the country that it is now the subject of an immigration upper-tribunal case. But the Home Office is not hanging around. While the case is ongoing, it is continuing with its deportation programme to Somalia. There were 33 enforced returns in 2013. In the first quarter of 2014, 19 people were sent back.