January 31, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Several journalists detained in Buhodle

30 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Madiina Online/Hiiraan Online- 124 words
Reports from Buhodle town in northern Somalia indicate that security forces have on Thursday detained several Somali journalists. Members from the local council of the town were said to have been behind the arrests of the journalists. An official in Buhodle has confirmed to Bar-kulan that those arrested during the security crackdown on the media workers include, among others, Somali Channel, Kalsan TV, and SNTV correspondents in Buhodle. The official added that security forces stormed their homes early Thursday, adding that many of them were tortured while others went into hiding. Reports suggest that the arrests came after local journalists issued a statement on Wednesday accusing the local council of mistreatments against the local journalists. The officials from the local administration are yet to comment on the incident.

Key Headlines

Several journalists detained in Buhodle (Radio Bar-kulan/Madiina Online/Hiiraan Online)
President at AU Summit: Somalia is making “great strides” towards peace and security (Office of the President)
Federal Government of Somalia calls on traditional leaders and politicians to observe stability and peace in Baidoa (Office of the Prime Minister)
Parliamentary committee on Security call for end to Inter clan fighting in lower Shabelle region (Radio Shabelle)
Somalia not yet safe for refugees return – UNHCR (Star-Kenya)

PRESS STATEMENT

President at AU Summit: Somalia is making “great strides” towards peace and security

30 Jan- Source: Office of the President- 216 words
His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today said Somalia was making “great strides” towards peace and security as he attended the opening of the African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa.
The President said: “In this summit Somalia is committed to achieving its interests, especially in the area of security. With every year that passes our journey out of the darkness becomes more real for all Somali citizens. We are making great strides and we must continue until we achieve our dream of a safe and prosperous Somalia.”
“To my fellow Africans, let me say Somalia is determined to work towards Agenda 2063 and achieve tangible results in security, good governance, justice and economic development. That is how we as African leaders will transform this great continent.”
The President is accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Abdirahman Dualle Beileh, Minister of Defence H.E. General Mohammed Sheikh Hassan, Minister of Interior and Federalism H.E. Abdullahi Godah Barre, Somalia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia H.E. Ahmed Abdisalan Adan, and senior presidential advisors.
The AU summit will conclude tomorrow, and the President is expected to have bilateral meetings with a number of leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest, especially security.

Federal Government of Somalia calls on traditional leaders and politicians to observe stability and peace in Baidoa

30 Jan- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 87 words
The Federal Government of Somalia calls for traditional leaders and politicians leading the consultations in Baidoa to:
1) Observe the stability and peace and to resist from any provocation that would only serve to escalate tensions
2) The opportunity must be given for the continuation and expansion of the talks in order to create an environment conducive to a successful reconciliation process
3) The Federal Government of Somalia continues to encourage and facilitate the formation of regional administrations based on the federal constitution and laws of Somalia.

SOMALI MEDIA

Several journalists detained in Buhodle

Parliamentary committee on Security call for end to Inter clan fighting in lower Shabelle region

30 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle- 83 words

Dahir Amin Jesow who is the vice chairman of the parliamentary committee on security issues has told the media that he was saddened by the renewed inter clan conflicts in the lower Shabelle region of Somalia. Honorable Jesow added that it was unfortunate to see brotherly clans fighting each other over small issues that can be solved on the round table. The federal Government has previously intervened in the inter clan fightings in the region before but the conflict has restarted again leading to loss of lives and property .

Somaliland Minister of Fisheries suspends Director General due to fallout

30 Jan- Source: Somaliland Informer- 90 words
Somaliland Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Hon. Ali Bureed on Wednesday suspended the Director General of the Ministry of Fisheries Mr. Mohamed Elmi Adam aka Ilka Case. Details are sketchy over what the suspension is all about but reports indicate that there is fallout between the two government officials over the running of the daily day operations of the ministry. The disagreement between the minister and DG is said to have something to do with the operations and plans that the ministry is about to implement as reports said.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia not yet safe for refugees return – UNHCR

30 Jan- Source: Star-Kenya- 141 words

The United Nation High Commission for Refugees has reiterated its earlier call for countries hosting refugees from Somalia not to repatriate them yet the country is not safe. The UN agency said Southern and Central Somalia are too dangerous. Kenya hosts the highest number of Somali refugees in the region at the Dadaab camp. “We are appealing to all states to uphold their international obligations with regard to no forced returns, or non-refoulement. Somali nationals should not be forcibly returned to Somalia unless the returning state is convinced that the persons involved will not be at risk of persecution,” UNHCR spokesman Dan MacIsaac, said in a statement from Geneva yesterday.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somali asylum seeker claims he was sprayed in eyes by Australian Navy; Government says claims of abuse ‘baseless’

30 Jan- Source: ABC- 320 words
New details have emerged about asylum seeker claims that Australian sailors mistreated them during a boat interception operation earlier this month. A Somali asylum seeker has told the ABC that there were angry protests when people found out the boat was being turned around and they were being returned to Indonesia. He alleges that during the onboard argument he suffered burns when he came into contact with a hot engine after an Australian sailor sprayed him in the eyes. The Government has emphatically rejected the claims of mistreatment.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
An international anti-ivory campaign could work in concert with military efforts in the Horn of Africa to counter al Shabaab, but military efforts alone without targeting aal Shabab’s revenue stream could prove futile. Targeting ivory is a win for the international community, for the millions of people who are exposed to al Shabaab’s terror, and for the remaining elephants in Africa.

Severing al Shabaab’s Lifeline

30 Jan- Source: World Policy Blog-808 Words
Over the past eight years, al Shabaab has driven the United Nations peacekeeping forces, non-governmental humanitarian organizations, and NATO allies from its territories, and has withstood American Special Forces raids and Ethiopian and Kenyan military campaigns. Despite international efforts, al Shabaab has become the de facto authority in Somalia and a regional hegemon in the Horn of Africa. An international counter-ivory campaign, however, could weaken al Shabaab’s power and reign of violence. Al Shabaab challenges western-backed governments in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Somalia, launching offensive campaigns and defending its sovereignty with a military based in southern Somalia. Simultaneously, it conducts attacks with insurgency networks that can strike throughout the disputed Somalia territories, the Horn of Africa, and even America’s airports.