August 19, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali capital marks World Humanitarian Day

18 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 154 words

An event organized by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to mark World Humanitarian Day has been held in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. The event was attended by senior officials including United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Philippe Lazzarini, government ministers, diplomats, representatives from UN agencies and AMISOM officials. Speaking at the event, Philippe Lazzarini noted the importance of this day to the people of the world and said those who lost their lives in humanitarian service will not be forgotten. He urged humanitarian workers in the world to continue their work for the betterment of their communities around the world.

Key Headlines

Somali government names inquiry committee to investigate raid on war lord home (Radio Dalsan/Somali Current)
Somali Ministers in Baidoa to oversee state formation conference (Radio Bar-kulan)
Somali pirate kingpin arrested in Mogadishu (Somali Cuurent/ VOA Somali Service/Radio Goobjoog)
IGAD calls for vigilance to curb spread of Ebola (Coastweek/Xinhua)
Hundreds of families in Leego locality suffer acute water shortage (Radio Goobjoog)
Trial of British terror suspect postponed (Daily Nation)
Somali capital marks World Humanitarian Day (Radio Bar-kulan)
Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Accused Of Extrajudicial Killings (RTT News)
Somalia: Custodial corps receive court security training (Somali Current)

PRESS STATEMENT

UN Envoy visits Somaliland, pledges UN support for peace and progress

18 Aug – Source: UNSOM – 134 words

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, arrived in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, this morning and pledged to step up UN support.

During the visit SRSG Kay will meet with President Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Bihi Yonis, and the Minister for National Planning and development, Dr Saad Ali Shire, to discuss opportunities for the UN to increase its engagement in support of peace, stability and progress for the people Somaliland.

“Somaliland has made tremendous progress in the last years, for which the Government and people deserve full credit. I am grateful for this opportunity to visit Somaliland to explore how we can deepen and strengthen the cooperation between UNSOM and the Somaliland authorities for the benefit of the people.” Mr Kay said.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali pirate kingpin arrested in Mogadishu

18 Aug – Source: Somali Cuurent/ VOA Somali Service/Radio Goobjoog – 93 words

Mohamed Abdi Gafaje, one of notorious Somali pirates’ leaders has been arrested in Mogadishu. According to Somali police sources Mohamed and other fifteen people were arrested with weapons and vehicles in Mogadishu house and now held in undisclosed prison in the city. His arrest comes as the federal government of Somalia is in the process of pacifying the city from the former warlords through disarmament operation. Mohamed Abdi Hassan famously known as Afweyne or big mouth who is the number one leader of the Somali pirates is now serving prison sentence in Belgium for piracy related case long the Somali coast.

Somali Ministers in Baidoa to oversee state formation conference

18 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Universal TV/Mareeg Online – 148 words

Several Ministers from the federal government who are part of a technical committee set up by the federal government to facilitate the formation of southwest regional state met with politicians, elders and civil society members in Baidoa, the provincial capital of Bay region. The Ministers in Baidoa include Minister for Youth and Sports, Khalid Omar Ali, Deputy Minister for Defence, Abdalla Hussein Ali and Deputy Minister for National Security Ibrahim Yarow Isak. They are expected to announce the date when a state formation conference will be held. Minister for Youth and Sports, Khalid Omar Ali stated that the ministers will remain in Baidoa until the formation of the regional administration process is concluded. In a related story, Baidoa residents are barred from carrying unauthorized weapons as Somali and AMISOM troops continue to step up security operations in the area.

Hundreds of families in Leego locality suffer acute water shortage

18 Aug – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 106 words

Many families in Leego locality of Lower Shabele region are suffering from acute water shortage as Leego administration confirmed to Radio Goobjoog. Leego administrator Abukar Abdullahi Issak stated that the available water sources in the area dried up forcing many families to move to other areas in search of water. He reiterated that the price of the available water has doubled making it difficult for many people to pay. Mr. Abukar added that the residents in Leego are in desperate conditions in need of immediate help. He called the federal government of Somalia and international aid agencies to deliver emergency support to people in the area.

Somali government names inquiry committee to investigate raid on war lord home

18 Aug – Source: Radio Dalsan/Somali Current – 92 words

The federal government of Somalia has named an inquiry committee to investigate the clashes between Somali forces supported by AMISOM troops with the militants of former war lord Ahmed Dai in Mogadishu on Friday. Prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has said the committee is expected to table its findings regarding the fighting on 15th august between former Wadajir District commissioner and Somali security forces. National assembly speaker Professor Mohamed Osman Jawari has called upon the government forces to respect human rights and the dignity of the Somali citizens during the security operations.

Somali capital marks World Humanitarian Day

18 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 154 words

Somalia: Custodial corps receive court security training

18 Aug – Source: Somali Current – 343 words

10 senior Somali Custodial Corps officers deployed to protect the Benadir Court Complex building and its VIP occupants today completed a specialized courthouse security training organised by the Federal Government of Somalia with the support of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) in cooperation with the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the African Union Police in a bid to equip the officers with the necessary skills and technical know-how to improve the safety and security of the court. The Training is the first part of a wider programme aimed at enhancing the skills of Somali Custodial Corps officers. The trainees were instructed on the operation of screening equipment, personnel searches and standard operating procedures during attacks.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Trial of British terror suspect postponed

18 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 229 words

A case in which British terror suspect Jermaine Grant has been charged with being in possession of explosive materials failed to proceed on Monday. The court heard that one of the defence lawyers was not present. The case was adjourned to Tuesday. Mr Grant, alias Ali Mohamed, has been charged alongside two Kenyans, Ms Warda Breik and Mr Frank Nyenyo. Mr Grant and Ms Breik are facing the charge of being in possession of explosive materials.

IGAD calls for vigilance to curb spread of Ebola

18 Aug – Source: Coastweek/ Xinhua – 281 words

Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Sunday called on border entry officials to maintain vigilance to prevent the spread of Ebola virus in the region. Executive Secretary for the IGAD, Mahboub Maalim expressed concern of the epidemic which has been declared a healthy emergency by the UN World Health Organization (WHO). “The IGAD appealed to all health authorities, as well as educational and media channels to provide necessary information on protective measures using all spoken languages in the region,” Maalim said in a statement issued in Nairobi on Sunday. The move comes as member state Kenya on Saturdaytemporarily suspended entry of passengers travelling from and through Ebola affected West African countries. Other IGAD members including Uganda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Sudan and South Sudan. Maalim said the region was concerned on the possibility of Ebola transmission from West Africa to the Horn of Africa.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Accused Of Extrajudicial Killings

18 Aug – Source: RTT News – 278 words

Human Rights Watch has alleged that Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) has carried out a series of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. The New York-based human-rights watchdog claimed on Monday that they have strong evidence of this, and of arbitrary arrests and mistreatment of terrorism suspects in detention. HRW called on Kenyan authorities to urgently investigate alleged killings, disappearances, and other abuses by the unit and hold those responsible to account. It urged international donors to suspend support to the unit and other security forces

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The brutal murder of Saado should become the tipping point for Somalia. Her loss should help its people realize their failure to come to grips with the miserable and dangerous state of things in their country. Her loss and the loss of many others like her should push sensible Somalis towards a new era of peace and stability. It is obvious that clan-based politics constitute the major obstacle that prevents Somalis from reclaiming their country from extremists, secessionists and merchants of death who want to perpetuate the status quo.”

Saado Ali Warsame’s Murder: A tipping point for Somalia

18 Aug – Source: Hiiraan Online – 974 words

Saado stood up to tyranny, corruption, injustice and nepotism during Siad Barre’s military regime with songs and poetry. Her famous “Land Cruiser “ song ridiculed the military junta for exchanging donated maize begged from the west for luxurious and expensive land cruisers. In a Play attended by the top brass of the regime, including the late Siyad Barre, she dared address the strong man directly by calling his attention to the pathetic and dilapidated situation of Somalia’s infrastructure and tourist attractions. She targeted the clan warlords and ridiculed them for failing to pick up the pieces after they brought down the government. Instead of forming a broad-based and representative government, they turned against each other, raped, looted, killed and destroyed the basic infrastructure of Somalia. She blasted them with her now famous song: “Let us go our separate ways if you won’t take the lead or won’t give me the chance to lead”. It seems that this song is still applicable even after an internationally recognized government took over in Mogadishu. Federal MPs in Mogadishu have more loyalty to their clans rather than to the Federal government as evidenced by the recent mass exodus of the Federal MPs from Puntland who evacuated Mogadishu en-masse after the recent P/L fallout with the Federal Government over including Mudug in a new Federal State. It is a never ending cycle of zero-sum games that will lead Somalia nowhere.