January 2, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Protest dispersed in central Somalia; 2 killed

01 Jan – Source: World Bulletin/Anadolu Agency – 217 Words

Two people were killed and a number of others injured on Thursday when authorities dispersed an anti-government protest in the Gure El district of Somalia’s central Galguduud region, a local official has said. Demonstrators threw stones at local police stations, prompting police to intervene to protect government institutions, Ali Bashi, the region’s vice-president, told The Anadolu Agency.

He said police fired live rounds into the air to disperse demonstrators, noting that two people had been killed – including a woman – and a number of others injured. AA could not independently verify Bashi’s account. Nor have the Somali authorities issued a comment. Demonstrators, marching through the streets of Gur El, chanted anti-government slogans and voiced their support for a religious movement that was recently expelled from the district following confrontations with government troops.

Since December of last year, the Somali army had been involved in a number of violent confrontations with the movement, which was ultimately expelled from the district.
The Islamist movement, known as Ahl al-Sunna wal Jamaa, which is affiliated with Somalia’s Sufi orders, had taken control of several parts of central Somalia.
The movement – alongside government troops – has also been fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group, although it has also accused the government of marginalizing it.

Key Headlines

Parliamentary selection process underway in Jubaland ( Garowe Online)
SFF unveils development courses to be staged in Kismayo (Al-Shahid.net)
Jubaland leader vow to push Al-Shabab out of the region before the end of January (Radio Goobjoog)
Some Somali MPs support Suldaan Waber Movement (Waagocusub Media)
Port of Salalah investigates Somali dhow fire incident (Muscat Daily)
Protest dispersed in central Somalia; 2 killed (World Bulletin/Anadolu Agency)

SOMALI MEDIA

Parliamentary selection process underway in Jubaland

01 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 117 Words

The President of Somalia’s Jubaland administration Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam has discussed parliamentary selection process with his cabinet, Garowe Online reports. Some cabinet ministers suggested the selection of Jubaland Members of Parliament to be based on 4.5 quota like 275-seat-chamber of Federal Parliament.

However, as a result of intense debate on the matter Jubaland leader told Garowe Online that the new MPs of Jubaland will instead be cherry-picked from Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo regions of which Jubaland consists. Madobe added that the power-sharing formula of 4.5 will no longer be beneficial for the federal state. Jubaland gained its recognition from Mogadishu-based Federal government in August 2013.

SFF unveils development courses to be staged in Kismayo

01 Jan – Source: Al-Shahid.net – 377 Words

After witnessing a democratic local football election without interference from regional autonomy, the Somali Football Federation has crowned the Lower Jubba region the host site for the first development courses in 2015. Somali Football Federation Chief Media officer Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar said in a press statement on Thursday that three empowerment football-related courses will be staged in the provincial capital of Kismayo, a key port town that was once under Islamist control.

“Arrangements for three development courses are now under way. The courses are: coaching course, refereeing course and sports administration course and as shown in the SFF annual plans all three courses will take place sometime in February 2015” SFF Media officer Shafi’i Mohyaddin said in a press statement on Thursday. “The SFF would like to congratulate the region’s people in general and football family members in particular for attracting the attention of SFF and that is because of the free and fair election which was held in the region in line with the SFF regulations and as well as the international football principles.” The Media Officer said.

He urged other regional administrations in the country to learn from the good examples shown by the Lower Jubba authorities who haven’t interfered in the recent local football committee election in the region. “Football officials in all regions must come through elections, because the SFF will not accept government-appointed football officials—according to FIFA status, football authorities are elected but not appointed by governments, so I would like to urge authorities of regional autonomies in the country to let football people elect their leaders” the SFF media officer said in his statement.

The statement praised the region’s authorities for understanding the power and the importance that football has for the creation of public integration, peace building and development in a country ravaged by decades of civil wars. As shown in the development strategy drawn by the visionary president of Somali Football Federation Mr. Abdiqani Said Arab, the Somali FA is planning to implement the biggest number of development programs in the country in the SFF history. The plan is part of the ‘spread the football’ program which is mainly intended to help every single Somali get access to football.

Jubaland leader vows to push Al-Shabab out of the region before the end of January

01 Jan – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 109 Words

Interim administration of Juba in Southern Somalia vowed to smoke out Al-shabab from Juba and Gedo regions. IJA leader Ahmed Mohamed Islam alias Ahmed Madoobe speaking to the local media outlets stated that Juba forces and African union peace-keeping troops are now ready to advance and capture Al-shabab controlled areas in the region. “Before the end of January the joint forces will be able to uproot Al-shabab from the region” Ahmed Madobe said. Al-shabab control large swathes in South and Central Somalia despite heavy operations jointly launched by government forces together with AMISOM troops

Some Somali MPs Support Suldaan Waber movement

01 Jan – Source: Waagacusub Media – 337 Words

The new Awdal State liberation front , a rebel group led-by Suldaan Abubaker Elmi Waber , a well-respected elder declared to join the Federal government of Somalia, Media reports say. The rebel group is active in Awdal, Salal and Gabiley Provinces of Northwestern Somalia, which its capital city is Borama near the border of Ogaden region of Ethiopia. “Somaliland must withdraw all its militias without blood-shed in Awdal State, where my clan of Gadabuursi lives,” said Suldaan Waber. “I call on the youth of Awdal state to participate in the liberation of your land. As you know, a Somali clan cannot occupy another Somali clan in this 21st century.”

Somaliland militia better known as Somali National Movement or SNM deployed a large number of militias that suppressed Anti-Somaliland peaceful protesters in Borama, which the SNM arrested , interrogated and charged with traitors dozens of Gadabuursi students , The Reports say. The website of the Awdal State Borama News reported that dozens of Somali MPs started to undertake an effort to convince the Federal Government of Somalia to support Suldaan Waber movement and the current revolution of the Awdal State at large. During MPs discussion , Boramanews reported , some of the MPs are representatives of Awdal state and will likely continue their campaign until the Federal Government of Somalia fully supports the Waber movement of Re-unification of Somalia. Suldaan Waber’s call to liberation struggle against SNM militia presence gained momentum in the wake of its birth, receiving the support of Gadabuursi tribes in diaspora and the region , according to the Awdalstate report.

Answering the call of the Suldaan waber , ” From now on, we are part of the federal government of Somalia and if you don’t withdraw from our land , you will meet the consequence , ” said a Gadabuursi man, who is clasping a PKM. The Waber movement accused SNM of oppressing their Gadabuursi tribes and sharply criticized the crackdown following the youth protesters , and said oppression , fear and threats in Salal, Awdal and Gabiley are severe.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Port of Salalah investigates Somali dhow fire incident

01 Jan – Source: Muscat Daily – 294 Words

Port of Salalah has started an investigation into the cause of the blaze that engulfed a Somali dhow while at the anchorage on Tuesday. There were no injuries or loss of life as the 15-member crew was safely rescued by the port authorities and ROP Coast Guard. ‘Shortly after midnight on December 30 a Somali flagged wooden dhow Al Yaasiin caught fire while at anchorage after offloading livestock at the Port of Salalah. The Port of Salalah fire fighting tug boat team and the Omani Coast Guard were immediately deployed to the site and were able to assist with the safe evacuation of all of the 15 crew members to a nearby fishing vessel’ a senior official at the port said.

The fire was contained to the single vessel and was fully extinguished by 6am. The damaged vessel was towed to a shallow area away from the port secured and marked for future salvage operations. ‘There was no direct impact on the operations within the port and there were no injuries or loss of life as a result of the blaze. An investigation is ongoing by the port to determine the cause of the blaze and to work with the dhow boats to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future’ the official added.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Protest dispersed in central Somalia; 2 killed

01 Jan – Source: World Bulletin/Anadolu Agency – 217 Words

Since December of last year, the Somali army had been involved in a number of violent confrontations with the movement, which was ultimately expelled from the district. The Islamist movement, known as Ahl al-Sunna wal Jamaa, which is affiliated with Somalia’s Sufi orders, had taken control of several parts of central Somalia. The movement – alongside government troops – has also been fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group, although it has also accused the government of marginalizing it.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Some folks have been living there for nearly two decades since they fled the civil war in Somalia. With amazing patience and resilience, they’ve tried to carve out a normal life in the dusty, remote and crowded camps.”

What it’s like to live like a refugee

01 Jan – Source: Winnipeg Free Press – 534 Words

This year, I went from sitting at a desk in an air-conditioned newsroom writing about refugees to sitting across from them in their hut made of sticks in the world’s largest refugee camp. The story didn’t just move me — it shook me up, big time. I visited Dadaab, Kenya, near the border of Somalia and home to 350,000 refugees in a cluster of five camps run by the UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency.

I went there to meet residents waiting to join relatives in Winnipeg. The trip was paid for by the Free Press and made possible by a Winnipeg man who runs the entire operation for the UN. After more than a decade of writing immigration and refugee stories, I needed to see for myself where so many people I’ve interviewed come from. I’ve never felt so overprivileged and overwhelmed.

In Dadaab, the vast majority are Somalis who are trapped. They can’t go home to Somalia because it’s not safe. They can’t stay where they are because they have no status in Kenya and the government won’t allow them to build permanent homes. Some folks have been living there for nearly two decades since they fled the civil war in Somalia. With amazing patience and resilience, they’ve tried to carve out a normal life in the dusty, remote and crowded camps. The UN and aid agencies offer health and limited educational opportunities. But there’s no clear way out or place to go — even if they have loved ones in Winnipeg who are ready and willing to sponsor them.