January 27, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Puntland presidential guards stage strike over salary

26 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 233 Words

Presidential Security Unit (PSU) soldiers staged a strike at Bossaso palace over delayed pay as the Puntland government ponders the installation of new note printing plant, Garowe Online reports. The mutineers, who cordoned off the entrances to Bossaso palace where President Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was holding a meeting, are said to have not been paid for seven months. Puntland Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Saed Mohamed Hirsi (Saed Dhere) intervened, telling the striking soldiers to wait two months for their salary.

Meanwhile, a statement released to the media by Puntland Finance Ministry said that civil servants and security forces will be paid on 25th of every month. Though the government noted that the payment will become effective in January 2015, it has not mentioned whether it would pay off long overdue salaries at a later date. Insiders tell GO that a group of businessmen, including first deputy speaker of parliament Abdihamid Sheikh Abdisalan, planned to set up a note printing plant– a move that economists say could plunge the state into severe meltdown.

In March 2014, Puntland Defence Forces in the 54th Somali army base staged a similar mutiny, setting tires on fire and chanting for their military rights. In early July, a 500-bed Danish-funded pirate-holding complex in the state capital of Garowe came on the verge of closure but Puntland Custodian Corps Chief Gen. Ali Nur later denied the reported substandard conditions in the prison facility in an emailed statement.

Key Headlines

Puntland presidential guards stage strike over salary (Garowe Online)
Southwest State opened reconciliation conference in Afgoye (Radio Goobjoog)
Jubaland leader calls on Somalis abroad to return(Garowe Online)
Food aid distributed in parts of Middle Shabelle (Radio Bar-kulan)
Puntland approves its school curriculum (Radio Dalsan)
Mogadishu mayor hails Turkey’s development projects in Somalia(Radio Bar-kulan)
Former Somalia president announces new charity organization in UK(Somali Current)
Police seize smuggled food (Star)
Somali shop owner’s case postponed (SABC)

SOMALI MEDIA

Puntland presidential guards stage strike over salary

26 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 233 Words

Southwest State opened reconciliation conference in Afgoye

26 Jan – Source: Radio Goobjoog- 100 Words

The Southwest State administration commenced a five-day reconciliation conference in Afgooye between the elders of clans who fought days ago in Lower Shabelle region. The meeting was also attended by MPs, intellectuals, ministers from Southwest State and elders from Lower Shabelle region who will be observers and arbitrators .The president of Southwest State, speaking at the meeting, has remarked on the importance of peace, and the role people in the region have to play to stabilize it. This comes after heavy skirmish erupted between the two clans which resulted in the death and displacement of many locals around the area.

Jubaland leader calls on Somalis abroad to return

26 Jan – Source: Garowe Online – 140 Words

Jubaland President Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Madobe) has called on Somalis in the diaspora to return home on account of the improving security situation in the country, Garowe Online reports. Speaking at special gathering with diaspora returnees at the Jubaland presidential palace in the southern port city of Kismayo, President Madobe noted that the fishing and agriculture sectors are offering encouraging opportunities for the native residents who are currently living abroad. Madobe also commended Somali-Americans for equipping Kismayo General Hospital with modern equipment. Jubaland diaspora members have been flocking into the once bullet-riddled Kismayo where armed militias long vied for control. Jubaland is a home to one of the busiest seaports in the country. Locals are heavily reliant on the fertile hinterlands along Jubba River for their livelihoods. Jubaland is a federal state that shares Somalia’s extreme southern border with neighboring Kenya.

Food aid distributed in parts of Middle Shabelle

26 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 121 Words

500 needy families in Middle Shabelle region have received food donated by the Turkish government and channeled through Somalia’s interior ministry.The Middle Shabelle administration distributed the 15,000 kg of food aid comprising of flour and sugar to families in Marerrey, Sabun and Labo-wab villages. Ahmed Mayre Makara, head of a committee tasked to distribute the food, said they gave out the items to the neediest families in the area.The distribution task which was launched several days ago is expected to be concluded today, according to members of the committee. Most of the beneficiaries are said to be displaced families who have recently returned to their homes after fleeing from clan clashes in areas near Jowhar district.

Puntland approves its school curriculum

26 Jan – Source: Radio Dalsan – 166 Words

The Puntland education ministry managed to approve a common curriculum for Puntland.This was achieved after envoys selected for the task debated the curriculum over the last couple of days. The Minister of Education for Puntland, Hon. Ali Haji Warsame, delivered a lengthy speech at an event marking the approval of the curriculum. In his speech, the minister said there is no dispute over the approval of the curriculum, adding that this will be the common curriculum in all the public schools of Puntland.

“I am very happy and excited in the fair and free manner in which this curriculum was debated,”the minister said. He added that Puntland has a good number of academicians who understand modern education, and who are ready to take part in efforts to alleviate ignorance among the younger generation.The curriculum of Puntland was first written in 2011, but later on several amendments were made to it.

Mogadishu mayor hails Turkey’s development projects in Somalia

26 Jan – Source: Radio Bar-Kulan – 194 Words

Benadir Governor and Mogadishu Mayor, Hassan Mohamed Hussein (Mungab,) has hailed Turkey’s support for the Somali people and said Somalis would never forget it. The Benadir administration on Sunday night held an event to show support and appreciation for the Turkish development projects in the country.The event was attended by government officials, members of Turkish aid agencies in the capital, singers and many other people.“Somalis are grateful for the unwavering support of the Turkish people and the recent visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Mogadishu,” Mungab said.

He added the Turkish government implemented all the development projects it earlier promised in 2011 when the then-Prime Minister Erdogan visited the country at the height of the famine. Abdullahi Godah Barre, the acting Minister of Interior and Federalism, said Erdogan’s Sunday visit to Somalia was historic and showed the strong relations between the two brotherly nations.

Turkish Red Crescent vice chairman, Nihat Adiguzel, said they will continue supporting the Somali people and their government, as part of the efforts to strengthen the ties between the two countries.The Turkish president launched development projects sponsored by his government including an airport terminal in Mogadishu.

Former Somalia president announces new charity organization in UK

26 Jan – Source: Somali Current – 157 Words

Former Somali president Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed on Monday announced a new charity organization in Bristol. The Samadoon Foundation was established to focus on health, education and Somalia’s prevailing reconciliation process. Bristol mayor George Ferguson, former Somalia PM Nuur Adde and key selected Somali community members in the UK attended a highly structured avowal ceremony held in Bristol.

“I was planning to declare this new organization, and [explain that] it will focus Somalia’s basic development. Somali people need effective reconciliation and compromise,” Sheikh Sharif said. He said that Samadoon Foundation is free from politics and asked Somali people to work with his new organization. The former president, who is currently studying in the UK met with Somali community members in Bristol. During his term as Somali president, Sheikh Sharif led the transitional government and worked with forces who ousted Al-shabaab militants from Mogadishu.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Police seize smuggled food

26 Jan – Source:Star – 82 Words

Police have seized Sh500,000 contraband food on the outskirts of Garissa town.Garissa deputy county commissioner Dominick Kyenza on Saturday said police were informed of the 47 bags of sugar and 50 cartons of powder milk in a house. Kyenza said the owner was arrested. He said the lorry that delivered the consignment left moments before the police arrived. Kyenza said the arrest is a major breakthrough in the fight against contraband goods from Somalia that have saturated the Garissa market.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali shop owner’s case postponed

26 Jan – Source: SABC- 167 Words

Somali shop owner Senosi Yusuf’s murder case was postponed by the Protea Magistrate’s Court on Monday. Magistrate Herman Badenhorst postponed the matter to February 4 so Yusuf’s status in the country could be established. Yusuf is accused of shooting dead Siphiwe Mahori, 14, in Snake Park, Soweto, last Monday. He allegedly fired at a group of people trying to rob his shop. Members of the police’s tactical task team were in the courtroom.

Yusuf, wearing a jersey and cargo pants, spoke through a Somali interpreter. His brother, who refused to be named or speak to reporters, was in court accompanied by three Somali men.The shooting sparked a wave of looting of foreign-owned shops, which spread from Soweto to Kagiso on the West Rand and Sebokeng in the Vaal, causing several deaths, including a baby who was trampled by a group of people running.Thirty alleged looters were due to appear in the same court on Monday, on charges including possession of stolen goods and public violence.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The action of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH was to lay the foundation for this universal values that is based on clear and understandable and unambiguous rules. It is the clearest evidence that you cannot combine public service work with personal interests.”

Is corruption a Somali culture?

26 Jan – Source: Hiiraan Online – 866 Words

The parliament forced the Prime Minister of Somalia to annul his ministerial choices, apparently he feared the parliament may not approve it without making significant changes. There are a lots of debates of ‘why’s?’, but the underlying reason cannot be denied; it is because there is such a demand and stampede for these official positions.Consider this fact, how many honest folks are willing to trade a comfortable job in an advanced country to a job that pays less than $1000 per month with the added risk of being assassinated, blamed and still be expected to do a professional job? In addition, they are not getting an AC, hot shower, a fridge, and all the amenities they have been accustomed to! They are also going to be fighting very aggressive flies that want to eat their breakfast! Only a sincere few will be interested for such a job.

This brings me to a statement that I hear at Somali gatherings, that corruption cannot be eliminated because we have a culture of corruption. But do we really have corruption as a culture? I beg to differ. All nations derive their culture from their religious identity whether it is Islam, Christianity, Judaism or Buddhism. Somali culture’s DNA is that of Islam. We may have incorporated into our ways of doing things but the overarching framework and reference for the Somali culture is that of Islam. Islam is evident in our major life events such as marriage, death, birth, blood money, reconciliation or Gar Qaad.The question that arises then is, does Islam condone corruption? If we go back to the Islamic sources we find that Islam as Universal Systems has unequivocally condemned all forms of corruption.

“Khatumo and Somaliland could be helped to explore ways to work together to reverse the impact of conflict- induced underdevelopment in Sool. It will be a win-win situation and show stakeholders that Khatumo and Somaliland leaders have the interests of people in Sool at heart.”

Somaliland- Khatumo conflict can be resolved

25 Jan – Source: Wardheer News – 800 Words

The recurrent clashes in Sool region in northern Somalia are undermining the reputation of Somaliland “Republic” as a bastion of democracy. Its state-building model is now being proposed as a lesson for Southern Somalia in its search for a durable state. Neither those in favour of union nor those keen on secession will win if a political solution is not found. Within this seemingly intractable conflict lie opportunities for peace-making. Two principles will guide the peace-making effort. Principle One will be used to explore weaknesses and strengths in each side’s argument to promote self-criticism instead of self-righteousness. Principle Two will make use of brainstorming. The aim is to challenge each side to own up to weaknesses and suggest ways to convert them into strengths.

Let us apply one of those two principles to Khatumo “State” and to Somaliland “Republic”. Khatumo was formed in 2012 as autonomous administration independent of both Puntland and Somaliland administrations. The Somali Federal Government has not officially recognised it. Geographically, territories Khatumo “State” claims lie within what was once known as Ex-British Somaliland. Emergence of Khatumo is a vote of no confidence for the kinship-based principles on which Puntland was founded in 1998. Khatumo enjoys a massive Diaspora support and considerable local support in territories under Somaliland administration. In reality, it is a third, well- organised political group claiming to represent the Dhulbahante clan. It is in competition for loyalty with two groups supported by Somaliland and Puntland. Hostility from Puntland and Somaliland towards Khatumo deprives its leaders of a major condition conducive to forming a local administration. In its first six years either Somaliland or Puntland did not face external, clan-based threats to its state-building efforts.

Areas under Khatumo have been attacked or taken over by Somaliland forces more than four times since 2012. Two Khatumo co-founding presidents have defected to Puntland — a continuing trend of turn-coat politicians and traditional leaders who profit from conflict. According to the Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, Khatumo “could indirectly benefit Al-Shabaab”. The Wikipedia entry of Khatumo contains a translation of “Khatumo State of Somalia” into Arabic as Wilāyat Arḍ al-Khatoum aṣ-Ṣūmāliyyah . Wilayat is an Arabic word used by Al-Shabaab to describe a regional administration under its control. However, Khatumo leaders have never been sympathetic to Al-Shabaab.