August 27, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

UNHCR Gears Up For Voluntary Repatriation Of Somali Refugees

26 Aug – Source: Sun Daily/Xinhua/Bernama/Malaysian National News Agency – 390 words

The UN Refugee Agency said Tuesday it plans to start a pilot project to support ongoing spontaneous returns of Somali refugees living in Kenya’s refugee camp, reports China’s Xinhua news agency. UNHCR Country Representative Raouf Mazou emphasized that the planned repatriation will be voluntary and expressed the agency’s commitment to support spontaneous return movements. “Most of the refugee population in Dadaab is of Somali origin, the majority of who are from South and Central Somalia. The volatile situation in these parts of the country has hindered the refugees from considering a return home,” Mazou said in a statement issued in Nairobi. According to the UNHCR, many Somalis have expressed interest in going back, and are following the political and security situation closely.

Key Headlines

Somali Defense Minister meets his Turkish counterpart in Ankara (Radio Mogadishu)
Somali Military Court Chief meets UN officials in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Goobjoog)
Interior Minister appoints technical committee to form the new Central Administration (Radio Mogadishu)
Mombasa police boss Ndumba Thangarani shot by gunmen in Tudor (Standard Media)
Mogadishu youth stage demonstration to denounce al Shabaab activities (Somali Current)
UNHCR Gears Up For Voluntary Repatriation Of Somali Refugees (Sun Daily)
Police commander warns Baidoa residents against unauthorized rallies (Radio Garowe)
Somali ‘Paradise Flower’ Chewers Savor Low-price Bliss (VOA/Reuters)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali Defense Minister meets his Turkish counterpart in Ankara

26 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC/Radio Goobjoog – 139 words

Somali Defense Minister Gen Mohamed Hasssan Sheikh met his Turkish counterpart Cismad Yalmas in Ankara. Somali government delegation led by Somalia’s Defense Minister Sheikh had travelled to Turkey after Turkish government officially inviting the delegation to Turkey for talks. The two ministers held a meeting which crucial issues were discussed including the improving security in Somalia and how the government can restore security in the country after two decades of no functioning government in Somalia. Turkish defense minister Cismad Yalmas welcomed the Somali delegation and assured extended support for Somalia’s security recovery efforts. This delegation from Somalia is also expected to visit Istanbul and meet Turkish government officials.

Somali Military Court Chief meets UN officials in Mogadishu

26 Aug – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Goobjoog – 123 words

Somali Military Court Chief, Colonel Abdirahman Mohamud Turyare Tuesday received a delegation from the UN led by United Nations Deputy Special Envoy to Somalia Fatiha Serour in Mogadishu. Fatiha Serour was accompanied by UNSOM’s Director of Rule of Law and Security Institutions Waldemar Vrey during her meeting with the Somali military court chief. The main focus of the meeting was to discuss ways to enhance the cooperation between United Nations institutions and the Somali military court such as improving the court’s public relations. Somali military court chief, Col. Abdirahman Mohamud Turyare stated that the meeting with the UN officials was productive adding that they also discussed ways to rehabilitate the youth who defect from al Shabaab militant group.

Interior Minister appoints technical committee to form the new Central Administration

26 Aug – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Radio RBC/Kulmiye – 163 words

The Minister of Interior and Federal Affairs of the Federal Government of Somalia Abdullahi Godah Barre appointed a technical committee to form the new Central Administration of Somalia amid growing opposition against the formation of the new administration which the Federal Government endorsed. A decree from the Interior Ministry obtained by RBC radio stated that the new technical committee will comprise 27 members among them four women. According to the decree from the Interior Minister, the technical committee is tasked to accelerate the process to establish the new Central State which will be made up of Mudug and Galgadud regions of Somalia. The Federal Government and the foreign envoys including the UN, European Union, IGAD and African Union already supported the intent to create a new Federal Member State for the two regions.

Mogadishu youth stage demonstration to denounce al Shabaab activities

26 Aug – Source: Somali Current – 185 words

Somali youth groups in the capital Mogadishu have marched in the major streets in the capital today to show their support for the government while denouncing al Shabaab militant group actions. The peaceful demonstration which was organized by center for community dialogue brought together youth groups, women organizations and all district commissioners of Mogadishu municipality. The protesters chanted anti-al Shabaab slogans while carrying placards that contained messages of peace and patriotism.

Police commander warns Baidoa residents against unauthorized rallies

26 Aug – Source: Radio Garowe – 87 words

Thought situation has returned to normalcy in Bay regional capital of Baidoa of southwestern Somalia, security officials are warning of the grim outcome of unauthorized rallies, Garowe Online reports. Bay region police commander Col. Mahad Abdirahman Adan acknowledged that security agencies were not pre-notified of yesterday’s violent protests and warned Baidoa residents against further demonstrations. Col. Adan unveiled that they would confront further rallies and accused pro-six-region-state politicians of fomenting violence. At least one person has been confirmed dead after angry crowds Monday staged protests in Baidoa.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Mombasa police boss Ndumba Thangarani shot by gunmen in Tudor

26 Aug – Source: Starndard Media – 51 words

Mombasa DCIO Ndumba Thangarani was Tuesday night shot and seriously injured by gunmen in Tudor, Mombasa. He was rushed to hospital with injuries to the stomach. Thangarani was trailing a gang of three when he was confronted and shot at close range, police say. No arrest has been made so far.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UNHCR Gears Up For Voluntary Repatriation Of Somali Refugees

26 Aug – Source: Sun Daily/Xinhua/Bernama/Malaysian National News Agency – 390 words

Somali ‘Paradise Flower’ Chewers Savor Low-price Bliss

26 Aug – Source: VOA/Reuters – 521 words

“The president has arrived, the president has arrived,” chant youths in Mogadishu’s Beerta Khatka market, as armed men in trucks mounted with machine guns escort lorries with horns blaring through the throng. The joking salutation is not for Somalia’s president, but hails a national institution nonetheless: white sacks brimming with leafy sprouts of khat, the narcotic shrub chewed across the Horn of Africa and Yemen in a tradition dating back centuries. The ubiquitous sight of young men with rifles slung over their shoulders and green stalks of khat dangling from their mouths is emblematic of the Somalia of recent decades, where marauding Islamist rebels and warlords bent on carving out personal fiefdoms have fomented a culture of guns and violence.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The good news is that Kenya is already working on more useful approaches, such as training law enforcement officers and prosecutors in rule-of-law-based counter-terrorism responses. They have also been receiving support from other countries to enhance these approaches. But more is required, and Kenya must support these investments by allowing these people to do their jobs, and ensuring that the country’s accountability infrastructure is applied when law enforcement agents act outside the law.”

THINK AGAIN: How not to solve terrorism – the Kenyan edition

26 Aug – Source: ISS Africa – 1225 words

In an effort to combat domestic terrorism, and in a bid to create an ‘open and united country,’ Kenya is breaking its own laws to harass, kidnap and execute suspects. It’s a strange way to go about things – and could well backfire on the Kenyan government. In the wake of last year’s Westgate siege, in which 67 people were killed, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a grim warning to its perpetrators. ‘We have overcome terrorist attacks before. In fact, we have fought courageously and defeated them within and outside our borders. We will defeat them again,’ he said. ‘But let me make it clear. We shall hunt down the perpetrators wherever they run to. We shall get them. We shall punish them for this heinous crime. I have directed security agencies to be decisive in their response to this or any other threat.’ Nearly a year later, and we have a clearer picture of what it means when Kenyan security forces are ‘decisive in their response.’ Advocates for basic human rights and the rule of law, look away now.