June 13, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Turkish foundation establishes home for Somali orphans

12 Jun- Source: worldbulletin- 154 words

The Istanbul-based Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) has established a home for orphans in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. IHH said in a statement that the construction of “Anatolia Education Centre” was completed and ready to serve as the biggest home for orphans in the country. The centre was inaugurated by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahamud, Turkey’s ambassador toSomalia Kani Torun and IHH deputy president Hasan Aynaci. The centre includes a school, a building for teaching Qur’an, dormitory for boys and girls with the capacity of 400 students, sports centre, mosque, a health centre and some other places to meet the needs of the orphans.

Key Headlines

President Hassan meets EU delegation in Mogadishu (Radio Mogadishu/SNTV)
Ahlu Sunna: Al Shabaab recruits children (Radio Bar-kulan)
AMISOM supports Somali government to draft its gender equality policy (Standard)
Ahmed Madobe: Jubbaland is ready for reconciliation conference (Radio Bar-kulan)
Kenya school children killed near Somalia border (AFP/BBC)
Measles and diarrhoea outbreaks in Sool () Radio Ergo
EU’s Political and Security Committee visits Somalia (European Union)
Somaliland’s Health Ministry Put on High Alert After Polio Outbreak in Somalia and Kenya (Horn Cable TV)
Al Shabaab imposes heavy taxes on communities living in Barawe and Bula Marer (Shabelle)
Kenyan suspect joins al Shabaab in Somalia (Star (Kenya))

SOMALI MEDIA

President Hassan meets EU delegation in Mogadishu

12 Jun- Source: Shabelle/Radio Mogadishu/SNTV/Universal TV- 104 words

A delegation from European Union has met the president of the federal republic of Somalia in Mogadishu on Wednesday. President Hassan Sheikh addressed the media after the meeting, saying they have discussed and agreed on many issues. Somali president thanked EU for their constant support to Somali federal government. On the other hand, EU’s head of political and security who led the delegation said the most important agenda on their visit was to show support to the government and its people. Since Somalia’s federal government got full recognition from the international community, visits made by foreign delegates increased gradually.

Ahlu Sunna: Al Shabaab recruits children

12 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 103 words

The Moderate Islamists of Ahlu Sunna Wal Jama’a has accused al Shabaab militant of torture and violent against innocent civilians in Galgadud region in central Somalia. Abdi Mohamed Hassan (Biyo-Qute), a senior Ahlu Sunna official in El-bur district said the al Qaeda affiliated group extorts livestock and foodstuffs from Galgadud region civilians. The moderate Islamists also accused their rival Somali insurgents of recruiting children forcefully into their ranks. Biyo-Qute stated that residents of Gal-Hareri, El-Bur, El-Garas, and Galcad are hostages to the al Qaeda-allied militant.

Measles and diarrhoea outbreaks in Sool

12 Jun- Source: Radio Ergo- 146 words

Large numbers of children are being diagnosed with measles and diarrhoea in Bo’ame location of Sool region, according to local doctors. Dr Mohamed Yasin Warsame, who heads a small health facility in Boame, said he had treated 18 children from the villages of Karingorfod, Fardhidin and Bo’ame for diarrhea. He said there was also evidence of an outbreak of measles, in an area where most children have not been vaccinated against key childhood diseases. Reports suggest that 20 children have been already diagnosed with measles in the area, and that many more may be infected. Most of the children are under five years old. The area has no formal health facilities.

Ahmed Madobe: Jubbaland is ready for reconciliation conference

12 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Dhanaan Online/Kismaayo News- 170 words

Ahmed Mohamed Islam (Ahmed Madobe) a prominent leader, who was elected as the president of the newly established Jubbaland state in a conference attended by some 500 delegates from Lower Jubba, Middle Jubba and Gedo region in southern Somalia stated that his administration (Jubbaland) will attend the reconciliation conference which is set to be held in Mogadishu. Speaking to the media in Kismayo airport on his arrival from Kenyan capital Nairobi, Ahmed Madobe said that his administration is ready for the reconciliation conference in which he said will be facilitated by Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that is expected to be held in the Somali capital.

Somaliland’s Health Ministry Put on High Alert After Polio Outbreak in Somalia and Kenya

12 Jun- Source: Somaliland informer /Horn Cable TV- 296 words

The first confirmed case of the Wild Polio Virus (WP1) in Somalia since 2007 has been reported in Mogadishu on May 9th, 2013. Since then fourteen (14) WPV cases have been reported and also two (2) WPV cases in Kenya. Experts have warned the outbreak could spread to neighbouring countries and a surveillance alert for polio has been issued to all countries across the Horn of Africa. There is a great risk that the disease can reach Somaliland.

Al Shabaab imposes heavy taxes on communities living in Barawe and Bula Marer

12 Jun- Source: Shabelle- 176 words

Members of al Shabaab militant group have imposed heavy taxes on residents living in Barawe town and businessmen in Bula marer town. The two towns are located in the lower of Shabelle region which is still under the control of al Shabaab. The militant group has ordered clans to pay 300 million shillings each. Sources confirm that the Habar Githir sub clan was ordered to pay 300 million, the Muransade sub clan was ordered to raise 250 million shillings while other small sub clans living in the region were ordered to raise an equivalent amount each. A 10 day deadline to meet has been issued and it is not yet known what the money will be used for.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan suspect joins al Shabaab in Somalia

12 Jun- Source: Star (Kenya)- 555 words

A Kenyan terror suspect charged alongside British national Jermaine Grant and two others in Mombasa has escaped and joined the al Shabaab terror group in Somalia. Fuad Abubakar Manswab, who hails from Majengo area in Mombasa, is among key al Shabaab leaders launching terror attacks against Kenya. He was arrested by anti-terror police unit officers alongside Grant and two others as they planned to detonate explosives in Mombasa on December 20, 2011.

AMISOM supports Somali government to draft its gender equality policy

12 Jun- Source: Standard- 205 words

The relative calm in Somalia is beginning to bear fruits as the country begins formulating and drafting its first National Gender Policy with a workshop aimed at exploring and developing gender-sensitive policy whilst providing a framework to the government that will encourage and enforce gender equality. The Federal Government of Somalia supported by AMISOM civilian component will be drafting its first National Gender Policy which will aim to eradicate gender inequality, empower women and benefit all people of Somalia.

Jubaland: Kenya Defence Forces not supporting us

12 Jun- Source: Standard- 369 words

The simmering tension between the Government of Mogadishu and that in Nairobi over the establishment of Somalia’s regional State of Jubaland has gotten intervention from a likely source. State of Jubaland President, Sheikh Ahmed Madobe, has said Kenya is not behind the establishment of his newly created state. Madobe, who was recently elected President of the regional state, defended the Government of Kenya and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) from claims of backing his administration. In an interview with The Standard.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenya school children killed near Somalia border

12 June- Source: AFP/BBC-333 Words

Six people, including two schoolchildren, have been killed in an ambush near Kenya’s border with Somalia, Kenyan police have said. Unknown gunmen opened fire on the truck in which they were travelling in the north-eastern Mandera district. “The survivors have told us they were attacked when the gunmen emerged from a bush and sprayed the vehicle with bullets, killing four people on the spot,” Tenai said. “The bodies of two other people were found this morning.” Those killed include school children, although Tenai could not say how many. Four other people are believed missing. The attacks are the latest in a series of grenade blasts or shootings to have hit Kenya.

EU’s Political and Security Committee visits Somalia

12 Jun- Source: European Union -316 words

The European Union’s Political and Security Committee (PSC), the key body that contributes to define and monitor the EU’s crisis response as part of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, made its first visit to Somalia. The visit underlined the commitment of the EU to supporting political progress in Somalia and to supporting its people, as well as the extensive support for stabilisation in Somalia both in political and security terms.

Turkish foundation establishes home for Somali orphans

12 Jun- Source: worldbulletin- 154 words

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“If grassroots processes can prevail in the former militant stronghold only months after the fall of al-Shabaab, then perhaps the clouds will part on a new era of economic and sociopolitical stability for the inhabitants of Somalia.”

Somalia: Jubaland’s successful electoral process

12 June- Source: Garowe Online/UPI-821 Words

The establishment of the new semi-autonomous Somali Jubaland state is a step in the right direction for a stable Somalia but the region isn’t in the clear yet. Three weeks ago saw the turning of a significant corner in modern Somali history: a vote for the transparently elected leadership of the newly declared Jubaland state. On May 15 hundreds of clan representatives from throughout the region voted Sheik Ahmed Mohamed Islam — aka “Ahmed Madobe” — to serve as president, with a General Fartag reported to have been selected to serve as vice president of Jubaland. As it turns out, though, around the corner laid a number of hurdles for the newly formed state government.