August 14, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

On landmark Somalia visit, Security Council pledges support toward political reforms

13 Aug – Source: UN News Center – 142 words

Members of the United Nations Security Council arrived in Mogadishu this morning on a landmark visit to Somalia to review progress made by the Federal Government and to demonstrate their continued support for the country’s efforts to ensure a sustainable peace. Speaking at Mogadishu International Airport, Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant of the United Kingdom, which holds a rotating presidency of the Council for August said, “We are pleased to have this opportunity to visit Somalia. Our visit underlines the commitment of the international community to Somalia’s progress toward peace and stability.” The visit, led by Ambassador Grant and Ambassador Usman Sarki of Nigeria, comes at an important time for Somalia as the country prepares to launch the next phase of military operations against Al-Shabaab, addresses a worsening humanitarian situation and pushes forward with political reforms to agree a federal system of governance.

Key Headlines

Puntland President boycotts to attend UN Security Council meeting with Somali leaders in Mogadishu(RBC)
Former VP Kazibwe tips Somali Women MPs (New Vision)
Somali community in Germany delivered health facilities to hospital in Garowe (Radio Goobjoog)
Al Shabaab arrests 18 people in Bardere town (Radio Shabelle)
UN Security Council envoys visit war-torn Somalia (Standard Media)
Three killed in armed clashes in Middle Shabelle region (Bar-kulan)
Somalia: Huge blast heard in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)

PRESS STATEMENT

Acting AU Special Representative happy with AMISOM’s achievements, appeals for more support

13 Aug – Source: AMISOM – 324 words

The Acting Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Honorable Lydia Wanyoto Mutende has expressed her satisfaction at the achievements made by AMISOM in support of peace and stability but appealed for more logistical and technical support.

Speaking to the visiting UN Security Council delegation, Honorable Lydia Mutende said while significant gains had been made in liberating more Somali territory from the Al-Shabaab tyranny, AMISOM continued to face several challenges that impinge on its ability to implement its mandate.

Hon. Wanyoto-Mutende said: “AMISOM continues to operate without the necessary force enablers and force multipliers required for an operation of this nature. Further, the mission operates with only a minimal maritime capability, and without dedicated maritime assets.

The Somali National Army also continued to be hamstrung by a lack of sufficient logistical support. “It has also become clear that following the conduct of joint AMISOM and SNA operations the pace at which other activities are undertaken in newly recovered areas is too slow to sustain the security gains which have been made,” she said.

AMISOM ‘s inability to deliver Quick Impact Projects in newly liberated areas left affected communities with no tangible peace dividends, Hon. Wanyoto-Mutende said and bemoaning the slow delivery of humanitarian or other assistance to these communities. She underscored the need to deploy more police to newly liberated towns to maintain law and order, and pledged AMISOM’s support in building the capacity of the Somali Police Force (SPF).

“The security situation in the country at large and especially Mogadishu is now increasingly becoming a concern for the police due to the increased criminal activities and assassination threats on members and employees of the Federal Government of Somalia. The SPF will need to be supported in the recruitment of police officers and have them trained and deployed to all areas including the newly recovered areas. Increased police activity and police presence is clearly required,” Hon. Wanyoto-Mutende said.

UN Security Council makes historic visit to Somalia

13 Aug – Source: UNSOM – 378 words

Members of the United Nations Security Council arrived in Mogadishu this morning on a landmark visit to Somalia to review progress made by the Federal Government with assistance from the international community, and to demonstrate their continued support for the country’s efforts to ensure a sustainable peace.

The visit by the fifteen-member body is led by the UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Mark Lyall-Grant, and Ambassador Usman Sarki of Nigeria. During the visit the Council members met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, senior members of the Government and the Federal Parliament, and the leaders of the Interim Jubba Administration and Galmudug, Ahmed Islaan Madobe and Abdi Hassan Awale Qeybdid. They also held discussions with the senior leadership of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and members of Somalia’s civil society.

The visit comes at an important time for Somalia as the country prepares to launch the next phase of military operations against Al-Shabaab, addresses a worsening humanitarian situation and pushes forward with political reforms to agree a federal system of governance.

Speaking at Mogadishu International Airport, the UK’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Mark Lyall-Grant said, “We are pleased to have this opportunity to visit Somalia. Our visit underlines the commitment of the international community to Somalia’s progress toward peace and stability. The Council welcomes recent political agreements to form interim regional administrations, including the establishment of the Interim Jubba Administration and agreements on the Interim South West State Administration and on the Central Regions.

“Members of the Council also expressed their expectation that the Federal Government of Somalia will urgently establish a national independent electoral commission, lead a process to revise the constitution and hold a referendum on it by the end of 2015, and hold elections in 2016.

The members of the Security Council stand ready to support the people and government of Somalia to deliver this vision. The members of the Security Council also underlined the importance of women being represented at all levels of the political process in Somalia.” Ambassador Lyall-Grant added.

The UN Security Council delegation includes representatives from Argentina, Australia, Chad, Chile, China, France, Jordan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, UK and USA.

SOMALI MEDIA

Puntland President boycotts to attend UN Security Council meeting with Somali leaders in Mogadishu

13 Aug – Source: Radio RBC – 137 words

The Members of the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday visited Somalia capital, Mogadishu making the first historic visit to the war-torn nation. The Members of the United Nations Security Council met with Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, Speaker of the Parliament Mohamed Osman Jawari and leaders of the regional administrations in the country. The President of Puntland, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas rejected to attend the meeting in Mogadishu. The decision came following Puntland’s boycott against the Mogadishu-based Federal Government of Somalia. Sources in Garowe told RBC that President Gaas received an invitation from the United Nations Office in Mogadishu informing him to attend the meeting on Wednesday as the Members of the UN Security Council were heading to the country. But President Gaas officially rejected the call to go to Mogadishu.

Somali community in Germany delivered health facilities to hospital in Garowe

13 Aug – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 102 words

Somali community in Germany delivered health facilities to hospital in Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland regional state. The chairman of Somali community in Germany Mohamed Abdirahman Ali stated that this donation is a start of other donations the community is expecting to deliver to the hospitals in the region in two weeks time. He added that the community is committed to improve the primary health care in the region. The vice president of Puntland Abdiaziz Mohamed Amey receiving the donation from the Diaspora community praised the community’s role to show solidarity to their brothers and sisters who cannot afford medical checkup.

Al Shabaab arrests 18 people in Bardere town

13 Aug – Source: Radio Shabelle/Xogmaal Online – 81 words

Somalia’s Al Qaeda linked al Shabaab militants carried out search operation in Bardere town of Gedo region, arresting 18 people who were among them Takfir Islamic sect, witness said. Some intellectuals in town, who spoke to Shabelle radio in Mogadishu, said that the 18 Takfir Islamic sects were seized in a mosque and houses in the town, adding that the operation started yesterday up to last night. al Shabaab officials did not comment on the arbitrary arrests against Takfir Islamic sects.

Three killed in armed clashes in Middle Shabelle region

13 Aug — Source: Bar-kulan – 92 words

At least three people have been killed and eight others injured after government forces and armed militia clashed on Wednesday in Moro-marerey village of Middle Shabelle region. An eyewitness in the village confirmed the number and deaths and injuries caused by armed clashes between the two sides to Bar-kulan. The eyewitness added that the clashes started after Somali military forces attempted to remove illegal roadblock in the area which was set up by gangs dressed in a government army uniform. Middle Shabelle regional administration officials are yet to comment on the incident.

Somalia: Huge blast heard in Mogadishu

13 Aug – Source: Radio Shabelle – 64 words

Huge landmine explosion on early Wednesday morning took place near Isbitaalka Xooga in Mogadishu’s Hodan district, according to witness. An eye witness told Shabelle radio that the remote-controlled improvised explosive devices [IEDs] targeted and destroyed solar-powered street light, adding that the Somali security forces sealed the area and conduct search operation. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the explosions so far.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Former VP Kazibwe tips Somali Women MPs

13 Aug – Source: New Vision – 148 words

Former Vice President, Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe has advised women Members of Parliament from Somalia to be knowledgeable about everything because the women look up to them for answers. She was delivering a key-note address at a capacity building workshop for Somali women MPs held at Hotel Africana, Kampala. Kazibwe, who is also a former MP, said the MPs must know about everything because women see hope and aspiration in them. “You are a jack of all trades to women in your country,” she noted. She urged the legislators to understand each one’s talents, know those women who are good at doing research and those who are technical in various fields so as to help them comprehend issues better. The workshop that ends on August 17 is meant to enhance skills of the Somali women MPs to effectively, efficiently and competently execute their core function and responsibilities as MPs.

UN Security Council envoys visit war-torn Somalia

13 Aug – Source: Standard Media – 157 words

UN Security Council ambassadors met Somalia’s president Wednesday under heavy security in the war-ravaged capital Mogadishu, ahead of a fresh military push against Islamist fighters. The visit comes amid growing warnings of a humanitarian crisis in Somalia, three years after more than 250,000 people, half of them children, died in a devastating famine. The UN-mandated African Union force provided armed guards for the diplomats, as they visited their fortified base at Mogadishu airport, where they met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and top government officials. Somalia’s hardline Shabab Islamists are fighting to topple the internationally backed government. The envoys did not travel outside the airport’s concrete blast walls, manned AU machine gunners, to travel further into the dangerous city itself. But the UN diplomats said they were committed to supporting the Somali government revise the national constitution — and hold a referendum on it by 2015 — before elections in 2016, the first popular vote for decades.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

On landmark Somalia visit, Security Council pledges support toward political reforms

13 Aug – Source: UN News Center – 142 words

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Somalia has a long ways to go toward peace and stability. And al-Qaeda affiliates like al Shabaab have taken hits in various countries only to re-emerge, and surge, later. But there is some basis for hope in the Horn of Africa. Amid chaos in so much of the world, that good news is worth savoring for a moment.”

Positive News in the War on Terror

13 Aug – Source: blogs.wsj.com – 437 words

With the Islamic State strong in Syria and Iraq, Libya in anarchy, and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in a shambles, the Middle East seems to be coming undone. But events in other areas–including Mali after the French intervention in 2013; Afghanistan after Secretary of State John Kerry‘s latest fire-brigade visit to keep the electoral process on track; and Iraqi Kurdistan after the peshmerga’s counteroffensives of the past few days–give reason to be hopeful about the war on terror. One of those unexpected sources of promising news is Somalia. Although still a failed state in many ways, Somalia is showing more signs of forward momentum than at any time in the past quarter-century. At a Brookings Institution forum last week, I interviewed Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed. He was selected by parliament to run the country nearly two years ago after an impressive career in education; he remained in Somalia through the turbulence of the past 25 years.By many measures, President Mohamed effectively governs only a modest fraction of his country of 10 million. He is the first to acknowledge that even those areas his government controls desperately need economic recovery and development. Accordingly, much of his focus during last week’s Africa summit in Washington was requesting international assistance–not just economic aid but also investment, including by Somalia’s impressive international diaspora. But compared with the anarchy of the 1990s and 2000s, Somalia today is a transforming place.