January 22, 2014| Morning Headlines.
Somalia’s Parliament approves new cabinet members
21 Jan- Source: Somalicurrent/RBC/Radio Mogadishu/Universaltv/Somali Channel- 255 words
Somalia’s Parliament has on Tuesday approved the 55-member cabinet appointed by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. The 25 ministers, 25 assistants and the 5 State Ministers were introduced to the Parliament on Monday to receive confidence vote. The Parliament Speaker Prof. Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari announced that 186 members of the parliament have approved the government. The Cabinet received 46 no confidence votes, while one member had abstained. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed the approval, congratulating the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. “I congratulate the Prime Minister and welcome and commend this responsible and democratic vote by parliament. This is an important step forward for Somalia, which everyone should welcome.” President Hassan said, adding, “The approval of a new Cabinet, which will represent Somalis from all parts of the country, was taken in the national interest and shows our people, as well as our international partners, that our state institutions are growing in maturity and responsibility.”
Key Headlines
- Somalia’s Parliament approves new cabinet members (Somalicurrent/RBC/Radio Mogadishu/Somali Channel TV)
- President welcomes Parliament’s approval of new Cabinet (OP)
- Prime Minister: “The hard work now begins” (OPM)
- 6 injured in Dhobley shooting (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Shabelle)
- UN Envoy to Somalia on the new Cabinet (UNSOM)
- Land mine explosion claims 3 in Galkayo (Radio Shabelle/Somali Channel TV)
- ICRC supplies aid to villages near Jowhar town (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Risaala)
- Parliament finds immigration responsible for terrorist attacks (Daily Nation)
- 4 suspects in Nairobi terror attack tour damaged mall (Fox News/AP)
PRESS STATEMENT
President welcomes Parliament’s approval of new Cabinet
21 Jan- Source: Office of the President- 230 words
His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed Parliament’s vote approving the new Council of Ministers. In a landslide vote Parliament confirmed Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed’s Cabinet.
The President said: “I congratulate the Prime Minister and welcome and commend this responsible and democratic vote by parliament. This is an important step forward for Somalia, which everyone should welcome. The approval of a new Cabinet, which will represent Somalis from all parts of the country, was taken in the national interest and shows our people, as well as our international partners, that our state institutions are growing in maturity and responsibility.”
“It is now imperative that the new government begins its work. It has one of the most challenging agendas in the world and Somalis expect progress in many areas. We must extend security across Somalia and eliminate the threat of al Shabaab. As new areas come under government control, we need to begin delivering basic public services, including healthcare and education.”
“One of the most important tests of the government’s ongoing public finance management reform will be when it institutes tax collection, which is a major requirement for Somalia and a critical milestone on the road to full recovery and economic development. Parliament’s constructive role in reviewing, revising and approving the legislation that enacts all these reforms will be absolutely essential.”
UN Envoy to Somalia on the new Cabinet
21 Jan- Source: UNSOM- 132 words
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay, has welcomed the endorsement of the Cabinet nominated by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed following a vote in the Somali Federal Parliament.
“I congratulate the new Ministers, Deputy and State Ministers of Somalia. The Cabinet has a large task ahead: delivering peace and reconciliation, rule of law and good governance to the Somali people, as well as providing public services and building the economy,” SRSG Kay said. “The United Nations will continue to support the Federal Government of Somalia as it strives to make progress in all these areas in the context of the Somali Compact.”
SRSG Kay encouraged the new Cabinet to work with the Parliament and the Presidency in full respect of the Provisional Federal Constitution.
Prime Minister: “The hard work now begins”
21 Jan- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 208 words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed thanked Parliament for voting to approve the Cabinet of Ministers and declared that “the hard work now begins” for his government.
Following the vote, the Prime Minister said: “I am thankful to the MPs and Parliament for taking their role responsibly and putting the national interest first by approving the Cabinet and ministers. This Cabinet is representative of all of Somalia, made up of people with the right talents, enthusiasm and dedication to serve the Somali people and take our country forward.
“Compared to just over a year ago, Somalia is now recognised on the international stage and companies are once again investing. Our brave forces in partnership with our AMISOM brothers continue to take ground from al Shabaab, reforms to our institutions and public finance management are ongoing and basic public services have begun to be rolled out.
“Our country still faces many challenges and for my government the hard work now begins. We must be a strong, stable and decisive government that our country needs, earning the support and goodwill of the Somali people by delivering on our ambitious program of government. Together we will build the foundations of a new Somalia.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Somalia’s Parliament approves new cabinet members
21 Jan- Source: Somalicurrent/RBC/Radio Mogadishu/Universaltv/Somali Channel- 255 words
Somalia’s Parliament has on Tuesday approved the 55-member cabinet appointed by Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed. The 25 ministers, 25 assistants and the 5 State Ministers were introduced to the Parliamenton Monday to receive confidence vote. The Parliament Speaker Prof. Mohamed Sheikh Osman Jawari announced that 186 members of the parliament have approved the government. The Cabinet received 46 no confidence votes, while one member had abstained. Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud welcomed the approval, congratulating the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. “I congratulate the Prime Minister and welcome and commend this responsible and democratic vote by parliament. This is an important step forward for Somalia, which everyone should welcome.” President Hassan said, adding, “The approval of a new Cabinet, which will represent Somalis from all parts of the country, was taken in the national interest and shows our people, as well as our international partners, that our state institutions are growing in maturity and responsibility.”
6 injured in Dhobley shooting
21 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Shabelle- 96 words
Six people have on Tuesday been injured in a shootout between two sides from Interim Jubba Administration security forces in Dhobley, Lower Jubba region, according to Bar-kulan correspondent in Kismayo. Most of the injured are said to be from the warring sides and the motives behind the shootout between the sides remain unknown. Interim Jubba Administration chief in Dhobley, Ahmed Qex has declined to comment on the incident. Meanwhile, other Interim Jubba Administration officials are yet to comment on the latest shootout in Dhobley.
Land mine explosion claims 3 in Galkayo
21 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle/Somali Channel TV- 105 words
A land mine explosion has on Tuesday rocked the northern part of Galkayo town located in Mudug region of Somalia. The landmine is said to have been planted under a bridge that is located near GMT hospital and initial reports have confirmed that 3 civilians died on the spot and 7 others sustained injuries of different degrees. The northern part of the town is controlled by Puntland state and the government officials have not yet issued a statement about the explosion.
ICRC supplies aid to villages near Jowhar town
21 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Risaala- 115 words
The International Committee of the Red Cross has supplied aid consisting of utensils and tents to recently resettled families in villages near Jowhar town in Middle Shabelle region. The recipients welcomed the aid and thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for its timely supplies.
The families were previously displaced by inter-clan conflicts in Middle Shabelle region. Meanwhile, security forces in the region have vowed to maintain law and order in the villages where recent inter-clan conflicts occurred in the past few months. This is the first time the ICRC supplied aid assistance to the families since they were resettled in their villages early this month.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Parliament finds immigration responsible for terrorist attacks
21 Jan- Source: Daily Nation- 729 words
A Parliamentary Committee tasked with looking into last year’s terrorist attacks wants the Immigration and Registration of Persons departments to be held accountable for their “systemic failure” in handling foreigners. The Joint Committee on Administration and National Security, and Defence and Foreign Affairs co-chaired by MPs Asman Kamama and Ndung’u Githenji investigated several attacks in Nairobi, Kilifi, Mandera counties over in which more than 100 people lost their lives and hundreds of others injured.In its report, the team found that the department charged with vetting visitors to the country was largely lax and that its officials took bribes to allow in terrorists.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
4 suspects in Nairobi terror attack tour damaged mall
21 Jan- Source: Fox News/AP- 312 words
Four handcuffed ethnic Somali men walked by the gaping, four-story hole in Nairobi’s Westgate Mall on Tuesday, part of an organized tour so court officials could visualize how the multi-day siege unfolded. The four ethnic Somalis are accused of aiding the four al Shabaab gunmen who carried out the attack which killed at least 67 people. Their trial is already under way. Kenyan police who responded to the mid-day attack, when the mall was full of families with children, walked through the mall with Chief Magistrate Daniel Ochenja, and pointed out where gun battles with the four terrorists took place.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“Bandy is a sport few have heard of but the tale of a group of refugees from Somalia on the ice in Sweden is truly uplifting”
Tale of Somalia’s World Championship bandy team warms the heart
21 Jan- Source: Telegraph-797 Words
For a Manchester United-supporting cricket lover it has been a depressing start to the year. Sport is the thing I follow to take my mind off all the other things that are worrying me: I do not want to have to agonise about why David Moyes cannot inspire an attack or Alastair Cook set a field. Even the Winter Olympics, which you could normally count on to provide a few escapist tales of sporting heroism from men and women who think nothing of flinging themselves headfirst down a mountain on a tea tray, has this year become inescapably tangled in the complex reactionary politics of Russia. I was moaning about all this on a shopping trip on Saturday with my friend Rachel. “But have you heard about the Somali bandy team?” she said, whipping out her phone to show me a photograph. I had not but now I have, and I am suitably cheered.