December 8, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Federal MPs vote second PM out of office

06 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 212

Lawmakers in Somalia’s Federal Parliament have on Saturday ousted second Prime Minister in an overwhelming vote , bringing a month-long political standoff to an end, Garowe Online reports. Of the 235 MPs on seven rows in parliament, 153 lawmakers voted in favor of the no confidence motion, 80 voted against while 2 MPs abstained from voting, Parliament Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jaware announced. Speaking to the media shortly after vote counting, speaker Jawari urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to appoint the next head of government in 30 days. On December 12, Mohamud named the ousted Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed to the top political job weeks after parliamentarians sacked Abdi Farah Shirdon. Controversial cabinet reshuffle by outgoing Prime Minister spawned bitter stalemate on October 15 after a key presidential aide and Minister of Constitution Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir was sidelined. Analysts tell Garowe Online that complex clan politics and personal loyalties further fuelled the recurrent damaging deadlock.

Key Headlines

Federal MPs vote second PM out of office (Garowe Online)
Somali Attorney General issue travel ban on former cabinet ministers (Mareeg Media)
Al Shabaab forces Somali telecommunication company out of network (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Burhakaba mayor killed in al-Shabaab ambush (Garowe Online)
Reporters without Borders concerned about Gutale’s threat to Dalsan Radio Staff (Mareeg Media/Radio Danan)
Old Somali embassy building in Nairobi to be renovated (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Over 20 governors support KDF mission in Somalia as several call for exit strategy (Standard Digital)
KDF pilot still missing after jet crashes in Shabaab Turf (The Star Kenya)
UNHCR set to repatriate 100 Somali refugees from Kenya (Yahoo News)
Hundreds gather in Kansas City to mourn slain Somali teen (The Kansas City Star)
British terror twins widowed after ‘both husbands killed fighting for Islamic State’ in Iraq (The Mirror)

PRESS STATEMENT

AMISOM Lauds Parliamentary Resolution of the Political Crisis and calls for the urgent Appointment of a New Prime Minister

07 Dec – Source: AMISOM – 243 Words

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia and Head of AMISOM, Ambassador Maman S. Sidikou welcomes the manner in which the Federal Parliament conducted its session to debate a motion for a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister of the Federal Government. The members of parliament passed a vote of no confidence in Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed effectively ending his tenure.Ambassador Sidikou notes with satisfaction that members of parliament conducted themselves in a manner dignifying of the revered institution of parliament. Ambassador Sidikou also welcomes the statements by the President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed accepting the decision of the House of the People. The outcome of the parliament vote as well as the statements by the President and the Prime Minister demonstrate that the nascent state institutions are continuing to grow and that they can be supported to find solutions to their problems. Ambassador Sidikou would like to reiterate the African Union’s commitment to supporting the government and people of Somalia to realize the Vision 2016 agenda and the new deal compact for Somalia. He therefore encourages the President to heed the call of Parliament to appoint, within 30 days, and in close consultations with all concerned, a new Prime Minister so that the political process, including the federal states formation, the review and adoption of the Constitution and the successful delivery of credible national elections in 2016 can continue.

PARLIAMENTARY VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA

06 DEC – Source: UNSOM – 266 Words

MOGADISHU, 6 DECEMBER 2014 – The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) notes today’s parliamentary vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister of the Federal Government, pays tribute to his work or peacebuilding in Somalia and urges the swift establishment of a new inclusive Government. SRSG Kay said, “Somalia now needs unity of political purpose between its institutions and leaders and a significant period of stability. The Federal Government and Parliament have important and urgent work to do to help Somalia achieve political, security and development progress in the remaining twenty-one months of their mandate. The United Nations and all Somalia’s friends look forward to the early establishment of a government that is inclusive and representative. I also hope that once a new Government is in place, Somalia’s leaders will reach agreement on how to prevent such crises and instability in the future. I am pleased that the Federal Parliament will now be able to focus in the coming days on the passage of key legislation to enable the political transformation of Somalia, in particular laws establishing the National Independent Electoral Commission and the Boundaries and Federation Commission.” “The United Nations remains committed to working with the Federal Government and Somalia’s people and political leaders to achieve the objectives set out in the Provisional Constitution, the New Deal Compact for Somalia and Vision 2016. Completing the formation of Federal member states is a major challenge for the coming weeks. It is important that women, youth and under represented groups are enabled to play a full role in these and other political processes,” he added.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali Attorney General issue travel ban on Former Cabinet Ministers

07 Dec – Source: Mareeg Media – 181 Words

The Somali Attorney General requested the PM and other members of his government not to leave Somalia without accountability. This comes after MPs of the federal parliament voted for no confidence in the government of PM Abdiwali yesterday. The AG told the media that in the past when former prime ministers were forced out of government, there was lack of accountability hence valuable government assets such as bullet proof vehicles remained in the possession of former ministers. The Attorney General added that there is suspicion that such a trend may be repeated as the premier and some of his cabinet ministers may leave the country following the vote of no confidence which took place yesterday at the parliament. The speaker of the Parliament, Prof. Mohamed Isman Jawaari asked the president to nominate a new prime minister within the next 30 days.

Old Somali embassy building in Nairobi to be renovated

07 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 132 Words

Somali ambassador in Nairobi Mohamed Ali Nur has said plans are underway to renovate former embassy building in January 2015. Ambassador Ali Nur said the renovation of the old embassy building will be jointly facilitated by cooperation between the federal government and Somali business community in Nairobi. Somali ambassador added that he is confident that the renovation will be implemented as soon as possible. He praised the role of Somali business community in Kenya is playing in the renovation of the old embassy building. The federal government of Somalia has earlier won a court case against an Indian national who is said to be the owner of the land in which the old embassy was located.

Burhakaba mayor killed in Al Shabaab ambush

06 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 93 Words

Suspected Al Shabaab gunmen killed Bay regional district of Burhakaba mayor in pre-planned ambush near Baledogle airport, some 90km west of Mogadishu on Saturday, Garowe Online reports. Late Mohamed Hassan Ali Mamow was travelling along Mogadishu-Baidoa road when militants sprayed his car with bullets. One bodyguard who was accompanying Mamow on the road trip died in the gun attack according to witnesses. Balidogle airport is situated a few kilometers away from Lower Shabelle region town of Wanlaweyn. Beleaguered Al Shabaab group intensified guerilla warfare following intense military campaign in southern and central Somalia.

Federal MPs vote second PM out of office

06 Dec – Source: Garowe Online – 212

Reporters without borders concerned about Gutale’s threat to Dalsan Radio Staff

07 Dec – Mareeg Media/Radio Danan – 117 Words

Reporters with Borders (RWB) has said it is worried about the threats that former Somali presidential chief of staff Kammal Gutale has been making against Radio Dalsan in connection with an article on its website referring to a UN report linking him to piracy. In a statement published in its website reporters without borders said such threats and harassment limit the ability of journalists to work freely and without fear in Somalia. Mr. Gutale, former Chief of Staff of the Office of the President of Somalia has allegedly sent his associates to contact the Chief Editor of Radio Dalsan while making unknown threats if UN monitoring report linking Mr. Gutale to piracy is not taken down from the site.

Al-Shabaab forces Somali telecommunication company out of network

07 Dec – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 122

Al Shabaab militant group has ordered Somali Hormud telecommunication network in Dinsor and Ufurow out of service. The group which still controls the area has ordered complete shutdown of the network but other networks from various companies are still operative. Someone working at Hormud telecommunication company who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons said the group has threatened to take over the equipments of the company. Al Shabaab has warned Hormud staff in the area to abide by the order until further notice. It is not immediately clear the main reason behind the move by Al Qaida linked group to shut down the main telecommunication network. The residents in the area have complained about the second day without network.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Over 20 governors support KDF mission in Somalia as several call for exit strategy

07 Dec – Source: Standard Digital – 1, 892 Words

President Uhuru Kenyatta has received overwhelming support from governors across the country on his position that Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) troops will not move out of Somalia in light of sustained deadly attacks by Al Shabaab. The governors supported the President’s position that the troops should not leave Somalia until all members of the terror group are eliminated. But some, like Tana River’s Hussein Dado, demanded that Kenyan soldiers vacate the war-torn country without further delay. “We ought to congratulate our forces for doing a gallant job inside Somalia but the time has come for our troops to come home because they have achieved the main objective of stabilising that country. “Secondly, our forces cannot be there forever because even the government and members of Parliament in Somalia have been calling for KDF to leave,” said Dado. He further described the Somali government as “a group that is not appreciative because they have been demanding Kenyan sea territory. We had better leave and defend our borders from within and only pursue them whenever they try to attack us”.

KDF pilot still missing after jet crashes in Shabaab Turf

06 Dec – Source: The Star, Kenya – 137 Words

The Kenya Defence Forces pilot of the fighter jet that crashed in Somalia on Thursday is still missing. The jet developed technical problems and crashed while returning from a combat mission in Somalia, KDF said. The pilot made a distress call to a colleague in another jet before crashing in an area controlled by al Shabaab, who set it on fire, Col David Obonyo said in a statement yesterday. KDF said the two killed several al Shabaab militants, including foreign fighters, after the military intelligence located their operational and logistics base in Araare. Obonyo said KDF will not relent in its “resolve to continue pursuing and destroying the al Shabaab in order to preserve the territorial integrity of our country, which has been and continues to be threatened by the callous and murderous bunch of Islamic Jihadist”.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UNHCR set to repatriate 100 Somali refugees from Kenya

06 Dec – Yahoo News – 166 Words

The UN refugee agency said it will voluntarily repatriate 100 Somali refugees living in Dadaab camp in northern Kenya Monday. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a weekly report published Saturday that preparations for the assistance for voluntary return to Somalia are going on. “The first movement of up to 100 persons is planned to take place Dec 8 from Dagahaley camp,” Xinhua quoted the UN refugee agency statement as saying. Somali refugees in Kenya are estimated at 500,000 and the number has increased due to turmoil and recurrent droughts in the Horn of Africa state. The planned repatriation of the refugees follows a tripartite agreement which was signed by Kenya, Somalia and UNHCR in 2013 that establishes a legal framework and other support for Somali refugees in Kenya.

Hundreds gather in Kansas City to mourn slain Somali teen

06 Dec – Source: The Kansas City Star – 446 Words

Shoulder to shoulder, hundreds of friends and family members packed a south Kansas City gym to pray for the soul of Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein in paradise. Abdisamad, also known as Adam to his friends at Staley High School, died Thursday after he was run down in the street in front of his mosque at the Somali Center of Kansas City, 1340 Admiral Blvd. Jackson County prosecutors have charged Ahmed H. Aden, a 34-year-old Kansas City truck driver, with first-degree murder in his death. Aden, said to be a Somali Christian, also is the target of a federal civil rights investigation. The FBI is studying whether Aden’s alleged killing of Abdisamad, 15, was fueled by hatred of Islam and its adherents.

British terror twins widowed after ‘both husbands killed fighting for Islamic State’ in Iraq

06 Dec – Source: The Mirror – 455 Words

Two British terror twins have been left widowed after their husbands died fighting for Islamic State in Iraq, one has claimed. Zahra Halane, 17, said on Twitter today that 19-year-old Ali Kalantar – originally from Coventry – died two days ago. Halane married the Islamic State fighter in Syria after disappearing from the home in Manchester she shared with her twin sister Salma. In a subsequent tweet today, she revealed that Salma had also been left widowed – saying they had both been left iddah (widows) together. Zahra tweeted: “May Allah accept my husband @AliAlfarsiii who got his shahadah (final reckoning) in Iraq two days ago.” She then posted a picture, apparently of her dead husband, the Sun reports. She tweeted: “He was a blessing from Allah swt (heart) please make dua (prayers) Allah accepts him and I will join him very sooooon:’)” Zahra tweeted: “My twin sister husband got shahadah too the same time as mine LOOL we both made hijrah (migration) together now both iddah (widows) together too.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Now they are not ruling such large chunks of Somalia, they no longer have to pay for a shadow government,” said a diplomat. “You can mount an insurgency for really not very much money.”

Kenya needs to win war of ideas to stop Islamist advance

07 Dec – Source: Reuters – 782 Words

Kenya must win a battle against militant ideology that is seeping in from its northern neighbour and spreading to Muslim youths at home if it is to stop Somali Islamists extending their reach in east Africa. After two attacks in 10 days by Somalia’s al Shabaab group that killed more than 60 people, President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed to step up his “war on terror” to halt raids across the porous border and stop any dream of making an Islamic Caliphate. In Somalia, he can point to military gains where Kenyan and other African troops have retaken territory from al Shabaab, but he faces a more stubborn enemy on home soil where security forces are trying to drive out militancy from mosques.

“The only language these kafirs (non-Muslims) can understand is the bullet from the AK-47 rifle,” a Kenyan preacher told worshippers at Mombasa’s Mina mosque last month before police shut it down – with three others – detaining about 100 youths. Such tough tactics may temporarily silence the radical voices but it also fuels anger that helps militants find new recruits and deepens the homegrown threat, Muslim activists say.

“It can be said that it is the first time the government has taken steps against the people who export charcoal who pose a big threat to the environment and the community…It is necessary to hold the people who invested [in charcoal] accountable, because [trees are] a public resource that belong to everyone.”

Somali government moves to enforce charcoal export ban

06 Dec – Source: Sabahi Online – 829 Words

The Somali government’s move last week to arrest four Barawe officials for their alleged involvement in exporting charcoal is a good first step signalling the administration is serious about degrading al-Shabaab’s funding stream, observers say. Barawe District Commissioner Shair Abdi Elmi, the city’s chief of police, head of intelligence in the district and a military commander were arrested November 23rd for their alleged involvement in the illegal export of charcoal out of Barawe, Somalia’s Attorney General Ahmed Ali Dahir told Sabahi. “An investigation is still under way and final charges have not been filed yet,” he said. “Once the investigation is completed, we will clarify their situation.” The arrests came after a team headed by the attorney general went to Barawe to investigate reports that charcoal that had been left at the port after al-Shabaab was ousted from the city, was being shipped out illegally, Dahir said.