September 28, 2015 | Morning Headlines
Somalia Wants Repatriation Of ‘Pirate’ Prisoners in Kenya Jails
27 September – Source: Horseed Media – 323 Words
Somalia has said that it is working for the repatriation of about 100-Somali nationals jailed in Kenya after they were captured at sea over alleged hijacking of vessels in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden years ago.Ambassador Gamal Mohamed Hassan, Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya accompanied by the Federal Government officials and Chief inspector of Kenya Prisons visited the Shimo La Tewa prison in the port town of Mombasa, where 92-Somali nationals convicted of Piracy are being held to assess their situations.
The officials met the piracy-convicts in the prison last week, who were demanding to be sent back home due to hard living conditions. Ambassador Gamal added that the Somali officials have already discussed with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to facilitate the transfer of pirates in order to complete their terms in their motherland. “We have asked the Kenyan government to hand over them to us and finish their terms in their homeland… we hope that the process and deal can be reached in the next coming two weeks,’’ he said in an interview with the BBC Somali Service.
UNODC has set up the Garowe and Hargeisa detention facilities in Puntland and Somaliland respectively as part of the Piracy Prisoner Transfer Programme. Kenya is one of the few countries that are prosecuting pirates, alongside Seychelles and Mauritius. But the cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute and take a long time to complete. More than 1,000 Somali pirates are in prisons around the world. Some of them have been already convicted while others are still waiting to be prosecuted. Piracy at sea has declined massively since 2011, falling 40 percent for the first time in six years according to Maritime reports.The drop in piracy incidents is a relief to shipping companies using the Indian Ocean that have been the target of pirates.
Key Headlines
- Somalia Wants Repatriation Of ‘Pirate’ Prisoners in Kenya Jails (Horseed Media)
- Somaliland Detains Musicians After Mogadishu Show (Hiiraan Online)
- Puntland: “We call On Those Fuelling The Fighting In Qoriley To Stop” (Goobjoog News)
- Somaliland Parliament Speakers Shake Hands After Punch-Ups (Garowe Online)
- Four Killed In South Somalia Blast (The Punch)
- Somalia Parliament Speaker Drops Impeachment Motion Against President (Reuters)
- New Somalia Chief of Defence Force Takes Over In Mogadishu (AMISOM)
- I Can Tell You How The Normal Somalis Are Feeling (Hiiraan Online)
NATIONAL MEDIA
Somaliland Detains Musicians After Mogadishu Show
27 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 293 Words
Security forces in the breakaway northern Somalia region of Somaliland have arrested four local musicians who performed a music show in the Somali capital this week, local officials said Sunday.The musicians from the Hargeisa-based Horn Stars band were arrested upon their arrival at Egal airport in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. Sources close to the police told media that arrests were made after a warrant arrest by the police chief.
The band has performed an open air music show in the Somali capital in celebration for the Eid Al-Adha and entertained excited Somalis who alongside musicians danced at the open-air yard at the festival described by many as ‘impressive.’ The chairman of the band Hassan Saleban Dhuhul popularly known as (Labsalah) has confirmed the arrest of the Musicians Niman Hilac, Abdirahman Oday, Hamda Queen and Mohamed Irro, terming it as ‘deplorable.’ Mr. Labsalah has equated his band to the work by doctors, journalists and business people who travel across the world without restrictions.
Somaliland government hasn’t so far commented on the arrests which has drawn a widespread criticism from Somalis across the world who rallied behind the young popular musicians. “Musicians have no borderline, they can perform anywhere –Don’t mix music with politics,” one Hiiraan Online reader said in a thread of comments on the website.The new music band has hit waves across Somalia and beyond, drawing the attention of youth. Most of their music focuses on love and Somalia culture. Somaliland sees Somalia as an obstacle hindering its efforts aimed at gaining an international recognition as it seeks independence from the rest of Somalia. Somaliland has declared a unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991, however, no country has so far recognized it as an independent state.
Puntland: We call On Those Fuelling The Fighting In Qoriley To Stop
27 September – Source: Goobjoog News – 214 Words
The Puntland administration has commented on the ongoing clan clashes in Qoriley. Puntland State’s Vice President Eng. Abdihakim Abdullahi Haji Omar and a delegation he was heading on Friday embarked on a mission to reconcile clans fighting in Agaare, Magaley and Qoriley. Puntland’s ministers for interior and security have jointly released a press statement saying that the clashes are fuelled by outsiders. Ahmed Elmi Osman Karaash, the Minister of Interior said that Puntland has full details about those involving the clashes.“There had been lot casualties including life and property, let that be enough, I want to send clear message to those fuelling the fighters to stop the interference” he said.
On the other hand security minister, Abdi Hirsi Qarjab speaking to reporters called the fighting sides to cease fire without condition.“The locals are very important in bringing lasting peace to their neighbourhoods and creating a good future for our people. It’s important to maintain the unity of the people in these villages,” he said. He called on elders in the regions affected to resolve their differences for a common good of the areas, saying the people in those areas should unite and ensure that reconciliation meetings become fruitful for the benefit of their areas and whole Puntland.
Somaliland Parliament Speakers Shake Hands After Punch-Ups
27 September – Source: Garowe Online – 151 Words
Somaliland parliament speakers for the first time shook hands in the house, apologizing to the members of parliament and the people, Garowe Online reports. Speaker, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi (Irro) and his deputy, Bashe Mohamed Farah opted for the unprecedented hand-shake in parliament after they traded blows on the eve of a vote on motion seeking the privatization of fuel depots in Berbera port city on September 12. The punch-ups thought to have been initiated by Irro-also opposition party Wadani leader-set off a firestorm of criticism.. Chaotic brawl flared up, with opposition lawmakers and motion backers exchanging punches. The scuffle was the second in Somaliland parliament in two years. Somaliland, located in northwestern Somalia, declared its independence from the rest of the country as de facto sovereign state in 1991 but it has not been recognized internationally yet.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
Four Killed In South Somalia Blast
27 September – Source: Xinhua – 220 Words
A bomb explosion killed at least 4 people, wounded several others in Kismayo city, southern Somalia on Saturday, police said. Mohamed Ahmed, police officer in Kismayo, told Xinhua that 3 civilians and one soldier were killed in the explosion in a busy restaurant in the city. “A bomb planted inside the restaurant exploded while several people were inside. We can confirm that 3 civilians and one Somali soldier died in the blast,” he said. Ahmed added that Al-Shabaab militants were behind the attack, but the group did not claim the responsibility for the attack so far.
Ridwan Isse, a local resident living nearby, told Xinhua that he heard huge blast at the restaurant. “I was sitting close to the restaurant when the bomb exploded, after a few minutes I saw 4 people died, including a soldier” he said. “I saw heavily armed Somali troops arriving on the scene to enhance the security after the incident. The situation now is stable” said another resident, Yasin Jilikow. Although the Al-Qaida linked group Al-Shabaab, which is battling to topple Somali Federal Government, has lost many strongholds in southern and central Somalia, the group is still able to launch attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries. On Monday, the militants exploded a car bomber near the presidential palace in capital Mogadishu, killing 11 people.
Somalia Parliament Speaker Drops Impeachment Motion Against President
27 September – Source: Reuters – 358 Words
Somalia’s parliamentary speaker has withdrawn an impeachment motion brought against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud – the latest crisis to threaten the country’s stability as it struggles to rebound from two decades of chaos and war. Somali lawmakers last month filed the motion against Mohamud, accusing him of abuse of office and “betraying the country”. Mohamud has said he is committed to holding elections before his term runs out in August 2016. International envoys have urged a rapid resolution to the crisis. “We have dropped the motion against the president,” Parliament Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari said late on Friday, adding he had convened a meeting on Oct.7 to try to resolve the issues raised in the motion.
Jawari said he made his decision because the majority of parliament’s 275 lawmakers wanted the motion resolved through dialogue. “This also came after considering the political, security and economic situation of the country and the short period available,” he added. But Mohamed Abdullahi Fadhaye, one of the 93 lawmakers who supported the impeachment motion, rejected the speaker’s decision. “We have neither discussed nor given up the motion. We shall take the matter to the court,” Fadhaye told Reuters on Saturday. He said Jawari had no constitutional right to throw out the motion but added the lawmakers who backed it would meet later on Saturday to discuss the development. It was not clear how the lawmakers who filed the motion allege the president had abused his office or betrayed the country.
New Somalia Chief of Defence Force Takes Over In Mogadishu
27 September – Source: AMISOM – 434 Words
The new Chief of Defence Forces of the Somali National Army Maj. Gen. Mohamed Adan Ahmed has taken over office, two days after his swearing in. Maj. Gen. Ahmed took over the reins of power from his predecessor Maj. Gen. Dahir Adan Elmi at a function held at the ministry of defence headquarters in Mogadishu. The colourful ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, members of the cabinet, top army officers including the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Deputy Force Commander in charge of Support and Logistics Maj. Gen Nakibus Lakara and members of the diplomatic corps.
In his inaugural speech, the new military chief called for increased resource allocation to the army, given the crucial role it plays in peace and stabilization efforts. He said the allocation would turn the force into an effective body, capable of dealing with security challenges facing the country. “Since the army is the backbone of the security of the nation and no nation can exist without an armed force, we are asking the government to give priority to the army in terms of resources,” Maj. Gen. Ahmed said. The new military boss also called for greater co-operation between the SNA, AMISOM, the population and international partners, saying it would turn the military into a vibrant and effective force.
OPINION, ANALYSIS, AND CULTURE
“We can easily free ourselves from the shackles we have put on ourselves, and swiftly reform the nation, if we, Somalis revive our unshakable courage, perseverance and our loyalty to the country. Ultimately, every politician or leader will realise the public is getting serious about corruption and want to feel safer. These might lead to a transparent and accountable government.”
I Can Tell You How The Normal Somalis Are Feeling
25 September – Source: Hiiraan Online – 791 Words
For quite some time now, I have found myself in the midst of a constant battle with my own conscience over whether or not I should say something about a number of issues relating to the plight of the Somali people in general and particularly the seemingly ever-deteriorating stature or prestige the Somali national was once identified with. Although I feel very much tempted to cast all the blame and rebuke for the tragic debasement of the Somali identity on the hoggish self-appointed politicians we have for leaders today, in all fairness however, part of the blame lies on the shoulders of Somali public themselves. They are not patriotic enough. Every politician values mostly their clans or tribes’ satisfaction. Additionally, some businessmen support evil actions shamelessly and don’t want to see an effective Somali government running the country. Furthermore, it goes without saying the so called international community and our next door neighbours just don’t like us for one reason or another.
Indeed, I could make a case for each of the said issues. But I believe there are already enough people making all these arguments with in-depth knowledge and a full understanding of the conditions on the ground. Here’s what I would like to do instead, I want to tell you the true perception the average Somali has, about the current government. What it’s like for us. What the Somali people all over the globe must be feeling because I, too, have felt it. It may not be what you want to hear if you’re currently holding any government position. But I am relentlessly sickened by functionless states which are breaking my/our beautiful country into tiny fragments. I am also aware of the few blind supporters each of the federal states have, who, despite the countless reasons they have to offer, get perplexed when really challenged on the need for so many “lands”, This is how the increasing numbers of regional states are making us feel. Estranged and divided in the land of our ancestors, marooned and isolated by the endless tides of war fringed with corruption. The “wake up and lean on each other, and support your country” which we praise in our national anthem has remained out of reach.