August 1, 2012 | Daily Monitoring Report.

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Somalia passes new provisional constitution

01 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online/Jowhar Online/Midnimo Online/Kulmiye/Risaala)

Somalia’s Constituent Assembly has overwhelmingly approved the country’s new constitution for the first time in two decades, paving the way for a new government to be elected this month. The draft constitution sailed through the floor after 621 delegates out of 825 delegates present voted in favour of the constitution. Only 13 voted against it while 11 withheld their votes.

There were huge applauds in the conference hall when the result was announced following eight days of deliberations and rectification of the draft constitution. The assembly convened Wednesday last week with the aim of rectifying the draft constitution before adopting it as the country’s provisional constitution after the gathering was postponed three times last month.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali who spoke at the assembly venue after the draft constitution was passed, said the country has now move a step forward and ended the transitional period. Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991, when the Horn of African country plunged into chaos. The current U.N-backed Somali government’s mandate expires on Aug. 20, and Somali leaders have been tasked with voting on the constitution, voting in a new 275-member parliament, and electing a president before then. The country’s current constitution is the Transitional Federal Charter, which was written in 2004. Meant only as a temporary charter, it contains fewer rights than are spelled out in the new provisional constitution.

Key Headlines

Somalia passes new provisional constitution (Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online/Jowhar Online/Midnimo Online/Kulmiye/Risaala)
Blasts hit Somali constitution talks venue in Mogadishu (Bar-kulan/Midnimo Online/Risaala/Jowhar Online/Kulmiye)
Delegates of Constituent assembly concludes constitution debates (Raxanreeb)
Information Ministry condemns murder of comedian in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan)
Lack of laws hinders Kenya’s war on terror US warns (Daily Nation)
2 bombers killed at Somalia constitution meeting (AP)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia passes new provisional constitution

01 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online/Jowhar Online/Midnimo Online/Kulmiye/Risaala – 232 words

The current U.N-backed Somali government’s mandate expires on Aug. 20, and Somali leaders have been tasked with voting on the constitution, voting in a new 275-member parliament, and electing a president before then. The country’s current constitution is the Transitional Federal Charter, which was written in 2004. Meant only as a temporary charter, it contains fewer rights than are spelled out in the new provisional constitution.

Blasts hit Somali constitution talks venue in Mogadishu

01 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/Midnimo Online/Risaala/Jowhar Online/Kulmiye – 118 words

Two powerful blasts have hit the venue of the National Constituent Assembly on Somalia’s draft constitution in the capital, Mogadishu, after the Somali security forces shot two suicide bombers outside the police building that was housing the Somalia’s Constituent Assembly.

Interior Minister Abdisamad Mohamud said the two bombers had fake identity cards but refused to be screened by security forces, raising the suspicion of authorities.

The sound of the blasts was heard in nearby neighbourhoods. Reports say there were two blasts, with one of them going off after delegates entered the venue. One soldier was reportedly wounded in the explosions. Hundreds of delegates to Somalia’s Constituent Assembly met and endorsed the country’s new constitution.

Delegates of Constituent assembly concludes constitution debates

01 Aug – Source: Raxanreeb – 191 words

Members of 825 Somali delegates from different regions who have debating the country’s new draft constitution have concluded discussions on the constitution which lasted fir the past six days here in Mogadishu. Open debates on the draft constitution which the delegates were looking one-by-one of the new constitution points have been continuing since last Wednesday as the members of the delegates suggested to adopt the new draft Constitution which is seen as the new entrance of Somalia’s new stage of the post transition period.

“Luckily we have finalized our discussion and we are ahead to proceed the adoption process. This will be the first constitution in Somalia for than fourty years.” Asha Ahmed, a female delegate told RBC in their meeting hall at Gen Kahiye police academy in Mogadishu.

Many women in the assembly have been showing in high spirit that the new draft constitution gave important attention to women’s rights as well as the international convention of human rights. “According to this constitution, women will be able to participate in the country’s political process and that is what we appreciate very high.” another female delegate, Halima Mohamed said.

Information Ministry condemns murder of comedian in Mogadishu

01 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 176 words

Somalia’s Information, Post and Telecommunication ministry has strongly condemned the killing of a well-known comedian and radio drama performer, Abdi Jeylani Malaq, popularly known as Marshale.

Marshale was killed late Tuesday, minutes after leaving Kulmiye radio station, where he worked as drama producer and performer, according to colleagues. Information, Post and Telecommunication minister, Abdikadir Hussein Mohamed said he was saddened by the brutal killing of the comedian saying that he was just an innocent citizen who committed no crime.

The minister said security agents are investigating the incident as they continue to do all means possible to bring the perpetrators of the killing to justice. He consoled the bereaved family, friends and relatives of the slain comedian.

The shooting of Marshale, who also worked for the London-based Universal TV station, is the latest in a string of apparently targeted killings against personalities in the media fraternity. The assailants who shot him on the head and shoulder managed to escape immediately from the scene of the crime. His body is due to be laid to rest in Mogadishu today.

Somali minister calls on population to return to Lafole settlement

01 Aug – Source: Radio Mustaqbal – 145 words

Somalia’s Security and Interior Minister Abdisamad Moalin Mohamud who was one of the delegates led by President Sharif Sheik Ahmed, said the security of the roads that links Mogadishu to Afgoye is improving, urging the people to return to their homes.

Abdisamad called on the businessmen and other civilians to also return to Lafole settlement where confrontations between al Shabaab and TFG forces took place that caused the people to flee from their homes. The Security and Interior Minister stated that Lafole settlement is now peace, and asked the people to come back to their homes and continue with their lives. Clashes between TFG and al Shabaab some times break in the road linking Mogadishu to Afgoye, that results in casualties.

Somalia’s Puntland says 53 terror and piracy suspects arrested

31 Jul – Source: Garowe Online – 96 words

Government forces have arrested 53 persons suspected of links to terrorism and piracy crimes in Puntland State of Somalia, according to a statement from Puntland Ministry of Security, Garowe Online reports.

The Ministry’s press release stated that the operation is “part of an extensive security campaign” and that the suspects arrested included al Shabaab terror group members, piracy financiers, and suspected associates of notorious pirate kingpin Isse Yuluh, wanted by Puntland authorities.

The statement indicated that Puntland’s government has “intensified security operations since the 11 July 2012 kidnapping of three Kenyan aid workers near Galkayo,” Puntland’s second largest city located at the state’s boundary with erstwhile chaotic regions in south-central Somalia.

Somali civil society launches IFISO Coalition to end impunity through vetting process

31 Jul – Source: Jowhar Online/Hiiraan Online – 184 words

As Somalia puts in place end-of-transition political mechanism, a coalition of civil society actors have united to fight impunity in the context of the nominations of candidates for Parliament and the Presidency. IFISO, a Somali word roughly translated as ‘she who shines the light on wrongdoers’, has been chosen as the name to represent the Independent Vetting Coalition.

The Coalition has been constituted in order to assess candidates named to fill parliamentary positions and identify individuals accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or gross human rights violations. After 21 years of civil conflict, Somalia on 25th July 2012 convened an 825-member National Constituent Assembly, the first step in a process to ratify a draft constitution, and form a New Federal Parliament and New Federal Government by the end of the Transition period 20th August 2012.

Recognizing the threat of factional warlords and militias subverting the democratic process, IFISO has been created in order to scrutinize the nominations process done by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission to reject candidates with verifiable records of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or gross human rights violations.

Somaliland police arrests 50 in Hargeisa operations

31 Jul – Source: Hadhwanaag Times/ Universal TV – 105 words

The police chief of (Self-declared) republic of Somaliland on Tuesday said they had seized some 50 suspects in sweeping crackdown and operations around the city of Hargiesa. At a news conference held in Hargiesa, the police chief said that the arrested were the most dangerous ones in the capital.
He added that the aim of the operations was assure the overall security situation of the capital. The police chief noted that 32 of them were brought to the court and sent central jail. He also sent warning to drivers of buses for students, accusing them of over-speeding that can endanger the lives of the students.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Lack of laws hinders Kenya’s war on terror, US warns

01 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 298 words

Kenya’s government has “demonstrated increased political will” in its fight against terrorism but a lack of key laws makes it difficult to prosecute terror suspects and to choke off financing for al Shabaab, the US warned on Tuesday.

That assessment is included in the State Department’s latest “Country Reports on Terrorism,” a set of studies that gauge governments’ performance in 2011. The Kenyan military offensive against al Shabaab that began last October is credited with having helped weaken the militants’ grip on parts of Somalia.

But al Shabaab was still able to kill more than 1000 people last year and to exercise “continued dominance of most of southern Somalia.” That resulted in “a permissive environment for a small number of al Qaeda operatives to conduct training and terrorist planning with other violent extremists,” the State Department says.

Al Shabaab’s execution of its own members reflects deepening crisis

30 Jul – Source: Sabahi Online – 822 words

Al Shabaab’s decision to execute three of its members for allegedly spying for foreign governments reflects a crisis of confidence within the ranks of the militant group, political analysts and observers say. Al Shabaab said the three men — Ishaq Omar Hassan, 22, Yasin Osman Ahmed, 23, and Mukhtar Ibrahim Sheikh, 33 — were spying for the US Central Intelligence Agency and the British spy agency MI6.

“Hassan and Ahmed were both responsible for the deaths of Bilal al Berjawi and three other [al Shabaab members],” the al Qaeda-allied organisation said on its official Twitter account July 22nd. “The two planted tracking devices in the vehicles of al-Berjawi & his brothers which guided the missile strikes in the outskirts of Mogadishu.”

Al Berjawi, a dual citizen of Lebanon and Britain who was stripped of his British citizenship, was killed in a missile strike in January outside Mogadishu. He was reported to have been al Qaeda’s second-in-command in Somalia.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali assembly endorses draft constitution: Prime Minister

01 Aug – Source: AFP – 60 words

Somalia’s constituent assembly endorsed a draft constitution Wednesday, billed as a key step to ending decades of civil war, and shortly after double suicide bombers blew themselves up at the gates.

“We are very happy today that you… have responsibly completed the procedure by voting for the constitution,” Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali told the 825-member assembly after their vote.

2 bombers killed at Somalia constitution meeting

01 Aug – Source: AP – 99 words

A police officer in Somalia’s capital says security forces shot two suicide bombers right outside a building where 825 Somali elders are meeting to debate the country’s new constitution, setting off their explosives.

Abdi Yassin said that security forces stopped the two bombers at the gates of the constitutional assembly and opened fire on them. The incoming gunfire detonated the suicide bombers’ vests.

Yassin said one soldier was wounded in the explosions but that only the bombers were killed. The 825 Somali leaders have been meeting over the last week to debate and vote on Somalia’s proposed new constitution.

EU pledges extra 22 million euro in Horn of Africa humanitarian aid

31 Jul – Source: Europe online Magazine – 142 words

Countries in the Horn of Africa will receive an extra 22 million euros (27 million dollars) from the European Union to help them prepare for natural disasters, the bloc‘s executive said Tuesday.

The pledge brought to 791 million euros the humanitarian and development aid the EU had offered to Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti and Somalia since the region was hit by severe drought last year – the worst in 60 years – the European Commission said.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The new dawn that is about to rise should come with hope to inspire the millions of Somalis that are scattered around the globe. We should invite the sons and daughters of Somalia back to the motherland with a new political horizon that is dynamic, inspirational, hopeful and most of all free and fair for all to choose.”

It Is Time For Visionary Young Leaders In Somalia

31 Jul – Source: Eurasia Review – 925 Words

As the term of Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government comes to an end this August 2012, there is hope that the new political dispensation will bring positive outcomes. It will be a new milestone if the transition to embrace the creation of a quality parliament that will elect respectable speaker and a president is achieved. This will send a strong signal that we are finally heading to the right direction and will mark a new chapter for the return of Somalia as a respected partner in the international community. However, the task ahead will demand a new direction with strong leadership and vision.

In this analysis, I will argue that the causes of political instability in Somalia are many; the lack of leadership is one of the main reasons for the chaos and violence. In this perspective, Somalia needs a leadership with a vision that can bring civility, transparency, accountability and inclusiveness in the Somali political process. Given that there are many contenders for the top job in Somalia, the question many Somalis are asking is “Who is the right person to lead Somalia?”

Top tweets

@Aynte The #Somalia ‘Draft Constitution’ was a fait accompli; delegates were NOT allowed to amend (only to recommend changes) http://usat.ly/QuNLtl.

@BillaoJournal @OsmanWeli The total votes cast by the #NCA was 645 – including 13 abstentions. This leaves 180 votes that were not cast at all. #Somalia.

@SomaliThinker NCA voted overwhelmingly for new, provisional constitution for #Somalia. Now we await the parliament and presidential #sELECTION.

@Decepticoned Such a peaceful way they follow @taslimanasreen Islamists killed famous Somali comedian because he impersonated Islamist fighters.#Somalia.

‏@forbeesta A comedian, and now a kid – Somalia’s <17 national side goalkeeper killed in #Mogadishu (MT@Hamza_Africa)

@Lattif A safer #Mogadishu beckons #Somali Americans http://bit.ly/PoQa1W via @mprnews #Somalia.

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Image of the day

Image of the day Members of Somalia’s constituent assembly endorse a draft constitution in Mogadishu Wednesday. Photo: Calanka