August 22, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Council of ministers attribute Mogadishu’s security improvement to recent disarmament operations

21 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC – 122 words

The Council of ministers of the Federal Government of Somalia today strongly endorsed the continuation of the major security operations in the capital city, Mogadishu to strengthen the security of the capital city and the whole country. In its ordinary meeting this week, the Council of the Ministers attributed that the recently launched disarmament operation in Mogadishu helped the improvement of Mogadishu security. “The meeting of the Council of the Ministers was briefed by the National Security Minister who confirmed the continuation of the operation.” Government Spokesman Ridwan Haji Abdiweli said. “The security improvement seen these days in Mogadishu is the product of the recent disarmament operations.” Mr Abdiweli who spoke to reporters after the cabinet meeting was wrapped on Thursday added.

Key Headlines

UN spends millions on security programs for terror-afflicted Somalia without overseeing results study says (Fox News)
Council of ministers attribute Mogadishu’s security improvement to recent disarmament operations(Radio Mogadishu/RBC)
Somali and AMISOM forces seize Tiyeglow district Bakol region (Bar-kulan)
3 killed in dawn grenade attack on Tanzania minibus (Africa Review)
Somalia: Puntland leader appeals for drought aid (Garowe Online)
IJA security forces arrest dozens in Kismayo (Radio Goobjoog)
Court bars deportation of Ethiopian to Somalia (Capital FM)

SOMALI MEDIA

Council of ministers attribute Mogadishu’s security improvement to recent disarmament operations

21 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC – 122 words

Somali and AMISOM forces seize Tiyeglow district, Bakol region

21 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan – 91 words

Somali government officials in Bakol region have stated that Somali forces along with AMISOM in Somalia troops have seized Tiyeglow district and other nearby villages in Bakol region from al Shabaab. Hudur district commissioner Mohamed Maallim Ahmed confirmed the capture of Tiyeglow to Bar-kulan. He added security forces will continue the fight against al Shabaab militants in other parts of the region. Ahmed said the forces seized the town without resistance from the militant group who left their positions after they heard the news of advancing allied forces towards the area.

Somalia: Puntland leader appeals for drought aid

21 Aug – Source: Garowe Online – 139 words

Puntland Government in northern Somalia has on Thursday appealed for international and domestic assistance as drought continuous to pose humanitarian challenge to nomads and villagers in extreme vicinities along the Indian ocean and worst-hit regions, Garowe Online reports. Shortly after weekly cabinet meet at Puntland State House, President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas announced that severe water shortage and intensifying drought left nearly 350,000 households in Bari, Guardafu, Sanaag, Nugal, karkaar and Mudug regions more destitute. “We declare that more than 350,000 families in drought affected rural and pastoral settlements located in Bari (Qandala, Balidhidin, iskushuban districts), Gardafu, Sanaag(Badhan, Laasqoray), Nugal (Dangorayo, Eyl), Karkaar (Hafun, Rako, Beyla), Mudug (Towfiq, Saho, Jiriban) including those living in urban centres are critically affected by the current drought and are in need of immediate assistance,” read press statement from Puntland Government.

IJA security forces arrest dozens in Kismayo

21 Aug – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 90 words

The security forces of interim administration of Juba have launched heavy security operation in the city. The operation follows landmine explosion aimed at ICRC car in the town earlier on Thursday. Two people on board of the car during the explosion survived unharmed. Unspecified number of people were arrested during the operation as our correspondent in Lower Juba Masud Abdullahi Adan reports. The arrested people were taken to Kismayo police stations for investigations, the security officials say the operations will continue until the security of the town is fully maintained.

REGIONAL MEDIA

3 killed in dawn grenade attack on Tanzania minibus

21 Aug – Source: Africa Review – 108 words

Three people were killed Thursday morning when unknown assailants lobbed an explosive device into the cabin of a short-haul commuter minibus near the north-western Tanzania town of Kigoma. Six passengers, including an infant, were injured in the attack which occurred near the Migongo military base in the district of Buhigwe. Police say the minibus – a Toyota Hiace – was travelling from Kilelema to Kasulu Mjini at dawn when two armed assailants attempted to intercept it.Survivors say as they drove near the village of Migongo, an unidentified man walked into the middle of the road waving a gun in an attempt to force the driver to stop.

Court bars deportation of Ethiopian to Somalia

21 Aug – Source: Capital FM – 122 words

The High Court has barred the Director of Immigration from deporting an Ethiopian national to Somalia. Justice Isaac Lenaola on Thursday issued the prohibiting order after Mohammed Aden Ismail’s wife Shukri Abdihafid applied to the High Court seeking orders to block her husband’s deportation. The court observed that the Immigration Department and the Interior Cabinet Secretary have given sufficient evidence to show why Ismail is being detained at a holding area at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Ismail is an Ethiopian national working in Somalia, but reporting to the European Union based in Kenya. The court heard that Ismail remains detained at the immigration facility at JKIA awaiting orders from the Cabinet Secretary for Interior for deportation without being given a hearing.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN spends millions on security programs for terror-afflicted Somalia without overseeing results, study says

21 Aug – Source: Fox News – 141 words

The United Nations Development Program, the U.N.’s flagship anti-poverty agency, spent tens of millions to make terrorism-battered Somalia safer, but never verified that the work was done, or even that its government partners had the capacity to do their jobs, according to a scathing internal auditors’ report. According to the United Nations Development Program’s project website, about $25 million was spent in 2013 on the audited projects mentioned in the organization’s internal report—roughly half the $59 million spent on UNDP programs and management in Somalia that year. The project website shows the work as being mostly centered in the capital of Mogadishu and intended to provide “coordination and support to Somali security sectors,” develop an “efficient, effective, professional civilian police service” and “policy and law making processes,” as well as a “community security” projects aimed at reducing “armed violence.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Until truly inclusive and locally credible forums can be formed to sort out constitutional and statebuilding issues and key technical tasks are taken up by the federal parliament and cabinet, Somalia may continue to simply squeeze the balloon.”

Analysis: Puntland Details Conditions for Talks with Somalia’s Federal Government

20 Aug – Source: Somalia Newsroom – 651 words

Somalia’s Puntland region “re-suspended relations” with Somalia’s federal government after a controversial agreement hailed by the international community was signed to form an interim Central State administration with Mudug and Galgaduud regions. The interim Central State administration would ostensibly set the stage for a future Federal Member State (FMS) to be formed from Mudug and Galgaduud’s boundaries. However, control of the regions is divided among many parties–including Puntland, al-Shabaab, Galmudug, Ximan and Xeeb, ASWJ, and various clans and sub-clans. The lack of consensus over how to divide political power has created opportunities to either exploit the impracticality and local disapproval of the Central State deal, or alternatively, to seek productive forums for cooperation that are necessary to find a workable solution. As provided at the bottom of this piece, Puntland’s official communique today directed at the federal government straddles this line: its President and former national Prime Minister Abdiweli Gaas has offered dialogue with the government in coordination with the international community while also promising unidentified consequences if the talks fail. The thirty-day period proposed to discuss issues between Puntland and the federal government are likely not long enough to resolve Puntland’s grievances, which go back to the issue of certain articles in the provisional constitution being controversially altered.