February 25, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

President Hassan “It is essential that pledges are honoured in order to sustain confidence in the New Deal.”

24 Feb- Source: Office of the President- 480 words

H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of Federal Republic of Somalia Mondaychaired the first High Level Partnership Forum with the United Nations Special Representative for the Secretary General, H.E. Nicolas Kay. Participants included the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Security, Finance, and Interior & Federalism, Special Representative of the AU,President of Galmudug, the Mayor of Mogadishu, representatives from Jubba Administration, Civil Society Groups, Ambassadors and representatives of International Community.

The President first expressed his condolences to the families of those who have lost loved ones during the terrorist attack in Villa Somalia. The President said “I would ask you very carefully not to take these occasional acts of terrorism, however, large scale they may appear, at face value. They are designed to fool everyone into thinking everything is ruined in Somalia. That is not the case.”

The President continued to say “Everyone in this room today knows how much progress we have made in the past two years. That is one reason we are all here to discuss the process by which Somalia is rebuilding its security, it’s political systems and laying down the foundations for future economic development and prosperity.”

The President speaking on the issue of the Arms Embargo said “The Federal Government of Somalia has fully cooperated with the UN Monitoring Group during their assessment mission. We have since responded to the UN Security Council and sent concrete evidence to address the discrepancies highlighted in the UN Monitoring Group -a matter that could have been easily avoided if the Group posed their questions and concerns to us. We also have measures to address weapons and ammunition management, including the establishment of a multilateral committee, targeted technical training for armoury specialists and improved reporting standards.”

Key Headlines

President Hassan “It is essential that pledges are honoured in order to sustain confidence in the New Deal.” (Office of the President)
Prime Minister of Somalia declares “We will not allow terrorists to attack our Nation.”(Office of the Prime Minister)
Somali army invades Mogadishu homes after palace attack (USA Today)
IGAD vows more support for Somali govt (Hiiraan Online)
Puntland cabinet meets on security review after Friday’s attack on Villa Somalia (Radio Garowe)
Government starts security patrols in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)
Al Shabaab vows to make comeback (Al Jazeera)

PRESS STATEMENT

President Hassan “It is essential that pledges are honoured in order to sustain confidence in the New Deal.”

24 Feb- Source: Office of the President- 480 words

H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of Federal Republic of Somalia Monday chaired the first High Level Partnership Forum with the United Nations Special Representative for the Secretary General, H.E. Nicolas Kay. Participants included the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Security, Finance, and Interior & Federalism, Special Representative of the AU,President of Galmudug, the Mayor of Mogadishu, representatives from Jubba Administration, Civil Society Groups, Ambassadors and representatives of International Community,

The President highlighted the importance of ACTION and DELIVERY of the pledges that was made in Brussels on 16 September 2013, as our people are anxiously waiting the promises from our International partners. The President said “the Government took initiatives to establish a Financial Governance Program that would provide greater oversight, transparency and accountability to our financial institution. We have opined our doors and laid down our financial institution to open scrutiny to an independent panel. We the government and the International donors need urgently to ACT and DELIVER? It is time for the COMPACT to be operational. Our people were given high hopes, which must be delivered on the ground.”

“It is essential that pledges are honoured in order to sustain confidence in the New Deal. We must demonstrate unequivocally to Somalis that the progress they deserve is coming. We cannot afford to fail in this joint endeavour.”
The President concluded “We are now ready to move beyond words and process, however essential, to ACTION and DELIVERY.”

Prime Minister of Somalia declares “We will not allow terrorists to attack our Nation.”

24 Feb- Office of the Prime Minister- 249 words

Prime Minister of Somalia H.E Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed chaired Sunday night an extraordinary meeting of his cabinet, Mayor of Mogadishu, district commissioners of Banadir region and security agencies on improving security measures in Mogadishu.
The meeting discussed how to raise safety awareness in local communities in Mogadishu and strengthening relations between the government and local communities in each district of Mogadishu. With local communities, the government and security agencies working together these measures will help protect local people and diminish terrorist activity within the capital.

All ministers of the government will work closely with district officials in the 17 districts of Mogadishu in order to improve the security of the capital. Each district will have individual ministers who will be responsible for promoting peace and supporting the local community in that district to improve security.

“Those who attacked our presidential place are the enemies of our country, we will not allow them to hide and attack us anymore. This government together with the people of Somalia and the international community will work hand in hand in the fight against these terrorists, ensuring safety and security on our streets and moving to develop our country.” Said Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed.

The government of Somalia announced a ministerial committee to investigate the attack of Villa Somalia on Friday with focus on why it happen, who took part and why it was not prevented. The investigation will report in five days.

SOMALI MEDIA

IGAD vows more support for Somali govt

24 Feb- Source: Hiiraan Online/Radio Mogadishu/Radio Shabelle- 237 words

The inter governmental Authority IGAD, has on Monday vowed more support for the fragile federal government of Somalia which is battling against the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants in the country. The announcement was made by IGAD’s ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Abdi Afey during a meeting with Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed in Mogadishu. Mr. Afey handed over to the prime minister a condolence letter from the inter governmental Authority IGAD, a regional African body which has been playing a key role to put an end to the long-running lawlessness in the horn of African state. “IGAD is committed to continuing its support to Somalia until we have confirmed the country has fully emerged from the long-standing problems and becomes peaceful” the IGAD ambassador to Somalia said during his meeting with Somali prime minister.

Puntland cabinet meets on security review after Friday’s attack on Villa Somalia

24 Feb- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Garowe- 223 words

The cabinet of the ministers of Puntland State of Somalia have met on Monday to review the security of the region after al Shabaab carried attack on the Villa Somalia, the presidential Palace of the Federal Government of Somalia in Mogadishu. The Monday’s meeting chaired by the Vice President Abdihakim Abdullahi came after reports indicating the influx of al Shabaab members into the region emerged following the massive military assault by the African Union Forces backing the Federal Government forces in the south and central regions of Somalia. According to a statement released today from Puntland Presidency, the security minister of Puntland Hassan Alore has briefed the meeting on the need for security beef up in the region and mentioned that the security forces went on high alert to be vigilant following the expected operations due to start in the southern regions. Puntland has been waging hit and run attacks and direct battle against al Shabaab’s branch in the northeastern mountains range of Golis, where Puntland earlier described as the second biggest haven for the al Qaeda linked group in Somalia.

Government starts security patrols in Mogadishu

24 Feb- Source: Radio Shabelle- 107 words

Minister of Energy & Water, Jaama Mohamed Ahmed (Jama Oday) who is one of the 17 committee members assigned to evaluate the community and fight against the corruption, mentioned that they had their first meeting today at Shangaani district in Mogadishu. The committee with 17 members including Ministers, MP’s, chiefs and district commissioners came together at the compound of the Shangaani district administration and discussed on how to make it easier to cooperate on the safety of the city.This meeting comes after the Prime Minister chaired a meeting in Villa Somalia and decided to assign a committee to monitor the security progress in the districts of Banaadir.

Somaliland FM returns to Hargeisa

24 Feb- Source: Somaliland Informer/Somaliland Press- 134 words

Somaliland Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Biihi Yonis has returned to the country after completing working visit to Britain. Bihi told the media that he discussed with UK government about the security threat that it warned all citizens not to travel to Somalia and Somaliland. The minister reiterated to the British government officials that they should not compare the security of Somaliland with that of Somalia where it is combating with insecurity and terrorism. The world knows that there is security maintained in Somaliland despite car bomb attacks that became norm in Somalia. The minister added that magazines and international televisions has interviewed him about the case of Somaliland and he added that they will keep up the good work. He welcomed the new deal that ended the conflict in the ruling party.

Somalia: Information Minister calls journalists to take care of their security after visiting wounded radio reporter

24 Feb- Source: Radio Mogadishu/RBC/Radio Kulmiye- 257 words

The Information Minister of Somalia Federal Government Mustaf Dhuhulow has called on the journalists to be vigilant and take care of their security during the ongoing campaign against al Shabaab. “We call on the journalists to take care of their security especially these days as ongoing security operations are in place,” Mr Dhuhulow told reporters during his visit to a wounded radio reporter at Daru Shifa Hospital in Mogadishu. He said the ongoing security operations are very high these days and may result in confrontations between the security forces and the armed groups, as he reminded the journalists to take preventive measures and make risk assessment before they go to cover the ongoing operations. The Information Minister Mustaf Dhuhulow accompanied by his deputy minister Abdullahi Olad Roble and the Secretary General of the National Union of Somali Journalists [NUSOJ] Mohamed Ibrahim together visited the hospital where a radio broadcaster Ahmed Sa’id Ahmed was admitted due to injuries he has sustained from Friday’s terrorist attack on Villa Somalia. The journalist Ahmed Said Ahmed, who worked at Kulmiye Radio, was seriously wounded after blast ripped through the presidential palace on Friday’s attack while he was trying to cover the story of the blast.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Al Shabaab vows to make comeback

24 Feb- Source: Al Jazeera English- 243 words

In an Al Jazeera exclusive, al Shabaab’s spokesman says armed group will retake territory lost to government forces. Somalia’s al Qaeda-linked rebel group, al Shabaab, has vowed to recapture all Somali territory that it lost in the past year during battles with government forces and African Union peacekeepers. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera conducted earlier this month, al Shabaab spokesman Sheikh Ali Dheere said the rebel group was not on the back foot despite the recent losses.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali army invades Mogadishu homes after palace attack

24 Feb- Source: USA Today/AP- 461 words
Hooded soldiers carrying sniper rifles have unleashed a sweeping crackdown across Mogadishu in a hunt for militants and weapons after the country’s al Qaeda-linked militants group’s latest attack on the country’s presidential palace. Soldiers have been deployed on the city’s key roads following the Friday attack, when multiple car bombs and seven gunmen tied to the militant group al Shabaab tried to penetrate the presidential palace. Al Shabaab’s spokesman vowed that the group would succeed in killing Somalia’s president in a future attack. “The operation is underway,” police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said of increased security measures seen in the capital on Sunday and Monday. “We have rounded up many suspects, but the real criminals will be discovered after investigations.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The Kenyan government must not only stop calling for refugees to return prematurely, but also ensure asylum space for those who are continuing to flee Somalia. Kenya has been a generous host of Somali refugees for many years, but the time is not right for large-scale returns.”

As Planning for Repatriation Ramps Up, Asylum Seekers Continue to Flee Somalia

24 Feb- Source: Refugee International Blog-690 Words

At the same time that the Kenyan government is ramping up pressure for Somali refugees to return home, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has released new international protection considerations for people fleeing southern and central Somalia. The guidelines highlight the continued risks that these people face and stress the need for ongoing international protection of Somali asylum-seekers. Nearly 60,000 Somalis were newly displaced last year due to armed conflict, persecution, evictions, and floods. There are indeed some refugees who have chosen to return to newly-stabilized areas. But overall, conditions in Somalia are in no way conducive to large-scale returns, and asylum space must be preserved for those continuing to flee. According to the UNHCR guidelines, civilians are bearing the brunt of ongoing conflict between al Shabaab militants and other armed groups. Al Shabaab has increased its attacks against public spaces, such as restaurants and market areas, as well as high-profile targets in Mogadishu like the Banadir High Court and the United Nations aid agency compound. Earlier this month, a UNHCR vehicle convoy was attacked near the Mogadishu airport, killing several bystanders. And just last Friday, al Shabaab carried out an attack on Somalia’s presidential palace.