August 13, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Puntland Cuts Ties With Somalia Over Formation of New State

12 Aug – Source: VOA – 503 words

Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region has cut ties with the central government after it learned of a plan to form a new federal state in the center of the country that would allegedly include part of the Puntland region. Late last month, the Somali federal government and representatives from the central regions of Galgudud and Mudug signed a document that said the region’s leaders would work together to form a new administration. In a statement, the U.N. special representative of the secretary-general for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, welcomed the move but warned of the challenges that await the leaders.

Key Headlines

Somali President returns to the country (Radio Mogadishu)
Landmine kills one person in Mahaas district (Radio Goobjoog)
Danish commerce minister officials reaches Mogadishu (RBC/Radio Risaala)
Puntland Cuts Ties With Somalia Over Formation of New State (VOA)
Somaliland ruling party promises timely national elections (Bar-kulan)
Somali government continues campaign to clear weapons from Mogadishu (Sabahi Online)
New Puntland State TV Director takes office (Radio Garowe)

PRESS STATEMENT

Statement by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia on International Youth Day

12 Aug – Source: UNSOM – 458 words

The theme of this year’s “International Youth Day” is “Youth and mental health”. There are only few countries in which mental health is as important a topic as in Somalia. Many Somali youth have grown up in a country where violence and crime were the order of the day. Many of them were forced to join armed groups or joined these groups deliberately as they did not see another way to make ends meet. Others grew up as living in the streets or lost their parents to the conflict.

Such an experience would be overwhelming in any environment, but it is even more difficult in a country where the issue of mental health is not prioritised and mental health services are minimal. Too often, owing to neglect and irrational fear, persons with mental health conditions are marginalized not only from having a role in the design and implementation of development policies and programmes but even from basic care. This leaves them more vulnerable to poverty, violence and social exclusion, and has a negative impact on society as a whole.

Despite all these challenges, Somali youth also show a great sense of optimism when it comes to the future of their country. They want opportunities to go to school and join the work force. They want to be heard and participate in politics and in rebuilding their nation. They want to shape their own future. If given a chance, youth have the potential to become drivers for peace and stability.

Today, as we mark International Youth Day 2014, we must be clear that what we need is nothing less than a paradigm shift in policies and attitudes towards the role of youth in order to empower and place them at the core of the development agenda. First signs of progress in this direction can already be seen: the Federal Government of Somalia is currently developing a comprehensive national youth policy, while Somaliland and Puntland ratified youth policies in 2011.

During his recent visit to the United States, H.E. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced several new initiatives for young people, reaching from empowerment and education to political participation. The Somali Compact endorsed in September 2013 is another step in the right direction with all five Peace and Statebuilding Goals (PSGs) explicitly addressing youth.

With these initiatives the groundwork has been done. The UN will support the Somali Authorities through two key initiatives that are currently under way: a comprehensive strategy on youth and joint programming on youth employment. Now it is time to translate plans into actions. Young people are the ones who will inherit Somalia and they want to take part in shaping their future. The least we can do is reserve them a seat at the table.

International Youth Day

12 Aug – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 221 words

Youths in Somalia and around the world deserve a future without violence, Prime Minister declares on International Youth’s Day. His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed today said the Somali government would do everything in its power to defend children and youth against violence, as we mark the International Youth’s Day around the world.

The Prime Minister said: “This is a very important day and I want to mark it by pledging this government’s complete support by improving access to schools, education, sports, and a bright future. We are investing in and putting in place the foundations of our country. Youth years should be full of joy and happiness and not tarnished by poverty and violence.”

As part of its programs The Federal Government of Somalia has already taken actions in this direction and will continue to prioritize youth development since youth are the most vital part of society.

“This is at the forefront of this Government’s agenda and we must continue to safeguard our youth, boys and girls, from the onslaught of extremist ideology. In our schools are the future Somali leaders, teachers, doctors, nurses, construction workers, artists, athletes and engineers of Somalia. Giving the youth proper education, sports programs, jobs and the knowledge to know right from wrong, will propel Somalia to a stable future,” said the Prime Minister.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali President returns to the country

12 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio RBC/SNTV/Radio Shabelle – 125 words

Somali president Hassan Shiekh Mohamud and his delegation have landed Mogadishu’s international airport of Adden Adde. The president Mohamud along with the delegation have arrived in Mogadishu today after they have attended 3-day US-Africa summit in Washington. Senior Somali government officials including Somali parliament speaker Professor Mohamed Osman Jawari have welcomed the president and his delegation on their arrival at the airport. Speaking a press conference at the airport, President Mohamud has briefly talked about the US-Africa conference that African heads of States had with the first United States black president Barack Obama. He stated that, they have achieved so much from the summit, adding that the country’s foreign minister has remained in the U.S to finish pending discussions with his U.S counterpart.

Landmine kills one person in Mahaas district

12 Aug – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 80 words

One person, a child aged five died and two others sustained injuries after explosive device they were playing with exploded in Mahaas district on Tuesday afternoon. The wounded children were rushed to AMISOM health center where they are now treated. Hassan Haji Hussein, mahaas police commander told Goobjoog FM that the real cause of the explosion is not clear but investigations is underway. He urged the federal government of Somalia and international aid agencies to actively take part in demining.

Danish commerce minister officials reaches Mogadishu

12 Aug – Source: Radio RBC/Radio Risaala – 161 words

Danish delegation led by Danish Commerce Minister Mogens Jensen has officially arrived Mogadishu today. Somali federal government president and prime minister have met these danish officials at Halane camp, African Union base in Mogadishu near Adden Adde international airport. Several Somali minister including foreign minister Abdirahman Dualle Bayle accompanied the president and the prime minister’s meeting with the delegation in the Somali capital. Somali foriegn minister Daulle Baylle along with Danish Commerce Minister Mogens Jensen have briefed about the delegation’s meetings with the government’s top heads in a press conference. Bayle stated that the danish delegation has discussed with Somali government on development, reconstruction, supporting Somali government institutions and discussions regarding a conference which will be held in Denmark in November this year.

Somaliland ruling party promises timely national elections

12 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan – 126 words

The chairman of Somaliland’s ruling Kulmiye Party, Muse Bihi Abdi stated that Somaliland’s parliamentary and presidential elections will be held next year as previously planned. Abdi made the announcement in response to Sunday’s statements by opposition leaders who threatened to form a transitional government should the current government fail to held national elections in June next year. He said the ruling party and the opposition groups have previously agreed a number of points deemed necessary for a successful elections including voter registration and election finances. He reaffirmed that the agreement is still in place and promised the government intends to honor its agreement with the opposition groups. Somaliland’s national elections are expected to be held on June 15, 2015.

New Puntland State TV Director takes office

12 Aug – Source: Radio Garowe – 96 words

The newly-appointed Director of Puntland TV and Radio Agency Abdifatah Nur Qodah (Ashkir) has taken officeon Tuesday. The former state media Chief Ahmed Mohamed Ali (Kismayo) handed over oath of office before key government officials, politicians, traditional leaders and journalists at PLTV headquarters in the state capital of Garowe. “Former Director of Puntland State TV Ahmed Kismayo is an example for good governance and transparency,” said the Ashkir while he was taking oath as the new director of Puntland TV. Outgoing Ahmed Kismayo on his said expressed delight with the ceremony and wished Ashkir well.

Somaliland formally locks the border with Djibouti

12 Aug – Source: Somaliland Informer – 74 words

Somaliland government has formally locked the border with Djibouti citing security concerns. It added that vehicles as well as people are not permitted to cross the border town of Lawyo Addo. Salel provincial governor, deputy head of Immigration and security officers were in the border for the past couple of days andon Tuesday have announced that the border is being locked. Djibouti & Ethiopia have locked their borders with Somaliland due to security concerns.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somali government continues campaign to clear weapons from Mogadishu

12 Aug – Source: Sahabi Online – 983 words

The Somali government has been carrying out operations to disarm Mogadishu residents since late last month, successfully seizing large quantities of weapons, some believed to have been heading to al-Shabaab militants, officials said. So far, in joint operations with African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops, Somali forces “succeeded in capturing assorted weapons including heavy weapons, light weapons, ammunition pouches, ammunition and also uniforms of the national army”, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Security Mohamed Yusuf told Sabahi. Most of the weapons were uncovered during two separate sweeps on July 27th and August 2nd, Yusuf said, adding that the operations were aided by information provided by government informants. Yusuf added that investigations are under way to determine the owners of the various illegal weapons.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Puntland Cuts Ties With Somalia Over Formation of New State

12 Aug – Source: VOA – 503 words

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The expansion of humanitarian interventions — beyond what presidents initially claim will be the intended scope and time of military and diplomatic missions — is completely normal.”

The Slippery Slope of U.S. Intervention

11 Aug – Source: Foreign Policy – 985 words

During his recent hour-long interview with the New York Times’s Thomas Friedman, President Barack Obama mentioned something in passing when he described the need to be better prepared for post-conflict rebuilding and reconstruction before authorizing an intervention: “Our participation in the coalition that overthrew Qaddafi in Libya. I absolutely believed that it was the right thing to do.” Note the phrase I’ve italicized above — it’s an unnoticed but entirely remarkable acknowledgment from the commander-in-chief, because it is directly at odds with what he told the American people prior to, and just after, the start of the Libya intervention in 2011. In December 1992, when Bush announced the deployment of 28,000 U.S. troops to Somalia as part of the UNISOM peacekeeping force, he claimed, “Our mission has a limited objective: To open the supply routes, to get the food moving, and to prepare the way for a U.N. peacekeeping force to keep it moving.” President Bill Clinton inherited this commitment as the peace enforcement and logistics effort was winding down, but then in June 1993, he approved of an expanded U.N. mandate to use all necessary means to capture or kill those responsible for the death of 24 Pakistani peacekeepers. (Clinton later claimed that then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell, told him simply, “You ought to do this,” and then retired the next week.) Two months later, Task Force Ranger, consisting of a few hundred elite U.S. Special Forces and special operators, was deployed on behalf of this new mission. The subsequent Black Hawk Down incident resulted in the death of 18 U.S. soldiers and several hundred Somalis. Within six months, all U.S. troops would be out of Somalia.