January 29, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

AMISOM opens training programs for IJA forces near Kismayo

28 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Dhanaan Online/Hiiraan Online- 137 words

African Union Mission in Somalia known as AMISOM has on Tuesday launched training programs for over 1000 soldiers from Interim Juba Administration in Madhamato, west of Kismayo. First Vice President of the Interim Juba Administration, Abdullahi Ismail Fartag and members from the administration’s cabinet ministers attended the opening of the training programs on Tuesday. Minister of Interior, Mohamed Warsame Darwish said that the forces will be deployed to various parts in Juba regions to drive al Shabaab remnants out of the regions after the completion of their trainings. The first Vice President of Interim Jubba Administration, Abdullahi Ismail Fartag has urged the trainees to make good use of the opportunities given to them by the African Mission in Somalia. The 35-day training program is its first kind since the formation of the Interim Juba Administration last year.

Key Headlines

President: Let 2014 be the year we eliminate al Shabaab (Office of the President)
AMISOM regrets fatal accident (AMISOM)
Spokesman says Government pre-informed on U.S drone strike against al Shabaab commander(RBC/Radio Mogadishu)
Government troops infighting claims one in lower Shabelle region (Radio Shabelle)
Kenya: Police launch hunt for terror suspect (Star-Kenya)
UNHCR urges continued international protection for asylum-seekers from Somalia (UNHCR)

PRESS STATEMENT

President: Let 2014 be the year we eliminate al Shabaab

28 Jan- Source: Office of the President-189 Words
The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia today to galvanize support from African Union partners to eliminate al Shabaab.
Upon arrival the President stated: “We have already got off to a strong start against our enemies this year, acting with our friends and partners to demonstrate forcibly that they have nowhere safe left to hide in Somalia. We are putting them under unprecedented pressure with a series of strikes. We will continue to defeat them militarily as well as in the battle of ideas. Let’s finish the job in 2014.”
Security features high on the AU Heads of State Summit agenda and Somalia is expecting to gain overwhelming support in its efforts to end the war against al Shabaab. Currently the Somali National Army is preparing for major operations against the terrorists, in partnership with AMISOM.
Leaders will also be discussing Agenda 2063, Africa’s ambitious plans to move forward on a range of issues to transform the continent, including good governance and economic development. The President will also be holding bilateral talks with several African leaders on issues of mutual interest.

AMISOM regrets fatal accident

28 Jan- Source: AMISOM- 116 words
The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif has offered his heartfelt apologies to the family of the man killed in a tragic road accident.
The accident occurred today morning along Makka Al-Mukarama road near ambassador hotel, in the capital of Mogadishu, when an armored AMISOM vehicle hit a civilian.
“We deeply regret the tragic accident. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of the deceased who have suffered such a heartbreaking loss,”said Ambassador Annadif adding that AMISOM will co-operate with the Somali Police as it conducts its investigations and appropriate action will be taken upon completion of the investigation.
He stressed that AMISOM is part of the Somali family and we will do all in our power to ensure that our personnel adhere to the laws of the country, protecting civilians and adhering to the rule of law.

SOMALI MEDIA

AMISOM opens training programs for IJA forces near Kismayo

28 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Dhanaan Online/Hiiraan Online- 137 words

Spokesman says Government pre-informed on U.S drone strike against al Shabaab commander

28 Jan- Source: Radio RBC/Radio Mogadishu- 191 words
Somali Government Spokesman has said that the government had prior information on Sunday’s U.S drone attack that killed senior member of the militant group in Somalia. Somalia Government Spokesman Ridwan Haji Abdiweli told the state-run media that the government had some intelligence information about the U.S drone operation against the senior al Shabaab commander near the town of Barawe. “It was an operation which the government had been pre-informed and had all the necessary information,” Ridwan has said. He said the attack killed the commander of the militant group which maintained direct attacks against civilian interests and government places in Mogadishu. “Such operations will help Somalia to be safe from the terrorists hiding in the country,” Mr Abdiweli added. In a short statement posted on a twitter account for the Presidential Villa Somalia Palace, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that the U.S drone strike against Abdukadir Ahmed Iskudhuuq was another blow against the militant group. The President said that his government was working with the international partners to eliminate the terrorist groups from Somalia.

Government troops infighting claims one in lower Shabelle region

28 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle- 181 Words

Two factions of Somali government forces have fought in the lower Shabelle region. The real motive behind the fighting is not yet known however, residents of Wanlawayne district told Shabelle radio that the troops fought each other over clans. At least one soldier has been confirmed dead and two others sustained injuries of different degrees. Government officials in the region who we contacted declined to addressed the inter troops fighting.

Abudwak communities gather to discuss security situation

28 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 147 words
Residents in Abudwak district in central Somali region of Galgadud have on Tuesday held a meeting to discuss reconciliation process and improving the fragile security of the region. Ahmed Jama Dhirif, Abudwak district commissioner told Bar-kulan that various members from the local communities are taking part in the meeting. He said the goal of the meeting is to find a lasting solution to some recurring disputes between the local communities in the region before early next month. Meanwhile, the commissioner stated that a delegation led by his deputy, Abdirizak Ali Jama and the head of social services, Khalif Abdisamad Ali has on Tuesday headed to Mogadishu in an attempt to discuss development programs with the federal government officials. Dhirif added that the delegation will meet with politicians, business communities and traditional elders from the region and will jointly discuss the development and the future of the district.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: Police launch hunt for terror suspect

28 Jan- Source: Star-Kenya- 72 words

Police have launched a manhunt for a terror suspect who escaped a police dragnet during a raid on his house in Kwale . During the operation police recovered an AK-47 rifle, 38 rounds of ammunition, two magazines and military uniforms from the house. Police suspected the firearms were part of arms he smuggled from Somalia to Kenya. The anti terror police officers have released the identity of the man as Ali Mohammed Delawa.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UNHCR urges continued international protection for asylum-seekers from Somalia

28 Jan- Source: UNHCR- 546 words
The UN refugee agency on Tuesday announced that it has released updated guidelines on the international protection needs of people fleeing southern and central Somalia that underscore the need for governments to assess applications for protection on the basis of reliable, up-to-date information about the situation in Mogadishu and other areas. “Notice needs to be taken of the impact of the armed conflict on civilians,” stressed UNHCR spokesperson, Fatoumata Lejeune-Kaba , in Geneva, who said that while security has improved in some parts of southern and central Somalia, armed conflict and human rights abuses continue to compel Somalis to leave their country. More than 42,000 Somalis sought asylum in neighbouring countries and elsewhere in 2013.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“The international community owes the hardworking people of Somaliland a rethink about its diplomatic recognition. Still, a state may thrive without international recognition, and Somaliland remains a region keen on squeezing fresh lemon juice out of the lemonade handed to it, Taiwan-style.”

Somaliland is more viable than Somalia, why not recognise it?

28 Jan- Source: Africa Review-648 Words
On the face of it, Somaliland has all the basic characteristics required for statehood: a settled population, a largely defined territory (bar a dispute with Puntland) and a central government in effective control. Indeed, it has its own flag, currency, army, police and holds regular–and democratic–elections. Adventurous travellers to the region located north of Somalia tell of a warm people, glorious weather and stunning landscape such as the Cal Madow ranges. Even the fact that one has to pay for goods while there with a wheelbarrow-load of local currency has not deterred the refreshing entrepreneurial spirit of the locals. The region unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991, in the chaos that followed the collapse of the central Somalia government. Even then, the country has always had ambitions of self-determination, considering itself a successor to the British Somaliland protectorate of 1960, before an ill-advised unity bid with Italian Somaliland.