January 23, 2014| Morning Headlines.

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Somalia: New cabinet sworn in Mogadishu, parliament concludes 59th session

22 Jan- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Universal TVP/ Hiiraan Online- 253 words

The new cabinet of the Federal Government of Somalia is sworn in Mogadishu today a day after the country’s parliament endorsed its nomination in a landslide vote. Members of the new cabinet, Parliamentarians, Parliament Chair as well as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed attended the swearing-in ceremony which was held in the Parliament Building in Wednesday. The new ministers, deputy ministers and the state ministers were sworn in by the head of the country’s Supreme Court. The President, who presided over the swearing-in of the new Council of Ministers, called on lawmakers to continue the progress in 2014. In a statement from the President’s office shortly after the ceremony ended, he said that it was a very important year for Somalia. “We have multiple priorities, from the elimination of Al Shabaab, stabilization and public financial management reform to the delivery of services, reconciliation and federalism. We must continue to work towards Vision 2016 and ensure we develop a new constitution and are ready for national elections.” the President said. “I call on Parliament to work closely with Cabinet and hold the executive to account through your various sub-committees.” Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed also praised the closure of the 59th session of the parliament which came one day after the lawmakers approved his 55 members government. Meanwhile Parliament Speaker Mohamed Osman Jawari officially wrapped up the 59th session of Somalia Federal Parliament and called that the lawmakers will go for their annual leave from today.

Key Headlines

Somalia: New cabinet sworn in Mogadishu parliament concludes 59th session (Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV)
Somalia’s Parliament has come of age says President (OP)
Local administration imposes night-time curfew on Jowhar (Radio Bar-kulan/Muqdishonews)
Ethiopian Forces formally integrated into AMISOM (AMISOM)
Somali president hopeful of talks with Somaliland bring about ‘United Somalia’ (Hiiraan Online)
Somaliland delegation is expected in London (Somaliland Informer)
Kenya: Man dies in Eastleigh as he attempts to escape anti-terror police (Standard Media)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somalia’s Parliament has come of age, says President

22 Jan- Source: Office of the President – 267 words

His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud congratulated Parliament as it went on recess, saying it had “come of age” in its latest term.
“I praise your hard work and dedication, witnessed in the completion today of your 59th session,” the President said. “You have conducted your debates in an admirable spirit, you have worked tirelessly to advance reconciliation between regions and clans and you have won the confidence of the people and the international community. That is no mean achievement and I congratulate you for it.”

The President, who presided over the swearing-in of the new Council of Ministers, called on lawmakers to continue the progress in 2014. The government now needed to consolidate recent gains and demonstrate the benefits of government to a population in urgent need of public services.

“This is a very important year for Somalia. We have multiple priorities, from the elimination of Al Shabaab, stabilization and public financial management reform to the delivery of services, reconciliation and federalism. We must continue to work towards Vision 2016 and ensure we develop a new constitution and are ready for national elections. I call on Parliament to work closely with Cabinet and hold the executive to account through your various sub-committees.”

The President congratulated Abdiweli Mohammed Ali Gaas for his recent election as President of Puntland, “the mother of federalism and unity of Somalia”, and said talks between the Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland were progressing, with a commitment to meeting every three months. “The unity of Somalia by peaceful means is our objective,” the President said, thanking Turkey for sponsoring the talks.

Ethiopian Forces formally integrated into AMISOM

22 Jan- Source: AMISOM- 146 words

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) today welcomed 4,395 troops from the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) at a flag ceremony which took place in Baidoa, in the Bay region of Somalia.

This ceremony follows the acceptance of the offer by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the African Union to deploy its troops in Somalia under AMISOM.

The Ethiopian troops, working alongside the Somalia National Army (SNA), will be responsible for the Gedo, Bay and Bakool regions.

The Ethiopian troops will be commanded by an Ethiopian sector commander who will in turn report to the AMISOM Force Commander, Lt. General Silas Ntigurirwa, under the overall directive of Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia.

The Ethiopian troops will constitute AMISOM’s sixth contingent, after Burundian, Sierra Leone, Djiboutian, Kenyan and Ugandan contingents.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia: New cabinet sworn in Mogadishu, parliament concludes 59th session

22 Jan- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Universal TVP/ Hiiraan Online- 253 words

Local administration imposes night-time curfew on Jowhar

22 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Muqdishonews/Midnimo Online- 96 words

The local administration of Middle Shabelle region in Somalia has on Tuesday night imposed a night-time curfew on Jowhar, the provincial capital of Middle Shabelle region. Bar-kulan correspondent in Jowhar said that Somali military forces were seen patrolling the main streets of the town which forced locals to remain indoors. Local businesses also came to a standstill shortly after evening prayers, according to the correspondent. The curfew came after bomb explosions and grenade attacks in the town of Jowhar escalated in the last few weeks. Local administration officials are yet to comment on the night-time curfew.

Somali president hopeful of talks with Somaliland bring about ‘United Somalia’

22 Jan- Source: Hiiraan Online- 205 words

As the 3rd round of Somalia-Somaliland talks ended in Turkey this week, the president of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud said today that he was very hopeful of the face-to face talks between both sides will bring about the rebirth of the unity of the great Somalia. With the continuation of the talks, the president said there were high hopes that such meetings will finally result in fruitful outcome adding that his government was doing its utmost to get Somalia united one day. The next edition of the Somalia-Somaliland talks is expected in 90 days time, according to the agreement reached at the end of last round on January 19, 2014.

Somaliland delegation is expected in London

22 Jan- Source: Somaliland Informer- 399 words

Somaliland community in UK is in a massive preparation to welcome the Somaliland’s president Ahmed Siilaanyo who is on visit to London, UK. The president and his delegation has been in France for some days, and his trip related issues of Somaliland diplomatic relations with French Government, and also how to strengthen that cooperation between Somaliland and French government, as French government historically recognize the Somaliland background. The delegation will conduct some Somaliland diplomatic duties their trip to France and UK. It is believed that the delegation specially the president will stay here in UK for a while to participate and attend high level conferences and meetings to brief and address the Somaliland society in UK, or all those who are able to travel UK from neighbouring countries of United Kingdom where the Somaliland largest community in Europe live.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: Man dies in Eastleigh as he attempts to escape anti-terror police

22 Jan- Source: Standard Media- 134 Words

A mission to arrest suspected terrorists in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area turned tragic Wednesday when one of them jumped from the fifth floor of a house and died instantly.Police from anti-terror unit had raided a house 7th street following a tip off that there were terrorists hiding there when the incident happened. The officers had surrounded the building along Muratina Street at about 3pm when the man aged 26 jumped off. Police later identified the deceased as Hussein Abdullahi and added he did not have documents. Nairobi police boss Benson Kibue said his officers had been tipped off there were men suspected to be terrorists were there when the incident happened. Witnesses said at least six men were later arrested and taken away for questioning. Police have heightened operations on terror activities.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Ethiopian Troops Join AU Force in Somalia

22 Jan- Source: VOA/ BBC- 374 words

Ethiopian troops have officially joined the African Union mission in Somalia known as AMISOM, giving a boost to the security force as it continues to battle against al Shabaab militants. Ethiopian soldiers have served a critical role securing areas in the west of the country, acting independent of the AU mission. After operating two years on their own to fight al Shabaab, more than 4,000 Ethiopian troops will now operate under the AMISOM mandate backed by the United Nations. AU force spokesman Colonel Ali Aden Humad told VOA that Ethiopia, with its experience in some parts of Somalia, will help AU troops take more ground from the insurgent group.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“In the end, the trajectory of Puntland and its impact on other Somali entities will largely hinge on the team Gaas puts together in the coming weeks. The constitution grants him 21 days from his election to form a government.”

Puntland’s Presidential Poll: election of Gaas likely to strengthen moves towards federalism

22 Jan- Source: African Arguments-974 Words

The third presidential election in Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland has brought about a change in leadership that might help enhance stability in the Horn of Africa. While it is too early to predict how the shift will ultimately play out in the region, the election of Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas may prove a crucial catalyst for Somalia’s stalled process toward federalism. On Jan. 8, Puntland’s newly sworn-in parliament of 66 members rallied in the northeastern region’s capital of Garowe for presidential elections. The semi-autonomous polity had reverted to having its president elected by clan-appointed legislators after local elections were canceled last July due to risks of violence and the democratic process stalled. With eight of the 11 candidates eliminated in the first round of voting, Acting President Abdurahman Mohamed Farole won the second round comfortably. Yet, the third and final round saw Gaas emerge as the winner, defeating the incumbent narrowly with 33 to 32 votes.