January 24, 2014 | Morning Headlines.
Telecom companies stop Internet in al Shabaab controlled areas
23 Jan- Source: Somali current- 106 words
Somalia’s telecommunication companies cut the Mobile Internet services in al Shabaab controlled areas on Wednesday, after the hard-line al Qaeda linked group banned the service two weeks ago. The militant group banned residents in the areas they control from using mobile internet and fiber optic technology and warned the telecommunication companies to stop the service in 15 days that ended Wednesday. Armed fighters raided the telecommunication bases in Bardere, Bulo-burte, Elbur, Barawe and major towns in south Somalia, which they control and forced to shut the service. Somali officials did not comment on the service cut, but earlier it promised to protect the companies against the militant group.
Key Headlines
- Prime Minister chairs first Cabinet telling ministers: “We must rise to and overcome challenges that lay ahead” (Office of the Prime Minister)
- Delegates pour in Garowe for inauguration of Puntland leaders (Radio Bar-kulan)
- Somali govt welcomes Ethiopia’s integration into AMISOM (Hiiraan Online)
- Security Operations launched in Galkayo (Radio RBC)
- Al Qaeda ‘operative’ surrenders to Kenyan police (Capital News)
- Somali Islamists start enforcing Internet ban (Daily Nation)
- China’s anti-pirate fleet returns from Somali waters (China.org/ Xinhua)
PRESS STATEMENT
Prime Minister chairs first Cabinet, telling ministers: “We must rise to and overcome challenges that lay ahead”
23 Jan- Source: Office of the Prime Minister-216 words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed Thursday chaired Cabinet for the first time since appointing his Cabinet. The Prime Minister set out his plans and vision for Somalia and told Cabinet that the expectation and responsibility resting on their shoulders is great.
“My Cabinet and I are in no doubt of the challenges that are in front of us but we must rise to and overcome them. We must be the strong, stable and decisive government that our country needs and expects,” the Prime Minister said.
“It is the responsibility of all of us, collectively as a Cabinet and government, to deliver for the Somali people who have put their trust and faith in us. The Somali people rightly have high expectations of their government and expect us to deliver on our program of government – defeating al Shabaab and improving security, speeding up the reforms of our institutions and increasing the provision of basic services.
“I expect every one of my ministers to break down any barriers to reform and speed up delivery. We will as a government work tirelessly to deliver the new Somalia that we all want to live in and bring up our children in.”
SOMALI MEDIA
Delegates pour in Garowe for inauguration of Puntland leaders
23 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Garowe- 141 words
Delegates are pouring in Garowe, the capital of the semi-autonomous state of Puntland for the inauguration of Puntland’s new leaders which is expected to take place on Friday. A delegation from Himan and Heeb administration in central Somalia led by its president Abdullahi Ali Mohamed Barleh has flown to Garowe on Thursday. In his first visit to Garowe as Himan and Heeb president, Barleh said that he will discuss improving ties and cooperation between the two administrations with the new Puntland leadership. Meanwhile, newly inaugurated leader of Interim Jubba Administration Ahmed Madobe has also flown to Garowe to witness the inauguration of the new Puntland leaders. Ministers from neighboring administration of Galmudug were confirmed to have headed to the capital of Puntland on Thursday as well. Somalia’s neighboring countries and international agencies are also expected to send delegates to Puntland to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new leaders.
Somali govt welcomes Ethiopia’s integration into AMISOM
23 Jan- Source: Hiiraan Online- 184 words
Somalia has lauded for the integration of Ethiopian troops into the African Union Peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The Ethiopian troops were previously operating in the country, but they were only yesterday unveiled their formal integration into AMISOM. The commander of Somalia’s armed forces General Abdirisak Khalif Elmi said Somali government was fully lauding for the move which he said will help a breakthrough in the fight against al Shabaab militants fighting the government and AU forces in the country. “With the Ethiopia’s joining into the AU mission in Somalia will consolidate the fight against al Shabaab and will also help the sudden out of al Shabaab out of the country” the Somali Army commander noted.
Security Operations launched in Galkayo
23 Jan- SOurce: Radio RBC/Radio Bar-kulan-95 words
Puntland Police in galkacyo launched security operations today in northern Galkayo Mudug region.
The mayor of Galkayo, Ahmed Ali Salad told the local media that they are in the pursuit of those who were behind the recent bombing in the city. Ahmed Ali Salad urged the people of Galkayo to cooperate with Police to tighten the security and capture those who are addicted to harm civilians. An explosion that left 5 people dead and close to 10 others injured happened a day before In northern Galkayo
The mayor insisted that al Shabaab was behind this blast.
Telecom companies stop Internet in al Shabaab controlled areas
23 Jan- Source: Somali current- 106 words
Somalia’s telecommunication companies cut the Mobile Internet services in al Shabaab controlled areas on Wednesday, after the hard-line al Qaeda linked group banned the service two weeks ago. The militant group banned residents in the areas they control from using mobile internet and fiber optic technology and warned the telecommunication companies to stop the service in 15 days that ended Wednesday. Armed fighters raided the telecommunication bases in Bardere, Bulo-burte, Elbur, Barawe and major towns in south Somalia, which they control and forced to shut the service. Somali officials did not comment on the service cut, but earlier it promised to protect the companies against the militant group.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Al Qaeda ‘operative’ surrenders to Kenyan police
23 Jan- Source: Capital News- 243 words
Police in Nyahururu are interrogating a man who has surrendered claiming he has crucial information on al Qaeda and al Shabaab operations both within and outside the country. The man identified as Peter Wang’ondu Kiambati alias Abdalla said he opted to surrender and provide crucial information about the groups having been a member for close to eight years. “I have been working with these groups but I was forced to join them. The first time I reported this, it was published in newspapers,” he recounted. He also said that he has documents that show how he was helped by officers of America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) while working for the terror groups. “I have documents which show how the CIA helps me. I have names and pictures to identify people in the agency who help people join the group (al Qaeda),” he stated.
http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/
Somali Islamists start enforcing Internet ban
23 Jan- Source: Africa Review/Daily Nation- 264 words
Militants loyal to radical Somalia Islamist group al Shabaab have started enforcing a ban on Internet use including the use of fibre optic communications. The militants were Wednesday checking mobile phones for any Internet connections in areas of the country that they still control, mainly to the south and central Somalia. The group had given telecoms a 15-day deadline to comply with an order banning the Internet and which expired on Wednesday. Residents in affected areas on Wednesday reported missing signals.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
China’s anti-pirate fleet returns from Somali waters
23 Jan- Source:China.org/ Xinhua- 133 words
The 15th escort squad of the Chinese Navy returned home on Thursday from Somali waters, its mission complete. The fleet comprising amphibious docking vessel Jinggangshan, missile frigate Hengshui and supply ship Taihu, arrived at a navy port in Zhanjiang city in south China’s Guangdong Province, on Thursdaymorning. During the mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters, which lasted 169 days, the flotilla escorted 181 commercial vessels as well as a vessel of the United Nations World Food Programme.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The road to a full democratic Somalia by 2016 seems an impossible mission as it stands today. These SMART goals are achievable and realistic if there is a strong leadership with a full focus, honesty, commitment, positive attitude (towards Puntland, Juba and in general, the federalisation of Somalia) and concentration on these priorities.”
The road to a full democratic Somalia by 2016
23 Jan- Source: Somali Current-891 Words
By 1988, Somalia was ailing severely because of a system that lasted for two decades, repressed the freedoms and oppressed the people. Socially, politically and economically the regions felt highly marginalised. Command economy and state ownership of the economy led Somalia into an economic and financial trouble. There were no freedoms unless someone was praising the government or the Somali Socialist Revolutionary Party (SSRP) or appeasing the individuals in the government. Those who reacted and spoke out were cracked down, imprisoned or murdered cruelly. There were no alternative democratic options available to replace the dictatorship of Siyad Barre Regime. Armed struggle was the sole option viable and that track took Somalia to its disintegration into chaos, no rule of law and no central government. A hollow vacuum appeared where clans were squabbling and skirmishes took the stage of the Central Government. What happened in the two decades, from 1969 – 1991 backfired into full blown upheaval and disaster that continues to the present day!