August 2, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Pro-Turkish rally held in Mogadishu

01 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/Shabelle/ Radio Mogadishu – 98 words

A rally to show support for Turkish government’s operation in Somalia was held in Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday days after Turkish embassy in Mogadishu was raided by terror group, al Shabaab. Addressing the crowd that came out, Mogadishu mayor who is also Banadir region governor Mohamed Ahmed Nur Tarzan said that Turkish citizen are being targeted and maimed for the support they have given their troubled brothers and sisters of Somalia, adding that they will strengthen relations between the two countries despite attacks. Banadir region spokesman Mohamed Osman Ibrahim told Bar-kulan that the demonstration was aimed to show support for the Turkish government despite recent attacks by al Qaeda-affiliated group.

Key Headlines

President Mohamud rejects draft bill after it was approved by parliament (Shabelle)
Mogadishu explosions target solar-powered street lights injuring 2 pedestrians ( Bar-kulan)
Federal MPs congratulate Puntland people on 15th anniversary celebration (Garowe Online)
Kenyan abductees reunited with their families (Daily Nation)
Somalia’s al Shabaab frees Kenya’s Mule and Wainana (BBC)

SOMALI MEDIA

President Mohamud rejects draft bill after it was approved by parliament

01 Aug – Source: Shabelle – 86 words
A Parliamentarian who requested anonymity told shabelle media station that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud rejected a draft bill which was brought to parliament by Internal Security Minister. The draft bill on the formation of regional administrations was approved by parliament and was waiting for presidential assent but president Mohamud instead referred the bill back to the parliament for a review. According to the members of parliament, the president did not explain to the internal security why he rejected the draft and ordered a review on the draft.

Pro-Turkish rally held in Mogadishu

01 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/Shabelle/ Radio Mogadishu – 98 words

A rally to show support for Turkish government’s operation in Somalia was held in Somali capital Mogadishuon Thursday days after Turkish embassy in Mogadishu was raided by terror group, al Shabaab. Addressing the crowd that came out, Mogadishu mayor who is also Banadir region governor Mohamed Ahmed Nur Tarzan said that Turkish citizen are being targeted and maimed for the support they have given their troubled brothers and sisters of Somalia, adding that they will strengthen relations between the two countries despite attacks. Banadir region spokesman Mohamed Osman Ibrahim told Bar-kulan that the demonstration was aimed to show support for the Turkish government despite recent attacks by al Qaeda-affiliated group.

Federal MPs congratulate Puntland people on 15th anniversary celebration

01 Aug – Source: Garowe Online – 101 words

Somali Federal MPs have congratulated Puntland people and their government on marking Puntland’s 15th anniversary on Thursday, Garowe Online reports. Speaking on Puntland-based independent station in Garowe, Federal Members of Parliament including Abdi Barre Yusuf Jibril, Sado Ali Warsame and former TFG MP Dahir Iro said they are expressing great gratitude to the people and government of Puntland for their unity and support to achieving lasting peace and tranquility across Somalia. They added that Puntland is renowned for peace and sustainable development in various key areas including education and health and stressed the need for unity to overcome any outstanding challenges.

Mogadishu explosions target solar-powered street lights, injuring 2 pedestrians

01 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 67 words

Two pedestrians were reportedly wounded in the Somali capital after 2 Improvised explosive devices (IED) targeted Mogadishu’s newly installed solar street lights in Maka Al-Mukarama road this morning. Witnesses told Bar-kulan that patrolling police officers rushed the wounds to hospital. Reports add that the explosion has left several solar powered street lights destroyed. The Somali Federal government forces immediately arrived and cordoned off the scene of incident.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan abductees reunited with their families

01 Aug – Source: Star/Daily Nation – 131 words

Two Kenyans who were abducted by the al Shabaab in Somalia have been reunited with their families at a function at Harambee House this morning. The two Edward Yesse Mule a district officer in Burder Division and Fredrick Irungu Wainaina a Registrar of Persons in Wajir South district were abducted at Gerile AP border post in Wajir South District. Speaking at the reunion, Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku said the government will continue to support the two and their families and will ensure counseling for the recently released abductees stating that the government will stand by them until they have fully recovered. Lenku said communities bordering Somalia played a huge role in securing the release of the officers stating that “The government did not pay ransom. The release was negotiated” .

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s al Shabaab frees Kenya’s Mule and Wainana

01 Aug – Source: BBC – 99 words
Two Kenyan hostages have been reunited with their families after being freed by militant Islamists in Somalia. Yesse Mule and Fredrick Wainana were abducted from the Kenyan town of Gerille in January 2012 by fighters of the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab group. Mr. Mule told the BBC they moved to 19 different locations, and were kept chained and blindfolded in Somalia throughout their captivity. Kenya denied paying a ransom for the release of the government officials. Al Shabaab has taken numerous foreigners hostage, including the French spy Denis Allex who was executed in January after a botched French operation to rescue him.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Somaliland is a self-declared independent state in the Horn of Africa that is recognised internationally as an autonomous region of Somalia. Tiahlo told How we made it in Africa about the potential Somaliland holds for investment and shared his advice to foreign investors.”

Q&A: Unpacking Somaliland’s business potential

01 Aug- Source: How We Made It In Africa/SomalilandSun-912 Words

What are some of the common misconceptions among investors when it comes to Somaliland?
There are many perceptions that are very real, such as lack of insurance… There is also a lack of international respected banking facilities and an issue with the unenforceability of contracts within Somaliland law [which] is not internationally recognised. The misconception, however, is that there is difficulty in developing business with locals. In fact, the Somalis are excellent traders and with such a small population within Somaliland, there is great potential for business if only infrastructure and electrical availability could be raised to the standard which has been so recently achieved in Ethiopia.