July 3, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Chinese ambassador to Somalia arrives in Mogadishu

02 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Goobjoog – 84 words

The newly appointed ambassador of China to Somalia arrived in Mogadishu on Wednesday. The Chinese ambassador accompanied by other Chinese diplomats was warmly welcomed at Aden Adde international airport by foreign affairs officials and were immediately taken to the presidential palace. The ambassador handed over his credentials to Abdirahman Mohamed Beileh Somali minister of foreign affairs and Investment. China has this week publically announced to restore its diplomatic relations with Somalia after more than two decades of civil strife in the country.

Key Headlines

Chinese ambassador to Somalia arrives in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Goobjoog)
Dozens arrested in Galkayo crackdown (Radio Shabelle)
Driver of vehicle used in Mpeketoni attack charged with murder (Daily Nation)
Somalia: Danish-funded Prison facility in Puntland on verge of closure (Garowe Online)
IJA security forces arrest several people in Kismayo (Bar-kulan)

SOMALI MEDIA

Chinese ambassador to Somalia arrives in Mogadishu

02 Jul – Source: Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Goobjoog – 84 words

Dozens arrested in Galkayo crackdown

02 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle – 61 Words

News reports from Mudug region indicate that security forces in Galkayo have arrested dozens of persons as suspects. The Chief of Galmudug Police Station, Abdi Jamac Abdulle told the media that the people arrested will undergo investigations and those found guilty will be taken to court. These search operations by the Galmudug administration to strengthen the security situation in Galkayo.

Somalia: Danish-funded Prison facility in Puntland on verge of closure

02 Jul – Source: Garowe Online – 90 words

A 500-bed prison facility in the state capital of Garowe is on the verge of closure as electricity shortage reigns for day-to-day activities according to independent sources, Garowe Online. GO has learned that harsh economic conditions resulted in the suspension of electricity service that was provided to prison by local electric company. Garowe Prison, pirate complex and one of the largest facilities in the horn of Africa has been grappling with electricity price hike, with management board of the prison preferring generators over Nugal Electric Corporation (NEC)’s electricity consumption.

IJA security forces arrest several people in Kismayo

02 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 101 words

Interim Jubba Administration security forces have arrested unspecified number of people after carrying out security operations in various neighborhoods of Kismayo. Speaking to the press, Interim Jubba Administration security chief, Col. Gabobe Hassan Barre said his administration has taken measures to improve the security of Kismayo during the holy month of Ramadan. He said their intention is to prevent terrorist attacks by al Shabaab militants in the areas controlled by the Interim Jubba Administration. Barre vowed the operations will go on for the foreseeable future to ensure peace and security is maintained in Kismayo, the provincial capital of Lower Jubba region.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Driver of vehicle used in Mpeketoni attack charged with murder

02 Jul – Source: Daily Nation – 92 words

Dyana Salim, the driver of one of the vehicles used by the Mpeketoni attackers, was charged Wednesday in a Mombasa court with the murder of more than 10 people. He denied the charges. Corporal Raphel Wanjohi had last week told the court in a sworn affidavit that the suspect was allegedly carjacked and his vehicle used to carry out the attack. “It is alleged that the Nissan matatu which he drives was carjacked and used to ferry the attackers to Mpeketoni town,” Mr Wanjohi told the court in relation to Mr Salim.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

China to reopen embassy in Somalia after 23 years

02 Jul – Source: Xinhua – 159 words

Newly appointed Chinese diplomat on Wednesday presented his credential to Somali Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Mohamed Beileh, as a first step in reopening China’s embassy in the horn of Africa nation for more than two decades. Wei Hongtian, Chargés d’affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, presented his credentials to Abdirahman Mohamed Beileh, Somalia’s foreign Minister at a ceremony at his office in Mogadishu. Somali foreign minister Beileh hailed the appointment of the Chinese diplomat as a sign of the country’s improving security and its relations with the outside world. “We welcome the appointment of the Chinese official. Our relationship with China has always been strong and will further be strengthened by the reopening of the embassy in Mogadishu,” Beileh told reporters in Mogadishu. The appointment of the Chinese diplomat comes after more than twenty years of hiatus in the China diplomatic presence in the Somali capital Mogadishu following the outbreak of the civil conflict in 1991.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“For the Somali community, mixed marriage is although a relatively new phenomena; it does exist and should be celebrated and promoted. As a relatively new diaspora community, Somalis are still finding their feet, away from their home land Somalis stand strong with their spirit of resilience, perseverance and determination to re-build Somalia. It seems only natural a community to cohere so tightly when survival is paramount.”

Mixed-marriage in the Somali community, a cause for celebration not concern

02 Jul – Source: Hiiraan Online – 760 words

Somali marriages have traditionally been considered as a bond between not just a man and a woman but also between clans and families. These customs still hold true in the twenty first century in Somalia, and in the Somali Diaspora community. Although Somalis live all over the world and live together alongside non-Somalis peacefully, mixed marriage is a rarity. We live in an ever globalised and multicultural society, inevitably mixed marriage, defined as a marriage between two people of different races or religions is commonplace and is seen as a regularity and a societal norm in multicultural Britain for instance. Today most would generally agree that mixed marriage is positive and it is of little significance the heritage of the married couple. It is a fact that Somalis who marry ‘non Somalis’ are breaking cultural and social norms. In recent years Somalis choosing to marry outside of their community has increased over the years but there appears to be little tangible data. From the outset there appears to be a reluctance from the Somali community to fully embrace mixed marriage as normal. This may steam from a range of factors, such as concerns of cultural and religious traditions being watered down and even lost.