August 6, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia appeals for urgent aid amid drought

05 Aug – Source: News24/AFP – 114 words

Somalia’s government begged for help on Tuesday, warning the war-torn nation once again faced a hunger and drought catastrophe three years after famine killed more than a quarter of a million people. “Drought has already reached several regions in Somalia,” the government said in a statement, warning that “it anticipates that the situation will continue to deteriorate”. “The aid in form of food, water and medication must urgently reach the affected population,” the statement added. Last month the UN warned Somalia is sliding back into an acute hunger crisis, with parts of the capital Mogadishu facing near famine-level shortages and aid organisations unable to meet the needs of about 350 000 displaced people there.

Key Headlines

Somali Famine; the time has come to answer the call (Office of the Prime Minister)
Gunmen storm Puntland TV and Radio premises in Garowe (Bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan)
Westgate attackers stole identities witness (Daily Nation)
Bulo- burde administration blames aid agencies of reluctance (Radio Goobjoog)
Somaliland: IGAD to Support 2015 Elections (Somaliland Sun)
Somalia appeals for urgent aid amid drought (News24/AFP)
Security operation launched after Mandera grenade attack (Daily Nation)
Somaliland: Political parties meet with National Electoral Commission to discuss upcoming elections(Somaliland Informer)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali Famine; the time has come to answer the call

05 Aug – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 315 words

As part of its efforts to take actions in the regions affected by the drought the Federal Government of Somalia Special committee has briefed yesterday all Cabinet during an extraordinary meeting providing the latest update on the drought and food shortages in the country. The Cabinet was seized by the following:

1. It recognises the fact that the drought has already reached several regions in Somalia including; Gedo, Bakool, Hiran, Galgudud and Mudug..

2. It anticipates that the situation will continue to deteriorate and therefore the aid in form of food, water and medication, must urgently reach the affected populations.

3. The Federal Government has already allocated 500,000 dollars for the population affected by the drought and will begin its life-saving operations through the distribution of aid in the following weeks.

4. It also recognises there are many challenges which could slow down or even delay its operational emergency response such as; illegal al Shabaab checkpoints and pockets of violence in certain regions.

5. It confirms that the Somali National Army is ready to assist their people but lacks the right transportation equipment to deliver food aid to the regions and therefore request the immediate assistance of the United Nations and AMISOM to facilitate food delivery to the people living in regions which has already been liberated.

6. The Federal Government of Somalia, appreciates the efforts of many countries and other international agencies which have already responded to our emergency calls and have provided much needed assistance and encourages others to do the same.

7. Finally, this government wants to remind everyone that it is doing everything in its power to prevent the loss of life. All members of Parliament are calling on the international community and the United Nations to assist in the implementation of the Somali emergency plan in order to prevent the return of the deadly humanitarian crisis of 2011 famine.

SOMALI MEDIA

Gunmen storm Puntland TV and Radio premises in Garowe

05 Aug – Source: Bar-kulan/Radio Dalsan – 124 words

Reports from Garowe, the administrative capital of Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland indicate that gunmen on Tuesday stormed Puntland Radio and Television premises and ordered the staff to leave. Some of the staff told Bar-kulan that recently sacked government officials are believed to be behind the taking over of the television premises. They, however confirmed that Ahmed Mohamed Ali, the former head of the state-run media who was sacked yesterday is not involved in the incident. The gunmen who stormed the premises are said to be dressed in army uniforms as well as civilian clothes. Reports from the area add that the traditional elders in Garowe are now taking steps to end the standoff and Puntland authorities are yet to comment on the incident.

Bulo- burde administration blames aid agencies of reluctance

05 Aug – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 155 words

Bulo-burde administration of Hiiraan region stated that the aid agencies will be accountable to their work in the district. Ahmed Abdulle Wasuge, the commissioner of Bulo-Burde district told Radio Goobjoog that his administration started to review the activities of aid agencies in the district. He accused aid agencies in the region only preferring to work with administrations in the stable parts of the country while they are reluctant to give priority to the newly seized areas especially Bula-burde, adding that he will file petition against humanitarian aid agencies in the country to inform the international donors and Somali federal government that they failed to meet the needs of the vulnerable people in the district.

Somaliland: Political parties meet with National Electoral Commission to discuss upcoming elections

05 Aug – Source: Somaliland Informer – 117 words

Somaliland’s Electoral Commission (NEC) and the three Political National Parties met on Tuesday to discuss on how far NEC has prepared for the 2015 presidential & parliamentary elections in the country. Once the talks ended that Wadani leader Mr. Cirro told the press that NEC informed that things are going very smoothly and that the pilot voter registration in June bore fruit. Justice & Welfare party leader Mr. Warabe has thanked NEC for conducting successful voter registration and added that the rest of the task is that the government and the legislators accomplish their tasks by approving the voter registration bill. Mr. Shabel of Kulmiye stated that NEC assured that there is favorable atmosphere where elections can take place.

Somaliland: IGAD to Support 2015 Elections

05 Aug – Source: Somaliland Sun – 91 words

The Inter-governmental Authority on Development –IGAD has acknowledged the huge democratization and peace-building Somalilanders have achieved so far. This was revealed by the regional body’s representative to Somaliland and Somalia Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Afey during a post Guurti meeting press briefing in Hargeisa where he also announced that IGAD is going to support the presidential and parliamentary elections slated for 2015 in Somaliland. “IGAD which appreciates the democratization process and peaceful co-existence established by Somalilanders is going to facilitate financially and materially the forthcoming elections in our country “said Amb Afey.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Westgate attackers stole identities, witness

05 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 99 words

Witnesses in the trial of four men accused of helping the gunmen behind the Westgate mall massacre have said their identities had been falsely used to secure telephones used in planning the attack. The trial, which opened in January, has heard evidence from people who were at the mall when the gunmen from Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab launched their attack in September 2013, killing at least 67 people. The suspects — Hussein Hassan Mustafa, Mohammed Ahmed Abdi, Liban Abdullah Omar and Adan Mohammed Abdikadir — are not accused of carrying out the attack, but of providing support to the terrorists.

Security operation launched after Mandera grenade attack

05 Aug – Source: Daily Nation – 104 words

A security operation has been launched in Mandera Tuesday following Monday’s grenade attack on the county government headquarters. Governor Ali Roba said although no one had been arrested in connection with the attack, he was optimistic the culprits would soon be apprehended. Speaking during a security meeting, Mr Roba urged the youth to engage in gainful activities other than being used to carry out terror attacks. He was accompanied by County Commissioner Alex Ole Nkoyo. Saying the county government had the interest of youth at heart, Mr Roba revealed that in the last one year the county government had employed more than 1000 youths.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia appeals for urgent aid amid drought

05 Aug – Source: News24/AFP – 114 words

Interview: Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud

04 Aug – Source: VOA TV2 Africa – 01:11mins

In an exclusive interview this morning, VOA’s Vincent Makori talks to Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud about his visit to Washington, D.C. for President Barack Obama’s first U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Nigeria, Mali and Kenya are very different countries. Ruthless radicals for different reasons target them all. But whether it is land issues, unemployment or marginalisation they are all just symptoms of one disease: Corruption.”

Terrorists can be your friends; how land issues, unemployment and alienation make the bad guys ‘heroes’

05 Aug – Source: Mail & Guardian Africa – 974 words

THE Kenyan coast is sun, sand and sea breeze—but now, also silence. Tourism, which is Kenya’s second most important sector for earning foreign currency, has been hit hard by insecurity in the region. Now, the beaches are mostly deserted, unsold souvenirs gather dust; hotels are barely occupied up to quarter capacity or are closed altogether. Unemployment is skyrocketing. In June, a series of sinister and bloody attacks on local villages were executed in rapid succession in Lamu, which borders Somalia—coming less than a year after the al Shabaab attack on Westgate Mall in Nairobi which left over sixty dead. Although the attacks carried the hallmark of al Shabaab, who claimed responsibility, they also had a local signature, a matter that Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta controversially alluded to.