April 25, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia Prime Minister visits Army Bases

24 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 78 words

The Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mr. Abdi Farah Shirdon and other members of the cabinet visited Somali National Army Bases in the capital, Mogadishu. One of the bases the Prime Minister visited was Jazira base in the capital where he addressed the troops. The Prime Minister urged the troops to watch carefully the weapons supplied to them by the government and avoid them from falling into the wrong hands.

Key Headlines

President Hassan will face the parliament next month Speaker says (Raxanreeb)
AMISOM Troops Dismantle a Terrorist Ambush Point in Southern Somalia (AMISOM-HQ)
Children in Somalia to receive new vaccination against deadly diseases (UNICEF)
Speaker of the parliament lashes out some MPs (RBC Radio)
Somalia: Puntland seizes 5 illegal fishing boats 78 Iranians arrested (Garowe Online)
Kenya Ethiopia to help rebuild Somalia (Capital FM )
Ethiopia Denies Planning to Withdraw From Somalia (VOA News)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM Troops Dismantle a Terrorist Ambush Point in Southern Somalia

21 Apr – Source: AMISOM-HQ – 199 words

AMISOM troops yesterday dismantled a terrorist ambush point near Hoosingo in southern Somalia. An AMISOM convoy transporting logistics, a supply from Dobley to Hoosingo, was attacked by militants from the Al Qaeda affiliated terror group, al Shabaab, at about midday. A thirty minute exchange ensued during which six of the militants were killed and one AMISOM soldier was slightly wounded. An assortment of weapons and equipment recovered from the scene.

AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti, said AMISOM, in support of Somali National Security Forces, would continue to carry out stability operations in liberated areas to clear them of threats to the local population and facilitate a conducive environment for the delivery much needed humanitarian assistance.

“These operations have contributed significantly to the relative calm that has been experienced in the southern regions of Somalia since the liberation of the major port city of Kismayo in October last year,” he said.

The overall security situation across the country continues to improve and AMISOM is helping to enhance the capability of the Somali National Security Forces through training and mentoring. Recently, the joint forces secured the corridor linking the city of Baidoa in the west with the capital, Mogadishu.

Children in Somalia to receive new vaccination against deadly diseases

24 Apr – Source: UNICEF – 710 words

Mogadishu/Garowe/Hargeisa, Somalia- The Somali authorities have launched today a new five-in-one-vaccine against several potentially fatal childhood diseases which could save thousands of young lives.

From today, Somali children will receive the Pentavalent vaccine, a combination of five vaccines in one against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib – the bacteria that causes meningitis, pneumonia and other illnesses), all of which are highly prevalent. The vaccine will be part of the routine immunization programme.

More than 1.3 million doses of Pentavalent vaccine have been provided to Somalia for 2013 and will be used to immunize children under one year of age. Pentavalent vaccines will be delivered to the 425,000 child born each year in Somalia through existing health structures as well as community health workers at district level. Each child will require three doses of the vaccine.

The launch of the new vaccine takes place in Mogadishu, Garowe (Puntland) and Hargeisa (Somaliland) and will be attended by leading government officials and representatives from GAVI Alliance, UNICEF and WHO.

“Somalia has one of the lowest immunization rates in the world,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance. “The country’s health system has been destroyed after more than 20 years of conflict and thousands of children are not protected against major killer diseases. This situation is unacceptable and that’s why GAVI and its donors have committed substantial funding to Somalia until 2016.”

The launch of the vaccine is being accompanied by an outreach campaign to make parents aware of the importance of the new vaccine which replaces the DTP vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough). A recent household survey (Multiple-Indicator Cluster Survey – MICS4) carried out by UNICEF and the relevant Ministries, found only 7% of children in Puntland and 11% of children in Somaliland had received the required three doses of DTP by their first birthday.

“It is crucial that this vaccine reaches every Somali child in the country,” said Sikander Khan, UNICEF Somalia Representative. “We urge all parents, community, traditional and religious leaders to participate in the immunisation activity, to ensure all children of Somalia can benefit from the protection offered”.

Continued conflict in Somalia has resulted in the country having some of the worst health indicators in the world. Child and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in the world; one in every five Somali children dies before their fifth birthday.

The introduction of Pentavalent vaccine means that the children will for the first time be protected against one of the causes of pneumonia, which is one of the leading causes of child deaths. It is the first time in 35 years that children in Somalia are being offered a vaccination that protects them against additional diseases apart from diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, measles, polio and tuberculosis which they already receive.

SOMALI MEDIA

President Hassan will face the parliament next month, Speaker says

24 Apr – Source: Raxanreeb – 96 words

The President of Somalia Federal Government Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to face a parliamentary inquiry next month, the Speaker of the Federal Parliament of Somalia, Mohamed Osman Jawari said on Tuesday. “I want to inform the members of parliament that the president of the state will address the parliament and will respond a parliamentary questioning on 2nd May.” Jawari told the legislators on Tuesday after a meeting on the Ankara Agreement was canceled due to consultations.

Somalia Prime Minister visits Army Bases

24 Apr – Source: Shabelle – 78 words

Speaker of the parliament lashes out some MPs

24 Apr – Source: RBC Radio – 116 words

The Speaker Parliament, Prof. Mohammad Sh. Osman Jawari has lashed out at some MPs who are part of permanent internal committees of the parliament accusing them of neglecting their duties. Mr Jawari stated that there are members of permanent internal committees of the Somali Federal Parliament who he said have not yet attended sessions, saying that “ being absent from internal committees sessions is like being absent from parliamentary sessions” said Jawari. The speaker indicated that the biggest task ahead of the parliament is to hold the government accountable for what it does.

Puntland seizes 5 illegal fishing boats, 78 Iranians arrested

24 Apr – Source: Garowe Online/Radio Kumiye – 110 words

Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) apprehended 5 illegal fishing boats and 78 fishermen off the coast of Bossaso on Tuesday. PMPF Coordinator, Admiral Abdirizak Diriye Farah, who spoke to the press on Wednesday, stated that 5 illegal fishing boats and 78 Iranian nationals illegally fishing off the coast of Qow 20km from Bossaso were apprehended by the Puntland coastal forces. “The arrested fishermen were 78 Iranians, along with 12 Somalis who were protecting the illegal fishing boats,” said Admiral Farah on Wednesday.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya, Ethiopia to help rebuild Somalia

24 Apr – Source: Capital FM – 140 words

Kenya and Ethiopia have reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together with Somalia to help its government towards reconstruction. Speaking after holding bilateral talks with the Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn in Nairobi, President Uhuru Kenyatta said that conflict in Somalia had affected its neighbours. The Head of State said: “On IGAD and regional peace and development, we focused on our efforts to contribute to sustainable peace, reconstruction and development in Somalia.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Ethiopia Denies Planning to Withdraw From Somalia

24 Apr – Source: VOA News – 129 words

Ethiopia’s foreign ministry has denied there are plans to withdraw all troops from Somalia, despite recent remarks by the Ethiopian prime minister expressing frustration with the pace of military progress in the country. Speaking to parliament Tuesday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said the African Union force in Somalia has not kept its promise to replace Ethiopian soldiers in parts of the country under AU control. Ethiopian forces entered Somalia two years ago to assist the AU force, known as AMISOM, in its fight against al-Shabab militants.

Somalia’s eligible bachelors – and how to spot them

24 April — Source: Voice of Africa – 600 words

“London or Minneapolis?” a soft female voice asks. It comes from a few tables behind me at Village Restaurant – a popular hangout for Somali diasporans in Mogadishu – as I finish a call to my friend.

“Eastleigh,” I respond, trying not to disclose my London background. Eastleigh is a district in Nairobi, inhabited mainly by Somalis.

Clutching a shisha pipe in her right hand that is patterned with henna flowers, she blows thick white smoke that fills up the dimly lit corner of the restaurant. “You may dress like a local but you don’t sound like the Eastleigh type. You definitely don’t look like one.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“So if, even in misogynistic Somalia, a woman can be appointed Foreign minister, we have to ask what it is about the job. It is probably the way our governments acknowledge that we live in a globalised world. Politics at home might still be highly patriarchal, but when we go out into the rest of the world, we have at some point to meet it on its terms.”

Kenya’s new Foreign minister is a woman; how very East African!

24 Apr- Source: African Review-711 Words

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday named the first four ministers of his Cabinet. Among them is Ms Amina Mohamed as Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The media and blogs immediately noted that she was Kenya’s “first Somali ethnic” woman to be slated for the job. Indeed, if her appointment is approved by Parliament, she will be Kenya’s first ever female Foreign minister.

But you have to look outside Kenya’s borders in other Eastern African countries to understand why Ms Mohamed’s appointment is a truly intriguing story. If she travels to Mogadishu to discuss matters of Kenya’s forces in south Somalia, she will meet with Fauzia Yusuf Adam. Adam is Somalia’s deputy prime minister, the first woman to hold the position, and Foreign minister – again the first Somali woman to hold that job.