June 5, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

H.E. The President welcomes the announcement of the appointment of an US Ambassador to Somalia

04 Jun – Source: Office of the President – 329 words

Today, H.E The President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud received confirmation that President Obama will appoint the first US Ambassador to Somalia in two decades. “I am delighted to confirm our mutual goals of security, inclusive, sustainable development and good governance for Somalia. The appointment of a US Ambassador demonstrates the strength of trust and cooperation between Somalia and the United States.

“We are at the start of our journey towards peace and prosperity in Somalia. I acknowledge the long road we have before us, but that road is made easier knowing that we are joined by friends, with the same goal ahead,” said H.E. The President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. H.E. The President announced that Somalia would shortly appoint an Ambassador to the US.

“With ongoing support from our international partners, I confirm our commitment to relentlessly pursuing our state-building goals as articulated in Vision 2016. The Federal Government of Somalia has pledged to adopt a referendum-approved Federal Constitution in 2016, establishing a federal system and ensuring one person, one vote in the 2016 national elections.

“To achieve these goals, we must now build the engines of our nation: our Parliament, so that it develops and passes robust legislation that supports a fully functional government; we must develop our institutions and people who manage them; we must improve our ability to generate and manage our fiscal resources, and all this must be built on consensus-based mechanisms of good governance.

“We welcome the ongoing support of the United States and look forward to strengthening our diplomatic ties through our mutual new appointments,” The President concluded.

The United States has supported the pursuit of stability and growth of democracy in Somalia for many years. The United States has worked with the Somali National Army to recruit and train forces; supported AMISOM since 2007 with training, equipment and logistical support, and provided aid and development support, focusing on democracy and governance, economic recovery, education, health and reducing the appeal of extremism.

Key Headlines

H.E. The President welcomes the announcement of the appointment of an US Ambassador to Somalia(Office of te President)
PM Abdiweli meets with Mogadishu civil societies (Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog)
Ethiopia foiled a suspected al Shabaab attack in Addis Ababa (Somali Current)
Somali FM limits individuals eligible for Diplomatic passport (Al Shahid)
Shaweye given new role in Banadir regional Security Service (Bar-kulan)
U.N happy with Somalia steps towards peace (KTN)
Kenya turns up the heat on Somali refugees (IRIN News)
Electronic library opens in Hargeisa for the first time (Radio Goobjoog)

SOMALI MEDIA

PM Abdiweli meets with Mogadishu civil societies

04 Jun – Source: Radio Mogadishu/Goobjoog – 120 words

Prime minister of the Federal Government of Somalia Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed on Wednesday met with civil society representatives from Banadir province at the headquarters of Hamar-jajab District. The selected representatives from wardhigley, Hamar-jajab, Hamar-weyne and Waberi districts were invited by the prime minister to discuss matters concerning the security situation in their respective districts in particular and the larger Banadir region in general. The meeting focused on the best ways the civil societies can play their role as well as to cooperate and work together with the security institutions to tackle insecurity in the province. The premier urged the city residents to take their responsibilities and to work closely with the security institutions so as to maintain security in the capital.

Ethiopia foiled a suspected al Shabaab attack in Addis Ababa

04 Jun – Source: Somali Current – 91 words

A suspected al Qaeda affiliated group, al Shabaab member was arrested by Ethiopian counterterrorism police unit in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. The man was suspected to be launching suicide terror attack in several locations in the city, according reports from the local press. Ethiopian security officials reportedly foiled the attack the group had proposed to set off in locations in the capital city. The group has already succeeded to launch the same terrorist attack in Djibouti, Uganda and Kenya. All these countries have sent Somalia to accelerate the war against al Qaeda linked group.

Shaweye given new role in Banadir regional Security Service

04 Jun – Source: Bar-kulan – 91 words

Abdifatah Ibrahim Shaweye has been named the Deputy Commissioner for Banadir region’s security agency in a presidential decree from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Bar-kulan obtained a copy of the presidential decree in which Shaweye was appointed the deputy commissioner of Banadir region’s security agency which was dated on 3rd June 2014. Shaweye previously held the position of a deputy governor in the old Banadir regional administration from 2007 to 2009. He has been living in the United Kingdom in the past few years before his recent return to the country.

Somaliland Former Trade Minister accuses ministers of using executive powers of the chairman

04 Jun – Source: Horn Cable TV/Somaliland Informer – 118 words

Former Trade & Foreign Investment Minister Dr. Mohamed Abdilahi Omar has called on that the recent conflict in the ruling Kulmiye be resolved by political means and further warned the use of coercion. He spoke to the Horn Cable TV before he left for the UK on personal visit and revealed that the bone of contention is group of cabinet ministers deprived the prerogative powers from the chairman and using them illegally. He admitted that the biggest political disagreement is the conflict that broke out in the party. On the other hand, he said that hopes are high that the efforts made by the mediator committee from the house of elders will bear fruit and save the party from total collapse.

Electronic library opens in Hargeisa for the first time

04 Jun – Source: Radio Goobjoog – 141 words

Electronic library was set up in Hargeisa, the headquarters of the breakaway state of Somaliland for the first time, a move which was welcomed by the university students in the region. The students say the digital library comes a time when there is high need and claim that it will add new means of accessing information that support research and learning. Head of Somaliland university students Said Jamaa told Goobjoog FM the new electronic library will enable the students to carry out research and to improve their significant thinking and the writing skills. On the other the chairman of the Electronic library which was initiated by Golis university Ahmed Ali stated that the university has taken long time to launch process and finally it succeeded, he urged the students to make best use of their time and benefit from the service.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somali FM limits individuals eligible for Diplomatic passport

04 Jun – Source: Al Shahid – 111 words

Abdirahman Duale Beyle, Somali foreign Minister acknowledged that huge number of Somalis who are illegally obtaining Diplomatic passport hold it which he said his ministry can’t bear from now on. “I saw many Somalis holding Diplomatic passports. It is not suitable like these uncountable Diplomatic passports. I have submitted a letter I show the problem of it to cabinet”, Abdirahman Duale Beyle said on Tuesday. “Diplomatic passport is for only diplomacies. Not for all. The individuals who took before will bring it back except, diplomats,” he added. Since the collapse of the central government in 1991, Somalia has had a series of transitional governments, some of them ineffective or practically non-existent.

U.N happy with Somalia steps towards peace

04 Jun- Source: KTN Kenya-02:32mins

The United Nations assistance mission in Somalia has commended the steps the country is taking towards achieving peace, security and development. During its first anniversary of having a base in the war-torn country, the United Nations says achieving stability in Somalia will take its own citizens efforts.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenya turns up the heat on Somali refugees

04 Jun – Source: IRIN News – 153 words

As security forces in Kenya continue to round up and detain thousands of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, most of them Somali, an agreement between the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the Kenyan and Somali governments on the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees is coming under strain. In late May, the Somali government pulled out of a meeting with UNHCR and the Kenyan government to formally launch a Tripartite Commission and discuss implementation of the Tripartite Agreement. The Agreement, signed in November 2013, outlines the procedures for the gradual and voluntary return of Somali refugees from Kenya, which is currently hosting around 423,000 Somalis holding refugee status. The scheduled 27 May meeting was to be first of the Tripartite Commission and was expected to produce agreements on a number of joint actions, including the launch of a pilot phase of a voluntary returns programme that has been on hold for several months.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Last year, we filmed with Abdullahi, a mentally ill Somali man who had been in chains or 17 years. But one mental health nurse has changed his life forever.”

Somalia mental health: one story of hope

04 Jun- Source: Channel 4 News-802 Words

In August last year, Channel 4 News filmed with Abdullahi – a mentally ill Somali man. He was chained for 17 years in his tin hut, like an animal, 24 hours a day. His family kept him locked up saying he was a danger to himself and to others. He was unwashed, ignored and isolated. Abdullahi’s case is not unusual. In Somalia, there is little understanding or treatment of mental health illness. Men like Abdullahi are the forgotten people of Somalia – known simply as ninka waalan or “the mad man”. He used to spend most of his days watching the world moving before him – placing his chest on a cemented floor, his elbows supporting his hands under his chin. But after 17 years as a chained man, Maryan Hassan, a mental health nurse, came to his rescue. She removed the shackles of his life and gave him a life full of hope. She took him to a clinic where she works. He has been there for the past eight months. That’s the end of the chain – you won’t be chained ever again. Maryan Hassan, a mental health nurse With the treatment he received at the clinic, Abdullahi’s life is transformed. He is a healthy man. We went back to film with Abdullahi on the day he was being discharged from the clinic. “Abdullahi, you are leaving this morning; you are going home,” said Maryan, giving him the news. “That’s the end of chain – you won’t be chained ever again.”