January 17, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

U.S. to recognize Somali government, opening door to new aid

16 Jan – Source: Reuters – 257 words

The United States will on Thursday officially recognize the Somali government in Mogadishu, ending a hiatus of more than 20 years and opening the door to increased U.S. and international economic help for the violence-plagued African nation, a senior U.S. official said on Wednesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will announce the shift during a meeting with visiting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, whose election last year marked the first vote of its kind since warlords toppled military dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson told reporters.

Key Headlines

President Mohamud asks US to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu (Bar-Kulan)
Somali President nominates a new Central Bank Governor (Hiiraan Online)
Defense minister of the Somali government goes to Turkey (Radio Mogadishu)
African force in Somalia says probing civilian deaths (AFP World News)
Al-Shabaab in threat to kill French hostage (Africa Review)

SOMALI MEDIA

President Mohamud asks US to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu

16 Jan – Source: Bar-kulan – 98 words
President Mohamud has urged the US government to reopen its embassy in Mogadishu to cement ties between the two countries. He made the remarks on Tuesday while meeting 20 US Congressmen in Washington. The president said his country has a good relation with neighbouring countries. Accompanying the president are Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Fauzia Adan and her information counterpart Abdullahi Elmoge.

Somali President nominates a new Central Bank Governor
16 Jan – Source: Hiiraan Online – 146 words
A presidential decree obtained by Hiiraan Online states that Mr. Abdisalam Omer was nominated as the new governor of the Central Bank of Somalia. The Central Bank of Somalia has not functioned properly since the collapse of Siad Barre’s government in early 1991. There is a huge task ahead of Mr. Omer who is an economist with 30 years experience in economic governance, financial and strategic planning, and public sector reform. The new Central Bank Governor told HOL that he is confident he will rebuild and revive the Somali Banking Institution which is the basis of the economic growth of the country.

Police rubbish alleged refugee woman rape

16 Jan – Source: Bar-kulan – 124 words
Somalia police on Wednesday refuted media reports that some police officers were involved in alleged sexual violence against an internally displaced woman in Burdubo refugee camp in Mogadishu, tainting the image of the law enforcers as criminals. In a press conference in Mogadishu, Police Commissioner Maye said police and medical records regarding the alleged rape showed no evidence of the alleged rape and the report carried by an international media house was unfounded as the woman was not even raped.

Defense minister of the Somali government goes to Turkey

16 Jan – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Mareeg Online

Defense minister of the Somali Federal Government, Abdulhakim Haji Mohamud has gone to Ankara, the capital of Turkey to attend a two days’ meetings by the international community discussing the best way support Somalia in the security. Abdulhakim Haji Mohamud, the Defense Minister of the Somali Federal Government left the capital Mogadishu heading to Turkish capital, Ankara where he will attend an international meeting by which all members of the international community will participate according to the media and which will focus on the security and the rebuilding of the Somali national forces.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Al-Shabaab in threat to kill French hostage

16 Jan – Source: Africa Review – 144 words
Al-Shabab militants in Somalia say they will execute the French intelligence agent Denis Allex in retaliation for a botched French operation to free him. The French government, however, says it believes Mr Allex was killed by his captors during Friday’s raid in which two French commandos died.
Al-Shabab have denied the French account. The militants have published an image of one of the dead soldiers. But no proof of death has been made public for Mr Allex.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali president visits Washington; local community leader responds

16 Jan – Source: Sun Journal – 146 words
U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud joined a bipartisan gathering of members of Congress to welcome Somalia President Hassan Sheik Mohamud to the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. In the newly elected president’s first visit to the United States, he discussed the recent security gains and economic development of Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia. Over the past several months, the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that the number of attacks on aid workers fell from 13 in October to 4 and 5 in November and December, respectively.

U.S. to recognize Somali government, opening door to new aid

16 Jan – Source: Reuters – 257 words

African force in Somalia says probing civilian deaths

16 Jan – Source: AFP World News – 329 words

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Wednesday said it is probing the deaths of several civilians, including children, in a village to the west of the capital Mogadishu.
The force says the civilians may have been caught Tuesday in an exchange of fire with Islamist extremists, but witnesses on the ground say they were shot by AMISOM soldiers.
“AMISOM is investigating an incident in which civilians may have been caught up in crossfire as its forces repelled an attack by the Shebab … near Lego, 120 kilometres (70 miles) west of Mogadishu,” the force said in a statement.

Sea piracy falls to 5-year low as Somali gangs retreat

16 Jan – Source: Reuters – 160 words
International naval patrols off Somali and armed private guards on board ships have driven pirate attacks to a five-year low in 2012, but the risk to shipping off west Africa is growing. Somali piracy in the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Aden and the northwestern Indian Ocean off east Africa cost the world economy some $7 billion in 2011, according to the American One Earth Future foundation.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“If the Heritage Institute wants to be a real and permanent voice and political presence in Somalia, it should not become as arrogant as the discredited politicians it hopes to influence. It should bridge the gap between the governed, government and international community through advocacy, education and public engagement.”

A mind for the nation?

16 Jan – Source: Wardheer News – 1270 Words
It was a pleasure to watch the launch of the new Somali think tank, the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies, in Mogadishu yesterday. The great and good gathered and some fantastic speeches were given. Is this not always the case in Somali meetings? Well yes, but this time the hope is that, it will not be politicians speaking but nationalists with ideas, thoughts and genuine policy contributions to make without either being an opposition seeking power or government desperately holding on to it. Despite some MP’s speaking at the opening ceremony, the think tank founders were adamant that it will be an independent body for thought, debate, education and a vehicle for influencing policy makers at all levels. What makes this more unique than just been the first think tank in Somalia is that it aims to promote a Somali narrative and communicate a Somali led agenda argued Abdi Aynte, one of its key founding members and current Director.