January 8, 2014| Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali President: Puntland elections represent “great progress” for Somalia

07 Jan- Source: Office of the President- 294 words

His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today welcomed tomorrow’s presidential elections in Puntland as “great progress” for Somalia. “What is encouraging is that these regular elections strengthen the democratic tradition and culture in Somalia,” the President said. “I hugely welcome the process which has now reached its final stage.Tomorrow Members of Parliament will be electing the next President of Puntland for a new five-year term. I wish every success for these elections.” The President congratulated Said Hassan Shire on his election as Puntland Speaker on 4 January, together with his deputies.“The Puntland Parliament has demonstrated great responsibility in managing this electoral process to date. This has given confidence to the people of Somalia and in particular the people of Puntland. Tomorrow is a big day and we hope that the Puntland Parliament continues its excellent work and selects the best candidate.”

Key Headlines

  • Somalia to evacuate second batch of its citizens from South Sudan (Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu)
  • Somali President: Puntland elections represent “great progress” for Somalia (OP)
  • Security tighten as elections set to start in Puntland (Radio Shabelle/Radio Dalsan)
  • Former warlord’s militiamen defect to Jubaland (Radio Garowe/Kismaayo News)
  • Renowned Somali historian dies in Djibouti age 91 (Radio Bar-kulan/RBC)
  • Heavy security operation conducted in Afgoye town (Radio Dalsan)
  • Kenya: KDF makes  Westgate report (Star- Kenya)
  • Somalis hold ‘thank you’ rally for Turkish govt (worldbulletin)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali President: Puntland elections represent “great progress” for Somalia

07 Jan- Source: Office of the President- 294 words

His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today welcomed tomorrow’s presidential elections in Puntland as “great progress” for Somalia.

“What is encouraging is that these regular elections strengthen the democratic tradition and culture in Somalia,” the President said. “I hugely welcome the process which has now reached its final stage. TomorrowMembers of Parliament will be electing the next President of Puntland for a new five-year term. I wish every success for these elections.”

The President congratulated Said Hassan Shire on his election as Puntland Speaker on 4 January, together with his deputies.

“The Puntland Parliament has demonstrated great responsibility in managing this electoral process to date. This has given confidence to the people of Somalia and in particular the people of Puntland. Tomorrow is a big day and we hope that the Puntland Parliament continues its excellent work and selects the best candidate.”

“I applaud the role of the traditional elders of Puntland for their selection of MPs and I congratulate the authorities on sticking to the timetable for these elections. I thank all the presidential candidates for the calm and peaceful manner in which they have contested these elections. I also praise the Electoral Commission for its management of the process and pay tribute to the security forces for maintaining peace and stability.”

“I say to all the candidates, you have a huge responsibility as you seek the leadership of Puntland and I wish you every success. It’s important for everyone to recognize the outcome of the vote and then support the elected President so he can fulfill his duties. Whoever wins tomorrow, it will also be a victory for all of you, a victory for the people, for Puntland and all of Somalia.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia to evacuate second batch of its citizens from South Sudan

07 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mogadishu- 136 words

Somalia is expected to evacuate a second batch of its citizens from South Sudan on Tuesday, according to Somali Embassy in Juba officials. Somali Ambassador to South Sudan, Abdirahman Nur Mohamed Dinari who is now in Mogadishu said that the Somali government ordered its embassy in Juba to facilitate the evacuation of the Somali nationals stranded in the South Sudan conflicts. Dinari added that at least 130 people are due to arrive in the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Tuesday as part of the evacuation process adding that more are expected in the coming few days. Somalia evacuated more than one hundred people from the escalating conflicts in South Sudan last week. It was the first time that Somalia managed to evacuate its citizens from a conflict zone in a foreign country in more than 30 years.

Security tighten as elections set to start in Puntland

07 Jan- Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Dalsan/Horseedmedia- 127 words

The commander of Puntland’s armed forces General Sacid Mohamed Hersi stated that security of the state capital, Garowe has been tightened in preparation for the presidential elections. The General, who was speaking at a press conference in Garowe, added that the movement in the capital has been minimized and the major roads of the capital have been closed for hours for security reasons. Mr. Hersi has warned civilians not to carry any kind of weapons in the entire region. “We have banned any kind of weapons and this will affect not only the civilians but also personal guards of any candidate,” said Hersi. The elections are set to startWednesday.

Former warlord’s militiamen defect to Jubaland

07 Jan- Source: Radio Garowe/Dhanaan Online/Kismaayo News- 201 words

Somalia’s Jubaland administration presented 10 militiamen who defected from former warlord Col. Barre Hirale in the southern port city of Kismayo on Tuesday. A welcoming ceremony held for the 10 deserters and their commander at Kismayo International airport was attended by Jubaland Vice President Gen. Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail Fartag, Interior Minister Gen. Mohamed Farah Warsame Darwish and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) officials. Gen. Darwish said that Jubaland administration welcomes the move which complies with Addis Ababa agreement in August last year. “I would like to express my facilitations about their decision and I am thanking the deserters for joining Jubaland forces,” noted Darwish. Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Gen. Fartag took a look back at the deadly clashes that occurred in the strategic town of Kismayo and declared that the latest fighting related to political issues alone. “I want to make clear that the recent deadly clashes weren’t clan-based but they can only be linked to political matters,” said Gen. Fartag, adding that the opposing sides already reached consensus on the causes of the conflict. Armed clan militias loyal to Col. Bare Adan Shire (Hirale) were dislodged from Kismayo in June 2013, following heavy fighting with Jubaland forces.

Renowned Somali historian dies in Djibouti age 91

07 Jan- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online/RBC- 86 words

Aw-Jama Omar Isse, a renowned Somali historian and collector of the Somali Literature has on Monday night died in a hospital in Djibouti. The death of the historian who has written a number of books on the Somali History and Literature was confirmed to Bar-kulan by Mohamed Maallim Osman Allmam, a freelance journalist in Djibouti. Aw-Jama Omar Isse was renowned for his extensive writings and narrations on the history of former Somali freedom fighter, Sayid Mohamed Abdulle Hassan and his Darvish State in the 20th century.

Heavy security operation conducted in Afgoye town

07 Jan- Source: Radio Dalsan- 79 words

Somali security forces have launched heavy security operation in the town of Afgoye of Lower Shabelle region. The operation started late on Monday to eliminate armed gangs looting the residents in the farmland town. According to the Afgoye administration, the operation came after the district administration filed a complaint to the ministry of interior and national security following widespread looting and raping the women by unidentified armed gangs. At last nine armed suspects were apprehended during the operation which continued until Tuesday.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenya: KDF makes  Westgate report

07 Jan- Source: Star- Kenya- 958 words

The four terrorists involved in the Westgate mall attack refused to negotiate before they were killed, according to the final report of the Kenya Defence Forces. By the end of the four-day operation in September, five soldiers and policemen had died. Four charred bodies, suspected to be those of the terrorists, were recovered at the mall. Four AK47 rifles, eighteen AK47 magazines, twenty eight pamphlets on hostage taking, three empty metal ammunition boxes, two four-way communication equipment, two machetes and a huge amount of 5.56mm ammunition were recovered.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalis hold ‘thank you’ rally for Turkish govt

07 Jan- Source: worldbulletin- 148 words

Hundreds of Somalis staged a Tuesday rally in Mogadishu to thank the Turkish government for providing their nation with humanitarian aid and development projects. Mogadishu municipality head Mohamed Youssef told Anadolu Agency that the municipality had called for the rally earlier this week to voice its appreciation for Turkish government largesse. Gathered in central Mogadishu’s Freedom Park near the Somali presidential palace, demonstrators raised Somali and Turkish flags while chanting: “Thank you Turkey, thank you [Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip] Erdogan.”

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“With a more stable Somalia and improved maritime security, will the downward trend in piracy attacks continue, or will incidents in East African and Southeast Asian waters ensure rough seas in future?”

Piracy: Safer seas

07 Jan- Source: Post Online-1609 Words

Piracy is on the wane. Despite the huge media attention given to high-profile incidents, statistics from the International Maritime Bureau show piracy hit a five-year low in 2012, with only 297 ships attacked globally, compared with 439 the previous year. The first nine months of 2013 support this trend with only 188 incidents, the lowest third‑quarter figure since 2006. But while statistics showing a net decline are indisputable, they mask a more complex picture, including shifting geographical hot spots and the emergence of new, potentially more violent, modes of piracy. Despite the public perception – fuelled by blockbusters like this year’s Captain Phillips – that piracy is a Somali problem, a large portion of the most recent spate of attacks has been concentrated in the West African region. Of the 188 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the first nine months of 2013, Somalia only accounted for 10, according to the IMB.

The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of AMISOM, and neither does their inclusion in the bulletin/website constitute an endorsement by AMISOM.