December 23, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

New E-passport will help secure Somalia’s borders, says president

22 Dec- Source: Office of the President- 212 words
His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today launched Somalia’s new e-passport, hailing it as an important step for national and international security.
The President said: “Now that we are well on the road to recovery after two decades of war, it is right that Somalia should take advantage of the latest technological advances available to protect our borders. This new e-passport will provide a significant boost to the security of Somalia, as well as that of the international community.”
“While we know that earlier passports were forged and in some cases wrongly issued when there were inadequate systems in place, the new passports are much more secure and will provide an additional defence against terrorists and other criminals. It is essential we know at all times exactly who is coming into Somalia and who is exiting. Terrorism and many other illegal activities are transnational nowadays and we must ensure the integrity of our border for our security and that of our international partners.”
The new e-passport will be issued by the Department of Immigration in the Ministry of Interior. It will be made available to Somalis on production of birth certificates and national identity documents, which will be issued by local authorities.

Key Headlines

Somali Parliament Approves New Prime Minister ( New York Times)
Somali lawmakers endorse the new Prime Minister (Radio Dalsan/SNTV)
UN Envoy congratulates new Prime Minister of Somalia on appointment (UNSOM)
Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed takes office today as the New Somali Prime Minister (Office of the Prime Minister)
Low-cost internet on smartphones altering way Somalis stay connected to world(Sabahi Online)
The Somali prime minister received message of congratulation from his Ethiopian counterpart (Office of the Prime Minister)
Somali Premier says he will form larger cabinet (Radio Dalsan/VOA Somali Service)
11 people dead in Afgoye fighting(BBC)
EU leaders aim to deter migrants at sea (Al-Jazeera News )
Somaliland Supreme Court asks the Speaker of National Assembly to suspend all parliamentary sessions (Somaliland Informer)
Somali regions celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Somali Police (Hiiraan Online)

PRESS STATEMENT

New E-passport will help secure Somalia’s borders, says president

The Somali prime minister received message of congratulation from his Ethiopian counterpart

22 Dec- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 76 words
His Excellency Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed received message of congratulation from his Ethiopian counterpart His Excellency Hailemariam Desalegn on his appointment and approval as the prime minister of the federal republic of Somalia.
On behalf of the government and the people of Ethiopia H.E. Desalegn conveyed warmest congratulations and his personal best wishes to Prime minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed of Somalia and reiterated that Ethiopia looks forward to further strengthening the friendly relationship between the two countries.

Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed takes office today as the New Somali Prime Minister

21 Dec- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 215 words
His Excellency Abdiwali Shiekh Ahmed takes office today as the New Somali Prime Minister. Majority of the house, 239 out of 243 gave vote of confidence after he was appointment by the Somali President on 12 December.
Prime Minister thanked members of the Somali Parliament for their confidence vote and assured that he will form a competent cabinet to carry the country forward.
“I must solute the central and the important role of our Parliament, and today I want to assure for the House and the Somali people that I will form capable government to move this country forward and to a better future,” Prime Minister said. He stated that his government will honor existing international legal agreement and will strengthen relationships with neighboring states.
Somali President H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and the Speaker of the Somali Parliament H.E. Mohamed Sheikh Osman “Jawari” both welcomed the New Prime Minister and showed their optimism of forming an effective government. On his note, President pointed out that peace and stability in the whole country should be a priority for the new government.
Prime Minster Abdiwali Ahmed praised the outgoing Prime Minister H.E. Abdi Farah Shirdon on his commitment to the establishment, rule of law, improved security and his personal respect for the Federal Constitution and Federal Institutions.

UN Envoy congratulates new Prime Minister of Somalia on appointment

21 Dec- Source: UNSOM- 194 words
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, congratulates the new Prime Minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, on his appointment today following a vote in the country’s Federal Parliament.

“I congratulate the new Prime Minister,” said Mr. Kay. “HE Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed takes office as Somalia approaches 2014, which will be a pivotal year in Somalia’s progress towards peace and prosperity. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) will continue to support the Federal Government in its peace- and state-building efforts.”

Mr. Kay commented on the outgoing Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid’s commitment to the Provisional Federal Constitution and the constructive manner in which he has handed over his responsibilities to his successor.

“I understand Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed will consult widely in forming his new cabinet, and aim to establish a broadly inclusive government capable of delivering rule of law, good governance and public services,” he added.

Mr. Kay urged Parliament, the Government and the Presidency to continue to work constructively together in full respect of the Provisional Federal Constitution. He praised the responsible role being played by the Federal Parliament in this important phase of Somalia’s history.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali Premier says he will form larger cabinet

22 Dec- Source: Radio Dalsan/VOA Somali Service- 143 words

The prime minister of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed has said that he will form a larger cabinet a day after receiving parliament’s vote of confidence. “My cabinet will be larger than the previous cabinet.” he told in an interview the VOA Somali Service. Prime Minister Ahmed said that he will focus on quality and competence individuals to be included into the new council of ministers. Asked about the ongoing consultation with the local elders, politicians and the society on the kind of ministers he will need, he said that he will wrapping up all the ongoing consultations to start listing the names of the new council of ministers. On Saturday, members of the country’s federal parliament approved the Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh with 239 votes to replace the outgoing prime minister Abdi Farah Shirdon who has lost in parliamentary voting two weeks ago.

Grenade attack in Galkayo kills two Puntland soldiers

22 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Risaala/Radio Kulmiye- 114 words

Two Puntland soldiers have been killed in a grenade attack on Saturday night in Galkayo, the provincial capital of Mudug region. The soldiers came under attack from unidentified gunmen at a checkpoint in Garsor neighborhood in the northern part of the town. Another soldier has also been injured in the attack. Eyewitnesses who spoke on condition of anonymity in Garsor neighborhood confirmed the incident to Bar-kulan. Meanwhile, at least five people have been arrested in a security operation on Sunday in Galkayo following the grenade attack. Punltand officials in the town have confirmed to Bar-kulan that the security crackdown in Garsor neighborhood, the scene of the attack was carried out by Puntland police forces.
Somalia Parliamentarians today approved the new prime minister Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed.

11 people dead in Afgoye fighting

22 Dec- Source: Radio Shabelle/BBC Somali Service/Star Radio- 114 words
A heavy fighting between government troops in Afgoye town, Lower Shabelle, has claimed the lives of 11 people of which most of them are from the two fighting troops, An eye witness who spoke to Radio Shabelle confirmed to us that at least 11 soldiers died in the infighting at Ragele suburbs in Afgoye town. The war is said to have taken hours before AMISOM troops based in the townintervened and successfully stopped the war between the government troops. “Ten soldiers from the fighting sides died on the spot and a civilian also died from a stray bullet. The situation of Ragale suburbs is said to have calmed after the intense fighting between the government troops.

Somaliland Supreme Court asks the Speaker of National Assembly to suspend all parliamentary sessions

22 Dec- Source: Somaliland Informer- 251 words

The Supreme Court in Hargeisa on Sunday has sent a letter asking that all parliamentary sessions are to be suspended due to standoff between the speaker and his deputies. Somaliland speaker of parliament Hon, Abdirahman Cirro has chaired the Sunday’s assembly and while in the middle of its parlimentry sessions, the speaker has received the letter informing him that all sessions to be suspended after the 23rdsession of the parliamentary passed with unanimous vote when it comes to the sub committees of the parliament in which the speaker reshuffled and this caused widespread discontent among the national assembly. Having the speaker received the letter; he did not take heed of the gist of the letter but went on the parliament business as usual. Once the speaker was about to bring the session to an end, he informed all attending MP’s that he got a letter from the country supreme court asking him to halt all the parliament sessions but sent warning messages and said that there is no body that can prevent them doing their duty as MP’s. The deputies did not attend the sessions. The chairman of Somaliland Supreme Court Hon. Yusuf Ismail and the country’s attorney General Hon. Ibrahim Iidle Sulieman were asked to come to the presidential palace over the issue of the letter issued by the supreme court demanding that the speaker of the parliament has to suspend all sessions but the speaker did of give particular consideration what the essence of the letter was all about.

Somali lawmakers endorse the new Prime Minister

21 Dec- Source: Somali Current/Radio Dalsan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/- 160 words
Somali Federal Parliament has approved on Saturday afternoon Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed as the new Prime Minister of the country, nineteen days after the lawmakers ousted former PM Abdi Farah Shirdon. PM Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed, who was appointed by the President on 12h December has won the confidence of 239 out of 243 of the lawmakers. He thanked the lawmakers for giving their confidence, vowing that his government will honor existing international legal agreement and will strengthen relationships with neighboring states. The Prime Minister stated his plan to form cabinet that capable of carrying the country forward. “I must solute the central and the important role of our Parliament, and today I want to assure for the House and the Somali people that I will form capable government to move this country forward and to a better future,” Prime Minister said. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Sheikh Osman welcomed the approval of the Prime Minister Abdiwali Sheikh Ahmed.
Somali regions celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Somali Police
21 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online- 86 words
A ceremony to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Somali Police has been held in Galkayo, the provincial capital of Mudug region. Galmudug Police Commissioner, Col. Abdi Jama Habeb who spoke at the celebrations congratulated the Somali Police for its 70thbirthday. Abdi Hassan Awale Qeydid, the President of Galmudug Administration also congratulated the Somali Police and thanked Galmudug Police for its commitment to maintain law and order in Galmudug-administered areas. The ceremony was attended by local administration officials, police chiefs and cabinet ministers from Galmudug Administration.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Low-cost internet on smartphones altering way Somalis stay connected to world

21 Dec- Source: Sabahi Online- 301 words
Despite the initial high cost of purchasing a smartphone, Somalis are increasingly paying up for the benefit of instant internet connectivity, making communicating with family members abroad and accessing news and information easier and less expensive than traditional ways of accessing the internet. “The most expensive iPhones cost $800, while Samsung [phones] are sold for $500, even though there are some that cost more,” said 34-year-old Faisal Abdullahi, who owns a mobile phone store in Hamar Weyne Market in Mogadishu. The cheapest smartphones are sold for about $250, he said.

EU leaders aim to deter migrants at sea

28 Dec- Source: Aljazeera- 224 words

EU leaders pledged Friday to do everything possible to deter migrants from embarking on hazardous sea voyages to reach Europe, after more than 360 died in October when their boat sank off Italy’s Lampedusa island. “The European Council calls for the mobilization of all efforts” to discourage migrants, who come mostly from Africa, seeking to reach Europe’s shores, the bloc’s 28 leaders said at a two-day summit in Brussels

.INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali Parliament Approves New Prime Minister

21 Dec- Source: New York Times- 265 words

The Somali president, Hassan Sheik Mohamud, nominated Mr. Ahmed, a Somali-Canadian, after lawmakers forced out the former prime minister in a no-confidence vote. Mr. Mohamud said he was confident that the new prime minister could strengthen Somalia’s political institutions and lay the groundwork for democratic elections by 2016. The speaker of the Parliament, Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari, said that 239 of the 243 lawmakers present voted in favor of the appointment. In a statement, Mr. Ahmed assured lawmakers and the Somali people “that I will form a capable government to move this country forward and to a better future.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

Have a lonely Christmas; with love, from Somalia

22 Dec- Source: Observer- 1123 words
It is 11am on a chilly Tuesday. Jennifer Ahimbisibwe exhibits the unusual excitement at her kiosk in Naguru police barracks.
She makes frantic movements, serving customers with a big smile. The neighbours are confused too. Could it be that she has a visitor? Or expecting one at that moment?
Well, the day before, November 11, her policeman-husband who had spent six months in Somalia had returned home. The past months had been ruthless – not even a phone call from him, let alone a letter.
“I have been in darkness,” she says.
Well, the happiness was not mistaken.
“My husband’s return from Somalia after six months deserves a celebration with my children because things are not easy in Somalia,” a thrilled Ahimbisibwe says.

“There is a mess created with hundreds of people claiming to be the new members of Puntland Parliament.”

Crisis in Puntland presidential election 2014

21 Dec- Source: Wrdheernews- 19 words

Puntland State is scheduled to hold a Presidential Election in January 8, 2014. It had ample time and opportunity to hold this election. However, this opportunity is being squandered, misused and manipulated by the current President, Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud (Faroole). After having given an opportunity to extend his mandate or term in Office last year for one extra year in a controversial manner bordering on constitutional illegality, and after having exhausted that extra year in office, he is again making all sorts of obstacles and delay tactics for free and fair election.

In the same way he came to Office in 2009, the President was required to consult with all stakeholders of the election on selecting a neutral Vetting and Conflict Resolution Committee, a critical body for the election since there is no Constitutional Court still in place to resolve election issues involving in the selection of new MPs.