January 7, 2014| Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali President receives IGAD Special Envoy in Mogadishu

06 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle- 147 words

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has on Monday received the newly appointed IGAD Special Representative to Somalia, Ambassador Mohamed Abdi Afey in Mogadishu. The president thanked IGAD for its continued support to the government of Somalia in its quest for peace and stability after more than two decades of civil war and political turmoil. “I thank IGAD for its whole-hearted support of Somalia during difficult times,” the President said in a press release. “IGAD is a valued friend and partner. Ambassador Afey brings a particularly acute understanding of the situation and priorities of Somalia as it continues its journey from conflict to recovery and development. We look forward to enhancing this productive partnership in the months and years ahead.” He added. Meanwhile, in his first visit to Somalia since his appointment last month, Ambassador Afey emphasized that IGAD will continue to support the peace process in Somalia.

Key Headlines

Somalia: PEC releases the list of presidential candidates (Somali Current/Radio Garowe)
Somali President receives IGAD Special Envoy in Mogadishu (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV)
How to become the president of Puntland (Africa Review)
Two drown in River Shabelle floods (Radio Ergo)
Mogadishu mayor: No al Shabaab official will fly out of Mogadishu airport (Radio Shabelle/Jowhar Online)
EU set to fight piracy in Somalia (neurope)

PRESS STATEMENT

President welcomes new IGAD Special Envoy’s support for Somalia

06 Jan- Source: Office of the President- 140 words

His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today welcomed the new IGAD Special Envoy to Somalia and expressed his gratitude for the organisation’s support in the country’s ongoing recovery.

Ambassador Mohammed Abdi Afey travelled to Mogadishu on his first visit to Somalia since his appointment last December. During a courtesy call on the President he emphasized IGAD’s commitment to support the government’s vision to bring peace, stability and development to Somalia.

“I thank IGAD for its whole-hearted support of Somalia during difficult times,” the President said.

“IGAD is a valued friend and partner. Ambassador Afey brings a particularly acute understanding of the situation and priorities of Somalia as it continues its journey from conflict to recovery and development. We look forward to enhancing this productive partnership in the months and years ahead.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia: PEC releases the list of presidential candidates

06 Jan- Source: Somali Current/Radio Garowe/Hiiraan Online/Horseed Media- 101 words

Puntland’s Electoral Commission has released on Monday a list of the presidential candidates running for the regional elections that is due to be held on Wednesday (January 8 2014). PEC Spokesperson, Sadiq Abshir Garad told the media that today was the deadline for candidates to submit their candidacy letters, stating that eleven presidential candidates are authorized to take part the elections. The outgoing president, Abdirahman Sheikh Mohamed a.k.a Farole and former Somali Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali are among the candidates for the Puntland Presidency. In addition, ten other candidates are running for the position of the Deputy President.

Somali President receives IGAD Special Envoy in Mogadishu

06 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Radio RBC/Radio Shabelle- 147 words

Two drown in River Shabelle floods

06 Jan- Source: Radio Ergo- 166 words

Two people have reportedly drowned on Saturday in the ongoing flooding in Middle Shabelle region. One of them was a nine-year old girl identified as Farhiya Nor Muhamed, who was taking cattle to graze on the edges of river Shabelle for her pastoralist family in Congo village, about 5 km south of Jowhar. Her grandfather Ahmed Nor said she was swept away by the water. The other person was 15 year-old Darbane Saleban, who was trying to reach the north of Jowhar from the south. The chairman of Baaroow village, Hussein Mowlid Saleban, said Darbane was trying to swim across the river as there were no boats available at that time. He drowned in the raging flood waters. Last month, seven people died in the same area when their makeshift boat capsized. Four women and an elderly man also in the boat were rescued by residents. Radio Ergo’s reporter put the death toll at 10 since the Shabelle River floods started in August.

Mogadishu mayor: No al Shabaab official will fly out of Mogadishu airport

06 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle/BBC Somali Service/Jowhar Online- 172 words

The mayor of Mogadishu who is also the Governor of Banadir region Mr. Mohamud Mohamed Nur Tarsan who spoke to the BBC Somali service has vowed that the time for al Shabaab officials to fly out from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde international airport has come to an end. Mr. Trasan told the BBC Somali section that they have launched a new identification card which will be issued to all Somali citizens starting from Mogadishu in order to identify and follow up any one who is a member of the militant group. The mayor added that issue of the identity card has now begun at Bandar’s administration headquarters and has urged all Somali citizens to register. “Our aim is to identify the children, wives of top al Shabaab officials and the officials themselves who often fly out of Mogadishu using Aden international airport,” said Tarsan while talking to the BBC. Tarsan’s remarks come days after the president of the federal republic of Somalia Prof Hassan Sheikh Mohamud urged all citizens to get National identity cards.

REGIONAL MEDIA

How to become the president of Puntland

06 Jan- Source: Africa Review- 302 words

For one to become the president of Puntland, a self-governing territory north-east of Mogadishu, they must not have a foreign spouse. Neither can they marry one while in office, according to a new set of qualifications by the semi-autonomous region’s parliament. “Each presidential candidate must pay fees amounting to $10,000 at the time of submitting the application and curriculum vitae,” a six-member electoral committee appointed by the country’s parliament said. They must also be Muslims, natives of Puntland and must not have been charged and found guilty of treason. About 15 candidates are seeking support from the 66-seat House of Representatives – sworn in on January 1 – which will elect the president on January 8. The new rules further stipulate that candidates should not have had their assets frozen over the last five years.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

EU set to fight piracy in Somalia

06 Jan- Source: neurope- 231 words

On January 1, the European Union assumed the one year chairmanship of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) with Maciej Popowski, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) as EU chairperson. The EU is strongly committed to bringing the number of ships and seafarers captured by Somali pirates down to zero. As High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President Catherine Ashton stated: “Pirate attacks over the past year have dropped by 95%, but the fight against piracy is not yet won. It is vital that the international community continues to work together to stamp out piracy and consolidate the gains we have already made”.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“International efforts have tightened the noose on Somalia’s infamous pirates, but the scourge is alive in West Africa and could well return to the country”

Did 2013 Mark the End of Somali Piracy?

06 Jan- Source: Times-1037 Words

When five armed men in a small motorboat approached an oil tanker sailing off the coast of Somalia on Dec. 9, the crew sprang into action. They increased speed and unleashed fire hoses off the side to evade the assailants, according to a report from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). They called for help from the British Royal Navy, which dispatched a helicopter to their location. And they summoned to the deck an armed security team traveling with the tanker, who made sure the assailants saw they were carrying weapons. The suspected pirates, presumably now deterred from their original intentions of attempting to hijack the ship and kidnap its crew, turned back. It’s a testament to the success of recent antipiracy measures that hijackings of major shipments off the coast of Somalia plummeted to zero in 2013, according to the final numbers compiled by the U.S. Navy and released last week. The pirates are also trying less often: there were nine suspected attempts in 2013 in the shipping lanes that pass between Yemen and Somalia, down from seven hijackings and 25 attempts a year earlier. In 2009, there were 51 hijackings and 130 attempts, according to the Navy, including the failed attempt to take the Maersk Alabama that formed the basis of the Hollywood film Captain Phillips.