December 11, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia marks World Human Rights Day

10 Dec – Source: Bar-kulan – 148 words

Somalia has joined the rest of the world to mark the global Human Rights Day as part of a global initiative to drum up support for promoting human rights. A ceremony was held at Mogadishu’s main airport in respect of the day. The EU-organised ceremony was attended by top government and UN officials. Speaking at the ceremony, Somalia’s Information, Post and Telecommunication Minister Abdullahi Elmoge Hirsi paid tribute to the 18 journalists killed in the country this year alone, saying that he was saddened by these killings. He promised that the government will take measures to safeguard the safety of all journalists in the country. Bar-kulan Director Eng. Abdirahman Omar Osman (Yarisow) who also spoke at the ceremony said his organisation has been badly affected by the violence against media workers in the country.

Key Headlines

Somalia to revive its Postal cooperation next year says Minister (Bar-Kulan)
About 300 Somalis to be taken to court in affiliation with terror attacks in Nairobi (Hiiraan Online)
Coca-Cola plant resumes its production in Somalia (Mareeg Online)
Mama Hawa’s fight against sexual violence (UNHCR)

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM committed to protection of human rights

10 Dec – Source: AMISOM – 274 words

As the world marks International Human Rights Day, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, Mr. Mohamat Annadif, has reiterated AMISOM’s commitment to the protection of the rights the Somali people.

“A secure environment free of hunger, violence and intimidation is a necessary precondition for the full enjoyment of human rights. AMISOM is today helping the Somali government and security forces create such an environment within Somalia and to confront those who would wish to deny freedom and liberty to the Somali people,” he said.

“As it does so, AMISOM is cognisant of the need to minimize the impact of its operations on the civilian populace. The Mission continuously conducts pre-deployment and in-theatre training for its troops on the relevant aspects of International Human Rights Law and International Humanitarian Law. We have also implemented a policy on the use of Indirect Fire Weapons which includes strict no-fire zones in areas with concentrations of civilians,” he added.

Mr.Annadif also noted that AMISOM was working to improve awareness and understanding of human rights within the Somali security forces. “Respect for human rights is a fundamental aspect of our training efforts as we work to build up the capacity of the Somali national security forces,” he said.

He condemned the targeted assassinations of journalists in Mogadishu saying that AMISOM was working with the Somali Police Force to improve security and to give the police the tools to catch those responsible. “AMISOM deplores the unlawful killing of any person in Somalia. Our focus is to enhance the capacity of SPF and enable it to serve and protect every citizen,” he said.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali President: ’’the era of illegal checkpoints is over and unacceptable’’

10 Dec – Source: Shabelle – 111 words
Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has repeated that the illegal checkpoints locally known as ‘’isbaaro’’ can not be accepted again at all in government-controlled areas, primarily the capital city of Mogadishu.The president repeated his message about dismantling all illegal checkpoints after he chaired a top security meeting at the presidential palace in the presence of other senior government officials such as the Prime minister and the speaker of the Somali parliament. Mr. Mohamud has also said that all soldiers and militias who were manning the dismantled checkpoints will be assembled in military barracks.

UN welcome regional body’s stabilization plan for south, central Somalia

10 Dec – Source: Mareeg online- 250 words

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga welcomes the statement issued by the Joint Committee of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on the Grand Stabilization Plan for South Central Somalia and recognizes the importance of the initiative under the auspices of the IGAD Facilitator for Somalia Peace and Reconciliation. Stabilization of South Central Somalia is a key component in the vision of the Federal Republic of Somalia as outlined in the President’s six-pillar policy and in the Prime Minister’s stabilization plan said SRSG Mahiga.

Somalia to revive its Postal cooperation next year, says Minister

10 Dec – Source: Bar-kulan – 63 words
The government has announced the revival of the country’s postal cooperation which has been grounded during the last two decades. Although all infrastructures were destroyed during the war, Information, Post and Telecommunication minister Abdullah Elmoge Hirsi remained optimistic that the country’s postal service will resume work the soonest possible.

About 300 Somalis to be taken to court in affiliation with terror attacks in Nairobi

10 Dec – Source: Hiiraan Online – 152 words

More than 300 suspects, most of whom are Somalis, are expected to be taken to court after they were arrested in a massive operation launched after the attack that left 5 killed and the area MP Yusuf Hassan hospitalized with fractured legs among 38 others nursing serious injuries. Most of the suspects arrested by police, according to Nairobi police chief Moses Ombati did not have identification documents. He said that they will be interrogated and all of them will be taken to court on various charges.

Somalia marks World Human Rights Day

10 Dec – Source: Bar-kulan – 148 words

Coca-Cola plant resumes its production in Somalia

10 Dec – Source: Mareeg Online/Shabelle – 99 words
In a further sign of security improvement, one of the world’s biggest brand name Coca-Cola has resumed its beverage productions in Mogadishu after six years of closure because of the insecurity which was wrecking havoc the city before the Somali government with help from African Union forces fully secured and put the city under one control.

Calm returns to Jowhar town

10 Dec – Source: Bar-kulan – 75 words
Calm has returned to Jowhar town, regional capital of Middle Shabelle, a day after Somali and African Union forces seized control of the town following al Shabaab withdrawal. Area district commissioner Mohamed Amin told Bar-kulan that normalcy has now returned to the town, adding that business operations have resumed as normal. He said government troops are now stepping up security in the town and expressed optimism that they will contain the situation.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Let EU peace award inspire other states

10 Dec – Source: Daily Nation – 225 words
On Monday, the European Union (EU) received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.
The award of the Nobel Peace Prize is a strong reminder of what makes the EU so special. The prize is a source of pride, responsibility and inspiration. We see the award as a timely reminder of what our Union stands for and the fundamental principle it was built around — the transformation of a war-torn continent into a union of democracies.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

The four-million-sack charcoal glut that is Somalia’s reward for UN anti-terror sanctions

10 Dec – Source: QZ News – 164 words
Dozens of empty boats are waiting. Five thousand workers are waiting. Most importantly, four million sacks of charcoal, worth some $40 million, are waiting for the United Nations to lift a charcoal embargo imposed on Somalia, one of the world’s most troubled countries. Somalia has plenty of problems, from famine to the lack of government control to the Shabaab, a militant Islamist group connected to al Qaeda. African Union peacekeepers, backed by the United Nations, have sought to unseat the extremists. At the request (pdf) of Somalia’s transitional government, the UN banned charcoal exports from Somalia, which the Shabaab had taxed to raise some $25 million in 2011.

Mama Hawa’s fight against sexual violence

10 Dec – Source: UNHCR – 114 words
When a mother is raped in the night in Mogadishu, her children still need her to prepare breakfast in the morning. This was the stark message from Amina Hagi Elmi, executive director of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), at a recent tribute in Nairobi to this year’s Nansen Refugee Award winner, Hawa Aden Mohamed. The gathering also marked the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Taleex Airport opens the region to international travelers & Diaspora tourism”

Khatumo State Gains Access to International Air Travel

09 Dec – Source: Hiiraan Online – 298 words

The recent opening of Taleex airport in Khatumo State of Somalia with its first inaugural arrival flight on 4th Dec 2012 has ushered in a new phase in the development of region. The flight originated from the capital city Mogadishu (which in itself is enjoying a rebirth of freedom & security). This is the first flight of many planned by Khatumo officials who were responsible planning and organizing the air travel facility for the region.

Taleex airport has been named after the great Somali Nationalist hero Sayyid Mohamed Abdalla Hassan, who was the leader of the liberation movement to oust the colonial British rulers from Somalia and it is fitting symbol for other regions in Somalia to focus on developing their respective states & cities in order to have a greater impact and speed up the rate of development and recovery of the Somali Federal Republic.