June 6, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

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“The UK will stand with the Somali people and their government”

06 Jun- Source: gov.uk-1159 words

Intervention by UK Minister for Africa, Mr Mark Simmonds, to the Security Council debate on Somalia Originally given at united nations. This is a transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered.

Mr Deputy Secretary-General, Members of the Security Council, Madame Deputy Prime Minister, it is an honour for me to be chairing this meeting of the Security Council on Somalia. I am grateful to the Deputy Secretary-General for his insightful briefing.

Key Headlines

Somali Federal Government clarifies its position on territorial waters (Office of the Prime Ministe)
Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Somalia
Somalia Finance minister prepares financial accounts for aid organizations (/Universal TV/ SNTV)
Kenya Somalia sign pact for refugees return (Capital News)
Two killed four others wounded in Galkacyo clashes (Radio Bar-kulan)
Top military commander from Galmudug killed in Hobyo town (Radio Kulmiye)
Pirates capture and later release dhow off Puntland coast (Garowe Online)
Somalia in deadlock over self-declared Jubaland (Al Jazeera)
Ahmed Madobe jets off to Nairobi (Radio Shabelle)

PRESS STATEMENT

Somali Federal Government clarifies its position on territorial waters

06 Jun- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 220 words

In its weekly meeting the council of ministers issued the following statement on the issue of Somali territorial waters:

1. The government reiterates its support for the Transitional Federal Government parliament’s decision of 1 August 2009 calling “null and void” the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the TFG Minister of International Cooperation and Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs signed in Nairobi on 7 April 2009.

2. On 12 March 2010, the UN stated that the 2009 MOU was to be considered “non-actionable” because it had been rejected by the Somali parliament.

3. The government’s position is Somali Law No. 37 on the Territorial Sea and Ports, signed on 10 September 1972, which defines Somali territorial sea as 200 nautical miles and continental shelf. On 24th July 1989 Somali ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

4. The Federal Government of Somalia does not consider it appropriate to open new discussions on maritime demarcation or limitations on the continental shelf with any parties.

5. The government is committed to strong bilateral relations with Kenya and looks forward to working with the government of President Kenyatta on a number of issues, including the safe repatriation of Somali refugees in Kenya and improving border security for the benefit of both countries.

SOMALI MEDIA

Two killed, four others wounded in Galkacyo clashes

06 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Mustaqbal- 91 words

Two people have been killed, four others wounded after shootout between two clan militias in the outskirts of the central town of Galkacyo, the capital of Mudug region. The shootout came after the two sides disputed over land, all the killed people were the two clashed sides. Puntland police boss of Mudug region Jama Mohamed Ahmed (Sandaqad) told the media that troops had been deployed to the scene of the incident as the two sides were separated.Sandaqad stated they are now probing who is the exact owner of this land.

Pirates capture and later release dhow off Puntland coast

06 Jun- Source: Garowe Online- 210 words

Pirates took an Indian dhow and its 14 workers hostage and hours later released the vessel on Wednesday, Garowe Online reports. The dhow was captured by Somali pirates Wednesday morning as it was travelling 20 nautical miles from the Bossaso coast. As the pirates boarded the Shaahi Al Nuuri – carrying livestock from the Bossaso port – the captain gave out a distress signal which was picked up by the EU Naval Force warship HSwMS Carlskrona. As the warship was pursuing the dhow, businessmen exporting the livestock contacted the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) who attempted to pursue the last known location.

Somalia Finance minister prepares financial accounts for aid organizations

06 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle/Universal TV/ SNTV- 57 words

Somalia finance minister Mohamud Hassan Suleiman who addressed the media said that his ministry has successfully developed public facilities. The minister said that one of the major developments the ministry has achieved was the creation of public financial accounts for aid organizations.The minister adds that tangible positive developments can be seen in the ministry.

Ahmed Madobe jets off to Nairobi

06 Jun- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Hiiraan Online/Dhanaan Online/Kismaayo News- 98 words

A delegation led by Ahmed MadobeMohamed Islam who was elected as the president of Jubbaland state in a conference held in the port city of Kismayo last month has departed for Kenyan capital Nairobi on Thursday. Speaking to Bar-kulan, Jubbaland spokesman Abdinasir Serar confirmed the delegation’s trip to Nairobi, stating that the delegation is due to hold meetings with Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Kenya president Uhuru Kenyatta and Puntland state president Abdirahman Mohamed Mohamud Farole.

Top military commander from Galmudug killed in Hobyo town

06 Jun- Source: Radio Shabelle/Radio Kulmiye- 96 words

Reports say that unknown gunmen have shot dead a top military commander from Galmudug state. The commander, identified as Abdiweli Hirsi Fara badan was incharge of the troops based in Hobyo. It is believed that sub clan rivalry was behind the killing of the commander since one of his bodyguards was reportedly involved in the killing. Troops from Galmudug state secured the crime scene quickly as security operations are currently inderway in the town. Galmudug state has not yet released any statement about the killing of the commander.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Somalia in deadlock over self-declared Jubaland

06 Jun- Source: Al Jazeera- 02: 15 min

Somalia’s central government and the leaders of one of the country’s regions are locked in a power struggle that could turn violent. The dispute centres on Jubaland – an area in the southern-most part of Somalia that has claimed statehood and elected a president. As the standoff escalates Jubaland authorities are threatening to cut all ties with Somalia’s central government. Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow reports from Kismayo in Jubaland.

Kenya, Somalia sign pact for refugees return

06 Jun- Source: Capital News- 385 words

Kenya and Somalia have signed an agreement for the voluntary repatriation of about half a million Somali refugees living in Kenya. The First Secretary at the Embassy of Somalia in Nairobi, Ali Mohammed Sheikh, said that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees would facilitate the homecoming of thousands who had fled war and hunger in their country.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

“The UK will stand with the Somali people and their government”

06 Jun- Source: gov.uk-1159 words

Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Somalia

06 Jun – Source: gov.uk – 215 words

Mr Neil Wigan has been appointed Her Majesty’s non-resident Ambassador to Somalia. He will succeed Mr Matt Baugh, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Wigan will take up his appointment during June 2013.

Mr Wigan joined the FCO in 2000 and has worked on several countries afflicted by conflict, most recently as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the last three years.

On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Somalia, Mr Wigan has said:

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“The al Shabaab is driven by local grievances yet has global aspirations, helping to stoke rebellion in such troubled places as northern Nigeria and Yemen.”

Somalia’s al Shabaab: The struggle for the Horn of Africa

06 June- Source: The Economist-502 Words

IN 2005 three dozen Somalis formed a club of Islamists, soon dubbing themselves al Shabaab (Arabic for “youth”). Chaos had reigned over Somalia for a generation and there had been no real government since the military ruler, Siad Barre, fell in 1991. But within a year or so, al Shabaab was the dominant force within a loose coalition of Islamic courts that had sought with some grim success to impose order. By 2009 al Shabaab, with a core of 5,000-odd fighters, had mastered a good half of the country and made most of the rest virtually ungovernable.