June 14, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Federal Government to establish court tackling constitutional violations in Somalia

13 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle- 87 words

Deputy justice minister Abdalla Hassan Mohamed informed Shabelle Radio that the justice ministry is proposing plans to form a special court that deals with constitutional affairs including non constitutional changes in drafts. The minister added that his ministry will soon take the proposal to the parliament to be debated. The court will be under the federal constitution and operate independently from the government. Mr. Hassan finally said that the proposed court existed in previous functioning governments in Somalia and reiterated the importance of protecting the federal constitution.

Key Headlines

New UN Envoy Arrives in Hargeisa (UNSOM)
Prime Minister moves to take charge of Somalia’s airspace (Office of the Prime Minister)
Protest over violence against Somalis in South Africa held in Beledweyne (Radio Bar-kulan)
Federal Government to establish court tackling constitutional violations in Somalia (Radio Shabelle)
Kuwait calls on int”l community to support Somalia (Kuwait News Centre)
Judge orders mental evaluation for Somali terror convict (Twin Cities)
Civilian killed in Jowhar town (Jowhar Online)
Kismayo security to be tightened (Radio Bar-kulan)

PRESS STATEMENT

New UN Envoy Arrives in Hargeisa

13 Jun- Source: UNSOM- 359 words

The new Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary–General (SRSG) Nicholas Kay arrived in Hargeisa, Somaliland this morning to meet with His Excellency President Ahmed Mahamed Mohamud (Silaanyo) and officials of the Somaliland Administration. This is SRSG Kay’s first visit to Somaliland since he assumed his duties as head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) on June 3.

He was received by Dr. Mohamed Abdillahi Omar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, who accompanied the new SRSG to the mass graves in Hargeisa, in commemoration of the worst human rights violations of the Siyad Barre regime, which occurred between 1984 and 1988.

On his arrival in Hargeisa, SRSG Nicholas Kay said “I have come to Hargeisa early in my new assignment in order to make it clear to the authorities and people of Somaliland that the United Nations supports their aspirations for peace and prosperity.”

“Somaliland has remained an island of relative peace and stability in an insecure region and we believe that there are lessons that can be learned here about stabilizing the whole region. We are therefore here to learn and to support initiatives that will lead to sustainable peace, stability and prosperity in Somalia and beyond.”

The mandate of UNSOM is to support the building of national capacity, peacebuilding, with a focus on good governance, security sector reform, rule of law, human rights, providing “good offices” for mediation and political reconciliation and coordination of international assistance.

The UN envoy said “We have noted Somaliland’s efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and to entrench democracy through holding periodic elections. We are also aware of the challenges that Somaliland faces in institutionalizing a formal system of justice alongside the traditional one and we look forward to working together to reinforce the rule of law.”

UNSOM stands ready to support constructive engagement between Somalia and Somaliland. The UN envoy further said “This is only my first visit to Somaliland of many and I intend to have a close and fruitful relationship with its people and authorities. Our office in Hargeisa will be proactively engaging the administration and civil society to explore areas of further cooperation.”

Prime Minister moves to take charge of Somalia’s airspace

13 Jun- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 301 words

Somalia took a giant leap towards full control of its airspace, as Cabinet approved a draft civil aviation law that will revolutionise sovereignty of the country’s skies.

“This law is going to help Somalia take charge of its airspace,” said Minister of Information, Transportation and Telecommunication Abdullahi Elmoge Hersi. “It helps economic growth, it helps job creation and it helps develops aviation skills for our nation. And it shows once again that we are in charge.”

The draft legislation now goes to parliament for debate and, once passed, will form the foundation of the new Somali aviation framework, with full control of Somali airspace being transferred by the UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation later this year.

Cabinet also agreed full government participation in the forthcoming National Education Conference for Somalia, a three-day congress between 18-20 June involving civil society and local administrations to develop a national curriculum. The Conference will “review current needs, achievements and challenges facing the education system to generate consensus on the critical challenges among all stakeholders”.

In a landmark, unanimous decision, Cabinet called upon foreign donors to route their support exclusively through the Ministry of Finance and Planning.

“For too many years aid to Somalia has been delivered in a very fragmented fashion, which is neither efficient nor desirable,” said His Excellency Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon. “From now on we would like all international donors to channel their funding through the Ministry of Finance and Planning. We believe that will help achieve donor objectives and meet the needs of Somali people, while demonstrating appropriate respect for the Somali government and its policies.”

Finally, the defence minister reported the findings of his recent visit to Kismayo, discussing the progress achieved on security, centred on the important ceasefire agreed and the willingness of all sides to begin negotiations.

SOMALI MEDIA

Protest over violence against Somalis in South Africa held in Beledweyne

13 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/ Shabelle/Dhacdo Online- 145 words

Hundreds of Beledweyne residents have today taken to the streets of the Somali central town to protest violence against Somalis in South Africa. The protest was organized by the district administration, as hundreds came out to air their disgust at the situation, carrying boards written words against the violent groups in South Africa.Hiiraan region acting governor Mohamed Ibrahim Ali who spoke to the gathered demonstrators’ spoke of his disappointment at the South African authorities’ lack of protection for the Somali community. Abdi Bashir Aden, Beled-weyne commissioner appealed to the Africa Union to repatriate Somalis living in South Africa to save them from daily ethnic persecutions.

Civilian killed in Jowhar town

13 Jun- Source: Jowhar Online/al Shahid- 98 words

One civilian was killed Wednesday night by unknown people in Jowhar, capital of Middle Shabelle province, north of Mogadishu. An eyewitness said that masked men armed with pistols killed a civilian in the Horseed neighborhood of Jowhar, about 90 km from the capital, Mogadishu. According to sources, it is believed that the killing is caused by clan rifts between some of the clans in the city. The sources added that the Somali security authorities carried out an extensive operation in the city, arresting a number of people suspected of involvement in the incident.

Federal Government to establish court tackling constitutional violations in Somalia

13 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle- 87 words

Kismayo security to be tightened

13 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 99 words

Jubbaland administration leader Ahmed Mohmed Islan (Ahmed Madobe) has stated that security operations to ensure the stability of Somalia’s southern port city of Kismayo will be carried out in the next few days. Abbdillahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartag), Jubbaland deputy president also vowed that his Jubbaland administration will advance to the areas still controlled by the al Qaeda affiliated al Shabaab group in Jubba regions. Speaking at a conference held in Kismayo, Fartag urged Jubbaland security force to be ready to the upcoming security crackdowns. The conference held in Kismayo was aimed to complete the establishment of the newly formed Jubbaland administration.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Kuwait calls on int”l community to support Somalia

13 Jun- Source: Kuwait News Centre- 150 words

Kuwait called on the international community to supports human rights in Somalia, in the session of the UN’s Human Rights Council on Thursday. The International Community has the duty of supporting Somalia in the human rights field, and also aid the Somali government to develop different sectors in the country, said the third secretary at the permanent mission of Kuwait to the UN Haider Abu Al- Hassan.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Judge orders mental evaluation for Somali terror convict

13 Jun- Source: Twin Cities- 839 words

A judge wants a competency evaluation to see if a former janitor understands what will happen if he drops the appeal of his conviction and 20-year sentence for aiding the terrorist group al Shabaab.

Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis’ decision to have Mahamud Said Omar examined by an expert came at the end of an hour-long hearing Wednesday in which a sometimes-emotional Omar alternately said he wanted to drop the appeal, then didn’t, then did again.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“There needs to be a collaborative effort towards reforming the way media is conducted in Somaliland, otherwise the situation will only get worse. This is an issue that can easily be resolved, as long as it is done in the right way. In the end, the people of Somaliland will rely on their media as long as journalists and news agencies do not take that for granted.”

Somaliland: Time for Media Reform

13 June- Source: Somalilandpress-402 Words

On Tuesday, Hubaal media group was ordered to suspend operations by the Maroodi-Jeh (Hargeisa) regional court. This event marks a turning point in the rising tension between journalists and the government. A battle SOLJA and CPJ claim to be one sided, when in reality that is not the case. The media in Somaliland plays an important role in the lives of its citizens. It is the only way people of Somaliland, members of the diaspora and the international community are kept informed about what is happening in and around the country.