March 26, 2013 | Morning Headlines.
President of Somalia Hasaan Sheikh heads to Qatar
25 Mar- Source: Raxanreeb- 238 words
The president of the republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud went on an official government visit to Doha, the capital city of Qatar.
Speaking to the national radio, the president said that he was going to Qatar to attend the meeting of the Arab league countries who are scheduled to convene in Doha.
The president told reporters that the speech that he will give in the meeting will touch on the progress his government has made and how it needs a helping hand from the Arab countries.
Key Headlines
- African Union Mission in Somalia speak about their plans(Raxanreeb)
- President Hassan Sheikh: No Ruling can be done to soldiers while their Seniors are not present(Shabelle)
- Ambassador Matt Baugh condemns murder of Somali journalist Rahmo Abdikadir(British Office for Somalia)
- Suspect arrested over Monday explosion in Kismayo (Dhanaan Online)
- SRSG Mahiga’s statement on killing of media worker(UNPOS)
- NISA arrest al Shabaab suspects as president appoints new director for intelligence (Radio Mogadishu)
- Somali Prime Minister postpones his visit to Kismayo (Bar-Kulan)
- OIC calls on international community to help Somalia (Anatolia News Agency)
- Ethiopia says foils Somali rebel plot to seize UN staff (Reuters)
PRESS STATEMENT
SRSG Mahiga’s statement on killing of media worker
25 Mar- Source: UNPOS- 215 words
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga is shocked and saddened by the killing of Rahma Abdulkadir, a media worker with Abduwaq radio.
Unknown attackers reportedly armed with pistols shot and killed Ms. Abdulkadir in Yaqshid district, Mogadishu last night.
“I condemn this hideous attack in the strongest terms and send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Rahma Abdulkadir” SRSG Mahiga said.
“Somalia continues to be one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists to operate. This negative picture needs to change. I call on the recently-formed Independent Task Force on Human Rights and the law enforcement organs to ensure that the perpetrators are brought swiftly to justice to stop this impunity”. SRSG Mahiga added.
Eighteen journalists were killed in direct or indirect attacks in 2012 while Rahma Abdulkadir is the first woman and third media professional to be killed in 2013.
“The Somali media community has proved its courage and resilience throughout the years. Somalia has moved to a new era where freedom of expression is guaranteed in the provisional constitution and the Government has committed to safeguarding human rights, and, in particular, the protection of vulnerable groups, including journalists. I call on the assailants to stop this senseless violence.” SRSG Mahiga said.
Ambassador Matt Baugh condemns murder of Somali journalist Rahmo Abdikadir
25 Mar- Source: British Office for Somalia- 86 words
The British Ambassador to Somalia has condemned the killing of journalist Rahmo Abdikadir of Radio Abudwaq on Sunday by gunmen in Mogadishu.
“On behalf of the British government, I send my deepest condolence to the family of Rahmo Abdikadir. I call upon Somali authorities to ensure those responsible for this senseless murder are brought to justice,”Ambassador Matt Baugh said;
“A free press is critical to the future of Somalia, and therefore journalists in Somalia should be able to operate without fear of their lives,” he added.
SOMALI MEDIA
President of Somalia Hasaan Sheikh heads to Qatar
25 Mar- Source: Raxanreeb- 238 words
The president of the republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud went on a official government visit to Doha, the capital city of Qatar.
Speaking to the national radio, the president said that he was going to Qatar to attend the meeting of the Arab league countries who are scheduled to convene in Doha.
The president told reporters that the speech that he will give in the meeting will touch on the progress his government has made and how it needs a helping hand from the Arab countries.
Suspect arrested over Monday explosion in Kismayo
25 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Dhanaan Online -141 words
Security forces in the port city of Kismayo on Monday arrested a suspect in connection with the early morning explosion targeting a convoy of Kenyan soldiers serving the African Union Mission in Somalia.
Sources told Bar-kulan that the explosion near the area presidential palace caused no casualty.
An army official said the suspect was driving a minibus full of explosives, adding that Somali and AMISOM troops seized the vehicle and the explosives to use it as an exhibit against the suspect.
On Sunday a high level government delegation arrived in the city ahead of the PM’s planned visit.
NISA arrest al Shabaab suspects as president appoints new director for intelligence
25 Mar- Source: Radio Mustaqbal/Radio Mogadishu- 102 words
After the resignation of the former national intelligence director, Somalia’s President has officially appointed “Abdikarim” as the new national intelligence director.
Meanwhile, NISA officers arrested four alleged militants in an operation aimed at stamping out remnant militants in parts of Benadir region.
Officials say the suspects, mainly youth, were arrested while committing criminal offences including lobbing grenades at government institutions and planting roadside bombs.
African Union Mission in Somalia speak about their plans
25 Mar- Source: Raxanreeb- 159 words
AMISOM forces have spoken about their plans and preparations for the areas left by the Ethiopian troops in the Bay and Bakool region.
AMISOM spokesman Colonel Ali Adan Humud said the force is in preparation for the take over of those areas, promising that they will reach every corner where there is insecurity and protect the Somali citizens.
“Our work is to help the citizens of Somalia and the government to enable them regain control of the country in order to bring back and reinforce law and order” said colonel Ali.
Somali Prime Minister postpones his visit to Kismayo
25 Mar- Source: Radio Bar-kulan/Radio Kulmiye- 116 words
Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon has postponed his visit to Kismayo, according to sources close to the government delegation that arrived in the area on Sunday.
Sources told Bar-kulan that the visit was delayed until Tuesday due to what they termed tight schedule back in Mogadishu.
In a statement posted on his official Twitter account on Sunday, the PM said he was busy preparing for what he called “important and challenging Kismayo stage of Listening Tour.”
“I will be visiting Kismayo in a spirit of listening, learning and leading Somalia,” he added.
President Hassan Sheikh: No Ruling can be done to soldiers while their Seniors are not present
25 Mar- Source: Shabelle- 163 words
The president of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mahmud has ordered that no court ruling can be done on a case involving a Soldier whose senior is not present while the ruling is taking place. He also said that there were ugly events taking place along the roads leading to the Shabelle regions. He also accused members of the government military of using illegal road blocks, terming it shameful.
REGIONAL MEDIA
Millions in Eastern Africa face starvation
25 Mar- Source: Africa Review- 272 words
An estimated 12.9 million people in Eastern Africa face stressed to crisis levels of food insecurity through to June, a new report says.
Famine Early Warning Systems (FEWS Net), who conducted the study say countries affected are Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania and Rwanda.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA
OIC calls on international community to help Somalia
25 Mar- Source: Anatolia News Agency- 71 words
Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Monday made a call on international organizations and the international community to extend assistance to Somalia, a country where the cases of diarrhea increased highly lately.
In a statement released on Monday, the OIC asked international organizations to provide urgent assistance to Somalia.
OIC underlined that to date there were 50 cases of diarrhea and 13 people had lost lives due to diarrhea in Somalia.
Ethiopia says foils Somali rebel plot to seize UN staff
25 Mar – Source: Reuters – 317 words
Ethiopia’s intelligence agency said on Monday it has detained eight members of Somalia’s al Shabaab Islamist militant group who it accused of plotting to kidnap U.N. workers.
The arrests were the latest in a crackdown on people charged with having links to fighters in neighbouring Somalia, where Ethiopia has deployed troops to support Mogadishu’s battle against al Shabaab and its six-year insurgency.
SOCIAL MEDIA
CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS
“As you can imagine there is no magic solution to the current problem and it will take time for the CBS to take full control of the country’s money supply to be able to effectively control inflation.”
An insight into the decision of the Somali government to print new money
25 Mar- Source: Hiiraan Online-2145 Words
Recent news reports suggest that over the last few months the value of the US Dollar has been declining and by extension the value of the Somali Shilling has been increasing. In response, both the Minister of Finance and the Vice Minister of Finance announced that the federal government will take action to address this problem by printing new currency.
As we all know, the economy of Somalia is a dual currency economy where people generally hold US Dollars as asset (store of value) for future transactions and current transactions are either conducted in US Dollars or Somali Shillings. Generally, expensive transactions are conducted in US Dollars but smaller transactions in Somali Shillings. For example, if one wishes to take a bus, buy a cup of tea, buy one litre of milk, half kilo of goat meat, etc. one probably has no choice but to use Somali Shillings. On the other hand, if one is purchasing a car, 50 kilo of sugar, or a lunch in an upscale restaurant, etc. one would have to use US Dollars.