July 12, 2012 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somalia’s constituent assembly meeting delayed

12 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 97 words

Somalia’s highly awaited constituent assembly meeting has been delayed for what authorities say is due to technical hitches. Speaking at a ministerial meeting in Mogadishu, constitution and reconciliation minister Abdirahman Hosh Jibril said some elders have not yet submitted their list of constituent assembly members and that out of the 825 members required, only 500 are ready, promising that the remaining 325 will be selected in the coming days.

Key Headlines

Another victim of Garissa church grenade attacks dies (Hiiraan Online)
Lower Shabelle governor declares the region safe (Bar-Kulan)
2 policemen injured in Mandera al Shabaab ambush (Capital News)
Uganda marks second anniversary of ‘al Shabaab’ terror bomb attack (Xinhua)
Somalia sends troops to rescue aid workers nabbed by pirates (BBC News)

PRESS STATEMENT

UNPOS DSRSG Peter de Clercq discusses the Technical Selection Committee from Mogadishu

12 Jul – Source: UNPOS – 306 words

Over the last few days, much of my time has been spent facilitating the standing up of the Technical Selection Committee (TSC) for the selection of the National Constituent Assembly and the National Federal Parliament. The TSC was expressly created to provide quality control to the political selection process of the three most important bodies in recent Somali history:

the council of traditional elders, which provides the names of candidates for the Constituent Assembly and Parliament; the National Constituent Assembly, which will approve the provisional Constitution; and the National Federal Parliament which will govern this country for the next four years until Somalia has universal, popular elections.

This independent committee has the essential task of communicating with the public and thus ensuring credibility, transparency and integrity of the process. This will allow Somalis inside and outside the country to put their faith in the process and will build confidence that their future representatives were selected based on objective criteria.

As I leave Mogadishu for a few days before returning to support the process, I’m buoyed, energized and inspired by the motivation of our Somali colleagues in the TSC, many of whom have left their comfortable lives in North America, Europe and Australia to come home and contribute to the political future of their country.

These women and men from the diaspora are doing so at great risks to themselves and at great personal expense, leaving behind well paid jobs and secure living environments. They believe that Somalia is at a cross-roads, and that their contribution and commitment can and will make a difference at this defining moment. I’m invigorated being part of such an experience. It is this commitment and momentum that will take us forward. It is a sign of stability and, I hope, will signal a turning point in this torn and devastated country.

Puntland police on hunt for aid worker kidnappers

12 Jul – Source: Puntland State of Somalia – 462 words

Three aid workers from Kenya employed by Sweden-based humanitarian agency International Aid Service (IAS) which specializes in water projects were ambushed near Galkayo and kidnapped by a group of outlaws on Wednesday, 11 July 2012. Four persons were wounded during the ambush and exchange of gunfire. Mr. Ahmed Isse Hassan, the IAS Representative in Puntland, is critically wounded and is receiving emergency treatment at a medical center in Galkayo. Two Puntland policemen with the Special Protection Unit (SPU) suffered gunshot wounds and are recovering, while a driver suffered minor injuries.

The group of attackers numbered 14 men driving three vehicles – one Toyota Surf, one Toyota pickup truck, and one Toyota station wagon. The attackers were carrying assault rifles and several PKM machineguns. Aid workers on field assessment visit The three kidnapped Kenyan nationals were identified as follows: Ms. Madoni, who is head of IAS delegation; Mr. Kariyota, who is an engineer working for IAS; and Mr. Abdinur Kambasse, staff for IAS.

The IAS team – driving one vehicle for the aid workers and one vehicle for security escort – left Garowe at 7:00 Wednesday morning en route to a field assessment to towns and villages in Mudug Region, Puntland State of Somalia. The IAS team has conducted similar field assessments in Mudug Region three times since 2011.

The IAS team visited the towns of Harfo and Ba’adweyn along the main tarmac road, and the village of Rooh which is located northwest of Galkayo off the road.The aid workers returned via the same route, from Rooh through Ba’adweyn. As the aid workers passed at a bushy area along the main tarmac road approximately 6km north of Ba’adweyn en route to Garowe, a group of attackers ambushed the aid workers around 15:20 in the afternoon.

Puntland government mobilization The attackers fled with their three Kenyan hostages southwards. Puntland security forces in Galkayo and Jariban districts, as well as Bali Busle town, were immediately mobilized to pursue the kidnappers and to shut off strategic roads to prevent the kidnappers from escaping. However, the kidnappers diverted direction towards southern Mudug Region.

The Governor of Mudug Region, Mr. Mohamed Jama Yusuf (Tigey), led the pursuit along with senior officers from Puntland Police Force. Governor Tigey mobilized local communities and it was reported that the local community in Towfiq village resisted the kidnappers, and reportedly an exchange of gunfire erupted between the kidnappers and local militia.Puntland security forces have been pursuing the kidnappers since Wednesday evening, covering a distance of over 200km of unpaved roads. Government intelligence has confirmed that the kidnappers have escaped towards Hobyo

district, outside of Puntland jurisdiction. Government sources have also confirmed that Al Shabaab-linked militants have supplied the kidnappers with fuel and escorted them towards Hobyo coastal town.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia’s constituent assembly meeting delayed

12 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 97 words

Another victim of Garissa church grenade attacks dies

12 Jul – Source: Hiiraan Online – 96 words

The death toll from the July 1 twin grenade attacks in northern Kenya has risen to 18 after one victim passed on at a Nairobi hospital. Kenya National Hospital said on Wednesday that the victim was among the seven who were airlifted on July 1 for specialized treatment.

Lower Shabelle governor declares the region safe

12 Jul – Source: Bar-kulan – 77 words

Lower Shabelle regional authority has declared parts of the region safe and sound after Somali forces recently ousted rebel rule in Afgoye and its surrounding areas. The area’s regional governor Abdikadir Hajji Mohamed said Afgoye and its environs enjoy reliable security situation.

REGIONAL MEDIA

2 policemen injured in Mandera al Shabaab ambush

12 Jul – Source: Capital News – 152 words

Two police officers were shot and seriously wounded on Thursday morning in an attack blamed on al Shabaab militiamen in Mandera. The officers were in a group of three headed back to Garissa when the militants attacked them in Arabia area, a few kilometers from the border with Somalia.

Unite against terrorism, North Eastern Kenya residents told

12 Jul – Source: Star (Kenya) – 83 words

Residents of North Eastern Province of Kenya have been urged to unite in the fight against terrorism. The call comes as the Kenyan government beefs up security in the region after an attack on two churches in Garissa town on July 1 that claimed lives of 17 people.

Uganda marks second anniversary of ‘al Shabaab’ terror bomb attack

12 Jul – Source: Coast Week/ Xinhua – 333 words

As Ugandan marked the second anniversary of the July 2010 bomb attacks on Wednesday, government urged the public to increase its vigilance to avert any attacks. Fred Opolot, Executive Director of Uganda Media Center in a statement issued here said that government was making efforts both with the country and outside to fight terrorism.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia sends troops to rescue aid workers nabbed by pirates

12 Jul – Source: BBC News – 123 words

Three Kenyan aid workers have been kidnapped in the central Somali town of Galkayo, and Somali authorities say they have sent soldiers to rescue the aid workers from the pirate-controlled town of Garaad on the Somali coast. Swedish aid agency International Aid Services, which helps Somali communities to develop safe sources of drinking water, functioning sanitation systems, and reliable sources of food, confirmed that three of its workers had been kidnapped near Galkayo by armed men.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Assuming that Somalia makes the August 20 deadline for holding presidential elections, some voices are starting to say that the real work – or, some say, the real problems – will begin only after the “transition” is complete.”

Somalia: Missed Transition Deadlines, Speculation about the Long Term

12 July- Source: Sahel Blog-660 Words

This summer, as Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government nears the end of its mandate, the country has a number of deadlines to meet in a political transition meant to culminate in the August 20 presidential election.