July 22, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Puntland Parliament passes new media bill

21 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Somali Channel TV/RBC/Garowe Online – 151 words

The parliament of Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland on Monday passed Puntland Media Bill which was proposed by the regional administration’s Ministry of Information. Puntland Parliament Speaker Said Hassan Shire announced the outcome of the parliament debate saying 32 legislators voted in favor of the bill, one opposed and 4 abstained from voting out of the 37 lawmakers that attended the parliament session in Garowe. Meanwhile, Media Association of Puntland rejected the passing of the new bill saying the bill favors Puntland Ministry of Information and restricts press freedom in Puntland. The association said its main concern in the new bill is the authority given to Ministry of Information to issue identification cards to the media workers in Puntland.

Key Headlines

Somali PM: Donors must deliver on promises (Al Jazeera)
Puntland Parliament passes new media bill (Bar-kulan)
Banadir administration officer killed in car bomb (Radio Goobjoog)
Somali govt denies reports that al Sheehan officials met with elders in Mogadishu (Hiiraan Online)
Somali General vows to revenge on al Shabaab relatives (Somali Current)
Clean-up exercise commences in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)
Kwale police arrest terror suspect and recover cache of firearms (Coastweek/Xinhua)
18 Somali immigrants suffocated to death in the sea (Somali Current)

SOMALI MEDIA

Puntland Parliament passes new media bill

21 Jul – Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Somali Channel TV/RBC/Garowe Online – 151 words

Banadir administration officer killed in car bomb

21 Jul – Source: Radio Goobjoog/Radio Kulmiye – 139 words

A local administration officer of Banadir province identified as Hussein Dini Doli has been killed after his car exploded in the capital, Mogadishu. Mr. Hussein was the chief of the fourth division of Wardhigley District of Banadir province. The explosion came as a result of an explosive device that was fitted to his car according to sources. His car detonated as he was driving near the Sheikh Abdi Mosque at Hamar Bile junction. Security forces arrived at the scene and investigations are on to determine the exact cause of the blast. The attack comes at a time where a security conference is being held in Mogadishu in the past few days which has been accompanied by increased violence by al Shabaab who have been carrying attacks against government officials and installations.

Somali govt denies reports that al Sheehan officials met with elders in Mogadishu

21 Jul – Source: Hiiraan Online – 181 words

Banadir regional administration has denied recent media reports that senior al Shabaab official met with elders in Suqa Xoolaha neighbourhood over the weekend. The newly-appointed spokesman for Banadir regional administration Mr. Ali Mahmoud Farah (Ali Seeko) said that the reports published by some Somali websites and broadcasted by local stations were baseless propaganda and were intended to jeopardise the city’s security. “It was a rumour that fugitive Ali Mohamed Hussein came to Mogadishu and addressed at a Ramadan Quiz—al Shabaab were driven out of the capital nearly three years ago and they do not have the confidence to come out publically” he said.

Somali General vows to revenge on al Shabaab relatives

21 Jul – Source: Somali Current – 134 words

Bay regional police chief in south western Somalia has vowed to kill the relatives of al Shabaab militant group in the area for revenge if the group will not stop the killing of innocent civilians in the area. Speaking during a security meeting between the officials from the new south western regional state of Somalia and AMISOM peacekeeping troops in Baidoa Col. Mahad Abdirahman has said he has no choice but to revenge on militant group relatives to stop them from killing innocent civilians. The new regional state administration has also declared war on al Shabaab in the same meeting. Officials from AMISOM peacekeeping troops which were also present in the meeting have urged local residents to cooperate in the fight against the group in the surrounding areas.

Clean-up exercise commences in Mogadishu

21 Jul – Source: Radio Shabelle – 70 words

A wide cleaning up community service has commenced Monday in Mogadishu organized by the Benadir Regional Administration. The main roads and neighbourhoods in the Waaberi, Hamar Jajab, Hamarweyne and Bondhere districts were being cleared of all sorts of trash from the districts. The Banadir Regional Administration spokesperson Ali Seeko told Radio Shabelle that the Mayor of Mogadishu recently called on district administrations to clean up their respective neighbourhoods in preparation for Eid.

18 Somali immigrants suffocated to death in the sea

21 Jul – Source: Somali Current/Risaala – 104 words

More than 18 Somali immigrants have been suffocated to death by the engine smoke of the boat they were travelling in near Italian coast. According to Italian coast guard the 18 bodies were among more than 600 immigrants trying to reach Europe via the Italian island of Lampedusa. Two other immigrants who are in critical condition were admitted to a hospital in the city of Palermo. According to reports immigrants are from Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thousands of immigrants lost their lives in the sea while escaping conflict in their respective countries and trying to reach Europe via Italy for better living conditions.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somali PM: Donors must deliver on promises

21 Jul – Source: Al jazeera – 1504 words

A country whose very name is almost enough of an introduction, Somalia’s reputation of unfathomable violence and desperate poverty is known around the world. In decades of civil war, it has been described as a “failed state” – a lawless home to gangs of pirates and murderers who terrorise those too impoverished to flee to foreign lands. But there is more, so much more, to this land and these people than tales of fear and terror. While no one in this country below the age of 30 has any memory of functioning state institutions – police, schools or garbage disposal – this is a nation that has never given up on the dream of peace and stability.

Kwale police arrest terror suspect and recover cache of firearms

21 Jul – Source: Coastweek/Xinhua/Star – 301 words

Kenyan police on Monday arrested a terror suspect in the coastal town of Kwale and recovered cache of firearms as government waged war on terror in the restive region. Kwale County Commissioner Evans Achoki said the suspect was in possession of a hand grenade, 15 rounds of ammunition and magazines that was found in the house. Achoki said the suspect was arrested by police officers who were acting on intelligence report and is believed to be behind a series of gun attacks in the coastal region. The government administrator said his accomplice managed to escape the police dragnet mounted by special crime prevention officers.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Abdulrahman Adem, respected Twin Cities Somali leader and longtime MPS staff member, dies at 58

21 Jul – Source: Minnpost – 325 words

The Twin Cities Somali community has lost an esteemed leader and a passionate advocate for Somali families. Abdulrahman Adem, a cultural facilitator at Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS), died Sunday of a heart attack. He was 58. Adem was known for his commitment to serve Somali families with students in Minneapolis schools as their ultimate ambassador in the school district. He was also known for his commitment to help his immigrant community navigate the district’s complicated educational system and find the resources they needed. Adem, who worked at MPS since 1997, held various posts in the district: bilingual program aide, associate educator, bilingual communicator, translator and communications and public affairs specialist.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“On 14 July 2014, Africa Research Institute, Adeso and ODI hosted a ‘Somalia Briefing’ panel discussion with Degan Ali (Executive Director, Adeso) Sara Pantuliano (Director, Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI) and Abdirashid Duale (Chief Executive, Dahabshiil). Read on for an overview of the three key topics covered: food insecurity, remittances and counter-terrorism legislation.”

Summary of Somalia Briefing: Threats to food security & remittances

21 Jul – Source: Africa Research Institute Blog – 1052 words

Food insecurity in Somalia – why are we back where we were? 2.9 million Somalis are currently in humanitarian crisis, including 50,000 severely malnourished children. To date, there have been eight warnings from the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) and Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) of an impending food security crisis across the country. “After the 2011 famine in Somalia, the international community said ‘never again’, but we are on the brink of another famine just a few years later – potentially the third in Somalia’s recent history”, observed Degan Ali, Executive Director of Adeso. Unfortunately the “international donor community is overstretched” and must contend with competing priorities in Syria and the Central African Republic. Only 28% of the US$933m humanitarian assistance required for 2014 has been funded. Proper planning could have prevented a situation of this magnitude from unfolding once again. Despite the rhetoric, few lessons have been learnt from Somalia’s last famine. In 2011, it took 16 warnings from FEWS NET for the UN to declare a famine. In hindsight, everyone agreed that concerted humanitarian action should have taken place after warning three. More sustainable solutions should have been put in place, such as a large-scale social safety net of regular cash transfers which would have helped affected communities absorb the shock.