July 22, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Ethiopia troops ‘begin pullout’ from key Somali city

21 Jul- Source: Walta Information Centre/Fox News- 393 words
Ethiopian troops who entered Somalia in November 2011 to help fight Al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents have begun their withdrawal from the key central city of Baidoa, the foreign ministry said Thursday. “Ethiopia’s troops are pulling out of Baidoa and AMISOM will be taking over,” foreign affairs ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told AFP, referring to the African Union force in Somalia. Ethiopia has for several months said it plans to hand over control of the city to AMISOM, whose 17,700-strong force is backing Mogadishu’s weak central government. Ethiopian troops captured Baidoa from the extremists last year, and AU troops later joined them.

Key Headlines

Prime Minister calls for calm and declares “unshakeable” commitment to press freedom (Office of The Prime Minister)
Somali president urges military officials to work on restoring peace (Radio Mogadishu/ SNTV)
UN experts slam Facebook for Somalia sanctions silence (AFP)
UN voices fears over Somalia media law (Aljazeera/AFP)
Jubbaland forces conduct security operation in Kismayo (Somali Channel TV/ Horn Cable TV
Senior court official killed in Beledweyne (Radio Bar-kulan/Universal TV)
Journalists decry new media legislation in Mogadishu ( Radio Ergo)
Puntland Parliament approves new region and cabinet members (Garowe Online)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister calls for calm and declares “unshakeable” commitment to press freedom

20 Jul- Source: Office of The Prime Minister- 352 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon emphasised today the government’s “unshakeable” commitment to press freedom and advised against a rush to judgement before the Media Law was sent to parliament.
“There has been a good deal of overexcited reporting about the Media Law in recent days, much of it ill-informed,” the Prime Minister said. “The suggestion that it was going to require journalists to be aged 40 or over, for example, owes more to fantasy fiction than accurate reporting. We need calm discussion and sensible consultations and this is how we are proceeding with a series of consultations with all interested stakeholders.”
The Prime Minister stressed that the Council of Ministers had only approved the Media Law subject to amendments being made by the Minister of Information Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi. Once those were incorporated the draft legislation would then be sent to parliament for further debate and consultation, giving additional scope for amendments.
The Prime Minister, together with the Minister of Information and his Deputy Minister Abdishakur Ali Mire, hosted an iftar dinner for Somali journalists on 18 July specifically so they could raise their issues and concerns regarding the draft Media Law.
Mohammed Ibrahim, Secretary-General of the National Union of Somali Journalists, thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to discuss these issues. He and a number of Somali journalists raised a number of issues, including protection of sources, the independence of the National Media Council, the Council’s powers, access to information and lifting the suspension of journalists if convicted.
“I am on record numerous times on the subject of defending press freedom and journalist’s rights and my government’s commitment to this is unshakeable,” the Prime Minister said. “I would like to assure Somali journalists and the international community alike that there is plenty of time for further consultations on and amendments to the Media Law. We are fully aware of concerns in this area and are determined to proceed on the basis of international best practice so that press freedom in Somalia is properly enshrined in law.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Jubbaland forces conduct security operation in Kismayo

21 Jul- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Somali Channel TV/ Horn Cable TV/ Kismaayonews- 120 words

Jubbaland security forces in the key Somali town of Kismayo have conducted massive security operation in the port city following explosions and targeted killings in the area. Confirming the operation, Moalim Mohamed Ibrahim, a senior Jubbaland official said that a number of suspected al Shabaab sympathizers had been arrested during the operation. Moalim Mohamed vowed that the ongoing security operation will continue till the city is fully stable. When asked about Saturday’s killing of five civilians, he stated that they have appointed a committee to investigate the matter. A number of explosions targeted to the AU peacekeeping forces in the town have occurred in the southern town where civilians had been killed.

Somali president urges military officials to work on restoring peace

21 Jul- Source: Radio Mustaqbal/ Radio Mogadishu/ SNTV- 114 words

The president of Federal Government of Somalia Republic Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has called on the military officials to double their efforts to restore the stability and peace to the State. Somali president who met with military officials in Villa Somalia has warned the military forces not to violate the Somali society. He flattered the hard work the military forces have for Somali people and encouraged them to work on peace and stability of Somalia. The president also said the military officials will be promoted with system they deal with the society. The society mostly complained about the armed groups dressed in military uniform, those robe and molest the women and other vulnerable people .

Senior court official killed in Beledweyne

21 Jul- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Universal TV/ Horn Cable TV- 94 words

Unidentified armed men have reportedly shot dead a senior official of Hiiran region court Moalim Hassan Elmi Ciyow on Saturday evening in Beledweyne central town. Confirming the incident, Beledweyne police boss Isaq Ali Abdulle told Bar-kulan that the official was killed after leaving a mosque in city during evening prayers. The assailants are said to have immediately fled from the scene of the incident, the official was rushed to Beled-weyne general hospital where he later passed away. Isaq has accused al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab militants of carrying out the attack.

Prominent doctor killed in Mogadishu outskirts

21 Jul- Source: Radio Dalsan/ Shabelle/ Radio Bar-kulan-132 words

A prominent doctor and the general director of Shifa hospital in Mogadishu Dr Osman Abdirahman Fiqi has been shot dead in the outskirts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Friday evening. The doctor was killed in Elasha-Biyaha areas, about 20 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu by unknown assailants armed with pistols after he left mosque in Hayat neighborhood. The deceased with accompanied by his father. The reason of the killing is not clear but this becomes a part of the repeated targeted killings in the Somali capital Mogadishu which has rapidly increased in the recent days.
Dr Osman Abdirahman Fiqi was Sunday morning buried at Moalim Nur cemeteries, just 13 KMs away from the Somali capital. Few days ago, the deputy commissioner of Yaqshid district in Mogadishu was shot dead near her home.

Journalists decry new media legislation in Mogadishu

20 Jul- Source: Radio Ergo- 186 words

Journalists have opposed draft media legislation passed by Somalia’s council of ministers last week. The new law will give the government the power to stop journalists from work deemed to undermine national security. The draft also recommends the creation of a national media council, which will work under the ministry of information, to regulate all media activities. Abdinasir Hersi Idle, a prominent journalist, described the draft as an attempt by the government to control the media in the whole country. “That [national media] council should be an independent body advocating for press freedom and journalists’ right; putting it under the control of the government is unreasonable and removes a system of checks and balances,” Abdinasir said in an interview with Radio Ergo. The proposed national media council will comprise of 15 members, eight from the government and five chosen from the media. The draft law gives the proposed national media council broad powers to regulate media outlets. It will be able to suspend or fine journalists, and to revoke licenses for media houses. Journalists will be required to reveal their sources if asked by a court of law.

Somaliland New Foreign Affairs Minister Arrives in Hargeisa

21 Jul- Source: Radio Hargeysa/ Somaliland Informer/ Somaliland Press- 97 words
New Somaliland Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed Biihi Yoonis arrives in Hargeisa on Sunday and received a rousing welcome. The new foreign Minister has departed Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia boarding private plane that carried him to his homeland and touched down at Egal International. Somaliland’s president Ahmed Silanyo has chosen Biihi to replace his predecessor who came under fire due to lack of skills in the arena of diplomacy. The new Foreign minister has been received by government officials including ministers, MP’s and thousands of Somaliland citizens.

Puntland Parliament approves new region and cabinet members

21 Jul- Source: Garowe Online- 132 words

Law makers in Somalia’s Puntland parliament have unanimously approved a new region and three Deputy Ministers on Saturday, Garowe Online reports. Puntland Parliament Speaker Abdirashid Mohamed Hirsi told the media that the 30th parliamentary session of Puntland MPs approved Guardafu region, a proposed region in north east Puntland whose capital will be Alula and three Deputy Ministers appointed by Puntland President Abdirahman Mohamed Farole.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Ethiopia troops ‘begin pullout’ from key Somali city

UN voices fears over Somalia media law

21 Jul- Source: Aljazeera/AFP- 380 words

The United Nations has raised concerns about a new media law in Somalia only days after UN experts sounded the alarm over corruption in the African country’s new government. The UN Human Rights Office has urged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government to review a new law that would require journalists to reveal sources and prevent them spreading information against Islam or Somali traditions, said a statement released on Sunday. Rupert Colville, spokesman for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the legislation was “vague” and “could easily be used to curtail freedom of expression”. The draft legislation, which could become law within two months, requires journalists to reveal their sources if published information stirs up public sentiment.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

UN experts slam Facebook for Somalia sanctions silence

20 Jul- Source: AFP- 201 words

UN sanctions experts have complained to the UN Security Council that Facebook refuses to answer questions about ship hijackings suspected to be organized on social media sites. In a new report released Friday, the experts — who monitor a UN arms embargo against Somalia as well as sanctions against accused pirates and al Shabaab Islamists — say Facebook has failed to respond to “repeated” approaches. The sanctions investigators say Somalia’s notorious piracy business is supported by accomplices who could be bankers, businessmen, politicians or aid workers “all using their regular occupations or positions to facilitate one or another network.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Even if you’ve dived in other African countries, the Berbera coast of Somaliland seemingly never fails to throw a completely new experience at every diver.”

Somaliland: Scuba Diving Berbera Coast

21 July- Source: Somalilandpress-514 Words
A trip to Somaliland is nothing close to a traditional vacation. Experienced scuba divers, however, are among those few who can hear the country’s name and push aside the negative hype, imagining instead the blissfully blue waters and teeming marine life of the Red Sea. The rarely-visited beaches, surprisingly, are something that off-the-beaten-path travelers consider a plus–the feeling of having the water all to oneself is increasingly rare in this era of global development. For those with a sense of adventure–especially women, who are a rare sight on most Somali beaches–the Berbera Coast in the Gulf of Aden is one site to consider adding to your bucket list of adventure dives.

“So far attention has focused on Somalia, where years of conflict have destroyed the banks and left no real alternatives to cheap money transfers. But the 250 firms put on notice by Barclays also include some serving Ghana and Nigeria, as well as India and Bangladesh.”

African money transfers: Let them remit

20 July- Source: The Economist-753 Words
FOR Mohamed Abdulle, sending money to his family in Somalia means a trip to a high street in Stratford, East London, home to a large expatriate community. Once there he hands over cash, a telephone number and a name, usually that of his grandmother who lives in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, to an agent. A few minutes later Mr Abdulle, who works as a shop assistant, gets a text message letting him know the cash has arrived on the other side. This fast and reliable system, developed during decades of war in Somalia, is used by hundreds of thousands in the global diaspora, as well as by some UN offices and aid agencies to pay staff.