March 17, 2015 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Three Alleged Al-Shabaab Members Executed In Puntland

16 March – Source: Horseed Media – 130 Words

Authorities in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region Puntland on Monday executed three convicted Al-Shabaab suspects for alleged membership in the armed extremist group and plotting attacks in the stable region, officials said. Three men were executed by firing squad after a military tribunal found them guilty of carrying out attacks in the region. “All of them have been found guilty of being members of the terrorists,’’ said the Minister of Security Hassan Osman Alore. The alleged members were sentenced to death by the court last month. In recent years, Puntland authorities have launched a massive crackdown on the network and its military has sentenced tough punishments such as the death penalty to members and other individuals linked to the terror group.

Key Headlines

Somalia Egypt Leaders Meet On Economic Forum Sideline – Update (Garowe Online)
Somalia Minister Of Women And Human Rights To Attend World Summit To End Violation of Women’s Rights (Somali Current)
Somalia Outlines New Government’s Impending 100 Days Work (Hiiraan Online)
Three Alleged Al-Shabaab Members Executed In Puntland (Horseed Media)
Mogadishu Mayor Carrying Road And Other Development (Midnimo.com)
US Donates Aircrafts To Uganda’s Mission In Somalia (NTV Uganda)
Contraband Sugar And Cosmetics Seized At Kenya-Somalia Border (Coastweek/Xinhua)
Kenyan Jets Hit Shabaab Targets In Somalia (Anadolu Agency)
Change Of Her Majesty’s Ambassador To Somalia (Source: Gov.UK)
Corruption: A Failure Of Leadership (Hiiraan Online)
UN Envoy in Somalia in Solidarity Visit to Baidoa (AMISOM)

SOMALI MEDIA

Somalia, Egypt Leaders Meet On Economic Forum Sideline – Update

16 March – Source: Garowe Online – 162 Words

Federal Government of Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has met with Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of three-day investment forum in Sharm el-Sheikh, Garowe Online reports. Accompanied by Somali ambassador to Egypt and Arab League and presidential officials, President Mohamud discussed the progress Somalia has made in political and security fronts and vision 2016 with Egypt’s Sisi during the bilateral meeting in the Egyptian resort. President Sisi has expressed pleasure over the ongoing progress in Somalia, and pledged support for the East African nation. Somalia President along with more than 20 heads of State and multinational companies representatives had been in Egypt for a key investment forum. Mohamud has travelled to Egypt, an education ally that has recently offered 200 scholarship grants to Somalia. The economically troubled Arab country is being propped up by Gulf nations with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait at the forefront.

Somalia Minister Of Women And Human Rights To Attend World Summit To End Violation of Women’s Rights

16 March – Source: Somali Current – 188 Words

Sahra Mohamed Ali Samatar, Somalia minister of Women and Human right is in the US to attend world summit to end violation against Women. Speaking to VOA Somali service, the minister said “The summit will be focusing how to end Women violation not forgetting other key agendas on the table”. The minister also said her ministry is planning to complete laws that will prevent violation against Women in the country.

Report released by Social Institution and Gender Index (SIGI) listed Somalia as one of the worst countries for Women to live in. As the 59th session of the commission on the status of women (CSW) gets underway in New York other key agendas to discuss include reviewing the progress made so far in the implementation of Beijing declaration. This year marks since Beijing Declaration and platform for Action was adopted in the Chinese capital. Agreement meant to end violation against Women around the world. The agreement was signed by 189 countries. The summit is expected to attract prominent and influential women around the world.

Somalia Outlines New Government’s Impending 100 Days Work

16 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 244 Words

Struggling to improve public perceptions, Somalia’s new government has sketched out its looming work plan for the next 100 days, a move that would test its realization for Vision 2016 before the country’s elections. In a statement issued after cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid highlighted his government’s efforts in realizing its goal by prioritizing public services and completing regional administration’s formations framework. “This meeting will continue for two days, and we will do our bests to fast-track the government’s upcoming workflow.” He said in a statement on Monday. He affirmed his government’s desire of promoting reform in a country which has not seen a well-functioning government for more than two decades.

Prime Minister Abdirashid further stated his government aims at stabilizing the country, despite key challenges blocking his government’s progress. In his statement, he hinted economical reasons as a key obstacle hindering his new government’s progression. He said that security is his top priority in the realization of the much stated Vision 2016 and reviewing the country’s constitution before the country holds an election in 2016. Appointed as the country’s prime minister for the second time, Abdirashid promised he would encourage a ground-breaking reform for Somalia.

Mogadishu Mayor Carrying Road And Other Development

16 March – Source: Midnimo.com – 200 Words

Mogadishu mayor Hassan Mohamed Hussein also known as Mungaab has promised more development to come as his government tries to change the face of the capital. While officially opening the newly built tarmac road that snakes through Bakara market the mayor said with the slogan ‘build your country’ “we can achieve many things and I call the Somali people to build their country.” Mogadishu local government has been carrying out various development projects in the capital, ranging from tarmac roads and sanitations to installing street lights across the city which have significantly improved the security. A one km tarmac road was sponsored by Mogadishu business community and Mogadishu local government. The mayor said development is just beginning and has promised more. Before his appointment as the mayor of Mogadishu, Mungaab served as the head of the Somali Military court. Bakara market is the biggest market in East and Central Africa and is one of the main revenue contributor for the Somali government. Mogadishu is rising from the dust after 24 years of conflict. A recent report released by the United Nation named Mogadishu as the third fastest growing city in the world.

REGIONAL MEDIA

US Donates Aircrafts To Uganda’s Mission In Somalia

16 March – Source: NTV Uganda – 112 Words

The donated aircrafts are expected to increase Uganda’s national airforce capacity by improving mobility, reconnaissance and evacuation support. The US Mission Uganda, through the United States Department of Defence, has donated two Cessna 208B aircrafts to the UPDF for AMISOM Counterterrorism operations. The donated aircrafts are expected to increase Uganda’s national air force capacity by improving mobility, reconnaissance and evacuation support. Uganda was the first East African country to deploy troops to Somalia in 2007 and its troops make up the bulk of the forces there, helping Somalia’s UN-backed government. Uganda currently has over 5000 soldiers and officers from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces.

Contraband Sugar and Cosmetics Seized At Kenya-Somalia Border

16 March – Source: Coastweek/Xinhua – 227 Words

Kenyan police at the border town of Garissa have seized an illegal consignment of sugar and other goods suspected to be from neighboring Somalia. Garissa Deputy County Commissioner Dominic Kyenza said on Monday that the police on patrol arrested the driver of the truck which was used to ferry the contraband goodson Sunday night. “We are holding one suspect who was the driver of the Canter, and police are still pursuing one more suspect who escaped at the time of the operations,” he said. Kyenza said 175 bags of sugar and several boxes of insecticides, slippers and shampoo were among the contraband goods the police netted after tip-off by members of the public.

Kyenza said the goods were coming from the neighboring Somalia, adding that the bags of sugar show its source is from Brazil. He said the suspect, a Kenyan from Garissa town, whom the police are still interrogating, will be taken to court to face charges. Illegal goods, mainly sugar, normally pass into the country from Somalia through the porous border. Kenyan authorities have had a difficult time to control the entrance of contraband goods due to the region’s proximity to war-torn Somalia.
The government also believes that the unscrupulous business people are also involved in smuggling in the county firearms and explosives through the region.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Kenyan Jets Hit Shabaab Targets In Somalia

16 March – Source: Anadolu Agency – 339 Words

Kenyan fighter jets reportedly hit several suspected Al-Shabaab targets in Somalia on Monday, one day after four Kenyans were killed by the militant group, according to eyewitnesses. “I saw two jet fighters fly over Mandera town heading towards Somalia,” Iyessa Seneta, a resident of Mandera, capital city of Kenya’s Mandera County, told The Anadolu Agency. “They flew over our town several times before dropping missiles on a hill across the border not far from our town,” he said.

Mandera County, located near Kenya’s border with Somalia, has recently come under repeated attack by Al-Shabaab. “I saw F16 jet fighters over Mandera for some 30 minutes. Later, we could hear bombardments from the Somali side,” Moalim Saleh, a Mandera County government official, told AA. The hills of Somalia’s Gedo region are believed to be an Al-Shabaab stronghold, where recent attacks on Kenyan soil have been planned.

In southern Somalia’s Shabaab-held town of Jilib, residents likewise confirmed seeing jet fighters in the skies. Al-Shabaab militants in Jilib fired several anti-aircraft missiles, according to residents and websites affiliated with the group. There have been reports that Kenyan jets also struck Al-Shabaab military bases near the southern town of Bardhere. There has been no official confirmation by the Kenyan or Somali authorities regarding the reported aerial bombardments. The airstrikes likely come in response to recent militant attacks in Mandera County.

Change Of Her Majesty’s Ambassador To Somalia

16 March – Source: Gov.UK – 197 Words

Ms Harriet Mathews OBE has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Somalia in succession to Mr Neil Wigan, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Ms Mathews will take up her appointment during June 2015. Ms Mathews joined the FCO in 1997 and most recently headed the Ebola Task Force. Ms Mathews is an Africa specialist and has held three other positions related to Africa, including the Head of East and West Africa Department.

Ms Mathews has also been Head of Energy in the Foreign Office and has worked in Brazil, Israel and Afghanistan. She was awarded the OBE in 2005 for her work on West Africa. On her appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia, Ms Mathews has said, I am delighted to have been appointed as British Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia. I look forward to working to deepen the strong relationship between our two countries. The United Kingdom has been instrumental in helping to bring peace and security back to Somalia, and it is a great privilege to be able to contribute personally to this process.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

“Can Somalia reach progress if there is no single national bank that can deal with the world banking system? Can Somalia collect taxes if the national asset in communications and finance are hostage for rogue agencies that want to have iron grip on the national asset without paying their tax dues?”

Corruption: A Failure Of Leadership

15 March – Source: Hiiraan Online – 702 Words

The eve of his selection, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stood before 10 million hopeful nation and told them “my first task is peace, stability and the supremacy of the rule of law”. President Mohamud added, if I feel that I will not deliver that promise, I will hand the power back to the nation. Two and half years later, on February 24, 2015, the outgoing commander of the EU Training Mission Somalia (EUTM-Somalia) General Massimo Mingiardi told reporters in Brussels “Without basic housing and equipment for Somalia’s soldiers, the EU’s military training mission in that country will fail to achieve its long-term objectives”.

The general Massimo added “For example, during the last course we administered to 100 soldiers; not one of them received a uniform. They attended the course in civilian clothes – and flip-flops! If we want to see any improvement, the only path before us is to provide them the equipment they need for training as well. We’re also trying to help the Somalis rebuild their MoD [Ministry of Defence], but without more money I don’t think we can achieve the desired results. One of my first priorities would be to re-build barracks, which would enable the soldiers to better control the armory.” So what happened to that presidential grand strategy of peace, stability and supremacy of the rule of law? Can the Federal Republic of Somalia reach peace and stability if the 100 soldiers that were sent to EU Training Mission are without uniform and wearing flip flops? What about Military barracks, food, supplies and transportation?

“We urge the Somali people wherever they are to continue supporting the Government and to remain united, in order to defeat Al-Shabaab and we wish to thank the international community for their continued support, but we still have a lot of needs. With the ambassador here with us, we have explained our needs and our achievements towards attaining peace and governance and what we need support for, especially in development, which we have emphasized”.

UN Envoy in Somalia in Solidarity Visit to Baidoa

16 March – Source: AMISOM – Video – 3:17 Minutes

The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (SRSG), Nicholas Kay paid a visit to Baidoa, where Al-Shabaab staged an attack on Thursday, which was thwarted by the Somali National Army and the African Union. “I came today to Baidoa on behalf of the United Nations to show my solidarity with the President, the Government, the people of the South-West Administration; to show that we shall not be defeated by terrorists. I came to congratulate the security forces of the Southwest Administration and AMISOM for their success in defeating last week’s terrorist attack and to offer my condolences to those who have lost or been affected by the attack.I also came today to hear about the progress in establishing the Southwest Administration and to meet the new ministers in this government of reconciliation.”