January 27, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Prime Minister opens 2014 Program conference: “by learning from previous successes and setbacks we will ensure government delivers for the Somali people”

Key Headlines

President Hassan says he has never joined any religious group in Somalia (VOA-Radio Dalsan)
Somali president says his govt bought weapons from abroad (VOA Somali Service)
Deputy Prime Minister tells Director Generals: “you must be the engines of reform and delivery across government” (Office of the Prime Minister)
Mogadishu residents reject al Shabaab’s support plea (Somali Current)
Gunmen kill local NGO head in Galkayo (Hiiraan Online)
Bakol region officials vow to intensify the fight against al Shabaab (Radio Bar-Kulan)
Puntland forces recover heavy ammunition explosives from al Shabaab hideouts ( Radio Growe)
Hiiraan region administration suspends Somali Channel TV operations( RBC- Radio Bar-Kulan)
Demonstration to support Kenyan military presence held in Kismayo (Hiiraan Online)
Kenyan troops restore order to Somalia (Daily Nation)
Somali militant killed in missile attack ( AP)
Al Shabaab trained terror suspect free of all controls on UK streets (Telegraph)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister opens 2014 Program conference: “by learning from previous successes and setbacks we will ensure government delivers for the Somali people”

26 Jan- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 322 words
His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed today opened a two-day Cabinet conference at Villa Hargaysa, centring on the priorities, implementation and delivery of the government’s 2014 Program. The two-day working session is being attended by His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, H.E. Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, H.E. Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Sheikh Osman and all Cabinet ministers.
Opening the conference, the Prime Minister said: “As a country and government we face immense challenges that we must rise to and overcome.
“Over the next two days we will discuss and focus on implementing and ensuring delivery of the government’s ambitious program of reforms. It is by learning from previous successes and setbacks and by working together in a cohesive way as a government that we will ensure the Federal Government delivers our program for the Somali public.”
The conference is aimed at ensuring the implementation and delivery of the government’s ambitious program for 2014. Sessions will cover: best practice, working with Parliament, legislative timetable, prioritising legislation and the implementation and delivery of the government’s program.
Speaking at the conference, the President said: “We need to break the cycle, we need to shift the way we do government business and we need creative ideas of how Somalia can move forward with the 2014 Program.
“Somalia needs the support of our international partners but we do not want the international community to do the work for us, instead work in partnership with us for the long-term. The solution must be Somali owned and led but to achieve that we have to believe in our own destiny.”
Addressing the ministers, the Speaker of Parliament, said: “A strong, respectful and communicative relationship between Government and Parliament is essential.
“Priorities for both Parliament and Government must include ensuring the Constitution is gender sensitive and passed, as well as legislating for political parties by June 2015 as a key step to national elections in 2016.”

Deputy Prime Minister tells Director Generals: “you must be the engines of reform and delivery across government”

25 Jan- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 202 words
His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Ridwan Hirsi Mohamed today met with Director Generals from Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information and the newly created Ministry of Labour. The first in a series of meetings to be held by the Deputy Prime Minister with all Director Generals from across government, the Deputy Prime Minister reiterated their responsibility to drive through reforms and delivery across government.
The Deputy Prime Minister told the Director Generals: “We must all work together to speed up reforms of our institutions and delivery of services. The government must work and deliver for the people of Somalia.
“Our institutions are in need of significant reform and in many cases be built anew with limited resources. It is up to you as Director Generals of ministries to put policy and words into action. Working closely with your respective ministers you must be the flag bearers and engines of change that will drive and if needed break down barriers to reform and delivery.
“Delivering the change and services the Somali public want to see will build the faith and goodwill of the public we serve.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Gunmen kill local NGO head in Galkayo

26 Jan- Source: Radio Garowe/Hiiraan Online 96 words
Unidentified gunmen have gunned down the head of local NGO in Galkayo city on Saturday evening according to witnesses. Abdi Mohamed Adan, director of NRO aid agency was on his way to home between Agarweyne hotel and the Maize factory in Garsoor neighborhood was assialints attacked him, eyewitnesses reported. The masked attackers used pistols for the killing and immediately escaped from the scene of crime. Puntland security forces are said to have arrived at the spot where the assassination occurred, with local reports telling that investigations and search operations are underway. No group claimed the responsibility for the attack.

President Hassan says he has never joined any religious group in Somalia

26 Jan- Source: Radio RBC/VOA Somali Service/Radio Dalsan/Shabelle- 188 words

Speaking to the VOA Somali Service on Saturday night, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has dismissed allegations of being member of Damu-Jadid religious group. “.. I have never joined any religious group in Somalia let it be Damu-Jadud, or Dam-Qadim, or Salafiyah or any other group.” President Hassan said in the interview “…. And with my age grows to older at present I do not intend to join them”. Asked of the influence of the Damu-Jadid religious group on his politics and leadership, President Hassan also rebuffed that the group has influenced over his leadership. “They have no particular influence on me, neither other group has the influence,” he added. President Mohamud has said that the allegations did not come to him as surprise because same allegations were leveled against the previous presidents of Somalia starting from President Abdiqasim Salad Hassan of 2000, Late President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed of 2004 and President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed of 2009. “They always claim that any president who comes to power is influenced by unique group, but that is baseless blame against the honestly serving presidents of the country,” he has concluded.

Bakol region officials vow to intensify the fight against al Shabaab

26 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 102 words
Bakol region officials are stepping up military efforts against al Shabaab militant group in the region, according to local administration officials. Mohamed Maallim Ahmed, the mayor of Hudur has told Bar-kulan that Somali military forces and their Ethiopian allies are accelerating military efforts to roll back al Shabaab fighters out of the region. Local officials of Bakol region have previously called on the Somali forces and their Ethiopian allies in the region to intensify the fight against the militant group. al Shabaab militant group still controls large swathes in Bakol region.

Puntland forces recover heavy ammunition, explosives from al Shabaab hideouts

26 Jan- Source: Radio Garowe/Horseedmedia- 125 words

Puntland Government in northern Somalia unveiled that Puntland defense forces recovered heavy ammunitions, explosive devices, medical drugs and solar equipments from al Shabaab hideouts following deadly assault on the militant group’s base in Galgala area near the Golis Mountain range. The seized materials have been presented to the media during a joint press conference in the port city of Bossaso by Puntland Deputy Police Chief Gen. Muhyadin Ahmed Musse and the acting Deputy Security Minister Abdijamal Osman Mohamed on Sunday. Gen. Musse thanked Puntland forces for dismantling al Shabaab hideouts and said “battalions from Puntland defense forces executed national duty to drive al Shabaab remnants out of their areas”. “Our forces are on high alert for all terror threats and they will closely follow the ongoing issues,” he added.

Demonstration to support Kenyan military presence held in Kismayo

26 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online/Dhanaan Online/Somali Channel TV- 195 words

A demonstration to show support to the presence of Kenyan military forces in Jubba and Gedo regions has on Sunday been held in Kismayo, the provincial capital of Lower Jubba region. The demonstration was organized by the Interim Jubba Administration officials and hundreds of locals took to the streets of Kismayo to show their support to the Kenyan military’s presence in Somalia. Local businesses and schools in Kismayo remained closed in the early hours of Sunday. Interim Jubba Administration officials including Minister of Interior and Security, Mohamed Warsame Darwish and Minister of Social Services, Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamud who addressed the demonstrators at Wamo Soccer Stadium said that the interim administration supports the demands of the local people who want Kenyan forces to remain in the country. Second Vice President of Interim Jubba Administration, Sultan Abdulkadir Luga-dhere who also addressed the demonstrators echoed similar sentiments. The officials called on the United Nations, African Union, IGAD and the Federal Government of Somalia to allow Kenyan forces who have driven al Shabaab militants out of Kismayo and other large swathes in the region to remain in the Jubba regions.

Mass arrest in Beledweyne amid search operation

26 Jan- Source: Radio Dalsan- 115 words
Reports from Beledweyne, a central Somalia town indicate that security forces have arrested several people in the town amid search operation during Saturday and Sunday. According to witnesses, the search operation came following two landmine explosions on the west side of Beledweyne. The explosion went off without hurting anyone, but the security officials believe that individuals who were planting the bombs were still hiding in the town. During the operation the security forces stormed houses and business place arresting dozens of young people, mainly men. The operation was jointly conducted by Somali government police in Beledweyne and the Djibouti contingent of the African Union Mission [AMISOM] backing the government forces.

Somali president says his govt bought weapons from abroad

26 Jan- Source: Hiiraan Online/Somali Current/VOA Somali Service- 314 words

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheik Mahmoud has for the first time disclosed that his government bought weapons from some unspecified countries after the United Nations Security Council partially lifted the arms embargo on Somalia last year. In an interview with VOA Somali service, president Mahmoud said that the lifting of the UN arms embargo on the country was necessary to defeat al Qaeda-linked Islamists. “This move has helped us to equip our forces with the kind of arms they needed and we are now planning to buy other weapons in a bid to get complete military equipment for the Somali forces” President Hassan Sheik noted during a prolonged interview with VOA Somali service on Saturday.

Mogadishu residents reject al Shabaab’s support plea

25 Jan- Source: Somali Current- 150 words

Hundreds of people took to the streets in Mogadishu, to show their snub to al Shabaab’s plea of support, to fight with AMISOM and government troops. Earlier last week, the al Qaeda linked group claimed that it met with one of the Hawiye sub-clans and agreed to assist their fight against what they called ‘infidels’. The demonstrators -who walked on streets in the capital – gathered at Warta-nabadda District Headquarter, chanting slogans against the militant group. Warta-nabadda District Commissioner Deka Abdulkadir Ahmed who addressed to the crowd contradicted al Shabaab’s claims, stating the militant group is asking the help of those they are massacring. Mogadishu Assistant Mayor on Security Issues, Warsame Mohamed Hassan pointed out that al Shabaab is the enemy of the people and called to work together eradicating the extremism ideology in Somalia. “The government with the Somali people will jointly liberate the country from al Shabaab and its evil deeds.” Warsame said.

Hiiraan region administration suspends Somali Channel TV operations

26 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/RBC- 167 words
Hiran administration officials have on Sunday temporarily suspended the operations of Somali Channel TV, a 24-hour Somali satellite television. In a press conference held in Baladweyne, Abdikarim Shire Abdi, the deputy head of the region’s social services has accused the channel of airing an anti peace and security program. He said that the program which was aired on Saturday night misstated the actual facts on the ground regarding peace, security and the stability of the region. He accused members of Hiran Diaspora communities who were shown in the program of promoting hatred and inciting violence between the local communities in the region. He noted that the Somali government forces, AMISOM troops, relief agencies and traditional leaders in the region have successfully engaged with the communities in Kabhanley, Jerrey and Defow settlements to end recent inter-clan conflicts in the area. Abdi asked the management of the channel to issue an apology over the program before it is allowed to resume its operations in the region.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan troops restore order to Somalia

26 Jan- Source: Daily Nation- 651 words

The Kenya Defence Forces has pacified large swathes of southern Somalia it helped liberate from control of al Shabaab militants, and normal life is slowly beginning to return to some of the areas. A visit by the SundayNation to Kismayo and Afmadow regions where heavy fighting took place before the al Qaeda-linked militants were driven out indicated that residents who fled to Kenya decades ago were returning, business was thriving while various investors were arriving in search of new opportunities. Working under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), KDF, which has 3664 troops in the portion of the country they call Sector II, is also focusing on capturing towns which are still under al Shabaab control.

Kenya: Police arrest four linked to airport blasts

25 Jan- Source: Standardmedia- 338 words
Four people suspected to be members of the Somali-based al Shabaab terror group have been arrested, the police spokesperson Gatiria Mboroki has said. The quartet is being held because of suspected links to the explosion and shooting at the country’s main airport—the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Speaking at Vigilance House in Nairobi, Mboroki said three suspects were arrested in Marsabit as they travelled to Nairobi. The fourth suspect was arrested in Nyahururu. She said the investigations were on-going about the terror-plot and that’s why she could not reveal the names of the suspects. There have been heightened reports that al Shabaab was planning a retaliation attacks against government targets and major hotels in the country, but Mboroki said the National Police Service was on high alert to thwart all threats.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali militant killed in missile attack

26 Jan- Source: AP- 130 words
A member of Somali rebel group al Shabaab says a senior commander has been killed by a missile fired by a suspected drone. Abu Mohamed told The Associated Press the militant, Sahal Iskudhuq, was killed lateSunday when his car was hit by a missile in Somalia’s Lower Shabelle region. A Somali intelligence official confirmed the attack, describing the victim as a “dangerous” militant. His driver was also killed in the attack, the official said on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to reveal the information. Mohamed blamed the attack on the U.S., which flies drones over Somalia that occasionally fire at one of al Shabaab’s top leaders. Last October, a U.S. military strike hit a vehicle carrying senior members of the al Qaeda-linked group, killing its top explosives expert.

Somali Islamists vow to boost attacks as Ethiopia join AU force

25 Jan- Source: AFP- 313 words

Somalia’s al Shabaab insurgents called Saturday for renewed attacks against foreign forces, after arch-enemy Ethiopia joined the African Union force battling the extremists. Top commanders of the al Qaeda-linked group, including insurgent supremo Ahmed Abdi Godane, met this week after Ethiopia formally joined the UN-backed mission known as AMISOM, al Shabaab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage told AFP. “They have declared that the Somali people must intensify their war against AMISOM,” Rage said. “We defeated Ethiopia before and we know how to battle them now,” he added.

Al Shabaab trained terror suspect free of all controls on UK streets

25 Jan- Source: Telegraph 657 words

A suspected Islamist fanatic trained by the Somali terror group al Shabaab and an alleged recruiter of jihadists has been freed of all controls on his activities. The man, known only as CF, is also an associate of Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed who fled his terror controls last year and disappeared. A second suspect who MI5 warned is a “long-term, committed and historically well-connected extremist” has also been released from all restrictions on his movements. The men are among seven alleged fanatics who have been subject to terrorism prevention and investigation measures (Tpims), which replaced controls orders and were designed to restrict their activities.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Somalia is a beautiful girl. A beautiful girl without qualified Somali men to take her hand, to lead her to good future. The Somali men who seduce this beautiful girl are mad men who do not want a future with this beautiful girl. All those men want is to distort the beauty of this girl, to create irrelevance that makes this beautiful girl confused, abandoned, mentally molested and so on and so forth.”

Somalia in Analogies

27 Jan- Source: Raxanreeb-947 Words
Become an orphan, betrayed by destiny. An orphan disowned by luck but patronized by misfortune. Somalia has fallen into river of death, a river from which it is hard to swim to safety. A river with strange powers that can sink the strongest swimmers on earth. But a question arises: what is the difference between the orphan Somalia has become and the normal orphans, while bearing in mind the figurative quality of the word? There is a great deal of difference: Somalia has not only become an orphan whose parents have almost died, but an orphan who never grows up, who is stuck at being a young lad, an underage teen with chronic naiveity who falls into every pothole of tragedy on the road. Have the parents of the orphan (Somalia) really died? Are they alive but only at near death experience?

“Barack’s story is a true testament to the resilience and perseverance of the Somali-diaspora community in America. There are many more stories of Somalis just like Barack who defied the conventional wisdom in the Somali community about education, and broke down barriers and stereotypes.”

Somali immigrant’s story that enlightened an entire community

26 Jan- Source: Wardheernews-681 Words
This paper will focus on a Somali-immigrant named Barack Barir who fled his home country of Somalia, in search for peace, stability, and an opportunity to pursue a university degree. Barack is a member of the Somali-diaspora community living in America, and he along with most Somalis had to overcome many hardships and obstacles ranging from language barriers to discrimination. Despite all the barriers in his life, Barack persevered and earned a bachelor’s degree from OSU in December 2013. His graduation was a landmark for many Somalis, and truly embodied the strength and resilience this man held, and how he was able to overcome the many obstacles and challenges in his life. Graduation day was especially joyous for Barack’s family, who were overtaken with emotions as they watched their son walk across the stage filled with pride and joy knowing that he has paved a way for many to follow. Prior to coming to OSU, Barack didn’t take a college degree for granted, as he knew the difficulties he would have to endure to be standing on the stage wearing his cap and gown.